The Harbinger Issue 8

HARBINGER

8

ISSUE

THE

SHAWNEE MISSION EAST 7500 MISSION ROAD PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS

12/14/15

MEET

Mr.Y

Building manager Hassan Yekzaman inspires the custodial staff with virtues and charm PAGES 16&17

INSIDE

TOBACCO LAWS CHANGE PAGE 5

ATHLETE PREPARES FOR ULTRA MARATHON PAGE 13 CARRIAGE CLUB FORMS HOCKEY TEAM PAGE 29

2

FearLess

Harbinger Staff List: Fall 2015 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STAFF ARTISTS Lennah Cardozo

CO-ASSISTANT EDITORS

PAGE DESIGNERS

Tommy Sherk

Claire Pottenger Will Clough

HEAD COPY EDITOR Ellie Booton

Votes for: 11 Against: 0

A

In light of the recent terror attacks around the world, we should not let fear control our lives

Planned Parenthood Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO. A center for the developmentally disabled in San Bernardino, CA. A stadium, a concert hall, and multiple bars and restaurants in Paris.

These places had seemingly nothing in common, yet now they share memories of teary eyes, prayers and pain. As President Obama said in his speech Dec. 6, the threat from terrorism is real, but we will overcome it. We cannot let the fear of lost souls keep us from continuing to live freely and passionately.

It is natural to react to the recent tragedies. We watched with heavy hearts as flowers were laid along the sidewalks of Paris, and we illuminated Union Station with the blue, red and white of the French flag. We shared our sentiments to the world through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

But this feeling of unity against a common enemy has become all too familiar.

These heinous acts hope to incite terror and we, as a school, a community and a nation, should not succumb. A major attack on the United States is expected in the near future by 81 percent of Americans, as reported by an ABC News poll. 81 percent of Americans fear that our great nation will once again be struck by extremists.

In the face of the dangerous world we live in, we sink into caution by default; the days following a mass killing are quiet.

Words are hushed, doors are locked and the world seems to move in slow motion as the reality of the devastation truly sinks in.

To the 81 percent: we hope you are standing strong and choosing to control the fear you face. We will beat our enemies through action, like military force and strengthened gun laws. We can work together on social media to promote positive ideology instead of radicalism.

Fear, however, will not defeat the enemies we face at home and abroad.

Make the choice to face fear by continuing to live life normally. Go shopping for holiday gifts at the mall with your friends, or see the anticipated movie premiere with your family on Christmas Day. Walk calmly through the security checkpoints while trying to board a flight to see your relatives.

Living freely and being reckless are different. Choosing to take that plane ride to visit New York City over the holidays is not the same as challenging ISIS militants to a fight.

Win the meaningful victory by having the courage to go to the big ball drop party, or join the crowds as trees are illuminated around the city. The threat is real and it is important. But, it is more important to know that “freedom is more powerful than fear”. Remember to stop and enjoy the very life you are afraid is being threatened.

55

Aidan Epstein Yashi Wang

NEWS SECTION EDITOR Caroline Heitmann

EDITORIAL SECTION EDITOR Chase Tetrick

A&E SECTION EDITOR

81%

*information courtesy of The Washington Examiner and ABC News

of polled Americans fear a terrorist attack in the upcoming year

COPY EDITORS

Courtney McClelland

Chloe Stanford Courtney McClelland Caroline Heitmann Daisy Bolin Kylie Schultz Elaine Chamberlain Tommy Sherk Ellie Booton Claire Pottenger Will Clough

FEATURES SECTION EDITOR

CO-ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS

Chloe Stanford

Haley Bell

SPORTS SECTION EDITOR

EDITORIAL BOARD

Anna Dierks

CIRCULATION MANAGER Elizabeth Anderson

OPINION SECTION EDITOR

Caleb Krakow

SPREAD SECTION EDITOR Ellie Cook

ADS MANAGERS Grace Chisholm

ASSISTANT SPREAD EDITORS Daisy Bolin Annie Jones

CO-PHOTO EDITORS Callie McPhail Hailey Hughes

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Terrorism in the U.S. Terror attacks on U.S. soil in the past 10 years

ART & DESIGN CO-EDITORS

Ali Lee Abby Walker Katie Hise Teagan Noblit Annie Jones Daisy Bolin Robbie Veghlan Catherine Brown Marti Fromm Grace Apodaca Harrison Gooley Morgan Biles Kaylin McCan Seamus Carrol Isabel Epstein Ellie Mitchell Anna McClelland Jessica Parker Sophia Stechschulte Porter Carroll

Elizabeth Anderson Ellie Thoma Diana Percy Tess Iler Maddie Smiley Hannah McPhail Ava Simonsen Abby Hans Abby Blake Kaitlyn Stratman Allison Stockwell Annie Lomshek

Tommy Sherk Claire Pottenger Michael Kraske Will Clough Ellie Cook Ellie Booton Chase Tetrick Caroline Heitmann Courtney McClelland Celia Hack Daisy Bolin Chloe Stanford

ONLINE LIVE BROADCAST EDITORS John John Roney Will Hembree

ONLINE NEWS SECTION EDITOR Anna Kanaley Grace Apodaca

ONLINE HOMEGROWN SECTION EDITOR Lennah Cardozo

ONLINE SPORTS SECTION EDITORS Reser Hall Davis Finke

ONLINE OPINION SECTION EDITOR Olivia Favreau

ONLINE EASTIPEDIA SECTION EDITOR Morgan Biles

PODCAST & RADIO EDITOR Leah O’Connor

ONLINE VIDEO EDITOR Matthew Bruyere

ONLINE CONVERGENCE EDITOR Sean Overton

WEBMASTER Leah O’Connor

ASSISTANT WEBMASTER Nick Mantel Will Hembree Joe McLiney

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR John John Roney

CO-ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

ONLINE PHOTO EDITOR

ONLINE A&E SECTION EDITOR Jemima Swindells

MULTIMEDIA STAFF

Ellie Cook Michael Kraske

ONLINE ASSISTANT EDITORS Celia Hack Tyler Keys

ONLINE ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR Caroline Heitmann

Katie Lamar Joseph Cline

Gabe Snyder Nick Mantel Lennah Cardozo John John Roney

CO-ASSISTANT ONLINE PHOTO EDITORS Abby Hans Morgan Browning

ADVISER Dow Tate

LETTER to the EDITOR

SME Harbinger I appreciate the Harbinger taking a stand on racial issues and against racism (“Disbanding Discrimination,” Issue 7, pg.

2). As leaders in the field of journalism and as the primary source of information on campus, it is important to know where Harbinger editors and staff members stand on important issues. As your editorial points out, we are all a Lancers; but even more importantly we are all people, worthy and deserving of dignity and respect.

Shawnee Mission East must continue their

efforts to create a culture that recognizes and appreciates the beautiful diversity that exists within our community. We must educate and empower our teachers, staff and students and hold each other accountable.

Prejudice, racism, sexism and discrimination of any kind are not welcomed here. So, again, thank you for your editorial and your efforts.

Keep up the good work, Principal John McKinney

3

Look up “Disbanding Discrimination” on smeharbinger.net to read last issue’s editorial

Following the San Bernardino shooting and the East gun debate, The Harbinger put out a poll regarding East students’ stance on and relationship with guns.

432 students responded.

AGREE OR DISAGREE

To purchase a gun, more extensive background checks need to be put in place.

YES OR NO

Do you/your family own a gun?

YES OR NO

Are you interested in owning a gun as an adult?

%

8.6 42.3%

40.9% 57.7%

91.4%

59.1%

What is the primary reason you own, or want to own a gun? TOP TWO RESPONSES:

HUNTING: 62 STUDENTS Should East teachers be allowed to carry a gun to school?

FOR: 91 STUDENTS AGAINST: 334 STUDENTS

PROTECTION: 67 STUDENTS Should East students be allowed to carry a gun to school?

FOR: 16 STUDENTS AGAINST: 410 STUDENTS

NEWS inBRIEF eser written by R

photo by ELLIE THOMA photo by ELLIE THOMA

photo by DIANA PERCY

Trump Proposes Ban on Muslims

R

epublican frontrunner Donald Trump proposed that all Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. last Tuesday, whether through immigration or just for tourism.

This came a day after President Obama addressed the nation saying the American public could not turn against each other during this dark time. “[I am] calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” Trump said at a pep rally.

Junior Eli McDonald is firmly against Trump’s new proposal that suggests banning

all Muslims from entering the United States.

“That is just the dumbest thing ever,” McDonald said. “I think we should accept everyone who comes to the United States” Trump’s latest call against a specific group of people was quickly struck down by presidential candidates on both sides, along with other leading politicians. Among those who opposed Trump’s latest proposal were former Vice President Dick Cheney, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus.

Beijing Issues Climate Alert

B TOP | Sophomore Lancer Dancers Payton Lieb, Catherine Watkins, Katie Faught and Savannah Worthington cheer during the boys’ basketball game last Friday.

MIDDLE | Honorary team member, three-year-old Tyler Reiger holds on to his dad, AC Reiger, at the boys basketball game. Tyler, who is battling leukemia, is a part of the “Playing for Pinky Swear” program.

BOTTOM | Freshman Philip Cole gets a spoonful of lasagna at the football banquet at Indian Hills Country Club on Dec. 1. The banquet celebrated the football team’s 9-2 season.

eijing issued its first “red alert” for pollution last Tuesday. This red alert shut down schools, restricted the number of cars on the road and closed down all work at construction sites, according to CNN.com. The red alert came after it was reported by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that the air quality index was at 250, 10 times what is considered healthy by the World Health Organization.

This red alert comes on the heels of the annual United Nations Climate Change, which

took place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 in Paris. At the conference, China promised to curb its carbon emissions by the year 2030.

Sophomore Jack Furla thinks that it is a step in the right direction having China reduce their carbon emissions.

“I think it is good for the entire world,” Furla said. “Hopefully it inspires other heavy emitting countries to do the same.”

Royals Organize Roster

M

id-season acquisition outfielder and second Basemen Ben Zobrist of the Kansas City Royals signed with the Chicago Cubs out of free agency on Tuesday. It is a four year deal worth $56 million, according to ESPN.com.

Zobrist played well during World Series run made by the Royals.

Zobrist had a .303 batting average in the 2015 postseason which included two home runs and six RBI’s.

Other roster adjustments for the Royals include the acquisition of closing pitcher Joakim Soria, and re-signing of starting pitcher

Chris Young. Soria was signed for three years and Young was signed for two.

Sophomore Joseph Brouillette was surprised Zobrist signed with another team.

“I would’ve thought that Zobrist would stay in Kansas City after he named his daughter Royal,” Brouillette said.

The Royals are still in pursuit of free agent outfielder Alex Gordon, whose contract expired this past year. Gordon has been a mainstay for the Royals since they drafted him back in 2005.

