passage NORTHWEST VOL. 42
ISSUE 4
OCT. 29, 2010
night of fright /10 A NW STUDENT WORKS AT THE CHAMBERS OF EDGAR ALLEN POE IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY.
jerusalem cafe /07
THE MIDDLE EASTERN CAFE IN WESTPORT IS DELICIOUS AND AUTHENTIC.
image is not
everything 12 / PHOTO BY MICHELLE STUESSI
GIRLS SHOULD REALIZE THAT TRENDY CLOTHES AREN’T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE.
Cosmetic & General Dentistry 7070 Renner • Suite 202 Shawnee, KS 66217 Tel: (913) 268-0888
Contact the NW marketing department at (913) 993-7272 or email bobjensen@smsd.org for sizes and pricing.
contents
NORTHWEST PASSAGE / VOL. 42 / ISSUE 02 SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST 12701 W. 67TH STREET SHAWNEE, KS 66216
12
PASSAGE STAFF Co-editors-in-chief
Features Editors
Copy Editor
Entertainment Editor
Design Editors
Sports Editors
Assistant Copy Editors
Ads Editor
MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER LAUREN KOMER
MORGAN JONES + BRIANNA LEYDEN
WYATT ANDERSON
STEPHANIE SPICER + BAILEY KOPP WYATT ANDERSON + BRIANNA LEYDEN
Photo Editors
DAVID FREYERMUTH + HANNA MEIGS
Graphics Editor TYLER ABSHER
News Editor
RACHEL FERENCZ
Opinions Editors MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER
MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER KELSEY GASSER
Staff Writers
HAYLEY BATTENBERG, ASHLEE CRANE, RACHAEL DEMJANIK, BRADY KLEIN, DANIEL MAGWIRE, TESSA MILLER
edge of hell/ 08
Outside The Edge of Hell, a haunted house in downtown Kansas City, the infamous “Rat Man” plays with his pet rat in attempt to scare visitors
SMNW.COM
Co-editors-in-chief LAUREN MINICK + STEPHANIE SPICER
EDITORS’ NOTE The Northwest Passage is funded primarily by advertising. Because of a drop in the amount of advertising sold, and an increase in the cost of printing we are required to find other ways to balance our budget. For this issue, that meant decreasing the amount of pages we usually publish from 24 to 16. In the near future, we hope to return to the usual 24-page format. However, we can’t do that without an increase in advertising. If you know anyone who would like to advertise with us, please direct them to us. Advertisers can contact us for sizes and prices at newspaper@smnw.com or bobjensen@smsd.org or at (913)-993-7272. The Passage would also accept and appreciate donations. Contact newspaper@smnw.com to make a contribution. Because we only published 16 pages, there are more stories from this issue on smnw.com. See page 9 for a complete listing. Sincerely, Maria Davison and Stephanie Spicer 2010-2011 Co-editors-in-chief
NEWS 04 news briefs
Updates on happenings at Northwest.
06 news schmix ENTERTAINMENT 07 reviews
Jerusalem Cafe: The middle-eastern restaurant has authentic food and atmosphere. Tea Drops: Bubble tea and bubble smoothies make this cafe unique.
08 reviews
guards! guards!: This science fiction book is all fun. the edge of hell: Haunted houses get the adrenaline pumping.
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.
FEATURES 10 night of fright
A NW student works at Kansas City haunted houses.
OPINIONS 07 image is not everything
There are more important things than having all the trendiest clothes.
SPORTS 19 boss
The best sports photo and Q&A with junior Victoria Banks.
22 upcoming games 23 NW athletes deserve better A sports hall of fame would show athletic success.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PASSAGE?
WRITE US A LETTER
We would love to hear your opinion about anything we published or other things going on around Northwest or in the outside community. Letters can be sent to passageletters@smnw.com or be brought to Room 151. Only signed letters will be published.
NEWS BRIEFS
Treatment plant plans to use fats, oils, grease as new opportunity A local waste water treatment plant is undergoing expansions to store fats, oils and grease (FOG) from Johnson County restaurants. The new addition to the facility at Douglas L. Smith Basin Plant in Overland Park will breakdown FOG into soil that can be used for farm land as well as to produce electricity for the plant itself. “It takes a lot of power to run a plant,” chief engineer John Metzler said, “around a million dollars a year. [The new facility] will save us [approximately] $400,000.” The process starts at the restaurants. Every business collects FOG in an underground tank. The FOG is pumped into large trucks, which take the substance to the plant and stores it in large tanks. Microorganisms break down the FOG into soil, while also producing large amounts of methane. The methane is transferred to another building, where it is cleaned and then turned into electricity for the plant to use. The expansion is expected to hold 75 percent of Johnson County’s FOG. The reduction of water pollution is a subject that interests researchers and students alike. The Water Environment Federation Member Associations select and sponsor student state science fair winners with projects concerning water to travel to a national competition. Juniors Baylee Birkmeyer and Lauren Severance were selected to compete in 2009. Birkmeyer thinks the waste water expansion is interesting. “I think it’s pretty neat that they can take unusable material and make it beneficial,” she said. “What we’re doing is something that other waste water treatment plants are looking into,” Metzler said. “There is great interest in Kansas and nationally. We’re not the first to do this, but we’re possibly the first in this four-state [Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri] region.” Construction workers plan to complete the expansion in December.
