Issue 6 by Northwest Passage

the

NW PASSAGE Feb. 15, 2018 Vol. 49

NORTHWEST PASSAGE Is e 006 4 I sssuue Vo Voll.. 49 49 N ov. Fe b . 195

TA BL E OF

CONTENTS

Pirates of Penzance

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Talk About Sex

10-11

Thespians prepare for their performance of the winter musical

A poll showing that teens are waiting longer to have sex than in the past causes discussions on sex safety

#NorthwestStrong

Parents and students come together to support Northwest

STAFF:

+ PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

OUR PASSAGE: 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.

+PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS

STAFF WRITERS: Cadence Elder Jack Lynch

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Ads Manager Online Copy Editor

Rachel Albers Madeline Manning Erin Henton Asher Norberg Samantha Joslin Will Gross Annalissa Houser

ADVISERS: Adviser Assistant Adviser

02 NOV. 9, 2017 | Vol. 49 02 FEB, 15 2018 | Vol. 49

Susan Massy Wes Mikel

Jake Ditto Anastasia Kling Rory Dungan Kate Lawrence Nicholas Lorino Sonni Meyers Matthew Owens Sam Rice Kaili Sitz Cate Taggart

STAFF DESIGNERS: Erin Albers Kennady Bustamante Rylee Garrett Kasi Maniktala Alden Norberg Grace Roeder

Northwest Loses Two Students in as Many Days

Nioka Annette Vinson, 15, passed away unexpectedy in Shawnee on Jan. 24, 2018. She was born Jan. 3, 2003, to Sherra Vinson and Bilal Muhammad Gilleylen. Nioka, who went by Dylan because she claimed no one could pronounce her first name, enjoyed dancing, traveling, swimming and drawing. She devoted most of her time to uploading Youtube video vlogs and watching her favorite band, K’Pop. Vinson is survived by her parents, her siblings, Barbara Vinson, Rakayo Vison, Bilal Jr. Gilleylen, Saivion Syre Gilleylen,

Saivon Nasir Gilleylen and Quishani Gilleylen; her aunts and uncles, Kendra Wilson, Lekesha (Jebreel) Grays, Angela Snow and William Vinson; her grandparents Vanessa Nunn and Barbara Vinson. ` “I saw that [Dylan] was a person that made people smile, laugh and try to make people happy,” sophomore Nikki Salazar said. “That's what I liked the most about her. “She tried to make everyone laugh every time she walked in a room. She'd be the energy that's in it and it's sad that she's gone.”

As students arrived at school Jan. 25, they were greeted by handmade signs and a show of support from NW parents and community members. News of the deaths of two students had rocked the school and the student body earlier in the week. Many of the signs held by parents were posted outside the office near the Art Gallery. Additional signs of support were staked along 67th Street where students could see them each day as they arrived. For more information see page 12. +PHOTOS BY ABBY RYAN

Steven Thomas Cohenour, 15, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away Jan. 22, 2018. Steven was born September 27, 2002, in Overland Park, Kansas. He played for many years with the Shawnee Cougars at 3&2 Baseball Club of Johnson County and Tom Urquhart’s School of Baseball. His parents ask that donations in his memory be made to Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Center, 6000 Lamar Avenue, Suite 130, Mission, KS 66202. He is survived by his parents Mark and Rebecca, brother Greg Shaw, sister Kasey, grandparents, Jeff

and Helen Cohenour, Jackie and Ray Hendrix and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. “In the past few days, I and my family members have been blessed to receive from our community an indication of the positive effects that our precious boy had on others in his short time with us in this human life,” Rebecca Cohenour said. “It takes a long time, perhaps more than a lifetime, to realize that we will probably only receive confirmation by a tiny fraction of any impact we have had on those around us.”

NW PASSAGE | feature 03

He Can Not Compare

If any former president acted the way Trump does, it would be career-ending Why does President Trump get a free pass? It seems reasonable to compare a current president to his immediate predecessor, but comparing Obama to Trump is like comparing an apple to an orange. From Trump’s infamous Twitter account to his slightly less infamous press secretaries, it seems that if any other politician pulled the same stunts his career would be over. We are so accustomed to his antics that we have come to expect his petulant and embarrassing behavior. To my knowledge, no other president in American history has operated with such disregard for professionalism and decorum. Obama was by no means a perfect president, but at least he understood the gravity of the position. To put things into perspective, what if Obama had publicly taunted Kim Jong Un on Twitter over the size and power of his nuclear button? Outrage against Obama came from conservative authors and pundits without such provocation. Obama was “a president who is inept in the arts of management and governance,” and he made “our nation less safe,” according to conservative author and journalist Edward Klein. But where is the outrage from the political right over Trump? Does Trump not make

our nation less safe when he taunts North Korean leaders and flirts with nuclear war? Acknowledging Trump’s incompetence should not be considered an admission of bias, but an admission of reality. Imagine that, a year into the Obama presidency, a story had surfaced that he had reportedly cheated on his wife with a porn star and paid her $130,000 to keep quiet before the presidential election. The outrage from both parties would have been monumental. Obama was berated for wearing a tan suit to a press conference. Think how frivolous that seems now. But the most interesting and disgusting aspect of Trump is how he manages to evade the 19 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. That does not include his ex-wife, Ivana Trump, who swore under oath in a court deposition that Trump attacked her in a “violent assault” and then proceeded to rape her. In light of the #MeToo movement, where over 51 high-profile men have been fired or resigned, Trump remains in the White House. The President remains magically invincible. In fact, he even admitted to sexually assaulting women. “I don’t even wait,” the President said on the infamous Access Hollywood tape. “When you’re a star, [women] let you do it. You can do

anything ... Grab them by the [expletive].” Past presidents have had their fair share of sexual scandals, but none went without intense scrutiny. Another aspect of his presidency that should be gravely alarming is the Russia scandal. We know Russian agents were reaching out to Trump’s campaign as far back as March 2016. Former national security advisor Michael Flynn and former Trump advisor George Papadopoulos have already pled guilty to lying to the FBI regarding their connections with Russia. And while all of this is happening, the Trump administration is actively trying to discredit the investigation. “We had nothing to do with Russia,” Trump told The Washington Post. But can we even trust what the president says? According to The New York Times, in his first 10 months in office, Trump told six times as many falsehoods as Obama did in his entire presidency. People can talk all they want about the Clintons or the Obamas or Benghazi, but those same people seem to be conveniently and strangely silent on the scandals that emerge from the Trump administration nearly every day. It is damaging to democracy to hold one president to a

+ BY ASHER NORBERG

standard exponentially lower than his predecessors. We, as citizens of the United States, should not baby the president through his term in office. We should hold him and his administration accountable for every offense, just as we have done for every previous president.

