Northwest Passage Volume 41 Issue 10

northwest

passage Volume 41

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is working to preserve the club after the senior leaders graduate.16 a tale as old as time

Students danced the night away Feb. 13 at the WPA Dance. Inside the issue are photos higlighting the weekend’s activities. 12

Q&A with Ryan Lilja

The NW graduate played in his second Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts.19

winter success

The wrestling, boys’ swimming and boys’ and girls’ bowling teams have all improved from last season. 20

Issue 10

February 26, 2010

_________________________________ 04 / news briefs

BAILEY KOPP

Shawnee Mission Northwest 12701 West 67th St., Shawnee, Kan., 66216

news

See what’s going on around the school and in the community.

06 / schmix page

Plan your schedule around this week’s happenings plus some random stuff.

opinions

The product from Apple might not live up to the hype.

08 / step it up, underclassmen The student section has to be a major part of the Cougar basketball success.

12

09 / sex is taking over the media I love Sex has become an unavoidable aspect of everyday life.

scene

Johnny Tong

______________________________ 08 / ideja vu

10 / and your winners are...

The winners of the NW survey for the 2010 Academy Awards.

11 / reviews

The Passage reviews the TV series Lost.

14 / scene static

________ w features

Apps of the Issue, Live Noise, Sudoku and the Student Shuffle.

____________________ 12 / a tale as old as time

4

Pictures from the weekend of WPA.

sports

19 / Q&A and culture grid Professional football player Ryan Lilja sits down for an interview.

20 / winter success

top: During a slow song at WPA, senior Alec Britt and junior Emily Chambers hold hands and laugh. bottom: Senior Caitlin Fitzgerald plays her cello at the Great Works Concert March 16.

staff

Bowling, wrestling and swimming have all had successful seasons.

23 / zero...tolerance policy The drug and alcohol policy needs to be updated in Shawnee Mission.

/ Kevin Buie backpage photo / Hannah Williams

cover photo

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 newsmagazine, The Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every two weeks during third hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find a solution. In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste.

Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The co-editors-in-chief reserves the right to refuse any letter.

co-editors in-chief / david catt, ryan mccarthy copy editor / ed spaunhorst design editors / ashley lane, stephanie spicer

photo editors / david freyermuth, hannah williams graphics editor / tyler absher news editor /lauren komer opinions editors / david catt, ryan mccarthy features editor / maria davison scene editor / evan shinn sports editor / clay coffman ads editors /ashley calvert web technical / andrew keith web managing editor / mary salazar web master / stephanie rupp staff writers / nick alexander, jeremy allen, rachel alvey, wyatt anderson, nick feighner, rachel ferencz, kelsey gasser, claire gordon, tyler gilliam, andrew keith, brady klein, brianna leyden, maddie niemackl, cj reliford, madi watts

Senior Chris Wallace carries his bike over obstacles during a race at the Cyclocross Junior World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Courtesy of Chris Wallace

Cyclist Home from European Trek Senior Chris Wallace is not the kind of athlete featured on the announcements every week.

Wallace, who returned Feb. 2 from a two-week trip that spanned Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, competed in the World Junior Cyclocross Championships. Wallace was ranked second of the five U.S. racers who were selected to compete. Of 80 starters, he placed 39th.

“I was kind of disappointed, but I couldn’t really be,” Wallace said.

Wallace has been cyclocross racing for four years and road racing for six.

Cyclocross is a combination of running and racing. The race combines riding on and off the road and, at least once during a race, riders are forced to carry their bikes either up and down stairs or until the path is clear enough to ride on.

“The running is definitely the hardest part because it’s an extra 20 pounds on your back,” Wallace said.

Road racing takes place in the spring and summer and is strictly on the road.

It’s a relatively long race, usually about three hours. This made the transition to cyclocross racing much easier during the fall and winter due to his road experience.

04/february 26

Wallace trains during the week in cyclocross season, with an average road ride of 30 to 50 miles. Wallace has now been to Europe three times to compete and has traveled all over the United States.

With traveling and competing taking up most of his time, school has had to take a backseat.

“I’d be gone from school for weeks at a time, and for what I did this fall and winter, I kind of had to put school aside and had to focus everything on racing,” he said.

Although he missed multiple weeks of school for racing, Wallace manages to get all his school work done when he returns home. His parents allow him to race and miss school as long as he keeps his grades up. His teachers will e-mail him assignments, and he is given plenty of time to make up tests when he returns.

Wallace plans to take a month off and then continue into the road racing season this spring and summer. Next fall, he will move on to the next age group, ranging in ages 19 to 23.

“It’s going to be a lot harder to be chosen to go to the Cyclocross World Championships next year,” Wallace said.

“It’s a lot harder competition.”

Rachel Ferencz

Failed funding limits

fashion show

Fashion Careers hosted its annual fashion show yesterday. You missed it? The classes couldn’t put on the usual student runway show during lunch or the optional assembly. Insufficient fundraising forced Fashion Careers to limit the production to one evening show.

“We didn’t raise as much money as we needed, so we could only pay the tech crew for one performance,” Fashion Careers I student Haylee Slocum said.

The show is produced completely by the students in Fashion Careers. Promotion, modeling, music, commentary and merchandising committees pull together all aspects of the show.

“I have to keep an eye on all of the committees and make sure everything is fitting together,” coordinator junior Peyton Smith said.

Although there are usually two performances, the student show during lunch was cut to one show due to limited funds. Each student was charged $3 admission, but most of the profits will go to benefit Haiti relief. Any other money raised will go to the class fund.

“Two of the three dollars [of admission] will be donated, but the rest will go toward Fashion Careers classes’ expenses,” Smith said.

Each year, the outfits have a common theme selected by the class. This year, Candyland was chosen as the theme to tie the scenes together. “[We chose] a Candyland theme because bright bold colors were predicted to be a prominent trend for spring 2010,” Smith said.

Preparation started in late January, and both classes helped to organize outfits donated by local businesses. According to Fashion Careers teacher Erin Samborski, gathering outfits was laborintensive and continued up until a week before the final runway show. Every model had two outfits, plus extra formal looks.

“Doing the fashion show for the first time has shown me trends coming up and how to coordinate them into my everyday wardrobe,” Slocum said.

The models played a large role as well. All Fashion Careers I students walked the runway, unless they chose to opt out. Male models are students nominated by the classes, and teachers are chosen as well. Female models practice by taking a class at Hoffman International, a local modeling agency.

“We have to learn the basics of walking, posing and just being on the runway,” Slocum said.

“Modeling makes you feel confident.”

