Issue 4: Chain Reaction by Northwest Passage

northwest

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 4 - NOVEMBER 8, 2013

12. CHAIN REACTION The Chain of Life doesn’t keep us together, but it does help us remember who we depend on and who depends on us.

18. LIGHT IT UP After a season of hard work and dedication, the Marching Cougar Pride performed their 15th annual light show Oct. 25 at North Stadium.

22. FALL SPORTS WRAP UP

With Fall Sports’ regular seasons coming to a close, here’s how we did and how we’re still moving forward.

PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN

WE SUPPORT SMNW STUDENT ACTIVITIES

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Twitter: @wbushawnee Facebook: Wild Birds Unlimited of Shawnee, KS

Seniors, Purchase your Baby Ad today! Seniors Seniors! Don’t miss out on an opportunity to get a baby ad for the yearbook! You can send in picutres and have your parents write a message and it will be featured in the baby ads section of the yearbook. Our LAST deadline to submit pictures, a message, and your money for the lowest price possible is December 18, 2013. But don’t wait until the December deadline because if you do then you won’t be able to purchase an ad in color! If you have any questions, feel free to come to Room 151 and talk to Keegan White.

Pick up an order form and flyer in the office or in Room 151 today!

CONTENTS

CHAIN REACTION Since the creation of the tradition of the Chain of Life in 1991, SADD has kept the NW community linked together against destructive decisions.

PHOTO BY NATE THOMPSON

22 16

PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

PHOTO BY KRISTI SENG

PHOTO BY ALEXA STYERS

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 4 - NOVEMBER 8, 2013

14 17

LIGHT IT UP

FALL SPORTS WRAP UP

UNTIL THE LIGHTS GO ON

After a season of hard work and dedication, the Marching Cougar Pride performed their 15th annual light show Oct. 25 at North Stadium.

With Fall Sports’ regular seasons coming to a close, here’s how we did and how we’re still moving forward.

The Theater department never left the school unsatisfied of their performances, but the audience might not know the amount of effort they put in for each show.

Ghouls, spooks, and witches: Oh my!

The NW Halloween carnival provides a fun place for children to trick-ortreat.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sarah Egger, co editor-in-chief

t 6:30 a.m.. June 14, 2011, a man driving a car headed southbound on I-35 lost control and overcorrected causing the SUV to flip, landing on its side. Fifteen-year-old Raina Esparza was in the back of the car not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. This was the last time the NW Chain of Life was broken. I remember hearing about the wreck hours after it happened from distraught friends and family members. It was so shocking to hear that someone my age was gone. Someone started a “Raina Esparza”

facebook page in memory of her. Friends and family members posted their goodbyes to her on the page. Still, after two years, friends will post on the page with memories or news about their lives now. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) usually reminds students to be careful during the assemblies before school dances. They wanted to remind students to “Buckle up for Raina” hoping that the chain would not have to be broken again. Remember, the Chain of Life is set up in the mall for a reason. “It shows that everyone here has

meaning.” vice president of SADD, Tatiana Darby said. (for more on the Chain of Life see page 12). Before doing something questionable, stop and think. Don’t voluntarily put yourself in danger. You are important and the decisions you make affect not only yourself, but those who care about you as well. Remember to be safe, so the Chain of Life can remain unbroken. Sincerely, Sarah Egger Co-Editor-in-Chief

STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHERS

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF DESIGN EDITOR STAFF DESIGNERS

PHOTO EDITORS COPY EDITOR WEB EDITOR WEB MANAGER GRAPHICS EDITOR STAFF GRAPHICS DESIGNER NEWS EDITOR

Grace Amundson + Sarah Egger Grace Amundson Maddie Grimes Nate Compton Katie Addington Rachel Bateman Paden Chesney Nate Compton + Addison Sherman Lena Dennington Alaura Moore Haena Lee Mitch Feyerherm Calista Bohling Haena Lee

OPINIONS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR STAFF WRITERS

GUEST WRITER ADVERTISMENTS EDITOR ADVISER

Sarah Egger Atalie Black Shelby Smith Kylee Hartl + Luke Megli Atalie Black, Keegan Dolinar, Sarah Egger, Paige Eichkorn, Sophie Flores, Libby Gregor, Kylee Hartl, Haena Lee, Ben Lucier, Luke Megli, Alaura Moore, and Shelby Smith Sean Collins Daniel Mirocke Susan Massy

The 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 three weeks during fifth 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 co-editors-in-chief will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. 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 co-editors-in-chief reserve the right to refuse any letter.

Jordan Absher Emilie Amunatigui Shelby Beaumont Nisha Bisht Ginny Bohling Randy Castellon Gabby Chavez Nate Compton Clara Davison Sarah Dean Katherine Dewitt Lauren Edwards Kate Jacobsen Nicholas Kahtava Savannah Kelly

MARKETING Jon Anderson Jordan Berry Mitchell Bolton Austin Bondurant Clayton Droulliard Christophe Garcia Tristan Gerfen Nicholas Ghilardi Nathan Henderson Saliyah Henderson Carlos Hernandez Travis Hickman

Teresa Pedroza Bryce Rex Kristi Seng Addison Sherman Lucas Silva Kristen Smith Taryn Smith Christa Stoll Lea Stuart Alexa Styers Sydney Taylor Nate Thompson Kyle Tong Isabelle Wallis Carleigh Whitman

Mihailo Ilich Taylor Kangethe Daniel Kashani Mark Kimotho Mia Palitto Jane Peterson Quincy Rast Max Schnittker Kelci Scott Elizabeth Stithem Hunter Thompson Wayne Wood

northwest news a PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN

CHAMBERS ORCHESTRA CONCERT

BY FIRST LAST

BY SOPHIE FLORES

he Chambers Orchestra performed their annual Chamber Music concert during which students perform in groups of three to five. Playing in small groups makes this concert one of the most challenging. “You have to do more work on your own and you don’t have Bishop guiding you every step of the way,” junior Julia Davis said. “It’s teaching you a lot of independence.” A trio began the concert with “Trio from ‘Euryanthe’” by Von Weber and moved to songs

EMPTY BOWLS BENEFIT

from classical composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert. A quartet of seniors played all three movements of “Concerto in D Minor” by Vivaldi and a quintet finished the concert with “Scherzo” by Beethoven. “I was very proud,” director Jeffrey Bishop said. “I didn’t think there was a group that didn’t meet my expectations. There were a couple that were really sparkling tonight.” The concert was held at 7 p.m., Oct. 28, in the band room.

BY ALAURA MOORE

ational Art Honor Society (NAHS) and ceramics students are working together to create 400 bowls for Empty Bowls, a nationwide Harvesters program that helps combat childhood hunger. Family and Consumer Science students will prepare a meal of soup and bread for a event Nov. 13. Guests will pick a handcrafted bowl to eat from and take home at the end of the night as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. Tickets to this occasion can be pre-ordered now for $6 from NAHS sponsor Melissa Terryberry, or $7 at the door the night of the event. The event will take place in the cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m. All proceeds will be donated to Harvesters.

