Issue 16 of the 2012-2013 Harbinger by The Harbinger

THE HARBINGER Shawnee Mission East | 7500 Mission Road, PV KS, 66208 l May 10, 2013 l Issue 16 l www.smeharbinger.net

‘BUT FOND MEMORIES LINGER ON’ As seniors reflect on high school moments that have molded them into the graduates they are, The Harbinger takes a look at the Class of 2013 see senior pullout

EDITORIAL 2

THE HARBINGER STAFF 2012-2013 a publication of Shawnee Mission East high school 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Editors-in-Chief Opinion Page Designers Anne Willman Greta Nepstad Chloe Stradinger Morgan Krakow Assistant Editors Feature Section Editor Andrew McKittrick Hannah Ratliff Katie Knight Feature Page Editors Art & Design Editor Maddie Hise Paige Hess Pauline Werner Managing Editor Will Oakley Jennifer Rorie Caroline Kohring Head Copy Editor A&E Section Editor Matt Hanson Tiernan Shank Assistant Head Copy Editor A&E Page Designer Sarah Berger Megan McAlister Copy Editors Sports Section Editor Anne Willman Mitch Kaskie Chloe Stradinger Sports Page Designers Andrew McKittrick G.J. Melia Katie Knight Sam Pottenger Erin Reilly Grace Heitmann Morgan Twibell Co-Spread Editors Sarah Berger Morgan Twibell Matt Hanson Leah Pack Julia Poe Freelance Page Editors Jennifer Rorie Phoebe Aguiar Sophie Tulp Sophie Tulp Grace Heitmann Alex Goldman Morgan Krakow Maggie McGannon Ads Manager James Simmons Sophie Tulp Audrey Danciger Circulation Manager Business and Circulation Greta Nepstad Manager Editorial Section Editor Greta Nepstad Jennifer Rorie Social Media Director Editorial Board Mattie German Chloe Stradinger Staff Artists Andrew McKittrick Emily Perkins Rock Anne Willman Miranda Gibbs Jennifer Rorie Paloma Gustafson-ika Katie Knight Photo Editors Grace Heitmann Jake Crandall Matt Hanson Caroline Creidenberg Julia Poe Assistant Photo Editor Kim Hoedel Maddie Schoemann Duncan MacLachlan Staff Photographers Sarah Berger Erin Reilly Sami Walter Neely Atha Morgan Krakow Taylor Anderson Staff Writers Stefano Byer Mike Thibodeau Tessa Polaschek Emily Perkins Rock Alexa Young Caroline Kohring Molly Gasal Michael Kraske Annie Savage Susannah Mitchell Leah O’connor Taylor Bell Kathryn Jones Tommy Sherk Connor Woodson New Section Editor Hayden Roste Sarah Berger Meghan Shirling News Page Designer Katie Sgroi Julia Seiden Hailey Hughes Opinion Section Editor Adviser Kim Hoedel Dow Tate

Accountable Attendance

Students need to stop abusing the lenient attendance policies and parents need to stop enabling it

artwork by Paloma Gustafson-ika On any given day there are about 200 students that are absent from school, compared to about 165 last year. There are many excuses students have for absences, and some are legitimate, but many simply don’t want to sit through class. We all learned from watching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” that kids have been playing hookey forever. It’s a battle that schools have always fought, and will always fight, but at East it has gotten out of control. It’s too easy for students to get away with not showing up to school. Though it’s not all the school’s fault, East needs to make changes to the policy and the enforcement of the policy so that students can be accountable. Currently, the school policy requires students to bring in a parent note before school to get a pass to leave. When someone has an actual doctor’s appointment or family commitment, this is a good policy that works. However, when students seem to have to see the doctor every single seminar — sometimes twice a week — then, there is a problem. Even without a note, students can come and go from school whenever they please because there is no one checking to see if they have a pass or where they are headed. People can walk out the door and no one ever thinks twice about it. There should be

EDITORIAL BOARD VOTES

AGAINST

7 6

ABSENT

FOR

more accountability placed on students to be present when they are supposed to be in class. To try and solve this, we should have a teacher or administrator checking passes at the door. One of the teachers that have hall duty can be stationed by the office and other doors in order to monitor students entering and exiting the building. Also, for the large amount of medical issues that seemingly-healthy students tend to have at 1:00 on Thursday afternoons, a record should be taken. If you have a doctor’s appointment more than four times a month, a doctor’s note should be required. If the student is actually sick, it is important for the school to know anyway so they could help out in any way possible. An email, instead of a phone call, should be sent every time a student is gone, excused or not. Currently there is an automated phone call home every time a student has an unexcused absence, but those start going out around 5 p.m. when students are home and able to pick up the phone and their parents never have to hear about it. An email would ensure that only the parent sees it, especially if it was sent to a work address. Most of the problem doesn’t lie with the attendance center, it falls back on the parents — especially for those students who seem to have so many appointments. Some notes are written and signed by students, but many of them aren’t. Parents are more than okay with letting their children out of school. If a student is not in school, he or she cannot learn. Learning a difficult math concept is much easier from the teacher than the book, and missing a lecture in AHAP just because you don’t feel like going will end up coming back to hurt you later. School is one of the foundations for the rest of your life, and if you’re not there, you’re missing out on important lessons. After all, mommy can’t call you in for a doctor’s appointment at your first job just because you don’t feel like going that day.

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

NEWS THE FEED

Changing with the times

A LOOK AT RECENT EVENTS

written by Megan McAlister

Lobster Landing

This Saturday, the International Club is hosting its 76th Semiannual Lancer Lobster Landing here at East. Live lobsters flown in from Maine will be sold 9 a.m. until noon at the Mission Road entrance of the school. This fundraiser exclusively benefits the foreign exchange program and is the only fundraiser that the club hosts each year to continue this program. It helps bring students from countries around the world to East and it also allows to send some of East’s students on foreign exchange. “Most of the money that comes from the sale of the lobsters...goes to scholarships for East students and a little bit of it goes to buy activity passes and yearbooks for international students to East,” said International Club sponsor Brenda Fishman.

Projected 2013-2014 school year budget announced

photo by Paloma Dickey

Prairie Village Police Department increases its use of technology in order to be more efficent

written by Sophie Tulp The Prairie Village Police Department is transitioning out of traditional pen and paper systems and into the age of electronics, according to Police Chief Wes Jordan and Technical Operations officer Kyle Shipps. Efficiency is expected to rise and benefit the public as electronic ticket writing, electronic fingerprinting, license plate reading devices and new Sports Utility Vehicle purchases are being put into effect. According to Officer Shipps, a normal

photo courtesy of MCT Campus

traffic stop takes about 10 minutes. With a new electronic ticketing system, which will be deployed in two vehicles in May, traffic stop durations are expected to reduce to around three minutes per stop. The system is a form of card scanner attached to the laptop in police cars, and replaces the old system for ticket writing in which officers had to manually write down every detail.

continued on page 6

A Look Ahead- Week of 5/13 5/13 Senior Class

After a year of budget cuts that will cause several changes at East, Leigh Anne Neal, the SMSD Associate Superintendent of Communications has stated that the Shawnee Mission School District Budget for the 2013-14 school year will not contain as many cuts. Several members of the East community experienced the budget cuts firsthand such as Jazz band director Kim Harrison who was reduced to a part-time position next year as some of his classes were combined. “The proposed budget for the [2013-14 year] does not contain any significant budget reductions,” said Neal. “The projections, however, for the district’s general operating fund balance, are alarmingly low, which could result in budget reduction considerations for future years.”

5/16 Orchestra

5/15 NAHS National Art Honors Society Meeting 3:00 Room 204

Graduation 7:00 North Stadium

Orchestra Banquet 7:00 Cafeteria

A Look Into Challenging Kansas High Schools What is an index score? A ratio of the total number of AP and IB tests taken by students and the number of a school’s graduates for that year. 1

The Top Five Schools in Kansas

Mission Valley Land Dispute At a Prairie Village Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 7, citizens were able to voice their concern over the proposed Chateau Senior Living Home development They explained their concern that a largescale development at the now-vacant Mission Valley School site would lower the values of their homes and change the character of the neighborhood. This discussion will continue at the next meeting of the Planning Commission on June 4 when the proposal may be put to a vote. From there, if passed, it will go before the PV City Council, where it will only be passed with a favorable vote of 10 out of its 12 members.

ranked by the Washington Post

Kansas City Index score: 3.434 School population: 846

photo by Caroline Creidenberg

IN THIS SECTION

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science

Blue Valley High School

Blue Valley West

Blue Valley North

Overland Park Index score: 2.185 School population: 1,585

Stilwell Index score: 2.067 School population: 1,218

Overland Park Index score: 1.739 School population: 1,339

Shawnee Mission East Prairie Village Index score: 2.072 School population: 1,873

for the full story turn to page 5

page 4

page 5

page 6

Seminars move to mornings next year

East ranks as the third most competitve school in Kansas

Police department increases it use of technology

NEWS 4

SEMINAR SWITCH UP Changes are coming to seminar for next year in hopes of improving attendance and maximizing use for students written by Greta Nepstad

t’s 1:10 p.m. and senior Melissa Stasi is leaving the building with her backpack. Seminar has just begun, and while a majority of the student body are sitting in classrooms, there’s a steady stream of students with doctor’s notes and parent signed passes leaving East, in addition to the seniors. Next year, however, the seminars will be in the morning and seniors will not be able to leave during second semester. East was informed by the Shawnee Mission School District in February that seniors would no longer be allowed to leave during seminar in the second semester. As a result, discussions were triggered over whether or not seminar should be moved to a different time in the day. “When the district changed their position on whether or not seniors could leave... we felt compelled to talk about seminar and how to make it productive, useful, time,” as-

sociate principal John McKinney said. ers are at their best and students produce Seminar committee meetings were held their highest quality of work in the middle throughout January, February and March of the day, so using that time for seminar with the teachers, adwould not be the most efministration and parents fective. to decide on how to con“My hope was that we We felt compelled to duct seminars next year. would have it in the midtalk about seminar McKinney also created a dle of the day,” attendance and how to make it survey that was designed clerk Jody Gustafson said. productive, useful time. to acquire the opinions “I’ll probably get twice as of students, teachers and Assosciate Principal John McKinney many calls in the morning parents. The survey was than I normally do... but on the school website from February to we really just want kids to utilize [the semiMarch. nars] the way they’re supposed to.” “We involve everybody from the beginAlthough the decision to move the semining when we make decisions that affect the nars to the mornings is widely supported by building,” McKinney said. “I think we’ve had teachers and the administration, students a really positive response.” like Stasi are skeptical. It was debated whether or not seminar “People might in fact skip more because would be held in the middle of the day or in people try to make use of their mornings the morning. According to McKinney, teach- and get breakfast or sleep in late,” Stasi said.

“ ”

“It’s like a green light for go.” Current juniors, like Sarah DeBauche, are upset that they won’t be able to leave during seminar next year. “It’s frustrating,” DeBauche said. “Our senior year, we won’t have the senior privilege of leaving early.” Though the teachers and administrators are aware of students’ unrest over losing their privileges, there are high hopes that the seminars will have a positive impact. “Juniors [are] looking forward to getting out at 1:10 and walking out the door, and why wouldn’t they?” McKinney said. “They’ve watched that for the last three years. Though it’s a bummer for the seniors second semester, we feel it’s going to be really beneficial and it’s contingent upon me, our building administration, our teachers to really make that time useful, constructive and purposeful.”

FORGOT YOUR CAMERA?