Fashion Careers students also gained experience that will be critical if they continue on to work in the fashion industry. “[The fashion show] takes a lot of organization,” Samborski said. “It teaches the students to delegate responsibility.” Rachel Alvey

3-D TV market emerges despite concerns Hailed as the next big thing in electronics, 3-D television was officially unveiled at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last month. The show is the largest of its kind, boasting over 120,000 attendees at CES 2009.

“At C.E.S., the screens were big, the images were high-def, and the video samples were vivid and punchy,” David Pogue of the New York Times reported.

“The [electronics manufacturers] made 3-D TV seem fantastic. You almost couldn’t wait to buy one when they come out this summer.”

With the unprecedented success of 3-D movies such as Avatar, electronics manufacturers want to bring 3-D into

to forgo the glasses, Phillips Electronics has an alternative: 3-D televisions without the 3-D glasses. Prices start around $8900 for the 42-inch model.

Viewing angle is another hurdle for 3-D television. If the viewer moves a certain distance away from the screen, or is viewing the screen from the side, the image appears flat and two-dimensional, negating the purpose of the 3-D television, according to PC Magazine.

“The viewing angle is poor, and price is too high,” sophomore Chris Moss said.

According to Moss, 3-D television is little more than a gimmick; too cumbersome and cost-prohibitive to become popular in the home.

The biggest problem with 3-D is the lack of content, number of 3-D movies currently according to CNET.com. Only available on BluRay HD two networks have announced plans for 3-D: Discovery number of 3-D TVs that work without 3-D glasses Channel and ESPN. ESPN is the largest supporter of 3-D number of television channels broadcasting and have been planned to use 3-D planning their conversion to 3-D since 2007. Beginning on the home. With the quality 3-D found in June 11 with the FIFA World Cup, ESPN Avatar, Electronics manufacturers have plans a live 3-D broadcast of over 85 come out with several models of 3-D sporting events worldwide. The June televisions, built to appeal to the average 11 Live 3-D broadcast will likely be the consumer. make-or-break moment, determining As a result, Sony, Samsung, LG and whether or not 3-D can make the jump Panasonic now offer 3-D televisions that from silver-screen to big-screen.

Andrew Keith require 3-D glasses. Most models range from $1500 to $3500. For those who wish

0 1 2

Dodgeball tournament

for charity upcoming

The second annual charity dodgeball tournament will be held a week from Saturday in the Auxiliary Gym. Hosted

by Spirit Club, it will begin at 9 a.m. and will last until 4 p.m. The cost is $10 per person, $60 per team, and it is open to anyone. Teams can have up to six players and can be a mix of classes, but must have at least one member of the opposite sex, and there can’t be mixed student-teacher teams.

Application forms are available in Room 132 or in the mall during lunch. The forms should be returned to social studies teacher Sarah Dent, in Room 132. The deadline is March 2.

According to Spirit Club sponsor Sarah Dent, the money raised last year went to the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation to help construct libraries for the district.

“Our school raised $600 last year. As a district, around $2,000 to $3,000 was collected,” Dent said.

A team bracket determines who plays whom in this double elimination tournament. If a team loses twice, it is eliminated from play. Unusual prizes will be given out to the crowd during tournament play.

“At the district tourney, gift cards to Applebees, Buffalo Wild Wings, and other restaurants were given out to the crowd,” Senior Trey Jacobson said.

The winning team of the NW bracket will represent the school at the SM North field house for the districtwide competition planned for sometime in April. Jacobson’s team, The Cure, won it all last year.

“We all had a great time. Our team never practiced.

We just gathered up all together, made some sweet unis (uniforms), and showed up the day of the tourney.”

Tyler Gilliam

Choir and orchestra join for concert

by orchestra teacher Jeffrey Bishop, and the “Concerto Grosso for String Orchestra and Piano Obligatto” by Ernest Bloch, which featured sophomore Amanda Hedrick on piano.

The next piece, “Regina Coeli” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was played by both the orchestra and choir. It also included parts for trumpet, oboe, timpani and harp.

“Music in our curriculum is like picking a book for English class. There are certain things that the piece works on, and we have to pick something that choir and orchestra can both do well,” Bishop said. “[‘Regina Coeli’] is a good one to use, and we’ve done it in the past.”

“It’s a very mature piece so it must have a lot of dynamic changes. Plus, it takes a lot of control,” sophomore and audience member Melissa Balino said.

Both the orchestra and choir had been preparing “Regina Coeli” for weeks, but they only had the chance to practice together twice. The piece closed out the 33-minute concert.

“The choir alone is a just a choir; the orchestra alone is just an orchestra,” Harrison said.

“Together, it makes a wonderful ensemble.”

Brianna Leyden

Johnny Tong

The Great Works concert, after a two-year hiatus because of construction, was held Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Community Covenant Church.

This particular concert is known for its use of two ensembles from the NW music department.

“This concert is different because it gives us the opportunity to work with the orchestra and get to know more about them,” junior Matt Harrison said. “It makes [the experience] a lot more incredible.”

The program featured three choirs, as well as Chamber Orchestra and several Symphony Orchestra members. A Capella Choir took the stage to sing “All That Hath Life and Breath, Praise Ye the Lord” by Rene Clausen, which included a solo by sophomore Isabel Zacharias. The smaller 21-member Chamber Choir then sung “Seek the Lord,” written by the same composer, but directed by senior Andrew Shaw.

“Every year seniors have an opportunity to direct a choral piece if they are interested in a career in musical education,” Shaw said. “It was nerve-wracking, but it was worth it in the end, and the choir did a good job with the song.”

The Chamber Orchestra then played two pieces: “Epilogue,” an original composition

Orchestra director Jeffrey Bishop conducts the orchestra and choir at the Great Works concert.

The orchestra and choir played only one piece together, Regina Coeli by Mozart.

news\05

2009-2010

snow fall totals

out of 50 states had snow on the ground.

unfriend verb. To remove someone from your friend list on a social network like facebook or myspace.

It was named the Oxford Word of 2009 according to Oxford University Press USA.

“Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes a pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to practice restraint.” —Tiger Woods,

norway

united states

as of 2/23

06/february 26

10 12 15

Spring sports photo day

22

Last day of spring break

10

1:10pm Early dismissal End of quarter

First day of spring break

mon mon

The PrincetonReview.com is a website revolved around college admissions and standardized test preparations.

It allows you to create a profile that can be updated and used to search for college and test prep needs according to your own personal interests. Although the site is college oriented, it is not affiliated with Princeton University or the Educational Testing Services.

