Issue 10 by Northwest Passage

northwest

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 10 - APRIL 11, 2014

With e-cigs rising in popularity, many students are unclear as to the true health, social, and legal benefits and risks .11 Keeping hope .16

Lisa Covington, a patient with breast cancer, hopes to cross off meeting Ellen Degeneres from her bucket list

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

hard wired .09

As technology grows, society may be dealing with their most distracted generation yet

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

STAFF

VOLUME 45 - ISSUE 10 - APRIL 11, 2014

THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE

PHOTO by savannah kelly

16 08

PHOTOGRAPHERS

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

E-cigs have become popular among teenagers and some say it may be due to peer pressure, but not all students know the consequences

Keeping Hope

Lisa Covington, a patient with breast cancer, hopes to cross off meeting Ellen Degeneres from her bucket list

MARKETING

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE:

MY FRIEND, MY FAILURE

Failure is inevitable, but so is recovery.

pulled up to the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm. Suddenly the smell hit me, cigarettes. I looked around at the cars stopped next to me. No one was smoking. The smokey smell was from a car in front of me that did not get stopped by the light. The smell stayed with me until I had passed through the intersection and hit 67th street. I hate the cigarette smell. It makes me feel like I need to go home

and shower to make the smell leave me. When I was little, my dad, my sister and I would go to Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for dinner every Tuesday. We wanted to play the trivia game at the bar. The only problem was, the bar was the smoking section of the restaurant. After a half hour I would start feeling sick from smelling the cigarette smoke. We eventually had to stop going to the restaurant because the smell bothered me so much. If the people at the bar where smoking

The Northwest Passage and smnw.com, the official, school-sponsored student media of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School have been established as forums for student expression. 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 news magazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine distributed every three weeks during fifth hour. Subscriptions are available to the community for $40. The staff of the Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. In

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

GRAPHICS BY MITCH FEYERHERM

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

21 15 09 PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIKE FREE HACK

17 14 19 21

THIS DISH SERVED

When craving Chinese food, we found the two best places to satisfy your cravings, and at decent prices

TOUGH SKIN

The rugby team has shown their strength, in numbers and in dedication, in preparation for this season’s hardest games.

POETRY PLANNING

In preparation for the ninth annual Poetry Slam, the Passage staff has compiled a list of nine tips for NW poets to create the “perfect poem”

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

Two students are taking a year off of school to experience something new

Hard Wired

As technology grows, society may be dealing with their most distracted generation yet

SMASH HIT

A great game that is putting the “Hit” in Smash Hit

electronic cigarettes, we probably wouldn’t have stopped going to Friday’s. With the e-cigs the second hand effects are lessened greatly. According to Health.time.com, although it is not smoke that is released into the air, others around the e-cig smoker are still exposed to second-hand nicotine. E-cigs do not have tobacco in them, so the smoker and those around

them are not exposed to the effects of it. Because e-cigs are relatively new, there have not been many studies on the long term effects of smoking them. (For more information about the health risks, see page 12). I would much rather someone be smoking an e-cig around me than a regular cigarette. But if you are thinking about getting an e-cig, make sure to do your research.

Talk to your parents about getting one, and make sure you understand the potential health risks that go along with smoking.

accordance with Kansas statutes, the content of the newspaper is controlled and created by the staff of the paper. When questions concerning word choice, legal or ethical issues arise, the editorial board will address these concerns. If the editorial board cannot reach agreement on the handling of the issue facing them, the editors-in-chief will make the final determination.

Letters to if signed. and good policy but

Letters to the editor as well as any questions or concerns regarding either The Northwest Passage or smnw.com should be sent to either sarahegger.nw@gmail.com or graceamundson@gmail.com.

the editor will be accepted and The staff reserves the right to taste, but will in no way change not people the co-editors-in-chief

encouraged but will only be published edit for grammatical mistakes, length ideas or viewpoints. Letters may attack reserve the right to refuse any letter.

Sincerely, Sarah Egger Co-Editor-In-Chief

What students say about College Now

“Great way to earn college credit in high school!” “It is a wonderful, invaluable opportunity.” “Stay ahead and get a head start for college credits.” College Now at Johnson County Community College is the only nationally accredited concurrent program in Kansas. See your school counselor for details or visit www.jccc.edu/collegenow

briefly a photo by carleigh whitman

photo by EMILIE AMUNATIGUI

Music Students Compete in Chicago N BY SOPHIE FLORES

orthwest choirs and orchestras took a 10-hour bus trip to Chicago to compete at the annual Heritage Music Festival. They performed at Plainville East High School and Bolingbrook High School March 28 and 29. Students attend every four years, so it was every student’s first chance to compete for their school on a national scale. “This competition is national, so you have more pressure,” senior Leilani Velasco said. “You’re competing with the best of the best from everywhere. It’s a lot of fun to see all the diversity of other places and see how music is growing in so many different places. In a concert, you just want to do your best, but in a competition you know there is a pressure to win.” The music department began fund-raising last March. They competed against schools from across the country, including SMW, the only other school from Kansas.

The groups are judged on a 100-point scale by three judges from different universities. Awards were presented March 29 at the Medieval Times restaurant. “Even though we pretty much won the competition, I asked [the seniors], ‘Do you think you did the very best that you possibly can?’, and they said no, and I agreed with them.” orchestra director Jeffrey Bishop said. ” think it speaks well that we have very high expectations for the program and for ourselves.” The Choir earned a Silver Award, meaning they received a score in a 80 to 89 range. The String Orchestra earned a Gold Award, which means they scored in a 90 to 100 range. The orchestra also received the Outstanding Orchestra Award for having the highest score in the orchestra division and the Adjudicators Award for having the highest score in the instrumental division.

STUCO HELD 6TH ANNUAL garage sale T BY PAIGE EICHKORN + DEENA ESSA

he StuCo 6th annual fundraising garage sale was held April 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They raised about $4500 to help the StuCo executive board go to leadership camps. Every year this event is handed down to the next student body president and vice president; in this case, juniors Harrison Chen and Griffin Robinson. “Its a reward for us in a way,” Chen said. “It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it because it funds our camp for executive board. It’s a good experience for our first time leading an event.” For many of the shoppers the phrase ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ was a motive. “You never know what you’ll find,” Sarah Dent, StuCo sponsor said. “I’ve gotten some neat stuff over the years myself. The most enjoyable part is going through everything and looking for treasures.” Julie Robinson, Griffin Robinson’s mother, was one of the numerous parents who helped organize the event. While setting up she said she doubted some things would even be sold. “I was unpacking and I pulled out [a preserved shark] in a glass jar,” said Julie. “I screamed and I was like ‘What is this?’. It was the first thing that sold this morning.” She said another man bought about 50 pairs of shoes that he would send back to his native country of Tanzania. “People come in with all kinds of objectives: for their homes, for their hobbies, for their businesses,” said Julie. “It’s a great community builder. It brings together people from all facets of the Northwest community towards a common goal.”

StuCo to hold annual Sleep-In-A-Box event

he annual Sleep-in-a-Box fundraiser, organized by StuCo and representative Carly Olsen, will take place the evening of April 21 on the track. Check-in time will be 8 to 10 p.m. Clubs including CCC, Interact, NHS, varsity drill team and StuCo will participate. The money goes to Shalom House, a charity for homeless men in Kansas City. This event provides 40 percent of their annual proceeds. Some of the men usually come and give talks about their experience with Shalom House.

