THEPasSage NW Issue 1 Vol. 51 Sep. 26, 2019
In Our Blood Freshman-senior siblings share their experiences
Global Warming Widely debated question still unanswered
A Thespian Thriller Theater department gears up for the fall play
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Sept 26, 2019
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NORTHWEST PASSAGE I ssu e 1 Vo l . 5 1 Sept . 2 6 , 2 01 9
At the game against Olathe South, junior Lilly Riddell dances during the fourth quarter at SM North District Stadium, Sept. 20. +PHOTO BY +PHOTO BY ERIN HENTON
TOC | 03
TABLE OF
CONTENTS 9
In Our Blood Freshman-senior siblings share their experiences, frustrations and favorite disagreements
Global Warming: Doomsday or Fraud?
12-13
It’s the widely debated question to which we still don’t know the answer
17
A Thespian Thriller The theater department gears up to perform the fall play this week
OUR PASSAGE: The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a news magazine, 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 20-page news magazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial board will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.
STAFF: PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief
Rylee Garrett Annalissa Houser
CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Photo Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Managing Editor Copy Editor Assistant Copy Editor Ads Manager STAFF WRITERS: Emily Alexander Alex Barfield Zachary Dulny Lauren Mcfarlane Sonni Meyers Anika Paulette Angelina Ortega
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CONTENT MANAGEMENT:Susan Massy
+PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DYLAN MITCHELL
editorial| 04
Sep. 26 ,2019
What’s really killing the ocean? The media has tricked humans into demonizing plastic + DESIGN BY KASI MANIKTALA The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is nestled between Hawaii and California. It covers 617,000 square miles, according to PBS, a span more than double the size of Texas. It is even visible from space. The media has started a revolution that attempts to demonize the plastic industry over all other sources. Almost every social media platform is flooded with photos of baby sea turtles washed up after choking on a straw or getting caught in another form of plastic. Although pulling out a reusable straw at dinner is a step in the right direction, plastics make up a mere eight percent of the total debris in the patch, according to National Geographic. Social media has effectively twisted what’s really going on in the oceans. The popular slogan “Skip a straw, save a turtle” is seen everywhere from T-shirts to Snapchat stories. Most of the destruction to oceans, however, is completely out of our direct sight. The leading cause of ocean pollution is the agriculture industry, according to Mission Blue. Led by oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue works to inspire action to explore and protect the oceans. When served a burger at a restaurant, most people aren’t considering the impact factory farming has on the oceans because they can’t see it. We need to remember farm waste doesn’t just stay on farms and agriculture contributes directly to the rise of sea temperatures and ocean acidification, according to Mission Blue and a host of other organizations. Using a plastic grocery bag is tangible— we see the bag, and we understand the impact it may have. We may not like to admit it, but often humans take on an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude when we know we are doing something that could have a negative effect. Twenty-three-year-old Boyan Slat founded the organization Ocean Cleanup in order to take on the $32 million job of cleaning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A study Slat and his team completed in 2018 revealed that 46 percent of the entire patch is formed by fishing nets, compared to the eight percent formed by plastics. A majority of the remaining debris is made up of other fishing gear, such as ropes
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For Agaisnt
and baskets. An estimated 100,000 marine animals are suffocated or injured by plastic each year, according to National Geographic. However, the depiction we see online is greatly inaccurate. It is not our Starbucks cups and grocery bags that are the primary culprit. Blame should be left to the corporate fishing industry, who often carelessly discards old fishing nets in the ocean or allows them to float away without concern. Consumer plastic is a far more minor cause than we have been led to believe. A typical argument against boycotting fish is that if the fishing’s already been done, and the restaurant has already purchased it, there’s no reason to not eat it. Think smarter. If more fish start going to waste, why would the restaurant or store’s owner order the same amount next time? Plastic waste should still be taken seriously. There’s no reason to use a plastic grocery bag instead of a reusable bag from home. People should reduce their plastic footprint as much as possible, but also open their eyes to other killers of the ocean. Boycott the fishing industry as much as you can. Opt out of the surf and turf lunch next time. If you don’t think you can give up shrimp completely, try saving it for special occasions only. Search for petitions to sign online pushing for more restrictions and greater control over fishing corporations and agricultural operations. Do your research before purchasing fish at the grocery store. Sushi may be your favorite food on earth, but next time you find yourself at Sushi Mido for dinner, reusable straw in tow, think about the even greater positive impact ordering a vegetarian roll would have on the oceans.
“It is not our Starbucks cups and grocery bags that are the primary culprit. Blame should be left to the corporate fishing industry”
WHAT CAN WE DO The number one way consumers can combat climate change is by going car-free. Though this probably isn’t possible for most families, try to carpool as much as you can and reduce car usage when possible.
Prevent food waste, don’t take more than you think you can actually eat. Agriculture and factory farming are two of the biggest causes of climate change.
Eat less factory-farmed red meat. Cows living on factory farms release high amounts of methane into the air because of the grains they are fed. Try to purchase more grass-fed meat.
Everyone knows this one, but turn off the lights when you leave a room, and turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth. Research says that it is imperative to reduce energy usage.
smnw.com
opinion | 05
A Call From Arms
is Snapchat Going into
Ghost Mode?
O
ne hundred and eighty-two deaths Double that in injuries Gun violence on school grounds has created these statistics in the last six years. Seventy-two of those deaths and 131 of the injuries occurred in the last two years. Only +BY ZACH HARRIS Staff writer three major changes to firearms laws have been passed since 2018. The first banned bump stocks nationwide after the mass shooting in Las Vegas and is being challenged by multiple lawsuits. Eighteen states (not including Kansas) have adopted laws increasing the minimum purchase age for firearms from 18 to 21. The third one, a federal law, prevents those who have been deemed mentally incapable of safely owning a weapon from purchasing one. The horrifying truth of the minimum age law is that students generally obtain weapons from their own homes, The Wall Street Journal reports. According to The Daily Telegraph, firstgrader Kayla Rolland was killed by her classmate, Dedrick Owens, in 2000. He got the gun from his own home, only to turn and use it to take her life. He was too young to be charged with murder. In 2018, a 16-year-old male opened fire in the Italy (Texas) High School cafeteria, injuring a 15-year-old girl. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, CNN said. The child was tried as an adult, and his parents were given no charges, even though they were the owners of the weapon. The very next day, two died and 14 were injured in a school shooting in Marshall County (Kentucky) High School The shooter was 15 years old, and also obtained the weapon by stealing it from his parents. Should these parents be held responsible for not keeping their weapons secure? Even as recently as Sept. 12, two students brought in firearms to Hocker Grove Middle School, right here in Shawnee. Luckily, no one was harmed, and there was no evidence of intent to harm, but the fact that guns could be brought into a local school is another
reminder that our current system does not fully protect us and that we need change. Current laws aren’t stopping anything. This potential for lethal violence needs to be eradicated. We need more than an age restriction to stop these tragedies. I’m not suggesting we remove all weapons from people’s homes, but some control seems necessary. However, presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke has a plausible plan for increased gun control. He addressed in one speech, red flag laws, mandatory gun buybacks and national registry for all weapons. I completely agree. No reason exists for anyone to have an AR-15 or any other military-grade weapon at home for protection from a potential invader. O’Rourke’s plan includes reimbursing people to make it easier for citizens to part with these “weapons of war.” A national registry would make it easier to track those whose weapons are used in a crime. Instead of merely identifying the suspect, the police could also run the weapons serial code to find the owner. Even finding a single round of ammunition would allow police to narrow down suspects. It seems to be a must. Red flag laws would deny anyone with a history of mental issues or aggression the right to a license to own a firearm. I’m not backing a particular presidential candidate, but it’s time for a change. We should require those who own guns to keep them secured. We should also hold the user as well as the owner responsible for any crimes committed with their weapons. We should institute buyback and red flag laws. The entire gun control debate always focuses on the rights of gun owners, but are others’ rights not being violated by needing to live in fear of this violence? It’s time for not only a change in these laws but also a change in the mindset used to argue this matter. No one should need to live, work, or go to school in fear of becoming another statistic to further this debate.