DEBATE TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD BY LENA DENNINGTON

he debate team of sophomores Luke Miller and Jackson McCone received fourth place in the open category of the Olathe North Invitational Oct. 26. “It was so great to place in that tournament,” Miller said. “We won four debates and lost one, which was huge for us.” As first year debaters, Miller and McCone should be competing in novice tournaments, but arguing successfully against more

experienced debaters in the open category. The next debate tournament will be held here Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. The tournament coordinator is debate captain Heidi Rose Foreland. “I have been waiting for so long to be able to be in charge of a debate tournament,” Foreland said. “I have been waiting since my freshman year to be the director, and I am so excited that I finally get to.”

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Q&A: meet the admins

Lisa Gruman Principal

What was your initial reaction when Hinson told you you would be the new principal? It actually was two-fold. It was ‘I am so excited to have this opportunity’, because... I really truly love the community. And it’s humbling. It’s humbling that people see something in you that they would trust you with such an awesome responsibility... It’s exciting, I’m thrilled, I’m humbled and I just, again, I hope to serve the community well in everything I do. I feel very fortunate. How has Dr. Harrington prepared you for this role? Previously working with curriculum, testing, scheduling, a lot of the big tasks in the building, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a lot of details about how the school works. The ‘behind the scenes’, you know? ...And working with teachers towards defining [our vision for the school]. What are your short term and long term goals? I would think our long term goals are continually looking at what we are doing to provide opportunities to students. Specifically, how we are preparing them for their opportunities once they leave Northwest. So do we have the right programs in place? Instructionally in the classroom, are we providing teachers the support they need to implement curricular changes? That’s a big part of the job. What is your big message to students? I want them to have an amazing high school experience. I want them to have the opportunity to get involved, I want them to take the classes that they’re interested in, and I want them to learn more about themselves. I want them to grow, and really have that last set of experiences before they head off to colleges or a career or whatever they’re doing. And I hope that they will hold us accountable for preparing them for that.

Chaussee Wendling Associate Principal

What are your impressions of Northwest? I love working here at Northwest. It’s very welcoming to be around familiar faces... I love highschool with activities and the different classes and academic stuff that we offer, that’s exciting, and the school spirit so [those are the things that I love about week one.] How long have you been training to be an administrator? Over the last couple years I took my college hours so I received my masters from Emporia State in administration. I finished in May and I’m in the Caps program which is a district program career advancement. I learned a lot about how administration works in Shawnee Mission... And I've been very fortunate to work with such great administrators that have reached out to help develop my skills. What was your position at westridge? I was the seventh grade associate principal. Technically I was an administrative intern, but... the majority of the time I dealt with seventh grade issues that went on, seventh grade academics, that sort of thing. I also worked very closely with the ELL group and the special education group. Did you expect to move up so quickly? Its always a surprise but I was very open to it. I welcome the opportunity. I’ve been so lucky with the people who helped me out. I am here because of people who have really extended a warm welcome and helped me to develop professionally.

NOV. 8, 2013 / OPINION

A Change of Pace After 19 years as our principal, Dr. Bill Harrington has decided to retire. A statement was released from superintendent Dr. Jim Hinson Oct. 22 regarding a change in building leadership at Northwest. Dr. Bill Harrington decided to retire and associate principal Lisa Gruman is going to assume the duties of principal. Chausse Wendling, formerly an administrative intern at Westridge Middle School, will assume associate principal duties. The entire school has been affected by this recent change in leadership.

What do you associate with Dr. Harrington?

‘‘‘‘ ‘‘‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘‘‘ ‘‘

Good leadership.”

— Mark Schirmer

Excellence... this school has consistently gotten better as Dr. Harrington demanded more from the teachers to rise to the occasion under his direction in leadership” — David Hunt

‘‘‘‘ ‘‘‘‘ ‘‘ ‘‘‘‘

He made us work harder, and he made us work better. Now we are a blue ribbon school, [one of the] top schools in the nation.” — Connie Lutz

He let me be a teacher, he backed me 100%.” — Ron Poplau

How did Dr. Harrington impact the school? He brought a sense of order and i think he will be remembered the most for making SMNW the national blue ribbon school that it has become.” — Ron Poplau

He really helped the industrial tech department. We helped us get funding and was always very supportive.” — Mark Schirmer Dr. Harrington, when he came to the school, had a vision for us to really move up on the academic scale.” — Beth Jantsch

He raised the bar for everyone, students, faculty, all of us, continued to raise the bar... He did all kinds of little things which I think benefited all of the school, and me personally.” — David Hunt

He impacted the school by being a role model for academic success and high expectations.” — Debra Brewer

He made us acountable for what happend in our class rooms, and I think that’s important... He was able to get the best out of poeple.” — Connie Lutz

How did Dr. Harrington impact you specifically? He was very supportive of me and me department. He showed interest in what we were doing and helped us get funding.” — Mark Schirmer I sought his advice very frequently, and every piece of advice he gave me was simply right on. He backed teachers and he let me be the teacher that I wanna be.” — Ron Poplau

I was one of the first pople Dr. Harrington met when he moved to Northwest... He made me better. He made me pay attention to detail, but that’s what you schould do. We should be held to a higher standard to do things the right way. I learned a ton from him.” — Connie Lutz

He specifically impacted me by being compassionate and caring when I needed him to be and being firm and enforcing when i needed him to be.” — Debra Brewer

He’s been a counselor and a guide and my leader. He’s encouraged me, and has helped me become a better teacher, and a better human being, and that in turn boils down to my students that feel that direction from Dr. Harrington... there’s a tradition I’m just gonna miss in his speech that makes [graduation] special, but I know Dr. Harrington deeply loves this school, this school is in his blood.” — David Hunt

k in

nfo in

The 2012 deficit in

government spending

was $1.09 trillion

GRAPHICS BY CALISTA BOHLING COMPILED BY ATALIE BLACK HAENA LEE

71%

of teenagers drink at a party witho

ut any supervision

Zachary Andrews burns through

solo performance

of Dracula:The Journal of Jonathan Harker at The Coterie Theatre

The chain of life was started in

minute

calories

908

during each

after the death of Jimmy Kline

Between 2010 and 2020

140 million girls will be married in the world and 50 million of those girls will be under 15

this year’s estimated deficit

is estimated to drop

$90 billion

The NFL fined Brandon Marshall h l Chicago Bears wide receiver

$10,500

for wearing green cleats in honor of mental health awareness during a

game against the New York Giants instead of pink for breast cancer awareness

Marshall plans to match the fine

as well as auction off the shoes he wore and donate all proceeds to a charity for

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS

“I want [students] to have an amazing high school experience. I want them to have the opportunity to get involved. I want them to take the classes that they’re interested in and I want them to learn more about themselves. I want them to grow before they head off to colleges or a career or whatever they’re doing. I hope that they will hold us accountable for preparing them for that, because we want them, when they graduate, to have as many opportunities as they would like to have available to them.” — Lisa Gruman, Principal NORTHWEST PASSAGE