Raking in the Dough Tax reform will create large economic growth

catalyst to ignite them into a warm, highprofit inferno. That catalyst is tax reform. The tax reform was signed on Dec. 22, and since then various companies’ including AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Bank of America gave out $1,000 bonuses and are increasing wages. This will allow workers to be able to use that money in order to upgrade their living situations, go on vacation or pay down debt. This is simple supply side economics. Leaving more money in the pockets of individuals will allow them to spend it, increasing the top and bottom line revenue of businesses. As businesses increase revenue, they hire more workers or increase each individual’s wage. The cycle continues. The corporate income tax rate was reduced from 35 to 21 percent and there is a repatriation event where companies can bring back money overseas at a rate of 8 percent. This allows companies to increase wages and dividends as well as research and development. These tax deductions will lower corporate tax income by $1.35 trillion, “but these cuts are offset by $695

billion of corporate loophole closers and $324 billion of higher revenues from international tax changes,” according to a Dec. 20 Washington Examiner article. Individuals will also benefit; about 95 percent will see a decrease in their income taxes. This bill also eliminated the mandate requiring people to have healthcare or face a fine under the Affordable Care Act. The bill also increases the standard deduction to $24,000 for marriages and increases the child tax credit to $2,000. According to National Public Radio (NPR), the average family will save $1,600 year, which they can use to pay their record levels of debt. Past tax reform policies and their impacts can be used as indicators of the effect this bill will have on the American economy. Tax cuts during the Reagan and Kennedy eras each produced five years of above 4 percent growth, according to a Dec. 20 article in the Washington Examiner. However, the new tax cuts will cause a $1 trillion budget deficit. To combat this, I believe in acrossthe-board cuts in both social programs

Reduce Farm Subsidies $12.5 billion in savings

End Urban Housing Department $60.2 billion in savings

Cut Foreign aid by 75 percent $26.25 billion in savings

Cut Food Stamps by 40 percent (including WIC) $34.27 billion in savings

Privatize Amtrak, Air Traffic Control, USPS, Tennessee Valley Authority, TSA $13 billion in savings

Cut Medicaid spending by 25 percent $87.5 billion in savings

End Renewable Energy Subsidies $3.4 billion in savings

Cut Defense Budget by 25 percent $149.5 billion in savings

Day of Doom. More than $1 trillion in company value gone in a day as traders started to panic, hitting the sell button creating chaos, like Walmart on Black Friday. This was Sept. 29, 2008: the kick start of the financial crisis that sent the United States into a spiral to depths as low as the Tonga Trench, one of the world’s deepest trenches. Fast forward nine years and we have experienced the creation of Snapchat, new cancer treatments and, of course, the Wake ‘N Bacon alarm clock. In that same time period, the United States has been slowly pulling itself of what felt like the bottomless pit of economic losses and slowly making the downward trek from monumental levels of unemployment. During the 2017 fiscal year, companies had the foundation of economic growth as consumer spending was up 3.3 percent —up 11 percent since 2013, increased long-term investment spending and unemployment stayed low. These factors are branches, sticks and logs piling up in your backyard the day before a bonfire, just waiting for a

What to Cut:

04 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

Cut 25 percent from the Department of the Interior $3.5 billion in savings

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS

and defense spending. I propose cutting around $400 billion per year which will easily offset the cuts. The new tax policy, while not perfect, is a great start to helping the country increase economic growth. I am glad that the market correction (down 10 percent from record highs) has already occurred, creating the steam that will power the market to new highs in the upcoming years.

Total Savings:

$390.12 billion per year

The State of The reversal of an Obama-era policy has brought attention to the potential legalization of cannabis

Things are not looking so green for the U.S. cannabis industry. In January, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded an Obama-era policy preventing federal authorities from prosecuting the cannabis industry in states where it was legal. Essentially, the federal government can now prosecute those involved in the cannabis industry in states where cannabis is legal on the grounds that the drug is not legal on the federal level. This is not only a huge step backward for social progressives, but it is also an attack on states’ rights. With a gubernatorial election quickly approaching in November and more states putting legalization on the ballot every year, Kansas is closer to legalization than ever before. Obviously, any effort to legalize cannabis in Kansas would only allow those 21 and over access to the drug. According to Project Know, approximately 14 percent of Kansas high school students reported using cannabis in the last 30 days and 60 percent of U.S. high school students reported cannabis as “very easy” to obtain. Furthermore, more U.S. high school students now use cannabis than binge drink. This may

FO R

AGAI N ST

alarm parents and teachers, but cannabis may actually be a safer substance than alcohol, according to a 2015 study by Scientific Reports. Another aspect of cannabis that is overlooked by Kansas law is the medicinal use of the drug. Currently, in states where medical cannabis is legal, it is used to treat or ease the symptoms of multiple ailments: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, muscle spasms, seizures, severe pain, severe nausea, dramatic weight loss and muscle atrophy. Evidence has suggested that some compounds found in cannabis can have medicinal properties. While more comprehensive studies are needed in order to gauge the full effects of cannabis, the potential is certainly there. According to the Global Drug Survey, cannabis is one of the safest drugs in the world. Zero known cases of cannabis overdose have resulted in death. There is no justifiable reason that cannabis should be illegal. In states like Colorado, where cannabis has been legalized recreationally since 2012, more progressive laws regarding minors have been implemented. The punishment for the first offense of a person under the age of 21 possessing or consuming cannabis is a maximum fine of $100 and completion of a substance abuse education program. This not only is a more appropriate punishment, but it also prevents the offender’s record from being tarnished by cannabis possession. Cannabis possession accounts for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. Kansas is one of four states that prohibits cannabis for any use. Possessing cannabis in any amount is considered a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. Taxpayer dollars are being wasted enforcing cannabis prohibition in Kansas. According to the Wichita Eagle, half of Kansans support recreational use, and 76 percent support medicinal use. Legalizing cannabis and enforcing more progressive laws would not only be a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars, but would give high school students the ability to move on from their mistakes.