“Just the way [Shalom House] helped [the homeless men’s] quality of life. It’s humbling and it makes the kids think again [about] why they’re doing this for this charity and [for] these people,” Olsen said. “It’s definitely a benefit to have [the homeless men] there and we’re excited for them to come back.” Students are required to bring their own box to participate in the event, and are advised to bring coats, hats, blankets and pillows. If there is a change in weather, students will be moved to the gym. BY PAIGE EICHKORN

NORTHWEST PASSAGE 05 a

NEWS

SAVVY SALON

BEAUTY SANCTUARY

816-522-3048 LENORA LEATHERS 5910 W. 59TH TERRACE MISSION, KS 66202 www.savvysalonkc.com

Authentic Mexican Restaurant Bring this ad in for

10% off

Colleen Winter Owner

13222 West 62nd Terrace Shawnee, KS 66216 Phone: (913) 962-0077 Fax: (913) 962-5577 Email: wbushawnee@gmail.com www.shawnee.wbu.com

12122 W. 87th Street • Lenexa, KS • 66215 • 913.541.1111 www.los3compadres.com

Summer Aquatic Positions assistant Pool Manager must be 18 years of age and hold current american red Cross waterpark lifeguard Certification. Starting salary is $12.00/hr lifeguards must be 16 years of age and hold current american red Cross waterpark lifeguard Certification. Starting salary is $8.75/hr. Swim instructors must be 16 years of age or older. training will be provided. Starting salary: $9.75/hr. Concession/Front Desk attendant must be 15 years of age. Starting Salary is $7.25/hr. assistant Dive Coaches must be 16 years of age with prior diving experience. Starting salary: $9.75/hr. head Swim Coach must be 18 years of age with previous coaching experience. assistant Swim Coach must be 16 years of age with prior swimming experience. Starting Salary $9.75/hr Pool Employment applications available on-line at www.cityofshawnee.org and at Shawnee City hall, 11110 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, kS 66203. Positions open until filled. all positions require pre-employment drug screen.

Twitter: @wbushawnee Facebook: Wild Birds Unlimited of Shawnee, KS

“Cigarette smoking is associated with a 70 percent increase in the age specific death rates of males, and to a lesser extent with increase death rate of females.... cigarette smoking contributes substantially to morality from certain specific diseases and to the overall death rate.” -An excerpt from the original Surgeon General’s report by Luther Terry, 1964 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/first-surgeon-general-report-onsmokings-health-effects-marks-50-year-anniversary/

COMPILED BY ATALIE BLACK GRAPHICS BY CALISTA BOHLING

The NW choir and orchestra spent hours in a charter bus to Chicago for competitions in March 27-30

The choir and orchestra only go on this trip every 4 years @LIPartyStories had over approximately 25,000 followers before being taken down on Twitter

According to Washington Post,

Teens spend about

7.5

hours a day with technology

Today, 18.1% of the U.S. population smokes cigarettes, which is a decline from 20.9% in 2005 http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/_story.html

NORTHWEST PASSAGE 07 a

NEWS

MY FRIEND, MY FAILURE

Failure is inevitable, but so is recovery

couple months ago, I was a part of AMIGOS, an organization that sends students to Latin America to do volunteer work. I missed two training sessions — to perform in a musical and a piano concert — and I turned in forms late. Mid-February, the AMIGOS board cut me from the organization. The weeks following, I fell far behind on homework due to sickness, and I even tried to take some days off to catch up (it doesn’t work). Most recently, I auditioned for the spring play, though I couldn’t be considered because I, again, didn’t do the paperwork. Through these experiences, however, I gained confidence. When you feel like the universe hates you, the worst thing you can do is hate yourself too. You can avoid this by recognizing and embracing your failure. Failure and rejection are hard to understand, and painful to deal with, but failing is better than quitting. (Regarding the play, I ended up on props, a job that I have wanted since my freshman year.)

“

In her Harvard commencement speech, J. K. Rowling said that failure is “a stripping away of the inessential.” If I were to name the subjects I cared most about, the main concerns I see ahead of me, they would be writing, music, and college. And, that is now all I have: newspaper, piano lessons, and school. Everything else was a distraction from what I really needed. Now, I can focus all my energy into the things that are most important. Your scholarly success and all the fancy, impressive things that go on a college application or resume do not define you. I was a perfectionist and an over-achiever. Failure gave me the chance to self-edit and focus on what I really care about. Failure was a humbling experience that freed me in a way that I never expected. No one should ever be afraid of failure. We should embrace it, because failure is loss, and it is through loss that we find our true selves. In the end, failure is worth it. BY SOPHIE FLORES

Failure and rejection are hard to understand, and painful to deal with, but failing is better than quitting.”

A Long Island-based Twitter account suspended for uploading compromising pictures of underage teenagers

“

ut a bunch of high school teenagers and a plentiful supply of alcohol under one roof and you get a raging, wild, house party. Throw a camera into the spin and you get @LIPartyStories. The Twitter account @LIPartyStories was started in December last year and has since amassed over 25,000 followers before it was suspended. Teenagers drinking, fighting, naked and passed out were just some of what was splashed all over Twitter. The account was launched with a purpose: something to “have a good laugh at.” But there is nothing funny about posting the picture of a teenage boy who had too much to drink and is lying on the floor unconscious surrounded by beer bottles when he could easily have alcohol poisoning. There is nothing funny about publicizing the picture of a girl with her pants and underwear down to her knees as she urinates in a sink. And there is absolutely nothing funny about plastering the picture of a passed out girl on other teenagers’ accounts with a sign reading “Free Sex” propped up against her. According to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), nearly three quarters of students (72%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school. There are approximately 88,000 deaths due to excessive alcohol consumption each year in the U.S. Underage drinking is not a light matter and

There is nothing funny about posting the picture of a teenage boy who had too much to drink and is lying on the floor unconscious.”

APRIL 11, 2014

OPINION

Three quarters of students have consumed alcohol by the end of high school.

“

We do stupid things. But we don’t need a Twitter account to make sure that our most embarrassing moments haunt us for the rest of our lives.

portraying these pictures in a positive light has resulted in demands made by other Twitter users to bring it back. A 2009 survey conducted by Microsoft showed that 70% of U.S. job recruiters rejected candidates because of information they found online and on social networking. The pictures on the controversial feed were uncensored and the faces of many teenagers easily recognizable and in some cases were even accompanied by the teen’s name and school. The pictures were allegedly sent to the administrator via direct message by the willing teens who “wouldn’t have sent them to [@LIPartyStories]” in the first place had they had a problem with them. The administrator also told NY Daily News that they honored removal requests. However, what seemed like a good idea under the influence probably won’t seem like a good idea when sober. We are teenagers and we know these things happen. Underage drinking happens and wild bashes happen too. We do stupid things. But we don’t need a Twitter account to make sure that our most embarrassing moments haunt us for the rest of our lives. We don’t need our parents and future employers finding out and we definitely don’t need a reporter from another school miles away writing about our blunders, mistakes and regrets. BY DEENA ESSA

There are approximately

88, 000 deaths

due to excessive alcohol consumption each year in the U.S.

70 percent

of U.S. job recruiters rejected candidates because of information they found on social networking.

Staff Votes

20 01 agree

disagree

Wired

staff editorial

As technology grows, society may be facing their most distracted generation yet

photo illustration by nate compton

felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Across from me, my sister was on her phone, and my other sister was on her iPad. The children and teenagers were immersed in their personal technology, while the parents attempted to start a conversation, which ended up being about what Katie had posted on Facebook. The generation has been criticized to be The Distracted Generation, according to a book written by Jason Fertig, with the National Association of Scholars. The technology that books like Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock warned us about is finally catching up with us. More libraries are shifting to ebooks, and music albums to iTunes. Could this be a good thing? Or could it lead to an inevitable collapse? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. According to a research study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 50 percent of students ages 8-18 are using technology and media during their homework time. The study also discovered that since 1999, the rise of average time spent on a student’s phone has increased by an hour and twenty minutes. According to a study conducted by Nielson, teens are averaging 3,339 texts per month. Some send upwards of 50,000. Could these distractions prevent students from completing their homework more efficiently? Recently, a study conducted by the Pew Research Center suggested that it could. In this study, 64 percent of the teachers found that the technology was more distracting rather than helpful. In fact, 65 percent of them found that students are more overwhelmed with the amount of research online than finding it helpful. So, with switching to the new technology being given to students next year, what could this mean? Research and surveys studying the effect of technology used in education are contradictory, showing both positive and negative impacts on student achievements. Technology allows students to individualize their education based on their specific needs, and provides different ways to display their learning. Schools that have implemented programs giving computer devices to all students have shown improvement in independent researching, project-based learning, student engagement and achievement. Implementing modern technology in schools can enhance education, but it can also provide a great deal of distraction. Some critics argue that too many schools emphasize technology over learning. It doesn’t show any evidence of improving understanding or critical thinking skills. Most educational distractions are technologyrelated, such as having multiple devices in the workplace, texting, and social networking. Researchers in California State University observed students working in a fifteen minute time frame, and found that they had a lower GPA it they checked Facebook at all during that period. Technology also has an impact on our physical and emotional health. According to www.cbslocal.com,