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Modern Witch

Wicca: What it is and isn’t

eligion has always been a touchy subject with me, so I keep to myself, avoiding those conversations as much as possible. People rarely ask, and I never say anything. Why should I? It would only attract unwanted attention; however, my religion is something people should know about, if for no other reason than to increase awareness and understanding. I am a Wiccan, or in other words, a “witch.” My interest in Wicca started when I was in eighth grade. I never really clicked with Christianity. It just didn’t feel right that there was one God controlling everything. It was then I came across a book called Teen Witch, a nonfiction book that is an introduction to Wicca. I managed to keep it hidden for two years, studying it and taking diligent notes. When people think of a witch, they immediately think of summoning demons, worshipping the devil and hexing people. When I tell people I’m a Wiccan, they tend to get wide-eyed and ask if my cat made it through the night alive. People assume

our symbol, the pentacle, represents Satan. They also assume that we swear our souls to the Devil, and in worshipping him, take drugs and drink in excess. None of this is true. We have something similar to the Christian God; however, it has both a masculine and a feminine side, each with equal significance. The Goddess is portrayed as a mother, life-giver and caretaker, while the God is portrayed as a man with a crown made of a stag’s horns, who represents power and our animal instincts. We don’t have a mass or a place of worship, unless you make a spot for it. Mine frequently moves from place to place, consisting of an altar with five candles and objects that represent the five elements: fire, water, earth, air and spirit. We practice our beliefs through rituals, which are basically prayer circles during which we ask the God/Goddess for help with anything from bigger social issues to personal problems and protection from people and negative spirits. A ritual can be as simple as reciting a few words of prayer or

BY KYLEE HARTL

as complex as setting up candles, lighting sage and reciting a chant on a full moon. Like Hinduism, we believe in the principle of reincarnation, but it’s not a system based on sins and good deeds. And like Christianity, we have a heaven, but we can choose to stay as long as necessary until we are ready to continue our lifecycle. Another aspect that people get wrong is our symbol, which is a pentacle. The star in the circle represents earth, air, fire, water and spirit. People often mistake it with the pentagram, commonly associated with demon-worship. Although similar in appearance, the two symbols have entirely different meanings. A pentacle is a star in a circle, whereas a pentagram is an inverted star within a circle. It’s understandable how the two are confused, but they are definitely not the same. Wiccans are forbidden to consume drugs and alcohol. We are also not allowed to induce physical or mental harm to others using “magic” and rituals. It still frustrates me when people accuse me of

practicing “black magic.” Even my own family teases me about sacrificing cats in my spare time. I am the only one in my family who made the decision to turn to Wicca, and my mother, who was against it at first, has become quiet on the issue. Most of my friends, however, think it’s awesome. Is it difficult to adhere to a religion that goes against the norm? Of course it is. But, my religion is my choice. Why should I change because the general population doesn’t like it? Many Wiccans hide and try to blend into the crowd, choosing to avoid the discrimination of a Judeo-Christian society. And maybe it’s best to stay hidden. However, if we refuse to educate each other, nothing will ever change. This doesn’t just apply to Wicca. Does being a Muslim make someone a terrorist? Do Christians hang and lynch people? Do Wiccans sacrifice and eat babies? Of course not. People do these things. And maybe if we understand that, we can begin to understand that people should not be defined by stereotypes, or extremists.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

staff editorial

the staff votes

AGREE

DISAGREE

After a Massachusetts teen was sanctioned for being the DD, what can happen to NW athletes?

fter receiving a drunk text from her friend asking for a ride, senior Erin Cox from North Andover High School in Massachusetts agreed. According to Fox News, minutes after Cox had arrived at the party, the cops arrested dozens of students for underaged drinking. Cox was not formally charged by the police, and an officer vouched for her sobriety to the school. She was demoted from team captain and suspended for five volleyball games ‘ because she violated the school’s Chemical Health Policy. “All of our students know our rules, as we spend time during the first week of school reviewing this policy in particular with all students in our Advisory block, even the seniors,” principal of North Andover High School Carla Scuzzarella said. “Student leaders, which includes club presidents, class officers, captains of athletic teams, drum majors, etc, are well aware of the expectation for their behavior and that they run the risk of being stripped of their leadership position if they violate the Chemical Health Policy.” So, what would happen if you were just a designated driver? Provided that you do not attend the party, and you are outside the building the party is being held in, you will not face any consequences. “She wasn’t given a [minor in possession] (MIP), she wasn’t arrested, she wasn’t drinking,” athletic director Richard Grinage said. “[And] she didn’t go to the party, so there is really no violation [with our policy].” What would happen if you were at the party, but not drinking? As long as the police choose not to charge you with an MIP, you will not be held accountable by the school. However, you are putting yourself at risk, because the police may charge you whether you’re drinking or not. “Sometimes the police will ask who the alcohol belongs to, and no one will answer,” Grinage said. “So,

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

NOV. 8, 2013 / OPINION

whether you’re drinking or not, they pass out MIPs to every person at the party.” You must be careful with what you post on the Internet as well. If a picture of you drinking at a party is posted, and it is clear that you are drinking alcohol, you face a violation of the district policy on alcohol. If it is your first offense and your sport/activity is in the middle of the high school season, you are kicked off the team for the season. If the sport is not in season, you must work out community service with the school to be allowed to play the sport. If it is the second violation, you are suspended from the sport for 365 days, regardless of if it is in season of not. “If you post a picture, and it is clear you are drinking alcohol, whether or not the police charged you, we can,” Grinage said. “If we can’t tell if it is alcohol or not, we can conduct an investigation as well.” These violations are not limited to the school year. If it is spring break, summer break or winter break, and a picture is posted with you drinking, that is a violation. “Spring break and summer are definitely part of the policy,” Grinage said. “Even if you are in a country where the legal drinking age is under 18, you are still held accountable for it here.” The fairness of Cox’s ruling isn’t the issue. The issue was that she violated a school policy that she was aware of. By choosing to be at the party, she was making a bad decision. She had other options. If she was being the designated driver, she still was picking up a person who was drunk, therefore putting herself and others in danger, in regards to the policy. “We aren’t here to be the bad guys, and we are certainly not trolling the Internet to try to find people violating the policy,” Grinage said. “We just want everyone to make smart choices. Making good life choices is part of what sports is about.”

Although people have negative opinions, I believe my decision to engage the love of my life is right.

Social networking sites, especially Facebook, have led to increased instances of cyberbullying

Engaged and Underage T

he first thing most people say when I tell them that I’m engaged is, “Wait, how old are you?” It still shocks me that when someone finds out that I’ve found the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, they’re concerned about when my birthday is. Well, I’m 17, and I’m engaged to a guy named Ian Pittman, who is 19. We know we’re young, but what does love know about age? I wish people wouldn’t think about the stereotypes of young married couples not lasting and consider the idea that age doesn’t mean that you don’t know what you want in life. I think about the fact that I’ve been with this

person since I was 14, and we’ve been through more than enough challenges in life and our relationship to prove that our connection is meant to last forever. We’ve been through the problems that come with school and family; the loss of our close friend to suicide; and, most recently, we’ve been dealing with the issues of being 8000 miles away from each other. Ian is a Private First Class in the Army and is currently deployed in South Korea. Before being shipped halfway across the world, he went through basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which separated us for 18 weeks. After he

finished his training, he got to come home to Shawnee for only four days before being deployed for a year. Aug. 16 was the third day he was here, and that night he took me to Shawnee Mission Park. We sat on a bench in front of the marina, and we talked about the first time we met and our first kiss. “We have lots of good memories together,” Ian said and I smiled in agreement. “Want to make another one?” He pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. The round diamond ring shined in the moonlight, and I took a deep breath to quiet my mind.