Four of the Most Common Medicinal Uses of Marijuana Nausea: Medical cannabis is used for reducing nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Muscle Spasms: The Minnesota Department of Health has found that medical cannabis is a plausible treatment for muscle spasms. There is ample evidence to suggest that medical cannabis can help calm muscle spasticity as well as ease pain associated with muscle spasms. Seizures: Evidence suggests that cannabis can be helpful in controlling seizures. A study done at New York University Langone Medical Center found that cannabidiol treatment (a non psychoactive compound found in cannabis) reduced motor seizures in patients by 36.5 percent. Two percent of patients in the study stopped having seizures completely. Severe Pain: While there are no FDA-approved, cannabis-derived medications currently on the market, there are high hopes that cannabis derived medications could potentially replace opioid medications in treating severe pain. Studies have shown that states that have legalized medical cannabis also reported fewer opioid related deaths.

NW PASSAGE | staff ed 05

Same Seat, Different Hour Students in Sarah Dent’s social science class share their stories +BY CATE TAGGART & SAM RICE

Freshman Emma Mlivic: 1st Hour Q: What do you do in your free time? A: Spend time with my friends and family Q: What do you do with friends and family? A: Generally, watch movies or play soccer Q: Favorite movie and/or genré? A: I love any of the Karate Kid movies and most comedies. Q: Post high school plans? A: I plan to go to college, have a job on the side and be a doctor. I want to attend Duke or Louisiana State University. Q: Do you do any extracurricular activities? A: I have been playing basketball for two years and volleyball for three. Q: What is something not many people would know about you without asking? A: I wish I had an older sibling, so I could ask them for advice and have someone to talk to. Q: What would be something interesting that could make a great story and why? A: All of my family is from Bosnia. My parents are the first generation in America.

Senior Rachel Perez: 4th Hour

06 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

Q: What do you do in your free time? A: I’m a really big family person, so I’d say I like to spend a good amount of my free time with them. Other than that, I love to read and hang out with my dogs and friends. Q: Post high school plans? A: I’m planning on going to the University of Kansas. Q: What major are you thinking about pursuing? A: Psychology or social work Q: Why are you interested in this major? A: I have some cousins that have done the same. I just feel like it’s what I would enjoy most. I love helping others and feel like it is what I am called to do. Q: Do you do any extracurricular activities? A: Student Council Executive Board and varsity cheerleading Q: What is something not many people would know about you without asking? A: I’d say either that I was born in Canada or that I’m Cuban.

Senior Cassie Gomer: 2nd Hour Q: What do you do in your free time? A: I enjoy ukulele, drawing, playing monkey ball, playing hacky sack, Super Smash Bros and hanging out with my friends. Q: Post high school plans? A: I am going to major in biology, go to medical school, and the dream is to end up in Hawaii Q: Do you do any extracurricular activities? A: I am involved in varsity golf as captain, varsity swim captain, National Honors Society, National Art Honors Society, Math National Honors Society, Hacky Sack Club, Student Council, Croc Club, and Cougar Community Commitment (CCC). Q: What is something not many people would know about you without asking? A: One time, I broke my own arm because someone said I wouldn’t do it.

Senior Rachel Lee: 5th Hour Q: What do you do in your free time? A: In my free time, I️ like to take pictures and do calligraphy. I’ve always enjoyed writing in different fonts. I️ just started teaching myself and now it’s just something I️ like to do for fun and to relax. Q: Post high school plans? A: I️ plan on going to college. I’m not sure where yet, but I️ want to study elementary education. Q: Do you do any extracurricular activities? A: Varsity and competitive cheerleading and Student Council. Q: What is something not many people would know about you without asking? A: I kind of love marinara sauce.

Senior Erin Osner: 3rd Hour Q: What do you do in your free time? A: Hang out with friends and family Q: What do you do with friends? A: Get coffee, go on drives or try out new food places Q: Post high school plans? A: I’m going to K-State for two years for pre-nursing, then going to nursing school. Both my parents say I have the nurturing gene. I think it’s the most fitting for me. Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? A: Varsity cheerleading, Chick-Fil-A club and band. Q: What is something about you that not many people would know without asking? A: I’m allergic to tree fruits: apples, plums, etc.

Senior Maggie Habben: 6th Hour Q: What do you do in your free time? A: I like to be with family. I’m a senior, so I don’t have a lot of time left with them. I also like to hang out with friends. Q: Post high school plans? A: University of Kansas, and I want to go into pediatrics. I don’t know why, but I find it so much easier and better to interact with kids rather than older people. Q: Do you do any extracurricular activities? A: I am president of Cougar Community Commitment (CCC) and a Student Council representative Q: What is something not many people would know about you without asking? A: Something nobody would know unless I️ told them is that I️ have never broken a bone.

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NW PASSAGE | ADS 07

CAST LIST THE PIRATES

Thespian Troupe #888 prepares for the performance of “Pirates of Penzance” +BYJACK LYNCH The winter main stage production will feature Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance,” an operetta, rather than a Broadway musical when it is presented, Feb. 15-17 in the Parker Auditorium. This genre of musical theater is the middle ground between opera and musical and will be extra challenging to the performers. “It’s not quite as intense as an opera, and not quite as long, but it’s still very challenging,” senior Jared Berlin, who plays the Pirate King, said. “There is some dialogue in the show, but most of the story is conveyed through the songs, while in a musical you have some songs, but a good amount of the musical is conveyed through dialogue.” Apprenticed to pirates since birth, Frederic (Matthew Robison) finally earns his freedom, only for things to immediately go wrong. Although Gilbert and Sullivan was once well known, they are no longer at the forefront of musical theater. That did not stop the director Keli Rodgers from picking their show. “You’d be surprised at who it is popular with,” Rodgers said.t “I have people say to me ‘Oh, I was in that when I was high school,’ and they’re always very fond of it. It may not be well known to very young people, but I find that there are so many things that are not well known to very young people, because they don’t know as much as they think they know.” Another challenge, aside from the more musically focused plot movement of the operetta, is the addition of a larger-than-normal pit orchestra. “Usually we have a smaller pit, probably around 12 to 15 [people],” Berlin said. “We have all of our Chambers Orchestra in the pit for this show, which is awesome. They sound great. We did our sitzprobe, which is where you go in, meet

08 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

up with the orchestra and sing through all of the show with them. You work out any faulty places before you bring the orchestra into rehearsal. It’s nice working with a larger pit, and I’m really excited.” With the addition of the larger pit orchestra comes a larger challenge — fitting the entire orchestra under the stage. This is possible thanks to Northwest’s larger than normal stage, which spans 60 feet, compared to the 30-40 feet that is the norm for high schools throughout the area. Despite the challenges there was one specific reason that “Pirates of Penzance” was chosen. “Our senior class fits the four leads very well,” Mandy Dulny, who plays Ruth, said. “Mabel, Frederic, Pirate King and Ruth fit really well. We have a very high tenor, who plays Frederic, we have a very high soprano, who plays Mabel, we have a baritone who plays Pirate King and we have a strong mezzo who plays Ruth. We have a very quick speaker who can play the Modern Major General.” Although the curtain has yet to even rise, some in the cast are already looking to the future, even if that future means saying goodbye to familiar faces for the half of the main cast staring down graduation. “It’ll be weird to not get to perform with them anymore and to not perform with the same group of people that I’ve performed with for so long for,” Berlin said. “There’s a really special bond with theater. It’s weird, kind of, the idea of having to create that connection again with other people and it’s sad that everything is coming to an end. But it makes me excited, not only for where I could possibly go, but where for the rest of them could possibly go.”

