Issue 8: Funding Fiasco by Northwest Passage

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADDISON SHERMAN

WHATS INSIDE:

RULE 14 PAGE .05 / YOURS TRULY, THE LAIR PAGE .07 / FUNDING FIASCO PAGE .11 / COLLEGE BOUND PAGE .21

Northwest

PASSAGE ISSUE 08 TABLE OF CONTENTS

06 08

THIS PRAIRIE IS ON FIRE

Environmental education class burns the prairie every year as a method of conservation

WE THE STUCO

Controversy arises when Student Council revises their constitution

P-U-T-N-A-M

FUNDING FIASCO

Putnam spells applause for the repertory theater class

Understanding the confounding process that drives Kansas education funding

REDUCE, REUSE, MAKE ART

Student artists participate in the annual Earth Day Art Show

MIND OF MINE REVIEW

GATEWAY TO SUCCESS

Zayn Malik releases his first solo album

Pitcher and outfielder Joe Todd remains single-mindedly focused on improvement

STAFF PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Co-Print Managing Editor Grace Gorenflo Co-Print Managing Editor Sophie Flores Online Managing Editor Jack Lynch

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor

Paden Chesney Paige Eichkorn Addison Sherman Taryn Smith

02 APRIL 25, 2016 | Vol. 47

SECTION EDITORS: News Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor Feature Editor Entertainment Editor Social Media Editor Ads Manager

STAFF WRITERS: Jack Lynch Grace Gorenflo Sophie Flores Matthew Owens Cadie Elder Keegan Dolinar Joshua Sherfy Maddison Jarman

Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer

STAFF DESIGNERS: Carter Adam Austin Bachert Ben Becker Kasey Gardner Anastasia Kling Asher Norberg Jackie Sayers Jennifer Silva Reed Williams

Staff Designer Staff Designer Staff Designer

Shelby Beaumont Mia McDonald Makaila Williams

OUR PURPOSE: T he purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the

interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during second hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly

supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial

board will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

NW PASSAGE | TOC 03

5/20/16

04 APRIL 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

RULE 14

hirty-five percent of high schoolers drank some amount of alcohol in the last 30 days, according to a 2013 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC). Of that 35 percent, 57 percent self-identified as athletes. I thought playing a team sport was supposed to deter students from drugs. Well, it does. But not from alcohol. High school athletes are more likely to use alcohol, but less likely to use other drugs, according to the CDC. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) has rules governing high school sports in Kansas. Rule 14, which deals with bona fide students, has come to my attention. Article One states, “In order to be eligible for participation, the student must be a bona fide undergraduate member of that school and in good standing.” Okay, great… makes sense. Skip to Article Three and you will find: “A student who uses any form of tobacco, illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, etc., at school events is not in good standing.” My first question is about the specific phrase “at school events.”

Drugs and alcohol should never come before academics and sports, especially for student athletes

SHRUGGING MY

FORBIDDEN SHOULDERS Anyone else getting tired of the dress code?

“

student’s clothing or appearance which is vulgar, indecent, obscene or insulting, or which promotes or encourages behavior such as smoking, drinking, drug use, physical or sexual violence or the use of illegal substances, or which promotes or encourages behavior such as smoking, drinking, drug use, physical or sexual violence or the use of illegal substances, or which promotes illegal activities is prohibited. Clothing such as pajamas, blankets, and house shoes or slippers is prohibited. Sagging pants, that reveal clothing worn under, will be addressed. Outdoor clothing, such as headgear, sunglasses, gloves, coats and/or other outerwear is to be removed upon entering the building.” I’ve read this policy four times and typed it into this article. Nowhere does it say that I can’t wear a bro tank to school. Right? Well, unless you think my shoulders can be classified as vulgar, indecent, obscene, insulting or promoting illegal stuff. And yet, earlier this year, I was stopped in the hall and told, in no uncertain terms, that I was not to wear my light gray bro tank with a Japanese letter on it. It definitely does not promote anything mentioned in the policy. I just want to know why. My teachers tell me that the policy requires one-inch straps, covered bellies and a whole bunch of other things that just aren’t in the policy. I understand that they used to be in there,

What, so an athlete can use drugs and drink at home? Or at a friend’s house? Or anywhere but a school event? My second question takes us to the NW Student Handbook, which discusses punishment for students who violate Rule 14. After the first offense, the athlete must complete a substance abuse program and comply with the coach’s discipline. If he/she has a second offense, the athlete will miss half of the season. And if, God forbid, the athlete violates Rule 14 again, he/she will be suspended from extracurricular activities for one calendar year. So my second question: are the rules governing punishment for violators of Rule 14 too lenient? To answer my question, I spoke with junior soccer player Seth Bowman, who violated Rule 14 last October. “The rule for high school athletics is great in my opinion,” Bowman said. “It gives kids a second chance. I believe it just depends on the student and their academic standing.” That raises another question, this time regarding academics. The handbook states that the athlete must “pass five full-credit courses during

but apparently a change was made. And maybe that’s the problem. The only specific items of clothing that are banned are pajamas and sagging pants. The rest of the policy is pretty general, open to interpretation. Who determines what is vulgar, indecent, obscene or insulting? Was the Kanji symbol on my bro tank offensive in some way? If so, someone needs to explain that to me. Honestly, what problem is there with guys wearing tank tops? Even if teachers claim that there has to be a one inch strap, the bro tank meets that requirement. If we take a second to really think about it, what is the problem with the shoulder region on people? There is nothing inappropriate about someone’s shoulders. There should be more focus on covering other areas than on someone showing “too much shoulder.” Also, the appropriateness of a student’s clothing could be subjective. For example, two students wear the same article of clothing. The article of clothing fits on one student appropriately, but some would argue that it fits the other student inappropriately. Should the person that wears the clothing that some people think innapropriate have to change into something else? If they are following the school policy, shouldn’t they be able to wear what they feel like? “A student’s clothing or general appearance which materially or substantially interferes with or disrupts the

the previous semester.” This means that a student with a 0.71 GPA can still be a student-athlete (D’s in five classes and F’s in two classes). Find me one college that will accept a student with such a low GPA. KSHSAA should require student athletes to have at least a 2.0 GPA in order to be eligible for participation (that’s a C average). I propose the following changes to the KSHSAA policy: 1) Implement random drug testing for athletes. These tests would be funded by a participation fee paid at the beginning of the season. 2) Reduce the number of offenses to two. A student who cannot put his/her sport before drugs and alcohol should not be granted the right to participate, and not be deemed “in good standing.” 3) Athletes must maintain a C average in all classes required for graduation, earning no less than a 65 percent in any course. These changes to the policy would hold athletes accountable for their actions, resulting in a decrease in drug and alcohol use by high school athletes.

+ BY REED WILLIAMS

educational environment or invades the rights of others is prohibited.” This 25-word description is what some teachers resort to when trying to enforce the policy. Teachers claim that when a student is wearing something inappropriate that it violates this clause. Does it really, though? If it isn’t specified, shouldn’t we have a green light on wearing what we please? If there are problems with the dress code, administrators should update the policy. I think there should be a meeting to discuss the dress code policy with administrators. Students are frustrated that they are being told not to wear clothing items that are technically not covered by the policy. And teachers are enforcing dress code rules that don’t exist. If teachers really have a problem with what students are wearing, they should be a part of the discussion about the dress code. Enforcement of the dress code is uneven. Some teachers take action, and others don’t, leaving students unsure as to which rules matter. There are holes in the dress code policy. It needs to be updated with administrator, teacher and student input. Once updated, the policy must be well publicized so we won’t keep getting nagged about our clothing choices.

