Issue 7

theharbinger » » » NEWS: Students held up at knifepoint » PAGE 2

FEATURES: ATV accidents result in bad injuries » PAGE 16

ISSUE SEVEN nov. 26, 2007 shawnee mission east prairie village, ks

SPORTS: Royals off-season report » PAGE 24

playing for the

» karenboomer

PAYOFF

Recent study shows increase in teen gambling as sports betting gains popularity among students

I

BY

» stephennichols

n less than 48 hours, he was down $175. In one weekend East student Wilson Rayner* watched as he lost the nine bets he had made on college and professional football games. He tried to win it all back on one game, Sunday Night Football,

Colts vs. Chargers. He picked wrong. “It just kept getting worse for me,” Rayner said. Rayner’s situation reflects a growing trend of teenage gambling, most recently researched by The New York State Office of Alcoholism and

Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). Their newest study shows that out of 5,800 students from the New York area, 10 percent experienced problem gambling in 2006. Another 72 percent had gambled in the past year.

*name witheld upon student request

» story continued on page 11

AJOB dangerous

Incident at Foo’s marks possible increase in robberies during holiday season BY

me, I thought, ‘Oh my God.’” In the past month, both Foo’s and Baskin-Robbins, located at 76th and State Line Road, have experienced armed robberies. On Nov. 9, Baskin Robbins had a robbery similar to Foo’s, where two men, one armed with a handgun, demanded money from the safe and cash register. In both incidents, nobody was hurt. And as the holiday season approaches, the possibilities for robberies of business increases, according to local authorities. The man with the knife started walking towards the cash register, towards Bolanovich. “Open the register,” the man said. The building that Foo’s is in is old, and at the time had no panic button. Even though Bolanovich was close to the phone, there was nothing he could do but comply. “I told him to open it,” Bolanovich said. “I kept telling him, ‘push no sale, push no sale.’ He started pushing buttons and once he got it open started taking the money.” Meanwhile, the other man was aiming a gun at Peter. “Put your hands up,” he told them. Bolanovich thinks the incident may have been the two men’s first time robbing a store, as they both appeared nervous. “The guy’s hands were shaking, and he dropped the drawer on the floor,” Bolanovich said. “Then the two ran out.” Five minutes after it had started, the ordeal was over. “At first I was in shock,” Bolanovich said. “But afterwards I was shaking.” Bolanovich called the police after the two left. “The cops came right away,” Bolanovich said. “They had a dog and tried to follow them, and since it was an armed robbery they had a helicopter.” The robbers got away with $300. They have not been found. Despite the robbery, Bolanovich still works at Foo’s. “A lot of people asked me, ‘Are you still going to work there?’” Bolanovich said. “But I love working there and you just have to be more alert.” After the robbery, Foo’s employee junior Maddy Weast’s parents felt that she shouldn’t work at nights. “When they found out they didn’t think it was safe,” Weast said. Now, however, the security officer that normally patrols the Brookside area stops in at Foo’s to talk with the employees to check and on them. Bolanovich stresses that the situation shouldn’t give people the wrong message about Brookside. “It could have happened to anyone,” Bolanovich said. “People shouldn’t be afraid to come here.” But the question still remains as to why the two robbers decided to come in that night. “I have no idea why anyone would rob Foo’s,” Weast said “It wouldn’t be worth it to rob it in the winter. I think it was just some kid being dumb, not intentionally aiming at anyone.” Bolanovich thinks that they two may have been waiting and watching. “They were probably waiting for when no one was

Photo illustration by » norasalle

NEWS

2

» paigecornwell

Oct. 17 was a slow day at Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard in Brookside. Because it was cold, no one wanted ice cream. Junior Sam Bolanovich, who has worked there for two years, remembers only a few customers. Then at 9 p.m., when Bolanovich was sitting against the wall talking to his two coworkers, Peter and John, two men walked in. Both were wearing black head to toe: black jeans, black long-sleeved shirts. One had a black ski mask on his head, the other, a pair of panty hose, according to Bolanovich. The one in the ski mask held up a gun. “Where’s the money?” he asked. It was close to Halloween, and there had been parades and parties around Brookside where people had dressed up. Bolanovich thought it might be a joke. “Are you kidding me?” Peter asked. “No,” the man with the ski masked said. The other man took out a knife. “At first it didn’t hit me, because I thought the two might be in costume,” Bolanovich said. “But when it hit

there,” Bolanovich said. “We were the only store on the block open.” The incident at Baskin-Robbins was similar. At 9:44 p.m., police responded to a phone call from the ice cream shop where employees say that two men entered the facility, one armed with a gun, while one forced an employee to a safe and the other forced an employee to open the cash register, according to The Kansas City Star. The two got away with an undetermined amount of money, and have not been found. Though both incidents may have been random, they could also be the start of an increase in robberies, which tend to occur around the holiday season, according to Officer Dan Robles. “Most criminal activity increases around the holiday season including robberies of businesses, burglaries to homes and thefts from automobiles,” Robles said. Robles believes this may be because of the increase in people shopping. “Part of the reason for the increase is businesses are doing more sales so they have more money on hand and people are carrying more money for shopping and other holiday activities,” Robles said. But for Prairie Village, the possibility of an increase is not a problem. Security at the Country Club Plaza, however, plans to increase precautions this season, according to Archie Dinwiddie, assistant director of security. “There usually is an increase nationwide, and we make adjustments to our routines,” Dinwiddie said. Each store on the Country Club Plaza, including Urban Outfitters, Coach and the Apple Store, have their own procedures for when a crime occurs in their store. “When it comes to thefts, the stores are at their own liberty,” Dinwiddie said. “But if there is a problem, we will help them.” Usually, there are no specific businesses robbers target. “Targets a robber may choose are diverse,” Robles said. “[But] they try to take advantage of businesses and people who may not be crime prevention aware or are just chosen as a random target by the bad guy to rob, steal or harm.” Dinwiddie stresses that the most significant way to prevent such a situation from happening, when working or otherwise, is to realize that it could happen. “The best thing people can do is • Greet customers as they enter be aware of their by looking them in the eye. This s u r ro u n d i n g s,” sends the message to the person Dinwiddie said. entering the facility that they have been recognized. “Robberies hap• Have at least two people prespen when people ent to close and open the store. aren’t expecting • Be alert to customers who it.”

ROBBERY PREVENTION

come into a store and linger without making purchases or shopping. • No unidentified customer or person should be allowed to enter the store after closing.

source: retailindustrynetwork.com

news BRIEFS

Orchestra Concert The winter orchestra concert is Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

SHARE Packages NAHS Art Auction The NAHS art auction “Season of Love” is Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The auction is in the cafeteria. All NAHS members will feature a piece of artwork to be sold.

Order forms for SHARE packages are due Dec. 7. SHARE packages cost $10 per student. Please make checks payable to SME SHARE. Order forms are available in the front office, the SHARE office (room 404) and online at www.smeshare.org. Packages will not be delivered, but may be picked up in the SHARE office Dec. 12-14.

Early Dismissal There will be an early dismissal Dec. 6. School gets out at 1:45 p.m.

Superintendent Forum A community forum to identify the characteristics for the new superintendent the board of education is currently seeking is today at 7 p.m. in the South cafeteria and tomorrow at 7 p.m. at McEachen Administrative Center, 7235 Antioch. Complete and bring the Leadership Profile Assessment form to the forum. The assessments can be found at www. smsd.org

Senior Wins Science Award Senior Nandini Sarma won the top individual prize out of 1600 students at the regional finals of the 2007-08 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology at the University of Notre Dame for her research on the herpes simplex virus. Sarma won a $3000 scholarship as part of her prize. She will compete at the national finals in New York against the winners from the five other regional competitions.

» devino’bryan

Next year, ongoing construction will make East look like an entirely different school. But rumors about how construction will affect students this year have been circulating, and Principal Dr. Susan Swift says most of them are untrue. Construction and renovations will begin as soon as students get out of school for summer and last about 18 months, though the exact dates are still tentative. Not much actual work is being done this year, so students won’t be affected until next school year. However, there will be no summer weights and gifted programs since there can’t be any people in the building when they work on electricity and plumbing. Dr. Swift says the rumor that seniors won’t get out earlier than other students isn’t true. Seniors will still be released about a week earlier than everyone else, though the exact dates are still unknown. Swift says there will still be some kind of play and other performing arts concerts next year, but the location where these will be held is currently unknown. “It will give the drama department a chance to be creative,” she said. Swift says some faculty and staff have expressed concerns about construction causing distractions

next year. “Besides the parking issues, workers will have equipment around the building,” she said. “There will be noise and the workers can stir up dust. Everyone will have to be flexible. You don’t really have a choice.” Despite these concerns, Swift says the end result will be worthwhile. After construction is complete, East will have renovated science, art and FACS classrooms, public restrooms, auditorium, locker rooms and hallways. There will be also be new additions like an auxiliary gym, four classrooms on the north end of the building, a new debate room, two new music rooms and new weights and dance rooms. The exact plans and layout for the construction and renovations are still pending approval, but Swift is already anticipating a great result. “The building will have a wonderful feel,” Swift said. “We’ll have something so nice at the end all the trouble will be worthwhile. It will bring the building into the 21st century.”

School

Project description

Completion Date

Shawnee Mission North

The existing stadium was demolished and a new stadium was built.

The project is complete

Shawnee Mission East

Infrastructure improvements included plumbing upgrades and repairs

The project is complete

Shawnee Mission South

The project includes updates to the library, performing arts. athletics and public restroom areas. Additions include a main gymnasium lobby; auxiliary gym; wrestling room and locker rooms.

Construction has been completed. A project to address an elevator upgrade is pending future completion.

Shawnee Mission West

The scope of work includes science lab renovations; a classroom addition including art, family and consumer science, drama, and music performance components; auditorium renovations; and auxiliary gymnasium addition

Construction is underway and is expected to continue through the summer of 2008.

Shawnee Mission The scope of work includes Northwest renovation improvements to the science classrooms, performing arts areas, public restrooms, art classrooms and locker facilities.

Construction will begin in the spring of 2008 with completion of all construction expected in the summer of 2009.

All schools

Each school received a complete mobile lab consisting of 32 notebook computers installed on two Datamation carts, two personal laser printers, two wireless printer servers and access points to connect the stations to the network.

»all photos by norasalle

All school buildings have access points permanently installed. Additional mobile labs and notebook computers were deployed to each building during the most recent technology upgrade project.

» courtesy of www.smsd.org

BY

Clearing up the rubble

The construction is being funded by a $184 million bond project that was set into motion in April 2004. It has funded many of East’s and other high school’s expenses. These expenses include 150 capital projects throughout the district and below are a few of the projects that the bond funds.

NEWS

3

After many rumors about The early releases due to con- Shawnee Mission struction, administration is bond project

IB program comes to Shawnee Mission Northwest BY

» bernadettemyers and devino’bryan

Junior Edie Cao lives in Shawnee. Eight miles from East and a 20 minute drive across the city. For Cao, this drive tends to be a little difficult, especially when she’s driving to school at 6:15 am in pitch black darkness. Cao is an IB student who attends Theory of Knowledge every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before school and stays after almost every day for debate. Cao transferred her freshman year to East in order to participate in IB. “I heard it was a good program in middle school and I though, why not,” Cao said. Cao was originally in the Northwest district and even though she went to middle school in the Northwest area, she didn’t have a problem leaving her district. Now, however, she faces the long commute. “It’s a pain to have to get up an extra half an hour, but you get used to it after three years,” Cao said. “Now I have to get up at 5:30 am, because of my zero hour Theory of Knowledge class.” This commute will eventually be irrelevant for prospective IB students in other districts because Northwest is preparing to offer the IB program for students next year at their school. Last week, IB officials came to the school to examine the school and talk with the IB coordinator designate at Northwest, Bill Sanderson. According to Sanderson, the superintendent wanted every school to have a signature program and Northwest was presented with options including the IB program.

“The faculty was presented with it and as a group we decided to go with IB,” Sanderson said. “It was really a decision of both the school and the district.” Rebecca Murphy, IB coordinator at East, thinks the signature programs at schools really benefit the students. “It’s what is unique about our district,” she said. “We try to find a lot of ways to meet the needs of a lot of different kids. It makes the district more attractive for students.” Right now, 120 freshmen and 50 sophomores are enrolled in pre-IB classes and around 16 students have transferred to Northwest and plan to enroll in IB. Some students may find the program at Northwest more convenient, but Murphy has no fears that it will take away from the program at East. “This isn’t a competition,” she said. “It’s about making the right programs available for the right kids.” The program at Northwest would not differ much from East’s program except that students will be offered not only History of the Americas, but also a European history IB course. Also, Northwest won’t offer IB courses in theater arts. However, according to Sanderson, the goal is to add classes as the program goes on. For example, the school wants to add an IB dance class eventually. Though there are a few differences in the programs, Cao feels that an IB program at Northwest is unneces-

sary. “There is no point in having two IB schools in the same district,” Cao said. “Also they don’t have established qualified teachers to teach the IB curriculum.” While Cao isn’t enthusiastic, both Sanderson and Murphy are excited to get both the schools involved together. “It’s great that the district tries to find ways to meet the needs of a lot of different kids,” Murphy said. Both coordinators are considering having a pizza party at Northwest in the spring where IB students from East come to talk to Northwest students who enrolled. “We had good attendance at our information, but no one really knows what the program is except for students and teachers at East,” Sanderson said. The East IB program has been in place since 1994 and Sanderson wants to draw from this experience. While there are difficulties in getting the program started, Sanderson still feels that it is the right thing to do. “I’ve been a teacher and a principal and this program is the only program I’ve seen that offers kids opportunities to do something different and outside of the box,” Sanderson said. “Things like the extended essay and CAS [Creativity, Action and Service] hours allow students to pursue whatever their interested in and it’s really unique.”

issue

7

NEWS

4

Programming champions Programming team shows excellence in annual High School Programming Contest BY

»

landonmcdonald

Some East students speak Spanish as a second language. Others converse in French or study Latin. But what about the language of computers? It’s a language that the East Programming Teams speak fluently. And now they’ve got the awards to prove it. On Nov. 7, after four months of preparation and practice in their Java classes, the teams competed and placed in the 16th Annual KSU High School Programming Contest. Two advanced teams took second, another advanced team took fifth, and the beginning team, the Fiery Dragons of Thor, took second in their category. East was the only high school to place twice in the top three. Junior Young Hou, who’s in his third year of Java and is a member of the IO Exception Advanced Team, was impressed by how well the contest went. “It was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to show how much we’ve improved over the last few months,” Hou said. “We knew the South Raiders and Northwest teams were really good, so we reviewed and practiced all we could before going.” The contest, which was open to all high school students statewide who have access to their own laptops, pitted teams of up to four against each other in various programming challenges. There were six problems in all, each with a 25 minute time limit. The problems were all math and physics-based and got progressively more complex as they went on. “Almost everyone got the first three questions right,” freshman Spencer Brown, a Thor member, said. “Then it got a lot harder. KSU had messed up on a few of the questions, so nobody got those.