WE DIDN’T. smephotos.com

NEWS 5

National Recognition East is nationally ranked as one of the nation’s most challenging high schools written by Sarah Berger

HOW THE

RANKINGS WORK

Take the total number of AP, IB and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year...

AICE

(DIVIDE BY)

# OF

STUDENTS

inTHE the IN

GRADUATING GRADUATING

OF CLASS CLASS

1.000 public schools with a ratio of 1.000 or higher made the list.

9th SMS

ONLY 9%

A school can reach that level if only half of its students take one AP, IB or AICE test in their junior year and one in their senior year.

10th SMNW

of public schools managed to reach this score.

11th SMW

THAT’S

1,980 out of the 22,000 public schools

in the United States.

In the Washington Post’s annual list of schools. most challenging high schools, East was Dr. Krawitz states the root of East’s acaranked third in the state of Kansas and the demic atmosphere stems from tradition and 969th in the nation. This year, East has family legacies of a college education that are moved up from fourth in the state as well as circulating throughout the school. increased its score on the challenge index. “I really think [students] are inspired to do The challenge index is how the Wash- well in everything they do academically,” Dr. ington Post ranks high schools on the list. It Krawitz said. is calculated by a school’s total number of Senior Anne Recker, who is currently Advanced Placement (AP) and International ranked number one in her class, also sees this Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken, divided by academic inspiration in many of her peers. the number of graduating seniors. Accord- Being a part of the IB program, Recker sees ing to The Washington Post, the average students strive for academic excellence in score on this index is 1.000, meaning half of challenging classes everyday. a school’s students took at least two AP or IB “I think the majority of the student body tests during their high school careers. Dur- is very self-motivated,” Recker said. ing this year’s research, the In addition to havWashington Post found ing driven students, Dr. “In the long run, it’s that nine percent of high Krawitz also sees East’s soschools in the nation excioeconomic background the learning we have to ceeded the 1.000 standard, having an impact on stucelebrate.” East being one of them. dents. While he emphaEast’s index of chalsizes that is not a definiArndt-Helgessen lenge score was a 2.072, tive reason for academic more than double the nasuccess, he believes it does tional average. In addition, it’s index score play a strong role in students’ motivation. rose by 0.141 points. Sociology and AP Amer“I do think when you enter the doors of ican History teacher Vicki Arndt-Helgesen this building, [academic success] has somehas also seen this trend. She credits open what already been part of what your life is enrollment, meaning any students can enroll going to be about while you’re here,” Dr. in AP classes, as the main factor. According to Krawitz said. Principal Karl Krawitz, he has seen a steady In the East community, the majority of increase in the number of AP tests taken in parents have a college education and profesthe past five years. sional jobs. Dr. Krawitz thinks the children “I would always recommend kids to take of doctors and lawyers have an expectation AP tests to get a sense of what the difficulty is that they will also attend college and achieve of the content they may run into at college,” similar success to their parents. Dr. Krawitz said. He does feel this can create some pressure While East students are performing at a but also helps fuel East’s competitive spirit. challenging level, East is still ranked behind He attributes this to students’ motivation to two other Kansas schools: The Sumner Acad- do well in school as well as taking challengemy of Arts and Sciences in Kansas City, and ing classes. Recker has also observed this selfBlue Valley North High School. motivated among her peers and in herself. Blue Valley North’s index score is 0.113 “I treat school as if it is my job,” Recker points above East’s. The Sumner Academy of said. Arts and Sciences has an index score of 3.434 Arndt-Helgesen sometimes believes this which is more than triple the national aver- pressure can be too much when students age, although their score has decreased in the overload themselves with AP classes. Somepast year by 0.035 points. times she also does not agree with students’ East’s third place ranking also puts them motivation for taking AP classes. Many times ahead of all other Shawnee Mission schools, they are just going for the extra grade point. the closest ranking being Shawnee Mission While she may not agree with the stuSouth at ninth place. According to the Wash- dents’ reasons, she does value the learning exington Post’s system for ranking, this can perience that East provides, which she urges most likely be attributed to the fact that East is the heart of East’s challenging spirit. offers the most AP and IB courses out of any “If you are learning, the grades will take other schools in the area. Currently, East of- care of themselves,” Arndt-Helgesen said. “In fers 20 AP courses and 22 IB courses, a couple the long run, it’s the learning we have to celmore than all the other Shawnee Mission ebrate.”

“ ”

photos by Molly Gasal

LANCER VOICE

What’s your opinion on the ranking process?

ENGLISH

Robert Bickers

“It’s really measuring whatever kids are taking AP tests. There are those kids who aren’t in AP, and they’re completely removed.”

SPANISH

Linda Sieck

“I think that East is an outstanding high school for many reasons but it’s kind of strange to me that you would base a school on the number of kids that take the AP tests.”

GOVERNMENT

Ron Stallard

“I think it’s fair if they rank them on the outcome of the scores as opposed to the number of students who take it.”

NEWS 6

ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY By purchasing new technology, the Prairie Village Police Department aims to speed up ticketing written by Sophie Tulp photos by Paloma Dickey

THE GADGETS continued from page 3

The License Plate Reader is a system used to locate and possibly make arrests on people with warrants, stolen vehicles and other crimes identified in the police database.

Four Ford Sedans were purchased by the department to accomodate more equipment. They are equipped with allwheel drive for safety in poor road conditions.

The electronic finger printer gets rid of the mess of traditional ink printing. Copies of prints can then be automatically sent out to the Kansas and Federal Bureaus of Investigations, with quicker and more accurate results.

Now, when a driver’s license is swiped in the machine, all the officer has to do is choose the type of violation. The equipment will automatically factor the fines, issue the court date and spit out the copy as well as send a copy to the court system. Chief Jordan emphasizes that the main goal of electronic ticketing is not to issue more tickets, but to improve the safety and timeliness of traffic stops. “One of the things about improving efficiency is the fact that the officer doesn’t have to sit there and write out a ticket, he can simply swipe [the driver’s license] and improve upon the stop time,” Chief Jordan said. “Drivers don’t like to be inconvenienced, and traffic stops are also dangerous. The more we can reduce time spent on traffic stops, the more we can mitigate the possibility of an accident.” A new license plate reader (LPR) system was deployed in April after undergoing a year of testing. The LPR is a set of three cameras on the police car that are constantly taking pictures of every license plate the car passes. Simultaneously, it is running them through the police database to pull warrants, missing persons, thefts and other offenses. If the LPR reads a plate matched in the database it will set off an alarm. The sounding of this alarm gives officers probable cause to stop that car and investigate it. From there, arrests can be made. Chief Jordan assures citizens that although license plates are public information, the data taken in from the LPR is not stored in their system permanently. The first time the LPR was tested a year ago, it was able to identify a stolen vehicle in front of the police car at the McDonald’s drive through on State Line. Throughout the yearlong testing period, the PVPD found it to be a cost-effective tool. The money that paid for it came out of drug seizure money, but each time an arrest is made with the LPR, money that can be recovered from arrests goes back into the

budget to be used for future purchases. “It is a return on the investments when we are able to quickly and efficiently locate outstanding warrants, missing persons, stolen property,” Officer Shipps said. “We don’t use it to stop cars and make tickets, we use it to make arrests, and I know many times I will see that an arrest has been made due to an LPR hit. It’s definitely exceeded our expectations.” This addition to the cars, along with the electronic ticket writer, came from the technology budget for the department. The budget provides for technological advances, funded

“

Drivers don’t like to be inconvenienced, and traffic stops are also dangerous. The more we can reduce time spent on traffic stops, the more we can mitigate the possibility of an accident.

”

Police Chief Wes Jordan

partially by the jail tax raised when building the jail in Gardner several years ago, as well as funds from drug seizure money. Budgeting and planning what these funds will be used to purchase is an important process for Prairie Village administrations according to Shipps. “Our administrations are really good about planning ahead—five, six years—and budgeting for it, so when the time comes around the money is available,” Shipps said. “This is very important, so we aren’t stealing from other budgets to purchase equipment.” In order to get a new purchase approved, members of the PVPD must first go through the PV City Council. A presentation outlining the benefits, expenses, payment plan and all other aspects of the device must be given to council members. Additionally, the device must be jus-

tifiable in terms of how and what kinds of benefits it will offer the community before it gets the stamp of approval for purchase. “Any new big improvement that requires additional funds that haven’t already been budgeted have to come before the city council for approval,” PV City councilwoman Laura Wassmer said. “It all comes back to what we know our residents will be supportive of. One of the top things [residents] say they put as a priority in Prairie Village is the police coverage. They like having police officers and feeling safe with the attention that our police department provides.” Other advancements in the past few years that have been approved by the department and city council include the purchase of SUVs for the supervising officers, sergeants and corporals, to accommodate all the gear they have to haul around on a daily basis. Four Ford Sedans were purchased because of their all-wheel drive feature, improving safety in the winter and in bad conditions. Finally, electronic fingerprinting was deployed this year in anticipation of the FBI no longer accepting ink-based prints. According to Shipps, even with these recent advancements, the department continues to look towards the future. Within the next five years, Shipps hopes to replace all outdated laptops and camera systems in the cars, and make general upgrades from outdated equipment, all in the hopes of being able to be more responsive to the community. “It makes us more available now,” Officer Shipps said. “With computers in the cars, the officers can be out in the field and more responsive to the citizens without having to come back to the station. That’s the biggest benefit to them; that we are more available to the community through the use of these advances in technology.”

7 Right: Michael Kraske celebrates his brother, Nick’s, eighteenth birthday. Far Right Top: Fiveyear-old Nick attempts to picks up two-yearold Michael. Far Right Bottom: Three-year-old Nick spends time with week-old Michael photos courtesy of the Kraske family

OPINION

STAFF PANEL

TOPIC: Government Surveillance Are you willing to give up privacy for precaution?

Hannah Ratliff

“That is something that should be done in a situation only where it has to be done. That is the kind of thing that can get out of control but if it is necessary in a dangerous situation it can be okay.”

Sarah Berger

“To an extent, I am all for more safety but I also don’t think that our rights to privacy should be violated. In some situations, I think the government can be a little over the top.”

