The Harbinger 19-20: Issue 10

the harbinger.

S H AW N E E M I S S I O N E A S T 7500 MISSION ROAD PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS 66208 F E B . 1 0, 2 0 2 0 VOLUME LXII ISSUE 10

Although negotiations have come to an end between the SMSD and the NEA-SM, concerned teachers and students continue to dispute the district and the Board of Education’s final decision

02 | INSIDE COVER

cover design by | lila tulp cover photo by | julia percy

ONLINE

PREVIEW @smeharbinger

@smeharbinger

@smeharbie

STORIES

THE GRAMMY’S: ALBUM OF THE YEAR

STUDENT’S VOYAGE INTO BLOGGING

A staffer’s opinion on who deserved the album of the year at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards.

Junior Molly Schumm writes “Pink Peony” blog to help jump start her fashion career.

by | kaia monaco

by | tommy paulus

CARTOON | RIVER HENNICK

“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a fantastic comeback under immense pressure...We are proud of you and the great state of KANSAS. You are true champions!”

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

A B O V E Sophomore Auggie Hyde collects hydrogen gas during the Rocket Lab in chemistry. photo by | annakate dilks A B O V E English teacher Samantha Feinberg and Kevin Kinsella record the rally in support of teachers Friday morning. photo by | taylor keal

STAFF LIST PRINT EDITORS Lila Tulp Carolyn Popper Caroline Chisholm ONLINE EDITORS Ben Henschel Jackie Cameron ASST. PRINT EDITORS Catherine Erickson Rose Kanaley ASST. ONLINE EDITORS Lauren West Riley Atkinson ASST. DESIGN EDITORS Celia Condon Sarah Bledsoe HEAD COPY EDITORS Carolyn Popper Jackie Cameron ASST. HEAD COPY EDITOR Natasha Thomas PHOTO EDITORS Aislinn Menke Kate Nixon ASST. PHOTO EDITORS Sarah Golder Trevor Paulus Julia Percy VIDEO EDITORS Maggie Schutt Ryan Gossick Lawder DeSantis ASST. VIDEO EDITOR Sydney Williams BROADCAST EDITORS Alex Dinyer Lucia Barraza ASST. BROADCAST EDITOR Natalie Scholz Megan Stopperan PHOTO MENTORS Noelle Griffin Megan Biles Megan Stopperan STAFF WRITERS Lyda Cosgrove Kaia Monaco Caroline Gould Caroline Wood

Kate Heitmann Cesca Stamati Lily Haw Grace Tucker Peyton Moore Kelly Murphy Jilli Foley Campbell Wood Winnie Wolf Sophie Henschel Brynn Winkler Elizabeth Mikkelson Tommy Paulus Lauren Dierks Sydney Newton Emma Brown Lily Billingsley Allison Wilcox Phoebe Hendon Grace Allen Annabelle Moore Lydia Underwood Maddox Mogenson Sydney Decker COPY EDITORS Ben Henschel Lila Tulp Carolyn Popper Jackie Cameron Caroline Chisholm Natasha Thomas Sarah Bledsoe Brynn Winkler Lydia Underwood Catherine Erickson Rose Kanaley Campbell Wood Lauren West Phoebe Hendon Jilli Foley Allison Wilcox Sydney Newton Riley Atkinson Lily Billingsley EDITORIAL BOARD Ben Henschel Brynn Winkler Caroline Chisholm Carolyn Popper Catherine Erickson Jackie Cameron Lauren West Lila Tulp Natasha Thomas Riley Atkinson River Hennick Rose Kanaley Tommy Paulus

Phoebe Hendon Sarah Bledsoe Lydia Underwood SECTION EDITORS EASTIPEDIA ONLINE Kelly Murphy EDITORIAL PRINT Tommy Paulus NEWS PRINT Sophie Henschel & Campbell Wood ONLINE Phoebe Hendon OPINION PRINT Annabelle Moore ONLINE Gabby Caponecchi FEATURE PRINT Sydney Newton ONLINE Brynn Winkler A&E PRINT Elizabeth Mikkelson ONLINE Sydney Decker SPORTS PRINT Allison Wilcox ONLINE Lydia Underwood ADVISORS Lucia Barazza & Alex Dinyer PAGE DESIGNERS Caroline Gould Caroline Wood Kate Heitman Cesca Stamati Lily Haw Grace Tucker Peyton Moore Kelly Murphy Jilli Foley Sophie Henschel Elizabeth Mikkelson Tommy Paulus Lauren Dierks Sydney Newton Emma Brown Lily Billinsley Allison Wilcox Grace Allen Annabelle Moore Maddox Mogenson

STAFF ART EDITOR River Hennick STAFF ARTISTS Sophie Henschel Gabby Caponecchi Lyda Cosgrove STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS MJ Wolf Maggie Merckens Emily Pollock Hadley Chapman Emma Kate Squires Maggie Klump Reily Moreland Elise Madden Taylor Keal AnnaKate Bilks Lucy Kostner VIDEO STAFF Olivia Olson Natalie Scholz Lawder Desantis Evelyn Roesner Ryan Gossick Maggie Schutt Sydney Williams Roberto Galacia PODCAST EDITOR Lydia Underwood Sophie Henschel SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lilah Faye SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Annabelle Moore Maddox Mogenson SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF Kaia Monaco Megan Stopperan Reilly Moreland Gabby Caponecchi ADS MANAGER Sydney Newton CIRCULATION MANAGERS Campbell Wood Anna Stover SOCIAL CHAIR Lila Tulp Reilly Moreland CONTEST COORDINATOR Catherine Erickson

design by | tommy paulus cartoon by | river hennick

THE EILISH E F F EC T

EDITORIAL | 03

FOR: 8 AGAINST: 3 The individuals on the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those that disagree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by against.

While some believe exposure to mental health issues will worsen things like anxiety and depression, it will actually help teens connect to it

“S

tep on the glass, staple your tongue.

Bury a friend, try to wake up... cannibal class, killing the son. Bury a friend, I wanna end me,” 18-yearold singer and songwriter Billie Eilish says in her dark hit single “Bury a Friend.”

“For an artist who’s a part of a generation that can sometimes be criticized for being too sensitive to microaggressions, trigger words, etc., it’s confusing to me that she would be so celebrated for writing songs that romanticize murder, suicide, and… the devil,” Monica Moser, a freelance journalist wrote.

Despite Moser and other’s aversion to Eilish’s out-there lyrics, ever since Eilish hit mainstream music, her songs revolving around depression, suicide and mental health issues serve as a voice for teenagers going through hardships themselves.

No matter what age you are, people don’t deserve to feel pressure to stop listening to music they can relate to in some way just because real life topics are frowned upon in the mainstream music industry due to the sensitivity that lies within them.

The majority of Eilish’s songs hold a dark and eerie underlying meaning, branding Eilish a controversial subject to several teenagers’ parents, mentors and therapists skeptical of her songs on their teens’ playlists. The reason for their worries seems to come from ideas that Eilish romanticizes murder, suicide and other topics fairly sensitive for the radio.

Though most of Eilish’s listeners belonging to the millennial or Gen-Z age groups, older generations have stated their opinions concerning Eilish’s music — they’ve deemed her songs unfit for adolescents’ ears.

Adults recall their teenage years spent listening to songs such as “My Girl” or “Don’t Stop Believin’,” two tracks that highlight the stark contrast in time and movement of the music industry itself.

For years, artists vying for Top 40 spots have shied away from writing and producing songs that reference depression or dark thoughts and mentalities. Eilish, on the other hand, writes songs revolving around her mental health journey that many teenagers can relate to.

“I don’t want to be dark, but I genuinely didn’t think I would make it to 17,” Eilish said in an interview with CBS’s Gayle King before recalling one incident in Berlin when she was alone in her hotel room.

“I remember there was a window right there,” Eilish told King, adding that the only thing that stopped her was thinking of her mother. “I remember crying because I was thinking about how the way that I was going to die was, I was going to do it.”

Although within the last six months, Eilish has been working on her mental health, making it her mission to share her struggles and help others

EDITORIAL POLICY The Harbinger is a student-run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff.

Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The contents and views of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quoted material may be confirmed with sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Harbinger will not edit content though letters may be edited for clarity, length, libel or mechanics. Letters should be sent to room 413B or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com

who may be suffering as well.

Standing on stage at the 2020 Grammy Awards, Eilish won five Grammys, four of them being the biggest awards at the Grammys.

Eilish took home Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year and the award for Best Pop Vocal Album. She is now the second artist in Grammy history and the first woman ever to win these four awards.

Eilish’s wins have signified a necessary moment in music history, one where mainstream artists are being celebrated for addressing mental health and sensitive subjects in their work.

We’re used to hearing songs on the radio with lyrics about falling in and out of love with the same overused beat, but teenagers are more complex than that. Artists like Eilish are now stepping out of the box to produce songs about more serious topics that most are too quick to shy away from.

According to I need a LightHouse, a depression and suicide education awareness program, approximately 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood. If artists truly want to connect with younger audiences, they can’t brush mental health aside.

Eilish continually publicly stresses the importance of teen’s asking for help when they need it or reaching out to others when they think they need it.

In fact, since May of 2019 Eilish has taken part in a partnership with the Ad Council, releasing a new PSA video for ‘Seize the Awkward.’ The PSA was a video interview with Eilish stressing the importance of seeking help, making her a clear advocate for mental health.

“I think when people hear, ‘Remember to take care of your mental health,’ they think that everyone else is, and that is not at all accurate,” Eilish said in the video. “You know, for me I’m trying to learn still to make sure that I stay okay.”

Songs such as “Listen Before I Go” or “Bury a Friend” can serve as comfort for those who feel hopeless.

“Listen Before I Go” is a song about one on the verge of committing suicide, but talking to their significant other before. This song can serve as a sign to seek help for these suffering teens, leaving the ultimate message of the song up to that individual.

According to Eilish, “‘Bury a Friend’ is “...literally from the perspective of the monster under my bed. If you put yourself in that mindset, what is this creature doing or feeling? I also confess that I’m this monster, because I’m my own worst enemy.”

“Bury a Friend” gives teenagers or people struggling the chance to address their feelings and seek help if needed.

More than ever, mental health has become something that people aren’t afraid to talk about — but does this hold true in the music industry? Sure, there are songs about breakups and heartbreak, but rarely do you come across a song that discusses some of the darkest times of those suffering depression, anxiety or any other mental health problems.

It’s up to artists such as Eilish to spark conversations about mental health so it can be freely talked about, especially in the world of mainstream music.

04 | NEWS

design by | sophie henschel photos by | sarah golder

Catch up on news around the school, the state and the nation

NEWS

POLL

HIGHLIGHTS

Do you know about the PTSA hosting a Valentines day flower and candy sale?