We were happy to do as well as we did.” Since both novices and advanced students were competing, there was a beginning division and a more difficult division for third and fourth year students. Brown remembers being surprised and satisfied with the results. “After working so hard and reviewing packets all this time, it’s really nice to see it pay off,” he said. “The competition from other Kansas schools was really fierce, but we pulled through. Everybody on the team contributed to us doing well. I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition. I bet we’ll do even better.” For Java team founder and coach Deb Pontier, the success was just the program’s latest payoff. “I started taking students to these tournaments ten years ago and it’s always interesting to see how well they do,” Pontier says. “About 70 percent of the students who participate in these tournaments go on to careers or at least college degrees in computer science, so it’s important for them to get ahead of the game now.” Sophomore Jack Walker, a member of the Thor team, might pursue computer science. “I might consider going into a computer based job of some kind, so it’s nice to a head start,” he said. “I know I’ll keep going to these tournaments and taking the class. It’s become a pretty big part of my life in high school so far.” Walker and his peers will get another chance to show their skills again soon. The next tournament is in February at Missouri State University.

the KSU competition Officially called the 16th Annual KSU High School Programming Contest and took place Nov. 7 East teams placed second and fifth in the advanced category and second in the beginning category Contest consisted of six, 25-minute problems which got progressively more complex

Getting stuck with the flu BY

» rachelbirkenmeier

Headache, fever, chills, muscle aches and dry cough: all signs of the flu. So, to keep from getting sick, we turn to the flu shot. At one point in time, the flu vaccination could only be given as a shot, but now it can also be given through the nose, giving more people the opportunity to stay healthy throughout the winter months. The flu shot is a vaccine that contains three different types of dead viruses, and should be given around the months of October and November. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu shot is 70 to 90 percent

26 nov.

2007

3

places for flu vaccinations

»renli

Flu season prompts students and parents to worry about illness

effective in people under the age of 85. Sophomore Lyndsey Riley has been getting flu shots for as long as she can remember. Riley gets sick more often than other people because her immune system is weaker than most peoples. “My doctor said it would be a good idea for me to get it,” said Riley. “Overall, the shot does keep me from getting sick.” The flu shot is not recommended for teenagers, because their immune systems are stronger. “I don’t like needles and I don’t think it is necessary for anyone to get the [flu] shot,” junior Thomas Pucket said.

“Unless they are very young children, older people or people that don’t handle sickness well.” In 2004, there was a shortage of flu vaccinations due to the shutting down of the second largest flu vaccination supplier, Chiron Corp. The vaccine was only suggested for elderly people and young children. “I think kids who have chronic health conditions should get the flu shot,” said Susan Varner, the school nurse. “Do I recommend it, no, it’s a parent’s decision.” Another method of receiving the

Leawood Family Care 11301 Ash, Leawood, KS

Hy-vee

7711 State Line Rd, MO

vaccine is LAIV or FluMist. FluMist was first introduced in 2003. It is a gentle mist that is sprayed into the nose and is needlefree. According to the FluMist official Web site, it is 92 percent effective in helping to stop the flu. FluMist contains weakened live flu viruses, and is not recommended for people with weak immune systems. A few days after receiving the vaccine or FluMist, minor side effects maybe include soreness where the arm was injected, itching and slight fever. The flu shot may be received at any doctors’ office.

Hen House

6950 Mission Ln, Prairie Village, KS

NEWS

LUNCH CARD LOCKDOWN

5

Seniors arriving late from open lunch are met by Dr. Mersch and the tardy policy BY

» mikehake should be done. “He told me that [my students] need to get back on time,” Scott Dowis, Financial Management teacher, said. “Or else he would have to take their open lunch privileges away.” Possible consequences for multiple tardies are revoking open lunch privileges for 10 to 20 days and, eventually, for the remainder of the school year. The policy would be similar to one used over a decade ago at East. “The reason I show disdain is because it appears that a lot of students don’t care about being on time,” Mersch said. “It’s a privilege and not a right for seniors, and the administration reserves the right to withhold that right.”

Every afternoon, East seniors run the marathon that is open lunch. Go home or to a fast food restaurant, stop for gas, come back to school, find a parking spot and try to make it from senior lot back to class before the bell rings. All in 25 minutes. But when an increasing number of seniors fail to make it back on time, the administration is forced to take action. Assistant Principal Dr. Ronald Mersch, is one has begun to take action. “I’m a little more creative with my discipline,” said Mersch. “To be able to pull [a student’s] open lunch privileges is kind of a cool thing.” After a large number of seniors began to consistently come back late from lunch, Mersch took notice and felt something

THE PUNISHMENTS

1st Tardy: Teacher Discretion 2nd Tardy: Teacher Discretion 3rd Tardy: Teacher Detention 4th Tardy: Friday School 5th Tardy: In-School Suspension » tylerroste

about NoA recap of the debate team’s success thisit year

DEBATE BY

What’s happening in debate? Clair Finke/John Luther tied for first at the Topeka West JV Tournament

» renli

OCT. 26-27: Dana Leib/Nick Carothers and NOV. 9-10: The Novices placed third

in Sweeps at the SM West Tournament

Nov. 16-19: Michael Perbeck/Danny

Mapes placed fourth out of 190 teams at the Glenbrooks Speech & Debate Tournament

»

megshackelford

The debate squad had a very successful season. This year’s squad consisted of 90 novice debaters and 60 advanced debaters, 10 of whom are seniors. Most of the advanced team is made up of the two-year debaters. It will be left to them and the third year debaters to take the place of the leaving seniors, two of them—seniors Michael Perbeck and Danny Mapes— having received two bids to compete in a Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky this past weekend. “Even though I won’t be here next year, I know that the third years will be very good leaders,” assistant coach Trey Witt said. “The second year debaters have done very well this year. They are very energetic.” The debate team as a whole was very successful this year, taking home a First Place in Sweepstakes at a Saint Thomas Aquinas tournament. The novices even snagged a First Place Sweepstakes at a Bishop Miege tournament as well.

The whole squad got along just fine without having a steady coach due to Paulette Manville leaving last year and coach Jennifer Hunter on maternity leave. “We had a lot of assistant coaches helping out and Ms. Mountjoy was a good replacement teacher too,” Perbeck said. “She had some previous experience teaching debate at North so I think it was a good fit.” Witt adds that the seniors have all contributed differently, whether it being mentoring the novices or showing leadership qualities through their mentorship. “Even though they are very successful, that’s not what we’ll miss,” Witt said. “The one thing I think we need to improve on for next year is our communication to incorporate everyone into the squad.” The biggest goal the team of Perbeck and Mapes had was to get the files made for all of the

novices early and their own as well. “Getting all the filing done before a tournament really helped Danny and me to be prepared,” Perbeck said. The team is still moving forward, keeping their eyes on NFL, a national qualifying tournament and State, which is a familiar place for them with having teams qualify nearly every year. This year it will take place in Garden City in January and it will be a very difficult tournament, according to Witt. Only four teams can qualify, and the selected teams are those of seniors Patrick Kennedy and Danielle Lipsman, seniors Brad Crist and Ross Ringer, sophomores Emily Halter and Sara Sears and sophomores Claire Finke and Tara Raghuveer. “This year the NFL, or National Forensic League, named our squad 11th in the nation based on our size and our success,” Witt said. “I think it’s one of our biggest achievements this year.”

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Kansas should adopt a bill similar to D.C.’s that restricts cell phone use for all drivers

»

LETTER EDITOR

EDITORIAL

Dropping all calls

7

Each year there are nearly 2,600 deaths and more. impaired as drivers with a blood alcohol 330,00 injuries related to cell phone distractions Of course cell phones aren’t the only content level of 0.08 percent. They tested in cars. To combat this, 17 states and the District distractions in this picture. Drivers can also be both handheld and hand free cell phones and In an editorial that of Columbia have passed legislation that restricts seen juggling food, CDs and makeup while they found there was no difference, showing that was recently published cell phone use for novice drivers, those between steer, so who is to say that a bill would help solve the distraction was in the conversation, not in the Harbinger, you the ages of 16 and 17. the holding of the phone. This mental mentioned that SHARE Recently California and 11 distraction causes reaction rates to did not have a selfother states began debating decrease by 18 percent according to defense program. We whether or not similar bills Live Science. wanted to let you know should be passed in their All of this evidence supports the how SHARE works when states to prevent accidents. need for cell phones to be taken out of it comes to adding new Kansas needs to join the driver’s hands; however, it is unfair for programs. SHARE is a fight against multi-tasking states to only subject teenage drivers to student-led organization, drivers and pass an anti-cell these laws. While teenage drivers may which means we only phone bill for drivers too. lack the experience of older drivers, add new programs States that pass legislation they have nature’s advantage of youth. when a student comes restricting cell phone use As adults age, their reaction rates in and suggests that they target only teenage drivers. decrease. In Wisconsin this problem would like to lead a new However, these laws should was recognized: in 2004, adults over program. We, the Execs, be applied universally to all the age of 65 caused 15 percent of all totally agree that a selfdrivers. By only including accidents that were caused by one defense program would novice drivers in these unable to react quickly in a situation be terrific, not only for bills, stereotypes are being on the road. The Legislation Reference students, but for staff and reinforced that teenagers are Bureau published a letter requesting parents. If anyone would immature and irresponsible. mandatory tests for older drivers as like to take charge of In reality, all drivers lose 14 other states, such as Arizona, had developing a self-defense attention when they try to already requested. program, please come to » renli juggle their cell phone and Adults can’t rely on their experience SHARE and we’ll support driving, whether 17- or on the road to validate their reasons for you in every way we can. 50- years-old. using cell phones as drivers. They lose On average, states peripheral vision and reaction rate as - The SHARE Execs that enforce these laws they age, making it more difficult for fine drivers seen on cell them to multi-task. According to Live phones $20 for their Science, when a 20-year-old drives first offense and $50 while using a cell phone, they have The majority opinion of the Harbinger Editorial Board the reaction rate of a 70 year old. for subsequent offenses. If Kansas were to adopt a Imagine how slow the reaction rate of dollar fine for offenders policy similar to this one, the fine should be a problem of multi-tasking in drivers? an 50 year old would be if they drove while using 20 greater. Police can only pull over drivers who are Eating, listening to music and applying a cell phone. For this reason, everyone should overtly using their cell phones, so drivers texting makeup are mindless activities, so they don’t be restricted from using their cell phones while 330,000 below the wheel or using speaker phone are less require the mind of a driver – they do not require driving. obvious for police to catch. At any given time, the attention that conversation does. When a If Kansas wants to promote safer driving and 2,600 according to a survey conducted by the National person is involved in an emotional discussion or streets for the public, then it is necessary 18 Occupant Protection Use, 10 percent of drivers typing a text message to a friend, their mind must that they pass a law banning cell phones casualties on the road will be using a cell phone. Only 10 be engaged in the conversation for it to happen. for all drivers. By imposing the threat each year percent of the cell phone users will be holding It requires a greater level of commitment than of fines, legislators may cause many deaths each year related to cell them to their ears. By increasing the fine to $100, holding a hamburger in one hand. to think twice before picking up caused by cell phone phone accidents making the punishment more severe, it would In a study done at the University of Utah in their phone while behind the related crashes discourage people from using their cell phones 2006, researchers found that drivers talking on wheel. percent that reaction cell phones were as

a 6 VOTE

the

for

4

against

theharbinger a publication of shawnee mission east high school 7500 mission road, prairie village, kansas 66208 nov. 26, 2007 issue 7, volume 49

The Harbinger is a student run publication. The contents and views are produced solely by the staff and do not represent the Shawnee Mission East or SMSD faculty, or administration.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF »lauranelson

PHOTO EDITOR »karenboomer

ASSISTANT EDITORS »bernadettemyers »stephennichols ART AND DESIGN EDITOR »libbynachman

