The Northwest Passage: Volume 55, Issue 7

Flutist Amber Underwood performs at the Black History Month assembly pg. 13

EMBRACE NO ANSWER

Increasing rates of gun violence in the KC area has a deadly impact on teens pg. 14

MEET YOUR MATCH

Why do people take the matchmaker quiz? pg. 9

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 news magazine. The paper will be distributed monthly. 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 power to make the final decision.

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.

Editor-In-Chief Ashley Broils

CONTENT MANAGEMENT

Copy Editor Grace Rau

Design Editor Greta Grist

Online Editor Bella Alvarado

Photo Editor Addison Griswold

Photo Editor Kara Simpson

Photo Editor Ashley Broils

Social Media manager Bella Alvarado

Ads Manager Will Fandel

Sofia Ball

Emma Wyckoff

Jesus

Kennedy Woolf

Stella Miyares Will Fandel

Cain Kempf

ONE PERSON PRONOUNCED DEAD AFTER SHOOTING AT KC SUPERBOWL PARADE

design by Greta Grist

On Feb. 14, shots rung out after the Super Bowl parade, just west of Union Station as fans were leaving on Wednesday afternoon.

School was canceled under the expectation that students and staff would attend the Super Bowl celebration.

One million people were estimated to attend the parade. The shooters and the victims were predominantly children.

Many Shawnee Mission Northwest students went to the parade and were witness to the events at Union Station.

Senior Izak Zeller was leaving the parade when his car broke down on the highway.

“We were on the highway two minutes from Union Station and my car starts breaking down,” senior Izak Zeller said. “A bunch of police cars passed us one by one, then we saw an ambulance. We assumed it was some drunk [driver].”

Soon, Zeller’s phone began blowing up with text messages.

“It was kind of surreal seeing the impact this had on people we knew and go to high school with, it was like a butterfly effect,” Zeller said. “Lives started popping up getting millions of views and we were there, which doesn’t happen a lot.”

People were also trapped within the laws of local businesses and suites by law enforcement until further information of the attackers were obtained.

Sophomore Haylee Bell was stuck in the Westin Hotel at Crown Center during the panic. She posted in the 2026 SnapChat story that there were snipers on the roof and a suspicious person was in the hotel parking garage.

“It was weird since I was down there three hours before,” Bell said. “There were thousands of people near me, lot’s of drugs and alcohol. There were two guys behind me, and they were screaming, threatening to kill each other. It was aggressive down there. So when

I hear about the shooting I’m almost not surprised. I’m just glad my mom told me I had 40 minutes, because I wanted to stay longer.”

According to multiple media reports, including the Kansas City Star, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a radio DJ and talk show host was killed following a shooting at the KC Chiefs Super Bowl parade. KC Fire Department Chief Ross Grundyson said in a press release that 22 people were injured.

Superintendent Michelle Hubbard sent out an email on Feb. 14 regarding the shooting, its impact on student families and administration and the districts course of action.

“Today has been a day unlike any that most of us here in the Kansas City area have ever experienced,” Hubbard wrote. “It began with such joy and anticipation and has ended with tragedy and pain that none of us could have anticipated. We know that some of our students will struggle to make sense of what has happened. We will have counselors and social workers available at all of our buildings in the morning and in the days to come, to provide support to students who need it. We will proceed with a normal day tomorrow because we know that our children often crave the security of routines when times are hard. We will lean on each other in the days to come, and make sure that support is available for all who need it.”

Dr. Lisa Gruman also canceled TCB on Feb. 15 over the intercom due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Two men were charged with murder for the rally shooting, in what officials say started as a dispute between several people. The perpetrators, 19-year-old Dominic Miller, and 23-year-old Lyndell Mays face charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon according to a statement from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

Story

by Sofia Ball

DON’T CRY

OVER SP LTAPPLESAUCE

The story of how I ran away design by Will Fandel

Istepped through the tall grass and sticks crunch beneath my feet. The pale grass brushed against my hip. I could see the tree line about 150 meters ahead. That’s where we headed. The trees. If you went back far enough, and in the right direction, you’d find our own little fort. A small wall of wood to block the wind and a bench made of smooth branches. All hidden from view.

My dad, little brother and I were going to Shawnee Mission Park, my dad’s favorite escape from work in the corporate world. We went there a lot.

We reached the cover of the treetops and my legs were already a little sore. I unzipped my backpack and pulled it open to see spilled applesauce everywhere. My dumb 9-year-old brain thought bringing that was a good idea.

“Why did you think that was a good idea, Emma?” my dad said. “Now this crap is all over your backpack.”

I felt so ashamed. I knew it wasn’t my fault the squeezy applesauce cap was loosened. I grabbed it from the box this morning; it was new. It was probably one of my stupid brothers. Like every time someone raised their voice at me, my eyes started to tear up. So I did the only thing that came to mind: I ran. I reached the field we had just crossed and kept going. My aching legs propelled me forward. I didn’t stop, and I didn’t turn back until I was finally close to the road ahead. Nobody had followed me. I guess they didn’t care.

The tears were really pouring now. My cheeks were soaked and cold. I can’t go back. I just humiliated myself and ran away. No chance. There was only one spot I could think of to go now. I crossed the terribly-narrow Ogg Road and walked into the brush off to the side, along a chain link fence. I knew my dad’s silver Chevy was parked at the very bottom of the hill that the road climbed. That’s where I was gonna go. He never locked the doors anyway, so I could sit in the truck until they decided to leave and would find me there.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of tires behind me. I quickly laid flat on my stomach and pressed my head against the dirt and weeds. My heart was pumping out of my chest. I squinted my eyes shut and prayed I wouldn’t die today. I heard the rumble of the tires drift past me, waited a couple seconds, and then slowly lifted my head to see the back of a minivan driving off before it rounded a corner. “What if someone stops and kidnaps me?”

The warnings my mother had given me when I was younger blared through my head.

Adam Walsh was a six-year-old boy who was kidnapped and murdered. My mom told me about him, not to scare me, but to make me aware of what really happens in the world. She told me because she wants me to be safe because she loves me. Now, here I was, in the most visited park in the state, alone and on the side of the road, with no way home.

