The Harbinger Issue 5 2023-24

THE

harbinger...

SHAWNEE MISSION EAST 7500 MISSION ROAD PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS 66208 OCTOBER 30, 2023 VOLUME LXVI ISSUE 5

TIME

G uided by his love for music, former Ea s t o rc he s tra te a c he r a nd 1 03-ye a rold K en Tebow ref lect s on serving in World War II and is writing a book to

MARCHES ON

A LOOK INSIDE:

page 5...

Conflict in Israel affects Jewish teachers and students

7...

A preview of the school board election candidates’ policies

18...

Sophomore Grady Allen builds his own personal computers

pre se rv e his story

02 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

ĢÁőĆĩĢūĆàä Ģäūʼn

Cali f o r n i a a c c o rd i n g to n e w s p a p e r e d i to rs L illian

Workers at Kaiser Permanente, a health clinic near the school, went on strike from Oct. 4 to 6

MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL

ONLINE EDITORS Aanya Bansal Maggie Kissick

ASST. PRINT EDITOR Addie Moore

HEAD COPY EDITORS Greyson Imm Aanya Bansal

ASST. HEAD COPY EDITOR Ada Lillie Worthington

HEAD PHOTO EDITORS Riley Scott Liv Madden Kenna Harrington

ASST. PHOTO EDITORS Caroline Martucci Clara Peters Amelie Wong

PHOTO MENTORS Ryan Dehan Molly Miller Paige Bean

VIDEO EDITORS Abby Lee Ryder Hendon

DESIGN EDITORS Veronica Mangine Bridget Connelly

PODCAST EDITOR Emma Krause

ART EDITOR

Bridget Connelly

to read additional storie s, gallerie s, p o d cast s a nd v ide os

SCAN ME WEBSITE Read the El Estoque Online, student-run newspaper from Monta Vista High School

Watch a video about fashion designer and sophomore Eliza King, view a gallery about Mole Day and read a story about the PSAT going online

SCAN ME WEBSITE

ASST. ART EDITOR Caroline Daniels

EQUIPMENT MANAGER Mason Sajna

Isabel Balsassaro Avery Anderson

MULTIMEDIA STAFF

COPY EDITORS

STAFF ARTISTS

Connor Vogel Libby Marsh Isabel Baldassaro Maggie Condon Luke Beil Christian Gooley Neva Hudson Avery Anderson Lyla Weeks Preston Hooker

Mary Gagen Luke Beil Paige Bean Ryan Dehan Mason Sajna Alex Sajna Emma Krause Preston Hooker Luciana Mendy

c a r to o n by grey s o n i mm

ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS

K atie Murphy Greyson Imm Maggie Kissick Aanya Bansal Ada Lillie Worthington Addie Moore Emmerson Winfrey Libby Marsh David Allegri STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Sophia Brockmeier Larkin Brundige Mason Sajna Lucy Wolf Alex Sajna Will Griffith STAFF WRITERS Maggie Condon Mary Gagen

Larkin Brundige K ai McPhail Lorelei Galles Zane Laing Will Griffith

ONLINE POST MANAGERS

Sophia Brockmeier Mary Gagen Connor Vogel

PAGE DESIGNERS PRINT SECTION EDITORS Emmerson Winfrey EDITORIAL | Caroline Daniels NEWS | Libby Marsh FEATURE | Veronica Mangine SPORTS | Isabel Baldassaro OPINION | K ai McPhail

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS Maggie Kissick Bridget Connelly

Zane Laing Avery Anderson K ai McPhail Sophia Brockmeier Lyla Weeks Clara Burdick Sydney Eck Lucy Stephens Lorelei Galles

;gZZg© g g H Z `'#H ͢ SME Harbinger The Harbinger smeharbinger SM East Harbinger

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K atie Murphy Greyson Imm

smeharbi nger.net

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA

Workers received a 21% raise in wages as a result of strikes

PRINT EDITORS

c o v e r p h o to b y ri l ey s cot t

Visit

EL ESTOQUE

Many students rely on the healthcare center for regular care

ʼnőÁƅ ěĆʼnő

cov e r de sig n b y kati e mu r phy

ĩĢěĆĢä łŅäŪĆäū

A cu r re n t e v e n t h a p p e n i n g i n C u p e r t i n o, Wan g a nd K aly an i Pu t h e n p u ra y i l

d e s ig n b y a d d i e m o o re

THE HARBINGER

EDITORIAL POLICY The Harbinger is a student run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff. Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The content and opinions of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quotes material may be confirmed with the sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Harbinger will not edit content thought letters may be edited for clarity, length or mechanics. Letters should be sent to Room 400 or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 03

THE HARBINGER

de s i g n by carol i n e d aniels

ARE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FAIR?

DISCRIMINATORY

REGULAR DECISION APPLICANTS:

EARLY DECISION APPLICANTS:

EDUCATION Ea r l y d e c i s i o n s h o u l d b e a b o l i s h e d from college

ap p l i c a t i o n s d u e to t h e u n f a i r o p p o r t u n i t i e s it give s to p r i vi l e g e d , w e al t hy fam i l i e s

;g ͢ ̯ < Ha ͢ ̪ The members of the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those who disagree with the viewpoint are represented by against.

S

ALLY SUE SPENDS

her

afternoons

TYPICAL RD ACCEPTANCE RATE:

families through education.

5%

color are at a disadvantage. 67% of early applicants

working three jobs to help support her

According to The Hill, students who attend

single mom and crams her homework to

private high schools are 3.5 times more likely to

maintain her 4.0 GPA. Sally applies to

apply early decision than those who attended

There’s a reason why colleges are keeping early

public school. Additionally, students who live in

decision around. Schools increase their acceptance

the wealthiest ZIP codes are twice as likely to apply

rate for early decision students for their own

early decision.

benefit — to increase the yield of the amount of

college regular decision.

As much as she wanted to apply early decision to her dream school, Harvard, she couldn’t afford to

colleges

can

technically

While

compare the financial aid packages of the schools she was accepted to.

students are already legally bound into attending

Colleges want to boast that 99% of the students

decision

applicants,

offer

white, according to CNN.

scholarships

early

still

at Georgetown University in the Class of 2022 were

pay full tuition if she was accepted, and wanted to

to

the

people accepted versus the amount that actually

Billy Joe has a 3.0 GPA and is a quadruple Ivy

— there’s no reason for the college to further

they offer admission to are accepted, and accepting

entice them by adding a tempting check to their

applicants through early decision is a guaranteed

early decision without a second thought.

acceptance letter.

way to raise that percentage.

The early decision application process favors

Maybe it seems like there’s no issue: wealthy

A more practical alternative for both colleges

rich, privileged students and should be abolished

students can apply early decision and everyone

and students is early action. Early action has all of

to ensure a fair college admissions process.

else can just apply regular decision. But colleges

the benefits of early decision — higher acceptance

colleges

typically fill 40% of their freshman class through

rate and early response — without being legally

through regular decision, they have the choice

early decision, according to Collegiate Gateway,

bound to attend a school. It also allows the student

to wait until acceptance to receive scholarships

leaving less spots for underprivileged students to

to compare financial aid packages to other schools

and financial aid plans from each school. This

fill.

they’ve applied to — solving the problem for

students

apply

to

multiple

allows families to compare options and choose a financially-viable school.

Early decision removes this financial safety cushion.

Basically, rich students are securing admission before disadvantaged students even send their application to admissions officers.

The shiny attraction of having a better chance

&

PROS CONS

Pros and cons of early de c ision

enroll.

League legacy with wealthy parents. He applies

When

35%

TYPICAL ED ACCEPTANCE RATE:

disadvantaged students.

Early action also gives students the opportunity to opt out of attending the university — without going through a lawsuit.

Though early decision policies vary from school

of getting into your dream school becomes dull for

Early action is unfortunately not available at

to school, typically applicants accepted through

the 28.7% of families that don’t even make $79,450

all schools because they have a large number of

early decision rounds are required to withdraw all

a year to pay for the approximate $317,000 total for

applicants and take a more holistic approach when

other applications and are legally bound to attend,

a bachelor’s degree at Harvard, according to SoFi.

reviewing applications depending on each school’s

according to the College Board. Early decision

Also, the “privileged poor” — students who

acceptance rates are on average 30-50% higher

come from disadvantaged backgrounds but attend

than regular decision acceptance rates, according

private high schools before entering college —

Association

to College Zoom.

represent 50% of lower-income students of color

12.4% of four-year non-profit schools offer early decision while 38% offer early action.

admission policies.

According to the College Board and National for

College

Admission

Counseling,

Wealthier families are more likely to take the

at elite universities. According to Vox, students

financial risk of deciding early, leaving students

who aren’t given the opportunity to attend a

No schools should offer early decision in order

from poorer families with less chance of admission

private high school are much less likely to get into

to truly treat college applicants from different

to top schools — essentially a way to make the

an elite university — let alone be able to afford it.

financial capacities the same.

rich richer and discriminate against lower-income

Along with financial discrimination, people of

PRO

Higher acceptance rate Earlier admission Fewer college applications

CON

Fewer financial aid opportunities Legally bound to the decision Limits options

Briefs...

04 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

“

AS POSTED ON the @smeastlancers official Instagram from Oct. 9 up to Oct. 17, East has been receiving awards and recognition from U.S News and World Report — an American media company news publisher.

“I’m just really proud of our students and teachers who work on a daily basis to really uphold our legacy,” Principal Jason Peres said. “So I’m proud but honestly, not surprised.”

East has received seven recognitions within the past three weeks. To qualify for the U.S News and World Report, they consider three components: state assessment scores, enrollment — including how many are taking IB and AP courses — and how well those students do on exams.

In the past, East was ranked in the top five of schools in Kansas but this year, East has new goals guided towards their students’ success, according to Peres. The new goals include: a reduction in chronic absenteeism — when a student misses ten percent or more of a school year — and a reduction of D and F grades.

“The recognition is great to receive and it validates the work that’s done on a daily basis but we have never been accolade chasers,” Peres said. “I think when you do what’s right for the kids, work hard and have a community that supports you, the recognition comes naturally.”

ACADEMIC STATS

East ’s re c e n t a c a d e m i c s ta t i s t i c s ra n ke d b y

that you would be able to win based on the fact that the other team wouldn’t know how to run an offense against it.

3% #1

OF US HIGH SCHOOLS

IN KANSAS

1 #1

#

STATE ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE

COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL IN KANSAS

IN KC METRO

TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS

of students taking an

75%

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CLUB WAS JUST FOUNDED

DEBATE PREPARES A NEW K AFF TECHNIQUE

VICE PRINCIPAL SUSAN Leonard, Associate Principal

HEADING INTO THE DeSoto debate tournament on Oct.

Emily Demo and Instructional Coach Kelsi Horner

27 and 28, sophomores and debate partners Adeline Clifford

founded the Women in Leadership Club to expand

and Preston Hooker are preparing to use a new debate

female leadership at East following inspiration from

technique, which hasn’t yet been used by East this season,

Shawnee Mission West’s similar program.

called Kritique Aff — also known as K Aff — to enhance their

The first meeting will be held on Nov. 16, and the

debate performance.

According to Clifford, during a normal debate round

club will meet monthly.

“This is our first year doing this, so we are figuring

you might argue things like topicality — which pertains

out this as we go,” Leonard said. “But I think we really

to whether or not the plan affirms the resolution — or the

want balance. We want young ladies [in the club] who

advantages of your plan, where the K Aff changes the format

are interested in different things and offer different

of your plan.

“

“A K Aff is used instead of running a normal plan, it’s like

perspectives.”

saying the actual topic that you’re supposed to debate about,

WE WANT YOUNG

doesn’t actually solve any of the issues,” Clifford said. “So

ladies [in the club] who are interested in different things and other perspectives.

in order to solve the issues you need to use the K Aff, which is outside of the resolution and argue that it’s the only way to solve the issues.”

According to Clifford, throughout the debate season, many

S U SA N L E O N A R D

debates start to follow the same flow, so it’s not uncommon

V ICE P R IN CIPAL Through

Women

to switch up or edit your plan. Clifford and Hooker have been in

Leadership,

they

hope

to

working to switch up their usual plans.

accomplish three things: learning, serving and leading.

