Issue 3

the

FINANCIAL FROSTBITE

>>Mackenzie Wylie

ISSUE 3 SHAWNEE MISSION EAST PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS OCT. 6, 2009

Spanish National Honor Society left without a winter project after Franklin Children’s Center closes due to budgetary woes

T

>>GriffinBur

his winter, there won’t be any careening bikes or RC cars zipping down the halls. No more tiny hands inspecting new clothes or smiles with baby teeth missing.

Last spring, the Franklin Children’s Center, a Kansas City, Kansas daycare for children of low-income parents, shut down. The Center was part of the larger Franklin Center, Inc., a non-profit corporation that also included a volunteerrun grocery store, coffee shop and school.

Gone with the Children’s Center is East’s winter project sponsored by the Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS.) Started by East Spanish teacher Nora Pinkston in 1990, the project raised money to buy gifts and hold school-wide parties for the children.

For senior SNHS member Annie Haynes, the program was a benefit to both the Children’s Center kids and the students who participated. According to Haynes, it gave students an opportunity to give back to the community. “[The closing] is sad for the kids but it’s also sad for East,” Haynes said. “It was a chance for people to do something not quite so selfish.”

SNHS sponsor Katherine Kessler found out about the Children’s Center’s financial trouble in 2007, the year she became project sponsor.

That year, a Center parent e-mailed Kessler and told her that the Franklin Center was in poor financial shape. Kessler and the SNHS officers met with then-principal Dr. Susan Swift to devise a way to help the Center.

The group decided to cap how much donated money could be used for each child. They then took the leftover money and donated it directly to the Franklin Center. Ultimately, East generated more than $770 in direct donations.

However, the contribution was only a tiny fraction of what the Center required.

“After we gave the money, [final Franklin Center director Thelma Frank] called me and she was like ‘I’m in tears, you guys are amazing’,” Kessler said. “But it was still only a drop in the bucket compared to what they would’ve needed.”

Frank could not be reached for comment.

The Franklin Center got started in November 1978, when founders Terry Woodbury and his wife Eldonna sent the Wyandotte school board a petition, asking them to not tear

>>continued on page five

FEATURES: Latin students in JCL (pg. 11) SPREAD: Junior’s graffiti in art fair (pg. 14-15) SPORTS: Senior go-karts (pg. 26)

>>NEWS BRIEFS

page 2 news 10.06.09

Choir Concert

>> >> The annual Fall Concert will be held at East. >> >> Tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Jazz Band Concert

>> >> The Jazz Band will perform at East. >> >> Thursday at 7 p.m.

Bus Stop

Senior BBQ

>> >> The Senior Barbecue will be Friday during

lunch periods.

Blues

PSAT/PLAN Tests

>>Alyssa J

olitz

>> >> Sophomore PLAN testing and junior PSAT

Parents worry over bus driver strike in neighboring districts >>IanWiseman

The possibility of a strike among local First Student Inc. bus drivers had parents, students and teachers of the Blue Valley, Olathe, Park Hill, Grandview and Center school districts worried last week. Districts took precautions to brace for a strike, but just as quickly as it had risen, the possibility subsided.

The idea of a strike arose two weeks ago, when the bus drivers of Blue Valley, Park Hill and Center rejected the contract that was up for renewal from the First Student bus company.

Joe Sutton, the chief bus agent for Teamsters Local 838 (the union that represents the bus drivers, monitors and mechanics), told the Kansas City Star that employees want to see a quicker move toward the top pay of $13.65 per hour in the new contract.

The Shawnee Mission School District was not affected by this ordeal because its contract with the bus drivers was not up for renewal.

Sophomore Rhys Raglow is a daily bus rider who did not want to see First Student bus drivers strike.

“Riding the bus is a reliable source of transportation,” Raglow said. “They’re al-

ways on time.”

Even though East was not affected, fear of a strike lingered in the minds of many last week as contract negotiations between First Student and its drivers hit a roadblock.

In preparation for the possible strike, First Student had been working with the affected districts to bring in substitute bus drivers.

The districts made plans to alter bell schedules to allow parents more time, opening school earlier and closing later. Olathe sent letters to thousands of parents of students who ride buses, warning that they must find an alternative transportation to school.

Then, going against the examples of the three other districts, Olathe approved the contract, becoming the first to do so. After the 42-5 vote of consent, people took on a more optimistic attitude.

“Our students will have the same access to safe transportation as before,” Olathe Superintendent Pat All told the KC Star. “We value our drivers, many of whom are our parents and community members.”

Maureen Richmond, the director of media relations for First Student, was also content with Olathe bus drivers’ decision to approve the initial contract proposal.

“We believe the compensation and benefits package we have offered to our employees is of fair market value,” Richmond said. “The rate of pay offered is competitive with those in similar positions throughout the area, and we believe this is a fair proposal.”

Sutton told the Kansas City Star the union and First Student had been negotiating all afternoon. Teamsters Local 838 gave a little, and First Student gave a little.

“That’s why it passed,” Sutton told them.

Blue Valley and Grandview soon followed in Olathe’s footsteps by approving the secondary contract proposals, with Center and Park Hill close behind. This ended the one year struggle to find an arrangement that both parties agreed upon.

The contract approvals also confirmed the predictions of Richmond, who, after Blue Valley approved the contract, was hopeful that there would not be interruption in service.

“There has been no strike instituted, and we are pleased,” Richmond said. “We have tremendous respect for our employees and the jobs they do every day.”

>>Katie East

>> >> >>

Sophomore PSAT testing will occur at Broadmoor Technical Center. Students wishing to take the exam are required to pay an $18 fee. See the counseling department for more details. >> Saturday, Oct. 17

>>

Orchestra Concert

>> >> The orchestra will play at East. >> >> Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

End of the First Quarter

>> >> There will be no school due to the end of the first quarter.

Friday, Oct. 16

>>

College Clinic

>> >> The annual College Clinic will host represen-

tatives from over 200 colleges to East. All East students are encouraged to attend. Admission and parking are free and a shuttle service is available at no charge. Contact Donna Fischgrund at www.donnasmcc09@gmail with any questions.

Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 6:30-9 p.m.

>>

Marching Band Festival

>> >> The marching bands from all five Shawnee

Mission high schools will be playing at the festival.

East will be performing its “West Side Story” show.

The festival is being held at the South stadium this year.

Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

>>

Lobster Sale

>> >> Order forms are available now for the Lobster

BY THE

NUMB3RS

testing will take place at East. There is no school for students not taking these tests. See the counseling department for more details. >> Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:40 a.m.

668

10,000

250

9.4

Number of East students riding the bus daily

Number of SMSD students riding the bus daily

Number of bus drivers employed by the district

Amount of money spent on district buses last year

million

>>SMSD

Sale. Proceeds benefit the International Club and AFS. Orders will be available from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Mission Road circle entrance. Contact Brenda Fishman at 993-6691 for more information.

Saturday, Oct. 17

>>

Visit www.smeharbinger.net for new and updated coverage of East news

issue 3 news page 3

Sweet

Donations

AT THE GRAND opening day of the Fairway Russell Stover Candies Shop, patrons gather around the chocolate display in the center of the store. Dan Stewart

>>

Russell Stover Candies donates portion of profits to East

>>ShannonMcGinley

Ever since bulldozers and construction “It’s really cool that they are getting involved workers began swarming the open lot in front in the neighborhood and the community,” seof the Fairway Shops, there has been much nior Spencer Low said. anticipation for the finished product. The naThe money will be put into a discretionary tion’s largest producer of fine boxed chocolates account, where it will be used in various ways was moving in. This new store, Russell Stover to help students. The possible uses range from Candies, sparked much excitement from many paying for workshops or bus transportation to area chocolate lovers. Local school administra- funding students or athlete’s meals. tors couldn’t wait either.

“It’s absolutely incredible; their gift is so For students, Russell Stover Candies new amazing and we are so appreciative of that kind store in Fairway will hold delicious candy and of thing,” principal Karl Krawitz said. chocolate, but for their schools it will bring exFor Russell Stover Candies, the new location tra funding. This extra money will come from in Fairway serves as a trial store for the comthe new fundraising program that Russell Sto- pany. According to Vice President Angela Ellsver Candies will be runworth, the open lot in Fairning in the Fairway store. way was the perfect place It’s absolutely incredi- to build since it’s a great Each school will have one designated day where ble; their gift is so amazing neighborhood and easily students and their families and we are so appreciative accessible off of Shawnee can come and buy sweets Mission Parkway. Since it is of that kind of thing. and 10 percent of all profnear the corporate office, it >> Principal Karl Krawitz its from that day will be is used to test new products donated to their schools. and concepts. Ellsworth Flyers have been handed out encouraging the says the company is testing products such students to come by on their designated day. as cupcakes, muffins and lattes, which aren’t The program involves many local schools found in other stores. like Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission “It’s the only store right now having breakNorth, Indian Hills Middle School, Prairie El- fast, like muffins and that stuff,” Ellsworth said. ementary and Highlands Elementary.

“So we are trying new ideas and then if it works Earlier this year, Russell Stover Candies test- there we will consider rolling them out to other ed a school fundraising project with Westridge stores.”

Middle School at their store across the street This school fundraising program is the from Oak Park Mall, which was very success- first of many to come. Russell Stover Candies ful. will eventually implement the program within The company decided to carry out the proj- stores nationwide. ect and implement it into the Fairway store to “This is the first store that is kicking off the raise money for area schools. East gets a spe- whole program,” Ellsworth said. cial gift though; in addition to 10 percent of the profit Russell Stover Candies is donating from their designated day, Sept. 17, $5,000 more is going to be given as a charitable gift.

“

”

Directions

Store Hours Monday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday

7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Russell Stover Russell Stover Candies manufactures nearly 100 million pounds of chocolate each year

1) Take Mission Rd. N to Shawnee Mission Parkway 2) Turn Left on Shawnee Mission Parkway 3) Store is located on left side of street in Fairway shops

Fun Facts

Russell Stover Candies is the thirdlargest U.S. chocolate manufacturer behind Hershey’s and M&M Mars

Boxed chocolate generates over $1 million in annual retail sales

Russell Stover Candies hand-dips 25 million pieces each year, making it the largest hand-dipper of chocolates in the country

Russell Stover Candies is America’s number one seller of boxed chocolate

>>www.russellstover.com, www.sxc.hu

page 4 news 10.06.09

>>KathleenIreland

This year will mark the beginning of a new Driver’s Education class at Johnson County Community College.

The Shawnee Mission School District will also be offering scholarships for the course to eligible students within the district. Though, with demand being so high for Driver’s safety and education courses, the classes have been filling up quickly.

It has been ten years since SMSD has offered a Driver’s Ed course during regular school hours and two years since the district has offered night and summer classes for the course.

World Geography teacher, Fred Elliot, has been teaching Drivers Ed for over 25 years, and used to teach the class at East before they discontinued it. He now owns runs his own Drivers Ed program called Behind the Wheel, Inc. The driving instructor for JCCC’s class, Gary Scott, worked with Elliot before his current position.

“I think driving classes are important no matter where you take them,” Elliot said. “It’s an important life skill everyone should learn.”

Full time students from the Shawnee Mission School District, who are in good standing with their school and principal and have a valid Kansas driver’s permit, are eligible for the scholarship at JCCC. The schools collaborated to form the course due to a growing interest in the class and accumulated funds from SMSD that could only be used for a Driver’s Ed course.

“This course was started for the same reason any is,” JCCC Program Director Phil Wegman said. “[JCCC’s] goal is to provide classes that recognize a need for learning in the community.”

When Drivers Ed still took place at East it cost students a total of two dollars for the price of a permit. The scholarship at JCCC covers it’s course fee of $349, but students are re-

Getting the show on the road New JCCC Driver’s Ed course and scholarship open to Shawnee Mission students

quired to purTuesdays and Thursdays from chase the class textbook, “Drive Right,” for $10. Students are 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Spring session already has approxialso personally responsible for paying any additional fees mately 60 sign-ups for the classes that are presently limited due to rescheduling or a need for extra instruction at the to 24 students. rate of $75 per hour. Scholarships are said to continue until The course is not counted for credit and students will not funds run out. receive a grade. Its goal is to develop skills to make drivers The class consists of 30 hours of instruction and in-class safe, low risk, and responsible. training, and upwards of four hours for behind-the-wheel To apply for the course and/or scholarship, students practice which takes place on the weekends. Students must may pick up a packet from their counselor to be filled out also observe another student for two hours. and turned in to JCCC. Though private schools, like Elliot’s, differ from public courses when it comes to requirements and regulations. Where public courses mainly deal with the in-class side of instruction, Elliot feels private courses like his focus more on in-the-car training. Training in public classes can even mean a 50 minute hour, but both options have pros and LANCERS’ OPINIONS ON Driver’s ed cons.

Sophomore “I think driving is more important than classFreshman room time,” Elliot said. “You learn more in the field.”

The new scholarship will allow more students to take the course at minimal cost to them. Interest has increased recently due to the new driving laws. All drivers that hold a permit before January 1, 2010, will be grandfathered in for the new regulations. All others may have to wait months longer to get even a permit.

Key Three sessions have already been filled and students have either been completed or are currently in 54 percent of those 79 percent of those that have session. Another session will take place from Ocwho didn’t plan to who didn’t plan to taken a tober 20 to December 8. Classes will be held on Driver’s Ed course Junior Senior students that haven’t

lancer poll 7

33

67

93

41

43 57

59 7 percent of those who didn’t plan to

8 percent of those who didn’t plan to

Reasons To Take It • • •

Insurance rates To learn how to drive Parents made them

Reasons Not To Take It >>KatieEast

• • •

Waste of money Already know how to drive Their parents can teach them

road rules

You must signal continuously during the last ____ feet before the turn.

Q: Unless otherwise posted the

speed limit in a residential district is ____.

A: 25 mph.

A: Signal for 100 feet before turning.

street with no curb, how should your front wheels be?