Spring blood drive 7pm SMSD choir festival

fri

www.princetonreview.com

Girls’ basketball banquet

tues wed

total medal counts

17

7pm Jazz Cabaret

sun

winter olympics

2 5 7 9

9:40am Late start 7pm Orchestra concert

fri

2010

23 26

march tues

at his Feb. 19 press conference addressing his marital transgressions and his eventual return to golf.

germany

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iDéjà Vu nWyatt Anderson

I ing the news, you’ve f you’ve been follow-

heard about Apple’s latest product. The unfortunately named iPad has been called many things (most of them unprintable), and it’s beginning to look like the almighty Apple may finally have bitten off more than they can chew.

The iPad has been the subject of gossip for more than a decade.

Ever since the death in 1998 of Apple’s first attempt at a “tablet,” the PalmPilot-like Newton, Steve Jobs has been creating and scrapping plans for the device that was unofficially (and far more sensibly) known as the iSlate.

Fans have speculated on a wide range of possible features ranging from a forward-facing, MacBook-style camera for videoconferencing to a high-definition OLED screen, but with the iPad, Jobs has shown us that he’s unwilling to take a real risk. This may prove to be a smart move, though — the less effort they put into a product that’s destined to fail, the smaller the monetary hit.

What’s really sad about the iPad is that Apple doesn’t even seem to be trying anymore — there’s nothing new here. Jokes aside, the iPad really is nothing more than an oversized, unwieldy iTouch. I mean, except for Apple fanboys, who’s really going to buy this thing? Apple has the iPad aimed squarely at the space between two portable Web devices — the smartphone and the netbook — but I’m skeptical that there’s actually any market there.

You could buy a netbook and an iTouch with the money spent on an iPad. Apple also tries to pretend that the “business market” really exists, as if the iPad can

08/february 26

It’s hard to believe they could fit so many recycled ideas into something so unimpressive.

“Magical and revolutionary”? Hardly. achieve success by courting the rich folks who need to get their PowerPoints done on the way to Prague. A product like this can’t survive on the disposable income folks alone.

The reason the iPhone was such a success was its near-universal appeal (an app for everything) and a sizable dose of wow factor — wow that the iPad lacks three years later.

Arguably one of the iPad’s biggest faults is the lack of support for Web standards — namely Flash and Java. Ten years ago, this might not have been a big deal, but this is 2010 — the Internet is built on Flash. Without Flash, there is no Hulu — no streaming video at all, really — and no free Internet games.

“But there’s an app for that,” you say. “Anything the iPad doesn’t have can be added by developers.” It’s not that simple.

Apple has a history of removing competing products from their App Store citing the ambiguous “duplication of existing features.”

Last year, Google’s telephone service app, Google Voice, was rejected by Apple on those same grounds — an embarrassingly obvious attempt at stifling competition.

Even the Federal Communications Commission has seen the potential problem here and has stepped in to investigate “suspected anticompetitive behavior.”

Thankfully, the FCC’s poking around seems to have forced Apple to open up a bit: SlingPlayer and Skype, apps previously limited to WiFi only, will finally be allowed to work over 3G. If I were an optimistic man, I’d take this as a sign that Apple may finally be opening up its platform, but

because it took government intervention to get this far, well, surely you can understand my doubts.

With the iPad, Jobs is seemingly hoping to get a slice (or, as popular as Apple tends to be, the whole pie) of the burgeoning eBook reader market, which, until now, has been dominated by Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s nook.

The difference here is that both the nook and the Kindle have what’s called an e-ink screen instead of the iPad’s backlit LCD. The e-ink screen requires outside lighting, like a regular book, and is far less stressful on the eyes.

Many people get headaches when trying to read for any length of time on an LCD screen flashing 60 times a second, myself included. Apple’s gambling their product’s success on people’s willingness to read entire books on an old-style backlit screen. It’s a big step backward for a company that has historically been about innovation.

But we all know how this works. They release a flashy and promising new gizmo, and before the buzz can even wear off, they’ve announced the next evolution of the product complete with all the features that were missing from the first generation.

Look for the next-gen iPad to be announced around this time next year, complete with a price drop — remember when the iPhone was $600? It’s not even an original scam; early adopters in the tech world always get left behind.

What I can’t believe is that people continue to fall prey to this scheme.

My advice? If you can’t imagine life without another iDevice, wait for the inevitable iPad Pro.

n ALEX REVIS

Step it up, underclassmen The boys’ basketball team has been struggling recently because of a lack of fan support.

T had been on a three-year he boys’ basketball team

home winning streak until SM West beat them on Feb. 2. The Cougar fans were very disappointing in this game.

Although the score was close throughout the game, the Cougar Crazies cheered loudly only once when senior Steve Carver heaved the ball from the opposite free throw line just after time expired in the third quarter. And that was on a play that didn’t even count.

The upperclassmen were involved in the game, but this may have more to do to with the fact that they sit in the front. The underclassmen simply. did not have any interest in the game.

I wish that they would have made some noise and acted like they were at a home basketball game rather than in a movie theater or a friend’s house. Those who want to sit and gossip should sit in the section next to the students and gossip.

Don’t take up the space in the limited NW standing section.

I sat across from the fan section at the SM West game and was not pleased by the lack of support from students in the top 10 rows. Just a little bit of involvement is all I’m asking from the underclassmen. I’m pretty sure half of the them couldn’t have said how the game actually went because all they cared about was chit-chatting and not cheering on their basketball team.

Even though the Cougars lost another game to SM East on Feb. 13, the crowd was very loud at times. But the students have to be a part of the entire game to propel the Cougars to victory.

Sex is taking over the media I love

American teenagers are being spoon-fed sex by the media on a regular basis.

Parents, if you haven’t yet had “the talk” with your children, don’t worry about it.

Lady Gaga beat you to the punch.

W an

hile on my way to school, infectiously catchy hip-hop song came on the radio. I turned up the volume and began to tap my foot. This song did what music is supposed to do: stimulate and engage me. However, upon careful re-examination, I realized that the music and lyrics weren’t just trying to stimulate my brain, if you know what I mean.

What happened to music? When did we decide that the only way to sell a record was to put out “musical pornography?” You can’t even turn on the radio without hearing about how Ludacris is going to seduce some “shorty,” get her “tipsy” and then take her back to his “crib,” where he will perform explicit actions that can’t be described in this column (and shouldn’t be described in songs).

This is the music that adolescents are subjected to every single day...and people wonder why teen pregnancy continues to be an issue.

N

Sex is pushed on the teenage population harder than bulimia is pushed on runway models. Just ask teenage mom Jami Lynn Spears, who had to grow up listening to her older sister sing (or rather moan and whisper) about every aspect of sex.