INSTAGRAM POLL | 194 VOTES

Have you had the flu this year?

INSTAGRAM POLL | 422 VOTES

74% NO 26%

YES

55% 45%

NO

YES

by caroline gould

EAST

PTSA hosting Valentine’s Day candy and flower sale

EAST’S PARENT TEACHER Student Association (PTSA) is hosting a Valentine’s Day flower and candy sale to raise money for the organization.

The deadline for all orders is Feb. 11, and they will be picked up on Valentine’s Day by the recipients during lunch. Orders will be delivered to teachers as an extra treat.

To order, students can use the QR code found on the flier for the sale. All the money raised will be used to benefit the PTSA, which works to improve the school.

Gift options include different assortments of carnations, such as pink, red and white flowers, and boxes

of candies in either big or small boxes.

Prices range from $3 for a small box of chocolate to $24 for two dozen, longstem carnations and vary in between.

“It depends on what they’re interested in,” Tiffonie Dirks who runs the PTSA said. “You can do flowers or candy or you can do flowers and candy, so it depends on who you’re ordering for.”

According to Dirks, these gifts can be given to any special person in your life — from friends to family to faculty members.

“It makes the person that they’re buying it for feel good, and it’s a nice way to share kindness,” Dirks said.

I B E T I T F E E L S A M A Z I N G TO B E T H E Q UA RT E R BAC K W H O S AYS “ I ’ M G O I N G TO D I S N E Y WO R L D ” A F T E R W I N N I N G T H E S U P E R B OW L PAT R I C K M A H O M E S | 0 2 /0 6 / 1 3

M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R P R E S I D E N T ’ S D AY N O S C H O O L | F E B . 1 7 P R O F . L E A R N I N G D AY N O S C H O O L | F E B . 1 8 B OA R D M E E T I N G | F E B. 2 4 J U N I O R AC T T E ST I N G | F E B. 2 5

LOC A L

Kansas City celebrates a Chiefs Super Bowl victory

AFTER A 50 year wait, Kansas City celebrates the Chiefs’ win against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

After the win, Chiefs’ Quarterback Patrick Mahomes starred in the Disney World’s celebratory parade, followed by the rest of the team coming home to celebrate with the city on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in a parade.

The parade started at 11:30 a.m. and made its way through downtown Kansas City, starting at Grand Boulevard and Sixth Street and ending at Union Station for a victory rally, according to KMBC News. The parade was also streamed, so all fans were able to watch.

Mahomes also left Miami as a Super Bowl MVP, being one of the only two quarterbacks

to hold this title before their 25th birthday.

While the game started off reassuringly for KC fans with the Chiefs in the lead, the 49ers soon caught up, leaving the Chiefs trailing by 10 points through the third quarter.

The Chiefs made a comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns, which was no surprise to fans, coaches and players as they never had doubt, according to Mahomes.

“We kept believing,” Mahomes told CNN. “The guys really stepped up. They believed in me. I was making a lot of mistakes out there early. We found a way to win it in the end.”

N A T I O N A L National flu outbreaks across country WITH THE FLU spreading throughout the world, the 2019-20 flu season is on track to be one of the worst in years, according to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

2020 is on its way to being just as severe as the 2017-2018 flu season, which was the deadliest in four decades, Fauci told CNN. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that there have been an estimated 15 million flu illnesses and at least 8,200 deaths this flu season.

According to School Nurse Stephanie Ptacek, there was an uptick in the flu reports at East around two weeks ago, and 2% of students have been at home with the flu since that increase.

“This flu season seems to be a little different because the flu seems to be presenting itself as cold symptoms a couple of days before the fever hits,” Ptacek said.

Ptacek also has noticed that the flu is found in groups, such as teams or classes.

“This might make it seem like there are more kids out than there really are, but it’s just pockets,” Ptacek said.

There are still ways to avoid contracting the flu. According to Ptacek, while this year’s flu shot doesn’t seem to be covering Influenza B, a particular strain of the flu, it is still important to get a flu shot as it can decrease the severity of symptoms and duration.

Along with that, Ptacek encourages students to not share water bottles, cover coughing and sneezing and be aware that the flu lives on surfaces for 48 hours, so it can be spread through touch.

According to Ptacek, it’s never too late to get the flu vaccine. Vaccines are still being administered at drug stores such as CVS and Walgreens.

NEWS | 05

design by | grace tucker photos by | hadley chapman

A REDO IN The teacher’s lounge will be remodeled with the help of StuCo A B O V E This is the layout of what the new teacher’s lounge will look like. All of the tables, chairs, and couches will be placed in these arrangements.

M I D D L E This photo contains all the current furniture and vending machines that are in the teacher’s lounge pre-remodel.

R I G H T Here is the current kitchen in the teacher’s lounge.

COST B R EA K D OW N

1 2 3 4

C H A I R S , TA B L E S & C O U C H

$7,200 P O P C O R N M AC H I N E

$275 CO M P U T E R D E S K

$120

C O F F E E TA B L E

$150

A N D M O R E D E TA I L S SCAN ME | POWERPOINT Scan this QR code to Katherine Hamilton’s Power Point over the teacher’s lounge remodel.

R E L A X AT I O N

A

fter three months of work, the fourth floor teacher’s lounge remodel is underway.

As requested by the administration, StuCo put $5,000 into the remodel to give teachers a more inviting, comfortable environment for their breaks. The change was anticipated by teachers needing a work space, as many have to share classrooms.

There weren’t really problems, but it wasn’t very uplifting and wasn’t comfortable. It [had] kind of grey, prison colored walls almost. It just wasn’t very exciting to go in there.

hannah pence | math teacher The current teacher’s lounge was originally built in 2008 and hasn’t been updated since then. The tables and chairs especially needed to be replaced, as they came from a library in the 80s, according to Assistant Principal, Britton Haney.

In the coming years, East hopes to expand their staff, meaning multiple teachers will be assigned to share one classroom. Haney wants the lounge to be a place for teachers to meet and collaborate.

“There weren’t really problems, but it wasn’t very uplifting and wasn’t comfortable,” math teacher and StuCo sponsor Hannah Pence said. “It [had] kind of grey, prison colored walls almost. It just wasn’t very exciting to go in there.”

Most teachers visit the lounge on their break to make phone calls, microwave food, use the refrigerator or take some time for themselves, according to Pence.

“It’s their space to go away,” Pence said. “You want it to feel comfortable for teachers. You don’t want it to feel dirty or gross or boring.”

During first quarter, Haney approached the StuCo board for approval to fund the remodel. By late October, the interior design class was involved making plans and design ideas for the lounge. The students then presented each of their plans to the

faculty board.

The board ultimately decided on sophomore Katherine Hamilton’s layout, but took pieces from the other students’ ideas as well, according to Pence.

After a fresh coat of paint, rearranged layout, new computer table, coffee table and appliances — such as vending machines and a popcorn machine — Haney feels the the lounge is already coming together to be a more inviting environment.

“The paint was done over break and we did have a couple teachers who were like, ‘Oh my goodness, I never realized how much just a coat of paint would make a difference’,” Haney said.

The remodel has not only been a fresh start for a more comfortable and relaxing environment, but a chance for students to get involved in the school while applying their skills. In addition to getting help from interior design students, they are now looking to involve the wood working classes by having them construct big “SME” letters to display on the wall.

“It’s a big response to what teachers want,” StuCo Treasurer Ian Gould said. “But it’s also a big opportunity for a bunch of students to come together to apply what they’ve learned.”

The remodel is expected to be finished by spring

We’re excited to be able to give a gift back to faculty.

hannah pence | math teacher break, as they are still waiting on new tables and chairs, a second refrigerator and more East-themed decor. In the mean time, teachers are enjoying the brightened walls and refurbished layout.

“We’re excited to be able to give a gift back to faculty,” Pence said. “We’re just trying to incorporate and include as many kids as possible in helping us plan this awesome space for our teachers.”

06 | NEWS

R O O M M AT E 1 0 1

*names changed to protect identity

by carolyn popper

W

hen Senior Chelsea McLaughlin* received her first Instagram DM regarding a college roommate request, she immediately clicked on the girl’s account to scroll through photos.

She looked nice — from what McLaughlin could tell. Each of her posts received at least 100 comments, while McLaughlin’s pictures

I just found myself scrutinizing every detail of this girl’s life because you think it’s gonna be a huge deal that you’ll live with this person.

chelsea mclaughlin | senior averaged 14. The multitude of comments was especially impressive, considering the girl just wasn’t pretty. The girl wore Adidas superstars in one of her most recent posts, the type of shoes McLaughlin and her friends wore freshmen year. But they just weren’t in style anymore.

“It’s fine that she was wearing them because that doesn’t affect what kind of person you are,” McLaughlin said. “I just found myself scrutinizing every detail of this girl’s life because you think it’s gonna be a huge deal that you’ll live with this person.”

McLaughlin’s method — using social media photos as a gauge to assess roommate compatibility — is a strategy that rarely works, according to Director of Housing Operations Jenn Doughty at the University of Oklahoma. Doughty believes a college freshman’s roommate sets the tone for the college experience.

avenues

assignments while Kanaley tried to ignore the lights and clacking of computer keys. During the day, her roommate napped, watched Netflix and skipped class. Sometimes, she set her alarm for 4:30 a.m. to finish the homework she couldn’t complete at 1 a.m.

But Kanaley was the one who woke up to the alarm, not her roommate — to which the girl responded, “It’s not my fault I don’t wake up to my alarm.”

Kanaley asked her to work at night in places other than their shared 12-by-12-foot room, like the library, community lounge on their dorm floor or even the hallway.

Kanaley made the argument that while her roommate’s homework could be done anywhere, she couldn’t sleep anywhere. Her roommate countered saying the room was hers too, meaning she should be able to do work when she wanted.

Because so many of Kanaley’s friends were in the same dorm, she stayed even though she feared of being yelled at upon entering her own dorm room. She assumes there must have been a mistake made in her questionnaire process; she and her roommate had glaring differences in their schedules. Going random held so much promise to Kanaley. She always preferred it over the prospect of rooming with a friend or “shopping” for a roommate within Facebook groups.

According to senior Maddie Reed, joining a school’s Facebook group is a rising strategy used by incoming freshman in the roommate search. In it, they post photos of themselves and mini biographies. The bios range from lengthy lists of their interests like going out, reading or playing sports to brief explanations of where they’re from and if they plan on rushing sororities. Reed found the process intimidating, as most girls are

to

choose

a

college

roommate — some better than others

WHO WHY

Social media is one of the avenues students turn to to find their college roommate, while some rely upon going “random” by filling out a compatibility questionnaire. The different processes incoming college freshmen use to find a roommate can lead the formation of best friends or enemies.