it has led to a trend of reduced physical activity, back aches from spending more hours sitting at a computer, and neck strain from resting devices on laps. People can develop computer vision syndrome, which causes irritation and problems focusing, due to lack of blinking when staring at screens. The overuse of earbuds can indirectly cause hearing loss or tinnitus, which causes ringing in the ears. Studies in the University of Gothenburg have shown that those constantly on cell phones are more likely to report mental health issues. The light of computer screens prevents deep sleep by affecting production of melatonin. People who overuse technology can develop sleep disorders, constant stress or depressive symptoms. Common Sense Media Researchers found that use of digital devices can decrease students’ attention span, ability to write, communication skills, critical thinking and ability to do homework. What’s next? Could these laptops and iPads lead to the improvement in education, or a regression? Edward Lawless, who wrote an article about technology in education found that teachers were more worried than students about this new development. He titled it, “Technology in Education: if students aren’t worried, why are teachers?” “While students in the audience didn’t think it was a big deal,” Lawless said. “Not all of the educators saw technology and education flowing together so smoothly. There was some anxiety in the room about what would happen to “authentic teaching”, whether online learning could really offer “meaningful activity” and “true engagement”, and if social media could provide “real interaction”. The reality is no preparation could effectively prepare teachers for the advancements that are to come. “The internet already empowers students with unprecedented educational access in ways that we may never have foreseen as teachers in training,” Lawless said. The most important thing students must realize is that the most effective way of communication is still face-toface. While technological advances are moving at a rate faster than before, it’s important students moderate cell phone usage. In the same way, teachers must learn to find their own middle ground in being open to changes for students. They should simply facilitate learning, not limit it. “No matter what the conditions may be – online or face-to-face – the quality of the educational experience depends on the integrity of the curriculum, the teacher and the learning community.” The waiter came back to our table... “Can I take your order?” Beep. Now, my parents were on their phones. Texting, playing Candy Crush, and emailing. Dinner had turned into an affair with our phones.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE 09 Y

OPINION

BLOCH

Where you get your degree matters to your success!

Get your degree at one of the nation’s top-ranked schools of management. The Bloch School at UMKC provides a fun, experiential educational experience that prepares you to succeed in any career path you choose. Choose the program that will shape your future:  B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration)  B.S.A. (Bachelor of Science in Accounting) For more information on our programs, contact Gene Pegler at 816.235.5254 or peglere@umkc.edu.

HITECH Health Information Systems

Are you interested in health care? Do you enjoy working with technology? Try out a class in this growing career field for free!

bloch.umkc.edu

Check out HITECH/Health Information Systems classes at JCCC.

Experience the amazing new Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Thanks to Senate Bill 155, Kansas high school students can enroll in Introduction to Health Information Systems (HCIS 230) for free. Classes are online or in a hybrid format, and are 5 weeks in length. Visit www.jccc.edu/ high-school/sb-155.html to learn more.

Contact us at www.jccc.edu/hitech or call 913-469-8500, ext. 4020. Johnson County Community College • 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park

photo illustration by nate compton

E-cigarettes, thought to be a safer alternative than regular cigarettes, have been trending among teenagers, but what are the real costs? BY ATALIE BLACK + NATE COMPTON + SARAH EGGER + HAENA LEE

A blue light illuminated senior Oseas Perez’s face as he inhaled the peach mix with E- Energy-flavored vapor. He opened his mouth in an O, and blew rings of thick fog. Perez first began using an electronic cigarette during his sophomore year, when his older friends started using one. Out those surveyed, 75.1 percent of students know someone who uses an e-cig. “I thought it was really kind of dumb, in a way, because they wanted to quit cigarettes, but smoked cigarettes sometimes,” Perez said. “It’s sort of like hookah. A lot of people smoke hookah, and I like hookah. The e-cig was just there. Why go waste money at a hookah bar when you can get an e-cig without nicotine in it?” Out of 365 surveys, 54.2 percent of students have felt the pressure to begin using devices such as e-cigs and hookah pens, just as they have been pressured to use regular cigarettes. According to the American Lung Association, two

of the top five reasons teens begin smoking are peer pressure and feeling as if everyone around them is smoking. “Yeah, I would say that [sophomore Dylan St.Clair and I were more inclined to try them] when all of our friends were sitting around with them,” sophomore Hunter Wiercinski said. “Most, or all, of our friends have them.” With only the assurance of a friend, or even an acquaintance, teens have become convinced that these electronic smoking devices are less harmful than cigarettes. Some teens begin to smoke these devices to feel a “buzz”; however, they often use e-cigs more than one would use a conventional cigarette to achieve the same feeling. “You can actually feel a buzz,” Oseas said, “but you have to keep doing it so often to get a buzz like a cigarette.” This misinformation perpetrated the idea that electronic smoking devices are nicotine-free or have a low nicotine content. While one can purchase nicotine-free e-liquids, the liquids and

cartridges generally do contain nicotine and can contain more nicotine than a regular cigarette. E-liquids can contain up to 48 mg/mL; however, the average e-liquid contains only 18 milligrams. 48 milligrams is the same amount of nicotine inhaled by five cigarettes. Because nicotine is the addictive agent of cigarettes, one can become addicted using e-cigs as well. “People don’t realize you really can get addicted to them if you’re not careful,” senior Skyler Jackson said. “However, there are also lower-nicotine content ones or ones without nicotine. You can’t get nicotine-free cigarettes.” According to a recent report from the CDC, 160,000 high school students have used e-cigs without ever smoking conventional cigarettes. Of those who smoke at Northwest, 85.2 percent prefer an e-cig over a cigarette. “People here think of smoking cigarettes as more of a dangerous thing that they shouldn’t be doing, whereas with an e-cig, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s only

99 percent water. My friend has one right here, and I can take just one puff of it,’” Jackson said. “I think that they are too accessible; I even know a lot of sophomores who have them, and it’s going to get a lot of people addicted to nicotine who have never smoked cigarettes to start with.” With the growing popularity of these devices, they have begun to show up in school, in restrooms and even in classrooms. Approximately 85.2 percent of students prefer e-cigs over cigarettes. Of those who have seen a student smoking an e-cig on school grounds, 29.3 percent said they saw a student smoking in a classroom, 25 percent saw a student smoking in a restroom, 35.5 percent saw a student smoking in the student parking lot, and 10.2 percent saw a student smoking on other school grounds. “They are very common in school,” Wiercinski said. “I saw a kid [using] one in the bathroom.” Smoking in group settings has an appeal to many teens as their desire to smoke increases as they see others around them smoking, according to the CDC. continued on next page...

NORTHWEST PASSAGE y

FEATURE

continued...

E-CIG Anatomy of an

MOUTHPIECE

The tip, or mouthpiece, is commonly made

the vapor from the cartridge into the smoker’s mouth.