Brotherly Love Homecoming King. Mr. Lancer. Sports Picks. That’s what most people think of when they an opinion of Michael Kraske hear the name Nick Kraske. I think of Nick Kraske as my brother. Not just the popular guy or the hilarious kid, he’s the kid who sleeps down the hall from me. The kid who helps me with my homework. The kid who I eat dinner with every night. Growing up I didn’t really know Nick. I knew him, but not like I would know a good friend. The little interaction we had would either consist of fighting or small talk. Maybe shooting hoops or throwing the football here and there. But we never really talked about things real friends would talk about. One big reason we weren’t close is because we never hung out. When I was in elementary school and he was in middle school, Nick would have friends over and I would hang out with them, not because Nick wanted me to, but because he was forced by my parents to let me. Nick hated that. Then as I was in middle school, things changed a little. We would hang out with our own separate friends, and talk a little, but he was busy with high school all the time and we wouldn’t do much together. Last summer when I was close to joining him

A younger sibling discusses his relationship with his brother and the evolution of their friendship

in high school, we began to talk more. We soon became close. We would talk about high school, what it was going to be like, if I was going to be nervous, and through these talks we bonded. Then, as freshman year began, that bond became stronger. On school nights we would sometimes talk or listen to music. He would help me with homework. If both of us were home, neither one of us would be in our room alone for too long without the other stopping by. It wasn’t until I started going to East that I really knew who he was to the East community. I had an idea; I knew that Sports Picks was very popular among students. But when Nick won Homecoming King, I was a little bit shocked. I didn’t realize he was so well-liked around East. Winning Homecoming King changed the way I looked at him. It was almost weird because he was a “cool kid.” But soon it was back to normal, and it gave me a new way to look at his advice. It made me want to take that advice more seriously, because if he was so successful, then his advice must be valid. He would give me advice about how to deal with teachers, girls or how to manage my time. Not everything Nick has taught me has come through verbal advice. Watching him try new things like stand up comedy and some theater, inspired me to do things like join The Harbinger. While Nick may have started off high school as more of a shy kid, I have gotten to experience him growing up and changing. We continued to grow close as tragedy struck

when Tyler Rathbun died. Tyler and Nick had been good friends since elementary school. For a little while directly after this happened Nick and I didn’t talk much. He would be with friends, or, understandably, didn’t feel like talking. As time passed, the tragedy helped Nick and I open up to each other more. He would tell me stories about Tyler, and we would mourn over his death together. Sometimes we still do. With Nick leaving soon for DePaul in Chicago, it’ll be hard not seeing him everyday. It will be strange not waking up early and freestyling together on the way to school, or him telling me about a new rapper he’s discovered that I will later listen to and love. Although we have become as close as we have ever been this year, after this summer it will never be the same. Adjusting to everyday life without Nick will probably be the biggest transition of my life. It has been great being able to become close with Nick this year. Family dinners will be quiet and boring without Nick’s comedic presence. Getting help with homework will no longer be as simple as walking to Nick’s room. Discovering new music that I love will be a lot harder than just simply asking my brother. But even if things are going to change after this year, I’m more than glad that Nick and I are close. It’ll be hard with him gone most of the time, but the advice he’s given me and the lessons he’s taught me will go a long way; not just in high school, but in life.

ENGLISH TEACHERS RECOMMEND THEIR BEST SUMMER READS

Greta Nepstad “I think the government has a role to play, but only to a certain degree because there are limits and lines to be crossed. I would not sacrifice my privacy to government officials unless it is in an extreme situation.”

Merideth Birt IB/AP English 12

Kristin Fry “The Sweetness H English 10/English 12 at the Bottom of Pie: A Flavia de Luce Mystery” by Alan Bradley

Vicki Tucker “A Thousand Splended Suns” by Khaled Hosseini

AP English 11/12

“Mansfield Park” by Jane Austen

OPINION 8 Growing up with a family member who is gay affects view on love written by Susannah Mitchell

The only two things you could hear were the quick pitter-patter of kids’ size Sketchers and the hushed voices of a line of second graders reverberating through the hallway. I was third from the front of the line, a coveted position right behind the cutest boy in class and in front of my best friend, Averie. “My favorite color is purple!” “How do you spell ‘gorilla?’” We were all whispering with each other, discussing the most inane topics with only a vague idea of what we were talking about. “I think it’s almost time for recess.” “My uncle’s gay!” Once I said that, Averie tapped me on the shoulder. “What’s that?” “I’m not really sure, but I think it just means he loves other boys!” Like the rest of my peers, I wasn’t really sure what I was talking about. But as I grew older and started learning more about the world, I realized that I was right. * * * A lot of people have a “Eureka!” moment in their lives when they realize something — It’s an epiphany. Whether it’s 1 + 1 = 2 or that red and blue make purple, each of us will ultimately have a moment where we put the pieces together and make a realization. One of the typical expectations of being gay is coming out and telling your friends and

photo by AnnaMarie Oakley

family that, hey, you’re not into the opposite gender. For a lot of families, their “Eureka!” moment is learning that their son, daughter, sister or brother is gay. Having been born 10 years after my uncle came out, I was a little late for the announcement. Jason’s always been a great uncle; he’s into fashion and has an almost-obsession with musicals, like me. We have the same sense of humor and he’s always been willing to help me out. He’s not just a great uncle, but a great guy. Some say that being gay is unnatural, and that gay love is strange. Politicians lobby against gay marriage and deny gay people their rights. The Westboro Baptist Church says God hates them. I don’t believe in a god, but if I did, I know it wouldn’t be true. As a kid, I would visit Uncle Jason and his partner, my Uncle Brian’s, house. I would spend my time running around in the background and playing with their pet lizard, Gollum. I would watch movies, play video games. I would see them hug, see them kiss. I would see two people who loved each other. It was never unnatural; it was love. Seeing loving couples constantly denied their rights has always been confusing to me; why shouldn’t they be able to have the same rights as straight couples? They shouldn’t they be treated any differently. If I want to get married some day, my uncle should be able to get married. When I was in third grade, all of the girls

in my class were in love with the same boy. His name was Evan, and he was perfect. White teeth, Bieber-quality hair and the greenest eyes you could imagine. For me, my “Eureka!” moment wasn’t realizing what clouds were made of. It wasn’t learning that two half notes make a whole note. It was when I realized that the way I loved Evan was the way Jason loved his partner. My nine-year-old love was short-lasting, but Jason’s wasn’t. It was true, the way love should be. Since I can remember, I’ve known that being gay isn’t a choice. It’s not a sin; it’s the way you were born. If two people love each other, whether it’s gay love or straight love, it’s not weird. It’s not strange. It’s the most natural thing in the world. * * * And now, Jason and Brian have broken up. They’ve both moved on, Jason has a new partner. They moved to Oklahoma for a few years, but Oklahoma City hasn’t exactly proven to be the most gay-friendly city in America, so now they’re moving back. And I couldn’t be more excited to have the chance to be closer to my uncle. I don’t know whether we’ll spend our time singing along to the “Avenue Q” soundtrack or watching Sci-Fi movies, or playing with his dog Charlie or going furniture shopping. All I know is that I love my uncle, gay or straight, and that I’m proud of the life he’s made for himself.

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OPINION 11

ADVOCATING AWARENESS

art by Paloma Gustafson-Ika Not to sound facetious or sarcastic, but just out of curiosity, why did people care about the Boston Bombing so much? What about it got people to listen to the news evan opinion of Mike Thibodeau ery night? What about it got people to check up on it at CNN.com and the Huffington Post while they were at work? There are the obvious reasons — it was a matter of national security and it was a horrible tragedy. But let’s be honest, we know what the real reason was — it was exciting. The case was like a good book, every day they’d leave you on a cliff hanger. First was, Who did it? Then the footage came out of the two suspects and it was, Who are they? Then, the shootout with police that left one brother dead. It was like a scene out of an action movie. Everyone was on their toes, waiting for more information coming out of Boston. And now all of the excitement’s gone. The last suspect’s caught and we know why he did it. People have stopped caring about the news again. Why? It’s because news is usually pretty bland. I personally don’t want to come home after school, sit down on the couch and flip on CNN. But not all news is a snooze fest. Sure, most national news seems like the same old white guys arguing over the same things over and over. But, what’s going on overseas and around the world is a bit more interesting. Instead of the

International news helps to make connections between issues all over the world, which is why it warrants as much attention as domestic news

same old, tedious problems in Congress, you have protestors in Europe rioting in the streets and freedom fighters in the Middle East fighting to win their liberty from oppressive dictators. Two years ago, the Arab Spring got me to download the CNN app. I could tell you almost everything that was going on in Libya. I was basically rooting for the rebels like they were a hometown team. They were the romantic idea of freedom fighters, like a Luke Skywalker who spoke Arabic. Once you start paying attention to international news, you start to realize, Hey, this kind of ties back to here. That starts a domino effect. You start paying closer attention to the ‘boring’ news here. All of a sudden, it’s linked to something and it’s not boring anymore. Along with the Arab Spring two summers ago came the Occupy protests. I started to see the similarities between the two. Both were made of our generation, people who I could relate to. They were people who wanted to make a difference in the world around them. It brought my attention to the problems that these people were trying to solve. I began to develop my own thoughts and ideas on politics. Then I started to see the protests across Europe. Protests and riots from Athens to London. It just tied in with everything that was happening here. People protesting against the crippling austerity measures and to trying to keep their social programs like health care. I started looking into what was happening here with our economic programs. After seeing austerity measures fail miserably across Europe, I started wondering, Why are they trying to use them here? My political views started develop-

ing. All of sudden things like the Debt Ceiling and Health Care debates started to catch my attention. I didn’t want to see my country devolve into rioters in the streets hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails at riot officers in the streets. That’s what international news has done for me. It got me interested. For people now things could be a bit different. You could look at our tense situation with North Korea and see how their social programs have driven their economy into the ground and how belligerent they are towards the rest of the world. You could look at the social programs that are in work in Congress and see them in a bad light. Or you could see the effects of Germany forcing austerity measures on other European countries. You could realize how these measures have broken the Euro Zone and countries like Greece and Ireland. After that, when you look at the Sequester here, you’ll see how those major cuts won’t help our economy, just hurt it. Global news is a stepping stone. First you’ll hear about the mess in Syria. About the bombings, about the nerve gas, about the entire disaster. It’ll make you ask, Why aren’t we doing anything? You’ll start looking into Obama’s red line and you’ll realize that, whoa, we’re still in Afghanistan. All of a sudden you’re going to actually know what you’re talking about. That’s why we shouldn’t overlook it, ‘cause chances are if you overlook what’s going on around the world, you haven’t even glanced at what’s happening here.

A Look Around the World

These are locations of some major international news in the last NIGERIA: Because of fighting month that might not have been between extreme Islamists and covered very extensively Nigerian forces, as many as 188

people were killed and more than 2,000 homes were destroyed.

IRAQ: 42 people were killed

and 250 were injured in a series of attacks in Iraq on the same day as the Boston Bombing. Information from cnn.com

Information from economist.com

MALI: The UN Security Council

established a peacekeeping force of 12,640 to help stabilize the country.

Information from nytimes.com

A Closer Look: Syria

Since March 2011, Syria has been in the midst of a civil war. The rebels have been fighting President Al-Assad’s forces with much bloodshed on both sides.

Number of people killed in the revolution so far: = 10,000 people

3,043: Average number of deaths per month Nearly a quarter of the country’s 23 million people have been All information courtesy of cnn.com and economist.com displaced

FEATURES taking the next

STEP

Social Studies teacher David Muhammad will go with TOMS shoes to drop off their donated shoes in the coming months

photo illustrations by Neely Atha

Above: Mr. Muhammad surrounded by the TOMS of his students. Left: Senior Caroline Creidenberg’s pair of TOMS. Creidenberg has been involved with Coalition since freshman year. “I’m really jealous that he gets to experience something so cool,” Creidenberg said. “He totally deserves it.” Right: Mr. Muhammad takes a step forward and poses in front of footsteps of TOMS.