Previously, Oklahoma University provided a questionnaire offering over 20 questions such as “Where are you from?,” What’s your major?” or “What kind of music do you listen to?” But after years dealing with roommates who wanted nothing to do with each other before even moving in or who squabbled over matching comforters, the questionnaire shifted.

Instead of asking what your favorite sports team is or what your major is, the revised questionnaire opted for questions that best indicate your lifestyle such as “Will you bring people in the room?,” “Are you a slob or neat freak?” or “What time are you getting up?”

East grad and current Santa Clara University sophomore Anna Kanaley went the “random” route. She filled out her school’s roommate questionnaire and waited to be paired with a compatible roommate — Doughty finds roommates have the best luck through this approach. Kanaley was excited to go random so she wouldn’t have the false expectation of a perfect friend based on social media photos. And for the first quarter, she and her roommate were best friends.

“She’s a perfectly nice person; we were best friends first quarter,” Kanaley said. “But we were just not compatible roommates.

Which sucks because it ruined a friendship.

We don’t talk to each other anymore.”

Starting the second quarter, Kanaley’s roommate fell behind on homework.

She stayed up all night finishing missed

?

High schoolers are offered multiple

posting their very best photos.

McLaughlin was also unsettled by the heavy dependence on photos. She spent hours sifting through which pictures of herself would attract the right roommates.

Was it a good thing her arm looked as if it was holding a drink? Maybe that would steer away the people who didn’t maintain the same social schedule. She wondered how she could choose a roommate based on three photos and knowing she’s a communications major.

But East grad and University of Nebraska junior Bria Foley found her college roommate by doing just that: picking and choosing between different photos, texting with strangers, trying to speculate whether they would be best friends or not according to their 150-character bio.

“It’s so hard to base a roommate off of pictures,” Foley said. “It’s almost like speed dating.”

Foley and her roommate, Sophie, didn’t study the same major and got into different sororities. But they both preferred to work at night, so no one minded the lights on. They went out together and grabbed dinner at the dining hall. Both Foley and Sophie had similar friend group experiences in high school, so they knew what they were looking for in a friend — loyalty. According to Foley, their personalities vibed so well that they became best friends almost immediately.

Next year, they’re moving in together to an on-campus apartment.

“You go to college to get a degree, but you’re also getting an enormous toolkit of life skills,” Doughty said. “No matter who you are or where you are at some point in your life you will have a roommate whether it’s a sibling, spouse, parents, children. You need to learn how to live with someone.”

design by | lila tulp

RA TIPS ACCORDING TO MEREDITH FINLEY , a 2017 East alumni and an RA and junior at the University of Iowa, communication is the most important factor in resolving roommate conflicts.

1.

Having a roommate agreement, or a signed document, stating the “ground rules;” like not stealing someone’s clothes or how quiet you have to be when you wake up for your 8 a.m.

English 101 class.

I got around to every room on my floor and [made] sure that they’ve done a roommate agreement and then we talk about it out loud.

If you’re at a school that doesn’t do roommate agreements, I think it’s still a really good idea to create one.

2.

3.

If you have the option to pick your roommate, try and pick someone who matches your personality — talking with a potential-futureroomie on the phone can help out.

A lot of times random roommates either get along and have completely opposite schedules or they’ll have the same schedules and they’ll hate each other.

Everything boils down to communication.

If you’re rooming with someone that you’ve never met or never to spoken to before, you’re sharing that space. You have to be considerate of the other human living in your space.

R O O M I N G S TAT S THE MOST COMMON SITUATION for firstyear students is to have one roommate, with no roommates and two roommates being nearly tied for second at only 13% and 12% respectively. Only 6% of students have three or more roommates.

PERCENTAGE OF FIRST-Y EA R STUDE NTS HAVING EACH NUMB E R OF ROOM M ATE S

RILEY KIMMEL , a 2019 East alumni and freshman at the University of Kansas, said living with three other girls, two of whom she didn’t know prior to living together, in a suite-style dorm can help reduce conflict and add excitement.

JONAH GOLDER , a 2018 East alumni and sophomore at Tulane University, found his roommate through a mutual friend and said that having honest conversations with your roommate is the best way to avoid conflict.

1.

1.

A suite-style dorm can be perfect for friends who want to live together but also meet new people.

We could each have a roommate and if our roommates are annoying us we’d have each other , and we could also meet new people.

2.

3.

Not being with the same person all the time helps reduce conflicts.

You’re not with the same person and so you don’t get really frustrated because you’re not constantly with the same person. It honestly balances it out because we even each other out and [keep each other in check].

It isn’t always a good idea to live with your best friend.

2.

13.2% 70.3% 12.4% 6.1%

O N E R O O M M AT E

We are pretty much on the same page and it comes down to [being able to call] each other out. We’ll both [pitch in,] it’s a very combined effort.

Living with someone you don’t know super well can make it easier to have conversations.

It’s nice to be with a new person because I feel like I could be more honest,” Golder said.

“There’s no reason to lie to someone you don’t even know just to room with them.

3.

I think if I were to room with one of my best friends I would know them so well that I would get really frustrated at times. “[My roommates and I] are still getting to know each other, which is exciting because each day you learn something new about each other.

N O R O O M M AT E S

Don’t be afraid to call your roommate out when something is bothering you, even for something as simple as their water bottle being on your desk.

But being honest when rooming with a high school friend is even more crucial.

I think if you’re rooming with your friend it can completely work, but I think you should have an honest conversation before about your living style. I think with your friend you need to be even more honest, both people [have to have a dialogue] and communication.

PERCENTAGE OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS RESPONDING AVERAGING 6 OR HIGHER (EXTREMELY)

SOCIAL INTEGRATION

39% 41% PEER CONNECTIONS

ON QUESTIONS

56%

RELATED TO SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT BY

44%

WHETHER THEY HAVE A ROOMMATE

ON-CAMPUS SOCIAL

52%

OR NOT

T W O R O O M M AT E S

T H R E E P L U S R O O M M AT E S

48% STUDENTS RESPONDING

SATISFACTION

AVERAGING 6 OR

60%

HIGHER (EXTREMELY) ON QUESTIONS RELATED TO INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT AND

40% COMMITMENT

SATISFACTION BY

60%

WHETHER THEY HAVE A ROOMMATE OR NOT.

40% NO ROOMMATE

ROOMMATE

*INFORMATION COURTESY OF SKYFACTOR MAPWORKS

08 | NEWS

design by | rose kanaley

A N E W MISSION Construction on the Mission Gateway project is progressing after years of unfinished development

Construction on the Mission Gateway project is progressing after years of unfinished development

T H RO U G H T H E Y E A RS A time line of the plans and construction of Mission Gateway

2005

2 01 9

PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION ON MISSION GATEWAY BEGAN

CONSTRUCTION OFFICIALLY STARTED ON MISSION GATEWAY

2017

2020

THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS APPROVED

DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION IS PROGRESSING

2022 C O N ST R U C T I O N I S E X P EC T E D TO B E COMPLETED AFTER 17 YEARS

W H AT TO LO O K FO R ?

L U X U RY A PA RT M E N TS

A B O V E Construction has begun on the Johnson Drive lot for the Mission Gateway project after 15 years. photo by | elise madden

T by

kate heitman

he construction of the Mission Gateway project on Johnson Drive has progressed over the past few months after the project saw a number of delays over the years.

The Mission Gateway project will feature an entertainment space, office space, food hall, retail space, apartments and a hotel. The project is being managed by Cameron Group LLC and GFI Development Company LCC with a budget of $220 million.

The 100,000 square foot office project will bring about 350450 employees to the Johnson Drive corridor and attract even more people to the shops along Johnson Drive, according to East graduate Ross Simpson senior vice president of Colliers International, a broker of the project.

Several stores on Johnson Drive are excited to see progress at Mission Gateway.

David Miller, co-owner of Werner’s Fine Sausages said that he is pleased to see progress on a site that has been vacant for several years. Janie Weeks, co-owner of Ad Astra Market, agrees.

“I think it is a great fit for Mission. It will bring more people down here, which will be good for us too,” Weeks said.

Freshman Josie Gowen is excited for Mission Gateway as well.

“I like hanging out at Oak Park [Mall], but really all you do there is walk around so [Mission Gateway] seems like a good place that is equal distance to me [and my friends] that would be a good place to hang out and to actually do stuff,” Gowen said.

To draw people to Mission, a large part of the lot will be occupied by Cinergy, an entertainment company. Cinergy will feature movie theaters, bowling lanes, a zip-line and more.

Currently, the Cinergy building is being constructed and is expected to open at the end of 2020. The foundation of the 1,100 space parking garage has been poured and further construction will begin near the end of February.

With the construction of the hotel starting in the spring, Cameron Group has a permit, and a general contractor chosen along with a finalized design. The construction of the whole

I like hanging out at Oak Park [Mall], but really all you do there is walk around so [Mission Gateway] seems like a good place that is equal distance to me [and my friends] that would be a good place to hang out and to actually do stuff.

josie gowen | freshman project is being built in different portions and finished at different times.

According to Simpson, the office building plans to start construction in 2020.

The food hall will feature a full-service restaurant by Chef Tom Colicchio, a judge on “Top Chef,” and 14-17 food stalls and communal seating. Some of the kitchen will be used for cooking classes and events as well. Above the food hall, there will be a rooftop deck that can be used for events.

The apartments will feature a fitness center, pool and barbecue area. The hotel will also feature a pool and a meeting room.

According to Matt Valenti of Cameron Group LLC, all construction should be finished at the end of 2022.

What shops and places to look for in the new complex once it’s completed

SHOPPING

B OW L I N G

FOOD HALL M OV I E T H E AT E R

design by | annabelle moore

OPINION | 09

OPINION

HIGHLIGHTS A look into student opinions and the opinion section

VA L E N T I N E ’ S D AY O P I N I O N S DO YOU HAV E A N Y VA L E N T IN E’S DAY T RADITIONS ?