From Poke to Shove

“W

hy would we invite you to our party, anyway?” said my seventh-grade peer. I was crushed: this was the party with the “populars.” I wanted to be included in their group so badly, but their leader was bullying me. I was heart broken. Looking back, I realize this was petty, but I was also in seventh grade at the time and I was struggling to fit in, just like everyone else. She eventually apologized over a Facebook message. My experience isn’t too different from the experiences of so many of my peers. The world has come to a technological point where it’s apparently OK to post half-naked photos of yourself where everyone can see them, videos of you and your friends partying in a way your parents would not approve of, and indecipherable insults hurled in any direction. There’s so many people who take advantage of creating an anonymous, or fake, account to harass others. However, when it comes to bullying others online, things can quickly go too

BY ALAURA MOORE

I know now that the “yes” I gave Ian that night was, is, and will always be the right decision, despite what anyone might say about our ages. Don’t ask me if I’m pregnant, don’t tell me I’m going to change my mind, don’t tell me I should wait. I’m not going to change my mind, and I have the support of my fiancé, parents, close friends and family behind me to make this marriage be what I want it to be. Don’t judge a relationship on inexperience or youth. The decision to be with someone forever doesn’t get easier with age, it just becomes more accepted.

BY PAIGE EICHKORN

far. When you think you’re just kidding, remember that people on the other side might not think so. Bullying has many different forms. Some people may not even know what they are doing or saying is bullying. According to cyberbullying.us, Kansas has a bullying law that references cyber-bullying and includes electronic harassment, but there is no criminal sanction. There is, however, support for school sanction, but only if that district has a specific bullying policy that covers cyber-bullying; it does not include off-campus behaviors. What this means is that Kansas has a bullying law that includes cyber-bullying, and you can be suspended. But, you will not be sent to jail in Kansas for cyberbullying. Even so, cyber-bullying has also become a serious legal issue. In recent years, a number of teenage suicides have been attributed to cyber-bullying. According to CNN, a recent case of cyber-bullying came to light in Winter Haven, Fla. This case involved 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick, who was bullied

by the 14-year-old girlfriend of her ex-boyfriend. The 14-yearold hurled insults at Sedwick over Facebook. Unable to cope, Sedwick eventually jumped to her death in Bartow, Fla. Officials took Sedwick’s bully into custody and charged her with aggravated stalking. It seems as if this is just the beginning. If we contribute to an online environment where it’s OK to post so many inappropriate things now, what will we be posting in the future? We might not be able to solve all of these problems now, but if we focus on our efforts, we can at least help stop cyber-bullying, and the tragic outcomes it leads to. Another person’s opinion is definitely not worth taking your life over. Nothing is worth taking your life; nothing. Furthermore, is posting that cruel comment worth going to jail? No, I certainly don’t think so. So, the next time you’re about to click “post” on Facebook or Twitter, think, and maybe backspace.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

PHOTO BY GABBY CHAVEZ

Chai

PHOTO BY ALEXA STYERS

SADD members assem

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN From top to bottom: Senior Alex Springer signs the Chain of Life paper during seminar on Oct 24. Signing the paper means that Springer pledges to not make any destructive decisions. Senior Hayley Nugent collects the chain of life links on Oct 22. Nugent and other Student Council Representatives worked on putting the “Chain of Life” together which represents the bond of each Northwest student. Sitting in the hallway, Freshman Courtney Jones staples together the Chain of Life with other Student Council members on Oct. 22. StuCo and Students Against Destructive Descisions [SADD] worked together to complete the Chain of Life under the leadership of sponsor Sarah Dent. Senior Jordan Perez grabs the Chain of Life to hang up in the mall. “In 2011, we had a ceremony for [former student] Raina Esparza to show that the chain had been broken. It was emotional, but I think it really illustrated our purpose for the chain.” Perez said. Dominant: Sophomore Nate Jones hangs the Chain of Life during seminar on Oct 24. If a student should pass away during the year, then their link will be removed from the chain.

NOV. 8, 2013 / FEATURES

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

enior Colton Allen picke slips and rounded one to another slip of paper, h After stringing 30 together, he trash bag as other Student Cou piecing other parts together. soon be mixed with the 2000 “Chain of Life.” During seminar Oct. 10 Decisions (SADD) members handed an orange strip of p custodian, administrator and After each person wrote his/h grouped and stapled togethe someone was absent, a SADD m a slip for them. “The chain of life is more connect our student body to Perez said. “I think it’s a remin we’re all a family here at Nor that there’s something to rem SADD vice-president Tatian seminar Oct. 24 directing th chain. Perched on a ladder tha the mall, students took turns chain lay in heaping piles on section the chain came togeth a symbol of community. “The chain of life shows ou teachers, students and any ot staff or custodial staff,” Perez our chain breaks. This shows t only affect you. It could have a Each year, 7,111 people betw result of traffic accidents, acc com. “We don’t want to see any Dent said. “We’re hoping that the mall [is] a good visual fo important.” At 6:30 a.m. June 14, 2011 southbound on I-35 lost contro SUV to flip, landing on its side was in the back of the car and

History of the

Chain of Life: Started in 1991 after the unexpected death of

Jimmy Kline

in Reaction

mbled the 23rd annual Chain of Life in the mall throughout October.

ed up a stack of orange paper o stable it in a circle. Picking up he continued to interlock them. e stuffed the chain into a white uncil (StuCo) members continued . These separate chains would 0 other names that make up the

Students Against Destructive went to seminar classes and paper to every student, teacher, d each person on the lunch staff. her name on the slip, they were er based on seminar class. If member wrote his/her name on

of a physical and visual way to ogether,” SADD president Jordan nder that when we look up there rthwest, that we’re a union and mind us of that each day.” na Darby stood in the mall during he SADD students hanging the at stretched above the columns of hanging the chain. The massive n the ground. Slowly, section by her, stretching across the wall, as

ur school as a whole, [uniting] all ther school staff, such as lunch said. “If someone passes [away], that destructive decisions [don’t] an effect on the entire school.” ween the ages of 15 and 24 die as a cording to worldlifeexpenctancy.

loss of life,” SADD sponsor Sarah the visual of the chain being in or students to realize that life is