written by Julia Seiden Social studies teacher David Muhammad was searching on the TOMS website for a new pair of shoes to add to his current three pair collection. He saw the campaign that would give him an opportunity he had been waiting for: a chance to go on a humanitarian trip. Now he had the opportunity to help others and fit children in need with new shoes. Muhammad knew he had to do it. Muhammad has wanted to travel more to help others since he came back from a humanitarian trip to Uganda with “Change the Truth” a few years ago, but the price was always an issue. When the TOMS campaign presented itself, Muhammad was immediately interested. “Change the Truth” was a service trip that Muhammad went on a few years ago after he heard about it from a student in Coalition, the club he sponsors. They went to Uganda for eight days on a service trip where Muhammad’s task was to teach the kids karate. Throughout the trip, he was bonding with kids and teaching them new skills, while others on the trip taught them other skills besides karate. The TOMS company’s motto is “One for One,” something Muhammad made sure he understood before he invested his money in their product and created a profile on their website to campaign for the trip. Any pair of shoes that is purchased from TOMS is another pair that is automatically sent to a person in need of a new pair of shoes in a different part of the world. “If you’re supporting something with your dollars,” Muhammad said. “That’s a sign of something you believe in and people should know what they are giving their money to.” Muhammad’s friend Jenée Osterheldt of the Kansas City Star, who has always given him support and advice, encouraged him to create a profile so he could have the opportunity

to go a trip that would hopefully make him come back a better human. To get the word out, Muhammad used Twitter, Facebook and went into other classes to encourage them to vote. “[Osterheldt] told me ‘People know who Mr. Mu is; brand yourself,’” Muhammad said, “But I didn’t think I was going to get in.” People from all over the world supported Muhammad. He received support from his family, students at East, people from the karate school he helps teach at, his religious community, friends from college, even friends from Saudi Arabia and Uganda. “My wife definitely thinks I’m an idealistic young guy and is excited for me to go on the trip,” Muhammad said “But she’s nervous and hopes I won’t be in harm’s way.” After all of the votes were tallied on the final day, Muhammad had received 1,942 votes and was 35th in the competition. He made it into the top 50 and will be traveling to help the TOMS organization before the end of the year. They will be fitting kids for shoes, giving them new shoes and spending time with them while experiencing the culture of the country. None of this would have been possible without all of the votes Muhammad received from all over the world. Muhammad is still amazed that he received so many votes and is able to be a part of and help TOMS. Students Muhammad had never seen before were coming up to him in the hall telling him that they voted for him and which he said was a really humbling experience for him. “I really wanted to help him out because he works a lot with the community and does anything to help out others,” junior Sage Thompson said. Muhammad does not know where he will be going yet, but

trips from previous years have been in Argentina, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Brazil. Muhammad would be happy anywhere he ends up going since all of the expenses will be paid. He hopes to come back enlightened from his experience of helping those who are less fortunate. “It will be interesting to see what his views are on the TOMS organization itself and global poverty once he gets back,” senior Helena Buchmann said, “His opinion was definitely changed about Uganda when he got back. The trip just recharges him on his views on global poverty and other issues Coalition is trying to combat.” During free time on the trip, he hopes to teach some of the kids karate and have a fun time being in a completely new environment. Muhammad hopes to immerse himself in the culture over the trip and will choose from five possible locations once his background check is processed. “It’s work, it’s not like a vacation, it’s definitely hard work,” Muhammad said. “Beyond just the shoes you’re trying to get a taste for what they go through daily.” The trip will be scheduled for sometime this summer up until December and he will travel with nine others from the top 50 for the trip to make it easier with a smaller group. Muhammad hopes to go during July or over winter break so he can continue to teach during the school year. “You can’t be human if you’re not humane, a humanitarian trip will make me more humane which will make me a better human,” Muhammad said. “When you’re not doing any of that you’re actually not a human being, you’re just a body that’s just taking up space and being selfish.” Muhammad hopes to come back from his trip enlightened, inspired, humbled and maybe even a little tanner.

FEATURES 13 written by Tommy Sherk

ocial studies teacher John Nickels’ room is a time capsule. Thousands of postcards from places around the world line the four walls and ceiling tiles of his room. Pick up one of these postcards and Nickels will tell you about the time he took students to China before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Stare into to the eyes of the styrofoam Orcs on his cabinets and he will tell you about seeing the Lord of the Rings sites in New Zealand. Ask him about the decoratively lettered names of students around the room and he will tell you his favorite memory about them. But as Nickels’ career comes to an end this spring, he won’t be hanging up any more relics in 315. He’s done making memories at Shawnee Mission East, and he can only hope he has made an impact on students’ lives. In his 27 years at East, John Nickels has seen over 10,000 students flow through his classroom. Over the years, he has collected bits and pieces of memories from students. The majority of these memories came from international trips -- a favorite tradition of his that he started in his fourth year of teaching. Through these trips, Nickels no longer had to try to explain to kids what places in the world were like -- he could show them. His trips had no official connection to East and were coordinated through a travel company. On his first trip, he and other chaperones took six kids

on a 3-4 week trip in Europe. Over the next 39 years, Nickels took his students around the world. The students on these trips --mostly underclassmen -- did more than just the average tourist. On their trip to New Zealand, they met the prime minister. They traveled to China after they had an earthquake and helped those in need, becoming friends with the locals. On his final trip, Nickels took his kids to Beijing, China. On that trip, they certified East’s first and only sister school, Nan Jang. By the time Nickels took his last trip in 2008, the number of students had grown to about 40 per trip. Though he had to stop traveling for medical reasons, Nickels succeeded in connecting with many kids on these trips. Nickels has developed relationships through school as well. While his trips were a major way of doing this, he has other ways too. He has been very active in the school community over the years. Not only did he coach basketball and freshman football at East, he was a very involved sponsor of STUCO in the late 60s and early 70s. Nickels is known for not limiting himself to the school curriculum in his classes. He regularly holds “discussions” in which students anonymously ask questions that stimulate debate or ask for advice from their peers. Through having kids write time-capsuled senior letters and read thought-provoking books, he tries to get kids think about their future. “Sometimes kids open up and just talk about things, about

living, what its like being around [East], hearing about other people doing things for others, caring about animals,” Nickels said. “How to deal with stuff others are doing to you. How to help others. Those are all way more important than another river.” One of Nickels’ traditions is his “green square” talk, where he tells his students that bigger the impact they have on the world around them, the larger their “green square” on the timeline of history will be. He persuades the students to create the biggest green square that they can in their lifetime, something he has tried to do through his career as a teacher. AP government teacher Ronald Stallard, who has been working in the social studies department with Nickels for the past six years, believes that Nickels’ lessons will be carried on by his students. Stallard also believes that the knowledge and life skills they have absorbed from him will guide them through their life and will radiate to others around them. Now, Nickels’ career is coming to an end. He’s done expanding his green square. Though Nickels takes down a few more postcards each day, the students and teachers he has touched will still have the good memories that can only be attributed to him.

e it r o v a F a o t ll e Farew retires after East teacher John Nickels 48 years being in the District for

photos by Stefano Byer

FEATURES 14

WRITING THE LAST

LETTER

East says farewell to Dr. Krawitz

written by Morgan Twibell As Dr. Krawitz’s last weeks at East approach, he’s going to miss arriving at school every morning between 5:30 and 6 a.m. At this time of the morning Dr. Krawitz would sit at his desk and write letters to students. He would write these letters because when he was in high school he received a couple of cards from a football coach. It gave him the confidence that he couldn’t get in the classroom since he had a low GPA and wasn’t a very good student in high school. Coming in early and writing these letters is something he has done automatically ever since he started as an administrator. He kept this act of writing letters with him all the way through his years of teaching and administration. So every morning he sits at his desk, and he writes these letters, hoping to inspire students the way his football coach inspired him. Senior and Student Body Treasurer, Joe Simmons, has received individual letters for his Student Council accomplishments and group letters that Dr. Krawitz has written to the whole orchestra. “It was really nice that he took the time and cared about us enough to write the letters,” Simmons said. Senior Addie Anthony is another one of the students that has been inspired by Dr. Krawitz’s letters in her time at East. “He never says the same thing in each one but its pretty much the same message,” Anthony said. “He has this saying, that ‘there are special people in the world and they’re meant to do special things,’ and he basically writes about how you’re a special person.” Anthony, who has gotten to know Dr. Krawitz very well through her involvement in different school organizations as a SHARE and Pep Club Exec, describes him as someone who is extremely into leadership and getting to know people on a personal level. “I really believe he wants to get to know every student,” Anthony said. “A lot of people think he just wants to get kids in trouble, but if you show him how great you are and if something does happen, he’s not going to

frown upon you. He’s going to know that kids make mistakes because he has kids and he’s made the same misphoto illustration by Maddie Schoemann takes.” Looking forward to being in retirement He made them feel as one and he even gave According to Dr. Krawitz, one of the best for good, Dr. Krawitz plans to spend time the parents and the community a voice. This experiences at East was being able to teach with his family, travel with his wife and is something that McKinney intends to conhis leadership class. He started the class 20 spend some time on the course, golfing with tinue as he takes on the principal role next years ago at Olathe East. The class was made his friends. year. as a way for high school seniors to develop “Once you start having grand kids things When Dr. Krawitz came to East he had as leaders and take control of their own lives. change in a hurry. Your priorities change,” a particular area he wanted to improve the The best experience that Dr. Krawitz has Dr. Krawitz said. “Now having another school on — underage drinking. It was his had through his leadership class is the day grand-daughter coming in June, timing biggest area of expertise. He still thinks that he takes the students to William Jewell Colcouldn’t be better.” is something he didn’t have big enough of an lege where the students participate in ropes Dr. Krawitz suspects he and his wife will effect on. and challenge courses. be traveling to Virginia about four or five “I came here and it wasn’t like I’d never Dr. Krawitz says he will never forget times a year to visit their son and grandchildealt with [underage drinking] before,” Dr. when one of the groups at the ropes course dren. Krawitz said. “Literally my whole profeshad a girl who had a disOne of the biggest piecsional career I’ve been involved in underage ability. He was concerned, es of advice Dr. Krawitz drinking.” You know the wondering how she gives to prospective adAs far as goals for East in the next five would be able to comlast [school] you’re ministrators when he is years, Dr. Krawitz hopes that the school plete the courses and at is the one you’re teaching them or training will be in far better shape all around than tasks. Then he looked them, is to ‘think fast, but the most fond of. the way he left it. Any administration that over and watched a group act slow.’ He believes the comes in, the hope is that they will imof football players put her Principal Dr. Karl Krawitz key for new principal John prove on what everyone thinks needs to be in their group and get her McKinney is to keep in improved on, according to Dr. Krawitz. He through courses and chalcontact with the students, thinks that the things that the school’s got lenges. whether that’s through writing letters like going that are running well you maintain, if “It’s just a neat experience,” Dr. Krawitz he did or coming up with a new way to comthere are things that McKinney feels need to said. “I’m going to miss that class quite a bit.” municate with them. be changed then they should change them. Over the years he’s never taught the class McKinney knew Dr. Krawitz long before “I always see whatever anyone else conthe same way twice. he became the principal at East. McKinney tributes to [the school] as a plus,” Dr. Krawitz “Leadership is leadership,” Dr. Krawitz took his first administrator class “Intro. to said. “So I hope to come back and see them said. “It’s something that never gets old.” Administration” from Dr. Krawitz at Baker continuing to do what they’ve always done Dr. Krawitz wants to inspire students to University. traditionally.” go after whatever goals they have in their “I think it’s safe to say that he’s taught me Although Dr. Krawitz will be retiring, life. To not be deterred by other things in sojust about everything I know with administhat does not mean East students won’t be ciety, or in life, that tend to try to trip them tration,” McKinney said. “He’s not just been seeing him any time soon. He plans to go to up. He says he wants to prepare them for a co-worker, but a mentor and a friend and football games, basketball games and musiwhatever gets thrown at them. an example of what a building administrator cals. “Get up off the ground when you face should be.” “It’s not like this part of my life ends defeat, whatever kind that is, not doing well McKinney believes that Dr. Krawitz and I’ll never see it again. I’ll still have that on a paper you write in college or not doing brought a sense of unity to East, from the yearn for those activities,” Dr. Krawitz said. well on an exam,” Dr. Krawitz said. “Don’t sit teachers, to custodians, to cafeteria work“I would not think about going back to any around and mope about it, but get up and ers, to the librarian aids. He says Dr. Krawitz other buildings I’ve been at, after retirement, say ‘Alright, what am I going to have to do brought everyone together and gave them but you know the last one you’re at is the for the next one?’” all a common cause and common purpose. one you’re the most fond of.”

