Issue 7

harbinger

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / 7500 mission road prairie village, kansas

NAHS members auction art for hurricane relief funds

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story by michelle sprehe

pen studio day: The halls are quiet save the faint sounds of a radio and loud giggles coming from the art wing around 5 p.m. on a Wednesday. Students are too busy snacking, painting, making prints and sculpting to care about how long they’ve been at school.

Every other Wednesday for the past month and a half, dedicated members of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) have been hard at work creating pieces to be sold at East’s first NAHS silent auction. The bidding begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. on Dec. 7 and will take place in the library.

“We plan on transforming the library with cocktail-attire, special lighting, food and maybe live music so that you forget that it’s in a library,” NAHS auction vice president and senior Brittany Atha said. “In order to let other people know about the auction, the club is planning on having ads in both the Pitch and the KC Star.”

continued on page 3

page 2 / news / the harbinger

Can Drive 2005 From Oct.. 7 to Nov. 18, various fund raisers have been going on to raise money and cans for the annual Can Drive.

The Can Drive features a competition between the classes.

There have been over 9,000 cans raised, and including money from the fundraisers, there are more than 60,000 cans

SINGLED OUT Seniors from East and South answered questions and played games to find a special date from the opposite school. In total, Singled Out raised $291 for the senior class.

SENIOR BBQ Counting: Piles of cans tower as STUCO members attempt to count over 9,000 cans. photo by katie james

MORP

On Fri.. Nov. 11 students bought their $10 -$15 tickets and danced from 7:30 - 10 p.m. in a Pastel Jungle theme ‘70s style MORP dance. There was a total of $8000 - $9000 raised that night all of which went to the Freshman class total due to their greatest number in attendance.

COIN DROP

From Oct. 31 - Nov.. 9, students dropped pennies in their class’ box and silver coins in the other classes’ boxes. After all of the coins were dropped, there was a total of $476.49 raised, all of which went to the sophomore class total.

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During lunch on Fri. Oct. 7 seniors went to Harmon Park to eat barbecue. Paying $5 for each meal, the seniors collected around $100 towards their can drive total.

Stacking it up: Junior Anna Zeiger stacks cans as she counts them for the Can Drive. photo by katie james

CAN JAM

The junior class sponsored the Can Jam on Nov.. 10.

The Case and Stop Time performed. It cost $3 to enter the concert. It was an entertaining boost of almost $100 for the junior class total.

WIFFLEBALL

Nov. 2, 3, 8, 9 students from all grades came to compete in the wiffleball tournament. With a cost of $30 per team to enter there was a total of $1,260 raised toward the general can drive fund.

Beanies for Sale Economics class is selling Lancer Beanies for $12 in honor of Patrick Millet. All of the proceeds from the project go toward the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Orchestra Concert The orchestra students will be performing a concert on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. It will be held in the East auditorium.

Winter Holiday Open House On Dec. 6 from 7:15 to 9: 30 a.m. there will be a open house for East parents.

Sponsored by the PTA. There will be refreshments and performances by East students. This will be an opportunity for the parents, faculty and staff to connect and communicate.

Put ‘em up: A senior girls’ wiffleball team gets pumped for their game. photo by katie james

Candy Sale In support of Girls Basketball 10 percent of all sales at Russell Stover Stores at Shawnee Mission Parkway and I-35 and 51 street just off the plaza will go towards the Girls Basketball program. This will be taking place on Dec. 7.

Band Concert There will be a band concert held in the East auditorium on Dec. 6. It will begin at 7 p.m.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / news / page 3

Students raise money for Katrina victims with their own artwork East’s chapter of National Art Honors Society to hold auction fundraiser continued from page 1 After hearing of the Hurricane Katrina destruction, the NAHS Executive Board, made up of two co-presidents and several vice presidents, decided to auction off artwork and give the proceeds to the American Red Cross.

“Anyone is welcome to come bid, not just parents,” Atha said.

“We haven’t really thought about a [monetary] goal yet because this is the first auction, but hopefully it will do well and raise a lot of money.”

For the past eight years, NAHS has been at East to encourage students to get involved with and learn about the visual arts.

Sponsored by art teachers Catherine Siegel and Cortney Sivewright, it is a nation-wide club made up of students who are sophomores and older and have a no less than a “C” average in art classes. Each member of NAHS can only be absent for one of the monthly meetings and is required to do two art-related service projects in order to stay in the club.

In the past, East’s NAHS has done several community service art projects such as making masks to sell for Mattie Rhodes, a fashion show and the Empty Bowl project to support Habitat for Humanity. This year, everyone in the club must submit at least one item for the auction.

“Students are encouraged to get as creative as they want with their entries, but it is difficult for some because they do not know what other people will want to buy,” NAHS co-president senior Libby Zanders said.

A unique idea for an item to be sold was thought up by Atha, who is selling her skills as an artist. She has painted a portrait that will be at the auction as an example of her artistic ability, which she will use to paint a portrait for the winning bidder.

Seniors Katie Brown and Monica Garciapaz are making a mosaic top on a small table by gluing broken tiles on the surface.

“It’ll take hours of work, but it will get our names [Brown and Garciapaz] out there and the money is going to people who need it, so it makes it worth while,” Brown said.

Senior Whitney Haugen has been working on making mosaic stepping stones from a mold that she made. By using a mold, Haugen can keep reusing it to make stones not only for the auction, but for herself and her friends.

“So far, it hasn’t been very successful,” Haugen said. “The mold keeps breaking and the one stone I did make broke in half. But I’m going to fix the mold and it should be okay for the auction.”

If this auction goes well, then the NAHS board will consider having another one in the spring in a different location.

“We’d love to try to have the auction somewhere downtown in the art district, to get students’ work out there in the art world,” Atha said.

“I hope a lot of people will come, the artwork is sure to be outstanding,” Atha said. “There are so many students whose artwork I admire and that I would buy if it was in a store. So, I’m sure a lot of things will be sold.”

ARK at your own risk by joe demarco Stolen subwoofers, CDs, and a broken dashboard. This is what junior Chris Olsen was faced with on Nov. 8. His car, as well as three others, were broken into during the school day. These cars were broken into while they were parked in the sophomore lot. The thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of subwoofers, CDs, head units, money, and cell phones.

Two weeks prior to Olsen’s incident, juniors Cole Johnson and Mike McSweyn had similar break ins.

“I know whoever is doing this probably doesn’t know much about subs because they not only cut the wires to remove the head unit from my car, they cut my turn signal wires too pulling the whole console out of my car,” Johnson said. “So I’m almost positive it’s high school students.”

“It’s going to cost 300 dollars to replace the subs that got stolen, and it’s going to cost an additional 300 dollars to get my

dashboard fixed,” Johnson said. “I don’t even know how much my CD’s were worth, but if you figure 15 dollars a CD, and I had about 30 of them, that’s about 450 dollars.

McSweyn and Johnson went together to the police station the next day to report the stolen subs, but when they arrived at the station they told them to come back the next day.

“They told us to come back tomorrow, and I couldn’t believe it,” McSweyn explained. “When I went to the station the next day, they told me to come back later again. We went the following day, and they told us the same thing. My mom even tried getting a hold of the Officers numerous times, and he didn’t return her calls.”

According to the Prairie Village police department, the only thing you can do when something of yours has been stolen is file a police report.

According to Officer John Betzer, one

The Who: Students in the NAHS program.

What: Students are hosting a auction in the East library When: Dec. 7 from 6-8 p.m.

Why: All of the money received will go to the American Red Cross

NAHS • To qualify, you must be a sophomore or older • Have taken at least one art class and have no less than a “C” average • For the auction, all the members are expected to submit at least one item

After cars are broken into in sophomore lots, students are quick to blame the police of Shawnee Mission East’s SROs, there is only so much the school and the police can do to prevent incidents like these.

“There are three of us and 2,500 students,” Betzer said.

“The sophomore lot is run by the city, and they let the school use it for extra parking,” Betzer said. “When something gets stolen in the sophomore lot, like the incident on Nov. 8, there is an investigation conducted by the police department. The sad part is you may never get your things back, unless we have some good information or a good lead. Unfortunately, crimes like these usually go unsolved.”

Although the only two car robberies have occurred twice in the sophomore lot this year, this doesn’t mean one lot is more secure than another.

“Whether you park in junior, senior, little Delmar or in the sophomore lot, we can make no guarantee that your car is safe. We have cameras and patrol the lots

as much as we can. As much as we would like to think it’s safe, we can’t guarantee anything.”

“We aren’t the only ones who are having this problem,” Betzer said.

The car robberies that have occurred over the past few weeks haven’t only affected East. There have been car robberies similar to these at Rockhurst and Bishop Miege.

“Overland Park is having this same issue,” Betzer said. “On Nov. 14 there was an arrest in Overland Park. The person that was arrested is believed to be linked to this chain of robberies.”

“I haven’t heard anything about me getting my subs back, and the guy getting arrested in Overland Park is news to me,” said McSweyn. “I have a feeling I am never going to get them back.”

page 4 / opinion / the harbinger

It’s all Downhill

Despite what adults say, high school may very well not be the best years of our lives

From Here

an opinion of hallie mccormick Students around the country are always told to find what makes them unique. That quirk that sets them apart from everyone else.