Great.

The windy road was surrounded by forest from both sides, so it gave me enough time to hide before they got too close and saw

me. I ran across the bridge that crossed the small creek and saw the truck parked ahead. I ran even faster.

I reached the truck and pulled on the back side door handle. No luck. I tried the passenger door. Locked. I ran to the other side and prayed the driver’s door was unlocked, unlike the rest. I raised my hand up and pulled. Locked.

No. No, no, no, no no. This can’t be happening. The one time my dad actually locks the frickin’ doors!

I heard another car approaching and dove to the front of the truck and ducked down by the tires. They didn’t see me.

What do I do now?

All the doors are locked, I’m too far from the fort now. I’d have to walk all the way back up the hill, walk through the field, and into the woods. The bed of the truck will have to do. I waited, listening for another car, before I ran to the back, pulled down the tailgate, and hopped up. I pulled the tailgate back up until I heard the click. I layed down, the ridges of the bed pressing into my side, and scooted up against the edge.

It was freezing outside, probably in the 40s, and I’d stupidly left my coat back in the woods with my dumb backpack. And now that I wasn’t running, it was really cold. My sweat was frozen against my skin. I hugged my knees closer to my chest and took some deep breaths to calm my breathing.

I need help. I don’t have a phone. I’m alone. And it’s freezing outside. My last option is to stop a car and ask for help. I stay on my side as I hear cars pass.

I can do this.

I hear a car approaching and before I can think, I stand up and wave my hands over my head frantically. My blurry eyes connect with a big white pick-up truck. I see the red brake lights turn on and the truck pulls off to the side of the road.

Please don’t be a kidnapper. Please don’t be a kidnapper.

“Are you okay?” he asked me, rounding his truck.

“Um... I’m lost.” I told him. He slowly approached my dad’s truck and noticed how cold I was. He turned around, went back to his truck, and pulled a huge sleeping bag out from the back. He told me he’s a boy scout leader and wrapped the unzipped sleeping bag around my shoulders.

He then told me to just sit down and breathe while he called my mom with the digits I gave him. I sat there, bundled up in a huge sleeping bag that felt like my mother’s warm embrace, and waited for my mom to make the five minute drive from our house to the park.

My mom finally got there and thanked the kind man who didn’t kidnap me. She drove me home with the heat on blast while I told her the whole story. She called my dad, who had looked for me on the complete other side of the park with my brother, and told him I was home safe.

When my dad got home, he was so mad at me. He told me to never run off again because he was so worried, and I swore I wouldn’t. And I meant it. Story by Emma Wyckoff

PATCHY BUT PERFECT

The story of how I dyed my hair for the first time

She’s glaring at me but I’m glaring back because I mean business. The small, chrome packaged box of the L’Oreal Feria “EXTRA Bleach Blonde” hair bleach in one hand, disposable gloves in the other. I walk up to the counter and pull out my wallet, filled to the brim with gifted cash from Christmas. A 20 dollar bill and a couple quarters later, the crime was committed.

Going against my parents wishes wasn’t really a thing in 2020 – at age 14, especially. Fresh into high school, fresh into a new hairdo. Assisted by a good friend, the “Master at Hair Dye and Haircutting”, Emma Sheverbush.

“A New Years Eve sleepover,” I convinced my parents by fully lying. Sure, it was a sleepover that took place on the date of December 31, 2020, but it was clearly so much more than that. A breakthrough and a rebellion; finally declaring myself as someone serious enough to go against their hard enforced rule, but it was just their kindness at heart, really. fourteen-year-olds don’t care about that, though. “They didn’t need to know the details,” I had thought.

The singeing on my scalp burned, itched, and most of all, it stunk. The smell of that intense box bleach was so strong, and even if you plugged your nose, it wouldn’t stop your eyes from watering.

“I don’t mean to freak you out, but your neck is bright red...” Emma would worriedly reiterate many times that different parts on my head looked like they were being scalded off. Sure, it hurt a little, but the title “chemical burn” really isn’t as intense as you think it would be, at least not with hair bleach. Do not take my word for it with other chemicals.

A good 35 minutes later, the hardship was done. The bangs were cut. The hair was rinsed and blow dried.

It was patchy.

Of course it was, why wouldn’t it be, we didn’t have schooling for how to color hair. For some reason, I had expected it to look jaw-droppingly stunning. It was the shade of a yellow street light, or Google’s “Google Slides” icon yellow is more of an accurate com-

design by Will Fandel

parison. My bangs were fortunately even across my eyebrows, but I later learned from my angry hair stylist that they were cut wrong; see any video online about people cutting their own bangs and let your imagination run. You’ll probably be correct.

“It’s so good! You look so good,” Emma convinced me. I assume deep down she knew it wasn’t very good, either. We didn’t have proper judgment at the time, obviously. I’m sure we thought it was actually good at the time.

My dad picked me up the next morning and like any sensible person would, I hid it with a wig. When I got in the passenger seat of his black Chevy truck, he said,

“You better not have that color on underneath that wig,” Jokes on him, I didn’t. The wig was black. My hair was yellow. He had to run errands after he dropped me back off at home, and I decided to peel off the wig and present my new look to my family who was home at the time. I showed my mother, who like any 40-something year old white woman would, snapped a photo and posted it to Facebook. My dad got home about an hour later.

“You look stupid. You look like Ronald McDonald,”

It wasn’t even red. Orange is the furthest stretch you could make but it was still very obviously yellow, Dad. If any made up character I shared a resemblance to was brought into the conversation, it should’ve been He Man. That would’ve been unarguable.

Grounded is a given punishment for what I had done, but it ended up being very worth it down the line. It had opened a door to less criticism from my parents, and to so many other hair colors. Now, I’ve had everything from red to teal to purple to pink and back to purple... the list goes on. To be fully honest with you, I haven’t seen my natural hair color take over my head since that day of December 31, 2020.

I like it that way, though.

