Issue 7 by The Harbinger

the

Issue 7 11.29.04

harbinger

a publication of Shawnee Mission East • 7500 Mission Road • Prairie

MORP goes too far Alcohol problems raise questions about dance’s future

Village, KS • 66208

enior Libby Dix wasn’t expecting what she’d see as she walked into the girl’s bathroom to take a break from a hot and crowded dance floor at Nov 12’s MORP. “There was some drama in the bathroom,” she said. “There was a girl in the corner crying and a lot of drunk people…it was kind of funny but sad.” Soon after, custodians noticed the chaos and tipped off the chaperones. They then discovered a drunken junior girl going in and out of consciousness, left alone in a bathroom stall. Administration called emergency personnel and parents. Teachers herded students into the gym. Rumors sparked. By the end of the night, two students had been caught under the influence of alcohol, although neither was officially charged by police. Despite these incidents, two assistant principals said there are no definite plans for canceling future MORPs. However, StuCo is looking into ways to limit the amount of drunken students entering dances, like increased use of breathalyzers .

continued on page 3

news

issue 7

Future of MORP undecided continued from page 1

Right from the start the dance was more stressful than usual for StuCo sponsor Hannah Fitzsimmons. “It was very packed and everyone was so crowded together,” she said “I’m not a claustrophobic person, but if you had left me in the middle of that for long I would have passed out … [The teachers] had contests to see who could get from one side to the other the quickest and get through the traffic. [Brenda] Fishman won.” About an hour into the dance, trouble began. Reports from a janitor led Fitzsimmons into the girls restroom to find junior Sara Ridgeway*. “I couldn’t get the stall door open, and finally, once I did get it open, the girl was passed out by the toilet,” she said. “Your first thought is ‘Oh my God, is she alive?’ You don’t know what you’re dealing with. … You see just this body lying on the floor. That was an image that kept me from sleeping for two days.” According to Fitzsimmons, girls with Ridgeway had abandoned her when the teacher entered the bathroom. “It was scary because kids wanted to get her out, wanted to get her away so they didn’t get in trouble,” she said. “It wasn’t about her getting in trouble: it was about her staying alive. …When you’re on the phone with the 9-11 operator and they’re like: ‘Is she breathing or not? Is she conscious or not?’ those are pretty hefty questions. …What would have happened if her friends took her away and stayed out of trouble?” Ridgeway’s friends disagree . “We stayed outside of the bathroom the whole entire time. How would we be scared of being caught if were just standing there the whole entire time?” said a friend of Ridgeway’s. “The main concern was Sara. I went to go call her parents when the teachers came in. We just stood in the hall and waited. We were scared of getting in trouble and [scared for] Sara. We didn’t understand what was happening.” Although Ridgeway ended up at the hospital for the night, she didn’t have enough alcohol in her system to require getting her stomach pumped. “And I didn’t get an MIP. And I didn’t take 10 shots in 10 minutes. And I didn’t take 30 shots in the 30 minutes or any of the rumors that went around,” Ridgeway said. According to SRO and police officer John Betzer, who

was present at Nov. 12’s dance, charging a minor under the influence is up to the discretion of the officer. “It depends largely on the circumstance overall,” he said. “Some officers are more prone to do it than others. I don’t like kids to think there’s a good chance they’re not going to get charged, but there’s always that option. A lot of times we think that the school’s consequences might be stiff enough. But if this is someone who’s done it before, it’s almost a certainty that they’re going to be charged.” A sophomore boy was also caught under the influence. According to him, however, he wasn’t charged. Although the school has the right to suspend a student up to 180 days for alcohol, Ridgeway and the other boy were suspended for five days, during which they had to do 20 community service hours. They also had to take a drug and alcohol assessment to see if future counseling was needed for drug or alcohol-related problems. Along with the official school punishment, Ridgeway had to deal with more critical student opinion Senior Erin Gerkovich was angry about Ridgeway. “I don’t care what people do, they just need to be smart about it,” she said. “It’s my senior year… if they’re not smart they’re going to ruin it for everyone. Like now we’re not going to have a ROMP.” According to administrators, however, this is not necessarily the case. “It’s a year to year decision,” Assistant Principal Ron Mersch said. “One night might not determine it.” Assistant princiapl Susie Ostmeyer said that a variety of factors are considered regarding changes to future dances. “Parents and staff have both made contacts with the school administration,” she said. “[We are looking] at student attendance (i.e. visitor participation), dress code, time of dances, parent involvement, staff involvement.” Administration plans on discussing the issue this week. There is also currently talk going on between the administration and StuCo concerning ways that future drug and alcohol problems can be avoided, possibly with use of breathalyzers. “The actions of the few that got caught shouldn’t be uniquely condemned; anyone who came to MORP after drinking or using drugs contributes to the problem - the blame is shared,” said StuCo President Brady Myers. “Student Council is working with the administration to find a way to make school dances safer for all parties involved.”

