2015 March Patriot

THE

PATRIOT MARCH 2015

the war is over if you want it

Millennials strive to eliminate Islamaphobia in the face of adversity and international conflict. page 14

Vol. 49 Issue 7 Shawnee Mission South 5800 W. 107 St, OP, KS 66207 (913) 993-7500

CONTENTS Brownback Page 11

Study Hall Page 6

Staff Editorial Page 9

Robotics Pa g e 4 Stats Page 7

Louder Than a Bomb Page 5

Advice Column Page 10

Q&A Page 18

Ballet Page 13 Twitter Photo Contest Page 21

The Debate Page 12

Cover Story Page 14

ON THE COVER Sophomore Assmaa Abuhamda poses in front of an American flag with her hand over her heart to symbolize that Muslim students are equally as patriotic as their non-Muslim counterparts. “My hijab is what defines me,” Abuhamda said. “I’ve experienced [Islamophobia] a couple of times because of it, but I think people in America want to understand.

They don’t just stare and judge. They want to know more.” PHOTO BY JENNA FACKRELL

MISSION STATEMENT The Patriot is a news magazine that aims to objectively present topics affecting Shawnee Mission South High School, as well as connect with readers on issues concerning the student body. Staff members reserve the right to express their views in the Opinions section. These pieces are labeled and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole, except the Lead Editorial, which represents the views of the editors. Under the First Amendment and Kansas Law, The Patriot staff is entitled to freedom of the press and neither the school nor district is responsible for any content or coverage. The staff encourages letters to the editor, but they will only be published if signed. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to refuse or edit any letters for reasons of grammar, length and good taste. Letters can be sent to Room 195 or e-mailed to patrioteditors@gmail.com.

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March 2015 table of contents

Winter Impedes Spring Sports Page 30

Crowd Control Page 26

Life Hacks: Coffee Page 22

Reviews Page 24 Track Preview Page 27

The Final Say Page 23

Dressed to Impress Page 25

Gym Gender Ratio Page 28

Angles Page 32

Ryan Sweat Page 29

MEET THE STAFF Rola Alasmar Editor-in-Chief Opinion Editor

Emily Wilkinson Asst. Editor-in-Chief Web Editor

Rose Pollina News Editor Infographics Editor

Lauren Rosenstock Sports Editor Social Media Manager

Nanae Urano A&E Editor

Amelia Holcomb Ads Editor

Autumn Mock Features Editor

Regina Yan Copy Editor

Jenna Fackrell Photo Editor

Arturo Sanchez-Vera Photographer

Katie Imes Photographer

Savannah Morgan Photographer

Rachel Larberg Writer

Kate Anderson Writer

Andrea Smith Writer

Sophia Belshe Writer

Avery Dorsey Writer

Kendall Barker Writer

Julie Fales Adviser

table of contents

March 2015

03

The Raider Revolution Robotics team operates their 2014-2015 robot (pictured on the bottom right) during Come Look at South Night. photo by KELSEY DUNKIN

M E T STA

T N E

NRaider O I S Revolution

IS Robotics exists to Mpromote science and

technology within the area of Overland Park, Kansas. This includes our team members, schools, younger students, and within our own communities. We also work to create a diverse group of people who can come together and achieve a common goal, learning teamwork, cooperation and problem solving during the process.

04

March 2015

news

A WELLOILED MACHINE Robotics team gears up for regional competition

W

hen most people hear the word “robot,” they picture a humanoid structure of metal and bolts, moving in abrupt, jerky motions and speaking in a toneless voice. However, South’s robotics team could tell you that robots can be almost any shape and can have many different functions.

South’s robotics team has been working all year to prepare for the regional competition in which they will showcase a robot that they have built from scratch.

“We are competing in the Kansas City regionals [this weekend],” team sponsor Arthur Wells said. “We compete in alliances. There’s three teams against three teams. From the beginning, it just kind of rotates from the different teams all the time and keep track of the scores and there’s about 50 teams.”

At last year’s winter assembly, the robotics team showcased a robot that they had built to be able to roll itself around and throw a beach ball. However, the robotics team was unable to provide a

school-wide demonstration of this year’s creation.

“This time they have to pick up totes to stack them. We didn’t get to show it this time [during the assembly] because we weren’t finished. But it picks up crates and trash cans and stacks them on top of that, and it picks up pool noodles that go in the trash can,” Wells said.

The robotics team isn’t just about the robot, though.

The continuation of the team requires students of all different skill sets.

“There are a lot of different things to do in robotics, the robot’s just part of it. We have a website, things like that, we have somebody that keeps track of all the communications, we have fundraising and we outreach to the elementary schools,” Wells said.

Most recently, the team has been focusing on fundraising and finding sponsors.

“Basically we’re finding people or organizations that would be willing to donate money to help us build robots or enter competitions because it’s really expensive. $5,000 is just to get into the competition usually,” team member Antonio Phan said.

KENDALL BARKER

Park Meadows is a retirement home that students who particpate in the new club "Bridging the Gap" visit. PHOTO by KATIE IMES

BRIDGING THE GAP

South’s new club brings the elderly and high school students closer together.

Light is planning on having themed visits so students can play trivia or cards with the residents which allows residents and students to really interact with each other.

“I think it’s important for kids to learn about the old generation, and it brightens their day and gives them something to look forward to. [The residents] want to share, and they want to listen,” sponsor Jackie Turner said.

Light can account for this first-hand when she went and visited previously.

“They give the best answers and the best life advice.

Some of their advice is amazing and I think students could take it to heart from someone like that who has lived life and has so much to share about it rather than coming from a teacher or parents,” Light said. “These people are really sharp and caught-up in the world. You’d be surprised how much pop culture they know.”

The club has already made a trip over to Park Meadows, and Light is hoping to get as many visits in before the year is over. Both Light and Turner have high hopes that the club will be successful in years to come. RACHEL LARBERG

SLAM CHAMPIONS Poetry Slam team takes home

“Individual piece is really your style, so once you do an individual piece, you really just get to perform. You perform how you want it done, and you get to show them your style, versus being in a group piece, people write in different styles. The group that I’m in now, like everyone is absolutely opposite of each other, everyone has totally different pieces, and it’s a challenge working with people who have a different style than you… but you kind of have to work together and combine all of those sounds together,” Norton said. “That’s probably the challenge because it’s more rehearsed than you just actually performing and letting them see you in the individual piece.”

The team initially struggled to write a poem together, but their persistence paid off after the scores were announced and the judges gave them all 10s except one 9.9.

The Louder Than a Bomb Poetry Slam began in 2001 in Chicago and was just brought to Kansas City last year.

This is the first year South has competed, but Norton has experience from winning both the school and district poetry slams last year. “[Ewing] kinda just like pushed me to participate in the school poetry slam… So I just think it was more Ewing than anything that got me interested. I’ve always been good at writing, but I didn’t really step forward and take it seriously until her class,” Norton said. “I’m not a person who talks to a lot of people, so just letting people hear what you have to say, just the feeling of how you get to see their reactions after you’re done, that’s probably my favorite part.” AMELIA HOLCOMB

S

enior Ellie Light is ‘bridging the gap’ between the senior residents at Park Meadow and the young students just across the street with the new club, Bridging the Gap. “I think it gives kids the chance to volunteer, and the people there are so sharp and smart, and I think it is really valuable for students to see that,” Light said.