HUMANS OF SM

EAST

An exhaustive catalog of the brilliant, quirky and multifaceted students of Shawnee Mission East Follow @humansofsmeast on Instagram or check out smeharbinger.net for more

Charlie Burkhead

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Halll

A BREAKDOWN OF SCHOOL, LOCAL AND WORLDWIDE NEWS

Senior

4

What is your favorite holiday memory?

“It would have to be white elephant with my family. We do it every year and my mom always buys these weird and funny gifts. One year she bought an awkward family photos and then another time she bought a Santa bikini.”

photo by ALLISON STOCKWELL

Tobacco laws have risen from 18 to 21 in Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO written by JESSICA PARKER

T photo by AVA SIMONSEN

he day senior Drake Yost turned 18-years-old marked the day he was considered an adult, the day that allowed him the right to vote and the day he could marry without parental consent. The day he turned 18 also legalized his right to purchase tobacco — or at least it did.

On Thursday Nov. 19, the Kansas City Council led a vote concerning the age of legal tobacco purchase, which resulted in an 11-1 vote in favor of Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri banning the selling of tobacco to anybody under the age of 21.

Not only are tobacco sales prohibited to those under 21, but e-cigarettes and other nicotine or vapor products are also. The penalty of a minor getting their hands on a pack of cigarettes is turned back onto the seller: a $100 fine.

During the Shawnee Mission School District board meeting held on Sept. 28, a member from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Jessica Hembree, spoke on behalf of the Tobacco|21 campaign.

Tobacco|21 is run by the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation in hopes of changing the law all around America to help reduce smoking, especially in teens.

The brain is still developing into the midtwenties, and premature smoking can be harmful, which is why there is a push for the change in the law.

“Young people begin experimenting with tobacco products around the age of 12, which is an alarmingly young age,” Hembree said.

As she spoke to the group of board members, a slide show of eye-catching numbers flashed the screen: youth and teen smoking is around 10.2 percent in Kansas, and 95 percent of smokers started before they were 21.

According to the Health Foundation, there are currently 94 cities in nine states that have raised the legal age for purchasing tobacco to 21. By initiating this law, the number of smoking minors aged 15-17 is projected to decrease by 25 percent.

Hembree’s encouragement for SMSD

THE ORIGINAL

NINE

5

to support the effects of Tobacco|21 was greeted with open arms by the board of education according to the board’s President, Sara Goodburn. The district crafted their own message condoning and approving the raise of purchasing age.

“It’s not something we have control over, the municipalities are the ones who vote on things like that,” Goodburn said.

“We thought it was an important enough initiative to at least weigh in on, so we did.”

Problems form when questions are asked like whether or not 20-year-olds that have been smoking for two years will willingly put down the lighter and parliament just because the laws says so.

Yost makes the point that if someone wants to light up or dip, they will somehow get their hands on it.

“Our society is taking a good step in the right direction by doing it, but I think that it is unfair for the 18 and 19 year-olds that are already addicted, to have that taken from them,” Yost said.

A problem that has arisen is the fact that our neighboring state, Missouri, has not entirely taken part in the change either.

With the majority of the students in the district living close to the Kansas-Missouri state line, it is not hard to make the 15 minute drive over to the nearest Missouri gas station.

Prairie Village Police Officer, Mark Schmidt, is a supporter of the law being put into action. Although he believes he will see a noticeable positive effect, more cities will need to get on board. Like Yost, he agrees that if the desire is strong enough, finding a way to get tobacco will not be difficult.

“I think that it is a great idea, but it needs to be more metro-wide to be effective,” Schmidt said. “With all of the cities that surround Kansas City, Kan. and Kansas City Mo., I’m not sure how much it will reduce getting smoking materials.”

No, this will not completely eliminate minors getting hold of tobacco products, but it is a start in the right direction to get the youth of America on a healthier path in life.

At least 100 localities in nine states, including New York City, have raised the tobacco sale age to 21

NY MA NJ IL OH KS MO

CA

HI

According to Tobacco Free Kids

6 COMMITTEE EVENTS TROOST TOUR a tour of different communities throughout KC a CELEBRATING tour of different DIFFERENCES communities an event PTSA throughout KC collaborated with TMAYD BRACELETS “tell me about your day” bracelets STAFF LGBT PANEL panel over the topic of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans gender FUTURE EVENTS exchanging students with Wyandotte and a staff forum in January

G N I R E V O C DIS D S IV ER I TY

The Diversity and Inclusion committee works to make a East a more welcoming place

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fter forming only a few months ago, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee has already hosted various programs to promote kindness throughout the school, and plans to continue this throughout the school year.

“Basically the goal of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee is to make the students and teachers more including, accepting and aware of the vast amount of differences we have at our school,” committee member junior Emily Kohring said.

The committee held their last meeting on Dec. 2, where they reviewed their recent events such as the Troost bus tour and their Celebrating Differences night, as well as making plans for future programs.

The DAIC plans to diversify the school through small steps, like the various events they have already started. McKinney and social studies teacher David Muhammad both think the best way to make changes is to leave the power to the students.

photos by DIANA PERCY

written by ELLIE COOK

“I want to make East a place where the kids why wouldn’t you want – every kid to feel that who are popular for being bluntly jerks, like that’s way.” not even cool anymore,” Muhammad said. “There In addition to the two upcoming events, the are so many more kids who, if you talk to them, committee has been planning some programs for they’re like, ‘Yeah I don’t think this is cool,’ but the long-term events. They plan to host an open they don’t say anything.’ Maybe they don’t feel forum similar to the one hosted by Kansas Univerempowered. They’re a small minority, but they sity, held in response to the recent happenings at have a majority of the say Missouri University, where stuof what’s going to be done dents will be able to ask quesat the pep rallies and at the It’s just what do you want us to to tions on any topic they would know that can help: make you feel like to address. The group is games and stuff like that. safe, comfortable, confident.

But what if we flipped it to also looking to bring in an auwhere those [popular] kids — said principal McKinney thor devoted to race issues and didn’t even feel like their is working on a multicultural voices could be heard because nobody’s going to studies class taught by Muhammad next year. go for it?”

By encouraging students to take the lead, While the current group is made up of com- McKinney is hoping to put focus on creating a munity leaders, select teachers and current and culture of dependency between kids rather than former parents and students, McKinney, who runs enforcing programs or talks on them. the committee, hopes they can begin to open it up “If you develop a culture where students feel to the student body soon by hosting events that safe, and appreciated, and welcomed, and start involve everyone. to build some confidence and put caring profesThe new DAIC program McKinney is most sionals around them, then as administrators sort excited about is a possible “reciprocal exchange” of get out of the way, amazing things happen,” of students with Wyandotte High School. This ex- McKinney said. change would be a continuation of an already esThough the DAIC is new, Muhammad has altablished relationship that started with the Troost ready slowly started to see some changes in the bus tour field trip three weeks ago, led by Muham- East community. This is not only because of the mad and English teacher Samantha Feinberg. committee, but because of what students have “It was really eye-opening for [the students] been doing on their own. He applauds groups like to get in the bus and drive through Mission Hills the Feminist Club for starting to take action, and into downtown and then across the line across especially thinks events like the Confederate flag Troost and just to sort of see the transition,” McK- and gun rights debates are sparking conversations that need to take place. inney said.

“I see some kids’ eyes opening,” Muhammad Another one of the committee’s recent events was the Celebrating Differences assembly on Nov. said. “Watching those – I don’t even call them de18, held in collaboration with the Parent Teacher bates – our conversations, you watch those kids’ Student Association. The event was meant to facial expressions change. Because they come highlight different groups in the community and there with one goal; some of them come just to encourage kindness and awareness by featuring try to hope to make someone mad. And then it anti-bullying organization Just Like You Films doesn’t work. And then they’ll get some enlightand the Tell Me About Your Day organization or- ened perspective and it’s like, ‘man, what can I say to it?’” ganized by junior Sarah Blumenthal.

Muhammad feels kids are starting to become After hosting an educational LGBT forum for the school staff, the DAIC will be holding a diver- more empowered to speak their minds because sity forum for the staff on Jan. 29, a professional of the conversations East is having, thanks to the development day where there is no school. The fo- committee. While he believes this is a great berum will focus on answering the question “What ginning, it’s just that – a beginning.

“I’m really hoping we can keep it going, I just can public schools and teachers do to better address and meet the needs of a globally diverse don’t want people to feel like we’ve arrived,” Mustudent body?” It will utilize a panel of former hammad said. “Like OK, you’ve had your article students and parents, current students and busi- in the Harbinger, aren’t you happy now? It’s just ness and community leaders of all races, religions a start.” and cultures.

“It’s just what do you want us to know that can help: make you feel safe, comfortable, confident,” McKinney said. “We want every to kid to feel –

7

HUSHED

FUNDS

SMSD parents brought a case to the district court regarding the cap on school funding, which they believe restricts student’s first amendment rights

S

written by JEMIMA SWINDELLS

ome Shawnee Mission School District (SMSD) parents are appealing to the District Court in hopes of raising the limit on school funding that they say handicaps SMSD. They believe that this cap restricts the students’ education and in turn restricts their freedom of speech.

In Kansas there is a limit on the amount of government aid a district can spend on education. Since Shawnee Mission is a generally wealthy area, it is in the bottom 10 percent of how much government aid it gets, according to the Kansas State Department of Education. This cap also prevents parents of SMSD school students from voluntarily aiding the schools.

The parents argue that a restriction on education funding is a restriction on free speech.

“Speech has been defined as the communication of ideas,” the parents’ attorney, Tristin Duncan said. “So our argument is that since education is the communication of ideas between a teacher and a student, it is speech.”

Duncan also says that there have been many cases in the Supreme Court where money has been defined as speech when it is used to further speech. She says that because of this, the government stopping people who are willing to help fund their child’s education is a restriction on their free speech.

According to the parents, the cap was created to spread equity among the 286 school districts in Kansas, but it does the opposite.

“Kansas City Kansas [School District] (KCKSD) gets substantially more money than Shawnee Mission [School District],” Duncan said. “So we are saying, lift the cap high enough so we can get as much money as KCK does. Right now the cap entrenches inequality, it doesn’t protect equality.

With funds equal to neighboring school districts, SMSD could potentially implement teaching advancements to improve the education of the students. The cap that limits the funding is determined by a formula.

SMSD Assistant Superintendent of Communications Leigh Anne Neal says that Shawnee Mission has been an advocate for a new system that supports greater opportunities and raises funds at the local level.

“The district remains focused on developing and offering excellent, innovative educational offerings to meet the needs of students today and to prepare them for the future,” Neal said.

The parents tried to have the Supreme Court take their case, but were denied on Dec. 11. They are now taking this matter to the District Court. They believe that free speech is necessary for education. Therefore, when the government restricts funding for education, they are restricting the First Amendment rights of the students.