Q: If you have a green light, but traffic is blocking the intersection, you should:

A: Stay out of the intersection until traffic clears.

TEST YOURSELF ON SOME OF THE BASICS Q: When parking uphill on a two-way Q: You are about to make a left turn.

>>www.dmv.ca.gov

A: Turned to the right (away from the street).

SENIORCLAYFINLEY

>>lancervoice

Q: What are your thoughts on the Franklin Children’s Center Closing?

A: It’s an unfortunate

Q: What are your thoughts on the Franklin Children’s Center Closing?

A: It’s so sad because then they can’t have free food or shelter.

Q: What should East do?

A: Find another place to donate to.

Q: Should East find another children’s center to work with during the holidays this year?

A: Yeah I think that would be a really good thing for East to do.

Closing Doors on a Tradition

After years of partnership with SNHS, Franklin Children’s Center closes due to economy

>>Katie East

>>continued from page one

down the Franklin Elementary School building, which closed in 1972. classes supported their own child. The school was then able to take on as many as 70 children, up from around 40 when Henry arrived.

Woodbury organized a community effort to purchase the building.

“There had been a kind of exodus of white and upwardly mobile “They loved to come see their buddies at East,” Henry said. “Parents people out of Wyandotte. It left the community with fewer people and would beg for rides or borrow cars just to go to East for the party.” monetary resources,” Woodbury said. “People were saying Argentine Henry credits the program with bringing a sense of altruism to the [the neighborhood where the Center was located] was in bad shape, so school.

“You’d see people all caught up in school and then around the holiday we figured if we could turn the Franklin Center around, it could be a – people would just be happy to see how they could help. It was great to good thing for the community.”

The East project started the last year that Woodbury was involved in see that willingness to do something for others,” Henry said.

Kessler hopes to make the end of the project a positive transition management.

“You would see the kids bring in those bikes they got afterwards,” towards increasing the amount of SNHS service. She also sees this as Woodbury said. “It was just amazing for these families who might not an opportunity for students to spend more time actually in the needy areas. have had gifts without it.”

“I remember actually going down to Argentine in the ‘80s and it was a Former Spanish teacher Judy Henry was the project’s sponsor until really cool thing to see, to actually be there,” Kessler said.

2007. Her initial reaction to the closing was surprise.

One possibility is that SNHS members will be more involved at El “I couldn’t believe that they somehow couldn’t make it,” Henry said.

Centro, a larger but similar organization. Some East students already “They were such a valuable part of the community.

When you cut proQ: What are your thoughts grams designed for those who have the least, it really hurts. In part, have experience via the SHARE project “Niños Del Centro.” Kessler beon the Frank- it was really a matter of pride that SNHS continued working with the lieves that majority of students are taking the loss well. “ The SNHS students have known [about the closing] for a while so lin Children’s Franklin Children’s Center.”

While Henry was sponsor, the project grew rapidly. The program they’re pretty understanding,” Kessler said. “Hopefully it’ll be a nice shift Center Closoriginally assigned several classes to one child. By the time she left, most to doing other service projects.” ing?

A: I think it’s just horrible because these kids deserve to have the joy of opening presents during the holidays.

AlysabethAlbano This year, East underwent many construc- than the choir and band rooms, which could er.”

Q: What should East do?

Dr. Krawitz explained that many of these are tion changes. The science teachers received cause problems when the orchestra and band A: Try to raise money and help perform together. oversights but assures that these problems will brand new rooms and equipment, the students them.

“We are going to have to move to [the band] be resolved. The cabinets that Lane referred to and coaches a larger gym, and the art departQ: Should East find another instead of them coming to us,” Lang said. already have replacements ready to install. ment got brand new or improved facilities. children’s center to work with Shawnee Mission School District Director of Although most of the changes have been “Which is just the same as last year.” during the holidays this year?

She explains that last year they had plenty Communication and Public Information Leigh seen as positive improvement for the school, A: Yes. I enjoyed it last year. not all teachers and students feel this way. Or- of room to practice and store their instruments Anne Neal explains that during the design and plan process there are many opportunities to chestra teacher Jonathan Lane is unhappy with as well as a working sound system.

Q: What are Principal Karl Krawitz admitted there have review and request changes. However, at this the music department’s renovations. your thoughts “I am very happy to have our own space,” been some downsides to the construction, such stage requested changes are evaluated on neon the Frank- Lane said. “But there are many mistakes and as delays and understands that not being able cessity and added cost. lin Children’s goofs.”

“At Shawnee Mission East changes have to fully occupy the new spaces can be frustratCenter ClosLane believes that East deserves to have ing. However, he does not agree with Lane’s po- been made through that process due to omising? rooms that compare to the other Shawnee Mis- sition on the changes. In his opinion, construc- sions and unforeseen circumstances,” Neal A: It’s bad. said. sion schools, especially Shawnee Mission West tion and new facilities are always positive.

Now those She further explains that the district is aland Northwest. These schools, in his opinion, “We never had these things prior to conkids won’t get the surprise of the have much better music and orchestra rooms. struction,” Dr. Krawitz said. “So all of it is good ready addressing some issues and other conholidays. cerns are being discussed. Dr. Krawitz is confi“[They installed] the wrong size instruments for students and staff.”

Q: What should East do?

Lane says the practice rooms lack comput- dent these problems will be fixed. storage cabinets,” Lane said. “There are also A: Raise money or start their own too many and are in the wrong places, using ers, outlets, a sound system, sound proofing “The bottom line is we will have a facility their own thing for the kids. too much floor space.” and even doors. The district has informed Lane in the end which will meet our needs,” Krawitz Q: Should East find another According to Lane, those mistakes were a that some of these problems will be fixed. Lane said. “There are lots of things that need to be children’s center to work with hopes the cabinets, sound system, outlets and added, some fixed, some replaced. It’s all part waste of tax payer money. during the holidays this year? of the process.”

Sophomore orchestra student Emily Lang computers take top priority.

A: Yeah, absolutely.

“No sound system in a music room,” Lane agrees that the new room has its flaws. She explains that the orchestra room is much smaller said. “Wow, I have to bring my iPod and play-

SOPHOMOREHAYLEYHANSFORD

JUNIORBECCACROOKS

occurrence.

Q: What should East do?

A: Find another center to fund.

Q: Should East find another children’s center to work with during the holidays this year?

A: Certainly. I think that would be the right thing to do.

FRESHMAN MITCHKASKIE

issue 3 news page 5

Minor Mishaps Orchestra instructor disappointed over new rehearsal room >>

Logan, Logan, and Watson L. C. Attorneys (913) 381-1121 Wealth Management

Corinth Office Building 8340 Mission Road, Suite 106

visit the harbinger online at www.smeharbinger.net

Blogs, video of sports games, late-breaking updates Bring your

COLUMBIA BREW COFFEE SHOP

own mug and Get 50% off your purchase!

Juniors and sophomores- registration for the PSAT/PLAN Wealth Management

tests is due Friday!

RECYCLE YOUR HARBINGER

Kansas Board should avoid raising college admission standards and continue

issue 3 editorial page 7

Keeping the Bar in Reach >>

yet undetermined number in the hope of increasing academic preparedness for college, decreasing the rate of dropouts (otherwise known as attrition) and eventually improving the national rankings for the universities.

While the plan might establish more preparedness among students for college, it disadvantages students whose academic performance in high school may have, for whatever reasons, been below average, but who could easily step up their academics in college and end up with a degree.

The increase would cut off thousands of college applicants from the benefits of receiving a higher education, when leniency should be applied.

Though it is understandable that a standard be set somewhere, it should be set at a reasonable point where the benefits of higher education are available to the greatest number of individuals, without compromising the integrity of others’ education.

Under the current standards, a 20 percent Average ACT composite scores from 2008 drop out rate is unacceptable; however, this will not be remedied by increasing the criteria for admissions. The incidence of dropMassachusetts outs will unlikely be largely affected because academic inadequacy is only one reason for New York dropping out.

Other factors such as social issues, homesickness and overall maturity play greater California Kansas roles in attrition than students who are dediMissouri cated to their work, but just can not handle the rigors of college.

National Instead of raising standards to decrease drop out rates, efforts should be put into Illinois counseling students who are in danger of New Mexico dropping, in order to prevent this from be-

Where does Kansas stand?

24 23

22 21

Wash., DC

20

Florida

19

Mississippi

>>

www.act.org

The

coming reality. Even if students do drop out, the only parties at a loss are the individuals who financed their education, which in many cases are family contributions. The university only stands to have another drop out on their record, but at least the student was given a shot at higher education.

Rather than increasing admission standards, these standards should be reduced on probationary terms. The opportunity of higher education is something so valuable that it should be available to the largest number of individuals possible. Therefore, the standards should be lowered under the conditions of academic probation that stipulate the student must maintain semester and cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or better. This way, higher education is available to more individuals, if they are willing to put in the effort, which might not have been present in high school.

The aim of public universities should be to provide a legitimate higher education for as many individuals as possible, not to compete for rankings. This service to the state they reside within would be hampered if increased admission standards are imposed. Efforts should be put against absent into retaining students already who attend the school, instead of excluding more students with increased standards.

VOTE 9 1 1

the

The majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board

a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Editors-In-Chief >>Tim Shedor >>Phoebe Unterman Assistant Editors >>Sam Logan >>Kevin Simpson Head Copy Editor >>Andrew Goble Art and Design Editor >>Michael Stolle News Editor >>Logan Heley News Page Editors >>Kennedy Burgess >>Kiki Sykes

for

Letters to the editor should be sent to room 521 or smeharbinger@gmail. com. Letters may be edited for clarity, length, libel and mechanics and accepted or rejected at the editors’ discretion.

>>Dan Stewart

Curing an overwhelming 20 percent dropout rate at state universities is the reason behind a recent push by the Kansas Board of Regents to raise admission standards for incoming freshmen. The increase aims to make future students more prepared for the rigors of college by making students have to apply themselves more during high school in order to receive college admission.

However, this plan is misguided in its reaches, as it would likely harm more students than it would help.

The Kansas Board of Regents currently requires that applicants have an ACT composite score of 21 or above, rank in the top third of their class, or complete pre-college curriculum with a GPA of 2.0 and above. The plan would increase these standards by a

oct. 6, 2009 issue 3, vol. 51

Editorial Editor >>Lilly Myers Opinion Editor >>Duncan McHenry Opinion Page Editors >>Kat Buchanan >>Raina Weinberg Features Editor >>Annie Sgroi Feature Page Editors >>>Kathleen Ireland >> Molly Troutman Spread Editor >>Aubrey Leiter Asst. Spread Editor >>Ian Wiseman

A&E Editor >>Mac Tamblyn A&E Page Editors >>Colleen Ireland >>Christa McKittrick Mixed Editor >>Emma Pennington Sports Editor >>Sam Logan Sports Page Editors >>Corbin Barnds >>Conor Twibell Photo Editor >>Mackenzie Wylie Assistant Photo Editor >>Katie East Freelance Page Editors >>>Maddy Bailey >> Sarah McKittrick Copy Editors >>Andrew Goble

>>Logan Heley >>Jack Howland >>Sam Kovzan >>Annie Sgroi >>Tim Shedor >>Kevin Simpson >>Michael Stolle >>Phoebe Unterman

>>Sam Logan >>Lilly Myers >>Annie Sgroi >>Tim Shedor >>Kevin Simpson >>Michael Stolle >>Mac Tamblyn >>Phoebe Unterman

Staff Writers >>Griffin Bur >>Grant Kendall >>Alex Lamb >>Bob Martin >>Haley Martin >>Shannon McGinley >>Ian Wiseman >>Alysabeth Albano Editorial Board >>Griffin Bur >>Andrew Goble >>Logan Heley

Photographers >>Jeff Cole >>Lindsey Hartnett >>Taylor Odell >>Dan Stewart Staff Artists >>Kennedy Burgess >>Morgan Christian Circulation Manager >>Matt Gannon Ads Manager >>Morgan Christian Online Editors

>>Taylor Haviland >>Elizabeth McGranahan Webmaster >>Joe Craig >>Pat McGannon Online Section Editor >>Evan Nichols Online Staff Writer >>Christopher Heady >>Haley Martin >>Katy Westhoff Online Photographer >>Max Stitt Anchor/Vlogger >>Andrew Goble >>Tom Lynch Videographer >>Alex Lamb Adviser >>Dow Tate

The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission School District, East faculty, or school administration.

page 8 opinion 10.06.09

ponytail playoffs an opinion of

>>SamLogan

For the last three years, girls’ football has gone undefeated at Shawnee Mission

East.

And no, that wasn’t a typo... I mean it.

At a school where football has been deemed a Sunflower League bottom-feeder for more seasons than Emeril Lagasse can count in his cabinets, the girls’ team hasn’t even gotten its chance to play since 2006. But now hope has once again been infused to the boys’ program and energy has risen around the future of Coach Sherman’s plan for success. I feel it only appropriate to announce my vision for East to withhold its promise of providing opportunities

that, according to the mission statement, “... reflect the ever-changing concerns of the global community and that prepare students for responsible citizenship.” And it comes in the form of one word.

Powderpuff.

Bring on the shoulder pads, bring on the pony tails and bring on the drama.

Girl-on-girl action hasn’t been this cool since, well, never mind... I write for the Harbinger not the Pitch.

Basically it

hasn’t been this cool since powderpuff was last played three years ago.

That being said, now is the perfect time for East to embrace the benefits of a girls’ football game not only for the unique aspect of its appeal but for the sake of making female athletics something desirable to be a part of. If boys’ football can be the new hope of an athletic department, let’s get the girls on the fun somewhere other than just the sideline in a miniskirt and hair bow.

Put them on the field and supplement them with varsity football players as coaches who will teach basic blocking, passing, and tackling… Even if the big hits they throw may be more about lunchroom gossip than loss of yards. Besides, at a school like East where there’s more girl drama than an episode of the Hills, you’d think it could only be productive to let them release all the tension in a good old game of football.

