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A&E: Concerts to check out this summer » PAGE 23

Y Y Q S TW X

NEWS: New English 11AP class created » PAGE 5

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LETTERS

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ISSUE FIFTEEN april 28, 2008 shawnee mission east prairie village, ks

More senior papers deemed plagiarized as use of verification methods increases

T

BY

»phoebeunterman

he day senior Kristen Altoro got her senior paper back, she couldn’t stop crying.

It wasn’t because she received a grade lower than expected, or even because she hadn’t passed. It was because she was given a label which proved difficult to shake off in the following weeks; a label Altoro says is contrary to all the hard work she put into her paper.

Altoro failed the paper due to a charge of plagiarism, and the rumors began flying that she was a cheater.

Altoro’s paper came back from turnitin.com, the web site used to catch plagiarism in students’ papers, as suspiciously similar to the paper of a friend who has a different English teacher.

Altoro admits that she and her friend chose the same topic for their papers, and also researched together, but she was not aware that what she was doing would be considered plagiarism.

“We used some of the same quotes from the books to prove the same points…but I didn’t at all see her paper and she didn’t at all see mine from the beginning, so that really frustrated me,” Altoro said.

» story continued on page 3

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NEWS

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Pennies for

Freshmen start program to help students in the Middle East

peace BY

BRIEFS

Five Minute Film Festival

» natalieeisenach

Spare change: it’s everywhere. Hiding in the cracks beFreshman Hannah Walter was one of seven girls who tween the sofa cushions, in a coat pocket or collecting in a worked on the project. For two weeks they collected money pile under the passenger seat in a car. For most Americans in jars set up in English classes and on the hallways during a few pennies is worth nothing, but to the girls behind the lunch. It was while working a shift during lunch that she real“Pennies for Peace” campaign the extra change could pay for ized the importance of their project. pencils, a teacher’s salary or even a new school for students To educate students who were donating money, the girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. set up a display of picture showing the poor school facilities Freshmen Annie Sgroi and Maddie Bavley pulled together in Middle Eastern countries. Marine recruiters visiting East a group of their friends to begin a “Pennies for Peace” cam- saw the display and they reflected on their own personal expaign at East after being inspired by Greg Morteson’s book periences to the girls.

“Three Cups of Tea.” The book explains his experiences in “They said the schools there were really bad… they didn’t the Middle East and the need to bring education to children of even have things like books to learn with… he said he thought those nations; it also educates others on how to aid by start- that we had a really good cause,” Walters said. ing their own “Pennies for Peace” campaign ( a program afAfter receiving positive feedback and collecting more filiated with Morteson). money than expected, the group became inspired. They set This year Bavley and Sgroi’s a goal for themselves: to raise the $12,000 to group were able to collect over $950 pay for a new school by their senior year.

Our best hope for a peaceful and exceeding their expectations, but the “It would be really cool to help build a prosperous world lies in the educaexperience has further inspired them whole school” Walters said. tion of all the world’s children. to continue on with their project and Next year they want to be more verbal Through cross-cultural understandexpand next year. with about their project and get the word out. ing and a solution-oriented apThe group of girls was given the They plan on making more announcements, proach, Pennies for Peace encourag- delivering speeches to the English classes idea to start their fundraiser after es American children, ultimately our Bavley’s mother, Theresa, took them personally and sending out more emails to future leaders, to be active particito see Morteson speak about his raise awareness. pants in the creation of global peace. book. Morteson’s message is to pro“We need to get the word out,” Walters -Pennies for Peace said. mote peace through education and primarily through educating girls The group has also decided to expand to in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He enthe feeder elementary and middle schools courages others to get involved by raising money to improve for further help in reaching their goal. They plan on visitthe conditions of schools in the Middle East. ing schools such as Briarwood and Mission Valley to teach “It’s an incredible way to promote peace. They educate other students interested in helping on how to start their own girls on terrorism in the countries to help end the cycle,” The- fundraisers. resa Bavely said. “[We would like to] set up a basic structure that other Sgroi and Bavley pulled together organized a group of schools can follow,” Bavley said. “We can help get them startseven girls to launch a “Pennies of Peace” campaign at East. ed and let them go from there, but we help out at the elemenDuring Spring Break the girls met to email teachers, make tary schools more.” signs and flyers, and construct “Three Cups of Tea” inspired With nearly one twelfth of their goal met, the “Pennies for handouts to distribute in English classes.

Peace” group has a lot work to do if they plan to reach their The proceeds that East collected will be sent to the Central goal in the next three years. This has not fazed them; it has Asia Institute (CAI) and forwarded to their projects overseas. only led to inspiration. The school year is coming to an end A penny can buy a pencil, a dollar can pay for a teacher’s but they have just begun to prepare and plan for next year’s daily wage, and drive, eager to reach their goal. $12,000 can pay for a school.

“

news The Five Minute Film Festival, featuring films by Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley students, is Thursday at Ward Parkway theaters.

Tickets cost $3 at the door. Festival shirts cost $10 and are available through student council.

Graduation Dates Announced The East graduation is May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Shawnee Mission District Stadium at South, located at 5800 West 107 Street.

Prom Prom is May 9 at Union Station from 9-12 p.m. Prom is open to all juniors and seniors and underclassmen dates. Tickets cost $60 an East couple, and $70 for an East student and a guest couple. After-Prom at Powerplay is included in the ticket price. There is a $25 fee for a replacement ticket. Tickets will be on sale before and after school and during lunch from May 5-8.

SHARE Package Pick Up The list for students who have received SHARE packages will be listed around the building on Wednesday.

SHARE packages may be picked up Wednesday through Friday.

SkillsUSA Contest Results Junior Emma Collins took first place in community service and job interview, Cody Hacker took first place in computer maintenance technology, and senior Candyze Harris took third place in Food and Berverage Services

Late Start There will be a late start Thursday. School starts at 9:40 a.m.

“

Early Release

power of a What is

?

Pennies for Peace

Pennies for Peace™ is a service learning program designed to broaden people’s cultural horizons, and to help them understand their capacities as philanthropists – one penny at a time.

28 april

2008

featured

penny

village

The penny, 1 percent of a dollar, is symbolic of the 1 percent of Gross Domestic Product goal set by the United Nations, which was for wealthy nations to give foreign aid to impoverished countries each year.

Got spare change?

Pennies for Peace features various villages where it focuses on community-based education

Korphe, Pakistan

• population: 400 • households: 40 • local language: Balti

Look for stray pennies in your couch, in the car and on the street. Or start a piggy bank at home to collect pennies on your own. Think about what you had to give up in order to save those pennies and what those pennies might do for someone in another country.

There will be an early release May 8. School dismisses at 1:45 p.m.

Robotics Team Wins Competition The East Robotics team won five out of its seven matches at the FIRST competition in Atlanta, which gave them a placing of 14 out of 88 teams in its division, and in the top 50 teams overall. The team was also honored with the highest seeded rookie award in its division, and was ranked as one of the top four rookie teams in the world.

RIPPING »

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»photoillustrationbynorasalle

issue

15

NEWS

4

A waning legacy BY

»conortwibell

After 11 years of Blue Moons, this year’s performance will not be a normal one. Tracy Resseguie will be taking his final bow as choral director at East. The show’s performances will include the likes of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Cats.”

This Blue Moon, which will take place on May 8, and May 9, will be the last Blue Moon at East, according to theater teacher Tom Defeo. Resseguie will be taking the tradition of Blue Moon with him next year as he departs for brand-new Staley High School in the North Kansas City school district. Defeo says that there may be a Spring Concert, but its up to the new choir director to decide.

In the Blue Moon performances, each choral group takes a medley from differ-

ent musicals creating up to a four hour performance. There are also a select few who sing solos in between each medley.

“I wanted a way to celebrate the choral program and what the seniors had given to it and a fun way to keep everybody busy until the end,” Resseguie said. “I think it’s just a wonderful way to celebrate the last performance these seniors will give and I feel it’s my way of saying thank you to them.”

When Resseguie told his students he was leaving, it was a shock to everyone.

The main reason of his departure was not only block scheduling, but his own conscience. Junior Chad Allen, a three year choir student, understood Resseguie’s motives to leave.

“Resseguie kept telling us that he went

Recent Resseguie choir travels r Ge

la nd

Ire

land

Eng

In the Choraliers 2007 trip to Ireland, they visited and sang at many iconic locations, including Blarney Castle and Buratty Castle. While they were there they also attended the St. Patrick’ Day Parade in Dublin.

On the same trip in England, they got the opportunity to sing in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cambridge.

New York City

m

y an

When the Choraliers visited New York in 2007, they appeared on Good Morning America, singing a selection of songs, as well as attending a taping of TRL. Also while in New York they sang with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall.

Other Tour Notables: They were invited by the Pope to sing at the Pantheon in Greece.

Were named the 2004 Grand Champions at Winter Park Music Ski Festival.

In a 2004 trip to Germany, the Choraliers got the opportunity to sing where Bach created most of his later works, St. Thomas Church. They did so on Bach’s birthday.

After bringing Blue Moon to East 11 years ago, Tracy Resseguie will be taking part in the last Blue Moon May 8-9

where the Lord wanted him to go, and it’s pretty tough to argue with that,” he said. “He also felt that with all of the other changes happening around the school [construction, block schedule, etc.] it would be the right time to go.”

Allen recalled memories from his days as a freshman in choir.

“When I was a freshman I never really pictured him leaving,” Allen said. “I remember everyone sitting in the choir room right before Blue Moon freshman year, listening to the senior speeches and wondering what I thought I would say when I got up there, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”

Resseguie says that he has had many special memories at East, some including a special concert granted by the Pope where they gave a 20 minute performance in the Pantheon. One that is very special to Resseguie is when his choir sang in Leipzig, Germany.

“I remember when we sang at St Thomas’s in Leipzig, it was quite spectacular and to sing in the same church that Bach wrote almost all of his music as an adult, 30 years of writing, and to sing on his birthday and celebrate it amongst all other days was pretty special,” he said.

Bothering Resseguie is that heard many rumors that some choir students are going to quit because he is leaving.

“It is really disappointing and hurtful to me because they’re my legacy and if they aren’t there to continue it on no one will and the choral program at East has always been very strong ever since the institution opened and Dan Zollars came and that legacy has to keep going,” Resseguie said.

Allen is definitely not one of the students that plans on quitting.

“I am still signed up for choir next year,

but I could really only see myself quitting if I just really hated the new person, which I really doubt would happen. I know that some people, immediately after he announced his decision, literally went directly to the office to switch out of choir next year, but I’m pretty sure that all of them have reconsidered and are still going to be in it next year.”

Many students are sad that he is leaving not just because they like him, but because he is an outstanding teacher and director. He has toured with his choir all over the world and has received many high honors and awards. His choirs have received the title of Outstanding Small Chamber Choir, Outstanding Large Concert Choir, and Grand Champion.

When talking about leaving East he says, “I don’t know how to express this being my last year at East, I don’t really try to think about it. I’m really not looking forward to that last thing; I sometimes wish that I could slow things down. It’s just so hard to put it into words. I’ll also miss the students desperately, but the students at East are wonderful and they have a great approach to life and that’s what I’ll miss most.”

SHARE balloon release created to remember lost loved ones BY

» sarahluby

Dear Paige, I want you to know that I still think about you everyday. I miss you so much and I wish you could be here to graduate and go to college with me.

I love you so much.

Britney

28 april

2008

Senior Britney Barnds still misses one of her best friends, Paige Winters, who died in a plane crash almost a year ago. She wishes ev-

eryday that she could talk to Paige.

Now, Barnds feels like she can communicate her feelings to Paige. And this is what Barnds plans to write on Paige Winter’s pink or green balloon on the first Balloon Launch on May 1 at 3 p.m. in the front circle.

This is a new project that SHARE is sponsoring.

“It’s to remember all of the loved ones who have touched our lives at Shawnee Mission East,” SHARE adviser Pat Kaufman said.

The project was created by Barnds, who thought this would be a nice way to honor Paige.

People who have lost a loved one are also invited to come and write a message on a balloon that will be launched on May 1.

All the balloons will be bio-degradable and pink and green, for those were Paige’s favorite colors.

The friends of Paige Winters will be the first group to launch.

“It’s great that we will have something like this to share with the people at our school that are dealing with losses,” Barns said. “Now that graduation is coming up, it makes me wish Paige was still here with us.”

Every year from here on out, the names of the loved ones lost will be read and a balloon released for them.

“We know there is really nothing we can do,” Kaufman said. “But we can remember!”

»renli

»halliemccormick

s sophomores enrolled for their 2008-2009 classes they could no longer choose to enroll in junior English honors; junior English AP had replaced it. The syllabus is changing, the focus is altered, and the requirements are being tweaked.

The main difference between these classes is the literature. Originally junior English honors focus on American Literature. However, now with the AP emphasis, a switch has to be made.

“11 AP is an unusual class,” English teacher Vicki Tucker said. “It focuses on non-fiction and argument.

It’s not the traditional American Lit focus the honors class use to be.”

Tucker was asked in February to assist honors junior English teacher Bill Boley with creating and teaching the new AP curriculum next year.

“I think they asked me to teach it because I’ve already taught it for six years when I lived in Texas, so I have experience with teaching it already,” Tucker said.

“However, I am a little nervous about teaching for the new Synthesis essay on the AP test.”

The new Synthesis essay is a visual essay that allows the student to analyze charts or pictures and compare them to a non-fiction work they have read.

“It is a very good exercise on how even to think better,” Tucker said.

One concern about the introduction of the new AP class is the affect it might have on the enrollment for senior English AP. “Most colleges don’t take more than a certain amount of college credit hours,” Bill Boley said. “If the juniors do really well on the junior AP test and get all the hours they can for college, some seniors might opt out of senior English AP to take less challenging classes.”

Shawnee Mission North High School has offered English 11 AP for the past nine years and has had no such problems with their senior AP enrollment. They make sure to keep communication open between the grade levels offering AP classes and offer an AP English

degree. Some students will want the rigorous examination of nonfiction and others will prefer the literature survey style of the senior course; but I would like to think that seniors will still want to challenge themselves by taking AP Lit and Comp whether or not they are going to receive college credit for it.

Though the AP junior English doesn’t focus on literature like the old junior honors English class did, Boley is still hoping to hold onto the four novels he teaches every year: “Scarlet Letter,” “Huckleberry Finn,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Cold Mountain.” This means that juniors will still be reading American novels that will help them on their English 12 AP exams. However, what will be lost is the poetry unit.

In place of poetry the class will be preparing students by adding non-fiction, and teaching persuasion and argumentative styles. Boley and Tucker will prepare their students for the AP test is by having the students read newspaper clippings, listening to broadcasts, or examining expository writing to analyzing the argumentative style it uses.

“One of the best arguments I’m aware of is Dr. King’s letter from Birmingham jail,” Boley said, “It’s so well done, it’s almost textbook rhetoric.

We’ll definitely be studying that in full as an argumentative example.”

Along with East, Shawnee Mission Northwest is also adding the junior English AP class next year because, according to English department head Kay Kassen, Northwest students and parents want another way to earn college credit hours than just at JCCC through College Now. Students also want to be able to have the AP title written on their class transcript.

“There are so many benefits to having an AP 11 English class,” Tucker said. “It raises the level of teachers for content and technique, and it challenges them intellectually as well.”

With creation of a new English 11 AP class, it’s out with the old books and...

In with the

5

NEWS

A

BY

new

vertical team.

“This team, made up of honors and AP teachers from North and all our feeder schools, meet several times a year to align our curriculums and share ideas and strategies,” English Department Chair Donna Hobbs said.

“Many of us have trained together repeatedly at various Collegeboard workshops.”

English 12 AP teacher Jeannette Bonjour isn’t worried about conflicting AP English classes because senior students will benefit from having junior AP English since the senior English AP test covers both British and American lit.

I guess [enrollment] depends on whether all juniors who are in an honors/AP class take it junior year, Bonjour said. Its going to depend on student preference to some

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You’ve got

7

» renl

i

EDITORIAL

a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 mission road, prairie village, kansas 66208 april 28, 2008 issue 15, volume 49 The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission East or SMSD faculty, or administration.

East should adopt an electronic turn in policy to minimize plagiarism and reduce paper waste Talk about a bad case of senioritis. The spike in students this year caught plagiarizing their senior papers is both shocking and embarrassing.

Maybe it was the laziness that notoriously creeps in second semester senior year. Maybe it was due to innocent errors like neglecting to quote someone else’s work in one or two instances. But whatever the causes of this year’s spike in students caught for plagiarism, one thing’s quite clear: they should have known better.

One would expect that seniors, after four years of high school, have learned at least some basic principles of academic integrity. Principles that include using their own heads to come up with ideas for an essay, utilizing outside sources responsibly and not copying someone else’s work and then claiming it as their own. The seniors who plagiarized undoubtedly knew this.

For some reason, however, they chose to ignore it, and now they will have to pay the consequences. Most, if not all, of the students who plagiarized obviously thought they could get away with it. Otherwise, attempting to do so would be even more foolish. Most likely, they had plagiarized at some point earlier on in their high school careers and had not been caught. The high number of those caught this time around shows the triumph of counterplagiarism tools that some teachers are using for the first time, and that all teachers should be encouraged to employ.

English teacher Jeannette Bonjour, who caught a significant number of cheaters, did so through the web site www.turnitin.com. Long

used by some teachers, this web site has helped crisis brings attention to educators worldwide reduce their instances of a wider, often neglected, plagiarism and provide effective deterrents to problem. The students who pla cheating students. Students turn in their writ- giarized on the last paper of their high ten assignments to special folders on the site, school years should have considered the conwhich then scans each document for sentences sequences of their actions before taking somethat match anything in its database of billions one else’s work and calling it their own. They of published pages. According to Bonjour, last should have weighed the costs and benefits of spring many senior English teachers met and what they were doing, and chosen the more agreed to use the site for this year’s senior pa- ethical and ultimately beneficial path: to write per. Their strategy seems to have paid off. their papers in their own words.

