Issue 2: What in the World? by Northwest Passage

passage

Volume 46 — Issue 2 — October 24, 2014

WHAT IN THE WORLD? Currently, we face three major crises: Climate change, ISIS, and the ebola virus.

s w e e t i n k .................................1 4 o n c e u p o n a h o m e c o m i n g .....2 2 f o r k s d o w n .............................. 29 GRAPHICS BY GRACE AMUNDSON

passage staff

issue 2 table of contents

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GRACE AMUNDSON PHOTO EDITORS ADDISON SHERMAN LUCAS SILVA MANAGING EDITOR DEENA ESSA WEB EDITOR HAENA LEE COPY EDITOR PAIGE EICHKORN ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR SOPHIE FLORES GRAPHICS EDITOR MITCH FEYERHERM ADVERTISING EDITOR NATE HENDERSON STAFF WRITERS SAMUEL ATHEY REBECCA CARROLL KEEGAN DOLINAR CALVIN LACERTE BEN LUCIER STAFF DESIGNERS AMY ABADIE RACHEL BATEMAN PADEN CHESNEY MADDY GRIMES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JORDAN ABSHER EMILIE AMUNATIGUI SYDNEY BIERY ATALIE BLACK GRACE BUZZARD CLARA DAVISON LAUREN EDWARDS NICK KAHTAVA SAVANNAH KELLY REAGAN KEY HAENA LEE MAYA LEE SAMANTHA MACAULEY BRYCE REX JADA ROBERSON-PEOPLES KRISTI SENGPRASEUTH TARYN SMITH LEA STUART ALEXA STYERS KEVIN THOMPSON NATE THOMPSON CARLEIGH WHITMAN

15 WHAT IN THE WORLD Currently, we face three major crises: climate change, ISIS, and the ebola virus photo illustration by Lucas Silva

ON SMNW.COM

SMNW.COM @SMNWDOTCOM @SMNWDOTCOM

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 32-page High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during fifth hour.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALK ABOUT THE F-WORD

ONE YEAR STRONG

SOUND OFF

SWEET INK

Principal Lisa Gruman reflects on the past year

The Marching Cougar Pride performs at the District Marching Festival

Sophomore Meoldy Molina aspires to be a tattoo artist, but her talent allows her to pursue any artistic career

photo by Haena Lee

photo by Kevin Thompson

The word carries a lot of weight, but we provide a different perspective

photo by Carleigh Whitman

photo illustration by Nick Kahtava

21 BEST OF NORTHWEST Our favorite photos from the past month photo by Emilie Amunatigui

12 25

ONCE UPON A HOMECOMING

THE SEEDS OF IT ALL

Students enjoy their day at the parade prior to homecoming weekend

Fast facts and creative tips to help you prepare for Halloween photo illustration by Addison Sherman

photo by Carleigh Whitman

HOMECOMING PHOTOS

BATTLEFIELD BAD COMPANY 2

Our gallery for all of the canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t-miss homecoming photos

What staff writer Keegan Dolinar thinks about the newest X-Box Live Gold Game

14 29 FORKS DOWN Staff members compare gyro sandwiches from Holy Land Cafe and Mr. Gyros. Which restaurant is better? photo by Atalie Black

LAZY DAY ATTIRE A fashion blog post by staff writer Rebecca Carroll

YOUR GUIDE TO PERFECT PUMPKINS The place to go for the best pumpkin carving ideas

d Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints e the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined the editor-in-chief and editorial board will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter. . and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length

+ by sophie flores

+ by deena essa

Students and teachers overlook sleep deprivation as a health problem in high schools that should be addressed

Criticizing individual Muslims, their practices and their interpretation of Islam is okay, but not Islam as a whole

t is 12:30 a.m. as I write this and I have not yet finished my homework. For my classmates and me, this is routine. We often see each other’s initials at the top-right corner of our screens on shared documents as we work to finish assignments in the late hours of the night. We are as familiar with 3 a.m. as we are with t the lunch bell or 2:40 p.m. Some of us procrastinate, but I often do homework from the moment I get home to past midnight, spending long intervals with my eyes slipping out of focus. I sometimes feel only halfway present in class. Mornings often involve my fellow IB candidates and me one-upping each other over how little sleep we had the night before, with more weariness than competitiveness. The problem could be that we took too many hard classes or that only 15 percent of teenagers, according to the National Sleep Foundation, get a full eight and a half hours of sleep on school nights. Most teens need about nine and a quarter hours of sleep each night to function at their best. Your sleep-deprived brain can be compared a brain with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent. In many states, it would be illegal for you to drive in such a condition. Even one hour of sleep loss can prevent you from functioning normally. Lack of sleep limits your learning ability, concentration and problem-solving skills. The majority of adolescents in the NSF poll said they worry too much or feel stressed and anxious — all symptoms of sleep deprivation.

opinion | Oct. 24, 2014

Students should know that sleep directly affects how they look, feel and act. Schools should also consider sleep as a critical part of the learning process. Experiments done at Harvard Medical School and Trent University show that students’ brains review what they learn in class while they are asleep. A full nine hours of sleep after a lesson is more important than we thought. Students in schools with later start times do not go to sleep later, but get one more hour of sleep each day. How much better would school be if everyone’s brains was functioning at its highest potential? Both students and teachers should regard sleep with a higher importance. All-nighters aren’t something to be proud of. Oversleeping on weekends doesn’t help; it only distorts natural sleeping patterns further. Students should not sacrifice a regular sleeping schedule to get better grades. I propose that administrators ask teachers to schedule tests, projects and lengthy homework assignments so that the maximum time any student spends on homework does not exceed five hours per evening (not an average of five hours, but a maximum of five hours). If you have a sleep debt, you will pay it sooner or later, even though you may not realize it when it happens. Caffeine can keep you awake to finish an essay, but it does not mean you need sleep any less. The only solution to sleep deprivation is sleep.

“

If you have a sleep debt, you will pay it sooner or later, even though you may not realize it when it happens

“

”

Her eyes widened with apprehension and I closed mine with fear

”

y youngest sister and I were washing the dishes last week. I asked her about her day. Oh, you know, the usual, she said. She quickly moved on to a discussion her English class had had that day. The moment she said the letters ‘ISIS’, I anticipated the worst. “Did you say anything?” I immediately asked her. She could have said anything with the best intentions that could’ve been interpreted in a negative way. My sister was just a freshman and I knew she couldn’t handle any backfire that could result. Her peers had questioned and attacked the justification behind the actions of members of ISIS. And like many conversations about ISIS, they eventually hit on the religion of Islam. She apologized. You see, my family and I are Muslim, which like it or not, has become synonymous with ‘ISIS’. My parents had warned On the news, on the radio, all over the radio and even in public transit advertisements, the crisis in Iraq and Syria has become a nationwide discussion that has reached as far as my sister’s freshman Honors English class. Almost everyone seems

to know a thing or two about the debacle and most people have developed an opinion, especially influential, public figures On last week’s broadcast of Real Time, comedian Bill Maher, aided by author Sam Harris, joined Ben Affleck in a heated debate over Islam and the concepts it teaches. While Affleck condemned stereotyping all Muslims into one category, Maher and Harris have come out to describe my religion as the “mafia” and as “the motherlode of bad ideas”. And that is where it became offensive. Throwing ISIS under the bus and calling it the ‘motherlode of bad ideas’ is stating your opinion based on fact, based on the actions of a horrible organization that justifies their actions with a religion just like any other. However, overgeneralizing and claiming that a holy religion I say ‘Allah Akbar’ over 85 times a day in daily prayer. So do approximately 1.6 billion Muslims from around the world. Believe it or not, yelling ‘God is great’ before a beheading doesn’t justify a heinous crime like that in Islam, but news media outlets find it suitable to begin segments on ISIS with men yelling ‘Allah Akbar’ in the background.

