Issue 4

Harbinger ISSUE 4 | SHAWNEE MISSION EAST | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | OCT. 17, 2011

GIRLS’ TENNIS LOSES KEY PLAYERS P. 29

SMEHARBINGER.NET

CONNECTED

WEB through the

How social media allows teachers and students to communicate beyond the classroom written by Jack Howland | photos by Grant Kendall

It’s always been the students who have pushed geography teacher John Nickels down the path of technology. When he got his first cell phone in 2000, his students taught him all about texting. When Xanga—a social networking site aimed at blogging —became popular in the early 2000s, they set one up for him. Throughout Nickels’ 47 year teaching career, his students have been one step ahead in the growing media, tugging him along with them.

So naturally when Facebook became prevalent in 2006, it was the students who pushed him into joining.

“I never put anything on it myself [initially],” Nickels said. “Then, I figured out it was a way for them to reach me; a way for them to contact me if they had a question.”

Nickels has seen an increase of technology in education since the popularity of facebook—he says it’s been steadily on the rise. In a poll of 179 students grades 9-12, 40.8 percent say they are friends with a teacher on Facebook and 15.6 percent actively use social media to communicate with teachers. Additionally, 79.8 percent have liked a Facebook page pertaining to East and 80.4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

p. 4

news

A look at this year’s Lancerque competition

p. 10

opinion

percent are members of a group with East ties.

Principal Dr. Karl Krawitz says he is constantly urging teachers to “update their technology.” He believes social media tools, if used effectively, can be beneficial in the classroom. “[They’re] a powerful tool which can supplement so many things for both teacher and student,” Dr. Krawitz said.

“It provides another avenue of communication.”

However, across the nation, school districts have had a difference of opinion. According to Ian Quillen, beat writer for Education Week and co-author of the blog “Digital Media in Education,” there are varying opinions on social media depending on the district. He points out that in Washington D.C. a school district named Montgomery County is open to social media outlets, while the school district over, Prince George’s County, has banned students and teachers from posting photos of school events.

Social networking, he says, is far from being a “uni-

Staffer reflects on the passing of his best friend’s mother

pp. 16-17

spread

An investigation of the rise of Celiac’s Disease

versally accepted tool” in education.

“There is slowly less fear of social media and slowly more understanding of social media and how it can be used as an educational tool,” Quillien said. “But people still have reservation and with good reason.”

Quillien notes that a good example of this opposition came on July 14 when Missouri passed a law that restricted teachers from becoming friends with students on Facebook. According to him, the stimulation was a “reaction to popular opinion” and mirrored thoughts about technology in schools. The law was quickly repealed after Missouri lawmakers said it went too far, but he says it still illustrated the point that educators involved in social media are often scrutinized.

At East, Nickels feels that technology in education is effective if it is kept separate from personal life. He says that perhaps the greatest benefit of social media is that it makes the staff more accessible to students. In the past, if students wanted to reach him they had to send him an email at his school email account, which he says he only checks while at East. Nickels believes that social media ultimately enhances communication and should be encouraged. continued on p. 3

p. 22

a&e

Basic cooking recipes and techniques

p. 32

photo essay

pictures from the Fall Orchestra Concert

The Week in Photos

BRIEFING SCHOOL

Students organize charity Quidditch tournament

Photo by Jake Crandall

SENIOR MOLLY YOUNG, prepares to block the ball at the O’Hara matchup last Tuesday night. The Lancers ended up losing in game three 26-24.

Photo by Grant Kendall

SOPHOMORE ABBY SCOTT, pounds her drum as she practices with the rest of the marching band before school one day.

This year, seniors Morgan Satterlee and Tucker Styrkowicz are putting on East’s very first Quidditch Tournament. The tournament will be held on Oct. 24-26 in the East gymnasium. Forms are available in room 307 and due back today. The forms have the rules and regulations of the game.

There are eight people to a team and an $8 entry fee per player. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Hope Center to help buy books for underprivileged elementary school students.

Satterlee visited the Hope Center over the summer and it got her thinking about her favorite book of all time: “Harry Potter”. She came up with the Quidditch Tournament as a fun way to link the love she feels for her favorite book and a fundraiser for a cause she cares for..

COMMUNITY

Prairie Village installs WiFi hub in city hall

Prairie Village installed a WiFi hub in City Hall two weeks ago. The hub, which was installed into the City Hall’s main chambers will allow those who visit City Hall for everything from traffic violations to City Council meetings to access the web.

The next step says Assistant City Administrator Dennis Enslinger is for the City to install WiFi hotspots at the public pool next summer. This will allow patrons to enjoy WiFi at the pool for no charge.

written by Kim Hoedel and Tom Lynch

Students and faculty prepare for Fall play

Bunch of Bands

Shakespeare’s famous “A Mid-Summer’s Night Dream” will be performed by the East Theater Department on Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. The play will be performed in the Dan Zollars Auditorium and every student with an East ID will be given one free ticket. Additional tickets or those without an ID can be purchased for $7 on both ramps the week of the show.

Senior Student Director Spencer Davis is excited to show the school how relatable this famous comedy can be. Davis said the show has a very talented cast and amazing tech work that will transport the audience into a whole other world.

“Everyone has done a really great job making this classic enjoyable to watch,” Davis said. “I hope everyone comes out to see it.”

East’s annual Bunch of Bands will be held this fall, earlier than usual. Sign-up sheets are located in the main office. Any band is welcome to join, as long as one member of the band is a current East student.

Each band will get their own area of the gym and a 20 minute slot to play to the crowd that will rotate from band to band as they play back-to-back. Judges review the bands and the winning band is rewarded 50 percent of the proceeds, 30 percent goes to the second place band and the remaining 20 percent is awarded to the third place band.

Bunch of Bands is a great way for students to all get together while supporting under recognized lancer musicians.

“It’s a fun event that helps to bring together the school,” Senior StuCo special events committee chair Adam Lowe said.

“It is a fun way to showcase students who aren’t showcased very often.”

STATE State Mounts Case fight-

Prairie Village approves $4.5 million in bonds

The Prairie Village city council voted on Oct. 3 to approve a bond issuance from United Missouri Bank (UMB) that will raise $4.5 million to be used mainly for road repairs around the city.

The city received 11 bids from various financial institutions for its bonds. The interest rate for the bonds will be set at 1.67 percent. The bonds will add more than $4 million dollars in debt to the city’s books, creating a total of $10 million of debt. $500,000 of the $4.5 million will help to fund the city’s geothermal heating and cooling project for city hall.

ing judge’s injunction

The State of Kansas is seeking to overturn a federal judge’s order blocking Kansas from stripping Planned Parenthood of family planning funds. The state argues that the judge’s ruling should be overturned in a 144-page filing to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which asks for the temporary injunction made by the judge ordering that Kansas continue to fund Planned Parenthood, be overruled.

Planned Parenthood sought the injunction after the state passed a law giving federal funding first to health departments and hospitals, leaving none for smaller clinics.

MUGGLE ADAPTATIONS COMMUNITY DEBT COMPARISON

Photo by Haley Johnston

SOPHOMORE CHEERLEADER FAITH CONNELLY, tops a pyramid during at the Lawrence Free State Football game.

An quick update on the school, the community, the state and Quidditch

Changes made for the muggle version of quidditch Muggle Quidditch Wizard Quidditch

x

7

x

8

There will be eight players per team instead of the seven in the Harry Potter books.

A look at the outstanding debt in the East area

City Bank 1234 5678 9876 5432 12/12

City Bank 12/12

Photo by Jake Crandall

Volleyballs will replace the quaffle and the bludgers.

02 | NEWS

Prairie Village

City Bank 1234 5678 9876 5432 12/12

FAIRWAY

The East gymnasium is substituting for a Quidditch pitch

$188,365,000

Overland Park

1234 5678 9876 5432

ORCHESTRA TEACHER MR. LANE, conducts the orchestra during the fall concert. To see more photos turn to PAGE 32.

OVERLAND PARK

PRAIRIE VILLAGE $10,000,000

FAIRWAY

$8,110,000

Information from www.da.ks.gov

EDUCATIONALLY CONNECTED

The Harbinger takes a look at the connection between students, academics and the social media cont. from page one Spanish teacher Jennifer Holder has a similar notion.

She feels that with all that’s available now in social media, East should utilize as many outlets as they can. At East, Holder was one of the first Spanish teachers to advocate Edmodo—a social networking agent similar to Facebook that lets students blog, comment and post in Spanish. She says that she will give homework assignments as simple as asking a question, “What bothers you about teachers?” on the website.

“It gives them a way to communicate without it being a very structured thing,” Holder said. “Like they don’t have to worry about grammar, it’s just a thing where they can say ‘hey, look it, I can speak Spanish and I can be understood without knowing it exactly.’”

Holder says she sees the benefits of the program in that it creates a “community” outside of the classroom where students can communicate and learn the language. Holder sees her students’ grades improve by Edmodo everyday and she feels it’s essential for teachers to embrace technology in education.

“I think it’s very important to say ‘you know, this is all available to us, let us utilize it to the max,’” Holder said. “I think that [with] all of this fabulous technology out there, we need to be using it.”

Over the last five years, social media in schools has seen a dramatic increase. Quillen says that social networking has ultimately gone from “non-involvement to involvement.” Whereas five years ago even the most progressive school districts weren’t embracing, now, he notes, things like facebook and twitter have become means of communication for teachers and students outside the classroom.

Quillen feels that, in education, social media has the ability to enhance anything—good or bad. According to Quillen, social media can equally encourage strong and weak educational behaviors.

“If you have a teacher that really wants to facilitate collaboration, and those have the social media to do that, then social media can magnify that collaboration,” Quillen said. “But if you have a teacher who is not very good at leading a communal learning process and wants to try to open the classroom to social media, then you have a lot of things going on in his or her classroom that maybe shouldn’t be going on.”

Quillen says that with any form of social media, you have to know what you’re doing with it. He notes that turning a classroom loose to use Facebook as they please could potentially become a distraction; he even says that if not monitored, social networking can lead to things like cyber bullying. These adverse effects, according to Quillen, are the main reason there have been rules put in place by some school districts to limit the use of social media in education.

At East, there is a firm opposition to this kind of limitation. Of the 179 students polled at East, 77.6 percent said that they did not believe social media websites should be blocked on school computers.

Junior Joe Simmons acknowledges the district’s con-

cerns, but thinks they are overly fearful. Simmons, who is a member on Facebook of a group aimed at his Latin 3 class, sees the benefit of a strong forum for discussion and thinks it can benefit students’ grades.

“I don’t think that there’s enough lucid activity that goes on on Facebook that the district should be concerned about it,” Simmons said. “I mean, their biggest worry is people bashing each other and causing insults, but, I mean I don’t think they should be too concerned about that because I have never seen anything like that.”

While Dr. Krawitz doesn’t think social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter should be allowed in class, he still feels that avenues of communication between students can be beneficial for school. One thing Dr. Krawitz points out in particular are public pages “driven by students” that create more involvement with East.

“I think it’s a good thing for them to get a hold of,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Now whether it’s something they get hold of at school—probably not. But at home, it’s their domain.”

Simmons acts as an administrator on the Facebook page SMEast Student Body 2011-2012. The page, run by Simmons and senior Kristin Shedor, updates students on the happenings within East and alerts them of upcoming events. Simmons says social networking is a more effective way to display information and is a “step up from posters in the hall.”

“We can put much more information—not too much—but a great amount of information that would not necessarily fit or a student would have time to read when they’re travelling in the hallways,” Simmons said. “I think it’s a much more effective way of getting news out there for people to read.”

Other clubs at East have adopted similar philosophies.

On Twitter, students have been the driving force behind accounts like @SMEast_PepClub, @SMEFootball2011 and @smeastxc that update students on notable information within their respective extracurricular activities. On Facebook, the list grows even larger with private groups for East clubs like SME Theater 2011-2012, SME Fellowship of Christian Athletes and SME Coalition.

Simmons notes that the social media is effective in keeping people up-to-date.

“There’s a countless number of times where I’m wondering, oh, what the theme of the game is or certain things about the timing of events and things you hear about at school but you don’t know what they entail,” Simmons said. “That’s the benefit of having a community page.”

According to Justin Henning, social media director at the University of Kansas, community pages like Simmons’ are being developed more frequently. Henning says he currently oversees and manages 186 different accounts on various social networking platforms, ranging from Facebook.com/ku to twitter.com/KUengineering. In his job, Henning puts an emphasis on “going where the people are”—covering all demographics.

“We want to go where the students are, we want to go where the KU fans are,” Henning said. “It’s really kind of a natural process. With any of these services, we want to

make sure that there’s an established presence and that there’s a reason for us to be there.”

Henning notes that while the social media channels he runs mainly focus on updating students about news within the university, there is an “internal service” called Blackboard that keeps students in-tune with classes they’re taking.

“It’s a little more of a closed network where you can share, not necessarily sensitive information, but you can share personal information as it relates to a class,” Henning said. “Where something like Facebook is very public and all of that information that you put up there is ultimately seen by hundreds, if not thousands, if not millions of eyeballs—so there’s just a lot of stuff from an academic standpoint that you can’t do through Facebook.”

Dr. Krawitz, who used Blackboard while teaching at Baker University, says he sees “power” in these new forms of online education. At Baker, he notes that the social outlet created a program where out-of-work teachers with expertise in a subject could be used as professors for online course work.

Ultimately, he sees the increasing presence of online classes and educational social media as a positive thing.

Dr. Krawitz says his daughter-in-law was “barely on campus” and still earned a degree. According to him, it’s becoming a necessity for colleges to have these online opportunities since competition between universities has grown more heated.

This realm of social media in education and online classes excites Dr. Krawitz, but also scares him.

“I think it removes so much of the ability of the interpersonal piece that’s part of teaching and learning that you can’t necessarily have reading a script, let’s say, from a computer screen,” Dr. Krawitz said. “You know, how can you discuss that?”

Quillen says that while technology is constantly evolving, the most subversive and inventive forms of social media are already out there. Education specific tools like Edmodo and Moodle, as well as pop culture tools like Facebook and twitter, are already re-defining communication. Quillen says that at Education Week events where they talk to administrators about the growing use of technology in schools, social media is frequently discussed as something that is becoming more widely used.

“It’s not revolutionary; it’s very gradual, it’s slow growth,” Quillen said. “But it is happening.”

Nickels, who has been at East since the age of black boards and chalk, is reluctant to the increase of technology in education; he says that he appreciates face-to-face communication and teaching in its simplest form. But as new technologies make their way into daily life and his students tell him about new modes of communication, he will be open to it. Nickels thinks it’s illogical to not embrace the wave of the future.

“If it can help kids out in any way,” Nickels said, “then what’s wrong with it?”

NEWS | 03

‘QUE’UEING UP ON

Upcoming ‘Lancer-Que’ experiences changes from last year to form an East tradition

written by Christa McKittrick | photos and art by Toni Aguiar The Shawnee Mission East parking hopes to bring in a large crowd of both lot will be transformed into a small-scale students and community members, version of the American Royal Barbecue hopefully more than the 100 or so that Competition complete with smokers the attended last year. size of small cars, home-made sauces In order to get the community more and meat galore this Sunday. The 2nd involved, Styrkowicz, Charity Commitannual Lancer-que, organized and run tee Co-chair, and other StuCo members

by Student Council, is a fundraiser for contacted local barbecue restaurants the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. and stores that might be interested in Five official judges from the Kansas sponsoring the Lancer-que.

City Barbecue Society (KCBS) will judge “Last year… I think we just did it infive categories: chicken, pork ribs, beef, dependently, but this year we’re trying sauce and “open”, with the official rules to get the community more involved,” and judging criteria of the KCBS. The Styrkowicz said. “It’s a fundraiser that open category includes anything from doesn’t go to East, it goes to the Christbaked beans to dishes containing multi- mas Bureau, so we’re trying to get teams ple meats. Each team must pay a $10 en- that aren’t affiliated with East to come try fee for each category they enter. For out.” those not cooking that want to come and Some experienced barbecuing teams enjoy the barbecue and atmosphere, will return to the Lancer-que, but there there is a $5 tasting fee. will also be several rookie teams. The StuCo is led by advisers Brenda Fish- StuCo officers and representatives from man and Hannah Pence. They have or- each class are forming barbecue teams ganized the Lancer-que with the help of to compete in the Lancer-que. senior committee chairs Tucker StyrkoThe Senior officers and representawicz and Kristen Shedor. tives formed a team named Smokin’ SeShedor, Public Relations Co-chair, niors. Their team does not have any exis in charge of advertising the event perience barbecuing, so they are taking through fliers and word of mouth. StuCo a unique approach while also attempt-

MEET YOUR JUDGES “Lancerque will definitely be a learning experience. I think it really Tim Kobe Experiences*: Has will be sucbeen barbecueing cessful and for 15 years, now grow because of the charity is a certified aspect to it.” judge

4 | NEWS

“Barbecue isn’t that hard to cook in general, but to be really good Chris Boland Experiences: Cer- at it— that tified judge, has takes practice entered barbecue and a lot of contests for 24 dedication.”

years

ing to barbecue.

“The seniors wanted to go a different way and do dessert,” senior Abbie Symes said. “So we’re going to do banana boats and fruit kabobs.”

Banana boats are bananas cut open and filled with marshmallows, chocolate chips and any assortment of toppings.

The bananas are then grilled so the inside melts into a fruity dessert. The senior team will also barbecue chicken to go with their desserts.

The Exec Board members also plan to represent StuCo at the Lancer-que.