“ ”

FEATURES 15

thirsty for CHANGE East mom started Red Dirt, a business that sells phone cases with original art, and donates $5 of each sale to water.org written by Katie Knight It’s December of 2011 and East mother Dawn Taylor throws a blue and yellow frisbee with her newest friend, 17-year-old Nicky. He isn’t related to her or her daughters — sophomore Emily and senior Sarah Biegelsen — but she already feels close to him. She only arrived two days ago, but she already knows that meeting people like Nicky, a Ugandan orphan who cares for his two younger sisters, Issie and Petra, has already changed her forever. Seeing children without parents, people without water and a nation without peace has put her life into perspective. That’s why when Taylor returned, she felt something. Something was tugging at her, pulling her life in a different direction than she had ever imagined. And it only took her 371 days from her first idea to start a company that sells products to benefit people in third world countries. Now, just over a month after starting their website, Taylor’s original phone case business, Red Dirt, has provided water.org with enough money to give 60 people in developing countries clean water for life. That’s more than 300 cases sold and $1,500 donated in the five weeks since Red Dirt’s doors have opened. * * * Red Dirt sells phone cases with bright and vivid art — from orange and pink pastel hibiscus flowers to acrylic paintings of the Plaza lights during the winter season — for the iPhone 4s and 5 and the Samsung Galaxy. Taylor realized that she needed her product to be able to stand out in the marketplace. Because of her 17 years of experience working in art museums, Taylor had many connections to Kansas City artists. So, she set out to find a diverse collection of art for people of all ages and styles. She contacted several artists about purchasing their work, all of whom obliged. The inspiration for a business that sells ‘goods for good’ came to Taylor and her cofounder, Christina Eldridge, after they visited impoverished countries in Africa. Eldridge visited western Africa, while Taylor went to a Ugandan orphanage with a program designed to improve the lives of African orphans, Change the Truth. She spent most of her time bonding with the kids by making bracelets, playing frisbee and watching them sing and

play instruments. Seeing the kids’ joy and passion amidst their grim situation touched her as a person and as a mom. Once Taylor returned from her life-altering journey, she met Eldridge over lunch and they rethought their lives. They realized that they had greater aspirations than living the typical Johnson County lifestyle, so they brainstormed what else they could do to help people in third world countries. “We’d had these great experiences in Africa, we felt a real connection to these people we’ve met a world away,” Taylor said. “We recognized that if you give people — even living in poverty — an opportunity, just a chance to climb out of poverty, you can make a huge impact.” Even though Taylor and Eldridge currently work for nonprofit organizations, they made the decision to have their business for profit rather than nonprofit. Taylor believes that alone, charity isn’t as effective as most people would hope. “Charity alone — charitable giving and donations alone — cannot solve the world’s problems,” Taylor said. “It cannot solve world hunger, it cannot solve orphanhood, it cannot solve water access. Each year you’re just trying to get your same donors and make your same donations, whereas business is scalable. We are out to make money, but we will do good also.” When Taylor told her daughters about her new business plan, both were skeptical. “I was doubting it from the start,” Sarah said. “Me and Emily were on the same page, thinking ‘they don’t know what they’re doing, they have no experience with [running a business], how are they going to do this?’” Once Taylor and Eldridge settled on a business type, the last step to take was deciding which organization they would support. They knew that they wanted to help people in impoverished countries, but didn’t know how. After thinking it over, the duo was set on water being their area of charity because of the immediate impact. “We recognize that there are lots of different ways you can support people in developing countries,” Taylor said. “You can support education, you can support vaccinations, you

Above: Staffer Alex Goldman is awarded homecoming king. He is shocked and ecstatic.

photo illustration by Marisa Walton can support issues specifically with girls, but we decided that access to clean water is probably the number one fundamental way you can change a person’s life who lives in poverty, mainly because access to clean water has so many ripple effects.” Taylor and Eldridge then went with the “natural choice” — Matt Damon and Gary White’s water.org, a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City. The company collects money to build wells in impoverished communities all around the world, specifically in Africa, South Asia and Central America. Once the women decided on a charity, their business plan was almost complete. For a few weeks, Taylor and Eldridge had a back and forth email conversation about what to sell; their ideas ranged from shoes to jewelry to T-shirts, all of which had been done. After another one of their lunch meetings, both women had deemed it unsuccessful, until Taylor had an epiphany. “I was looking at my watch and I said ‘Oh, I have to get back to work,’” Taylor said. “I reached into my purse and pulled out my phone to schedule our next meeting, and I turned it over and I went...phone cases. We needed something visible, something low enough price point that a lot of people could afford it and maybe afford more than one in a year.” On Red Dirt’s opening day, April 3, Taylor finally proved both of her daughters wrong. All the doubt in her ability to start and operate a business disappeared. Now, Emily and

Above: Dawn Taylor sits with her daughter, Emily Biegelsen, and some Red Dirt iPhone 4 cases

Sarah act as assistants and advisers whenever Taylor needs them. “I give [my mom] my expertise,” Emily said. “I just say my opinion on cases, what’s good and what’s not. I’m good at finding typos. I know what to write on social media and how to express things I think.” Taylor looks to Emily and Sarah for their ‘teenaged opinions,’ specifically for when she wants to find a case that would appeal to teenage consumers. The girls also help her run the Red Dirt Pinterest page, Instagram account and Facebook. If it weren’t for them, according to Taylor, she wouldn’t be nearly as successful with social media as she is now. After only a little more than a month, the stress and work put into Red Dirt has proven to be worth it, according to Taylor. The company has sold hundreds of cases around the United States and even some to the UK and Canada. Sixty people in impoverished countries now have clean water for life, thanks to Red Dirt and water.org. Taylor and Eldridge hope to donate $125,000 by the end of their first year of opening. Even with all the stress it brings, Taylor knows that the work and exhaustion will be worth it when she continues to hear of all the people who will now have clean water. “The best [part of my job] is starting something from absolute scratch, absolute thin air,” Taylor said. “We’ve tried to really make [Red Dirt] be something that is special and meaningful and makes people smile. That social impact is really important to us.”

From the Red Dirt website: a few of the different cases “TROPICAL HIBISCUS” by Steve Haskamp Haskamp is from California. He used acryllic paint for his artwork, and was inspired by nature.

“PLAZA FIREWORKS” by Mike Savage

“NICKY” by Opio Nicky

“THE EXECUTIVE” by Tammy Smith

“HAMSTA RYDILLA”

Savage is the father of sophomore Annie Savage. He used pastels and acryllic paint for his artwork.

Nicky is a Ugandan orphan who Taylor met on her trip.

Smith is Red Dirt’s manufacturing adviser. She created this case to appeal to more men.

This is Red Dirt’s best selling case. This picture was originally painted on a wall downtown.

by D. Ross

Seniors Will Cray and Nick Kraske are the hosts of Sports Picks. “Sports Picks” is a segment on the weekly video announcements that consists of mostly hilarity, a catchy theme song, and sometimes, even sports. The two combine interviews with different sports team members and bits of comedy to entertain as well as keep the student body up to date on East sports news. In its two years of existence, “Sports Picks” has become a favorite segment of students and staff members alike. As for Will and Nick, the show has shot them to student body stardom.

Coach Chip Sherman is leaving East next year after coaching the varsity football team for four seasons. Throughout his career at East, he’s had many ups and downs. Sherman was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2010. With the love and support of his family and the East community, he battled through chemo and has been cancer-free for just over a year. His determination and strength in fighting cancer inspired his players to play just as hard during their seasons. Under the leadership and motivation of Sherman, the football team has played their way to the playoffs for four consecutive years.

Freshman Tommy Sherk knows a lot of people around East, whether it’s his teammates from cross country and tennis, older friends of his sister’s, or the guys from knee-hockey club. Sherk is also a first year staff member on the Harbinger. Outside of East Sherk has made friends through swim team and golf at Mission Hills Country Club. Friends and classmates say they enjoy his sarcastic tweets and Vines about his cat. Sherk’s calm composure and friendly sense of humor make him likeable to all he meets.

SOPHOMORE JUNIOR

COMEDIAN COACH

“One time when I was 10 we ran out of milk so I put water on my Coco Puffs, took a bite, and discovered that bad things happen to good people.” This is one of Junior Danya Issawi’s most recent tweets. It got 22 favorites and two retweets, which isn’t uncommon. Issawi says that she tweets things that her followers can relate to from her struggles with the weather or the weird quirks of her two cats. She also likes to poke fun at herself for things like hitting her head on the steering wheel after a violent sneeze. Issawi says her tweets are generally light-hearted and humorous which may be why students enjoy them so much.

He was voted Homecoming King. He’s the co-host of Sports Picks. He is Nick Kraske and he loves comedy. Kraske says he’s always been interested in comedy because he likes to make people laugh. He’s acted in a couple of Frequent Fridays in his time at East, most recently Annie Sullivan’s “The Ensemblers” which was an improv show. He’s also performed stand-up at Stanford and Son’s Comedy Club open mic night. Next year Kraske will attend DePaul University in Chicago where he says the comedy scene will hopefully provide him with stand-up opportunities in the future.

SENIOR

Social Studies teacher David Muhammad is back at East for his fifth year of teaching after budget cuts caused him to be sent to Trailridge Middle School in 2010. Muhammad is the sponsor of the student led humanitarian group called Coalition that focuses on raising awareness of different global causes. He is also a TOMS Shoe Drop Finalist which means that he will have a chance to travel with nine other finalists to a less fortunate country and deliver TOMS shoes to kids in need. After two years of being away, Muhammad says he is happy to be back at East.

TWEETER

Junior James Fink is fond of photography. His pieces line the display boards in the front hallway by the counseling office. But Fink’s work doesn’t just come from art classes at East. He is part of the Photography Scholars program at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. The program takes 15 student photographers around Kansas City and teaches them about the work that professional photographers do. At the end of the program, each student displays a photo of theirs in the Ford Learning Center. You can view his portfolio on the Nelson Atkins website under the Photography Scholars Program section.

Senior Mason Pashia didn’t know when his parents made him buy a guitar at the age of 10 that the pesky chore would turn into a passion. Pashia’s parents promised to pay him back for the guitar if he took lessons for two years. It’s eight years later and Pashia is still playing. When he was 13 he started dabbling in songwriting and since then has written around 50 songs, some of which are available on iTunes. Pashia has also played his selfproclaimed “acoustic-folk-pop” music at local restaurants such as Brio, Spin! Pizza and The Tavern.

FRESHMAN

Losing senior Tyler Rathbun in November was not only tough for the senior class, but the whole East community. On the soccer field Rathbun was a leader, playing on varsity all four years and serving as team captain his senior year, in which he was also named the MVP of the Sunflower League. The students of East have done their best to keep Rathbun’s memory alive. Students are reminded of him at sports games when they see players wearing his initials, when they drive down 75th street and see the red solo cups spelling “RIPTR” in the fence, and every time they log into Twitter or Instagram and see memories that their classmates post.

ARTIST

Senior Jack Sernett likes to lend a helping hand, which is why he started his own Charity Water website. He goes from classroom to classroom telling students about how donating $20 can go towards building a well that provides clean drinking water for hundreds of people in third world countries. Inside of school, Sernett helped his teammates on the soccer field as co-captain of the boys’ varsity team. He created a positive energy that kept his teammates going. “It started in the summer with kick arounds, he would always take charge and get everybody’s spirit up before games,” sophomore teammate Ari Throckmorton said.

