Issue 4 by The Harbinger

harbinger SHAWNEE MISSION EAST

What’s Inside

ISSUE 4, OCT. 21, 2003

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Cars that stand out Kill Bill movie review Coach Barecca works on a comeback

Justice witness verdict jury lawyer GUILTY justice deliberations safety security abuse defendant felon FIRST-DEGREE MURDER juror prosecutor swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH objection district attorney public defender isolation decision testimony witness verdict jury lawyer GUILTY justice deliberations safety security abuse defendant felon FIRST-DEGREE MURDER juror prosecutor swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH objection district attorney public de ender isolation decision testimony witness verdict jury lawyer GUILTY justice deliberations safety security abuse defendant elon FIRST-DEGREE MURDER juror prosecutor swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH objection district attorney public defender isolation decision testimony witness verdict jury

One teacher goes from classroom to courtroom as a murder trial juror THE EDGAR TRIAL

in brief

THE CASE • 9-year-old Brian Edgar was found dead in Dec. 2002 after being wrapped “mummy-style” in duct tape.

THE PEOPLE • Christy Edgar, Brian’s adoptive mother. • Neil Edgar, Brian’s adoptive father. • Chasity Boyd, Brian’s babysitter All were charged with child abuse and first-degree murder.

THE VERDICT • Christy Edgar pleaded guilty • Jury found Neil Edgar and Chasity Boyd guilty

Libby Nelson World Geography teacher Elizabeth Wallace gets off the bus and into her car. It’s been a week since she last taught – a week of isolation, confinement, silence. She drives to East in the dark like she has all week, trying to calm down, hoping she won’t be late for conferences. She cries the whole way. The jury she served on has just found two people guilty of murder. Wallace spent ten days in September on the jury for the Edgar murder trial. Nine-year-old Brian Edgar had died in December 2002 after spending two nights wrapped in duct tape. His adoptive parents Neil and Christy Edgar and babysitter Chasity Boyd were accused of his murder. Wallace was picked from a pool of 600 to spend a week and a half on the jury. It was a week and a half in a small room with 13 others, a week and a half of hearing testimony and saying nothing, a week and a half of feeling trapped, emotionally and physically. After receiving a letter in July that told her she was a potential juror, Wallace came to the courthouse to learn about the case on Sept. 15. She was “shocked and devastated” to learn that it was the trial of the adoptive parents and babysitter of Brian Edgar. All but 80 jurors were excused that day. Wallace was not. She returned to the courthouse on Wednesday to answer more questions: did she know the

defendants? The witnesses? Would racial prejudice affect her decision? Examine yourself, the attorneys said. Ask yourself if you already think they’re guilty or not guilty. After nine hours of questioning, she and 11 others knew that they had been selected for the jury. The trial would begin the next day. “I was overwhelmed,” Wallace said. “It seemed like a huge responsibility that I would be in charge of whether these three people would spend the rest of their lives in prison or not. There were moments where I thought ‘I already have an opinion’… I just prayed to be objective, to be able to listen with an open mind.” The next morning, Wallace drove to the National Guard Headquarters parking lot and met a bus there so that neither her safety nor the privacy of the case would be endangered. A policeman followed the bus to the Johnson County courthouse. The 12 jurors and two alternates were led to the jury room, where breakfast was waiting for them. The room was so small that the 14 of them could barely fit. They would spend the next week in either the jury room or the courtroom. I hope we all get along, because these are tight quarters, she thought. The trial began the next morning. After 30 minutes of opening arguments, the jurors were sent off for a “10-minute

photo by Jessie Fetterling break.” It lasted three and a half hours. They were finally called back in to learn that Christy Edgar, Brian’s adoptive mother, had pleaded guilty. “I was shocked,” Wallace said. “To this day I’m surprised that she went this far in the justice system, sat through three days of jury selection and then pleaded guilty without talking to her attorney.” The trial continued with only two defendants – Brian’s adoptive father Neil Edgar and 20-year-old babysitter Chasity Boyd -- and the 35 witnesses who were called the first day. Wallace watched their body language, their posture, as the attorneys had advised, trying to see if they were telling the truth. ≠≠She was most affected, though, by the testimony of witnesses she never saw. The statements of the other Edgar children were taped before the trial began. One girl showed how they would bind her wrists together tightly with duct tape as routine discipline. Sometimes, she said, if she were especially bad, they would tape her mouth and eyes shut as well. “I thought about how painful that would be and how scary it would be there in the dark with that tape on you. But they never blamed their parents,” Wallace said. “They’d say, ‘My parents are good people, they would never hurt any of us. We were just really bad kids.’ They really loved their parents.”

See “Trial,” page 2

news 2

THE HARBINGER

Trial: Wallace feels the emotional effects of jury duty Continued from Page 1

Any time not in the courtroom was spent in the jury room. Other jurors had come equipped for what they heard could be a seven-week trial: they had card games, Scrabble, Monopoly, Chapstick, aspirin and heating pads. During the trial, the jury couldn’t talk about the case to outsiders or even among themselves, so they kept busy by playing cards, telling jokes and talking about everything else. Not talking, Wallace said, made it all harder. As affected as she was by the children’s testimony, she had to keep quiet. She sometimes thought witnesses contradicted themselves, only to fear that she’d misheard – but couldn’t ask anyone else about it. “It was very difficult, especially for the women who were more used to sharing emotions,” Wallace said. “Here we were listening to these emotional, powerful things, and we couldn’t talk about them with [other jurors]… we couldn’t say ‘could you believe that?’ or ‘this is what I heard, did I hear it right?’ or ‘somebody said this today, but didn’t they say the exact opposite later?’” From when they got on the bus to when they left it, Wallace had no privacy and no freedom. For a week, she was never out of the sight of a policeman. She tried to make

a phone call, then realized that 13 people would overhear every word she said. Because of fears that the media might try to take jurors’ pictures, she couldn’t even stand near the jury room window. On the second day, they were granted permission to go onto the roof during lunch, the only time they could be outside the courthouse during the trial. They hadn’t known that the courthouse was once a prison. Once on the roof, high, thick walls surrounded them. Looking up, Wallace could see only a patch of sky. The silence, isolation, and lack of freedom grated on her. Wallace began dreaming that she was in prison. After six days, the jury began deliberations. Some wanted to make a decision and leave; others insisted that they weren’t ready to come to a conclusion yet. It was strange for Wallace. The jurors had become friends in the week they’d spent together. “It felt like their real personalities came out,” Wallace said. “For the first time we had tears, yelling, arguing. When something’s emotional, people revert back. We got to see the real people in there.” The final decision hung on the intent, on whether Edgar and Boyd had meant to kill