Their team name is unofficially The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf.

Senior Carolyn Welter has hopeful plans to dress up to go along with the team name.

“We want to dress up as pigs and make Jack [Kovarik] dress up as a wolf,” Welter said. “It’s also funny because pig is meat, it’s pork, so we’re cooking it.”

The Exec team plans to make a beef dish and potato salad or macaroni and cheese on the side.

One of the more experienced teams from the first Lancer-Que is Dr. Frankenswine, formed by senior Luke Fleming and his friends. They plan to step up their game this year. Last year Fleming and his team got to East at four in the morning to get their equipment set up and start cooking, but this year Fleming plans to camp out at East the night before.

Last year, Dr. Frankenswine barbecued 20 chicken thighs and a bacon explosion; this time Fleming plans to use a larger smoker that can fit two bacon explosions, 30 chicken thighs and five racks of ribs.

The bacon explosion is Dr. Frankenswine’s signature dish that they won first place in the “open” category for last year.

Fleming found the recipe in a cook book and decided to try it out last year. The bacon explosion consists of one pound of bacon woven together, filled with a pound of Italian sausage, topped with one pound of crumbled bacon and barbecue seasoning, and all rolled up into a thick bundle of meat.

“You have this log of pork, then you smoke it, coat it with barbecue sauce,

and cut it into delicious slices,” Fleming said.

The taste-testers at the competition loved the highly-anticipated bacon explosion and devoured it within two minutes. Fleming plans to cook the bacon explosion and chicken thighs the same way as last year, but spice their cooking up a little with baby back ribs.

Fleming will use what is called a 3-21 method to cook the baby back ribs.

The 3-2-1 method gets its name from the number of hours each step takes.

The ribs are smoked unwrapped in the smoker for three hours. Then wrapped in tinfoil for two hours, followed by one more hour uncovered in the smoker.

“That gets the juices sealed in and keeps it moist,” Fleming said. “And then you finish it off with a glaze which is a mixture of Kansas City Masterpiece Barbecue sauce and apple juice.”

Shedor was a member of Dr. Frankenswine as well as a band team cleverly named ‘BandBQ.’ Shedor’s new pet project this year is a home-made barbecue sauce.

“I think we’re going to work on a sauce called Awk Sauce, just a really awkward flavor combination, but really delicious,” Shedor said. “A weird tangy flavor, like a mango salsa with barbecue sauce would be perfect because it’s like an awkward moment.”

Between Awk Sauces and grilled bananas, the Lancer-que will offer a new take on the traditional Kansas City barbecue competition. For meat aficionados and community members who just enjoy good barbecue alike, the Lancerque offers a festive environment and unique experience for students and the community.

QUICK BITS

Lancerque will take place this Sunday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East. Entries are due by Wed. and are $10. Anyone may attend; $5 tasting fee per person.

Tasters share their barbecue stories and advice

Tim Dorr Experiences: Certified as a barbecue judge as of a year ago

“The kids will do a really good job, especially if they have good mentors.

It’s a great experience. I look forward to tasty ribs!”

“At American Royal, there was a group that had a huge ham, put a tire Jane Haines tread into it, Experiences: American Royal and a sign sayBBQ judge for 20 ing ‘roadkill.’ It years, recently was funny, but they got DQ’ed.” certified

“This’ll be my first event to judge. BBQ contests are always fun; Larry Leonard Experiences: Was it’s a group of interesting certified as a barbecue judge people who all as of six months love barbecuing.” ago *all certified judges by the Kansas City Barbecue Society

Washington County $8,048

Wheatland

State Aid Per Pupil

KANSAS

$10,069

Shawnee Mission

Sterling

Pratt

$8,683

$6,539

Information from www.ksde.org

$4,046

FIGHTING THE

FUNDING FORMULA SM East is the bottom 10 percent for amount of funding in Kansas

written by Adam Lowe | photos by Jake Crandall

E

very year, the Kansas Legislature and school districts across the state discuss the statewide school finance formula, in order to determine how much money is to be given to each school district per student for the year. Recently, some of the larger school districts believe that the formula favors smaller schools.

This last year there has been a push to change the funding formula to make it more equitable for larger school districts, such as the Shawnee Mission School District.

“We have a great school district, [but we] just don’t have enough funding,” SM East Principal Karl Krawitz said. “If we were able to get more money it would be easier to do the things we want to do.”

Early last summer, Newsweek Magazine named Shawnee Mission East the top public high school in the state of Kansas. The ranking was based on student to teacher ratio, graduation rate, AP/IB test scores, average SAT score and the percentage of graduates who are college bound. SM South and SM Northwest joined the list at number three and number five, helping to make the Shawnee Mission School District the most successful school district in the state academically, according to Newsweek.

However SMSD is one of the most underfunded school districts in the city according to the KC Business Journal: just seven years ago, they came in 25th out of 25 school districts for funding received per year in the KC Metro area. Over the last several years, they have jumped up and are currently ninth.

The amount of funding given to each school district is decided by the state’s school funding formula. This formula provides 37 different weightings based on each district’s profile and other factors that affect the school districts. Some of the larger drivers of the formula are the number of “at risk students” in the school district, the amount of busing provided by the school district and the number of Special Education students. According to Kansas State Legislature, the question they now face is how to make a fair medium between rewarding schools that are doing well but also helping out schools in need.

According to SMSD Superintendent Dr. Gene Johnson, the funding formula for the state of Kansas is not giving the SMSD the funding it needs.

“We have high enrollment, lower levels of students that are learning English as a second language, lower inner city levels and we are also unable to grow much because our schools are landlocked,” Dr. Johnson said.

“These are all things that lower your weightings in the funding formula.”

NEWS WEEK SCORE COMPARISON SME 0.327 BVN 0.307 SMS 0.203 BV 0.139 SMNW 0.098

Information from newsweek.com and ksde.org

Dr. Johnson believes that the funding formula in use right now is weighted in favor of smaller school districts for many reasons. The fact that they have lower enrollment with room to grow in their location is one of the reasons they have a higher weighting in the current formula.

Dr. Karl Krawitz and Dr. Johnson both believe that the current formula favors these smaller school districts, but he is also in favor of helping these districts out.

“I don’t have a problem at all giving these other schools money; however, I want it to be money well spent,” Dr. Krawitz said. “[SMSD] believes in giving more because we can and we want to help out, but then we just expect a little more help in return.”

Both of these administrators believe that the problem with the current funding formula is that some districts are contributing more share of the revenue while at the same time being to severely penalized by the funding formula.

“We just want to see something that is more fair, more equitable for our district,” Dr. Johnson said, “We know what we want to do in our school district, so we want to be able to do it and we don’t want to have to scrape around for more money.”

Dr. Barbara Bollier represents District 25, the SM East area, in the Kansas State Legislature. Although she is in favor of change in the funding formula, she finds it hard to reach a fair medium.

“This is a really important issue somehow we’re giving too much emphasis to smaller schools in a way that I think we will need to modify it somehow,” Dr. Bollier said. “It’s tough because somebody will always get the most money and somebody always the least so it’s just hard to rationalize.”

According to Dr. Bollier, this push for fairness comes from larger school districts such as Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley, because these are the school districts trying to catch up with the more rural districts.

In the 2009-2010 school year, the Chapman School District in Dickinson, Kansas received the most money per student in the state of Kansas. They received $52,466 per student. Considering this is a rural school district and that busing and transportation issues are more of a factor, cost per student would be expected to be higher.

In contrast the Blue Valley and the SMSD are in the bottom half of this data between $12,212 and $12,613. That almost $40,000 difference per student ends up being a huge difference in the amount of funds the school districts have to work with.

SMSD BUDGET REDUCED TO

$211 MILLION FROM $282 MILLION

One of the other significant reasons many of these smaller school districts are receiving more money from the financial formula is because of transportation for their students.

“You can take a small school district that has 200 kids in it and they may have over 200-250 square miles they have to cover, now that transportation is a lot more complicated than ours,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Let’s face it: you’re going to be on a bus for awhile so in that case, yes, they do deserve more money.”

Every year, the SMSD receives more money than the year before however they still only receive $12,536 per student as of the 2010-2011 listing in the KC Business Journal. This is over $4,000 less per student than the school districts at the top of the listing for the KC Metro area.

Dr. Krawitz believes that there is a better way to make the funding formula more equal for all Kansas schools.

“Last year we had to cut 13 teachers in our school alone and with student population staying relatively the same the rest of the teachers have to pick up the slack,” Dr. Krawitz said. “However the fact of the matter is, we aren’t getting the funding we need to function how we want to, that is just how the formula is set right now.”

Along with cutting teachers for the current school year, the SMSD also was forced to close four schools, change school boundaries and cut down on many programs throughout the district.

Although SMSD and other school districts had to make cuts and close schools, there were many smaller districts that came away unscathed from these budget cuts.

However, according to Dr. Bollier, all of the money allocated to these school districts is being used well.

“The reality is that it does cost more money relatively to educate a fewer number of students than to educate a whole bunch of students,” Dr. Bollier said. “This is why the current funding formula favors these smaller schools.”

Dr. Bollier says her main focus is to support the schools in the area that she represents but still keep the good of the entire state in mind.

“I think [the funding formula] needs to be changed and I do support our school district and our area in getting that re-evaluated and changed in a way that is more equitable for our area,” Dr. Bollier said. “However, we do need to take in concern the whole state and make sure it helps everyone whether they were named to the top by Newsweek or not.”

COLLEGE BOUND % SME 92 BVN 82 SMS 88 BV 84 SMNW 91

10% lowest funded in KS because...

HIGH ENROLLMENT LOW ELL LEVELS LOW INNER-CITY ENROLLMENTS NOT ABLE TO EXPAND

NEWS | 5

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MISSION VALLEY? A Look at the Future of Mission Valley Middle School written by Stephen Cook | photos by Brendan Dulohery Mission Valley Middle School, which was put on the market this summer, was bought for $4,435,000 by a group made up of RED Brokerage, RED Development and Tutera Investments.

The property was appraised at $3,210,000 before it was put on the market. The Shawnee Mission School District then put the property up for sale, but there was not a fixed sale price, taking offers from those who were interested in purchasing the land.

The 18-acre property that the empty school sits on will be re-zoned for mixed-use development. This means that there will be some retail, possibly some assisted living and residential, and also maybe some light service use.

“It’s not going to be big box,” Dave Claflin, Vice President of Marketing at RED Development, said. ”It’s not going to be something scary to the neighborhood.”

Claflin said that the group decided to buy the property because of it’s valuable location: right in the middle of an already developed area.

“It’s a great piece of land,” Claflin said. “This would be an ideal example of an urban infill.”

An urban infill is a piece of land that is in the middle of an already built-up area, but is not being used. Due to the neighborhoods, apartments and businesses surrounding Mission Valley, the developers already know the demographics of the area and what the residents would use and like the best.

Mission Valley, which had $3 million worth of remodeling and improvements done four years ago--$934,925 was spent on the library alone--is going to be demolished in order to make way for the new buildings.

With Mission Valley closed, the students who were at-

tending or going to go the school now have to go to Indian Hills. Currently, 761 students are going to middle school at Indian Hills.

“It has gone very well this school year,” Associate Superintendent Gillian Chapman said. “Students report enjoying the additional students and everyone going to East together instead of having two middle schools.”

However, from a student perspective, there are some obstacles.

Evan Stolberg, the eighth-grade brother of seniors Carter and Abby Stolberg, went to Misson Valley last year, but is going to Indian Hills now due to the closing.

According to Evan, classes tend to be big and there are just too many people at the school.

“Mission Valley was easier to navigate through, had better classes, and a lot less people,” Evan said. “It was just a lot more simple.”

Now, with Mission Valley out of the picture, remaining middle schools such as Indian Hills are going to have to step up to accommodate the extra amounts of students.

This means that all middle schools will add an auxiliary gym with a performing arts stage, classroom casework upgrades, MPR expansion, kitchen remodel, locker room renovation, CCTV upgrades and window replacements as well as additional infrastructure projects. Indian Hills will have the administration area remodeled with added security, additional classrooms, restroom and locker additions, a canopy addition, parking upgrades, an art room remodel, FACS rooms remodel, an additional music room and a library remodel and expansion.

The funds generated by selling the Mission Valley property will in turn help pay for these upgrades.

“The money from the sale of the property goes into the district’s capital outlay fund,” Chapman said. “Which is used to repair and maintain buildings and purchase equipment and furniture.”

Mission Valley may be gone, but the area will still potentially be used by those in the community. But instead of going to a school at 8500 Mission Road, this may mean going to a grocery store or stopping for a meal at a restaurant.

“The city of Prairie Village is a hundred percent behind the idea that this land has to be revenue producing, income-producing,” Claflin said. “So that means that it’s not going to be a park, it’s not going to be a big empty field. It’s going to generate revenue, sales tax, property tax, one way or another.”

Despite what has been seen as an ending in many ways, many new doors have also opened up. New businesses in the area means new jobs and new places for people to eat, shop and hang out at. Additionally, with the merge of students at Indian Hills, students are getting to know each other better before moving on to high school.

“I’ve met new friends,” Evan said. “And I get to know some of my friends who didn’t go to Mission Valley better.”

As for the new use of the Mission Valley property, Claflin believes that the new changes are going to be welcomed by those nearby.

“It’s going to be the kind of things that we think the neighbors in that area are going to be really glad to have right out their back door,” Clafin said.

One Last Walk Through Mission Valley

An empty art room with supplies strewn around the floor

6 | NEWS

The well—known starfish poem is torn off the wall and lays underneath debris

Theroom residential use The music was stripped andcould dismanteled range from apartments to a

2

Mistakes In Punishment

Banning students from extracurricular activities after an MIP is counter productive art by Kat Buchanan and Toni Aguiar Depth charts have lost a little depth this year. In the fall sports season, 10 Lancer athletes were kicked off their respective sports for behavioral misconduct involving drugs or alcohol. That’s four from football, two from tennis and four from cross country.

The punishments are intended to prevent the use of illicit substances, but dismissing students from sports and other activities on account of alcohol or drug use is pointless from a disciplinary standpoint, and accomplishes nothing in the prevention of alcohol and drug use among students.

Sure, these kids knew the risk they were taking. They signed an athletic participation contract when they made their teams saying that they wouldn’t drink or use drugs. The punishments for violating these rules vary.

A first-offense student will be kicked out of their sport for the remainder of their season.

Upon the school administration’s confirmation of a second offense, the student will be prohibited from participating in any extracurricular activities for an entire calendar year.

While these rules display the honorable intentions of the district, the consequences

for breaking these rules are counterproduc- were the restrictions set by the district. tive to the overall goal of the prevention of At the heart of the problem are the alcohol and drug use among teens. lengths of the suspensions. Suspending Involvement in extracurricular activi- athletes for the remainder of their seasons ties, be they athletic or academic in nature, creates a drastic inconsistency in how long plays a big part in deterring students from athletes are suspended. Depending on when experimenting with drugs and alcohol, ac- the punishment is enforced, a convicted cording to John Hoffmann, a sociologist at athlete can face anywhere between a week Brigham Young University. Yes, athletes’ to three months of suspension time. This fear of the season-long suspensions may inconsistency in punishment is unfair to be what keeps some aththe athletes who are THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE letes from drinking, but caught and punished HARBINGER EDITORIAL BOARD the actual punishments earlier in their seadon’t prevent drinking sons. They end up because removing athserving longer susFOR AGAINST ABSENT letes from their sports pensions than others also removes the fear of suspension that who are caught later than them. kept them from drinking more often.

In most cases, the lengths of athletic susSince the prevention of such illicit activi- pensions are too long. A student who is susties is one of the main goals of the district, pended for a two-month remainder of their removing students for extended periods of season is likely to give up on coming back. time from such activities is counterproduc- The more time they spend away from their tive. A student who is kicked off their team sport, the more likely they are to not return or activity after getting caught drinking is to it, and the more likely that they resort to much more likely to drink more afterwards, drinking more frequently. especially if the only things previously preThe solution to these problems is to have venting that student from drinking regularly shorter, consistent suspensions. It’s not ben-

Harbinger

Editors-In-Chief Kat Buchanan Toni Aguiar Assistant Editors Emma Pennington Evan Nichols Online Editors-InChief Jeff Cole Duncan MacLachlan Online Assistant Editor Becca Brownlee Art and Design Editor Chloe Stradinger Head Copy Editors Chris Heady Jack Howland News Editor Tom Lynch News Page Editors Sarah Berger Editorial Editor Julia Davis Opinion Editor Ian Wiseman Opinion Page Editors Vanessa Daves Mixed Editor

Paige Hess Spread Editor Emily Kerr Assistant Spread Editor Tiernan Shank Features Editor Christa McKittrick Features Page Editors Jennifer Rorie Haley Martin Katie Knight A&E Editor Kennedy Burgess A&E Page Editors Andrew Simpson Will Webber Sports Editor Anne Willman Sports Page Editors Adam Lowe Corbin Barnds Freelance Page Editors Alex Goldman Andrew McKittrick Kim Hoedel Photo Editor Grant Kendall

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a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208 October 17, 2011 Assistant Photo Editor Hiba Akhtar Online Photo Editor Brendan Dulohery Assistant Online Photo Editor Jake Crandell Copy Editors Evan Nichols Emma Pennington Kat Buchanan Katie Knight Matt Hanson Anne Willman Chloe Stradinger Toni Aguiar Chris Head Jack Howland Head Online Copy Editor Matt Gannon Online Copy Editors Kim Hoedel Sarah Berger Ads/Circulation Managers Erin Reilly Leah Pack

Staff Artists Sam Stevens Matti Crabtree Connor Woodson Webmaster Chris Denniston Multimedia Editor Thomas Allen Assistant Multimedia Editor Dalton Boehm Transmedia Editor Holly Hernandez Convergence Editor Alex Lamb Assistant Convergance Editor Holly Hernandez Homegrown Editors Andrew Beasley Mason Pashia Blog Editor Zoe Brian Video Editor Thomas Allen Eastipedia Editor Sami Walter Podcast Editor

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eficial to avoid punishment all together, but the current system isn’t either. To discipline students who violate drug and alcohol rules and to prevent substance abuse among athletes more effectively, the district must set a consistent length for all athletic suspensions.

