The Epic (Issue 8)

8800 W. 85th St. Overland Park, KS May 8, 2014 Vol. 52 - Issue 8

the epic.

“I WAS FINALLY Paniz Borzoofard’s journey from Iran to America

p. 12

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BRIEFS

News

by andy gottschalk

still in charge: yahoo to get Not #HOT, not #NOT mean girls, ten involved in but #MEH years later comedy tv web distribution 1 The distinction between

Tina Fey’s “Mean Girls” turns 10 years old this year, and its phrases like “fetch” have never been more popular.

Conversation of the movie dominate Tumblr and Twitter, even though both platforms predate the fim. It has become hard to ignore “Mean Girls’” cult status.

Your farts mean you’re healthy, researcher says

Daniel Cline and Thomas Corr light a floating lantern at the Jewish Community Center, Dylan crow the site of a recent shooting where two people were called.

snapchat adds more messaging features

VENN DIAGRAM

Boy’s bathroom Crude cave-age scribbles promoting “420” and obscenities

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willie nelson’s guitar Who knows who has touched this?

As old and beaten as he

Snapchat, the company now famous for its quick selfdeleting photos, is making a move into messaging.

In hopes of making its quick-style messaging more central to conversation, the company is adding more messaging features. “The goal has always been to move beyond messaging,” Evan Spiegel, one of the founders, said.

Don’t be alarmed if you’re a bit gassy. That just means you’ve been eating foods and carbohydrates that support microbes in your gut. Broccoli, lentils, and other fiber-rich foods help.

Purna Kashyap, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, studies digestion, flatulence and the effect of these diets.

“A healthy individual can have up to 18 flatulences per day and be perfectly normal,” Kashyap said.

Marissa Meyer, who has been quick in aquiring budding start-ups and building Yahoo’s repetoire, is getting involved in a whole new type of game.

Yahoo, for the first time ever, is creating original tv-style content to distribute online and on the company’s mobile apps. Much like Amazon’s and Netflix’s strategies in bypassing the expensive cable distribution techniques of yesteryear, Yahoo hopes to gain new mobile audiences for its unique programming.

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6 7 8 9

“groups” and “clubs”?

Rewarding attendance Groupon Facebook.com Phone calls made in heavy crowds Babies in public “Where are you going to school next year?”

Pretzels without salt Party buses

A month ago, Captain America: The Winter Soldier proved it was possible to link up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe while still packing a film with wit, verve, and smart allusions to 1970s paranoid thrillers and the drone politics of the times. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 has no such obligation to the MCU, yet it’s more inclined to stick to the straight and narrow, like it’s angling for a spot on Sony’s Employee Of The Month plaque.

The Dissolve’s Scott Tobias in his review of The Amazing Spider-man 2

35.1%

Percentage of Kansans who approve of Obama in 2014 according to Gallup polling

baby prince george down under

Prince George, with his royal parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, embarked on his first royal tour this month to Australia and New Zealand. He wowed crowds with his chic baby styles, made by luxurious English children brands.

The nine-month-old’s first major public

appearance was a playdate with ten other infants. He proved to be a dominant tot, snatching toys from the other children and being very vocal. The young prince received many gifts during the tour including: a giant stuffed wombat, custom painted skateboard, surfboard, bicycle, and other mementos of the event.

Feature

Lenexa Art Show Lenexa is holding an art show this summer by alex ralston Something radically new is coming to Lenexa. The city will hold its first art show which will feature artists and restaurants from around the Johnson County area.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 10 at Central Green Park at the Lenexa City Center. It features fifty artists, whose catalogs include painting, photography, glass, ceramics, jewelry, and more. Attendees can expect to meet all these artists while going to their various booths around the fairgrounds. Most of the artists being featured in the fair are based around Johnson County, if not in Lenexa.

Viewing art is not the only thing for people to do at the fair, however; other activities include watching live musical acts and visiting different food booths and trucks coming from restaurants

such as Blue Moose and Taco Republic. There will be several jazz acts performing throughout the day, too.

“The idea...really was the result of a group brainstorm involving parks staff members, the city administrator’s office and the mayor,” said Susanne Neely, a recreation supervisor for Lenexa.

Neely also said that the idea came from the desire to create another fun event for Lenexa citizens to visit in addition to the several festivals that Lenexa has come to be known for.

Admission is free for the festival for all citizens that want to attend. There will be a shuttle that goes from parking at the B.E. Smith building to Central Green Park, which will also be free.

The only items that will cost any money are food and drinks from food trucks and admission to the wine and beer tastings,

which are only for people age 21 and older. The wines and beers at the fair are all locally distilled. Those who are able to partake in the wine and craft beer tastings need to bring their IDs and sign up for a spot in advance by going online or calling the Lenexa Community Center.

Neely stated that the fair was meant to focus on fine arts, food, drinks, and music that come from around the Lenexa area.

“We were looking for another fun event to bring our community together around these popular activities, while also showcasing our new Central Green Park,” said Neely.

Neely went on to say that she expected the art fair to be an annual event.

Fresh Talent nhs is hosting their first talent show this year by isaiah mckay NHS has been gearing up to showcase the talent of many students at West with a Talent show. This show will benefit the KC Blind All-Stars, a foundation that demonstrates compassion and creates opportunities for children who are blind or visually impaired by administering a wide range of programs including arts, education, athletics, employment & entrepreneurial.

It took a lot of hard work and motivation to put something together that would essentially replace and even exceed the previous benefit Rock For Hope.

Rock for Hope wasn’t as successful as projected, which caused NHS to come up with a new way to raise money.

“Rock for Hope wasn’t bringing in as much money, so the society decided to switch the events,” Amy Blakemore, NHS Sponsor, said.

With the change in events the talent show will raise lots of money due to the very little amount of money needed get it started.

“We’ve paid a total of nine dollars so far in comparison to the large amount needed to hire bands for Rock for Hope,” Blakemore said.

With so many students not only attending, but also performing, it will be worth it.

“Everyone’s a little nervous when they create something, and want it to succeed,” Blakemore said.

The night will feature a large variety of acts and talents. This is a chance for students to showcase the many talents they possess.

There will be a cello performance, ballroom dancing, animal impression, poetry reading, singing, ballroom dancing, and a lot more!

Tickets can be purchased for $5 from any NHS member or in room 33 from Mrs. Hesseltine. They will also be available for purchase at the door for $7.

The NHS Talent Show will take place on May 3rd at 7pm.

There is no way you won’t enjoy this event so buy a ticket and support the KC Blind All-Stars.

Gupreet Singh, senior, practices for the show.

PHOTOS BY: MADDIE LOE

Marquito Jenkins, freshmen, prepares to dance at the talent show.

