Issue 7 2011

Harbinger ISSUE 7 | SHAWNEE MISSION EAST | PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS | NOV. 28, 2011

SMEHARBINGER.NET

THE RETURN OF THE MUPPETS P. 27

THE TALK OF THE TOWN Junior band Local Talk gains attention as radio stations play their music p. 13 | written by Paige Hess | photos by Grant Kendall

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

p. 3

news

People are changing their college majors from STEM subjects

p. 8

Staffer goes 10 days with a opinion budget of $10

pp. 16-17

spread

A look at where past East students are today

p. 32

photo essay

Bachelor Auction benefits the can drive

THE

NEWS IN BRIEF

COMMUNITY SCHOOL PV City Council places Art department prepares for annual Art Fair

Anna Dancinger

SENIOR MEGHAN JACKSON puts on makeup in front of her mirror to prepare for MORP. Along with putting on makeup, Jackson wore a fanny pack, costume jewelery and a tutu.

McKenzie Swanson

SOPHOMORE VICTORIA SABATES uses paints to make posters advertising her ECONOMICS project in the hallway. Sabates’ group’s project is “Anti-Cancer Bands for Coach Sherman.”

Hiba Akhtar

SOPHOMORE MATTI HADAWAY stack “pasta dinner” themed cans and boxed meals in their LATIN II class for StuCo’s weekly Wednesday CAN DRIVE competition.

zoning moratorium

Forget about First Fridays at the Crossroads. Come and see artwork created by your peers at the annual SME Art Fair.

The show will officially commence at 7 p.m. on Monday Dec. 5, but art teachers will be setting up displays throughout the week prior to the fair, allowing students to view the works, even if they are unable to attend the fair.

The Art Fair will feature artwork from students of all grade levels and art classes.

Displays will be scattered throughout the school, but will be primarily occupying the second and fourth floors.

The pieces will be judged by outside judges and awards in the categories of photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, jewelry and digital art will be given out at an awards ceremony on Dec. 8.

The Prairie Village city council voted 11-1 on Nov. 10 to put in place a nine-month moratorium on all rezoning requests for the site of former district middle school Mission Valley and its surrounding properties.

The vote comes along with a formal Request for Proposal from the city seeking firm to coordinate public input of the planning process for the site.

Prior to the vote, commercial real-estate development company RED backed out of an agreement with the city to fund the planning process.

Some members of the council as well as the surrounding community hope that the land may be still used as a school. RED and Kansas City Christian have supposedly met, but no agreements have been made public.

Student Coucil will be hosting a Culver’s Night this Wednesday Nov. 30 at the Culver’s on 7953 State Line Rd. Members of the Student Council will assist the Culver’s staff by serving food to attendees. Students will be working from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with 15 percent of the proceeds from all sales going to the Can Drive benefitting the Johnson County Christmas Bureau (JCCB).

This Culver’s Night is the penultimate event benefitting the Can Drive and represents the end of StuCo’s largest fundraiser of the year.

So far East has reaised 6,053 cans, while the money will not be totalled until after the Panda Express Night on Dec. 6 where 15 percent of the proceeds for the entire day will be donated the JCCB.

A new 150,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store is planning to come to the city of Mission. Wal-Mart plans to build the store at the $200 million Mission Gateway development that will take the place of the former Mission Mall (Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Pkwy).

The plan comes six years after a 2004 plan by Wal-Mart to buy and tear down the mall and to build a 203,000-square-foot Super Wal-Mart. A petition against the purchase garnered 1,970 signatures by Mission residents, and the Cameron Group of Syracuse, N.Y, instead bought the mall.

Gateway will also have a 70,000-squarefoot, 2.5 million gallon aquarium as well as 150,000 additional square-feet of retail, 150,000 square-feet of office space, 300 apartments, a 35,000-square-foot movie complex and a 45,000-square-foot fitness center.

Student Council gets ready New Wal-Mart coming to for Culver’s Night City of Mission

Marisa Walton

2 | NEWS

$405 Wal-Mart $71.4 Costco $71.3 Home Depot $64.9 Target

Gov. Sam Brownback wants to change the way Kansas distributes around $3 billion of state aid to its school districts.

The changes to the funding formula being discussed include calls for a new baseline for state funding per pupil to school districts without the complicated weighting factors that are in place. Most importantly, the bill proposes lifting the cap on how much districts can raise for their schools is being discussed.

Other legislation for the upcoming session includes moving away from Kansas’ reliance on income taxes as well as the drawing of new district lines after the 2010 Census.

WORLD Euro zone in crisis

The focus of Europe’s debt crisis shifted last week, from Greece and Italy westward to Spain and France.

New coalition governments were formed in Greece and Italy who are now enjoying a brief truce in their battles with the markets.

Now all eyes are on Spain, who is experiencing a struggling economy emerging from elections, and also to France where a new austerity program is being implemented and watched closely.

The Euro Zone debt crisis is very troubling for the United States and to markets around the world as the International Monetary Fund asks the U.S., who is it’s largest contributor, for more money to help fund euro bailouts.

Meanwhile the U.S.’ national debt reached the $15 trillion mark on Nov. 16 according to USdebtclock.org.

If Wal-Mart were a country, it would rank as the 19th largest economy

18

EUROPEAN PUBLIC

DEBT COMPARISON

The public debt is the ammount of debt that a country’s citizens own primarily in notes and bonds.

France

Wal-Mart

20

Sweden

$2.$31,882.01T8 per person

Germany

19

www.walmartfact.com

written by Tom Lynch

Brownback readies for new budget proposals

How big is Wal-Mart?

Last year’s sales (in billions)

SENIOR DURI LONG and SENIOR ISABELLE CIARIMITARO perform in their ADVANCED REPERTORY THEATER class’s show “Nickel and Dimed.”

STATE

Italy

$2.

2 T $38,025.60

Greece

$.$34,3103.7T09

per person

per person

www.economist.com

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

A MAJOR PROBLEM

written by Stephen Cook America has already had a difficult time increasing interest in the areas of math and science, but now things are getting even worse. Despite national efforts made by President Obama and other prominent leaders, enthusiasm for fields such as science, math and engineering is waning.

According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, students getting bachelors degrees in engineering have only increased slightly, as compared to other majors, such as business, which have grown a great amount in the past couple of years. More and more students are dropping out of science, technology, engineering and math (abbreviated as STEM) majors, and instead changing them to subjects such as business.

Whitney Molloy, Director of Student Affairs for the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering, believes that the first semester sometimes just isn’t as exciting as students think it will be, causing them to lose interest and consequently drop out. “[I] think that often students do not get to do enough of the ‘cool stuff’ in their first couple of years that attracted them to engineering in the first place, such as FIRST Robotics,” Molloy said. “They spend time in math and science classes trying to get the pre-reqs out of the way, and engineering schools lose them because we don’t keep them engaged.”

Jesse Sharp, who graduated from East last year, is currently going to New Mexico State University to work on a major in Aerospace Engineering. Although he is aware of the challenges facing him, he isn’t concerned that it will be a problem.

“I have heard of several people who have dropped out of the Aerospace Engineering major and head for a easier subject of study,” Sharp said. “The most noted reason is that the classes seem to be to hard after the first semester; sometimes it’s because it’s just not their thing.”

But the reasons don’t stop there. Sharp also sees how the money related to a job in engineering can skew the approach that students take when entering the program.

“I think there is an ever present thought that money will get you anything in life and so people foresee engineering to be a route that will achieve a high monetary status,” Sharp said. “However when they are done with a semester and start to realize the time commitment and the time that you will need to spend studying and what not, it comes to realization that they won’t be able to keep up with all the

classes.”

Similar to the ideas of Sharp, Molloy has also seen how part of the reason could possibly be due to a lack of knowledge of what it really means to go to college to become an engineer.

“One of our students was just talking about this during a presentation,” Molloy said. “From a student perspective, he thinks students may not understand how rigorous the curriculum will be, the amount of math and science they will have to take, and what it really means to be an engineer.”

However, even though the economy is going through a recession, Molloy doesn’t think it is affecting STEM fields in a negative way at all. In fact, she feels that the economic situation is actually causing students to consider a career in technology or engineering. She has seen professionals return to college to get a degree in the field because there is an actual need for more engineers in the jobs realm.

“When you look at the top degrees employers are hiring for, or the top jobs that will see growth over the next 10 years, or even the top paying jobs, it never fails that at least seven of the 10 will be related to engineering and/or technology,” Molloy said.

Senior Christian Wiles plans on majoring in Mechanical Engineering, despite the challenges that will face him in the program. Wiles has a strong interest in math and science, and is actually looking forward to getting a degree that will allow him to explore these fields. Although not one hundred percent sure of what exactly he will be doing as a career, Wiles knows that his degree will allow him to do what he enjoys most.

“It’s a really flexible major; you can do a lot with it,” Wiles said. “in terms of designing parts to [working on planes], it basically lets you do anything.”

Due to engineering degrees being able to be used in a variety of professional settings, they really help to open up the door of opportunity for graduates. “[Working in engineering is] really a lot of fun,” Molloy said. “You can apply engineering to anything you are interested in: the environment, airplanes, cars, health care. It’s pretty amazing all of the opportunities that are out there.”

The popularity of jobs that use STEM subject degrees can be attributed to the current need for more professionals who have studied in these areas.

“Our society is in great need of more STEM profession-

MOST POPULAR MAJORS 2 0 1 0 348,000

A look into the recent increase in college students dropping STEM majors als,” Molloy said. “You hear it from everyone, including President Obama. There is no doubt that America needs to strengthen our education in these areas and produce more innovative thinkers to enter our workforce.”

However, in order for this to happen, there is a consensus amongst college and university leaders that changes need to be made in the way people approach engineering -- both from a student and teacher perspective.

At UMKC, Molloy says that in order to make sure prospective engineering students stay in the program, they have done a number of things that aim to prevent students from switching out of STEM subjects. Some of these include first-year introductory courses, which help to give students a impression of what it is like in the professional world of engineering as well as become introduced the faculty, other students, and become encouraged to explore different disciplines of engineering.

“We also really encourage our students to join our student organizations or competitive teams, such as Robotics, Steel Bridge and Baja Buggy,” Molloy said. “[That way] they are able to have hands-on experiences while connecting with upper-classmen students who can serve as great mentors.”

In order for students to better prepare themselves for the challenges of an engineering major, Molloy thinks that it is important for students to have a realistic expectation of what they are signing themselves up for. Also, preparation in high school plays a significant part in getting a student ready to enter a program.

Wiles, who is currently at the top of his class, has been doing his best to get prepared for the difficult course work experienced in an engineering program. He has made sure he’s taken lots of math and science classes as well as kept on top of all his studies.

“I think [students should] spend time during high school talking to professionals, visiting colleges, meeting with college students and really understanding what it means to study engineering,” Molloy said. “There is absolutely a lot of math and science, and you need self-discipline and great study skills, but we too often scare students off from even trying it. They not only need to be encouraged to take more math classes, but to understand the value of what they are learning in those courses.”

THAT MAJOR EXISTS?

info from: nces.ed.gov and roadtrickle.com

Golf Course Management

Many colleges in the United States have special majors for golf course managment. Students learn how to design courses and make them into top resort destinations.

Comic Book Art

169,000 120,000 102,000

At the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, you can major entirely in comic book art. The program focuses on improving technique and innovation of comic books.

Bakery Science

Colleges, such as Kansas State University, have special programs entirely focased on not just baking but running a bakery. You can also learn how to make new and unique treats.

Business

Social Sciences

Health Sciences

Education

NEWS | 3

FUNNY MONEY

TALKING SCHOLARSHIPS

Students talk about their dream scholarship

Diverse and sometimes ridiculous scholarships help students pay their college tuitions. written by Holly Hernandez

When it comes to a single scholarship, $500 may not seem like in the long run. much compared to a $10,000 scholarship to the typical high school Senior Tori Holt is applying for the Kelly Lutz Memorial Scholarstudent. And with college debt continuing to increase, scholarships ship which is a seem to be losing their significance. However, at East some students four year renewable scholarship for one who has lost a parent to feel like applying for scholarships could diminish some of the tuition cancer before they are 22. She also plans on applying for a scholardamage left behind after college. ship to the University of Arkansas or Truman State.

Principal Karl Krawitz thinks that a large percentage of East stu“I think scholarships are very important because college is very dents don’t take advantage of scholarship or grant opportunities that expensive and any little bit of money helps,” Holt said. “Without are offered. scholarships it would be very difficult for some people to afford col“Some students say, ‘well it’s not a lot of money,’ and so I say to lege, and it is great that with scholarships people can go.” them ‘in the big scheme of things it’s not, but let’s just stop and think Samadi and Holt both agree that the main benefit of applying for about this,’” Dr. Krawitz said. “’Say you get a scholarship--for the 15 a lot of scholarships is that you never have to pay the money back. to 20 minutes it takes to fill out the application, you’ll never have a “Even if you’re going to good ole’ KU up here, you’re going to pay job the rest of your life that’s gonna pay you a $1,000 bucks in 15 to for over four years in tuition, board and books--minimum $50,000,” 20 minutes.’”

Dr. Krawitz said. “I don’t think there’s too many people even attendThis year senior Atiyeh Samadi is planning to ing this school, that could sit down and write a apply for multiple scholarships pertaining to womcheck and take care of that.”

“Even if you’re going to en of Persian background because she feels the In addition to merit, local and regional scholpool of applicants is smaller and that she’ll have a good ole’ KU up here, you’re arships there are an array of scholarships pergoing to pay for over four taining to fields of study like business or law you better chance of being awarded one.

“I’m applying for merit based scholarships at all years in tuition, board and can apply for. But there are also obscure scholarof the schools I’m applying to,” Samadi said. “And books--minimum $50,000” ships like the Potato Industry Scholarship which I think [applying for scholarships] is something evawards $2,000 to two high school seniors who Principal Karl Krawitz ery college-bound senior should take advantage of are going into a field of study related to potatoes because it has the potential to lighten the financial and the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship load.” which awards $10,000 to a high school student that has promoted According to the non-profit organization Project on Student Debt, vegetarianism in their school.

67 percent of college graduates had debt from paying for their eduIf you have the last name Van Valkenburg, you can attain $1,000 cation. They also have concluded that student loan debt is growing from the Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship. There is even a at a rate of $2,853.88 per second and the Federal Reserve Bank in scholarship for the art of candy making. The American Association New York states that the debt will surpass 100 billion by the end of of Candy Technologists awards $10,000 to high school students inthis year. terested in confectionery technology.

Dr. Krawitz thinks that there are similarities between credit card Dr. Krawitz doesn’t see the hurt in taking advantage of applying debt and college tuition debt and that students can prevent this by for as many scholarships as possible, even the weird ones. Though utilizing resources they have access to. it’s the simple ones, he says, students look over.

“With credit cards we use and have to pay for it, with scholar“There are so many websites available that you can go to to get ships somebody is giving you money,” Dr. Krawitz said. “So why is scholarships to pay for your education,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Students the college debt greater than credit card debt when you’ve got so are so good at technology yet they miss the ones that are right under many annuities out there that want to pay for your college?” their nose.”

The local scholarships are ignored because students continue to think that a couple hundred dollars here and there won’t be enough

Morgan Denton “I would make a scholarship for who can think of the most fun thing to do for under 20 bucks.”

Cole Hogan “I would make one for knowing a ton of random facts about sports, just for being an overall sports nut.”

Jack Kovarik “I think it would be really cool to have a buy one get one free scholarship. If both you and your twin go to the same college, one kid gets in free.”

statistics courtesy of http://www.collegeboard.com, http://www.collegeandfinance.com, http://www.nytimes.com

4| NEWS

44% of all full-time underCOST

SCH

graduate college students attend a four-year college that has charges of less than $9,000 per year for tuition and fees.

51%

of the average aid based scholarship of $12,455 does not have to be repaid.

SCHOLARSHIPS

COUNTRY

AVERAGE SPORTS

If you are a male 6’2” or taller, or a female 5’10” or taller, then you can be in the running for the $1,000 Tall Clubs International Scholarship.

TOP SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE

OVER THE YEARS

6’2”

THE

SCHOLARSHIPS

WEIRDEST

SCHOLARSHIP

If your last name happens to be Gatling or Gatlin, then you may be eligible a full ride to North Carolina State University.

The best scholarships in the country might not be what you think. With an average of $21,700 per year, ice hockey players are the athlete with the highest average scholarship.

$21.7K

$16.1K

$11.5K

Plans to make-over the rain garden have failed to be executed written by Ian Wiseman | sketches provided by science department

It’s a neglected mess—a hodgepodge of waist-high weeds and mud-filled ponds. It boasts an enclosed fence that contains only rocks, and holds barns that are locked and remain that way. It’s a graveyard of what was once a thriving environmental lab.

So what hammered in the tombstone?

“Delay after delay after delay,” Environmental Science teacher James Lockard said. “Maintenance has been pushed back.”

