HARBINGER
THE
issue two september 18 2006
TURN:TO
7
FRESH OFFICER Officer Brady Sullivan speaks about his recent job switch and eagerness to work with East students.
12
PLUGGING EDUCATION
HIDDEN CAR COSTS Speeding, reckless driving and accidents can cause surges in auto payments.
INTO
21 DOUBLE FAULTS Tennis team loses two of its top players to extracurriculars and college aspirations.
44 DAYS TO HALLOWEEN
DISTRICT AIMS TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY by [bernadette myers]
After the bell rings, the entire class takes their seats and gets ready for the test. But, instead of getting out a pencil or pen, the class gets out their wireless handheld computers (palms). The teacher beams it to the entire class. Instantly, it is transferred from the teacher’s PC onto the students’ palms.
Each of the fifty multiple choice questions are answered using the palm. Once finished, each person’s final grade shows up immediately on their screen. A person in the front sighs in relief. A 92 percent means the rest of the day is worry free. For the high school students in the Olathe school district these kinds of instant test results can happen every day in every class. The system they use to take many of their tests is known as the Classroom Performance System (CPS) and in Olathe schools it is accessed wirelessly through the palms.
“The entire high school checks out a palm at the beginning of every school year,” said Olathe Northwest principal Gwen Poss. “Some students may only use them in classes like English and others could use them in all their classes.” According to associate principal Steven Loe, the East fund, which is composed of grants and donations has put East ahead of the other Shawnee Mission schools. Neighboring districts, however, like Blue Valley and Olathe exceed Shawnee Mission when it comes to SMART technology and Olathe even provides palm pilots to their students.
SEE PAGE 9
page2 [news]
what’s
NEWwith...
A bare hallway
...Class Elections Freshman Officers
Decision to let band march in the halls still under debate
Jack Logan David Beeder Lois Wetzal Holly Lafferty
by [clare jordan]
Sophomore Reps.
Jack Booton Carly Haflich Libby Jandl Jessie Light Alexandria Norton
Freshman Reps.
Annie Bennet Haley Dagleish Scott Kennedy Ben Jensen Amanda Privitera
Junior Reps.
Paige Brulatour Gage Brummer Alex Eisenach Sam Watson Laura Wetzel
Senior Reps.
Mary Lynn Coulson Erik Deddens Alex Hodges Charlotte Kerr Sam Lawler Sam Speer
...Teen Studies
NEWS briefs
SAT scores announced It was announced earlier this week that Shawnee Mission seniors who took the SAT during the 2005-2006 school year continued to outscore their peers at the state and national levels. The Scholastics Aptitude Test is a national, standardized exam used by universities and colleges to measure the probability of academic success in college. The first test this year is Oct. 14. This year’s test includes a new writing component that is similar to the type of writing required on in-class college exams.
were predetermined dates approved by administration and that teachers knew the last five of class would be filled with music. Favreau feels the first home game, Lancer day, the football and basketball game against South and the basketball game against Rockhurst are appropriate days for the band to march. Swift feels a more random occurrence; as opposed to it being assumed that the band can march is more appropriate. “Last year, Cocolis had us marching all the time,” band teacher Kim Harrison said. “Sometimes he had us marching on nights we had a show with the parents and it took away from practice time.” As of right now, administration is deciding what course of action to take with the band marching in the halls. But, Favreau has decided that if it is a permanent ban he will start a petition. “I know I would have the support of the band, drill dream, and many classmates that enjoy the band.” Favreau said. Favreau would settle for marching in the halls being less frequent as long as the tradition continues. “Administration is still deciding.” Harrison said, “We should still march, just not as often.”
...Youth In Government
Photo by Karen Boomer
Before school on September 1, East students gathered in the gym to get pumped for the first football game of the season. The cheerleaders flung their pom-poms, the drill team kicked their legs, and the band pounded out the school song. After the excitement, the band prepared to march the halls to keep moods high. But this day they wouldn’t be allowed to as they had in the past, and there is a possibility it will be like this for the year. “There is a purpose we are in school.” Principal Susan Swift said, “The bottom line is academics.” The band marching their way down the halls is seen as a distraction and takes away from class time. Dr. Swift wants school to be a fun place, but also wants to be more careful as to when the band is allowed to march. The band on the other hand, sees marching as an opportunity to get everyone excited for games, while it shows the school what is has to offer. “We’ve been marching since Cocolis was here,” junior Sean Favreau said, “It’s been a tradition and whenever I tell people there might not be marching anymore it’s always a surprise.” Favreau feels there would not be much of a problem if there
Marijuana use among teens age 12-17 has decreased nearly 15 percent in the past four years, according to a recent survey put out by Monitoring the Future, an ongoing study of American teens through surveys of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. Not only has marijuana usage gone down, but also the availability of marijuana, crack, heroine, LSD, and other illicit drugs. John P. Walters, director of The White House Office National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) recently stated in a press statement that he feels the National Anti-Drug campaign has been working well. “The powerful anti-drug message is sending American teens and parents the right message,” Walters said. “We hope parents continue to talk to their children about the dangers of drug use.” Usage among teens is expected to keep decreasing in the upcoming years.
New tutor website The state library of Kansas unveiled the service of http://www.tutor.com earlier this month in cooperation with the state’s public libraries. It is designed to help math, science, English and social studies to help for four through twelfth grade students online. Tutor.com is available at no charge to students, and the tutors are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors or graduate students who have completed a third party background and reference check as well as rigorous training and on-going evaluation. Students simply log on, type they grade the are in and the subjects with which they need help and are quickly connected with a trained tutor. During a session, tutors can demonstrate how to work a math problem on an interactive white board, show a student helpful web sites on a shared browser, or examine a paper that the student uploads to the file sharing area.
the [harbinger]
The Shawnee Mission East social studies department is gearing up for Youth in Government. YIG is a model legislature program where members write a bill then travel to Topeka where students from all over the state argue a bill from the Senate floor. With many new members, students hope to pass their bill and become familiar with the way our government works. Compiled by Hanna Cosgrove and Nora Salle
Graduation dates changed The dates for graduation have been changed for all Shawnee Mission schools. The dates are: East: Thursday, May 24 North: Monday, May 21 Northwest: Wednesday, May 23 South: Tuesday, May 22 West: Thursday, May 24 Compiled by Davin Phillips
page 3 [news]
LANCER DAY PRE-GAME
Students prepare for upcoming Lancer Day by [ronan mcghie]
Next Thurs, the mayor of Prairie Village will “officially” declare the Village as Lancer Village. As always, hundreds of baby blue T-shirt clad students will clog the streets. This isn’t a student revolution, but Lancer Day-- the yearly event that has become an institution at East. This year’s Lancer Day theme, as decided by StuCo, is Blockbusters. Students and clubs will create floats with best-selling movies as their theme. The rumors circulating through the hallways that Lancer Day would be cancelled, are false. The upcoming week is Spirit Week. Music will be played in the halls during passing period and students will be encouraged to dress for the day’s theme. On Mon. students will be invited to wear pajamas to school, Tuesday is still to be decided, Wed. is class wars (freshmen wear red, sophomores
Photo by Kelsey Brown
orange, juniors pink, seniors blue). Thursday, of course, is Lancer Day--which is a culmination of spirit week. On Thurs, students will be dismissed early to take part in the procession of floats. The parade will travel down Mission Rd, which is closed for the occasion, and into the village. Once in the village, there will be a rally where the winner of the best float will be named (Seniors have won every year except for last year when the drama float won). There is no school on Fri, but the homecoming game will be that night at North Stadium at 7 p.m. versus Olathe South. Saturday is the night of the Homecoming dance and will bring Spirit Week to a close.
AY D R CE
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ON CTI
Monday
Pajama Day- wear your favorite and wildest night wear and rock out for the funky music week. Girls tennis @ SMNW
Class wars (different colors)- Seniors are assigned blue, juniors pink, sophomores orange and freshman red. Girls volleyball @ SM West Quad
TBD- StuCo has yet to make up its mind but is considering: cops and robbers, dress like a teacher, or camouflage.
ND
R NCE S A L T NT EAS TUDE SOU
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Y O PAN SSI COM EE MI
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W DU SHA PRO R O ECT ed DIR e wNe lliA eM y b A c i h R gCraApME
This year’s theme is Blockbusters. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl- This 2003 hit with Johnny Depp features evil pirates chasing after lost gold. • Titanic- The unsinkable ship! With Leonardo
DiCaprio and Kate Winslet this romance could be the ultimate float. Especially when it’s sinking.
• Harry Potter Series- Imagine a float filled with flying brooms, fire breathing dragons and the ultimate teen hottie Hermione. Even though this may not be possible a Harry Potter float is. •Star Wars Series- This classic series is perfect float
material. With a couple light sabers and a Darth Vader mask the fun won’t stop. And don’t forget, the force will be with you.
Sept. 25-30
Wednesday
006
8, 2
.2 ept
Lancer Spirit Week Tuesday
FLOAT IDEAS 06
0 8 2 0 009
LAN
TIT
DE A R PA
Thursday
Lancer Day- Wear your favorite blue and black Lancer shirts to get ready for the Lancer Day Parade starting at 2 p.m.
Friday
• Spiderman- Making out upside down is one of the
many talents Spiderman has. In New York City he climbs walls, swings from building, and saves the city from the Green Goblin.
No school- Girls get your hair cuts, manicures, and boutonnieres: boys pick up your suits and corsages. Football game vs. Lawrence at SM. South
Saturday
Homecoming- Your last chance to make sure everything is perfect for the evening dance which starts at 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 18, 2006
•Animal House- It’s the 1978 ultimate college movie about the worlds worst Delta fraternity. A set of togas and some preppy college clothing would make for the perfect costumes.
•Batman- Since 1989, the five part Batman series has always been a must-see. From Mr. Freeze to the Joker, Batman always seems to always take care of business. photos courtesy of movieweb.com
page 4 [news]
Film festival flocks to Kansas
1974 East Alum Randy Olson’s “Flock of the Dodos” among many of the films showing at week-long Kansas International Film Festival by [meg shackelford] Brian Mossman, the owner of the Glenwood Theater says that people that “like museums and read a lot” will enjoy the different films being shown for the Kansas International Film Festival from Sept. 15-21. There will be documentaries, feature films and an international category. “We are expecting a mixture of adults and students though,” Mossman said. “There’s going to be a good variety of films for all the intellectuals, or more ‘teen films’ for the students who may like comedies.” It will be the sixth year that the Glenwood has been putting on this festival and this year they are expecting a few thousand. “It’s a way to bring a lot of films to the big screens because a lot of them have never been heard of before,” Mossman said. “Some of them wouldn’t normally make it to the main theaters.” This year they have sold more festival tickets than ever before. They’ve had a good track record according to Mossman who says it will be “better than ever,” because of two special guests: director George Romero and special effects wizard Tom Savini. If anyone is a fan of these two, then they will come and see them and a special viewing of “Night of the Living Dead” and “Creepshow,” both ofwhich Romero directed. Romero and Savini are coming in to judge horror shorts that the IFC, International Film Coalition, has entered for a contest. There will be a first, second and third place award for the these 5-minute horrors. Audiences will receive a
ballot where they rate 1-4 (4 being best), for these horror shorts. They will also be voting for the best documentary and best feature out of 32 films. According to Mossman the most anticipated movies showing at the festival are “American Stag,” “Night of the Living Dead,” “Creepshow,” “The Hand of God,” “In Memory of my Father,” and “Flock of Dodos.” Any filmmaker whose production is showing during the festival will be attending the event. They will give an opening and then close with a Q and A involving the audience. The food court will be packed with the filmmakers after each movie where people can get a chance to ask them questions if they didn’t get a chance in the theater. One such filmmaker is Randy Olson, an East alum, who wrote and directed “Flock of Dodos,” which is the first feature film that compares evolution teachings to intelligent design. In the film, Olson looks at an attempt to introduce intelligent design in science classes while including the extinct “dodos” that he thinks suggest what happens to those who can’t change their environment. “I’m going to go see “Flock of Dodos” because I’m interested in hearing what is said and I think it directs a lot to Kansas,” Biology teacher Mr. Heintz said. Heintz also said the filmmaker Randy Olson shares a lot of his philosophy on evolution and “it gives a broader perspective on the principle of biology.” With 53 films showing in seven days and $6.50 per ticket, it is highly suggested to buy tickets early.