+ BY CARTER ADAM

NW PASSAGE | opinion 05

THIS PRAIRIE IS ON FIRE Environmental education class burns the prairie every year as a method of conservation

Students spread out, carrying heavy packs of water on their backs that would allow them to soak the fences and other parts of the environmental lab that they didn’t want to burn. Environmental Education 2 students participated in the prairie burn on March 25. The burn prevents invasive trees and plants from crowding out the grassland while returning nutrients to the soil. “We open every single gate,” senior Cole Young said. “We have placed water buckets everywhere, just in case something gets out of hand. The main safety thing is knowing where everyone is.” At the back corner of the student parking lot, near the entrance to the environmental lab, a large fire truck pulled up to the curb. A group of firemen emerged from the truck and gathered the students to discuss required safety measures. “For the most part, you can just put it out where you need to,” Shawnee firefighter Scott Johnson said. “It’s just all manipulating the fire, where it needs to go and where it doesn’t need to go.” Environmental Ed 2 teacher Mike Pisani lit a flare, igniting the fuel from the tank on his back and walked along the grass line setting it on fire. The students walked behind him with flappers, tools used to stomp out the fire, and water packs to smother flames outside the prairie section. “We start with a backfire. This fire has to burn against the wind, so it goes slow,” Pisani said. “Then we’ll start the headfire. The headfire goes with the wind and goes really fast. As [the two fires] meet each other, it just puts itself out because there’s no fuel.” The fire ripped through the field while Pisani made his way to other areas, setting fire to the taller grasses. The firefighters stayed with the students to oversee things and give them advice. “On those days that the fire hazards exist, there are grass fires all over the country,” Johnson said. “They pick up so fast and, if you’re not paying attention, one gust of wind will come and just throw it.” As the fire died, the students stood examining what appeared to be a wasteland. A few small fires continued smoldering. The students walked the perimeter of the field, smothering any hint of fire. “It was sort of like a huge bonfire that we had to babysit,” senior Katrina Coyan said. “We got to watch and work with a fire for a few hours instead of being in class.”

+BY AUSTIN BACHERT

After controlling the fire, senior Phil Shriver walks out of the environmental lab wetlands. Shriver was monitoring the fire to make sure it did not spread outside of the lab.

PHOTOS BY BRYCE REX

06 APRIL 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

Senior Colin Anthony extinguishes flames during the prairie burn to prevent the trail from burning. The prairie burn is an annual event where students in Environmental Education 2 burn the grasses in the environmental lab. “I felt like we didn’t have control [of the fire].” Anthony said. “We thought we knew what [the fire] would do, but it didn’t do exactly what we thought.”

Yours Truly,

The Lair

This year’s edition of the yearbook has been completed

400

pages. Bound by a cover Wednesday, too,” Bamberger added. that has been scrutinized Work on “Yours Truly” began last April, and redesigned time and time just days after the staff of the 2015 Lair had again. Inside, every image is captured, edited survived another Hell Week. In the months and carefully placed next to the words that since, photographers, writers and designers remind you to stop and reminisce. The pages have incorporated their own styles and hold the memories of the moments that talents into the theme of this year’s book. mattered most, told by the students whose “It’s supposed to be a very personal faces you passed in the halls every day. theme,” Keegan said. “We originally went Those same smiles line pages of pictures in with the idea that ‘But in Reality’ would that you’ll someday point to and say, “I be our theme. As we worked, that whole idea remember when…” of reality, being real and true, evolved into Late on April 15, the 47th edition of ‘Yours Truly.’” the Lair, “Yours Truly,” was completed. Though major aspects of the book’s design Yearbook staff members are no strangers to are kept secret, the intimate nature of the late nights. The harsh glow of iMac screens theme will be carried throughout the book. illuminated Room 151 long after the sun “This year the book will look more set. The culmination of a year’s worth of personal,” Schreiber said. “We wanted it to work, preparation and stress is something feel like you wrote in it or drew on it.” yearbook students refer to as “Hell Week.” Hell Week brings out last-minute For two weeks in March, the journalism moments of genius and, admittedly, a few room was constantly filled with students tears. But the work pays off. Staffers are wrapped in blankets and baggy sweatshirts. proud to create a nationally-recognized Fueled by coffee and a strict, impending student publication. It’s hard to understand deadline, the final touches for design, why yearbook editors remain involved in writing and photos were added to the book’s yearbook, with the added stress and extra pages. Even after the last page is submitted, work it creates. Each editor offered a similar the work isn’t done until every page has explanation. gone through the proof process and been “I just feel like I found my place here,” returned to the publisher — a daunting and Schreiber said. time-consuming process. “You get attached to the book, but mostly Yearbook is a commitment. Staff members you get attached to the people,” Keegan spend hours perfecting their work. One class added. “I liked to write, and I could get period a day quickly turns into a full-time involved here with people I liked. I felt like I job. Co-editors-in-chief Jordan Arnold and had a purpose in high school.” Kaleigh Schreiber, along with design editor When the six tons of books arrive and are Kara Bamberger and managing editor Sarah carried through the doors of Room 151 in Keegan, couldn’t afford the time to step out May, a cheer will echo down the halls. On of the room for interviews. The four laughed Distribution Day, students wielding pens as the sunlight began to fade. Working from will scribble their farewells on the glossy their swivel chairs in the backroom, they pages at the back of the book. recounted the hours spent by everyone on It’s the job of the yearbook staff to create staff in order to create a yearbook. a book that captures the events of an entire “Every Tuesday we are here from 3 to year. A book for the students. A book that is 10 after school,” Schreiber said. “Then on yours, truly. Saturdays, [editors] are here from 8 to 4. +BY JOSH SHERFY And we usually come in on Thursdays after school. And sometimes Fridays.” “Sometimes we’re here on Mondays, though,” added Keegan. “And the last couple weeks it’s been

Looking at the designs for this year’s Lair, seniors Kara Bamberger, Kaleigh Schreiber, Jordan Arnold and Sarah Keegan discuss what their next task is. Schreiber and Arnold are coeditors-in-chief, Bamberger is design editor, and Keegan is managing editor.

PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

“You get attached to the book, but mostly you get attached to the people. I liked to write, and I could get involved here with people I liked. I felt like I had a purpose in high school.” — senior Sarah Keegan

NW PASSAGE | feature 07

WE THE STUCO.. . T

he change was not a secret. An email was sent out to the entire student body on election day explaining the desired constitutional change; it even specified what a “yes” vote would mean versus a “no” vote. That same day, the information contained in the email was read aloud at an all-school assembly. The amendment passed with almost 82-percent of the vote. In spite of the overwhelming majority, most students either don’t seem to know what they voted for or simply didn’t care enough to speak up. Except for one. “I think [the amendment] is an issue because of the way it was passed,” sophomore Kelsie Crable said. “The explanation at the assembly was brief and rushed at the end when everyone was getting up. Some students didn’t read the email because we had no clue an explanation was in there. All of this led to students who had no idea what they were voting on. We signed away our vote without knowing that’s what we were doing.” Although Crable sees this constitutional change as StuCo just looking out for themselves, there are two sides to every story. “Our constitution governs our organization,”

Controversy ar is Council revises thes when St udent eir constitution

StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent said. “I think that there’s been some confusion that this document actually affects the students of Northwest. In some ways it does, obviously, because we have elections and students vote in those. But it really is more of a bylaws that governs our organization. This [change] allows us more control over our organization and the day-to-day running of things.” The new amendment allows StuCo to alter their constitution without a two-thirds majority vote from the students. StuCo will now need a twothirds majority vote only within their organization, approval from their sponsor and approval from their assigned administrator — currently, associate principal Nancy Tynon. “I think the purpose was to allow for efficiency,” Tynon said. “When you are in an organization, there is protocol for everything that drives and dictates everything you do and how you do it. If they want to change the protocol or policy or how they handle certain situations within their council, then this [constitution change] would make it more efficient.” Prior to this amendment, constitutional changes had to be put on either the presidential or representative ballots, which are only given out in March and April. This amendment not only

makes the process more efficient, but allows for greater frequency. Although the constitutional change gives StuCo more power, the intent was never to leave the student body out of the process, according to Dent. “One of the things we talked about with Kelsie [Crable] personally was the ability to have an amendment that would require us to have an open forum anytime a constitutional change was proposed,” Dent said. “It is important for us to have some type of bill of rights that we create for what students rights are.” As far as making open forums happen, it is a twoway street, where StuCo and the student body alike have to speak up. “It’s important for them to contact us because, if they’re not being vocal to the student council members, nothing can be done,” student body president Hallie Ingraham said. “I think a lot of the time there’s a lot of discussion behind the scenes, and we’re not aware of it, so we hold things like open forums. We have five people show up. We really want them to get involved. It’s good that they have their opinions. I’m happy that they care.”

+BY CADIE ELDER & GRACE GORENFLO

STUCO MEMBERS GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHAT BYLAWS THEY WOULD CHANGE Junior class president Drew Vanderleest (next year’s publicist) Currently: If there’s only one pair of candidates for president and vice president, they’re automatically given the positions. Change: If there is a disagreement over who would be president, both candidates have to run and the student body would decide who is president and vice president out of the two. Sophomore class vice president Will Gross (next year’s junior class president) Currently: If there are three pairs of candidates running for president and vice president, one pair has to be knocked out through the primary system. Change: Get rid of the primary system and let all candidates give speeches in the auditorium, and only knock it down to two pairs if there are four or five pairs running. Currently: Candidates aren’t allowed to campaign for the primary vote. Change: Candidates should be able to campaign throughout the school using posters and social media [prior to the primary]. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY BEAUMONT

08 APRIL 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS Senior Adam Baughman, as Charlito “Chip” Tolentino, gets dragged off stage by senior Shannon Bartkoski after misspelling a word in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Bartkoski would give the contestant a juice box and send them off if a they misspelled a word.

P-U-T-N-A-M Putnam spells applause for the repertory theater class

“IT WAS WORTH IT. I JUST REMINDED MYSELF WHY I DO WHAT I DO, AND IT MADE IT EASIER. IT SURE WASN’T EASY, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.” — assistant director Maddie Munsey

he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the 2016 spring musical, opened April 7, for a three-night run in the Greg Park Auditorium. The musical follows six students through the course of a highlycompetitive spelling bee. The six compete with each other and four audience members to win the bee. Rarely seen in musicals, Putnam featured improvisation and included unsuspecting audience members. “It was kind of weird to predict what would happen when we had actual audience members [performing],” junior Kenzi Parsons, who played Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, said. “This show is so funny that a lot of the time we’d have issues with breaking character and bursting out laughing mid-scene.” Logainne, “an awkward, nervous wreck,” was pushed by her parents to win at all costs. Marcy Park (Megan Dunn) rebels by not winning for once. Olive Ostrovsky (Abey Lewis) insists that her father will show up, even as the spelling bee winds down. “I could really relate to this show,” assistant director Maddie Munsey said. “All these kids are put under so much stress. So much is

expected [of the characters].” A lot was also expected of Munsey, who in addition to being the assistant director, was also stage manager, publicity head and props mistress. “I’m not going to lie, it was very difficult and very stressful,” Munsey said. “However, it was worth it. I just reminded myself why I do what I do, and it made it easier. It sure wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.” Munsey wasn’t the only person facing difficulties. “Barfeé was an extremely hard character to play,” senior Frederick Rivera said. “He is supposed to be fat and nerdy. I am neither of those things. He has Asperger’s syndrome as well. [To adapt], I kinda kept talking and acting like I was the character even off stage. I researched Asperger’s to see how kids with that challenge act and live.” Putnam was a story of life, loss, learning and a little bit of love. “It was such a meaningful show,” Munsey said. “I’m so happy I got this opportunity.”

+BY JACK LYNCH

NW PASSAGE | feature 09

ON MAY 17, DURING 7TH HOUR, EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE THEIR YEARBOOKS.

Will there be one for you? SEE SUSAN MASSY IN ROOM 151 TO GET YOUR NAME ON THE WAIT LIST BEFORE MAY 1.

CITY OF SHAWNEE

Summer Aquatic Center Positions The City of Shawnee is seeking enthusiastic, dependable workers for the 2016 Summer pool season. Applicants must be able to work Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lifeguard certification calsses are available through the Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department. Positions available include -Assistant Pool Manager must be 18 years of age and hold current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certification. Starting salary is $12.00/hr -Lifeguards must be 16 years of age and hold a current American Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certifications. Starting salary is $8.75/hr -Swim Instructors must be 15 years of age or older. Training will be provided. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Concession/Front Desk Attendant must be 16 years of age. Starting salary is $7.25/hr -Assistant Dive Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior diving experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr -Assistant Swim Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior swimming experience. Starting salary is $9.75/hr Pool Employment Applications available on-line at www.cityofshawnee.org and at Shawnee City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shanwee Kansas 66203 Positions open until filled All positions required pre-employment drug screen. EOE M/F

10 APRIL 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADDISON SHERMAN

ss that nfounding proceg co e th g in d n a Underst ucation fundin drives Kansas ed E ELDER, FY, CADI +BY JOSH SHER A KLING LO & ANASTASI GRACE GORENF

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

Funding Fiasco continued...

ansas is a large state. The 15th largest to be exact. This is never more apparent than when cruising along I-70 toward the Rocky Mountains. The topography changes, from the rolling Flint Hills to the endless fields of crops. The thick forests on the eastern border make way for miles upon miles of open fields to the west. The population changes. The Northeast’s urban lifestyle is a stark contrast to the rural towns in the Northwest. There are 105 counties, but no two are exactly alike. These discrepancies are what make Kansas unique. Unfortunately, it also provides some challenges. The far-reaching economic spectrum and diverse cultural landscape have created differing opinions in regard to K-12 education funding. Should the Kansas Department of Education retain the power it once held as the primary decision-maker in K-12 education funding? Should individual districts from different corners of the state be forced to follow the same funding formula? That’s up to the Kansas Supreme Court.

