news
issue 15
3
Students react to Catholic church’s announcement
Thoughts on
POPE BENEDICT XVI Ian McFarland
Catholics follow the Pope everywhere [when we don’t]” Born Joseph Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, Pope Benedict XVI grew up in Germany and was drafted in the final months of World War II, though analyst John Allen Jr. described the Pope and his family as having been “quietly, strongly anti-Nazi.” He went on to study philosophy and theology in college, and in the 50’s and 60’s taught as a professor. In the late 70s, he headed up the Church ladder and was proclaimed a Cardinal. Coordinator of Youth Formation at St. Ann Catholic Church Nick Canuso seems to think he’s the man for the job. “I really see him as being the right person to lead the church. Someone who said ‘Let’s take [Pope John Paul II’s] vision and his teachings and try to fulfill them.’” Canuso went on to say that teens are more enthused about the new pope than most adults. “When I hear kids talk about it, and then adults, I don’t hear as much passion.” In the end, Canuso sees teens as caring about what this new Pope has to bring. “We’re all looking for someone to say hey, this is right and this is wrong. We have such a cultured selfishness. We see how teens have had to be raised, reflected by selfishness, even in a place like this with the divorce rate. I think that teens nowadays are looking for something to look up to.”
photo courtesy of KRT Campus
On April 19, as the Vatican was run amok with Catholics beyond excitement with the naming of the 265th pope, Benedict XVI; Shawnee Mission East students showed a considerably smaller amount of celebration trapped in their fifth hour classes. “I’m not really Catholic!” explained sophomore Elizabeth Allen-Cannon. “[But] I guess it’s good for the Catholic Church.” But like Allen-Cannon, even Catholic students at East seemed unenthusiastic. “I actually was hoping for the guy from Africa,” said junior Andy Sevick. “I think [Pope Benedict XVI] is probably too conservitive.” Pope Benedict XVI, who has quarreled often with Cardinals trying to move away from official church policy, has been labeled as conservitive since before Pope John Paul II died, being against letting divorced Catholics remarry and calling homosexuality “an intrinsic moral evil.” Rubin Dri, Argentine Theologian and Professor at Buenos Aires University has told CNN.com that he thinks of Pope Benedict XVI’s election as “a triumph for the dogmatic, [and the] capitalist right. For me, it is the worst choice they could have made. It combines the worst of [Pope] John Paul II’s papacy without its better characteristics which were his charisma and political skills.” Though Dri obviously cares about the appointment of Pope Benedict XVI, Sevick seems to not care very much, “Some people think that
POPE Benedict XVI was elected as the new pope on April 19. He turned 78 yearsold just two days earlier.
What the Catholics have to say JOHN DUVALL junior “I was happy [about the new Pope] because he is a well-educated person and has always been consistent with his beliefs.”
ERIN FERGUSON junior
School to begin plumbing work this summer Water to be shut off
“I was kind of dissapointed that they picked someone known to be so conservative, because I hoped they would pick someone that would continue to be open to different religions.”
JOHN NICKELS Geography teacher “I think he’s extremely conservative, and I’m really disappointed in this choice, because they missed out on their chance to reach out to much of the world.”
Annie Fuhrman At SM East the plumbing system is set up all on one main line. If a pipe springs a leak, the entire building will lose water until the problem is fixed. That is why this summer construction work will be going on to change the internal piping of the school to make a more convenient way to fix problems. “If a bathroom on the fifth floor has a leak in it we have to shut off water to the entire building,” Associate principal Mike Wolgast said. “With the internal line we will have local shut-off valves to isolate the problems.” The change in the will only effect the internal pipes, so the look of the school will not change at all from this year to next year “You won’t notice any difference at all when you come
May 2, 2005
RACHEL BECK senior “I think now it’s back to more traditional views because the new Pope is older, while Pope John Paul was elected at only 58.”
back,” Wolgast said. “The work is all on the internal lines. There might be a few new ceiling tiles but that’s it.” Because the changes affect all the plumbing in the school, the water will be shut off all summer. This will happen in spite of the fact that administrators and sports camps will be going on during that time. According to Associate principal Ron Mersch, there will be accommodations for the groups who will need access to the building. “We might have a little porta-potty city up here,” Dr. Mersch said. “We also might get bottled water to use while we are here.” The plumbing changes are the only changes being made.
