Northwest Passage

passage NORTHWEST VOL. 42

ISSUE 8

JAN. 28, 2011

staying strong /14 JUNIOR JENNY NELSON RECOVERS AFTER BRAIN SURGERY

bridging the gap /12

GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE WORKS TO INCREASE TOLERANCE.

moving on / 16 SENIIORS GRADUATED AT SEMESTER IN ORDER TO START COLLEGE CLASSES.

/ PHOTO BY CALEB AMUNDSON

contents



PASSAGE STAFF

Co-editors-in-chief MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER

Copy Editor

BRIANNA LEYDEN

Design Editors

STEPHANIE SPICER + BAILEY KOPP

Assistant Copy Editor WYATT ANDERSON

Photo Editors

DAVID FREYERMUTH + HANNA MEIGS

Graphics Editor TYLER ABSHER

News Editor

HAYLEY BATTENBERG

Opinions Editors MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER

Features Editors MORGAN JONES + BRIANNA LEYDEN

Entertainment Editor WYATT ANDERSON

Sports Editor BRADY KLEIN

Ads Editor

CLAIRE MARLEY

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Staff Writers

JEFFERY ALLEN, KIRK BADO, LOGAN COFFMAN ASHLEE CRANE, RACHAEL DEMJANIK, RACHEL FERENCZ, MICHAEL GRIFFIN, PIA HECKMAN, DANIEL MAGWIRE, JOSH MEIGS, TESSA MILLER, EVAN SHINN, CONNOR THOMPSON, ERIC ZOELLNER



SMNW.COM

Co-editors-in-chief LAUREN MINICK + STEPHANIE SPICER

16 / head shot Sophomore Jake Filsinger plays Call of Duty: Black Ops on his Xbox 360.

 NEWS 04 news

Updates on happenings at Northwest.

06 news schmix  ENTERTAINMENT 09 reviews

04

NORTHWEST PASSAGE / VOL. 42 / ISSUE 08 SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST 12701 W. 67TH STREET SHAWNEE, KS 66216

12

True Grit: The Coen brother’s film is a new type of western.

Sarah Palin’s Alaska: Palin explores her home state in her new reality TV show.

10 reviews

Cake’s Showroom of compassion: Cake makes a comeback with a new album.

Taj Palace: The often overlooked Indian restaurant is worth the drive to downtown Kansas City.

 OPINIONS 07 the real influence

TIME’s made the wrong choice for their Person of the Year.

08 loss of a friend

A staff member reflects on losing her best friend in Germany.

09 three-dimensional disasters

Film-makers should stick with a 2D format.

(TOP) Vegetable Samosa Appetizers are a great

beginning to an Indian meal at Taj Palace in downtown Kansas City. / PHOTO BY MICHELLE STUESSI (BOTTOM) Senior Claudia Fedorko arrives at Jamnesty on Jan. 21. / PHOTO BY CALEB AMUNDSON

 FEATURES 12 bridging the gap

Gay-Straight alliance members work to increase tolerance for all types of people.

14 staying strong

Junior Jenny Nelson was diagnosed with a brainstem glioma before winter break.

16 head shot

Recent studies have show that video games can improve cognitive brain function.

17 moving on

Three seniors graduated at the end of first semester in order to begin college early.

 SPORTS 19 boss

The best sports photo and Q&A with varsity basketball player Katie Biggers.

21 after the final whistle

Fall sports athletes continue to win awards even after the end of their sesaon.

22 upcoming games 23 do service, get paid

The swim team volunteered to do community service instead of paying fees.

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of 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 two weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $35. 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 a solution.

In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final 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.

JAMNESTY RAISES AWARENESS DESPITE LOW TURNOUT

(ABOVE) Senior Jordan Perlumutter performs with his band, Wiley. Wiley won firts in the Battle of the Bands competition / PHOTO BY DANIEL MAGWIRE

(FAR RIGHT) Junior Isabel Zacharias plays the ukulele and sings at Jamnesty. / PHOTO BY DANIEL MAGWIRE

(RIGHT) Junior Ashley Vining paints a poster that was used for decoration at Jamnesty. / PHOTO

When stages, speakers and microphones take the place of tables, chairs and lunch trays, one could mistake the cafeteria for a concert venue.

On Jan. 20, Amnesty International set up its annual fundraiser, Jamnesty, a night full of live music, games and awareness.

Performances included Isabel Zacharias, Mason City, Briana Swift and Wiley, fighting it out in a classic Battle of the Bands.

“I’ve never been to a Jamnesty before,” 2010 NW graduate and Mason City lead vocalist Ed Spaunhorst said, “but from what I could tell, there was a lot of energy and the crowd was very involved.”

Compared to previous years, however, attendance was down.

“We would’ve liked to have had a better turn out,” senior Jessie Marcus said, “but it looked like everyone was having fun.”

Dual stages shortened the wait between each performance, letting one performer or group set up while another played.

In addition to the live music, attendees could join in on extra activities, such as face painting and tie-dying, or learn about different social issues, presented by Amnesty International, Coalition and Girl-Effect.

Each performer or group had a designated jar in the mall for patrons to donate, which determined the winner of the battle.

The winner, Wiley, selected an organization, Central Asia Institute, to receive all of the funds as their prize in winning.

Due to low membership, there has been speculation of discontinuing the Amnesty International club, according to club co-president Vicki Sears. Whether more members join in the next year will decide the club’s future.

Donation totals from the event have not yet been counted.

Amnesty International meets after school every Wednesday in Room 8. / EVAN SHINN

BY SARAH DEAN

PREPARING FOR A DARK KNIGHT “People were kind of surprised by the theme when they first heard it,” Raegan Wilks, Student Council dance coordinator, said of this year’s Women Pay All (WPA) theme, Dark kNight. “I heard some people saying things like, ‘Batman? I don’t get it?’

But I think it will look really cool, and everyone who’s heard what the cafeteria is supposed to look like thinks it will be really cool.”

StuCo members didn’t stick to traditional dance supply magazines as they looked for inspiration once they settled on this year’s WPA theme.

“We bought one of the original Dark Knight comic books from Vintage Stock,” Wilks said. “And it’s been really cool looking through it to get ideas for decorating.”

This year’s decor will resemble a city-scape, according to Student Council sponsor Sarah Dent.

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/ JAN. 28, 2011

combined with some design elements inspired by the comic book.

“We’re making it a really classy, vintage look,” StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent said. “We’re doing stuff with playing cards, the Batman symbol and comic books; just some things you wouldn’t normally see in dance decorations.”

StuCo is going out on a limb, according to Dent.

“There are a few things we have up our sleeves — just little things that we’ve changed from previous years — and more decorations to make it look less like a cafeteria,” Wilks said.

In addition, Wilkes and her committee have been busy booking the DJ and the photographer, The theme, Dark Knight, has also allowed girls to ask their dates to the dance in more creative ways.

“I know a couple of girls who got their dates

Batman t-shirts that said, ‘Will you be my Batman?’”

Wilks said. “And, to say yes, their dates came to school the next day wearing the shirts.”

As far as dressing for WPA, the dance dresscode still stands: ties with collared shirts for guys and formal attire for ladies. As usual, no costumes or masks are allowed, even if the theme involves the Masked Manhunter.

“I’ve heard girls talking about wearing dresses with darker colors,” Wilks said. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if guys showed up wearing Batman t-shirts as undershirts.”

Tickets are now on sale, two for $18, or one for $10, during lunch in the mall. Tickets are $10 at the door. The dance starts at 8 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the / EVAN SHINN cafeteria.

SM BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS TO WORK IN CONGRESS After 20 years of service to the district, Shawnee Mission Board of Education member Susan Metsker is resigning from the board to accept a full-time position working alongside U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder. The former board member’s resignation was finalized Jan. 3.

“I realize that this new full-time position will require my complete attention,” Metsker said. “With this demanding new work schedule, I feel I can’t continue to effectively serve both as a member on the board in addition to my new post with Congressman Yoder.”

In 1999, Metsker was elected to serve her first term on the board in the SM North area. She continued to be re-elected, and during her years on the board was elected to vice president as well as president. Prior to

her election, Metsker dedicated seven years of service to the SM North Advisory Board.

Because her term with the board will not expire until June 30, her seat will remain unfilled until an election is held in April.

