Issue 2 from the 2013-2014 Harbinger

the harbinger.

photo courtesy of mctcampus

PAGE 6

TAYLOR SWIFT LOVER PAGE 4

NEW BULLYING POLICY

STORY ON PAGE 12 & 13 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MCKENZIE SWANSON

castingadifferent

SHADOW Transgenders find peace with their gender identity through a very personal journey

Shawnee Mission East l 7500 Mission Road, PV KS, 66208 l September 23, 2013 l Issue 2 l www.smeharbinger.net

editorial.

REQUIRING THE LESSON OF Service is vital to building a healthy community

As teenagers grow up in an increasingly digital and screenfocused world, real human interaction and selfless deeds are vital. Students spend at the very least seven hours a day, five days a week, in their school building. We believe that community service and volunteer work are both critical for a healthy world, and a healthy mind. That is why the Shawnee Mission school district should require a minimum of service hours to receive a high school diploma.

High schools claim they are educating students for their future, but it’s arguable that students will be less prepared for “real world” problems, involving talking to “real people,” faceto-face, than creating an excel spreadsheet, or finding x, and that’s a real problem. Community service lets students see and deal with a world usually outside of their realm.

East is an exceptional school, in many respects, including its community involvement boasting one of the largest student-run volunteer service organizations in the country, SHARE. Every student at East should be involved with SHARE. A service requirement is the chance to get students out of their comfort zones, see the world and create a tight-knit community amongst each other. Students will be out of their comfort zones, engaging in an activity with peers they may not know. This experience is vital to a functioning and conscientious community.

A requirement would help teach students that community service is just as important if not more important than math work.

Community service teaches human connection, it teaches gratitude and it can bond a student body. This requirement wouldn’t be something to add to the workload of a student, but a way to broaden their horizons and open their eyes to something new. As students ourselves, we understand young people are more resume-padded, and busier than ever before.

This proposed requirement would be an escape from homework, stress and the rest of the world, by giving students the chance to connect and make a difference. Although it is more time, it is time well spent.

It’s important to give students opportunities to explore other parts of themselves beyond the pen, pencil, computer and smart-phone awkwardly half-hidden beneath a desk during lectures. This experience can even guide students to a better future, to focus on what they are passionate about, and help them identify their skills outside of the school system.

Community service has the future in mind, and so should the school board. Even if a requirement is never put in place, The Harbinger would like to stress the importance of community involvement and the opportunities to volunteer that are offered to East students.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR THE HARBINGER STAFF 2013-2014 AN OPINION OF GIFTED TEACHER. ALEX MIGLIAZZO There should be a cautionary tale behind the “Teaching Freedom” editorial that was recently supported by a vote of 9 to 1 by the board of the Harbinger in the last edition. The editorial supported recent legislation dubbed “Celebrate Freedom Week” whose purpose is to “teach the original intent of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.”

Such catch phrases should immediately raise a red flag among our students. If anything, your education here at East should teach you to be a skeptic. By skeptic, I mean someone who looks behind such clichés and bifurcations such as “America: Love It or Leave It” (Is there no middle ground? Can we try to make it better?).

The same is true of “Celebrate Freedom Week.”

It should be asked, what is the motivation and values of those behind such legislation? Do they have the interest of our state and country in mind, or are they simply representing the wealthy and powerful that control so much of our politics today? Blind patriotism can lead us down a dangerous road, as we discovered during the McCarthy era. Yes, we have a great country, and at times we are exceptional. Our “exceptionalism” however, lies not in such legislation, but our willingness to constantly question and hold those in power accountable, and to be on guard against such demagoguery.

Mr. Migliazzo

Morgan Krakow Sophie Tulp

Sarah Berger Sophie Tulp Katie Knight Morgan Twibell Pauline Werner Caroline Kohring Julia Poe

Head Copy Editor

Staff Writers

Co-Editors-In-Chief

Andrew McKittrick Katie Knight

Assistant Editors

Sarah Berger

Assistant Head Copy Editor Pauline Werner

Art & Design Editor Miranda Gibbs

News Section Editor Greta Nepstad

Maddie Hyatt Ellis Nepstad Michael Kraske Hannah Coleman Lauren Brown

Photo Editors

McKenzie Swanson Maddie Schoemann

Assistant Photo Editors

Mike Thibodeau

AnnaMarie Oakley Annie Savage

Spread Editors

Opinion Section Editor

News Page Designers Phoebe Aguiar Caroline Kohring

Features Page Designers Sydney Lowe Claire Whittaker Pauline Werner

Morgan Twibell

Opinion Page Designer Nellie Whittaker

A&E Section Editor Leah Pack

EDITORIAL BOARD VOTES AGAINST

72.6%

of teens in America did NOT volunteer in 2012 Courtesy U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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

Freelance Page Designers Georgia DuBois Megan McAlister

Staff Photographers Kathryn Jones Neely Atha Callie McPhail Kylie Rellihan Annika Sink Taylor Anderson Taylor Bell Katie Lamar Paloma Garcia Tessa Polaschek Abby Hans Scotty Burford

Assistant Photo Editors

Assistant Webmasters

News Editor

Live Broadcast Editors

Hailey Hughes Meghan Shirling Nellie Whitaker

Homegrown Editor Maxx Lamb

Jack Stevens

Jacob Milgrim Matthew Bruyere

Jack Stevens Andrew McKittrick

Anchors

Opinion Editor

Claire Sullivan

Sydney Lowe Will Oakley Maddie Hise

A&E Editor

Multimedia Staff

Sports Section Editor John Foster

Assistant Sports Editors

Social Media

Online Editors-in-Chief

Leah O’Connor

Audrey Danciger

Copy Editors

Sports Section Editor

Heady Copy Editor

Sports Page Designers

Assistant Head Copy Editor

Tommy Sherk John Foster

Head Webmaster

Marisa Walton

Andrew McKittrick Katie Knight Morgan Krakow Sarah Berger Will Oakley Morgan Twibell Sophie Tulp Julia Poe Grace Heitmann Mike Thibodeau Pauline Werner Grace Heitmann Julia Poe

Will Oakley

Online Photo Editor

Jack Stevens Sophie Mitchell Matthew Bruyere Annie Foster

Editorial Board

Features Section Editor Mike Thibodeau Clara Ma Andrew McKittrick Will Oakley Morgan Krakow

10

ABSENT

A&E Page Designer

Maddie Hise

97 14

FOR

Susannah Mitchell Clara Ma

Audrey Danciger

Ellis Nepstad Will Oakley

Video Editors

Sophie Mitchell Annie Foster

Podcast and Radio Editor Eastipedia Editor Maxx Lamb

Interactive Editors

Will Oakley Mike Thibodeau Matthew Bruyere

Jacob Milgrim

Adviser

Dow Tate The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission School District, East faculty or school administration.

news.

F E I R B NEWS

NCIGER AUDREY DA Y B N E T IT R W ANDA GIBBS ART BY MIR

IN

global

national

local

global news

local news

national news

The seniors on the cross country team won’t participate in tradition

Apple releases two new iPhones with different design elements

The 2020 Olympics will be hosted in Tokyo, Japan

In past years the varsity team and seniors who have participated in cross country all four years have had the opportunity to travel to Chicago, Ill. to run in the Loyola Lakefront Invitational. However, this year the Cross country team will travel to Arkansas rather than Illinois for their annual out of state trip.

The team has been attending the Chicago competition, which takes place in the middle of the fall sports season, every year since 2002. However, due to issues with leasing the course, there will be no competition in Chicago this year.

The team will travel to Fayetteville, Ariz.. to compete in the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Oct. 5.

This will be the first time that the team has visited the festival and only varsity members will be attending.

“Because this is something new and we haven’t foot printed this whole trip yet and I don’t even know if it’s something that we want to attend in the future we’re only taking the varsity [team] this time,” said head coach Tricia Beaham.

The team will drive down to Arkansas on the Friday night before the festival and visit with East alumni who attend the University of Arkansas. Then on Saturday, both the boys and girls teams will compete in 5k races with other high school runners from across the country.

This year, Apple is giving customers a choice between two brand new iPhones — the 5c and the 5s.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook announced the arrival of the phones in one of their Special Events on Sept. 10 in Cupertino Ca. where the Apple headquarters are located.

The 5c was designed with the “colorful” in mind.

This version of the iPhone has the same dimensions of the iPhone 5, but where they differ is in their frames.

The iPhone 5c now has a durable, plastic coating that comes in five different colors: blue, green, pink, yellow and white. They also have created new cases specifically for the 5c whose matte silicon was designed to contrast the glossy surface of the phone.

According to Apple the 5s is for the “forward thinking”. This phones has the same design as the regular iPhone 5, but is big on security. Rather than a typical type-in passcode, the phone’s home button now doubles as a fingerprint scanner ensuring that, if desired, you are the only one who has access to your phone.

Like the 5c, the 5s also has a new line of specially designed leather cases that come in six different colors to complement the gold, silver or space gray frame of the phone itself.

The new iOS7 software update is currently available for download on all versions of the iPhone.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Sept. 7 that Tokyo will serve as the host city for the 32 Olympiad in 2020. Tokyo was picked over two other candidate cities, Istanbul and Madrid, ending the candidate phase of the host city bidding.

In the first round of voting by the IOC Tokyo received 42 votes while Istanbul and Madrid tied with 26 votes each. The tie-breaker went to Istanbul who eventually was out voted in the second round, losing to Tokyo 60 votes to 36.

“All three cities were capable of staging excellent Games in 2020,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge at the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires. “But in the end, it was Tokyo’s bid that resonated the most with the IOC membership, inviting us to “discover tomorrow” by delivering a well-organized and safe Games that will reinforce the Olympic values.”

While some Japanese citizens argue that the preparation and construction necessary for the event will only plunge Tokyo into a further recession, the leaders of Tokyo’s host campaign have proposed an idea that is more economically friendly than traditional proposals. The city will revamp stadiums and venues that are already in the city(some from when they hosted the games in 1964) in order to save time and money by the time the games roll around in 2020.

TWEETS TO KNOW

national tweets

TWEETS TO KNOW

TWEETS TO KNOW

local tweets

TWEETS TO KNOW

TWEETS TO KNOW

The Associated Press

CNN Breaking News

SM School District

SME Office

@AP

@cnnbrk

@theSMSD

@SMEOffice

Boulder County, Colo., now says only 4 people unaccounted for in flooding; was 318 Monday.

Westwood View Principal Susan Knight accepted a grant from Walmart today that will support school health initiatives.

Labor Dept. says same-sex spouses have right to employee benefit plans regardless of state they live in 167 RETWEETS

44 FAVORITES

86 RETWEETS

29 FAVORITES

3 RETWEETS

1 FAVORITES

Thank you @RobRiggle for joining us @ #SMEast this afternoon! And thanks to #Cappellos & DeFeo for the invite :-) 17

RETWEETS

24 FAVORITES

news.

[A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS]

PUTTING an END to

280,000 ARE PHYSICALLY

Kansas State Legistlature passes a new bill revamping the state bullying policy to encompass a broader definition of the word.

the bill, cyber bullying is “bullying by use of any electronic communication device.” This definition goes on to provide examples such as texting, online games and blogs.

This bill has caused some school staff members to question what actually creates reform regarding bullying in schools.

“I want to be optimistic about things, but the truth of the matter is [that] policy alone does not necessarily create change,” Becky Wiseman East social worker, said.

According to Wiseman, state policy changes help set boundaries, but reform in schools is dependent upon how students and staff as a community are willing to support the change.

East has set strict policies against bullying which according to Principal John McKinney, is a matter of ethical standards.