District delays heating system schedule With fall weather in full swing, the unpredictable temperatures have district officials encouraging students to dress in layers as they push back the scheduled use of the heating systems to a later date. Normally, the central plant heating system is switched on around Oct. 15; however, short-range forecasts for the end of October and early November indicate low overnight temperatures with afternoons heating up in the 60s and 70s. Turning the heat on in the morning to compensate for low overnight temperatures would result in the need to cool the building in the afternoon as outside temperatures rise. Then, as the building cools overnight, the heat would again need to be activated. Check with Rick Casteel to see if this is accurate. Rick is the head custodian. He works during the day... 6 a.m. - 3 p.m.) “Our heating and cooling system is not like yours at home. You have a switch that you can go from heat to cool, or you can have it automatically set to a temperature. We are either on heat or on cool,” principal Bill Harrington said. “We want to be reasonable in the building temperatures, but that doesn’t mean that we can maintain a 72-degree temperature year-round.” Instead, the district will open doors and windows as appropriate to regulate the building’s temperature. Activation of the heating system is anticipated sometime in November, unless weather forecasts indicate possibilities of overnight freezing conditions. “We always tell people to dress in layers,” Harrington said. “They [students and faculty] just have to be prepared for that in this building year-round. They may encounter rooms that are cold and some that are hot.” / LAUREN MINICK
/ LAUREN KOMER
Students participate in “Harry Potter” activities
Junior Haley Jennison demonstrates how to “levitate” her water bottle using her “wand” in a Harry Potter club on Oct. 22. / PHOTO BY BAILEY KOPP
04
/ OCT. 29, 2010
Harry Potter Club met for the first time Oct. 8. At the meeting, 12 club members watched clips of Harry Potter and introduced themselves to each other. The club started when juniors Haley Jennison, Tanner Rose, Nicole Dahl, Isabel Zacharias and senior Olivia Rezac had a Harry Potter marathon at Dahl’s house. After the marathon, Jennison brought up the idea of starting a club, and they all asked around school to see if anyone else was interested. “Harry Potter is awesome and a lot of students at Northwest agreed with me. I wanted to start a club for everyone who loves Harry Potter as much as I do, so we all can have a good time talking about it and doing fun Harry Potter activities together,” Jennison said. During meetings, the club members will talk about the books, watch movies, play Quidditch, have a chamber of secrets, make potions, role play and even decorate brooms and wands. To play Qudditch, the members will go outside to the soccer fields and “fly” on their brooms while throwing balls into hoops. “During meetings we could be doing things such as flying on our broomsticks or ‘dueling’ with our wands and just having a good time not feeling like a nerd because we all love Harry Potter so much,” Rose said. Harry Potter Club meets Fridays after school in Room 242. / RACHAEL DEMJANIK
NW Coalition Raises Money For Invisible Children Coalition raised $2,000 for the Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program at the third annual Big Event, which was held at Lake Quivira’s sailing dock Oct. 16. The Big Event, a major Coalition fundraiser, gathers local bands who volunteer to play. In addition, merchandise like Coalition T-shirts, stickers and bracelets are sold, and the proceeds are added to the total. Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program assigns one school the responsibility of raising money for a struggling northern Ugandan school. Northwest Coalition’s partner school this year was Gulu Senior Secondary. 130 Shawnee Mission area students paid $5 for admission to this year’s event, where five bands performed: The Merrymakers, Skipperkey, DJ Jonah Baltuska, INDNSMMR and Mason City. Coalition leader Isabel Zacharias also sang in an impromptu set.
more nw news OCT. 14: JAZZ BAND CONCERT/
The Jazz Band Concert was held Oct. 14 in the auditorium at 7 p.m. “I think it was really good! Especially for our first concert. We did a really good job of staying together and blending our sounds,” sophomore Kate Tarne said. By the end of the night, Coalition had raised $652 on admission alone and $348 in T-shirt sales. However, that profit doubled after Halogen TV, a television station that airs programs aimed at making positive social changes, offered to match whatever amount Coalition was able to bring in. Altogether, $2,000 was raised for Gulu Senior Secondary, an increase from last year’s $800. Each year, Coalition focuses on three charities. After Invisible Children, Coalition will raise money for Love 146, an organization that aspires to end child sex trafficking and exploitation, and then Save Darfur, which is a coalition that is working to end the genocide in Darfur and improve conditions for the survivors. “We are currently brainstorming ideas for different ways to bring in money for Coalition,” Coalition leader Bernadette Hursh said. Coalition meets in Room 155 Thursdays after school. / HAYLEY BATTENBERG
Famous chefs lecture at Broadmoor Bistro The first of many famous chefs from around the nation came to Broadmoor as part of the Broadmoor Bistro’s annual lecture series. The Broadmoor Bistro, the restaurant that is part of the culinary program at Broadmoor Technical Center, began its third annual Wysong Family/James Beard Chef Lecture Series Oct. 12. The lecture and mentoring series brings some of the nation’s top chefs to Broadmoor to lead students through the creation of a formal five-course meal that is served to the public. “Because of the high quality and success of the culinary arts program, under the direction of chef Robert Brassard, the James Beard Foundation decided to partner with us,” principal Julia Crain said. “We are the only high school in the nation to be partnered in such a way with this prestigious foundation.” The lecture series provides students with training that they wouldn’t otherwise experience within their daily curriculum. “Broadmoor does this to offer our students more opportunities to work with well-known chefs,” Crain said. “The personal touch a visiting chef brings to our students continues to keep that fiery passion alive in our students. They say, ‘Hey, I’m like that person. I can be that some day.’” The first speaker of the series was Rick Tramonto, a former executive partner and chef at Tru, a four-
star restaurant in Chicago. He is also the founder and culinary director of three other fine-dining restaurants in Chicago: Tramonto’s Steak and Seafood, Osteria di Tramonto and RT Sushi Bar and Lounge. The next speaker, scheduled for Nov. 9, will be Gerard Craft, who owns a restaurant, Niche, in St. Louis. Other chefs who will be visiting in the 2010-2011 school year are John Currence, Rich Landau, Kate Jacoby, Jason Wilson and Gabriel Rucker. All of these chefs were either nominated to win or won a James Beard Award. Students will begin serving meals at 6 p.m. Each costs $50, and only 55 seats are available. Reservations can be purchased at www.broadmoorbistro.org. The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit organization based in New York City whose goal is to help people nationwide to learn more about food and cooking. The program includes classes, lectures, workshops, conferences and readings. The foundation also provides scholarships for students seeking financial support in pursuing a culinary career. For more information, visit www.jamesbeard.org. “The students love seeing the chefs from Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, all over the country,” Crain said, “and they have learned so much from them. Many of our graduates went on and are working for past visiting chefs. Overall, the lecture series is a tremendous success.” / ASHLEE CRANE
OCT 23: HEAD START HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL/
The Head Start Halloween Carnival was on Oct. 23 in the mall. “The carnival went better than I expected. I was surprised how many kids came and participated in the games,” junior Blake Evans said.