CARTRIDGE (CARTOMIZER)

There are many kinds of cartridges. Some cartridges contain the atomizer function

and some cannot; and some can only hold e-liquid such as the Tank cartridge. In its basic form, the cartridge is the part of device

ATOMIZER

The atomizer is the functional part of the

Health

acetylcholine works in the brain also. But,

It was just a year ago when Perez decided to get an electronic cigarette of his own in order to avoid smoking cigarettes. “I didn’t want to smoke cigarettes, so I started using an e-cig,” Perez said. “[The and there are ones without any nicotine in it and I still can do [smoke] tricks.” When a person smokes, nicotine is absorbed by the blood vessels in the lungs and reaches the brain in 10 seconds. Once this drug reaches the brain, it increases the level of dopamine and causes feelings of euphoria. This also increases cognitive processing and brain activity. “Basically what [nicotine] does is release adrenaline, and it’s going to increase your heart rate and your blood pressure. When it does that, it produces a feeling of relaxation,” psychology teacher Amy Walker said. “It also is going to stimulate the release of dopamine, and dopamine is linked to the reward system, which is going to give a pleasurable feeling. So, those two things combined usually are going to cause addiction. There are issues with acetylcholine and how

15.3% of those surveyed ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT THE TOBACCO POLICY at Northwest

54.2% of those surveyed BELIEVE PEER PRESSURE IS A PROBLEM at Northwest

dopamine working together.” Nicotine acts as a stimulant on the metabolism and a depressant on appetite; it also helps memory and speeds up released in the body in small amounts, but there is enough to cause people to become dependent. The tobacco plant produces this alkaloid to keep animals from eating them, which accounts for why nicotine has been a common ingredient in insecticides. After about 40 minutes, these effects wear off, and a smoker feels the need for another cigarette. According to the National Library of Medicine, nicotine has many different effects on the body. It can be used to decrease one’s appetite and to stay alert. Some people, like Perez, use it as a means to relieve stress. “Sometimes I buy [electronic cigarettes] with nicotine, so I can get a little buzz,” Perez said. “It feels good, but if you already have a buzz and you keep doing it, you get a headache and get tired of it.” Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 69 of which

80.4% of those surveyed HAVE SEEN SOMEONE SMOKING AN E-CIG on school grounds

41.3% of those surveyed HAVE TRIED AN E-CIG

are known carcinogens, according to tricountycessation.org. Smoking can lead to cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and lung disease, and is responsible for 522,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Forty-two thousand of these deaths are from secondhand smoke. The CDC projects that more than 5 million American teens will die prematurely as a result of a cigarette-related illness. E-cig manufacturers stress that this smoking cigarettes in that they do not cause cancer or give off secondhand smoke, because what the consumer is inhaling and exhaling is water vapor. According to Smoore, an e-cig manufacturer, “No chemical reaction happens during vaporization and consequently, Smoore e-cigarette vapor is safe because all the components that make up the cartridge solution have well-known safety records, and these constituents are widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries.” Though marketers do not directly advertise electronic cigarettes to teenagers, “e-liquid” companies make younger audience. In fact, in 2012 more

8.5% of those surveyed REGULARLY SMOKE E-CIGS

75.1% of those surveyed KNOW SOMEONE WHO SMOKES E-CIGS

vary for each e-cig, but all deliver the basic heating function.

BATTERY (LITHIUM ION)

Electronic cigarettes require a battery that is 3.7volts (as compared to a normal 1.5volt AA battery). These batteries are lithium ion, and can come in many sizes and capacities varying from rechargeable to disposable, manually operated or automatic.

5000 BC

100 AD

tobacco is smoked out of pieces of wood for religious rituals

Brazilians invent the

1850

1925

tobacco leaves in paper

1556 The first Englishman is pictured smoking from a long, wooden pipe

1973

1588

1750

Hookah pipe is invented in Iran

Pipe smoking became the preferred method of tobacco use

2006

2014

The first e-cigs appear, shaped like normal

E-cigs evolve into

LED LIGHT

A small LED light in the bottom of the e-cig

light is triggered by a small sensor near the atomizer of the e-cig.

APRIL 11, 2014 y

FEATURE

machines are invented

Filters are added to

Smoking begins to be banned on places like airplanes

sizes

B HE

PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE YOU REALLY CAN GET ADDICTED TO THEM IF YOU’RE NOT CAREFUL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO LOWER-NICOTINE CONTENT ONES OR ONES WITHOUT NICOTINE. YOU CAN’T GET NICOTINE-FREE CIGARETTES. — senior

Skyler Jackson

than 1.7 million students in middle school and high school, most of whom were minors, tried e-cigs. E-liquids were found to contain metals including copper, nickel and tin after being tested by Dr. Stanton Glantz, a professor at the University of California at San Francisco. The main ingredients in the e-liquids are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. These chemicals are generally safe to consume in food, but because e-cigarettes are a new product, no long-term study has been conducted to prove that these chemicals are safe enough to be inhaled. According to The Boston Globe, e-liquids are composed of between 1.8 to 2.4 percent nicotine, which can cause sickness in young children, while higher concentrations are sold on the internet.

Legal

Kansas law makes it illegal to sell e-cigs to minors, and makes it illegal for minors to purchase or possess

them, effective July 2012. Although public places have outlawed tobacco products in their buildings, e-cigs do not technically fall under that law because they do not have tobacco in them. “On school grounds, it’s always been in violation of our policy before it was illegal,” SRO Mark Coenen said. “If you are caught with a cigarette, you get a day of out-of-school suspension. Basically, the e-cig is just like a regular cigarette, when it comes to under 18 and when it comes to school punishment and criminal punishment.” In Shawnee, if a person under the age of 18 possesses a cigarette or an

they are not doing it here, or they are being more sneaky about it and we are just not catching them.” Although Coenen does not oppose students over the age of 18 smoking e-cigs, he recommends that students be careful. “Do your research on them before you start using them,” Coenen said. “If you are using them to quit smoking, there are probably safer ways to quit smoking. Talk with your parents before you attempt to get one on your own, talk with a doctor, get medical out if its a safe solution.” “Kids want to smoke e-cigs now just because they like the feeling of the buzz or just do smoke tricks like O’s, french inhale and stuff like that,” Perez said. Perez lifted his e-cig again and he began to inhale. He shifted the vapor stored in his mouth from one side of his cheek to another. The cloud of vapor was drawn back in through his nose and out of his mouth, taking the shape of an O. His shoulders began to relax, and the rest of the fog dissipated.

repeated offenses is higher in other parts of Kansas. So far this school year, e-cigs on school grounds. “I just think, in general, the usage of cigarettes has gone down,” Coenen said. “I have been here for 10 years, writing tickets all the time, like every week. It has gone down a lot. Either

Age students began smoking:

66.5% of those surveyed ELIEVE THAT E-CIGS ARE ALTHIER THAN SMOKING CIGARETTES

27.2% of those surveyed that do smoke e-cigs CHOOSE CARTRIDGES WITH NO NICOTINE

33.3% of those surveyed HAVE IMMEDIATE FAMILY THAT SMOKES

22.9% of those surveyed HAVE SMOKED A CIGARETTE

5.8% of those surveyed REGULARLY SMOKE CIGARETTES

14 OR YOUNGER:

27.1%

15:

23.4%

16:

21.5%

17:

28%

Anonymous Student Column I N 2010, WHEN I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL, THINGS WERE DIFFERENT THAN I EXPECTED.