“I don’t need the legislation to put an end to bullying,” McKinney said. “I would do it because it’s the right thing to do.

The district would do it because it’s the right thing to do, but having legislation support our actions...is appreciated, and I will take full advantage of it.”

This bill has changed the way in which schools will be required to address bullying on a daily basis. Schools now have to adhere to the new state definition of bullying and handle violations to the policy as they would a violation to any other state law.

“If a school district [were to] be audited and if their policies were looked at, they [would] have to have a revised policy for bullying that would cover [the elements of the bill]” said senator Pettey.

Although the bill does not deal with the specifics of disciplinary action for incidents of bullying, it addresses how the

EACH MONTH

that means...

1 in 4

WRITTEN BY MEG MCALISTER Governor Sam Brownback updated the Kansas state bullying policy last spring for the 2013-2014 school year.

Kansas bill No. 127 was placed on his desk on May 24. As he signed his name at the bottom of the bill, he was, according to Kansas state Sen. Pat Pettey, revamping the state bullying policy.

“This piece of legislation was introduced to just broaden the [former legislation], because the bill clarifies the definition of bullying,” Pettey said.

Pettey is currently serving a term on the Kansas Committee of Education.

This committee both introduced and sponsored the bill.

The Senate bill proposed and sponsored by the Kansas Committee of Education amended the previous state policy concerning bullying in all school districts in Kansas. These changes went into effect this school year. However, East already has several of the policy’s standards as a part of its existing bullying discipline plan.

In order to broaden the former legislation, the state has provided a detailed definition of what it considers to be bullying. Differing from previous legislation, this policy expands the meaning of bullying as it relates to individuals. It does not just define student to student harm as bullying, but also harm between students, teachers and other staff members.

According to the bill, “Bullying means...harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally.” This does not just includes making a student or staff member fearful of being harmed by another. It also refers to damage to a student or staff member’s property as a form of bullying.

This bill also includes a clause addressing cyber bullying. According to

ATTACKED

policy should be implemented in each of the schools within the state.

The bill dictates that the Board of Education must utilize parents, school staff and the school site councils. At East, this type of representation, according to McKinney, is not necessary because the criteria for the policy is already being met and has already been working for years.

“The new legislation that went into effect it supplements what East has already been doing,” McKinney said. “East’s policy on bullying already meets and in some ways exceeds what the legislation requires.”

East seniors Morgan Twibell and Danya Issawi, who are planning to address bullying in their marketing DECA project, are appreciative of this new legislation. Both view bullying as a relevant issue at East and consider the new definition of bullying in this policy to be helpful in dealing with this issue.

In particular they appreciate the expanded definition which includes the types of individuals that can be victims of bullying. The state recognition of a more broad type of bullying they think, will facilitate a good relationship between students and members of the school staff.

“With our assembly we are hoping to include staff because they set an example for students at schools.” Issawi said.

“If they’re involved with the anti bullying campaign and if the bill implements anti bullying laws, then... that can be beneficial to students because the staff won’t bully [the students] and also students will be comfortable with going to the staff with their problems.” information courtesy of dosomething.org

STUDENTS WILL BE ABUSED BY ANOTHER YOUTH

1 in 5

STUDENTS ADMIT TO BEING A BULLY

NEARLY OF KIDS HAVE BEEN BULLIED ONLINE.

43%

of which...

1 in 10

VICTIMS TELL SOMEONE THEY TRUST

RECONSTRUCTING

news.

PRAIRIE VILLA GE

ons i t a v o Ren he

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE

t h g u o Thr Ages

1954

Changes come to the village shops as a result of construction, new businesses move into existing space WRITTEN BY CLAIRE WHITTAKER and classes designed to control stress eating. One-on-one support about deciding which health plan is right for you after the health reform is something else the Live Blue center will provide. Patrons do not have to have Blue KC health coverage to take part in these programs.

Another potential change that could come to the shops is the addition of a post office. The US Post Office located on 3710 73rd Terrace has expressed interest in moving to the Prairie Village shops. They are unsure if this location is a possibility and have proposed an alternative spot at 7914 State Line Road, but the village is their preferred location if they move Prairie Village Mayor Ronald Shaffer was notified Sept. 6 regarding their interest in switching locations, however the post office has updated their lease at their current location until plans are made for a definite move.

“While we work toward finalizing this phase of the project, we have extended the lease at the existing facility at 3710 73rd Terrace,” said Angela Kuhl, Real Estate Specialist for USPS facilities implementation in a letter to Mayor Shaffer.

The final change coming to the Village will be a new business in the 3700 square foot space left in the new building after Starbucks moves in.

Lane4 is currently negotiating and has received a lot of interest in the space, although nothing has been completed.

In January 1954, The Kansas City Star released this original sketch for an enlargement of the existing Prairie Village Shopping Center. The new additions extended over Brush Creek.

One of the first restaurants in PV, Village Inn, opened in 1954. Later this same plot would become Waid’s and now the designated area for Starbucks.

1958

mornings sometimes. The drive-thru also makes it a lot faster.”

Dolce, currently next to Starbucks, will move across the shopping center beside RSVP in early Oct. In addition to changing their location, the company will sport an updated logo.

To further update the shop they have also changed their name from Dolce Baking Co. to Dolce Bakery. The new name and logo can already be seen on the sign put up above the new location. The empty spot created when Starbucks and Dolce move will become an Einstein Brothers. Einstein Brothers had a shop on the other side of the Village that closed two years ago.

“I’m looking forward to that [Einstein Brothers], it will be so easy to grab on the way to school or even to get for lunch,” senior Annie Mann said.

Across from Einstein Brothers will be a new business to the area, Live Blue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, as the city’s only locally-managed health plan provider, created Blue KC to inform citizens about changing health care requirements. They opened a location Aug. 1 at Zona Rosa, and the Prairie Village location is set to open this fall. Live Blue is a non-profit wellness center designed to educate the public about potentially confusing health care requirements and laws.

The company offers a variety of fitness classes from yoga, to Zumba and pilates. Educational eating workshops are also available. The classes are offered for specific health issues such as planning diets to lower cholesterol

1954

Changes to businesses are coming to the Village Shopping Center. Starbucks will be moving into the new 5800 square foot building being constructed where Waid’s used to stand, and Dolce Bakery is moving next to the paper goods store RSVP which is at 3934 W. 69th Terrace. Lane4 Property Group, owner of the Village Shops, expects to have the new building next to Starbucks by the end of the year so Starbucks can open early in 2014.

The vacant spot next to Bruce Smith Drugs that formerly housed the Toon Shop will be occupied by a Blue Cross Blue Shields company Live Blue.

The new Starbucks will take up approximately 2100 square feet of the new building and will include a drive-thru. Lane4 has taken new traffic created by the drive-thru into consideration, however they believe the current Village parking lot will accommodate the increased number of cars.

“We’re pretty careful about [traffic] and how we monitor the parking versus the businesses we put in there,” said Tom O’Leary, Lane4 Property Group’s Senior Vice President.

Drive-thrus, in hopes of increasing customer satisfaction and efficiency, are growing in number. Starbucks finds drive-thrus increase their profit, and in the next five years over half of their new locations will be drive-thrus.

It is expected to bring more business to the Starbucks in the Village.

“It will definitely make me go there more often,” senior Taylor McCullough said. “It’s on my way to school so I pick up some coffee in the

A look at the Prairie Village Shopping Center when it was first developed in 1948.

This sketch, published in The Prairie Village Scout in 1958, is the original drawing of The Jone’s store addition to the shopping center. The Jone’s store would later become Macy’s.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WENDELL AND VIRGINIA TULP

team taylor

opinion.

OPINION OF GRETA NEPSTAD PHOTOS BY MARISA WALTON

Staffer defends Taylor Swift and describes how she’ll always stick with her and her music

FOREVER AND ALWAYS

public simply because she’s doing what every other young person on the planet Earth loves to do — date. She’s been made fun of and criticized for having a personal life, while her list of past boyfriends include musicians John Mayer and Harry Styles.

These two names alone should prove my point. Both of these men have had multiple girlfriends, ranging all over the age spectrum. However, the public didn’t respond with nearly as much venom as they’ve treated Taylor with.

Though I do love and respect Taylor for being one of the reasons pop music isn’t completely hopeless, I have no problem pointing out her flaws. Fame has gotten to her head, like it does to every celebrity, and it shows.

For starters, her concerts. I’ve been to four Taylor Swift concerts, the first one as a 13-year-old and the last one this past August. Miss Swift’s concerts consist of a two tiered stage, a suspended platform, a revolving mini-stage, bungee cords, acrobats, ballerinas, nine costume changes (I counted), a dramatic staircase and an even more dramatic piano. What frustrates me is that I’ve watched Taylor perform acoustic versions of her music on YouTube and at previous concerts, but with her “Red” tour she seems to think that the only way to perform is through a never ending supply of props.

Second, her dancing. I’m not entirely sure that what she does on stage is called dancing, but more of a spasmodic movement of her hips and shoulders.

She also tends to stand still at the end of a song and just bask in the applause audience members hurl at her. She could probably squeeze in two more songs if she would stop standing there. Also her shorts are too short.

Though there are those few idiosyncrasies I can’t stand about TayTay, I still think she’s an extremely talented musician. I can still remember the first time I heard “Teardrops on My Guitar”. I didn’t even know her name then, but by the time I was at one of Westwood Views’ skate parties in the sixth grade and “Our Song” came on, I was a loyal fan.

Taylor has produced album after album, each one selling more and more copies. So what if she’s friendly and likes 2013 to date? She has not one Grammy, but seven, and if dating inspires her music, then she would be doing everyone a favor by going out as much as posred tour sible. Like I said, Taylor is not perfect. But I will love her until I die. Unless she starts strutting around in rubber underwear with her tongue hanging out. That is where I draw At the red tour, Greta and her the line.

GRETA’S T-SHIRT TIMELINE

Let’s be honest. The music that’s popular amongst our generation is crappy. Most of the music doesn’t even have real instruments, just noise made by hitting random buttons in the studio. Women are portrayed as sex objects, drinking is glorified by sweaty people in clubs and waking up the next morning with no memories of the night before is depicted as the norm.

But you see, this is where Taylor Swift comes in.

Miss Swift — who I’ve loved since the seventh grade — writes her own music, plays her own instruments, can hold a note and manages her behavior well. There haven’t been any photos of her looking wasted or high with smudged makeup and ratty hair. She doesn’t grind on married men or get naked and swing on wrecking balls.

It’s true, Taylor does focus on singing about boys and love and revenge and breakups and all other sorts of tragedies. However, she also has the ability to write about a young teenager being bullied in middle school, or about a 4-year-old boy name Ronan who died of cancer. That’s one of my favorite things about Taylor Swift: she creates music, not to win awards, but to tell stories. She can make a girl in Kansas feel for a grieving mother who she’s never met, or remind that girl of the bullies in middle school. None of that stripper-booty-club-red solo cup crap.

That’s what separates Taylor from other talent these days. She’s an artist, not a singer. Her music is her own. She writes it, she promotes it, she performs it and she feels it. This is how she’s won seven Grammys. She doesn’t sift through a list of songs handed to her by her agent and make one her single, but writes about her personal experiences.

Although anybody with a brain might see this as pure and inspiring, there are some who despise Taylor Swift. Since the release of her last album “Red”, she’s been criticized for crossing more over into the pop genre, and apparently that’s something artists aren’t allowed to do. At least, that’s what the critics seem to think. Though her sound changed, the messages are the same. She has no interest in writing a song with drugs or hangovers, which is another example of how she is a wonderful artist. It’s okay if Taylor wants to break away from the country genre and try different types of music. Telling Taylor to selectively create country music is like telling Troy Bolton he can play only basketball, and not sing in the musical with Gabriella.