Dr. Randy Olson • Olson graduated East in 1974 before going to the University of Kansas and Washington and later earning a doctorate in evolutionary biology at Harvard. • At the age 38 he entered film school at the University of Souther California, where he still lectures. • His film that premiered last week,“The Flock of the Dodos” presents both sides of the intelligent design/ evolution clash. • Olson specializes in the ecology of the marine invertebrates, most of the research he has conducted has taken place at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. information courtesy of www.theflockofdodos.com
Sophomore Alison Meagher-Manson goes to the Glenwood as often as there are “good movies” she wants to see, some being “American Stag” and “Wartapes.” “Art films are like diamonds in the rough,” MeagherManson said. “They’re more rare and creative than Blockbusters, I think.”
the 2006
SCHEDULE
a sampling of the movies that can be seen at the film fest
American Stag Rating: NR Running Time: 70 minutes Showing on 9.20.06 at 7:45 p.m. Synopsis: From the birth of cinema through the 1960s in the United States, most pornographic films were brief, black and white, anonymously produced films known as “stag films”, “blue movies”, or “smokers,” so called because of the smoke-filled rooms where men would gather for private screenings. This film examines the “stag” film not as much for the subject matter or lack of production value, but as a metaphor and reflection of American popular culture.
Creepshow Rating: NR Running Time: 120 minutes Showing on 9.16.06 at 9:30 p.m. Synopsis: Cult classic anthology from two of horrors big wigs, Romero and Stephen King, the film contains 5 sections, held together with 50’s style comic images. A murdered man returns from the grave demanding his Father’s Day cake and death ensues, a meteor’s space ooze causes anything and anyone that comes in contact with it to grow (special appearance by Stephen King himself), a scheming vengeful husband buries his wife and her lover in sand to await death at high tide, a professor selects his nagging negative wife to become a tasty snack for a strange crated creature, and finally, a mean ole millionaire with an intense insect phobia becomes the prey of an army of cockroaches. information courtesy of www.kansasfilm.com
the [harbinger]
Internet Obsession!
page 5 [editorial]
Obsession with Facebook distracts from what goes on in the outside world The majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board
Each issue the 10 members of the board choose a topic and one member writes the editorial. Before being published the board votes on the final editorial. The results are published here.
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the face of Facebook changed dramatically. We all know the story. News-feed and Mini-feed fed us too much information. No one wanted blow-by-blow updates on every action our friends took. Up and down the line, people were outraged. For many, the issue was privacy. They felt that having their information prominently displayed to the world was too invasive. Regardless of the merits of their argument, the events that followed are worth noting. In 48 hours, 740,000 people joined the most successful protest group: “Students Against Facebook News Feed.” More than 200,000 signed an online petition and Facebook received an estimated 500,000 comments and suggestions—all arguing to go back to the old format. After two days, the Facebook protest was MSNBC’s and Time.com’s top technology story. After three days, Facebook capitulated. The fact that hundreds of thousands of people came together and made their voice heard is admirable. Whether you support the cause or not, the accomplishment itself warrants praise. Unfortunately, our generation’s activism is confined to issues like what our Internet social networking website looks like. At our age, our parents were marching to protest the
the
HARBINGER
Editor-in-Chief
AMANDA ALLISON
Assistant Editor
PETER GOEHAUSEN LAURA NELSON HALLIE MCCORMICK
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KATIE WOODS
RUTH STARK RONAN MCGHIE CLARE JORDAN
art by ren li
Vietnam War. Some of them may have fought. Our generation? We’ll have a different story. 30 years from now, we’ll glow with pride when we tell our kids about taking on issues of real importance in the Great Facebook Fiasco of 2006. “It was riveting. Facebook junkies around the country rose up and showed those corporate monsters. We spoke out and we were heard!” The story even gets better: the same drama is unfolding again regarding the prospect of Facebook becoming accessible to everyone in America. If the only issue the youth of America cares enough to change involves Facebook, then we’re a damn apathetic generation. There are plenty of issues that deserve our attention, and—like with Facebook—our outrage and activism. The events that transpired following Facebook’s modifications should show us that we’re not helpless when it comes to addressing those issues. Yes, we’re “just teenagers.” Yes, most of us are too young to vote. And yes, when we band together and make the world hear our voice, it makes a difference. We just showed that we have the power to force one of the fastest-growing Internet corporations to bend to our will. But beyond that, we’re not interested in much. We’ve had opportunity after opportunity to put that power to work to address issues of substance.
Katrina. Sept. 11. Even the presidential elections. The youth have been silent. If we have the ability to make a difference, it’s our duty to do so. We say that no one cares about what we have to say. That we can shout and holler and it’ll never make a difference. Maybe that’s true when we shout and holler alone. But when 740,000 of us shout and holler together, changes start taking place. If we don’t get much credit, maybe it’s because we don’t deserve much. It’s not that we’re the generation of apathy. We just need to turn our sights towards something more significant than Facebook. Feeling helpless when you look at huge world issues— poverty, hunger, natural disasters—that’s understandable. But now we know better, and it’s time to translate that knowledge into action. We have something to say and we have the voice to say it. And if enough of us start articulating our passions with a sense of conviction, the world will have ears to hear it. The last task falls to us: we just need the will to do it.
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Sept. 18, 2006
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AMANDA ALLISON TOM GROTEWOHL LAURA NELSON HALLIE MCCORMICK SYLVIA SHANK JENN SUNDERLAND ADRIENNE WOOD PETER GOEHAUSEN LIBBY NACHMAN Staff Writers HANNA COSGROVE MEG FRACOL MICHAEL HAKE DANIEL HEADY ALLY HEISDORFFER ERIN MORRISEY NORA SALLE ADRIENNE WOOD
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page 6 [opinion]
an opinion of
Rule 52: Realistic or Ridiculous?
According to Principal Susan Swift, I should feel ashamed of my status as a student Foster Tidwell and fan of Shawnee Mission East due to the conduct of our student section at the season opening football game against the Vikings. We booed. Call me barbaric if you like, but I wasn’t embarrassed in the least. I spent the entire game in the front row, and besides the incident with a water bottle being thrown, nothing at all struck me as being incongruous with appropriate fan etiquette. Sure, there were some boos—not nearly as many as echoed through the hallways during Swift’s Monday morning intercom lecture—but yes, the crowd did boo. It was just like every other sporting event I have ever attended. Swift is right. By booing, the Lancer fans were indeed in violation of Section 1.1.a. of Rule 52 of the KSHAA guidelines. Missing from Swift’s intercom harangue, however, was any mention of the fact that Lancer fans were also in clear violation of Clause D of Rule 52: “Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team.” Now correct me if wrong, but I don’t recall hearing cheers or polite claps circulating around our student section after any of the Vikings’ touchdowns. Why didn’t Swift notify us about this disturbing rulebreaking as well? After all, both Clauses A and D can be found in the same Article 1 of Rule 52—both should carry equal weight, shouldn’t they? I have a hunch that we never heard about this little slipup because requiring that we cheer for the other team is pretty far out there on the ol’ ridiculous meter. Well so is forbidding us from booing. Rule 52 treats both fans and athletes like grade-school talent show participants whose emotions are too sensitive to withstand negative pressure from the crowd.
The fact is that booing the opponent is a fundamental element of cheering for competitive sports. This may seem mean, and it is, but it’s the truth. Before you shed too many tears over this striking revelation, just remember the nature of football. It’s a violent game of tackling, pushing, shoving and hitting. The gridiron is a battlefield. I’ve taken part in enough high school sports, including football, to be fully aware of the constant stream of trashtalking that takes place just beyond earshot of the officials. The vast majority of it is mean and base and vulgar enough to make a simple round of boos emanating from the opposing crowd sound like a hallelujah chorus. Believe me, protecting the players from hearing the crowd boo doesn’t even put a dent in the amount of verbal negativity that players are exposed to. Torn ACLs, broken arms and season-ending concussions are commonplace on the football field as well. Why are we suddenly throwing ourselves into such a panic over potentially hurt feelings? Part of being an exceptional athlete is being able to deal with negative pressure. The coach has a hard time starting a freshman quarterback on varsity, regardless of his talent, because he likely hasn’t yet learned how to cope with pressure. But over time, he is taught to do so by being acclimated to harsh climates—by being booed so much that he fumbles the snap and gives up the game. The quarterback’s mental maturity progresses through the trials and tribulations of playing under pressure until, ultimately, he emerges ready to lead the team. Of course, there is a line to be drawn between appropriate and inappropriate student conduct at sporting events. Cheering and booing are kosher. Singling out players or coaches in chants, taunting and inciting the crowd to mass rioting and violence are not. But by choosing to interpret booing as bad sportsmanship, an unrealistic standard is created. Try finding any major sporting event, be it high school, college, or professional, where there is no negativity shown toward the opposing team; where there is no booing. Real examples of “good sportsmanship” suddenly disappear completely under this ridiculous precept.
Too Busy for the News
an opinion of
When Mr. Brewster asks us what’s new in the world every 7th hour after the weekend, I usually have no response. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you much about what’s going on in the world. The only news related information I can contribute to the group is what I hear from my friends. I just don’t have the attention span to sit Ally Heisdorffer down and watch the news. When sitting down to watch television, I assume that I will be entertained. The news is not entertaining. It’s depressing and ridiculously boring. The only quasi-news program I watch is the Daily Show and only because it’s a nice blend of comedy and news. I’d prefer to watch cartoons with my 9-year-old brother. To me, cartoons are just way more entertaining. I’d rather watch Sponge Bob cook Krabby Patties than stay updated on the terrorist issues in the Middle East. I’m not entirely uninterested in what’s going on in the world. I try to stay on top of political situations and current events, but it’s just not on top of my priority list to keep up to date with the news. I’m not interested in maintaining constant knowledge about what’s going on in the world around me. In between juggling seven hours at school, three more doing homework, an after school job watching three children and trying to maintain a social life, making time for the media is something I choose not to fit in. I’d rather spend that time I would be watching the news catching up on homework or being with my friends. It’s true that technology makes the news more accessible, but this still doesn’t change the fact that I’m just not going to watch it. I think that enjoying the news comes with age. My mom watches the news every day. On top of that, she’s actually interested. She looks forward to watching the evening news special. It relaxes her and she likes knowing what’s going on in the world around her. When I think news, I think of old people reading the paper in one hand with a cup of coffee in the other. Watching or reading the news is a sign of ma-
Just wait until basketball season. The crowd will boo. By trying to keep us from doing so, the administration loses their credibility with the student body. When Dr. Cocolis stood up in front of the crowd and told everyone to stop a particular cheer, people stopped. He didn’t abuse this respect by telling us not to boo. If he had, the respect would have disappeared. The administration needs to realize that the most effective way of maintaining control is by commanding the respect of the student body. If they disregard this verity and try to maintain a stranglehold on us by telling us we can’t boo, everyone will be in for a long year of cheering for student athletics.
