Issue 16

»

theharbinger » »

NEWS: Next year’s changes, dissected » PAGE 2

FEATURES: Music that simulates drug experiences » PAGE 9

ISSUE ONE april 10, 2007 shawnee mission east prairie village, ks

SPORTS: Soccer wins game to go to State » PAGE 15

The senior issue:

TIME

TICKS AWAY » see pullout section between pages 12 and 13

»tempe.gov

NEWS

2 I.B. counselor

Next year sitting in the chair next to IB coordinator Rebecca Murphy will not be the stack of papers that currently resides there, but a new assistant IB counselor, Brenda Tretbar. After working at a school with the IB program in Wichita, she heard about the strong program working at East and was thrilled to have the opportunity to work here as an assistant IB director.

“I am really excited to be joining the SM East staff and I can’t wait to met and work with the students,” Tretbar said.

Having worked previously at a school which already had the IB program, Tretbar is well-trained in working with IB students and helping lead them through the process. Murphy is looking forward to working with Tretbar.

“I will be glad to see someone new added to the program. Especially someone so enthused to become a part of it,” Murphy said.

Choir teacher Making his debut at East next year is Pembroke Hill choir director Ken Foley, who will be taking over for current choir director Tracy Resseguie. Though he says that he will miss his old program, Foley is excited to be working for a challenging choir that he says will provide him with many

new opportunities.

“I am extremely excited, but it is definitely large shoes to fill and I am happy to be working in such a large program,” Foley said.

All Link Crew members for next year must attend one session today after school. The sessions are 3:15-5:45 p.m. or 6:30-9 p.m.

SAT Testing Location Changed Due to construction, the SAT test on June 7 will be held at South, not East. The late registration deadline for the June 7 SAT is Thursday.

New developments for next year BY

Promises of a healthier school are made every year, but next year cafeteria manager Lora Dollar is working to bring about real change, as well as help to lessen the work load of an already overextended cafeteria workers. On the menu for next year is a plan to switch food distributors that will help benefit people on both sides on the counter, by switching to lower calorie, premade food options.

Along with the steps towards improvement, they will also have to cut out some healthy options that have been unpopular. Looking at the plan for next year Dollar said, “ This will definitely benefit us as far as how much homemade foods we are required to make, as well as being able to offer healthier food options.”

» mollycaldwell

I.B. classes

Students in IB next year will be able to say good riddance to being at school at 6:45 a.m. morning and instead will be taking the Theory of Knowledge class during seminar once a week. The teacher of this course, Nick Paris, thinks that this will be to the benefit of the students because tardy rates will go down while attentiveness will improve.

Classes in IB are also changing in that students are now being offered dance as an art path. After many an IB prospective student involved in drill team was unable to

do IB due to scheduling conflicts, IB coordinate Rebecca Murphy decided to talk with the IB headquarters and make an art path especially for those people excluded from the program due to drill team conflicts. Talking about the different forms of art, Rebecca Murphy said, “I never understood why we couldn’t offer dance as an art path, since we already offer visual arts, music, theatre and psychology so I am glad that we opened the door for a whole new group of people to take part in the IB program.”

Transatlantic trekking

Dante Club members to travel to England in June to finish off studies BY

» davidwebster

The lights will dim as the rebuilt Globe identically mimics the original environment of Shakespeare’s historic Globe Theatre. The massive grouping of patrons on the ground in front of the stage cease their idle chatter as the players enter the stage to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Dante Club, an East literary group comprised of 18 seniors and two East teacher sponsors, will be taking an 11-day trip throughout London this summer to conclude their year long examination of Shakespeare. The group read over 20 Shakespearian plays, sonnets and poems this year and they will be watching a few select plays while in London.

For the past three years, Pulsinelli and Kelly Fast have sponsored this club that extends the discussion of literary works not covered in the English curmay riculum. The club began with a group of 2008 ambitious students who wanted to exam-

12

BRIEFS

Link Crew Training Day

Making the changes Cafeteria food

news

ine the other two thirds of Dante’s Divine Comedy not covered in their sophomore English class. This year, the club shifted their focus from examining the rest of Dante’s trip through Hell onto Heaven to analyzing the works of Shakespeare.

“After making it all the way to Heaven and going back to Hell for two years, we thought it was time for a change of pace,” Pulsinelli said. “We still call it Dante Club so there is no confusion with any other school clubs.”

The students making the venture across the pond depart June 3, and they are planning on seeing at least three of Shakespeare’s plays while there. “The first portion of our trip is our time to be touristy,” Pulsinelli said. “We’re planning on seeing at least three plays including The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. By the end, we will have gotten a chance to observe the local culture. We are leaving time open to see

some other plays as well.” he group met bi-weekly throughout the year to discuss his plays, sonnets and poems at the houses of the club members. “The meetings are much different than a traditional classroom setting,” senior Jack Krieger said. “Mr. Fast and Mr. Pulsinelli are the natural leaders because of their knowledge and expertise on the subject matter. They guide us towards discussion, but they stress being club members in addition to being club sponsors.”

The club’s sponsors stress the intensive study of one author at a time.

“I feel that by studying one author, the students can get attached and gain insight into the work,” Pulsinelli said.

“We’ll probably do Dante again next year, but it’d be great to study James Joyce or Geoffrey Chaucer in the future.”

Superintendent Reception A community reception to honor Superintendent Marjorie Kaplan is June 3 from 4-6 p.m. at the Broadmoor Bistro at Broadmoor Technical Center. The reception will celebrate the 16 years that Dr. Kaplan, who is retiring this year, has been the superintendent.

Broadmoor Technical Center is located at 6701 W. 83rd Street.

Caps and Gowns Seniors can receive their caps and gowns Thursday in the little gym from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students must have paid all their fees and fines to obtain their caps and gowns.

Graduation Graduation is May 21 at 7 p.m. at the South stadium. Each student will receive five tickets, which will only be needed if there is inclement weather and the ceremony must be moved indoors. After-Grad is at Powerplay from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Final Exam Schedule May 20 May 21 First hour exam: 7:40-9:10 Second hour exam 9:20-10:50 Passing period: 9:10-9:20 Passing period: 10:50-11 Hours 2-7: 9:20-2:40 Third hour exam: 11-12:30 May 22 May 23 Fourth hour exam 9:20-10:50 Sixth hour exam 9:20-10:50 Passing period: 10:50-11 Passing period: 10:50-11 Fifth hour exam: 11-12:30 Seventh hour exam: 11-12:30

Senior Final Exam Schedule Tuesday: Sixth and seventh hour exams Wednesday: Third, fourth and fifth hour exams Thursday: First and second hour exams

Last Day of School The last school day for students is May 23.

The last school day for teachers is May 30.

measure 1

INCHES

South’s Intel School of Distinction Award inspires East’s science department to set new goals for itself and its students

BY

Intel School of Distinction

»bernadettemyers

Each year, three high schools in the country are recognized by Intel for outstanding math and science programs.

Each year, schools across the country apply, hoping to receive the $15,000 grant.

And each year, thousands are rejected.

But in April, the top three high school finalists for the Intel School of Distinction for 2008 were announced and Shawnee Mission South High School made the cut. East, however, was unaware the competition existed, so did not apply.

South will receive a $2,500 grant for showing elevated levels of student achievement, teamwork, community involvement, use of rich digital content and use of a variety of instructional strategies.

Further eliminations will be made and South will find out in June whether or not they won an additional $7,500. Science department head Darrell Meador is grateful for this

2

Intel Schools of Distinction:

up

national recognition.

“We found out near the end of April and we were very excited, proud, affirmed – and humbled because we know of the quality of science in the other high schools,” Meador said.

East did not apply for the award, but science teacher Steve Appier does not believe that East is behind South in science.

“Our main goal is to benefit the students, and I feel we do a good job with that,” Appier said. “We aren’t trying to strive for awards, but rather we want to educate the students.”

To help educate students, Appier and science teacher Jeremy Higgins received a grant from the East Fund to purchase LabQuests for the chemistry classes that will be in use for the 2008-2009 school year. These portable devices allow for students to take any measurement from pH to gas pressure and then put it in graph form.

“You would basically carry around a little computer for every single lab and then get to compute all the data on your own computer,”

Are schools that have demonstrated excellence in math and science.

3

NEWS

Working to

Include one elementary, one middle, and one high school for both categories math and science.

Receive $10,000 in cash grants and $100,000 in products and services.

Must develop environmental and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks, including national math and science content standards.

Appier said.

Appier believes that LabQuest usage could put East in the running for next year’s Intel School of Distinction.

But he also hopes that the LabQuests will allow students to perform better on labs and enjoy them more. For students like junior Kate Sachse, having a device like this would make science more bearable.

“Science is definitely not my best subject, and it makes it harder to learn how to use all the different equipment,” Sachse said.

“Thermistors just scare me. These [LabQuests] would really help me stress out less.”

Sachse likes the idea of incorporating technology more into the classroom, as do Appier and Higgins, but the main goal is always to make sure the students learn and have fun doing it.

“Really, we are here to help the students succeed,” Appier said. “With or without technology, we can definitely make science enjoyable.”

East graduate to be next year’s debate coach BY

BY

» annaleek

» katiefreyder

The East debate team has seen many changes in the last couple of years, with a growth in numbers and the loss of one of their coaches.

Last year, when debate coach Paulette Manville announced that she was leaving, there were no teachers that had the qualifications, so English teacher Yolande Mountjoy was chosen to take over for a year until a replacement was found. Mountjoy fulfilled her year obligation and will leave the program next year to make room for yet another new teacher.

Trey Witt, an East graduate and assistant debate coach this year, will be taking over as the new debate teacher next

year.

“I know the students really well, which will make the job easier next year,” Witt said. “I’ve traveled with the students to tournaments and spent a lot of time with them when I am in the classroom teaching.”

Witt student-taught at Olathe Northwest earlier this spring and also student-taught at Shawnee Mission North through November. Witt has been at East a couple of days a week

» annaleek

»

since his student teaching job ended.

Mountjoy has no qualms about leaving her squad to a new teacher.

“Witt is such a great choice for a teacher next year because he is so great working with these kids he knows all of the kids as well as all of their abilities,” Mountjoy said. “He is truly the perfect choice.”

Debate student junior Cameron Young agrees. After a rough year with a completely new teacher and brand-new rules, he welcomes the fact that Witt already has been at East.

“I believe that next year will be a great adjustment with Mr.Witt, because he has been with us for a while now,” junior Cameron Young said. “I would describe him as a combination between Manville and Mountjoy.”

Since he’s already been here, Witt knows what to expect next year and is already making plans.

“One goal I have for next year is since the last couple of years have brought a little bit of disconnectedness, so I want to bring the team back together,” Witt said. “Aside from being the biggest squad, we have a huge number of very highly motivated

EAST GRADUATE Trey Witt will be next year’s debate coach » mackenziewylie

kids which makes it a very stressful, but also very fun job.”

Forensics teacher Jennifer Hunter knows his position is need.

“He will bring the stability to the program that the team has been looking for and needing for a couple of years now,” Hunter said.

issue

16

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Dr. Ron Mersch will be replaced by John McKinney as assistant principal at the start of next year BY

NEWS

Making way for McKinney »gagebrummer

The seniors aren’t going to be the only people leaving the building for good after this year. Administrator Ron Mersch is also going to be saying goodbye to Shawnee Mission East.

This March, Mersch let Principal Susan Swift know that this would be his last semester at East.

Dr. Swift said, “Dr. Mersh has given 13 years of his life to this building and certainly been a quality person.”

When asked why Mersh is going to be resigning, both Dr. Swift and Dr. Mersh chose not to comment.

Administrator John McKinney is going to take his position next year, one of the many teachers that Mersch recommended to hire.

Mersch doesn’t know what he’s going to do next year, but he knows that his background and experience will help him.

For the first 11 years of his education career he taught Chemistry, Biology (regular and honors,) and Anatomy and Physiology for the Blue Valley district. Back then it was only Blue Valley High, and he stayed when the school split in 1986.

He then decided to try on administration, and was an administrative intern for Blue Valley for two years. With the experience he gained there he moved on to become an Associate Principal for De Soto Schools for three years, and eventually became the principal of Gardner Edgerton High School for two more years.

From there, he came to the Shawnee Mission School District, and settled down at Shawnee Mission East. Over the years, he began to become part of the community.

“My passion is to try and work with parents, students, and teachers as to how we can face the problem at hand and how we can [deal] with that problem the best,” Mersch said on his interaction with students.

Whether it’s talking with students in the hallways, or stopping kids driving out of the parking lot who don’t have their seat-belts on, Mersh shows his love for the students on a daily basis.

“He’s a beautiful and incredible man and he’s done

many great things for the school. Not to mention all the funny stories he tells,” Executive STUCO President, Senior Drew Popplewell said.

Through this love for students he brought the “Let Me Learn” program to East, which helps to let teachers know how students learn rather than just what they need to learn. It gives surveys to students and tries to group kids who are visual learners with each other, and more hands-on students with each other. “[“Let Me Learn”] has helped me as a professional know how to teach my students better,” Sociology and AHAP teacher Vicki Arndt-Helgesen said.

In addition to “Let Me Learn”, Mersch was an early advocate of the block schedule for a variety of reasons.

The main reason being that it reduces students’ stress levels, which are commonly criticized as being too high in our society.

The block schedule that he so strongly urged was approved and will be instated next year, when McKinney will become the Associate Principal.

It wasn’t an easy process for McKinney to get this role, however.

“I went through probably 100 [candidates] and ranked [them]… and came up with 5 or 6 really good candidates. Mr. McKinney did as well if not better than the other candidates. I felt like he knows the building and knows about what’s going on,” Swift said on the selection process.

Swift added, “He’s very capable of doing the work that needs to be done.”

What exactly that work is will be decided this summer when the administrators get together to see whose strengths will help in certain areas.

“Testing will be the natural fit for me, since that’s what I’ve been doing this year,” McKinney said on what he thought he might be doing next year. As to what that means, he said it was about “using the test as a tool to shape how [teachers] teach.”

As for his vision of what he ultimately wants to do to better the school, McKinney said, “My biggest interest is

in curriculum development, the idea of teachers developing curriculum and testing together.”

This is a reflection of Dr. Mersch’s desire to relate students and teachers together, as well as teachers and teachers together, so the transition should be smooth between the two administrators.

The one thing that will be different next year is the block scheduling, which McKinney is a big proponent of.

“I’m an optimist, so I think more time with kids lets [teachers] dig deeper into [students’] interests than what you can do in a fifty minute period,” McKinney said on block scheduling.

As to how he will change his administrating style to adjust to the block, McKinney added, “It’s up to the administrators to tell the teachers how to best use the 90 minute period.”

Mersch won’t need to worry about that though, as he moves on to wherever he goes. His ultimate vision is a business venture that will allow him to try his innovative teaching techniques in an interactive environment. “[An idea] like that wouldn’t work in a district because they would say, ‘Wouldn’t that affect test scores?’ My business model would take A+ teachers and have them collaborate with other A+ teachers, but it would have to be a private enterprise,” Mersch added.

“The kids are getting lost in a rapid spin [of learning.]

It’s like trying to play a 33 rpm record on a 78 rpm format, it sounds like Alvin and the Chipmunks,” Mersch said, referring to the work load that students face in today’s society.

He hopes that after his business gets settled into what it’s doing, it will become a new model for learning that will be accepted and will help students and teachers to work with each other in a friendlier and more efficient way.

Whatever happens next year, Mersch is sure of one thing, “What it always centers back on is my passion and my heart is to work with kids and families.”

Comparing their principles

Current associate principal: Ron Mersch New associate principal: John McKinney How long have you been at East?

How long have you been at East?

13 years 8 years What are your feelings about block scheduling?

What are your feelings about block scheduling and how do you plan to accomodate him?

I have been researching a plan for East to adopt block scheduling for awhile now. It will help make up the time at the I am a big proponent of block scheduling, it will free up extra beginning and end of classes where the students time to allow teachers to delve deeper in to the subject and allow are necessarily zoned into the lesson by having students to learn the subject on a deeper level. less passing periods.

What ideas to you have for East in the future?

How have you been able to reach out to stuI’m big on curriculum development. Having been dents in your time as associate principal? in class as a teacher for eight years, I hope to I am always out in the halls talking to bring my experience to develop different students and at activities and games. ways to reach students with different learnI continuously position myself at the ing styles. entrance [of east], greeting the seHow do you plan to reach out to students niors that are strolling late because when you serve as associate principal? it is there last semester at East and I hope to have a really visual presence as I they have started to slack off. have had over the years. My connections with students are already pretty strong, What is your favorite thing and I will continue that by being in the halls about East? and at activities and sporting events.

I love the day-to-day relations I have with the students. Also, I enjoy atWhat is your favorite thing about East?

East really has phenomenal kids. It is cool tending activities and interacting with for them to be smart and do well in school. kids, even if I have to be the “bad guy.” GetIt is the academic rigor and drive that you ting to know the athletes and passionate fans don’t find at other places that makes me like at the games has been a great opportunity for East. me.

» sallydrape

5

OPINION

6

Seeing

through rose-colored

glasses

David Moore used to always wear his sunglasses.

The plastic kind with black frames and neon earpieces.

He made them cool before East basketball games did.

He wasn’t trying to make a statement, though. David was just being David.

He wore those shades during eighth grade P.E. at Mission Valley and soon trademarked them like Nike » samlogan did the swoosh. Whether he wore them the way they were meant to be, or clipped to his off-green gym shirt, the sunglasses were David Moore.

Until he got rid of them, out of the good of his own heart. He wouldn’t have done it any other way. The shades now belonged to a friend of David’s, a buddy of his since the beginning of kindergarten, and without knowing it, he had just defined who he truly is. He had given up a something that had become as much a part of himself the satisfaction he receives from seeing others happy.

Never had I really sat and considered what the word empathy means. I heard my elementary school principal drill it in my head for seven years, leading you to think its meaning would get lodged somewhere in my brain.

Eventually it did, only after I was able to realize the difference between empathy and sympathy.

Every day David waits for me in the doorway outside his classroom, almost jumping when he sees I’m on my way over during my fifth hour passing period. Every day he gives me a high five and a little-league-coach-like slap on the back as I walk to my sixth hour class. Every day he also talks to me about Triple H, the Undertaker and the Rock—anyone who met wrestling glory in the WWE ring the night before.

But amidst discussions of grown, shirtless men hitting each other with chairs, tables and almost everything but

anopinionof

»lancervoice senior

Clark Neal

Sophomore believes East students should be more supportive and try to see the positive

their mothers, he talks to me about my writing. He loves this publication and always compliments what I’ve done in the most recent issue. That’s something I cherish. More so than Monday Night Raw, for that matter.

Reflecting back on this school year, David was the poster child of what this student body could be. Too many times we fall into the stereotype that, collectively, we often times claim is false.

Just like David’s old sunglasses, the reputation of our student body and all that we stand for went away.

We consumed ourselves with tearing apart the block scheduling issue, questioning Rule 52 like it were on trial for indecent treatment of basketball fans and calling out the Lancer Link program—we forgot to recognize the good things we did.

This past year we dug into our pockets, backpacks and lockers to donate over $1,000 dollars in pennies to help build schools in Africa, a campaign led by two freshmen girls.

We embraced the life and mourned the death of three of our own fellow Lancers- one a freshman who lived with cerebral palsy, the other two victims of a single-car accident.

In the classroom we had more national merit finalists than any other school in the Kansas City area and successfully completed more assessments than you would think could exist.

Not frequently enough, though, did we take for granted one another and the gifts we each have the way a student like David does.

He overcame obstacles and excelled even when he may not have been expected to. Running for student council representative earlier in the school year, David took the time to actually call classmates of his he felt comfortable with to ask if they could spread the word that he could handle the responsibilities.

He didn’t get the position he hoped for, but he showed a commitment to his classmates that he wanted to make known, a desire to be more involved in his school and to stand out as a leader.

He made it clear to me the past 10 months that our student body has a job cut out for itself.

We will be undergoing some of the biggest changes our school has ever faced and everyone will be affected by them one way or another.

Instead of starting the year by saying your first hour, excuse me, block, is longer than a Dickens novel, think about the better parts of your day.

The moments where you’re with your friends, enjoying the company of others and appreciating them for what it is they do well. After all, you only go to high school once.

They’re the times you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life, and wasting them on issues that in the scheme of things takes away the pride we can instill in each other.

For myself, David waiting for me after fifth hour is one of those times I’ll always remember. It’s more blissful than Algebra 2 daydreams and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies; it’s what truly makes it great to be a Lancer. It’s a time where one student reaches out to another in a way that can only make you wonder how a school, whose Bible is the tabloids on the bathroom wall, can be so successful and not recognize what the individuals who make up the whole of it have to offer.

I nominate sophomore David Moore for Lancer of Everyday: he truly exemplifies what it’s like to be supportive towards everyone.

I’ve known I would write this column for some time now, an open thank you letter to the kid who inspired me to write better stories simply because he liked reading them. It was the least I could do.

I haven’t seen those sunglasses for at least two years, he now wears a pair that the Army recruiters hand out at lunch—they’re much more “Jack Bauer” and much less “Clarissa Explains It All”—but the spirit he passed on through those is something we all need to reflect on.