Major-General Stanley & pirate (Act I)…Colin Jones The Pirate King……………………………….………Jared Berlin Ruth (a pirate maid of all work)…………Mandy Dulny Samuel (first mate)……………………….................Tre’Mutava Frederic (the pirate apprentice)…………Matt Robison Sergeant of Police & pirate (Act I).............Jackson Tomlin The Pirates Pistol …………………………..………Josh Holloway Lurch………………………….……….……..……Mitch Monroe Sharp……………………....…………….………Ethan Schreiber Scar………………………….……………………Ryan Haywood Magpie…………………………….…….………Joseph Ramirez Sonny………………………………………..……….Zach Dulny Swell ………………………….………..……Christian Anderson Malarkey………………………….………………Francis Cooper Cookie…………………………………,,……….Caleb Anderson Birdie………………………………………….…..…Cecil Miller Swabbie………………………..………..……..Gerrin Rodriguez Grog…………………………………………..………Jude Berry Brine…………………………………………….….Miguel Hunt Poort……………………………………….……..Dayton Raines Algy………………………………………,,,,,….…Spencer Pope McNabb……………………………….……….…Matt Steinmetz GENERAL STANLEY’S WARDS Mabel………….................…….....Alyssa Gaul Edith……..………………………………..……Devyn Trondson Kate……………………………………….….……Ellaina Ballou Isabel………..………………………………,…..Maddie Munsey Corinne…………………………………..………....Althea Flores Madelaine………………....…………..……….…….Ava Hauser Constance…………………………………….…Claire Severance Margaret……………………………………...……....Kate Rivera Stella…………………………………..…..…….Molly Vielhauer Cecily ……………………………………….……Shantice White THE CONSTABULARY LIEUTENANT Cable................……................……McKenzie Parks Officer Fletcher…………....……….…...Claire Anderson Officer Montcrieff……………………………….Olivia Tolleson Officer Worthing…………..………………….…….Claire Laws Officer Ryan………………………………….….…Natalie Hole Officer Farley………………………..….….…Parker Baughman Officer Scott……………………………….…….Lauren Sanders Officer Bracknell…………………..….…….Lauren Swearingen Officer Prism………………………...……….…..…Ali Johnson Officer Chasuble………………………………...…Alice Newell Officer Hill…………………………….….…..Olivia Williamson Officer Lane……………………………….…..….Lily Havranek Officer Merriman……………...…………..….……Imani Muller Officer Carton………………….…….…..…….Emma Ottinger

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TALK ABOUT

SEX

LET’S TALK ABOUT

SEX

Poll Data Analysis According to a recent study published in the Journal of Child Development, today’s teenagers are less likely to engage in adult activities such as having sex. We polled students to see how they compare to the national average. Fifty-nine percent of all high school students in the nation reported that they had not had sex. Out of 244 responses, 59.1 percent of NW students also reported they had not yet had sex, matching up almost perfectly with the national average. However, nationally, 41 percent of high school students reported having sex, while only 28.5 percent of polled NW students reported having sex. The Northwest Passage poll also shows that 75 percent of students who reported having sex also reported having unprotected sex.

Do you know where to get tested for STD’s?

32.9%

yes no

67.1%

Have you ever been tested for an STD?

90.1%

yes 9.9%

A poll showing that teens are waiting longer to have sex than in the past causes discussions on sex safety

+BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN, ASHER NORBERG, KATE LAWRENCE

ven as Valentine’s Day recedes in students’ rearview mirrors, sex is still a hot topic— especially with the recent release of data showing that teens (ages 13-19) in Generation Z are waiting longer to have sex than teens in generations past with 8.3 million responses over a 40-year period, according to a study published in the journal Child Development. A Northwest Passage poll of 244 people found that NW students are not an exception. Sixty-four percent of those responding are not currently sexually active, while 59.1 percent have never had sexual intercourse. So, what is causing this decrease? Psychology teacher Stefanie Forbes hopes that the decline in sexual activity in teenagers is a result of better sex education, but knows that many students are still uneducated when it comes to safe sex practices or contraceptives. “We are somewhat limited in what we can teach in schools, so the education has to be coming from home,” Forbes said. “Sometimes that’s not happening. I think that the number one cause of teen pregnancy is lack of education. We say that oftentimes for

10 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

third world countries, but the same is true right here in this building. Even in junior and senior year, some students don’t know how women get pregnant.” Additionally, Forbes considers the distinction between oral sex and vaginal sex a cause for the decline in teen sex rates. To clarify, oral sex is considered sexual activity and can still transfer sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, and other illnesses like Hepatitis A, B and C. “Teens don’t consider [oral sex] to be sex,” Forbes said. “They don’t think that you can spread the same sexual diseases through oral sex. They’re not educated and they don’t see the same repercussions. They don’t consider it to be real sex, so it’s suddenly okay.” Senior Kiara Alexandra Sprowl admits to being sexually active; she took health class as a freshman, the recommended year to take the class, meaning that she should, based on the class’ curriculum, know how to practice safe sex. The thing is, that isn’t exactly the case. “Honestly, I don’t remember a single thing from health class,” Sprowl said. “So I’m going to say no, it isn’t effective.”