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Brian. Under Kansas law for cases involving child abuse, Wallace said, the intent to kill doesn’t matter. If a child under 18 dies, the abusers are guilty of murder. The jury had made a decision. Five hours had passed. As they came into the courtroom, Wallace saw eight policemen standing at the doors. It was the first time so many had been in the courtroom. After all the concerns about security, “it was the first time I was truly scared,” Wallace said. “A lot of people from the Edgar’s church were there, and they believed [Edgar and Boyd] were not guilty.” As the judge read the verdict, one of the church members yelled “Railroaded!” Then Wallace saw Chasity Boyd sobbing. “She was only 20 years old… for the first time she was showing emotion,” Wallace said. “And I felt that it was such a tragic case, not only that a 9-year-old boy died but that [the Edgars] were [Boyd’s] role models. She was a victim too, because she grew up believing in them.” After the verdict, the jurors returned to the jury room for the last time. Wallace was crying. Some others were tearful. A few were asking, “Is the bus here? Let’s go home.” Wallace left on the bus, got off the bus in the parking lot, and drove straight to East for

parent-teacher conferences. She was crying the whole way. Wallace went back to teaching the day after the trial ended and told her students briefly about the experience. When they asked what it was like, she didn’t know what to say. “People mostly were interested in the gory details, and that’s not really what we were there for,” Wallace said. “It’s very hard for someone to relate to the experience. They say ‘it must have been interesting’… We see people on TV and it seems so far away. When you’re in the courtroom and hearing their life stories, it’s more than just interesting. It’s emotional; it’s insightful; they’re stories about real human beings.” She read about the case in the newspaper over the next week, but she’s now disappointed that she did. It brought back emotions she’d rather have avoided. “I’ve been having flashbacks at night,” she said. “I’ll be lying in bed and then I’ll be back in the courtroom, especially when they’re reading the verdict. I see the babysitter sitting there, sobbing. She’s only 20 years old… I know when I’m in bed at home, she’s in bed in a prison. And I feel partially responsible for that.”

3 news

THE HARBINGER

Beneficial Bazaar

Habitat garage sale helps those in need of a home and those in need of just about anything else

David Vranicar

photo by Patrick Menihan

Katie Patrick

EAGER TO PLEASE: Vicki Arndt-Helgesen wears a “Let’s Make a Deal” shirt at the Habitat Garage Sale

The benefits of The Habitat for Humanity garage sale started long before the morning of October 9th. Sponsors along with Shawnee Mission East students received first dibs on items such as a Kate Spade purse for only ten dollars and a scooter for three. Everyday during the week prior to the garage sale, volunteers helped lug huge items such as an air hockey table and enough furniture to redecorate a mansion. It took about eight willing soccer players to bring in a pool table, just so it could be removed the following day. “ The soccer team had the opportunity to help out on Friday. It was a great chance to be able to give back to the school as a team,” Senior Lake Wooten said. The work paid off as people flooded into the hallway and gym early Saturday morning. It seemed nobody driving down Mission could miss the large garage sale signs and bright yellow balloons. Despite it being quite early, students were dedicated to their cause of raising

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Students cause parking problems for residents

money. Students were dressed in the craziest outfits they could make out of the clothes that were brought in. Seeing them in bright-yellow and green eighties hats and old-fashioned prom dresses, not many people could stop themselves from laughing as they walked through the door. The garage sale did not lack a single item. For athletic equipment there was old-fashioned roller skates, an old wood and iron sled and antique skis only about three inches wide. For home decor there were wine holders and numerous uniquely designed dishware. Clothes covered more than half the tables in the gym and most of the floor below a sign that said “ All clothes one dollar”. One little boy could barely be seen amidst the mounds of clothing that his mother kept bringing over. Based on the amount of donations brought in and the estimated $6,000 made, it’s obvious The Habitat for Humanities garage sale was a success.

Area homeowners are sharing the same parking problems felt by SMEast students everyday. Over 30 neighborhood residents issued a petition last month trying to change the “no-parking” zone on 74th Terrace between Mission and Delmar. The street was originally designated as no parking to prevent East students from parking there. The petition urges that residents on 74th Terrace get passes for their cars that allow them to park in what would stay an otherwise restricted zone, according to Prairie Village City Administrator Barbara Vernon. The city council will be holding a Nov. 17 public hearing to discuss the petition and the prospects for establishing restricted parking.

THE HARBINGER

Love to hate those ‘Newlyweds’

Lindsey Melvin Move over, J-Lo and Ben. There is a new couple in the spotlight: the “newlyweds”-pop princess Jessica Simpson and 98 Degrees man Nick Lachey. Just when we thought the reality TV show craze might be starting to fizzle out, MTV decided to follow these singing stars and record their first year of marriage on public TV. The show “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica” began on August 19th, and is now on every Tuesday at 9:30 pm. Oh, it’s exciting. We now get the privilege of watching Nick and Jessica eat dinner, go swimming, e v e n make a trip to Home Depot. Because everyday activities just seem so glam-

wings at a restaurant, she arrogantly says, “I don’t eat buffalo.” Nick: “It’s chicken!” A confused Jessica: “I don’t know this!” I will say this much about her: she can belt out a song. She has a strong voice. So she should stick to singing instead of making a bad name for herself by revealing her annoying personality to the public. Why Nick puts up with her, I don’t know. But, they’re basically being paid to be married anyway. And those tiny tube-tops and bikinis she shows off every episode couldn’t hurt. “Get my bag,” Jessica orders Nck at the beach. Nick then calls her “Bossy Britches,” but he always seems to remain patient and playful with her. I like Nick. I found it cute and caring when he sang at his grandma’s small wedding in Cincinatti. I find it sweet when he’s always with his brother. And he seems to be practical when it comes to cleaning, grocery shopping, and cooking—all areas in which