KSHSAA: Rule 52
Sportsmanship/Citizenship Section 1: General Regulations (apply to grades 7- 12) a. Be courteous to all. (participants, coaches, officials, staff and fans) b. Know the rules, abide by and respect the officials’ decisions. c. Win with character and lose with dignity. d. Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team. e. Exercise self-control and reflect positively upon yourself, team and school. f. Permit only positive sportsmanlike behavior to reflect on your school or its activities.
Keeping up on current events is not a top priority for one high schooler turity and I don’t like coffee anyway. Besides lacking the maturity and attention span for the daily news, I just can’t relate. It’s hard to sympathize with people that live thousands of miles away. I could never understand what it’s like to live in a country whose government is run by a terrorist regime. I don’t have to worry about bombs being dropped on me if I decide to run an errand. Sometimes the news feels like a movie. If I’m not personally experiencing something, then it’s difficult to believe it’s happening somewhere else in the world. It’s depressing to hear about all the terrible things that happen, but because they don’t affect me directly so it’s hard to be personally interested. If my government was terrorist-based, you bet I’d be more involved in what’s going on around me. This could all mean I’m incredibly self-absorbed, and maybe it’s true, but I just can’t get excited about keeping up with the news. Watching the news is next to cleaning my cat’s litter box on my list of favorite things to do. Although I am less than thrilled about keeping up with the news, I feel like a younger people today show a great interest in current events. Especially at East, kids seem very politically involved. I often feel out of place in discussion topics when politics come up. Although they’re more knowledgeable about what’s going on than I am, I’m fine with that. They’re my built-in news broadcasters. Yeah so I’m not that interested in devoting an hour of my time to watching the news or sitting art by Ren Li down to read the paper, but I do care. Maybe in ten years or so you will find me at a Starbucks reading the newspaper in my spare time, but for now I’ll just stick to trying to get all my homework done each night.
the [harbinger]
page 7 [opinion]
A Better Student Proposes Alternative to Way to Encourage Responsible Citizenship Care
an opinion of
Nathan Yaffe
The SHARE Fair. Another save -the -world campaign. I embrace it. I admire the goal.
Let’s save the world. But in our zeal, let’s not lose our humility or our ability to look in the mirror. We share our luxuries and our affluence with those in need because we have an abundance of both. But often, what we attempt to accomplish through fundraisers and donating is undermined by the wastefulness of our daily life. I have an alternative: let’s improve ourselves. Then focus on the rest of the world. Make self-adjustments— emphasize performing well in your role as a citizen—and the whole world benefits. Our generosity and compassion can’t offset the problems caused by our over-consumption. Instead of looking at these issues of substance, the school steers us towards a variety of programs to help others. SHARE. The Can Drive. Walk for a Cure. At every level, the school promotes this type of activity. Indeed, at the highest levels—IB, NHS—they require it. But these programs have limitations. One of those limitations is they can’t encourage us to lead better lives. And until we start leading better lives, we’re just chasing our tails. We’ve recently reached a new milestone that illustrates this point. According to the World Health Organization, for every two malnourished people in the world, there are now three who are overweight or obese. Clearly, then, it makes sense to reward the English class that collects the most cans with a pizza party. The poor we’re feeding would be proud that we’re further glutting ourselves on their ticket. This shortsightedness needs to be replaced with a sense of social responsibility. We need to live better, not fundraise better. I’m not talking about renouncing modern society to
LancerVoice “No. It’s not neccesary. The government shouldnt interfere.” -Ryan Olander, Freshman
live in the mountains with Tibetan monks. I’m just suggesting we incorporate modest adjustments to our everyday activities for the sake of a common cause. Let me give you an example. There’s nothing timelier, when it comes to social issues, than environmental degradation. The school would tell us to join the Save Our Streams SHARE project if we wanted to make a difference, but that’s hardly even a first step. Until we examine our own lives—until we realize that, despite any help we might give, we’re still a major part of the problem—we’re not going to make that problem any smaller. Even a cursory glance shows that there’s something wrong with a school like Shawnee Mission East talking about the environment. We have more than 800 parking spots in our lot. Each morning, those spots are filled by students who make the same drive at the same time to the same place from the same neighborhoods. And, for the most part, they all make that drive separately. If East were encouraging us to be responsible citizens, they’d steer us towards reducing our consumption, not towards another SHARE project. Last year, I suggested to the administration that we set up a preferential parking area for carpoolers. I said that the choice spots—the rows nearest the senior doors, as well as the front lines of the junior lots—should be reserved for those that ride together. Now I wonder if my suggestion fell on deaf ears because the institution simply has other priorities. After all, there’s no national recognition to reward a policy like that. But the SHARE projects, the test scores—these are the things that garner recognition. And because of that, these are what our school focuses on instead. If East cared about making a difference, they’d be encouraging more self-evaluation, not higher ACT/SAT scores. Just think about what kind of change is at our fingertips. If everyone knew that the best parking places would remain
open at 7:30 if we only rode with a friend, no one would drive to school alone again. At the same time, we’d be learning. Learning that it’s not about radical change, or giving until we can’t give anymore. We’d be learning that if we all just tended to our own garden, issues would address themselves. Perhaps most of all our personal behavior would begin to match our rhetoric, our verbal aspirations, and our résumés. Keep in mind—this isn’t a panacea. I don’t mean to suggest that preferential parking would solve the environmental crisis. I do, however, mean to suggest that this type of approach is much better than what we do now. Help point us towards the right choices, and you’ll see more than just national merit finalists walking around the halls of Shawnee Mission East. You’ll see responsible citizens. And it’s much more important to develop a responsible citizen than it is to manufacture a test-taker. It may be harder; it may be thankless. But when one considers the rewards, it’s irresistible. In one of my favorite movies, Scent Of A Woman, Al Pacino says, “I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard.” I challenge the school to take that path. Shoulder the responsibility to help us become responsible. Lead by example. At the same time, I challenge the students. Look at the way we live, not the way we give. Because in the real world, there are no magicians. Responsible citizens do not appear out of empty hats like rabbits. They’re nurtured and developed until one day they make you proud. I look forward to that day. If the path is too damn hard, we’ll find another. But it’s a road we have to walk, and a destination we can’t afford to ignore.
Brittish Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined a plan to offer the morning-after pill at schools to reduce teen pregnancies. Should the United States follow suit?
“No, because teenagers should be responsible for their actions. They shouldn’t be able to take a pill to kill their babies.“ -Ali Brewer Sophomore
“No. It’s your fault if you get pregnant and you should suffer the consequences for your actions.” -Caitlin Walsh, Junior
Sept. 18, 2006
“Of course. The availability of the morning after pill will reduce teen pregnancies.” -Ben McNamara, Senior
Q&
page 8 [features]
with Claire Marston
on having a lead role in the Rockhurst musi-
by [jenn sunderland]
Claire Marston, a junior at East, has been professionally acting since she was seven and modeling on runways and in photoshoots with the help of an agent. However, she has tried out for multiple East productions and was given only minor parts at best. This year, she took her talent to Rockhurst and won the lead role in the show “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.” What is the musical about? It’s like the movie “Clue.” It’s a murder-mystery and it’s a comedy. It’s a lot of actors, producers and writers trying to get a show together. There’s a murder involved. They’re trying to find out who the killer is. It’s funny! How did you decide to try out? I looked online. I wanted to try out but didn’t freshman year, then I didn’t have enough time sophomore year, and I was like ‘OK, well I’m kind of getting old! I have to do it eventually.’ The day I looked [online] was the day before the audition and I was like, ‘Great, I’ll just go ahead and
showtime!
when & where
Nov. 8, 9, 10 and 11 at Rockhurst
how you get tickets go to rockhursths.edu for ticket information
audition.’ So I did, and I got it! We started rehearsals two weeks ago and had tryouts the week before that. What are you most excited about? I’m excited I get to be a lead role at Rockhurst or just in any musical because I never thought that’d actually happen. East is so big; there’s so much talent, so much competition. Have you tried out for plays at East? Yeah! Almost all of them, except for “Medea.” I’ve tried out for all the musicals, all the main stages and several Frequent Fridays. I’ve done two Frequent Fridays and I did “Dearly Departed,” but I thought I’d do this because there’s less competition. And there was. What’s your character like? She’s 40 or 50 years old and very eccentric. She’s really ditzy. It’s set in the 1940s so she kind of wears gypsyish clothes; she’s kind of crazy. She’s somewhat tipsy during the play and she faints a lot. I love it! I’ve played ditzy parts at East, so there’s some experience. Why do you think you got the part? I didn’t think I’d get it at all. I was really shocked. I usually try out for things and think, ‘This will just help them remember me next time I try out,’ so I was just shocked I got a part in the first show I tried out for at Rockhurst. Maybe it’s because I
have a lot of energy? I’m not sure. What parts did you play at East? In “Dearly Departed” I was a chorus member. “American Dream” was a Frequent Friday freshman year and I played Mrs. Barker. I was in “Disenchanted” last year and I played Alice in “Alice in Wonderland” for that. How long have you been acting? I’ve been acting since I was seven. I’ve done Theater in the Park, MTYP [Music Theater for Young People], plays in middle school, a commercial and some modeling. I’ve only done one runway show and two photo shoots, though. What is the hardest part of being a lead role? Learning all the lines and balancing rehearsal and dance classes and school work and social life, which I won’t have much of for the next few months. What do you expect to do in the next year? A lot more theater, hopefully more modeling. Probably more shows at East. I’ve done a lot at East in the past, but I can’t do much besides this show until about November. Then I’ll try to photo courtesy of Claire Marston
MEG SHACK-
HOMECOMING? love,
BEN
Sock it to Poverty! Drive Sept. 18-29 Donate new socks to English class (The class with the most wins a prize!) Contact: Anee-Sophia Jackson (913) 341-0351 Laura Nelson (913) 642-1342
the [harbinger]
page 9 [features]
Catching up
Tired after years of using technology older than Olathe’s or Blue Valley’s, Shawnee Mission revamps district electronics and software.