STAFF EDITORIAL: 18 AGREE / 0 DISAGREE

let’s talk about the

F-WORD

THE WORD CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT WE PROVIDE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

ast month, at the United Nations headquarters, Emma Watson stood up and said: “You might be thinking, 'Who is this Harry Potter girl and what is she doing speaking at the UN?’” Watson was being a ‘feminist’, that’s what. She passionately highlighted the urgency of gender equality and the social misconceptions surrounding ‘feminism’ and the problems men face because of gender inequality. Ironically, just hours later, The Huffington Post and others noted that Watson had worn a white, silk Dior suit and were more concerned with her fashion choices than with her message. For less than 15 minutes, Watson could not have just been a celebrity wanting to endorse a message she believed in. No, Watson had to be a woman. An independent woman stood at a podium and spoke about a topic that today’s society seems to dance around a lot. True, we’re dancing loudly, stomping our feet and obnoxiously joining the dance

one by one. But we still dance — around and around the topic of inherent equality. The timeless fight for gender equality has survived in the boxes girls are too weak to carry. It has been lost in the dozens of jobs too ‘manly’ for females and it has been ignored and blurred in the

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD FEEL FREE TO BE SENSITIVE. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD FEEL FREE TO BE STRONG. IT IS TIME THAT WE ALL SEE GENDER AS A SPECTRUM, INSTEAD OF TWO SETS OF OPPOSING IDEALS. WE SHOULD STOP DEFINING EACH OTHER BY WHAT WE ARE NOT, AND START DEFINING OURSELVES BY WHO WE ARE. — EMMA WATSON ON FEMINISM

words of misogyny and chivalry. One of the main points of Watson’s speech was that in order to stop stereotyping women, we should stop stereotyping men, too. Rather than completely making the idea one of an extreme tone, it is important to look at both sides of the story. Not only are women made to feel inferior under certain circumstances, but men feel this discrimination too. “Feminism” should be redefined from a loaded term commonly associated with a move for feminine superiority to a term universally accepted for gender equality. The word “feminism” has negative connotations. Society is skeptical of “feminism,” but it is simply “equality.” The approach that is currently taken is one that makes a hypocritical statement about gender roles. It is an approach that almost begs the question, “Do women really want to be equal, or do they aim to be the dominant gender?” We need to make this question obsolete. Women should be equal, not ‘dominant.’

BARBARA MCNALLY: HUFFINGTON POST ON

5 REASONS WHY THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT PERTAINS TO MALES AS WELL: 1. disfavor of the domestic male Males are not taken as seriously if they decide to have a significant domestic role. If women are expected to be the primary nurturer by default, this automatically eliminates males who wish to step into the role as more of a principal figure. 2. Rising male mental illness: Emma noted that in the UK, suicide is the leading killer of men age 20-49. This statistic surpasses deaths caused by accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease. Men feel unable to ask for help as it will give the appearance they are somehow less of a "man." If females are solely categorized as the "sensitive communicators" this leaves little room for a male to feel empowered to voice his needs. 3. Closeted sexuality / gender identity issues: A New York Times study shows millions of gay men still remain “in the closet.” 1/10 gay men say they do not even tell their inner circle about their sexuality; they're just suffering in secret. Gay porn searches are, for the most part, equally prevalent in all states. In other words, many men are directly affected by how society presents and personifies the male gender, resulting in secrecy about their sexual orientation and seeking other outlets to express their desires. 4. Male aggression repercussions: Whether within the confines of a corporate boardroom or bedroom walls, males have been conditioned to seek a dominance within their relationships and to underplay the significance of their aggressive behavior. What this conditioning also advocates is submission of the woman. This superiority rationale leads to repercussions far beyond basic equality. When men are conditioned to seek and expect control of outside forces, they often lose control of their inner forces, including their actions. 5. Intense success standards: Just as women may fall victim to extraordinary body image standards, men are facing stark insecurities caused by a distorted sense of what it means to be “a successful man.” The stakes keep advancing, leaving men to feel as if they will never reach this unrealistic expectation of a "norm.” If society encouraged both men and women to reach for the same stars, the weight of the world wouldn't fall so hard on the male shoulder. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NICK KAHTAVA

nw passage | opinion

seniors!

MCKENZIEbaker

If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had your picture taken at DeCloud Studios yet, you are about to be left out of your senior yearbook.

Never fear. We got you covered.

DeCloud will be here at Northwest to take senior pictures on Nov. 6. Mark your calendar. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be left out. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t signed up to have your picture taken, hurry down to Room 151 and sign up. We will be taking underclass photos on that day as well. If you do not have your photo taken on Nov. 6, you will not be in the yearbook. If you have any questions, contact Jackie Ball, Rachel Barnes, Savannah Kelly or Kaleigh Schreiber

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The next senior ad due date is almost here.

Prices will increase after November 3. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out. Get your senior ad submitted to Kara Bamberger by Monday, November 3. Come to Room 151 to get a form if you still need one. *In order to qualify for this deadlines pricing, all photos, the message and payment must be submitted by the due date.

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Left to our own devices

THESE LAPTOPS CAN DO MORE FOR US THAN MAKE GRADING AND TURNING IN ASSIGNMENTS EASIER. HERE IS WHAT I WISH I COULD DO ON MY LAPTOP. + BY SOPHIE FLORES

Keep Computers Out During Lessons If I take notes on paper, I will never look at them again. Paper notes are disorganized and hard to follow. On the other hand, notes taken on computer are searchable and easy add to. *Students should gain the teachers’ trust in order to have their laptops out fulltime to facilitate learning. With so many people using their computers as phones – iMessaging friends during class or playing games blatantly in front of teachers – they are not helping the cause for digital education. Searchable Resources All the information you need could be at your fingertips on your laptop, if all the

resources were available online. I often encounter situations where I would like to copy and paste information from an assignment onto a personal study guide. This would be much easier if I was able to access any extra information on searchable databases. Teachers could facilitate this process by making all information needed to study available within a searchable database. Use More Apps Digital learning is not limited to Google Drive. Brainstorming, graphing and timed writing apps are useful for many assignments. A digital class notebook could be the first step in cooperative learning between students, allowing all to add to the

Still Learning

THE COMPUTERS ARE STILL NEW AND ALTHOUGH PROBLEMS ARE COMMON, FOR THE MOST PART IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS. + BY SAM ATHEY

ne year ago if there were too many computers on the SMSD network at once it would crash. Now every classroom is lit up with screens and connection problems are almost not an issue. Complaints of spine-bending textbooks are gone. Yet more complaints have sprung up from both students and teachers. After more than two months, teachers continue to struggle with AirPlay. Those who remain at the front of the classroom have little to no idea whether students are paying attention to them or to the Octagon on their screens. Technical complications with some online textbooks and confusion about where to submit assignments as teachers switch from Google Docs to Google Classroom continue create problems for individual students. That is not to say that the Initiative has been a failure. Whether the laptops have been successful depends on the student. “[The computers] are not a good learning tool for weaker students,” world languages teacher Karin Masenthin said. “A weaker student does better looking at a piece of paper.”

Self-discipline has never been more of an issue than it is with the laptops. With so much information to peruse and so many games to play at the swipe of a finger, it is easy to get distracted. “I mean, I know that I should be monitoring everything, but at some point I feel it’s a student’s own responsibility to take initiative for their learning,” Masenthin said. The Digital Learning Initiative is still in its infancy and the view from inside the initiative is much different from that of those on the outside. Apple’s lead professional development trainer Tony Balinson recently told a group of teachers that comparatively the introduction of one-to-one technology had actually gone much more smoothly in Shawnee Mission than in other districts across the nation. “I went to a training session and we were telling them about the problems we had, and they told us that these were miniscule compared to other districts,” said Video Production teacher Billy Dent. “And once we get through the growing pains, in one or two years we’ll forget [these problems] ever happened.”

shared resource. Teachers could contribute their Powerpoint presentations and provide class objectives to organize the material. Multimedia Helps Technology allows us to access different types of media and a wide variety of educational materials that we should start using. We are no longer limited to printed resources. We can use video, audio, pictures, animation, diagrams and graphics to help us visualize concepts. A preview video of the lesson better prepares students prior to class. Homework The new technology should mean doing fewer worksheets and textbook exercises. I would rather explore a concept on my own. I would feel more prepared if my homework was to come to class with knowledge of a topic rather than to complete problems or answer questions. I wish I could say that I always read the chapter before doing this type of homework. Most students, including myself, don’t. The Digital Learning Initiative transition might be easier if students had more freedom with how they learn.