Sophomore class president Matthew Trecek agrees with

Fund Facts

their argument that restriction on education is a restriction on free speech.

“Restrictions on our education hinder us as students,” SMSD gets less state aid than KCK Trecek said. “As a nation of people who promote because we are a wealthier district. human rights, the ability to learn should be very high up on our nation’s values. How can people who aren’t educated to their full potential learn how to make 2013/2014= KCK= 15,388 per student their own arguments and form their own opinions?”

Duncan thinks the Supreme Court should have 2013/2014= SMSD= 12,378 per student taken their case. Not just because the cap violates the first amendment, but because the Supreme Court said in 1973 that they are waiting for a case like this.

3,000 more per student in their district In 1973, there was a case very similar to this one, than we can have per student about school funding, called San Antonio School District v. Rodriguez. The San Antonio School District lost the case, but the Supreme Court reserved the question. They said that if there is a case in the future where the school district is underfunded, there is a funding cap in place and the voters of the district are willing to spend more money on the schools in the district, they will reopen the case.

According to Duncan, SMSD fulfills all three requirements.

The main rebuttal of SMSD parents “Our community is a community were that first amendment rights were that has never rejected the request taken away from students and teachto increase spending on education,” Duncan said. “Therefore we present the ers with the very issue that [they] reserved in 1973.”

These parents have fundamental rights to spend as much money as they would like on things that aren’t necessarily in the best interest of their child, such as fast communication of ideas food, but they are prohibited by the state from helping fund their child’s education.

Duncan hopes that other parents will communication between a teacher and a student follow in their footsteps. definition of education: communication between a “We do think this case could inspire similarly situated school teacher and a student districts in other states to fight against such an oppressive state law, which hurts education for all money is speech when money is being used to further children” Duncan said.

The Argument for First Amendment Rights

DEFINITION OF SPEECH:

DEFINITION OF EDUCATION:

SUPREME COURT HAS DEFINED: speech

When the government restricts funds to the schools it’s restricting the child’s and teacher’s freedom of speech

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lmost everything I’ve ever witnessed– the Royals winning the World Series, Disney World, my first day of high school– has been through glasses or contact lenses. I’ve had plastic lenses to correct and clarify the entire world around me. These glasses and contact lenses have been there along with me, from an eye infection to my first picture day with contacts.

Being a high s c h o o l student

with bad eyesight sucks. Contact lenses will fall out, your prescription won’t be strong enough and you will get headaches.

Glasses get smudged, hurt the back of your ears and give you headaches. The simplist tasks – school notes, driving, sports – all become a challange. Physically and legally.

I, Katie Hise, have bad enough eyesight to be declared legally blind.

Now before anyone asks, let me explain what being legally blind means.

I have a -5.75 prescription in my right eye and a -5.50 prescription in my left. So this means if a painting was placed almost 600 feet away from someone with 20/20 vision, what that person would see is what I would see at 20 feet. So to anyone with perfect vision, this is what it specifically means: I can see all colors. I can see general structures– furniture in the room, people and objects near me. And yes, I can probably see how many fingers you are holding up, as long as you are within three feet of me.

No, I cannot read anyting further than one foot away from my face. I cannot tell you who is walking down the other end of the hall. And I could not identify almost any object or shape more than five feet away.

So before anyone tries my glasses on and says “wow you really are blind,” yes, I am. And it hasn’t been very fun along the way.

My bumpy relationship with lenses began when I was six years old. I was a first grader already introduced to the struggles of the adult world. Scrunching my nose side to side, I balanced my new circle bedazzled frames on my face.

All my classmates would tell me “I want glasses, they make you look so smart!” But I felt like the nerd of the first grade class. My advice to those classmates is that it’s not as fun as it looks.

In second grade, those same lenses I resented the year before became a part of me. I would have to press my glasses to my face

while running the bases in kickball during recess.

Cleaning spray and a silk cloth lingered in my pencil bag at all times, no exceptions.

Other girls took their f a v o r i t e age is B a r b i e s legally blind at a young ing Be everywhere life gets more on ly getting harder as and anywhere. complicated I took my glasses. I had to.

Without MA photo illustration by ELLIE THO them, I felt like opinion by KATIE HISE a zebra stripped of his stripes.

Third grade was when Dr. comes with extra Jenkins decided it was time I switched to contacts. I finally struggles. Sophomore year especially is was ready to upgrade. I knew I would have when most people jump into things. Sports, these new lenses for a while, so I had to like clubs and classes become more interactive.

I can’t click the snooze button in the them.

At first, I I felt naked without my “That’s morning because I have to get up and so Raven” hot pink gasses case as an put my contacts in. I deal with my glasses accessory. Not only did contacts take me 20 fogging up every time I make spaghetti. minutes to put in every morning, but they And I can’t see the board when I have a bad made my head pound and seemed to fall prescription.

Oh, the dreaded time between eye out whenever they felt like it.

But I slowly learned to like them. I doctor visits. When my prescription wears didn’t think about my old, circle, bedazzled out, everything becomes harder.

Following Google Maps while driving lenses anymore. I had new, special, not so is nearly impossible because I can’t read bedazzled lenses. Little did I know these street names until I’m twenty feet away. My would become my best friends for the next chemistry teacher will switch slides before nine years.

Don’t get me wrong. Contacts were I’m able to read the first sentence. Every better than glasses, but our relationship element of a being a high school kid with bad eyesight is a struggle. hasn’t been flawless.

However, when I think of all the things Picture this: you haven’t blinked in two minutes. Your eyes feel completely dried I have done and seen throughout my life, up and are just begging for relief. Then I thank my different lenses– the circle someone throws sand in your eye. It feels bedazzled ones and the paper thin ones. like your pupil is being torn raw by the They have clarified everything for me and, sand particles. You feel like you might go at the end of the day, when my contacts blind. That’s what tearing a contact feels are in the trash and I snuggle up in bed, I silently thank my lenses for getting me like.

Being a high schooler with bad eyesight through each day.

10

HITTING REWIND photos by HALEY BELL

After having three consecutive car wrecks, finals looming in the near future and being broke out of my mind, I decided last week that it might be nice for me to get away from all of this “big kid” stuff. Of course I’m not a 6-year-old anymore, but can’t I pretend? So I talked myself into spending my weekend failing miserably at making a Christmas craft, sliding down my basement stairs head-first on a flimsy air mattress, having a tea party with some stuffed animals I hadn’t seen in a while and taking a trip to the playground. My goal?

To see if I could somehow rekindle that childhood spirit that came along with these things over a decade ago. Here’s how it went for me:

written by KYLIE SCHULTZ

Christmas Crafts

I

figured this wouldn’t be a trip down childhood lane without throwing it back to the moments I spent at one of the long, cafeteria-style tables in kindergarten. I can still remember slaving away over a hideous finger painted masterpiece or one of those lame self-portraits of me drawn with yellow hair.

I plopped down on my bed, ready to create something brilliant. The Pinterest post I was going off of was a simple reindeer, made out of a paper plate with construction paper feet and antlers. Easy enough. Or so I though – I quickly realized we didn’t actually have any paper plates in the house, so I used a paper towel instead and colored it brown, making my craft look more like a burn victim than a reindeer. The antlers were supposed to be a kid’s hands traced out

on construction paper, but since mine were about double the size of a 5-year-old’s, that didn’t work out so well either.

Perhaps the icing on the cake was the reindeer’s eyes. I searched around my room for a moment in a half-assed, I mean halfbutted, attempt to find a sheet of white printer paper. My eyes fixed upon a pad of light pink sticky notes. That should work.

After gluing the eyes onto my work of art, I realized that no, that definitely was not going to work. The beady, bloodshot eyes of Rudolph stared lifelessly up at me.

“I think I just made a demonic reindeer,” I murmured to myself. Santa would be horrified.

Mattress Surfing

“I

don’t feel good about you doing this,” my dad rambled as I positioned the air mattress at the top of the stairs.

“It’s just one time that you hit your head on the stairs and it’s a serious injury.”

I cut him off right there, wondering out loud to him why he and my mom thought it was exhilarating and adorable when I did it in elementary school, yet not now. I also reminded him that at the age of 17, I didn’t think a trip down 12 carpeted stairs on an air mattress would give me a serious injury.

Giving me a glum look, he let me do my thing.

He was kind of right about being unenthusiastic about the whole thing.

Riding down the mattress is one thing when you’re a 7-year-old, with the mattress

Playing House

I

poured blue Gatorade into two mismatched tea cups, handing one to my brother and keeping the other for myself.

We sat in our basement, surrounded by a half-naked Groovy Girl doll and the few stuffed animals I managed to scrounge up from around the house.

He took a long sip from his blue Gatorade “tea,” looking bored out of his mind. I did the same before letting various stuffed animals take a drink out of mine as well. A stuffed bear left a long hair at the bottom of my teacup. I grimaced.

It was clear that we both had no idea what to do with ourselves, as playing house was a faint memory of our kindergarten days. Either our imaginations had dulled, or the idea of having a tea party with my 16-year-old brother and six other dusty

stuffed animals just wasn’t as appealing as it used to be.

Eventually though, we found our groove. I made the stuffed owl some spaghetti out of crayons. My brother reminded me that the owl was actually allergic to spaghetti, but by that point the owl had already ingested it. Our innocent game of house quickly transformed into an episode of Grey’s Anatomy as we tried to save the owl’s life by giving it emergency surgery. Miraculously, he survived. My brother and I high-fived and went back upstairs, wishing him a safe recovery.

I’ve got to admit that once we actually let loose, it was kind of fun to be back imagining weird things like a baby owl choking half to death on spaghetti.

The Swings being smaller and easier to steer down the staircase. I’d also assume that from the vantage point of second-grader Kylie, the stairs I slid down seemed a lot bigger and more treacherous.

I failed to achieve the same level of excitement I did as a kid, as the air mattress got stuck in my narrow staircase multiple times. It just didn’t go that fast for the majority of the ride. I was left more bored at the bottom of the staircase than I was pumped up, and it didn’t help that my dad was still at the top of the stairs, mumbling about helmet-wear.

So unless you’ve injured your legs and can’t go down the stairs any other way, I’d suggest you leave the mattress-sliding in the past.

I

n my elementary school days, I was the kid that didn’t really know what to do with herself at recess time. I wasn’t too keen on some snobby girl chastising me for accidentally doing a stringhold in tetherball. Getting trampled by third grade boys while tripping over my feet on the soccer field didn’t really suit my fancy either.

That left the jungle gym, particularly the swings. Cue the fond flashbacks of me giggling to one of my friends that we were married as we swung in perfect unison, said bestie crinkling her nose and letting out a high pitched giggle. Or nearly breaking our necks as we jumped off, clunking down onto the wood chips and bubbling with adrenaline.