As far as reasons why teens are having less sex now than in the past, Sprowl blames dating apps, such as Tinder. “I figure [the teen sex rate] is less with social dating apps involved,” Sprowl said. “I guess people spend more time swiping than actually having sex.” Sprowl’s theory on effective sex education is based on one practiced in the Netherlands; it involves starting sex education around age four, at the kindergarten level. On average, teens in the Netherlands do not have sex as early as those in other European countries or the United States. According to the World Bank, the teen pregnancy rate in the Netherlands is one of the lowest in the world, five times lower than the United States’. In addition, occurences of HIV and STDs are also low. While 66 percent of 12- to 25-year-olds in the Netherlands say that they had a “wanted and fun” first sexual experience (according to a study done by the Department of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts), half of American teens said that they wished they had waited longer to have sexual intercourse for

the first time (according to a national study done by ABC News). “Instead of the brunt of sex ed being done in high school, I think it should start from a much younger age,” Sprowl said. “I know we do those kind of sex ed videos in elementary school, but they don’t cover a lot.” Although most NW students (20.5 percent) rated their health class sexsafety education a 10 out of 10 in the poll, it came in fourth for being where students learned about sex. The overwhelming majority received information about sex from other students. As far as Forbes is concerned, sex education should be coming primarily from two places: parents and health class. “Teaching at home and at school has to be in tandem,” Forbes said. “You need both. Ms. Morstadt is amazing at what she does and she does everything that she can within her curriculum to educate her students about risks. She’s not trying to scare, she’s trying to educate. The number one thing for students to remember is to make good choices for today, but also for your future.”

Have you had sexual intercourse?

TO ABSTAIN OR NOT TO ABSTAIN

60%

matter how much it’s ingrained into their brains to be abstinent. “Abstinence should not be pushed so heavily because it’s a choice that you make,” Rippee said. “Not everyone will wait until marriage to have sex, and we all know that teenagers are having sex, so why are we taking more time to teach them to not do what they are already doing? By pushing abstinence, all we hear is ‘don’t have sex’. It’s counterproductive to teach students not to have sex when they already are having it.” Being a high school teacher, Morstadt hears varying opinions and thoughts on big topics daily. She understands both sides of this controversy and takes into consideration her students’ opinions. Morstadt focuses on keeping her students safe, knowing that not every student is going to abstain. “We get it,” Morstadt said. “I do think kids this age should be abstinent, but, on the flip side, we also know with pregnancy rates and things, not everyone is choosing that.” The controversy as to whether adolescent minds will ever change is not new. However, the NW survey shows that 51.9 percent of NW students haven’t had sex, 28.5 percent have and 19.6 percent chose to not say, selected “other” or indicated that they didn’t know, proving that the lessons in health possibly have had an impact. Maybe Morstadt’s popular statement, “abstinence is golden,” is finally being taken into consideration.

no prefer not to say

Students and a teacher discuss their conflicting opinions on +BY KATE LAWRENCE health class’ sexual education Students say health class has become one of the necessary evils that crowds the schedules of freshmen or procrastinating seniors, but does it serve its purpose? Although abstinence is taught in health class, health teacher Lisa Morstadt claims that her class is “protection-based”. “We are protection-based, so, obviously, we like abstinence at your age group,” Morstadt said. “We teach about the legal age of consent, we teach about pregnancy, how sperm and egg meet, how a baby is made and we teach about respecting yourself.” Freshman Sarah Milks thinks that sex education was taught very well and expresses how it opened her mind to the health and safety benefits of abstaining. She describes abstinence as an important lesson that should be taught to all teenagers. “With health being a freshman-based class, having abstinence as the core of the class will maybe help kids understand that you don’t have to be sexually active to have a healthy relationship,” Milks said. “Now that we have access to almost anything we want instantly, thanks to technology, kids learn things much faster than they used to. Kids nowadays grow up faster mentally and think they are ready to tackle the world when, really, they aren’t.” However, different opinions are explored when the topic of sex education is brought up. Freshman Grace Rippee thinks that this age group isn’t going to rely just on what their required class tells them. Teens will be teens, no

yes

8.7%

28.5%

other

Are you currently sexually active?

yes

9.9%

64%

prefer not to say

21.5%

other

Have you had unproctected sex?

70%

8.6% 21.4%

yes no prefer not to say

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

LET’S TALK ABOUT

SEX

Do you know where to get tested for STD’s?

32.9%

yes no

67.1%

Have you ever been tested for an STD?

90.1%

yes 9.9%

A poll showing that teens are waiting longer to have sex than in the past causes discussions on sex safety

+BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN, ASHER NORBERG, KATE LAWRENCE

10 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

Have you had sexual intercourse?

TO ABSTAIN OR NOT TO ABSTAIN

60%

no prefer not to say

yes

8.7%

28.5%

other

Are you currently sexually active?

yes

9.9%

64%

prefer not to say

21.5%

other

Have you had unproctected sex?

70%

8.6% 21.4%

yes no prefer not to say

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

Sticky notes cover the band lockers on Jan. 25. The notes were posted by students to encourage each other after the deaths of two students earlier in the week. +PHOTO BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

#NorthwestStrong Parents and students come together to support Northwest Anyone driving past Northwest on Jan. 25 would have seen them. Groups of parents and students lined the sidewalks around Northwest, holding handpainted signs with supportive mantras like “you are worth it” and “stay strong” at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday. A stroll down the hallway meant being bombarded with kindness in the form of sticky notes and posters displaying messages like “someone loves you” and “you never know who you are inspiring.” Lili Bowen, a freshman, appreciated the efforts of parents and students to support each other. “I believe that the notes around the school are a nice concept, although it kind of saddens me that the notes were a direct result of a crisis,” Bowen said. “The thing I am worried about is that, although these notes promote kindness, it shows what measures it takes for people to care for one another so deeply. The notes around the school made me smile whenever I entered places filled with Sticky notes.” Sophomore Emily Motsick stuck Post-Its in the bathrooms in the middle hallway on the first floor. “About the second day after everything had happened, I put up a lot of ‘#NorthwestStrong’ notes,” Motsick

12 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

said. “Some people disrespected the notes, but there will always be people like that. I think it’s a good thing; it brightens your mood to see things like ‘you’re wanted’ and ‘you belong’ and ‘you’re beautiful.’” However, not all of the feedback on the notes has been positive. While students appreciate the effort, some feel that sticking Post-Its to bathroom walls is not enough, and is too flippant to be helpful. Sophomore Megan Acton thinks that while the notes are a good show of positivity, they missed their mark. “They are trying to set aside the fact that two students died,” Acton said. “And, yes, we need all the positivity we can get, but sometimes a note isn’t enough. I mean, a lot of them are just blank.” Motsick said that she did post sticky notes in the shape of a heart and that all of them were blank. She had hoped that people would write their positive messages on those notes. Parents had their own way of supporting the students, coming armed with posters encouraging students to be strong on the Thursday morning after the deaths. The mall, hallways and stairwells were decorated with handmade banners of support from SM East, SM North, SM West, SM South, Westridge and Trailridge. Pam Hale