Taylor has also dropped in popularity amongst the general

2011

20

08

opened for keith urban

The first time Greta saw Swift, she had to go with her mom.

It wasn’t her favorite concert.

2009

fearless tour

The second Swift concert she went to she got to take a friend, she was much more excited.

friend were the only ones dancing in their section, trying to get into the after party.

speak now tour

Third times a charm! Greta skipped homecoming for the concert and got floor seats.

What’s in Our Water?

A forum sponsored by The Prairie Village Environmental Committee and the Kansas Natural Resource Council

TIME: 5:30-8:30 DATE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 LOCATION: VILLAGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Dr. Michael T. Meyer will discuss compounds found in our drinking water that are not measured by Water One, including flame retardants and some pharmaceuticals. In addition, KNRC’s Zach Pistora will provide a brief legislative update.

Visit http://knrc.ws/conference.htm for more information

opinion.

lowing this band around.

You could call me a deadhead, kind of.

I’m definitely not as extreme as my brother, who spends the majority of his summers following their cover bands around, but I would consider myself a pretty dedicated fan. Let’s just say “Touch of Grey” is and forever will be the most played song in my Expressing her inner-hippie iTunes library.

Over the summer, as I was purchasing a through appreciation of an special edition Rolling Stone all about the old band Dead, the middle aged saleswoman at the WRITTEN BY SARAH BERGER cash register was genuinely surprised by Sometimes I think I was born in the my purchase. wrong generation. Either that or I was a “You don’t look like a Grateful Dead fan,” hippie in a past life. This fact might not be she remarked. apparent through anyone’s first impression I’ll give her that one. I don’t look like a of me. My straightened hair, polished ap- Grateful Dead fan, and most people are pearance or reliance on my iPhone aren’t surprised when they find out. My more reusually associated with the sixties and sev- served personality or slightly pessimistic enties. Trite as it may be, you can’t judge a outlook isn’t often associated with deadbook by its cover. If you look closer, you will heads, but that shouldn’t matter. What matsee my affinity for maxi skirts, my pacifist ters is the music. attitude and most importantly my undying Whenever I’m seen wearing my Grateful love for the Grateful Dead.

Dead shirt I’m always asked about it. What’s The Grateful Dead was one of the cen- that band? You don’t listen to them, why are ters of the Summer of Love and Woodstock. you wearing that?

The band spent most of their years togethI feel as if I constantly have to prove that er touring, and racked up a loyal follow- I am actually a Grateful Dead fan. I have to ing along the way. Their fans, nicknamed show off the useless facts that I know about “deadheads,” would do anything to see their Jerry Garcia, the band’s lead singer who shows and made this band a lifestyle. The died in 1995, like his lack of a middle finger. deadheads spent chunks of their lives fol- I have to state random trivia to prove “Suga-

ree” is actually my favorite song. I have to be able to hold my own when talking about the band just because I don’t dress or act the same way the stereotypical deadhead would.

I imagine that at a Further show, the most authentic Grateful Dead cover band, I would probably be one of the only females present that shaves their armpits and the most hygienic person there. But even with these differences, I would still be accepted.

That is arguably the best part about the Grateful Dead: the strong community they have created through their music.

Often times their fans are called a family, which in my eyes is a perfect term for it.

Since the band starting touring, their loyal fans have taken care of one another and created an accepting and universal community. A community that I am proud to be a part of.

This strong fanbase is much more accepting of my music choice than non-fans are. I have had several conversations with my brother and his friends about all possible aspects of the Dead. Everything from the fanbase to their wall of sound, the giant sound system the band used during their live shows, has been discussed. Through all of this I have been able to keep up with the most fanatic dead heads I’ve ever met.

While I may not be the stereotype of a Grateful Dead fan, it doesn’t matter. With the Dead my appearance means nothing, but my love of their music does. That is why I am proud to call myself a Grateful Dead fan.

XC

Staffer reflects on hi s decision of giving up a talent to take on a passion

IE RB HA

One Foot Forward

opinion.

WRITTEN BYMIKE TH

IBODEAU

“Hey Mike, let’s talk,” Trish said.

Pennington had told her. He told her how I had texted him. Texted him about my doubts for the season. How I no longer wanted to do Cross Country. How I no longer wanted to be a runner. * * * I’ve always thought of myself as a runner, for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I ran nonstop around the bases in my backyard when my dad and I would play baseball. In Mrs. Lawson’s third grade gym class, I won the mile. It was the first time I was ever the best at something. The kids around me dubbed me “Iron Lungs.” I dubbed myself a runner.

That was the plan for high school: become a Varsity runner. It happened sophomore year.

I remember Chicago. Winning the Loyola Lakefront Invitational.

I remember everyone tearing off towards the lake when they announced that we won.

I ripped off my sweat stained jersey and followed my teammates as they stormed the freezing, late September waters of Lake Michigan.

I remember standing out waist deep in that ice bath of a lake, posing while Chaffee took our picture. I was dripping wet, frozen to the bone marrow and happier than I’d ever been. * * * Something changed after Chicago, when I wrote about Jack Rooker and his mom’s campaign to become a state representative for my journalism class.

I came into East with my plan to become a great runner. That’s all I planned on doing.

But I started to realize running wasn’t the only thing I wanted to do. I wanted to write.

I joined The Harbinger. By the end of my

first quarter, I considered myself a writer.

Then track came around. I had to be a runner again too. But the two wouldn’t quite fit together. * * * It was past three o’clock. Everyone was already down at the track bleacher meeting when I walked into the empty locker room.

I stayed late in the J-Room, but I still had time to catch the end of the meeting.

Instead I stayed in the locker room, leaned against the lockers and slid down onto the bench. My face sank into my palms.

I sat there taking deep breathes, in and out, through my cupped hands like they were a respirator. It’s all been too much.

The stories and projects for Harbinger. The Track practices every day after school. My grades slipping away. I couldn’t handle it all.

One last practice. I’ll talk to coach after, but all I wanted to do was to go up to the JRoom. I just wanted to go and write.

I walk outside and I see Trish by her car.

She looks over and spots me.

“Aww Mike,” she said, walking over to me. My mom must have told her I was planning on quitting. “Come here, let’s talk some.”

We walk down and sat on the turf. Everyone else was still over in the bleachers, listening to Coach Meshke as she passed out medals to all the runners who I used to dream of being like.

She gave me three options. I could either keep running track and trying to compete, or I could just come to track when I could and not worry about the competing. Or I could just quit altogether.

“I think I’ll go with the second one coach,” I told looking down. I hated how shaky my voice was.

“Okay Mike,” she said smiling. “Just look

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAWN THIBODEAU

at this as conditioning for cross country. We need you more there.” * * * Track ended and the summer went by.

I went to summer running, preparing my body for the season, but my mind was still stuck on track. It was over, but I couldn’t find that want to run.

It was midnight, and I sat on the front porch with my dad, looking down 102nd street. The season was less than a month away.

“Hey dad?”

“Yeah?” he said looking over. His Camel made with face glow with an orange hue.

“I don’t want to run this year.” I tell him about how I used to love running. How it used to be my outlet. Whenever I was stressed, sad, anything, I’d go out and run.

I told him running started to change.

It started to feel like an anchor. It kept me grounded in my past when I wanted to move on, when I wanted to try new things in high school, like the Environmental Club and Coalition. But mainly it held me back from writing.

He listens, hearing my troubles. When I stop he sits there, smoke wisping out of his mouth.

“Mike, if you don’t want to run, then you don’t have to,” he says, like it’s a simple solution.

“But, if I don’t, I’ll be letting the team down,” I argue back.

“Do you know who the only person that you’ll have to deal with your entire life is?”

“No. Who?” “You. So why not try to make that person as happy as possible?”

We sat on the porch and talked for a while more before I went to bed.

The only person I’ll live with for my en-

Junior Mike Thibodeau ran varsity cross country and track for two years before changing his pace.

tire life is me, ran through my mind as I fell asleep. * * * Mom didn’t take it the same way Dad did.

I just need to be at Dad’s right now. My mind guilts me as I drive down Roe. She brings up good points you know, I tell myself, reliving my silence as she begged me to keep running.

You’re so good.

You’re a leader on the team.

I’m just scared that you’ll regret it.

She was crying while I just sat across the table, silent. What could I say?

What if I regret it? I think. All these great memories as a runner. Can I just leave that all behind? * * * As Trish talks, every memory and every argument I’ve had goes through my head.

I thought about Chicago. I thought about Rooker. I thought about what my mom said.

I thought about what my dad said.

The only person you’ll live with for your entire life is you. Make that person happy.

Running isn’t making me happy anymore. My original plan wasn’t making me happy.

So why am I still sticking to them? It’s time to move on to something that will.

Trish stops talking, waiting for a reply.

“I think I know what I want to do, Coach,” I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth.

“I think I need to take this year off.” * * * I left cross country behind to make room for new things. I didn’t want to spend all of high school focused on something that wasn’t making me happy. There isn’t a resolution to this story. I’ll always question my decision, but I made the decision so I could be happy. And I can live with it.

The score you need for the school you want 速

FREE weekly SAT and ACT practice tests with one-on-one score reviews!

Contact us to reserve your spot! 913.279.0059

smeharbinger.net

THE A IR

HARBINGER RADIO

ON

Convenient locations serving Kansas City and St. Louis!

Co me dy Hour

features.

Freshman Logan Carr-Howard participated in stand-up comedy at Second City in the heart of downtown Chicago WRITTEN BY SOPHIE TULP “My grandma is one of those people who has no filter,” says freshman Logan CarrHoward staring out at the crowd of drunken, middle-aged comedians. “I mean, she even told my best friend her dog was heading towards the same fate as Marley, in ‘Marley and Me’,” he continues into the silence, fidgeting onstage. He stands before the crowd as a lanky, 15-year-old kid at the Second City Comedy theatre — the same theater that Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert and countless other performers began their careers at. Carr-Howard is the only kid out of his youth summer camp at Second City to show up to the open mic night.

All night, as each adult comedian stepped onstage, their eyes would scan the crowd and linger on the mom, dad and two teenagers sitting in the audience. They would make disclaimers before jokes, not wanting to offend Carr-Howard and his family. One even asked why this kid was “up past his bedtime.” But following Carr-Howard’s performance, the feedback he received from the fellow comedians was overwhelmingly positive. They coached him, suggesting he slow down, take pauses in appropriate places, breathe and keep his nerves in check.

Some kids have sports, others have music or art, but Carr-Howard has comedy. He can spend up to five hours a week researching funny current events for sketches and watching Saturday Night Live or Louie C.K. But coming up with jokes, even for standup, takes more than just an ability to improvise. Carr-Howard has to constantly be thinking of material that could make an audience laugh, and has done sketches ranging from awkward mix-ups at a funeral to a cat becoming mayor of Alaska. He polishes his talent by participating in an exclusive class at the Coterie Theater, and through his summer experience at The Second City. “[Comedy] is very nerve wracking, but it’s exhilarating,” Carr-Howard said. “It’s something that I’m super passionate about, and it’s really amazing to make someone laugh and forget and be happy.”

As a child, Carr-Howard always gravitated towards humor. He read Judy Blume and Captain Underpants, and looked for opportunities to make his family and friends

PHOTO BY SCOTTY BUFORD laugh. His mother, Kim Carr-Howard, describes it as an innate ability to find humor in everyday events.

“He was always able to see things in a funny way that other people don’t necessarily see it.” Kim said. “He can say things in a funny way without being hurtful to people, and he’s not afraid to make fun of himself, which makes other people comfortable.”