Story by Cain Kempf

COQUETTE

AESTHETIC

You’re gonna get made fun of either way, might as well do what you want designed by Kennedy Woolf

Nowadays you can’t just like something. You either get shoved into a category or aesthetic because of it or get made fun of for it. As a teenage girl myself, I have seen this first hand and experienced it.

There’s a pressure for girls to fit into some sort of box. This can be through media, peer pressure or societal norms. There tends to be narrow definitions of what is considered “acceptable” or “ideal” for girls in terms of appearance, behavior and interests. If they don’t fit into that box on their own, they get put into it anyway.

You have a Stanley or you wear Lululemon, you’re basic. You wear your hair in a slicked back ponytail, you’re the “clean girl.” You wear pink or like dressing up, you’re a girly girl or coquette. You wear “too much” black, you’re emo.

And if you’re not being categorized, you’re being made fun of.

When I first started liking Taylor Swift more I got so much crap for it. When I would tell people that I liked her I was told I had no taste. That I was a bandwagon who was just trying to hop on the trend. That I was basic.

There are even entire social media accounts dedicated to making fun of girls. I came across a Tik Tok once of a full grown, adult man making fun of the way teen girls ate watermelon. I went down a rabbit hole watching several of his videos. They were all making fun of the way teenage girls did basically anything. The way they talked, walked and even laughed. I was horrified looking in the comments and seeing loads of teenage boys making jokes and agreeing with him. Seeing and interacting with that kind of content is so damaging. It makes girls feel like they can never do anything right and makes boys think that it’s okay to make fun of people.

This type of thing isn’t just isolated to the late adolescent years either. When we were younger, the boys would make fun of

our hair or our clothes, skirts, dresses, etc. We were told that if a boy is mean to us, that means he likes us. We were taught to correlate being made fun of with a harmless crush or secret admiration that just wasn’t being expressed properly. We were taught to correlate bullying with love.

As we grew older, it was our looks we got made fun of for. Our speech. Our interests. Eventually we start getting on social media and seeing all these influential people wearing the latest designs and wearing makeup. So we start wearing the latest designs and wearing makeup. Then we get made fun of for it. Or we get made fun of for wearing certain clothes or wearing “too much” or “not enough” makeup.

One reason we face these criticisms are stereotypes and gender expectations. These gender expectations impose the idea that certain interests or hobbies are for boys. For example, football, certain bands like The Beatles or Nirvana, or video games. These stereotypes are very limiting. They force people into feeling like they can only express interest in certain hobbies that are correlated with their gender. Then when a girl likes these things she gets ridiculed. Asked to prove she actually knows anything about it. Called a pick me.

As the time passes, girls are increasingly being judged for the things they do and like. We see influencers and models online portraying these different looks and aesthetics. We adapt these looks into our wardrobe. And then later on get ridiculed when it gets popular.

As a society we need to stop imposing these limited beliefs and stereotypes. We should be able to like what we want without fear of being mocked. However, until we can get to that point, you’re probably gonna get some sort of backlash no matter what you do, so you might as well do what you want.

Story by Yohanna Ayana

BASIC GIRLY

ANYTHING BUT THIS

The newspaper staff decided to torture me with Rom-Coms

For those who don’t know, I don’t really like or watch rom-coms, and after the last couple days, I got a reminder of why. If it wasn’t bad enough that I signed up to watch a rom-com for the newspaper, I ended up watching three: “Anyone But You,” “How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days” and “10 Things I Hate About You.”

To start, let’s talk about “Anyone But You.” It was released December 22, 2023, directed by Will Gluck, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. What can I say about this movie? It’s cliche, unfunny, sad, but not in a good way and a pathetic waste of time. An hour and 37 minutes of just pure garbage.

The plot, which at times is based off the wonderful work of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” is sadly a crime to his legacy. The movie tries to follow the plot of the original but also tries to do its own thing, which almost never works.

The soundtrack is basic and without taste. Most of the time it’s just a piano playing sad music, or a random girl singing about the summer. Most of the characters are underdeveloped and at times just outright hateable.

The story itself feels like it’s been done before, but sadly this movie did it worse.

This movie will go down as a 1/5.

Now, “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.” — a film released on January 27, 2003 and directed by Donald Petrie — wasn’t what I was expecting.

The movie was actually good.

The film has a run time of an hour and 55 minutes of awkward and laughable scenes that provide a frustratingly good time. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson play their roles rather perfectly in this movie — two people working in opposite directions as they slowly fall in love with each other — blending their two very different forms of delivery into a plot that sadly doesn’t deliver.

Like many different rom-coms, it suffers from a cliché plot that makes the movie just seem boring and stale at times. There is always that one challenge or bet that makes the two leads meet, they eventually fall in love, they get into a fight and by the end they get back together because of the power of love or something. This movie follows that format perfectly.

If you watch this, you’ve practically seen them all. A sad truth for a movie that had two great leads, good and funny moments, and the potential to be so much more. This movie goes down as a 3/5.

Finally, we reach “10 Things I Hate About You” — released on March 31, 1999, directed by Gil Junger, famously starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles — the movie everyone wanted me to watch. Even a romcom hater like me has to admit, the movie does everything it has to with the time it has.

In my opinion, the best part of the movie is its soundtrack. Now, the songs are still cliché — mainly because they’ve been related to teenage rebels for ages — but at least they’re good. Songs like “Bad Reputation” riddle the movie.

Sometimes the side characters can feel a little over the top, like the principal that cares about nothing else in the world but her novel, even

when questionable things are happening.

The main plot point in the story, which is the relationship between two of the characters, is greatly underbuilt to the point that sometimes I would even forget about it. And lastly, the final part of the movie where the two main characters finally make up — a scene that has been done a thousand times before — makes it flat and at times unlikeable.

A movie this good has to go down as a 4/5.

I have reached the end, I’ve seen it all, and I sit alone thinking to myself, what’s next? My whole life I’ve hated rom-coms, they’ve always been the one kind of movie I won’t watch. Throughout the last couple days, I have laughed and chuckled at these movies. I guess now I can tolerate them.

In small doses at least.

Rom-coms: nowadays they’re cheesy films that get no love or attention and are just shoved into the backlogs of Netflix for anyone that hates their life to see.