It’s been a rough road for this small patch of land between the art and science wings. Since its humble beginnings as a necessary replacement for the outdoor smoking lounge, circumstance has fought the lab’s existence. Care from those understanding its importance-Eagle Scouts, a class of 10 students, the East community--has been its sole source of survival.

The class of 2005 cared enough to donate plans and funds for a rain garden, which would, in theory, soak up storm water. The plan also called for renovations of the outdoor lab.

Construction forced the plan’s delay. In 2008, crews stripped the land of its benches and flowing creek and stone walls. They uprooted undergrowth and trees to make way for the new north wing. The district restricted laborers from working on the rain garden or even per-

Water enters the series of basins through the building’s downspout.

forming maintenance procedures during the two years of renovations.

“Since construction, we have never caught up,” Lockard said.

The weeds continued to grow.

What was once a pen for barn animals now rusts.

The Prairie Dog George cage overflows with weeds. The once-viable pond ecosystem is home to primarily mud.

Principal Karl Krawitz believes the limitations of the land are possible sources of the lab’s poor condition.

“We can do our best to simulate what goes on in the outside world, but in this land-locked populated area, you don’t go outside and run into a forest,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Without that lush undergrowth (removed by construction), the animals can’t feel like they’re in a natural habitat.”

So the funds for seed and facilities for barn animals disappeared. East stuck to its less-than-one-acre plot while SM South boasted its 22-acre SMESL (Shawnee Mission Environmental Science Laboratory) adjacent to the school.

Mud continued to seep into the pond.

East has offered Environmental Education 2, the class that would serve as labor for the rain garden, only twice in the past four years. However, despite construc-

tion, land limitations and lack of funds and labor, Environmental Education 2 teacher Russell Debey is optimistic that spring will bring new hope for the outdoor lab. After months dedicated to promoting recycling, Debey plans to begin labor come second semester.

“We’ve already cleared out 80 percent of the weeds and shrubs,” Debey said.

Dr. Krawitz is also optimistic, looking to the EPA and East Fund to relieve the financial burden of renovation.

He points to the East Fund’s donation of $10,000 to the Environmental Science department’s solar project.

“Opportunities are out there,” Dr. Krawitz said.

“Sometimes they just take time.”

Obstacles have battled the outdoor lab every mile of its journey, but they have fought back.

They are the Eagle Scouts who built the benches and stone walls and prairie dog cage in the first place.

They are the class of only 10 students who will dedicate themselves to the rain garden this spring. They are the individuals in the community who care for the lab and understand its purpose.

“It’s not just an environmental lab,” Lockard said.

“It’s an outdoor classroom.”

Each of the three basins gradually gets deeper the more north it is. Starting at only 6 inches deep, the largest is 10 inches.

This six-inch tall berm (grass strip) will help the overflow of the basin into the storm inlet.

The middle basin is full of various plants such as Blue Sage, New England Aster and Marsh Milkweed.

This area will be filled with Ilex verticillata “Red Sprite,” more commonly known as Winterberry Holly.

The side nearest to the buliding is lined with Virginia Sweetspire.

NEWS | 05

A PRESENCE

OUTSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM A closeted problem in East’s staffing process brought to light

In the current public school climate of devastating budget cuts and programs being slashed left and right, a quiet problem in the availability of staff members may be holding more prevalence than we think—East’s staffing problems come down to a lack of people, not necessarily a lack of funding.

Around 10 years ago, a problem in acquiring applicants for East’s athletic coaching staff became apparent: there weren’t enough teachers within the building that were certified teachers by the district, who wanted to take on a extra coaching position. In this case, applicants from outside the building—and completely outside of the Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) —were given the opportunity to apply for head coach and assistant coach positions, to work at the school as a side job of sorts.

These “Rule 10” coaches, a title based off of the Kansas State High School Activity Association (KSHSAA) rule book, are, officially, “anyone who is certified in compliance with standards established by the Kansas State Board of Education” who are “eligible to coach in any activity under the jurisdic-

tion of the KSHSAA.” Meaning that these Is it possible that certain levels of athletic are coaches employed to run athletic teams teams may not exist because you don’t have without being affiliated with any teaching coaches? Yep.” position at East.

However, the problem with the staff operNow, we are seeing an even more preva- ating solely from within the East body is the lent indifference from the current teaching added work load that current teachers have staff when coaching opportunities open up. received. According to Dr. Krawitz, we have At the beginning of this school year, when gone from 17 teachers this year who were both the cheerleading and dance team head teaching a sixth assignment to 44 teachers. coach positions were up for grabs, no one “So, if I’m a teacher who’s picked up anwho was already working within East was other added class load, that’s another 25-30 there to respond to the call. papers I have to grade, tests I have to do,” Dr. “We had one applicant—that’s it. One ap- Krawitz said. “People are saying, “Gosh, I plicant,” Dr. Krawitz said. An applicant who, don’t think I have time to do this. I don’t have while attending school away from East full- time to devote to this in the manner that I time during the day, is would need to devote the essence of a Rule THE MAJORITY OPINION OF THE to it.”

10 coach, requiring HARBINGER EDITORIAL BOARD As of now, we have practices to take place to see the availability of during evening hours Rule 10 staff members FOR AGAINST ABSENT for cheerleaders. as a good thing. While According to Dr. the majority of our Krawitz, we would be without a variety of coaching staff at East is affiliated with the our athletic programs if we got rid of these school through Rule 10, we need the extra Rule 10 coaches—all of East’s volleyball help to keep our athletic teams. coaches are Rule 10, as well as all softball “If we didn’t have them wanting to do this, coaches. Two out of three baseball coaches, if we didn’t have these outside people, we’d five out of the 10 football coaches, three out be in a world of hurt to keep these sports and of the four girls’ basketball coaches and one activities going,” Dr. Krawitz said. “It’s just a out of the four boys’ basketball coaches are tremendous amount of time,” Krawitz said.

Rule 10. Get into soccer, and you find two out “The young people coming out of college, of the three as being Rule 10. Gymnastics? they just don’t want to give up that time.”

Both are Rule 10—and that’s just a taste.

But the problem isn’t entirely a matter of So what happens to these programs if the time commitment, though it’s definitely the often-short-term coaches turn away? a factor—the real problem lies in the pay.

“If we don’t have people to fill the job, the Dr. Krawitz recalls being the coach of program goes away. Literally,” Dr. Krawitz three sports teams before his days at East, said. “So, is it possible in the future, even and the commitment that had to go into in Shawnee Mission, that some schools such a low-paying profession. have cheerleaders and others don’t? Yep. “My pay, if I broke it down by the hour,

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

11

0

0

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.

a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208 November 28, 2011 Assistant Photo Editor Hiba Akhtar Online Photo Editor Brendan Dulohery Assistant Online Photo Editor Jake Crandall Copy Editors Evan Nichols Emma Pennington Kat Buchanan Katie Knight Matt Hanson Anne Willman Chloe Stradinger Toni Aguiar Chris Heady 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

would have been 31 cents an hour,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Not many people are going to sign up for a job like that, so you have to love doing it.”

Luckily, being away from the school for most regular business hours doesn’t keep all Rule 10 coaches from being invested in the school. Since day one, 25-year swimming coach Wiley Wright has been working with students in the program to push them toward success—not once would you question his devotion to his teams.

“I think [Wright’s] reputation as a coach, as a motivator, speaks for itself,” Dr. Krawitz said, “and because of that I don’t think there’s been any affect [from him not being a teacher at East].”

More teachers should be “the exception to the rule,” like Wright has become. Investing time in the development of youth’s athletic programs is something that the coaching staff should be openly passionate about.

Dr. Krawitz also believes that the development of high school students has been on the back burner for those in charge of our public school system, a problem that seems to be reinforced by a lack of long-term teaching staff.

“Even in Kansas, our legislative body doesn’t really have a high perception of education and so they don’t believe that we need to be throwing money at the development of young people,” Dr. Krawitz said. “You kind of have to wonder: “They’re the future of the country, what do you want?”

Sadly, kids can’t be motivated to step up to their full potential without teachers and officials who are fully invested in their wellbeing.

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

TEN FOR TEN staffer lives on $10 for 10 days

written by Chris Heady | photos by Spencer Davis I’m not the best with my money. burrito brilliance.

At any check out line, the pack of gum in my That Friday then again tested my endurance pocket doesn’t stop me from buying another pack of the goal. I had planned on going to the football that stares at me in line. If a clever t-shirt catches game that night, but a ticket was $5. I wasn’t going the corner of my eye at Target, there’s about an 80 to be a scumbag and use my Harbinger Press Pass percent chance I’ll buy it, and about a 30 percent to sneak in (I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about chance I’ll ever actually wear it out of the house. it though) so I was at quite a loss, until my friend in Seriously, I suck with money. weights class told me she couldn’t go.

I don’t have a job during the school year, so it’s “I even bought my ticket and everything alhard to motivate myself to save up for anything ready,” she said. during the school year. I have a job during the sumThe penny pincher inside me rejoiced. mer as a lifeguard and I make a decent amount of “Well, uh, can, uh, I have your ticket?” coin, about $2,000 or so per summer. Just looking “Yeah sure!” at that, most would think I’d be set for the year, but Score. Five dollars I didn’t have to spend.

I don’t see it as “enough.”

After the weekend went by, I hadn’t spent anyNow get this straight: I’m no “snob.” I don’t write thing, a feat I haven’t achieved since probably something on a list and my parents go get it for me seventh grade. But as the week wore on, I became every Saturday afternoon or anything like that. weak. Very weak.

I have to pay for everything. And recently, after It was Wednesday and the basketball team was much thanks to my puppy chewing up three sepa- coming home from an event when we all decided to rate retainers and consequently having to pay for stop by Chipotle for some grub. I caved, and bought them, I’ve felt like I’ve been burning through my myself a burrito. income faster than a California Forrest fire. (Note: Day 6: $6.87 down the drain. this is the same dog that chewed up my Bible. I’m Then the next day, for lunch, I had become sick convinced she was sent from Lucifer to ruin my of my usual sandwiches at home, and went out life.) to lunch, forgetting about my $10 goal. I bought a So, to trim up my spendings and save up for a sandwich and bread. trip to Seattle I intend to take this spring, I set a goal $6.58 down the drain. Day 7: $13.45 gone. I for myself. I can only spend $10, in 10 days. A feat suck. that after which telling some of my friends I was Initially, after realizing I had gone over my limit, trying to do, most reacted with, “Yeah, OK good I was distraught with myself. How lame was I that luck with that.”

I couldn’t even go a week without spending 10 dolI took their lack of support as even more of a lars? challenge, and so, it began, on Nov. 10.

But through this goal, even failing it, I learned Not doing something for two days isn’t that dif- two things. ficult, thus, days 1 and 2 weren’t too strenuous. I 1) Don’t be afraid to indulge yourself. If you did, however, have to give up my tradition and have the money and want something go for it, unmy friends tradition of “Chipotle Friday,” a day in less it’s grossly expensive. Be thankful that you which we celebrate us being seniors and using our have the money to spend it, especially in this Holiopen lunch privileges to stuff our faces in decadent day season. burritos. It pained me to be at home on Friday eat2) I seriously do suck with money. ing a dingy sandwich, knowing I could be having

8 | OPINION

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

THE ART OF

PENNY PINCHING tips on how to stretch your dollar

1

The library is your friend.

Amazon and Borders are great, but buying new books and CDs can rack up quite a charge. The library has a vast collection of media for you to check out again and again. And it’s all for free!

2

Make a Skype account.

Do you talk on your phone a lot? Save some cell phone minutes and make a free account on Skype.com, which allows you to make free long distance and international voice and video calls.

3

Homemade lunch and coffee.

A regular coffee from Starbucks cost around $2, and school lunches can cost even more than that. Buying coffee grounds in bulk from the store and making homemade lunch can save you a small fortune.

4

Use open-source software.

The website OpenOffice.org offers a free downloadable suite of word processing and spreadsheet programs. Before buying Microsoft Word or other expensive programs, look for a free open-source version first.

5 Use “the thirty day rule.”

WAIT WAIT

30

When you’re considering making a big or unneccessary item, give yourself thirty days before you make the final call. The initial urge to buy will usually pass during this time, allowing for you skip unimportant purchases.

6 Free stuff from Craigslist.

Craigslist is full of people looking to get rid of their gently used (or in some rare cases, completely new) things. Peruse the classifieds and see if you can’t find a cheaper or gently used version of what you’re looking to buy. www.moneysavingtips.org

LENDING A

HAND Giving should be done with no incentives

written by Evan Nichols | photos by Emma Robson Giving’s not my strong suit.

It’s not always on the forefront of my mind, I’ll admit that. Heck, as a currently jobless high school student who has to pay for his own gas, the act of giving gets thrown to the backseat much more often than it should.

But, in this season of giving, I think it’s important that people, high school students especially, recognize the importance of giving back. Or more importantly, the reason WHY we give back.

Giving shouldn’t be motivated by a pizza party.

Or the promise of donuts in the morning. Or candy, regardless of how much you love a free bag of Skittles.

It shouldn’t be the an act done strictly to benefit yourself in another way.

Now, I’ll take a second here to say that I’m not trying to play the guilt card on anyone out there. I’m not trying to turn this into one of those Animal Cruelty Ads where you’re barraged with a slideshow of tiny puppies and kittens with Puss-In-Boots eyes that stare into your soul while Sarah McLaughlin plays softly in the background, subliminally telling you to give give everything you have to those shelters.

That’s not what I’m going for.

No, what I do want people to recognize is the “why” factor. Giving, in my mind, is an act that you

do for the sole intention of helping others. It is not, as I said above, a selfishly motivated act.

I don’t hold the door for someone in the morning because I want to hear them say “thank you.” I don’t donate to Habitat for Humanity because of the stickers and calendar they send me for it afterwards (But I’ll admit, nothing makes me feel more professional than the personalized return address stickers I get).

I do it for benefits of others.

We live in an incentives-based world. That’s not a bad thing. Incentives are what make that world go round. Getting into a good college is incentive to study hard. Being crowned the champion of the Dodgeball tournament is incentive to play hard. Incentives factor into every single decision we make throughout the day.

This year’s can drive has been stocked with incentive based giving. Dodgeball tournaments and pizza parties and competitions between upper and underclassmen and cheerleaders and drill team. I loved all the events. I participated in the Dodgeball tournament myself, with a second place finish, if I might add. They’re all great incentives to donate during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, but the reason for giving shouldn’t strictly be an extrinsic award, but an intrinsic one—the good feeling you get from helping another person in need.

GIVING

TO

There’s a passage from the Bible that says, “To he who is given much, much is required.” I’ve had a provided life, and I think a lot of people at East could say that, too. That’s all the more reason to give back, to maintain a reciprocal relationship with the community and people around you.

Giving doesn’t always have to be a monetary act.

It can be a donation of time and effort, too. I was on the staff of my middle school’s newspaper when I was an eighth grader. The Cure of Ars Vellum. I wrote my first real stories for that paper. It taught me a lot, and prepared me for high school journalism.

So for the past four years, I’ve been going back to Cure and advising that paper that gave me so much.

Not because I would get praise from the school. Not because it would look good on a resume. I gave back because I had been given much.

So for those out there who have received much, consider giving back to your any way you can. Volunteer at a food kitchen for a couple of hours. Be a tutor at the upper room. Help that kid in your biology class who’s been struggling with the homework for the past couple of weeks.

The only incentive for giving should be the fact that there’s people out there who are truly in need.

KANSAS CITY

Three places to volunteer in the area

Wayside Waifs

Teens as young as 16 can volunteer, doing anything from dog walking or receptionist jobs to Bath Brigades.

The Upper Room

Assisting the local community through odd jobs, volenteers help citizens with tasks from trips to the supermarket to home improvement projects.

Harvesters

Volunteers give their time storing food, assisting with special events and assembling care packages.

OPINION | 9

S-E-C, S-EC, S-E -C. It was the week of Missouri’s official announcement an opinion of of their move MITCH KASKIE to the South Eastern Conference (SEC). It was only appropriate for Mizzou to go out in style in their first victory against Texas in the school’s history. After the 17-5 win, “SEC” chants rang clear throughout Faurot Field. I looked toward the small section of Texas fans and waved farewell.

Goodbye Big 12; hello SEC. After living in Kansas City for 17 years, it would be hard for me to tell you I didn’t enjoy Missouri’s time in the Big 12. I attended every home football game last year. I witnessed Missouri take down Oklahoma, the No. 1 team in the nation on Homecoming night along with 71,000 other fans. But it wasn’t just Saturdays at Faurot Field— It was because I was born and raised in the Big 12. My childhood consisted of Saturday football games on ABC and Big 12 basketball tournaments at the Sprint Center. If a team were out of conference, then Big 12 all the way. And as painful as it was, I even wanted Kansas to win the 2008 Orange Bowl.

I attended every home football game last year. I witnessed Missouri take down Oklahoma, the No. 1 team in the nation on Homecoming night along with 71,000 other fans.