Senior Aj Orth has been performing ever since he was little, putting on plays with his cousins in his basement. He started out at the age of seven in the ensemble of the Theatre in the Park’s production of “The Music Man” and things took off from there. As well as appearing in 12 main stage school productions, Orth has worked with companies outside of East including Music Theatre For Young People, Music Theatre Heritage and the Kansas City Symphony. This year Orth served as vice-president of the Theatre Exec Board and directed his own Frequent Friday, “Almost, Maine.”

DUO

ATHLETE

STUDENT

With Time Magazine releasing their 100 most influential people of 2013, The Harbinger decided to do the same. 282 students voted in 14 different categories to pick the most influential Lancer students and staff members of the 2012-2013 school year. written by Audrey Danciger photos by Annie Savage

TEACHER

2013

LANCERS

ACTOR

MOST INFLUENTIAL

MUSICIAN

16 | SPREAD

SPREAD | 17 Some people call him “Tuna”, others refer to him as “Big Money”. But whatever they call him, students at East are crazy for sophomore Lucas Jones. His dunks make crowds wild and his skills have upperclassmen girls pining for him. Jones played his first year of varsity basketball this season after playing JV last year. He started this season out strong being awarded MVP of the ARC basketball tournament and continued to impress teammates and fans as games went on. Jones also shows talent on the links, playing his second year on varsity golf.

Asking junior Morgan Twibell to list off the activities she participates in is a lengthy process. She led the junior class this year as their president and the JV cheer squad as co-captain. Next year she will be the student body president and SHARE chair of the Blood Drive. Twibell says she needs to keep herself busy now that her siblings off at college. Many know Twibell for her willingness to break out in song and the numerous pictures she’s posted of her crazy childhood antics on Instagram.

Senior Helena Buchmann has a busy schedule, to say the least. Besides being the co-editor in chief of the Hauberk and the copresident of Coalition, she is also an IB diploma candidate. On top of all that, she makes time for her job at Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard. Not to mention the amount of times she’s been quoted in the Harbinger for her knowledge on the Obama campaign and other world issues doesn’t even compare to any other student or staffmember at East. Buchmann says that while her schedule is stressful, she can’t imagine being less involved.

SOPHOMORE JUNIOR

COMEDIAN COACH

SENIOR

TWEETER

FRESHMAN

ARTIST

DUO

ATHLETE

STUDENT

TEACHER

2013

LANCERS

ACTOR

MOST INFLUENTIAL

MUSICIAN

16 | SPREAD

“

SENIOR 18

POETRY AND MUSIC

I have a great memory of playing Crash Bandicoot with Tyler Rathbun and Will Fuhrman in elementary school. We were having a sleep over at my house in 6th grade and we stayed up all night and played PS2. It was just fun messing around on all the races.

“

NICK KRASKE

2009-2013

“

I really enjoyed and still do enjoy writing poems. I started when I was a freshman and never had the need to share any of my thoughts with people until this year. About nine months ago, I started to incorporate my poems into my music, and slowly turned in what I wrote.

“

TAYLOR ESTRELLA

2005-2009

“

SPORTS BANDS

I used to love Magic Tree House. I think I literally read every single one. I loved the ninjas one and I always wanted to have a tree house like in the book. Then my sister started reading, I gave her all my old Magic Tree Houses to her.

“

EMMA VICKERS

2001-2005

“

Do you remember those sports bands that used to popular? Most of them would donate to a charity like Lance Armstrong. My parents thought they were cool because of the charity thing and I just got them at Dick’s Sporting Goods or they were handed out at events.

“

LAURA RANKIN

MAGIC TREE HOUSE

1997-2001

BY THE NUMBERS COMPARING 2000 TO 2010 The average price for a barrel of oil increased by 230%

$28.2

17%

542%

Increase in internet users worldwide from .361 billion to 1.96 billion

$64.9

Increase in world population from 6.071 billion to 7.118 billion

statistics courtesy of io9com

LOOKING BACK 1995-2013

SENIOR 19

*of students attending a four-year college.

E VAT

PRI

22%*

18% *

of seniors are attending a private college.

PUB

LIC

82% * of seniors are attending a public college.

Thinking we forgot you? Some of the majors we found didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite fit into the categories we used (based on the top ten most common majors), so you get your own little section here! Here are some unique majors of 2013 grads.

13%

11% *based on survey of 454 students

1570 miles

5,595 miles

Gabby Magalski vancouver, 4519 miles BC, Canada denmark Ida Havm

which students are heading furthest away?

FIRE SCIENCE AND RESCUE buenos aires, argentina Jacob Lanan

20% business/ economics

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

APPLIED MINISTRY

12% arts

18% undecided

AVIATION

36% science/math

political science 6%

8% english

if the

senior class was 100

students

there would

be...

businessmen nurses artists lawyers engineers scientists journalists psychologists /women *based on survey of 255 students

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SENIOR BEN SIGHT

JUNIOR MADDIE NESSELHUF “JOKE TELLING WITH JILL”

How did you come up with the idea to make a vine in the weight room?

A: “Austin Wilcox and I were planning on

doing a fake fight all year and once I discovered vine I knew it would make a good one.”

Q: Why do you like vine? A: “I mean I just got it two and a half weeks ago and I’ve been thinking of ideas and I knew weights would be a good place because I knew I could get Coach Ufford involved.”

Why did you choose Jill Witwer to be the subject of your vine?

were at TCBY doing a ‘Stepping Out’ A: “Well program for our Social Skills class and she was telling us jokes and talking about how funny Will and Nick are on Sports Picks.”

What was the joke?

“She would just say ‘Knock, knock.’ ‘Who’s there?’ ‘Will and Nick!’ and she would just keep saying Will and Nick and crack up.”

JUNIOR JON MOORE

SOPHOMORE ELIZABETH BIRKENMEIER “STRAIGHT THUGGIN’ IN SEWING”

“WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”

Q: What makes sewing class vine-worthy?

Q: What inspired you to make this vine? A: “We had an AHAP test that day over the

“It’s really fun and you wouldn’t expect it to be all that interesting but if you have good people in your class it makes it fun.”

Q: What’s your favorite part about being in sewing?

A: “Just getting to meet new people and our

class is really funny and we’re always just messing around.”

60s, 40s, and 50s, and Garrison Matthews and Calen Byrd like to sing in class so they sang ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ by Billy Joel because it’s a Vietnam War protest song.”

Q: Would you vine them singing again? A:

“Yeah I just wish that vines were a little longer, like ten second maybe, so I could get more of the song.”

WE COULDN’T CHOOSE JUST ONE

VINE CONTEST

“THE WEIGHT ROOM”

TO VIEW ALL ENTRIES USE #harbingervinecontest

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With only 16 flavors at a time and all homemade by Murray herself, these ice creams and cookies are one of a kind. If you find a flavor you like you can have Murray’s call you when it’s next available. They’re closed Monday and Tuesday so don’t show up and suffer the disappointment.

6235 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, MO This locally owned frozen custard shop has great atmosphere and staff. They have every flavor of custard under the sun because you can blend literally anything into it; you can bring a piece of cake in there and they’ll blend it in for you. It’s happened before.

6825 W 75th St, Shawnee Mission, KS

Owned by the family of senior Anna Sheridan, this is a staple for summer time treats. Driving down 75th towards East you can always spot a good crowd of people enjoying their concretes and custards under the open air portico. Fan favorites: Grant’s Grasshopper and Dirt & Worms.

PROUDLY SUPPORTING SME LANCERS

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ONLINE 22

THE HARBINGER ONLINE

STAFF Online Editors-in-Chief Sami Walter Duncan MacLachlan Assistant Online Editor Julia Poe Head Online Copy Editors Jennifer Rorie Vanessa Daves Multimedia Editor Dalton Boehm News Editor Pauline Werner Online Photo Editors Marisa Walton McKenzie Swanson Assistant Online Photo Editors AnnaMarie Oakley Paloma Dickey Video Editor Nathan Walker Live Broadcast Editors Andrew McKittrick Jack Stevens Homegrown Editor Maxx Lamb Opinion Editor Taylor Bell A&E Editor Morgan Krakow Sports Section Editors Alex Goldman Mitch Kaskie Blogs Editor Taylor Bell Podcast and Radio Editor Thomas Allen Eastipedia Editor Susannah Mitchell Interactive Designers James Simmons Will Oakley Anchors Kyle Winston Joe Bahr Morgan Twibell G.J. Melia Mitch Kaskie Annie Foster Webmasters Chris Denniston Jack Stevens Multimedia Staff Dalton Boehm Chris Denniston Maxx Lamb Kathryn Jones Nick Miriani Jack Stevens Mattie Germann Emily Perkins Rock AnnaMarie Oakley Tessa Polaschek Will Brownlee Sophie Mitchell Annie Foster

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE — GRADUATION BROADCAST

Out of town for your senior’s graduation? Watch the whole thing live from the comfort of your living room on smeharbinger.net

Tune in at 6:30 p.m. for our graduation pre-show as we discuss the departing seniors and the impact they’ve had on the underclassmen. We’ll be bringing you live interviews with Principal Karl Krawitz, next year’s principal John McKinney, senior class treasurer Joe Simmons and many more.

photo by Stefano Byer

ONLINE GALLERY: BOYS’ LACROSSE VS. OLATHE SOUTH

photos by Marisa Walton

see more photos on smeharbinger.net

Check online for more photos of boys’ lacrosse and other school events.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

SENIOR MAP

Follow the girls’ soccer team and boys’ lacrosse team as they compete for the championships. We’ll be bringing you updates on both teams so check back frequently.

Scan this QR code for an interactive map of where the seniors will be going next year and what they will be up to.

A&E 23

HIDDEN s m ge

of PrairieVillage

Check out these interesting places around Prairie Village

written by Taylor Bell photos by Leah O’Connor

1 Community Gardens Through spring and fall, gardeners from all around Prairie Village sign up for a lot in the Community Gardens. In 2011 the Parks and Recreation Committee asked City Hall if a few local park plots could be spared for gardens, and thus the community gardens were made. The plots are 4 inch by 20 inch lots that gardeners have to apply for. Their applications are put in a lottery and the winners get a plot in which they can plant whatever they’d like. With one set of gardens being next

to the sophomore parking lot, I was surprised that I’ve never noticed them before. Another set of plots are at 75th and Cherokee at the Cherokee Christian Church. They add colorful nooks to our city. Citizens use it to grow their own crops and flowers on public property. Gardeners come back throughout the year to take care of their plants. Take a walk through the ripening fruits and veggies, stop by on your jog, volunteer to help or take a book and sit by the flowers.

3 Little Free Library Fiction, biographies, Dan Brown, John Grisham — books of all shapes and sizes crowd small shelves in what looks like an A-frame birdhouse. Hosts place these small cases outside their homes and fill them with books. The hosts buy these libraries for $200$600 from an organization called Little Free Library. Driving down Nall, I looked to the right and noticed the miniature shelves, decked in purple and green. I pulled onto a side street and walked up the sidewalk to the glass door. A slip inside the door gives the instructions

of the library: “If you see something you would like to read, take it.” This is a great way to get people in the neighborhood involved with reading. Finding the library makes it feel mysterious and personal, and seeing people sign their names inside certain books adds a warm touch. The Little Free Library has other libraries in the area. There is one at Mission and 63rd. This library sits off of Nall and 67th. Take a book for a summer read or take the kids you’re babysitting to pick up a story.