At East, Brock Wenciker, a Calculus AB teacher will be attempting to use CPS in class for reviews and direct instruction this year. Wenciker said that his Math Prep class will use CPS weekly for enrichment activities and instruction in class. “[CPS] helps kids learn because it enforces them to be engaged in their own learning rather than passive,” Wenciker said. In addition to palms being used in Olathe for CPS they are also used for e-mailing assignments beween students and teachers. In this way, the palms act as a high-tech planner where notes can be taken and the Internet is accessible. To make the palms even more useful, Franklin is considering purchasing e-books. They could be accessed through a PC or even downloaded to a palm. “With e-books, the entire text of a book can be viewed on something like a wireless handheld,” Franklin said. “This could really improve the loads of books kids have to carry.” Not all the students in Olathe enjoy these wireless handheld’s though. Jesi Egan, a senior at Olathe Northwest, thinks the palms are a huge waste of money. “At $300 dollars a palm, these things aren’t worth the time,” Egan said. “We would be much better off saving up to get everyone laptops.” According to Egan, the palms break a lot and are actually inefficient when it comes to note taking. “I probably use [my palm] once every two months when I am beamed a test,”she said. With new technology increasing every year, Cavallaro of Shawnee Mission sees a future beyond palms where all students are provided with laptops that have access to their textbooks online. “I can see WiFi being provided by the government and being all over the city,” Cavallaro said. “Students could access the
adding it up: the cost of technology Olathe school district individual palm pilot: $309 total spent on palm $736,384.25 pilots in 2006: individual SMART $3,500 board:
Shawnee Mission school district all SMART boards: $21,000
There is no available funding for SMART technology at the moment.
AR Tb
oar d
defined as: district technology. SMART board:
Although similar to a white board, this screen also has a computer inside that connect to both a projector and a monitor. Teachers use these for powerpoints and interactive computer presentations.
This small electronic tablet, a little like AirLiner wireless slate: the screen of a laptop, connects to both
the SMART boards and a “podium” for the slate. Every student in the class can use one simultaneously to make lessons more interactive.
Classroom Performance System:
Consisting of a “handheld student response pad,” the CPS, as it is called, allows students to respond to questions through the electronics without embarassing themselves in front of the
information courtesy of www2.smarttech.com
helpingtheout: East Fund. The East Fund’s money will fund much of the East technology upgrade. Here’s a summary of the Fund and what they try to do for our school. Mission statement: Bring together the diverse community at Shawnee Mission East to:
• Identify the best ways to enhance the educational experience for students and teachers alike, and • Create resources to offer the widest possible range of opportunities for all students and teachers to reach their maximum potential.
What grants they’ve financed so far:
• Shakespeare in the Classroom (Kelly Fast, Michael Pulsinelli: $9,000): paid for Kansas City Repertory Theater actors to come to English 10H classes and teach students acting, script-writing and improvisational skills for “Othello” and “Julius Caesar.” • Lancer Coffee Bistro (Julie Paradise, Colleen Broadwater: $6,000): paid for the supplies and equipment for the soon-to-come Eastcoffee shop, run by the special education students as part of vocational training. • Counseling department website design (Laura Lamb: $2,500): paid for the design of the counseling department website to help parents and students answer questions on their own. The number of counselors decreased, and Lamb felt that this would help the counselors, parents and students cope with the loss of a counselor.
information courtesy of The East Fund
Sept. 18, 2006
logo photos courtesy of Olathe and Blue Valley districts; photos by Rachel Wooldridge
by [bernadette myer]
(continued from page 1) “The entire high school checks out a palm at the beginning of every school year,” said Olathe Northwest principal Gwen Poss. “Some students may only use them in classes like English and others could use them in all their classes.” According to associate principal Steven Loe, East is ahead of the other Shawnee Mission schools in terms of technology because of the East Fund, which is composed of grants and donations. Neighboring districts, however, like Blue Valley and Olathe, exceed Shawnee Mission when it comes to SMART technology. Olathe even provides palm pilots to their students. All of these schools budget differently for these expenses. Blue Valley has a $1 million annual budget for curriculum related technology. If a specific curriculum area requires SMART Technology, then it comes from that fund. Right now, Shawnee Mission has no funding for SMART technology; however, Rich Cavallaro, the district director of Shawnee Mission, said this may change once the digital projector installation project is complete. These projectors will be able to connect to the teacher’s PC and a newly installed DVD/VCR set with a TV. It will be able to project from any of these units onto any surface. This is supposed to be completed by Jan. 2007. “These projectors are not as interactive as SMART boards, but they do provide good resources to learn from,” Loe said. This technology has become an important factor in education. Library Media Specialist Lori Franklin of Olathe East feels SMART technologies are more engaging for students in today’s technology rich environment. “You can place a powerpoint Jeopardy game for math up on the SMART board and students can come up and “hit” the category they are interested in,” said Franklin. “Then they can use their handheld computers to work the formula in the question asked.” Right now, East has six full size SMART boards that were provided for by the East fund. In the Olathe school district, there is SMART technology,which is provided by the district, in every classroom. Every “digital classroom” costs about $3500. “Each teacher has access to a ceiling mounted video projector and either an InterWrite School Pad or a SMART Airliner,” Poss said. The pad and airliner are like handheld SMART boards allowing teachers to access the internet and any document. These devices are projected onto a screen so the whole class can participate. Notes can be taken with on the screen digital ink so that the lesson can be saved and e-mailed directly to the students. SMART technologies are just one of the many advancements schools are acquiring. CPS is not just a program for palms. Normally, it is purchased as a remote control set where students use the remote to answer questions. Cavallaro hopes to start using more of CPS. “I think [CPS] is a good system that can help kids learn how to take tests,” Cavallaro said. The system also allows students, once tests are finished, to compare answers. This also helps the teacher understand why the students are picking those specific answers.
SM
A brighter smile
page 10 [features]
An inside look into the tips of teeth whitening by [rachel mayfield]
Teeth whitening has become one of the most sought after dental procedures today. Now that teeth whitening systems can be bought over the counter at any drugstore or pharmacy, people are trying numerous methods to whiten their teeth. According to Web MD, a health web site, discolored teeth can be caused by a number of things like coffee, tobacco, wine, age, too much fluoride, tea, dark sodas or chocolate. These are only a few reasons why people choose to whiten their teeth. Yet some over-the-counter products can cause teeth sensitivity and deteriorate enamel if overused or used improperly. Corinth Dentistry Office Coordinator Betty Clark says that it is always a good idea to consult your dentist before whitening. “A lot of people don’t know what they have to do in order to take care of their teeth once they have been whitened to
to activate the gel, the dentist applies a low-heat light that penetrates the teeth. This process is repeated twice. To end, the patient has a 5-minute fluoride treatment.
And the
doctor says... •If teeth whitening systems are bought from the dentist’s office, the formula is stronger and more effective. •Recomended at-home products: Rembrant White Strips, Crest White Strips, Zoom Therapy, Bleach Trays. information courtesy of the Corinth Dentistry
at home whitening
options
photos by patrick mayfield
Sophomore learns ballroom dance...
stepby step
Right Bravlasky poses in the middle of a turn while her instructor keeps beats for her routine Below Laughing, Bravlasky spins in to her instuctor while working on a traditional move that she has begun to master.
Above Sophomore Michelle Braslavsky watches her feet as she works on her ballroom dancing steps Left Braslavsky, working on balance and technique, is turned by her instructor during her lesson. photos by katie woods
the [harbinger]
photos by Katie Woods
photo by katie woods
keep them white,” Clark said. “ By not watching what you eat, teeth can quickly go back to their old color.” Getting your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist can sometimes be time-consuming. To achieve the ideal white shade, a patient must have two to six visits. This can cost anywhere between $600 to $2000 dollars. Depending upon how necessary the procedure is will determine how much it will cost and how many visits to the dentist it will take. Junior Maggie Newell has been using bleach trays from her dentist for a year and a half. The dentist makes a mold of the mouth to form the trays that come with filling gel. Bleaching trays can cost about $300. “You can really see a difference in my teeth when I use the trays,” Newell said. “Its hard to do it a lot though because you have to leave the trays in for at least two hours.” Junior Catherine Ward has been using Crest White Strips twice a year since freshman year. “The White Strips work for me,” Ward said. “I can usually see a difference after about four or five days of using them.” Another way to get white teeth is by using a system called “Zoom.” By using Zoom, a patient can get their teeth up to 10 shades whiter. First, a dentist must check the patient’s mouth because some patients’ mouths are not healthy enough for bleaching. Next, the Zoom whitening gel is applied. In order
page 11 [features]
New kid on the block Officer Brady Sullivan enters his first year at East by [michael hake]
When Student Resource Officer Brady Sullivan arrives at school at 7:15 with his police uniform on and briefcase in hand, he’s ready to start the day. In only his first year at East, he is already getting a feel for the school and its students. “He’s been impressive,” SRO John Betzer said. “He has a natural aptitude for the job. He’s been a very quick learner.” Although he still looks like a patrol officer wearing his full police attire, being an SRO covers a lot more than just law enforcement. While keeping the peace in the hallways, he also acts as a counselor to students with both in or out of school problems. “[Helping kids] is one of the major parts of my day,” Sullivan said of the many situations he deals with. “If it’s a significant event I’ll pull them in and talk to them.” According to Assistant Principal Ron Mersch, approachability is a very important attribute in an SRO. “[We chose him] because of his ability to affectively communicate with teenagers.” That ability to communicate with teens has already become apparent, as he can often be seen talking to a group of students during lunch or in the hallways. “I don’t want students to only have contact with the police when they are in trouble,” he said. “The interaction with the students makes it less like work and more like just hanging out.” Sullivan first became interested in being a police officer in middle school when his older sister became a cop in Allen, Texas. They still stay in touch today.
“
“We get together and share cop stories, it’s like a one-upping competition,” he said. “I’ll say one thing I’ve seen [on the job], then she’ll say ‘Oh yeah we’ll I’ve seen this.’” He has already seen several crazy things since he became a policeman in January of 2004. Like the time he saw a woman give birth in a toilet. Or when a gunshot went off in the house he was investigating. “We were searching a mental subject’s house, and he shot himself while we were in it,” he said. “When you’re in a dark house and hear gunshots its pretty scary.” As well as being the SRO for East, he was recently reassigned to the Investigations Division as a Juvenile and Sex Crimes Detective. When his four years at East is up he aspires to work in Adult Investigations, and maybe move up the ranks and become a Sergeant or Corporal. At home is his wife of over a year, and the dog they bought. His favorite hobbies are fishing and boating, usually in Grand Lake, Oklahoma. “[My wife] likes it a lot that I’m an SRO,” Sullivan said. She wouldn’t want me to work where there are homicides every day,” he said. Sometimes I’ll tell her about something a little dangerous we did and she’ll be like ‘Oh my god.’” It really hits home.” After he is finished at East he will go back to being a patrol officer for the Prairie Village Police Department, where he plans on working until retirement.
photo by katie woods
I don’t want students to only have contact with the police when they are in trouble.
Gazing out at the senior lot, Officer Brady Sullivan greets students as they come to school each day. Sullivan is doing his best to be available to the student body and get aquainted with the community here at East.
9/11: A look back
by [amanda allison] and [derek martin]
“The exact moment, 8:32 a.m., I was in the car... we watched the news the whole hour and everyone was crying. It felt really far away and didn’t seem like it would affect me. I didn’t realize it would affect me today, like at the airport. I think I just felt removed from it. I had no idea how it would affect me today.” -Emmi Scott, senior “I didn’t know what was happening. Nobody told you. We didn’t know. I wish I was older… I would have been a lot more worried and scared.” -Abby Scott
”
As we remember the fifth anniversary of the attack on America, we see a generational gap forming among highschool students and kids who are not yet at East. We spoke with three students and their younger siblings about their memories of the events that day...