How we got here

In 1992, a per-pupil funding formula was established in the hope of providing money proportionally to school districts across the state. Per pupil financing is based on wealth factors, including the property tax, property value, cost of living and other monetary factors within the districts’ domain to determine the assessed valuation of the district. This number is then divided by the number of students in a district. SMSD superintendent Jim Hinson describes per-pupil funding as “[the state] determining, for purposes of equity, what it would cost to educate a student. It is based on the wealth factor, which is assessed valuation divided by the number of pupils.” Although this decision was approved, it was met with some resistance. Those who resided in poorer districts argued that per-pupil funding did not take into account the added cost of educating low-income or immigrant students. The wealthy districts also saw the formula as detrimental and held they should not have to suffer because they operate in a wealthier area. They argued that the superiority of their district added to the overall appeal and livability of their county. The formula did prove relatively successful through the ’90s and early 2000’s. After public school budget changes in 2008 and 2009, four school districts filed a lawsuit, Gannon v. The State of Kansas, in 2010 claiming they had been underfunded. As litigation continued in the Gannon case, Gov. Sam Brownback enacted sweeping tax cuts in 2012 hoping to spur business growth. These tax cuts have underperformed expectations, leading to severe budget shortfalls. In March 2015, Brownback repealed the 1992 per-pupil formula, and replaced it with a two-year block grant. On Feb. 11, 2016, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled the block grant unconstitutional and required an additional $50 million in school funding to comply with the Kansas Constitution. If the Court’s demands are not met by June 30, Kansas public schools will be shut down.

THE BASICS

HOW THE MONEY MOVES Citizens pay property tax, sales tax and income tax

$ Tax money is added to the state budget in Topeka

SMSD receives funding from the block grant

Where we are

tage of the A percen given to budget is u cation d public ed stricts an (school di sities) er iv n state u

Prior to adjournment for their April break, the legislature passed a bill that implemented a hold harmless clause for every school district in the state for the remainder of the block grant. This clause ensures that every district will receive the same level of funding from the state in the two upcoming school years as they did in the 2014-15 school year. “The legislature has done the right thing with the short-term fix in passing this bill,” Hinson said.“We need a new formula next year, but this is the best case scenario for the short-term fix. “Though we aren’t receiving any less money, all of our expenditures go up,” Hinson added.

12 APRIL 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

“If one of your teachers worked another year, they would move on the salary schedule. So we have millions of dollars of salary schedule movement. Let’s say KCPL increased their rates [for our utilities], and it costs us three quarters of a million dollars next year. [Or take] transportation costs: those increases will be a million plus. We are going to have additional costs, without additional revenue.” Although the situation may seem tumultuous, both Hinson and Gov. Sam Brownback’s policy analyst Ian Fury think that the June 30 deadline will be met. “We believe the June 30 deadline has already been met with the bill the legislature has passed and the governor signed,” Fury said. “We think that’s a fix the court will accept, but it is obviously up to them. It’s not up to us. It is our hope and our belief that [House Bill 2655] will make it so that we will have time to consider [a new formula].”

Where we’re headed

If the bill is approved as anticipated, school will begin as scheduled on Aug. 15. The goal of House Bill 2655 is to adjust the equalization formulas of the local option budget and the capital outlay budget so that they mirror one another. Until now, the equalization formula of the local option budget favored the wealthier districts, while the capital outlay budget rendered both wealthy and poor districts as equals. “Johnson County has higher property values than southwest Kansas. Based on those formulas, dollars that would typically belong to Johnson County are equalized and sent out to southwest Kansas so their districts aren’t being short changed,” Fury said. House Bill 2655 been approved by the legislature and signed by the governor who hope that it will meet the requirements of the Kansas Supreme Court.The court will hear the bill on May 10. If the proposal does not satisfy the Supreme Court, the bill allows for supplementary funds to be taken from the state’s Extraordinary Need Fund, an additional $12.3 million set aside for cases of significant enrollment fluctuation. The bill does not address the concern that the general operating fund [GOF] has increased annually by only a fraction of a percent over the last seven years and, therefore, is not a long term solution to the finance issue. In order to compensate for increased expenditures, each district will redistribute the finances in the general operating budget. One obvious change in the district has been adjusting teacher schedules and courses offered. “We’ve utilized teachers teaching six out of the seven periods in the day for the most part. The next thing to look at is classes that are very small [with] six, seven or eight kids,” principal Lisa Gruman said. “That’s probably not going to be something that we can offer because of the utilization of resources.” This change for teachers has not gone unnoticed in the Governor’s office. Fury discussed the Governor’s proposed introduction of the contentious merit based teacher pay scale to fill in the gaps that a schedule-based pay scale cannot fill. “[Using a merit-based pay scale] would be up to the individual school district,” Fury said. “We want to give as much power to the individual districts as possible.” A merit scale would reward teachers who continually improve the academic achievement of their own students. The savings that would result from raises being based on achievement, not tenure and education level, would remain in the GOF to be used on other expenses. Fury hopes to carry some aspects of the block grant into the new funding formula. “[The block grant] made it so these funds, such as capital outlay … can now be used to redirect money to the classroom [if schools districts wish]. School districts get a set amount of money every year for building maintenance and new buildings,” Fury said. “But if they don’t need that money, if they already have state of the art buildings, they now have the option to redirect that money to the classroom.”

One thing is for certain: the proposed funding formula must address district needs across Kansas’ broad economic and social spectrum. Education, and how it is funded, has been a topic of controversy for as long as students have been stepping into classrooms. From the governor’s office to the households of students, regardless of district, age, political influence or social status, Kansans care about education. If any progress is going to be made in resolving and restructuring the current funding issues, proponents from both sides must compromise and ultimately accept that everyone is fighting for what is best for today’s students. The outlook is not a bright one, due to the ongoing financial straits facing the state, but with upcoming hearings and months of discussion ahead, there is time to look for light at the end of the tunnel.

INFOGRAPHICS COMPILED BY GRACE GORENFLO & ANASTASIA KLING

FROM

THE AND

STUDENTS

TEACHERS

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNDING FIASCO? HOW IS THE LACK OF FUNDING FIASCO AFFECTING THE SCHOOL?

Government spending of tax dollars is not balanced. Not just state governments but the federal government, too. Our political leaders claim to value education and yet schools are underfunded.” — sophomore Abigail Terrell

I feel that if everyone could sacrifice just a little, it could help the whole situation. — junior Gillian Alvey

It would be really tough [if school started late] because I teach all AP and IB classes. Next year the AP exam is coming May 5. If schools start two weeks late, a month late, whatever that might be, it’s that much less time we have to cover the content that’s going to be on the exam no matter what. Time is pretty precious.” — Rebecca Anthony, AP U.S. History and IB History of the Americas

[If school started late] my school days would feel rushed. Teachers might be trying to squeeze in things from the days when we weren’t here and it might be more difficult to learn. — sophomore Mihir Shroff

I think anything that throws students and educators out of rhythm becomes a distraction that ripples into the classroom, we are all in an annual routine that we ought to honor and stick to.” — Kendrick Blackwood, English 10 and English 11

By the Numbers Base State Aid Per Pupil [BSAPP] is the amount of money per student added to each district’s’ general operating fund. Since the block grant was put in place, the per pupil formula has been frozen until a new funding formula is created. Under the block grant, schools receive the same amount of money from the state that they did in the 2014-15 school year for the next two school years.

