BLUESTREAK 1744 N. Andover Rd. Andover, KS 67002 Volume 32 Issue 6 February 27, 2015
Too Much, Too Soon? The controversy of Underage Drinking pg. 14-17
Piercings & Tattoos In-Depth pg. 18-19
what’s inside >> Cool events coming to Wichita pg. 4-5
Lacrosse pg. 20-21
News
Choir Trip Girls’ Basketball Trojanettes Events coming to Wichita Partying Tattoos & Piercings
3 3 3 4-5 14-17 18-19
in-depth feature
Meg Plank editor-in-chief Ashli Ellerman managing editor Anna Schrag design editor fun editor Megan Curry copy editor Madi Hearne visuals editor Lily Farha business manager
Other Schools vs. AHS Theatre Department Shop & Autos The Trojan Spotlight
6-7 8-9 10-11 28-29
Staff Editorial
12-13
Gloria Mares news editor Paige Schlitter photo editor Hayley Landers assistant photo editor Kristen McPherson online photo editor Madison Martinez features editor/ columnist Haley Rowe columnist
EDITORIAL
Grant Cohen sports editor
Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee
20-21 22-23
Teen Vocabulary Worst Parkers of AHS Photo-J Spotlight culture Jokes from AHS students
Elizabeth Hartley writing coach Brittiany Clark in-depth editor Monica Goldberg content editor
Sports pop
BLUESTREAK STAFF
24-25 26-27 30-31 32
Abby Beaver page editor Katherine Dakan web editor Addy Maples pop culture editor Yousef Krichati social media editor Carly Flake writer/photograher Cary Conover adviser
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Contents
Feb. 27, 2015
Bop to the Top Dancers spend more hours outside of school perfecting their routines and creating new dances, yet they only compete once each school year. On 23-24 January 2015 the Andover High School dance team traveled to Kansas City to compete against other teams. As a team, the girls competed in three categories: hip hop, jazz, and contemporary. “My favorite dance was probably contemporary because we called a lot motivation for the performance just from the enjoyment of dance and the appreciation of our time together, since Melissa Lawrence and I are graduating soon,” senior Kristen Graves said.The girls competed as a team and also in a duet or as a solo performance. As a team, they received the Gussie Award for receiving a 90 or above from all the judges on each routine, as well as the Precision Award and the Judge’s award. Lawrence and Graves’s duet went to the Winner’s Circle and sophomore Emily Stybr’s solo went to the Honor’s Circle. The team officers were awarded the Judge’s Choice. Team captain, Kristen Graves, was very proud of how the team performed in Kansas City. “We definitely performed to the best of our abilities and I’m proud because most of our team is new and we have come a long way,” senior said. All of the team dances performed at the competi-
Weekend Getaway
From Sunday January 26th, to Monday January 27th, two of the school’s most musical groups, Show Choir and Madrigals, took a weekend trip to Kansas City for a fun getaway. The groups stayed in the Great Wolf Lodge hotel and hung around the city while they were there. “The trip was mainly meant to be a bonding experience for show choir and madrigals. We had a lot of fun going around the city and doing different things together,” junior Caity White said. The groups also went to another high school in Kansas City to sing with them and get to experience singing with another school from another place. “We sang with a school called Lansing High School, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed performing with another school,” junior Ginger Geddeis said. Other than the singing, the groups also went around and explored the city. They went to the waterpark in Great Wolf Lodge and also went to see the broadway show “Chicago”. “After we spent a while in Kansas City and saw “Chicago” and sang and everything we went to Lawrence for lunch and did a lot of shopping. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everyone and getting to bond, I also really enjoyed the shopping and the other activities we got to do,” junior Julia Corrieri said.
–elizabethHARTLEY
tion were performed for the school prior to the competition. Presenting these routines to the school served as a practice performance for the dancers before showing them to the judges. The dancers liked performing for the school before competition because it was beneficial to practice in front of a crowd before dancing in front of the judges. “We performed a lot of our dances much better at the competition than we did at school. Everything was very sharp and clean,” Lawrence said. While they were not competing, the girls watched other schools present their routines. “There was an Olathe school with a pom routine to Star Wars which was really interesting and cool,” Graves said. The Andover dance team girls are all very close which helps their chemistry during routines. “My favorite thing about our team would probably be the conversations we have and the way we pump each other up and encourage each other before performing,” Graves said. “If I had to describe my friendship with my teammates in one word it would be ‘close’,” Stybr said. Good chemistry between teammates can help any team prosper and the AHS dance team is an excellent example of it. The sisterhood that the girls share is an envious trait that has assisted in their obvious success.
–emiHAYASHI
Hard Work Pays Off The Andover Girls basketball team began the Salina tournament with a win against Salina South and then Goodland soon after. Motivated by the goal of making the state tournament, the girls strive to work hard and beat their opponents. The final game against Salina Central gave the Trojans a victory of first place in the tournament. “Our number one goal is to get to State since we didn’t get there last year,” senior Hayley Meisch said. The Trojans gained confidence from the first place win, since the Salina Tournament was the same format as State will be. During team practices, the Trojans stick to their normal routine, and watch the film of the previous games. Seniors Jaylyn Agnew, Hayley Meisch, Riley Messina, Katelyn Day, and Carissa Preboth, all work to lead the their team to State. The four seniors have been playing together since they were younger, and have formed strong bonds which helps push the team. “Growing up playing with the other four seniors allows to all be on the same page, striving for the same goal. Earning a State title has been on our minds from the beginning as a motivation to succeed,” senior Riley Messina said.
–graceBALL
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News FEB. 27, 2015
Welcome to Wichita With the new year in full swing, new and exciting events are set to arrive in Wichita.
Concerts:
http://www.mirandalambert.com/gallery/5/revolution-continues-tour/
Upcoming concerts include Winter Jam 2015, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean. This is the 20th year of Winter Jam and it will be returning to Intrust Bank Arena on March 6. Performers include Skillet, NewSong, Francesca Battistelli, Jeremy Camp, Building 429, For King & Country, Family Force Five, and Tony Nolan. Country artist Miranda Lambert will be in Wichita on March 7, continuing her Certified Platinum Tour with Justin Moore and Sunny Sweeney. Another big name in country that will be performing at Intrust Bank Arena is Jason Aldean on April 9.
Sports:
March kicks off with Wichita Thunder hockey games on the 1st, 4th, 20th, and 21st. Wichita State basketball has several home games in February on the 22nd and 28th. They will be playing in the Missouri Valley tournament March 5-8 in St. Louis, Missouri and are also looking for a spot in the National NCAA tournament. http://www.slidethecity.com/events/wichita/
March 1st, 4th, 20th, 21st Thunder Hockey games
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Slide the City:
Starting July 4th, another exciting, fun-filled event coming to town is “Slide the City”. With 1000 feet of vinyl-made slides, it’s expected to be a hit for Wichitans. This slip and slide event will include food, drinks, and live music. During the hot summer, three football fields of refreshing water-filled slides will be a great way to cool off. There are three options to choose from to participate in this event: Single Slider, Triple Slider, or VIP Slider. Admission ranges from 15 to 60 dollars depending on registration time and participation level.
March 6th Winter Jam
March 5th - 8th Wichita State plays in Missouri Valley Tournament
NEWS feb. 27, 2015
March 28th Midwest Baconfest
March 7th Miranda Lambert concert
July 4th Slide the City
April 9th Jason Aldean http://www.wichitathunder.com/
Midwest Baconfest:
Perhaps the most anticipated event of March occurs on the 28th---the Midwest Baconfest. Hosted at Hartman Arena with several local radio stations, the event is set to provide plenty of pork for local bacon enthusiasts. The event was inspired by similar successful festivals in other states and includes a variety of contests and games, as well as bacon from local vendors. Attendees will have the opportunity to compete for the title of Bacon King and Queen, enter a bacon eating contest, or win a year’s worth of bacon and cash. Bacon-themed merchandise and live music will also be provided at the event. Tickets are on sale now and are $25 before March 28 but will be available for purchase at Baconfest for $35. A portion of the money made will go to benefit the American Legion Riders Post 81. stories by graceBALL & carlyFLAKE
GIVE KCAB SPRING BREAK 2015: MARCH 16-20 » Hands-on volunteer projects for teens. » Painting, landscaping, crafts with kids & more. » Free t-shirt when you sign up. » Great for your college application. We’ll even track your hours and give you a report.
SIGN UP: UNITEDWAYPLAINS.ORG/SPRINGBREAK QUESTIONS? CALL 2-1-1
NEWS feb. 27, 2015
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“The biggest difference between Andover and Collegiate is definitely variety of people, classes and activities.�
-Junior Hanna Watson
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FEATURE
feb. 27, 2015
Private >>to > Public
Student reflects on transfer of schools
Hanna Watson may be a proud AHS Trojan, but Spartan blood still runs through her veins. The junior attended Wichita Collegiate until her sophomore year, when her family decided to transfer their two youngest children to Andover. “My family decided that public schooling for my brother and I would be less of a financial burden when my mother stopped teaching at collegiate,” Watson said. Attending a 5A public school may seem like nothing compared to larger, 6A schools, but it was a drastic change of scenery for Watson. First day jitters succumbed her dreams and made for a nervous new student. “Before I started school here, I expected to get lost in the plethora of people, both figuratively and literally. I didn’t think I’d be able to find friends. I thought a big public school would be a lot different than the private schools I was used to,” Watson said. Although the changes were unfamiliar, her first day really picked up after meeting, then sophomore, Lyndsay Goodman. “On the first day of school, Lyndsay Goodman came to the table where I was eating alone, asked for my name and proclaimed immediate friendship. Suddenly, loneliness didn’t seem so inevitable in such a big pond,” Watson said. Watson believed from then on out, it was ‘easier to meet people and be social because the population [wasn’t] so homogeneous’. “I try to love everyone, but the difference between AHS and [Collegiate] is that I don’t have to hangout with everyone. I feel like my friends here have chosen me and I haven’t been thrust upon them,” Watson said. Not only do social circles change when moving to a larger school; academic and extracurricular activities can evolve as well. “At Collegiate, the play and musical were completely separate. The drama class that did the play was small and accepting but the musicals were for the ‘popular’ kids. I wasn’t one of them. That, along with the racial indecency embedded in a private school, funded an avoiding integration definitely prevented me even being considered for major roles of any sort. [At AHS, there is color blind casting] and I love it! I’m very accepted in our Theatre Department and it’s great,” Watson said. Watson plans on graduating from Andover High School and could not be more grateful for the experience attending a large, public school has taught her. “I love that I go to AHS. I think it’s a really good balance between big and social, obscurity and recognition. I’m pretty dang proud to be a Trojan,” Watson said.
–maddieMARTINEZ FEATURE feb. 27, 2015
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Theatre Feature
Students talk about Ms. Koehn’s impact on their high school theatre career.
Theatre (see Theater): collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience
Top to bottom: Hanna Watson (Junior) Teva Spencer (Junior) Nick Roux (Senior) Ms. Koehn (Teacher)
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Feature feb. 27, 2015
Sarah Koehn, Andover high school theatre teacher, walks onto stage with a sort of confidence that can only be gained by years of undeniable experience. As she introduces herself and the students that will soon be inhabiting the stage behind her, a mental and emotional weight is lifted from her shoulders. After weeks of rehearsing, building, painting, sewing, memorizing, laughing and a few tears, it was now the trivial make or break moment. The audience applauds as her formal introduction comes to an end. She looks for a moment into the sea of people and mentally casts a ‘break a leg’ to the cast and crew before the grand drapes open. The 11 year running AHS theatre instructor developed a love for the arts at a young age. “My mom always took us to do theatrical things. She would take us to Music Theatre of Wichita [and different] touring productions. We would go to Branson for vacation and go watch shows. She very much made it a point to make sure we had diverse cultural experiences. My mother influenced my love for the arts,” Koehn said. As a 1999 graduate from Halstead High School in Halstead, Kansas, Koehn attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas to get her degree in Theatre and Communications. “I came to education because it was a way to do theatre... at the very, very strong urging of my academic instructor. That being said, I very much enjoy the education aspect as well,” Koehn said. Her first AHS production was “Once Upon a Mattress”. “It’s a musical interpretation of The Princess and the Pea. It’s still one of my favorite shows,” Koehn said. According to Koehn, the first-show encounter was a surprising but anticipated success. “That show went way better than it deserved to because I had no idea what I was doing as a first time musical director. There was a whole lot of dumb luck and a ton of parent volunteer support. [On the other hand, the] second musical that I ever directed here was a hot mess,” Koehn said. Koehn’s directing and teaching style has changed as do many things with experience.
“Believe it or not, I’ve gotten calmer. I’ve learned to set more expectations up front which is why when you try out for me you have to sign a four page long contract,” Koehn said. Eleven years of teaching has put a plethora of students in her classroom. Many of these students have continued participating in theatre, while few went on to become leaders of Andover High School’s Thespian Troupe #3540. These young leaders of the troupe devote much of their time to managing the Thespian Troupe and community projects that AHS theatre members take part in, such as Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat. This drive collects non-perishable food items for the Wichita Food Bank. Just this year, the troupe contributed just under 10,000 pounds, along with other high schools in the area, to the bank. The leadership positions are by self-nomination only, and all previously inducted Thespians have the opportunity. “[I’m the clerk.] I enjoy this position a lot. My main responsibility is creating the Honor Troupe book that is presented at Thespian Conference. Other than that, the officers basically all work together,” junior, Hanna Watson, said. Hanna Watson has attended Andover High School since her sophomore year, and has been an active member of the Theatre Department since. “There’s a certain rush of adrenaline that I get from being on stage. Within this department, it’s the people I’ve fallen in love with; the camaraderie,” Watson said. Koehn has created a sought after environment for her students if almost by accident. The constant support and challenges she presents to her students push them to be their best at every possible moment. “I’ll never let go of my dreams because she told me I can make it,” Watson said. After 11 years, Koehn does not regret teaching older students. “I really love high schoolers. The world hasn’t ruined them yet. They’re funny; they’re interesting,” Koehn said. All in all, Koehn has built a steady ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ ideal. She hopes ‘that if nothing else, they learn to think about things’. “I hope they know that I actually do like them and think that they’re worthwhile people. I know that’s a serious Miss America answer but it’s the truth.”
-maddieMARTINEZ
Future Thespians.......... Why do you enjoy theatre?
“I get to be someone I’m not.” -Johnny Wagner
“I’ve been “I just love doing theatre the since I was two people.” year old, and it’s -Nick Linhardt something I really enjoy.” -Isabelle Yardanan
“We all grow to become a family throughout the shows. If I ever need anything they will be there for me.” -Emily Robinson FEATURE Feb. 27, 2015
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The Forgotten Art
Shops provides outlet for students interested in technical field Applied Technology and Automotive Technology classes encourage students to apply themselves in an active way, by developing skills to create and build. Students have the opportunity to take these classes in high school, as they are offered as electives. Mark Cross has been teaching for 20 years and currently teaches Architectural Drafting, Mechanical Drafting, Intro to Woods, and Cabinet Making and Design. Cross discovered his interest in this field of study after he began taking shop classes in high school, then attended Pittsburg State University to become a teacher. He has been a teacher at Andover since graduating college. “Getting the job was a very quick process,” Cross said. “I was called on a Sunday, interviewed on a Tuesday, and hired that Thursday.” The applied technology department has changed since Cross first began. For instance, there used to be more construction classes that are no longer available for students. Also, some activities are no longer offered during existing classes. “Many years ago, the students did a project where they made aluminum, but it became too dangerous,” Cross said. Shop classes allow students a chance for a more active education, opposed to the traditional academic setting. “By taking classes in this department, stu-
dents receive many job opportunities.” Cross said. “Many of my students attend technical colleges after high school.” Some technical college options include Lincoln College of Technology, Tulsa Welding School, Universal Technical Institute, Washburn Institute of Technology, Coffeyville Technical School, and Wichita Area Technical College. Most technical colleges offer programs of study where students only attend for 18 months before following their career paths. According to education.com, when students do manual work and see a finished product from their efforts, it can bring a sense of satisfaction unlike achieving on a regular school assignment. Shop classes teach students to become more self-reliant individuals and learn the value persistence. Lee Garrett has been teaching at Andover for four years and currently teaches Introduction to Transportation and Automotive Technology I and II. Garrett used to run automotive businesses, but struggled to find qualified employees. He decided to do something to help the situation of uneducated mechanics, and was inspired to become an instructor. He believes every student should be taking at least the intro class because eventually once they live on their own they should know what to do for their vehicles. “The reason to take these classes is because every person in the school is going to own and maintain a car. It is good to learn how to take care of it,” Garrett said. “You will be better at making educated decisions about choosing a car, you can work on your own vehicle, and know enough to not get ripped off at repair shops.” All of the automotive classes build on each other. The curriculum begins with the introduction class if someone wants to know the basics, and advances to higher level classes for students interested in working in the industry. The cars provided as work for the classes are often cars from students and teachers, or donated from places like General Motors or other companies. Safety precautions are followed for both shop and auto classes. Students are trained in how to deal with emergency situations and must wear proper attire (no opentoed shoes, loose clothing, etc). It is also required to wear safety glasses at all times. Senior Luke Lindemann has taken mechanical drafting classes, auto classes, and woodshop classes. “It helps my mind to see how things work and understand the different mechanical features,” Lindemann said. “And learning to think this way will be helpful because I want to become an engineer.” Lindemann says that all of the classes are different, so there is something for everyone to try. “It is important to offer technical classes in high school because it allows students to be more rounded and work on hands-on projects,” Lindemann said.
-brittianyCLARK
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FEATURE FEB. 27, 2015
WOODS 101 1
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How to Make a Door Stop:
1 Gather materials: a block of wood, a pencil, a ruler, safety goggles, saw and sandpaper. 2 Draw out the measurements on the block of wood for the desired height of the door stop. 3 Use the electric saw to cut along the penciled line. 4 Run through the sander machine to smooth the edges. 5 Use pencil and ruler to measure out the angle of the doors stop. 6 Use the band saw to cut along the diagonal line. 7 Use a variety of sandpapers to smooth out the final surface.
Q &A
What is the most beneficial part, to you, about being enrolled in a shops class?
Kellie Rieg-Seal, Senior
A:
“Being able to create things and have a gateway to a more interesting job choice than through college.”
Sydney Brown, Freshman
Josh Phippen, Senior
A:
“You get to learn skills that you can use throughout life.”
A:
“You get to learn about the field of engineering which I find interesting.”
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FEATURE FEB. 27, 2015
A Question of Over Prescription Staffer reflects on over medication in the United States
>> haleyROWE
It is no secret that we live in a nation full of pill-poppers. We take pills for our blood pressure. We take pills for our headaches. We take pills to make us fall asleep, and we take pills to wake us up again. We know they can be bad, we know they can be addictive, and we know a lot of money is made off of them. Yet we choose to ignore this and get riled up about Colorado instead. Over-prescription is a major issue in this country that cannot continue to be ignored. Seventy percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug, with over 50 percent of us taking two or more, according to Mayo Clinic’s most recent study. Although I have always been sketched out by “Big Pharma”, I have to admit I was unpleasantly surprised to learn that on average, pharmaceutical companies spend about $4 billion marketing to consumers, versus the $24 billion they spend marketing to health care providers, also known as the doctors prescribing you this medication. In an analysis done last year by FiercePharma, it was claimed that nine out of the top ten drug companies spent more on marketing than they did on the research and development of the drugs themselves. Not a very comforting thought, is it? So how do these companies market their drugs to physicians? They do this through pharmaceutical representatives. Pharmaceutical representatives typically visit clinics or contact doctors, to “educate” them on a company’s drug, primarily through “informational meals.” When researching qualifications to become a pharmaceutical representative, I found that all of the major companies consider having a business degree or sales experience as essential, while very few representatives are required to have a medical--or even scientific--background. Furthermore, when patients go to their local Walgreen’s to fill a prescription, that information is then sold to pharmaceutical companies. This way they can see which doctors are providing what medications to patients, and therefore know which drugs to push. Even if doctors choose not to see these representatives, there are ways around this. Companies can still pay certain doctors to hold meetings or seminars, in which they give speeches backing these drugs…to a room full of other doctors. Fortunately for us, a clause in the Affordable Care Act makes it possible for citizens to access all perks given to their doctors by pharmaceu-
editorial policy
The Trojan Bluestreak exists to inform, persuade and entertain its readers concerning topics of importance. The newspaper recognizes all rights and responsibilities under the First Amendment. The Bluestreak operates as a public forum for student expression and the staff takes full responsibility for newspaper content and its ramifications. The Trojan Bluestreak will not publish material considered to be legally unprotected speech, libel, obscenity copyright infringement,unwarranted invasion of privacy or material that could disrupt the educational environment. The Bluestreak is a CSPA Gold Medalist and KSPA All-Kansas honor recipient.
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OPINION feb. 27, 2015
VOTE
staff
BLUESTREAK
tical companies. You can do this through the website OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov by simply searching your doctor’s name. You will most likely find that your physicians partake in some “informational meals,” as I mentioned before, or “educational programs.” Nothing to be too alarmed about, but some terms to look out for may be excessive “promotional talks,” “consulting,” and “speaking fees.” Look up your doctor. Know who they are affiliated with. In the very least, it will give you peace of mind. If any of you have managed to get to this point in what may seem a boring and irrelevant article, you may be asking yourselves, “why does this affect me?” Over-prescription isn’t something that just hurts your grandparents, it is directly affecting teenagers of today. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 7 children are diagnosed with of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by the age of 18, with the most common treatments for this being Adderall and Ritalin. In 1990, 600,000 children were on medication for this disorder. Today’s number has climbed to a staggering 3.5 million. This baffles the scientific world, because majority of our leading scientists do not believe this is due to an epidemic. In an article published in 2013, The New York Times offered a possible explanation: “The American Psychiatric Association, which receives significant funding from drug companies, has gradually loosened the official criteria for the disorder to include common childhood behaviors like ‘makes careless mistakes’ or ‘often has trouble waiting his or her turn.’” Medical journals may also benefit. The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry had zero ads for ADHD in 1990-1993. In the past decade, however, the journal has increased to about 100 full-page advertisements per year. Since 2000, the Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly instructed almost all major drug companies to withdraw many ads for being “false and misleading.” This is not to say that some diagnosed with ADHD do not benefit or do not need medication to improve their quality of life and ensure their success, because this is true for many, and for many it is a serious disorder. But we are seeing a trend here. When these medications are regulated in the same class as morphine and oxycodone because of their potential for abuse and addiction, we have to start asking more questions. Especially when there is money to be made.
How many of you are prescribed long-term medication?
NO... 18 Staffers YES... 6 Staffers
The Bluestreak Oscars
Staffers award “Oscars� according to catagories from recent awards ceremony
Actress --in a leading role...
Best Picture...
Grace Ball
Emi Hayashi Actor-in a leading role...
Actress-in a supporting role...
Stuart Jenkins All Around Talent...
Emma Starks Visual Effects...
Elizabeth Hartley
Carly Flake Writing--
Directing...
Emily Stybr
Meg Plank Editing...
Design...
Madi Hearne
Megan Curry
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Opinion Feb. 27. 2015
‘That Party Last Night’ Andover students reflect on underage drinking and high school partying
Due to privacy constraints, students chose to remain anonymous in this story.
For most students in high school, weeknights consist of piles and piles of homework but on weekends many students only care about is who is having the best party. According to intheknowzone.com, 88 percent of high school seniors have tried alcohol at least once. The survey we conducted as a staff matched those results almost perfectly. Students have various ways of acquiring their alcohol, whether it is from a parent or a friend with a fake I.D. Some students are even able to go into a liquor store and not be carded. “I go to the same liquor store every time and never get carded. I know the owners pretty well and they know I’m not 21,” Anonymous A said. Parents have many different views on the matter but it is more common now that a student’s parent knows exactly what their child is doing. “My mom knows completely. She is cool with it but she just tells me to be smart about what I do,” Anonymous A said. Spanish teacher Vicki Hadley thinks that parents still dislike partying as much as they did when she was in high school. “I think more parents know about it now and I think they care but it’s harder,” Hadley said. Hadley also revealed that she knows more than students think she does. While some students think they are oblivious to it all, they actually do care. “If I hear something that disturbs me I will tell the counselor. I don’t just let things slide,” Hadley said. Though she may be troubled by students’ “partying” behavior, she does not judge them. “I become more concerned about them. I don’t look down on them,” Hadley said. Living in a small town, it is not all that hard to hear about a party. All it takes is one person who lets it slip and the entire school knows about it.
“Everybody talks about it at school. It is hard sometimes because when everyone knows then the administration can find out about it,” Anonymous B said. Though parties do get busted from time to time, it does not scare people off. “Kids rarely get into serious trouble. The cops will usually just say to go home,” Anonymous A said. When it comes to drinking and driving, students usually make good choices. When someone is too intoxicated to drive then they typically find someone who is sober to give them a ride home. “Drinking and driving is one of the stupidest things anyone could ever do,” Anonymous B said. As kids enter high school they are exposed to a whole new environment. Some freshmen join the party scene like many of the upperclassmen but some choose to stay away from it. “I had an older sister so I heard about high school parties occasionally but not really in detail,” Anonymous C said. Freshmen were included in the school-wide survey, which showed that many of them have already attended a party in their very first year of high school. “I was definitely surprised by the freshmen that party. I thought that mainly only upperclassmen did it,” Anonymous C said. Anonymous C also revealed that partying has ruined friendships. “They came into high school thinking that [freshmen] are more mature than they really are. I have had a lot of friends who have made decisions because of partying and alcohol and I don’t want to be around that kind of stuff,” Anonymous C said. Despite the consequences, students continue to party and rebel. “I recognize the risks I’m taking when I go to parties and participate in the ‘risky behaviors’ teenagers are warned about. It’s hard to stay away from that scene when it’s so prominent in our school lately,” Anonymous D said.
-ashliELLERMAN
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In-Depth feb. 27, 2015
Out of a survey of 70 random students
}
80% of students at AHS Have attended a party
Too Much, Too Soon?
}
50% of Students get alcohol from someone over 21 or with a fake ID
44% of Students Say parents are not at parties they attend 49% of Students say they would throw a party if their parents were away
55% of 11 12 1 2 Students Show up 10 3 to a party after 9 4 9, but before 11 8 7 6 5 IN-DEPTH Feb. 27, 2015
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Other Schools’ Partying Sterotypes Out of a survey of 70 random students
“Fun” & “Crazy”
Kapaun...
Andover Central ...
Wichita Schools...
{
{
“Ghetto” & “different”
Maize schools... “Max Kubik” & “Big”
Derby...
“Scary” & “Trash”
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IN-DEPTH feb. 27, 2015
“Huge” & “insane”
{
Rose Hill... “RedNeck” & “Bonfires”
Collegiate ...
“Preppy” & “Classy”
{
Andale...
“Lame” & “Hicks”
{
“sloppy” & “Boring”
{
{
{
Andover...
Confessions of a Teenage Burnout
Guest columnist discusses the highs and lows of underage drinking and high school partying Some say teen drinking and drug use is a societal evil, a gamble. Others believe experimentation is a normal part of adolescence. Me? I would hold that it falls somewhere down the middle. To help illustrate this, I will briefly summarize my own personal experience as a party girl. It started out innocently. I drank once or twice a month. I had dabbled in pot. A pill or two there. In my opinion, these were no extremes. In two years, it morphed into something much darker. At 16, I had become a functioning alcoholic, who was very fond of Xanax. I was high at home, I was high at work, and I was high at school. How my parents, employers, and teachers did not notice, I will never know. It was not long before I started to question the world of substances, and the people in it. This was not just in the moments when I was hugging the toilet seat on a morning after, or when I was near tears because I had failed to get ahold of my pill connection. It was when I would be having fun at a party, and all of a sudden time would stop, because I was not sure if I belonged there.
Then one day I woke up and concluded that the party life was not for me. I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and never looked back. I found my purpose, and followed through. Why I was able to do that remains a mystery to me. Then I started to look at the kids who I knew had “experimented� themselves. I saw the boy who probably was not going to graduate, with a glazed over look in his eyes that I knew all too well. I saw the girl who had performed the best keg stand I had ever witnessed get into the school of her dreams. Then there were the ones who had drank and smoked the average amount, who got into average schools, and who would go on to live average lives. What was the difference between these people? What was the difference between these people and myself? Why did some prosper, some fall to the wayside, and some emerge unchanged? Was it a game of chance? Was it some secret will that lived within some, that was absent within others? Or was it survival of the fittest? The one thing left for me to ask is, do you want to find out the answer to these questions?
IN-DEPTH feb. 27, 2015
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Getting Ink’d
The art of tattooing has inspired underage students to express themselves through the markings on their bodies. In the state of Kansas, the legal age of consent for tattoos and body piercings is 18. This did not deter underage students from going ahead with their tattoo plans. Inspired by his father’s similar tattoo, sophomore Will Stewart tattooed a cross on his left arm, costing him $200 from his friend Primo. “I’d been planning this tattoo since about 8th grade,” Stewart said. However, being only 14 at the time, Stewart’s mother refused to allow the permanent ink on her son’s arm. “She told me I couldn’t get it or she’d kick me out,” Stewart said, “so I had to wait.” Stewart managed to hide it from his mother for a few days, but eventually she found out and was upset while his father did not mind because it followed in his steps. Despite also being 16 years old, sophomore Reagan Vierthaler has his left arm tattooed. The tattoo depicts a family tree containing the words “family”, “Vierthaler”, and “God” written in Hebrew. Vierthaler wanted the tattoo to relate back to his faith. “Primo, the same guy who tattooed Will, said he’d do it for $300 since it would take three hours,” said Vierthaler. Vierthaler plans to eventually add to his tattoo with a banner wrapped around his arm and a scripture verse. “I love tattoos and the art behind it is beautiful,” Vierthaler said. At 18, Vierthaler will complete the tattoo with a sleeve. As of right now, his mother will not let him tattoo anything below the elbow. “If this was something that wasn’t important to me,” Vier-
Will Stewart
$180 Pain: 5 2 hours @ Primo (friend who does tattoos)
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IN-DEPTH FEB. 27, 2015
thaler said, “then I’d probably regret it.” Unlike Vierthaler, in a spur-of-the-moment decision, senior Hannah Karasiuk got a tattoo with her best friend before moving from Texas. “I knew I wanted one and the opportunity was there,” said Karasiuk, “so I took it.” Being under 18 at the time, Karasiuk has “f*** it” inside of her bottom lip tattooed, hidden from her parents. “My parents found out because they stalk me online and found a picture I was tagged in,” Karasiuk said. “They were mostly mad that I was underage and because it was a cuss word.” At only $60 for the first time, Karasiuk receives free retouches on the tattoo if she goes back to the same artist in Texas. “I don’t have any regret because of where it’s at and how it fades so quickly,” Karasiuk said. Sharing a similar opinion about regret, freshman Jaden Hunter currently has her eyebrow and navel pierced, as well as her ears gauged. First piercing her eyebrow at 13, Hunter used her aunt as parental consent during a trip to Washington. “When I came back and my dad saw me, he was not very happy about it, but still let me keep the piercing,” Hunter said. Hunter went to the Elektrik Chair to get her belly button pierced, but gauged her own ears. “My only consequences are how much my ears hurt while I’m gauging them,” Hunter said. Once Hunter is 16, she will be allowed to also get a tattoo on her shoulder of an anchor with the phrase “refuse to sink”. In order to get her tattoo, Hunter must take out her gauges, which she views as an “understandable condition”. “When I can do what I want with my own body, I feel more comfortable in it,” Hunter said.
-gloriaMARES
Coen Rasmussen Reagan Vierthaler $450 Pain: 5 2.5 hours @ Draygon Tattoo
$300 Pain: 8 3 hours @ Primo (friend who does tattoos)
Piercing Pain Pyramid Students rate their piercing pain 0- lowest 10- highest
Paige Schlitter $250 (8 piercings total) Most painful: 0 Location: Elektrik Chair/ Self-done
Hannah Karasiuk $400 Most painful: 7 Location: Tattoo Parlors
Lucy Anderson $20(8 piercings total) Most painful: 4 Location: Self-done
Jaden Hunter $60 Pain: 3 Location: Unknown
Ashlynn Stuart $200 (6 piercings total) Most painful: 2 Location: Self-done
IN-DEPTH FEB 27, 2015
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lacrosse
Students participate in the expansion of uncommon sport Living in the midwest, the dead center of America, Kansans are not always exposed to things coastal inhabitants or other areas of the country’s people are, so having organized teams for a sport such as lacrosse is, well, sort of a big deal. Lacrosse is, put simply, a full-contact sport played with a small rubber ball and long-handled ‘lacrosse stick.’ Varieties of games much like lacrosse, that is, indigenous stickball games, were documented as early as the 1500s, played in Native American tribes and some Plains Indians communities. Lacrosse is one of the oldest cataloged team sports in North America’s entirety. European immigrants modified and recorded the earliest known matches. The name is believed to have derived from the French term for field hockey: e jeu de la crosse. French Jesuits who came across the sport condemned it as it encouraged violence and gambling, major habits their religious sought to resolve. As a whole, lacrosse has historically been a predominately male sport, but more women’s teams are springing up every season; however, few girls in the Wichita area seem to take the opportunity. As high-schoolers, many of the guys around Andover have been playing five years or more, getting into the game in middle school and continuing on if they found it enjoyable. As with all things, some are more serious than others. “Some friends said I should play [lacrosse] and I was like ‘eh okay’ and gave it a shot,” senior Andrew Lindhart said. Given that there are few teams in the area, local lacrosse teams sometimes travel several hours to play in tournaments, or even for a single game. “I’ve been playing for about five years and the furthest I’ve gone is either Republic, Missouri or Lincoln, Nebraska,” junior John Grommet said. Both cities are around a four-hour drive from Wichita. Many boys from the same team and their parents will road trip to their game destination together. Players have four positions to choose from including midfield, attack, defense, and goalie. Outdoor games consists of ten players per team including goalies on the field at a time. “Midfielders can run anywhere they want on the field and play both defense and offense. Attack can only go to the midfield line, they play offense. Defense can only go to the midfield line unless a midfielder stays behind the line with the other defenders on his team; it’s basically like a swap, but then the midfielder has to stay on that side until the defender comes back to that side,” junior Reid Linot said. There are two types of seasons of lacrosse, indoor and outdoor. Indoor season begins at the beginning of the year and runs through winter when it is simply too cold for players to safely participate outdoors. Wichita’s current outdoor season will run March through May. The most prominent teams in the local area are Wichita Renegades and Andover Vipers. Both teams participate in the
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Sports Feb. 27, 2015
indoor as well as outdoor leagues. “Indoor is every Sunday during the winter and outdoor starts in the spring 4 days a week with games on the weekend,” senior Luke Lindemann said. Organizations have been founded to ensure that the integrity of the game has remained intact and the game’s intentions stay moral. Players are taught respect and sportsmanship, cheering on other teams, refs and fans at the end of every game. U.S. Lacrosse, “the national governing body of lacrosse,” requires all team members to be a member of their association. According to uslacrosse.org, “US Lacrosse provides a standardized lacrosse curriculum for physical education programs, as well as standardized certification and training programs for coaches and officials.” The US Lacrosse Code of Conduct states, “Players, coaches, officials, parents and spectators are to conduct themselves in a manner that ‘Honors the Game’ and demonstrates respect to other players, coaches, officials, parents, spectators and fans. In becoming a member of the lacrosse community an individual assumes certain obligations and responsibilities to the game of lacrosse and its participants.” Everybody plays for different reasons, whether it is Grommet for the skill fast-pace or Linot for the “‘bros’ [he] makes.” “Feeling like a jedi with a lightsaber is my favorite part, I think,” Lindhart said. Though rules have been modified heavily and regulations have been established throughout the years, lacrosse has stayed a fast-paced contact sport that encourages teamwork and physical as well as mental skill.
-meganCURRY
courtesy photos
lacrosse by the numbers National Lacrosse League established in
1987 and in 2001 Professional Field
Statistics are based off of the 2012 lacrosse study uslacrosse.org
Lacrosse League was established
4
positions
midfield, attack, defense, goalie
Gender percentage by league
Male Female high school
college
professional
59% 41% 60% 40% 100% 0%
Chicks with Sticks featuring junior Julia Corrieri
Q. A.
What is your favorite thing about playing lacrosse? I enjoy being apart of a team and getting to do something fun with all of my friends.
How is lacrosse different where you are from compared to how it is here?
Q. A. Q.
It is a lot more popular in Virginia and there are a lot more teams and all of my friends played with me and here is it less popular and there is only one team and I do not know as many people who play.
What position do you play?
A.
I play defense
Sports Feb. 27, 2015
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into
the
hall FAme of
Andover High School inducts the fifth member of the athletic hall of fame Andover High School inducted Pam Palmer into the Trojans Athletic Hall of Fame earlier this month, making her the fifth member in the historic class. A member of the class of 1980 Salutatorian, Palmer was a three-sport athlete in Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field. With all of the accomplishments that Palmer achieved at AHS, the Hall of Fame inductee decision became relatively easy. “[Pam] was a good representative of what we are looking for at AHS and was very well rounded and impactful in three sports,” said Brent Riedy, Athletic Director. Palmer started her athletic career in 1976. She was a member of the Mid-America League All-League team in 1977 and 1978 in volleyball and in basketball. Along with receiving All-State Honorable Mention in basketball that year, Palmer was a state participant for the Discus Throw in Track and Field. Her senior year was the 2015 AHS Hall of Fame inductee’s most successful year. Repeating as an All-League member in volleyball, Palmer helped lead the Lady Trojans to their first ever State Basketball appearance in 1980. Averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists her senior year; Palmer was a member of the 4All-State Team in 1980 as well as a member of the Mid-Kansas All Star Basketball Classic game.
Pam Palmer was inducted into Andover’s athletic hall of fame on Friday, February 13. Palmer played volleyball, basketball, and track and holds the school record for women’s discus. “It’s nice to be recognized for events that happened a long time ago,” Palmer said. Photo by megPLANK
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Sports feb. 27, 2015
Palmer returned to the State Track and Field meet for the Discus Throw and received 4th place at state, setting the school record throwing 122 feet. With all that she achieved at Andover, Palmer said being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the greatest accomplishment. “It’s nice to be recognized for events that happened a long time ago,” Palmer said. Not only does the induction reflect on a great athlete’s past, it provides motivation for Andover’s athletes today. Palmer’s induction has inspired athletes, like senior Riley Messina, to achieve high-level goals just like Palmer did 35 years ago. “It’s always nice to aspire to achieve something to that caliber, ultimately making a name for yourself,” Messina said. Palmer is now a Physical Therapist in Wichita and owns and operates Palmer Physical Therapy for Women. Palmer still resides in Andover and continues to cherish the memories and achievements she accomplished at Andover High School. She said that it is what she learned through athletics at AHS that has made her the successful person she is today. “Athletics are so much more than being on the court,” Palmer said. “Learning to achieve goals has helped me become the person I am today.” -grantCOHEN
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
Q&A
Q: with Pam Palmer A: Q: Q: A: A: Q: Q: A: A: What was your favorite sport that you played in high school? Basketball because my skills were better in basketball. I played basketball longer before entering high school and I loved the athleticness that was involved in basketball.
What was the most honorable part of being inducted into Andover’s athletic hall of fame?
I think it’s just people recognizing and appreciating past efforts. It’s such a long time ago and it’s nice for everyone to remember what happened in the 70’s and 80’s.
What was your favorite memory from basketball season?
Leading our team to the first ever state tournament for the Lady Trojans. What do you think your greatest accomplisment was in high school?
Probably that I was valedictorian. I was proud to be a student-athlete with good grades. Did your love for sports in high school influence your career choice?
Absolutely. I loved the athleticness of the body and the bodies of sports and I knew I wanted to go into the medical field because of my love for sports and medicine. When you participate in sports you gain leadership and teamwork skills that you take onto your career, as well as a good work ethic.
Sports feb. 27, 2015
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Pa sk e y al lo r M
yl Ba e es Re
ui
nl
in
Pa
re d
es
“bae, literally, turnt”
iff
Sa
lly
Jia
ng
n n n n n
“Bro, he’s killin it! Swole AF!”
Tre v
or
Ba
te m
“tbh, bae, turnt”
an
Q
Teenage “Slang”
Words and phrases commonly heard around AHS that you most likely would not see in a dictionary. Students were asked to use three words from the list at the right and make a sentence or choose the 3 most commonly heard.
“mug, rt, salty”
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Pop Culture FEB. 27, 2015
“bae is salty af”
turnt n hype n af n tbt (even when it’s not thursday) n Grind n SwolL n Doe n I can’t even/I can’t n killin’ it n fam n bro/dude n steezy n chill no/chill n on fleek n bae n literally (not literal) n RT n geeked n Fratagonia n tbh n frat n squad n salty n savage n lowkey n aye n ball hard n no flex zone n shots fired n blessed n yeet n cutSZN n GOAT nfire n ish n hella n gucci n mug n I hate myself n cop Word of the month: YEET
Emma’sCorner
Emma’s Corner is a new opinion column where you can find the latest and great trends and news by sophomore Emma Starks.
My top 4 selfies:
Selfie stick reveiw:
Recently I picked up the newest gadget, The Selfie Stick. The Selfie Stick is a 10 foot stick where you place your phone in to take better selfies. It includes a bluetooth remote but unfortunatly nothing to beutify your appearance. I would give this item a 4 out of 5 filters.
Ps. For the all haters hating on my corner please stop drawing things on me.
pop culture FEb. 27, 2015
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OUT Parking side the lines Students park outside lines in school parking lot
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Pop culture Feb. 27, 2015
Photos by: Emi Hayashi
Fun Under the Neon Lights
3.
Students attend Homecoming Neon Night dance
4. 1. Junior Gili Tamir flips her hair while dancing. 2. Senior Andrew Linhardt sings along to the music. 3. Sophomore Jacob Brown claps his hands with the music. 4. Freshmen Kaitlyn Cairns and Hannah Showalter get down on neon night. 5. Seniors Austin Brown and Kristen Graves dance together as homecoming queen and king.
Photos by: Elise Lindemann, Reilly Peare
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5.
2.
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pop culture Feb. 27, 2015
Trojan Spotlight Students Succeed in Academic Extracurricular Activities
Thespian Conference
All-State Band
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Feature feb. 27, 2015
The overall Andover High School Thespian Troupe won the Gold Honor Troupe Award. Individually, Junior Hanna Watson and Senior Kellie Rieg recieved a Superior rating for their Duet Musical Theatre Performance. Watson also won the Kansas Playworks Competition and had her play, “Earl Grey,� performed at the January conference.
The Qualifiers for AllState Band (left to right) are Asia Haque, 1st chair clarinet; Nate Bergman, bass clarinet; Conor Guthridge, clarinet; Conan Alexander, trumpet; and Chase Kaufman, euphonium. Not picture is Colin Wreath, 1st chair trombone. The event is hosted by the Kansas Music Educators Association, and will be held on Feb 28 at Century II. photo by emaHAYS
State Forensics Kenon Brinkley qualified in Original Oration and Impromptu Speaking. Kyle Richardson qualified in Original Oration. Soham Dasgupta qualified in Informative Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Those three are pictured at right. Not pictured is Caelan Dean, who qualified in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Other forensics students are expected to continue to qualify on into the spring.
Scholastic Art Show [
]
on display at the Wichita Center for the Arts
1.
3.
2.
1. Rachel Rojas recieved an Honorable Mention for her sketch of a New Balance shoe. 2. Taylor Knight recieved an Honorable Mention for her sculpture. 3. Senior Lauren Reynolds recieved a 1 Gold Key rating for her ceramic tea set. Other placers: Reganne Bundy (1 Gold Key, 4 Silver Keys), Peyton Ramsett (1 Silver Key, 2 Honorable Mentions), Natalie Anderson (2 Honorable Mentions), Elise Lindemann (Honorable Mention), Connor Hernandez (Honorable Mention), Kelsey Rawcliffe (Honorable Mention) feature feb. 27, 2015
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reeseBAYLIFF
Photojournalism Class:
rachelROOT cooperDEGNER
becTIMMERMEYER annabelleWILLIAMS
hannahSHOWALTER
The Year in Pictures
benJOHNSEN mackenzieMARTINE
lucyANDERSON kyliePORTER
michaelFLORES
Students of Andover share their favorite jokes
Which side of the cat has the most fur? The outside! – Nic Ramirez
[
[
Just Joking Around
Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road? Because he didn’t have the guts! – Bradley Saville
What did the rock say to the shy little pebble? You should be boulder. – Matthew Taylor
Why can’t you hear it when a pterodactyl goes to the bathroom? Because the p is silent. – MacKenzie Martine
Your momma - Garret Dorf
My life. – Rebekah Martin
What did one hat say to the other hat? You stay here, I’ll go on a head – Connor Hawkins
A Robert Bundy walks into Cabelas… - Robert Bundy
Why won’t a lifeguard save a drowning hippie? He’s too far out. – Camryn Messmore
Why was 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9. – Regan Mousley
What do you call a nun in a wheelchair? Virgin mobile. – Caroline Schwab and Hannah Olson
What is Miley Cyrus’s favorite lunch meat? Twerky –Lily Farha
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back cover Feb. 27, 2015