’ 17 01 volume
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september 2008
t he
hawk’s eye
contents
a student run publication Olathe East High School 14545 West 127th Street Olathe, KS 66062
Adviser KarenBourland Editors BenSchmitz EmilyFiore JohnWood Business Editor SydneySwinicki Senior Staff Writers CalieeBehnke BrettCrawford Junor Staff Writers EmmaBrockschmidt PeterDu TessaMagana NehaWahid EmilyFogle EricYarns LexiPanfil Tara Boyd Sophomore Staff Writers
AmandaEmslie ZachHunter MaggieHouston
p p
5 New Clubs
6
New Teachers
10 School
p
Brett Crawford’s What to Do About:
the hawk’s eye
A Letter from r force newspape e th d n a , e that beginning three-editor sc hem is r a e y r the the e a bit Yet ano e, continuing with ear is quit y is g th d f e f fl The sta is in full ff tested. ta s rmat uctive. ’s r a e y last agazine fo e st as prod m ju s w r, e a f n o e s ut ill keep th owever, w smaller, b e paper w st year’s volume. H th r a e y ur own This a bit of o nted in la e g m in d le d p a im , our own that was to make it g in miniv tr s are rs and ad e h c a . te le , sty nds ap students flair and hit the sta es on the l y il e r w u r o e y p opinion, pa Keep e East. A our news, y th g la in O y f f s o onth, sati istrators once a m ly te a im ings. prox ports crav s d n a s e featur e, Muc h Lov mitz] [ben sch
[emily fiore]
Editors:
the
3
ood] [john w
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september 2008
The
news
Newbies [tessa magana]
Once a month, a shining new paper comes hot off the press and into the waiting hands of Olathe East. The students behind the scenes of the Hawk’s Eye become a family during those late night deadlines and bagel runs. So every May, when the senior members prepare to leave high school behind, the family feels a bit empty. A handful of new applicants are chosen based on ability and recommendation, allowing only the best to proceed on to the staff. Here’s a bit of a short but personal introduction to each new face behind the computer of this 2008-2009 staff. Age: 15 Grade: Sophomore.
Z ach Tar a L exi Magg ie Am anda
Joined for: Journalism funness.
Fav thing: Music – making/listening.
Age: 16 Grade: Junior.
Joined for: The writing. Fav thing: Cheer.
Age: 15 Grade: Sophomore.
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When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
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The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
Age: 15 Grade: Sophomore.
Joined for: A real newspaper coming together.
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- Audrey Hepburn
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Joined for: The writing. Fav thing: Dance.
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- Jimmy Hendrix
Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.
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Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.
Fav thing: Making movies. Age: 16 Grade: Junior.
Joined for: The writing experience.
Fav thing: Gymnastics.
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- John W. Gardener
“
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- Henry Ford
Teamwork makes the dream work.
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- Benfield
news Gay-Straight Alliance
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support for those who need it. “I decided to start a GSA at East because all of the other schools had their own chapters. Our school had no sexual support group.” With senior Stephone Easterwood on board as the club’s Vice-President, the officers began planning their club’s objectives and goals. Other than after-school meetings, the club will be participating in events to raise AIDS awareness and the annual Day of Silence on April 17. “Our club is for anyone who accepts and supports people of all sexual orientations,” MacBride added. “Everyone is welcome.”
Also New
G.S.A. President John MacBride answers questions for potential member
Awake? Awake? is a new Bible study “Each week we have a topic group that meets on Tuesday and that we talk about and we relate Thursday before school, which is it back to the Bible,” said Todd, why their club is called “Awake.” adding that the discussions help “You ask yourself, her strengthen her faith. ‘Are you awake? Are Awake? club leader Lauren Todd reads you noticing what from her Bible. God has around you?’” explained Lauren Todd, initiator of this Bible club. Todd says that she felt it was her calling to make Awake? an official club. “We’d had Bible study in the past, and I felt that God wanted me to take it to the next level.” During a typical Awake? meeting, members start out by worshipping in song while others play guitar. Next, a weekly Photos courtesy John Wood discussion begins.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes The Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club (FCA) provides a Christian environment for athletes.
Clubbin’
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Everyone is welcome.
Goin’ Students initiate clubs for new year
The Gay-Straight-Alliance Club (G.S.A., for short) is a new, studentinitiated club for students of all sexual orientations and identities to meet and discuss issues pertaining to them. One of the club’s main goals is to provide a safe space where members feel accepted and able to talk openly without discrimination or breach of confidentiality. As President and founder of the Olathe East chapter of the National GSA, senior John MacBride saw a meaningful opportunity to offer
5
the hawk’s eye
[john wood]
Chess Club The Chess Club will provide an opportunity for students to think critically using strategies while playing chess.