That desire to make people laugh is one of Carr-Howard’s favorite parts of comedy.

To him, the power of laughter can help relieve stress and even help a friend through a difficult time. When a friend of his had a brother struggling with a brain tumor, CarrHoward cherished the opportunities he found to make his friend laugh, and forget about the hardships he was going through in life.

To practice jokes, Carr-Howard often tapes himself, or rehearses them in the car on the way to the store with his mom. He gauges the reaction he will get on his jokes by eventually testing them out on his family and friends.

“That’s usually how I see how [an audience] will react,” Carr-Howard said. “I tell [my family and friends] to be honest.

Laughter is kinda hard to fake, and that’s how I know if it’s a good story that I can use in my act.”

Carr-Howard was interested in finding a camp where he could improve his skills over the summer. With The Second City’s reputation for turning out success, Carr-Howard and his family felt it was the best option.

The intensive camp gave Carr-Howard a feel for the work behind what it takes to be a comedian. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, for two weeks, he got feedback from professionals and audiences. He learned about comedy and improving technique through games like word association, writing, practice and performances.

The young comedians were taken backstage of The Second City’s main stage during the final days of the camp. He and the other students got the opportunity to view the wall of signatures containing some of The Second City’s most famous alumni. He picked out Amy Poehler and Steve Carell’s among others. The significance of this was one of the trip’s most impactful moments

for Carr-Howard.

“It was surreal seeing all those people, cause it’s like I watched these people on SNL probably way before I should have,” Carr-Howard said jokingly. “It was where all these [comedians] got their starts, I was working where the greats were before they were recognized. I was there in that moment not knowing if I’d ever be there again.”

But Carr-Howard hopes in the future he can be there again onstage. He continues to practice for the future through the Comedy Masters class he takes on Sundays at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center. The class assists aspiring comedians in developing their skills, working in an environment with other young comedians. Carr-Howard was invited to join the class in the seventh grade after taking two other performance classes through the Coterie.

Education director Amanda Kibler teaches the class at the Coterie. She challenges students to think on a higher level, and take initiative as a leaders. Kibler says that every performer in the class is serious and dedicated about comedy. Being challenged at a high level creates a diverse community of kids sharing a similar passion. “[The performers] have to be fearless onstage and willing to just run out there and try anything,” Education director Amanda Kibler said. “If it fails, it fails. But if it succeeds, it succeeds. So they need to get out there and try and be willing to fail, and just to say yes to every idea that’s thrown out onstage.”

Carr-Howard knows that making it big in the world of comedy will be challenging, but he is still willing to try, and see where it can take him in his future. He has not ruled it out yet as a possibility. His mother also knows there will be disadvantages to her son being exposed to certain raunchy material, or people, that can be typical in comedy.

“We only had to watch a couple of these sets before I realized that this is not like watching your kid go play sports, that it could be a lot more unpleasant than [that],” Kim said. “But how I really see it, is as a way of becoming comfortable speaking in groups [and other] transferable skills. I’m really hoping that he’s not gonna be living in my basement and spending his nights

in bars when he’s 30-years-old, like some of the people that do stand up comedy in general.”

Carr-Howard agrees that comedy can provide him with many characteristics applicable to everyday life, and to him, it is more than just coming up with a series of funny jokes. He loves the feeling of making people laugh. He loves the sense of community he finds through the people who share his passion, and he hopes to stay a part of this community in the future, and throughout his life.

Do’s and Dont’s of Improv Don’t: Question

“Dont ask questions because it just puts everything else on the other improver and not on yourself so questions are generally a bad idea, but occasionally they can be helpful”

Do: Experiment

“Its always good to try everything even if you don’t think it will be funny, because it turns out that those really can become the funniest jokes and material in the scene.”

Do: Trust Friends

“I also found it effective just to get to know the person or people you’re improving with because its really important to be comfortable with them and trust them during the sketch.”

Don’t: Put Your Best First

“So there’s this episode in the Office where Steve Carell says ‘in improv I always pull out a gun, because nobody can top a gun’ And that is something that in improv that is just terrible to do because you can’t top a gun and the scene won’t go anywhere.”

spread.

stages of acknowledgment:

1

rst The first time is during early childhood, usually around the ages of 3 to 5.

2

nd

The next time happend when they start to go through puberty.

It can be a very scary time, since the changes are often unwelcome.

3

rd

Finally, when they are about to leave home or gain a new amount of freedom, the change they about to undergo triggers awareness that this has been going most of their whole.

Information courtesy of Caroline Gibbs

MAKING THE

Transgender individuals search for equality in school life and acceptance for their gender identity. As well as finding peace within themselves.

CHANGE

He and she. Her and his. They’re pronouns, but they’re more than that to sophomore Alex Long. To him and many transgenders, they’re a matter of basic respect.

Respect and recognition that they haven’t always gotten. TIME magazine reported that there is a stigma associated with transgenders. A survey done by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2011 said that about three in 10 Americans can’t define the term ‘transgender.’

According to Caroline Gibbs, founder of the Transgender Institute in Kansas City, Mo., the word ‘transgender’ is an umbrella term that covers different groups that do not conform to the traditional definition of their gender.

‘Transsexual’ refers to a more specialized group of people.

According to Gibbs, “[Being transsexual] means that they feel, usually from the time that they are very small, that they are living in the wrong body, that their body is different from what they feel they are inside in terms of gender.”

Gibbs says that the latest research has been done

by University of Michigan professor Lynn Conway.

Conway estimated that one in 2,500 people have undergone sex reassignment surgery (SRS) to become female, which is a lot more than was previously accepted. Conway calculated that statistic by dividing the number of male-to-female SRS surgeries, 32,000, by the number of U.S. males between the ages of 1860.

Commonly cited statistics by the medical community are one in 30,000 for male-to-female transsexualism and one in 100,000 for female-to-male .

Research done by the Williams Institute at UCLA estimated a figure of 700,000 transsexual people living in the U.S, although the study admits that it is challenging to measure the LGBT community.

While transsexualism hasn’t been a common discussion, states, universities and school districts are beginning to talk about it. Questions were brought up that hadn’t been considered before, like which restroom transsexuals should use. UMKC has designated gender-neutral restrooms and housing as a response. California signed a law in 2013 that protects transsexual students from being unfairly segregated from the rest of their school.

WRITTEN BY PAULINE WERNER

Gibbs had a meeting with principal John McKinney at the beginning of the school year during where they found the same answer to that. McKinney didn’t want to make the transgender student or any other student uncomfortable, so the compromise was that there would be a gender-neutral restroom in the nurse’s office for the transgender students’ use. * * * Alex Long was born Alexandra Long in 1997. After spending much of his childhood struggling with his gender identity, he made the outward switch from female to male going into his freshman year. And the pronouns changed with it.

He was 3 years old when he knew. He wasn’t like other people around him. He remembers asking his mom about it. But all those thoughts got pushed aside.

“You’re three and that’s not the time when you’re supposed to be dealing with that,” Long said.

Gibbs is a verified gender counselor and she says that that’s actually the age when most transsexual individuals start to realize that they’re not like everyone else. She says it usually happens between three and five years old.

One concrete moment of realization came when Long was in elementary school.

Long was 11 or 12 years old, playing with a friend during after school care one day. His friend’s mom arrived to pick up her son, and as they walked away Long heard his friend ask his mom a question.

“Why does she dress like a boy?”

“She just feels like a boy trapped in the girl’s body.”

He remembers thinking it over and realizing that’s what it was. He was happy to discover that someone other than himself would see it before he even could.

That started a whole slew of realizations for Long, who prefers the term trangender. He realized how much he didn’t like having a girl’s name or the female pronouns. He realized the significance of how, while he played role-playing games like house with his younger sister and his neighbors, he was always the male figure and always went by Alex .

It’s hard for Long to describe what it was like to question his gender identity. The easiest thing to say is that it was challenging.

“Imagine waking up and you’re in a different body”, he said. “If you’re male, you’ve known yourself to be male, and now you’re in a female’s body. It’s like something’s been shifted, and it’s just always there.

It’s like you’re constantly looking at it but you can’t tell what’s been moved.”

Gibbs says that transsexual individuals’ differences with other people around them are usually made obvious to them a total of three times. The first happens in early childhood, the second time often happens when they hit puberty.

“A lot of times kids will go through puberty and it scares them,” Gibbs said. “They will get their periods for example and they’ll be completely, completely appalled at the changes in their bodies.”

Long knew the truth about himself before he started going through puberty, so he did what he could to stop it. He controlled his diet, not eating for two or three days so that he wouldn’t grow or develop, which stunted his growth.

“I would just regulate [my diet] to the point where I wouldn’t take anything that would help me grow,” he said. “I’m glad I did what I did, but it was a really dangerous way to do it.”

However, Dr. Natasha Burgert of Pediatric Associates says that studies have shown that poor nutrition in kids may cause puberty come at a faster rate.

She attributes puberty to the work of hormones, not calories.

According to Gibbs, many of transsexual people will ‘go underground’ and repress their true self, which means that they will repress the part of himself that is questioning. It can happen at any point in a person’s life and can last for decades. She says that it’s common for transsexual people to go into military service to avoid facing the truth about themselves.

Her oldest patient is 73 and has spent the entirety of her life underground.

“A lot of people will just bury it out of fear -- fear of bullying, fear of not fitting in, fear of being alienated,” Gibbs said.

When Long started going to Indian Hills Middle School, he changed his appearance completely—but it wasn’t towards the male side. Instead of appearing as the tomboy he always had been, he began dressing very girly and being as feminine as he could going into seventh grade.

spread.

A look at the numbers

16

Only 16 states and Washington DC have with antidiscrimination laws protecting students on the basis of their gender identity.

90%

A 2001 survey reported 90% of transgender youth feels unsafe in school due to their gender expression.

“I think I was starting to realize how different I was and I didn’t want to be different because it makes it so much harder for you,” he said. “It brings up all these problems and you have to deal with so much.”

He describes it as forcing himself into a mask— a mask of what he thought society wanted him to be.

Gibbs says that being transsexual is like living in two different people. There’s the authentic side that is who the person truly feels like they are on the inside. And then there’s the shadow self. It’s the shadow, biological self that is shown to the world while the authentic self has to stay hidden until it decides to come out. “[Middle school] was just very isolating. I didn’t really go out much,” Long said. “I didn’t try to be seen; I just wanted to be unknown so I didn’t have to deal with people mistaking my identity.”

While he was trying his best to act the feminine part, he still wore his hair short. Long remembers getting called ‘he’ every once in awhile and being angry.

Not at that person’s misuse of the pronoun, but at himself. He was dressing as girly as he could make himself, but still looked like a boy and that wasn’t supposed to be happening.

“Or at least that wasn’t what I thought was supposed to be happening because you don’t hear about any trans kids in school,” he said. “I didn’t know what I should’ve been doing, so I just kept myself just closed within myself. It got very lonely and depressing.”

The third point at which transsexual individuals’ differences are obvious to them is when they’re about to ‘spread their wings.’ This is usually when they go away to college or move out of their parents’ house.

That third point happened for Long when he started high school. Entering into his freshman year at East, he dropped the mask he had worn for so long and went by ‘Alex’ for the first time. He had heard that East offered a very accepting community. Because of that and the fact that there were so many new people around him, he felt like he could start over. His family accepted the switch.

Though, according to Long, East has a reputation for being a LGBT-friendly school, Long still encountered bullying from his peers. There were people that used his new gender identity against him, specifically by abusing pronouns that he didn’t want. Pointed remarks, stressing the word ‘her’ when they spoke. Ex-

aggerating their words to affect him.