I was a part of one of the greatest rivalry in college sports. Missouri vs. Kansas dates back to the civil war. It’s not just a college rivalry, it’s a conflict that people once lost their lives over. For me, the rivalry was the painful losses in basketball. The rivalry was “We’re Number One!” chants when KU quarterback Todd Reesing was sacked for the game ending safety. The rivalry was despising the team in red and blue for reasons that have been lost for over a century. That was the rivalry, and I was a part of it myself.

So, a Big 12 guy like myself is well aware of why people here in the KU-East region are disappointed and pessimistic about Missouri’s move: “How could Missouri end one of the longest lasting rivalries in the NCAA? Oh well, good luck in the SEC!” Sure, for the next three years or so I’ll hear these arguments, but the fact of the matter is this: Missouri is going to have an SEC football program. Most of my great Big 12 memories are of football, and this move will only up the hype for football seasons to come. And I wholeheartedly believe that the chatter and

10 | OPINION

disappointment of Missouri’s move will soon quiet down for these three reasons: 1) Long term stability: As much as it pains me to say it, the Big 12 was falling apart. Nebraska’s move to the Big 10 and Colorado’s switch to the Pac-12 marked the beginning of the end. Missouri had a choice to make: stay in a conference that may hold no future, or secure a spot with the top football conference in the nation.

Fact: Missouri could be fined up to $25.9 million for exiting the Big 12. The SEC doesn’t have exit fees, because they don’t need them. You’re free to go, but you probably won’t. A school hasn’t left the SEC since Tulane in 1966.

2) Economics: The SEC equally splits revenue between their members, compared to the Big 12, which distributed revenue based only on the number of television appearances by each university. For years, Big 12 powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas had the money to shine in the Big 12—Missouri has, well, not.

However, in their first year in the SEC, Missouri is projected to make $19.25 million, where as they would earn $17.26 million of Big 12 distributed revenue.

Tack on to that up to $12 million from the SEC’s 15 year television contract with CBS and ESPN. 3) Football: If Missouri wanted to win more titles, they would make a move to Conference USA. Mizzou isn’t waltzing into the SEC expecting a national championship. Absolutely not. The move was about securing long term stability and making the best business choice. However, as a member of the SEC, Missouri will have some potential in the athletic department. Sure, Missouri might struggle for a few years. Sooner or later, not only will the SEC open up recruiting for Missouri in the South, but possibly make the football program a brand name. The typical capacity of an SEC football stadium is 90,000; Faurot Field stands at 70,000. Stadium improvements could bring in bigger crowds. The ZOU may become a stadium teams are scared to travel to. Either way, the Tigers may not live up to SEC standards right away, but this football program is on a rise. Oh, and don’t forget basketball. The SEC has three ranked teams; with the addition of No. 25 Mizzou and No. 19 Texas A&M, is there a possibility of a new powerhouse, or even a chance of shining some light on a conference overshadowed by football?

As a fan, and a guy who loves football, the SEC is an exciting investment for the future. From an economic stand point, Missouri officials chose the best place for their wallets. Be my guest, fuss about Missouri’s move, but what would you do?

College sports are not my forte.

Before I went to the “American Footan opinion of ball” page on TIERNAN SHANK Wikipedia, I couldn’t tell you the difference between an automatic first down and a cornerback, and I still probably couldn’t.

And yet, so many of my weekends have been spent driving two and a half hours to Columbia, Missouri for college football against those cyclonic birds from Iowa State, and learning to despise the red and blue of KU and the red and white of the University of Nebraska.

But now, as Missouri announces their departure from the Big 12 Conference and entry into the SEC, those rivalries are flying out the window, along with traditions I’ve grown up with since the second grade when my family finally got cable.

I don’t like that Missouri is leaving the Big 12. Not at all. Not only will the traditions be hoisted out the window, but, the team I’ve rooted for since I was born, is forgetting about me: the fan.

First off, let’s talk about the traditions that will be thrown out like garbage. No longer will Missouri play Texas or Texas A&M. Oklahoma or Iowa State. The border showdown between KU and MU is one of the longest running rivalries in history, and it might end for good. The possibility that I may not feel the same way towards Jayhawks as I do today in 20 years utterly terrifies me. What if I do the unthinkable?

What if I...(gulp) tolerate them?

It’s too hard to fathom, but still, in my eyes, those rivalry games could make or break a season. I love the passion that comes with those historical rivalries and cherish those weekends I spent with my dad and brother bonding over my lack of knowledge of other Big 12 teams and players.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I fully understand that money makes the college sports world go round. Crucial television contracts can make or break a conference. The more television contracts, the better the athletic program. I get it.

Better athletic programs translate to increases in applications and alumni donations.

Now that’s all nice for the University, but what about the fan?

As a fan, it’s hard to see the motives behind this detrimental decision. The university wants you to think it’s for the good of the fans. They want you to think every one’s into it and ready to move. But that’s hard to believe. We all know the real reasons: stability, the structure and growth that the SEC could provide and of course,

the money.

But we Big 12 fans have been watching the same schools play each other for 17 years. When you pick up and move conferences like that, it’s almost like you’re forgetting the fan.

The Big 12 usually isn’t on ESPN unless it is a huge game, whereas the SEC has a contract with CBS and is broadcasted nationally every Saturday. I’ve grown up with modest endorsements with the Big 12: What-a-Burger and Goodyear tires were everywhere in my childhood. We don’t have big ESPN contracts where we are on TV for hours. I have grown up in this modest game day lifestyle. The Budweiser-drinking, hot-dog-eating lifestyle.

We spend our hard earned money on those season tickets. We pay the tuition for our children to attend these schools.

We give donations to scholarship funds and athletic programs. Yet we still can’t help decide what our university is doing or how they’re using our money.

Missouri left because they wanted stability and financial backing. The Big 12 was thinking about change. The money wasn’t being fairly distributed between all the schools. When Missouri heard that Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State were talking to the PAC 10 they didn’t know what to do.

Missouri was tired of Texas and Oklahoma getting more money than the rest, and rightfully so. They had more national titles so instead of every team in the conference getting one vote, Texas and Oklahoma got two.

So they left the Big 12 and moved south to the SEC. In my opinion, if Missouri had just stayed cool, calm and collected we could have stay in the conference where we belong.

In truth, no conference in their right mind would take Texas or Oklahoma and they have too good of a deal in the Big 12 to leave.

Missouri panicked simply at the thought of Texas and Oklahoma exploring their options. We ran away from our region, from the teams that were accessible and familiar.

As a person who hates change, it’s painful for me to see my university leave the conference. For 16 years I’ve lived with the Big 12, where conference that is made up from teams from the region where I live. And yes, we might not have made as much money as we could have, but we still had some great game days.

I guess I’ll end up missing that red and blue I spent my childhood learning to despise.

Moving to the SEC might seem like the right decision for some, but not all. Especially not me.

A Missouri ble Split Missouri fans differ when it comes to joining the SEC

FOR ADDITIONAL OPINIONS, VISIT

WWW.SMEHARBINGER.NET

I think a main problem StuCo has had forever is getting people to show up for events and I think we need to strive for that, getting people to show up for stuff. We did really well with that at the Bachelor Auction this year, but the Lancer Q this year had some issues with attendance. So, attendance is always a big StuCo issue and it’s always something we try to focus on.

In your opinion, what is a strong misconception about StuCo? We have no power. If we stretch something enough, we can get something done. I mean, everything we do and everything you enjoy here like dances, that’s us. We have the power to stop that. I mean, we’re obviously not going to do that. I don’t want students to think that we’re power hungry people sitting inside of a little room every Wednesday morning. We don’t always crave power, but it’s not as if we don’t have any power at all. We just don’t flex it a lot. We do what’s necessary and we do what we need to do.

What are your thoughts on the success of lack of success of the Can-Drive this year?

Well, I guess it was sort of like we won a lot of “battles”, but we lost the “war”. The huge battle we won was the Bachelor Auction. I mean, wow. I was the auctioneer, and just standing up there and seeing how many people were there and watching Will Cray and Nick Kraske go for 500 cans, I was astounded. That is a lot. Last year’s Bachelor Auction was really successful for a first time thing and then we quickly realized that this is the one event that goes on here that StuCo created that doesn’t need a lot of people, it just needs people that are there to bid. Having tons of people there doesn’t matter, but it makes it so much more fun when there are a lot of people there. This year was amazing because there were so many people there. That was the single biggest fundraiser this year. We received the most cans from that. So that alone was a huge success, but overall I admit the Can-Drive was not as good as last year. I mean, last year the fourth floor near the counseling hallway, you literally couldn’t recognize it because there were so many cans. Yoda mentioned in previous years, they had to worry about the load on the fourth floor and that it might collapse. That wasn’t the story this year. There’s always the competition between Drill Team vs. Cheerleaders, but you know this was sort of a re-building year, getting traditions back in place for next year, which hopefully will be a better year. So, in a lot of ways it was a success and in a lot of ways, it was a failure.

What has been topic of discussion lately during meetings?

The Can-Drive. Right now, and we’re still counting, we have 6,000 cans and we’ve also raised at least 3,000 dollars, but probably more. We’re wrapping that up now. I think we’re about the same as we were last year with the Can-Drive, but I know we wanted to go higher. I don’t know if it’s because of the economy or just because people don’t care as much as they used to, it just seems like it was hard to get students to participate.

It was hard to get every body involved as opposed to 10 years ago when they were probably raising close to 15,000 cans.

What is one thing you want the student body of East to know about StuCo? I don’t think people realize enough about everything we actually do for the school as well as charity. We donate a lot to the Johnson County Christmas Bureau as well as other charities and we put on all of the dances and fundraisers.

I just think people overlook all of the work we put into those events. I think if they realized all of that work then we would have a lot more participation.

Can you give a brief preview of second semester, since we’re at the halfway point in the year?

Second semester, we’re doing StuCo Ball which is an inner ball with all the Stucos around the districts and everyone asks a date outside of their school’s StuCo to the dance. This year we’re having it at West, and then next year we’ll have it at a different school. The money goes towards the Johnson County Christmas Bureau and it’s in January, but we haven’t decided on a date yet.

CAROLYN WELTER Executive board President

What changes do you think still need to be made?

JACK KOVARIK Executive board Treasurer

Public Relations Co-chair

JOE SIMMONS

Describe a typical StuCo meeting.

Well, it usually starts around 7:10 AM with the joke of the day just to lighten every body’s mood and gets them excited to be there. Then, we just go through the agenda. We have an agenda board or we just make sure everyone is up to date on things and we have sign ups for different things.

We also do class and committee reports where all of the different classes and committees have to share what’s going on. It’s just time for us to regroup an make sure everything is on the right track.

What changes do you still think need to be made?

I think within student council, there’s a lack of effort with things and then they don’t follow through sometimes.

There’s just sometimes a lack of enthusiasm, or wanting to be a part of StuCo. We’re trying to enforce the idea that you need to follow through with things and that there will be consequences if they don’t. We have a demerit system set up right now, so we can and will kick people off of StuCo if they aren’t being proactive, or aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing. They signed up for it, so it’s something they should be willing to do. We’ve had problems with that a little bit, but for the most part everyone does a good job at what they are supposed to be doing.

What has been a topic of discussion lately at meetings?

We’ve been talking about the Can-Drive a lot. I think this year was more challenging compared to past years. I feel like the execs tried and we put a lot of effort into trying to raise awareness. I mean, we went into seminars and tried to spread the word on the announcements just to try to get people to bring cans in. For some reason, people didn’t. They were just lazy. Compared to past years, I feel like we really tried to get people to participate and care. We just want to help and do as best as we can. It’s about the same as it has been in past years. We got a lot more money donations this year rather than cans. For the most part it’s about the same.

How have you tried to keep the student body’s voice in mind while still trying to voice your own opinions?

We really don’t do anything without the consent of all of StuCo, and for me, that is a pretty accurate representation of the student body because we have such a diverse group of people on StuCo who are passionate about the school and so we keep that in mind, doing what all of student council wants to do.

student council is getting down to

BUSINESS

StuCo members discuss changes this year and plans for second semester written by Kennedy Burgess | photos by Brendan Duloherry

FEATURES | 11

OTHER FEATURES THAT MAKE A VISIT WORTHWHILE

ARTIST OF THE WEEK

In the style of the music videos of MTV Hits and VH1, Homegrown Editor Andrew Beasley has set in motion a section of the site featuring original music videos by local East bands. Using ideas from the band and staff members, the online team will be producing original video content to showcase the talent of bands like Organized Mess, pictured below. “My favorite thing about the music videos is how much fun they are to make,” videographer and senior Spencer Davis said.

“Going with Beasley and thinking of creative shots and doing hilarious things is some of the most fun I have on staff.”

WHAT THE EDITORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT

HOMEGROWN EDITOR ANDREW BEASLEY The Homegrown section of the website features a different artist from the East student body. Each feature displays pieces of artwork from the student that you can peruse at your leisure. Above is a drawing by senior CASSIE STERBENZ. “When I draw, I am not just making something that will look nice,” Sterbenz said of her art. “It needs something behind it.”

FREQUENT FRIDAYS

If you can’t make it to a particular Frequent Friday show, make sure to check back in the Homegrown section for full recordings of each show. Make sure to leave feedback for the actors in the comment section!

EAST MUSIC

ALONG WITH FEATURING ARTISTS OF THE WEEK, THE SITE WILL NOW HAVE ORIGINAL BAND MUSIC VIDEOS

WHAT’S HAPPENING @ SMEHARBINGER.NET

HOMEGROWN

“We’re trying to add some entertainment to the Homegrown section.

Since big events like Bunch of Bands do not happen too often, music videos offer us a fun way to help the bands get some publicity. We’ll be filming them for any East bands that are willing. Our eventual hope is to start a VH1-style streaming channel.”

VIDEOGRAPHER SPENCER DAVIS “Homegrown Editor Andrew Beasley asked me to help him film this project, and I thought it’d be a fantastic way to get more creative filmmaking on the site. Plus, we got to work with Organized Mess and ask ladies to marry us.”

CHECK OUT THE NEW ‘COMMUNITY’ TAB IN THE NEWS SECTION, HIGHLIGHTING HUMAN INTEREST STORIES PHOTO EDITOR GRANT KENDALL

Get the full scoop on musical artists at East on the EAST MUSIC tab of the Homegrown section.

Check out photos and listen to actual samples of their work.

Find out students’ favorite artists, biggest inspirations and training activities.

12 | ONLINE

While the site already features local news, school news, U.S. news and world news section, the Homegrown section is introducing a new angle of coverage: the community tab. In essence, the section of the site will capture the everday stories of students and people around the community that are not always told—the interesting things that people don’t see on the surface. Working with photos, audio clips and video footage, staffers will be producing media that will be browsable by anyone with an internet connection. Check back frequently to see new content.

“Every few weeks, we will be following a student during a typical day, telling their story through photographs and audio clips.

The goal of the project is to find students whose stories need to be told— stories that aren’t always on the surface, which will inspire and make viewers feel true emotion.”

A CLOSER LOOK AT LOCAL TALK THOMAS PETRIE

“

Petrie is the band’s guitarist. He enjoys choir at East. “I realized [after guitar lessons] music was going to be one of the most important things in my life,” Petrie said.

SMASHING SUCCESS

Student band

The drummer was heating up a chimichanga when he heard it. The bassist heard it while at a Chambers event. One guitarist heard it huddled around a radio at a friends house, the other while doing homework in the kitchen.

Four boys, all in separate places, connected together by one thing: a song on the radio. The boys, more well known by their band’s name, Local Talk, listened to their track ”Electrocution,” on Alice 102 at 6 o’clock on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Local Talk, which consists of four male juniors, Max Braasch, Ian Harmon, Thomas Petrie and Gardner Grantham, have GARDNER GRANTHAM always been brought together by their music. *** Local Talk has come a long way from the basement they started out playing in. In their year and a half of being together, the band has been Grantham is the band’s lead performed at events and venues in the community and recorded their vocalist. He enjoys woodshop. debut album “Local Talk EP.” “I started loving rock and roll Last year, they slaved away at an original album that they shared with their family and friends. Recently, one of the hosts of Alice 102 got when I started playing guitar,” a hold of the album and wanted to broadcast one of the songs. He called Grantham said.

Grantham and asked him questions about their background and told them that Local Talk was going to be on the radio. This was the first time their song was played on a popular radio station at a prime time.

“I was so glad that our music finally went somewhere even if nothing came from it,” Grantham said.

The band was started by Harmon, Grantham and Braasch. Harmon and Grantham were starting to get involved with music and guitar lessons. They were playing around one day and had the idea of starting a band. They knew their friend Braasch played the drums so they talked it over and the idea was an overall success. The boys discussed with their friends that played instruments and after a long list of members, Local Talk had finally landed on their final four: Grantham, Harmon, Braasch and Thomas Petrie.

Braasch is the band’s drummer.

Ever since the band started, Harmon, Grantham and Braasch have been the only steady members. Petrie was added about a year and a half Outside of the band, he enjoys ago and Braasch believes this is the most cohesive group that Local Talk fishing. “My whole life I have loved music,” Braasch said. “But has been through.