If you haven’t the song “If You Seek Amy” off of Britney’s newest CD, all you have to do is say the title out loud to understand why this song is not so teen-friendly. Sex is everywhere. It’s become a normal part of the lives of Americans.

Now, I know that sex in music is nothing new. It has been portrayed in music for a very long time. But here’s the difference: Sexual songs used to be about love. They used to have value in society. And even when they didn’t, the sexuality was subtle.

Was Def Leppard singing about sex in their 1987 hit “Pour Some Sugar On Me?” The answer is almost undoubtedly, yes. But a 9-year-old boy singing along in the backseat of his parents’ car didn’t know that.

Artists used to have more tact when talking about sex.

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for 50 Cent, for example. He, among many other crotch-grabbing misogynists, prefers to tell us every unnecessary detail of his sexual encounters while dropping expletives every three words.

And it’s not just music that seems inappropriate. Almost all forms of media are oozing with unnecessary sexuality. Popular CBS sitcoms “Two and a Half Men” and “How I Met Your Mother” are perfect examples of TV shows that feature over-thetop sexual themes. In December, CBS released a Web promo for its airing of “Frosty the Snowman,” but the audio was dubbed with inappropriate clips of womanizer Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) from How I Met Your Mother. Essentially, they created an advertisement for a traditional kids’ holiday special that discussed topics like porn, breasts and masochism.

Great work, CBS.

nED SPAUNHORST And don’t even get me started on ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” a drama that revolving around the pregnancy of a 16-year-old and seems to have every teenage girl in America hooked.

Let me just say this: monkey see, monkey do.

In pushing sex onto people every day, we are not only degrading the artistic value of media sources, like music and television, but we may be wearing out the concept of sex itself.

Isn’t sex supposed to be something done in private between two people in love? By trying to put every aspect of sex on display through media, aren’t we sort of spoiling the act altogether? Being a virgin, maybe I’m not the most qualified person to discuss such things. But I know that when I do decide to have sex, I don’t want it to be some random hookup that the media suggests is “normal.”

So I’m sorry Lady Gaga, but you may not take a ride on my disco stick.

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milky milky cocopuffs

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opinions\9

NW students have spoken. After hundreds of students were surveyed, here are your favorite movies in the 82nd Academy Awards. By Evan Shinn 1.Avatar

Receiving over $654 million in the United States, director James Cameron’s Avatar is now the highest grossing domestic film of all time, beating previous holder, another creation from Cameron, 1997’s Titanic. Avatar is nominated for 9 academy awards.

2nd Inglorious Basterds courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

picturex picture

animated ANIMATEDfilmx FILM

After winning Best Animated Film at the 67th Golden Globes and Choice Summer Movie Comedy at the Teen Choice awards, Up is expected to win the Best Animated Film for the Academy Awards. 2nd place: Coraline

leading actorx leading actor

1. George Clooney Up in the Air

Academy Award-winner George Clooney was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Good Night, and Good Luck, as well as Best Supporting Actor in Syriana in 2006, making him the first person in Oscar history to be nominated for directing one movie and acting in another in the same year. He won Best Supporting Actor in Syriana, and is currently nominated for Best Leading Actor for his performance in 2009’s Up in the Air. 2nd Morgan Freeman - Invictus

courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

supporting actorx supporting actor

10/february 26

1. Christoph Waltz Inglourious Basterds

Waltz portrays Col. Standartenführer Hans Landa,” The Jew Hunter,” in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Waltz has already received Best Actor at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, Best Supporting Actor role from the New York Film Critics Circle, and Best Supporting Actor at the 67th Golden Globe Awards for the role.

2nd Matt Damon - Invictus

1.Avatar

directingx directing

It started out as an 80-page scriptment in 1995.

James Cameron announced that he would be making Avatar after finishing Titanic. The production started in 2006 because Cameron wanted to wait until the technology to create his film had advanced enough. Avatar had an estimated budget of $300 million.

2. Inglorious Basterds courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

1.UP

courtesy of rottentomatoes.

northwest passage/smnw.com

your winners are...

2nd Inglorious Bastards

leading actressx leading actress

1. Sandra Bullock The Blindside

Sandra Bullock won the award for Best Actress at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance in The Blind Side. She plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, an interior designer who lets Michael Oher into her home as she and her family try to lead him into the right direction, signing him up for the school football team as well as tutoring him to raise his grades.

2nd Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia

lost: the final season

Whatever happened to Claire? What has Sayid become infected with? Who is possessing John Locke? And the number one question on many minds: will the “Lost” survivors ever get off the island and ultimately stay off?

Jack Shephard. John Locke. Kate Austen.

James “Sawyer” Ford. Hugo “Hurley” Reyes. Jin and Sun Kwon. Sayid Jarrah. These people are more commonly known as the only characters in the TV series “Lost” who have managed to stay both alive and prominent in all six seasons of the show.

The show originally started with the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 on a mysterious island, and, much to the delight of conspiracy theorists everywhere, has led to episodes featuring evil masterminds, cover-ups, time-traveling and people who just can’t seem to stay dead — apparently a recur-

ring theme on this island.

With the premiere of the new season on Feb. 2, more than 12.1 million of the loyal followers turned in, according to ABC, hoping to finally get some answers from the many, MANY unanswered questions and loose ends. For those who do not know, season five ended with a bang — literally. The show took a surprising twist, and those stuck on the island faced something even more crazy than usual, and, believe me, the bar is set pretty high, with black smoke monsters, electromagnetic anomalies and the band of native inhabitants known as “The Others.” Now, a hydrogen bomb has been set off by the flight survivors who have somehow time-traveled to the year 1977 in the hope that the island will be destroyed, so they will never end up on the island in the first place.

Confusing, right? Not surprisingly, it doesn’t seem

to work. But in a certain respect, it does. An alternate universe has now been created. Seriously.

As a die-hard “Lost” fan myself, even I find this new turn of events hard to swallow. The writers’ goal seems to be to confuse as many viewers as possible by the end of this last season and to drag out the last episodes by loading them with impossible scenarios. While the original storyline was interesting, the characters not half bad and the set location to die for, the show has morphed into something with an unbelievable plot and flat characters who don’t seem to learn from their mistakes and experiences. (Has anyone else been wishing for the end of the annoying Jack/Kate/ Sawyer/Juliet love square?). With 15 episodes left in the series, fans hope that a new twist will occur in the plot and that some of those questions will be actually answered. nBrianna Leyden

scene\11

Bailey Kopp

Bailey Kopp

JOHNNY TONG

A tale as old as time

12/february 26

W

PA or Women Pay All dance was held Feb. 13 in the cafeteria. Traditionally, girls ask guys to WPA, a trend that began with the first Sadie Hawkins dance in 1938.

