Issue 15

THE

HARBINGER

issue 15 april 30 2007

Shawnee Mission East 7500 Mission Rd. Prairie Village, KS 66208

TURNING BLUE A preview of the choir’s spring show Blue Moon on May 10. page 3

PSYCHED OUT AP psychology students studied student reactions to various experiments such as rumor spreading. page 10

THE PERFECT PETAL The Harbinger takes a look at the top flower shops in town for May Day, Mother’s Day and prom. page 23

24 DAYS TO

GRADUATION

After two weeks of mourning the deadliest shooting in U.S. history at Virginia Tech, The Harbinger takes a look at what happened, why it happened and...

WHAT LIES AHEAD see story on page 4

photo by katie woods

s

Seniors Ju n

ior s

page 2 [news]

es mor

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h Sop

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shm e r F

B R I E F S

Because of the creation of a new club, next year the freshmen and upperclassmen will be

Linked Together by [melissa mckittrick]

Seven hours, almost 200 staff members, two trailers four grades, five staircases, two ramps, five minutes. For incoming freshmen, Shawnee Mission East can be a confusing place. In addition to having only minutes to navigate the school, freshmen also have to deal with harder classes, intimidating upperclassmen and rooms full of strangers.

To help freshmen make an easier transition to high school, three teachers from Shawnee Mission East created the Lancer Link Crew, a group of upperclassmen who will mentor the new students during their first year at East.

“Moving from middle school to high school is a major transition in a teenager’s life,” math-teacher Hannah Pence said. “We want to help make that easier and a better experience.”

After being accepted last week, the approximately 100 Link Leaders will introduce the freshmen to East and to each other, lead tours, encourage school spirit and try to make the new students feel comfortable and included. The idea was very popular with upperclassmen – nearly 300 applied to be Link Leaders.

“I thought it would be really cool to help out the freshmen, because they’re going through what we’ve already been through,” sophomore Alexandria Norton said.

The application process for the Lancer Link Crew was simple: the students filled out an application with their name, grade, schedule and activities and typed up short answers to questions. The questions, ranging from “where do you eat lunch?” to “what is a challenge that you have faced in high school?” were designed to find enthusiastic, self-confident, and respectful students. Out of the 288 sophomore and junior applicants, about 100 received acceptance letters last week.

“Link Crew Leaders are role models,” Pence said. “They are responsible, they possess leadership qualities, they are kind, and they have a desire to give back to their school community.”

One of the first “duties” of the Link Leaders is to help the freshman meet each other on the first day of school. Since the first day of the school year will be for freshmen only, the teachers and Link Leaders can focus their attention on specific questions and concerns. Each Leader will lead a group of eight to 10 students through “get-to-know-you activities” in the gym.

“When you’re a freshman, the older kids are intimidating, so you don’t really talk to them,” senior Melissa Melling said.

“But with Link Leaders…you’d have a reason to.”

the links All of the Lancer link crew

“

NEWS

In addition to helping the freshmen meet each other, the Link Leaders will also help them get to know East. After much confusion, many mistakes, and a lot of learning, the upperclassmen have plenty of knowledge to pass on to the new students.

“Freshman year, on the first day, I looked at the lunch list.

I had Mrs. Ogden for my fifth hour class, but I thought it was Mr. Ogdon, so I went to first lunch instead of gym class,” junior Jenny Hodgson said. “I walked in after first lunch and my class was sitting on the floor in the gym. They all stared at me like I was crazy.”

Another common concern for incoming high-schoolers is the difficulty and workload of their classes. In a study conducted by professor Patrick Akos and John Galassi, it was found that 35 percent of high school students stated that homework was their main transition problem.

“Nickels’ class was definitely hard,” Melling said. “I didn’t expect such a difference from middle school to high school.”

In addition to acting as educational mentors, the Link Leaders will help bring the freshmen into East’s social atmosphere.

They will attend spirit events, and they will also try to encourage school spirit and attendance at games.

“We…have a certain set group,” junior applicant Kathryne Munsch said, “ and we call them on game days to see if they’re going and get them to come [to the game].”

Pence hopes that the Link Leaders will make a point to see the freshman during the school day; she wants the freshmen to have a built-in group of friends at the start of the year.

“Maybe a Link Leader will take his or her freshman group to a football game, or a movie on the weekend or out to get ice cream after the first week of school,” Pence said.

By showing students around East, offering advice and encouraging school spirit, the Link Crew will try to make every new student feel as if they truly belong at our school. After years of experience at East, the accepted upperclassmen will be able to share their gained knowledge with the new freshman, making the transition into high school as easy as possible.

“There were definitely times in my freshman year when I didn’t know what was going on and wished I had help,” Norton said. “Having an older person to help me would have made it easier.”

Our goal is to make freshman feel connected to East on day one. We hope they know there are a lot of people here that care and will help them – and that we are excited to have them at East.

”

• 288 students applied e •Approximately 100 students wer accepted •The link leaders will have monthly meetings licant • Some qualities looked for in an app to ess were communication skills, willingn . gram take risks and interest in the pro

Lancer Link Crew sponsor Hannah Pence

the [harbinger]

National Journalist of the Year Senior Amanda Allison, editor-in-chief of the Harbinger, was named the National Journalist of the Year by the Journalism Education Association at the national convention in Denver. Allison was also named the Kansas Journalist of the Year. As part of her award Allison won a $5000 scholarship. She is the third East student in a row to win the state award, and the second East student to win the national award.

Bunch of Bands Bunch of Bands, featuring bands Go Down Moses, Patrick Robinson, Mr. Fish, Stop Time, The Case and Upper Echelon, is Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. Admission is $3.

SHARE packages SHARE package order forms are due Friday. The packages cost $10, checks should be written out to SME SHARE. Extra forms are located in the front office, room 404 or online at www.smeshare.org. Packages may be picked up in the SHARE office May 9-11.

Prom Prom is May 12 at 9:00 p.m. at Union Station. The after-prom party, which is held immediately after prom, is open to all juniors and seniors, regardless of whether they went to prom or not. After-prom will be at Powerplay at 13110 W. 62nd Terrace until 2:30 a.m.

A.P. exams The Advanced Placement exams will be given May 7-11, and 1418. Administration of each exam is assigned a specific morning or afternoon. Additional information about the exams is available at www.collegeboard.com or by contacting counselor Barb Johnson at 9936632.

SkillsUSA competition The following East students placed in the SkillsUSA championship in Wichita last week: senior Karsen Brassard in culinary arts, Candyze Harris in food and beverage services, senior Wesley Rockers in related technical math and 3-D animation, junior Cody Hacker in computer maintenance technology, Erin Dickason in SkillsUSA written test and Joe Demarco and Cody Hacker in quiz bowl. First place winners Brassard and Rockers will move on to the national competition in late June.

What’s

new

with...

Latin Students The following students placed in the Kansas State Latin Convention: freshmen Jason Bates, Evan Myers, Andres Diaz, Kelsey Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Piper, Grant Wekesser, Adele Daniel, sophomore Joseph Marx, juniors Mary Ruth Hopkins, Jenn Sunderland, Kate Burgers and Carly Putnam. photos by Patrick Mayfield

page 3 [news] by [ellie weed]

once in a

BLUE MOON

Format changes for the Choir’s upcoming concert

PHASES OF “THE MOON”

finales of Blue Moon through the years “Thoroughly Modern Millie” ALL OF THE ABOVE 2005 2007

2006 “Wicked”

The first week of April was filled with auditions. On Monday, there were only a few people that tried out after school for a solo part in Blue Moon. Ms. Watson, the accompanist, played the full song for every person trying out. By Friday, there were over 20 songs that choir teacher Tracey Resseguie listened to, and to fit everyone in, only about 30 second snippets were heard of their solos.

“I tried out on Thursday of that week, so I still got to sing a lot of my song, but it was still competitive,” senior Chambers singer Holly Worthy said.

After a week of singing and over 50 auditions, Resseguie had made his decisions. With a few exceptions, almost all of the solos had been seniors.

2004 “Hairspray”

“Guys & Dolls” 2003

“He does his best to make sure everyone gets a chance to sing,” senior Emily Dix said. “The juniors were really understanding of the fact that it’s the senior’s last chance to do this.”

Worthy commends Resseguie on his attempt to make the best show possible.

“It’s really not about favorites,” she said. “He just wants to make Blue Moon as good as it can possibly be.”

Unlike past Blue Moons, this year’s format will be different because it is the tenth year to perform the concert. Instead of having four different musicals adapted throughout the show, the choir program will do the finale performances from the past nine years to recognize the past accomplishments of the program.

“Scarlett Pimpernell” 2001

2002 “Les Miserables”

WHEN: WHERE:

Thursday, May 10 Friday, May 11 7:00 p.m.

Dan Zollars Auditorium

COST:

$7 a ticket *no free tickets with a student ID

HOW TO GET TICKETS:

tickets will be on sale on the ramp during lunch May 7-11

“Lion King” 1999

2000 “My Fair Lady”

1998 “Rent”

Go Lancers!

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page 4 [community]

Amidst a sea of questions Shocked by the Virginia Tech massacre, the community reacts

by [derek martin] and [daniel heady]

College safety KU watching closely In the wake of the attack at Virginia Tech, seniors who are planning to go to college next year are wondering what kind of changes they can expect to see in campus safety.

“We are taking a careful look at the situation in Virginia and we are going to try and learn from what the campus police are doing, how the administration is handling the situation and how we can adapt,” Todd Cohen said, the Director of University Relations at KU. “Of course we can’t tell the exact procedure of how we would carry out a crisis situation,” Cohen said, “but we are learning.”

KU has a police force on duty at all times and they also have constant training with the Douglass county police force and the Lawrence police force.

The University also has full-time counselors on staff to help students with any mental health problems they have, and there are programs through the student senate that offer free rides home on weekends and free escorts home from campus buildings on weekday nights.

But the real changes will come with the ability to interact with students in a quick and efficient manner.

“One change that students can expect to see is at orientation we will be taking down everyone’s cell phone number.”

Cohen said.

KU is working on a new partnership with Sprint to give them the ability to send out a blast text messages to alert students about possible threats. Whether it be a shooting on campus or an ice storm.

“This will give us the ability to administer a quick warning to our students and make sure they are safe.”