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR »sallydrape

HEAD COPY EDITOR »adriennewood

NEWS PAGE EDITOR »mikecray

ONLINE EDITOR »halliemccormick

OP/ED SECTION EDITOR »natalieeisenach

NEWS SECTION EDITOR »paigecornwell

OPINION PAGE EDITOR »gagebrummer »michaelstolle FEATURES SECTION EDITOR »megshackelford FEATURES PAGE EDITORS »melissamckittrick »jeffrutherford SPREAD EDITOR »devino’bryan ASSISTANT SPREAD EDITOR »alexanderson MIXED EDITOR »rachelmayfield

0

absent

rate decreases while on cell phone

A&E SECTION EDITOR »ruthstark A&E PAGE EDITORS »rachelbirkenmeier »taylortwibell SPORTS SECTION EDITOR »clarkgoble SPORTS PAGE EDITORS »samlogan »sarahluby FREELANCE PAGE EDITORS »jordandietrich »mackenziewylie ASSISTANT ONLINE EDITOR »elizabethmcgranahan

STAFF WRITERS ADS MANAGER »mikehake »melissamckittrick »landonmcdonald CIRCULATION MANAGER »nickratliff »katiefreyder »timshedor COPY EDITORS PHOTOGRAPHERS »paigecornwell »rachelenglish »samkovzan »marygalvin »bernadettemyers »annaleek »libbynachman »patrickmayfield »lauranelson »taylerphillips »stephennichols »tylerroste »sylviashank »norasalle »timshedor »mackenziewylie »ruthstark ADVISER »adriennewood »dowtate STAFF ARTISTS Letters to the editor should be sent to room 521 »alexanderson or smeharbinger@gmail.com. Letters may be »renli edited for clarity, length, libel and mechanics and accepted or rejected at the editor’s discretion.

issue

7

OPINION

8

A functional bus system makes potential lightrail in Kansas City a waste of tax dollars » marygalvin

anopinionof

The plan for a Kansas City light rail needs to be “derailed” once and for all. The plan has been squashed multiple times but continues to resurface because residents feel it is even needed even though a » alexanderson perfectly functional system is already in place. Most large cities need a public transportation to help their residents get around the city quickly and efficiently. New York has its subway system as well as buses and California has ferries, rails, and buses. Kansas City already has a bus system that is hardly, if ever, used by most people. If this any indication of public transportation use, then light rail would be a utter failure. I think public transportation is a swell idea and it’s also beneficial for the community. It helps protect the environment from excessive cars on the road and helps people get around who may not be able to drive. What I don’t think is a good idea is spending our tax dollars on a service that our community already provides. The plan for a light rail in system in Kansas City is quite complicated in terms

of funding and logistics but in essence it would on its proposed route connect the KCI airport to around Swope Park with many stops in between to get Kansas City residents where they need to go. The plan has been estimated to cost at least a billion dollars. The plan calls for a 3/8 cents sales tax increase. Not a big deal, right? Think again. According to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s independent study, this plan would leave the city in the hole at least $400-500 million dollars with operating costs after 25 years because the sales tax would not provide the necessary revenue to pay for the project. Yes, that million. As in six zeros. The Metro in Kansas City and the JO in Johnson County are both perfectly functional sources of public transportation; combined, these buses provide over 8,000 bus stops all over the city. All these bus routes are available for at the very most $3 one way and costs almost nothing for seniors and persons with disabilities. Many city residents, especially those of lower socioeconomic status, depend on buses to get to and from work and get around to perform basic tasks during the day. Implementing the planned light rail system would cut the bus service’s funding, reducing its service by about 40 percent, according to a study done by the KCATA. This means residents would have to deal with about 3,200 fewer bus stops. So logically, some of these residents could

have difficulty getting to and from work. If residents have trouble getting to their jobs, they will not be able to get to the jobs they may get paid more to perform and therefore make less money. This in turn will result in less spending money, so the sales tax will make even less money and the city’s light rail debt will grow larger. In Question 2, the new ballot initiative for light rail, which in the y plan, says the light rail system will result in a greener, more eco-friendly and also states that it will reduce the dependence on foreign oil. It’s going to take a lot more than one city’s use of light rail to reduce American’s dependence on foreign oils. While buses are not as clean and eco friendly as a light rail, they are still significantly more environmentally friendly than cars and will also reduce dependence on foreign oil. Also, for all the expense of the light rail system, why not just upgrade our current bus system to make it more eco-friendly? A new plan has recently been suggested by the KCATA citizen’s task force. The plan calls for a much shorter system running from Vivian Road through the Plaza and down to 51st St. This plan would only cost around $500 million, the task force claims. Even with this lesser expense, the money could still be spent more wisely. We could have a fleet of buses running from every corner of Kansas City with $500 million. A very sprawling suburban metropolis isn’t ideal for a one-way light rail along

a straight path with limited stops. A system of buses covers a grid system, which covers significantly more area. Light rail is a good idea in some larger cities that are more compact then the KC area. Kansas City and the surrounding metropolitan areas, on the other hand, are not the correct candidates for this expensive and unnecessary project.

RIDER PROGRAMS: • Tranz Tag: For $10 a month, teenagers can receive a medallion and ride the Metro system to work, summer school, anywhere. • TransitWatch: To ensure riders’ safety, the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA) has installed cameras on all buses. Guards patrol more frequently, monitor video camera systems and conduct emergency evacuation exercises. • AdVANtage Vanpool: Provides free 8-passenger or 12-passenger luxury vans for transportation to and from work. source: KCATA

75th/95th St. ROUTE 26 nov.

125th Terr.

2007 and Metcalf Ave

119th St. and Metcalf Ave.

119th St. and Nall Ave.

Bannister Rd. and Metcalf Ave.

Bannister Rd. and Nall Ave.

75th St. and State Line

75th St. and Troost

75th St. and Prospect

Leader of Westboro Church was wrongly sued because the verdict violated his First Amendment rights

The foundation that anopinionof this country was built upon is being chiseled at day by day, and it’s starting to show. If we don’t realize what is happen» gagebrummer ing to us right now, it might be too late for future generations of Americans. In a time that we think we are so free, you need not look further than the front of the Kansas City Star to see that it is very possible that our constitutional rights have been denied in our own court system. Don’t believe me? The Phelps, who run the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, were sued for $11 million for protesting with signs reading, “God hates fags,” at a Maryland funeral for a lost marine. The church is not even worth that much money, but the jury wanted to make sure they got the message. Prosecuting attorney Craig Trebilcock told the jurors to send a mes-

»lancervoice senior

Molly McGonigle

sage to the church that says “do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again.” That sounds like he is asking the jury to disregard the first amendment and tell the Phelps to muffle their religious beliefs. I completely agree with the fact that mocking a dead marine is a disgusting and inhuman act, but I don’t feel that anyone can tell them they can’t try and spread their beliefs. Or make them pay more than they’re worth for something they’re protected from under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Sure, it was wrong, but it was not illegal. In the supreme court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the court ruled that in a defamation case it had to be proved that the “that the publisher of the statement in question knew that the statement was false or acted in reckless disregard of its truth or falsity.” Essentially, this means that in order to sue someone for defamation, you have to prove that they knew that what they were saying was wrong. The sad thing is, the Phelps really do believe that 99 percent of people are going to hell, so how can they be sued for that? Furthermore, the final verdict was not on the grounds of a defamation charge, but on a charge of invasion

“

of privacy. Phelps was not on private grounds, though. He was on public land that was close to the funeral that was taking place. In fact, Phelps was over 1000 feet away from the funeral. Some states have enacted laws to prevent Phelps and his crew. Massachusetts has a strict law that protesters must be over 300 feet away from the cemetery, due to the Phelps. Even if Maryland had such a law, there is a good chance that it would have required less than 1000 feet of buffer. The court system rules for the New York Times Company, but against a distasteful church. That thought scares me… if people don’t like what I say, I could be charged for more than I’m worth, essentially ending my life in society. The repercussions that this could have on free speech are unthinkable. We have just opened a door that we are not going to be able to shut. I dearly hope that this place that I call my home does not fall into a state of disrepair so severe that our generation will not be able to mend it. If we continue to allow courts to take away the rights that we are guaranteed at birth, then what are we going to give them next? I’d like to keep thinking of America as the land of the free and the home of the brave; not the land of voiceless and the home of the lawsuit.

Sure, it is wrong, but it shouldn’t be illegal.

”

A relative of Fred Phelps protests the funeral of a fallen soldier. They believe that deaths during war are a way of punishing America for gays. » www.highschooljournalism.com

Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro church was recently sued for nearly $11 million dollars after a judge ruled they did not have the right to protest at funerals.

junior

Kelsey Carothers

sophomore

Jacob Johnson

QUESTION 1: WAS THE PHELP’S FAMILY VERDICT A VIOLATION OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS? There is at time and place for everything and I think protesting at a funeral is inappropriate, but I think it violates their right to freedom of speech.

OPINION

TOO MUCH

9

I think that they should have the right to protest, but I also think they should realize how the family might feel.

I think that it is within their right to protest, but I disagree with their actions because funerals are supposed to be a sacred ceremony.

freshman

Spencer Jarrell » tylerroste Yes, even though I am morally against it they should have the right to free speech.

QUESTION 2: WAS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE PHELPS WERE ORDERED TO PAY FITTING FOR THE CRIME? I think that the penalty was fitting for the crime, because it will make them think before they do it again.

I mean I think the punishment fit the crime, but they could have had the same effect with less money.

I think that they would have been able to get the point across with less money. Even the verdict I think would deter them from doing it again.

QUESTION 3: WHAT EFFECT WILL THIS DECISION HAVE UPON FUTURE COURT DECISIONS? I am pretty sure that this case will set an example for future cases to come and the verdicts will probably be similar.

This decision will most likely have an influence on future cases just because it will set a precedent for ways the case will be tried.

It probably would have some effect on a similar case, even though the judge shouldn’t be persuaded by the decisions of previous cases.

They probably could have sent the same message with a lesser amount of money.

26

I think the verdict might influence the decision of future cases, but the newer cases should be treated individuoct. ally even if they have similarities. 2007

10

OPINION

S ’T T O N P HER NOW A C Public opinion of Hillary Clinton is not represented in the polls or in politics anopinionof

Planes tow banners across the skyline asking people to “Stop Her Now.” Party members gang up on her during debates. Democratic and Republican students alike claim to “hate her.” With the primaries looming in the near future, Hillary Rodham Clinton appears to be the chosen Democratic candidate for the 2008 presidential elections. But » adriennewood even though Clinton controls an average of 44 percent of Democratic polls, according to RealClearPolitics.com, more and more people are avid haters of the woman who could very well become President. Democrats need to realize that Clinton will probably win the primaries, with a current lead in the polls of about 21 percent. I understand the importance of healthy debate within a party before the primaries: it stimulates discussion of key issues and lets the voters decide which candidate suites their own positions. But I feel that in recent debates and interviews, other Democrats are taking it a step too far, incessantly bringing up irrelevant issues like her husband’s stance on torture and her past support of the war. In desperate last attempts to regain a chance at the presidency, they are forgetting to debate the issues in favor of Hillary bashing. If Democrats are going to stand a chance in the presidential election against the Republicans who are so ardently anti-Hillary (or anti-anything-not-Republican for that matter), the other candidates have to start showing more support and stop showing same-party loathing. It seems to me that the media and the public have Clinton in quite a bind. Whether people will admit it or not, they judge her harsher than any of her male equivalents. If she is too compromising in Congress, then she is weak and won’t be able to make decisions as President. If she sticks to her ideals and fights it out, she is a stubborn bitch. I think that her willingness to compromise is just what this country needs to cure the current administration’s insistence on “staying the course,” even if the current course is leading America into a brick wall in Iraq. She will be willing to look at both sides of a situation and even (gasp!) change her mind if necessary. Obama challenged Clinton in a recent debate for taking “several weeks” to form an opinion on giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. I’d say taking the time to

research an issue and listen to both sides is better than the campus of Yale University in 1970 when she helped spouting out hasty answers on camera that may please to dispel a violent dispute between the administration an audience but not be the best solutions in the long and protesting students, it was clear she was made to be run. Besides, no candidate has remained unwavering on President, not First Lady. every issue: Sen. John Edwards didn’t support universal Voters have to stop seeing her as a woman and the wife healthcare when he first ran in 2004 and now his official of a cheater and just see her as a candidate. And they’ll Web site proclaims, “the time has come for a realize she’s a good one, at that. universal health care.” This isn’t a bad thing. The country and its issues have changed since 1993 when Bill was sworn into office and Hillary began her unusually active role as First Lady. And the fact that she has been able to adapt and be true to her own beliefs amidst accusations at her poor baking skills should be a positive trait, not her downfall. In this phase in American politics, bipartisan compromise and unity seem next to impossible. Maybe a more moderate candidate is what we need to ease ourselves away from steadfastly conservative Bush. As far as ideology goes, despite her more liberal health care agenda, she is the most moderate Democrat running for president. Her less radical plan for withdrawal from Iraq is much more likely to please both left- and right-wingers than an immediate evacuation of troops. “I stand for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home, but I also understand that it’s going to take time,” Clinton said in a debate on MSNBC on Oct. 30. And despite what other candidates will say Born: Oct. 26, 1947 about her oh-so-moderate troop withdrawal plan, the other frontrunners for the Democratic ticket Hometown: Park Ridge, Ill. conceded on Sept. 26 at Dartmouth College that they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat Undergraduate School: Wellesly troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential College term in 2013. Not exactly radical. It is unfortunate that she is married to Bill Graduate School: Yale Law School Clinton. Many people will never be able to see past Monica Lewinsky or her husband’s other Married: Bill Clinton, 1975 shortcomings (although the economy hasn’t looked the same since he left office). But even Hillary was the first of Dorothy and Hugh Rodham’s three though Bill will be in the White House as the first children. After attending Yale Law School, where she met her ever First Man, she will be the one in the Oval husband Bill Clinton, she advised the Children’s Defense Fund in Office. Our country had no problem electing the Cambridge and joined the impeachment inquiry staff advising son of a president in 2000, so why hesitate about the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. She the wife of a president? was the Arkansas First Lady for 12 years, and the First Lady of To say that Hillary Clinton carries a lot of the United States of America for 8 years. She chaired the Task baggage is an understatement. In an ideal world, Force for National Health Care Reform while Bill was president. the first female president wouldn’t have been First She was elected the U.S. Senator for New York in 2000, becoming Lady—people too often say she’s piggybacking the first woman in the United States to serve in the Senate. on her husband’s career. But from the moment on

BIOGRAPHY (Hillary Clinton)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES 44% Hillary Clinton

“If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were...”