That’s what I was searching for as I surveyed the playground, which was luckily deserted, except for a couple of random thirty-somethings. Well, at least I’m not the oldest. My brother steered us over to the swings, and we each grabbed one in an unspoken race to see who could gain more altitude first. In no time at all, we were soaring.

It’s therapeutic, I thought to myself as we cut through the crisp December air. Thoughts in my mind dissipated into the breeze, floating away from me as I continued to swing. Yeah, I hummed to myself as my brother announced that he was officially higher than me, this beats tetherball any day.

WREATHS

MILK & COOKIES

ELVES ICE

SANTA

SNOWBALL FIGHT

CAROLING

CINNAMON

EGGNOG

LIGHTS

CAROLING

CARAMEL POPCORN

reindeer

candy canes

Rise of materialism replaces holiday spirit for many growing up in today’s world

BELLS

nutmeg

PEPPERMINT BARK

OLD MOVIES FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

DECORATION

FUDGE

PLAID PAJAMAS

MISTLETOE

believing

SNOW

TURKEY

PRESENTS

HOT COCOA

fireplace ornaments opinion by AIDAN EPSTEIN

H

oliday spirit is my caffeine; I run off it from when I first hear Christmas music playing in November all the way until the last Christmas light is taken down. Although I never seem to lack in holiday spirit, a couple years ago, my family was in dire need of a spirit pick-me-up. Having two little sisters who year by year get less interested in the foo-foo Christmas stuff like sitting on Santa’s lap and hanging up mistletoe, and just want the newest version of the iPhone.

Holiday lists turn into Pinterest Boards and Powerpoints, growing longer and pricier.

Oddly, their holiday spirit decreases along with it. Christmas is no longer about Santa and Frosty the Snowman, but more about Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber’s new Christmas albums.

This makes the holiday, that is supposed to revolve around children and family, turn into an excuse to be greedy. A holiday that, to me, means snuggling with my parents while watching “A Year Without Santa Clause” and eating unlimited peppermint bark seems to

photo by HANNAH MCPHAIL be losing some of its magic as kids grow old- of teen-angst and think that Christmas isn’t er. Replacing it is it’s enemy: materialism. But the majestic holiday it used to be. does the magic have to go away with age?

Now you know it was your mom who This is why for the last three years, we have picked out that sweater you wear every day, invited our cousin’s family over, including the it wasn’t hand sewn by Santa’s elves, and your two young daughters, age 6 and 9, who bring dad ate the cookies you bake for Santa on the magic of Santa, and the spirit I love, on Christmas Eve. You have been lied to about Christmas Eve and this jolly, fat guy commorning. ing down your chimHaving a ney, so you think ‘HA’ Now you know it was your mom who picked out 6-year-old jumping I’m going to fill my that sweater you wear every day, it wasn’t hand on me at 5 a.m. like sewn by Santa’s elves, and your dad ate the wish list with latest a human alarm, and great technology cookies you bake for Santa on Christmas Eve. may be annoying at and designer brand the time. But when everything and make I finally drag myself out of bed, her anticipa- my parents pay for it! tion of this great morning rubs off on me and I especially see it in my own sisters’ lists. everyone in the family.

My 11-year-old sister’s list looks like a colI think, why can’t everyone be this excit- lege sorority girl’s: Jack Rodgers, rose gold ed to open presents? Why can’t we all act like iPhone 6s, Ray-Bans and even Timberland 6-year-olds on Christmas morning? boots (I don’t even know how she has heard I may be being hypocritical, but I think of these). When I was her age, I asked for an it’s because once you hit the age where Santa Easy Bake Oven and a Nintendo DS. Now, may not be realistic anymore, you hit a period the candy and socks “stocking stuffers” have

turned into concert tickets and expensive make-up palettes. When you take the candy out of Christmas, you know you have a problem.

On Christmas morning, my cousins, sisters and I are out in our matching plaid “Christmas jammies.” We crowd the stairs like race horses, hyped on hot cocoa waiting for the “go!” to see the presents Santa has left us.

The anticipation of what presents are around the corner is at an all time high.

Although I have significantly outgrown the “believing” stage of Christmas, I wish it didn’t have to end so soon. I’m by no means saying to not ask for presents, but just don’t forget it’s a magical holiday.

It sounds cheesy, but kids need to wake up and realize that their wish lists shouldn’t be essays, and that the holidays aren’t about “who got the best presents.” Instead of age and technology soiling your Christmas, it should make you appreciate the holidays more, that is... until you have to buy them for your own children.

12

WATER BOYS

photo by KATIE LAMAR

East students work at Waterway Car Wash on State Line Road. The boys enjoy making money, mostly on tips, and working alongside their friends.

ABOVE | Junior Liam George drives the car through the wash. “We have to make sure the car is in neutral.

One time a guy forgot and his car ran into the one that I was drying,” George said.

photo by HALEY BELL

RIGHT | Senior Kyle O’Neill spins a towel on his finger to signal to the owner that their car is finished.

photo by MORGAN BROWNING LEFT | O’Neill hand dries a car’s exterior. The cars are hand dried to prevent water spots that stain the car’s new wash.

photo by KATIE LAMAR

BELOW | O’Neill wipes the inside of the car windshield. The workers dry the cars in a specific order: hood, windshield, interior, sides then back.

photo by HALEY BELL

LEFT | Hise cleans under the windshield wipers while laughing at a co-worker’s joke.

photo by MORGAN BROWNING

ABOVE | Junior Tommy Hise vacuums the backseat. “Weirdest thing I’ve found in a car? A loaded gun and a bag of weed. A frickin’ loaded gun.”

ULTRA

13

MARATHON S MAN

After facing an injury, senior continues training for an ultra marathon photo by KATIE LAMAR written by CAROLINE HEITMANN

ULTRA MARATHON TRAINING PLAN

enior John Rogers takes a deep breath as his green and blue Nike Free 3.0 Flyknits grace over the finish line. His time is recorded – 3:30:01. Salt is dried on his face. He’s thirsty and only wants to sit down. But in spite of this, he can’t stop smiling. After all, he just finished his first marathon, the Gobbler Grind.

This is only a small step in John’s long journey, though.

His main goal is to run an ultra marathon Jan. 9 in Bandera, TX. But in order to complete this, he needs to train harder than ever. This means multiple-week training plans, strength and core exercises and above all else, endless motivation and determination. Not letting the doubts of his friends and family or even a recent foot injury hold him back, John is confident he will reach his goal because of his love of the sport, no matter what happens.

After reading “Born to Run,” a book about a Native American tribe called the Tarahumara who sometimes run 200 miles at one time, this July, John decided to tackle the Bandera 100K ultra marathon – a full 62.1 miles. He had already run five half-marathons, improving each time, and four years of cross country, two on varsity. But his parents were concerned if their 18 year old son had the capability to run a 100K. “I told him that I think that’s great, but I didn’t give him the OK until his mom and I had a chance to find out that he’s not going to do something that cripples him before he’s 40-years-old,” said John’s father Hank.

John had to show his parents he had the determination and strength to complete it. The Gobbler Grind marathon on Nov. 8 was the first real test of John’s training, the ultra marathon a mere nine weeks away. He started slow, running with his neighbor and best friend’s father, Mike Dornbusch.

However, Dornbusch was struggling with an Achilles injury and slowed down. Feeling great, John sped up, soon hitting an average of 6:40 pace for the last 10 miles.

John felt fine after, but a few days later the pain in his foot began.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

4 miles

6 miles

6 miles

4 miles

2 miles

2 miles

Marathon

REST

10 miles

3 miles core

Injured

Injured

Injured

Injured

WEEK 3-4

Injured

Injured

Injured

Injured

Injured

Injured

Injured

WEEK 5

Injured

Injured

Injured

4 miles core

6 miles

10 miles core

10 miles

WEEK 6

4 miles

8 miles strength

9 miles

REST core

1.5 hour run strength

1.5 hour run core

WEEK 7

6 miles strength

6 miles core 8 miles strength

REST strength

2.5 hour run core

2.5 hour run strength

WEEK 8

4 miles core

8 miles core

9 miles core 12 miles strength

4 hour run strength

WEEK 9

REST strength

6 miles strength

9 miles core

REST strength

1.5 hour run core

4.5 hour run core 12 miles strength

WEEK 10

REST core

REST

100k

WEEK 1 WEEK 2

12 miles core 12 miles strength 6 miles core 6 miles strength

WEDNESDAY

“Runners are in pain constantly so [it wasn’t] that big a deal,” John said. “But it had been my first injury in a while.

Then I got to the point where I couldn’t stand on it.”

After research and a doctor’s visit, John and his family learned what the problem was. One of the three arch muscles in his foot was irritated because of overuse. He was prescribed ice and 12 Advil per day and told that it would be better in about 10 days.

However, Dornbusch also became concerned about John’s readiness for the ultra marathon after talking to him a week after the marathon.

“He was describing that he had a little bit of a foot injury and I was like ‘You know, maybe [you’ve] got to rethink running that far this early,’” Dornbusch said. “‘Not that you can’t do it, but maybe next year. You know, give yourself a chance to train for it. Let your body adapt to that.’ What I’m worried [is that], all of a sudden, some thing is just going to hurt too much and he won’t be able to complete it.”

Since the Bandera 100K has a 50K race too, if his parents feel he isn’t ready, John will run the 50K. However, the 100K race is two 50K loops, so if John does the 50K and feels he can continue, he will finish another lap.

But John is determined to get to Bandera and conquer the 100K. With the race being only four weeks away, he is training harder than ever. He wants to finish and tell people that yes, he did run 62 miles in one go. So he does another two miles, even though there’s freezing rain out. Another 50 push-ups, even though his arms ache. Another two minute plank, even though he’s dead tired. He keeps going because running is what he does and he loves it.

“I don’t think I’m going to get tired,” John said. “I feel like I am, but the more I think about it, I never felt tired during my marathon. I just kept picking up the pace, picking up my pace, picking up my pace and never got tired so I don’t know how [the ultra marathon is] going to work. It might be good; it might be bad.”

4 miles

THURSDAY

3 miles

FRIDAY

REST core

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

14

Sophomore finds his passion in the air after going to an aeronautics camp written by ABBY WALKER

A

grasshopper. A small, green, six-legged insect -- that’s what prevented sophomore Sam Fay from getting his student pilot’s certificate.

On his first test flight, the insect hid under the instrument panel until the plane was in the air, and then emerged to jump around Sam, refusing to go back into the cockpit. Sam, trying to get rid of the grasshopper, was still trying to pass the test flight, but he became distracted and flustered. His instructor, Bob, who was in the plane with him, decided Sam would need to fly again to show that he was physically and mentally able to fly solo. And not be distracted by any demented insects when flying.

Though most people would be annoyed to have to retake a test, Sam was happy to have the opportunity to fly again, taking in as much freedom as possible. He’s left now with a slight fear of grasshoppers.