“This potential for lethal violence needs to be eradicated”
High school students may stop using the now-popular platform
I
think Snapchat will soon be dead. Snapchat, a social media app used to share photos, videos, text and drawings, was on the rise until the first quarter of 2018. That’s when +BY Angelina Ortega CEO Evan Spiegel Staff writer adopted a new design for the popular platform and, Snapchat lost 2.8 percent of U.S. users. On paper, 2.8 percent isn’t a lot, but that’s a total of almost 3 million people. Investors became spooked and Snapchat’s stock plummeted to $10.58, a 30% drop by late December. Investors were skeptical that Snapchat would be able to improve its financial standing after such a rapid decline. The app switched from a four-screen design consisting of the friend page, discover page, personal snap page and the camera to a threescreen design consisting of the discover page, camera and the friend page. So, what upset so many Snapchatters? The redesign separated celebrity stories from those of your friends and overall the app was much harder to use. After the redesign, Snapchat received a lot of backlash, not just from teens and regular users but from some celebrities. Kylie Jenner and Chrissy Teigen notably spoke out, along with 1.2 million users who signed a petition to restore the original design. Spiegel eventually tweaked the new design to make it easier to use, but some still didn’t appreciate the change from the original. Snapchat has competition in Instagram’s stories, which were introduced in August 2016. Instagram stories often feature far more aesthetically pleasing images and illustrations than Snapchat, which
users tend to use more casually. Instagram also has a greater range of features such as the ability to attach music, polls and quizzes to stories. They also have an alternative to the wildly popular YOLO question feature on Snapchat, which offers the same Q&A feature without the hassle of downloading a second app, but lacks anonymity. The GIFs and stickers are exactly the same between Instagram and Snapchat, but Instagram’s drawing tool can be adjusted for preferred size and appearance. Instagram also has the priceless option of selecting a color from the story image to use in text and drawings -- overall, Instagram’s stories offer a highly competitive alternative to Snapchat and continues to grow in popularity as time goes on. Snapchat is losing its market to other apps, too, both new and old. Facebook has had a steady growth of eight percent every year. On top of that, Tik Tok blew up with a total of 524 million users—almost twice the number of Snapchat users worldwide. Instagram has been a popular social media platform for years and it continues to rack up as much as 1 billion users. “Increased competition from new and existing social platforms is partly to blame for Snapchat’s decline,” according to EMarketer senior analyst Jasmine Enberg. “Instagram will pick up many of those leaving Snapchat.” If Snapchat plans on regaining its user base, it should be more conscious of its users and their preferences. Future changes should be tested more extensively and the consumer needs should have been considered before dropping drastic changes on its app. C’mon, Snapchat: pay attention!
“If Snapchat plans on
regaining its user base, it should be more conscious of its users and their preferences.”
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The increasing importance of gun control
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profile | 06
Sep. 26. 2019
Food Truck to +PHOTO BY NICK STYERS
A look at the life and culinary journey of Reis Miller — Winner of the SkillsUSA 2019 culinary competition STORY BY ANIKA PAULETTE + DESIGN BY ALDEN NORBERG
T
he sun sets outside the window of the Broadmoor Bistro as senior Reis Miller’s hands rest on the cool black tabletop. This is where he’s comfortable, despite how hectic it can get. He sits on the other side of the table — well-pressed black chef’s coat and all, a chef that keeps his kitchen in check. His eyes shift behind his wide-rimmed glasses as he looks up to tell the staff that he’s going to be out for a bit. He hopes they don’t mess up the back too badly while he’s gone. Miller is objectively considered one of the best chefs on the SM center for academic achievement (CAA)’s culinary program. Just last year, he brought home gold from the high school culinary competition at the 2019 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Despite his calmness on the outside during the event, that wasn’t the case on the inside. After hours upon hours of training, then tiring and stressful days of competition, it all came down to one single moment. “When it went down to two I was like, ‘Okay, this is either I did it, or I completely bombed it and I have no idea where I placed.’ So luckily — like I wanted to cry at first — but I didn’t. It was just total rush of emotions. That was the moment my life changed.” As a result of his skills, Miller’s role at the Broadmoor Bistro, the culinary arts lab restaurant, has evolved. “I’ve kind of taken on the responsibility of being the so-called sous chef,” Miller said. “That essentially means I am delegating people in the back of house to work on certain projects. I make sure everything’s done and see what we have to order.” Miller started his career as a chef at a young age
working in a family friend’s food truck with his dad, who had previously worked in the food industry himself. Miller still cites him as an inspiration to this day. “He owned a food truck called Wilma’s,” Miller said. “We did sort of American-style food. We had pulled pork sandwiches at one point, we did some tacos at one point, we did a bunch of stuff. That’s how I got started, working with my dad.” From his humble beginnings in steak and potatoes, to the present in his signature chicken potato chowder and the chicken roulade he took to competition, Miller has made leagues of progress since his arrival at the CAA. According to Miller, he walked in knowing next to nothing about some of the more vital aspects of cooking and has worked hard to improve. “I had no knife skills,” Miller said. “When I came here, I had no clue about sanitation; no clue about proper procedure on how to run a restaurant [or] on how to run the back of house. Now I’d say I know sanitation very well. Competition has helped me make my knife skills perfect. That’s how they want them. I’d say my skills have gone from zero to, I wouldn’t go anywhere near 100, but it’s up there, they’ve improved a lot.” Thanks to the recognition he has received, Miller now has three scholarships awaiting him: Johnson and Wales University, Miami University and The Culinary Institute of America. He hasn’t decided where he would like to go yet, but he is excited about his future. “Within the industry, there’s so many different things you can do,” Miller said. “You can be a chef, or you can go manage a restaurant or you can run an entire hotel. I would definitely like to open my own restaurant at one
+PHOTO BY NICK STYERS
point. I also have an extreme love for coffee and I don’t know why. I’d like to open up a coffee shop at some point.” In just a few minutes, he’ll get to go home, well, if the sink isn’t clogged with dishes, that is. Though, we’ll say that for now, it’s not. Miller now recognized as one of the best high school chefs in America, is still astonishingly humble. “One thing I’ve always been told since I was a kid was that there’s always somebody better than you,” Miller said. ”And I still firmly believe that. But if I can keep pushing myself and pushing the boundaries, I think that I could be the best.”