26 nov.

2007

23% Barack Obama 12% John Edwards

PERCENT OF DEMOCRATIC VOTE

» renli

» www.hillaryclinton.com

(by the numbers)

poll of 397 Democrats nationwide » www.pollingreport.com

» sxc.hu

FEATURES

11

» alexanderson

GAMBLE ON

Students experience highs and lows in the world of sports betting » continued frompageone “Problem gambling” is defined by OASAS as meeting two or more of the criteria from a list of 10 problem gambling traits listed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. There are students at East who may not consider themselves problem gamblers but fit the description. Their increase in bets, starting at a young age and the amount of games bet on per weekend all point to more than just casual betting. Freshman year is when students like James Jones* begin to bet on games. Before, he had just bet with his dad, but his friends wanted to bet as well just to have a reason to watch the games on the weekend. He agreed because he “actually had money to bet with.” The money was his own. Money he had saved up doing odd jobs like raking leaves and mowing lawns. That was

Ways to Wager

Over/Under Also called the total, this is a bet on the sum of points scored by both teams in a given game. For example, the over/under line for the Titans-Cowboys’ game might be 40. If the Titans win 30 - 13, the total is 43, and the over wins. If the Cowboys, win 20 -13, the total is 33 and the under wins. It doesn’t matter which team scores what, (unless you bet that specifically). Money Line The money line is as odds bet. Instead of parting with points or receiving points to make the game even, you part with or receive extra money. www.coverwire.com

» renli

Against the Spread In every game, there is a favorite and an underdog. In order to make the game even for betting purposes, oddsmakers come up with a point spread, or line. The spread is a handicap, the amount of points you have to part with if you bet on the favorite, and the amount you will receive as an underdog.

his starting money. Now, he uses the profit on gambling to bet more. The bets were smaller back then according to Jones, ranging between $5 to $10. Since then, it’s increased. “Once you’re makin’ like 10 bucks then you want to go to 20, and once you make 20 you want to go to 50,” Jones said. Joan Cloutier, a Kansas certified gambling counselor and clinical social worker, says that the younger kids start gambling, the bigger the risk for addiction. Those who are gambling by age 10 most likely will have problems. They are also more likely to be affected by gambling because the media according to Cloutier, which has “desensitized [kids] to the issue.” She credits TV Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments and the increased accessibility of online gambling as two growing sources of media coverage. The amount of money for the bet depends on the game. “It varies,” Jones said. “It’s usually bigger for like how important the game, like if it’s just a first round playoff game then its not going to be as much as the NBA finals.” Other gamblers like Todd Adams* consistently put down more than $20 a game. Instead of betting 50 on only important games, he puts 50 down as a starting bet. With an average of 15 games, Adams usually has $900 on the line every weekend. “I’m addicted… but I’ve never been down more than I had [to pay it off],” said Adams. A good weekend brings around $100 for Adams, which he uses for spending money and to bet on more games. Making a bet at school doesn’t take much effort. A quick text with the line and a response text with the amount or a quick word in the hall is all it takes. A majority of the text bets are sent to a student bookie, who refused to comment, but Jones says that anywhere from 10 to 20 students send him bets every week. Jones says that the bookie takes 10 percent, however, it is a popular way to bet because a gambler is less limited in his bets. Instead of two students having to take different sides on a bet, both can put money on the same team when they bet with a bookie. Text betting to bookies has made it difficult for the administration to stop or even notice the gambling. Associate principal Dr. Ron Mersch rarely sees gambling-related cases at East, but he says that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. “We’re not denying that it [exists],” Mersch said. “I would suggest that there’s an undercurrent of it looming.” Mersch has begun to hear stories about increased gambling on college campuses, which he thinks

could affect the high school level as well. At East, a bet as simple as making a jump shot for a can of Coke could technically be prosecuted, but it’s the exchange of money which would most likely draw punishment according to Mersch. “Gambling is listed as a level three offense out of four,” Mersch said. “There isn’t a strong definition [of gambling]. Punishment is anywhere from a referral to a 10 day suspension. The second case would be suspension and possible expulsion.” Cloutier says that like alcohol or drugs, gamblers begin to put more money down for bets because they develop a tolerance to smaller amounts of money. It takes more money and betting to achieve the same rush. However, Adams says that he would stop if he seriously started to lose money. Jones also says he’s smart about gambling, being careful not to get out of control. “I wouldn’t do it unless I balanced it out, like if I continually lost I’d quit but I win probably about 75 percent of the games so I’m making a profit.” The winning can be detrimental, however. Cloutier says winning can hook a young gambler into a dangerous pattern of winning, losing and depression. “To win is to lose because that’s what happens in the long run,” Cloutier said. “They have the mindset that it’s better to win and lose than never win at all.” Even when they do lose, an “I can win it all back” mindset is present among gamblers at East. Adams was down $400 and wasn’t even worried. There was no set plan to make up his loss, he was just “confident about winning it back.” Rayner was also certain that he could get every dollar back after a bad weekend. “There’s always games on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays so I know I can always earn it back,” Rayner said. “I’m usually confident about winning.” Trying to win back money lost, also known as “chasing,” can create a snowball effect for gamblers. Junior Jeff Bridges* started betting consistently on NBA games last year and was down $250 by the end of the winter, leaving him in debt during the school year. “I made a bunch of stupid bets in a row and then like kept trying to do double or nothing with people and then I was just f----- and then I paid it off eventually and I was done for awhile,” Bridges said. He took a break for the rest of the school year and the summer but started to bet again this fall, wagering $30 to $40 a weekend, mostly on football. To him, betting every week is just something to make games more exciting, but he knows the dangers. “It’s not an addiction. I could quit right now if I want to. I don’t care I just do it ‘cause it’s fun… but kids can get addicted.”

issue

7

New studies show that drinking two energy drinks a day increases blood pressure and heart rate. Find out how much caffiene and taurine, two contributing factors, are in your drink

» sarahandrews

Sobe Adrenaline Rush Rockstar Juiced Maker: Pepsi-Cola One can= 16 oz Caffeine per can= 156 mg Taurine= 960 mg

Maker: Rockstar One can= 16 oz Caffeine per can= 160 mg Taurine= 1000 mg

Go Lancers!

Maker:Red Bull Red Bull One can= 12 oz Caffeine per can= 120 mg Taurine= 1500 mg

Full Throttle Bad Mother

Maker: Coca-Cola One can= 16 oz Caffeine per can= 144 mg Taurine= 0 mg

Amp Energy Overdrive Maker: Pepsi-Cola One can= 16 oz Caffeine per can= 142 mg Taurine= 15 mg

source: www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database/ and each energy drink’s website

What’s the rush?

HEALTH

14

Sophomore makes a hobby out of the ancient Chinese game, Go

FEATURES

‘go’ing above & beyond

13

Sophomore Joe Deng and a friend play a game of “Go” after school in the library. Deng’s cousin taught him the game about three years ago. » photos by annaleek BY

» renli

On a virtual 19 by 19 grid board, Joe Deng cautiously plays a black stone piece. On an opposite computer screen somewhere in the world, his opponent follows up by playing a white stone piece. The game ends nearly an hour later, and the once blank board has become the portrait, painted in black and white, of a heated battle. Although relatively new to the United States, the board game Go is well established in eastern Asia. With the support of millions of amateur players and enthusiasts, professional Go players from China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan compete amongst each other in countless international competitions for titles and prize purses comparable to those of professional golf tournaments. An amateur player, sophomore Joe Deng first picked up Go during the winter of 2004 while visiting a cousin. “Well, we were bored and [my cousin] showed me Go,” said Deng. “He taught me the basic rules, such as trying to surround the most territory and don’t get surrounded by your opponent. Nobody else in my family besides me and him plays. He used to live in China, which is where he picked it up.” Even after three years of playing, Deng still considers himself a relatively beginner. “My rank isn’t very high, the last time I checked. I don’t really know what it is now.” Go uses the same ranking system as traditional martial arts, with beginning to intermediate players ranking 30 to 1 Kyu and more advanced players

ranking 1 to 9 Dan. Known as Weiqi in Chinese, Baduk in Korean and Gou in Japan, Go was invented in China around the fifth century BC. According to Deng, the game served originally as a tool for teaching war tactics. “It started when an emperor knew he was going to die soon, so he devised [Go] to teach his son how to rule his empire,” said Deng. In the myth, the emperor’s son soon developed a knack for war and became a great strategist. Deng has noticed that, like a general directing soldiers, every player develops a unique style of playing. “A more defensive player starts with just sticking to the corners [of the board] and solidifying territory, but some go straight ahead and attack their opponent,” said Deng. “It all depends on who’s playing. You have to be able to play both offensively and defensively all the time.” Go has rapidly gained ground on online game servers, which is where Deng usually plays. “During summers I’ll play a game once every day or every two days. The length of games really depends,” said Deng. “Most of the games I play are about an hour. Some games can even last a few hours even.” While often compared to chess, Go has several marked differences in complexity. “The complexity of the game is higher because you have to think a few moves ahead of your opponent,” said Deng. “You

HISTORY OF THE GAME: Given the name “Wei-Chi” in China, 3000 years ago. It’s popularity spread to Japan and Korea. Confucius thought it was a waste of time. The Cultural Revolution thought of it as a “pastime of intellectuals.” In China, it was even played by warriors to determine the fate of kingdoms. Japanese warriors studied it and passed down their techniques to family members like they would with their sword-fighting techniques and the code of the samurai. It even reached an equal status to Japan’s tea ceremony. information courtesy of http://www.game-club.com/gohis/go.htm

can move anywhere on the board. In Chess you only have so many moves. You have to consider all the possibilities of each move [in Go]. It’s not as obvious as chess might be. If chess is a battle, Go is a war.”

HOW TO PLAY GO:

- Two players needed. - Usually played on a game board with the grid size as 19 x 19, but 13 x 13 and 9 x 9 can suffice. - The objective is to control more of the board than the opponent using the black and white “stones” that are played on the intersections of the lines. - Each player places their stones so the opponent cannot capture them. Stones are captured when four stones of the opposing color surround the other color. - Players have to map out ways that their stones can be safe from the opponent and how they can invade their opponent’s territory. - Placing stones close together can help them avoid being captured because placing them apart gives the opponent more of a chance. - The game and the score is tallied (by how many stones were captured each). The game is over when neither of the players can invade each other’s territory with their stones.

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Chastain’s plan included a 27 mile route (seen below) from the KCI Airport to the Kansas City Zoo. He estimated the costs to be about $945 million, but after analysis from Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) the estimated cost was about $1.5 billion. This did not include annual operating cost. Chastain claims many citizens think that having the light Kansas City rail connect to the airport is International Airport pointless, even though the Northland area between downtown and the airport is actually in a phase of development. 152 “The Northland is a booming Zona Rosa area right now and we’re trying to Barry Rd. get people to their new jobs there when otherwise it would be a Senior director for system long commute,” Chastain said. development at KCATA (Kansas City Area Transportation System) Dick Jarrold feels the light Englewood Rd. 56th St. rail will be a great addition to the downtown area. “Light rail will provide a clean, comfortable and convenient transportation option in the region’s core and would serve as a spine for a future multi-model regional system,” North Kansas City Jarrold said. “It would support the recent $4 billion investment in downtown and help bring additional economic developSprint Center ment.” Burlington St.

North Oak Tfwy.

Amity Ave.

SPREAD

14

Emanuel Cleaver Blvd.

Q&A with Clay Chastain

Swope Pkwy.

Country Club Plaza

Broadway Blvd.

Students like sophomore Justin Stults feel that the plaza would be the best place to have a light rail go through. Stults would use light rail if it started in the plaza. “The plaza is really convenient and easy to get to,” Stults said. “I enjoy going there too.”

Union Station

Penn Valley Park

Kansas City Zoo

How did you get involved in tHe ligHt rail project in Kansas city? “I’ve been involved ever since Mayor Cleaver denounced efforts in ’95 to build a starter line. He denounced the line saying it was ‘touristy frou-frou’ and this seemed to me to be the wrong direction to take. Even before that though, I tried to save the train station from the wrecking ball in ’91 and I brought that issue to the public’s attention that public transportation is needed.” wHy do you tHinK Kansas city needs a ligHt rail?

2007

BY

Chastain’s plan included a 27 mile route from the KCI Airport to the Kansas City Zoo. He estimated the costs to be about $945 million.