I couldn’t fathom that people were dying from this. Teachers were in and out and kept reporting what they had learned. We watched the tower fall…I remember realizing that it’s not just a building….there were people in it. It was a weird feeling seeing people die.” Courtney Pennington, junior “She just told us to not worry about it if we heard older kids talking about it. She was asking if we had parents or people that we knew that were flying. We were really nervous. I was scared because I thought they would come to Kansas City. ” -Emma Pennington
Sept. 18, 2006
“I remember all the teachers were crying, and we were the first class to find out.” -Steve Sykes, junior
“I remember all the teachers were crying, and we were the first class to find out.” -Kiki Sykes
on the
page 12 [spread]
Junior pays for accident with own money to avoid raise in insurance by [stephen nichols] “Oh my gosh, calm down, David,” Junior David Isenberg said to himself after he had backed his Mercury Sable into last year senior Rachel Maynard’s car. It was Isenberg’s first accident and he wasn’t even sure what insurance information he was supposed to have or for that matter where it was in the car. After a phone call to his mom, he was ready to get out of the car. “It was pretty calm,” Isenberg said. “We had to exchange names, insurance and policy number but we both agreed we were going to get it fixed without insurance.” Rather then watch his insurance rates go up after the accident, Isenberg paid for his repairs without the company’s help. “There was no insurance involved because in the long run it was better to pay out of my own pocket,” he said. This is a decision that insurance
agent Joe Lucas would have recommended himself. “If the damage is under the deductible there’s no point in turning it into the insurance company because they’re not going to pay for it,” he said. A person’s deductible is a set amount that a person will pay before the insurance company will cover the damage. For example, Isenberg’s deductible is $1,000 but the repairs only cost him roughly $400, which meant that if he had reported the accident then his rates would have gone up without getting any help from the insurance corporations. “Your rates are going to jump 15 to 20 percent with one accident,” said Lucas. “Why turn [the insurance report] in and get the black mark and have to pay for it anyway?” However, if there is an accident and the damage is substantial, Lucas goes over the steps to handle the situation in
a calm and efficient manner. First, after the accident, make sure no one is injured and then proceed to exchange information with the other driver. Never claim responsibility for the accident; that’s for the insurance companies to decide. Then, call the police and fill out an accident report. Once home, call the insurance agent of the company and give them the information. From there, the insurance companies should handle it. If the insurance company decides that the accident does turn out to be your fault, be ready to pay higher rates. “If any driver is in an accident, there’s a very slim chance that they won’t increase your rates,” Lucas said.
RECO
Collision.
Senior put on diversion for speeding and reckless driving by [stephen nichols]
1 4
2
SEVEN
steps to take after a car accident
3
Make sure First, make sure you and Call the police and that everyyour passengers are not report the accident. one in the injured. other car is OK. If you have a camera, take Exchange pictures of the damage and insurContact your the location of the cars. ance info, insurance agent phone numbers When the police and give them details and licenses arrive, fill out the about the accident. with the other report. all information courtesy of Joe Lucas driver.
5 6
7
Speeding.
$1500
From a variety of movin students learn how to tal and keep black marks o
INSURA $1500
$1400
$1400
$1300 $1200 $1100
Insurance #1: Rates for a 16-year-old male who is not driving a high performance car with one accident.
$1000 $100
Insurance Rates Yearly
the After Accident:
off of his insurance. Insurance agent Joe Lucas explained that if Atkinson had not been able to be put on diversion, it would have wrecked havoc on his insurance. “They would have hit him with a major spike in his insurance,” Lucas said. “Best case scenario, it would have doubled. Worst case scenario, the insurance company wouldn’t have renewed him.” To keep insurance rates low after a speeding ticket Lucas recommends paying a multiple of the ticket to keep it off the insurance statement. “If you’re between 16 and 21 and you get a ticket, pay the multiple and get the thing [ticket] fixed,” Lucas said. Although Atkinson’s situation is different than just a speeding ticket, it could get even worse if he is hit with one more moving violation ticket. Then, along with that ticket, his speeding ticket and reckless driving will be put on his insurance record giving him three strikes in the span of one day which means he might be out of an insurance company.
Insurance Rates Yearly
“When the light turns green, go!” James Kurz yelled out the window of his grey Saab 900 to Senior Michael Atkinson as they waited at the 75th and Mission stoplight. They were both in the left lane and Kurz needed to make a right at Somerset, a few streets north. The plan was to speed ahead of the rest of the other cars so Kurz could make it into the right lane. The light changed to green. “He got next to me and we just kept going,” Atkinson said. They shot out of the intersection and whizzed down Mission. The speedometer jumped quickly, leaving the 35 mph speed limit in their dust. By the time they hit Somerset, a motorcycle cop was directing them into Corinth Square. Atkinson was clocked going 66 mph. As a result of going over the speed limit by more than 30 mph, he was also arrested for reckless driving. He had to post bail along with a variety of other costs including teller and lawyer fees, which totaled over $1,000. Because speed alone cannot determine reckless driving, Atkinson was allowed a six-month diversion period. If he doesn’t receive another moving violation ticket, both the reckless driving charge and the speeding ticket will be kept
$1300
$1200 $1100
$1000
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0 years
1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years Time with License: One Year Periods
the [harbinger]
5 years
6 years
0 years
1 year 2 years Time with Licens
page 13 [spread]
Senior charged with driving under the influence after WPA
ORD
by [daniel heady] It was the week before WPA, and Sarah Smith* had a bad feeling. She thought the after party was going to be fun. But knew she would be taking a risk. The night started out as it was supposed to: salmon and a glass of champagne before the dance. Drink number one. “I couldn’t really feel it at the dance,” Smith said. At the first party, she had a beer. Drink number two. At the next party, she downed two more beers: drinks three and four. Then someone handed her a glass. “I was told it was a mixed drink, so I started drinking,” Smith said. “Teens gulp, they don’t sip, so I downed it and I don’t remember anything after that” She tasted the Everclear. As the night went on, Smith drank more. She doesn’t remember beer number five, or the five shots afterwards. “There are pictures of me drinking drinks that I don’t even remember having,” Smith said. At 1:50 a.m., 10 minutes until curfew, she stumbled over the coffee table on the way out. Her date said nothing. “I guess he thought I could drive,”
DUI. photos by samantha ludington and karen boomer
Smith said. She and her date had talked about using a taxi prior to the dance. “Just in case,” Smith said. “But I was beyond the point of comprehension so we didn’t call.” While driving her date home, Smith hit several curbs and when she pulled into his driveway, she turned off her headlights. They walked to the door, and kissed. When she pulled out, her car headlights were still off. “He chased after me to remind me to turn them on,” Sarah said. “That should have been a clue.” It was then that she got pulled over. “It was like I woke up from a dream; I had never been that blacked out before,” Smith said. “It was all clear when he tapped on my window.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes three tests for drunk drivers: the horizontal gaze, the walk and turn and the one-leg stand. “He knew immediately that I was drunk,” Smith said. “I couldn’t even walk.” After the DUI test, Smith was taken to the police station.
Kansas’s “Zero Tolerance” policy means that any teenage driver blowing a .02 or above on a Breathalyzer is considered drunk. According to officer Erik McCullough of the Prairie Village Police Department people think that they can cheat the test, by either blowing softly or just refusing to take the test. The penalties of an underage DUI include a suspended license for a year and up to one year of diversion. Cindy Jarvis of American Family Insurance estimates that a teenage DUI could double your monthly payments. “I’ve spent over $2,000 on court fees and fines and lawyers,” Smith said. “People think that we are just trying to be mean when we pull you over, but we have worked the accidents and seen the trauma,” Officer McCullough said. “We are trying to protect you.” Smith was lucky, she didn’t die or kill anyone, but she did make a mistake. “Even if you don’t know the person, take their keys when they are drunk,” Smith said. “They will thank you in the morning. I should have died that night. I don’t know why I didn’t.” *Name changed to protect privacy.
Senior charged $90 for rolling through stop sign by [daniel heady] Open lunch was supposed to be a break from the stress of a school day. However, for senior Paul Wiseman, it wasn’t. “Open lunch was much less stressful until I realized the fear of the police hiding behind every corner,” he said. Wiseman was on his way back from eating lunch at Arby’s in Corinth Square when he decided to take a short cut. Full from their “five for 5.95” deal, he decided to go down El Monte. “We didn’t even need to go down that street,” he said. “But we figured that it would be more efficient.” As Wiseman approached the 79th St. stop sign, his friend senior David Sabin pointed out the motorcycle cop in the southeast corner driveway at the intersection. “I saw the cop as I was turning, but I figured that I had stopped enough that it wouldn’t really be that big of a deal,” Wiseman said. “But as soon as I turned onto Delmar, I saw him in my rear view mirror.”
Misc.
ng violations, lk to insurance agents off their licenses.
The first thing that went through Wiseman’s head was that he would only get a warning. He pulled into the YMCA parking lot and turned down his Keane CD. “He asked for my license and registration and at that point I knew I was going to get a ticket,” Wiseman said. “I figured like a $50 ticket max, but when he came back he handed me the ticket and it was $90 for rolling a stop sign.” “Most of the time one ticket isn’t going to affect your insurance rates,” Cindy Jarvis, American Family Insurance agent, said, “but after you get two or more your rates will start going up because most companies remove certain discounts that you receive.” “My insurance hasn’t said anything yet,” Wiseman said. “I have gotten two tickets but they have been a while apart. In the end, the moral is to be careful when driving and obey all the rules, because that day instead of arriving back at school $5.95 poorer, I arrived over $90 poorer.”
3 years 4 years se: One Year Periods
5 years
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Insurance #3: Rates for a 16 year old male who is not driving a high performance car with no accidents
$100
0 years
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Time with License: One Year Periods
5 years
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Sept. 18, 2006
Insurance Rates Yearly
Insurance Rates Yearly
ANCE RATES Insurance #2: Rates for a 16 year old female who is not driving a high performance car with one accident
$1500
$1200 $1100
$1000
Insurance #4: Rates for a 16 year old female who is driving a high performance car with one accident
$100
0 years
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Time with License: One Year Periods
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Q&a
“
‘The Leaping Tuna of Kirschenbaum East’ A parody of East written by retired biology teacher Rick Gould .did.you.get.the.memo? during his time at East gould wrote fake memos to the staff satirizing school events Gould talks about a few
by [laura nelson]
What was your first inspiration for the book? Why did you write it? My last eight years at East, I wrote memos all the time satirizing what was happening in the schools. Teachers at East told me, “You ought to write a book about this.” So after I retired, I started to write. I didn’t have any writing skills – I’d written memos, but that was all. They became the framework for the book. The actual writing I didn’t enjoy, it’s not my thing, but I enjoyed piecing everything together like a puzzle to make it all fit the actual book.
just getting my copies out now.
When was the book first published? August was official publication date.
What is your favorite anecdote from the book? The principal really wanted to be a millionaire, and spent two chapters of the book on the show.
How long did the process take? There were a lot of editorial concerns, and publication took about nine months. Writing took about a year and a half, but I’d been working on and off for about eight years. How did Amazon pick your book up? There’s a division of Amazon called BookSurge, which markets their books through the site. My book is a part of Book Surge. How successful have sales been so far? I have no idea. The actual books were only published a few weeks ago, and I’m
for yourself. And I’m not trying to sell you a book, either.