In order to limit substance abuse, this set length must be short, too. A universal two-week athletic suspension should be sufficient. It’s long enough to force a student to reconsider their ways, but short enough to ensure that they don’t give up on returning to their sport and start drinking or using drugs more. Additionally, students should be required to attend all practices and games during their suspensions, which will keep them away from the party scene during their time off.

The district’s goals are honorable in their alcohol and drug policies for athletes. But the inconsistent and excessive punishments it has set for violating these rules must be amended in order to meet its goals. Without reform, the system will continue to do nothing for the problems it intends to prevent.

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

Sami Walter Live Broadcast Editors Duncan MacLachlan Assistant Live Broadcast Editor Connor Woodson Andrew McWard Online A&E Section Editor Zoe Brian Online Sports Section Editors Matt Gannon Matt Hanson Live Broadcast Producers Thomas Allen Drew Broeckelman Patrick Frazell Connor Woodson Chris Denniston Anchors Patrick Frazell Marisa Walton Morgan Twibell Emily Donovan PR Representative/ Business Managers

Alex May Online Graphic Designers Paige Hess Staff Writers Alex Lamb Greta Nepstad Mitch Kaskie Nick May Stephen Cook Morgan Twibell Emily Donovan Holly Hernandez Leah Pack Jeri Freirich Online Staff Writers Zoe Brian Drew Broeckelman Katie Knight Patrick Frazell Editorial Board Julia Davis Becca Brownlee Christa McKittrick Kat Buchanan Toni Aguiar Evan Nichols Emma Pennington

Jack Howland Jennifer Rorie Matt Gannon Matt Hanson Photographers Spencer Davis Holly Martin Emma Robson Eric Erpelding Anna Danciger AnnaMarie Oakley Haley Johnston Josh Winters McKenzie Swanson Miranda Gibbs Marisa Walton Multimedia Staff Tiernan Shank Andrew McWard Alex Lamb Haley Martin Mary Newman Drew Broeckelman Spencer Davis Matti Crabtree Nathan Walker Adviser Dow Tate

THE HARBINGER IS A STUDENT RUN PUBLICATION. THE CONTENTS AND VIEWS ARE PRODUCED SOLELY BY THE STAFF AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT, EAST FACULTY, OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

EDITORIAL| 7

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HARD TIMES IN HARDWARE

Formerly-employed employee reminisces on poor work experiences My mom used to tell me I could be whatever I want when I grow up.

I explored new potential career paths almost every day: an artist, a cowboy, a secret agent. But after my Hogwarts acceptance letter never came, I realized I would have to pursue more realistic occupations. So I considered entering the fields of business or journalism. Never in my youth did I envision myself donning a gaudy red vest and taking abuse behind a register for hours on end.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew my first position wouldn’t exactly be my “dream job.” I knew that I would only be making minimum wage. I knew I’d be the lowest man on the food chain. But my only concern was saving up enough money to buy a car.

Because of my lack of personal transportation, my occupational options were limited to local retail and grocery stores. After submitting countless applications, I was finally hired by a neighborhood hardware store, which shall remain nameless. On my second day, a co-worker told me how that he loathed the job more than anything in the world. I should have heeded his warning.

The store was a high traffic area for the elderly. From the time we’d open until about 5 o’clock (bedtime for our regulars), I’d see an endless stream of Lincolns and Buicks poorly parked in the handicapped spots.

My customers usually possessed at least one of the following qualities: insanity, anger or downright stupidity. Allow me to explain. A woman once walked into the store, looked me dead in the eyes and asked, “Is it six in the morning or evening?”

I stared in disbelief. She repeated the question.

“Um...evening,” I said.

She thanked me and left. Then, there was this man who dressed in Playboy apparel and frequently purchased hundreds of pounds of birdseed. I really don’t want to know what he intended to do with it. Another customer returned a bag of cement because it broke when he dropped it on the floor, and demanded that I pay for his ruined carpet. One woman accused my co-worker of stealing her iPhone on the basis that she was “rude to her.” Naturally, she found the phone in her car ten minutes later. Apology? Nope. These people robbed me of my faith in humanity.

I still tried to look for the best in customers. Loading bags for them was something I did out of the kindness of my heart, and I typically didn’t expect anything in return. But after loading 30 bags of mulch with a broken finger, it would have been nice to get a little tip and feel appreciated from time to time. Sometimes customers gave me things, though never money. For instance, I accumulated a sizable collection of pamphlets for the Church of the Latter Day saints. If I had a dollar for every time a customer tried to convert me to their religion, I wouldn’t have needed that stupid job.

Of course, it wasn’t all about the money; first jobs are supposed to be learning experiences. I anticipated learning a lot about hardware, which no one in my family knows anything about. My dad practically has to call a plumber every time we run out of toilet paper. I can’t say my skills as a handyman improved much over the course of two years, but I certainly did learn some valuable lessons. Here’s the first rule of retail: Not only is the customer always right, but the employee is always wrong. Most of my customers lived in a time when everything could be bought for a nickel. Because of this, they were convinced that I was overcharging them for everything. I would politely show them the price, and they would impolitely demand to see a manager. The managers never, ever took my side. They would ride in on their white horses to give the customer whatever price they wanted, and I would get yelled at for upholding policy. Which leads me to the next lesson: Managers are evil tyrants. They made me work nine hours on my birthday. My birthday. They scheduled me for 30 hours during finals week; didn’t exactly ace that pre-calculus exam. They treated every undeserving customer like royalty, but couldn’t manage to give me the least bit of respect. I always fantasized about my last day of work ending in an intense shouting match, but in reality, I kept my cool and calmly handed in my vest. Despite my hatred of them, even the managers taught me something.

written by Will Webber | photo by Brendan Dulohery

Stay in school. Without a proper education, I would be doomed for the same fate as them—a lifetime of retail. I would rather play leapfrog with a unicorn. The store is a fortress of broken dreams; it preys on the young and transforms them into hardened cynics; it robs employees of all ambition and replaces it with only the desire to survive. All I ever wanted was to get through my shift, go home and sleep. In this regard, my job did teach me a very important virtue: Patience. It was hard enough having customers blaming me for not carrying a certain brand of carpet cleaner while managers yelled at me for unsatisfactory mopping; it was even harder doing it with a smile on my face. Patience is a necessity when working retail. A little Novocaine never hurt either. No matter how dead I was on the inside, I could always muster up the courage to greet the next customer, even though they only responded about a third of the time.

Yeah, I hated the place. I always told myself it was only a temporary job, but six months turned into a year. A year turned into two. Who knows how long I would have stayed had the decision not been made for me? I was summoned to the tyrant’s office on one fateful Sunday morning. After two long years, I was still making minimum wage and thought I was finally getting a raise. To my surprise, the manager and a corporate representative began to ask me questions about a former co-worker of mine who had apparently cost the company thousands of dollars in the span of a few months by performing illegal procedures on register. After sifting through my records, they realized that I had cost the company... ...wait for it... ...let me check my math... ...a grand total of about three dollars over two years.

I can explain. Employees would often buy soda or candy to consume during their shifts. Sometimes they didn’t have quite enough money to buy the items, so on the rarest of occasions, I would bump the price from $1.60 to $1.50. So they fired me. For being a nice guy.

I really didn’t know what to feel. I went through the four stages of unemployment: disbelief at my termination, anger at my former employer, elation at not having to go into work and finally realizing the hard reality that I don’t have any money. When I think about it, $7.25 per hour was not worth the torture. I was miserable at my job, and now I never have to go back.

Maybe being fired was a blessing; I am now free to pursue more realistic and agreeable jobs. Is it too late to run for president?

THE TOP THREE THINGS HE WON’T MISS 1. CUSTOMERS I wish there were more words in the English language. I’ve run out of ways to express my contempt for customers.

2. CLOSING

My closing duties ranged from mopping and vacuuming, to cleaning up human fecal matter.

3. HOLIDAYS

From Christmas until the new year, we listen to nothing but holiday music. After hearing “Winter Wonderland” for the 8,000th time, my ears began to bleed.

OPINION | 9

‘TO BE KIND & DO YOUR BEST’

10 | OPINION

ended up having a few classes together. Soon enough, we were best buds.

We became inseparable, together almost all day every day, and the closer I grew with John, the closer I grew to the entire Lee family: his father Brad, his little brother Evan and of course, his mother, Julie.

I felt like apart of their family with how often I was over at the Lee’s, so last November when John called to tell me Julie had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I reacted like a family member would: I was numb.

Initially I called John every night. I knew there was nothing I could personally do to fight the cancer, but I felt like the least I could do was keep tabs on John and Julie to make sure they were both doing okay. Eventually I realized by calling him so often, all I was doing was suffocating him and reminding him of the cancer, so I took the opposite approach, and left him alone. I just wanted him happy, and the way to do that was to let him do what he pleased, whether I was in his plans or not. But over the next few months, our friendship became obsolete. We only spoke on occasion, and hardly did anything outside of school. And the further away I became to John, the further away I was to Julie, who was slowly slipping away from all of us.

Every so often my parents would approach me in the evening while I was doing homework or watching TV. “Have you heard about Mrs. Lee lately?” they’d ask me.

“No not really.”

“Well here’s the deal...” they’d start. The rest of the conversation was like jamming forks into my spine. My dad would update me that the cancer had spread. That the chemo wasn’t working. That eventually, the cancer was going to take her. I always had the notion the cancer might win in the end, but I blocked it from my mind. I pretended she was never diagnosed. I ignored all negative reports and convinced myself nothing bad would happen.

She won’t die. She can’t die. Not Julie Lee. How could she? What about John and the Family? Who will take care of them? What about the Church? She was active in the church, surely God wouldn’t take such a loving and caring person away from us. Someone who brought so much life and happiness into a room by just walking in. I was naive and in denial, until the day it was our family’s turn to bring the Lee’s dinner.

It was a week after my Dad told me Mrs. Lee was probably going to die when I brought the Lee’s taco salad. As I parked my red Chevy outside the Lee’s house in my usual spot in the street, I looked over the front yard into the kitchen window to see Julie. It was a familiar sight, but something felt different. And as I approached the house I realized what it was: This was probably going to be the last time I ever saw her.

I knocked. She answered me. She smiled.

“Oh hi Chris, how are you?”

She had lost 20 pounds since the last time I’d seen her. The chemo had taken her hair. A bright red bandanna covered her bald head.

She was weak, but through the obvious pain she so bravely tried to hold back, she seemed like she couldn’t have been more pleased to see me.

I brought the salad into the kitchen and we began talking about everything. School. Journalism. Family. It was remarkable to see someone so invested in my life and who cared so much about me, who in turn, was battling cancer, and didn’t complain once. When I left, I gave her one last hug.

Four-year-old John Lee and his mother, Julie, cuddle on their driveway.

“Don’t squeeze too hard, she *** might break!” Mr. Lee called out to us.

The funeral was on Saturday.

Two days later I received a letter in the The drive to Village Presbyterian Church mail. It was from Julie. She thanked my fam- was excruciating, but the weather was gorily for the salad. At the top of the letter was a geous. “Not too hot, not too cold” as Julie special section for me. would say at KU football games when the weather was just right. The bright sun didn’t Chris, seem like just the sun that Saturday afterIt was fun to hear what is going on in your noon, but instead, Julie smiling upon us. life these days -- It has been too long! I am The service was emotional, and focused so proud of all you have accomplished. You on love: something Julie was filled with and are laying the groundwork for a great future. gave with every breath. Mr. Lee spoke of Thank you for all of your support, prayers the hole Julie left that couldn’t be filled, but and love. We are grateful and blessed! that we shouldn’t be sad that she’s gone, we Much Love, Julie. should be happy that we had privilege of knowing such an incredible person.

The letter was touching, yet heart-breakAfter the funeral I approached John and ing to read. I had an underlying feeling that hugged him like a brother. Which is noththis note wasn’t just a thank you note, but her ing new. Our motto has always been a quote last, personal goodbye. from his favorite movie, Tommy Boy. “Broth*** ers don’t shake, brothers gotta hug.” And Julie died on a Tuesday. that’s what he is to me. My Brother. I told him John called me at 7:04 a.m. to tell me his if he needed anything, anything at all, to let mother had passed that morning around 6. me know. He brushed away his tears and I skipped school to be with John that day. laughed.

Everything felt different. The air seemed thin“You got it, dude.” ner. Food had no taste. We had all known this My friendship with John is something I’ve day was coming, but never had a way of an- come to cherish, because if I’ve learned anyticipating how we would react when it did. thing from Julie, it’s to value each and every Everything felt so real, but at the same time, relationship you have with people, and to be like a dream. courteous and caring to everyone you meet, My main goal for the day was to distract because you never know what could happen.

John. We talked about our favorite memories Since her passing, I’ve reconciled with evof Julie: How she had never really grown out eryone I had misgivings with. I’ve gone out of being a KU cheerleader and belted chants of my way to help someone pick up papers during KU basketball games. How she always they’ve dropped in the hall. I’ve even given cheered the loudest at our basketball games, someone a ride home from school, someone especially when John scored. How even on whom I’d never met before. Because Julie her darkest days, she brought a positive at- would have wanted me to. titude to life.

When John and Evan walked out the door It was moments like those we would miss each day for school, Julie told them one thing: about Julie Lee. Moments where you felt Be kind, and do your best. In John’s eyes, and cared for and truly taken care of. I can remem- everyone who knew Julie, that represents her ber clearly the way she sang Happy Birthday personality to a tee. to John and Evan on their birthdays, adding I regret not going over the John’s every day four verses to the song I had never heard. She to see Julie. I regret not spending more time lit up with glee when they opened her pres- with her, but in the end, I know it doesn’t matents and kissed them on the forehead when ter, because she’s not completely gone: She’ll they thanked her, and told them her favorite always be with me. When I think twice and phrase, “I love you big.” am courteous to others, she’s there. When I She was the role model everyone wants to open up to my family or simply thank them have: And sitting in the kitchen on that Tues- for dinner, she’s there. No matter where I go, day, with Evan, John and our friend Sarah, or what I do, Julie Lee will be with me, always everything felt different. Every silence was reminding me to be a better person, and refilled with the gravity of the day. minding all of us to be kind, do our best, and She was gone. she loves us big.

Photo courtesy of the Lee family

I was inches away from kissing her when the upstairs door swung open.

“Chriiiiiiiis?”

Crap. an opinion of It was HallowCHRIS HEADY een at my best friend John Lee’s house. Scary movies. Popcorn. Girls. It was the routine every year. And being the ever-so-clever sophomore that I was at the time, I pulled my girlfriend back from the crowd when everyone else went outside after the movie so we could have the basement all to ourselves.

But Mrs. Lee was not fooled. Not one bit.

“Chriiiiiis? Will you come up here for a second?”

My heart dropped to my stomach as I got up from the couch and trudged up the thirteen wooden steps to the kitchen, only to find Julie Lee propping the door open. Shining a 100-watt smile.

“Chris, I’m going to be your mother for a moment here,” she started. “Now, I understand what you’re doing, but I really don’t think it’s such a good idea you two are down there alone,” she said, smiling like crazy.

“Yes, ma’am, we’ll go outside.”

“That’s my boy. Sorry, I just know how you boys work,” she said.

As I walked down the stairs I couldn’t help but smile. Of course Mrs. Lee found us. How could she not? She’s always been like that-always on top of everything, since the day I met her, up until the last day I saw her.

Throughout middle school, Julie was my second mom. She picked John and me up from swim practice every summer morning and drove us to summer weights after.

She fed me countless lunches, dinners and snacks, and willingly picked up the messes I left behind.

I was over at the Lee’s constantly, and while there, Julie always treated me like her third son.

She’d asked about my grades and made sure I was keep up with all my school work.

She would stress the importance of family in every conversation we had, making sure to say “please” and “thank you” to my parents for anything and everything. Every time we talked, she sounded like she genuinely cared about what I was telling her. I can still hear voice singing “The Sound of Music” or whatever was on the Oldies station from every time I woke up at the Lee’s. She always treated me like a third son.

Of course, I wouldn’t have known Julie without meeting John and for the first three weeks I knew John, I thought his name was George.

We first met at Leawood Swim practice the summer before seventh grade. He was new that year, and I thought I had heard him tell the coaches his name was George. Obviously over time, I realized his name was John, and as we became friends, we realized that we were going to the same middle school the next year, and

Senior reflects on friend’s mother’s passing

The Key to Success

A four-point plan to improve East’s educational experience

art by Matti Crabtree

With news of budget cuts cropping up left and right, the United States’ public education system being constantly called to fault in the media and the end of my own time in high school an opinion of KAT BUCHANNAN drawing to its eminent close, I’ve felt more and more pressed to hash out my feelings on the education situation here at home. From the perspective of one of your peers, I present to you, Student Body, a four-point plan to easily overhaul your East experience.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I know it’s difficult to be engaged in every lesson, every hour, every day of the five-day school week. Trust me. I take for granted the fact that we’re receiving a primary education at the best high school in the state of Kansas. I blow off studying and “rest my eyes” during note-taking in certain classes. I gripe about the teachers I feel aren’t performing to my standards. But that doesn’t mean I have to continue acting like a scene out of “Mean Girls”: a stuck-up Cady Heron, slandering Ms. Norbury and wreaking havoc on her teaching methods.