MY FAVORITE APPS:

Glogster EDU: online posters Mindmeister: organization SonicPics: photos + sound Dipity: timelines Brickflow: social media presentations

WE REMEMBER: 10% OF WHAT WE READ 20% OF WHAT WE HEAR 30% OF WHAT WE SEE 50% OF WHAT WE SEE+HEAR 70% OF WHAT WE DISCUSS 80% OF WHAT WE EXPERIENCE 90% OF WHAT WE TEACH

WHETHER THE LAPTOPS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL DEPENDS ON THE STUDENT.”

nw passage | opinion

this

month in s

THESE ARE SOME OF THE TRENDING HASHTAGS IN NEWS, POLITICS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS ACROSS MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS + BY DEENA ESSA

Ferguson October

Ebola

HeForShe

X ItCanWait

Hussain Abdullah

WorldMental HealthDay

Happy National Coming OutDay 08

news | oct. 24, 2014

Since Michael Brown’s shooting early August, the events in Ferguson have quietly exited media outlets. However, Oct. 10 - 13 was

declared February October by Hands Up United and the Organization for Black Struggle – a weekend of protest and marches against “the

epidemic of police violence facing Black and Brown communities.”

The Ebola virus has spread into a West Africa city that contains an airport causing panic in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Only

a few cases have actually been exported; the first American Ebola diagnosis was in Dallas. Users have taken to social media sites to crank

Emma Watson was elected the Goodwill ambassador to the United

Nations. In her speech at the U.N. headquarters, she launched the

#HeForShe campaign calling for the equality of men and women.

AT&T launched an #ItCanWait campaign over social media to combat texting and driving. Both adults and teenagers are texting #X

to let their friends know they can’t be replying to any texts before they start driving. Celebrities like Demi Lovato and Tim McGraw

have shown their support for the campaign.

Kansas City Chiefs' safety Husain Abdullah was given a 15-yard penalty for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ in the game against

the Patriots Sep. 30. After his touchdown in the fourth quarter, Abdullah, a devout Muslim, prostrated to God for which he

was penalized by the NFL. Uproar across social media platforms ensued with comparisons made between Abdullah.

World Mental Health Day was celebrated Oct. 10 to raise awareness of the struggle mental

illness puts many people through. Zelda Williams took to Twitter to remember her father Robin

Williams, who committed suicide early August, and encourage people to fight depression.

Oct. 11 was National Coming Out Day – an annual awareness day of Lesbian Gay Bisexual

Transgender rights. Users took to social media platforms to promote equal rights and share

their own coming out stories.

jokes about the virus, prompting discussion condemning ridiculing a lethal disease.

a briefly NHS Important dates & events

WEBKINS CLUB: PHOTO BY BRYCE REX

n Wednesday, October 29, the Speaker Series is back presented by NHS. During each lunch period, Joan Dougherty from Rose Brooks, a shelter for victims of abuse, will be discussing the epidemic of domestic abuse. There are two different options for Halloween volunteering: The Halloween Happening at 5740 Merriam Drive on

October 25 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm and the Halloween Carnival at Wonderscope Children’s Museum on October 31 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm. The biggest upcoming event for the NHS is the NHS Induction Ceremony on November 3, in which juniors and seniors who have been accepted into the NHS will be inducted into

the society. Current NHS members are required to attend to help out with the candle lighting ceremony. Attire is business casual, and all members are implored to leave their phones at home or in their car. After the ceremony there will be cake and punch.

+ BY mitch feyerherm

NEW CLUBS JOINING NORTHWEST ULTIMATE FRISBEE CLUB: PHOTOS BY LUCAS SILVA

W E B K I N Z C L U B sponsor Mr. Dent oversees meetings every Thursday morning in 155 or 156 with leader senior Carson Wapp. “We created a webkinz club chant, we discussed activities for the club that could take place throughout the year, and we played several webkinz games as a group,” Wapp said. The chant is “Webkinz, Webkinz, it means life, love and happiness, Webkinz, Webkinz, it means everything to me!” D I S N E Y C L U B sponsor Mrs. Paugh oversees meetings every other Monday after school with leaders seniors Lauren King and Kate Brundrett.

“We hope to make new friendships and enjoy Disney together,” King said. “It is nice to sit down and talk with people about what they loved as a little kid.”

U LT I M A T E F R I S B E E C LU B sponsor Mr. Poplau oversees meetings every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. in room 208 with club leaders seniors Sam Sullivan and Anthony Abraca and Riley Wood; they also meet on Sundays on the football field to play. “This year we plan to have a night/ glow in the dark ultimate frisbee game,” Sullivan said. “We also plan on having a halloween frisbee game, with all the participants wearing costumes. We want to play

the Blue Valley frisbee club and the SMW frisbee club sometime this year, but we need more practice before that.”

SUPER SMASH BROS AND RUBIK’S C UBE CLUB sponsor Mr. Pabst oversees meetings every Tuesday and Thursday after school with leaders senior Chase Bennett and junior Trenton Schroeder. “I came up with the idea because smash bros is my life and i really enjoy playing it,” Schroeder said. “I know a fair amount of other people that also enjoy playing it. I figured hey why not make it a club so everyone can experience the best video games ever made.”

+ BY PAIGE EICHKORN

important event TIMELINE +by heana lee OCT. 3: Homecoming Assembly- Various organizations and groups performed in front of the student body. The spirit stick was awarded to the seniors and the

homecoming court walked across the gym. At the football game later that day Maggie Marx was crowned homecoming queen, Jillian Borel first runner up, and Brooke Bennett second runner up.

OCT. 4: Homecoming- Students gathered in the cafeteria to dance and have fun. At 9:30 p.m. Donte Colum was

crowned Big Man on Campus with Patrick Shreve as first runner up and Tiger HarrisWebster as second runner up.

OCT. 9 Band Concert- Concert Band, Jazz Band, percussion and the Trailridge Band had their first performance of

the year in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

OCT. 18 SM North Marching Festival- The Marching Cougar Pride performs the routine they have been

practicing since July. They came in fifth place.

OCT. 25 StuCo Carnival - Children of the community will arrive to Northwest to participate in the annual

StuCo Halloween Carnival. Various organizations create booths for activities that the children can have fun doing.

OCT. 30 Fall Musical Opening- Thespian Troupe #888 have their first performance of their year with “The

Little Shop of Horrors.” They have been working since the beginning of the school year.

NOV. 3 StuCo Canned Food Drive- StuCo will be collecting various donations from all of the fifth hour classes. Each

day specific items will be asked to be donated. The school will be divided based on class size and the classes with the most donation points will win.