NOVEMBER 9:40 a.m. /
TUESDAY Late Start
7 p.m. in the auditorium/ THURSDAY fall musical Once Upon a Mattress
Registration deadline
FRIDAY for the Dec. 11 ACT test.
Register at actstudent. org Registration deadline for the Dec. 4 SAT test. Register at sat.collegeboard.com
8 a.m.– 3 p.m.
TUESDAY in the gym /
Blood Drive Sign up in your English class or talk to Mrs. Dent in rm. 132 StuCo canned food drive
MON. - FRI.
1:10 p.m. / TUESDAY Early Release Teacher work day.
NEWS
/ 05
BY THE NUMBERS
"textvite"
n: an invitations sent via text message
134 TONS
of marijuana was seized in Mexico on Oct. 20 when security officials encountered several vehicles carrying the drug.
11
people were arrested after a shootout when a warehouse was raided containing 15,300 hidden packages .
$ 340
MILLION
the estimated street value of the marijuana.
10-FOOT-WIDE by 100-FOOT-TALL pile was sprayed with diesel and burned
NEW DELHI, INDIA
A small crack in the ground that first appeared in 1994 continued expanding and reached its critical stage this year, forcing authorities to evacuate at least 61 families. Heavy rain iin June weakened the porous rock underground and on Oct. 12, a remote Indian town sunk 20 feet, displacing about 250 residents.
UNITED STATES
Facebook co-founder Sean Parker donated $100,000 to support legalization of marijuana in California. Californians will vote next month on whether to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana.
MAURITANIA BOLIVIA
The Bolivian government has backtracked on a coca production law. Last month, the law was approved that cut the number of coca leaves that growers could sell from 7 kg (15 lbs) to 2 kg (5 lbs) to curb the sale of leaves to drug traffickers. The new law caused 4,000 coca growers to protest by blocking the main road to the city of La Paz on Oct. 11.
In Mauritanian society, heavier women are traditionally viewed as beautiful and wealthy. Leboluh(forced fattening) is being practiced in rural areas to attract husbands. However the women are now fighting the tradition, citing health concerns.
AUSTRALIA
Lindy and Michael Chamberlain were convicted in 1982 for the death of their 10-week old baby, Azaria Chamberlain, but later cleared after evidence indicated it was actually a dingo attack. On Oct. 11, Australia launched a new inquiry into the death because Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton issued an emotional open letter calling for the dingo attack to be officially acknowledged.
ANTARCTICA
The Census of Marine Life, a worldwide, decade-long effort to catalogue the creatures that live in the planet’s oceans from more than 2,000 locations around Antarctica, resulted in the discovery of 16,000 Antarctic species that are new to science.
stumbles
FOUND VIA STUMBLEUPON.COM
halloweenkitchen.com Do you want a recipe for
“bloody popcorn” or “vampire punch”? Find these and other Halloween treats on this website. pumpkincarving101.com This is the website to go to when learning how to carve a pumpkin the correct way by using the correct tools. hauntworld.com When looking for Halloween's best haunted houses, pumpkin patches, hay rides and corn mazes, this site makes it easy. Select your state for places near you.
06
/ OCT. 29, 2010
BAD TIME TO BE: GOOD TIME TO BE:
A CHILEAN MINER. After being trapped for 69 days, 33 Chilean miners were rescued on Oct. 13. Layne Christensen, a drilling company based in Mission Woods, designed and drilled the rescue shaft. BARBIE. A barbie wearing a black strapless evening dress with a choker featuring a one-carat square-cut pink diamond was sold for $302,500, the new world auction record for a Barbie. OWNER OF A LOTTERY TICKET. A winning Super Kansas Cash lottery ticket, worth $1.4 million, was sold in northeast Kansas on Oct. 21. The winner has yet to come forward.
INRICE,TEXAS.On Oct. 24, a tornado with winds up to 125 mph ripped through Rice, Texas a town of fewer than 1,000. The twister blew the roof off a school, overturned railroad cars, destroyed a baseball field and nearby homes. Four people were reported with minor injuries. A CHIMPANZEE. Kansas City police helped capture Suko, a 300-pound chimp who escaped from Monkey Island, a wild animal sanctuary near Greenwood. Suko climbed up a tree and eventually crawling back down into the cage in the back of his owner’s truck. A TRUCK DRIVER - A semi truck loaded with cheese caught on fire around 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 18. The truck was headed to Wisconsin when it caught fire on southbound 69 Highway near I-35 in Kearney, MO.