mix ed 16
mixed
inside outside
L
O
O
K
Curriculum: Full Sail features programs in computer animation, digital media, entertainment business, film, game design & development, recording arts and show production & touring. Enrollment: Around 4800 students enrolled Orlando, Florida Admission: For enrollment you must have a high school diploma and “a sincere passion for the entertainment media industry.” Tuition: Tuition varies depending on the program chosen. Contact: Call 800-226-7625 or visit www.fullsail.com
the section about life
B L U R B S topgrade Libby Nachman
Ah, the “Lancer of the Day”. Announced during the fourth hour announcements, it is quite possibly one of the most anticipated moments in an East student’s high school career. People fidget with pencils as they wait to hear if their name will be read. And then...darn, it’s that kid who always seems to be picked. But how exactly is Lancer of the Day picked? “It’s not very scientific,” laughs senior StuCo exec secretary Maddie Simpson as she explains the process. There are four lists, one for each grade, with every student listed. The execs take turns closing their eyes and then randomly point to a name. Afterwards, they highlight it so that no person will be “Lancer of the Day” twice in one year. But do people really follow the instructions and come to room 412 after school to pick up their prize? “They actually do,” Simpson said. The prize, which consists of candy, a pencil and a bumper sticker, is almost always claimed.
r a z e
r o s swo r d Ben Whitsitt
The newest fad to hit the halls is not clothing, electronics, nor a catchy saying, but crossword puzzles. You may have seen students in class working almost as diligently on their puzzles as their school work. There is no explaining why this recent fad has gained so much popularity but ever since it started, it has been getting bigger and bigger. Librarian Kathi Knopf remembers when the puzzles first became popular. “It started out with just a couple of kids, but I moved up to making 25 copies to 50 to 75 to 125 copies and they are all gone by fifth hour,” Knopf said. Junior Connor Dennis was one of the original students who started asking for crossword puzzles from Knopf and has been doing so every day since the beginning of the year. “I usually do the puzzles during really boring times in class, it helps pass the time,” Dennis said. Even though students are not supposed to do the puzzles during class, that is the only time they actually do them. Knopf does not encourage student to use them during class but as something to do during study hall so they aren’t so bored.
second 30thoughts
what’s cool
what’s hot
with
today.
Oh my oh my! Look at the side of that house. So pretty and rainbow colored. Must be the victim of a PAINT BALL attack. Yes, the game hurts, but is so fun and makes you so cool as you show off your bruises in third hour study hall.
yesterday.
So, Airsoft guns are illegal. That may be why it’s not as cool. Or maybe....it’s not as fun, hmmm? The little pellets get lost so easily in the grass and frankly, the bruises just aren’t as big, hence, you’re not as cool. It’s okay. Your mom still loves you.
lookout.
the harbinger
“OOOO! Let’s go frolic in the highly chlorinated pool!” Alright, as long as I can bring my heat-packin’ wa-wawater gun! That’s right girls and boys. As mentioned, oh, a bit earlier, summer is coming! That means water wars! BONUS: waterguns coming in all shades of neon. OOO< pretty!
Luke Flora
WHAT IS A STRANGE SMELL THAT YOU FIND ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL? WHY? Gasoline-it’s sort of intoxicating..it makes you loopy. Probably not good. YOUR THOUGHTS ON TECHNO MUSIC: It can be good when you’re in a really weird mood, but mostly it sucks. WHAT WOULD YOU ASK IF YOU WERE GIVEN THIS GREAT AUTHORITY? “What jelly bean flavor describes you in all facets of life?” IN CLASSIC MOVIES, WHAT DO YOU LIKE MORE IN THE LEAD MALE, THE TIE OR THE TOP HAT? The top hat just makes it all...it is like the describing feature of that decade. It makes it just so moody. IF YOU WERE TO FALTER DURING A LIVE PERFORMANCE WHAT WOULD YOU BLAME IT ON? My lack of rhythm and short term memory.