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Opinion

contents

Read about the brand new French National Honor Society. p.6

Dr. Crain sits down for an interview with us. p.7

“I’ll Do it Tomorrow” with school coming to a close, an epidemic of laziness sweeps over students an opinion of the staff

With less than 5 days of school for seniors, only one thing can be certain: senioritis is running rampant amongst students.

Senioritis is a term used to describe the usually laziness that sweeps over seniors in high school during the last quarter of high school. For some reason here at West, this year’s case of senioritis seems to be a particularly strong one.

“The Epic” certainly understands senioritis as about half of our staff are seniors, and they can all agree that they want summer break to come as soon as possible. The other half of our staff is also feeling the signs of senioritis, as the disease is not only contained to just the senior class.

Senioritis is inevitable, but at “The Epic” we have to warn the students to power through their last few weeks of school and continue to get their schoolwork done.

Now we know that is most likely an unpopular opinion as most students have become stricken with laziness and just want to finish their school year and enjoy their free time during summer vacation, but this time now is arguably the most important time of the school year. Finals are only a few weeks away and students are going to need as high of a grade as they can get in order to make their finals have less of an impact on their semester grades. By not turning in assignments, zeros will enter into the gradebook and lower students’ grades dramatically.

By now, students afflicted with senioritis are probably tired of being told the same old spiel of needing to continue to work all the way up until the very last day of school, but “Epic” staff members really do believe that they should keep up with their schoolwork. We aren’t trying to be parents and give advice, but there are cases where students have dropped letter grades and even lost scholarships due to their extreme cases of senioritis.

To the students who have been able to stay on top of their pile of schoolwork, we applaud you. Being able to do so is an admiral task, but it comes with one fatal flaw: brain dumping. Brain dumping is almost as dangerous as senioritis. Senioritis is an aversion to working and absorbing knowledge, but brain dumping is almost the opposite. It occurs when students have to learn so rapidly that they memorize one

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unit, but as soon as the class moves on to the next unit, the students empties their mind of all previous knowledge in order to make room for the new knowledge. This is a habit often used by students that can keep up, but be warned to those who do it, final exams will be difficult without studying. Brain dumping is detrimental, but it can be reversed.

Trying to get out of the slump that senioritis creates is much more difficult.

We as students are the main reason that senioritis exists, but teachers could also help alleviate the stress that comes with the end of the year. Many of our staff members speak from experience that teachers seem to use as much possible time before the final exams to introduce new material. This might just be due to the week that school was closed due to inclement weather, but none the less, teachers should be able to accommodate to the changes that might occur during the schedule. Not all teachers are culprits of this. Some teachers let students use the last week or two before finals to wrap up any new material and work on reviewing, but it’s those teachers that give projects and assignments up until the last moment that are a main source of senioritis. We think that teachers should be able to not only be able to teach new subjects during fourth quarter, but also be able to find a decent time to stop introducing new material and let students review for what will be on the final.

Now believe us, we are also experiencing this phenomena in our own lives here at “Epic”. We all have been somewhat sluggish when it comes to doing schoolwork and getting into our first hours on time, but this should really be the time of year that we all are kicking it into overdrive. With finals looming around the corner, we can’t afford to drop any percentage points. So, to any students reading this who might be stricken with senioritis, just keep pushing through. Nobody wants to drop down to a B after working hard all third quarter for an A, and no senior wants to lose a scholarship due to quickly dropping grades. So when in class, don’t think of it as a few long days left to go. Think of it as only a few days left until you get two and a half months off. Hopefully, a change of mindset will make the senioritis more bearable.

Looking for summer adventure?

Read about popular hiking and fishing spots. p.20 What do a pair of musician brothers,a bunch of ice cream restaurants and Disney princesses all have in common? They are all featured in this issue of “The Epic.”

Make sure to read the whole paper for more on each of these topics.

staff Editors-In-Chief assistant editor Managing editor photo editor writers

Cartoonists adviser

Max Meyer & Brock Burnett Kristin Wells Lauren Scobee Rachel Harvey Betty Thomas Isabelle Frankel Jordan Johnson Marleah Campbell

Andy Gottschalk Spence Lassalle Brianna Cole Isaiah McKay Chance Julian Alex Ralston Amy Morgan

No-Risk Assessment Free Consultation One Free Session

News

Masters of the Concert when orchestra competes, they mean business. by kristin wells

After a three and a half hours aboard a plane, the orchestra was ready to take off at their competition.

When the orchestra traveled to Boston to compete in the Heritage Festival’s music competition, they went in with high expectations.

Not only were there orchestras competing, bands and choirs were there too. The orchestra won multiple awards for their performances.

“We got overall best score. Each group was scored out of 100 and we got a 91.

We qualified to go to the next level of competition next year. They rate you, and if you get 90-100 you get a gold. Everyone who gets a gold goes on to the next competition, so its a harder competition,” Lucie Rogers, junior, said.

The overall best score award is also known as the Sweepstakes award. In addition, they received the Outstanding Orchestra award.

But there was one surprise award that no one ever suspected would be coming.

“They were doing all the awards and I wasn’t really paying attention. I was on my phone and I noticed that someone’s mom was videotaping me. And then they said, from Shawnee Mission West, Elena Nanneman,” Elena Nanneman, sophomore said.

The judges have awards for soloists that they

can give out to whoever deserves the award.

Nanneman had no idea that there even was such an award, much less that she had an opportunity to win it.

“I was just shocked.

I had no idea what I had just won. So I went up there and I got this award and I was just shocked and shaking. I was really excited that I was able to represent my school in that way. I was the only one from an orchestra who got an award like that,” Nanneman said.

Curtis Mulvenon conducts the orchestra both at West and at Westridge. He has been planning this trip to Boston for about a year.

“I thought there’d be good history stuff there for the students to experience besides just performing in the competition. I coordinated it myself with help from the Heritage company.

I tell them what we want to do and they get

“I was really excited that I was able to represent my school in that way.”

Honored Two French four students went to their former teacher with the idea of French National Honor Society, or Societe Honoraire de Francais, at the beginning of the year and it inducted its first group of students on April 23rd.

SHF is lead by new French and Spanish teacher Jennifer Elliott who came from Westridge this year. Elliott has been working for most of the year trying to make SHF at West a reality.

“Two former students, Isabelle Frankel and Renny Ma, came and asked me to do it,” Elliott said. “I had to go online to the American Association of Teachers of French website. I had to pay $10 and send an application. It took about two weeks then they sent me my charter back and now we’re officially a chartered school for the French National Honor Society.” 34 students of all grades were invited to induction.