I have yet to see an episode where Jessica Simpson isn’t complaining.

orous when Nick and Jessica are doing them… In one episode, as the camera scans their massive Californian home, with messy piles of clothing lying in every foot of the floor, Jessica sits on the couch and pouts. While she sits at home doing nothing, as usual, Nick is at the playboy mansion. I have yet to see an episode when she’s not pouting. On her first-ever golf expedition, after buying a special glove, Jessica’s whining begins right away. “Baby, I have to pee.” “Baby, I’m hungry.” “Baby, I wanna drive the cart.” “Baby, my hands hurt.” She always refers to Nick as “Baby”, but she’s the baby. Plus, she’s stupid. She asks Nick why the “mouses” drowned in their swimming pool. “They’re called mice,” Nick replies. And when Nick asks if she wants buffalo

Jessica is incompetent. When Jessica is packing for a trip, she asks Nick how many pairs of jeans she should take. “Realistically, I would probably take seven pairs, but how many should I really take?” Nick replies with a pragmatic, “Two.” “But baby,” Jessica whines, “I just went to New York for two days and brought four.” The show is lacking plot and excitement. It’s very repetitive. I can only take so many “Baby”s and puppydog pouts from Jessica. Nick pretty much sums it all up when he tells her, “You’re a spoiled brat.” “So what if I’m spoiled?” At least she’s honest. Watching Jessica and Nick argue over small things is pointless. What else is on?

s we speed through our lives, people seem to depend on technology more and Jessie more even Fetterling though it isn’t as reliable as it should be. Everyone thinks that we’re “moving forward,” but are we really? The computers or cell phones or DVD players everyone has are all supposed to make our lives easier. We’ve been taught that “the computer is smarter,”, but the fact that it doesn’t work half of the time makes me think twice. They only work 50 percent of the time making the other 50 percent of our lives living hell because all we end up doing is worrying about how we need to fix the part of our computer that is broken. The least reliable of all- the one that causes whole stores to shut down because it’s not working, the one that freezes multiple times when you’re trying to type up a paper that’s due the next day, the one that the whole world had a heart attack about when the century changed- are computers.

I. Hate. Computers. For one thing, they’re never available when I need them, especially if you have a freshman for a sibling that is on the computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, in my case (I don’t think I’m the only one), every time I do end up getting on, the monitor freezes or the keyboard doesn’t work or it won’t allow me to get on the internet, or the mouse will freeze and I’ll spend five minutes swiveling it around on my mouse pad until it works. When something does go wrong, it’s somehow always my fault too: “Jessie, you don’t know what you’re doing” or “Jessie, what’d you screw up this time?” This always results in a half hour long argument between my brother and I which consists of a lot of profanity, and nothing to do with actually trying to figure out what could have gone wrong with the computer. When it finally “starts to work,” I begin writing. When I’m almost done, the computer freezes towards the end of when I write or when I’ve forgotten to save my work. Each time I think, “How can this happen to

me again?” I go off into my dramatic ranting and raving: complaining, sometimes crying, and basically just feeling sorry for myself, wasting more time then if I would have just started over on whatever I was writing in the first place. It’s not that I don’t like saving time, since computers are supposed to save all of this so-called time, it’s just that they never actually save me any time. Even if it doesn’t freeze, I still have to wait on the internet with that little hour glass turning and turning and turning, and I get so impatient that I break my pencil in half with frustration. Then, I am transferred to a porno website, and I frantically try to exit out of it, but it won’t let me. This causes me to end up just looking up the information I needed in a book or encyclopedia anyways. I don’t know, maybe I am “just retarded”(as my brother would say), but I truly believe that the computer gods point and laugh, playing games on me just to purposely tick me off.

E T I B a M g Living and crashing in the computer age

photo by Linda Howard

opinion

5 editorial

THE HARBINGER

Staff Editorial

Shades of Change

So what is the deal with the paint? What are they outlandish “night janitor” theory. trying to hide/cover up? Why white, or why those But the paint’s a good thing, right? If you take pride in strange, bluish and greenish tones? What does all this your school and are proud of it, couldn’t it stand to look matter if you are basically just an inattentive, bumbling a better on the outside? I mean, nobody dates the chick drone all day and haven’t noticed yet? just for her personality, right? What could it hurt? You’ve probably heard the rumors, that is, if you care Regardless, the Editorial Board has decided that the enough to rigidly interrogate others about it. Our school paint is a good thing, because substance matters most, is one of the most unkempt and least aesthetically pleas- but appearance matters a little, too. Lets face it, a lot ing of all the schools in Kansas? Well-known parents in of classics have been remodeled. Lambeau. Soldier. the community are telling Fenway. The White House. the administration that Shawnee Mission East. Why if they’ didn’t bring the not join such prestigious comIt will be good for the school school’s appearance, they pany? to be known for two positive won’t send their kids here? A little paint can brighten atthings, rather than just our What’s going on? titudes in theory, but we think Yes, we’ve received this it matters only to those who stellar academic record. information from a few care about how their school is different sources, namely a thought of. No one wants to faculty member and a night come from a slovenly rat-hole janitor. This faculty member presented this regulatory where the teachers are great, where they can have a explanation. The night janitor, this whole threat thing. combination of all those purdy thangs and some fine What is for certain is this: there are painters paintlearnin’ on the side. It will be good for the school to be ing during the day and late into the night. It seems so known for two positive things, rather than just our stelsudden. How come we all just came, expecting another lar academic record. Parents care about all that when normal, brick Monday and received a shiny, painted they send their kids here, but they also don’t want to be one? How come they didn’t do all the painting during sending them to Alcatraz. the summer, where the hours are much more flexible to More eloquently put, the paint and other renovations hire help out? There was something this school year that can make the halls look more respectable and welltriggered this immediate response, whether you believe kempt, without sacrificing the school’s soul. One day in either the rational “faculty” explanation or the slightly the future, that will mean something.