IMAGE IS NOT EVERYTHING Girls around the world need to realize that self-respect is more important than style. / HAYLEY BATTENBURG
I spent $600 on clothes I will never wear. Granted, the money was wasted over the course of three years, but wasted, nonetheless. And all because I was trying to be trendy. Let’s talk about what makes a girl trendy for just a second. Currently, to be fashionable you must own: Sperry Topsiders, Miss Me jeans, boyfriend cardigans, midcalf boots, PINK sweatpants or hoodies, Keds and leggings. That totals up to approximately $350. And that’s only if you buy the generic versions. Is looking like hundreds of other girls really worth that much money? I understand the desire to fit in. It’s stressful to walk through the halls if you don’t feel confident, and sometimes wearing what’s “in” can help boost that confidence. Self-assurance is stupid that way — it usually only functions if your peers approve of you. But it doesn’t have to be that way; there are a few other techniques that
can increase self-confidence. One: Stop judging each other based on appearance. When you judge someone else, it also eats away at your self-esteem. You can’t feel good about yourself if you know that everyone has an opinion, including you. For example, if you focus on a girl’s ugly jeans, your mind automatically wonders, “Are my jeans that ugly? Do I look that stupid in my outfit?” Besides, basing opinions on outward appearance is extremely shallow. Two: Focus on your strengths: you are more than what you wear. So what if you don’t own the latest Uggs? At least you can run a faster mile than anyone on the team. Who cares if you can’t afford the new Coach bag? You were the only person to get an “A” on that test. High school is more than a fashion show, and you are not a model. Three: Remember that it could
always be worse. If you’re having a bad hair day, think of the girls going through chemotherapy who don’t have hair. If your face broke out overnight, be thankful that you don’t have leprosy. If you feel like you can’t wear those cute new shorts because of some cellulite, at least you have legs to wear shorts on. Millions of girls in the world are far less lucky than you, so be thankful for how blessed you are to be healthy and beautiful, regardless of how you think you look. Looks are not everything, and confidence comes from your belief in your value as a human being. You don’t need to spend $350 to be a funny, intelligent, caring and attractive person. Sperry shoes will not make more friends for you, belted dresses will not help you get a boyfriend and having “PINK” written in giant letters across your rear won’t do you any good at all. No one will think any more or less of you if your
closet isn’t filled with brand names. I promise. Instead of buying every popular item on the market, maybe splurge on just one that fits your personal style. Girls who love jeans and T-shirts, Sperry shoes do look pretty amazing with every combination. Boyfriend cardigans are a great thing for girls who don’t want to buy a whole new wardrobe between summer and winter; layering works wonders. For girls who love glitz and glam, Miss Me is the go-to brand. I can’t say I particularly like the rhinestone pockets, but I’m obviously in the minority here. You don’t need every trend; they will soon go out of style and you’ll be left with little money and lots of last seasons’ fashions. Instead, wear what works for you. Being an individual is really hip right now anyways.
OPINIONS
/ 07
WHEN WALKING THROUGH A HAUNTED HOUSE, IT IS HARD TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO JUST ONE...
night of fright photos by michelle stuessi
5 P.M.
The sun is shining, a crisp October breeze blows past the tall brick buildings and the only thing that breaks the spell of the mundane scenery is the demon getting out of the back of a pickup truck. The cakedon white powder makeup on his face is streaked by whisker-like lines, giving him the appearance of a slightly demented cat, and his long black fingernails only add to that. A rickety Chevrolet Impala drives up and parks in the gravel parking lot beside The Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe, one of the four mustsee houses in Kansas City’s infamous “haunted house district” in the West Bottoms. The Chambers, along with The Edge of Hell, The Beast and Macabre Cinema, is part of a chain of haunted houses owned by Full Moon Productions, a risky business venture (dozens of other houses have come and gone since 1988) that has thrilled and entertained the people of Kansas for more than 35 years.
08
/ OCT. 29, 2010
5:45 p.m.
Junior Connor Goslin enters through the exit of the decrepit building to apply the makeup for his costume. He walks down a rickety staircase to a dungeon of a basement, where bottles of latex and fake blood clutter the counters. “I started last year because one of my friends had me come down and said it was pretty fun. I afternooned it for a year. It was really stress relieving, I guess. You can scream at people, and it’s really fun because you get to meet a lot of interesting people,” Goslin said. If someone wants a position as a paid actor, auditions are typically held in August to see just how scary he (or she) is. Actors come from a range of backgrounds. “We have all kinds of people. There are some people who are regular business people who have full-time jobs; there’s a person who is an accountant,” Goslin said. “Then you have the older people, the middle-aged people and you have the people like me. I’m almost 18, and there are three or four kids who are about 18 to 20.”
6:30 p.m.
Goslin finally finishes with his makeup, a process that can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. “Last week I had a position in the House of Usher as Rodrick, a guy that buried his wife/sister in the wall. I had to start off by putting [pan]cake [makeup] on my face. Then the painters had to hollow us out, and you can put latex on for the special effects and stuff,” Goslin said. Other actors wander around outside, and, over at The Edge of Hell, an early group has even arrived, standing nervously in a huddle by the entrance. “Generally, we open at 8 on Friday, 7 on Saturday. We get the most scared people at the beginning of the night because those are the people that are like, ‘Oooh, we want to get through really quick and get back before it’s dark,’” Goslin said.
7 p.m.
The first customers have entered The Edge of Hell, and the thick, brick walls muffle any screams or spooky music that could escape. The four houses all have different themes. The Edge of Hell shows how the choices people make in life determine whether they go to heaven or hell. Everyone who enters slides down to “hell” at the end of the haunted maze. The Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe is dedicated to the scary poems and works of Poe, and Macabre Cinema features rooms with various scary movies being played out. Like Macabre Cinema, The Beast has an “open floor” layout, where thrill-seekers have to wander through (and get lost in) a wide variety of nightmarish environments. “The best part of the job is you get these people who walk in there, and they think they’re all that, that they won’t get scared. Then you jump out and they drop to the floor and cry,” Goslin said. Actors have experienced various reactions from people, from extreme violence to breaking down in tears. “I’ve had people hit me before. Some people think it’s the smaller people who get more scared, but really it’s the bigger people that have the bigger fall,” Goslin said. “I made a 30-year-old man cry, and I had to escort him out because he couldn’t stand to be in there. The worst was when I was working at The Edge of Hell [last year]. I was working a position called ‘the witch’ position, where I’m suspended in the air and I fly over, and I made somebody faint.”