SENIOR Erica Hudson dances the night away at MORP. Administrators are considering changes to the dance. According to Ostmeyer, Shawnee Mission personnel are currently not allowed to use breathalyzers. “[Only] our municipal police have these tools at their discretion,” she said. Regardless of whether the student body will be affected by Nov. 12’s dilemmas, students like Ridgeway have learned a lesson. “I’m going to be a lot more careful,” she said. “I think a lot of kids drink a ton thinking that nothing bad could ever happen to them, that this alcohol’s not stronger than them, that they can take how much they want. If I heard a story that someone got taken to the hospital, I would have been like ‘What a dumbass! How stupid are they? They can’t control themselves.’ But when you actually get in the situation, it sucks.” *Names have been changed for privacy

Youth in Government takes a stand Students get legislative experience through Topeka convention Patrick Haverty Should the United States opt out of the Patriot Act? Should we make laws protecting children’s rights? How much should we spend on education? These are a few of the many laws that students lobbied for or against as they participated in Youth in Government. Youth in Government is a mock bicameral legislature, meaning that the Senate and the House of Representatives are joined. It includes an executive and judicial branch made up of students from East, S M West, S M South, Hickman Mills, and Maize. It is an annual event that takes place the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving, which this year was Nov. 21 and 22.On the first day students gather in different committees and write bills just like they would in the real government.

After the bills are written, they go to the House, where committees give speeches to the legislature on why it should pass the bill. After that, anybody is free to lobby for or against that bill. Part of senior William O’Rourke’s job as governor was the ability to veto or sign bills. This year he used his power to veto, rejecting the bill that the legislature passed to abolish the death penalty, and a bill that restructured affirmative action so that it was no longer determined by race. But the legislature also used their power and overturned his decision by a two-thirds majority vote. “When the Governor vetoed our bill, we basically vetoed his decision,” Speaker of the House Nathan Stepp said. “It made me really appreciate the power of the legislative branch.” Most of the students who are involved

in Youth in Government found out about it from World History teacher Paul DeBarthe who made participating in it a project grade for his students. “I think that it is important for my students to learn how democracy works,” DeBarthe said. “It is important that they understand that two parties can work out a problem peacefully to help build a stronger America.” Through his involvement in Youth In Government, O’Rourke has decided to pursue a career in politics. “I’ll see where it takes me,” O’Rourke said. “ I don’t see myself as a lifetime politician, but more a politically active person.” Youth in Government has also taught him the skills necessary to be a successful legislator. “Through Youth in Government, I

Nov 29, 2004

have learned how to make compromises with others to get something that works,” O’Rourke said. Youth in Government has taught most students associated with it the difference that lawmakers can make in the world. Bills proposed by participants have even been passed by the real Kansas legislature. But its benefits are also skills that will help them even if they don’t choose a career in politics. “Lawmakers can make decisions affecting others’ lives,” junior Nathan Lane said. “But the most important thing I have got out of it was better public speaking skills, which will help you succeed in any job you have.” It is over for this school year, but students are looking forward to next year, where East will have another Governor, Nathan Stepp, for the second year in a row.