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september 2008
Look at [caliee behnke] [neha wahid]
EAST
Newat
teachers A.
feature
D.
B.
C.
E.
F.
a. Stephanie French instructs Spanish I b. Melissa Sellers is our brand new Photog- c. Stephanie Harwell teaches Geometry and and attended colleges such as Rider University, and University of Madrid in Spain. Her family consists of her husband, two daughters as well as two dogs. Mrs. French enjoys reading and hiking with her family.
raphy and Drawing teacher at East. She attended Emporia University. Mrs. Sellers lives with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys taking pictures, playing games and laughing at herself.
Applied Geometry. She went to college at K-State University (Go Wildcats!!!). She is engaged and lives with one dog. Ms. Harwell enjoys working out, dancing, singing and being with family and friends.
d. Kim Hansen comes to East teaching e.Valerie Perry teaches Life Skills 1 and f.Mark Van Gorp instructs Computer ProAlgebra III/Trig as well as Algebra II. She is a graduate of John Brown University and is married with three children. Mrs. Hansen enjoys gardening and spending time with family.
attended Ohio University. She is married with no kids. Mrs. Perry enjoys reading, home improvement projects and attempting to crochet.
gramming. He is a graduate of numerous universities. His family includes his wife of five years and one daughter. Dr. V enjoys fitness, sports and reading.
the hawk’s eye G.
K.
g.Melinda Hollan was a stu- h. dent at Universities in Texas and is now the instructor of Algebra II and Geometry. She has a husband and three daughters. Mrs. Hollan enjoys singing and traveling.
k.Kraig Taylor is our new l. Assistant Principal at East. He attended Benedictine College and Pitt State. He has a wife and two daughters. Mr. Taylor enjoys fishing and any outdoor sports.
H.
L.
Steven Franzen is East’s new English III teacher. He attended numerous universities. He has a wife and two daughters. Mr. Franzen enjoys mountain biking, basketball, geocaching and skiing.
Katherine Carder is a new Chemistry teacher this year. She was a student at Emporia State University. Her family consists of her parents and younger brother. Miss Carder enjoys learning to cook and reading.
I.
M.
J.
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N.
i.Gary Goddard comes to j.Victoria East teaching Chemistry and PSI alongside his wife Stacy Goddard. He attended college at University of Nebraska. Mr. Goddard enjoys playing soccer and watching movies.
m. Taylar Turnbull teaches
English III and CP English IV. She attended JCCC and Emporia University. Most of her family lives in the Johnson county area. Miss Turnbull enjoys musical theatre and working for Apple.
Sewtz instructs French II, III, VI and V. She attended Univerisities in New York. She lives with her husband and has two older daughters. Mrs. Swetz sings in two choirs and enjoys traveling and reading.
n.Brigid Mayer directs the Orchestra at OE as well as PT. She graduated from Ohio State. Her family includes her husband, son and daughter. Mrs. Mayer enjoys playing viola and playing with her kids.
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opinion
september 2008
The
Phelps
Phenomenon Michael Phelps is a beast. Fact. Yet despite breaking the record for amount of gold medals won in one Olympics, Michael Phelps also competed in the wrong Olympics; he should have been swimming in the superhero Olympics. Shame, really- fans lamented over the fact that Mr. Phelps did not get to square off against long time rivals Aquaman, The Little Mermaid, and that fish-frog thing in lane five. But regardless of which Olympics he was swimming in, Phelps tore up the pool. And with his eight newest medals, Mr. Phelps brought with him a newfound surge in popularity for the sport of swimming. Swimming, as a sport, tends to get overshadowed by some of the flashier sports out there. Admittedly, it doesn’t lend itself well to highlight reels, seeing as some of the faster events take less time than the actual reels themselves. But this year, instead of playing second fiddle to track and field, swimming was America’s favorite Olympic event. More than 31.7 million viewers tuned in to see Mr. Phelps and his teammates’ demonstration of excellence. Chuck Norris jokes were converted to Michael Phelps ones, autographs were signed, one British ex-Olympian was swarmed by picture wanting Chinese citizens who mistook for him the man himself, and wet, half-clad and shaven men became national icons. But Phelps is not your average wet, half-clad and shaven man; he’s America’s gold medal picking, improbably fast swimming, multiple race winning, wet, half-clad and shaven hero. Oh, and he’s also ripped, which apparently girls like. But after all, it’s a history making affair; No one had ever won more than eight gold medals in a single Olympics before. No one, that is, until Michael Phelps. And seeing this spirited young
“But Phelps is not your average wet, half clad shaven man; he’s America’s gold medal picking, improbably fast swimming, multiple race winning, wet, half-clad and shaven hero.”