What does the title mean? A few years ago, I was in Iowa, and I saw this bronze statue of a fish called “Leaping Tuna.” I thought, “That would be a great school mascot.” So when I sat down to write, that’s what I thought of. And a long time ago, I had a student named Debbie Kirschenbaum who was a great kid, and I thought she deserved to have a school named after her. And then I picked a direction – east – because it was the easiest to spell.
Are all the characters based on East teachers? All the characters are based off of East teachers, but some are combined because there were so many characters. The book became overwhelming. What point are you trying to get across to your audience? If I gave the point away, it would kill the story. To tell people in advance would ruin it. I’m not trying to make the book out to be a mystery, but the ending and the point are issues you have to find our
What responses have you gotten from the book so far? People really like it, mostly people from education. It’s easier for teachers to relate to what is going on in the school. It limits audiences a little if they don’t really connect with the problems teachers have and what things they go through. Do you plan on this book going national? To be honest, I’ve been working on this book for so long that I’m burned out. I don’t care that much anymore. It’s nice to have it finished, and I hope it will do all right, but I’ve moved on. Do you plan to write any more? I’ve been thinking about writing the sequel, “Return to Kirschenbaum,” but this book was a long haul, and I didn’t have so much fun with the writing. So I may not. Any other thoughts? This book was just for fun. It wasn’t meant to offend anyone. Students might not like it that much beause it’s really aimed more towards teachers, and it’s silly. I have no writing talent. But it’s kind of fun.
“
page 14 [features]
•
The teachers had to do something called QPA, which stood for something like Quality Progress Analysis, or something. We had to keep doing activities in class, reading and data analysis. I hated it and I thought I shouldn’t have to do it. I never turned it in. I got notes from the committee saying I hadn’t turned in my results. So what I did was I sent out a note, fake memo, saying that the national office had gotten upset when we had no control group to compare the new QPA standards to. And all these teachers turned in their names because it meant they didn’t have to do work.
•
Another is during the Lancer Day parade, we all got positions that we had to go to along Mission Rd – 75th, etc. But that year, they were doing road work on Mission and the parade was rerouted, so I sent out another fake memo telling people their newest positions for the parade. They were going out to 435 and Holmes, the Grandview Triangle… it was crazy. And some people believed me.
•
One I almost got in trouble for was a parody of the organization OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I played off of it and sent a memo titled OSHA – Our School Has Asbestos. And somehow, it worked its way to the administration office, and the superintendent called the principal wanting to know who’s written it. I don’t think anyone told, but that was the closest I got to getting in trouble for one.
by [erin morrissey]
Art teacher Courtney Sivewright’s eyes widened as she looked out across the cafeteria. About 100 students sat chatting loudly and filling out sign-up sheets, waiting for the first National Art Honor Society meeting of the year to start. Sivewright was surprised by the amount of students in attendance. The meetings used to be a little quieter. Last year, NAHS had 60 to 70 members. This year, as of the first meeting, over 100 students had signed up. “I was so excited to see all the new members. It was almost a little scary,” she said. “The new members will bring fresh ideas and more manpower. It can do nothing but good.” NAHS is a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have achieved at least a “B” average in all of their art classes. These students band together to put on events centered around art. Last year, through art auctions and a fashion show, NAHS raised roughly $3000 for the American Red Cross, $3000 for the Lukemia Society, and $2500 for Outreach International. “With more members, we’ll be able to raise awareness and raise more money,” NAHS Co-President Elizabeth Allen-Cannon said. NAHS plans to donate more money to local causes this year, such as the Friends of the Thomas Hart Benton Museum. The fall auction will be held at the Thomas Hart Benton house this year, thanks to AllenCannon. “I work there, and I talked to my boss about it. They were really excited and have been really helpful in getting it all together,” Allen-Cannon said. The auction is slated to be held on Oct. 21, but the time
has yet to be announced. Although an exact percentage has not been decided upon, the proceeds from the auction will be divided between NAHS and the Friends of the Thomas Hart Benton House. “Having more people will really help us with all of these events,” Co-President Katie Wright said. “We’ll be more organized and able to accomplish more.” Through fundraisers such as this, the NAHS exec board hopes to raise art awareness throughout the community. Projects are designed to both raise money and show people outside the art department the talent that many students possess. They plan to become more involved with elementary and middle schools through activities such as a traveling art show and a children’s day here at East. They are hopeful that this will increase enrollment in art classes in years to come. “We have great art resources here that are often overlooked,” Wright said. “We just want to make people aware that we really take art seriously.” Students who, as Wright said, take their art seriously, find a home for themselves in NAHS. With different projects and events, there are numerous ways to get involved, showcase their art, and make friends. And, this year, with more members, there will be many more people doing just that. “It’s important for all students to have an outlet,” Sivewright said. “It gives students who aren’t necessarily a jock or cheerleader a place to belong. It gives kids a place.”
the [harbinger]
photo by: Katie Woods
NAHS increases Enrollment
Painting teacher Cortney Sivewright speaks at the NAHS information meeting to a largerthan-usual group
mini-feed frustration students are fed up with the new
page 15 [features]
“
“
Mission 3:36 p.m. Shawnee East posted on your wall:
format of Facebook
photos by Tayler Phillips
by [joey soptic]
For many high school students, the end of the world can be nothing more than a simple breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Most like to keep this information from floating to too many people. Those with Facebook memberships will be disappointed to find that with the new “News Feed,” this
information will be displayed throughout Facebook to all of their “Friends.” The ever-changing Facebook has once again added a new feature, making it harder to do simple tasks like check your own messages. Called “News and Mini-Feed,” this newest “Makeover” for Facebook is a list of all of a person’s activity. “It is kind of unnerving,” sophomore Jane Mahoney said. “There isn’t really any privacy anymore.” The MiniFeed shows everything from a person’s status to who they have become friends with, and what time the event occurred. “Everyone’s info was just hosted on their main page,” senior Tyler Perkins said. “Every action was monitored, everyone knows all your actions.” Many petitions were created and groups within Facebook protesting the “News Feed.” Within days, thousands of groups appeared protesting the mini-feed. Such groups as “Students Against Facebook News Feed” hold over 740,000 members. “The protesting proved it was a bad idea,” Perkins said. “When that many people are against it, it should be altered
or abolished.” According to New Age Media, over one million of the nine million users spoke out on the new feature, and demanded its removal. “I didn’t think of it as a big deal,” sophomore David Hobart said. “Then I got like five invitations to mini feed protest groups.” Thousands of groups exist with that sole purpose in mind. A few days after its release, creator Mark Zuckerburg and his designers redesigned the news feed so that many of the options can be turned off. Creator Mark Zuckerberg replied to the public outcry with a long letter beginning with simply, “Calm down. Breathe. We hear you.” “I like the idea,” senior Matt Mullett said. “It adds more functionality to Facebook. If you don’t want it, that’s what privacy settings are for. If you don’t want to have it, you can just opt out.” The Feed is still there, it can just be made less revealing with the updated privacy settings. “If you don’t want people to see your info,” Mullett said. “Then just don’t put it there.”
Go Lancers!
Adults: $12 - Seniors: $10 Group Rate, 10 or More: $8 - Students: $5 New Curtain Times: Friday & Saturday venings at 7:30 p.m. Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m. The Barn Players 6219 Martway Mission, KS 66202 www.thebarnplayers.org 913-9100
Sept. 5, 2006
mixed page 16 [mixed]
samanth a l u to by din pho ton
Idolizing American Idol
by [adrienne wood]
ph
oto
Sophomore Legna Cedillo will do anything for a chance to perform Whitney Houston hits on the neon blue stage of “American Idol.” Three weeks ago, a radio ad announced that Mix 93.3 was offering a chance to travel to Seattle to try out for the reality show. She called the station, waited for the beep on the Mix answering machine, and sang her version of Christina Aguilera’s “Walk Away”— a song that “shows off her vocals and can be heard clearly over the phone.”
by rac h
el y ou
ng
“Singing is always what I’ve wanted to do,” Cedillo said. “And I want to be on ‘American Idol.’ This was a chance to get a jumpstart on my goals.” Although Cedillo never received the awaited pack-your-bags call, her hope is high for next year’s season, when she plans to travel to Seattle to try out. Cedillo has been singing in school choirs since elementary school and recently began private voice lessons. “I really want to be a pop star.”
Asking Away photos by Rachel Wooldridge
by [meg fracol]
by [hallie mccormick] Google Trends. See what the world is searching. You think that you’re the only one who searched Google for “facts about salami”? Go to Google trends and see how many others have. Google trends show you the highs and lows of popularity for a search through a line graph. You can track the search from as far back as January 2004. Through Google trends you can also see which states and countries the search is most popular. For example: salami hit record search popularity in mid 2004 when deli owners started sending salami to U.S. troops. Apparently people in New Zealand and San Francisco were very interested in the subject. No matter how weird the subject, go to Google trends and see just how popular the search really is.
Top 10 Homecoming Accessories 1
2
hot date your ticket
3
shoes
4
5
boutonniere clutch or & corsage purse
6
camera
A human-sized box crept sneakily down the neighborhood street. Children playing stopped to watch the odd sight. In the meantime, Senior Olivia Curran waited inside her house for friend J.J. James to pick her up and go out for ice-cream. Walking by a window, Curran saw a gigantic cardboard box rustling on her front step. The doorbell rang. Suspicious, she went to answer the door. The giant box sat in front of her doorway all by its lonesome- no one was in sight. A sign atop it read, “Will you go to homecoming with the contents of this box?” Laughing, Curran opened the box and out popped senior Alex Hodges. Successful in his attempt, Hodges had found a date to homecoming. Freshman Lauren Bleakley was doing her homework when the doorbell rang. Ignoring the door, she continued on with homework. Her mother called from downstairs; someone had left something for her. As she reached the front doorway her mother handed her a brown paper bag. Inside was a note that said “Wash me” along with a white t-shirt with the word “Homecoming” written in many-colored sharpies. The back of the t-shirt listed 5 different names of her guy friends, including Sam Carpenter. Bleakley already knew that Carpenter was planning to ask her, but she followed the directions anyway and filled the kitchen sink with water so she could wash the t-shirt right away. Before the t-shirt was even dry, all writing but “Homecoming” on the front and “Sam Carpenter” on the back had disappeared. The other names had been written in washable marker. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Carpenter’s number.
Meanwhile, Carpenter waited in his bedroom with his cell phone nearby should Bleakley call. Only 20 minutes after dropping off that important package, his phone began to ring. Relieved to hear Bleakley’s voice on the other end with a definite yes answer, Carpenter was ready to attend his first high school dance.
7
8
jewelry Banaca mint spray
the [harbinger]
9
10
pocket silks [hankerchiefs put in suit pocket]
hair-do
vitalvietnamese
page 17 [a&e]
This hidden treasure has both fast service and mouth-watering peanut sauce
by [hallie mccormick]
Taking a closer look at three ticker concerts
Weston Irish Festival
Although Weston, MO is a drive, the festival is worth it
Jitney
by the KC Reperatory Theatre
• The traditional Irish fair runs from Oct. 13-Oct. 15. It’s filled with music, piping and dancing on four large stages of entertainment.