“It was just total rush
of . That was the moment my changed.” – Reis Miller
senior
1. Senior Reis Miller places a baked pizza on the cooling rack at the Broadmoor Bistro Sept. 9. Generally, Miller runs the Expo station, which is in between the kitchen and dining room. “My job is to make sure that food goes to the right table, that everything on the plate is correct, and to put the final garnish on whatever dish needs it,” Miller said. 2. At his station Reis Miller poses in the Broadmoor Bistro’s kitchen Sep. 9. Miller has won multiple national cooking awards in first place winner of the Culinary Arts competition. “When I didn’t hear my name during the awards ceremony, I was a little worried that I didn’t place at all” said Miller. “But when the said my name for first place I was surprised, but happy to have won.”
1.
+PHOTOS BY NICK STYERS
2.
smnw.com
Not just Kicking and Punching Female student challenges stereotypes by earning a black belt in a traditionally male dominated sport STORY BY YERETZY BLANCO + DESIGN BY RYLEE GARRETT
Freshman Delia Twaddell starts her morning a little differently than most students, “I set my alarm at 4 a.m., wake up and get a big drink of water, workout ‘til around 5:30 a.m. Shower, come to school and do my day here.” She trains every day except for Sundays. Sometimes she stays after school to get help with work “I train at the dojo [Amerikick Martial Arts on Metcalf] at around 4:30 p.m., work there, close down at 9 p.m. and then come home [to do some more studying and go to sleep.” Twaddell has dedicated four years to e working with Becca Ross, highly regarded y martial arts competitor and instructor. Ross e has helped Twaddell not only with earning her black belt but with managing her time between training and her other activities, Twaddell often has to give up time with friends and doing after school activities. “I’ve lost a lot of friends because we I weren’t able to stay connected, [earning my black belt] took a lot of training and [I had to give] up a lot to train for that, but it feels really good to have it now. So I think it was worth it.” There are multiple forms of karate Twaddell competes in, traditional, traditional weapons, and fighting. Her favorite being traditional, which focuses on the roots of karate and is a more technique and performance based style. She’s excelled in the traditional style because it is more focused on performance, rather than sparring against someone. “You definitely get into a headspace, you kinda block everything out, It’s just you and the mat and you kinda just get into the zone. You have to learn how to do that especially when you’re getting into the performance aspect of it” As a black belt, Twaddell carries new responsibilities at her dojo, “I have the responsibility to help run the dojo and facility so it’s really cool. Seeing it all work, all the background stuff, what I didn’t realize [went on]” One of her biggest responsibilities at the dojo is teaching the younger kids, and she focuses particularly on the younger girls just starting out in the sport. “[Karate] is definitely a male dominated sport, which is really good. That’s why I want to encourage younger girls to join and take the first steps into it. I really like seeing when girls
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profile | 07
start training [at Amerikick] because girls can do [karate] too. Most of the time [girls] are very detail oriented so in traditional forms we actually perform a lot better than guys do, technique wise, some of us lack intensity but like people who do have that technique and intensity down for their performance level of the forms they usually do really good [in competition] because most of the time judges really like to see girls going into the sport.” Karate is not an easy sport, Twaddell has sustained multiple concussions yet she keeps training, “I’ve had four concussions. The recovery process has been difficult because [when i get a concussion] I couldn’t train for around a month, and that kinda pushed me back a lot especially in fighting. So I have to be really careful now because everytime I get more prone to concussions” Looking forward Twaddell wants to continue teaching and competing, “My next goal would definitely be to get on the Olympic team or at least have the privilege of trying out for that. I want to teach others and encourage them, I want to teach [others] life lessons, because I get a lot out of it. It’s not just kicking and punching.” “[Karate is] honestly a life journey, cause you’re learning a lot of things and it’s not like a sport where once you learn a certain set of skills, your done. With martial arts you can do it for a lifetime, you’re always learning more and improving.”
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Q&A
Sep. 26, 2019
with freshman
1.
What is the hardest thing about being a freshman? “Knowing your way around school.”
2.
What would you do if you won $1,000? “I’d spend it on my mom and grandma, I really want to help them out.”
3.
Who is your biggest role model? “My dad. He passed away when I was 10. He served in the Army.”
4.
Do you play any sports? “Football. [I play] right end.”
5.
Where do you see yourself in the future? “[I want to be] a Marine Biologist. I love the sea.”
Mark Bushong
STORY BY ANNA MCNISH + DESIGN BY ALDEN NORBERG
6.
What is your favorite thing about high school? “Lunch [because] you get to hang with friends and eat.”
7.
What college do you want to
go to? “I don’t know yet, but I want to get out of Kansas because I don’t like tornadoes.”
8.
What is your favorite store? “Target is my favorite because it has everything.”
9.
What are you most proud of yourself for? “My hair, like why not?”
10.
What is something you wish to accomplish before senior year? “I want to get all A’s.”
smnw.com
In our Blood Senior William Crafton
What’s it like having your younger sibling in the same school as you? “It’s interesting. He’s pretty much a polar opposite of me, so he does, basically, everything I wouldn’t do. But it’s interesting to see what he does and how he does it.” The most annoying thing about your sibling? “He’s just super outgoing and looks good doing everything. He used to always try to embarrass me in stores and things like that.” What do you like most about your sibling? “He does care about football, which is nice. So we can relate to that. Yeah. And that’s one thing I care about. Do you and your sibling get along? “Yeah, we used to fight a lot, but he’s chilled out a lot. We’re pretty much cool now.”
Senior Riley Brocker What’s it like having your younger sibling in the same school as you? “It’s really weird because we went to Catholic school, so I’ve been to school with him. He was in kindergarten through eighth grade with me. But I never saw him then and I never see him now. I think it’s different now because he used to be such a different kid. He wasn’t so outgoing and he was always the shy one. It’s just really nice to see him getting out there.” What is the morning commute like? “We don’t talk in the car and it’s usually because I have a TikTok playlist that I play. He hates it with a passion, and the reason why I play it is because he gets so angry. He sits there, and he’s just rolling his eyes. I try to talk to him and he says ‘I’m not awake yet.’ Then, I kick him out at a certain time every morning so that I can just have free time to myself. The most annoying thing about your sibling? “ He tries to be annoying to me on purpose. He comes into my room all the time, opens my door and leaves it open. I can’t stand it when people leave doors open. It’s honestly one of the worst things. I definitely wanted to kill him before because of that.”out at a certain time every morning so that I can just have free time to myself.
feature | 09
Freshman-senior siblings share their experiences, frustrations and favorite disagreements STORY BY EMILY ALEXANDER & ALEX BARFIELD + DESIGN BY ERIN ALBERS
Freshman Peter Crafton Will you miss your sibling when he graduates? “I don’t know, maybe. I might realize that I miss him after he leaves. I’ll probably make his room like a bro cave or something.” What’s it like having your older sibling in the same school as you? “I don’t really see him that often. I’ve asked him a few questions about football and stuff and then maybe a few questions about like a class. That’s pretty much all.” What is the most annoying thing about your sibling? “He gets mad about the things that I do to my sister sometimes when it’s not that big of a deal. I killed a bug one time and my sister started crying and he got mad.”