8:25 p.m.
By now, a queue has formed outside The Beast, and the small crowd is restless. Enter the “Thriller dancers.” “We get to act dead and crawl out from under cars and stuff. People thought we were dummies, and then we’d start moving and they’d freak out,” junior Jamie Teixeira said. “There was a lot of screaming.” For the last several years, dancers from All The Right Moves Dance Company have performed outside the haunted houses for waiting customers. Every half hour, the studio performs a dance based on Michael Jackson’s original “Thriller” video — a dance that won them third place overall in the senior division of Stage One’s national competition back in 2007. “We spent a lot of time learning and practicing the ‘Thriller’ dance. We got to get dresses and costumes, then rip them, run them over with our cars, throw them in mud puddles and dirty them up,” Teixeira said. “Then we got our makeup done by artists there. They used airbrush paint and made us look like zombies, demented puppets, skeletons, goblins or they would sometimes just ask us what we want to be.”
10:30 p.m.
It’s now late, and the gathering darkness adds yet another fear factor. Those who are standing in line are
frightened mercilessly by the actors. The infamous “Rat Man” also roams around the lines, traumatizing several as he puts a live rat in his mouth. Everyone keeps an eye out for those who might cause trouble. “We have to deal with the people who go out partying and then come down to the haunted houses drunk. And then we get the worst of them at midnight, when we get these huge groups of people that’ll just be loud and obnoxious,” Goslin said. “Sometimes drunk people would try to start dancing with us,” Teixeira said. “Our parents, dads and brothers had to be there for security.” Inside the house, Goslin is still working in The Catacombs underneath Poe’s graveyard, and the latex mask on his face is threatening to peel off. Last year, he got lucky when he had a position in the the Coffin Room, where he got to lay down inside the coffin, while other workers had to stand and jump out the entire time. “Every person’s technique in scaring is different,” Goslin said. “If you’ve never worked in a place [like this], you have to learn your own technique and try everything out, whether it’s crawling up stairs on your belly or jumping out off of rafters toward people.” Although it can be hard to get into character in the first place, it is harder still to stay in character all night, especially when customers come along who know the actors. “When you’re in character, you can’t break character. You’re supposed to be that sick, demented person all night long; you can’t just be like, ‘Oh, hi Mom!’ I scared a couple people who I knew from this school when I saw them in their NW T-shirts,” Goslin said. “Then I went up to them later and was like, ‘Hey, I scared you in the haunted houses.’ At first they don’t believe it, and then they’ll start to think it’s really cool. Some people will ask me how to get jobs there.”
1:30 a.m.
The crowds are quickly dispersing, and for some, the atmosphere around the haunted houses is creepier than ever. The full moon and inky blackness of the sky combine to create a perfect mix of terror, but for the actors, their jobs have desensitized them to the normal frights of other people. “When I go to the Edge of Hell, it still kind of scares me because they’re in character. But I saw them getting makeup on and have talked to them out of character, so I know them,” Teixeira said. “But you still do get kind of freaked out and jumpy.” “People go in there expecting to get scared, but not to get outside their comfort zone,” Goslin said. “I guess working there for so long you learn how to get inside someone’s comfort zone and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re too close; that’s not okay.’ In order to go through a haunted house, you have to understand that people are going to get in your face and scream at you. But once you’re a part of it, nothing really scares you. ” / BRIANNA LEYDEN
“I made a 30-year-old man cry, and I had to escort him out because he couldn’t stand to be in there. The worst was when I was working at the Edge of Hell [last year]; I was working a position called ‘the witch’ position, where I’m suspended in the air and I fly over, and I made somebody faint.” —Junior Connor Goslin FEATURES
/ 09
REVIEWS
Le Noise BY NEIL YOUNG
5/5
For the longest time, Neil Young was one of those names I heard constantly but whose music I’d never really listened to. Then I heard the story behind Dead Man. See, Dead Man’s a Johnny Depp movie you’ve never heard of. Depp plays an accountant in the Old West who goes out and turns into a reluctant outlaw sort of guy. He might also be the reincarnated spirit of William Blake (the poet). It’s kind of a strange one. The point here — and what drew me to this film — is the story of the soundtrack. Apparently Neil Young sat in a dark room and watched the final cut of the film while improvising on guitar, and whatever he played ended up as the soundtrack. The environment this creates — this dark, echoing sort of distant mood — completes the movie. It fits flawlessly with Dead Man’s stark black-andwhite look and postmodern Cormac-McCarthy’s-The-Road feel. But what does this have to do with Le Noise? Le Noise isn’t a typical banjo-and-harmonica or grungy distorted-electric Neil Young album. This time around, it’s just Young and his guitar, echoing and reverberating like a twisted American minor-key U2. Two tracks, “Love and War” and “Peaceful Valley Boulevard,” are done acoustically; the former with a classical Spanish guitar sound that meshes well with Young’s weary cowboy image, and the latter halting and heavy, an environmentalist call to action framed with a Manifest Destiny analogy. The one-man, one-guitar style is easy to do wrong, and even done right it has a tendency to turn out boring, but Young makes it sound easy. The sonic depth of these songs at times rivals Radiohead. It sounds like Dead Man with lyrics instead of Johnny Depp reading poetry. Speaking of lyrics, this album has some of Young’s all-time greatest — he sings of drug addiction, of crack pipes “taped underneath the speedometer wires of my ′48 Buick’s dash,” admits that “When I sing about love and war / I don’t really know what I’m saying,” and mourns society’s bitterness, saying, “Some see life as a broken promise / Some see life as a business plan.” In the end, Le Noise’s brevity is the key to its success. At just under 40 minutes, it’s long enough to be worth the purchase and the listen, but short enough that the sparse arrangement doesn’t wear out its welcome. The acoustic tracks are spaced perfectly and keep the album from becoming redundant. Neil Young is far too old to be making music this good. Neil Young is a national treasure, even though he’s Canadian. / WYATT ANDERSON
REVIEWS 4.9/5
photos by david freyermuth
JERUSALEM CAFE
WHAT I ORDERED
Jerusalem Cafe, located by the corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue, is a Middle Eastern restaurant with authentic food and an equally authentic atmosphere. From the second you open the door, this is apparent as an aroma of spices welcome you. The menu is diverse, with options for both vegetarians and meat lovers, and includes such expected fare as hummus and pita bread, Greek salad, Gyro dinner sandwiches, Falafel, and countless other appetizer, lunch, and dinner options.
