The Harbinger: Issue 4 2010-2011

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ISSUE 4 SHAWNEE MISSION EAST PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS OCT. 18, 2010 SMEHARBINGER.NET

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SEPARATED AT BIRTH

recent studies show connection between age and success in sports, academics

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etting a driver’s license, being able to vote, drinking legally, getting a tattoo: these are all rites of passage that students eagerly wait for. But some watch time pass by as friends and classmates get these privileges. These are the students who have what are considered late birthdays in comparison to their classmates.

However, there’s more significance to birth date than the month you get handed your first set of car keys. Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” and a

Staffer explains why it’s dumb not to cheat in school

pg.p.29

Harbinger analysis of AP test scores are showing more of a connection between age and success in both academics and sports.

In some cases, age can affect academic performance. A recent Harbinger analysis of 2010 junior AP scores showed that while the rules don’t apply to everyone, there is a significant downward trend in scores as birthdays get later and later. This advantage is primarily seen within

New teacher Greg Smith learns to cope with the death of his daughter

p. 14

ToniAguiar

athletics, as shown in Malcom Gladwell’s book “Outliers.” Gladwell has written “The Tipping Point” and “Blink” and is also one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” According to Gladwell’s book, professional Canadian hockey players have birthdays overwhelmingly in January and February. Why? Because the cutoff date for club hockey is January 1, making these players the older, bigger and more experienced of the members on their team.

Sophomores begin biweekly “Youngstarz” Hip-Hop club

continued on page 16-17

p. 19

Photos from girls’ gymnastics at SM South Quad meet

p. 23

-History teacher

You just don’t expect to bury your children. It’s just something you never want to go through.” Greg Smith

02

NEWS 10-18-10

ON THE WAY UP? A prominent magazine has proclaimed the end of the recession, but experts and students alike remain skeptical KevinSimpson

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all photos by GrantKendall

espite a report in a September edition of the Economist that proclaimed the conclusion of America’s longest economic recession since World War II, experts say that there is still a long way to go until financial stability is reached.

The report determined that the recession was over by recognizing a steady recovery from an economic trough that occurred in June 2009. Joshua Rosenbloom, a professor of economics at the University of Kansas, compared the official conclusion of this recession to that of the Great Depression. He said that while economists claimed the Depression only lasted from 1929 to 1933, most Americans didn’t truly feel a change until the beginning of World War II. “When you hit bottom and begin to go back up, you have ended the recession and you are technically in a period of recovery,” Rosenbloom said. “Does that correspond to a feeling that everything’s all better? No. In that sense, the economy is still suffering. A lot of this is truly about terminology.”

The lack of available jobs is apparent in the East community. Economics teacher Rebecca Murphy has seen an increase in the number of her former students that go to graduate school after college rather than joining the work force. Murphy said that this has made job competition even more fierce, because college graduates are forced to compete for the same jobs against students with even higher education.

The past two summers, junior Morgan Denton experienced this kind of competition firsthand. Denton applied to seven different businesses last summer, and wasn’t hired by any. This past summer, he applied to three more, and was hired at the new Peachwave frozen yogurt store.

“Last summer, none of the places I went to were hiring, whereas this year I looked for the hiring places,” Denton said. “Overall, it was probably harder [to get a job in this economic climate] because businesses didn’t want to hire more people.”

While Denton believes he was not hired last summer because he was so young, he also saw the benefits of his youth in two instances.

4

PLACES TEENS ARE WORKING senior Ariana Sherk

Dolce Peachwave

I think that the economy has not helped them hire teens because it is mostly a job for teens anyway.

junior Morgan Denton

I am pretty sure the economy helped the new store open, which is a reason they’re hiring more teens.

“[Two businesses] said they were hiring younger workers because of the economy and they didn’t want to pay people as much,” Denton said.

“They could pay younger workers less.”

Rosenbloom said he can potentially see situations like this playing out, especially with the trickle-down effect that has caused more and more adults to compete with kids for the same jobs. He said businesses are often forced to find a balance with the knowledge that they get what they pay for.

Senior Duncan Gibbs has found himself on the positive side of this balance. Gibbs has worked at Einstein Bros in Prairie Village for two years, and he thinks his employer is mindful of the difficulties teenagers are having in the job market.

“They do a really good job of hiring high school students,” Gibbs said. “They try to help out the community and probably have four or five kids at a time that are high school students.”

Despite efforts like the one made by Einstein Bros., Murphy said that unemployment is still above the typical five percent that one can expect at any given time. Donna Ginther, also a professor of economics at the University of Kansas, doesn’t expect that number to improve in the next year.

“Watch the unemployment numbers and job creation numbers” Ginther said. “Firms are profitable, but they’re not growing, so they’re not creating jobs. When you see jobs stabilize and start to improve, then you’re going to see the economy doing much better.”

Senior Vince Parsons, Gibbs’ co-worker at Einstein Bros., hopes to see the recovery continue and improve from its current jobless state.

“It would definitely make it a lot easier for a teen to get a job,” Parsons said. “Local businesses would probably be hurt most by the recession. They have less opportunities to hire since they’re not as big of a business. With the economy being better, they can branch out more.”

Rosenbloom said that one of the keys to economic growth will be changing a psychological cycle that is currently ongoing. Consumers are lacking confidence in their job security, which keeps them from spending money. This lack of spending then forces businesses to make cuts in staff and budget. Once this cycle is broken, consumers can feel more comfortable in keeping their jobs and spending money.

Murphy hopes that any growth within businesses can be combined with more employer-employee loyalty. She remembers not only the way her father was rewarded with raises and bonuses during prosperous times at Black and Veatch, but also the way the company stuck with him through difficult times. Murphy said she doesn’t see this kind of loyalty as often these days.

“We got on a cycle where companies started looking at workers as resources,” Murphy said. “At some point, we have to redevelop a little bit of that employee-employer loyalty to each other to work through the hard times.”

junior Sam Rider QUESTION:

do you think the economy has helped create more jobs for teens?

No, but TCBY has always traditionally hired teens so even in the state of the economy TCBY still hires teens.

junior Will Webber I believe the economic crisis has had a negative effect on teens getting jobs. There are many more unemployed adults that are having to take low level jobs, making it harder for teens to get those same jobs.

TCBY ACE

NEWS

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issue 4

1 Tissues 3

One of the most universal problems created by the new district budget cuts has been the issue of Kleenex. Every student who has come to school with a cold knows that Kleenex are not a “luxury” to a classroom; they are a necessity. Teachers have tackled this problem in a variety of ways. Some simply suggest bringing in a box, while others offer extra credit, which is technically not allowed since Kleenex are not one of the items on any of the class supply lists.

“I think it’s fine if kids bring some Kleenex in because they sure use a lot of it, but it can’t be attached to a grade,” English teacher Bill Boley said.

Despite the incentives for students to bring them in, most teachers end up running out of Kleenex

2Art Supplies 4

With all the supplies that the budget is responsible for, many departments do not prioritize art supplies as an important resource for learning, especially when there are things like textbooks that are falling apart. As a result, most of the teachers who want to include art projects in their classes buy the materials themselves.

One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, buys markers and colored pencils in order to include activities from past curriculum, such as writing short stories.

“I don’t want to change the curriculum and sacrifice

3Gym Equipment Gym teacher Debbie Ogden uses her own finances for many of her specialized classes, such as gymnastics and dance.

Throughout the years, Ogden has purchased many CD players, along with all the music that she uses. She also buys special types of balls for the games that the students play.

She says the district provides her with money for equipment, but not nearly enough.

“I try to use our equipment as long as possible, because I

03

and using toilet paper by mid-winter, unless they find other ways to bring it in.

“Lots of times I’ll buy it myself,” English teacher DeBe Bramley said.

Departments have always been responsible providing Kleenex for their classrooms. Most have a certain amount of money that they are given to spend on supplies each year. This money is where Kleenex have come from, but as this budget has gotten smaller, some departments are choosing to spend money on other, more important items.

This leaves teachers with a choice: get Kleenex from students, buy it themselves, or resort to toilet paper.

student’s understanding of a concept because we don’t have enough money to do the activities. I think it is unfair to the students,” the teacher said The art teachers do not face this problem because in order to take an art class, students must pay an art fee, which pays for the art supplies of the class they are taking. For other teachers who want to use district money for art supplies, they are required to either apply for a grant from the district or use their own financial resources.

know that the budget has been cut,” Ogden said.

A big expense for Ogden is batteries for the CD player she uses in her gymnastics and dance classes.

“The district can supply some batteries but they are not really the heavy-duty kind I need,” Ogden said.

Despite all the out-of-pocket expenses, Ogden thinks that seeing students enjoy her class every day makes it all worth it.

Biology supplies 4 PICKING UP THE TAB LindseyHartnett

Teachers find themselves having to pay for more classroom supplies due to district budget cuts JuliaDavis

Amidst an economic recession, every state government in the country has been forced to cut back in some places in order to stay afloat, Kansas included. Education was one area that Kansas legislature instituted budget cuts, and every school across the state has seen the effects of this, primarily through staff cuts.

“We’re trying to stay away from the classroom as much as possible,” Shawnee Mission School District budget and finance manager Tim Rooney said.

SMSD began cutting their annual budget in the 2008-2009 school year, because of Kansas state education cuts, which are increasing each year.

“They don’t have enough resources at the state level, so they’re cutting our budgets, so we

are having to cut what we’re spending,” Rooney said.

Another effect besides loss of staff due to these budget cuts has been limited supplies for teachers. Many teachers have seen shortages in some of the supplies that they are using in classrooms, and have been forced to make do or find other ways to get what they need, including use of personal finances.“ To be honest with you, we spend money,” Spanish teacher Rosa Detrixhe said. “We teachers spend money, on extra stuff that we need for the classroom.”

Here’s a look into some of the different methods teachers have for getting necessary supplies when they are scarce or not provided by the district.

Throughout the past month, many of the IB Biology 2 students at East have been looking wherever they can, under rocks, in gardens, and even in between cracks in sidewalks, hoping to find some lone rolly pollies crawling around. Due to the tight limit on the biology department budget, bio teacher Kimberly VanNice has opted to let the students collect the bugs for their lab instead of buying them like they did last year.

“Last year we lost our money at semester,” VanNice said.

With this in mind, the biology department is being cautious and only spending on the necessities.

The environmental education department was one of the science departments that did not get their budget cut at last year. However, because of the huge animal collection that East boasts,

the money provided by the district is not enough to pay for everything needed to maintain the animals. Environmental education teacher Jim Lockard has students run the snack bar at home football games to make up the difference.

Funds are used to buy pet food, bedding, cleaning supplies, toys, and anything else that the animals need.

In the biology department, the funds go mainly for lab equipment and supplies. When lab supplies run out, teachers are forced to find alternatives.

“Sometimes, with less money, I can’t get the [lab] kits, so we do the computer labs instead,” VanNice said.

With rolly pollies costing a dollar a piece, VanNice is glad students were able to collect them so that they can complete a successful rolly pollie lab.

NEWS 04 10-18-10 educators feeling

ACCUSED SarahMcKittrick

A number gets called in the documentary “Waiting for Superman” and the digits echo off the walls of an auditorium filled with students and their parents. A single student and his parents jump up from their seats and yell with joy. No, the student did not just win the lottery or a brand new car. What the student did win is an opportunity to better his future through admittance to a private charter school.

Lottery systems like this are being used across the country to determine which students from underprivileged neighborhoods will get the chance to attend charter schools.

However, only one in 20 students will actually win admittance. The rest go home disappointed.

The new documentary “Waiting for Superman” follows five children trying to better their education through such lottery systems. Released in late September across the country and on Oct. 15 in Kansas City, the documentary is directed by Davis Guggenheim, who directed the Oscar-winning documentary “Inconvenient Truth.” According to the documentary’s official website, the main goal of “Waiting for Superman” is to “ensure that every child receives an education.”

Although the movie “Waiting for Superman” campaigns for the improvement of America’s school systems, they might have lost some of their biggest, most important supporters. Teachers across the country are offended by the way the document portrays their profession and are beginning to express their disappointment.

English teacher Laura Beachy has corresponded with several of her fellow teachers across the Kansas City area about the documentary. Although she hasn’t seen the movie herself, the teachers that Beachy talked to have strong opinions about the documentary and the way that it portrays teachers.

“Lots of teachers feel threatened, attacked, or accused,” Beachy said. “They feel like a finger is being pointed at them to some extent.

They want to be given a break because they feel like no one is acknowledging the situations they’re trying to improve. It’s demoralizing to be slammed like that.”

In some cases, Beachy said the documen-

a different SPIN East teachers respond to “Waiting for Superman”, a new documentary about problems in the public school system

tary has stirred up so much controversy that one teacher has talked about quitting teaching after 20 years.

The controversy also came into the national spotlight when the president of the American Teacher’s Union president, Randi Weingarten, spoke of the issue on CBS Morning News. Many teachers across the country seem to think that the film portrays teachers’ unions as an obstacle in kids’ success in school. In her statement on CBS, Weingarten proposed a new teacher evaluation model to assess teacher performance. However, she also defended teachers from the way they were portrayed in the documentary.

“No one wants bad teachers in the classroom,” Weingarten said in statement on CBS. “But there isn’t an epidemic of bad teachers in our public schools. The vast majority of teachers are incredibly talented and work hard to make a difference in their students’ lives.”

Although she sees where some of the teachers are coming from in their feelings towards the documentary, Beachy thinks that the film is more complex than simply saying that all teachers are bad. Beachy also made the point that the statistics the documentary uses to prove its points could be slanted to fit the film’s intent.

“All documentaries are somewhat skewed,” Beachy said. “There is always a bias, always an agenda.”

At the same time, Beachy and others also think that the film could be oversimplifying problems by overlooking factors such as budget cuts, crammed classrooms, and more.

History teacher Vicki Arndt-Helgesen has read several articles about the documentary and heard several discussion regarding the film. Although she hasn’t seen it, ArndtHelgesen, like Beachy, thinks that the documentary is oversimplifying the problems of America’s education system.

“Charter schools are not the solution to the problems in education,” Arndt-Helgesen said. “They may be part of the solution, but not the entire solution.”

Although Ardnt-Helegesen likes the fact that the documentary brings attention to the problems of our country’s education, she

also believes that other factors need to be considered in order for the system to be improved. Instead of solely focusing on charter schools, Ardnt-Helegesen thinks that people need to look at factors like standardized testing and the way teachers are evaluated.

Even though she hasn’t seen the documentary, junior Emily Frye saw trailers for the film earlier in the year and was surprised at the way it portrayed some of America’s schools. What surprised Frye most about the trailers was the lottery system schools used and how some students would be rejected from attending private schools simply because of the number they picked without any regard to their academic accomplishment.

“It seemed so unfair to me,” Frye said. “I expected them to pick students based on academics but they based it solely on the lottery.

It made the administration and teachers look bad.”

However despite this negative portrayal of teachers, Frye does not think that East teachers should feel threatened.

“I think that most of the teachers at East and in the Shawnee Mission School District are very qualified,” Frye said. “I can see how teachers would think that the film does not portray teachers well but they shouldn’t take it personally.”

Despite all of the controversy surrounding the documentary, Beachy is not sure if she will see the film. Although she wants to see it to be better informed, Beachy also feels as if she already knows some of the problems of education in our country.

“I work in education… I live that everyday,” Beachy said. “But at the same time I haven’t worked in every school district across the country. It could be eye opening.”

Whether she watches the documentary or not, “Waiting for Superman” has raised new questions for Beachy and her colleagues.

Although many teachers might not agree with the documentary’s message, Beachy hopes that at least some good may come of it.

“I like that people are talking about the problems,” Beachy said. “I hope that better solutions will come out of these conversations.”

“Waiting for Superman” tells the story of the condition of the U.S. public school system through the stories of five kids: Anthony in D.C., Bianca in Harlem, Daisy from East Los Angeles, Emily in Silicon Valley, and Francisco in the Bronx

the director

the film

THE BASICS of “Waiting for Superman” Director Davis Guggenheim told the Wall Street Journal that “Waiting for Superman” was “absolutely the hardest movie [I’ve] ever directed—emotionally, logistically, and creatively.” Considering he directed the rather complicated “An Inconvenient Truth,” that means a lot.

A look at the opinions of supporters of the new film

+

Sect. of Education Arne Duncan

“Nobody wants to call a baby ugly. This movie is like calling the baby ugly. It’s about confronting brutal truths.”

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Oprah Winfrey

“This is the movie that could revolutionize America’s schools.”

+ Bill Gates

“. . .The message of this movie and the power of this movie is why I am optimistic we will change this issue."

the campaign

movieweb.com

The makers of Waiting for Superman started a social action campaign to raise awareness about the condition of U.S. public schools.

Its four goals are setting academic standards that measure up worldwide, hiring and rewarding great teachers, creating and sustaining successful schools and increasing literacy rates. nymag.com

aft.org

NEWS

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News Briefs issue 4

Taking a look ahead at East’s upcoming events

The students on the Friends of the Library Committee will vote on how to spend the money raised at the sale.

Today and tomorrow are the last two days to donate books for the used book sale in seminar classes. The class that brings the most books will get pizza and the class that comes in second will get donuts. Books can also be dropped off directly to the library and should be labeled with seminar teachers’ names.

SHARE MEGA DRIVE

The SHARE Mega Drive is a combination drive benefitting numerous causes. Here’s a list of all the 11 causes that are part of the drive and what items they are requesting:

Children’s Books for Inner City Schools

Prom Dresses for Crosslines

Eye-glasses for West African Peace Corps New Socks for the Homeless Diapers for Teen Moms Soup for the Souper Bowl of Caring Used cell phones for Safehome

Saturday Oct. 30-Sunday Oct. 31 Robotics Club Competition

What to do: Donate in bins

Feminine Hygiene Products for Rose Brooks Coats for Project Warmth Toiletries for the Village Food Pantry Blankets for COPP (Care of Poor People)

Sunday Oct. 31

Sunday Oct. 24

SALE

Novice Debate Tournament

Monday Oct. 25-Friday Oct. 29

Friday Oct. 22-Saturday Oct. 23

used book

Friday Oct. 29-Saturday Oct. 30

Saturday Oct. 30

This year the library’s budget was cut by 60 percent. According to Librarian Chris Larson this means that the Used Book Sale is an even more important event this year because of that extreme cut.

The Used Book Sale is the Library’s annual fundraiser that in past years has raised money for the Smartboard and Mac computers in the library.

“This year especially the sale will be huge in helping with purchasing new equipment or books, because of the cuts,” Larson said.

Thursday Oct. 21

Wednesday Oct. 20

Tuesday Oct. 19

Monday Oct. 18

Where: Gym Hallway

AnnieSgroi

week in5photos

DanStewart

LimdseyHartnett

Senior Cole Turner anticipates The Homecoming nominees a header, while playing Kansas line up during the Homecoming assembly.

City Christian. East won 4-1.

DanStewart

DanielleNorton

GrantHeinlein

Choir director Ken Foley, Jazz band and the Blue Knights Senior Sami Nelson climbs perform on stage during their through a ropes course with her directs the East choraliers fellow seniors during retreat for at their Fall concert. concert.

Dr. Krawitz’s leadership class.

EDITORIAL 06 10-18-10

BUILDING BLOCKS

ODD

The District’s goal to achieve a 3-2 common schedule unfairly puts the 4-1 block schedule at risk

In Shawnee Mission School District’s push for common scheduling, Shawnee Mission South took a vote two weeks ago to decide to move to block scheduling. The vote passed, and next year South, like the other schools in the district, will move to block schedule. Had they not moved to block, in order to create a common schedule, every high school would have been changed back to 7-period days.

This sounds good and well: South is moving to block scheduling, therefore the other schools don’t have to move back to the traditional method. The problem, however, occurs with the way the block is handled. The principals of the high schools met to discuss the common scheduling issue and decided on a compromise: a 3-2 split. This schedule has two block days on Tuesday and Thursday, and the rest of the week is full schedule.

Four years ago, the East staff voted with a fifty-one percent majority to move to 4-1 block scheduling, with 4 block days and only 1 traditional day. Next year, because South voted on 3-2, the other high schools will all change to match.

While the district has not officially announced the change to a common schedule, the teachers have all been informed that that will be the case next year.

Teachers have to vote to move to block. The District cannot force any school to change to block; the change must come from a majority vote from the teachers. However, the superintendent determines the schedule, and must approve any changes.

South held off on block scheduling because, according Ron Millard, the math department chair at South, they

didn’t want to lose the two weeks worth of contact time with their students.

“Learning is a function of quality and quantity of time spent in a learning environment,” Millard said. “The seven period day has provided that for our students.”

Block scheduling, according to Associate Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman, is more expensive. Seminar eats up 180 minutes a week and offers no credit to students. A staff member must be staffed, The majority opinion of the which eats up valuable instruction time. While Harbinger Editorial Board for against absent seminar is a valuable resource for students, it is a needless fiscal expense.

A 3-2 schedule will not completely eliminate the cost, but will help lower it.

Common scheduling will help remedy scheduling conflicts with students enrolled at Briarwood and students interested in the specialty programs at different school who don’t want to transfer.

But the 4-1 block scheduling is the superior schedule.

There is more time for discussion, teachers have more planning time, students have less homework stress and it allows more in-depth study of the class subject matter. No matter what, people will be bothered by the schedule changes, but it would be better for all the staff and students at every school to use a 4-1 schedule. A few years ago, most of the stu-

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Harbinger the

a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Freelance Page Editors Christa McKittrick Photo Editors Grant Heinlein Dan Stewart Assistant Photo Editor Eden Schoofs Freelance Page Editors Christa McKittrick Copy Editors Evan Nichols Andrew Goble Annie Sgroi Kevin Simpson Kat Buchanan Jack Howland Morgan Christian Anne Willman Logan Heley Bob Martin Matt Gannon Chris Heady Staff Writers Grant Kendall Alex Lamb

Oct. 18, 2010 issue 4, vol. 52

Chris Heady Julia Davis Zoe Brian Caroline Creidenberg Paige Hess Editorial Board Andrew Goble Annie Sgroi Corbin Barnds Logan Heley Kevin Simpson Jennifer Rorie Jack Howland Evan Nichols Kat Buchanan Bob Martin Morgan Christian Photographers Katie East Grant Kendall Anna Marken Sammi Kelley Samantha Bartow Claire Wahrer Tomi Caldwell

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dents at East were against block scheduling until a month after it started. Now, the 3-2 compromise is causing a similar uproar. While students will get used to the schedule after a while, the change isn’t worth it. Staff and students have adjusted, and adjusted well. Most teachers, from the English to the World Language departments, support the 4-1 block, and even prefer 3-2 to traditional schedule because, as English teacher Laura Beachy put it, “Some block is better than no block.”

In the past five years at East, there has been a new principal, construction and the change from 7-period days to the 4-1-block schedule. With the proposed boundary changes (discussed in issue 3 of the Harbinger), there will be even more changes to come. Staff and students have enough on their plates to deal with yet another change.

This schedule change will affect more students in a more profound way than the boundary changes currently causing uproar. This is a district-wide change for every high school. This year’s seniors didn’t go 4 years with the same schedule, and the juniors are now cursed to the same fate.

There’s no consistency from the district, and the 3-2 idea is not a functioning compromise. While some teachers consider some block better than no block, the day-to-day switch will be hard to adjust to.

These schedule changes aren’t fair to students or teachers, who are the oft-ignored victims of district decisions.

Since the district has yet to announce an official change, there is still time for parents and students to be heard.

Letters to the editor should be sent to room 521 or smeharbinger@gmail.com.

Letters may be edited for clarity, length, libel and mechanics and accepted or rejected at the editor’s discretion.

Grace Snyder Riley Meurer Marissa Horwitz Kaitlyn Stewart Ads/Circulation Manager Jennifer Rorie Staff Artist Alex Goldman Online Copy Editors Kennedy Burgess Lilly Myers Online Photo Editor Lindsey Hartnett Multimedia Editor Maggie Simmons Convergence Editor Bob Martin Homegrown Editor Nathan Walker Podcast/Blog Editor Jeff Cole Video Editor Alex Lamb Videographers Thomas Allen

Nathan Walker Andrew Simpson Live Broadcast Editor Jeff Cole Live Broadcast Producers Thomas Allen Tom Lynch Anchors Andrew Simpson Jeff Cole Chloe Stradinger Corbin Barnds Kevin Simpson Nathan Walker Paige Hess PR Representative Chloe Stradinger Online Staff Writers Andrew Simpson Online Photographer Nathan Simpson Adviser Dow Tate

Opinion Page Editors Editors-In-Chief Ian Wiseman Andrew Goble Emily Kerr Annie Sgroi Mixed Editor Assistant Editors Anne Willman Kat Buchanan Spread Editors Evan Nichols Lilly Myers Art and Design Editor Toni Aguiar Emma Pennington Features Editor Head Copy Editor Sarah McKittrick Kevin Simpson Features Page Editors Online Editors Chloe Stradinger Logan Heley Haley Martin Pat McGannon Alysabeth Albano Online Assistant Editor A&E Editor Maggie Simmons Aubrey Leiter News Editor A&E Page Editors Jack Howland Kennedy Burgess News Page Editors Tom Lynch Morgan Christian Sports Editor Editorial Editor Corbin Barnds Katy Westhoff Sports Page Editors Opinion Editor Matt Gannon Raina Weinberg The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission School District, East faculty, or school administration.

OPINION

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT Dear Seniors, Today, Oct. 18, is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 2 Midterm Election in Kansas. an opinion of Annie Sgroi If you’ll be 18-years-old by Nov. 2 and have not registered to vote and meant to, take five minutes today and go to www.jocoelection.org and register. Crisis averted.

But if you’re not registered and don’t intend to I ask, why not?

Maybe you think it makes no difference who serves in office—politicians all act similarly. Maybe you’re so discouraged by the state of the country you choose to ignore what’s going on. Maybe you think your vote doesn’t matter. Well, judging by what I saw volunteering as an election worker in the August 3rd primary, you’re not the only person our age who’s discouraged.

For 12 hours I sat at a folding table covered in little American flags checking in voters or standing by the door handing them ‘I voted’ stickers on their way out the door . I can remember all the teenage voters who came to cast their vote at that polling place.

There were two.

I understand that it was only a primary, but it shows a sad trend of apathy that is predicted to repeat itself in November.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 51 percent of voters age 1830 voted in the 2008 Presidential election. This was the third highest youth turnout since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971. Now, the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press reports that only 23 percent of these voters have “high campaign engagement” or intend to vote in the upcoming Midterm election.

KU Associate Professor of Political Science Mark R. Joslyn cites Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy as the reason for high youth-turnout in 2008.

“The key factor was Obama himself,” Joslyn said. “ Obama

attracted traditionally underrepresented voters, offering a message of hope and symbolizing a change from conventional candidates.”

Professor Joslyn said that on local issues committed and engaged voters are usually the ones at the polls, and the youth vote is not typically engaged in off-year elections. Also, he said that Obama not being on the ballot and his declining popularity will affect turnout.

I agree with Joslyn’s analysis that some young voters came to the polls because they were inspired by Senator Barack Obama. He was young, engaged and gosh, he gave moving speeches.

I also know that many others came to support Senator John McCain, the experienced Republican party elder.

Hope—shmope they said; Obama may speak well but he’s still an inexperienced kid compared to McCain.

Even kids too young to vote were swept up in the election frenzy; I was one of them. I proudly wore my shirt with Obama’s face and “Progress” written on it, even though I couldn’t vote for him.

While I know it’s true that many feel disillusioned and this election may not have the intrigue of the last, but it depresses me that all that energy is gone so soon.

I can understand why Obama supporters of all ages may feel disillusioned. During the election, Obama seemed like a solution to all the problems this country was facing. And, especially important to younger voters, he promised a new, fresh brand of politics. Amidst the fervor of the campaign and the excitement of the historic Inauguration Day, we may have forgotten that he’s as human as the rest of us.

For those who never supported Obama, I can see that the first 22 months of his presidency would have confirmed your doubts. You see the Obama administration passing health care reform and the stimulus bill—both steps you feel increase the role of government in your lives; which is just what you were afraid of. And to top it all off, the economy doesn’t seem any better as a result.

Either way, taking action by voting is the only way to

issue 4

7

Senior encourages 18-year-old classmates to register to vote

make things get better.

If you feel Obama hasn’t brought the change you hoped for, vote for a Congress that will push him to bolder stances on the issues.

If you feel the Obama Administration is taking the country in the wrong direction, then vote for a Congress that will challenge them and present new solutions.

No matter what you believe, giving up your voice is not the answer.

According to Professor Joslyn, more attention is paid to Presidential elections by youth voters, but they’re not the only races that affect your life. This year especially, State races will have an impact.

First, in the 2011 Legislative Session, the Kansas State Legislature and Kansas School Boards will be faced with decisions on many important issues. Education funding, how to move forward with alternative energy, and how the Kansas health care system should function are all likely issues in the next year.

Second, every decade State Legislatures redraw State Legislative and Congressional district boundaries based on the population changes in the census.

After the 2010 census results are published in the spring, the Kansas State Legislature will redraw legislative and congressional districts. Clearly, each party will try to draw the boundaries in their advantage.

So, local races do matter.

It’s easy to feel out of touch. And it’s easy to write off all politicians and give up.

But it’s also just as easy to register to vote and, unlike the previous choice, voting actually has a chance of making a difference.

So go, register, and show up to vote. I hope there will be at least three East seniors wearing ‘I voted’ stickers on Nov 2.

Love, Sad 17-year-old who can’t vote.

To find out ways to get involved in the Midterm election even if you won’t be 18

by Nov. 2 visit smeharbinger.net MarissaHorwitz

08

OPINION

10-18-10

Blockbusted

Junior reflects on the demise of her favorite movie rental store

It was a Friday night family tradition for nine years: movies, O’Neill’s takeout, burnt popcorn from our temperamental microwave.

As soon as my dad got home an opinion of Morgan Christian from work, my little sister and I would hop into his white Ford F-150. He would drive us to the busiest spot in the neighborhood, the Blockbuster at 95th and Mission. The movie rental store was filled with friends from church and school. We chatted a few minutes with everyone, secretly stealing glances at what titles they were renting.

One inspirational sports movie, one comedy, and the most recent Air Bud installment later, we would be back at home, munching on Hawaiian pizza from Pizza Hut. A batch of Jiffy Pop popcorn completed the evening.

Fast-forward to September 2010.

Blockbuster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. If Carl Icahn and the rest of the company’s owners can’t find a business model that would return the business to profitability, an institution of my childhood will be lost.

And my family will be out of options for viewing movies.

We have not started a Netflix account with good reason, nor do we rent our movies out of a Redbox vending machine like bags of Funyuns. Pay-per-view is an option, but we’re only paying for about 20 channels of basic cable right now. I’d like to have ESPN and Comedy Central before I start paying for movie channels with a limited selection.

I feel the same way I did last summer when my friend ditched me in line for the Mamba at Worlds of Fun: alone and nervous. Nobody is left to help my little sister, dad and me adjust to a rapidly changing movie rental industry.

Of course, we can really only blame ourselves. We ignored the warning signs, the same way the former movie-rental

mammoth dismissed the initial success of services like Netflix. We continued old habits out of complacency, just like Blockbuster was slow to drop late fees and start a DVD-bymail service.

We should have known it was time to abandon ship when the blue awning came down at Blockbuster’s Prairie Village location. When the outlines of those trademark yellow block letters were all that remained on the fake stucco. When a Peach Wave and Bravo Nails took our beloved Blockbuster’s place. It was the beginning of the end.

Pause. Rewind to pre-bankruptcy.

I remember the dry spells when no new movies came out that were worth renting. After scanning the shelves of new releases along the perimeter of the store without luck, we had to pick through the offerings in the middle aisles before checking out.

Then there were the times when we could pick out five movies and never get to all of them before the weekend ended. Eventually my dad had to implement a three-movie limit.

That’s when we would bargain with each other, saying, “If you get this, I’ll get that” and then make lists of what to get next time.

And if a movie ever wasn’t there, David the manager would let us look through the returns cart to find what we wanted, as was the case when the ever-popular National Treasure came out. With older movies, like Father of the Bride and Pink Panther, David would search on his store computer to find the section they would be located in.

I remember when the switch from VHS tapes to DVDs was a big deal. And when video games were given a section on the floor. The time when the gumball machine by the door gave me two gumballs instead of the usual one for a quarter.

But when our neighborhood Blockbuster closed, we had

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to start going to the one on State Line. Finding movies there was like finding where your favorite cereal is when you start going to a new grocery store. Because of this, and because it’s further away from our house, my family is now renting movies less.

Netflix’s rent-by-mail option is an alternative. But it takes away some of the joy of discovery we had with Blockbuster, when we were able to pick up a movie we would never have seen in theaters. How can we find obscure movies as easily with Netflix, when we’re searching online?

We could always stream movies through our Wii or on the family laptop, but if we have to watch videos at 280p on YouTube just to get them to play back smoothly, I don’t think we can stream feature films on the laptop, much less the Wii. A bad internet connection also affects the speed of downloads from iTunes.

And perhaps most important, the difference between ordering movies online and driving to a store to get them is the interaction between people. When you’re online, you can’t get movie recommendations from the greasy haired film geek, high schooler with multiple piercings, or Wanda the helpful middle aged woman who knows all the best romantic comedies. These people are part of the neighborhood fabric in a way that Netflix, Redbox, Pay-per-view or iTunes will never be.

So with Blockbuster headed toward doom, my dad, sister and I will be going at it alone. I guess we’ll just have to adjust, changing our “media habits.” There seems to be no choice but to get with the times. Friday nights as I knew them will never be the same.

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I

OPINION

waste my summer, I waste my school nights, and I waste every Sunday before another week of school.

There are friends to hang out with, an opinion of Andrew Goble family members to spend time with and even occasionally some quality TV to watch, but instead, I finish homework. I sprawl all my books on the dining room table, wear earphones over earplugs to stay concentrated, and constantly wonder, why am I doing this?

I should cheat more. I spend hours and hours doing homework while students around me brilliantly scrape by, cheating off SparkNotes, their friend’s notes, and their older friend’s prior notes. They know more about the high school social experience, but I know more about that crease you get on your forehead when you fall asleep on your Bio textbook.

The vast cheating majority are the smart ones. They recognize the occasional worthlessness of the work they are assigned to do, and find someone else to do it for them. Outsourcing, if you will. Sure, they miss out on the process and learning, but for the most part, they don’t care. Their grades remain blissfully afloat.

Of course, I try to not cheat, but I’m not perfect. I SparkNote chapters of books all the time, even if it’s only when I read them first and still don’t understand. If I see someone found the right answer on one of my worksheets or textbooks, I will ask them where it is rather than find it myself. I even wish I could use my iPhone, a portal to the internet world, but I don’t have the motor skills to operate it secretly during class.

It’s especially frustrating when students around me cheat and get higher grades. On a recent massive assignment, I spent around four hours every night for five days before it was due.

Sure, I had been procrastinating, but hey, I was doing it. When the assignment was returned, a few classmates who gladly admitted to me that they cheated scored higher than me.

It would be easy to blame the students. They are passing off work as their own, getting similar grades as the people that aren’t cheating, and using these ill-deserved grades to get into

colleges that non-cheaters will get rejection letters from.

However, I think it is the academic process that needs to be modernized. Today, when you can access every fact you could need in as long as it takes you to type the question, the emphasis needs to be placed on synthesis and the combination of these facts, not the mere hunt for them. I can tell you what happened of chapter 12 of any book, but if I’m forced to write about how it is similar to other books I have read, then I’m forced to commit more information to my brain in order to form that opinion. That’s learning.

In the same light, homework cannot last as an effective way of measuring someone’s success anymore, as it just shows that you have either a smart friend or an ability to use Google.

As much as I hate it, tests make you learn; unless you have a teacher who is depressingly “easy” on cheating, you have to learn or fail with tests.

Going even further, simply giving more tests won’t give you more knowledgeable students. I know--and have taken-plenty of classes where you can get a D or low C on the test, cheat on homework assignments and get As, and still make it out with a pretty easy B. That grade sure is nice, but it is an absolute misrepresentation of the student’s knowledge.

Tests need to be weighted so that people can’t just push them aside. It is the 80/20 classes—80 percent tests, 20 percent homework—that I learn most in, but also the classes in which you have to do the homework to answer some of the problems on the test. If the homework provides unique learning experiences from what’s learned in class, cheating on it hurts students even more than just the original points. The tests can’t just consist of the outline in the book.

Cheating will not end anytime soon. It is so accepted that if you don’t cheat, people think you are trying to send some message about how great and morally sound you are. When people ask me for homework, part of me wishes that I could tell them off. I want to tell them that I spent hours on it, or that they could be learning from it, or that eventually, teachers will take strides to separate cheaters from non-cheaters.

But for now, I wish I was asking them for theirs.

issue 4

09

The Cheating Game Students share past stories of academic misconduct

“One time in Texas we had a sub on a test day. Somehow my class managed to get the answer key and we put answers on different desks and rotated so everyone could get the right answers.”-Senior Kate Grumbles “At Rockhurst, I was in an architecture class where most people didn’t understand the assignments. I was the only one who did pretty well on them so people paid me a few times to do their work.”-Junior Andy Hiett “My freshmen year I was taking a biology test and I pretended to turn in the test but instead picked up someone elses and took them back to my desk. I copied all of the answers. I got caught.”-Senior Alex Healey

Regretfully Honest Senior discusses the amount of cheating students get away with at East

all photos by SamBartow

10

OPINION

10-18-10

The Broken an opinion of MattGannon

A small learning environment is always the best. That’s what my eighth grade English teacher preached to us at Mission Valley. She told us that when we went to high school, we would feel lost and confused, desperately searching for help.

I remember thinking that my class was big enough with 200 students, and I couldn’t believe that it would be doubled when I became a Lancer. Looking back, the transition to East was smooth because our classes had gradually grew ever since leaving the elementary level. But with the proposed district boundary change of Brookwood to the South area and my sister getting ready to graduate from the sixth grade, I now fear that she will not receive the great education I received from the district.

The proposed district boundary change would also require people who live in the area to transfer to SM East, has sparked debate amongst families throughout my 103rd St. and Mission neighborhood, right next to Brookwood. Many parents in the area are graduates of East and moved their families to my neighborhood for one specific reason--to attend Shawnee Mission East. My family had always been intertwined with East, and it was expected that my siblings and I would carry on the family name at East. My grandmother taught art at East for eight years, my mom attended East from 1983-86 and my uncle graduated in ‘89. When my mom married my dad, she had only one requirement for their first house--it had to be in the East area.

While, I will most likely be able to transfer to East and stay here for my senior year, my siblings will most likely be sent to Indian Woods. While this is sad because my siblings

RileyMuerer

TheRoberts

egacy

have become very involved in East activities through things such as basketball and soccer camps, I have a much greater concern.

With the proposed closing of Mission Valley, my sister’s sixth grade class of 36 kids would be entering Indian Woods with 370 other seventh-graders, over twice the number of students I had to get through to get to class my eighth-grade year. The gradual transition of increasing class sizes by 150200 kids, the system I had grown up with, would be no more.

My sister’s seventh-grade class would end up being the same class that she graduates with. If many of her friends stayed with her, she would still have a good base to start of off, but many are planning to find an alternate learning experience than Indian Woods and South. Having that many kids together has both its pros and cons. Yes, the kids will become familiar with each other earlier, but at what cost. Will my sister’s teachers still know her strengths and weaknesses? Will they be able to connect with her and all of their other students individual. Will the school community be as connected as before? Probably not. This would be a new experience for these teachers too, and it cannot be expected that teachers will be able to help every individual.

To me this process seems rushed. I feel that my sister might get lost in mass of students during her years at Indian Woods, and would never be able to stand out as a individual.

Being a shy girl, I think that this switch might overwhelm her.

I also feel like the district is throwing away a very good school in Mission Valley, a school I felt very comfortable in.

In 2006-07, Mission Valley underwent $3.2 million in renovations and now these will be put to waste, as the district has stated that they don’t yet have a plan for the building. Under the current plan, Indian Hills would be forced to hold over 300 more students without any additions to the building of any kind, and they lack the size of other schools of similar populations, such as Westridge. While Indian Hills has one art room, a music room and four science rooms, the newer Westridge almost doubles that with four gyms, two art rooms, two music room, and seven science rooms. Also, Indian Hills would almost have to double their staff to equal that of Westridge’s and therefore, almost all teachers would lack homerooms, and a majority of their material would have to be stacked on a cart. They would need a large increase in teaching staff in order to educate the larger student body.

This situation is very similar to Indian Woods’, which scares both my parents and my sister and has led them to lean more towards the idea of going to a private school for the remainder of her schooling. They also believe that a smaller learning environment would be far more beneficial than the overcrowded and congested halls of either of the public middle schools. In our minds, the more one-on-one time with teachers, the better. When my parents and sister went to visit Barstow, they were impressed with the small class sessions and how the school took advantage of modern technology,

TheBarlings

How do you plan to deal with the boundary changes?

Freshman Maddie with siblings Will and Margot

“We are considering a private school for our kids, and we might be moving. We don’t want our children attending different high schools because it would be very inconvenient.”

Boundary changes end a family tradition of Lancerhood

with every child having a laptop.

The private schools would also benefit my sister because she has a love for singing and art, as well as sports. At a clustered Indian Hills it’s been projected by the district and the “Save Mission Valley” committee that only about half of the kids that enroll in an art class would be able to take it. My sister and parents do not like these odds and have been told by other parents that the arts are more supported at private schools such as Barstow.

The pivotal factor in my sister’s mind is sports though.

With much of her class planning to disperse throughout schools in the area, through families moving, transferring and leaving for private schools, my sister has decided she wants to be her with best friends, her club soccer team. Her club team, is not based at Brookwood, and many of the players go to Barstow, so my sister thinks that this would be her best option, because she would know a solid group of people.

When I step back and look at the proposed changes in the district, such as the closing of Mission Valley, the boundary change of Brookwood and the proposed overcrowded middle schools I can see what the district is trying to achieve. By streamlining the process, the district potentially can reduce the costs and balances the enrollment across the district. But the method that the district is using seems flawed.

When I come home from school, and turn onto my street, I see signs saying “Don’t Compromise: Save Mission Valley” in almost every yard. I glance at young kids wearing shirts of protest walking home from Brookwood. I notice parents’ cars with words of disapproval written on their windows. The only way I see these parents being pleased with the district, is if the district allowed families to pick between the schools, which would be a ridiculous policy, because graduating classes would most likely go to the same school. Other than that, I really see no solution, that could satisfy both parties.

The flaw of the district’s plan is it lacks the support of the community being affected. But we will have to wait and see how serious the Brookwood parents are about transferring and leaving the district when the district votes on the change at the board meeting on Nov. 8.

Reaction to Action

Brookwood parents share how they plan to deal with the boundary changes

TheBridges

Do you plan to send your kids to Indian Woods?

Sophomore Greta and Freshman Olivia with siblings Holly and Ben Why are you “We have four kids—three gone through Mission upset with have Valley. It’s too bad the last the changes? one will have to start anew.”

Freshman Grace with siblings Maggie and Ava

“No, I will request transfer forms for my daughters; first Grace and Maggie and later Ava. Grace is already at East and striving in the school’s organizations, and I want to keep Maggie with her Mission Valley friends.” all photos provided by families

FEATURES

GET TO KNOW THE CAST FRESHMAN

JACOB PILLMAN

Q: Who had the best costume?

A: I have to go with Manly Man Cock Thompson. It’s just sexy.

Q: Least favorite thing about the show?

A: Probably getting on the roof. I like got down and looked down from the roof and it was just terrifyingly high. I had a feeling that by the end of the day, the ambulance was going to get called.

Q: Who helped you the most and how?

A: Everyone really helped me. It was such a great cast, seven people. Riley’s considered cast because he has a cameo in one of the sketches. But Riley was the one who brought this all together.

Q: What was it like being the only freshman in the show?

A: It was intimidating; I thought the guys wouldn’t like me, being the underdog of the whole thing. But I really liked being in it and I got to know people better and it’s a great way to start the school year at East.

JUNIOR

ALEX LAMB

To see a recording of the show, visit smeharbinger.net

Q: What makes this show different?

A: Well, it’s not a typical story structure. It’s just a bunch of funny little moments, little skits. With that, you have actors playing tons of different characters, we don’t just stick to one personality, we get to expand into different ranges. It’s got Riley’s style all over it.

Q: Why did you choose this over the fall show?

A: I don’t really have time for the main stages, but I try to do as many Frequent Fridays as possible. And since it’s Riley, I knew it was going to be hilarious, and a great time.

Q: As a movie guru yourself, what would you critique about Riley’s directing style?

A: Riley knows what he wants, but he’s very open to new ideas. He’s able to start us off in the direction he wants, and then we can stick to that or go off on improvised tangents, which sometimes generate the funniest lines and reactions in the skit.

issue 4

Q: How time consuming was filming?

A: The days we filmed, it was kind of difficult because you can’t skip a filming session, you have to be there. So that had to come before other things like Machinal. Honestly, it wasn’t that time consuming overall. Three filming sessions in about a month’s time. We had one day of filming at Riley’s house for the main sketches and one day of filming at his dad’s office for the office sketches. The final day was Saturday and we did shorter stuff, finished up sketches.

Q: Who would you say is the funniest person in the show?

A: Honestly, I’d say Spencer. He’s so funny and quirky, and anything he says is just so out there. Offbeat.

The entire business sketch was basically Spencer improving half of it, and that was just hilarious.

Q: What made this show different for you?

A: The ratio of theater to film is different, because you don’t get the SOPHOMORE same rush and if you say something it’s there forever and you can’t go back and delete that. If it’s funny, you gotta stay that way.

JOSH LIGHT

COMEDICCUTS

From a drunken Scooterriding DJ to a life threatening 45-degree-incline roof to manly man Cock Thompson’s mustache, senior Riley Watson’s movie-style KatBuchanan Frequent Friday “Assorted Ideas” can be summed up in just one fitting word: awesome.

The six members of the midsized cast all attest to Watson’s undeniable hilarity, not to mention his skill on Sony Vegas 9, the high-end program he used to edit his original film. The lineup of short comedic skits, with influence from The Whitest Kids You Know and past Saturday Night Live skits, was written and directed by the jokester Watson himself – but only with the okay from theater director Brian Cappello.

“I was the only one in my advanced rep class who was actually allowed do to a video,” Watson says. “Cappello has seen what I’ve done before and he thinks that I know what I’m doing.”

W i t h his movie mastermind reputation on the line, Watson was hard-pressed to find the funniest students to act out on camera the skits he’d been writing and revising for over a year prior to auditions. After a hit-or-miss improv session with aspiring cast members, Watson found his core six – five boys, one girl.

“They’re some of the funniest people I know,” Watson says.

The show premieres for the first and only time on the projector this Friday in the Little Theater at 3. For future audience members looking for some laughs, Watson has only one word of warning: “Get ready for what goes on in my head when I’m sitting there in class.”

SOPHOMORE

ALEXANDRA FELMAN Q: What was it like being the only girl?

A: Well whenever I’m late they’ll call me and tell me to make them sandwiches, I mean like, all of them just screaming, they put me on speaker and just yell. I’ve been tickled a lot, I’ve been hit, hit by pillows in particular. It’s definitely a man’s show. They just need a girl there to make it not look like a huge sausage fest.

Q: Do you fit in with all of the guys?

A: I’m a bro. I play Halo better than them.

Q: Who’s your favorite costar?

A: I guess it’d have to be Lamby and Spencer. I love Lamby just for being Lamby, but Spencer is so funny. I wouldn’t call his humor “nerdy” as much as it’s just improvised. He’s so funny. It just comes out. It’s incredible. Everything he does is gold.

JUNIOR

SPENCER DAVIS

Q: What were the actual filming sessions like?

A: Pretty much chillin’ with the lax bros. No, it was just 20 minutes of filming, two hours of fixing Riley’s computer and watching YouTube. When we really needed to get stuff done or when people needed to leave we could get things done really fast, but basically it was just us sitting around procrastinating, doing things.

Q: What was the most embarrassing moment on set for you?

A: Probably when I couldn’t climb the roof. Normally I have no problem with heights, but for one of the sketches Riley wanted me up on the roof. I was wearing some really worn out TOMS that day, they didn’t have soles and basically Riley’s roof was at a 45 degree angle and I just couldn’t do it. all photos by Lindsey Hartnett and TomiCaldwell

11

SOPHOMORE

JON MYTINGER

Q: Why did you choose to be in this particular show?

A: I’ve seen Riley’s videos on YouTube and they make me laugh. They’re really random, my favorite one is the One Man Rave. It’s just Riley raving. By himself.

In his room.

Q: Anything that went wrong or you would change?

A: There are two things I’d like to change. One, I’d like to give the rest of the cast backbones because only Lamb and I would go on the roof. And also, I’d make the computer not suck, because according to Riley we’ve had to reedit it twice.

Q: What other activities did the cast do together?

A: Let’s see, we filmed, we ate Chipotle and KFC Double Downs. The Double Downs were completely worth it, especially seeing tiny little Alexandra demolish that thing.

12

FEATURES

10-18-10

haunts

all-american area haunted houses gain national acclaim ErinReilly

Waiting outside in the 50 degree chill, East students shiver in the two hour queue, but not because of the temperature. Looming seven-foot-tall werewolves stalk along in the shadows of the Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms district, where guests have streamed to take on two of the most anticipated attractions of the year: The Beast and The Edge of Hell, notoriously frightening haunted houses.

Full Moon Productions - owners of the Beast, Edge of Hell, Macabre Cinema and Chambers of Edgar Allen Poe haunted attractions - haven’t missed a detail when planning these sinister houses. The premise of each house is different. The Beast focuses on individual fears of its patrons, and conquering the beast inside all of us. The Edge of Hell is a thrilling trip through purgatory, ascension into heaven, and finally a five story plunge via slide into hell and “into the arms of the devil himself,” as the slogan goes.

“Even when we were at the ticket office, this grim reaper kept leaping out and running around the people in line, and everyone was screaming even though we weren’t even inside the house yet!” sophomore Sami Walter said. “I could tell from the start that this was going to be something really different.”

Walter has right to believe so. The Beast and Edge of Hell are both nationally ranked haunts that have been featured on the Travel Channel’s America Haunts and are currently ranked sixth scariest attraction-combo in the nation by HauntWorld Magazine, the premiere publication for the haunted attraction business scene.

What makes the Beast stand out from other haunted attractions is the fact that it’s the first attraction to implement an “open-format” floor plan, where the guests have to find their way through an old southern manor, werewolf forest, and creepy swamp without a clear path to follow. Without the cookie-cutter layout, guests are forced even further out of their comfort zones.

“It was pitch black, and we had to find our way through these three huge rooms,” Walter said.

“There were like 10 different doors that we had to try to go through and exit, but some of them weren’t even real.”

The Beast’s use of identical rooms, vast spaces, and flashing strobe lights heightens the audience’s feeling of being lost. Due to its massive size, the werewolf forest masterfully hides walls and successCharacters at the Beast and Edge of Hell stand outside fully continues to keep up the “lost” illusion, one of the haunted houses to scare guests.

SammiKelly that many haunted attractions can only manage for a few minutes.

The werewolf forest is a quarter-acre of pitch black forest complete with real trees, fog, and more

than a few werewolves hungrily eying lost guests.

“Trying to find the exit when it’s pitch dark and people are jumping out at you from everywhere was really hard,” Walter said. “It took about 25 minutes before we got out.”

“I went to the Edge of Hell first, and I had had time to let my heart rate drop,” sophomore Max Kurlbaum said. “So getting lost in the werewolf forest at the Beast was more irritating than scary. The scariest part was knowing that there was someone behind you, but you had to keep walking anyway.”

“The darkness was sort of annoying because I couldn’t see anything and I kept running into walls,” sophomore James Simmons said.

The Edge of Hell also has a misleading floor plan that intrigues many East students.

“It was kind of like a maze, in that you had to go through the most obscure places possible,” sophomore Scott Slapper said. “Like in one room you would crawl through a fireplace, but in the next you would climb up and go through a portrait. It’s really confusing, but it made it that much different and fun than anything I’ve ever done before!”

The Beast and Edge of Hell not only test your mazeophobia (fear of being lost), but also ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes. Sassy, the Burmese python measuring a whopping 24 feet long and weighing 300 pounds, is one of the several creatures that calls the Edge of Hell its home. The haunted duo also features two anacondas, Big Bertha, the reticulated python, and an eight foot alligator. While inside the haunts, guests can be sure to get more up close and personal with these real monsters than they’d like.

Outside the houses, monsters of all sorts lurk around the 12th Street Bridge. The most popular character is the Rat Man, who carries around several of his friendly rats and gleefully puts them in his mouth for gawking fans.

“I had the pleasure of meeting the Rat Man,” Kurlbaum said. “I feel that you have to a little bit freaky to work at a place like the Edge of Hell, but he was a real sweetheart!”

The Edge of Hell has been a major part of Kansas City’s entertainment sect since 1975, with it’s partner the Beast opening in 1991. Neither appear to be losing business soon.

“Definitely be sure to go with people you know,” Kurlbaum said, “because they’ll be clinging onto you the entire time.”

For additional coverage, including a haunted house video feature, visit smeharbinger.net

monstrous

make-up how the haunted house employees put on their make-up step by step

step

1

A prosthetic, latex mask is placed on the person’s face.

The artist uses make-up glue to secure the mask into place.

step

2

The make-up artist airbrushes the latex skull white.

step

3

Once the skull is completely white, the artist airbrushes the facial features not covered with the mask to be a black color.

step

4

Finally, the artist puts finishing touches on the airbrushing and puts details on the person’s arms and fingers.

Craig Kelly, SIOR Director of Land Services 2600 Grand, Suite 1000 Kansas City, MO 64111 T 816.412.0279 C 816.305.0655 F 816.842.2798 Craig.Kelly@cassidyturley.com cassidyturley.com

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Bring in THIS COUPON for a FREE COOKIE with the purchase of a sandwich, salad, wrap, or panini. one coupon per customer, per visit. Not good with any other offer.

14

FEATURES

10-18-10

EmmaPennington

Every morning U.S. History teacher Greg Smith wakes up and remembers his daughter Kelsey is gone forever. But underneath his T-shirt hangs a simple silver chain which he holds close to his heart. Imprinted on a silver pendant is his daughter’s thumb print.

“If I get nervous I’ll take it out and I’ll rub my fingers across the ridges just so I can feel her again,” Smith said. “I never take that off.”

*** People try to tell Greg they understand what he’s going through, but he says no one knows what it’s like until it’s happened to you. Since the murder of his daughter Kelsey in 2007, he has been coping with her loss. By becoming a teacher for students Kelsey’s age, giving seminars about youth and young adult safety and running for state representative, Greg can help prevent the harrowing experiences he went through from happening to others.

“You just don’t expect to bury your children,” Greg said.

“It’s just something you never want to go through.”

Greg and his wife Missey leaned on each other during the months after the murder. In the beginning it was difficult, Missey said, because it seemed that every time she’d be up, Greg would be down. And vice-versa.

“We allow each other the space we need to be able to cope with it or to be able to heal,” Missey said. “Because we all deal with it differently.”

Both Greg and Missey agree that the murder of their daughter is not something they can quickly get over. But they know they have to go on with their life because they still have two children attending SM West and one of their two oldest daughters just gave them their first granddaughter. But no day is easy for Greg.

“We say we haven’t moved on, we just go on,” Greg said.

“That’s probably a pretty good description of what it’s like. Every morning when I wake up I think, for a second, that everything’s great and then this thought comes smashing into my head that Kelsey’s not here anymore. I live with that every day. It’s a feeling I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

*** It was June 2, 2007. Greg began making the family dinner while Kelsey was out buying an anniversary present for her boyfriend. The family rule was that if someone leaves the house, they have to tell another family member where they’re going. If they change locations they have to call or text someone and let them know where they were going next. So when 10, then 20, and then nearly 30 minutes had passed without hearing from Kelsey, the family grew worried.

“Kelsey was perfect on that,” Greg said. “She missed one time and when she did she got grounded and she never did it again.”

Calling all the surrounding police departments and hospitals was Greg’s next step. He was checking to see if her name was in their records or if anyone had come in contact with her. No one had heard from his daughter.

Greg’s parents, who live near the Target store she had been shopping at, went to the parking lot to check if they saw her car. They found her car, but Kelsey was not inside.

The family and police all arrived at the scene around the same time. No one was sure what exactly had happened to Kelsey.

“Originally, there wasn’t any evidence at all that indicated she had been kidnapped,” Greg said. “She was just missing, and we didn’t know under what circumstances.”

That night was full of providing statements, Greg said, and worrying about their 18-year-old daughter. Being in law enforcement at the time of Kelsey’s murder, Greg wished he could get in there and work on the case himself although he knew that was out of the question. He knew all the procedures that they were taking. When a child is missing, Greg says, it is standard for the police to suspect the parents at first.

The Smiths gave their statements to police and were able to

COPING AFTER KELSEY

U.S. History teacher Greg Smith works through loss of his daughter

get themselves in the clear so police could search for whoever did this to their daughter.

Nearly 24 hours later, the police could finally tell on the surveillance video that this was a kidnapping, Greg said.

That’s when the searching began. Siblings, friends, neighbors, even people who had never met Kelsey began showing up to help look for her. In the last two hours of searching they had nearly 600 people showing up every hour to help.

*** June 6, 2007. It had been four days since Kelsey went missing. Four days of worrying. Four days of searching.

“I had been getting calls during the day from the police department,” Greg said, “asking various questions that I knew probably weren’t ‘good news’ questions. What color were her tennis shoes? What had she had to eat that day? Things that led me to believe they were talking about stomach content.

Things that I’d rather not think about but it’d help identify her.”

Later that day Greg received a call from the detective supervisor from Overland Park saying he needed to stop by the house. Greg asked if this was going to be bad news. The supervisor simply said it wasn’t something he’s going to want to hear and he should get his family ready for it.

The family waited for the supervisor in their driveway.

When he arrived, he told the family the bad news. Kelsey’s body had been laying in the woods near Long View Lake for the past four days.

“We were still in a daze probably for a month,” Greg said.

“We just went through and did things that needed to be done.”

The searching was over but the Smiths still looked back on those four days of agony and stress know it could have been shortened.

The cell phone company would not release the coordinates of Kelsey’s cell phone, Greg said. If they would have known the area of her cell phone, it could have narrowed down the search area, helping find her sooner, Greg said. Once the company released the information, it took only 45 minutes to find her body.

“If they could have gotten that information to us faster, it wouldn’t have saved her life,” Greg said. “But she wouldn’t have had to lay out there for four days either.”

*** Four days of agony for the Smiths have turned into ground breaking legislation for four states. The Kelsey Smith Act forces cell phone companies to release location information to the police if a person is missing. The Smiths were able to get the act passed in Kansas in 2009. Since then it has been passed in Nebraska, Minnesota, New Jersey and New Hamp-

ClaireWahrer

shire. North Dakota and Missouri have shown interest in this act and have begun the process of passing it. The Smiths hope both states will do just that within a year.

Greg is now running for State Representative for District 22. He says he’s always been outspoken about his thoughts in politics. With his experience from explaining the Kelsey Smith Act to countless committees, public speaking and public interaction aren’t something he gets anxious about.

After grieving the loss of his daughter Greg hopes he is able to make changes in Kansas laws to help keep others safe so no one has to go through what he and his family had to.

He thinks there are a lot more things that we can do to make people’s quality of life better.

“Because we are hearing all these stories how now that the law’s been passed it’s saving other peoples lives, I kind of came to the realization that if you want to get anything done you’ve got to do it yourself,” Greg said.

*** If Greg wins the election in November, he will have to get a long term sub while the State Representatives meet to cover for his career now—teaching. Before Kelsey’s murder, Greg had already started taking classes to get his teaching license.

By now, Greg realizes that teaching has helped him get over the loss. By the end of 2007, Greg was student teaching at SM West.

“Being able to be in that environment and know how much fun she had while she was in high school and know that I was walking in the same places she’s been walking... I think that really did help me,” Greg said.

Teaching had always been in the plans for Greg, who is in his first year of doing so at East. He also thinks it is a better alternative for himself than law enforcement because he says he was getting older but the criminals were still young.

“I like it because I like working with kids,” Greg said. “To me Kelsey is forever 18. So being able to work with teenagers is kind of like being around Kelsey all the time.”

Sometimes it’s difficult for Greg to even walk the halls at school. Missey thinks the days when students are getting ready for school dances or preparing to march in band—the things Kelsey loved the most—are hard on Greg.

“If I’m in a tense situation or I’m worried about something, I find myself reaching down there and grabbing [my necklace],” Greg said. “It’s just rubbing my finger over Kelsey’s thumb print. You can actually feel the ridges so it’s just kind of a physical thing I can touch that actually was part of Kelsey at one time. That’s the connection.”

FEATURES CorbinBarnds

It’s 3 a.m.

Senior Prarthana Dalal is slowly waking to the sound of her alarm, she must get back to work. In just a few hours, her Canto depicting Dante’s Inferno is due for Mr. Pulsinelli, her sophomore English teacher at the time. Tonight she plans not to go to sleep but rather take intermittent naps throughout her work: write for two hours, nap for two hours, repeat. Although this isn’t nearly a nightly occurrence for Prarthana, she won’t stop working until she truly believes that she has done the best work of which she is capable.

Ranked second in the class, Dalal can’t remember an occasion where she has told anyone of her rank, and at the time she isn’t even sure of her GPA; that’s not what matters to her. Unlike many other students sitting atop their class, Dalal knows that neither number nor rank personifies a student.

“I don’t think my rank necessarily reflects my intelligence,” Dalal said. “I think everyone is just as intelligent as everyone else. It’s just the effort or hard work that makes the difference.

You do your homework and you do what’s needed and everything takes care of itself.”

Although colleges and universities use GPA and class rank to judge a student, it is almost never a completely fair and accurate tool since students all throughout the country have figured out the game of inflating GPAs and the raising ranks that come with them.

Dalal’s nonchalant take on class rank and GPA is hard to come by, since when it comes to the top ranks of the class, the final spots are very competitive. Associate principal Steve Loe knows that many students at East are focused too much on the grade rather than the knowledge.

“It depends on the student, but I think this is driven by our society and the very selective universities who demand a certain GPA as a requirement,” Loe said. “I think this does force a student to make a decision where they are more focused on a 4.0 and not completely focused on the subject” Dalal doesn’t worry about class rank partially because she

knows that she has more to offer than her colleagues. At East, Dalal is a member of orchestra, debate and most notably she performs research and has for the past five years.

When Dalal first started her research, most of her fellow middle schoolers’ after-school plans consisted of sitting in front of a TV until dinner was served, not getting driven to Children’s Mercy Hospital to spend their time under a microscope scrutinizing cells alongside students almost done with their college degree. When Dalal first began her research in eighth grade, she may have been way over her head but just like she has in every other challenging situation, she adapted.

After one year at Children’s Mercy, Dalal’s focus shifted; the lab she had worked in had a focus in kidneys, but Dalal found an interest in hemoglobin, which led her to KU Medical Center. Ever since her freshman year, Dalal could be found there.

Dalal’s change of focus can be credited to her first hand experience of seeing what hemoglobin can do. The summer entering high school, Dalal volunteered at a Red Cross Center in India. Although her time was spent behind a desk through paperwork, she saw the many patients suffering from the disease.

Not many eighth graders can grab the attention of professional researchers in search of a job opportunity, but Dalal did.

For most of her life Dalal has competed in and finished very well in numerous science fairs but most noticeably was a fair she competed in two years ago. As a sophomore, Dalal traveled to the International Science and Engineering Fair. Here against 1,500 other brilliant high school minds, Dalal got fourth in the Medicine and Health Sciences sub-division.

When looking at Dalal’s extra-curricular activities, it is hard to imagine that a student that volunteers so much time after school can manage to position themselves second in the class.

“Research shows that students who take academics seriously and do their job in the classroom as well as do extra curricular activities - research shows that this correlates with

issue 4

15

success post high school,” Loe said. “Those students know how to go the extra mile.”

Although Dalal hasn’t made positioning herself atop the class an objective, she has done exactly that. Not by stacking her schedule with relatively easier honors credits but by her work ethic.

“I don’t think I’ve worked for my class rank; my class rank is something that was never a goal of mine, to necessarily be top of the class,” Dalal said. “It’s worked out that way and I’m definitely very proud of it.”

Ever since the years when Dalal’s grade cards consisted of little more than pluses or minuses, A look at her accomplishments Dalal believes that throughout four years of high school she has absolutely worked as hard as Band for four years. she possibly could of and if she were First place in the given the chance, Junior Science and Huwouldn’t change a nanities Symposium. thing.

“I think a lot of In September, Dalal kids throughout the was nominated for world don’t have Homecoming queen. the opportunity to do anything that Science trophy- SMSD they want,” Dalal Research and Desaid. “I’m really forvelopment Forum: tunate that I do and Zicregni Award 2009 it makes me want Freshman year- Outto make sure that I standing novice award make use of those for debate. opportunities.”

Dalal’s achievements

1 2 3 4 5

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4

Balancing Act 5 Senior Prarthana Dalal is ranked number two in the senior class, but still finds time for extracurriculars and research

DanStewart

When were you born?

5

Class of 2011 Trend

4 3 4.5

4.0

2

3.5

Birth Month

enter freshman year that’s it--you’re going to have the same amount of talent and size.”

But neither Dodd nor senior Will Severns see any difference that age might make. Severns is a varsity baseball and football player born on April 23, 1992. He’ll be 19 years old before many of his classmates turn 18 years old. In middle school, he had a big advantage on everyone else because he grew earlier. But now everyone has grown and has caught up to him, even though he started out as a stud.

“Maybe if I ever had an advantage, it was when I was way younger, Severns said. “Like when everyone was developing. It’s pretty much equal now.”

Of course, age alone doesn’t determine if you’re an A- or D-student; a C-team or varsity cross-country runner. There are so many other factors that contribute to success according to both Dr. Krawitz and Kurle.

“I believe the biggest reasons people succeed isn’t due to their intelligence,” Dr. Krawitz said. “It’s a person’s work ethic, commitment, vision and motivation which can make the most difference.”

Being younger isn’t entirely a disadvantage according to senior Prarthana Dalal. She is a full year younger than her classmates yet ranked second in the class. She doesn’t mind being the youngest.

“I don’t associate my chronological age with myself,” Dalal said. “I see it more as a collective grade. Plus succeeding or falling behind in school really depends on the individual and their personality.”

Furthermore, in a Swedish 2005 study, starting school earlier was associated with better long-term outcomes. It argues that early investment in learning and other skills improves the outcome of the individuals life both mentally and economically. Sophomore Matthew

. ‘9 3 ct O

ly

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1

Information courtesy of the Dr. Krawitz

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Ju

they come back as sophomores the next year is substantial.

“There’s a huge difference that develops, say, over the few months in summer break,” Engelbrick said. “A little bit of time can make a huge difference in their ability to stay focused.”

Studies done in the 1980s such as those conducted by Diamond and Sweetland and Desimone found that even a few months in age can be linked to significant differences in test scores. And a study conducted by Maddux, Stacey and Scott noted that children at a lower end of an age group are less likely to be labeled “gifted.”

However, Gifted teacher Alexander Migliazzo sees no correlation between relative age and giftedness.

“I’ve had younger kids that show as much academic achievement and intellectual curiosity as older ones,” Migliazzo said. “I usually can’t tell how old students are in relation to their classmates.”

An extra year in preschool allows children time to master more difficult concepts before more are thrown at them when they hit elementary school, according to the New York Times article. In fact, test scores of older children are greater by four to seven percentile points in the tenth grade according to the studies mentioned above.

“In some cases, obviously, the older you are the more chance you have to be exposed to knowledge,” Principal Karl Krawitz said. “You’re simply more mature, cognitively and developmentally.”

Being older often means being bigger, and bigger is almost always an advantage in sports. This is another common reason parents hold their children back. And by looking at Outlier’s example of hockey players, it seems to be true. In the National Hockey League, 40 percent of players are born within the first quarter of the year, while only 10 percent are born in the last quarter of the year.

Some students at Shawnee Mission East think that the playing field has been leveled out by now. But a Harbinger analysis of the birthdays of senior Varsity soccer boys revealed that 53 percent of their birthdays were in May through September of 1992. Only 13 percent were born in May through July of 1993.

Junior Caroline Dodd’s birthday is August 10, which still gives her a six-month head start on most of her other classmates. She’s played basketball since third grade and soccer since kindergarten--and excelled at both.

“I’ve always been tall for my class,” Dodd said. “I guess it gave me an advantage in stuff like basketball and soccer. But I think that it makes a bigger difference in boys since us girls are all about the same height now.”

Had Malcolm Gladwell studied Dodd, he would’ve pointed out that since she was always older and therefore taller, she was good at basketball from a young age. Therefore, she pursued it and got onto better teams. These teams increased her skill level to a point where she could make Varsity as a junior at East.

Likewise, kids who are relatively younger have disadvantages sheerly due to less physical growth.

“I’ve always been smaller than everyone else,” junior Tyler Germann said. “I’m not, like, as buff or strong as they are.”

In the summer between middle school and high school, Germann grew almost four inches. He was skinny and not used to his body being so long. In the weight room, it was a struggle to lift as much as the older, bigger boys.

“For boys, [age] is a huge deal,” Kurle said. “But for girls, once they

. ‘9 3

Continued from page one

When they first send them to kindergarten, parents are forced to make an important decision for their child. Should they send little 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 Johnny with a June birthday to school yet, or hold him back? According to a recent article in the New York Times, parents are increasingly torn between sending their child off to school or keeping them back for fear that they will be smaller and slower than the rest of their classmates.

“It’s hard to lay down a straight rule for holding your kid back from school, because each case is different,” Psychology /91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 AP teacher Kelli Kurle said. “But I see a lot of boys held back because they mature slower than girls. Parents do it in hope that he’ll have an advantage in sports when he gets older.”

Junior twins Emily and Reid Frye were about to enter kindergarten when they suddenly had to switch school districts due to class size. The kindergarten cut-off date was 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 too close to the kids’ birthday for their mother Amy Frye to send them off to school.

“The cutoff date for our kids was May 1,” Amy said.

“Everyone had warned me that twins would be behind anyways. They were shy as kids, too, so that extra year on everyone really helped them socially mature.”

The Fryes’ birthday was in May of 1992, making 92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 them older than some of their classmates by a full Relax: There isn’t year. Emily enjoys being older than her classmates, any data as to not because she thinks she has an advantage, but for the privileges associated with age. advantages or October — December “The coolest part is getting to drive and getdisadvantages in ting a car,” Emily said. “And I guess voting too. your age group.

But [sophomore] Matthew Williamson is in my 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 Calc BC class and he’s the always ahead of us, so July — September I don’t think academic success really depends on age.”

Do you No? Oh According to Emily, some kids like WilYeah, play well. You liamson are lucky, and even though they’re I’m a baseball should. younger, they can keep up with the pack. stud. or soccer?

But some are always at a disadvantage.

January — March 92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 These are the children that mature later You’re at an advantage: most professional soccer and are constantly playing catch-up with and baseball players have birthdays near yours. their classmates.

Yes April — June According to Kurle, a few months You play can make a significant difference sohockey, eh? cially and academically. Six months got sent off to 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 I5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 can make an obvious difference in My mommy Kindergarten.

Congrats! 40% maturity and size, especially for of NHL hockey held me back. boys. The older kids in her class are players have noticably more confident and bigbirthdays near You’ll be the yours. ger than their younger counterUh, no. Why Sweet. You’re now older last to get your parts, especially the boys.

Well, now you’re the do you ask? than all your friends. driver’s license. youngest in your class.

Counselor Lilli Engelbrick What now?

92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92But 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 hey, it’s okay. agrees. She said that she’s never Boy or Girl: You’ve probably grown all you specifically looked for tradeJust wondering. You’re Girl will, so there’s no real consequences. marks of age differences bein the middle of the tween students, but the difBoy: You have a head start in academic school year, ference between maturity in sports. So take advantage of it! lucky you. young freshmen and when

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Recent findings suggest that relative age has bearing on success in athletics, academics

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Average AP Test Score Average U.S. History AP Test Score

Williamson is near the top of his class and is scoring well in many classes that his fellow students may not take until their senior year, like Chemistry 2 AP and Calc BC AP. “I want to take as difficult classes as possible,” Williamson said.

“The normal-level classes just aren’t challenging enough. I don’t feel like I have any sort of disadvantage as far as tests and grades go, but it’s just awkward being the only sophomore in my class.”

For Dalal, being the youngest is not only a different experience age-wise, but also has genuine pros such as being ahead in school comparatively to her age.

“I’m the oldest one at home, so I feel like I get a different experience at school,” Dalal said. “Career-wise, I have one year of extra time to use.”

Kurle believes that benefits of holding kids back depends from kid to kid, and that any psychological impact depends more on birth order than anything else. The oldest child will usually work harder and have a more competitive attitude than his or her siblings. The middle child is less so; he’s more watered down and less intense than his big brother or sister. And according to Kurle, by the time you get to the third or fourth child, it’s obvious that they have tried to keep up with their older siblings and so are ahead of their classmates. But by the time they reach high school, everyone has caught up with them.

“It’s hard to quantitate maturity and intelligence in high school,” Kurle said. “Each kid is different.”

Dr. Krawitz agrees. He believes that while age can have an affect especially in sports, it doesn’t predetermine an individual’s success.

“There is absolutely no standardized test in the world,” Dr. Krawitz said, “that can measures a person’s heart.”

When were you born?

5

Class of 2011 Trend

4 3 4.5

4.0

2

3.5

Birth Month

enter freshman year that’s it--you’re going to have the same amount of talent and size.”

But neither Dodd nor senior Will Severns see any difference that age might make. Severns is a varsity baseball and football player born on April 23, 1992. He’ll be 19 years old before many of his classmates turn 18 years old. In middle school, he had a big advantage on everyone else because he grew earlier. But now everyone has grown and has caught up to him, even though he started out as a stud.

“Maybe if I ever had an advantage, it was when I was way younger, Severns said. “Like when everyone was developing. It’s pretty much equal now.”

Of course, age alone doesn’t determine if you’re an A- or D-student; a C-team or varsity cross-country runner. There are so many other factors that contribute to success according to both Dr. Krawitz and Kurle.

“I believe the biggest reasons people succeed isn’t due to their intelligence,” Dr. Krawitz said. “It’s a person’s work ethic, commitment, vision and motivation which can make the most difference.”

Being younger isn’t entirely a disadvantage according to senior Prarthana Dalal. She is a full year younger than her classmates yet ranked second in the class. She doesn’t mind being the youngest.

“I don’t associate my chronological age with myself,” Dalal said. “I see it more as a collective grade. Plus succeeding or falling behind in school really depends on the individual and their personality.”

Furthermore, in a Swedish 2005 study, starting school earlier was associated with better long-term outcomes. It argues that early investment in learning and other skills improves the outcome of the individuals life both mentally and economically. Sophomore Matthew

. ‘9 3 ct O

ly

‘9 3

1

Information courtesy of the Dr. Krawitz

11/92 11/92 11/92

Ju

they come back as sophomores the next year is substantial.

“There’s a huge difference that develops, say, over the few months in summer break,” Engelbrick said. “A little bit of time can make a huge difference in their ability to stay focused.”

Studies done in the 1980s such as those conducted by Diamond and Sweetland and Desimone found that even a few months in age can be linked to significant differences in test scores. And a study conducted by Maddux, Stacey and Scott noted that children at a lower end of an age group are less likely to be labeled “gifted.”

However, Gifted teacher Alexander Migliazzo sees no correlation between relative age and giftedness.

“I’ve had younger kids that show as much academic achievement and intellectual curiosity as older ones,” Migliazzo said. “I usually can’t tell how old students are in relation to their classmates.”

An extra year in preschool allows children time to master more difficult concepts before more are thrown at them when they hit elementary school, according to the New York Times article. In fact, test scores of older children are greater by four to seven percentile points in the tenth grade according to the studies mentioned above.

“In some cases, obviously, the older you are the more chance you have to be exposed to knowledge,” Principal Karl Krawitz said. “You’re simply more mature, cognitively and developmentally.”

Being older often means being bigger, and bigger is almost always an advantage in sports. This is another common reason parents hold their children back. And by looking at Outlier’s example of hockey players, it seems to be true. In the National Hockey League, 40 percent of players are born within the first quarter of the year, while only 10 percent are born in the last quarter of the year.

Some students at Shawnee Mission East think that the playing field has been leveled out by now. But a Harbinger analysis of the birthdays of senior Varsity soccer boys revealed that 53 percent of their birthdays were in May through September of 1992. Only 13 percent were born in May through July of 1993.

Junior Caroline Dodd’s birthday is August 10, which still gives her a six-month head start on most of her other classmates. She’s played basketball since third grade and soccer since kindergarten--and excelled at both.

“I’ve always been tall for my class,” Dodd said. “I guess it gave me an advantage in stuff like basketball and soccer. But I think that it makes a bigger difference in boys since us girls are all about the same height now.”

Had Malcolm Gladwell studied Dodd, he would’ve pointed out that since she was always older and therefore taller, she was good at basketball from a young age. Therefore, she pursued it and got onto better teams. These teams increased her skill level to a point where she could make Varsity as a junior at East.

Likewise, kids who are relatively younger have disadvantages sheerly due to less physical growth.

“I’ve always been smaller than everyone else,” junior Tyler Germann said. “I’m not, like, as buff or strong as they are.”

In the summer between middle school and high school, Germann grew almost four inches. He was skinny and not used to his body being so long. In the weight room, it was a struggle to lift as much as the older, bigger boys.

“For boys, [age] is a huge deal,” Kurle said. “But for girls, once they

. ‘9 3

Continued from page one

When they first send them to kindergarten, parents are forced to make an important decision for their child. Should they send little 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 11/91 Johnny with a June birthday to school yet, or hold him back? According to a recent article in the New York Times, parents are increasingly torn between sending their child off to school or keeping them back for fear that they will be smaller and slower than the rest of their classmates.

“It’s hard to lay down a straight rule for holding your kid back from school, because each case is different,” Psychology /91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 12/91 AP teacher Kelli Kurle said. “But I see a lot of boys held back because they mature slower than girls. Parents do it in hope that he’ll have an advantage in sports when he gets older.”

Junior twins Emily and Reid Frye were about to enter kindergarten when they suddenly had to switch school districts due to class size. The kindergarten cut-off date was 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 1/92 too close to the kids’ birthday for their mother Amy Frye to send them off to school.

“The cutoff date for our kids was May 1,” Amy said.

“Everyone had warned me that twins would be behind anyways. They were shy as kids, too, so that extra year on everyone really helped them socially mature.”

The Fryes’ birthday was in May of 1992, making 92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 2/92 them older than some of their classmates by a full Relax: There isn’t year. Emily enjoys being older than her classmates, any data as to not because she thinks she has an advantage, but for the privileges associated with age. advantages or October — December “The coolest part is getting to drive and getdisadvantages in ting a car,” Emily said. “And I guess voting too. your age group.

But [sophomore] Matthew Williamson is in my 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 3/92 Calc BC class and he’s the always ahead of us, so July — September I don’t think academic success really depends on age.”

Do you No? Oh According to Emily, some kids like WilYeah, play well. You liamson are lucky, and even though they’re I’m a baseball should. younger, they can keep up with the pack. stud. or soccer?

But some are always at a disadvantage.

January — March 92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 4/92 These are the children that mature later You’re at an advantage: most professional soccer and are constantly playing catch-up with and baseball players have birthdays near yours. their classmates.

Yes April — June According to Kurle, a few months You play can make a significant difference sohockey, eh? cially and academically. Six months got sent off to 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 I5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 5/92 can make an obvious difference in My mommy Kindergarten.

Congrats! 40% maturity and size, especially for of NHL hockey held me back. boys. The older kids in her class are players have noticably more confident and bigbirthdays near You’ll be the yours. ger than their younger counterUh, no. Why Sweet. You’re now older last to get your parts, especially the boys.

Well, now you’re the do you ask? than all your friends. driver’s license. youngest in your class.

Counselor Lilli Engelbrick What now?

92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92But 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 6/92 hey, it’s okay. agrees. She said that she’s never Boy or Girl: You’ve probably grown all you specifically looked for tradeJust wondering. You’re Girl will, so there’s no real consequences. marks of age differences bein the middle of the tween students, but the difBoy: You have a head start in academic school year, ference between maturity in sports. So take advantage of it! lucky you. young freshmen and when

ril

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Recent findings suggest that relative age has bearing on success in athletics, academics

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SPREAD 16 10-18-10

Average AP Test Score Average U.S. History AP Test Score

Williamson is near the top of his class and is scoring well in many classes that his fellow students may not take until their senior year, like Chemistry 2 AP and Calc BC AP. “I want to take as difficult classes as possible,” Williamson said.

“The normal-level classes just aren’t challenging enough. I don’t feel like I have any sort of disadvantage as far as tests and grades go, but it’s just awkward being the only sophomore in my class.”

For Dalal, being the youngest is not only a different experience age-wise, but also has genuine pros such as being ahead in school comparatively to her age.

“I’m the oldest one at home, so I feel like I get a different experience at school,” Dalal said. “Career-wise, I have one year of extra time to use.”

Kurle believes that benefits of holding kids back depends from kid to kid, and that any psychological impact depends more on birth order than anything else. The oldest child will usually work harder and have a more competitive attitude than his or her siblings. The middle child is less so; he’s more watered down and less intense than his big brother or sister. And according to Kurle, by the time you get to the third or fourth child, it’s obvious that they have tried to keep up with their older siblings and so are ahead of their classmates. But by the time they reach high school, everyone has caught up with them.

“It’s hard to quantitate maturity and intelligence in high school,” Kurle said. “Each kid is different.”

Dr. Krawitz agrees. He believes that while age can have an affect especially in sports, it doesn’t predetermine an individual’s success.

“There is absolutely no standardized test in the world,” Dr. Krawitz said, “that can measures a person’s heart.”

FEATURES

18

10-18-10

SammiKelly

spinning into a sensation

bike trails

around

KC

DUNCAN MacLACHLAN

“I’ve ridden portions of the Kadie Trail in Missouri. Most of the trail is lined by trees and they’re several bridges so you can go over small creeks and small rivers that are really pretty. It’s really secluded.”

JEEMIN KIM

kids.

“I originally intended it to be a group of friends and then I decided it would be a lot more fun to do it with everyone,” Byer said.

Byer plans on making the first meeting an introduction to cycling followed by a casual ride. The club will split into two groups—the Lance Armstrong and ---- groups. The Armstrong group will be for those with more experience and have cycled for a longer period of time. The other group will be for those who are more recreational bikers. The groups plan to ride around Shawnee Mission Park and eventually graduate to trails.

“The club is for people to hang out and have fun,” Byer said.

Byer is trying to start something where kids can hang out and have fun while pedaling along. It is something Byer takes seriously. He does not want kids to show up and not be willing to ride. “[The cycling club] is one of the very few clubs where people get to leave school and, ride bikes and hang out,” MacLachlan said.

Byer has a plan for the club to grow substantially. The only down side of a big group is that the places to ride are limited.

With a large group, it is more difficult to ride to farther places.

If Byer gets enough bikers with experience it will be possible to travel in a large clan.

Byer thinks that the toughest challenge is going to be keeping everyone focused. Although this club is partially social time; it is a time to share cycling with others. He worries that people will come and not do anything, and instead spend time to talk and not actually ride their bikes.

“I want to make the group as big as possible,” Byer said. “It would be great to get a group of people that want to ride for fun and do not goof around.”

“There’s this trail I really like by Deer Creek Woods called Indian Creek Trail. It’s really calm and there’s rarely any people which is really nice. It’s pretty much just asphalt most of the way with plenty of hills and it’s really woodsy.”

MAX HOFMEISTER

soph.

the

best

a large role in Byer’s passion for cycling. When Byer was very young, his father would take him on bike rides in parks instead of walking like the average family. These experiences are what impacted Byer in 7th and 8th grade to ride on trails.

“Bike riding is a good way to relieve stress, it feels like you are flying,” Byer said. “It is so much more rewarding than being in a car because you are actually doing the work.”

Byer has ridden his bike for the past couple of years to school. Byer would take the mile ride each day to school as it was a more effective than walking. Byer said that cycling is a hobby that he has enjoyed for the fact that it is a faster alternative to walking and that it is fun to navigate in the neighborhoods. Byer has spent much of his time----(going to elaborate on this) “Towards the end of the summer I decided to make the club,” Byer said. “I noticed that my friends liked to bike as well and it would be a cool thing to hang out with them.”

When finding a sponsor, the decision was not too difficult.

Byer knew Biology teacher Kimberly VanNice from last year.

Byer decided that she was a nice and helpful person to have in the club and would be willing to be in-charge of supervision.

“As a sponsor, I will have the duties of coordinating the meeting and budget any money that the club gets during fundraisers or other events,” VanNice said.

Byer and MacLachlan would like to eventually start charity events related to cycling.

“I want to plan a fundraising or charity event with SHARE or Coalition,” Byer said. “I think that it would be a cool thing to raise money while doing something I love.”

At the club meet-and-greet during seminar, Byer and his co-president, Sophomore Emily Sneed were decked out in sunglasses. Byer was wearing his red and black helmet trying to generate interest. They held up their handmade signs in effort to make the new club known. At the end of the seminar session, the sign-up sheet had a whopping list of 45 names of

soph.

As Sophomore Stefano Byer sits at the table next to his friend, Sophomore Duncan MacLachlan at BRGR, an idea comes to mind.

Byer and MacLachlan discuss their plans for the upcoming school year, the things they wish to accomplish and an idea comes to mind.

Their casual conversation in a restaurant in early August was a launching pad for what was to come later –the cycling club.

Byer had to make the first step: getting the club form signed. Byer made his way to the book-keeping office where (name of book-keeper) gave Byer the full instructions on the proper way to fill out the form.

He was to have it signed by Principal Dr. Krawitz, a sponsor, and the assistant super- intendent.

The request was nearly denied. “[The club coordinators] didn’t think we would take it seriously,” Byer said.

Dr. Krawitz indicated to Byer that the club had a few flaws in that it is a club that takes place outside of school and may bring upon potential dangers.

Byer rewrote a portion of the paperwork clarifying where they would be riding and that the school would not be responsible for any accidents occurring during the bike rides. After establishing that the club would not be directly associated with the school and thus the school would not be liable for accidents the club was closer to finally forming.

“I understand the school’s concern for the liability issues and the potential danger that it might have,” Byer said. “I was surprised that it was almost rejected but I am glad that the club was able to be established.”

Byer fell in love with the idea of bike riding at a young age.

His mother taught him how to ride his bike at the age of seven in Raleigh, NC. While Byer’s mother taught him to ride, his father played

new cycling club gains popularity

soph.

AnneWillman

“I like to ride my bike in Shawnee Mission Park because there are lot of long open trails and not a whole lot of people.

In the morning there’s mist coming off the river and it looks really cool.”

FEATURES issue 4

A NEW STOMPING GROUND EmilyKerr

It’s 3:15 p.m. and Hip Hop Club’s biweekly meeting has begun. Tossing one-liners and jokes at each other, the girls take their place before the dance mirror. They stop their laughing and stand confidently in formation.

“Attention E-A-S-T,” sophomore Mitchelle Ndegwa called.

Three claps to the right. A stomp with a clap between the legs. A quick turn followed by another stomp.

“We are the Y-O-U-N-G-S-T-A-R-Z,” the other girls responded while completing these moves.

The stomping stops and the easygoing atmosphere returns. Comments on each other’s nails are exchanged as they continue to absentmindedly stretch. It seems as if that complicated stomp just performed was second nature to them. But underneath this smooth exterior, there is a story of hard work.

The Youngstarz Hip Hop Club was started last spring by Ndegwa and sophomore Keisha Layton. They wanted a way of showcasing their love of hip hop dancing by performing at pep assemblies. None of them had much of a professional dancing background, and therefore didn’t feel prepared enough to try out for drill team. Although they aren’t specifically a stomp club, they plan on making that a main component.

“Our stomp is going to be at the beginning, like our signature thing,” Ndegwa said. “Kind of like how the Lancer Dancers dance to the fight song, well that will be like the stomp for us.

Stomping is just like stomping your feet on the ground with clapping and putting a beat to it, without looking crazy.”

After deciding on the main parts of their club, they took their idea to Krawitz and were approved three days before school let out. It was at that point that the group encountered their first road block.

“We had trouble finding sponsors and then having something to present to them because you can’t just go in there and be like ‘oh I want a hip hop dance club,’” Ndegwa said. “Starting out with a basic plan for ourselves was the hardest part.”

After many discussions of what their club would be they took their idea to industrial technology teacher Shaban Scott, science teacher Rubye Davis and the former athletic director Jim Ricker. All of them agreed, and Ricker emerged as the main sponsor and helps the girls by providing guidance on how the club should function.

“Right now we are trying to get these kids to see the same goal or have the same vision for what they want the hip hop club to look like,” Ricker said. “Being mostly sophomores they are just learning that sometimes leadership is making that first hard decision about the way things

19

DanStewart

Students hope to start Young Starz, a Hip-Hop dance club at East

have to go.”

Leadership has definitely proven to be an issue for this club. They have learned that leading a group of independent dancers can prove harder than performing the difficult moves such as the “Jerk.”

“It used to be so chaotic,” Ndegwa said. “There were times when I would just leave and stand outside and wait for them to finish talking. I couldn’t do it.”

After several disagreements over who had a say in the dances, Ndegwa and sophomore Keisha Layton decided to do something about it.

“Keisha and I had the idea of having meetings after practice and just saying how it went and if we got anything done,” Ndegwa said. “This has helped a lot because everyone feels like they have a say in everything and we get along more.”

On the bright side, their differences have brought the group variety in their dances.

“We all have different personalities,” Ndegwa said. “It’s just the way we are. Diamond, the freshman is fun and exuberant and bounces everywhere. It’s funny to watch her dance because her hip hop isn’t really on point or stiff, it’s more energetic. Keisha has her own little swag to her moves and has to put a sway in everything. For Julie, she’s a bit shyer so her moves are more timid but still on point and for me, I try to hit every beat.”

Despite the girls being able to work well together, there is still the issue of size. They originally started with five girls, but lost one of them when she transferred. Since then, dancers have come and go, but other than the originals, not many have shown commitment.

“When I first started this club, I thought it would be easy,” Layton said. “But it’s actually been difficult. One day someone will say that they are in the club and the next day they will drop out.

It’s like a roller coaster.”

In hopes to increase interest, they have been having donut sales on Fridays and plan on hosting tryouts in the near future. Their hopes are that they can have at least 12 members before they perform at pep assemblies.

In the mean time, the girls will continue to meet twice a week in the dance room to perfect their dances and to talk about their goals.

“After we graduate we want it to stick,” Ndegwa said. “We have one freshman and we make it so clear to her that she has to take control when we graduate. We want it to stay at East and be a signature thing. We want it to be like when you hear of the Lancer Dancers you also hear of the hip hop club.”

A&E 20 10-18-10

delizioso dining Staffer reviews four unique local pizza places

spin

5391 Main St, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, (816) 561-7746

F

rom the second I walked in, I felt as if I was downtown. The intricate paintings on the wall were subliminally grungy. The giant mural on the wall and the exposed wood planks nailed to the ceiling gave the place an industrial feel. I was pleasantly surprised with the quick service and more specifically the friendly servers, because I was immediately escorted to my spacious table.

At Spin, you’re able to get in line at the register and order your meal right away, so there is no monotonous waiting for a busy server to bring menus only to disappear for another 15 minutes. From all of the different combinations that I was offered as I looked at the menu, I eventually decided on the Salsiccia con Mela, which is Italian for sausage and apples and

caramelized pecans.

When the concoction on pizza crust came out, I found myself feeling rather hesitant. The pizza looked as if it was someone’s haphazard art project.

But after I finally took the first bite, I was amazed.

The mixture of all the flavors somehow worked together to create one delicious taste. The apples were cooked as if they held every flavor possible. There was no goopy sauce to deal with so the pizza proved easy to eat.

Yet again, the multiple tastes of the pizza were over powered by massive amounts of pepper which was not to my liking. Pepper is not exactly my favorite but this pizza is perfect for anyone who does. The sausage had pepper, the crust had

pepper and the whole pizza was topped with pepper. I felt as if I could never look at pepper again when I left there.

Overall, the place was a modern spot tucked into a strip near the Country Club Plaza that made a lasting impression of great gourmet restaurant.

pizza bella

1810 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 471-3300

P

izza Bella was by far my favorite when it came to the atmosphere of the restaurant. The large wooden ovens gave off a strong fire burning aroma that is carried throughout the entire place.

There was no wall facing the street which incorporated the closed-off and downtown feel of its location.

junior

Danielle Norton likes the

gluten

free

MENU AT SPIN STAR SCALE

senior

The workers were welcoming even though the girl at the door did not greet us. In her TOMS and loose baggy T-shirt, she gave off a very relaxed vibe.

All of the pizzas that were offered were really tough and liquid-y. The one that I chose was thicker than any of the rest I had tried. The pizza I got had a very strange version of pesto on it that just dripped all over the place.

There was no sauce other than that on the pizza, which made it unique to me.

The vegetables and herbs that were in the food tasted as if they were locally grown. The cheese was not all over the pizza - it was in slabs, as if they just cut a block of cheese and tossed

BETSY DEE

LIKES PIZZA BELLA’S

FUN FINGER food

CHECK PLEASE

AVERAGE

the pieces on top before setting in the oven. Being a bit tough was the only thing setting the crust from being perfect. It was light tasting and dry.

On a scale based on decor, Pizza Bella wins by a landslide.

It has such an earthy atmosphere and low volume that makes you feel at peace. There is not music playing but the city sounds are the music.

I would personally recommend this restaurant for anyone who is in the mood for a low-key environment and a light bite to eat. I would not suggest this for any big dates though.

While it is a fun environment, the food is not exactly going to impress anyone.

senior mikaila demetroulis

likes how at pizza napoli

YOU FEEL LIKE

you’re in ITALY DELIGHTFUL

junior

carolyn

welter

LIKES THE ENVIRONMENT

and the unique pizza AT BLUE GROTTO

CULINARY GENIUS

A&E

issue 4 PaigeHess Pizza joints outside of the realm of delivery and fast food have been cropping up all over the greater KC area in recent years. After hitting up four places to judge the quality myself, I realized how wide of a variety there is in toppings, sauces and styles. From home-style Italian villas to venues with thumping music and dimmed

T

21

lights to graphic-design heavy architecture and gourmet twists on old classics -the list goes on and on. Although I consider myself quite the pizza connoisseur, I was surprised by all the different atmospheres, not to mention the pizza that went along with them.

blue grotto

6324 Brookside Plaza Kansas City, MO 64113, (816) 361-3473

his upscale restaurant made me feel as if my North Face raincoat and black jeans were an embarrassment to wear and pushed me to the level of being a social pariah. I should have dressed to look older, was my first thought. This feeling distracted me from the unique decor. Everything from the booths to the stairs to the silverware were all sleekly designed. Although it was unique and fun, I felt extremely out of place.

Being a mere age of 16, I felt as if the staff looked down upon me for being in there. The 25-year-old crowd was just like the staff: stuck up and stand-offish. They were helpful, but definitely not the friendliest people I have ever encountered; it seemed like they were being forced to be nice to me, which, in a way, they were.

The entire place was centered around a giant wooden oven that climbed as tall as the second level. Surrounding the oven was preparation station for the cooks so you had the ability to watch them cook. It was very classy and modern feeling with the same menu as the others. I felt as if a jazzy band should have been playing out on the back deck.

When the pizza came out, you could tell it wasn’t an “original style” pizza. The crust was extremely thin and flat. I felt as if the chef threw the ingredients on my pizza thinking that I wouldn’t even notice how much it looked like a first grader created it.

But I did. The pieces were all different sizes as well as the crust. There was no cheese on it, nor was there much sauce.

This was the farthest thing from my preconceived idea of pizza. It was nothing even somewhat like the

usual delivery type or even oven-baked pizza. The pizza at hand had a rough chalky texture, along with the peppers that were so caramelized that they stuck to the roof of my mouth.

The only redeeming quality was that the sausage added a little kick to the bland taste of cardboard that they called pizza.

bella napoli

6229 Brookside Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64113,(816) 444-5041

O

ISAAC HENDRY likes how at spin

you can watch the chef

make your food

senior gillian o’connell loves GLOBS of mozzarella

PIZZA BELLA’S

on

junior

n the corner of Brookside Boulevard lies a quaint little pizza shop called Bella Napoli.

Due to the barely-visible sign, I nearly missed it the first time I walked by. Unlike the more contemporary restaurants that seem to be popping up every which way, this place was extremely homey and traditional. From the very second you open the doors, you feel as if you are in the Italy, the birth place of pizza.

There was hardly anyone there that Monday afternoon,

so we were free to sit wherever we wanted. The place very much fits in with the older established feel of Brookside. The dispassionate waitress came up to our table and handed us menus without much chitchat. I looked at the menu and felt as if I was a foreigner in another country, which judging by the atmosphere of the place, seemed pretty fitting.

The pizzas all had their Italian names and I had no idea what to pick. I finally decided on the Giovanni, which was tomato, sausage, peppers and caramelized onions.

The murmur of slow business was broken by the men in the attached Italian deli. The talkative guys were joking around and their laughter roared from within the neighbor-

margherita

pizza

ing shop. After what seemed like 30 minutes, the masterpiece of a pizza came out from the kitchen.

The first bite was the best part. The strong mixture of all the authentic Italian ingredients combined to make a delicious taste. But, the more I ate, the less I liked. The flavor became jaded after the first few bites. The sausage was drastically peppery and left us all with a serious case of bad breath.

Although this home-style Italian restaurant’s pizza was probably the best out of all the different places I tried even though, I still would only suggest going if you needed a small fix.

senior

CAROLINE DELLETT

loves Bella Napoli’s

Quattro Formaggi pizza

senior

callie hennig

likes how blue grotto makes simple pizzas TASTE REALLY GOOD

all photos by GrantHeinlein

22

MIXED

MIXED 10-18-10

a page about Halloween

What should I be for Halloween?

Boy

Girl

AndrewGoble

How much time do you have?

More than enough

Where are you?

Gorilla & Banana costume.

You wear the banana, and let your friend wear the gorilla. Constant mock terror will guarantee laughs

How much effort do you want to put in?

Prop Comic What kind of funny?

Clever Guy

Jock

Quiet, shy

Very little

Pop culture or timeless?

Timeless

Jersey Shore: “The Situation” costume

Antoine Dodson :Wear your favorite bandana and tank top, and constantly quote “Bed Intruder Remix.”

Dress up as a double rainrainbow. Constantly quote the YouTube video.

Smug

Not have to buy anything

Impress the most boys

Lady Gaga Do you own suspenders?

Teacher

Maid

Pop Culture

Timeless

Time to borrow stuff from your friends

Seriously?

Snooki from “Jersey Shore”

Cut-off t-shirt NASCAR fan

Of course I do

Be the most creative

What did you have in mind?

“This is my Halloween costume” t-shirt

Pirate The Devil

If that’s really your goal, the following boring professions become top-selling costumes for women when you add the word “sexy” in front of them.

What are the best activities to get costumes from?

Cheerleading Police Officer Is that something teenage girls are supposed to own? I don’t have any.

Of course

Uber-tight Superman costume

“Indie kid.”

Get your favorite concert tee, tight jeans, and horn-immed glasses. Mention made-up band names often.

Artie from “Glee” Pop culture

Switch clothes with your friend.

You’re now each other! Be sure to bring out the other person’s worst personality traits.

Want to show off your muscles?

Mime

Hey, when else is it acceptable to spend this much time on an outfit?

Professional athlete. Grab the sports jersey and go!

About to leave home

On my way to the party

What kind of guy are you?

Funny Man

What’s your goal?

Five minutes

Where’s Waldo?

Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz”

Nerd Fraternity “bro”

Justin Bieber

Octoberfest girl. Wear suspenders, a white button up, and your biggest boots.

Geek. Big glasses, and pocket protectors are other necessities.

Q. What is the craziest costume you have ever worn?

A. Last year I wore a geisha costume with dress, fan and chopsticks, the whole works. It

started out as a dare from my friend to try it on but I loved how random it looked so I got it.

Q. What is the strangest thing you have gotten trick-or-treating?

A. One year when I was little, a person put a CD in my Halloween bag. I was very upset until I played it. It was The Backstreet Boys. Best treat ever.

Q. Carving pumpkins, do you do it?

A. Three days before Halloween my siblings and I carve out each pumpkin. Normally we go with the patterns but one year I free-carved the Joker. It was pretty intimidating.

Q. All-time favorite candy?

A. Reese’s Pumpkins. The classic is just better with the festive shapes.

Minnie Mouse

Culinary Arts.

Attempt to wear the full white ensemble, hat included, and constantly use cooking show expressions.

“Bam!”

Football. Get an old jersey, a helmet, and some eye black.

Toga Costume!

30

seconds

Morgan Satterlee

with

junior

all photos by MarissaHorwitz

PHOTO ESSAY issue 4

making

LEAPS & BOUNDS

23

East gymnasts exceeded their expectations in a meet last Monday Casting a handstand, senior Katye Bever, above, then transitions onto a giant on the high bar. “I was really excited that I made the giant this year, because I hadn’t made it at the meet yet. As a group I think we did really really well. Everyone landed, and we placed well at the meet.”

GrantHeinlein Freshman Angela Bever, left, gets ready to perform her tumbling series on the balance beam. Bever led Junior Varsity to a first place finish in that event.

SamanthaBartow Opening her floor routine, Freshman Maddie Lage strikes a posefor the judges.

GrantHeinlein

East gymnasts, middle, prep for performing on the bars by chalking their hands.

GrantHeinlein

*THE 2010-2011 FEAST FOR EAST the event of the year

WHO: East parents, alums and community members WHAT:A KC-themed party and auction benefiting the SME Educational Excellence Fund WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010 6:30-10:00 p.m. $35 per person Ticket Info and RSVP WHERE: Milburn Country Club 7501 W. 69th St, Overland Park

WHY

* * *

*

to Mary Bahr

Raising Funds for Educational Growth and Development at SME marybahr@mac.com Special Drawings, Games and Traditional KC Barbeque Silent and Live Auction to find Holiday Gifts and practical everyday items

Battle Apple iPad

The iPad is a cool gadget--that’s for certain. Is it a great e-reader? Sure. Is it better than the Amazon Kindle as an e-reader? Probably not. The iPad, while boasting a more sleek and robust design than the competition, is guided by the principle that sometimes too much of a good thing can be a really good thing. Apple made the iPad downright awesome, with an endless array of possibilities that can be experienced at levels unparalleled by other comparable devices. They made a device that can do many tasks, and do them very well--instead of creating a device that can do one thing the best.

The benefits of the iPad are all results of its design for other uses. The one thing the Kindle can’t hold a candle to is the iPad’s graphics. The iPad is in full color and is able to refresh its screen up to 60 times a second, so for magazine and interactive WWW.APPLE.COM features, the Kindle’s 16 shades of gray do not even compare. The second feature that is absolutely in the iPad’s favor is its library. Not only do you have access to the iTunes library, but with the iPad you also have access to the entire Kindle library and the entire Barnes & Noble Nook library. So, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, just download the Kindle app for your iPad.

A&E

issue 4

25

a comparison of the latest in mobile technology TomLynch

Amazon Kindle

Amazon did it first, and they did it right. The Kindle is still the best e-reader out there. While it may only have 16 shades of gray, in the end that’s all it needs. Nothing comes closer to the smooth, comfortable look of paper than the Kindle and its e-ink. While the iPad technically has better contrast, the Kindle more successfully mimics newsprint and comes closer to the look of paper. Just like Amazon’s TV spot demonstrates, the iPad is darn near impossible to read in direct sunlight, but reading the Kindle in direct sunlight is as hard as reading a printed book in direct sunlight. The Kindle also isn’t refreshing at 60Hz which makes it a little bit easier to read for a prolonged time. Another feature that helps with readability, the battery life often lasting for weeks. The bottom line is that the Kindle was designed to do one thing, and it does that very well, so if you are wi nn just looking for an e-reader, the Kindle, with its around 450 doler lar cheaper price should be a no-brainer.

VS e-reader

Apple iPhone

WWW.AMAZON.COM

HTC Evo 4G

VS

When you think of the most cutting edge phone on the market today, you probably think of the Apple iPhone 4. And for good reason, from the moment the first photos of the newest version of the super-phone were leaked, the iPhone 4 has been getting acclaim as if it represents the second coming of Christ. But critics ask wouldn’t Christ have 4G support, which may be the iPhone’s only downfall.

Boasting over 250 thousand apps, the iPhone’s operating system supports nearly twice the amount of apps that Android, the mobile operating system by Google, and the one Evo utilizes, supports. Topping it all off, the iPhone’s retina display sports the sharpest resolution screen you will find on a mobile device.

The Evo 4G is Sprint’s response to the iPhone, and it one ups it--well at least in one respect: the Evo supports 4G. So, if you’re in a 4G area you will experience incredible speeds for a mobile device, but the chances of you being in one of those zones are not in your favor.

Another plus is the Evo’s operating system, Android, is much more open than the IOS4. If you can’t find an app in the store, you might be able to find one on the internet and download it straight to your phone. If you wanted to do that with your iPhone, you would have to go through the complicated process of jail-breaking it. Lastly, the Android has a whopping 4.3 inch screen compared to the iPhone’s 3.5 inches. The screen is so big that the Evo has a kickstand. Any phone that has a kickstand deserves to be lauded.

smart phone

ae Tom Lynch

&

A&E Page Editor

Aubrey Leiter

A&E Section Editor

wi

nn

Art & Design Editor

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STAFFERS SHARE A FEW OF THEIR FAVORITE THINGS What is your favorite Apple product?

What is your favorite song that never gets old?

What is your favorite fall TV show?

MacBook Pro It’s just so aesthetically pleasing.

“Pregnant” — R. Kelly

Grey’s Anatomy

iPod Classic

“You Make My Dreams”Hall and Oats

With over 160 GB, it can hold basically anything. Also, it serves the purpose of playing video and not just music.

Emma Pennington

er

iPhone Want to know the weather in Beijing? There’s an app for that.

Since urinating on concert-goers, R. Kelly has been staging his comeback with this jam telling listeners how much he wants to “knock [them] up.”

What comes to mind is Joseph Gordon-Levitt doing a dance sequence with an animated bird.

“Tubthumping”-Chumbawamba When I’m feeling down, I listen to this song and I get back up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.

It just keeps getting sexier.

Glee

The Britney Spears themed episode made my year.

Modern Family

What more could you want in a TV show than one big, happy, disfunctional family.

Favorite social networking site?

Xanga

Since seeing David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” I decided that I no longer care to support a creative property thief, and thus I’ve taken a trip back to the sixth grade

Twitter

It is the perfect site if you enjoy reading pointless information about people, and posting pointless information about yourself.

Facebook

I love stalking.

A&E 26 10-18-10

ONE PRIZED ANECDOTE

BobMartin

It started with Juno.

Ever since the 2007 film, there seems to have been a push for intellectual teen comedies. This is more than welcome.

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”, the new film from directing team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, follows in suit. The story, which revolves around a depressed 16-year-old who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital, looked fantastic from the first trailer.

Even more intriguing was that it featured

“one-man wolf pack” Zach Galifinakis in a dramatic role. Roughly two minutes of preview footage and I was convinced -- I had to see it.

Set in the vast landscape of New York City, “Funny Story” follows Craig (Keir Gilchrist), a teenager under the heavy pressure of attending one of the most selective public schools in the area. With a flurry of responsibilities on his mind, Craig collapses under the stress and ends up in an

A New ‘Take’ ZoeBrian

Legendary horror director Wes Craven, creator of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream” franchises, returns from hiatus with his new slasher flick “My Soul To Take.” While Craven has created a multitude of iconic moments in horror, this film will more likely be remembered as his biggest financial failure. That said, the movie is a surprising gem in the least respected genre: teen-horror.

“My Soul To Take” is set in Riverton, MA and centers around seven teens, known as the Riverton Seven, all born on the same day that the Riverton Ripper, a serial killer who’s story is told during the first 10 minutes of the movie, supposedly died. Now, sixteen years after his “death,” the Riverton Seven are picked off one by one. The main focus of the film is on two of the seven, outcasts Alex (John Magaro) and Bug (Max Theiriot). Alex is Bug’s only friend and ringleader of the two. Bug frequently blacks out, wakes up screaming and often says he sees things; basically he’s a bucket of neurosis.

The first half of the movie is more quirky-teen flick than horror film and seems to almost laugh at the teen-horror

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adult psychiatric unit. In a breakout performance, Gilchrist does an extraordinary job with the role by making Craig a perfectly relatable high school junior. Gilchrist never overacts despite the heavy plot at hand, and really masters the “stressed out teenager.”

This is largely due to the sharp writing and a script that doesn’t rely on teenage clichés to reach its audience. Nothing about these characters feels cardboard, and every bit of the story is something you could see happening to your own friends and peers, especially right here amongst the shining academics of Shawnee Mission East.

Mostly taking place inside the walls of a hospital, Craig is introduced to a cast of characters unlike anyone he’s ever known in his childhood. There’s the Hassidic Jew who took an acid trip and never recovered, the Columbia professor who lost her sanity after the passing of the Patriot Act, a yelling schizophrenic and beyond.

It’s also here that he meets Zach Galifinakis’s brilliant character Bobby. Showing his dramatic capability for the first time on film, Galifinakis nails this role, serving as a troubled father who struggles to find work and even a home for himself. The role allows him the opportunity to play on that same charm that has made him a household name in comedy. That being said, viewers also get a rare chance to see him

handle subject matter that none of his previous work can touch. Galifinakis unquestionably proves his ability for drama, and the future potential here is outstanding.

Wonderful performances are truly abound, with Emma Roberts as Noelle, Craig’s love interest within the hospital. Not much of a star yet, Roberts handles the intensity of playing a suicidal teen with ease, and even comes across as cute and likable in the dark role.

There’s so much more to “Funny Story” than just the depressing experiences that led Craig and his fellow patients to this peculiar place. The humor in it shines, and despite all the easy gags that could have been made on behalf of the strange and wildly ill patients, the jokes are on a higher level.

They’re in the friendships Craig develops with this crazy cast, in the way he overanalyzes everything, and most importantly it’s in the things we can see in ourselves.

That’s really where the heart of the film lies. We have all felt the troubles Craig is going through: the relationships, the unsureness, the hope for a better future. Everything from the script to the superb acting from a lesser known cast, and even fantastic art direction allow “Funny Story” to be more than a teenage retelling of the psych ward classic “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Horror film bombs in theaters, but remains fresh by tweaking the classic storyline and using quality high school actors

genre, with silly lines and stereotypical characters. The trite storyline only works because of Craven’s knack for dialogue that is so obviously cheesy it’s charming.

“Do you think I’m a monkey, Alex?”

“Have you killed people, Bug?” “Not that I remember...”

“Well I don’t remember buying you bananas.”

Along with dialogue reminiscent of ‘80s sitcoms, Craven’s characters are surprisingly relatable considering they are the typical group of stereotypes that often plague teenscreams, such as the blond mean girl, the jock/bully and the freaky religious chick. These redeeming qualities, as well as a plethora of talented young actors, are what make “My Soul To Take” more than a half-baked pick-them-off movie.

Normally a cast full of teenage actors is a promised disappointment, but Theiriot outshines the adults and repeatedly impresses in his first lead role. Theiriot plays Bug with a confused puppy dog face but at the same time has a commanding presence, which keeps the audience questioning

RENT IT

‘It’s a Funny Story’ lives up to high expectations, allows Galifnakis to shine again

the sanity of our presumed hero, Bug. As relatable as the film is, the second half becomes a thrilling piece of horror as the last of the Seven must figure out how to destroy the Ripper or possibly the Ripper’s soul. With the shift into the second half, Craven adds red herrings to create suspense throughout the last act. The ending scenes keep the audience suspecting someone new with every twist.

The 3D’s only effect on the film was the ending credits.

Nothing popped out of the screen and the 3D previews before the film were more eventful. The fact that it was $2.75 extra seems like a big money-grab, especially after learning that the film was not originally shot in 3D but converted at the last minute.

“My Soul To Take” may have bombed at the box office, losing over $9 million, but the film is sure to be an underrated horror classic with the high school demographic.

This horror flick is a top pick for Halloween movie-goers due to its blood bathes, body count and high school drama.

WORTH SEEING

OSCAR WORTHY

A&E

issue 4

27

a beautiful brew

Coffee shop One More Cup gives customers a cup full of delicious drinks and a laid back atmosphere KennedyBurgess

Bustling cars pass by on the busy intersection of 74th and Wornall. Situated between a bar and a carpet outlet, a miniature box-shaped building stands with a green and white sign that reads One More Cup with a coffee mug next to the words.

On the front shaded patio, bright red lawn chairs occupied by hip 20-somethings sit near a white table, complimented by red and yellow flowers. The sight seems somewhat out of place in its surroundings.

Upon walking through the doors of the coffee shop, the strong smell of coffee beans overwhelm the senses. Local artwork hangs on the off-yellow walls of the establishment and a small, oak piano sits at the right of the shop. The atmosphere is calm, not crowded with business men and women glued to their MacBooks and Blackberries. Customers take up modest, square tables here and there talking amongst themselves as melodic, new wave ‘80s music casually plays over the speakers.

Two young cashiers, a man sporting a scruffy beard and over-sized glasses and a woman with a diamond-studded nose ring, greet customers as they choose from the colorful menu hanging above the counter. “Curious George Mocha-Latte” is written in black on a yellow construction cut-out of a banana. As the song changes in the contemporary establishment to “Friday I’m in Love” by the Cure, I soon realize I have found a chai-tea, coffee-filled haven

IN ‘N OUT

of One More Cup

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in this little place.

I approach the counter, curious enough to try every flavor of chai-tea they have, but I decide to settle for the $3.50 12 oz. hot Root Beer Chai-tea. I was at first doubtful of how it would taste because I had never seen a root-beer flavored tea before.

However, from the first sip I was hooked.

I could faintly taste the root beer. It had more of a cinnamon taste to it, almost like hot apple cider, perfect for any chilly fall day.

The mocha lattes themselves were almost like artwork, with the cream and the caramel-colored mocha flavor mixing in directional swirls at the top of the mug. I was tempted to keep myself from ruining the Curious George banana-flavored latte in front of me. Though, the rich smell of banana and coffee was too inviting. The latte was beyond delicious with a perfect balance of banana and coffee flavor, so the banana was not too sweet or overwhelming.

The mocha lattes came in various flavors including Strawberry, which was just as pleasing as the Curious George.

Along with lattes, chai-teas and coffee drinks, One More Cup also offers homemade cookies and other baked treats. Their chocolate chunk cookie had a texture like a brownie, yet tasted like a cookie. The only problem was it was a bit dry. It was almost too cake-like and lacked much needed moistness.

CHECK PLEASE

AVERAGE

For those who prefer a more simple flavor, the Pomegranate Chai-tea would be the satisfying quench for your thirst. This chai-tea was cleansing and earthy compared to the previous drinks. I wouldn’t say it was as tasty as the Curious George mocha latte or Root-Beer chai-tea, but it definitely soothes the senses. Also, unlike the other drinks, it actually tasted the most like the actual flavor.

One More Cup was different than any coffee shop I have been to. It had a delightful ambiance and used organic ingredients in all of their drinks. The environmental friendliness of the establishment was just another plus. All of their drinks are either served in neutral colored mugs or recycleable cups.

Of all the coffee shops I have been to, One More Cup is the only shop that is customer friendly, organic and tastes better than it looks. It might not have the clean, collective look such as popular chains like Starbucks, but the essence of One More Cup is more authentic as well as the quality of the coffee and tea.

To take a closer look inside of this unique coffee shop, visit smeharbinger. net for a photo gallery

Organic One More Cup supports local farmers and uses organic coffee beans from local farms in all of their coffee drinks.

If you’re feeling less adventurous, maybe have some classic chocolate milk. One More Cup uses Shatto Milk and cream in all of their hot drinks.

Flavorful One More Cup has an array of flavors to choose from off of their menu.

Each flavor has a different name or theme. All drinks are delicious both cold or hot.

DELIGHTFUL

CULINARY GENIUS

all photos by GrantHeinlein

A&E 28 10-18-10

M

BURIEDSUSPENSE in

Claustrophobic thriller delivers extreme intensity

CabinFever

vA

Other movies that stay in one place

staple of courtroom dramas, the classic “12 Angry Men” stars acting legend Henry Fonda as the leader of a jury in a murder case. Almost the whole film takes place in the deliberation room, where Fonda searches for the truth and tries to prove the defendant’s innocence with mounting intensity.

12 Angry Men

AlexLamb

ost people go to the movies to escape. But with “Buried,” the experience is all about being trapped.

This no-holds-barred thriller takes the classic fear of claustrophobia, applies it to one of the most confining settings possible, and stays there for the entire film as it progressively wracks up the tension to 11. And oh man, does it get intense.

The movie opens up in complete darkness, soon accompanied by the grunts and struggling confusion of Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds). Paul had been transporting supplies as a truck driver in Iraq when his convoy was attacked by insurgents. He awakes to find himself buried alive in a stifling wood coffin in the middle of the Iraqi desert, with only a couple items at his disposal — most importantly a halfway charged cell phone, a lighter and about 90 minutes of air.

Realizing his situation, Paul frantically starts calling numbers for help, only to encounter frustration and dead ends from 911, his employers and anyone else on the outside world he can reach. Finally his captors call him and demand a huge ransom he couldn’t possibly pay, giving him a little over an hour to obtain the money. Paul’s expiration date starts ticking as the terrorists grow dangerously impatient and he faces more and more constraining obstacles. His only form of hope lies in a hostage negotiator who’s trying to find and save him before time runs out.

From a technical standpoint, “Buried” has to be one of the most basic movies I’ve ever seen. The entire film takes place in the coffin, in real time, with Reynolds onscreen for virtually every second of it. With the exception of one brief video message on the phone, Reynolds is the only actor the audience ever sees; all others are simply voices.

Less really is more with this superbly executed, minimalistic approach. A surprising amount of action occurs inside the coffin and over the phone, with new threats and twists constantly plaguing Paul. The phone battery continues to drain — time is not in his favor and his survival is always at stake, so the tension never truly lets up.

Besides a couple of dry spots once in awhile, Chris Sparling’s script keeps the

allmoviephotos.com, movieweb.com, imdb.com

A sleek, minimalist thriller gem from earlier this year, “Alice Creed” takes place in a boarded-up apartment for most of the movie and uses only three characters: two kidnappers and the girl they kidnap (Gemma Arternon). All three are hiding secrets from each other, and the kidnapping slowly spirals out of control as each tries to make it out successfully.

The Evil Dead

Disappearance of Alice Creed

The debut feature of director Sam Raimi (“Spiderman” trilogy), “The Evil Dead” also marked the beginning of B-movie god Bruce Campbell’s career. This low-budget, unique piece of zombie horror centers on a group of five friends who travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unwittingly release an ancient evil that starts killing them.

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story moving with a swift pace, filled with lots of emotion and even some intelligent social commentary on the disregard for human life during the Iraq War. While that last aspect gets heavy-handed at some points, it does add another layer to the story, giving it the dimension needed to turn the film into more than just an experiment of low-key suspense.

Director Rodrigo Cortés takes the movie’s unique concept and builds it into a powerhouse of intensity, more than apt for comparisons to Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Rear Window” and his single setting slow-burner “Lifeboat.” Using an engrossing style of inventive camera angles, powerful musical cues and most importantly directing Mr. Reynolds to full effect, Cortés creates the most claustrophobic thrill ride since the spelunking horror of “The Descent.” Occasionally he substitutes suspense for a little dark humor or compelling drama, but once “Buried” gets up and running, Cortés grabs the audience by the throat and drags them straight through hell on Paul’s journey.

Of course, all of this would fall flat without a commanding performance from Reynolds, and he nails it with the acting job of his career. Reynolds has typically been known for his comedic ability and witty charm, but in “Buried” he gets a full-on showcase of his little-known acting chops, efficiently sustaining this one man show for 90 minutes.

He captures the whole range of emotions, from the humor and sarcasm he’s familiar with to poignant drama and sadness when he’s talking to family members for what may be the last time. But usually he manifests an exhilarating sense of urgency and danger.

My heart kept racing and my body couldn’t stop shaking even after the explosion of suspense from the ending. This film is the definition of a nail-biter; Cortés’ outrageous little experiment seems like it shouldn’t work for a whole movie, yet it actually proves wildly successful. Those afraid of tight spaces ought to stay far away due to risk of psychological scarring, but anyone ready for the most intense thriller of the year will want to seek out “Buried” immediately.

STAY AT HOME

RENT IT

Rope

In this Hitchcock thriller, two young intellects strangle a man and then host a party, with the body hidden in the apartment, playing a game to keep it a secret from their suspicious guests.

“Rope” is suspenseful for both its plot and its technical aspects: the entire movie takes place in an apartment and consists of only 10 long takes.

WORTH SEEING

OSCAR WORTHY

SPORTS

SamanthaBartow

issue 4

29

Continuing a family tradition, senior Cormac O’Connor excels in rugby

ChristaMcKttirick Senior Cormac O’Connor’s blue and white striped rugby jersey was soaking with rain. His cleats were clogged with mud and his shorts were stained with dirt.

Faced against a huge 8-man, the guy at the end of the pack, Cormac was intimidated. This guy was stacked.

It was up to him to run the ball. A line of his own team set up behind Cormac and a line of the U19 Northern Kildare team were across from him.

“I just had to pick the ball up and run right into this guy and he just throws me down,” Cormac said. “I got killed.”

Even though the other player had taken Cormac down, they were still able to be courteous and friendly after the game.

“The idea behind it is you fight on the field and you are complete enemies and everything’s fair game basically and then once you’re off the field then you’re best friends and you go out and eat together,” Cormac said.

This sense of camaraderie and tradition of sharing a meal together after the game, along with the intensity, is why Cormac loves the game.

His passion and roots of rugby go back to his grandfather as well as father. His grandfather played club rugby and his father, Rory O’Connor, played for the KC Blues when he was 23.

The first time Cormac played rugby was when he was seven and visiting family in Ireland. His dad had him play on his cousin’s rugby team.

Cormac remembers attempting to play, but having no clue what was going on or how to play the game: “I would be off sides and pick the ball up and just run with it and all these horrible things. They probably hated playing with me,” Cormac said.

Rory helped teach Cormac the laws of the game and gave him extra tips. Last year Cormac played the same position as his father and grandfather, second row, so Rory was able to teach him different techniques and secrets that would help him succeed.

Cormac has now played rugby for four years on

the KC Blues junior team. Since freshman year he has played with high school boys from seven different schools around the area. His team practices two days a week for two hours starting the second week of January.

They go through tackling and rucking drills as well as practicing switches and plays.

Because it isn’t rugby season and they don’t have regular practices, Cormac and his teammates get together every Wednesday to play touch—a modified form of the game which doesn’t involve tackling. Some of his teammates even practice with the men’s club team during the fall. Cormac can’t because he is running cross country, but after the season he will begin practicing with the men.

Although the men are much bigger than the junior team, Cormac doesn’t get intimidated.

“At practice it’s not bad Forwards because they try to avoid people getting hurt,” Cor- 123: Usually the brawn of the mac said.

They try to avoid injuries team, these three use at practice, but Cormac has their size to win scrums, in which big hits are dished still seen his share of injuout on both sides, and ries. In one game, his and an sturdy bodies are needed. opponent’s legs got tangled up and he could feel the op- 45: ponent’s leg snap. Cormac These players are usuhas been lucky to not have ally the tallest of bunch, any serious injuries from and are the teams short distance carriers. rugby.

Cormac’s mom, Paige 678: O’Connor, doesn’t worry as These flankers are crucial much about the violence in the transition from factor because there are defense to offense. They more life threatening inju- use their speed to move ries in football and soccer the ball upfield, but play defense too. than in rugby.

“At every football game there’s an ambulance because of the severity of injuries possible,” Paige said.

“With rugby, you can get bruises and black eyes but the injuries aren’t as severe.”

Beyond the KC Blue’s junior team, Cormac would like to play in college but won’t limit his school because of rugby. He’s looking at schools like Saint Louis University and Texas A&M but rugby isn’t the deciding factor. If he doesn’t play for the school, there will always be a club team he can play for.

Whether playing in college or for a club team in Ireland, Cormac will continue to love the sport of rugby both for its physicality and how it stands for friendship and camaraderie off the field.

PLAYERS of the PITCH Midfield

2

1 4 6

3 5

8 9 10

11 15

7

910:

These two are the key decision-makers of the pitch. They are the best passers, pitchers, and kickers.

Backs

121314:

12

13

The primary scorers of the team, this group is essential to the teams success.

14 1115: These explosive play-

ers, are usually the fastest of team, and are relied on for scoring

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GrantHeinlein

with gymnastics senior Katye Bever 6 passing touchdowns

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0:03 NAMES Zach Colby - Senior - Soccer

Over the course of the season, Colby has gotten himself into a hot streak, scoring 10 goals.

Against Lawrence, Colby put together one of his best games of the season with two goals and an assist to fellow captain Lucas Throckmorton.

Adam Simmons - Junior - XC How good is the gymnastics team this season?

We are definitely improved from past years because we have a lot of good freshmen. I think we can hopefully place third, with SM Northwest and SM South going one and two.

Your best event is the floor routine, why do you enjoy it?

I like it mainly because it’s just fun with the music and the dancing. You also get a lot of adrenaline with all of the people watching.

You didn’t do high school gymnastics until junior year, how is club different?

Club gymnastics is a lot more intense and it’s year round as well. It got to be too much.

High school gymnastics is a lot more relaxed and fun.

With three freshman on varsity, how is the team different?

Last year, we had a lot of seniors, but I kind of like it. I have to be a leader I guess because it’s their first time in high school gymnastics.

Sidenotes

pick one faculty member to add to any fall sports team

The boys’ cross country team has come into full stride with juniors Mitch Daniel and Adam Simmons consistently running around the 17 minute mark. On Oct. 9 at Haskell, Simmons was the first Lancer all season to break the 17 minute mark, finishing at 16:44.

0:02 GAMES

Playoff Soccer Game Tuesday, Oct. 26th

East will face off against either SM North or Leavenworth in their first round game. This game will show us how the Lancers will handle the postseason pressure. The Lancers have outscored their opponents 45-11 on the season, so the key will be whether or not senior goalie Chris Melvin can make a strong return from his ankle injury. If not, senior Jack Esberg will be forced to step up in goal for the Lancers.

Football vs. SM West

Friday, Oct. 22nd

Corbin Barnds

Meet your new wide receiver: Yoda. All coach Sherman needs to make his passing game flawless is a jitterbug receiver in the slot, and Yoda is his answer. With her 5’1” frame, she may not be a meathead but her wits make up for it. Imagine lining up face-toface with Yoda and by the time the ball was hiked, Yoda had already incepted 100 years of pre-constitutional history into your mind. Like many of her students, you’re stunned.

Five seconds later Yoda is in the end-zone doing her Native American touchdown dance while you’re left contemplating what happened.

Evan Nichols

John Nickels. The new cross country prodigy. Running is a sport of determination. Only those mentally prepared for intense workouts and disproportionately small racing shorts will succeed. And who better than the Master of Geography himself to take on this brutal challenge? Nickels has countless years of teaching under his belt to aid his stamina come race day and the mental determination of a young Prefontaine. The lady runners will have a tough time keeping their eyes off this untamed piece of pure running talent.

Kevin Simpson

Ms. Birt is your newest Lancer gymnast. She has already shown creativity in making one of the most boring books I’ve ever read - Dante’s Inferno - bearable. Ms. Birt would use this creativity during her floor routine, where she would quickly become the Nastia Liukin of the Sunflower League.

Gymnasts also cannot allow mishaps to get them off their game, and Ms. Birt proved herself in that category when I spilled hot chocolate all over myself, the classroom and somehow the ceiling.

In their second to last regular season game of the season, the Lancers will face arguably their toughest opponent of the season against SM West. This game’s winner could ultimately be the league champion.

0:01 MOMENT

.50.49.48.47.46.45.44.43.42.41.40.39.38.3 7.36.35.34.33.32.31.30.29.28.27.26.25.24.

23.22.21.20.19.18.17.16.15.14.13.12.11.10.9.8.7 DanielleNorton .6.5.4.3.2.1.50.49.48.47.46.45.44.43.42.41.

17 seniors say goodbye at their senior night.

40.39.38.37.36.35.34.33.32.31.30.29.28.2 The Lancers beat Kansas City Christian 4-1.

7.26.25.24.23.22.21.20.19.18.17.16.15.14.13.1 2.11.10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.50.49.48.47.46.45.4

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PHOTO ESSAY 10-18-10 Junior Neil Grandgenett and sophomore Max Duncan, right, sing “She’s Got a Way” in the Men’s Ensemble.

They also sang “Her Voice” and “Ride the Chariot.”

Joining the rest of his ensemble, sophomore Ryan Dugan, far right, sings in his first concert. “I was a little bit nervous,” Dugan said, “but I definitely think [the choir] pulled it off.

Closing the concert, members of the Choraliers choir sing the school song with arms around one another. This is a tradition that the choir does at the end of each show.

Standing in front of the Choraliers, choir director Ken Foley leads all 143 students in their first concert since last spring.

‘Foley’ Loaded Choir director Ken Foley directs one of the largest choirs in school history in their first concert of the year

all photos by GrantHeinlein