Everyone thought I would be playing varsity sports and getting straight A’s, but that wasn’t my plan anymore. Getting injured caused me a lot of pain and anxiety. If your best friend died, how would you feel? That’s what losing sports felt like. Eventually, I found my refuge in making art, but it never occupied my time or gave me the same joy that

sports did. Everyone I grew up with was disappointed, and they made it very clear. Feeling worthless, losing something I loved, having too much time on my hands and not being able to change any of it caused me so much anxiety that my grades plummeted — and so did everything else. By the end of my sophomore year, I started smoking. No, it wasn’t to be

anxiety and panic attacks, it’s so hard

to get myself to breathe. Although I wasn’t inhaling something good for me, the fact that when I smoke a cigarette I have to consciously breathe deep, long breaths, really helped me prevent panic attacks. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone with anxiety; it’s best to look for other methods of calming yourself before resorting to smoking (or any other destructive behavior). Unfortunately, sports were the thing

that calmed me when I was upset, and that was gone. Although I make an effort now to smoke as little as possible, what once was an occasional thing to help my anxiety turned into an addiction. Once you start, it’s very hard to quit. For me, it’s a comfort thing. If I knew my pack was almost gone, that alone could trigger a panic attack. Smoking does help, but certainly not in the long run.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE y

FEATURE

Going to the The Great S

Senior Esther Yu competes for a scholarship to study abroad in South Korea

enior Esther Yu sat quietly at her desk as she was reading Huckleberry Finn during her AP English 11 class. Yu is in a class full of juniors because last semester she decided to graduate as a senior early in order to study in South Korea for 12 months. To receive the credits she needs to graduate, Yu will need to enroll in summer school. “Many people do the summer program and I would rather immerse myself in the 12 month program instead of the six week program,” Yu said. “If I am going to a country, why don’t I stay there for a year instead of during a little vacation?” Yu is competing for a scholarship to become a part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) exchange program. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. NSLI-Y provides merit based scholarships for students wanting to immerse themselves in less commonly taught languages. One of those languages is Korean. “I want to go to Korea to study my native language and immerse myself in the culture,” Yu said. “I don’t feel like I am fully emerged. I feel like going to the country to study the language and be in a classroom fully engaged in the language would be more helpful. [My parents] were pretty thrilled because they want me to become Koreanized.” She discovered this opportunity after one of her favorite teachers, Spanish teacher Douglas Murphy, informed her about this opportunity.

PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN

APRIL 11, 2014 y

FEATURE

“I jumped at it,” Yu said. “How many time do you get to go to a country for free.” In order to receive the scholarship Yu had to fill out an application and write multiple essays. After going through the process she was selected as a semifinalist Dec. 11 and scheduled an interview with an NSLI-Y volunteer. “I was nervous because I didn’t know what type of interview person would interview me,” Yu said. “Also I didn’t know what to expect because I have never done an interview before. I felt elated after the interview because the lady told me she was 75 percent sure that they would accept me, but there are nooks and crannies that they need to fix up to make sure I am accepted.” Yu would not have found this opportunity if she did not have a love for languages. She has been learning Spanish since seventh grade which interested her in other languages. She is currently learning both French and Spanish. In either March or April, Yu will be notified by NSLI-Y if she was given a scholarship. “Languages are awesome,” Yu said “I think that everyone should be bilingual or trilingual because American English is not dominant in the world even though everyone thinks it is and there is Mandarin, Spanish and French. There is always room to learn more.” BY HAENA LEE

exchange

Senior Zoe Ziegenhorn will live in Belgium next year as an exchange student.

rench teacher Douglas Murphy stopped class. “I’m going to read you an email I got back from a student who studied as a foreign exchange student,” he said and continued to read the email. As he read, students gazed around the room and others listened intently to the email. “I would not listen, I would do other homework, and just gaze off into the distance. I never thought that it could be me,” senior Zoe Ziegenhorn said. In late September, Murphy talked to Ziegenhorn about doing a second senior year in France. After casually mentioning the idea to her mom, she started researching and filling out the necessary applications before the November deadline. The first application consisted of submitting a resume and a short, 400-word essay about why she wanted to be an exchange student. Once the initial application was complete, she had to pass an at-home interview. “I was talking to Murphy at one point and I was like, ‘I’m scared.’ He said, ‘Oh, no you’re totally going to get in.’ I said, ‘No, I’m scared I’m going to get in, I’ll have to go.’ I would have never, ever thought it would be me,” Ziegenhorn said. “I was a slacker kid in French II like, ‘Oh i’m just trying to get my credits.” Once she passed the multiple interviews, she learned that the French government changed their rules concerning exchange students.

Instead, she would be studying in Belgium. Along with culture shock, packing is one of Ziegenhorn’s major concerns for when she leaves for Belgium the third week of August. “How do you pack for living in Europe for a year? Whatever I bring, clothes-wise, isn’t going to be what they wear,” she said. “The girl I talked to that went to France, I asked, ‘Can I wear sperry’s and be that cool American that’s wearing sperry’s?’ She said, ‘No, you will get made fun of.’” Because of the way the Rotary program is set up, families across the country volunteer to host an exchange student. “There is a chance that I could get a farm, in the middle of nowhere. This one girl went to Belgium and lived in a Castle, which sounds really cool, but they didn’t have running water. That could be me. You can’t have expectations. I could live in an apartment in a huge city, you just don’t know. I just can’t expect anything. I need to make the most out of it.” Although she is nervous for what the year will bring, she knows it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I think it’s definitely worth it. I could never pass up the opportunity. [Rotary] asked me why I wanted to do it and I was like, ‘I just can’t see myself not doing it, especially for so cheap.’ You are never going to be 18 in Europe again.” BY SARAH EGGER

The point is poetry:

Ultimately, you will read your poem to an audience and be judged on a 1-10 scale of your overall performance. The key slogan of the Poetry Slam is, “The points aren’t the point; the point is poetry.” Don’t let your dream of becoming the next “slampion” get in the way of crafting something real. Practice reading your poem aloud:

Find your passion: Once you’ve found a topic that you are passionate about, writing becomes more natural and less forced. You can more easily take a stance and expand upon

8 2 Poetry Planning 3 7 6 5 4 a subject that is personal.

If an area of your poem looks awkward on paper, reading it aloud will help you decide what may need to be changed. Practicing your poem is a big confidence booster when on stage as well. Instead of focusing on the words you’re saying, you will be able to convey these words to your audience in a way that will leave an impression.

Stream of consciousness:

If you can’t seem to find anything to write about, a good technique is to write what is on your mind. A stream of consciousness will let your thoughts steer the direction of your poem. Don’t focus too hard on writing a “good” poem, rather aim to write a poem that pleases you.

Rhyme and metre:

The title of your poem is just as important as the poem itself:

Essentially, the title of your poem is the cornerstone of your poem. Your title shouldn’t give away the overall message of the poem, but to direct your audience’s attention and keep them engaged.

In preparation for the ninth annual Poetry Slam, the Passage staff has compiled a list of nine tips for NW poets to create the “perfect poem.” BY ATALIE BLACK

graphics by mitch feyerherm

Revise, but don’t criticize:

When it comes time to edit your poem, don’t criticize your writing ability and tear your poem apart. Don’t focus on what you think your audience wants to hear, but rather the message you want them to hear. Emphasize what you want your audience to “get” from your poem and make them understand why you chose to write your poem.

Even if you’re going to write a free verse poem, it is beneficial to have a rhythm in your poem. This will help when reading your poem to add emphasis on the areas or words that need to be stressed. If you choose a poem with a certain rhyme scheme, such as a sonnet or haiku, be sure to stick with that rhyme scheme throughout.

Literary devices are key:

Give your poem a time out:

After you’ve written your poem, let it sit for awhile. When you return to your poem, you may decide that there is more to add or areas that need improvement. The goal is to come back to your work with a new perspective.

Literary devices, including metaphors, symbolism and similes, add dynamism to a poem and let the audience draw the conclusion that you are trying to make. Literary devices will also help in the writing process by giving you a new angle on a subject.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE y

FEATURE

hope

photo by savannah kelly

Lisa Covington, a patient with breast cancer, hopes to cross off meeting Ellen Degeneres from her bucket list BY HAENA LEE Lisa Covington, The mother of junior Brennon Covington and 2011 graduate Blake, has been fighting breast cancer for over ten years.