The club meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month until the end of the school year. Not only can students receive service hours for going, but the club is built so anyone can join at any time.

“When I started [Bridging the Gap] I didn’t want to make it more like a club rather than advertising it as something people can just come to. There is no commitment, and they can come based on what they are doing that week,” Light said.

first place in preliminary round, will compete in semi-finals.

“O

h hot damn, this is my slam,” junior Emily Wilkinson said to the crowd at the Gem Theater before performing at the Louder than a Bomb Poetry Slam.

The night continued with more rhymes on topics ranging from politics to personal struggles. South’s team of seniors Rola Alasmar, Ann-Dre’ah Norton, Jordan Winter and junior Emily Wilkinson won first place in the preliminary round of the competition March 2. They will proceed on to semi-finals at the American Jazz Museum March 23 or 24, depending on which other teams compete.

If they are in the top two at semi-finals, they will compete at finals at the Gem Theatre March 28.

“It’s a lot more competitive than district finals that we go to and all that. It involves USD 500 school district, Raytown school district, Lee’s Summit, all that. They all come together, and they just get on the stage and tell their stories,” team member Norton said.

Each team member from the four competing schools performed an individual poem, and the team came together for a group poem at the end. Each was judged on a scale from one to 10.

news March 2015

05

BYE, BYE STUDY HALL

During study hall students work to complete school assignments. This will be the last year students have study hall. photo by SAVANNAH MORGAN

Shawnee Mission eliminates free periods for students across the district.

S

oon after the start of second semester, students began a brand-new enrollment process for next year. Instead of listing classes on paper, students filled out their class preferences for the 2015-2016 school year on their Skyward accounts.

But, the process didn’t end there: this year, students were not permitted to request study halls during enrollment.

When students began choosing classes for next year, many chose to include study halls in their schedule preferences. However, students were

soon asked to change their schedules and remove study halls. On Feb. 11, over 100 students were called to the cafeteria during seminar and told en masse to select other classes in lieu of study halls.

“They said just remove study halls, and you had to pick other classes. [I think] just to fill up the spots,” junior Alex Oglesby said.

Oglesby was one of the many students called out of their seminars to give up a free period.

Study hall classes are being eliminated across the district next year in an attempt to encourage students to partake in more rigorous curriculums that would better prepare students for college and future careers. It is also a way of making students in the district more productive in general.

Takee...

Not ANDREA SMITH &

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March 2015

news

Congr sophom atulations to juniors ore Noah Bir kel, Logan S Alessa ndra B chires and alleste senior r an s El and Da izabeth Obei d d niah H ammo at for bei u d ng acc a partic ipate i epted to n an Ara langua bic ge exchan and culture g

by Qat e sponsored ar Fou ndatio n.

graphics by Rose Pollina

“It is a push to get teachers obviously more productive, efficient, contact time with students. We obviously have very highly qualified teachers who teach a variety of subject matter and when you have an English teacher or a math teacher or a choir teacher or anything who’s basically just supervising, that’s time that they can be in a classroom working directly with students,” associate principal Michael Rasmussen said.

It is not known for sure if the district will ever reinstate study hall periods, but for the time being, study halls are out of the picture.

“I can’t speak for what’s going to happen 10 years from now, but this is where we are moving forward in the next year,” Rasmussen said.

KENDALL BARKER

o the tions t nts a l u t a Congr g BPA stude in r follow qualified fo lie o Char wh enior ting; s : s l a nation in Accoun an n verm Johnso ark O in M s r x junio cob Co and Ja rograming ter P liam Compu ; senior Kel s ip t p s e der h Conc in Lea e t a o Ch Skills.

FEARS & SUPERSTITIONS STATS COMPILED BY ROSE POLLINA

A statistical breakdown of the fears and superstitions of Shawnee Mission South students

FEARS:

61%

of students are scared of spiders.

SUPERSTITIONS:

35%

of students co nsid e r t h e m s e lv e s superstitious.

58% of students

7%

of students are scared of birds.

believe in ghosts.

15% ofcats.students avoid black students avoid under ladders.

26% ofwalking students have a lucky 43% oftalisman/charm. believe in 52% ofbadstudents luck.

9% of students are scared of large dogs.

44% of students are scared of heights.

26%

of students are scared of the dark.

news March 2015

07

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STAFF EDITORIAL

F

don’t tolerate intolerance

or a country that’s supposed to be known for the freedom, opportunity and acceptance it provides, certain recent acts in America are giving our nation a bad reputation. Rising Islamophobia and anti-semitism in America have recently been coming to the public’s attention through multiple vicious hate crimes.

In April 2014, three people were shot and killed at the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom, a Jewish retirement home, right here in Overland Park; the gunman being a neo-Nazi. And just earlier this year, three Muslim students were shot and killed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for no reason other than the fact that they were Muslim. Particularly following the attacks by Islamic extremists at the satirical newspaper company Charlie Hebdo, Islamophobia has been on the rise.

What people seem to have trouble

understanding is that someone’s religion or background does not dictate who they are. It doesn’t give you enough insight to determine whether or not they are a good person.

It’s crazy to think that in 2015 people are still discriminating against certain groups, especially to the point of acting on it to such extremes. Aren’t we supposed to be learning from our history and not repeating it? Shouldn’t we know enough in this day and age to let go of our prejudices? Just don’t kill people. Didn’t think we’d have to write that one out.

What’s even crazier is the fact that people who fear that other religions are dangerous are often the dangerous ones, dealing with their fears in the most extreme way possible by committing murder.

Murder of people they know nothing about apart from their religion.

The prejudices are also seen in less intense forms. But even every microaggression, every time someone assumes every Arab is a terrorist or says something to the extent of “Don’t be such a Jew,” we see the underlying truth: that not everyone accepts cultures different from their own.

And it’s unfortunate that we can’t help but notice every time an Arab gets “randomly” selected at an airport, because we can’t help but wonder if it was really that random.

But when is it going to stop? When are we going to open our minds enough to realize that bigotry and prejudices aren’t something we’re born with? That this ignorance is taught to us by those who are just as ignorant, and it won’t end until people let go of their preconceptions of others and learn to accept people for who they are, even if they may seem different.

9/9 EDITORS AGREE WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS EDITORIAL

opinion March 2015

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TWITTER ADVICE Students tweeted their questions @SMSPatriot for advice in figuring out their greatest wonders about life. Four lucky students were selected to have their questions answered and will no longer have to be distraught. rola alasmar

SENIOR PETE MCATEE @petemcatee If life were a dream it would probably suck less.

SENIOR JACOB PETERSON @Salty_chip221 Pay the Patriot staff to tie them for you.

JUNIOR LEORAH ADDADI @Leorahsaur Wrap your legs in green Saran Wrap, sprinkle glitter on yourself and jump in the ocean.

JUNIOR EMILY WOLLARD @emilywollard Green and gold

10

March 2015 opinion

One Step Forward, Two Steps Brownback

I

n the past few months, this country has seemed to be making some serious progress towards marriage equality. It has been recognized in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin recently, making 37 out of 50 states to have legalized it. Another federal judge has overturned Nebraska’s ban on same-sex marriage, leaving 13 states with a ban in place. District Judge Joseph Battalion declared that the ban was unconstitutional. Things seemed to be looking up for the LGBT community.