Editorial Cartoon

Michael Pope

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Got Something to Say? The Harbinger Welcomes Reader Letters Send them to Alex Abnos, Editor-inChief, in Room 512 or e-mail them to us at smeharbie@hotmail.com

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�� Alex Abnos Dianne Smith Libby Nelson Annie Harrigan Lindsey Melvin

Editor-in-chief Assistant Editors Art and Design Editor Head Copy Editor

Stephen McKim Copy Editors Corban Goble Carson Black Patrick Menihan Andrew Finnerty Corban Goble Courtney Condron Cynthia Goldman Barrett Emke Gordon Culver Katie Patrick

Photo Editor Editorial Section Editor Opinion Section Editor News Section Editor Features Section Editor A&E Section Editor Sports Section Editor Ads Manager

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Barrett Emke Staff Artists Cynthia Goldman Ian McFarland Jessie Fetterling Staff Photographers Linda Howard Joanna Cross Jessie Fetterling Staff Writers Annie Fuhrman Patrick Ryan Paul Thompson David Vranicar Holly Garringer Dow Tate Adviser

features

THE HARBINGER

And then they were teachers East alumni remember the good ol’ days

Jessie Fetterling

If you ever start complaining about being a student, be sure you know your audience because there are teachers that were in your place. Literally. Susie Schweiker, Laura Beachy, and Brian Cappello are three among the many teachers that actually went to East themselves. “I became a teacher because I loved school so much and just wanted to keep going,” Mrs. Schweiker said. Although they still had Lancer Day, Homecoming and Prom, their East experience was a lot different then ours. Cappello (‘78) and Schweiker (’69) remember East as a very Pep Club oriented school and that being in Pep Club was a lot “cooler” (although they didn’t even sway during the school song). “We even got these cool Pep club jackets,” Mrs. Schweiker said, “I wish I still had mine.” Mrs. Schweiker was involved in the Girl’s Athletic Association because girls weren’t allowed to play sports back then. They were also required to wear knee-length skirts with stockings. No pants or shorts. When Mr. Cappello went to East, there was a smoking lounge (on our third floor now). Although one existed, there was

thing that she truly loved and excelled at. somewhat of a stigma about smoking that We actually did Sociology, isn’t seen as much today. “I had friends not just learned that smoked, but they wouldn’t have been about it. caught dead in that room because they would have thought it made them look bad,” And she was funny,” Beachy Cappello said. said. They had also just issued hall passes For all the while he was at East. It is thought of as an students inspired ordinary thing now, but the students then thought that it was a violation of their rights. by your teachers, remember them, The fact that the administration issued hall because you too passes meant distrust of the students, and could become a colthey were offended. league someday. Ms. Beachy was at East not too long ago. She remembers that, as a heralder, she would get to make a tunnel for the basketball players to run through at the games. She also remembers the bathing suits: they were a Columbia blue color and were made out of a thick non-elastic material that was “painfully tight” when you put them on, but expanded in the water. “I look back on photos courtsey of SME those bathing suits with horror,” Ms. Beachy Hauberk and Laura said. Beachy At East, all found specific teachers that inspired them to be a teacher. For Ms. Beachy, one of her inspirers is now one of her colleagues, Mrs. Helgeson, also known as “Yoda.” “I saw that she was doing some-

ppe a C n B ri a

L aura Beachy

(Heralder!)

llo

Susie Schwe iker

STYLE FILES How some students look hip and happenin’ Holly Garringer

junior Anna St. Louis

Where she likes to shop: wears mostly hand me downs or clothes traded between her friends Her fashion statement: “ I only have two pairs of pants, so I always have to make sure that whatever top I wear matches whichever pair I am wearing that day.”

sophomore Stuart Sudekum

Where he likes to shop: Thrift stores junior Tate Buck especially those in KCK Where she likes to shop: Thrift His fashion statement: “ I wear stores, and hand-me-downs Picks clothes based on: whatever whatever smells clean.” she is given by her brothers Her fashion statement: “ I never wear anything new.”

senior Anne Steadman

Where she likes to shop: Urban Outfitters, Arizona Trading Company , Thrift stores in Westport Her fashion statement: “ I like unusual clothes.”

Stay tuned for future Style Files... you may be next!

sophomore Lydia Gibson

Where she likes to shop: On EBay, especially sites that feature used clothing. Her fashion statement: “ I don’t slap on an Abercrombie T-shirt and act as a walking billboard. My style reflects my inner personality-like my interest in the Victorian and Renaissance period.”

THE HARBINGER

features

Retro rides From wrecks to riches, students take pride in their classic cars Annie Fuhrman