Lisa was originally diagnosed at 31-years-old with stage two breast cancer. She has been fighting non-stop since her relapse in 2003. Friends and family have been doing what they can to fulfill Covington’s dream of meeting celebrity Ellen Degeneres. Through social media, #HopeRocks for Lisa Covington, supporters from the community have been trying to spread her story to make this meeting possible. Q: When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? A: I was originally diagnosed a long time ago. Brennon was four years

old. My older son, Blake, was seven. I was 31-years-old. I just was diagnosed with stage two, which is a very early stage. We thought: ‘Well we’ll just do the surgery and do the standard amount of chemotherapy, and it’ll go away.’ Well, it went away for a couple of years. Unfortunately [the doctors] told me there was an eight percent chance for [the cancer] to come back. It came back in my lungs in 2003. After 2003 it kind of stayed with me ever since then. Because it was in a major organ it stayed with me and [it was] considered a stage four. So for the last ten years I have been fighting pretty much non-stop. Sometimes it’ll go into remission and then come back, go into remission and come back. I have stopped working since 2012. [The cancer] is pretty much everywhere right now. It went into my brain about six months ago. I had about three tumors in my brain, and then a couple months after that it went all over my brain. I have 12 tumors in my brain right now that they have radiated. When they do the radiation, they have to stop the chemotherapy, so when the chemotherapy stops, [the cancer] grows other places. Because they had to stop chemotherapy, it started growing in my lungs again. That’s why

FEATURE

Q: How has your condition changed your life? A: In the beginning I considered it to be: ‘Ugh it is so annoying. I cannot believe this is happening. I have so

many things to do.’ I went ahead and finished my bachelors degree and started my master’s degree, while I had cancer. I had two little kids. I still worked full time. I was determined to do everything that I wanted to do. I am not going to let my cancer ruin my life, and that was 13 years ago. I still did everything I wanted to do and more. I used to be a professional singer, so I used my cancer as an opportunity to do things like sing the National Anthem at the Chiefs game. I sang the National Anthem at a Royals game. I was in a band for seven years. I just did things that I just wanted to do. I’m not going to let that change anything. Actually I am going to use it to my advantage. I am going to use my story to tell people that just because you have stage four [cancer] doesn’t mean that it has to

be over. People think ‘oh my god stage four you are going to die.’ Maybe, very well maybe. This is terminal disease, but you have to look at it like it is a disease that you can live with, you can thrive with, you can really do amazing things. It really has changed [my family’s lives] like we do fundraising events all the time and I am very active like Susan G. Komen and Young Survivors Coalition, we do all kinds of activities and fundraising. Just to celebrate life and celebrate what we have been through and to get the word out that you can live with cancer and breast cancer and have a full life.

Q: Why Ellen out of all celebrities? A: I think that I have had some amazing opportunities, like sing the National Anthem for example and

thats something you normally don’t get to do. Obviously in the Midwest you don’t get to out to California and meet a famous person. When we go out there we occasionally see somebody famous, but nothing like meeting Ellen or anything like that. But Ellen has a way; she makes you smile. She makes me laugh even when I am crying. I would start feeling down and that is normal in this type of situation. Some days are better. I would say out of the week I only have two good days in a week just because of the treatment I am on makes me so tired. I’m just tired, exhausted and in pain. So it is

not an ideal situation I am in right now. I have to rest a lot. [Ellen] makes me laugh, hysterically laugh when I am sitting here by myself. I would love to be able to convey to her: ‘Thank you. Thank you for making me laugh everyday.’ She does some amazing things. Not just in her community, but with the world. For me to be able to have a platform to say, ‘I have had stage four breast cancer and am still here and still fighting’ and just to get that message out to everybody would be amazing.

Q: Who has been supporting you all the way? A: My husband and my kids, definitely. It is interesting because I

have my husband and my two boys. One of them will take the lead at different times. Like if I am sitting here crying and I am having a rough day, one of the boys will come up and cheer me up. Sorry I can’t finish that.

This is terminal disease, but you have to look at it like it is a disease that you can live with, you can thrive with, you can really do amazing things. To read the rest of Lisa’s story, go to http://www.smnw.com/2014/04/07/covington/

APRIL 11, 2014 y

I am on the oxygen. Hopefully it will be back under control soon enough where I can get off the oxygen. It seems that it has been getting progressively worse over the last ten years. We moved into the town homes last year because they know my health has to be top priority. We have had to make some sacrifices and make the house go. Unfortunately my health has to take priority.

1. Dodging defenders, junior Joel Droge runs the ball down the field.

photo by cARLEIGH WHITMAN

photo by NATE COMPTON

photo by cARLEIGH WHITMAN

photo by NATE COMPTON

2. Hands in the air, freshman Emmanuel Cobb attempts to catch the ball during a line-out. Cobb attended SM West but played for the Cougars.

3. Freshman Emmanuel Cobb is

lifted into the air to catch the ball during the line-out.

4. From the edge of the field, senior Matthew Thorman kicks for position. Thorman attended Bishop Miege and was one of the number of players which went to another school and played for NW. 5. SM West student Tarik Watson

attempts to maintain control of the ball while being tackled by a Junction City player. Watson previously attended Northwest and played for the Cougars’ rugby team, and continued to play for the team after transferring to West.

The rugby team has shown their strength, in numbers and in dedication, in preparation for this season’s hardest games.

he Kansas Cougar Rugby Team traveled to Las Vegas to participate in Rugby Sevens, a seven-team member tournament, Jan. 20. Representing Northwest were juniors Joel Droge and senior Daniel Kashani. “We went to the stadium and watched the professional games for two days,” Kashani said. “We got to meet a lot of professional players.” The boys competed against teams from around the country and

international, including Canada and Mexico. The Kansas team ended with a 3-3 record. Rugby is not a KSHAA-sponsored sport, so it cannot be considered a “sport” at Northwest; although, the team competes against teams in both Kansas and Missouri, including Parkhill, Parkhill South, Rockhurst, Junction City and Wichita. The team accepts male high-school students from around the area and practices every Tuesday and Thursday at Antioch

The NW Cougar rugby team stands in a circle before the start of the game. The cougars won the game against Junction City 91-0. PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

Middle School. The team is currently 6-0. “I think I, and the rest of the team, are mostly looking forward to our two biggest games of the season, not including state, against Junior Blues and St. Thomas Aquinas because they are the two hardest schools,” senior Nick Jordan said. Some players plan to continue playing rugby after high school, however, some, like Kashani, will not have that opportunity.

“I don’t think I’ll be playing rugby later because I’m going into the Marine Reserves. Unless they have a good team, this will be my last season,” Kashani said. “What stinks is the Marines told me I can’t finish out the season because they don’t want me getting injured before boot camp. But if we make it to state, I’m going to play in that game.” BY keegan dolinar + sarah egger

NORTHWEST PASSAGE y

FEATURE

W es t G l en E yec a r e A n d r e a B e a t t y, O .D . J e f f r y G e r s o n , O .D ., F . A .A . O . E r ic B e a t t y , O .D . 16202 M id l a n d D r iv e S h a w n e e , K S 66217

P h o n e : 913.962.2010 F a x : 913.962.2013

w es t gl en @ @w g e y e c a r e . c o m w w w .w e s t g l e n e y e c a r e . c o m

7505 Quivira 1441 E 151 Street 4 south berkley lenexa/shawnee olathe louisburg

WestGlen BC 2/0

09-24-10

PRESENT THIS AD FOR

15% ALL services

off

6647 NIEMAN ROAD SHAWNEE KS 66203 913.912.7325

8135 Santa Fe Drive Overland Park, Kansas 66204 913.642.2112

BUSINESS HOURS MON: CLOSE TUES-SAT: 10 a.m. - 7 pm. SUN: 12 a.m.-5p.m.

photo courtesy of substreammusicpress

band feature

Ghost Town

photo courtesy of likefreehack

BY kylee hartl

A new electronic rock band with a unique, creepy theme

ith a sound that groups them with the likes of Breathe Carolina and I See Stars, Ghost Town has inundated the Internet with simple performance videos. However, the response to these videos has been anything but simple. They have officially gone viral, with almost 100,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel. You might have heard the lyrics, “Creepy girls/ you’re just my style/ blood red lipstick/ you don’t smile…” because their most popular song, “You’re So Creepy,” has more than 1.1 million views, with many of their other videos averaging about .5 million views. The band started in California with three guys, specifically, Kevin “Ghost” McCullough. And, hot on the heels of their Internet success, record label Fueled by Ramen produced their most popular album, Party in the Graveyard, in 2013. The album is a spooky hodgepodge of metal, electronica and dubstep elements that is as appropriate for a chilly Halloween night as it is for a sweaty dance party. The lyrics are dark, loud, and sometimes disturbing but fit in with the Halloween theme with songs like “You’re So Creepy,” “Trick or Treat” and “Monster.”