[peter du]
man strive to break records captivated America. People young and old alike sweated in anticipation for the races, they bit their nails as the water was churned and gave howls of approval when the first to finish the race were none other than Michael Phelps and the United States swimming teams. An NBC reporter said it best; those guys were “rock stars.” And who knows, maybe some of this excitement may translate over to the Olathe East men and women’s swim team later this year. After a close loss at State last semester by a mere two points, the men’s team is now poised for a state championship. The team, spearheaded by Joe Knight, Cristopher Smith, and Austin Acheson, the “Super Sophomores,” who after two years of hard work are now “Super Seniors,” has the potential to make a good year for the Hawks as well as for Mr. Phelps. As it stands for now, move over Chuck Norris- it’s Mr. Phelps who teaches salmon to swim upstream.
Phelps Phacts Michael is the holder of a whopping 27 U.S. National Titles.
Michae Phelps had three TVs and an Xbox installed in his Escalade.
When you Google “most amazing person alive,” Google says “Did you mean Michael Phelps?” * Photos from wsj.net
*not a real fact
opinion CHMITZ
the hawk’s eye
S
z] mit
Sch n Be
9
[
and
GRINS
Melanie, The Olympics, and Me I have recently discovered a friend. From August 8 until August 24, the comfy couch in my living room served as a sort of makeshift dwelling for my backside and I. During that seventeen-day time span, those cushions received more love than Tom Brady on Sundays, the Red Sox in October, and the sport of lacrosse ever. Melanie (yeah, that’s right, I named a piece of furniture) and I bonded for hours on end. Whether it was early in the morning, right after lunch, or late at night, she was there for me. But more, importantly, WE were there for the 2008 Olympics. WE were there for America. Approximately ten years ago, Melanie was delivered to the Schmitz household. Although she did not yet have a name, anybody and their dog could tell this sofa was special. Unique. Different. But after the first couple of months, this new addition to the home started getting ignored. She was situated in a very boring part of the house, a room with a loveseat, a piano, an armoire, and a used-once-ayear fireplace as company. And none of these pieces came to life and sang tunes like Beauty of the Beast. Melanie was forgotten. Out of sight, out of mind the saying goes. This went on for about eight years… until that fateful day. In the winter of 2005, Santa brought the greatest present/friend a middleaged couch could ever ask for. Jolly old Saint Nick introduced a 52-inch
“
high definition television to the family, and the perfect place to put it was, you guessed it, across the room from Melanie. Because of the new attraction, her pillows were now consistently fluffed, a luxury no other chair or bed in the house enjoyed. This is the time Melanie and I became close. Even though Lady Homework consumed most of my life, the new favorite couch was where I spent early mornings on the weekend, watching SportsCenter. Again, we drifted ways eventually, only to be reunited on August 8. I have never before paid attention to the Olympics. The medal count chart in the Kansas City Star was as close as I ever got. This time around was
I felt like a woman waiting for the newest episode of Grey’s Anatomy
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different. There were storylines that would prove impossible to disregard. So, I took a risk and began by viewing the Opening Ceremonies. I was stunned. The lights, the pictures, the tradition. The world had never seen anything like it. 15,000 performers and a reported cost of $100 million, the show was simply amazing. Melanie was impressed, too. Day by day, we continued to grow closer to each other. We watched as Michael Phelps won his first gold medal at these Olympics in the 400m IM. And, of course, we didn’t miss his seven other finals races that went SWIMmingly (sorry, couldn’t resist!) Mel was under me as I fidgeted like a woman waiting for the newest
episode of Grey’s Anatomy whenever Jamaican sprinter Usain “Lightning” Bolt backed into the blocks. She was there for the screams of awe when he finished each event, as well. She got jealous as I constantly drooled over the American gymnastics trio of Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Alicia Sacramone. She questioned my incessant watching of “insignificant” sports such as handball, water polo, shooting, and ping-pong. Countless matches of volleyball were viewed by us, beach and indoor. We shared a moment when the U.S. women’s soccer team edged out the Brazilians and the men’s basketball team out-toughed the Spaniards. We both felt heartbroken for the United State’s softball team, multiple relay teams that dropped the baton, and for any diver that wasn’t Chinese. We witnessed every fall, every crash, every cried tear, every Morgan Freemannarrated inspirational commercial, every high, and every low. As the Closing Ceremonies came to an end, and a two-year countdown until the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver began, I reflected on the past two and a half weeks. Would I change anything, you ask? Not a chance. I switched off the T.V. and headed in the direction of my bedroom. Suddenly, my feet stopped. I thought about returning to my friend Melanie in order to fluff her pillows one last time. But then again, I’ll be with her soon enough… It’s football season.