1, a man driving a car headed ol and overcorrected, causing the e. Fifteen-year-old Raina Esparza d not wearing a seatbelt. Esparza

was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident took place the summer before what would have been her sophomore year. Even though her death occurred over the summer, the chain of life was broken for her in the 2011-2012 school year. “The day I remember it I was in summer school,” senior Sonia Paola said. “I had to go to Turner and Raina boxed at Turner. I went home and I saw there was a link on facebook that said ‘Rest In Peace Raina’ and I was like ‘what’s going on’. I started balling and for a while it was hard. I couldn’t go to her funeral because it was so hard. I wanted to be like of her happy and smiling. It was hard for me. Even if I talk about it now its hard for me. I miss her and I wish she can comeback.” Esparza aspired to be a professional boxer and hoped to compete in the 2012 Olympics. She won the 2010 Ringside World Championship in her division Aug. 7. SADD members usually present at the assemblies that take place before school dances to remind students to make good decisions during and after the event. They hold up signs during the assembly that show statistics regarding the number of drunk driving fatalities and to remind students to “Buckle Up For Raina.” According to centurycouncil.org, in 2011, 1,249 people under the age of 21 died in a traffic accident where alcohol was involved. “[The chain of life is] a continuous reminder that during our high school years and just in general, [that] we all are just a big part of each other’s lives and we were all connected; we were all part of a family,” Darby said. Student and staff might pass by the chain every day, without understanding the entire meaning behind the chain of life hanging above their heads in the mall. “[The chain] has a bigger meaning; it’s a really important symbol for our school,” Darby said. “It’s cool to see something like that everyday, and it’s important to have the reminder that we’re all together.” The chain of life serves as a daily reminder that the smallest, and seemingly most unimportant, decisions can be life-altering. “It’s important for students to stay safe and make good decisions because you are so young and you have the rest of your life ahead of you,” Dent said. “Make sure that every single day you are making good decisions, so you can be successful later in life.” BY SARAH EGGER + LIBBY GREGOR + HAENA LEE

due to a drunk driver.

Students used to put

ribbons

on the antennas of their car to let others know they offered an alcohol free ride home.

“We (SADD) were all shocked by Jimmy’s death, as was the entire school, but what came out of it was awareness. It helped students to realize that they are not immortal.

As a result we decided to make the Cougar Chain of Life, with a link for every student and faculty member,” senior Jasmine Balino said.

SADD’s Slogan in 1991:

“Cougars with pride don’t drink and drive”

Chain Statement: “The chain of life represents the Northwest student’s commitment to life and to each other. Each student signed an orange link to represent his or her part of the chain. When one link is broken, a part of everyone is lost. Keep Northwest strong... NORTHWEST PASSAGE

until the

lights go on A

fter the auditions for the fall musical,”Anything Goes”, the cast and crew dedicates time and hard work for the production. Every day they stay after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. But as the performance date gets closer, many of them do not leave the school until 9 p.m. Everyone has their responsibilities. The cast practiced their numbers and choreography, while the crew made the

PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

Sophomore Frederick Rivera and seniors Elizabeth Brooks and Kristoph Gies perform the song “Friendship” as a trio. “One of just the most rewarding things is not just applause or an encore,” Rivera said. “It’s not just blood sweat and tears. You have to put all your feelings in it.”

The Theater department never left the school unsatisfied of their performances, but the audience might not know the amount of effort they put in for each show.

props, setup the lighting, and organized the set. This musical takes place on an ocean liner, the S. S. American. Reno Sweeney is a former evangelist and now a nightclub singer on her way to England from New York. Her friend Billy Crocker falls in love with Hope Harcourt who is about to be married in England with her fiance, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. During

this love triangle, Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin and his sidekick Erma are in disguise avoiding the authorities. Sweeney then teams up with Martin to help Billy win Hope’s love. Without theater teacher Kelli Rodgers, the school performances would not be possible. “Her expertise and leadership [pays] off in the show,” senior Elizabeth

PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

Senior Emily Young manages the performance on Oct. 31 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. Young is the stage manager in the production. “I am in charge of anything and everything that goes on in the back stage,” Young said. “From props to when the actors go on stage I tell them what to do and when to do it. I really looked up to the stage manager Connor my sophomore year. He was the world’s best improviser. If something broke he could fix it with a coat hanger and a bottle of Mountain Dew. It was the coolest thing in the whole wide world.”

Brooks said. “She expects high standard and professional quality because she demands that. She just really encourages us to be selfless performers and to always care about the show as a whole before our individual needs. It’s not an individual effort, but a group BY HAENA LEE effort.”

PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

Senior Kristoph Gies sings and dances to “You’re the Top” during rehearsal for “Anything Goes” on Oct. 31 in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

Senior Kristoph Gies and sophomore Frederick Rivera perform a piece in "Anything Goes" as Billy Crocker and Moonface Martin on Oct. 31 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

NOV. 8, 2013 / FEATURE

PHOTO BY Carleigh Whitman

ABOVE: Flag in hand, junior Jessie Robinson performs during the Drill Team and Marching Cougar Pride halftime performance on Oct. 25 at the SM North District Stadium. The show featured music from and choreography based off of “West Side Story,” the musical. “It was a blast learning and performing [the show],” Robinson said. “I enjoy the rush I get when the crowd cheers when we do something really cool. It makes me feel like they’re entertained and are actually enjoying the performance I’m giving.” PHOTO BY Bryce Rex

1 Senior Hayley Nugent cries after cross country regionals at Lone Elm Park in Olathe on On Oct. 26. The varsity girls did not place during regionals and were not eligible to complete in state. 2 Freshman Ben Snyder retreives the ball from Olathe South midfielder sophomore Kyle Mitchell on Oct. 23 at the SM District Complex. The cougars ended the game ahead with the score of 1-0.

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

PHOTO BY Emilie Amunatigui

3 Sophomore Nick Kahtava plays his tuba at the North Marching Festival on Oct. 26 at SM North high school. They did not make it to the finals. “We had a really great marching season.” Kahtava said. “Although we didn’t win, the experience was great.” NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Reaping Halloween

Horrors

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

Students worked at the KC Fear Farm to raise money for Thespian Troupe 888.

ith 10 minutes until opening, senior Bridget Lynch took her position at the outhouse where she would remain for the rest of the night. Dressed in an all green jumpsuit and a green face mask with a white beard and red eyes Squirming to find the best position, she closed her eyes. The door shut. She reclined, her arms beside her body, and waited for her next victim. Kansas City Fear Farm invited Thespian Troupe 888 to work at their Halloween event. For their services, the Thespian Troupe raised approximately $1,000 each night they worked at Fear Farm. Students from the Shawnee Mission and Olathe schools district volunteered at the attraction. “It’s a really good way to fundraise in a fun way,” sophomore Danielle Rehor said. “We don’t sell anything, and we can use theater skills, like staying in character.” Although the farm features a corn maze, an insane clown asylum and zombie paintball (where visitors can take shots at an oncoming zombie horde), in addition to other attractions, theater students stick to working at the corn maze. Voices came from outside the outhouse. Lynch’s victims had arrived. An argument began as the boys found the courage to open the door, and one of them finally did. As the door creaked open, the soundless air exploded in girlish-screams.

NOV. 8, 2013 / FEATURES

BY SARAH EGGER

“He got scared and full-on kicked me in the shin. Hard,” Lynch said. “I tried to stay in character and jump up and growl at them. I managed to scare them so bad that two of them tripped over the third guy and fell on their butts screaming. That was definitely the highlight of my night.” Other characters in the corn maze included wandering spirits, scarecrows and clowns. Because some characters required detailed face makeup, the Fear Farm employed a professional makeup artist to transform the students into their characters. “My favorite part of going to Fear Farm would be... getting all of my makeup on,” Rehor said. “I also liked looking super scary, getting into my costume, and thinking of ways to scare people. Afterward, the troupe always goes out to the IHOP to talk about our stories — who we scared, who was bothering us while we were trying to scare people. Getting to spend time with everyone is really fun, too.” Because Rehor worked behind-the-scenes at Fear Farm, her perception of haunted houses was changed. “In the end, they are just people,” Rehor said. “They just have really good costumes and makeup on.”

