The Express 2013 2014 October issue

TheExpress volume 21

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Issue 01

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September 2013

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Blue Valley Northwest High School

PINKTOBER During the month of October, people across the country gather to support finding a cure for breast cancer, including junior Lily Anderson who helped her mother battle the effects of the disease.

PAge 22-25

CONTENTS

Above: Freshman prince Michael Sterrett and princess Sydney Schmanke walk down the track during the homecoming football game (photo by Nicole Tenold).

SEE PAGES 12-13 ON THE COVER

Pinktober With October being breast cancer awareness month, junior Lily Anderson and her mother share their personal experience with breast cancer.

SEE PAGES 22-25

02

SPORTS

FEATURE

4&5 Ready, set, spike

9-11 Monster Makeover

6&7

through 15-17 Apple the ages

Head coach Molly Haggerty and the varsity volleyball team break down different positions and how each contributes to the team’s success this season.

Striving for first by quenching their thirst

Football managers devote voluntary hours after school to ensure that the athletes have the necessary equipment and stay hydrated.

Senior Sydney Walls uses everyday makeup and ingredients from her kitchen to make her friends look like movie-worthy zombies.

With its mass-media productions, Apple has become the highest name in technology products. Teachers and students give their insight on the worldwide phenomenon and its improvements.

THE EXPRESS | BVNWnews.com | OCTOBER 2013

CONTENTS The Express Staff

FEATURE

18-21

Last man standing

Step onto the battlefield as a Celtic barbarian with senior Josh Lazarus as he participates in community live action role play.

OPINION mask 29 Don’t vulnerability

Editor-in-chief Delaney La Fon

Print Editor

your teenage 29 Calm hormones

Meredith Johnson

ONLINE Editor Cara Brashears

PDA seems to be taking over the school, so let’s stop sucking face and try to learn something worthwhile.

Design Editor

30 I’m sick of being sexy

visual Editor

Halloween costumes are getting out of control, and there are far too many tweens galavanting around in “spooky” lingerie.

Depression is a common mental disorder which is often overlooked, but it is a preventable issue that the BVNW community should bring to light.

Below: Senior Antonio Bennett tears through the football banner while running with his fellow teammates. The Huskies won the game versus BVW 28-21 on the night of September 26 (Photo by Nicole Tenold).

SEE PAGES 12-13

Holly Noon

Sports editor Liz Kuhlmann

Michaela O’Connor

Copy Editors Sarah Hirsch Ankit Kadakia Madeline Maloney

Reporters

Olivia Baird Laney Breidenthal Claudia Chen Madison Graves Sidney Hallak Zac Johnson Brooklynn Langham Avery Mojica Greyson Woerpel Natasha Vyhovsky

Photographers Maddison Barley Lindsay Haight Natalie Pyle Nicole Tenold Caroline Trupp

Business Manager Zach Zelinski

Artist

Owen Sinn

ASSISTANT ADVISER Jeff Brown

ADVISER

Jim McCrossen The Express is the official high school news publication of the Blue Valley Northwest High School, an open forum distributed to all students seven times a year. This is the October issue of volume twenty-one. Subscription rates are $10. The Express is printed

by Osage Printing, 400 N Liberty St Independence, MO 64050. This is a student publication and may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees disclaim any responsibility for the content of this student publication; it is not an expression of School District Policy. Students and editors are solely responsible for the content of this student publication.

THE EXPRESS | BVNWnews.com | October 2013

03

Sports

Ready, Set, SPIKE

5.

By Liz Kuhlmann

Head volleyball coach Molly Haggerty and the team break down their different positions and how each contributes to the team’s success.

1.

Setter: According to head coach Molly Haggerty, the setter is similar to a quarterback in football, and is in charge of the offense. A setter must be able to follow the game plan and be observant of changes on the court and able to adjust quickly.

Seniors Allison Crow and Carolina VanBuskirk are the team’s setters, Haggerty said, and have been good at following the game plan and leading the team this season.

According to Crow, the setter’s job is to call out the different hits and to choose the right set so her hitter does not get blocked.

“You just have to be really aware of what’s happening on both sides of the floor,” Crow said. “You have to be loud and know the strong points and the weak points in the offense … Playing setter makes me feel important because I touch the ball every play.”

2.

Middle: The job of a middle is to close the blocks on the hitters the BVNW defense faces. In order to be successful middles, Haggerty said seniors Madison Rohr and Grace Maize have to know where opposing hitters are going in order to set up in front of them to prevent easy kills.

According to Haggerty, at the conclusion of a practice or game, her middles are typically the most exhausted due to how active they are while playing. Haggerty said so far Rohr and Maize lead the team in blocks and have done a good job this year. While the position is tiring, Rohr said it is still fun.

“I run all over the court,” Rohr said. “A middle has to have a quick reaction time and the ability to jump high.

You get a chance to block more than everyone else… it’s a good feeling.”

04

2.

1.

3.

Outside Hitter: Nothing is easy for an outside hitter, senior Sydney Walls said, because this position is in charge of controlling the trash.

Outside hitters have to deal with whatever the setter throws up in an emergency situation to get the point, therefore she needs a lot of stamina and a quick reaction time.

According to Haggerty, the thing that makes Walls and junior Adeline Ellis great outside hitters is their ability to both pass and play defense. Both players have a variety of weapons that make them unpredictable while playing.

“I like the idea of being the fall back player and back up,” Walls said. “I like being the one that is in control of keeping the ball in play and making sure the point goes on.

The express | bvnwnews.com | October 2013

3.

4.

The BVNW volleyball team reacts as senior Sydney Walls spikes the ball into BVHS’s defense. BVNW went on to lose the match, 2-1 (photo by Natalie Pyle).

4.

Libero: While the setter is the offensive leader, the libero is the defensive specialist. According to Haggerty, the libero is in charge of letting the team know what defense they are in, observing offensive tendencies on the other side of the net, and to dig and pass on serve receive.

Haggerty said the two libero’s for BVNW, juniors Rachel Chalupa and Jordan Gonzales, have been awesome this season. According to Chalupa, a libero must be quick on their feet and comfortable taking a leadership position on the court.

“There is a lot of physical wear from the diving and sprinting,” Chalupa said. “My favorite part is the intensity you get off that side of the court. When you get that perfect dig and you’re like ‘Wow, that felt so good.’

Just knowing that you’re contributing to the team in a different way than most people do.”

The express | bvnwnews.com | October 2013

5.

Right Side Hitter: Most teams put their best and strongest athlete on the outside, and the right side hitter is the one to go up against this athlete. Haggerty said the right side hitter must be a really disciplined blocker and possess the ability to funnel the ball. The right side has to block and hit at an awkward angle because they have to adjust and track the ball across their body to swing and get kills.

Team has three right side hitters, seniors Joanne Maloney, Teryn Pinneo and Scout Watson. Maloney is the starting right side, Haggerty said, and has had a huge impact on the team as one of the stronger blockers. Watson and Pinneo bring different strengths to the team, and Haggerty said it is fun to have them on the court.

first quenching their thirst

striving for by

Story by Olivia Baird and Zac Johnson Managers of the football team assist the athletes daily by preparing all of the necessary supplies and equipment the team needs to succeed.

06

F

or some, going to sporting events and cheering on the Huskies is enough to satisfy the need to be involved. However, seniors Lexi Wood, Brianna Huber and Calen Lawrence are taking their level of commitment to the football team much more seriously.

According to the girls, managing a sport consumes a lot of time. The managers said people may question their reasons for putting so much time into their job, and the benefits that come with the position are not exactly concrete. Being a part of the team and spending time with the players is reward enough Wood said.

“I thought it’d be a fun opportunity to meet new people,” Wood said. “[It’s] senior year, so I could get to know some people in my class that maybe I hadn’t met before.”

There are part and full-time managers, and Wood said even being a part-time manager is a measurable time commitment.

the express | BVNWnews.com | October 2013

“I’m part-time so I just go when I can, but the practices are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then the games you have to be there like an hour and a half before,” Wood said. “If it’s an away game then you have to be there at like 4:30 p.m.

It’s a lot of time, but it’s worth it.”

Huber, another manager, has been a part of the program for the duration of this season. She is a full-time manager, meaning that she is at each practice and game. Most of the responsibilities consist of gathering the necessary equipment for game time and having the materials ready for the players’ use.

“Right after school we go down to the DAC and fill up the [water coolers] with ice and water,” Huber said. “We have a cooler of ice and a lot of water bottles that we bring out … to the guys and see if they need any.”

Huber said that the managers’ perspectives on games are much different than the fans’ because they get to view the action from the field. Although managing requires a lot of time and energy, she said just getting to be with the players makes it worth the amount of time she has to spend.

“We get to be on the field for every game, so it’s pretty sweet,” Huber said. “Just being at practice you meet new people that you probably wouldn’t talk to that are in other grades too.”

The managers all had different reasons to begin managing, but they agree that interacting with the football players is one of the fun parts of their job.

“I have a lot of football friends, so I thought it’d be fun to have some bonding time with them, and I also just really

the express | BVNWnews.com | October 2013

enjoy football,” Lawrence said. “It’s mostly voluntary, and you get your name printed out as manager on the game pamphlets, so that’s kind of cool.”

Lawrence said that managing a team is a good opportunity to try something that you might not normally do and meet a lot of new people.

“I think [others] should try managing; it’s fun, and you get to know a lot of the football team,” Lawrence said. “It’s a great experience and a great way to meet new people.”

Head coach Mike Zegunis said although the managers may not be thanked as often as they should, the time they put into the football team is greatly appreciated. “[Managing is] a thankless job,” Zegunis said. “I have a great deal of respect for anyone who is going to volunteer their time and help us out the way that [the managers] do.”

Top left: Senior Brianna Huber hands Jacob Rominger a water bottle during practice. This is Huber’s first season managing and she participates in the program as a full time manager (photo by Maddison Barley).

Top Middle: Senior Calen Lawrence prepares to pass the football. Lawrence said she enjoys managing because of the people she meets (photo by Maddison Barley).

Top Right: Senior Brianna Huber fills up a water bottle at football practice. Ensuring that the athletes stay hydrated is one of the jobs the managers are responsible for (photo by Caroline Trupp).

07

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Poetry Art Costumes

M

onster

By Natasha Vyhovsky

M

Feature

akeover

Senior Sydney Walls uses her love of makeup and fear of scary movies to turn her friends into bloody zombies and gruesome monsters.

H

unched zombies limp and stumble, bloody gashes covering their faces and bones protruding from their limbs. Except these zombies are fully alive, and their blood is just chocolate syrup. As Halloween nears, senior Sydney Walls is busy using makeup to transform her friends into gory zombies and creatures out of movies.

Walls loves taking her fear of scary movies and turning it into walking, talking art. She does zombie makeup on herself and her friends, turning them into all kinds of gruesome monsters and aliens, with a particular fondness for zombies.

“I think zombies are just awesome,” Walls said. “They defy physics; after they’ve died they just come back up. They don’t do anything--just eat.”

Walls said she has been watching scary movies with her mom ever since she was a little girl, even though she used to cry constantly. Now, she uses these films, and her fear, as inspiration for her hobby of doing special-effect zombie makeup.

no one actually realizes that what girls put on their face is a work of art -Senior Sydney Walls “My mom just likes to scare the crap out of me by making me watch these films,” Walls said. “I’m actually afraid of zombies.”

She gets practice mainly by trying different looks on herself and her little brother. It takes her about forty

the express | bvnwnews.com | october 2013

minutes to do a completed body, with bones protruding from rotten flesh, and about fifteen minutes to do a bloody, half-dead zombie face. Walls said she has done zombie makeup on only the few friends that are occasionally willing to be covered in latex.

“It is harder to do [zombie makeup] on other people because I’ve done it so many times on myself. It’s just the whole hand-eye [coordination] kind of thing that I’ve gotten good at,” Walls said. “But doing it on other people, I feel like I could hurt them easily and I have to take time to make sure I don’t injure them.”

Junior Jordan Gonzales and two of Walls’ other friends were of the few that offered to become zombies and be a part of Walls’ senior pictures. After getting their makeup done by Walls, they posed for a photo shoot in a grass

09

field in the middle of a hot, sunny day. Gonzales said getting her makeup done and posing for the shoot was a new experience for her, saying she felt like she was in a movie.

“It was kind of weird because it felt like she was drawing on my face, and [because] she would put glue and cotton balls on my face, neck and legs,” Gonzales said.

To create the zombie effect, Walls shops at hardware stores for materials which she said are a lot cheaper than everyday makeup. She uses three different types of latex which function as glue, cotton balls to make wounds and gashes, and chocolate syrup mixed with red food coloring and corn syrup for fake blood.

“I feel like people don’t realize what stuff is on their face whenever this makeup is done,” Walls said. “I think people don’t realize how much time [and thought] is put into it.”

Gonzales said the reason Walls has a hard time recruiting friends to transform into zombies is because taking off the makeup hurts, especially peeling off the dried latex. Even though she had a hard time taking her zombie makeup off, Gonzales said she would definitely do it again because the outcome was worth it.

“I thought it was a really cool

effect,”Gonzales said. “it just describes Sydney Walls for you.”

Walls enjoys not only doing scary special-effect makeup, but also daily makeup to get ready for the day. She said zombie makeup and everyday makeup are very different, but for whatever look she is going for, she likes using makeup in different ways.

I thought it was a really cool... it just describes Sydney Walls for you -Junior Jordan Gonzales

“I like makeup as a whole because most people think of art as something you put on a wall or [something] you’d make a sculpture of, but no one actually realizes that what girls put on their face is a work of art,” Walls said.

The difference between zombie makeup and everyday makeup is that girls take their daily makeup more seriously, Walls said. She likes that she can have more fun with zombie makeup without trying too hard to look good.

“I try to look pretty with my daily makeup, but I feel like with zombie makeup, even though it looks like a total mess, [it requires] more

Zombie How-To

1.

Apply light foundation to the face with a cosmetic sponge. Spread white liquid latex onto both cheeks, in different spots. Pull apart a cotton ball and set it on top of the latex, so that is it now attatched to the face.

10

attention to detail because you can hurt your face if you don’t put on the latex right,” Walls said. “With daily makeup, you don’t branch out as crazily because you’re afraid of how you look.”

Walls said that she does not have any intention to do special-effect makeup as a career. Right now, she likes helping her friends complete their looks for Halloween, and it is just something she has enjoyed doing for fun.

“I just started doing zombie makeup to make my fear a reality,” Walls said.

2.

Cover the cotton in foundation, making it blend in with the skin. Next, apply white cream makeup all over the face, around the cotton “wounds”, and the mouth.

3.

Use a reddish-brown cream makeup on eyelids and under the eyes, making sure to concentrate on deepening the crease.

go to BVNWNews.com to see a video animation of the zombie makeover www.BVNwnews.com/ Monster-makeover

Previous Page: Senior Sydney Walls mimics the scene from a gory zombie attack with her friends, junior Jordan Gonzales and BV West senior Mckenzie Kuska.

She finds inspiration for the zombie looks from scary movies and Pinterest (photo courtesy of Sydney Walls). Below: Walls poses with junior Jordan Gonzales for her senior pictures this summer. Walls has been interested in zombie makeup since she was fourteen years old (photo courtesy of Sydney Walls). Right: Walls applies a reddish-brown eyeshadow on junior Miles Bredehoeft to bring her zombie to life. The zombie face takes about fifteen minutes to complete (photo by Nicole Tenold).

4.

With a small brush, add dark brown cream makeup into the crevices of the nose and blend. Outline the chin using a small makeup brush and dark brown cream. Using a makeup brush with a fine point, use a mixture of red and blue cream makeup and apply it to the forehead to look like veins.

5.

Apply brown cream makeup around and in between the cotton wounds in order to achieve a 3-D effect.

6.

Use a spoon to generously apply the fake flood to the wounds, letting it drip down the chin.

PERSPECTIVES a visual retrospective of student life in October

11

2

4

3

5

12

6 THE EXPRESS | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOBER 2013

PERSPECTIVES

It feels really good to see everyone laughing at what we produced, and even though it’s a lot of work, it’s worth it.

-Senior Chase Kilty

1. Senior Katiana07 Hutchinson shows excitement at the first battmitten club practice (photo by 07 Barley).

Maddison 2. Mr. Butcher helps a student soder their ring during fifth hour class (photo by Natalie Pyle).

3. Sophomore Noah Kraemer performs with the drumline at the Husky Day pep assembly (photo by Maddison Barley).

4. Homecoming court winners seniors Calen Lawerence and Kevin Murakami enjoy thier first dance as king and queen (photo by Caroline Trupp).

5. As the junior class acts out their Chiefs’ skit for Class Color Day, junior Cameron Thomas revieves a peck on the cheek from principal Amy Murphy during the skit’s kiss cam (photo by Maddison Barley).

6.Junior Rachel Chalupa celebrates a match point after thier win against BVN. Chalupa has been playing on varsity for two years (photo by Maddison Barley).

7. Junior and senior boys make a dog pile after their Husky Day spirit dance Thursday morning. This was the first time the performers combined both grades in the skit and earned first place that day (photo by Lindsay Haight).

THE EXPRESS | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOBER 2013

Check out more Spirit week photos and the winners of our Spirit week photo contest at bvnwnews.com

13

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Apple AGEs through the

By Avery Mojica and Madison Graves

The Express | BVNWnews.com | October 2013

15

S

ince 1979, Apple has been growing, expanding and showing the world what phones can really do. More and more updates are popping up in everyday life, giving people new reasons to love its modern, simplistic products. Why are Apple products so popular? According to Spanish teacher Andrea Smith, it is because of their convenience and accessibility. She said the smooth layout and nice design make them easy to use.

“I think that Apple does a nice job of putting everything in one place with minimal clicking or moving around,” Smith said. “All your apps are on one screen, and all you have to do is push the button. If you’re not a technology person, I would try to convince you (to buy Apple products) by saying that Apple is really easy to use.”

Smith is not the only one paying attention to the products’ efficiency and convenience. Math teacher Michelle Blanco has been loyal to her Apple devices for several years. “[Apple products] are simplified

and everything is more convenient,” Blanco said. “[The design] is simple and I don’t think there’s a lot of that extra stuff you have to sift through.”

Connection is another big part of the national phenomenon. Smith said it is easier to stay connected to the world with Apple products.

“I would say the biggest difference [my iPhone] has made in my life would be that I am more connected,” Smith said. “Last night, I was waiting to eat at Jose Pepper’s and I emailed a couple students and entered a couple grades. [Apple] makes it quicker to get things done because everything is right there and available.”

The biggest difference my iphone has made in my Life is that I am more connected.

-Spanish teacher Andrea Smith

Many people who own an Apple product recognize its convenience.

Sophomore Jack Anderson has been using Apple products for many years. He said the iPhone is cleaner and easier to operate.

“Everyone has [the iPhone] so it’s compatible with others and

the Generations

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

From their software to their look, Apple has updated its products to modernize the way we listen, talk and work.

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they work together,” Anderson said. “There are so many uses for it.

[The iPhone] is more of a cultural phenomenon. It used to be just a brand name, now it’s taking over.”

Smith said convenience is not the only reason people enjoy Apple products. She said she also enjoys the reliability the comes with the phone, such as not having to replace her phone due to of malfunctions and crashes.

“The reliability of the products has been a benefit,” Smith said. “I have not had [my iPhone] crash or anything detrimental happen to it.

Whereas, I’ve gone through several PCs and other things, like phones.”

With all the benefits of an iPhone, Smith said she thinks the reason people love the product is because it is “the cool thing” and everyone wants to join in the on the trend. No matter the reason, Apple has been able to please its users and is continually gaining more.

The persistent updating of Apple products lets people like Blanco keep up with the times.

“I think [Apple’s growth in popularity] is because of its customers,” Blanco said. “I’ll [keep upgrading] not just because it’s Apple, but because I like to have the best ... I like to have the newest thing.”

iSeptember Touch 14, 2007 As an expansion to the iPod, Apple introduces the iTouch. This was Apple’s first device with a touch screen. It was classified as a “pocket computer.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

16

iOctober Pod 23, 2001 Apple releases the first iPod. Apple was not a fan of the current state of portable music players, and Steve Jobs proposed a renovation.

iJunePh 9, 2

The iPho landscap paste fe

The

Fantastic Fruit 88% of Students own an Apple product 382 of the 436 BVNW students polled own an Apple product.

72% of people own an i Phone 297 of the 413 BVNW students polled own an iPhone.

= 50 students

64%

Amount of Students who like the iOS7 Update

iAprilPad 3, 2010 Apple releases the first iPad. It had many of the features that a Macintosh computer did, but it was smaller and more portable.

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hone 3G 2008

one 3G comes out, introducing pe support and a copy and eature.

iSeptember Phone 5S 20, 2013, Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest product, the iPhone 5S is released. This new phone comes with a fingerprint sensor, a faster operating system and a higher-quality camera.

17

Last man

Standing

Senior Josh Lazarus participates in Live action role play to express his passion for history.

A

sword clashes with the shield that protects the fate of the Celtic Barbarian. If the shield does not properly block that fighter from his opponent’s sword, he could end up dead along with the others in his unit. The battle has begun and senior Josh Lazarus has continued his weekly tradition of Live

Action Role Play.

Senior Josh Lazarus meets every Sunday at 12 pm in Shawnee Mission Park to participate in LARP. Lazarus, who grew up in Scotland, said that he has always had a lot of fascination for the Scottish Warrior’s and their history.

He has always loved swords and combat so when he came to the United States he knew he would have a lot more

opportunities to express his fascination because America has more groups and clubs relating to LARP. Once in the United States, Lazarus said he began to savor fence. “[Savor fencing] was a little bit too dainty and soft for me, I felt like I was dancing on my tip toes the entire time,” Lazarus said.

After coming to the realization that savor fencing

Left: Senior Josh Lazarus lunges at his opponent during the live action role play (LARP) session located at Shawnee Mission Park. Lazarus and his acquaintances meet every Sunday at 12 p.m. Middle: Lazarus and his team fight to see who will come out on top in this battle. After they lose their three lives, players are automatically out of the battle. Right: Lazarus waits on the side of the battle for his turn to enter and charge at his fellow opponents. In every event, the last man standing wins (photos by Lindsay Haight).

was not what he wanted to do, Lazarus said he saw a show called “Wreckreation Nation” on Discovery Channel, where one of the sections had a sport called Dagorhir. On the show there were several hundred people dressed as Romans, Barbarians, Knights that were on two different sides of the battle.

“They were beating the bloody crap out of each other. I saw it and fell in love with it,” Lazarus said.

After seeing the battle on TV, Lazarus looked up Dagorhir and found his local chapter and showed up to the next event. Amanda, Lazarus’ mother, said that when he LARPs he gets to express his passion and creativity for the history he loves.

Lazarus said everyone there is either a little teenager or an overgrown old man. Although that part is true, they don’t take themselves too seriously, Lazarus said.

They were beating the bloody crap out of each other. I saw it and fell in love with it.

-Senior Joshua Lazarus “We realize that what we are doing is stupid,” Lazarus said. “But we like to do it anyway.”

Lazarus is a part of a local group

called Dagorhir, which is a group of people who want to emulate a historical fantasy figure and beat each other to win. Lazarus said his role is to run in and beat a person to the ground until they are dead.

“You can’t compare 15 lbs of football padding and punching for two seconds at a time, to someone who has a sword and a shield in his hands and is literally trying to beat you to the ground, knock you off your feet, smack you and basically treat you like the little runt you are,” Lazarus said. “I have constantly believed that if you take any of the football players and put them in Dagger, they will get their asses handed to them.”

During LARP, the fighters use foam weapons made from PVC pipes, these are tested by other fighters before the batttle to make sure that no one will get

harmed in the process of using them.

“We don’t want to hurt our friends, we just want to kill them,” Lazarus said, quoting David Dennis, a friend of his.

According to Lazarus he enjoys LARP because it gives him free excuse to fight people. During his weekly battles, he gets to hang out around people who have the same historical fascination that he does.

Amanda thinks that LARP is a fun and creative way to exercise.

“We live in a privileged society and during this activity he gets to meet people from different social group. It widens his horizons,” Amanda said.

Lazarus said he absolutely adores the Viking culture and loves that he gets to celebrate it weekly. Everything about the experience has given him a very cathartic, historical perspective Lazarus said.

“I get to relive a fantasy that has

been dead for a thousand years,” Lazarus said.

When Lazarus first started, he

I get to relive a fantasy that has been dead for a thousand years.

-Senior Joshua Lazarus

was a fairly large 14 year old but compared to the people at Dagorhir, he was tiny. He remembers seeing a guy, full clad in armor with a wig and a massive shield. According to Lazarus, he was acting like an absolute rhinoceros. The guy was screaming and running around everywhere knocking everyone over. Eventually he started sprinting toward Lazarus from half way across

the field. All Lazarus could think was, “Oh my God! What the hell do I do?!” Instead of attacking him, Lazarus curled up into a ball in mid air to attempt to shield himself from the man. Lazarus didn’t realize that when he had brought his knee up, he had hit his opponent in the stomach with his knee. The knee to stomach collision made him flip over Lazarus and land on the ground behind him.

When the attacker stood up he began vomiting blood. Lazarus explained that he was feeling very guilty. He looked at Lazarus and said: “Dude that was … awesome!”

Lazarus said that story shows the absolute carefree nature of the LARP. People there understand that accidents happen and they like to laugh at their own mistakes.

Lazarus said that story shows the absolute carefree nature of the LARP. People there understand that accidents happen and they like to

laugh at their own mistakes.

“It’s a great place,” Lazarus said.

The organization Lazarus belongs to, Dagorhir, has about 100 groups over the nation and even a couple outside the nation. Dagorhir hosts a yearly event called Ragnarok which has been going on for 30 years. The highest amount of people to come to Ragnarok has been 8 thousand. Lazarus said that there are about 10 thousand Dagorhir players in the U.S. alone.

During the tournaments,Lazarus has a sword and a shield and is a part of the line. The line is a strong point in the formation. In the battle formation, there is usually a strong center and the outsides have spear men and

archers picking off people on the outside.

“I’m basically in the thick of it,” Lazarus said.

legitimate side. They put so much work and thought into [their costumes]. People who make their own costumes spend a lot of time going to When he [LARPs], he thrift stores buying fabrics and weaving them together can become another into legitimate depictions of what they have in mind. person.

“When he [LARPs], he -Lazarus’ mother, Amanda Lazarus can be another person.”

Amanda said.

The most common During the tournaments, costume is a Celtic Lazarus wears a tunic, Barbarian. According to gauntlets, a chain mail shirt Lazarus, the most important and the occasional helmet. part of the costume is the Lazarus said he chose these armor. The armor can pieces of clothing because actually give someone a they allow him to move small advantage over their quickly and give him a lot opponents. of protection without the “[LARP] is a way for sacrifice of movement. him to indulge himself into Lazarus explains that his passion for history,” the costumes that his group Amanda said. wears are more on the

Far Left: Lazarus stand to the side of the battle field as he guards his body with his tiger pelt shield.

Top Left:Raising his sword at his opponent, Lazarus charges toward him.

Bottom Left: Senior Lazarus jousts his opponent with a sword during his weekly battles.

Bottom Right: Josh Lazarus stands face to face with rival ready to defend himself.

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fighting the battle together

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ne decade. Ten years. One hundred and twenty months.

This is how long junior Lily Anderson has witnessed her mother, Abby Anderson, battle breast cancer.

“When I was in first grade, my mom was diagnosed with [breast cancer] and she went through chemotherapy,” Anderson said.

“When that was finished, we thought that it was all gone. We figured out ten years later (that) it was not gone and it had infected her liver and her bones as well. It just

kind of snuck back and we never saw it in the tests.”

The first time around, Abby detected her breast cancer on her own by conducting a breast check test. Abby said that although it was a difficult time for her family, she had to take the matters of her health care into her own hands.

“I found my lump [on my own] at 34-years-old and doctors usually don’t recommend mammograms before 40,” Abby said. “I pushed for a mammogram. I pushed for a biopsy. I pushed for all these things that I really wasn’t at 34 supposed to deal with.”

Junior Lily Anderson and her mother, Abby Anderson, enjoy a day out shopping. Anderson and her mom participated in the Susan G. Koman Race for the cure to show their support for breast cancer.

Even though students in high school are rarely diagnosed with breast cancer, it is still important for women of all ages to conduct their own breast tests on a regular basis.

Abby said she only checked on occasion, and if she could go back in time, she would conduct her breast exams monthly.

“If [women] see anything abnormal [after conducting a breast test], they should definitely go see a doctor,” Abby said. “I always kind of wonder, ‘Gosh, if I had been more vigilant and had been checking every month, would I have maybe caught it a month or two sooner?’…In hindsight, it’s hard to second guess your actions when you’re facing what I’m facing.”

For Anderson, October is one of her favorite months because it is breast cancer awareness month. “[Breast cancer awareness month] has always been important in my family,” Anderson said. “I do think it brings out the good in people and everyone should be involved in it — not just BVNW.” For Abby, October used to be a very hard month because the widespread commercialization of breast cancer and everything decked out in pink was a constant reminder of her disease. However, she said if this commercialization can help just one person detect their cancer earlier, then it is beneficial.

“I have to put aside my own issues with it,” Abby said. “If somebody walks into Bed Bath and Beyond, sees a pink can opener, and it makes them think, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven’t done my monthly breast exam, I’m going to go home and do that tonight’, then it’s worth it.”

Today, the cancer Abby is battling has no definite cure, although she said she

23

takes medication to try and stop the cancer cells from multiplying. Organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation research and fund various methods to benefit breast cancer victims all around the country. Anderson said she believes the money BVNW raises that goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation could one day help find a cure for her mother and the many others that have been affected by breast cancer.

“It’s such a good cause…I don’t see why you wouldn’t get involved,” Anderson said.

Despite the number of days, months and years Abby has been battling breast cancer, she said it is important to remain optimistic each day.

“I make a conscious effort to live positively and it’s important to me that my awareness will be brought to light and lives will ultimately be saved,” Abby said.

I feel like if something were ever to happen, i don’t want to regret anything -Junior Lily Anderson

For Anderson, she said her mother’s fight against cancer has taught her to pick her battles. She has had to rethink the way she

lives each day and focus on what is important in the long run.

“I’m not going to sit there and fight with my mom over what I’m going to wear one day,” Anderson said. “I feel like if something were to ever happen, I don’t want to regret anything.”

Coping with her mother’s breast cancer has only made her a stronger person with a better outlook on life, Anderson said.

“I have a lot more hope,” Anderson said.“I just have to wake up every day and make the most of that day because you never know when something can be taken from you.”

at BVNW Out of 435 students polled at bvnw, 48% said they were personally affected by breast cancer.

BVNW DECA sells the pink-out game t-shirts at lunch. The money raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

think pink uring the month of October, BVNW and DECA play an active role in fundraising for breast cancer awareness month.

DECA sells cookies, doughnuts and pink-out gear, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Although this concept of “Pinktober” has been in existence for five years, this year is the first year that DECA has extended their fundraising for the entire month; in the past, the fundraising was only a weeklong affair.

DECA sponsor Kathy Peres said that because breast cancer is so prevalent and almost everybody can identify with it in some way, it is important for

D

students to give back to the community.

The feedback that Peres said she receives from fundraising is always very positive, and the pink-out game with BVN is a great way to get involved.

we come together and raise money for a great cause -DECA Sponsor Kathy Peres

“We come together and raise money for a great cause [during the pink-out game],” Peres said. “It’s good to work with a sister school that we can see for

one time not just as a rival, but a partner in doing something greater for the community.”

The DECA members that participate in the month’s activities help bake the cookies, sell the doughnuts and other pink-out gear and help collect donations during the pink-out game.

“This has definitely from day one been something that’s been student driven,” Peres said.

While DECA was able to donate a total amount $3,174.93 last year, the organization hopes that with an extended fundraising period, they will be able to exceed this amount with this year’s efforts. DECA’s fundraising for the Susan G. Komen foundation ends on November 1, with the pink-out game.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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!

Directions: Fill in the grid with the answers to the clues below.

To see answers and find more puzzles, go to BVNWnews.com.

Across

DOWN

1. To make prettier 9. Main workers 11. Expanding 13. Exclamation of surprise 14. Dove’s call 15. Small 16. Slime 18. Part of a circle 20. Pennsylvania or Short Line, abbv.

21. Shade of blue 25. Nitrogen or bromine 27. Pertaining to everyone in a region

2. Auntie in The Wizard of Oz 3. Crow’s call 4. Crying initiators 5. Distance halfway across two or more circles 6. Existence time 7. Finger total 8. Sprinsteen singer Church 10. To spy 12. Signal to start 15. Battlestar Galactica star Jensen 16. A deadly sin 17. Speak 18. A magnet during summertime 19. Corn, for example 22. The article ‘a’, in spanish 23. Three consecutive letters 24. Finish the country: VIET___ 26. Lithium’s abbv.

THE EXPRESS | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOber 2013

27

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OPINION

EXPRESSIONS Don’t mask vulnerability

By Laney Breidenthal

This November will be the second anniversary of the death of a family friend of mine, Tom Karlin. The kids in our families grew up together. At the age of 17, he committed suicide.

This was a complete surprise to everybody who knew him. Even though I hadn’t seen him in years, the fact that a family friend took his own life hit me really hard. His family created the Tom Karlin Foundation (TKF) in the wake of his tragic death to address teen depression and suicide.

My sister and I are members of

the TKF teen focus group. We shared our experiences with suicide and depression and talked about how to prevent them. I learned that it is okay to be vulnerable and it can be very beneficial. The past two years have been a struggle for me because about the same time Tom died, problems arose within my family, and I was devastated. It took me a long time to become vulnerable because I didn’t want people to know that I didn’t have everything together.

It has been really difficult for me to open up to people. However, letting myself be vulnerable opened up so many doors for me, especially when things weren’t going so great. I urge you to try to be vulnerable. Talk to

someone; holding it all inside can send you into an even darker place.

No matter how bad it seems, there is always help available.

Chances are, you know someone who has been affected by depression, you just don’t know it. Being aware of those around you is very important.

Even if you don’t know them very well, try to let them know that you’re there for them. Give them time and don’t pry, as that might make it worse.

If you think you might be depressed, try to talk to someone. I know that it is really difficult, painful, and terrifying to confront your feelings, but being able to take that first step is crucial.

Even though depression and suicide are serious subjects, there is always

Calm your teenage hormones

By Natasha Vyhovsky What starts out as an innocent trip to my locker to retrieve my history book quickly gets extremely awkward when I have to make my way around a couple slobbering all over each other right in full view of everyone in the locker area. I try to walk by quickly and look at the ground so I don’t have to see it, but you can’t avoid it when it’s happening everywhere.

As grown up as I’m sure you feel displaying your relationship status for all to see, it does quite the opposite.

In trying to look and feel mature by making out on each other’s laps at lunch, you just look obnoxious and childish. I get that you are so crazy about each other, and that is fabulous,

but please don’t make me see it; I don’t want to feel that close to you.

Are we really so insecure about what others think about our lives that we have to boast our relationship status so everyone knows who we’re going out with? If this some kind of attempt to look cool and experienced, it’s not working. I don’t care who you’re going out with. If you’re dating, you’re probably making out — I don’t need to see it to believe it.

Also, is it really that hard to just wait until you are alone? I mean, we are at school for only seven hours a day, and I’m pretty sure you’re not going to die if you have to wait until you have a little bit of privacy. Doesn’t

the express | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOber 2013

it make you uncomfortable to think that teachers see you guys? If nothing else, that would definitely make me want to wait until I’m not at school to make out, just saying. I can’t imagine that you miss each other that much after only a few class periods.

Out of respect for all the innocent lunch goers, history book retrievers, and teachers passing through the locker area, stop the PDA and leave some of your relationship between the two of you. Don’t be that couple.

29

Opinion

I’m sick of being sexy

By Sarah Hirsch

I

t’s my favorite time of year again, and I’ve already stocked up on chocolate pumpkins and apple cider. The entire Halloweentown series is set to record on my DVR, all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are on Netflix, and my Stephen King novels are all dusted off and ready to go. Come Halloween, visions of tortured souls, decomposing zombies, and cackling witches will dance in everyone’s heads.

As a kid, I had some pretty eccentric costumes. In second grade, I really wanted to be a washing machine. I forced my sister to be the dryer, and with miscellaneous clothes popping out of our cardboard boxes, we happily ran around collecting candy on Halloween. Nowadays, things are different. Young girls are only presented with provocative options, and I’m sick of seeing tweens canoodling in “spooky” lingerie. Somehow the costumes are shrinking while the temperature is dropping.

If you flip through most costume store catalogues, the outfits are split into sections differing by age group and gender. It starts out seemingly normal, with superheroes and cool animals for little boys and princesses and cutesy creatures for the girls. But as you continue your search, you notice that all of the male costumes are fun and actionpacked, while the female outfits are essentially the same exact thing

30

in different colors and are packed full of short skirts, corsets, and awkwardly plunged necklines.

Now, I’m not bagging on those girls who actually enjoy being a damsel in distress, but I wish that my gender could have a bit more leeway with our costume choices. So you want to be Mario and Luigi? Too bad, you’re stuck being “Perky Plumber” and “Sexy Sidekick.” Star Wars fan? Naturally, you would expect the only sexy character option to be a metal bikini “slave” Leia. However, stores have somehow found a way to sex up Chewbacca and R2-D2.

It’s almost as if we aren’t good enough to be anything more than bodacious bimbos.

Even if you try to escape the confinement of female gender roles, you’re still forced to feed into the slutty stereotype. It’s almost as if we aren’t good enough to be anything more than bodacious bimbos. Too bad if you want to be silly or scary. You have to be sexy.

This not only impacts our fragile teenage judgment but also affects the minds of small children. Walmart recently yanked a suggestive toddler costume from its shelves in response to furious parents and numerous complaints.

The poofy dress was advertised as a ‘naughty leopard,’ despite the fact

that it looked more like a purple ballerina with a small amount of subdued animal print. I have no clue why Walmart ever thought it would be a good idea to describe anything for children as ‘naughty,’ but we all know they don’t always have the best fashion taste.

I understand that sex sells, but this is getting out of hand.

If Halloween is about being something other than yourself, then why are we only presenting children with overtly promiscuous options? We need to stop being so obsessed with sex. Even if you think the kid doesn’t understand what is entailed with her costume’s short hemline, she most likely does.

I want to have the option of being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle without being forced to be racy.

When costume stores start thinking about the good of society I might purchase my costumes from them.

I’m sexy the rest of the year — my Halloween costume doesn’t need to highlight that.

the express | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOber 2013

STAFF EdITORIAL

SOME JOKES ARE NOT FUNNY

E

very day, we are bombarded by satire. Whether it is a skit from Tosh.0 or one of Lonely Island’s parodies, teenagers are no strangers to sarcasm. Let’s face it; it’s hilarious. But, sarcasm can also be caustic, burning and hurtful.

When somebody says they are going to kill themselves over a chemistry test, we are desensitizing ourselves to a serious issue. Some things should never be jokes in casual conversation. Especially suicide, rape and homosexuality.

Although nothing in satire is off-limits, we need to be conscious of the realities of these personal issues. The topics of homosexuality, suicide and rape simply cannot be taken lightly. Using “gay” as an insult is offensive. Homosexuality is not a derogatory term. Additionally, joking with people about killing themselves is morbid. We don’t know if somebody has been thinking those same thoughts about themselves.

sometimes WE TAKE JOKES WAY TOO FAR.

THAT ONE, OFF-HANDED REMARK COULD SEND THEM OVER THE EDGE. Although rape is considered one of

the most heinous crimes in our society today, the reaction to last year’s OUTRAGE performance suggested just the opposite. We watched a performance that attempted to educate us about the consequences of sexual abuse, yet, there were those few who made jokes about it. The lockers were bustling with careless jokes and sarcastic squabble. All while several students, victims of rape themselves, tried not to listen.

This careless, inconsiderate behavior is inexcusable.

Everyone must be conscious of other people’s emotions. It may be funny on Tosh.0, but sometimes it’s not

funny when said to someone’s face. Although we would like to think we all know each other well, we don’t know everything a person has been through over the course of their life. It is our duty as members of the BVNW family to have enough respect for one another not to make light of heavy topics. Instead, offer support to the people around us. It can make all the difference in a person’s life.

By Liz Kuhlmann

Have you ever been offended by a joke?

Yes 81% No 19% Unsure 18.9% Have you ever made a joke that you realized was offensive later?

Yes 94% No 5% Unsure 1% Poll was taken by 286 students

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THe Express | BVNWNEWS.COM | OCTOber 2013

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