The sleek sloping lines of the 1972 pale yellow PRIDE AND JOY: Junior Michael Pope reclines on his touched-up yellow Camaro (above) which he has been camaro stand out among a parking lot full of working on for several months. The East junior lot houses Ashlee Riden’s award-winning light blue Mustang SUV’s and sedans. Behind the wheel is junior (below). Her vintage ride will be featured in a classic car magazine. Michael Pope. Just about the We have all seen it. The only modern sleek vintage car pulling into the convenience the parking lot in the mornings. We car didn’t get was have all heard it, the purr of the an updated stereo vintage motor when it rolls out of system. the lot. Now that’s cool. “I have an When Pope began his search 8-track player,” for a car, his funds were limited. Riden said. “So Therefore he couldn’t go for the I can listen to expensiv BMW or Mercedes. Queen and Elvis, Instead he chose the classic but that’s it.” route. And, with the help of an Eight track tapes experienced car restorer, found may be hard to his camaro in a field in Topeka. come by in this He started work on it over spring day and age, but break of 2003, working on the the music fits engine, the tires and anything the car, it rocks. else that would make it the car Riden does that it is today. The car is a have alternative work in progress, requiring time choices however. and money to bring it back to She hooks up a its former glory. He’d be happy CD player with to take donations to further the speakers to use Camaro cause. when she’s not “It needs some body work and in the mood for a new paint job,” Pope said. “I’ll Trends may come and go but classic is always cool. oldies. probably leave it yellow.” While Pope’s dream car stands out for its out-of-the-ordinary Mustangs are a family affair for the Ridens. The family The classic car is not as much of a dream to drive, as it is to slick form, junior Ashlee Riden turns plenty of heads when has four Mustangs in all. Their collection includes two ‘66 look at. Pope remembers a day when the car gave him more she cruises the street in her dream car, a 1966 Mustang Mustangs, a ‘94 and a ‘98. The car trend started four years ago trouble than it was worth. “I was driving home from work one The car is a classic. The vintage Mustang holds the record day, and it was pouring down rain. The old tires were still on for selling over a million cars in a two-year period. It remains when Riden’s father got back into the Mustang game. He owned a Mustang before he was married, but had to sell it to pay for the and they didn’t have very good traction. I floored it and it spun one of the most popular cars ever made. honeymoon. off into a ditch,” Pope said. “There wasn’t any damage, so it As a member of the vintage Mustang Club of Kansas City, Unlike the typical teenager, Riden spends lots of time with was all right.” The Camaro also lacks the modern feature of Riden is accustomed to turning heads with her five time first her car and other car aficionados, attending car shows all over fuel injection making it harder to start in the winter and slower prize-winning Mustang. She participates in shows all over the the country and the informal “cruise nights” where car owners to warm up. country showing off the turquoise beauty she calls her pride get together to show off their vintage cars. “I can’t listen to music very loud, because I have to be able and joy. So the next time you see a turquoise 1966 Mustang heading to hear the engine and listen to what it is doing,” Pope said. The With all the work Riden put into it, it’s no wonder why the sound of the engine gives him a clue to how the car is running car is award-winning. After Riden got the car two years ago, the your way, stop, and watch it go by. Strain your ears and you just may hear a couple notes of Jailhouse Rock and see the and Pope has to pay close attention. car was completely redone. She replaced the sheet metal, got a Pope has always been a fan of classic cars: Mustangs and new paint job and added air-conditioning and deluxe interior. happy smile of a very satisfied car owner. Camaros from the 70s, 1950 Cadillacs and Monte Carlos.

Album Review Alex Abnos

Death Cab for Cutie disappoints

Over the past two years, Ben Gibbard, lead singer and guitarist for Death Cab For Cutie has been on fire. He was putting out great albums. In 2001, Death Cab released The Photo Album, a marvelous collection of songs that showcased not only his unique brand of songwriting, but also his band’s original sound, with catchy, upbeat, indie music. Gibbard was forming great side projects. He was making hit songs. In 2002, he formed his side project band The Postal Service with his friend

Concert Review Barrett Emke

THE HARBINGER

and computer music whiz Jimmy Tamborello. The static, computerized music created by Tamborello contrasted perfectly with Gibbard’s affectionate voice on their debut album, Give Up, released in 2003. The first single off of that album, “Such Great Heights,” became unexpectedly popular, actually making appearances on several mainstream radio stations. It was the most successful song Gibbard had ever written. But the ride had to end sometime. Sadly, with Death Cab’s latest release, Transatlanticism, that time is now. In trying to fit in with the album’s theme of departure, Death Cab for Cutie must have thought that they had to depart from their normal, innovative style of music. They started by changing their drummer. Original drummer Steve Schorr left

the band before the album was recorded, and his trademark impatient drumming style is noticeably absent on several songs on the album. “Expo ’86,” the album’s fourth song, has a basic time-keeping rhythm that leaves your ears begging for something more interesting. They kept the departure going by deciding to take a few ideas from The Postal Service. Electronic elements are added to almost every track, and by the end of the CD, just about every member of the band has been replaced with a computer. At times, it works out brilliantly. The synthetic drum beat on “Title and Registration” is basic enough in rhythm to make sense within the song, but is also unique enough in sound to keep it interesting. However, for every well done “Title and Registration,” there is also a dull and unimaginative “Lightness,” where

the electronic bass line seems so static and unmoving it makes the song almost unpleasant. The band continues the “Lightness” trend with most of the other songs on the album. The end of the title track, “Transatlanticism,” features the band going round and round on the same musical loop for almost half of the eight minute song. The end of the song “We Looked like Giants” suffers from the same fault, except it’s almost more disappointing because the song starts out more like old Death Cab than any other song on the disc. Transatlanticism, an album based on distance between people, feels just like the theme. Distant. Death Cab for Cutie has moved away from their old indie rock formula, and the final result really makes me wish that they hadn’t.

Mars attacks

Harbinger reviews are based on a four-star scale.

range, beginning the tune with punk rock in mind, and then leveling it out with a lone bass solo. After five minutes, the rest of the instruments reentered with a mid-tempo jazzy groove, before the group finally returned to anxious rock ‘n’ roll, all in 20 minutes. Approaching both the rock and jam genres with a fresh mentality, the Mars Volta is definitely an entertaining and worthwhile band to see live.