For Metsker, what she will miss the most about being on the board are the first days of school and participating in graduation.

“I still believe that one looks into the eyes of the future when handing a diploma to a Shawnee Mission graduate,” Metsker said. “This simple but profound act has been, for me, the greatest reward of serving on the board.” / ASHLEE CRANE

SNOW DAYS DEPENDENT ON TIMING OF STORMS; DECISION MADE BY DISTRICT OFFICIALS Days before snow, students create rumors and theories about how snow days are chosen, usually with no facts. The decision is actually made by associate superintendent Bill Frick. He and other SMSD officials base the majority of the decision on the difficulty of clearing the lots.

According to the SMSD inclement weather website, the schools are closed “for the safety of students and staff.” The district does not publicize the procedure for declaring snow days.

“There is no exact procedure for snow days. There isn’t a certain amount of snow or a certain wind chill that makes us close,” said Frick.

Snow days are more dependent on the timing of a snow storm. When a snow storm begins around midnight, the salt and sand crews are only able to start work around 4 a.m. at the earliest, and a snow day is more likely to happen. However, if a storm ends around 9 p.m., the crews have time in the evening to clear out the parking lots.

“The timing of the storm is very important. Since the budget [for clearing snow] is limited, the crews wait until the storm stops before they start clearing the parking lots to save money,” said Frick.

The district has a budget for clearing snow from the parking lots — it’s very cost inefficient to attempt to clear the lots for all the schools multiple times.

Students always argue over the amount of snow days the district can have before they must make up the days. Some think it’s three days, some think it’s four.

The amount of snow days is in reality a joint decision by the state and the district.

“The state allows one extra snow day for each snow day a district builds into its schedule, so SMSD allots two days into the schedule for four days total,” said Frick.

After these four days, the students can make up days in a couple of ways. Students can add five minutes before or after school for a semester, which makes up one extra day. One more day of school can also be added on during summer as an alternative.

It seems like Missouri schools get out more often than Kansas schools, and this is actually true. Missouri’s procedures are different mainly because of how their funding is set up.

“The reason why Missouri schools close first is because they are funded by average daily attendance. If attendance for a Missouri school falls below 90 percent, the day doesn’t count for state funding. They close sooner so the day doesn’t count against their funding,” said Frick.

Kansas funding is not average daily attendance, but instead the attendance of the district on September 20.

The funding of SMSD is not dependent on day-by-day attendance, so school is open more often.

Some people believe that the decision is based on what the bus companies say. However, the bus companies do not ask for the schools to close. The choice is not dependent on the buses driving, but if the drivers can get to work.

Frick said, “Since the bus company has a contract with the district, they will drive the buses unless there’s no way they can get enough drivers.”

Although there’s no set procedure for snow days, it’s not just a pure guess. The district puts a lot of thought and effort into deciding whether or not the school day will be canceled. Snow days are put into consideration long before the students themselves think about it.

Frick said, “I listen to the weather forecasts days before, and start planning then.” / MICHAEL GRIFFIN

more nw news JAN 21-22 / ACADEMIC DECATHALON: The Academic Decathlon placed second in the Oral Super Quiz Competition, and 4th place overall at the state competition in Manhattan, Kan. Senior Siobhan Barrett earned the Senior Leader Scholarship worth $500, and senior Liz Mullin finished as the highest scoring individual overall for the team.

WPA QUEEN OF COURTS AND BIG MAN ON CAMPUS CANDIDATES: The Queen of Courts will be announced at the WPA assembly on Feb. 3 during seminar and the Big Man on Campus will be announced at the dance on Feb. 5.  Michael

 Adam

 Jacey

Allen

Drummond  Nathan Gray  Connor Haley  Frankie Hernandez  Kenneth Mings  Chase Quarnstrom  Navid Rafizadeh  Bobby Urteaga  Bradley Vonada

 Kelsey

Zoellner Allen  Ali Alonzo  Nicki Brown  Amanda Gossman  Addie Evans  Alex Klemovich  Jessica Ptak  Olivia Rezac  Haylee Slocum  Hope Wooten  Morgan Terrill

FEBRUARY 3

seminar /

5

8-11 p.m. /

THURSDAY WPA assembly.

SATURDAY WPA dance in

cafeteria.

8

1:10 p.m. /

TUESDAY Early release

10

Yearbook spring

THURSDAY group photo day

NEWS

/ 05

Compiled by Brianna Leyden

UNITED STATES

During a public meeting on Jan. 8 with local constituents, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot through the head and is in recovery. Six others were killed and 14 total wounded when alleged shooter Jared Lee Loughner entered and began firing at random, only to be wrestled to the ground by bystanders. Loughner could face the death penalty if convicted.

CHINA

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has expressed concern over the development of a new, highly advanced stealth fighter jet in China. Tensions have risen over China’s increased weaponry, but Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie has stated that China’s research is not intended to harm or threaten any country.

BELGIUM

The debt crisis in Europe continues as 17 finance ministers meet to discuss whether to overhaul the €750 billion bailout enacted last spring. The leaders hope to have more funds and more power to delegate emergency spending.

TUNISIA

Amid the violence of a political revolt, more than 75 people have been killed in riots. According to prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, the new government will allow all political parties and media to speak freely, as well as release former political prisoners in an effort to have democracy.

HAITI

The formerly exiled Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier returned to Haiti in early Jan. Debate has ensued about why he has chosen to come back at a time when the political process is shaky, and the country is still struggling with cholera outbreaks and poverty.

SOUTH AFRICA

Following weeks of heavy rain, South Africa has been completely flooded, with eight out of nine provinces now declared disaster areas.

The flood has caused over $51 million in damages, has necessitated the evacuation of over 8,000 families and has been blamed for the deaths of at least 70 people.

 noun. An abbreviation for

computer or smart phone application; it was chosen to be 21st Annual Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society, beating out “nom,” “junk,” “wikileaks” and “trend.”

67

-23 105

THE NUMBER OF INCHES OF THE LARGEST SNOWFALL IN KANSAS CITY, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE 1911-1912 WINTER SEASON. DEGREES WAS THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED IN KANSAS CITY ON DEC. 22 AND 23, 1989.

SNOWSTORMS WILL HIT THE U.S. ON AVERAGE EVERY YEAR.

Information from the National Snow and Ice Data Center and the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office.

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/ JAN 28, 2011

GOOD TIME TO BE:

BAD TIME TO BE:

Eating right.

Among other steps taken to encourage a healthier diet, the government passed seven new laws, including the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act and FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and the meat and poultry industries added nutritional labeling.

Cathy Cruz Marrero.

The woman now famous for falling in a fountain while texting is now threatening to sue the mall that released the video.

The Social Network.

The motion picture swept the Golden Globes, winning Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Motion Picture – Drama as well as being nominated for two other categories.

A Palin supporter.

After Palin’s “blood libel” comment in response to the Tuscon shooting, polls have shown that 53 percent of voters view her unfavorably now, the lowest she has rated.

Part of the music department.

Sixteen NW musicians made various All-State bands, orchestras or choirs that will perform at the Century II Concert Hall in Wichita on Feb. 26.

At Allen Fieldhouse.

KU lost to the University of Texas on Jan. 22, ending their 69-game, four-year home-court winning streak.

THE REAL INFLUENCE

TIME Magazine’s choice for Person of the Year should have happened two years ago.

/T

IME Magazine has made a terrible mistake. One of the few blunders of this old and proud publication is so glaring and embarrassing and unlike them that it is shocking. In dealing with their most prestigious award, TIME has made an error in choosing their “Most Influential Person of the Year.” It normally goes to the individual who has had the most impact on the world the previous year, but in 2010, the honor was given to a man who had the most influence years before 2010.

The choice of Mark Zuckerberg as “the most Influential Person of the Year” is peculiar, at best. Zuckerberg’s biggest claim to fame this past year was being the subject of the award winning film The Social Network, which he claims in an interview on moviefone.com is a complete and totally dramatization of the facts. He has also donated a reported $100 million to the Newark, New Jersey, public school system, and changed the privacy controls on the massively popular Facebook, but philanthropy and changing where you view your pictures rarely exemplifies the person of the year. TIME justifies their choice by saying that 2010 was “the year of the Facebook.” But the year of the Facebook why wasn’t last year or the year before, when the website finally beat out Myspace and Friendster as the most popular social networking site. In explaining its choice, TIME also cites the growing number of users on the site, but that is like naming the cast of Glee most influential because their average viewership went up in the second season. TIME is a two years too late with its choice, and has seriously missed the most important newsmaker of the year.