NOV. 8 Mother Son Father Daughter Dance- Juniors and seniors are invited to dress up in “decades” attire and

bring their parents to the NW cafeteria for an entertaining throw-back night.

nw passage | news

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one year

strong

PRINCIPAL LISA GRUMAN REFLECTS ON THE PAST YEAR. + BY DEENA ESSA AND PAIGE EICHKORN

er computer pings – a new email. Principal Lisa Gruman barely misses a beat and continues talking to the two freshmen in her office. She smiles, and the freshmen stutter a tiny bit less. “[Being principal] is so much fun,” said Gruman. “Even though it’s a lot. There’s an energy to it, because of the students. Honestly, I’m biased and I have complete respect for elementary and middle school students, but seeing high school students come into their own and start to figure out who they are as a person, what they’re about, where they’re going, that’s pretty remarkable. So I’m very fortunate.” N e a r i n g her one year anniversary at Northwest, p r i n c i p a l Lisa Gruman After stepping up to principal, Gruman made communication a main priority. “I hope one of the things I’ve accomplished that I’ve felt good about and I hope people would say I’ve accomplished this is I feel like I have really built good communication with parents and reached out to the community and reached out to parents,” Gruman said. “That really was one of my priorities when I stepped into this position and I’m hoping parents feel that way.”

Students have also been more informed and comfortable with knowing they are able to ask any questions and come to Gruman with concerns. “For the most part I think students have...come to me more when they’ve had concerns in my prior position then now,” Gruman said. “But I do hope they continue that way. I don’t want them ever to feel like, because I’m in a new position or I have a different title that make me less accessible. My calendar may be a little crazy but I will always make time for the students. You’re why we are here.” One of the biggest goals and concerns of the administration was of course the laptops. The distribution alone was difficult with the many accounts to be verified and the process of checking and double checking with teachers and administrators. “I thought it went well. I think the comfort level varies greatly,” Gruman said. “I think there’s still a few things we’re always trying to improve upon with classroom management strategies. Those are just things we’re going to have to build upon and improve upon and we’ll get better at it.”

seeing high school students come into their own and start to figure out who they are as a person... that’s pretty remarkable.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

nw passage | feature

Freshman trombonist Cameron Akagi plays along with the rest of the Marching Cougar Pride. Taking cues from senior trombone section leader Mitchell Slocum, Akagi completes his first full performance of Oz meets the Wiz infront of a crowd.

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

sound OFF

+ by rachel lee & rebecca carroll

THE MARCHING COUGAR PRIDE PERFORMS AT SM SOUTH

s the band got in their positions to perform in front of all the schools, the drum majors climbed their ladders ready to conduct the band. The drill team got their flags ready to perform. Announcers began to explain information about the Marching Cougar Pride while the band stood quietly and put on their straight faces in preparation for the performance. “We were the last band to go so we had to leave a lasting impression,” sophomore Alayna Watts said. The drum majors called attention and began to conduct the group. The buzz of the music rang through the space, humming a sweet melody. The wave of the colorful flags

feature | oct. 24, 2014

filled the air as the varsity drill team swiftly glided around, hitting each mark on beat. “The moment I hear the drum majors call us to attention is when I feel the most pride, because we’re just so loud that everyone just goes completely silent,” senior Hannah Valencia said. The band continued and performed their songs from their theme this year, Wizard of Oz Meets the Wiz. Each movement and sound painted the air with a harmonic tune. The crowd of parents and friends smiled as they recognized the melodies of familiar songs and the costumes on the drill team officers; the four main characters of “The Wizard of Oz.” “I was super nervous, mostly because it was our first time performing the entire show, but we also added a part at the very end where we release a balloon into the sky that’s supposed to mimic the hot air balloon the wizard leaves on,” varsity drill

team captain Emma Rutherford said. With the band and the drill team hitting every movement, it kept the crowd wanting more. After each performance, you could see satisfaction in the faces filling the audience and in the band members faces. The smiles from the crowd continued to grow as the band proceeded. As the whole performance came to a close, the constant applauses filled the air. “I like being the biggest band, because we always get to go last,” senior Hannah Valencia said. “We’re like the cherry on top of the whole festival, like a finale.” Though marching festival happened every year, their performance was one for the books.

an inside look from the marching band and drill team “WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE THIS SHOW EVEN BETTER,” freshman Brianna Long said. “EVERY SINGLE DAY WE’VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS BEING BETTER FOR THE FESTIVAL.”

“WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE FLAG CHOREOGRAPHY SINCE LATE JULY, BUT THE WEEK BEFORE THE FEST WE PUT 110% INTO EVERY PRACTICE, SO WE COULD REACH THE SHOWS FULL POTENTIAL,” drill team captain

Emma Rutherford said.

“WE WERE SKEPTICAL THAT WE WOULDN’T DO VERY WELL, BUT AFTER PRACTICE WE WERE 10 TIMES AS CONFIDENT,” sophomore

Alayna Watts said.

“WATCHING THE OTHER BANDS, YOU REALIZE HOW THEY IMPROVED FROM THE YEARS BEFORE AND HOW YOU CAN STRIVE TO BE AS GOOD AS THEM IF NOT BETTER,” sophomore Alayna Watts said.

[THE SHAWNEE MISSION MARCHING FESTIVAL] WAS JUS T OUTSANDING!” trombone section leader senior Mitchell Slocum said. “THERE’S STILL SOME THINGS THAT NEED WORK, BUT KNOWING HOW HARD EVERYONE WORKED TO GET TO THAT POINT WAS FANTASTIC. IT WAS PRETTY SAD KNOWING THAT IT WAS THE LAST ONE I’LL EVER HAVE, BUT IT WAS STILL JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE!”

Senior Melody Riddell and Junior Kelsey Nagel dance as the lion and the tin man. The Marching Cougar Pride’s theme for their performance is Oz meets the Wiz. PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

I’M . SUPER EXCITED TO PERFORM OUR ENTIRE SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE WE JUST FINISHED IT.” junior Kelsey Nagel said. “PLUS WE ARE GETTING TO END THE SHOW WITH “SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW” WITH COLORFUL SWING FLAGS AND A MINIATURE HOT AIR BALLOON.”

“IT WAS DIFFERENT, THEY APPRECIATED OUR SHOW AND CONGRATULATED US.” freshman Erin Osner said . “ALSO, PEOPLE WERE QUIET WHEN WE PERFORMED, WE AREN’T USED TO THAT. IT’S NERVERACKING, BUT AT THE END I HAD SO MUCH PRIDE AND EXCITEMENT FOR COMPLETING IT.” LAST YEAR I DIDN’T EVER REALLY GET INTO IT LIKE I HAVE THIS YEAR,” senior Hannah Valencia said. “IT WAS KIND OF BORING COMPARED TO THIS YEAR, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE VISUALS AND IT’S A SHOW THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.” “WE ARE JUST HOPING TO FINISH UP AND CLEAN OUR SHOW BEFORE THE FESTIVAL” Drill Team Sponsor Cristin

Arms in the air, Senior Melody Riddell poses before bowing at the end of the third movement on Sept . 27 during the District Marching Festival at the SM South Stadium. PHOTO BY HAENA LEE

LaMourie said.

Junior Tevyn Pak performs during the District Marching Festival on Sept. 47 at the SM South District Stadium. The Marching Cougar Pride’s theme for their performance is Oz meets the Wiz.

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

nw passage | feature

SOPHOMORE MELODY MOLINA ASPIRES TO BE A TATTOO ARTIST, BUT HER TALENT ALLOWS HER TO PURSUE ANY ARTISTIC CAREER

fine line is present in the tattoo business between an expressional artistic statement and a life-long mistake. “The tattoo business is scary for me, putting something permanent on someone else’s skin, and if I mess up they have to deal with it I’m not very the rest of their lives.” good at other Molina said. things, but when Molina is a talented I draw and artist that inspires to paint I get so work in some facet of many friends the art industry and telling me how has found a particular good it is. interest in the tattoo industry. “I never want to move out of the art business. Not totally sure about tattoos, but I’m very, very interested.” she said, “I like all kinds of art, like painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, special effect makeups, wood design and I really like glass design.” Molina’s desire to become a tattoo artist is a recent one. “When I really started to want to be an artist was last spring ,” she said, “I had wanted

to be a doctor but changed my mind.” “I’m not very good at other things, but when I draw I get so many friends telling me how good it is. It feels good, and I don’t usually feel like that in other things, like math.” Molina’s response concerning her origin of inspiration included, “I don’t know what inspired me really, just doodling on myself I started to watch shows about tattoos, and special effect makeups, and these shows I’d say inspired me some.” Whether it be the tattoo industry, glass works, or wood design, Northwest’s adept art program is facilitating and improving Melody’s skills so that she can become successful in any artistic pursuits she carries out.