Cohen said. “It’s important to know what you should do in that type of situation, and we need to clearly communicate that to our students and their parents.”

An eyewitness Profiling a killer Students: React Student relives April 16

Warning signs to look for

Class got out at 9:55 in Blacksburg, Virginia and former East student Diana Sullivan was about to walk out of McBride hall and on to the campus of Virginia Tech, but there were people blocking the stairwell and looking out the windows at Norris Hall. She could see police surrounding the building, and SWAT was in position behind trees.

Although she didn’t realize it at the time, Diana Sullivan was in the middle of the worst school shooting in the US. “I didn’t know what was going on,” Sullivan said. “I saw kids running out of Norris. It was all so confusing, I thought it was a prank gone too far.”

Then she realized something big was happening.

“The police told us to go back to our dorms, and they said to stay there,” Sullivan said. “As I walked across the drill field and I got to the top of the hill I looked back just to get a mental picture of it all. I saw cars all over the lawn, dogs were sniffing the building, and I saw police on the roof with guns.”

The magnitude of the attacks didn’t hit Sullivan until later that night. She attended the candle light vigil, and when she got home her roommates were gone.

They had all gone home.

The next morning Sullivan woke up to attend the memorial service at Castle Coliseum and as she got ready the news reported that the president was going to be attending.

“Once my friends showed up in suits and I found out that the president was going to be there, I realized that it was a big deal,” Sullivan said.

But now the only thing that Sullivan wants to do is get back.

“Virginia Tech is a strong school,” Sullivan said, “and it’s just like Nikki Giovanni said, ‘We will prevail, we are Virginia Tech.’”

Over the past two weeks, experts across the country have attempted to explain what caused this tragedy and what drove the killer. Many have pointed to bullying and harassment as the catalysts for such radical and horrific action which turned an individual who was “just different” into a murderer.

According to Dr. Teri Smith, a Kansas University Medical Center psychologist, school shooters can often be characterized as extremely disturbed.

“He [Cho Seung Hui] probably either had a conduct disorder, or some sort of psychosis,” Dr. Smith said.

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary defines psychosis as a “loss of contact with reality.” According to Smith, this loss of contact with reality could drive a school shooter to get to the point of actually committing a crime.

She is quick to point out though, that psychosis alone is not responsible for school shootings.

“In schools, there are lots of mean people,” Dr. Smith said, “and enough abuse or persecution can make someone feel like they have a vendetta.”

She believes this desire for revenge led Hui to commit the Virginia Tech massacre.

“He saw everyone else as against him,” Smith said, “and I would probably guess he had a persecution problem.”

Unfortunately, at least one student has seen persecution of others first hand.

Senior Eric Cuellar said that he saw kids “tormented” while at Mission Valley.

“It [teasing, bullying] was a lot worse in middle school,” Cuellar said. He went on to say that although it may have been an issue in middle school, at the high school level it is far less of a problem.

“Here, even the people that don’t fit in have their own group of friends,” Cuellar said, “everyone finds a place to belong.”

the [harbinger]

What was the first thing you thought after you heard about the shooting?

“How could somebody do that, it was ridiculous.”

-John Carr, senior “Something so unexpected, things like that don’t happen in this country.”

-Drew Robinson, senior “I didn’t understand why someone was so cruel and mean.”

-Alyssa Jonson, sophomore “It could happen here, and that’s really scary.”

-Wraye Sewell, sophomore “Its sad and it made me think about all the other school shootings.”

-Sarah Pavlu, sophomore “I thought it was sad and I wanted to know what was wrong with they guy who did it.”

-Sean Kennedy, senior “I thought that is really messed up, you don’t think it would happen then it does and it sucks.”

-Mike Perbeck, junior “When and where and why did this happen.”

-Tommy Gray, sophomore “How could someone do that to other people.”

-Sarah Schenkelburg , freshman “That guy was psycho.”

-Paige Cannady, sophomore

After prom?

More like after thought The purpose of school sponsored after-prom events is to provide a safe and fun alternative for students to the traditional, often dangerous and alcohol-drenched private parties. The school-sponsored party succeeds in providing such an environment for those who attend, but unfortunately all too many students choose not to show up.

Attendance in the past years has been frustratingly low: under half the students attending prom showed up at the school after party last year.

It isn’t as if the party doesn’t offer a great entertainment package.

Attendees are given free transportation to the event, as well as all the junk food and candy they can eat.

There are bumper cars, arcade games and door prizes galore. But this obviously isn’t enough.

Many students are deeply set in their traditional means of partying. Chances are that their older siblings—not to mention their parents—celebrated prom in the same dangerous way: with cold beer and champaign. Unfortunately, post-

the

Dear Harbinger staff, Virginia Tech was a horrible massacre of thirty-two innocent college students, and a suicide of the killer himself.

We all know the facts. The entire campus crowded into the football stadium to mourn a few days ago, and they rightfully should. It was a tragedy for the campus, family, and friends of the deceased. We know that America is really a great country when an entire nation can unite to mourn a tragedy like this. But does it affect any of us? Do the majority of Americans know any of these people? The answer is no.

On April 18th, 173 people were also massacred, and 137 on February 3rd in Iraq. These kinds of massacres have been going on since March of 2003. Granted, the numbers have been escalating lately. As of last Thursday, it is estimated that 62,086 Iraqi civilians have died. That along with 3,315 soldier casualties adds up to 65,401 dead from the Iraq war. That is the equivalent of 2,000 Virginia Tech massacres in four years!

From April 17th to April 22nd, there have been more articles and editorials in the New York Times about the Virginia Tech massacre than fingers on my hands, yet last Wednesday in Iraq, when 173 were killed in a series of bombs and gunfire, there was one article the next day. Reporters interviewed two people, and it was to get the facts straight. In the Virginia

HARBINGER staff Editor-in-Chief AMANDA ALLISON Assistant Editors PETER GOEHAUSEN LAURA NELSON

prom partying with alcohol is perceived as a rite of passage, a cultural norm, in American society.

Such deeply rooted problems are extremely difficult to remedy. It will take a lot for the school to be able to draw in those students who are committed to partying dangerously.

But Blue Valley West has done just that. By hosting an after-prom party that features drawings for big-screen televisions, DVD players and cash prizes worth thousands of dollars, they have succeeded in making many students an offer they can’t refuse.

The current after-prom party package at East offers tons of food and unlimited video games, but it doesn’t go far enough. If the organizers ever hope to draw a larger crowd, they have to throw more cash and rewards at students.

Letterto Editor

page 5 [Editorial]

Freelance Page Editors LAUREN ERICKSON RUTH STARK JOEY SOPTIC Sports Section Editor CLARK GOBLE

Art/Design Editors DEREK MARTIN ELLIE WEED

Sports Page Editors SARAH LUBY NICK RATLIFF

Photo Editor SAMANTHA LUDINGTON

Ads/ Business MELISSA MCKITTRICK

Assistant Photo Editor KATIE WOODS

Copy Editors TOM GROTEWOHL THOMAS BRASLAVSKY ADRIENNE WOOD LIBBY NACHMAN RONAN MCGHIE

Head Copy Editor HALLIE MCCORMICK News Section Editor PAIGE CORNWELL News Page Editor DEVEN O’BRYAN Op/Ed Section Editor DANIEL HEADY Opinion Page Editor NATALIE EISENACH MOLLY TIDRICK Features Section Editor SARA STEINWART

Tech article, the Times and other newspapers interviewed person after person about how they felt, and the families and friends who have had to suffer through this.

Why does America spend days mourning a massacre in the United States that, for most Americans, doesn’t affect them, yet in Iraq, when there are five times the amount of people killed in one day, it’s just another day?

This isn’t what America should be. If you did something to mourn the lost in Virginia Tech, then good for you. You can now pat yourself on the back and go to bed feeling like a good person. But did you do the same last Thursday, or the countless number of other days? Probably not. No pat on the back for you.

A while back, an American girl was partying on spring break, and was kidnapped and probably killed in Bermuda.

The 24-hour news stations went wild with this, spending months trying to figure out where she was. Authorities didn’t find her in the end, and for her family and friends, I am sorry.

But events like this happen every day in the world and go unnoticed.

What I’m trying to say is that America is narcissistic. It’s an atrocity when 32 of our own are killed, but it’s just another day when five times that many are killed in another country.

Do we consider ourselves so much better than the rest of the world that we mourn American massacres, but almost disregard massacres in other nations, especially Iraq? If you really want to be a good person who sympathizes for families and friends of lost ones, give your regards to the rest of the world, not just your own country.

David Isenberg

April 30, 2007

Staff Writers ERIN MORRISSEY ALLY HEISDORFFER MEGHAN BENSON LANDON MCDONALD MIKE HAKE FOSTER TIDWELL ELIZABETH MCGRANAHAN SAM LOGAN NATHAN YAFFE Circulation DAVIN PHILLIPS

Features Page Editors RACHEL BIRKENMEIER BERNADETTE MYERS RACHEL MAYFIELD

Photographers KAREN BOOMER ABBA GOEHAUSEN JENNY HOWARD FRANCES LAFFERTY PATRICK MAYFIELD TAYLER PHILLIPS MARISA STEVENS RACHEL ENGLISH MACKENZIE WYLIE ANNA LEEK SALLY DRAPE TYLER ROSTE

Spread Editor LIBBY NACHMAN Assistant Spread Editor STEPHEN NICHOLS Mixed Editor MEG SHACKELFORD A&E Section Editor KATIE JONES A&E Page Editors JOHNNY MCGUIRE Adviser C. DOW TATE

The Harbinger is a student-run publication.

Please bring Letters to the Editor to Room 521 or e-mail it to smeharbinger@gmail.com

The full year subscription rate is $12 for a bulk mail subscription and $18 for a first class subscription

The majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board

Each issue the 11 members of the board choose a topic and a member writes the editorial. Before being published a consensus is made and the results are published here.

page 6 [opinion]

Being ‘Undecided’ is Underrated

an opinion of

The F word.

It’s what’s on Adrienne Wood every junior’s mind as we begin the stressful journey of finding and applying to colleges: the Future.

I recently met with my guidance counselor to discuss my college plans thus far. After a quick glance down my list of extracurriculars, curriculars and everything in between, my counselor asked a seemingly benign question.