Whether or not Stone Cold Steve Austin and the WWE should go with it, though, that’s another story.

Students discuss their opinions on the attitudes and relations at East.

junior

sophomore

Savannah Duby

Charlie Moore

freshman

Nora Anzawi

QUESTION 1: Do you think that in general East students are supportive of each other ?

No, a lot of students are consumed in their own lives.

They’re not taught to respect individuals. There are people who bully to a small degree.

I have a core group of people. I’m an IB kid, and I think we’ve gotten to know each other and empathize. When you have a huge group, it’s hard to empathize.

Not really.

No.

QUESTION 2: What ways do you see students being empathetic or supportive of each other?

There are those who are kind, but then there are those who won’t say hi. It’s hard to explain.

It made my life when this jacket I lost happened to be in the lost and found. People don’t think about that. They don’t think that someone might want it back.

There really aren’t any examples of that.

I just see people off in their little cliques and they’re not very open to everyone.

Using constructive criticism.

I make friends with new people.

QUESTION 3: What do you try to do to help out other students?

I wake up and put on a positive attitude. You can’t respect others if you don’t first respect yourself. It starts with the individual.

My friend told me it’s always a good idea just to smile at people. Like in the hall, even if you don’t know them at all!

g n i v r Se ife’s l lessons

» mackenziewylie Your grades have been slipping ever since you got a job. You’re coming to class tired...not turning in work...What do you think I expect from you?

» renli Ummm...woud you like fries with that?

Back in the day, our parents tell us, the school year would come to an end and high school students would scramble to snatch up desirable jobs sitting in the sun as lifeguards, serving hamburgers, folding clothes in department stores.

But something happened between our parents’ generation and our generation. Summer is no longer about making some money and getting “real-life” experience (and if you’re lucky, a tan).

Now as the number of school days left enters the single digits, high school students are applying for careeroriented internships, packing for trips to Europe, going to language camps to perfect our French and impress colleges. The teen summer employment rates are the lowest in post-World War II history, according to a Jobs for America’s Graduates report from 2006.

Maybe our parents did it right. Sure, “interned in a law office” will impress most colleges when compared to “worked as a golf caddie,” but while gaining that extra kick to the resume, we lose invaluable lessons of responsibility and humility. Many kids in families that don’t need the extra wages are missing crucial exposure to “real world” hard work, those jobs that put them be-

theharbinger a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 mission road, prairie village, kansas 66208 april 12, 2008 issue 16, 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.

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7

EDITORIAL

Students need summer jobs that provide real-life experiences that will be

hind the counters and out of their comfort zones.

Summer is the perfect opportunity to get a perspective on life after high school when parents will no longer shell out allowance. The chair of the department of work environment at the University of Massachusetts, David Wegman, believes that job experiences in high school are vital to soon-to-be adults.

“I think they learn aspects of responsibility, punctuality, dealing with people, money management and some independence,” Wegman said.

The decline in summer jobs held by high school students has likely resulted from an economic expansion over the past few decades that allows many families to support trips, summer school and other summertime opportunities, according to a New York Times report from 2000.

This shift from jobs to music camps and summer classes deprives thousands of teenagers of what the New York Times called “a hallowed American coming-of-age experience and, arguably, a social leveler that gives the collegebound a fleeting taste of working-class life.”

This taste of working-class life gives more than a new perspective on the economy and jobs. It gives students invaluable lessons in responsibility: they must clock in at work on time, perform job-related tasks and manage their money wisely—$7 has a whole lot more value for someone who swept floors and took orders to earn every penny of it.

Now is the perfect time for lessons in money management, as seniors prepare to head off to college where credit card companies offering free accounts will have stands on every corner of campus, tempting inexperienced and overly enthusiastic freshmen with shiny gold plastic.

With their newfound perspective on money, students will appreciate the pricey education they’re receiving and be more likely to make the most of it, especially since it means avoiding a life of minimum wage.

Parents often express concern that a job will be detrimental to a student’s performance in school, which can sometimes be the case. However, some research also shows that as long as the work environment is well-ordered and supervised, teenagers with jobs may stay in school longer, do their homework and be healthier mentally.

Whatever the case may be, summer jobs remove the risk of making the job a priority over schoolwork, while still offering the lifelong lessons.

David Davenport, ex-President of Pepperdine University in California, believes that students missing real job experiences aren’t as well-rounded as working students.

“To just spend more time reading American history and playing soccer is not the same as getting out into the world and having experiences,” he said.

So put down that AP textbook (you have three months to read the assigned chapters), hurry home from the philosophy camp in Switzerland and start searching for “Help Wanted” signs. A little extra cash never hurt anyone.

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OPINION

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Recognition of true accomplishments is fading away

Student reflects upon the people that we value as a society I was never the kid in elementary school to collect baseball cards, and I never was included in the bracket pools all my friends did. I had no idea who any of the many baseball players they talked about were, or what an RBI was. I guess it just never interested me.

I did just fine.

Watching everyone go crazy over KU winning the national championship, I get feelings reminiscent of those days. Sure, they » gagebrummer did a good job and deserve recognition, but they do not deserve some special celebrity status that they’ve been receiving.

Ever heard of Mario Chalmers? Of course you have, everyone in America knows his face and name now. He threw a ball in a hoop and helped his team get more points in a forty-minute period than any in the nation.

Now, ever heard of Alexander Fleming? You should probably thank him. He ‘s probably saved you from a bacterial infection you’ve had at some point in your life. He discovered penicillin, and is responsible for saving millions of lives.

That’s just one example of how our society’s priorities on what is important to are awfully skewed. We often look at and praise who’s glamorous instead of who’s truly important.

I guarantee you that most people know Chalmers and don’t know Fleming. I’ll be the first to admit it, as I had to Google the word “penicillin” to find out who he is.

Another thing that a lot of people probably don’t know is that although Sasha Kaun shoots over fifty percent for field goals, that he’s also twice in a row Academic All Big-12 First Team for his honors in Computer Sciences.

I just find it hard to understand why we decide to reward such mediocre things in place of the things that are truly important.

There are so many people in the world that work just as hard, if not harder, than those guys do. Doctors that get to spend few hours with their families because they’re be-

anopinionof

ing called in for drunk driving accidents, volunteers in Russia who are trying to help millions of orphans find normal lives, or the nineteen year old holding his best friend who is bleeding to death from an IED in Iraq.

They get no parades. They get no money, no picture on the front of Sports Illustrated, no hoards of women at their feet.

What they get is knowing inside their heads that they’re doing everything they can to make the world a better place.

And nothing more.

The sad truth of it is that those stellar accomplishments don’t have to do with athletic competition, sex, drugs, or alcohol. Accordingly, the media doesn’t cover them, and people don’t hear about them.

What inside of us compels us to watch ten guys on a rectangle throwing balls at small circles, hoping they fall through the nets beneath them? Our violent tendencies being vented into acceptable medium?

What is that going to do to make the world a better place? It’s going to give a lot of fame and fortune to a select group of people for being able to manipulate their bodies the best. For some reason, our desires in us to be famous and beautiful make us watch them like it’s some kind of soap opera.

Surely we all have different strengths and gifts, but it seems like the people whose gifts have the least impact on the human race get the most recognition. Sure, they make a lot of people’s lives happier momentarily, but every superstar will grow old.

People you should know Nobel Peace Prize winner

Al Gore for his work in global warming and trying to spread knowledge about this issue, including the film “An Inconvient Truth.”

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»www.participantmedia.com

Nobel Prize for Physics

Albert Fert and Peter Grunberg for the discovery of Giant Magnetresistance a discovery that drastically changes the size of computer hard drives and their capacitities.

Eve r y championship team will move on, and another will take its place next year. It seems like an endless line o f happiness and sadness that in the end results in nothing being accomplished. What will last forever are the cures for diseases that will save the lives of millions, the person who adopts children whose lives would be grim otherwise.

The others have to wait until one of their loved ones is dying, or until they find when they wake up in the morning that the KU basketball team isn’t going to tell them they’re still beautiful after chemotherapy.

That’s when they’ll realize who the true heroes in this world are.

Theses people have accomplished something that you might not know about

Nobel Prize for Literature Dorris Lessing for displaying in her literature strong woman characters who display vision and power. » cdn.harpercollins.com

Nobel Prize for Medicine Mario R. Capecchi, Sir Martin J. Evans and Oliver Limites for their extensive work in stem cell research.

I-Doser’s ‘binaural brainwave doses’ deliver simulated high to listeners BY

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» michaelstolle

Sophomore Joe Newman lies down on his bed, puts on his headphones and presses play on his CD player. A low humming begins to play in the background, the music gets louder and louder, growing in tone and intensity.

After about 10 minutes of listening, the blue bathrobe hanging on his bathroom door begins to subtly change color. The robe fades into a yellowish hue before changing back to the original blue. The color continues to gradually change back and forth for some time.

Now, at the pinnacle of his experience, the walls and ceiling change back and forth as the robe has been doing for the last 20 minutes. The now loud humming noise gradually quiets and the objects of his room return to their normal states.

Newman is on an artificial psychedelic trip associated with the use of LSD. But Newman doesn’t have an LSD addiction, nor he has ever even used the drug. This experience is made possible by a newly available technology called I-Doser.

Along with LSD, Newman has tried other I-Doser sound clips, including peyote, marijuana, acid and alcohol.

“I’ve felt some of the effects with the other ‘drugs,’ but none as strong as LSD,” Newman said. “When I did Peyote, the ceiling felt like it was coming closer, while changing blue and yellow.”

I-Doser is a downloadable audio file that allows the listener to experience the same feelings that accompany the drug they are named after.

The technology utilizes binaural beat modification, which is the composition of two distinct tones played in each ear. These tones are converted into electrical signals in the brain, which alters the listener’s consciousness with these differing impulses. The resulting change in consciousness is supposed to result in feelings or hallucinations comparable to the euphoria accompanying the use of the drugs.

Dr. Irene Bettinger, a neurologist at St. Luke’s South Hospital, agrees that sound waves can affect a listener in similar ways as drugs, but isn’t sure about whether this effect can be fine tuned enough or be duplicated over and over in the way the company claims.

“There is no question that music can impact one’s emotional state, as in classical music relaxes you and rock music agitates you, but I wouldn’t go as far to say that it would affect the listener’s consciousness,” Bettinger said.

“Certain sounds can cause an almost hypnotic state, but I’m not sure it would remain consistent.”

Bettinger details that drugs affects the mind in one of two ways: either by influencing the neurochemical pathways between neurons to other neurons, or by interfering with or stabilizing the natural electrical imbalance between the membranes of neurons.

“One or both of these changes work to affect the stateof-mind of the patient,” Bettinger said. “But I don’t think that this can be achieved from the listening of binaural beats.”

A variety of “drugs” are available on the I-Doser website for purchase for prices ranging from under $5 for individual doses to $200 for premium packages. They also offer samples on the website to test your susceptibility to the doses. The tracks are on average 30 minutes and are available to download over the internet, or via CDs that are mailed to the orderer.

The company offers a variety of sound clips that give you the feeling of using marijuana, acid, DMX, peyote, ecstasy and even Viagra. The company also promises to give equivalent non-drug feelings such as adrenal rushes, sleeping and the feelings accompanying sexual pleasure with other sound clips.

Sophomore Patrick Robinson also tried the I-Doser experience, but reported a less-extreme reaction to the “drug.”

“I have tried the alcohol, heroin and marijuana [sound clips], but the strongest for me was heroin.

Robinson said, “I felt really zoned out, like I was in a trance; my vision got a little blurry and I had a tingly feeling.”

The company promises that through their scientifically tested methods they are able to produce the feeling that accompanies the use of illegal drugs without the side effects or legal issues.

“I felt fine after listening to [I-Doser].”

Robinson said. “I mainly tried it out of curiosity and only did it when I was really bored... I didn’t really expect it to work, but just wanted to try it out to see if it met up to the hype.”

But though the company states that the product works and their website’s experience’s tab is filled with successful testimonials, they admit that some participants may be immune to the effects of the binaural beat modification.

Freshman Thomas Reed tried nitrous, LSD, alcohol and peyote, but didn’t feel the effect he expected.

“I was kind of skeptical at first, but hearing people talking about it, I decided to try it,” Reed said. “I thought that after hearing people who it had worked for, but I only got a headache. It might have been that I did not concentrated enough.”

Psychologist Steve Corey of Counseling Psychologists in Kansas City, Mo., states that the concept doesn’t seem possible.

“I am pretty familiar with the science behind drugs, and I don’t think that a system delivering it’s dose via the auditory system would have any effect in the way drugs do,” Corey said. “[Real] drugs act by altering the neurochemistry of the brain… and that effect can only be achieved with a drug being introduced through the traditional methods. With the audio delivered system it wouldn’t affect the brain in the same way.”

The company asserts that the “drug” is safe to use with no adverse effects, which has reassured it’s “users.”

“I-Doser is completely safe” said Nick Ashton, creator of the I-Doser concept. “There are no side effects and no chance for addiction.”

This safety reassured Newman when he decided to try it for the first time.

“It definitely was a plus that it was safer than the real thing,” Newman said. “I’m not sure what you can and can’t trust from the website because all of their experiences seem positive, but I don’t think they would promote a product that could hurt you.”

Robinson and Newman both only tried the drug for a period of two weeks, before discontinuing use stating that it took too much time. Newman tried the “drug” in the first place to try a new, safe way experience music.

“It was more a thing to do when I got bored,” Newman said. “I originally wanted to do it so that I could experience music in a new way, but you aren’t allowed to do anything else while you take the dose. It took too much time and lost its appeal after awhile.”

BESTSELLING “DRUGS” on the I-Doser website

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12 ATHLETICS UNAFFECTED BY

» paigecornwell

With the addition of a new gym, girl’s varsity team room, and artificial turf of the football field, sport facilities will be under construction, however, because most of the construction will be done during each sport’s off season, most sports won’t be affected, according to athletic director Gary Howard.

“When they put in artificial turf on the football field they will start in November, after the football season ends,” Howard said. “They’ll work on it during the winter season so track isn’t affected.”

An issue, however, is that the entrance from the spirit circle, normally used as the entrance to basketball and volleyball games, will be under construction. As of now, the alternative home entrance will be by the boy’s locker room and up the stairs, and the visitor entrance will be by the swimming pool.

A wrestling tournament scheduled for Dec. 6 had to be canceled as well.

“For the tournament you have to move mats up and down the stairs, and when you don’t have the big entrance to move everything, and you bring in 10 teams, that wouldn’t be good,” Howard said.

The construction on the entrance may also affect getting to the outside tennis courts and fields. Because of this, the boys’ tennis coach Sue Chipman, who uses the East courts and the public courts, may have to make adjustments to her team.

“It might make a difference on how many boys I keep,” Chipman said. “If we don’t use all the courts, I may have to cut off people.”

Despite this, Chipman doesn’t see the construction affecting her team.

“It will be hard to get to the courts, we will have to be coming from downhill,” Chipman said. “But honestly, I don’t see a big change.”

Funded by a district-wide bond project, students, te

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On the morning of May 5, 2008, East students strolled into their first hour classes, blurry-eyed and grumpy to start another week.

Construction had begun on the school, but most students were unaware, unaffected in their daily routine from the preliminary work on the school.

Next year, however, students will have a whole new route, having to avoid machinery and use alternate exits and finding different ways to classes and make the best of the new situation, as major construction will change the flow and routine of students’ school days.

The close to $24 million undertaking, in which the school will gain a new gymnasium, classrooms, and choral and band rooms, to name a few, might affect students more next year than when it’s finished.

“There’s no doubt that it will help the school in the long run,” junior Ben Gloe said. “But being kind of selfish, it’s [not going to] be good for the seniors next year. [Our class] won’t reap the benefits, NEW ADDITIONS/ because it won’t be done by next year.”

Principal Susan Swift does not think that the work on the EXPANSIONS school will affect students getting to class on time, as the new block scheduling will give the students more time to get where they need to be.

“With the block scheduling, passing periods will be lengthened LANDSCAPING to six minutes,” Swift said. “This works out perfectly with the work being done.”

One improvement that many of the older students will enjoy and benefit from on their way to school will be a new row in the senior parking lot. Sophomore drivers, however, will not have parking INTERIOR access on Delmar, only permitted to park in the pool lot.

RENOVATIONS The construction marks East as the last of the Shawnee Mission High Schools to be worked on, on a bond from the state of Kansas.

“The reason [East] was the last school to be constructed on was because when the [Shawnee Mission] schools were renovated a few years ago, East was first,” Swift said. “So, they went in opposite order this time.”

Despite the older students not benefiting from the construction in their time at East, many sophomores and freshmen will gain The administration and attendance offices will now be facing the senior lot, and will serve as the front of the school. The Mission countless resources and new learning Road entrance will now be called “Student Services” where the counselors and the nurse’s office will be located as they are now. environments from the work being done In 2009, a completely new gym called the “auxillary gym” will be built in the place of the spirit circle. An actual concession on the school, as the target finishing time is stand will be located inside. Directly under the gym will be a new weight room, dance studio, wrestling room, and revamped the late fall of 2009. locker rooms. The current two gyms will remain.

“I’m sure it will be a pain for the first few weeks,” Gloe said. “But I’ll get used to The double -doors on the east side of the auditorium will have a ticket booth, restroom and small concession stand outside it after a while.”

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The band, orchestra and choir rooms will remain i classrooms. A new drama room will be added as w The stage’s extended fly allows for higher curtains tech room and make way for an orchestra pit.

As for the science wing, a new science room will a be added to the fifth floor, one with a wall that op Other than the cafeteria food menu being altered, courtyard will be kept because according to Swift,

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in the current location, but they will be expanded out by the portable well. s during shows. In addition, more space will be cleared to expand the

added to the third and fourth floor. Two new English classrooms will pens up to allow more space for Kansas State Assessment testing. , nothing about the structure will be changed. The it’s good to have outside seating.

» nickratliff

Along with dealing with the added time and effort to get to class due to the construction at East, students will also have to deal with the swapping and moving around of classrooms and offices across the building. Part of the new construction plan is to create new rooms, like a Student Center, and to do that, Swift says some changes will have to be made.

The administration office will be swapped with the counseling office and the SHARE office will be moved down the hall,” Swift said. “So the administrators and teachers are going to have to adjust just as much [as the kids will].”

In addition to swapping the two offices, the administrative offices will be added on to, » graphic courtesy of the DLRGroup creating more space for Swift and her colleagues.

With all of the moving and positioning going on, the administration is having trouble finding open rooms in almost every hour. Swift says that with so many classrooms being worked on and improved throughout the day, that every available classroom will house a class.

“It will be really hectic trying to put everyone in an available classroom [next year],” Swift said. “The second floor will be very tight. There will be barely any room to breathe.”

Despite the fact that there are barely enough classrooms, teachers and students alike will take comfort in the fact that they do not need to make the long, sometimes cold, trek to the trailers for classes anymore.

“We’re doing away with all of the trailers,” Swift said. “This is the main reason that we are cutting it close with open classrooms, but I think the students will like not being in the trailers.”

Once the construction is finished however, the administration will have many more options to choose from when planning like this.

“In addition to everything,” Swift said, “the administration is getting a new teacher’s lounge on the fifth floor and a new, larger conference room on the fifth floor as well. We think it will benefit the teachers and administration with many more places to meet, besides the classrooms.”

Although the planning, work, distractions and changes have all been hectic, Swift believes that the school will benefit immensely from all of the work being done.

“This [process] has been chaotic to say the least,” Swift said. “I think it’ll be well worth it, though.”

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eachers and administrators are prepared for...

TEACHERS ACCEPT CHANGE BY

» paigecornwell

Boxes align the walls and sit atop the experiment tables of Ron Puls’ science room. The boxes are filled with beakers, cylinders, flasks. Puls has had to do inventory of all the science supplies while the science rooms are remodeled.

“There are over 1000 things, and that takes a lot of time,” Puls said.

“Everything has got to be packed up.”

Already, teachers are being affected by the construction that has started.

While for now it is an inconvenience, for the most part, the teachers feel that it will be worth it in the end.

In the fourth floor science rooms, the floors have been stripped out. A new science wing is going to be built that won’t be done by the beginning of next year, however, Puls is confident that the the science room he will be staying in will be finished.

“All of the construction is worth it,” science teacher Jeremy Higgins said.

“The science rooms are outdated and need a facelift.”

The trailers will be removed next year, and because of this, English teacher Michael Pulsilnelli, who has been in a trailer for two years, will have to move into the building.

“I’ve grown to love the trailer,” Pulsilnelli said. “It’s a love-hate relationship.”

Pulsinelli will have to revise some of his projects, such as the English 10H Shakespeare plays, where students perform in the auditorium. Now he plans to have them perform in the little theater or the library.

“I just learned to roll with the punches and not get upset,” Pulsinelli said. “You have to be creative and flexible.”

This summer, teachers will have to pack up supplies and put them in various places, which poses a problem for orchestra teacher Jonathan Lane. » karenboomer “The cellos and basses will have to be packed up and moved into the cafeteria,” Lane said. “I’m worried the instruments might get damaged.”