May 2, 2005
features
issue 15
shedding
LIGHT
Students cite Task Force, ease of access as their reasons
on marijuana use
Ellie Weed
There was no doubt this time- he would be passing this test. He handed the plastic cup to his parents with no reservations. For the second time in two weeks, Ben*’s parents had made him give a urinary sample to be tested for marijuana. But he wouldn’t be failing this one, because he had asked his sister for a huge favor- to take the test for him. He knew she would be able to pass this- he would pass this. Finally, his parents would get off his back about smoking so much marijuana. It was amazing how things had changed- just 18 months before, he would’ve never been in this situation. He would’ve never touched the stuff. Drinking, probably, but never pot. “I used to think it was disgusting,” Ben said. “Now it’s just an everyday thing. For some reason I feel like I’m less likely to get caught.” Now that new laws and harsher punishments have been created for underage drinking, Ben and his friends had to find new means of having a good time on the weekends. For Ben and his friends, marijuana seemed to be the most practical. But according to Prairie Village Police Officer Roberson, marijuana is by no means practical. While the students who spend their weekends smoking pot have discussed the idea that the Task Force is forcing teens towards harder drugs, police and parents think that it is just another excuse for teens to use illegal substances. “Teens are going to be experimenting with these substances either way,” Roberson said. This is just a way for it to sound more realistic. Even though the percentage of adult illegal drug users has stayed the same for almost ten years, the percentage for teens and young adults has been increasing by two and three percent since 2000 according to a survey that CBS News conducted in 2004. While a little less than 50 percent of teens have never smoked marijuana, many accept the usage of it. Johnson County accepts the usage of marijuana more than most of the counties in the state. A study by “Connect Kansas,” the program that organizes the student surveys given to sophomores and seniors throughout the state, showed that while people have been less accepting of the use of marijuana within the past few years, Johnson County still had a 1.8 percent higher acceptance rate in 2004 than the rest of the state of Kansas. Junior Chris* thinks that drinking is much more risky than marijuana anymore- the Task Force and the new laws had him thinking that smoking may be a safer bet. “It was definitely the number one factor- it’s a main reason that I started smoking instead of drinking,” he said. “It just wasn’t worth getting caught.” Even though they know it is an illegal drug, students still smoke marijuana because of the feeling being high gives them.
17
“Once I tried it, I realized how much easier it was than drinking,” sophomore Ron* said. “Easier to get away with, easier to get my hands on, more fun- more relaxing….” Police say that students most of the time don’t understand the excessive dangers of marijuana, and while alcohol isn’t any more legal and isn’t better for your brain, the repercussions of marijuana are much more extreme- both physically and legally. They also think that teens forget the negative aspects of smoking. Marijuana affects the short-term memory and other parts of the brain, such as emotions, learning, and motivation, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Alcohol and cigarettes are damaging to your brain and lungs, and according to Roberson, people that smoke marijuana are more susceptible to not only brain damage, but involvement with heavier drugs, as well. “Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, which means it can later lead to very heavy, more dangerous drugs…crack cocaine, LSD…,” he said. The government has also been trying to monitor the issue, especially for younger citizens under 25. “As the perception that marijuana is dangerous goes down, its use goes up,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said. But for Chris, Ben, and Ron, the perception that it is less dangerous is only helping their case to smoke. Despite the appealing high, there are other advantages of smoking opposed to drinking. Andy said that at this point, his parents have started to turn their heads in leniency and haven’t really enforced rules against smoking at home. “At this point, my parents really don’t care about the fact that I smoke anymore,” Andy* said. “They’re disappointed, but they know there’s no way I’m going to stop. …If they try to do all this stuff to get me to stop, it’s just going to make me want to smoke even more.” Not only is it easy to get away with, it is also easy to obtain for a large number of students in the country and state. “Kansas Smoke Less States Tobacco Control” Surveys show that over a third of the teenagers polled in this country in 2003 said they could have marijuana in their possession within a few hours. Twenty-seven percent said they could obtain it within an hour or less. The numbers are even higher in Kansas- 75 percent of the teens in Kansas surveyed marked “extremely easy” when asked how painless it would be for a minor to buy cigarettes or other drugs in their community. Marijuana has now
beaten out both alcohol and cigarettes for the easiest illegal substance to obtain for the first time since the mid-90’s. While the punishment for drinking may require community service hours and six months or more of diversion, possession of marijuana can be much more harsh, said Roberson. Without marijuana in immediate possession, it may be less problematic since there aren’t as many physical, on-the-spot tests like there are for alcohol. But with it in your possession, it may result in diversion, a possible suspension of a driver’s license, and, on a second offense, possible jail time. On top of that, the arrest goes onto a person’s personal record, which may affect the outcome of college admissions or a job interview. “If someone experimented with the substance once, [a college or job] may realize it was a one-time thing,” Roberson said. “But when it’s on there twice, it looks more serious. It may look irresponsible or they may question that the person got involved with other drugs.” With no marijuana in the car, all Officer Roberson can go by is the pungent smell of the marijuana and the bloodshot eyes and other specifics of the passenger’s appearance. He’s heard a handful of excuses that he enjoys telling the other officers later on at the station, but mostly he’ll call the teen’s parents and let them go. The parents are later encouraged to give a blood or urinary test without police involvement whenever they speculate their child using marijuana. Officer Roberson thinks that with firmer rules at home, many of the problems can be eliminated. By not allowing children to have parties at their home and making punishments strict enough that rules wouldn’t want to be broken, drinking and marijuana use could quickly decline. * Names have been changed to respect the privacy of the persons interviewed.