“I think we all understand music equally, so we know what sounds I didn’t really take it seriously good and what sounds bad,” Grantham said, “and we are all very acuntil I moved to KC in 2004.” cepting to new ideas of how to play something or write something.”

Their understanding of each others’ music taste came from similar musical backgrounds. Harmon’s father was in a band, which gave him the desire to learn an instrument. Harmon started out playing the trombone; however, he believed that this instrument was not going to get him anywhere because he “felt too restricted.” He wanted to write his own music and be able to sing. In sixth grade, he decided to begin guitar lessons. He never had to be told to practice because he loved it so much, and did not get the chance to sing seriously until he joined choir at school, where he was able to experiment with professional music.

“I don’t want to be too cheesy, “ Harmon said, “but the reason I find music so intriguing is that it has been around for a long time and I think it is cool to know that you can shut the outside world off and play a Harmon is the band’s lead guitar- piece of music written 500 years ago.” ist. He enjoys choir. “I started For Braasch, this was not the first band he was ever a part of. In playing trombone then switched to 2004, he started playing the drums and this was been the only real

“

MAX BRAASCH

“

IAN HARMON

“

guitar,” Harmon said.

starts to gain a ttention ige Hes

written byPa

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instrument that he has ever played. In elementary school, he was in a band that was basically run by the parents instead of the members.

Braasch was not great friends with the members so he did not enjoy the experience. He gets along with the members of Local Talk so well that he enjoys going to practice and they are able to get all of their songs and rhythms done within a decent amount of time.

“The thing [about music] that intrigues me the most is that it is totally made by you and interpreted by you” Braasch said. “When writing a song you have total control over the music and that is pretty cool to do.

There is so much music I listen to that there I always something new, which keeps it fresh and exciting.”

Petrie agrees that when he plays or listens to a song that he is feeling, everything stops and he is in his own world for those few minutes.

Petrie believes that his musical taste comes form his family because his mother was a great musician. This led him to try playing a lot of instruments as a child before finding one he enjoyed: he started with violin and clarinet in elementary school, but was not inspired until seventh grade when he began taking guitar lessons.

“After taking lessons for a while, I played an acoustic version of “Read My Mind” by the Killers with my guitar teacher,” Petrie said. “I realized music was going to be one of the most important things in my life.”

Like Braasch, Grantham’s father listens to classic rock types of music, inspiring Gardner to do the same. The boys all share this musical taste and understand music equally, a key factor in the group’s ability to succeed. They have known each other since elementary school so they’re aware of how to act around one another in order to get work done.

“We all know what sounds good and what sounds bad,” Grantham says. “We are all very accepting to new ideas how to play something or write something.”

As of now, Local Talk performs at private parties and events through the school and community. They played at a basketball tournament at East, First Fridays at the Crossroads in downtown KC and runs like the Dragon Dash and Trolley Run. Their favorite event was at this year’s Bunch of Bands competition at East because whole crowd was into the performance and they were pumped up. They tied for first place at the competition, which is just another step forward for this local band.

The band has been recording their second album over the past couple weeks. All of their songs are original and a collaborative effort within the group. One of them may come up with a beat or verse and they all bounce ideas off of each other. According to Petrie, none of them are afraid to correct each other or share their opinions. They believe it is constructive criticism and they are able to improve from each others’ input.

The group is unsure about their future and are just “going with the flow,” according to Harmon. Local Talk is considered a fun thing to do for the members and they are wanting to work hard this upcoming album. They are planning on spending more focus this time around on recording and producing a really well thought out album.

“I want to keep playing with these guys for as long as possible” Braasch said. “Obviously with college creeping up we may be separated from one another but nothing is for sure.”

FEATURES | 13

S

SHE SHALL INHERIT

EARTH the

SOPHOMORE USES ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM AS AN EXPRESSIVE OUTLET written by Greta Nepstad | photo by Marisa Walton

“I work for the environment because I feel the need to do my part. Even if what I myself do can’t make a huge difference, we have to start somewhere.”

14 | FEATURES

“It is rewarding to me to know that I can quietly support what I believe in. I like the feeling that I’m preserving what we’ve had in the past for both now and the future.”

“I hope to do this for life—in the future I could see myself working in renewable energy and materials.”

—SOPHOMORE ADA THROCKMORTON

ophomore Ada Throckmorton first fell in love with nature when she was a little girl. Her family would take annual trips to the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colo.

That’s when Throckmorton started to notice that the snow caps were getting smaller and smaller with each visit, and huge chunks of the forests were turning red.

After doing some research, she learned that the red forests are caused by global climate changes. Because the temperature keeps rising, a type of bug called the pine beetle reproduces earlier than the birds do.

Without the birds to eat them, the beetles thrive and turn tree after tree red.

Since then, Throckmorton has dedicated her time to raising awareness of the environmental issues that are prevalent today.

“It’s such a surreal state to be in nature,” Throckmorton said. “To see our plastic bottles or candy wrappers that are so obviously alien objects, it just deteriorates the whole feeling.”

Because she felt this way, Throckmorton decided to become an active member of the environmental club. She is dedicated to raising the awareness of her fellow students at SM East. She also hopes that through the club, she can improve the state of the environment.

She has attended conventions and discussions that focus on environmental problems, and has gone to see documentaries, including one titled “An Inconvenient Truth.” This film, narrated by Al Gore, discusses the deadly impacts on the environment done by climate change. The movie had a “huge impact” on Throckmorton: it opened her eyes toward the scientific basis behind climate change.

The environmental club, sponsored by science teacher Rusty DeBey, is a small, low profile club—on average, 10 students at East are members each year.

Freshman Emily Perkins Rock joined environmental club to be more involved with East. Perkins Rock admires Throckmorton, who has a huge impact on the club by running the Facebook page and planning the agenda for each meeting. “[Throckmorton] is really great and comes every Tuesday,” Perkins Rock said.

“She always has something to say and something to add to the discussions.”

Throckmorton’s passion for the environment has grown throughout the years. She gets frustrated when she sees people deliberately ignoring the climate changes.

“It’s our future,” Throckmorton said. “It’s not ethically right—degrading our futures, and our children’s futures.”

And yet, every day, she sees a cafeteria full of students who throw away their plastic bottles. The blue plastic recycling bins are two feet away, but Throckmorton has observed that they mostly go ignored.

“Yes, it’s easier to dump your whole tray at once, but what else are you going to do with those two seconds? Get to class a little faster? I don’t think that’s significant,” Throckmorton said.

The environmental club tried to raise the awareness of their fellow students through a recycling contest: in the weeks that stretched between Oct. 17-28, they handed out raffle tickets to those who recycled—

not just their water bottles, but their plastic bags and biodegradable items. The student who recycled the most was presented with a bag of candy.

The environmental club was proud of this project, but Throckmorton felt that they could have done more. She feels that perhaps the students at East would care more if the environmental club could supply a visual.

For example, Throckmorton has noticed that some sporting events don’t use reusable water bottles like the football teams do. If the environmental club could somehow create a visual to represent the amount of plastic being thrown away, Throckmorton feels that they could reach out to more students.

Although Throckmorton hopes to spread her love of nature and passion for the environment, she realizes that undergoing changes, no matter how small, takes dedication.

“I just try to do my best to live ecofriendly for myself, because it’s hard to change other people’s minds and ways,” Throckmorton said, “so you just have to start with your own.”

Throckmorton’s family also tries to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. They do their laundry with cold water, and only at night to conserve as much energy as possible. They drive hybrid cars. They always turn their lights out. They don’t leave appliances like cell phone chargers and toasters plugged in all day.

“Little things add up,” Throckmorton said. “We’ll never make a difference if we don’t start small.”

Throckmorton’s found her one true passion: the preservation of the environment.

She plans on making a career out of it.

“Once you’ve found that thing, you might as well stick with it,” Throckmorton said.

She likes the idea of “outreach,” which is a title she’s given to someone who spreads awareness by speaking at public events and supplying information about climate changes. She would also consider being a policy maker or working as an environmental engineer.

If everyone at East cared about their environment as much as Throckmorton and the rest of the environmental club did, Throckmorton believes that the future might look brighter because so much that goes on is “so easily preventable.”

According to planetpals.com the energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a TV for three hours, which is equal to half a can of gasoline. The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can light a traditional light bulb for four hours. To recycle aluminum cans takes 90 percent less energy than to make a new one. Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil.

There are solutions out there, and Throckmorton wishes that more people would try and apply them to their every day lives.

“Of course it take a lot of energy to switch to a new energy source or drive a hybrid car, but that’s not necessarily reasonable,” Throckmorton said. “But if everyone recycled and used less energy and less water—those little things will help a lot.”

This sign, above, on the Stratton’s front door reads “Thankful Hearts Welcome Here.” The Strattons value each and every day with Brady and are always aiming to be thankful.

Sophomore Corinne Stratton, left, holds her older sister Brady in her arms. Corinne helps feed, dress and take care of Brady.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

written by Katie Knight | photos by Brady Stratton may be the only 21 year old who still eats baby food. She is living with Trisomy 18 which restricts her speech so that she can’t tell her family when she’s feeling sick or if something hurts; she can’t even get to the next room by herself.

Dark-haired, brown-eyed Brady’s favorite baby food flavor is bananas and strawberries. When it’s sophomore Corinne Stratton’s turn to feed her, giving her this flavor always makes the job go a little bit faster since she won’t stick her tongue out and refuse it like she would with the others.

Corinne straps on Brady’s blue bib, twists the lid off the jar and scoops out a spoonful.

She then helps open Brady’s mouth, slides the spoon in and waits until she swallows.

She then turns her attention the the TV and watches “The Office” for a few minutes until Brady has burped; if she tries to feed her before that, she’ll throw up Corinne repeats until an hour has passed and there isn’t a scrap left in the jar.

Trisomy 18, or Edward’s Syndrome, is a genetic disorder that causes complete dependency on other people to take care of them. People living with Trisomy 18 cannot speak for themselves, feed themselves or even walk. According to PubMed Health, 50 percent of children born with this disease don’t make it past their first week, and those who do make it to teenage years live with serious medical conditions and developmental problems, rarely making it to adulthood.

In the Stratton family’s eyes, this makes Brady a miracle.

“I kind of started preparing [to lose Brady,] but that was just hard because it was when we were after delivery, and you know a mom is so emotional,” Kim Stratton, Corinne and Brady’s mother, said. “It was an older man doctor. He said, ‘you need to prepare yourself because she’s not going to live past a couple weeks’ so it was very emotional. It made me thankful that we had

15 | FEATURES

Sophomore is molded as a person and is closer to her family because of her sister, Brady, who has Trisomy 18

Hiba Aktar her.”

Brady was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 three days before she was born. According to Kim, doctors had seen small red flags throughout the pregnancy, such as an abnormal amount of fluid in the womb and low weight of the fetus, but were only able to confirm the diagnosis near the end of the pregnancy due to lack of medical technology during that time.

“We got our emotions out that day of course,” Kim said. “It was nice to be able to have that time before she came. I’ve heard [stories about] other Trisomy 18s who didn’t know the results [prior.] So we just had our cries.”

Despite their five year age difference, Corinne has always felt like the older sister.

During childhood, she was often jealous of the amount of attention Brady received.

Corinne was especially resentful when Brady got to share a bed with Kim, who decided she needed to be with her in case Brady had a seizure. As Corinne grew up, those feelings of jealousy began to fade, and she began to warm up to Brady.

Corinne even babysits, which doesn’t take much more than just sitting in the same room with her to keep an eye on her.

When in the mood, Corinne will play music from “High School Musical” and dance around Brady in the living room to get her to laugh.

“I guess it doesn’t seem like she’s an older sister really. It’s like taking care of a little sister, or even a baby,” Corinne said. “You have to feed her and she can’t get dressed on her own, so you have to do everything for her because she doesn’t understand.”

Taking on the role of Brady’s favorite babysitter has come with its benefits, according to Corinne. She has evolved into a much more nurturing and empathetic person because of having Brady in her life.

“It’s easy to see how much she loves us,” Corinne said. “She gives us hugs and shows

us how she loves us and that’s taught me a lot of care. I know I can be more caring because of her. I think [what I’ve learned from taking care of her] does make me a more caring person because I’ve known how to do that.”

Without Brady, the Strattons know they would be a completely different family.

Brady has brought them together, especially with the responsibility of caring for her. The Strattons switch off responsibilities with Brady like feeding, waking her up and putting her to bed, and dressing her. By seeing the way Brady lives happily, though it may not be like most people do, she has taught them to keep a wide perspective on certain things in life, have empathy, especially for families in similar situations, and humility.

“We wouldn’t be the same family if we didn’t have [Brady,]” Kim said. “When you’re down and depressed, she helps us look at life with gratitude. I think we’re more nurturing, definitely a nurturing family.”

With their very structured schedule, everyday life for the Strattons is quite a bit different from typical families. Feeding Brady takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, and she needs to be put sleep at certain times everyday, or else she’ll get cranky and start screaming. This prevents them from doing things in public very often, like going out for dinner together or taking vacations. “[The worst part is] not being able to go as a family all together just out,” Kim said.

“She can’t regulate her body temp, so with certain weather we can’t take her out. So, because of her needs, we have to sacrifice our wants a lot of times. So i think that’s taught us about our faith.”

After Brady was born, each of them were tested for being carriers of Trisomy 18 and both Brad and Kim turned out negative. For this reason, during Brady’s first few years, they began to question their faith and grow farther away from God.

“My parents, I’m sure Brad’s parents too, they were kind of doubting God,” Kim said.

“So I remember talking to my mom and they were questioning God, like ‘why is this happening to us?’ It kind of made me think that I wasn’t the only one [thinking that.]”

After just a few years of living with Brady, the Strattons had a change of heart. They began to realize the value of having Brady in their lives and how much of a blessing she was. They began to notice little things, like how, despite her disability, Brady knows who her family is. When she sees someone she recognizes as her family, Brady will reach her arms out and pull them close to her and a big grin spreads across her face.

Even when her family’s car pulls into her driveway she’ll start laughing happily because she knows that she is home.

“Over the years, I really feel like our families have seen why God blessed us with her and how she is like a gift that he gave us,” Kim said. “She has a purpose in our life, and I feel like she has brought us closer to God. I don’t know if we would be the same person if we did not have her. She brings so much unconditional love.”

Brady has specifically taught Corinne how to have strong faith and to be thankful for each day she gets to spend with Brady.

“There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with [Brady,]” Corinne said. “And my faith would definitely be different if I didn’t have that to really be thankful for, like God chose us to take care of her and have that really big responsibility.”

For now, the Strattons are looking at every day they get to spend with Brady as a blessing and not something that they just have to deal with.

“Corinne used the word ‘gift,’ and we’ve always looked at it that way,” Brad said.

“But it’s a gift with responsibilities. The best gifts are the ones that are truly unique, but in this case the uniqueness comes with responsibility of caring for her.”

NOT JUST A FACE IN THE CROWD

Harbinger pays tribute to six phenomenal East graduates and the impact they have made on the written by Erin Reilly | photos courtesy of The Hauberk

16 | SPREAD

“

After graduating in 1989, Carmack went on to become the lead programmer of the video game “Doom,” which pioneered the way for other first—person shooter games.

Aside from programming, Carmack also became the co—founder of id Software, a video game development company that spawned the “Dangerous Dean” series, the “Commander Keen” series and the “Doom” series.

“It’s important to see someone who did something with his life. You realize that you can have big dreams and do cool stuff like that, too.”

PRODUCER OF ‘MADAGASCAR’ Eric Darnell

Darnell is a Harbinger alumni Darnell’s writing and videography skills helped him get accepted into California Institute of the Arts. He became intrigued by the film industry, and started dabbling in every aspect. After making his directorial debut for R.E.M.’s music video “Get Up,” he directed the animated film “Antz,” for which he also produced and wrote, and was a story artist for “Shrek.” He is best known as the mastermind behind the “Madagascar” film franchise, which he directed, wrote and produced. He featured an early screening of “Madagascar” at his old elementary school, Briarwood.

It was well received by both students and teachers.

LAURA METZ

BROADWAY STAR Nancy Opel

Opel has achieved what most actors on Broadway hope for: being a part of multiple critically acclaimed casts and a nomination for a Tony award. After earning a degree in performing arts from Julliard, she participated in revivals of several Broadway classics, including Evita, Anything Goes and Gypsy. She played the title character in the first national tour of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. However, her most successful role was her portrayal of Penelope Pennywise in the Urinetown, for which she was nominated for a Tony in the category of Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She now works as an acting coach in Manhattan, NY, where she resides with her partner and two daughters.