Luckily for us, developing a classroom respect system doesn’t solely fall on the students. In Singapore, teachercandidates (young teacher recruits from the top third of their graduating class) not only devote a year of their time to pre-service training, but are also given continuous retraining throughout the school year, Sean Cavanagh writes in “Education Week,” clocking around 100 hours of self-betterment annually.

I won’t go so far as to suggest a 360 degree turn-around for the American education system—not just yet, anyway—but for East teachers this could simply mean ditching the PowerPoint presets and stubbornly-in-use-since-1986 lesson plans. Having teachers show that they’re invested in our educational well-being and adapting to the times is the first step in creating a healthy teacher-student relationship and fostering academic success. Try switching to Prezi, an online-based presentation program that uses visual effects to draw the audience through your points: keeping your

class engaged in your notes keeps your class engaged in its retainment of knowledge. And through this retainment of knowledge, we develop a special bond with the person who initially supplied us with that knowledge—and we strive for more. Success leads us back to the source.

Easy access. If you knew that you had the power to get tens of thousands of dollars granted to your school through a simple chat with a teacher, you’d do it, wouldn’t you?

Applying for a classroom grant is easy when there are sites out there like weareteachers.com, assuring us that in the face of lengthy budget cuts to the public education system, they’re “more dedicated than ever to help teachers get the resources they need to make their classrooms successful.” In applying for a grant, we could be awarded thousands of dollars per classroom to further the use of technology—and maybe further down the road that could mean making the switch to individual digital tablets instead of cumbersome textbooks.

Tina Barseghian is the curator of MindShift, a website that “explores the future of learning and all its dimensions.”

She writes in her article, “The 7 Golden Rules of Using Technology in Schools,” that “we’re doing kids a major disservice if we don’t teach them good digital citizenship.” She argues that tech tools are not just a passing fad and that the more that schools implement the usage of technology in an academic setting, the more knowledge students carry with them into the real world.

Social studies teacher Ron Stallard already feels that embracing technology is within our school’s reach—and even closer to home. Through grants here at the East level, we could be drawing in money from outside sources to benefit the technological advance of the school’s facilities.

“You know the East fund,” Stallard said. “You have grants that are available if you can show that it will help education, [and] it will help the students. There would be an application that a teacher filled out, sent into the East Fund and let them decide, ‘Which one do we want?’”

However, a teacher can only apply for a technology grant under the terms of student need. Simply put, it’s up to the students to approach a teacher and express concern

in their own education. And don’t we want to be in charge of our own futures?

Clean sweep. We have nine janitors surveying and dustbusting the entire five-floor building that 1,800-odd students this year alone attend. So, treating our facility like we would a museum by picking up after ourselves, not touching what isn’t ours and steering clear of vandalism (Kid Who Scrawls Mindless Profanity On The Bathroom Wall, I’m talking to you) could greatly improve the conditions for the janitorial staff that is subjected to our messes nightly. It definitely wouldn’t hurt them. And, hey, a good deed might even boost your karma.

Who da man? You da man. It’s like the old saying: take a man fishing and he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime. Take a freshman to the Table Tennis club and he’ll sprain his wrist for a day; teach him to hold a paddle, interact with his peers and develop a strategy and he’ll pass it on to the next guy. Relationships built in extracurricular activities (anything school-related but outside of the classroom) are the bonds that don’t break—the ones that carry people through their four short years here.

Marsh and Kleitman write in the 2002 Harvard Educational Review that while most school activities create a larger disparity in academic success between, say, an East kid and an inner-city kid, extracurricular school activities “appear to actually reduce this inequality gap.” Don’t leave controversial topics up to just the Bridge Politics Club or the debate room. If there’s something in the news that’s worth fighting for, bring it to our level. Start a campaign. Talk to the leaders of Coalition. Reinstate the Finer Things Club to its 2009-2010 glory by getting the book club back together.

Stop by a meeting of the Graphic Novel Club. With a plethora of opportunity within your grasp, why waste it? Being an overwhelmingly privileged student body has made us jaded, but we don’t have to let that keep us from shifting the younger generation’s mind-set. I mean, if we aren’t going to be the ones to make a difference during our time here, we might as well lay down the stepping stones for future students to take charge.

OPINION | 11

Photo by Alic Erpelding

Alex Lamb sits down with fellow Film League members before one of the Kansas International Film Festival screenings

Cinematic Connections Film fanatic transcends generation barriers through movie experiences

Buying a festival pass to the 2010 Kansas International Film Festival was one of the best networking decisions I made all last year; it provided me with an almost excessively entertaining an opinion of movie-going experience. Not ALEX LAMB only did it widen my cinematic horizons, but more importantly, it introduced me to a whole new side of local filmgoers. And with an even wider variation of movies this year, I positively had to commit myself to it again, all other responsibilities taking a backseat.

Amongst the regular crowds for the KIFF of predominantly middle-aged, independent film enthusiasts, I stood out as an apprehensive, wide-eyed high schooler. Going in last year without knowing anyone I was nervous about being surrounded by volumes of older people for seven days, but I knew it would be quite the interesting experience. And since it was the city’s best exhibit of distinctive filmmaking all year, I was guaranteed to learn a lot about the art form.

As an annual, weeklong event at the Glenwood Arts theater, the KIFF showcases more than 50 movies, with a lineup of independent and arthouse features as well as a wide array of unique documentaries. Most of the films haven’t been picked up by a distributor and likely won’t find much of an audience outside of festivals. However, a handful of the movies include upcoming, studio-produced arthouse flicks, building hype on the festival circuit before their theatrical release within the following few months.

As one who devotes his life to films, the prospect of seeing these much-anticipated arthouse movies ahead of most other people, and for a flat price, was more than enough reason for me to go last year. The clincher here being that I’d watch “127 Hours” and “Black Swan” several months before the general public.

A week of great arthouse films was a thrilling break from real life for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the festival.

So much so that I took a chance on the Film League meeting the next week. At this monthly gathering at the theater, about 15 people sit around and discuss several movies from the previous month, with this meeting focusing on KIFF films.

12 | OPINION

Upon my entrance I immediately felt out of place, similar to when I first entered the festival – except now I actually had to interact with these strangers. Looking around at the other attendees, the youngest one must have been been at least 25 years older than me, many of them much more than that.

But as the conversation got rolling, I slowly found myself easing in and began contributing to the discussion.

By meeting’s end an hour later, I realized that the age barrier no longer presented a threat; I connected with them through the language of cinema.

Throughout the year I continued attending these meetings, developing a special bond with the group. Nowhere else have I found such a quirky, interesting and knowledgeable assortment of movie lovers, not to mention I’ve learned lots about the mindset of those from the Baby Boomer generation.

By the time this year’s KIFF arrived, my familiarity with the Film League members gave me companions with whom I could converse and compare reactions before and after screenings, putting me more at home this time around.

They even helped me step out of my comfort zone as I went to far fewer studio pictures than last year, opening up to more independent, experimental and controversial fare.

One of the coolest screenings of the festival showcased a collection of odd, wacky silent short films, with a live performance by a three man ensemble known as the Alloy Orchestra providing the eclectic, fascinating score. Then, an Australian movie called “Nude Study” exemplified bizarre, experimental filmmaking with extreme stylistic flair, and was one of the weirdest yet strangely captivating features I’ve seen all year.

As if that didn’t already open my mind to new cinematic exploits, the subversive flicks certainly deepened my appreciation for films that make a statement.

The documentaries tend to deliver most of the insightful, haunting and thought-provoking experiences at the festival. A doc by the name of “Peep Culture” took a thoughtful, sometimes shocking look at how social media has evolved communication and personal privacy. But a mockumentary titled “Moment of Truth: The Andy Meyers Story” undertook the most ingenious style to make its

point. The movie shows a documentary crew following an autistic 65-year-old on his last day of life before he plans to kill himself, and when it ended, the filmmakers came out for a Q&A and played it off to all be real, until the main actor appeared at the back of the theater.

This “Gotcha!” trick angered several audience members, one even threatening the director, but it totally blew me away. It amazed me how they got under viewers’ skin with such a simple concept.

The filmmakers stuck around afterwards and chatted with those remaining, so I had the opportunity to ask them and learn more about how they made the film. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, I certainly took in quite a bit from this conversation, inspired by how they had created a powerful, award-winning movie for only $15,000.

Such connections with filmmakers of the festival made the biggest impression on me. I wanted to see first time filmmaker Kevin Foster’s feature, and even though I missed it, I met him at the festival after-party. Not only did he give me a DVD of his movie, but we also talked for an hour and a half as he explained the entire process of making the film.

He even gave me advice on starting out in Hollywood. I was dumbfounded with excitement as he also told me stories of on-set experiences from other movies he worked on, describing Robert Downey, Jr. on “Iron Man,” Sean Connery on “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman” and director Sam Raimi on “Drag Me to Hell.”

My whole exchange with Kevin stood out as my coolest experience at the festival, really giving me the drive to continue pursuing my filmmaking dreams. However, as far as lasting connections I made at the festival go, I’m now even closer to the Film League members, and I even discovered a SM South senior who’s just as well-read and obsessed with cinema as I am. Predictably, our new friendship consists of geeking out over movies and having long discussions about them.

The Kansas International Film Festival is a place to explore edgier, provocative and absorbing cinema. But personally, I cherish it more for the connections I’ve made through it – even if most of those connections do jump a couple of generations.

GROWING TOMATOES UP ON

Mowing the grass The grass requires near weekly upkeep, using a tractor for the chore.

Planting the seedlings

Around Mothers Day, the family begins putting 3,000 plants in the ground.

July harvest

It takes a crew of five and about three hours in the heat to pick two gardens.

Distribution

They cater to restaurants such as Lydia’s, Blanc Burgers and McGonigle’s Meat Market.

maintaining the

FARM

a look into the steps to take care of 60 acres year round

Max and Cecilia Kurlbaum work on a family farm in Leavenworth in the summer

written by Sarah Berger | photos by Spencer Davis and courtesy of the Kurlbaum family Junior Max and sophomore Cecilia Kurl- ed his children to experience the farming second plant and put the young tomatoes baum can see the rolling hills of their farm. process like he did, so he chose to grow into the ground.

They see a view of the Missouri River Valley tomatoes. Sky tried growing all types of The Kurlbaum’s also use a technique and a now destroyed wooden house that tomatoes he had bought from local nurser- called dry farming when growing their is used as a burn pile; they also see rows ies and never could get the same flavor he tomatoes. They only water their plants of plants with vines crawling up wooden remembered from his childhood. At first he once so the roots will grow deeper into posts and circling around the cages that thought it was the soil or climate but then the ground. Thus their plants flourish and contain them. But mostly, they see toma- realized it might be the seeds. Finally, he produce a larger quantity of better tasting toes. stumbled upon Heirloom tomato seeds tomatoes. The plants are first put in the The farm has been a part of the fam- (aged seeds) which was exactly the taste he ground in May, and tomatoes start to sprout ily since the 1950s. It was bought by their was looking for. the first week of July. grandparents who purchased it just after “Anyone who knows [about] heirlooms The family is out working at their farm they had gotten married. They bought the knows that they are better tasting and that almost every weekend in the summer and farm to raise Liz Kurlbaum, Max and Ceci- they are higher quality,” Max said. “And spring. In the beginning of the year the lia’s mother, and her 10 siblings on. that’s why we decide to go that route.” work is mostly setting up for the harvest After marrying her husband, Sky KurlOver the years, the Kurlbaum’s farm has : spraying pesticides and setting up posts baum, they had five children and decided grown from just a way to make flavorful to- and cages. Towards the end of the season, to raise them on their farm. This way, Liz matoes to an unexpected full-blown busi- it’s harvesting the tomatoes, taking care could stay and take care of her parents. The ness. One day, when Sky was having lunch of the 3,000 plants and delivering the tokids lived with their children on the farm at Brio, he didn’t like the tomatoes used in matoes to their many clients. Work for the until their grandmother died in 2004. Liz his lunch, so he asked the chef to use his Kurlbaum’s can range from a couple hours and her eleven siblings each inherited an that he had with him from the farm. The to all day depending on what tasks need to equal piece of the 60 acre farm. flavor of the tomatoes improved the dish so be done.

After Max and Cecilia’s grandmother much that the chef decided to only use the Max and his three brothers do most of died, they left the farm and moved to Over- Kurlbaum tomatoes in all the food made at the work on the farm. They try to start in land Park. Max and Cecilia fondly remem- Brio. the morning because the weather can get ber living on the farm when they were little.

Since that lunch, the family’s farm now very hot in the summer.

“I loved it,” Cecilia said. “We would get supplies over 30 local restaurants includEven though the work for the Kurlbaum’s to go out and play in the woods and build ing Lidia’s, Jasper’s, Urban Table, and Brio. is hard the tomatoes are a great reward forts.”

They also donate over 1,000 pounds of and the best part of the farm for Max. On a normal day the kids would wake tomatoes every year to charities, such as “The tomatoes are really, really good,” up and do their school work, which con- The Village Food Pantry that help feed the Max said. “They are one hundred billion sisted of early elementary school work hungry. Three years ago they made a gross percent better than normal tomatoes. Norsuch as basic reading and writing. Then the profit of $45,000 and this year they made mal tomatoes just taste like water to me.” kids would have time to play in the woods $19,500.

Another reward for Max and Cecilia and run around the fields. A few years latThe family has their own process for is the business and life lessons they have er, Sky decided to buy the other siblings’ growing the tomatoes so they can ensure taken from the working on the farm. shares so the Kurlbaum’s could start grow- their crop will be the best of the pick. In the “It teaches you a lot of leadership skills,” ing tomatoes. spring, Sky starts growing the seeds in the Max said. “It also teaches you working hard Sky grew up on a farm in Sandoval, Il- basement under halogen lights. Around and being with your family is not all that linois and had always fondly remembered March the family transplants the seeds into bad.” eating tomatoes his family grew. He want- a greenhouse. On Mother’s Day they do a

FEATURES | 13

Please Recycle Your

H Harbinger Thank you.

STRUMMING

FOR

EXCELLENCE

Sophomore plays the harp as a hobby and for charity written by Vanessa Daves | photos by Anna Danciger

Sophomore Sophie Fields’ fingers gracefully strum her harp as she finishes her first song, “Reverie.” The birds living on the third floor of Claridge Court Retirement Center cease their singing as the music comes to a stop.

She looks up from her harp and sees her grandmother smiling at her. As usual, the man with the glass of wine yells for everyone to applaud when she’s finished with the song. She hears the woman who only knows how to say “Mama, Mia” chanting away in the back row. She sees a an old couple, both of them in wheelchairs, holding hands.

Sophie has been playing at Claridge Court for three years now, and it still remains her favorite gig. She plays there twice a month and looks forward to seeing the same people every other week because she feels like she has formed a bond with them over the years. What Sophie likes best about playing the harp is her ability to connect with people through the music and the reactions she gets from it.

“I think it’s really relaxing for people,” Sophie said. “It’s good background music; it’s not harsh.”

Sophie puts a flier out each year advertising her talents among friends and family. She has played at hospice centers, the Showhouse, a wedding and various other parties.

Sophie’s mom Beth Fields said that Sophie always comes home from gigs with funny stories. Once, she played at her younger sister Grace’s elementary school and when one of the kids saw the harp in the big, black case, she started crying in fear. Sophie was both surprised and humored by this reaction because usually the harp has a soothing and relaxing affect on people. When she plays at Claridge Court, there is a man and a woman who always get in a fight and have to be separated by the nurses that work there.

Her harp, which the family has dubbed Isabella the Great, sits by the window in the dining room and Sophie says that it’s like a “magnet” to guests. Her friends, family and even repairmen are immediately pulled toward it when they walk into the house. Her younger sister, Grace, often sits in the seat next to the harp, pretending to play it and act like her big sister.

Music has always come easily for Sophie. From her uncle who plays classical guitar, to her aunt who plays

the organ, to her cousins who play the piano, she always had the influence of music in her life. Sophie started playing the harp when she was in the fifth grade. She had been taking piano lessons for six years and decided to follow in the footsteps of her sister, Allie, an East graduate, who had started playing the harp when her grandfather, Ron Reussner, suggested it several years earlier.

“My wife, Elaine, heard a harpist who was a musical therapist,” Reussner said. “She talked about the joy and pleasure people felt when they hear the harp music. This story encouraged me to suggest this as a possible instrument for my granddaughters.”

Mrs. Fields said they looked into it and decided to give it a try.

“It was just kind of a random chain of events,” Mrs. Fields said. “We had no idea what we were getting into. But they were sucked in.”

SOPHOMORE SOPHIE FIELDS plays her six-foot harp, Isabella the Great, in her Although Sophie is passionate about living room at home. playing the harp, she admits there are disadvantages, too. To transport it, they “They have all these different colors and sizes and have to put all the seats down in the car and lay it on pillows and blankets so it doesn’t get ru- there’s different designs on the harp and different ways ined. Taking it anywhere is a struggle, as you have to plan they are shaped,” Sophie said. “We just played a couple ahead of time how they can get their six foot harp into the of different ones and we compared the sound and the way building. If there’s no elevator, it can’t happen. It takes at they looked and then we picked out the one that was the least fifteen minutes to tune it, and finding a harp teacher best for us.”