Pulsinelli anticipates an “interesting first few weeks” in August, however, he isn’t worried about what issues may The art rooms are being rebuilt during summer 2008, and will be close to finished by fall 2008. arise from construction.

The ramps will remain as they are, however, during summer 2009, new walls and insulated windows “We always work around it,” Pulsinelli said. “Both students and teachers have to be flexible.” will be installed.

And though he has to box up the chemistry supplies Over the summer, a new row of parking spots will be added to the senior lot. Next year, the pool lot and deal with his room being cramped, Puls is optimistic will remain accessible to sophomore parking, but Delmar will be completely unaccessible due to the about the changes that will occur. issue construction machinery.

“Hopefully, it will be a vast improvement,” Puls said.

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10 Tired of negative sterotypes, Greek officers want to change how high school seniors ...

FEATURES

PicTure fraternity life in a

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» mikemazzoni

Marred by recent drug busts and the frequent discoveries of hazing and underage drinking, a generalization has been created over the past years, labeling most fraternities as being houses full of young rowdy men.

This is a concept Hollywood has magnified, concentrating on drinking, sex, pranks and partying in college as the focus of many hit films, further imbedding the impression of fraternity life as lawless and without moral.

As the informal rush comes to an end and many seniors prepare to enter fraternities at the University of Kansas, a Greek system awaits them with upright values and high standards that goes almost unseen, overshadowed by exaggeration in movies and the negative buzz of headline news.

This year, the Phi Delta Theta fraternity received around 400 applications of prospective freshmen over the duration of informal rush, which started last fall and carries on through spring. Graham Stark, Rush Chairman of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at KU sees how the reputation fraternities have been tagged with affects incoming pledges.

“Unfortunately there is a stigma that has been related to fraternities as far as drinking and partying and being irresponsible,” Stark said. According to Stark many rushing high school seniors have a delusional perspective of fraternity life.

“Some pledges come up and say, ‘I don’t really care about my grades,’ and others will ask ‘Where’s the beer?’ and that’s unfortunate,” Stark said.

Of the nearly 400 applicants, only 30 will receive the official bids needed to get into Phi Delta Theta, and hoping to recruit the best a n d

brightest young men to enter the fraternity, Stark knows that pledges simply looking for somewhere to party have no future as members of the house.

“It’s really sad because those are the people who end up falling through the cracks,” Graham explained. “You have to brush those pledges off right away because that’s not what we’re all about.”

Laura Bauer, the Program Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of Kansas monitors the status and activities of Greek organizations at KU. Bauer recognizes that some movies, although entertaining, have created a misconception about Greek life today.

“A lot of the movies that involve Greek life pull on outdated practices and exaggerate them,” Bauer explained. “The movies create an idea about Greek life that isn’t exactly accurate.”

Bauer and other advisors employed by the university oversee Greek life at KU and work with fraternity and sorority advisors to build a constructive Greek society.

As members of the KU’s Greek community, all fraternities and sororities are required to meet certain standards determined by the university. On top of rules imposed by the university, Greek organizations often answer to other, national Greek councils that have requirements for chapters on a scale nationwide.

As a result of strict guidelines, potential freshmen are finding that, unlike the Delta fraternity depicted in “Animal House,” fraternities stress the importance of academics as well as other positive programs.

Senior John Zecy, who recently signed with a fraternity at KU, saw during rush how fraternity leaders put emphasis on grades.

“They know that they have certain responsibility,”

Zecy, who signed with Sigma Chi, recognized. “They do what they can to keep you in line academically.”

Like Zecy, senior Zach Barnhill knew that balancing grades and social activities would be important in college and during rush, found his fit in the Greek community.

“I knew that I was looking for a fraternity that had decent grades,” Barnhill explained. “GPA is one of the first things I looked for when judging a frat, along with the people and whether or not you think you’ll have a good time there.”

Barnhill, who signed at the Delta Upsilon house with five other East seniors, is eager to get involved with the social aspect of Greek life and living away from home. But at the same time he realizes that his choice to join a fraternity is based on the idea that it will provide the structure he needs to maintain good grades. “Every day there are studying hours set aside for academics and everyone has to maintain a certain GPA to stay in the house.”

Most fraternities take the same type of approach in order to meet the expectations of the university, often surpassing the goals by demanding superior grades from their members “One thing many people do not know about is the academic enrichment fraternities can provide.” Bauer explained.

“Many offer study resources, tutors and reward good students with scholarships.

We now find that Greek students’ grades are consistently higher than those of the university.”

The Fall 2007 Scholarship Report ranks Greek communities at KU according to grade point average, showing that the average male university student has a GPA of 2.81 while the average fraternity member’s GPA sits slightly higher, a 2.96.

Another aspect that tends to be overlooked amongst news of dinking

and hazing is fraternity involvement in building productive and useful skills.

While positions within the fraternity give members a chance to apply leadership abilities, community service projects and charity fundraisers provide charactershaping experiences.

The Phi Delta Theta house, although bordered by other fraternity houses, also has non-student neighbors living nearby.

“Most adults wouldn’t find it fun living next to a fraternity, but I think our case is an exception.” Stark explains. “We clean our street regularly, picking up trash and trimming trees. We go over to the elderly neighbors’ houses and do chores and take their garbage out for them.”

These service opportunities allow members of the fraternity to bond with members of society, building valuable relationships that carry through after college.

It’s experiences like these, Bauer feels, that define the true goal of Greek life: to be more than just something you do during college.

“There’s obviously going to be the socialization and networking aspect associated with parties,” Bauer said. “But the importance is on the leadership, the life lessons learned.”

Stark couldn’t agree more.

As a sophomore and rush chairman, Stark feels his experiences as a leader in the fraternity and in the community have changed him into a better person.

“We try to be classy gentlemen and uphold the same ideals held by the men who started the house,” Stark explained.

“In my experiences with and through the fraternity, what I have encountered has turned me into a good young man, and I believe it has set me for the rest of college and career.”

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With batons in hand, junior Ansley Rowe makes her way onto the stage. Her hair’s slicked back and she’s wearing a leather jacket, representing the movie “Grease”. But this is nothing new to Rowe, because she’s been baton twirling for years now.

As the music cues up, the curtains fly open and she tosses her baton into the air, going straight into the hardest move she knows: shallows. She lands it perfectly, and the crowd cheers.

But Rowe didn’t just become a baton twirler over night; it took many years of dedication to get her where she is today.

About five years ago, Rowe’s younger sister brought up the idea of baton twirling. Since she didn’t want to do it alone, Rowe decided to join with her.

“Everyone was pretty inviting the first day, most of them were littler and the older kids tried to invite the new kids in as much as possible,” Rowe said.

To help improve her skills, Rowe practices

every Wednesday night with her group, Beller’s Baton Twirlers.

“We do finger warm ups, and just stretch out.

Then we start doing the tricks,” Rowe said. The two teachers, Stacey and Diane, help to guide the girls in learning the new tricks and teach them the two dances they learn throughout the year.

“We do elbow rolls, one turns and two turns. Just random stuff we need to know for competitions. But we have to teach ourselves the dance moves if we don’t know them, the teachers only show us the tricks.” One of the hardest tricks Rowe has ever had to learn were shallows, which took her six months to master.

Shallows is a two baton trick where you must spin the baton once before throwing it up in the air.

“There is a specific hand motion you have to do while doing it [shallows] and it’s hard to repeat,” Rowe said. “For the harder one you usually do it 5-10 times for practice.”

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Junior Ansley Rowe participates on a baton team and is

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All the practicing throughout the year leads up to the two major competitions Rowe and her group compete in; the bigger of the two takes place in Parksville where 30 different groups compete. And even though Rowe has been baton twirling for a while now, she still gets nervous and makes mistakes.

“The most embarrassing mistake was when we were doing a recital and my baton just rolled off the stage. I had to fake having a baton for the rest of the show,” Rowe said.

There is also a recital at the end of the year that is held up at East. “We pick one dance, and perform for everyone. The recital is usually at East,” Rowe said. But after this year, Rowe doesn’t think she’ll continue baton twirling.

“I just don’t have enough time for it because I’m really involved in theatre,” Rowe said. “It isn’t fair to do that to the other people on my team.”

Improve your look and improve East.

Haircuts: $15 (women) $10 (men) Full-head highlights: $45 and up One-process color: $25 and up Manicure: $11 Pedicure: $15 and up Wax: $9 and up (All work conducted by students with supervision) • From April to October, mention Shawnee Mission East to your stylist, and 50% of all services purchased will benefit the East library.

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issue

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16

after four long years, it’s time to

CLOSE

OFF

our high school careers...

class of 2008, turn inside to see where your class has been in the past and will be going in the future

YEARS OF NOSTALGIA (in five minutes or less) Seniors, remember walking down the halls of your elementary school, singing “Graduation Song” by Vitamin C at the top of your lungs?

Did you ever get crushed in the chaotic rush for a Beanie Baby? And where were you when you first heard about Sept. 11? It seems like so long ago... but this was our childhood.

» trendcentral

April 19, 1995: Oklahoma City bombing.

Ninety minutes after an Oklahoma City, Okla. nine-story office building exploded, destroying half the building and killing 168 people, 26-year-old Timothy McVeigh was pulled over for driving without a license plate. McVeigh was recognized as a bombing suspect, arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. He died of lethal injection on June 11, 2001.

Feb. 5, 1997: OJ Simpson trial.

After being accused of killing his ex-wife and her male friend, former NFL star Simpson started one of the most famous car chases of the ‘90s: the white Ford Bronco, pursued by LA police, eventually cornered at Simpson’s Brentwood mansion. After a lengthy criminal trial, Simpson was acquitted.

Aug. 31, 1997: Princess Diana’s death When Diana Spencer, the media darling married to Prince Charles of Wales, died in a Paris car accident, the world mourned. Despite multiple conspiracy theories and allegations, the Coroner’s Inquest didn’t come in until this April, and said she was unlawfully killed by the driver and paparazzi.

Sept. 5, 1997: Mother Theresa’s death After struggling with declining health, including a broken collar bone, a history of heart attacks a bout of malaria and several difficult surgeries, Mother Theresa of Calcutta stepped down from her post as head of the Missionaries of Charity in March and died six months later. Mother Theresa was best known for her humanitarian work in the slums of Calcutta, widely considered to have some of the worst living conditions in the world.

1998: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s home-run chase McGwire (St. Louis Cardinals) and Sosa (Chicago Cubs) strove to break Roger Maris’ single-season home-run record. McGwire finished with 70, four ahead of Sosa’s 66, but Sosa was named the NLB MVP in 1998.

1997-1999: Monica Lewinksy scandal (“Monicagate”) “I did not have sexual relations with that woman,” then-President Bill Clinton testified under oath.

And everything began to change. After allegedly having sex with Monica Lewinsky, a 22-year-old White House intern, Clinton was charged with lying under oath and impeached by the House of Representatives, but cleared of all charges by the Senate.

Everyone was doing it. These are a few of the fads you couldn’t help but jump on.

POKÉMON

Gotta catch ‘em all!

Although it began as a video game for Nintendo, Pokémon’s explosive growth into trading cards, television, Internet and even plushies was alarmingly fast, even during the dot-com boom. It remains the second-most lucrative video game franchise, after Mario.

lol, ill brb :) Carnegie Mellon University professor Scott E. Fahlman claims to have been the first person to use a colon, a dash and a parentheses to make a digital smiley in 1982 :-) Since then, and with the introduction of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) in May of 1997, an entire language has evolved, including those ppl who talked liek this 4eva AnD cApItAlIzEd RanDoM lETters lol ahhaha!!!!11one. And punctuation was for old people.

NAPSTER

What started as the hit TV show “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” from 1993 to 1996 has now become an empire: Power Rangers’s sixteenth variation, “Power Rangers: Jungle Fury,” launched Feb. 18, 2008, and is available on iTunes. The original Power Rangers actors, portraying teenagers, now range in age from 32 to 40. None of them still act.

TAMAGOTCHI and FURBY From 1998 to 2000, Tiger Co. sold over 40 million Furbies: doe-eyed fur-covered plastic eggs that screamed things like “A-TAY!!!” (I’m hungry) and “way-low” (sleep) and refused to shut off. Tamagotchi, made by Bandai in 1996, was much the same: a digital pet that required food, water and sleep to “survive.”

N64 Goldmine, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart... any of those ring a bell? N64, Nintendo’s third home video game console, launched in September of 1996. As of March 31, 2006, Nintendo had sold 32.9 million N64 units worldwide.

BEANIE BABIES If you ever got trampled during a new Beanie Baby stampede, you know just how serious the collectors’ craze was. If you paid $5 in 1998, a Beanie would be worth roughly $20 at most.

OREGON TRAIL Need we say more? ... But seriously, there was something weirdly refreshing about seeing friends die of dysentery or wander off the trail and never come home. Oregon Trail started as an educational game for elementary students, and ended up with a cult following. It’s currently in its fifth edition, and even has its own Facebook application. Now that’s success.

HARRY POTTER Harry Potter has developed a cult following of its own (midnight release parties, anyone?) since it first crossed the pond in 1997. In 10 years, it’s sold more than 375 million copies in 64 languages. Merlin’s beard!

From the first stanza of each hit song, can you correctly identify the artist and title?

1 3 5 7 9 11

(All included songs were selected from the series of “Now That’s What I Call Music” CDs) And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives / Where we’re gonna be when we turn 25 / I keep thinking times will never change / Keep on thinking things will always be the same...

2 4 6 8 10 12

You’ve so many relationships in this life / Only one or two will last / You go through all the pain and strife / Then you turn your back and they’re gone so fast, oh oh / And they’re gone so fast...

It’s the hard knock life (uh-huh) for us / It’s the hard knock life, for us / Steada treated, we get tricked / Steada kisses, we get kicked / It’s the hard knock life

I’m doin’ this tonight / You’re probably gonna start a fight / I know this can’t be right / Hey baby come on / I loved you endlessly / When you weren’t there for me...

If you wanna go and take a ride wit me / We three-wheelin’ in the fo’ with the gold D’s / Oh why do I live this way? (Hey, must be the money!)

Get this party started on a Saturday night / Everybody’s waiting for me to arrive / Sendin’ out the message to all of my friends / We’ll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz...

Yo listen up here’s a story / About a little guy that lives in a blue world / And all day and all night and everything he sees / Is just blue like him inside and outside...

When the world, leaves you feeling blue / You can count on me, I will be there for you / When it seems, all your hopes and dreams / Are a million miles away, I will re-assure you...

We’ll be singing / When we’re winning / We’ll be singing / I get knocked down / But I get up again...

Now, this is a story all about how / My life got flipped-turned upside down / And I liked to take a minute Just sit right there....

Oh baby, baby / How was I supposed to know / That something wasn’t right here...

She’s into superstitions black cats and voodoo dolls / I feel a premonition that girl’s gonna make me fall...

ANSWERS

Napster was the first Web site to allow free user-to-user file sharing. From 1999 to 2001, the program garnered over 26.4 million users. After the site ran into legal trouble, Napster shut down and declared bankruptcy following a $26 million settlement paid to the RIAA.

POWER RANGERS

MUSIC MATCHUP

1. “Graduation Song” (Vitamin C) 2. “Mmmbop” (Hanson) 3. “Hard-Knock Life/Ghetto Anthem” (Jay-Z) 4. “Bye Bye Bye” (*NSYNC) 5. “Ride Wit Me” (Nelly) 6. “Get This Party Started” (P!nk) 7. “Blue” (Eiffel 65) 8. “Reach for the Stars” (S Club 7) 9. “I Get Knocked Down” (Chumbawamba) 10. “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (Will Smith) 11. “ Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears) 12. “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (Ricky Martin)

13

THINKINGBACK

Sept. 11, the 2000 Election and the beginning of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are vivid memories, but here’s a look back at what happened in the years before we paid as much attention.

take a look at the class of 2007’s top tips for surviving your freshman year (trust us, they know what they’re talking about)

SOCIAL LIFE

don’t be a hermit (part one) person A: “If you’re going to a big school, GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS. If you don’t get involved you will be just a number, but by joining some sort of organization, whether it’s a Greek house or the Scrabble Club, it’s a lot easier to find your niche and do things to get noticed within a school of tens of thousands.” person B: “Definitely get out of your dorm and socialize and get as involved as you want in on campus activities. I joined a sorority and I wasn’t sure at first if it was something that I was really open too, but I absolutely love it. It has been such a great way to meet people, do philanthropy work and just have random fun.” person C: “Also, don’t just talk to members of the freshman class. Upperclassmen already know what’s up, and they probably won’t mind helping you out.” you’ll find your friends in the first few weeks person A: “Most colleges have a bunch of events that they host just for the freshman class, especially at the beginning of the year, and they’re a great way to meet a bunch of new people.” person B: “Don’t worry, the kids you meet at orientation or on the first day aren’t going to be your friends long-term. Some of them might be, but you’ll meet your real friends over the first few weeks. So if you don’t leave orientation with ten phone numbers and a bunch of inside jokes, don’t freak out.”

PACKING YOUR BAGS KNOW THE MYTHS

WE ASKED. THEY ANSWERED.

AND LASTLY...

it’s easy to make friends person A: “Food and procrastination are the best ways to make friends.” person B: “Get involved with your floor and your hall, because they have so many fun events! Be friendly to everyone, even random strangers because that’s how you make new friends.”

so if you’re in Australia …

“If you’re leaving the country for college, don’t get freaked out when a classroom full of freakishly large Aussie guys start yelling antiAmerican comments out at the top of their lungs. They’re always much nicer once they realize there’s actually a real live American in the room who doesn’t support Bush’s never-ending war. If you’re not leaving the country, you should definitely at least considering studying abroad – it’s quite the experience.”

the Freshman 15 random-draw roommates: worth the worry? person A: “It’s easy to avoid. Exercise. Don’t drink too much. Don’t “My roomie and I hit it off from day one, [and] we’re total snack in your room. Limit yourself to one plate of food at meals.” opposites. I’m an extrovert studying theatre from a large suburb [and] in a sorority, she’s an introvert studying bio person B: “Boys will say it doesn’t exist; girls know it does.” from a tiny town in Illinois. But we’re living together next just like high school?

“It’s all a lie. KU is NOT “just like high school.” You’re under no obli- year and I cannot imagine living with anyone else. ” greek life consumes your life/activites? gation to talk to anyone from East once you get here. If you do want to though, they’re nearby and it’s nice to have a group of friends No: “Half (gross exaggeration) the theatre department is Greek at my school.” already available.”

don’t forget these essentials... person A: “Hot sauce, an electric kettle (tea, ramen, doubles as a watering can for plants), more sticky tac stuff for posters (my roomie and I have gone through like five packs), more cups (no matter how many you bring you’ll end up running out because you’re too lazy to wash them) and funny costume pieces/Halloween costume (college is full of themed parties and I’ve regretted many times not bringing my cowboy/go-go boots and my nurse outfit).” person B: “You do need formal clothes in college. Don’t think you’ll never wear that sport coat, just bring it ‘cause you will wear it.” you can leave these at home...

“So many sweaters (I had like 30 – it’s just a pain to take home), cards (other people have them), sexy shoes (when you have to walk blocks to a party it’s not worth it), folding floor chair (it’s little and I got it at Target – thought it was a great idea at the time, but I’ve used it like five times all year) and a cool printer (I had a printer-scanner-copier-whateverer and it gave me so many problems, now I just use a cheap one and the library ones).”

most of all … person A: “Do things that you think you aren’t qualified for, that you think you aren’t old enough for, that you think you really aren’t ready to do. You’ll surprise yourself.” person B: “College is for trying new things, so don’t be afraid to do something just because it’s different!” person C: “Lastly – have fun!”

E

LIF E T A M M O O R D N A DORM

don’t be a hermit (part two) person A: “Leave your door open. People will come in and chat and BOOM you have friends on your floor, or at least people whose milk, puff paint and vacuum you can borrow.” person B: “Meet the people on your floor – not only will you be living with them for the next year, but you will probably find your closest friends this way.” person C: “Get out of your dorm as much as you can. You may think that the only people who exist freshman year are the people in your dorm, but you will most likely never speak to them after the year is done. You will miss huge opportunities if you spend all of your time in the dorms, stressing over drama that should have been left back in high school.” sleep is for the weak “Be a flexible roommate – sometimes you’re just going to have to sleep with the light on. If it bothers you that much, you’re getting too much sleep. Also, you have the rest of your life to sleep, so get used to being sleep-deprived.”