Well, probably a run of either “Spider-man” or “Lord of the Rings,” two movies that will hopefully wash away all rom-coms from my mind.

Story by Jesus Lara Rivera

Rotten Tomatoes

Score:

53% Rotten Tomatoes

Score:

42%

Rotten Tomatoes

Score: 71%

Design by: Cain Kempf

Jesus’ Review: 1/5

Jesus’ Review: 3/5

Jesus’ Review: 4/5

MEET YOUR MATCH

Why did people take the matchmaker quiz?

senior Max Bender took the Matchmaker quiz in hopes of matching with his girlfriend. He got the form, answered all the questions and paid $2 for his results to find out if they were compatible, according to the quiz at least.

He ended up getting most compatible, of the total results, with senior Marina Johnson.

Not his girlfriend.

“Uh, yeah, [my girlfriend] didn’t really care.” Bender said.

SMNW had its annual Matchmaker event this year. Students had to take a quiz with about 30 questions about themselves and their type, and they had the option of buying results at a table in the mall for $2. Results showed top 15 romantic matches and friend matches and 10 of each in the remaining grades, as well as your most opposite match and two mystery matches.

The Matchmaker quiz was originally a fundraiser. But word from Sarah Dent, the organizer of the event and STUCO sponsor, says things have changed. A lot of people who take the quiz don’t even buy their results. The cost of the results has grown from $1 to $2 as of this year, which could be a reason for this.

346 of the approximate 1600 people at SMNW took the quiz, and I spoke to some of the top 10

Design by Cain Kempf

most compatible matches out of those results.

Not a lot of people take the Matchmaker quiz seriously. Various people said they did it just for fun and not to meet someone in any romantic capacity.

“I’m in STUCO,” Johnson said. “So we try to get all the STUCO members to take the quiz so that there’s like, you know, more results.”

Others, like seniors Adam Vogel and Ella Jones, who were the fourth most compatible of all the results, took the quiz to see if they’d match with their friends.

“Yeah I just don’t think we’re similar,” Jones said. “I think there’s like more to it.”

She originally didn’t know Vogel when his name came up, but when talking about it with tablemates, she realized he sits just five feet from her in one of her classes.

“But I don’t think I would [become friends with him] just because of the test,” Jones said.

Neither thought it was very accurate because results are also computer generated.

But, in some rare cases, like mine, your number one match adds you on Snapchat, ya’ll hang out, and he ends up asking you out.

“I got my results, got some good laughs, made some jokes with my friends about it, but I haven’t really looked back on it since,” Vogel said.

“I got my results, got some good laughs, made some jokes with my friends about it, but I haven’t really looked back on it since,” - Adam Vogel

This year, as always, SMNW hosted the annual rose sales event during the month of February. This year, red, orange, yellow, white, pink and purple roses were available for purchase for $3.50 each. You could buy a rose for your significant other, crush or a friend, and it would be delivered to them the day before Valentine’s Day with a small note. All the roses sold this year left the hallways smelling like spring.

Story by Emma Wyckoff

Photo by Kyra Highlander

BLACK HISTORY ASSEMBLY MONTH

EVERY DAY

Senior Julian Jones works toward being appreciated for his music design by Bella Alvarado

Senior Julian Jones glanced around the low lit auditorium, his breathing heavy.

Dr. Jeffrey Bishop’s footsteps echoed as he took the stage. Jones tried not to think of the other middle schools watching, or the chaperones or his parents. So he stared straight ahead, picked up his bow and the rest was a blur.

Jones’ first “real” concert was in the 8th grade.

He picked up the cello in junior high.

He’s the youngest of four.

His oldest brother, Vincent Jones, attended the University of Pennsylvania, aspires to teach at an elementary school and plays the saxophone.

His older sister, Paige Jones, attended Wellesley College, studied abroad in Japan and plays the viola.

His older brother, Spencer, attends Stanford, plays basketball on a Division-1 scholarship and played the trumpet.

Not only is music a prominent pastime in Jones’ family, but academic, athletic and career success are as well.

“I think my family has a good reputation,” Jones said.

When he isn’t getting quizzed in AP Gov., reading a novel by Toni Morrison or learning Spanish conjugations, his mind is on music.

Whether it’s the written rules of music theory, the symphony, R&B or “4 Your Eyez Only” by Jay Cole; which Jones listens to around “five times a day.”

As a senior, his thoughts are also based around college more often than not. East or West Coast? Student loans or scholarships? Campus or school size? That is, when he isn’t rehearsing.

Jones tries to set aside 30 minutes to one hour twice a week to practice the cello. His mother, Lisa Jones, who is also the counseling secretary, makes sure of it.

“I just talk to him,” Lisa said. “I try to encourage him and say ‘look how good you are, I mean you’re so much better than you were two years ago.’ Sometimes he puts a little pressure on himself, and I just say ‘be the best you can be.’”

Concert after concert, audition after audition, performance scholarship after performance scholarship, Jones has worked hard in establishing an identity of his own in hopes of one day changing the way people see music.

“People overlook the concept of music, especially orchestra,” Jones said. “I want to make it seem like cello isn’t just classical. It can be rock, jazz and pop. I don’t want people to think that it’s boring.”

He’s gained inspiration from his brother Vincent, who still graduated despite the pandemic. He’s gained motivation from his friend, senior Wolfgang Sell, who never fails to admire his work ethic. And he’s gained love and encouragement from his mom, who makes the best comfort meals. from mac and cheese to gumbo.

“He’s probably one of my best friends,” Sell said. “We’ve known each other for a long time, and we’ve gotten closer and closer over the years through such means as orchestra, pit orchestra, music theory and that sort of thing. He’s just genuinely a good dude and he’s gonna study music, which is very inspiring.”

The stress of performing, college applications and NHS meetings can be a lot for Jones. But every day he continues to work hard and

arrive at school before 7:00 a.m.

Every day he continues to volunteer, complete study guides and prepare for socratic seminars.

Every day he continues to rewatch past concerts and learn from his mistakes.