“You just kind of feel like a bird, like you can do anything in the air,” Sam said. ...

Sam’s fascination with aerospace engineering spawned from when he listened to his uncle, an aerospace engineer major, talk about the innovation of aircraft and all the math behind it. At age 11, he found the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center camp outside of Hutchinson, Kan. Sam’s uncle was excited about the camp, but other members of Sam’s family had mixed feelings about Sam flying.

“My mom definitely didn’t like it but my dad thought it was cool,” Sam said.

“It’s obviously pretty dangerous. It definitely took some convincing, but she let me go.”

Although Laura Fay, Sam’s mom, is always worried about him when flying, like every pilot’s mother, she is happy that Sam found such an exciting place to be with such motivated and talented people. “[Sam] was trained very well and I am so proud of everything he has accomplished,” Laura said. “But there won’t be a time I’m not worried about him.”

Sam has attended the camp every summer since convincing his mom. At the five-day camp, he learned the basics of flying; he learned how to read an aviation map, how to plan a flight, safety and emergency procedures and the four forces of flight -- lift, thrust, weight and drag. On one of the last days, all the students are given the opportunity to soar in gliders. Gliders are engine-less personal aircraft that get towed into the air by a powered plane, and then let go off to “glide” on its own.

Discovering the math and attention to detail entailed in planning a flight, Sam has realized that he wants to be a part of the innovation of aircraft and major in aerospace engineering, since he finds the difficulty enjoyable. Sam wants to go somewhere like the National Institute of Aviation Research at Wichita State University, where he

could get the full experience of flying.

Sam’s first step in achieving that was to move past gliders and get his student pilot certificate, the flying equivalent to a restricted driver’s license.

A month later, Sam drove to the Sunflower Aerodrome outside of Wichita, KS to train more in order to earn his certificate. He had to plan out a flight as well as fly with an instructor, who would assess if Sam was physically and mentally able to fly safely.

“The hard part is planning the flight and learning everything,” Sam said.

Before testing, Sam spent hours learning everything he could about planes by studying maps and even downloading a flight simulation game to play each night before flying.

“It’s not even very accurate to flying,” Sam said, “but I play it before to get hyped up about flying.”

With all his practice both on and off the computer screen, Sam passed on his second try, able to breathe easy without any grasshoppers around, and showed that all the time and effort he put into receiving his pilot’s license paid off.

“My time with flying has definitely upheld that it pays to work hard,” Sam said. “Especially when pursuing something you are passionate about.”

photo courtesy of SAM FAY

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16

17 After moving from Iran when he was 18, building manager Hassan Yekzaman leads the custodial staff through hard work and a steadfast faith

I

written by ELLIE BOOTON photo by KAITLYN STRARMAN

n 1986, President Reagan passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. This required the Environmental Protection Agency to hire a building manager to inspect their buildings for toxic minerals called asbestos.

Word of the act spread to schools across the nation, and eventually made its way to the Union Public Schools in Tulsa, Ok., where Hassan Yekzaman, Mr. Y – East’s current building manager – was working at the time.

Yekzaman knew nothing of asbestos, but Union Public was looking for a building manager, and he was looking for a job.

Yekzaman worked as a custodian at Briarwood Elementary School two years ago. So when East needed a new building manager last year, his custodial background at Union Public and Briarwood qualified him for the job.

For the past year, Yekzaman has used Christian virtues to encourage East’s custodial staff to work ferverously for the safety, cleanliness and campus supervision of the school. He ensures that the faucets are running, that there’s hot and cold water and that every light-bulb is screwed in tight.

“Yeah, I clean here,” Yekzaman said. “But I don’t look at it as less than something else.” **** In 1976, the 18-year-old Yekzaman took his first plane ride from Iran to Oklahoma University without the slightest inclination of his future at East. Instead, he knew the ABC’s, the figures 1-100 and the value of education – something his late mother taught him.

“My mom was an elementary school principal,” Yekzaman said. “Education was important [to her], she said ‘I want my son to have enough education to live.’”

Gaining acceptance to an Iranian college required a grade point average above a 4.0, something few students in Iran could achieve, Yekzaman says. The way he saw it, he was left with three options: he could either not attend college, serve a minimum of two years in the Iranian forces or he could apply to be a transfer student across the globe.

“After I didn’t make it [into] Iran’s colleges, I applied for universities in the United States, and Oklahoma University responded back,” Yekzaman said. “That was my ticket.”

As a non-English-speaking freshman at OU, Yekzaman found himself in a psychology class hearing lectures, but not understanding them.

It was only when his English professor took a special interest in him that he started to pick up the language.

Before Yekzaman transferred to Claymore Junior College in Tulsa to further his knowledge of the English language, his professor forced Yekzaman to watch the mid-90’s television program, “Gun smoke,” and report back to her with a plot line of each episode in English.

She made him listen to Christian talk-radio, in English, despite his Muslim doctrines.

Gazing at the crucifix on his desk, Yekzaman recalls a time when Christianity didn’t affect his management at East, a time before his baptism. Growing up, once a year, for 30 days, he would fast in the name of Allah. He read the Qu’ran every day. But there was one factor — one girl — who would change that.

In his first year at Claymore, Yekzaman recalls walking across the courtyard alongside his friend when he approached her. He prodded his friend to introduce him to the cheerleader with long, dark hair that shone gold in the light. Bunny, she said – a family name.

Yeah, I clean here. But I don’t look at it as less than something else.”

— said Hassan Yekzaman “I said hi, and he winked at me,” said Yekzman’s wife, Bunny. “As I walked off, I turned and looked at him, and I said, ‘I think I’m going to marry him.’”

Five months later, Bunny and Yekzaman were married in a Baptist church. Their company, all of Bunny’s family, watched her walk down the aisle in her light blue prom dress with the bottom tier ripped out, and Yekzaman wore a suit the same color. She gave him her high school’s class ring; he gave her his mother’s wedding ring.

“Be careful when you meet a Baptist girl,” Yekzaman teased. “They change your life.”

And that she did. On April 23, 1988 Yekzaman was baptized into the Christian church. “[Before the baptism], he didn’t have that relationship with Christ,” Bunny said. “I did. But a believing spouse can’t walk away from an unbelieving spouse. No matter how hard it got, we had that commitment to see it through.”

That commitment is something Yekzaman carries not only in his relationships, but in his work. “[He is] unlike any other leader I’ve worked with,” said cafeteria custodian Todd Cerrill. “He teaches values of life and thinks about things more clearly, things I’ve never thought of.”

The origin of these values hide in the garage-like receiving room, the cleaning headquarters for the

custodial staff. Perhaps the most striking aspect of his office is the poster of a pensive John F. Kennedy looming behind his desk. To Yekzaman, JFK was a man who took risks and kept strong morals. And, now working for a PhD in pastoral leadership online, JFK is a man whom he compares to himself.

“Coming to the USA was a huge risk for my life not knowing anybody [or] the culture,” Yekzaman said. “[JFK] sent a man to [the] moon, and we cannot forget that. That’s somebody who forever will be part of the history of mankind.”

His office draws the rest of the custodians every Wednesday for powdered donuts, a treat Yekzaman feels is necessary to reward his colleagues. This tradition, to him, draws similarities to the kingdom of King Solomon’s: his favorite biblical character. Solomon gave gold to the poor, Yekzaman gives powdered donuts to the staff.

Paraphrasing the king, a wrinkled strip of paper in his wallet reminds him of the type of leader he strives to be for his peers.

People glow with lights. The longer they live, the brighter they shine, but the road of wrong-doing gets darker and darker. Travelers can’t see a thing, so they fall flat on their faces.

“When we read something like that, it doesn’t matter what we do in life,” Yekzaman said. “Do we go on and choose to help other people? Or do we go on and create more problems? Like King Soloman says, do the right thing.”

Once he earns his PhD in 2017, Yekzaman says his life will take a different route than East provides him. As a pastor, he plans to help those in need, wherever they might be: Bulgaria, Africa and maybe even back home in Iran.

“I’ve got to live by something that can make me go forward, while also pulling some other people with me that need help,” Yekzaman said. “Working hard to help people is my essence. Thats what drives me.”

18

PAIRING WITH

PARIS written by SOPHIA STECHSHULTE

photos by MADDIE SMILEY

Responses to the Paris Attack

Sydney Opera House lit in the colors of the French flag to commerate those lost in Paris attacks “There is no democracy that doesn’t need to be protected from an army.”

- French President, FRANÇOIS HOLLANDE

One World Trade Center lit in the colors of the French flag to commemorate those lost in Paris attacks

#

The hashtag “#portesouvertes” meaning “open doors” was used to help attack victims locate shelter

Students keep in contact with French pen pals after the recent terrorist attack in Paris As terrorist attacks shook the city of Paris on Nov. 13, ripples the regular monthly emails, finally wrote back. of distress resonated throughout the world. Lit up in a wash of “Thank you so much, it’s very nice. I’m touched by your mail crimson, white and royal blue, countries around the globe stood and I’m happy you sent it to me. in solidarity with the people of France, from Rio de Janeiro’s It’s beautiful to see the entire world reassure us. It’s a hard event Christ the Redeemer to Kansas City’s Union Station. Messages and I know you can understand us with the Sept. 11, but we conof reassurance poured into the city of Paris from all corners of tinue the life and I think that’s the better solution. Thank you the earth. again, you and Kansas City.”

Murfey’s pen pal, a 14-year-old MoFollowing suit the next Monday, East sturoccan girl named Rahma, responded dents in Madame Losey’s French 3 classes turned to their computers, sending out I thought it would be a good way for them to within four hours. “[Thanks] for your support. It’s somber emails to their French pen pals, be in contract with young pepople their own true [we’re living in] a tragic moment expressing their sympathy and support age.” through these difficult times. and it’s very moving to see the world — said French Teacher, Madame Losey support us,” wrote Rahma. The email Each student received their pen pals concluded with a heart emoji. at the beginning of the semester. The stuMurfey was pleasantly surprised when she saw this unread dents at East were paired with one or two French students who attend Middle School Robert Schumann in Amilly, France, a email in her inbox. suburb of Paris about an hour’s drive from the city. Correspon“I wasn’t really anticipating a response since she doesn’t acdence between pen pals is a mandatory assignmnent for credit; tually live in Paris and we don’t make contact often, but when however, Losey also hopes that her students develop a long-term I saw that she did reply, it was satisfying to see she was glad I friendship with their partner. emailed her,” said Murfey. “It always feels good being able to “I thought that it would be a way for them to be in contact with impact someone in a positive way even if it’s small.” young people their own age,” said Losey. “I figure I’m getting old These emails, though threaded with minor English gramand I don’t know everything about the young people, and that mar mistakes, made a clear impact on the students who received would be a really good way for them to understand the culture of them, as well as the teacher who helped facilitate the process.

“My students felt like they were helping as much as they could, people their own age.”