Why iT Was repealed After analysis from Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) the estimated cost was about $1.5 billion. This did not include annual operating cost and most of the funds were federal and out of the city’s control. Chastain’s plan also had a lot of legal issues including the fact that the rail would going through North KC and Gladstone which hadn’t approved the plan. Also the rail would be going through parks like Penn Valley and this needed a separate vote approve. Technical problems to the plan included an unproven underground power supply and the addition of another bridge since the bridges used in the plan weren’t owned by the city. As Dick Jarrold, Senior Director for System Development at KCATA, stated, “[His plan] simply could not be built as specified.” There were also funding problems with Chastain’s plan because it was to be funded by an existing tax which is meant to support the bus services in Kansas City. According to Jarrold, if the funds were diverted to the light rail, there would be significant bus service cuts in 2009. The plan that Jarrold with KCATA and the Citizen’s task force proposed running from I-29 and Vivion to the Plaza would cost about $588 million plus $11 million a year to operate. It would be funded by a 3/8 cent sales tax in Kansas City, MO and the bus services would not be cut.

» bernadettem

Thirty minutes on a light rail and sophomo Sisco, a student at DePaul University, has instant ac concerts, food, movies and all of downtown Chicag it only cost him $2 as opposed the $10 to $15 he have spent on gas for a car. Sisco is a 2006 East graduate and he uses the C light rail, also known as the “L,” to get every downtown. But when Sisco comes back home to Kansas C spends much more on transportation than he’s u because unlike most major cities throughout the States, the Kansas City area has no light rail system This issue has been a debate in the area since th And in the ballot of November 2006, citizens of K City, MO voted to put into action a light rail plan pro by activist Clay Chastain which detailed a 27 mil running from the airport to the zoo and hitting destinations in between.

» alexanderson

Chastain is one of the biggest proponents for the light rail in KC. He proposed a plan that was passed by voters in 2004, but was recently repealed by the city council due to cost and legal problems. The plan includes a 27 mile route from the airport to the zoo.

26 nov.

The proposed plan

“We need a light rail to stimulate interest in the idea that the public will need an alternative to automobiles. If we stimulate interest in public transit then the suburbs will get excited about it and they’ll want a system and that’s how regional systems are born. Right now, people spend money on transportation and it hurts the economy. We spend our disposable

income on gas and we can’t use that money to buy new shows for our kids. Now we’ve got a global crisis with oil and our nation is dependent on foreign oil with no alternative. We need to conserve energy throughout the public and we need a system that everyone can see themselves using. Also by using transit people can live in dense areas and have an easy way to get around, which will result in less sprawling and spreading everywhere. It’s your future and you will inherit the country and this world and these decisions that are being made right now will affect you. We need an attractive mode of transit because most people don’t want to ride a diesel bus. They have negative image and we want to get people excited about public transit. A light rail would be a showstopper or marquee. wHat does your ligHt rail plan entail and How did you determine tHis? “It would establish a north south spine in Kansas City, MO area. It would go from Swope Park to the airport and through downtown and that plaza. It would connect most of the major destinations including hospitals, parks, the performing arts center, Union Station, city market, the Sprint center and the Power and Light district.”

wHat controversies Have surrounded your plan and wHat do you tHinK about tHem? “One of the controversies was the closing of Penn Valley park to traffic. Instead traffic would be diverted around the park and the city is saying ‘We can’t inconvenience the motorists.’ The other controversy is that this plan takes money away from the bus system. The tax that the light rail system gets money from also provides some funds for the buses, but it’s not like there’s no alternative for the buses.” wHat do you tHinK of tHe alternative plans tHat are being presented? “They are all proposing using streetcars instead of an actual light rail train. Streetcars would reduce the cost by 20 percent and they work really well in niches like the circulating the downtown area, but you also get less for your money. Real light rail trains have speed, are great for long distances, have extra room for luggage and can carry high capacities and streetcars can’t do any of these things. We need a system with high capacity that can grow into a regional system. Also by the time they are built, streetcars will be obsolete.”

ore Eric ccess to go. And e would

Get the inside track on light rail in Kansas City

Chicago ywhere

City he used to United m. he ‘60s. Kansas oposed le route g major

However, these past few weeks the plan was repealed by the city council due to financial and legal problems, but this isn’t stopping the light rail efforts. According to John Dobies, a project manager of the light rail effort, even though the financial and geographical issues need to be sorted out Kansas City will get a light rail; it’s just a matter of how. Right now, the alternative plans a r e expected to be on the ballot in

November 2008 and if they are passed the project would be finished in 2015. “Though this seems like a long ways away it’s for your future,” Dobies said. “Mayor Funkhouser recently said that we’re building this light rail for our children. This light rail will benefit you your whole life and it will grow beyond the starter line so when you become part of the community you will have it as an asset in this city.” Students at East are excited about the light rail

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as well. Junior Savannah Duby is ready for a light rail because of how it will benefit the environment. “Public transportation is very eco-friendly and I would use the light rail as much as I could,” Duby said. Dobies feels that the light rail will definitely grow. “Everyone feels strong about it being regional,” Dobies said. “Eventually it should serve Johnson County and the whole metro area.”

Right now, the city council is unsure as to what type of light rail Kansas City would have. The most likely option is modeling the system off of the streetcars in Portland, OR. Streetcars are much lighter and less expensive . They carry around 65 people and travel at 45 mph. A more traditional light rail, though more expensive , carries 220 people and travels and 66 mph, providing more speed and comfort.

» renli and alexanderson

hisTory of lighT rail in Kansas CiTy 1957 Streetcar service that was run by Kansas City Public Service Company was ended. Kansas City acquired 184 streetcars and there were 25 streetcar lines in the area.

1969

1975

Kansas City Area Transporta- KCATA begins efforts to plan a tion Authority (KCATA) takes light tail. They studied the same route that is being studied today. over the 25 transit routes.

1980s KCATA and the city worked together planning routes. Ideas include routes down Main Street and Grand Ave. An extension would serve Bartle Hall and Barney Allis Plaza.

1997 Light rail went to preliminary engineering stage, but the effort was put on hold when little support was shown. The line would run from the Rivermarket to the Plaza and cost from $185 to $233 million.

2001 In August vote, 60 percent opposed the light rail plan that was to run from North Oak and Vivion to South Kansas City and cost about $783 million. The plan was altered to be a bus system.

2005 KCATA and Midwest American Regional Council adopt Smart Moves plan which is a metro-wide bus system and it begins running in July.

issue

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GO NUTS! Nuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium.

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Almonds especially are a highly nutritious food and is a natural source of most of the rare nutrients that are required by human body. The nutrients found in almonds are highly important for our health. They help reduce the risk of heart COMPILED BY » rachelmayfield disease, diabetes, and some chronic diseases. It also rejuvenates the skin, gives it a glow and helps us in looking younger. If almond paste is regularly applied to the skin, it helps in preventing wrinkles, pimples, black heads etc. and prevents skin from getting dry. Almond contains monounsaturated fat, which helps in fighting/reducing chronic diseases such as chronic heart disease. It also helps in bringing down the cholesterol level in our blood. Almond contains a very low What are antioxidants? Essentially, they are substances that reduce, neutralize, and prevent the damage done to the body by free radicals. amount of fat that is responsible for increase in unwanted weight, in fact, it is Free radicals are simply electrons that are no longer attached to atoms. found that the type of fat and other nutrient material available in almond help in Free radicals are both free and radical enough to go careening through maintaining weight. The fat found in almond is also found to be cholesterol-free. information from http://www.buzzle.com our cells, inflicting damage as they go. Eating, breathing, and going out in the sun all contribute to the the process of oxidation, free radical formation, and the resulting damage that is caused to the cells of our bodies. What kind of damage are we talking about? Pretty much every kind you can think of: the deterioration of bone, joints and connective tissue; the wearing out of organs; the decline of the immune system; the irritating advance of the visible effects of aging. Because free radicals are implicated in all these processes, minimizing their 1. Drink a glass of orange or vegetable juice activity with antioxidants may allow us to live longer and healthier 2. Add blueberries or strawberries to oatmeal and lives, look and feel better, and reduce or eliminate the risk of certain other cereals illnesses. 3. Spread all-natural peanut butter on whole grain toast http://www.vitaminstuff.com/antioxidants.html 4. Add tomatoes to a tuna fish sandwich (use light mayo) 5. Sprinkle seeds, walnuts, or slivered almonds on salads. 6. Choose vegetable soups instead of creamy or noodle soups 7. Dress up sandwiches with spinach leaves, tomatoes, or red pepper slices 8. Top tacos or burritos with guacamole and salsa Free radicals may contribute to a number of diseases like 9. Load baked potatoes with low-fat cheddar cheese and broccoli Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Antioxidants make free radicals more 10. Incorporate vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, and green pepstable so they help prevent damage to nearby cells or organs.This is why pers into pasta sauces increasing antioxidant-rich foods in your diet can reduce your risk of disease

[ the page about...antioxidants ]

ANTIOXIDANTS

10 easy to increase antioxidants in your diet ways

antioxidants

how do they

protect us?

THE

FACTS ON

why should I take

VITAMINS Vitamin C?

It is used to boost immune system function when fighting infection and illness. Believed to neutralize free radicals (corrosive compounds that may cause aging and some types of cancer). When taken with pantothenic acid, can help lessen the effects of stress-induced migraine headaches.

false labels

Vitamin A?

It is used as a supplement in treating various eye problems. Large doses can help fight acne. Also Believed to neutralize free radicals (corrosive compounds that may cause aging and some types of cancer).

why should I take

why should I take

Vitamin B?

Free radicals may contribute to a number of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Antioxidants make free radicals more stable so they help prevent damage to nearby cells or organs. This is why increasing antioxidant-rich foods in your diet can reduce your risk of disease

why should I take

Vitamin D?

It is beneficial in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Often taken to slow joint deterioration caused by arthritis.

why should I take

Products to

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Be wary of products that say things like: “miraculous cure,” “secret ingredient,” “ancient remedy,” and other impressive sounding claims It’s also important to know that supplements do not need FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval to be sold. Unlike prescription or over-the-counter medicines, supplements do not have to undergo review to make sure they are safe or that they work. It is always important to check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Some supplements may harm you, even if the label says they can improve your health. information from http://www.nutrientfacts.com

Vitamin E?

When used as a topical lotion, encourages skin healing and is believed to reduce scarring after injuries such as burns. Believed to neutralize free radicals (corrosive compounds that may cause aging and some types of cancer).

steroids are supplements

should I take them?

Steroids are supplements, too, and they can put your health in real danger. Stay away from steroids unless a doctor has given them to you.

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A&E

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SO-SO ‘SAWDUST’ The Killers lose their signature sound in their new album

photo courtesy of www.islandrecords.com BY

» nickratliff

When the Killers released their debut, 2004’s “Hot Fuss,” the thing that drew me to their songs was the anthemic quality of many of their hits. Songs that you can just hear a crowd of thousands singing along to with vocalist Brandon Flowers. I would hear “Somebody Told Me” or “Mr. Brightside” on the radio, sing every single word to the song, and then say to myself, “yes, this is rock and roll.” But with the release of “Sawdust,” an album of b-sides and previously unheard music, the album sounds exactly like what it is: songs that didn’t make their previous CDs. The band lacks that catchy quality in the music that will get them play on stations like Mix 93.3, with the exception of two or three songs. Still, it’s the Killers, and that means Flowers’ songwriting, which equates to solid music for the hardcore Killers fan. The album starts off with a track that fans of rock music in general will enjoy. Teaming up with a music veteran, the Killers work with former Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed in “Tranquilize.” The song itself is slightly darker and more depressing than past Killers tracks, with Flowers’ and Reed’s voices sounding paranoid and sinister when they sing “I got this feeling that they’re gonna break down the door/ I’ve got this feeling that they’re gonna come back for more.” Still with Reed’s contribution and the minimal sound with the use of only three instruments, it’s a pretty solid song. One of the album’s biggest strengths is Flowers’ vocal skills on most of the tracks. On “All the Pretty Faces,” Flowers belts in true rock star fashion “Help me out, I need it/ I don’t feel like lovin’ you no more.” The track thrives on his vocal ability, and he actually sounds like he’s desperate, as the lyrics suggest.

26 nov.

2007

Flowers sometimes takes the belting too far, though. On the very next track, “Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf,” Flowers screams and whines, making for an unpleasant experience. The song is about a lost love, and you can tell because Flowers whines his way through the whole thing. Only the superb playing of guitarist Dave Keuning saves this song from being totally unlistenable. Although many of the songs don’t have the previously mentioned “hook factor,” the song that definitely has that quality is “Under the Gun.” The chorus is something you can definitely sing along to, Keuning has another solid performance and it just sounds like a classic Killers song, with poppy hooks but staying true to their alternative rock roots. One major weakness of the album is that the songs are all completely different. The band goes from dark, paranoid and heavy on “Tranquilize” to country and western on “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” (in which Keuning steals the guitar riff from Guster’s “The Captain”) to their signature synth pop sound on songs like “Shadowplay.” Usually, the songs on the albums that I listen to have the same general sound. And finally, to round out the album, the Killers provide a worthless remix of the hit “Mr. Brightside.” The problem with this song is that it’s 10 minutes long, with only about three minutes of vocals and meaningful instrumentation. That’s seven minutes of looped music. Talk about boring. The Killers deliver a so-so performance with “Sawdust.” The album has some strengths, most notably a potential hit with “Under the Gun,” but it has more low points than a typical Killers album. Still, though, Flowers’ expert songwriting forces us to sing along. { }

“SAWDUST” BREAKDOWN Lou Reed makes this happen. Darker than a regular Killers 1. Tranquilize: song. (favorite) Cover of Joy Division song was a good idea, as the style of the 2. Shadowplay: song and Killers’ style fit. (favorite) Pretty Faces: One of the better songs on the album, as Flowers 3. AllreallyTheshines. The Bourbon on the Shelf: By far the worst on the album. Flowers 4. Leave gets all emotional and cries his way through the song. t Talk: Like the drumming on his song, but could’ve done without the 5. Swee voice filter. the Gun: Probably the best song on the album. Everyone plays well, 6. Under but Dave Keuning really shines. (favorite) 7. Where the White Boys Dance: ‘80s dance song, not very good structurally. 8. Show You How: Nothing special. Kind of a slow song. 9. Move Away: The distorted guitar sets the mood to this hard-edged track. Indie Rock and Roll: A different, mellow song, but works for 10. Glamorous the band. (favorite) Let You Go?: A catchy tune that sounds like it could have been on the 11. Who band’s second album,”Sam’s Town.” Ballad of Michael Valentine: As the title suggests, it’s a slow ballad 12. The and a pretty one at that. Don’t Take Your Love to Town: A country and western song? Does 13. Ruby, not work for The Killers, and Keunig steals the riff from a Guster song. Eyes: Sounds like a Killers song, even though Flowers doesn’t sing 14. Daddy’s very well. 15. Sam’s Town (Live): A live version of the title track of the band’s second album is about the same as the original, which is pretty good. (favorite) and Juliet (Live): Was surprised by this track. Thought it would be 16. Romeo a cheesy love song by the name. Brightside [Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Remix]: A com17. Mr. pletely unnecessary 10 minute long song with seven minutes of loops. They didn’t alter the original version in any way.