“The student has to be enrolled in second semester French level two or above. They have to have an A- average in French and a 3.0 overall GPA,” Elliott said At the ceremony inductees were called up to the stage individually and presented with a certificate. They then each lit a candle and then resisted an oath as a group.

Elliott has a lot of ideas for SHF. “We’re going to hopefully get some good officers elected and that’s open to anyone who’s in it,” she explained. “We’ll do activities like tutoring kids who may be struggling, going to French restaurants, maybe doing a community service project, there’s lots of ideas we can throw around.”

Ma also has some ideas.

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us in. I usually take a group every two to four years, whenever the right thing comes along,” Mulvenon said.

Boston is a historic city, with sights dating back to the beginning of the United States.

“It was very historic to our nation obviously, it was the birthplace of a lot of things in our nation.

There was a lot of old buildings and statues from colonial times. I really enjoyed it,” Rogers said.

Aside from historical sights, the group had lots of fun activities to keep them occupied.

“We went to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra, we went to the Salem Witch Museum, we went to an aquarium and we went to Quincy Market area,” Rogers said.

“Where we stayed in our hotel, like 100 feet away from us was a Coco Key. We had time when we were by ourselves when we could kind

“There’s an ethnic festival in Heritage Park every year and there’s a booth for every country so we could have a booth and serve french food.”

West is one of the last Shawnee Mission schools to become chartered, behind Northwest, South, and East. Ma’s sister is a member of SHF at East and that’s where she learned about it and decided West should have one as well.

“I thought there should be more involvement in French at West and a lot more people know about Spanish and what they’re doing. People should know about what French is doing too,” Ma said.

“I am very excited. I am glad that the students asked me because I think it’s a great thing and it’ll be really good for the French program,” Elliott said.

of go see what we wanted We also did a duck tour where it’s on land and water and everyone got a chance to actually drive the duck. And that was a lot of fun,” Nanneman said.

All those activities just brought the orchestra closer together.

“It was great. It was really a good bonding time for all of us. We spent a lot of time together.

We got to meet people we didn’t really know in orchestra and it was really fun,” Rogers said.

“I got so close to the people I was already friends with and the group of girls I was with. We never went to bed on time, we just stayed up talking. I got to know everyone a little bit better,” Nanneman said.

Those bonds can last for a long time and really shows within the orchestra.

“When we went to state, you could tell everyone had gotten a lot closer. We were all really chatty because we had all gotten to know each other really well over the past weekend,” Nanneman said.

But for Mulvenon, it all comes back to the music.

“Playing - that’s what I do. I get to conduct a great music ensemble and that’s why I picked this job,” Mulvenon said.

french honor society is introduced at west. by isabelle frankel

Lights Up

Feature

choir gears up for its biggest event of the year. by jordan johnson Every choral class memorizes a song, memorizes dance moves in less than three weeks.

Spotlight Spectacular is the biggest performance but last performance of the year for the choir department. The production is always colorful, with the wind range of songs chosen, the dances performed and outfits worn.

Choral teacher, Laura Vanleeuwen is the one in charge, she decides what pieces should be sung to make this a great performance.

However, Vanleeuwen goes through two days of auditions with a guest judge to determine groups, solos and duets by the choir students who have practiced for months to get in Spotlight Spectacular. These pieces will be done in between the class performances separated by two acts in the production which is performed on two days.

None of this can be done without a little help from the choreographer, Ann McCroskey. For several days McCroskey goes through the

Madrigals dance, the Girls Select dance, the Chorale girls dance, mixed girls and boys, and then finally the finale.

The finale is the best part. Approximately 50 students audition, but about 30 get chosen to dance the mashup at the end of the production; it’s a great opportunity, but a lot of practice.

The pieces students decide to audition with can be modern, not the usual classical or spiritual; everyone will know at least one of the songs performed that night.

It’s a sad night though, seniors are performing their last high school production on their last days of school; and to honor them, all seniors get the chance to perform together before finale begins. Tears are always shed, especially on the last show day.

The 16 Annual Spotlight Spectacular will be presented on Thursday, May 8 and Friday May 9 for $7, enjoy the show with all your friends and family.

Q&A with Dr. Crain

PHOTO BY HOPE ERICKSON

PHOTO BY GABI CHAVEZ

Isaiah McKay: How do you feel the year has gone so far?

Dr. Crain: I think the year has been an unusual year for us, but we’ve made gains in the face of very strong challenges. I would chalk up this year as a positive.

IM: Did you have any worries coming into the school year?

JC: Of course! Worries in the sense of new challenges, but it’s a known environment for me. It’s a lot of responsibility being the leader of a lot of kids and adults that care for kids.

IM: With being a leader there comes challenges, so what was your biggest challenge this year?

JC: Well, meeting the emotional needs of kids through the losses and making sure kids are safe and emotionally sound.

IM: What was your greatest success?

JC: Our greatest success is not one particular event, but its a culmination of events that show us the kids’ participation, their experience, their love for performance. Whether that’s in athletics, academics, activities, classes, and choir. There

is not one in particular that I celebrate, its all the different events.

IM: What are some goals you have for next year?

JC: Well for next year we would like to focus what we can do to raise academic standards, that’s always at the forefront. Our technology is a big push from the district, that is going to be a challenge for us to get kids acclimated to technology, as well as parents. Also, continuing to be thankful for not only the academic benefits along with the technological benefits we have but for the community and feel that we have. We are bound together in so many different ways and connections.

IM: With all the losses we’ve had this year, what advice do you have for students?

JC: Draw people closer to you, and keep making connections. Your faith and loved ones are what pull you through in these situations, and that’s what pulled us through.

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Feature

Getting Out of the Garage

joel and jordan have been exposed to music since they were born by isabelle frankel and kristin wells

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PHOTOS BY: NINA WILLIAMS

Joel Mills, Junior, plays with the drumline.

Feature Jordan Mills, freshman, plays the saxophone in the band.

PHOTOS BY: NINA WILLIAMS

With a music teacher for a mom and a record producer for a dad, it only seemed natural that Joel and wJordan Mills would acquire a love for music.

“We have pretty much been around professional musicians our entire life,” Jordan, freshman, said.

Joel, junior, is currently a part of Overland Express, drumline, marching band and wind ensemble. But next year, he will also be a part of Madrigals and Chorale. Jordan is involved in jazz band, marching band and wind ensemble.

“I was also asked to audition for choir and I may be in Chorale next year if my schedule allows it,” Jordan said.

Besides being in the band at West, they are part of their own band, State Line Drive. The other members of that band are twin brothers.

“We are in a country band,” Joel said, “They happened to meet my dad and they decided to do a project with him in the studio so we were around them for that. We kind of got to know each other; we started jamming. We formed it [our band] to do this country competition and it was good so we just kept doing it.”