But as a whole, national student body, we have one thing in common—we are thought to be living in “the best years of our life”.

I have been told this several times by teachers, friends, and reminiscing parents when I complain about the trivial problems in my life: too much homework, dealing with the stress that I’m under, and juggling seven classes. They all respond: “These are the best years of your life…enjoy them.”

The more I am told it, the more offended, and depressed I get. Are we not to expect our lives to improve? Is it all an adulthood dive down from here? Are these moments that we are living right now as good as it is ever going to get?

Personally, when I imagine my future, I do not see myself continuing to slave over hours of homework, deal with teenage up and down emotions, or try to balance extracurriculars and academics.

I always think of the future as something to aspire to, look forward to what you are going to accomplish. How depressing to imagine that your life is a steady decline once you are given your diploma.

As the teenagers of America, we are criticized for a lot of our activities.

Bad driving, reckless behavior, loud music, and being completely egotistical.

When we go into stores, security follows us assuming we are going to steal. While out to dinner, waiters assume that we won’t give a good tip, so they don’t worry about their service to us.

So apparently, people’s “best years of their life” is when they are relentlessly criticized, never trusted, and apparently in an awkward immobile stage of life when we really don’t know what we’re doing, or how the rest of our life is going to end up.

Not to say that I don’t like high school, not at. I love the randomness, the excitement of just being able to drive, and all the cliché drama that goes on between friends.

Torture or toothlessness?

art by sara mcelhaney B u t the mentality that we are never going to b e happier, have more success, or have more fun than we are right now must be an exaggeration.

I bet that at least half of the successful adults don’t even think back to high school except every ten years when they arrive at reunions.

Look back to when you were 12. My life has improved so much in just that short amount of time. I have found activities that I love doing, and people that I love being around. If we continue to progress at the same speed for our up coming lives, how could anyone think that this is the best part of our lives? We have only begun our long list of happy memories.

President Bush won’t support a ban on torture in fear of appearing toothless

an opinion by cay fogel

The USA’s administration is fighting the good fight. They know what they’re doing. They’ve got their head on straight.

Want to know how I know?

Because when Republican Sen. John McCain lent voice to the outlandish notion that “cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment” of POWs is wrong and deeply un-American, my president knew just what to do. The reason I know my government has got its head on straight, the reason I have no fear or uncertainty about our war policies or, dare I say it, our national morality, is because both my Vice President and my President considered long and hard, and decided to stand up and fight for their right to torture. Yes, you read that right.

When it came down to the wire, and everybody had to pick a side, I’m proud to say that my President and Vice President came down on the side of torture. Thank goodness. I was starting to think nobody would.

People with a lesser understanding of the world might think that McCain, having endured torture in Vietnam, might have a pretty good basis for his objections. But not my president.

McCain said that considering the recent events at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib the safest and most straightforward way to fight this activity is to frankly and openly outlaw it. Even Congress came out overwhelmingly for a law forbidding torture. Thank God my administration has the clarity and levelheaded fairness to see past these specious factoids.

“We do not torture,” President Bush said. We do not torture. And yet, he and the VP are trying to keep the CIA from adhering to a law prohibiting it. We do not torture. But we’re not particularly opposed to legislating it. I’m a little confused on where we stand, and at the same time, utterly shocked that there would ever be a question.

The administration does have it’s argument: Bush says that completely outlawing torture makes our military toothless; they say that if POWs are not honestly afraid for their lives they

have no reason to talk to interrogators. The fact is that torture has been proven ineffective.

The operatives that we capture have been trained to withstand far worse things. Most are prepared to die for their cause.

And of course, the CIA wouldn’t actually torture, just threaten to torture. This administration apparently believes that the subtle implication of the possibility will make trained operatives talk.

And what if, by some incredibly predictable anomaly of will power, it doesn’t work. If the CIA has threatened all it can threaten and nothing gives, then they really are toothless. If word gets around that, while CIA interrogators are allowed to threaten, there is very little they’re allowed to actually do; it will have the same effect as if we had had torture legally banned.

Unless.

Unless, of course, somebody gets fed up and realizes that under the law he can do whatever the hell he wants to the men he’s questioning. Then we’re really in trouble.

But no longer toothless. No, now we’ve got some serious teeth.

The strongest argument against torture is that on its most basic level, the word “torture” doesn’t represent a threat of death. Life is not what’s being taken away. It’s dignity. I don’t care what the President says, torture is not about the extortion of information; it’s about revenge.

That’s the reason that unauthorized troops do it illegally. It’s not a quest to improve. It’s about unfettered anger and taking pleasure in the misery of others. It’s about seeing your enemy prostrate on the floor in front of you, begging. It’s about digging as deep as you can, delving into the dirtiest, most perverted horrors of the human spirit and then exploiting them. It’s the use of someone else’s humanity against them.

It’s about reducing human beings to animals. Ironically, there are no other animals that hurt each other just for the satisfaction of watching. It is wrong. We shouldn’t be afraid to say it’s wrong.

There’s no reason we should be okay with this. Or even pretend to be.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / opinion / page 5

A popular but counterintuitive fashion trend is frustrating an opinion of ian mcfarland It’s TRL. Your favorite rocker (probably Jesse McCartney or another authentic guitar strummer like Ryan Cabrera) comes onto the program to a round of applause. Those puny VJs that replaced Carson Daly can hardly breath from the shock of meeting the teen heartthrob. The girls in the audience are holding up signs adorned with marriage proposals and the guys are thinking about buying a guitar. Everything about this special guest is just so undeniably rad, until – gasp – he has a hole in his pants!

And not just one hole, there’s seven! And even more horrifying?

People think this is cool!

I don’t think of myself as a Fashion expert.

A few “The Simpsons” T-shirts here, a pair of socks that don’t smell too bad there and I’m good to go. When I see the models in the windows of Bebe, I laugh I don’t watch the Style network to discover what Versace has in store for us with her Spring 2006 line. Still, there’s one sphere to fashion that I do try to crack, to decode, to understand.

What’s with all of those ripped jeans out there?

Don’t get me wrong – I like jeans. I wear them almost everyday. They’re not exactly original, but they get the job done. They’re the standard. It’s understandable why enough kids wear jeans at East to put anyone who sports another sort of pant in a minority.

I just don’t understand what’s so appealing about pants with holes in them.

I’ve always been one for buying clothes without fault. I find comfort on the tag of a new shirt when a sticker proclaims, “INSPECTED BY 42.” Thanks to good old 42, I’ve got a

LANCER voice

cameron young - 9

In some cases, the Estonian takes it too far with the things they say about some teachers.

Suspension is reasonable.

background information:

quality product. A garment that, when bought, was in fine condition and is therefore more likely to last longer.

Which is what I don’t get about torn jeans.

You’re buying a faulty product. Not only that, but you’re probably spending more money than you would on a normal pair of jeans.

I guess there’s something cool to that whole “Oh yeah, these jeans? Yeah, well I totally don’t care what I wear, I just threw these on because I’m cool like that and I’m not self-conscious” But have you seen anyone wander these hallowed halls of Shawnee Mission Fantabulous wearing torn jeans and looking casual about it? Didn’t think so.

Everyone who wears jeans with those gapping wholes on them is also wearing either an Urban Outfitters “vintage” tee (it’s not vintage if you buy it new and for ten times what it cost to produce, genius) or a polo with a popped collar. In other words, people who wear these jeans do so only because they’re the current trend.

You walk around thinking it’s cool, that it makes you cool; but all I see is a bunch of kids who wear what the Abercrombie ads tell them to.

Instead, here’s an idea: think before you buy clothes next time. You know, think – it’s that strange sensation that happens in your noodle when someone asks you what the sine of 45 degrees is.

Instead of putting down enough money to eat for a week on intentionally ruined product because that’s what Ryan Seacrest wears. Next time ask yourself, “Do I want to buy clothes with holes in them?”

Because as common sense dictates, buying pants with holes in them is kind of, well, stupid.

Do you think the punishment fits the crime for the students suspended for the Eastonian? josh baker - 10 The Eastonian is cool because people just say whatever they want. It’s true to what goes on in high school.

Freedom of speech should protect it.

mallory kornhaus - 11 The things said in the Eastonian can be really offensive; it needs to be cleaned up. It’s fair that the writers got suspended.

jonathan lerner - 12 The idea of an underground newspaper is cool. Kids should face up to the consiquenses, but suspension is too harsh.

The writers of Shawnee Mission East’s underground newspaper, The Eastonian, were suspended for five days for publication and distribution of the underground publication.

page 6 / editorial / the harbinger

Conditional Rights

Responsible underground publications have a place in schools With the recent suspension of four seniors over the printing of an underground publication, The Eastonian, the issues of libel and students’ right to free speech have once again been brought to our attention.