MATCH THAT GRAD

PHIL McGRAW

JUNIOR

JASON SUDEIKUS

COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR

Cameron

John D. Carmack

ANSWER KEY

SUPERSTARS

A look at four additional Shawnee Mission district graduates

An East graduate in 1969, Bergman started out performing in several Broadway productions, including A Chorus Line,and Pippin. She gained acclaim for her role in A Chorus Line since it had some of the best actors of the time in the cast, but then moved t—o Hollywood to pursue a career in film. She landed her first major film role as one of the muses in “Xanadu.” However, her career peaked with her portrayal as Valeria opposite Arnold Schwarzenneger in “Conan the Barbarian.” For this role, she won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. She later appeared in more minor roles in films like “Airplane! 2” and “Red Sonja.” As of late, she has appeared in several episodes of “Law and Order.”

Sandahl Bergman

1. Sandahl Bergman 2. Grant Wahl 3. Bruce Cameron

SHAWNEE MISSION

it was a thankless job, and that “you only got noticed if you screw up.”

After three years, he began to seriously look to further his career. Around this time, ESPN The Magazine had just entered the reporting world and tried to hire Wahl away from Sports Illustrated as a full—time writer.

However, Sports Illustrated matched ESPN’s offer, so he remained at the publication, finally achieving the opportunity to work his dream job.

One of his favorite stories that he wrote was a feature about a promising high school athlete named Lebron James. The headline “The Chosen One,” which later became one of James’s tattoos.

Wahl’s career gained critical attention after co-writing the article “Where’s Daddy?,” an expose on the rising number of children born out—of—wedlock to professional basketball players. The success of this article led to his appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for the article.

Since writing this article, Wahl has covered three Olympic Games, 12 NCAA basketball championships, five World Cups and has written over 240 articles with 31 cover stories. He also wrote the New York Times bestselling novel The Beckham Experiment.

Just like his days as a cross—country runner, he had a goal in sight. But he doesn’t forget the friends and the lessons that he learned along the way.

“Most people meet their lifelong friends in college,” Wahl said. “For me, it’s the guys that I went on the long cross country runs with.

They’re a group of great guys who I still talk to and see every year.”

W. Bruce

FOUNDER OF iD SOFTWARE

GOLDEN GLOBE RECIPIENT

4. Nancy Opel

Cross-country runs have been called everything from “the seventh circle of hell” to “a blissful burst of endorphins.” For Grant Wahl, cross-country was his greatest teacher, aside from his eighth grade creative writing teacher Judy Dunfeth. The sport taught him that it takes hard work and motivation to be truly successful. Now working as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Wahl credits much of his success to his experiences at East, like running cross-country.

“East taught me that no matter how talented you are, the talent means nothing if you aren’t working hard,” Wahl said. “They don’t baby you. I probably got less sleep in high school than I did in college. But it was worth it, because East allows you to explore many different potential areas of study.”

Unlike many of his fellow classmates, Wahl said, he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he graduated.

“I was dumb enough to mention to a few of my friends that I wanted to work for Sports Illustrated,” Wahl said, “I became ‘that guy’ and it became a kind of joke amongst my friends.”

Despite his friends’ teasing, Wahl was determined to secure his spot and took their comments in stride. He worked on the Hauberk during high school and wrote for the Princeton newspaper The Daily Princetonian. He got his foot in the door after being recommended by David Remnick, a writer for Sports Illustrated for the post of fact checker for Sports Illustrated. This was especially important to Wahl, since Remnick was one of the people that inspired Wahl to want to work for Sports Illustrated. He called

Grant Wahl

“

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED WRITER

Author W. Bruce Cameron will accredit much of his writing talent from his high school English teacher, Mrs. Stucker, who through “marine sergeant—like drilling” of expository writing solidified much of his editing and voice skills. He already knew he wanted to be a writer, and in sold his first story he ever tried to publish to the Star Magazine while attending East.

However, Cameron soon learned that getting published is rarely ever that easy.

After getting out of college, Cameron worked several day jobs ranging from finance at General Motors to programming software startups, but finally settled down in the mountains of Colorado and worked as a columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain Times.

It was a column called “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” that caused hundreds of letters to flood into Cameron’s mailbox.

“I’d touched a nerve — I knew I had something,” Cameron said.

The column was expanded into a novel of the same name, which spent time on the New York Times best sellers list and was then picked up by ABC as a T.V. series, for which Cameron wrote the third season.

Although he seems to have risen to prestige quite swiftly, Cameron claims the experience has been the complete opposite.

“It’s not like one day I’m sitting around in my boxers with three—day—old stubble and the next I’m on national television,” Cameron said.

“When I go out in public, I’m not stalked by people or bombarded for autographs. It’s a sad truth that authors are not superstars, but I also love the anonymity I still get to have alongside the success of my novels.”

PAUL RUDD

“Dr. Phil” television psychologist Shawnee Mission North graduate

Actor/Comedian

Shawnee Mission West graduate

Actor/Comedian Shawnee Mission West graduate

Host of the television talk show Dr. Phil

Repertoire player on Saturday Night Live

Starred in Clueless, Role Models and Knocked Up

His next best seller was titled “A Dog’s Purpose,” which chronicles a dog’s different purposes after being reincarnated three times throughout the course of the book.

“I wanted to write a dog book where the dog didn’t die, basically,” Cameron said. “It seems that in most of those types of books, the author just digs a hole and throws the dog in it. The End. I hate it!”

The film was picked up by Dreamworks Pictures, and the sequel is due out in May. When he’s not working on his columns, he enjoys writing thrillers and espionage novels.

He said he has written over 100 unpublished novels, though Cameron claims that “unpublishable” would be a more fitting term.

“I love to write complicated plots, but sometimes they get so intricate that I can’t even understand them.”

For this reason, he has found the most success for writing humor columns. Even though he claims it’s one of the toughest genres to write, he loves the challenge.

“I got better responses from readers when I wrote funny stuff,” Cameron said. “That’s why I loved writing “A Dog’s Purpose”; I got to touch on serious themes, but I still was able to make it enjoyable. I laughed out loud more than once while writing it.”

Concerning plans for the future, Cameron plans to continue to do what he loves: writing.

“I’m very fortunate for the success of my novels, but I really don’t care too much about the money or fame aspect,” Cameron said. “Their success has enabled me to be able to keep doing what I do without worrying about financial problems. I’m very lucky for that.”

JOHN LEHR Actor

Shawnee Mission West graduate Portrayed a caveman on the GEICO commercials

SPREAD | 17

NOT JUST A FACE IN THE CROWD

Harbinger pays tribute to six phenomenal East graduates and the impact they have made on the written by Erin Reilly | photos courtesy of The Hauberk

16 | SPREAD

“

After graduating in 1989, Carmack went on to become the lead programmer of the video game “Doom,” which pioneered the way for other first—person shooter games.

Aside from programming, Carmack also became the co—founder of id Software, a video game development company that spawned the “Dangerous Dean” series, the “Commander Keen” series and the “Doom” series.

“It’s important to see someone who did something with his life. You realize that you can have big dreams and do cool stuff like that, too.”

PRODUCER OF ‘MADAGASCAR’ Eric Darnell

Darnell is a Harbinger alumni Darnell’s writing and videography skills helped him get accepted into California Institute of the Arts. He became intrigued by the film industry, and started dabbling in every aspect. After making his directorial debut for R.E.M.’s music video “Get Up,” he directed the animated film “Antz,” for which he also produced and wrote, and was a story artist for “Shrek.” He is best known as the mastermind behind the “Madagascar” film franchise, which he directed, wrote and produced. He featured an early screening of “Madagascar” at his old elementary school, Briarwood.

It was well received by both students and teachers.

LAURA METZ

BROADWAY STAR Nancy Opel

Opel has achieved what most actors on Broadway hope for: being a part of multiple critically acclaimed casts and a nomination for a Tony award. After earning a degree in performing arts from Julliard, she participated in revivals of several Broadway classics, including Evita, Anything Goes and Gypsy. She played the title character in the first national tour of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone. However, her most successful role was her portrayal of Penelope Pennywise in the Urinetown, for which she was nominated for a Tony in the category of Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She now works as an acting coach in Manhattan, NY, where she resides with her partner and two daughters.

MATCH THAT GRAD

PHIL McGRAW

JUNIOR

JASON SUDEIKUS

COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR

Cameron

John D. Carmack

ANSWER KEY

SUPERSTARS

A look at four additional Shawnee Mission district graduates

An East graduate in 1969, Bergman started out performing in several Broadway productions, including A Chorus Line,and Pippin. She gained acclaim for her role in A Chorus Line since it had some of the best actors of the time in the cast, but then moved t—o Hollywood to pursue a career in film. She landed her first major film role as one of the muses in “Xanadu.” However, her career peaked with her portrayal as Valeria opposite Arnold Schwarzenneger in “Conan the Barbarian.” For this role, she won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. She later appeared in more minor roles in films like “Airplane! 2” and “Red Sonja.” As of late, she has appeared in several episodes of “Law and Order.”

Sandahl Bergman

1. Sandahl Bergman 2. Grant Wahl 3. Bruce Cameron

SHAWNEE MISSION

it was a thankless job, and that “you only got noticed if you screw up.”

After three years, he began to seriously look to further his career. Around this time, ESPN The Magazine had just entered the reporting world and tried to hire Wahl away from Sports Illustrated as a full—time writer.

However, Sports Illustrated matched ESPN’s offer, so he remained at the publication, finally achieving the opportunity to work his dream job.

One of his favorite stories that he wrote was a feature about a promising high school athlete named Lebron James. The headline “The Chosen One,” which later became one of James’s tattoos.

Wahl’s career gained critical attention after co-writing the article “Where’s Daddy?,” an expose on the rising number of children born out—of—wedlock to professional basketball players. The success of this article led to his appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for the article.

Since writing this article, Wahl has covered three Olympic Games, 12 NCAA basketball championships, five World Cups and has written over 240 articles with 31 cover stories. He also wrote the New York Times bestselling novel The Beckham Experiment.

Just like his days as a cross—country runner, he had a goal in sight. But he doesn’t forget the friends and the lessons that he learned along the way.

“Most people meet their lifelong friends in college,” Wahl said. “For me, it’s the guys that I went on the long cross country runs with.

They’re a group of great guys who I still talk to and see every year.”

W. Bruce

FOUNDER OF iD SOFTWARE

GOLDEN GLOBE RECIPIENT

4. Nancy Opel

Cross-country runs have been called everything from “the seventh circle of hell” to “a blissful burst of endorphins.” For Grant Wahl, cross-country was his greatest teacher, aside from his eighth grade creative writing teacher Judy Dunfeth. The sport taught him that it takes hard work and motivation to be truly successful. Now working as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Wahl credits much of his success to his experiences at East, like running cross-country.

“East taught me that no matter how talented you are, the talent means nothing if you aren’t working hard,” Wahl said. “They don’t baby you. I probably got less sleep in high school than I did in college. But it was worth it, because East allows you to explore many different potential areas of study.”

Unlike many of his fellow classmates, Wahl said, he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he graduated.

“I was dumb enough to mention to a few of my friends that I wanted to work for Sports Illustrated,” Wahl said, “I became ‘that guy’ and it became a kind of joke amongst my friends.”

Despite his friends’ teasing, Wahl was determined to secure his spot and took their comments in stride. He worked on the Hauberk during high school and wrote for the Princeton newspaper The Daily Princetonian. He got his foot in the door after being recommended by David Remnick, a writer for Sports Illustrated for the post of fact checker for Sports Illustrated. This was especially important to Wahl, since Remnick was one of the people that inspired Wahl to want to work for Sports Illustrated. He called

Grant Wahl

“

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED WRITER

Author W. Bruce Cameron will accredit much of his writing talent from his high school English teacher, Mrs. Stucker, who through “marine sergeant—like drilling” of expository writing solidified much of his editing and voice skills. He already knew he wanted to be a writer, and in sold his first story he ever tried to publish to the Star Magazine while attending East.

However, Cameron soon learned that getting published is rarely ever that easy.

After getting out of college, Cameron worked several day jobs ranging from finance at General Motors to programming software startups, but finally settled down in the mountains of Colorado and worked as a columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain Times.

It was a column called “Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” that caused hundreds of letters to flood into Cameron’s mailbox.

“I’d touched a nerve — I knew I had something,” Cameron said.

The column was expanded into a novel of the same name, which spent time on the New York Times best sellers list and was then picked up by ABC as a T.V. series, for which Cameron wrote the third season.

Although he seems to have risen to prestige quite swiftly, Cameron claims the experience has been the complete opposite.

“It’s not like one day I’m sitting around in my boxers with three—day—old stubble and the next I’m on national television,” Cameron said.

“When I go out in public, I’m not stalked by people or bombarded for autographs. It’s a sad truth that authors are not superstars, but I also love the anonymity I still get to have alongside the success of my novels.”

PAUL RUDD

“Dr. Phil” television psychologist Shawnee Mission North graduate

Actor/Comedian

Shawnee Mission West graduate

Actor/Comedian Shawnee Mission West graduate

Host of the television talk show Dr. Phil

Repertoire player on Saturday Night Live

Starred in Clueless, Role Models and Knocked Up

His next best seller was titled “A Dog’s Purpose,” which chronicles a dog’s different purposes after being reincarnated three times throughout the course of the book.

“I wanted to write a dog book where the dog didn’t die, basically,” Cameron said. “It seems that in most of those types of books, the author just digs a hole and throws the dog in it. The End. I hate it!”

The film was picked up by Dreamworks Pictures, and the sequel is due out in May. When he’s not working on his columns, he enjoys writing thrillers and espionage novels.

He said he has written over 100 unpublished novels, though Cameron claims that “unpublishable” would be a more fitting term.

“I love to write complicated plots, but sometimes they get so intricate that I can’t even understand them.”

For this reason, he has found the most success for writing humor columns. Even though he claims it’s one of the toughest genres to write, he loves the challenge.

“I got better responses from readers when I wrote funny stuff,” Cameron said. “That’s why I loved writing “A Dog’s Purpose”; I got to touch on serious themes, but I still was able to make it enjoyable. I laughed out loud more than once while writing it.”

Concerning plans for the future, Cameron plans to continue to do what he loves: writing.

“I’m very fortunate for the success of my novels, but I really don’t care too much about the money or fame aspect,” Cameron said. “Their success has enabled me to be able to keep doing what I do without worrying about financial problems. I’m very lucky for that.”

JOHN LEHR Actor

Shawnee Mission West graduate Portrayed a caveman on the GEICO commercials

SPREAD | 17

NOT JUST

SHOOTING BREEZE THE

Junior competes in regional and world trapshooting competitions

Junior Shane Parcels, works on his trapshooting skills at Powder Creek, the shooting range he practices at. written by Jennifer Rorie| photo by Alic Erpelding Junior Shane Parcels jr. was four when he shot his first petitions alone, Parcels shot against people from Czechoslogun. He was in the backyard of his Overland Park home on vakia, Yugoslavia, Poland and New Zealand. the Fourth of July holding the gun his dad, Shane Parcels “I couldn’t understand a word they said,” Shane jr. said. sr., bought in 1989 at a mall in Wyandotte County. Shane sr. “But the whole thing was a fun experience.” was supporting his back so he wouldn’t fall down from the Shane jr. has done well on both the local and world stagrecoil the gun puts out after it is shot. es when it comes to trapshooting, placing second in state “It is fun, getting out and getting away from everyday and his team placing in to top 50 at the world competition. life, and getting to do things that not everyone gets the op- According to Shane jr. a big part of that is attributed to his portunity to do,” Shane jr. said. coach Kevin Malone and his dad. To Shane sr. shooting has Shane jr. now, is mainly competing on the local stage in been a place for them to build a relationship and memories. trapshooting participating in competitions all over Missouri “ I was proud seeing him run his first perfect round of 25 and Kansas. From the fall handicap in Kansas to competing straight,” Shane sr. said. “It was super big to me because it in the Ozarks or Wichita about once every month. To the took a lot of time and effort to get there.”

World Dhampionships in Illinois.

Last May Shane jr. competed in the Youth Hunters EduThe competition circuit goes year-round. Parcels some- cation Challenge where he was challenged in areas of artimes shoots every weekend for three months, to not com- chery, shotgun shooting, 22 millimeter rifle shooting, oripeting for three to four weeks at a time. The schedule he enteering, and wildlife identification. Shane jr. had never maintains makes it difficult to keep up with his Advanced participated in a competition in archery or orienteering or Placement school work. wildlife before. However, he took first place. To Shane sr.

“It is really hard to find that balance and then I start this was one of the proudest moments he has of Shane jr. freaking out because I’m not getting all my work done and “I thought he would do well in some of the areas like the more stressed I am, the worse I shoot,” Shane jr. said. shooting,” Shane sr. Said. “But I didn’t expect him to do that Parcels began competing in trapshooting his freshman well in all of the areas.” year. He competes with five friends from his shooting range, Shane jr. says, shooting isn’t just a physical sport, it is Powder Creek, in Lenexa. During competitions, the team- also a mind game. According to him, the key to shooting mates each stand at different stations and shoot clay pi- well is to have the right mindset. From the time he goes to geons that fly in different directions. They then rotate until bed the night before a competition to the standing on the each person has competed at each station. sidelines waiting for his turn, he feels he has to stay optimis“I like it because it is an individual challenge,” Shane jr. tic about his scores. However, often he can get distracted by said. “You get one shot and if you mess it up then you don’t school work and all of the stress of that is associated with get another chance.” that.