Although the United States as a whole is making progress towards equality, Kansas is falling behind. Governor Sam Brownback has stepped out of line. Recently, the Republican governor removed discrimination protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in state jobs. The protections he rescinded kept the LGBT community from being fired, harassed, or denied a job because of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Brownback said he did this to prevent the creation of additional “protected classes.” We live in a place and time where this preventative measure is necessary. Kansas isn’t exactly known for being the most accepting in the social aspect. The order was a necessary measure when it was taken in 2007 by former Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

There was also no explanation given on why he took this action now. He is currently in his fifth year as governor, and Sebelius issued her executive order eight years ago. So why disrupt the order now? Brownback attempted to cover his action by claiming it was in “good administrative procedure.” He believed that Sebelius should have acted through legislation, rather than on her own accord. There had not been an issue up until this point. Brownback seems to be just taking these measures due to personal spite. His actions resemble public bigotry.

Brownback has been known for his unforgiving behavior. In 2011, Emma Sullivan, a student at Shawnee Mission East, voiced her negative opinion on Governor Brownback through Twitter.

He responded to the girl by demanding a written apology. This obvious violation of freedom of speech sparked outrage. Although an irate communication director and the Governor were against her, Sullivan was backed by the school and the student body. Eventually, the Governor and his communications team backed off and released a statement saying an apology was no longer necessary. This kind of rash and sporadic behavior is a common thread throughout the Governor’s term.

Economic suffering has also been a result of Brownback’s policies. Aggressive tax cutting has caused tax receipts to lower to what they were in 2012. This has resulted in the budget cutting of state programs such as education and Medicaid. The economic turmoil that his policies have caused is bad enough; the removal of protections for the LGBT community is a new low.

Kate Anderson PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KATIE IMES

opinion March 2015

11

THE DEBATE S

No: Sophia Belshe

Should study halls be removed from students’ schedules?

VS

S

Photos by katie imes

Yes: Rose Pollina

tudy hall: a waste of time that students would be better off without.

Procrastination is why students often don’t finish their school work on time. There is plenty of time to do your homework even if you have a job or participate in extracurricular activities. For starters, you can start your homework during school hours. Try getting to class early during passing period and knock out a couple math questions from the assignment. If you have time after you’ve eaten lunch or you’re waiting in line for said lunch, tackle a few homework questions. When you’re at home watching TV, every time there is a commercial break, complete as much homework as you can. There is plenty of time to complete your homework if you don’t procrastinate.

Study halls are not used appropriately by many students. While yes, there are some responsible students who make sure to take advantage of the extra time to complete their work, many just use it as free time to surf the web, listen to music, watch videos and chat online with friends. For students who don’t use it appropriately, they are missing the whole point of even having a study hall: to study and finish homework. There is really no point to having a study hall if most of the students in them aren’t using their time efficiently.

There are plenty of alternative classes out there for students. Instead of a study hall, they can take another math or science class to exercise their brains more. They could take any number of other classes such as painting, band or creative writing. Students could also try being a lab assistant for their favorite teacher.

Students don’t even receive any form of credit towards graduation for taking a study hall.

Every week, students have seminar, which is pretty much the same as a study hall, except seminar is better because it’s easier to finish tests and seek help from teachers because they aren’t instructing students during that hour. Students can do the same things they do in study hall, in seminar. They don’t have to sign up for seminar like they have to for study hall. All students have a seminar.

As long as students manage their time wisely, they will have little trouble completing their homework. Study hall just enables many students to procrastinate when they could be taking a more challenging class.

12

March 2015 opinion

tudents are in class for seven hours a day, five days a week, but many students are in the building long after the final bell rings. Between sports, theater or clubs, students’ after school hours are filled with far more than homework and TV. For students who lack free time outside of class, study halls are vital to keeping grades up and stress levels down.

Students can be involved in a plethora of clubs and sports, but these activities take up lots of valuable time outside of school, and for many students, especially those in honors or AP classes, it can be hard to find enough time to get assignments done. They get seminars, yes, but only once a week, and those can be easily filled by assemblies or visiting teachers for help or to make up a test.

Even if they manage to find time to complete assignments, students deserve to have a break in their busy days if that’s what they choose. School is hectic and stressful for many students, and a free period to sit down and get work down, or even just take a breather for a few minutes, should be an option.

Study halls can also be a time for students to organize their work and ensure that they are not letting any assignments slip through the cracks.

I understand that administrators and teachers feel that students should spend all their time at school learning, but the value of study halls should not be forgotten. Stressed students take the much needed period to do work and organize their thoughts.

For some students, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do homework for seven academic classes. Students who feel they need this extra time to complete assignments should be able to have it if they choose, instead of being forced into another academic class that not only takes an hour they could have had to do work, but also potentially adds on another set of assignments to do each night.

Students know how much rigor they can take in their schedule. They know how much work they can manage well. I understand that administrators want us to stretch ourselves, but if taking six academic classes is stretching yourself, then you should be able to take a study hall to keep up with the work.

Also, it should be quality over quantity when it comes to a student’s course load. If a student takes four rigorous classes, two electives and a study hall, and gets all A’s, isn’t that better than taking all academic classes and getting B’s or lower because they can’t keep up with the work?

Students can only handle so much work outside of school.

If students say they need extra time to do their class work during the school day, administrators need to listen.

YES 33% NO 67%

The Results are in...

South students voted on if mega block schedule is beneficial to their education.

Go online to smsouthnews.com to vote in this month’s debate!

Ball(et) is Life

Student ballet dancers have a commitment to a lasting art form.

T

he image of little girls in powder pink leotards and little ballet shoes sticks in the childhood memories of many: hair in a sloppy bun, little tummies sticking out, arms in a rudimentary first position.

Most petites danseuses quit after a few years of basic ballet training because their “mom made them do it” or it was just a “silly childhood dream.”

But not for freshman McKinsay Kane and sophomore Stella Shapiro. For many years, they have dedicated almost all of their after-school time to their dance training. Kane has been dancing since she was 3.

“My neighbor did ballet and it inspired me,” Kane said. “I wanted to be like her.”

For Shapiro, the path to ballet was not as direct.

“I danced when I was a kid,” Shapiro said. “[I took] creative movement where you pretend like you are a butterfly. Then I quit to do gymnastics but came back to ballet because I liked the dancing aspect of gymnastics, like floor routines.”

Many kids never committed to dance and let it fizzle out by the end of elementary school. Kane and Shapiro’s schedule takes a lot of their free time once the amount of hours in class, rehearsing and performing are added up.

“We dance six days a week and have rehearsal three of those days,” Kane said. “[We] also do modern and jazz; those classes are differently disciplined, and you can have more fun with it.”

For Shapiro, ballet offers a bonding opportunity with other people that you would not otherwise know.

“I feel like it’s a lot easier to make friends if you’re doing something you like … I’m more myself. I also like dancing because it’s good exercise and it’s competitive. Deformed feet aren’t so great though,” Shapiro said, laughing.

The stereotype of a frail girl in a sparkly tutu doesn’t match up with the vast majority of ballet dancers. Dancers hope to dismantle any preconceived notions about a weak body rattled with eating disorders.

“Today, the ‘super skinny’ ballerina doesn’t work, you have to be [fit] if you’re moving around and exercising,” Shapiro said. “We sweat because we’re working hard.”

Kane agreed.