+ BY CALVIN LACERTE / PHOTOS BY KEVIN THOMPSON

Dominant: Sophomore Melody Molina begins a tattoo on sophomore Drew Coppenbarger’s arm. The tattoo was a wolf that was about 6” by 6”. “No, I don’t think I will [pursue it], but maybe there’s a chance,” said Molina. Above: Molina is referencing a picture of a wolf on her computer for a temporary tattoo on Coppenbarger’s arm. The tattoo took multiple hours and two different setting changes. “I’ve been [tattooing] people for a year whenever people ask me to,” stated Molina. Left: Molina is using a pen to tattoo Coppenbarger. The tattoo was temporary and lasted three days. “I want to continue [tattooing people] because it is fun,” said Molina.

feature | Oct. 24, 2014

WHAT IN THE world CURRENTLY WE FACE THREE MAJOR CRISES: CLIMATE CHANGE, THE EBOLA VIRUS, AND ISIS

bola, formerly known as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, was first discovered in 1976 in Sudan and Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo). It was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An Ebola epidemic is plaguing the West Africa villages of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. No cure or vaccine has been found to contain the mass epidemic. Climate change has evolved more than ever over the past century. The global average temperature has risen 1.4 Degrees Fahrenheit. The lack of real temperature forcing over the past decades is a result of the ocean taking in the majority of

greenhouse gas emissions. Based on different projections of future emissions, the global average temperature could rise anywhere from a manageable two degrees Fahrenheit to a dangerous 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit. At the poles, the temperature is even more rapid, as at the higher altitudes, carbon dioxide is the main force behind climatic variation. The scientific consensus is that the climate is changing, the true unknown is how humanity will meet the challenge. ISIS stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It has also been called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), though the group announced in June that the

caliphate was called the Islamic State (IS). Its goal is to establish a caliphate, an Islamic region under one ruler called a caliph. Non-Muslims in the caliphate would have to either convert, pay a tax called jizya or leave. ISIS uses Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram for publicizing and recruiting. It may be the wealthiest Islamic militant group, worth $2 billion. How ISIS is funded is inconclusive, but there have been reports that the money comes from selling oil and electricity or is donated from states around the Gulf.

+ BY PAIGE EICHKORN & AMY ABADIE

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LUCAS SILVA

nw passage | Feature

world

WHAT IN THE

CLIMATE CHANGE

ISIS

E BO LA

From decreasing crop production in the Heartland, to cascades of calving glaciers in Greenland, to increasingly devastating tropical storms, wildfires and a prolonged drought in the American West, the message is clear: the Earth is warming. Over the course of the Earth’s existence, the climate has shifted many times, producing a cycle of cold glacial and warm interglacial periods. But the current shift in climate is one of the most abrupt and unnatural shifts history has recorded. The concentration of carbon has risen from 280 ppm in 1880 to 395 ppm in 2014. Humans are largely responsible for this increase in carbon dioxide.

ISIS stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It has also been called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), although the group announced in June that the caliphate was called the Islamic State (IS). Its goal is to establish a caliphate, an Islamic region under one ruler called a caliph. ISIS uses Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram for publicizing and recruiting. It may be the wealthiest Islamic militant group, worth $2 billion. The evidence regarding the source of funds for ISIS is inconclusive, but there have been reports that the money comes from selling oil and electricity or is donated from states around the Gulf.

Before he was admitted into a hospital and connected to a heart monitor and kidney dialysis machine, Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan was visiting Dallas to marry his girlfriend and attend his son’s graduation. One of over 8,000 people diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus since March – primarily in parts of Western Africa – Duncan could have displayed ghastly symptoms like high fever, diarrhea, vomiting and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). The virus also took his life, like it has with over 4,000 other victims.

+ BY mitch feyerherm

feature | Oct. 24, 2014

continued on page 17

+ BY sophie flores

continued on page 18

+ BY deena essa & haena lee continued on page 19

CLIMATE CHANGE: as the EARTH WARMS HUMAN ACTIVITY HAS OUTPACED NATURAL GEOLOGICAL CYCLES AND IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, PUSHING THE ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT OF MANY AMERICAN’S MINDS.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: the sea level change can definitely disrupt water ecosystems that are dependent on not being exposed to air and not being too far under water (this has to do with water pressure) there are plenty of health risks involved in the emission of greenhouse gasses and other noxious chemicals that can result from many sources the quality of the air is less than it used to be due to lack of trees and the inability to filter “toxic air” obvious effect on the atmospheric conditions surrounding the Earth as a whole KANSAS CITY STAR AND SEVERAL OTHER NONLOCALIZED GROUPS SUGGEST THESE PRECAUTIONS: use of LED light bulbs in the home and energy efficient heating and cooling appliances purchase and production of vehicles that have good gas mileage Kansas is looking into wind-power continuously in fact, federal mandates are already beginning to make the use of efficient appliances required + BY REBECCA CARROLL

WHAT IS THE UNITED STATES DOING ABOUT IT?

environmental officer of Kansas City Dennis Murphey has worked to enact the Climate Protection, and plans to reduce mitigate the risk climate change in Kansas City. “My counterparts in communities in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma are currently working on a project with our state climatologists to develop realistic localized weather scenarios that we should expect in the near future,” Murphey said. According to Murphey, only by working and protesting, can the

government know that the people want change. On Sept. 21, an estimated 311,000 protesters took to the streets to call for government action about climate change, many more than the 100,000 that organizers were expecting. The march was planned by 350.org and environmental figurehead Bill McKibben, was a call for action for the Climate Summit at UN Headquarters in New York on Sept. 23.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

be negatively affected by more extreme heat waves and cold spells. Weather phenomena such as thunderstorms and tornadoproducing storms will begin to stay in one area for a longer period of time, possibly worsening flood conditions and storm destruction. The less local effects such as the move on the pH of the world’s oceans toward acidity, or the continuing loss of biodiversity around the globe, or even the rise of the sea levels due to the melting of the ice caps are even more worrying. The only course of action other than the infeasible halting

of modern civilization, is to work together to reduce our emissions in every sector of life. Only through working together and demanding a change can the disastrous course of current society be averted. “We need to develop strategies for climate adaptation and resiliency to the impacts of climate change that will occur regardless of how successful we may be in reducing future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” Murphey said. Year after year, as the effects of global climate change are more and more evident, eventually they will eventually grow too large to ignore.

Not much. Although the country produces 12 percent less carbon dioxide than in 2005, the change is not significant enough. Proposed legislation in recent years has been meager, and even if bills pass in one house they are often struck down in another. Kansas City, Mo., was one of the first major cities in the Heartland to enact a plan, the Kansas City, Mo. Climate Protection Plan. Chief

Climate Change and its effects will profoundly influence human civilization in the coming decades. From an increase in water scarcity, to the loss of crucial food sources and human habitats, the response of the current generations will define the severity of the problem. Even though Kansas City is not a coastal community that is traditionally thought of being vulnerable to climate change, more severe weather events will affect prices of utilities and the rebuilding. Elderly and other vulnerable persons will

China- approx 6,018 million tons USA- approx 5,833 million tons Russia- approx 1,704 million tons India- approx 1,293 million tons Japan- approx 1,247 million tons Germany- approx 858 million tons Canada- approx 614 million tons United Kingdom- approx 586 million tons South Korea- 514 million tons Iran- approx 471 million tons

TOP POLLUTING COUNTRIES

USA accounts for 20% of observable global warming China and Russia account for 8% each India and Brazil for 7% each UK and Germany for 5% each

information from the Department of Energy

nw passage | feature

ISIS:

CITY OF TENTS

ISIS ATTACKS HAVE LEFT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH LOST LOVED ONES AND YEARS OF WAITING TO RETURN HOME. ISIS ISN’T JUST SOME VAGUE THREAT IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT DOESN’T HAVE MUCH OF AN EFFECT ON US. IT POSES SOME VERY REAL THREATS TO THE US, ITS INTERESTS, AND THE WORLD AT LARGE. According to an article from The Fiscal Times, there are five main ways that the crisis will negatively affect the US if it goes unchecked. 1. The threat to Western nations increases dramatically. Some of ISIS’s members hold Western passports. If the group takes control of Iraq and Syria, it would become a safe haven for terrorists. 2. It would derail the world economy Iraq’s problems have caused a spike in oil prices, if it continues, we will have to pay even more for gas. 3. It makes the US look weak The US has put trillions of dollars into the crisis in Iraq. To have the entire nation split apart and fail, it would be “one of the worst foreign policy disasters in recent history.” 4. It could decimate military morale About 4,442 soldiers died fighting in Iraq, while over 30,000 were injured. Many soldiers experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, and if Iraq were to collapse, the troops would feel as though they had risked their lives for nothing. 5. It has taken cash out of our pockets. The collapse of a country has significant effects on the economy and would make our invested stocks worth nothing.

+ BY SAM ATHEY MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ISIS:

approve

total

disapprove

republican

(statista.com)

feature | Oct. 24, 2014

Right now, teenagers just like you are waiting for school to start, bored from staying in their rooms all day. Most of us feel this way during summer vacation. But their situation is different. Their first day of school was two months ago, but school hasn’t started yet. They live in Zakho, Iraq, and are among the 390,000 people using local schools as shelters from ISIS attacks. Families are living in classrooms and have had to leave all their possessions

THE ISIS CONFLICT Thousands of people flee from their homes every day to escape warplanes and artillery attacks. Devastated countries in the Middle East have seen beheadings, kidnappings, rape, mass killings and ongoing war. The capture and execution of James Foley and Steven Sotloff, two American journalists, were huge blows to the U.S. ISIS is also massacring religious

IMPORTANCE IN THE UNITED STATES In the past month, the United States has conducted over 150 air strikes in ISIS-controlled areas in Iraq and Syria. President Obama spoke on Sept. 10 about an unrestricted bombing operation in Syria, because the past air strikes in Iraq allowed militants could take shelter across the Syrian border. The U.S. has also been bombing

isis controls

a day that iraq produces & independent

behind. Garbage is piling up, and the supply of blankets and food is limited. The region has about 1,500 schools, all packed with displaced people. They don’t know when the situation will be over. It could take days or years. ISIS attacks all over the Middle East destroyed homes and separated families. Survivors of the attacks who reject an ISIS regime now fear for their lives and are forced to move to refugee camps. The most basic needs require waiting in lines; water, electricity and gas are no longer

readily available. Refugees are currently trying to secure for their families sleeping bags and clothes for the approaching winter. The chances of privacy are decreasing due to limited space and tents. Refugees have trouble finding ways to keep themselves busy after losing everything. Children go to school for one hour. Everyone is dealing with the loss of loved ones and memories of the crisis they escaped. They wait and hope to return home — someday.

minorities in this region. The Yazidis are a religious minority largely represented in the city of Sinjar, which was captured by ISIS Aug. 3. Most of its residents fled to avoid being killed and now struggle with thirst on Mount Sinjar, where they took refuge. Qaraqosh, Iraq's largest Christian town has had limited access to food, water and electricity since it was taken over by ISIS militants three days later. Some Christians are threatened

to be killed unless they convert to Islam. According to assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas Nazli Avdan, ISIS terrorism is not effective in attaining long-term goals, but serves the short-term goals of ransom and publicity. ISIS has succeeded with recruiting and spreading ideas through its social media presence and “in part due to its brazenness.”

ISIS-controlled oil refineries. “It’s essential to cut their financial stream,” analyst Laith Alkhouri said in an interview with msnbc.com. “It’s absolutely crucial that we defeat their spread. We might not be able to defeat the ideology using air power, but we certainly can weaken it enough that less people will join instead of more.” The ISIS conflict has several negative economic, political and emotional effects in the United

States. Still, while people may know about the conflict, they might not know what is really happening right now and why. There are countless other violent acts that accompany the beheadings of Foley and Sotloff. The ISIS conflict is a growing humanitarian crisis and people in this country and this school should care about Hassan Nahtian, Ashraf ali Misha, Sabria Suleiman and the other nameless people who are victims of the violence.

HOW ISIS USES OIL TO FINANCE ITS TERROR OPERATIONS

30,000 barrels

don’t know

democrat

THE REFUGEES

50,000 barrels that Syria produces

they then sell the oil on the black market for $40 per barrel

compared to $93 per barrel in the free market

by this process, isis makes $1.2 million a day in Iraq, $2.0 mill / day in Syria, and $97mill / month total dailysignal.com

the ebola virus: a contained FEVER THE OUTBREAK OF EBOLA CONTINUES ACROSS THE WORLD AND HERE IN THE U.S. WHAT IS EBOLA? Formerly known as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, it was first discovered in 1976 in Sudan and Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo). It was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are five different subspecies of Ebola: Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, Tai Forest and Reston. All subspecies except the Reston species can infect humans. The current virus is part of the Zaire species.

WHAT IS THE U.S. DOING? Duncan was admitted into the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital – Dallas, just 500 miles away from Northwest, marking the first diagnosis of Ebola in U.S. history. The nurse who cared for Duncan at the hospital contracted the virus as well, marking the first known transmission of the virus in the U.S. “It’s scary and it’s been, I think, overdramatized in the media,” Fishback said. “Everybody is used to Hollywood movies. They think of outbreaks and they think it’ll go

WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? Duncan’s diagnosis has prompted nationwide anxiety and heated discussion. Many people expressed anger over the ineffective initial handling of Duncan’s case; he had mentioned he had traveled from Africa when he first admitted himself to the emergency room, but even with his symptoms, the hospital released him only to diagnose him with Ebola when he returned with worsened symptoms two days later. “In all of Ebola’s history, this is the largest outbreak ever and it’s killed maybe 3,000 people and all the previous outbreaks combined killed less than that,” Fishback said. “Here’s a disease

An Ebola epidemic is plaguing the West Africa villages of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. No cure or vaccine has been found to contain the mass epidemic. "It’s hard to transmit,” Dr. James Fishback, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Kansas, said. “I’ll tell you what I tell my students: If it’s wet and it’s warm and it’s not yours, don’t touch it, unless you have protective equipment on. That’s pretty logical; so as long as you’re not taking care of an ebola patient

or sleeping with one, your risk of getting Ebola is virtually zero. I don’t see why everybody is all up in arms about it, frankly.” Since March, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) has been quarantining and treating infected patients. Although the disease seems to be spreading rapidly it is not extremely contagious because it is not airborne, bu t it is very infectious because it only takes a small amount to be infected.

airborne and kill everyone. That’s why it’s in the news.” Currently, Mapp Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., has been working on creating a treatment for Ebola called ZMapp. It is still in it’s experimental stage and has not been tested on humans for safety and effectiveness. ZMapp was created to balance the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintain a steady flow of oxygen and blood pressure and treat patients for any complications with the infection. “The problem is these are investigational drugs,” Fishback said. “When they talk about

investigational drugs, they have [stages one through three] trials. Stage one trials are [usually on animals] and those haven’t been done with (the Ebola) drug. So all of these are what we would call stage zero trials. And they don’t have very much of that drug. That’s the other problem. They’re making a human antibody inside of a tobacco plant. It’s never been done with any other drug, anywhere. It’s a new process, they don’t have it perfected yet and they haven’t scaled it up yet. They just don’t have enough to treat more than a handful of patients.”