Sophie doesn’t know what she wants to do with her futhat lives close by is hard, so she drives to Blue Springs, ture; all she knows is she will continue playing the harp as 45 minutes away, for her harp lesson.

But Sophie and Allie stuck with it, and once their par- long as she can. Although she doesn’t plan on majoring in ents were confident that they were committed to playing it in college, she wants to play on the side and keep bringthe harp, they finally decided to buy one of their own. ing music into people’s lives.

“Some people would say I was angelic because I play They had previously been renting one, and Sophie, along with her family and harp teacher, Debbie Clark, took a trip the harp,” Sophie said. “I think it’s just fun to watch them to the Lion and Healy Harp Factory in Chicago, IL to buy appreciate it.” one.

Sophie’s favorite harp pieces Gram’s Lullaby N. Gustavson

“This song is my favorite because it has lots of “glissandos” and it’s a crowd-pleaser.”

Glissandoadjective

A note performed with a gliding effect by rapidly sliding one or more fingers over the strings of a harp

definition courtesy of Dictionary.com

Green Sleeves

Reverie

originated in England

Marcel Grandjany

“I love this song because it’s Christmas music and people love to hear this song around Christmas time.”

“I like this song because it is peaceful and melodic.”

FEATURES | 15

GOING THE

AGAINST GRAIN

A typical meal for SYKES includes an apple, steak, rice salad and broccoli. Despite being gluten free SYKES still has many options when deciding what to eat and there are many gluten free substitutes for grain products if necessary.

Although SYKES only takes two vitamins a day, many people living with Celiac’s Disease take around five or six to make up for lost nutrients.

Iron, Vitamin D Supplements and Fish Oil can purchased at any drug or grocery store.

With the rise of Celiac’s disease and gluten intolerance, people are now switching to gluten free products

Slicing out the statistics

written by Emily Kerr | photo illustrations by Jake Crandall When Senior Kiki Sykes traveled to Chicago this Octo- The range of intolerance is from “gluten intolerant” to havDr. Wagner stresses that switching to a gluten free diet ber, she was hesitant. She had just been diagnosed with ing Celiac’s disease . Patients that are mildly intolerant are does not necessarily limit your food choices. There are gluCeliac’s disease, a condition that made her unable to eat told to avoid gluten filled foods, whereas patients with the ten free substitutes for nearly every grain product and a gluten, a protein found in almost all bread products. She actual disease are prohibited from eating it. healthy diet can still be maintained. She suggests that eatwasn’t sure if she would be able to maintain her gluten free Because of the increase in diagnoses of this condition, ing whole foods (foods with only one ingredient) can be the diet out of her normal setting. Would she be able to find there has been a mini-revolution in the food industry. Ac- best option. gluten free options in Chicago? Would she be limited to eat- cording to Packaged Facts, a market research publisher, “We generally talk a lot about foods that are just going ing only salads? Her fears were confirmed the first time she “the gluten-free market has grown an average of 33 percent to be naturally gluten free, so rather than trying to find a went to a restaurant. in each of the past four years. In 2009, 1,182 new gluten- substitute like gluten free bread, we suggest beans, nuts, “I asked if there was gluten in the soup and he was like free food and beverage products were introduced in the potatoes, fruits, vegetables.” ‘no it’s a vegetable soup. Do you want bread with it?’ ‘I was United States and 225 marketers began selling products.

Norton has found that the best way to maintain her glulike really? Do you even know what gluten is?” Sykes said. Popular chain restaurants such as Arby’s, Chik-fil-A, Sub- ten free diet is to bring her lunch every day to school. EvAccording to celiac.com, Celiac’s Disease is about four way and Wendy’s have also latched onto this gluten free ery Sunday her mom prepares batches of quinoa, roasted times more prevalent now than it was in the 1950s. Only craze and have instituted gluten free menus. This gluten plums and brown rice salad for her to pack in her lunch. a decade ago, gluten intolerance levels were at 1 in 2500 free franchise is expected to hit $5.5 billion by 2015, ac“Instead of just being gluten free, I love eating healthy,” worldwide. Today, it’s at 1 in 133 and at least 3 million peo- cording to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Norton said. ple in the Unites States alone are living with this disease.

“Because it [gluten Sykes has also been very happy with her switch However, even though diagnoses of this disease are more intolerance] is becoming “Instead of just being gluten to a gluten free diet. common, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding it. so much more prevalent, free, I love eating healthy,” “It was literally a night and day difference,” Sykes SENIOR DANIELLE NORTON Senior Danielle Norton, who was also recently diag- it seems that the people said. “I now have so much more energy. For these nosed with a gluten intolerance, agrees that there are a lot that are up to date with past four years I’ve had this thing where I felt letharof misconceptions about eating a gluten free diet. society and realize this is an issue, are profiting from it,” gic and was always tired and I felt like I was four steps be“At first a lot of people didn’t understand when I told Sykes said. hind my friends. Now, as my mom says, I have this little them I couldn’t have gluten anymore, they were like However, these gluten free options do come at a price. spark in my eye.”

“Why?” You’ve eaten it your whole life,” Norton said. “Then On average, gluten free foods cost 242 percent more than Along with symptoms such as fatigue, a gluten intolerthey tried my food and realized it’s amazing.” regular, gluten containing foods do, according to gluten- ance can also have more serious side effects such as deThese misconceptions about going gluten free are ex- freecooking.com. pression and anxiety. tremely common. In fact, the average length of time it takes “Especially because a lot of the products are really ex“Depression and anxiety are really closely tied to any for a symptomatic person to be diagnosed with Celiac dis- pensive so people that don’t have access to the stores like types of digestive problems because our stomachs have ease in the US is four years, according to The Celiac Dis- Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, I don’t know how they do just as many neurotransmitters which are just the brain ease Center. Sykes had suffered extreme stomach aches it,” Sykes said. “My mom bought a corn bread that was $6 chemicals that create emotion,” Dr. Wagner said. “So if our and fatigue for almost four years before being diagnosed. whereas a “Jiffy” box is normally 50 cents. gut is messed up and our gut has just as many neurotransAccording to Dr. Leigh Wagner, an Integrative Medicine Despite the high cost, there are also many consumers mitters as our brain does then we are going to feel crummy, Specialist at KU Med, one of the reasons for the rise in glu- who buy gluten free products, not because they are gluten depressed or experience anxiety.” ten intolerance is due to the amount of gluten grown in intolerant but because they see these products as healthAlthough doctors are not sure exactly what causes gluwheat nowadays. ier. The gluten free diet is seen as a way to eliminate pro- ten intolerance to develop in someone, they say that some

“The way that wheat is grown now is different cessed food and replace it with more naturally digestable things can act as triggers. Whether it be an infection of than it has been historically,” Dr. Wagner said. “There is foods. Norton advocates that whether or not you are gluten mono, a surgery or a recent childbirth, there is usually a actually more gluten in a grain of wheat than there used intolerant, you should consider eating less of it. She has factor that elicits this condition. It is often also hereditary, to be. Because it is more efficient to grow it this way, food found the switch to these gluten-free products to be ex- although it does not have to show up in every family memmanufacturers benefit because they get more out of each tremely beneficial. ber. It is also closely associated with anemia, Down syngrain of wheat.

“I have just become so much more aware of what I am drome and Autism. It was through Syke’s diagnosis with Gluten intolerance occurs when undigested gluten putting into my body,” Norton said. “Two years ago I ate so this condition that she was able to connect her experiences proteins flatten the microvilli in one’s small intestine. By horribly. I would crave creamy alfredo with breadsticks. It’s with mono and anemia to a real cause. Although Sykes flattening these fibers, they are unable to absorb the nu- weird because my taste buds have completely changed. I gained many answers about her medical questions, she trients from food, causing the patient to be malnourished. now crave sweet potatoes and broccoli and salmon.” also gained something more from this experience. Accord-

There are over

3,000,000

& ninety seven

The number of Americans that are living with Celiac’s disease

16 | SPREAD

percent of those people are undiagnosed

23,400 Wendy’s OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS

gluten friendly restuarant locations in the US and popular restaurants such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Chik-fil-A now have gluten free options

The gluten free franchise is expected to hit

$5.5 billion by 2015 +

+

= $5.50

2.5 loaves of regular bread

= $5.50 1 loaf of gluten free bread

On average, gluten free foods cost

242% more than foods containing gluten

ing to Sykes, it completely changed her mindset.

“I am now a lot more conscious of other peoples’ allergies and I have more sympathy for them,” Sykes said. “I am inspired to set up a gluten free bakery or have a line of products because it is becoming so much more common. I want people to be able to find good waiters and restaurants because I initially had so much trouble with this.”

Displayed around the SYKES house are diet books on ways to live “Gluten Free” with instructions on what to eat and recipes for gluten free meals.

SYKES also has a subscription for Living Without, a magazine that helps people with food allergies.

SPIN! Pizza is one of the many restaurants to offer a Gluten Free menu. SPIN! offers a Gluten Free crust option for $4 more than their regular pizza.

Unexpected things that contain gluten SHAMPOO

ENVELOPES

MEDICINE

TOOTHPASTE

ICE CREAM

KETCHUP, MUSTARD

The safe amount of

GLUTEN for someone that has

*the amount of bread that is considered “safe”

Celiac’s disease is 1/96th of a piece of bread

& 150 pounds

the average American consumes of wheat each year

SPREAD | 17

GOING THE

AGAINST GRAIN

A typical meal for SYKES includes an apple, steak, rice salad and broccoli. Despite being gluten free SYKES still has many options when deciding what to eat and there are many gluten free substitutes for grain products if necessary.

Although SYKES only takes two vitamins a day, many people living with Celiac’s Disease take around five or six to make up for lost nutrients.

Iron, Vitamin D Supplements and Fish Oil can purchased at any drug or grocery store.

With the rise of Celiac’s disease and gluten intolerance, people are now switching to gluten free products

Slicing out the statistics

written by Emily Kerr | photo illustrations by Jake Crandall When Senior Kiki Sykes traveled to Chicago this Octo- The range of intolerance is from “gluten intolerant” to havDr. Wagner stresses that switching to a gluten free diet ber, she was hesitant. She had just been diagnosed with ing Celiac’s disease . Patients that are mildly intolerant are does not necessarily limit your food choices. There are gluCeliac’s disease, a condition that made her unable to eat told to avoid gluten filled foods, whereas patients with the ten free substitutes for nearly every grain product and a gluten, a protein found in almost all bread products. She actual disease are prohibited from eating it. healthy diet can still be maintained. She suggests that eatwasn’t sure if she would be able to maintain her gluten free Because of the increase in diagnoses of this condition, ing whole foods (foods with only one ingredient) can be the diet out of her normal setting. Would she be able to find there has been a mini-revolution in the food industry. Ac- best option. gluten free options in Chicago? Would she be limited to eat- cording to Packaged Facts, a market research publisher, “We generally talk a lot about foods that are just going ing only salads? Her fears were confirmed the first time she “the gluten-free market has grown an average of 33 percent to be naturally gluten free, so rather than trying to find a went to a restaurant. in each of the past four years. In 2009, 1,182 new gluten- substitute like gluten free bread, we suggest beans, nuts, “I asked if there was gluten in the soup and he was like free food and beverage products were introduced in the potatoes, fruits, vegetables.” ‘no it’s a vegetable soup. Do you want bread with it?’ ‘I was United States and 225 marketers began selling products.

Norton has found that the best way to maintain her glulike really? Do you even know what gluten is?” Sykes said. Popular chain restaurants such as Arby’s, Chik-fil-A, Sub- ten free diet is to bring her lunch every day to school. EvAccording to celiac.com, Celiac’s Disease is about four way and Wendy’s have also latched onto this gluten free ery Sunday her mom prepares batches of quinoa, roasted times more prevalent now than it was in the 1950s. Only craze and have instituted gluten free menus. This gluten plums and brown rice salad for her to pack in her lunch. a decade ago, gluten intolerance levels were at 1 in 2500 free franchise is expected to hit $5.5 billion by 2015, ac“Instead of just being gluten free, I love eating healthy,” worldwide. Today, it’s at 1 in 133 and at least 3 million peo- cording to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Norton said. ple in the Unites States alone are living with this disease.

“Because it [gluten Sykes has also been very happy with her switch However, even though diagnoses of this disease are more intolerance] is becoming “Instead of just being gluten to a gluten free diet. common, there is still a lot of confusion surrounding it. so much more prevalent, free, I love eating healthy,” “It was literally a night and day difference,” Sykes SENIOR DANIELLE NORTON Senior Danielle Norton, who was also recently diag- it seems that the people said. “I now have so much more energy. For these nosed with a gluten intolerance, agrees that there are a lot that are up to date with past four years I’ve had this thing where I felt letharof misconceptions about eating a gluten free diet. society and realize this is an issue, are profiting from it,” gic and was always tired and I felt like I was four steps be“At first a lot of people didn’t understand when I told Sykes said. hind my friends. Now, as my mom says, I have this little them I couldn’t have gluten anymore, they were like However, these gluten free options do come at a price. spark in my eye.”

“Why?” You’ve eaten it your whole life,” Norton said. “Then On average, gluten free foods cost 242 percent more than Along with symptoms such as fatigue, a gluten intolerthey tried my food and realized it’s amazing.” regular, gluten containing foods do, according to gluten- ance can also have more serious side effects such as deThese misconceptions about going gluten free are ex- freecooking.com. pression and anxiety. tremely common. In fact, the average length of time it takes “Especially because a lot of the products are really ex“Depression and anxiety are really closely tied to any for a symptomatic person to be diagnosed with Celiac dis- pensive so people that don’t have access to the stores like types of digestive problems because our stomachs have ease in the US is four years, according to The Celiac Dis- Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, I don’t know how they do just as many neurotransmitters which are just the brain ease Center. Sykes had suffered extreme stomach aches it,” Sykes said. “My mom bought a corn bread that was $6 chemicals that create emotion,” Dr. Wagner said. “So if our and fatigue for almost four years before being diagnosed. whereas a “Jiffy” box is normally 50 cents. gut is messed up and our gut has just as many neurotransAccording to Dr. Leigh Wagner, an Integrative Medicine Despite the high cost, there are also many consumers mitters as our brain does then we are going to feel crummy, Specialist at KU Med, one of the reasons for the rise in glu- who buy gluten free products, not because they are gluten depressed or experience anxiety.” ten intolerance is due to the amount of gluten grown in intolerant but because they see these products as healthAlthough doctors are not sure exactly what causes gluwheat nowadays. ier. The gluten free diet is seen as a way to eliminate pro- ten intolerance to develop in someone, they say that some

“The way that wheat is grown now is different cessed food and replace it with more naturally digestable things can act as triggers. Whether it be an infection of than it has been historically,” Dr. Wagner said. “There is foods. Norton advocates that whether or not you are gluten mono, a surgery or a recent childbirth, there is usually a actually more gluten in a grain of wheat than there used intolerant, you should consider eating less of it. She has factor that elicits this condition. It is often also hereditary, to be. Because it is more efficient to grow it this way, food found the switch to these gluten-free products to be ex- although it does not have to show up in every family memmanufacturers benefit because they get more out of each tremely beneficial. ber. It is also closely associated with anemia, Down syngrain of wheat.

“I have just become so much more aware of what I am drome and Autism. It was through Syke’s diagnosis with Gluten intolerance occurs when undigested gluten putting into my body,” Norton said. “Two years ago I ate so this condition that she was able to connect her experiences proteins flatten the microvilli in one’s small intestine. By horribly. I would crave creamy alfredo with breadsticks. It’s with mono and anemia to a real cause. Although Sykes flattening these fibers, they are unable to absorb the nu- weird because my taste buds have completely changed. I gained many answers about her medical questions, she trients from food, causing the patient to be malnourished. now crave sweet potatoes and broccoli and salmon.” also gained something more from this experience. Accord-

There are over

3,000,000

& ninety seven

The number of Americans that are living with Celiac’s disease

16 | SPREAD

percent of those people are undiagnosed

23,400 Wendy’s OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS

gluten friendly restuarant locations in the US and popular restaurants such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Chik-fil-A now have gluten free options

The gluten free franchise is expected to hit

$5.5 billion by 2015 +

+

= $5.50

2.5 loaves of regular bread

= $5.50 1 loaf of gluten free bread

On average, gluten free foods cost

242% more than foods containing gluten

ing to Sykes, it completely changed her mindset.

“I am now a lot more conscious of other peoples’ allergies and I have more sympathy for them,” Sykes said. “I am inspired to set up a gluten free bakery or have a line of products because it is becoming so much more common. I want people to be able to find good waiters and restaurants because I initially had so much trouble with this.”

Displayed around the SYKES house are diet books on ways to live “Gluten Free” with instructions on what to eat and recipes for gluten free meals.

SYKES also has a subscription for Living Without, a magazine that helps people with food allergies.

SPIN! Pizza is one of the many restaurants to offer a Gluten Free menu. SPIN! offers a Gluten Free crust option for $4 more than their regular pizza.

Unexpected things that contain gluten SHAMPOO

ENVELOPES

MEDICINE

TOOTHPASTE

ICE CREAM

KETCHUP, MUSTARD

The safe amount of

GLUTEN for someone that has

*the amount of bread that is considered “safe”

Celiac’s disease is 1/96th of a piece of bread

& 150 pounds

the average American consumes of wheat each year

SPREAD | 17

UNIQUE CLUBS around East A look at the eclectic clubs that feature everything from Japanese manga to Ping Pong tournaments

President: Kristen Shedor

Ukulele Club

On Wednesdays after school, senior Kristen Shedor can be found strumming up the light and happy sounds of summer in the choir room, using her fingerings on her ukulele to teach others the basic chords to a song of choice.

“I had so much fun playing the ukulele, I thought it might be more fun if more people played with me,” Shedor said.

Shedor founded the Ukulele Club with the hope of introducing a new, joyful interest to its members, envisioning a mid-week relaxation. She received a ukulele for her birthday this past March, and immediately fell in love with the fun instrument.

“I was super relaxed after just playing a couple of chords,” Shedor said. “One strum just sounds like summer, so even when it’s a rainy day or really cold winter and I’m feeling down in the dumps, I can just pull out my ukulele, start playing some songs and go, ‘You know? Today is great.’”

According to Shedor, the rigor of learning a new instrument is not an issue. She assures prospective players that the ukulele is “really, really easy to learn,” which encourages people who may have never played (much less own a ukulele) to come to the meetings. Shedor has three extra instruments available to be loaned out at meetings.

At meetings, the club learns chords, fingerings, how to strum and how to play songs together. At their very first meeting, the club started to play “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” by B.J. Thomas.

Shedor hopes to expand the club and attract even more players, possibly putting on performances.

Still, Shedor and the club are all about having fun and sharing a hobby.

“A couple of people stopped by when we played and listened to us playing,” Shedor said. “Which was very exciting.”

18 | FEATURES

written by Emily Donovan| photos by Marisa Walton From ukulele to Ping Pong games to graphic novels, East students share eclectic interests. For such students, clubs have served as an outlet for their interests, and students have formed and continued clubs for these exciting and unique interests.

East bookkeeper Joan Burnett organizes and files paperwork for the school’s 90 clubs. Each club requires a staff sponsor, paperwork and, in the case of totally new clubs, approval from Dr. Krawitz, the district and Burnett.

“Clubs are a way to get together with kids that have similar interests,” Burnett said. “I think if you’re getting together and you’re cooperating, you’re learning, even if it isn’t book learning.”

Member: Wyatt Cracker

Graphic Novel Club

They group around circular tables, drop their bags and greet each other. They reference their favorite inside jokes and parody their favorite scenes. They compare fan art and discuss cartooning styles. They are the Graphic Novel Club and they meet periodically on Mondays in the library to discuss manga.

Manga, Japanese comic books with a distinct style and American comics are an avocation with which not everyone is familiar. Despite their limited popularity, president and senior Elizabeth Locke believes that manga is widely enjoyable.

“Our motto is, ‘There’s a manga for everyone,’” Locke said.

Though the group will discuss the more popular manga series such as Bleach or Fullmetal Alchemist, they make an effort to spread interest in lesser known series such as Spiral or Imadoki.

“We usually try to find stuff that everybody likes first, then we try to give love to the more underrated series that people enjoy,” Locke said. “We want people to try to talk about more underrated series to try to spread the love of the underdog.”

Once or twice a month, the club meets to share snacks, to discuss the graphic novels that bring them together and, more importantly, to socialize.

“We’re not only there to discuss comics and stuff,” Locke said. “We’re uniting the fandom so that we can make friends and just talk about something that not everyone really knows about.”

Friendships often stem from meetings as members devote much time to the group’s shared interest. Locke and others plan to buy group tickets at a reduced price and to organize a trip to Naka-Kon, a nearby anime convention, in February.

The club is open to anyone who has an interest in graphic novels or anyone who may be interested in learning more about them. Locke stresses that meetings are open for anyone who shares the group’s interest in manga.

“No matter what genre you like,” Locke said. “There’s a manga that you’re bound to enjoy--that’s for you.”

President: Jakob Yedo

Table Tennis Club Ping Pong balls bounce across tables, paddles fly through the air and games grow in intensity as the elite and novice alike pair up to compete. The hallway outside of room 402 becomes an arena for a coalition of paddle-wielding champions every Monday. Senior president of the club Jakob Yedo and members meet to play the game that unites them all: table tennis.

“The club is just a group of people who enjoy playing table tennis in a friendly environment with lots of supplies,” Yedo said.

The club owns six Ping Pong tables, each costing between $200 and $400, which have been paid for

by T-shirt sales of years past.

“No other club that I know of has this big of a budget,” Yedo said. “Six Ping Pong tables is a lot.”

The supplies have allowed many games to be going on at the same time. Senior Sam Rider, a Table Tennis Club member, likes table tennis because the competition is intense yet fun.

“You don’t have to be extremely active to play Ping Pong,” Rider said. “It’s like tennis without the running. Well, without most of the running.”

The lower level of activity allows the club to involve both sport and conversation. Through this atmosphere, members have developed friendships and Ping Pong prowess.

Although some experienced members like Yedo and Rider have been playing table tennis for years, the atmosphere of the club is that of communal learning, according to Yedo. Yedo views the club as an opportunity to play and teach a fun game with friends who by no means have to be experienced players.

“Anyone can join-- anyone who wants to have a good time and likes to be around people with similar interests,” Yedo said. “They just need to understand that the ball needs to go over the net to the other person’s side.”

FOR ADDITIONAL VIDEOS, VISIT

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MIXED Gates BBQ has now spread from its original location at 18th and Vine to six different locations. Recognizable by their famous red roof top and personal BBQ sauce line, Gates has been a staple in Kansas City since it was established in 1946. In the words of, local rapper, Tech N9ne: “O.G. [Ollie Gates] Baby. This is Kansas City.”

A PAGE ABOUT

KANSAS CITY

a look at the iconic venues in our city written by Kim Hoedel | art by Connor Woodson

Free for all visitors and home of over 33,500 works of art, the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum stands on 4525 Oak Street as one of the top rated museums in the country. Its recent addition of the Bloch Building sets the Nelson apart from other museum experiences. At night the gallery lights from within glow softly through the translucent glass building, illuminating the surrounding gardens.

Located on One Royal Way in Kansas City, MO this recently renovated stadium is the home of our very own Kansas City, Royals. You are guaranteed a great view of the game and the famous home-run fireworks whether you are tucked away in the “splash zone” of the multi-colored high shooting fountains or relaxing in the lounge of the Pepsi Party Porch.

Once the center for black culture, 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, MO is now the home to the Negro Leagues and Jazz Museum both located under one roof. A 6 dollar admission tickets allows you to wander through Kansas City’s rich history displayed in both museums with the help of hundreds of photos, bronze sculptures and a growing collection of rare artifacts.

20 | MIXED

Tucked away under the Liberty Memorial, the WWI Museum is home to over 55,000 artifacts, books and art pieces from the First World War. For $12 you can roam through the museum which displays the entire war starting with the first shot in 1914 and final attempts at peace in 1919. After wandering through the museum your ticket gets you an elevator ride and a 45 step walk to the top of Liberty Memorial overlooking the city, give you a great view crossroads district, union station and, of course, the Western Auto sign.

F

POLITICS O

RYAN GOSLING

S D N E I FR FOES

PAST & PRESENT

AND

THE NOTEBOOK

Perhaps this role is what catapulted Gosling into fame as he portrayed a poor, young lad fighting for the love of a wealthier young woman in the 1940s based movie.

DEAD MAN’S BONES

Gosling’s obsession with Halloween, skulls and the living dead took life when he collaborated with close friend Zach Shields to create their band, Dead Man’s Bones.

‘Ides of March’ uses references to politics throughout history to tell a classic story of friends turned foes written by Nick May | photos courtesy of allmoviephoto.com “Beware the Ides of March.” almost certainly guarantee Morris’s nominaIn Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, that is tion as the Democratic candidate. what a fortune-teller warns the Roman dictaIt is a very complex time for Myers, who is tor. The fortune-teller is referring to March approached with a job by the opposing candi15th on the Roman calender, the day Caesar date’s campaign manager, Tom Duffy (Giamatdies by being stabbed 23 times by his fellow ti). When he admits to Zara that he met with senators. The warning is an ominous message Duffy, his loyalty is called into question. Myers of what can happen when people turn on one also has an encounter with young Molly Steaanother. rns (Wood), an attractive intern who harbors It comes as no surprise that the movie “The a dark secret--a secret that has the power to Ides of March” carries over much of these change the outcome of the election. themes: Politics, loyalty, betrayal and backThings with the campaign heat up as Mystabbing. ers learns that his candidate, Morris, is not the The all-star cast includes Ryan Gosling, warm and kind man he appears to be. And George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, as time leading up to the Ohio election shortPaul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa ens, Myers comes under fire for some of the Tomei. Add that with a pulse-pounding pace campaign-altering secrets he withholds. The and tastefully artistic cinematography, “The decisions he makes lead up to a climactic and Ides of March” has all the ingredients of an tragic ending, where everything will be on the instant-classic. line come voting day, Mar. 15.

The film follows junior campaign manager There is a feeling of intensity throughout Stephen Myers (Gosling) working for Demo- the movie because of the gravity of the situcratic presidential hopeful Governor Mike ation. Something that would mean disaster Morris (Clooney). Myers, along with his men- to the average person is magnified greatly tor and head campaign manager Paul Zara because of the fact that these issues involve a (Hoffman), are the best at what they do. “The man who has a high possibility of leading the Ides of March” centers around the Democratic nation in the future. primaries in Ohio, a state that’s support would

A&E PANEL

CLOONEY VS. GOSLING?

Before Gosling was wooing women with his good looks and charm, he was singing children’s songs and dancing on the Mickey Mouse Club.

CHRIS HEADY l Head Copy Editor

MATT HANSON l Copy Editor

FALL MOVIE FLOP?

MOVIE SOUNDTRACK?

Gosling - he is the best actor of this generation. His talents are exceptional.

Drive - most original movie of the fall. It shows both intense violence and tenderness and does it equally well.

Real Steel - the first time I Drive - what other movie saw that trailer overrated includes ‘80s music with obscure musical numbers my eyes. and the sound track still fit the plot.

Gosling- From “Remember the Titans” to “Ides of March”, the guy puts out consistent greatness.

Lion King 3D - This classic movie only gets better in 3D, and brings out my inner-child.

Abduction- If you go see Drive - this synth, rough the movie I have little to score will make you feel on top of the world while no respect for you. driving around.

Clooney because he is the classic gentleman and a perfect example of who every guy should be.

50/50 - it made me want to live in Seattle. Plus, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance was realistic and relatable.

Bucky Larson - Did you 50/50 - it’s memorable see the previews? It re- and you can listen to it in ceived the worst rating any situation. ever on Rotten Tomatoes.

GRANT KENDALL l Photo Editor

MOUSEKETEER

FALL MOVIE PICK?

The entire cast had superb performances, with a particularly strong job in Philip Seymour Hoffman, who delivered many intense speeches, most notably one about the value of loyalty. He portrays his character with a gritty and serious demeanor that combines the feeling of an experienced leader with a nononsense attitude. His performance is reminiscent of Jeff Bridges in “True Grit.”

Ryan Gosling portrays his character with a charming and intelligent aura, and paired with his recent movie “Drive,” it wouldn’t be surprising to see him taking home an Oscar at the next awards, or at least in the near future. He radiates confidence in his acting, and his ability to be cool without trying too hard could make him this generation’s Brad Pitt. He is a breath of fresh air in an era of cliches and wannabes.

The movie is based off Beau Willimon’s play “Farragut North”, and the movie version was directed and co-written by George Clooney. This is not the first film Clooney worked behind the camera on, directing and co-writing two other movies, one of which (“Good Night and Good Luck”) received nominations for multiple writing and directing awards.

A&E | 21

NOW

Between football practice and Facebook stalking, the average teenager doesn’t have the time or culinary capability to make a gourmet meal. Here are some quick and easy recipes that are more delicious and filling than Cheerios or Easy Mac.

WE’RE

COOKING

written by Chloe Stradinger photos by Emma Robson

SNAP PEA SALAD

FETTUCCINE ALFREDO For when you’re craving something a bit more sophisticated than Ramen Noodles

A-

easy

D

30

This Italian recipe is so easy, the spray-tan-happy cast of Jersey Shore could make it. First, you mix 3/2 cups of heavy cream and the juice from one lemon in a pan over low heat, and then add 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter. While this is all melting and mixing, cook your pasta in a separate pot for about four minutes. Once the Fettuccine is done, drain the pasta and add it to the mixture.

Finally, add a cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and stir until it’s thick and thoroughly mixed. Eat and savor the flavor of your sauce that’s as fresh as Pauly D’s hairdo.

QUICK TIP

To determine if your Fettuccine has been properly cooked, throw a piece against your kitchen tile backsplash. If it sticks, it’s ready.

B+

easy

5

Salad is notoriously bland. For some reason, munching on leaves just isn’t appealing to most teenagers. But one can only consume so many cheeseburgers and greasy foods, so wash some lettuce and prepare a healthy salad. First, chop the lettuce into fine strips, keeping the knife blade parallel to the head of the lettuce. The thinner the strips, the crunchier the salad. Then slice up some some carrots and red peppers to add some extra flavor and crunch. Don’t forget to smother it in ranch dressing and throw in some snap peas.

QUICK TIP

Mix up your salad to evenly distribute all the delicious components. Put it in a large plastic bag and shake it before putting it back in the bowl.

level of preparation difficulty MEDIUM D E M DIFFICULT EASY grade of deliciousness A+ drop everything and eat this now A your stomach will be begging for more A- quality cookin’ B+ pretty darn good preparation time

5 five minutes 15 fifteen minutes 30 thirty minutes

FRENCH TOAST

The perfect cure for the Taco Bell and Chipotle hangover.

E

THE GUIDE to the grades

BACON SANDWICH

This recipe is as easy as pie to make and twice as delicious. easy A+

M

15

First the Eiffel Tower, and now this toast; those French people are geniuses. Step one is simple; mix two eggs, a splash of milk and a few pinches of cinnamon sugar in a bowl. After this is ready, dip the bread into the bowl and let it absorb the mixture. Next, put the bread on the frying pan and let it cook for three to four minutes, or until golden brown, then flip it. Finally, you’re ready to feast. But before you do, drizzle some syrup and dump some powdered sugar on to maximize the sweetness. Bon appetit!

QUICK TIP

When your French Toast is on the griddle, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on the bread to give it extra flavor

What’s so good about bacon?

It’s bacon.

D

A

easy

This bacon sandwich is delicious enough to turn even the most devoted vegetarian into a meatcrazed monster. What’s the secret to packing so much flavor into such a little sandwich? Bacon grease. By cooking the bacon first, you’re left with a pan full of delicious-smelling grease that’s perfect for cooking your egg in. Whether you prefer to fry your egg or scramble it, the grease will make it super savory. The last step is the bread. Spread some butter on it before setting it to sizzle in the grease. Allow it turn golden brown before putting together your sandwich.

QUICK TIP

To make your sandwich extra tasty, add a slice of cheese.

Wrap the whole thing in foil for a few minutes to make it all melt together.

food for thought WHY IS FRENCH TOAST CALLED FRENCH TOAST?

The French are known for their fresh-baked breads.

In order to enjoy it for longer, they thought of a new way to prepare the bread after it went stale. By soaking it in a mixture of eggs, milk and spices, they found they could enjoy this delicious meal after its expiration date.

WHAT ELSE IS BACON GREASE GOOD FOR?

If you drizzle some bacon grease over your dog’s dry food, they’ll thank you for a few reasons: it’s delicious, it helps their digestive system and it makes their furry coat shinier.

22 | A&E

MOZZERELLA STICKS

APPLE NACHOS

1

Fill the bottom of your pan with canola oil and put it on the stove

1

Thinly slice two whole apples keeping the knife parellel to the core at all times so the slices are circular

1

2

Wrap fresh mozzerella sticks in Asian wonton wrappers, making sure the wrappers cover all the cheese

the slices on a plate and drizzle on 2 Set chocolate and caramel sauce

2

3

Set the wrappers in the oil and fry until golden

3

3

Top it off by sprinkling chocolate chips and pretzle bits on

30

S’MORES ON A STICK

Melt chocolate chips and crush graham crackers and place each in separate, shallow bowls Dip the marshmallows in the chocolate, then roll them around in the graham cracker bits Set them on a plate and stick a toothpick in for easy serving

THE MANY FACES OF

FACEBOOK 2004

The birth of Facebook came about with the initial launch by Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg created the social networking site as a way for college students to connect with other people on their campus. The Facebook was similar to a directory—filled with people on Harvard’s campus.

The features of the Facebook were slim: they included searching for people at your school, finding out who is in your classes and looking up your friends’ friends. Over the years the Facebook has been modified numerous times; one of the first alterations was taking out the “the,” changing the name to Facebook.

2006

In order to make Facebook a more accessible social media site, they change up their past style and introduce the news feed. The news feed allows users to see all of their friends’ statuses in one place, instead of having to go to their profile page. Along with the news feed, the commenting feature was created which makes it possible for users to leave their own opinion in the comment box below their friends’ statuses and pictures. A Facebook application comes out for the iPhone giving users the ability to post statuses and photos from their cell phones, making it easier to use Facebook on the go. Consequently, mobile Facebook helps boost up the number of users.