General State Aid Formula: Base State Aid Per Pupil x Adjusted Enrollment = State Financial Aid

IN THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR, THE AVERAGE STUDENT COST

$3,852

IN THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR, THE AVERAGE STUDENT COST

$3,852

IN THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR, THE AVERAGE STUDENT COST

$3,838

IN THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR, THE AVERAGE STUDENT COST

$3,838

NW PASSAGE | feature 13

BREAKING DOWN

THE BUDGET UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES INTO THE SCHOOL BUDGET

f the Kansas Legislature is unable to resolve Ischool the funding fiasco before the June 30 deadline, doors will remain shut.

This isn’t a snow day. There is no parade for a Royals’ World Series win and it won’t show up as “teacher work day” on the calendar. Rumors that the laptops are the source of the financial drain and that Gov. Sam Brownback is pocketing the money himself have spread throughout the halls. Far fetched and unsupported claims have further muddied an already confusing dispute. Understanding how budgeting works in SMSD is the first step in understanding Kansas’ education finance shortfalls. The new fiscal year for SMSD begins July 1. “We are currently in the process of developing and planning the budget for next year,” assistant superintendent of communications Leigh Anne Neal said. “A big challenge is [that] we are waiting on information from our Legislature.” Schools get money in what SMSD chief financial officer Russell Knapp calls the three-prong

approach: property tax, sales tax and income tax (see graphic on page 12). “Prior to this year, we operated and planned our budget based on the school finance formula [the per-pupil formula enacted in 1992],” Knapp said. “School districts would get their state aid based on the number of students in their school district [with] additional weighting based on the formula components. When we went to the block grant [starting in the 2015-1016 school year], the legislators suspended that formula to provide state funding stability and time to come up with a new formula.” School funds are distributed across three buckets: operating, capital outlay and bonds and interest. Block grant money goes into the operating funds bucket. “Our operating funds pay for our teachers and other staff, utilities, student transportation and supplies,” Knapp said. “We have another source of funding we call the ‘capital outlay fund’... [which] was not impacted by the block grant. This fund, which is assessed locally, is used to maintain our infrastructure, purchase equipment, repave parking lots

General Operating Fund: supplies services payroll

or replace the roof on a building.” The buckets are separated so funds for operating costs are not spent elsewhere, like new construction. Within the operating bucket, 85 percent is spent on teacher salaries and benefits; the remaining 15 percent goes to utilities and transportation. “If the district were to have to make significant cuts, we’d have to look at personnel, class size, supply line,” Neal said. “We would be looking at all of our budget lines and our expenditure budgets.” The Legislature was given until June 30 to come up with a new funding formula. Their proposal, HB 2655, was approved by the governor on April 6. This bill is currently waiting on a Supreme Court ruling to determine whether it meets the criteria set by the court. “The Kansas Supreme Court ruled the legislative plan unconstitutional and directed the Kansas Legislature to make the appropriate adjustments,” Knapp said. “They did not offer a solution, they just directed them to ‘fix it.’”

+BY CADIE ELDER

BUDGET BUCKETING there are three distinct buckets that make up school funding

Bonds and Interests (LOB)

14 APR. 22, 2016 | Vol. 47

Capital Outlay: new building construction and renovation

reduce,reuse, make art Student artists participate in the annual Earth Day Art Show

ummaging through trash and recycling bins, junior Chloe McCrary searches for the materials to construct her ideal creation. Once complete, her piece will be entered in the upcoming art show. A first-time participant, McCrary has decided to create an underwater landscape. “Last year, I was able to see all the cool pieces in the show and was inspired to make my own this year,” McCrary said. “I’m using old diabetic insets and tubing to make jellyfish and suspending them from old plastic hangers I dug out of the trash.” Due April 21, these works will be judged by sponsor David Hunt’s chosen faculty member, April

22. Any NW student can enter a piece in this event, providing it is made completely out of materials that would have otherwise been destined for the dump. “The art show has an impactful meaning about recycling,” senior Jason Wang said. “It’s also saying one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and you make art out of that trash.” The art show proves to young artists that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, according to McCrary, art made out of trash is still art. “Usually there’s a discrepancy between what people think constitutes [art] and what really does,” McCrary said. “The Earth Day Art Show is a great way to teach people that students making art out of literal trash are still artists. Even better, the art show promotes green living and being earth-friendly.” Prizes are awarded to those who receive the highest ratings. The prizes are donated and the only confirmed prize is a HD Kindle Fire Tablet computer. To Hunt, the prizes are secondary. “In truth, every day is Earth Day,” Hunt said. “We have got to all get in the habit of realizing we’re all connected to the earth. We’re all part of it, and we need to take care of it because it’s our home.”

+BY BENJAMIN BECKER / GRAPHICS BY PADEN CHESNEY

“I’m making Icarus, the guy from Greek mythology,” senior Jason Wang said. “I say he represents how humans are going — flying too close to the sun and not thinking ahead. We’re going to crash and burn.”

PHOTOS BY TARYN SMITH

NW PASSAGE | feature 15

ITALIAN DELIGHT By Avelluto Bros

Restaurant - Pizzeria - Deli 6522 Martway Mission, Kansas 66202 THE FINEST COMPLIMENT I COULD EVER RECIEVE IS A REFERRAL FROM MY FRIENDS AND CLIENTS! GO COUGARS!

16 APR. 25, 2016 | Vol. 47

913-262-7564

THIS MONTH IN HASHTAGS +BY CATER ADAM / GRAPHICS BY PADEN CHESNEY

#hijackerselfie

#OpeningDay The Kansas City Royals started another season April 3 with a home opener against the New York Mets. The game was close with a final score of 4-3. During the Royals’ win, fans Tweeted their support for their favorite teams, anticipating who will be crowned this year’s World Series Champion.

EgyptAir flight MS181 was hijacked March 29 by suspect Seif al-Din Mustafa who claimed to have an explosive belt on during the time of the hijack. Passenger Benjamin Innes asked the hijacker for a picture. “It has to be the best selfie ever!” Innes told the Daily Mail. When Innes posted the picture on Twitter, many users became upset because of how many people were put in danger by a picture.

#nationalchampionship Villanova won the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Twitter blew up with celebratory tweets of Villanova’s victory. Predictions were also flooding on Twitter about the women’s basketball National Championship, where UConn beat Syracuse 82 to 51.

#SFSU

A video of San Francisco State University student Cory Goldstein being harassed by a woman on March 28 has gone viral. This dispute began when the woman accused Goldstein of cultural appropriation because of his dreadlocks. In the video, Goldstein begins to leave the area when the woman grabs him, pulls him down the stairs and continues to antagonize him. Many people Tweeted their outrage about the video.