Greek salad A delicious little number with olives, tomatoes, and cucumbers topped with shredded carrots and red cabbage. The only downfall? An overbearing amount of dressing. Overall it was absolutely delicious; I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again.
/ MORGAN JONES
Those words you don’t know (but they taste so good) 1. Hummus: Simmered chickpeas pureed with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. 2. Gyro dinner sandwhich: Grilled lamb & beef or chicken slices topped with swiss cheese and served with cucumber yogurt sauce 3. Falafel: A mixture of chickpeas, parsley, garlic, onions & spices. Blended, then served with tahini. 4. Pita bread: Round, pocket flat bread widely consumed in the Middle East.
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Jerusalem café is a great place to go either with friends, a date or simply by yourself. Depending on the time you arrive and the business of the restaurant, chances are you will get to choose where you sit. Keep this in mind: big window. While the wait for the food isn’t too unreasonably long, watching Westportians meander around outside just adds to the fun and is a great way to pass time. Also, take a look around the place. Authentic photos from the Middle East and beautiful murals adorn the brick walls and a case of art sits by the front door. My only warning? Use the bathroom before you go in. The walk down to the basement and the miniature stalls aren’t cute.
photo by david freyermuth
Shawarma Chicken dinner sandwhich
I’ve been to Jerusalem Café a handful of time and still this one has found my favor in being number one. Composed of a curry marinated chicken, sautéed onion, tomatoes, and a cucumber yogurt (delicious and complimentary despite its lack of an appealing name), all wrapped sensuously in a warm and soft pita bread. Served with rice and an orange slice.
tea drops
Just around the corner from Jerusalem Cafe on Pennsylvania is Tea Drops, a modern, chic hipster cafe. It is the perfect place to study the night before a big test. Tea Drops offers comfy chairs or tables along with a wide variety of teas to chose from, including black, oolong, green, pu-erh, white, and herbal teas. Also available are tonics and tea blends to help boost energy and ease pain. There is even a hangover helper helper for those who neglected to study the night before (or who just don’t feel so good waking up). One of the highlighted features of Tea
3/5 Drops is the infamous bubble tea. I decided to get that, ordering the black tea with peach, iced. Unless you crave sugar like no tomorrow, I suggest just getting three pumps of flavoring, as opposed to the six they usually add. The bubbles, made of tapioca soaked in a brown sugar water, added an interesting texture to the tea and its flavor; although, the chewiness might be a little unsettling for some. For those who do not like tea, Tea Drops also offers different smoothies available in bubble form. / MORGAN JONES ENTERTAINMENT
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REVIEWS
guards! guards! 4.5/5
Welcome to the world of Terry Pratchett, otherwise known as Discworld. In case you haven’t read any of his 35 books about this place, such as the popular Going Postal and Monstrous Regiment, the travel guide (a portion in the back of each book that explains different parts of the Discworld series, written by Pratchett himself) describes it as “a flat, circular planet that rests on the backs of four elephants, which in turn are standing on the back of a giant turtle. Don’t ask what the turtle stands on; you may as well ask what sound yellow makes.” Meet Captain Vimes, the main character of Pratchett’s book Guards! Guards!, who lives in the city of Ankh-Morpork. He’s the (drunk) captain of the Night Watch, the city guards who patrol the street at night, looking out for (or more realistically, doing everything possible to avoid) trouble. Somehow, in all of this careful watching (or complete ignorance) of Ankh-Morpork street life, a noble dragon (of the draco nobilis species, for those who like italics), long considered extinct, suddenly appears roaming the streets. After roasting a good half of the city, the citizens crown it king, due to it’s “noble” background. It’s then up to Captain Vimes and the rest of the guards on Night Watch to figure out where the dragon came from and reestablish normalcy (or as normal as it gets for this city). One way to describe Guards! Guards! would be the fiction version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy with more of an actual plot. The heavy British humor doesn’t appeal to everyone’s taste, but the subtle (or completely obvious) allusions to real-life problems, novels and myths makes this book stand apart from any other young adult fiction out there today. Still not convinced? The travel guide describes reading Terry Pratchett as the “literary equivalent of doing a cha-cha. It’s exciting, it’s invigorating and those more rhythmically inclined say it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it. Best of all, it’s pure unadulterated, / LAUREN KOMER sidesplitting fun.”