+ SAMANTHA JOSLIN, KAILI SITZ, AND ANASTASIA KLING was one of the parents holding signs on Thursday morning. In addition to standing outside, parents brought posters to tack up around the school. “My sign said ‘You are loved (all 1600+ of you),’” Hale said. “I wrote the sign because I care about every kid that walks into that building.” Motsick is not the only one who thinks that these sticky notes have been refreshing to see. Sarah Dent, the sponsor of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), thinks that the support the students have shown toward their peers has been incredible. “I think that seeing the notes is a good reminder it’s been a difficult time to navigate as a family here at our school,” Dent said. The Chain of Life has been hung in the mall annually for more than 20 years and, both this year and last year, SADD has broken the chain due to deaths of students. The chain was broken in two spots on Feb. 8 before schools and purple links replaced Steven Cohenour and Nioka “Dylan” Vinson’s links, but the chain was not relinked. The chain will remain broken for the rest of the school year. Next year, SADD will address the sophomore class and personally ask them what they want to do with this year’s Chain of Life.

“I think it’s important to continue [making the chain of life every year],” Dent said, holding back tears. “We don’t want [the breaking of the chain] to be something that breaks open the wounds that are starting to heal. These types of situations will never be easy. I think initially people didn’t know how to grieve. Students, parents, everyone just came together during this time, and I think that was an important part of the grieving process. We talk all the time about how Northwest is one big family, but we don’t think about what it means until things like this happen and you actually realize what it means to be, truly, a family and come together.” After seeing the effect the parents had on the students, PTA board members are making an effort to turn the parent-run Facebook group, Parents in Action, into a committee. Over 600 parents joined the Facebook page within 30 minutes after it was posted. The group will meet on 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 in the library. “It has always been about everyone,” Hale said. “Not just one kid there and another kid there, but everyone in that building. We just want to support everyone.”

INKED + BY ANNALISSA HOUSER & CADENCE ELDER

hether a tattoo is a right of passage into an adulthood for an 18-year-old or a parent’s indulgence at a younger age, a several-year-long dream or an impulsive dare, a cherished quote or a flippant saying, one thing’s for sure — each tattoo is as unique as

the person it decorates. With an average cost of $45, a small tattoo is no more expensive than costume jewelry… and you never have to worry about losing it. This could be why 39 percent of Americans aged 18-29 have at least one tattoo, according to USA Today.

“I have three tattoos and the first is a small cross. My second tattoo is a lion. My favorite movie of all time is The Lion King, so that’s what that means. The lion is the king of the jungle and that is who I feel that I am when I’m with my family. I’m the king of my family. I’m the oldest and I hold everyone down.”

Marcellus Garrett, senior Tatted at age 18

+ PHOTOS BY MADELINE MANNING “I have a little tattoo above my ankle that has a treble clef and kind of a heart shape on it. It is really cliche, but it means ‘music is the key to my heart.’ For seven years I played French horn and it’s a big part of who I developed into now.”

Madison Stieg, senior Tatted at age 16 + PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

+ PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

“[My tattoo] says ‘happiness isn’t always found in beautiful ways. I got it done because I went through a very rough patch with myself junior year, and the way I got out of it was by finding happiness in myself.”

— Elizabeth Clarey, senior Tatted at age 18

“My grandma and I used to argue a lot about tattoos and she was so against them. One day, she randomly called me and was like ‘Hey, I was thinking about you and I want to get a tattoo and you’re just the one person I want to get one with.’ We argued a lot about what we could get and so we just got little hearts and now anytime I look at it, I’ll think of her.”

—Jordyn Pomerantz, senior Tatted at age 18 + PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING NW PASSAGE | feature 13

OUT OF ORDER Vandalism strikes the boys’ restrooms causing them to remain locked +SAM RICE AND NICK LORINO Over the past few months, boys’ restrooms throughout the school have been vandalized countless times, resulting in the closure of three of the eight restrooms. A student or students used feces to write profanity and draw inappropriate artwork on the walls. Students are also vaping and throwing stacks of paper towels on the ground in the restrooms. Vice principal Jack Johnson has been reaching out to students, trying to find out who the culprit is and resolve this issue. “We meet every week and we communicate weekly about where we are with the vandalism,” Johnson said. “So far, we are not satisfied with the results, so there’s no set date for when the bathrooms will reopen.” Male students are frustrated that their bathrooms have not been unlocked and whether that will occur this year. Sophomore Adam Consiglio, who has a class near one of the locked bathrooms, is aggravated that he must walk to a more distant bathroom even though he did not contribute to the vandalism. “It makes me really mad because it’s punishing and affecting kids who had nothing to do with the vandalism,” Consiglio said. “It’s very inconvenient. We are high schoolers. We have to be more responsible and not act so

childishly in the first place.” Administrators have vowed not to reopen the bathrooms until they feel the misbehavior has stopped. “When we feel that the vandalism and graffiti is not going to occur again, we will reopen the bathrooms,” Johnson said. “We are not convinced that it will stop if we open up [a closed] bathroom.” The bathroom issue is not only irritating for students and faculty, but is also inconvenient for the custodians. Jim Hunt, a custodian at Northwest for five years, claims that this is not the first time vandalism has occurred in the restrooms. “Taking a whole [bunch] of paper towels and throwing them throughout the bathroom is ridiculous and that happens on a daily basis,” Hunt said. “That’s why some of the bathrooms, especially the boys’, are locked. We’ve had so much vandalism.” Administrators are asking students who have knowledge of these incidents or who can provide helpful information to contact them. “If you see anything, have the courage to say to someone ‘Stop’ or talk to a teacher or administrator,” Johnson said. “Let us know the time and date and location so we can look it up on the cameras.”

“When we feel that the vandalism and graffiti is not going to occur again, we will reopen the bathrooms.” —JACK JOHNSON

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

What to do When You Encounter Vandalism 1. If you encounter a person vandalizing the restroom, encourage them to do the right thing and stop. 2. If the person refuses to stop, go to the office and report who the person or persons, as well as when and where it occurred. 3. If you go into the bathroom and it has already been vandalized, report it immediately to the office so that the administrators can investigate the problem as soon as possible.