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september 2008
opinion
Brett Crawford ’s
What To Do About:
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School
Things will get slow at times, but no one wants to hear about how much you
Summer came. And then it went. Simple as that. Along with the seasons, we also change. Our free time becomes shorter, and our work loads heavier. No longer can we sleep in til noon, and have breakfast at one in the afternoon. Our morning rituals begin when the sun starts to peek over the horizon, and not when it’s high in the sky. The new school year ushers in a throng of new opportunities, and with that, everything most of us have known for the past three months goes away. Going back to school isn’t all sad though. Meeting new people, seeing old friends, it’s all a change of pace. It just depends upon how fast you get back into the groove of the ed-u-ma-cation-al lifestyle. Maybe you made a few bad decisions this summer, or maybe you changed your lifestyle a bit. Either way, you’re back in class, from eight to three every Monday through Friday. It’s always hard adjusting back into the school year. Take it from me, as a senior, it definitely stinks having to give up all the freedoms that go along with summertime, but things get better over time. Just like the saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.” That is assuming however, that going back to school constitutes a “wound” of sorts. After a while, it’s almost comforting to know that you’ll have something to do for the majority of the day, as opposed to sitting around
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despise your third hour.
your house all day watching re-runs of The Love Boat and snacking on some Cheezits. I understand that your classes may (and probably will) get boring as the year goes on, but trust me, you’ll be thankful in the long run. Aside from all the sentimental, cry-youreyes-out reminiscing about summer, here’s a few tips to get you through the transitory period of the beginning of the year: - Don’t hate on school. Things will get slow at times, but no one wants to hear you complain about how much you despise your third hour. - Don’t talk bad about teachers. Face it, you’re stuck with them for the rest of the semester (if not the whole year) and at this point you probably can’t switch out. - Do your homework, or at least do most of it. Homework, although time-consuming and pointless to some, can really help a falling grade. Even partial credit is better than just plain not doing it. - Use class time well. It’s easier to get all your work done in class instead of getting home with it and realizing you have no idea how to find the square root of ax squared times eighty billion to the ninth, and wishing, “Why, oh why didn’t I pay attention in Mr. So and So’s class today?” - Keep your cell phone out of sight. I know you want to text all of your friends who you hung out with over the summer, but if you
get caught with your phone out, you’ll just get it taken away. Then you’ll be even more upset that you’re back in school. (and besides, with the new school policies, I’m pretty sure the administration will throw your confiscated phone into the bottomless pit of doom) - Lastly, if you’re having an extremely hard time adjusting to school again, just wait it out and get over it. School is inevitable. If you don’t go, the lovely ladies in the attendance office will smother your house in phone calls, inquiring to your parents as to where the heck you are, and why you aren’t in class. Then your parents just get mad at you and you have an even worse day at school. So just bite your lip and go to class. It gets better as the year goes on. I know that the things said here don’t apply to everyone, and those extremely cool kids will say, “Heh, my old man doesn’t care if I go to class or not.” Then so be it Mr. Awesome, but don’t rub it in the rest of our faces. Also, there are the select few students who actually enjoy coming to school. I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous, but they’re out there. So if my words have helped you, then that’s great. If not, I’m sorry, and better luck next time. I’m just writing for the common working student. Because that’s what I am, and that’s who I care about.