“With the K Aff, some judges think they are really

According to Leonard, they will have book studies

interesting and others don’t, it really just depends,” Clifford

where they will learn about women they select as well

said. “The idea is that you would be able to win based on

as adding in some service opportunities like being able

the fact that the other team wouldn’t know how to run an

to help women’s shelters and other organizations.

offense against it.”

“We have great female leaders already at East,”

The K Aff can be used to throw off your competition since

Leonard said. “But I also hope there’s maybe someone

it’s not the usual format of a debate. Having never done this

out there who hasn’t found a place to lead yet and that

technique before, Clifford hopes to get a better understanding

we can help place students in leadership roles.”

of the K Aff technique and be more knowledgeable about the different plans people might run, making her better prepared for future debate tournaments.

U.S. News & t he Wo r l d R e p o r t TOP

AD ELINE CLIFFORD SOPHOMORE

THE IDEA IS

smeharbinger.net/category/news

EAST HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

s to r ie s b y lucy wolf d e s ig n b y l i bby mars h p h o to b y rya n d e h a n

3

lancer minute

photo by amelie wong

THE A video serie s highlighting photos recapping recent school event s

FRESHMAN PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT LANCER DANCER CAMP

SCAN ME VIDEO

AP EXAM scored a

PICKLE BALL CLUB

photos by katie murphy

Visit Instagram Reels to hear staffer Emma Krause discuss these events and see more photos

de s i g n by aanya bans al

PALESTINE & ISRAEL

CONFLICT

S tu d e n t s a n d te a c h e rs a t Ea s t wi t h p e rs o n a l c o n n e c t i o n s to Is ra e l f e a r f o r t h e i r f a m i l i e s while fighting between Is ra e l a nd Ha m a s c o n ti n u e s

A

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 05

THE HARBINGER

stor y by ada l i l l i e wo r thi ng t o n

FTER THE surprise attack, “Al-

terrible.”

Although there have been around 166

Aqsa Storm,” on Oct. 7 where

Forty-nine-year-old Shaul is stationed

bombing attacks in Israel since 1994, according

thousands of rockets were fired

at Kibbutz and is working with Brothers and

to the Jewish Virtual Library, AP Government

in Israel by Islamic militant group

Sisters for Israel, providing food, water and

teacher Benjamin Hendricks believes that the

Hamas, students and teachers with personal

medical equipment to soldiers as well as

attack on Oct. 7 was unparalleled.

connections to Israel and Palestine fear for

evacuating citizens, searching for missing

the well-being of their countries and urge

individuals and providing accommodations

intelligence and the sophistication of [the

students to stay educated on the issue.

to families that have been impacted by the

attack] was unprecedented in its size and

attacks. He has no idea when he will be able

scope,” Hendricks said.

During the attack, 1,400 Israelis were killed by Hamas militants and 200 civilians

to return home.

“The

coordination,

the

Muslim junior Mahad Mirza wishes that

“[I have] really mixed emotions,” Liam

people knew the complexity of Israel and

government. This is the most deadly attack

said. “I definitely understand why he wanted

Palestine’s history. Last year for a school

against

to go — and I would want to go if I was his

project, he researched the conflicts between

age — because he’s from there and has such

Israel and Palestine and has had conversations

a connection. He feels he can’t be here while

with his parents and in his mosque about the

that’s happening over there.”

issues. He’s hardly heard any discussion of

the

Jewish

community

since

the

In response to Hamas’ strike, Israel sent airstrikes to 800 targets in Gaza and engaged

cousins

the issue at the school, but through these

that Israel provides to Palestine, according

currently living in Israel. One is on a gap

conversations he’s realized how important it

to AP News. Since the attack, around 5,791

year in Jerusalem after her college graduation

is for people to be educated, no matter their

Palestinians have been killed, according to

and is volunteering with war efforts and

connection to the issue.

PBS.

helping her community. Her

a full siege over the water, fuel and electricity

Similarly,

Feinberg

has

two

WEST BANK

GAZA STRIP

military

were taken as captives by the Palestinian

Holocaust, according to CNN.

TEL AVIV

other cousin

“It’s not as simple as a country attacking

English teacher Samantha Feinberg, who is

just finished his military service six months

another and then retaliating back,” Mirza

Jewish, studied abroad in Israel during college

ago and is now volunteering at a Yishuv —

said. “I believe that Israel has a right to exist

and has visited four or five times in total. She

a Jewish community established during the

and have its sovereignty. And I also believe

was proctoring the SAT on Oct. 7 when she

Zionist movement. He had to abandon his

in the Palestinians’ right to have autonomy,

got a text from her friend saying, “Can you

wife and apartment to drive to the Yishuv

a sovereign nation and the right to have

believe what happened?” All of a sudden,

where he’s guarding the Lebanon border.

opportunities, land, and business, not be an

KEY PINPOINTS

visions of bombings and shootings from the

“I’ve been really distracted,” Feinberg

movie “Golda” about the Yom Kippur war

said. “I feel a sense of responsibility to know

started flashing in her head. She noticed that

what’s going on because I can’t do very much

Hendricks has tried to educate his students

the scenes from this movie she watched the

here. Staying informed feels like the best

on the complexity of the war through watching

to the Institute for the S tudy of

previous night were eerily similar to what she

thing to do.”

videos about the bombings and various riots

War and pbs.org

saw online.

open-air jail and forced by misguided Israeli

KHAN YOUNIS

policies.”

Conflicts between Israel and Palestine

taking place. He plans to talk about the

have occurred ever since 1948 when Israel

issue more as the war progresses and more

country

was declared an independent Jewish State

information is brought to the media.

with

a

in Palestine. This conflict continued during

Liam and Hendricks agree that it’s hard

terrorist organization, which happens to be

Israel’s rule over Palestine from 1967 to 2005,

to tell how long the war will go on. If more

the government in Gaza, against a larger

according to CNN.

Arab countries get involved in the war, the

“[This attack] seems extra dark to me,” Feinberg versus

said.

“And,

it’s

not

country

war.

It’s

a

a

war

After Israel stepped down from governing

war could go on longer than Liam wants it

Senior Liam Jolles had traveled and lived

Palestine in 2005, an election was held the

to. Foreign countries are already choosing

with his brother in Israel for six months and

following year where Hamas was elected

sides, such as the Lebanese political party

considers Israel his second home.

to control the government — there hasn’t

Hezbollah aiding Hamas through launching

been an election since, due to Palestine’s

rockets on the Shebaa Farms in Israel on Oct.

authoritarian government.

8, according to CNN.

country.”

The morning of Oct. 7, Liam received a call from his Israeli father Shaul Jolles telling him about the attack on Israel, and that he

Since then, conflicts between the two

“I just hope we can figure this out as soon

was leaving in two days with a one-way plane

governments have been over the Al-Aqsa

as possible,” Liam said. “Honestly, nothing

ticket to Israel to guard Kibbutz — a larger

mosque and whether the Muslims and Jews

is gonna happen until Hamas is gone, and I

Israeli community that got attacked.

are permitted to walk and gather on the holy

actually do think that [Hamas’ dissolution]

“Right [after he told me] I went on the

grounds. In Judaism, the mosque is referred

will bring Israel and Palestine a little bit more

news and the breaking news was CNN with

to as the Temple of Jerusalem and is a site of

together.”

the Hamas attack,” Liam said. “That was the

pilgrimage while in Islam it’s regarded as a

worst thing to wake up to at 9 a.m. It was

holy place of prayer.

Update s on the war, according

GAZA STRIP: Hamas continues attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

WEST BANK:

Hamas efforts to expand conflict to West Bank remain mostly unsuccessful.

TEL AVIV: Ben Gurion Airport was attacked by rockets launched by Hamas militants.

KHAN YOUNIS: Israel bombed a residential building where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter.

06 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

story b y l i bby marsh

THE HARBINGER

ALL ABOUT

d e s ig n b y s o p h i a b ro c km e i e r p h o to b y kat i e mu rp hy

An overview of one

SHARE-ING upcoming SHARE vo l unteer event s

PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT

F re s hm a n C o nne cti o n h e l d th e i r s e c o n d a n n ual p i ck l eb al l to ur nam ent to rai se so ck s fo r C hurch o f R e su rre c tion SIXTEEN FRESHMEN DOUBLES teams played in

Freshmen Connection Executive Ainsley Agniel fills in the semifinal results of the pickleball tournament that had over 30 players and collected sock donations.

recent and t wo

the event.

Oct. 20 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

“Some of our [favorite costumes] were step

WINNING TEAM:

the Freshman Connection — SHARE’s freshman-only

“All the freshmen connection, execs, all of us

brothers from [the movie ‘Stepbrothers’],” Bowser

volunteer group — pickleball tournament on Oct. 20

got out there early and it was just fun to work [the

said. “There was one, it was ‘Napoleon Dynamite’,

CHRISTOPHER LONG

from 11 a.m.-2 p.m..

event],” Agniel said.

that was funny and then there was one that was

BRODY FELDMAN

To participate, players had to bring at least one

A $10 Chick-fil-A gift card was awarded to each

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.”

package of socks to be donated to the Church of

person on the winning team and the team with the

During the matches, Halloween-themed songs

Resurrection Homeless project. Hundreds of packages

best costumes chosen by the freshman executives.

like “The Monster Mash” and “The Goo Goo Muck”

of socks were collected.

Freshmen Christopher Long and Brody Feldman won

played.

Freshman Connection Executives Ainsley Agniel,

the championship, and freshmen Burt Sheets and Zack

“Everybody was so excited to play pickleball, and I

Will Ballard, Anne Bowser, Brooks Dillon, Braxton

Russell won best costume for their “Stepbrothers”

think everybody was happy to be there,” Bowser said.

Jeffery and Audrey Squires set up the bracket and ran

movie duo costume.

S t u de nt s ca n sig n u p to v o l u n te e r a n d b u i l d gi nger b read ho use s o n No v. 4 to b enef i t Op erat i o n B reakthrough volunteer opportunity at the Kansas City United Church of Christ on Nov. 4 from noon-3 p.m..

Students will assemble the structure of the houses using icing to glue graham crackers to a milk carton.

Last year, sophomore Adeline Clifford participated in the event.

decorated them.”

bowls of candy full and help cut icing bags open.

Breakthrough Executives are collaborating to plan the

During the event the program will collect donations

event. Organizers hope to build 700-800 houses to

from attendees, according to SHARE coordinator

later decorate for an Operation Breakthrough event.

Sheryl Kaplan who has helped organize the event for

executive

and

senior

Millie

Norden

remembers the event from her freshman year and has

“Operation Breakthrough has this project, where

and graham crackers and then you just take a milk

“[The gingerbread houses] would be a great way to

parents can [donate] however much money they

carton and then use it to glue the graham crackers

get freshmen together again around the holidays and

pay for their kids to decorate a gingerbread house,”

on it and build up these little houses,” Clifford said.

just a great opportunity for everybody to hang out,

Kaplan said. “And that’s how they raise money for

“You didn’t decorate them or anything, but you just

which is super awesome,” Norden said.

their program.”

Nov. 8

Teams ca n be g in re g i s te r i n g f o r S H A R E ’s d o d geb al l to ur nam ent w i t h an ent r y f ee o f cereal f o r f amilie s in ne e d

5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

SIGN UPS ARE open for SHARE’s annual dodgeball

Donations will go to the Johnson County Christmas

“It’s so fast-paced and there’s so many people

tournament on Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the main gym.

Bureau for their holiday shop, according to Billingsley.

there the teams that get out usually stay to watch the

“It’s

almost

like

this

big

department

store

other teams,” Kaplan said. “There’s a lot happening,

are due through Google Form by the end of school on

that’s free for the guests so that people will go in,”

Nov. 6.

Billingsley said. “They can shop for clothes and they

Both the bracket winners and the “best dressed”

can shop for toys for the kids and then they have a

team earn a prize. SHARE Executives including senior

whole grocery store.”

Maddie Doyle will create the bracket and referee

Kaplan and Senior SHARE Executives are hoping for

Sign up to volunteer for gingerbread house decorating

On Dec. 1 and 2, volunteers will return to the

DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

SHARE Coordinators Erin Billingsly and Sheryl

SCAN ME VOLUNTEER

a freshman.

seen the work the freshmen have put into planning it.