Throw in a charity backing the event and it’s something even SHARE could support.

In the past, the game has been unaffiliated with the school and led to an unorganized humble jumble of hard hits and spitting chicks. If the Kansas Women’s Prison had a roller derby, this is what it would look like.

Instead, it could be just the same girls who doll up their hair for a physics test in second hour, apply makeup in between class to make sure they look better than the rest, and the same ones who shoot glares to the girl across the hall that got caught texting the wrong guy.

Girls at East are competitive, but more than anything, they want to kick

Senior makes case to bring back powderpuff football after a three year absence some ass. After all, the boys get nine games a year to do it so we may as well give the ladies one.

A single matchup of juniors vs. seniors is all that’s needed to make it effective— throw the words “Powderpuff Game” onto the Homecoming week calendar next year and you’ve got yourself a hotter ticket than the dance itself. Charge five bucks with all proceeds going towards a charity, play it on the new turf, get Coach Sherman and his staff to referee, and let the girls have at it.

It sounds so irresponsible, yet is perfectly reasonable.

Throw the whole, “well they’re girls so they can’t handle the contact” argument out the window, too. They may be more accustomed to a hand across the face, but the drama on the field comes in the form of other similarly built 120-pound girls looking to have something to brag about after the game, not a burly linebacker who could bench press the starting quarterbacks of both squads at the same time.

A school getting ready for a girls’ football game is a school that wants to have some fun and make a homecoming tradition of it too. Follow the game with an all-school bonfire and then float construction for the next day’s Lancer day parade.

Once that’s all said and done, let the boys have their turn on Friday night.

Then the girls can just turn into the same homecoming Queen hopefuls once again Consider the other things we as Americans at one point deemed too dangerous for females to participate in: voting, enlisting in the army, getting a college education, working outside the house, etc.

Now remember this is just football.

quarterback quorum Varsity football players offer picks for their grade’s powderpuff quarterback

Collin Carter

Jake Fleming

senior guard/ defensive end

senior center/ defensive tackle

“

Alison Stephens. She’s tall, athletic, quick, has a good arm and would see the field well. She also has great instincts and footwork from playing basketball.

Brett Miller

”

junior defensive end/tight end

“ Mackenzie Wylie

Kirsten Clark. She’s on Drill Team and plays soccer, so she would be fast and quick on her feet. She’s also a great leader on and off the field.

“

I’d go with Janna Graf. She’s a super athlete, and one of the best basketball players that we have. She’s going to be in the WNBA some day, but I want to see if she can throw a football.

Will Severns

”

junior fullback/ defensive end

“

I would choose Betsy Blessen. I’ve seen her throw a football, and she has the accuracy of Tom Brady and the arm strength of a god.

The

The

Fast&Curious

issue 3 features page 9

Auto Tech teacher Brian Gay races cars he’s worked on in the Kansas City Porsche Club

going to pull a win out of this one,” Gay said.

Gay put his foot to the gas pedal as hard as he could, completing a full doughnut right in front of the stands and then took off to finish the race. The crowd stared in awe, then simultaneously jumped to their feet, cheering as loud as they could.

However, they weren’t cheering for the winner. They were cheering for the Gay, who had slumped to 20th place.

“If you can’t win, at least you can please the crowd,” Gay said. “I at least went out in a blaze of glory.”

Gay is a member of the Kansas City Porsche Club, which gives him the opportunity once every month to take his Porsche out to a number of race tracks around the nation including Heartland Park, Mid-America Motor sport complex in Omaha and Palet in Oklahoma, where he puts his automotive skills to the ultimate test.

There wasn’t a specific moment when Gay disThe Pig covered his love for cars. He has been drawn to automobiles since he was a young boy. Gay didn’t get into auto mechanics until about a year after he graduated from Avila University. He began autocross racing, which involves time trials in large parking lots, competitively in 1992. Five years later, Gay joined the KCPC and has been a member ever since.

In 2000, Gay was hired by Baron BMW as an auto me>>Jeff Cole chanic, but at the same time had the desire to be his own This car was built for racing. It was designed as boss. Gay grew tired of working under someone else’s eye, a replica of a famous 1970s Porsche model 917, which led him to come to East three years ago. called the Pink Pig. It was completely stripped Gay had heard about East’s excellence in education and down and rebuilt, but isn’t street legal. wanted to be a part of that.

“If you’re going to teach, I thought you might as well go for the best venue,” Gay said. “[East] seemed to be it.”

Kermit Gay had heard about East’s excellence in education and wanted to be a part of that.

Senior KP Smith took auto tech after his dad helped him get interested in how cars work. After taking auto tech his freshmen year, then auto shop since his sophomore year, Smith figured out what he really wanted to do.

“I never actually thought I was going to be the mechanic >>Jeff Cole This is Gay’s favorite car to drive for its speed. Its I could be until that second semester of my sophomore year previous owner was the voice of Kermit the Frog. of taking the class.” Smith said. “[Gay] definitely changed my It has nearly three times the power of his pink life in that way.”

Porsche. A new engine system, exhaust and intake Smith has always felt comfortable coming to Gay whenare just a few of the upgrades Gay has added. This ever he needs help with a car, whether it be a motor, changPorsche can be driven around town. ing certain tires or fixing an oil leak. Since Gay has been at East, he has helped students like Smith discover the means Glennie Bennie of auto mechanics.

“I want my students to have a basic understanding of how cars work and what it’s like to work on them,” Gay said.

“I want them to be able to go off and pursue this in college if they decide to be an auto mechanic.”

Gay’s auto shop class is mainly hands on compared to his auto tech class where students use the text book more.

“He’s like a big teenage boy in class,” Smith said with a laugh. “He’s the type of teacher that’s easily relatable which >>Lindsey Hartnett makes the class more enjoyable.”

Senior Tyler McKelvey decided to take auto tech because Bought from his friend Bennie, this bus was he had heard it was a decent class and needed an elective. meant purely for fun. Gay got it as a cool vacation “Gay’s really good at explaining things and I feel like I car for the family. have already learned a lot.” McKelvey said. “He’s always tell“You can’t find a cooler van for camping in,” Gay said. ing jokes to the class and he always seems to relate them

‘66 VW Westie camper

‘88 Porsche 944 Turbo S

‘88 Porsche 944

Revamped Rides

The 66 bus is currently being sanded down, but he plans on repainting it sea blue with a white top, similar to original styles.

back to what he’s trying to teach us.”

>> Jeff Cole

>>KennedyBurgess

Automotive teacher Brian Gay’s most exciting race was when he took his full fledged canam style race car to Nationals in Topeka. He wasn’t having the great race he had hoped for. It had rained hard that morning, leaving the track slick for his first two runs. Once the sun came out, the track had dried up and it all came down to that last run. As the starting light turned green, Gay knew in the back of his mind that this run meant everything. He puts his foot to the gas, accelerating into full speed. His adrenaline pumping, heart pounding and mind fixed on the finish, Gay zoomed right past the stands as he approached the corner of the track leading onto the finish line.

The tail end of Gay’s race car started to come around and his car began to turn as his car slowed down, his opponents’ cars revving past him. Gay knew that was it. That tenth of a second lost him the entire race.

“I just thought ‘to heck with it!’ because I knew I wasn’t

G a y ’s nonchalant personality is best shown in his washed out yellow, 66 VW Camper Bus that sits just outside his office.

Faded, blue and yellow curtains hang from the front windows. Various stickers line the inside of the doors including an old Grateful Dead bumper sticker. There’s even a fridge for those longer camping trips like the one Gay took to the 2009 Wakarusa music festival where he used it to store his ketchup that has been there ever since. The ketchup has lost its red hue, and it looks more like a bottle of old BBQ sauce.

Nonetheless, it goes to show that Gay still hasn’t lost his cool and his students don’t seem to mind one bit.

Just a few feet away from the VW Bus sits Gay’s silverrose Porsche.

“I don’t think you could get anymore opposite between the two cars,” Gay said. “Here you have a high-end sports car and then here’s this big camper bus.”

Gay leaves his environmentally friendly, VW Jetta at home unless he’s planning on driving long distance, road trips with his 11 year-old daughter, Maddie and his wife.

“I have the Jetta so I can run bio-diesel, be environmentally conscious, get 50 miles a gallon with it and it still handles well because it’s a VW,” Gay said.

Gay also keeps a Toyota forerunner parked in his garage when he’s in the mood to get dirty and go mudding off road.

Cars are just a hobby compared to Gay’s racing. He considers it a sport because he knows firsthand about the danger that comes with racing.

“Before I race, I mentally check the car,” Gay said. “I visually drive the track in my mind as I sit there.”

During his mental preparation, Gay has already decided when he is going to shift, and he is focused and ready for the moment when his right foot hits the gas pedal, accelerating into full speed. For him, that last second before the starting point means now or never. One miscalculation, and he and his car could both be seriously injured.

“Once I get on the track, it’s just a matter of focusing on what’s happening at hand,” Gay said.

Gay is always prepared for the unexpected before, during and after a race.

After a race, Gay reviews what he might have done wrong so he can improve it for the next race. He memorizes the track so he knows all the shifts, all of the breaking points on the track until it becomes second nature to him.

“Before the race, you don’t have time to sit there and debate about what you should be thinking about,” Gay said. “It fills you up, you’re already involved.”

photoillustrationbyMackenzieWylie

page 10 features10.06.09

>>

Some students walk up to the door leading into room 309 and charge right through, confident and ready for what is on the other side. Others hesitate. They stand in front of the door wondering if they should go in. If they even have a shot. For senior Brice Roberts, the feeling before taking the Categories test is a mix of nerves and confidence.

“I was a little nervous, but I still felt like I could probably make it onto the team,” Roberts said. “You can never be sure about anything.”

After being on the team the year before, Roberts felt he had a pretty good shot at getting on again.

According to Government teacher Nick Paris, the team has won the majority of tournaments since the beginning of the Categories program in the 70s. Every year Paris holds try-outs for the new Categories team. A test is given and the students with the top ten scores make up the team for the year. The students practice every Monday for the competitions and the tournament.

Red buzzers that light up when they are hit are not only used in tournaments and competitions, but in practices as well. The 10 teammates split up into separate teams of five and act as if they are competing in any other competition.

Mr. Paris stands before them and asks different types of knowledge questions. The first team to light up the buzzer and answer correctly gets the point. This is the same routine

as followed in competitions so naturally, practices can get competitive as well.

Monthly competitions are held at Indian Creek Tech Center and lead up to one big tournament in the spring. Nine teams from different schools compete to be in the “Final Four.” Then, the final four teams compete to be in the championship round where two teams compete for the winning title. Last year, East won the overall tournament and hopes to have the same success this year.

“Last year, we won with an all rookie team, so that was pretty exciting,” said Paris. “We think we’re going to be pretty tough coming back this year.”

Categories isn’t all about knowing cold-hard facts relating to the subjects studied in school, it has a wide variety of topics. This year’s test ranged from questions like, “What empire controlled northern Africa in 30 B.C.?” to “What popular soup once contained pigeons but now contains shrimp or lobster?” The students who participate in Categories need to have a general knowledge of many different things. That’s what makes the team so competitive. The prize for winning competitions and the tournament mean much more to senior Dana Leib than any amount of “prize money.”

“We win medals, trophies, and of course, bragging rights,” said Leib.

Along with the medals and trophies, an appreciation of teamwork and knowledge is formed within the students who participate. For senior Adele Daniel, the team aspect of Categories is the best part. Being on the team last year, she found that even though Categories is an academic competi-

Are you smarter than a Categories member? is another name for the wildcat or many South American countries 1 What 4 How bobcat, which has no vowels? are landlocked? is the simplest way to help somedid the Sons of Liberty disguise them2 How 5 What one who is hyperventilating? selves in the Boston Tea party?

3 What is the “Dead Man’s Hand” in poker? 6 What electrolyte is used in car batteries?

tion, the students who take part in it are just as much of a team as any sports related activity.

“We really act as a team,” said Daniels, “While driving to Indian Creek Tech Center, we blast loud music and wear idiotic uniforms.”

Categories is a chance to show case all of the things students know and have learned. Maybe knowing “which 1970s movie John Travolta danced western style” in isn’t a piece of information students will hold with them for the rest of their lives.

“It’s kinda showing off...bragging,” said Daniel, “Look I know this really obscure fact!”

Being a part of the Categories team in itself is a big accomplishment. But according to Paris, an even greater plus is what it can do for the future.

“I think knowledge really helps you prepare for anything in the future in the 21st century,” said Paris. “I don’t think knowledge will ever go out of date.”

5

SENSES of categories competitions

According to senior Adele Daniel

TASTE . . . of candy and soda

>>KatieEast

New Categories team hopes to continue their winning tradition RainaWeinberg

>>

PUSHtheLIMITS

TOUCH... of the buzzer as we wait to ring in with our answer

SIGHT...

of the live feed of five of our team members competing

SMELL... of burnt popcorn five games in a row

SOUND... of laughter between the team members not competing in the next room over

Answers: 1. Lynx 2. Dressed as Mohawk Indians 3. Aces and eights 4. Two 5. Paper bag 6. H2SO4

issue 3 features page 11

BUILDING UP

procrastinate “If you’re procrastinating something for tomorrow, in Latin you’re saying I’m for tomorrow, for tomorrow.”

Senior Bridget Bergin

Senior Adele Daniel

Dr. Worley

After convention wins, the Junior Classical League continues to work towards success

you to know your stuff in the end.”

The group has proven that they do know their stuff. At the convention last year, they placed first in all three levels of Certamen (Latin I, Latin II and Advanced Latin), as well as receiving the runnerup honor for Latin Club of the Year.

Daniel recalls the scene as the groups found out, one-by-one, that they were the champions.

“The Latin I and II students told me, ‘We won!