After the attacks in Paris, it only seemed appropriate to have and when they got their ‘thank you’s’ and saw how touched the the students email their pen pals and express their condolences. French students were, I think it really touched them that they While some students received a brief “thank you” or no re- were able to make a little bit of a difference,” said Losey, “ and sponse at all, juniors Grace Meninger and Holly Murfey were it really touched me when I was listening to them telling what their pen pals were saying.” recipients of more touching emails.

Meninger’s pen pal, a 13-year-old girl who rarely responds to

OUR OPINION My pal’s English is honestly better than mine, it’s kind of embarrassing.

Robbie Veglahn

What do you think of the pen pals?

It’s nice to be able to use our French out of the classroom.

Diana Percy

The fact that our pen pals could’ve been affected made the situation a lot more personal.

Anna McClelland

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20

BEHIND THE SCENES

LIGHTS. CAMERA. KERWIN. Senior Chloe Kerwin stars in her first movie

T LEFT | In this scene, senior Chloe Kerwin is being interviewed by her lawyer.

ABOVE | In this scene, Kerwin is in the hotel, heading to meet the judge.

wo weeks before Kerwin got the part, she received a fortune cookie that said, “A dream you have will come true.”

Ever since, she’s kept the piece of paper in the back of her phone case.

Last summer, Chloe realized she did not want to be in musicals as a profession, but instead films.

Her agent, Terre Capers, sent her in for an audition for the lead role in Tipping Point, a short film based on human trafficking. The film follows Kerwin’s character, a victim of human trafficking, through a court battle while having relations with the judge.

Before auditions had even begun, director Meagan Flynn insisted on the main character being brunette, not blonde. However, Capers demanded that she see Chloe’s audition anyways.

“This role is mostly non-speaking, so the actress had to convey the role through her eyes,” Flynn said. “Chloe made it very believable.”

Chloe was one of the first two auditions Flynn and her casting crew watched. After watching her audition Flynn was shocked by Chloe’s maturity.

“There’s a lot of talented people out there,” Flynn said. “It’s not enough just to be talented, you have to be professional and hard-working as well, and Chloe gets it.”

Chloe was unable to attend the screening of the film due to her staring role as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.” However, Flynn sent Chloe the film and she watched backstage before the show. “[The film] was amazing, and I’m extremely proud of all of the work that I put into it on and off

written by MARTI FROMM photo illustration by MORGAN BROWNING

camera,” Chloe said.

Throughout her life, Chloe had only been in musicals. Since Tipping Point was her first film, the differences in her acting were drastic.

“In musicals you prepare for months and have one night to get it right,” Chloe said. “In film you also prepare for a long time, but you get multiple takes.”

As Chloe is only 17-years-old, this is the most intense role she’s ever had to play. The issue of human trafficking became much more apparent to her throughout the filming.

“It’s crazy being in that role because girls all around the world are in the spot of the girl I’m playing,” Kerwin said. “Throughout the entire film, it all became real to me that this is really happening to people. Girls of all ages are being trafficked, and it’s psychotic and disgusting.”

Because of how much she enjoyed her experience on set, Chloe has applied to multiple colleges to go into an acting school. However, she hopes to go to USC or Emerson to receive a BFA in Acting.

“I’ve never known someone that has always known what they’ve wanted to do in life and been so driven,” Chloe’s mother Ingrid Kerwin said.

“Chloe has worked harder than anyone I know to achieve a dream, and I’m excited for her future and know she’s ready.”

V

21

The upcoming Star Wars movie premiere is bringing back old memories for excited fans

written by ELAINE CHAMBERLAIN

E

very so often when I entered the basement or my parents’ room when I was little, I would see them watching a movie involving swords made of light and a little green guy with long ears. They would hastily hit the pause button, since I was “too young” to handle violence of that nature.

But a few weeks after my seventh birthday, my dad informed me that I was now old enough to watch Star Wars. I’m talking about the original three – now Episodes IV, V and VI. I didn’t watch the prequels until later, and they don’t even compare anyway.

Ever since I first saw Episode IV: A New Hope, there has been a special place in my heart for this particular movie series. Watching them was almost a rite of passage for my brothers and me, and I have always loved the plot and the adventure and most of the characters. It should therefore go without saying that I am beyond excited for the upcoming installment, The Force Awakens.

For those of you that have spent the last year and a half in a cave on one of Jupiter’s moons – yes, the Star Wars franchise, recently bought by Disney, is releasing Episode VII on Dec. 18. Crazy nerds like me already have tickets for the premiere, which is at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17. The first in a series of three sequels, The Force Awakens is set thirty years after the end of Episode VI. It will bring back beloved old characters like Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and introduce several new characters as well. What I’ve gathered from watching all three trailers, and admittedly getting a little too worked up, is that the essence of the movie is basically another saga of good versus evil.

According to Entertainment Weekly and Hollywood Reporter, the movie has already sold eight times as many tickets as the previous first-day record holder, The Hunger Games, on Fandango, and sold $6.5 million in IMAX

tickets on the first day. The first teaser, which came out in November 2014, garnered 58.2 million views in three days.

AMC sold out one thousand shows throughout the U.S. in less than 12 hours.

Needless to say, there is a lot of hype surrounding this movie, and I have quite willingly been caught up in it. I might not have lined up at 12:01 a.m. to buy Star Wars action figures on Sept. 4, deemed “Force Friday” by Disney Consumer Products, but I still consider myself a major Star Wars fan.

On more than one occasion, I’ve forced my friends to sit down with me and watch all three originals in a row.

When rewatching them on my own, especially lately, I often start crying when the opening titles scroll because it’s just so good. Also John Williams, the composer of the famous Star Wars score, is my hero. Many would call me a geek. Some would call me a freak. All these titles are legitimate.

I have yet to see a Star Wars movie in theaters, considering the first prequel came out when I was one year old, and the first of the originals came out over two decades before I was born. I am hoping for a thrilling experience, possibly the highlight of my semester. And I quell my worries that my high expectations won’t be met by reminding myself that it can’t be worse than the prequels, unless it introduces the same combination of an overly convoluted plot and bad acting. Which hopefully won’t happen with some new people in charge.

So at 7 p.m. this Thursday, while many of my less nerdy peers will be studying for the last day of finals, I will be found sitting in a theater at Standees in the Village. My mouth will already be full of popcorn I’ll probably be too excited to swallow, and I will be happily anticipating the moment when the title appears on screen, the familiar music blares and I can travel back a long time ago to the galaxy far, far away.

VOICE

Star Wars Super Fans photos by TESS ILER

My dad and I used to watch the movies together all the time.

I am super excited to find out who the new Sith Lord is.

Senior Chloe Harrington

I have been a fan of Star Wars ever since I can remember.

Sadly, I didn’t get premiere tickets in time but I’m still dressing up as a Jedi.

Junior Carl Young The new movie is so exciting because I have seen every movie around ten times. I really hope it lives up to the hype.

Junior Alex McWard

V

Rey is suspected to be from a planet called Jakku and is described as a scavenger who lives in a ship graveyard.

Kylo is believed to be following in the footsteps of Darth Maul who is a force wielding warrior from the powerful Dark Side.

FINN

BB-8

Kylo Ren

Rey

V

BB-8 is a droid with connections to the Residence force. He may belong to Dameron as his on board x-wing pilot.

Finn is a member of the First Order as he abandoned his post as a storm trooper.

Information from SCREEN RANT photos courtesy of MCT CAMPUS

photos by ABBY BLAKE

written by PORTER CARROLL

W

ith sweat dotted across my forehead, I glanced at the large digital clock to the left of the mirror while finishing off my third set of squats. 20 minutes left -- I was already short of breath, and I still had 40 minutes left in the hour-long workout class.

Local fitness studio offers a well-rounded focus on both physical and emotional health of students

All I knew about Fit Formula when I walked in at 5:40 a.m. was that it was going to be a daunting workout class. From participating in the class, I learned that Fit Formula’s mission was not only to focus on the physical health of their customers, but also the customer’s emotional well-being.

Their motto reads “get sweaty, get stretchy, get happy.” Fit Formula’s morning classes have a perfect mix of a cardiovascular/ strength infused workout, with yoga tied in at the end to recover.

Before the class began I still had sleep in my eyes, and wasn’t expecting to have to spark a conversation with anyone. I instantly noticed a few familiar faces, including the instructor, East parent Sharon Prothe. She immediately introduced me to parents and family of students at East. I instantly felt like I was in a comfortable, friendly environment. A walk-in class costs $17, which seems expensive, but at the end you notice it’s more than worth it.

The whole class began with a deep stretch, but then had the choice to do three sets of cardio workouts or to run around the building in the 30 degree weather.

Next, we got into the main part of the workout: three big sets of push ups, sit-ups and lateral moving planks. The workout differs everyday, adding weights as the week goes on.

Even though my body was on the verge of collapsing, I figured I had already dragged myself out of bed, so I needed to keep with it. Taking in a few breaths of air, and a big gulp of water, I prepared myself for what was coming next. This class was a bit more challenging then I expected, but Prothe’s encouragement made me want to push myself the whole way through.

Moving onto the abs part of the workout, I was barely hanging on, only continuing

because of Prothe’s motivation. She told us to keep on pushing and that it would be worth it in the end. It burned. After we were done with three sets of the muscle-burning torture, I laid flat on the floor and stared up at the ceiling, completely exhausted.

With 15 minutes left in the class, it was time to finish with a yoga session to help unwind. We were instructed to move our bodies in positions that twisted our muscles in ways I had never experienced.

Yoga, the second part of the Fit Formula, is emphasized because it brings “balance to your workout.” I thought that the yoga was effective in helping me relax and emptying my mind from my stresses about the upcoming day.

After 10 minutes of yoga, Prothe asked us to lay on the ground and close our eyes and focus on the moment. This is called Savasana, the final resting pose in yoga. According to one of Fit Formula’s informational pamphlets, it’s more replenishing than sleep. I’m not sure if I believe that, but maybe going multiple times can incite the long-lasting effects.

All I know is that I felt relaxed and focused on the moment. When I opened up my eyes, I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Unlike other classes where you leave with your heart still racing, Prothe concluded the class by reading aloud from one her many books about choosing joy today and everyday. As our eyes were closed she placed a piece of paper with a quote on it in front of us. Mine said, “Do not pray for dreams equal to your powers.

Pray for powers equal to your dreams.” I had never been to a workout place that had done this, it was a special way to get their customers to start the day off on the right foot.

Prothe came up to me to thank me for coming to the class and handed me a few healthy recipes that are available to all her customers. I left Fit Formula feeling cleansed and happy. Although my muscles still ached for a few days after, I see myself going back to Fit Formula sooner, rather than later.

ABOVE LEFT | Instructor Sharon Prothe corrects the postures of each student during an ab exercise in class.