Each team must have eight players and submissions

BURT SHEETS

years. She attended the event when her daughter was

“They have a whole setup with a bunch of icing

put them together and then a month later, the kids

BEST DRESSED:

Nov. 4 noon - 3 p.m.

church to help kids decorate gingerbread houses, keep

Freshman Connection Executives and Operation

SHARE

$10 Chick-Fil-A GIFT CARD

ZACK RUSSELL

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING SHARE IS HOSTING a gingerbread house building

PRIZE:

around 20 teams of eight, and the entry fee is one

The tournament has become heated in past years,

box of cereal per person. To earn an extra “life,”

according to Kaplan — the 150 participants, energetic

participants can bring an extra box of cereal.

music and competition to win the grand prize of a gift card to the Village shops, only add to the madness.

SCAN ME VOLUNTEER

so to me, it’s just fun watching the spirit.”

games.

“It’s just our way of giving back to the community but also making it fun,” Doyle said.

Sign up to register for the dodgeball tournament

s tor y by mi ch ael y i

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 07

THE HARBINGER

d e si g n by g rey son i mm

ELECTION

p h o to s by g reyson i mm

INSPECTION I n t h e u p c o m i n g s chool board election, candidate s are

Check your polling location and voter registration status

C

ANDIDATES

RUNNING

jocoelection.org Learn about candidates running for upcoming elections and general election information

RECAP!

myvoteinfo.voteks.org

LEARN!

VOTE!

s tro n g l y d i v i de d o n di v ersi t y t rai ni ng and fi nanci al p l anni ng

jocoelection.org Watch past Board of Education meeting videos and read Board recap documents

A B O V E Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard opens the Oct. 23 school board meeting with the Superintendent’s Report. The report introduced the Teacher of the Year nominees, teacher interview night, strategic plan update and more. photo by greyson imm

FOR

in every school building to work with families

board] will just come up with something

we should talk to each other,” Feinberg said.

the four seats in the Nov. 7 SMSD

and students who were particularly distressed

new,” Austin said. “Just because an old

“I got a lot of really good feedback that people

school board election are split on

during COVID-19.

program ends doesn’t mean that another

really enjoyed it and found it beneficial.”

and

“Those psychologists [and] social workers

diversity,

have been proven to be very valuable to

Austin wants to cut funds in Diversity,

Westbrook and Austin stress the importance

the community and they’re very, very well

Equity and Inclusion programs, which provide

of curriculum preparing students for the real

appreciated,” Westbrook said.

training sessions like panels and lectures

world, Westbrook’s stance is that the district

$944,000 of ESSER’s yearly $11 million has

educating students and staff to be more

is moving in the right direction in career

David

already been moved towards sustaining social

culturally tolerant. SMSD spent over $300,000

education with auto shop, technology and

Westbrook and Logan Austin and not in the

workers and high school counselors through

on

restaurant management classes offered at the

North, Northwest and South elections.

2024.

administrator to oversee the program in 2019,

special

topics

such

education

as

counseling

funding

and

equity and inclusion training.

Voters in the East area will be able to vote for only the “at-large” or overall board member

seat

between

candidates

Advanced voting is on Oct. 31 through

ESSER was also used in the general fund to

mail and voters can check their local polling

cover 32% or $8 million of special education

location at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

expenses, according to the board’s notes.

According to smsd.org, the school board

Westbrook – who has been blind since

is responsible for hiring and evaluating the

17 – is passionate about supporting SMSD’s

superintendent,

special education program after being part of

approving

the

district’s

budget and creating school policies, ranging from dress codes, books that can be in the libraries and graduation requirements.

Westbrook wants to work on securing

the program in high school.

one’s not going to begin.”

these

services

and

When it comes to classwork, while both

hired

a

diversity

according to smsd.org.

“I’m

Austin thinks that while DEI’s have good intentions,

Center of Academic Achievement.

student-led

organizations

impressed

with

the

real-world

assets the school board has directed the

like

administration to make a greater connection

the Latin Americans Club at UMKC are a more

between what kids learn and how they’ll

effective way to promote diversity.

apply what they’re learning in real-world

“Student-led organizations [give] a sense

examples,” Westbrook said.

of pride, a sense of local community,” Austin

Austin is focused primarily on raising the

personally

said. “It’s more of a win for me when I can

average scores in the district. According to

experienced being a minority of sorts, I see

see students be prideful about what they’re

Austin, the school is falling in standardized

that,” Westbrook said. “And when people

doing.”

test scores and GPA and education needs to be

“For

anybody

that’s

special

don’t judge me because I’m blind but judge

English teacher Samantha Feinberg is one

education to replace Elementary & Secondary

me instead because I’m a human being with

of two DEI coordinators at East, along with

“It takes a lot to perform at your best all

School

talents and dreams, it’s a far more rewarding

social studies teacher Jacob Penner. Together,

the time,” Austin said. “If you don’t have

life.”

they lead training sessions for staff, from

someone watching your back or to hold you

lessons on subconscious biases to minority

up, it’s a huge factor in how you are going to

student panels.

learn, so students should feel confident and

funding

for

social

Emergency

workers Relief

and

funding,

which

will run out later this year according to the board’s notes.

According to Westbrook, ESSER was used to hire social workers and school counselors

His opponent Austin believes that the ESSER funding is important but the board will always be able to plan enough funding.

“Usually in those scenarios [the school

“[On Oct. 12] when the students were

more personal to the students.

encouraged.”

gone, we talked about ableism, mostly, how

STACKING UP

DAVID WESTBROOK

B i o s a nd politic a l profile s of a t -la rge c a ndida te s

AUSTIN LOGAN

UMKC honorary doctorate recipient campaign focuses on DEI, special education and social work funding

UMKC graduate in business administration

wants to maintain the high level of academic opportunities at SMSD

campaign centers around involving parents through transparency and open communication

JOCO Republican Party voter guide endorses Logan as the suggested candidate

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 09

Opinion...

hot take

smeharbinger.net/category/opinion

Carv i n g p u m p k i n s i s a g ro s s a n d u n n e c e s s a ry Halloween tradition

S tudent s vote on mental health topic s related to a staffer’s p age 1 0 story a bou t he r expe rie nc e s with pe ople ple a sing

Snickers in my mouth instead.

is carving pumpkins. I remember as a kid laying

Not only is this tradition yucky, it’s also

newspapers over the granite counter with “It’s

temporary. Putting your hand back into an orange

the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” playing in the

bowl of pumpkin strings will only reap reward for

background. As my parents lifted up the pumpkin’s

a few days because your pumpkin creation dies

stem and cut open the top with a knife, I looked

as soon as a family of squirrels shows up at your

in disgust at the gut-like pit.

After

a

couple sticky

going of

through

porch looking for a rotten snack.

Pumpkins are also not objectively scary, which

of

is the true spirit of Halloween. A pumpkin with

mush

four triangles cut into it isn’t going to give anyone

scoops

pumpkin

and gagging, I would

nightmares.

Making

Jack-O-Lanterns

is

up

on the couch

up in spooky costumes and making caramel apples

end

s h o v i n g

instead of carving pumpkins.

DO YOU PUT OTHER PEOPLE’S FEELINGS BEFORE YOUR OWN? * I n s t a g ra m p o l l o f 1 5 8 v o t e s

YES NO

71%

29%

just

putting a candle into a fruit. Let’s stick to dressing

inevitably

Visit a local pumpkin patch’s website to go pick and carve pumpkins — Caroyln’s Pumplin Patch

this or that?

story b y kai mcpha i l

ONE OF THE most common Halloween traditions

SCAN ME ACTIVITY

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES? * I n s t a g ra m p o l l o f 1 5 0 v o t e s

YES NO

trending topics

opinions some Popular I te ms an d p e o p l e th at are Sf otudent u n d as’ ro u n d m ed iabout a topic s trending on social media no w

TAY L O R S V E R S I O N 1989 album T h e n e w e s t e d i t i o n t o Ta y l o r S w i ft s n e w e s t re - re c o rd e d a l b u m d ro p p e d O c t o b e r 2 7.

* I n s t a g ra m p o l l o f 1 0 2 v o t e s

30%

70%

ARE YOU GOING TO WATCH THE F.N.A.F. MOVIE? * I n s t a g ra m p o l l o f 1 0 6 v o t e s

F. N . A . F.

T h e n e w m o v i e i n s p i re d b y t h e p o p u l a r v i d e o g a m e F i v e N i g h t s a t F re d d i e’s c a m e t o t h e a t e r s o n O c t . 2 7.

YES NO

c a r to o n by c a ro l i n e d a n i e l s

When i s to o o l d to go tric k-or-tre a ting?

DO YOU LIKE THE NEW (TAYLOR’S VERSION) ALBUMS?

YES NO

comic strip

45%

55%

30%

70%

10 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

story b y l ar ki n br u n di ge

THE HARBINGER

d e s ig n b y c l a ra b u rd i c k

I’M NOT

p h o to b y ma g gi e co n d o n

SORRY.

Constantly putting others’ feelings before your own isn’t beneficial a nd is ha rmfu l in the long ru n

I INNER

T WAS THANKSGIVING and

feelings, like a friend, before their own.

my house smelled like cinnamon

Becoming a people pleaser can stem from

It’s not always my mind to blame. A

from my mom’s monkey bread

the need to fit in or avoiding disapproval

poor friend who consistently makes you

in the oven. I was sitting on the

from others.

feel like you’re doing something wrong

edge of my bed, crying — well more like

THOUGHTS

Example s of L a r k i n’s t h o u g h t s v e rs u s w h a t s h e a c t u a lly s a id in a s it u a t io n

confrontation

It all comes back to the idea of people

feelings by not talking back to them are

pleasing being a good thing. Using that

to a play later that night where my

all too familiar to me and common traits

towards the right people is favorable.

uncle walked up to me, hugged me and

of being a people pleaser.

Close friends and family are the right

asked what had been bothering me that

“I’m sorry.”

people — anyone who doesn’t bring you

afternoon.

I’m sorry for making you upset by

down. Protecting the feelings of others

being honest. I’m sorry that I defended

can be helpful and extremely important

myself when I knew something was

as long as it’s not at the expense of your

wrong.

own feelings.

a

day

of

getting

the

cold

shoulder from my friend, I asked them what the problem was. There had been a party the day before and after I left, my friend started talking behind my back about how I was acting like a show-off

I didn’t do anything wrong, I don’t need to apologize.

after trying out an instrument.

pe•ople pleas•er A p e r s o n t h a t f e e l s a s t ro n g u r g e to please others, even at their o w n ex p e n s e . T h e y m a y f e e l t h a t their wants and needs do not matter or alter their personality a ro u n d o t h e r s .

I ’m s o s o r r y for what I did.

These people are rude to me and I don’t feel comfortable with them.

I’m

sorry

“

that I ruined our

friendship because I trusted my gut.

In the past, I’ve had experiences with

IT MAKES ME

a panic attack at work because someone

want to bury my head in my hands and keep to myself. It’s completely draining and oftentimes feels too heavy to bear.

else brought up my mental health past and how it had been an issue for them.

The next day, I had plans with them and continued on like normal — like nothing was wrong.

Lately, I’ve been following through with conversations instead of apologizing to break my habits of persistently being a people pleaser. Before saying “sorry”

Sure, being extra considerate can be

I explain my side and listen to the other

helpful in sensitive situations, but then

person and work through the problem

my friend tells me to be more harsh and

instead of letting it pass after making an

stand my ground to express what I want.

apology.

I felt like an annoyance to the whole

But coming off as rude is the opposite

group, like no one would want to be

of what I want to sound like when I’m

myself during difficult conversations and

around me again. I typed out the same

I’m

working

on

speaking

up

for

having a conversation with someone.

back and forth arguments. I won’t feel so

familiar words:

I wish I’d just speak up. So what if I

trapped in my mind and be able to assess

“I’m sorry.”

start an argument? What’s the worst that

if that relationship is healthy. Speaking

could happen?

up for myself isn’t a crime, at the end of

Being

a

people

pleaser

means

constantly worrying about what others’

Ye s , I w o u l d love to hang out with you guys!

protecting

isn’t worth holding onto.