We won!’” Daniel said. “I just said, ‘Oh my gosh,’ you have to go tell Dr. Worley. It was so nice to see them excited about Latin, which I care about and my friends care about. There was a lot of highfives and jumping up and down” Dr. Worley is still able to sprinkle in some entertainment. If they’re not playing ultimate frisbee - known as ultimate discuss to the Latin aficionados - one can spot them constructing swords and shields out of duct tape in preparation for gladiatorial combat games. Also on the docket for this year’s activities are chariot races in the gym, with carpet squares being used as makeshift modes of transportation.

The gladiatorial games were prohibited last year by the school due to fears of liability from serious injury. Two years ago, the event took place in the cafeteria. After running from the villains, several Latin Lancers suffered massive bruises to both their bodies and egos.

“I had this little wrapping paper stick,” Daniel said. “They immediately broke it, trashed my shield and he kept hitting me with his big stick.

I had bruises, and other [East] people got beaten similarly.”

However, JCL members are eager to get the games brought back this year.

In the center of it all is Dr. Worley, who cranks

members discuss their latin links JCL favorite words with Latin roots

deciduous “De- means down and cado means fall. Together it shows that the leaves on these trees fall down.”

litz

Expelliarmus “Expel- means to thrust out and armus means weapons. And it’s the disarming charm from Harry Potter.”

out state convention success with her Latin liturgy.

“She’s one of the few doctors in the school,” Daniel said. “She has so much information inside her head. Her knowledge is so vast you couldn’t catch everything that she says.”

In Daniel’s first day of Latin as a freshman, Dr. Worley stopped the class during roll call to see if anyone had any super glue with them. From that moment on, Daniel knew she had a different kind of teacher.

Earlier this year, Dr. Worley was concerned about the cold air in the new classrooms on the fifth floor. In order to file a complete complaint, Dr. Worley got a kestrel from environmental education teacher Jim Lockard in order to measure the wind speed. She stood on a chair and held the device up to the vent.

Dr. Worley has found that the state conventions are a great way to help the students retain the knowledge.

“When you’re competing against somebody else and they got it, it’s motivating,” Dr. Worley.

“Even if they only study for half an hour before the event, they’re up for it and they’re more excited. We’re a minority language. It helps to know that there are students [that speak Latin] elsewhere in the nation to connect with.”

She said that with all of the information to be taught, it’s important to keep things interesting, and she keeps the cult-like club humming with all sorts of activities that bring the Latin culture to East. The league meets once a month, and no meeting is complete with Latin-style food. Pita bread, hummus, grapes and sparkling grape juice used to imitate wine all adorn the tables.

Once a year, the group holds a party complete with candles, chants and, of course, togas. The ceremony, set for October, is for initiating the newcomers into the Latin world that Dr. Worley, Daniel and Bautz are already immersed in.

Other activities planned include a movie night and a Roman feast at Macaroni Grill, “Latin club is a great way to get involved outside of class,” Bautz said. “It’s just a great way to have fun, and it shows you were willing to go outside of what was required.” circumnavigate As the awards and recognition continue “It comes from to pile up for the eccentric group of Latin lovcircum- which means ers, only one thing can be said about their around and spectatsuccesses at the conventions. which means to look.”

Necaverunt.

They killed.

Junior Katy Watkins

>>KevinSimpson

Caedo!

In Latin, it means ‘to kill.’ For Latin teacher Dr. Athanasia Worley’s students, it has become the rallying cry that has kept them out for glory in the Junior Classical League. Most of Worley’s students, from Latin I all the way to Latin IV AP/IB, participate in the league, which holds a convention each year for students from all over the area to compete in Latin-themed events.

This year’s competition is scheduled for April 25, and the Lancers intend on keeping caedo in the back of their minds as they cut down the competition.

“It started last year,” junior club member Peter Bautz said. “[Dr. Worley] said we had to chop away at the vocab and she said, ‘Caedo,’ and moved her arm like an axe falling . It’s become the battle cry of the Latin class.”

The JCL members have kept the axe falling on the competition at the state convention the past few years, particularly in “Certamen,” the Roman equivalent of “Jeopardy!” The conventions consist of Certamen games and prepared oratory, but the novice Latin students can still take their crack at scoring some points with readings as well as games of dodgeball.

The JCL consists of Latin students from schools from all over the country. Latin students are East are encouraged, but not required, to join.

Dr. Worley explores a variety of teaching methods.

“I’m very bottom-line oriented,” Dr. Worley said. “I don’t care how you know it, but I want

>>Alyssa Jo

The old and the new The Harbinger Online staff discusses the new Web site

page 12 online 10.06.09

Smarter Design

As a new year begins, a new Web site emerges. After last year’s success, we have high hopes for continuing and advancing in the world of online journalism. This year we plan to add many new features and continue producing the content you love. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the new site.

Heart of the old site

The new site continues to offer the same features as the old one: exclusive online blogs, breaking stories, high quality pictures and video. This year promises even more stories and content while keeping the feel of the old site.

After introducing new content last year such as live score updates to games and staff blogs, the Harbinger Online plans to release more video content and soundslides of things in your daily life.

FASTER & EASIER TO NAVIGATE

As we said earlier, last year’s site tended to become cluttered and some users had trouble realizing when they switched from page to page. This was a main concern we fixed when designing the new site. We also made it possible to reach every section from the home page of the Web site with little more than a click.

>>

For additional coverage visit www.smeharbinger.net

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photoillustrationby MackenzieWylie

Last year’s new design surprised a lot of visitors with the conversion from the basic box design to a more futuristic design.

With our new site, we decided to keep the same basic look but add new features to the home page, making the site easier to navigate around. We removed the never ending line of articles and replaced them with smaller, better, and more simplistic story boxes that leave the page uncluttered.

We decided it was necessary to bring back the slide show on the home page that will link you to new interesting articles and galleries.

India

issue 3 features page 13

Mexico

Hungary

Hungary

India

around the world in

s r a e y 16

ast after Junior arrives at E nt countries living in six differe around the world

>>

SarahMcKittrick

When her parents first told her that she was moving to the United States, junior Pauline Laberthe could not wait to get on the next flight. After living in six different countries on three different continents, Pauline was used to moving across the world. But the opportunity to move to the United States still excited her.

Then her parents told her she was moving to Kansas.

The visions of living in famous cities like New York or Chicago faded away. Images of farms and cows cruelly replaced them.

“I was so excited because there are so many things to discover in America,” Pauline said. “But I didn’t even know where Kansas City was. I was definitely relieved when I came here and saw malls and other normal things I was used to.”

For her entire life, Pauline has never lived in one place for more than five years. Her dad, Herve Laberthe, works as a veterinarian distributing vaccines. This job has kept the Laberthe family moving around the world for the past 20 years and has taken them from France - where Pauline was born - to Holland, Mexico, India, Hungary and finally the United States - where the Laberthes have lived in Kansas City for the past two years.

“Moving has allowed my daughters to see a lot of different parts of the world and they now know what many different places and people are like,” Herve said.

By attending seven schools around the world, Pauline has experienced a very diverse education. She has been in many unique learning environments, from a school in India where she had a class of six students, to a French school in Hungary where her 20 classmates had every single class together.

After many of these smaller school settings, East’s size has been a shock to Pauline. With two months at East be-

?

Where in the world is

Pauline Laberthe A look at the different countries Laberthe has lived in

Holland

>>photos courtesy of Pauline Laberthe hind her, Pauline said that she misses her smaller classes at previous schools.

“The teachers can help you a lot more individually and teach you things you don’t understand easier with smaller classes,” Pauline said.

Pauline has also come across some new challenges in her courses. Although she is fluent in English, the English classes in America have proved to be somewhat difficult for Pauline, who speaks French at home with her family. She sometimes finds it hard to think of vocabulary to use in some of her essays and feels academically behind in other concepts such as sentence structures. But she has started to learn more American expressions and words that usually weren’t taught in her foreign language classes but that American teenagers use normally.

“Awesome was a new word for me and so was saying ‘what’s up’,” Pauline said. “I didn’t know how to answer at first.”

Although she loves the new experiences of moving, there are also parts that are difficult for her. Each time she moves, it’s hard for Pauline to leave her friends behind. However, she still keeps in touch with some of them, such as Abril Domínguez, a girl she met when she lived in Mexico more than 10 years ago.

They met when they were four years old and they still talk occasionally. Pauline even visited Domínguez in Mexico last Thanksgiving.

“I think it’s great for them to travel a lot,” Domínguez said.

“They get to see beautiful places around the world, meet different people and new friends, know different cultures, and speak different languages.”

While living in different countries, Pauline and her family visit the usual tourist attractions such as the Eiffel Tower in

Hungary

Population: 10,032,375 Area: 93,030 sq km Capital: Budapest “The people didn’t make an effort to communicate. They were pretty close minded and not as friendly.”

France or the Taj Mahal in India. However, they also always try to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of that area in order to better understand the country’s society.

While in India, Pauline joined her friends in Diwali, the festival of lights, and Holi, the festival of colors. During Holi, a Hindu spring festival, Pauline, her friends and family would fill up water guns and syringes with colored powder and food coloring. Then they would all run around the garden shrieking and spraying each other with the colors until their hair and skin had a pinkish tint.

“It was so much fun and I loved having my hair pink for about a week after,” Pauline said. “I love visiting new places and traveling. All of the languages and cultures are so different.”

During the past two years, Pauline and her family have also travelled across the United States so that they can learn more about American culture. So far, Pauline has been to Yellowstone, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and more.

“We definitely try to take advantage of the different areas we live in,” Pauline said. “Europe doesn’t have the natural parks or huge cities with big buildings, so I have really liked to see those.”

The Laberthes don’t plan on moving for at least the next two years so Pauline can finish school in the U.S. However, she is considering going to college in France, where all of her extended family lives. In the future Pauline hopes to continue to travel to other places around the world like London and Australia.

“Moving has opened me to so many different cultures,” Pauline said. “I’ve liked everywhere I’ve lived so far. I don’t think I could choose a favorite.”

India

Population: 1,065,070,607 Mexico Population: 104,959,594 Area: 3,287,590 sq km Capital: New Delhi Area: 1,972,550 sq km Capital: Mexico City “The Indian people were really nice and more accepting and open than the Hungarians. A lot of them knew how to speak English too.”

“I’ve been really liking the United States so far. Americans are very agreeable and nice as well.”

>>countryfacts.com

page 14 spread 10.06.09

Junior Whitney Ke

Paint the “Paint”

>>KatBuchanan

Junior Whitney Kerr stands on a metal platform, contemplating the canvas in front of him in the cool fall breeze. He reaches for a yellow can of aerosol spray paint and begins forming an outline. His right hand steadily traces the form of a design that can only be done from memory; he accidentally left the sketch he had been agonizing over for weeks at home.

But he’s fine -- so what if 700 people will be watching him?

He’s used to a crowd. At least on a smaller scale, he thinks. His friends watch him all the time.

His girlfriend, Ann, snaps pictures of him from different angles, smiling even when she knows he isn’t looking at her. It feels good, having her there. She supports him. On the canvas, the word “paint” is legible but just barely. The letters crash into each other, pieces of the “A” hidden behind the “P,” the tip of the “N” curving over the “T.” He stops and surveys the yellow outline, but only for a moment. He doesn’t want to waste time.

He walks to the edge of the platform and lightly snatches up a dark teal colored can from the group clustered around his black North Face backpack. From the bottom up, he works, blending the dark teal with a lighter shade of the same color, then adding a light green strip on top of that one. At the very tip of the “P” he starts in with white paint, completing a kind of oceanic gradient within the yellow outline.

As the evening light fades and the design on the canvas

comes to life, people begin to gather around his display. “PAINT the TOWN, Whitney Kerr III, Graffiti Artist” is placed in front of the stage on piece of paper inside a light-up frame. Couples, waiters and family friends stoop low to pick up a business card from the pile sitting next to the sign.

“Oh yeah, it’s great, I love it!”

“He should sell that -- it’d make a lot of money.”

“I’m so impressed!”

Kerr smiles, spraying over the yellow outline, this time in bright orange. All that matters is the work ahead of him.

*** “Change” As a sixth grader at Corinth Elementary, Kerr tried getting into graffiti. His friends were interested as well, and together they attempted to emulate the designs they’d seen around town and online. The art was fun for a while, but too difficult to seriously pursue. Kerr found that graffiti didn’t have much meaning to him other than the fact that it looked cool.

His outlook changed as he grew older. He began doodling the intricate block letters in notebooks and in the margins of his worksheets at school. Though he had become more interested in graffiti, his main focus during his freshman year at East was face-drawing; he would do pencil and charcoal sketches of peoples’ faces in great detail.

High school brought more new things than just art tech-

90 MINUTES WITH WHITNEY

niques. After being deemed a troublemaker by his parents, Kerr was sent to spend his sophomore year away at Christchurch boarding school in Virginia.

His parents told him about the decision four weeks before school started. Kerr was torn about leaving home. He was upset to have to part from his friends and his family, but he agreed with his parents that a fresh start would be good for him.

He began outlining the word “Change” constantly, the intertwining letters covering the pages of his sketchbook.

“I just noticed that change is a huge aspect of everybody’s life. Sometimes you gotta change some things to get to where you need to be.” Kerr said.

Graffiti had fatefully found the meaning it had been missing before.

*** “Barrow”

“Hurry up, Mountain Man!” Kerr called over his shoulder.

Nick, a native of Gordonsville, Virginia, hustled up to the join the other four boys, a wad of chewing tobacco making his bottom lip fat.

“I’m here, I’m here, dammit,” he said, shoving his hands into his jeans’ pockets.

“Hold these,” Kerr said, handing him the backpack that contained his cans of paint.

A sophomore at Christchurch, Kerr felt more at home than

Step by step photos of Whitney doing graffi

issue 3 spread page 15

err uses his graffiti talent to...

Town JUNIOR Whitney Kerr does graffiti at the Intercontinental Hotel during the Plaza Art Fair on September 26. Mackenzie Wylie

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he ever thought he would. The school work was as bad as he had expected. The people he had met were not.