THE WEEK IN 280 C H A R AC T E R S A F T E R T H E K A N S A S C I T Y C H I E F S WO N O N S U N DAY, T H I S P L AY E R M A D E S N OW A N G E L S I N T H E C O N F E T T I , T H E N PA I D O F F T H E A D O P T I O N F E E S F O R M O R E T H A N 1 00 S H E LT E R D O GS — W H I C H I S P RO B A B LY O N E O F T H E M OST W H O L E S O M E S U P E R B OW L C E L E B R AT I O N S O F ALL TIME C B S N E W S | 2 /03 / 2 0 T R U M P L AW Y E R A L A N D E R S H OW I T Z A RG U E S I N T H E

Every single year, my family and I go to one of the hibachi restaurants where they cook your food in front of you, and I think that’s a big reason why Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday.

stella mckinney | junior

I M P E AC H M E N T T R I A L T H AT A Q U I D P RO Q U O T H AT B E L I E V E S T H E P R E S I D E N T P O L I T I C A L LY I S F I N E B EC AU S E A L L P O L I T I C I A N S B E L I E V E T H E I R E L EC T I O N S A R E I N T H E P U B L I C I N T E R E ST , A N D T H E R E F O R E , H E H A S N O CO R R U P T M OT I V E NBC POLITICS | 1/29/20

W H AT ARE YO UR T H O UG H TS O N VAL E NT I N E ’S DAY AS A H O L IDAY ?

D O N ’ T WO R RY A B O U T T H E C O RO N AV I R U S . WO R RY ABOUT THE FLU BUZZFEED NEWS| 1/29/20

I feel that Valentine’s Day is a holiday perpetrated by brands such as Hallmark to boost sales, and it’s just a boring holiday. I like the candy that comes with it, though.

TO N I G H T W E H O N O R T H E L I F E A N D L EGAC Y O F KO B E B RYA N T BY R E - A I R I N G T H E F I N A L GA M E O F H I S L EG E N DA RY N B A C A R E E R . YO U C A N F O L LOW A LO N G WITH US HERE

logan potter | junior

ESPN | 1/28/20

VA L E N T I N E ’ S D AY D AT E S I D EA L DATE SP OTS IN T H E O P IN I O N O F ST U D E NTS WHER E | BLA DE A ND TIM BE R

O P I N I O N AT E D ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW AVOCADO AND OTHER FOOD IMPORTATIONS ARE EFFECTING OTHER COUNTRIES? | 291 VOTES

77% NO

HOW M UC H | $ 18 FOR 1. 5 H OU R O F T H ROWI N G

23% YES WHER E: A M C DINE - IN PR A IRI E F I R E 1 7 HOW M UC H | TICKE TS R A N GI N G F RO M $ 7-1 0 P E R P E RSO N

WOULD YOU RATHER STAY HOME WHEN YOU’RE SICK OR STICK IT OUT AND GO TO SCHOOL? | 367 VOTES

63% HOME WHER E | TOPGOLF

37% SCHOOL

HOW M UC H | $ 27 PE R BAY, P E R H O U R

DO YOU BELIEVE ABORTION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL WOMEN? |356 VOTES WHER E | LIDIA ’S KA NSAS CIT Y HOW M UC H | M EA LS R A N G I N G F RO M $ 1 0 - 6 5

12% NO 88% YES

10 | OPINION

SCARED OF THE

design by | jilli foley photo by | noelle griffin

Students feel too pressured to come to school while they’re sick, eventually spreading illness to more students

SICKNESS

A

by lily haw

s I lay in bed at 11:38 a.m., I wonder what class I’d be in right now — health. While thinking about the notes over our emotions and self esteem we would be taking with Henton, I fall back into my stack of pillows, just to have another cough attack. Barking and wheezing, I struggle to pay attention to the work I am supposed to be making up. I had already been stressing out from missing the first five hours of the day — little did I know I was going to miss the next three days of classes.

For many teens, missing school can be agonizing. So painful to the point people have started to come to school while they’re still sick, spreading their illness to their closest

Now tat we have seven classes to keep up with, there’s so much pressure to be at school no matter what.

lily haw friends — creating a cycle that seems never ending.

I fell victim to the sickness cycle: I was stuck at home for six days, measuring my temperature every hour hoping it’d be nearing 98.6°.

For about a month, now the flu has been going around and has infected a majority of the school. Walking through the overcrowded halls you can hear the coughing and sneezing of people who are too sick to be at school, but for some reason keep showing up.

In elementary school and middle school, it was easy to miss a day of school because you weren’t feeling good or you had a headache, but it’s a lot harder in high school.

Now that we have seven classes to keep up with, there’s so much pressure to be at school no matter what. You’re scared to miss a Biology test or the class where your teacher is stubborn and refuses to go over previous lessons.

According to Shawnee Mission School District’s (SMSD) website, “For each person with a case shall remain in home isolation for seven days following onset of illness or for the duration of illness if the case is immune-compromised, except when seeking medical care.”

Sure, this policy is in place, but that doesn’t mean it’s not often ignored. Students are coming to school when they’re sick because they’re scared to miss class and don’t want to exceed the maximum of 10 absences. Let me tell you from personal experience — please, don’t come to school when you’re sick.

During your time at home, you can be catching up on homework, resting or drinking necessary electrolytes.

If you have been diagnosed by the doctor with the flu, run the humidifier, follow your doctors orders and stay home.

If you are looking for something aside from Netflix to keep you busy, you can check the internet for some ideas.

According to Health Sessions, you can take a nice relaxing bath, browse through old cookbooks for some recipes you would like to try — or if you’re not feeling like getting up, you can curl up with a blanket and some tea and have a movie marathon Students need to be able to relax, which can be hard to do — I totally understand — but they need to know when it’s time to stop and take a break. We shouldn’t feel like we have to go to school when we’re so sick we can barely get out of bed, let alone breathe.

Teachers can help combat the sick-at-school issue by by ensuring they post every homework update and notes powerpoint online and be willing to help students, no matter how much school they miss. Teachers could even record their lectures or students could Skype or FaceTime in to follow along with the class.

By coming to school sick, you run the risk of spreading your disease/illness to everyone else around you. Even though it seems difficult and can be annoying, I’m begging you, do us all a favor, and stay home when you’re contagious.

KEEPING UP

How to stay on top of your school work while at home sick

FACETIME IN FaceTime someone in your class so you can listen to lectures and take notes from your bed

GOOGLE CLASSROOM Check Google Classroom to see assignment posts and the calendar if your teacher has one

EMAIL TEACHERS Email your teachers to find out what you’ve missed and get worksheets not on Google Classroom

TEXT A CLASSMATE Text a friend in your class to help you learn the missed material

A B O V E Staffer believes that sick students shouldn’t try to tough it out and come to school when they are sick.

INFLUENZA FLU SEASON UNDER REVIEW

1-4 DAYS the typical amount of time it takes for symptoms to appear — as one ages, it could take longer to appear.

2 WEEKS the time it takes for a vaccination to develop in the body

5-20 PERCENT of the population will catch the flu annually

DEC.THROUGH FEB. the average length of the flu season in the United States

*information courtesy of cdc.gov

OUR

OPINION | 11

design by | allison wilcox

by gabby caponecchi

G

rowing up as a female in America has always been a struggle. Women have fought for our right to vote, to work and are still fighting for equality. But our ability and ambition to fight is being tested again, it seems. Kansas state legislature is reviewing their original abortion ruling and are divided on the best strategy to overcome the existing KS Supreme Court ruling that guarantees a right to abortion.

On the topic of abortion, I identify as pro-choice, meaning I advocate for legal access for induced abortion services — up to the third trimester of pregnancy. Without diving into specific details, I support the right for women to choose what they can and want to do with their bodies.

If a woman wants to have a job, she should be able to have a job. If a woman wants to get married, she should be be able to get married. The same goes with abortion. Let women dictate their own lives, not white men sitting in offices in Topeka. A state legislature shouldn’t rule differently on subject matter like this, which would take away the right for me to control my body and the bodies of all women in Kansas.

States such as Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia have banned abortion at 6-8 weeks — which is considered the time of “heartbeat.” Alabama has banned abortion altogether, except in the case that a woman’s health is at risk.

Women need to maintain the right of having access to abortions the safe way. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 25 million unsafe abortions occur each year. Women use techniques like inserting sharp wires into their bodies or pumping toxic mixtures in the direction of the fetus. This is unsafe for women and the statistics are concerning. The Guttmacher Institute reported that in parts of the world where abortion remains illegal, botched abortions — abortions that have gone wrong — cause about 8-11% of all maternal deaths. This is about 30,000 a year.

There are many factors that play a role in what prompts a woman to consider if a pregnancy is unwanted — financial inability to support a child, whether the birth would bring harm to the mother or

SCAN ME | WEBSITE Learn more about the current regulations on abortions across the U.S.

C H O I CE Women should be entitled to the choice of an abortion during pregnancy

if conception was rape. A woman who is physically assaulted shouldn’t have to carry her assailant’s baby. What is she going to tell her daughter every time she asks about her father?

A baby is considered “full-term” at 39 weeks, meaning the fetus is developed to a point where doctors will not perform an abortion, except in the case of a critical health situation for the mother.

Many pro-life advocates argue that abortion, no matter the development of the fetus, is murder. But it should be the decision of the mother to decide whether the cluster of cells in her uterus should become a baby — not anyone else’s.

According to National Child & Maternal Health Education Program, during the second trimester, the baby is only at 14-26 weeks. What states like Utah and Arkansas — who’ve banned abortion at 18-22 weeks — don’t seem to understand is how long it may take a woman to make her decision.

Personally I know that if I was faced with the option of having an abortion, I would turn it down.

I would always wonder what my kid would’ve been like and would have personally regretted not knowing who they could’ve become. Saying that, I still believe in the right for each and every women to be able to have and make that decision. I can be pro-choice and I can also not want to have an abortion.

We have pushed for women to become independent and not rely on men when it comes to income, education and more. However, men have continued to give their constant opinion over what happens to our bodies. In May 2019, 25 male politicians in Alabama voted to ban abortion within the state. Men who have continued to give their constant opinion on what happens to our bodies.

They voted for abortion to be illegal in any state of pregnancy for women — but how is that fair? It isn’t.

Women in the past have built their lives around affording the American women of the future the rights they deserve. The KS legislature shouldn’t be allowed to waive those efforts. We’re still struggling with discrimination and a fairly allocated wage — controlling our own bodies and the difficult situations it could present shouldn’t be added to that list. If men can’t have children then why should they force women to.

91%

OF ABORTIONS IN 2015 WERE IN THE FIRST 13 WEEKS

*Information courtesy of CNN

31%

T R I M E S T E R B R E A K D OW N 1ST TRIMESTER The body forms the embryo and within a week the spinal cord, heart and brain begin to develop. Development of facial features, eyes, ears, nasal passage, arms, legs, hair follicles, mouth and taste buds begin. By the end of this trimester the baby’s sex organs will have formed.

W E E KS 1 -1 2 2ND TRIMESTER The baby is three inches long and weighs about 1 oz. During this time the muscles develop and babies can recognize voices. The liver and pancreas are also strengthened.

W E E KS 1 3 - 2 4 3RD TRIMESTER By the 3rd trimester all of the baby’s organs have developed and the womb increases. The baby also gradually moves into a head-down position and is near birth. By the end, the baby weighs between six and ten pounds.