“You shouldn’t expect somebody to have a problem with calling you by [a certain] pronoun,” he said.

“And when people use that against you, it’s just hurtful.”

According to Gibbs, it’s common for transsexual teenagers to encounter bullying and abuse when they go to middle school or high school. She says it can be scary because they’re afraid of being hurt or rejected by their society.

In November, Gibbs plans to work with the Shawnee MIssion school board to pass new bullying policies that would further protect transsexual individuals.

“It’s deadening to their spirit, as you can imagine any kind of bullying is, and then transgender on top of it [makes it worse],” she said.

Gibbs says that there’s a long way to go before transgender people are going to be accepted even as much as gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals. Society is more accepting of them now than before, but she still refers to them as the ‘final frontier of social justice’.

Long, who prefers the term transgender, is open about being transgender and will answer truthfully if he’s asked, but he doesn’t feel the need to include it in everyday conversation.

“I don’t [go out and say] ‘I am transgender’.I just don’t,” he said. “If someone wants to know, they can ask me.”

Long’s freshman year was rough in terms of bullying. He would hear those snide comments at least once a day, from the same people. But he says it’s not nearly as bad this year. He even still looks back on that time with happiness.

He remembers the first day of freshman year.

He remembers walking into school and being very happy. Happy because he started dressing how he wanted, acting how he wanted, and finally showing his authentic self. It was natural. To change those pronouns, it made him feel at peace with who he was.

“You shouldn’t be happy on the first day of school, because it’s supposed to be awful,” Long said. “But I was very happy because it was a new place and I could be who I wanted to be. I didn’t have to hide anymore.”

Facts and Statistics provided by www.pflagnyc.org and cnn.com

3x LBGT youth who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescene are three times more likely to use illegal drugs

In June the Colorado Division of Civil Liberties made the first ever ruling that stated transgender students must be treated equally

89%

89% of Americans believe that transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans.

2x

Students are twice less likely to plan on finishing high school or going on to college

spread.

stages of acknowledgment:

1

rst The first time is during early childhood, usually around the ages of 3 to 5.

2

nd

The next time happend when they start to go through puberty.

It can be a very scary time, since the changes are often unwelcome.

3

rd

Finally, when they are about to leave home or gain a new amount of freedom, the change they about to undergo triggers awareness that this has been going most of their whole.

Information courtesy of Caroline Gibbs

MAKING THE

Transgender individuals search for equality in school life and acceptance for their gender identity. As well as finding peace within themselves.

CHANGE

He and she. Her and his. They’re pronouns, but they’re more than that to sophomore Alex Long. To him and many transgenders, they’re a matter of basic respect.

Respect and recognition that they haven’t always gotten. TIME magazine reported that there is a stigma associated with transgenders. A survey done by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2011 said that about three in 10 Americans can’t define the term ‘transgender.’

According to Caroline Gibbs, founder of the Transgender Institute in Kansas City, Mo., the word ‘transgender’ is an umbrella term that covers different groups that do not conform to the traditional definition of their gender.

‘Transsexual’ refers to a more specialized group of people.

According to Gibbs, “[Being transsexual] means that they feel, usually from the time that they are very small, that they are living in the wrong body, that their body is different from what they feel they are inside in terms of gender.”

Gibbs says that the latest research has been done

by University of Michigan professor Lynn Conway.

Conway estimated that one in 2,500 people have undergone sex reassignment surgery (SRS) to become female, which is a lot more than was previously accepted. Conway calculated that statistic by dividing the number of male-to-female SRS surgeries, 32,000, by the number of U.S. males between the ages of 1860.

Commonly cited statistics by the medical community are one in 30,000 for male-to-female transsexualism and one in 100,000 for female-to-male .

Research done by the Williams Institute at UCLA estimated a figure of 700,000 transsexual people living in the U.S, although the study admits that it is challenging to measure the LGBT community.

While transsexualism hasn’t been a common discussion, states, universities and school districts are beginning to talk about it. Questions were brought up that hadn’t been considered before, like which restroom transsexuals should use. UMKC has designated gender-neutral restrooms and housing as a response. California signed a law in 2013 that protects transsexual students from being unfairly segregated from the rest of their school.

WRITTEN BY PAULINE WERNER

Gibbs had a meeting with principal John McKinney at the beginning of the school year during where they found the same answer to that. McKinney didn’t want to make the transgender student or any other student uncomfortable, so the compromise was that there would be a gender-neutral restroom in the nurse’s office for the transgender students’ use. * * * Alex Long was born Alexandra Long in 1997. After spending much of his childhood struggling with his gender identity, he made the outward switch from female to male going into his freshman year. And the pronouns changed with it.

He was 3 years old when he knew. He wasn’t like other people around him. He remembers asking his mom about it. But all those thoughts got pushed aside.

“You’re three and that’s not the time when you’re supposed to be dealing with that,” Long said.

Gibbs is a verified gender counselor and she says that that’s actually the age when most transsexual individuals start to realize that they’re not like everyone else. She says it usually happens between three and five years old.

One concrete moment of realization came when Long was in elementary school.

Long was 11 or 12 years old, playing with a friend during after school care one day. His friend’s mom arrived to pick up her son, and as they walked away Long heard his friend ask his mom a question.

“Why does she dress like a boy?”

“She just feels like a boy trapped in the girl’s body.”

He remembers thinking it over and realizing that’s what it was. He was happy to discover that someone other than himself would see it before he even could.

That started a whole slew of realizations for Long, who prefers the term trangender. He realized how much he didn’t like having a girl’s name or the female pronouns. He realized the significance of how, while he played role-playing games like house with his younger sister and his neighbors, he was always the male figure and always went by Alex .

It’s hard for Long to describe what it was like to question his gender identity. The easiest thing to say is that it was challenging.

“Imagine waking up and you’re in a different body”, he said. “If you’re male, you’ve known yourself to be male, and now you’re in a female’s body. It’s like something’s been shifted, and it’s just always there.

It’s like you’re constantly looking at it but you can’t tell what’s been moved.”

Gibbs says that transsexual individuals’ differences with other people around them are usually made obvious to them a total of three times. The first happens in early childhood, the second time often happens when they hit puberty.

“A lot of times kids will go through puberty and it scares them,” Gibbs said. “They will get their periods for example and they’ll be completely, completely appalled at the changes in their bodies.”

Long knew the truth about himself before he started going through puberty, so he did what he could to stop it. He controlled his diet, not eating for two or three days so that he wouldn’t grow or develop, which stunted his growth.

“I would just regulate [my diet] to the point where I wouldn’t take anything that would help me grow,” he said. “I’m glad I did what I did, but it was a really dangerous way to do it.”

However, Dr. Natasha Burgert of Pediatric Associates says that studies have shown that poor nutrition in kids may cause puberty come at a faster rate.

She attributes puberty to the work of hormones, not calories.

According to Gibbs, many of transsexual people will ‘go underground’ and repress their true self, which means that they will repress the part of himself that is questioning. It can happen at any point in a person’s life and can last for decades. She says that it’s common for transsexual people to go into military service to avoid facing the truth about themselves.

Her oldest patient is 73 and has spent the entirety of her life underground.

“A lot of people will just bury it out of fear -- fear of bullying, fear of not fitting in, fear of being alienated,” Gibbs said.

When Long started going to Indian Hills Middle School, he changed his appearance completely—but it wasn’t towards the male side. Instead of appearing as the tomboy he always had been, he began dressing very girly and being as feminine as he could going into seventh grade.

spread.

A look at the numbers

16

Only 16 states and Washington DC have with antidiscrimination laws protecting students on the basis of their gender identity.

90%

A 2001 survey reported 90% of transgender youth feels unsafe in school due to their gender expression.

“I think I was starting to realize how different I was and I didn’t want to be different because it makes it so much harder for you,” he said. “It brings up all these problems and you have to deal with so much.”

He describes it as forcing himself into a mask— a mask of what he thought society wanted him to be.

Gibbs says that being transsexual is like living in two different people. There’s the authentic side that is who the person truly feels like they are on the inside. And then there’s the shadow self. It’s the shadow, biological self that is shown to the world while the authentic self has to stay hidden until it decides to come out. “[Middle school] was just very isolating. I didn’t really go out much,” Long said. “I didn’t try to be seen; I just wanted to be unknown so I didn’t have to deal with people mistaking my identity.”

While he was trying his best to act the feminine part, he still wore his hair short. Long remembers getting called ‘he’ every once in awhile and being angry.

Not at that person’s misuse of the pronoun, but at himself. He was dressing as girly as he could make himself, but still looked like a boy and that wasn’t supposed to be happening.

“Or at least that wasn’t what I thought was supposed to be happening because you don’t hear about any trans kids in school,” he said. “I didn’t know what I should’ve been doing, so I just kept myself just closed within myself. It got very lonely and depressing.”

The third point at which transsexual individuals’ differences are obvious to them is when they’re about to ‘spread their wings.’ This is usually when they go away to college or move out of their parents’ house.

That third point happened for Long when he started high school. Entering into his freshman year at East, he dropped the mask he had worn for so long and went by ‘Alex’ for the first time. He had heard that East offered a very accepting community. Because of that and the fact that there were so many new people around him, he felt like he could start over. His family accepted the switch.

Though, according to Long, East has a reputation for being a LGBT-friendly school, Long still encountered bullying from his peers. There were people that used his new gender identity against him, specifically by abusing pronouns that he didn’t want. Pointed remarks, stressing the word ‘her’ when they spoke. Ex-

aggerating their words to affect him.

“You shouldn’t expect somebody to have a problem with calling you by [a certain] pronoun,” he said.

“And when people use that against you, it’s just hurtful.”

According to Gibbs, it’s common for transsexual teenagers to encounter bullying and abuse when they go to middle school or high school. She says it can be scary because they’re afraid of being hurt or rejected by their society.

In November, Gibbs plans to work with the Shawnee MIssion school board to pass new bullying policies that would further protect transsexual individuals.

“It’s deadening to their spirit, as you can imagine any kind of bullying is, and then transgender on top of it [makes it worse],” she said.

Gibbs says that there’s a long way to go before transgender people are going to be accepted even as much as gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals. Society is more accepting of them now than before, but she still refers to them as the ‘final frontier of social justice’.

Long, who prefers the term transgender, is open about being transgender and will answer truthfully if he’s asked, but he doesn’t feel the need to include it in everyday conversation.

“I don’t [go out and say] ‘I am transgender’.I just don’t,” he said. “If someone wants to know, they can ask me.”

Long’s freshman year was rough in terms of bullying. He would hear those snide comments at least once a day, from the same people. But he says it’s not nearly as bad this year. He even still looks back on that time with happiness.

He remembers the first day of freshman year.

He remembers walking into school and being very happy. Happy because he started dressing how he wanted, acting how he wanted, and finally showing his authentic self. It was natural. To change those pronouns, it made him feel at peace with who he was.

“You shouldn’t be happy on the first day of school, because it’s supposed to be awful,” Long said. “But I was very happy because it was a new place and I could be who I wanted to be. I didn’t have to hide anymore.”

Facts and Statistics provided by www.pflagnyc.org and cnn.com

3x LBGT youth who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescene are three times more likely to use illegal drugs

In June the Colorado Division of Civil Liberties made the first ever ruling that stated transgender students must be treated equally

89%

89% of Americans believe that transgender people deserve the same rights and protections as other Americans.

2x

Students are twice less likely to plan on finishing high school or going on to college

features.