“How far along is the warehouse?” Enrique asked, his Spanish accent slurring the words in places.

“It’s a four mile walk, so we probably have half that left to go,” Kerr said.

Enrique and Nick, as well as the other boys Scott and Tajee, were students Kerr had become close with during his time at Christchurch. Scott was a character, a huge blond boy with a buzz cut and a habit of consistent cursing. Tajee, a lean AfricanAmerican soccer player, stayed in the same dorm as Kerr and “showed him the ropes” upon his arrival.

The five boys walked impatiently down Rosegill Road in the crisp March air, scouring the thick trees for sight of the abandoned go-kart warehouse. Kerr was looking forward to trying out his skill with a can.

Kerr’s friends were fully supportive, especially Enrique, whose friends back in Madrid also made graffiti. The four boys stayed with Kerr at the warehouse while he spray painted his first serious piece.

Though simple in appearance, the design had a strong personal meaning to Kerr. The tall, slanting letters spelling out “Barrow” were a tribute to a close friend of Kerr’s and fellow East student, Bryan Barrow, who had been killed in a car accident earlier that month. The word was a golden yellow color

against a blue background, with gold stars adorning the edges and a red outline. The finished product wasn’t perfect, and Kerr took that as a challenge.

“I learned a lot from that first piece,” Kerr said. “I made mistakes and I either fixed them or I couldn’t, but I knew they were mistakes. And I learned from that.”

He went back to the warehouse three more times during his remaining days at boarding school, each time putting up a new design.

The graffiti in the warehouse was eventually found by a school officer, but Kerr didn’t care -- it was worth the five days of mulching the school grounds. The incident only made him want to further pursue his graffiti. The time Kerr had spent at Christchurch had changed his perspective. He was more focused on his art than he had ever been before.

At the end of his sophomore year, Kerr’s parents decided that the school had done its job for him and that he would be able to come back to East for his junior and senior years. Kerr was excited to go home, but as he thought more about it he became depressed that he would be leaving his friends at Christchurch behind.

“Your values change when you’re put in that setting,” Kerr said. “You value each other more than anything.”

*** “Kansas City” Kerr spends most of his time in his garage.

The wall closest to the backyard is covered in Kerr’s original designs, layers and layers of paint caked over one another. The smooth corners and swirling colors of past designs peek out from the edges of Kerr’s latest piece.

“I learn from the wall,” Kerr said. “It’s a whole different story when you’re spray painting it, it’s a lot harder to get the detail that you want.”

The garage is a safe place for Kerr to practice. He can test his skills in peace, spending as much time as he wants getting the “C” just right, or perfecting the trim of the “E”. He can stay in the garage for hours, completing a design, correcting his mistakes and adding final touches; he then paints over the entire thing so that he can start fresh. He recognizes his own talent, but he pushes himself to go further.

Since his arrival home in May, he’s been striving to become serious with his art.

“I decided that when I got back I would start getting it together and doing this art thing,” Kerr said.

He began to take his work public, working on pieces for friends’ basements and doing personal “shout out” pieces.

The first basement design that he did was for Cole Wilkerson, a junior at Pembroke Hill School. In June, Wilkerson asked Kerr to spray an original design on a blank wall in his basement.

Kerr came up with a sketch involving “Kansas City”, a tribute to his hometown and a relevant design for Wilkerson’s Kansas City home.

Kerr’s designs had come a long way in just a few months.

The design on Wilkerson’s wall was massive, spanning almost its entire length. The two words meshed together, both of them using the same color scheme of light to dark blue from top to bottom. Slices of bright orange accented certain letters and

white stars jutted out from the far edges.

Kerr’s hours in the garage had begun to pay off.

His most serious line of work came towards the end of summer. Kerr’s parents told him in August that he was hired for Paint the Town, an event at the Plaza Art Fair sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital. The event would take place on Sept. 26 outside the Intercontinental hotel on the plaza, giving Kerr time to arrange his piece.

When he found out, Kerr was ecstatic. He was shocked. He was excited and anxious and “a million different feelings at once.” This was Kerr’s big break.

“Pressure’s on,” Kerr said with a smile.

Being back in Kansas City had brought on an opportunity that he never would’ve thought possible.

***

It’s dark out now, and the crowd has reached its quota.

Guests move in masses, watching the different artists that are situated around the glowing pool outside the Intercontinental.

People linger by the ice sculptor, exclaiming at the very outlandishness of an ice sculptor, while admiring the frozen palm tree he has created. More people stand in line for the caricature artist, waiting to have their features distorted on paper. Even more people watch the Spanish dancers, salsa-ing on the platform raised above the kid pool.

The most people are standing on the concrete steps in front of the graffiti artist.

The graffiti artists’ arm moves easily across the canvas, which is no longer half-finished; it’s filled with a complete version of the sketch in his mind. He stops to shake out the soreness in his arm and smile at his mother, who is crooning over his talents to her friends. “Can you believe my son? It’s exciting, it really is!”

Ann watches him from her seat on the steps, occasionally getting up and strategically snapping a photo. He begins adding the finishing touches -- “Paint the Town” to the right of the design in purple paint and his initials below that in the right corner. He gracefully sprays “Big thanks to: Abby!” in a blank space on the canvas, as well as “Thanks Christina!”, a shout out to the women who set him up with the gig. He’s so grateful to have had the opportunity to showcase his work.

He has big plans for his future, all revolving around his graffiti. He wants to take more art classes and learn everything that he can; he says he still has a long way to go. He wants to become sponsored by a paint company, so he can do what he loves for free. He wants to attend a graphic arts school for college.

Most of all, the graffiti artist wants his paint to be more than paint.

“I don’t want to just be inspired, I want to inspire other people.”

fiti at the Plaza Art Fair on Sept. 26.

>>photos by Mackenzie Wylie

>>Ann Fenley

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issue 3 mixed page 17

30

seconds with... freshman

mixed mixed mixed mixed

Connor‘Nub’McGannon What was your favorite toy as a kid?

My mini Jeep that you could drive around.

How did you get the nickname “Nub”?

My brother started by calling me “C. nobs” then a girl asked if my name was Nub, which wasn’t true at the time, but when I told that to my brother, it just stuck.

mixed mixed mixed 5 5 top

{the page about life}

Parent Jacquelyn Geddes

Explain why the world is round.

I always tell other moms about my son’s personal life and tell them about things going on in his world. I know he wants me to be more discreet about it.

Why not?

What do you do to stay awake in class?

Draw on the desk, although it doesn’t really keep me awake.

Sophomore William Geddes:

I get so embarrassed and humiliated. I always tell her to stop but she never does.

>>all photos by MaxStitt

“Sportstacular, I’m addicted to sports and this gives me all the scores.”

Teacher Scott Dowis

“Shazam, you can hold it up to the speakers of the car and it tells you what song is playing.”

Freshman Izzi Weindling

students and teachers talk about their favorite iPhone apps

“Pandora, because it’s like an iPod but you don’t have to buy the music.”

Junior Molly Rappold

“Chipotle app, it makes getting Chipotle so much better because when you order from your phone you can just walk in and cut everyone in line to pick up your food.”

Senior Jordan Pfeiffer

We’ve all been there, that class when the clock seems to never move. When you swear last time you looked it said 2:15 and somehow it still does. Let’s make an app that can remotely control the clocks, to hurry up history and extend art for hours.

He hates when I ask too many questions when his friends are around. He thinks I’m being too nosey when really I’m just trying to make conversation.

She always asks where I’m going and who I’m with. I get really annoyed and just get short with her.

Parent Kelly Privitera I sing the ‘popular’ songs that they don’t think I should know in front of their friends.

Senior Amanda Privitera:

I basically shake my head and tell her to stop but she never listens.

Parent Lisa Auer

In seventh grade I accidentally bought Drew a ‘plus size’ Cheetah Girls costume for Halloween. We didn’t realize it until the night of Halloween so I just had her stuff it with pillows.

Junior Drew Auer:

1

If you could make any app in the world, what would it be?

If you ask me, studying for tests is overrated. Why can’t Apple come up with an app that has answers to every SME test on it?

Yes, It might be a lot to ask for, but I’m almost positive any student with an iPhone or iTouch would invest in it.

Parent Tracy Rellihan Freshman Connor Rellihan:

2 >>apple.com

“Hanoi, it’s just one of those old Japanese games that you can’t stop playing until you beat it.”

Sophomore Joel Anderson

4 3

top apps

“Cydia, it allows me to ‘jailbreak’ my phone so that I can use T-mobile and get cool backgrounds and stuff.”

Teacher Kelli Kurle

Parents share ways they have embarrassed their kids; students share their reactions

When I went to the party and realized everyone else had on cute costumes I was so mad at my mom for making me be the robust Cheetah Girl.

Parent Jon Hitchcock One time I was doing cafeteria duty when the girls were in elementary school and I wore an apron with squeaky boobs on it.

Sophomore Sophia Hitchcock: I walked in the lunch room and was so embarrassed when that’s all everyone talked about all day. But now looking back it’s pretty funny.

Ever wake up and wonder why you just dreamt something outrageous? And wouldn’t it be nice save yourself a trip to the psychic to get that dream interpreted? There needs to be an app that can interpret dreams for you. This would clear up all the confusion and only cost a few bucks. >>EmmaPennington

>>SamKovzan

>> /www.sonyclassics.com

A ghostly pale man with shabby black hair gathers an empty glass Coca Cola bottle, a rectangular block of wood and a wire. He tightens the wire over the bottle by wrapping it around nails at each end of the block, finally attaching a sound amplifier. Seconds later, the silence provided by the quaint woodsy setting is startlingly interrupted by a roaring sound bursting from his creation.

The audacity of guitarist Jack White’s makeshift guitar scene sets the adventurous tone of Davis Guggenheim’s (An Inconvenient Truth) newest documentary.

“It Might Get Loud” profiles four decades of electric guitar brilliance: extraordinary veterans Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and the Edge of U2, along with burgeoning youngster Jack White of the White Stripes.

By uniting these three distinct guitar gods, Guggenheim not only provides a dream come true for rock lovers, but a fascinating look at each artist’s beginnings with the instrument, their influences and their methodology.

The film is essentially divided into three segments – one focusing on each guitarist’s pasts, one explaining their techniques and style, and one spotlighting their enticing collaboration session on a large soundstage. Film editor Greg Hinton expertly intertwines each aspect of the musicians’ tales, making the journey exciting and unpredictable.

The story begins with each guitarist separately traveling to the recording studio with White revealing his honest intentions: to trick Page and the Edge into revealing their recipes for success. In the opening minutes, we get a feel for the artists’ varying styles and approaches to rock and roll via concert footage, clips from recording studios and trips to their hometowns.

The soundstage segments of the film prove to be the most compelling. White tells about his tough upbringing in an ethnically diverse Detroit

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Proud LOUD to be

page 18 a&e 10.06.09

Documentary covering the top electric guitarists of three decades is a hit

ghetto, as well as growing up in a family of 10 kids. In his neighborhood, the guitar was looked down upon because of the area’s hip-hop influence. His budding talent, noticed by a coworker at the factory White worked at, eventually landed him a few gigs around the city where he first made his name public. White’s southern blues influences unmistakably shaped his early sound as a guitarist.

The Edge, a Dublin native, shares the story about how he and his brother built their first guitar from hand-carving the body to wiring the strings. He explains the origins of his technology-dependent approach while studio footage shows him utilizing seemingly hundreds of different gadgets only true guitar fans are familiar with. The Edge advanced rock and roll in the 80s by finding new ways to alter sounds, utilizing his 36 distortion pedals and other high-tech devices.

Page, functioning as the refined English gentleman, shows us his Headley Grange estate where Led Zeppelin recorded four of their studio albums in the 70s. Zeppelin fans will find Page’s story particularly absorbing as the white-haired pioneer talks about playing the skittle guitar as a child and his original intentions of becoming a marine biologist. Additionally, Page acknowledges that he was perhaps a revolutionary ahead of his time – Led Zeppelin IV, the second best-selling rock album of all time, only received a one-paragraph review in the Rolling Stone Magazine. Radiating a wise wizard vibe throughout the film, the 65-year old also provides a few witty one-liners.

“The curves of the guitar are like a woman’s,” Page says, describing the joy he feels when playing the instrument. And when talking about one of Led Zeppelin’s

songs: “It just builds and builds, like an orgasm.”

Boasting a killer soundtrack, vintage live concert recordings and intriguing footage of the guitarists’ raw on-stage collaborations, Guggenheim’s aptly-named documentary never hits a dry spot. He and Finton provide us a look at each artist in multiple settings, from their familiar stomping grounds and homely recording studios to performing live in front of sprawling crowds.

The concert clips are a particular reminder of just how gifted, unique and influential the three guitarists are. One memorable sequence of the film shows White strumming a fast-paced riff, shredding his fingers and smearing his guitar with blood. Following is a hair-raising shot of the Edge playing the first chords of “Where the Streets Have No Name” in front of a waving mass of 100,000 people. A clip from 1973 shows the bushy-haired Page putting a violin bow to his guitar in the Zeppelin classic “Dazed and Confused.”

But “It Might Get Loud” doesn’t function simply as a jumble of noise from each of the three artists. The documentary’s underlying vitality exists in the trio’s conversations where they share stories, theories and influences. The result: we see why and how their music is made, which – if you’re a fan of the White Stripes, U2 or Led Zeppelin – makes for one hell of a show. If not, you’ll still receive excellent insight on the electric guitar’s evolution and appreciation for three of the most prominent rockers of the last 40 years.