Julian Assange has been in the news throughout the year, and has had influence over the media, the White House, foreign nations, the Internet, credit cards and how we view information. Assange is the founder of the whistle blowing site, Wikileaks, which has been a perpetual force in the media this year, with the several so-called “document dumps”. Zuckerberg and Assange both represent a new kind of influence. The web has become their soap box and the millions of users their pulpit. But Zuckerberg, 26 years old, fast talking and calculating, represents the younger generation of Internet users who use the web for fun and social networking, while Assange, 39, with white hair that nearly matches the color of his skin, shows the business and practical purposes of the web. He demonstrates how this worldwide network should be used for information

distribution and transparency. That is the unofficial motto of his website.

Wikileaks is essentially a site for tattletales to leak government secrets and information that he feels the general public has a right to hear. The website, launched in 2006, has steadily been releasing documents to the public and, in 2010, leaked two massive samplings of documents dealing with the U.S. government. In July of this year, Wikileaks released thousands of secret government documents detailing human rights violations, Army abuses and all-around abuses of power committed by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Soldiers, generals and politicians all derided the documents, saying that they were false and unfounded. With the release of these documents, top military brass feared retaliation on the troops in Iraq, and Afghanistan and perhaps even in the United States. Along with the documents, a video of the apparent murder of several unarmed Iraqi civilians, including one reporter, by an Army Blackhawk helicopter was posted. This sparked outcry from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the White House, not to mention Sarah Palin who called the Australian-born Swedish resident a “traitor to America,” and called for action to be taken against Assange. None came.

But Wikileaks was not done yet. In November, over 40,000 documents were released by the site detailing diplomatic cables and messages from countries all around the world. This was the window into all the backroom deals: Chinese diplomats having called North Korean Prime Minister Kim Jong- Il a “spoiled child”, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton allegedly ordering diplomats to “act as spies” and collect credit card numbers, passwords and DNA of certain leaders in Africa. This time, retaliation was swift and painful. Under pressure from foreign governments, Sweden brought up an old sexual assault case against Assange and had him imprisoned. At the same time, hackers shut down the Wikileaks’ parent site, and PayPal and MasterCard stopped their customers from funding the site. But Assange’s supporters fired right back. The minute Wikileaks was shut down, thousands of “mirror sites” popped up on the Internet, offering the same content as Wikileaks. Then, the MasterCard website was hacked by supporters of Assange and the site crashed intermittently throughout the early parts of December. MasterCard members could no longer access the site, causing major issues for the holiday season. A cyber skirmish had

been started and, as CNN put it, “Wikileaks has stirred cyber anarchy.” The attacks did not stop until Assange’s release on December 14. That’s more excitement than The Social Network, and it was seven bucks cheaper.

But what if TIME got it right? Facebook has changed the way businesses interact with their customers, much to the chagrin of Facebook users, and how social media operates. Facebook has become a part of our society, and it truly has become a tool for a united world organization. As the movie The Social Network said, “Bosnia doesn’t have roads, but it has Facebook.”This speaks volumes for the power of Facebook. But the longevity of the site is in question because social networking sites come and go in the blink of an eye. Remember Friendster? Or when MySpace ruled? Did Facebook reach its peak two years ago and is it now on the decline? The only thing that has had longer term impact is the policies of nations, and Assange influenced nearly all of them.

Assange has been everywhere this year, in our wallets, on the minds of policy makers in nearly every nation and in popular culture. He has been described in the media as a new form of journalist, a la Woodward and Bernstein. But Assange is more like Daniel Ellsberg with the Pentagon Papers.

The Papers dealt with the atrocious state of the American military in Vietnam, and like Assange, the government attempted to discredit both Assange and Ellsberg.

Assange made us ponder, what is the price of our democracy? If the number of civilian deaths unreported by the military is true, then are 15,000 lives worth it? He also asked how much should lay people know about their governments? Do we really need to know that the President of Libya doesn’t like Hillary Clinton? He’s no different than any mildly politically minded American. Julian Assange has torn the curtain and exposed the bumbling and calculating man that the Wizard of government is. TIME has failed to truly appreciate this feat.

TIME has made a huge blunder by not picking Julian Assange for person of the year.

While Mark Zuckerberg is indeed influential in his own right, Assange was far more influential. He has affected the lives of troops abroad, and our thoughts at home. TIME needs to get out of the past and live in the present, and the only way it can do that is by admitting that Assange with his fractured persona and flawed image was indeed was more influential than the polished image of Zuckerberg.

KIRK BADO

OPINIONS

/ 07

LOSS OF A FRIEND

My best friend in Germany died while I was in Kansas.

/I

can perfectly remember the last time I saw her. We planned to meet on a Saturday, my last day in my hometown, Schweinfurt, at our favorite café. I waited a long time for her. It was the first time I had ever had to wait for her. I was always the one who came late, usually exactly two minutes late. This time I had to hang on for 20 minutes, because she missed her bus. I used those 20 minutes to consider our friendship.

She is definitely my best friend, and we have a great relationship, but I knew that I would not miss her very much. It was my decision to leave Germany, my family and my friends behind for 10 months. I would not have made this decision if I were afraid of being away from my loved ones.

During our last conversation, my friend was quieter and gloomier than usually. The whole atmosphere was tense. Those last hours felt so important and Why could I see all the ultimate. We talked about beauty and colors of the world our friendship and how she would deal with her in life and she did not? Why life, school and all the other people without me. could I not show them to her?

As goodbye present, I gave her a picture of us together, edited using golden brown colors. We were both smiling from a golden shining frame. She gave me a letter and the bracelet that she wore all the time, even at night and in the shower. She never took it off. It was the most personal thing she could ever give me. I had to swallow. I suddenly felt stupid for giving her a picture of us, something so seemingly impersonal, something that would only remind her every day that I was not with her.

We hugged for a long time. Then she gave me the saddest smile I had ever seen in my 15 years of life. There was so much pain in her eyes. She turned and walked away in the sunlight.

As friends we talked a lot, usually about the world, society and the future, but also about boys, clothes and movies. We talked about everything. We laughed about everything. And we laughed about nothing.

It felt so good to hear her laughter. Everything was so easy with her. She understood me.

Her humor was brilliant. She was such an intelligent and thoughtful person. We had done so many things together, had the same interests, supported each other, gave each other advice, consoled each other. We pepped each other up, dreamed together, made plans with each other. We did all these things, but never once had a fight. We did

PIA HECKMAN

08

/ JAN. 28, 2011

everything friends do. But we weren’t just friends. Even to say we were very best friends would be an understatement. It was more than a friendship. We were two perfectly fitting puzzle pieces. We were yin and yang, day and night, right and left. One of us was nothing without the other. We had a great relationship. It was perfect, almost.

Our friendship would have been perfect if there would not have been a disease called depression. Even though she had suffered from this disease since she was 10 or 11, most people couldn’t tell. She laughed, made jokes and socialized. She was the sweet, tiny girl with the smart mind.

I didn’t even know about her depression until a hot June day two years ago in physical education class. We were running next to each other when I suddenly saw these strange light brown patterns on her arm. I neither thought nor felt anything. I just grabbed her arm and looked at the big scars that covered her whole forearm. I could read, in big letters, the word “pain.” Other words had been scribbled and crossed out on her arm. Yes, crossed out in scars. Then I looked at her face. I can’t remember if my mouth was open or my eyes were about to fall out, but that doesn’t matter. A little grin appeared in her face.

“Everything is fine, I’ll explain it to you” and she ran back to the others. During a break in our school day, she told me about her depression. I didn’t know yet what an impact this would have on my life. At first I didn’t really think about it and we didn’t talk about it much. Over time and in our conversations, I began to see her weakness inside and her fight to look strong on the outside. This fight made her even weaker. I never really got to see inside her. Sometimes she gave me this look. It was a look that shocked me. I could see the bleakness in her, the lack of prospects and joyful thoughts.

There was nothing was in her. This person was a stranger to me, and that scared me.