Staffer investigates notable changes to world’s largest social networking site written by Morgan Twibell | photos by Holly Martin

Number of Facebook Users by Year 2004 2005 2006 2007

=25 million

2008 2009 2010 2011

Total: 800 million

2010

Facebook adds the “Places” feature, similar to the once-popular app FourSquare, which allows users to check in to the place they are currently located and share their location with their friends. After “Places” is added, users demand that privacy changes are made again, so that they will be able to select who sees their check-ins. With the like button being such a highly praised feature among users, Facebook adds the ability to “like” comments, as well as statuses and photos. Because of Facebook’s continuing success, CEO Mark Zuckerberg, was named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.”

2009

The “Like” button is born, giving users the chance to show their friends that they like something, which is the equivalent to giving their friend a thumbs-up.

After the like feature was introduced, Facebook introduced the Friend Feed, which allows users to import things from YouTube and Flickr and upload them to their own wall and their friends’ walls. When users realize that they don’t have much privacy on their profile page, protesting arose--leading to Facebook changing their privacy policy. The new privacy policy let users choose who can see their profile, edit their profile information whenever they want to, and give users the chance to delete their account from the whole Facebook server.

Sophomore Maddie Hise “Likes can make me feel appreciated and funny.

I think Facebook can make you feel good about yourself or it can make you feel really bad about yourself.”

OBSOLETE A look back at the Facebook features we’d like to forget Bumper Stickers: from the car to the internet, these pictures were great for clogging up friends’ walls. While occasionally funny, the majority of bumper stickers were simply obnoxious.

Farmville: drop everything, the strawberries are about to rot! For several months, this addicting agcricultural application captivated the attention of the youth, converting us to a nation of farmers.

Graffiti: for users too meek to spraypaint a physical wall, this feature allowed even the most obedient to express their rebellious, artistic side.

Generally, the finished product looked like something a four-year-old made.

Poke Wars: known as the most passive way to flirt with a girl, the poke evolved into an epic battle of juvenile wills. Facebook has hidden the poke button within a toolbar. Most wars ended in a peaceful manner.

2011

Now valued at a staggering 50 billion dollars, Facebook continues to grow and changes continue to be made. New features such as messaging combined with chat, subscribing and unsubscribing to your friends’ posts, and being able to “see friendships” enter the Facebook world. Seeing friendships lets users take a look at the things they have in common with their friends. The new style of Facebook chat gives users the ability to see a list of the people they most commonly talk to. The subscribe and unsubscribe feature is closely related to the following and unfollowing feature on Twitter, but is changed slightly to make it Facebook’s own.

Junior Michael Mansfield Hours per day on FB? “Probably two at the most.”

Favorite FB activity?

“Stalking people, for sure.”

A&E | 23

77 South is located in Leawood, KS at 5041 W 135th St.

As part of the 70’s feel, 77 South leaves an old arcade machine in the corner.

THAT ‘70s RESTAURANT

As part of “Two-Dollar Tuesdays” a burger with fries is only two dollars.

written by Haley Martin | photos by AnnMarie Oakley

ARE YOU? Choose of each

1

STAR WARS

TITANIC

HARRY POTTER

10 pts

-7 pts

5 pts

1955-2011

THE PC 10 points

2 pts

iPAD APOLLO PROGRAM -5 points 7 points

8 pts

20 pts

Music

24 | A&E

TELL YOUR FRIENDS EAT ALL YOU CAN

WHICH ERA

Technology

STAY HOME WORTH A BITE

Burger lovers like myself, expect to pay $10 for a juicy half-a-pound of medium-well ground beef decked with the works. So, naturally, I was shocked when the receipt read $2, and it wasn’t a mistake (and trust me, I checked on that: Tuesdays cheeseburgers are only $2).

This was an inch-thick burger dripping with soy-sauceesque seasonings that comes with cheese AND thickcut french fries -- fries and cheese alone sometimes costs up to two dollars. This is only the tip of the iceberg of reasons why I am in love with 77 South.

For my appetizer, I took the waiters suggestion and ordered crab rangoon. The filling was sweet and creamy, and oozed out of the crunchy outside layer when I cut into it. It came with a sweet chili sauce which added flare to what would have been a comfort food.

The crab rangoons were shaped like mini Chinese takeout boxes, making room for more filling which had a tasteful cream-to-crab ratio (in my opinion, the more cream to crab the better).

Somehow by dessert my stomach wasn’t bursting (probably due to their European portion sizes) so I had the waiter rattle off the dessert menu while he was refilling my water glass that was never left empty. I went with their chocolate lava cake. It tasted like a semi-dark chocolate brownie that was baked into the consistency of cake. Hot fudge was drizzled around the cake providing a warm -- and delicious -- ending to my meal. I suggest sharing the cake with a friend, because after all of your courses, you may leave with a full belly.

This restaurant is an option for all types of people -it caters everyone. There are gluten free fettuccine pastas, salad and seafood options for vegetarians. I know I’ll be bringing my family back for a $2 cheeseburger on Tuesday.

Movies

When I picture a restaurant in the ‘70s, I imagine it coming straight from a rerun of “That ‘70s Show,” with gum-chewing waitresses roller blading thin greasy burgers and fries to patrons in bell bottoms. I envision black and white checked counters and metallic bar stools. What I don’t think of are white tablecloths with cloth napkins, modern geometric patterns laid into the buildings architecture, prompt service with energetic waiters and live music.

And this is exactly why 77 South defied my expectations of a diner-style restaurant: it’s presented as the opposite, being an upscale ‘70s style lounge in the parking lot of the Church of the Resurrection in the Olathe suburbs . I know it seems like an impossibly cheesy combination -- yet, somehow, everything pulls together creating a laid-back atmosphere with quick service and mouth-watering food.

You can expect to hear catchy music from the ‘70s contributing to the restaurant’s casual feel. Miniature disco balls embellish the walls and hanging fixtures, and the booths are in a semi-circle surrounding the bar with two flat screen televisions. Small brightly colored flowers adorn the hanging light fixtures. There is enough detail to recognize the theme, but the ‘70s era isn’t being shoved down your throat.

This restaurant is geared toward middle-aged adults, it has half price wine on Thursdays and it has disc jockey and live ‘70s music on Thursdays and Fridays. Although it is not targeting high school students, it is an inviting place to go to lunch on the weekend or for a classy dinner. The prices range from about $9 (for an appetizer) to $26 (for a steak dinner), but be sure to check their website because they have cheap and delicious specials like $1 crab rangoon Thursdays during happy hour. The menu provides a variety of foods from American to Chinese, making it a sure hit with whoever you bring along.

LIL’ MICHAEL J.

15 pts

20-45 pts ‘70s CHILD

You hippy, you!

LADY GAGA

8 pts

-5-10 pts GENERATION X

The ‘90s? Yuck.

SNOOP DOGG

4.2 pts

10-20 pts THE 2000’s

Get off your iPhone, you’re in class.

Instead of a thick, bulky sweater, a neutral cardigan over a long sleeve button down or t-shirt is perfect for the cool weather. This way you stay warm while keeping the option to peel off a layer if the sun comes out. A pair of dark wash jeans is a must have in every wardrobe. In comparison to lighter washed jeans, Dark denim is much easier to dress up with a silky top and a pair of heels.

A casual cotton t-shirt is perfect for school or a weekend afternoon.

This season go for the bold stripes in bright orange, fuchsia or gray.

Hop into your favorite pair of casual, cuffed jeans with the comfy long-sleeve t-shirt. This look could easily be paired with boots, flats or flip-flops for a warmer day.

This season, plaid button downs and colors such as this mustard yellow will be on the shelves. If the temperature beings to drop this look could easily add a cardigan or vest in a solid, neutral color. This basic, high-waisted, gray skirt is a classic piece that you can wear countless number of ways. Finally, a neutral pair of boots is a good, comfortable choice for fall. Tucked into your favorite pair of jeans or, like this look, with a short skirt.

FALL FASHION PREVIEW Best looks for this season

written by Emma Pennington | art by Emma Pennington As the leaves begin to change, it’s time being paired with the classics of navy and to move the light weight cotton t-shirts and brown to create countless combinations. shorts out of your closet and start wearing But don’t count out the more muted tones new fall styles. Replace the lighter summer of gray and tan being paired with a splash fabrics such as linen with leather, denim of vibrant color such as fuchsia in a belt or and wool to stay warm in the cooler tem- clutch. peratures.

The men’s side of things doesn’t seem Bright orange and mustard yellow are to be as drastic of a change. Dark denim

For a cool, crisp day, a vest is the way to go. When purchasing a vest make sure it is a solid, neutral color such as navy, black or gray.

This way you never have a problem matching it with your outfit.

Throw on a long-sleeve college shirt, solid color or striped t-shirt, like this one. A pair of light khakis like these can go with practically any fall outfit and with any array of colors.

washed jeans is a simple go to outfit that can easily be paired with colorful wool socks to change things up. Both the men’s and women’s styles thick, bold horizontal stripes are perfect fall pattern. For men’s more dressy attire, a Scottish plaid skinny tie paired with a camel-colored blazer or coat is the way to go.

For guys’ more dressy occasions this fall a skinny tie is your best choice. Solid colors are always a safe bet or a plaid in various colors. You can never go wrong with your freshly ironed, classic white button down. This season camel colored jackets are the thing to have on the men’s side. Pair this with a nice dark washed jean and you are ready to hit the town.

A fleece pull-over is a good investment for the fall and winter months. It can easily be layered over a t-shirt or collared shirt.

Then, in the frigid months of the year you can put a warmer coat over it if need be. Like the vest, a solid, neutral color is the best way to go on the pull over so it can be easily paired with any outfit.

A&E | 25

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KARA HINES

Senior Kara Hines had a quick and easy commitment process. The day after her visit to Benedictine in Atchison, the head coach gave Hines an offer for a place at the school her freshman year and two weeks to make a decision.

“I was looking at a couple of different schools, but I chose Benedictine because I loved the atmosphere and all of the people there were really welcoming,” Hines said.

“Everyone goes out and supports girls soccer—which was really cool.”

Kara had emailed several coaches to watch her play toward the end of her sophomore year, but coaches also recruited her without her direct involvement.

“My coach the next year actually recruited me and sought me out,” Hines said.

During the first part of her visit, Hines attended her first Benedictine soccer game, a game that reiterated the school’s love for sports and support for players.

“The team did great,” Hines said. “It was really competitive and fun to watch. The bleachers were packed with students and people had to start standing because there wasn’t enough room for them. They’re very supportive of their women’s soccer team and they treat them like superstars.”

After, Hines toured the school and dorms. She met with the coaching staff, who expressed a strong interest for her.

The coach asked her about club and high

school soccer, talked about the game, and explained how she would fit into their program the next year.

“I absolutely loved the coach, he was really welcoming and had an amazing personality and he made me feel like I was a part of the team already,” Hines said.

Benedictine is currently a NAIA Divison school, but may move up to Division II. The two center backs for Benedictine are seniors, which happens to be the position Hines plays. Hines hopes to start her freshman year. Benedictine is known for a strong program and winning seasons, but Hines shoots to accomplish something beyond that.

“I hope we can win a NAIA division championship—or if we get moved into DII win a championship there—because they do have a really good program and they do have a winning record almost every year,” Hines said.

Aside from soccer, Hines will work hard academically and aim to get into the pre-med program after her first four years.

While the academic side of the school played into Hines’ decision, the sports-oriented atmosphere of Benedictine is what closed the deal for Hines.

“The academics were definitely a part of it, but I think it was mainly the atmosphere around sports.”

ADDISON STEINER

Junior Addison Steiner was late in the commitment process. Many of her teammates committed to a college months before she had.

“Usually in girls’ soccer people commit really early, so I guess I was kind of late in the process,” Steiner said. “Most of my teammates committed when they were sophomores.”

However, about a month ago Steiner verbally committed to Northwestern University to play girls’ soccer. Even as a junior, Steiner felt the pressure of making a commitment coming. She had been looking into D1 schools such as Memphis, KU, Nebraska, Minnesota and Texas A&M, but did not have an inclination toward any.

While at regionals with her club team, KCFC, Steiner’s coach told her that Northwestern had expressed a strong interest in her playing at their school after her high school graduation. Steiner found that Northwestern’s academics would override the other schools’ opportunities to play soccer in the long run.

“Immediately I dropped all the other schools since Northwestern is really good academically and I know I won’t be going pro in soccer,” Steiner said.

Steiner went on her first visit to Northwestern in early August and found that she was their top recruit. After the visit Steiner was sure she would end up at Northwestern.

“They really wanted me and they offered me a scholarship,” Steiner said. “Two weeks later I called them and told them I wanted to go there.”

Apart of the academics and offer to plays soccer, Steiner fell in love with the campus.

“The field is literally right next to Lake Michigan,” Steiner said. “You could kick a ball into the lake. You can also see the skyline of Chicago, and it’s just a really pretty campus.”

On her visit, she met the coaching staff which consisted of two women coaches, one of whom had attended Harvard.

“They are just really nice and personal and laid back,” Steiner said.

Playing at Northwestern means that Steiner will be playing with some of the best teams in the nation. The team is in The Big 10 and will play against other bigname teams such as Stanford, who is the top ranked team in the nation.

Steiner hopes to fit in well with her team. The team is smaller and quicker, as opposed to other D1 teams who are bigger and stronger.

“They fit to my playing style more,” Steiner said. We aren’t a top team or a bad team, it’s an average school and I know I will get a lot more playing time than other schools.”

photos by Jake Crandall, Alic Erpelding,and McKenzie Swanson

EARLY COMMITMENTS

HENRY SIMPSON K-STATE, Golf

ALEX DRESSMAN WILLIAM JEWEL, Soccer

was a smaller school, A: “It and they were DII and I wanted to play at a school that was DII or higher, so I’m really excited I’m able to play at that kind of level. It has a strong Christian Community so I’m excited to get hooked into that.”

written by Mitch Kaskie

ELLIOT FAERBER CONNER SCHROCK CAROLINE NICK ILLINOIS, Football

made you commit Q: Why did you decide on Q: What was your main Q: What William Jewel? reason for choosing early? committed early beA: “Icause, truthfully, I wanted to get it all out of the way and be able to enjoy my last year. No filling out applications, no having to wait on anyone to get back to me on whether or not I get in. I can just play golf.”

East Athletes continue to make early commitments to colleges and universities for athletics

Illinois?

[Illinois] had a A: “Because rising program and the reached out to me—I didn’t have to go to them.

They also have great academics. Last springCoach Sherman and I called Coach Zook, the head coach, and told him I’d love to play for them.”

K-STATE, Golf

EMPORIA, Basketball

made you choose did you choose Q: What Q: Why K-State?

Emporia? chose K-State because A: “Ithey recruited me since the beginning of the process, and I really like the coach. They also have great facilities. As a recruit, you want to feel like the program really wants you, and I felt that way with K-State.”

wasn’t too big but it A: “It wasn’t too small. The school offered the majors I was interested in.

Emporia also has one of the best DII women’s basketball programs in the nation including a National Championship in 2010.”

MIMI FOTOPOLUS TENNESSEE, Tennis

are you most Q: What excited about playing at Tennessee? excited to be apart A: “Iof am the prestigious Lady Vol family. I was able to meet the winningest college basketball coach, Pat Summit of the women’s basketball team. It was really inspiring to get to watch her hard at work at practice.”

SPORTS | 27

BEHIND FROM THE

START The Harbinger investigates the padding that middle school sports teams provide for the average high school athlete

The lack of middle school sports teams is causing Shawnee Mission athletics to lag behind those of the Olathe and Blue Valley districts.

written by Alex Goldman | photos by Marisa Walton

28 | SPORTS

Unfortunately according to Indian Hills Middle School back is costs,” Higgins said. “There is the cost of uniforms, principal Carla Allen, it is almost impossible to have those equipment, facilities, coaches, buses and officials. It’s not kinds of teams in Shawnee Mission middle schools. cheap and right now people are more concerned with “It would be great to having enough teachers in have them, but we are in classrooms.” one of the worst financial Higgins says that the 1.000 LAST EIGHT YEARS situations in high schools board wants to make sure in Kansas ever,” Allen said. we can keep the fine arts 6-2 6-2 .750 “I don’t think we will be department, theatre depart4-2 5-3 able to reinstate the middle ment and other programs school sports teams any like high school athletics, .500 time soon.” which all cost money to Associate principal Jerrun. emy Higgins knows first “We are more focused .250 hand how helpful and on keeping those programs 0-4 0-6 fun middle school sports in place than bringing can be for students. Higsomething new in.”

ON ONW OS SMNW SMN SMS gins grew up in the small Higgins believes that unTeam town of Lyons, Kansas and til the financial crisis gets Football records in the The Lancers’ record played football, basketball, resolved, intramural sports past eight years reagainst Olathe comwrestled and ran track for have been working as a veal that the Lancers pared to their record Lyons Middle School. great substitute in place of do significantly worse against teams from oth“It felt like a high school organized teams in middle against Olathe schools, er districts reflects the at a smaller level,” Higschools. Right now, Indian who have middle school same trend as the graph gins said. “Not only did it Hills has kickball, flag footteams, than they do above: districts with prepare us for high school ball, cross country, whiffle against Shawnee Mission middle school teams sports and dealing with ball and volleyball available schools. outperform those withboth sports and school, but to their students. Although out them. it was also nice to have all the intramural sports may the school spirit and feel be mostly recreational, Higthat kind of connection gins thinks that they help with your middle school.” kids get to know the coachAgainst Olathe: Against Other: Higgins believes that if es in high schools and the SMSD were to have midcoaches get to know the dle school sports again it kids at an early age. would be a huge asset for “It may mostly be just the middle school student an hour or two a couple in terms of school spirit days a week, but the intraand camaraderie, and would help them connect to the mural sports do help establish an early relationship with school better.” the coaches and the middle school athletes,” Higgins said.