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| Spotlight on the Stars JA

CK WHITE

Age: 34 Bands: The White Stripes (1998 - present) the Raconteurs (2006 - present) Dead Weather (2008 - present) Signature guitar: Gretsch White Penguin (customized) Signature styes: Rapid pitch modulations, punk blues, electric piano Influences: Southern Blues musicians (Son House, Blind Willie McTell)

THE E

Age: 48 Bands: U2 (1978 – present) Signature guitar: Gibson Explorer Signature styles: Pedal distortions, delay effects, reverberation Influences: The Who, the Velvet Underground, Joy Division

DGE

AGE JIMMY P Age: 65

| Stay home|

| Rental at best |

|Worth seeing|

Bands: The Yardbirds (1964 – 1966) Led Zeppelin (1968 – 1980) solo work (1964 – present) Signature guitar: Gibson 1275 Double Neck Signature styles: Guitar with violin bow, double neck guitar playing Influences: Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Albert King

|Instant Classic

A Right Royal Day The Kansas City Renaissance Festival proves to be a fun experience, despite a few unrealistic elements

>>MacTamblyn

The Kansas City Renaissance Festival frequently elicits the question, “Really?”

Adults sword fighting with no real consequences. Men wearing tights that would make King Arthur blush. Medieval taverns brewing Sierra Mist. The list is longer than Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales.”

But fall after fall, Kansas Citians make their annual pilgrimage back to modern-day “Canterbury” (Bonner Springs). Part of the reason they go, myself included, is purely to crack jokes about the man gallantly strutting around in 90 degree heat wearing a full suit of armor. Some inherent element of human nature compels me to appreciate these quirks.

It may be sympathy, empathy, admiration or adoration, but the Renaissance Festival’s raw charm always overcomes its imperfections.

However, navigating to the Ren Fest was by no means charming. After a wrong turn on K-7, it ended up taking nearly an hour to get there. Then, after arriving in the lot, I faced a walk to the entrance long enough to tire even the noblest of steeds.

Upon making my way through the gates, which were guarded by old-time ticket takers, I sat down to rest my weary legs and take in the scenery.

The set-up is remarkable. Trees cover the grounds, giving a shadowy and crisp feel to the majority of the premises. The ground is hilly and intersected by a winding creek. Old wooden buildings line the perimeters, making up the various shops, restaurants and performance areas of the Ren Fest.

As impressive as the scene was, I decided to get going. Masses of festgoers and “employees” crowded the paths.

The street actors give the scene a quality of authenticity. Everything from a queen - who dons full queen garb and struts around with arms interlocked with the king - to a blacksmith - who melds metals in his public shop - is represented. One street actor played a recognizable riff on his ocarina and then yelled out, “Heyyyy Ocarina!”

When asking an actor a question, they almost always give an “Indeed” instead of “Yes.” A

few times, I had to jolt myself back to reality after daydreaming into “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

This willing suspension of disbelief is allimportant. Refusing to use your imagination leads to a less than enjoyable experience. For instance, if you see a kid walking around 15th century England in a Chiefs jersey or a performer with a microphone, over thinking the situation takes away from the experience.

Some of these influences from the outside world proved to be impossible to look past, though. The one that nearly sent me over the edge was an airbrush painting shop that displayed a big-screen TV sized rendition of Edward Cullen. His face has become more coveted than the first printing press.

Despite the Twilight-induced pain, I continued on. After walking around a while and watching a few performances, I began to see a few recurring observations, both positive and negative.

First, every sign is different, from the one directing the easily amused to a weapon shop that reads, “Sharp, Shiny Objects,” to the disclaimer outside a men’s rest room saying, “No Wenches Allowed.” Small moments like these add up to the general appeal of the Ren Fest.

Secondly, every “employee” looks like they are having just as good of a time as a visitor. The raucous, audience participationbased presentation of “The Magic of Steve Payton” turned a fairly run of the mill magic show into a crack-up. Although the jousting spectacle was striking, I enjoyed the pregame entertainment just as much, which involved teen a g e

issue 3 a&e page 19 festival workers going at each other with foam weaponry, consciously making fools of themselves. The enthusiasm displayed throughout the Fest is

contagious.

Third, like any other festival, the price of admission is not the final cost. Whether it’s wax hands, torture museums or replica chain mail, your wallet will be slimmer by the time you leave.

One thing that would be well worth my money, I figured, was the Renaissance Festival’s hallmark, the handheld piece of meat dubbed the “Turkey Leg.” It would be a nice way to finish out the day. Roughly the size of a human forearm, these delights are hard to come by outside of Thanksgiving season.

To my surprise and dismay, they are also hard to come by at the Ren Fest. When I went up to order my Turkey Leg, I was given an upsetting, “Sorry, we’re out right now.”

Despite the lack of meat, I felt content after a day in Canterbury. My stomach was empty and I was exhausted. I should have been in a mood to complain or mock. But the overriding charisma of the Ren Fest prevailed. Every “Really?” that could ever be asked was vanquished by a simple “Indeed.”

|

Signs of the Tymes

Unique signs of shops and restaurants at the Renaissance Festival

|

Classic Shakespearean Insults Be prepared in case of a verbal battle at the Ren Fest

*Thou reeky plume-plucked miscreant! *Thou fawning earth-vexing dewberry! *Thou puny milk-livered mammet! *Thou mewling idle-headed lewdster!

>>webweaving.org

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| Rank |

>>all photos by Katie East

| Somewhat Foul|

|Knightly |

| Of The Queen’s Praise

There are a ton of movies vying for your weekend time, but few make the cut. Let Movie Professor Alex Lamb school you on what’s worth your lawnmowing money.

>>AlexLamb

Where the Wild Things Are 10/16

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell 10/16

Remember reading this book with mom or dad when you were a kid, every night before bed? I know I sure do, and now that a live-action, larger-than-life version is finally hitting the big screen (in IMAX, no less), I can’t wait to relive this beloved aspect of my childhood.

In case you need a refresher, the story is about the young boy Max, who after being sent to bed without dinner invents his own fantasy world where giant, furry forest beasts make him their king and treat him as one of their own. Directed by Spike Jonze (“Being John Malkovich,” “Adaptation”), visual flair balanced with an absorbing story is guaranteed, as well as endearing, heartfelt characters, so prepare to let your imagination run wild all over again.

Based on the best-selling, hysterical true memoir by party extraordinaire Tucker Max, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell” takes different anecdotes from his book of the same name and combines them into a coherent single entity. This mishmash plot focuses around Max taking his engaged friend to a legendary strip club for a bachelor party blowout. Predictably, he manages to screw everything up, so Max must make amends for his selfish behavior or lose his pals as a result of it.

Because the book was the funniest piece of literature I’ve ever read, I have high hopes for this raunchy buddy comedy tailored towards frat boys, which was co-written by Max and promises hilarious entertainment in the vein of “The Hangover.”

Boondock Saints II 10/30 Ten years ago, Troy Duffy’s inventive action flick “The Boondock Saints” wowed audiences with its perfect dosage of awesome style and engrossing substance. Since then, the story of the two Irish siblings killing off the criminal scum of Boston’s streets has amassed an immense following, and now that the long-awaited follow-up has finally arrived, words cannot describe my giddy excitement.

In the sequel, the McManus brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) and their father (Billy Connolly) return to Boston and avenge the recent murder of their cherished childhood priest, seemingly by killing the entire crime family responsible. Chances are this slick vigilante tale will be the hardcore, intense action hit that old-school shoot-em-up fans have been waiting years for.

The Box 11/6 When a financially struggling couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) is given the opportunity to receive a million dollars for pushing a button, which will kill someone somewhere in the world whom they don’t know, the ultimate game of conscience begins as the audience is questioned “What would you do?” as often as the characters.

Based off an old “Twilight Zone” episode, this version is sure to freak out and thrill audiences with it’s creepy, half-jawed mystery men, deep-rooted conspiracy and overall weirdness. Director Richard Kelly mystified and entranced audiences with his debut cult classic “Donnie Darko,” so hopefully he can repeat that success here, too.

The winter might look far away, but when the movie trailers come a-firing, it’s important to know what’s more than just cool special effects and explosions (but those are good, too).

Fantastic Mr. Fox 11/25

The Road 11/25

There’s no doubt that Wes Anderson (“Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums”) is a master of heartfelt, quirky little comedies. So while “Mr. Fox” is basically just another one, it’s the first movie Anderson is stepping out of his comfort zone with, as it’s a stop-motion animated comedy based on a Roald Dahl novel.

The story follows the sneaky Mr. Fox (George Clooney) and the local farmers attempting to stop him from snatching their chickens.

They plan to get rid of him and his family once and for all, while Mr. Fox and his animal friends plan to finally escape the farmers’ clutches. With a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray, and lots of charming humor and characters, Anderson may just have the next “Chicken Run” on his hands.

Originally slated for release a year ago, “The Road” stars Viggo Mortensen in the story of a father and son travelling across the freezing, barren post-apocalyptic countryside as they make their way south. They expect to find life-sustaining weather and other survivors at their destination, but along the way continually run into death, destruction and barbaric cannibals out to kill them, which only put a grim damper on their hopes.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy, this adaptation thankfully stays faithful to the book, leaving aside any Hollywood glitz to take viewers on a haunting, heartwrenching journey that easily has the potential to be the most captivating and affecting film of the year.

Avatar 12/18

Sherlock Holmes 12/25

Director James Cameron’s first cinematic feature since “Titanic,” the sci-fi epic “Avatar” is his return to the kind of big-budget, blockbuster action he does so well. The basic plot is that in the future, a group of humans face off against a new planet’s alien population, with one man (Sam Worthington) in the middle of the fight.

Purportedly a revolution in CGI special effects and 3D experiences, I’m a little worried that all the computer animation will make it feel too fake, but that probably won’t be a problem since almost two years have been spent on the film’s post-production alone. Considering that Cameron is the man behind the sci-fi action masterpieces “Aliens” and “Terminator 2,” I have faith he’ll amaze once again with another piece of extraordinary, cinematic brilliance.

After several missteps, British director Guy Ritchie (“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” “Snatch”) finally regains his knack for crafting genius caper comedies. Now he’s helming the reboot of the original clever detective (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his indispensable partner Dr. Watson (Jude Law) in “Sherlock Holmes.”

Little is known about the actual plot right now, but it involves the two investigators fighting with both brains and brawn against an adversary who’s scheme endangers the entirety of England. One thing is for sure, however - with the talents of both Downey Jr. and Law in the leads and Ritchie behind the camera, this will no doubt be a cool, hilarious, action/adventure romp that sweeps the Christmas box office, marking Ritchie’s most fun flick since “Snatch.” >>ign.com

>>movieweb.com

page 22 a&e 10.06.09

Emotional

Release >>Katie East

Junior Chris Melvin, aka Catharsis, releases his first album “Bow to Gob” with a large focus on his life >>LoganHeley In the world of rap today, it’s hard to find a good song that teens express themselves. “Gob” is Catharsis’ no-holds- her Indian fat {expletive} and spread it in a bowl of curry,” doesn’t talk about mack 10s or blowin’ trees. In the case of junior Chris Melvin’s first full length recording album “Bow to Gob,” you get neither. Instead, the listener is thrust into a whirlwind of love, hate and a few sick beats.

Originally a Christian-based rapper, his new album flips his past ideology upside-down by claiming “God has better things to do than care about the innocent sons of man.”

“Gob” takes on society as Melvin (aka Catharsis) lyrically assaults all of the wrongs and misconceptions he’s noticed in his 16 years.

The whole album sends the listener back to the days of Tupac Shakur and The Fugees: the days when a rap song sent a message to the masses with clever lyrics and sweet hooks. Tupac wrote the song “Trapped” to show the world that certain powers were holding him down. This is similar to Catharsis’ “Discourse on the Method” where the words express his frustration with society.

From the first melodic Sigur Ros cover, it’s apparent that with its unconventional lyrics and unorthodox beats, “Bow to Gob” is no ordinary ringtone rap album. The strength of the record comes in its lyrics, which make up for the poor production. The album addresses struggles of the everyday teen sans the adult commentary that normally comes when

barred debut, and anyone with a CD player is invited.

None of Catharsis’ beats on the album are original; instead he either covers an existing song or carefully (and legally) selects a beat made by the British group Anno Domini Beats. The production of the album is rough to say the least, but it’s understandable considering his dirt cheap budget.

Very few albums start off with such an appealing and meaningful song as “The Awakening.” With angelic singing backing up Catharsis, he welcomes the listener to his “dungeon of insanity” where he “{doesn’t} give a {expletive} if you love or destroy your own brother.” His first of many allusions to schoolwork also appears when he says he’s “rapping with Thoreau,” a reference to the summer reading assignment “Walden.”

Throughout the album, Catharsis makes wise remarks about two-faced people, ignorant people and all the people in between. He claims he’s the “satanic version of Langston Hughes,” but he could challenge Mark Twain as the king of satire. His clever ways of shedding light on things like a fast food worker’s job (“We Are Animals”) or the “world of possibilities” on a Chili’s menu (“Medusa’s Predecessor”) might make the listener laugh a little when he sarcastically says “I swear if she {expletive} up my McFlurry, I’ll take

ction: e l e S g n So

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| Press ‘skip’|

>>Dan Stewart

1. The Awakening (Sigur Ros Cover) 2. Medusa’s Predecessor 3. Epistemic Loneliness 4. Enter Lame White Pejorative 5. Your Hand In Mine (Explosions in the Sky Cover) 6. Cognitive Maze 7. Dragonfly (M. Craft Cover) 8. Transitivity of Identity 9. Springs Ontology 10. These Gnomes Aren’t Laughing 11. We Are Animals 12. My Eternal Sunshine 13. Discourse on the Method 14. Midlife Crisis 15. Ruins 16. Windsong Lullaby (James Horner Cover)

|Borrow it |

|Download it |

but the point is driven home.

Another reoccurring element in the album is his gnomes.

They refer to the garden gnomes Catharsis loved to play with as a child. He bases the album off them because of their childish appeal, but also to show that he still clings to them and isn’t ready to move on to the path of manhood.

“Epistemic Loneliness,” the third track, has the best beat on the album, mixing a slow drum kick with a smooth guitar riff. Not only that, but one of Catharsis’ choicest and most real lines is also tied into the track: “I obey these stop signs even when they’re in {expletive} locations, Why do I just lay back and get {expletive} and {expletive} take it?”