Sadie Hawkins was a character in the comic strip Li’l Abner, which was published in newspapers from 1934 to 1977. Nov. 13 was designated Sadie Hawkins Day in the comic. It was a day where girls could chase the bachelors around town and marry the ones they caught.

Bambi Pachimsawat, an exchange student from Thailand was crowned Queen of Courts at the basketball game on Feb. 12, and Steve Carver was crowned King of Courts at the dance on Saturday night.

Main: Sophomores Baylee Birkmeyer, Andy Wickoren, Savannah Slavin and Jake Anderson slow dance.

Bottom (from left to right) Senior Will Greenhaw is helped up by his girlfriend, senior Jami Borel, after taking a tumble on the dance floor.

Junior Luke Meyer, senior Spencer Stonestreet, and junior Matt Harrison dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. “It’s fun being able to go out there with friends and go crazy. Everybody looks as bad as you when you’re dancing,” Meyer said.

Queen of Courts senior Bambi Pachimsawat, who stands 5’1” tall, crowns 6’8” senior Steve Carver, Big Man on Campus.

Laura Konecny and Lippi Souza were second runners up. Bambi Pachimsawat and Steve Carver were crowned Queen of Courts and Big Man on Campus. Kent Hollingsworth and Savannah Carbajo were first runners up.

Bailey Kopp

Bailey Kopp

features\13

northwest passage/smnw.com

STUDENT SHUFFLE

7 2

6

1 8

SUDOKU 5 1 3 9 Brian Davis Sophomore

5 5 5 8 84 5 2 9 7 1

6 2 2

5 3 1

9

24 2 4

8

3 9 3 3 2 1

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Do Tha Lollipop by The Lollipop Kidz “Lop-k is this sweet rap group composed of Garrett Pfau, Evan Shinn, Jonah Baltuska and me. We came up with this idea as a joke but ended up recording it, and it’s phat. ” Little Secrets by Passion Pit “The synth riffs in this song really make me want to dance.”

Alejandro by Lady Gaga “Lady GaGa is my guilty pleasure. She’s like a more up-to-date Madonna.”

Call On Me by Eric Prydz “He has a way of putting catchy synth licks with neat beats and it all flows really well.”

LIve noise Dropkick Murphys at the Beaumont Club Feb. 28 Norah Jones at the Midland Theater March 6

Apps of the ISSUE

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7

Days A Week

1947-2006 1948-2008 1994-2008 City Counter Pickup 15450 W.108th Street Lenexa, KS 66219

northwest passage/smnw.com

The NW chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has conquered the tasks of creating a new club, finding new members and impacting lives, but their toughest job yet may be just

keeping

the f a ith

Left: Senior Will Greenhaw leads discussion at the FCA meeting on Feb. 22.

Center Left: Senior Kent Hollingsworth talks during a game to set a light mood. center right: Junior Ashley Houser sings in front of the FCA meeting attendees. right: Sophomore Lyndsey Harrold reads from the bible during small group sessions.

alive.

C

hiefs’ safety Jon McGraw perches atop a stool, his muscular arms and torso bulging out of his white shirt. With an intent gaze and stern voice, he speaks passionately, easily grasping the attention of everyone in the room.

The woeful Chiefs may have looked to McGraw for guidance in tough times, but this is not a team meeting. No, McGraw is out of his usual working zone yet totally in an element of comfort. A devout Christian his entire life, there appears to be little more rewarding than telling his life story to the NW Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle.

Founded by a basketball coach in 1954, FCA has grown into the largest Christian sports organization in America. According to the organization’s website, FCA challenges all levels of coaches and players to use athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

McGraw spoke at an FCA meeting last spring, but he never would have had the opportunity if three seniors hadn’t decided to

16/february 26

explore the power of sharing the Christian faith three-and-a-half years ago.

Senior Will Greenhaw, a freshman at the time, was hanging around after football practice when his coach, math teacher Mike Cooper, proposed the idea of starting an FCA huddle meeting.

Intrigued by the idea, Greenhaw, along with then freshmen Chris Mansker and Grant Berning, attended an initiation meeting of sorts at the FCA National Headquarters located across I-70 from the Truman Sports Complex. The intent of the meeting was to teach new FCA members how to start a huddle, or fellowship chapter, at their schools.

The trio took the guidance and, with some help from Cooper and cross country coach Van Rose, held the first ‘huddle’ in Greenhaw’s basement. The handful of people who attended became part of the leadership team. Despite their youth, the leadership team established FCA as an official club at Northwest, and though the meetings were comprised entirely of

freshmen, the club grew quickly.

“There were like five of us in the beginning, and then all of a sudden, there were 15 people, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger,” senior Trisha Brensing said.

In fact, it grew so much that the leadership team had to look for more space outside of members’ homes. They eventually settled into their new location at Community Covenant Church on 87th Street. “[Community Covenant] is a fun environment for everyone to gather in, and I think it’s more comfortable for some people than being in somebody’s house that they don’t know,” senior Cara Petrie said.

Guided by the three F’s (food, fellowship and fun) the NW FCA huddle has blossomed into an influential group, with members involved in many other clubs in addition to FCA. What started as a handful of people in a basement has grown into an e-mail list exceeding 120, with more than 50 people attending most of the biweekly meetings.

“Sometimes people that you wouldn’t talk to at school, you talk to at FCA. Over the years, it’s kind of closed the gap between the different groups of kids, and it’s made it easier for us to all talk and rely on each other. I think we’ve all become better friends because of it,” Petrie said.

Most FCA meetings begin with an icebreaker to set a light mood. A prayer message and songs usually follow, with a guest speaker, such as McGraw, sometimes taking up half of the hour-long meeting.

“We’ve been really lucky,” senior Alex Geis said. “We’ve had a lot of really good speakers. [Coach and counselor] Angelo Giacalone’s was awesome. You just listen when somebody has something really good to say.”

When a speaker isn’t available, members of the leadership team guide the attendees through a worship service. The services stress the impact of Christianity in athletics and combining the two to become a better person.

“Athletics are a really good metaphor to use because there are

Junior Ashley Houser plays guitar during the FCA meeting while FCA members sing along.

so many trials in athletics that kind of fall in with religion. Things like working hard, staying committed and teamwork,” Geis said.

The impact of religion is often only half the reason members attend. FCA has created a comfortable, interactive environment for those who have a strong or burgeoning faith in God. They are able to share their feelings without being criticized by other teens.