I recommend Ghost Town because it’s impressive that they started off on the internet, have an artist design a cover for every song and has escalated to the point of playing live at Warped Tour.

smash hit A

lthough Smash Hit may seem like just another Impossible Game, it is something all its own. The app game, described as “musically synchronized gameplay” by producer, Mediocre Games, takes you through a 3-D world where you must move in rhythm with the music and destroy crystals while avoiding a field of glass obstacles. Smash Hit plays like an endless runner game, but in reality, it maxes out at ten levels. It may seem like a short mini game, but it takes time and concentration in order to reach the end of the game. Only a limited amount of pinballs to help you destroy crystals, which help you earn extra pinballs and glass objects that can

Putting the “Hit” in Smash Hit set you back 10 pinballs. To proceed through the nonstop journey, simply tap anywhere on a screen to aim, and use your power-ups carefully. Thankfully, you only have to survive to the next

Estimated 10 million downloads Platform: Android and iPhone

Released on March 5, 2014

checkpoint, but the checkpoints never end. The detail and color, not to mention the sound, make the game super realistic, and the smooth scrolling movement makes it very easy and relaxing to play. The subtle electronic beats only add to the immersive experience. If you try it out and find yourself

to be a hardcore player, you might want to buy the premium version at $1.99 on the Android app store. The premium version allows you to start at any checkpoint in the game that you’ve passed. Smash Hit is a flawless and creative game, described as “sleek and stylish” by numerous reviewers, that has the feel of a shooting game, but without guns. Just a lot of shattered glass. Smash Hit plays like an endless runner game, but in reality, it maxes out at ten levels. It may seem like a short mini game, but it takes time and concentration in order to reach the end of the game. by ben lucier

My favorite song, “Tentacles,” has an eerie, underwater feel to it. The song describes the suffocating feeling of drowning through lyrics like,“This necklace that you’ve got wrapped around my neck/ will choke me slowly to my death/ and I’m into that.” My second favorite song is the popular “You’re So Creepy,” which really speaks for itself. What really sets the band apart is that every song has its own unique cover designed by Allister Dippner. Most of his drawings are consistent with the Halloween theme presenting a kaleidoscopic balance of disturbing images and beauty and color. The fact that the band has their own personal artist is pretty impressive, and each design fits the song perfectly; however, to understand most of the art, you have to listen to the song first. I recommend Ghost Town because it’s impressive that they started off on the internet, have an artist design a cover for every song and has escalated to the point of playing live at Warped Tour. The creepy, electronic metal is unique and worth checking out, especially if you like songs with a good, dancing beat.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

ENTERTAINMENT

DO YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A COMIC?

Words and Ink by Mitch Feyerherm

Spirit of Northwest by Mitch Feyerherm

Send an email of your comic to our graphics editor at mitchfeyerherm@gmail.com and you could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Northwest Passage.

Lrsky Comics by Skylr Heck

SUDOKU hard 4

9 8

APRIL 11, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

“

*solution

“

When rain hits a picnic it can... i n yar tecot e w ti n g n ippe g

1 3

6 1

thisDISH

Chinese food

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATE COMPTON

SERVED

a nd W r G e o

new Peking THE GRAND WOK

he Grand Wok is one of the most underrated Chinese places in Shawnee. Many people don’t even know about it. It’s location is right next to Target off Shawnee Mission Parkway. While the restaurant isn’t huge, it’s smaller room is made up for in the service. The restaurant is owned by the chef, so every time you go there, you know you are going to consistently get fresh Chinese food for a very good price. The Grand Wok is also very cheap. Whether you are looking for lunch or dinner, the meal is under $8 and under $7 if you are there at lunch. So, the price rivals that of fast food Chinese food, only it is made fresh at The Grand Wok. A house combination includes your choice of crab rangoon or egg rolls (one of each or two of one); a main dish (with over 40 options), and fried or steamed rice. At lunch, you also get soup. This means that the amount of food you get for your

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

When craving Chinese food, we found the two best places to satisfy your cravings, and at decent prices

BY LENA DENNINGTON

money is very good. When craving a flavor of spice, but not wanting to spend a whole lot, the Grand Wok is the perfect place. The wide variety of options leaves all cravings of Chinese food satisfied. It’s authenticity gives it even better credibility. My favorite dish is General Tso’s Chicken, which reminds me a lot of what some restaurants call “orange chicken”. However, it is more spicy, which gives it a bit more of a spicy kick to it, rather than a sweet flavor. Every time I go, the chicken is cooked to perfection. The only setback is, you have to wait for it to cool off, as it was just cooked. The Grand Wok’s homey feel and ability to provide great Chinese food for a decent price is what makes it the best choice when you are craving Asian cuisine. Plus, with it’s remote location, it makes it easy and close to get to quickly. You can also take your order to go if needed.

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

NEW PEKING

ood, authentic Chinese food is honestly hard to come by in Kansas because of how americanized it has become. The best Chinese cuisine in this area comes from a place that is easily overlooked, and that few have even heard of— New Peking. No, it doesn’t have your traditional name that has to do with pandas, or bamboo or “Mr. Chow’s Kitchen,” but you should never judge a restaurant by its name. New Peking was in the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA Awards ceremony held in California. After one bite of their food you will know why. In fact after eating here, no other place in Kansas has even come close to the same superior quality. New Peking is located at 540 Westport Road, so it’s a bit further away than some of the other Chinese restaurants. The drive is completely worth it though. There is no need to stay in that Johnson County bubble;

BY NATE COMPTON

go adventure out a little more. The lunch specials are all less than $8, most being $6.75 and served with crab rangoon, a vegetable spring roll and rice. At only $8, the Peking ribs are an absolute must have. They are the most delectable riblets you will ever eat with a beyond-incredible marinade. The moment they come out to your table and the aroma hits you, your mouth waters and you become 10 times hungrier. Regardless of what your taste, as long as you like Chinese food you will find something you will enjoy. Due to their immense amount of menu options, going with a large group and sharing multiple dishes is your best option. You will surely eat well past the point of being full. If you want truly authentic Chinese food then New Peking is the place to go. The cheap price is simply a bonus that makes up for the slightly longer drive, as if the impeccable taste didn’t already make the drive worth it.

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

ENTERTAINMENT

s p r i n g s p o r t s

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

Baseball A

fter a full week of tryouts, 37 boys have been selected to be involved in the baseball program. The teams chemistry off the field has helped them prepare on the field for the season ahead of them. “Everyone has a great attitude.,” Kelly said. “By the end of the season, we will be a tough team to beat.” Building on what the team has will help get the team on their road to success. “We didn’t start with flying colors,” junior Casey Kelly said. “But in each of our games we have improved a lot. I think our season is going to be very good.” With a total of 5 games under their belt, the varsity baseball team hopes to continue their season strong. BY britta coleman

PHOTO BY ETHAN NELSON

APRIL 11, 2014

SPORTS

Boy’s Tennis

Softball V

arsity softballs first game is rescheduled for April 19th on field one at the shawnee misson softball complex at 10am against Lawrence. This year they are lead by former assistant and now head coach Mr. Kinney. “I’m most excited to be head coach this year, and for my team for us to maintain the winning success from

past years,” coach Kinney said. For freshman gabby Cortez it’s about stepping out on that field and proving to the coach she belongs on varsity “I’m ready to step out on that field and play my heart out, and to prove to my coach that I should be here,” Cortez said. BY jordyn burke

ince tryouts March 3, the boys’ tennis team has been practicing everyday for the 2014 season. There are 25 athletes are on the varsity and JV teams. Of these 25, eight are new players. “We might be a little stronger at the top this year than we were last year, which is surprising. And our depth is a lot better than I thought it would be,” head coach Ken Clow said.