Guster
• Ryan, Joe, Brian, and Adam make up Guster, coming to KC on Sept. 22. • They call themselves stenographers, name their instruments, and crack jokes.
• The bands that are playing include Young Dubliners, Brigid’s Cross, Ellis Island, Tullamore, The Elders, Connie Dover, Tom Dahill, The Mickey Finns, Seven Nations, Bob Reeder, and Eddie Delahunt.
photo from www.guster.com
photo from www.guster.com
3 Fall Events •
photo by frances lafferty
After driving down 39th street three times, I finally spotted Saigon 39’s sign. Whether it was my poor sense of direction or placement of the Vietnamese restaurant sign, it took me awhile to find the Westport area restaurant. I realized once I entered Saigon’s foyer the difficulty of finding the restaurant was just because of its tucked away, family run restaurant atmosphere. After I met up with the rest of my friends who were going to sample Saigon 39, we were immediately ushered into a room decorated with red hues and bamboo. They had even lined the walls with Asian hats made into lanterns. We ordered spring rolls right away, and they were placed at our table within four minutes. The creamy peanut sauce the rolls come with was amazing. It was good enough that I used chopsticks to scoop up the sauce-covered carrots and lettuce that had dropped out of its rice paper wrapping. Saigon 39’s menu provides the Vietnamese basics. Their menu isn’t so long that you feel that you have homework when you scan the list. I personally don’t like any kind of rice noodles—the seethrough, thin, white noodles that stick to the sides of the bowl, so I didn’t try any of the rice noodle dishes. But I loved the fat, yellow egg noodles they serve. With any noodle or rice dish you can choose beef, chicken or shrimp to go with the red peppers, onions, carrots, and broccoli that are mixed in. Saigon 39’s noodle sauces are a perfect combination of sweet and spicy. They’ll ask you whether you want your meal mild, medium or spicy. Keep in mind that their mild sauce seems to be medium and their medium hot, and their hot—I didn’t have the courage to try. The same sauce warning goes for the fried rice. Everyone got an appetizer and an entrée all for about $10 a person. Not bad considering the quality of the mounds of food balanced on oval plates. The service was also good. It was fast enough for us to get in and out in time to make it to the Friday night football game kick-off.
• Prices range from $8-10, depending on the day.
What’s New New • a&e event ticker What’s
photo from www.accordianusa.com
• The play is humerous drama about fatherson relationships set in the 1970’s. It’s NY Drama Critics best play of year 2000.
Guster, City Market, Sept. 22 • David Sedaris, Lied Center, Oct. 13 • Weston Irish Festival, O’Malley’s Pub (Weston, MO), Oct. 13 • The Wilders, Olathe, Oct. 10
Jitney, Kansas City Reperatory Theatre, Sept. 22 - Oct. 15 • Paul Oakenfold, NV Kansas City, MO, Sept. 29 • Okkervil River, Blue Note (Columbia), Oct. 4 Sept. 18, 2006
page 18 [a&e]
Men’s
Fall Fashion by [ruth stark]
Out with the old and in with the new: take a look at a few fun fall items that will make your wardrobe complete.
Oxford Button Downs
Comfy Cords Cords are staying strong on the fall fashion scene, probably because of their versatility in terms of dressiness. Wear your cords dressed up with a leather belt and sweater or dressed down with a solid color tee and the reliable Birkenstocks. Many companies are making them with a slightly worn or distressed look for a vintage twist. Get them in any shade from dark chocolate to a stone gray.
Find these at… Old Navy-$25.00 J. Crew- $69.50
Always a classic are the oxford button down polos. Weather you like stripes, solids or checks, flannel or cotton there are plenty of options out there. With jeans or chinos there is no way to go wrong way to wear an Oxford.
Find these at…. J.Crew-$59.50 American Eagle-$36.50
Vineyard Vines
Graphic Tees
Vineyard Vines was designed in Martha’s Vineyard, so it goes without saying that this is a very preppy line. They have everything from polos and button downs to belts and flip flops. Their selection of ties and socks is impressive as well. Vineyard Vines signature is the pink whale that sits on the chest of most of their clothing. You can’t go wrong with anything you pick from this line.
Graphic tees have been around forever, but they are the thing to have this season especially with a vintage twist. You can find everything from Bob Marley and The Stones to an artistic political statement on a T-shirt this season. Look for graphic tees in fall shades; rusty red and charcoal gray. These are comfy, easy to throw on with jeans and usually affordable.
Find these at… Urban Outfitters- $28-$48 Gap- $19.50- $29.00
Find this at… Vineyardvines.com Or Hudson and Jane on the Plaza
the [harbinger]
page 19 [a&e]
Leggings Lots of Leggings: They are everywhere. Peeking out from under denim minis and short dresses. They come in a variety of colors. You can even find them with lace trim or polka dots. Leggings and fun tights are a season must have. Nobody wants to put away their shorter skirts and dresses just yet, so just throw on a pair of leggings. They will keep your legs from freezing while adding a little kick to your outfit.
Women’s
Fall Fashion
Flare is out and slim is in. Tighter in the ankles is this season’s trend for jeans. They range in color from charcoal to very light denim. Put your skinny jeans with cute heels now that there is no flare to cover them up. You can find skinny jeans almost anyplace that carries denim.
Find these at….. Urban Outfitters: Leggings- $24 Tights-$12-$18
Big Bags
Find these at…. Target-$19.99 Coach-$358
Skinny Jeans Find these at…. American Eagle-$49.50 Express-$60
Empire Waist Belts
No more messing around with these little wristlets and pocket sized purses. The bigger the better in terms of purses this season. Oversized is the way to go. Fringes, flaps, pockets, metallic, slouchy or studded, if its big, you’re golden. While designer purses can get pricey, there are some great faux designer options out there right now.
Find these at…. Express-$30 Wet Seal- $10-$15 While these belts don’t keep your pants up or serve a practical purpose they are just too cute to keep from wrapping yourself up in. These are a great accessory and give you a slim waist line. They are meant to sit just above the hips and slightly below the bust line. Put this kind of belt with an extra long shirt and a pair your favorite pants for a fun, sophisticated look.
Sept. 17, 2006
page 20 [sports]
Race
to
the dance
Cross-country runners must rush to prepare for Homecoming by [libby nachman] “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Reisz remembers playing soccer with kids from a school in Mexico who were also at the meet and the beautiful 5K course, which takes runners up a manmade hill and over a beach. “It’s at this park right by Loyola University,” Reisz said. “We run on the beach, but it’s pretty hard to run in the sand.” At the end of the race, as tradition mandates, the entire team jumps into the 32 degree water of Lake Michigan – clothes and all. “We jump in with our uniforms on, then get out and pull out sweatpants The cross-country team prepares for Homecoming only hours after running a race in Chicago. The team’s on over our wet uniforms,” afternoon flight gets in at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 30, the day of the dance. Simpson said. “Then we get what, the trip is worth it. on the bus to the airport.” “There’s no way I’d pass it up,” Simpson said. At the airport, the euphoria wears off as Homecoming To Beaham, the trip is a fantastic opportunity for the draws closer. Last year, everyone was “very rushed,” team, even with the inconvenience of having to get back for according to Simpson, though the girls were more so than Homecoming. the boys. “It’s one of those trips that, when you’re a teacher or Once in Kansas City, everyone begins to really worry. coach and you’re taking a group, you want this to be a “It was kind of just a caravan of cars on the highway souvenir in their minds.” flying home to get ready,” Simpson said. Reisz, McCormick and Simpson say that no matter
photo illustration by karen boomer
Senior Peter Reisz got home at 5:30 p.m. the night of Homecoming 2005. Having just arrived from a major crosscountry meet in Chicago, Reisz leaped into the shower. Threw on his suit. Whisked a comb through his hair. After a final glance in the mirror, he grabbed the corsage – ready. Luckily, his date had also just come from the airport and was rushing as much as Reisz to get dressed by 6:15 p.m. “We were late for pictures,” he said. Other than that, however, they had no problems. Like last year, the varsity cross-country team will be taking a trip to Chicago for the Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Sept. 30, the day of Homecoming. Their afternoon flight doesn’t leave them much time to prepare for the dance. “At first, I thought it would be a major inconvenience to get ready with such a short amount of time,” senior Kelley McCormick said. “But going to Chicago was definitely worth it.” The Chicago trip is the midpoint of the season, according to senior Kristin Simpson, and helps runners get excited for the league, regional and state meets which follow. It’s also a chance for JV seniors who have been on the team for four years to go on a trip. “It’s a whirlwind trip,” coach Trisha Beaham said. The team crams two flights, four and a half hours of shopping and touring, a team dinner and two races, one for varsity and one for JV, into two days. But to the team, the short trip – and resulting rush to Homecoming – is worth every second. It’s the traditions and memories that make it so great. McCormick loves the shopping on Michigan Avenue and the big team carbo-load at the same Italian restaurant every year. Simpson looks forward to hearing the annual song that the boys on the team sing to the girls. Last year, it was
A day of rushing and a day of resting √ Pack for after-party √ Buy a boutenniere √ Get a manicure
cross-country runner Allie Marquis
THURSDAY 28
√ Buy a dress
√ 7:00 a.m. Leave for Chicago
FRIDAY 29
√ Buy a boutenniere
non-cross-country runner Abby McCrummen the [harbinger]
√ 5:30 Get home √ Take a shower √ DANCE
SATURDAY 30 √ Get a manicure √ Get hair done √ Get makeup done √ DANCE
Dearly departed
page 21 [sports]
Two top tennis players quit the team before their senior season
Photo by Samantha Ludington
by [nick ratliff] “I was at the net and Kristin was playing back, and it was one of the longest rallies of the match. Kristin and I were really tired and wanted to get the match over with so Kristin sent a beautiful lob over the net to win it. I had it on video for a while and we were just jumping up and down and going crazy. It was great.” This is how Laine Mackey describes the final point of the 2005 girls doubles state tennis championship. But this year there won’t be another moment like that. Mackey, the number two girls tennis player at East, who took the doubles crown last year with Kristin Bleakly, has left the team. Missy Lem, another varsity player last year, chose not to try out for the team. “My coaches at Mike Wolf Tennis Academy told me to not play school tennis, so I could get a college scholarship,” Mackey said. “They said I needed to work on my skills full time. Also, I would’ve had some scheduling conflicts. We have some key tournaments on the days that I’m visiting some colleges, so I didn’t want to hurt the team by not showing up for those.” Head tennis Coach Sue Chipman learned about the girls’ future on the team shortly before the season started. “Melissa didn’t try out at all, and Laine went to a couple of practices and then decided to leave,” Chipman said. “We had kind of heard from Melissa’s mother that she wasn’t going to try out, and as for Laine, she sat down and talked with me about it.” Mackey was not happy about leaving the team. “It’s something I have to do, even though I liked playing Senior Laine Mackey prepares to hit a forehand at the Mike Wolf Tennis Acadfor East,” Mackey said. “I loved high school tennis.” emy. She left the East team to better prepare herself for college tennis. Mackey is involved in some other activities, like choir. But nothing gives her that sense of accomplishment like the game of tennis does.