“I always look forward to hanging out with people from our school that not only have fun with athletics but believe in God like I do,” Greenhaw said. “Whenever you go to church, you always hear people say ‘Your schools are all bad. You have to save the world.’

But that’s not true. When you go to an FCA meeting, you see that there are people just like you. You’re with people you see every day, and you know you have a deeper connection than just going to school.”

Now, as seniors, some members of the leadership team are worried about the FCA huddle losing its strength and possibly dying out. According to Rose, FCA had

a strong following at Northwest from the mid-70s until about 2000, when the leadership fell apart.

“I’m worried about the future of FCA, because when you go to the meetings, probably 60 percent of the people there are seniors. The parents that help us have already said that they’re willing to keep going, but it’s up to the kids in the younger grades,” Petrie said. “It’s been such a good experience for everybody, and I think we’ve impacted a lot of people. I think there are a lot of people that could be impacted if it kept on going.”

With a growing number of underclassmen at the last few meetings, the seniors are trying to keep the faith alive. The biggest challenge appears to be convincing underclassmen to step into important roles on the leadership team.

“The whole goal of our last meeting was to reach out to the underclassmen and let them step up to [the leadership team]. We’re trying not to let the club die after we’re gone,” Mansker said.

Sophomore Stephanie Smith agrees that it is imperative to

expand the group through new members.

“I think it will be harder [to keep people interested] just because a lot of the members are seniors. But we’ve been trying really hard lately to get younger people involved in it,” Smith said.

Either way, Rose remains optimistic about the future of FCA

Why are they so happy?’ I found out that they had merged a great Christian environment with athletics, and I didn’t know you could do that.”

Rose’s college roommate and teammate became involved in the FCA organization, and the man that introduced him to his wife also worked with FCA.

“When you go to an FCA meeting, you see that there are people just like you. You’re with people you see every day, and you know you have a deeper connection than just going to school.”—senior Will Greenhaw because of the tremendous impact it has on those who are involved in it.

“When I went to my first conference out in Estes Park (Co.), the first thing I noticed was that the people who were leading were great coaches, great athletes and all seemed to be happy. Not silly happy, but genuinely happy,” Rose said. “I wondered, ‘what’s the deal?

“FCA just puts me around good people. It’s hard to go wrong when you’re around good people,” Rose said. “You’re going to make good decisions, because they won’t let you make anything else.” n David Catt Photos by Kevin Buie

features\17

Q&a

with Ryan Lilja

A former NW graduate and the starting left guard for the Indianapolis Colts. Lilja recently moved into a new off season home at Lake Quivira where he grew up.

The Colts clearly have a winning attitude? What do you attribute this to?

I think it’s an expectation that we’re going to win, that we’re going to execute well on the field. To be honest with you, it’s an expectation of winning. I think that’s a rare thing in the NFL; I don’t think a lot of teams expect to win. It’s a tough league. Every team’s good; every player’s good.

I think ever since I got here, it was like an expectation that this team is built to succeed.

Who is your mentor or what person has had the greatest influence on your life?

My mother. Her dealing with losing my father when we were young, three boys under the age of 16, growing up without a Dad, and she did it all by herself. She never asked for anything from anybody and just to see that.... she’s such a special person.

You’ve tasted the success of Super Bowl victory before. How hard is to come off the disappointment of losing this time?

As good as it is to win it all, it’s twice as bad to lose it. I heard it from guys on the team like Adam Vinateri who had lost in the Super Bowl. I kinda thought it’s still great to get there. But it’s really not fun to get there and to lose in the last game, and nobody remembers who lost in the Super Bowl.

It doesn’t matter how great your year is going up to that game. You could be smashing records, doing great things on the football field, and if you lose that game, you’re forgotten history. That’s a tough pill to swallow.

Who is the toughest defender you’ve ever gone up against?

Albert Haynesworth. He got a $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins. But he earned it...He’s a big man, probably 6’7” and 365 lbs.

Jack Prince Freshman Wrestling Austin Howard Sophomore Boys’ Basketball Will Greenhaw Senior Wrestling Sam Phelps Junior Boys’ Basketball

Linemen might be some of the most battered players in the NFL. How do you usually feel the day after a rough game? And what do you do to recuperate?

The day after you take some medicine, but two days out is usually the sorest point. You do whatever you can to keep your body in the best shape that you can. You do those little things in the training room: you stretch, you do massage therapy once or twice a week. It’s a long season in the trenches; you’re battling a lot. Some games are worse than others, but it’s part of the job description. I had a year when I didn’t get to play at all and wasn’t ever sore, but I’d rather have a year like this when you’re sore every Tuesday. [Lilja also recently had minor surgery to repair his shoulder.]

What has it been like working with Peyton Manning the past five years? How would you describe your relationship with him?

It’s been great. I’ve been happy to play with one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game and just been fortunate enough to be on this team.

It’s an honor. It’s a privilege. He’s one of the best, and he’s fun guy to be around. He takes good care of his offensive linemen. I tell you where he goes, we go. If I could play my whole career with him, I’d be happy because I’ll probably get a couple more rings. He’s the best around right now.

You talk about how Manning takes care of the linemen. You were quoted in an Associated Press story saying he thanks the linemen with some pretty lavish gifts. What are the best gifts he’s given you or your teammates?

He took us to the Kentucky Derby after we won the Super Bowl. There were about 10 of us he took down there to Nashville. Limousine ride down there. $1000 gambling money. We got to stay at the best hotels in Nashville. We got invitations to all the hottest parties and club level seats right on the horse line. We had a blast.” [Manning also took center Jeff Saturday to play Augusta National Golf Club.]

There have been some rumors that you bought a house at Lake Quivira. Any truth to that.

I’m actually here now. I bought one right next to my brother and sister-inlaw, and I’ve got a 20-month-old niece that is the apple of my eye. She’s the most fun thing to be around. My mom still lives in the house that I grew up in across the lake... To be around my family is the best therapy, I think, for me in the offseason.”

My favorite thing to eat right before a game is..

My favorite song to listen to before a game is...

My favorite day of the week is...

I like playing sports for Northwest because..

Steak

“We Will Rock You” by Queen

Friday

Its a great school

KU

Hamburger

“Weightless” by All Time Low

Friday

They are fun

KU

Anything I see

“I’m a barbie girl” by Aqua

Friday

We da Best

“Da Cowboys (OSU)”

“A Czechoslovakian dish called Punani”

“Rehab” by Rihanna

Tuesday

Someones gotta keep AJ’s seat warm

Southwest Miami Tech Wingworms

My favorite NCAA college team is...

sports\19

downstretch

ASHLEY LANE

northwest passage/smnw.com

the

Over the past three months , Swimming , Boys’ and GIrls’ Bowling and wrestling have been working hard to wards their final goals and competing at their repspective state tournaments. pionship with SM East. “[Going into the season,] we had several goals.