“What are your plans for the Future?”

I began to reply that I was undecided about what my major would be, when she interrupted me with a question that took me by surprise.

“No, I mean what career path have you chosen?”

I stared at her for a moment, my mind scrambling for the answer. After a few seconds of stuttering, “Well, um—I mean I’m thinking about—umm…” I realized I hadn’t given the question a thought. We’re only in high school; the furthest into the future we need to worry about is getting into college.

Anything beyond that is too abstract and distant.

I explained to her that I was planning on taking the popular Undecided course at a liberal arts college and hoped to choose my major after exploring my interests and taking a few classes.

It is my belief that college is the time for us to actually experience different fields of study rather than just reading about them; by doing so we can be sure we’ll be satisfied in a career and not commit ourselves to unhappiness.

But according to brochures and college tour guides, not only am I expected to know what I’ll be doing in the next four years of my life, but I should also have a good idea of the 30 years after that. I understand that well-meaning counselors and teachers only want to get an idea of our interests so they can help us choose the best college and write good letters of recommendation, but I can’t choose my life’s direction at the

drop of a hat—it’s going to take time and college experiences to find my “calling.”

The occasional student has known they would be a doctor or take over the family company since they were a wee tot in the playhouse pretending to be CEO of the playground. But it’s safe to say that’s not many of us.

According to the National Research Center for College and University Admissions, over half of college students switch majors at least once. I know that since seventh grade alone I have named artist, marine biologist, filmmaker and psychologist as my careers of choice.

I don’t see anything wrong with being indecisive.

I mean, I’m only a kid. I’d be concerned if I didn’t evolve and develop new insights as I went through school, and I expect this process of defining myself will continue into college. For those of you who know 100 percent you will become an elementary school teacher, I applaud you and am a little envious of your tenacity. But I also salute my fellow Undecided-ers.

College is supposed to be your period of discovery, both about the world and yourself. But these days some schools and admissions counselors value students who show dedication and specialization rather than exploration and change. Maybe colleges like the security of knowing what they’re getting ahead of time; they see a résumé full of random activities and scattered interests and they don’t know if the student will become a wealthy lawyer with a penchant for supporting their alma mater or a penniless artist. How should we know what we want to do in the “real world” when the most we’ve seen of it are the white-walled classrooms of public school?

I’ve heard people argue that by using college as a time for exploration, you’re wasting good money. But it seems to me that it would be well worth the cash if it means the difference between finding something you truly enjoy and being stuck in a career path you knew little about before you began. College is the only place where resources and people of all vocations are so highly concentrated and at your fingertips—with opportunities like internships, research projects and professional advice, you can learn about every field before being tied down to one.

College seems designed not just for decided people, but also the undecided.

As the saying goes, “the only constant in life is change.” Be prepared to change your mind again and again. After all, that’s what these years are for.

As for me, I’m still Undecided.

Lancer Voice Do you think it is important to go into college with a main idea on career choice?

“Not really, you’re just going to school to see what you are interested in and what you want to do.”

Freshman- Monica Tatavera

“You should know what your main focuses are but also be open minded on new classes.”

Sophomore- Alec Hynes

“Yeah, I want to make sure I know what I’m doing in college.”

Junior- John Kanally

An Alternative Choice Top 10 Liberal Arts Schools - Best-suited for students entering college undecided about possible areas of study and career choices - Lower student-teacher ratios and smaller classes allow for more individualized attention for each student - More diverse curriculum encompasses a broader range of student interests

1. Williams College (MA) 2. Amherst College (MA) 3. Swarthmore College (PA) 4. Wellesley College (MA) 5. Middlebury College (VT) 6. Carleton College (MN) 7. Bowdoin College (ME) 8. Pomona College (CA) 9. Haveford College (PA) 10. Davidson College (NC) source: www.usnews.com

the [harbinger]

“No because no one really knows what exactly what they want to do.”

Senior- Natasha Welsh

page 7 [ads]

page 8 [features]

Exchange students from two different countries join in an

International

Relationship by [meg shackelford]

for being very romantic. We like to think they’re obsessed with us and Swedish girls too, because of our blue eyed, blonde hair stereotype.”

It was only natural that the two would meet, since they are both members of the International Club. Basilici remembers meeting Malde vividly because the minute he did, he thought he already knew her.

“I immediately thought that she was American because her English was really good,” Basilici said. “We just became really good friends because we had a lot in common with having to get acquainted here.”

But right after Prom is over, their time in America as exchange students will almost be up.

Once they go back, they plan to talk at least everyday. Their summers will be spent catching up with friends and family back home, but they are thinking about visiting each other come Karoline Malde and Michele Basilici at WPA 2007. Malde and Basilici are now dating, winter break. and will be attending Prom 2007 together as well.

“I wish we could stay together, but I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Basilici said. “It’s going to be pretty hard to make it work, but I hope to see her as often as I can.”

They are both not trying to think about leaving each What type of dances are held in Germany? other and are thinking more about spending as much We don’t have prom. There is only one dance and it is held for 9th graders. time as they can together.

“It’s so weird to think They have to take dance lessons, so the dance is like the end of the dance lessons. about,” Malde said. “I have this life with him here, Who is in charge of setting up your dance? and then we’ll soon be in separate countries. We’ll The school and the dance teacher. always be great friends, but long-distance relationships How long does it take to plan the dance? are so hard. I want to be realistic.”

About 1 week.

photo courtesy Karoline Malde

Senior exchange student Karoline Malde didn’t expect balloons to be covering her bedroom floor when she came back from the band trip to Chicago. Her pillowcases and bed sheets were also decorated with Italian words written by her senior exchange student boyfriend, Michele Basilici.

Her bed read sayings like, “Not out of obligation, but for pleasure,” along with the question, “Prom?”

When Malde got back a day later, she immediately called him to say yes.

Going to a formal dance like Prom won’t be the first time for Malde, who has a winter formal back home in Oslo, Norway. But it is Basilici’s first time, so preparing for May 12 is all new for him.

Basilici’s school back home on the east coast of Italy doesn’t have any dances or social gatherings.

“There’s not a lot of school spirit in general, really,” Basilici said.

For Malde’s dance, people normally go with a big group of people unless they’re dating someone. The dances themselves take place at clubs where there are rooms, big and small, making it easier to choose how much space one wants. The clubs are usually divided into sections for people who are over and under 18, which is the drinking age.

“So far, I think American dances have been better just because getting asked is the best part,” Malde said. “It’s always so interesting to hear who goes with whom, but I still have so much fun at my dance. They always have a cool ocean or shooting star theme.”

Malde thinks of American prom as a big deal. It was one of the first things she imagined when thinking of America after watching movies that described high school society as centered around “Homecoming, Prom, graduation and the quarter back.” Now she’ll actually get to experience it.

“I think our dance is probably less formal than East’s with the formal dress and the preparation involved,” Malde said.

So it was only expected that Basilici would ask her to Prom since they started dating soon after she asked him to WPA. Once she told her friends from back home that she was dating an Italian boy, they couldn’t believe it. They all cooed when they heard her news, telling her she was really lucky. It was the same for Basilici, whose friends were rather amused when they heard he was dating a Norwegian girl.

“We have this stereotype about Italians by how they are dark and attractive,” Malde said. “They are also known

Q&A on dances with Alex Q: A:

Q: A: Q: A: Q: Do you think people make a bigger deal about dances here or in Germany?

A: In Germany, because we only have one dance.

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page 9 [features]

NAHS members created art auction pieces to be sold during

inthe art afternoon Left: Senior Bailey Armstrong paints Junior David Isenberg’s face with diaper rash cream in place of face paint to prepare his zombie face.

Below: Senior Weston Anderson did all of the filming for Wheeler’s movie. Here he shoots Isenberg acting as a zombie after having devoured a victim in the introduction. Senior Cole Easterday watches the shoot with amusement. photos by sally drape

Above: Sophomore Hannah Fink bids for a piece of art work in the silent auction portion of the event.

Below Left: Juniors Blair Nicely and Amy Gairns work the check out counter of the auction. Raffle tickets were also available at the table. photos by frances lafferty

Above: Senior Vanessa McKenzie grabs a refreshment. McKenzie chaired the auction and designed the advertisement posters.

Right: Junior Adrienne Wood assists at the wrapping station. They are creatively packaging purchased items to take home.

Far Right: Senior Rachel Pisciotta plays the guitar for entertainment at the auction. photos by frances lafferty

Any art not sold at the auction will be available for purchase at the Art Showcase on Thursday.

Right: NAHS Execs and seniors Katie Wright and Elizabeth AllenCannon work with student teacher Jodie Schnakenberg to set up before the auction. photo by katie woods Left: Sophomores Sally Holmes and Amelia Murphy browse the art to be auctioned. photo by sally drape

April 30, 2007

Psyched Out

page 10 [features]

He did what?!

You saw it?!?

What happened?!

Psychology classes study student reactions to various experiments by [nathan yaffe]

“I’ve put up with your s--- for three years and I’m not going to take it. Let me know when you’re going to act like a real teacher.”

These are the words junior Emmy Hartman spat at Mr. Royer, her calculus teacher, before storming out of his sixth hour classroom, her face flushed with anger.

Junior Ren Li, a student in Royer’s sixth hour, says the class was in shock after she left.

“It was one of those moments when no one knows how to react,” Li said. “She just seemed so furious it was scary.”

The tension was heightened when Officer Sullivan came in and questioned the class about Hartman’s conduct. He gave them “incident report forms” and asked them to describe what had occurred.

Students’ concerns were only heightened when, as they filled out their eyewitness accounts, Sullivan escorted Royer into the hall.

“Everyone was worried that Royer might lose his job because he looked so distressed,” Li said. “Students were talking about how they were ready to defend him to the administration if it came to that.”

A few minutes later, amidst worried chatter, Royer re-entered the room with an announcement that startled everyone: the entire thing was part of a psychology experiment.

The fight had been staged.

Hartman was participating, along with

the other 40 students in Psychology AP, in a group research project that is a hallmark of Mr. Comstock’s second semester class.

As Comstock says with a grin, there are no real parameters to this project. Students are given free reign to design and conduct their own experiments in groups of three and four.

The goal?