2 Seeking Solace Yoga Studio For $15 you can drop into the Seeking Solace Yoga Studio at the Cherokee Christian Church off of Belinder and 75th and take a class. They offer Sports Stretch Yoga to help athletes stretch and take a break, Therapeutic Yoga for relaxation and Yoga for Everybody — a class for beginners that teaches the basics of Yoga. Learn self-control and tone your muscles. Their yoga teachers have extensive training and their studios are painted in warm, inviting colors that give off a

homey feel. I use yoga to make me feel relaxed and ready to take on the day, and the Sports Stretch class sounds perfect to calm my muscles between sports seasons. They even have a work-trade opportunity. If you’re low on cash, you can help out around the studio. They’ll trade your work for lessons. Yoga is a great way to stay in shape over the summer or relax during finals. Check out their website, seekingsolaceyoga. com, for information on summer workshops like Study Strategies for Teens.

4 Gelati Firenze At a French restaurant called Tatsu’s, off of Roe and 90th, Gelati Firenze sits nestled behind the hostess’s podium. Gelati Firenze is a Gelato shop that offers unique flavors like Coffee Almond, Strawberry Guava and Chocolate Hazelnut. I chose a mint gelato with chocolate sauce, that mimics my favorite ‘turtle shell’ chocolate sauce, which quickly freezes on top of the cold gelato, hardening it. This kind of chocolate, they told me, is Italian. I was surprised to see that you can also buy their gelato online. Their

website boasts that their gelato is “significantly lower in butterfat than ice cream.” Creator and owner Karyn Gregory first fell in love with Italian ‘gelati’ while visiting Florence, Italy. Ever since, she has been perfecting her products. You can also check them out at the Barks ‘N’ Blues live concert at Franklin Park, where they will be selling their gelato. Gregory plans on rearranging the gelato stand soon, making it the perfect neighborhood place to cool off this summer.

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THE PRETTY GOOOD

written by Miranda Gibbs

Director Baz Luhrmann has never met a scene that couldn’t be intensified with ample CGI and sweeping panoramas. This trend continues in his new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby,” in which hundreds of elaborate costumes are donned by hundreds of extras whose energy can only be explained by a truck-load of Red Bull. But let’s clarify--these are not negatives. The visuals he and cinematographer Simon Duggan created for his film are the essence of the Jazz Age--constant, manic, hyperactive movement. Love it or hate it, take it or throw it out a window, this movie is undoubtedly and unmistakably Luhrmann’s version of Gatsby through and through -- and it is a considerable upgrade from the stuffy 1974 adaptation featuring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. It’s a technicolor dream world where confetti falls like silver rain in a Disney World-reminiscent castle and fireworks are perfectly timed with a lift of Leonardo DiCaprio’s glass. Here’s what goes down: Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) is an aspiring bondsman who makes his way to New

SKIP IT

(a look inside) COSTUME DESIGN Designer Catherine Martin (who also happens to be Baz Luhrmann’s wife) paired up with Prada and Brooks Brothers to recreate the clothing of the 20s. The result is an amazing combination of old with a modern twist: flappers, cloches, drop-waists galore, alongside men in every tux color imaginable, hair slicked back with pomade. Check out a sneek preview of some of the costumes!

York to pursue the ever-present American dream. He moves into a shabby cottage in the neighborhood of the newly rich, West Egg, on Long Island. Coincidentally, he lives next door to the mansion of the enigmatic businessman, Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio). Across the bay in the neighborhood of East Egg (for the old money folks), Nick’s cousin Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) and her “polo-playin’”, girlfriendbeatin’ husband Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) live in the shadow of Gatsby’s castle. Nick finds himself caught up in the secrets of the feud between the new money and the trust-fund babies. In the film, unlike the novel, Nick narrates this story from the confines of a sanitarium. Though Luhrmann’s dedication to depicting the real Roaring 20s is tangible throughout the film, his sound track offers a modern twist on the Jazz Age. With collaboration from Jay-Z, this music time-jump (Beyonce and Andre 3000 for example) is adeptly incorporated into the film with a special purpose in mind. In the 1920s, the Jazz Age was in full swing. The reaction of those who lis-

NETFLIX

tened to the African American fad was immediate and instinctive. It got your heart pumping. And, as Luhrmann explained in an interview with The New York Times, “...when you think of African-American street music today that is visceral and exciting and is making a big impression on popular culture, that’s hip-hop.” But when you take away Luhrmann’s glitz and glam, what’s left? An amazing cast which almost goes to waste on a film where real moments are few, fleeting and far between; moments that should have been completely left out of the melodrama that is Baz Luhrmann. That is the film’s true downfall. The film you see while sitting in the theatre is like a well-manicured lawn (dyed cotton-candy pink in honor of Luhrmann). Every once in awhile, something kindred to real emotion sprouts through the surface. Including when Gatsby sees his beloved Daisy for the first time and falls in love all over again, his face momentarily takes on a stunned softness. But most of the time, what you see is a wellrehearsed, classic Gatsby. Joel Edgerton brings a sophisti-

BUY A TICKET

A&E 25

cation to the roll of Tom, and Carey Mulligan brings a whole new dimension to Daisy. Tobey Maguire, however, is the most real and believable character throughout the whole film. Most of the characters drift in and out as if not quite knowing what they’re going for. What’s more, F. Scott Fitzgerald was a writer famous for the sharp delicacy of his writing, a concept that Luhrmann seemed incapable of recreating. All of the symbols from the book appear in the film: the green light, the custom yellow roadster and the ever-watchful eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg, the Queens oculist. But in the wrong hands, these symbols become cumbersome and obvious. There is never a dull moment in this visual spectacle. Being both a Gatsby purist and a huge Baz Luhrmann fan, I got to experience the nerve-wracking feeling of not knowing what to expect and knowing exactly what to expect at the same time. But behind the beautiful over-thetop nature of Luhrmann’s recreation of the Egg universe lies a film that is similar to Gatsby reaching toward that green light-so close, yet so far away.

OSCAR WORTHY art by Miranda Gibbs

SPORTS 26

THE YEAR OF SPORTS The Harbinger ranks the most memorable East sports moments of 2012-2013

DEFEATED

September 20, 2012 Football defeats defending 6A champions Olathe South 3-0.

THE SHOT

RECORD

Four track coaches will be leaving the program, opening up spots to be filled including a head coaching position

30 SWIMMING 5 FINE NINE

May 4, 2013 Girls swimming wins their 9th straight Sunflower League title.

IN THE LOOP

Anna Colby @nolbs

Tie was enough to get er done! #SUNFLOWERLEAGUECHAMPIONS #clutch

4 RETWEETS

14 FAVORITES

28 TRACK

Tyler Rathbun gets a hat trick breaking head coach Jamie Kelly’s all-time school scoring record with 22 goals.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

ON DECK

October 11, 2012 vs. SM West

January 11, 2013 Senior Vance Wentz nails a floater while time expires against CAPTURED rival SM West. October 25, 2012 Soccer defeats BV West to win regionals. They ended up losing in the state semis.

SCOREOARD, SCHEDULE

SPORTS

SOCCER LACROSSE

6 BUCK UP

May 7, 2013 Girls’ soccer comes back from 4-2 to tie 4-4 in OT and clinch the Sunflower League.

T&F

GOLF

7 ALL IN

February 16, 2013 Wrestling qualifies all 14 wrestlers for State in the first time in school history.

8 AT LAST

October 15, 2012 Girls’ golf wins State for the first time in 25 years.

The seniors on the girls’ swimming team look to win state all four year they’ve been at East

31 BASKETBALL

A look at the new girls’ basketball coach Austin Klumpe and his plans for next year

SWIMMING TENNIS SOFTBALL BASEBALL

SME 4 OS 4

SME 7 ROCK 5

League TBD

SME 1st TOPW INV

SME 1st League

SME 1st Regionals

SME 8 SMN 0

SME 1 LEVN 6

SME 2 SMNW 1

SME 13 OS 6

N RELAYS Cancelled

SME 1st RD 2 SFL

SME 1st SM South

SME 1st Districts

SME 5 SMN 0

SME 4 LEVN 2

DATE 5/10/13 5/10/13 5/14/13 5/16/13 5/17/13 5/18/13 5/20/13 5/24/13

SPORT Track Baseball Soccer Swimming Track Swimming Golf Track

TIME 3:00 5:30 7:00 TBD 3:00 TBD 9:00 a.m. 3:00

LOCATION SM South Mid Am. Sports Complex SM Soccer Complex #3 Topeka Hummer Sports Lawrence Free State Topeka Hummer Sports Meadowbrook CC Wichita State

OPPONENT Sunflower League St. James Regionals State Regionals State Finals State State

The Brettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love Meat Mitch BBQ

SPORTS 28

MESCHKE’S

The Final Lap

MEMORIES

he has to take on a lot more responsibility during track season. We have to have a lot of babysitters and be super organized and that’s something we’re not going to have to worry about anymore.” Coach Beaham is in a similar situation. As the assistant distance coach with Michael Chaffee and head cross country coach in the fall, Beaham is deciding to take the spring to spend more time with her family. Beaham has been coaching track with Meschke and the other assistant coaches for 13 years. But when her husband passed away in October of 2011, track became harder to balance with three kids and a home to run. “Before David passed away, it was something that we played great tag team together and I just don’t want to miss any of my children’s activities,” Beaham said. “My own parents and my in-laws would always step in, but now since they’re getting older they’re not able to provide as much transportation services as they used to, so it’s pretty much me.” Beaham decided to make this season experimental, to test whether she could handle all the responsibilities of track and family. Fortunately, she says, it hasn’t been too much of a strain to handle both sides. But the time commitment of a six to seven hour track meet two times a week can take its tole. “I don’t want to neglect my homefront and I feel kind of like I’m not giving a hundred percent of myself on both sides,” Beaham said. “So I decided that I’m going to take one season off my plate so I can at least enjoy those kids in the fall.” For Beaham, cross country has always been her favorite sport to coach; she likes the fact that it is a unique experience. Everyone starts together and finishes in the same place and it is the race in between that prevails. It is also less of a time commitment, being one Saturday morning compared to multiple track meets a week. “With cross country there’s such a part of it that’s the fall, the smells, the nostal-

gia, the kids, the family,” Beaham said. “Everybody has a common goal that they have to go after. They just want to get the best time they can and they know that if they run their best race, the team will do better, so it’s more cohesive.” Beaham doesn’t see herself resigning from cross country, but both she and Meschke will miss the track team. “I will miss watching kids succeed and reaching a goal that they’ve had and following through with that goal,” Meschke said. “I think it’s different in the classroom than it is in athletics.” With four track positions opening up, Athletic Director Sam Brown has already started the process of finding a new head coach. The process, he says, started with posting a head coach position for five days. They are currently interviewing potential candidates and hope to have one chosen before the end of the school year. Once hired, the head coach will interview current assistant coaches to see if they would like to stay on board with the program and then fill the other positions with people who aren’t already affiliated. “The hard part about it is that it’s difficult to find someone that’s in the building,” Brown said. “Coaches are used to putting in a lot of time and effort and when the coaches aren’t in the building, especially head coaches, we run into problems. We always look in the building first, then the district, and then we look outside the district.” For now, both Beaham and Meschke aren’t planning on coming back to coach track anytime soon. Although they will both miss track, the kids and their fellow coaches, they know it’s time to move on. “Your kids, as everybody says, grow up fast and they’re gone before you know it,” Beaham said. “Knowing that life is short and family is the most important and the love you have for them, though you consider the track team and the coaches as part of your extended family, your children come first.”

Track Family

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This photo of the coaches is at a track meet in 2009. We are a very close knit bunch who have all coached together for many years.

Grabbing Gold

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The handoff picture is Terrance Thomas to Andrew Pennington at the state meet in the boys’ 4x4. They were state champions in that event as well as four others. That boys’ team was second at state that year.