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Dressed as clowns, freshamn Mike Senoir runs awar from his brother sophmore Nick Senior, on Oct. 25th at the KC Fear Farm. Members of the NW theater department volunteered as cast members every weekend.

Freshman Olivia Sabal puts makeup on freshman Jonathan Alexander in preperation for Fear Farm Volunteers did not know which cast member they would potray till the night of the event, though they were allowed to choose from what was available.

While listening to instructions, freshman Jonathan Alexander has makeup put on before the start of Fear Farm. Volunteers worked to scare attendees in a variety of locations, including a corn maze and other booths.

Senoir Jenna Septer draws a bat on a childs face during the Halloween Carnival at Northwest. She volenteered to work at one of many stations at the carnival.

PHOTO BY NATE THOMPSON

Ghouls, Spooks, and Witches OH MY!

The Halloween carnival, sponsored by Student Council (StuCo), provides a safe and fun place for local children to trick-or-treat. BY SOPHIE FLORES + PAIGE EICHKORN

“T

rick or treat!” a small girl in a red and black polka dot ladybug costume with red wings said as she bounded toward JV drill team member Monica Torres. “We match!” Torres exclaimed to the small girl. The girl giggled, took two pieces of candy from the bowl Torres held out and skipped away. “The Halloween carnival, for my kids, is like a highlight of the year,” StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent said. “My son literally starts asking in August ‘When are we going to go up to your school, Mom, and get candy?’” StuCo sponsored the ninth annual Halloween carnival Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for area elementary schools. Organizations including Spirit Club, the soccer team, drill team and journalism participated. Each club selected a booth or a hallway to decorate and oversee. “I think that it’s just an awesome opportunity for community members whose kids are going to come here in 10 years [to] get to see how great our students

are,” Dent said. “We do this to support our community. It’s a heartwarming night.“ The Halloween carnival committee has been working for over a month emailing clubs and elementary schools, and organizing the event. The rest of the representatives started helping two weeks before the event. “It puts a smile on all these kids’ faces and they really seem to enjoy the carnival every year,“ junior representative Sam Nobrega said. Spirit Club members handed out candy from inside the Cougar cage near the first hallway. A sign saying “Mad Scientist Mystery” was also displayed in the first hallway, along with an inflatable mummy, wizard, and Frankenstein that Dent’s two-year-old daughter walked up to and slapped in the face. “Would you like to see the brains, the eyeballs, or the intestines?” StuCo members asked each child before he put his hand into bowls of cauliflower in vaseline, grapes in baby oil, and spaghetti. Orange and black streamers looped across the second hallway. Fake spider

webs and a huge wire spider hung on the lockers. Student Library Advisory Board (SLAB) and Key Club members gave candy to children who walked down the yellow brick road. National Art Honors Society members painted faces and soccer players set up a goal allowing children to win prizes. At 8 p.m., the carnival ended. Spirit Club members pulled the Cougar cage down the hall with sponsor Lisa Morsadt. Soccer players jumped to reach the streamers, asking, “How are we supposed to get all this stuff?” At 8:30 p.m., Joe Ketcham, head custodian, and his three children sat outside on the back stairs, waiting for their ride. One-year-old Carson Ketcham was sitting on Joe’s shoulders, dressed as a dinosaur. Ketcham’s son, Ben, was dressed as a firefighter, and his daughter Briana was dressed as a wizard. “What was your favorite spot?” Joe asked. “The tunnel? You thought that was fun, you went through it like five times.” “No,” Briana said. “It was three.”

PHOTO BY NISHA BISHT NW teacher Anthony Stubenrauch’s son picks out candy from the bucket on Oct. 26 at NW. Stubenrauch and other teachers mingle while the children have their own fun. STUCO member Alexa Styers said, “I think it’s really great that there is less walking involved for the kids and parents. It’s also safer for the kids because it’s at school and not in front of a stranger’s house.”

PHOTO BY CHRISTA STOLL A girl receives a cookie on Oct. 26 during the Halloween Carnival. The children got to decorate their cookies in the cafeteria at the carnival.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

light it up

he Marching Cougar Pride had performed the same West Side Story halftime routine at least a hundred times before, but still as they marched off the field, a mixture of anticipation and excitement hung in the air. It was time to get ready for the highlight of their season: the light show. While the football game continued, the band students dressed out of their marching uniforms and fastened glow sticks to their instruments and all-black garments. Immediately after the game, the North stadium lights suddenly went out; the crowd grew silent. Students

NOV. 8, 2013 / FEATURES

pulled out their phones, ready to take pictures and videos of the performance, whispering excitedly to their friends. “Ladies and gentlemen,” announcer Drew Magwire said, “one more time for the Marching Cougar Pride!” The crowd counted down, and crescendoed with, “3...2...1…” As the band took the field, the Marching Cougar Pride stood in in the complete darkness with their glow sticks and lights filling the blackness; all that was visible to the crowd were the silhouettes of the students and their instruments outlined in bright neon. “It marks the end of a season of hard

After a season of hard work and dedication, The Marching Cougar Pride performed their 15th annual lightshow.

work and dedication,” trumpet section leader Jeremy Goterman said. “We chose West Side Story because of its amazing music and effect on the field. I wouldn’t change it for anything.” At the end of the first song, each musician broke the orange glow stick around his or her neck. illuminating the field, to the overwhelming cheers of the crowd. “[Marching in the dark] is a whole new realm,” Goterman said. “It’s nothing like what you’ve done before. All you can do is have fun and rely on the the people surrounding [you].” Band members, each with flashlights

taped to their ankles, were decked out in more than 5,000 glowsticks in total. But, each section had a particular design, such as similar colors or outlined instruments. As the performance drew to a close, the crowd erupted in cheers. “The light show is one of the best parts of the entire season,” drum major Carter Oberheu said. “It brings together the band so well, and it allows the band to show people that the long and early hours paid off.” BY ATALIE BLACK + LIBBY GREGOR

1 PHOTO BY SAVANNAH KELLY

3 PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

2 PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

1. The Marching Band performs during the 15th annual Light Show. “The Light Show is almost totally in the hands of the kids. They’re in charge of ordering the lights, deciding what they want, how many light sticks they want, they pretty much add them into their instruments,” band director Penny Snead said. 2. Sophomore Claire Lammers performs during the light show on Oct. 25 to “Cool” from West Side Story. The drill team alone ordered about 100 glow sticks to use for the show. 3. With powder flying off their drums, senior Matt Springston performs in front of the student section after the light show. Powder has not been used by the NW Marching Cougar Pride in the past. “My favorite part was definitely [using the powder on the drums], you feel full of energy and everyone has a good time,” Springston said. “No one knew so I felt like it was a cool surprise.” 4. Seniors Zoe Ziegenhorn, Conan Brenan, and Matt Springston perform in the annual NW light show at North Stadium. Ziegenhorn and Springston secretly orchestrated a plan to use baby powder on the drums, creating the smoky effect seen by fans. “[My last light show at NW] was really intense. I’m a little but sad but at the same time really relieved,” Brenan said.