As journalists, we have strongly support the rights of citizens to print their opinions without reprise. Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of American society; when it is taken away we lose the most personal thing we have: our voice. We agree with the idea behind The Eastonian. That is, the right for students to be able to print and distribute a publication. However, we take issue with how that idea has been put into practice with the printing of lies and libelous statements.

Libel is the act of printing false statements, which damage someone’s reputation. Libel is against the law. The administration has the right to censor libelous statements and to punish those who print them. But this right to censorship stops here.

Since we live in Kansas, we have the law on our side.

Kansas is one of eight states which have passed legislation in support of student publications. In Kansas, “…material cannot be suppressed from a publication solely the issue... because it involves political Underground student publications such as The Eastonian or controversial subject allow students to voice their matter,” per sec. 72-1506a opinions and, when free from of the Kansas Student libel or dangerous material, should remain uncenPublications Act. In regards sored by the administration. to The Eastonian, school officials said that the reason for the suspensions was because of the content of the publication, not the fact that it was distributed. The administration can control when, where and for how agree 2 absent disagree long a publication may be distributed, but they cannot stop it from being distributed as long as it falls within the laws regarding libel and is not a disruption to the learning environment.

Lately, the content of The Eastonian has been libel, pure and simple. However, the premise of The

letter to the editor

My fellow Lancers, First and foremost I would like to apologize for my involvement in writing The Eastonian pamphlet that was circulated about the school earlier this year. I am sincerely sorry to anyone who was offended or hurt by what was written. While I can only speak for myself, I assure you that what I wrote was not intended to be malicious or hurtful towards anyone. With that said, I would like to express my deepest dismay with the manner in which the administration has handled this situation.

For over 15 years the administration of Shawnee Mission East has been trying to suppress and crush The Eastonian. Year after year principals have handed out suspensions and held out on student’s college recommendations. While these policies have caused a lot of distress and anguish amongst those punished, I would like to point out how ineffective in stopping The Eastonian they have been. Like most underground publications, the more The Eastonian is suppressed the more angry and offensive it will become. What started out as witty and intelligent social criticism has evolved into mindless vulgarity and slander. I blame this evolution primarily on the administration.

I understand the administration’s concern in allowing an unedited and vulgar publication to circulate around the school; however, in this age of “GTA” and Columbine, I think it is increasingly important that students are allowed to openly express their opinions and concerns, no matter what they may be. I’m not suggesting that The Eastonian be allowed to “run free,” but I do believe that the administration’s no tolerance policy is ignorant, naïve, unconstitutional and unhelpful to students. I am by no means trying to defend the contents of the prior publication; I am simply saying that by suspending the writers for six days, the administration has done nothing to help ameliorate the situation.

In dealing with me, the Associate Principle never once showed concern for the future of the publication or even addressed the problems he has with an underground newspaper. I was threatened with harsher punishments if I did not admit my involvement and was never given an opportunity to defend myself or the idea of an underground newspaper. If the administration truly wants to rid the school of an unsolicited Eastonian they should stop treating the writers like criminals and enemies, and instead, they should try to work with these students to find an acceptable compromise that would allow the writers to express themselves, while not offending or harming others. Thank you for listening.

-Asa Wilder

harbinger

verdict

9 0

art by Sara McElhaney Eastonian shouldn’t be disregarded simply because of past incidents. It’s important for students to beag able to speak their minds. Any obstruction of this right should be met with criticism from the student body.

If you feel your rights as a student or a person are being trodden upon, speak up. That’s what the members of The Eastonian staff were trying to do. According to senior Asa Wilder, one of those suspended, The Eastonian’s content is simply a reaction to the vice the administration has placed on the publication over the years. As he says, “The more The Eastonian is suppressed, the more angry and offensive it will become.”

While we don’t, under any circumstance, support the libel plastered on the pages of The Eastonian, we must support students exercising their right to get mad. This whole series of events has become a cycle: the administration cracks down and, in response, The Eastonian gets dirtier. It needs to stop. The administration has laid out the rules regarding publications, so follow them.

Perhaps the ultimate solution lies within the student body. The Eastonian is written for us. We ultimately determine what we think is funny and appropriate. If you feel so inclined, join the Harbinger staff, write a letter, or write your own publication, one that is free of libel but still gets your point across. That’s what The Eastonian has been trying to do for years: to get their ideas out there for the public to read. We all have a voice, and we should use it.

editor-in-chief annie fuhrman

news editor sara steinwart

center spread editor laura nelson

photo editor linda howard

assistant editors amanda allison evan favreau

news page editors melissa lem rachel mayfield

center spread assistant editor jenn sunderland

assistant photo editor samantha ludington

art & design editor ian mcfarland

opinion editor cay fogel

mixed editor libby nachman

ads/buisness kristen crawford claire marston

head copy editor bryan dykman

opinion page editor clare jordan editorial editor foster tidwell features editor ellie weed features page editors katie jones hallie mccormick sylvia shank

a&e editor derek martin

circulation davin phillips

a&e page editor kevin grunwald sports editor peter goehausen sports page editors bobby miller ben whitsitt

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 editor’s discretion.

copy editors amanda allison bryan dykman evan favreau annie fuhrman laura nelson sara steinwart jenn sunderland ellie weed

staff writers joe demarco clark goble ally heisdorffer jayne shelton joey soptic michelle sprehe photographers katie james frances lafferty emily rappold kelsey stabenow katie woods advisor 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 east or smsd faculty, or administration.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / opinion / page 7

Being prepared is a full time job Students continue in Boy and Girl Scouts during their high school careers by jenn sunderland Sophomore Kate O’Neill knows that most girls think it’s “nerdy” or “not cool” to be a girl scout, especially in high school. However, she’s decided otherwise.

“The biggest misconception is that we all stand around in our skirts and vests and sell cookies. People think, ‘girl scouts, oh, they’re all so perfect, all straight-A students,’” O’Neill said. “That’s not it at all.”

Actually, her troop is made up of a diverse assortment of kids: Cheerleaders, debaters, kids just wanting to be involved. And selling cookies is not their main objective.

“We usually just buy a crate for our troop and split it between us,” she laughed.

Boy and Girls Scouts today certainly haven’t been slacking off. They no longer just focus on the basics – friendship, teamwork, kindness – but have started to pick up the pace.

Participants are taking leadership positions and going out of their comfort zones mentally as well physically.

“We went on a week and a half long backpacking trip through the mountains in New Mexico one year,” sophomore Michael Lebovitz remembered. “We found a place to camp at night, then you had to get everything together again and carry it with you. Each of the packs weighed about 55-75 pounds. It was hard.”

Junior James Badgerow has had a few exciting experiences as well. While he’s been on trips scuba diving in Florida and backpacking like Lebovitz, he claims his most rewarding experience was working on getting his Eagle Scout.

This is the highest rank in scouts, requiring that he organize a service project for younger scouts to get involved in. Last summer, he gathered a group of 15 kids and remodeled part of a local church.

“It’s a challenging task, putting all the work in – just getting it planned and approved by the council took about

two months. But it paid off,” Badgerow said. “It teaches you good values and how to be a better person. You learn a lot of ethics, besides just having fun.”

Lebovitz hasn’t started work toward his Eagle Scout yet, but is well on his way. He teaches a group of first-year scouts about knives, axes and saws. He explains how to use them, then tests each boy individually. More important than teaching the information, though, is being a good role model.

“Being in that position where you have other guys looking up to you for advice – it’s a really cool feeling,” he said. Many older scouts help to put on activities such as Lebovitz’s for the younger ones, and O’Neill is no exception. Due to her busy schedule, she does most of her work during the summer, leading younger girl scouts at Camp Timberlake.

“You’ve got ten different kids yelling at you because they’re hungry and lunch isn’t for an hour. It takes a lot of patience, and I like to learn that,” O’Neill said.

Not all girls are cut out to do this type of work, tough.

“Kate really loves camping,” O’Neill’s troop leader Val Barth said. “Her clothes will be soaking wet and she’ll still be out there.”

For the less adventurous girls, there’s always the fun activities that are trademarks of the Girl Scout name. Sophomore Charlotte Parrish’s most cherished memories are of fulfilling goals and participating in things she wouldn’t have done otherwise.

“Earlier this year, a dancer came in and talked to us, then taught us dances. We had to choreograph some ourselves, too. We ended up making a music video,” she recalls.

Whether it’s “cool” or not, scouting fills an important role in their lives.

“Boy scouts is an amazing group of people to be with that I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Badgerow said.

“It’s a positive experience for a high school kid to be going through.”

photo illustration by samantha ludington

page 8 / features / the harbinger

After school

SPECIAL

What it takes to create a Frequent Friday by jayne shelton

“What is wrong with boys?” sophomore Abby McCrummen asks while she sits on stage during the audition for the frequent Friday audition for The Balloon Shot. No one is auditioning at the moment, so all the others auditioning who are sitting in the seats of the Little Theatre hear her. They answer the question.

“It’s called a penis!” sophomore Drew Hammod yells at her from his front row seat. And with that, pre-production for The Balloon Shot begin. Director Brian Klinzing, known as BK to the thespians, quiets the group and he continues with the auditions.