“Don’t be intimidated by other cellists,” Jones said. “You may think you’re working hard, but someone is always working harder. And don’t let others put you down, because I was put down a lot in middle school by my peers.”

Jones understands family expectations all too well, especially since being scolded for not making districts last year. He knows pressure, what it’s like to be the youngest and the struggle to be noticed for something other than a last name.

“I don’t wanna be seen as the little brother of a D1 athlete,” Jones said. “Or the little brother [of someone] getting his PhD in math. I want people to recognize me, for my music.”

EMBRACE

Flutist Amber Underwood performs at the Black History Month Assembly

Eyes darted to Amber Underwood. Students watched as her silver zebra-striped skirt swished, and hot pink acrylics zipped up and down the body of her flute. This was the first time since 1997 that Underwood had stepped foot on the waxed floors of the Northwest gymnasium.

Music, specifically flute playing, started as a hobby, which led to performing at a few local venues and restaurants. Then there were gigs in New York, Atlanta, Mexico and Chile. Now, Underwood is starting her second album, and hopes in the next three years to be nominated for a Grammy.

She grew up in Wyandotte, Kansas, and began learning the basics of piano in third grade.

Now fans from afar pay to watch her perform in glitzy heels.

Underwood graduated from Northwest with the class of 97’. She was crowned homecoming queen, was involved in orchestra, music theory, swimming and many clubs.

Underwood knew that to not pursue music would be wrong, but to ignore her other passions, especially those that guaranteed a steady lifestyle, would be wrong, too.

“I always saw myself as some type of performer,” Underwood said. “I wanted to be someone on stage, I knew I had it in me.”

She attended Wichita State University on a full performance scholarship, then went to Oklahoma State University to observe a professional flutist.

Underwood eventually joined a startup program at the UMKC Conservatory for a music business and arts administration degree.

“I studied under Bobby Watson, a world renowned saxophone player,” Underwood said. “He really jumped me on the jazz scene in Kansas City. I like to say I’m a street jazzer, that I don’t have a degree in jazz, I learned it from the streets, from elder statesmen. They passed down knowledge of jazz, transcribing records and going to jam sessions. I was the only female going into these places, so they automatically assumed I was the singer. It was like a badge of honor being able to play with them.”

Underwood is trying to change the way people see jazz. Growing up, Black female composers, let alone female composers, were obsolete, if not overshadowed by men.

“When you look past the singer, it’s a lot of guys,” Underwood said. “And I want to be the next Prince, or female version of Micheal Jackson. I haven’t seen a flute player rock it out before like Lizzo. And I’ve been doing what Lizzo’s been doing long before she’s been doing it.”

She decided to pursue both passions of advocating for female instrumentalists on the jazz scene and encouraging new forms of expression with younger generations.

Flutie Nastiness, her band, was established in 2008.

Since then, Underwood has juggled teaching by day in fluorescent lit classrooms at Central and Northeast middle school, and performing by night in ambient jazz clubs.

A few weeks ago, Underwood was asked to play at the Northwest Black History Month assembly.

There was no hesitation.

Seeing the diverse student body, separated by bleachers, cheering, and showing appreciation for her work, her music, made Underwood swell with pride.

Underwood’s former jazz band teacher Doug Talley was also there to witness Underwood’s performance; he hadn’t heard her play since junior high.

“She transferred in during middle school,” music teacher Doug Talley said. “At that time she was actually quite a bit behind. You could tell that she liked to play, but hadn’t gotten very far. She stuck with it. In high school she really excelled and was especially good at state [auditions].”

Over the years Underwood has gained a better sense of self. Whether that be wearing bright sundresses to get the mail at the risk of attracting stares, cutting ties to toxic relationships and sharing the spotlight before a crowd of strangers who know her stage name and nothing else.

“Just be true to your art and your music,” Underwood said. “You always want to educate the people that are coming up, [in that] Jazz is a Black American music. If you are a non-African American and cannot acknowledge it, you cannot embrace what jazz has to give.”

Stories by Sofia Ball

Performing her song “StrobeLight”, Amber Underwood plays the flute Feb. 6 in the main gym. Underwood makes music with her band, Flutie Nastiness. Photo by Addison Griswold

NO ANSWER

Increasing rates of gun violence in the KC area has a deadly impact on teens

On Nov. 16, senior DeMarcus Houston was rushed to the hospital after being shot in Kansas City, MO, two miles from the Kauffman Stadium. He did not survive.

Junior Amare Williams was scrolling on his phone when he saw the news. His reaction, disbelief.

“I was confused ‘cause I was like, he’s not dead ‘cause he was here yesterday.” Williams said. “I saw a post like ‘Rest up little homie’. And I was just like, dang. He’s gone.”

He texted Houston just to make sure the news was true.

No answer.

A few days ago they were talking. A few weeks ago they were placing bets on games. A few months ago Houston’s cousin had asked Williams to look over him once he transferred schools.

While Houston was new to Northwest, he sat in class, waited in the lunch line, heard the static of Mr. Haney’s walkie talkie.

Now he’s gone.

Increasing rates of gun violence in the KC area are targeting adolescents on street corners, by bus stops and in parking lots. Not only are teenagers the perpetrators of this violence, but are finding themselves more in the line of fire.

The Kansas City area hit a record-number of homicides in 2023, peaking at 182 killings according to a Daily Homicide Analysis provided by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, which is 12 more than the previous year.

In the last five years there’s been a 21% increase in killings across all demographics.

However, there’s been a 280% increase across ages 0-17.

Houston was one of these victims.

Northwest student resource officer Mark Coenen has been on the force 27 years. He expects rates of gun violence amongst adolescents to continue to increase.

“I don’t know why it’s on the rise and more younger people are resorting to gun [use],” Coenen said. “I think 20 maybe 30 years ago where someone was mad at somebody, they would fight and punch it out with their fists. But it seems like today younger people are resorting towards using guns to solve those problems rather than using their fists. Why that is, I have no idea.”

Gun violence is the third-leading cause of death in teens according to the Population Reference Bureau. A 2023 Johns Hopkins study states gun violence is the leading cause of death in all children in America.