DON’T FORGET! Homecoming Game
WHERE: South Stadium WHEN: Sept. 29, 7 p.m AGAINST: Lawrence Highschool
Rose Nails 4175 Somerset Dr. Prairie Village Corinth Square Shopping Center (near Hen House)
913-383-8288
For Fast, Beautiful, Thin Looking Nails Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9:30 am- 8 pm Saturday: 9:30 am- 7 pm Sunday: Noon- 5 pm Walk-ins or appointments welcome
Sept. 18, 2006
“Choir is very fun, but you don’t have concerts almost every week like you do tennis matches,” Mackey said. “Tennis is more time consuming.” Lem, like Mackey, also had more important priorities. Lem said she knew that she didn’t want to play this summer because she needed to focus on academics to earn a college scholarship. Even with the departure of these two tennis players, however, she thinks the Lady Lancers will remain strong. “We have so many great players like Finley Gates and Emily Whitney, so it won’t affect them very much,” Lem said. Whitney, the number one singles player, as ranked by Chipman on the team this year, doesn’t think that Mackey and Lem’s departures will hurt the team, but it will mean that the team will lack a very important quality. “Their experience will definitely be missed,” Whitney said. “We’ll definitely be a younger team now, but I’m sure we can work through it.” Despite the lack of experience, Coach Chipman, thinks her team has plenty of potential. “The loss of the two girls is a big blow to our team, but I think we can still have a good season,” Chipman said. “It’s a big loss because of the quality of play that the two girls brought. But, we have many young, strong players who can step up.” The young team will have its work cut out for it this season in a competitive Sunflower League. “We have Blue Valley North in our region, and they’re always very good. We also have Shawnee Mission West, and they have four or five very strong players,” Chipman said. “I know we won’t sweep the Sunflower League like in years past, but we’ll still be all right.”
page 22 [sports]
sibling rivalry
no need for
sisters share spots on insiblings SPORTS varsity teams Haley and Abigail Harlan
VARSITY CHEERLEADERS
number of days between each other’s birthday number of feet between each other’s bedroom number of miles their dad flew before commentating for the Tampa Bay NFL game to watch the girls cheer
424 10 1288
Kirby and Bailey Thomas
“492 JUNIOR
SENIOR
You have to have someone to bark at.
VARSITY CHEERLEADERS
number of days between each other’s birthday number of girls in the Thomas family that are cheerleaders: one at K-State and two at East number of girls in the Thomas Family, not including their mom
3 5
Sarah and Jessica Holmes
“
SOPHOMORE SENIOR
We both support each other and cheer each other on.
VARSITY TENNIS PLAYERS
1025 4
number of days between each other’s birthday number of varsity letters the sisters have won combined
FAIR
Emerald City Gymnastics & Adventure Center (formerly Bump City)
Are you- A highly motivated energetic student who likes to play with kids?
Are you- Outgoing and reliable? Are you- Looking to earn great money?
Homecoming Dance Saturday, Sept. 30 @ 7:30 p.m. in the East gym
the [harbinger]
“
JOB
“
SENIOR
We have to remind our mom that we’re not twins.
“
Friday afternoon to be home to see them cheer. Saturday morning, he was on his way back to Tampa Bay to commentate the NFL game. At the Thomas house, being on the same squad means the parents only have to go to one game instead of three. “Last year, Kirby would cheer for the sophomore team, so I’d have to go to that, then Bailey would cheer at JV, so I’d go to that, and then I’d go to the varsity game just because it was the varsity game, so it’s been so nice to only have to go to the one game,” Kitty Thomas said as she hole-punches the new cheerleading schedule to put in her East binder. There are tabs for cheerleading and soccer, a spot for the directory, and the front pocket is filled with newsletters. “With a family this big, it’s hard not to stay organized,” she said. “You have to.” But in some respects, the big family has worked to the Thomas girls’ advantage. “There can’t be any competition in a family this size,” Kirby said. “You just have to go with it. It’s not all about one person, and if you make it that way, there’s just going to be tension and no one’s going to support each other like they should.” In the Holmes’s case, having both girls on varsity means their mom usually only has to come to one set of courts to watch them both play only two or three courts away from each other. But even with being on the same squad, sometimes Kirby and Bailey don’t even ride together. “I’ve had the same carpool since freshman year, so sometimes we still ride together and Kirby drives her own car,” Bailey said. Both families are looking forward to having both the girls on the squad. “It’s always nice to have someone know you as well as your sister does with you in a situation like that. It’s one more person you trust that much more,” Abigail said. “You have to have someone to bark at,” Bailey said.
“
other, but that’s the closest we’ve gotten to playing together during a match.” No one could think of anything bad about it. “If anything, I like it better to have [Bailey] on the same squad as Senior Abigail and junior Haley Harlan cheer at the East soccer game together. me. It’s nice to have someone with you that understands you,” Kirby by [ellie weed] said. With one on the downstairs computer and But this isn’t the first time that the Thomas’s the other on the one upstairs, the Thomas girls screamed in unison as they found out they had have participated at the same level in sports. Two years ago, they were both on the Girls C both made the varsity cheerleading squad. “We both ran to the kitchen to give each other soccer team. “The best part about that was I was hanging a hug,” junior Kirby Thomas said. “I was so out and talking with Bailey’s friends for the first excited I fell down the stairs.” time,” Kirby said. After sharing clothes, CDs, rooms, and a The only competition has been outside of family’s attention, the Thomas sisters were more excited than anything else. This was just one school. For the Thomas girls, their main realm of more thing to share. There were no twangs of competition was in running. There were always jealousy or competition. They’d been practicing bragging rights in running. For the Holmes, it still and preparing for tryouts together, so they were had to do with tennis, but it was always outside the East team. both pulling for the other to do well. “When we were younger, I was always the “We actually tried to get on the same squad, just because we thought it would be fun,” senior one really into tennis and my sister didn’t play as much,” Jessica said. “But now, my sister plays as Bailey Thomas said. The Harlan sisters, junior Haley and senior much as I do, so there’s a lot more competition.” Having both kids on the same squad even Abigail, felt the same way. makes it easier for the parents. “My sister had been on varsity the year before “Since I’m out of town so much, it’s a lot easier and I had always heard how great it was from her, for me to come and see them both cheer at the so she did all she could to help me so that I could same time,” Kevin Harlan, Haley and Abigail’s be on varsity with her,” Haley said. For the Holmes sisters, nothing was different. dad, said. “With it being Abigail’s senior year, In the two years that they have played varsity I want to do all that I can to see her, and at the tennis together, they have never played doubles same time support Haley too.” At last week’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, together. he even flew back in the middle of their trip to “We’ve played together in practice, but we would just yell at her,” senior Jessica Holmes said. see them cheer. He spent Friday morning and “We’ve played singles on courts next to each afternoon working with players and reviewing tapes, and then took a flight back home late
JUNIOR
Employment Open House Sept. 23, 2006 9 a.m.-noon 9063 Bond Overland Park call Lisa for more details 913/438-4444
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page 23 [sports]
marcus webb
minutes with...
sophomore • football
Webb hopes to follow in both Hertel’s and his brother’s footsteps.
Marcus Webb is a sophomore running back for the varsity football team. He carried the ball 28 times for 68 yards on Sept. 8 against Olathe NW. Senior Colin Hertel, a two-year starter at running back, is out for the year after needing surgery on his MCL. Webb is the top candidate to replace him. On the best thing about East football- “Probably getting the chance to be on varsity, just being a sophomore and all. The pace of the game is really fast, but they didn’t hit as hard as I thought they were going to.”
-- Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco- Named the starter a week before week one, Gore produced big numbers in his first week game against Arizona. He totaled 87 yards on the ground and 83 through the air. He also found the endzone twice. -- Kurt Warner, QB, ArizonaThe 1999 MVP proved that he can still play the game and help fantasy owners. He threw for 300+ yards and three scores.
On the choice to play high school football- “In eighth grade I played on an older soccer team that was in high school during my eighth grade year so I tried football. I really liked it a lot. I still play soccer with my friends sometimes.”
photo by patrick mayfield
On expectations for this year and the future- “Of course, I want to get really far in the playoffs. For my career, I want people to remember my legacy at East.”
-- Eric Moulds, WR, HoustonThe former Bill evidently still has something left in his legs, catching six balls for 68 yards. Teammate Andre Johnson also had a solid game.
:03...... :02...... :01...... games to catch
THURSDAY Varsity soccer @ SM South- After running the table against South in both boys basketball and football in 2005, the boys soccer team hopes to continue that streak tommorow night. The team’s record is 3-1 going into last Thursday after finishing second in the KA-MO tournament. The team has 13 seniors. But underclassmen, such as Alex Rathbun (right), have contributed. Rathbun scored two goals in the opener. SATURDAY Varsity cross-country at Metro ChampionshipsThe cross country team heads into their first major meet with a lot of runner capable of placing in the top 10. Senior Peter Reisz and foreign exchange student Robin Krisenski lead the boys team and freshman Mallory Kirby (see athletes to watch) leads the girls.
amazing play
Mallory Kirby- FR.- Cross-Country- Kirby is the number one runner for the girls team after running a 12:42 during time trials and in the Greg Wilson Classic on September 2. Her time, 16:57, finished eleventh in the meet.
photos by samantha ludington
MONDAY Varsity tennis @ Olathe North- The young tennis team heads to Olathe North. With the loss of two top talents, Missy Lem and Laine Mackey, the team hopes to work through its youth and pick up a win.
athletes to watch
88
Forrest Miller (above in white)- JR.- Football- With the loss of senior Colin Hertel to injury, the fate of the Lancers season falls squarely onto Miller’s shoulders. After throwing two interceptions in the opener against SM West, Miller led the Hertel-less offense on a game-winning drive against Olathe NW. If the team makes it to Regionals, Miller may be the reason.
It may not have been this past week, but Bobby Miller’s interception of a field goal may be the Lancer play of the year. Miller (88) rushed from the right side of the line and snatched the ball out of the air a moment after the West kicker put the ball in the air. He then scrambled 87 yards for the touchdown, the first of East’s season, oddly enough coming on the defensive side of the ball.
compiled by Clark Goble
Sept. 18, 2006
information by Clark Goble
-- Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland- The idiot who couldn’t wear a motorcycle helmet showed his talents haven’t lost a step. He caught eight balls for 63 yards and a TD, quite a feat considering the Browns’ weak offense.
On adjusting to being the starting running back- “It was pretty overwhelming. The whole day at school [before the West game] I had butterflies.”
On his favorite play- “It’s probably 24-Zone. It works almost every time and I can use my athletic ability to cut back and find room to run.”
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fantasy football surprises
page 24 [photo essay]
Junior Beau Atkinson and sophomores Jane Mahoney and Callie McGuire lean on the counter waiting for a customer to come their way. Atkinson works on the yogurt melting process in the back before it can be poured into the machines out in the shop.
Frozen Treat: Courtesy of the Lancers
Ten students spend their time working at TCBY Frozen Yogurt, having a blast serving the community
McGuire and Mahoney work in the back. McGuire puts sprinkles on cones while Mahoney chops Reese’s.
Senior Melissa Powell and Sophomore Jane Mahoney laugh behind the counter during some down time on the job.
photos by samantha ludington
Mahoney takes her turn chopping the Reese’s Peanut Buttercups so they are ready to be put out for toppings
the [harbinger]
Callie McGuire, a sophomore, lifts the topping containers and uses a paint brush to clean off excess toppings from the surface.