My cousins were in town. We went

After

No worries, i t ’s o k a y !

and

avoiding others’

hysterically sobbing.

“Just a problem with a friend.”

That was really rude, that hurt.

Over-apologizing,

But I’m tired of apologizing.

But it feels terrible. The unsettling that

follows

silence

with my word choice because God forbid

conversations

myself

So whenever I feel like apologizing

I upset someone else. But attempting

instead of saying “It’s OK” is enough to

instead of speaking up I remember what

to please everyone around you is an

stop me from saying anything. My mind

my mom would tell me, “That’s not a

unrealistic and draining goal.

wanders and my stomach drops. I don’t

friend” and not hold back.

when

I

awkward

the day, I’ll benefit from my decision —

opinions of me will be and being careful

defend

According to a poll by Psychology

want it to be the end of the friendship. I

Today, 49% of adults consider themselves

don’t want my texts to go unanswered or

people pleasers — a label I identify with,

silently pass that person in the hall like

meaning

they’re a stranger.

someone

who

puts

others’

whatever the result may be.

stor y by neva hudson

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 11

THE HARBINGER

de s i g n by l yl a weeks p h o to by ma son s a jna

FULLY

BOOKED The practice of reading books has become scarce with the advancement s of technology

S

ITTING SLOUCHED, LEGS crossed

bold claim that the “art of reading” is lost.

Most recently this happened to me at the

in the waiting room of the dentist

But what I really mean is that the simplicity

airport. My partner in reading was a lady with

office, I pull out my worn copy of

of reading is gone. People don’t really read

technicolored glasses and furry socks meant

“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty

anymore. And I mean more than classics

to look like cats. She smiled and glanced at

Smith and flip to the page I left off on. My

forced upon kids in school. There’s an endless

my book, gave the cover a once-over and went

bookmark finds its familiar place between the

amount of culturally significant books to learn

back to hers. I did the same.

final page and binding.

from. Trashy romance novels popularized on

I can’t help but think that the ramifications

The mystery of my reasons for reading

TikTok shouldn’t count. Branch out! Within

of my generation’s lack of reading may lead

permeates the sterile air of the office. Maybe

a few hundred thin pages lie perspective-

to the majority of Gen-Z being somewhat

I’m a luddite. Maybe I’m an intellectual.

shifting, eye-opening ideas and characters.

uneducated. Reading books is vital to a person

Maybe I’m just weird. Maybe I’m trying hard

Reading is more than escapism — even in the most fictional fiction book there’s

to curate a certain image.

In reality, I’m just reading to read. There’s

something

to

learn.

It’s

this

wonderful

having a well-rounded education, apart from school and street smarts.

You may be thinking: why? Why aren’t

no ulterior motive. I’ve loved books since I

subconscious learning that you won’t notice

teenagers

reading

for

pleasure?

It’s

was little when my mom would read me

until you use the knowledge, recalling it

as simple of an answer as video games or

“Goodnight Moon” nightly. But in a day and

and surprising yourself with the word or

social media, although both are undoubtedly

age where the norm is necks bent over at

information.

contributing factors. I think that it’s an

For me reading is simple: it’s habit. But

overall shortened attention span. Reading

fingers tapping noiselessly on screens, my

instead, in public it feels like I’m making

takes patience, and most kids my age don’t

little book is an anomaly.

some sort of statement.

have enough to sit through a movie, let alone

According to the American Psychological teenagers

with me at school (notably from the past few months: “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut and

this

pleasure, while over 80% use social media

“Tender is the Night” by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

can be repopularized as a fun thing to do

daily. As reported by Scientific American,

it’s an instant conversation starter. If I had a

for enjoyment by teenagers if more high

reading directly correlates with furthering

penny for every time I heard “I’ve never heard

schoolers look up from their phones and go

brain development, and the low percentage

of that before” from my peers, I’d have at

to local libraries and bookstores to find topics

of children and teenagers actively reading

least ten bucks.

that interest them. I hope that eventually

less

than

20%

of

Our generation still has time to turn around.

I’m

confident

that

reading

indicates negative consequences later in life.

Ok, maybe I’m generalizing. There are

bland waiting rooms will be full of people

This could manifest as limited vocabulary or

coveted moments of comradery when you

transported to fictional realities — all thanks

word pronunciation as an adult.

glance up and see another reader. These

to a book.

I’m tempted to make a

interactions are so rare that the most mundane shared smiles become instantly memorable.

Neva recommends her

favorite books to encourage people to read more fre qu e ntly

“Brave New World” BY: ALDOUS HUXLEY

“The Perks of Being Á ©ÁěěƉĩūäŅΌ BY: STEPHEN CHBOSKY

read a whole book.

read books, magazines or newspapers for

Association,

RECS

not

90 degree angles to stare into a device with

If I carry the books I’m reading around

NEVA’S

“The Midnight Library” BY: MATT HAIG

“Turtles All the Way Down” BY: JOHN GREEN

12 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

Mae

de sig n b y kati e mu r phy

THE HARBINGER

p h o to s b y c l a ra p e t e rs

BLEDSOE

Junior Mae Bledsoe is the younge st yoga exercise instructor at Po w er L i f e f i t n e ss i n Co r i nth S qu a re

POWER LIFE

Inform a t i o n a b o u t B l e d s o e’s s t u d i o a n d th e c la s s e s t ha t s h e te a c h e rs

CLASS NAME: POWER 1 EXPRESS HEATED

- 7:15-8:00 a.m. on Sundays - Introduction to yoga for beginners in a 99 degree heated room

CLASS NAME: POWER 1 + MEDITATION

- 7-8 p.m. on Sundays - Yoga for beginners in a 99 degree heated room with a 10-minute meditation

H O W D I D YO U G E T I N T O T E AC H I N G C L A S S E S AT P O W E R L I F E ?

“ “ “

I’VE BEEN DOING yoga with my dad since fifth grade.

I started cleaning the studio for a free membership my freshman year. Once you turn 16, you can start doing teacher training. So that’s what I did as an intern, teaching classes for free for another free membership. And I didn’t become a teacher until like August of this year after doing 200 hours of training.

W H AT ’ S T H E H A R D E S T M O V E T H AT YO U T E AC H I N YO U R C L A S S E S ?

CHATURANGA, WHICH WE do all

the time. It’s like a little mini push up. You basically go from an upward-facing dog and to downward-facing dog. I demonstrate it for every single class, and it’s really easy to say, ‘Oh, it’s just a push up.’ But almost everybody does it with the wrong form. It’s a hard posture to do correctly, even I didn’t do it right until I did my teacher training.

W H AT ’ S Y O U R F U N N I E S T T E AC H I N G M E M O RY S O FA R ?

4145 Somerset Dr Prairie Village, KS 66208

SCAN ME SIGN UP Visit Power Life’s scheduling website to sign up for Bledsoe’s classes

MY COWORKER THOUGHT I was

in grad school with her. The people in my classes are usually around 30-40 years old, and I get a lot of East parents too. Talking to people before and after class is always so funny because they’re always like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so young!’

de s ign by veroni ca mangi ne

smeharbinger.net/category/feature

Feature

photos by caroline m a r t u cc i & kenna h arrin g t on

THIS ISSUE I N

photos

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 13 W H AT ’S

HANGING?

Drawing teacher Emma Chalk discusse s t wo ar t project s her D ra wing 2 c la sse s c omple te d

A look inside student life at East in the past two weeks of school

“GOODNIGHT MOON”

“

THEY DID THEIR take on ‘Goodnight Moon’ but they had to work in the style of Clement Hurd who illustrated it.

They also changed the subject manner.

BUILDING STUDIES

A B O V E Sophmore Ben Hartwell creates a pattern using dye and shaving cream for a pencil bag in FAID class to create a tie dye look. photo by kenna harrington

ROSE

BUD

THORN Three students share a high from their week, a low and something random

T O P Sophomore Laniah Ward reads The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls during lunch for english class.

B O T T O M Senior Oliver Novo draws a snail using an iPad and an Apple Pencil in Digital Design class.

photo by caroline martucci

photo by kenna harrington

“

FOR THEIR BUILDING studies, they had to use one colored pencil. They focused on the shifts from light to dark, the full value range with skills they learned in Drawing 1.

VALERIE H SUING

P RI SM H O US TON

LO L A PROVOS T

S E NIO R

S E NIO R

SENIOR

“

MY ROSE MOMENT is when

my college friends suprised me while I was home. It’s been four months since that last time I’ve hung out with them since they go to school in Maryland.

“

I DISCOVERED THERE is

a family of wood peckers living in my house, within the walls. It’s not a big deal, and nothing is broken. It’s just an old house.

“

MY THORN IS when my cat tripped

over my potted plants. It was really annoying because I had to clean up all of the dirt, and then I had to repot the plants.

s to r y by soph i a bro c kmeier d e si g n by g reyson i mm p h o to by r i l ey scott & c o u r te s y o f sme h auberk

THE HARBINGER

103 YEARS O

G u i d ed b y a p a s s i o n fo r m u s i c , for m e r Ea s t o rc he s tra te a c he r a nd 1 03-y

A

T 103 YEARS old, former East orchestra

school gym, playing various wooden

teacher and World War II veteran Ken Tebow is

create their annual music concert — a

a staunch routine-follower.

of Ken.

He fixes himself breakfast each morning,

pulls on a button-down shirt and khaki pants, walks half a mile on the treadmill seven times a week and swears by the power of a daily nap.

About 20 years ago at the 8:30 a.m. church service, a friend looked Ken in the eye and said something Ken hasn’t forgotten. A rare comment that changed his rigid regime: “What will your grandchildren know about you? You had a life. They ought to know something about it.”

Since then, every day right after breakfast, Ken sits down to write a book filled with 103 years’ worth of memories to gift his family before he passes.

“My teacher wanted somebody to dir

“

said. “She told me in class one day, ‘

I THINK IF

you as an individu depressed or fee people and you hear some p it kind of changes your attitu KEN TEBOW

FORMER ORCHESTRA DIREC

“One of my grandsons is helping me edit it,” Ken said.

“He helps me with some of the stories but it’s always

you’d be a good director for our conc

amazing to see him or the other kids’ reactions when

really had fun and enjoyed my first t

they read something about it. That’s what my life works

front of an audience.”

In

around recently — writing.”

elementary

school,

Ken

Yes, Ken is a veteran. But he thinks of himself as more:

“orchestras,” but by high school, he w

a musician, teacher and storyteller. In fact, his joy for

choir and avidly playing the trumpet an

music was the only thing that led him to serve in WWII.

Ken’s private violin teacher even

---

join a small dance-band group with

The year was 1927. A Ford Model T was the must-have

part of his teacher’s dance-band, Ken

car, sailor-style dresses were all the rave for women and

for community dances. While other k

then seven-year-old Ken conducted his first ever concert.

football or finished trigonometry home

Straightening his bowtie for the last time, Ken’s mom

Ken was giddy to earn his own pocket m

Fay Bishop Tebow gave him a final glance: hair slicked back, tuxedo pressed and shoes polished. She decided he

in extra practice.

“I played [at the dances] for free for Ken said. “And then he told me, ‘I’m

was ready for his second-grade music concert.

cents to play for three hours.’ I thoug

Clack. Bong. Ring.

A chorus of nearly 30 of Ken’s

peers

rhythm

in

broke the

good and kept on playing with that gro

into

After one evening at the dance hall K

elementary

asked the off-hand question that made

out

HIGHLY DECO KIWANIS AWARD

An award given Tebow for his ex in directing orche I ndian Hills Middle

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 15

FEATURE

OF EXCELLENCE

year- o l d K en Te bow s ha re s ab o ut h i s s e r vi c e i n Wo r l d Wa r I I a n d t h e b o o k h e’s w r i t i n g to p re ser v e h i s sto r y “instruments” to

all at the direction

“Will you join the National Guard Band?”

celebrating a birthday, everybody joins in and sings happy

“[The National Guard Band] was just part of my

birthday, it improves the morale of everyone there.”

growing up and being part of my musical experience,” Ken

little bit of stress, having to uphold this fantastic name.”