From this group Klinzing picks his cast for The Balloon Shot, his 15 to 20 minute frequent Friday showing on Dec. 9. Most main stage plays have two to three months to prepare the acting, sets, and lights, frequent Friday shows have one month, making the entire experience different from the main stage.

Frequent Fridays are short plays directed by a student director in Advanced Repertory Theatre each Friday. The frequent Friday

is a large part of their grade. The student directors face problems like time constraints and a lack of places to rehearse, but the directors also face the challenge of taking a chaotic group of students and making a production.

In the moment: Seniors Ed Fogel and Denny Darrel rehearse for the production of The “At rehearsals, we play theatre Balloon Shot. photo by Katie Woods games to get focused on theatre,” cafeteria. cast is together, they try to work because of Klinzing said, “time constraint will **** the scheduling issue. It is one of the major be a big thing, I trust them to realize that.”

“Oy, my poor footsies!” junior Joe Wheeler differences between the frequent Fridays and Senior Liz Jaquinot thinks that it is just says in his thickest Brooklyn accent. He is main stage productions. not something to blow off.

“There is a shorter schedule and time “It is for someone else, and it’s seen by running through his lines after school in the about 100 people,” Jaquinot said, “you don’t cafeteria. The other actor from the scene frame,” Jaquinot said, “Working rehearsals steps in and responds to him, and Klinzing into your schedule is [the most difficult want to let them down.” thing.]”

Senior Nathan Lane says he privately starts his direction.

“These will be your beds,” he says, **** takes it seriously. Lane is the only one of the looking for other props, “and back here in “You have a hungry cast,” junior Joe cast that isn’t much of a thespian. He was Wheeler tells Klinzing, heading for the in another frequent Friday, but never into this area is the cell door.”

The problem with the cafeteria after kitchen. drama. He is “willfully theatre ignorant.” school, are the chairs. Every day the janitors “I have a hungry family, too,” Klinzing Even though he is a novice actor, he doesn’t have much trouble with the auditions and stack every chair in the lunchroom on the responds. tables. This piercing steel against steel sound “A fed cast is a happy cast,” Wheeler says rehearsing with all the chaos.

“BK is pretty quiet,” Lane said, “I’m not and the closer the janitors come, the louder as Klinzing shows him the mixed nuts.

Three weeks from the performance, very good, I don’t really need to concentrate, the sound resonates. Klinzing shouts and moves toward the actors to communicate. rehearsal is at Klinzing’s house.

The so distractions don’t really bother me.”

Informality like this is typical for frequent confusion on Mission and how the streets “The week before everyone Fridays but senior Ed Fogal considers it a go from 100th street to 97th place makes focuses,” Jaquinot said. everyone late.

The week before the show, good thing.

Two of the six have their scripts with “It breaks the ice…there is a lot of the cast has five rehearsals in them.

They try to run through their lines underclassmen and you want to get them the Little Theatre and two other with the two, but Klinzing interrupts them. than then. The lack of time in comfortable,” Fogal said.

“You guys want to play Frisbee?” he asks.

The rehearsal is cut short by Klinzing’s the theatre makes the director Outside ‘rehearsal’ continues with a circle find alternate places to rehearse. turn to audition for the musical Grease.

The cast makes the most of the their time and throwing around the Frisbee, and after Sometimes the only by running through their lines in the hall that they had to Klinzing’s room for DDR. place offered is the outside the auditorium. When the whole

Take

5 Brian Klinzing with director

The five things essential to a successful prodcution

Making a point:Junior Joe Wheeler emphasizes a point during rehearsal. photo by Katie Woods

• A cooperative cast • Lines memorized • “A happy cast is a productive cast” • Schedules must be open • Order and sanity

ON THE

FIELD

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / features / page 9

Junior and senior Powderpuff football players are enthusiastically preparing for their up-coming winter games

LEFT Making a Touchdown: Feeling pumped after her team scores, Junior Kristin Simpson gives her teammate a high five. photo by emily henning

ABOVE Taking Charge: Seniors Kate Stark and Chelsea Funk get in position to block each other at one of their weekend practices on the field of Franklin Park. photo by kate larrabee

the

senior 1.

by bryan dykman and amanda allison

Starship T

In “Starship Troo after living a privile in the galaxy, Rico fi creature that resemb the war changes, attitude regarding t Western Front,” the c Paul Baumer, and so member of the Germ time on the Western Don’t let “Starsh laser swords, damse is the beginning of

Lord of th

In “Lord of the and leaves many E consequences. Soon should lead, how th one trying to hold o roots. In “A Clockw leader of a gang that robbery to rape. On and “rehabilitated.” violent act without fe Comparison: In “F are put in the worst

The Worl

perfect grade 2.

Filled with the il failures and traged follows the life of on fascinating characte yours in the 609-pag who like to procrasti of two teenage boys While attending a p compete, becoming friendship is put to rooting for the sanity Writer of medioc

What our English 12 gurus search

“

all photos by Samantha Ludington

“A senior paper definitely starts with a strong thesis. It also needs to have good topic sentences so I can see that they had good ideas, and they need to back them up with evidence from the text and outside sources… A lot of students think they’ll just go see what other people and critics thought about their book. They need to develop ideas of their own.

-- Jeanette Bonjour

paper.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / spread / page 11 The senior papers are fast approaching, and we’ve put together a group of ideas that could help you write your essay.

1. A brief list of classic and contemporaries that you and your teacher will like.

2. What English teachers look for in a good essay.

3. What the senior paper really is 4. A crash-course in plagiarism.

Troopers vs. All Quiet on the Western Front

opers,” Johnnie Rico signs up for Space Marines eged life. After surviving the hardest boot camp fights in series of battles with the bugs, an alien bles an ant or termite. Rico’s philosophy about revealing his disillusionment and changing the war and military life. In “All Quiet on the chance to join and serve in the military intrigues oon after the start of WW I, he signs up to be a man army. Paul meets many people during his n front and soon learns the horrors of the war. hip Troopers’” title throw you off. There are no els in distress or talking apes. Heinlein’s novel the space marine, of the bug alien and is an

excellent parallel to Remarque’s novel, “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Both books focus on the disillusionment of war. Both characters are unsatisfied with their normal lives and are looking for action and adventure, but find land minds and lost dreams instead.

Look at both characters and their motives for going to war. Then watch as their feelings change as the war drags on, and on and on.

What makes the comparison even more interesting is that “Starship” isn’t necessarily a criticism of military life. Heinlein glorifies military life and appears to be in favor of the military’s harsh discipline and order. Then consider that “All Quiet” was banned and burned in Nazi Germany for depicting Germany as a weak nation. Since then though, it has been frequently called the greatest depiction of war ever written.

senior 3. paper

WHO: All seniors in an English 12 class, honors or regular, at Shawnee Mission East, write a senior paper.

WHAT: The senior paper is the major assignment of English 12.

It requires building a thesis statement around two books, classic or contemporary, either from the same author or containing a similar theme, and careful examining the texts to create a 10-12 page expository paper.

WHEN: Second semester of the senior year.

he Flies vs. A Clockwork Orange

Flies,” a plane crash-lands on a desert island English schoolboys stranded without rules or n, the boys can’t agree on who can talk, who hey should get food. They split into two factions: onto society, and one reverting to their savage work Orange,” Alex, the central character, is the t roams the streets, committing everything from n one such outing, Alex is caught by the police Alex cannot carry out or even comprehend a eeling nauseated.

Flies, ” the best of the best—British schoolboys— of the worst—a deserted island with no adults.

While in “Clockwork,” the worst of the worst—ultra-violent, raping and unprincipled boys—are put in the best of the best—a utopian, politically correct, institutionalized society. Round one begins. But what is really interesting is that Burgess is saying society is the corruptor, while Golding is saying society is what humans need.

But whatever you believe, the end results are the same: no matter the society, the rules, or the lack thereof, both groups are out of control. Alex, of “Clockwork,” feels that he needs to rape and pillage in order to feel like a human. While in “Flies,” the boys try to make themselves feel human by holding on to society’s values. So what makes us human? And you thought that writing twelve pages was going to be hard.

ld According to Garp vs. A Separate Peace

llegitimate births, European escapades, writing dies that become almost too personal, “Garp” ne of the most supremely normal yet completely ers in English literature. His world becomes ge novel, which is a fast read and good for those inate. “A Separate Peace” spans a year in the life s: the charismatic Finney and his shadow Gene. private, all-boys school, the two subconsciously jealous of what the other has. In the end, their an almost deadly challenge, leaving the reader y of both. cre novels; son of emotionless feminist; husband

for in a great senior paper.

of an overly logical woman: T.S Garp, in his middle-aged years, finds that he is unhappy with the roles that society has designated for him. Failed athlete; outstanding student; jealous friend. It is that same rebellious search for a niche, title, expertise, that Gene, in “A Separate Peace, ” undergoes as he becomes cognizant of his best friend Finney’s popularity and talents. Both males attend and experienced their boyhood in a private school, leading to their skewed, often idealistic view of the world. Both realize that those around them are succeeding as they flounder, striving to find what defines them and what characteristics are acceptable to show in public versus private settings.