I am a happy and buoyant person and she was just the opposite. As time passed, I got to see this side of her more often than I would have liked and it made me cry. Why could I see all the beauty and colors of the world in life and she did not? Why could I not show them to her? It drove me crazy, and she got worse. Her drugs did not make anything better. She tried so many, approximately one every four weeks. Therapy did not work and a psychologist could not help either. The last thing she tried to get better was going in the youth psychiatric hospital, where she

stayed for three weeks. It didn’t help. And her disease got more painful for her as time went on.

On my way to school on Dec. 2, I opened my phone and read, “Today the worst thing ever happened.” It was from one of my good friends from my school in Germany, who is now doing an exchange year in Alabama.

I thought, “OK, which boy is it now; who dropped you?” But in the next message she mentioned my very best friend. Immediately I knew what had happened, even if I did not realize it immediately. I felt ice cold and burning hot at the same time. My body was shaking. My mouth became dry. Everything around me started to look surreal. Around me people rushed to their classrooms, but I could not see them. There was nothing in me, as if all my organs have been blown out and I was walking around as an empty shell.

So this is how you feel, when you lost your better side, I thought by myself.

Of course it was hard not being around my other friends, who suffered like me and could have understood, more than the people here, what I was going through. I needed my mom, her hugs and her words “Everything is going to be fine” terribly.

Honestly I am glad I hadn’t been in Germany when she died. The emotions here in the United States have been so intense and depressing and still are, but here I had more distance from everything. The search for her before they found her run over by a train, the conversations with the teachers about her and the funeral — that all would have got me down even more than I already was.

Now I can prepare myself for going back home and not having her waiting for me at the airport, not having her sitting in the right corner in my small green couch and not having her drinking espresso with me in our favorite cafe. It will be hard to walk through my hometown and explore everywhere with all the little memories of her.

She never told me exactly that she had thoughts about committing suicide. Actually she never told me how bad she felt, or that she felt so bad living. And I, as her very best friend, did not see how she suffered. Now I think that she must be in a better place, if she felt so bad, that she just wanted to leave.

I enjoyed the time I had with her. And now it is hard to enjoy without her. I still love life. It is the best gift we have ever been given. We should take care of this gift. I wished I could have shown her all the beauty and colors that I see. I tried.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISASTERS

Despite an increase in 3D movies, their quality and entertainment are still left in the stone age.

/I

sat sipping a bottle of water, watching the screen before me — absolutely bored. It wasn't exactly the movie I was watching that was losing my attention, I had read Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and loved them, watching their counterpart movie was something I had been looking forward to since I heard it was coming out. Not to mention Johnny Depp is an amazing actor and his character was… interesting.

No, what had me so down was the fact that I wasn't just watching Alice and Wonderland, I was watching Alice and Wonderland 3D, my parents choice, and I absolutely, positively without a doubt cannot stand to watch any movie of the sort.

My detest for this sad excuse for entertainment came in 2003 with the release of Spy Kids 3D-Game Over. There really was no noticeable difference between the 3D movie and the regular movie, which

I later watched, and I found the effects more distracting than entertaining. For something that is perceived to be so realistic and aweinspiring, I was severely let down.

I was happy to ignore the existence of these kinds of movies and lived a rather happy life until 2009 when movie after movie began popping up with a 3D option.

By 2010, everyone was getting in on the fun with movies like Saw 3D and Toy Story 3 in 3D; 2011 foretells of an even larger array of 3D-ness.

Personally, I have a problem with this.

First off, a real movie doesn't need to literally walk out of the screen to get your attention—especially when you have to pay $5 extra for it to do so. The outrageous effects put into 3D movies take away from any artistic effects they already had. I can’t see Fight Club being in 3D. Secondly, the quality and awe-factor of 3D movies isn't very thoughtful. Am I

suppose to be amused by a bunch of rocks or fake globs of lava hurling toward me?

Another issue falls with the simple fact that 3D movies are annoying. The glasses are awkward (and ugly) and the screen messes with movie-goers eyes and head. Finally, do I really need to see someone's head get chopped off in 3D? What's next? Porn in 3D? I don't really want to see that either.

3D movies are a useless form of movie entertainment. People enjoy watching movies just the way they are and have for quite some time now. Even during the recession, movies—regular movies— were and are still popular. According to www. filmjournal.com, in 2009, the year-to-date box office was 15 percent higher than it was in 2008. So film-makers, please feel free to save your money and keep movies in the 2D realm, that or learn how to make a 3D movie truly worth watching.

MORGAN JONES

GRAPHIC BY TYLER ABSHER

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OPINIONS

/9

REVIEWS

TRUE GRIT 4/5

/S

ince the 2008 presidential election, Sarah Palin’s family has constantly been in the spotlight. It all began with her being selected as presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate. When Palin and McCain were shot down by U.S. voters, the would-be VP’s family refused to get off our TV screens, and the politician’s every move was scrutinized. After her oldest daughter, Bristol, became one of the many pregnant teens in America, the microscope on the family zoomed in even closer.

Because everything the Palins did seemed to be a publicity stunt, that’s exactly what I assumed Sarah Palin’s Alaska would be. I was only partially right about that.

Throughout the eight-episode series, the mama grizzly herself takes the cubs to various locations around the state of Alaska and does all kinds of crazy things that people in the lower 48 states dream of. The Palin family goes mountain climbing in Denali National Park, dog mushing, salmon fishing and rafting, among many other activities.

I know that Sarah Palin is loaded, but the fact that she acts like she does these incredible things on a daily basis makes the show seem contrived. And I also know that the last thing TV needs is another reality show about an everyday boring household in America. But

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The old John Wayne and Clint Eastwood Westerns have always captivated me. It’s not the “cowboy-indian shoot out” concept that I like, but the way classic western movies have of not only capturing action, but to capturing a way of life like no other type of film. From shots of breathtaking landscapes to the gritty way of life, classic Westerns have it all.

Unfortunately, it seems that the art of the classic Western has disappeared altogether. I can barely name 10 decent Westerns of the last decade. So when I heard that there was going to be a remake of John Wayne’s True Grit, based off of the book written by Charles Portis, I was sure it was going to be a disappointment. But then I heard that the Coen brothers were in charge of this remake, and that changed everything.

True Grit, packed with compelling characters and story, demonstrated that the art of the western has not been lost. When a good book that has also been made into a movie is redone, one would think there’d be little room for creativity. But the Coen’s were able to not only stay true to the book, but expand on characters and plot, making the remake better than the original.

The acting in this film is great. Jeff Bridges plays the stubborn Marshall Rooster Cogburn better than John Wayne did back in 1969. Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld also put on a good performance. But the actors weren’t what made this film. The Coen Brothers were able to do something in True Grit that most directors can’t do, they balanced over-the-top action with almost romantic relationships. There was plenty of blood, but also an underlying theme of love and compassion. That's what any good Western should have, and True Grit is one of those films that will be remembered as a classic Western, just as the original of 1969. / DANIEL MAGWIRE

if I had to choose one of these extremes, it would have to be the first.

As I had predicted, Palin thinks she’s hilarious; in reality, she’s the typical cliche-loving mom type.

However, her family is pretty entertaining. Her 9-yearold daughter, Piper, provides most of the comic relief, and the frequent defiance of Palin’s kids makes the show even better.

The high point of the series is definitely the mash-up of Palin and Kate Gosselin. When the outdoorswoman invites Gosselin and her brood along for a camping trip, it’s the greatest train wreck in history: it’s awful, but you can’t look away. The city-dwelling diva can’t handle the outdoors, even though her kids have a ball.

The drooping faces of eight children being told that they have to leave early because mom is “miserable” is heartbreaking, but her insistent complaining could make anyone laugh (or scream).

The show gave me a different perspective on the former-governor’s true intentions. Despite the show’s questionable premise, you get the feeling that she really does care about her family and that she’s not just using them to stay in the limelight, as I previously thought. I actually respect Palin more after seeing her dedication to her husband and kids; or perhaps I just dislike her / ASHLEE CRANE less.

sarah palin’s alaska 2.5/5

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The plot of Tron: Legacy ignores logic , but employs fantastic special effects to make the movie accessible for younger audiences.