Ken’s main goal in music education over his years at

In October 1945, Ken was released from the war and

rect the band,” Ken

said. “We marched in lots of parades and got paid for each

‘You know, I think

rehearsal in the National Guard Band. My father had been

---

in a World War I band, and so he was very familiar with

After coming home from the war, Ken knew he wanted

others around you,” Ken said. “If I was able to make that

the concept.”

ual are eling down peppy music, ude.

CTOR

students, no matter the skill level — through music.

“Music is all about making yourself feel good and

to continue his musical career — but as an educator. His

impression on my students then I think I accomplished

After years of playing in the National Guard Band, the

friend, a college professor, offered him a job at a rural

things.”

Army ordered for over 400,000 National Guard members

town in Kansas which Ken stayed for a little over one year.

“

to join the federal service in a desperate attempt to recruit

He worked several small jobs over the next few

more soldiers. With a federal mandate in December 1941,

years, including teaching orchestra at Indian Hills and

Ken transitioned from a musician to a soldier.

Meadowbrook middle schools. Ken’s last teaching job

---

would be at East in 1970.

Placed in the 106th Infantry during the Battle of the

Ken formed relationships with his students at East and

Bulge in Germany, Ken and his fellow soldiers were told

grew the size of the orchestra from five players to roughly

there wouldn’t be any battle action — it was December

35 by 1983, when he retired. East alumni Elaine Roberts

and surely the Germans wouldn’t attack in winter.

remembers Ken as her orchestra teacher from fifth grade

cert.’ And I think I

On December 16, 1944, the Germans launched their

time conducting in

surprise strike on the American defense line — causing Ken to step away from musical duties.

conducted

came home to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

East and middle schools was to improve the lives of all his

to senior year.

“He was like a father to me,” Roberts said. “Mr. Tebow

was a stellar teacher and wanted to pass on the love of

MR. TEBOW WAS

a stellar teacher and wanted to pass on the love of music, the love of orchestra and performing a perfect concert to his students.

EL AINE ROBERT S KEN’S FORMER STUDENT

small

“Our intelligence was faulty, and we were in the dark

music, the love of orchestra and performing a perfect

was singing in the

about information for most of the war,” Ken said. “We

concert to his students. He strove for excellence, but

--Ken hasn’t consistently practiced the trumpet in 30

nd violin.

did know things were building up but didn’t have any idea

permitted young learners to make mistakes and grow from

years, but he enjoys listening to music of the 1940s in his

asked him if he’d

how much the Germans had done.”

them. There was never any browbeating or scolding, just

free time and pores over old stories of his granddaughter,

h his trumpet. As

When Ken was playing music for small towns like

pouring himself into his passion to pass it on to others.”

Kelly Stoll, playing his shiny trumpet in Navy bands.

n would play music

Karlsruhe, Germany he remembers the smiling four-year-

After receiving the Kansas Music Educator of the Year

kids his age played

olds, mouths open, infatuated with shiny trombones and

award in 1991 for his involvement in the growth of the

He hopes to complete his book by the end of 2023

ework, 16-year-old

uniformed soldiers as he led his military band through

East orchestra department, Ken was asked to choose a

and give it to all his relatives and loved ones after it is

money while getting

tunes like “The Caissons Go Rolling Along.” As a drum

person to introduce his name at the ceremony.

published.

major, he had to assign instrument parts to soldiers or about six months,”

lead after-hours practices to work on the music.

The answer was obvious to Ken: he’d choose his granddaughter and first-grade teacher Jennifer Price.

What songs? The military bugle call.

“I think that music is a culturally important thing that helps people grow in their roots,” Ken said. “I just think

gonna give you 50

“I think if you as an individual are depressed or feeling

“I felt proud to be a part of his family, but I also knew

that everyone should grow in their desire for beauty and

ght that was pretty

down and you hear some peppy music, it kind of changes

that I needed to continue on this legacy of success,”

love of the arts. Music helps shape a person. It changes

oup.”

your attitude,” Ken said. “And I think that is true of

Price said. “When people in the Shawnee Mission School

you and will stick with you even in old age.”

Ken’s violin teacher

anything anywhere. Whether you’re in church and the

District found out I’m his granddaughter, they were like,

e Ken pause.

choir sings an uplifting song, or whether you’re in a group

‘Oh, yeah, I know Ken Tebow’. And so I felt like I had a

ORATED

to xce l l ence e s t ra a t S ch ool

A f e w of t h e a wa rd s t h at Tebow has earned i n t he m i l i tary f or hi s servi ce and at s cho o ls fo r his mus ical dis tinctio n

LANCER SPIRIT AWARD A n awa rd g i ve n to Tebow f o r ove ra l l sp i r i t w h i l e d i re c t in g o rc h e s t ra a nd ba nd a t Ea st

MILITARY HONORS Medals given to s oldiers in Tebow ’s division in World War I I for their s ervice

16 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

THE HARBINGER

story b y e mme rso n wi n frey

HIS

d e s ig n b y b ri d ge t co n n e l l y p h o to s b y p a i ge b e a n

200-POUND

PIG PEPPA’S QUIRKS

A few o f Pe p p a’s f a v o r i te t h i n g s

Eating M&M’s and KitKats Drinking beer off the floor Being a foot rest Nose scratches

S

S enior Levi Brown owns a 200-pound

pig named Peppa that live s inside his hou se

ENIOR LEVI BROWN wakes up

Every time Levi was in the kitchen trying

at 5 a.m. on Saturday mornings to

to get food, he’d hear hooves clacking his way,

hangry squeaks, oinks and grunts.

followed by squeals of an angry pig wanting

“I’ve already done this before and I hated

to

his leftover ryes or chicken he’s cooking. This

the experience and now I’m reliving it,” She

stumble out of bed, he makes his way over to

would soon turn into a chase between the

said. “I must have bad juju. I don’t know what

aid Peppa: his 200-pound pet pig.

two — with Levi narrowly escaping with his

I’ve done, but here we go again.”

After

convincing

himself

took up and dreaded the mess it made — it felt like she was reliving a nightmare.

dinner. Luckily for Levi, Peppa’s grown too

When they first brought her home she was

designated pig-room from a 30-pound bag of

heavy to chase anymore and can barely walk

only two pounds but over five years she’s

pig food and tops it off with lettuce while she

for more than three minutes.

grown to up to 250 pounds at times — exactly

He fills her oversized bowl in his home’s

“

stomps around and squeals. He gives Peppa food and heads back to bed, falling asleep to the sound of her slobbery munches.

“She starts moving around waiting to get

fed, and I’m like, ‘Relax, here’s your kibble

and lettuce. Enjoy your day’ and then go back to bed,” Levi said.

Since adopting Peppa in 2018, Levi believes

IT’S NOT

that big of a deal — we live in Kansas.

L EV I BROW N SENIOR

what Levi’s mom was dreading Despite the two’s love-hate relationship, his mom still has formed good memories with Peppa, such as Peppa squeezing herself into her daughter’s hoodie sleeves with her head popped out when she was a baby.

But five coat blows later, no amount of cute baby pig memories can make up for

that having a giant pig in the living room of

Despite their struggles with her, Levi’s

the bristly, long hair she has to sweep up,

a suburban neighborhood can make for

family still has a soft spot for Peppa — and

the marks on her wall Peppa leaves from

great stories and annoyances.

Peppa has a soft spot for them, according to

scratching her back or the bite marks in her

his step-dad.

furniture. She’s even had to give up one of

In Peppa’s early days at the home, Levi’s step-dad would

“She’s kind of like having a dog with

the rooms to make a designated “pig room”

take her out to bars with him

unconditional love,” his step-dad said. “I

for Peppa to eat in — but at least it’s more

and the two would sit on the

can get mad at her and two minutes later,

domesticated than her childhood pig.

patio or go for walks around

she’s gonna come around and want to lay

the neighborhood. This was

underneath my feet with my legs on top of

an outstanding conversation

her or want me to scratch her nose.”

starter according to him — and

coat blow t h e p ro c e s s o f m i n i p i g s l o s i n g o r shedding all of their hair

His step-dad was the one with the idea of getting a pig five years ago. He’s been

one that also stood out. her],

researching getting a pet pig for months

they’ll pull up and they want to

when he saw that Pete’s mini pig farm just

On the bright side, Peppa is fully potty

talk,” his step-dad said. “Or, I’ve had

announced they had a new litter and would

trained and only goes to the bathroom on

her out front and look out the window

be coming through Kansas City. A few weeks

their backyard porch — you can find the

and there’s three people standing at the

later, his family came home to a pig laying in

family outside with their metal poop scooper

fence with their hands over [the fence]

their living room before they knew it.

picking up pig poop on a daily basis.

“If

I’m

[outside

with

Not every member of the family was

For Levi, having a pet pig in his house has

Also in Peppa’s younger years, Levi could

willing to accept the new pet. Levi’s mom

become a normal thing to him. He says, “It’s

often be found sprinting over couches and

broke down crying when she first saw the

not that big of a deal — we live in Kansas”

slamming doors to get away from attack-

newest family member.

when anyone brings it up. He’s had Peppa

trying to get her to come to them.”

mode Peppa.

“She’d just get really angry and start

“I literally cried real tears when I saw her, I was so f---ing upset,” his mom said.

since he was 13, so coming home to a pet pig feels the same as coming home to his three

running around trying to bite my ankles,

She grew up with a pet pig as a teenager

and she’s kind of fast,” Levi said. “It’s

and couldn’t believe she had to deal with

dogs.

“It’s kind of like a dog, there’s not much

surprisingly really scary.”

another one. She was always mortified to

to it,” Levi said. “I just walk into her like

have friends over, hated how much room it

other people walk into their pets.”

stor y by david al l egri

p h o to s by al ex s a jn a

T

NCREDIMOLE

EENAGERS DRESSED IN mole costumes

frantically

run

around

shouting chemistry songs as they for the grand celebration. Once the

clock hits 6:02 a.m., fireballs of hydrogen shake the ground as dust from ceiling tiles falls on their heads.

Mole Day is celebrated at 6:02 on Oct. 23, when chemistry enthusiasts all around celebrate Avagadro’s number of particles in a mole of substance — 6.022 x 10^23. For East students, it means screaming songs, playing games and a combined hysteria from the mixture of waking up in the morning and raunchy chemistry jokes but going into Mole Day this year that spirit might not be there.

DAY

A recap of the 202 3 Mole Day Celebration planned by the Chemistry teachers and C hem istr y 2 stud ent s

Holland.

Appier

according to AP Chemistry 2 student, head Day

coordinator

and

junior

Anna

teach

their

to stand up and sing.

“I just want people to see that it can

every year before Mole Day, and typically the

be fun,” Stroud said. “I feel like so many

students sing the chorus of the song. This

people, especially this year, are just making

year, no one did. What is usually a choir of

it awkward or acting like they don’t want to

corniness was instead a garden of frozen

be there. It can be fun if you just let yourself

chemistry students.

go a little bit.”

all of the activities, but this year the main

“

Mole Day officers because they now had to

in Whack-a-Mole, they tore chairs out from

concern is the enthusiasm of Chemistry 1

find a way to instill their laugh-at-any-

under each other in Molsical Chairs and they

students.

corny-chemistry-joke love of chemistry into

sang

the Chemistry 1 students.

louder than anyone expected, Appier admitted.

T-shirts and seven, Mole-themed games — a

chemistry-themed

Broadway

production

orchestrated by 14 AP Chemistry 2 students.

Preperation

for

the

event

starts

six

weeks before Mole Day when the Chemistry 2 students volunteer to be Mole Day Officers and are assigned a designated task. Because of the amount of time and planning it takes, it can be quite overwhelming.

“I’ve lost years of my life, and it’s crazy because it’s all over in barely an hour,” Anna said. “All this planning for it, I hope [Chemistry 1 students] enjoy every aspect of

“I know a lot of [Chemistry 1 students] For over two decades, East’s Mole Day has

Bardwell

of 300 molnuts, 228 IncredeMole-themed

to complete the setup. They have to organize

been notorious for being a grand celebration,

Jerrod

students the electromagnetic spectrum song

The officers need to be at East at 4:30 a.m.

s t a n d a rd s c i e n t i f i c u n i t f o r m e a s u r i n g large quantities of very small entities such as atoms, molecules or other specified particles

and

The day consisted of an early morning feast

it.”

mole

Mole

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 17

THE HARBINGER

d e si g n by aver y an d ers on

weren’t that excited,” AP Chemistry and

CHEMISTRY ISN’T JUST

a department or a class, it’s a community.