“

“Often students choose too broad a topic – they need to make sure their topic is sufficiently narrowed. They hear it’s a 10-12 page paper and think, ‘Well, it’s a long paper, I better have a pretty broad topic.’ If they choose too broad a topic, though, the writing is too superficial.”

-- Donna Skates

cheat 4.

the system

The 411 on plagiarism and Shawnee Mission East.

WHAT IT IS: Plagiarism is using another source’s words or ideas for your own work. It doesn’t matter if the material is an entire paper, a paragraph, sentence or even a phrase. Any idea from another source needs to be quoted or cited. Plagiarism can be intentional or just an accident; either way, students will be punished.

PUNISHMENT: East English teachers have agreed that plagiarism is punished with: a zero on the assignment, parents being called, the head of the department to be contacted and an office referral.

HOW TO PREVENT IT: English 12 teacher Donna Skates recommends photocopying sources. This way, you won’t confuse your words with the source’s.

Also, try reading your source, then looking away and writing it in your own words.

Never try to write while reading the source.

“

“Students have to thoroughly cover the topic. There can’t be anything left undone for the reader. Most students need more focus and have to ask themselves: what goal are you directed to? If part of your paper doesn’t move toward that goal, then it should be taken out.

-- Susie Schweiker

“

page 12 / features / the harbinger

Doing his duty

The training diploma: Dodge recieved this when he had completed all his basic army training in Fort Benning, Ga.

by sylvia shank He grew up playing golf at the Kansas City Country Club.

He spent weekends at the Lake of the Ozarks. He lived in one of the most affluent counties in America.

Sam Dodge knows where he’s going.

Iraq.

2005 East grad Dodge has spent the last 16 weeks at basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, and after a 24 day break in KC, he awaits deployment to Iraq in Fort Hood, Texas.

He was a squad leader in training, responsible for all 16 men in his squad.

If the drill sergeant found a smudge of dirt on the white floor of the barracks, it was 50 push-ups for Dodge.

As an infantry man, Dodge says he was trained in “how to shoot, move and communicate to effectively disable the enemy.” His days began two hours before sunrise, and though ‘lights out’ was at nine, he was rarely in bed by then.

“There was laundry to do,” he said. “And after dark, there was usually a group of guys who would sit around and talk.”

During the day, Dodge trained with weapons, firing 50 caliber guns and using M16s so often he can now take one apart “without even thinking about it.” *** After 16 intense weeks of training, Dodge arrived home, still happy with his decision to enlist.

“For me it was the right choice,” Dodge said. “I’m getting to be the guy in the movies with the guns and the glory.

Glory just takes a lot of physical work.”

Ten of Dodge’s 24 days home were spent working for army recruiting. He visited schools, spending a day at East on the north ramp representing the army.

Old teachers of Dodge’s reacted differently to his uniform.

Virginia Dodge, fifth grade teacher at Corinth, knows she’ll be worrying about her son until he’s safely home from Iraq.

“I can’t be as proud as I want to be,” she said. “I’m worrying too much about his future safety…that he’ll step on a landmine and then that will be the end of that. I think because we’re older and parents, we think the worst is

East grad Sam Dodge goes through basic training in order to prepare for a tour in Iraq

going to happen,” she said.

“But Sam thinks the best will happen.” *** It’s Nov. 13 in Fort Hood: Dodge’s first night. Here, troops are waiting to be deployed to Iraq. His room has air conditioning, a refrigerator, bunk beds, and two other roommates. It’s the size of a college dorm. Dodge is sitting on his bunk beds leafing through US Cavalry, an equipment magazine with everything from combat boots to dog tags.

A pair of desert combat boots catches his eye. He’ll need them in Iraq.

Dodge arrived on the weekend, where he has plenty of downtime.

By Friday, Dodge will know whether he goes to Iraq in a month, a year, or sometime in between.

Dodge has no clue when

he’ll be assigned.

“I’d like to be in the 1st Cavalry division,” he said.

“Because it doesn’t leave for a year. It’d let me have more time to adjust to military life, but I’ll do what needs to be done.”

And Dodge is, like the army pamphlets in the library advertise, “thirsty for adventure.”

What appeals to him about the war is the adventure.

“I grew up in Johnson County. I went to Shawnee Mission East. I got good grades,” he said. “But there’s something crazy going on inside me that’s starving for action, for a non-boring life. War is a little bit different from your normal college experience.”

“It breaks my heart to see a student heading for such danger,” Marketing teacher Mercedes Rasmussen said.

Sam Brewster, Dodge’s past business teacher, views Dodge as unique, a guy doing what most people his age avoid.

“Here is a bright youngster who is gung-ho about the military,” he said. “There aren’t many people like him.

But sooner my student than my own son.”

Dodge’s recruiting kept him busy.

“I have so many things I want to do,” he said when he first returned home. “Go fishing in the country, go golfing, meet with a lot of people and tell them about my experience… But I haven’t had much time.”

Dodge did get to play those nine holes of golf. He had lunch with friends. He drove to KU and K-State to catch up with his buddies. He went fishing in the country alone, “with Sam Dodge,” he says. There won’t be much time from here on out.

And then it was off to KCI. With a shaved head and a camouflage uniform, he was gone, leaving those he loved behind.

Girlfriend and 2005 East grad Cara Smith doesn’t know how much she’ll hear from him while he’s gone.

At one point in basic training, more than five weeks went by when he couldn’t call her.

“At first, I tried not to think about the fact that he was leaving,” Smith said. “But when your boyfriend is going away for an entire year, it’s pretty depressing. He’s only 18.”

From the time they began dating their senior year at

East, she knew he wanted to be a soldier. “We had English class together and he’d always talked about it,” she said. “He feels he has to do it, so I’m happy for him.”

While his friends are fighting to stay awake in class, Dodge will be fighting for his life.

After Iraq, Dodge plans to go back to school. He’s looking at K-State or KU. For his parents, both teachers, college is a big concern.

“I want him to get an education,” Mrs. Dodge says. “And have that experience. Even though I know that whatever he does, he’ll be successful.” *** Tuesday, Nov. 15: Sam Dodge has been assigned. He leaves for Iraq two weeks after Thanksgiving.

He’s excited, but anxious, too. About fighting the war.

About living in a combat zone.

“Any human being would be,” he says But 2005 East graduate Dodge is going. To him, the president is his boss, the war his duty.

How soon, or for how long? He doesn’t care. What he cares is that he can relieve overseas troops, and fight the war, “like my grandfather, and my great grandfather.” Be a part of history.

Daily Schedule

4:00

Wake up.

Shaves, brushes teeth, clean the bar racks (where he lives) Cleaning includes: mopping, buffing the floor, sweeping.

5:15

Formation for physical training Consists of one and a half hours of pushps, running, sit ups, pullups and a stretching session

7:00

Breakfast chow Five minutes to eat meal.

7:20 5:00

Go out for the day To shoting range or training mission

5:05

Return to barracks Organize wall lockers, shine boots, and get equipment ready for the next day, and clean the weapons.

5:15

Mail call Dodge got mail three or four times a week, which was slightly above average for how much mail everyone else got.

His advice? “Write as much mail as possible. As much frickin’ mail as you can! Mail made your day”

8:00 9:00

Come back from range Chow at “Chow Halll”

Personal time To write letters, shower, and take care of other personal hygiene.

Lights go out But most people are still up. Lots of guys sit around and talk, and there’s usually laundry to do.

mixed

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / mixed / page 13

30 seconds

THEPAGEABOUTLIFE

LEFTOVERS

with...

Thanksgiving is over. All that’s left is food. Tons of food. Here are some ideas we came up with to get rid of it and make some extra money.

• Sell the leftover food from a stand at the end of your •

driveway. You can even pre-package it as microwave meals and make even more money.

Charge all your friends admission into a pumpkin pie eating contest. Give the winner some leftovers and all the other contestants some more leftovers (complimentary, of course.)

• Have a food fight. Put everything you can find into one huge pile, get some friends and go at it. Who needs money? It’s all about having fun.

Want an edible solution? Try these...

• Mix gravy, cubed turkey and leftover

y

ne

a Elh

by

Mc

What is your fondest memory?

Probably going to Cancun because it’s always warm there and I like the beach.

Why does the wind blow?

I’m just making this up: [maybe] on hot days to keep you cool.

What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

A blender, since you can make smoothies.

Like, this weekend my friend and I made a milkshake.

• When making pies on Thanksgiving Day, save the extra dough or make

extra to use to make pasties. Roll out discs of dough in whatever size you want and fill with meat, vegetables and leftover potatoes.

in seas n

recipes courtesy of http://www.fabulousfoods.com/ holidays/thanksgiving/thanksleftovers.html

what’s hot what’s cool

yesterday

by Am

anda A

llison

Ooh! Ouch! Aah! The sun is so bright! I must don my overly large ginormous sunglasses!