“The look is more muscular and strong,” Kane said. Professional dancers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. American Ballet Theater’s Misty Copeland is known for her lean, muscular body with flowing lines and impressive extension. Maria Kochetkova of the San Francisco Ballet captivates audiences with a petite frame and powerful ferocity.

Dancing with the Kansas City Ballet School presents multiple opportunities for aspiring dancers to perform with the professional company. Other than the annual Nutcracker, Shapiro was cast in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

“I was in Nutcracker for three years and I was in Alice in Wonderland [this past October]. [Alice] is … a contemporary ballet so you got to do different things from what you were used to,” Shapiro said. “The music was more exciting and sharp. It was a lot of fun.”

Ballet is an ever-changing art form. Ballerinas in the 1900s danced and looked different from 21st century dancers, and future dancers will look just as different. As new forms of dance come and go, ballet stays solid.

“Most dancers like contemporary or modern better than ballet because it’s boring, but ballet is a good foundation,” said Kane. “I can’t picture not doing dance. It’s kind of all I do.” Kate Anderson

Photo by Jenna Fackrell

features March 2015

13

the war is over if you want it 14

Millennials strive to eliminate Islamophobia in the face of adversity and international conflict.

March 2015 cover story

Photo by katie imes

D

o you sleep with that on?”

“Is it hard to shower with a hijab?”

“Do those pins go in your head?”

For a teenage girl wearing a hijab, the religious head covering worn by Muslim girls and women, the average day can be filled with questions from curious strangers.

“Some people [at South] understand, others don’t. Some people ask, ‘Do you dye your scarf?’ Like yeah, of course I do, every day… no,” freshman Mena Abohamda said. “The questions don’t really get annoying. They’re just funny most of the time.”

Despite the occasional awkward glance or question, however, Abohamda says she feels no different from any other girl at school.

“After a while, you barely notice the hijab,” Abohamda said. “To me, the hijab is a way to cover your beauty, so people don’t like the beauty on the outside, but on the inside.”

Traditionally, proper hijab is regarded as a headscarf that covers a woman’s ears, neck and upper chest, worn with loose fitting clothes that do not call attention to parts of the body.

Some Muslim women do not feel the call to wear the hijab.

“As long as I wear appropriate clothing that covers myself, like from knees to shoulders, I feel that I am still being as modest,” senior Elizabeth Obeidat said. “Since I’ve grown up in a very liberal, American society where it’s not that typical, I never felt out of the norm for not wearing the hijab. Obviously, people will point you out more for wearing it. People will associate you with the religion. They’ll ask questions.”

Although the hijab is considered as an important symbol of Islam, the religion never advocates the garment being forced upon a woman or girl, and those who do so are regarded as being in the morally wrong.

“From my perspective, a big misconception I see about Islam is in regards to the hijab,” Obeidat said. “A lot of people think that the hijab is forced upon a woman when, in reality, it’s a woman’s decision whether or not she wears it. It’s advocated by the religion, but it always comes down to the woman’s choice.”

This misconception and several others like it can be dangerous for Muslims in America, who continue to be wrongly categorized as terrorists and savages due to Islamophobia instilled by the media.

“Islamophobia is the negative, preconceived notions based off of media, based off of the actions of others, and is what makes someone afraid or intimidated of people practicing the religion,” senior Daniah Hammouda said.

“Whenever I see Islam portrayed in the media, I always see oppression, injustice, brutality, just really repulsive things that have nothing to do with what Islam really is. For me, [Islam] liberates me. It brings me justice. It actually brought justice to that region of the world.”

As a byproduct of Islamophobia, many Hijabis are regarded by the Western

world a s oppressed or maltreated by a patriarchal, Middle Eastern society.

“I’m not oppressed,” Hammouda said. “The head covering liberates me from expectations. It makes me recognized for my intellectual abilities and who I am, rather than what I am. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel separated from the other girls at South, but sometimes, I feel, that’s a positive thing. Everybody wants to be different or special in their own way. This is my way.”

Islamophobia is not always just mistrust between different peoples. It can often turn fatal. On Feb. 10 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, three Muslim students were gunned down by a white neighbor. While many were quick to call the event a hate crime, others refused to believe the crime had anything to do with race or creed, but instead was because of longstanding parking disputes.

“The media called the man who killed three Muslims [in Chapel Hill] a hate crime, but for us, if a Muslim killed three people, it would be terrorism,” Abohamda said. “I don’t understand why that is.”

This bias in journalism that placed the events of Chapel Hill low on the media’s radar, senior Ethan Stone says, is quite telling of America’s stance on Islamophobia altogether.

“There’s this disproportionate telling of stories,” Stone said. “Three Muslim students were murdered and no one talked about it. It wasn’t a national story. There were no uprisings that would’ve happened if

“Whenever I see Islam portrayed in the media, I always see oppression, injustice, brutality, just really repulsive things that have nothing to do with what Islam really is. For me, [Islam] liberates me. It brings me justice… I’m not oppressed.”

- senior Daniah Hammouda

cover story March 2015

15

Policy of Modesty Just a few of the various Islamic head coverings from across the world.

Al-Amira if t h e roles had been reversed. The media is a business, and they’re going to say whatever sits right in the minds of their viewers.”

This fear of Muslims seeps further into American pop culture. Academy Award nominated movie American Sniper has been regarded by many Muslim and Middle Eastern organizations as insensitive to Arab nations who suffered due to the Iraq war, going as far as labeling the movie as nationalist propaganda.

“What I’ve come to understand, whether it’s wrong or right, is that American Sniper portrays its Muslim characters in such a way as to dehumanize them purposefully and make them one-dimensional, while making everything that Chris Kyle does exceptional and patriotic and for the greater good. However, you can go to Chris Kyle’s book and see the inconsistencies between them,” Stone said. “He was a racist. He hated Muslims. [In his book], he says he wishes he could’ve killed more. I just think that it’s really problematic to see a movie that doesn’t give you everything you might need to know.”

With so much negative input from the media about Islam, many Muslim students like Abohamda feel Americans make sweeping generalizations about the religion.

“To a lot of people, everyone who is Muslim pretty much is a terrorist,” Abohamda said. “We’re not all terrorists. We’re not all bad. It’s just that some people [within the Muslim faith] misunderstand Islam and conduct themselves violently. Everyone is different in the way that they practice their faith, even if they’re a part of the same religion.”

Students in Annie Hasan’s Arabic class talk about these issues during class and challenge stereotypes by working through misconceptions with educated dialogue.

“My students always want to know more. I

16

March 2015 cover story

think it’s very comforting, and that motivation is inspiring for me,” Hasan said.

“This generation definitely has more exposure to the outside world than we’ve ever had before. I think people are realizing that the narrative they’ve been told before is not quite the narrative that’s actually true. This generation has a desire to not only be told information, but to seek out the truth for themselves.”

“To a lot of people, everyone who is Muslim pretty much is a terrorist. We’re not all terrorists. We’re not all bad.” -freshman Mena Abohamda Many millennials, like sophomore Assmaa Abuhamda, are hopeful that their generation will be able to aleve some of the scars left on American soil by Islamophobia.

“My hijab is what defines me,” Abuhamda said.

“I’ve experienced [Islamophobia] because of it a couple of times, but I think people in America want to

Shayla

understand.

They want to know more. They ask questions. They don’t just stare and judge. They ask.”