What are hallway interactions with your sibling like? “I usually just ignore him. I act like he’s not there.”
Freshman August Brocker What’s it like having your older sibling in the same school as you? “She’s advised me on how to get my grades up, keep my grades up and how to organize stuff. I think, if I went into this school alone, I’d probably lose my mind. It’s been an unbelievable help to have somebody older and more experienced than me.” Do you and your sibling get along? “There are some things we don’t agree on, but I mean, it’s a lot better than we used to be. It used to just be constant fighting. She’s a lot of help when it comes to high school. She’s always got my back, No matter what.”
Will you miss your sibling when she graduates? “Yeah. It’s weird, because her freshman and sophomore year, she was never home. It was kind of almost preparing me for her leaving. I definitely feel like it’s going to be a different environment around the house.” What are hallway interactions with your sibling like? “If I see her, go up to her, see if she notices me, she usually doesn’t, so I’ll get up like uncomfortably close to her. just stare at until she notices If she doesn’t, which has happened a couple of times I just start to poke her.”
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Sept 26, 2019
Erin Barrett, Agent 913-648-1100 Here to help life go right.
TM
BILL SHIPPEE Voice: 816.809.7993 Email: bill@sccink.com
12211 West 63rd Street ■ Shawnee, Kansas 66216 Work: 913.268.4343 ■ Fax: 913.268.1071
www.sccink.com
PRINTING, COPIES, SIGNS AND BANNERS...
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)
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Doomsday or Fraud? It’s the widely debated question to which we still don’t know the answer
feature | 12
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ew information about the progression of global warming is confusing and contradictory. Even scientists can’t agree on what’s causing the issue, how to fix it, or whether an issue actually exists. So what’s the right answer? How can change be made when every solution is debated and highly politicized? In October 2018, The Guardian online magazine covered the UN’s claim that 12 years remain before it’s “too late” to reverse climate change. In one article, The Guardian warned readers that if the Earth’s temperature went up only a little, significant changes would occur on the planet. “The world’s leading climate scientists have warned there are only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum [increase] of 1.5 degrees C, beyond which, even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people,” the article said. “The halfdegree difference could also prevent corals from being completely eradicated and ease pressure on the Arctic.” But not everyone agrees. Former NASA scientist Leslie Woodcock does not think climate change is manmade. “The theory of ‘man-made climate change’ is an unsubstantiated hypothesis [about] our climate [which says it] has been adversely affected by the burning of fossil fuels in the last 100 years,” Woodcock said. “Even the term ‘global warming’ does not mean anything unless you give it a time scale. The temperature of the earth has been going up and down for millions of years, if there are extremes, it’s nothing to do with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it’s not permanent and it’s not caused by us.” In class, teachers Mike Pisani and Stacy Robins discuss environmental issues. “We talk about how humans are kind of like parasites of the Earth, because of all we take and take and take,” Robins said. “What are we giving back?” Robins teaches students about broader topics. “Our curriculum doesn’t say we will talk about climate change,” Robins said. “We talk more about how humans are influencing the Earth. It’s important to talk about in class.” With the recent debate over climate, Pisani and Robins think the topic is too politically charged and work to keep their opinions about climate change out of the lessons.
“Ten years ago, I could have told you how I have felt [about climate change],” Robins said. “In the political climate we have now, I just can’t.” “When we talk about extinction… we still steer clear of the topic of global warming,” Pisani said. Sophomore Katrina Grey is passionate about the issue of climate change. “Climate change is probably one of the most important issues in our world today, given how fast it’s moving and how little time we have left to change the impact of it,” Grey said. Many who deny the existence of climate change see the recent rise in global temperatures as cyclical. Despite our search for a student with this view, The Northwest Passage staff could find no one who would agree to be quoted. Environmentalist Paul Hawken takes a third approach to the topic. Hawken edited the New York Times bestseller Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, about practical yet impactful ways to reverse climate change. “I see it as a gift, not a curse,” Hawken said in an interview with National Geographic. “Climate change is feedback, and any system that doesn’t incorporate that feedback is stupid and fails and dies. This is not a path to retrogression or a future that we won’t like. It’s actually [a path] to a much better future: cleaner, healthier, with more jobs,
Sept. 26, 2019 more security and more life on the planet.” In the book, Hawken highlights the education of women as a key to reversing global warming. He says that if young women are given the opportunity of higher education in countries where education is sparse, the result will be fewer offspring. Hawken also views architecture as an opportunity for our planet. Roofs designed with plants provide a source of cooling, reducing the amount of energy used. “Cool roofs are roofs that either reflect the heat back, in the sense of white roofs, or green roofs that have foliage and perennial plants,” Hawken said. “White roofs are particularly suitable for tropical areas or areas where there’s high radiation… Green roofs can be installed anywhere, whether in tropical or temperate climates.” While there is an opportunity to be more green, price controls everything, according to Pisani and Robins.
“The technology is there, but right now,
the technology is more expensive than what we’ve always done,” Robins said. “And since everything is cheap, it’s not a priority.” This idea of cost mattering the most could either help or hurt the cause. “I think little things help, absolutely,” Pisani said. “In San Francisco, they charge some astronomical price per plastic bag.” Since cost is a monumental factor in environmental issues, the differences humans can make are limited. An example of this is the pollution of oceans with plastic. Biodegradable alternatives to plastic products such as bags and straws are far more expensive and difficult to produce for widespread use. According to Craig Criddle, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, we need to turn to nature in order to find a new solution to our plastic problems. “We need new materials that can do the same jobs as current plastics, but are biodegradable, nontoxic and do not concentrate in food chains,” Criddle said in an interview with Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment. “As it turns out, many microorganisms make moldable bioplastic polymers that are fully degradable.” Are we making a difference by eliminating the use of plastic straws? According to Jim Leape, co-director of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, it can have significantly positive effects if done correctly.