State Line Drive is not just a local gig. They play at festivals and fairs often and travel to perform too.

“This summer we’ll be doing that all over the country. We always have a bunch of practices before shows and usually a final one the night before,” Jordan said.

Traveling as a band takes a lot of practice and hard work.

“We load up all of our gear in a big trailer and all pile into a vehicle and head out to a show. When we get to a venue we haul our gear on stage and set up and get a sound check and make final adjustments on the stage if there’s time,” Jordan said.

They put a lot of hard work into their shows, but it’s rewarding.

“Traveling is awesome especially when we go pretty far, it’s just like road tripping with your friends. To prepare we just practice a bunch and constantly go over harmonies,” Joel said.

People will hire them to play in the studio if they need more musicians.

“Usually they will sort of give me an idea of the style that they want. I almost always do guitar parts or vocals. Vocals are a little more straight forward. You sort of go in already knowing what you are going to do. Guitar is a little different. You’ll start off by finding a sound that you like,” Jordan said.

Not only do they perform with their band, they are very involved with their church, Lenexa Christian Center.

“We play every Sunday and we are the worship leaders,” Jordan said.

“When we first started, it was just the two of us and it kind of built around that. We do it at the youth group which is called 180,” Joel said.

They bring their love of music and worship to school leading the music at Club 121. which meets on Tuesday mornings.

“I’ve been doing it since the end of last semester. Leading wor-

ship is by far my favorite type of music and it’s really cool to do it at school,” Joel said.

Having a brother who is just as involved in music as you are can have its perks.

“It makes things a lot simpler. If Joel was in sports and I was in music or I was in sports and he was in music a lot of the times it would be very conflictual. It actually makes things easy,” Jordan said.

However there are some disadvantages too.

“If he wants to play the piano and I want to plug my guitar in because I got a new piece of gear that I want to try out and I’m going to crank up the amp, I can’t hear,” Jordan said.

But no matter the few downsides, Joel and Jordan have high hopes for their musical careers.

“I’m hoping it takes me very far. It’s kind of cliche to say ‘oh I wanna be famous,’ anyone can say that. Really at the least I wanna be a guitarist in Nashville and play on studio recordings,” Jordan said.

“Hopefully I will find a career in performing music. If that doesn’t work out I might try to be a studio musician but so far, so good,” Joel said.

Joel and Jordan have been immersed in music their entire lives and they plan to keep it that way.

“There was a time before I knew I wanted to do music but there was really nothing I could see myself doing,” Jordan said.

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Opinion Moving Forward

By Jordan Johnson It has been a long four years, and now I am ready to get out.

Don’t get me wrong, I have had great times here, but I am looking forward to moving on, moving out and enjoying my life a few hours away from my family.

There have been a lot of memorable events that I would never forget. My first dance, my first choir performance, meeting a lot of great friends, Relay For Life, Prom and so much more.

It has been a wonderful experience, but I didn’t just have fun, I worked hard to get to where I am and to get ready to graduate.

Studying, asking questions, taking notes are key points in what helped me. I am thankful that my teachers didn’t give up on me when I didn’t understand what was going on. All in all, I lived my high school years the way I wanted it, what was planned out for me and they have been great.

I will miss many of my friends as two hours away may not seem much to some of you, but those gas prices are climbing; keep in touch and don’t completely drop everything behind you dealing with high school.

They are memories I want to keep and cherish as I make more in these next four years. It has been great writing for the newspaper, but as my first and last column, I shall say goodbye and good luck in your future.

Rembrance

By Lauren Scobee

CARTOON BY: CHANCE JULIAN

Looking back at freshman year, I am not the same person I was then let alone to the beginning of my 12 years of school, the beloved Kindergarten times.

Twelve years seems like a long time but looking back individually its like being strapped to a high speed bus on a cross country trip.

Freshman year were the days we still had a life and sleep was still in our vocabulary. Everything was new and exciting. Enjoy what time you have left.

Sophomore year, this is the transition year. You know how the school works and this is the last year of being able to sit back and relax.

Sophomores, use this year to get involved now that you are aware of all West has to offer. Prepare yourself for the struggle of junior year.

Junior year, this is the hardest year academically now that AP classes are available for all of you in a variety of subjects.

What I learned most about junior year is to not procrastinate.

With schedules being so busy remember to take some time to breath and be with friends.

Then that lovely senior year. Those who are going to be Seniors in the fall take this summer to get ahead, think about college and scholarships.

But, more importantly take the time to be with your friends and

family. This year is so hectic the days fly by way too fast to even begin to catch a breather.

Before you know it you are ready to graduate and everyone disperses to being their new lives. Make memories, try everything and get prepared for the world you are about to walk into.

For those Seniors who are graduating with me, good luck and farewell. It might not have hit yet but it will, the truth that this is the last time all of us are going to be together again.

2014 had been an intense year for all. The memories made will never be forgotten.

My friends have become family, this school is a second home for the amount of time spent here and teachers have become friends.

When people say don’t look back, that isn’t always true. The past is what makes us who we are and these four years at West are worth looking back.

Underclassmen, it may not seem so now but every hard time, ever laugh and every klutz moment is worth it. The memories of the good and bad are priceless.

As this year comes to a close I say my final goodbyes to the West family because that is who we are, a family not a school.

Remember this. Remember your family here at West those who are here and those who are gone.

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Opinion ‘Drew

Public Privilege

By Andy Gottschalk

Marleah & Me

A Goodbye of Sorts

By Marleah Campbell As a fourth grader, nothing in the world made me feel cooler than flipping through the inky pages of “The Epic” my older sister had brought home and haphazardly set on the counter.

I loved reading “The Epic.” Boredom-filled hours were vastly improved by flipping through one of the old papers I had already read several times through. I’d read about football players and band

CARTOON BY: ANDY GOTTSCHALK

members. I’d fill out crossword puzzles and read Q&A interviews with new teachers. I’d laugh at witty columns and think of what I’d write about someday. When I was done, I’d do it all over again.

Eight years later, I’m writing my last column as Co-Editor in Chief of the publication.

The experience I’ve gained from writing and editing “The Epic” for the past three years has been more than I could have possibly ever asked for. I learned how to meet deadlines; I learned how to procrastinate and cram what should have been done in three weeks into three hours. I learned how to become a better writer, editor and leader.

Granted, there were many occasions where deadlines led me to nearly pulling my hair out. Perhaps more often than that, however, were occasions where I nearly pulled someone else’s hair out.

All in all, I’m really thankful for getting to be a part of this publication— for the friends I’ve made, experiences I’ve gained and tools I’ve learned that will help me as I move on.