FAR LEFT | During a break between exercise sets, staffer Porter Carroll smiles at fellow junior Libby LeGard.

LEFT | Prothe chats with one of her students at her desk even after class is over.

GRAPHICS | Formula Fit logo (center) and recipe card designs (left and right).

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24

VIEWS across

A review of some of the best views around Kansas City written by TEAGAN NOBLIT photo by JOSEPH CLINE

F DRIVE CLIF uring the first 10

D

minutes of the walk down Cliff Drive, all I saw were dead trees.

Unimpressed, I considered turning around and going somewhere worth looking at, until I saw a small opening through the trees. Across from the opening was a towering burnt orange rock wall, with a small pool of water at the bottom.

The brightly colored rocks shot 40 feet straight up in the air. The formation looks like it was created years ago, after someone had carved out a waterfall-like structure.

The rocks were jagged,

and some were sticking out – making it easy for climbing.

About three- fourths up the rock wall is a ledge that you could sit on and dangle your feet from. If you make it to the ledge, then you earn the honor of writing your name at the top.

The words “Nike Boys” were spray painted in white across the rock, disrupting the perfect orange glow. I stared at the careless paint, wondering if it had meaning or if it was supposed to be there.

Everything was so untamed, so natural looking-- the white spray paint didn’t belong.

Past the wall was nothing but more dead trees that are

extremely ungroomed. If you stood up there, you could see a beautiful view of the city, and all the colors of the train cars. On the particular afternoon I went, the sky was a perfect shade of blue on the 50 degree December day.

The easy climb up the ledge wasn’t bad, but the way down was terrible. It was an inch-byinch tedious climb down so slow that my forearms began to ache.

Once I was down, I looked straight up and saw how high I was just a few minutes before.

What an amazing perspective I had. A beautiful and unique view of KC. I felt so small standing next

TOWN OF KANSAS BRIDGE

A

CAVES IN ARGENTINE

W

hen I heard about the caves, I pictured a clearing and a large cave carved out of rock. That was the complete opposite of what I found. The cave is an old mine shaft randomly placed in the middle of the deep woods.

To reach the caves, you have to park along the side of the street and walk about half a block and go toward the woods past all the houses.

Once you reach the woods you climb over a large log and then you begin climbing along the muddy path to a clearing. The clearing is wide open, and has about 10 tires scattered around. Beer bottles cover the ground.

From the clearing, you go left towards the deep woods.

From there you follow the trail carved out by tire marks.

I was so confused why there were random tire marks in the

to this huge rock wall. Once I hopped down I was right back where I started – just on a normal sidewalk.

I stood right up on the wall, and took a ton of pictures of the overgrowing trees crowding my attempt at an artsy Instagram picture. When someone talks about the views of Kansas City, they think of a view of downtown with a bunch of crowded buildings, like Western Auto. This was a whole different perspective. The view highlights the northwest part of KC, one that most haven’t yet seen.

middle of the woods.

It takes about 20 minutes to hike to the caves.

I kept walking until I reached a small pond which represents the halfway point.

The second half of the walk is super tricky and slippery, because it is all downhill and mud is wet.

As you walk you are surrounded by trees and leaves and sticks. You start to feel yourself going downhill, when that begins to happen you know you’re close.

Then all of a sudden a huge hole in the ground appears to the left. At this point you’ve made it.

Then you have to slide on your butt so you don’t fall into a second hole on your right.

Once you slide down you end up in a ditch-like place surrounded by the walls of the cave.

The layers of rock are sticking out as if they could

fall in on you at any minute.

To make matters worse, the rocks were slippery. Once again, beer cans and random ripped up T- shirts were scattered all around. Once you get past all this litter you can see the beauty of the cave.

White chalky rock forms massive columns to hold up the cave. Inside is a pond of water: green, slimy, gross water. The water is freezing and everything suddenly becomes 10 degrees colder.

I would love to explore the caves but it was way too cold and dark.

There were stories of kids canoing in the cave and they were gone for seven hours because they got lost in the eight mile long old mine shaft cave.

The caves may be the most unique place I have ever been in KC.

bout 20 minutes north from East, there is a bridge called the “Town of Kansas Bridge” connecting the north end of Main Street to the Missouri River.

It’s 650 feet long, and enclosed by a cage-like covering. You can either walk or ride your bike down the bridge.

Once you get to the end, you can look out and see a breathtaking panoramic glimpse of the river.

An overwhelmingly large bridge across the water, has silver details in an arch-like formation takes up the left side of the walkway. I got to see the sun setting right behind it, making the silver details

shimmer.

Right in front of me was a metal railing covered in locks that people sign their names on in all different ages and colors.

On the right side is a bridge which contrasts the other bridge: white and rusting and forms a half circle. Both bridges frame in the view.

Below the walkway are train tracks. To reach the train tracks, you have to climb down two flights of stairs or take the elevator. At the bottom of these stairs is a walkway to the bank of the river. I stood there looking over the churning brown water of the Missouri River and was reminded of some of the incredible opportunities our great city gives us.

25 An in-depth look at different frozen pizza brands written SEAMUS CARROLL

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rozen pizza fits in a special category of American cuisine, along with grease-dripping corn dogs, fattening hot pockets and arteryclogging cheese fries. It’s the same food that makes my mom cringe every time I eat it and the reason America is obese. I consider myself to be a frozen pizza connoisseur. There have been many nights that I find myself pre-heating the oven to 425 degrees, placing the stiff,

A

frozen pizza in the center of the oven and waiting 18-21 minutes for some greasy goodness. Setting out on a journey to discover the best frozen pizza in existence, I decided to sample Red Baron, Digiorno and Palmeros, three of the biggest names in the frozen pizza business. In order to make the fairest comparison possible, I selected each brand’s pepperoni pizza with rising crust.

DIGIORNO

s I pulled this pizza out of the oven I had high hopes after hearing all their claims that they’re better than delivery pizza. The first thing that stood out about this pizza was the crust, which had risen a good amount and seemed very light and airy. Taking my first bite of the crust confirmed it. It was fluffy, and even had a slight crunch,

which was a nice surprise. However, the overabundance of sauce overpowered the small amount of cheese. And on top of there being too much of it, the sauce was too sweet. I can handle a little sweetness, but this sauce was not for me. Also once again the cheese and pepperoni were very bland which led me to be, yet again, unimpressed.

rating

Y

PALERMOS

ou never know what to expect from a frozen pizza.

However, this pizza looked especially appealing. The crust was golden brown and the grease was dripping off the pepperoni. There was an excellent ratio between the cheese, sauce and pepperoni, which is crucial, in my opinion. But as I sunk my teeth into this pizza, I immediately

knew something wasn’t right. The crust wasn’t crispy- instead it was cardboard-like, yet also chewy. The cheese and pepperoni almost seemed nonexistent because the flavor was so bland.

I was not impressed by this pizza. It’s unappetizing chewiness ruined it for me, despite how good it looked before tasting it.

rating

S

RED BARON

taring down at the final pizza I was expecting the worst since the previous two pizzas had disappointed me. This pizza’s ratio was off, again way too much sauce, and the crust did not look too promising either. But to my surprise I crunched down to a well-cooked, not too cheesy pizza.

With the second bite I made sure I got a

pepperoni in the sea of sauce surrounding it. While chewing I couldn’t believe it: the pepperoni had a little kick to it, and after eating just frozen pizza for the past half hour it seemed much larger. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied with this pizza. Although the ratio was off, the crust and flavor of pepperoni made up for it.

rating

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Sport’s Photos of the week

WINTER SPORTS

BELOW | Freshman Jordan Yowell goes for a layup. Yowell finished the game as the top scorer for girls’ varsity basketball.

Bowling

Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Wrestling Boys Swimming

STARTERS

Varsity Wrestling

BASKETBALL

Boys

LEFT| Sophomore Aidan Holbrook swimming 100 freestyle at practice LEFT | Sophomore Tyler Gibson celebrates after hitting a strike at practice.

LEFT | Sophomore Shane Phillips and senior Michael Adrich practice a drill.

What’s coming up in

SME Basketball Date

Sport

Girls

Mark Ward

Kyle Haverty

Jay Guastello

Josie Clough

Stanley Morantz

Toni Englund

Zeb Vermillion

Sophia Stechschulte

Alex Glazer

Emma Linscott

Boys Basketball

COACHES Girls Basketball

Head Coach Shawn Hair

Coach Lauren WWW-

Coach Ryan Oettmeier

Lawrence

Coach Jake Kupersmith

Coach Heidi Delaney

Coach Adam King

Coach TJ Taylor

Coach Andrew Gagnon

Coach Matt Jacobsen

Wrestling

Bowling

Head Coach Baker

Coach Elliot

Boys Swimming Head Coach Wiley Wright

Coach Scott

Assistent Coaches Colby Dischinger Diving Coach Betsy Anderson

Andrew Schmidt, Mike Bamford, Drake Yost, Michael Aldrich, Billy Cellars, Austin Wilson, Dane Erickson, William Schmidt, Isaac Schmidt, Payton Bridge, Jack Carter, Joao Ludwig, Jack Peterson-Rourke, Oliver Brocce

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Mark Ward

How do you think the first game went against Piper?

“As a team I think it went pretty well. We showed our weaknesses, rebounding being one of the biggest and setting solid screens.

But personally, I think the whole team played well, no one really stood out.”

How was dunking in a live game?

“It was pretty good actually, I have never dunked in a real game with people watching so it was a fun experience to do that”

RIGHT | Mark Ward goes up for a dunk in his varsity game against Piper

photos by MORGAN BROWNING, LINDA HOLBROOK, ALLISON STOCKWELL, DIANA PERCY, HAYLEY BELL

Opponent

Location

Time

Lawrence Freestate

East

7:00 p.m.

1/5 Girls Basketball Lawrence Freestate

East

5:30 p.m.

1/8 Boys Basketball

SM North

East

7:00 p.m.

1/8 Girls Basketball

SM North

East

1/5 Boys Basketball

27

written by MAC NEWMAN

5:30 p.m.

photo by SPENCER CAREY

28

Sophomore Toni Englund plays varsity basketball and is a varsity Lancer Dancer

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written by KAYLIN MCCANN photos by KATIE LAMAR

acing up her navy and grey Jordans, sophomore Toni Englund prepares for her first basketball game against Shawnee Mission South of the year.

“Number four, Toni Englund,” calls the announcer. Even though her teammates are on either side of her, she’s running towards a different team, Lancer Dancers. She peers into the crowd smiling, then high fives two of her teammates, juniors Josie Clough and Kyle Haverty. As a first year varsity girls’ basketball player and Lancer Dancer, Englund now has to balance doing both.

While many sports are just one season, being a Lancer Dancer continues throughout the year. Englund’s main challenge is only being able to play in the first and third quarter of the basketball home games because dancing at halftime. However, she gets to play the fourth quarter occasionally depending on the dance, and has no limitation when she plays at away games.