Dynamic Duo

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Toni Aguiar and Abby Dunn were two amazingly talented runners and also great kids. Both worked very hard and were so coachable.

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written by Tiernan Shank For the past 13 years, head track coach and world geography teacher Brie Meschke has spent the better part of March, April and May with the same assistant coaches. They have become friends through the countless hours they have spent together at KU Relays and seven hour JV Track meets. But for Meschke, her time as head coach is ending and leaving alongside her are two other long tenured coaches — Chuck Seawood and Tricia Beaham. It was the weekend of the KU Relays when Meschke decided. She had gone two straight days without seeing her five-yearold son, Charlie and 10-month-old daughter, Ruby. She was swamped with emails from parents and athletes so driving home from Lawrence Meschke decided that she was done. “Being a head coach is extremely rewarding but it’s also very stressful,” Meschke said. “When you have young kids, you just have to weigh the good and the bad. And I would say this year there were some parents and just issues that were stressful and I felt like it made more sense for me to spend time with my family than to deal with those issues.” Sophomore Hannah Arnspiger understands why her coaches are leaving to be with their families, but still finds it hard to say goodbye. “[The coaches] are so awesome because they take the time to really get to know the person and not just be their coach, but be their friend and their supporter,” Arnspiger said. “I’m so happy I was able to have them as a coach.” Spending time with her family is what is important to Meschke right now. Her husband knows how important coaching is to her, but is also aware of the extra responsibilities that come with the spring sports season. “My husband is thrilled that I’m leaving track,” Meschke said. “He’s also worried because he knows how much I love it and that I’m going to miss it and it’s been just an awesome outlet for me. But

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photos by Hailey Hughes 1

photos provided by Brie Meschke Coach Meschke keeps photographs of her most cherished memories from her coaching career on the walls of her classroom. Here are a few of her favorite pictures.

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Three track coaches, Tricia Beaham, Brie Meschke and Chuck Seawood will retire at the end of this season after several years with the program

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SPORTS 30 photos by Meghan Shirling

GOING FOR A CLEAN SWEEP

This year’s girls’ swimming senior class looks to win state for a fourth straight year written by Andrew McKittrick Then-junior Elizabeth Bittiker stands behind the block. Goggles tucked under her cap, Speedo swimsuit conforming to her body. The 200 free relay final at the 2012 state meet is about to start. She tries to block out the sounds of the crowd, focusing on her race — the third leg. She starts to enter her mental zone. Olathe East is leading the heat by half a body length. She steps onto the block. Sophomore Madeline Peters reaches the cross on the bottom of the pool and Bittiker starts to move her arms. She throws her arms up around her head and then in front of her body as she enters the water. She starts sprinting and catching up to Olathe East. She hits the first wall and is dead even with Olathe East. Twenty-five yards left and she begins to feel the burning sensation in her lungs. She starts gaining a lead on Olathe East. She lunges for the wall and junior Tiernan Shank launches off the block. Shank holds off Olathe East and East wins the event. Fast forward to the 2013 Sunflower League Finals. While Bittiker is swimming the 50 and 100 free along with the 200 medley relay, Peters and Shank are still swimming on the 200 free relay. But, now they are leading the relay along with freshman Sarah Allegri. The league relay went on to take second place, losing to Lawrence Free State and senior Courtney Caldwell in a fingertip finish. Although the team got second place in the relay, the entire team was able to win a ninth straight Sunflower League championship. This year’s championship team is different than the past. Of the 26 girls who are on the varsity team, seven are seniors

and seven are freshmen. This is something that has changed some of the team dynamics from the previous years. “This year there are so many seniors and so many freshman I think we have bridged that gap between the older and the younger girls and we have really come together,“ Bittiker said. The even ratio of seniors to freshmen is something that has changed the role of the seven returning senior lettermen. They have had to take on more of a leadership role with the large number of young swimmers. The number of freshman varsity swimmers has moved some swimmers that made state in previous years off of the League team. For five of the 17 members of the state team, it will be their first time swimming in the state meet. “I am swimming the 50 free, 100 free, the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay,” Allegri said. “I’m also really nervous because the competition in my events is hard. I have been practicing hard and working on my technique, I’ve also been going to morning practices with my club swim team.” Although this will be many swimmers’ first time at the state meet, some of the young swimmers have experience at other large meets. Freshman Bonnie Longan competed at the Junior Nationals meet in Florida with her club team this past spring. Longan swam the 50 and 100 yard backstroke in Orlando with her club team. “Swimming at juniors helped [prepare me] a lot,” Longan said. “It got me used to the noise and pressure that will be at state.”

The seniors will be looking to build on their past state experiences to help the underclassmen through their first state meet. Swimmers have been preparing for both these new experiences and for their state meet since the beginning of the year. “Junior year [my grade] stepped it up a lot more and tried harder,” Bittiker said. “We got more into it, and then senior year we have just really been giving it our all…just trying to be role models for the younger swimmers and just included them and made sure they felt like part of the team.” The senior leadership is something that has helped many of the freshmen make the transition from their club or summer league team to the high school team. They have transitioned from swimming a couple of times a week to practicing six times a week for two to three hours a day. These freshmen will be looking to help the seniors win their fourth straight State Championship. They will try to help the seniors stay undefeated in their four years at East, trying to leave behind a legacy of not only winning, but also of leadership. “I think mostly we want to leave a legacy of our attitude and our work ethic,” senior Sarah Freshnock said. “All of the seniors work extremely hard and we all have good attitudes and we all want to lead the team. That is how it has been all four years.”

RECORD HOLDERS

Seniors Meg Stanley, Tiernan Shank and Sarah Freshnock all re-broke their previous record for the 400 relay. Freshman Sarah Allegri broke the record for her first time.

SENIOR MEG STANLEY

SENIOR TIERNAN SHANK

SENIOR SARAH FRESHNOCK

FRESHMAN SARAH ALLEGRI

“This year it was at league, and that just means that we are more in shape this year and swimming faster. ”

“It was a goal of ours to break it again because we knew we all would not be together at the state meet.”

“It was very exciting ‘cause it was a different group of people [than last year].”

“It was just a really good experience. It was my first big meet at East and I just had a lot of fun.”

SPORTS 31

New Coach, New Program, New Goals New girls’ basektball coach Austin Klumpe isn’t just focused on winning — he’s focusing on developing the girls’ basketball program into something bigger. written by Grace Heitmann

photos by Jake Crandall, Caroline Creidenberg and Meghan Shirling photo courtesy of Emporia State University

COACH AUSTIN KLUMPE Austin Klumpe will be replacing varsity coach Scott Stein as the next girls’ varsity basketball coach. He will join the East staff as a business teacher. Klumpe is looking to make changes to the girls’ basketball program as a whole, speciﬁcally in the categories of identity, academics, values, summer workouts and youth programs. “I just want to show you guys how much I care because overall what we want to create is a players’ program,” Klumpe said. “Everything we do is for you guys.”

His Experience: Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach/ Instructor at Murray State College Graduate Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach/Instructor at Emporia State University

VALUES Not only does Klumpe want his players to become better basketball players, he wants them to become better people. “As teachers and educators, we have to take kids where they can’t take themselves,” Klumpe said. “Meaning that they are relying on us for leadership, they are relying on us as educators, as mentors, as somebody they can turn to.” Klumpe hopes to teach his players to attack practice and improve everyday. He wants his players to then use the same ideals taught in practice to apply them to every aspect of their life. “We’ve got to make sure that our kids are becoming the best people that they can be,” Klumpe said. “As a student, as a player, as a person.”

IDENTITY “What do we want to be known as?” Klumpe asked his audience at the girls’ basketball informational meeting. Klumpe wants his team to be known as a strong, defensive team. “Tough doesn’t mean throwing elbows,” Klumpe said. “Tough means you rotate and take charges.” As practices begin, Klumpe will look to run defensive drills every day. He’ll focus on boxing out, crashing the boards, taking charges and driving the ﬂoor. Although Klumpe doesn’t know how he’ll run his offense yet, the team at least has an idea about their defense. “I want all of us, to earn it, every minute,” Klumpe said.

SUMMER WORKOUTS Many of the girls who walked into the girls’ basketball informational meeting didn’t realize that they’d be walking out with a full summer schedule. Coach Klumpe will be utilizing every opportunity he has to get with his players and get them prepared for the upcoming season. Right after school lets out, the girls will participate in the 2013 Kiwanis Club of Old Mission High School Girls’ Basketball Camp held at East. They will be participating in the high school summer league held at SM South simultaneously. Klumpe also hopes to take his team to the Emporia State University team camp held from June 24-26. Meanwhile, the team will settle into a routine of open gym and weights every weekday morning starting on June 3. “I will be in the gym every single day so you don’t have to worry about me not showing up; that’s my job,” Klumpe said. “I love weights, love conditioning and I know a lot about it.”

ACADEMICS Coach Klumpe’s number one goal for the girls’ basketball program isn’t to make it to regionals, league or state. It’s to make sure that each player receives a solid education. “Stressing academics is obviously number one because that will be the foundation for the future,” Klumpe said. Klumpe hopes that his team will be able to maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher during the school year. “On the ﬁrst day of class, show up early so you can beat other kids out for the front row,” Klumpe told his team during the girls’ basketball informational meeting held on April 22. “Front row of class. Remember that.”

YOUTH PROGRAMS Coach Klumpe is already looking to develop a youth girls’ basketball program that will hopefully reap results in years to come. “The foundation of our program is going to be our youth,” Klumpe said. “If we can get kids interested and excited about the opportunity to play basketball, then we can keep them in that sport and can develop them to be good athletes and good students as well.” There will be a youth summer league at SM South beginning on May 29 for third through eighth graders interested in playing basketball. Klumpe will also host a youth skills fundamental camp for at East over the summer. At the camps and leagues, Klumpe will teach the players the same plays, drills and techniques used at the high school level. This feeder program will try to make the transition into high school basketball more smoother and easier on the players. “We aren’t going to turn any kid down,” Klumpe said. “We are going to give every kid an opportunity to play.”

PHOTO ESSAY 32

All That photo by Katie Sgroi

Left: Senior Chase Ainsworth emotionally hugs Mr. Foley at the end of the Chambers Choir performance. “Mr. Foley is my favorite teacher at SME,” Ainsworth said. “I’ve learned so much about music because of him, and he has taught me how to be a better person. I can’t imagine the next four years without him.”

The Shawnee Mission East Choir performed their last concert of the year on Thursday, May 2. All five choirs participated in the final show. The show pieces were chosen to honor famous songs from the jazz age, as well as to honor choir seniors. They performed classic jazz songs, such as “All the Things You Are”, “Girl From Ipanema”, “Broadway” and “This Masquerade”. Below: Junior Calen Byrd dances with the Varsity Choir. “Mr. Foley has such an ability to bring people together.” Byrd says about Foley. “He starts with an elective class full of weird and awkward high schoolers and turns them into such a supportive family.” Far Left: Junior Maddie Roberts and Senior Max Duncan sing together with the Choraliers. “The last concert went really well,” Roberts said. “It was really emotional, though, because it was the seniors’ last concert.”

photo by Maddie Schoemann

photo by Katie Sgroi

Below: Mr. Foley directs the Choraliers in the spirit of jazz. “The spring concert is always a lot of fun because it’s a little bit lighter music,” Foley describes. “The Choraliers and Chambers get to vote to sing their favorite songs again at the spring concert, so it’s really sort of tribute to the seniors, letting them sing their favorite songs again.”