Before I part ways with my high school journalism career, I’d like to leave with two huge thank yous: 1. Andy Gottschalk, for being an awesome Co-Editor in Chief and truly a best friend. We often joke about how two more different people with more polar opposite interests couldn’t have been chosen for the job, but that’s what made the chaos of it all fun. Quite honestly, it’s been a heck of a ride. I’ve cried more hysterical tears of laughter in room 11 than anywhere else in the world thanks to this cool guy.

2. Mrs. Morgan, for advising us, listening to our ideas (no matter how ridiculous they may be) and somehow putting up with our shenanigans. I don’t know how you did it.

I have but one piece of advice for those who will be at West next year: TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS GIVEN TO YOU. And don’t leave any scraps.

It took me a while to figure it out, but I realized that I could use the resources given to me for free by applying them to my own projects.

Beginning sophomore year I would squander all the art resources I could to beef up my portfolio. In journalism I would check out cameras to photograph my finished pieces, and with the school laptops collect my work, create digital work with the Adobe suite, and publish them online - all at the pretty penny of the district.

You may not be interested in art or journalism, but there are a thousand other departments that align with your interests with resources ready for exploitation. Sports, business, social studies whatever your interest there are just as many resources ready for the taking.

I want to remind you that you go to public school. Thanks to the generous taxpayers of Johnson County you attend school for free.

Unlike our friends at nearby private high schools who are coughing up an annual $10,000 for not much more than swivel chairs and some religion courses, you are educated and raised on county money. Be grateful for the public dollar.

Although you may think the daily schedule of high school is nothing more than a mere interim between sleep and afternoon cartoons, it is actually a place of abounding opportunities, full of free equipment and helpful teachers and space to get ideas off the ground.

Your mission these remaining years is to make connections: with teachers, students, faculty, anyone who can help you. Use what you have around you to be successful in what you want to do.

Next, you should be using all the free supplies you can obtain.

Scanners, cameras, laptops, anything. Make use of the 3D printer we have here at West. Join a sports team after school and become fit. Go to our local library and get a book. I checked one out the other day on animating with 3D graphics. They even have a green sceen over at Central. I don’t know what you’re into, but our school’s and library’s resources can help you get a start.

Lastly, don’t waste a minute pretending school’s a joke. Connie Benolkin told me freshman year that I should be making the most of my time here. I followed her word as best I could, and you should, too.

I’ll refrain from rattling off the now cliché “School’s what you make it!” and “Get involved!” in favor of more blunt advice: The public’s giving you free goods and you’re an idiot not to take them up.

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HITECH Health Information Systems

More for Your Money

Are you interested in health care?

Do you enjoy working with technology?

Try out a class in this growing career field for free!

When it comes to higher education, JCCC delivers more for your money.

Beginning January 2014, high school students can earn more than 24 college credits through College Now! Be prepared to sign up for College Now classes this fall. Save money on four-year university tuition with college credits in high school.

See your school counselor for details or visit www.jccc.edu/collegenow.

Check out HITECH/ Health Information Systems classes at JCCC.

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

Contact us at www.jccc.edu/hitech or call 913-469-8500, ext. 4020.

12345 College Blvd. | Overland Park, KS 66210

Johnson County Community College • 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park

Hitech Ad 03-2014 BW PF 4.1993 x 4.928

Feature

Goodbye Kansas, Hello China one senior chose a college that’s far from home. by jordan johnson

N

ot many people can say they are attending school in another country, but as for Senior Dylan Crow, he will be attending New York University Shanghai in China for the next four years.

“I’ve never even been to China, the first time I get there will be August 16. I will be flying direct from Dallas, the total flight will be over 17 hours. It’s a brand new school, I will be the second inaugural class and will be able to start traditions,” Crow said.

This is a rare experience as approximately 300 students attend the university right now.

NYU Shanghai saw an acceptance rate of only 6% last year. Attending a smaller university comes at a cost; only seven majors are currently offered.

Crow will not be the only American attending the university; 51% of students are native Chinese and the other 49% are international students from other parts of the world including the United States. Every foreign student has a Chinese roommate to better accommodate themselves in the new atmosphere.

“I will be majoring in business and finance and minoring in Chinese. It makes sense to study (business) in one of the biggest business capitals of the world,” Crow said.

Shanghai is not NYU’s first attempt to build a campus abroad; there is currently a NYU Campus in Abu Dhabi that was established six years ago. NYU Shanghai will be the first university to offer a degree independent of the Chinese Government, and is seen as an attempt by China to provide a western style education to Chinese nationals.

“A lot of the things are the same compared to American universities like the double rooms, athletic center, and commons room; they made it look modern. But I have completely uncensored internet access to American websites,” Crow said.

Crow will be able to access Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms, unlike Chinese citizens who are censored by a nationwide government firewall.

“My mom thought it was a program that would last a year, but once I told her the full details, it hit her. At most I will visit twice a year during Christmas and summer. My family is excited for me, even if my mom is sad about it. I’ve always been an independent person, so she wouldn’t have been able to stop me from going anyway,” Crow said.

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Crow didn’t mention to his mother the fact that he applied to Shanghai; it was a complete shock to family members when he received an email from an admissions counselor.

“She wanted to Skype the next day for an interview, which went really well. I told my family to be quiet in the house so that my interview wouldn’t be interrupted, but they didn’t know what was going on.” Crow said.

Crow received an acceptance letter just a few weeks after his interview, and was flown to New York on a complimentary trip at the beginning of April.

“I was invited to New York to learn more about the campus, faculty, and meet other students. By then I knew I wanted to attend their school,” Crow said Crow had originally applied to Georgetown on early action, but was rejected. Following his rejection, Crow applied to more schools across the country. NYU Shanghai was an afterthought however, and only came across his mind when he heard a story on National Public Radio on the way home from school.

“Of the 23 places I applied, I was accepted to 21. In the end it was not a hard decision,” Crow said.

New York University is known for its expensive tuition, but Crow will be able to afford the school due to generous financial aid given to students willing to attend the campus in Shanghai.

“Each year, the school will pay for around half of my yearly tuition which is $63,540.

The scholarship is based off of academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and financial need,” Crow said.

Nevertheless, Crow is really excited.

“It’s going to be a really different experience. At first I was hyped to go to school in China, but then I thought about all the things that will change in my life, like where am I going to get a haircut? It’s surreal,” Crow said.

As of now, NYU Shanghai is finishing construction of its new campus in Pudong, the financial district of Shanghai. The current freshmen class has been living in dorms on the campus of East China Normal University.

Crow will have to prepare over the next few months; buying a ticket, packing for three seasons, and saying goodbye to friends and family. He has made his decision to live far away from the place he has always called home.