CLASSES

some said yes, some said no – two views on morning classes person A: “Take morning classes. They’re not always fun but they get you going in the morning and you can sleep all afternoon anyway!” person B: “Avoid morning classes. It’s extremely easy to wake up at 7 a.m. on a rainy day and say, ‘Whatever, I’ll just skip my 8 a.m. class.’ Avoid the problem all together and schedule your classes later in the day.” be patient with your books “Don’t worry about textbooks until you’ve been to your class (i.e. don’t pre order). Sometimes you don’t need every book it lists online. You’ll save money if you wait, and don’t worry: they won’t run out.” use your resources person A: “I also recommend study groups, they help so much. And don’t be afraid to approach your professors, they are there to teach you and help you get the education you’re paying for. So use them.” person B: “And definitely get to know your professors. If you have a family emergency or just mess up and need to turn something in late, they will be so much more understanding if the first time they talk to you isn’t when you’re asking them for a favor.” do what you need to do to stay in school person A: “If you plan on partying hard in college make sure you study as much as or more than you party; you don’t want to make a bunch of friends partying and then get kicked out for failing classes.” person B: “Go to class. I almost never skip class, and quite often skip my readings. My grades are still really good. It’s easy to say ,’Well the Powerpoints will be online, so I’ll just look at those.’ No you won’t. No one does. Go to class and get the notes there and it makes things a whole lot easier.”

we’re not adults yet – practical jokes are fun “Dorm furniture is light and easy to move should you decide to move all of somebody’s furniture into the laundry room while they’re away for a couple hours. Also, napping in their bed when they discover their furniture in the laundry room is also a good idea.” your room might be great or it might suck, so make the best of it person A: “Learn to love your roommate and decorate your room so it’s your haven and not a place of havoc. Having a roommate has taught me to be a much neater person.” person B: “It’s OK if your roommates suck. You don’t have to be best friends with them, and if they’re weird they just provide lots of funny encounters you can tell your friends about.” person C: “For the times you are in your room, make it a place you love. You’ll get compliments on your decorating skillz and you’ll feel happy there.” the jury is in on shower shoes Five people all wrote in with one thing to say: wear those shower shoes.

4profiles BOBBY MILLER, JR

representing Kansas DECA chapter of Epsilon Chi at KU

After finishing in the top 3 percent of Kansas State Distributive Education Club of America, senior Bobby Miller Jr. decided he didn’t want it to end his senior year of high school.

Attending the University of Kansas, and competing in the DECA’s college chapter, DECA Epsilon Chi, Miller will compete in similar competitions to that of the high school level. But they will increase in difficulty, because not only will he be impressing the judges, but they could possibly catch the interest of local corporations.

“I plan on competing again in the Sports and Entertainment marketing area of DECA,” Miller said. “But,

Delta Epsilon Chi and the competitions will be more of a job focus to help with getting jobs, and internships.”

He will need to demonstrate the application of sports and entertainment marketing and be able to show management principles and techniques in a business environment. But he also will have to develop a marketing strategy using a complete marketing mix.

“The areas are more specific for the college DECA level.” Miller said. “Throughout my senior year I put a lot of time and effort into DECA, and I feel like I’ll be ready to compete in the competitions next year.”

Miller achieved his goals this year, repeating his sec-

ond straight Kansas State title in sports and entertainment marketing. This led to him being in the top 3 percent in the state for DECA, sending him to Atlanta for the International Career Development Conference during the week of April 26.

He competed in Sports and Entertainment marketing against the best in the United States as well as Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

“The main part of DECA is that you have to work at it.” Miller said. “The DECA chapter at Kansas, Delta Epsilon Chi, has such a variety of competitions to compete in, it will just make it that much more of a challenge for me.”

story by jordan pfeiffer photo by anna leek

Sarah Elizabeth McCandless has always loved science, whether she was playing with chemistry sets or visiting the National History Museum as a little kid. Now, years later, she wants to make a career out of it.

Next year she will be going to KU to study engineering, and someday hopes to become an astronaut.

McCandless first started exploring different branches of science after participating in Science Olympiad in seventh grade. She discovered she had an interest in stars and constellations, which fueled her desire to become an astronaut.

“The idea of experiencing the last frontier

is exciting,” she said. “I’d like to experience zerogravity in space.”

At KU she will be part of the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program, or SELF, a selective engineering program that accepts about 15 students a year.

To qualify she had to write a personal statement, two short essays, send in two letters of recommendation and go in for a personal interview.

McCandless believes that having this program on her resume will give her an edge at NASA, where she ultim ately wants to work. “ I t ’ s unique to KU, kind of how IB is unique to East,” she said.

SELF is one of several reasons McCandless chose KU over Perdue, Rice and Texas A&M. Another is the scholarship money she was awarded. With

SARAH ELIZABETH

McCANDLESS accepted into elite engineering program at KU

$20,000 over four years from SELF, combined with other scholarship money she received, she will be going to school for free.

Another factor in her decision to attend KU was the atmosphere.

She likes the fact that, because of her involvement with SELF, she will be able to attend a big university but have the academic experience of a smaller one.

“I wanted a place that can challenge me, where I can still be social,” she said. “It’s the best of both worlds for me. KU has good sports and a great community.”

story by devin o’bryan photo by mary galvin

5

profiles

BRYAN

GOLD

Touring China for six months to study culture and the Mandarin language in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong Instead of receiving video games or gift cards for his birthday, senior Bryan Gold received a stolen Chinese textbook. The friend who gave it to him stole it out of the Center for International Studies classroom at South. It meant a lot to Gold since he was beginning to become interested in the Chinese language at the time. He began to read it immediately and has been using it ever since.

With the help of the textbook and his Chinese-speaking neighbors, Gold’s interest in the Chinese language has grown tremendously. Not only have both inspired him to major in Chinese studies at KU next year, but he also wants the language to be part of his career someday. Through their International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), he is getting one step closer. In June 2009, Gold will embark upon a six-month trip through China.

In past summers they competed against each other. This spring they became teammates. But come next fall they’ll be running against each other in the same conference, the South Eastern Conference (SEC).

Next year seniors Andrew Pennington and Darion Latson are both going to the SEC on track scholarships, Pennington to Arkansas and Latson to Auburn. This has never happened before in the history of the school: two athletes in the same sport, in the same year, going to the same conference.

“It’s always good to be the first to do something but it’s probably just a coincidence,” Latson said.

“He had plenty of options, I had plenty of options and I guess these schools just fit for us.”

Pennington agreed but also said it’s a testament to how athletic this senior class is. He said one of the main reasons he chose Arkansas was for the tough competition.

“The SEC is the best track conference in the nation,” Pennington said. “So I’m just looking forward to seeing how I compare with some of the best.”

Latson’s also looking forward to the team camaraderie but said seeing Pennington at meets will be really special.

“It’s going to be nice to have somebody that I’m

familiar with, knowing what kind of running style he has,” Latson said. “It’ll be good for the both of us, it’ll push us that much harder to beat one a n o t h e r.”

Pennington did say he’ll be content to end his track career.

He’s aware he’s not on pace for the Olympics, and because of that, he plans to keep academics a top priority and major in graphic design.

L atson feels the same w a y about school.

But at the same time he

ANDREW PENNINGTON and

DARION LATSON Track stars heading south to compete in the SEC at Arkansas and Auburn

He will stay with host families in the prominent cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, further studying the Chinese language and culture.

Before signing on to ISEP, Gold wanted to take his own trip to China.

He didn’t want to go into college in a rush to find a suitable career. Taking a vacation from school seemed like a great way to slow down.

“I found out it was way too expensive to go by myself,” Gold said.

“I decided that since it’s what I want to do, it would be cheaper to go with ISEP. I’m guessing there’s about 20 other people going, too.”

Gold first began to notice his love for the language when he would visit his neighbors. The parents speak Cantonese and Mandarin—two forms of the Chinese language—to their children. Gold is able to pick up on certain sentences every time he goes

has very high hopes for himself, even after high school.

“I’d like to get signed with a Nike team and make some money off that,” Latson said. “Then do my best to compete with the top competitors in America and try to make the Olympic team.”

While Pennington and Latson are going to stay focused balancing Division I athletics, school and a social life, they said missing home is going to be another factor to deal with, but agreed their love for the sport outweighs the support they’ll be missing back home.

“I enjoy running track so it’s a hobby of mine,” Pennington said. “I love being on the team in high school so I couldn’t imagine going to college and not doing track.”

story by jeff rutherford photo by tayler phillips

over. He tried learning with books on tape but the memorization was difficult. This is where the textbook has come in handy.

“I know more Mandarin,” Gold said.

“So that’s what I want to work on more.

I understand it; I just can’t reproduce the tones very well. Hopefully I won’t get too lazy with learning it over there.”

Gold claims he’s better at reading Chinese than speaking it, yet he is still nervous about finding his way around the city. But above all, Gold is mostly nervous about the social aspect since he hears the people are more impersonal. Immersing himself into their culture is another fear of his, but as the trip approaches, he imagines he will become much more excited.

“I can’t wait to see the Great Wall and the Chinese Opera House,” he said.

story by meg shackelford photo by karen boomer

6profiles STEPHEN

interning this summer at Mix 93.3, preparing for a career in broadcast journalism

GAUGHAN

Senior Clare Seesing started sewing when she was five. Her first projects involved fixing her own clothes, letting out hems and stitching up holes in shirtsleeves. Her mom taught her how.

She still loves to sew and she’ll take her love of fashion with her as she enters K-State’s fashion and apparel major next year. As a junior, she took fashion classes at Broadmoor. She’s also taken Clothing Labs I and II at East.

Sewing teacher Marsha Boyer predicts Seesing will succeed at K-State.

“She’s got the background and the creativity,” Boyer said. “I’m sure she’ll do well.”

Seesing describes herself as energetic and committed, two skills that are necessary in the

Working at least five hours a day, senior Stephen Gaughan will spend his summer interning for Mix 93.3. He will be working along with the Mix 93.3 staff in hopes of gaining experience that will prepare him for college and a career as a broadcast journalist.

Gaughan is going to spend his summer at their studio, which is located above America’s Pub in Westport. He is interning as part of the Mix Street Team, which is a team of 15 interns that help around the Mix studio, working behind the scenes with premieres and events and with daily radio callers.

Interns for the Mix Street Team are mostly college students, but since Gaughan is going to be out of high school and entering college next year they made an ex-

sewing process. It took commitment for her to rip out almost every stitch in her pillowcase after making one small mistake, and a high degree of enthusiasm was required to patiently re-stitch the entire piece.

Small errors b e c o m e t e d i o u s and timeconsuming to fix, and Seesing says what helps her maintain enthusiasm is her excitement for the final product.

For example, she wanted to complete a plaid jacket

by November so she could

wear it to Thanksgiving dinner. She says the best part was getting to show off her jacket once it was finished.

Seesing loves evening dresses, fitted jackets and accessories.

“My style is pretty g l a m o r o u s ,” she said.

This year, her projects have included p a j a m a b o t t o m s, a jacket, a pillowcase and finally the green, sparkly prom dress she’s currently making.

When it comes to fashion, the interesting colors and textures she

CLARE

TLAPEKSEESING attending K-State to study fashion and apparel

sees browsing through fabric stores are her biggest inspiration. Sewing and shopping in fabric stores are two of her biggest hobbies. "[Sewing] frees my mind and it’s relaxing,” she said.

Already looking beyond college, Seesing envisions herself opening a boutique in either Kansas City or Chicago.

“I want my own label, but I haven’t decided what to call it yet,” she said.

Having visited K-State’s textile and apparel department three times, Seesing is confident she’s chosen the right program.

“I look forward to college,” she said.

story by sylvia shank photo by karen boomer

ception. Gaughan sent in his resume and got the job after he had an interview with Steve Serrano, who creates and chooses the Mix team.

In order to gain as much experience through Mix 93.3 as possible, next year Gaughan will be attending Johnson County Community College and he then hopes to go to KU after a year and major in Broadcast Journalism.

Gaughan believes that this internship will help him reach his career goals. His ideal job would be one like Ryan Secrest’s job.

“I’m really excited to get behind the scenes and see what the business is all about and getting my foot in the door,” Gaughan said.

Gaughan will be working Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The internship is mainly for summer, but he wants to work there

after the summer and keep with it.

Although this is an unpaid internship, Gaughan is really excited because he will be able to participate in numerous events, and even get the opportunity to help at Red, White and Boom, Mix 93.3’s biggest summer concert.

Gaughan will also be helping with call-ins, which may allow him to get a little radio time. With an unpaid internship, the only thing he will get out of it is experience: experience in the industry and the experience of working with people and getting great opportunities.

“Serrano said the more you work the more you get,” Gaughan said. “I am going to try to spend more time than is required.”

story by katie freyder photo by karen boomer

7

profiles going to college in Chicago for photography

STUART HEIDMANN

It started when senior Preston Borchers was just a young kid.

Little by little, his dad passed down the tricks of the trade: first Borchers learned to work with tires and change the oil; eventually, he knew all about the engine, the exhaust and the transmission.

Then, Borchers enjoyed it because it meant spending time with his dad. Now, it’s about to become his life.

After graduation, Borchers plans to get a job as a mechanic at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Though his love was always working on cars, Borchers feels it is an opportune time to get into the railroad business.

“Right now, the railroad is surpassing [other modes of transportation] in impor-

Senior Stuart Heidmann likes looking at life through a lens. He likes walking around trying to find interesting angles, especially ones of architecture and in black and white. “[Photography] is the one thing I’ve stuck with and really worked on,” Heidmann said.

And he plans on sticking with it next year, too, when he will go to Columbia College in Chicago to major in photography. Columbia College, located in the Columbia Arts District in the heart of the South Loop, is the largest arts and media college in the nation. “[Columbia] is right in the city,” Heidmann said. “All the classes are in skyscraper buildings, and Chicago is an interesting city for photography.”

Since taking Photo 1 his sophomore year, Heidmann has been in a photo class every semester, and is now in

tance,” Borchers said. “It’s cheaper to send 100 units of electronics via railroad than it would be to truck it somewhere.”

B o r c h e r s’ dad got into the railroad business about a year ago, due to the waning opportunities for independent auto shop owners.

“With the e c o n o m y the way it is, they’re offering extremely low financing on vehicles, so… e v e r y t h i n g ’s under warranty, and any auto repair work goes back to the dealer,” Borchers said. “A lot of individually owned auto shops are out

of business.”

According to Borchers, working for BNSF is wellpaying and includes great benefits, like retirement.

Borchers will have to wait until he actually starts fixing trains.

First, there is about a three month waiting period while BNSF reviews his application.

Because of his dad’s employment there, Borchers isn’t too worried about securing a job.

Then, there are two weeks of initial training where employees learn safety and the basics of the job.

During this time, the em-

PRESTON

BORCHERS working as a mechanic for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

ployers will be looking for the employees’ strengths in different areas. They will later be trained more thoroughly in their strongest areas. In what Borchers thinks will be about six months from then, he will begin taking classes BNSF pays for at Johnson County Community College.

After that, he will work as a mechanic, either at one of the Railway’s Kansas City stationary hubs, or on the road, traveling by inter-railroad taxi to fix trains around the area.

Borchers looks forward to doing something he loves, following in his father’s footsteps, and having a secure job.

“Everything’s union down there, so everything’s very fair—you show up on time and do your job, and they’ll take care of you.”

story by phoebe unterman photo by andy allen

Photo 6.

“What sets him apart is his technical skill,” photo teacher Adam Finkelstein said. “He pays great attention to detail. He frustrates people in his class because he seems to do it effortlessly.”

Heidmann first heard about Columbia from his dad’s colleague who went to college there. After visiting, he knew Columbia was where he wanted to go.

“I wanted something more than the typical KU experience,” Heidmann said. “I love Chicago, and it’s such a unique place, I felt like I fit in.”

Columbia, which emphasizes students developing a portfolio over their course of study, has 11,366 undergraduates, with an average of 17 students per class.

“It’s not too big, but not too small,” Heidmann said. “I didn’t want to go somewhere where there’s 300 people in

my class, I wanted to somewhere where teachers know the student.”

Columbia’s photography program is one of the largest in the country, where students are involved in different types of photography, such as photojournalism, high-tech digital imaging, and documentary.

“It’s got a standard dark room, color dark room, black and white, digital labs, everything you need,” Heidmann said.

Heidmann hopes to make a career out of his passion, and hopes to find what that career will be while at Columbia.

“I hope to find a way to have a career in college,” Heidmann said. “The fine arts isn’t going to support me, but I’ll always do the fine arts for myself.”

story by paige cornwell photo by sarah andrews

8

Now that their time at spread East is done, the seniors look ahead...

ALABAMA

Auburn University Jack Campbell Darion Latson Mark Bower University of Alabama Joan Zora

ARKANSAS

Henderson State University Levi Mische Hendrix College Benjamin Edmonds David Moskowitz University of Arkansas Curt Bower Erik Hild Allison Reber Audra Stalzer Andrew Pennington

GEORGIA cont’d

Georgia State University Jane Blakeley Savannah College of Art and Design Brianna Hackler Blair Nicely

IDAHO

Northwest Nazarene University Lia Hardy

ILLINOIS

Columbia College Stuart Heidmann DePaul University Quintin Rodgers Emily Knight Illinois Institute of Technology Catherine Smith Illinois Wesleyan University Michelle Parsons Internation Academy of Design and Technology Claremont McKenna College Maribel Dinwiddie Taylon Johnson Loyola University of Chicago Alexandra Burgers Mariella Kerr Pepperdine University Southern Illinois University Niles Jeran University of Southern California Emily Whitney University of Illinois Thomas Henry Jack Krieger Laura Nelson

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

Adams State College Lee Culp Colorado College Samuel Stewart Adrienne Wood Colorado State University Dalton Ballard Jessica Sweeney Denver University Ethan Harden University of Colorado Charles Marx John Meara University of Northern Colorado Matthew Ross Joseph Townsend

FLORIDA

Flagler College Alyssa Murfey Florida Community College Ian Walz FullSail University Gabriela Vichareli Rollins College Rachael Mayfield The Notter School of Pastry Arts Jennifer Young

GEORGIA Emory College Karen Boomer

INDIANA

Anderson University Valerie Fagan Butler University Victoria Patrick Cassandra Kester Depauw University Ellen Clayton Brogan Runion Indiana University Paige Brulatour Stephen Fowler Daniel Mapes Purdue University Callie Jennings Taylor University Stefanie Enger Valparaiso University Dane Callstrom Wabash University Steven Rowe

IOWA

Buena Vista University Derek O’Grady Cornell College Martha Haynes Drake University Sean Favreau Sarah Andrews Elizabeth Bresky Simpson College Sean Lewis

IOWA cont’d University of Iowa Margaret Blake

KANSAS

Baker University Kimberly Tate Katelyn Brooks Broadmoor Technical Center David Sanders Fort Scott Community College Andrew Chronister Paige Colburn Anthony Garrett Dennis Jilka Terrance Thomas Hutchinson Fire Academy Adam Robinson Johnson County Community College Beau Atkinson Keeli Bartholomew Preston Bassett Matthew Beichley Joshua Bellner Thomas Bird Hilary Borgmier Tyler Burk Caitlin Canaday Jatee Card Sarah Carlson Keaton Carter Lauren Cavanaugh Patrick Cirese Jr. Lauren Coomer Nicholas Cox Robert Evans John Foster Stephen Gaughan Joshua Grayson Jordan Hadjian Andrew Hammond Sara Hawkins Caitlin Higgins Max Hoedel Casey Jackson Emily Jacobs Zachary Jarchow Kendall Kile Kallen Leak Andrew Loethen Miguel Medina Steven Mowry Clark Neal Maxwell Nelson Britt Nelson Christopher Nicely William Opsahl Noah Ottinger Holly Painter Alexander Rathbun Alexandra Rhoades Nathan Rivers Lacey Robinson Brandon Russell

OH, THE P

KANSAS cont’d Micah Schule Zachary Shaffer Kyle Sinkler Madison Stock Anna Sweeney Andrea Tieleman Valeria Webber Carson Wendler Daniel Weston Lindsay Vanatta Brandon Zlateff Kansas City Community College Lesley Monarres Kansas State University Elizabeth Abbey Emily Anderson Sarah Anderson Erica Blackford Dana Bloom Dale Bradley Gage Brummer Jeffrey Bryant Curtis Bryant Alexa Burton Lauren Cantril Lauren Cody Andrew Collingwood Quinn Conrad Elizabeth Cooke Andrew Dellett Karsen Dolliver Jordan Evans Maxwell Gabel Nicholas Gormly Taylor Gudgel Erin Hall De Andre Harris Samuel Haugland Marshall Hecht Margaret Howland Anne Hundley Matthew Johnson Sarah Jones Zachary Karson Emilee Keohan Kenton Kloster William Kobylinski Daniel Kurz Devin Lally Andrew Loudon Joseph Lutz Brandon Mais Thomas McGowan Matthew Meinking Graham Nelson Jamie Nelson Emily Patton Courtney Pennington Grace Petty Brandon Remer-Phifer Virginia Robinson Clare Seesing

KANSAS cont’d

Melanie Shoemaker Charles Simpson Catherine Simpson Morgan Stock Andrea Stockwell Christina Strange Steven Sykes Brandi Taylor Kirby Thomas Benjamin Wagner Caitlin Walsh Laura Wetzel Jeremy Williams Lauren Winkler Zachary Williams Manhattan Christian University Christopher Anderson McPherson College Steven Branson Pittsburgh State University Jessica Lohmeyer Cody Hacker Jarrod Kline University of Kansas Sheldon Adams Samuel Ahern Bisma Akhtar Kristen Altoro Alicia Anderson Lane Anderson Alex Anderson Annmarie Arensberg Bailey Atkinson Brittany Barnds Katherine Barnes Zachary Barnhill Abigail Bauer Samuel Boehms Chase Bolin Benjamin Brannian Kylie Brewer Caitlynn Bukaty Alexander Burr John Caldwell Daren Chesbrough Matthew Chomicky Ryan Clark Rachel Clarke Joshua Cohen Patrick Collins Kevin Coon Matthew Corey Erik Crawford Ashley Currie Lily Darrington Emily Darrington Bradley Deerr Neal Doherty Joshua Dorrell Charlie Duval Megan Dyer Katherine Freyder Reagan Fromm