14 Feb. 15, 2017 | vol. 49

Senior Jerad Habben pins junior Riley Wheat in the Aux. Gym Jan. 17. With 100 pins to his career, Habben has shattered the previous school record of 79 pins. + Photo by Abby Ryan

PINNED

Senior Jerad Habben has brought new meaning to the phrase “leaving it all on the mat”

tudents stop and stare as senior Jerad Habben walks into class Monday morning after the first wrestling tournament of the year. Two black eyes and several bruises discolored his face, but that is all in a day’s work. “I’m pretty physical,” Habben said. “I’m pretty nice outside of wrestling, but once I am on the mat, I am mean and physical. That is one of the reasons that my face is always messed up. I wrestle with no regard for the safety of my face.” Being as aggressive as possible is Habben’s main focus this season. “I don’t even remember the last two [black eyes], like how they happened,” Habben said. “I got stitches and then I wrestled two days later.” During the second tournament, while beginning wrestlers were still figuring out which technique to use during their matches, Habben set the pin record for Northwest at 90 pins in his wrestling career (his record is currently 102 pins). In wrestling, a pin is when a wrestler’s shoulder blades have simultaneously

touched the mat for two seconds. “Every time I see one of those records broken, it is awesome,” head wrestling coach Howard Newcomb said. “I tell the guys that your name is temporarily on that [record] board until the next guy comes along to break it. But when you are a champion, your name goes on the board permanently.” His parents have cheered him on from the stands since he was six. His dad taught him the sport while his mom took photos. “I started wrestling because my dad wrestled in college,” Habben said. “My dad was a two-time state champ and he just got me into it [and] I’ve been into it ever since.” After taking part in junior wrestling leagues as a child, Habben was ready to hit the mat when he stepped onto the NW campus four years ago. To Newcomb, however, he was no secret. “I had already seen him wrestle for a couple of years due to our kids club wrestling,” Newcomb said. “He was a hard worker, risk taker and had little fear in

‘Only Boys Can Wrestle’

Junior Whitney Dugan wrestles Billy Scarlett in the Aux. Gym Jan. 17. + PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMERSON

trying moves that might cost him a match. I knew we could definitely work with him.” During his freshman year, Habben wrestled in the 106 lb weight class but eventually moved up to wrestle at 132 this season. Along with growing physically, his coaches have seen a different mental approach to each match. “He wants to score points,” Newcomb said. “On his feet, he is attacking and setting things up. On bottom he is trying to get out and get away. Habben, in every aspect of the game, is looking for an opportunity to score a point.” One factor that separates wrestling from other sports is the strict weight requirements. Athletes must stay in the weight class they have been assigned until the day of the tournament, and for some wrestlers that means cutting weight. “It’s not hard to get used to if you accept that you have to make that weight class,” Habben said. “You have the right mindset to make that weight class, and then it’s worth it.” For Habben having a stricter diet in order

to make weight has become easy over the years. “I don’t eat any junk food and I don’t drink any soda,” Habben said. “I have sandwiches and fruit and water all week and once it gets to be a meet day, I eat a lot, like eight pounds.” Wrestling has provided Habben with a strict workout routine and diet, which he plans on continuing next year. Habben has committed to wrestling at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., next year. “I realized that I didn’t want the normal college experience, like going out and partying, so I decided I was going to look at the academies,” Habben said. The wrestling season comes to a close at the state tournament on Feb. 23-24 in Park City, Ks. Habben plans to win the tournament. “Wrestling is like two people are walking out on the mat and no one is there to support them,” Habben said. “It’s like a fight with rules and I just like it.” +BY CADENCE ELDER & MATTHEW OWENS

Two girls have defeated the stereotype that wrestling is a boy-only sport

t has never really occurred to junior Whitney Dugan or senior Dominique Brooks that wrestling could be awkward and uncomfortable. They are the only two girls on the NW wrestling team, but breaking the stereotype that wrestling is a male sport has not proved to be as difficult as people might think. “People think it’s really awkward, but it’s not,” Dugan said. “It’s annoying sometimes because we are not as strong and we know it.” It all started as a joke with friends that Dugan, then an 8th grader, should join the wrestling team. “I ended up really liking it and stuck with it,” Dugan said. “I was going to quit, but my brother was a senior and he was doing it, so I

wanted to do it, too.” Wrestling also keeps her in shape for her other sports: volleyball and swim. “I like the competitiveness of [wrestling] and the toughness,” Dugan said. “I enjoy working out and feeling of the aftermath of it.” Six girls began the season. Four left for personal reasons and injuries, and now only Dugan and Brooks remain. “Wrestling itself is a sport where you have to leave your comfort zone every day,” Brooks said. “The reward is not necessarily winning, but trying so hard in a match that I feel proud of myself whatever the outcome may be.” So far, Dugan has only been able to

wrestle in one tournament due to an injury that took place while she was trying to max out of her weight class. “We were hang clinging and maxing out,” Dugan said. “I was doing whatever I could to max out,when [the weight] came down. It just hit my knee. I had to get two x-rays because they thought it was fractured.” Brooks, who wrestles at 106 lb., does not see gender as much of an issue on the mat. “It’s not as weird as people think,” Brooks said. “The boys and the coaches treat me as an equal. There’s no gender in wrestling, just wrestlers.” +BY CADENCE ELDER & MATTHEW OWENS NW PASSAGE | feature 15

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Right Up Her Alley

+ BY CADENCE ELDER

Bowling coach predicts Alaina Burris will be the first girl to complete in the state bowling tournament all four years

Some people think that bowling is an activity you play once or twice a month with friends. The only stress is whether to use bumpers. For senior Alaina Burris, bowling is a sport and she has the dedication and technique to prove them wrong. “I’ve been bowling since I was five and my parents worked in a bowling alley when I was growing up,” Burris said. “Every single weekend, my parents had league Friday night and then work all day Saturday and Sunday. So we spent all day, every weekend at Gladstone bowl.” Bowling was not always something that Burris loved to do. She said that this is not her hidden talent, but a skill that she has worked on. “For quite a while, I actually hated it,” Burris said. “I despised not being able to spend time with my friends on the weekend, but my parents didn’t let me quit.” During her sophomore year, she bowled a 678 series, a career best, winning the Sunflower League tournament. While leaving a mark on the lane, she also met her best friend, 2017 graduate Katy Doleshal. “It was terrifying, actually, because I didn’t know that I won and it was the highest series that I had,” Burris said. “I told myself ‘Yeah, I’m not going to win.’ They started [reading] the list and they got to second place and at that point I knew that I had won. Then Katy and I got to stand up there in first

and second place, in front of all these people who always beat us.” This season, Burris has acquired two medals, one for placing second against Lawrence Free State and another for placing fifth at the Olathe Lanes East Invitational. “She will be the first girl to make it to state for four years in a row, which I’m sure she will,” bowling coach Billy Dent said. “She kind of captains the team. I think she has done a better job this year of not only bowling the way she bowls, which [allows her to beat] most of the boys and being a good team leader and encouraging others.” Bowling has been a sport recognized by the Kansas State High School Activity Association for 14 years. “I think people say it’s not a sport because it’s a lot of sitting down,” Burris said. “Every time you pick up a ball, it’s four steps and then you throw the ball. A lot of people don’t know that it is actually the technique. It’s where you throw the ball, how you throw the ball, what kind of ball you have.” She hopes to place again at the Sunflower League competition on Feb. 13 and will continue her career at Ottawa University next year. “I know I’m going to continue to do it in college, but I’ve grown with this team and with the coaches and I’ve grown with the employees at all the bowling alleys,” Burris said. “I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.”