Dylan Crow holds up his acceptance letter to NYU Shanghai

TAYLOR HEFFLIN

“It’s going to be a really different experience.

At first I was hyped to go to school in China, but then I thought about all the things that will change in my life, like where am I going to get a haircut? It’s surreal.”

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Feature

A Dual Threat

isaiah macklin shares his experiences with baseball and football by marleah campbell For junior Isaiah Macklin, football has always been a way of life. He has played since the first grade and plans on continuing to play in college.

Going into his senior year, Macklin has high expectations for the team.

“I want to win another 6A State Championship. My sophomore year, we won it and it was one of the greatest feelings. I want another ring,” Macklin said.

Contrary to the years upon years of football experience Macklin has under his belt, baseball is a different story. Despite having never played before, Macklin made the junior varsity squad this season.

“I wanted to try something new. Not playing baseball before, I knew it would be a challenge and I just took it head on,” Macklin said.

Even though this is the first year Macklin has played baseball, it’s not something he takes lightly. Heavy preparation was put in to get ready for tryouts.

“I went to the cages four times a week. I also got out throwing the ball around every day,” Macklin said.

He hopes to contribute to the team’s success this season.

“I just want to do my job, do whatever the coaches need me to do, and do my best,” Macklin said.

Whether it’s football or baseball, Macklin’s competitive spirit and hard work drive him to succeed.

“Sports are important because I love to compete. I want to be the best at everything, whether on the field or in the classroom,” Macklin said.

World Cup Preview it’s time to get the ball rolling again by spence lasalle Well we’ve been waiting for this for a while now but its finally here, the 2014 World Cup. The World Cup will be held in Brazil which will be its second time hosting the games since 1950 (The first cup to be played after WWII and the fourth cup to be played ever), this will also be the twentieth Fifa World Cup. The games will be held on June 13th through July 14th, (Kick off will be on June 12th.) 64 games will be played in 12 cities in Brazil. There is a total of 32 teams participating in the games. Six new stadiums have

been built in Brazil in cities such as Natal, Recife, Manaus, Cuiaba, Sao Paulo and Salvador. Six other existing stadiums have been refurbished including Maracana which will also host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics.Brazil is the first team to win out of its own continent, and has won five times, (Sweden1958,Chile-1962,Mexico-1970,U.S-1994,Japan & Korea-2002).

sophomore magdiel meza was interviewed about his world cup thoughts SL: How long have you been interested in soccer?

SL: How did your interest start?

MM: I’ve been interested in soccer since I was six years old.

MM: My dad taught me how to play and I liked to watch games on TV.

SL: How long have you been interested in The World Cup? SL: Have you ever lost interest?

MM: About the same time.

MM: Honestly, no.

SL: Who do you think should win The World Cup? SL: Do you think you ever will lose an interest?

MM: Germany MM: No. SL: What position do you play in soccer?

SL: Do you think you will ever visit The World Cup? MM: Forward.

MM: Yes. SL: Who is your favorite soccer team?

SL: When?

MM: Liverpool MM: Probably 2018.

SL: Who is your favorite soccer player?

SL: Favorite World Cup Moment?

MM: Lionel Messi (Argentina national team) SL: Favorite soccer memory?

MM: Scoring a hat-trick (Scoring a goal three or more times) in a game.

MM: In 2006 final when Zinedine Zidane headbutted an italian player.

SL: Do you think you’ll ever play in World Cup someday?

MM: Hopefully someday.

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PHOTO(CC)

Sports

A Diminishing Pastime the reasons why interest in baseball is going down an opinion by max meyer

As long as I can remember I’ve played and watched baseball. My interest for the game came from my dad. From the time I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to play baseball through high school.

When I was younger I thought most kids wanted to play baseball all throughout their childhood like I did. I think its safe to say that almost every boy played baseball for at least one season when they were younger. But as I got older more and more kids decided to try other sports like football and basketball. Then, when I got to high school last year I felt like hardly anyone played baseball.

Freshman year during tryouts there were only 20 kids that tried out for baseball. On the freshman football team we had 40 and we had about 35 freshmen try out for basketball. How could it be that there is so much less interest in baseball than other sports?

There are a few simple reasons for this. The first and biggest reason is that baseball is a money game. Kids start playing tournaments and travel ball as early as third grade. Tournaments cost anywhere from $200-400 for a team. Not to mention the cost of gas to get to the games and paying for a hotel if the tournament is out of town. Then, comes the jerseys, hats, pants and cleats. Plus a glove that costs at least $100 and a $200 or more bat.

With all of the money surrounding baseball it makes it harder for families to let their kids play, and if they do play it may mean that their kids play in a recreational league. That makes it hard for kids to keep playing in high school because they haven’t faced the same level of competition that their teammates have.

Baseball is also very tough to play in cities. Its hard to find places to build a baseball field within a city. That’s why basketball is played by kids in cities more often than baseball. Many times community centers or gyms have basketball courts, so kids can go jump into games.

Now when some of you read this next point I know you may groan, but in all honesty it does play a part in why there is not a huge interest in baseball. This reason is that baseball is hard. Plain and simple. Playing a sport that involves so much more skill than athleticism is a very tough thing to do. You might be thinking that I’m just saying this because I play baseball, but that is not true. Over the years I have played football, basketball, golf, lacrosse and a little tennis, but none has been harder to play than baseball. Baseball is sport that you can’t take a break from for a year, and return to your old form quickly.

I believe the biggest reason kids stop playing baseball is because they can’t focus through the entire game. In an age where everything is available at the blink of an eye it’s hard for kids to focus on a game that can be slow moving. That’s why kids are more likely to move to a sport like basketball where they are constantly running up and down the court or football where they are involved in every play.

Baseball is a great sport, and one of the best in the world. So in 10 years when you have kids, put them on a baseball team, and if they want to keep playing do everything you can to make it happen. It may just lead to a lifelong passion.

A Learning Experience teacher drew kershner’s journey from student to teacher by max meyer and marleah campbell Drew Kershner, golf coach, knew he wanted to be a teacher when he was a sophomore in high school.

He also has a love for sports that stems from playing football, basketball and golf all four years in high school. That gave him one perfect job: teaching high school.

Kershner pursued his teaching degree at Kansas State University, and spent five semesters in the college of education. He took over 20 classes on teaching. He learned how to teach kids with special needs, higher level students, classes about how to teach different levels of math and more.

After a few semesters of just classes Kershner then had two semesters where he had class from 9-12, and then spent from 1-3 in the afternoon at a school teaching. Then, Kershner moved to fully student teaching at West.

Kershner enjoyed his time as a student teacher under basketball coach and math teacher Ryan Darst throughout the first semester.