W E E KS 2 5 - 3 6 Information courtesy of Healthline.com

OF WOMEN IN 2015 GETTING ABORTIONS WERE AGED 20-24

12 | OPINION

design by | grace allen photos courtesy | imdb.com

TO TH E

CO R E

Staffer believes people in the U.S. need to be more mindful of whats going on behind the foods we love, based off of the documentary Rotten.

by lily billingsley

E

very month there’s a new food trend that I somehow end up spending all of my summer lifeguarding money on. First Watch’s avocado toast is my go-to and I’m guilty of spending $15 on an acai bowl that I could easily make at home with ingredients in my fridge. We eat whatever is trendy — but we need to be aware of what is going on behind the scenes of the latest “healthy” food phenomenons.

Thousands of items in the United States can be traced back to some sort of crime and corruption, whether it’s organic honey or a 100% chocolate bar from Whole Foods. Production of honey is causing bees to go extinct and bottled water is hurting the environment and creating water shortages in the nations where they are being packaged. One third of citizens in Fiji lack access to clean water while corporations ship out millions of bottles a year.

This makes it even more important that we try to stay updated and educated about where our food comes from and how it is produced. Even though you may think your Evian water tastes better than a glass from your fridge, you need to factor in that it costs 10,000 times more to produce bottled water and burns massive amounts of fossil fuels.

One of America’s biggest craze foods is one of the most corrupt industries in Mexico — avocados. Cartels go after avocado farmers in

Mexico, kidnapping them and forcing them to pay ransoms to be freed in order to take some of their profits. If farmers refuse to pay, their farms are burned to the ground. Meanwhile we’re picking up a four pack of guac before our “Bachelor” watch party, not giving it any thought. Educate yourself on where your food is coming from so you don’t blindly support problematic industries. Always rot•ten

a n A meri ca n tel ev i si o n show p rod uce d by Zero Po i nt Zero. I t fo cuses o n p robl e m s i n the p ro cess o f supp l y i ng fo o d.

check for fair-trade labels on your food and keep up with where they’re being produced.

While we’re picking up a bag of kale at Hen House or ordering a quinoa bowl at T. Loft, it’s easy to not think twice about what’s happening behind the scenes. People assume when they’re buying “organic” foods that they are helping the environment, not hurting it. But in reality, the food industry is filled corruption. Cocoa farmers live in extreme poverty and harvesting sugar causes irreversible issues in ecosystems.

In the wake of wildfires and every other Tik Tok mentioning World War 3, it seems impossible to keep up with something as seemingly minuscule as what’s behind the food we’re eating. But with every superfood, there are people buying into trends without realizing the morally wrong processes that are occurring.

It’s unrealistic to avoid every item that was produced in questionable circumstances, especially when we’re not the ones dealing with the consequences. But there’s a difference between not being able to avoid something and throwing it into every meal that you can.

And this shouldn’t just be the job of the consumer. Companies need to let people know where their goods are coming from, and stop

hiding information. The “Avocados from Mexico” jingle doesn’t exactly include the hundreds of kidnappings that are a result of their production.

Even if it doesn’t stop people from buying the foods, the consequences coming from food production will no longer be pushed away from the spotlight.

One of the best ways to combat food industry corruption is to be educated on it from knowledgeable sources. A Netflix documentary, “Rotten,” showcases the corruptions in the food supplying industry. Prior to watching it, my knowledge of the food only went about as far as the label on the bag from Trader Joe’s.

I watched laborers being forced to work in poor conditions that often ended in consequences like kidnappings, meat shortages and droughts And I had never heard of any of it.

When foods become a trend, no one thinks to stop and run a background check, myself included.

But since this documentary, I’ve been educating myself on what I’m putting in my grocery cart.

Paying more for locally grown fruits is a small price to pay to not support the produce causing uproars in Mexico.

SCAN ME | VIDEO Check out the trailer for Season 1 of Rotten.

Companies aren’t transparent about their goods and the processes behind them, and we are too busy hopping on trends to care. So next time you stop by the Mixx for a Thai salmon salad, think about where the ingredients are coming from — and maybe consider buying local products.

I N S ID E S EASO N 1 E PISODE 1: AS T H E D E M A N D FO R H O N E Y

E P I SO D E 3 : GA R L I C BU L B S T U R N E D I N TO A

E P I S O D E 5: P R I C E S W I N GS O N DA I RY

G E TS H I G H E R , B E E S A R E DY I N G O F F I N A L A R M I N G N U M B E RS .

M U LT I - B I L L I O N D O L L A R C RO P, A N D A L AW S U I T

P RO D U C TS H AV E P U T DA I RY FA R M E RS I N

R A I S E S Q U E ST I O N S A B O U T TO P S U P P L I E RS .

A BA D P OS I T I O N .

E P I SO D E 2: S C I E N T I STS ST R U G G L E TO

E P I S O D E 4 : C H I C K E N P RO D U C T I O N I S V E RY

E P I S O D E 6 : T H E F I S H S U P P LY I N D U ST RY

U N D E RSTA N D W H AT H AS C H A N G E D

E F F I C I E N T A N D V U L N E R A B L E G ROW E RS T U R N

FAC E S C R I S E S I N C LU D I N G D U B I O U S

W I T H P EO P L E ’S B O D I E S , W H I L E C H E F S

AGA I N ST EAC H OT H E R A N D L EA D S T H E M TO

I M P O RTS A N D D I V I S I V E R EG U L AT I O N S .

A N D FA R M E RS CO N T E ST T H RO U G H N E W

SA B OTAG E EAC H OT H E R .

CHALLENGES.

FEATURES | 13

design by | sydney newton

F E AT U R E

HIGHLIGHTS

LU CY B ROC K F EAT U R E D ARTIST

CREATIVE THINKING B E L O W Sophomore Maya Salas and freshmen Sophia Hunt sew felt pillows in their Intro to Art class. photo by | maggie merckens

L U C Y ’ S FAV O R I T E TO O L S

S I N G E R / AC T R E S S MUSICAL LEAD

MICROPHONE PIANO

HOW DO YOU WARM UP? “I have different lengths of warm-ups I can do. I can do a ten minute, twenty minute, thirty minute, or forty-five minute warm-up. I haven’t honestly been warming up that much because the range I have to do in this show is pretty low. I don’t really belt anything at all. It’s not very high, the stuff I’m singing. I’ll probably warm up for 20-25 minutes, and do vocal exercises. I do scales, sirens, and practice through all the vowels.”

A B OV E Sophomores Francie Reda and Sadie Mcdonald do a lab during physical science. photo by | emily pollock

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHILE YOUR ON STAGE? “I’m totally in character. Once I start the show, I cry a lot when I perform on stage. The way I perform is I go all in on how the character would

R I G H T Juniors Georgia Cook and Preston Reynolds collect oxygen gas for their rocket lab in chemistry. photo by | annakate dilks

be feeling. I get really emotional. Yesterday, we were going through my song and I was tearing up. That’s always how I’ve been. Once you know the character, you use the character to make your performance real. A lot of it is drawing on stuff you’ve felt in your life so I’ll

RIZZO FROM GREASE | played by lucy brock

get really emotional

during shows, and after shows are over. It really feels like

MARK YOUR CALENDAR F E B R UA RY

10 14 17-18 TH

B o a rd o f E d u ca t i o n M eet i n g

Want to hear what happens at the board meetings? Check out SMSD Youtube channel to listen the the full meetings

WHAT WORK D ID YOU TO U P TO TRYOU TS? “First you have to prepare an audition song. You don’t have to do a monologue for them, some auditions you have to do a little short acting demonstration but we don’t have to for the school musical. I had to pick an audition song and work on it. I was pretty sure I was going to get a call back because I’m a senior and I got one last year. I was

TH

Va l e nt i n es D ay

TH

SCAN ME | BOARD MEETING

I’ve poured a lot into it. “

WANT TO HEAR MORE?

really preparing for callbacks. The way they do it is they

Turn to page 32 for the valentines day alt-copy written

by Sophie Henschel

give you random cuts of music. They give you parts of the different parts of the songs. You don’t know your going to get, so you have to know all of them. That was kind of a lot of work. You have to listen to them on Spotify and try

N o S c h ool | Pres i de nts day wee ke nd K-1 2

to figure out how they go. Once you have the sheet music, you can do a little bit better.”

14 | FEATURES

design by | maddox mogenson photos by | trevor paulus

C U LT U R E I N T H E C L AS S RO O M Going to the Chinese School of Greater KC has helped the Sun sisters have a greater appreciation for their culture

J

by jackie cameron

unior Sienna Sun looks to her sister, senior Sophie Sun, expectantly — she’s waiting for her to throw the light-up green Chinese yo-yo in the air so she can catch it on her own yo-yo string.

Sophie creates momentum, spinning and catapulting the yo-yo in the air (thank goodness the ceilings are tall in the Nelson), while Sienna extends her lonesome yo-yo string for the catch. Success.

For the past seven years, Sophie and Sienna have performed Chinese yo-yo routines at the Nelson Atkins Museum’s annual Chinese New Year celebration with the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City. They’ve learned tricks like “the whip,” and choreographed younger kids’ performances. Sienna even created her own move where she throws the yo-yo up, completes five jump ropes with the string and catches the spinning yo-yo.

On top of high school, the sisters attended this school where they dedicated three hours every Sunday for 12 years until graduating in 2018. During these Sundays spent reading, writing and speaking Mandarin Chinese, both sisters feel they’ve deepened their connection with their Taiwanese Grandma and gained an appreciation for their cultural traditions.

Their dad, Charlie Sun, moved from Taiwan with his parents when he was eight years old. He and his wife, Mariann, enrolled their daughters in the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City so they could learn the language and culture Mr. Sun grew up with.

Mr. Sun had to convince them to attend Chinese School when they first started — his daughters didn’t understand the usefulness of the language, so he used the Chinese yo-yo extracurricular as a “carrot” to get them to go — he knew they loved learning new tricks with the shiny toys. Plus he knew if they began at a younger age, the language would be easier to retain.

“I know what [my family is] saying. I can speak back to

SCHOOL STATS Facts about the Chinese School of Greater KC

them and I also know some of their traditions,” Sophie said. “I can carry those on and enjoy them and really know what the true meaning is.”

The school has around 100 students, and an average of 10 students per grade. The students follow a set curriculum, use a workbook and take regular quizzes and tests like any other school. The only difference is they learn about traditional writing techniques of Mandarin, instead of algebra and biology. Their school year is the same length as a typical public school calendar and, just like Shawnee Mission East, they’re given homework and receive grades.