Though they teeter and totter on my face, weighing roughly the amount of a brick wall, they are just perfectly perfect. No one can see my face or even recognize me, but it’s OK. They’ll learn to recognize me with my signature sunglasses. Through rain, sleet, snow and hail, they’ll be there. Is the weather really relevant? Of course not. I’m good as long as I’ve got my sunglasses.

today

My love of scarves is a bit paradoxical. You see, even though my favorite knit-wonder can be scratchy, heat-inducing and at times a piece of evil attempting to strangle me, the fact is, it’s super cute. And that is what keeps us fashionistas going these days, when scarves are all that is so hot in the world. Girls wear them all day, ‘round their necks, looped and tied, in warm(er) weather and in the freezing eves of winter. Scarves are just one of those items that serve many purposes: they can protect you when lonesome and afraid of the cold and they can make you itch. They can make you warm, but also cause you to sweat profusely when worn, um, indoors. Scarves, my friends, are more intriguing and lovely than anything you’ll ever see and should therefore be loved immensely and worn often.

tomorrow If you want to stay warm and feel loved in the coming freeze-filled days, wear a ski mask. Wear it all the time, in all environments and during all occasions. Like scarves, they will provide protection from the cold, but still be so wonderfully scratchy and a wee bit too warm. They shall come in all shades and will become the must-have item of the century. If worn during school hours, they can hide you from that oh-so-mean math teacher who swoops after you when you forget your homework, or even from that lunch lady who never gives you ketchup! The ski mask trend might even evolve into Halloween masks or maybe Zorro masks or even exfoliating face masks made of seaweed. The possibilities are endless.

What happy meal toy was your favorite?

There were always Hello Kitty toys. Hair things or little stuffed Hello Kitties. I still really like Hello Kitty.

student

photo by frances lafferty

art

ra Sa

vegetables into a casserole dish. Top with refrigerator biscuits, leftover pie crust or crescent rolls (unbaked). Bake at 350 degrees until the dough is cooked and golden brown.

Marisa Stevens

submis

sions Bob and Joe illustrated by: Trent Coffin storyline by: Michael Lebovitz submitted by: the Graphic Novel Club

Do you want to see your original comic, poem, story or artwork in the Harbinger? Bring it by room 521 or email it to smeharbinger@gmail.com.

page 14 / a&e / the harbinger

Funny ‘Friends’ Flick is surprisingly well done by joey soptic Many times a year, movies come out that are decent flicks, but either they get bad reviews, or are hidden amongst other bigger movies being released simultaneously.

Being overshadowed by the J.K. Rowling crew made “Just Friends” almost completely unknown to most people. Appearing to be like every other pointless chick flick, those who watch “Just Friends” will be surprised that it is actually quite funny and worth the time to watch it.

The movie follows the life of Chris (Ryan Reynolds), who plays the part of a overweight geek in high school, who comes out of college rich successful and thin. Back in his hometown, he attempts to be more than “Just Friends” with the girl, Jamie (Amy Smart), whom he was best friends with during high school.

Chris’s past obesity continues to haunt him throughout the movie as people constantly make references to how fat he used to be, which brings out a lot of humor in the movie. In one such scene, a waitress who knew him from high school calls him the chubby bunny, something he was called in his high school days. Then she bring him a huge plate of chocolate fudge covered pancakes, his favorite dish from his teenage

years. Basically a plate of nothing more than sugar and fat, and she expects him to eat it.

As disgusting as it is, it’s almost annoying how childish he acts towards the concoction in front of him, his attitude towards it being about the same as a five year old and green beans.

The unstable relationship between him and his brother, constantly smacking each other, and fighting and arguing, was one of the best aspects of the movie, the constant battle between them always being evident.

Not only the jealousy of his brother towards the women that his Chris has been with, but how they constantly smack and hit each other. Even though all brothers have a lot of disagreements, such conflicts really seemed to fit well with what was going on.

At the same time, and one of the main causes of conflict between the brothers is the ditzy, loud, and obnoxious Samantha James (Anna Faris), who is an Ashlee Simpson style musician, who Chris has to keep tabs on because of his job of being a record executive. She brings some of the more unoriginal, and some of the more disgusting parts with her. After falling off of a ledge at the mall, she gets a concussion. Chris comes home to find her eating toothpaste, making weird noise, and drooling more than most dogs do in a summer day. This seemed a little

bit excessive.

The few parts that seem trite and unoriginal come with Samantha too when she drives her car through a mountain of decorations at Jamie’s house. The destruction of an over-decorated house for Christmas seems cliché, because what seems like half of all comedies taking place in the winter involve some kind of decoration catching fire, or exploding, or flying through the air.

Overall, the movie is much different from what its name hints at. Where you expect mushy drama, normally a hilarious situation arises from it. Though sometimes it might seem overused and something you have seen before, it is still very entertaining, and made for a good witty comedy. GRADE: B+

Close Friends: Top: Chris (Ryan Reynolds) displays jealous misbelief at the fact that his friend Jamie (Amy Smart) has chosen Dusty. Above: Chris and Jamie don sunglasses. photos courtesy of New Line Cinema

page 15 / a&e / the harbinger

mega what?

finding

Megapixels are something that everyone hears about so much when buying a camera, but does it really make a difference?

The main thing that the megapixels effect is how big a picture can be printed -- the higher the megalpixel count, the bigger you could print it.

camera

the

“The more megapixels, the finer the picture is going to be, and the bigger you will be able to reproduce it,” Larry Binton of Crick Camera Shop said.

that fits your needs

by ellie weed With the holidays on their way, a popular thing on teenager’s wish lists are, among other things, digital cameras.

But with so many to look at, how do you choose? Here’s four cameras that will help you set criteria and guide you to the camera that would be best for you.

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the

fits in your

back pocket

the

camera

worth the

splurge

camera

$379.95 Nikon Coolpix S3

The width of the camera is so small, it would easily fit conveniently in anyone’s back pocket.

������� ����������� �� �

the

Anything below 3.0 megapixels isn’t going to be very nice, and anything above 6.0 megapixels is kind of overkill- that many megapixels is what the professionals use.

all-around

6.0 megapixels The S3 is only offered in black, but it may be easier to separate it from all of the silver cameras that your friends may have. It has a movie mode that will film for as long as your memory card has space for. With Nikon’s Face Priority AF Mode, it will find any faces in a portrait and automatically focus on them. It has a 2.5” LSD, (the screen on the back that displays the pictures), which is bigger than most and makes the pictures you’ve taken easier to see.

practical camera

the

teeny-

bopper camera

$899.99 Nikon 8400

8.0 megapixels The 8400 has 3.5x ultra wide-angle optical zoom... or to put in real terms, it’s the widest angle of any digital camera for sale to the public. It will take the most professional-looking pictures of any of the other cameras. The body or frame of the body is made of metal, so it’s going to be more forgiving if it was dropped as opposed to a different material. Don’t let the metal body scare you-it’s still pretty light. Most people will be impressed with you if you carry this camera, but you will also look like you are a professional photographer.

Nikon Coolpix 4600

$179.99

4.0 megapixels No need to worry about red eye: this camera has a built-in system to prevent it. It has an underwater mode that can be turned on, but only with a proper underwater cover, of course. There are 16 scene modes for all the different places that you’ll take pictures: sports, beach, night, portraits, among others. It also has the universal automatic mode, which most pictures will be taken in.

pictures by Samantha Ludington

Kodak EasyShare V530

$299.95

5.0 megapixels Don’t let the black and white of the page deceive you; this camera is offered in absolute pink and red shiver, but to go for the more classic look, it is offered in midnight black and silver essence. You don’t even need to go to your computer to enhance your pictures features- they have picture-enhancing programs in the camera.

page 16 / a&e / the harbinger

album protests albummesmorizes by ally heisdorffer

Picture a mosh pit.

Picture hundreds of screaming rock fans and hear the screaming speakers that are in the process of blowing out your eardrums.

This is the new System of a Down CD, “Hypnotize.”

In order to listen to it properly, you must get in the mood to jump up and down and scream along with witty lyrics, strong beats and incredible new CD. Just like all the other System of a Down CDs, this one puts a new spin on rock. I’m not usually a huge fan of harder music, but System of a Down captured my attention back in 2001 with their single “Chop Suey.”

The first track slams you with the band’s thoughts on government, which is the general trend throughout the CD. The chorus sounds like a woodpecker as it screams “Attack! Attack! Attack!”

Although most tracks have meaningful lyrics, either protesting the man/authority or taking a stance against a political issue, some are for a lighter purpose.

Track 9, “Vicinity of Obscurity,” makes no sense at all. The lyrics talk about bananas and terra-cotta pie.

If anyone ever figures out what terra-cotta pie is, let me know.

The band's new single, “Hypnotize” is featured as the title as well as one of the best tracks on the CD. I first heard the new single on The Buzz. Lazlo was praising the new System of a Down single and I absolutely loved it the first time I heard it.

Although the single is softer than the rest of the CD, it is absolutely fabulous. It doesn’t quite set the mood for a giant mosh pit, but it does make you think: “Mesmerize the simple minded / Propaganda leaves us blinded,” sings the vocalist urging listeners, attempting to break away from what the media tells you to do while urging you to be unique.