KANSAS cont’d

Michelle Fuchs Amy Gairns Mallory Gasaway Emelie Gaughan Rion Glynn Clark Goble Grant Gray Graham Greene Patrick Grindinger Brett Hager Jaclyn Haith Michael Hake Julie Halper Katherine Hardy Brian Haverty Lauren Henton Brett Hidaka George Holcomb IV Bayley Holland Abigail Holt Mary Hopkins Dylan Horn Alex Huddleston Gary Imber Natalie Jacquinot Xing Ji Jay Johnson Courtney Johnston Yong Kam Drew Kane Patrick Kennedy Thomas Kennedy Jonathan Koehn Joseph Krugh Scuyler Kurlbaum Hayley Mallen Max McBride Sarah McCandless Matthew McCullough Duncan McDonald Molly McGonigle John McGuire Michael McRoberts Kevin Medina Matthew Modrcin Maxwell Montgomery Taylor Newman Mary Newman Molly Oeffner Charles Ogdon Lauren Omana Kathleen O’Neill Sean O’Reilly Kimberly Page Charlotte Parrish Mackenzie Payne Jessica Perbeck Adam Plotkin Eric Ratliff William Read Ross Ringer Rebecca Sabates David Schrunk

PLACES YOU’LL GO

’d

KANSAS cont’d Christopher Segall Elise Shea Wylee Shofler John Stalder III Neal Stark Brook Stern John Stout Alexandra Surface Sara Taggart Kelly Tankard Andrew Tisdale Marissa Titus William Tschudy Bruce Tuschoff Serena Verden Meredith Walrafen Catherine Ward Samuel Watson Christine Wear David Webb Donald Wendorff Kelsey Whitaker John Williams Jeremy Wolf John Zecy Zachary Zwibelman

LOUISIANA

Centenary College of Louisiana Laura Immenschuh Tulane University Sophia Unterman Sally Drape Kristen Koch

MASSACHUSETTS Babson College Hailey Hickman Harmony Hickman Emerson University Vaughn English Harvard University Nandini Sarma Northeastern University Natalie Brady

MICHIGAN

Northern Michigan University Rafael Santos University of Michigan Zachary Parelman Western Michigan University Jessica Bartlett

MINNESOTA Carleton College Lee Conrads Libby Nachman Macalester College David Isenberg St. Olaf College Stacy Bonds Jonathan Harms

MINNESOTA cont’d MISSOURI cont’d OKLAHOMA University of Minnesota Lenni Enslein

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi State University Joseph Wood

MISSOURI

Cottey College Anna Karro Nadvish Whitely Devry University Max Rankin-Adams Fontbonne University Melanie Muecke Kansas City Art Institute Sarah Olson William Preman Missouri State University Amy Coffman Anthony Schweigard Missouri University Joshua Baker Jarrett Edwards Stacie Harper Jennifer Hodgson Taylor Koster Corey Martz Michael Mazzoni Henrietta McCormick Anna Oman Nicholas Smith John Stehl Megan Sterchi Zachary Weaver Margaret Weaver Missouri University of Science and Technology Christopher Robles St. Louis University Elaine Dollar Missouri Western University Taylor Winn Northwest Missouri State Nathan Durie Kathleen Ostby Park University Jane Hawkins Penn Valley Community College Karen Lieffring Rockhurst University Sergey Kutserubov Stephens College Holly Harvey Truman State University Garett Exline Devin O’Bryan University of Central Missouri Hannah Brewer University of Missouri: Kansas City Kimberly Chase Charlotte Gilman Alyssa Schwarzenberger

Alicia Unklesbay Jennifer Waldman Kelsey Wehr Washington University Emily Hartman Owen Craig Xinxing Liu

NEW JERSEY Drew University Darcy Russel Princeton University Emma Austenfeld

MONTANA

University of Montana Sarah Simmons

NEBRASKA

University of Nebaska Ruth Stark Eli Kaldahl Scott Willman Matthew Baker

NEW YORK

Cornell University Yuzhou Li Ithaca College Gwendolyn Koch

NORTH CAROLINA Appalacian State University Kasey Sauls Davidson University Jackson Peterson Duke University Leonard Popplewell Elon University Emily Cray High Point University Jenna Soltys Wake Forest University Sylvia Shank

OHIO

Case Western Reserve University Eric Hamilton Ren Li Cleveland Institute of Art Elizabeth Wrede Denison University Laura Jerzyk Kenyon College Brooke Stanley Miami University of Ohio Michelle Chopp Tayler Philips Haley Harlan Lucas Satterlee Oberlin College Finley Gates University of Dayton Alexandra Zyck

Oklahoma Baptist University Aubrie Dolliver Oklahoma State University Kathryne Munsch University of Oklahoma Matthew Pope Emily Goodman

OREGON

Oregon State University Steven VanAuken University of Oregon Allegra Hall

SOUTH CAROLINA Clemson University Arnold Barnett Furman University Erin Aitken Greenville University Christopher Alexander

SOUTH DAKOTA Univ. of South Dakota Christopher Hause

TENNESSEE

Universiy of Tennessee Brenda Ebelke Vanderbilt University Alison Sayler David Webster

TEXAS

Baylor University Jennifer Sunderland Southern Methodist University Margaret Newell Adam Watson Katherine Zimmer Texas Christian University Allison Hemer Claire Marston University of Texas: Austin Michael Dodd Michael Perbeck Jordan Hahn John Miller Robert Miller Jr. Maia Schall

9

spread

WASHINGTON D.C.

American University Danielle Lipsman George Washington University Thomas Braslavsky Parker Hine Georgetown University Bradford Crist

WISCONSIN Marquette University Anne Richmond

ABROAD Michael Lebovitz Carly Putnam

TRAVEL Libby Bash Bryan Gold Jr.

EXCHANGE STUDENTS Clara Burzlaff Dake Chen Pui Lydia Dupre Haizea Escribano Sthefanie Fontenele Alcin Hakca Lucrezia Maspero

William Ennis John Kanally

OTHER

Jonathan Firth Joan Turner Michael Schepers

UNDECIDED

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

Brian Gallagher Melissa Osborne Daniel Sewell

Evergreen State College Matthew Lane Clay Showalter University of Seattle Clare Zipf-Sigler

Fernanda Mota Niclas Strom Zulal Sunacoglu Petter Sundqvist Barbara Vasconcelos Cristina Lavin Gutierrez

MILITARY

Andrew Cannon Miles Grantham John Fagan Andrew Haney Joo-Hyun Kang Lydia Livingood Andi Loeb Tyler Morandi Chad Perdue Dylan Roth Amber Ryan Anastasia Skvortsova

University of Richmond Natalie Eisenach Alexander Eisenach

Xinyin Li

WORK

YEAR OFF Daniel Altieri Lucy Pratley Kelly Womack

Figuring out the stats on this year’s senior class

Careers after majors

college breakdown Most popular majors 6% UNDECIDED 9% 30% BUSINESS 7% EDUCATION 48% POLITICAL SCIENCE ENGINEERING *Percentages based on the top five major chosen by seniors only (total: 194)

Senior going farthest away

Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim (Israel) MICHAEL LEBOVITZ

“

I had a personal interview with the head rabbi there and he is peronally paying my way. I will be traveling all across Israel as I learn about it. It’s a chance of a lifetime and I’m taking that chance now.

”

110

Big three breakdown Number of seniors going 125 to Kansas, K-State and

100

Missouri

130 120

90

Seniors

80

63

50

ENGINEERING ENGLISH

Public relations specialist Financial manager Stockbroker Insurance sales agent Real estate broker

Aircraft pilot Meteorologist Architect Sales engineer Chemical engineer

How did you discover...?

EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE CLAY SHOWALTER

“

I first read about [Evergreen State College] in a book called 40 Colleges that Change Lives and then I just researched it some more. It’s really strong in math and computer science and there are no grades; it’s completely project and cooperation-based learning which really fits into my style of learning.

Performing majors

John Caldwell SCULPTURE Amber Ryan HAIRSTYLING Levi Mische AVIATION Zach Weaver RADIOLOGY Caitlin Walsh CRIMINOLOGY

VOCAL PERFORMANCE Elise Shea THEATER Maggie Blake Dylan Roth DANCE Matthew Pope MUSICAL THEATRE

Ivy League Nandini Sarma Andrew Lee Yuzhou Li Emma Austenfeld

HARVARD BROWN CORNELL PRINCETON

Coolest major

“

30

Language majors Molly McGonigle Mariella Kerr Lexie Burgers

» photos by andyallen

MU

KSU

SPANISH ITALIAN ARABIC

FIRE SCIENCE ADAM ROBINSON

I’m going to the Hutchison Fire Academy for a two-year Associate’s degree in fire sceince. I’ll be going to school and also doing live training to be a firefigher. After that, I’m going to paramedic school.

I picked it because my dad has been a paramedic for 22 years and my uncle is a full time firefighter. I’ve been around it my whole life.

”

20

13

”

Unique majors

Anna Parelman COTTEY COLLEGE Karro UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Zach

40

10

Copy writer Reporter Adult educator Teacher Editor

Comparing big vs. small colleges

70 60

BUSINESS

KU

25,400

309

1,000 =

STUDENTS

11

profiles senior accepted to Princeton after success in high school While sitting in class at Briarwood Elementary School, senior Emma Austenfeld marveled at prestigious schools. She showed great interest in names like Duke and Wellesley. And now, after years of hard work and commitment, Austenfeld has decided on a college that was never on her map: Princeton.

“I never really thought about applying to Princeton until I was invited to an arts and humanities symposium in September,” Austenfeld said. “There were about 85 kids there, and we took classes and toured the campus. That’s when I really became interested.”

This college – considered

by U.S. News and World Report Magazine to be the best university in the nation – is located 50 miles southwest of New York City. According to Collegedata.com, fewer than 10 percent of applicants are admitted each year, and the average GPA of incoming

EMMA AUSTENFELD When senior Kelly Womack hands a cupcake to her dad, she always has a little trick up her sleeve. He’ll bite into one of her mouthwatering red velvet or green tea creations, and tell her that the cupcakes are delicious. But Womack stops this meat-lover in his tracks when she tells him what kind of cupcakes they are – vegan.

Womack’s life goal is to open a vegan bakery. A Commercial Baking student at Broadmoor, she’s had a tough senior year. Womack will be taking a year off to work on her baking skills, enrolling at Johnson & Wales’ baking program in Charlotte, NC in the fall of 2009. *** “Do you want to see my scars?” Womack asked, jumping out of her chair.

She lifted her shirt to reveal four, half-inch long white lines on her stomach.

Womack’s senior year hasn’t exactly been ideal.

For all but a few weeks of it, she’s been sick or injured.

During the first month of summer 2007, she broke her collarbone. She contracted mono at the start of the school year and had it for most of first semester.

Then, at the end of February, she went into the doctor’s office to get her gall bladder out. She came out with a plethora of medical problems that still are not completely resolved.

That’s where the scars are from. *** After recovering enough to go on a cruise over spring break, she came home to find out that Johnson & Wales’ baking program was

full. She hadn’t enrolled in time.

“I’m over being mad,” she said. “All my friends who are juniors in the baking program are going there next year.”

The gap year actually gives Womack the chance to relax, recuperate and hone her skills.

“I’m hoping to get a job as a pastry chef at a hotel,” she said.

Once she gets to Johnson & Wales, she will be at one of the foremost career schools in the country. Through their Career System, 98 percent of their graduates find employment in their field within 60 days of graduating.

But job placement from Johnson & Wales isn’t what Womack is aiming for.

KELLY WOMACK taking a gap year, then going to culinary school

She wants to open her own vegan bakery.

“I’ll probably have vegan in the name to advertise that,” she said. “Vegan Shneegan? Vegan My Neegan?”

She plans to find some “cool place” like Oregon or California – a place with a large vegan population – to set up shop.

“One thing I’m worried about is it will be more expensive [for customers],” she said. “Buying organic is more expensive.”

For now, Womack is focused on Broadmoor and finishing up her recovery.

She’ll continue to make her red velvet, green tea and chai tea vegan cupcakes, experimenting with applesauce and walnut milk.

If her dad likes them, she knows they’re good.

story by libby nachman photo by patrick mayfield

freshman is a 3.85.

Because of their selectivity, Austenfeld was uncertain whether she met Princeton standards. However, after being officially admitted, she believes her passion for East theater was the major factor in the acceptance process.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to get in at all, and I was surprised when I found out,” Austenfeld said. “I think Princeton liked how I was so involved in theater and IB, and coming from Kansas gives the college some diversity as well.”

Austenfeld first became interested in theater when she saw how much her older brother Marcus loved being involved in the department.

Since then, Austenfeld has participated in 11 of the 12 productions East has put on during her four years, including acting the lead role of Twink Futrelle in this Spring’s “Dearly Beloved.”

She has also incorporated this interest into her school day, having completed

courses like Advanced Repertory Theater.

No matter how much she loves to act, however, Austenfeld won’t formally continue in college.

“I’ve decided I’m not going to major in theater,” Austenfeld said. “I like the fact that I can continue to participate, but I don’t want to act for a career.”

Austenfeld lists her favorite East moments as helping put on the Blue Moon production and walking into the auditorium each day to all of her friends’ smiling faces. She has much to look forward to at Princeton, and is ready to enjoy every minute.

“College can be a lot more fun than high school for some people,” Austenfeld said. “I think Princeton will live up to East, although I’ll never forget all the great times I had here.”

story by mike cray photo by tyler roste

profiles 12

JESSICA BARTLETT

Overcoming her acrophobia, she’s following her uncle’s footsteps to become a pilot Ten thousand five hundred feet in the air isn’t the best place to have a birthday party. There’s no room for the punch bowl, the streamers would blow away and the guests can’t step out back. For senior Jessica Bartlett, it sounded perfect.

Before she parachuted on her 18th birthday, she sketched a will in the guest book and got last-minute tips from the instructor. She was afraid of heights, and the cramped, four-person plane wasn’t helping.

But she stumbled out of the plane flying just south of Topeka, with mom Helen Bartlett close behind.

It was a stumble that left her acrophobia behind, and gave her a taste of the sky. It was a stumble into aviation, a career path that she has recently selected as her future.

Senior Jenn Waldman isn’t going to have a summer vacation for the next six years. She’s even missing her high school graduation because she’ll be attending medical classes at UMKC’s six-year med program.

“I’ve always just known that I was going to do this” Waldman said, “I didn’t even apply anywhere else.”

UMKC’s six-year medical school is an intensive program which accepts 90 students from around the country who will be on the fast track to becoming a doctor: within 12 years Waldman will be a doctor— six years of med school, six years of residency.

According to Waldman there are three six-year medical programs: one at Northwestern University, one at Pitt State University and the third at UMKC. The application process is a standard application with emphasis on GPA and standardized test scores,

but UMKC’s admissions place a heavy emphasis on the essay explaining why you want to be a doctor and making sure that you are a well-rounded student.

“I had to make sure that I stood out from the crowd” Waldman said, “that I had something that made me different from everyone else.”

F o r Waldm an, she thought she stood out because she had one outside job for over two years in women’s retail.

“I think they thought it was interesting that here I am wanting to be a doctor, and I’ve worked in women’s

retail for years,” Waldman said.

Since Waldman is staying in Kansas City for the next six years, she is still planning on keeping that job she believed got her into med school.

“I couldn’t be happier [about staying in Kansas City],” Waldman said. “I’m really close with my family, and this way it allows me to be able to leave the dorms for a night and stay at home if I need a break from the dorm.”

Waldman isn’t scared for organic chemistry or any other medical class. She’s nervous for sharing a room for the first time.

“I have three brothers,” Waldman said. “So I’m worried about having to

JENNIFER WALDMAN Attending UMKC’s intense medical program where she will study non-stop for six years

share such a small space with another girl. But that’s really about it.”

By Waldman’s third year in the program she will be having no time off. Not even Christmas or Easter breaks. Since her brother is in his second year in the same program, she knows what it will take.

“I joined the Facebook group UMKC’s medical school of 2014,” Waldman said. “That date scares me a little. It’s such a long time.”

It’s not the usual undergraduate experience; the 90 students selected to go through this program are very separate from the rest of the college, and most free time is spent studying.

“This whole experience is a bit daunting” Waldman said, “But I’ve never really disliked school so I think that with time I’ll get use to it.”

story by hallie mccormick photo by mackenzie wylie

“I was thinking about business or marketing,” Bartlett said. “Then I thought about if I wanted to sit in an office for the rest of my life.”

She takes after her uncle Ed Sosinski, a former Air Force captain, who now flies a 737 for the MGM hot shots, or corporate “whales.” Bartlett looks to Sosinski’s job as inspiration for her own career.

“I can’t say that I’m not worried about her [flying],” Helen said. “She’s absolutely fearless and has a great sense of adventure. I think it’s great she’s passionate about something she wants to do and I’m glad she’s found something she can enjoy.”

Bartlett has applied to nearly every aviation college in the United States since her party. She’s been accepted to Indiana State,

North Dakota and Central Missouri, all with sky-high aviation programs. But she’s settled on Western Michigan, the third best flight school in the nation.

During a visit to the college, she saw the singleengine that she would soon come to know like a first car and then experienced a thunderstorm from the backseat of a simulator.

It was a far cry from flat Kansas, but Bartlett didn’t flinch when the big screen in front nose-dived.

“It’s a brutal career field,” Sosinski said. “You either love it or you hate it, but I think it’s the best job in the world. But when you’re flying at 40,000 feet, you think of the poor guys in a cubicle.”

story by tim shedor photo by nora salle

thefinalopinionof

A new perspective on home leaves senior feeling better about going to college

Every night, our family dog Cookie ambles into the dining room as I’m doing my homework, curls up on Dad’s ratty gray cashmere sweater and heaves a lonely little doggy sigh.

Since Dad started a new job in Lincoln, Neb. last month, leaving Mom and I behind, no one’s paid much attention to her.

Dad was the one who walked her, who brushed her teeth and doted on her, the one who fed her brie out of his hand when he thought no one was looking. The one who held her in one arm and checked his stock portfolios with the other. So now that he’s not around to hold her, she curls up on his sweater instead.

Every night, I find her on the sweater on the dining room floor, missing Dad, who’s 500 miles away. And I’m struck by how much all our lives, hers included, have really, truly, permanently changed.

Everything happened so fast, I barely had time to let the changes to sink in. And because of everything that’s happened, my entire perspective on going away to college has changed.

In March, Dad heard that the newspaper editor position in Lincoln, Neb., had opened up. In rapid succession, he applied for the job, quit his post of 30+ years at The Kansas City Star, went to Lincoln for three rounds of interviews, got the job, found an apartment and officially became the editor-in-chief of The Lincoln Journal-Star.

Mom and I decided to stay here with the house while

LAURA NELSON

thefinalopinionof

13

stopped at home to grab a snack and discovered a shockingly empty house.

My parents had left during the day, driving a pint-sized U-Haul to Lincoln, taking half our furniture, most of our kitchen utensils and all my Dad’s clothes, neatly boxed and labeled. I was supposed to go over to a friend’s house, but instead, I dropped my messenger bag on the floor with an echoey thump and sank cross-legged onto the bare hardwood floor.

Rug, gone.

Lamps, gone. Coffee table made from an old bass drum, gone. TV, gone. Chair I tend to dump my backpack on, gone. Purple corduroy couch, the only furniture Cookie is allowed on, gone.

I scooted over to where the coffee table used to be, pulling Cookie onto my lap, and the onslaught of changes finally started to really sink in. The house was deathly quiet. My parents were on the road, my dog was lonely and I was shocked at how different life suddenly felt.

Part of me wanted to be miserable because Dad was gone. I wanted to mourn a life I loved that will never really be the same. We’re keeping the house, so I can stay in my old room during vacations. But I knew, and know, that this summer won’t be like any summer I’ve ever had – I’m working two jobs, we’ll be driving to Lincoln almost every weekend, and Dad will never be around.

I did want to share my last summer at home with him, walking Cookie together, laughing so hard we cry at Jay Leno’s Headlines on Mondays, eating brie and crackers and dancing to Otis Redding on YouTube, laughing uproariously at someecards.com (our favorite is “Your other child did it”) and driving in his brand new hardtop Mazda Miata, the wind whipping our hair.

But I’m also thankful that this August, when it’s my turn to leave, I will have already left the life I’ve known behind.

I’m starting fresh.

Senior sports editor reminds Lancers to have high school pride in college

I know more about Olathe East softball and the starting running back at Olathe Northwest than any person on this planet should.

A lot of the time, due to underhand sneaking into online databases and reading newspapers from here to Lawrence, I know more about the team East is playing than any of the players do.

That’s the result of being the sports editor on this paper for two years.

However geeky it sounds, it actually has had some cool benefits. I knew Olathe East’s goalie Mark Saxby was an All-State punter from rivals.com, and in that epic regional final soccer game, after 80 minutes of “SAAAAAXBY” chants and after East shocked the Hawks, I used my journalistic knowledge.