by the numbers
TEENS AND MARIJUANA
11
31
of teens nationwide had used marijuana at 47 percent least once in 1999 percent of teens nationwide had used marijuana at least once in 1991
percent of teens surveyed had used marijuana before they were 13
May 2, 2005
20 a&e
the harbinger
XXX same old thing for
photo copyright Columbia Pictures
Ice Cube brings nothing new in this action sequel
Joey Soptic
Ice Cube is now an action star. Yes, it was stupid how predictable it was and how impossible amazing as it sounds, after the release of “XXX: State of The some of the “stunts” were. Union,” Ice Cube is another gun-toting, explosion-causing Such a scene is when police, who are looking for Cube, man on a mission. But he does it all while making what swarm around a house while he is inside. While using a is coming up next as obvious as possible. It makes for an heat sensor to find him, they find a heat signature in the entertaining movie, but doesn’t offer any unique plot twists upstairs bathroom but no others. Where is Cube? In the that you would want to see. freezer! The heat signature in the bathroom was a bunch In many parts, the movie is too predictable. A scene is of meat that Cube had put in the microwave. Then he is set up and music starts playing and immediately you know able to escape from he house during a raid. It’s these sort of exactly what is going to occur. It ruins any suspense that ridiculous scenes that go on throughout the whole movie. could have been built up. This is also seen during a stunt where Cube ends up Darius Stone (Ice Cube) is brought jumping from a train on a into the XXX program where the bridge that is about to explode. government brings in convicts to use Then he manages to somehow as agents that battle a rogue faction swim out of the way of the train of the US government. Nothing in that falls into the water. the story really twists your brain The movie has its strong and makes you think. The movie’s points, such as some good The movie really isn’t any surprising moments don’t change humor where we see the different than any other the plot much. The movie relies on president unknowingly action flick... cool visuals to make up for its lack of quoting Tupac. There is also a substantial story line. the presence of Samuel L. The movie has stunning special effects: Jackson, who deals out a good similar to “The Fast and The Furious.” Many things happen dose of anger. The addition of several hundred thousand in a single moment, blurring everything into a mass of dollar cars is a plus for the movie. colors onscreen. The opening is composed of fly-bys of But in the end the negative aspects out weigh the a car that is traveling at high speed through a digitally positive. The movie really isn’t any different than any other animated city. It draws you into the film and you drift action flick, but it can still be enjoyed. Dazzling special through these thanks to the effects. effects and action scenes make it somewhat entertaining, The rest of the movie is almost in constant action. and it was still worth it to see Samuel L. Jackson get angry Sometimes that can be pulled off with a movie, but in this and Vin Diesel get replaced by the infamous Ice Cube.
Also try these films on DVD... XXX The original film that featured Vin Diesel in the title role introduced the tatooed hero. The spectacualr action scenes and fancy cars made this an extremely successful summer popcorn flick. Samuel L. Jackson’s character, seen in the sequel, was also featured.
XXX: State of the Union
“ ”
Die Another Day “State of the Union” was directed the by the same helmer of this twentieth James Bond film. Pierce Brosnan as Bond teams up with Halle Berry to take on your standard villian bent on global domination by using a a high-tech weapon sattelite. Girls, gadgets and guns ensue.
RECEIVE A FREE TAN WITH ANY SERVICE MANICURES-PEDICURES-ACRYLICS-HAIRCUTS PERMS-HIGHLIGHTS AND WAXING
$2 dollars off any service or 10% discount for all students Hours: Mon-Sat:10 a.m-8 p.m. Sun: 12 p.m.-6p.m.
May 2, 2005
Shopping Center-8015 State Line Rd KC, MO 64112 (816)-444-5445