But Higgins agrees with Allen that it is just not the right “But as of now, anything more than that is simply not time for middle school sports even with all the advantages possible.” of having them. With all the budgets cuts, the district board hasn’t even brought it up at meetings in a long time.

“I see no negative in middle school sports—the drawWinning Percentage

Senior Sam Heneger takes the field against Olathe South on a fall Friday night football game. He looks across the field only to see what seemed like a cinder block with legs huddle up with the opposing defense. “Oh my goodness,” Heneger says to his teammate, senior Tyler Nelson.

“Holy crap. Who is that?” Nelson replies. Heneger then remembers the team’s scouting report sheet that the players are given before every game. Number eighty-seven. Sixfoot five, 240 pounds. This is the kid everyone was talking about, Heneger thinks as he watches South player after South player take the field, all of them ranging from 180 pounds to 250 pounds.

That evening, East lost to a much thicker and much more athletic Olathe South, 28-24.

“It might just be something in their water out there in Olathe or because of their earlier weight training in middle school, but these kids were huge,” Heneger said. “Last year a kid outweighed me by over 110 pounds. They seem like they have really good team chemistry and have been doing weight training for longer than a lot of the kids on our team.”

Since 1987 the Shawnee Mission School District has been without organized middle school sports teams. While SMSD has not had any teams, districts like Blue Valley and Olathe have had organized teams in basketball, volleyball, football, cross country and track starting in middle school.

According to the Olathe School District athletic director Lane Green, the middle school teams have helped young athletes get ready for high school sports.

“I think there is a correlation between having middle school sports teams and our high school athletic success,” Green said.

The relationship between playing organized school sports and classroom success is something Green also feels has helped the students learn key skills.

“Middle school sports teach kids how to go to school and balance practices with academics,” Green said. “The kids develop a lot of discipline and good habits at an early age.”

Green believes that if Shawnee Mission were to reinstate middle school sports it would help the kids academically, because kids that get involved tend to do better in school.

“There’s research that involvement with being connected to your school correlates with academic achievement,” Green said.

0-2

THIS YEAR

3-1

LAST

LOVE Varsity to lose key players after fall season written by Corbin Barnds | photos by Danielle Norton

That Friday night, back in October 2008, Sue Chipman and her pair of freshman phenoms knew that it was done. They were going to be state champions.

Current seniors, Mimi Fotopoulos and Mollie Cooper, were those freshman that fall day and without those two key players, a state championship would have been impossible. Three years later, that duo each looks poised to claim their respective state champion label, Fotopoulos in the singles and Cooper in the doubles. More importantly, they each have their eyes set on helping the team reclaim their top tier on the podium as state champs.

Heading into Wichita last Friday, they were the heavy favorites with longtime rival Blue Valley North trailing behind. With Fotopoulos and Cooper leading the team, this is a goal that they have been working towards since winning state their freshman year.

“Winning state this year would really mean a lot just because of the way the last two years have ended,” Cooper said. “It’s me and Mimi’s senior year and it would be a great way to give the freshman great motivation to keep up the winning tradition.”

In a sport where varsity consists of only six people, at the most, the insertion of Fotopoulos and Cooper into the Lancer’s tennis program three years ago was enough to take them from being a perennially good tennis team to a state contender. Right away the team’s focus was on winning state.

In their first year, six points was all that separated

FAST STATS

East’s girls tennis record from last year at State

them and Blue Valley North giving the Lancers the state championship.

Despite winning, that tournament worked as motivation for the two to improve. With Cooper, her fourth place finish in doubles was still an accomplishment to be excited about, but she wanted more. Despite being ranked 33rd in the country, Fotopoulos was ranked second in the state and she wasn’t able to overcome that ranking as she lost in the finals. Finishing as the runner-up that year was reason to keep her coming back to high school tennis when the national circuit continued without her.

“It frustrated me losing freshman year in the finals,” Fotopoulos said. “I played [the same opponent] the next week in a tournament and I ended up beating her so that was tough and it really fueled the fire for me to be more determined the next few years.”

Ultimately that drive for another state championship, to go along with the team element that can’t be found anywhere else in the sport, is what ensured that Mimi and the team stayed together. Used to the lonely life on the national circuit traveling with just her coach and parents, Fotopoulos welcomes the break that comes with high school tennis and the camaraderie it brings.

“It’s just so much better playing for something: you know you’re playing for the Shawnee Mission East Lancers, not just for Mimi Fotopoulos out on court 59,” Fotopoulos said. “Here you’ve got the support of your teammates.”

10-0

NUMBER

ONE SINGLES

PLAYERS RECORD

NUMBER

TWO

SINGLES PLAYERS RECORD

21-3

The team’s hopes of state championships in 2010 and 2009 were frustrated by the depth of Blue Valley North.

Even with East winning both the singles and doubles titles, they didn’t win the team title, but, with North graduating their best player, the tables have turned. With Cooper connecting with her doubles partner, junior Elizabeth Wilcox, and Fotopoulos’ singles competition graduating, they have been unstoppable. Ever since the beginning of their junior years, Fotopoulos and Cooper have been perfect on the tennis courts, not losing a match.

“Senior year is definitely the most important year [for tennis],” Fotopoulos said. “To finish it with bringing back the state championship team title to East and then hopefully win another state championship in the singles.

Double crown, that’s a pretty good way to go out.”

With the state tournament scored out, by winning all of their matches the first day, they will have locked up the championship. As for Cooper and Fotopoulos retaining their crown: Cooper and Wilcox haven’t lost all season and Fotopoulos has defeated her most dangerous singles competition the seven times they’ve played.

“I was just happy to have a good team put together to hopefully bring back the state championship, for me that was the biggest thing on my mind,” Fotopoulos said.

“Coming back this year, I was already lucky enough to have an undefeated season last year and a lot of people were saying, ‘Well, why come back this year?’ I wanted to bring home the state championship.”

17-0

NUMBER

ONE DOUBLES

TEAM

RECORD

NUMBER

TWO DOUBLES

TEAM

RECORD

16-8

SPORTS | 29

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS Boys’ varsity soccer finds success on the field despite younger team

= Win

JUNIOR JACKSON STEPHENS celebrates with his teammates after a goal by Junior Bryce McClanahan in their Oct. 10 game against Kansas City Christian. The boys beat KCC 1-0. written by Jeri Freirich | photo by Danielle Norton

After the graduation of the 17 seniors off of last year’s varsity soccer team, Head Coach Jamie Kelly felt unsure about the future of the program. He didn’t think that this year’s team would do as well as the team last year. Kelly had concern as to whether the team would be able to compete at the varsity level.

“Since we graduated 17 seniors, I was hoping we would be able to compete in games, but I felt like we would have to learn how to win at the Varsity level,” Kelly said.

However, after an 12-2 start, this year’s team has shown that they can compete at the Varsity level. Last year’s group of seniors were eager to have a good season, but according to Kelly they didn’t play like a team, and had an early exit at state.

With them leaving, he didn’t know what to expect for the rest of this season.

But to Kelly’s surprise, this year’s team has made history for East. They started out the season with a winning streak of 11 straight games. There are five returning Varsity players, 16 from JV and junior Austin Wilcox who transferred this year from Maine. Kelly has been impressed with the five returning starters and their acceptance of leading roles on the team.

He says the team works really well together mainly because they are all so close and it has helped them succeed in their games.

“Our team chemistry is our best quality,” junior midfielder Hank Tamblyn said. “We are always helping each other out and that’s what helps us win.”

Before the start of the season, the team practiced at least four times a week over the summer to get prepared. In July, they

30 | SPORTS

SEASON RECAP

traveled to St. Louis for a Varsity Showcase and won three out of the four games.

Tamblyn said that it was good for the team to find out what they needed to work on and for everyone to find their role on the team.

During the first game, the Lancers were eager to find out how they sized up against the other teams in the league.

Once Wilcox scored the first goal of the season, the team gained a lot of momentum and it motivated them to work harder.

According to Tamblyn, the team figured out they played really well together and they finished the game with a score of 4-0.

Senior defender Jeremy Young was nervous because he had never played with most of his teammates, but after five minutes, he felt comfortable with them.

“At the beginning of the season I knew deep down that we would do well,” Young said. “I had no idea [we] would be this great.”

During practice the players mainly focus on what they did poorly in the previous game and on possession of the ball.

By focusing on that area, Kelly feels his players will play faster and make it harder for their opponent to get around them.

“Coach Kelly is really interactive with us at practice and in the games,” junior defender back Jack Shook said. “Before games he is always telling us what we need to do to outwork our opponents.”

Shook said that the team is getting better because everyone is always focused on practice and always puts forth effort.

There is never any messing around or goofing off, but the team still finds a way to have fun playing together, he says.

“The team has gotten better and works

well together,” Shook said. “We are always making sacrifices for each other during games.”

According to Kelly, East soccer has always had a good reputation. He says they’re known for play clean soccer rather than play cheap. Before every game, Coach Kelly always tells the players to outwork their opponents.

“You never want to come out of a game saying I wish I did this or I wish I did that,” Kelly said. “You want to give it your all, 100 percent, and if it wasn’t good enough then so be it, that’s fine.”

The team knows that the rest of the season will be very difficult and it will be hard to keep their high rank in state.

Kelly said as they keep doing better, their opponents will work harder and will give it everything to keep from being defeated.

“The next few games are going to be hard, but we have to give it our ‘A’ game,” Tamblyn said.

Kelly wants to end the season with a final record of 14-2. He says it would be nice to stay undefeated, but the teams they will be playing will be difficult to beat. To achieve their goal of being in the number one seed in the state they have to win the rest of their games.

“I would like to finish off the season winning at least three of the last games,” Kelly said. “If we do that then it will put us in the number one seed and that would be great.”

The team is optimistic about their chances to place at state.

“If we work hard and play like we know we can, then anything is possible for the rest of the season,” Shook said.

= Loss

9/6

Blue Valley High

4-0

9/7

North Kansas City

8-2

9/10

Topeka High

7-1

9/13

Olathe East High School

1-0

9/15

Shawnee Mission North

5-2

9/20

Lawrence Free State

4-0

9/22

Lawrence High School

5-4

9/26

Leavenworth High School

1-0

9/29

Olathe North High School

2-1

10/3

Blue Valley Northwest

3-2

10/4

Shawnee Mission South

4-1

10/6

Olathe Northwest

0-1

10/10

Kansas City Christian

1-0

10/11

Shawnee Mission Northwest

0-3

10/13

Shawnee Mission West

-

10/18

Olathe South

-

OVERALL RECORD AS OF 10/12: 12-2

biggest loss “Our first loss came against ONW and we controlled the game. Unfortunately they played great defense against us and limited our shots on goal. Their goal was a little controversial but no excuses, we didn’t score and needed to have better composure around the net.”

-Head Coach Jamie Kelly

biggest win “Our biggest win of the season is BVNW 3-2.

They were the first team we played that had speed, strength, and skill. We were losing 0-2 in the first half, and came back and tied it by halftime 2-2. To score with 2 minutes left in the game to win it 3-2 showed our teams’ character and ability to face anyone in the state.” -Head Coach Jamie Kelly

the

SPORTSROUND-UP

ROAD TO STATE

GIRLS GOLF

BOYS SOCCER

on the sideline

from an athlete’s perspective

First varsity experience?

written by Leah Pack

GIRLS TENNIS

CROSS COUNTRY

BOYS SOCCER JUNIOR | Clint Dunn

“It was a full four minutes sophomore year. I remember a few kids yelling my name, giving me a few words of encouragement.

I basically had tunnel vision the entire time. I sprinted aimlessly because I was nervous.”

Photo by Marisa Walton

Photo by Marisa Walton

Photo by Marisa Walton

Photo by Toni Aguiar

JUNIOR ANNE WILLMAN gets ready to hit her drive on number two at St. Andrews Golf Course.

JUNIOR TYLER RATHBUN dribbles the ball during the SM North game.

SOPHOMORE MEREDITH SHACKELFORD, grimaces after missing a point during her Sunflower League match.

SOPHOMORE ANNIE KUKLENSKI finishes at the Greg Wilson Classic.

After placing first at regionals for the third year in a row, the girls golf team is well on their way to state. With one junior and four underclassmen, the team has had to work harder to keep up with better teams around the state.

“We’ve been focusing more at practice and our coach has been pushing us really hard,” sophomore golfer Jessica Young said.

By pairing team members with close scores together, golf coach Ermanno Ritschl is encouraging the girls to fight for their spots on varsity. This constant competition has given the team a competitive edge needed to succeed at state.

Junior Anne Willman has consistently been at the top of her game, being a key component to the team’s success. On Sept. 19 the golfers competed in the MO-KAN Invitational, placing third overall. Willman tied for first with a score of 77.

Last year the team placed third in state, and hope to finish just as well this year.

With a record of 11-2, the boys varsity soccer team has taken this season one win at a time. After losing 17 seniors last year, the team still managed to create a chemistry between each other that shines through on the field, along with being the first team in school history to start 8-0.

“Our success has come from hard work and focus,” junior Jack Shook said.

Focus has been a main component of preparing for state this year. Possession style of the ball has also contributed to their work towards state.

“Making sure that the boys understand that they have to play every game hard and like it’s their last has helped them and will continue to help them be successful,” Head Coach Jamie Kelly said Throughout the season, Bryce McClanahan and Clint Dunn have been facilitators; serving up balls for scorers like juniors Tyler Rathbun and Austin Wilcox , as well as sophomore Noah Eidemiller.

After making it through regionals on Oct. 7, the girls’ tennis team continues to work hard in preparation for state.

The team is hoping to take home another league title and secure a win at state.

“We have been practicing as often as we can and getting individual coaching,” varsity player Meredith Shackelford said.

The team competes with a positive mind-set, allowing them to do well.

“I think all the girls have had an awareness that this year we are in a position to score more points at state if we all play well,” tennis coach Sue Chipman said.

The tennis players have truly committed this year; practicing year-round to gain experience. With four returning members from last years state team, three of which are state champions, and two new varsity members, the experience and dedication of this years team has given them the opportunity to be very successful.

Determination has overcome the cross country team this year.

“The kids have decided they really want it, and they want to go as a team together to state.

They are determined to whatever it takes to get there,” cross country coach David Pennington said.

Thanks to good leadership and challenging workouts focusing on increasing speed, the team has pushed themselves to perform.

“Staying healthy this year and knowing it’s my last year is motivating me to try really hard,” varsity runner Katie Crawford said. “For state as a team we have been working on speed and sticking together during races.”

At the Loyola Invitational in Chicago, the boys’ varsity team placed 16th overall, and the girls placed fifth overall. The hard work each member has set forth, in and out of season, has been a major factor to helping them succeed.

THE

SPORTS

FACTS

FALL SPORTS THAT HAVE WON STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Cross Country- 8 championships Girls Tennis- 14 championships

FIRST FOOTBALL COACH: 1958 William Schaake, record: 5-3-1 (Coached for 1 season) COACH SHERMAN’S overall record: 19-16 Current Record: 3-3 2010 record: 12-7 FIRST BOYS SOCCER COACH: 1979-82 Les Parrish, record: 30-34-10 COACH KELLY’S overall record: 51-30-3 Current Record: 11-2 2010 record: 11-5-1

GIRLS TENNIS JUNIOR | Elizabeth Wilcox

“It was a Pembroke Hill tournament. I was partners with Grace Martin. We didn’t do as well as expected because we were still figuring out our strengths and weaknesses. We didn’t know each other very well, which made it difficult. We won the first match and the second and lost the third.”

FOOTBALL SOPHOMORE | Mitchell Tyler

“My first varsity game was against Shawnee Mission Northwest, I went in for the last six minutes. I was pretty nervous. The overall pace of the game is faster than a JV game and the players are a lot bigger and stronger.. The game was more upbeat.”

GIRLS GOLF SOPHOMORE | Jessica Young “My first varsity tournament was at Lawrence Country Club. I was really nervous because I didn’t want to play bad. I played with a girl from Aquinas that called me out on etiquette and I was really embarrassed. I ending up doing okay overall.”

SPORTS | 31

SUITED SYMPHONY FOR A

SM East’s Orchestra put on their annual Fall Concert last Tuesday. All three orchestras showed off their new uniforms and featured new styles of classical music.

Photo by Brendan Dulohery

First chair bassist, SENIOR KELLY KUHN, left, was pleased with how the concert went. “[Romanian music] was a new type of music for us,” KUHN said. “We had to approach with a different mind frame because it included traditional Romanian music.”

Photo by Grant Kendall

ORCHESTRA TEACHER MR. LANE, right, tells the audience about why he picked certain songs for the Symphony Orchestra’s performance. Their setlist was: “Alla Rustica” by Vivaldi, “Libertango” by Piazzolla and seven songs of Romanian Folk Dances by Bartok.

Photo by Spencer Davis

The PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, below, looks on as MR. LANE conducts them. Their setlist was: five Dance Movements by Purcell and “Three Part Fugue” by Haydn.

Photo by Jake Crandall

SENIOR EMILY LANG, above, tunes her viola and practices the music in the orchestra room before the performance.

Photo by Brendan Dulohery

SENIOR GRACE MARTIN, below, performs as first chair violinist. “I definitely liked playing Bartok’s Folk Dances,” MARTIN said. “There’s so much variety in those pieces.”

32 | PHOTO ESSAY