As we rushed the field, I screamed “Good luck with punting!” at Saxby, who had his back turned. After I uttered the syllable “punt,” he turned, stared and surprisingly, smiled, even though he had just played his last high school soccer game.

While knowing stuff I shouldn’t is neat, talking to people I would never dream is really the best thing about the job.

After talking to SI writer Grant Wahl about his high

CLARK GOBLE

he gets settled in Lincoln. I’ll get to be in my family home for the last few months before college, and we won’t have to deal with the unstable housing market. But in August, when I go to USC, Mom will move, leaving the house empty until I come home for break.

Until Dad uprooted, I was off-and-on terrified and excited for college. Once, I was scared that I wouldn’t make friends at USC, scared I wouldn’t survive the intensity of college journalism, scared I wouldn’t manage being on my own. But his move has solidified everything for me.

A month ago, I had a deep-rooted, complicated fear: what if I hated California and wanted to come home? What if USC really did stand for University of Spoiled Children, what if I hated my roommate, what if I were absolutely miserable? I was scared that the life I’d known in Kansas City would go on, but without me, scared that I wouldn’t be missed, scared that once I left for LA, I’d never be able to fit back in to Kansas City life the way I remembered it.

Scared there wouldn’t be a place for me in my old life if I wanted it back.

But those fears are gone.

Since the day Dad moved out, I’ve been counting down until move-in day with a new sense of urgency. I know that no matter how I like California, there’s no way life as I know it can go on without me. Because I won’t be coming home to the life I’ve always known. I’ll be starting fresh.

It’s sad, yes, but in a twisted way, it’s also comforting.

I can’t be scared that I won’t fit back into my old life, because the life and home I’ve been sometimes scared to leave is pretty much gone already – most of it disappeared into the hungry mouth of a U-Haul and moved to Lincoln.

To me, 9928 Lee Court without Dad, with only one parent, isn’t home at all.

For one, all our furniture is gone. Until the moving truck came, I hadn’t realized the implications of splitting a family between two cities. But in the final installment of a series of unsettling changes, about a month ago, I

columns

school days at East, we talked about his interview with Tyler Hansbrough. Wahl claimed for all the crap Hansbrough gets about being an overachiever and a jerk, he was one of the nicest guys he’s interviewed. Hearing about the actual life of the best player (well, that’s debatable, but it sounds better) in college basketball was pretty cool.

I’ve spoken to Yahoo! Sports Andy Behrens, who gave me more than enough Fantasy Football advice to serve a lifetime.

Bob Dutton, the Royals beat reporter, offered me a TBones blogging position that I will always regret turning down.

I’ve talked to Ultimate Frisbee and Team Games legend Kenny Dobyns about how his 8th grade English class was really understanding the themes of To Kill a Mockingbird.

And the thing about high school is that the memories I have working on the newspaper will amount to about two percent of my memories of East.

What have I learned? How to solve Euler differential equations. How to create a 8-team round-robin tournament (something I’ve done on four, soon to be five, Team Games finals). That East is the most hated school in this county and this country.

And when we all go to college or to the workforce, whether it’s KU (see: most of us), NYU or Fontbonne U, all of us seniors will always have that bond of being the 2008 graduating class at Shawnee Mission East.

At KU, they’ll call us “smeasters.” At NYU, they’ll hear the words “Shawnee Mission” and ask what going to high school on an Indian reservation was like. At Fontbonne U, I don’t know what they’ll do because I’ve never heard of

the place. But we’ll all have attended the same high school and graduated the same year.

No matter what, we should be proud. Proud that everyone hates us because we have high test scores and Kanye West cockiness levels. Proud that opposing fans at basketball games collaborated weeks in advance to pop their Hollister polos, flash their aviators and look like fools.

Proud that we were part of a class that is destined to do great things in the future.

So next year, wear your “1000 Lb. Club” and “4-Peat” shirts with the same swagger you wore them around Johnson County for four years.

When your frat brothers at KU note your 2-7 football record, stand tall, and describe that impossible schedule.

When they ask what “Domo arigato, Mr. Migliazzo” means, hold your head up high and tell him he was the best Bio 2 AP you’ve ever had. (OK, the only) And when they tell you that East isn’t the greatest school out there, calmly gather yourself, remember the wise words of DJ Khaled, and say, in the same screaming, confident tone of Khaled, “We the best!”

Because we know we are.

And we always will be. Is that arrogant? Sure.

Is that the Shawnee Mission East way? Hell yeah.

We appear smug and cocky to every other student in this district, this state, and this country.

That’s who we are.

And even if you change your ways, and regress to a shy, insecure college freshman, that’s great.

Just be proud to say you went to the most hated high school in this country.

columns 14

Struggles to find voice leaves senior believing its best to listen, too

thefinalopinionof

Money, religion and politics: socially these topics have been deemed taboo, but in academic settings they are open to discussion. Needless to say, in IB, a large portion of the day is spent discussing and it’s not uncommon for these “taboo” issues to come up.

Being one of the few conservatives in the program, I struggled to find my voice in class and often felt that my party and my beliefs were often stereotyped and chastised.

During the political discussions (they were initiated and led by students during down time in class) I stopped defending my party. Instead I began challenging myself by considering my classmates’ thoughts. This helped me to reconsider and strengthen my opinions.

I do have one regret: I wish I would have spoken up in class more often and shared my opinions. I gave up too early and assumed that my opinions would not be considered with the same unbiased approach that I had given to others’ thoughts. Whether this was true or not, I should have been more forward in sharing my thoughts.

I want to encourage other students who feel that they are in the same position as me to voice their opinions. I gave up on defending my views because they fell on deaf ears. Whether or not your classmates are ignoring you, it is important to voice your opinion if you want to be taken seriously. Most importantly, it is essential that you listen

NATALIE EISENACH

thefinalopinionof

liberal. I used my time with them to share stories and bounce ideas off one another, like a mini-therapy session. It was refreshing to be able to discuss things with them in a more relaxed environment and they gave me great advice.

Surprisingly, the best advice I ever received from any of our meetings came from the back of a cup. After I had finished my drink I began to mindlessly look over the cup, tracing over the mermaid logo, the boxes checked for nonfat and hazelnut and then following over to the back.

That’s when a quote written on the other side caught my attention: The Way I See It # 289: “You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking. Find someone with whom you don’t agree in the slightest and ask them to explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don’t argue back. It’s physically impossible to listen with your mouth open” (- John Moe, radio host and author of Conservatize Me).

It wasn’t until I read this particular cup that I realized I wasn’t doing myself any favors in class; I was only being as closed-minded as I considered the rest of my classmates to be.

This year I changed my approach and rather than shutting down during debates, I began to listen to what they had to say and I truly considered their opinions and their statements. On a few occasions they persuaded me to see a different side of things (for instance I really began to understand the importance of global warming, an issue I was always aware of but never considered to be a key factor in choosing a candidate), but for the most part I took their statements and concluded that I still believed my original stance. The difference was now my beliefs were stronger and more concrete. After all, how can you truly know what you believe until you understand both sides of an issue in its entirety?

Post-surgery study habits made high school hard, but newspaper challenged and motivated senior

Seventeen hours goes a lot faster when you’ve been drugged with anesthetics.

Going into the surgery, I felt like I was going to come out like a Captain America.

You know the story: a soldier is surgically enhanced with super-human and bionic parts.

After the operation, however, I felt quite the opposite of a superhero.

I hadn’t even gotten to East yet, but because of the scoliosis surgery —an operation in which the doctors put metal rods in my back to straighten my spine— my high school career was already starting off on the wrong foot.

I was exhausted every day that summer, falling asleep to Will Ferrell movies and playing video games in a reclining wheelchair.

But as the school year approached, my family and I thought I had enough energy to go to East.

Boy, were we wrong.

I was exhausted every day, so much so that all I want-

NICK RATLIFF

to the others around you and truly consider what they are saying if you want to make the most out of your classes.

You have to listen with unbiased ears and be willing to be challenged and to challenge others.

IB provided that challenge for me and helped to reinforce my beliefs. It is important for you to find your voice and be willing to defend it while you listen to other people.

My experiences in IB taught me new ways to approach class and they have inspired me to continue to explore politics in college and challenge my beliefs. If you want to make the most of your classes you need to learn to be more critical of yourself and accepting of others.

During my junior year, I didn’t like discussing politics in class. The majority of my peers had already made their mind up on several issues and were not interested in reconsidering things from my point of view. On a few occasions I heard narrow-minded statements about Republicans, such as the one that high school Republicans can’t think for themselves because they are just brainwashed by their parents.

I don’t disregard what my parents have to say about politics; they were the people who helped me to develop my foundation of knowledge in politics. Over the years I cultivated my own opinions on issues. I deviate from what my parents think on economic and international issues – these were opinions that I developed by educating myself on the issues and policies, not by being spoon-fed them by my family.

By the end of my junior year I had given up on defending my beliefs because it was not worth wasting my breath; my classmates would never understand me.

When our class would get into extended discussions about the US in Iraq and the purpose of the war, I would zone out and think about the things I needed to work on after school.

Senior year, I started going to Starbucks every Thursday night with a group of friends who were predominately enrolled in AP classes and were both conservative and

ed to do is go into the nurse’s office and sleep.

As a result, my grades really suffered. I was barely passing most of my classes, and I also developed some bad study habits, building up a backlog of missing assignments.

Once sophomore year rolled around, I was fully recovered from my surgery, but still my bad study habits continued. I didn’t turn a lot of work in during the first semester, and again my grades slipped.

I literally thought I was too cool for school.

But then, in the second semester of my sophomore year, something turned my high school career around: I took a class called Journalism 1 and met a teacher named Mr. Dow Tate.

As a major sports fan, I had always been fascinated with sports broadcasting and journalism, ever since I was a little kid. I had always considered it as a potential profession and thought journalism would be fun, ultimately resulting in a spot on the award-winning Harbinger.

I thought I would come in there, already a world-class writer, and wow Mr. Tate to death.

Wrong.

No teacher has ever critiqued me harder than Mr. Tate, and I’m very glad he did. The competitive side in me wanted to get better and show him that I could improve, that my overall writing could be strengthened.

And the hard work and dedication to get better has translated to every other class after that.

I know I’ve driven Mr. Tate crazy at times throughout the two-and-a-half years I’ve known him —not turning in work on time and slacking off in class sometimes— and I’ll admit he’s driven me crazy sometimes, too.

Despite all of the stressful deadline nights and Mr. Tate always prodding us to stay on task, though, I’ve actually learned to love those moments. The camaraderie we’ve built in rooms 520 and 521 is something I’ll never forget.

From the weird mix CDs we play, with everything from Kanye West to French techno-rap, to Gage Brummer’s constant jokes and wild stories, to “Crunch Time” in which everyone gets a fun-size Crunch bar during the final hour of each deadline night, it has all been incredible.

The last two years on newspaper have been the most enjoyable times in my high school career. I do have one regret, however, and that is the fact that I wasn’t on newspaper longer.

I wish I could’ve experienced more of those grueling deadlines and Chipotle and Mr. Goodcents dinners.

It sounds weird, but I wish I could have been able to maneuver through the disaster area that is room 521. At least a couple more times It always seems to me that when you’re doing something you don’t want to do, time is at a standstill, and when you’re doing something you enjoy, time flies by.

Kind of like when you’re under anesthetics, only a bit more enjoyable.

thefinalopinionof

Senior spends time on mundane activities instead of pursuing unique opportunities

In four years of high school I’ve done a lot.

I’ve watched nearly 800 hours of Seinfelds, drank 13,904 ounces of nonfat vanilla lattes and spent $270 on dinners at the Mixx. The numbers in high school add up. Hours run out and activities I wish I tried go untouched.

Minor everyday activities snowball into embarrassingly large numbers of time and money over four years.

4,320 texts. $900 in movie tickets. 72 lost/stolen/ “borrowed” mechanical pencils.

29 assigned reading books. 24 newspaper articles. 12 ounces of Purell. 11 concert ticket stubs collected. 8 math notebook spirals. 6 Princeton Review standardized test taking strategy books. And only 5 days left to accomplish the following checklist everyone at Shawnee Mission Wonderful tries to complete before graduation: Learn how to twirl a pen around my hand.

I have tried to gracefully spin a writing utensil around the outside of my hand for four years. 1,500 hours. Four

HALLIE McCORMICK

thefinalopinionof

HAKE

I’d known I’d be running the distance of Kansas City to Chicago anyway.

Get a 100 percent on Mr. Fast’s vocab tests.

This was inevitably an impossible task because I gave up studying for the review section around February. This section requires synonyms of any word from the whole year’s 360 word long list to be memorized and on the tip of my tongue so I can define a word I hadn’t studied in seven weeks. 1080 synonyms to master. Week after week it lowered my test grade at least 10%, making my goal unattainable.

Start writing a paper at 10:00 PM the night before it’s due.

Up until second semester senior year I was one of those annoying students who rarely procrastinated. I became aware that there was always that one kid in the class who could write a paper the night before it was due and get a better grade than me. Those lucky enough to be born with the procrastinating gene have a chance to be that kid! It is too late for me. Ten chances to procrastinate on a paper and the best I did was to write my senior paper’s rough draft the night before it was due. I never got the chance to answer the question: “Whoa you got a 95 percent on that? Didn’t you just start it last night at like 11:30?”

Underclassmen- start checking them off.

East’s environment proved to be limiting and confining, contrary to the independence that college offers

Some seniors get nostalgic this time of year, and have a hard time leaving high school behind here in “Perfect Village,” Kansas. In fact, this will probably be the only senior column that doesn’t reflect on great memories as a Lancer, or inspire you to take pride in your alma mater (no offense, Goble).

In these final few weeks of senioritis, though, all I can think about is how anxious I am to get my diploma and leave high school in my rear-view.

Maybe I skipped too much class to get the full effect.

Maybe it was all the times I ended up in Mr. Loe’s office for something even dumber than the last time. Or maybe I’m just sick of being babysat by seven different adults, seven hours a day, five days a week.

Some people have the ability to fly under the radar, and I’ve just never been one of them. When the Eastonian came out last fall, guess who the administration brought in for questioning first. When me and a few students were suspected of gambling on sports, guess who got labeled a bookie and suspended five days. Needless to say, I had each hour’s ISS supervisor memorized by junior year. I

MIKE

years, and I am not even close: the second the pencil touches my knuckles, all momentum is lost and it thumps back to the desktop.

Go on some exotic trip (this does not count if your parents come along).

Here at East people go on these trips for three reasons: you are perceived as independent, you seem brave, and you can gain the reputation for being rebellious, all in one month’s time. The way you prove this new personality is by coming back with an enlightened attitude. This is rather broad but easy to point out from the wide range of seemingly trivial new habits that you quickly spot in a friend freshly returned from an international trip. They include suddenly being an expert on espresso or foreign beers, before every meal saying how ridiculously huge all portions in America are, plastic Perrier bottles replacing Quicktrip’s slushies in car cup holders, taking “siestas” during the hottest part of the day, or suddenly being opposed to wearing shorts or tennis shoes in public.

Be on a varsity sports team.

I never took track very seriously. I did it because my friends were there and it was a good excuse to go to TCBY at 5 p.m.—we just ran three miles, we deserved some ice cream. I ran it for three years, never trying to be on varsity, just striving to not be the last person to finish the sprints. What I’ve just now realized is that I ran 540 miles. Maybe I should have tried to run a little faster if

15

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wish that were a joke.

Not to say that I haven’t enjoyed my time here at East.

I can’t say enough about the people that go to this school, and I couldn’t have asked for a better class to graduate with. But some people just aren’t set up to succeed in high school.

The tedious worksheets and assignments, the magnifying glass the administration puts on each and every unexcused absence, the mandatory school functions; it’s never made sense to me. While everyone else was packed in the gym for a pep assembly I was the guy staking out every door on the lower two floors for Betzer’s Gator.

Thank God college will be different. There are no hall monitors or unexcused absences or calls home or suspensions; you’re completely on your own. That realization is intimidating for some graduating seniors but I couldn’t be more excited to move on.

The fact that there is always a teacher watching over you at all times in high school just discourages the very thing college is about; independence. There’s no one to stop you from snoozing all the way through the day’s classes, and the professor isn’t going to parent-connect your mom if you have an F. Your grades are all on you, and what you put into it is exactly what you get out.

I guess that’s why I never tried hard in high school, because nothing could really come out of it, to me it’s only a bridge to college. There is no next step after college, just the real world, the work force.

What we learn in high school is only useful to a certain

extent, whereas college focuses in on a specialized field. I plan on studying business and journalism my freshman year at KU because I want to own a business someday, or write in print journalism.

Those are skills that I have only been able to learn in two or three classes of high school, out of the dozens I’ve taken here in four years. At college, I’ll get to pick my courses. I‘ll get to decide what I learn, a freedom that actually makes me want to learn.

The required, must-take courses of high school, though, have gone in one ear and out the other ever since I walked in this building four years ago. Most of the lessons I’ve learned in my high school years have come out of the classroom, and yet it’s knowledge that will help me all the more in college. Things like how to balance a job, homework, and recreation. If you try to have fun all the time, you’re going to end up either failing out or sitting in the back of a Crown Vic (depends on your idea of fun).

But for all of the trouble I’ve gotten through here at East, I feel like a better person for it. No matter where I go, there will always be obstacles in the way, and though I might not have learned what I was supposed to here, I’ll be able to handle them better than before.

So thanks, East. For the memories, the life lessons, and especially all of the office passes.

And finally, the four-year joke is over. Now I can laugh all the way to Lawrence.

... but we’ll always have the

MEMORIES

FEATURES

14

American Volunteers share cultures in Latin American countries BY

»duncanmchenry

It was a summer night in Honduras and the stars were clearly visible; perfect conditions for a lightsaber fight. “Amigos de las Americas” training leader Max Watson and his partner added sound effects as they clashed their flashlight beams together, hardly paying attention to the 12-year-old boy looking on. After finishing, they found themselves attempting to explain the entire plot of Star Wars to the boy in Spanish. For Watson, it was the defining moment of his trip.

“Here we were trying to explain the entire trilogy of Star Wars to this 12-year-old Honduran boy who has never even seen a movie let alone a television,” Watson said. “Anyone in the United States, regardless of whether they like the movies or not, would recognize that when you bang your flashlight beams together and make ‘chh’ noises it’s a lightsaber fight. That was the first a-ha moment that I had, where I realized I was in another country.”

This summer, three East students will participate in Amigos, hoping to have unique experiences of their own in a different country.

The Amigos program was founded in1965 as a non-profit organization. Volunteers go through training sessions every other week leading up to their trip, and learn things such as how to build walls out of concrete, purify water and survive in the outdoors.

However, Watson says that the Amigos program has moved away from their construction-based origins, and is now more about sharing cultures. Volunteers are still assigned projects like building latrines or trash receptacles, but they now also hold workshops with local youth to increase awareness of other cultures, and environmental and health issues. Watson feels that those types of projects can have a longer-lasting effect on the communities, and are the most rewarding parts of the trip for students.

“In the past you would go down and build something, then it’s done,” Watson said. “Now we’re trying to get the people down there to be able to plan and facilitate projects on their own. Then when we’re gone they will be able to continue doing the things we show them.”

Junior Natalie Hofmeister will be volunteering with the Amigos program this summer in the province of Coclé, Panama.

While there, she will be leading the Penonomé Youth Festival, and completing a Community Based Initiative, which can be anything from building latrines to a new soccer field.

Hofmeister believes that the blending of different cultures is the key aspect of Amigos.

“It’s a volunteer service program but you also are doing an exchange where you

Q&A 12 may

2008

with

Senior Molly

McGonigle

went to Paraguay in summer of 2007

go in and are a member of the community,” Hofmeister said. “We’re not allowed to bring iPods down because they don’t have anything like that. You want to share your culture but also fit in.”

Although she will be gone for seven weeks over the summer, Hofmeister is more concerned with the return home than the length of time she will be away.

“The time commitment isn’t that big of an issue for me, other than not being able to play my viola at all,” Hofmeister said. “When I come back from Panama I’m kind of worried about transitioning back into American life though, because it’s very different. We don’t really have any idea of what its like to go hungry or not have a roof over your head.”

Watson agrees that volunteers sometimes find it difficult to re-adjust to the American lifestyle once they return due to the many cultural and physical differences of the environment.

“Living in a household down there is for us more like camping than anything,” Watson said. “Some volunteers end up sleeping on the cots we give them for the whole trip. There’s also a lot of minute social differences like the kiss on the cheek that take getting used to.”

According to Watson, the home environments can vary for volunteers. A rural house with mud floors and thatched roofs with no electricity or running water is more common, but some volunteers have been placed in an urban setting with chauffeurs and their own bed.

Senior Molly McGonigle was assigned to Paraguay on her Amigos trip last summer and could see the cultural differences immediately.

Walking down the single street in her community, she was frequently invited to sit around a fire with a group of people and talk for hours on end. When she returned home, she was affected by culture shock.

“Once I came back to the United States, I was so overwhelmed with the materialism of everybody,” McGonigle said. “People wanted to talk about the parties they went to that summer and sitting out by the pool, and I had just spent the summer in Paraguay. It seemed ridiculous to me when I had spent my whole summer helping people.”