Social movements consisting of mostly millennial activists, like third-wave feminism, make substantial efforts in clearing up misinformation about Islam and trying to resolve tension through healthy debate.

“People talk about girls wearing the hijab as if it’s a bad thing. That’s scrutinizing to Islam and women in general. It’s their choice, and women have the freedom to wear what they want to wear as a part of their religion. That’s what America is all about,” sophomore and member of feminism club Kelsey Karpowich said. “There are some white feminists who act as if the hijab is oppression, but they’re wrong. They need to educate themselves and put themselves in the shoes of a girl who may wear one.”

A lot of Americans are fed misinformation through biased media, which Hammouda says can be cleared up often by looking at the same situation through a different lens.

“I encourage people to look at different perspectives, because a lot of the media right now is polarized.” Hammouda said. “The misconception

Students in Annie Hasan’s Arabic class learn about the language and Arab culture through projects and group discussion.

that Photo by katie imes really bothers me is ‘jihad.’ People keep saying it means ‘holy war,’ but it doesn’t. Jihad means ‘to struggle,’ and it can mean a personal struggle. Jihad of yourself is the biggest kind of jihad, like striving to do better and do the right thing.”

Many Muslim teenagers believe that change within the community can be brought by simply asking questions when curiosity arises. Learning about different cultures and methods of thinking, Hammouda says, can break down barriers of fear and intimidation between peoples.

“Most people, I’ve noticed are indifferent to my head covering. Some people are just intrigued by it and start asking questions, which I love,” Hammouda said. “I love when people ask questions, because I don’t want people to look at me and wonder. I want them to ask me.” Emily Wilkinson

Niqab & Burqa

Hijab

cover story March 2015

17

Policy of Modesty Just a few of the various Islamic head coverings from across the world.

Al-Amira if t h e roles had been reversed. The media is a business, and they’re going to say whatever sits right in the minds of their viewers.”

This fear of Muslims seeps further into American pop culture. Academy Award nominated movie American Sniper has been regarded by many Muslim and Middle Eastern organizations as insensitive to Arab nations who suffered due to the Iraq war, going as far as labeling the movie as nationalist propaganda.

“What I’ve come to understand, whether it’s wrong or right, is that American Sniper portrays its Muslim characters in such a way as to dehumanize them purposefully and make them one-dimensional, while making everything that Chris Kyle does exceptional and patriotic and for the greater good. However, you can go to Chris Kyle’s book and see the inconsistencies between them,” Stone said. “He was a racist. He hated Muslims. [In his book], he says he wishes he could’ve killed more. I just think that it’s really problematic to see a movie that doesn’t give you everything you might need to know.”

With so much negative input from the media about Islam, many Muslim students like Abohamda feel Americans make sweeping generalizations about the religion.

“To a lot of people, everyone who is Muslim pretty much is a terrorist,” Abohamda said. “We’re not all terrorists. We’re not all bad. It’s just that some people [within the Muslim faith] misunderstand Islam and conduct themselves violently. Everyone is different in the way that they practice their faith, even if they’re a part of the same religion.”

Students in Annie Hasan’s Arabic class talk about these issues during class and challenge stereotypes by working through misconceptions with educated dialogue.

“My students always want to know more. I

16

March 2015 cover story

think it’s very comforting, and that motivation is inspiring for me,” Hasan said.

“This generation definitely has more exposure to the outside world than we’ve ever had before. I think people are realizing that the narrative they’ve been told before is not quite the narrative that’s actually true. This generation has a desire to not only be told information, but to seek out the truth for themselves.”

“To a lot of people, everyone who is Muslim pretty much is a terrorist. We’re not all terrorists. We’re not all bad.” -freshman Mena Abohamda Many millennials, like sophomore Assmaa Abuhamda, are hopeful that their generation will be able to aleve some of the scars left on American soil by Islamophobia.

“My hijab is what defines me,” Abuhamda said.

“I’ve experienced [Islamophobia] because of it a couple of times, but I think people in America want to

Shayla

understand.

They want to know more. They ask questions. They don’t just stare and judge. They ask.”

Social movements consisting of mostly millennial activists, like third-wave feminism, make substantial efforts in clearing up misinformation about Islam and trying to resolve tension through healthy debate.

“People talk about girls wearing the hijab as if it’s a bad thing. That’s scrutinizing to Islam and women in general. It’s their choice, and women have the freedom to wear what they want to wear as a part of their religion. That’s what America is all about,” sophomore and member of feminism club Kelsey Karpowich said. “There are some white feminists who act as if the hijab is oppression, but they’re wrong. They need to educate themselves and put themselves in the shoes of a girl who may wear one.”

A lot of Americans are fed misinformation through biased media, which Hammouda says can be cleared up often by looking at the same situation through a different lens.

“I encourage people to look at different perspectives, because a lot of the media right now is polarized.” Hammouda said. “The misconception

Students in Annie Hasan’s Arabic class learn about the language and Arab culture through projects and group discussion.

that Photo by katie imes really bothers me is ‘jihad.’ People keep saying it means ‘holy war,’ but it doesn’t. Jihad means ‘to struggle,’ and it can mean a personal struggle. Jihad of yourself is the biggest kind of jihad, like striving to do better and do the right thing.”

Many Muslim teenagers believe that change within the community can be brought by simply asking questions when curiosity arises. Learning about different cultures and methods of thinking, Hammouda says, can break down barriers of fear and intimidation between peoples.

“Most people, I’ve noticed are indifferent to my head covering. Some people are just intrigued by it and start asking questions, which I love,” Hammouda said. “I love when people ask questions, because I don’t want people to look at me and wonder. I want them to ask me.” Emily Wilkinson

Niqab & Burqa

Hijab

cover story March 2015

17

Q&A WITH PETE MCATEE 18 20

Jan. March 2015 2015features features

Senior’s involvement in KSMS has allowed his hobby of video making to flourish.

Photo by Jenna Fackrell

V

i d e o production has been a big part of senior Pete McAtee’s life, and through KSMS he has been able to go from watching Youtube videos online to being behind the camera.

How long have you been making videos?

I started in middle school, but I only started consistently making videos sophomore year.

What got you to start making videos?

I guess it was my YouTube phase. I wanted to make popular YouTube videos so I tried to model my videos off of things I saw on YouTube. But it didn’t really work out, and I started making my own videos and promoting myself through KSMS.

Where do you get the inspiration/ideas for your videos?

That’s tough, because it’s like the same thing with Twitter. People ask me where I come up with them, and I just don’t know. They just pop into my

head, and I decide if it’s too weird or not.

What’s your favorite video you’ve made?

“Pizza Face” or the alpaca video, it’s a close tie.

Do you plan on going into film as a career?

I had planned on doing that, but only like two percent of film school graduates actually work in the film field so the likelihood of me doing it as a career is not high.

What is your favorite thing about making videos?

Making people laugh and making people question why I did that or made the video in the first place.

What is the most difficult thing about making videos?

Working with people. A lot of times I have my own ideas, and I always like hearing people’s input, but incorporating their ideas in my videos is always tough, and it’s hard to say no.

How has KSMS helped you improve at video making?

Video production teaches you how to use a software, and KSMS really lets you explore outside of that and learn more effects and apply them to videos.

Who is your favorite filmmaker?

Andy Samberg

What advice would you give someone wanting to start making videos?