“I want them to discover what has to happen to keep a research project ethical,” Comstock says. “They get see how complex the research itself is and how many pitfalls they have to face to get it done.”

Even his role—evaluating the projects— is different every year. In part, at least, that’s because the students even decide how they convey their findings. They give an informal talk, but its structure is entirely self-determined. A week later, they turn in a lab report, but again, how they convey their information is left to them.

Comstock’s goal is to see where his students go when he doesn’t provide a path for them, and the result is, in his words, often “the weirdest experiment of their lives.”

Upon telling students that Hartman’s experiment was staged, Royer collected the incident report forms, which Hartman used to accumulate her data about student reactions. Some students reported being “so embarrassed [by Hartman’s actions] I couldn’t even watch.”

But Hartman wasn’t the only student to

gauge people’s reactions to unorthodox situations.

This was also the nature of junior Grant Gray’s project. He and his teammates—seniors Briana Arensberg and Mallory Kornhaus—went to individual classes with a farting machine in their backpack. Once the class quieted down, they would trigger the device via remote control.

“After that came the best part,” Gray said.

“We’d starting acting uncomfortable, then excuse ourselves to the bathroom really quickly.”

Then they returned to their newly marked territory, shame-faced, and rejoined the class as if nothing had happened. But before the hour was over and the infamy spread, they broke the news about breaking the wind and asked students to respond to a brief survey: “Did that make you uncomfortable? Was it funny or awkward? What was your first thought when you heard it?”

Gray, however, felt anything but uncomfortable and awkward.

“We wanted to do something different,” Gray said, “and I’m glad we did.”

But before arriving at such an enjoyable project, Gray’s team went through a laundry list of other possibilities that ranged from picking fistfights in the hallway to dyeing their hair green.

“In some ways, the whole process of brainstorming and working through the stages was my favorite part,” Gray said. “You

don’t get that kind of control very often. It’s neat knowing that you came up with what to do and refined it until it was more realistic, all on your own.”

Some students, however, opted for the more traditional, research-oriented project.

Senior Jack Stelzer’s group developed a hypothesis about the correlation between athletics and academics, in an attempt to identify predictors of academic success.

“There’s this perception that athletes tend to be worse students, but some athletes are really good in school, and we wanted to figure out how to predict it,” Stelzer said.

The group’s hypothesis was that students in individual sports—track, cross country, swimming—need more discipline in their athletic pursuit, and that this discipline would manifest itself in the academic arena as well.

They distributed anonymous surveys to Honors and Standard English classes in each grade, and asked students what sport they played, if any, how many honors classes they were in, and their GPA. Stelzer’s favorite aspect was being able to study something he was personally interested in, as opposed to most school projects, in which the teacher dictates the area of study.

“It’s a break from the typical lecturenotes-test routine,” Stelzer said, “which is always nice.”

STUCO SERVES

page 11 [features]

Last week, members of STUCO dished it out during lunch

Above: Executive STUCO President and senior Tyler Enders serves a hot dog to fellow senior Philip Wolff.

Left: Executive Secretary Betsy Morris and junior class President Drew Popplewell work on lunch for their peers.

Above: Junior Sylvia Shank prepares some french fries during her lunch shift. Sylvia is a Charity Committee co-chair.

photos by Karen Boomer

photo by Rachel English

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page 12 [features]

Opinionated students hold up signs at weekly rallies to make sure they’re heard.

a group of picketers listen to a speaker at the rally at the Country Club Plaza. photos by Rachel English

by [landon mcdonald] You see them ever so often while driving home from work or school. A sea of waving picket signs, a chorus of corresponding chants, the roar of proud indignation. All this reflects the mood of a nation.

The Iraq War claims more lives every day, with no viable resolution in sight. This ongoing conflict bitterly divides the American people on concepts like political loyalties, perceptions of race and religion, and the role of the United States in the modern world and has resulted in mass peace rallies all across the globe, even right here at Shawnee Mission East.

Every protester has a story to tell. First time demonstrator and East student Amenda Shapiro describes the importance of finding your inner rebel-rouser.

“It’s really a great feeling to be out there getting our message across peacefully. Plenty of people disagree with the administration and the war, but they don’t know how to communicate their opinions effectively. Protesting gives people like that an outlet for their emotions. It really is democracy at work.”

Protesting is a practice that has been present and effective for centuries, World History teacher Tom Niermann explains.

“It’s only natural that during such times of contention, there arise factions of passionate activist protesters who flat-out refuse to accept the status quo and lobby relentlessly for change.”

These zealous advocates can be local or national, conservative or liberal. They come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages. Given East’s heightened sense of global awareness and political fervor, many young pacifists have sprung up from here.

East sophomore and anti-war advocate Jordan Holsinger remembers his first introduction into the world of organized protesting.

“It all started with me hearing about it from some friends at my church. They convinced me to go to a rally with them, and after that I was hooked.”

Sometimes the urge to speak out comes from the home. Dr. Cristi Holsinger of UMKC, Jordan’s mother and a long-time activist herself, says she engendered progressive thinking in her kids from an early age.

“Both my husband Alex and I come from backgrounds that always encouraged taking a stand. I started marching against apartheid in South Africa when I was still in high school.

We’re deeply concerned about the war and the

Up C

omin

needless death it’s causing. We wanted our kids to be aware and concerned too.”

The Holsingers joined the KC Iraq Task Force, a local protest movement whose charter promises to promote a “humane and peaceful relationship between the people of the U.S. and Iraq through education and direct non-violent action.” Their main objectives include a full-scale U.S. troop withdrawal and an immediate halt to what they consider a failed American foreign policy. Ira Harritt, a local Quaker peace activist, founded the group shortly after the Gulf War and has headed it ever since.

Harritt talks openly about his organization’s positions and practices.

“We don’t have to resort to violence and threats and coercion to attain justice,” Harritt said. “Dr. King once said that the means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. I hope to help change that.”

The group holds peaceful protests multiple times a year. They strategically plan them around specific dates of importance, such as the anniversaries of Sept.11 and the start of the Iraqi conflict.

Their favorite places to meet include 75th and Mission, the J.C. fountain on the Plaza, and along the grassy medians of Wornall Road.

Sophomore Claire Fallone, who was there for the group’s fourth Iraq War anniversary protests, describes what it took to get ready for her first peace rally. “We got together with friends the night before to make signs and banners. That’s probably the best part of protesting, coming up with clever and funny catchphrases that’ll hopefully stick with people after they see it.”

A few of the protest sign mainstays include slogans like NO BLOOD FOR OIL, STOP THE BUSH*T, and HONK FOR PEACE. Everyone’s encouraged to be creative and innovative with his or her signs, banners and posters. In the spirit of free speech, any words or pictures within the boundaries of taste are accepted without inquiry.

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a man stands on Wyandotte Street at the Country Club Plaza promoting peace. photos by Rachel English

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page 13 [features]

Junior pursues her passion for music and aspires to be a photo b y patric

k mayfi

eld

Conductor

Interesting notes about Charlotte Favorite Jazz Song: Bei nor bist Schoen Dream job: To be Conductor of Chicago Symphony Challenging moment in music: Learning how to play jazz Favorite Music Class: Orchestra Favorite Composers: Beethoven and Brahms

by [devin o’bryan] From Sesame Street sing-a-longs to Schubert and Brahms, music has always been a part of junior Charlotte Parrish’s life.

And while her musical tastes have evolved over time, her love for music hasn’t changed.

“I was raised on jazz, classical and oldies,” she said. “I guess I’ve always liked music.”

It’s no suprise then that her dream job deals with music - she wants to be a conductor.

Parrish, who has been playing the piano for 11 years and the violin for seven, dedicates a lot of time to music. She tries to practice at least one hour a day, and is currently learning how to play more instruments to prepare for college.

“To conduct you have to have common knowledge of every instrument, like their ranges and limits, and be proficient in at least one,” she said.

Her best instruments are violin and piano, but she can play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on the flute, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone.

Switching instruments can be challenging for some, but not for Parrish

Steven T. Joyce, M.D. Thomas P. Phillips, M.D. Charles E. Rhoades, M.D. Dan M. Gurba, M.D. Mark Bernhardt, M.D. Lowry Jones, Jr., M.D. Robert C. Gardiner, M.D. Timothy M. Badwey, M.D. Stanley A. Bowling, M.D. Brian J. Divelbiss, M.D. Thomas L. Shriwise, M.D. C. Lan Fotopolous, M.D.

“Once you get the basics, like reading different clefs, it’s not hard,” she said.

In addition to learning more instruments, Parrish is involved in Jazz Band, Orchestra and Music Theory, Pep Band and Marching Band. She also takes private dance lessons three times a week, violin lessons once a week and is crew chief of costumes for Blue Moon. If she has time, she practices transposing music from one clef (a symbol that tells you what note to play) to another and looks at scores of music, which show all the different parts of a song.

“Listening to a song and then seeing it written out on the score is really exciting, just hearing everything come together,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a struggle to fit everything in. I don’t get much sleep. My priorities are probably music, dance and religion.”

According to orchestra teacher Jonathan Lane, it’s important for a conductor to understand music to lead an orchestra effectively.

“Conductors have to listen and be able to tell what’s out of tune and what needs fixing,” she said. “They have to know the form of the music, modulations, whether it’s in a minor or major key.”

Parrish hopes to use what she learns in Music Theory at UMKC, where she wants to get a degree in music theory. After that she wants to go to Indiana for a masters degree in conducting.

Parrish owns most of the instruments she’s learning to play. She currently has a piano, two violins, a trumpet, a cornet, a clarinet, an alto saxophone, a flute, a euphonium, a trombone, a bass clarinet and a few percussion items. Most of her instruments are second hand, which saves a lot of money.

“A lot of stuff I get at flea markets,” she said. “I do a lot of flea market shopping. I found my trumpet in the trash. It still works fine.”

For Parrish, music will always play a part in her life even if her dreams of conducting fall through.

“If I wasn’t conducting I would want to own a dance studio,” she said.

“I like dancing because it’s a way to express yourself with rhythm, like music.”

But Parrish hopes her hard work now will eventually pay off.

“My dream job would be conducting for the Chicago Symphony,” she said. “Music is exciting. The chords and harmony and dissonance. It sounds cheesy, but it’s something I can’t live without.”