UPCOMING CONCERTS Tech N9ne’s Independent Grind Tour Saturday Oct. 30, 8 p.m., Uptown Theater Roger Waters Saturday Oct. 30, 8 p.m., Sprint Center John Mellencamp Friday Nov. 5, 7 p.m., Midland by AMC
the edge of hell 4.5/5
photos by david freyermuth
As a long-time fan of horror movies I’ve enjoyed many things that were created to startle and scare people. With Halloween coming around the corner, I felt it was time to condemn my soul and take a trip to the Edge of Hell. Even before I bought the tickets, the atmosphere was creepy, from the ominous building to the delightful “Rat Man” and his apparently tasty pet rats to the demon doorman, whose ever-present stare haunted me as I bought my ticket. The whole experience of the house had me in a mixed state of face-cringing terror and fat-kid-at-a-candy-store-excitement. Never in my life have I been in a completely dark room fighting the urge to hold out my arms to feel for an exit in fear of actually touching anything. The people working in the house were fantastic at getting me and my group to jump at any and everything. Going at a blazing three inches per minute we would continue walking straight until the group leader (me) would run face first into a wall. This system would come to an immediate halt once one of the walls I ran into contained a, let’s say, unfortunately positioned animatronic dog whose decision to charge forth was enough to make me hand the reigns over to new leader. With a new spring in my step and a higher pitch in my voice, we moved on to the more terrifying, better lit half of the house. Within each section there were different themes, and with each theme brought its own varying props and actors. From dungeon to spaceship and from jungle to hell, the change in scenery was interesting, but not frightening. Some of the transitions we just plain weak. Imagine walking through a dark, claustrophobic mansion then suddenly surrounded by pink, green, and orange neon painted stars. It’s like biting into a banana creme pie only to find a sour apple gumball tucked into one of the slices; it just seemed out of place. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Edge of Hell. I loved the suspense between scares, the jolting surprises were quality and plentiful, and the pitch black hallways proved to be a cruel mistress. The set pieces laid between suspenseful and somewhat lame, but let’s face it: a screaming man chasing you through a hallway will still get the adrenaline pumping whether he is dressed as a devil or a space alien. / TYLER ABSHER
above: The Edge of Hell is a fivestory building, coverted from a run down warehouse into a haunted house.
Zac Brown Band Sunday Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Sprint Center
left: Standing in the doorway to
Video Games Live: Bonus Round Wednesday Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Midland by AMC
right: “Rat Man” as he’s called by
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The Edge of Hell, “Satan” tries to scare any who pass by.
visitors plays with rats outside of The Edge of Hell haunted house.
smnw com {dot}
FEATURES Stuck? Solution can be found at smnw.com.
CHALLENGING
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state of change/ NW graduate Victoria Nibarger is working as a
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haunted kansas/Instead of going to haunted houses downtown,
U.S. Diplomat in Jamaica.
here are supposedly “haunted” places all over Kan.
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ENTERTAINMENT 3
the social network/ The story behind the creation of Facebook is funny and exciting.
+ halloween express/ The new Halloween store at the mall has a variety of overpriced costumes to choose from.
SPORTS 4
escape from reality/Fantasy football is a growing trend.
OPINIONS
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GRAPHIC BY TYLER ABSHER
GRAPHIC BY TYLER ABSHER
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reality check/ A staff member reevaluates her senior year.
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combining two religions/ Focusing on the similarities
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making a meaningful contribution/ Working for a cause
between religions makes it easier to ignore the differences
should involve raising awareness and actively making a difference.
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SPORTS
boss/BEST OF SPORTS SHOT // hayley battenberg
QUESTION + ANSWER
WITH VICTORIA BANKS JUNIOR, CROSS COUNTRY
Q: How long have you been running XC at NW?
During golf practice on Oct. 13, senior Alexandra Alonzo lines up the ball. "Getting advice from the other teammates during practice really helped a lot. We know each others weaknesses so getting advice from one another was great," Alonzo said. The girl's golf team made it to state for the second year in a row. / PHOTO BY BAILEY KOPP
A: Yes, I love being with the team, I do everything with the team! I manage and take notes for the coach, and I participate in as many physical things as I’m allowed to. Mostly I just hangout with my friends and make fun of them as they exercise. Q: What’s your illness? Can you explain what it is? A: I have an auto immune disorder called ulcerative colitis. It basically means that my stomach just can’t process food correctly.
A: All three years, since freshman to junior year.
Q: How long does the doctor think you’re going to be out?
Q: Why were you sidelined?
A: Hopefully only a few more weeks; as soon as my medicine really kicks in.
A: I am sick, unfortunately, and it just became too much of a painful thing to run. Q: Do you still get to go to practices or ride with the team to meets? What do you do there?
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Q: Is this the first time you’ve been out? A: I had this disease freshman year, but it wasn’t as bad. It didn’t stop me from running.
Q: Do you miss running with the team? A: IYes, I miss the actual act of running and the crazy things that happen on runs. And, just the feeling of accomplishment after you’re done with a seven-miler. Q: How long does the doctor think you’re going to be out? A: Hopefully only a few more weeks; as soon as my medicine really kicks in. Q: Is this the first time you’ve been out? A: I had this disease freshman year, but it wasn’t as bad. It didn’t stop me from running.
UPCOMING VARSITY GAMES
BRADY KLEIN
Football Oct. 15 at SM North 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Leavenworth 7 p.m. Oct. 28 vs. Wyandotte 7 p.m. Girl’s Golf Oct. 18 at State 8 a.m. Gymnastics Oct. 21 at Lawrence Free State 5:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at SM East 6 p.m. Volleyball Oct. 16 at Emporia Tournament 9 a.m. Oct. 18 at Mill Valley 5 p.m. Oct. 20 vs. SM North 5 p.m. Oct. 23 at Sub State (TBA) Girls’ Tennis
Oct. 16 at StateVARSITY (TBA) UPCOMING GAMES Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ Soccer Oct. 19 at Olathe North 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 at State Quarterfinals (TBA) Oct. 25-30 at Regionals (TBA)
Nov. 5 at State Semifinals (TBA) Nov. 6 at State Finals (TBA) Cross Country Oct. 16 at Sunflower League 9 a.m. Oct. 23 at 6A Varsity Regionals (TBA) Gymnastics
Nov. 6 at State Gymnastics (TBA)
For a calendar of other NW sporting events, visit For a calendar of other NW smnw.com.
sporting events, visit smnw.com.