news

issue 7

Sophomores choose which road

to take as enrollment nears

Amanda Allison

versus

For sophomore students, the first of December quickly approaches. It is then that they will choose how their next two years at East will be spent. Whether or not to follow the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) path is the decision that will determine the next two years. The IB program, which is mainly discussion based, rests upon a worldwide curriculum with a broader literature selection and a focus on the introduction and analysis of foreign ideas. This program is designed for the student that is highly motivated and has already achieved success in critical thinking, mathematics, and foreign language. Students may pick and choose what they like while traveling the AP road. More of an “a la carte line” than a six-course meal like IB, the AP classes allow students to choose what they’re really interested in and enjoy. If a student excels in English and history, then he/she would not be required to take an AP math or science course. According to counselors and teachers, the classes are not harder or easier, just different. “The great thing about AP,” assistant principle Ron Mersch said, “is that students can know what they’re good at and then pick a class that is designed for those interests and abilities.” In fact, the AP Environmental Science class is so similar to the IB Environmental Systems, that one teacher, James Lockard, teaches the two as one combined class. “This is the first year that we have tired this, and so far it’s working out,” Lockard said. “I don’t see any differences in the two types of students [AP or IB].” One main issue that concerns both AP and IB teachers alike is what can be done to end the battle between the two options. “Each student has different needs,” IB Government teacher John Nickels said. “Each program caters to those needs effectively.” Shawnee Mission School District IB Coordinator Elizabeth Wallace agrees: “The two can almost not be compared. For one, IB is a full curriculum whereas AP is just a variety of available classes.” -Internationally AP classes are often cited as being AP/H classes, simply meaning that they are at a higher level than regular classes Recognized but not part of the actual IB curriculum, which is the same -Diploma internationally. Students considering the pros and cons of each have spent -Exams primarily time taking into consideration goals for life after high school essay and college. Sophomore Emmi Scott wants to be a teen therapist, -Teachers evaluated youth leader or anything that involves her language of four -Exams marked years, Spanish. Scott, who wishes to study abroad, says that the colleges she is looking at, Pepperdine and Azusa both over the world, recognize the IB diploma, which has led her to lean more including towards the IB program. headquarter in Fellow classmate and definite IB applicant Patti Blair imagines herself as a research scientist or perhaps a doctor, Wales a pediatrician. Others though, like Alisha Ernst and Sam Elleberbeck have no clue what their future holds. “Having done IB will allow me, I think, more options,” Ellerbeck said. Senior Kristen Mapes is one of the 14 senior IB members this year who decided long ago that she wanted to attend college outside of the U.S, for which the IB diploma is a requirement. “I’ve always had an international mindset,” Mapes said. “IB is just allowing me to go to my dream school [The University of Rome]. By succeeding in this curriculum now, I will have so many more options.” The IB diploma, which is accepted at nearly 615 international schools, is also acknowledged in some 396 schools in the U.S. One main topic of discussion when comparing AP and IB is the acceptance rate at colleges in the U.S. “Colleges want to see kids applying and challenging themselves,” said college counselor Deanna Hunter. “If students are in classes that are too difficult though and fail the honors/

AP classes or decide to drop from IB, colleges will not be impressed.” When looking at applications, college admissions officers first look at a profile of the high school and decide if the students did in fact challenge themselves. Though Hunter believes that the community service requirements and the extended essay, the culminating work of the IB curriculum, do give applicants an edge, in short, as long as students challenge themselves, the differences in AP and IB are irrelevant. Sophomore Jimmy Allen, whose goals include retiring early and working for nonprofit organizations in foreign countries, says that doing or not doing IB will not make a difference later on in life, but that he simply likes a challenge. “In regard to the international appeal, you learn more than just what the Shawnee Mission school district wants you to learn,” Allen said. “You receive a better appreciation of international perspective.” For some, time keeps them from committing to the IB program now, and so they choose to pursue the AP route. Sophomore Amanda Levy would like to try and be a crew chief for most theatre productions her senior year and that, she thinks would hinder her from succeeding in the IB curriculum. “Tech takes a lot of time...the hours we are working during shows are crazy,” Levy said. “It just wouldn’t work out.” Having an older sibling in IB is one reason why fellow sophomore Carly Beck is not doing IB, but opting for AP instead. “My sister sees the same people everyday and that is good for her, but that wouldn’t really work for me,” Beck said. “I want to learn a lot but still meet everyone at East.” For one who knows what she wants to do with her life, sophomore Molly Werts is positive that IB is not for her. Though a few of the classes do appeal to her, such as the zero hour Theory of Knowledge, music, more precisely the violin, is what interests her more. The music schools that Werts would like to attend do not even look at IB or AP, only the -Nationally talent of the musician. Recognized “First of all, I don’t feel ready for IB because I didn’t take European History AP/H and it’s just not what I want to focus -No Diploma on. Music is me,” Werts said. -Exams emphasize And then there are the students who are attending East only multiple choice because of the IB program. SM East is one of three schools in Kansas that has a running IB program. Transfers into the SM -Teachers not East district were allowed without the IB requirement until three years ago, during the 2002-2003 school year, when evaluated realized that the student enrollment was rising -Exams marked in administrators too fast for the available space. Princeton, by U.S. “Before the stringent application process and the IB requirement were put in place, East had 50-70 transfers,” educators Mersch said. “We now have around 7-8 [transfers] annually.” Both Patti Blair and Manali Gadgil attend East because of the IB program which they will be participating in for the next two years. Both have a drive of 15-30 minutes to get to East and with the IB program, they believe, more colleges will be available. “I don’t do sports, I only [Indian] dance so IB would look good on my application,” Gadgil said. “As far as the supposed stress that comes with IB-I’ll try not to go insane, just like I do this year with my difficult classes.” For those that decide to do AP, their junior year will be full of difficult work and time consuming classes. IB students, though active in the IB curriculum, will not begin to feel the pressure and stress until their senior year when it is most difficult. “I’m just beginning to feel the stress,” Mapes said, “I know it will get really tough, but I’m up for it.” Whatever decisions sophomores come to regarding whether to do AP or IB, they can be sure that any East education will take them far and that both programs offer them many opportunities.