So many of the songs showed the band's strong emotions and their beliefs on current political issues.

Track 7, “U-Fig,” deals mainly with their views on President Bush. The song bashes him mercilessly: “You and me should go outside and meet him / All pathetic flag-waving ignorant hicks.” They do a good job of denouncing the president in a unique and cunning way.

System of a Down focuses on using hard rock with guitar solos and a strong drum beat in the background of most songs.

Only Track 11, “Lonely Day,” was more acoustic. I was definitely ready for a break from the hard rock and screaming by the time the CD hit track 11 too. The tone of this particular song was more meloncholy and the acoustic feeling worked perfectly for it.

Overall, the new CD was fabulous.

System of a Down hasn’t changed their style when compared to their past CDs, but I won’t be cheering for them to change any time soon. Their style still works and works beyond well. I enjoyed listening to all the tracks and it is worth buying for more than just their single.

System of a Down’s “Hypnotize” incorporates elements that rock. Loudly

generation

jingle all the way

Will Ferrell is our generation’s funny man. His first lead role was “Elf,” a comedy about one of Santa’s elves finding out he’s a real boy and meeting his father played by James Caan.

The film pleases all audiences: five year-olds will love Santa, 15 year-olds will love Buddy getting drunk in the mailroom and everyone else will fall in love with Ferrell’s ability to charm.

home alone

When he was your age, your father tuned into NBC every Christmas Eve to watch “It’s A Beatiful Life” for the dozenth time. Now, you turn on TNT each holiday season to watch “A Christmas Story” for the dozenth time.The Harbinger could tell you about all of those classics out there that you should be watching, but instead we’ll point out the ones you might actually enjoy. compiled by Ian McFarland

elf

X-MAS This movie is shown on basic cable Having said that, “Home Alone” is responsible for a generation of nervous wrecks.

When I was kid, I hoisted a pale of plastic toys up to my top bunk to drop on any robbers that happened to look like Daniel Stern. But in the end, the film is about what’s really important: family, the Christmas spirit and bashing bad guys heads in with a lead pipe.

This film is destined to be a classic for two very simple reasons: a) It has Arnold Schwarzenegger and b) It has Arnold Schwarzenegger playing the middle class father of the kid who played Anakin in “Episode I.” It sounds like the premise of a bad movie Conan O’Brien would pitch to the audience of Late Night; but no, this is an actual film. And an amazing one at that. Plus, Arnold..what a guy.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / sports / page 17

Legend: the Kenny Dobyns Effect by clark goble Ultimate Frisbee is more important to him than his family, girlfriend or food. He has the unofficial title as the greatest Ultimate Frisbee player of all time.

He has played in North Carolina, New York and Japan and yet he is an idol to many Frisbee players here at East.

His name is Kenny Dobyns.

The “Kenny Dobyns” video is his claim to fame here. It is a 20-minute clip of an ESPN program, “Amazing Games”, that details the New York Ultimate’s run to the Ultimate Frisbee national championship in 1990. It’s shown in all gym classes.

Although some students don’t pay much attention to the video, others take it a bit more seriously. A few gym class veterans have seen the clip six or more times.

“After watching the video in Team Games I felt a large weight had been lifted from my shoulders,” junior Sam Speer joked. “I consider that moment a turning point in my life.”

Dobyns, the New York Ultimate’s captain and most valuable player, makes several expert throws during the program, including “The Greatest,” a catch-and-throw move only completed by diehard Ultimate players. It involves catching the Frisbee out-of-bounds and releasing it back into play before touching the ground.

“He has made many of those plays in national championships, where they had to be performed perfectly to lead his team to victory,” Alex Wright, a former teammate of Dobyns on the Ultimate, said. “When we used to practice, some of his throws would amaze the rest of us.”

“Some of the greatest plays I’ve ever made have been made in practice when it didn’t matter,” Dobyns said.

Even though Dobyns was tough on him during practices and games, Wright loved how he played the game. For this never-say-die attitude, many players at East worship him.

When a person makes a diving catch at Franklin Park after school, the other players shout out Dobyns references. He even has an East Facebook group named after him.

The group, Kenny Dobyns is God, is not just for the casual Ultimate fans. The description of the group reads, “We gather here today to worship Kenny Dobyns, lord of the flying disc.”

It has well over 30 members.

He is considered the best with good reason. In his career, he has been a member of seven national championship teams, six with the Ultimate and one with the Raleigh Llama. Five of his Ultimate teams went on to win the world championships.

Immediately after revealing his priorities in life, placing Frisbee above God, family, job and girlfriend respectively, he realized it might not be well received.

“She (my girlfriend) watched the program with her family, and shortly thereafter, we broke up,” Dobyns said.

Although he is happily married now, Dobyns didn’t have much luck with the ladies throughout his Frisbee career.

Before Dobyns left for a tournament in 1994, his girlfriend asked him if he would rather play a game than spend time with her.

Currently, Dobyns is retired from the ranks of national champion Ultimate Frisbee legend and made his way down a different path: teaching.

He has moved from New York to North Carolina to help high school students learn the English language.

“I believe I can only have one burning passion in my life at a time,” Dobyns said. “My passion now is teaching. It’s much safer.”

In Dobyns’ case, teaching is a Sunday stroll on the beach compared to his Frisbee days. At the World Championships in 1993, Dobyns went against doctor’s orders and had local anesthetic injected into his foot so he could play in the quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game.

“I couldn’t feel my foot below the ankle,” Dobyns said.

He also has split a kidney, spent two weeks in a hospital and been ordered to three months of bed rest. Three months was a week in Dobyns’ mind. He was not only one his feet in a mere seven days, he was playing in a national tournament.

Dobyns, even with his perseverance and passion for the game, had no idea Frisbee players from halfway across the country admire him the way East students do.

“It is very surprising,” Dobyns said. “I still think it is some sort of sick joke.”

The only think sick is the way he loves Frisbee. And maybe how East kids love him.

Not Basketball Anymore an opinion of ben whitsitt

In the wake of building the new Sprint Arena downtown, there has been talk of getting some new professional sports in KC. To me, one draws attention more than the others: the NBA. I would be perfectly happy if the NBA never came to KC and I could stick with making the occasional trip to Lawrence to watch the Jayhawks.

The NBA gives me nothing. It is full of egocentric superstars on multi-million dollar contracts who pace themselves during an 82 game season so that they won’t get hurt. I have never been so uninterested in sports then when I see a bunch of six-foot-somethings saunter up and down the court scoring points at will. I become mildly interested when I see guys like Kirk Hinrich playing for the Bulls, but that is only because he is a four-year Kansas veteran.

The fans also play a key role in basketball. Playing away games should alter the end result of a game, but in the NBA, the word “fan” is an oxymoron. There is nothing fanatic about a typical NBA-goer. Games are rarely sold out anywhere unless you are in LA (but the Lakers are declining). The fans have to be urged on by idiots running around in fat suits during time-outs just so they can put down their beer and foot-long hot dog to watch the game for a few seconds longer.

A typical collegiate fan wears some sort of body paint and also they like to scream. A lot. Right when you walk into a college basketball atmosphere, you can feel the energy of the fans pouring out into the game. Fans make the arena so loud that they can make a single player go cold

and wish he had never been born. Duke player J.J Redick is the perfect example of a lovehate relationship with fans. Fans will try anything t o get him off of his game but his ability to shoot the three can make a crowd go silent.

At home, he can make fans go wild with one swish.

Intimidation wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the college fan.

While a lot of college players egos tell them that they will be NBA stars, their dreams are unlikely. Most college players now think that the world revolves around them. According to ESPN, when asked if the NBA was in their future, 34 college basketball players said that the NBA was imminent, but only 11 actually made it to the big show. This is one drawback of the college athlete: their egos rise and rise each year to the point of being self-centered.

I can’t say that for every NCAA basketball player because during their 16 game season, teams like Holy Cross and Bucknell know that every game counts. The NBA might not be an option for those players.

Sports after college ends for them, so they are putting 110% into every game. This is what makes the NCAA so exciting to watch.

I love to see an unranked team take down a college powerhouse.

Especially during the tournament, if the underdog loses, their basketball career is pretty much over.

NBA players are already soak in the benefits of being a professional, so the only thing they are playing for is a bigger paycheck. If they lose and their season is over, life goes on and training begins for next season. Therefore the passion they put into games is minimal which equals me flipping the channel from NBA to NCAA. The NBA operates more as a business than a sport.

Allen Iverson proclaims that his passion is in getting the NBA title, but I am not buying it. He has been in the NBA for 10 years or so and has fought through injury to win a championship, but never has. I have an idea.

I wish he would drop his Reebok endorsement, quit telling us how many injuries he has, quit flaunting his money around and play like a real athlete. I don’t want to see his bling bling anymore unless it is the gleaming gold of the NBA championship trophy.

The NBA is spiraling towards destruction in my mind. Ron Artest basically destroyed professional basketball when he punched a fan in Detroit. Let me rest in peace with the NCAA, I am happy watching athletes play like a team.