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Volunteer, friend, son: A staff member’s reflects on his family’s experience as his mom was elected state representative for the 17th district.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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REVIEWS

cake’s

4/5

SHOWROOM OF

COMPASSION

It’s been seven years since their last album, but Cake is back, and they haven’t been slacking. Showroom of Compassion, the Sacramento, CA-based band’s sixth album, marks a peculiar change in the band’s sound.

Cake’s been playing essentially the same music their whole career: bass-heavy, hook-driven alternative pop, with trumpet solos thrown in for kicks. What’s strange about Showroom of Compassion is that while the instrumentation may have changed, Cake’s signature style still dominates the album, and that’s a good thing both for the band’s picky older fans and the new ones this album will attract.

This is probably most obvious on “Long Time,” Showroom’s second track. There are synthesizers, vocal harmonies, flutes and a very electronic feel, but the bass still hooks, lead singer John McCrea still whacks the vibraslap and the ever-present trumpet is front and center. There’s even a “Frank Sinatra”-style interlude partway through complete with shouts from the band.

“Teenage Pregnancy,” the instrumental track, goes so far as to use an honest-to-god piano until it turns into another modern Cake number.

It’s this willingness to shake things up that keeps Showroom from being just another Cake album. There are missteps — “What’s Now is Now” is strangely Beatles and “Federal Funding” is just a boring filler track — but a boring Cake song is worth a hundred boring Ke$ha songs. On the whole, the album just feels like a natural evolution of Cake’s sound. / WYATT ANDERSON

 UPCOMING CONCERTS Linkin Park (alternative) Sprint Center, Jan. 29, 8 p.m.

Infected Mushroom (electronic) Midland by AMC, Jan. 29, 8 p.m.

Rebelution (reggae) Bottleneck, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.

The Harlem Globetrotters (exhibition basketball) Sprint Center, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. + Feb. 5, 2 p.m.

The Chapin Sisters, Rooney and Eisley (alternative, indie, folk) The Beaumont Club, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.

The Decemberists (indie rock) Uptown Theatre, Feb. 7, 8 p.m.

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/ JAN. 28 2011

/ PHOTO BY MICHELLE STUESSI

TAJ PALACE

4.5/5

Walking into (or past) Taj Palace, it is easy to see why many people don’t know about this place.

The front door and banner can be overlooked quickly on the crowded street, and most passersby could be distracted by the noise coming from the Moroccan restaurant two doors down.

But as soon as one walks in, it is just as easy to see that this will truly be an authentic Indian experience. The smell of spice is almost overpowering, but after several deep breaths, it can be tolerated and even appreciated. The host leads the way under a canopy of brightly colored cloths and twinkling Christmas lights to the more dimly lit main section of the restaurant where woven decorations cover the walls and a large TV sits in the corner, playing various song and dance numbers from Bollywood movies.

Having been here the grand total of one time previously, I was considered a pro at ordering the food. Before I could get started, the gregarious server came by with a plate with poppadoms, a thin, chip-like appetizer with various chutneys for dipping. The tamarind chutney was my personal favorite, combing sweet and spicy into a complementary blend. Soon enough, the waitress brought by some Indian hot tea, which, after adding two sugars, had me on a caffeine rush for the rest of the night.

By the time we ordered, I was already worried that I was filling up on the appetizers, so I had to regretfully put aside my plate to make room for the chicken tikka masala, lamb saag, naan, chicken curry and keema naan. Once the dishes arrived, they formed an accidental piece of art, varying vibrantly in color, from the bright red-orange of the masala to the dark green of the saag (a spinachbased dish). The meals were made of chunks of either chicken or lamb covered in a soupy blend of various spices and herbs. I started in on the food, sighing immediately in delight when the first bite went in my mouth. The tanginess of the masala contrasted to the spiciness of the curry, and the rice that was served with it provided the perfect base. The naan and keema naan, classic puffy flat-breads (the keema naan had lamb inside it), were quite delicious to dip into the sauces, but they could stand alone just as well.

Unfortunately, my food heaven ended quickly as the meal filled me up faster than I thought possible, and I was left with five boxes of leftovers.

Although the location was a bit far (20 minutes to the 1706 W. 39th Street Kansas City, Mo., address), the food and atmosphere was worth the trip, and I would recommend / BRIANNA LEYDEN it to anyone willing to try new things and new taste experiences.

Sophomore Jake Filsingor plays Black Ops on his Xbox. It is thought that Filsingor's gaming helps him to concentrate in school. / PHOTO BY DANIEL MAGWIRE

HEAD

O SHO

Recent studies show that video games can improve cognitive function.

/S

ophomore Jake Filsinger leans forward in his folding chair, eyes darting left and right across the screen in front of him. The dim basement lights up with every explosion and gunshot, and the speakers shake as if bombing planes were actually flying above. His goal: Destroy the base and kill the enemy.

Filsinger is playing Call of Duty, a game in which players shoot and carry out “realistic” army missions, mostly comprised of shooting enemies and destroying their bases.

Daphne Bavelier, professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester; Jay Pratt, professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto and Lauren Sergio, a neuroscientist at York University in Toronto have all contributed research that suggests that though video games can have negative impacts, people who play them can also have positive impacts on gamers, including improved reaction time, sight and multi-tasking ability. These studies are all based on first-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Halo. “[The research] makes quite a bit of sense.

I’m glad that the idea of positive [gaming] information is getting around,’’ junior Chris Moss said.

BENEFITS

In an interview with National Public Radio, Bavelier said that video games are actually not as mindless as they have been proven to be in the past. In more than 20 studies that she has conducted, Bavelier research, she has

found that people who have played shooting games longer have improved brain function.

“Games force you to multitask and it increases your ability to multitask and process better. Video games have become really realistic and so it is pretty obvious why it helps,” Moss said.

Sergio has a similar idea, but her idea goes more into the fact that people use less of their brain to do more complicated tasks.

Pratt is the outside thinker of the group. He suggests that the brain’s ability to manipulate a three dimensional figure is effected. Spatial recognition, which is the ability to manipulate a three dimensional figure, was greatly improved in women who played the video games longer, compared to men who started out with higher spatial recognition ability.

The sight angle of the research is introduced

by Bavelier, who suggests that people will be able to pick out details better, and see more easily in foggy conditions.

“I noticed that I can pick out detail better than I used to be able to, but [when I’m] out driving, [video games did] not really [help my ability],’’ Moss said.

There is also the aspect of increased multitasking ability. Pratt suggests that when people play video games longer, they have a much better multi-tasking ability and do not get distracted as easily. Bavelier also explains that advanced gamers are not as easily distracted. The games train them to focus on something, switch focus quickly and be able to focus on more than one thing at a time.

DISADVANTAGES

Other scientists like Akio Mori, an expsychology professor and writer, think the complete opposite of Bavelier, Pratt and Sergio. Dr. Mori suggests that video games have negative effects. They make they players less sociable, as well as hi-jacking their emotion and decreasing sight ability.

His study explains how it causes anger levels to rise more easily, blocks beta brain waves from the very front of the brain and lowers the output to nearly zero. Beta brain waves keep people from focusing as well, make them angry more easily and cause them to be less sociable.

“I seem to get mad when the most basic things happen, like I would when I play Call of Duty,” Filsinger said.

Mori opposes their research with studies that outline how behavior studied in children was nearly opposite. The children who play violent video games were more likely to be violent when they are put into a group setting.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS

In the past, video games and their effect on the gamers has been negative, but there is also a positive side to the story. Video games help sight, multitasking ability, focus, and brain function. Each are important aspects in daily life.

After learning about the research Filsinger started to understand it better, and as he played he got what the scientist were trying to say. / CONNOR THOMPSON FEATURES

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STAYING STRONG

JUNIOR JENNY NELSON UNDERWENT SURGERY FOR A BRAIN TUMOR IN EARLY DECEMBER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY REMINDING HER TO KEEP HER STRENGTH. IN THE END, THE LOVE AND SUPPORT SHE RECEIVED HELPED NELSON THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. Junior Jenny Nelson’s Facebook wall was full of comments from friends and family. Some pledged to keep her in their thoughts and prayers, while others reminded her to stay strong as she underwent and then began recovering from brain surgery.

After almost two months spending hours in specialists’ offices and receiving numerous misdiagnoses, Jenny was diagnosed with a Grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma in late November, which, as she put it, is “the best tumor you can get, if you have to get one.”