MEN FROM MARS: Rodriguez-Lopez and Zavala

Staff This Issue: Annie Harrigan

Recommendations

Ironically enough, the Mars Volta is a jam band, even if they probably won’t ever tour with Phish. The band’s Oct. 8 show at the Granda Theatre was one of fast-paced, eardrum-bursting rock grandeur, with the guys wailing away on songs like “Cicatriz ESP” and “Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt” for nearly half an hour each. Group founders Cedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, despite their small statures, created a sound massive enough to leave the audience’s ears ringing well after the concert had ended. With high-pitched wails recalling the likes of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Rush’s Geddy Lee, Zavala thrashed around the stage with his microphone, doing handstands on amps and even throwing himself into the cheering, dancing crowd at one point. Rodriquez-Lopez’s high-strung guitar lines seemed to pay homage to Neil Young and even Santana, and his delay-drenched solo freak-outs were breathtaking, pushing to the foreground of each song’s noisy climax. Jon Theodore’s drumming rivaled Lopez’s riffs in

intensity: drumsticks were unintentionally flying through the air throughout the band’s set. The band’s touring conga player gave the rhythm section a Latin-tinged boost, causing songs like “Drunkship of Lanterns” to take on an almost-tribal vibe. Playing an equally important part in the music, keyboardist Isaiah Owens banged away at his instrument with the ferocity of a jazz pianist, while Juan Alderete’s fingers never ceased to move up and down his bass. The Mars Volta played a sixsong set lasting an hour and a half, indulging in spacey, chaotic interludes, which always led to a final chorus overflowing with energy and sound. Surprisingly, the band was successfully able to recreate the obscure textures and instrumentations from debut album De-Loused in the Comatorium, released in June, utilizing numerous effect pedals and echoing vocals. During the band’s final song, the Mars Volta covered its full photo courtesy of Universal Records

a&e 8

The Anniversary - Designing a Nervous Breakdown Vagrant Records; 2000 The Anniversary’s first album is colorful and intense, featuring swirly keyboards, soaring guitars, and lots and lots of fun with vocals. Half of the songs from Designing were written while on their first U.S. tour, so there’s a sense of whole-hearted yearning for home nestled within every song.

9 a&e

THE HARBINGER Movie Review

Movie Review

killer

Tarantino’s fourth is bloody good fun Evan Favreau

photos courtesy of Miramax

“Bill” is a

Casual moviegoers are pleased with within the story, such as who was today’s common, big-budget films, even the groom and why did they try though they essentially sport the same to kill her? By the end of the first characters and same stories. But sometimes part, none of these questions are a film will be made that is so unique it answered, and even more are makes the flaws of our society’s most raised. But this proves to be a good thing. popular movies all the more evident. There is a lot of fighting in Kill Bill Volume I is one of those films. It isn’t just one thing in this movie that this movie, and one expects that GANG FIGHT: The Bride battles for revenge when the makes it incredible. The credits open with “Bang Bang (My Baby Kill Bill Vol. I story has to do with Shot me Down),” a song written by Sonny There are several revenge. Unlike Bono and sung by Nancy Sinatra. Its lyrics different aspects that The Cast: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine The Director: Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, most films, every and haunting sounds are a perfect fit for come together so Reservoir Dogs Dogs) fight in this film is the plain credits and the event that takes beautifully, mainly unique. There is a place before them. The rest of the songs thanks to director The Best: It’s a movie that actually offers something new The Worst: Have to wait five months for Volume II lengthy battle at the you might never expect to hear in this film, Quentin Tarantino. The plot is simple Risky Move: The film features a 10-minute anime sequence end of the movie but Tarantino puts them in anyway. Despite Two Volumes: Three hours at once might be too much sporting The Bride what it would seem, they all work with what on the outside. Uma vs. Oren Ishii’s army is happening on screen. Thurman plays a Look For: Kill Bill Vol. II in Febuary of samurai thugs. woman only known as People who see the trailers for this film The Bride (her name is intentionally beeped It’s different from everything else, and not might pass it off as a violent hack-and-slash out) who is out for revenge. But more just because it quite graphically shows what movie. Essentially, it is. But at the same time specific details make the story much more a samurai sword really does. It’s visually this movie is so much more. The vibrant thrilling. The Bride is a former assassin striking, having The Bride’s yellow jacket colors, the music, and the acting are so who decides to settle down and get married contrasts with the samurai’s black suits and perfect it takes the film farther then it would after becoming pregnant. Unfortunately, at masks. When the film changes into black have gone. But Volume II promises so much her wedding her former boss, Bill (David and white, the fight takes on a new feel. The more, with this first part ending with one Carradine), betrays her. He puts a bullet new stylistic and realistic feel makes it better of the most well written and well-produced in her head “but her heart just kept on then any Matrix fight, no matter how many cliffhangers ever. Even if Volume II doesn’t beating.” After a four-year coma and the Agent Smiths there are. live up to Volume I and it’s just a retread The wonderful music in this film is much of what we’ve seen before, it will be an loss of her unborn child, she awakens and decides to go after Bill and his assassins. more then just icing on the cake. It is as excellent film. First, she goes after the easiest to find: Oren important as the fighting or the story and All stars out of four Ishii (Lucy Liu). There are several questions the film would not be the same without it.

Work up an appetite! The first 15 Lancers get a FREE CHIPOTLE BURRITO when you bring in this ad and purchase a WBY class!

Clooney strikes with “Cruelty” Ian McFarland “Intolerable Cruelty,” the latest movie from the famed directors, brothersEthan and Joel Coen, proves to be one of their better films. It has more than a slant towards the funnier side of the romantic comedy genre. The plot is not a difficult one. Miles Massey (George Clooney), one of the best divorce attorneys in the nation, unexpectedly falls for a client’s soon-tobe ex, Marylin Rexroth (Catherine ZetaJones), who only marries for money. From the sounds of the plot, it may sound like another hokey chick flick, but the plot isn’t what makes this movie what it is. This film’s identity is the zany humor supplied by the Coen brothers. They manage to make it easily the silliest comedy of the year. For instance, there’s a giant con man hired by Miles named Wheezy Joe. He’s named for his asthma ,which will later prove to be costly for pool ol’ wheezy. This movie is probably funnier than the Coen’s last comedy “O Brother Where Art Thou?” -- which is saying quite a bit. Also shining in this movie is the duo of Clooney and Zeta-Jones. Clooney nails the pathetic hungry-for-love middle-aged lawyer exactly. Zeta-Jones isn’t as great as Clooney, but she still shines as the seductive financial assassin Marylin. The one thing that really bothered me was that the ending doesn’t fit the movie. Guys, don’t make the mistake of dismissing this for a typical chick flick, because it’s one of the most entertaining films of the year.