In an Instagram poll posted by the Northwest Passage, 35% of respondents said they have been affected by gun violence in the KC area. The poll was posted before the shooting at the Super Bowl parade in downtown Kansas City, which killed one and injured more than 20 others.

One million people were estimated to attend the parade. The shooters and the victims were predominantly children. Many Shawnee Mission Northwest students went to the parade and were witness to the events at Union Station, including sophomore Haylee Bell.

“I was inside the hotel sleeping,” Bell said. “I hear the siren and see a bunch of cop cars. My first thought was that was just part of the parade. Then my mother comes in and says there’s a shooting

Leading causes of death in adolecense

CAR ACCIDENTS

going on. I immediately run to the window, and I see cops running straight toward us. My first thought, because I’m a photographer was I want to get down there and see what’s going on. But we stay in our room for a bit. I remember reporters did not know what was going on, nobody did.”

Other events in the last year alone affecting Shawnee Mission students include a gun threat at Shawnee Mission East on Nov. 30, a fight where a firearm was allegedly pulled after a football game in the parking lot of Shawnee Mission South, an incident regarding a shot being fired at Oak Park Mall and a shooting near the Crown Center food court.

In Coenen’s 19 years of working with the district, he estimates that twice he’s had an experience with a student bringing a firearm to school. While this is rare, posts across social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitch often have views or streams of teenagers glorifying weapon possession and use.

“I see it on snap stories and Instagram stories all the time,” sophomore Bella Alvarado said. “Guys waving guns at the camera

A Kansas City Police Officer stands behind police tape Feb. 14 at Crown Center. Officers surrounded the area after a mass shooting occurred following the Chiefs Super Bowl Parade, leaving one dead and over 20 injured. The situation ended in two juveniles being put in custody.

Photo by Haylee Bell

design by Greta Grist

In homes with guns, you are 4X more likely to die by accidental shooting

and they are usually not much older than I am.”

Juan Campos, an outreach worker who works with at-risk teens to avoid gun violence, told NPR in August of 2023 that petty arguments

and online disputes can lead to deadly violence in neighborhoods, alleyways and apartment complexes.

“It’s hundreds of people on social media, versus just one or two people trying to guide youth in a positive way,” Campos said.

Sometimes he gives teens warnings, expanding on the deadly consequences that can arise from violent actions, but “it doesn’t work all the time.”

The amount of shootings in Kansas City has sparked talk of gun law restrictions amongst local politicians.

In response to the Super Bowl Parade shooting, Missouri House Democrats have said they will aim to defer bills authorizing concealed weapons in churches and exempting firearms from sales tax. Crystal Quade, the Minority Leader in the Missouri House of Representatives and candidate for Governor, said at a press conference on Feb. 20 that she wants to introduce a constitutional amendment that give cities the ability to override state gun laws.

Missouri State Senator Bill Eigel, a Republican campaigning for Governor, made a social media post on Feb. 15 hinting that a lack of firearms was responsible for the crossfire.

“One good guy with a gun could have stopped the evil criminals who opened fire on the crowd immediately,” Eigel wrote. “Guns don’t kill people. Thugs and criminals

kill people.”

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly sides with stricter gun law.

“Prevalence of gun violence has invaded our schools, our campuses, our entertainment venues, our workplaces and our homes,” Kansas Governer Laura Kelly said at an address at Kansas State on Feb. 16. “I look forward to the day when we can have open, honest discussions about the cause and work towards a safer society for all of us.”

The influx of gun-related incidents regarding teenagers has led to the gun debate spilling into Northwest, too.

“Kansas City, or KCMO [are] not the safest,” senior Spencer Creden said. “I’ve been in most of those parts where I’ve seen people get mugged or robbed off the street. And it’s one of those things where it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of whether you’re going to protect yourself or not.”

Some students such as Creden believe the answer to decreasing rates of gun violence amongst adolescents is to lower gun restrictions. Senior Kayley Givner, president of Young Democrats, takes an opposing view.

“I don’t think there’s [anything to] avoid this from happening,” Givner said in reference to the parade shooting. “Bad people are always going to find a way to do bad things. It’s in our rights that you can carry a gun. I don’t see that ever going away. It’s going to be hard to [make a] change. I think the government has stepped in before and it’s definitely their time to step in again.

“There’s snipers on our roof and I think one of the shooters were in our hotel parking garage”

- Haylee Bell

It’s an overwhelming issue that needs to be discussed because peoples lives are at risk. We see this every single day.”

Some believe rates of gun violence

involving teens will continue to rise in the KC area unless a change is made.

Houston is a victim of this trend.

“I showed him classes where I usually go,” Williams said. “And all my friends. We were at the lunch table roasting each other

In a poll posted by the Northwest Passage

35% of the responses said they have been affected by gun violence in the KC area

before he passed. I said ‘Your nose strong,’ he said, ‘Bro you got a flexible forehead.’”

“It didn’t make any sense,” Williams said. They still laughed.

According to Williams, Houston loved to make money and play basketball. The two played 2K and Madden, talked sneakers, and watched “Baddies East.”

“It’s kind of a ghetto show,” Williams said, laughing. “I’m pretty sure when you see him, you probably thought he looked ghetto. Like the way he dressed and the way he talked. So I just wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t. He was nice. He was chill. You could always talk to him no matter what.”

They took turns driving whenever they got food. Houston was always showing him new spots in the city, always eager to pay.

In class, Houston was quiet, a hard worker. Music was his passion.

He texted Houston just to make sure. No answer.

Houston was on the path to graduation, he had hopes of making “beats”, even starting his own clothing line.

“When he passed away I just lost another friend to gun violence,” Williams said. “I don’t really know how to explain it.”

Story by Sofia Ball

Data from healthychildren.org

REACHING FOR THE BLUE STAR

In the Greg Parker Auditorium, togas, tutus and a spectral prom queen crowd the stage, singing scales as stage lights flicker. It’s the last dress rehearsal before opening night of “The Addams Family” musical, and actors clad in ghostly garb laugh and stretch as they prepare.

This year, Northwest’s Thespian Troupe 888 applied for the Blue Star Awards. It is an award program modeled after Broadway’s Tony Awards and is hosted by Starlight Theatre. They recognize high school musical theatres in the greater Kansas City area.