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} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

‘Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters’ combines personal experience with comprehensive research. Author Courtney Martin, 26, interviewed over 100 girls and women between the ages of 9 and 19, as well as dozens of experts, including psychologists, nutritionists, medical doctors, and media critics.

Q&Awith author Courtney Martin BY

» sylviashank

Why did you decide to write about this issue?

I have had few friends since I hit adolescence who didn’t have unhealthy relationships with food and fitness, if not full-fledged eating disorders. When I would express outrage about this sad fact, many women responded with shrugs. “Get used to it,” was the response. “This is just what it means to be a woman.” I refused to believe that and wanted to write a book trying to get others to, first of all, admit how bad it really is and then join me in rejecting the idea that self-hate is a normal part of growing up a girl. In psychological terms, this is “the halo effect,” where we attribute qualities to thinness that don’t actually correlate. I think that the media plays a huge role in creating this artificial association for girls: all the thin women on television are also the most powerful and desired. This association is reinforced 10 times a day in subtle social situations—the mother who admires the other mother for losing weight on the sidelines of the soccer field, the father who ogles a thin woman on a prime time sitcom, a clique of girls who criticize other girls’ bodies in the class. They can overcome it by being consciously critically and committing to making sure their own self-talk and real talk doesn’t perpetuate the association. We can all do that!

How do young womens’ body image issues today compare to 20 years ago? Eating disorders and eating disordered behavior are far more rampant today than ever before. In part, I believe this is due to the extreme makeover culture—women are led to believe that they could look like Angelina Jolie if they only had enough willpower, even when it is physically impossible because of their genetics and/or financial status. The ideal body type has shrunk to the point of sickness. Supermodels collapse on the runways with acute anorexia. And worst of all, we have normalized dieting so that the slippery slope into full-blown eating disorders is easier and easier to slide down.

How have stars like Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie influenced girls’ ideas about food and their bodies? There is a sad scarcity of good role models for young women in today’s pop landscape. Women like Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie flaunt their thinness and talk around their eating disorders instead of empowering their young fans to be honest about their

Review BY

» sylviashank

The issues author Courtney Martin raises in “Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters” are alarming. They’re also easy to believe when I think about the women in my life and their relationships with food, exercise or their bodies. I watch them skip meals, exercise out of guilt, compare themselves to models. In her book, she addresses all aspects of girls and the development of their self-image from birth to college to peer

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groups. Martin talked to over 100 girls and found disordered eating – not necessarily diagnosed eating disorders – to be rampant. She finds a common thread of dissatisfaction and shame in the way girls perceive themselves and she discusses why. It’s a ground-breaking analysis of female social issues regarding body image and I couldn’t put it down. Non-fiction runs the risk of being a

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A&E

Understanding ‘Perfect’

New book delves into world of self-image problems among girls

own struggles. Their lyrics are vacuous and their commitment to bettering the world only as long lasting as the photo-op. In addition, hip hop, the music of this generation, offers only roles as eye candy for creative women, effectively silencing them and convincing them that their bodies are their only form of expression.

How do girls’ relationships with their parents affect their body images? There are obvious ways that parents influence their daughters’ ideas about food and fitness, such as the comments they make, the kinds of foods they keep in the house, their rules about eating and exercise. But there are also critical but covert ways in which both mothers and fathers play powerful roles in how their daughters see themselves. If a mother tells her daughter that she is beautiful and perfect, but then turns around, takes a look in the mirror at her own reflection and calls herself a “fat pig,” the latter is the much clearer message. If a father tries to communicate his love through food, instead of authentic connection, the daughter learns to fill her “father hunger” with snacks, not dialogue.

But what about our country’s obesity epidemic? The obesity epidemic and rampant eating disorders are really flip sides of the same coin. Both are the manifestation of an unhealthy attitude towards food and fitness in this country. We exist on extremes—either obsessing or giving up. Instead of turning to real foods and looking honestly at our lifestyles, we look to dangerous diet pills to do the work for us. The result is a population dangerously fat and dangerously thin and an absence of healthy, moderate messages in the wider culture.

How can we change the way girls look at their bodies? There is no easy answer, of course, but I do believe that there is hope. It begins with each and every woman and girl in this country being honest about her relationship with her own body, and taking responsibility to heal it. From there we must promote communities that encourage compassion, whole foods, joyful movement and shapely beauty. We must raise our daughters with realistic expectations and encourage them to prioritize well-being instead of always winning. We must all learn to let go more—turn off the perfect girl voice inside of us, indulge the starving daughter in a healthy way, and get on with » photo courtesy of ‘Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters’ living ecstatically.

dry read, but Martin mixes in personal stories with the research, and her chapter titles are enticing - “The Real World Ain’t No MTV.” “The Elephant in the Dorm Room.” My only problem with the book is that it’s a hard message to take. Not only does my generation have to deal with pervasive ideas about physical perfection, but I worry about my own daughters someday having to grow up feeling the same pressure to be both high-achieving and

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unnaturally thin. Martin effectively addresses the problem, but solutions are noticeably absent and the reader is left with some discomfort. Perhaps that’s the feel she wants us to receive. The book made me want to take action because it taught me to care about issues I hadn’t previously known about. “Perfect Girls” makes for an enlightening read, if a bit disturbing, and girls who read it will be able to relate.

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} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

} issue

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A&E

‘Beowulf’

21

REACHES out to audiences

» movieweb.com

» michaelstolle

An innovative adaptation of an old tale keeps movie viewers on the edge of their seats

BY

Flying through the air I swing from side to side, avoiding trees and rocks. Swaggering back and forth, my reactions are too slow and I take a branch to the chest at full speed, but I continue to fly. Coming to a ravine a dark shadow approaches me, the shadow gets closer and I realize that the dark cloud is thousands of arrows flying towards me. I do my best to avoid them, but I a few graze my sides. No, I am not really flying, but sitting rather firmly in a seat at a movie theatre with dorky 3D glasses pressed against my face, writhing in my seat to avoid the onslaught of arrows. The oldest surviving Anglo-Saxon epic “Beowulf ” has undergone a makeover and is now playing as an animated 3D film. Directed by Robert Zemekis, this adaptation is an innovative recreation of the original text. Granted the writers Neil Gaimon and Roger Avery took liberties with the text that stray from the original plot, but these changes were necessary to make the movie a good film. But overall the movie wouldn’t have been all too spectacular without the constant threat of being stabbed by a spear or your armrest catching fire. The film tells the story of how Beowulf, a warrior, played by Ray Winstone, travels to Denmark to free the land of a horrible beast named Grendel. He arrives in the country and is accepted by King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins), who is desperate to rid his country of the killer beast. Beowulf nobly accepts the challenge and defeats the hideous monster; however once he does this he must face an even more sinister monster, Grendel’s Mother. Angelina Jolie, who plays the beast’s mother, is a temptress who is shrouded and only viewed by reflections and murky images for the first half of the movie. When Beowulf seeks her out, he learns that she is a beautiful creature and is enthralled in her beauty. Instead of killing the temptress at once, he creates a deal with her that she is not to bother King Hrothgar’s land as long as she is in the possession of a horn that was given to Beowulf from King Hrothgar as a token of appreciation for the killing of Grendel. Peace is restored to the country and it seems that the new King Beowulf has brought an end to the age of demons for their land, but this false image is shattered when a servant uncovers the horn and returns it to Beowulf. A beastly dragon is unleashed upon the land and an elderly Beowulf is once again called into action to

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protect the land. The film faces an onslaught of criticism that the plot doesn’t follow the plot of the original text. Avery and Gaimon deemed these plot changes necessary for not only concision of the movie, but to give the plot a more edgy feel. Grendel’s mother, supposedly a hideous beast turns out to be a sumptuous demoness. It is implied throughout the movie that Grendel is the offspring of King Hrothgar and Grendel’s mother, and later on when Beowulf faces the beast he too is tempted by the creature. In the original text Beowulf finishes off Grendel’s mother in one scene, but Beowulf never finishes the deed, and in the end, it is up in the air whether or not she is finished. I felt it fitting that Beowulf have a bought with temptation, for there are several other biblical references throughout the movie. I thought this interpretation was creative and welcome idea that I thought an interesting standpoint. Another change that I thought was a necessary adaptation to the plot was the fact that Beowulf didn’t return home after his altercation with Grendel’s mother. In the epic, he returns home to fight the dragon, but in the movie, the dragon comes to him in Denmark. I agreed with the writers’ decision to omit Beowulf’s return home because with the journey home and the time it would take to introduce a new set of characters, the movie would have been too lengthy. The CGI animated Beowulf is probably the most cutting edge movie of our time, and the innovations brought by Zemekis promise to transform future film making. CGI (Computer Generating Imaging) is a process by which the actors are filmed wearing special suits with hundreds of points that allow the actor to be recreated as an animation. This is the same process used on the film Polar Express, which flopped graphically because when creating the animation the eyes of the actors have a glazed look. But Zemekis was going to ensure that this wasn’t going to happen, and it turned out quite well. No glazed eyes, no random staring. The 3D graphics were unbelievable. Several times I had to dodge a hurtling rock, or welcome Angelina Jolie into my lap. The movie opened with the Paramount stars flying between me and the seat next to me, going to their rightful location encircling a mountain. The word Beowulf boldly floating elusively out of reach, then realistic globs

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of blood fall onto the moviegoers to your front. The movie wouldn’t have been as splendid had the plot played out on the normal flat screen of a movie theater, but the awesome visual effects that were able to be employed by using the CGI and 3D put the movie over the top. The Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf which has been renowned for nearly a thousand years and taught in English classes for about has long, translated well onto the silver screen in a masterful collaboration of technological innovation and plot adaptation. { }

What is CGI?

CGI, or Computer Generated Imagery Makes complex images that are flawlessly realistic. It helps filmmakers to create effects that would otherwise be too expensive, dangerous, or even impossible.

Steps to creating a CGI image Step 1: Wireframe

First, the computer animator must design a computer model of the object they wants to animate. The animator uses points and lines connected together.

Step 2: Shading

After creating a wireframe, the animator then does a quick shading of the object. The shading fills in all of the gaps between the points and lines with shades of gray, depending on where the light is coming from.

Step 3: Rendering

Once the animator has made the object to their liking, it is time to smooth out the polygons, producing an image with curves and light.

Step 4: Animating

At each new frame, the animator moves the model, and then the computer fills in the frames with the » thinkquest.org proper color, shading and light.

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A&E

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ONE DEBUT

Jay-Z’s continued success solidifies his position as the true ‘American Gangster’ BY

» alexanderson

After viewing the new film “American Gangster” rapper Jay-Z decided to come out of retirement yet again to create an album inspired by the movie, and fans will thank Denzel for his stellar performance and inspiration after hearing the album. The album is essentially Jay-Z’s masterfully crafted soundtrack to the movie. Jay-Z’s lyrics combined with his past experiences make for an excellent addition to the movie. After his last release failed to clear the high bar of expectations that fans had set up, fans may have had reason to worry that this album would only dig the Hova’s hole deeper. Fans needn’t worry as Jay-Z blasts out of the hole that “Kingdom Come” dug in expectations. He can easily gaze down at the bar fans so desperately wanted him to clear. According to Jay-Z each track on the album represents a specific scene in the movie. The results are a mix of past and present sounds and the album is a combination of songs that have a feel not found on previous Jay-Z albums. This isn’t the raw, gritty Jay-Z you listened to several years ago. His lyrical styles have aged and production values have increased dramatically resulting in an album that all fans who were unimpressed with “Kingdom Come” should give a listen. The opening track “Pray” is one of the highlights of the CD. The song sounds distinctly similar to Kayne’s “Jesus Walks” and describes in an odd combination bits of Jay-Z’s life mixed with bits of insight into the days of Harlem’s original gangsters over a violin-laced drumline beat. Overall the CD doesn’t have the same hard

» www.rocafellarecords.com

vvv hitting verses that Jay-Z is known for. Instead Jay-Z trades his upper cuts for tongue-in-cheek lyrics which talk more about his past than his future. The album doesn’t have the “Big Pimpin’” feel that his past albums have tried to create. The lyrics deal more with real life issues and Jay-Z’s past than rapping arrogantly about his lyrical greatness or street cred. This is a good thing in this case because it creates a dynamic album that flows well. In “American Dreamin’” Jay-z tries to slow down his verses over a slow beat and it results in a great slow song to balance the album out. It feels as though throughout the whole album Jay-Z sharpens his razor sharp tongue which was dulled by his last mediocre release “Kingdom Come.” The next high note, “Roc Boys,” is an upbeat jam with Jay’s vocals backed up by horns mixed with some jazzy samples topped with catchy lyrics like “You don’t even need to bring your paper out, we the dope boys of the year and drinks is on the house.” Another excellent part of “American Gangster” is the collaboration. Jay-Z collaborates with big names such as Nas and Pharell Williams on some truly excellent tracks like “Blue Magic” on the bottom half on the album. “American Gangster” is different from the normal Jay-Z album which sacrifices maturity for radio hits. This album achieves greatness in its own way and is an album that surely won’t disappoint fans.