My insatiable thirst for action can only be accommodated by a college basketball game where players sacrifice themselves for the good of the game. Lets keep the NBA out of KC, which would also keep the potential threat of Ron Artest running into the stands at a minimum.

art by sara mcelhaney

page 18 / sports / the harbinger

Sophomore Sensations Fab Four: The sophomore girls make up four of the seven players on varsity this year; from left guard Taylon Johnson, center Meredith Walrafen, forward Emily Hartman and guard Kelsey Whitaker. photo by samantha ludington

With a lack of upperclassmen on the varsity basketball team, the sophomores will be counted on to perform by peter goehausen After losing seven seniors, 90 percent of their scoring and a 3rd place finish in the Sunflower League, the Lancer girls basketball team isn’t supposed to have high expectations.

Ranked 9th out of twelve teams in the Sunflower League in the pre-season, no one is expecting them to compete this season. No one expect the girls themselves. They are going to catch people off guard.

“Though we are inexperienced, we have lots of heart,” sophomore guard Taylon Johnson said. “We will surprise people.”

Johnson, the lone returning starter, is just one of four sophomores on the varsity roster. Last season, she started all 22 games while average four points and three steals a game. Along with Johnson, sophomores Kelsey Whitaker, Emily Hartman, and Meredith Walrafen are going to play varsity.

“This sophomore class is loaded with talent,” head coach Rick Rhoades said. “They have beaten out the majority of the upperclassmen to make it to varsity.

The two lone seniors that weren’t beaten out by the sophomores are guard/forwards Katelin Clark and Molly Stewart, both of whom played JV last season and are expected to contend for the starting guard position alongside Johnson. They will have to beat out the undersized Whitaker (5’2”), who Rhoades said is the best defender he has ever coached in his 11 years.

“I have just always been determined to get the ball,” Whitaker said. “I know I will have to shut down the other team’s best guard with quickness and hustle.”

Being one of the best defenders in Rhoades’ era, Whitaker and Johnson are expected to create turnovers that will lead into transition baskets. After losing over 90 percent of their offense, Rhoades said this season’s focus will be on the defensive side of the ball. He intends on using a fullcourt press with his two young guards to create as many steals as possible.

“I’m going to have to condition them very hard,” Rhoades said. “We are going to have to be quick on defense with our lack of size.”

While the two sophomore guards will be leading the press, the other sophomores will be playing in the post. As the tallest player on the team, Walrafen is expected to lead the offensive and defensive rebounding and to be the main post player in Rhoades’ 1-4 high offense, which has four guards positioned around the three-point line and has one post player. She is also being asked to fill the role of Jennifer Franklin, who averaged 20 points a game.

“There are six D-1 post players in our conference,” Rhoades said. “And we will need a team effort behind Meredith to fill in the post.”

Helping Walrafen in the post will be the fourth sophomore on varsity, Emily Hartman. After playing JV as a freshman last year, Hartman will also be the teams go-to outside threat on offense, replacing graduated Sarah Parker

who averaged 15 points a game last season.

“She is a great three-point shooter,” Johnson said. “Also, she is really tall, which will let her play the wing or forward position.”

Though this is a very talented class, Rhoades said, he knows there will be some areas they need they need to work on.

“We are definitely going to miss the big game experience,” Rhoades said. “When we are down by ten with a couple minutes left, I don’t know if they will fold under pressure or play with them.”

To help them gain experience for the varsity level, Rhoades has his team scrimmaging junior and senior boys GABL teams. He feels this will make them faster and tougher.

“It is going to be a totally different experience this year,” Whitaker said. “Playing on varsity has given us (sophomores) more confidence.”

The positive side of having four sophomores on their roster is the team’s future. Rhoades feels that once they hit their stride they will be hard to stop.

“This year we will be very young and inexperienced,” Johnson said, “but every game we still continue to get better and grow together.”

Rhoades and his team will have their first chance to see if the unexperienced team will “surprise people” next Monday against Shawnee Mission Northwest, the Sunflower League runner-up last season.

issue 7 / november 28, 2005 / sports / page 19

LIFE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

“

ON THE PRESSURE OF REPEATING YOUR SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR Last year was my first year diving and I got 13th, this year I am hoping to place in the top six after training for the last year.

ON YOUR PRE-DIVE RITUALS I always like to listen to music before the meets. When it comes my turn to dive I always walk through the dive and tell myself not to go to fast. I always go to quick through my dives.

ON WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND IN MID-AIR Mostly it is just me telling myself what I need to do: stretch my arms at entry, swim hard when I hit hit the water and keep my butt tight.

ON BEING SCARED OF HITTING YOUR HEAD ON THE DIVING BOARD Well I have never hit the board but I have smacked very hard on the water on front twists. It is kind of scary though especially after John Sullivan broke his hand on the board last year. I try to not let the thought cross my mind

After winning state last year, senior Michael Horvath looks to take the dive team back

ON THE BEST DIVE THAT YOU HAVE EVER HAD Last year I did an inward that I got a seven [out of ten] on.

ON WHAT YOUR FAVORITE DIVE IS It is probably the front two and a half (two front somersaults).

Though the first time I tried it last year I smacked my face on the water and had two black eyes for a week.

ON KNOWING WHEN YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED A GOOD DIVE You just know when everything goes as it should and is smooth. It is easier to know once you have completed a bad dive because you know when you made a mistake.

ON THE TRAINING YOU DID IN THE LAST YEAR After the season last year I had a private trainer that worked me hard.

We would do 300 crunches, 60 pike ups and 80 pushups at every training.

ON HOW, OF ALL SPORTS, YOU CHOSE DIVING Last year a couple friends told me I should try it and it just began to click and ended up being a lot of fun. I think next year I am going to dive for the club team at KU. ON WEARING A SMALL SPEEDO WHEN YOU DIVE It is just a lot of freedom around your legs. At first it was really awkward last year but now I am just used to it. I feel like I might as well be naked when I dive because it is just so small.

”

Horvath, a senior, starts his senior diving campaign this Saturday @ Olathe East. Last year in his first year of diving, he helped his team win state with a 13th place finish at the state meet in Manhattan. As told by Bobby Miller

The Week Ahead What to watch for in Lancer athletics

by Bobby Miller

SATURDAY 12/3

Boys Swimming @ Olathe East

The repeat begins here. The Lancers who return all their key swimmers from last year will face a tough opponent in the Olathe East Hawks. The Hawks finished fourth in state and second in the Sunflower League last season. The boys will look for strong performances from their freestyle experts Luke Tanner, John Cook and Brandon Barnds.

Wrestling @ East Kansas Duals

The young Lancer team will face their first test against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Lawrence and powerhouses Turner, Baldwin and Oak Park among others as they host the East Kansas Duals. The Lancers will hope on a good draw of teams to play, but if they draw hard teams the East squad will hope to finish above .500. Oark Park who will send their JV squad is the favorite to win the tournament. The main focus for the Lancers will be to figure out in what weight group each player is best.

SUNDAY 12/4

Girls Powder Puff- Seniors vs. Juniors

The junior and senior class girls will battle it out once again to see what class will hold bragging rights throughout the remaining school year. The game which is supposed to resemble football has turned more into catwoman meets wonderwoman. The senior class has prevailed every year in recent memory, but the junior class hopes to change things behind a steady group of athletes. In the end game will come down what class hates eachother more. left junior bailey thomas

FRIDAY 12/2

GAME OF THE WEEK- Boys Basketball @ SM South The run to the state tournament starts here. Even though the Lancers will be favored whenever these two teams meet, it always turns out to be a great game. Last season the Lancers won both meetings but only by a total margin of three points. One win coming in four overtimes. The Raiders lost 6’9” Bryan Gettinger who plays at UMKC, but they return their best player 6’4” Ryan Jehle. The Lancers return all five starters and should be very deep. Look for both teams to push the ball up the court.

Girls Basketball @ SM Northwest

After losing many of their scorers from last years 19-3 team SM Northwest will look to rebound against the Lancers. The Sunflower League doesn’t have high expectations this year for East being picking them to finish ninth out of 12 teams. This will be a great opportunity for the Lancers to show that they deserve more respect then given. If the sophomores on the team can get the jitters out of their system this could be a good game, and a win could be the start of the sophomore girls’ legacy. photos by samantha ludington and olivia curan

page essay6,/ 2005 the harbinger issue201 / photo september Final Pep Talk: FAR RIGHT: After the third and final day of tryouts Varsity Basketball Coach, Coach Hair gave the potential players a final pep talk before cuts were posted the following morning. photo by samantha ludington Drill Time: RIGHT: Junior Alex Block pivots with the ball as junior Alex Jones plays defense during a one-on-one drill on the third day of try-outs. Coach Hair looked on as the group of boys put their best effort in. photo by samantha Point of Exhaustion: BELOW: The boys lined up and ran time interval sprints that tested their speed and endurance. photo by samantha ludington

printing For a pot Boys fight to make it through try-outs and prepare for the highly anticipated seaon

Tuckered Out: BELOW: Junior Alex Block took a break to reenergize before getting back into the action. Block put ice on his neck to help cool him down. photo by samantha ludington