“It was fun teaching under Darst because we’d talk math and then we’d talk other sports,” Kershner said.

“I liked the way he ran his classroom; he liked to have fun, but he got down to business.”

Darst also gave Kershner the opportunity to coach basketball with the

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sophomore team under Coach Ken Benson. However, he was only able to assistant coach for a few weeks because his student teaching ended at the end of the first semester.

Currently, Kershner is serving as a long term physical education substitute.

“I enjoy P.E. because I like sports, but math is what I went to school for,” Kershner said.

Next year, Kershner will have to find a new job because his teaching certification only covers secondary math (middle and high school). Plus math is the subject he wants to teach. He hopes to find a teaching position where he could also serve as a coach.

“I’ve coached basketball, volleyball, golf, bowling– I’ve done all of that so far,” Kershner said.

Kershner hopes to eventually coach at the collegiate level.

“The end goal would be to get on a college coaching staff and win a national championship,” Kershner said.

The Evolution of the Disney Princess

Snow White Underspoken and staid, this princess is really only well remembered because she starred in the first ever animated feature.

cinderella

You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby T

welcome to the age of the go-get-’em disney princess by andy gottschalk

aking a look back to 1937’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” you might be surprised at just how sedate and lacking of personality Snow White appears. Throughout the movie she comes off as a decorous token, and at her most adventuresome she’s sweeping the house and giggling at the quips of seven nonsensical dwarfs. She’s calm and respectable and her characteristics illustrate just how far the Disney princess has come.

Jump to 1989. “The Little Mermaid,” which featured a feisty heroine in its title character Ariel, proved to be a love letter to growing up. Ariel, who felt burdened by her family’s royalty and expectations, yearned to step outside the water and learn for herself. A rebel in her own right, she sacrificed her voice for the chance to live above the water.

We can celebrate Ariel’s strong will just as much as we can chide her for her naivete. And though she still prided herself on finding conventional love, she is perhaps one of the earliest examples of Disney’s “new” princess - the heroine who acts on her own will and fights for what she wants.

Characters like Snow White, who are as interesting as wallpaper, and Cinderella, who look plain boring next to this year’s Anna from “Frozen,” make up most

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of Disney’s princess lineup. It wasn’t until the late 80s when Disney entered its second renaissance, that heroines started to find their own voice and truly become role models for young girls.

Sure, even modern princesses have their faults.

Jasmine, from Disney’s “Aladdin” was not a fully developed character, and she dressed as if the social conventions of her time didn’t apply to her. She had little aspiration, and as the plot was male-driven, she didn’t need much; Ariel, too, was a bit over-sexualized for her own good, but when Disney movies tend to focus on female characters the characters are more developed and more entertaining.

“Frozen” and its game-changing character relationships brought to the screen Anna, a courageous and quirky young adult. She was accompanied by the now-expected entourage of silly sideshow pets (think Flounder from “Little Mermaid,” Pascal from “Tangled”), but Anna negotiated on her own terms and the story still kept its female relationships at the forefront of the film.

It’s important to note that I write only about the Disney princess movies themselves, not the franchises surrounding them. There is an official Disney Princess lineup, of which Anna and Elsa are not yet included.

Profiting heavily from merchandising, Disney even considers rules regarding how the women are displayed.

For example, none of the princesses ever make eye contact as that would disrupt their separate universes.

Looking broadly, the general trend in Disney animated films is hinting at better princesses and ultimately better characters. 2012’s “Brave” presented a feisty young woman with drive and independence.

2009’s “The Princess and the Frog” brought to life Tiana, the first ever black Disney princess. Tiana cared not much for finding love, but instead opening her own restaurant and managing a business that reflected the culture of her family and New Orleans. And though some of these films have been more-or-less flops, they still can be respected as efforts leading to something greater.

It should not be expected that Disney movies always represent young women as intelligent and independent, for the studio has never quite been the harbinger of gender politics in film. But seeing the progress that its female characters have made, it is undeniable that its films are headed in the right direction.

Beyond just pretty faces and sweet songs, the Disney princess is proving herself worthy of a movie complex as she is.

We know her as the rags-toriches princess. She had a dream to acheive something bigger, but she realized it by marrying rich. Tsk tsk.

ariel Despite her scantily-clad body, she embraced the idea of chasing dreams. Sure, she gave up her voice to be with a man, but she took risks, too.

mulan By far Disney’s strongest protagonist, Mulan recognized the value of family and selfsacrifice.

rapunzel Self-determined, Rapunzel fought for what she wanted with a frying pan.

Arts&Entertainment George Latham Trail The George Latham Trail is a great trail for those looking for a more natural hike than the Streamway Park trail. George Latham Trail is located around the Clinton Lake in Lawrence. It is actually only a few minutes away from the University of Kansas. This trail is no more treacherous than the Streamway Trail, but this trail is unpaved unlike the Streamway Trail. The George Latham Trail loops around Clinton Lake and gives a very scenic view of it. Hikers get to hike through forests and plains whilst hiking this trail. Of you are looking for a more scenic hike that makes you feel more connected to nature, give the George Latham Trail a try.

Streamway Park

A creek near Streamway Park Photo by Derek Benson

Take a Hike!

Streamway Park, also referred to as the Streamway Trails, is a long linear trail that stretches from the Kansas River to 119th Street. It provides a fun paved path for hikers who like to stay on trails and not deal with unkempt forests. There are many access points to start on this trail. The one that might be most convenient for Lenexa residents would be the one at Shawnee Mission Park near Shelter 8 and the dam. For beginning hikers and people who just want to see nature’s beauty, this trail is perfect.

It weaves through many trees and runs past many creeks and streams. For those who are a bit more adventurous, hiking off the trail and into the woods is sure to provide excitement and fun. If you end up hiking off the trails, be sure to use your best judgement with where to hike, and do not agitate any natural resting spot or homes of animals. Streamway Park is a great trail for casual hikers and offers plenty of access points for hikers to enter the trail from.

Here are some of the most fun and exciting spots to hike and fish this summer.

By max meyer, brock burnett and kristin wells

Kansas River The Kansas River is a good spot for those who aren’t afraid to fish with a current in the water. The river is not a good place for a novice, as fish can reach up to rather heavy poundage and the fight from the larger fish might frighten someone not used to such resistance. If the fisher isn’t used to fighting at least eight pound fish, they will be in for a surprise. If inexperienced, the fisher could easily snap their line trying to reel in a fish, and on rare occasions, break their rod. Fish in the river include channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, black buffalo, drum, saugeye, wiper, white bass, walleye and crappie amongst others. There are many spots to fish on the river, and the fish that can be caught will depend on the fishing spot. The current in this river is a rather noticeable one and can in some cases take the bait off of a line. If you are looking for bigger fish and more of a challenge, gear up and head out to the river.