Catharsis addresses the one problem Jay-Z doesn’t have (“99 Problems”) as only he can, with two separate tracks of first-person teenage narrative. “Your Hand in Mine,” a cover of the song by Explosions In The Sky of the same name, tells the tale of a love-sick teenage boy who longs to leave the “friend zone” of a girl with a glowing and beautiful face.

Contrast that with “Ruins,” a later track in which the mood can be found with one glance at the title. The teenage boy in this song has “love {as his} enemy” and can’t pull himself away from a deceitful and devilish girl who exploits his weaknesses.

“Transitivity of Identity,” “Spring’s Ontology” and “These Gnomes Aren’t Laughing” make for the strongest portion of the album. These three tracks are more about Catharsis than any others on the record. Catharsis is sure to make it clear in “Ontology” that he’s content, but he won’t take a step further. “Laughing” starts out with what can be thought of as a beautiful elfish woman singing beside a creek. The song continues and Catharsis asks, “When will I find the God I have sought?”

“Gob” isn’t the prettiest album when it comes to the production. The sound is rough and at times you can hear Catharsis bump the microphone as you listen. There is no apparent track layering in the album which would eliminate the need for a perfect take of both music and lyrics. Even so, the listener has to overlook those flaws and listen to the lyrics, because that is where the true heart lies.

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|Auditory Brilliance

>> iamdonp.wordpress.com

OLD SCHOOL NEW

New album ‘Blueprint III’ lives up to reputation >>BobMartin

In many ways, mainstream hip-hop has been losing credibility in the last few years.

With the repetitive, money-making phenomenon known as “ringtone rap” currently dominating charts and prepubescent cell phones across the country, someone has finally stepped in to stop the child’s play.

At 39, rapper Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is a senior citizen in an industry where 17-year-old high school drop outs can make platinum records. This doesn’t hold his eleventh release The Blueprint III back at all.

From “What We Talking About” the album’s highly produced opener, to it’s ironic ending that samples Alphaville’s “Forever Young”, which many will remember Napoleon Dynamite dancing to at his prom, Jay-Z is in full form and accompanied by some of rap’s and R&B’s finest.

As the album’s first single, D.O.A. (Death Of Autotune) is so heavily focused on dissecting what’s wrong with music these days, it’s interesting that Jay-Z chose some of the biggest acts in recent years to accompany him on the album.

With names like Rihanna, Pharrell, Alicia Keys, and America’s favorite love/hate relationship Kanye West backing him up, it’s easy to see why Jay-Z has no trouble making hits.

The main selling point for this star studded cast is definitely the fourth track, “Run This Town.” Opening with a powerful vocal hook from Rihanna, the song flows perfectly into Carter’s first verse, and keeps a nice balance between vocals and rhymes up until it’s flashy yet typical Kanye West closing.

While Jay-Z does spend a lot of it counting the zeroes in his paychecks and reminiscing on how many of his albums have hit number one, he is still able to perfectly parody popular culture, the “hip hop lifestyle” and much of what we’ve come to accept in the record industry.

Jay-Z does set the jokes aside at times though, and one of these serious songs proves to be the record’s best by far. With Alicia Keys on vocals, “Empire State of Mind”, Carter’s tribute to the city he was raised in, shines.

STAR SCALE|

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BEAT

Kid Cudi’s debut album brings a fresh, upbeat vibe

itstheofficial.wordpress.com

issue 3 a&e page 23

>>ConorTwibell

New to the main-stage of hip hop, Cleve- mixtape entitled “A Kid Named Cudi.” The difThe song opens normal enough, land native Kid Cudi uses soft, soulful beats, ferent, emotional vibe of this album is what taking us through a quick tour but he’s no R&B artist. He puts his individual drew me to Cudi in the beginning. However, it of NYC in the first verse, but emotions into his rhymes, but his lyrics are was the funky, club beats of “Day ‘n’ Nite” that as Keys’ chorus comes in, things relatable. Combine these aspects and out boosted his status as an up-and-comer within go to another level. comes a blend that can only be described the hip-hop industry.

“Now You’re in New York” Keys as “emo rap.” belts with passion. “These streets will The idea of starting off with a slow track to In “Man on the Moon: The End of ease the listener into the album has become a make you feel brand new, big lights Day,” Cudi purges his emotions us- staple in the music industry, and “Man on the will inspire you.” On my first listen, ing moaning vocals backed up by Moon” is no exception to this unwritten rule. these words gave me goosebumps. whiny electric beats that exemplify His monotonous lyrics in “In My Dreams” make Not only did it bring back fond memories his new genre. Cudi is not another for a slow song that listeners won’t hesitate to of when I visited the city myself, but Keys 50 Cent who raps about the spoils skip over. However, Cudi would have been best really brings the experience to life, with of success, nor is he another Usher served introducing his album with a song that so much emotion and power behind her whose “emotions” speak only of the better represents his style. voice. drama with his ladies. Listeners won’t hear It’s clear that Carter put everything Cudi’s legendary yet controversial mentor, him yelling and cursing, but rather softly Kanye West, makes his debut on the album in he had into writing this song, and it telling the story of his past troubles and ex- Cudi’s second single, “Make Her Say.” Cudi samshows by not only sincerely honoring periences.

NYC, but by standing above everything ples Lady Gaga’s overplayed hit “Poker Face,” Growing up in a diverse suburb of which blends well with the rhymes of Cudi, else that “Blueprint III” has to offer. The Cleveland, Kid Cudi, born Scott Ramon West and fellow rapper Common. The song detrack could easily go down with Frank Segrin Mescudi, didn’t have the easiest life viates from his overall “emo” style of rapping, Sinatra’s “New York, New York” as one of as a child. Though this starts to come off to ac marketable style that’s more appropriate the greatest tributes ever to the city that as the stereotypical story of a rapper who for airtime on the radio. never sleeps. went from rags to riches, Cudi’s story is For all that “The Blueprint III” does Songs like “Make Her Say” make it hard to different. right, it admittedly does fall short in a few take his more serious, emotional songs seriWhen he was 11 years old, his mother ously, as they disrupt the flow and overall tone spots. It follows a too-similar formula died after a battle with cancer. This loss of the album. The song would work effectively from start to end. Carter will spit several was just the bittersweet trigger needed on its own, just not the way it’s packaged within verses, some sort of male R&B artist to inspire his infant hip-hop career. Nor- this album. will sing the chorus, and the process mally, I tend to stay away from artists who will repeat until the song’s conclusion.

Cudi’s debut album overcomes the awkward try to draw listeners in with their sad lyrics, punctuations by these upbeat songs, solidifyOn their own, the tracks still but for some reason, Cudi was easy to con- ing his place among the big boys of hip-hop, prove to be very good and enjoynect with. able, but when listened to as a whole, regardless of age or experience.

These relatable emotions helped push they seem a bit trite. This is a minushim onto the hip-hop scene under the stage cule complaint, and doesn’t hold the name Kid Cudi, with the debut of his first album back nearly enough to pass it by.

If anything, Jay-Z has made it clear with “Blueprint III” that age hasn’t softened him at all, and he’ll still be making number one records for a long time.

1. Man on the 1. Daps and While his ego is still as big as the BrookMoon (The Pounds lyn streets that raised him, the album still Anthem) stands above most every other hip-hop re2. Sky High cord released lately, proving that Carter is 2. The Prayer 3. Look Up In a man of his word too.

3. Cleveland Is Da Stars

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Cudi’s Mixtapes

CONOR’S TOP PICKS

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|Borrow it|

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‘THE ANTHEM’

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‘DAT KID FROM CLEVELAND’

the Reason

|Download it |

|Auditory Brilliance

page 24 sports 10.06.09

A

>>JackHowland

s freshman Anna Colby stands behind the starting line at the Baldwin Invitational, ready for the gunshot, thoughts fill her head. “Was it a fluke? Do I belong on varsity? What if I have to stop running?” But when the inevitable shot fires through the air, all thoughts are lost. She’s no longer having doubts of if she will cross the finish line.

She’s thinking about being the first to cross the finish line.

Colby may be younger than her teammates but at the first two meets she participated in, she came in first place for East.

With the exception of one missed meet and an eleventh place finish last week at Rim Rock, she has consistently performed well in races. Her one blemish on the year, Rim Rock, was a meet where she felt sick prior to the race. Regardless, she has been a constant force on the team, scoring points week to week.

Junior team captain Hanna Jane Stradinger saw Colby’s potential from week one.

“I could tell she was going to be good,” Stradinger said. “She did well this summer [in summer running], I guess I just didn’t realize how good she was going to be.”

Colby’s talent has head coach Tricia Beaham impressed as well. Beaham is wowed by her work ethic, determination and the encouragement she offers to others. One thing in particular she sees in Colby is her natural ability.

“Her capability is phenomenal, she’s a naturally gifted athlete,” Beaham said. “I think that she has had that ingrained in her from doing other sports growing up, like soccer, so she’s a competitor.”

Colby may be currently experiencing success on the team, but prior to time trials making varsity was a distant thought.

Colby only decided to go out for cross country a day before the first day of school.

Originally, she was only going to do club soccer. She made a last second decision to balance the two sports throughout the fall sports season. Needless to say, she was shocked when she realized she had made varsity for cross country.

The idea of reaching the top level barely crossed her mind.

“I didn’t really think about it that much,” Colby said. “Right before time trials I ran a few practices with varsity, so I was hoping to make either JV or varsity.”

The result of the time trials was better than she had originally expected. Not only had she made varsity, but she did so in impressive fashion, finishing with a time of 16:42. When she crossed the finish line at third place, she was exhilarated that she would be a varsity runner. She knew she had achieved quite a feat, making the top level as a freshman.

“I was really excited, I was hugging all the upperclassmen girls already on varsity,” Colby said. “It was kind of crazy.”

Her performance in time trials reflects the hard work she’s displayed in practice.

One of the first things Colby’s teammates notice about her is her desire to improve.

“Anna is a just a natural athlete,” sophomore varsity teammate Emily Kerr said.

“But on top of that she works hard in prac-

tice and sometimes even leads the workouts even though she is a freshman.”

Acting as the newcomer on the team, Colby is open to advice from her teammates.

She takes in each criticism they have, and actively tries to improve on it. They have shaped her as an athlete and shown her the basics. She looks up to her sophomore, junior and senior companions. Beaham has seen the very same connection week after week.

“I believe that it’s not only talent, but that those girls like Maddy [Rich] and Hanna Jane - they’re such kind girls and role models - that Anna, who’s also one of those kind people, sees that and gravitates towards that,” Beaham said.

Colby is continuing to bond with her teammates as the season continues. And as she puts up good times each week and helps out her peers, she is beginning to transcend from just a freshman to a team leader.

“I think the reason why she is such a leader is, not so much again as a freshman because you don’t expect freshman to step it up and be leaders, but she is leading by example,” Beaham said. “She is a very competitive young lady and because she has a great personality, I think that people will look at her not just as a great runner but as a role model.”

Colby’s leader status as a freshman is nothing new to the cross country team. For the past three years, a freshman has gone to state, acting as a leader on the team. It is becoming a trend for the girls.

Three years ago, then freshman Jes-

leading HER

class

>>

DanStewart

Freshman Anna Colby is one of the top runners on the girls’ cross country team

sie Sykes went to state. A year later, it was Stradinger that carried on the tradition. And last year, Katie Crawford represented East at the state tournament.

Attaining this hefty goal is no easy task but Beaham thinks the possibility of qualifying is looking promising for Colby.

“I think she has absolutely enough capability of making it to state,” Beaham said.

“She’s young and so the experience is going to be every race that she runs and has more success in, she will also build confidence.”

This year, Colby has times that tend to qualify for state each year. She has already broken 16 minutes in a race, which is a time worthy of reaching state. Her teammates and coaches feel she should reach the tournament with ease. But Colby’s not concerned about state yet.

She’s not looking too far ahead.

“I don’t really want to think about it until I actually get to that point,” Colby said. “And just try to run if I get there, I haven’t really thought too much about state yet.”

The entire East squad may qualify for state this year. The lancers are currently putting up good times leading into regionals at Shawnee Park. All of the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley schools will be present at the meet, making it one of the largest on the season. Beaham believes South and Northwest will prove to be challenging competitors but she still thinks East can prevail.

All they must do is finish in the top four to qualify for state.

And leading this state contending team is none other than freshman Anna Colby, not letting up and not looking back. She retains a focused attitude moving forward. The nerves now seem far away. The thoughts in her head are beginning to vanish. She’s focused on the remainder of the season, acting more like a veteran than a freshman with each passing week.

how to

LUCKY GRIND FromJakeGreene

Before the jump, think about your position and about how you’re going to get on the ledge.

1

Start by turning your wheel to the right a little bit and then apply pedal pressure by gripping your toes by around the pedal, then lift with your arms.

Ridingtothe

issue 3 sports page 25

TOP

Senior pursues competitive BMX career

2

It’s all butter from here. Put pressure on the back peg and use a little bit of balance

3

>> allphotosby MackenzieWylie

>>EvanNichols

Senior Jake Greene sits on his bike, staring at the pyramid ramp in front of him. He psyches himself up, air-drumming to the beat of the Led Zeppelin in his earbuds. He takes off, bent over his tiny Kink BMX bike flying towards the ramp. Trick time.

Or not.

“Yahtzee!” Jake’s buddy Luke Shelton yells across the park to Jake, now sitting on the Basically lift your arms up, release that smooth white cement, his bike tires still whizpedal pressure and slide right off. zing like a pack of bees. He smiles. Wipeout.

It happens.

It’s about 3:45 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon and senior Jake Greene is already grinding, twisting, spinning and jumping all over the Roeland Skate park.

Greene jumps the pyramid over and over again, weaving through the park’s other boarders and loiterers. It’s a regular day of BMXing for Greene, who usually spends about three or four hours a day riding around the local parks. But unlike the other kids, a regular day of riding for Greene isn’t absentmindedly gliding around the park.