{

}

JAY-Z:American Gangster

ALEX’S TOP PICKS

Track with the best beat:

Roc Boys

Most inspirational track:

Pray

Best track to run to:

Blue Magic

Worst track:

Hello Brooklyn 2.0 Most unique track:

Fallin’

26 nov.

2007

starscale

{ } poor {

} fair {

} solid {

} excellent {

} masterpiece Star ratings based on writer’s opinion

23

A&E

altered

ALICIA Keys branches out with ‘As I Am,’ and in some tracks, it works surprisingly well. In others, it just doesn’t.

» alicia-keys.com BY

»

taylortwibell and stephennichols

One minute she’s singing about a faithless lover, the next she’s crooning “Oh, baby, I need you.” Her mind changes from track to track, and so does her style. It’s Alicia Keys like you’ve never heard her before. “As I am,” Keys’s newest album release, shows that she isn’t afraid to experiment with new sounds: she attempts a blues track, and even a little rock. Not every artist can stay the same forever, and it’s commendable that she’s trying new sounds. However, she seems almost too nervous to fully embrace the changes she’s made. With time, Keys could develop into a superstar across several genres, but its

going to take more than “As I Am.” Despite her musical genre identity crisis, though, Keys is still as smooth as they come in today’s R&B scene. Her voice glides effortlessly in out of her own familiar piano-driven hooks, and with powerful ballads and strong, velvety vocals, her songs deliver powerful beats and perfect harmony. Stand-out tracks like “The Thing About Love” emphasize her voice over the cascading piano for which she’s always been known. But as always, Keys can’t decide, and this vocal-heavy change isn’t permanent: a progressive piano-only intro coupled with the song also acts as a mood setter for the album. Keyes shows off her licks

SHOUTOUT

on the piano in nearly every track As well as experimenting with her own musicality, Keys is also learning to collaborate. Couple her with John Mayer on “Lesson Learned” and the finished song is a melancholy groove sesh that sounds like a break-up on prom night. Keys puts forth raw vocals and a solid drum in the background. Her lyrics can be simple to the point of frustration, and she deals with almost every type of love imaginable; however, her voice is honest enough to make up for it. This is especially true in “Teenage Love Affair,” a poppy track with an old school sound and a jumping chord

progression. Lyrically, the song’s shallow. But then again, so is teenage love. In the track “Superwoman” we hear a great piano hook with a little twist. This song talks about the things that are happening in the world and how women are prevailing over them. And although you would expect her to scream the vocal because of the power of the song, she keeps it moderately toned down. “As I Am” shows that Keys isn’t afraid to try out new sounds. However, its going to take more than this album to make her into a multi-genre star.

LOOKINGBACK

• BOB DYLAN MENTIONED ALICIA KEYS in his 2006 song “Thunder on the Mountain” from his album, “Modern Times.”

“I was thinkin’ ‘bout Alicia Keys, couldn’t keep from crying / When she was born in Hell’s Kitchen, I was living down the line / I’m wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be / I been looking for her even clear through Tennessee.” When Slate Magazine asked Keys in an Aug. 11, 2006 article how she felt about the reference, she said she was “crazy excited about it” and “honored to be on his mind.”

UNPLUGGED (2005)

DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS (2003) SONGS IN A MINOR (2001) » Alicia Keys official Web site

issue

7

SPORTS

of Harbinger staff 24 Playing the right cards Member evaluates prospective players BY

for 2008 Royals season

» jordandietrich

Just when you thought the baseball season was over, 2008 off-season news hit the media waves. In fact, New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez announced his

free agency the same day the Red Sox won the World Series. Other stars such as Barry Bonds and Kansas City’s own Mike Sweeney have also tested the mar-

ket. All 30 Major League Baseball teams are interested in making off-season moves, whether they are through free agency or within their organization.

For the Kansas City Royals to become a competitive team in 2008, the front office needs to evaluate the different aspects of their club.

SS

1B

AVG: .267 HR: 4 RBI: 47

AVG: .221 HR: 3 RBI: 21

Ryan Shealy

Tony Pena Jr. Tony Pena Jr. provides an interim solution until AA SS Angel Sanchez is ready. Pena Jr. lacks the power (.356 SLG) and the plate discipline (highest strikeout ratio on the team) to be an everyday shortstop. At best, he will become a respectable late-inning defensive replacement.

Ryan Shealy was hurt for the majority of 2007. Based on the 2006 season, he has poor plate discipline but great power. Remember, he hit 23 homers in his senior year at Florida. If he doesn’t improve his plate discipline, he will be the second coming of Steve Bye-Bye Balboni.

Verdict: Groom Angel Sanchez for the 2009 season or search the free-agent market.

Verdict: Prepare Billy Butler for 1B

Featured player:

Alex Gordon C AVG: .222 HR: 18 RBI: 48

John Buck Big bad John had a streaky season last year, after stroking 16 homers before the all-star break and only two afterwards. At 27, he should get one more year to develop into a consistent batter, meaning a .250 batting average. If the necessary progress isn’t made before June, don’t be surprised to see minor league-backup catcher Paul Phillips in the starting lineup. Verdict: Keep a wary eye on him.

2B AVG: .302 HR: 6 RBI: 51

Mark Grudzielanek After signing Grudzielanek to a contract extension, the Royals are committed to him – and that’s not a bad thing. He is one of the most consistent guys on the team, both with the bat and the glove. He was named Royals’ Player of the Year in 2007. Only his age will hamper him (35). Verdict: Draft a 2B with a high pick in the 2008 draft.

The 2007 Season: After an abysmal start to a hyped-rookie season, Gordon bounded back with a vengeance – second on the team in runs batted in, second in homers, and first in stolen bases. Look for him to become a team leader vocally and statistically in his second year of professional baseball. He will evolve into the most dynamic 3B in the game. Verdict: Place him on the “no-trade” list. 3B

AVG: .247

HR: 15

RBI: 60

Fast Fact: In 2006, Gordon batted .325 with 29 homers and 101 RBIs in Double-A and earned multiple Minor League Player of the Year awards.

SP

LF

W: 9 ERA: 3.56 SO: 156

AVG: .264 HR: 6 RBI: 62

Gil Meche

Emil Brown

Last season’s results prove that Meche was worth the money that year ($55 million for five years). He was the Royals’ Pitcher of the Year and was selected to the All-Star game. This year, Meche must have more run support (second least in MLB last year). If he does, Meche could become a 16 game winner. Verdict: Start him on opening day.

If the Royals do not find another option for LF, it looks like Brown may be the guy. He led the team in RBIs despite limited playing time. However, his age (34) and glove (a Manny-like .972 fielding percentage) prohibit him from being a part of the Royals future. Verdict: Find a power bat replacement so they can release him.

CF AVG: .260 HR: 7 RBI: 58

David DeJesus DeJesus had a down year, after three consecutive seasons of hitting at least .270. Although his Beltran-like speed potential never emerged, several teams have expressed interest in acquiring him. The Royals have the option to trade him because speedy Joey Gathright is in the wings. Verdict: Trade him for a starting pitcher or power bat.

RF AVG: .285 HR: 7 RBI: 60

Mark Teahen Mark Teahen handled the transition from 3B to RF relatively well, only committing six errors (he committed 14 in 2006). Expect more gap power since he will be fully recovered from his shoulder surgery by spring training. He will be one of the main components to a successful season for the team. Verdict: Hit him fifth in the lineup.

Do these free agents fit the Royals’ scheme and budget? Good fit OK fit

26 nov.

2007

Poor fit Hiroki Kuroda (SP, W: 12, ERA: 3.56, SO: 165) Seems to be in twilight of career

Jose Guillen (RF, AVG: .290, HR: 23, RBI: 99) Fills desperate power need

Eric Gagne (RP, S: 16, ERA: 3.81, SO: 51) Strains Royals’ budget

Kyle Lohse (SP, W: 9, ERA: 4.62, SO: 122) Could always use another young arm

» renli

25

SPORTS

With impressive records and talented players, KU and MU have proven to be

the real deal anopinionof

» samkovzan

The Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers are two of the best college football teams in the country. Just savor that for a moment. This season has witnessed traditional powerhouses such as Florida, Ohio State, USC and Oklahoma suffer losses eliminating them from championship contention. Among the teams left in the title hunt are Kansas and Missouri, and I can assure you, that’s where the two rivals deserve to be this

year – at the top. Prior to the 116th installment of the Border War at Arrowhead Stadium last Saturday, the Jayhawks and Tigers were both alive for a bid to New Orleans on Jan. 7 for the BCS National Championship. Second-ranked and undefeated Kansas took on one-loss Missouri, the thirdranked team in the nation. You’d have to go back to the Civil War to find a Kansas-Missouri battle with higher implications. Everyone knows the winner by now, but one thing remains certain. KU and MU belong in the national spotlight for the remainder of the season. Forget the national critics who think they’re not battle-tested. The Jayhawks and Tigers are for real and can play with the best of them. --By the time late November rolls around, football usually takes a backseat to what Kansas is known best for – basketball. This time around has been much different. Creating a level of excitement larger than himself, Mark Mangino is in charge of a team that has never been ranked higher in the program’s history. Heck, the last time Kansas started this well was in 1899 when James Naismith was coach of the school’s basketball team. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that KU had a non-

conference schedule a good high school team could have gone undefeated in. Furthermore, the Jayhawks didn’t have to play Texas or Oklahoma, the two giants of the Big 12 South. But it’s not like KU has been squeaking by teams every week. They’re beating them into the ground by an average score of 46-14. And unlike so many other teams thus far, Kansas has avoided beating themselves. The Jayhawks have prided themselves on playing disciplined football, having the number one turnover margin in the country. They are also the least penalized team in the Big 12. Of all the improvements Kansas has made, the most important has to be their road performance, which includes road victories at Texas A&M and Oklahoma

“

The last time Kansas started this well was in 1899 when James Naismith was coach of the school’s basketball team.

”

State. These are the kinds of games Kansas would have lost in the past. In every road game this season, there were moments in the second half where it seemed as if KU was about to falter as they held slim leads. Just when things got interesting, something big would happen - a long touchdown pass, a fourth down stop, or a kick return - and Kansas would be in fine position to win. Finishing teams off is just one more thing the team has proven they can do this year. Switching sides of the border, Gary Pinkel coaches the strongest offensive squad in the country. Considering the fact that that I can’t ever remember Missouri punting, and that they have scored at least 30 points in each of their first 11 games, the Tigers boast an offense that LSU would have trouble stopping. A lot like Kansas, the Tigers have made a habit of dismantling opponents. Through their first 11 games, Missouri failed to win by at least two touchdowns only twice. There is only one other team in the country who

Lancer Opinions

”

“ » annaleek

MU should, but KU shouldn’t. KU has an easier schedule than Missouri and that’s why they are undefeated. They have too high a ranking and should have a lower one.

Logan Dover Junior

Terrance Thomas Senior

has won just as convincingly – their cross-state rivals. For those who think Missouri isn’t as advertised, the Tigers’ loss at Oklahoma is the most respectable defeat among each one-loss team left in the BCS standings. LSU lost against unranked Kentucky, West Virginia lost to unranked South Florida, and Ohio State lost at home to Illinois. Missouri would have undoubtedly handled Oklahoma in Columbia. Missouri’s spread offense, led by undersized quarterback Chase Daniel, has yet to be stopped by anyone. Listed at 6-0, Daniel a healthy 5-10 and less than 220 pounds. However, while he is not the prototypical quarterback, he is one of the most productive passers in the nation. Daniel has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown for 30 touchdowns through 11 games. Many comparisons can be made between Daniel and KU’s Todd Reesing. At 5-11, Reesing has a touchdown to interception ratio of eight to one and has the second best quarterback rating in the Big 12. It has ultimately been these two who have led their respective teams throughout the fall. Their performances have been impressive enough to grant each of them an outside shot at the Heisman Trophy, as well. And with both returning next season, the quarterbacks will have more opportunities to show the legitimacy KU and MU possess. --Throw all this stuff together – the overachieving quarterbacks, the road wins, the margins of victory, the explosive spread offenses – and you get two pretty darn good football teams that would give any other team in the country fits. So don’t get worked up if someone secondguesses Kansas or Missouri. The two schools have a great opportunity to prove they are for real in the upcoming bowl season, and I believe they will. It wasn’t long ago when KU and MU were ecstatic just to get to a bowl game. Now, both have come close to accomplishing something no one in the world expected they would back in September. Just savor that throughout the holidays.

How they match up

Do you think KU and MU should receive a bid to the BCS championship game?

“

» renli

Yes, both of them do. They’ve both been playing well, and they deserve the publicity they’ve been getting.