NW ATHLETES CHIEF REASON FOR IMPROVEMENT DESERVE BETTER
The Chiefs were the last undefeated team in the NFL, and f support is athat hugeNorthwest contributor toshows their success. It’s time off
athletes’ successes in a dedicated space. A hall of fame would do this and more.
The crowd at the Monday night open Thank you, Jamaal Charles. Thanks to you, I electric. They were beyond excited, an never felt closer to 80,000 people in my life. It happened just after the Chiefs’ running down the entire Chargers’ offense, while back ran 60 yards down the field for a Kansas City’s defense a huge lift. Ever wonder what happens to former athletes after they graduate college? On Sep. 26, Kansas City beat th touchdown. When Charles crossed the NW pylon, In most cases, reality happens. After college, they realize that their competitive the crowd went berserk. The drunk guy in front Francisco 49ers, 31–10. The defens career in the up sport love ishis over. has even happened the best of that c stronger in this to game, so I think of me jumped andthey slammed feetThis on the athletes who have played for Northwest. In fact, the only former NW athletes that ground as he pumped both of his arms and mean that the crowd was still a huge fa are professionals today are NFL athletes Ryan TorrainThis (‘04)isand Ryan Lilja (‘00). why we need to continue to s screamed. So, what happens to the rest of these athletes? Do we just forget about them enough supp It was pouring down cold rain, and lightning this team. If the Chiefs get and all the notoriety they brought to our school? It seems unfair that we should was everywhere. Annoying but entertaining might get the opportunity to support the dismiss themand so drank easily. all Because this,I Istill suggest create sportseven at th theNorthwest regular season — awhich, fans cursed aroundof me. hall of fame, which includes school records, state championships and, believed the had a great time. Every individual wearing stage last season, nobodymost importantly, the outstanding coaches who have walked chance of getting. red seemed tomentions be best friends with everyathletes other and these halls. The Chiefs pulled off three big person wearing red. People were hugging, We may have the glass cases that Northwest’s sporting but, they were achievements unable to trump the high-fiving, swearing at Chargers fansportray together over the years, but the superior athletes deserve more than out Colts.Clearing The final score was — and it was awesome. For the first time in five Indianapolisthat. a closet or office near the locker rooms could provide those great athletes the years, I felt proud to be a Kansas City Chiefs the Chiefs gave Peyton Manning and th recognition they deserve as well as acting as a motivator current andAnd future a run forfor their money. that the gam fan. NWThe athletes. Chiefs won purely because of the in Indianapolis. If the game had been Starting hall of fame would not be too I understand money at Arrowhead, the that Chiefs probably wou crowd. The adefense and special teams weredifficult. is tight right now, and will be for awhile, but booster clubs could pitch in and still played a incredible because of the adrenaline boost won. And, overall, they possibly one started fairly quickly. Also, a pricegame. cannot be placed on the pride the fans get gave them. And then the Chargers’ it will foster inPhilip the student-athletes. a hall of In fame willlast makethree all athletes the seasons, the quarterback, Rivers, threw Having a temper feel good about Northwest, not just the ones who are elected in the hall. tantrum on the field because of the penalties he combined for 10 wins total. 10 teams last installed, The a hallincredible of fame at noise Northwest considering hadbe attough least to 10fill, victories, but those tea keptOnce on receiving. of thewill not our history of athletic success. In just the last two years, NW athletes have The onl crowd likely contributed to for those penalties what the Chiefs did in three. broken records and upheld legacies. First ballots would be star that comes to performers my mind issuch pathetic. and Rivers’ frustration. as Week thrower Erica Brand, wrestler Chaz Hill and football player as to forge Luckily, weMike have Rivera, the chance three, the Chiefs were at home again, well as gymnastics coach Janice Baker and cross country coach Van Rose. Other and they won again, 3-0. At the time they the past few depressing years, and get hall ofthe fame highlights could be some great individual performances historic to watchorthe Chiefs stun t were, only undefeated team in football. I Arrowhead milestones such as the 14 straight Boys State Championships for cross country knew their schedule had been easy so far, but world. No one expected the pitiful Chie or the two we perfect games thrown byyear Adam Giaclone lasta season. such consistent team. the Chiefs knew and hated last would The only reason I see to not have a hall of fame is time because theteam money It’s that of this gets those o have definitely slipped up against the Chargers issue. Even so, money could be scrounged up to pay for one. Giving this school red fans th and in one of the Browns or 49ers games at back. Those vicious, loud, a hall But of fame worthApparently, it. All four of the other Shawnee Mission made opponents cringeschools with fear. And, least. not would these be Chiefs. they have at least some formand of Iathink hall of All Northwest are may smallgive glass lucky, the has Chiefs back to us are actually a contender, thefame. Chiefs’ cases reflecting on one or two high points in the recent years of a sport. That is form of a playoff bid. faithful deserve some credit. definitely not recognition enough. When I pass by the locker room and glance at all the offices and closets that are down there in the new locker room area it astounds me that a hall of fame has not been installed yet. It seems like those rooms are just taking up space. I want to leave the school after practice and glance into a shrine glorifying our school and all it’s accomplishments. After all, I want to feel that cougar pride. SPORTS
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IN focus
“It was really fulfilling to know we were teaching kids about animals and getting them interested in environmental education at such a young age.”
— senior Trevor Hannon
/ PHOTO BY BRITTANY BONSIGNORE