In support of Jenny and her family, Cougar Community Commitment (CCC) donated the profits from their last Cappuccino Day to assist financially.

Her tennis teammates also made wristbands and T-shirts to sell in her honor. According to Jenny,

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/ JAN. 28, 2011

all the support she received made the recovery process easier for her.

“I got so many letters and videos from my English class, and cards from every class of mine.

Everyone was supporting me. People I didn’t know have come up to me; their parents have come up to me,” Jenny said. “I want to say thank you to everyone. It really does mean so much to me and my family, having all the support that Northwest gave and is still giving.”

“We didn’t think we’d end up with a brain tumor” Jenny first noticed something was wrong during tennis season when she felt dizzy and unbalanced while playing.

“Then I also started to notice having headaches pretty much every morning,” Jenny said. “I thought it was normal, but apparently it wasn’t.”

In early November, she was diagnosed with acid reflux, a condition where some foods are too acidic for the esophagus, causing pain in the chest and nausea. Then she began to have recurring problems with sinus infections and focusing her eyes.

“The vision part is at the top of your head, but the motor, the muscle control, was close to where the tumor is,” Jenny’s mother, Linda, said. “[Jenny] had started using her eyes separately, and not together, kind of like her world was split in the middle. You could see her going right eye, left eye, switching back and forth instead of doing them together.”

Then Jenny’s speech became slurred and she

Junior Jenny Nelson and her mother, Linda, sit on the couch in their living room and discuss the experiences she has been through in the past months.

While junior Jenny Nelson was in Children’s Hospital of St. Louis, a group of specially trained dogs visited the patients. “I could tell that I was definitely doing the best of any of the kids on the floor because I got rid of my walker and wheel chair just a couple of days after I got in the hospital, on the main floor,” Jenny said. / PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNY NELSON

had trouble eating and swallowing.

“The symptoms were starting to change kind of fast,” Linda said.

On the recommendation of several doctors, Nelson tried to get an MRI, but was not able to schedule one until the end of November. After a CT scan showing something abnormal on the brain stem, Jenny had an MRI. A little bit after midnight Nov. 30, the doctors told her she had a pilocytic

Jenny said. “But that was pretty telling that he was a good surgeon.”

On Dec. 2, a transport team of four flew Jenny to St. Louis via air ambulance. For insurance reasons, she couldn’t be driven on the road.

“There was only enough room for me to lie on my stretcher [in the plane]. My whole body was almost at the ceiling. It was a short plane too. There was only enough room for me and the four people in seats that were really close together,” Jenny said “When I landed in St. Louis, “I shouldn’t be worse off than I was before we got in an ambulance, all of this started. Hopefully, I’ll be a little better which it wasn’t like a Grey’s Anatomy ambulance. It was off with my balance and playing tennis. Even if a children’s ambulance, so the tumor doesn’t shrink, I don’t think I would be it had rainbows and flowers and colors on the outside, so negatively affected. I’d just be like I am right now, that was good.” underwent surgery which I could deal with. I’m definitely stronger than Dec.Jenny 3, during which the I was right before the surgery.” —junior Jenny Nelson surgeon was able to remove about half of the tumor. astrocytoma, more commonly know as a brain stem glioma, a tumor that forms in the tissue of the brain “It wouldn’t be as easy for someone stem, which connects the spinal cord. much older to recover as quickly.”

“I was just tired, and I wanted to go to sleep. I “I woke up sometime on Saturday. I had had my hoped that maybe when I woke up, it would all be surgery on Friday at about 1 p.m.,” Jenny said. “I, gone,” Jenny said. “That didn’t happen.” for the life of me, can’t remember what time it was Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most commonly on Saturday. I don’t really remember that much from diagnosed tumor in children ages 15 to 19, according Saturday. I couldn’t talk until Monday morning. The to the International RadioSurgery Association. rest of Monday I couldn’t talk very loudly. I had kind “We didn’t think we were going to end up with a of a soft voice. I mean, softer than normal. It gradually brain tumor out of the deal,” Linda said. got better.”

“I ignored it as best as I could” “I think [being scared] probably would have been the intelligent thing,” Jenny said. “I just ignored it as best as I could.”

Even though her tumor is grade 1 and therefore considered to be benign, Jenny needed surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible to put a halt to the symptoms she had been having for two months. According to Linda, there was only one neurosurgeon on duty in Kansas City at the time and seven in St. Louis. The surgeons in St. Louis were also significantly more experienced.

“The surgeon that I actually had, Dr. Leonard, had done surgery on a lot of tumors that had initially been said to be inoperable, which mine wasn’t,”

For three days after surgery, Jenny was on a ventilator, a machine that essentially breathes for the patient.

“I had hiccups constantly when I was on the ventilator,” Jenny said. “So they couldn’t really tell if I could breathe on my own and it was just the hiccups that were messing up the machines, or if I actually needed it.”

For the first part of the time when she was in the hospital, Jenny also ate through a feeding tube because the placement of the tumor affected her ability to swallow effectively.

“In the hospital, the speech therapist started having me eat different foods,” Jenny said. “Oddly enough, peanut butter was the best thing. Because it was sticky, it wouldn’t fall apart and could go down

my throat easily.”

Jenny spent two weeks in the hospital. During the day, surgeons, nurses and physical therapists checked on her. Other than that, she didn’t have much to do.

“The one thing I had planned for every day was Gilmore Girls,” Jenny said. “Unfortunately, though, people didn’t seem to get my schedule and they would come in at 4 p.m. [when Gilmore Girls is on].”

“My physical therapist in St. Louis told me she was very impressed just from a couple days difference in how well I was doing,” Jenny said. “That partially has to do with me being 16. It wouldn’t be as easy for someone much older to recover as quickly.”

“I didn’t think it was very hard” Even though she expected to be back, Jenny knew some other people would be surprised to see her at school on the first day back from Winter Break.

“People hugged me in the halls,” Jenny said. “It was kind of weird having my teachers be so — I don’t want to say nice, because they’re all nice but — sweet, I guess.”

About three weeks ago, Jenny began radiation treatments to reduce the parts of the tumor that couldn’t be removed. The treatments will last six weeks, including the two she has already undergone.

The treatments shouldn’t have any major side effects, so she won’t lose any hair, except right on the incision, which won’t be visible. Jenny’s doctors told her she may become more tired at the end of the treatments.

“I think really I shouldn’t be worse off than I was before all of this started. Hopefully, I’ll be a little better off with my balance and playing tennis and, even if the tumor doesn’t shrink, I don’t think I would be negatively affected,” Jenny said. “I’d just be like I am right now, which I could deal with, because I’m definitely stronger than I was right before the surgery.”

Jenny said she is glad to have this whole experience behind her. She also said that not having the support she had from her family and friends would have made the experience much more difficult to endure.

“My mom told me that she’s really proud of me and she knows how hard this was,” Jenny said, “but I didn’t think it was very hard.” / MARIA DAVISON

FEATURES

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Senior Blaire Patrick works on Comp. 1 homework on Jan. 17.

"I've become more independent, and I will be entering college as a sophomore. It's a good feeling knowing I am getting a head start on the rest of my life and my future," Patrick said. /PHOTO BY MICHELLE STUESSI

Senior Erica Nguyen stands outside of JCCC on Jan. 19. This was Nguyen's first day at the community college. "I was really nervous and felt out of place, but now, my third day, it is not too bad.

I like it a lot actually," Nguyen said. /PHOTO BY DAVID FREYERMUTH Senior Samantha Moore works at Target on Jan. 13. Since Moore graduated she goes to JCCC and works at Target regularly. /PHOTO BY DANNY LYONS

MOVING ON When second semester began Jan. 3, Erica Nguyen, Blaire Patrick and Sam Moore didn’t come back to first hour. These three students, along with 22 other seniors, elected to graduate a semester early.

“I think [I decided] freshman year,” Moore said.

Although Moore made her decision early in high school, Patrick and Nguyen waited until their junior year.

To graduate early, students have to complete paperwork explaining their decisions. Their counselors check to make sure that the students are able to meet graduation requirements without the final semester. According to counselor Jim Mowry, most students have 21 credits completed by the end of their junior year, but only 23 are needed to graduate. The two credits they need to complete to graduate are generally a year of English, a semester of American Government and a semester elective.