that’s probably killed less than 5,000 people in the history of the world. Malaria kills one million people a year. The common variety flu killed 35,000 people last year in the United States. Tuberculosis kills close to 1 million people a year. You never hear about that. You hear about Ebola because its scary and novel.” Controversy has also arisen because the experimental drugs used successfully on Americans brought back from West Africa were not available to Duncan. The production of the drug ZMapp – the most well-known experimental drug developed for the treatment of Ebola – takes six months and has certainly raised questions of privilege in the distribution of the drug. American missionaries in West Africa who have contracted

Ebola were given access to ZMapp, while other victims of the deadly Ebola diseases do not and even Duncan was not being treated with ZMapp. The Ebola virus has sparked political discussion as well. The Republican party contends that President Obama is not doing enough to stop the spread of Ebola in the United States, demanding that travel bans be imposed on countries with Ebola infections. However, experts see that travel bans could just make the situation worse. When missionaries and volunteer workers find that they cannot return home, they could be discouraged to try and help fight this epidemic in other parts of the world in the first place.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Fever greater than 101.5°F Severe headache Muscle pain Weakness Diarrhea Vomiting Stomach pain Unexplained bleeding or bruising

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days. + BY addison sherman

COUNTRIES WITH WITH COUNTRIES OUTBREAK OUTBREAK tota l cases: 9216 tota l deaths: 4555 Guinea Total Case Count: 1158 Total Deaths: 710 Liberia Total Case Count: 3696 Total Deaths: 1998 Sierra Leone Total Case Count: 2304 Total Case Deaths: 622 COUNTRIES WITH LOCALIZED TRANSMISSION Nigeria Total Case Count: 20 Total Case Deaths: 8 COUNTRIES WITH TRAVEL-ASSOCIATED CASES Senegal Total Case Count: 1 Total Case Deaths: 0 United States Total Case Count: 8 Total Case Deaths: 1 Contracted inside the country: 2 Contracted outside the country: 6

+ by lucas silva

nw passage | feature

FROM THE

COUNSELORS F A M I LY I S S U E S Home environment can affect a student’s performance at school. Conflicts include arguments between parents, the overwhelming health care needs of one family member or the financial struggles that could

S E L F

I M A G E

All human beings deal with low self-esteem at some point in their lives and is especially tested in high

PEER PRESSURE A N D B U L LY I N G Students feel pressure to be accepted on a range of issues – from acting or talking a certain way to using

ME N TAL HEALTH Students struggle with mental health issues including extreme cases of anxiety and depression or eating disorders, loss of motivation from stress, sleep deprivation and media addiction. These issues can be the hardest because they cannot be ignored, staying

A C A D E M I C S Academics is the biggest stressor for teens. Some students have no problems at home, with their peers or with themselves, but continue to have problems with their schoolwork. Factors in this are attendance,

10 steps to a healthy mind

feature | oct. 24, 2014

+ By SOPHIE FLORES

impact an entire family. Hartman: “The number one thing I would tell them would be: look at what you have control over and what you don’t. Most people do not do that. There are certain things that we don’t have control over and we just have to cope with, and there are other things that we have a choice about or that we have some control over.“

Green: “What helps more than anything is that the student knows that they can come talk to the counselor. Just sharing, unloading stress with somebody else sometimes is all they need to do.”

school. Twenty percent of teens are either “rarely” or “never” happy with their body image, according to StageofLife.com. Hartman: “[Students] are very down on themselves. They’re very self-critical, girls especially.”

Green: “It is a problem with many teenagers, especially I think as an underclassman. But we encourage them just to get involved, to find at least one activity that they would like and would enjoy, and don’t be afraid of failure.”

certain substances Much of this comes from the criticism of their peers. Hartman: “Check out information directly. We stress out over things that somebody tells us and we don’t know if that’s true.“ Green: “Stand up for yourself. [You] certainly don’t have to get physical, but stand up tall, shoulders high,

ignore it as much as you can. [It] depends on what kind of bullying. That’s part of confidence development, I suppose. The more you become confident in yourself, the more you’re able to do what you know is right.”

with students throughout the school day. Hartman: “It does help students to look stuff up or get information on it so that they feel this is something that’s treatable. It doesn’t always last forever.” Green: “We definitely want them not to suffer alone but to come in and talk with someone. They will get help on how to deal with it so that when they do hit those low points, they can stop and think, ‘This is

what I need to do,’ and they can eventually work through it themselves. Hopefully they can grow enough then recognize the symptoms that they’re headed down for a low point and start using some of the skills that we taught them to help them get back up, so they don’t have to be dependent on someone every time.”

procrastination or having to balance a busy schedule. Students are often afraid of their own future, expectations and failures. Hartman: “They have to be able to discipline themselves a little bit, setup a plan for themselves, and know that if it didn’t work, then you have to go back to the drawing board and create a different plan.”

Green: “I would say look at the big picture, and that’s a major one, meaning that things won’t always be this way. High school is very specific. there are certain stressors and things that happen in high school that once you’re out of high school are just simply not part of your life, and things do change.“

AS TOLD BY MRS. HARTMAN & DR. GREEN

1. Understand what you have control over and what you don’t. 2. Talk to your counselors. 3. You are not alone when you feel unhappy with how you look. 4. Find something to do that you love; focus on enjoyment, not failure. 5. Double check everything, don’t just take someone’s word for it. 6. Stand up for yourself. 7. Mental illness is treatable, and not always permanent. 8. Don’t allow yourself to suffer alone, but don’t become dependent on others. 9. Create a plan for yourself. 10. Never forget the big picture, don’t sweat the small things.

Personal-social counselor Susan Hartman and guidance director Dr. Marybeth Green tell what they think are the five biggest problems students deal with and give advice on how to manage each one.

16% of students say that conflict with parents was their biggest problem during the school year 20% of teens are either “rarely” or “never” happy with their body image 91% of teens have been a victim of bullying for they way they look. 1 of 2 of teens say they have personally struggled with mental illness at some point 27% of students say that academics were their biggest problem during the school year

StageofLife.com

N O R T H W E S T

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY EMILIE AMUNATIGUI 3

PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH

Before the SMNW Homecoming Parade on Friday Oct. 3, Senior Rachel Carder laughs on the KUGR float with fellow KUGR members Abbi Bird, Tracy Monohan, Brooklyn Wagler, and Kirsten Mehrtens. “I haven’t been able to go to the parades the past three years because of volleyball tournements so it was really nice to have the parade during the school day so that everyone could be involved.” Carder said. “Our float only took about an hour to make because, like most KUGR projects, we procrastinated until the night before.” The KUGR float took first place, the senior took 2nd, and the cheer float took 3rd. 2 Senior Cydney Redmond looks up at a balloon at the drill team released at SM South Sept 27. Each Shawnee Mission high school performed at the Marching Band Festival. Freshman Micheal Filsinger celebrates with fellow teammate, junior Bailey Jarrett after scoring a goal in the second 3 half on Sept. 30. The Cougars won the game 5-0 against Lawrence Free State. “Getting my first goal of the season was really exciting” Filsinger said. 1

PHOTO BY SYDNEY BIERY

Juniors Nate Jones, Jamey Fisher, Sam Oberbroekling, and Bailey Jerret pump up the crowd at the NW Homecoming Parade on Oct. 3rd. “It was definitely frustrating seeing our float destroyed by the rain the night before,” said Jerret, “but I feel like we came together as a class and even without a float we were able to make the best out of a bad situation.” All float go on for student to vote which on was their first, second, and third favorite.