McGonigle says that the Amigos program helped her expand her worldly views, and she now wants to go into the Peace Corps after college.

“Amigos makes you realize that there’s so much more out there in the world, and you don’t have to stay here for the rest of your life,” McGonigle said. “It’s just such a cool experience.”

What was the biggest cultural shock?

I think the biggest thing for me was coming back [ to the U.S.]. I was overwhelmed. People were talking about parties and silly stuff that I didn’t think was as important anymore.

What was the most rewarding part about the Amigos program?

Just being able to in a different country. Now, I plan to go into Peace Corps after college.

» photos courtesy of mollymcgonigle

2008 “MAJOR FRAT AND SORORITY SCENE” BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW

R GT

1.)DePauw University

2.)Washington and Lee University 3.)Birmingham-Southern College 4.)Wofford College

5.)Bucknell University

6.)Dartmouth College

7.)University of Tennessee--Knoxville 8.)Wabash College

9.)University of Mississippi 10.)Texas Christian University

.{ mixedpage.} [the page about...COLLEGE LISTS]

THEATER TOP 10 THEATER SCHOOLS 2008 “BEST COLLEGE THEATER”

BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW

1.)Yale University 2.)Wagner College 3.)Emerson College How do you feel about the fact that the college you are 4.)Catawba College attending next year is the number one school for major 5.)Bennington College frat and sorority scene?

“I’M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. 80 PERCENT 6.)Drew University OF THE SCHOOL IS GREEK SO THAT’S LIKE YOUR SOCIAL 7.)Muhlenberg College LIFE RIGHT THERE. I DEFINITELY WANT TO GO GREEK. 8.)Stephens College THERE ARE A BUNCH OF EAST KIDS THERE AND I THINK 9.)Whitman College I’LL FIT IN FINE. -- SENIOR ELLEN CLAYTON [DEPAUW UNIVERSITY] 10.)Vassar College

REACTION

HEA T RE COMPETITIVE REACTION

TOP200810“THEACADEMIC SCHOOLS TOUGHEST TO GET INTO”

BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW

How do you feel about the fact that the college you are attending next year is one of the top 10 theater schools?

“ITS PRETTY EXCITING. I AM DOUBLE MAJORING IN THEATRE AND IN JOURNALISM. I AM ASTONISHED THAT I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO TO EMERSON. I FEEL EXOTIC FOR GETTING OUT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. WHEN I GOT ACCEPTED I WAS LIKE, “HOLY COW.” I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING IN MY LIFE.” -- SENIOR VAUGHN ENGLISH [EMERSON COLLEGE]

1.)Harvard College 2.)Princeton University 3.)Massachusetts Institute of Technology 4.)Yale University 5.)Stanford University 6.)Brown University 7.)Columbia University--Columbia College 8.)University of Pennsylvania 2008 “DORMS LIKE PALACES”

BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW 9.)Washington University in St. Louis 1.)Smith College 10.)California Institute of Technology 2.)Loyola College in Maryland 3.)The George Washington University 4.)Scripps College How do you feel about the fact that the col5.)Bryn Mawr College lege you are attending next year is on the top 10 academic schools list?

6.)Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 7.)Pepperdine University “I DONT THINK I’LL FIT IN WELL BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE HAVE MORE OF AN 8.)Pomona College EMPHASIS ON ACADEMICS THAN I DO.” 9.)Bowdoin College — SENIOR OWEN CRAIG 10.)Claremont McKenna College [WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS]

DOR

LIVING TOP 10 COMFORT SCHOOLS

REACTION

REACTION

MS

STUDYING TOP 10 ACADEMIC SCHOOLS

How do you feel about the fact that the college you are attending next year is the number 10 school for “dorms like palaces”?

“THE DORMS ARE REALLY COOL! THEY HAVE CLEANING LADIES THAT CLEAN YOUR ROOM AND WASH YOUR CLOTHES ONCE A WEEK. I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR IT.” — SENIOR TAYLON JOHNSON [CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE]

PARTYING TOP 20 PARTY SCHOOLS 2008 “BEST OVERALL PARTY SCHOOLS”

BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW

1.) West Virginia University 2.) University of Mississippi 3.) The University of Texas at Austin 4 .)University of Florida 5.) University of Georgia 6.) Penn State—University Park 7.) University of New Hampshire 8.) Indiana University at Bloomington 9.) Ohio University-Athens 10.) University of California­—Santa Barbara 11.)Randolph-Macon College 12.)University of Iowa 13.)Louisiana State University 14.)University of Maryland—College Park 15.) University of Tennessee—Knoxville 16.)University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 17.)Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus 18.)Florida State University 19.)University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa 20.)State University of New York at Albany

REACTION

How do you feel about the fact that the college you are attending next year is on the top 10 best overall party schools list?

“IF ITS NOT NUMBER ONE NOW, IT WILL BE WHEN I GET THERE. YEAH, OF COURSE I’LL FIT IN.” — SENIOR JORDAN HAHN [THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN]

STUDYING

2008 “THEIR STUDENTS NEVER STOP STUDYING”

BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW

1.) Reed College

2.) Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 3.) California Institute of Technology 4.) University of Chicago 5.) Harvey Mudd College

6.) Bennington College 7.) Wabash College 8.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology 9.) Swarthmore College 10.) Middlebury College

15

MIXED

K e e

GREEK LIFE TOP 10 GREEKS DOMINATE

REACTION

How do you feel about the fact that the college you are attending next year is on the top 10 academic schools list?

“BASICALLY, I THINK I WILL FIT IN REALLY WELL. I ALREADY FINISHED RUSH. SINCE THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL IS SO SMALL, IT IS EASY TO FIND YOUR NICHE AND A LOT OF STUDYING WILL DEFINITELY PREPARE ME FOR LAW SCHOOL.” — SENIOR STEVEN ROWE [WABASH COLLEGE]

issue

16

A&E

16 With a solid, new sound, No Age deserves a...

STANDING OVATION BY

» griffinbur

No Age has perhaps one of the most aptly-chosen band names of any group around. Borrowing it from a 1987 SST compilation, the duo (guitarist/vocalist Randy Randall and drummer/vocalist Dean Spunt) has forged a distinctive style by welding hardcore punk, pop and experimental tendencies. Though their music has clear reference points, they easily transcend them. While many of their influences are 10-20 years old, their music constantly moves forward, refusing to stay stuck in a bygone era.

Nouns is the band’s first full-length, though they’ve had several prior releases, including last year’s excellent singles compilation Weirdo Rippers. “Miner,” the album’s first track, is as good of a representation of the band as any. It begins with around 15 seconds of a noise and tambourine loop, though after that Spunt launches the song into overdrive with four tom smacks. Combining My Bloody Valentine’s noisy-yet-melodic guitars with pounding drums that belong on a Hüsker Dü record, the song also paradoxically radiates originality.

The following song, “Eraser,” tweaks the formula, adding gently reverberating electric guitar and delicate acoustics. Fuzzed out powerchords and crashing cymbals later join but don’t overtake them.

Spunt’s voice is much more prominent here than on “Miner,” bringing out the previously veiled pop aspect of No Age. The pop side soon regains its oblique quality on the magnificently titled “Things I Did When I Was Dead.” It adds encompassing finger picking and Randall’s low voice to a quietly distorted electronic drumbeat. While it sounds bombastic on paper, the actual song is hypnotically beautiful.

“Keechie” makes further use of minimalist sampling, with only ambient noise holding down the rhythm under shapeless guitars.

More straightforward but still not full-steam-ahead is the galloping “Sleeper Hold.” The song alternates deftly between hooky distorto-pop and rhythmic interludes. A Beatlesy minor-key melody even makes

an appearance on “Ripped Knees,” contrasting with an economical punk riff reminiscent of Wire.

Soon, though, all semblance of structure is lost as the song devolves into unaccompanied, pitch-shifted organ.

The album ends strongly with “Brain Burner,” one of the most straightforward tracks, a noisily catchy, hooky-yetmelancholic pop song.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the album is No Age’s excellent use of dynamics. Most of the album has a chaotic, varied feel, making the straightforward songs that much more powerful.

There’s a similar balance between traditional and newer music. While many songs make use of electronic, the record maintains a human, almost intimate >> SST Records was founded in 1978 by Greg Ginn, and became of the biggest quality, which is and most influential independent records labels in the 1980’s. lacking in much of today’s independent >> SST released records by Ginn’s band Black Flag, the Minutemen, Husker music. Too many groups are far Du, Sonic Youth, the Meat Puppets, and Dinosaur Jr. Released albums that removed from their influences’ are basically the foundation of “alternative rock.” original intent or message. » punknews.org Fortunately, there are bands like No Age, who continue experimenting without regard for hipster approval. Frankly, they come off seeming like a couple of regular guys who play music. As quintessential SST band the Minutemen once said, » subpop.com “Our band could be your life.”

The History behind the name NO AGE

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Even with a famous lead actor, ‘Deal’s’ lacking plot and poor supporting cast can’t be salvaged BY

» davidhenderson

“Deal” draws comparisons to the 1986 film “The Color of Money” but it lacks the award winning director and cast to call itself a full house.

Deal is a story about a poker player, Tommy Vinson, played by Burt Reynolds who is the perfect character for the role. With Reynolds being well known for playing slick attitudes he is the perfect poker player. With the slick backed hair, sunglasses, and suave attitude, Reynolds certainly looks the part. However his supporting cast and the lack of a fascinating plot has this one as a real dud.

The plot was very predictable. Vinson has played poker competitively for most of his life, but when the game gets i n the way of his family he and his wife decide it is time to stop. Vinson is living a fairly happy life, until he meets his young protégé Alex Stillman.

Stillman is a young »hotshot alexanderson college student, who

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» movieweb.com has a ton of potential but lacks the ability to read people.

The film mostly focuses on the relationship between Harrison and Vinson. Reynolds teaches Harrison the basics of poker, how to read people and other poker tips, but the film lacks the depth like the film “21” had about the scenarios of cards. The use of poker terms are sporadic and you don’t really learn much about poker from the movie.

The scenery is well put together, having once been the backdrop for the 2003 World Series of Poker tournament.

The atmosphere is definatley there, but the effects that were shown throughout “21” don’t even compare to “Deal”. The transitions were a bit choppy and had me thinking, “ Wait, what just happened.”

The plot in the beginning had me thinking that this would actually be a decent movie. Reynolds is shown watching the World Series of Poker, while having flashbacks of himself as a poker player almost 30 years before. That really intrigued me, however the movie swayed away from Reynolds past and more as it continued I felt like I had seen the movie play out before.

“Deal” has a striking comparison to the film, “ The Color of Money” which starred Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.

“The Color of Money” is about pool and how Newman

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teaches his young protégé Tom Cruise the basics of pool and hustling.

Only bits of exciting moments are shown throughout the film, like when Stillman ends up facing his mentor, Vision in a poker tournament at the end of the movie. It also focuses on the relationship between Reynold’s character and his wife played by Maria Mason. Over 30 years ago, Reynolds missed a family emergency, which was never specified, due to his infatuation with poker. After that incident, Vinson’s wife, Helen, gives him the choice to pursue poker or be a single man.

With that dealt to him Vinson decides to keep his family and ends up giving up poker and his dream. I thought the movie wasn’t very original because of its many comparisons with “The Color of Money”. If I wanted to watch a poker film, I would have gone all in on “21”.

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17

A&E

PUMPING ‘IRON’

THEDOWNLOAD

Robert Downey Jr. breathes new life into Marvel classic ‘Iron Man’

The best picks in A&E for the upcoming weeks

Coldplay

Free “Violet Hill” single

Hulu

BY

www.hulu.com Miss last week’s episode of “Lost” or “The Office?” You don’t have time to run to the video store? No problem. Check out hulu.com for current and past episodes of your favorite shows. Browse the extensive movie collection or watch interviews with your favorite stars. It’s up to date and easy to use.

New “Juno” Soundtrack “Juno B-Sides: Almost

Adopted Songs”

After the “Juno” soundtrack hit number one on billboard charts, director Jason Reitman handpicked 15 songs that now comprise the new disc. The Rhino Entertainment album features more songs by Kimya Dawson, Mateo Messina and screenwriter Diablo Cody’s original “Zub Zub” performed

by Ellen Page. Best enjoyed with Sunny D and orange tic-tacs.

“American Gladiators” Second season starts tonight

Giant Nerf guns, rippling muscles and bronze tans are back in style with Season 2 of NBC’s American Gladiators. A resurrection of the early 90’s tv show, AG gathered approximately 70.77 million viewers. Hosted

by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, tonight looks quite promising, especially with last season’s fan favorite Wolf coming back.

starscale

»movieweb.com

After a near three year hiatus, Coldplay returns to its fundamental wide-open rock sound with “Violet Hill.” The group has hinted that their new album, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,” which hits stores June 16, has Latin influences. They also plan to promote this album with free shows in New York and London. » landonmcdonald

“Iron Man” is pop entertainment of the highest order, injecting unexpected class, innovation and originality into a summer season usually choked with the mundane.

After the blundering soap opera of “SpiderMan 3” and the tiresome exploits of “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” it seemed like the once-promising superhero genre was fast devolving into overdone, formulaic drivel. Would pop culture freaks and geeks like me have to find elsewhere to worship?

“Iron Man” puts all those fear to rest within its first 10 minutes. Based on a lesserknown member of the Marvel Comics canon, the film benefits from our lack of familiarity with its cast of characters, particularly the main character. And what a character he is.

Tony Stark (the superb Robert Downey Jr.) is no Peter Parker. He’s not nerdy and awkward before he becomes a crime fighter, he’s already suave, self-assured, the consummate lady’s man. Yes, he’s a billionaire industrialist like Bruce Wayne, but no crippling childhood tragedy haunts him.

He drives Ferraris, sips fine champagne and is attended to at all times by his pretty redhead assistant Pepper Potts (an extremely well-cast Gwyneth Paltrow almost makes me forget about Mary Jane). Oh yeah, and he’s an arms dealer, using his Stark Industries to supply the military with the very latest in weapons tech. His pre-Iron Man moniker? The Merchant of Death.

While delivering his new Jericho-class missiles to rural Afghanistan, Stark is kidnapped from his convoy by local insurgents and forced to assemble the madmen their very own set of Jerichos with the unwilling assistance of fellow prisoner Yinsen (the sagely Shaun Toub from “Crash”).

Instead Stark uses the missile components to construct an indestructible suit of armor (complete with a flamethrower and jet-boots) that he uses to escape the terrorists’ mountain lair.

This getaway scene, chalk full of exuberant explosive mayhem set to heavy metal riffs, actually looks even better than it did in the trailer. The special effects on display here, a stunning marriage of digital wizardry and old-fashioned pyrotechnics, struck me as nothing short of jaw dropping, especially given the lame visuals I’ve seen lately in recent failures like the violent Coke ad “The Golden Compass” and the dead-eyed creepiness of “Beowulf.”

After Stark returns to the states, he feels that he’s been given a second chance at redemption and decides to rid the world of the weapons he’s spent his life distributing to unstable powers. He builds two new suits, one silver and

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one the classic red-on-gold, and gets to work.

But his new direction for Stark Industries doesn’t sit well with his scheming business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges, in a significant departure from his celebrated role as the Dude in “The Big Lebowski”), who wants to harness the Iron Man suits for more war profiteering.

Supervillainy and robotic smackdowns ensue.

The film just wouldn’t work without Robert Downey Jr. Here we have an action movie more driven by the power of its stars and story than by its fight scenes. Downey, an actor who until recently was considered unemployable due to his debilitating drug habit, has cleaned up his act and now hammers out impressive performances at an exhaustive rate (16 solid movies in the last five years). He infuses Stark with the perfect mix of elegance and sleaze, humor and heart to portray him not just as a believable comic book character, but also as a believable human being.

Most importantly, he looks like he’s having a good time. Too many superhero movies get so bogged down in existential angst (Ang Lee’s waytoo-serious “Hulk” comes to mind) or guilt trips over the death of loved ones (the brilliant but dour “Batman Begins”) they seem to forget that turning into a superhero is supposed to be fun.

Stark’s transformation into Iron Man looks like a lot of fun. We watch with amusement and amazement as he builds the suits, learns to defy gravity (and the U.S. Air Force), and tries out other new weapons and abilities I wouldn’t dream of giving away. Through it all, we sense his elation and share in every triumph and setback.

Paltrow, Bridges, and Terrance Howard (as Stark’s best friend and voice of reason Jim Rhodes) all perform admirably, never found guilty of overacting (remember Ah-nold in the atrocious “Batman and Robin”?) or adhering to comic book stereotypes (damsel in distress, villain revealing plans in drawn-out speech).

The only weak link here is the ending, a truncated highway brawl between Iron Man and the colossal supervillain Iron Monger that seemed far too short and conventional, giving the groundbreaking spectacles that came before it. But that’s all right, there’s always the sequel.

That’s right, I’m already looking forward to the inevitable follow-up. “Iron Man” is that good, folks. It sets a new standard for future comic book adaptations and hopefully heralds a new class of summer blockbuster, one that knows how to successfully blend style with substance.

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SCREENSHOTS with Landon »movieweb.com

Landon’s take: Part of the fun of “Iron Man” is seeing Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) perfect the Iron Man suits (known collectively as Machs I-III) through suspenseful and often hilarious sequences of trial and error.

Landon’s take: He may not be chugging White Russians or complaining about his rug getting urinated on by gangsters, but Jeff Bridges will always be the Dude from “The Big Lebowski” to me. Here he plays Stark’s jealous associate Obadiah Stane.

Landon’s take: One of the coolest action scenes centers on Iron Man escaping from the mountain hideout of the Afghan terrorists who kidnapped him. The sequence was shot with minimal use of digital trickery, thus making the end result all the more impressive.

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

issue

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18

A&E

What to see: SUMMER BY

» landonmcdonald

It’s summer, when the days get hot and the theaters get crowded. The season of the blockbuster is upon us.

Moviegoers will again have to contend with the usual barrage of over-hyped action sequels, lame all-star comedies and inexplicably successful teen horror flicks.

The Dark Knight

»alexanderson Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” revitalized a franchise that had been in campy decline ever since original director Tim Burton’s departure in 1992. Now, the caped crusader’s rebirth continues July 18 with the much-anticipated release of “The Dark Knight.”

Christian Bale (“American Psycho”) returns as Bruce Wayne, with fan favorites Gary Oldman (Lieutenant Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) and Michael Caine (Alfred the butler) all set to reprise their roles. New to the cast are Maggie Gyllenhaal in Katy Holmes’s old role as Bat-

man’s love interest Rachel Dawes, Aaron Eckhart as slick new district attorney Harvey Dent and the late Heath Ledger as a diabolical new incarnation of the Joker.

Ledger’s unexpected passing last January has definitely cast a long shadow over the entire “Knight” production, especially due to the persistent rumors that the strain and grotesquery of his final disturbing performance as the Clown Prince of Crime, a far darker version of the role Jack Nicholson made famous, may have contributed to his mysterious death.

While no fictional payoff can offset the

Hancock Will Smith hasn’t had a box office failure in eight years. “I am Legend” broke the record for best December opening weekend gross (beating out the seemingly invincible “Return of the King.”)

“I Robot” took a ridiculous premise and ended up being a massive success with both critics and audiences. Hell, even the mediocre romantic comedy “Hitch” became a $200 million baby in his capable hands.

Now comes “Hancock,” a comic book spoof in which Smith plays an irritable, angry homeless man who also happens to be a superhero. Yes, he catches bad guys and performs other noble services for his hometown, but in

May 22 will see the highly anticipated return of renegade archeologist Indiana Jones (again played by Harrison Ford, now 65) in Steven Spielberg’s newest globe-trotting adventure “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

Concern over Ford’s age and the lack of a viable script (at least five other complete screenplays were rejected by either Ford, Spielberg or executive producer and Indy creator George Lucas before the final choice was made) stalled this project in development hell for almost two decades. Early last year though, everything finally fell together and shooting began.

Working with a script from veteran Spielberg scribe David Koepp (“Jurassic Park” and

Stars are Landon’s 2008 anticipated ratings

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doing so, he wreaks far more destruction than he prevents.

To prevent legal action by the city against Hancock, the embattled mutant seeks out a talent agent (Jason Bateman from “Arrested Development” and ‘Juno”) who promises to refurbish Hancock’s image in society and get the people to fall in love with him again.

Opening on the July 4 weekend, Hancock is sure to be another easy trip to the bank for the talented Mr. Smith. Now if he could only take some chances with his next role and finally nab that Oscar he nearly got for “The Pursuit of Happyess.”

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2008

a deranged anarchist bent on destroying the city.

Step Brothers Will Ferrell is, in this reviewer’s humble opinion, the funniest man working in Hollywood today. And when he joins force with screenwriter Adam McKay, the sidesplitting results (“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”) more than speak for themselves.

And if John C. Reilly (“Chicago”) is involved, so much the better.

The trio’s latest collaboration, “Step Brothers,” promises to be one of this summer’s guiltiest

Judd Apatow’s been in kind of a slump lately. After experiencing great success with his inspired “Knocked Up” and “Superbad” efforts, Apatow failed to deliver anything close to the hilarious highs of those films with the twin comic duds “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” and “Drillbit Taylor.” His latest executiveproduced comedy, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” was only a minor improvement, mostly because of the Dracula puppet show at the end.