Geography and history teacher John Nickels But ultimately, the authorities are the ones has been asking students to turn in their work who uphold ideals and keep order in any sothrough turnitin.com for at least seven years. ciety, including high school. When teachers Nickels advertises his policy well: all of his stu- create a serious enough deterrent to plagiadents know that if they plagiarize, they will be rism and cheating, they will see the number of caught – and there will be consequences. For violators reduce dramatically, helping Shawnee him, this has meant virtually no plagiarism Mission Wonderful maintain an honest student since implementing his deterrent policy. body.

“I’ve never had to do anything, because just the threat has stopped [students from plagiarizthe ing],” Nickels said.

More teachers need to get on the absent against for bandwagon and start using www.turThe majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board nitin.com or similar services. The best way to uphold academic integrity and ensure a decrease in plagiarism is to create this kind of a strong deterrent. When someone knows that they will be caught, they will be much less likely to do something risky. Obviously, this must also go B from esides hand-in-hand with heavy the pl consequences.

Des agiari fact t zi h sity M Seniors are not the in 2 oines ng, it i at elec 002 t Are s als only ones who plago g .T a o roni ree giarize, and n. H hey e Comm an eco c turn lim ere the most inat unity -frien in poli are ed a Colle dly a cies som recent p ll g p

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15

8

OPINION

Literary LEWDNESS

anopinionof

»mikemazzoni

Senior finds issue with racy content in library magazines

For a school that puts an internet block on practically every website and its mother, I found it hard to believe that our library would house magazines that not only had little educational value, but more importantly, ones that contain risqué sexual content.

On April 14 at 1:24 p.m. I picked up the April copy of Glamour magazine off the library’s magazine shelf, and consequently crossed the line of manliness many teenage guys never wants

to walk.

For those who are not familiar with Glamour magazine, it is, in my opinion, closer to being a product catalog than anything else. A majority of the magazine is ads promoting different makeup brands, clothing lines, lingerie and feminine products. The few remaining pages are dedicated to the latest celebrity gossip of who’s dating whom, guides to beauty, which stars are too thin or too thick or too just-right, and finally, sex tips.... it was clear that I am not part of the magazine’s target audience.

Though the content that makes up Glamour does not catch my interest in any way, I understand that many young women are interested in it similarly to the way young men may find Sports Illustrated, an equally recreational magazine, interesting. And while I am not a fan of censorship of ideas in the media or trying to protect students from things that are real parts of life, my experience with the sexual content of Glamour’s April issue has me questioning if it may be a necessary addition to the library’s collection.

As I held the copy of Glamour I scanned across the magazine shelf that seemed to hold, in general, intellectually informative magazines: Popular Mechanics,

»lancervoice senior

Bryan Gold Jr.

Newsweek, and National Geographic along with others.

I wondered what educational value Glamour could possibly have and how it came to be in our library.

A conversation with Nancy Fritz, the librarian in charge of the magazine section of the library, helped me to understand how specific magazine subscriptions are chosen for the shelf.

“I try to pick [magazines] that, first, support the curriculum,” Fritz explained. “Then there are those students who aren’t very interested in reading so I order some others that might interest them and get them to read something” But as I plowed into one of the issue’s featured articles, “Men’s new sexual needs,” I began to wonder if this was really what it takes to get people to read. How far should the school go in order to meet the interests of students to get them to read? What makes the content in “Men’s new sexual needs” any more suitable than an article found in Playboy magazine?

I was shocked by the explicit and occasionally pornographic content of the piece, which guides the reader through the evolution of men’s sexual needs over the years and explains how to meet them. Though the word “evolution” is used, don’t be fooled; there is nothing intellectual about the piece.

As I dove further into the article, after reading a page and a half about different people’s sexual requirements, I reached a sidebar section heading reading “What do you expect in bed, and what’s extra credit?”

After reading the responses listed by several men I pondered the question for a moment because the author obviously intended for this to provoke a deep, intellectual response. What do I expect in bed?

Being easy to please, the answer is simple. In bed sheets are a must, along with a comfortable blanket; wool and flannel are definite turnoffs. Now one of those really poofy down pillows…that is extra credit.

Although I have grown up in a society that has saturated every aspect of media with sex, I continued to the third page and could hardly believe that I was reading about some 36-year-old woman’s craziest sex request in the library of a public school.

Even though I don’t find the magazine personally offensive or excessively inappropriate, I believe that in a school setting the expectations for appropriateness are higher. Over the years I have come to associate any library, ours especially, as a semi-controlled environment in which one can experience different ideas through research and learning. The feeling of safety I had associated the library with was shattered as though I had just watched a DARE officer take the McGruff dog out back and shoot him like Old Yeller.

In the same way that the library does not put the swim suit edition of Sports Illustrated out on the shelf (believe me, that would definitely get some young men into reading), I do think that some censorship is needed for all the library’s magazines in order to keep the more extreme, inappropriate content like Glamour’s “Men’s new sexual needs” out of the public learning environment that is a library.

Despite adult themes and topics found in magazines like “Glamour” and “Cosmopolitan,” the Shawnee Mission East library continues to stock such publications even though the aforementioned topics could be deemed inappropriate for school.

junior

Emma Collins

sophomores

Hannah Satterlee & Erika Davee

freshman

Maddie Bavely

QUESTION 1: Have you ever encountered periodicals in the library that you have found offensive? If so, what sort of subject matter was addressed?

I have yet to become offended, which I am glad I haven’t, but if I did find something, I would be fairly impartial.

No. But I definitely think they’re there. I don’t get offended as easily as some people but I think that materials in every library can be considered offensive.

We’ve seen them before, but we don’t really find them offensive, just somewhat humorous.

Yes I have. Most of it was articles in magazines about sex and that sort of thing

QUESTION 2: What do you think about a high school library censoring/monitoring its materials?

I don’t agree with it, kids at this age are mature enough and should be able to be exposed to many things.

If a high school library can legally carry a magazine or book, then they should offer it to students but with information on what a student is actually looking at.

It wouldn’t be too bad because everyone is can be exposed to them outside school anyways.

I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, because no matter what happens, kids can always see them when they leave school.

QUESTION 3: If the library were to alter their current inventory, how much do you think it would affect students?

I don’t really think it would matter, too few students utilize the library for personal reading purposes.

If more East students took advatnage of the East periodical library, then it would affect them. But as it is, most people wouldn’t even notice.

Some students would probably be upset, but most seem to be mature enough that it wouldn’t happen.

Once again, it really wouldn’t affect the students. They will still read the same magazines or books on their own time.

9

OPINION

From drowsiness

to deprivation Student finds that current schedule doesn’t meet teenagers’ sleep needs

anopinionof

I remember the good ol’ days in eighth grade when I could go to sleep at midnight and get a solid eight hours of sleep before leaving to make it to school by 8:45 a.m. Now, thanks to the three to four hours of homework minimum I have every night, extracurricular activities, and a 7:40 start time I get about six.

I think that could be solved by starting school at 8:30 a.m.

I’m sure that I’m not the only » duncanmchenry one with this opinion. Walking around the halls of East, I commonly see bed head, dark circles under eyes and people who would rather catch a quick powernap than learn logarithmic functions. I would be the first to admit that the cool wooden surface of a desk looks pretty comfortable after being up until 3 a.m. working on a paper the night before.

According to a study by Stanford University, high school students need about nine hours of sleep per night.

This would require us at East to go to sleep at around 9 p.m. every night, a feat that would be impossible for me with my homework load and other things like sports practices. Also, I’m pretty sure that no one arrives home from school, immediately does all their homework, has dinner, and goes to bed. We all need at least an hour or so per night to relax and unwind. When you have a daunting 50 pages to read and analyze for English and two tests looming the next day, that relaxation time can end up costing you valuable sleep.

In fact, teenagers are already more inclined to go to sleep later as a result of hormone changes, according to Trent Oestreich, a doctor at the KU Med Sleep Disorders Center. With their sleep schedules pushed back, many teenagers find it difficult to wind down, and end up lying in bed unable to go to sleep until 11 or 12 p.m. even if they go to bed at an early hour.

Sleep deprivation can also have repercussions outside of school. According to the National Institute of Health’s Research Center on Sleep Disorders, approximately 55 percent of all car crashes that occur because a driver falls asleep at the wheel involve people under 26. The study concludes that this is largely due to college and high school students underestimating how much sleep they need. Stanford University studies have also revealed that

» renli lack of sleep can impair memory and creativity, and cause irritability and mood swings.

I myself have noticed these symptoms when I don’t get enough sleep. For example, in freshman year my basketball team was getting ready for a big game against Shawnee Mission West. The night before, after arriving home from practice and having a quick bite to eat, I realized that it was pushing 9 p.m. and I still had around four hours of homework. Needless to say I was up until after 1 a.m., and the next day I played terribly. The little point guard I was defending crossed me over numerous times, and I even forgot half of the plays on offense. I’m sure that this was directly related to the less than five hours of sleep I had gotten the night before.

I’m not suggesting we solve this with anything drastic like pushing the start time forward three hours. I’m merely suggesting that we make the school start time 8:30 a.m., still fifteen minutes earlier than the current 8:45 a.m. start time of every middle school in the district. If that means getting out of school at 3:30 p.m. instead of 2:40 p.m., I’m perfectly fine with that. I just know that I’ve had it with looking at my chemistry homework at night and realizing that I have no clue how to balance chemical equations because I was nodding off during class.

According to next year’s SMSD superintendent, Gene Johnson, the district has never considered starting later due to issues with bus schedules and after school sports and activities. The district’s school buses currently operate on a triple route system, meaning that they pick up high school students first, followed by elementary students and lastly middle school students.

A viable solution to this is to switch the middle school and high school bus order. This way, elementary students can keep their relatively late start time of 8:10 a.m., eliminating any worries about kids going to school in the dark. It has been scientifically proven that teens need more sleep than any other stage of life due to rapid physical growth and puberty. Although most middle school students are teens too, it makes more sense for them to start at 7:40 a.m. because of the vastly lower academic demands of middle school.

As for concerns about extracurricular activities starting later, I don’t see a huge difference between a sports practice ending at 5 p.m., and one ending at 5:50 p.m. One advantage of activities ending later is that many working parents would be more available to pick up their kids.

I also understand that it is important for coaches to get

Driving fatigued could be fatal...

• Each year over 100,000 car crashes are caused by drowsiness • 1,500 are killed each year in car crashes that are caused by people between the ages of 15 and 24 and who are lacking sleep • Studies have shown that 16 to 60 percent of all accidents involve sleep deprivation » www.sleepfoundation.org

home to their families at a decent hour, but is 50 minutes such a huge price to pay for more alert and energetic athletes? After all, nothing takes the sting out of that 10th set of sprints quite like an extra hour of sleep.

I have a feeling, and I think that I’m right, that if the start time were later, teachers would find us much more attentive. I’ve noticed that waking up with sun pouring through the windows on a late start day is much more motivating than my typical 6:30 a.m. stumble from my bedroom in the dark. I was also much more energetic at school on those days.

The argument could be brought up, however, that students will merely go to bed even later and get the same amount of sleep. I don’t think that this would be an issue, because the time normally spent trying to fall asleep at 9 or 10 p.m. could be spent finishing homework, allowing students to be in bed by at least 11 p.m. An extra 50 minutes before school starts is all I ask. The snooze button on my alarm clock could use the break as much as me.

Pillow talk

Students weigh in on sleep deprivation at East “I think that school definitely does start too early and I for sure don’t get enough sleep, but I don’t think that it would be right to make school start later, because of sports and stuff.”

Emma Tyler “The main cause of sleep deprivation among high school students is homework, because most students don’t have enough time especially if they are in sports to finish their homework and get enough sleep.”

Brian Willamson “I think that our school should definitely start later in the day, because sleep deprivation has become such a major problem.”

Katie Cox

issue

15

OPINION

10

What you are reading was originally supposed to be a simple, redundant commentary on Stuff White People Like, the latest in internet humor blogs created this past January chiefly concerned with tracking the latest white people fads.

Yet while writing my meaningless review, it occurred to me how » maxmcbride volatile the subject I was handling really was.

Underlying the foolish premise of a website like Stuff White People Like is a topic so feared and so avoided that it is often called America’s “original sin.” That topic is race.

So while I sit at my desktop and chuckle about how much white people like Apple products or how they dream of going to San Francisco, maybe I’m overlooking something much more serious.

Sure, I’m not offended in the least, but overall, I’m a fairly easygoing guy, and generalizations about my whiteness aren’t something that I find harmful.

But what if I was an African-American, and what if someone made a website called Stuff Black People Like? I think the case might be very different.

Race has been the topic of humor for decades, and many times, a comedian’s wittiest bit can be their own perspective on race.

But as a society with an almost incomparable diversity, we need to respect each other and use our comedy appropriately rather than whoring ourselves out for cheap laughs from bigoted jokes.

In my opinion, comedy offers a bridge between races that many other forms of communication and discussion cannot. Comedy offers a segway to a topic so touchy and reviled because of its ability to circumvent much of the offensiveness and the awkwardness by making us laugh, then making us think.

Professor Randal Jelks, a professor of African American studies and American History at the University of Kansas agrees with this, by asserting that comedy is indeed an object used to disarm, then push a purpose. To move away from the divided racial climate of our present society, Jelks believes that “we have to expose and we have to talk [about it], but we also have to laugh.”

It seems that often times a comedian’s opinion is so outlandish or so stereotypical that one cannot help but laugh both at the individual’s joke but also at the foolishness of everything we perpetuate.

Yet comedy can be limited in what it can fulfill. When Barack Obama talks openly about race, the potential for political action is much higher than if a comedian addresses the subject. And as Jelks puts it, “humorists don’t create America,

anopinionof

Putting race in the comedic

Spotlight

Comedy is an effective way to comment on racial issues

Racial Humor Comedians that use humor to talk about race: Dave Chappelle George Lopez Chris Rock Ari Shaffir Richard Pryor Russell Peters Shows / movies that use humor to talk about race: Blazing Saddles Madtv Trading Places Hairspray Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

» alexanderson » tylerroste

»lancervoice senior

Brandon Russell

they simply reflect America. Comedians aren’t really meant to exist as social leaders or else comedy would become dull.”

However, a comedy bit is most helpful when it brings certain issues to the sight of the public.

While race has always been an incredibly weighty issue in American society, it was not until someone like Richard Pryor brought it to the forefront that people were really confronted by it through popular culture.

Pryor’s willingness to be in your face paved the way for newer comedians like Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock to offer more raw and less convoluted social critiques.

But when does something that was “supposed to be funny” go too far, when is it appropriate to touch the subject of race, and who is allowed to say what?

As far as guidelines go, much of it relies on what sociologists call “insider status.” A black man telling a joke about black people is not racist because it is a perspective, an individual commentary from inside that particular ethnic group. And while the joke may be crude or risqué, when it boils down, the ability to laugh at ourselves, and point out flaws is part of our acceptance of what it means to be human. And for many, as Jelks points out, “laughing can be a means of coping with struggle.”

But when an outsider begins to target groups using humor, that’s when lines must start being drawn.

The critical nature of racial based humor according to Jelks is “to get people to laugh with the subject of the joke, rather than at them.” Well done jokes help people come together and think through issues, though only if a necessary level of understanding is reached.

Thus humor that is presented ignorantly and without any familiarity with the subject matter, humor used to undermine ethnic groups, or humor used portray groups of people as vile human beings, is never something we should accept.

Hopefully as a nation we are finally moving towards a long awaited de-emphasis on race and ethnicity; a time of changing political climates and changing social norms. And while humor may not be by itself a panacea for America’s divisive bigoted woes, it can certainly bridge gaping divisions not only with its subject matter, but its ability to make people conscious and raise awareness.

But one factor can remain certain. Comedians will always have their jokes, and will always be at the helm of social commentary. Let’s just hope that they can voice their opinions and observations, packing all the same punch, this time with such necessary respect and tact.

Though we may unfortunately draw lines and make opinions from preconceived labels, we all must remember that every group has a stereotype: a sense of unity from a shared dividing element.

How beautifully ironic.

Race is sometimes used in comedic situations. Is it the best way to go about talking about race?

junior

Ryan Middleton

sophomore

Matthew Mueller

freshman

James Rosa

QUESTION 1: Have you even been in a situation in which racial humor was used? Give details.

Dave Chappelle uses a lot of racial comedy. It’s funny as heck.

Yes, sometimes I hear it in the locker room. Some kids joke around about different races.

I heard some things at lunch, but they were doing it in a friendly way.

I have some friends that made some racial jokes about another friend. It didn’t work out so well in the end.

If you’re absolutely positive that they’re joking and it’s not offensive to anyone on a personal level, it might be okay. If it’s a broad stereotype, it can be offensive.

If the person [you’re talking about] is cool with that, then I guess it would be okay. If he’s not, its not cool.

QUESTION 2: How effective do you believe humor is concern ing racial topics?

I just kind of laugh about it. I don’t really take it too seriously.

It’s probably not the best way. But I guess it could break the ice a little bit.

QUESTION 3: Do you believe racial based humor is divisive or does it bring people together? Explain why.

It could go both ways. Some people laugh about it, but some people [get mad].

I guess it could do both. It depends on who you’re with.

It could anger someone or it could make someone laugh.

I think, in general, it seperates people. You’re not always sure if everyone knows that you’re joking or not, so it’s better not to start a conflict.