It’s about doing the same move over and Absorb the landing. Crouch your knees, over until it’s perfected. It’s about still getting bend your arms down and hope for the best. angry over messed up tricks. It’s about the drive to keep his moves as smooth as possible. With this combination that Greene hopes catches the eye of professional BMX sponsors, like Levi’s or United Bike Co. Bicycle motocross, more widely known by its acronym BMX, is essentially bicycle trick riding, on trails, streets or parks. It’s a sport Greene’s been exploring since he was 14. Jake rode for his first time at “Free Ride,” a local bike shop owned by John Zook. The shop had a small, 12 foot long grind box for trying out

4

5

bikes. It was on that box where Jake landed his first trick -- a double peg grind -- and developed a love for this creative, adrenaline pumping sport.

“After I landed that first trick, it made me want to learn more and do more,” said Greene.

Once he finished his freshman football season, Greene started focusing all of his free time towards BMX. He would spend hours and hours riding the local parks and trails.

The same drive to improve and expand his repertoire of tricks sticks with Greene today, although he can’t put as many hours in because of his job at Cupini’s. Green now does the bulk of his riding during the weekends.

“On the weekend, [I ride] like six to eight hours,” Greene said. “Last weekend I rode from 10 a.m. to 11 o’clock at night.”

His BMX skills came at a price however —a quick look at Greene’s bruised and battered legs attest to that. But along with the regular cuts and burns come more severe, painful injuries. Last August a mis-landing at Roeland Park shot Green’s handlebars straight into his side, puncturing a lung and cracking three ribs, taking him out of the parks for nearly five weeks. He’s torn all of the ligaments in his left ankle, too.

Greene’s accepted that accidents like this happen; it’s a risk he’s willing if it means he can continue riding. But his mother, Tracy Greene, still has anxieties about internal bleeding scares and the visits to Children’s Mercy.

“I do worry about him because he gets pretty high in the air,” Tracy said. “But then, you can’t live your life in fear. I wish he would wear a helmet, though.”

Along with the four helmets Tracy bought that seemed to mysteriously “disappear,” Tracy also bought Jake his first bike, a Fit Pro, when he was a freshman. Along with that, every Christmas yields a new list of parts and gear Jake uses to ride. She also watches the films Jake makes with his friends, and she goes to his competitions, where she sees her son at his happiest.

“He’s always happy when he rides,” Tracy said. “That kid lives to ride that bike.”

The next big choice in Greene’s career as a rider will be between sponsorship or starting his own business. Like all riders, Greene has aspirations to become a professional rider — someone who is paid by a company and is completely provided with gear. But he hasn’t found the right fit, the right team, yet. Greene’s been offered sponsorships from some small independent California teams, but he’s rejected them. He’s looking for a team that’s more widely known who embodies his take on the sport — relaxed, free spirited riders who ride because they love BMX, not love the looks, clothing or money.

If that “perfect team” doesn’t come around while Jake is still young and physically able to ride, he wants to look into opening up his own shop. He plans on taking college business and entrepreneurship classes at the University of Kansas or Arkansas, and opening up a shop in Nashville. He wants to offer a spot for kids to ride and relax, the way “Free Ride” was for him. “[My business] would be really laid back,” Greene said. “A place to come and hang out, and provide the community with good parts to ride.”

>>Max Stitt

page 26 sports 10.06.09

Racing roots driveMallory Senior Racing roots drive senior Mallory go-karting hobby Kirby’sKirby’s passion for go-karting

In the Drivers Seat >>HaleyMartin Senior Mallory Kirby puts her closedface helmet on and goes over the course in her head. Go into the corner on the right.

Get out quick, and find the right line, she thinks. The line is the fastest way to get through the course and she knows it’s the only way to win the race. Then she looks at over at her dad in an opposing go-kart and hops into her own, waiting for the horn.

“I am always nervous [before a race] and freaking out,” Mallory said. “And I think of beating whoever is out there.”

To Mallory, go-kart racing is more than a trip to PowerPlay. Kirby has been racing since she was in kindergarten. Now she go-karts competitively at Sadler’s Indoor Racing in Olathe. So far she has competed in two races, each placing about 11th out of 15.

When Mallory takes her place in the go-kart, her best friend is the accelerator.

Her passion for go-karting is fed by going fast and the intensity of the race.

“I like accelerating because I like going fast,” Mallory said. “When you accelerate I like the way your body goes backwards.”

During the summer, Mallory and her family go up to the Ozarks and test each other’s ability to find the fastest way to get through the course

and get out of the turns quickly.

Her love for go-karting began when her dad, Mark Kirby, bought a go-kart for Mallory and her sister to share. They would race it in the back of their church’s parking lot, and from then on she loved it.

Mallory started getting more involved with it, and when she was 11, she got a gokart of her own. It was a complete surprise to Mallory.

“It wasn’t totally built yet, so I helped my dad build it,” Mallory said. “It was really good bonding.”

Mark, who had been racing since he was a kid, belongs to the Go-Karting League and got Mallory involved. Once a week for about an hour, Mallory and her dad practice go-karting at Sadler’s. An ordinary practice includes Mallory following her dad around on the go-karts so that she can go over the line, and then a heated father-daughter competition. So far, the races have always ended with Mark as the winner.

Mallory will never forget the first time she went out to practice with her dad.

She was nervous and driving slow. Nearing a turn, Mallory was inching along the course which made her dad impa-

tient. So he rammed into the back of Mallory’s go-kart, forcing her kart to spin out backwards and run into the tires on the opposite side of the track. Although unscathed, it freaked her out.

“I was really scared,” Mallory said. “ I didn’t want to get into a kart after that. Obviously I did, but I was really scared.”

At Sadler’s, there are two different courses. One Mallory describes as a road course, which means that it has different levels and seemingly random curves to it. The other is an oval track, like a race track.

“I just do the road course races,” Mallory said. “There is a circle one but I don’t do that because it’s kinda boring. And a road course is the same track every time so you get pretty good at it.”

After high school, Mallory plans on continuing to go-kart — at least as a hobby. Mark has been pushing her to race after college.

“She will probably race cars after college,” Mark said. “I hope she does. She drives [my Dodge Viper] every now and then. But someday, I hope she will.”

five tips to know before getting behind the wheel of a go-kart

1 utilize opportunities

Play dirty (but not too dirty). Take advantage of others’ misfortunes. If a fellow racer turns to wide, squeeze in between his kart and the bumper to force him to back off. Use cautions as an opportunity to make up ground or pull ahead. However, be sure to know the rules of the track, as severe infractions can be grounds for dismissal.

2 take “ideal” turns

early apex late apex ideal line

Precious time can be lost during turns due to sliding. To avoid excess drifting (and slowing), racers follow what is known as the “ideal racing line” in order to hit the turn at the best entry angle.

3 don’t fear the brake

Just because it’s a race doesn’t mean racers need to avoid the brake. Flooring it through the track leads to a loss of control and crashes. Applying brakes to slow down before turns then gassing it in the turn will drop time spent drifting.

4 safety first

These machines are a forced to be reckoned with. Topping out at 45 m.p.h., they can cause some serious damage in a crash. The track owners don’t have racers sign a waiver for nothing. Helmets and seat belts are obviously a must. The “bumpers” are there to lessen impact, not for pinball.

5 make the investment

Go-karting can be pricey. If considering taking gokarting on as a serious hobby, definitely invest in a membership.

the week ahead

issue 3 sports page 27

Wed

Fri

Varsity Football @ Olathe South-Prior to this week the football team has faced the easiest part of their schedule. Now they’ll have to face the big boys, though, as the Olathe schools will get thrown into the mix along with SM West and SM Northwest.

A game that’s winnable, this could be just what the Lancers need to stir the Sunflower League pot.

BUYING TIME WITH...

DAVID BEEDER

SENIOR

DRUMLINE

ON BEING A PART OF THE HALFTIME PERFORMANCES SINCE SOPHOMORE YEAR.

During freshman year you’re not allowed on the field, but once I got there I had to have a good attitude. It’s just like any other sport, so it takes a commitment to make it through to the end.

Sat

Cross Country @ Haskell Invitational- After returning from the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago this weekend, both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams will head to Lawrence on Saturday to meet up against some area competition. A final tune-up before the League, Regional, and State meets the following three weeks, both varsity teams hope to capitalize on a quick course that can rifle them towards faster times at the end of the season when it matters most.

...Sidenotes

WHAT’S MORE IMPRESSIVE, A THREE-YEAR DRUMLINER OR A TWO-YEAR STARTING QB?

That’s tough. Even though the QB is so vital to the football team, the drumline runs the fanbase at games. It’s a push... Both have control of their respective realms of influence which makes for a great atmosphere.

BETTER SIDELINE PARTY STARTER: CHEERLEADERS OR DRUMLINE?

Is this even a question? Even though the drumline doesn’t know “bananas”, we’ve got people on their feet and we’ve got the beat that carries the fans every halftime, no matter what.

IS IT EASIER TO PLAY A CADENCE WHEN THE FOOTBALL TEAM IS WINNING OR LOSING?

For sure its when they’re winning. If we go into halftime up, it reflects on our adrenaline for the performance. We may be the “band geeks” but we get our chance to shine too.

WHEN THERE’S AN AWAY GAME, DO YOU GET ANY OFF-WEEK JITTERS?

A week where we don’t get to do something for the crowd is like stealing candy from babies. We get as excited as the student section for a halftime show,

WE NEED MORE NOISE IN THE SOCCER STUDENT SECTION... CAN WE SEE YOU THERE SOON?

I can’t disclose too much of what we’re doing, but we’ve got soccer games in the making, XC meets in the making and other stuff. Just stay tuned to see what we’ve got in store this year.

Cheerleading. Tell me it’s not a sport, I don’t care. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t; that’s not the matter, though. They’re as much a part of the fall season as homecoming crownings and late-game soccer goals. My beef with the squad so far this year is a lack of crowd interaction... Even when they’re the best team to heckle since opposing teams are off-limits. I’d bring back the bananas and make “show us how you shake that thing” become so much more than a nice break from the action. I’ve always thought I would have a passion for coaching but I never dreamed it would come in the form of blonde-haired ponytails and high-pitched screams.

There’s a reason this coaching stint would be for just one game.

corbin barnds Volleyball. Directing a team of teenage tennis phenoms would be easy - too easy, but I enjoy doing a little coaching. The spandex all-stars are talented but not too talented that I can’t show my inner Mike Ditka. Although I’m not one for chewing someone out, I think my motivational speaking would be enough to turn these girls into a team of nasty fighters even if a net separates them from the competition. They’ve shown so far this season that Coach Dowis has made the program the beacon of this fall sports season, so I think it would be only appropriate if I let him take a day off from all his work. Give me the reins, but don’t give it to me in the state championship match... Our chances are looking too good.

conor twibell Cross Country. Look, I’m not a runner, and I never have been. Personally, I’d rather spend my time in the pool swimming laps rather than running around Prairie Village. This is why I respect the hell out of the current cross country runners and coaches, but primarily the coaches. Frankly, I’m not embarrassed to say that T. Michael Chaffee would burn me in a three mile race. As I think about it, I can’t remember the last time I ran more than two miles in a time. For this reason, I owe it to myself to put my running legs to the test and take a jog with the C-teamers around the Village... and maybe stop off for a quick ice cream at TCBY. I am the coach after all.

coach’s clipboard

If you could be the coach of any fall sport for one game, which would it be?

sam logan

MackenzieWylie

Girls’ Tennis @ Manhattan High- Having placed second last week at the Aquinas tournament on the Plaza, the state contenders hope to bounce back to their usual position at the top. Sophomore Mimi Fotopoulos will lead the team in the singles competition along with senior Nikki Reber and sophomore Mollie Cooper taking the front in doubles. All three have a legitimate shot at taking the state title, as this will be the girls’ last test before the regional and state meets.

Jets Right 34

X

X

XX XXXX X X X

Jets Right 34 is one of the most commonly run plays in Coach Sherman’s time-proven and efficient offense. It’s not complex enough to get the quarterback in a tiff, but simple enough to throw the defense off guard. Wide receivers Grant Ellis and Kevin Hertel, plus tight end Gabe Miller, all stay in to block rather than head out on a pass route while the left wing goes in motion behind the quarterback prior to the snap in an attempt to get the defense headed the wrong way. The ball is then instead handed off to fullback Will Severns for him to head up the gut for a few needed yards.

page 28 photo essay 10.06.09

homecoming candidates are presented to the student body at a pep assembly and receive their own

fame fifteen minutes of

TOP: The 24 Homecoming nominees assembled during seminar at the newly renovated auditorium on Sept. 23. Nominated by the senior class, the eventual Court, including the Royalty and five Runner-ups, was decided by the student body last Wednesday.

RIGHT: Senior Margaret Brill feigns an awards speech in the auditorium foray.

To quell nerves, other candidates sang “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

>> all photos by Mackenzie Wylie RIGHT: In the girls’ locker room Tara Raghuveer does a last minute hairspray touch-up. “I was kind of excited,” Raghuveer said. “It was kind of nervewrecking walking in front of the entire school, but as soon as I started walking down the aisle, everything felt fine.”

TOP: Directed by StuCo sponsor Brenda Fishman’s veteran guidance, seniors Brooks Anthony and Margaret Brill rehearse the escorting proceedings.

MIDDLE: Seniors Maddy Rich and Hannah Satterlee debate over choosing the right ring. Between the ring that complimented Rich’s earring and the one that matched her dress, the girls chose the turquoise one to match her earrings.

BOTTOM: As senior Lois Wetzel walked up the stairs to the stage, her escort forced her to don the “I’m going to Homecoming with this guy (complimented by a picture of Wetzel’s boyfriend Grant Stauffer)” shirt. After the assembly Wetzel saw Stauffer. “She was initially angry and embarrassed but I could tell she loved it,” Stauffer said.