After their credits have been checked, students again meet with their counselors and parents.

Students who graduate early must enroll in an English 12 class. And although there is an option for night school, most students opt to take the second half of English 12 in summer school. Moore attended summer school this past year, and even though she was intermixed with students who were behind, she felt that she gained a lot from the experience.

“I feel like I learned more during summer school than [I did in] one semester of actual school,” Moore said. “The fact that it was basically my second semester of my senior year kept me motivated.”

Students who opt to graduate early do so for various reasons. Some travel, others take a semester off to work, some head straight to a fouryear university and some attend Johnson County

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/ JAN. 28, 2011

WINTER BREAK MARKED THE END OF HIGH SCHOOL FOR THREE SENIORS, WHO ARE GEARING UP FOR COLLEGE IN THE SPRING.

Community College (JCCC). These three chose to attend JCCC to jump start their college education.

Patrick, who will eventually attend Mid-America Nazarene University plans to get general classes out of the way while they are cheaper.

Nguyen had the same idea. After completing a semester at JCCC, she hopes to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW).

“If I went to UNCW, it would cost me $548 per credit hour [assuming I take 15 hours per semester],” Nguyen said, “compared to $75 per credit hour [by going to] JCCC.” Some of the general education classes that the girls are enrolled in at JCCC include Composition I, public speaking and algebra classes.

This isn’t at all uncommon. According to counselor Marybeth Green, an average of 25 seniors graduate at semester each year in order to attend JCCC or work full-time.

In addition to going to JCCC as full-time students, Moore and Nguyen are also working. Moore works full-time at Target, while Nguyen is working parttime at Price Chopper. According to Green, students working full-time after a semester graduation also not unusual.

“Some students need the extra semester to work and save money,” Green said. “some will need to help their families with the financial situation and some will need to work in order to save money so they can go to university in the fall.”

As winter break approached, the girls faced the realization that they would not be returning to until graduation in May. “Everyone kept saying, ‘Oh, you’ll regret it. Can I persuade you not to do it?’” Patrick said. “[Even one

of my teachers] was like, ‘That’s a bad idea.’ And I said, ‘No, it’s not. It’s really good.’”

Even though some may not agree with an early graduation, according to Green, graduating early is a decision made on an individual basis.

“We won’t approach a student and say ‘have you ever thought about graduating early?’” Green said. “We like to keep our seniors around [second semester] so that they have more time to develop their interests. Some students enroll a class thinking they will like it, and then realize ‘I hate this. This isn’t what I want to do at all.’”

Although excited about moving on from high school, the girls also had to deal with the downsides. “[I think the cons] are just missing high school in general,” Nguyen said, “like passing periods and locker jams and lunch. It’s the small things you don’t get back anymore.”

Moore, as well as the others, had to deal with leaving old friends behind as they left high school and transitioned into college. “[I’m going to] miss my friends a lot,” Moore said.

“I don’t hang out with some of them, so I’m not going to see them again until graduation, which is in four months. That’s a long time.”

Despite the ups and downs of an early graduation, Moore, Nguyen and Patrick would recommend it for underclassmen already considering it. Although they are gone from the school environment, the girls are still allowed to attend assemblies, dances and other school events, in addition to being able to walk across the stage at graduation in the spring.

“The only thing you’re really missing is the school part,” Nguyen said. “I think you’ll be OK.” / TESSA MILLER

12267 W. 87th Street Lenexa, Kansas 66215 (87th & Monrovia) 913-492-1600 www.forgetmenotlenexa

BRING IN AD FOR STUDENT DISCOUNT

bridging the gap GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE AIMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS OF ALL SEXUALITIES.

“Being Gay in Uganda: One Couple’s Story,” “Gay Rights Timeline” and “Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill” scroll across the projection screen. Gay-Straight Alliance officers stand in front of Room 130 discussing these issues and many others at their regular Tuesday meeting. “[Gay-Straight Alliance] is a club where we meet and talk about current events in the gay or straight community that affect us,” said senior Julia Stanislav, GSA co-president. “We want to spread the message and let people know it’s OK to be whatever.”

The NW chapter of Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) was established in 1999 with the goal of identifying and eliminating prejudice based on sexual and gender orientation. Started by former English teacher Dave Mesh and eight students, the club advocated tolerance among the straight and homosexual communities at Northwest. In the last 12 years, the club has grown and English teacher Fran Koenigsdorf has become the sponsor, but the mission remains the same: broaden the understanding and acceptance of NW students.

“There was definitely a need for GSA, and as a teacher, I’m always looking to promote tolerance among all different types of students,” Koenigsdorf said. “It’s a club where you’re really trying to spread acceptance between gay and straight students, and students who are just different in general.”

According to the GSA Network, two out of every three students who identify themselves as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) report being harassed based on actual or perceived sexual orientation.

“Sometimes people will tear down our posters, and

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/ JAN. 28, 2011

on the [gay is not a synonym for stupid] poster, we have a list of words that you can use instead of gay. Some kids will cross out the words or put [offensive words] on it; it’s really awful,” senior Lindsey Peavler said.

Instead of being discouraged by this behavior, GSA chooses to intensify its campaign for equal treatment.

Members do so by participating in a variety of events and activities that publicize the club’s beliefs.

“We do things like the Day of Silence in April. The Day of Silence represents what some gay people go through when they can’t talk about [their sexuality]. We don’t talk for one school day to represent what they go through,” Stanislav said.

Despite prejudices and with the help of organizations like GSA, sensitivity and understanding toward the homosexual community is spreading. In 2006, 54 percent of Americans found homosexuality acceptable, compared with 38 percent in 1992, according to Gallup polls cited by USA Today.

“In my generation, you definitely didn’t come out in high school. You had to move away from home to be gay,” Kevin Jennings said in an interview with USA Today. Jennings is the executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a national group that promotes a positive school climate for gay children.

Recent studies found that anti-bullying and harassment policies, supportive faculty and the presence of school clubs like Gay-Straight Alliances are factors related to safer schools, better school performance and higher student aspirations.

Teens also swim in a cultural sea that’s far more pro-

gay than ever, said Ritch Savin-Williams, a psychologist at Cornell University and author of The New Gay Teenager, in an interview with USA Today. From MTV’s The Real World to Will & Grace and Ellen DeGeneres having her own show, Savin-Williams believes that “kids can see gays in a positive light.”

“I think the media should put more focus on the successes of gay teens, instead of the negative things [going on] with the [gay community],” said senior Ashton Martin, GSA co-president. “I think the press needs to advertise the It Gets Better campaign, which is a series of videos by either college students or adults about their experiences being gay in high school, and how it gets better after graduation.”

According to the National School Climate Survey, students who did not have (or did not know of) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40 percent more likely to skip schools than those who did; 36.5 percent of LGBT students who said their school did not have a specific harassment policy skipped class in the last month because they felt unsafe, with that number dropping to 26.6 percent among LGBT students who know that there is some sort of harassment policy in place to protect them.

“We want to have a safe place for gay students to come, where they can be themselves and feel like people support them,” senior Jordan McGuinn, GSA vice-president said.

GSA meets Tuesdays in Room 130 and is open to all students, gay or straight. For more information visit glsen.orvg, gsanetwork.org and itgetsbetter.org. / HAYLEY BATTENBERG

SPORTS

boss/

BEST OF SPORTS SHOT

Sophomore Kyle Zarda restrains his Saint Thomas Aquinas opponent on Jan. 15 in the SM Northwest gymnasium. Zarda went on to win the match, adding to the NW total team score. / PHOTO BY BAILEY KOPP

// by logan coffman

QUESTION + ANSWER WITH KATTIE BIGGERS

JUNIOR, VARSITY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Q: How have you liked your basketball experience at Northwest so far?

A: Its been really great, my first two years with coach Mac [Macintosh] were us building a foundation and this year with our new coach Jeff Dickson we are starting to perform really well on the court working hard and winning games.

Q: Do you consider yourself to be a leader?

A: Yes. I have been in the program since freshman year, I have to be depended on to do the right thing.

Q: Whats your favorite part about practice, games, etc.?

A: Games, I get really into them. I love being in really intense situations just to see how I will perform.

Q: How have you guys bonded as a a team this year?

A: We really bonded over the summer and we have a lot of team bonding things we do. If they ever have problems they can come to the team because we are a family.