Sometimes it will, sometimes it won’t. An example of when it doesn’t is the Don Imus situation.

rB e

» renli Olympic athletes train tirelessly for years. They spend countless hours devoted to improving their physical abilities and becoming one of the best athletes in their sports. When the time comes to compete for their country in the highest level of completion, they are told they could not compete because the host of a contest has done something illegal. Their chance of competing on the world stage » alexanderson is over and they had no control. That’s the position you put athletes in when nations boycott the Olympics games.

This summer’s games are to be held in Beijing, China.

The news has been filled with reports of China’s violent and repressive crackdown against Tibet and the Dali Lama. Several prominent world leaders from abroad and some Americans feel that the nation should boycott this summers game’s because of China’s poor record on human rights.

The United States and other nations considering a boycott of the Olympics should step back and consider who their proposed boycott would punish and if the boycott would have any effect. When they weigh these factors they should come to the conclusion that punishing athletes and slapping China on the wrist economically isn’t the way to force China to change its human rights practices. All countries should attend the summer games in Beijing and use other methods to punish China for its poor human rights practices, which include abuse of prisoners and arresting protestors for peaceful demonstrations in support of Tibetan independence as well as the estimated incarceration of approximately 600 political prisoners most of whom are monks and nuns.

The history of China and Tibet is a long and complicated one. Tibet has had a troubled past full of occupation by outside powers including the Mongols and British. The Chinese have ruled Tibet indirectly since the Qing Dynasty. After World War the Peoples Republic of China took direct control of Tibet. The Tibetan government and the Dali Lama were exiled to India.

In 2008 Tibetan Buddhist monks and Tibetan citizens began to peacefully protest against Chinese rule and for independence for Tibet. These protests later spread to other parts of the Tibetan region and some became vio-

anopinionof

Senior believes that boycotting Beijing Olympic Games will only hurt athletes, not solve conflicts

lent. Chinese authorities reacted to the protests by imposing a curfew and limiting access to the Tibetan area from Western journalists. The Chinese government has limited access in an effort to hide its human rights violations.

The perfect way to expose these gross violations of basic human rights is during the Olympics. Thousands of journalists attend the Olympics and will be able to tell their viewing audience about China’s crackdown firsthand. Directly exposing the violations is much more likely to cause China to change is practices then a boycott. If the Untied States were to boycott the Olympic games and other nations were to follow then a valuable opportunity to expose these violations would be missed.

The Tibetan people feel that the Chinese rule is smothering their culture. The Chinese government on the other hand feels that their rule has helped Tibet become more modernized and is a vast improvement over the old Tibetan government. The United States does not recognize the exiled Tibetan government instead it recognizes the Chinese government even with China’s extremely poor record on human rights.

This problem does need to be addressed and dealt with. Taking away fundamental rights is never an acceptable solution to peaceful political dissidence. China needs to be forced to change its handling of the Tibetan people and meet with the Dali Lama and the exiled Tibetan government, but boycotting the Olympics is not the correct way to send the message to China that it’s violation of human rights are unacceptable. The world’s powers have already established ways to deal with Human rights violations with such things such as United Nations trade sanction and the Geneva Convention.

Boycotting the Olympic Games hurts the athletes the most. Olympic athletes are the best in their fields.

They train for years to be at the top of their sport for the Olympics and usually for most athletes the games are a one shot deal, they get one chance to compete and then they are done. This is the pinnacle of their career in their sport, and to be told that they can’t compete would be punishing them for something that they cannot control.

The United States has only boycotted the Olympics once before. The summer games in Moscow were boycotted by the United States followed by 61 other nations because of the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan. The USSR continued its occupation in spite of the boycott. Using an Olympic boycott to force a political message is clearly an ineffective practice.

When the Olympics were held in Berlin 1936 the Unit-

OPINIION

n o i t i d a r t ka ing

11

ed States did not boycott even though the Nazi party was in power and although the world did not know what Hitler’s regime was doing at the time we certainly had some sense of it. The Nazi party has a clearly atrocious record of human rights violations and that did not stop us from attending the games in 1936, so it’s hard to see the rationale for boycotting them in China.

Supporters of the US boycott argue that boycotting the Olympics sends a strong message to the Chinese government that their tactics of control in Tibet are unacceptable and also punishes them financially. The tactics that the Chinese government has been using are unacceptable. That cannot be denied. A boycott would fail to send the correct message because of its minimal impact. According to the United States Census Bureau the current trade deficit with China is estimated at $38 million. Boycotting the Olympics would impact the Chinese economy very little.

If we really wanted to punish China we would stop buying their products. This would take a fundamental change in the American consumer but if we want to punish China then this is the most feasible way to do so.

Many large western corporations like Coca Cola, Panasonic and McDonalds are sponsors of the games. Instead of punishing the athletes; boycott these companies’ products instead. Perhaps the American public should organize and for the duration of the Olympics not eat at McDonalds or purchase coke products. This type of boycott could be much more effective because it punishes the sponsors directly. While I will concede that this plan is only possible not plausible, we as Americans could make a concerned effort to cut back on our purchases of Chinese products.

Nations considering a boycott should weigh these factors I feel that they will come to the conclusion that punishing athletes and slapping China on the wrist economically isn’t the way to force China to change its human rights practices. All countries should attend the summer games in Beijing. It will take different methods and much more worldwide cooperation to force a necessary change of Chinas policy in Tibet.

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issue

15

12

FEATURES

friends, family &

faith During his battle with bone cancer, junior Jonathon Stepp focuses on staying positive and recovering

BY

» sylviashank

The doctor called on a Thursday night.

Junior Jonathon Stepp was in his living room, watching Oregon play Arizona. He had his leg propped on a table, recovering from recent knee surgery where the doctor extracted a small tumor.

Tim Stepp picked up the phone and received news no parent wants to hear.

Already, his son could never again run cross country due to his knee surgery. Already, it’d be 10 months before he could walk normally again. But this was even worse.

According to the doctor, the tumor was malignant. He’d have to start chemotherapy and recovery would take a minimum of nine months.

He asked Jonathon to turn off the TV.

bone cancers a diagram of

The three types of bone cancer each occur in different areas on the bone.

Osteosarcoma - Nerve Tissue: This type of bone cancer starts in the nerve tissue in the bone marrow of younger patients. It typically occurs after radiation or chemotherapy treatment for another condition.

Osteosarcoma - On the Bone: This is a malignant bone tumor. It develops in growing bones, typically large bones with fast growth rates. The first signs of osteosarcoma are pain and easily-fractured bones.

Chondrosarcoma - Cartilage: This usually occurs in patients over the age of 50.

It starts in the cartilage (dense connective tissue). The resultant tumors cause abnormal bone and/ or cartilage growth.

» www.nlm.nih.gov » http://liddyshriversarcomainitiative.org

JUNIOR Jonathon Stepp plays with his dog while resting at home. When he’s not staying at the hospital, Jonathon also reads a book that the choir made for him, the Bible and Sports Illustrated. » karenboomer

“There’s something we need to talk about,” he said.

As a neurosurgeon, Tim Stepp often works with patients with cancer.

“As a parent, it was awful,” he said.

Jonathon has Osteogenic Sarcoma, a cancer that generally affects youth aged 15 to 20. Yet through his faith and the support of friends and family, he’s maintained a positive outlook.

Initially he was shocked. He didn’t talk much, allowing the news to sink in. Then he experienced a mental shift.

“I thought about the two ways I could handle this, and from that day on I chose to look at the positives,” he said.

And so far, he’s stuck to that decision.

According to his dad, he has never once complained. And it’s easy to tell by the way nurses dote on him at Children’s Mercy that he’s won them over with his sincere, optimistic outlook.

“You’re so popular,” nurse Jaime tells him.

His family decided that for a week, they’d only tell family and close friends, so a week later, he knocked on his choir teacher Tracy Resseguie’s door. He’s been in choir since freshman year and wanted to give him the news personally.

He told Resseguie what was going on, and then said “I’m so lucky,” before saying goodbye.

Facing nine grueling months of chemo and here’s how he feels: lucky.

Lucky because he knows he’ll get through. Lucky because it’s given him a chance to strengthen his faith. Because he has God, the support of his family. He made the decision five minutes after his diagnosis to stay positive throughout his recovery. No complaints, no matter what. Get through chemo as quickly as possible, through hard work, deep breathing, whatever it takes.

“He’s an example for us all,” Resseguie said. “How many high school kids could sit in my office, going through what he’s going through, and say ‘I’m so lucky?’”

The choir has provided one of Jonathon’s many support systems, caroling at his house, leaving him voice messages of their latest songs and pitching in to buy him a PS2 to have during hospital stays.

Although Jonathon knew he had to start visiting Children’s Mercy Hospital and that recovery would take almost a year, he couldn’t foresee the frequent vomiting or the waiting. Especially the waiting.

Often spending hours in waiting rooms, days in hospital beds, weeks confined to his house – he has had to be exceptionally patient. So have his parents who have stayed with him these past seven months.

One parent is always with him when he’s in the hospital. Even when he spent 27 days there in January, his parents switched off.

“Tag team,” his dad calls it.

His hardest time was in January when his low blood count meant he had to spend most of the month in the hospital. He had sores not only in his mouth, but also all the way down his throat. To protect him from germs, his nurses all wore yellow suits and masks. Jonathon felt isolated, but that didn’t stop him from fighting the mental battle, fighting to stay positive.

“I just kept thinking, ‘I’m going to be finished with this at some point,’” he said.

••• On a rainy day he limps into the hematology/oncology clinic wearing a turquoise mask to protect his weakened immune system from germs. It’s at least his 35th time here at Children’s Mercy. While waiting for a room, Mrs. Stepp points out a picture on the wall which says in embroidered letters “Never be afraid to entrust an unknown future to a known God.” “I wrote that down,” she says.

The Stepp family rarely talks about Jonathon’s recovery without mentioning God. “All along things have been happening,” Mrs. Stepp said.

She’s talking about little miracles signs she’s witnessed since the beginning.

••• Back in October, Jonathon noticed a pain in his right knee.

“The doctor said if he hadn’t been running cross country, he may not have noticed so soon,” Mrs. Stepp said.

The fact that Jonathon was aware of the pain led the family to seek medical attention which revealed the tumor at an earlier stage than most are discovered.

That was the first sign.

Jonathon and his mom then went to schedule surgery with a well-known surgeon. It was a Friday afternoon and they asked the nurse for the next available date.

“She came back with this funny look on her face,” Mrs. Stepp said. “We could do it the next Monday at 6 a.m., the very next possible time.”

This particular doctor’s schedule is usually filled weeks, even months in advance.

That was the second sign.

Two days later, Jonathon successfully underwent surgery.

Next, he had a port inserted into his heart. It’s two-sided and allows doctors to easily give him fluids and medication, and take blood samples. He began chemotherapy on the same day he underwent surgery to insert the plastic port.

“I was already pretty schnackered from [the port surgery],” he said. “But I remember throwing up a lot.”

That same week Jonathon lost over 12 pounds.

Although the doctor removed the tumor, the Stepps didn’t know if cancer cells were still living in his body. When removing the tumor, the doctor also took out extra bone marrow around the area to reduce the risk of cancer spread. Nurses at Children’s Mercy ran a procedure to check how much cancer remained in his body.

“We were praying for him to be 95 percent free because that’s called ‘a good chance,’” Mrs. Stepp said.

The results came back in March, right before his 17th birthday. He was cancerfree, 100 percent.

Still, he has to go through his rounds of chemotherapy to ensure no cancer cells remain. There are two types of chemo Jonathon goes through. First is Cysplatin, “the bad one,” he calls it. Through the plastic port that’s been temporarily placed in his heart, doctors hydrate him with fluids for eight to 12 hours. Then, during a four hour process they give him the medicine through the same port. After this procedure comes the worst part: extreme nausea.

“I used to throw up all the time,” he said.

»story continued on page 13

BY

t’s no surprise that junior Kelsey Henry had school on her mind this August, when she first came to East from Macintosh High School in Atlanta, Ga. But it wasn’t the move or anxiety about going to a new school that were front and center. What was really on her mind were the schools she had visited across the world in Benin, West Africa.

Henry had organized supplies and coin drives with the help of friends and classmates at Macintosh to raise donations to send to schools in Benin, through the nonprofit organization Seeds of Knowledge. Their goal was to raise awareness about the situation in Benin and to try to get the resources the students need to learn.

Henry noticed how the support of community service at East was the same as at Macintosh, and she was sure that the program would be received well. She planned to have a coin drive sponsored by SHARE, but after finding out that they could only support things in the direct community the next group she’s looking to is Student Council.

“Ever since seeing how much people really cared and how much they wanted to make a difference, I realized I was really tied to the program and I wanted to continue it,” Henry said.

Henry had visited Benin for a few days in the summer of 2006 to help deliver school supplies to the rural villages with Seeds of Knowledge. Although her trip was cut short because she needed to return for soccer try-outs, she didn’t forget the experience. When she returned from Benin the poverty and the children’s excitement about learning even in the face of all their hardships hadn’t left her head, so she and her friend, Semi Brinson, started to organize Seeds of Knowledge’s first school supplies drive.

“It doesn’t cost much for a teacher to buy supplies,” Henry said. “For a whole year it’s $135, for a class of 50 students. When you know you can help out with stuff like that and it’s not a lot if you all join together, you feel like you should be trying everything you can to make a difference.”

Henry’s mom, Leslie Kahle, co-founded the organization Seeds of Knowledge, Inc. in 2006, with her close friend Lucie Brinson, who grew up in Benin. Henry was involved from the beginning, helping to organize drives at her high school in Atlanta.

The first time Henry got involved with Seeds of Knowledge was organizing the drive for school supplies at Macintosh to donate to the children in Akopkonawa, Benin. They collected 15 refrigerator boxes full of school supplies. The drive was successful; getting the supplies to the children who needed them wasn’t. Henry, Kahle and Brinson traveled to Benin hoping to distribute the donations to the students first hand. But when they arrived at customs to enter Benin, the officials confiscated all the supplies.

Kahle says that the government is still corrupt and they know now that anything you take through customs will be stolen.

“It’s so bad with customs that you can’t send something down without it being stolen,” Kahle said. “If it’s something they need or they feel can they can sell somewhere else.”

The supplies were taken away, but they still visited some

Saving

Africa

of the village schools.

Henry was moved by the BENIN dedication of a West African the teachers and country of the energy of the 8,294,941 people students.

Finding teachers that can teach above a fourth grade level is hard.

The teachers they met were discouraged by their government’s lack of action towards providing education, in spite of a promise of free elementary education to all citizens.

“They were really grateful that we were having drives and trying to help them, but they were really sorry that they couldn’t see the supplies because they were basically stolen at the airport,” Henry said.

Brinson observed the students on her fist visit to investigate the situation for TAGS and she told Henry about their enthusiasm. Since half of the population of Benin is under the age of 15 and only half of those people can go to school, the students that do are not only lucky, but also thrilled. Even with all of the students beaming and the teachers thanking them for their work, it couldn’t be overlooked how bad the conditions were and how much needed to be done.

“The classrooms are made out of clay and straw roofs,” Henry said. “So when it rains the buildings sometimes collapse because the clay starts to weaken with all the water. It’s really not a good place where you would want to raise and educate children.”

Henry remembers that the conditions inside the classrooms were no better.

“You’d go into classrooms and you’d see 9 to 10 students sharing one schoolbook and they’d have slates or chalkboards, but with no chalk,” Henry said.

On that visit Brinson and Kahle decided that they would need to raise $6,700 for each classroom and that they would construct them out of stone, to prevent them from collapsing during the rainy season.

Brinson believes that the best hope for change is through involved students at schools like East and Macintosh.

“It’s better to let the kids come up with ideas themselves after you present them with the situation,” Brinson said.

“Sometimes they are more creative than adults with the things that they can do.”

WHERE IS IT?

FEATURES

I

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» anniesgroi

Junior Kelsey Henry works to raise money for African students

nli

» re

Despite the disappointment their first effort ended with, Henry’s Atlanta community wanted to try to help again, this time with a coin drive at Macintosh and two other area schools. This time after the money was collected Brinson took the money with her to Benin and purchased the school supplies there to avoid getting them confiscated.

The coin drive did much better than expected. Instead of being able to only purchase notebooks and crayons, they now had $9,000 to build a new classroom.

Henry was so touched by how involved her classmates and her community got in the coin drive, that she hopes to start a branch of Seeds of Knowledge at East next year.

“We’d love to see the same kind of response to Seeds of Knowledge in Kansas,” Kahle said. “And hopefully it will set off a wave of interest across the United States!”

» continuedfrompage12 By working with a psychologist, he’s learned how to keep himself from throwing up by using breathing techniques.

The other medicine, Methotryxate, takes four hours to be inserted into his blood stream through the port in his heart.

A few hours after, he’s left with mouth sores as he lacks the white blood cells to fight the sores.

Jonathon isn’t scared of needles, but other side effects occur when these ports are used. For example, before giving blood the nurse has to insert various fluids into the port to flush it out. He can actually taste these fluids when the nurse cleans the port. He describes the flavor as soaplike. It also causes nausea.

Nurses and nutritionists frequently stop by and comment on how good he’s

looking.

One nurse sees he’s being helped by someone else, and says “Darn! I lost rock paper scissors today.” His mother puts it this way: “Everybody loves Jonathon.”

Nine days before prom, Jonathon will receive his last dose before a two-week break.

“I would really like to go,” he said, but he doesn’t know if his blood counts will be high enough to go to the dance. He’s considering asking someone from a different school, so that he doesn’t leave someone dateless if he learns at the last minute he can’t go.

Jonathon has missed most of his junior year, and he’s actually grateful. He says he’ll appreciate school more now, in particular, the ability to drive to school and

see friends on a daily basis.

He’s permanently lost his ability to run long distances, but the cross country coaches, recognizing his dedication, have already named him captain for next year.

“I still have my senior year ahead of me,” he said.