Get involved with video production because it allows you to use more professional equipment. I’ve had really good ideas but didn’t have the equipment, and KSMS makes that available.

Rola Alasmar Photos By Jenna Fackrell

features March 2015

19

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TWITTER PHOTO CONTEST Students tweeted pictures of their hobby, and The Patriot staff picked the top four photos. The next contest theme will be to send in a photo with #iwokeuplikethis to @SMSPatriot.

2

1

junior Leorah Addadi art

junior Heather Jenson yoga

4 3

junior Steve Erbacher giving back to the fans

junior Alyssa Pavlu hanging out with all my friends

1. Sent in by junior Heather Jenson @hmjenson

2. Sent in by junior Leorah Addadi @Leorahsaur

3. Sent in by junior Alyssa Pavlu @alyssagirl214

4. Sent in by juniors Andrew Duffy and Steve Erbacher @PizzaSorcerers

A&E March 2015

21

LIFE HACKS: COFFEE

We’ve all been there. Brewing the morning pot of coffee only to realize your creamer is as expired as all your hopes and dreams. Never fret! With the right amount of flexibility and experimentation, you’ll never miss out again.

Check out smsouthnews.com for recipes based off this Life Hack!

Emily wilkinson photo illustration BY Jenna Fackrell

CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK If you’ve got a sweet tooth (or if you’re hard up for sugar of any kind), then it’s time to hit up all your obscure baking supplies.

Stirring chocolate chips in hot coffee until melted adds mad flavor, and makes your morning coffee akin to eating a chocolate chip cookie.

A bitter, dirty cookie.

SUGAR, SUGAR There are as many sources for coffee sweeteners as there are sweet children on this Earth. So like maybe 10 or so. Powdered sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, honey, corn syrup: all groovy. It’s all about trying things out to find what’s the least terrible.

CRYING OVER SPILLED MILK VANILLA ICE (OR HOT)

So let’s say you’re the fancy type, and you’re lost without your assortment of coffee syrups. Unlikely, but in any case, a few drops of vanilla in your morning cup of joe is a boost of flavor that anyone can appreciate, whether you’re a fancypants or more of the rustic type.

22

March 2015 A&E

If you’re low on milk and you’re bumming to pieces, it’s time to broaden your definition of what “milk” is.

Do you have weird, vegan parents that only drink coconut-soy-almond milk?

Try it out. Do you have any cartons of whipping cream?

Sploosh: there it is. Even ice cream technically has milk in it. Toss it in!

WH I P IT

My favorite last ditch solution: Cool Whip, and lots of it. Pile on the cool stuff, and not only will you have a suitable replacement to creamer, but you’ll have some gnarly froth on the top once fully stirred.

THE

FINAL SAY

While some can eat an entire 12-inch cake by themselves, most opt for a more manageable slice of pie for their sugar fix. Overland Park is sprinkled with delicious artisan pastry shops, and senior Rachel Larberg happily waltzed through some of these cozy cafés to find the final say.

Cupcake A La Mode 11529 Ash St. Leawood, KS 66211

A great place to go for a really sweet treat is Cupcake A La Mode located in Park Place near Town Center. They offer almost any cupcake you’d like, including a variety of gluten-free cupcakes. A fun and very pink feeling from the shop goes right along with the feeling that comes with one of their cupcakes. They have cupcakes that range from 100% chocolate heaven to a vanilla sugar land. Each cupcake has intricate details which reflect on their price. The cupcake is well worth it.

Upper Crust 7943 Santa Fe Dr. Overland Park, KS 66204 Warm smells and smiles are the first things you see at The Upper Crust Bakery located in Old Overland Park. It is the hot spot to get a fresh piece of pie. There is anything from a full pie or even a mini pie which could be split between two people. They also offer single slices of pie which can warm any person’s day. Slightly out of a high school budget’s range, The Upper Crust is the place to go to splurge on a sweet treat.

PHOTO BY rachel larberg

Clock Tower Bakery 7911 Santa Fe Dr. Overland Park, KS 66204

PHOTO BY rachel larberg

Just a few stores down from The Upper Crust in Old Overland Park , this little bakery is a good cross between Cupcake A La Mode and The Upper Crust. They offer anything from lunch to macaroons. Their baked goods are not as refined, but you can tell they have been hand-made. Directly behind the counter, you are able to watch the bakers prepare and make all the items for later that day or the next day. Prices can vary depending on what you’re in the mood for, but the two ladies greet you with a warm smile and some really delicious sweets.

THE FINAL SAY

Even though it may not be as warm, the Clock Tower Bakery takes the lead in local bakeries. They have a variety of items to choose from which are all handmade right behind the counter. Rachel larberg

A&E March 2015

23

REVIEWS Restaurant Review

new BBQ restaurant, Q39, adds a touch of flare to midtown.

PHOTO BY lauren rosenstock

F

ollowing the unique pattern of shops and restaurants on W. 39th Street, Q39 is a hybrid barbecue restaurant. For a casual dining experience, Q39 adds a modern flare to rustic barbecue favorites.

Instead of a pulled pork sandwich with classic barbecue sauce on a hot roll, I received a mountain of pulled pork, slathered in sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, topped with sweet onion and cabbage cole slaw on a toasted bun, and as a side, a boat of homecut fries with chipotle ketchup.

What would you expect if you ordered a “brisket burger”? One might expect a few pieces of shaved brisket on a hot roll. Imagine an actual hamburger, topped with tender brisket. Then, add sweet pickle and cabbage slaw on top, and as a side, a cup of chili baked beans. That is how Q39 makes a brisket burger — it was totally unbelievable.

This quaint restaurant is located on a bustling street, bringing in more and more foot traffic every day. Its plain exterior hides the amazing warmth one finds inside the restaurant. By warmth, I don’t mean heat, I mean the feeling you get because of the atmosphere and the sincerity and genuine interest the servers have for making your meal the best.

By twisting these classic American dishes and replacing traditional ingredients with their made-in-house sauces and slaws, Q39 has surprised countless judges in barbecue contests all over the country.

This award-winning restaurant is located at 1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111. They are open Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Lauren rosenstock and Sun. 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

TV Show Review

new television series breaks barriers and raises standards.

M

any television series follow the life of a family. From “Full House” to the more recent “Modern Family,” morals are taught and stories leave the viewer with a feel-good attitude. The new comedy “Fresh Off the Boat” stars an Asian-American family, which has not happened on TV since 1994. It is inspired by a memoir written by Eddie Huang, a chef and food personality, who is also the narrator of the show.

This sitcom follows Eddie Huang (Hudson Yang) and his family as they move from Washington D.C. to Orlando. The mother conflicts with the culture differences, the father works for the American dream and Eddie and his two younger siblings try to fit into school. Seeing the trailers, I was worried the show would be a stereotypical and racist mess. However, I gave it a chance, watched the two-episode premiere, and my low standards were proven wrong.

Although the show is set in the late 1990s, I could relate to certain things being an Asian-American myself. From the certain comments the protagonist gets from school to the family values within the household, many aspects of the show were similar to my life. The script does a great job teaching a lesson and expressing the stereotypes without crossing the line. This series is based on an Asian-American family, but people of all races could enjoy the show. Even being set in the past, it is still edgy and the dialogue has a modern comedy vibe. I also believe society today does not understand the life of a Asian-American family.