“I heard about a lot of other schools [signing up for the Blue Star],” senior Rose Cox said. Cox was the stage manager for Troupe 888’s musical, “The Addams Family.” “I looked more into it over the summer and saw that there were a lot of good opportunities for the students, even if your show doesn’t get nominated.”

Cox helped convince theatre teacher and director Shawnasea Holst to sign up for the Blue Star Awards. Becoming a Blue Star school gives students multiple scholarship opportunities and allows their hard work in musical theatre to be recognized. To be eligible, Troupe 888 had to alter some of their usual procedures.

“It’s supposed to be a student award program for their achievements,” Holst said. “The minimum requirement [of student work] is 75%.”

Instead of renting costumes or having adult assistance, much of the work was done by students to reach the 75% mark.

“That’s the big thing,” Holst said. “It’s supposed to be as studentdone as humanly possible. The adults are there to facilitate, the adults are there to make sure that no one is getting hurt. Supervising, facilitating, advising, but I’m not supposed to be up on the ladder fixing the lights myself. I’m not supposed to sew the costume myself.”

Troupe 888’s scenic designer — who designs the layouts of sets to be sure they are safe and functional — is an adult, so they have to compensate for the fact by building sets largely by themselves.

Northwest’s Thespian Troupe 888 prepares to compete for the Blue Star Awards

design by Stella Miyares

“We’ve been paying a lot of attention to the craftsmanship of our props and our set design,” said sophomore assistant stage manager Axel Delaney.

“In general, I think we went a bit more extravagant than we would have if we weren’t going for the Blue Star.”

In addition, budgeting was something theatre director Holst had to keep track of.

“Normally, when I’m working with my budget, I know what my overall total is,” Holst said. “I’m trying to spend less than five thousand dollars for the entire show. For this, it’s wanting to know departments. How much money did I spend on lighting? How much money did I spend on costumes?”

When competing for Blue Star Awards, schools fall into different categories based on their production budgets. Based on budgeting information, they will be placed into a category that allows them to compete against other thespian troupes with similar budgets.

Starlight Theatre sends two Blue Star Award winners to compete in the Jimmy Awards, a national high school musical theatre awards competition that takes place in New York City over the summer. Junior Luke Dent hopes to win a chance to compete nationally. Dent qualified for the Jimmy Awards because of his leading role as Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family” musical.

“For the opportunity to go to New York, possibly work with Juilliard instructors and people on Broadway touring, that would all be a great experience,” Dent

Even if Thespian Troupe 888 isn’t recognised by the Blue Star Awards, they still receive feedback from the adjudicators — theatre professionals, performing artists, designers and theatre arts educators — who came to watch their musical.

The thought of feedback and chance to win awards has motivated Troupe 888 to strive for excellence.

“Before we even auditioned, before we even pulled up the script, and said, ‘If we’re going to put in for a Blue Star, let’s give it our best effort,’” Holst said. “We set that expectation on day one that we wanted everyone to bring their

“Let’s get some real good feedback, let’s know where we can grow, let’s actually be a contender. Maybe Shawnee Mission Northwest wins a Blue Star, maybe we get a nomination, I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m up against, but I’m going to give it my best effort.”

Story by Grace Rau

Senior Ellison Bonge sings Feb. 14 in the Auditorium. Bonge Played Alice Beineke, the mother of Lucas, Wednesday’s love interest. “When I thought about a mom character, my first thought was boring, but Alice was a whole other level,” Bonge said. “Getting to act crazy, screaming and crawling on tables was so much fun and I feel in love with Alice.”

Photo by Ashley Broils

RATS WINGS WITH

Explore the artist behind the art, Teal Franklin

S

design by Stella Miyares

enior Teal Franklin sits at her table in room 9, tools in hand as she stares at her rough outline on the scratch board. She starts to slowly scratch in the eyes, carefully making light lines, taking her time to not make a mistake. You can’t erase on a scratchboard, you can’t just add more black ink to the white paper, so one mistake means it all, the whole project is ruined.

“If you make a mistake, you can’t erase it because it’s scratch off, right?” Franklin said “So I’m thinking about each of my strokes very long and hard, and I gotta be gentle with it.”

The soft chill music in the background calms her as she slowly scratches in the noses, each stroke carefully planned out.

Franklin slowly carves out the fur, making light and bold strokes all around. Making sure to get a texture as she does it. By the end the fur flows like a river stream down the backs of the rats that meet together in the middle to kiss.

A beast of nature that no one loves.

Franklin quoted boygenius, saying, “Always an angel, never a god.”

It’s a phrase that Franklin took to heart as she drew on wings to the two rats, giving them a more divine and beautiful look. Making them rats with wings.

Franklin takes a small break as she looks around the room. Mellisa Terryberry is over by another table helping one of the students, carefully and delicately guiding them. Franklin wants to be like her, helping young artists achieve their dreams.

Franklin wants to be an art teacher.

“I really like art,” Franklin said. “It’s my favorite thing. I want to be an art teacher when I’m outta college.”

Franklin wants to help students just like her teachers have helped her. She wants to go to an art school, slowly pay off her debt and one day be just like Mellisa Terryberry, Stephanie Kates, and Kimberly Ruttan — teachers that Franklin inspires to be like.

“I would wanna be one of the base art teachers that teaches everything,” Franklin said. “Or I would like to be a ceramics teacher.”

“Fairy Rats” was displayed throughout the month of January and at the Art Show on January 22.

“I didn’t really plan on it being in the art show,” Franklin said. “I just wanted to make something fun.”

Franklin looks around.

She sees scratchboards and canvases filled with art that she feels are way beyond her level, art that is beautiful, complex, and masterful.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m a fake artist somehow,” Franklin said. “But then I realize I did make this stuff and that I am capable of this.”