For the past seven months, he’s had what he calls “the gift of time.” He’s been working on a book about his recovery, though there are days he can’t bring himself to write.

“Some of the memories are really painful,” he said.

He credits his faith, his family, and the support of friends for pulling him through.

Jonathon is hesitant to mention the hard parts of his recovery, quick to give thanks and gratitude. In his eyes, there is a rea-

son for the cancer.

“Had I been in school and been distracted by all those things, my faith wouldn’t have gotten stronger,” he said.

He hopes someday to be able to help others get through hard times, and feels beating cancer will make a strong talking point.

“Someone told me [cancer] is one of the hardest things in the world to go through, but when you’re done, it’s one of the best ways to get your testimony across.”

He’s due to finish chemo in August. In his eyes, he hasn’t missed out on the richness of life. Through treatment and recovery, he’s gained experience, patience and faith. He still feels lucky.

issue

15

FEATURES

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The stories behind two well-known substitute teachers may be

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE EDWARD WILLS

REID BLACK

No, substitute teacher Reid Black isn’t a relative of the off-the-wall movie star Jack Black, but the stories that he tells definitely demand a second look. Whether it’s “hanging out” with music icon Bob Marley or bike touring visitors in Morocco, his tales make him sound more like an urban legend than a substitute teacher.

Black made his mark on East in 2000, substituting long-term for Latin classes after 34 years of teaching American History in the North Kansas City and Kansas City school districts. Stories have always been a part of his teaching style.

“I’m 65,” Black said. “So if you live long enough and you travel around much, you’re bound to run into some interesting things.”

In the late 70s, Black had a friend that was a big fan and follower of singer Bob Marley. After going to a concert in Lawrence at Hoch Auditorium, he went back to his friend’s house. Around 1:30 a.m., Marley showed up with his Wailers.

“I didn’t believe it,” Black said. “Very seldom do you get to meet a cultural icon.

I was really surprised because instead of talking about music, he really wanted to talk about his

religious beliefs. It was something I could connect to him with.”

The stories don’t stop there. Black tells stories of his excursions to Morocco. Since 2004, Black has traveled annually to Fez, Morocco for about two weeks. He tries to make the trip during the fall so he can enjoy the cooler weather while learning about its historical background.

“The people are very friendly,” Black said. “Plus it’s a very safe country. The scenery is especially nice because of the Atlas Mountains and the Sierra Desert.”

Black’s interest started in 2004 when he visited Morocco because his son was studying Arabic there. Since the visit, he has fallen in love with the city. While there, he takes bicycle tours from Fez to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to the city of Ifrane. He has nine bicycles.

“I like sharing my love of Morocco to the people that have not been there or know nothing about the culture,” Black said. “I think travel is a very broadening experience, especially in a day with a lot of misconception for Islamic countries. I want Americans to be exposed to other countries.”

Black doesn’t keep these stories secret either. He uses them to catch the attention of his students. During role call or at the end of class, he throws out one of his stories; he thinks it’s one of his best techniques in teaching.

“Sometimes teachers take things too seriously and they’ve got to get from A to B,” said Black. “It’s just that I know students are under a lot of pressure. Sometimes you just need to have fun.”

Black’s students find that this technique is why he is one of their favorite substitutes.

“I like to laugh at myself and act goofy,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to laugh to brighten someone’s day.”

This is exactly what Black strives for.

“I want kids to get loosened in when I’m subbing.” Black said. “I had teachers that were really boring, especially my history teacher. That’s why I became a teacher. I knew I could be better than that.”

“My name is Mr. Edward C. Wills and I speak with a southern drawl. That’s because I grew up in Alabama. There I participated in…”

Ever since starting an East substitute teaching job at the beginning of the second semester, Wills introduces himself like this to every academic class he has. It doesn’t matter whether he’s substituting for English or Social Studies or the Learning Center; creating a bond between himself and the student is how Wills connects with them.

“I always introduce myself to the students,” he said. “I do this so students know they don’t have a robot as a teacher.

I’m social.”

Wills’ gregariousness is even more evident in the amount of time he uses to speak with his class. Always making time for the lesson plan, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, sometimes half an hour is used to just talk.

Almost any free time that is available is used to communicate with his students.

He’ll tell his class stories about how in the 60s and 70s he instructed teacher workshops in Lofa County, Liberia, and how he’s traveled for four years throughout Western Europe, making stops in England, Amsterdam, Belgium, Italy and Holland.

He’ll add how he taught in Japan after being turned down by the Peace Corps in his first attempt but reapplied and was able to teach K-12 at a naval base in Sasebo, Japan.

The most frequent story he tells is about his experience in Montgomery.

Living in a time where Martin Luther King marched the streets of the segregated state, Wills joined with King in the civil rights movement.

When black students had been expelled for participating in a sitin at a local lunch counter, Wills came down to Montgomery to show support for what the students were doing.

“During that time, I told myself, ‘I will never forget this for as long as I live’ because I realized how such a hated person [Martin Luther King] was so brave

SUBBING IN SMSD

Daily Rate: Long-term Rate: $120

$145

Requirements:

A current Kansas Teaching License

INCENTIVE PROGRAM Substitutes are eligible for an incentive program, which rewards individuals based on the number of days and the number of Fridays worked during the school year.

28 april

2008

75/15: Work a minimum of 75 days per year and 15 Fridays, get $750 payable in January or June 100/20: Work a minimum of 100 days per year and 20 Fridays, get $1000 payable in January or June

» hannahbrewer

50/10: Work a minimum of 50 days per year and 10 Fridays, get $500 payable in January or June

STORIES BY

» jordandietrich

in fighting for what he believed in.”

Sometimes, he’ll simply talk about a book (most recently: “Where have all the Leaders Gone?”) he’s reading or how his day is going.

“Whenever Mr. Wills subs for one of my classes, it just seems like kids listen to him,” sophomore Jay Lehoczky said. “His stories really help us ease into the rest of class.

And Wills will ask his students for their stories also. He’ll ask questions such as, “How do you learn from people?” He wants his students to open up. When they do, Wills is satisfied. “[Students] are the future and people are ready to hand over the keys [to them],” Wills said. “It means a lot to work with the future everyday.”

As his hour of substituting ends, Wills often tells his biggest goal to the students.

“I knew a lot of students that got tired of school,” Wills said. “But I want my students to know that they should be motivated. You never can be too complacent or satisfied.

You have to keep moving forward.”

FEATURES

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religious

» marygalvin

RHYTHMS

Avoiding derogatory messages, freshman shows love of music by writing and performing inspirational rap BY

» kevinsimpson

Brushing aside McDonald’s wrappers, CD cases and clothes, freshman Chris Melvin hopped into the backseat of his older sister Lindsey’s white Dodge Neon. As the car rumbled down the street, “Ride Wit Me” by Nelly thumped from the booming speakers.

Lindsey chuckled as her little brother tried unsuccessfully to sing the correct lyrics to the song. As the next song came on, this one “In Da Club” by 50 Cent, she blasted the radio to earsplitting levels, and the car roared on down the street.

These occasions sparked a love of music for Chris, who began rapping at the age of 13. Melvin has written, performed and produced five albums since 2005, continuing to do so because of his passion for the hobby.

“I write music for my own pleasure,” Melvin said. “When I finish an album, I can listen to myself. I can listen to the songs I created, and that’s just pleasure in itself. I don’t care if people like it or hate it.”

Melvin describes the reaction to his raps “very mixed.” In seventh grade, he put his music on MySpace. His growing fan base was matched with hurtful messages from strangers. They sent him feedback like, ‘You suck so bad’, and ‘Why do you even try?’

Melvin can remember one response vividly.

“It said, ‘Get out, white boy,’” he said.

“When I got the negative messages, my heart sank. I know that I’m not incredible at rapping, but I do have a passion for music.

There’s always that little hope that some record deal could find you. Hearing these random people say that, I had to just brush it off.”

Ignoring the criticism is part of the reason that Melvin’s influences include Fort Minor and Eminem, both of whom happen to be white.

“When you listen to their music, people aren’t discriminate,” he said. “They don’t care. Even though their skin is different than most rappers, they still have incredible flow to their music.”

The flow of Melvin’s music has grown up along with him. He says he used to rap about cars, money, pimping and dancing in the club.

“It’s not explicit, but it was just dumb stuff,” Melvin said. “I was 12 or 13. I didn’t know anything about that.”

After making two albums with this content, he reworked his entire production methods. Melvin started looking at producers who made inspirational tracks.

He then began writing about issues in his life that meant something to him.

“I was going through some things socially and with religion,” he said. “I was questioning things. I started writing about

problems, more personal stuff. I think that first album that I made with all of those on, was the most successful. It’s the one I love to listen to, because it’s real.”

Melvin said that he still believed in all of the main parts of his religion, Christianity, but he had trouble understanding things. A lot of his raps are written to God, and they are personal to him.

“I have absolutely noticed a change,” his father, John Melvin, said. “His lyrics are more sensitive and more in tune.”

Although Melvin’s raps were meant for his personal pleasure, he does share his music with others. He sells his albums for $10 with the help of freshman Sam Amrein.

“I think [his rapping] is awesome,” Amrein said. “I hope he continues to share his life with everyone that enjoys his music.”

Melvin had his first major opportunity to showcase his music at a talent show at his sister’s school, William Jewell. The entire ride to the show, he listened to his songs again and again. Before he went on, Melvin went over his lyrics in his head.

“I was really nervous,” he said. “I was thinking about how I was only 13, and some of these guys were 20. Once I got on, and the beat started playing, I just did my thing. I think they all liked it. There was a pretty loud applause.”

INSPIRATIONAL LYRICS

Kanye West, “Jesus Walks” • God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down/Jesus walks/ The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now/ Jesus walks Common ft. Will I Am, “I Have a Dream” • If you see the wonder of a fairy tale/You can take the future even if you fail/I believe in angels/ Something good in everything I see Nas feat. Alicia Keys, “Warrior Song” • This is the song, of my warriors/ A warrior song Bravehearted and strong, definition of a warrior/Definition of a warrior/ Gonna keep punchin’ on, to the sound of her own beatin’ drum » www.seeklyrics.com

However, it wasn’t the clapping that flattered Melvin the most.

“Applause is applause,” he said.

“Sometimes, it can be pity applause.

When they take the time to come to you individually, you know that they care.”

The show had been a success. It was still Melvin and his sister, hanging out and listening to high-decibel rap music. Only this time, the music was his and he had the fans to support it.

ALBUM BY ALBUM Since 2005, Melvin has produced five albums, transitioning from raps about clubs, money and pimping to more inspirational messages. Take a look at the trends in his album cover art.

issue Strictly Ghetto

The Next Level

The Confessions Album

The Melvin Dynasty Mixtape

Forgotten Words – EP

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A DECEIVING

Students with and with advantage of the medic megsha BY

»

Every time senior Emilee Keohan eats, she feel is forcing herself to swallow. Even eating half a s makes her feel full. It’s not because of acid reflux or an eating disorder by any means; Keohan has She was prescribed the highest dose of Adde mg—in January that she has taken every morni As a result, Keohan has lost nearly 20 pounds.

Keohan and many other students who ta medicine with or without a prescription woul it causes them to ignore their hunger. Some c entire day without even thinking about food the medicine suppressing their appetites, it ca weight loss. According to Bobbi Waynescott, a poison control specialist at KU Medical Center, it to feel a loss of hunger, but it only lasts a coupl Tolerance is built up and often the symptom dim But not in Keohan’s case.

When she was first prescribed Adderall, her do her what her symptoms would be. A suppressed was one of them. She was expected to become im it but she has never gotten her appetite back. H tried having her take a series of different Adder to find which one she was most compatible with lower doses from 5-60 didn’t have much of an her doctor settled on the 70 mg. dose. This high isn’t common, but Waynescott says it’s not a leth “In certain people it can cause an increase pressure,” she said. “But it depends on the person and whether they are taking other medications.”

Keohan’s loss of hunger caused her to dehydrated so she learned to constantly stay hy take care of herself.

“Once the medicine wears off at night my begins to growl,” Keohan said. “I used to start when it would wear off.”

In one week she lost about eight to nine pou parents began to worry that she wasn’t eating an all of her nutrients. Her doctor didn’t

PILL C

In 2005 Canadian officials pulled th border due to the risk of sudden de half a year later.

Health Canada issued a statement d among patients, none of which were After making a 2004 profit of over dropped over 10 percent following Adderall use.

Following the announcement on the United State Food and Drug Admini Adderall on American pharmacy sh the Canadians were going to pull th

Making up 24 percent of sales in me only one to have been linked to cas a heated turmoil and controversy s 2005.

28 april

2008

photoillustration BY »marygalvin

hout prescriptions for Adderall take cine by using it to lose weight. ackelford

ake ADD ld all say can go an d. Due to an lead to a certified t’s normal le weeks. minishes.

octor told d appetite mmune to Her doctor rall doses h. All the effect, so of a dose hal dose. of blood n’s weight ” become ydrated to

stomach t shaking

unds. Her nd getting

“

“

ls like she sandwich x disease s ADHD. erall—70 ing since.

I pretty much have to force myself to eat now... [but] I’m not worried about my weight loss.

- Senior Emilee Keohan

CONTROVERSY

he Attention-Deficit drug from shelves north of the eath in children, though they allowed a return in it’s use

declaring Adderall as the cause of 20 deaths worldwide e overdoses.

10 million dollars, the Shire company’s worldwide stock Health Canada’s report of 20 deaths as a result of

WELLBUTRIN:

17

*Name withheld upon student request.

HOW ADD MEASURES UP: Adderall has short-term effectiveness of reducing symptoms of ADD in elementary school children by 60 to 80 percent.

Boys are diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Adderall more than three times as often as girls.

ADD is diagnosed in approximately 8-10 percent of the school-age population. 2 million of that percentage is made up of boys.

Stimulant medications help about 70 percent of those with ADD improve many of the symptoms of ADD by helping them increase focus and ability to control their own behavior.

About 30-80 percent of children will continue to have ADD symptoms into adolescence.

Teenagers with ADD have about four times as many traffic citations as non-ADD drivers. They have about four times as many car accidents and are seven times more likely to have a second accident. http://www.healthcentral.com/adhd/c/1443/13716/addadhd-statistics/

OTHER APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS:

The once-daily tablet for adult depression and curving smoking cravings, Wellbutrin has been reported for abuse regarding weight loss, sometimes resulting in seizures, insomnia, and even juvenile suicide.

PROVIGIL:

A drug classified with side effects of nausea, diarrhea, and “the Jitters,” it’s intended for sufferers of narcolepsy and sleep deprivation.

e Attention Deficit Disorder amphetamine in Canada, the istration dismissed the reports and deciding to keep helves. One senator from Iowa even tried to dismiss that he drug from pharmacies.

TOPAMAX:

edications for Attention Deficit Disorder, Adderall is the ses of sudden death and severe side effects. This caused surrounding the pill following the reports from Canada in

BYETTA:

www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/adderall.html

would probably end up blaming myself for getting hooked on it. I can’t go down that road again.”

According to O’Connor, Adderall abuse is very dangerous if mixed with an eating disorder. There is an increase of heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain, more chance of a heart attack or stroke and even chronic sleep depravation has become an issue with a few of her patients.

Luckily, Keohan never experienced any more symptoms than hunger-loss. She never had a big appetite or over-ate on random snacks before being prescribed, now it almost substitutes for her daily workout. It’s certainly a faster way to lose weight, but she would not recommend it.

“I’m not worried about my weight loss, in fact, I’m happier about it,” she said.

SPREAD

G IMAGE

Senior Stewart Webber* took 40 mg. of his little brothers’ prescribed Adderall two or three times a week since his sophomore year. It helps his study habits and keeps him awake when he needs to complete homework.

Webber admits that his weight has fluctuated slightly since taking the Adderall.

“It’s not enough to notice and I don’t really care about losing weight from it,” Webber said. “But it’s a good benefit, I guess.”

If Webber were caught possessing any Adderall without a criminal history, he could be sentenced to 10-12 months in jail, according to Sarah Geolas, section chief of the drug unit at the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office. Adderall is considered a Level 4 drug felony for someone possessing it without a prescription.

“They would be required to participate in a 12-month presumptive probation,” Geolas said. “This would include drug treatment and maybe ‘shock time,’ which is an extra 60-day sentence.”

Carla O’Connor, a licensed social worker and cosee her weight loss as a big issue, since loss of hunger owner of the Eating Disorders Program in Kansas City has was expected. had several patients, mostly girls, who abused Adderall “I pretty much have to force myself to eat now,” Keohan in their quest to lose more weight. Most of her patients said.

Freshman Cole Greenfield was prescribed Adderall started out with prescriptions and if their supply was when he was in sixth grade. There are some days when cut off, then they would turn to outside sources, such as he may never eat a meal, or he may just eat an apple. friends with prescriptions or shopping over the internet.

“It is a problem that has surfaced much more over Other days he may forget to take his medicine, or he may the years,” O’Connor said. “The availability is way too run out and has to wait a week for a refill. accessible and culturally there is such a drive for thinness “It’s not that I notice [my hunger],” Greenfield said. “It’s just that I never get hungry. It’s not a fat burning pill so I that it is definitely become a concern of mine.”

Bridget Young*, an eighth grader from Mission haven’t seen it affect my weight.”

Valley who will attend East next According to Cindy Wilson, a nurse from Shawnee year, has struggled with a Mission Medical Center, it’s series of dangerous to mess with a drug e a t i n g like Adderall that hasn’t been p ro b l e m s prescribed by a doctor. since she “If someone without a was in sixth prescription takes Adderall and grade. Her New is taking other drugs at the same Years Resolution time, they may not know how in sixth grade was Adderall will interact with the (diagnosed with ADHD) to lose 25 pounds. other drugs,” Wilson said. “It could After months of anorexia do unexpected things like increase and the occasional binging and purging, the effect of their other drugs or cancel them out. Along she knew she had gone too far. with rashes, itching and dizziness, it could also cause “I began to see a nutritionist and a therapist when I bad reactions with the food they eat, like caffeine from told my mom it was time I got help,” Young said. “I had Starbuck’s for instance.”