Just don’t be afraid to just get into it and celebrate.

ESP IE LEMON JUNIOR

The

morning

of

Mole

Day

came

and

the cafeteria began to fill with Chemistry 1 students all wearing their red and yellow Incredmole T-shirts. The time came for the Mole salute, everyone stood, crossed their fingers and proudly wiggled them back and forth imitating a mole.

Maybe it was the guacaMole or maybe it was the shared delirious feeling that morning, but despite the worries from the Officers, the Chemistry 1 students proudly showed

This was the greatest of worries to the

their spirit. They whacked Chemistry 2 kids

the

Electromagnetic

Spectrum

song

They tried singing the songs with them:

“Chemistry isn’t just a department or a

all

nothing. Giving presentations and candy:

class, it’s a community,” AP Chemistry 2 and

depressed and sad. I wanted to see them get

emotionless. They only began to sing after the

junior Espie Lemon said. “Just don’t be afraid

hype about [chemistry].”

whole chemistry department, including the

to just get into it and celebrate.”

Junior

Kelsey

Stroud

said.

“They’re

Typically, both Chemistry teachers Steven

INCREDIBLE ACTIVITIES

Chemistry 2 students, yelled for all students

Themed activitie s featured at the 202 3 Mo l e Day cel eb ra tion

“

MOLE-SICAL CHAIRS MOLESICAL CHAIRS WAS

such a cute idea for an activity. It got a little aggressive at the end, and people were fighting over the last few chairs but that’s what made it fun.

KATE ROS E JUNIOR

A B O V E Chemistry students celebrate Mole Day with themed games, dancing and bonding with their teachers.

18 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

THE HARBINGER

story b y con n or vogol

d e s ig n b y s ydn ey e c k p h o to s b y ke n n a h a rri n g t o n

BUILDING MASTER PCS

C

LINK, CLICK, THUMP.

S ophomore G rady Allen, disappointed with manufactured PC s, prefers to build them himself to have the be st p er fo r m ance

the actual computer, cooling methods, or the

at CLX Gaming — for igniting his passion for

Allen continues to improve his computer,

gri-

software it’s running, which means they’re

building computers. Graham remembers one

chasing the level of intricacy he sees in Gra-

maced as his 3-millimeter screw

going to set a limit that’s way lower than

family gathering where he was working on

hams builds that originally inspired him to

bounced between the parts of his

what I could actually output safely.”

his PC when a young Grady looked over his

pursue his interest in computers. He doesn’t

shoulder.

care if he has to spend his weekends upgrad-

Sophomore

Grady

Allen

Windows 10 that he’d been building for the

Allen’s problems with computer manufac-

past two hours. After falling through a hole

turers started when he was 12, right after he

“This was before [Allen] had his own PC

ing his parts and installing unique aesthetics

no wider than his pinky finger, Allen knew

put together his first PC, immediately faced

and he was curious because I had mine out,”

like internal lights, even if it costs him a few

from experience that it would take at least

with problems for a part he’d ordered online

Graham said. “So I partially took it apart and

extra bucks.

another hour to find the screw.

— the fragile glass screen that came in the

told him about it. I took off the case panels

mail ended up cracking down the middle on

and showed him all the parts it needed.”

Allen stood over his computer with his

That summer, Allen walked door-to-door

whatever you want to do with it. You can go

desk lamp. Flashlight and screwdriver in

“The piece that broke on the glass panel

down his street bugging his neighbors for

down any route when picking the actual case

hand, he surgically picked apart the PC lying

was a screw the manufacturers had put on

anyone who needed their lawn mowed, work-

of it or the outer shell lights inside. I can do

flat on his desk and emerged an hour later,

wrong,” Allen said. “I just replaced it with

ing all day so he could afford ther compo-

literally anything.”

triumphant with the jelly bean-sized screw

some plexiglass. I cut out my own strip and

nents needed to build his own PC.

between his fingers.

then welded it on, since it was just easier that

body almost blocking out the light from his

“I mean you’re hunched over [the PC]

the same day he got it.

“Building a computer, to me at least, is like an art form,” Allen said. “You can choose

way.”

“I worked my butt off up and down my street and created my own little lawn compa-

PCSLANG

the entire time,” Allen said. “You can’t see

This common mistake among the profes-

ny,” Allen said. “Once I made enough money,

what’s in there,” Allen said. “I just put my

sionals was easily fixed by a middle schooler.

I ordered all the parts at once so I could final-

Definitions of common computer

ly build my Mach 1.”

sla ng

phone flashlight on the side of the case to

“I realized that for prebuilt PCs nowadays,

find the screws if I ever lost them, but that’s

because of inflation and everything, parts are

When Allen finally put together the com-

definitely one of the worst parts.”

stupidly expensive,” Allen said. “[Manufac-

ponents and wiring to build his first comput-

turers] also charge a $300 building fee for

er, his parents and Graham weren’t surprised.

it. So I was like, ‘You know what?’ I can do

“I’ve helped a lot of people [build their

Not wanting to rely on overpriced and sometimes

defective

manufactured

parts,

Allen has spent the last eight years fascinated

better.’”

own]

computers,

but

they

usually

don’t

by how the intricate and complex parts work

Since completing his Windows 10 four

get into computers after, so I didn’t expect

together putting together his own computers.

years ago, Allen customized his PC interior

[Allen] to,” Graham said. “But when I finally

He doesn’t mind the tedious work —

lights, a higher-resolution graphics card and

figured out he got into it, it made me happy

taking apart the machine over and over again

installed the most recent software to get the

because there’s not a whole lot of people in

— as long as it eventually meets his stan-

best performance. He increased the process-

my family that know [computers] and people

dards. Even when it means continuing to

ing speed to improve graphics and provide

you can talk with about the nitty gritty.”

modify the same computer he’s had for the

top-notch detailed gore for his favorite video

last four years, installing countless replace-

games.

He became the unofficial IT guy for all his friends whenever they had questions about

ment parts and making miniscule adjust-

“I enjoy the DIY aspect [of building com-

their PCs or needed his help to build it from

ments just to achieve a faster processing

puters] because I realized if you know how to

scratch — sophomore Matthew Waters asked

speed.

do it yourself,” Allen said. “You’re not going

Allen to build the PC he uses today.

on

to be paying these massive fees towards these

“I had talked to some of my other friends

things like your cars, putting limits on your

big companies who could screw it up and

who he helped out and they all said that they

speedometer and your engine,” Allen said.

screw you over.”

hadn’t run into any problems,” Waters said.

“Manufacturers

like

to

put

limits

“But [manufacturers] forget other factors in

Allen credits his 22-year-old cousin Gage

things like the mechanical components in

Graham — who builds computers for a living

“It was a much better upgrade compared to my previous console.”

OVERCLOCKING:

- pushes limits set by manufacturers for processing speed - extend system’s life

MICRO ATX:

- common cpu case with increased performance

MOTHERBOARD:

- main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer - connects all the wiring and components

THE SCEPTER: - tiny screwdriver he used to install

all his screws.

- they have a magnetic head so he wouldn’t lose the tiny screws anymore

de s ign by li v madde n

THE HARBINGER

ROCKING THE

COURT

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 19

East ’s Pickleball Club hosted R ockhurst High S chool’s pickleball club for a tournament on Oct . 2 3 at Harmon Park with more tha n 80 pla ye rs

F A R R I G H T Seniors Maggie Leonard and Ella Howard reach to grab the ball so they can serve it.

“Me and my partner Maggie fought really hard our first match, causing momentum and excitement going into the rest of the tournament,” Howard said. photo by kenna harrington L E F T Seniors George K ahl and Emma Krause pose for a photo after they won first place championship rings after clinching the finals match over two Rockhurst players. photo by maggie condon

A B O V E First, second and third place medals along with, championship rings, were laid out on the check-in table while more than 90 tournament matches were played over two hours. photo by maggie condon L E F T Rockhurst pickleball players point to the bracket to ask Co-president senior K atie Murphy to let them play another match after losing in both the main and loser brackets.

Co-founder and co-president of Rockhurst Pickleball Club senior Frank Robinson smiles. photo by clara peters

SCAN ME PHOTO Scan this QR code to purchase photos from this event

20 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

A & E...

de s ig n by so ph i a bro c kme i e r ph o to s co ur te s y o f i mdb & mo l l y mi l l e r N O V. 6

3 p.m.

musical auditions

UPCOMING EVENT Mark your calendars

smeharbinger.net/category/a&e

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Senior Nicko Friedman’s poem titled “Delirium” from his Writer’s Workshop class

Fold me up like a paper star And write a secret message along my back Your nightmares in black ink across my pages Hide me in the darkest corners Of your secret hallways and passageways Just a toy for the cats to play with I am an ocean and I am a sky above it And the waves look like stars far below me Or above me, fathoms or light years Drop me like a rock into the water, A stone to wash up on the beach And be buried in sand Burn your symbols into my bones Searing metal and blistering skin, Keys all across my collar The blades and the delicate ends all there in the scars A swirl that shows a secret A map hidden in bone that only you can follow Whisper your secrets into my wings And throw me into the night sky A smudge of black against black against black Watch me fly away And know that I will return again When you are long gone below the ground.

“

I WAS ON a plane during finals

week going to my cousin’s wedding and became really tired. I got the first three stanzas written out in maybe 10 minutes on the flight, but then I went back and edited it and added the last stanza. I wanted to create a poem with a whimsical and melancholy feel while being twinged with a little bit of sadness. I submitted ‘Delirium’ to the Freelancer by emailing N I C KO FRI EDMAN smefreelancer@gmail.com, which I encourage all S E N I O R students that create any form of art to do.

FALL EVENTS

A list of local activities to do this month

GREAT PUMPKIN SMASH Dates:

Nov. 2-3

Where:

Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium

Time: TBD

Watch animals such as orangutans, tigers and camels crush, pounce and eat pumpkins. Family-friendly activities including photo booths and interactive chats with zookeepers will also be at the event.

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL Dates: Nov. 5

Where:

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Time:

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Celebrate Mexican culture with an altar created by local artists, guests from the Mattie Rhodes Center, community and school groups.

Opportunities to leave items for loved ones are available as well as arts and entertainment.

CROWN CENTER ICE TERRACE OPENS Date: Nov. 3

Where:

Crown Center Ice Terrace

Time:

6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Enjoy the rink for a $5 skate rental and $9 entry fee. Groups can rent the Ice Terrace for $300 an hour for 200 skaters in the party before or after rental hours.

NEW MARVELS

An o r i gi nal Mar vel m ov ie re le a sing in mid-Nov e mbe r

THE MARVELS Release Date: Nov. 10

Length:

1 hr 45 min

Where: Theaters

Genre: Action

“

I’VE READ 100

Marvel Comics that are about a bunch of different superheroes. I was watching the Taylor Swift movie with my friend, and The Marvels trailer came on and I was like, ‘Oh my god I’m totally seeing this.’ I’m excited because I love Iman Vellani who plays Ms. Marvel in the movie, and I’ve read a lot of Captain Marvel comics.

AVERY FOS TER JUNIO R

s tor y by pre st on hoo ker

XCEPTIONAL LETDOWN

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 21

THE HARBINGER

de s i g n by zan e l ai n g

AN E

T he 10 t h ins tal l m e n t o f th e S a w mo v i e f ranchi se, “ S aw X ,” d o e s no t l i ve up to t he p re-rel ease hype or the origina l mov ie s

I

F I EVER found myself trapped in an elaborate torture

experiment

I

would be thankful I’m

not watching Kevin Greutert’s “Saw X” for a second time.

I

always

enjoy

the

experience of seeing a movie in the theater, but not only does the quality of the movie ruin

said

but

experience,

it

ruins

how

much

I’ll

enjoy

any movie postexperience.

was

prior

cure as motive is cliche and

to the other sequels in the

very

positive

compared

exposition, as the viewer is

an underwhelming attempt at

franchise, yet that proved to be

thrown into the confusion of

making a good plot.

untrue.

the characters involved, asking

the

horribly

pacing

(moving

from slow to fast in an instant), dull characters and sub-par twists, horror thriller “Saw X” proved to be a disappointment.