Now comes the movie that could be his salvation: “Pineapple Express,” a new stoner comedy about two slackers (Seth Rogan from “Knocked Up” and

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July 25

of guilty pleasure comedies. Ferrell and Reilly play two losers who both still live with their parents, one with his mom and one with his dad. When their single parents get hitched to each other, the two manchildren become siblings. Warped, demented amusement will doubtlessly ensue. The jokes will be moronic, hopelessly juvenile and absolutely hilarious. And much better than the sub-par “SemiPro.”

Pineapple Express

May 22

“War of the Worlds”), “Crystal Skull” doesn’t deny the fact that Indy’s gotten older.

Nineteen years have passed since Indy’s last escapade (1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”) in both movie time and real life.

So Koepp’s script is set in the 1950s and instead of going up against Nazi stooges or hearteating cults, Indy’s up against a gang of vile, treasureseeking Soviets led by the deadly Agent Irina Spalko (Academy Award winner Cate Blachett, handy with a sword and sporting a black dominatrix wig).

Also new to the cast is Karen Allen (reprising her Marion Ravenwood character from the 1981 original) and Shia LaBeouf (as Indy’s new sidekick and possible son Mutt).

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July 18

tragedy, first reactions to early screenings of the film suggest that Ledger’s last role is nothing short of extraordinary, deserving a place of honor alongside iconic movie villains Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter and Anton Chigurh. Already there is talk of a posthumous Oscar nomination.

The rest of the movie doesn’t look half-bad either. The plot centers on Batman joining forces with Gordon and Dent to uncover a terrorist plot orchestrated by a shadowy criminal syndicate bent on controlling Gotham. The crooks join forces with the Joker, unaware that he’s

July 4

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

12 may

But this summer could be different.

Some of the upcoming movies in this blessedly free of threequels lineup actually seem like fun, provocative, original entertainment. A few even look like classics in the making. Yes, even some of the sequels.

August 8

James Franco from the “Spider-Man” trilogy) who witness a rich socialite murdering a colleague and go into hiding to escape his retribution. The supplies they pack for a life on the lamb include a pair of personalized bongs and mighty reserves of Fruit Roll-ups.

Rogan needs new success after the embarrassment of co-writing “Drillbit” and Franco needs to prove he can do more than just look like Willem » www.movieweb.com Defoe’s son. Both these stars are in need of a hit, and this could provide them (and their audiences) with the best end-of-the-summer laugh riot we’ve seen since, well…“Superbad” last year.

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

19

SPORTS

BELOW Coach Tim Jarrell talks to the varsity players in the dugout during the game. East lost to the Raiders with a score of 7-0. » karenboomer

all the way to the “K”

The varsity baseball team played the South Raiders at Kauffman Stadium on April 30 for the Frank White Classic

ABOVE The team stands for the national anthem. This was the first game that East played at Kauffman Stadium.

» mackenziewylie

LEFT JV coach Kevin Winters meets Frank White, a Royal’s hall of fame player.

» karenboomer

ABOVE Senior varsity player Adam Watson pitches to the South raiders.

» karenboomer

issue

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20

SPORTS

HIGH

risers

Upperclassmen join spring GABL leagues to improve their game in a laid-back setting

RANKINGS BOYS 11/12 Competitive TEAM WINS LOSSES

1. Goble 2. Benge 3. Glatt 4. Kloster 5. Love 6. Denmark 7. Sullivan 8. Spainhorst

12 may

2008

5 3 2 2 1 1 0 0

0 1 2 2 3 2 3 3

BY

» kevinsimpson

As the ball sailed through the air, junior Jack Slaughter watched helplessly. His team had given up an 18-point lead, and the opposing Spartans had thrown up a deep three-pointer. As the ball rippled through the net, Slaughter and his teammates had lost their first game, ending a four game win streak to start the season.

However, Slaughter, a forward on the varsity basketball team, didn’t let down a gym full of his screaming classmates. He didn’t return to the locker room surrounded by disappointed teammates and coaches. And the highlights weren’t going to be seen on Metro Sports.

This was only a spring game in the Great American Basketball League (GABL), an outlet for players of all skill levels looking for a game or two on the weekends. The league draws players on the JV and varsity basketball teams, as well as players who don’t suit up for the Lancers on Friday nights.

According to Pam Broyles, assistant executive director of the league, 10 of the league’s 20 rosters have a majority of East students.

Slaughter thinks the league is popular because the players take a lighter approach to the games.

“I can take any shot I want in the games,” he said. “[The games] are a lot less intense, and you don’t have to try. It’s more relaxed.”

Slaughter said that the defense isn’t nearly as intense as in a varsity game, making it much easier to score. He averaged 20 in his first two games, but then followed them with 42- and 40-point performances.

On May 4 at SM North, Slaughter’s numbers were put to the test against senior Tommy Kennedy, a member of last year’s JV team. Kennedy plays on the Cash Money Millionaires, a rival of Slaughter’s team. The team is made up of Kennedy and other JV and varsity players, including seniors Clark Goble and Mike McRoberts.

Even though Slaughter’s team has no official name, many East teams have creative names, including the Cash Money Millionaires. One freshman team calls themselves Chippendales, and their motto is, “It’s not just a game - it’s a performance.”

With the Millionaires made up of all seniors and Slaughter’s team made up of all juniors, class pride was at stake. Both Slaughter and Kennedy guaranteed victories for their teams before the game, but they knew they had to back up their talk with a win.

“I joke around for awhile,” Kennedy said. “But I take it pretty seriously when the game gets close.”

Kennedy never had to worry about the game getting close. He scored on a lay-up to get his team’s 100th point in a 102-76 romp over the juniors. Senior Quinn Conrad, another player on last year’s JV team, put an exclamation mark on the game with a one-handed slam for the Millionaires’ final basket.

Only the two teams and two fans, juniors Paige Kuklenski and Jenny Howard, saw the game.

Kuklenski enjoyed seeing her friends in a unique atmosphere.

“They looked like they were having fun while they were playing,” she said. “[The games] are fun to watch and entertaining, and you get to see a different side of the guys when they’re playing.”

Still, despite the lack of support for either team, Kennedy knows both sides will remember the game.

“It’s pretty sweet because they run their mouths a lot,” Kennedy said of the win. “[Had the win been close], they could have complained about the officials or something. They couldn’t because we beat them so badly. It’s fun to shut them up.”

The competition and the bragging rights were there, even if the fans and TV cameras weren’t.

JUNIOR Alex Collingwood finishes a dunk during his game last Sunday at Shawnee Mission North. His team, Benge, lost to Goble 102-76. »tylerroste

21

Sophomore struggles to balance his severe peanut allergy with his love of the Royals

SPORTS

WARNING may contain peanuts ter cen a i ed

sm yal » ro

PEANUT ALLERGIES Common Symptoms

BY

» samkovzan

He can only imagine what it would be like: the sharp crack of the bat, the sound of a 96 mph fastball scorching into the catcher’s mitt, the tedious 30,000-person wave in the seventh inning, the ballpark franks and the senseless cheering of a man who has spent $50 on alcohol.

If it wasn’t for all those peanuts.

His entire life, sophomore Ben Galloway has watched from home. He’s turned down invitations to ball games and has never experienced a Buck Night or a T-Shirt Tuesday. He even sold his free Kansas City Royals ticket, earned by perfect attendance in fourth grade, to his cousin for $5.

After all, his severe peanut allergy makes Kauffman Stadium one of the most dangerous places he can possibly visit.

“I can’t even go to Royals games because I might be exposed to peanuts, even by accident,” Galloway said. “At baseball games there are a lot of peanuts around, and I’m not sure it’s worth going to see the Royals probably [lose] and get exposed. It’s ironic that I can’t go, I guess, because I’m a huge Royals fan.”

Throughout the spring and summer, Galloway’s television is almost always set on Fox Sports Net for Royals games. Occasionally he will tune into 610 Sports for the radio broadcasts, too. He can rattle off the team’s batting lineup, fielding assignments and pitching rotation. Royals’ caps and pencils occupy the desk in his room, and like any other baseball fanatic, he dreams of October success.

Yet, unlike most baseball fans, he has been unable support his team in a live setting.

Galloway’s peanut allergy is so severe that he must carry with him an EpiPen – a device used to inject epinephrine, or adrenaline, during a dangerous allergic reaction

– at all times. Even a slight inhale of peanut dust could trigger an anaphylactic attack, a condition characterized by hives and rapid throat swelling.

“If someone like me ate a peanut and had no medical attention, it could kill them in 15 minutes,” Galloway said. “So I always have an EpiPen with me pretty much wherever I go.”

According to CNN, over 3 million people are allergic to peanuts. Nearly 1.5 million of them, if exposed to peanuts, experience anaphylactic shock, and roughly 100 people die each year from these food-related illnesses.

Since the abundance of peanuts at venues other than baseball stadiums is not as high, Galloway has not been completely deprived of attending sporting events. He has regularly attended Kansas State football games and has been to Arrowhead Stadium for a Chiefs game.

“Sure, K-State football games are nice, but I’d like to at least go to a couple baseball games at Kauffman,” Galloway said. “It would be real nice to actually see one for real. Going to the K-State and Chiefs games was a lot better live than on the radio or TV.” Aware of baseball fans like Galloway with severe peanut allergies, organizations in Major League Baseball are beginning to take action. The Minnesota Twins host four peanut-free games per year. Watching a Royals game live, at least for the first time, would be a surreal experience for him. “[Going to a Royals game] would be pretty sweet. Even just a couple games a year would be nice,” Galloway said. “There are like millions of people with peanut allergies. I know I’d love to finally see one live, and it’s good to know somebody’s starting to do something about it.”

Although hosting peanut-free games is something Galloway would love for the Royals organization to implement, there are no plans in movement at Kauffman Stadium.

“The sale of peanuts at our facility, and for that matter all Major League Baseball facilities, is one of the historic traditions of the game,” said Renee VanLandingham, Manager of Event Operations and Guest Relations for the Royals. “Because Kauffman Stadium is an open air facility, it is impossible for us to guarantee that any portion of Kauffman Stadium can be a peanut free area.”

Even sitting in an enclosed Kauffman Stadium suite, according to VanLandingham, would be too dangerous for those with severe peanut allergies.

“Our suites frequently have peanuts served within them and can have peanut residue or material anywhere within the suite [because] of wind carried exposure when the suite is opened by window or door to the ballpark itself,” VanLandingham said.

Every three years, Galloway has an appointment with his doctor to see if he is still allergic to peanuts. Being overly exposed to peanuts would currently give him an anaphylactic attack.

“I’d probably be an even bigger fan [of the Royals] if I didn’t have my peanut allergy,” Galloway said with a smile. “The feeling of being closer at a live game is more real. It’s an all-around better experience than watching it on TV.”

-Skin reactions such as hives, redness or swelling -Itching or tingling in or around the mouth and throat -Digestive problems -Tightening of the chest -Shortness of breath or wheezing -Runny or stuffy nose

Anaphylaxis -Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat that makes it difficult to breathe -Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure -Rapid Pulse -Dizziness, light-headedness or loss of consciousness

Causes -Direct contact: The most common cause of peanut allergy is eating peanuts. Sometimes direct skin contact with peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction.

-Cross-contact: This is the unintended introduction of peanuts into a product.

It’s generally the result of exposure to peanuts during processing or handling of a food product.

Inhalation: An allergic reaction may occur if you inhale dust or aerosols containing peanuts, such as that of peanut butter or peanut oil cooking spray.

Treatment The best form of treatment is through avoidance. If reactions are lifethreatening, carrying injection-able epinephrine (adrenaline) is recommended. »mayoclinic.com

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Destination: D-1 Marcus Webb

Running back

PrairieVillage(KS)

Ht: 5’11” Wt: 185 Forty: 4.5 secs Class: 2009 Statistics Rushing

2006 Att. 149 Yds. 646 Avg. 4.3 8 TD No Yds. TD

4 62 1

Defense Tackles 29

28 BY

University of Kansas Kansas State University University of Missouri Also Recruited By University of Illinois NW Missouri State University

Nine years of premier soccer. That’s how long junior Marcus Webb had dedicated himself to playing the sport. But coming into high school his freshman year, he decided to take a chance at a something else: football.

Now, almost two years later, heading into his senior year, Webb has around 11 Division I colleges that have begun to scout him out and send him letters, beginning a slow recruiting process.

Official visits for recruits usually take place right after a football player’s junior year. Like Webb, recruits will get numerous letters from different schools, mostly local ones, who usually invite them up to the college to walk around the campus and possibly meet with the coaches.

10 days until Summer!!

2 J <E @ F I J 8 = B 8

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of the coaching staffs.

“The coaches I have all met with are very nice and seem like a good fit,” Webb said.

“Most of the colleges that I have met with want me to come to their summer camps to work out and train with them.”

With the number of football players in America, a lot of colleges don’t always look at every player as a recruitment option. So head coaches, parents and even the players have started to make highlight tapes of themselves to send to the head coaches at the universities.

“A lot of highlight film has been Year School looked at right 2007 Depauw now,” Stonner said.

2007 Depauw “I plan on send2007 Benedictine ing out a highlight 2006 Ottawa video of some of 2006 Fort Scott C.C. his good games to those teams who 2006 Princeton don’t necessarily 2005 Montana 2004 Highland C.C. know about Marcus.”

2004 Grinnell According to 2004 Yale Stonner and Webb however, a lot of his recruitment will be decided on how his senior year will go. Weight training, college camps, 7-on-7 practice games and football combines are just a few of the things Webb will be doing to get himself ready to impress the college recruits this summer. But, Webb feels that it will bank a lot on him becoming more vocal with his teammates.

“Being a leader on the field and showing my athleticism is something I need to do during my senior season,” Webb said. “But I also need to show them that I am a good person on and off the field, especially in the classroom.”

Recruits

» jordanpfeiffer

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College Choices

“Marcus has drawn a lot of interest from the local area schools,” head coach John Stonner said. “But it’s so tough now to go Division I because of how many kids there are playing, and now coaches know everything about each and every one of those kids.”

Official visits, which Webb will most likely start taking this summer, consist of a tour of the campus, usually with a current player on the team, and a visit with the coaches to discuss decisions and options that the player could have.

Although Players Webb hasn’t been Colin Hertel offered a scholarship yet, it’s a very John Brickson high possibility for Travis Wiedenkeller him to have a col- Shaun Lavish Kelly Zumbehl lege career.

According to col- John Duvall legesportsscholar- Chris Orwig ships.com, colleges Abram Clay at the Division 1 Tedd Doleshal level have about 85 Mike Duvall scholarships available for football athletes.

However, they can only give out 24 football scholarships per year because of NCAA rules. There are approximately 117 Division I teams in the NCAA today, which means that there are 9,945 scholarships sent out to the best high school football players.

“Right now the schools I’m really looking into are the ones that are local, like Kansas and Kansas State,” Webb said. “I’m not too sure which school I’m going to decide on though. Right now I’m just playing the field.”

Webb has taken visits to the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Although they were unofficial visits, he toured the campus and has already met with some

Other Lancer

2007 91 346 3.8 4

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Receiving

Junior Marcus Webb is already being recruited

by D-1 schools

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SPORTS

22

Good Luck B o y ’s Golf at State!

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23

SPORTS

PLAYOFF PREDICT-O-METER We let you know East’s chances of winning state, and what team will win state for each spring sport BY

» taylorhaviland

BOYS’ GOLF

SOFTBALL

good shot

near-lock

» hannahbrewer

East’s five strongest golfers return from last season. They won the Sunflower League by a huge margin, with senior Tommy Kennedy finishing in a tie for second for the League title. And his 71 last Wednesday could have been much better. SM East will come out victorious at State with the additional help of Scott Willman, Will Snyder, Joe Lynch, Sam Barker and Chase Lucas.

good shot

near-lock

not likely Senior Lee Ridenhour, the returning Sunflower League player of the year, will be leading SM West to the state title. West’s strong offense will win them games, but their defense can hurt them. East hasn’t shown the ability to score runs against mediocre pitchers, and the ones they face at state will be better than mediocre.

near-lock

not likely

BV North, last years’ state champions, return with eight out of their 11 starters from the previous season. One of their returning stars is sophomore Frances Silva who scored 12 goals last season.

To compliment the strong offense, BV North has two talented goalies that can stop anything. All this returning talent assures Blue Valley North a state title. East has a chance if they can find a way to ignite their offense.

good shot

GIRLS

near-lock

SM East has its best track team in years, from its top ranked sprinters to the middle distance teams. The 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 are capable of placing in the top three. Junior Curran Darling is likely to score a few points in the high jump and senior Terrance Thomas returns for glory in the 100m race. SM South is the favorite for the girls’ title. Track coach Tricia Beaham said, “If Kristin Gillespie is used wisely South could pull out a victory.” Gillespie is the key to South winning she returns this year after placing in three events at state last year.

We recognize the team, coach, players and moments that were the best of the year

Boys’ soccer vs. Olathe East in Regional Final Game of the Year

Wrestling

Team of the Year

Coach Chip Ufford’s program has grown extensively in the last two years, and the team’s Sunflower League title and fourth place finish at state reflect that. The next best Sunflower League team finished ninth. Senior David Schrunk took second in the 125 lb. class and Matt Baker took third in the 189 lb. class. The team loses a lot of quality wrestlers to graduation next year, but taking the success of the last two years into consideration, nothing is impossible. ALSO CONSIDERED: Boys’ swimming

It had all you wanted in a soccer match. An underdog upset (Olathe East was the #1 seed in the Regional), a controversial call (an Olathe East goal was taken away due to a corner kick outside the legal zone) and a phenomenal goal to win (senior William Tschudy’s high arching winner). And if that wasn’t enough, Metro Sports’ announcer Dave Stewart, father of Hawks star striker Steven Stewart, issued a formal complaint to KSHSAA about the corner kick call. ALSO CONSIDERED: Boys’ basketball comeback @ Olathe East

Male Athlete of the Year

ALSO CONSIDERED: Levi Mische, swimming

Taylon Johnson

Female Athlete of the Year

H H PLAY

MALE

Johnson won the Female Athlete of the Year award last year, but her efforts this year were more outstanding. She led the basketball team to its best record in more than a decade.

She is also a starter for the soccer team. She plans to play both sports at Claremont McKenna in California next year.

good shot

need to heat up near-lock

not likely

Thomas was a game-changer on the football field, a lock-down defender on the basketball court, and the fastest 100 meter runner this side of State Line. Baker was a smashmouth middle linebacker for the Lancer D, and lost just one match in his wrestling season, albeit in the state tournament.

FEMALE

BOYS

not likely

TIE- Terrance Thomas and Matt Baker

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GIRLS’ SOCCER

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need to heat up

The HARBIES

GAME

Lawrence Free State has one of the strongest swimming programs in Kansas. After winning five individual events and tying for second at the Sunflower League Swim meet, Free State has shown they have the talent to win state. East, the Sunflower League champs, is probably the favorite to take the title.

TRACK need to heat up

H

near-lock

not likely

Five straight state championships show you are almost unstoppable. Even though Olathe East lost a lot of key players this season they still have talent. Returning letter winners senior Kristen Rock at catcher and junior Kendall Grimm will be leading this years’ team to a sixth straight state championship.

BASEBALL

good shot

need to heat up

not likely

near-lock

not likely

need to heat up

good shot

need to heat up

» taylerphillips

need to heat up

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

H TEAM

Chris Anderson’s Tip-In @ Olathe East Play of the Year

Coach Shawn Hair jokingly claims that he drew up this play that finished the 4th-quarter comeback for the Lancers, but there’s no way he could have. The play was designed to go to senior Mike McRoberts or junior Charlie Ludingon. McRoberts was doubled, and kicked the ball to Ludington, whose shot was tipped by the Hawks’ Bruce Reed. Anderson found himself in the right place at the right time, and banked the ball off the glass as the buzzer sounded for the 45-43 win.

H

ALSO CONSIDERED: William Tschudy’s game-winning goal vs. Olathe East

Chip Ufford, wrestling Coach of the Year

Although he left the football program for rival SM South, Ufford’s work with the wrestling team was great enough for the Coach of The Year award. The real test next year will be whether or not Ufford can keep the superb depth this year’s team had. ALSO CONSIDERED: Jamie Kelly, boys’ soccer

ALSO CONSIDERED: Kasey Sauls, volleyball *Awards are chosen by coaches of varsity sports. All coaches were sent an email and those that were returned were counted

COACH

issue

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24

LEFT Seniors Zach Weaver, Jeremy Wolff and Neal Stark stand for a moment of silence before they release the balloons. » karenboomer BELOW Senior SHARE Exec Brittney Barnds talks to Mrs. Winters as she calls her husband shortly before the balloons are released.

PHOTOESSAY

» karenboomer

remember SHARE hosted a balloon release on May 1 to honor Paige Winters, who died in a plane crash in 2006

12 may

2008

LEFT The friends of Paige Winters write messages to her on the balloons.

» mackenziewylie

BELOW Students, teachers and parents release hundreds of pink and green balloons in the front of the school.

» karenboomer