Glo Warm Doomsday
It’s the widely d to which we still don
STORY BY RORY DUNGAN & STELLA
“The risk is that banning straws may confer ‘moral license’ – allowing companies and their customers to feel they have done their part,” Leape said in the same article from Stanford University. “The crucial challenge is to ensure that these bans are just a first step, offering a natural place to start… so long as it’s part of a much more fundamental shift away from single-use plastics across the value chains of these companies and our economy.” *Some information tak
smnw.com
feature | 13 + SIDEBARS BY ANNALISSA HOUSER
5.6 PERCENT of the students at NW do not believe in climate change Plastic takes 400 years to degrade 89.3 percent of the students at NW believe in climate change
obal ming: y or Fraud?
debated question n’t know the answer
GRIST + DESIGN BY RYLEE GARRETT
ken from theguardian.com, nationalgeographic.com, earth.stanford.edu and inquisitr.com
Sea levels have risen
3.3 millimeters per year
91 PERCENT of plastic isn’t recycled 8 MILLION tons of plastic ends up in the ocean every year 79 PERCENT of recyclable goods end up in landfills Global temperatures are up 1.9 Degrees since 1880
*All according to Nationalgeographic.com https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/07/plastic-producedrecycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/
“ ” “ ” “ ”
I think climate change has been happening since the Earth was created. Although it is an issue, I think that eventually the tides will turn again and we will be worried about an ice age.
Earth’s climate is changing faster than at any point in the history of civilization as a result of human activities. Climate change has already resulted in a wide range of impacts across every region of the country. Temperatures are rising and even decreasing dramatically everywhere.
It just seems likely that with all the industrialization in the modern world, we’ve affected our planet’s atmosphere. I certainly doubt that it’s been a positive change.
Quotes are from anonymous students from a Google form sent out by the Northwest Passage
sports | 14
Sept. 26, 2019 + PHOTO BY SLOAN MUNSON
One Hill of a Sport Senior Amy Kowalczewski was voted Cross Country MVP in a Twitter poll STORY BY MIKE OWENS + DESIGN BY RYLEE GARRETT Senior Amy Kowalcewski laces up her running shoes and gets ready to run the first cross country competition of her final year of high school. Kowalcewski has set goals for her senior year and hopes to use her performances from last season to help achieve them. “I would like to run at state again either as a team and for myself because I’ve run at state the last three years,” Kowalcewski said. Kowalcewski keeps a running log to monitor her progress and runs between 32 and 35 miles a week. She practices roughly three hours a day, usually from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Although she is not allowed to listen to music during practice, she likes to listen to music that hypes her up before races. She is superstitious, so she always eats a piece of toast three hours before each race. She thinks if she eats anything else, it will affect her race. She only wears Brooks running shoes and her favorite are the Brooks Adrenaline shoes. “Our whole girls’ team only wear Brooks [running shoes] now,” Kowalcewski said. “It is definitely our favorite brand.” “It is hard to stay motivated to run sometimes,” Kowalcewski said. “It gets kind of uncomfortable, but I just want to get better every season. Getting a new [personal record] always feels really good. Feeling confident at the end of the race is one of the best feelings ever.” Kowalczewski enjoys the team atmosphere of the cross country team. “If you’re training or racing, you always have your team with you, even though it is an individual sport,” Kowalcewski said. “I just love the feeling when you’re done racing. It’s like a huge weight off your shoulders.”
Senior Amy Kowalczewski stands on the track Sept. 20 at Northwest. Kowalczewsk has a personal record of 19:58. “The last race was one of the most competitive races of the season, I ran a 21:27,” Kowalczewski said.
Kowalczewski likes being able to push herself and see results from that. “Being able to push my team and [seeing] my team push me makes all of us better,” Kowalcewski said. Kowalceswski predicts that her team will do pretty well this year. “The girls have definitely worked very hard. I am excited to see where that will take us this year,” Kowalceswski said. “I am just hoping that no injuries get in the way.” During her high school career, Kowalcewski has most enjoyed competing against the SMN team. “They are always about the same competition level as we are,” Kowalceswski said. “They’re pretty good and so are we. It is fun to have little rivalries with them,” Kowalcewski started running in the third grade participating with the Girls On the Run program. She enjoyed it more than soccer and other sports that she was participating in. “In middle school, I decided to continue running and I was decent at it, so I decided to continue it in high school as well,” Kowalcewski said. Kowalcewski enjoys hanging out with her friends in her free time and participates in team bonding activities with other cross country runners. Although Kowalcewski will hang up her competitive shoes after this year, Kowalcewski plans to continue running for a club team next year in college.
Tying her shoes, senior Amy Kowalczewski sits on the track Sept. 13. Kowalczewski has qualified for state three times and continues to work to make this year her fourth.
+ PHOTO BY PAIGE MORGAN
smnw.com
sports| 15
Girls on the Green
The girls’ golf team is making the best of what they have
Sophomore Sloan Munson tees up Sept. 10 at Tomahawk Hills Golf Course. Munson hit the ball using a seven iron during practice. “You hear about the serious moments because that’s what everyone thinks about in sports,” Munson said. “But for golf we try to make it as fun as possible.” +PHOTO BY CLAIRE MOORE STORY BY BIANCA SMITH AND RORY DUNGAN + DESIGN BY KASI MANIKTALA
T
he girls’ golf team is struggling with numbers after five seniors graduated in the spring. The team only has one returning varsity player, junior Julie Johnson. Because of limited experience, the girls have undergone major changes with tournaments, which are their main source of competition during the season. Head coach Jim Bamburg is playing it safe by entering the other four players in JV tournaments. “It’s been tough to decide if we’re going to be a full varsity team, or just a JV team,” Bamburg said. “We have made some adjustments to our schedule, and we’re hoping that by October we have some other girls that are ready to play with Julie on these bigger tournaments.” Due to bad weather conditions, the team has only participated in one tournament, although their season
is approaching a month in length. The girls were planned to host a tournament at Lake Quivira on Aug. 26, which was rained out; however, Johnson went on to compete against Shawnee Mission East at Milburn Golf Course the next week. Since the tournament was 18 holes and tougher than some other courses, Johnson was the only player from Northwest. “We’re trying to get the other girls a few more practices in first before they get into something like that,” Bamburg said. “I don’t want to put a girl in a situation that they’re not ready for. If they’re not ready, I don’t want to destroy their confidence.” The all-time low numbers on the team are frustrating for sophomore Sloan Munson, who thinks girls simply don’t give the sport a chance. “I wish that there could be more girls playing golf instead of just
having girls pushing it off to the side to play other sports,” Munson said. For Johnson, however, the size of the team is bittersweet. “I’m a little sad that we don’t have a lot of people on our team,” Johnson. “But I’m pretty optimistic playing as an individual. It’s good being a small team because we’re all really close.” Looking forward, though, the girls must make the most of what they have. Bamburg is hopeful about the future of the rookie players. “By the end of the year, it would be nice to have all five of them going to regionals and being able to play at the varsity level,” Bamburg said. The team’s next tournament is today at 3 p.m. at Tiffany Springs Golf Course. It is hosted by Park Hill High School.