Parcels has competed in shooting competitions referred “You have to go to bed the night before in a mindset that to as shoots in the zone, or regional shoots and state shoots. you are going to come out tomorrow and shoot upper 90 He has even made it to World Championships twice in just scores and you are going to shoot perfect rounds,” Shane jr. three years of shooting competitively. In one round of com- said. “You have to wake up in that same mindset and you

the

Breakdown of Shane’s

Baretta 682

Trap Gun 18| Features

can’t let anything distract you.”

Shane jr. not only shoots competitively, he is also an avid hunter. Parcels shoots both with guns and bows, however he prefers the bow because of the challenge it poses. In the past five years, Parcels has missed only three weekends of deer season. The season lasts for three months. “[Deer hunting] is one of those things where you can go weeks without seeing one then out of nowhere you have one walk out in front of you and you get all shaky and excited,” Shane jr. said.

To Shane jr., shooting is not a “cheap man’s sport.” On an easy day of competition shooting Parcels can spend upwards of $200 on shells alone. The cost of shells, entering the competition and the gun itself adds up to the cost of his sport.

“At a competition you have guys carrying around$30,000-$40,000 shotguns,” Shane jr. said. “Shooting is a pre-madonna, rich person’s sport.”

Shane jr. hopes to have a bright future with his competitive shooting. Shane jr. plans on applying to West Point Academy and one day joining the army. If he doesn’t get accepted into his school of choice he plans, on attending a school with a shooting team such as Norwich University.

“I will probably go to college based upon it,” Shane jr. said. “If I don’t make it I’ll still shoot for fun, but I doubt they will let me keep my guns in my dorm.”

Shane jr. says, shooting is also way to blow off steam and relax at the end of the day. Whether he is shooting lying on his back on a rack holding the gun behind his head or shooting in the woods with his dad Parcels enjoys it. “[Shooting] is a feeling of excitement relief, adrenaline and happiness all mixed into one,” Shane jr. said. “It’s like driving really fast, you can’t explain it, but it is a good feeling.”

The Barrel 2 Recoil System 3 Adjustable Combo 1 “What “It has a nitrogen shock makes the barrel “I can change[the adjustso special is that it is completely adjustable.

I can make it shoot exactly where I want.”

hydrolic recoil system that takes all of the recoil out of the gun.”

able combo] to make it fit me and fit me only, which adds to the value of the gun.”

MIXED WHAT’ S IN YOUR BAG? NOVEMBER A PAGE ABOUT

STUDENT LIFE

written by Paige Hess | photos by Jake Crandall

NO-SHAVE

Thrift store receipt from bargain shopping

A look inside of senior Grace Martin’s everyday bag

Helpful hair accessory

STUDENTS SHARE THEIR RELIEF OF NOT HAVING TO SHAVE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

THE SCRUBS

THE FULL BEARD

Young adult novel “Looking For Alaska,” by cult favorite John Green

THE TRASH-STASH

GAMES

HOSTAGE

-JUNIOR NICK MARECK

-TEACHER NATHAN SOUTHWICK

GOOFY

East students talk about fun pastimes for the weekend

Trident Layers, the gumchewer’s essential

GUESS WHO?

The functional textured shoulder bag

SECRET SENIOR

-JUNIOR MAX WERNER

-SENIOR MORGAN SATTERLEE

This senior was always seen with his stuffed animal named Choppy.

He was obsessed with the movie “The Lion King.” He also loved to play with trucks—they were his favorite past time.

HISTORY OF HAIRINESS From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, November beards were common because the extra facial hair was believed to ward off evil spirits, invading foreigners, and the plague. Men were still forced to shave during the remaining 14 months to impress the fair maiden of his dreams. If a man rescued a fair maiden she would give her hand in marriage if he looked “kissably soft.”

“For the game hostage, the group splits into two teams. The teams then trade two members of their team for two of the other. These are the ones who are ‘kidnapped.’ They are then blindfolded and put in the opposing team’s car. They then drive around for 10 minutes and after that time they drop off the ‘kidnapped’ ones.

After they’ve been dropped off, they call their ‘home car’ to direct them to their location. The catch is that they have to do it without saying street names or addresses. The first car to pick up their members and drive back to a base wins.

MAFIA

“So when you play this game, there is the townspeople, a detective, the narrator, the nurse and the mafia.

The narrator tells everyone to go to sleep and the mafia mutually decides who the one person they want to ‘kill.’ Then the narrator wakes up the nurse and she has to pick one random person to save. Then, everyone wakes up and the narrator makes up some random story about how the person died, then you just start to talk and figure out who the mafia is.”

-JUNIOR MADDIE CONNELLY MIXED | 19

ANSWER: Logan Rose

CHOIR BR0S & BURRITOS Mens’ choir members sing at eight elementary schools and scarf down burritos during the annual Chipotle Tour

Far above, junior Will Cray and the men’s choir celebrates the success of singing the “30 Second Fa La La La La” in 23 seconds. “ [the tour is]great way to encourage guys in elementary school to go out for choir in the future,” Cray said. photo by Grant Kendall

The choir puts their arms around each other in tradition as they sing the school song. photo by Grant Kendall

A Prairie Elementary student, left, points to his Spongebob Squarepants tshirt as the men’s choir sings the Spongebob theme song. photo by Grant Kendall

Above, choir boys stop for lunch at Chipotle during their tour of eight schools. photo by Grant Kendall

20 | PHOTO ESSAY

Two girls from Prairie Elementary applaud the men’s choir after an entertaining performance. photo by Grant Kendall

‘TWI’-BITES

Senior expresses her contempt for the Twilight phenomenon written by Emily Donovan | photos by Brendan Dulohery

A newly wed 18-year-old high school graduate, sallow and undernourished, cradles her bruised stomach, curled in pain in a finely decorated open-floor-plan mansion. A man hands her a 20-ounce Styrofoam cup—something you might expect an Oreo milkshake or a cherry-flavored soda to come in. Tentatively, she sucks through the clear straw; the audience squeals as they watch her taste the cup’s contents: O-negative blood.

She pauses. Her mouth is slightly open, allowing the audience to squirm as it sees the blood staining her teeth.

“It’s good,” she announces.

This scene is as disturbing as the rest of the “Twilight” series but it’s only one of many unhappy surprises in the latest installment, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1,” which premiered on Nov. 18. Even if it wasn’t gory, if it wasn’t set at a staggeringly slow pace, if it didn’t create unintentional laughs at uncomfortable scenes, this film is repulsive in theme: domestic abuse is perfectly fine—because he loves you.

Bella Swan enters marriage hopelessly devoted to Edward Cullen, a vampire ex-murderer—a small, bloody fact which he waits until the eve of their marriage to share. He is secretive and dark and has about as much control of his emotions as a brooding toddler. Not surprisingly, his massive strength and inability to control his temper lead to him physically harming Bella.

After the first night of her honeymoon, in a sleepy, postsex haze, the teenage protagonist stands in front of a mirror, nonchalantly pulling down her robe to reveal bruises left by Edward’s grip. Edward shows moody regret at her abuse but all ever-apologetic Bella worries about in response is if he’ll sleep with her again. This girl has been beaten by her new husband but she’s the one who acts like she’s sorry.

“Last night was the best night of my existence,” Edward reassures Bella.

In her mind, if he beats her, it’s because he loves her too much and he just lost control. She must forgive him and spend scene after scene begging him to take her back—resorting to playing chess rather than talking because there

3

must not be anything better to do if sex is being withheld.

This is not a good script. These are not pleasant images.

And this is not a healthy example of a romantic relationship for anybody—much less young girls.

For all intents and purposes, Bella Swan marries a gang member—Edward Cullen’s mythological “family” is at odds with an opposing group over a turf war. Though Bella is close friends with the opposing group, she must adhere to the rules of her husband’s group and hope they are able to protect her.

Bella is only one of the many poor women role models: Bella’s high school friend is whiny, complaining and jealous at the wedding, her mother is uninvolved in her life and one of her new vampire “sisters” loses control and tries to drink Bella’s blood. There is no strong woman protagonist in this story—only weak wives, bridesmaids and mothers who are dependent on men.

The political message behind this story just as stunning.

In their modern, mythical love affair, Bella and Edward choose to wait for marriage to have sex—yet, for all of their beliefs in abstinence, they use no protection. As such, the teenage couple is quickly faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

Here, the anti-abortion theme shines: the family argues over the semantics of “baby” versus “fetus” and Bella insists on the use of “him” or “her” rather than “it.” The result of

THE WORST THINGS ABOUT TWILIGHT

1. THE TAMING OF THE VAMPIRE FROM DRACULA

TO EDWARD SCARY

GLAMOROUS

DIGNIFIED

RIDICULOUS

SIMPLISTIC

COMPLEX

their first sexual encounter acts like a fast-growing parasite, crushing Bella from the inside, breaking her ribs and sucking the nourishment out of her skeleton-thin body until it is satiated with the O-negative concoction.

It’s not just that these visuals—such as the wedding guests’ corpses being piled into the shape of a bloody wedding cake or Edward biting into his wife’s womb—are scarring, but the story is terrible, the script is crude, the dialogue is sloppy and the graphic effects are mediocre. Everything about this movie-going experience was unpleasant and vaguely creepy.

Despite its gaping shortcomings, this film and the “Twilight” series are ludicrously popular. In its opening weekend alone, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1” grossed approximately $139.5 million nationally—the fifth best opening weekend in box office history. Additionally, Distributor Summit Entertainment reports that 80 percent of “Breaking Dawn’s” audience is female. Adventure and romance draws this lady audience in but, under the guise of a devoted marriage, they witness domestic abuse, reinforced gender roles and none-too-subtle political messages.

This film isn’t about a storybook romance. Audiences and all of the series’s fans need to analyze the story and recognize the signs that this relationship isn’t romantic— it’s abusive. And domestic abuse is not OK—even if your boyfriend is a vampire.

2. HORRIBLE DIALOGUE 3. IT’S WILDLY POPULAR “Sleep, my Bella. Dream happy dreams. You are the only one who has ever touched my heart. It will always be yours. Sleep, my only love,” -- “Eclipse” “Looks like the wolf is out of the bag,” -- “Eclipse”

$1.8 5th 80

Total amount grossed by the series, in billions Best opening weekend in movie history, for “Breaking Dawn: Part 1” Percent of Twilight’s audience that is female

A&E | 21

THE VOICES OF

LANCER BASKETBALL

Seniors Will Webber and Jack Howland will be commentating Varsity boys’ basketball this season Senior Will Webber

Columbia blue-clad fans vigorously chant from the bleachers, willing the basketball team to victory. Their voices ring throughout the Shawnee Mission East gymnasium, but senior Will Webber’s voice is heard all around the world.

“In the past, my friends and family would castigate me for talking over various games and movies, but I found my home in the broadcasting booth,” said Webber.

Last year, alongside Jack Howland, he served as color commentator for every JV boys’ basketball game, several Varsity girls’ games and a Varsity boys’ game. Will went on to co-anchor the biggest broadcast in the history of smeharbinger.net—the 2011 Graduation Ceremony. This year, he looks forward to delivering highquality broadcasts to Lancer fans near and far.

Senior Jack Howland

Between his incessant classroom chatter and frequent theatrical performances, senior Jack Howland appears to be constantly talking— loudly. It only seemed natural that his voice would become featured during basketball games.

Howland began his broadcasting career by commentating a JV boys’ basketball game in January of 2011.

He discovered a passion for play-byplay, a style of commentating which necessitates constant talking. Howland’s energetic pace seemed to be the perfect match for the high-speed game of basketball.

After a full season of broadcasts, Howland is at the top of his game; both he and partner Will Webber have become connoisseurs of Lancer basketball. No matter what the team does this year, Howland will continue talking.

Harbinger’s broadcast crew is live streaming multiple events this winter.vs TUES. 12/6 vs SMNW BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 1/31 vs BVW BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 12/9 vs SMS BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 2/3 vs LAW BOYS’ BASKETBALL MON. 12/12 @ SMS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 2/3 vs LAW GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 12/16 @ SMN BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 2/10 @ SMNW BOYS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 12/20 @ SMW BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 2/10 @ SMNW GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 12/20 vs SMW GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 2/14 vs OE BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 1/13 vs SMW BOYS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 2/14 vs OE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 1/13 vs SMW GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 2/21 vs LFS BOYS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 1/27 vs ROCKHURST BOYS’ BASKETBALL TUES. 2/21 vs LFS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL FRI. 1/31 vs BVW BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: TBA

22 | ONLINE

Childish Gambino’s long awaited debut studio release lives up to the hype

Donald Glover is a man of many talents. Here are some of his projects outside of music. portable.tv

RELEASING HIS INNER CHILD

ON THE SIDE

COMMUNITY

written by Jack Howland | photo from wikipedia.org

SKIP IT

INTERNET SENSATION

ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD IT Before finally signing with Glassnote Records earlier this year, Childish Gambino earned his reputation over the internet. He released the majority of his tracks for free on his website and various blogs. Through social networking websites, the artist has managed to stay very connected to his fanbase.

ken token that ain’t never been hurt / the only white rapper who’s allowed to say the n-word.” His honesty is noteworthy; he never twists and turns to fit the mold of the modern rapper.

Throughout the album, Gambino doesn’t run away from his suburban past, he embraces it. Gambino uses “camp” as a metaphor for his innocence and helplessness, painting an image of a wide-eyed, backpack-wearing kid who’s too scared to talk to girls. The subtle, tour-de force closing song “That Power” may be one of the best tracks on the album, exemplifying this theme and featuring a 4 minute 29 second monologue in which Gambino tells the oddly tragic tale of saying goodbye to his camp buddy-turned-love interest at the bus stop. The song ends beautifully, as he speaks in a monotone voice “The truth is, I got on the bus a boy and I never got off the bus / I still haven’t.” It’s a big leap of faith to include such a sentimental, eye-rollinducing subject as the dramatic conclusion to the album, but oddly, it works.

With his sentimental yet hard-edged approach, it’s natural for Gambino to draw comparisons to acts like Kanye West. His quickwitted rhymes and emotional storytelling showcase a man who is confused and alone like Mr. West—but furthermore, the album’s rich female harmonies and distorted vocals seem to be in the vein of his style. The brass-heavy “You See Me,” has a similar sound to Kanye’s “All Of The Lights,” with a repetitive trombone oscillating and blaring like a blow-horn.

And although he’s miles away from Kanye West, “Camp” is a surprisingly solid debut album that doesn’t get lost in the heap of Top-40 synth-rock drivel. Despite all the skepticism surrounding Gambino, it is a shockingly good disc.

If Donald Glover’s comedy is like Eddie Murphy, then this album should have been in the same conversation as Murphy’s squeamish attempted hit “Party All The Time,” in which he sings in an open breezeback about a non-stop groove-fest. However, it actually is a piece of work that stands on its own, and asserts him as a real double threat.

I think Gambino says it best during “Bonfire,” as he raps “Man how come every black actor gotta rap some? / I don’t know, all I know is I’m the best one.”

And Gambino, after all, is nothing if not honest.

BUY IT

GRAMMY CONTENDER

Follow the Leader Twitter followers--400,000 Soundcloud followers--20,000 YouTube subscribers--200,000

ONLINE

RECORDINGS

RELEASED

DERRICK COMEDY Glover and his comedy troupe, Derrick Comedy, frequently release sketch comedy videos on their YouTube channel.

They recently released a full-length film, called Mystery Team.

comedycentral.com

Donald Glover is the only guy in Hollywood who can find sophistication in a fart joke. As a stand-up comic, the nappy-haired 20-something has a vocabulary so dense yet so juvenile, it seems like he could be either the second coming of God, or a potty-mouthed nobody. His writing has the angsty joy of a pubescent boy filling out a mad-lib with expletives—hilarious in a youthful kind of way. From his standup to his role of Troy on the NBC comedy Community, he has proven that he is one of the most energetic, different up-and-comers in Hollywood, with an Eddie Murphy-in-Raw youthful edge.

It’s almost easy to forget about his rapping career.

With Donald Glover’s, a.k.a. Childish Gambino’s, first fully released studio album “Camp,” he proves that he is the only man in Hollywood who can pull off the actor-to-artist crossover and not be marred with embarrassment. In an age where all it takes to become a bona fide actor-turned-singer is a dash of auto-tune and a drunken dance floor anthem, Gambino is an artist. “Camp” deftly blends his comedic, quick-witted charisma with considerable emotional poignancy. This is shown in the opening song “Outside” where he sets the tone for the rest of the album, rapping “I used to dream every night / Now I never dream at all / I hope it’s cause I’m living everything I want.” Solemn words from a guy whose first EP mainly consisted of verses about his male genitalia.

And therein lies the biggest and most welcome surprise of the album: it isn’t merely a collection of running gags or cocky braggery.