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Saturday 5

Arizona Trading Company is located in Westport, and its known for its great vintage finds. Jennifer Sievers founded ATC over 14 years ago. The store specializes in recycling stylish clothing that is still in good shape.

You never know what you will be able to find when going through the racks. The racks include items as old as your grandparents, along with items from popular name brands like American Eagle, Louis Vuitton, Old Navy, and Express. Shoppers can also bring in their used clothing items for cash or in-store credit.

SHOWN: bag, $15

ARIZONA TRADING COMPANY•209 Westport Rd

Boomerang has everything from retro lighting, vinyl chairs and platform shoes to sunglasses, jewelry and paint by numbers. The store features a great selection of offbeat vintage clothes. Boomerang is a great place to spend hours sifting through the racks looking for great and rare items such as an old pair of hip huggers from the 90s or those perfect leather pants from who-knows-when. The store also is open to buy used clothing, so if you are looking for a great deal this store is definitely a great trade-off. Bring in your old clothes that you don’t wear, trade them in for cash and then use the cash to stock up on new styles from the store.

SHOWN: earring s, $2.50; necklace, $3

Before you shop, test out the clothes on this paper doll to see which combinations you like the best

BOOMERANG•1415 West 39th Street Sports Fan is a store that describes itself. It’s a store for sports fanatics. Authentic jerseys and caps line the walls and though this place can be pricey you’ll find your favorite team represented.

Also, jerseys are light and easy to wear, making those hot summer days a little bit more bearable.

SHOWN: j e r s e y, $75

With all the hustle and bustle at Oak Park, Mall Mirada can be an easy store to miss with its narrow exterior squished between stores.

But inside, music blasts and clothes line the walls to the dressing rooms in the back. If you’re looking for your normal American Eagle polo, you won’t find it here. Mirada prides itself in carrying designer clothes from up-and-coming designers. It’s pretty much guaranteed that no one else will have a shirt you buy here. Though this store can be pricey it’s definitely worth the quality of the clothes.

SHOWN: guys’ shirt, $26.50

MIRADA•Oak Park Mall

SPORTS FAN•Oak Park Mall

by [bernadette myers] and [elizabeth mcgranahan]

the [harbinger]

SUMMERSTYLES

It can be tough to find a fun, unique outfit, but these shops can provide you the perfect...

page 14 [spread]

April 30, 2007

Based in Lawrence, Britches brings a fun and flirty style to Oak Park Mall. The store is great for summer dresses and tops that won’t exceed $40. Hidden in the back of the store, though, is the sales rack reducing prices by fifty percent, making it fun to come shopping here even if you’re on a budget.

SHOWN: shorts, $21; dress, $40; jacket, $45

BRITCHES•Oak Park Mall

page 15 [spread]

photos by tyler roste and patrick mayfield

Uptown Monkey Bottoms was named the Best Vintage Clothing store by The Pitch in 2007. The store was founded by a broke fashionista who realized that hot designers rarely come up with new fashions, but instead just re-use the styles of earlier eras. So she decided to start a store where the old and loved fashions can be found and reused at cheaper and more affordable prices.

Why buy a new pair of legwarmers for $20 when you can buy a pair from the actual 80s for $5?

SHOWN: shirt, $4

UPTOWN MONKEY BOTTOMS•5907 Woodson Rd.

page 16 [features]

Seniors long for the year to be over as they begin to slack in school, experiencing

A fever you can’t sweat out by [meghan benson] Senior Emily Dix knows senioritis. If it were up to her, instead of doing her homework after school and then going to work, she’d rather take a three-hour nap, then eat and then sleep again. The homework part might get done tomorrow sometime before school or in between classes. Maybe.

As much as she wants to be done with the school year, she just cant afford to slow down this late in the year. Already accepted to KU. Dix knows that she still has to maintain good grades because even the grades this late in the year are going to have an effect on her future, such as pledging for a sorority at KU in the fall, which do acknowledge pledges’ final GPAs. “My priorities are shifting and it’s been a challenge squeezing out the rest of the year,” Dix said. “My body’s still here but my minds beginning to move elsewhere.”

Certain priorities that have kept Dix focused include juggling two jobs during the school year while maintaining decent grades at the same time. But Dix’s true motivation is the continuing respect she gets from her teachers.

“Teachers have become irritated with senioritis. They’re not stupid,” she said. “The worst thing students do is let things slip through their fingers senior year, even when you thing that you have a tight grasp on things. They [teachers] still need to do their jobs. It’s hard to inspire kids who just want to graduation already.

Dix has spent time branching outside of her group of friends by getting more involved in the social activities East has to offer, such as the Sweet Charity musical and as a Share Chair for the Franklin Center.

“I’ve realized at the end of my senior year that I might not get a second chance to get involved. There’s so many interesting people at East but it takes getting involved outside my [social] group of friends in order to meet them. It’s so nice because East is such a community-based school. It’s a good opportunity to get involved.

With older brothers and sisters who have already graduated from East, Emily hasn’t really seen senioritis in action until this year. But Dix’s mom, Kathy Dix has seen otherwise.

“It seems as if all of a sudden that freshman year turns into the last part of senior year in fast motion,” Dix said.

“Students are out of there before they’re out of there; they leapfrog up to the college life even through they’re still stuck

in high school.”

For senior Kelsey Brown, senioritis hasn’t effected her at all. Brown claims that her work ethic hasn’t changed since her freshman year. Receiving nearly straight A’s during her senior year, Brown doesn’t do it for anyone but herself and doesn’t see how students can just let themselves go this late in the game.

“I’ve always been a self-motivated student,” Brown said. “I’ve worked hard for the last few years and I want to know for myself alone and that I did my best all the way though.”

As the Photo Editor for the East yearbook and a member of both NAHS and NHS along with voice lessons and choir practice twice a week, Brown hasn’t exactly had the time for Senioritis.

Brown has done what it’s taken to get things done, whether that’s meant staying in the Journalism room late into the night in order to meet a yearbook deadline and staying up even later to make sure all her homework’s finished, even this late in the year. To her it all pays off in the end though.

“When the [year] book comes out, that’s the day, that’s when it all pays off,” said Brown.

But the students aren’t the only ones effected by senioritis.

The teachers have to deal with it as well.

To Calculus BC and Differential Equations teacher Rick Royer, senioritis. He holds higher expectations for his students who know that his classes don’t make time for senioritis.

“Senioritis just isn’t an option for my students,” said Royer. “It’s not an excuse and I don’t let my students get by with that as an excuse.” He believes that the students enrolled in his challenging classes are prepared to work hard at a continuous pace and not let senioritis effect them English teacher Skip Graham is aware of the fact that senioritis just comes naturally and that looking forward to the next chapter in life is expected, but it’s not exactly something he looks forward to.”

“There is a myth that senior year is blow-off year, and junior year as the really hard year.” Graham said. But he feels that slipping as a senior only hurts them in the long run.

“It’s very rare to see a student who does better in college then they did in high school”, said Graham, “Future success is built on past success.”

He wants his students to know that making an effort these last few weeks of school really do make a difference, now and for the future.

“In college, it doesn’t matter if you actually go to class or not. College doesn’t care about you,” he said. “With nearly 27,000 students on campus and the fact that you’ve already paid your tuition, you could spend the whole year playing video games in your dorm and no one will do anything about it.”

The only thing the teachers can really do at this point in the year is try to keep their students interested one the lessons at hand.

Graham tries to hold his students’ attention by choosing to read and discuss books that will interest them and the ones that they can relate to on a better level, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He also tries to pick up the pace of his class discussions and reading assignments. He feels that by doing so, he’s helping his students adjust more to the way things are going to be like next year, to try and make the college transition a little easier.

At the sight of the dreaded senioritis, which hits most of his students right after the start of second semester, his first step is to advise them to look at the big picture instead of just waiting to get out of high school.

“I don’t want you to be thinking about May, I want you to think about next September. I don’t want you thinking about graduation day, I want you thinking about your first day of college. You can either sink or swim,” Graham tells his students.

Breathing Deep

English department learns CPR by [katie woods]

Above: Elaine Kramer volunteers to test out the defibrillator as other teachers look on.

Left: CPR certification teacher instructs East Staff on what to do in case of a inopportune emergency. the [harbinger]

Above: Junior honors English teacher Bill Boley demonstrates the correct form of CPR Left: Donna Skates corrects Yolanda Mountjoy as she performs CPR on a mannequin.

page 17 [mixed]

what you didn’t know about... Amy Gairns WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR MOTHER’S DAY? -Mother’s day is actually my mom’s birthday too, so we have a joint celebration. We always go to a nice lunch, usually at Cheesecake Factory.

This year my sister is coming back from college for her birthday.

photo by tyler roste

WHAT DO YOU PLAN ON GETTING HER? -We always buy her presents and flowers. At night my dad fixes a nice sitdown dinner with barbecue and my grandma comes over.

WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND TIME WITH HER OR BUY HER A PRESENT? -I’d rather help her out around the house because I know she has a lot of cleaning to do and I know she would appreciate my help.

and

by [rachel mayfield]

Top10

1. spa treatment- massage- at Bijin or Sopra 2. breakfast in bed that took you time to make 3. treat her to lunch at her favorite spot 4. gift certificates to her favorite stores 5. put together all her favorite movies and watch

Toga Party: • Invitations: Scrolls • Let everyone know that they need to come dressed in a toga (have some extra sheets handy in case someone forgets)

Cowboys and Indians: • Invitations: Wanted Posters or Horse Shoe shaped cards.

• Let everyone know that they can either come dressed as a cowboy or an Indian. Whatever works!

them with her

Mother’s

Corporate Lives and Trophy Wives: • Invitations: Cards that look like money • Girls-wear dresses Guys-business attire

Gifts

6. a mix CD of all her favorite songs 7. print a picture of the two of you and put it in a

White Trash Bash: • Invitations: in the shape of Jorts (Jean Shorts) • Decorate the area of the party with plastic flamingos and other yard ornaments Construction Workers: • Invitations: in the shape of a construction hat • Decorate area of the party with caution tape and barricades • Attire: construction hats, protective glasses, boots, and overalls

Day

nice frame 8. basket filled with her favorite chocolates and candy 9. a scrapbook with pictures and memories of you two together 10. a hand-made card with a nice note inside Apr. 30, 2007

photos by jenny howard

Tips for hosting a successful theme party Tricks

page 18 [features]

A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

GRECIAN CASTLE SWING SWING SWING

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

A NIGHT AT ANGORA ARABIAN NIGHTS

decor& more prom 2007

Imperial Garden

by [ellie weed]

When the junior Student Council members met last fall to finalize their theme for prom, they wanted to pick something sophisticated, mature and ultimately something that would please the student body -- particularly the seniors.