IB vs AP

Nov. 29, 2004

editorial

Sensitive to CENSORSHIP

the harbinger

After the Monday night football fiasco nudity, and Saving Private Ryan uses curse on the 15th, during which Desperate words because its content validates and Housewives seductress Nicollette Sheridan necessitates it. The Desperate Housewives/ appeared to bare it all to Eagles player Eagles skit wasn’t tasteful or an accident, Terrell Owens on a commercial trailer for but it was the result of a country that puts the NFL, once again the television news and amazing amount of stress on sex screens are swimming with the faces of appeal and scandal, and worse things have spokesmen spewing apologies, outraged been shown on television without so much Family Research Council representatives, as a blink from the Family Research Council sound bites and skin—but mostly or the FCC. The American public idolizes complaints. Mostly complaints, and and asks for everything it gets. Desperate mostly concerning America’s sensitivity Housewives was the number one new to anything that show on television challenges its when it came out, Censorship in America has collective, traditional mostly because reached an absurd degree sense of morality. it took the boring of severity. This overdeveloped topic of married sense of morality life in a suburbian tends to distract town and drowned from actual issues it in sex and murder. in the US, especially It’s hypocritical to agree disagree absent when it comes to praise Desperate censorship. Housewives on it’s The Janet Jackson own and then call it “wardrobe malfunction” seemed to shake smut when they take their act out of the the world; it cost CBS $550,000 in fines, timeslot; we can’t pat Hollywood’s back on and television shows had to re-evaluate a Sunday and then tap their wrist with a their standards when it came to curse ruler on Monday night. words, tame TV nudity, and violence. PBS Finally, no matter how distasteful or edgy is no longer allowed to show a character something is, people will make it seem ten nude from the back, and the FCC published times worse. There is nothing you see on a list of words that are not appropriate for television that you can’t leave behind you TV under any circumstances. It changed with the click of your remote, and it’s just the way American media does business. not enough to be angry about when there When Saving Private Ryan was aired on are real, honest to god problems in the ABC, letting a few too many cuss words slip world. The people who make a big show through, the FCC launched a lawsuit. of saying that these snipits are distracting The American public is radical in it’s healthy families from what’s right are outrage, and doesn’t keep in mind the fact the ones who are spending all their time that these moral transgressions are minute: campaigning against an imaginary cause, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake were and trying to drag the rest of the country a little uncoordinated, PBS airs family behind them. television with tasteful, mostly non-sexual

10 - 1 - 0

the

harbinger

Shawnee Mission East Editor In Chief Assistant Editors

Art/Design Editors Head Copy Editor Photo Editor News Editor News Page Editors Features Editor Features Page Editors

Libby Nelson Annie Fuhrman Gordon Culver Cynthia Goldman Mallory Toombs Stephen McKim Linda Howard Courtney Condron Katie Jones Ally Heisdorffer Ellie Weed Kathleen Bole Jayne Shelton Madi Moedritzer

A&E Editors A&E Page Editor Sports Editor Sports Page Editors Opinion Editor Opinion Page Editor Editorial Editor Special Section Editor Copy Editors