#drake

Drake released two new singles: “One Dance,” featuring Kanye West and Jay Z, and “Pop Style.” On iTunes, “One Dance” has earned an average customer rating of 4.5 stars. “Pop Style” has averaged 4.2 stars. The tracks also reached the top two spots on Billboard.

NW PASSAGE | entertainment 17

+BY ASHER NORBERG

GWEN STEFANI THIS IS WHAT THE TRUTH FEELS LIKE

wen Stefani’s solo career after new wave/ska group No Doubt has seen better days. Her third independent release, This is What the Truth Feels Like, is a mediocre attempt to put Stefani

PHOTO COURTESY OF ECX.IMAGES-AMAZON.COM back where she was 10 years ago: at the top. Most of the album is just generic pop, and the production isn’t much better. Songs like “Misery” and “You’re my Favorite” could be sung by any other female pop artist. Lyrics like “You’re like drugs to me” and “I’ve been there, done that, buyed it, tried it” make it seem like Stefani is trying too hard to seem hip again.

I did like the song “Where Would I Be.” This funk-influenced track stood out against the white bread of the rest of the album. The song features a strong reggae beat and a hook that sticks in your head the whole day. It is followed up by an equally fun track, “Make Me Like You.” Stefani really delivers on these tracks, with the early 2000-esque production working well.

The second half of the album falls short. With awkward “rapping” on “Red Flag”, reminiscent of 2004’s “Hollaback Girl,” and no other stand out songs, the album ends weakly. For fans of classic Stefani, this album isn’t her best, but the few songs worth listening to go above and beyond.

+BY JACK LYNCH

WEEZER

WHITE ALBUM

t is time to admit it. Weezer will never match their first album’s critical success with it’s pure, ’90s-garage-punk-alt gold. But it’s not the ’90s, and Weezer, now on their 10th album, is a band of millionaire dads. Once you move past the fact

PHOTO COURTESY OF ECX.IMAGES-AMAZON.COM that Weezer has already blown through their greatest material, Weezer, the band’s fourth self-titled album, is an enjoyable romp down the beaches of Los Angeles. From the opening riff on optimistic “California Kids” to the closing notes of the melancholy “Endless Bummer,” the surfer vibe is always there. It may not be front-and-center, but it

permeates the album. That being said, Weezer’s album is nothing ground-breaking. In truth, most of it seems forgettable. Eventually, the beachy themes become monotonous, and the songs blur together, and not in a good way. Individually, the songs are well-done, and some are rather good, like “Summer Elaine

and Drunk Dori,” “Jacked Up” and “Do you Wanna Get High?” All of these sound and feel different than the beachy-good-times feel of the rest of the album. This is a slightly above-average album, and one of Weezer’s better efforts, but ultimately will be little more than an afterthought in their now 24-year history.

+BY ASHER NORBERG

ZAYN MALIK MIND OF MINE

ayn Malik’s freshman album, Mind of Mine, is a flawlessly executed breakaway from One Direction. Malik left his boyband image and sound for a more mature pop. Assertive lyricism and ’80s synths pull together to show a different side of Malik, one that was masked behind the banality of One Direction.

18 APR. 25, 2016 | Vol. 47

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGES.RAPGENIUS.COM However, his desire to remain a “bad boy” is still painfully apparent. The album cover features a tattooed baby Malik posing for a school picture. We get it, Zayn, you are really edgy, but let’s not pretend Lil Wayne didn’t do it first with his covers for Tha Carter III and IV. The album’s production is amazing. Each song is packed with a thousand different influences, from jazz, rock, gospel and funk. R&B is strongly referenced on this album, keeping it fresh with each new song. Drum

machines give it a post-disco feel, and Malik’s falsetto soars through every track. One song that caught my ear was “sHe.” While the lyrics are a boring cliché — “Bright lights, but she’s fading / Feels right, she’s crazy” — the music behind it is a perfect pop song. An ambient din wanders around at the beginning of the song, brought together by a dancy melody that throws you into the first verse. His lyrics are chopped short to add to the dance vibe. In breaking with One Direction, it was

assumed that Malik would do some serious rebranding. Going by simply “ZAYN” is almost pretentious, and the stylized song titles such as “BeFoUr” and “dRuNk” make you wonder if he doesn’t know how caps lock works. Aesthetically, this album has flaws, but, musically, this is a pop masterpiece. A mesh of genres, instruments and influences, this album is truly what the future of pop looks like.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIVINELIFESTYLE.COM

WELLTH

+BY ANASTASIA KLING

ellth is about how to live life while still being responsible and resourceful. It explains how money influences happiness in your life, even when it’s a source of stress. With a topic change every chapter, the book stays fresh while author Jason Wachob relates it all back to money. The cover doesn’t reveal itself to be a typical selfhelp book, but, once you’re

through the first chapter, it becomes a reliable source for a to read because he did not stick with one idea. The chapters therapeutic reference. Even though it was a self-help book, were unfocused. These ideas felt random and unnecessary, but Wellth was entertaining to read; it compels both readers living did not impact my idea of the book. on a fixed income and readers who aren’t. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SELF-HELP BOOK, WELLTH Every chapter contained quotes that belong in the WAS ENTERTAINING TO READ Pinterest search results for “inspiring”. I liked these quotes because they were relevant to the topic of the chapter. This book was enlightening. I found it enjoyable to read Most of the quotes are from celebrities, but they aren’t the because of the mixture of topics that combined to form an overused clichés I’ve heard. informative and worthwhile book. The only drawback I noticed was the list format Wachob uses in a few parts of the book. This made the topics difficult

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAMINGUNCUT.COM

SAINTS ROW IV +BY KEEGAN DOLINAR

aints Row IV is the second free Xbox 360 game with gold of April, and it is the perfect mixture of goofiness and fun gameplay. After Saints Row The Third, you are given the title of president, and then, in a clichéd routine, the planet gets invaded. Its population is placed into pods to be used for a power source. Sound familiar? Yes, this is basically the plot of The Matrix. This revelation gives the game its wings and allows it to claim the title of

wackiest Saints Row game to-date. become stale and I spammed one or two attacks just to run The characters and script for this game actually made me through the game as fast as I could. laugh. Two characters arguing heatedly about the differences Even if the combat sometimes falls flat, there are still some between a mech suit and a robot kept me entertained. In surprises in the main missions that kept me entertained. comparison to the great scripted dialogue, random THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR SCRIPT FOR THIS GAME interactions with civilians fall flat. The dialogue gets ACTUALLY MADE ME LAUGH stale and repeated quickly. Early in the game, the player gains the ability to sprint. This seemingly basic skill Also, as in earlier games, you can play online co-op with a makes every vehicle obsolete, since sprinting allows the friend and add to the chaos of two people sprinting around at player to travel faster than any vehicle in the playable world. light speed. This removes some of the value in customizing your cars This game is going to be staying in my gaming library for (which was almost half of the experience of the last title). a while to come for its over-the-top cynical comedy alone. Toward the end of the main game, the variety of enemies

NW PASSAGE | entertainment 19

20 APR. 25, 2016 | Vol. 47

Level

How have the people at Northwest helped you?