After brainstorming for a few weeks they wrote all their ideas on the dry erase board.

“It was like putting those magnetic words on a refrigerator,” junior class secretary David Webster said. “We liked bits and pieces of each idea.

Originally, they wanted to do an Asian theme, based off of a temple in Southeast Asia. After a few more meetings of deliberation, they came up with the theme.

The end result: Imperial Garden.

“From a guys point of view, I would consider it elegant and earthy,” Webster.

One of their goals was to stay away from puns.

“We didn’t want it to be something with ‘nights’ in it and then have a ‘k’ in front or anything,” he said.

ways to

get

the Harbinger surveys seniors about their Prom experiences

After the theme was decided, professional party planner Kathy Haverkamp came in to decide the color schemes, sketch out the floor plan, and organize the food.

For all other dances, Student Council uses their own members to decorate the venue -- usually the gym -- for a school formal, but Union Station only allows professional decorators.

Junior class sponsor Vicki Ardnt-Helgesen asked around and landed on Haverkamp.

“She does such a good job, mostly because she does so well with kids,” Arndt Helgesen said.

As the year progressed, Haverkamp came back with sketches, each one more finalized than the last.

“She was so professional about it,” Webster said. “And approachable. She always gave us a bunch of options.”

It wasn’t just Haverkamp that made prom planning a success. Arndt-Helgesen stepped in to help the juniors since she’s helped plan her share of proms.

“Yoda [Arndt-Helgesen] wasn’t going to

let us mess up,” Webster said. “She let us make the decisions, but she’d give us subtle hints.”

The only source of conflict arose when the topic of music was discussed.

“People are always complaining about how bad the music is at dances, so we thought having a live band would solve the problem,” junior class president Drew Poplewell said. “But then that limits the type of music, and it’s typically more expensive.”

After sitting on the topic for over a month, Arndt-Helgesen helped them come up with a compromise: a DJ with a playlist. what the That way, the students will have control of what music is played, and will avoid the inevitable bad songs.

“I think it was a good choice,” Popelwell looks like said. “The decorations are important, but the music is what makes it a party.”

Aside from the music debate, planning This sketch, drawn by Kathy Haverkamp, was representative of the junioir class’s plans last year. After this was approved, prom was more fun than stressful.

“Just seeing the end product will be prices were set and equipment was prepared for the set-up last May. rewarding,” Webster said. all photos and drawings courtesy of Kathy Haverkamp and Vicki Arndt-Helgesen

SKETCH

PROM 2006: SWING SWING

Do the Mudslide Bus- there’s a They’re fun- last more “party-like” year we took the Dances are exLimos It’s the last Nascar Bus. atmosphere. complete the JACK STELZER pensive enough dance for the JORDAN BOTTS whole night. as it is. seniors, so It’s all in the details.

SARAH HUMMEL COLE EASTERDAY it’s worth it. Pictures are always On a bus, you You get to a big deal.

Senior year, it Limos are SKIP SPAN I don’t think can be with dance with might be worth it.

COLE EASTERDAY It’s fun to get usually too it’s that more formal everyone. everyone on Going out to SCOTT PETERSON expensive. important. than other the bus. eat and getting COLE EASTERDAY Limos are a CHARLOTTE HALEY MALONE dances.

JOHN JANDL KERR a nice dress. better time.

LORA JOYCE

ERIN FLETCHER

by [lauren erikson]

LIMOS

PARTY BUS

the [harbinger]

IS IT WORTH THE ADDED EXPENSE?

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT PROM?

SKIP SPAN

MUDSLIDE BUS (816) 268-8889 www.kcpartybuses.com $130/hr (4 hr minimum) PLAZA LIMO (816) 941-9755 prices vary, call for quote

MORE INFO ABOUT THE LIMOS/ BUSES

so it goes.

page 19 [a&e]

by [katie jones]

Kurt Vonnegut, whose works of American counterculture have become modern classics, died on April 11 at 84-years-ikd. His novels include Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle, and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Through his words, he urged our society to use humor and hope to survive death and destruction. His realistic messages have affected hundreds of East readers, and here are the reactions of three: English teacher Michael Pulsinelli

“

Slaughterhouse-Five definitely changed my view of war. He taught me that being totally antiwar isn’t realistic, that it’s just more important to see [war] as it really is. Not only that-he shows destruction in a comical way. Laughter is one of the strongest weapons we have as a people.

photos by abba goehausen

”

photo courtesy of www.renodiscontent.com

Senior Danny Lawrence

“

In his novels, he has this different view of death and destruction that people bring upon themselves. By showing how terrible people can be to each other and their surroundings, by shoving it in front of our faces, he emphasizes how much we need to improve.

”

Junior Molly McGonigle

“

His books are mind-boggling. They make you think. They make you wonder about all the realities of the universe, about the reality of time. After reading Slaughterhouse-Five, I often think about the possibility that time is really just going in circles. That it’s just something man made up.

”

The Fray and Aqualung, Starlight, Tues. • Damien Rice, Uptown Theatre, May 13 • Animal Collective, Granada, May 20 • Paralyis, Just Off Broadway Theatre, until May 6

Come to the

Columbia Brew Coffee Shop

Coffee......Flavored Hot Chocolate......Vitamin Water......

Starbucks Frappuccinos......Biscotti......And More......

Senior Breakfast Friday May 18 @ 7 a.m. in the cafeteria

Last chance to enjoy the company of the class of ‘07

Indian Creek Fine Silver Jewelry Since 1995

Traditional & Contemporary Sterling Silver Jewelry

Gold • Titanium • Stainless Steel • Pearls • Beaded Jewelry • Citizen & Fossil Watches • Loose Beads & Findings • Pottery • Artwork • Gift Items Jewelry Repair & Services; Watch Batteries Installed

816-361-2112 Toll Free: 800-363-6779 ~Girl Scout honor

Ward Parkway Center 8600 Ward Parkway, KCMO (19, C6)

page 20 [a&e]

‘Hunger Force’

turns stale A commentary on a teen cartoon’s big-screen debut that gets old fast by [katie jones]

Aqua Teen Hunger Force is, and always will be, a light TV snack. Usually served up in fifteen-minute time slots on Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim,” it is a crude, deliberately plotless, funniest-at-two-in-the-morning type of show.

That kind of show might be funny for fifteen minutes.

It sometimes even holds my attention for two back-to-back episodes. But after sitting through nearly two hours of the old show’s big screen debut, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatres, after half-heartedly chuckling at countless pop culture cracks and bizarre one-liners, I wanted my $6.50 back.

Three animated fast-food items make up the Force—Dairy Master Shake (voiced by Dana Snyder), Frylock (Carey Means), and Meatwad (Dave Willis).

Throughout the series, these “midnight marauders” take on all

S M E

kinds of odd “missions.” Master Shake is the team’s self-appointed leader with no work ethic, who constantly tries to boss around Frylock, a box of French-fried potatoes, and Meatwad, a shapeshifting glob of meat with a voice distantly akin to Elmo’s.

Their adventures are the most enjoyable in small servings, kind of like McDonalds. For many, it might not be enjoyable at all (also like McDonalds). The plot is so unconventional and random, even writers and directors Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis say on the show’s website: “If you have to ask what Aqua Teen Hunger Force is about, it is probably not . . . for you. The rest of us will go on thrilling to the adventures of Frylock, Meatwad and Master Shake as they, you know…hang out.”

This being said, a full-length action epic exploring the origins of the Force, who somehow become pitted in a battle over an immortal piece of exercise equipment, might only be truly appreciated by the

photo courtesy of www.movieweb.com

most dedicated die-hard fans.

It’s not that the movie isn’t funny; it’s just that the humor turns stale halfway through.

Everyone in the theatre cackled at the film’s brief musical intro.

It features a rock duel between a group of animated foods singing a ‘60s drive-in-movie jingle and one who’s laying down death metal.

The audience even laughed a little later, when the Force encountered Ignignokt and his side-kick Err, two “Mooninites” from space

resembling digital squares from old video games. But only a proud few had the stamina to follow the plot through the whole movie, still spouting out teary-eyed laughter to the end.

I, however, got lost somewhere after they destroyed the technoblasting exercise machine. It was then that I glanced around me in the dim theatre, searching for signs of life in the other viewer’s illuminated faces. All of them, except for a few fans up front, were

slumped in their red velvet chairs, elbows on the armrests, staring at the screen in a dull stupor. A kid one row down was seriously drooling.

The random, stomachclutching humor of Aqua Teen just doesn’t have the same effect in a dark theatre. It’s simply more satisfying when you’re watching it in your best friend’s basement.

~Girl Scout honor

Band Practice:

page 21 [a&e]

The Harbinger takes a look at some of the acts from the upcoming Bunch of Bands Competition

The six bands that will be competing in this year’s Bunch of Bands were posted on Friday, April 20th. Half of those bands competed last year, while the other three, Go Down Moses, Patrick Robinson, and Mr. Fish, are playing in their first Bunch of Bands.

“It will be interesting having the new bands in the competition,” STUCO Advisor Hannah Pence said. “It will be fun to see some of the younger kids come in and play.”

The bands were chosen by the STUCO Executive Board, Pence, and Co-STUCO Advisor Brenda Fischman.

“We listened for quality of sound,” Senior STUCO President Tyler Enders said.

“We also wanted to pick a diverse group of bands.”

The show is set to begin at 7:00 p.m., and each band gets 20 minute to perform.

The all-junior Go Down Moses will be the first band to perform.

Upper Echelon Colin Hertel- Drums Quinn Stauffer- Lead Vocals and guitar Ben McNamara- Keyboard Sam Reisz- Lead Guitar This year will be Upper Echelon’s first Bunch of Bands appearance, and it will also be their first show with their newest addition, Colin Hertel, who will be playing drums.