Highest Three Game Series BOYS: Garrett Bolin: 688 Austin Anderson: 671 Travis Morrison: 673

“What people don’t realize is from place to place, even lane to lane, the conditions are different.” — BILLY DENT VARSITY BOWLING COACH

+ PHOTO BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS 1. At practice, Alania Burris bowls Jan. 10 at Park Lanes. Burris is going to Ottawa University on a bowling scholarship. 2. Burris practices at Park Lanes Jan. 31. “My favorite part of bowling is probably the fact that it’s given me some of the best friends I’ve ever had who also enjoy bowling as much as I do.”

+ PHOTO BY CIARA SANDERS

GIRLS: Alaina Burris: 629 Hadley Sayers: 604 Emilia Battles: 519

NW PASSAGE | feature 17

Record-Breaker A long-standing record is finally broken by sophomore Scott Klein

or sophomore Scott Klein, 23 milliseconds can change the course of the future. On Feb. 2, Klein broke a 29 year old school record in the 50-yard freestyle. “My parents were screaming like crazy people,” Klein said. “My teammates were cheering and my coach came over and gave me a bear hug when I got out of the water.” The record for the 50-freestyle, 22.09 seconds was held by 1989 graduate Eric Brown. “I broke it by three-tenths of a second, meaning my time was 21.86. It was amazing, just seeing my time on the board,” Klein said. “I have been working all year trying to break off every millisecond I can. Being able to see 21 on the board was such an adrenaline rush. It was an incredible feeling.” Klein has been swimming competitively since the fifth grade when his grandmother encouraged him to turn a recreational activity into a year-round commitment. “Jokingly, my grandma had told me in a few years she was going to buy tickets to see me in the Olympics,” Klein said.

“I was stepping up my game in the pool during the summer season and she thought I was doing a lot better than other kids.” Not only did Klein break the school record for the 50-freestyle, but he has also been undefeated in that relay the entire season. “I love everything about swim,” Klein said. “It’s competitive, yet it’s an individual sport. I don’t have to rely on anyone else for my success. It’s just all on me how well I do.” At practice, the team, which includes Klein’s teammates junior Ben Harrell and senior Matt Nolan, work on high intensity speed drills. The drills refine the swimmers’ skill to keep maximum speed throughout the entire 50 freestyle, as well as to perfect technique. “Swimming with Scott is something else,” Nolan said. “He is such a good swimmer that, if you beat him in anything, you feel so accomplished. I would call our relationship competitive. We are always going to race each other during practice.” Nolan has been a varsity swimmer all four years of high school and has

+BY CADENCE ELDER AND CATE TAGGART

improved his times and set new personal records this year. “My fastest time has been 24.4 in the 50-free and 54.29 in the 100-free,” Nolan said. Nolan credits new swim coach Ryan Lee with the team’s successes. “[Coach Lee has] helped us get much faster and more powerful than we could have imagined,” Nolan said. “With our old coach we never went to the weight room and now we go three or four times a week.”

The state competition is on Feb. 16 at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. The swim team has qualified in all of the relays from freestyle to backstroke. Klein will be swimming the 50- and 100-freestyle along with two relays. “The plan is to break some more records and win state junior and senior year,” Klein said. “I am just going to see where swim takes me.”

“I plan to just keep swimming, like Dory.” — SCOTT KLEI N , SO PH O M O R E

18 Feb. 15, 2018 | vol. 49

1. Sophomore Scott Klein poses for his parents after breaking the 50-yard freestyle school record Feb. 2 at Prairie Trail Middle School. Klein finished first in lane three with a time of 21:86. 2. Klein broke graduate Eric Brown’s record in the 50-yard freestyle. He was 0.23 seconds

faster than Brown. “Breaking the oldest swim record means so much to me,” Klein said. “I’ve been going at it for a year and to finally break it is a huge acomplishment that I am proud to hold and continue to lower for the next two years.” +BY SKYLAR BROGAN

Month in Photos

1. 3.

1. Julie Moore, parent of junior Olivia Moore, holds up a sign outside of Northwest Jan. 25. After the death of two students, parents gathered to bring positivity to students arriving at school in the morning. “My heart became full of so many emotions,” Moore said. “I wanted children to see the love and [know] that others are listening and are there for you.” +PHOTO BY ABBY RYAN

2. During 4th hour, junior Cameron Shelby edits his footage Jan. 25 in Room 153. Shelby worked on the seminar show with sophomore Justin D’Silva. +PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING 3. Scoring two points, freshman Rachel Allison scores one of the five baskets she made Jan. 23 in the Main Gym. “I was satisfied with the way I played personally,” Allison said. “I felt proud that we were able to play so well together as a team during that particular game.” +PHOTO BY DYLAN MITCHELL 4. Getting advice from wrestling coach Ross Whitmore, junior Charles Brockman prepares to wrestle against Blue Valley West Jan. 31 in the Auxillary Gym. Brockman and Whitmore have had a strong bond on and off the court. “We have a pretty good relationship and joke around a lot,” Brockman said. +PHOTO BY ABBY RYAN 5. Playing the vibraphone, junior Merritt Parsons performs “Rainforest Journey” Jan. 25 in the Main Gym. Parsons joined the percussion ensemble in the center of the gym during the band’s annual area festival. “I play with a couple of groups, so it was fun to play everything I’ve been working [in the same concert],” Parsons said. +PHOTO BY ABIGAIL ROBBERTS 4.

NW PASSAGE | feature 19

“When I looked at [senior] Maddie Troutt, I immediately started crying. I got an overwhelming feeling of love and support, when being able to share that special moment with the people that I love .” — Rachel Lee senior

the

NW PASSAGE