Striking A

Balance

Art teacher becomes certified Pound instructor for Fusion Fitness KC PHOTO BY PALOMA GARCIA

WRITTEN BY SYDNEY LOWE Reclined back, abs engaged, drumsticks held suspended in front of her face, art teacher Jodie Schnakenberg takes advantage of the brief pause in “Pretender” by the Foo Fighters before the smile erupts on her face and the thunderous drumming ensues.

She is almost to the end of one of her very first Pound classes as an instructor, and her fists have yet to stop flying.

Pound is a type of workout that uses quarter pound drumsticks -- called rip sticks -- as a way to put a different spin on exercise. The class is a full-body cardio jam session that combines light resistance with stimulated drumming on the ground, wall and other surfaces. During the 45-55 minute classes, anywhere from 600-900 calories can be burned.

What Schnakenberg likes about Pound is that it is easy to forget that it is a workout.

“Instead of suffering through a workout,” Schnakenberg said. “This one can be more like you’re just kind of rocking out and having fun with it so it’s a little less painful to get through.”

The creators of Pound, Kristen Potenza and Cristina Peerenboom, based the workout on the idea that life can’t be fully enjoyed without balance and nurturing. They also felt that if you give up on self-improvement, at any time, you give up on yourself.

Junior Grace Satterlee also enjoyed the playfulness of the class as well as Schnakenberg’s teaching style.

“I thought it was an upbeat, fun class and Schnakenberg has such an awesome energy that

Kicking Into Gear

it made the class fly by,” said Satterlee.

Schnakenberg’s first discovered Pound over the summer of 2012 from a talk show segment.

“I embarrassingly was watching The View, and they did a segment,” she said.

After looking into Pound online for a year, she found the closest workshop, which was in Chicago. She planned a trip for the first weekend after school got out.

The majority of the people at the workshop either came from a dance background or like Schnakenberg, have taught group fitness for a while. Pound has lots of songs with very specific choreography, so if someone went to a class here, it would be the exact same stuff as one taught in California. The certification was an all day workshop of learning choreography, then practicing teaching it back to other members of the class.

Even though they get little cheat sheets, Schnakenberg spent all of last summer just trying to memorize the choreography and become familiar with it.

“There’s a learning curve to figuring out how to teach it and then just the choreography itself,” Schnakenberg said.

Something that has made the process easier is her understanding of music.

“If you get the opportunity to learn how to play music, that helps with odd things in life,” Schnakenberg said. “You definitely need to be someone who understands it and gets how music builds for 8-16 or 24-32 beats and then it slows down. If you don’t have that background you’ll have to struggle quite a bit more.”

Schnakenberg enjoys Pound’s dependence on the rhythm of the music as well

as the wide range of genres included. There is a lot of rock and hip-hop music, usually not included in aerobics classes.

“It has a little bit more swagger to it I think, it has some interesting choices and I like that about it,” she said.

Fusion Fitness is so far the only place Schnakenberg has taught Pound at. She reached out thinking that the Fusion clientele would enjoy the rigor and fresh element of the classes. She describes it as very intense, but likes the energy.

“It has been really refreshing to see people excited about how much hard work you put into something,” Schnakenberg said.

Along with now being a regularly scheduled teacher at Fusion, Schnakenberg will start teaching at City Gym at the end of September and plans on being a part of the Plaza Art Fair on September 22. She is currently the only certified Pound instructor in the Kansas City area.

As far as teaching style goes, Schnakenberg sees no reason to take herself seriously.

“I’m pretty silly and I talk a lot, I’m not very timid,” Schnakenberg said. “I’m pretty kind of in your face and I try to make people laugh for one because you can’t take yourself too seriously and its group fitness for crying out loud so you should be trying to have a little bit more fun you shouldn’t be trying to take yourself too seriously.”

Where: Tranquil KC Calories Burned Per Hour: 500-700

Where: Cycle KC Calories Burned Per Hour: 700-800

What: Takes the moves of kickboxing training and choreographs them to music Where: Title Boxing Club Calories Burned Per Hour: 700-800

POUND

What: Studio cycling using speed and resistance allowing one to train indoors year round

KICKBOXING

Where: Bootcamp Fitness KC Calories Burned Per Hour: 400-600

What: Suspension training that leverages gravity and bodyweight

SPINNING

What: Group physical training program that is conducted by gyms or personal trainers

TRX

BOOTCAMP

After 20 years of teaching group fitness, Schnakenberg has done it all What: Full body cardio jam session that combines light resistance with constant drumming Where: Fusion Fitness Calories Burned Per Hour: 600-900

4% 23% 31%

19-22

12-18

42%

50.9% of military are married

43.8% of military have children

1 in 5 miltary kids go into military

40% of active duty army generals came from ROTC

Sophomore Harry Dysinger joins the family tradition of military service through ROTC WRITTEN BY JULIA POE ART BY PHOEBE AGUIAR PHOTOS BY ANNIE SAVAGE

Military families are 2.4 times more likely to relocate

FollowingtheFamily Legacy

features.

6-11 0-5

The statistics The uniform is part of his family.

His dad and his grandfather wore Army fatigues. His uncles wore Marine dress blues.

A tan, collared shirt and black cap make up sophomore Harrison Dysinger’s first uniform.

It’s more simple than the ones his family members have worn in the past -- no flak jackets, no gold trim. Then again, this is only Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC). But it’s a start.

Harrison is only a sophomore, but he knows his path -- the military. Maybe not the finite details, but the basics are set in his mind. Serving his country. Following his family’s example.

It’s been a certainty since he was a little boy.

Harrison’s mom, Denee Compton, saw that he was like any military boy -- he liked to play with guns and make-believe war. But Harrison also had a passion for the military, and for the family members who were part of it.

“I just came to love the military people, the people who my dad worked with,” Harrison said.

“They are some of the most broken people you will meet, because of everything they have seen.

But they are also some of the strongest, the most whole people you will meet. And that’s what I love.”

His love for the military began in the Iraq days, when his father, Thomas Dysinger, spent half of the year in Afghanistan. Thomas called once or twice a month. It was the most communication he could keep up. The distance didn’t estrange the two; it forced them to cherish moments more.

“When you only have half the year together, everything means more,” Harrison said. “It’s just more important to make time for one another.”

In many ways, the military life is all he knows.

Although he didn’t live on base with his dad, he could never fully get away from the military.

His grandfathers’ houses were filled with relics; dishware from Japan, an admiral’s sword. Family dinners were filled with his uncles, who were exMarines and soldiers.

They told him about their times in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. They gave him advice for his future in the service, jokingly trying to sway him to their particular branch. For Harrison, the military was a lifestyle.

When he came to East, Harrison found a new connection to the environment he loved -- JROTC. For Harrison, JROTC was a natural choice. His dad had done it in high school. Harrison didn’t mind re-arranging his schedule, or waking up an hour early.

These hours spent in uniform, perfecting drill routines and memorizing commands, taught Harrison a discipline that he saw bleeding over into other aspects of his life. His focus on school increased as he became used to discipline. He began to spend more time thinking about how to help other people.

“Harry was always the helpful kid, but I feel like [JROTC] has increased that even more,” Denee said. “It’s just little things. In our neighborhood, he’s always the kid going around and helping people pull their trash out to the curb. He just always looks for other people.”

Although Denee appreciates the positive impact she has seen JROTC have on Harrison, she worries about his eagerness to enlist straight out of high school. She grew up in a military home as well, surrounded by older brothers in uniform, watching her mom pack Pringles cans with cookies to ship to bases in Japan and Germany.

“I can definitely understand the appeal, the excitement, why he wants to go in so quickly,” Denee said. “But I just hate to see him wait for

Age distribution of military children

education. I want him to have options.”

Harrison sure when he will be enlisting. He knows what he wants -- he wants to serve. Even more, he wants to be able to support himself financially. The military will give him a way to do both. As a sophomore, however, he is willing to remain uncertain about the details of his life after high school. And although he knows that he wants to join the military, he isn’t ready to give his entire life and career to service.

In this way, Harrison doesn’t want to emulate his father. This will be Thomas’ final year in the military, and his service began before Harrison was born. Thomas is currently stationed in Leavenworth, where he plans on remaining with his wife. It’s the closest that Harrison has ever been to his dad.

“I think it’s just a relief, after so many years of constantly having that unknown,” Harrison said. “[My dad] was never really on the front lines, but you can never really feel safe when you don’t know what’s going on or where he is. I just don’t think I want that for myself for the rest of my life.”

Now, Harrison lets JROTC remain his constant connection to the military. His next two years will be spent like most high school students -- determining the right choice for education. Even though he doesn’t want to devote his entire life to the military, Harrison knows that he will soon be following his family’s legacy for at least four years.

“I think, at the end of the day, I just feel like it’s something that I have to do,” Harrison said.

“It’s what my family does, and it’s what I want to do. I want to protect my country, and protect my family.”

a&e.

Dissecting a Trend

The sport sandal fad that’s taking over the hallways.

The Prepster:

:CHACOS WRITTEN BY MORGAN KRAKOW PHOTOS BY ANNAMARIE OAKLEY ART BY AUDREY DANCIGER

Mitchell Tyler

Originally they were for grandpas on vacation, then mountain men and hippies, then they hit the high schoolers. Take a walk through the East halls and one might notice a curious trend expanding its way through the school’s footwear. These colorful, strappy and sturdy sandals are stylish and relatable.

From the trendsetters, to the prepsters, Chacos are being mixed into the outfits of many.

Athletic sandals were once relegated to the sale racks, but recently they’ve

Polo shirts, khaki shorts and Chacos? Sure! The great thing about Chacos is how they appeal to so many different styles. Senior Mitchell Tyler bought his Lancer-blue Chacos last spring.

“I just heard they were really comfortable and pretty stylish, and I can wear them with anything,” Tyler said.

Tyler didn’t buy them just for style, the outdoor aspects were appealing as well.

“They’re really the best of both worlds,” Tyler said.

Men’s Chacos come in two different styles, a strap over the big toe, and one without. Tyler ordered his online and decided to go with a toe strap.

“It’s a lot more stability, they feel weird without a toe strap,” Tyler said.

The Summer Campers:

The Originator:

Corinne Stratton and Becca Zeiger

Hayden Wylie

Sophomore Becca Zeiger and Corrinne Stratton are camp kids. Camp is effec- tively where form and function meet.

Populat- ed by young people, of course things are stylish, but having to traverse to places both wet and dry, functional shoes are vital.

“I feel like they’re a really comfortable sandal but they’re cuter than just wearing flip flops, and they’re also a lot better built so they won’t fall apart,” Zeiger said, “I could work ropes course and belay people wearing Chacos.”

Stratton said that she’s happy Chacos aren’t only for the outdoorsy types anymore.

She also thinks it’s good that there are so many different colors and styles so each person can express themselves.

“They’re perfect for me,” Stratton said.

Zeiger and Stratton both expressed their love for the Chaco tanlines criss-crossing their feet.

“I just feel like it looks really really cool,” Zeiger said, “You can separate the die hards from the people who just wear Chacos.”

Senior Hayden Wylie is a self-described outdoorsman. He hikes, mountain bikes and is Chaco-obsessed, to the extreme. Wylie says students credit him with bringing the Chacosphere to East, buying his midway through his sophomore year.

“It was between a pair of Birkenstocks and a pair of Chacos, at the end of sophomore year at the warehouse sale at Footprints in Lawrence,” Wylie said.

But for Wylie, Chacos are a family affair, his mom owning seven pairs herself. He even customized his own on the Chaco website creating a pair that perfectly fits his personality.

Wylie appreciates the durability of the shoes.

“They’ve been through Spain, Turkey and Africa, and I wore them everyday there, and they just hold up so entirely well,” Wylie said.