Ben McNamara, who usually plays drums, will be playing keyboard.

“Ben probably has the most all-around talent in our band,” senior lead vocalist Quin Stauffer said. “He can play multiple instruments.”

Upper Echelon plans to debut two new songs, both written

by Stauffer. Similar to Go Down Moses, they have an alternative rock style, but compare more to bands like Third Eye Blind and Weezer. Weezer. Ryan Clark said. “We really like playing that song. “It’s a great song live.”

The Case Joey Soptic- Electric Guitar Taylor Hinson-Drums Tommy DeWolf (Rockhurst)-Bass Guitar Johnny McGuire-Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar The Case takes a more laid back approach to the competition in Bunch of Bands. “To us it’s less about winning and more about having a good time and getting other people into the music,” senior Taylor Hinson said. “We’re not really stressing out about [winning].” They have been playing together for three years, and favor a southern/alternative style of rock.

Go Down Moses

SHOW TIMES

Ryan Clark- Lead Guitarist Josh Dorrell- Lead Vocals Sam Hippe (SM South) - Bass Guitar Kevin Medina- Drums

7:00 Go Down Moses 8:00 Stop Time: Featuring Laura Wetzel 7:20 Patrick Robinson 8:20 The Case 7:40 Mr. Fish 8:40 Upper Echelon

Tailgate

Party Friday 4 5:30 pm

Go Down Moses heads into their first Bunch of Bands with confidence, coming off of two successful shows at Black Dog Coffee House and Rock for Darfur at Village Presbyterian Church. They have an alternative, Americana style, and compare themselves to bands like Guster and Oasis. They plan on playing their newest song, “Apply to Me,” and one of their favorites, “Just A Minute.”

“That was the first song we played at our first show (at Rock for Darfur),” junior lead guitarist Ryan Clark said. “We really like playing that song. “It’s a great song live.”

summer music is heating up

page 22 [a&e]

A look into this summer’s concert line up by [erin morrissey] by

Summer Concerts 2007 MAY

6th The Kings of Leon-Voodoo Lounge • 11th The Killers-City Market • 12th Fall Out Boy-Verizon Wireless Ampitheater • 13th Damien Rice-Uptown Theater • 18th Styx-Ameristar Casino • 25th Bow Wow Bow Wow-Hale Arena JUNE

3rd Three Days Grace-Municipal Auditorium 4th Nora Jones 8th The Doobie Brothers9th Puddle of Mudd11th Bloc Party19th John 21st Mayer26th Steve Winwood31130th Toby Keith- John Mayer

The summer is quickly approaching. Seriously. Four weeks, and we’re out of here—even less for seniors. No matter what your • -Uptown Theater • plans are—vacations, working, lying poolside or watching re-runs of Springer all day—you’re going to need a soundtrack. Here’s a list of Ameristar Casino • upcoming concerts sure to keep you rocking all summer long.

What would a Lancer’s summer be without a Dave Matthews Band Liberty Memorial • concert? Better call now to rent your party bus, because Dave & Co. will be coming to town on August 28th, at Verizon Wireless, as always. I’ve Uptown Theater • been to two of their concerts, and in my personal opinion, you’ve seen them once, you’ve seen them a thousand times. It’s still a fun show, though, so Verizon Wireless Ampitheater • check it out if you’re willing to shell out the $40-$65 ticket price. Fans of this genre will also probably want to check out O.A.R. at the Beaumont on Uptown Theater • July 12th. Tickets are $30, and you might want to bring your yearbook to rack up some extra signatures—most likely, half of the SME population will be in The Beaumont Club • attendance.

Verizon Wireless Ampitheater Another band that always makes a point to stop in KC during the warmer months is 311. They’ll be at the Beaumont in Westport on June 26 for $30. It seems like the last three years, they’ve played at progressively smaller venues. In 2005, they headlined at Verizon. In 2006, it was City Market. Now, concert-goers Starlight will be cramped inside the fairly small Beaumont Club, which should make for some interesting moshing.

Theater • In the category of “Concerts You Can Take Mom and Dad To,” we have quite a few acceptable offerings this summer. The Doobie Brothers will be at AmeriStar Casino on Verizon Wireless Ampitheater • June 8. Rush will be at Verizon on August 23 for $34-$77. Both of these will probably be pretty fun concerts, whether or not you were alive when the band was actually recording The Beaumont new music. You’ll be able to score some points with the parents while enjoying some vintage tunes.

VeriClub • For those of you who like to sit back drinking tea and snapping your fingers, never fear—there are plenty of relaxing, soulful shows for you in the coming months. John Mayer zon Wireless Ampitheater will be taking time out of his busy schedule of making Gap Commercials long enough to stop in Kansas. He’ll be at Verizon on June 19. Tickets cost $29-$49. All the soccer moms in the metro area are going to be clamoring for these tickets, so I’d suggest you order them fast.

Norah Jones will be at the Music Hall on June 4 for $49-$59. Love her or hate her, it’s rumored that her voice is even more beautiful live, so I’d give it a shot. There’s got to be some logic behind Verizon Wireless Ampitheater the bazillion Grammy’s she’s won.

If you like to go to concerts where earplugs should be mandatory (but nobody wears them), • Verizon Wireless Ampitheater you’re in for some serious treats this summer. The Killers will be playing at City Market on May 11 for $30. It’s just starting to get warm, so an outdoor concert like this would be a great way to enjoy • Verizon Wireless Ampitheater • the beautiful weather. Just be sure not to sustain any crowd-surfing injuries—prom’s the next night, and you don’t want a back brace marring your cheesy snapshots. Exactly a month later, on June 11th, Verizon Wireless AmpitheBloc Party will be playing at the Uptown for $25. For those of you not familiar with Bloc Party’s sound, their lead singer screams. A lot. Don’t go unless you enjoy a headache. ater

JULY

2nd Goo Goo Dolls3rd Def Leppard12th O.A.R.30th Ozz Fest-

Goo Goo Dolls

AUGUST

9th Kenny Chesney15th Warped Tour23rd RushDave Matthews Band-

State

Forensics

the [harbinger] Saturday 5

28th

page 23 [a&e]

Perfect

Petals

T

he smell of fresh flowers fills the air, and makes up for the tiny store. Fresh flowers crowd the floor, and even hang from the ceiling. The help there is wonderful, and so are the flowers. A normal corsage with just the normal band is $26.99. They also offer “sassy’s”, which are bands that have sequin type decorations on them. They also offer rhinestone and pearl bands. Prices for the “sassy’s” and special bands are $44.99. A regular gentlemen’s single rose boutonniere costs $14.99. They also take orders as late as the day of.

Although the Village Flower Company isn’t the cheapest place, it is well worth the money due to the fact that the service is wonder, the flowers are beautiful and you really get your money’s worth.

Those on the look out for a one-of-a-kind corsage or boutonniere, visit Village Flower Company.

by [rachel birkenmeier]

You’ve found your perfect prom dress or tuxedo, and the perfect shoes to accompany it too. You just can’t wait for that special night that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Except there is alking into Hy-Vee just one thing missing: your flowers it doesn’t look all that special. It is nestled into a small corsage or boutonniere. corner of the store. The lady behind the cash Here are a few floral shops register was more than happy to help me though. that will make finding that Some people would say you wouldn’t want your corsage or boutonniere to come from a grocery store, perfect prom flower much but Hy-Vee delivers just as high a quality as any other easier. florist. A normal corsage starts at $17.99. However, if

W

you are looking for something a little more upscale, they offer a corsage with “the works”. This includes netting, rhinestones and ribbon. The price isn’t bad either; $19.99. A gentlemen’s rose boutonniere is $7.00. Hy-Vee takes orders as late as the day of.

If you are looking for reasonable prices and quality flowers, Hy-Vee is the place for you.

Phone Number 913-385-2552

Address

6801 W. 91 St.

I

f you’re looking for experienced and quality florists, Dalton’s Flowers is the place for you. The store has flowers everywhere, and it’s quite large. The customer service is wonderful, and they are willing to help you get just what you need. Although they might not have the most fancy wrist corsages, they do have the classic look. Corsages start at $22.50. A gentlemen’s rose boutonniere is only $7.00. Dalton’s Flowers takes orders as late as the day of and can have it to you by that night. People looking for traditional, quality flowers, take a look at Dalton’s Flowers.

What do they

MEAN?

Here are of the special meanings flowers have. Make sure to keep this in mind next time you send someone flowers

Phone Number 913-722-1325

Address

6978 Mission Road

Phone Number

pink: gratitude pink: friendship red: passionate love red: flashy white: remembrance white: purity

Orchid

delicate beauty

Daisy

innocence

Baby’s Breath

913-642-2112

festivity

Address photos by katie woods

Carnation

Rose

Blossom Orange

8135 Santa Fe Dr. Overland Park

fertility

information courtesy of aboutflowers.com

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Exams Approaching

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page 24 (a&e)

BACK TO

photo courtesty of Wilco

BASICS.

Wilco returns to original country sound with newest album, ‘Sky Blue Sky’ by [ronan mcghie]

After Wilco’s latest release “Kicking Television: Live in Chicago” (hailed as one of the best live albums), lead singer Jeff Tweedy’s solo tour, a European tour and a recently announced US tour for this summer, Wilco fans have high expectations for the sixth album.

And “Sky Blue Sky” delivers.

Beginning to end, the album runs just over 50 minutes, most similar in length to their earlier album “Summerteeth.” In more ways than one, “Sky” is a progressive return to the alternative country roots that the group made a name on.

The album opener “Either Way” begins on an upbeat note: “Maybe the sun will shine today, the clouds will blow away.” It’s a surprisingly optimistic line for the usually moody band, and the mood prevails through the album.

The new attitude comes from the growth and maturity of Tweedy. He sings, “Maybe you still love me, maybe you don’t. Either

THEHISTORY

you will or you wont,” a far cry from the attitude he voices in previous songs like “Nothingsevergoingtogetinmyway” and “How to Fight Loneliness.”

The songs are layered with a Hammond organ and a stronger rhythm section that gives an injection of life into the otherwise gritty alt-country guitar. The result is less of the easy-listening smooth jazz aesthetic seen in their last album “A Ghost is Born” that had many fans labeling the band’s emerging sound as “dad rock.” “Sky” isn’t an album from the same NPR-ified band that’s good to sip coffee and ponder turning 40 to, but it’s one that begs to be heard between the green grass green and sky blue sky on a summer afternoon. Two songs amaze on first listen — “Impossible Germany” and “Sky Blue Sky,” the title track — but in true Wilco fashion, the album is loaded with good songs that click after a few more listens.

Three tracks in is “Impossible Germany,” a characteristically Wilco song with great

catchy guitar perfectly contrasted with Tweedy’s voice, as only he can. The last few minutes are ridiculously good, filled with the guitar of Nets Cline, a jazz guitarist who instantly improves the band’s quality while also lending to the laid back sound of the album.

The title track, “Sky Blue Sky,” highlights the restrained optimism of the album.

In signature Tweedy fashion he sings, “I survived, that’s good enough for now,” his voice full and cracking with emotion. His temperament holds a twinge of the typical Wilco melancholy but also an untypical, newfound (and consistent) hopefulness, resulting in a beautiful song.

The sound of the newest album is reminiscent of The Band of the late ’60s, finding genius in simple but carefully crafted songs, and it holds up to their masterpiece.

Like great works of art, “Sky” freezes the moment before something important happens, finding beauty in the imminence of change, the calm before the storm. In all its

2

1

glory, Wilco has made a perfect soundtrack to this summer; it grows quickly and is a consistent and coherent album perfectly matching the laid back mood of summer.

THEALBUM Title: Sky Blue Sky Tracks: 12 Release date: May 15 Time: 51 minutes Rating:

4

3

5

Wilco has produced nine albums in the 10 years they have been together. Here’s a look back at a few.

1 A.M. 2 Being There 3 Summerteeth 4 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot 5 Kicking Television

1995

1996 the [harbinger]

1999

2002

2005 photos from amazon.com

A throw down showdown

page 25 [sports]

Seniors find the game Dunk Tip a great thrill by [rachel mayfield] High socks, mesh shorts, cut off T-shirts, sweatbands- typical attire at the weekly gathering for Dunk Tip Basketball, a game developed in the summer of 2006 from the game 21. The only differences in the rules are that you try to dunk the opponent’s shot to bump their score down to zero instead of tipping the ball. If you make a shot, its worth 2 points. The player is then allotted 3 free throws (if they make them all). If the ball is “dunk tipped” before a player has a score of 13, their score is bumped to zero, but if the player has a score higher than 13, their score is bumped back to 13. They play on an 8 ft. goal.

“Everyone is moving at a faster pace,” Burright said. “It can get pretty intense and that’s what makes it fun.”

Burright has won nine out of the 11 dunk tip games played this season.

The game originated from the GABL basketball team “Friends of the Zoo”, which consisted of seniors Corbin Burright, Travis Thein, Andy Sirridge, Brad Myers, Tyler Perkins, and former East

students, Stuart Miller, John Stolle, and Brent Nye. In the summer, they would play Dunk Tip up to three times a week. The group would be contacted via text message and usually play on Thein’s basketball court.

“Once the summer was over and the older guys were leaving for college, we didn’t know if dunk tip would continue or be the same,” Thein said. “Some more guys joined our group this spring and we’ve had a good time, but we are looking forward to this summer to have the original players back.”

New to the dunk tip scene are seniors Evan Lieffer and Jordan Botts.

“I like Dunk Tip because you get to slam dunk over people - I dominate,” Botts said.

The group is looking forward to playing for the rest of the school year and through the summer.

“We get really into it,” Burright said. “We take it seriously but still have fun with it.”

photo by katie woods

How to play Dunk Tip

Above: Senior Corbin Burright (left) goes for a dunk against senior Mike Alexander during a recent Dunk Tip game.

Advertise in the Harbinger

e-mail

smeharbinger@ gmail.com

April 30, 2007

-Lower the goal to 9 feet -Start off with a break (opening shot), shooting a 3-pointer -If made, shoot a maximum of three free throws -Get the ball to the top of the key if three free throws were made -Play like normal 21 game, but instead of tipping the ball, dunk it

page 26 [sports]

By participating in the district meet and KU relays, the track and field team move one step closer to state and are...

RAISING the bar

Above: Senior Peter Helmuth successfully clears the bar on a high jump at the District meet.

Helmuth’s highest jump was 6’2”. photo by samantha ludington

Left: Senior Jordan Botts takes off for his long jump.

The boys finished third in the meet even though they were missing many key contributors to KU relays photo by samantha

Rose

Kansas Relays Results

•Andrew Pennington- Junior- 110 m hurdles: 5th place, 14.93. 300 m hurdles: third place, 39.76.

•Sophomore Stephen Nichols, seniors Taylor Cantril and Sam Bennett, freshman Chris Clarkeboys distance medley relay: 16th place, 11:22.52

•Junior Kelsey Whitaker, senior Kristin Simpson, sophomore Allie Marquis and freshman Mallory Kirby- girls distance medley relay: 11th place, 13:14.14 •Freshmen Maddy Rich and Mallory Kirby, junior Kelsey Whitaker and sophomore Allie Marquis4x880 relay: eighth place, 10:05.51

ludington

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Sunday: Non- 5 p.m.

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Senior Bailey Thomas hands off the baton to sophomore Elizabeth Beck. The handoff is considered one of the most exciting parts of track photo by samantha ludington

CHANGE

minutes with...

jack peterson junior•tennis

Jack Peterson is a returning state cham- On his superstitions- If I pion on the boys’ tennis team. He and part- miss my first serve, I won’t use ner Robby Gillespie hope to return to state. the same ball. I also wear the On why he enjoys doubles- It’s a different same hat (a Texas Longhorns game (than singles) and its a lot more about hat), but that’s just because I’m used to wearing hats. angles and precision and teamwork.

“

On his partner, senior Robby Gillespie- We went through state last year and surprised everyone. We train together in the offseason. Our games are similar and complement each other.

On his favorite shot- You can call it a “tweener” or a between-the-legs shot.

We were playing a pair of scrubs at the Aquinas tournament (played at the Plaza) and I tried it. The guy hit it back, but we won the point.

On his favorite professional tennis player- It’s probably (Rafael) Nadal because he’s the only player who can beat (Roger) Federer.

On the team’s state chances- We should win the rest of our matches and win Sunflower and Regionals, then State. We have a strong chance of getting at least three teams at state.

4

surprising statistics

10-0

Sophomore Chris Fotopoulos’ match score in his #1 singles match at Olathe Northwest Tuesday.

9.75

:03...... games

”

photo by tyler roste

7’2”

play by the Lancers has cost them runs in many games and is something the team needs to improve. Bishop Ward beat Lawrence Free State, ranked #1 in state 6A, last week.

TUESDAY, 5/8

Girls’ soccer @ SM North- No offense to the Indians, but they are one of the worst teams in the Sunflower League.

Why go to this game? Scoring. There will be plenty of goals. Senior Abby Jennings (left) and the other seniors hope to end their regular season with a win.

SATURDAY. 5/5

Boys baseball @ Bishop Ward- Shaky defensive

:01...... moment

2nd

Boys’ golf @ Meadowbrook- The Lancers will be playing in their SM East Tournament and trying to defend last year’s title. The team is ranked third in the Sunflower League.

CHASE LUCAS- SOPHOMORE- BOYS’ GOLFLucas has been a welcome surprise for the boys’ team, shooting a 75 at Prairie Highlands Golf Course April 16 and placing in the top four on the team in the last few meets. The team placed second in the SMNW Invitational April 19, led by Scott Willman’s even-par 72.

ALLISON KIRBY- FRESHMAN- GIRLS’ SWIMMING- Kirby won the 200 meter and 500 meter freestyle race against Blue Valley West April 3 and has qualified for state. The girls’ team won by over 100 points and is becoming a contender for the state title.

The average grade level of the girls’ The height East alum Sheldon Carpenter distance medley relay that placed cleared in 1992, four inches higher than the 7th at KU Relays, the youngest averKU Relays winner. Carpenter was just over age of any team in the top 10. six feet tall.

The place junior Terrance Thomas would have finished at KU with his 10.4 state 100-meter. Raytown South’s Maurice Mitchell ran a 10.26, the fastest high school time in the nation.

TODAY

:02...... players

The laser timing used at the KU Relays April 20-21 ensured that the results were legit. This shot is taken from the 110 meter hurdles final.

The lines represent the point that the laser recognizes as the runners’ finishes.

Junior Andrew Pennington is at the bottom. He placed 5th in the 110 hurdles and 3rd in the 300 hurdles.

photo by Delta Timing Group

5

page 27 [sports]

photo by whitney van way

Blue Moon Next Week!

Located on the west side of the Village Shopping Center near Minsky’s.

Hey Lancers!

For one-of-a-kind jewelry, go to...

JEWELRY BY DESIGN Come by after school for iced coffee, Italian sodas, mochas, scones, and incredible cookies.

7am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday 8am-2pm Sunday

6937 Tomahawk Rd. Prairie Village, KS 66208 913.384.2445

76th & State Line Road 913-341-7100

page 28 [photo essay]

FIVE MINUTES OF FAME

Students from East and around the metro entered and enjoyed original films lasting only five minutes

by [samantha ludington] Left: East students in the front row talk excitedly during intermission. The Film Festival was held at the AMC theaters on Ward Parkway, this was the first year it was hosted in an actual theater.

The competition was open to Shawnee Mission district as well as Blue Valley.

There was a total of 19 films entered, 14 of which were shown in the festival.

Below: Though the event was open to any, it was run solely by East StuCo. StuCo organized the event; advertising, selling tickets, and making and selling t-shirts at the event. Below, StuCo board secretary senior Betsy Morris works selling t-shirts during the intermission.

Below Left: Senior Weston Anderson climbs through the crowd to join Jimmy Allen after it was announced that the two received first place on their film titled “Battlefield Brunch�. The first place winners recieved a total of $1,000, $500 from StuCo and $500 donated by AMC theaters.

Right Below: The hosts for the night were seniors, Annie Krieg and Phillip Wolfe. During intermission there was a raffle for several different prizes, including gift cards from AMC. Above: Junior StuCo member Drew Popplewell and senior Ben Ashworth read over the program during the short intermission break.

the [harbinger]