Even though there is a fair deal of self-perpetuating boastful talk, the album is really an honest telling of what it’s like to be thrown into stardom at such a young age. His young-blooded, high-pitched voice describes his fight against adulthood—his whiny vocals sound like he is talking to you rather than shouting to a jam-packed arena. Songs like the harmonic and epic “Bonfire” as well as the synth-heavy, commercial friendly “Heartbeat” exhibit this stripped and bare lyrical approach, as he rants about sexual misadventures and people dissing his rapping ability.

While other rap artists in the today’s industry have a tendency to hide behind a fabricated layer of street cred and gold watches, Gambino addresses insults with a laid-back grandeur. He rants and rhymes during the church choir-esque “Backpackers” that he is a “well-spo-

geektyrant.com

Glover portrays Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy, Community. His character is a quirky member of a study group at fictional Greendale Community College.

STAND-UP Despite his hectic recording and filming schedule, Glover still finds time for live performances. His stand-up is very popular and has been featured on Comedy Central.

A&E | 23

C

by Leah Pack| photos courtesy of stockphoto.com

WINTER PREVIEW

SIX CONCERTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS UPCOMING SEASON

B

F

A D E

A

JAY-Z & KANYE WEST

Jay-Z and Kanye West continue their “Watch the Throne” tour at Sprint Center Nov. 29. The two rappers will be performing a combination of songs from the beginning of their career to their newest hits. The “Watch the Throne” tour has been put on to promote their joint album, by the same name. Jay-Z and Kanye West began recording the album in November 2010 and released the final product in August of 2011. The album is inspired by orchestral and rock sounds along with lyrics about the burden of fame, materialism and power.

WHEN: Nov. 29 | 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sprint Center TOUR: Watch the Throne

C

B

WILCO

The alternative rock band, Wilco, will be performing at the Uptown on Dec. 3. Wilco originated in 1994 in Chicago.

Six members make up Wilco, two of which are from the original group. The band proved themselves by winning the 2005 Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package Grammy Awards. Selling over 670,000 copies, the band’s most successful release was “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” Wilco recently came out with their last album, “The Whole Love”, in September of this year. The band’s inspiration comes from music created in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

WHEN: Dec. 3 | 7 p.m.

WHERE: Uptwon Theater TOUR: The Whole Love

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

96.5 the Buzz will hold their annual “The Night the Buzz Stole X-Mas” on Dec 5 with headliner band Florence and the Machine. They will be performing on Dec. 5 at the Midland to kick off the three-day concert series. Florence and the Machines will be featured with Two Door Cinema Club and Cowboy Indian

WHEN: Dec. 5 | 8 p.m.

WHERE: Midland

24| A&E

Bear. Florence Welch, the lead singer of Florence and the Machine, debuted in the UK with her first album “Lungs” in 2009. After this, the band quickly gained fame with “Lungs” on UK’s top 40 charts for 65 consecutive weeks.

The group released their second album, “Ceremonials,” in October of this year.

TOUR: Buzz Stole Christmas 1

D

4 WAYS TO SURVIVE THE TOUGH CONDITIONS DURING WINTER CONCERTS BUNDLE UP With temps dropping, it’s hard to find that perfect concert wardrobe. Grab an everyday-wear coat and a wool scarf and your good to go.

STANDING IN LINE Instead of shivering for an hour while waitin g in line for your favorite band, grab a nice espresso from Latte’ Land on your way to the Uptown.

STRENGHT IN NUMBERS Don’t just bring one of your close friends to enjoy the show. By bringing four or five people along, not only will you have more fun, but you’ll stay warmer with more body heat.

MOSH HARD Get your heart rate up, by jumping into the pit of people near the front of the stage. You’ll have to stay moving to stay on your feet, so you’ll easily warm up and burn some energy while you dance your feet off.

311/SURFER BLOOD

E

FLOGGING MOLLY

On day two of “The Night the Buzz Stole X-Mas,” 311 will perform on Dec. 6 at Midland. Accompanying them will be The Naked and Famous, Surfer Blood, Soft Reeds, and DJ Soulman. The 8.5 million record selling group has been around since 1988. They have released 10 studio albums to date, the last one being “Universal Pulse” which debuted in July. Music critics have classified 311 in many different genres ranging from alternative or reggae rock to punk. The band members include Nick Hexum, S.A. Martinez, P-Nut, Tim Mahoney and Chad Sexton.

Flogging Molly will finish up “The Night the Buzz Stole X-Mas” concert series on Dec. 7 at the Midland.This folk, punk band will be performing with Matt and Kim, Company of Thieves and Antennas Up. Flogging Molly has released five studio albums since originating in 1993 in LA. The group is currently signed with Borstal Beat Records, their own record label. Many of Flogging Molly’s songs refer to poverty, love, death and the Roman Catholic Church with inspiration from musical artists such as The Dubliners and Johnny Cash.

WHEN: Dec. 6 | 8 p.m.

WHERE: Midland TOUR: Buzz Stole Christmas 2

WHEN: Dec. 7 | 7 p.m.

WHERE: Midland TOUR: Buzz Stole Christmas 3

F

THE FRAY

The Fray will be coming to the Midland on Dec. 18 to perform for Mix 93.3’s annual Jingle Jam. The Fray gained fame in 2005 after the release of their debut album, “How to Save a Life.” Number 84 on the Artist’s of the Decade List, the Fray has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, two Teen Choice Awards

and four Billboard Music Awards. The alternative rock band uses a piano as their main instrument giving the band a Coldplay-like feel with songs commonly about relationships, death, happiness and sadness. The Fray’s next album is planned to be released in February of 2012.

WHEN: Dec. 18 | 7 p.m.

WHERE: Midland

TOUR: Jingle Jam

THE ‘WINTER’

TAKES IT ALL

Suitable jacket suggestions to make sure you aren’t left out in the cold this winter written by Toni Aguiar | photos by Grant Kendall

CHILLY

FREEZING

LONG SWEATER

CLASSY TRENCH

PUFFER COAT

Long, cozy sweaters are perfect for the days when the mornings are cold and the afternoons are sunny.

Unlike other winter coats, they can range from $10 to several hundred dollars—this particular cardigan was $45 at Shop Girls Boutique in Brookside. Dress it up by layering a collared shirt underneath and cinching with a bright belt, or go lazy with a patterned cardigan, black leggings and boots. Pair with a rucksack-style backpack to complete the casual look.

Just because it’s chilly outside doesn’t mean that you have to throw on your old, ratty North Face fleece for dressier occasions. Instead, try a classic wool coat with an unexpected twist, such as this one from Zara. The color and shape is traditional, but the asymmetrical buttons add visual interest and set it apart from the sea of black pea coats. During colder weather, layer a bright vest underneath for warmth and a hint of color. Just make sure that the coat is longer than the layers underneath it to avoid the impromptu skirt.

PAIR WITH:

PAIR WITH:

PAIR WITH:

($60 at Urban Outfitters)

($144 at Sunglass Hut)

($16.50 at J. Crew)

Rucksack-style bag

Rayban Clubmasters

Puffy coats have finally grown out of their adolescent “Michelin Man” phase. When it’s truly cold outside, goose down seems to be the only way to go. The Patagonia Men’s Down Sweater shown here, unlike other down jackets, doesn’t add the look of an extra 40 pounds that is common to puffers. Though good-quality puffer coats are often expensive (the one shown is $200), they often last for years and can be paired with almost anything: jeans, khakis, button-downs, suits, or under skiing gear.

Camp socks

A&E | 25

Visit us at smeharbinger.net

F O R G E T YO U R C A M E R A?

WE DIDN’T. smephotos.com

A ‘MUPPETS’ REVIVAL MASTERPIECE

MUPPET’S BIG SCREEN RETURN BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO CLASSIC FRANCHISE

written by Alex Lamb| photos from allmoviephotos.com Whether you’re a newcomer to the Muppets or you’ve loved them since early childhood, the franchise revival “The Muppets” is guaranteed to make you feel like a giddy, carefree kid in the company of your favorite group of fuzzy characters all over again. So genuine and innocent are its intentions that you’ll forget the cynicism of the real world (and of the weighty awards pictures too, for that matter) as you become wrapped up in its unconventional wit, catchy musical numbers and overwhelming enthusiasm.

Over 35 years of Muppet shows and films, from classics like “The Muppet Movie” to “The Muppet Christmas Carol” have nearly always delivered great entertainment that’s enjoyable for the entire family–yet this installment accomplishes an even greater feat. Not only is it a respectful tribute and spot-on continuation of the series, but it also addresses the waning cultural relevance of the Muppets. It’s able to reignite the love many fans had for them while they were younger and makes Muppets popular again, providing an extremely clever and surprisingly heartwarming adventure that’s one of the year’s best comedies.

It begins with the introduction of two lively brothers growing up together as devoted fans of “The Muppet Show”: Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter (voiced by Peter Linz), who’s a Muppet himself. When invited to join Gary and his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) on a trip to Los Angeles for their 10-year anniversary, Walter becomes ecstatic to tour the old “Muppet Show” theater there. Upon arrival, however, they discover the theater totally dilapidated and learn that ruthless oil tycoon Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to excavate the site for oil once the title deed expires in several days.

Unwilling to stand by and let this happen, Walter, Gary

and Mary locate Kermit the Frog and convince him to get the old crew back together, all the Muppets proving as happy to reunite with each other as viewers are to see them return to the big screen. After assembling everyone (there are just enough Muppets to satisfy all viewers without losing focus on the notable characters), they all join efforts to put on one final show, hoping to raise the $10 million needed to buy back their theater before time runs out.

Muppet movies are known for their endearingly silly, tongue-in-cheek style of humor, and like the previous films, this one is quite a refreshing change of pace from the vulgarity and unoriginality of typical comedies. Its selfaware nature and the sincerity with which it embraces its own ridiculousness offer flourishes of audacious comic genius rarely seen in blockbusters anymore.

The menacing Chris Cooper even breaks into a rap at one point, with sing-a-long lyrics at the bottom of the screen. This wry sense of humor permeates the musical numbers too, from the huge dance group collapsing in exhaustion after finishing the big opener, to songs like “Man or Muppet,” which involves Segel belting out about an unusual identity crisis of his.

An avid fan of the Muppets himself, Segel is actually the one responsible for convincing Disney to resurrect the franchise, and he co-wrote the film with Nicholas Stoller.

His kind, clueless demeanor is charming as always here, though more exaggerated and simplified than usual to keep with the innocent tone. Similarly, Amy Adams is a total sweetheart, like a more subdued version of her vivacious character in “Enchanted.” Chris Cooper is the real treat among the humans however, exuding villainy with cool wickedness and a slightly corny side. Anytime his evil

plan is coming together, he just says “maniacal laugh” repeatedly, and it’s hilarious.

But this is a Muppet film after all, so naturally they’re the main source of humor and the ones we really care about. Wise leader Kermit, cheesy Fozzie Bear, over-thetop Gonzo, wild drummer Animal, sassy Miss Piggy and new addition Walter give the film its true heart, struggling with unexpectedly deep themes for a family movie.

Sure, Walter’s search for where he belongs in the world is simple enough for the kids to understand, but Kermit and Piggy’s faded love for each other feels quite adult.

Even more complex is how the Muppets have drifted apart as friends and have been virtually forgotten by the rest of the world, but reconnect as they try to save their legacy and fulfill their passions to entertain people one last time.

With such sympathetic, detailed characterization, as well as sublime manipulation of each Muppet, these characters easily transcend their inanimate confines and seem more like living, breathing creatures.

Safe to say, they accomplish their goal to delight viewers, and with resounding success. It’s clear the Muppets haven’t been forgotten by Hollywood, evidenced by more cameos than you can keep track of–from Jack Black to Neil Patrick Harris, Mickey Rooney to Selena Gomez. All the famous actors that show up to support these lovable oddballs stand as a testament to the special place the Muppets hold in many people’s hearts, showing that this franchise of nostalgic, unadulterated fun is alive and well.

MUPPET MOVIES YOU SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

THE MUPPETS IN SPACE

MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN

A&E | 27

SPORTS ROUND-UP THE

ATHLETES TO

written by Andrew McKittrick | photos by Dan Stewart, Caroline Creidenberg, Eden Schoofs

WATCH THIS WINTER SWIMMING

WRESTLING

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

With the boys’ swim team losing many of they varsity stroke swimmers, some of their sprinters and distance swimmers will have to switch events. Senior Corbin Barnds will be making the switch from the 500 yard freestyle to 100 yard breaststroke.

The boys’ swim team will also be leaning on senior Andrew Hornung and sophomore Zack Holbrook to be team leaders, both of which placed in the top ten in their events at state.

“I think State this year will be a lot closer than last year,” Holbrook said. “We have great swimmers in all events this year. I wouldn’t be shocked if it came down to just relays and we win it all.”

Grant Minick, could be key member of both their 200 and 400 freestyle relays at state. It will all come down to if he can heal quickly and get back in shape from a fracture in his femur. With relays being worth double points, the Lancers’ swim team will rely on Jack Haverty, Zack Holbrook, Grant Minick and Brian Tucci along with other sprinters to lead the team in the sprint 200 and 400 yard freestyle relays.

The Lancer wrestling team is putting in the hours in the weight room and working hard to recreate last season, where the team had eight state qualifiers. Three of the eight state qualifers placed in the top ten for their weight class. The team will have to look to seniors Blaine Hill, Blake Hill and Ben Randolph along with junior Chipper Jorns for the key leadership and experience required in a winning program.

“We need to keep our focus on our goal of top three,” Randolph said.

“Stay confident in our ability to beat the guys in front of us and be humble and not overlook anyone we’re up against.”

The team will also need to get back to the basics, from working on halfnelson to perfecting their double leg takedown, two of the very first moves that is learned when beginning wrestling. If they perfect these two moves, the team will be well on their way to accomplishing their goal of a top three finish.

“The team will need to focus on the areas that we control which include working hard, working smart and working together,” head coach Chip Ufford said. “If we do that, then everything else will take care of itself.”

This year, returning four-year varsity member Shannon McGinley looks to boost the Lady Lancers with strong perimeter play and strong leadership. Although the Lady Lancers finished 11-9 last season, they finished strong. The girls’ team looks to start off their season the way they ended last season--with strong shooting performances from their senior leaders.

“I’m really excited to be one of the senior leaders this year,” McGinley said. “I’m looking forward to using the experiences I’ve gained the last three years to help out the younger girls on the team.”

Similar to the boys’ basketball team, the Lady Lancers will be looking to improve their team defense closing out close games.

“This year we really need to work on finishing,” says McGinley, “Last year we had a lot of close games that came down to the last few minutes.

We need to limit turnovers and improve our shooting percentage as well.”

McGinley will also be looking to lead the team through the tough patches of their schedule when they go through a four game road trip in the heart of their schedule.

Zach

SCHNEIDER BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Schneider is a returning starter for the team. He has the height and strength of an athlete that will create an impact.

He has the ability to shoot and his high release allows him to get his shots off quickly.

Shannon

MCGINLEY

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

This is McGinley’s fourth year starting.

She is one of the main keys to the offense.

She can handle the ball and drive to the basket. She lead the team in assists with 68 and steals with 52.

Zack

HOLBROOK BOYS’ SWIMMING

Placing ninth in the 200 and 500 freestyle last year, Holbrook returns for his sophomore season much improved. With a chance to place top three in both his events as well as set the school 500 record. Holbrook will lead the team.

THE

PANEL

SENIOR CHRIS HEADY

wrestling, boys’ swim and dive

HILL

SENIOR EVAN NICHOLS

Hill is a returning wrestler that finished second in state last season. He is expected to do even better SENIOR BECCA BROWNLEE this year and help lead the team to a higher state finish.

28 | SPORTS

boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, boys’ swim and dive, wrestling, bowling

Two:

Blaine

WRESTLING

Number of winter teams that will win league?

Five:

JUNIOR ANNE WILLMAN

Three:

bowling, wrestling, boys’ swim and dive

Two:

wrestling, boys’ swim and dive

Winter sports stud?

Shannon McGinley Girls’ Basketball

Blake Hill Wrestling

Caroline Nick

Underclassman with the most potential?

Lucas Jones

Boys’ Basketball

Jackson Granstaff Boys’ Swimming

Lucas Jones

Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball

Shannon McGinley

Zack Holbrook

Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Swimming

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Walking down the hall from now until the end of January, You will be able to hear the sound of basketballs swishing through fresh nets as the boys’ basketball team works every day to get better. With a record of 7-15 last year, the boys’ basketball team had a season that failed expectations.

For the boys’ basketball team to post a better record and to grow as a team, they will need great point guard play from seniors Andy Hiett and Alex Schoegler.

“Being a leader means I need to set a good example for people to follow,” Hiett said. “I really want to be the guy our team can count on in a tough situation.”

According to head coach Shawn Hair, the team will also need to work on their fundamentals such as team defense and out-rebounding opponents to be successful One key to the Lancer success will be the fact that nearly the entire varsity squad from last week will be returning. This was something that ended up hurting the Lancers last year due to their inexperience.