I found myself incredibly let down as the film’s reception

installment brought me vast

I?” and “Who put me here?”

neutrality. They didn’t have a

amounts

keeping

clear protagonist or antagonist

of

entertainment

viewer

engaged

films

their

and

protagonist, John Kramer, with

sequence

is

contemplate human nature and

terminal

immersive

and

brain

cancer

who

completely

viewers

to

to

form their own opinion. “Saw

of

X” however, is clearly in favor

his

the film. The opening scene

of Kramer and his creations,

healthy life out on others by

of “Saw X” depicting a dying

portraying

trapping strangers to compete

Kramer

as

in horrific games of torture and

cancer is simply not as realistic

sociopaths

gore so they regain gratitude

or relatable as the original.

women and children for money

takes his regret about being

the

ungrateful

throughout

integral

allowed

were

and entertained. This opening

jaw-dropping

finding

a

effect

cure

for

What makes “Saw X” so

the

antagonists

stereotypical

murderous

willing

to

kill

and survival.

The first opening act of

terrible is its drastic jump from

Another strong suit of the

“Saw X” is one of a depressing

Kramer seeking help for his

first film were its signature

and abysmal Kramer battling

illness to death traps and gore.

twists

his cancer ten movies later, and

The plot was horribly done as

noir feel throughout the film,

seeking out an “experimental

the film starts extremely slowly

which

surgery” that is supposed to

and instantly transitions into a

franchise.

cure him, but it turns out to be

torture-filled bloodbath. With

in “Saw X” was a predictable

a scam a third of the way into

returning

obviously

and lazy trope, a trope that

the film.

expecting a gory horror film

came off as patronizing to the

Yet that scam eats up a

with little thought behind it,

viewer’s intelligence because

third of the film’s runtime,

it’s abundant that the film’s

of its stupidity. There was also

and still finds a way to taunt

existence is a result of lazy

little to no stylized dark-noir

actual cancer survivors with

writing.

theme that made the other

successful

viewers

and is

a

stylized

dark

notorious

in

But

surprise

the

the

“concoction

The film attempts to trick

paired with a surgery” that

the viewer and Kramer with

I knew from the moment I

supposedly “cures cancer.” I

made-up cures for cancer that

left the theater what I thought,

felt the movie drag with each

are cringe-worthy to watch for

and after crawling out of the

new point and was brought

anyone who has taken high

abyss that is “Saw X” it’s clear

down lower and lower into the

school biology. There aren’t

the film was a form of torture

abyss of boredom.

any attempts at a cure in any

itself.

In contrast, the first film opens

with

an

engaging

installments so unique.

other of the films plus the concept of chasing a cancer

“Saw I”

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2004

Tw o o f t h e i c o n i c to r t u re t ra p s u s e d

Scan to buy tickets to watch Saw X at Ward Parkway AMC Theater

the

first

— featuring our determined

Release Date: Sept. 29, 2023

SCAN ME TICKETS

Something I enjoyed about the

FAVORITE “Saw X” TRAPS

against victims in each movie

no

questions such as “Where am

a With

with

Ironically, the first “Saw”

for life.

inconsistent

sequence

EYE VACUUM

The eye vacuum uses the victim’s willpower and pain tolerance to test if they can turn a dial five times, each time breaking a finger, before the device attached to their head sucks their eyes out.

REVERSE BEAR TRAP The reverse bear trap implements less physical torture and more psychological torture, with the victim having to kill a man and find the key to disarm the trap attached to their head, threatening to rip their head apart at the jaw.

22 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

story, de sig n an d p h otos b y greyso n i mm

THE HARBINGER

FRONT PORCH SEATS

Porch fe st KC, a commu n i t y mus i c f e s ti val , i s b a c k f o r t h e f i rst t i m e i n f o u r y ea rs w i t h 1 0 0 + sh o w s on po rc he s i n M id tow n KC ne ighb o r hoo d s WALKING DOWN PENNSYLVANIA Ave.

weekend, I would’ve been confused. But I had

in Midtown Kansas City, the sweet sound of

come specifically for one thing — Porchfest

smooth jazz comes down from a saxophonist

KC.

of the city.

marathon. I was disappointed that I couldn’t

The community music festival taking place

see all 100+ concerts listed on the program.

on the front porches of over 100 homes in

But

musical

the Valentine and Roanoke neighborhoods of

in search of the best live shows for a few

the street I catch the power chords of rock ‘n’

performances spanning genres from hard

Kansas City made its return on Oct. 14 for the

hours was as close as I could get to an ideal

roll blasting from another house. Stretching

rock to traditional South American music,

first time in four years.

afternoon. Below are four of my favorites.

down the street, maracas and charangos ring

Porchfest KC is a staple for any live music

Naturally, I grabbed my lawn chair and

out from another house’s driveway. Any other

fans who want a festival with the homey feel

drove down to Midtown for the live music

With

playing from a nearby porch. Further down

more

than

a

hundred

THE JUBIILEE MYSTICS

THE HAIRY TRUMANS

37TH ST. JEFFERSON ST.

PENNSYLVANIA AVE.

I ONLY HAD to walk down the street for half a minute before hearing the folksy crooning of The Jubilee Mystics located at 3707 Pennsylvania Ave. The five-man Americanafolk band set my expectations high and opened my mind for the rest of the day.

Check out the Hairy Trumans Facebook page for music, updates and upcoming live shows

the Jubilee Mystics, I found another crowd gathered around the wooden porch of 3689 Jefferson St. The two men standing there — a country duo by the clever name of The Hairy Trumans — strummed their guitars and played a well-rounded set of original and cover blues-country songs.

The Hairy Trumans played anything from

on hearing the next lyrics, sometimes even more so than the bluesy chords they were strumming.

Even despite this, I couldn’t help but

at the accordion and one man even slung a washboard over

appreciate the classic country sound that the

his chest, true folk musician-style.

band has obviously nailed. Overall, The Hairy

The band’s hodge-podge instrumental cacophony just

VAL

added to their charm, and on top of uptempo songs about barn animals and joyous dancing, my toes were tapping for

Trumans added a much-needed element of

EN

depth as well as a familiar country twang to

N

TI

the day.

R D.

E

the duration of their set. Their fast, country-style songs were complemented by a folksy vocal twang and bluesy

MY SISTER’S BROTHER

instrumentals that didn’t overpower each other.

enamored me. music

JUST UP AHEAD and around the corner from

sets of the day. Their songs had me focused

guitars — one of them bright yellow and electric — a woman

The

neighborhoods

it was one of the most diverse and captivating

but harmonious ensemble of instruments. Two men toted

means family to South

the

getting high in West Virginia. Content-wise,

located the source of the jaunty tunes and noticed an odd,

ALLYU

wandering

sweet, heartfelt love songs to tunes about

Once I joined the crowd of 20 fellow music lovers, I

THE WORD AYLLU

still,

itself

put

an

Listen to My Sister’s Brother on Spotify to hear all latest releases and upcoming projects

innovative

American cultures like

contemporary twist on the traditional sounds

the Quechuas and Aymaras, and this band

of Latin American folk music. I — along with

took the concept to a whole new level. When

the 60 strangers surrounding the driveway —

they’re playing, you can hear how responsive

was entranced. The passion I saw in the lead

and interactive they are with each other.

singer’s voice mirrored her impressive vocal

Hands down, they were the most lively and

range. The entire band was equally as talented

dynamic band I saw play.

and passionate, from the acoustic guitarist

Ayllu’s sound was a refreshing change

to the bongo drummer. Not to mention, the

of pace from the rest of the U.S. bands. In

storytelling in their original songs had me

Johnson County, it’s a little difficult to find

torn over which I should focus more on —

diverse bands native to my hometown, but

music or lyrics.

I AIMLESSLY WANDERED the streets of

songs and slowing down the audience for

the Valentine neighborhood, I was instantly

more mellow ballads. It felt like I was at a

drawn to the familiar sound of a band

Modern Baseball or Front Bottoms concert

covering “Where Is My Mind?” by the Pixies

instead of someone’s front yard in Midtown.

from a street over. I hurried over to 3628

Besides that cover, I also stayed to

Pennsylvania Ave. to find my favorite band

hear a few originals as well as a stellar,

of the day: My Sister’s Brother.

stylistically unique cover of “Psycho Killer”

The frontman’s unique, grungy vocal

by the Talking Heads. Their originals were

the

band’s

riddled with grungy riffs and your typical

surf-rock-meets-punk

sound,

lyricism about “missed opportunities and

with an added hint of midwest emo. The

failed romances” — staples for any folk

the contemporary South American group set

style

themselves apart from the rest of the crowd

signature

through their music. The six instrumentalists wielded anything from bongos to chajchas

band was phenomenal as well, the strong

punk band worth their salt. My Sister’s

— a Central Andean instrument made from

bass and crazy-fast drums driving up the

Brother proved that the Kansas City punk

goat or llama hooves. Ayllu’s authenticity

energy in the front yard during their fast

alternative scene is alive and in good hands.

impressively

imitated

LOOKING FOR

Something Unique?

L O

O K

I

N G

F O R

Something Unique?

We have it! From home furniture to personal accessories you can find ittohere!

We have it! From home furniture personal accessories you can find it here!

Sun - Wed 10 - 6 | Thurs - Sat 10 - 7 9 0 3 0 M E T C A L F AV E , OV E R L A N D PA R K 9 1 3 - 9 0 1 - 8 8 8 8 - LIKE US ON

24 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

story b y ma g gi e ki ssi c k

THE HARBINGER

d e s ig n b y ve ro n i c a ma n gi n e p h o to b y d av i d a l l e gri

ACTUALLY A revi ew o f a haunte d hou se a nd a ta rot c a rd re a ding in A tc hison, KS FOR THOSE WHO don’t know, the “Most Haunted Town in Kansas”

houses have been covered by TV channels like A&E and the Discovery Channel.

is Atchison — just an hour from

So naturally, I had to visit the spooky town

East. Besides being the birthplace

to find out just how haunted it really is. I

of Amelia Earhart, this historic

decided to visit a haunted house in Atchison

riverfront town is also known for

— the Sallie House — and attend a Mysteries

spooky houses and ghostly legends.

of the Afterlife event.

The town is so notorious that its haunted

THE

SALLIE HOUSE

508 Nor th 2nd S t , Atchison, KS 66002

S P OOKY RATING

FUN RATING

THE SALLIE HOUSE the most famous haunted house in

walked into an identical brick colonial-style house two doors

But my fear returned when one of the toys on the bed lit

Atchison, according to the Visit Atchison website. This two-

down. Eventually, I saw a lackluster piece of paper on the door

up... by itself. I was scared, but I quickly discovered that the

story home is said to be haunted by a young girl who died in

sharing how to book a house tour — which let me know I was

toy was equipped with motion detection and would light up

the house while undergoing surgery for appendicitis in the late

in the right place.

whenever I applied pressure to the bed. Disappointing.

I was expecting someone at the door to let me in, but

While the house had an intriguing history and some peculiar

The Sallie House offers a $20 one-hour self guided tour or

instead I had to let myself in with a code that was emailed to

artifacts, the lack of any ghostly encounters was a letdown. It

a $150 overnight stay. The only tour time available was for 10

me. As I walked inside, I felt like the house didn’t want my

seemed that it was more of a historical oddity than a genuine

a.m., which isn’t exactly the spookiest time of day but I was

company.

paranormal hotspot. Maybe the house would’ve been scarier if

1800s.

still hopeful that I’d see a ghost or two.

Throughout the house, I saw a bed covered in ragdolls, a

When I got there, I couldn’t pick out the Sallie House from

table with ancient surgical tools and a portrait of a child. It

the neighboring houses; they all looked the same. I nearly

was creepy, but it wasn’t enough to convince me that there

I didn’t go at 10 a.m., but it still wasn’t worth the $20 I shelled out for a ticket.

were any ghosts lurking over my shoulder.

MYSTERIES OF THE AFTERLIFE

TAROT READING

WITH ZERO SIGNS of a ghostly presence after the Sallie House, attending a Mysteries of the Afterlife tarot card reading has fully convinced me that ghosts are real.