Sarko Par Trails Park Sar-Ko Par Trails Park, called Sar-Ko Park for short, is a park that is perfect for fishing novices. It is located on the corner of Lackman and 87th Street in Lenexa. The fishing spot itself is called Rose’s Pond. The pond is stocked with channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill and sunfish. This is a great spot for those who don’t fish often or are just beginning to fish. With regular old rod and line, fishers are most likely to catch Bluegill and Sunfish. With a decent treble hook and some catfish bait, one would be able to catch Channel Catfish. The catfish can range in size from anywhere to about six inches to almost 15 inches or even larger.

The bass in this pond are fairly elusive. The catfish are much easier to catch than the bass in this pond and are more plentiful too. There are also frogs and crayfish in the pond that are fun to catch if you have a net.

This pond is a spot that is perfect for the casual fisher who is just looking to have fun.

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The Kansas River.

Photo by (CC): David DeHetre

Arts&Entertainment

The Supreme Ice Cream which ice cream shop truely reigns supreme?

Paciugo

by lauren scobee

The creaminess of the gelato was great, while still being light and healthier than most ice creams. There are an endless amount of flavors that differ each day for a complete gelato experience. This Italian based ice cream is well worth trying, with flavors ranging from biscotti to dulce de leche to s’mores.

The portion sizes are smaller than most with the prices to match something bigger. All in all, this is the place to try for a little something fresh and new.

Flavor : 5 of 5 Price: 4 of 5

Dairy Queen The signature Dairy Queen Blizzards are good, but not worth their hype. The chocolate flavor is not strong enough to be called real chocolate, it is more like vanilla than chocolate. There are only two main flavors, the added twists are all accredited to the toppings. On the bright side, the price is reasonable for the sizes.

Flavor : 2 of 5 Price: 4 of 5

Size: 4 of 5 Service: 2 of 5

Size: 3 of 5 Service: 5 of 5

Cold Stone Creamery If you’re in need of some thick creamy ice cream that’s full of flavor, and toppings that are mixed in right before your eyes, Cold Stone is the place to go. The cake batter is rich with flavor and smooth with each taste, like the rest of the flavors Cold Stone has to offer. The sizes are plentiful with the downside being the prices. They’re some of the most expensive of these ice cream choices.

Flavor : 5 of 5 Price: 2 of 5

Size: 5 of 5 Service: 4 of 5

And the winner is: Pacuigo, but Cold Stone comes in a close second.

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Arts&Entertainment

Dory’s Corner

As a leader of the surrealist movement Dalí chose not to paint in a classic style, despite possessing the skills to do so. Many of his paintings are relatively small, ensuring that his work could be sold and relatively affordable.

Dalí is also famous for his mustache, which he protected with a hair net as he slept.

S P O T

Walker’s Wisdom

“Peggy Eaton was the center of the Petticoat Affair, when President Andrew Jackson was outraged when the cabinet member’s wife snubbed Eaton, the Secretary of War’s new wife. This led to the resignation of the majority of Jackson’s cabinet and the elevation of future President Martin Van Buren, a bachelor not involved in the scandal, to Jackson’s inner circles.”

F I V E

Choir practicing for their annual Spotlight performance. Photo by Gabby Chavez

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Arts&Entertainment Super Cheesey Flick Saved By Toddler a movie review of heaven is for real by brianna cole

“Heavan Is For Real” has recently hit the theatres and has been recieving pretty generic views. The cheesey yet cute manner of the film was a decent balance. But, this is not my favorite film.

Greg Kinnear plays the hardworking midwesterner, Todd Burpo. The handyman finds economic troubles once his toddler son, Colton (Connor Corum) is hospitalized after the burst of his appendix. Todd begins to become angry with God for putting his family in turmoil while his wife, Sonja (Kelly Reilly), asks the Nebraskan town for prayers. Miraculously, the adorable Colton recovers. The toddler then claims he went to heaven and back. The cute kid happily reports to everyone that he was reunited with lost loved ones, spent time with the cherubim, and was even comforted by the Lord himself. Todd then becomes overwhelmed with his son’s experience. Before Colton’s majestic journey, Todd was considered just an average believer. He believed in his lord and savior, but just

Call Me Bricola

Senior Sizzle, You’re Too Late

By Brianna Cole

went through the motions when it came to Christianity. Todd upped his theological game and began questioning his reasoning and belief. At the end of the day, they were all one big happy family.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed the whole film from start to finish. It was very dull, lacking something. First, the depiction of heaven wasn’t much. Yes, Hollywood can’t exactly depict Heaven for what it is, but with the special effects and technology we have today, I was expecting more than just some shiny lights and soft angels.

It was also predictable. As soon as Colton had his experience, I knew that Todd would undergo some theological change that would question his own belief and life.

“We ask these kids to believe this stuff,” Todd says to his wife, “but I don’t even know if I believe it myself.”

This entire film, like most Christian based movies, was just one

The motive for Senior Sizzle is to implement a safe and fun scene without the use of alcohol and drugs. Every time the event is brought to my attention by a student or staff member, the “no drinking or drug use” is stressed.

My question is why is this is a concern on my last day of high school? I guess I’m just confused on how the negative effects of drinking and drugs were taught to me while I carried around coloring books rather than now. In elementary school we were proud participants of DARE. In middle school we looked down upon the few who experimented with drugs and alcohol. In high school we walked into a realm where drinking and drugs could not be ignored by the eye.

As a child, a police officer came into my classroom a couple times

giant question of faith. The town topic was this boy’s realization and either you were judged for believing heaven is for real or you were judged because you had a scientific reason for why the boy “saw” during his appendix surgery.

I have to say that I was touched by this film. I blame my tear jerker moments on Connor Corum for playing such an adorable role. The most heart touching part about the film was how a toddler was enlightened by a near death experience and his father was trying to cope and understand it all. If Colton was fifteen with teenage angst, the film would not have been the same. Cuteness overrides everything.

The movie was nothing special, just enough to be a feel good film with a sweet little toddler.

each year and stressed how my life will be spent in jail if I attempted to underage drink or tamper with illegal drugs. Even if the officer told me my tacky Limited-Too outfits were banned, I’d believe him.

If implementing a drug/alcohol free party after our last day of high school is supposed to encourage us to choose a more “safe” path in the future, then I’m sorry. but you’re too late. After this summer, we will all be heading to college, a place where there isn’t a large group of DARE participants. If adults are worried that students will be drinking/doing drugs at Senior Sizzle, then they’re too late. Stop making children who don’t even know what color marijuana is learn about what harm it can do. Instead, help and guide the age group that it is exposed to.

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