“We need to work on closing out games and performing under pressure,” Hiett said. “We also need to take care of the ball better and play better team defense.”

Over or under 10 wins for boys’ basketball?

Over

Over

Over

Over

Juniors create a club dedicated to their passion for fishing

BASS FISHING CLUB

written by Nick May | photo by AnnaMarie Oakley

With his wet boots squeaking against the floor, junior Mitch Sauls strolls up the north hallway before first hour. Nearby students stare in confusion; it’s a clear and sunny morning, yet Sauls is soaking wet.

What they don’t know is that on this morning, like many mornings recently, he woke up while the majority of them were still asleep. He drove his silver Jetta, covered in Bass Pro Shop stickers, to a nearby lake to fish while the sun was still creeping over the horizon. Unlike most mornings, today Sauls lost his footing and fell in the lake.

Given his passion for fishing, it is probably not very surprising that Sauls is one of the founders of the new fishing club at East, along with fellow junior Grant Sitomer.

“Mitch and I figured if we were going out and fishing with our friends, we might as well get it to be school sponsored, and get people who might not have gone with us to come along,” Sitomer said.

With their informational meeting only a month ago, the two estimate that at least 20 students have already signed up, which is more than they expected.

“My good friends have always been interested in fishing, so when I heard about the club, I decided to join and try something new”, junior Chris Watkins said, one of first-time fishers to join the club.

Although they have been fishing all of their lives, Sauls and Sitomer only actually began fishing together at the end of last year. “[Grant and I] just wound up fishing at the same spot one day, and from then on we just started fishing together,” Sauls said, “At the time, [the idea of starting a fishing club] was a joke. We were like, ‘That could never happen.’ Then we thought about it and we realized it could be a good use.”

Their plan for the club is to organize students for fishing outings, where they can enjoy nature and the pleasure in reeling in nice sized Bass or Catfish. Sauls and Sitomer want to attract people who may not be able to experience fishing otherwise. “[Our] main goal for the group is to get younger kids and first-time fishers caring about fishing,” Sitomer said.

STRIKING UP SUPPORT

With winter on the way, the fishing will have to be on hold until the spring. That hasn’t kept Sauls and Sitomer from considering the possibilities of ice fishing. They have also already thought out the plans for the club after winter.

The guys would like to have a club fishing outing every weekend, at some local fishing spots such as Lake Longview and Lake Olathe. Club members would come down to the lake, cast a line, and have fun with fellow East students as they wait for the fish to bite.

One way the students plan on using their passion to give back to the community is hosting a tournament. It will be held amongst the club members, and they’ll raise money by charging the fishermen $5 to buy into the tournament. Then, they’ll donate all of the proceeds to cancer research. The club members who place in first, second, or third will also get gift cards to Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops, the leading stores in fishing and outdoor gear.

While Sitomer uses fishing as a way to pass the time, Sauls finds a deeper connection.

“My grandpa started me on fishing at a young age. He died in 2008, so after that, dad took over the fishing duties,” Sauls said, “That’s when I started hanging out with my dad a lot more; we’d just go out in the morning, bring our rods, and just go fish.”

The two have fished at distant fishing spots as well as local ones.

Sitomer’s favorite place that he’s fished was on a deep sea fishing trip off of the coast of Saint John’s, Bahamas. His dad

grew up in Miami, and spent a lot of his free time fishing with his buddies in the vast Atlantic Ocean. Sitomer’s grandmother still lives there, and once when they went to visit her, his dad took he and his brothers out in the middle of the ocean, where they fished during the middle of the night. Although he didn’t end up catching anything, his dad reeled in a Moray Eel. “With deep sea fishing, everything is bigger,” Sitomer said. “The rods, the reels-everything is more heavy-duty.”

Sauls prefers the isolated areas of the Boundary Waters, found in southern Canada. “[The Boundary Waters] are located 50 miles away from any civilization. There’s no electricity, no shelters, no nothing,” Sauls said. “You bring your food, your tent, your rod, and you go and survive for a week. It is rare to see someone else there during your entire trip.”

Sauls and his family have been going there every summer for the past nine years.

He goes with a few family friends from around the country, along with his dad and sisters. His sisters have failed to make it some of the past few years, but as Sauls is quick to point out, he has never missed a year.

“That’s what fishing is to me,” Sauls said.

“Peaceful.”

Overall, the club will be an opportunity to enjoy time outdoors and learn how to fish. Even if the members join for some extra time to hang with the guys, the new fishing club is quite the catch.

As bowling team starts practice they look to gain more support this season

written by Morgan Twibell | photo by Jake Crandall

When Varsity bowler senior Kristin Anthonis gets set for her first throw, she looks into the small crowd at the alley. She sees only familiar faces-- the faces of parents, siblings, and the occasional close friend who comes to share their support.

“I wish more people came to the meets,” Anthonis said. “Not a lot of people know about bowling because it’s not really advertised throughout the school.”

Since Anthonis wishes the team would get more recognition throughout the school to spread the word about bowling, she, along with the coaches, was surprised to see the number of new prospective bowlers at the upcoming tryouts. The team hopes to replace the seniors that left a mark on the team last year. Bowling is different from other winter sports like basketball and swimming. It’s a sport that is mainly only heard about through the morning announcements.

That’s how Anthonis found out about the bowling team her freshman year. She was sitting in World Geography and an announcement came on about bowling tryouts. The whole class was laughing and thought of it as a joke. Anthonis, who had been in a bowling league over the summer, thought that it might be something fun to

try; she has been on the East bowling team ever since.

The team’s seriousness towards the sport varies from player to player. They treat their meets just like a more “formal” practice. At meets, they are required to wear their uniforms, take off jewelry and they are not allowed to eat. At practices, they don’t follow many of these rules, but their coaches don’t mind as long as they are practicing and trying their hardest.

“The coaches are pretty laid back,” returning Varsity bowler Brandon Shatto said. “They just want us to play well.”

One of these coaches is varsity coach and math teacher Patricia Kennedy. She has been a coach for five years and plans to continue coaching this year and in years to come.

The team and coaches are hoping to play well this year after losing eight seniors who were some of the team’s best players. Last year the team took one of their former players, Ali Dees to State but she did not end up placing. Out of the 28 players on the team, three of the top seniors from last year such as Brennan Burns, Johnny Sheahan and Pete Peterson will also have to be replaced.

This year’s seniors are realizing that they are going to need to step up their game and

take leadership over the team.

“Next to Ali Dees, I was one of the best on the team,” Anthonis said. “Now with her gone, I’ll have chance to do better and help out the team.”

The returning players plan on focusing and putting their best into the upcoming season. Tryouts begin tomorrow at College Lanes bowling alley and will be going until Dec. 2; the returning players are expecting to do their best.

Kennedy is happy to see that this year a

lot of new people are trying out, despite the time commitment. The team is forced to to take long drives out to the meets and has two-hour practices five days a week.

Anthonis hopes that the team does well this season and starts to gain public support and more fans. But for now, the team relies on each other for encouragement.

“We get along really well with each other,” Anthonis said. “It’s like we are a little family of bowlers.”

SPORTS | 29

REWRITING THE RULEBOOK

New law in the state of Kansas allows high school swimmers to swim both for their club team and school team written by Anne Willman | photos by Anna Marie Oakley

THROUGH THE

SWIMMERS’ GOGGLES

East swimmers’ ideas on the new Kansas state law change

SENIOR

MARSTON FRIES

“I think it’s good idea for a lot of swimmers because swimmers that normally wouldn’t swim in high school can do it now. But on the other hand coaches are going to want thier swimers to not go to high school practices.”

SOPHOMORE

JACKSON GRANSTAFF

“It will change the whole game.

It’s like you’re not even part of the [high school] team. I don’t think it’s going to effect East that much besides the fact that other schools may get better talent.”

30 | SPORTS

Sophomore Zack Holbrook goes to swim practice at 5 a.m., trains for an hour and a half, goes to school and then practices again at 3:30 p.m. Holbrook repeats this same routine every school week: swimming in the morning, school and swimming again in the afternoon. He trains with two different groups of swimmers a day and practices in two different pools.

Due to a recent Kansas state law change, Holbrook is allowed to keep up his rigorous routine. This year, athletes that take part in swim and dive are able to train with their club teams while also being on the high school team. Holbrook is one of five swimmers on the East boys’ swim and dive team that has taken advantage of the new law change.

“It gives me a chance to experience a more intense practice with my club team followed by an afternoon practice with my high school team,” Holbrook said.

In past years in Kansas, swimmers were not allowed to be a part of both club and high school teams. They could, however, use the pool time with their club team, but could not receive additional instruction from their club coaches. Swimmers could also apply to an Olympic Development Program (ODP) exemption and swim United States Swimming (USS ) approved meets. This gave the swimmers a chance to compete in specific high level meets.

Swim and dive is different from other sports in Kansas because it is the only sport that allows an athlete to do both club and high school. In other sports, an athlete is not allowed to compete in events outside of high school during the season, let alone practice with an outside team.

But Head Coach Wiley

Wright doesn’t think it will hurt his team.

“I don’t think it will change the team concept here at East, we are talking about low numbers of kids that will continue to practice in the mornings with the club team,” Wright said.

Missouri’s movement is what ultimately spurred Kansas swimmers to take action.

In Missouri, the issue regarding a swimmer participating in both club and high school teams was addressed in 2004. Frustrated parents tried to pass a bill through the state legislature to make the change.

Eventually the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) reached a compromise with the parents before the bill was officially passed.

According Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Assistant Executive Director, David Cherry, this is not a KSHSAA rule change, but a state law change.

“The state legislature placed the new rule change into a bill,” Cherry said.

Senior Andrew Hornung has been currently practicing strictly with his club team. He will start practicing with the high school team on Dec. 1. Hornung is doing more intense training with his club team, before he starts high school, so that he can get ready for a few non-high school swim events.

“I practice with club for the first couple of weeks of the season because the training is more intense and then I go only to high school because of the team atmosphere,” Hornung said.

The new law change also brings about new requirements. Swimmers are only allowed to train with their club team until after they have completed the requirements for their high school team and the

requirements are up to coach’s discretion.

While the new change will help those that compete on a high level to push themselves, it could be a disadvantage to those that are not on that same level.

Hornung believes that the new change is helpful, but may have some drawbacks.

“The team bonding will be weak,” Hornung said. “When you have guys that are not at practice all of the time, it makes it difficult to grow as a team.”

Although the “team” aspect will be weaker, the individual results have proven to be better according to when Missouri had this same rule change.

The change also gives a swimmer the option to opt out of specific meets and swim specifically state after they qualify for it.

“I think that the rule allows me to get ready for college swimming,” Holbrook said. “It allows me to practice twice as hard.”

In the spring, girls’ swim and dive will face the same change. Junior Meg Stanley, a year-round club swimmer, is somewhat skeptical on the new change.

“It detracts from the team experience and team training,” Stanley said.

Because there is no separation between club and high school there is no transition time. Only time will tell whether this new rule will contribute in a positive way.

“I personally agree with the change, since it will benefit both the swimmer, and the team, and it will allow the swimmer to keep up with his/her training at the club level, since they swim multiple events at the level,” Wright said.

SHOUTING for a

LANCER VOICE

Is the administration too tight on the student section at games?

CHANGE

With administration limiting the student section’s freedoms at games, attendence will take a hit

I

’ve been around Lancer basketball long enough to notice that there is an ever-declining enthusiasm for the season and the passion from its fans. In 2006, East basketball games were more than just a rendezvous point for a Friday an opinion of night hang out--they were the can’t-miss, Corbin Barnds premiere event.

Most game nights, to get a seat in the gym, you had to arrive by the fourth quarter of the JV game, and that’s just for the parents and middle school kids. The student section regularly filled up their allotment of seating stretching into the north bleachers. With not an empty seat in the gym, the Lancers possessed an unfair home court advantage.

The reason for all of those packed bleachers? The administration gave the student body freedom, encouraging them to be actively involved in the game and allowed them to actually enjoy the experience. Each basketball game it was tradition for several seniors to dress up in costumes --the student section was led by Santa Claus, Big Bird, inflatable cows and other characters. With an unlimited arsenal of chants and cheers, the student section was in unison and entirely involved; even the middle school section contributed. Almost all of the cheers were aimed at the opponent and their student body.

Although the old cheers may have been a little more “aggressive,” they brought together the student section in ways that today’s chants can’t match. And I can assure you, none of those “that’s on you” chants were anything a Raider basketball player or Rockhurst fan lost sleep over.

With the fan experience being one that didn’t include being hassled by the faculty, basketball games marked the best time of the year to be a Lancer.

But over the last few years, the administration has put a stranglehold on the student section and it is sucking the life out of it. No longer can seniors dawn the front row representing Santa Clause, no longer can the students respond to the endless personal cheers from the Rockhurst students and hence no longer can the fans give their team a home court advantage. That is unless you want to get escorted out of the building. Doesn’t that sound fun freshman?

Because of this radical censorship, the turnout has dwindled and the incentive to stay for the whole game has gone away, making the 4th quarter the popular time to get on with the rest of the students’ Friday night plans. Even with the football team on the brink of winning their first playoff game since 2001, the student section began to shrink well before the game was over.

SOPH.| Quincy Hendrix I think they take it too far sometimes. I think they assume if people are being crazy , they’ve been drinking and that gets kind of annoying

photo by Anna Dancinger Although the last couple basketball teams haven’t been what East has been used to, the dissipated support hasn’t helped.

With the basketball season opening just a week from tomorrow, the administration has the opportunity to bring back the culture and atmosphere that surrounded the basketball team just a few years ago. But to get there, the radical censorship must stop.

During the last couple basketball seasons, the muzzle has tightened only allowing “positive encouragement” from the student section, and the line between acceptable and not has become very gray.

With all cheers directed at the opposing team being outlawed, despite being non-malicious like “air-ball” and “you let the whole team down,” the student body has gotten monotonous with their cheers due to their small range of creative freedom given to them by the administration. Although the support was strong for the football season, the basketball season is entirely different with the close proximity to the players and the opposing fans.

A home court advantage is made by the fans’ ability to intimidate the opposing team, but how can that be done with a half empty student section that is only allowed to encourage their own team?

Sure, games against Rockhurst do and always will draw the full student section, but it used to be that during that game both student bodies would go blow-for-blow throughout the game with theirs cheers but the last couple years, we haven’t been able to respond.

From a fan standpoint, it has gotten almost entirely one-sided with the private Jesuit school left with no restrictions. Despite all of Rockhursts’ cheers being in good fun, I think I speak for the student by when I say it is embarrassing to be left so defenseless.

There is a line that needs to be drawn by the administration to prevent altercations after the game and public embarrassment, but that line is far from where it is now.

With the basketball team being poised to have a great season, the perfect time to bring back the passion and enthusiasm that used to surround East basketball games is now.

I understand that the administration wants to prevent any violent altercations while upholding the school’s image, but in no way should our sporting events be ran with a dictator’s mentality. It isn’t necessary, never in my four years of East sporting events have I seen a student from another section leave the stadium crying or shaken because of a chant, they know it’s not personal and just a facet of high school sporting events.

With the first game only about a week away, the administration owes it to the students and the basketball team to give the fans just a little more freedom.

JUN.| Chris Watkins I definitely think they are too strict. It’s one thing if there is something too inappropriate then they can put that down. But a lot of time they stop cheers that aren’t that bad and that outs down all of the energy the fan section has going.

SEN.| Camille Goehousen I think the administration is too harsh and there is too many restrictions. They need to realize that the cheers are all fun and games and we are never trying to intentionally hurt someone

SEN. | Conner Schrock I think they could ease up a little bit, it definitely makes it more fun when we can mess with the other players and it also adds an intimidation factor as well when we can yell at the other players.

SPORTS | 31

Dancing to a Marvin Gaye song, Junior BRENNAN WILLIAMS, left, basks in the moment of being a bachlorette.

“I was honored that they thought I would sell for a lot of cans,” Williams said. “I wasn’t nervous because I’m pretty comfortable in front of crowds.” photo by Hiba Akhtar Bidding on her friend, junior ANNA SHERIDAN, far left, raises her hand. “I wanted to support StuCo and its cause,” Sheridan said. “I really enjoyed going this year because I could not make it last year.” photo by AnnaMarie Oakley Seniors MOLLY JENNINGS and PAIGE KOVARIK,below left, panic when they realize they can no longer afford their friend and bachelorette EMILY FRYE. “I really wanted to buy her because I heard the group date was really fun last year,” Jennings said. “We had to bump our budget up to 250 cans, but we still lost.” photo by Hiba Akhtar

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE

StuCo puts on the second annual Bachelor Auction

32 | PHOTO ESSAY

Junior JOE SIMMONS, below, auctioneered his top dates for evening, juniors WILL CRAY and NICK KRASKE, who sold for 500 cans. “Being auctioneer was awesome,” Simmons said. “Espcially seeing dates auctioned off for over 200 cans.”

photo by Jake Crandall