Their views are based on stereotypes and opinions of their environment. This show goes deeper than the clichés and gives more explanation to them.

“Fresh off the Boat” airs Tuesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. Nanae urano

24

March 2015 A&E

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A&E March 2015

25

Walking with a Spring in Your Step Spring athletes encourage crowd control members and fans to come to more spring sports events.

If you’ve been to a basketball or football game, you’ve probably seen the first row of bleachers filled with seniors leading chants and pumping up a crowd of students. Crowd Control is a standing tradition for senior guys to help keep the crowd loud and cheering on the Raiders at every game throughout football and basketball season. But, when it comes to spring sports, Crowd Control has not been up to par.

“It seems like after basketball season it just kinda tones down, like with spirit,” Crowd Control member Nick Avery said.

Though some members of Crowd Control attend spring sports, there is

hardly a crowd to control. Most of the student body seems to disappear from sporting events the moment the final buzzer sounds at the end of basketball season.

“I go to some soccer games, when they play East. And baseball games, I go to those too,” Avery said.

Avery also said that a way to get more people to come to spring sports would be to do giveaways for for a certain number of people who arrive first at the event, like what the girl’s volleyball team did on their senior night this past season.

“I think if a group of like four or five kids decided that the [girls] soccer games were the place to be and they made it kind of a big thing, then it would entice other people to go to the games,” girls soccer coach Caroline Ewing said.

Some Crowd Control members are also more heavily involved in spring sports. According to Avery, there are four baseball players and two

lacrosse players on Crowd Control who cannot attend spring sports because of conflicts.

“Personally, I don’t go to them because I have lacrosse, like, I have stuff to do,” Crowd Control member Beckett McQuitty said.

Attending high school sporting events is not only be a good way to hang out with friends and support your school, but it also helps athletes play their best.

“It’s like people are supporting you and you feel better about yourself,” track and field thrower Dottie Powell said.

If Crowd Control went to spring sports, they would be able to keep the crowd cheering and supportive for the Raiders.

“Sometimes the crowd can be negative, but when the crowd is focused on cheering for our girls and their good accomplishment, they can have a tremendous impact,” Ewing SophiA Belshe said.

March Madness or My Madness

The middle of March brings game after game of basketball and disappointment to fans across the nation.

M

arch Madness and bracketology is a chaotic basketball frenzy starting on Selection Sunday (March 15) and ending in Indianapolis, Ind. for the championship game on April 4. Fans cross their fingers hoping their favorite college basketball team claims one of the 68 seeds on the bracket.

At this time of year, friends, family and coworkers all participate in the bracket madness to discover who has the perfect or nearly-perfect bracket. When people are filling out their bracket, it’s best to keep in mind that nobody’s perfect, anything can happen, each game is a new chance, keep faith in choices and defense wins

26

championships.

“Defense wins games. Defense creates a team’s offense, and it improves team energy to therefore make good decisions on offense,” sophomore Elizabeth Holmes said.

In the waiting days before tipoff, participants furiously move teams to the next round, erase first choices and crumble up multiple imperfect brackets. The most difficult parts of filling out a bracket are predicting a Cinderella team, upsets and the performance of the final four teams.

Of the many teams that make the last four in the championship, many lose in the beginning rounds while a few weave their way through tough opponents. This year’s possible successful bubble teams vary on each person’s opinion, but the schools awaiting a chance to make a run at the title are Dayton, Stanford, Xavier, Ohio State, Ole Miss, North Carolina State, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Iowa.

These teams come from different irregular seasons that include injury-

prone rosters, plummeting seasons, and major wins and losses.

Throughout the regular season, Kentucky has managed to go undefeated and is obviously the number one choice as the national champion.

“Kentucky is much too big for anyone to try to beat them from the inside. I think that the only way to beat them is to shoot very well from three, possibly slowing down the game and trying to foul out their big guys,” senior Cameron Setty said.

The conference tournaments will be a test of who can ride momentum into the tournament, earn a seed, or crumble under the pressure. March Madness fanatics all have their strategies ranging from research, guessing, and logistics. The perfect bracket is almost impossible to come by, but through the right choices and luck, Cinderella teams can reign and the biggest foes can fall.

Avery Dorsey

PHOTO BY SAVANNAH MORGAN

March 2015 sports

Do You Have a Fear of Hurdles?

You’ll Get Over It. Track is a complex sport that takes experience, endurance and technique. No matter what event, these athletes spend countless hours in the scorching heat or, in this case, the freezing cold, to learn more every practice.

SENIOR NICOLE SANCHEZ: Hurdles What motivated you to do this event?

“

JUNIOR ISABEL HOLCOMB: Pole Vault

I just decided to try hurdles my freshman year because I thought they would be fun, and then it ended up being my best event so I just stuck with it.

”

What is the most challenging part of this event?

me, if I’m having a bad “ For day jumping, it’s really hard

to shake it off, and it can be really demoralizing because, like you know, you can jump higher, but you just can’t seem to get there.

”

SENIOR DALTON What is the most LEWELLAN: challenging part Shot Put & Discus of this event?

SENIOR BRANDON MAXEY: Long Distance What kind of training do you do to prepare you for the season?

year the guys who didn’t “This go out for winter sports have

just been running on our own to build a distance base. We’ve been running 50-70 miles a week since December.

”

form and trying to execute “ Maintaining perfectly every time. If you mess up in just one aspect of the throw, it can ruin the whole throw.

”

SENIOR MATTHEW SCHWABAUER: Javelin What motivated you to do this event?

family told me I should “ My join activities at South

and get involved with the school, and I thought track would be a fun and easy way to meet people.

I wasn’t sure what event to do, but I knew I didn’t like running very much, so I took up javelin, shot and discus. Javelin ended up being my favorite, so I stuck with that one.

”

sports March 2015

27

Outnumbered by the Opposite Gender Female student discusses the gender imbalance in coed gym classes.

S

exist is not the word that comes to mind when one thinks about South’s coed gym classes. Guys and girls are encouraged to treat each other as equals and get each other involved in class activities.

“I don’t believe there is [sexism] just because I think everyone is treated how they need to be treated and how they should be treated,” junior Jake Mankin said.

The physical education teachers strive for equal involvement from both guys and girls. To do this, they created rules that differ slightly depending on a student’s gender. For instance, a girl could earn an extra point for scoring a goal while a guy would score less. The goal of policies like this is to help push the guys to involve their female classmates in the class games.

“We’ll to try to get the guys to get the girls involved because sometimes

they will ignore the girls,” physical education teacher Kent Thompson said. “We put in rules to make the guys make the girls get involved by saying they have to handle the ball before they can score.”

Many guys have embraced the policies concerning their female classmates and use them to their advantage.

“They were beneficial because if you had a girl on your team, it was positive because if you needed something extra to put your team ahead, you could always go to them,” Mankin said.

Thompson said that most of the time he doesn’t see a much of a difference between the guys and girls during class. “[Usually] I think the guys just treat them like they’re one of the guys most of the time,” Thompson said. “The boys swear and use bad language around them and play just as hard whether the girls are there or not. They may back off a little bit and let the girls try to compete as best they can. I think for the most part, the majority of them try to just look at girls as just another

person.”

Having separate classes for each gender for a certain gym course such as weights brings in more girls than would normally sign up. There are benefits to not having a class being coed, such as any chance of sexism.