The main ones were to place top 3 in the league tournament, in which we were first; win Regionals, in which we were second; and qualify 10 wrestlers for the state tournament,” Newcomb said.

Gordon won his second consecutive league title in the 103 lb. weight class, and junior Ross Whitmore won an individual title in the 125 lb.

Junior Ross Whitmore holds down weight class. Senior Nick his opponent in a “chicken wing” Caldwell reached the fiin order to turn him for the pin. nals of the 160 lb. weight class but lost due to an injury default. Freshman Reed Bowker (112 lbs.) and junior Tyler Deal (130 lbs.) both finished third; sophomore Colby Everett (119 lbs.), The last time the wrestling team won the senior Ed Spaunhorst (140 lbs.) and senior Sunflower league title, sophomore Chandler Will Greenhaw (145 lbs.) finished fourth; Gordon wasn’t even born yet. junior Blake Covington (189 lbs.) took fifth; In the years that followed the 1991-92 and senior Dylan Swoyer (135 lbs.) and juchampionship, the team never placed better nior Bobby Urteaga (171 lbs.) finished sixth, than fourth. Last year, they took seventh in in a total team effort. the tournament and went on to place 21st at Although the Cougars defeated Lawrence state. This year, they tied for the league chamat the Sunflower League Tournament, the

Lions clipped them by a few points at the Regional meet. Gordon (103 lbs.), Whitmore (125 lbs.), and Deal (130 lbs.) all won their weight classes at Regionals.

“This season, I kind of expected a lot of myself. I didn’t want to settle for anything less than a state championship,” Gordon said after he qualified for the state tournament.

Going into the state competition, the Cougars are not ranked in the top 10, but both Gordon and Whitmore are ranked in the top 3 in their respective weight classes.

Whitmore has been a points leader for the Cougars all year, and he has the best record on the team.

Only two teams from either the Eastern Kansas League or Sunflower League are listed among the top 10 teams in the state because most of the ranked teams are from western Kansas. Derby is the current favorite to take the State title, followed by Garden City and Dodge City, according to Kansaswrestling. com rankings.

The Cougars met another one of their goals for this season: 10 wrestlers qualified for the state tournament, more than have qualified in the last 20 years.

The state tournament will be held today and tomorrow at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita. nClay Coffman

the Cougars. They set out on a mission to show everyone that they meant business.

“This year we put in a lot more yardage during practice than we had the previous two years and knew we had the potential to be a better team,” junior Jens Thomsen said.

The Cougars were led by an array of swimmers, including freshman standout Ben Koeller, junior Jens Thomsen and seniors Clay Coffman, Lee Jacques and Alex Severance.

With more depth than the previous two seasons, the Cougars competed at higher levels in more events.

“We had a lot of guys taking swimming more seriously this year and doing it year round with club teams,” Thomsen said.

The Cougars captured their first win of the season beating Washburn Rural 125-61.

Washburn Rural, who finished 4th at state. Wasburn Rural was heavily favored to wipe

out Northwest, but the depth and experience of the Cougars prevailed. Signs of maturity and leadership began to develop amongst the team, which led them on to Northwest’s best season since 2007.

Senior Clay Coffman was the first Cougar to qualify for state with a 22.6 second time in the 50-yard freestyle. Severance and Thomsen also had impressive performances throughout the season, finishing with state qualifying times in multiple events. Along with this trio, five other swimmers qualified for state, including Jacques, juniors Zack Congrove and Lars Winklemolen, sophomore Jonathon Plagge and Koeller.

After a fourth place finish at league, the Cougars gained confidence heading into the state meet in Topeka. They finished in 11th place, and 8 spots higher than last year. Junior Jens Thomsen had the best individual placement, finishing 6th in the 100 breast.

“It was awesome making the top 8, and hopefully with more training in the offseason, I can do even better next year” Thomsen said.

The Cougars hope to pick up where they left off next season returning many key components of this year’s success. nNick Feighner

wrestling

swimming

Coming into the season with a stronger work ethic and a tougher practice routine, the boys’ swim team ended their regular season finishing fourth in the Sunflower League.

Northwest has never been known for having a great swim team; records of previous seasons can show that. But this year was different for

Caitlyn Massy

Sophomore Jonathan Volker competes in the 500 meter freestyle on Dec. 4 in a home swim meet. “ I really enjoy being with the guys as we excel as a team,” Volker said.

“We get better together; it’s a great feeling.”

20/february 26

bowling Following a successful regular season, the girls’ and boys’ bowling teams have been preparing for tomorrow’s Regional Meet at Olathe Mission Bowl.

Only two state qualifiers, seniors Brett Dowell and Nick Michalski, returned to the boys’ team from last season. Yet, the team’s success has pushed aside any thoughts that this would be a rebuilding year .

“Honestly, I thought we were only going to have four bowlers on the boys’ team, and they would all have to bowl really well for us to do well because we lost a lot of good bowlers last year. But Marcus Paccapaniccia was a great surprise to the team,” coach Britton Haney said.

With a 46-4 combined record, the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams head toward regionals with promise, but they still need to take care of business.

“First, we have to make state.” Haney said.

“We have to all show up at regionals and bowl enough to get there.”

The boys’ team has hit all sorts of milestones this season. Senior Shane Jennison has had an 11-strike game and bowled a career high game of 279. Senior Brett Dowell

bowled a 709 series, which topped the school record in a three-game series.

At the last meet of the regular season, Michalski bowled a 250, and for almost the whole season, he has been scoring series in the high 600s.

“The boys are just more competitive this year. They have all stepped up.” Haney said.

“With the girls, we had a huge surprise in Laura Konecny and Janie Queral. Konecny has just been awesome, and Janie has broken many records for the team.”

The girls have a 24-1 record, a great improvement from previous years. Bowlers like Konecny, Queral, and senior Laura Highland have much bowling experience and are proven leaders on the varsity team. Senior Loryn Goebel came out for the team for the first time this yearand has given the Lady Cougars a big lift as well.

The team recently challenged and beat SM West, normally the team’s toughest opponent.

The Viking bowlers have been a thorn in the side of the NW team since bowling started three years ago. However, for the second year in a row, West was heavily defeated by the Cougars.

“Being new to the team, I had no idea on what to expect. We have about four top bowlers, when most teams only have about two or less.” Loryn Goebel said.