Waynestaff’s line of work focuses on more of the experimented with laxatives and tried many different overdose aspect of drugs. According to her, Adderall is diets. A bunch of girls in my therapy group that I go to no different than methamphetamines as far as getting had mentioned trying Adderall to lose weight.”

As much as Young would want to try Adderall, she addicted quickly. In Adderall overdoses, seizures, high can’t.

The anti-depressants she takes would cause a fever and conduction disturbances are serious concerns, chemical imbalance according to some of the girls in the all can cause death.

“Conduction disturbances are types of heart disease group. Most of all, she doesn’t want to risk any addiction.

“I really could take Adderall whenever I wanted since that cause heart arrhythmias, or palpitations,” Waynestaff said. “That’s why we find that people who abuse Adderall my sister has a prescription,” Young said. “It’s right there in front of me. But if I started taking it and got addicted, I have heart problems.”

This prescription pill designed to prevent and slow seizures is commonly used to trim waistlines. Effects of Topamax have often times included fatigue and hyperventilating.

A prescription drug used to help patients with Type 2 diabetes, Byetta curbs appetites and has side effects ranging from insomnia to anxiety and cardiac problems. www.health.com/health/article/0,23414,1600903,00.html

issue

15

FEATURES

18

TOURING THE STATE OF

INTOXICATION

l E

mapping it out

28

the consequences

S

>Impaired brain development >Slowed motor skills Difficulty learning new ideas/ concepts >Hindered decision-making abilities >Weakened athletic performance >Healh-related issues Alcoholism as adults >Legal repercussions

According to national survey of 43,093

adults...

47% became alcohol dependent if they drank by age 14 9% became alcohol dependent if they waited until 21

Teens with alcohol disorders had...

10% less volume in the region of the brain 8



fun, we enjoyed it and felt free, uninhibited.”

According to Kansas City psychologist Jennifer Thompson, the younger a person is when they start drinking, the more likely they are to develop a dependence to it.

“The central nervous system becomes accustomed to the chemicals that we give it,” Thompson said. “Our bodies develop a tolerance and we need more of the chemical to achieve the same effect.

No one at the parties were thinking about the long term effects that might occur.

“We never thought of the consequences,” Galliher said.

“We were just living in the moment.”

BY » paigecornwell “Living in the moment” would take precedence over Kate Galliher’s 17th birthday party was going to be what might happen in the future.

“You’re caught up in the moment and it’s all new to huge. With hundreds of kids there, a band claiming to be the best in Kansas City, and almost every person bringing you,” said J.J. Eisfelder, who graduated in 1995. “You’re seeing what effect everything has on you.” alcohol, it was supposed to be the biggest party of 1994.

This mindset is often the case for teens, according to It lasted an hour. The police came, arresting Galliher and three other friends. She received an MIP, and though it Thompson.

“Teens do not think about the long term consequences was expunged, she still had to do community service and of abusing chemicals because [this] generation was raised go to substance abuse recovery classes.

Fast forward to 2008. Galliher, who graduated from with such an immediate gratification mindset,” Thompson East in 1995, is applying for the Peace Corps. Her applica- said. Often times, teenagers are not able to see beyond the tion asks if she has ever been arrested and even though moment and think about the consequences of their curshe can say no, the background check will still reveal what rent actions.”

Galliher realizes that that mindset was false. happened to her 13 years ago.

“With my friends, some still party now, and they think “I thought, ‘oh my gosh, it was so long ago,’” Galliher said. “I had no idea that it would totally affect me, that it its innocent, like in high school,” Galliher said. “But even in high school it’s addictive, and now they’re alcoholics.” would follow me.”

Despite the fact that drinking in high school may seem More than a decade later, and the consequences of Galliher’s drinking in high school still affect her. A recent innocent, those who delay drinking until age 21 decrease study by the National Institute of Health revealed that 47 their chances of developing an alcohol problem by 70 perpercent of teens who started drinking alcohol before age cent, according to a study by the National Longitudinal Al14 developed a dependence, as opposed to 10 percent who cohol Epidemiologic Study. And by age 25, the chances of started drinking at age 21. And according to a study updat- developing a a dependence is less than 1 percent, accorded last month by the American Medical Association, stu- ing to drug and alcohol counselor Craig McAndrew.

“I’ve got several friends who are alcoholics,” Galliher dents who binge at least once a week may have troubles with marriage, educational attainment, employment and said. “You just don’t think about that in high school. It’s financial independence. And for some East alumni, the tricky though, because for some people it won’t affect them later, and then there are some who barely touch alconsequences can be even more vast.

Galliher first started drinking when she was 15 and had cohol but it still affects them.”

Even if a student tries to stop drinking, it can become just entered high school.

“It seemed like everyone drank,” Galliher said. “The harder and harder to stop.

“A person who begins using at an early age, learns this jocks, the preppy people, the artists. I was friends with lots as a coping behavior and as they grow older, they do not of different people, and it seemed it was the norm.” develop healthy coping behaviors and rely on unhealthy East was known as the “notorious party school.” “[Students] thought it was cool,” said Betsy Lucas, who ones, like drinking or drug use and soon a habit becomes a dependence,” McAndrew said. graduated in 1993. “That’s why they did it.”

This was true for Galliher, who still found herself caught As Galliher went through high school, she continued in the social norm when she tried to stop partying. drinking.

“I didn’t party as much my senior year because I “We would get totally drunk,” Galliher said. “It was wanted to focus on choir,” GalStudies have located the parts liher said. “This of the brain most affected by guy came up to prefrontal cortex alcohol consumption me in the hall one undergoes the most change day and was like, during adolescence. Researchers ‘Kate, do you not found that adolescent drinking party anymore?’ could cause severe changes in You feel like a this area and others, which play cerebellum an important role in forming nerd because you an area of the adult personality and behavior aren’t partying.” brain in charge and is often called the CEO of of coordinating A recent relathe brain. movement and tionship with a hippocampus perhaps even some man from a small handles many types of memory and learning and suffers forms of learning. It is town showed Galfrom the worst alcohol-related brain damage in teens. particularly sensitive to the effects liher that this East Those who had been drinking more and for longer had of thiamine deficiency and is the region most frequently significantly smaller hippocampi (10 percent). social norm wasn’t damaged in association with chronic alcohol usage april » renli » drawyourline.org the same for other 2008 schools and that

An analysis of the long-term effects of teen drinking

Pointing out

W

aiding in memory formation times more likely than non-drinkers to miss a class or get behind in school

1 in 5 teens have sex they later regret after

binge drinking 50% of bingers use marijuana 37% of 8th grade females who drank attempted suicide » youthbingedrinking.org

the actions she considered so normal were by others considered taboo.

“They didn’t party like we did, and he didn’t understand it. He kind’ve judged me, like ‘whoa, what kind of a girl am I dating?’” Galliher said. “I told him that all those things happened in high school and I was so young, and he said yeah, but the past makes you who you are. That was kind’ve weird for me.”

Though she doesn’t regret the decisions she made, Galliher thinks she should have had different focuses.

“I had a good time, but I would have liked to have focused on academics, and thought more about the future than living for the moment,” Galliher said. “When I look back, I think, ‘oh my gosh, I was so young.’”

Once she graduated, Eisfelder was able to overcome her dependence.

“I sort’ve got over it once I left the high school setting,” Eisfelder said. “But I could see how (a dependence) would happen to people who continue partying at that rate.”

Traces and memories of the drinking and partying lifestyle still follow Galliher, like the possibility of not being able to apply for the Peace Corps.

“Sometimes, I’ll come home from work tired and grouchy and think, ‘oh, I want a beer or a glass of wine,’” Galliher said. “I find myself saying it even though I could go on a jog or do yoga, but it’s something I return to to relax still.”

Both Galliher and Lucas can recall others who were more greatly affected: Galliher recalls a friend from East who drank himself to death five years ago; Lucas knows of a former East star basketball player who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for a D.U.I. “You think that you are above it, and you aren’t,” Lucas said.

For some, the road to alcoholism that may have started in high school still affects them today.

“We turned out okay, but there’s some who didn’t,” Galliher said. “I have several friends who were greatly affected by alcoholism, who will never live up to their full potential.”

The third and final installment of our teen drinking series will be printed in issue 16 on May 12

An analysis of the effect of the media on teen drinking BY

the actual effects from alcohol can be just as big of an influence as the media. Senior Javier O’Connor*, who drinks, said that ads don’t make him want to drink immediately.

“Ads don’t make me want to go out and, BY »the like, get drunk at moment, but they do griffinbur make me think about getting that beer or have someone buy it for me.”

He said that a lot of the reason he drinks is due to peer influence or the effects of alcohol, and not because of the media portrayal of alcohol.

“If I’m at a party where everyone’s drinking, I’ll do it. The reason is really that it just seems to make the night more fun.”

However, O’Connor does say that some of his friends are more dramatically affected by ads.

“I have some friends that’ll see a commercial and say, ‘That’s totally awesome! We should go out and do that this weekend!’”

KC area child psychologist Dr. Tish Holub-Taylor also believes that a large influence on drinking comes from peers and parents.

“Especially in America, it’s really more of cultural thing than anything in the media,” she said.

Kansas City ad agency Bernstein-Rein’s executive producer Tyler Smith thinks that even though ads may sometimes appeal to children, they usually don’t make a connection between the commercial and the beer.

“I remember the sponsor for the Royals when I was a kid was Hans Beer and they had this animated bear. I remember seeing the ad but I can’t remember ever wanting to drink Hans Beer. If anything, I associated that bear with the Royals.”

Maia Szalavitz, a senior fellow at STATS, a media watchdog group has written about the issue of teen drinking and alcohol. She made a similar statement on the STATS website, saying “…the link between liking the Budweiser frogs as a child and liking Budweiser beer as a teenager is far from clear.”

While it’s hard for teens to avoid them, Smith feels like a lot of ads use language and themes that don’t necessarily appeal to teenagers.

“One phrase I always hear beer advertisers use is the word ‘relaxation,’ which is really the kind of thing that appeals to 9-to-5 workers rather than high school stu-

» griffinbur

Within any given five minutes of watching television, a child can see an ad showing a bar full of wasted drinkers or a television show where the main character drinks to solve his or her problems.

Whether or not these messages have an effect or not, many underage children and teenagers are exposed to this sort of media daily.

The problem of teen drinking has been attributed to various sources—cultural, socioeconomic, peer influence—but one of the most oft-cited is the media. Advertisements for alcohol are ubiquitous in America, from television to radio to magazines. Shows like “Gossip Girl” show teenagers drinking, often without consequence. A 2006 study published by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine concluded that there is a direct relationship between the amount of alcohol ads children see and the amount they drink. However, both professional and student sources are divided on the issue.

Max Sutherland, state victim service specialist for the Kansas Mothers Against Drunk Driving [MADD] chapter, believes that there is a correlation between teen drinking and the media’s portrayal of alcohol.

“We [at MADD] definitely believe that there is a connection,” he said. “This is partly from the fact that a lot of alcohol ads are aimed at kids. A lot of those ads with cartoon characters and stuff have been shut down, but there’re still a lot of commercials on TV that appeal to teenagers. I mean, look at the Super Bowl, with all those good lookin’ girls drinkin’ beer.”

But Sutherland feels that there are other sources that influence teen drinking, including parental lenience.

“Especially in Johnson County, parents themselves are providing a lot of the beer, letting their kids hit the liquor cabinets, although there are laws being enacted right now that will try to prevent that,” he said.

Junior George Snyder, who doesn’t drink, feels like his peers who do drink are heavily affected by the media’s portrayal of alcohol.

“People are affected both consciously and subconsciously by advertising,” Snyder said. “I think that a lot of it is from the romanticism people have built up about alcohol in their minds, but I also think that plenty of kids are aware that drinking makes them look ‘cool.’”

For students that do drink, however, peers and

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Most kids are into social drinking and having fun rather than sitting back and relaxing on the couch or whatever.”

Dr. Holub-Taylor agrees with Smith about the content of ‘relaxation’ themed ads. “…the kind of ads that promote drinking as ‘the popular thing to do’ are far more effective [in regards to teenagers] than any ads that promote relaxation.”

Also skeptical was sophomore Annie Haynes, who doesn’t drink.

“No,” she said, “They’re gonna do it [even if they don’t see an ad.] It’s not like someone sees an ad and says, ‘Hey, that person’s cool, I wanna go drink.’”

While TV is not censored and underage kids see the ads, Dr. Holub-Taylor feels that alcohol ads are no more effective than other ads.

“Kids definitely see the ads, but they also see ads for other products as well. I think a lot of advertisers try to appeal to people who can drink but are still relatively young, and some of the things that appeal to those people also happen to appeal to teenagers; for instance, humor.”

In contrast to O’Connor, senior and drinker Alexander Thompson* says that he is not at all affected by alcohol advertising, though he believes that other people may be subconsciously influenced by ads. “[Television shows] can trigger a subconscious response,” he said. “But I don’t think ads are geared toward younger drinkers; if companies did that, they’d lose a lot of demographic. They’re really just shootin’ for numbers.

I mean, I think that some kids are affected by them, and on a moral, individual level, the advertisers care, but that doesn’t prevent them making money.”

Szalavitz a feels that sometimes teenagers are already interested in drinking and are not affected as dramatically by ads. “…the fact that teens who like alcohol ads are more likely to want to drink may simply reflect their pre-existing attitudes, rather than show an effect of the commercials,” she wrote in an article on the STATS website.

While a variety of commentators have a strong opinion on the issue, the final verdict is still up in the air for many, including Smith.

“I have to admit, I was in the liquor store the other day, and I don’t know how, but I found myself walking to the counter with a case of Hans Beer. You never know.”

issue

15

FEATURES

20 After struggling with poor

grades and drug charges, senior Daniel Altieri is beginning to

Pick up the pieces

28 april

2008

» mackenziewylie

BY

E

» mikehake

verything seemed normal on Nov. 27 when senior Daniel Altieri left for lunch after fifth hour Team Games. As he got closer to his blue Jeep Grand Cherokee, he saw a bright orange boot fastened to his wheel. Then, Dr. Mersch standing beside it.

By the time he saw the three Prairie Village police officers waiting outside his car, he knew how bad things were about to get.

That day last fall cost Altieri between 15-20 baseball scholarship offers from Division I universities.

Before then, Altieri was being recruited by colleges like Memphis, Dartmouth, Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State. Then, it was more a matter of where he would be playing baseball after high school.

Now, over five months later, Altieri is just hoping for a second chance at what once looked like a promising collegiate baseball career. *** They’re searching the car. They’re going to find it. All Altieri could think of was how to get out of the situation. After about 45 minutes of watching police search his car, he was forced to release the key to his locked glove box. Officers quickly found what they were looking for and immediately arrested Altieri on marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia charges. Everything came to a crashing halt that day for the then-nationally recruited baseball player.

“The worst part was they arrested me in front of about two-thirds of the senior class [during lunch],” Altieri said. “It was [bad] because a lot of people were spreading rumors and I wasn’t there to clear things up.

When I came back everybody was just like ‘Oh my God what happened to you?’”

After police received a tip of the possibility of drugs in Altieri’s car, both campus and city police officers went to the senior lot to wait him out.

“We as police have to have probable cause to search a car,” Detective Brady Sullivan said. “Whereas an administrator can search any car [on school property] based on any reasonable suspicion.”

Once he was finally taken into the SRO office and given the standard search round, he was processed and released to his parents.

“I knew he wasn’t doing well in school, and I knew he wasn’t hanging out with the people I wanted him to,” Joan Altieri, his mom, said.

“That day when the SRO called us and asked us to come in for a meeting, that’s when the full extent of everything became obvious.”

On top of the charges, the arrest also put an abrupt end to his high school baseball career.

“The administration pretty much brought me in and said baseball is done for you,” Altieri said.

The senior that played varsity his sophomore and junior years wouldn’t even see the field in the 2008 season, causing every Division I university to withdraw its scholarship offer.

“It really [frustrated me] because that’s what I want to do [after high school],” Altieri said. “Now I’m going to have to go to a junior college to get noticed by Division I schools.”

Playing on a traveling team last summer, Altieri gained attention from University of Memphis head coach Daren Schoenrock after a school recruiter watched one of Altieri’s games. He also met Missouri State head coach Keith Guttin on the last day of the summer season. With no pending charges or school, he was able to focus on baseball all summer.

“I was probably home about 16 days this

summer,” Altieri said. “The rest I was out of town playing with the team. I would come home, rest, then pack my bags and leave again.”

Besides the legal trouble Altieri was now facing, his grades were starting to suffer, which became another large deterrent for recruiting colleges. To be eligible for a scholarship, he had to maintain a 2.0 GPA, which he had fallen far under.

“When everybody found out about my grades, the D-1 colleges started dropping off,” Altieri said. “I take full responsibility for my grades. It was just procrastination and lack of will to do my work.”

His attendance in class got increasingly worse, and by early April he had accumulated too many unexcused absences to receive credit for second semester.

“Daniel has a chance to do something most people only dream about,” Joan said.

“He has a gift not many people have, and he’s more or less throwing it away.” *** It was the morning of April 21, and Altieri was standing in front of the judge in Prairie Village Municipal Court. The last time he was here he got so sick he couldn’t even make it into the courthouse. Today would be different, though.

“I wasn’t really nervous,” Altieri said. “I had been there before. I knew a lot of serious things could come out of it, but a lot of good things could come of it too.”