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

Editorial Cartoon

The American public condemns freedom of expression

Davin Phillips

letter to the editor

Harbinger staff, I am writing this letter in regards to the article on cheating published in the last issue. I was assured that I would remain anonymous throughout the article, but I was disappointed to find that my name had been used. Moreover I feel that, as my quote was taken out of context, my character was grossly misrepresented. I would like to point out that while it is true that busy work is extremely annoying (I’m sure most students will attest to this), I don’t encourage rampant, blatant and unchecked cheating. It’s true that students do spend quite a bit of time copying each other’s papers in the mornings, but the article failed to mention that just as many are actually completing said assignments. Personally, I would advise studying over copying, because after all, copying without thinking is nothing but busy work in and of itself. It’s quite disconcerting to find that not only has my name been soiled unfairly, but also that anyone who chooses to pick up that issue of the Harbinger may form a false opinion of me. I would like you to prove to me that you have a shred of journalistic integrity by printing this letter. Sincerely, Garrett DeGregory Ian McFarland Evan Favreau Erin Morrissey Curtis Shank Peter Goehausen Frances Lafferty Sara Steinwart Tom Grotewohl Cay Fogel Amanda Allison Amanda Allison Courtney Condron Cay Fogel Curtis Shank Ian Stanford Katie Jones Evan Favreau

Staff Writers

Patrick Haverty Ross Boomer Derek Martin Meg Fracol Andy Launder Scott Peterson Staff Artists Davin Phillips Michael Pope Ads/Business Manager Bryan Dykman Asst. Ads/Bisiness Ben Whitsitt Maggie DiSilvestro Lauren Kelly Contest Coordinator Erin Morrissey Public Relations Meg Fracol Photographers Emily Rappold Samantha Ludington Molly Magoon Kevin Grunwald Adviser Dow Tate The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission East or SMSD faculty, student body, or administration.

Nov. 29, 2004

features

photos by Kevin Grunwald

issue 7

ad Comb back each ponytail with a wire Wash hair (a wig is shown here) with dish Divide hair into ponytails according to the soap (Sudekum used Dawn) to completely rid number of dreads you want; assistance may be brush- just comb the hair backwards starting at the scalp until the hair is so tightly tangled your hair of oils- it must be very dry and clean helpful. that it can’t untangle. or the dreads will slip from the oils.

Rub each dread with bee’s wax (about a pea-sized amount) Hair must stay dry for two weeks.

Dread

hair care?

Students find a low maintenance solution to dealing with their hair Sarah Burford

SENIOR Stu Sudekum wears dreadlocks to reject the “western standard of beauty” and accept nature’s design

What do you think about dreadlocks? Students’ Opinions:

“I think they’re weird.” – junior Mark Barta “I think they’re gross and dirty, like they don’t take a shower.” – freshman Jen Sutherland “They look Jamaican.” – freshman Emma Austenfeld “I like ‘em a lot.” – junior Anne Slaughter “When I see dreadlocks, I definitely think ‘naturalist.” – junior Frances Clay “[I think] they don’t really care what anybody else thinks, they just kind of do their own thing – free-spirited.” – junior Kate Pfanmiller “If I could wash my hair I’d have them.” – freshman Kelly Womack

ating back to the ancient Celts and the more modern Rastafarians, dreadlocks have served as expressions of religion, rebellion, and fashion. And what with the absence of a fashion standard, more and more people are adopting the style. But why dreads? For senior Stu Sudekum, it’s just the most natural way to wear one’s hair. “We weren’t born with combs,” he said. “It’s supposed to be that way.” Ancient Celts were among the first to wear dreadlocks which they molded with mud, and sometimes painted blue during battle. Their dreadlocks frightened enemies, hence the name “dread” -locks. Rastafarians wore dreads to symbolize their fear for the Lord. Founded in Jamaica in the 1930s, this religion is based on Jewish practices, Biblical prophesy, and the teachings of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Rastafarianism is also related to Hinduism; Hindu mystics in India wear dreadlocks. According to Sudekum, people living in the Ice Age used their matted locks to stay warm- hair was critical to their survival and dreadlocked naturally to provide protection against the weather. In our modern world today, however, hair is simply a form of expression. As a Zen Buddhist,

Nov. 29, 2004

Caring for Dreadlocks:

1. Wash gently with vegetable oil-based shampoo or witch hazel 2. Maintain good hygiene in general 3. For new hair growth, rub dreadlock clockwise at the scalp to incorporate the new hair Sudekum wears dreadlocks to reject the “western standard of beauty” and accept the hairstyle designed by nature. “A lot of people do it because that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” he said. “I don’t believe in cosmetic body alterations.” Counter-culture hip-hop stars like Rob Zombie of White Zombie and Zach de La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine inspired Sudekum to start his dreadlocks nearly two years ago. Dreadlocks take about ten years to fully mature. But, contrary to popular belief, they are not full of unknown matter acquired over time, but must be kept clean and free of all oils (see steps above). Oily hair will slip and escape from dreadlocks when you are trying to form them. If you’re going to pay somebody to do it, find someone who already has dreads to help you do them; most salons do twisties, which aren’t permanent.

issue 7

Just a click away

features

Online shopping increases in popularity, but not in security Katie Jones New Blue Sneakers. $15. New Blue Sneakers on EBay. $7. Can’t beat the low prices, but there’s always a catch. With creepy customers and credit card complications, there’s some pretty sketchy stuff that can go on. It’s also bringing other companies to a close. Sophomore Amelia Mallett bought at CD on NoKarma.com once and never got to listen to it. Junior Tyler Reeves bought some clothes from EBay.com once and never got to wear the Incubus shirt he had wanted. “There’s things that can happen on line that wouldn’t happen if you went to a store,” Reeves said, “but shopping online is exciting. It’s always a guessing game and that’s the thrill. Not knowing where you are getting your package or if the plane carrying it crashed into the ocean and someone took your tennis ball and named it Wilson.” Freshman Stephen Gaughan experienced the opposite problem. “We ordered a sink from the Internet and when it came, we realized we’d been shipped two of them,” Gaughan said. Along with flukes like these students have encountered,

more serious problems have occurred. There are some instances where customers have been scammed and their credit card numbers have been taken, being used to buy expensive things by someone else. The danger is there, but it’s only a small risk. Easy access overpowers it. Shopping online has become so popular, corporations like Blockbuster’s business has been dwindling, and renting movies on the net has sprung into popularity. Places like LOVEFiLM.com and netflix.com are being used more often, making Blockbuster and other places create cheap renting deals and lower prices. Also, a lot of clothing stores like Delias and Sierra Trading Post sell their clothing and various goods over the monitor screen and have been successful. So although the shipping is unreliable, plenty of people

still shop on line because it’s “thrilling,” but mostly because it’s convenient. Also, more obscure things can be bought through the Internet, like band merchandise or promotional website items. Some students buy bigger things, with caution. Sophomore Sarah Allen bought brand new Shox on line after she tried them on in the store and sophomore Anna Claiborne buys all her O.C. DVD’s on the web. “They’re pretty expensive and it would suck if I got ripped off, but it’s just easier to buy them on line,” Claiborne said. The best thing about it is it’s just like a huge mall, without the hustle and the cheesy elevator tunes. Problem is, there’s virtual shoplifters everywhere.

If you’re not 21, it’s illegal to drink-let alone drink and drive. Do it and get caught and you can say goodbye to your driver’s license for 30 days. That just the first time! Do it again and you can kiss your keys goodbye for a full year. After that, you don’t even want to know.

Nov. 29, 2004

Making the most of Ellie Weed

starbucks frappacino

Do-it-yourself coffee

$3.90 $0.35 $3.90 -$0.35

$3.55!

Saving money on coffee Home-made sandwich

Made of sourdough bread, turkey, tomatoes, pesto, and lettuce

Dean and Deluca Sandwich

FREE* $7.00 $7.00 -$0.00

$7.00!

*Cost of supplies included

Saving money on food

Professional Manicure

Do-it-yourself manicure

$13.00 FREE* $13.00 -$0.00

Price of Rose Nails Manicure

$13.00!

*Cost of supplies included

Saving money on nails

Sedan gas money

SUV gas money

$25.34 $39.82 $39.82 -$25.34

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*approximately every two weeks

Saving money on gas

Payless Boots

Nordstrom Boots

Old Navy Polo

$7.99 $169.99 $169.99 -$7.99

$162!