Wylie is even embarking on the “Chaco Challenge,” in an attempt to wear them every day this year. When asked about winter, his reply is simple, “Chacos with socks, Sock-o’s,” Wylie said.

#INSTACHACO

#CHACONATION

Life in the

#INSTACHACO

Lola Hitchcock

Chacospere Students broadcast their #ChacoLives on social media

been selling out like crazy, especially to young people.

However, Chacos aren’t just the brand that reigns supreme, they are a culture. Students lay out in the sun in an attempt to brandish the famed sandals straps onto their feet. Wearers take on the Chaco Challenge, wearing the shoes 365 days a year. Chacos-wearers see them as a way of life. They ooze style and adventure, spontaneity and know-how, which begs the question, who wouldn’t want these sandals?

@Lohitch

Chaco’s are my life <3

night to rival beccazeiger- AallSaturday other. #instapark

1

RETWEET

4 FAVORITES

e_coz-

Opening my chacos on the front porch. I was a little excited! #ChacoNation

STUDY SPOTS Coffee Girl’s

Cafe

Wearing Nike running shorts and blue tank top, I’m walking into a reallife Pinterest board that I don’t belong in. Coffee Girl’s mixes neutrals with bright pops of orange. They even serve drinks in Mason glass jars. Regardless, I find a place in the corner and set my backpack on the orange plastic chair. Orange seems to be a theme here. They have a variety of juices, coffee, espresso and smoothies

for your pleasure. Once I start to work on my homework, I notice that it’s loud. Not overly, but being spacious and open, Coffee Girl’s doesn’t provide any sound damping. Between the blender, juicer and other customers, I find myself seeking out the source which is distracting me. Aside from the noise, I am able to get a significant amount done, aided by the abundance of power outlets because I am forever

Nelson-Atkins Lawn

The early morning sun is shining.

I’m laying in the crisp green grass reading Scarlet Letter. I look up and gaze around the sprawling lawn full statues and greenery. Except that I’m reading “The Scarlet Letter”. Which is the most nap inducing book, and I have 30 pages to read plus the study guide questions. Taking the time to go down to the Nelson and study lets me get

LatteLand

“History homework?” asks the barista. I come here enough that the baristas usually know the reason why. Latteland is my go-to spot for everything: coffee, study groups, tutoring and everyday work. There’s a private room for group work and tutoring, plush armchairs to curl up and read in, tables for two and my favorite part, the individual study

Plaza

Library

STAY HOME

away, tune out and put my complete focus towards reading. My tan lines may not thank me but my English grade will. Being outside helps keep me focused without getting distracted by a computer, phone or a cat. There isn’t any wifi, and there isn’t a flat surface to write on. Being outside means that the weather does dictate if it’s possible to study there. Regardless, if you’re look-

YOU WON’T BE GETTING MUCH DONE

Staffer Phoebe Aguiar reviews study spots around Kansas City WRITTEN BY PHOEBE AGUIAR

needing to charge something. Coffee Girl’s seems to lend itself better to group projects rather than individual work. It has large tables in the middle and people aren’t afraid to talk. Coffee Girl’s is a better place to bring your friends then to bring your backpack.

ing for a zen place to do some work with a bonus hipster vibe; then the lawn or steps of the Nelson Museum is perfect for some quality time get some reading or reviewing done. Remember to bring a blanket and check the weather if you plan on studying here.

cubicles. The atmosphere is always relaxing and there is hardly ever a crowd, although I can usually find one of my friends here studying. Even if there aren’t large crowds, finding a spot close enough to an outlet can be a challenge

I’m in between a homeless man discussing the origins of cancer and its correlation to creation of Christianity, and a couple sharing a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Surprisingly, I’ve gotten so much work done. The public library by the Plaza is the perfect place to get that assignment you’ve put off for weeks knocked out. There are big and small tables scattered throughout, leather armchairs with a panoramic windows offering a view of the Plaza

a&e.

during certain times of the day. Other than that minor setback, it’s easy to accomplish a variety of tasks. Latteland has replaced Starbucks for all my coffee shop needs, with nicer baristas and better coffee.

and large tables with individual spots to do work. A major upside to this particular library is that right as you walk in, there’s a coffee shop where you can buy coffee and then take it into the library. I grabbed myself an iced coffee and headed to one of the little circle tables by the large windows that line the East side of the building.

The modern architecture and fixtures added to the amount of windows bringing in natural light and created

YOU’LL FINISH YOUR HOMEWORK

an inviting and bright space. It’s quiet but its not frowned upon if you have to cough. Warning, if you want to use the internet, you will need a username and password. To do that you need a library card. The Plaza library is by far the best place to go if you need to buckle down and get everything done.

GET THAT SIX PAGE ESSAY DONE

v

18

a&e.

Dolce Baking Company On your way into the Village for a frozen yogurt or frappuccino, it’s easy to overlook Dolce Baking Company. Nestled between Village Flower Company and Starbucks, Dolce offers a variety of cookies, cupcakes and assorted baked goods. Walking into this cheery, brightly-lit shop, you’re faced with an enticing selection that covers everything from creamy to crunchy.

Their cupcakes are outstanding; they come in flavors ranging from vanilla to red velvet, chocolate to salted caramel. Being just a few short minutes from East also makes Dolce Baking Company a quick and easy option to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Great Harvest Of every bakery in KC, Great Harvest Bread Co. has the most welcoming atmosphere. Located in Corinth Square, their main attractions include their bread as well as their cinnamon rolls and brownies. Great Harvest and everything in it exudes warmth. All of their breads taste hearty and delicious, as if your grandma could have made it in her own kitchen.

A specific highlight is their red, white and blue bread, which works well both on its own, or spread with butter and jam. With their selection of warm breads and fresh sandwiches, Great Harvest Bread Co. is the perfect place for a rainy day snack.

A LOOK AT THE BEST LOCAL BAKERIES IN KANSAS CITY WRITTEN BY SUSANNAH MITCHELL

PHOTO BY MARISA WALTON

the upper crust Everybody loves pie; it’s a fact. But where do you get the best pies in KC? The pies at the Upper Crust are utterly superb. With crust that is crispy yet delicate, and fillings that are the perfect combination of sweet and smooth, you can’t go wrong.

Having two locations, one in Westport and one in Overland Park, the Upper Crust is your best option for everything from classic apple to flamboyant lemon meringue. The shop itself is ridiculously charming, with a sign hung on the display cases proclaiming that unattended children may be baked into pies. But the Upper Crust’s pies are fantastic, with or without children.

Natasha’s Mulberry & Mott If you don’t like pastel colors, chances are you won’t like Natasha’s Mulberry & Mott. With locations in Mission Farms and on the Plaza, Mulberry & Mott boasts an impressive array of cookies, pastries, marshmallows and French macarons. All of their baked goods look too pretty to taste, with some even dusted with glitter. Along with the gorgeous presentation, Natasha bakes everything in the store with a wide selection of flavors, including champagne macarons and cherry-chocolate cookies. If you’re in the mood for a sweet, elegant treat, Natasha’s Mulberry and Mott is your best bet.

a&e.

JUSTANOTHER SCARYMOVIE

Senior Leah Pack reviews scary movie “Insidious: Chapter 2”

HARBINGER

STAFFPANEL

What is your favorite horror movie?

“My favorite is ‘Hide and Seek’ because it keeps you guessing and is a realistic scenario.”

Senior Maddie Hise

Senior Andrew McKittrick

“My favorite horror movie is probably ‘The Shining’. The music during the entire movie makes every scene 10 times scarier.”

“I like the scary movie ‘Parodies’ because you think something bad is going to happen and then it ends up Senior Sydney Lowe just being funny.”

WRITTEN BY LEAH PACK I’m not one for scary movies. Why force myself to be on edge for an hour and a half shoveling handfuls of popcorn down my throat while ghosts and murderers pop out from the dark corners of the screen? When I went to see “Insidious: Chapter 2”, I was less than excited.

Since scary movies aren’t my go-to genre, I had yet to see the original Insidious when the sequel came out. After viewing trailers and reading reviews and plot summaries, I felt confident that I could keep up with the story line. Little did I know that my time reading during seminar could have been spent well, sleeping because the plot is simple enough for a kindergartener to pick up on. “Insidious: Chapter 2” is nothing special to say the least.

For those of you who don’t know, the original “Insidious” is the story of a family whose son is trapped in an inexplicable coma. During his coma, the Lambert family notices strange occurrences around the house that could only be explained by the presence of a paranormal being. The Lamberts turn to paranormal investigator Elise Rainier who explains to the family that their son’s spirit is

SKIP IT

NETFLIX

trapped in a place called “the Further.” Josh Lambert, played by Patrick Wilson, enters into “the Further” to rescue his son. Both the father and son return from the unknown realm, but the family has yet to escape the haunting. The first movie ends on a cliffhanger with the death of Rainier who is strangled by the evil spirit possessing Lambert.

The sequel picks up right where the first movie left off. In hopes of ridding themselves of the evil spirit, the Lamberts move to Josh’s mother’s house.

Soon after moving, strange and creepy happenings take place, just as before. Their attempt to escape whatever was haunting them fails, and everyone in the family besides Lambert is unaware that these events were the result of the ghost inside of Lambert.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am not a scary movie buff, but as far as I could tell, “Insidious: Chapter 2” is just another stereotypical scary movie. Throughout the production we see the classic piano playing on its own and the less-than-original children’s toy suddenly rolling around the room. If you’re a scary movie fan, then you’ve seen this all before.

BUY A TICKET

When the hauntings become too much for the family to bear, Lambert’s mother pulls together a team of paranormal investigators to free them from the evil spirit once and for all. As the story unfolds, the audience is told more and more about the source of the haunting. After a chain of events, Lambert and his son end up back in “the Further” to defeat the paranormal being and return back to their old lives.

Besides the typical special effects and spooky ghosts, the writers of the movie included too much information about the source of the hauntings. Rather than drawing a viewer in, this tactic just made the movie less scary. There is something about the unknown that is much more frightening.

If anything, “Insidious: Chapter 2” is a good movie to see for all the beginning scary moviegoers or wimps out there, myself included. If you’re looking for a scary movie that is easy to follow and won’t give you bad dreams, then you’ve found your match.

OSCAR WORTHY

Parlez-vous français?

Dorothée Werner French tutor

Native-born 11 years teaching experience Limited availibility

dwerner@academielafayette.org

It’s your time to shine Lancers receive 10% off with this coupon.

Beauty • Wellness • Skincare www.shinespakc.com (816) 531 - 8600

LADY LANCERS

UPCOMING GAMES

GOLF

SPORT

WRITTEN BY CAROLINE KHORING

The Lady Lancers golf team was scheduled to play their first tournament on Sept. 17 in Lawrence Kan., but it was cancelled due to bad weather.

The team is expecting a good season after taking home the state title last year.

“This year we are planning on winning Sunflower League,” senior Sophie Wetzler said. “Hopefully we can also win regionals and place in the top three at state. Depending on how everyone else is doing, we could potentially win state.”

The team has already lost freshman Jessica Parker to an injury. Parker tore her ACL on Sept. 6 during a soccer game. Parker is scheduled to

have surgery on Sept. 19, and will have a four to six month recovery process afterwards.

“I can’t play anymore this season,” Parker said. “I’ve putted every day though, because putting doesn’t require twisting like a full golf swing does.”

Freshmen Riley Ricket, Teagan Noblit and Haley Bell will be playing varsity this year as well. The team also has four returning state players — Wetzler and fellow seniors Annie Foster, Alex Maday and Jessica Young.

OPPONENT

Football

sports.