sports 10

THE HARBINGER

Focused Paul Thompson Excellence is an aspiration, an attitude, a persuit, a way of life….. These words put the finishing touches to every Lancer volleyball practice and game. The team, ranked #1 in state, has rolled through league play this year and has compiled a record of 29-4. Needless to say, the team feels confident in their ability to advance far into the sub-state tournament coming up on October 25th. “Our goal is to win sub-state, where we have the first seed. Our confidence is very high, all we have to do is execute,” says senior Kirsten Gradinger. Everyone, however, realizes that winning sub-state is no picnic. “Our region has 3 of the 5 best teams in Kansas, so there is no easy road to state” says coach Terry Wright. One of the most impressive aspects of the Lancer team is their ability to work together. The whole team agrees that teamwork has made them the #1 seed that they are. “Everyone works really well together because we’re all friends.” Says Junior Kelly Dvorak. Adds Wright, “They work as a team, that’s the bottom line”.

As a #1 seed in any tournament, there are always obstacles. Whether it’s other teams overachieving trying to beat the best, or inflated egos not taking every game seriously, there are almost always situations where something goes wrong. But, according to Coach Wright, this ALL THE HARD WORK PAYS OFF: Jamie Johnson and Stephanie Bruggeman team has avoided getting too caught up in their own put up the 2003 volleyball League champs sign. achievements. “It’s a matter of challenging them every Win, lose, or just practice, the volleyball team day, and them accepting that challenge, not recites their credo after every event being content with where they’re at.” The players have been able to, with a little Excellence is an aspiration, an attitude, a pursuit, a way help from their coach, zone out the media of life. attention and upcoming sub-state tournament and just focus on playing their game. Excellence is all of us working together determined to “Coach Wright just doesn’t let us think do everything we do somehow better than it has ever about it too much” say Dvorak. The team seems focused heading into been done before. next weekend’s tournament, and they Excellence is found in the caring, the trying and the will need everything they have to make it through and win. Maintaining their focus doing. will be a key to winning, along with, of It is our objective, we seek it with dedication, it is the course, playing as a team.

The

Sports Ticker

VOLLEYBALL Team Leaders Kills

reputaion of this team... EAST!

SCHEDULE

10-21 vs Olathe NW 7:00 PM (senior night)

Gymnastics

10-23 League Meet 6:00 PM

Football

10-24 @ BV North 7:00 PM

Cross Country

10-25 Regionals 9:00 AM

Volleyball

10-25 Substate Meet

Aces

Stephanie Bruggeman 104 Stephanie Bruggeman 148

Service Recieve

Kirsten Gradinger 2.39 Stephanie Bruggeman 2.39

Team Leaders Passing- Brett Condie 500yds. Rushing- Kyle Rensenhouse 626 yds Receiving- Michael Duvall 273 yds Scoring- Kyle Rensenhouse 42 points 7 TDs Total Offense- 1385 yds Scoring Offense- 76 pts. Total Defense- 1199 yds Points Allowed- 112 pts.

TENNIS

Kristen Bleakly won the Kansas 6A reional final over BV North’s Kelcie Klockenga 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-0.

Seniors 1. Justin Simonich 16:48 2. Tim Rowe 17:15 3. Brent Everest 17:40

Sophomores 1. John McCormick 16:34 2. Will Gates 17:27

1. Micaya Clymer 19:41

1. Cailan O’Grady 16:32 2. Courtney Held 17:16

Juniors 1. Mikey Horrell 17:39 2. David Bayless 18:58

Freshman 1. Peter Reisz 19:24 2. Qwinn Stauffer 19:40

1. Kelsey Brooks 17:49 2. Ada Johnson 18:47

1. Claire Hollenbeck 17:29 2. Kelly McCormick 17:30

Chiefs Predictions

SOCCER

10-27 Regionals TBA 11-4 State Quaterfianls TBA 11-8 State Finals TBA

CROSS COUNTRY

FOOTBALL

Soccer

Stephnie Bruggeman 331

Digs

photo by Celene Reynolds

By never overlooking an opponent,the team stayed grounded, resulting in a league championship

Chiefs Final Position

Chiefs Final Number of TD Record Returns for Hall

Gordon Culver

Champion

14-2

Ian Stanford

Champion

12-4

Patrick Haverty

Champion

13-3

Corban Goble

2nd in AFC

13-3

Alex Abnos

AFC Champs

14-2

THE HARBINGER

sports

Down, not out Longtime coach battles for a comeback Ian Stanford

so you can get back.” Since the heart attack Dave has been working out three times a week as part of the rehabilitation process. During his absence, the school has been using a long-term sub to fill in for Dave, who is using his accumulated sick days from 33 years of teaching. “I have so many sick days built up I could stay home practically the whole year and still get paid.” Barreca’s teaching career goes back to 1970 when he taught his first year of physical education in Kansas City, Missouri. Shortly thereafter he began teaching at SME, where he had a streak of 15 years without missing a single day. He also coached football, wrestling, and baseball. He had been the assistant golf coach until the heart attack. Thirty-three years of teaching inside a classroom is about when most teachers retire. Most gym teachers retire earlier, due to all of the demanding physical tasks that teaching gym requires. Despite this, Dave considers retirement “only as a last resort.” “I had the best job in the world. I was teaching kids that wanted to play and wanted to give their best effort. I had kids take my class four or five times because they enjoyed it so much,” Dave said. “That’s why I want to come back.”