In the last regular season meet, Jennison had nine strikes in a row in his first game, but he lost the tenth strike when a teetering pin refused to fall. Jennison finished with a 267 game, leading all bowlers. Michalski averaged a 218, also helping the cougars to a big win as their regular season ended.

At the Sunflower League Tournament, the 24-1 girls medaled for the first time, finishing third.

The boys did not do as well as they finished sixth. Regionals will be the most important meet of the year for the boys who will be trying to bounce back from their Sunflower League woes.

“I need to step up my game for regionals. And the entire team needs to really focus on it, because regionals will lead us to state.”

Dowell said. “I have been bowling a lot to prepare for Regionals. Mentally, I just try to not get down because that’s what kills you.” nBrady Klein

Trying for a spare, sophomore Brianna Laveigne releases the ball on Feb. 4

Bailey Kopp

sports\21

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Coupon only valid at the Shawnee Dairy Queen NW corner of Shawnee Mission Pkwy & Quivira in front of Price Chopper.

upcoming games Boys’ Basketball: Fri. Feb 26, at SMN 7 p.m.

Mon. March 1 - Fri. March 5, Sub-state Tournament at SMNW Wed. March 10 - Sat. March 13, State Basketball Tournament in Emporia Girls’ Basketball: Mon. March 1 - Fri. March 5, Sub-state Week at SMNW Wed. March 10 - Sat. March 13, State Basketball Tournament in Emporia Wrestling: Fri. Feb. 26, 6A State Championships, Kansas Colisseum-Wichita, 8 a.m.

Sat. Feb. 27, 6A State Tournament, Kansas ColisseumWichita, 9 a.m.

Bowling: Sat. Feb. 27, Regional Tournament at Olathe Mission Bowl, 9 a.m.

Congratulations to the following college signees...

Track: Erica Brand, Duke University Cross Country and Track: Christne Nelson, University of Wyoming Lisa Imgrund, Missouri State University Girls’ Soccer: Cara Lightle, Park University Boys’ Soccer: Jon Kankam, Xavier University Sam McCrills, Barton County Community College Lippi Souza, Barton County Community College Baseball: Cody Ball, Fort Scott Community College Cody Parks, Fort Scott Community College Adam Giacolone, Neosho County Community College Jake Thompson, Iowa Western Community College Taylor Berthusen, Butler County Community College USA Today NCAA Basketball Poll 1. Kansas (30) 26-1 2. Kentucky (1) 26-1 3. Purdue 23-3 4. Syracuse 25-2 5. Duke 23-4 6. Kansas State 22-4 7. West Virginia 21-5 8. Villanova 22-4 9. Ohio State 21-7 10. Butler 25-4

ZERO... tolerance policy The drug/alcohol policy for the Shawnee Mission School District must be revised offering athletes consistent guidelines and punitive measures.

Remember that annoying orange packet you received at the beginning of the school year? You know, the one you and your parents probably sat down and signed without even reading? This little packet explains the drug/alcohol policy that is enforced by the Shawnee Mission School District. What this packet doesn’t mention is that the Blue Valley and Olathe Districts (districts that we compete against), do not follow the same guidelines.

Shawnee Mission School District: first offense- suspended for remainder of the season; second offense- suspended for 365 days.

Olathe and Blue Valley school districts: first offense- suspended for 50 percent of the season; second offense-suspended for full season; third offense- suspended for 365 days.

The Olathe and Blue Valley districts essentially offer their athletes a second chance not found in Shawnee Mission.

Let’s say star athletes from Olathe East, Blue Valley, and SM Northwest are all at the same party early in the season. Some people at the party are drinking alcoholic beverages.

The cops show up, hand out MIPs, and send reports back to each of the schools with the names of the students at the party. Will the Olathe East athlete be playing by the time the state playoffs roll around? Yes. How about the Blue Valley kid? Yep. And the NW kid? No! Ever since the zero tolerance policy was put into effect in the Shawnee Mission School

District, second chances for athletes and their lives spiral downward as a in our school district are out of the result of the suspension. Some teens question. Is anyone else besides me literally live to play sports. Sports thinking, “Hmm... shouldn’t students are what make them come to school in the same county, league, and state every day and strive to succeed. If have the same policies and rules to we don’t give them a second chance, follow?” what will happen to them? Will they Student-athletes can be suspended become the ones who dropout and from their sport for just being at a work at McDonalds for the rest of party, even if they are not their lives?

participating in drinking Don’t get me wrong. or using drugs or tobacoo. I’m not saying that What if these “responsible student-athletes should student athletes” are the think it’s OK to drink or ones providing the rides smoke. The law is the law, home? This reduces the and if someone wants to break it, there should be number of teens who will drink and drive. If they consequences.

NICK FEIGHNER have no alcohol in their Consider this: What system, how can they be in trouble? if the school boards came together I honestly don’t understand and created a policy that applied to this rule. I know what you’re everyone in the state of Kansas? After jeremy allen thinking;“Why would an athlete the first offense, the athlete would be even put himself in this situation or required attend drug and alcohol be hanging out with kids who drink classes, perform community service, or use drugs?” My answer for you is along with sitting out four games of that, in reality, alcohol and drugs are the season? Removing the offender everywhere. It’s even at parties that from the team could turn what may strictly say: NO ALCOHOL/DRUGS have been an experiment with drugs ALLOWED. or alcohol, a regular weekend routine.

How do we stop the idiot who On the second offense, athletes thinks rules don’t apply to him and would be slap ped with a 365 day secretly brings it in anyway? If the suspension. athlete at the party isn’t drinking, isn’t The zero-tolerance policy is using drugs, is it really appropriate to quite frankly too harsh. The lack punish him for the actions of others? of consistency, not only state-wide, I don’t think people realize what but in league play as well, must be some of these athletes’ lives become corrected. Players should not be held after being kicked off their athletic to one standard at one school and a teams. There are a handful who get different one elsewhere in the league kicked off for very minor incidents, or state.

by the numbers

1960

The last time the United States beat Canada in Olympic hockey. The Americans won 5-3 last Sunday night.

58

Consecutive wins by the KU Basketball team at Allen Fieldhouse. Their last loss was in 2006.

10 The number of wrestlers who qualifed for the 6A State Tournament in Wichita. Three wrestlers were regional champions.

11th Place that the boys swim team finished at state meet in Topeka last Saturday.

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IN focus

“We start preparing for the fashion show in Febuary and have a few early rehersals.

I’m a coordinator; I make sure everything is in line, so it’s taken a lot of my time, but I think it was worth it.”­ —junior Stefanie Tapke