4 PHOTO BY KATIE DEWITT

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Panels To

REMEMBER WORDS AND INK / Mitch Feyerherm

DO YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A COMIC? Send an email of your comic to our graphics editor at mitchfeyerherm@gmail.com and you could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Northwest Passage.

LRSKY COMICS / Isaac Coleman

LRSKY COMICS / Skylr Heck

SUDOKU medium difficulty 5

2 7

4 3

5 7

9 9 2 1 20

NOV. 8, 2013 / ENTERTAINMENT

4 5 1

2 7

1 3

PHOTO COURTESY OF THECOTORIE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDIA.PCGAMER

Dracula at the coterie THEATER BY KYLEE HARTL

Assassins Creed:

Black Flag release date: oct 29

he theater is pitch black, and dark, bass-heavy melodies float through the room. A silhouette of a tall man punctuates the center of the stage. As the darkness fades, he steps forward, reciting his lines: dates and events as if from a journal. The theater became the set: bones, sets of armor and a small coffin. The largest portion of the set, on a stage that takes a fourth of the room, was a gothic set of crooked monkeybars. The story of Dracula focuses on Jonathan Harker, who is invited to the Castle of Count Dracula. Trapped there for months, living in fear, he escapes and discovers that Dracula is a vampire. He teams up with vampire hunter Van Helsing; an American, Quincy Morris; and Dr. Seward to hunt down Dracula and kill him. Amazingly, University of Missouri-Kansas City alumnus Zachary Andrews plays the role of 10 characters in the production, including Harker, Dracula, Harker’s fiance, Van Helsing and his sister, and more. It’s incredible how he can switch from character to character without missing a line or accent. Most astonishing is when he hangs upside down from the monkeybars, reciting his lines perfectly, with a straight face. Andrews started out quickly and continued on

throughout the entire production, shouting out lines in different accents, going from a British to a Romanian and even a Texas accent. Not only did he change accents when he transitioned, but he also added small articles of clothing and lighting changed. He moved nonstop, talked nonstop, and within the first 20 minutes, he was already dripping in sweat. Yet, his breath was even, and he never stuttered a word. Despite the limited amount of scenery, I felt like I was genuinely in Transylvania, Romania, the setting of Bram Stoker’s story. I felt his fear after discovering the Count Dracula was a vampire. I felt the tension Harker felt, fearing for his life. It’s hard to find something negative to say about the play; however, the fact that Andrews was dripping with sweat in the first 30 minutes was kind of gross. Andrews also did a rather poor job imitating Mina Harker, Jonathan Harker’s fiance. His voice was too deep and it was distracting from the character. Overall, the show was beautifully done. Andrews did an amazing job of portraying the story of Dracula. I find it difficult to say anything negative about the 10 people Andrews was portraying.

BY KYLEE HARTL

’m an Assassins Creed fan. I’ve always been fascinated with history, so a game that is based on historical fact is definitely appealing. I own all the games, so I preordered Assassins Creed: Black Flag the day it was announced, waiting almost an entire year. That said, I went in with high expectations. It’s definitely different from the previous games, which focused on revenge or a greater good. Whereas Assassins Creed 3 takes place during the Revolutionary War, Black Flag regressed to 1715 and focused on pirates. Much to my disappointment, game creator Ubisoft got rid of Desmond Miles, the original main character of the series, replacing him with a bizarre first-person experience, in which “you” are the main character. When you are not in the real world, you are Edward Kenway. He wasn’t what I expected at all. He wasn’t originally an assassin; he is a pirate who killed an assassin and stole his clothes. He’s greedy and selfish, only doing the things he does for money, not honor. He is also sarcastic and had a more carefree attitude than previous assassins. This twist, moving from fighting for honor to fighting for gold, was at least a pleasant surprise. As for the multiplayer mode, it was similar to that in Assassins Creed 3 and exactly what I expected: You hunt other players down and assassinate them before they notice you, using the radar map to track them down. Overall, the gameplay is the same, with the exception of the parts where you have to be in first person. It definitely is a nice change from the traditional Assassins Creed franchise, and purports to provide more than 60 hours of gameplay. Well, if you’re looking for me this winter, you’ll know where to find me.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROYALTAILORONLINE

Ready Set Go BY LUKE MEGLI

he release of their self-titled album, Christian hip-hop/pop band Royal Tailor has shown great growth from 2011’s Black and White. The album that critics called unfocused, amateur, and gimmicky. But the album was ranked at six on the iTunes Christian. The album’s first track, “Got That Fire,” immediately highlights how the band has matured: think Maroon 5 meets Bruno Mars. One of the album’s highlights is the song “Original,” which has a pop vibe one would expect from Royal Tailor. The song touches on deeper, relatable subjects, like acceptance and originality, highlighted by the lyrics, “So overrated, too fabricated for me / So close to jaded / But I still choose to believe / I’ve been created for something greater / I’m a fighter,

igniter, yeah I’m the original.” After a few songs with soothing beats and low tones, like “Making Me New,” the album fades into “Ready Set Go,” which echoes the original rock-meets-hip-hop vibe from Black and White. One of my personal favorites, “Remain,” is definitely a slower song. Overall, this is one the best hip-hop/pop albums I’ve heard in a while. But, I still found myself more drawn to their last album. It almost seems that with Royal Tailor, the band is trying erase Black and White. Personally, I think both albums are great. Where Black and White felt a little scattered, Royal Tailor seemed to flow well as a whole. It’s a great collision of pop, rock, funk, and hip-hop. This a great album from a band that is closer to finding its sound. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

The girls’ golf team finished seventh in the Sunflower League with their final tournament Oct. 14 at Overland Park. Sophomore Abby Radmanesh and freshman Gabby Cortez qualified for the state tournament, where Radmanesh shot 97 placing 33rd and Cortez shot 112 and placed 74th Oct. 21 in Garden City. Due to the requirement of four players to a team and with only three returning, the upperclassmen were hoping to see some freshmen on the squad with them. They ended up having seven players with junior Megan Glenn as the captain. Golf players often struggle with schoolwork because they have to leave school for matches, not having a golf course always available for practice, and weather affecting performance and game schedules. “Every time you go somewhere, the course is different,” coach John Reiff said. “It’s not the same course; it’s not like playing basketball and volleyball when everything’s the same. When you go and play golf, you’re seeing different conditions. One day, it can be really hot; one day, it can be rainy and cold. So all those things affect your score... It’s such an emotional type of game, too.” BY SOPHIE FLORES