Although Sophie and Sienna didn’t always appreciate the added homework to their mile-high-pile of Honors English and chemistry work, the two found joy in the FaceTime calls to their grandma over how to make their sentences follow the correct grammar or ways to perfect their strokes on Chinese characters became the norm.

They also used their routine homework sessions to schedule their next lunch date at Bo Lings with their Grandma or listen to the latest updates on her life — all in Chinese of course.

Without her familiarity with the language, Sienna thinks she would be disconnected from her Grandma’s life and traditions.

“I think [learning about the culture] definitely keeps that tradition,” Sienna said. “Taiwanese people definitely try to stick with it and spread it to other people. They’re very open.”

According to Sophie, the classes helped her out when her and Sienna traveled to Taiwan with their family for two months in 2015. Sophie found herself reading street signs and restaurant menus with ease. All those workbook assignments and quizzes allowed Sophie to fully immerse herself in her family’s culture without being held back by reliance on Google translate.

Their Grandma knows the island from top to bottom. Had Sophie and Sienna not maintained a relationship with their hemisphere-crossed relationship relative, the trip would

approx im ate ly

100

stu de nts atte nd

13

clas ses including

have felt far more unfamiliar and the girls more unsure. Their Grandma’s connections also meant they kept up with their schooling, spending two weeks at a local school, shadowing one of their family friends.

In the humid, muggy rooms, the girls sat in classes, listening to history lessons, speaking fragments of English with other students, and helping sweep and clean the bathroom sinks. It was labor that took place in stiflingly hot classrooms, but Sienna found it to be the best bonding time with her classmates. They talked freely about whatever they wanted, whereas during class time, she sat quietly in the back of the room.

Sienna felt her time in Chinese School in Kansas made her more open to embracing the different school style and traditions. Rather than being confused when her lunch was brought to her and other students pulled out their own personal dishes and cups at the Taiwan school, she felt like she was back celebrating Chinese New Year in Kansas. Although she could’ve done with less vegetables because “at least half” of it was greens, she understood the custom.

“If I wasn’t exposed to cultural idiosyncrasies, I feel like I would be more criticizing of the Chinese school in Taiwan,” Sienna said. “But I was used to that already, so it really helped me down there.”

Even after graduating, both sisters are still involved in the school — Sophie serves on the board as an alumni and both help teach yo-yo practice. With the board, Sophie brings a student perspective to topics like what food to offer during snack-times or how to improve the events they host. Instead of pretending to be “asleep” when it was time to go to school like she used to do when she first started, she’s sitting in on board meetings and choreographing younger students’ yo-yo performances.

“It’s really cool that they can learn the language and we have something we can share together,” Mr Sun said.

C H I N ESE HERITAGE

and

CH I N E S E FOR EI G N LANGUAGE

FEATURES | 15

design by | carolyn popper

WAIT,

THAT’S A CLUB? Clubs are a crucial part to East and the community that it provides for students. Though these clubs may not have the highest attendance rates, they give students a setting to work with like-minded peers over common interests by elizabeth mikkelson

ETHICS CLUB IT’S NOT UNUSUAL for Ethics Club meetings to be dominated by strong opinions and friendly arguments. This unique group discusses various controversial topics ranging from genetic engineering to the classic train scenario of sacrificing your own life to save others.

Sponsored by Spanish teacher Jennifer Holder, the club is a place where students with ideas — whether those ideas are political, economical or social — have the ability to express their viewpoints in a safe place.

At each meeting, the leaders choose a topic of conversation that’s relevant in society for the group to think about and discuss different aspects of.

The students take turns voicing their beliefs and the objective is to form a collaborative resolution at the end. The monthly meetings are designed as a Socratic seminar format — giving students an equal opportunity to share

MATH CLUB their opinions.

Juniors Lily Utt and Sophie Rice started the group this school year to give students an opportunity to express their ideas in an organized setting.

“We felt like there wasn’t a place to have an open debate about more controversial subjects,” Utt said.

According the Utt, East has clubs for political-based discussions, such as young Republicans and Democrats club, but not any where there’s general discussion on many controversial topics.

Because of the different people that attend the meetings, it’s common for conversations to become heated during some of the more intense conversations.

“The people that come like to be super vocal so they can really express their opinion” Utt said.

STEM CLUB BEGINNING LAST YEAR, the goal of STEM Club is to expand on the realwork applications of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields taught in school.

Gretchen Raedle, co-president of the club along with Emory Apodaca, felt there was not any kind of club represented at East that was particularly geared towards STEM. At the time of starting the club, Raedle was interested in the STEM field as a career and wanted to expand her understanding and awareness of it by performing experiments.

“When I came back from [an engineering camp], I thought it was something that I’d

FOR MOST PEOPLE, math is a class barely put up with at school — let alone something students want to participate in as an extracurricular activity.

Math Club, sponsored by teacher Christopher Burrows, gives students the chance to work out more difficult equations than they would be able to in school.

But for students like senior Emory Apodaca, founder and president of Math Club, the club is more about the gratification and team aspect that it brings rather than just working out equations.

“Anyone can try [the problems] but most of the time we end up solving them together,” Apodaca said.

A typical meeting consists of eating baked goods supplied by Apodaca and finding challenging math problems for

the group to work on, whether that be handing the problems out on paper or just writing them on the board.

According to Apodaca, most of the club’s participants consist of juniors and seniors in Calculus or International Baccalaureate (IB) math, with the occasional sophomore that attends.

Apodaca tries to choose problems that anyone can do while still providing more challenging ones for the Calculus BC or IB math students to try.

“I try to choose [a problem] that anyone can do at any level,” Apodaca said. “And then one that’s calculusoriented.”

The team is considering going to the Pitt State Math Relays, which would be a change of pace as a more challengebased competition compared to the more relaxed style they have currently.

UPCOMING DATES want to implement at East,” Raedle said.

One of these experiments the club has done in the past is creating Oobleck, a suspension material that can be either a solid or liquid depending upon the way it is held.

When the club does experiments like these, the presidents usually start by going through a slideshow, explaining the procedure the participants will carry out and then applying the topic to a more real-life scale.

According to Raedle, the participants in this club mostly include IB students, with other students joining once they had been reached out to or heard about it.

MONDAY

THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY

2

13

12

STEM CLUB

MATH CLUB

MARCH

FEB.

FEB.

ETHICS CLUB

FOLLOW THE LEADER GRETCHEN RAEDLE & PACEY SALZMAN SENIORS

STEM CLUB

EMORY APODACA SENIOR

MATH CLUB

SOPHIE RICE & LILY UTT JUNIORS

ETHICS CLUB

16 | NEWS Teachers and students continue to voice concerns following the end of negotiations between the SMSD and NEA-SM

photo by | julia percy

TO B E CO N T I N U E D by caroline chisholm & ben henschel

I

n spite of negotiations ending between school district officials and teachers’ union negotiators on Jan. 30 — with a contract approved by the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education — concerned teachers and students are disputing the contract efforts with walkouts and a filed lawsuit as the district looks to move forward.

The approved contract spans three years and is unilateral, meaning details are decided by the district on its own rather than negotiated, since negotiations were unsuccessful. The union, National E d uc at i o n AssociationShawnee Mission, is in the process of questioning the legality of the three-year unilateral contract, as it states in Kansas law that new contracts are to be negotiated yearly between teachers and Kansas school districts.

Student-led walkouts were held across the district on Jan. 31, the day after the BOE’s 6-1 vote. The following school day, 36 teachers were absent at East, and 18 did not file a substitute — serving as a

response to the BOE’s vote, according to several teachers interviewed under the condition of anonymity.

With a shortage of teachers in the building, a large percentage of students left their classes. More than 800 students were called out absent or left the building by the end of school, most of whom were called out as the day progressed. And as a result of the vote and the response, teachers like Stephen Laird have cut their club sponsorships and noncontractual duties — and several others, under the condition of anonymity, are heavily considering resignation.

The NEA-SM, along with some non-union member teachers, is concerned their ability to negotiate their contract yearly will be struck down by the binding nature of the three-year contract, and that their concerns have not been taken seriously by the district. Social studies teacher and NEA-SM representative Stephen Laird raised concerns that teacher liberties would be potentially cut out, due to the district’s ability to change what they see fit without consulting the union.

“In Shawnee Mission, we negotiated something years ago called ‘due process,’ where they cannot remove a teacher without a hearing,” Laird said.

“That used to be, at the time, not that big of a deal because it was law in the state of Kansas, but under [former Gov.] Sam Brownback they took that away.

So we’re one of the only districts in the state that actually has that in our contract. And a lot of us fear that they could take that away… because in a unilateral contract, they can remove whatever they want.”

But, according to BOE Vice President Dr. Mary Sinclair, the SMSD has not and will not cut any teacher privileges from the contract.

The final contract that the BOE approved is comprised of a three-year plan that increases base teacher salary by 1% the first year, 1.25% the second year and 1.5% the third year.

“The contract is a good contract,” SMSD Chief Communications Officer David Smith said. “The contract provides 79% of all the new money. It’s got increases for over the next three years. It guarantees an increase in healthcare this year, and guarantees to cover anything that’s below 7.8% in terms of health increases for the next two years.

There’s a lot there.”

A main issue the NEA-SM emphasized during

negotiations was reducing SMSD requirements from a standard of six teaching hours per day to five. Considering the Olathe and Blue Valley districts currently hold standards of five teaching hours a day, teachers like Ronald Stallard question why the SMSD can’t create a similar environment.

However, the negotiation was never about the money or workload issues, but rather about respect, according to Stallard. He feels as though teacher perspectives have not been prioritized by the SMSD. “For lack of a better term, we are being disrespected,” Stallard said. “There are a lot of teachers I know that are willing to take a paycut and go out of district because it means more to us [to be respected]...We are the ones with the kids every day.”

The SMSD did, however, include language that states workload implementation will begin, not necessarily be completed, during the 2021-22 school year — which is, Sinclair said, a primary reason for why the approved contract spanned three years. The earliest the reduction process could be implemented is in 2021-22, so the contract would have to be three years in length to ensure a clause addressing the issue.

One of the SMSD’s Strategic Plan committees is responsible for diagnosing the best route for reducing teacher hours from six to five. Since additional teachers will need to be hired for the reduction, the team is projecting enrollment for upcoming school years and checking capacity in each SMSD school building for accurate hiring projections, according to Smith.

Questions as to whether or not the district will legitimately address workload issues — which were brought up as concerns by several teachers — need not be worried about, Sinclair said. The SMSD will adhere to the contract, she said, in that the workload issue will be a key priority. The committee’s findings on the issue are scheduled for presentation in front of the BOE in June, which will set the course for the district’s “reaffirmed commitment” to the six-tofive class reduction in 2021-22. “[Research on implementing workload reduction] would’ve needed to happen many yesterdays ago for it to be implemented this coming year, or sooner than the 2021-22 school year,” Smith said. “We have to be able to say, ‘here’s how many kids we have, do we have the space, do we

have to make adjustments to free up space,’ etc. to implement the plan. That certainly takes time.”