photo by Patrick Meniihan

Coach Dave Barreca entered his kitchen to prepare lunch. He was tired from an already eventful day that included Palm Sunday mass, a trip to the driving range, and an Easter egg hunt with his grandkids at Leawood Park. After eating he laid down for an afternoon nap, only to wake up five minutes later with pain in his chest and a numb left arm. He got out of bed and walked to the bathroom while rubbing his arm, trying to get the feel back in it. When the feeling did not come back, he took an aspirin and told his wife that he needed to be taken to the hospital immediately. Dave Barreca was having a heart attack. Dave’s wife rushed her husband to Menorah Medical Center. The doctors at Menorah gave Barreca clot busting medications in an attempt to get the blood flowing through the clotted areas. When this attempt failed, operating became imminent. Barreca’s chest was pried apart down the center of his sternum for open-heart surgery. The doctors took out two veins in his legs, and one artery behind his heart to bypass the problem areas. Dave Barreca was back home six days after having a triple bypass heart surgery. The heart attack forced Dave to drastically change his lifestyle. He can’t salt his food or drink caffeinated drinks and he rarely

eats meat now. Instead of teaching Team Games, and golfing four days a week, he is going to cardiac rehab workouts where, mustering his best effort, can bench press five pounds. He feels very tired and sluggish, a result of the dozen or so pills he has to take daily. “I went from working out three times a week and playing golf four times a week to lots of reading, sleeping, and pain,” said Barreca. Support from his family and friends have helped him fight back and make it through each day. “I’m so fortunate to have visitors come to support me. Almost every day either a family member or a friend stops by to see how I’m doing. Coach Reed stops by often and the other coaches call to see how I’m doing.” “Coach Reed, Chipman, Hair, Augdon, and Bercandine are all true professionals and I love working with them,” said Dave. “I miss being with them and the administration and the students.” Before he can come back, Dave must pass a test proving that he can spot students on weights and rescue a drowning swimmer. “I’m no where near being ready to return. I can only lift five pounds, much less spot a kid lifting 50. I used to be able to, if necessary, rescue a drowning swimmer, but now I wouldn’t be able to do that either,” said Barreca. Barreca hopes to eventually return to work. “You’ve got to be optimistic and you can’t feel sorry for yourself. You have to fight back

LOOKING ON: Dave Barreca goes to Cardiac Rehabilitation workouts three times a week.

85953788446747342656757474745887879967958513 Barreca by the 56465465432164844849846546543132164654998498 Numbers 49849846464654654654654654321321316654654654 654654632113131321654898556232120226665455332 Years teaching in the SMSD. 55541442255366654854225845662312255668486635 52512559654265423325658945623136446485544566 Years in which he didn’t miss a day. 522664422100006546844666652588898797644613134 649494946222466465464653233332235459842536645 Students in Team Games in 1970, Barreca’s 666654565656875315694253299878964236544665988 79465135649878646131649494654949849876494616 fi rst year teaching. 19979764655213685846133586948712336549871561 32582215152365845222545665287922164948876250 Students in Team Games in 2003. 064168854998877545631100000000001651888456698 846126261166884464122236684581256494886251636 Years coaching head varsity football 545888461316115497496161949764161616321556194 96464846464949454646464949979797964604914664 Years coaching wrestling, baseball, and 646499794661611354778791185431235354642858453 golf. 43225564635378786645542315647887465625213122

33 15 6

120 26 3

From one football to another

photo by Patrick Meniihan

Carson Black

IT’S GOOD: Clif Ashley works on field goals with James Wetzel.

Clif Ashley rode the bus all the way to Lawrence. He rode all the way back too, pads on with the rest of the team. He sat in the Haskell locker-room at halftime, heard the same speech, and gave the same yell as all the rest of the players. He stood on the sideline with everybody, waiting his turn. Finally, it came. In the six and a half hours that Ashley spent with the team Friday he touched the field once, on kick-off. A squib kick, high and short, landed perfectly in-between the Lawrence players that it bounced a couple times before being jumped on by an Indian. Clif had done his job perfectly. Field position has proven the downfall of the Lancers more than once this year, namely on kickoff. Looking for someone to kick it out of the back of the end zone, Coach Stoner out-sourced to the soccer team.

“Coach Reed said something to me about J.D wanting to kick. So I talked to Coach Ricker and he said Clif.” Clif Ashley is the only one of three kickers that’s healthy. J.D. Christie suffered ligament damage in his ankle the week after he started kicking. Michele Bell fractured his foot and is out for the season but still does onside kicks. A good kicker is essential to any football team. Twice this year, games have been decided on by the kicking game. In an over-time win over Leavenworth and devastating one point loss (extra point) to Shawnee Mission West, the Lancers haven’t overlooked the job. Everyday now, Ashley goes straight from class to the locker room, where he suits up for football practice. He kicks a couple of dozen times, working with the team on extra point and kickoff. Then he goes to

soccer, usually in the evenings. Clif doesn’t mind the extra work. “It’s not that much more work, just lots of time. And I can’t go home between school and soccer now because of football.” It was a difficult transition from shinguards to 20 pounds of pads, and helmet. The pads in his pants don’t infringe on his kicking too much and the shoulder pads weren’t as bad as he thought they’d be. His helmet is where he has the most problems. “The main thing is vision.” Clif said Luckily he could see the man running right at him when he made the touchdown saving tackle his first game kick. “We call it containing in soccer, you just stand and wait for them to make the move.” Ashley hasn’t had the chance to kick the game winner yet but knows that if the team needs him he’ll come through.

photo essay

THE HARBINGER CHECKINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; OUT THE COMPETITION: As members of the band arrived, they went out in the stands to observe their competition. TOOTINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; THE HORN: Junior Joe Faulk plays his trumpet in the state-wide band competition at KU last Saturday.

And the band plays on... Band participates in a state-wide band competition in Lawrence last Saturday.

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: Junior Jack Lynch listens to music on the bus ride home from Lawrence. The band got an overall rating of 2.

photos by Patrick Menihan and Tierney Weed

LUNCHING IT: Seniors Sam Weinstein, Eric Ratzel, and junior Jack Lynch take a break from the band and enjoy their lunch inside the percussion truck. MARCHING BAND: Members of the Marching Lancers march on to the Memorial Stadium Field before their performance last Saturday.