DATE

9/27/13

Olathe North

10/4/13 SM South Boys’ Soccer Lawrence HS 9/24/13 9/26/13 Olathe East 9/23/13 Tournament Girls’ Golf Washburn Rural 9/26/13 Girls’ Tennis St. Thomas Aquinas 9/24 /13 Volleyball Cross-Country

LOCATION

CBAC

SM South Lawrence SM Complex Meadowbrook Shawnee CC Plaza Courts

9/25/13 Olathe East 9/20/13 Blue Valley N 9/26/13 SM East 9/28/13 Rim Rock

Olathe East Blue Valley N Leavenworth Varsity Meet

TWEET OF THE WEEK @SMEOffice

Shout out to @Lukehaverty31 and the rest of the @SME_Football fanatics at tonight’s game! Outstanding job!

Thank You! #SMEast #bring on ONW

INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK

2

RETWEETS

17 FAVORITES

bmcclanahan11

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK ANDREW McCLANAHAN

Q:How’s the team doing this year?

A: So far we’re 3-2 so we started off well with three wins and were looking good, and we ran into our hardest competition with Blue Valley North and Shawnee Mission Northwest, so now the season’s getting tougher and we’ll have to adjust from there.

22 likes Shout out to the sexy #11 @noaheidemiller #mcm

Q: What’s your role on the team?

A: Well I play center mid, so I’m always checking for defenders, trying to get the ball from them and trying to get it out to our wings and maybe trying to get the ball back from them and back to our forwards. I’m just trying to get the ball moving around and get assists.

Q: What are you excited for this year?

A: I’m excited to see what this team can do. I think we have a lot of potential if we can come together as a team and actually do that. We can either let the season go or we could win league and go to state.

Cross Country Coach David Pennington teaches running form to his runners.

PHOTO BY NEELY ATHA

SOCCER

EAST 0 SMNW 3

EAST 0 EAST 3 BVN 1 PKHS 1

PHOTO BY MCKENZIE SWANSON

FOOTBALL

EAST 26 LHS 03

EAST 34 LV 00

XC

BOYS 1

GIRLS 1

TENNIS

EAST 6 STJ 0

EAST 6 SMS 1

sports.

MAKING M VE HIS

Sophomore leaves elite soccer team to play for East

WRITTEN BY GRACE HEITMANN Sophomore Michael Mardikes was just another player in a white shirt with his name written in Sharpie on the back. It was his first day of East soccer tryouts at Indian Hills Middle School (IHMS) and he was nervous. It didn’t matter that he had been playing soccer since he was five and premier soccer since he was nine. Even the fact that he played at the Sporting Kansas City Academy for the past three years meant nothing. Mardikes was nervous because he wanted to prove that he was a good player, not just because he had played for Sporting KC Academy. * * * This was Mardikes’ first year trying out for the East team despite the fact that he’s a sophomore. Last year, Mardikes played for Sporting Kansas City Academy. The Academy, also known as Sporting KC Juniors, is an elite soccer team for boys under 18 run by the Major League Soccer (MLS) team Sporting Kansas City. By practicing almost year-round, the team prepares players to compete professionally or in college.

Mardikes has dreamed of playing soccer in college or on a professional team since he was five. To continue reaching for that goal, Mardikes tried out for Sporting KC Juniors in seventh grade after hearing about the program through a family friend. The team seemed like the perfect opportunity for Mardikes to keep improving and pushing himself while getting his name out to different schools. Mardikes survived three days of callbacks with over 50 other people trying out to make their U12 team.

On Sporting KC Juniors, Mardikes and his teammates would practice five to six days a week at the Sporting KC training facilities in Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo. These practices consisted of weights, possession drills and scrimmage that would last over an hour and half. Although Mardikes was improving, the long practices started affecting his personal life. So in February 2013, after playing on the team for three years, Mardikes made the decision to leave.

Mardikes decided to quit Sporting KC Juniors to become more involved at East and have a better social life.

Mardikes came to East his freshman year after taking classes his eighth grade year at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Mardikes’ father works at UMKC and created a homeschooling plan for him and his older sister, Rebecca. They entered the school as transfer students and took classes in history, math, language, Spanish and science.

“It really got awkward at one point [at UMKC] because this one lady brought in her daughter [to class],” Mardikes said. “She was probably in her 40’s or so and her daughter was 12. It was just kind of awkward to know

that I should be in class with her daughter rather than her [mother].”

Although Mardikes enjoyed taking classes at UMKC, he wanted to be around students his own age. He shadowed former East soccer player Andrew Manalo to get a better sense of East.

“I hadn’t heard anything bad about East, it sounded great so I decided to give it a chance,” Mardikes said. “I liked what I saw so I decided to go ahead and give it a shot.”

During his freshman year at East, Mardikes didn’t meet people as quickly as his other friends had.

“I know people who came over to the school and they did sports their freshman year, and they got to know people a lot quicker and they got some friends,” Mardikes said. “I was just kind of awkward sitting at lunch.”

This isolation was what prompted Mardikes to quit playing for Sporting KC Juniors. His decision wasn’t made over night, as most players who quit are unlikely to return. Mardikes understood the advantages given to Sporting KC Juniors who are looking to play professionally or in college, but giving up playing for Sporting KC Juniors was the sacrifice he was willing to make.

Mardikes, a defender, was one of three sophomores to make varPHOTO BY NEELY ATHA sity this year and he’s already made an impact on the team.

Despite being a defender, Mardikes scored the first “He’s already got three goals,” head coach Jamie Kelly goal of the 2013 season off a corner kick against SM said. “He’s actually tied for the lead in goals cause he’s West. He scored two more in a 10-0 victory against Schscored off a bunch of corner kicks this year. He’s definitely alge High School as part of the KAMO soccer tournament. making an impact not just defensively, but offensively too.”

“He’s already an integral part of our defense, After graduating so many seniors last year, Kelly went into and he’s been able to capitalize on his chancthe season worried about his defense. But Mardikes’ big preses to score, which is usually uncommon for cenence on the defensive line has been a large benefit to the team. tral defenders,” senior midfielder Dylan Martz said.

“He makes our forwards better because they have to The move to East was necessary for Mardikes and beat him in practice,” Kelly said. “He makes our other deone that he doesn’t regret. Mardikes will continue to fenders better. They can play with confidence knowing keep working towards his goal of playing soccer in colthat they’ve got a big, solid, strong player in the back.” lege. Only not in Sporting Blue, but in Columbia blue.

PHOTOS BY MCKENZIE SWANSON, TAYLOR ANDERSON, ANNAMARIE OAKLEY AND ANNIE SAVAGE

GOALS of the

SEASON JOSH ZILLNER statistics as of September 18

ARI THROCKMORTON

WILL FENIMORE NOAH EIDEMILLER MICHAEL MARDIKES ANDREW MCCLANAHAN KAMRAN TAVAKOLINIA

JOHNNY NORTON DYLAN MARTZ

Teagan Noblit After receiving a set of Snoopy golf clubs at the age of seven, Teagan Noblit started playing golf. Four years after she picked up a club, she started playing competitively in tournaments. Noblit’s entire family plays, and they were the reason she got started.

She is a member of Milburn Country Club, and that is where

she practices.

“In the summer I usually practice every day,” said Nobilt.

“I try to practice at least 4 times a week.”

Noblit plans on playing on the East golf team for all four years, and hopes to compete in the state tournament all four years as well.

sports.

Jaycie Timms Jaycie Timms has been a gymnast since she was four. Timms’ two favorite parts about doing gymnastics at East is meeting all the other girls, and how gymnastics is more of an individual sport than a team sport.

“I like getting to do an individual sport,” Timms said.

Coming into East, she didn’t think that she would make varsity, but she

was pleased when she did. Timms’ main events are the balance beam and the vault. Vault is her strength.

She plans on doing gymnastics all four years at East.

When it is not gymnastics season, she trains at Sylvester Powell by doing conditioning, such as lifting weights and running. Timms tries to train two days a week.

Noblit is currently the 3rd player on the varsity golf team and tied for first place in her recent Lawrence Country Club tournament.

RISE

OF THE

FRESHMEN

Timms usually competes beam and vault in her competitions, but due to a recent concussion, she has been unable to participate. She will be active in one week.

Though newcomers to East, these freshmen rise to the top. From various sports, these four freshman show potential.

WRITTEN BY ELLIS NEPSTAD

PHOTOS BY KATIE LAMAR

Freirich is player 6 on the varsity team and won her recent match against Shawnee Mission West.

Arnspiger is second on the cross country team with a time of 17:51 at the Joe Schrag Invitational.

John Arnspiger John Arnspiger is one of three freshmen varsity cross country runners. He decided to run because his sister Hannah already runs at East, and he likes the fresh feeling after a long run.

“Running makes me feel good about myself,” Arnspiger said.

Arnspiger was first in-

troduced to the sport during middle school running.

The running program wasn’t much of a challenge for him, so later on, he joined the Flyers program.

He plans on running all four years, and eventually hopes to be one of the seniors who leads the team.

Joie Freirich Joie Freirich got her first racquet at the age of six, shortly after she started playing tennis at Overland Park Racquet club; Freirich now plays at Blue Hills country club. But, she didn’t start playing competitively until two and a half years ago. On average, Freirich practices 20 hours a week.

Going into East tennis try-

outs Freirich was confident that she would do well. She is now the number six seed on varsity.

“I kinda had a feeling I would [make varsity],” Freirich said.

“I knew a couple of the people, like the number six [player], and I knew I could beat her, after I made varsity I was pretty happy and excited.”

6955 Tomahawk Rd Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-262-6737 4185 Somerset Dr. Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-383-9560

Kansas Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Nut & Candy Store 9437 Mission Road Leawood, KS 66206 Ranchmart Shopping Center

913.649.NUTS

photo essay.

one small step for

STUCO one giant leap for

EAST

-kind

Shawnee Mission East Stuco members went on their annual retreat to Matt Ross Community Center on Friday, Sept. 13. At the retreat, Stuco plans events and activities for the school year. “At the Stuco retreat, we did a lot of things,” Stuco sponsor Mrs. Fishman said. “We had some ice breaker games at the beginning, then members broke into their respective grade levels and committees. We talked a lot about how much responsibility everyone has and how much leadership Stuco members have to show. I think my favorite part was at the end when the students played some games where they had to use their leadership skills and think of different strategies.”

PHOTO BY SCOTTY BURFORD

LEFT:

Sophomore Stuco members brainstorm ideas for class fund raisers.

Sophomore secretary Bea Workman leads a discussion with her classmates. “Our goal is to get our grade as involved as possible,” Workman said, “Our whole Stuco group is working on being at as many activities as possible.”

PHOTO BY SCOTTY BURFORD

FAR ABOVE: Senior Stuco execs Morgan Twibell, Leah Pack, Emmy Privitera and Faith Connelly finalize the themes for the fall events. “Our goal for the Stuco retreat was to get everyone comfortable with each other. We wanted to make it as easy as possible to all work together as a team,” Privitera said, “I definitely think our goal was accomplished, there was a much better mood at the end of the day.”

LEFT: Freshmen Stuco representatives Allie Libeer, William Larson, and Peter Haynes have a group hug during the lunch break. “I had fun on the retreat,” Larson said. “We did a lot of team building exercises. I got to know a lot of upperclassmen that I didn’t know before Friday, which was pretty awesome.”

FAR LEFT: Senior Class Representative Victoria Sabates participates in the Stuco-wide game of tag. “At the retreat, we played a bunch of games. They were fun,” Sabates said, “We had to run across the floor while staying on the lines. I was one of the last people left and it got pretty intense.”

PHOTO BY MADDIE SCHOEMANN

PHOTO BY TAYLOR ANDERSON