The Jan. 31 walkout stemmed from East students’ frustrations with the contract’s inclusions. After cardstock notecards were posted in East hallways urging students to leave their classrooms at 11 a.m., many students walked out of their fourth hour classes to show “support” and “solidarity” for their educators. Hundreds of students gathered on the practice field for an impromptu rally.

Senior and class president Emory Apodaca, who has educated himself with the negotiation process and spoke at a board meeting in support of the NEA-SM, stood in front of the crowd vocalizing his thoughts on the subject.

“These teachers sacrifice for us all the time, every day, and that’s not something that the board sees,” Apodaca said at the walkout. “And it’s important to support that and take action in strikes like this, but also continue to work hard and fight until these teachers can get better contracts, better hours, fewer classes, and a better paycheck. And until then, we won’t have justice.”

Junior Charlie Birt, whose mother is a district teacher and hasn’t received a raise since he was in elementary school, emphasized the importance of paying teachers adequately with the district’s available funds.

“Shawnee Mission has a history of having great teachers in our schools, but it’s time that we pay them what they deserve and not give them negligible pay raises by 1% or 2% max in the next couple of years,” Birt said. “And if we don’t pay our teachers as well as they deserve, they’re going to leave and tank the ratings of our district because we will no longer have the quality teachers or even the necessary amount of teachers that we need.”

Many teachers, like Laird, felt proud of their students for using their voice courageously despite the possibility of facing consequences for skipping class, and appreciative that they did so in support of teachers. Others, however, saw the walkout as a blemish on the students body considering the explicit language used and irrelevant topics introduced by speakers to the crowd — some of whom had little to no background on the negotiations and contract situation.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the intent of the people that put it together was good, it was.”

East teacher Sharon Hughes* said. “Those people

are leaders in our school, people that younger students might look up to and should, but the behavior of some which was evident on [a] video was very disappointing and insulting. For some, it turned into an opportunity to not be in class and to chant things about sports with very vulgar [language]. Disappointing is an understatement.”

After school on Jan. 31 following the walkout, a “what’s next?” meeting was held in Laird’s room to touch base with teachers on how to best move forward regarding the contract. Considering district teachers have until Feb. 15 to either accept the 2019-20 contract, continue working under their 2018-19 contract or resign without penalty, NEASM teachers and some non-union members are still waiting for the union’s legal inquiry to process before deciding.

As this process moves on, Sinclair emphasized her personal intention to keep an open dialogue between her and involved teachers, especially now that she is able to actually communicate openly.

Until the BOE’s final vote, board members weren’t able to comment on negotiations off-table in any fashion.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say that nobody wanted a unilateral agreement,” Sinclair said. “It was the last stop in a very long process of negotiations. But now that we’re there, and I can talk about it and keep that open dialogue, I want to move forward with teachers. We all want to do what’s right for kids and what’s right for teachers so they can help students learn. It’s incredibly important to me.”

For teachers in the union, movement forward will rely heavily on the lawsuit — NEA lawyers combing through the contract to gauge its validity as well as the state’s verdict on whether or not the contract is constitutional. After the negotiations process, Laird said, the trust between the district and union teachers has deteriorated to a point that will take “a long time” to restore.

“Unfortunately at this time, teachers no longer trust this district to do what is right for teachers or do what is right for students.” Laird said. “Morale is the lowest it’s ever been, but at the same time I’ve never seen more teachers fired up.”

16 | NEWS Teachers and students continue to voice concerns following the end of negotiations between the SMSD and NEA-SM

photo by | julia percy

TO B E CO N T I N U E D by caroline chisholm & ben henschel

I

n spite of negotiations ending between school district officials and teachers’ union negotiators on Jan. 30 — with a contract approved by the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education — concerned teachers and students are disputing the contract efforts with walkouts and a filed lawsuit as the district looks to move forward.

The approved contract spans three years and is unilateral, meaning details are decided by the district on its own rather than negotiated, since negotiations were unsuccessful. The union, National E d uc at i o n AssociationShawnee Mission, is in the process of questioning the legality of the three-year unilateral contract, as it states in Kansas law that new contracts are to be negotiated yearly between teachers and Kansas school districts.

Student-led walkouts were held across the district on Jan. 31, the day after the BOE’s 6-1 vote. The following school day, 36 teachers were absent at East, and 18 did not file a substitute — serving as a

response to the BOE’s vote, according to several teachers interviewed under the condition of anonymity.

With a shortage of teachers in the building, a large percentage of students left their classes. More than 800 students were called out absent or left the building by the end of school, most of whom were called out as the day progressed. And as a result of the vote and the response, teachers like Stephen Laird have cut their club sponsorships and noncontractual duties — and several others, under the condition of anonymity, are heavily considering resignation.

The NEA-SM, along with some non-union member teachers, is concerned their ability to negotiate their contract yearly will be struck down by the binding nature of the three-year contract, and that their concerns have not been taken seriously by the district. Social studies teacher and NEA-SM representative Stephen Laird raised concerns that teacher liberties would be potentially cut out, due to the district’s ability to change what they see fit without consulting the union.

“In Shawnee Mission, we negotiated something years ago called ‘due process,’ where they cannot remove a teacher without a hearing,” Laird said.

“That used to be, at the time, not that big of a deal because it was law in the state of Kansas, but under [former Gov.] Sam Brownback they took that away.

So we’re one of the only districts in the state that actually has that in our contract. And a lot of us fear that they could take that away… because in a unilateral contract, they can remove whatever they want.”

But, according to BOE Vice President Dr. Mary Sinclair, the SMSD has not and will not cut any teacher privileges from the contract.

The final contract that the BOE approved is comprised of a three-year plan that increases base teacher salary by 1% the first year, 1.25% the second year and 1.5% the third year.

“The contract is a good contract,” SMSD Chief Communications Officer David Smith said. “The contract provides 79% of all the new money. It’s got increases for over the next three years. It guarantees an increase in healthcare this year, and guarantees to cover anything that’s below 7.8% in terms of health increases for the next two years.

There’s a lot there.”

A main issue the NEA-SM emphasized during

negotiations was reducing SMSD requirements from a standard of six teaching hours per day to five. Considering the Olathe and Blue Valley districts currently hold standards of five teaching hours a day, teachers like Ronald Stallard question why the SMSD can’t create a similar environment.

However, the negotiation was never about the money or workload issues, but rather about respect, according to Stallard. He feels as though teacher perspectives have not been prioritized by the SMSD. “For lack of a better term, we are being disrespected,” Stallard said. “There are a lot of teachers I know that are willing to take a paycut and go out of district because it means more to us [to be respected]...We are the ones with the kids every day.”

The SMSD did, however, include language that states workload implementation will begin, not necessarily be completed, during the 2021-22 school year — which is, Sinclair said, a primary reason for why the approved contract spanned three years. The earliest the reduction process could be implemented is in 2021-22, so the contract would have to be three years in length to ensure a clause addressing the issue.

One of the SMSD’s Strategic Plan committees is responsible for diagnosing the best route for reducing teacher hours from six to five. Since additional teachers will need to be hired for the reduction, the team is projecting enrollment for upcoming school years and checking capacity in each SMSD school building for accurate hiring projections, according to Smith.

Questions as to whether or not the district will legitimately address workload issues — which were brought up as concerns by several teachers — need not be worried about, Sinclair said. The SMSD will adhere to the contract, she said, in that the workload issue will be a key priority. The committee’s findings on the issue are scheduled for presentation in front of the BOE in June, which will set the course for the district’s “reaffirmed commitment” to the six-tofive class reduction in 2021-22. “[Research on implementing workload reduction] would’ve needed to happen many yesterdays ago for it to be implemented this coming year, or sooner than the 2021-22 school year,” Smith said. “We have to be able to say, ‘here’s how many kids we have, do we have the space, do we

have to make adjustments to free up space,’ etc. to implement the plan. That certainly takes time.”

The Jan. 31 walkout stemmed from East students’ frustrations with the contract’s inclusions. After cardstock notecards were posted in East hallways urging students to leave their classrooms at 11 a.m., many students walked out of their fourth hour classes to show “support” and “solidarity” for their educators. Hundreds of students gathered on the practice field for an impromptu rally.

Senior and class president Emory Apodaca, who has educated himself with the negotiation process and spoke at a board meeting in support of the NEA-SM, stood in front of the crowd vocalizing his thoughts on the subject.

“These teachers sacrifice for us all the time, every day, and that’s not something that the board sees,” Apodaca said at the walkout. “And it’s important to support that and take action in strikes like this, but also continue to work hard and fight until these teachers can get better contracts, better hours, fewer classes, and a better paycheck. And until then, we won’t have justice.”

Junior Charlie Birt, whose mother is a district teacher and hasn’t received a raise since he was in elementary school, emphasized the importance of paying teachers adequately with the district’s available funds.

“Shawnee Mission has a history of having great teachers in our schools, but it’s time that we pay them what they deserve and not give them negligible pay raises by 1% or 2% max in the next couple of years,” Birt said. “And if we don’t pay our teachers as well as they deserve, they’re going to leave and tank the ratings of our district because we will no longer have the quality teachers or even the necessary amount of teachers that we need.”

Many teachers, like Laird, felt proud of their students for using their voice courageously despite the possibility of facing consequences for skipping class, and appreciative that they did so in support of teachers. Others, however, saw the walkout as a blemish on the students body considering the explicit language used and irrelevant topics introduced by speakers to the crowd — some of whom had little to no background on the negotiations and contract situation.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the intent of the people that put it together was good, it was.”

East teacher Sharon Hughes* said. “Those people

are leaders in our school, people that younger students might look up to and should, but the behavior of some which was evident on [a] video was very disappointing and insulting. For some, it turned into an opportunity to not be in class and to chant things about sports with very vulgar [language]. Disappointing is an understatement.”

After school on Jan. 31 following the walkout, a “what’s next?” meeting was held in Laird’s room to touch base with teachers on how to best move forward regarding the contract. Considering district teachers have until Feb. 15 to either accept the 2019-20 contract, continue working under their 2018-19 contract or resign without penalty, NEASM teachers and some non-union members are still waiting for the union’s legal inquiry to process before deciding.

As this process moves on, Sinclair emphasized her personal intention to keep an open dialogue between her and involved teachers, especially now that she is able to actually communicate openly.