The event took place on the second floor of an Atchison furniture store — I’m pretty sure I was in someone’s living

51 7 Commercial S t , Atchison, KS 66002

S P OO KY RATING

passed away. I said I wanted to hear from my grandparents.

FUN RATING

a beautiful colorful angel and she couldn’t figure out its name.

When she supposedly contacted my grandparents, the light

I was told I’d have to ask for the guide’s name the next time I

flickered, affirming her connection with them. She told me

got in the shower, and that it would just “come to me.” I tried

they were proud of me, they were still together and that they

this and the name I got was Angela, which seemed random.

were “super cute” — super vague, right?

I asked for some more advice, and she told me my spirit

room. The psychic started by sharing a backstory about

But then she conveyed their advice to follow my heart,

guide and ancestors said I need to dial down the overthinking

Atchison. Apparently, the town is referred to as a “spiritual

attend the college that felt right for me and not worry about

and avoid talking myself out of understanding things, as

highway” — the surrounding rivers and brick roads make it

what my family members would think. My jaw dropped —

it limits my ability to succeed. I couldn’t believe what I

an ideal ghost-traveling location.

I hadn’t disclosed my high school status or that I’ve been

was hearing. This guidance felt specifically tailored to my

panicking about where to go to college.

personality, as that is something I do on a regular basis.

Then, the reading started when the psychic told the other attendees and me to write down questions we wanted answered

The psychic then started to describe my spirit guide — a

I went into the tarot card reading as a nonbeliever, but

and if we wanted to hear from anyone in our life who has

being that exists in the spirit realm and offers guidance and

after a visit with my late grandparents, it’s safe to say I believe

support to individuals on their life path — claiming that it was

in the sixth sense.

...

d

smeharbinger.net/category/sports

13

NOVEMBER

3 p.m.

W i n t e r S p o r t s Tr y o u t s @ S M E

14

NOVEMBER

3 p.m.

W i n t e r S p o r t s Tr y o u t s @ S M E

15

B O T T O M L E F T Junior George Hartman points down the field as he kicks the ball.

“I had the ball in the midfield and was pointing at Conor Neusel to make a run forward,” Hartman said. photo by caroline martucci B O T T O M R I G H T Hartman and junior Quinn McCarthy walk out for the second half with senior Conor Neusel. “I wanted to spend some good time with Conor because [senior night] reminded me that he’s going to be gone soon,” McCarthy said. “I wanted to soak up the time I still had with him.” photo by caroline martucci

3 p.m.

W i n t e r S p o r t s Tr y o u t s @ S M E

photo by caroline martucci

ays lef

15

Ma r k y o ur calendars for the se

NOVEMBER

L E F T Juniors Lars Alsin and Ben Perkins jump in the air after Alsin scored a goal. “I was super excited when I scored, and I wanted to go celebrate with my friend,” Alsin said.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 25

t

Sports

d e si g n by i s abe l bal d a s s aro

winter tryouts

countdown

UPCOMING EVENTS

16

NOVEMBER

3 p.m.

W i n t e r S p o r t s Tr y o u t s @ S M E

ARE YOU TRYING OUT FOR A WINTER SPORT ?

* I n s t a g ra m p o l l o f 2 0 4 v o t e s

YES

22%

NO

78%

game recap

A r u n dow n o f th e O c t . 1 9. Vars i t y f o o tb al l ga me

V ARSITY FOOTBALL fell 56-13 against Mill Valley Oct. 13. Senior and quarterback Luke Pearcy scored the first touchdown on a two-yard carry.

Lancers went into the second quarter

6-7. Senior Andres Driver ended the fourth quarter with a 96-yard kick return. Senior Ryan Dehan converted the extra point before the game ended in a running clock. Lancers record goes to 3-5.

player take Varsit y football player and senior Joey Hoffman’s view of th e Oct . 1 9 ga me a n d h o w th e tea m h a n dled th e lo ss

JOEY HOFFMAN BACKUP VARSITY QUARTERBACK

“

THE HARDEST PART was that we couldn’t get drives

or offense so we kept having to go out on defense. I thought [freshman] Zekiah Hardgraves really stepped up. It felt like some people got down when we were losing, but he played hard throughout the entire game. Next game, I’m really hoping for a win. We haven’t won a playoff game in a long time. It’s been my goal as a senior to win a playoff game, and I’m not ready to be done playing football.

26 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

THE HARBINGER

PLAYING AT THE NEXT LEVEL An info g ra p h i c o f s t u d e n t s w h o h a v e re c e n t l y commit te d to pla y a s p o r t i n c o l l e g e

KATIE SCHMIDT

“ SENIOR

COLTON SIMS JUNIOR

“

cop y b y c h r i sti an go o l ey

d e s ig n b y a d d i e mo o re p h o to s c o u r te s y o f t h e at h l e t e s

[THE COACH] TOLD me that I was

the one he wanted out of everyone else, and he can develop me as a player and a person.

ATTENDING VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

ZOE MCDONALD

60 90 314 SENIOR

WHAT MADE ME

decide to go to Trinity was that ATTENDING they focus on academics TRINITY and tennis, which UNIVERSITY is really important to me.

ACES

BLOCKS

KILLS

ATTENDING BUTLER UNIVERSITY

*sta t s from this se a son

SYLVIA BUNDE SENIOR

BRYNN DELANEY JUNIOR

82 26

GOALS ASSISTS

ATTENDING LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY

69

GROUND BALLS

MARY LONG JUNIOR

“

ATTENDING DUKE UNIVERSITY

AS SOON AS I

got on campus, I could immediately imagine myself going there. Everything they have for the athletes is amazing, and campus itself is gorgeous.

I

ATTENDING PRINCETON UNIVERSITY I ONLY GOT

“ 92

to play with [my sister] as a freshman and a sophomore when I wasn’t as experienced with volleyball as I am now, so I’m super excited to be able to play at a higher level with her [at Princeton].

WES LYERLY SENIOR

SYCAMORES

ATTENDING INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

mph FASTBALL

2400 SPIN RATE

stor y by l ucy st ephe ns

OCTOBER 30, 2023 | 27

THE HARBINGER

d e si g n by l ore l e i g alle s

SIBLING

p h o to by carol i n e mar tu cci

GOALS

J u n i o r L u ka s L o w r y i s c o n t i n u i n g his family ’s legacy as the third Lowry

S

b ro th er to p l ay as t he star t i ng varsi t y go al i e

ITTING IN THE stands of the Shawnee

play goalie when he found his love for making game-

Mission

Athletic

elementary

winning saves and being a part of the team from a

schooler

Lukas

mesmerized

different perspective. Will followed in line after being

watching his older brother, Collyn, make

subbed into the position in middle school while guest

Complex, Lowry

was

winning

playing for other teams and realizing he had a knack

acclaimed awards including Kansas 6A Goalkeeper of

for it even though, according to the brothers, serving

the Year. Watching Collyn succeed in soccer sparked

as goalie is one of the most stressful positions.

remarkable

game-winning

saves

and

Lukas’ dream of one day doing exactly that.

“Every mistake they make is up on the scoreboard,”

“I was able to see him playing under the lights,

the boys’ mother, Amanda Lowry said, “It’s a lot of

people chanting his name and everything,” Lukas

stress on them, but I think they excel with the stress.”

said. “I thought that was awesome.”

Will began playing varsity goalie his sophomore

Now-junior Lukas just completed his first season

year — the year after Collyn graduated. Will took after

as a starting varsity goalie, following the tradation

Collyn, also winning Kansas 6A goalkeeper of the year

of playing goalie at East his two brothers’ and East

his junior year — only adding to Lukas’ motivation to

Alumni Collyn and Will started. Playing the same

follow his brother’s achievements.

position has allowed the trio to further bond on and off the field.

It was the week before Christmas. Snow piled thick on the ground as below-freezing temperatures turned

Up until middle school Lukas was still playing on-field positions including left and center back at Kansas City Athletics. He still wasn’t set as the team’s full-time goalie.

any exposed puddle of water to ice. Regardless of what

He countinued training with his brothers and

seems like miserable soccer-playing conditions — or

their shared goalkeeping coach Andy Gruenbaum.

the fact outdoor soccer was in its offseason — then-

Throughout training, he began to stand out among

sophomore Lukas Lowry and his brothers Will and

his peers for the higher-level skills he possessed due

Collyn Lowry went outside for their usual backyard

to practicing with older players.

goalie training.

“It was a set path for me just seeing both my

Bundled up in hats, gloves and multiple layers to

brothers doing it,” Lukas said. “They go through high

keep warm, the three brothers made their way to the

school and college to play soccer, and that’s exactly

Bishop Meige soccer field. After shoveling away the

what I want to do.”

deep layer of snow blocking the soccer goal, the three

After being the C-team goalie his freshman year,

began their endless cycles of catching, kicking and

later on that same season he was named captain of

goal-keeping drills —

the team which — being one of the youngest players

encouraging the others to work harder with each set.

Almost every day when the brothers would come home for winter break they would find time in

— he took with pride.

During his sophomore year, he moved up to the JV team as the goalkeeper and was named team captain for the second year in a row.

between Lukas’ school schedule to go out for hours at

Lukas used the offseasons to train whenever he

a time, training until their hands and feet were numb

could alongside his brothers whether it was working

from the cold.

on his footwork and technical skills on the field,

Collyn and Will spent all of their high school years

or staying conditioned for the soccer season in

playing for the East soccer team — each spending

the weight room. To help Lukas train, Will finds

long hours training goalkeeping skills to work their

new drills to practice with him on Instagram and

way up to start on the Varsity team. This year, after

encourages Lukas to join him in doing his Missouri

continuous training sessions with his brothers and

State D1 soccer workouts.

coaches and encouragement from his family, Lukas has been offered the position.

LOWRYBROTHERS

Quick fact s about Lu ka s’s brothe rs

C O L LY N

WILL

Sunflower League soccer championship — giving him

- class of 2018

ultimate bragging rights at family dinners.

- went to Baker University for

- goes to Missouri State

soccer

University for soccer

- 2017 Goalkeeper of the Year

- 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year

Lukas turns the pressure of seeing his brothers continually succeed in the game as motivation. Just

“You really have to own that position and be

recently he became the first Lowry brother to win the

strong in it or [else] you’re not going to sit on the bench for five minutes, you’re probably going to sit for a whole game,” Collyn said. “I think there’s a

“[Sunflower League] is something that Collyn and

different psychology behind [being a goalie] than the

I were never able to do,” Will said “It’s awesome to

rest of the soccer players.”

see Lukas be able to bring that home after all the

Collyn was the first brother to make the decision to

Junior Lucas Lowry throws the ball during a game on Oct. 1 7.

work he’s put in.”

- class of 2021

W 28 | OCTOBER 30, 2023

DROP

THE HARBINGER

DEAD!

TAYLOR

& TRAVIS

Halloween costume id eas based on upcoming and recentlyreleased movie s with an idea t o try solo or as a duo, trio or group of four

THE JOKER

Be something scary for the upcoming “Joker” movie. Wear a green-and-purple outfit and smear on some red lipstick to make Joker’s iconic smile.

MATERIALS:

Purple jacket

Mismatched socks

Green shorts

Red lipstick

d e s ig n & c o p y b y ka i mc p h a i l p h o to s b y a m e l i e wo n g

MATERIALS: Eras Tour outfit Friendship bracelets

Dress up as the newest power couple Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, inspired by the “Eras Tour” movie.

Wear any past outfits from Taylor’s iconic closet and throw on a Travis Kelce jersey.

Sunglasses Chiefs jersey Sweatband

MEAN GIRLS Get three of your friends and wear something stylish and anything Y2K to obtain the iconic “Mean Girls” look, inspired by the upcoming re-release. The only strict rule of this costume is to wear pink — and only pink.

BARBIE

If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Malibu during Halloween, Barbie is the perfect costume for you and your friends. Be Barbie, Ken and Alan in the popular movie — don’t forget high heels!

MATERIALS: Pink heels Glitter bag “I’m Kenough” hoodie High ponytail Button-up

MATERIALS: 2000’s crop top Juicy Couture pink mini bag Denim miniskirt High heels