Austin Sanders (Basketball) Nebraska Wesleyan University “Northwest has helped me out a lot, especially this year, with the talent we practice and play against. It’s basically given me an extra year to start preparing for college basketball.” “It’s been a very long process to choose where I’m going to school. When I visited Nebraska Wesleyan, it felt perfect. I loved the school, the city, the basketball coaches, the team and social life. After I saw it, the decision was easy to make.” Gerritt Prince (Football) Butler County Community College “The person at Northwest who has helped me have the opportunity [is], first and foremost, coach Bo Black. He developed me into a much greater football player and person because he genuinely cares. Second would be athletic director Angelo Giacalone. He has helped me through the whole process. Everyone at Northwest believed that I can be a great football player, which is very encouraging.” “I picked Butler Community College due to the fact that they are one of [the most] — if not the most — prestigious community colleges in the nation. I feel that they will give me my best opportunity to get me to the next level. I also have good friends attending the school which was a big factor in why I chose it.”

After four years in high school athletics, these 16 athletes will continue competing at the collegiate level. One will be playing NCAA Division 1, one will be playing NCAA Divison 2 and three will play in the NCAA Division 3. Seven seniors will move into the NAIA and four will be play in NJCAA. Each athlete signed a letter of intent in the cafeteria April 13. + BY MATT OWENS, JACKIE SAYERS & REED WILLIAMS

Why did you pick the school you are attending?

Amelia Hoelting (Soccer) Baker University “Everyone has been super encouraging. I have struggled all year to make the decision to continue playing. Athletic director Angelo Giacalone coached me through everything, from the lifestyle I’ll have with soccer in college and also whether it is right for me. Coach Boren and Drew Perkins encouraged me to continue playing in college, and I finally listened. I wouldn’t have this chance to do something different if it wasn’t for my family’s patience. Choosing the right avenue for yourself can be a bit of a bumpy ride sometimes.” “I’m looking forward to playing another level higher than what I’ve been at. College soccer is going to be good for me and keep me healthy.” Alex Towler (Baseball) Avila University “My teammates push me at conditioning and at practice, and that has really helped. Seniors Jared Marolf and G. Stevie [Garrett Stephens] have pushed me physically and mentally to be the pitcher I am today.” “I picked the school I’m going to because I loved the campus, and I really hit it off with the coach as soon as I met him. Another factor that helped me pick where I was going is that I would have a great chance of playing right away because they are only returning one left-handed pitcher.”

Brian Morelan (Football) Coffeyville County Community College “Coach Bo Black has seriously helped me with this opportunity. He actually cares and wants to help his players play at the collegiate level. He reached out to colleges, and that’s how they knew about me.” “I picked Coffeyville because of the opportunities. The coaches seriously have one goal for all the players, and that is to help them reach Division 1 football. I also wanted to separate myself from everyone and be around new players and new competitors to see how I could compete.”

Danielle Rehor (Basketball) Avila University “My NW family has pushed me to get better in season and in the off-season. I have been blessed to be surrounded by great coaches and teammates. They make me love the game and give me the desire to be successful. The winning culture of Northwest is something that I will take with me to the next level.” “I chose Avila because they offered a lot of the pre-medicine fields, so it was a really good fit for me academically. Basketball-wise, I really like the coach, and I’ll be going to school with some girls from my club team.”

Abbi Bird (Track) Wichita State University “My family is super competitive, so sports have always been a core part of my family. Continuous support and love from them have inspired me to want to do better, and they have taught me to always take on a challenge. Northwest has given me everything in the world of athletics. There are people here who make me want to work my hardest every day and be a better person all around. Honestly, if it wasn’t for a couple teammates, I would not be competing collegiately. They really taught me what it means to have a passion for track.” “I am most excited to get to continue my passion for four more years after high school at a school that couldn’t be [a] better fit for me. A friend of mine from Lawrence also committed for track, so I’m looking forward to being teammates with her and being a part of a great program.”

Erica Esch (Soccer & Track) Baker University “My family has sat through soccer games in various extremes of weather since the third grade. I would have never continued sports without their constant encouragement. [Head coach Todd] Boren and [assistant coach Drew] Perkins and all the girls I’ve gotten to play soccer with at Northwest have taught me a lot about soccer, life and people.” “I love playing with people who are older than me. I can’t wait to meet all the girls and make new friends. I chose Baker because, out of all the schools I visited, they have a real sense of community. I also appreciate that soccer has a set hour-and-a-half practice each day which means I won’t be married to soccer, and I’ll get to focus on school, too.”

Ferdinand Handy (Basketball) Ottawa University “Everything. The coaches helped me improve my craft with the workouts they put me through. I knew I had to get better to have a huge role.” “I really liked the campus. Everyone is great, the coaches are great and I really thought I could do good there. It was a good fit for me.”

Jason Barnhart (Rugby) Lindenwood UniversityBelleville (Ill.) “Northwest has helped me by providing coaches who care about my success on the field.” “The reason I chose to play rugby at Belleville is because they’re a successful program, and a lot of my former teammates play on the team.”

Dylan Dirks (Basketball) Nebraska Wesleyan University “Northwest has helped me learn to deal with adversity, whether it is on the court or off of it. It has also helped me build some really good friendships that I know will last a lot longer than high school. I also learned that confidence is built through your work ethic.” “The reason I chose NWU is to play with one of my best friends, [senior] Austin Sanders, but I also wanted to go to a place where I could make an impact right away.” Clayton Hale (Baseball) Allen County Community College “People like [juniors] Zach Reeder [and] Joe Todd [and seniors] Alex Towler and Jared Marolf pushed and challenged me to be a better teammate, a better player and a better person.” “The atmosphere fits me and they get after it down there. They showed interest in me and, with the coaching staff they have at Allen, it means a lot for them to want me down there.' Dakota Hulse (Cross Country/Track & Field) Haskell Indian Nations University “My cross country team really helped me get where I am. Most of all, coach Van Rose helped me with everything from race strategy, putting the fire inside me, making the varsity team and working harder than the rest to make the best me that I could. Every person that I’ve raced has helped me get where I am as well as the all-around atmosphere and lifestyle of cross country.” “Haskell Indian Nations University wasn’t my first choice starting the year off, but as time went on, they stood out to me the most. Not just because of a scholarship, but because it’s a part of my heritage as a member of the Cherokee people. To have the opportunity to learn and compete next to people not only from my tribe, but from others all around the country on the NAIA level is the best opportunity I could ask for.” Joe Specht (Baseball) Rockhurst University “NW teachers, coaches and teammates have always been there to support me. Two of the most important things I learned from them are dedication and what it means to be a part of a team.” “I chose to continue my baseball and academic career at Rockhurst because I will receive a Jesuit education at a place close to home. Not to mention I get to play for a great coach and be a part of a great baseball program.” Robert Strain (Football) Independence Community College “The NW coaches and my friends helped me a lot in getting to where I am. They pushed me every day to get better, in both sports and academics.” “I felt it gave me the best opportunity for me to get in and on to the next level. The coaching staff was very welcoming and made me feel at home.” Meaghan Bower (Swimming) Lewis University (Ill.) “I chose Lewis University because it is a really neat school. It’s the only school to have a commercial plane and an airport connected to their campus. Also, their athletic training program is great, as I heard from my sister who goes there now and is studying the same field as I plan to. Their swim team is a perfect fit for me.” “Northwest has helped me reach the level I am at now because I was able to learn new and better racing techniques. For example, my old team never swam with t-shirt and shorts on over our suits. That created more of a drag for us when we were swimming, and once we took off those clothes and swam in just our suits, we felt super fast.”