Juniors Erin Albers, Julie Johnson and Sloan Munson walk with their equipment Sept. 10 at Tomahawk Hills Golf Course. The team practices at three different courses throughout the week. “It’s good to practice on different courses because it helps you build skills.” Albers said. +PHOTO BY CLAIRE MOORE
event | 16
Sep. 26, 2019
AND
LOUD PROUD
Senior Marley Spring-Clark wins the top award at summer cheer camp
STORY BY RUTH DEMEKE + DESIGN BY ETHAN SCHREIBER
“And our top All-American from Shawnee Mission Northwest varsity... Marley Spring-Clark!” The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) camp is a four-day event where cheerleaders grow as individuals and as a team by learning new chants, cheers, dances and stunts. Cheerleaders prepare for camp by learning a routine to perform on the first day. With one practice a week and three practices the week before camp, it takes two months to learn that routine. According to varsity cheerleader Riley Brokeshoulder, the dance and cheer allow the team to show the other teams at the camp what they can do. Chambers choreographs the routines as well as plans the outfits. “I watch [videos of] nationals and other cheer events to get ideas and then I see what potential my girls have,” Chambers said. “We start by doing stunts and [ideas for what we can do] sometimes come to my mind.” But Spring’s award wasn’t the only one the team won. The red, white and blue Spirit Stick is awarded every day of camp to each squad demonstrating outstanding spirit. The varsity squad received the stick each day. The varsity squad was one of two teams to win the Herkie team award. The winner is selected by a vote of those attending for having the most team spirit, and for being
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN HENTON
the team others would like to be on. The plaque sits in Chambers’ room by her desk. All-American nominations are also given during the camp to individuals recognized by the NCA staff. Nominees are given ribbons they can wear in their hair for the rest of the camp. “If you are nominated for All-American, it means you exhibit excellence in one of the categories: stunt, motions, dance, leadership and jumps,” Brokeshoulder said. After being nominated, cheerleaders have the opportunity to try out for the All-American team. Of those nominated, freshman Erin Moody and seniors Chloe Huegerich and Lauren Moore were picked for the team. The top All-American award is given each year to the cheerleader who has shown exceptional qualities in every category. The winner is eligible to try out for the following year’s NCA staff. Senior Marley Spring was given the Top AllAmerican award at this year’s NCA camp. “At that moment when they called my name, I was just like ‘Oh my god, I got it, guys!’” Spring said. “I was so excited. I was happy to be with my team.” Head coach Renee Chambers thinks the award was well-deserved for Spring, who is dedicated to improving as a cheerleader. “She always tries to get better, pushing herself to learn new skills and do her best at those,” Chambers said.
Photos Courtesy of SMNW Cheerleading
smnw.com
feature | 17
Sports Highlights STORY & DESIGN BY ERIN ALBERS
Season UpdateS
“This season for volleyball has been really great. It’s a new experience, being with older girls at a different level of play. It’s very interesting, and broadens my world of volleyball.” - sophomore Elinor Engel
Schedule GOLF | JV/VARSITY TOURNAMENT
SEPT. 26
VOLLEYBALL | VARSITY MATCH
SEPT. 26
FOOTBALL | VARSITY GAME
SEPT. 27
VOLLEYBALL | VARSITY TOURN
SEPT. 28
SOCCER | VARSITY GAME
SEPT. 28
TENNIS | JV MATCH
SEPT. 30
GYMNASTICS | VARSITY DISTRICTS
OCT. 1
GOLF | JV/VARSITY TOURNAMENT
OCT. 2
@TIFFANY GREENS
@NOTRE DAME DE SION
@SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH
“We have almost 50 girls on the team, which is way more than we’ve had in previous years. Our varsity team is really strong, and we have a lot of really great girls. Other than that, the sense of community and overall friendliness on the team is so amazing, and I know that if I’m not playing my best, my teammates are there to pick me up. That alone helps me play better, and everyone really feels the love.” - senior Kelsey Volk “I think this year should be a good fight against East. They lost their starting quarterback to Michigan, and I think Ty Black and Ty Lindenman are going to destroy the competition.” - junior Garrett Goetz 1. Senior Eli Gunter kicks the ball away from an SM North player Sept. 19 at SM North District Stadium. The game was almost ended as a tie but went into overtime. 2. Senior Ty Lindenman runs the ball while reading the blocks Sept. 6 at SM North District Stadium. Lindenman’s positions are receiver, kick off returner and punter. “My favorite position is being a receiver,” Lindenman said. “I like to read the defense on a set play rather than having eleven guys trying to tackle me on a kick off.”
@TONGANOXIE
@MILL VALLEY
@OLATHE WEST
@SHAWNEE MISSION WEST
@EAGLE BEND
1.
+ PHOTO BY SKYLAR BROGAN
2.
+ PHOTO BY ABBY RYAN
feature | 18
LUNCH? Sep. 26, 2019
WANNA GO TO
STORY BY MICHAEL OWENS + DESIGN BY ETHAN SCHREIBER
Associate Principal Eddie LyDay was recognized for directing record-setting summer meal program
PHOTOS BY ABBY RYAN
In its inaugural year at Northwest, the Summer Meal Program served more meals than any other SMSD site. Under the direction of Associate Principal Eddie LyDay, 6,000 meals were served to children and teens between the ages of one and 18. Lyday received recognition for providing the most meals in the district at his site through The Summer Lunch Program. “I just really enjoy helping kids and showing them opportunities and how to seize them,” LyDay said. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is federallyfunded and stateadministered. SFSP reimburses program operators who serve free healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas. Eligibility for the program requires that the sponsoring school has one incomebased Title I school in their feeder pattern. Since summer school was being held at Northwest this summer, it was a viable location choice. The Second Chance Breakfast program in the Turner School District inspired Lyday to consider expanding the concept even more. With Northwest hosting summer school, he wanted to
figure out a way to bring this program to Northwest for the summer. He worked closely with Nancy Coughenour, SMSD Food Services Director, to put the program in place. “Let’s make this happen this summer,” he told Coughenour. LyDay incorporated the Summer Meal Program into the summer school schedule, allowing a break for the students to eat. He sent half of them to lunch and 10 minutes later, he sent the other half. He also invited the daycare from Benninghoven to eat at Northwest, using signage to let everyone in the neighborhood know about the program.
“When you come back tomorrow, just bring the other kids in your neighborhood,” LyDay told the students. Lyday said the momentum of the program picked up significantly through word of mouth. The reported number of lunches being served
were so high that the state actually came out to verify the numbers. “They came out to check us out to make sure that we weren’t inflating the numbers being reported,” LyDay said. Lyday constantly recruited children to take advantage of the program. “Parents are working during the summer,” LyDay said. “I convinced the kids to come in and eat lunch instead of messing around. It is a financial matter and I would also talk to the older kids about saving their money for things, like tires, and eating for free at school.” But LyDay gives credit to the staff for the success of the program. “The food service workers were the ones that made this thing really go,” LyDay said. “We didn’t have our regular staff, but we had other people throughout the district assigned to our building. When the lines got slow and long, I stepped in to make sure every kid could get that meal in a timely fashion.” The program served 200 meals the first day, and then close to 300 each day after. “A lot of credit goes to them for everything they did every day to make it work,” LyDay said.
smnw.com
feature | 19
THE CREDIT CHOICE STORY + DESIGN BY ETHAN SCHREIBER
After enrolling in an AP class, students are given a choice to either take the AP Exam for a chance to get college credit or to enroll in College Now, guaranteeing them JCCC credit A. Taking the AP Test Predating Northwest, the AP (Advanced Placement) program has been offering college credit to students across the US through rigorous testing for almost 60 years. The AP exams test students on the entire curriculum covered in their corresponding course. AP courses are offered for every grade level. Students who choose AP classes are not required to take the test, although the curriculum has often been structured around the contents of the test. After taking the exam in the final weeks of school, the tests are sent in to the College Board to be graded. The students are scored on a scale from one to five, with most U.S. schools accepting scores of three and above for college credit hours. Many students elect to take the AP Test as opposed to College Now. AP test scores are accepted at more schools, while College Now credits from Johnson County Community College (JCCC) may not be accepted outside the Midwest or in more exclusive schools. For the first time in seven years, the registration deadline for the AP Test was moved to Nov. 1. Students can still register until Nov. 15, although a late fee of $40 will be added to the $94 registration cost if students register after the initial deadline.
B. College Now Outside many classrooms is a sign that designates them “College Now” classrooms. Students in these classrooms are taking AP courses, but are given the choice to enroll in JCCC or Baker University and have the score earned in the high school class put onto their college transcripts in the corresponding college-level course. Students opting for the College Now option follow the same curriculum as those who take the AP exam. The syllabi are written to satisfy College Board and JCCC or Baker University qualifications. Many College Now classes require students to either have an adequate ACT score in the subject or to take the “Accuplacer” test, an exam that evaluates a student’s current level of understanding on a subject. College credit is based on the grade received in the NW classroom. Aside from a separate final in some classes, no exam is required for College Now. The deadline for the fall College Now application has passed, however the application deadline for second semester is still open. Those who plan to apply must be accepted to the appropriate college prior to submitting the College Now application.
C. How to Choose “It’s complicated,” AP Language and Composition teacher Brett Mach said. “[The right] choice will depend on a lot of different variables. Each student’s path is unique.” AP teachers do not advocate one option or the other, but encourage students to focus on getting college credit. “It’s just so hard,” AP US History teacher Rebecca Anthony said. “Some students do incredibly well on AP exams. So, of course, you choose that. It’s way cheaper and having AP exams on your record and your transcript can make you stand out a little bit more.” Although College Now provides guaranteed credit and doesn’t base credit on one test, cost and school choices complicate the decision for many students. “If you’re headed to a more selective school, I would typically nudge a student toward taking the AP exam,” Anthony said. “But for a student who knows they’re going to KU and is stressed out by the whole idea of a cumulative test, College Now is a great option.” Students must reflect on their own educational style to determine whether they will be able to
maintain their grades throughout the year, as their semester grade appears on their transcript if they choose College Now. They also must determine whether they will have time and motivation to study for a large exam at the end of the year if they choose the AP Test. “Overall, I think [the AP Test] is harder,” AP Calculus teacher Jessica Barger said. “You’re putting all your eggs in one basket and hoping for credit based on the outcome of a three-hour test. In College Now, you’re literally enrolled in the college class and 80 percent of your grade is based on what you do in the classroom, how you do on the classroom tests, etc. The only thing from the college is the final.” AP teachers agree that the choice is very individual to each student, but the ability to get college credit at Northwest is beneficial to students, regardless of the option they choose. “The bottom line is money,” Anthony said. “College is expensive. For a three-hour U.S. history class at KU, you’re going to pay over $1,000 just to sit in a class similar to what you’re sitting in right here. If you can get college credit for what you’re doing in high school anyway, I mean, why not?”
Questions to ask yourself before making the choice 1. Are you able to afford the cost of College Now (~$400)?
A. Yes
B. No
2. If you know where you want to go
to school, is it a midwestern school or is it a coastal school?
A. Midwest C. No Idea
B. Coastal
3. Are you planning on attending a
state school or a more competetive school?
A. State
B. Competetive
C. No
4. Does the idea of big tests make you nervous?
A. Yes
B. No
5. Do you typically procrastinate studying for exams
A. Yes
B. No
1.
A
B
C
D
E
2.
A
B
C
D
E
3.
A
B
C
D
E
4.
A
B
C
D
E
5.
A
B
C
D
E
Answer Key: Mostly A’s: You might consider College Now as an option Mostly B/C’s: Taking the AP tests may be a good option for you Ultimately: The decision is up to you, you should choose whatever you feel the most comfortable with
feature| 20
Upcoming Events September 26-28: Clue: On Stage!
Clue: On Stage!
This is the kickoff of the 2019-2020 performing arts season. Based on the movie and board game, the play contains all the same well-known characters. Follow them through this murder mystery adventure in the Greg Parker Auditorium. Admission is free with student ID. Performances are at 7 p.m., today through Saturday.
September 27: Cappuccino Day
Sep. 26 ,2019
October 6:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) This comedy will be performed by the Repertory Theatre Class at Black Hoof Park, 9053 Monticello Rd in Lenexa. Sponsored by the Lenexa Arts Council, this production will be a first for the Thespians in a non-school setting. It will feature a three-part adventure through the park itself and will include parts from all of Shakespeare’s 37 works.
October 7:
SMSD Marching Band Festival Each of the five SMSD marching bands will perform its halftime show at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium in Overland Park. The first band will step off at 7 p.m.
CCC will sell drinks and cookies for $1 each during 1st through 4th hours tomorrow in the mall. Proceeds will go to a NW student’s family.
October 3:
Orchestra Concert The first concert of the year as well as the debut performance of the orchestra’s new director Brittany Wasko will take the stage at 7 p.m. in the Greg Parker Auditorium.
October 4:
Homecoming Assembly/Parade Homecoming court candidates will walk at next Friday’s Homecoming assembly, where all grades will fight for the spirit stick. Many clubs will have themed floats at the parade, along with court members. Both events will take place during the school day.
October 4:
Homecoming Football Game The game will take place at North stadium against Lawrence High School at 7 p.m. The Homecoming Queen and runner ups will be announced right after the game.
October 5:
Homecoming Dance Sponsored by Student Council, Homecoming is the year’s kickoff dance. Tickets will be sold at all three lunches; prices are $15 for one and $28 for two. The dance begins at 8 p.m. next Saturday in the cafeteria.
October 10:
Band & Jazz Concert The jazz and marching bands, directed by Doug Talley and Penny Snead, will perform at 7 p.m. in the Greg Parker Auditorium.
October 15: Choir Concert
The first choir concert of the year will take place at 7 p.m. in the Greg Parker Auditorium. Each of the five NW choirs — Women’s Choir, Men’s Choir, Women’s Select Choir, A Capella Choir and Chambers Choir — will perform at this event.
October 16:
National Test Day From 7:40 to 11:40 a.m., all underclassmen will be taking standardized tests while seniors have an opportunity to participate in College and Career advising time. From 11:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., students will be participating in a variety of activities in their fifth and sixth hours.