After personally addressing Altieri, Judge Michael Farley decided to continue the case until June 5.

“He told me I have a lot of potential and I need to stay in school,” Altieri said. “When you’re standing there in front of a judge, it really makes you think about it from a legal perspective.”

Altieri was also court-ordered to come back to school, though he won’t get any credit for his classes.

“I don’t mind coming back,” Altieri said.

“They just don’t want me sitting around for the rest of the school year.”

With 3.5 credits still left to attain, Altieri will be back at East this fall for another semester. After graduation, he’ll set his sights on college baseball.

“I haven’t started looking at junior colleges yet,” Altieri said. “I’m focusing on graduating first. There’s no doubt I’ll get my diploma.”

Q&ADionn Scherff

with

Law Offices of Cornwell and Scherff

Q: How do you go about representing a teen that has been accused with drug charges?

A: In Johnson County a teen is automatically appointed a lawyer, no matter the income status of the family. Or the family can hire a lawyer before or after the drug charges.

Q: How, if at all, does representing a teen with drug charges differ from representing an adult?

A: It doesn’t at all really, as far as constitutional rights. But in a juvenile case you are not convicted you are judicated.

Q: How much time does it take you to prepare for such a case?

What all goes into it?

A: I really can’t say. It could be five hours, it could be 35 hours. It really just depends on the case. The amount of research and the amount of research and writing vary from case to case.

Q: How often do you see teens with drug charges?

A: A lot. Fifty percent of the cases I handle in juvenile court are drug and alcohol related.

Q: What do you think this says about today’s youth?

A: It doesn’t say anything about today’s youth. I feel we have a court system that over prosecutes.

MIXED

.{ mixedpage.}

21

AVAILABLE AT RAINY DAY BOOKS!

[the page about... “EAT THIS NOT THAT!”]

WHAT TO EAT WHEN YOU WANT THE MOST FROM YOUR WORKOUT The right post-workout meals help build lean muscle, repair your body and ensure gains long after you’ve done your last rep

PB&J OR PASTA

PORK TENDERLOIN

The perfect post training repast has about 400 calories, with 20 to 30 grams of protein (to build new muscle) and 50 to 65 grams of carbohydrates (to repair old muscle).

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or a small bowl of pasta with meat sauce fit that formula.

Lean meats are a great low-calorie source of protein, and scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, found that eating more protein may reduce the fat around your midsection. People who ate 20 more grams of protein every day than the group average had 6 percent lower waist-to-hip ratios.

COFFEE University of Georgia scientists revealed that taking a caffeine supplement (equal to 2 cups of coffee) after exercise reduces muscle soreness more than pain relievers can. Caffeine blocks a chemical that activates pain receptors.

QUIZ: WHICH HAS MORE CALORIES? QUARTER POUNDER [McDonald’s] vs.

PARMESAN CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD WRAP 2 SLICES DOMINO’S CHEESE PIZZA HAND TOSSED vs.

2 SLICES PIZZA HUT CHEESE PIZZA HAND TOSSED

HARBINGER FOOD PANEL how many fast food calories you REALLY have consumed THREE FAST FOOD MEALS YOU’VE HAD IN THE PAST WEEK

Freshman

Kevin Simpson

Sophomore

Jeff Rutherford Junior

Taylor Twibell

Senior

Gage Brummer

NUMBER OF CALORIES EACH MEAL CONTAINED

1. Two Cheeseburgers-Med. Fry [McDonald’s] 2. Three Soft Shell Tacos- chicken, cheese, and sour cream [Chipotle] 3. Foot long Sub-turkey, american cheese, and pepperoni [Subway]

1. Cheeseburger- 300 cal each, Med. Fry- 380 cal 2. Three Soft Shells-300 cal, Chicken-219 cal, Cheese-110 cal, Sour Cream-120 cal 3. Bread-400 cal, Turkey-50 cal, Cheese-40 cal, Pepperoni-180 cal

1. Double Quarter Pounder-Large Fry-Med. Coke [McDonald’s] 2. Two Burrito Bowls-steak, rice, black beans, corn, and cheese [Chipotle] 3. Double Quarter Pounder-Large Fry- Med. Coke [McDonald’s]

1. Dbl. Quarter Pounder-740 cal, Large- 570 cal, Med. Coke-210 cal 2. Steak-230 cal, Rice-240 cal, Black Beans-130 cal, Corn-100 cal, Cheese-110 cal 3. Dbl. Quarter Pounder-740 cal, Large- 570 cal, Med. Coke-210 cal

1. Crispy Ranch Snack Wrap-Small Dr. Pepper [McDonald’s] 2. Burrito-chicken, corn, cheese, guacamole, rice, and lettuce [Chipotle] 3. 6 inch wheat sub-turkey,mayonnaise, pepper [Subway] 1. Crunchwrap Supreme, Steak Baja Chalupa, Spicy Chicken Burrito, two small Mountain Dew [Taco Bell] 2. Strawberry White Chocolate Muffin, Bagel Dog, Coffee [Einstein Bros] 3. Chicken Burrito Bowl-Lettuce, Fajita Vegetables, Chicken, Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Cheese, Regular Dr. Pepper [Chipotle]

1. Snack Wrap-340 cal, Small Dr. Pepper-150 cal 2. Tortilla-330 cal, Chicken-219 cal, Rice-240 cal, Corn-100 cal, Guacomole-170 cal, Lettuce-5 cal 3. Bread-200 cal, Turkey-50 cal, Mayonnaise-110 cal 1. Crunchwrap-560 cal, Steak Chalupa-390 cal, Chicken Burrito-490 cal, 2 Mountain Dews-340 cal 2. Muffin-550 cal, Bagel Dog-750 cal 3. Lettuce-5 cal, Fajita Vegetables-100 cal, Chicken-219 cal, Salsa-25 cal, Sour Cream-120 cal, Guacomole-170 cal, Cheese- 110 cal, Reg. Dr. Pepper-210 cal

EAT THIS NOT THAT “ ”

TOTAL CAL

2,099

“It’s simple. No matter how successful The Abs Diet has been, it shares with all other diets one single dilemma: A diet only works if you have control over what, how and when you’re eating. And as you well know, most of the time, you don’t have control.”

- David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health CONSIDER THIS...

-Two-thirds of U.S. adults are now overweight and the obesity rate has increased 50 percent since 1960.

-The food industry spends $30 billion a year on advertising – 70 percent of it pitching convenience foods, candy, soda and desserts.

Even the teens working behind the counter are coached to get you to “supersize” your meal. (And for an average 17 percent more money, you get yourself 55 percent more calories! A bargain – if you consider flab a good investment.)

SECRETS THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW!

CINNAMON ROLL [Au Bon Pain] vs.

CLASSIC CINNAMON ROLL [Cinnabon] BANANA SPLIT [Baskin-Robbins] vs.

CLASSIC BANANA SPLIT [Dairy Queen]

3,850 ANSWERS...

QUARTER POUNDER [McDonald’s] [ 410 calories] PARMESAN CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD WRAP [ 630 calories] 2 SLICES DOMINO’S CHEESE PIZZA HAND TOSSED [ 580 calories] 2 SLICES PIZZA HUT CHEESE PIZZA HAND TOSSED [ 680 calories]

1,914

4,039

excerpts from...

SO WHY EAT THIS, NOT THAT?

CHIPOTLE STEAK BURRITO vs.

REGULAR STEAK BURRITO SUPREME [Taco Bell]

CHIPOTLE STEAK BURRITO [ 1,193 calories] REGULAR STEAK BURRITO SUPREME [Taco Bell] [390 calories] CINNAMON ROLL [Au Bon Pain] [ 350 calories] CLASSIC CINNAMON ROLL [Cinnabon] [ 813 calories] BANANA SPLIT [Baskin-Robbins] [ 1,030 calories] CLASSIC BANANA SPLIT [Dairy Queen] [ 530 calories]

DID YOU KNOW....

AT KRISPY KREME... all you need to do is order the Very Berry Chiller PIZZA HUT DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT... a standard pizza in Italy contains 500 to 800 calories, instead of the Mocha Dream Chiller, and you’ll save 500 calories? (Do that once a week and you’ll drop but the same meal at Pizza Hut can top 2,100 calomore than 7 pounds this year-- without trying!) ries! (You’d need to ride a stationary bike for more AT CHIPOTLE... than three hours to burn off this mistake. Instead, you can cut 570 calories out of your chicken burrito eat all the pizza you want by making smart choices.) just by ordering it in a bowl (without the tortilla) BURGER KING DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT... a BK Big Fish Sandwich and fries have a whopping 1,000 and asking them to hold the rice. (Same great taste, but with 94 fewer carb grams!) calories – nearly half your daily caloric intake! (Fish is AT COLDSTONE CREAMERY... usually healthy, but not this kind. Fish is only healthy you can save 40 calories and 2 grams of fat by when it’s not breaded and fried in partially hydrogenated choosing shaved chocolate, not chocolate chips, oil. Here, the fry treatment translates into 7 grams of as your topping. (Sure, you’re indulging – but fats and 108 grams of carbohydrates.) why not indulge smartly?)

AT McDONALD’S... an Egg McMuffin is actually a healthy choice, with just 300 calories. (The Hotcakes pack more than double that amount!)

AT CHIK-FIL-A... not a single sandwich tops 500 calories. (When it comes to fast food, this might be the healthiest no-brainer around.)

IN THE PRODUCE AISLE... you’ll get twice the vitamin C – and nine times as much vitamin A – by simply picking red bell peppers over green ones. (Who said eating healthy was difficult?)

issue

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A&E

I want my ‘88 Minutes’ back New Al Pacino film is waste of time BY

»

landonmcdonald

Whatever happened to Al Pacino?

Once upon a time Pacino, one of my all-time favorite actors, starred in mobster masterpieces like “The Godfather” movies and the endlessly influential “Scarface.” He won an Oscar for his poignant turn as a blind eccentric in “Scent of a Woman.”

Even in his old age, he’s experienced recent gritty success in Christopher Nolan’s riveting cop thriller “Insomnia” and has demonstrated his mastery of over-the-top acting in the underrated “Devil’s Advocate” and Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday.”

No one movie could ever derail such an impressive career, such an accomplished and diverse body of work.

But “88 Minutes” comes damn close.

In this incoherent, unreservedly moronic murder mystery, Pacino plays criminology professor and FBI forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jack Gramm.

We watch an opening flashback that shows Gramm giving testimony against Jon Forster (Neil McDonough, whose credits include Lindsey Lohan’s 2007 crap-fest “I Know Who Killed Me”), a silver-haired sleazebag who may or may not be the dreaded Seattle Slayer serial killer, a madman with a fondness for young women, bungee cords, and torture. The trial turns Gramm into a celebrity overnight and ends with Forster shipped off to Death Row. Case closed? If only.

Years later, on the day of Forster’s long-awaited execution, Gramm

receives an anonymous cell phone call. The same deep, vaguely metallic voice from countless horror films and spy thrillers informs Jack that he has eighty-eight minutes to live.

And so begins an insidiously dull game of life and death in which Jack must literally solve his own murder (as the schlocky tagline puts it) and discover both the identity of the mysterious caller and his/ her link to Forster, who may be orchestrating a revenge scheme from prison, before his time runs out.

The only truly interesting thing about this film is its female casting. Pacino, who’s five-foot-six and pushing 70, is inexplicably surrounded by incredibly attractive women for nearly the entire movie.

Unfortunately, none of them can act.

They include his pretty teaching assistant Kim (Alicia Witt), several cute college students, his often-helpful bisexual assistant (Amy Brenneman), and even the university’s Dean (aging bombshell Deborah Kara Unger).

Maybe there is a reason Pacino agreed to appear in this garbage.

With the ridiculously resourceful Kim in tow, Gramm rushes around the city for a couple of hours looking for clues and whatnot in his nice Porsche before it unexpectedly (and by that I mean completely expectedly) blows up. Yes, I’m getting tired of the car-bomb trick.

Anyway, during this time we get to learn a little about Jack. The idiotic

screenplay by Gary Scott Thompson has generously provided our hero with the requisite tortured past; complete with a murdered little sister he always felt he could have saved.

She appears only in soft-glow dream sequences, flying a kite and sprightly calling, “Jack! Look at the kite, Jack!” over and over again. It was sickening.

This sequence would play well in a comedic spoof of movies like this, but to include it in the real deal is a colossal mistake. In other words, it fits with the rest of “88 Minutes” perfectly.

Pacino sleepwalks his way through the role of Gramm, waiting for a real script and actors to show up. It never does. He occasionally sits up and takes notice, but only when a sexy new co-star shows up or he feels compelled to give a big “HOO-HAH!” styled speech when facing Forster himself via satellite phone during a conveniently timed call-in news show towards the end.

Director Jon Avnet (who produced the fun retro-future feature “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” in 2004) better shape up, because his next film, this fall’s much anticipated Pacino/DeNiro rematch “Righteous Kill,” looks like it has real potential to be a new cops and robbers classic.

For now though, his only claim to fame is subjecting one of our last great actors (and his devoted audience) to what is by far the worst movie of his long and distinguished career.

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3 lesser known Pacino Classics Donnie Brasco (1997): Pacino plays Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, an aging racketeer gangster who mentors ambitious young thug Donnie Brasco (Johnny Depp) in the family business, unaware that his eager protégé is actually an undercover FBI agent.

Serpi (1973): A much younger Pacino portrays Officer Frank Serpico, one of the last honest cops in New York during the corruption of the NYPD in the 1970s, in Sidney Lumet’s timeless tale of greed and loyalty.

The Panic in Needle Park (1971): A littleseen, small-scale human drama starring Pacino and Kitty Winn as two lonely heroine addicts dealing with love, addiction, and death in the drug culture-fueled New York City of the late 60s.

» movieweb.com

Don’t ‘forget’ about it ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ supplies raunchy laughs

28 april

2008

starscale

BY

» mactamblyn

The producer of “40 Year-Old Virgin,” “Knocked Up” and “Superbad,” Judd Apatow, uses successful shock and awe humor tactics once again in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

However, unlike other Apatow projects with comedy and semi-heavy parts, this movie began to fail when the serious segment began.

The hilarious comedy became a mediocre romantic-comedy at the midway point of the movie, although it managed to remain amusing.

B-list TV star Sarah Marshall (Kristin Bell) becomes frustrated with her boyfriend Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) because of his lack of ambition. After their unforgettable break up scene where Peter becomes naked after

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dropping his bathrobe in surprise, Peter sulks his way to Hawaii for a rebound trip. Shortly after checking into his hotel, he coincidentally runs in to Sarah and her new rock-star boyfriend Aldous Snow (Russell Brand). The pitiful Peter then sets his sights on Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis of “That 70’s Show), the hotel desk manager, to get his mind off his ex.

The first half of the movie does not miss a beat with Characters like Chuck (Paul Rudd), the oblivious druggie surf instructor who introduces himself to Peter multiple times, Matthew the Waiter (Jonah Hill), who has a mancrush on Aldous Snow and slips hard liquor into his drink, and Billy Baldwin who appears

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as himself on Sarah Marshall’s TV show “Crime Scene,” which is a funny take off of CSI: Miami.”

When the romantic part of the film hit, momentum was lost. There were still good moments, like the scene where Peter performs one of his original songs from his puppet rock musical about Dracula in front of a crowd in a Hawaiian bar. But the semi-serious, unbelievable romantic plot took away from the comedic effect.

Despite the drop off of comedy, this will surely please fans of any other Apatow production. It’s not quite “Superbad,” but I certainly won’t be “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” anytime soon. { }

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

Take a look at this summer’s concert scene

A&E

Singing through the summer

23

» www.wakarusa.com and www.lollapalooza.com

Wakarusa

Even while puttering down the mile long stretch of K-10 that leads to Clinton Lake State Park, there is a clear image of what the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is about. One man dangles his legs outside of his car window while humming a deep melody on a didgeridoo while another dreadlocked woman does a chaotic dance on the back of her car. Yes, Wakarusa is a paradise for the weekend hippie.

This year’s headlining band is The Flaming Lips, an alternative, psychedelic space rock group from Oklahoma City with a nationwide cult following.

The concert series features artists from a wide variety of genres from the mainstream piano rock of Ben Folds to the maniacal shredding of Guitar Hero darling Buckethead.

“The best part is that you are constantly surrounded by amazing music,” senior and Wakarusa 2007 patron Bruce Tuschhoff said. “It’s all about good music and camping with fun people.”

The four-day span from June 5-8 features seven stages of non-stop music from over 100 national and local Lawrence artists. “On average, I saw about nine shows per day,” Tuschhoff said.

If you feel you need a break from the intensity of continuous concerts, the concert promoters are attempting to provide other avenues of entertainment.

“We are really trying to offer a mul-

BY

» davidwebster

titude of activities for the patrons,” Wakarusa promoter John Barrett said. “We will have early morning yoga and impromptu art booths for local vendors.

We are also having a fashion show featuring clothes not manufactured in sweat shops.”

In addition, if you feel the need to get in touch with your tribal self, there are also organized communal drum circles and body painting.

The concert is held within the confines of idyllic Clinton Lake State Park and the park officials have worked together well for the festival’s five year history.

“We don’t foresee any huge problems for this year,” Clinton Lake State Park official Sherri Withers said. “We are capping attendance this year to 10,000 patrons, but the concert promoters have done a really good job at maintaining the park through the concerts.”

The concert promoters are stressing environmental friendliness for this year’s festival. The promoters have purchased carbon credits in attempt to make the festival entirely carbon neutral.

“A lot of the motivation to be green is facilitated by the concert patrons,” Barrett said. “We always have patrons stay to help clean up and put up recycling bins. It definitely gives the concert an even stronger positive vibe.”

Lollapalooza

Daft Punk just concluded their breathtaking set for a screaming sea of thousands huddled together in the muggy summer air. After the amplifiers and laser light pyrotechnics have been effectively turned off and racked, the Lollapalooza attendants may hear the din of taxi cabs in the distance, and see the moon silhouetting the spires of the Sears Tower on the walk back to their hotels.

“Lollapalooza is different from any concert I’ve ever been to,” sophomore Nathan Goldman said.

Lollapalooza is similar to Wakarusa in that it features non-stop music and entertainment for a three-day weekend, but the atmospheres of the two festivals could not be more different.

Lollapalooza was created in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell and is housed in the urban metropolis of Chicago’s Grant Park and.

The festival, which is often referred to as this generation’s Woodstock, has featured artists ranging from Ben Harper to Built to Spill and Wilco to William Hung and attracts over 65,000 people annually. This year’s headliners include Radiohead and Kanye West.

“There is definitely a limited hippie presence at Lollapalooza,” Goldman said. “The atmosphere it much more urban.”

Unlike the Wakarusa festival, which is held in a 1500-acre camping site, Lollapalooza is held in the hub of Chicago. The festival is put on in part by corporate sponsors and also in part by the Chicago Park District.

“We’re in charge of contacting the sponsors, finding and managing contracts with the new artists,” Chicago Park District Public Relations

official Patrick Davis said.

There are over 100 confirmed acts scheduled for this year. The park houses over five stages that fill an area of approximately one square mile. Even though the Lollapalooza patrons are not lodging on the actual concert grounds as at Wakarusa, Lollapalooza’s five stages are still accessible.

“My friends and I stayed at a hotel right by Grant Park,” Goldman said. “I really liked how we were able to wake up in the morning, walk outside and go listen to a concert.”

Something appealing that both Wakarusa and Lollapalooza offer is the incredible variability of the artist lineup. With entertainment going on literally every minute for 12 hours, the Public Relations team is responsible for booking up to 50 live acts any given day.

“That’s probably the hardest part, Davis said. “We have to find tons of new bands each year that the fans will like with the budget we can work with. That’s our goal for each festival.”

Given the sheer number of acts scheduled, concert-goers will have to manage time wisely as overlapping shows are inevitable.

“At any given time there are at least two bands playing, and I didn’t get to see as many bands per day that I had planned on seeing,” Goldman said. “If we wanted to see consecutive bands, sometimes we had to sprint all the way to the other side of the park to make it in time.”

These concert festivals both feature eclectic lineups and wild, intriguing entertainment that can only be found in a setting that immerses the patron in the atmosphere.

“I’m really looking forward to Lollapalooza this year,” Goldman said. “I love being around music and this is a great place to do that.”

Summer 2008 music festival breakdown BONNAROO

LOCATION:

Manchester, TN DATES:

June 12-15 ESTIMATED DISTANCE:

624.16 miles

ESTIMATED TIME TO DRIVE THERE:

9.0 hrs 47 mins

ARTIST LINEUP:

Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, OAR, Iron and Wine

LOCATION:

WAKARUSA

Lawrence, KS DATES:

June 5-8 ESTIMATED DISTANCE:

43.48 miles

ESTIMATED TIME TO DRIVE THERE:

48 mins

ARTIST LINEUP:

Flaming Lips, Cake, Blackalicious, Tea Leaf Green, STS9, Ben Folds

LOLLAPALOOZA LOCATION:

10KLF LOCATION:

Chicago, Il

Detroit Lakes, MN

DATES:

DATES:

ESTIMATED DISTANCE:

ESTIMATED DISTANCE:

ESTIMATED TIME TO DRIVE THERE:

ESTIMATED TIME TO DRIVE THERE:

ARTIST LINEUP:

ARTIST LINEUP:

August 1-3 534.82 miles

8.0 hrs 18 mins

Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Gnarls Barkley, Gogol Bordello

July 23-26 654.45 miles

9.0 hrs 32 mins

Slightly Stoopid, Phil Lesh and Friends, issue Tim Reynolds, George Clinton 15

A&E

24

Touching up her image Mariah Carey’s new album, ‘E=MC2,’ helps to cement her status as a true pop icon BY

» devino’bryan

Despite the name, Mariah Carey’s new CD, “E=MC2,” has nothing to do with physics. The “E” actually stands for “Emancipation,” as in “The Emancipation of Mimi,” her highly-successful 2005 release. So if the title is anything to go by, this CD promises to be better than that. Like her old one squared...or something.

It fulfills that promise. “E=MC2” delivers solid pop song after solid pop song that fans and others will enjoy listening to. As her 11th studio album, it is hardly ground-breaking. You can’t fault her for not wanting to break the mold, though. She’s been nominated for 35 Grammy Awards, and won five of them. So if there’s one thing Mariah Carey has proven in her successful seventeen-year career, it’s that she can make music people want to listen to.

Like “Emancipation,” there is a large variety in the type of song on “E=MC2.” Because of this variety (the CD starts with hip-hop featuring T-Pain and ends with a church-like ballad), there is something even the pickiest fan can enjoy. The different styles of songs make the CD more enjoyable to listen to, so the album as a whole still works.

“E=MC2’s” first single, “Touch My Body,” is catchy, but doesn’t take itself too seriously. With lyrics like, “If there’s a camera up in here/Then I’d best not catch this flick/On YouTube,” and a fun beat it has become a favorite with fans, radio stations and listeners who hear it once and can’t seem to get it out of their head.

“Touch My Body” is followed by another gem, “Cruise Control,” which is a reggae-flavored song featuring Damian Marley. Like many of the songs on the album, it’s entertaining without a lot of substance, but its relaxed beat and playful attitude make it instantly memorable.

The second single from “E=MC2,” “Bye Bye,” is one of the more serious songs on the album. It’s a slow ballad that mourns the loss of a loved one without sounding maudlin or cheesy. Whether you’ve lost your best friend, mother, brother or anyone else, she

THE A&E PANEL we weigh in on what’s up in entertainment

2008

starscale

Breaking all the records

{

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BEST MOVIE LAST SEEN IN THEATRES

JAMIE LYNN SPEARS?

FAVORITE LINE FROM A MOVIE/ TV SHOW

SONG YOU CAN’T GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD

FAVORITE MAGAZINE

Juno

She’s got a tough road ahead of her

“Summer, acknowledge me now or lose me forever.”

The O.C.

Bleeding Love

by Leona Lewis

Elle

Always Be My Baby

by David Cook

Seventeen

RUTH STARK a&e section editor

28 april

sings, “There’s so much more left to say/If you were with me today face to face.” The fact that she can tackle this serious subject matter in a tasteful way right after the playful “Touch My Body” and “Cruise Control” goes to show the amazing range she has in the type of song she can perform well.

Another highlight of the album is “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time,” a happy-golucky song made for blasting on the radio while driving with the windows down. The catchy melody features her voice layered over itself, making it sound like there is a roomful of Mariah’s singing over each other.

Despite the variety of songs, one good thing about this CD is that there are no real low points. There are good songs and catchy songs, but I never felt like skipping past the more lackluster of the bunch.

With “E=MC2,” Carey shows us, yet again, that her talent is timeless. She proves that even through all the » mariahcarey.com imitators and young rivals on the charts, she will always have the killer combo of powerful vocals, good song writing and catchy melodies. >> The first track on Carey’s new CD, “Touch My Body,” reached No. 1 on the This album solidifies Billboard chart, making it her 18th number one single. her status as a >> Carey has surpassed Elvis Presley, who had seventeen number one songs, pop music legend, and is now only two behind the Beatles’ record of twenty No. 1 singles. reinforcing the fact that she will always » info courtesymusicnews.com be remembered as a music icon while others performers around her fade away.

MACKENZIE WYLIE photographer

Across the Universe

Sixteen and pregnant???

“Were we talking to you, no, clean that mess up.”

Failure To Launch

MAC TAMBLYN a&e page editor

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Runs in the family

“Is somebody making soup?”

The Office

Yah Mo B There

by Michael McDonald

Sports Illustrated

KEVIN SIMPSON staff writer

Shooter

Very nice, but very sketch and not very classy

“Let’s hug it out.”

Entourage

Hostel Gospel

by Talib Kweli

Sports Illustrated only with Mario Chalmers on the cover

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} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

BREAKDOWN

Three new free Web sites that the Harbinger thinks will make a splash

PluggedIn

A&E

‘Light’

WWW

25

www.pluggedin.com

MTV (Music Television) not showing music videos is like Lancer of the Day going to a South kid. It just doesn’t make any sense. But the last time MTV showed a music video was around the time the the Berlin Wall fell. So to get your music vid fix, check out PluggedIn, one of only a handful of Web sites that provides high definition movie videos. Backed by Will Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment, PluggedIn offers free videos, a video playlist mixer and . And there’s nothing more glorious than seeing Isaac Brock or Anthony Kiedis in high definition.

Really.

BY

Muxtape www.muxtape.com

Convinced that the art of the mixtape was lost when cassette tapes disappeared? Never fear. Turn to Muxtape, a digital throwback to the dusty tapes of the ‘80s, and create a personalized “mixtape” profile (username.muxtape.com).

Fill the profile with a 12-song playlist by uploading full music files, then browse through and listen to other users’ selections. Nothing is downloadable, but all songs are fulllength, and all uploads are free.

CookThink www.cookthink.com

Cookthink solves even the most daunting midnight munchies.

Called the Pandora of food, this personalized Web site finds recipes to suit every type of craving. Select what flavor you’re longing for from lists of ingredients, moods, dishes or types of cuisine, and let the site search through a matrix of various food words to match recipes to your specificiations. A search for “yummy, cheap Eastern fusion with pork” yields Baby Back Ribs with Asian Orange-Ginger Glaze, and a hunt for “gooey, kid-friendly breakfast foods with caramel” returns Maple Plum Crumble or Easy Weekend Pancakes with Melted Rolos. Bet your mouth is watering already.

» davidhenderson

SHINES

Director Scorsese scores a hit with captivating Stones concert documentary BY

» davidhenderson

Think of one of the greatest rock n’ roll bands in the last half of the 20th century.

Who comes to mind? The Rolling Stones, perhaps? Well if you’re a fan, or just want catch the Stones in action, you definitely need to see “Shine a Light.”

“Shine a Light” is one of the most entertaining documentaries about a rock concert you can ever imagine. Produced by award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who has won double-digit Oscars for films such as “Gangs of New York” and “The Aviator,” certainly has a gem on his hands with this flick.

The brief black-and-white footage shot before the beginning of the 2006 Beacon theater concert shows Scorsese drawing up the song line-up, where the Stones were to be on stage and where the cameras would be to capture every moment of their performance.

The trouble in the early part of the movie is that Mick Jagger, the lead vocalist, is indecisive over what songs he wants to play. The camera zooms in on him making numerous changes to his song list while sitting on a plane headed to New York.

Apparently after being together for many years the Stones are still unsure of what songs they will play, and are even tired of some of the song selections like

?

WHAT IS THE

URS

“Satisfaction,” which Jagger jokingly says he has played over a million times.

When the Stones step on stage, the sweeping camera movements and seemless transitions show the detail that Scorsese prides himself in. Then appears the aging yet energetic Mick Jagger, wearing his signature leather pants. The Stones begin playing one of their classic songs in “Jumping Jack Flash,” which was made famous in the 1986 film, “Jumping Jack Flash,” starring Whoopi Goldberg.

The concert really is one of the most exhilarating musical experiences that I have experienced in my lifetime. The brotherhood that the band memebers share just amazes me. Numberous times Keith Richards would lean on Ronnie Wood’s shoulder, while Wood would tear it up on the guitar.

All but about 20 minutes of the two-hour film is devoted to the concert, which consists of about 20 songs. The old black-and-white footage, dating back to when the Stones were in their twenties was a nice break from watching Mick Jagger prance around the stage in those leather pants.

The footage was also quite entertaining showing the smart-aleck, intoxicated Stones in their prime. They turned out to be a journalist’s nightmare. One word answers, slurring responses and my favorite: when Mick Jagger was asked what question he had

The Unauthorized Rolling Stones (URS) is the most recognized Stones tribute band, garnering a mention in “Shine a Light” and playing sets almost nightly in venues across the country.

Songs include: • Angie • Under My Thumb • Midnight Rambler • Beast of Burden

asked the most while on tour responded, “The question you just asked.”

The brief intervention with the old footage really expresses how amazing it is for these guys to still be playing into their sixties.

One of the most amazing moments in the film is when a young Jagger explains in an interview that he hopes that the band can stay around for another year.

But when the reporter asks a follow up question of, “Can you imagine playing into your sixties?”

Jagger replies, “Yes, easily.”

The songs played are a treat to see, escpecially in the Studio 30 in Olathe, which is currently the only movie theater showing the documentary about the Stones. The movie which is shown on a 70-foot IMAX screen, gives you the feeling that Mick Jagger is about to pop right out of the screen.

With special guests appearing throughout the show, such as Christina Aguilera and Jack White from the White Stripes, there is never a dull moment throughout the film.

However, my favorite guest artist is definitely Buddy Guy with his rendition of “Champagne and Reefer.” His raspy voice, which like sounded exactly like Muddy Waters, was a high point during the film.

If you’re up for a concert but don’t want to drop $50 on a ticket, I would highly recommend seeing “Shine a Light.”

Band counterparts: • Mick Jagger: Rudy Columbini • Keith Richards: Mark Banning, Dave Garcia • Charlie Watts: Steve Strehler • Ronnie Wood: Boudeeka issue • Bill Wyman: Kenny Crampton

15

» photo courtesy of subpop records

A&E

26

28 april

2008

SUCCESSFUL‘FLIGHT’ The self-dubbed fourth most popular New Zealand folk-comedy duo, Flight of the Conchords, deliver beyond their own expectations

BY

»elizabethmcgranahan

I remember the first time I watched the New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords on HBO. I was hanging out one boring night with a friend who happened to be a huge fan of the show. One thing led to another – and I found myself laughing until I cried for a good hour.

Their hilarious show is about two New Zealand musicians named Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement who have just moved to New York City in the hopes of becoming famous. Each episode includes a zany plot and a few bizarre (but entertaining) songs. I couldn’t think of anything that could possibly make it better. Then I heard they were coming out with an album.

Their self-titled album, released on April 22, features full-length versions of the 15 songs you hear throughout their season on HBO. I started listening to the album with high hopes – after all; their previously published EP entitled “The Distant Future” won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

The first song entitled “Foux du Fafa” comes from an episode where the boys pretend to be French to impress two local girls. The song follows them through a super market, picnic and

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disco party. The entire time the boys list off random French words including: library, pineapple, beef and swimming pools. It was amusing, but one of the least creative and least entertaining songs on the album. In my opinion, skip right over this song because it’s not worth listening to.

The next song called “Think About It” features the boys posing the question “what is wrong with the world?” Half the notes in this song are extremely off-key, but thankfully their fans and myself don’t care. The lyrics explain the problems facing the world today including: people killing each other with knives and forks, monkeys spreading disease and all our money going to “the man.” Their lyrics are accompanied by a simple back beat of piano, guitar and drums. The simplicity of the music leaves the focus to the lyrics (which is where it rightfully belongs).

The song entitled “Prince of Parties” was different from most of the other songs. This track actually showcases their musical abilities including tambourine, electric guitar, flute and bongo drums. This was the first track where the music actually competed with the lyrics for the listener’s attention.

They both successfully caught my attention, becoming one of my favorite tracks on the album. The episode this airs in features the boys frolicking (no

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joke) in a forest while they proclaim that they are “the pretty prince of parties.”

The entire song doesn’t really make any sense (no surprise there) but it’s catchy regardless.

The last song was by far my favorite, entitled “Most Beautiful Girl.” This song features the boys ranting about a girl at their party. The lyrics try to woo her by telling her that she is so beautiful she could be a part time model and offering to get in a cab and go buy her a kabob (pronounced ka-bab). This song is completely random and so entertaining.

This song reminds me more of a funny stand up sketch and less of a track, but I’m not complaining. Again, the music is nothing fancy and nothing to rant and rave over – the lyrics are what makes it a hit.

What makes the Flight of the Conchords so great is that they are subtle with their jokes, in fact every time I listen to their songs I find a new joke that I didn’t notice before. This album was overall entertaining and made for a good laugh. If you’re looking for an album that features stunning music – this album might not be for you. For the Flight of the Conchords – it’s all about the lyrics. Anybody who enjoys a laugh will enjoy this album.

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SAMPLE THE

CONCHORDS Flight of the Conchords are just as much comedians as they are musicians proven most prominently in their witty lyrics

1. Most Beautiful Girl

Looking ‘round the room, I can tell that you/ Are the most beautiful girl in the...room/ (In the whole wide room)/ And when you’re on the street, depending on the street/ I bet you are definitely in the top three/ Good looking girls on the street/ (Depending on the streets).

2. Sello Tape

Lives are like retractable pencils/ If you push them too hard they’re gonna’ break/ And people are like paper dolls/ Paper dolls and people, they’re a similar shape/ Love is like a roll of tape/ It’s real good for making two things one/ But just like that roll of tape/Love sometimes breaks off before you were done

3. Not Crying

Oh, I’m not crying/ No/ There’s just a little bit of dust in my eye / That’s from the path that you made when you said your goodbye/ I’m not weeping because you won’t be here to hold my hand/ For your information there’s an inflammation in my tear gland

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

Come to

Rose Nails

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

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

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

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28

BY

»clarkgoble

SPORTS

It wasn’t even a real Ultimate practice, and yet, things were so much different than last year.

Unofficial captain senior Jack Krieger called the team in from their casual disc tossing and told them that, even though there were no coaches at practice that day, they would still do some drills. Twenty throws, forehand and backhand. Then, they would work on marking and cutting.

Last year the players would have laughed at him.

All of them would have taken their shirts off (to get better tans, of course), and half would tie their shirts around their heads, labeling themselves the not-quitepolitically-correct “turbans.”

How things have changed.

This spring, the Ultimate Frisbee team has started to take themselves a little more seriously, playing in the Denver East Invite, an Ultimate club team tournament, in early April and preparing to play in the St. Louis Classic – essentially the Missouri state tournament – this Saturday. Krieger has noticed a lot of improvement in two months.

“We’re really starting to pick up momentum,” Krieger said.

That momentum may help the team in St. Louis. At least six of the 13 teams currently enrolled in the tournament are ranked higher than East by the Ultimate Players Association web site, including State Line rival Rockhurst. If predictions by the site hold true, Rockhurst would defeat the Lancers 15-10.

But going in as the underdog didn’t hurt the team in Denver.

After being ranked last out of 16 teams, the Lancers finished fifth. Krieger thinks they are gelling together better than some of the clubs they faced.

“There were clubs [in Denver] that had been playing together for four or five years,” Krieger said. “I can say we all exceeded our expectations.”

In order for the East team to grow, they had to structure their practices and have them more often.

They are held three times a week at 61st and Metcalf.

“We do drills now,” Krieger said. “And if we scrimmage at the end, we stop the game and talk about strategies so it’s a lot more organized than just playing.”

‘Ultimate’

The team always starts out throwing the Frisbee around and then progressing to using both forehand and backhand techniques.

They also work on pivoting, cutting, touch and basic offensive and defensive strategy.

They are coached

by Lee Clark, a KU grad who formerly played for an Ultimate club team, the Horizontal.

Krieger, however, thinks that the increased interest may not continue past this year because of the lack of underclassmen playing. Junior Colin Hayes was the lone underclassmen to go to Denver, and only a few are planning to go to St. Louis.

However, the team doesn’t officially recruit players; they rely on word-of-mouth to spread the information about the team.

“We always want and need more people to play, even if they’ve never picked up a disc or anything,” Krieger said.

Chris Martens, director of the St. Louis Classic, expects 20 teams to enroll in the tournament. He believes Ultimate is really starting to catch on across the region.

“Although the sport was very popular [in St. Louis] in the early 80s, it is safe to say we have experienced tremendous growth in the past four years,” Martens said.

But senior Bruce Tuschhoff can’t see Ultimate gaining school sponsorship in the next few years, even with the increased popularity. No Shawnee Mission

sport

Frisbee team has gone from recreational club to tournament-bound team.

schools have sponsored teams.

“Logically, it makes sense because it isn’t expensive, but [Ultimate] doesn’t really have a following around here,” Tuschhoff said.

And yet, the team isn’t thinking much about next year. They just want to do well in St. Louis and play better with each practice and each game.

“I think the most fun part might be being with the group of guys we have,” Krieger said.

Rules to know

1. Field: should be rectangular shape 70 yards by 40 yards with end zones 25 yards deep.

2. Movement of the disc: the disc can move in any direction by passing to a teammate. The thrower has 10 seconds to throw the disk, and the defensive player counts the time.

3. Self refereeing: players are responsible for calling all fouls, and resolving their own disputes.

4. Physical contact: no contact at all is allowed, picks and screens are prohibited.

5. Change of possession: possession is changed when a throw is dropped, intercepted or thrown out of bounds.

6. Spirit of the game: Ultimate stresses sportsmanship and fair play. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of respect between players and the joy of playing.

7. Scoring: each time the offense reaches the end zone they receive a point.

8. Initiate play: each point begins with both teams lined up on the end zone lines, and the defense throws the frisbee to the other team; each team has seven players.

28 april

2008

ABOVE Members of Ultimate team walk off the field after a day of practice working on throwing and blocking drills. The team finished fifth place at their recent tournament in Denver. » karenboomer

SPORTS

29

Youth movement

Three freshman teammates bring their lifelong club soccer bond to the varsity team » andyallen BY

» nickratliff

Experience is one of the most vital attributes in sports. Teams that know how to play well together almost always win.

With three freshmen on varsity, the girls’ soccer team is feeling the effects of a youth movement. However, forwards Molly Rappold and Kirsten Clark and defender Heather Nelson have played together and are making big contributions on the biggest stage of girls’ soccer this year, together.

On the soccer field, that’s how Clark, Rappold and Nelson have always done it: together. Playing for KCFC Alliance club team, the three have developed a bond that translates on and off the pitch.

“We have all played together on KCFC since second grade, so we kind of know what each other are going to do on the field,” Clark said.

Girls’ head coach Jim Ricker thinks that playing for a big time club like KCFC has developed the three girls’ game faster the

average player. “[Playing club soccer] has helped them because they rarely saw girls their own age on the field,” Ricker said. “Because of that, they can only see the game at a fast speed.

Because of that, they learn to think quicker in game situations.”

Having already played at the pace of high school soccer, Clark has contributed in a big way so far this year, scoring a hat trick, or three goals in a game, already, and five goals in seven games.

“Usually my job is to set other players up,” Clark said. “So it was kind of nice to score three goals [in a game].”

Clark does admit that the nerves of playing big time soccer did get to her before her first game, however.

“Before [the first game], I was freaking out,” Clark said. “I was afraid that it was going to be a really physical game, and I didn’t know whether I’d get pushed around

the panel

or not.”

But those nerves have all seemed to go away for the three, who have all made a significant contribution this season.

Rappold and Clark have combined for 11 goals this season, helping the Lady Lancers to a 4-5-1 record as of April 23. Nelson has knotted an assist and put in solid play on the Lady Lancers’ defensive line.

“Usually at tryouts I sit back and let my assistant coaches look to see what girls are impressive,” Ricker said. “But even I could see that they stood out. All three of them are very fast and all have good touch on the ball, especially Molly. What I saw in Heather is that she’s a great defender and Kirsten has good all-around speed and skills.”

However, much the girls have made an impact on the team this season, Ricker doesn’t want all of the attention to be focused on them. He has a rotation of solid seniors coming off the bench that provide

valuable minutes and rest for the three freshmen.

“What I want people to know is that these three [freshmen] are part of a team,” Ricker said. “In high school soccer, if you build your team around one player, and that player gets hurt 15 games into the season, then you just pack it in and hope you do well next year. On our team we play a lot of solid players.”

Ricker also says that the schedule isn’t going to get easier any time soon. The Lady Lancers played the second ranked team in the state, Olathe East, on April 25, as well as many other tough games.

But the three freshmen will work together, trying to fulfill their respective roles as best they can.

Together, just as they’ve always done it.

NBA MVP

NBA Western Conference Champs

World Series

Biggest NFL draft flop?

Girls soccer vs. Lawrence

Baseball vs. Rockhurst

Kobe Bryant

Lakers

Cubs vs. Angels

Martin Rucker, Missouri

SM East

Rockhurst

clark GOBLE

Chris Paul

Lakers

D’Backs vs.

Yankees

Matt Ryan, Boston College

SM East

Rockhurst

sam LOGAN

Chris Paul

Hornets

Cubs vs. Angels

Darren McFadden, Arkansas

SM East

Rockhurst

sam KOVZAN

Kobe Bryant

Lakers

D’Backs vs.

Red Sox

Matt Ryan, Boston College

SM East

SM East

nick RATLIFF

Chris Paul

Hornets

Mets vs. Angels

Jake Long, Michigan

SM East

SM East

mike CRAY

issue

15

30 At 33, the new Wizard soccer player Claudio Lopez is

SPORTS

AGELESS anopinionof

He is already a year over the average retirement age for a soccer player and the Wizards signed him. Claudio Lopez, once an international star, is now one of the biggest stars in Major League Soccer (MLS) at 33 years old.

At just the age of 16 he started play» joesernett ing professional soccer in Argentina then soon moved to Europe to play, followed by Mexico, Argentina again, and now here. After all of this he is 33 years old, and at that age no one knows if he has a week or three years until he is done. Taking a small gamble on an aging player like Lopez will probably pay off if he is consistently healthy.

If they win their gamble and Lopez stays healthy, they have made a great deal. The loss of some of his abilities to age won’t be too much of a factor; Lopez’s benefits will extend way beyond just his talent and play. International stars like Lopez and David Beckham bring much more to the league, like charisma and knowledge to share. Both athletes have played in some of the top leagues in the world, and in world cups and The Olympics. The only issues with players like Lopez and Beckham is that they are nearing the ends of their careers.

Having these players come to a league that is still in more of a child-like stage, like the MLS, will be a huge benefit to younger players who haven’t hit their peeks yet.

Many of the younger players that come to play MLS soccer lack international experi-

ence. Once they begin to play either against or with people like Lopez and Beckham, they are forced to step it up and play even harder to keep up with them. Sure, some might struggle for a while but playing against players with huge levels of success all over the world is incredibly beneficial.

However, currently the two biggest stars in the MLS, Lopez and Beckham, are already in their 30s and nearing retirement. In the MLS right now, we are taking stars just about anyway we can get them. So far we have been able to attract only a few aging stars but teams need to begin going after younger stars as well. Offering larger salaries and better benefits to these players will probably begin bringing more of them here.

Currently, the Wizards aren’t disclosing exact numbers on how much they are paying Lopez, but they have signed him as their team’s designated players. This means that $415,000 of his salary will not be counted for the team salary cap. Being able to cut that large of an amount from the team salary cap creates worlds of opportunity for other teams because now they can spend more money to get ahold of better players, with higher salary wants.

Teams need more experienced international players to give their younger American players a better learning experience. These teams throwing money out to international stars will see the payoff. The league needs more of them, and they need younger ones too.

Claudio Lopez is an outstanding player, and he will benefit out team a great deal with his experience and play. Lopez is definitely worth every penny that we are giving him; I only wish we could have picked him up earlier.

» scottpribylkansascitywizards

Forever faithful, forever KU Fan recaps championship night against Memphis I kissed the side of a wooden table to start the night – I probably would have made out with it had I not been a stable human being.

It was a piece of 1988 superstition at the Coulson household, a friend’s house where I was spending the evening. It was a make-or-break-my-heart chunk of lumber whose magic gave Danny Manning and the Kansas Jayhawks a national champion» samlogan ship 20 years before.

I believed in this table; I wanted to for just one night, at least.

Graced with the company of six fellow Jayhawks, Stephen Nichols, John Hart, Harper Coulson, Brian Simpson and Chad Allen, I had found a new family.

Kansas was in the national championship game against Memphis and I was experiencing mood swings, we all were. My mind was there but somewhere along the way I lost it.

In a sense, tip off came like cardiac arrest, and halftime went like a week at an insane asylum. Pure hell.

I had watched just one half of basketball and already I felt the world was going to end. Twenty minutes later, it

anopinionof

28 april

2008

almost did.

The Jayhawks were down by nine with two minutes left, but as the lead dwindled, so did my lack of confidence. I was in a state of disbelief with 30 seconds left- KU was down and seemed to have lost it all.

Mario Chalmers saved it though when he went on to drain a three pointer as time ran out to force overtime.

The rest of the story ends with a group of college kids in red and blue jerseys running around on a court- the Jayhawks had done it.

The first time in 20 years, one of the things I had truly wanted in my life, and a testament to all who doubted our potential.

It was a testament to my fanhood, also. Nowhere else can I walk down Massachusetts Street in Lawrence two hours after a basketball game and high five complete strangers who have filled the street. Nowhere else can I cry as a 16-year-old because of a basketball game. Nowhere else can I be so proud to be a Jayhawk.

Nowhere else can I call everyone with those same feelings family.

For the rest of my life I will remember that night. Maybe not what happened with 10 minutes and 17 seconds left in the first half, but the bond and the emotions will last forever.

It was a game I had waited my whole life to see, and one I’ll remember for even longer.

Memphis’ Joey Dorsey being a punk, Roy Williams sporting a Jayhawk on his chest, Mario Chalmers’ three, the six-man dogpile I found myself in the middle of after we won, but most of all the table in the Coulson family living room.

Having kissed the table once and rubbed my palm across it more times than necessary, I feel it’s now as much apart of my Jayhawk fascination as Baby Jay and Bill Self’s stutter.

Kansas basketball is what ties me together in the winter, keeps me from the Wildcats, Tigers and Tarheels of America. It’s like a separate personality.

Forrest Gump once said, “Me and Jenny goes together like peas and carrots.”

So do Kansas basketball and I. That night, near tears and with a heart as big as Cole Aldrich I asked Mrs. Coulson for a piece of that table. She said something along the lines of, “Oh, of course, honey.”

I hope she was serious.

Wherever I go in life, I want April 7, 2008 to stay with me. With a piece of that wood I’ll always remember the Alamodome, the dogpile, the tears and the pride.

No matter the Jayhawks’ success, I’ll still mumble “Rock Chalk” under my breath when Kansas State is mentioned, I’ll still wear an obnoxious KU sweater, and I’ll always watch the game. Win or lose, me and Kansas basketball, we’ll stay together like peas and carrots.

They won’t

There’s no doubt the Royals are getting better, but recent improvements still won’t be enough to put Kansas City above fourth place in the AL Central.

Until their offense wakes up, the Royals won’t be able to keep up with the top teams in their division. It’s been good to see pitchers like Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister start hot, but solid run support is rarely there. Don’t get me wrong, the Royals are an improved team with promising youngsters – Alex Gordon and Billy Butler have done well so far – but we’ll have to wait one more season before KC can finish towards the top of the AL Central. –Sam Kovzan

» tylerroste

”

X

X

X X

X The Ultimate Frisbee team has started playing with more organization on the offensive end. Coach Lee Clark has installed the horizontal stack offense. The three players in the back are the “handlers,” the people who swing the frisbee back and forth between them. The four “cutters” work in pairs. When one person cuts towards the scoring zone, the other slices back to the frisbee. As the handlers swing the frisbee, the defense gets tired and a cutter becomes open. Slowly but surely, the frisbee travels down the field.

we diagram a successful Lancer play... without giving too much away

MEET OF THE WEEK

Wednesday »katehardy

X

Varsity girls’ swim and dive @ League Championships- Diving prelims start Thursday, swim prelims start Friday and the finals for both events happen on Saturday. East is the favorite to win, behind solid relays and junior Logan Kline’s diving.

She has yet to win the state one-meter title, but a good performance at League can give her the momentum she needs.

what’s up this week in Lancer sports

Varsity boys’ golf @ SM East Invitational @ Meadowbrook Country Club- If there’s a course the East golf team knows, its Meadowbrook. They practice there every week. The advantage of playing a course before and knowing yardages and greens is immeasurable. The fact the Lancers have won two tournaments thus far also bodes well for them. Senior Scott Willman shot a 73 and senior Tommy Kennedy (left) shot a 79 to lead the Lancers to second behind BV West last Monday. BV West and East are the favorites to take home the state title in May.

X

Thursday

the WEEK ahead

Today

Horizontal Stack

Varsity baseball @ Rockhurst- There’s nothing like a good rivalry. And while Rockhurst and East may not have met on the diamond recently, they will know each other from summer leagues and elementary schools. Rockhurst is rolling. They ended Bishop Ward’s 46 (!) game winning streak two weeks ago.

» karenboomer

“

On his preference for singles- I enjoy singles because I don’t have to rely on someone else.

It’s all on me, baby.

On being a part of the East tennis legacyEven though I’m not going to state or anything, I feel like I’m still keeping the program above water.

On the moods of his racquet- I sometimes think that the racquet has a ‘good’ and a ‘bad’ side to it.

On his racquet- I use a Wilson K-Factor because it is able to take more power and my brother got it for me for my birthday.

On why he plays tennis now- I guess my parents were the ones who made me start to take lessons, but I started to take it seriously like two years ago.

31 » MCT photo by Mike Ransdell

junior • tennis

They will

Call me an optimist, but I think the Royals will take the third position in the Central hierarchy behind the Indians and Tigers. Their pitching, while shaky as of late, has surpassed expectations. If Trey Hillman can find a lineup that can hit (see: one without Tony Pena, Jr.), they will play .500 ball the rest of the way. Don’t let their recent struggles fog the picture; the Royals have their best team since 2003. –Clark Goble

coach’s clipboard

ross wooten

ISSUE: Will the Royals finish third or better in the AL Central?

SPORTS

5 minutes with...

point COUNTERPOINT

Varsity softball @ Olathe East- The Lancers, on paper, are the underdogs against the back-to-back-to-back (breathe in) -to-back 6A state champion Hawks. Olathe East is at it again, having a 5-1 record in the league with their lone loss coming to Olathe Northwest, who also has one loss. But the Lancers took home a 3-2 win over SM Northwest last Tuesday. If they can stay hot, they can give the Hawks a game.

issue

15

32

PHOTO ESSAY

’ N I E K S C U O R E HO TH

ed w o sh s O’ d h n c ba Bun k c ro nt at l 17 t n ri de ale Stu their t on Ap s off Band ABOVE: Sophomore Joe Newman, guitarist for Bat Masterson, hammers out some riffs on his guitar in the middle of his band’s set.

Six bands played all together and the top three bands were announced the next day.

» tylerroste

BELOW-LEFT: Senior Andrew Tisdale bangs on the drums during one of Groondale’s songs.

The rest of Groondale is made up of seniors Kevin Coon on the keyboards/synth and Graham Greene, who did the vocals and played bass and guitar. » tylerroste

RIGHT: Senior Adam Plotkin plucks the base during TransAtlantic’s set. He also played electric and acoustic guitar while also singing some of the vocals. » patrickmayfield

28 april

2008

FAR RIGHT: Junior Jack Brugger belts out tantalizing vocals during one of his band’s songs.

He played guitar and sung for TransAtlantic.

The other band members are junior Pat Sixta on drums, junior Will Snyder on keyboard, junior Noah Quillec on guitar, bass and vocals and senior Adam Plotkin who sang and played guitar and bass. »tylerroste