Story by Jesus Lara Rivera

Senior Teal Franklin holds up her art piece ‘Fairy Rats’ Feb.8 in Room 151. Franklin used scratch board and stencil to make the piece. Photo by Haylee Bell

ORKS DOWN

A review on the new Shawnee location of local ramen shop: Aoyama Ramen

oyama Ramen is a generally highly rated ramen shop/restaurant in Olathe, coming to an average of 4.6/5 stars based on platforms Facebook, GrubHub, Postmates, UberEats, DoorDash and Yelp. A new location recently opened up in Shawnee, KS off of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm.

On a snow day a few weeks ago, while bobbing around FatBee Boba and Savers to thrift with some friends, I came across this new store, with little to no prior knowledge about it. There it sat, a small corner store with an LED sign that read, “Aoyama Ramen,” with an open sign right under it. I saw quite a few people walk in and out, for what I could assume were delivery drivers for various services.

On Friday, February 23rd, I decided to finally stop there to try out what they had to offer.

The atmosphere was cozy but still professional, being minimalist with photos of the menu items on their red brick walls. A very adorable painted mural is on the first wall you see when you walk in; a cartoon-y Godzilla sitting down and eating a bowl of ramen. You wait to be seated, which for us was probably less than ten seconds, and we were quickly handed menus, chopsticks, napkins and water, without asking for it.

The wait staff was incredibly kind, very quick and efficient at their jobs, and our orders were taken without much time to wait.

Like any ramen shop, they had a few options of different pork bone broth ramen, as well as a few spicy options, including their spice level. Aside from ramen, they had some rice bowl options. For appetizers, they had the choices of onigiri, gyoza and pork buns. For dessert, they serve ice cream mochi.

I chose to order the spicy tuna onigiri and the original, number one ramen item on their menu: the Tonkotsu Classic Ramen, which has a 15-hour pork bone broth, two eggs, two pieces of pork, bean

sprouts, scallions and nori.

At first glance alone, this ramen was beautifully displayed. In a traditional yet simple ramen bowl, the eggs were aesthetically placed and when you think of a classic ramen spread, this is definitely what comes to mind. It came out in a very timely manner and was still piping hot despite it being the dinner rush, with every seat in the place being full.

This may be a review on a ramen shop, and going into it, I knew what I was getting myself into, however, trying to be as unbiased as I can be; I am not a huge ramen fan. That being said, any ramen lover would enjoy the ramen I ordered. My favorite was most certainly the broth. It was warm and creamy, with such an intense and pleasant pork flavor. The noodles themselves were cooked well, none of the vegetables were browning, and overall it was pretty standard. This ramen was truly nothing special, and if we’re really getting into it, the pork had a good flavor but was slightly gummy, and the eggs, while being cooked to perfection, tasted over-seasoned with soy.

With the ratings of the Olathe location, my expectations were high, but were slightly brought down by its casual mediocrity. It wasn’t bad at all, just “okay.” The spicy tuna onigiri was enjoyable, the sticky rice was perfect and it had a nice flavor as well. My friends who got the Beef Sukiyaki Don, and they both could not finish their bowls, sharing a dislike for the sweet onions the entree held, but that sounds more like a preference thing than anything else.

Overall, if you’re bored and craving a nicely priced, casual setting and good serviced ramen, I would definitely say go here. This probably won’t be my last time attending this shop, because there are many options I hadn’t tried and I don’t want to judge the whole place based on one and a half dishes.

In my opinion, this shop gets a 4 out of 5 for great atmosphere, service, price and variety. I would definitely check this place out for yourself if you have the time to with some buddies after school someday. Story by Cain Kempf

designed by Kennedy Woolf

Bowl of classic Tonkatsu Ramen Feb. 12th at Aoyama Ramen.

Photo by Finn Bedell

Plate of gyoza dumplings Feb. 12th at Aoyama Ramen.

Photo by Finn Bedell

MONTH IN MONTH IN

1. Dropping his drumsticks, sophomore Liam Mills ends the percussion band’s performance Feb. 20 in the Main Gym. Percussion members performed snippets of different songs at the Sweetheart Assembly. Photo by Kara Simpson

2. Freshman Austin Barham smiles while doing a biology lab Feb 23 in Room 204. Biology students are currently learning about DNA. Photo by Claire Reed

After the ending of “When Your Are an Addams,” junior Luke Dent poses Feb. 14 in the Auditorium. Dent played Gomez Addams in “The Addams Family” musical. “Playing Gomez Addams has been the best role of my life,” Dent said. “I really enjoyed learning a Spanish accent for the role and getting to sing and dance for so much of the show.”Photo by Ashley Broils

3. Sophomore Ethan Taylor shoots a two-pointer Feb. 16 in the Main Gym. The Cougars beat the Bison 67-41. “Aiming is all about muscle memory and repetition,” Taylor said. “Working on the same shot a lot of times helps [to score].”

Photo by Cooper Evans

1.

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PHOTOS IN PHOTOS

“When

“[And

6. Extending their arms, fans attempt to get a high-five from Chiefs player Justyn Ross Feb. 14 at Union Station. During the parade, most of the Chiefs team ran by fans and gave out signatures as they walked the parade route.

Photo by Cooper Evans

5. Senior Bryan McKee takes a selfie with seniors Audrey Teel and Savannah Kessinger Feb. 13 in the Mall. McKee is involved in Prom Committee, the organization that runs the Rose Sale. “The most fun part of this experience was getting involved with the school and community,” McKee said. “[I liked] seeing people’s reactions when we delivered [the flowers].”

Photo by Andie Berg

4. On the starting block, senior Tyler VandenBoss prepares to swim the 100 Meter Butterfly Feb. 16 at Hummer Sports Park. At the start of each race, swimmers take their mark and wait for the starter to sound.

I’m on the blocks I try to keep my mind as clear as possible,” VandenBoss said.

I] just relax my body to get the best reaction possible.” Photo by Sidra Sakati

4. 5.

6.

N W P

N W P

“

“ I was completely surprised, I invited my family to come to watch, and right before they said my name I thought ‘My whole family came to see me and I didn’t get crowned.

-senior Ava Griffin

Senior Ava Griffin reacts to her name being called Feb. 24 in the Main Gym. Griffin was crowned the 2024 Sweetheart Queen.

Photo by Ashley Broils