NW PASSAGE | sports 21

UNDERCLASSMEN

TO WATCH

Gateway to

Success

PITCHER AND OUTFIELDER JOE TODD REMAINS SINGLE-MINDEDLY FOCUSED ON IMPROVEMENT

t six foot one inch, 175 pounds, with his orange NW baseball shirt untucked from his pants, junior Joe Todd warms up with sophomore Joshua Mitchell, a routine for the two outfielders. With a fastball topping out at 86 mph, he is an enticing athlete for any ball club, especially a high school one. “Joe is a big, strong kid who has great potential to become a team leader as well as play at the next level,” varsity baseball coach Domenic Mussat said. “His positive attitude will help him to become a good team leader on and off the field.” Todd inherited his father’s love of baseball. Todd started playing in kindergarten and his passion for baseball has continued to expand. “I love baseball because it’s something my family enjoys to watch me do,” Todd said. “It can get me places I want to go, like college and a good education.” In order to make it back to the state championship this season, Todd has given up much of his social life to practice. “I’m in love with the game,” Todd said. “My dream is to play college baseball and graduate with a degree in a field that I love.” A typical practice for Todd consists of an active warm-up, including long toss and position-specific drills. Along with that, the team often does situational defense and hitting. During his high school career, Todd will face some of the highest-ranked high school pitchers in the country. This means that he will have to have a good plate approach in order to get on base.

22 APR. 25, 2016 | Vol. 47

“I try to think as little as possible [at home plate],” Todd said. “The more I think, the harder it gets. That’s just how the game goes.” During his three-year high school baseball career, a close-knit friendship has developed between Todd and junior Zach Reeder. “We really just get along well,” Reeder said. “We have the same interests and pursue the same things. He’s always there to talk and it means so much that he can do that for me.” Over the years, the two have built a strong bond through several sports including basketball and football. Even when off the field, sports are what bring the two together. “My favorite memories with Joe are when we are sitting on my couch on a Friday night arguing about sports and laughing,” Reeder said. “We have the same interests and pursue the same things.” According to Mussat, Todd is both a high-caliber athlete and a leader on the field who is able to lighten up any situation. “Joe is the teammate you want on your team,” Mussat said. “He is the first to congratulate you with a job well done and the first to be there to help you when you have come across an obstacle.”

+BY REED WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER

Out of the Park

MAKENZIE COOPER SHOWS WHY SHE IS ONE OF THE BEST SOFTBALL PLAYERS IN THE STATE

ear. That is the word to describe the look in the pitcher’s eye as sophomore MaKenzie Cooper steps into the box, holding her weapon of choice: a white, green and blue 2016 Louisville LXT. She holds it with one batting glove, in her left hand. “I want to win,” Cooper said. “I want to get the ball. I like making plays; I just want to do the best I can to help the team out.“ In her freshman year, Cooper was named newcomer of the year, a member of the first all-state team and Hy-Vee Athlete of the Week after she hit two home runs against Blue Valley in a single game. She first found her love of softball while watching her sister, Katt. She played two sports as a child — softball and soccer — but ended up quitting soccer because she was too violent, kicking people who did not have the ball.

“I liked that I was better than anyone else,” Cooper said. “When I was little I was kind of looking for attention because my sister got it all.” Her club softball coach Greg Clinton has helped her develop as a player. “[Clinton] has been like a second father to me,” Cooper said. “He has come to all of my big events [and he] always shows up when I do something good in high school.” Cooper says one of the best moments in her career was winning the Perfect Game Fastpitch National Championship. For softball players, this is like the Little League World Series. Cooper’s coaches see the work she has put in her entire life in order to become one of the best middle infielders in the state. “MaKenzie brings heart, passion, competitiveness and athleticism,” head coach Anthony Kinney said. “MaKenzie is the perfect softball athlete for other players on the team to follow. I really do

believe that MaKenzie makes the vision of bringing back a state championship to Northwest a reality.” Senior teammate Madalyn Fagan’s best memory of Cooper was when their team played Katt’s team. “It was just hilarious to see them play against each other,” Fagan said. “The competitiveness both of them have was fun to watch.” Cooper’s hard work and dedication for softball are not all that matters. To her, the most important part is the friendships she has formed while doing it. “We have really good team chemistry going,” Cooper said. “I think that is one of the best things going for us because we have fun, and that is the most important part of the game.”

+BY MATTHEW OWENS

PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

Making a Splash

CASSIE GOMER WORKS HARD IN ANTICIPATION OF A SUCCESSFUL SWIM SEASON

s another new swim season comes to a close, many eyes will be on sophomore varsity swimmer Cassie Gomer. A returning member from last year’s varsity team, Gomer will use her years of swimming experience to help lead the team to a strong season finish. “I have been swimming for 11 or 12 years,” Gomer said. “I started [swimming] for the Lake Quivira Catfish when I was five, and I have been a part of that team up until now. This year I plan on coaching (for the Catfish) and swimming for [Northwest].” Even after all the years of competition, Gomer admits swim meets still make her feel anxious. “I get so nervous before each meet,” Gomer said. “During warm ups, I can feel butterflies in my stomach, but once I dive off the block, I lose all of my nerves. I don’t think about anything while I’m in the water until the second I touch the wall.”

Varsity coach David Pfortmiller praises Gomer’s swimming capabilities and team-first mentality. “Cassie comes from a swimming family, so she’s familiar with what it takes to be a successful swimmer,” Pfortmiller said. “At practice, she is very coachable and willing to try new techniques and events to help make the team successful.” Gomer’s sophomore teammate Michelle Banks admires her determination and hard work during practices. “She has amazing talent. She always tries her best and never gives up,” Banks said. “She always drops her times at the meets, and she always listens to the coaches.” Gomer is confident about the team’s wide range of talent this season. “This year we have a great group of girls, and I can already tell we will improve throughout the season,” Gomer said. “One thing we could work

on in practice is realizing that the end result is worth the hard work and grit we put in.” Pfortmiller admires Gomer’s leadby-example attitude during training. “My favorite part about coaching Cassie is her positivity in practices,” Pfortmiller said. “[She] always comes to practice with a smile on her face. She is one of the hardest workers on the team which shows in meets as she is continuously improving her times.” Now Gomer is focused on finishing the season strong at her final regularseason meets, as well as growing closer with her teammates. “My favorite part about swimming is getting to know all the girls better,” Gomer said. “I have made so many friends in swim team and they help make long practices bearable and fun. My goals this season are to better my times and go to state, even if it’s just as an alternate.”

+BY JACKIE SAYERS

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

NW PASSAGE | sports 23

Sophomore Will Gross performs his poem “Straight Outta Johnson” at the annual Poetry Slam April 11 in the Library. Gross was one of the top ten poets to make it to the finals. PHOTO BY CHANDLER BADO

I’m sure people weren’t expecting me to address the issue the way that I did. I’m usually seen as goofy and a little wacky, my poem showed a different side of me.” — sophomore Will Gross