NOV. 8, 2013 / SPORTS

PHOTO BY KATIE DEWITT

Varsity volleyball finished their season with a record of 21-19. This is the first winning record for varsity in four years. “The most important part of the whole season was the amazing team chemistry,” senior Kate Helfrich said. “Without it, we would not have done nearly as well as we did. This season was different because we were closer, and it felt like a big family.” After formerly coaching the sophomore team, Sarah Sliva took the position as varsity head coach this season, replacing Diane O’Nele, who became head coach in 2011. The coaching change impacted the dynamic of the team and their record. “I’ve always had these coaches who beat around the bush,” senior Gabby Riggs said. “[Coaches that said,] ‘Oh, yeah, that’s good, I guess,’ but Silva wasn’t afraid to coach me. She was my teacher before she was my friend, and she didn’t tolerate anything that would ruin our chances. It’s that kind of attitude that gets your first winning record in years.” BY LIBBY GREGOR

RISING TO THE OCCASION

A WINNGIN MINDSET

SET FOR SUCCESS

DRIVING FORCES PHOTO BY KATIE DEWITT

PHOTO BY ALEXA STYERS

The varsity soccer team finished third in Sunflower League with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses, despite injuries including junior Noah Waller, junior Ethan Bowman, and senior Cody Peterson. “Our overall depth as a squad has grown,” coach Todd Boren said. “We’ve had guys that have stepped in and filled roles at key points and have helped us win key games.” Regionals and state are single elimination and consist of five games. The first regional game was Oct. 28 against Olathe Northwest at the Shawnee Mission Athletic Complex (SMAC). The Cougars won 2-1 in overtime. On Halloween, the Cougars played their second game in the regional tournament and beat Shawnee Mission South. After a score of 1-1 at halftime, neither team scored in the second half, the two ten-minute overtimes, or in the two-five minute overtimes. The score came down to two saves and a penalty-kick shootout ending with a Cougar victory. “I’m a firm believer that you have to go in thinking you’re going to win the game,” Boren said. “I think my guys went into both games confident that they could win and we had to work our tails off to do it.” BY SOPHIE FLORES

PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA

The football team had a seemingly deceiving record, winning only one game until district games. “Our record doesn’t show it,” senior Connor Johnson said. “But, we have lost close games that we definitely should have won. [Now], as a team we are learning how to close out games.” Although the team lost their first district game against SM East, they won the next two. The team landed a spot in the playoffs by defeating SM North on senior night and SM West, the defending state champion. “[The team is] picking up steam as the season goes on and finally playing to our potential,” Johnson said. “The other teams don’t realize how good we actually are.” The team plays the first game of state tonight at Lawrence Free State. BY LENA DENNINGTON

The Cougars gymnastics team competed at state Oct. 25. The team placed fourth overall. Freshman Olivia Williams medaled in four events: floor, beam, bars and the uneven bars. “Being a freshman, it was my first time at state, so I was super nervous,” Williams said. “But, I was so proud of the team for performing so well this year and myself for helping the team.” During the season, the team never placed below fourth at a meet and placed third at regionals. The highlight of the season was a first-place medal at the SM West Invitational. The team consisted of two seniors, who were both captains and vital to the team’s success. Senior Mallory Wilhite received sixth on floor, and senior Grace Gregory received fifth on beam. “I’m so proud of how we did,” Wilhite said. “I wouldn’t trade doing gymnastics these four years for anything. It’s been so rewarding, and the team has become like my family.” BY LENA DENNINGTON

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

The cross country team competed at regionals Oct. 26. The junior varsity and C teams came in first place. Both the girls and boys varsity teams came in third place at regionals and league. Although both teams had the same ranking, the girls did not qualify for the state meet. “We are just going to be doing the same things we have been,” cross country coach Van Rose said. “Maybe [we’ll] do a little bit less in the volume, but maintain our same routine. We don’t do any massive [training].” In the state meet at Rimrock Farms the boys team took fourth place and projected to take sixth. “We all knew going into the meet that the competition would be hard to beat,” captain Nate Sterns said. “It all came down to Saturday. Coach Rose does an amazing job preparing our bodies for the state meet. I felt like I led my teammates as best as possible.” BY SARAH EGGER

DOUBLE DOMINATION

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

FINISHING STRONG PHOTO BY KYLE TONG

The Power of Fantasy

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

The Lady Cougar tennis team’s season ended Oct. 18. “I was so sad to see it come to a close” sophomore Colleen Freeman said. “But, I am so excited to see what [sophomore Lexi Drummond] and I can do next year.” The No. 1 doubles team of Drummond and Freeman placed second overall at the regional tournament. The No. 2 doubles team of seniors Amanda Rebori and Lauren Benjamin placed third overall at regionals. Both teams placed high enough to go to state. “The girls played very strong teams and played really well,” head coach Ken Clow said. “But, our seeding wasn’t very good, so we didn’t make it past the first day.” The doubles team of sophomores is looking to improve next year. “We were disappointed that we couldn’t place, but we tried as hard as we could,” Freeman said. “I was proud of the way we played.” BY LENA DENNINGTON

Every week during the NFL season, millions of casual fans become backseat professional football players. Weeks before each NFL season, millions of people join fantasy football leagues online and draft players to create their ultimate team. Depending on the league, each member picks multiple quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, a kicker, and a single team’s defense and kick-off/punting teams. You can start up to 10 players each week:, a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, a kicker and a defense. Players score points according to how many yards and touchdowns they recorded, or, in the case of defense, how many points they allowed and how many turnovers they caused. At the end of each week during the season, the players’ personal points add together. The goal is to have more points than the person in the same league that is playing you that week, which requires careful selection of your players. Due to multiple friends wanting me to be in a fantasy league with them, I have two teams that I use each week. I’ve already lost interest in one of the leagues because I was unable to draft my own players, so as of now, I have a record of 3-4-1, which is barely enough to keep me in last place. My other team, however, is simply dominating the league that I am in at 8-0. Each week I spend anywhere from two to three hours preparing the lineup I want to play. I look at what teams my players are playing against and how good their defense is so I can avoid starting a player who will make mistakes against a good defense. I won’t lie: My heart sinks every time Cam Newton (quarterback for the Carolina Panthers) or Russell Wilson (quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks) throws an interception. I watch games obsessively to keep track of my players — so much so that it sometimes concerns my parents. I can’t possibly be the only one who gets like this, right? Even when the Chiefs play against the Broncos, I secretly hope that Eric Decker (Broncos wide receiver) scores just enough fantasy points for me to win, but still not enough for them to the beat the Chiefs. Does that make me a bad fan? I never realized when I got into fantasy football that I would become so obsessed. Monday at lunch, the discussion is almost always how everyone did in fantasy that weekend. I like to think that I am some sort of fantasy football guru, but the fact of the matter is that my 8-0 record in the league I care about is partially due to luck. After all, Denarius Moore of the Oakland Raiders won’t be scoring 20 points for me every week. (Most people haven’t even heard of him.) That’s fine. Five points from Moore, one of my three wide receivers, this week will suffice. Besides, Newton is predicted to score 33 by NFL.com; for my sake of my sanity, I hope he does. For now, I will continue to put the Chiefs before my fantasy team, but who knows just how competitive I’ll get when it gets to the playoffs. BY SEAN COLLINS

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

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Any two people are going to approach a leadership position uniquely, based on their own personalities, and based on their own experiences. [Dr. Harrington] was a strong educational leader at Northwest for years. And he did it in a way that was

true to himself.” — Lisa Gruman, principal