news a day in the life:
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the hawk’s eye
AmericanIdol [emily fiore]
KC AUDITIONS 08’
A calm Wednesday morning just like any other. The quiet August sun rises above the bustle and noise of the early morning commute. The day passes in a slow blur for most of Kansas City. Only for a crowd of about 20,000 did this day go by any different. These are the American Idol hopefuls. The Hawk’s Eye had the chance to sit down with Alex Johnson, a junior and American Idol hopeful, and listened to his play by play of the American Idol auditions. Wednesday morning was registration day. Anyone who wanted to audition needed a seat ticket and a wristband. Alex arrived at 8 a.m. and received a ticket for 3 PM auditions on Friday. Friday: Alex arrived at 4 a.m. to a welcoming whir of
Eva, a sweet, friendly brunette, has seemed to blend effortlessly into life here in Olathe, KS, far away from her hometown of Guggenberg, Germany. Her host family includes two little sisters and two dogs, with whom she has really enjoyed spending her time. She has visited a wide variety of countries, (USA, Austria, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Norway, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Malta, Portugal, and Tunisia,) and in spite of speaking German, English, French, and a little bit of Spanish, Eva Lang closely resembles the students here at Olathe East High School. Sure, she has never seen a football game, at least, in the way Americans think of it. Football in Germany is actually soccer, and Eva eagerly anticipates the Olathe East Hawks football season. Her favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate, which is easily a majority among students, and
news cameras and microphones. After 7 a.m., the massive line of people was brought to the front side of Kemper Arena where an aerial camera flew above the crowd and took footage for the Kansas City audition episode. After that, the group was separated into four lines that slowly fed into the arena.
Only the bare essentials were allowed inside, a cell phone and the necessary legal papers. Within an hour of “making camp” at a group of folding chairs in the stands, only a few hundred seats on the top deck remained empty. Overpriced vendors sold lunch items to the crowd. 10:45 rolled around and auditions began. Large tables were lined up where groups of producers sat and judged the fifteen seconds of song that each person would sing. After two hours of steady auditions, the line came to a halt. Ryan Seacrest arrived and the whole mass had to take pictures with him. Auditions resumed soon after, and it was finally Alex’s turn. As he walked toward the table, he handed the assistants is liability and press forms, and lined up with three other people
right: Alex and Distance, a woman he met at the auditions. below: Alex and Alisha Morris (senior) who also auditioned.
for his chance. Alex sang “God Must’ve Spent a Little More Time on You” by ‘Nsync. After the audition, the producers talked for a few minutes and brought everyone forward and gave the classic, “Sorry you’re not what we are looking for this season.” High hopes remain for Alex however, “We weren’t disappointed because David Archuleta and Jordin Sparks didn’t make it through their first time either, so we still have a chance.”
Guten Tag, [emma brockschmidt]
America
Eva Lang travels from Germany to Kansas for her what, exactly, was her favorite sophomore year at Olathe East thing to watch during the 2008 Olympics? “Gymnastics.” Eva has, however, traveled quite a long way from home, arriving at about midnight the very night before school started (You know, the time when the rest of us were finishing our summer homework?) and admits that missing her friends and family is the hardest part of being in the United States. Merely a sophomore, she describes herself effortlessly: “clumsy, stubborn, intuitive.” It’s nice to have you here at Olathe
East, Eva, and we hope your year is awesome. Fantastico Magnifique. Fantastisch. Etc, etc.
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september 2008
SUMMER
2008
backpage POLITICS
BARACK OBAMA SEIZES DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION [eric yarns]
[emily fogle]
SUMMER OLYMPICS MICHAEL PHELPS CLENCHES OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL RECORD
CONFLICT
RUSSIA INVADES FORMER SOVIET SATELLITE OF GEORGIA
ENTERTAINMENT THE DARK KNIGHT BREAKS BOX
OFFICE SALES RECORDS
OLYMPIC GAMES
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OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
RECORD AUGUST 17. 2008
ENTERTAINMENT JULY 18. 2008 Fueled by talk of Heath Ledger’s tragic death, moviegoers flooded the cinemas to see The Dark Knight. The movie reeled in $18 million dollars through the midnight showings alone.
RUSSIA INVADES FORMER SOVIET SATELLITE OF
GEORGIA
AUGUST 17. 2008 Michael Phelps broke the Olympic world record by earning eight gold medals in a single Olympic games, a record previously set by Mark Spitz in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
LOVE CALIFORNIA LEGALIZES
GAY MARRIAGE
BARACK OBAMA DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JUNE 07 . 2008
POLITICS JUNE 07. 2008
Hillary Clinton ended her campaign and endorsed Barack Obama, making him the presumptive Democratic nominee.
CALIFORNIA LEGALIZES GAY
MARRIAGE JUNE 17 . 2008
AUGUST 11. 2008
CONFLICT AUGUST 11. 2008
The former Soviet satellite of Georgia was invaded by Russia, an act condemned by the United Nations and the United States. President George Bush expressed his concern to Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladmir Putin, during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. A cease fire agreement was established and then quickly broken by Russia’s further surge into Georgian territory.
LOVE
JUNE 17. 2008 California legalized gay marriage; marriage licenses in that state now list couples as “Party A” and “Party B” instead of the traditional “bride” and “groom”.