”

Last Season- KU Points per Game: 29.0 Points Allowed: 25.5 Avg. Rushing Yards per Game: 176.4 Avg. Passing Yards per Game: 197.7

Last Season- MU Points per Game: 30.1 Points Allowed: 19.5 Avg. Rushing Yards per Game: 149.5 Avg. Passing Yards per Game: 276.2

This Season- KU Points per Game: 45.8 Points Allowed: 14.2 Avg. Rushing Yards per Game: 210.6 Avg. Passing Yards per Game: 289.5

This Season- MU Points per Game: 42.5 Points Allowed: 23.0 Avg. Rushing Yards per Game: 172.3 Avg. Passing Yards per Game: 334.0

Stats as of Nov. 17, 2007

Stats courtesy of kansasjayhawks.com and mutigers.cstv.com

issue

7

SPORTS

26

it’s not always BLACK

I am white. I am 5’9”. Well, 5’10” in shoes and 6’0” in programs and my dreams. And I play varsity basketball. Now you know as much about my basketball skills as my grandpa Myron does. And yet, all I hear from him is how good a shooter I must be or how tough I must play. » clarkgoble He hasn’t seen me play since I was playing Biddy Basketball, but just because I’m height-challenged and white, he assumes I must have those characteristics. A white player can’t be athletic or have “enormous potential” or be able to take the ball into the lane and score. Not a white guy. No chance. *** Fifth grade. New team, new coach. He tells me before our first tournament to be “ready to shoot it.” I guess my three-year-old worn-down Air Garnetts, my prior high scoring game of eight points and the fact I had never played in a premier league made him think I was an elite shooter. The first team we draw in the tournament is the KC Blue, one of the toughest, most bad-ass teams Kansas City has ever seen. Their reputation for running up the score was talked about all the time on the blacktops during recess. “We lost by 50,” one kid would say. Another claimed he was dunked on. In fifth grade. Their team is all-black, as are their coaches and fans. I’m shaking as the referee throws the opening tip. Before my team remembers which way we are going, we’re down 12-0. Our coach rolls his eyes, runs his hands through his hair, probably prays that the next

breaking the stereotypes

hour will go by quickly, and calls timeout. He gives us the generic “pep-talk.” I miss it, however, because all I can hear is screaming from the other team’s huddle. The Blue’s coach is a 6’6”, 250 lb. bear of a man in a red polo with a simple phrase emblazoned over the front pocket, “Big Dog.” He’s screaming at his players for not scoring more points. I’m tempted to tap the guy’s shoulder and say, “You know, you guys are winning 12-0,” but I decide not to make an incident of it and stay in our huddle. “They shouldn’t have a shot by now!” Big Dog screamed. “They’re just white boys. All they do is shoot! Cover ‘em!” Just white boys. All they do is shoot.

The worst thing was that in fifth grade, I couldn’t hit the water from a boat, let alone make a 15foot jump shot. I keep quiet and try to think of ways to score without shooting. I thought about that one for a long time. We end up losing by 60, and the crowd heckles us until the final whistle. “Keep shootin’ white boys!” “Can’t go in the lane, whitey!” I leave the gym

• G Ray Allen- Boston Celtics- African-AmericanWhen you talk about shooters, Ray Allen has to be at the top of the list. He is second all time in threepointers made with 1920 behind Reggie Miller’s 2560. He is 6’5” but dunks rarely. • G Allen Iverson- Denver Nuggets- African-American- AI is better known for his high scoring and shot attempt numbers, but he does play solid defense when he wants to. He has averaged 2.3 steals per game in his 11 year career. • F Brent Barry- San Antonio Spurs- CaucasianBarry won the 1996 Slam Dunk Competition and remains the only Caucasian to win the event. His one-handed slam from the free-throw line changed many people’s perspectives on a white dunker. • F Chase Budinger- Arizona Wildcats- CaucasianBudinger is a former All-American volleyball player who can dunk with the best in the college game. His jumper is very inconsistent.

wanting to work on my jumpshot. *** That wasn’t the only time I’ve experienced people assuming what basketball talents I must have because I’m white. In eighth grade, I played in a GABL all-star game and my coach benched me after I drove into the lane and missed a layup. He told me to just shoot jump shots from now on. A black kid who took an open three-pointer but drew nothing but backboard was told to “never shoot a jumper again.” This coach knew nothing about our talents since this was our first time playing with him as our coach, but he assumed he did. Last year in a JV game, as I roamed around the threepoint line looking for a pass, the opposing team’s bench yelled “Shooter!” even though I don’t think I had hit the rim in any of my three shots so far. In no way am I suggesting that these stereotypes of players are always wrong. Heck, about half of the time, they are true. There are plenty of black players who can dunk and drive the ball and don’t play defense, but there are also tons that can’t dunk, shoot the ball incredibly well and guard like madmen. LeBron James fits the stereotype, but Bruce Bowen doesn’t. Vince Carter does; Ray Allen doesn’t. The same goes with white guys. Sure, you can say that all some white guys can do is shoot and play hard defense, but others can’t draw iron from outside 10 feet and slack off on the defensive end. J.J Redick fits; Chase Budinger doesn’t. While the statistics show there are more black guys in the NBA than white guys, it doesn’t mean black guys have to be better basketball players. You take a random white guy in the world and a random black guy and half the time, the white guy will be better, and half the time, the black guy will be better. My point is that you can’t know for sure what types of talents a player has just because he is black or white, has a Mohawk or cornrows, or went to public or private school. Each player has developed their skills differently, whether through GABL or AAU or their rundown goal in their back yard. Making premature judgments about their skill sets is flat out wrong. *** Oh, and as for Big Dog? We played the Blue again later during my fifth grade year. And sure enough, we lost. But something was different. Our seventh man was making shots. Our center was making three-pointers. It felt like whatever we threw at the basket, it went in. The margin of defeat this time was six instead of 60. I had 16 points, most of them layups and short jumpers. Big Dog came up to me after the obligatory shaking of the hands. “Hey, man,” he said. “I was wrong about you white boys. Ya’ll can play!” Big Dog changed his stereotyping ways. Why shouldn’t all of us?

nba.com

here are some NBA and college players whose looks don’t tell the story you might think

2007

WHITE

Making assumptions about the talents of a basketball player based on the color of their skin is a mistake

anopinionof

26 nov.

and

» alexanderson

Junior Winn Clark is one of four returning letterwinners on this year’s basketball team and is expected to a take a big scoring leap. He talks about his first dunk, his expectations for the team and how difficult practices are.

“

On practices- They are really hard. Coach Hair really works us. The practices are hard but the games are fun and it makes it all worth it in the end. On his first dunk- It was the Honda Classic [an AAU tournament]. I stripped some kid, took it the length of the court and two-hand thundered it. Coach Winters [his coach] was in awe. On his best play- It was in eighth grade. My team was down two, and I gave up what I thought was the game-winning layup for the other team, but the kid missed it. I grabbed the ball and shot it from halfcourt and drilled it to win. We all went to Johnny’s afterward. On his start in basketball- I think I started in kindergarten in a YMCA league. We were “Team Clark.” On Friday’s game at SM South- We’re going to make it rain. That’s all I need to say. On his best game as a player at East- It was Olathe Northwest my freshman year. I had like 15 rebounds in the first half of the JV game and I got to play varsity. I also got my first varsity point in that game, so I remember the whole night pretty well. On her team expectations- We all want to go 25-0 and win the state title. It’s hard to expect an undefeated season, but that’s what we’re striving to do. On his favorite player growing up- It had to be Michael Jordan. He did so many things well and he always stepped up in the high-pressure situations.

» samanthaludington

”

winn clark junior • basketball

» samanthaludington

Clark and the rest of the boys’ basketball team take on Shawnee Mission South Friday at 7 p.m. Last year, the game at South was full during the third quarter of the JV game, which means you should try to get there by 6:15 p.m. to get a seat and 6:00 p.m to get a good one. South’s gym, however, is bigger than East’s and can hold more fans.

the first four games Friday, 11/30 @ SM South

“

“

”

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. It was faster and stuff, but I still thought I could hang with them.

“

It was a lot more fast-paced and everything, but I felt OK with the whole game. It’s different from JV but not that different.

”

senior Mike McRoberts, basketball

senior Matt Modrcin, swimming

“

My first match wasn’t really any different than some of my other ones except there was that varsity pressure. senior Chris Anderson, basketball senior David Webb, wrestling

”

fantasyland

”

Week 13 Top Players Jordan Dietrich 9-1 1334.12 pts. Clark Goble 7-3 1123.44 pts. Sam Kovzan 6-4 951.44 pts. Alex Anderson 5-5 1124.98 pts. Nick Ratliff 4-6 1091.48 pts. Auto-Draft 4-6 995.82 pts. Sarah Luby 4-6 990.96 pts. Sam Logan 1-9 719.90 pts.

Playing back-to-back nights is always tough. The Lancers need to bounce back quickly to come away with a victory.

point COUNTERPOINT NO YES

ISSUE: Should the Patriots go for perfection and keep playing their starters through Week 17?

The Patriots have been merciless in beating everyone into the ground so far this season. Why should Bill Belichick, who seems to want to win every game by at least 50 points, hold them back? With an easy upcoming schedule that includes home games against the Jets and Dolphins, New England will have the chance to get up five TDs at halftime and then put the scrubs in. No matter what, they cannot take it easy down the stretch. The 2005 Colts started 13-0. Then the starters were benched, they lost two of their last three regular season games, and were one and done in the playoffs. Winning is a habit, and as long as the Pats continue to roll, no one will stop them. -Sam Kovzan

We give you our fantasy football tips, from who to trade to who to acquire Harbinger League Standings no-name big game? as of week 11

QB- Ben Roethlisberger vs. CIN RB- LaDanian Tomlinson @ KC WR- Terrell Owens vs. GB TE- Kellen Winslow @ ARI K- Nick Folk vs. GB DEF- Minnesota vs. DET

Thursday, 12/13 Friday, 12/14 Hy-Vee Shootout vs. Ruskin @ Olathe Northwest

Ruskin was 29-1 last year and finished Rivalry? check. Intense envi- The Vikings’ Todd Eils is a atop the Super 25 over Blue Valley ronment? Check. A good game three-point specialist and West. They may have lost some talent featuring two top Sunflower could keep this one close. to graduation, but 29-1 is 29-1. League teams? Check.

in my first VARSITY game... Intimidating. [John] Cook and [Brandon] Barnds were all over me and talking trash on me and stuff. Then Wiley [Wright] switched my races. It was just difficult.

Friday, 12/7 vs. SM West

27

SPORTS

5 minutes with...

playoff tips

from Yahoo! Sports’ Andy Behrens

RB Leon Washington, NYJ WR Jerheme Urban, ARI WR Brandon Jones, TEN WR Sidney Rice, MIN

Bill Belichick has to bench his starters when the Patriots clinch a first round bye and homefield advantage. Their last three opponents of the season had a combined 921 record going into Week 12, with the Giants accounting for seven of those. Backup QB Matt Cassel has looked decent in “garbage time,” and could potentially beat the AFC’s two worst teams, Miami and the New York Jets. Belichick is easily the best coach in the league at plugging in backups and still winning, and if the Pats are 13-0 with three games left, there’s no reason to believe that Cassel and Co. can’t win the last three. The Giants pose the biggest threat to spoil their potential perfect season, and the Giants could be playing for their own playoff lives. Even if backups can’t complete the perfect season for New England, the Patriots should at least save Montana and Rice—I mean Brady and Moss, for the playoffs, and eventually, Super Bowl XLII. -Mike Hake

waiver-wire wonders QB John Beck, MIA- OK, so the Dolphins are bad. But they will fall behind early and need to throw a lot. WR Shaun McDonald, DET- Kitna has been spreading the ball around lately. McDonald benefits.

• Look at matchups, but don’t make bold changes just because your backup running back is playing the Raiders and your starter is playing the Titans. Play the teams who may rest starters who’s not who’s hot better player in most cases. during the final weeks QB Phillip Rivers, SD QB Tom Brady, NE • Don’t go for broke. If you have a QB-WR combo from WR Terrell Owens, DAL RB Larry Johnson, KC Cowboys, Colts, Packers the same team, you could either get a lot of points or WR Braylon Edwards, CLE WR Hines Ward, PIT very few. Play it safe in the playoffs.

issue

*picks are consensus of sports staff

7

PHOTOESSAY

28

Singing for Chipotle

Above: Choir teacher Tracy Ressugie directs the men’s choir as they sing “Silhouettes” in the Chipotle restaurant that they just ate at. They arrived at Chipotle after singing at the first six elementary schools. »karenboomer

The men’s choir goes on the annual “Chipotle Tour” as they sing for the students at 10 elementary and middle schools and stop for a lunch break at Chipotle

Above: Seniors Matthew Meinking, Jonathan Firth and Thomas Henry load the bus after performing at Highlands Elementary School. The men’s choir needed three buses to transport them to every school. » karenboomer Left: A student at Highlands Elementary School claps his hands after the choir president, senior Thomas Henry, introduces himself to the audience. “The Chipotle tour is really fun because I get to talk to all the little kids at every school we go to. I encourage them to join choir when they get to East,” said Henry. » karenboomer

26

nov. 2007

Eating: Members of the choir watch the aftermath of a car wreck along 75th Street as they finish their Chipotle burritos. It took the 100 choir members about an hour to get through the line at Chipotle this year. They spend the rest of the time going from school to school to sing. This year they sang four songs: “I’m a Jayhawk,” “Kiss the Girl,” “Night on the Cattle Range” and “Silhouettes.” » karenboomer