Q: Do you have any basketball plans after High School?

A: Hopefully. I have looked at some places around town. Hopefully it will happen.

Q: Examples?

A: Avila University

Q: How has not having any seniors this year affected the team?

A: The juniors really have taken over acting as seniors.

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Senior Drew Goodger, the football team’s leader, was by far the most decorated player this year. Goodger, the varsity football team’s tight end, also played a vital role on the defensive line as a defensive end.

Even before the season had started, fans were talking about Goodger, who had been named one of the Sunflower League’s Spotlight Players, and Goodger did not disappoint. He was named first team All Sunflower League in two positions: tight end and defensive end. Not only was he a top defensive player in the league, but Goodger also was put on first team for defensive line in Kansas and in the KC Metro area. He was also named one of Kansas’ top 11 players within all classes.

With so many post season awards, he began to focus on college scholarship offers, including those from Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. But when Jerry Kill, former Northern Illinois coach, took the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota and offered Goodger a scholarship, there was no doubt in Goodger’s mind what was next for him.

“As soon as I got the offer, I knew it was the right fit for me,” Goodger said.

Drew Goodger recorded 103 tackles, four sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal. While as a tight end, Goodger put up 125 yards with 15 receptions, three of which were touchdowns. Because of this impressive athletic resumé, Goodger will Senior Drew Goodger, number 83, play for tight end for Minnesota next year. runs to stop the SM West offence on As many know, Northwest claimed the state title in two fall sports this Sept. 10 at SM South Stadium. / PHOTO BY DAVID FREYERMUTH year: cross country and gymnastics. And while these accomplishments in themselves are impressive, many individuals are receiving additional recognition such as Sunflower League postseason awards, from honorable mention to first team. Amongst the many talented athletes at Northwest, three seniors stand out from the rest.

After seasons ended, coaches from around the Sunflower League got together and voted on individuals for their athletic performances.

Because it’s the other teams’ coaches that vote for these athletes, postALTHOUGH THE FALL SPORT SEASONS WRAPPED UP MONTHS AGO, season awards are only given to the best of the best. Drew Goodger, Kyle Moore, and Aaron Thornburg’s achievements not only encompass ATHLETES ARE STILL RECEIVING POSTSEASON AWARDS FOR THEIR ON- Sunflower League accomplishments, but also extend to all of Kansas and FIELD SUCCESS. / ERIC ZOELLNER the Kansas City Metro Area.

after the

final whistle Senior Kyle Moore, the boys’ varsity soccer team co-captain, led Northwest to a regional championship and state appearance. Moore was the backbone of the defense, which recorded six shutouts of their 10 wins.

Moore’s contributions throughout competitive league play landed him the honor of being placed on Sunflower League first team defense as well as being named Sunflower League Defender of the Year. Additionally, Moore was placed on first team defense in the both the Northeast region and Kansas.

“It was a good year, first team Sunflower League was my goal, so everything else was surprising. I didn’t expect all that,” Moore said.

In addition, Moore demonstrated himself as one of the top soccer players in all of Kansas City achieving second-team defender, All Metro.

Senior Kyle Moore tries to score a goal against Washburn Rural High School. / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

Senior Aaron Thornburg spearheaded a cross country state title while succeeding individually in crucial meets throughout the season. During the cross country team’s road to state, Thornburg placed second in Sunflower League and first in regionals, and then wrapped up his season with a second place overall finish at state. Consistent success throughout the season landed Thornburg a collection of postseason honors.

Thornburg was placed on first team All Metro and named runner of year by the Greater Kansas City Area Cross Country Association, as well as being placed on first team for All State, All Sun Cross Country Team and KC Star All Metro Cross Country Team.

“I try to stay thankful and humble myself every time I receive an award,” Thornburg said Thornburg’s achievements are not exclusive to his athletic talents; many of his honors recognize his academic and leadership abilities. Thornburg was awarded the 6A Cross Country Academic All State honor as well as the Wendy’s High School Heisman Winner, a national award given to students who excel in academics, athletics and leadership. “[My honors] are a testament to the good program and school we have here at Northwest and what hard work and determination can achieve,” Thornburg said.

Senior Aaron Thornburg runs at a cross country meet on Oct. 23, 2010. The Boy’s Cross Country team recieved first place at state. / PHOTO BY MICHELLE STUESSI

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UPCOMING VARSITY GAMES

MICHAEL GRIFFIN

Boys’ Basketball Jan. 28 vs. Lawrence Free State, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1 at SM West, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 vs. Olathe East 7 p,m.

Feb. 8 at Olathe North 7 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball Jan. 31 at SM West, 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 vs.. Olathe East, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 at Olathe North, 5:30 p.m.

Boys’ Swim and Dive Jan. 29 at SM East, 4 p.m.

Jan. 4 Sunflower League, 4 p.m.

Jan. 5 Sunflower League Finals, 9 a.m.

Wrestling Jan. 29 at Bluejay Invitational, 9:30 a.m.

Feb. 4 SM District Championships, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Washburn Rural, 6:30 p.m.

Bowling Feb. 1 at SM West, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 SMNW Meet, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 3 Turner Ladies Only Meet, 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 SM North Invitational, 3 p.m.

Feb. 9 Turner Mens Only Meet, 3:30 p.m.

DO SERVICE, GET PAID Swim team raised money by pledging community service, and other NW teams should take note.

Anyone who has participated in a sport at Northwest has had an experience with fees. The fees for teams vary from sport to sport and are used to cover such things as equipment and jersey costs.

These fees aren’t cheap either; the booster fee alone can run upward of $100. Some families might not be able to pay the required fees; however, there is a way to get around them.

The swim team got rid of their booster fees. Instead, the rest of the team and I sent out letters to our family and friends asking to pledge money if the team did community service. We took four hours out of our Saturday morning to help at a marathon, and these four hours alone raised enough money to cover the whole team’s booster fees and more.

The first time Matt Wolfe, the swim team coach, did pledging was with Brian McIntosh for girl’s basketball last year. “I originally got the idea for pledging from Brian [McIntosh]. We did community service instead of selling baked goods,” Wolfe said .

Other teams at Northwest, and even the whole district, could follow suit and save the athletes and their families some money. The community service itself doesn’t take that much time, and the results can help improve the sports programs.

Pledging is a great idea because it helps families that can’t pay the fees for their child to play a sport. All that a student needs to do is spend some of his or her time sending out letters and actually doing community service. This community service can save a family all the fees associated with a sport. From sport to sport, this can translate to $30 to $100. The results are nothing but positive.

The money raised through pledging can go farther than just covering fees. The extra money from the community service can be put to good use for a team, like new equipment, or it can be saved for next year’s team.

“The money the girl’s basketball team raised also paid for new jerseys for the team,” said Wolfe.

“The money we raised for the swim team covered everyone’s fees and paid for new fins and other training equipment.”

The community service can also be a good time for athletes to bond with their teammates. A couple hours spent with the team, not practicing, can help build a team’s morale and cohesion, thus helping them work better as a unit when competition pressure is on. Our team spent four hours together at a marathon, handing out water, cleaning up, and talking with fellow teammates.

This quality time spent with the team helps add cohesion. At the marathon, we used teamwork to help the marathon runners stay hydrated. This activity took cooperation to do effectively, and really helped before the season had begun. This bond created at the beginning of the season grew throughout the year, and kept us a really strong team.

The pledging and service makes Northwest and our sports programs look better to our community because people see them as responsible and involved. This support in the community can come back around and help Northwest and its students.

“Community service gets Northwest out into the community so people see us in a different light,” said Wolfe.

A team without fees is a team with fewer restrictions to join. This might bring some new, undiscovered talent to teams that have high equipment and booster fees. The opportunity alone gives the chance for a team to improve.

Other sports teams should take notice of this idea. Teams could support the pledging and save the athletes money and also raise money for improving the team’s infrastructure. Students who cannot pay deserve a chance to play too, not just the ones able to pay the fees.

All of these benefits come from just spending a few hours helping out the community and spending good time with teammates and according to the swim team treasurer, pledging raised more than double the amount the fees would have.

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IN focus

“Sledding is one of the best parts of winter. I love the thrill of the cold while speeding down a hill on my sled.”

— sophomore Mitch Nolan

/ PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON