The Dart: Vol 72 Issue 2

VOLUME 72 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 11, 2012 ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY KANSAS CITY, MO WWW.DARTNEWSONLINE.COM

democrat republican

2012

junior illinois senator

massachusetts governor

Columbia University + Harvard Law School

Brigham Young University + Harvard Law School

BIDEN RYAN paul

joe

First African American President

dart

michelle obama

2

daughters (malia & sasha)

Founder of Bain Capital

ann romney

5

sons

(tagg, matt, josh, ben & craig)

christian MORMON

“The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I’m asking you to choose that future.”

“America has been patient. Americans have supported this president in good faith. But today, the time has come to turn the page.”

MITT ROMNEY OBAmA born in: DETROIT, MI born in: HONOLULU, HI

the

BARACk

DNC: RNC: charlotte,nc tampa, fl

2 | news | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

dart the

people and policies

Eric Thomas............................................................advisor Emily McCann.................managing editor of design Anna Leach..........................managing editor of web Natalie Fitts......................managing editor of stories Emma Wheatley............managing editor of photos print Mickey Redlingshafer................................news editor Caitlin Fletcher.......................................features editor Emily Wemhoff.......................................features editor Shaeffer Smith........................................opinion editor Sara Jessica Dilks.........................centerspread editor Rosie Hutchison..........................sports/health editor Sara Meurer............................................lifestyles editor Katie Parkinson...............................................a&e editor Emma Willibey....................................in the mix editor Jordan Berardi........................................last look editor Maddie Knopke............................................copy editor Lindsey Valdiviez.........................................copy editor Emma Willibey.............................................copy editor Leigh Campbell.............................................staff writer Siobhan Miller................................................staff writer Grace Sly...........................................................staff writer Christina Elias.................................................staff writer Jordan Allen...................................staff photographer Grace Hodes...................................staff photographer Kathleen Keaveny.........................staff photographer Maggie Rellihan............................staff photographer web Lauren Langdon...........................................daily editor Adrianna Ohmes..........................................daily editor Lane Maguire................................................daily editor Meghan Lewis..................................web photo editor Menley Brennan..................................facebook editor Sabrina Redlingshafer............................twitter editor Madeline Best......................standing features editor Hannah Bredar...........................................school liason Taylor Steen................................................school liason Libby Hyde...................................................blogs editor Jordan Berardi..........................................videographer Caroline Fiss..............................................videographer Cecilia Butler..............................breaking news editor policies ownership and sponsership The Dart is created by the student newspaper staff and is published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level. editorial policy The Dart is subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administration in circumstances that concern student safety and illegal behavior by students. Otherwise, the policies above will guide the Dart. The Dart intends to be a public forum for voices regardless of diverse ages, sexes, races, cultures, religions or beliefs. Signed columns reflect the opinions of the individual, not necessarily the newspaper staff or the school community. letters policy The Dart encourages letters to the editor. Letters can be sent in the following ways: in person to Eric Thomas in D204; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, attn: Eric Thomas, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; or by email to ethomas@stteresasacademy.org. Letters should be limited to 250 words.

The Dart staff reserves the right to edit or shorten letters for publication. photo illustrations Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine the limitless possibility of the drawing with the realism of the photograph. They are not intended to be documentary photos of real moments. corrections policy The Dart will print corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

Cross country runners injured by pellet gun on Ward Parkway Two Rockhurst juniors “dismissed” for firing at STA and Rockhurst cross country runners Sept. 11

by SARA-JESSICA DILKS sdilks@dartnewsonline.com

Several STA and Rockhurst cross country runners were shot by plastic airsoft pellets while training on Ward Parkway Sept. 11, according to athletic director Mark Hough.

None of the injuries “[broke] the skin, but were still a concern,” Hough said.

It was later discovered that two Rockhurst juniors were involved in the incident. While one Rockhurst student drove the car, another fired the pellet gun, according to one of the two students in the car, who wish to remain anonymous because of privacy reasons. He said that he and the other boy were “asked to leave” the school permanently by Rockhurst administration.

According to a Rockhurst sophomore cross country runner who requested anonymity because his team told him not to talk to the Dart, members of the Rockhurst cross country team “reported [the incident] to Coach [Michael] Dierks.” This happened after “the second day [the juniors] had shot the airsoft guns at the runners.” St. Teresa’s and Rockhurst runners confirmed that the incident occurred while they trained on the Ward Parkway median, and that the shooters fired from the open windows of a moving car.

Airsoft guns are replica firearms that fire tiny plastic pellets by means of compressed air or spring power, and are designed to be non-lethal, according to The Code of Federal Regulations. They are legal for all ages in most of the United States as long as they have an orange plastic tip to indicate that it is not a real firearm.

The Rockhurst sophomore runner said all the injuries were minor, the majority consisting of “tiny red marks, but definitely no bruising.”

Soon after being notified that STA runners had been shot, Hough said he warned neighboring schools whose cross country teams also train in the Brookside and Ward Parkway area. Hough said he was told by Rockhurst athletic director Pete Campbell that “they were taking care of [the issue],” and punishment for the shooters would range from “suspension to expulsion.”

When contacted by phone, Rockhurst administration members including dean of students David Alvey declined to comment because the school did not wish to reveal their disciplinary policies. Other Rockhurst administrators, when contacted by phone, declined to comment.

According to Hough, the reason for his quick action was to avoid potential recurrence. “[I was told] that the [injuries] didn’t break the skin but that it was still a concern,” Hough said. “Anytime you have something like that going on, it’s one step away from being a disaster.”

St. Teresa’s senior cross country runner Serenity Wallace said she got a brief glance

of the two boys driving past the team shortly after she was hit.

“I thought something was kicked up off the ground because it hit me,” Wallace Wallace said. “But then I was like ‘Did you guys [her teammates] just throw something at me?’”

According to a junior Rockhurst cross country runner who wished to remain anonymous because he had also been told by his team not to comment, hearing that the juniors were dismissed for their actions was “a big shock” to most people. However, he understands the logic behind the “pretty severe” punishment.

“They’re getting in trouble with another school and also with the law,” the Rockhurst junior said. “If it was only Rockhurst students [that they were targeting], I don’t think it would be such a big deal.”

Additionally, the Rockhurst junior believes the intentions behind the incident were harmless.

“My first reaction was like ‘Haaa-ha!

That’s hilarious!’” the Rockhurst junior said.

“But I mean, most people were just thinking ‘Why would they do that?’ Do ya feel me? I think that [shooting the airsoft guns] was intended as a joke. They weren’t trying to harm anyone.”

Other students, including the anonymous sophomore, also disagreed with the rumored punishment, pointing out that the consequence was “unexpected” and unjust.

“In the rule book or whatever, it never

says that you’ll get kicked out for shooting someone with a toy gun,” said the sophomore runner.

Bringing a weapon to school results in an automatic dismissal, according to the Rockhurst High School 2012-2013 Student/ Parent Handbook. The guidebook also states that students may be immediately dismissed if they are “endangering, or threatening to endanger, oneself or others.”

One of the juniors who was dismissed from Rockhurst agreed to be interviewed for the Dart on the condition that he would remain anonymous. He said that he never had the intention to hurt anyone. Additionally, he did not consider that his actions could result in such a severe punishment.

“We were just driving down Ward Parkway and saw the runners,” the dismissed junior said. “It wasn’t even that we were trying to be funny or something. It was just us messing around. It wasn’t something that I thought we’d get in trouble for.”

According to the dismissed junior, although he was involved with the incident, he did not physically partake in shooting anyone because he was driving. That is why the dismissal “was really shocking” to him.

“I was called down to the office, and I asked [the administration] how much trouble I would be in, thinking that they were gonna give me three detentions or something,” the dismissed junior said. “But, it turned out that they asked me to leave.”

Looking back on the situation, the dismissed junior has mixed feelings.

“I think it was definitely a severe punishment, but I can understand why they made the decision,” he said. “I do regret [my involvement]. But it’s not like I can really do anything now.” H

The Ballad of ****** and ******** Rockhurst junior Patrick McQuaid, friend of the two boys who were asked to leave Rockhurst, wrote a rap explaining his view about the situation. The lyrics are as followed with some edits for obscenity and to protect the identity minors.

Two kicked out of school, now they’re on vacation, At least that’s what I mean by public education.

They pacin’ . . . sweat beads on their lips, No leads the dean feeds on witnesses and tips.

It seemed they got away with it, only one in suspension . . . . **** rubberfingerin to release some of his tension.

Gets yanked out of class [administrator] hot on his ***, Puts him in the hall and yells at him, he asks him, Green 4runner gunnin’ runners commencin open fire, Do you have anything to do with this Mr.

*********?

He said “no I don’t . . . well kind of.” They had him busted, He left school in custody of parents not amused by the son they thought they trusted.

But hey . . . ****** and ******* made the best of it, Left a strict environment they thought forget the rest of it.

Goodbye Ignatius, you made us confused, With all the sacred prayers and metaphors you used.

Set the world on fire, that’s what you said, I just might blow it up into pieces instead. ********* beaten and bruised, felt cheated and used, And frankly he felt a little confused Why . . . why it didn’t take long for an airsoft gun To make done with his curriculum.

He felt shorted, got on the ship and boarded, Worked to be a citizen to only get deported.H

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | news | 3

Juniors now encouraged to partake in Kairos retreat Instead of remaining seniorfocused, the spiritual retreat will now put special attention on the participation of juniors

by MADDIE KNOPKE mknopke@dartnewsonline.com

Beginning this year, STA’s three-and-a half-day spiritual retreat, Kairos, will be aimed towards the junior class as opposed to the “senior-only” idea in previous years. According to STA’s Kairos director Robin Good, the attempt to promote the retreat to juniors will not change the retreat itself, but open it up to a new group of attendees.

Good explained it was decided to promote the retreat to juniors because of the positive effects seen on the previous senior classes.

The Kairos retreat guides participants to think about how they view themselves, how others view them and where God fits into their life.

STA’s campus ministry leader Joe LaScala, explains that Kairos is a retreat that gives students “an opportunity to listen to others share their life experiences, pray and grow as a community and be offered a new perspective on things that you may have heard before.”

Live the fourth HJuniors are now allowed to attend Kairos, before this year it was offered mainly to seniors. photo by MEGHAN LEWIS

According to Good, Kairos requires participants to miss three days of school in order to attend. The location and most details about Kairos are kept secret from students to help them maintain an open mind about the experience. Up to 36 spots are available for students per retreat.

Good reveals that the hope for this year is to leave the Oct. 23-26 retreat for seniors only, but make the Jan. 22-26 retreat for juniors only.

The other retreat from April 2-5 will be aimed towards primarily seniors and the May 28-31 towards primarily juniors. If theses two retreats are not full, they will be opened to the opposite class.

Fourteen years ago, Kairos was introduced to

STA as a senior retreat; the idea to include juniors did not arise until a couple years ago. According to Good, STA is one of the first high schools in the metropolitan area to make the transition.

Rockhurst High School is trying. However with a larger student body, it is more difficult.

Last year as a junior, Sammy Patterson attended the spring Kairos. Patterson explains that she wanted to go on Kairos as a junior because she thought it would be a great way to get to know last year’s senior class.

In Patterson’s opinion, going on Kairos during her junior year was a good decision because it allowed her “to be a part of the Kairos community for longer than if [she] had gone as a senior.” She also enjoys being able to encourage her fellow classmates to attend Kairos.

Current junior Katherine Viviano disagrees with this change and plans to attend senior year.

“I think it is more special if you save it for senior year,” Viviano said. “It is a privilege that is unique to the senior year experience.”

Good believes that the experience of Kairos will not be different from a junior to a senior.

“The experience is unique for each person,” Good said. “You hear what you need to hear, no matter what age you are.” H

Heid returns with new vision Ms. Ann Heid rejoins the STA community after a two-year leave.

Heid has come back in the place of speech teacher Tyler Stewart

Senior Kate Sanders has been named National Merit Scholar semi-finalist. This honor is based on a student’s junior year PSAT score.

Sanders is one of about 16,000 Sanders in the nation. In order to become a National Merit Scholar finalist, Sanders must submit an application, write an essay, take the SAT and receive a score that is on par with her PSAT score and become endorsed by a school official.

Sanders found out about her National Merit Scholar semi-finalist status in late August.

“Once I got home I told my parents, and I was kind of jumping around and screaming,” Sanders said.

According to Sanders, the best way to achieve a high PSAT score is to know what is going on in classes.

“At that point [last year,] I was reviewing for the ACT,” Sanders said. “So I was just doing things like going over my math notes from earlier years and my English notes. I actually went over the test from the year before too.”

If Sanders becomes a National Merit Scholar, she will be eligible for scholarships which will help with college. Sanders plans to apply to Missouri University of Science and Technology, MIT, Princeton and Stanford, among other schools.

“For me, it’s a real honor to be able to represent STA in this, and I look forward to there being a bunch of girls next year [who will do the same],” Sanders said.

Dart staffers win awards from NSPA

by SIOBHAN MILLER smiller@dartnewsonline.com

STA former speech teacher Ann Heid returned to STA to replace former speech teacher Tyler Stewart. Stewart turned in her resignation Sept. 10 after over a year at STA. Heid left STA two years ago to seek medical assistance for her husband, Fred, in Pennsylvania, where Fred’s mother and sister live. Fred died on April 16, of stomach cancer.

After his death, Heid returned to Kansas City and was later rehired as the speech teacher at STA. Fred’s death has impacted Heid’s personal life and teaching style. Heid hopes to pass the lessons she learned from Fred’s illness on to her students.

“I have learned so much about myself and people throughout my dear Fred’s illness and have really learned not to worry so much about things out of my control,” Heid said in an email. “I try to find as many blessings in the day as I can and I hope that I show that to my students everyday.”

Despite her loss, Heid has found great comfort in her return to STA’s community.

After receiving many words of comfort from fellow teachers and students during her time away, Heid enjoyed returning to their company.

“It felt like home from the moment I walked on campus,” Heid said. “Everyone has been so great about making me feel welcomed. It feels like my whole world has

Senior becomes National Merit semi-finalist

Back in Class H Speech teacher Ann Heid returns to STA with a new teaching philosophy during her Speech I. Heid returned to STA after two years of assisting her husband in his fight against stage four stomach cancer. .photo by MAGGIE RELLIHAN

changed from the last time I was here...and it has, but the consistency of STA has felt like an old friend.”

Teachers and students who worked with Heid in the past, including English teacher Katie Dolan, anticipated her return to STA. Despite Heid’s two-year absence, she feels the STA community welcomed her back with a sense of familiarity. Senior Elizabeth Arensburg, who was in Heid’s speech class her, agrees that Heid is a big part of the STA community.

“I think she is a great person who always has the students’ best interests at heart,” Arensburg said.

Heid plans on taking the course week by week, assessing where her students are. The

speech course is based on academics and student performance in class. The main focus of the course is to build up skills to the Woodmen Speech Contest. Heid hopes students will be able to form their own opinions while also learning to understand the other side of the issue when studying worldwide news.

Principal of academic affairs Barbara McCormick said that the administration and Heid plan on advancing the speech and debate programs by “offering students a rigorous and challenging curriculum along with opportunities to compete in debate.”

“I look forward to seeing a group of girls begin to gain confidence in public speaking and to begin a new year of debate,” Heid said.H

This year the National Scholastic Press Association awarded four of last year’s Dart staffers for their work on the newspaper. Kate Rohr, former centerspread and cover editor, won an award for her cover design. Celia O’Flaherty, former photography editor, won an award for her photography.

Lauren Langdon and Anna Leach, current staffers, also Langdon received honorable mention for their multi-media coverage of Darren Criss.

“I didn’t even know we had been entered in the competition,” Langdon said. “I didn’t really know it was an option.”

Their Darren Criss coverage included photos, audio clips and a story.

“We tried to use the video they took, but it was almost completely black,” Langdon said. “So we just used the audio from the video.”

According to Langdon, she and Leach spent about two and a half weeks on the project and it was hard to find time to work together.

“It was something, though, that Anna and I really wanted to do,” Langdon said. “We’re both really big fans of Darren Criss and the work that he did on YouTube and ‘Glee.’ It will be really cool when Anna and I get the award.”

Briefs by KATIE PARKINSON and CAITLIN FLETCHER

4 | features | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

I

n light of the recent sexual abuse scandal in the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo. diocese, new policies and procedures have been implemented so something like this will hopefully never happen again, diocesan Chancellor Jude Huntz told the Dart. As chancellor, Huntz acts as chief of staff for the KCSJ diocese and is the point man and spokesperson regarding this controversy.

“I hear people saying, ‘The Church has messed up time and again on this. They’ve apologized, but what’s really going to change?

What’s really going to be different?’” Huntz said. “I think that’s a legitimate question because time after time, there have been failures.”

In the past, it has always been priests monitoring other priests and investigating one another, according to Huntz. This is what the KCSJ diocese intends to change. Instead of having priests be the “gatekeepers,” lay people—those who are not part of the clergy—and specifically lay women who are mothers, are now the investigators and the counselors.

“If I had to trust somebody with this process, I’m going to trust the woman who’s got kids more than I’m going to trust anybody else,” Huntz said. “It will never be the case again that we’ve got a group of people moderating themselves.”

Court Sentencing Bishop Robert Finn of the KCSJ diocese was convicted Sept. 6 of failing to report Father Shawn Ratigan for child sexual abuse.

After child pornography was found on Ratigan’s laptop, he was charged with six counts of production of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of attempted production of child pornography in late August, according to NBC 41 Action News.

As a mandatory reporter, Finn is required by law to report child abuse to law enforcement. In a non-jury trial, Finn was convicted on one misdemeanor count and sentenced to two years of probation.

If Finn follows the steps laid out in his probation without incident, his criminal record peace and blessings H Bishop Robert Finn blesses the Chapel of St. Joseph at STA before ground breaking on Feb. 2, 2011. loyal listeners H STA students gather in the Windmoor Center on Sept. 19 to learn more about the conviction of Bishop Finn. deep in thought H Ms. Amanda Johnson directs the PowerPoint presentation of the Bishop Finn conviction. She later spoke about how to help victims of sexual abuse. talkin’ truth H Mr. Michael Sanem highlights the timeline of events for the conviction of Bishop Finn. preaching to the choir H Mr. Stephen Himes analyzes the legal aspect of the trial of Bishop Finn. photos by JORDAN ALLEN DART file photo (far right) on trial H Bishop Finn in the court room on Sept. 6. MCT CAMPUS

will be expunged, meaning that it will later be either destroyed or sealed.

While some Catholics were satisfied with this result, others, such as the National Survivor Advocates Coalition, have called for Finn’s resignation.

“On the one side, you’ve got people who are really angry over what’s happened, and there’s a lot of justifiable anger in that,” Huntz said. “On the other side, you’ve got people who have strongly supported the bishop and didn’t think he did anything wrong and thought this was unjust. I think the reality has kind of borne out that it’s something in the middle, and I think that’s where the court came down. [Finn] wasn’t some evil maniac that some people thought he was, but he wasn’t without blame either.”

According to the Kansas City Star, the following are the terms of Finn’s probation: • Providing training for clergy, teachers, counselors and diocesan staff and agents to report suspected crimes against children • Starting a program to help clergy and diocesan administrators recognize what constitutes child pornography and obscenity and signs that a child might be being subjected to this • Giving $10,000 to provide counseling for abuse victims • Continuing the position of ombudsman, which is filled by Ms. Jenifer Valenti, whose job is to investigate any reports of sexual abuse within the diocese • Personally complying with mandated reporter laws “The probation agreement that was agreed to in collaboration with the prosecutor and the judge is a healing model,” Huntz said. “It’s not a punitive model.”

Impact at STA Theology teacher Michael Sanem, former lawyer Stephen Himes and STA counselor Amanda Johnson held an optional informational meeting Sept. 19 for students and faculty. A few dozen students attended.

“I think for the small group of students who went to the presentation and heard what it was all about, they got a clearer idea on this whole case,” principal of student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker said. “I think those who went found it interesting, and Mr. Sanem, and Mr. Himes and Ms. Johnson did a good job in bringing some clarity to it. But I think for the majority of students, life will go on as usual.”

But should this be a topic discussed in the classroom? According to Huntz, the answer is, “Absolutely.”

“I really encourage teachers to talk about it, listen to their students, to what they’re saying, hearing and feeling and just go through the healing process,” Huntz said.

However, Huntz, a former teacher, also recognized that it can be tricky for teachers to bring this up given that many students and parents have strong feelings on the topic, and that teachers might be reluctant to discuss this.

“I would use the analogy of a family,” Huntz said. “I think a healthy family talks about things: the good and the bad. And if you don’t talk about these things, the bad things especially, they are just left to fester.”

Senior Annie Palmer, a practicing Catholic,

also brought up the possibility that it may be hard for families to talk about as well, especially because the controversy is so close to home.

“I think for the most part, people are not informed about this,” Palmer said. “I don’t think this is something my parents want to talk about because it’s like the elephant in the room. We don’t want to offend anyone who knows Bishop Finn or anyone who knows a victim or is a victim. I think it would help if we talked about it. The problem initially [with the abuse by Ratigan and the diocese’s handling of it] was that nobody told anybody.

Nobody communicated. So I think communication is a serious issue and not talking about it makes the issue worse.”

Moving On In order to finally communicate with each other and bring healing to the community, the diocese is taking steps, starting with listening and healing sessions that began last year. As part of this, Finn visited St. Patrick Catholic Church, St. Thomas More Parish and a few other parishes in Clay County and in St. Joseph, Mo. Ratigan served the church at many of these parishes.

“People were brutally honest, and that’s okay,” Huntz said. “The bishop stood there, and he took [people’s anger], and he listened because I think there is just that awareness that people need to get it out.”

These healing sessions continue now with Sister Esther Fangman, a licensed counselor and therapist who will be visiting different parishes.

“I think that’s great and that anything that strengthens the community is good,” Palmer said.

In addition to these meetings, Ms. Barbara Thorpe will be at St. Therese North in Parkville, Mo. Nov. 6 at an all day training session beginning at 9 a.m. Thorpe, who helped the Archdiocese of Boston heal from a similar scandal a decade ago, will train lay leaders and parishes in what they can do to help the recovery process.

Another step the diocese is taking is to hold communal penance services throughout Advent and Lent. These are healing and reconciliation services that the bishop, priests, the diocese and parish people would take part in as a more official, liturgical way of publicly forgiving and moving on. “[Rebuilding trust] starts liturgically because that’s when we’re most a church,” Huntz said. “So they will be the main focal points for the larger community.”

In the Future According to Huntz, if trust is rebuilt and the community heals properly, the KCSJ diocese has the opportunity to become an exemplary diocese for the country and the rest of the world on policies and procedures around sexual abuse and protecting children.

However, Huntz also said there is the possibility that “we were vigilant for a while, and then we lapsed back into our old habits and failed to heal,” and that this next year will be critical in terms of determining which scenario will play itself out.

“I’m certainly hoping that it goes the first way and not the second, and we’re going to do everything we can to try and do that,” Huntz said. H

Timeline of events of abuse in the Kansas City—St. Joseph, Mo. diocese 1992

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops spells out policies that advise bishops in dealing with cases involving child abuse. Bishops pledge to report suspected abusers to law enforcement authorities.

May 2010

St. Patrick Parish’s school principal sends a letter to the diocese suspecting that Father Shawn Ratigan is a sexual predator.

May 2010

Bishop Finn warns Ratigan that the letter is being taken seriously.

December 2010

Child pornography is found on Ratigan’s computer by diocese technician and is reported to Finn.

After being notified of the pornography on Ratigan’s computer, Finn fails to report it to the police.

December 2010

After being confronted about the photographs, Ratigan attempts suicide and is briefly hospitalized.

December 2010

Bishop Finn reassigns Ratigan to live in a convent and orders him to stay away from children.

February 2, 2011

Finn presides over the prayer service of the dedication of the Chapel of St. Joseph at STA.

May 2011

The Vatican directs all Bishops to make fighting sexual abuse a priority; Ratigan breaks his restrictions from contact with children.

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | features | 5

CHANGE in the CHURCH

The Kansas City—St. Joseph, Mo. diocese works to change in the wake of a scandal by modifying old procedures on sexual abuse and making lay women an integral part of the new process.

by KATIE PARKINSON kparkinson@dartnewsonline.com

May 2011

Ratigan is arrested on child pornography charges.

June 2011

Bishops vote to retain the zero tolerance guidelines for child abuse adopted in 2002.

October 2011

Finn and diocese is indicted by county grand jury for failing to report suspected abuse. Bishop Finn is the highest ranking clergy member to be charged with a crime stemming from a sex abuse scandal.

November 2011

Finn agrees to meet monthly with county prosecutor.

August 2012

Ratigan pleads guilty and is currently awaiting sentencing.

Sources: New York Times and The National Catholic Reporter September 6, 2012

Bishop Finn is found guilty by judge of Johnson County Circuit Court for failing to report the Ratigan situation.

September 2012

As part of his sentence, Finn is required to start a training program for diocesan employees in seeing the signs of child abuse. He is also ordered to create a fund of $10,000 to pay for victims’ counseling.

September 2012

The cases of clergy sexual abuse of children have cost an estimated $2 billion in settlements within the last two decades.

compiled by LIBBY HYDE

6 | features | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

DRIVING the DISTANCE STA students make trips to school every day from far away places like Lawrence, Gladstone and Overland Park.

Living in Gladstone means living 35 minutes from school. It means waking up every morning at 5:45 a.m. just to be able to eat breakfast. It means leaving for school at 6:45 a.m. This is what senior Samantha Adams does every day.

“I have to leave then because it takes me about a half hour to get to school with no traffic,” Adams said. “With traffic, it can take me up to 45 minutes.”

Living far away also means that Adams has to fill up her gas tank in the middle of the week.

“I try to prolong it, but I definitely fill up once a week,” Adams said. “If I drive on the weekend, then I usually have to fill up on Sunday too.”

by CAITLIN FLETCHER cfletcher@dartnewsonline.com

GLADSTONE, MO

YIELD

BY THE NUMBERS: The Dart collected statistics reflecting the amount of time it takes students to get to STA.

16

5

the miles from senior Kelli Strader’s house to STA

the amount of times junior Maggie Allen’s family has to fill up their gas tank per week

STOP

5:45 1 18

the time Sam Adams leaves to drive to STA in the morning

the number of hours it takes Maggie Allen to drive to STA the number of miles from Samantha Adams’s house to STA

compiled by CAITLIN FLETCHER

Sometimes living far away means more inconvenience for Adams than just having to fill up her gas tank more than she would like.

“I’m not very close to the action,” Adams said. “I have to leave an hour ahead of time to get to any event on time. Also, my friends live around school so it stinks that I’m not able to be closer to them.”

Because of this, Adams wishes she did not live so far away from everyone, that maybe once in awhile it would be a little easier to go out on the weekend or to get to school. Maybe for once she could actually sleep in on late start days instead of still having to wake up early to get to school.

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | features | 7

45 miles to STA

LAWRENCE, KS DO NOT ENTER

“The commute is one of the main reasons I decided to do cross country this year,” Allen said. “I would be waiting at school by myself while my dad picks up my brother and sister otherwise, so I thought it would be something good to do instead of waiting at school for my dad to come.”

According to Allen, it would be easier if she could drive herself, but she is still not a licensed driver.

“I have my permit,” Allen said. “I got it late, so I won’t drive until senior year. It’s partly because of the commute to school and driving in rush hour every day.”

OVERLAND PARK, KS Her alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. every morning. She turns it off and gets out of bed. She does not have time to snooze her alarm if she wants to make it to school on time. Senior Kelli Strader lives in Overland Park and it takes her about 30 minutes to get to school.

“I usually have to leave my house around 6:50 a.m. in order to make it to school on time,” Strader said.

Driving to school also requires that Strader drive by St. Thomas Aquinas High School which is just a few blocks away from her own house.

“It’s annoying when I drive past Aquinas and it’s like a ghost town and I realize I could have woken up at 7:40 a.m. and gone to school at 7:45 a.m. if I went there,” Strader said.

Junior Maggie Allen wakes up at 6:00 a.m. every morning and then leaves her house to head to STA at 6:30 a.m. Her dad, Kent, drives her to school and when she arrives, it is 7:30 a.m. Allen lives in Lawrence and takes K-10 highway to school, an almost 45-mile drive from her home to school, but it was not always this way.

“When I started going to school [at STA], I lived in Lee’s Summit,” Allen said. “Then summer before sophomore year, my mom got a job in Topeka, so we moved to Lawrence.”

On the highway, it takes about 20 minutes to get to Strader’s house.

Because her friends do not usually come to her house, she tends to have to drive even more.

“I usually have to drive down [near school] on the weekends too so I can hang out with my friends,” Strader said.

This causes Strader to have to fill up her gas tank once a week, and when she drives on the weekend, maybe once more than that. Living far away from school can also be difficult when Strader is coming home.

“I work after school, and I’m almost always late,” Strader said. “I’m supposed to be at work at 3:45 [p.m.], but I usually get there around 4:00 [p.m.] because I go to school farther than anyone I work with.”

It is not only inconvenient during the week, but during the weekend as well.

“No one ever wants to come out to my house,” Strader says, “They say it’s because I live far away, but it’s not that bad if you take the highway.”

A T S

8 | opinion | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

cartoon by SARA-JESSICA DILKS

Young people should vote to be heard

Going through the voting process as a kid seemed so exciting, so secretive, so grownup. Finally, after many years of waiting, we’ll be punching the buttons in the tiny polling booth. However, in 2008, only 48.5 percent of the 18-24 years age group voted, according to the Census Bureau. And this is where I’m confused; why is that number so low? While more young voters cast their ballots in 2008 than 2004, 48.5 percent is still less than half of the eligible population.

The majority of STA students cannot vote yet, so why would this take up 500 words in the Dart? This young generation has and will have a considerable amount of pull. People between the ages of 18 and 29, the “Millennials” or “Generation Y,” represented 24 percent of the electorate in 2011, and by 2020, will make up 36 percent of the electorate. The Millennials are also the largest generation in US history, coming in at 50 million young people (17 million more than Baby Boomers and 27 million more than Gen X), according to Rock The Vote, an organization which uses pop culture “to motivate [young people] to participate in every election...to create politi-

RIGHT ON

TARGET Each issue, the Dart asks three people their opinions of the issue discussed in the main editorial.

Here’s what they said: compiled by SABRINA REDLINGSHAFER

cal and social change.” Millennials are also the organizations sponsor applications on their own sites, like Rock the Vote’s located at most diverse generation in American history, http://register2.rockthevote.com. These also 34 percent identifying as “non-white,” Young work to encourage this younger population to Democrats of America reports. With a more vote. In the 2008 election, 84 percent of the diverse group, more communities are able to be repre18-29 year olds who registered sented, cast a ballot.

The staff editorial represents the In every election, there are which can views of the Dart editorial board: a slew of issues, ranging in more reimportance for each individual. alistically There is something at stake for portray 5 out of 5 editors voted in support the people everyone, whether it’s equal of this editorial pay, marriage rights, health as a care, affording college or anywhole. thing in between. Vote so issues As a will be noticed, or even just the one you feel result of the increased internet usage and stress on convenience, the registration promost passionately about. Voting alerts reprecess is available on the web. For someone to sentatives to what you actually want; it is like a little flag that says “Hey! These people think register to vote, which historically, involved this is worthwhile. You need to pay attention.” paperwork, any person can register online, When representatives do hear about an issue, allowing people to more easily participate. it will continue to not be addressed and this Different URLs such as www.gottaregister. com let individuals fill out and submit their opinion, your opinion, will continue to be information right on the page and even ignored. So vote. Vote for what is important.

Vote to see the changes you want. Vote to be embed the form on their website or blog to heard. H encourage others to vote. Other nonpartisan

Why is it important that the young generations vote?

“Because [the youth] needs to be able to form the future for themselves.”

“It’s part of their citizenship and it’s every person’s highest calling.”

“It’s really important because it will affect our own future.”

Katie Daniels junior

Craig Whitney government teacher

Ceara Vansbuskirk freshman

Daniels

Whitney

Vanbuskirk

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | opinion | 9

True Life: I’m addicted to “Criminal Minds”

by MAGGIE RELLIHAN mrellihan@dartnewsonline.com

Typical. It’s 10 p.m. and I’m just now starting my homework.

I could complain, but I know it’s my fault.

I babysit two or three times a week after school, depending on my rotation. On the days I don’t babysit, I have physical therapy.

Regardless of what day it is, I consistently get home at 7 p.m. every night. I eat, shower, and watch episode after episode of the CBS TV show, “Criminal Minds.” I’m obsessed.

OK, in my defense, it is so addicting. Once I start an episode, I think to myself, “Okay just one more and then I’ll start my homework.”

Then of course, it ends up being a two part episode so obviously I HAVE to watch the next one too! It just becomes a cycle. I can’t help it. I’m addicted.

Honestly though, the cast could not be more loveable. Reed is super smart. I would marry him any day. Hotch is the tough guy and leader of the team. Although he’s strict, you learn that he’s secretly kind of a teddy bear. Prentiss is always solving the cases and just being awesome. JJ is the spokesperson of the group who deals with any press/media involvement. Morgan is the bad boy/hottie.

Rossi is super smart. Gideon is a sweetheart.

And of course, there is the lovable, quirky, technical analyst, Penelope “Baby Girl” Garcia,

who saves the day one file-hack at a time.

It’s a little worrisome how many times I have found myself subconsciously thinking I was inside the action and part of the team.

Hypothetically speaking, I guess I do spend a lot of time with them.

I can honestly say that I have seen every episode of every single season until this very day. During the “Criminal Minds” off-season I continue to watch reruns religiously. My whole family shares my love for the show so we never struggle with the whole whocontrols-the-remote conflict.

Although this may be hard to believe, the only other shows I watch on TV are “Pretty Little Liars” (everyone’s guilty pleasure and you know it), “CSI: Miami/ New York/ Crime Scene Investigation,” “Law & Order,” and “Without a Trace.” I am willing to settle for these other shows but I only watch them 20 percent of the time. The other 80 percent is dedicated to my true love.

At one point last year, I made a Facebook group with acquaintances, friends, family and coworkers that I learned loved “Criminal Minds” as much as I do (so if you share this common interest, LMK and I’ll add you to the fan club). Inside the group, we post about the new episodes and our favorite parts. We post YouTube clips and I’ll admit, I’m guilty of spontaneously uploading a few pretty embarrassing photo booth pics. Then I would relate the caption to an episode or something. It all worked out.

So, STA, there you have it! “Criminal Minds” is not “just a show” for me anymore. It is an obsession. And how couldn’t it be? It’s humorous, educational, a little scary sometimes (in a good way) and addicting (also, in a good way). If you are ever searching for a good

The problems of a

by SABRINA REDLINGSHAFER sredlingshafer@dartnewsonline.com

Have you ever walked into a door frame?

Been asked what the weather “up there” is like? Ever ran into a low tree branch hanging in the Quad? As the shortest and so-called “midget” in a family of six, standing a whopping 5 feet 10 inches, I can outline exactly why being a tall girl isn’t always easy.

Born at 21.5 inches long, I surpassed the average female infancy height. And this is when it all started. I must have consumed miracle milk as a toddler to gain strong bones because between then and now, something happened. About 48.5 inches happened.

My height is like a constant spotlight I can’t turn off. Everywhere I go, people look up at me in awe. It’s a never-ending conversation I deal with. Giant, Reptar, Godzilla, Human Tree, Sabrinasaurus Rex: These are just a few nicknames I’ve been given. I’ve grown accustomed to the “How tall are you?!”

“You’re really tall!” comments, but I did not

expect the day I strided into Ms. Swadell’s classroom and she proclaimed, “I think you grew overnight!” And the sad thing is, I probably had.

As a youngster, I participated in all kinds of sports: basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball, track. You name it, I’ve probably played it. Since then, I’ve messed up my knee and stopped playing sports competitively. After removing myself, I feel like every person is a recruiter and I’m their diamond in the rough.

You see, when you’re tall, everyone assumes you’re a star athlete. Sorry ‘bout it, but I can’t full-force spike a volleyball, and God only knows how I’d be able to dunk a basketball.

I’ve been one of the tallest girls in my class. On picture day, standing in the back row towering over adolescent boys was a yearly occurrence. Sad thing is, as a junior in high school, I still tower over about half the male sex. And I still am in the back row in pictures.

Taking pictures when you’re tall is a struggle. It’s especially awkward when most of my friends are currently the same height that I was in 4th grade. I lean, I bend, I squat.

It’s awkward. For that reason, I don’t, nor will I ever, model.

Clothing’s a whole different subject matter.

Dresses look like shirts. Shirts look like crop tops. Pants look like capris. It’s a tough life when the retail industry doesn’t keep us girls

must-see, watch it. Give it a chance. You won’t regret it. H

“Honey Boo Boo” new low for reality television

by EMMA WHEATLEY ewheatley@dartnewsonline.com

TALL girl

photos by MCT CAMPUS

with giraffe-like legs in mind when designing sassy skirts or dresses. When good ol’ Homecoming season rolls around, things get really tough. First, there’s the dresses. Then, there’s the shoe options. Oh man, there’s nothing like ordering a hopeful Teresian dress and trying it on only to put a mini skirt to shame.

Additionally, it’s great to look for a pair of shoes that add inches to my initial height.

STA is a tall-friendly environment because I don’t feel like I’m being judged. But there’s nothing like walking across the Quad, dodging the low hanging oak trees to prevent getting mauled in the face. And the minuscule desks in Mr. Bertalott’s room do me no justice. Also, walking next to Jordan Berardi can be a struggle when she is as tall as my belly button.

However, attending STA has taught me that being “vertically blessed” is not all that bad. I’ve learned to embrace my height and use it as an advantage. During Mikey Needleman concerts, the General Admission style crowd is practically front row for me. Reaching books off high shelves and using the Quad as my runway are also advantages.

These obstacles have made me a stronger, more accepting person. I now carry myself in confidence and accept all 70 inches of myself.

I don’t imagine life any different. And I can’t imagine what the weather forecast is like down there. H

Titled “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” TLC’s newest reality show revolves around a 6-year-old pageant princess named Alana growing up in McIntyre, Ga. Alana, whose nickname is “Honey Boo Boo,” hams it up for the camera, burps in between sentences, and explains that her family spends $1500 on pageants every year. I stumbled upon this TV show a few weeks ago, and my outlook on reality television has been permanently changed.

For the worse.

“You better redneckognize” and “a dolla makes me holla” are two of Alana’s most famous sayings. One possible reason for the fact that these phrases are so widely known may be that every other word out of her, and every other family member’s mouth, is unintelligible. There are multiple instances on the show in which subtitles are placed at the bottom of the screen because it is so hard to understand what the people are saying. From their constant mumbling to their poor grammar, it is a wonder that subtitles are not always in place.

One particularly disturbing moment is when Alana’s mother, June, explains what “Go Go Juice” is. She proudly tells the world of her ingenious idea to regularly feed her 6-year-old daughter a concoction of Red Bull and Mountain Dew. This apparently helps Alana get pumped up for performing in pageants. However, she takes a bit of a liking to the beverage and starts to drink it more regularly. Side effects include her literally bouncing off the walls, pulling her mother’s hair and shouting things that are likely words, but sound like animal calls.

This is the type of show that can provoke a person to wonder what they are doing with their life. Watching it, there were many times when I thought, “Why don’t I just turn it off?” or “There has to be something better I can do right now.”

If this is where reality TV is headed (not that it was ever on a particularly promising path) I do not want to continue buying into it. I’m not completely sure what watching hillbillies yelling at each other and eating obscenely large amounts of food every day is going to do to my brain, but I don’t really want to find out.

Instead of watching some of America’s finest citizens live their lives, I plan to live my own, and leave the reality TV watching to people with nothing better to do. H Scan this QR code with your smartphone to see more Dart staff columns on DNO!

by Libby Hyde, staff writer

pick a side, any side

MITT ROMNEY: REPUBLICAN

head2 Head

31%

Because politics can be confusing and complicated, the Dart uncovered the basic stances of each candidate to help you decide who to support.

by Natalie Fitts

28% 34%

49%

campaigns friends other news/media parents/relatives

(gay rights, abortion)

Who/what forms students’ views on politics?

Blue: Liberal Red: Conservative Gray: No preference

45% Which candidate do students support?

Blue: Obama Red: Romney Gray: Neither

1. Jobs/Economy 2. Social Issues 3. Health Care 4. Education 5. Taxes

TOP 5:

concepts that influence students’political views of students surveyed can vote in the 2012 election.

The Dart surveyed 324 students on their views about politics and the upcoming election.

7%

236

BARACK OBAMA: DEMOCRAT STAMOCKELECTION

American values.” Since the beginning of his term, he has voiced concern for creating and maintaining manufacturing jobs in the US, especially in the auto industry. He restated this value during the Democratic National Convention.

Birth control/Abortion: Part of Obama’s Affordable Care Act mandates that employers grant female employees access to free contraceptives. Churches are exempt from this mandate, but religiously affiliated institutions, such as hospitals and schools, are not. In regards to abortion, Obama believes it is a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body, and therefore wants to maintain the legality of abortion in all states.

Taxes: Obama has repeatedly stated his plan to end tax cuts for the wealthy, which includes any households with incomes of at least $250,000. His proposed Buffett Rule basically says that extremely wealthy people, such as Warren Buffett, should not have to pay a lower percentage in taxes of their income than anyone else in America. In July 2012, he asked Congress to “extend...tax cuts for the 98 percent of Americans” who make less than that for one year. The bill that included this plan failed to pass in Congress.

Health Care: Obama has attempted to reform health care with his ObamaCare plan, formally known as the combination of the “Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act”and the “Health Care for America Plan.” This requires every American to have health insurance by 2014 and prevents insurance companies from denying patients coverage for pre-existing conditions or dropping patients’ plans if they become sick. It will also allow anyone with income under 133 percent of the poverty level.

Gay Rights: During Obama’s term, the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was repealed, allowing homosexual men and women to openly serve in the military. In February 2011, Obama announced that his administration would no longer support the Defense of Marriage Act, which states that marriage is a legal union between one man and one woman. In a May 2012 interview with Good Morning America, Obama said, “I have always been adamant that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally.” In the same interview, he became the first American president to announce support for same-sex marriage during his term.

Education: According to the Wall Street Journal, Obama has “set a goal of cutting the growth of college tuition in half.” In moving towards this goal, he has proposed shifting federal aid programs to universities that make an active effort to keep their tuition and costs down. According to the White House, he has also initiated the Race to the Top: College Affordability and Completion challenge, which will reward states that work toward “education policies and practices” that benefit the students.

Energy: Obama wants to reduce the US foreign dependence on oil by lowering the oil imports. At the same time, according to the White House, his administration “has proposed the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicle in US history.”

By the year 2025, his proposition would require companies to make cars with an average of 54.5 miles per gallon. H

65

Age: 51 Campaign slogan: Forward Home state: Illinois Family: wife Michelle (48); daughters Malia (14) and Sasha (11) Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science from Columbia University; law degree from Harvard University Previous political experience: member of the Illinois Senate (1997-2004), United States Senator from Illinois (2005-2008) Economy: According to the White House, Obama aims for “an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of

Party: Republican Age: 65 Campaign slogan: Believe in America Home state: Massachusetts Education: Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University; Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration from Harvard University Previous political experience: Governor of Massachusetts (2003-2007) Family: wife Ann (63); sons Taggart (37), Matthew (36), Joshua (32), Benjamin (29) and Craig (26)

Economy: Romney has proposed a five point plan for reinvigorating the economy: 1) taking advantage of the US supply of natural energies in order to become energy independent, 2) making sure schools provide children with the education they need to be successful working adults, 3) forming new trade agreements, 4) cut the deficit and form a plan for a balanced budget and 5) lowering taxes on small businesses.

BIRth control/Abortion: Romney would like to repeal the mandate that requires employers to provide female employees with access to free contraception. While Romney is pro-life, he wants individual states to make their own laws regarding abortion. In August 2012, Romney told CBS News, “I’m in favor of abortion being legal in the case of rape and incest, and the health and life of the mother.”

Taxes: According to CNN, Romney plans to reduce individual income tax rates “by 20 percent a piece,” meaning “the top rate would fall to 28 percent and the bottom rate would fall to 8 percent.” In October 2012, he announced a potential plan of limiting income tax deductions to $17,000 per household. According to NPR, generally, Romney’s plan is to lower tax rates, while “eliminat[ing] loopholes so the amount of money to government collects stays the same.”

Health Care: Romney has stated his plans to start work on repealing Obama’s health care plan on his first day in office. According to mittromney.com, “In place of Obamacare, [he] will pursue policies that give each state the power to craft a health care reform plan that is best for its own citizens.” In June 2012, Romney said that he believes “the states have responsibility to care for their people in the way they feel best.”

Gay Rights: Romney has called for the preservation of “traditional marriage,” which he defines as marriage between one male and one female. He had said that his administration will support the Defense of Marriage Act, which upholds his “traditional” values.

Education: Romney wants to allow students and parents the choice to leave low-performing schools for higher-performing alternatives. He also wants to attract effective teachers by rewarding quality work and eliminating “unnecessary certification requirements that discourage new teachers.” In regards to higher education, Romney plans to the university system by simplifying the financial aid process and lower the federal money that only increases tuition and increases debt.

Energy: Romney aims to gain energy independence within the continent by the year 2020 by establishing the North American Energy Partnership. He will call on states to take full control of the energy resources within their borders. H

The difference between liberal and conservative views is one of many determining factors of elections in America, such as the upcoming presidential election this November.

According to Student Daily News, the heart of the argument between liberal and conservative views lies in their opinions on how to achieve freedom, prosperity and healthy living, as well as other goals for America.

Liberals generally believe in “government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all,” while conservatives believe in “personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

According to a poll conducted by Gallup Politics in 2011, 40 percent of Americans described their views as conservative, 35 percent considered their views as moderate and 21 percent as liberal.

According to a Rasmussen Reports poll performed in August 2012, 44 percent of voters view President Obama as very liberal, while 30 percent of voters describe Presidential candidate Mitt Romney as very conservative.

Sophomore Gracie Fleming said she thought she identified more with liberal viewpoints. She discussed the biggest issue for this upcoming election to be health care.

Fleming pointed out that she thought liberals tend to fall within the Democratic Party, and conservatives in the Republican Party. Senior Hannah McCausland agreed, saying that she feels Romney is more conservative, and Obama is more liberal.

McCausland discussed her views on federal versus state government.

“Conservative is more following states rights, while liberals want a stronger central government,” McCausland said. “I consider myself conservative because I think the rights should remain with the states because it is closer to a smaller entity and can focus more on what people want. Too much central government is not what our constitution is based on.”

Fleming discussed the differences between liberal and conservative views in issues involving money and taxes.

“Liberals feel taxes should be higher on the top 2 percent, so the middle and lower class don’t have to pay more,” Fleming said. “On social issues involving wars, gun rights and health care, those [issues] seem to be split as well.”

Fleming said she generally identifies with Obama more so than Romney. ”I have a more liberal standpoint on money issues,” Fleming said. “Also, I tend to favor Barack Obama’s policies on healthcare and social issues.”

Fleming said conservative and liberal labels can seem very extreme, and the biggest issue is that there is never a medium; rather, she said many Americans consider themselves extremely liberal or extremely conservative.

“We’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t make a compromise,” Fleming said. “We need to compromise as a nation while we have our different views, because some views are very extreme on both sides.”

Fleming also discussed the reasons for her liberal views as well as how those viewpoints came to be.

“I consider myself liberal because I was raised with mainly liberal [family], but I do disagree with my parents on some issues,” Fleming said. “I was raised in a family where everyone talked about politics, and we were all very educated about it.”

According to McCausland, America is leaning farther toward liberal than conservative for this election, though she identified that the majority seems to switch between conservatives and liberals every few presidential terms. She said she would not be surprised if Obama won this upcoming election.

Fleming also said that she thought that this generation is headed in a more liberal direction, because when people are at a young age, they tend to follow their parents views, but when they get to college, their views tend to become more liberal. H

12 | sports | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

scoreboard VARSITY SOFTBALL 8/27 Lafayette (St. Joseph) 2 STA 7 9/25 Notre Dame de Sion1 STA 8

DISTRICTS lost to Ray-Pec during Semi-finals on October 4th 11-1

10/3 Ruskin 3 STA 15

10/4 Raymore-Peculiar 11 STA 1

VARSITY TENNIS

two peas in a podH Senior Mickey Redlingshafer and her mom/coach Janice Redlingshafer laugh together during practice Sept. 27. photo by EMMA WHEATLEY

Like mother, Like daughter Senior Mickey Redlingshafer and her mom Janice are both members of the 2012 tennis team. Mickey is on varsity and her mom is this year’s assistant coach

by EMILY MCCANN emccann@dartnewsonline.com

The relationships between coaches and players can vary. Some are filled with mutual respect. Some with the poking and prodding to reach full potential. But for senior tennis player Mickey Redlingshafer, her relationship with her coach is one of a kind.

Redlingshafer is coached by her mother, Ms. Janice Redlingshafer. Janice took the vacant position as the STA assistant tennis coach under current head coach Lana Krause.

“I was really excited actually,” Mickey said.

“At the beginning of the season, we didn’t have an assistant coach so I told my mom. I could kind of tell she was thinking about it but we weren’t really sure if it would be appropriate or not.”

Before the season started, Janice and Mickey talked about things that needed to stay off the tennis court.

“Before deciding to coach, it was agreed in most instances, I would not coach Mickey but rather Coach Krause would be her primary coach,” Janice said. “It was important for Mickey to understand that during tennis practice, I am also a coach and not just her mom. It would not be appropriate to question me about dinner or her weekend plans.”

According to Mickey, despite all her best efforts, she and Janice sometimes butt heads.

“Sometimes during practice, since she’s my mom, I feel like I don’t really want to listen to what she tells us to do,” Mickey said.

“Since she’s my mom and so like I know I should listen to her, but it’s different with her as a coach.”

Janice believes that so far, she and Mickey have had a successful season.

“We get along pretty well,” Janice said.

“We don’t butt heads too much except when Mickey wanted to goof around too much.”

Senior tennis player and close friend of Mickey, Nicole Sakoulas says she takes note of Mickey and Janice’s relationship on the tennis court.

“It’s really fun,” Sakoulas said. “Sometimes Mickey jokingly starts to yell [at Janice]. We played a game one time and they were doubles partners and it was really funny because they were just laughing and joking around.”

Mickey and Janice appreciate their oncourt relationship, but do not allow it to affect Mickey’s match performance. “[During matches] I get most of my coaching from Lana Krause,” Mickey said. “Since she’s my mom, that [coaching] just shouldn’t happen I guess. My mom does give me pointers on how to play during practice but in between games and stuff, I just talk to Lana.”

So the big question for Mickey and Janice is, which one is better?

“Well... I could probably beat her,” Mickey said. “Actually, I don’t know. She’s better than me, but she hasn’t been playing tencap or anything for a while. She still might be better since she played in college [at K-State] all four years.”

Janice begs to differ.

“I think this old woman can still beat Mickey,” Janice said. “I just get into her head.”

All in all, Mickey believes that having her mom as a tennis coach has helped their relationship.

“Having my mom as a coach is really great,” Mickey said. “Especially since this is my senior year.”H

8/27 Blue Springs South High School 1 STA 8

9/11 Barstow High School 5 STA 4

9/24 Pembroke Hill School 3 STA 6

DISTRICTS individuals lost Mickey Redlingshafer & Kathleen Connor 6-2; 6-1 Grace Wells & Hannah Bredar 6-2; 2-6; 4-6

10/2 Park Hill South 5 STA 5

VARSITY GOLF Liberty Tournament STA 367 (2nd place)

Richmond Tournament STA 365 (2nd place)

Truman/Chrisman Invitational STA 366 (2nd place)

INDIVIDUALS STATE Emily McCann & Jackie McGee when: October 22 & 23 where: Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, MO

O’Hara vs. STA, Ray-South, Orrick STA 210 (1st place)

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

9/22 STA vs. Kickapoo 25-17; 25-23

9/25 STA vs. St. James Academy 14-25; 20-25

9/29 STA vs St. Joseph’s Academy 12-25; 22-25

DISTRICTS when: September 22-25 where: William Chrisman High School in Independence, MO

VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY 9/1 Solsberg Invitational STA 2nd place

9/22 Rim Rock STA 6th place

9/29 Metro at Ray-Pec STA 1st place

10/6 Kearney STA 7th place

DISTRICTS when: September 20 where: Lake Jocomo in Blue Springs, MO

Softball district loss bittersweet

The STA softball team had a disappointing end to their season, despite wins leading up to the District tournament

by EMILY WEMHOFF ewemhoff@dartnewsonline.com

As the last out was recorded in the Stars’ 11-1 District semifinal loss to RaymorePeculiar High School Oct. 4, junior first baseman Erin Farmer and her team realized that their season was truly over.

“You just feel deflated, because you know it’s done,” Farmer said.

With two seniors sidelined because of injury during the game, Farmer said the goal was “to step up and win it for them and make them proud of the years they did get to play.” The Stars were hoping this win would propel them into the District final game for a chance to take home the first District title in school history.

Unfortunately, according to junior infielder Grace Bullington, in the final innings, “there was nothing we could really do about [Ray-Pec] hitting a homerun or getting timely hits to score.” The Stars did not end the year the way they wanted to.

The Stars had come into the game with a blowout 15-0 win over the Ruskin High School Eagles Oct. 3.

“After getting that win, we were confident going in [against Ray-Pec],” sophomore catcher Allison Bresette said. “We had lost to them before, but our game plan was to win every inning and unfortunately, that

BY THE NUMBERS:

Sophomore Ally Drummond recently set STA softball’s single season doubles record.

by ROSIE HUTCHISON

29 2003 10

the day in September when Ally Drummond broke the single season doubles record.

the year STA player Michelle Collins set the doubles record.

the number of doubles hit

by Ally Drummond that got her the STA record for most doubles hit in a single season.

double

8

the type of hit Ally Drummond holds an STA record in.

the number of doubles Drummond had heading into the St. Joe Benton tournament before setting a new STA record.

didn’t happen. We put up one run in the first, and just couldn’t get any more after that.”

The Ray-Pec Panthers went on to win the District championship Oct. 5 with a 2-1 victory over Belton.

The Stars, who finished the season with a record of 12-14, had been successful in recent weeks, with notable wins over Notre Dame de Sion High School and Bishop O’Hara High School. According to Farmer, this season the team got significantly better.

“We only won six games last year. This year we won 12 and were a lot more competitive,” Farmer said.

The team’s strategy in the District semifinal was to stop Ray-Pec’s small ball game (bunting or slapping from the left side), play solid defense and get on base, according to Bresette and Bullington.

The Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning and the Stars never recovered.

“Of course this was the seniors’ last chance and we wanted to end on a good note,” Bullington said. “This was just a bad game to end on.”

Bresette, Bullington and Farmer believed the entire game they could pull off a comeback win.

“We are definitely a team that doesn’t give up,” Bullington said. “We had come back from other deficits in earlier games this year and I knew we had it in us to fight back.”

According to Bresette, this team “stuck it through and didn’t lay down when it got hard.”

“If we thought it was over, we had no chance,” Farmer said.

Looking back on this season, Farmer and Bullington thought the best part was the good team chemistry.

“We all liked each other and believed in one another,” Bullington said. “Everyone wanted to win.”

Farmer said that being a fairly small program means that the team is close.

“We’re like a crazy family,” Farmer said.

The Stars had multiple freshmen starting on varsity this year, including pitcher Rachel Allard.

“Mid-way through the season, Coach [Tyler] Abney would always tell us that there were no longer any freshmen, but that we were all equal,” Bullington said. “[Rachel] really stepped up. She learned a lot this year that will help her next year.”

The Stars also had three seniors this year.

“With Anna [Woolery] and Rachel [Tovar] injured, Shaeffer [Smith] really had to step up,” Farmer said. “But just because Anna and Rachel were hurt didn’t mean they disappeared. Whether it was catching in for a coach, getting water or cheering us on, they were always there. All three of our seniors lead this team, on or off the field.”

Although the season is over, Bresette said the team can look ahead to next year with the hopes of improving.

“Next season we will win even more games and take Districts,” Bresette said. “It’s time for softball to get a banner.”H

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | sports | 13

flyin’ fastballsH Freshman star Rachel Allard pitches against Ruskin High School in the District tournament Sept. 10. The Stars beat the Eagles in one of the softball team’s last games of the year. photo by MENLEY BRENNAN

hey batta battaH Senior Shaeffer Smith winds up at the first District game against Ruskin High School. The Stars won 15-0, leading them into the semi-final game against Raymore-Peculiar High School. photo by MENLEY BRENNAN

14 | lifestyles | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

love

Bachelor #2 Bachelor #3

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? Between Independent and Democrat. So like a middle-of-the-road Independent.

Number one played song on your iPod: “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley What are your pet peeves? Annoying people.

What do you look for in a girlfriend? A nice bod.

compiled by SABRINA REDLINGSHAFER

300

WORDS Modeled after Brady Dennis’s original 300 words, this series captures people and moments in 300 words: no more, no less

by NATALIE FITTS

Well that was embarrassing, sophomore Brit Maguire thought.

She had just run into a tree branch during an after-school cross country practice.

She had run this same route along Ward Parkway once a week for the past two cross country seasons, but she had never collided with a branch before.

Oh well, she thought. She just needed to work on her skills in the art of running and talking at the same time.

But then she saw something creeping into the vision of her left eye. It was blood.

And a lot of it.

She hadn’t just hit the tree branch. The tree branch had hit her. Hard.

It did not take long for others to notice

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? Haven’t decided yet.

Number one played song on your iPod: “Home” by Phillip Phillips What are your pet peeves? Annoying people who correct all your grammatical mistakes. Also, when our teachers still use chalkboards, it kills me.

What do you look for in a boyfriend? He should be funny, attractive and have good teeth.

Grade: Junior Democrat, Republican or other? Libertarian Number one played song on your iPod: Everything and anything by Florence + the Machine and the Kooks.

What are your pet peeves? Loud chewing and swallowing, people, Maroon 5 and Nickelback.

What do you look for in a boyfriend? Sarcastic, smart, polite, good hair, weird in the best possible way.

Grade: Junior Democrat, Republican or other? Democrat Number one played song on your iPod: “Bigmouth Strikes Again” by The Smiths What are your pet peeves? Excessive sneezing or coughing, when photographers use a camera flash when it’s unnecessary and when freshmen don’t hold the door for me.

What do you look for in a boyfriend? Good taste in music.

the blood as well.

Before she knew it, her coach had laid her on the ground and started putting pressure on the wound, people had pulled their cars over and offered to call an ambulance and her teammates had offered their shirts to help stop Maguire the bleeding.

She was in shock, making it hard to understand exactly what was going on. And things got even more confusing and worrisome when people

Bachelorette #5

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? Liberal/Democrat.

Nunber one played song on your iPod? “The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan What are your pet peeves? Wooden pencils.

What do you look for in a girlfriend? Stunning features and nice hair.

scan this QR code to see more information about the bachelors and bachelorettes and to vote for different couples

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? I hate labels, but if I had to label myself I would say I’m hanging out on the right side.

Number one played song on your iPod: “That Summer” by Garth Brooks What are your pet peeves? People who disrespect my car, leave trash in it, talk loud in it or try to drive it.

What do you look for in a boyfriend? Good hair.

Bachelorette #4

Grade: Junior Democrat, Republican or other? If I had to pick, Libertarian.

But I’m not incredibly informed politically.

Number one played song on your iPod? “Maples Leaves” by Jens Lekman or “Only Son of the Ladiesman” by Father John Misty What are your pet peeves? When I work hard doing something and somebody screws it up and non-automatic windows.

What do you look for in a girlfriend? Artsy, but also interested in sports.

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? Moderate.

Number one played song on your iPod: This is so embarrassing. “Somebody to Love” by Justin Bieber. Don’t judge me. I went through a phase.

What are your pet peeves? The triangle left on the windshield when the wipers clean everything else.

What do you look for in a boyfriend? Someone who’s really, really, really ridiculously good looking.

Bachelorette #3

Bachelor #4

Grade: Junior Democrat, Republican or other? I don’t follow politics. I’m not informed and don’t plan to be.

Number one played song on your iPod: “Seventh Floor Crew” by the University of Miami football team What are your pet peeves? Rubbing styrofoam against each other and a lot of people to be honest.

What do you look for in a girlfriend? Primarily good looks, flexibility to try new things.

Five junior and senior staffers from the Dart will brush their hair and check the mirror for once as they explore the blind dating scene with five staffers from Rockhurst High School’s student newspaper, Prep News.

Based on this information, readers have the opportunity to pair up a lucky junior or senior bachelor/bachelorette from each staff to go on a date, pick the activity and choose their dining experience.

In the next issue of the Dart, staffers will reflect on their dates and how dating has changed throughout the years. Check out the poll on DartNewsOnline to vote.

Bachelorette #2

Bachelor #5

Grade: Senior Democrat, Republican or other? Democrat, I think.

Number one played song on your iPod: “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” by Jake Owen What are your pet peeves? People who laugh at the way I eat, when people drive 5 mph under the speed limit and people who pick wedgies in public. Nasty.

What do you look for in a girlfriend? They gotta be funny and nice to me. And good looks don’t hurt.

Bachelorette #1

Bachelor #1

Looking for

started commenting on how deep the wound looked and how much blood there was.

But before she had too long to dwell on what could be wrong with her, both her mother and an ambulance had arrived.

While Brit insisted on riding with her mother to the hospital, the ambulance drivers would not leave without being of some assistance. So before she left the scene, she got to watch the branch that cut her get cut down, never to harm a runner again.

After a 30 minute car ride to the hospital, 20 stitches and 48 hours of rest later, she was ready to run again. And this time, she had sunglasses. H

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | lifestyles | 15

Lessons from the ashes STA junior sets out to Nicaragua in pursuit of service 7 months after her home is burnt down

by CECILIA BUTLER cbutler@dartnewsonline.com

The door knob won’t turn.

She starts screaming. Her fists hit the door as tears run down her face.

But nobody can hear. She becomes desperate for an escape. Help. Anyone. Black smoke floods the room. Her throat burns.

There’s no way out. This is it.

Then she is thrown back into reality.

Junior Katy Wonder throws herself up into a sitting position on her cot in her host family’s spare bedroom in Nicaragua while she tries to comfort herself.

She attempts to control her heavy breathing. It was just another nightmare.

It isn’t real. She looks around the cold, concrete room. The ceiling is detached from the roof, creating air flow throughout the whole room. Wonder slides back her red sleeping back and lets her toes touch the cool ground.

She looks over to her right and sees Annie Mara, her service partner, a senior from California, who is sound asleep in her own cot.

Prior to entering the world of South America, her home of eight years burnt to the ground before her eyes as she stood in her front yard. This was just seven months before she was scheduled to leave for the service trip in Nicaragua. Wonder and her family figured this was long enough for her to mentally recover from the trauma of the the destruction of almost every material thing she owned.

It wasn’t.

“I was basically obsessed with my house [after it burnt down],” Wonder said.

Throughout her two-month stay in Nicaragua, Wonder couldn’t get her mind off the fire and the construction, distracting her from the volunteer work in Nicaragua.

Back in America, her new home was being built from the ashes up.

The Fire On Jan. 15 around 4:50 p.m., the engine of the Wonder’s vintage car exploded in the garage connected to their home. Wonder, her brother and her dad were in the house as her uncle ran inside to alert the rest of the family of the fire. It took the fire trucks around five minutes to arrive at the Wonder’s home, while the family stood outside and watched their home burn to the ground.

Nobody was hurt, but her home became ash and smoke-damaged wood.

Her STA uniform: destroyed. Her dress from sophomore Teresian: destroyed. Her journals from grade school: destroyed. It was all gone.

“I’m not sure what the long term affect is going to be for any of us,” Wonder’s mom, Ms. Michele Wonder, said.

Even though Katy’s life was dramatically altered, she never considered bailing on the volunteer trip.

The Mission Seven months before the fire, Katy enrolled in the $5,000 service trip to Nicaragua with the international, non-

Say cheese! H Junior Katy Wonder poses with her host family that she stayed with for seven weeks in Nicaragua. Katy bonded with her family during her stay and still talks to them on a regular basis. photo submitted by KATY WONDER

profit volunteer organization Amigos de las Américas (AMIGOS) in October 2011. Their mission: “to build young leaders through collaborative community development and immersion on cross-cultural experiences.”

This July, Katy traveled the 7-hour plane ride with Mara, heading to the small community of Cerro de Piedra, which is home to 400 citizens who desired to have a traffic light system set up in their community. The citizens mostly used motorcycles for transportation, but had no civil way of driving them.

The girls were expected to set up meetings and fundraisers to reach the goal of installing eight traffic lights. Katy and Mara were also expected to provide the community with two hours of child care each day to teach the Nicaraguan children basic education, along with carrying out basic household chores.

The Reality The goal of AMIGOS is to have their volunteers positively impact the lives of impoverished Latin American peoples through acts of service. This was Katy’s intention to begin with. But the anxiety from the construction of her house made it hard to concentrate and fully engage in the service.

“We were too lazy to do anything,” Katy laughed.

The girls were assigned to complete around 60 hours of daycare, but completed 8. They spent more effort getting around the service than actually carrying it out.

“Every time before [project supervi-

sor] came, we would have to gather around [with the community] and get our story straight,” Katy explained.

These “stories” were created to cover up the girls’ lack of required service. Katy describes this as being the “biggest thing of summer.” If the girls were caught, they would be sent home. At first, the Nicaraguans found amusement in this, but by the end of the trip, they were annoyed.

This isn’t to say Katy and Mara ditched their service altogether. The girls did chores like preparing meals, fetching water and cleaning the families’ huts. They spent some of their time getting to know the Nicaraguans and their culture, hiking through the hillsides and reading and writing.

“I felt really detached from the service,” Katy said.

The “American Heritage Dictionary” defines the word trance as “detachment from one’s physical surroundings; a semiconscious state between sleeping and waking.”

Katy was in a trance.

“She was in Nicaragua but at the same time, [she was] back home, like mentally,” Mara explains.

She craved sleep. To be unconscious of her troubles. But then the nightmares began and even sleep was corrupt with worries.

The Nicaraguans even noticed. They called her “The Sleeping Rock” because even when Katy was awake, she was zoned out.

“When people were talking to me, I just wouldn’t respond a lot,” Katy said.

Every chance she got to get updates from her mom about the construction, she

took it. AMIGOS asks their volunteers not to bring phones on the trip, but Katy packed hers. Each night, Wonder checked the phone for some news of progress.

Wonder was not accostumed to living without the comfort of material objects, without the thought of a permanent home.

Every tangible object she had became smoke-damaged or useless ash, and she had no image of a home in her mind.

Although this often distracted her from the service, she also felt more emotionally connected to the Nicaraguans, who always live with so little.

“It was inspiring to see them so happy,” Katy said. “I see that people are living with nothing, even less than I had after my fire.”

So here she stands on the mountain side of a third-world country, looking up at a teenage Nicaraguan boy.

They were from different worlds. But yet, she feels so emotionally connected to him.

He reaches his hand out—in it, a small ring.

This ring was one of the few possesions the boy owned, which made its signifcance that much stronger.

Wonder did not need a closet full of clothes or tons of makeup. The objects that counted most were the ones that symbolized an emotion.

Knowing that accepting the ring with break, yet another one of AMIGOS rules (no romantic interactions), she looks up at him and grins.

She takes the metal ring from his fingers. H

16 | A&E | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

Fright Fest This year Cinema Club will host a Halloween film festival Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 on the third floor of the M&A Building

by MADELINE BEST mbest@dartnewsonline.com

The Dart offers a preview guide of some new Halloween movies that will be coming out this season

by MADELINE BEST mbest@dartnewsonline.com

Young Frankenstein

Release Date: Dec. 15, 1974 Rating: PG Genre: Comedy For The Fans Of: “Beetlejuice” Synopsis: When Dr. Frankenstein’s grandson inherits his castle, he discovers a book written by his grandfather explaining his experiments.

The Birds

Release Date: March 28, 1963 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Horror For The Fans Of: “The Shining” Synopsis: When thousands of vicious birds show up in a small town and begin attacking people, citizens begin to worry.

Coraline

Release Date: Feb. 6, 2009 Rating: PG Genre: Animation For The Fans Of: “Monster House” Synopsis: Coraline discovers a new world, and as much as she enjoys it, she finds out you should be careful what you wish for.

The Sixth Sense

Release Date: Aug. 6, 1999 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Thriller For The Fans Of: “The Others” Synopsis: A young boy struggles with the fact that he can see ghosts and seeks the help of a child psychologist.

&

Screening

Screaming

House at the End of the Street

Release Date: Sept. 21 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Thriller For The Fans Of: “Halloween” Synopsis: When Elissa and her mother move into a new home, they find themselves living next door to a notorious home where the last owners were murdered by their daughter.

Hotel Transylvania

Release Date: Sept. 28 Rating: PG Genre: Animation For The Fans Of: “Despicable Me” Synopsis: Hotel Transylvania, run by Dracula himself, is an exclusive monsters-only hotel.

Monsters are free to be themselves and escape from the human world. When a human stumbles upon the hotel and falls for Dracula’s teenage daughter, Mavis, Dracula’s overprotective side comes out.

Frankenweenie

Release Date: Oct. 5 Rating: PG Genre: Animation For The Fans Of: “The Corpse Bride” Synopsis: Victor sets out to bring his dog back from the dead through a Frankenstein-like experiment. When neighbors learn of Victor’s experiment, monstrous problems ensue.

Fun Size

Release Date: Oct. 26 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Comedy For The Fans Of: “Adventures in Babysitting” Synopsis: Wren’s plans to attend a Halloween party are shattered when she is stuck babysitting her little brother. When he goes missing, Wren must team up with her best friend and the school nerds to find him.

Paranormal Activity 4

Release Date: Oct. 19 Rating: R Genre: Horror For The Fans Of: “Paranormal Activity” series Synopsis: Set six years after “Paranormal Activity 3,” Katie and her sister Kristi’s son are moving into a new home. Their new neighbors experience the same hauntings that seem to follow Katie and her family.

photos compiled by CAROLINE FISS

Devil

Release Date: Sept. 17, 2010 Rating: PG-13 Genre: Horror For The Fans Of: “Scream” Synopsis: A group of people become trapped in an elevator, and one by one, they begin to die. H

ARTIST OF THE

ISSUE

Every issue, the Dart interviews one of STA’s rising artists about her talents and inspirations compiled by MADELINE BEST

TESSA SMITH junior What type of art do you create? I’m really into pastel right now. It’s the thing I consider to be my main medium.

I’m learning how to Smith watercolor, and it’s becoming more and more of an obsession.

When did you start drawing? As long

as I can remember. It became a thing in Kindergarten when I really liked my teacher, and I decided it would be good to wake up early every morning to draw her a picture.

Why have you decided to pursue art? Art is something that makes me happy. It is also something that is considered a talent, so it just makes sense to go down that road. I think art history is fascinating.

What is the hardest thing about drawing?

It’s frustrating when you can’t figure out why your picture doesn’t look like the real picture— [the] placement of lines and

shading, there’s a lot of erasing involved.

What is your favorite thing about drawing? I think all forms of art, music, drawing, they’re expressions of the soul which is just a really neat thing. To be able to portray the way you feel with a sound or an image, I think that’s really healthy expression.

Who are your favorite artists? Michelangelo is my soulmate. [My] current favorite is a student [named] Brigid Vaughn. [She] is in school to be an animator, and she does the most spectacular cartoon portrayals of all my favorite book characters. H

not a DIYing art

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | A&E | 17

gettin' crafty H Ms. Mara Herrington crafts DIY furniture. A variety of her work can be seen around the house, such as the top of a desk covered in old sheets (top left) and a metal-topped table (top right). Her daughter, junior Maggie Herrington, displays a closet her mother designed for her made out of ridged metal (bottom left). Mara’s latest work in progress is a day bed (bottom right). photo by ANNA LEACH

Step 3: Gather materials After picking a project there will most likely be a “how-to” guide preceding the picture of the intended outcome. Consider this your “Project Blueprint.” There should be a list of materials needed to achieve a successful end result. If you are without some items on the list, stores like Hobby Lobby are useful in finding materials.

Though a majority of projects found online will require at least one thing not found at home, some believe the entire

Step 1: Get Inspired

Step 2: Pick a project

Whether it is Pinterest, a magazine, or a bare wall, inspiration is the first step to a successful DIY project. Pinterest has thousands of boards dedicated to these self-conducted projects. If you decide a bare wall is dull, search “wall DIY” and you are guaranteed to find something. Even if you are not searching for a specific idea, you are sure to find something to develop.

“I started DIY-ing recently because I saw all these ideas online, and I couldn’t resist trying them,” junior Fiona Madden said. “I get lots of ideas from Pinterest and magazines.”

Though most get ideas from pinning on Pinterest or searching DIY on Google, junior Bailey Whitehead is not one to use the internet as a resource.

“I don’t really like to [search for things on the internet],” Whitehead said. “[My projects are] for a purpose.”

After finding incentive to start, choosing the right DIY is the most important step. Let the project be something you will commit to and have a reason to finish. But most of all, it has to be something that you genuinely will have fun creating.

A DIY idea does not have to come from the internet. It can also be an image in your head.

Practicing this idea, Ms. Mara Herrington likes to develop ideas of things she has in her head, which she cannot find in stores.

When planning on altering an object, deciding how to approach it can be difficult. However, it can also be a basis for creative freedom.

“With shoes, it’s hard to take it too far,” Whitehead said. “There are boundaries within each seam.”

DIY concept is about not going out to buy something to contribute to a project.

“I don’t spend money to make something better,” Whitehead said. “I use my resources.”

Recently gaining popularity, however, is the use of recyclable materials. Whether it is a plastic bottle or an entire cabinet, everything can be used.

“I like industrial-looking materials,” Herrington said. “I try to recycle things. I go to thrift stores or tear down furniture we already have.”

hands on H Junior Bailey Whitehead uses simple materials she already has around, such as Sharpies and old shoes, when creating her DIY projects (right). Junior Fiona Madden also makes DIY fashion pieces, using bleach and denim found in thrift stores to change the look of old clothes. photo by ANNA LEACH

Step 5: Revel in the beauty Now that the previous steps are completed, the fifth step just comes naturally. You can sit back, criss-cross-applesauce on the floor of your bedroom, and admire your new wall art, jean shorts or shoes. Do not sit back and be shy about your new creation. Brag about it.

“When you make something yourself you feel accomplished, and when someone asks where you got it you can say ‘I made it myself,” Hart said.

With DIY projects becoming more popular, the Dart offers a five-step tutorial to help you get started

by JORDAN BERARDI jberardi@dartnewsonline.com

Step 4: Get to work The next step is probably the longest of them all and is the most thought-intensive step in the entire DIY process. Some projects require careful attention to detail, while others let the do-er have free reign. Relieve yourself and your setting from distractions and find a way to focus on one step at a time.

While in the process of creating something you can say you made yourself, you can allow your mind to slow down and really focus on what your hands are doing.

“Most of all I like the process,” junior Mimi Hart said. “It’s relaxing to just sit in my room and make something.”

Though Hart finds relaxation in her process, Madden only works on projects when she has time to spare, which is not as often as she would like.

However, Herrington uses DIY as a way to keep herself busy.

“It’s a contrast to my day job of sitting behind a desk,” Herrington said.

Each project you undertake should create a sense of pride when it is complete. Regardless of if you are “artsy” or not, everyone can do a DIY project and be successful and proud.

“I’m most proud of my sparkly wall art decorations because the idea just came to me, and it actually worked,” Madden said. “Which, if we’re being real right now, is a rare occasion.”

Most of all, do not sit back and admire alone. You deserve the praise. Skipping one step in a process cannot possibly result in the best possible outcome. After all, weren’t we always taught to put forth our greatest effort?

wrap it up H Junior Mimi Hart shares a DIY for bangles that she found on Pinterest. photo by ANNA LEACH

18 | health | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

Study dismisses organic food hype Stanford University researchers compare studies, find organic is not healthier

by GRACE SLY gsly@dartnewsonline.com

Researchers at Stanford University have published a study claiming that meat and produce labeled organic have few, if any, obvious health benefits compared to other foods.

This conclusion has caused controversy among consumers and debate over the way the food is grown.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, “organic” is a term that indicates the food has been produced through approved methods that foster cycling of resources. The USDA defines organic crops as ones not grown with irradiation, sewage, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides or genetically modified organisms. Organic livestock does not use antibiotics or growth hormones, is fed 100 percent natural feed and are provided with access to the outdoors.

To compare these organic foods to those conventionally grown, scientists combined the research of 237 different studies on food.

Two hundred twenty-three tests compared either the nutrient levels or bacterial, fungal or pesticide contamination of various products grown both organically and conventionally. The results stated there were no consistent differences in vitamin content and phosphorus is the only nutrient higher in organic products. There was no difference in protein or fat content in milk styles, though organic milk may contain more omega-3 fatty acids.

The scientists found that while organic

food has fewer pesticides, both grown fruits and vegetables use pesticides in safe and allowable amounts.

Many critics of the Stanford study said the researchers overlooked the greater benefits of certain foods, and rather they unfairly combined all organic foods into one analysis.

Some of these “special cases” were left out of the study but scientists say even if included, the results would not have varied.

The real question becomes how consumers use the newfound information. Will organic foods become less attractive once people learn they are buying higher-priced food without the promised health benefit? Or will steadfast beliefs and skepticism of the study keep organic foods popular?

Sophomore and vegetarian Catherine Whitmer eats organic food for both the taste and the presumed health benefit.

“I like knowing that my food comes from healthy sources,” Whitmer said. “I prefer to buy organic food [because] the healthiness makes up for the price.”

After hearing about the study, however, Whitmer had a change of heart, saying she will tell her mother to stop buying organic foods.

“If organic foods aren’t healthier, it would be a heck of alot cheaper for me to go with the flow [of conventionally grown food],” she said.

Sophomore Gloria Cowdin usually eats organic meats.

“We try to buy meat only from the farmer’s market or The Local Pig [a locally owned meat store],” she said. “The animals are treated more humanely and are less likely to be treated with chemicals such as growth hormones.”

Despite the researchers’ findings that

organic meats have no clear advantages, Cowdin said she will not stop buying organic foods.

“I consider the way the animals are treated,” she said.

The results of the study surprised sophomore Anna Bauman.

“I always thought organic foods were better for you, more natural,” she said.

Bauman agreed with Cowdin and said she would not stop buying organic foods.

“The results of one study wouldn’t be enough to influence my food choice,” she said.

Colleen Bauman, a certified food specialist and Anna’s mother, said, “When food is proven to be organic and authentically grown without pesticides or any toxins at all, then it has to be a better deal.”

STA lunch provider Bistro Kids concurs with her opinion. According to their website, the company only uses locally sourced and natural foods, as processed lunches have artificial ingredients.

“Evidence shows homegrown, whole foods have a positive impact on everything from behaviour, to test score, to attendance,” according to Bistro Kids’ website. “Children perform better in school if they... decrease their caloric intake from fat and processed food.”

Bistro Kids is backed by a 2004 published article by the Soil Association that states natural lunches promote concentration, minimize hyperactivity and increase a student’s learning capacity.

Consumers should take this information along with the study’s findings to make the food choice best for them.

“We have to get our food one way or another,” Anna Bauman said. “It just depends on how many chemicals you mind in your meal.” H

New club encourages fit, wholesome lifestyles Healthy Living Club aims to instill positive outlooks on nutrition through applicable activities

by EMMA WILLIBEY ewillibey@dartnewsonline.com

mindful meditation H Healthy Living Club sophomores perform yoga during their first meeting Sept. 21. Club moderator and social studies teacher Jacqui Brewer formed Healthy Living Club this year. photo by LIBBY HYDE

THIS NOT

THAT:

ENERGY DRINKS The Dart provides healthy alternatives to sugary and expensive energy drinks.

by EMILY WEMHOFF

This year, social studies teacher Jacqui Brewer introduced Healthy Living Club, which meets in the Windmoor Center to accommodate 31 members and interactive routines.

During the first semester, club members will prepare nutritious snacks and practice yoga and cardio karate with instructors. Brewer hopes these activities will initiate enjoyable meetings and compel members to lead wholesome off-campus lifestyles.

“I’d like [members] to take the skills they acquire in Healthy Living Club and apply them

Coconut water, not Gatorade This low-calorie water found in green coconuts boosts athletic performance and energy. It also has five times more potassium than regular sports drinks. While it can substitute for Gatorade, coconut water does not contain as much sodium—the main electrolyte lost when you sweat—as conventional sports drinks. Snacks like bananas and raisins will replace those energy stores after a workout.

to their daily lives,” Brewer said. “[The goal is] doing it because you want to, not because you have to.”

Healthy Living Club originated last summer, when principal of student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker asked Brewer to create a club. After considering her interests, Brewer devised a stress-free club that promotes beneficial eating and exercising techniques. “[I wanted the club to] expose [members] to a lot of different things and change their habits,” Brewer said.

Participating in planning and meeting others with an enthusiastic fitness approach attracted senior Meaghan Coble to Healthy Living Club.

“I’m kind of a health nut,” Coble said. “I just want to share [my knowledge] with other people who are enthusiastic about healthy things.”

Other students, like sophomore Haley

V8 V Fusion + Energy, not Red Bull

V8 V Fusion + Energy is a healthier alternative to most energy drinks. The 50-calorie drink is made with vegetable and fruit juices, and each serving contains one combined serving of vegetables and fruit. While V8 V Fusion + Energy supplies “natural energy” through green tea, experts say stimulants in drinks such as Red Bull can be dangerous during intense exercise.

Baldwin, consider Healthy Living Club a chance to improve eating habits rather than showcase already-formed interests.

“I have, like, five cookies a day for lunch,” Baldwin said. “Hopefully I get a healthier eating style.”

Staying fit also motivated students’ involvement in Healthy Living Club. According to Coble and Baldwin, preparing for spring break trips and training for athletics are also membership incentives.

“I need to stay in shape for swim and track season,” Baldwin said.

On the other hand, Healthy Living Club’s laid-back atmosphere serves as an escape from school norms, Coble said.

“It’s nice to get away from [STA’s] general atmosphere of unhealthiness,” Coble said.

“Hopefully people really embrace a healthy lifestyle.” H

Chocolate milk, not protein shakes

One of the best post-workout options is chocolate milk, the cheaper alternative to protein shakes. Chocolate milk’s mix of protein and carbohydrates can refuel exhausted muscles.

Milk is also not as caloric and reduces lactic acid found in blood. If your workout is not as intense, this would be the perfect choice. Milk also provides minerals like calcium and magnesium, which exercisers need after strenuous activity.

October 11, 2012 | the dart | dartnewsonline.com | in the mix | 19

20 QUESTIONS WITH...

JOURNEY EUBANK

by EMILY MCCANN emccann@dartnewsonline.com

For this edition of 20 questions, the Dart interviewed sophomore Journey Eubank. Eubank is a member of the STA swim and dive team. She plans on running track this spring and is a second-year member of the Art Club. Eubank is in the Good advisory.

1. Most played song on your iPod? Probably “Electric Feel” by MGMT. 2. Morning person or a night owl?

I’m definitely a morning person. I usually get up at about 5 a.m.

3. What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be an archaeologist.

4. Waldo Pizza or Chick-fil-A? Waldo Pizza.

5. If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do?

Donate it to Wayside Waifs. I hope I can volunteer there next year when I turn 16.

6. Dream first name?

I really like the name Gail.

7. Who was the last person you hugged?

[Sophomore] Haley Baldwin. We’re best friends.

8. Best vacation you ever took?

Five years ago, I went to New York. There is this awesome cupcake place that was amazing.

9. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?

Probably about 8 or 9. I like to go to bed at about 9:30, but we have so much homework.

10. Cell phone provider?

Verizon, and I have an iPhone 3.

11. What is your favorite color?

Yellow 12. If you were another person, why would you be friends with you?

Because I am pretty funny and nice.

13. Scary movies or romantic comedies?

I like romantic comedies.

14. Bistro Kids or JoJo’s?

Bistro Kids, but I don’t get it a lot.

15. M&A or Donnelly?

M&A because they have all the music programs in there.

16. Cats, dogs or reptiles?

Cats. I have four cats named Sally, Sarah, Spot and Minnie.

17. How many siblings?

None. I’m an only child.

18. Dream car?

Baby blue Chevy truck because I saw it in a movie and I thought it looked so cool.

19. Your style in one word.

Sporty 20. Which celebrity would you switch places with for a day?

I would switch with Selena Gomez, just because she gets to date Justin Bieber. H

nettie nook H Senior Page Kemna finds a window seat in the Windmoor Center to study during her free. This nook has received special attention this year as a hot spot for charging netbooks. photo by JORDAN ALLEN

THAT’S WHAT SHE DAYS OF OUR

SAID

The Dart prowled Twitter for the most catchy and intriguing statuses on the social network

LIVES

The Dart created a countdown to some of the most anticipated upcoming days of school

compiled by SIOBHAN MILLER compiled by CECILIA BUTLER

A brief 3 days before Teresian.

Just 17 days until the Freshman Mixer.

Only 21 days until Halloween.

Exactly 25 days until Open House.

28 days until the first

showing of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

A mere 41 days until Thanksgiving.

Approximately 65 days until first semester exams.

And just 254 days until summer.

MY LIFE

SUCKS After having a pretty rough day at school, I came out to my car, which was parked in the front row of the sophomore parking lot. I discovered that I had left my car unlocked, which is Wells very rare for me. I opened the trunk of my car, [which] smelled awful, and I saw that the inside of my car was completely trashed. Everything had been moved around and the best part was there was rotten smoothie dumped all over the inside of the car. So after hours of cleaning just to get the car clean enough so I could drive it home, my car had to be completely detailed just to get all the stains and the smell out. So, yeah . . . My life sucks.

- Grace Wells, junior

MY LIFE

ROCKS My friend’s grandma bought my friend tickets to the Jason Mraz concert and she invited me to go with her! We both fangirl [over] Jason Mraz all the time. Best part: her Klump grandma said don’t worry about paying for it! My life rocks.

- Whitney Klump, sophomore compiled by CHRISTINA ELIAS

20 | last look | dartnewsonline.com | the dart | October 11, 2012

2.

1.

3.

sisterhood of the auction

4.

pants

STA’s annual pre-auction skit, featuring STA faculty and staff, took place Oct. 4 in the auditorium. The theme was “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” President Nan Bone revealed the “Pant,” which is rewarded to students who sell 10 auction raffle tickets.

1. hips don’t lie H President Nan Bone presents the “Pant” to the student body before the annual STA auction skit. Students can wear the pants at school through Christmas break.

2. thinking capH Teachers Katie Dolan, Theresa Wallerstedt and Greg Monsma pose as Kim, Khloe and Rob Kardashian while brainstorming things the Kardashians haven’t already done.

3. eyes on the prize H Seniors Grace McCarthy, from left, Katherine Barnthouse and Janie Thompson watch as teachers perform a dance number to the song “Call Me Maybe.”

4. high maintenanceH Mr. Michael Sanem, from left, Ms. Kim Sirridge and Ms. Shana Prentiss portay a familiar scene of a family meeting on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” photos

by MAGGIE RELLIHAN