Saving money on shoes Target Brand Pearls

Authenic Pearls

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Saving money on Online Downloaded CD

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$.99/song $1 *information based off of iTunes

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Saving money on

Nov. 29, 2004

Why do you make things yourself instead of buying them? “It’s more effective to make things than to buy them because then they are most important to me.” Freshman Rachel Mayfield *Makes jewelry and purses “It’s fun to make it because then it’s really original and no one else has it.” Sophomore Courtney Newell *Makes many of her shirts and skirts “It’s fun to do and everyone really likes what you make. It’s nice to have people aware of debate, too.” Sophomore Annie Kreig *Makes and sells jewelry to benefit the debate team

Through simple methods, a total

Lacoste Polo

74.00

0 0

bunch of unwanted CD’s

18/CD

0 9

n music

photos by Linda Howard, Molly Magoon, and Kevin Grunwald

n polos

of $381.54 could be saved in one day on everyday purchases

THE SIMPLE STUFF CARPOOLING Every morning, we’re all going to the same place. We all live in the general vicinity, and it would save us parking spots, gas money, and a couple extra minutes in the morning trying to find a parking spot if even a couple of people carpooled.

DO IT YOURSELF

The Martha Stewart Method When you make it yourself, it’s the exact same thing as buying it. It’s cheaper, fun to do, and usually makes it more special when you’re able to tell people that you made it. No matter what it is-food, clothes, jewelry, blankets- it doesn’t make you Martha Stewart just because you’re making a good use of your time, money and energy on a Saturday afternoon.

SHARING Having a joint ownership saves not only saves you money, but it saves you space. When the other owner has the purchase, you save room in your closet or room or garage. It makes it easier for you to stay organized because you have less stuff to worry about.

14 features

How to deal Erin Morrissey

the harbinger

Family learns to cope with mother’s illness

Her hands were getting worse. She could hardly move said. them, and her son didn’t understand. She was determined to get better. As the “I thought they were going to get chopped off,” sophomore symptoms worsened, that treatment commenced. Michael Gilliland said. “I was really scared.” Anne received acupuncture, chemotherapy, In March of 2000, when Michael was in fifth grade, his radiation, and stem cell treatments. Even after all mother Anne was diagnosed with Scleroderma- a rare of that, her kidneys failed, and she was on and off autoimmune disease that dialysis for a year and a half. Michael attacks the connective tissue recalls a time when the family to a trip to and causes the skin to thicken, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. making it difficult and at times Anne’s kidneys gave out while they impossible to move. were there, so they had to go back to “Pinch the skin on the Cody, a nearby city, so that she could - 300,000 people are affected in back of your hand and try get treatment before continuing their the United States; most common to bend your fingers. It’s vacation. And, even though the medical between women ages 20 to 40 hard, right?” Michael’s sister, processes did help her condition, they senior Whitney Gilliland said. had serious side effects. -The cause is unknown and “Scleroderma’s like that..times “I was very nauseated and tired. there is no cure, only treatment ANNE sits in her favorite green chair, which she was unable to sit in a thousand.” As it progressed, I was less able to do to relieve symptoms and help for some time after her diagnosis of scleroderma. Anne’s joints would swell things for myself,” Anne said. “I just prevent complications and redden, causing her became weaker.” misses. However, Whitney, who was cross-country captain source: www.webmd.com extreme pain. Her hands The treatments made it hard for Anne to this year, finds solace is going for a jog. She refers to running slowly became clumsy— she function. She could hardly swallow food, so as a coping mechanism— something that she thinks helped couldn’t open a tube of she lost a great deal of weight and became her through the hard times with her mother’s disease. toothpaste or put her contacts in. She would drop things malnourished. However, after her stem cell treatments, “It’s like, you have a bad day, and you go for a run and constantly, and found it hard to even hold her silverware. things began to look up. everything’s better,” Whitney said. And that was just her hands. “I’ve gotten more movement back. I can cook and clean Whereas running was something that helped Whitney At times, Anne had to shuffle to walk. She had to have her and drive, and I’m able to do pretty much what I want to do,” through the hard times, Michael credits religion as something family help her get out of her favorite green chair, which now Anne said. that helped him deal with the Scleroderma. Their family had sits in their basement. She couldn’t run and play tennis- two Even though she’s back to some normal routines, Anne always been Presbyterian, but he believes that his faith was things she loved. She would become extremely fatigued very still isn’t the active athlete she once was. She can’t play strengthened by the adversity his family had overcome. easily. But even through all that, she never lost hope. tennis, but still goes to watch Michael, who practices six “I started to believe in God a lot more,” said Michael. “I “The cool thing about Mom was that she never said days a week, play in his matches. She and Whitney can started to trust him a lot more.” things like ‘if I get better.’ It was ‘when I get better,’ ” Whitney no longer go on runs together— something her daughter

the facts:

photo by Kevin Grunwald

Scleroderma

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Nov. 29, 2004