“We have two sections this year of all-girls weights that we’ve never had before because it was all coed and girls are intimidated by the guys in weights,” physical education teacher Sue Williams said. “By making a weight class all-girls, it gives them the opportunity to experience and get the benefits of lifting weights.”

While policies that differ by gender may make it appear that sexism is at play, there isn’t much going on in truth. The policies are there so that everyone can participate and get involved.

“With the different rules, after awhile I think a lot of kids can see why those rules are added on because if not, they kind of just stand off to the side and they don’t participate,” Williams said. “[PE teachers] have to have everybody involved.”

Rose Pollina

In the average high school gym class, the ratio of girls to boys is

3:7

28

GRAPHICS BY ROSE POLLINA

March 2015 sports

Q&A: SENIOR RYAN SWEAT

S

enior Ryan Sweat has dedicated his athletic career to swimming. From swimming nine times a week with the Kansas City Blazers to competing for South for three years, Sweat could easily be described as one of South’s most decorated athletes.

Q: Why didn’t you swim [at South] junior year?

A:

I didn’t swim my junior

year because I wanted to dedicate

myself

towards

club swimming, which is a lot harder. I wanted to push myself harder because junior year is the recruiting year for college. I practiced times nine times a week compared to six at South.

Q:

What records have you

broken at South?

A:

Freshman year, I broke

the 200 freestyle (free); the 50 free, the 100 butterfly (fly); the 100 free, and the 100 backstroke (back).

Sophomore year I broke the 200 free again, 200 IM (individual medley); the 100 fly again, the 100 free, the 500 free, and the 100 back again.

I didn’t swim at South my junior year.

This year I broke the 200 free again, the 200 IM, the 100 fly again, the 500 free again, and the 100 back again.

This year at state I broke the 100 back record. I broke the previous record of 53.0 with a

time of 52.5 seconds.

about swimming?

A: I love the team atmosphere What is your favorite

Q: stroke?

the most. Spending more than 25 hours a week as well as

My favorite stroke in

traveling to different cities

high school swim is 100 fly and

with my club team brings us

200 fly in club swim. With the

all pretty close.

A:

200 fly you can cruise most of the race.

Q:

Do you have any plans

for swimming after college?

What colleges have

Q:

The Olympics, for example?

showed interest in you?

A:

No, but I want to make it

A: I have visited New Jersey

to the 2016 or 2020 trials for

Institute of Tech and South

the Olympics.

Dakota State. TCU, Missouri State,

Wyoming

and

the

Q:

Have you committed

University of Chicago have all

anywhere? Why there?

showed interest in me.

A:

I have committed to

Savannah College of Art and During a meet, is your

Design in Savannah, Georgia.

personal goal to break a new

SCAD has the programs I want

record?

to

Q:

major

in

(Architecture,

My personal goal is not

Industrial Design)... For the

to break a new record, but

swimming aspect of it, they

to simply go into each meet

are a fast swim team that is

trying to get the best time I can.

very close, always pushing

A:

each other to be the best they

Q:

Explain the feeling you

get when you win.

can be, in or out of the water.

The seniors there help mentor

A wave a satisfaction

the freshmen... I can’t wait to

rushes over me when I see all

be down there, to be mentored

training pay off in the race.

by the best and surrounded by

A:

some of the most innovative,

Q:

What do you love most

creative students in the nation.

Avery Dorsey Photos courtesy of Ryan sweat

sports March 2015

29

[Sports Space]

Fans share their favorite activities and sports they watch during spring time.

Quotes gathered by Andrea Smith PHOTOS by Arturo Sanchez vera

What is your favorite team, and who do you think will win the [NCAA basketball] tournament?

junior Joe Stokes

sophomore AJ Webster

Sun Devils; “I’mArizona going to have to say

it’s going to be hard to choose between Arizona, Kansas and Kentucky.

”

Jayhawks; “I Kansas love my Jayhawks,

but I’d have to go with Kentucky. They have just been so impressive this year.

”

senior Leo Moreno

Jayhawks; “ KansasJayhawks.

Kansas They

have have to win it. They will win.

”

“

senior Tyler Perdue

Kansas Jayhawks; As a true Jayhawk fan, I would hope for it to be the Jayhawks, but I think it’s going to be Kentucky.

spring sports adapt to weather

Exceptionally long winter is predicted to affect after school activities until early April.

E

specially in northeastern parts of America, the late winter that we have received this year seems never-ending.

30

Many forecasters in the Midwest and Northeast regions aren’t expecting the weather to make up its mind until the end of March or beginning of April.

In states such as North and South Carolina and Georgia, local government officials have extended winter weather advisories until late morning of Thursday, March 5. By doing so, extracurricular activities and sports have either been canceled or postponed, only for them to be moved again and again.

Unlike most of the Northeast, Midwestern states such as Ohio, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin, who have also experienced the “Snowpocalypse,” are

March 2015 sports

more prepared and are carrying spring sports on schedule. When I say that, I don’t mean they’ll have track practice with 8 inches of snow, but instead they have quickly informed their athletes of the temporary changes to location or timing.

Kansas has not been the center of this snow storm for the first time in quite a while. Usually at the end of February, even busy streets like Metcalf, Antioch and Nall should have slush in the gutters, and the sidewalks should be piled high with inches upon inches of snow.

Similar to how the Northeastern states were in panic mode about getting 3 feet of snow in

”

one night, some Kansans entered panic mode because there was minimal to no snow this winter.

As abnormal as this weather pattern is, South has been able to keep up with the continuous fluctuations and make decisions quickly and effectively. Anything could happen, and in a literal sense, I walked out of first hour last week and there was a thin sheet of snow on the ground— totally unexpected. Just that morning, the sun was out as if nothing was wrong.

Being able to adapt to these quick weather changes presents less room for error and more room for opportunity.

Lauren Rosenstock

IT’S COOL TO BE A

HAIRSTYLIST HAIRSTYLIST IT’S COOL TO BE A

Tap into your talent, refine your skills, and create

the life you really want! You belong in a Paul Tap Mitchell into your talent, refine your skills, and create

School.

IT’S COOL TO BE A

the life you really want! You belong in a Paul Mitchell School.

HAIRSTYLIST www.pmtsoverlandpark.com

For more information about our graduation rates, the median loan debt, who completed the program, and other important information, please visit paulmitchell.edu/ge. Financial Aid is available for those who quali

Tap into your talent, refine your skills, and create the life you reallyabout want!

You belong in a loan Paul For more information our graduation rates, the median debt,Mitchell who completed the program, and other important information, please visit paulmitchell.edu/ge. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify.

School.

8731 W 95th Street Overland Park For more information about our graduation rates, the median loan debt, who completed the program, and other important information, please visit paulmitchell.edu/ge. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify.

ANGLES

Seniors Rola Alasmar, Jordan Winter and junior Emily Wilkinson watch in excitement alongside Coach Caroline Ewing as the Louder Than a Bomb scores are announced.

The team won first place and will be heading to the semi-finals later this March.

The poetry team performs their group piece at the Louder Than a Bomb KC preliminaries. Their piece was titled “Words Hurt� and received 0.1 points shy of a perfect score.

Friends and fellow students cheer and show their support with decorated signs.

32

March 2015

photo essay

photos by jenna fackrell

Poetry team members Jordan Winter, Emily Wilkinson and Rola Alasmar join together for a victory selfie after finding out they got first place.