PHOTO BY JORDAN ABSHER

Senior, Maggie Marx celebrates with fellow senior court members Jillian Borel and Brooke Bennett at North Stadium on Oct. 3. Marx won homecoming queen, Borel first runner up and Bennett second runner up. “I was so shocked”, said Marx, “I was not expecting it at all”. The next night at the dance, seniors Donte Colum, Patrick Shreve, and Tiger Harris-Webster won king, first runner up and second runner up, respectively. 5

PHOTO BY REAGAN KEY

NW passage | Feature

once upon a

Senior Maggie Marx smiles at the crowd after being named the 2014 Homecoming Queen on Oct. 3 at the SM North District Stadium. The First and Second Runners-Up were seniors Jillian Borel and Brooke Bennett, respectively. PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

HOMECOMING STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR DAY AT J THE PARADE PRIOR TO HOMECOMING WEEKEND + BY Paige Eichkorn & Haena Lee 22

feature | oct. 24, 2014

unior Rachel Barnes slipped into a pink, frilly dress and hopped on to senior Izzy Williams’ convertible, decorated with a pumpkin banner. Other students gathered around the float to paint black whiskers on their faces and transformed into the mice

in Cinderella, the theme of Spirit Club’s float. A train of floats stretched out behind them. Assistant principal Nancy Tynon made her rounds making sure all the floats were ready to make their way down 67th street. “According to the Spirit

Exec club members, this is something they’ve been wanting for awhile,” Tynon said. “[principal] Gruman approved it and the members went to the city and tried to see if they could get a parade route and shut down the roads. They did a lot of work before I even came on board.” All administration and selected teachers rolled out first in rented Camaros and Mustangs, followed by the homecoming court, various clubs and the Marching Cougar Pride. “The most challenging part was definitely just putting everything together and making sure everything ran smoothly,”

Barnes said. “But in the end it all went really well, and I was very delighted with the outcome.” Tynon loved seeing the parade march down the street. “I got to stand out on 67th street and watch it happen. The floats were awesome. Everybody put a lot of work into it,” Tynon said. “My favorite part was seeing a community that I’m new to celebrate in their spirit. I think there’s a lot of spirit here, and I really enjoy that.” The winners of the float contest were KUGR in first, the Seniors in second and Cheer in third.

crowed cheered as Spirit Club co-president Isabelle Williams revealed that Donte Colum was crowned Homecoming King. Colum and Marx then walked arm in arm to the center of the gym to face the student body. Students then went back to the cafeteria to go back to dancing. The theme for this year’s Homecoming was Royal Romance: A Night in London. “I think that the set up and decorations went very well thanks to all the hard work of StuCo and our PTSA,” dance coordinator Hallie Ingraham said. Ingraham’s months of preparation paid off as many students responded positively about the dance. Approximately 800 students bought tickets for the dance.

enior Maggie Marx fanned her face with her hand after being announced Homecoming Queen during halftime Oct. 3 at the SM North District Stadium at the game against Olathe East. She walked teary-eyed with senior Parker Umscheid the center of the field to face the crowd. “I honestly did not think I was going to win, let alone make the top three,” Marx said. “Everyone on court is so inspirational. I honestly had no clue who would win. They are all so deserving. It still hasn’t settled in that I’m Homecoming Queen. It’s crazy. Never in a million years had I thought that would be me.” The next day, Donte Colum was crowned Homecoming King at 9 p.m. in the Main Gym. The

IT’s all about the dress

locations and prices for your favorite looks

JILLIAN BOREL: Camille La Vie $200 BROOKE EVANS: Camille La Vie $275 MAGGIE MARX: Natalie M. $700 KORBYN CASWELL: Water Colors $400 SAVANNAH TAYLOR: Water Colors $475 BROOKE BENNETT: Natalie M. $450 GABI BASEL: Cinderella’s Couture $250 OLI VIA PAYNE: Cinderella’s Couture $150 GRACE AMUNDSON: Water Colors $350 ABBIE MUSSON: Cinderella’s Couture $130

1. Principal Lisa Gruman waves to the crowd on Oct. 6 during the Homecoming Parade. This year was the first year that Northwest had the Homecoming Parade during the school day. PHOTO BY BRYCE REX 2. Senior Jillian Borel performs with drumline at the homecoming assembly on Oct 3rd in her dress for court. PHOTO BY KRISTI SENG 3. Members of ROTC march down 67th Street on Oct. 6 during the Homecoming Parade. ROTC was the first group of the parade. PHOTO BY BRYCE REX 4. The Varsity Football team struts down 67th Street during the homecoming parade. The Cougars won their homecoming game that night against Olathe East High School. PHOTO BY KRISTI SENG 5 Arm in arm, senior Grace Amundson walks down the field with her father during the halftime Homecoming Queen crowning ceremony. Amundson wore an armband that she made in jewelry class, for which she earned extra credit. PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 6. After being crowned, senior Maggie Marx congratulates seniors Jillian Borel and Brooke Bennett on Oct. 3 at the SM North District Stadium. Marx was nominated by SADD and Thespian Troupe #888. PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 7. Senior Homecoming Candidates Tiger HarrisWebster and Brooke Evans acknowledge the crowd on Oct. 6 during the Homecoming Parade. PHOTO BY BRYCE REX 8. Junior Andrew Anderson plays his trumpet during the homecoming assembly in the main gym. Anderson played both a solo and a duet during the first and second movement. PHOTO BY KRISTI SENG

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TRICK

+ compiled by deena essa & ben lucier

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LARGELY REMAIN FANS OF THE OCTOBER HOLIDAY “They are mythical, they grant peoples’ wishes and help them fly with pixie dust and they’re sweet and they live in the flowers,” freshman Alyssa Gaul said. “Fairies are such wonderful creatures that if I was one, I would hang out with Peter Pan all day.”

“I dressed up as the undead once,” junior Elizabeth Gibson said. “I think it’s cool that people who have died and come back can be peaceful or revenge-seeking. I have some friends that joke about being undead. Its just kind of fun and something we joke about.” “I just love autumn in general,” junior Brendan Davison said. “The weather is so great – it’s never too cold or too hot, it doesn’t rain too much and the scenery becomes so beautiful. And there are so many enjoyable sports to play and or watch.” “[My family and I] don’t really do much for Halloween,” freshman Isaiah Coleman said. “Most of the candy is un-kosher. But the month does usually have the Jewish holiday of Sukkot which is so much fun. We build a Sukkah in our backyard and we just eat in it for eight days.”

“I would definitely dress up as a princess,” sophomore Olyvia Anothayanontha said. “My favorite is Meredith.”

feature | oct. 24, 2014

“I’m scared of skeletons – they’re creepy,” junior Maia Hollenbeck. “Animal skeletons are fine but with human skeletons I just want to move away. But Halloween isn’t really scary. It’s more fun, it’s fun to be scared.” “Kit-Kat is my favorite type of candy,” junior Leah Steinacker said. “It’s just so many layers of goodness.” “I dressed up as a princess for really a long time to go trickor-treating,” freshman Kelsie Crable said. “I love all the princesses but my favorite is definitely Ariel. But I don’t go trick-or-treating anymore but, I mean, I can buy candy.”

“I absolutely adore black cats,” senior Natalie Zimmerman said. “I think they are misunderstood because people say they’re a superstition but they’re just misunderstood cats that need love and I’ll give them love.” “It’s just really fun that people get a chance to dress in alternative ways,” senior Tess Kessler said. "Even if they’re not in a costume, it’s just a fun, soporific way of expression. People who are too shy to do it during school or something, it’s just a lot of fun. I have these vampire teeth that look pretty dang real so I dress up as anything that goes with those.” “Haunted houses always give me an adrenaline rush,” junior Isaac Bedasso said. “It’s always fun, especially with friends.”

+ BY GRACE AMUNDSON / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ADDISON SHERMAN

FAST FACTS AND CREATIVE TIPS TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR HALLOWEEN

Annual Halloween consumer spending: $ 7 B I L L I O Average amount spent on candy (per person): $ 2 1 . 0 Annual spending on children’s costumes: $ 1 B I L L I O Annual spending on adult costumes: $1 .2 1BILLIO

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VISIT SMNW.COM FOR HELPFUL DIY PUMPKIN TIPS