Their season has so far consisted of a match against Olathe North Apr. 2, which was rained out, and against Olathe Northwest Apr. 3, where they won 11 out of 13 matches. “This season we’ve just been trying to figure out the chemistry between us,” sophomore Reagan Walsh said. “We’ve been preparing and we’re just really excited for the season.” BY sophie flores

Girl’s Swim & Dive G PHOTO BY nate compton

PHOTO BY ETHAN NELSON

irls swim and dive started their season off strong. Captain and senior Grace Freeman qualified for state at the SM East meet. “I’m super excited because I already qualified for state,” Freeman said. “I hope the team continues to work hard so we can get even more people there.” Although the Cougars lost that duel, many of them were very happy with their performance and are looking forward to do it again. Senior and diving captain Mallory

Wilhite was one of them. “It’s hard because the diving boards always seem to have an issue at practice,” Wilhite said. “But the team is really strong considering all the coaching changes, and I’m glad to see everyone stepped it up.” The swim and dive teams next meet is tonight at 5 p.m. The team duels Olathe South, with diving at California Trails Middle School, and swimming at Prarie Trail Middle School. BY lena dennington

PHOTO BY carleigh whitman

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN

march sadness

Track & Field T

he season started off strong with a win at the Northwest Challenge, a meet that is held every year between the Cougars, Olathe Northwest, and Blue Valley Northwest. Senior Alex Springer, whom received a scholarship for javelin to the University of Arkansas, won both of his meets in the JCCC and SM South meets. The team placed fourth as a team.

PHOTO BY KYLE TONG

Any given team can win on any given day

“The rest of the year is looking bright,” Springer said. “We can only get better.” The Cougars’ next meet is at Blue Valley on Friday, April 11. BY sean collins

PHOTO BY KYLE TONG

Girl’s Soccer “W

e would like to finish top three in the league,” coach Todd Boren said. “We’ve had this goal with our seniors for three seasons now. We would actually like to see our girls go to state [this year].” The girls’ varsity soccer team has a goal to go to state this year. With their recent loss by two against Blue Valley

West on April 1, their desire for going to state has grown. The first two games were canceled due to weather conditions giving the team more time to practice for their goal. “We all played an outstanding game. Personally it was one of the best games I’ve ever played and that was a huge confidence booster,” Senior Sarah Taylor said. “Now we’re ready to go out there and win. Kick some more butt at the upcoming games. Do it for the plaque.” BY tess holcom

Boy’s Golf T PHOTO BY katie dewitt

ryouts for boys’ golf were held and the team was decided before Spring Break with 12 players. The team’s goal this season: to finish top three in The League for the seventh year in a row. “We had a very cold tryout again this season,” said golf coach Jim Bamburg. “The boys have been working hard and dealing with some rough weather, but so far things look good.” The team’s next tournament will be held April 14 at St. Andrews Golf Course. BY atalie black

s a girl, you wouldn’t think that basketball is something I get into very much. However, March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year. I wasn’t able to create a bracket this year, but that didn’t stop me from predicting the winner. From the very beginning, I chose Florida to win. And as we all know, they didn’t. I didn’t mind, though, because it meant that all the No. 1 seeds were eliminated. My favorite part about March Madness is that many times, the winner is not expected. In fact, this year, more than 11 million people made brackets. Only 1 perfect bracket made it to the round of 32, and after Syracuse lost, so did the perfect bracket. If it wasn’t Syracuse, it was bound to be some team, considering that the chances of a perfect bracket are one in 9.2 quintillion. In fact, after Duke lost to Mercer, and Syracuse lost to Dayton, according to The Huffington Post, 99 percent of all the brackets entered in the big-money competition were busted. Although the odds are never in your favor, it doesn’t stop people from making brackets. Part of the fun of March Madness is the unpredictability of it all. I think some of my favorite games to watch this year were Kentucky defeating Wichita State, Wisconsin defeating Arizona, and Michigan losing to Kentucky. These games were fun to watch because they demonstrated the integrity of the game of basketball. The teams gave their all, and the games ended with tears and applause.

Although it’s heartbreaking to watch teams like Michigan State go down, I can’t help but cheer when an underdog like UConn and Shabazz Napier are victorious. When players like Napier have games like that, it’s just incredible to watch. In my opinion, some programs typically bring their game only come tournament time. This year’s tournament teams were clearly UConn and Kentucky. Both teams had marginal seasons, and their seeds of seven and eight reflect that; however, both made it to the championship. March Madness tests players’ skill just as much as their ability to play under pressure. It also allows teams to play outside of their own conference, something many football teams rarely get to do. Another thing that makes March Madness so fun is the tournament format. Rather than being assigned a bowl game (like in football, although will change this year), March Madness yields many more upsets. With 64 teams, a team just has to prove their own mettle, rather than their knowledge of another team’s style. While style is a contributing factor, it cannot be studied as much as a football team can study a team, because teams play two games a weekend. They have to prepare for all possibilities. The unpredictability, the upsets, and the quest for the “perfect bracket” are all what make March Madness so exciting. As soon as teams step on the court, a seed is just a number. BY lena dennington

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

SPORTS

PHOTO BY KATIE DEWITT Senior Phil Shamet cheers for Northwest on Mar 13 at Wichita State University. The boys varsity basketball team made it to state after beating Wyandotte high school on Mar 8. "Going to Wichita was one of my favorite high school experiences, even though the outcome was not ideal. I can only imagine what it was like to be playing," Shamet said.

coming to a

close T

PHOTO BY carleigh whitman

PHOTO BY katie dewitt

Senior Jake Horner attempts to make a layup during the state quarterfinal game against BV North at Wichita State University on Mar 13. The cougars lost 57-66. Facing a defender, senior Brady Skeens prepares to attempts a shot during the state quarterfinal game against BV North at Wichita State University on Mar. 13. The cougars lost 57-66. Sophomore Dylan Dirks [center] listens to instructions from coach Mike Rose during halftime on Mar 13 at Wichita State University. After a back and forth game, the Cougars were defeated by BV North.

he boys basketball team lost to Blue Valley North in Wichita with a score of 66-57. After their sub-state 61-44 win over Olathe North, they qualified for the state quarterfinals hosted at Wichita State University on March 13. They were neck and neck with the Mustangs, and when the halftime buzzer sounded, the score was at 34-28 and the Cougars were just six points behind. With five minutes to go, the boys brought up the score to 49-47 but couldn’t manage to break even with the Mustangs. “I think we still we had a really good season even though it didn’t end how we wanted it to,” senior Brady Skeens said. The undefeated Sunflower League champions ended their season at Koch Arena with 19 wins that tied the school record. The girls basketball team played Olathe South at the opening-round state game at Wichita on March 12 in a 59-57 loss. After defeating Olathe East at their sub-state game with a score of 56-50, the girls qualified for state for the second time in three seasons. The girls started out strong - just two points behind by the first quarter. They managed to even that out by halftime tied with the Falcons at 25. The Lady Cougars had a five point lead with just four minutes to go but the Falcons still managed to win. “I think [we] played our hearts out,” senior Amanda Hoelting said. “It was a do or die situation and we made Olathe South work every second [of the game]. I couldn’t be prouder of the way we battled and made a game of it.” The sub-state champions ended their season at Wichita 2nd place in the Truman tournament and 3rd in the Sunflower League with a 16-7 record. BY deena essa

PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA

Junior Brooklyn Wagler dribbles the ball down the court on Mar. 12 in the Charles Koch arena. The Lady Cougars lost 59-57 to Olathe South in the state semifinals. z Coach Dickson cheers his players on along with senior Amanda Hoelting and freshmen Emily Rose and Courtney Jones. The lady cougars finished the season with a record of 16-6. Sophomore Brenni Rose heads in for an attempted 3point shot. Roes has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.