“Dance was my first commitment,” said Englund. “I just have to base everything I do around it.”

Before tryouts Englund attended the Creighton basketball camp with the Lady Lancers to prepare for the season. Many girls who are on drill team also swim in the spring but have limitation to how they compete. While many girls compete, Englund’s situation is different because her dance schedule conflicts

with her basketball schedule. Drill team is held in two class periods where the dancers are given a “pass” or “fail” for their grade. Many sports are played outside of school, but Toni being enrolled in this class has requirements that have to be met such as dancing at home games.

When the varsity roster was determined [two weeks ago] a meeting was held with girls’ varsity basketball head coach Lauren Lawrence, and Drill Team head coach Alexis “Bubba” Close. They made the decision for Englund to play the first and third quarter at home games because she has to dance at halftime performances.

“Toni has to do her hair and makeup, and really it’s based on the type of dance we do that determines what quarters she plays,” Bubba said.

Englund’s day starts with arriving to school at 7 a.m. for drill team and has the class first period. She has basketball after school from 3-5 p.m. On week nights she does dance outside of school. However, she hasn’t seemed to crack under the stress yet. She finds time to complete her schoolwork, and have an occasional outing with friends on the weekends.

Making the varsity basketball team has given Englund more confidence because she has older girls influencing her. Whether it’s being in the starting line-up or going into the game seven minutes into the third quarter, she’s

BASKETBALL

6 2

Improve on record from last year

photo by DIANA PERCY

Starting against South and running through tunnel

Years saved Hours spent daily

doing what she loves.

Dancing and basketball give Englund the feeling of being in one of her favorite childhood movies, High School Musical.

“It’s almost like when Troy does basketball and is also in theater,” Englund said. “It’s such a weird combination to me because most people play sports like soccer and basketball but dancing makes it different.”

Through basketball and dance, Englund has grown very close to her teammates. She feels as though playing with her teammates has helped mature in dance and basketball.

“The coolest part about doing two varsity sports is you get to meet and become close with the upperclassmen,” Englund said.

“I love the feeling of stepping out on the court or wherever I’m dancing and being with the girls I love.”

12 3

Goals

Win nationals

Favorite moment

Putting corndogs in Quincy’s pillow at Dance Camp

DANCING

photo by JOSEPH CLINE

BROTHERHOOD OF BLADES

29

Old friends team up again to continue their passion of hockey

photo by KAITLYN STRATMAN

written by HARRISON GOOLEY

11.6

seconds were left in the third period. The game was tied 5-5 and the players, hearts pounding, scanned for windows to score.

Words flying from one player to another quickly turned into players getting checked into the boards. Then, Nick Bailey, a senior at the time, swept the puck from an opposing Northwest Arkansas attack-man and sped down the ice, juking out defenders one-byone. Bailey took the shot and it hit the cross bar, rocketing into the back of the net, putting Carriage Club up 6-5. Blue jerseys flooded the ice, and before Bailey could think about what had happened, he was smashed at the bottom of a sweaty pile of teammates. Having just made it to the championship game, the team couldn’t be happier.

After Carriage Club’s first year of having a high school hockey team, they took the season all the way to the Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL) championship. That was last year.

For Carriage Club’s hockey players, eighth grade was generally their final year to play until this last season. If a player wasn’t planning on attending Rockhurst

PLAYER

watt

13 STATS 2014-15

or playing for a new team, they were faced with unlacing their skates for the last time because Carriage Club didn’t offer hockey for high school players. That is, however, until Dan Saferstein, father of sophomore Oscar Saferstein, brought the idea of a high school hockey team into the picture. After eight months of petitioning the MAHSHL, Dan was able to gain approval for Carriage Club to have their first high school team.

“I just didn’t like watching the guys having to quit a sport they loved,” Dan said.

Thus, the Carriage Club junior varsity hockey team was created. This gave the players who had played Carriage hockey for the past ten years a chance to continue their careers.

Despite being a new team, the players have been teammates since they first learned to skate. They’ve been playing together since the age of four, each year learning new moves and different techniques to become a top contender in the MAHSHL. Now being sophomores and juniors, the Carriage team has an everlasting brotherhood.

The chemistry between the players is what sets them apart from other teams,

66

points it took to break the JV record

FURLA

99

81

save percentage as a goalie

says sophomore Jack Furla. The Carriage Club players have been playing together for eight years, whereas the other high school teams have had only two or three years of experience as a whole.

“We’ve been playing together since we were toddlers,” Furla said. “We know each other’s playing styles. We know what we are thinking. We just know each other. That’s why we can win.”

The team is made up of entirely East students besides two players. Sophomores Jonah Watt, Max Maday, Jack Furla, John Roney, Oscar Saferstein, Matt Hogan, Keith Barry and juniors Will Krebs and Max Leonard are the nine East students of the 11 players on the team.

Despite their success, the team has encountered a number of problems, one being ice time. In hockey, getting a place to practice is hard, especially at the Carriage Club. Carriage has hockey practices for ages four through high school, plus free skate and times designated for figure skating. That puts ice time at a premium. Last season, the team was forced to practice from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. due to the lack of time. But after they proved

MAday

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goals scored in the 201415 season

BARRY

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themselves last year, they earn an earlier 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. time slot.

Other sports also interfere with games and practices. This makes game times tough, because there can be a shortage of players.

But, when the entire team is together, they feel like they are unstoppable.

“When everyone is there, no one can beat us,” Furla said. “I guarantee it.”

Head coach Ben Blake is an East alum.

Back in 2002 and 2003, Blake was a captain for the East club hockey team. That year, they went 2-12. Unlike the old Lancers, the Carriage Club team had a winning record last year of 14-10.

Being a new high school team, Carriage was considered the underdog of the MAHSHL. They stunned the entire league by making it to the championship, but then losing to the Springfield Spirit.

This season, Carriage is looking to become a top contender for the championship. They are tied for third with a 3-3-2 record. With hopes of a title this season, the players are putting their all into every game.

“We are gonna kill everyone we play,” Oscar said.

504 minutes played in the 201415 season

saferstein

80

10

assists in the 201415 season

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CHRISTMAS TREE AND WREATH SALES

November 27th - December 23rd Shawnee Indian Mission: 3403 West 53rd St Fairway, KS

happy holidays!

17 Presents Donut Cake Peppermint Shake

Happy Birthday Logan

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written by ANNA MCCLELLAND photos by HANNAH MCPHAIL

EX R T H E AD RCIS E DIC E T

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esigned to keep drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12, going straight from school to the gym won’t be a problem with a S’Well water bottle.

Available in various colors and patterns, A S’well water bottle is the perfect balance of fashionable and functional. There is even a limited edition collection by Mara Hoffman for the real fashionista. Your recipient will be dying to Instagram a gym selfie with it.

$30-$50 Where to buy: www.happyplugs.com, Nordstroms

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nyone that loves running, walking or speed walking, most likely hates having to do so in the cold weather. A cozy pair of ear-warmers are the perfect gift for someone

who needs to brave the cold for their 6 a.m. runs. This way, they can avoid having their ears turn black and fall off from frostbite and they can actually enjoy running

$15-$30 Where to buy: North Face, Lululemon, Anthropologie

Are Oprah’s Favorite Things a little too out there for you? Is getting your dog a fur coat not really your style? Are animal shaped shot glasses not of much use to you? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Here is a list of useful gifts for anyone aiming to wow their friends with holiday spirit.

W

hen it’s the crack of dawn and I’ve got my waterproof puffy black mittens on to grab my frozen steering wheel, the last thing I want to do is take them off to send a text. A cute pair of texting gloves is a great solution. And this way, you don’t have to use the tip of your nose to skip a song on your phone. You can get texting gloves in endless colors and patterns at a relatively low cost. Your texting addict will stay warm and still be able to keep up when a group message is exploding.

A

smartphone camera lens kit is the perfect gift for the tech junkie that already seems to have it all. Check out this one at Urban Outfitters: it includes a fisheye, macro and wide angle lenses. You can also find them on Amazon.

With plenty of variety in the photos captured, the recipient will be snapping insta-worthy shots of your ornament exchange all night long.

$10-$30 Where to buy: Amazon, Urban Outfitters

in the cold weather. You can get some great athletic earwarmers at Lululemon and The North Face, or some more stylish ones at Anthropologie.

$5-$15 Where to buy: Target, Amazon

A

new pair of headphones is fitting for the person that loves to work out, but never wants to leave the computer. Happy Plugs, a cool new earbud company, has a wide variety of neon colors and metallic finishes to suit anyone.

These colorful earbuds are available in regular, in-

ear and sport earbuds.

Designed in Sweden, they are tech savvy and stylish. The recipient will be dying to ditch their holiday party so they can go to the gym and blast the Mariah Carey Christmas album with their new headphones.

$25-$45 Where to buy: www.swellbottle.com, Starbcuks

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photo by HAILEY HUGHES

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concrete

JUNGLE Senior Marketing students traveled to NYC to tour businesses, learn about marketing and have a little fun

photo by JOSEPH CLINE ABOVE | During their free time between visiting businesses, a group of boys bought a soccer ball from a street vendor to pass time. Senior Connor Weiford catches a fast ball thrown by senior Davis Finke. “It was a great opportunity to see examples of what I can do with my future,” Weiford said. “Also having so many friends on the trip made it a super memorable experience.”

photo by HAILEY HUGHES photo by JOSEPH CLINE

photo by HAILEY HUGHES UPPER RIGHT | After the Islanders’ Hockey game the group took the subway back to the hotel where two subway dancers performed for tips.

“The Islanders won in a shootout against the Blues, so the environment was really exciting,” senior Henry Sniezek said. “I was so pumped after the game, along with everyone else, and to see the dancers after that excitement was pretty fun.”

ABOVE | Maddie Mann prepares to take a bite out of the $1 pizza from the small pizza shop next door to the hotel the students stayed in.

The restaurant, Two Bros Pizza, served slices for nothing more than a dollar which made it a hit for a late night snack. “It was the best pizza I’ve ever had (sorry Minsky’s). I had it every night and it was totally worth the calories,” Mann said. “With it being only $1 it probably made it ten times better.”

TOP | Tom Peters, Nathan Frank and Jack Neville cheer on the Islanders during their game against the St. Louis Blues. “It was my first hockey game and it was really fun. Everyone was yelling and cheering and it got pretty loud after they won,” Neville said. “The best part was after they won and everyone was walking out of the stadium cheering and going crazy. We actually got on the NYC Snap Story.”

ABOVE | Part of the educational trip involved site seeing. One stop was at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum where an abundance of famous faces were turned into wax figures. Kara Koenig and Caroline Beck pose with the Katniss sculpture. “It was crazy how real they all looked,” Beck said.

“Jimmy Fallon was my favorite one there. It’s amazing how they can make those sculptures out of wax.”