October 17-18:
Stories of Mad People Doing Bad Things The NW Lab Play will be performed in the Little Theatre at 7 p.m. This show has been written, directed, managed and produced by students.
smnw.com
feature| 21
A Thespian Thriller
The theater department gears up to perform the fall play this week STORY BY ELLA KUFFOUR + DESIGN BY ERIN ALBERS
week of school to maximize rehearsal time. As soon as the cast and crew were determined, they immediately went to work. “There are some really funny moments in the show,” junior Jacob Parker said. “At one point, my character gets smothered by [senior] Natalie Hole’s character. Since I’m not wearing a mic in that scene, sometimes I’ll whisper to her and ask her how her day is going while she’s pretending to be dead on top of me.” While the show has been in rehearsal for six weeks, the theatre department has faced one major obstacle — they’ve struggled to obtain the rights to put on a production of Clue: On Stage. High schools can obtain rights to a production by submitting an application through a number of organizations including Playscripts, Inc., and Broadway Licensing. From there, a regional sales representative reviews and approves the application and sends production resources such as scripts, sound effects and marketing materials to the school. Without the rights to a play or musical, a school can face lawsuits or fines from the writers and copyright owners of the show. “We were all really worried that we wouldn’t get the rights,” Parker said. “There was a group of us who decided that if we didn’t have the rights, we wouldn’t go on stage. There’s a lot of legal trouble with that and we didn’t want to be involved in something illegal. But, luckily, we have the rights now, so we’ll be able to
perform.” Director Jason Coats said that he applied for the rights to the play in March or April and had received clearance, but was unable to pay for the rights until August (in the new fiscal year). When he called to make the payment, the licensing company indicated that circumstances had changed because a professional production company was considering a national tour of Clue: On Stage that would include Kansas City. The production company wanted to lock up the rights to the play in each city where it would be performed. That production has yet to be cast or put into production. “There was all sorts of back and forth and finally they said ‘Okay. Now we can honor your contract,’” Coats said. Despite concerns over the rights, the Thespians have been working hard to make the show an entertaining and worthwhile experience. “Rehearsals have been kind of hectic,” Newell said. “It’s a big show to get together in a month, so that just means extra focus at rehearsals. We’ve even had rehearsals outside of school just to make sure we’re ready.” The cast of Clue: On Stage will take the stage at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday in the Greg Parker Auditorium.
WADSWORTH: Jayce Lamb
MS. WHITE: Alice Newell
MOTORIST: Jayley Smith
YVETTE: Olivia Williamson
MISS SCARLETT: Anika Paulette
COP: Francis Cooper
THE COOK: Natalie Hole
PROF. PLUM: Zach Dulny
SINGING TELEGRAM: Tajanai Adams
BODDY: Ally Banks
COL. MUSTARD: Josh Holloway
FBI AGENTS: Lillian Bowen and Olivia Tolleson
MRS. PEACOCK: Claire Anderson
MR. GREEN: Jacob Parker
A candlestick. A wrench. A dagger. Do any of these objects sound familiar? To the average high schooler, they may just be regular household objects. But each one will make an appearance on stage in the Greg Parker Auditorium Sept. 26, 27 and 28 in the fall play, Clue: On Stage. Based on the classic board game and adapted from the Paramount Pictures film, Clue: On Stage follows six dinner guests invited to a mysterious dinner party at Boddy Manor. Each guest is being blackmailed by an anonymous culprit. When Mr. Boddy invites them to his party, he reveals that he is the blackmailer and offers guests an ultimatum: pay him double his current rate for blackmail or have the evidence of each of their wrongdoings exposed. The only way out of this dilemma is to kill Boddy’s butler, Wadsworth, who Boddy claims is the only other person with knowledge of the guests’ secrets. When Boddy winds up dead instead, the eclectic crew of house guests races to uncover the murderer and avoid suffering a fate similar to their host. “I play Ms. White,” senior Alice Newell said. “She’s a black widow — well, an accused black widow. Ms. White’s had five husbands, and all of them died under ‘mysterious circumstances.’ She’s dark, morbid and sarcastic and that’s what I love about her. Ever since I was a little kid watching the ‘Clue’ movie for the first time, I’ve dreamed of playing her. And now I get to.” Auditions for Clue: On Stage were held within the first
Cast List
Sep. 26, 2019
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MONTH IN
photos +DESIGN BY RYLEE GARRETT
1. Holding up Coach Renee Chambers’ daughter , seniors Brianna Ibarra, Annalissa Houser and Emma Bowman lift two year-old Kolbi Chambers in the air Sept. 20 at SM North District Stadium. Chambers’ youngest two children can often be seen running around with the cheerleaders at home games. “[Chamers’ children] always brighten games, even when they’re running under stunts and Chambers’ has to come and save them,” Houser said. +PHOTO BY ERIN HENTON 2. Performing in their class skit, sophomores Olivia Pixton and Olivia Seston hold up Ella Mackiewicz at the Bonfire Assembly Aug. 29 in the Main Gym. All four grade levels compete to win the spirit sticks which is given to the most enthusiastic class. “Winning the spirit stick was awesome because we acutally won it for real this time and not just by default,” Pixton Said. +PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMERSON 3. Re-watching plays, seniors Braeden Shaul, Ty Lindenman, juniors Ty Black, Duke Henke and sophomore Jack Meylan sit on the bench with Coach Bo Black Sept. 6 at SM North District Stadium. The team uses the screen in order to learn from past plays and gain information on the other teams moves. +PHOTO BY DYLAN MITCHELL
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4. Before the first race of the season, Coach Johnny Wisnton tapes sophmore Ally Pruentes’ shoes Sept. 7 at Johnson County Community College. The coaches tape the runners shoes so that the shoe laces don’t come untied by their spikes during the race. “The first race of the season is always hard but there’s no where to go but up,” Pruente said. “We gave it our all and can’t wait for the rest of the season.” +PHOTO BY ERIN DORY 5. Adding branches to the soon to be fire, senior Jonas Rowland helps put together the bonfire Aug. 19 in the back parking lot. The bonfire is used to celebrate the start of the Fall sports season. “I’ve built normal sized bonfires before in the past with my family and friends, but never one that big,” Rowland said. “I really like how it turned out during the assembly and how big it eventually got.” +PHOTO BY NICK STYERS 6. On the ground, juniors Karie Pauli and Jillian Meister do the wheelbarrow challenge during Muckfest Sept. 4 at Theater in the Park. Young Life hosts Muckfest for all of the Shawnee Mission schools as a way for the different schools to bond. “ It’s a great bonding experience and a great way to make friends from different school as well as getting to interact with your peers,” Pauli said. +PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMERSON 7. Before the second half of the game begins, sophomore Connor Osner converses with his teamates during halftime of the JV game Sept. 10 at Olathe District Athletic Complex. The Cougars beat the Falcons 1-0. +PHOTO BY EVAN JOHNSON
- sophomore Piper Borgman
Northwest Passage
“I really like Muckfest this year, I thought it was super fun and I loved throwing mud at everybody and getting shaving cream in my friend’s hair and all that fun stuff.”