Until the BOE’s final vote, board members weren’t able to comment on negotiations off-table in any fashion.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say that nobody wanted a unilateral agreement,” Sinclair said. “It was the last stop in a very long process of negotiations. But now that we’re there, and I can talk about it and keep that open dialogue, I want to move forward with teachers. We all want to do what’s right for kids and what’s right for teachers so they can help students learn. It’s incredibly important to me.”

For teachers in the union, movement forward will rely heavily on the lawsuit — NEA lawyers combing through the contract to gauge its validity as well as the state’s verdict on whether or not the contract is constitutional. After the negotiations process, Laird said, the trust between the district and union teachers has deteriorated to a point that will take “a long time” to restore.

“Unfortunately at this time, teachers no longer trust this district to do what is right for teachers or do what is right for students.” Laird said. “Morale is the lowest it’s ever been, but at the same time I’ve never seen more teachers fired up.”

18 | FEATURES

design by | caroline wood photo by | sarah golder

WRIGHTING

H I S T O RY W by campbell wood

hen 8-year-old Dee Wright won her first art contest, it felt like the coolest thing ever. She prided herself in out-drawing all the other kids in the contest, which was announced on an advertisement on TV — her Tony the Tiger drawing from the Frosted Flakes cereal box was articulated with perfect little-kid imperfection.

Dee doodled. Her worksheets and class notes were bordered with designs — even though she got criticized for them by her peers. “But why?” Dee thought. “Was it wrong to express yourself through art?”

But her prize from the art contest told her otherwise — a signed photo of Mr. Green Jeans. Receiving an autograph from a character from one of her favorite TV shows growing up, “Captain Kangaroo,” made her feel that there was a place where someone could cheer for her art.

Since then, Dee has switched roles and is now the one cheering for students’ artwork within the Shawnee Mission School District. As the Vice President for Cultural Arts and East’s Citizenship Writing Contest Chair, she helps organize the district’s art contests: the Citizenship Writing Contest and the Reflections Contest.

Using her own money, she makes personalized awards for the students — engraved pens, personalized composition books and certificates that read “Award Winning Writer.” She wants students to feel proud of what they’ve created. This all stems from her passion for giving kids that Mr.-GreenJeans’s-autograph feeling — the feeling of importance that she wants to bring to kids like her.

“Once you graduate...we then sensationalize the writers, the artists,” Dee said. “We can’t wait to get their books, we can’t wait to watch the movies, we can’t wait to hear their music. Why is it that we don’t get that same respect in high school years? Why aren’t the band members the rock stars?

Why aren’t we going ‘look at the video they made’ or ‘look at the art they made.’”

Dee loves the complex and diverse palette behind art. She loves seeing the different interpretations of the contest’s theme between the 7-year-old’s painting and the senior’s poem.

The Reflections Contest is for students of all ages, while the Citizenship one is only for middle and high schoolers.

But both contests usually stick to more vague themes like “a look within” or “the leader in me.” Dee says this allows the student to choose what message they’d like to convey in their piece.

To Dee, it’s a privilege. She gets to see through the eyes of a younger generation — experience the loneliness and heartache that middle schoolers display in their art, the mental and physical challenges that high schoolers face and choose to give her a glimpse of. It’s courage, and it’s beautiful.

“I don’t feel lost as long as I’m around art,” Dee said.

Both of her now-graduated boys embraced art like she did, with Jackson working towards being a writer and Davis

District cultural arts director Dee Wright has a deep love of providing students with artistic opportunities for expression

recently taking culinary classes. When she was focused on raising her two boys when they were younger, art stepped back into her rear-view mirror. But her boys helped her to find a way to incorporate art within their lives.

Having two sons who were adopted from Korea made her want to ensure that kids experienced cultural diversity in a positive way. She’d arrange assemblies at Brookwood Elementary and bring in cowboys with their counting horses, Native American dancers and a jazz musician whose instrument was wine glasses filled with ice water.

When the kids — especially the sixth graders who tried avoiding “childish” things — were moving to the music or awe-stricken by what they learned, Dee knew she had done her job.

“I just really worked hard to make sure that the kids were getting cultural events and arts events,” Dee said. “And that’s kind of why I do this, to make sure that happens and make sure that the programs are in the schools.”

When Dee was in high school, she considered getting her degree in art, despite being told she’ll never make enough money, or that she should get a degree that “counts.”

Going against the naysayers, Dee’s art teacher pushed her to study abroad in Europe and major in art. Her teacher believed in her so much, she even filled out Dee’s application. But Europe would be a big change — moving to another country and being away from her family wasn’t a change Dee was ready to make.

Ultimately, Dee ended up working as a family law caseworker, but her allegiance towards art would later lead her towards getting her art degree.

After moving to Kansas City and discovering the West Bottoms Antiques District, she only had one thing to say — “I’ve found my people.” And like her art teacher motivating her, Dee helps support women artists through featuring them and their work in her store.

This foundation for providing artistic support carries back to her passion for organizing the art contests for the district. She wants students to know that they’ve achieved something great and that she’s proud of them. Seeing their faces light up when they find the awards reminds her of why she does it: for the kids.

A few years ago, there was a boy whose poem won first place in the Citizenship contest. With Spanish as his first language, he wrote the entire poem using phonetics and had 14 family members dressed in their nicest closes cheering him on as he walked down the rows of people to receive his medal. It brought tears to Dee’s eyes when she announced his name.

He was the first person in his family to win an academic award.

“Every time when I think I need to pass the baton to someone else, and we have this award ceremony and all the kids come walking down and they look so darn cute, it reels me right back in and I go, ‘Okay, I gotta do it again,’” Dee said.

DEE WRIGHT “Once you graduate...we then sensationalize the writers, the artists. We can’t wait to get their books, we can’t wait to watch the movies, we can’t wait to hear their music.”

R E F L EC T I O N C O N T E S T C AT E G O R I E S These are the different types of art that students can submit for the Reflections Contest.

DA N C E C H O R EOG R A P H Y

FILM P RO D U C T I O N

L I T E R AT U R E

MUSIC CO M P OS I T I O N

P H OTO G R A P H Y

V I S U A L A RT

design by | kate nixon

PHOTOSTORY | 19

NIGHT OF K N OW L E D G E STUCO hosted their fourth annual trivia night last Wednesday L E F T Junior Claire Perkins Rock high fives with her team after winning the ‘Best Costume’ prize. “[We] were all super excited because we didn’t think we were going to win anything,” Perkins Rock said. photo by | trevor paulus B E L O W L E F T Sophomore Campbell Wood laughs with her team members in excitement after looking at a question she knew the answer to. photo by | kate nixon B E L O W M I D D L E Junior Sarah O’Bryan looks in disgust at her team members. photo by | phoebe hendon B E L O W R I G H T Math teacher Adam Cumley looks intently at the screen displaying a question. photo by | taylor keal

A B O V E L E F T Juniors Violet Apodaca and Claire Horton discuss answers to a trivia question. photo by | phoebe hendon A B O V E R I G H T Senior Ian Gould consults the rest of the STUCO execs about how to move forward.

“There were several instances [in] which someone wanted to complain about a thing that was wrong,” Gould said, “[so] we were probably trying to figure out what to do next.” photo by | kate nixon

visit us in corinth square

Creating Peace of Mind Serving Your Investment Needs

Satu Stechschulte, CFA Kristin Patterson Bryant Barnes Stuart Berkley, CFA Andrew Muther Peter Greig, CFA Jeff Ream, CFP® Matt Montgomery, CFA

or call at

(913) 381-3910

fciadvisors.com 800-615-2536

NOW OPEN IN MERRIAM! JOIN OUR TEAM! 8817 Shawnee Mission Pkwy

(Just east of I-35 on Shawnee Mission Pkwy)

STOP IN AND ASK FOR A MANAGER OR APPLY ONLINE!

FreddysUSA.com/careers SMWest_print_7x4_1517_hiring.indd 1

12/4/2019 1:11:41 PM

A&E | 21

design by | elizabeth mikkelson photos and information courtesy of | amc, amazon and spotify

REVIEWING A RECENT RELEASE

A&E

HIGHLIGHTS

The Harbinger hub for all things trending in the arts and entertainment world

2 02 0 A LBU M RE LEASE S ALBUM | MUSIC M U R D E R E D BY

MADDOX’S TOP HALSEY SONGS TO

BE

R E L EAS E DAT E | JA N 1 7 S O N GS | 2 0

Music to Be Murdered By reached number one in 12 countries, becoming Eminem’s 10th consecutive number-one album in United States.

A L B U M | WA L L S R E L EAS E DAT E | JA N 3 1

SCAN ME | PLAYLIST Listen for yourself to Halsey’s newest album, “Manic”

K I L L I N G B OYS 929

S O N GS | 1 2

Written for his fans and inspired by his idols, Walls marks the debut solo album from former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.

DOMINIC’S INTERLUDE 3 AM I H AT E E V E R Y B O D Y

NOT -TO-MI S S U P CO M ING VAL E N T I N E S E VE N TS VA L E N T I N E S P A R T Y CERAMIC CAFE

Staffer’s take on the most recent album released by Halsey by

maddox mogenson

HALSEY’S THIRD ALBUM, “Manic,” is one of the first pop albums of 2020, setting the tone for the new decade’s futuristic and unique approach to music. The 16 songs illustrate an erratic yet cohesive journey of Halsey’s past two years of breakups, love affairs and family drama. Here are my top five songs from Halsey’s latest record.

My #5 track is “I HATE EVERYBODY.” The title of the song screams a rebellious and pessimistic message, but queueing the song will show that Halsey really doesn’t hate anyone, but instead uses hate as a defense mechanism for depression. The playful and almost childish xylophone pings in the background allude that Halsey is aware of her somewhat immature ways, yet she still continues to “hate everybody.”

“Dominic’s Interlude”, my #4, doesn’t feature Halsey, but instead the alternative-pop artist Dominic Fike. This interlude serves as a transitional medium between the preceding track, “Forever ... (is a long time),” and the following, “I HATE EVERYBODY.” Dominic’s masculine yet smooth voice provides a nice break from Halsey’s soft and feminine tunes.

Named after the date of her birthday, “929” is easily the most personal. She talks about everything from her break-up with G-Eazy to her attempt to quit smoking, even admitting that she

“stared at the sky in Milwaukee hoping her father would finally call.” If you haven’t experienced the pain, loss and heartbreak that Halsey has, she still finds a way to make you relate to this gutwrenching personal monologue.

“3am,” the eighth track on the record and my second favorite, tells a story of Halsey’s constant need for attention, saying she’ll text and call everyone she knows, even at 3 a.m. The song is accompanied with a twangy guitar and countrysounding drumline, which gives the track an especially unique sound, straying away from Halsey’s normal pop and alternative style.

The first song I played over and over was “killing boys.” Stylized in all lowercase letters, the song strays from musical standards before it even starts.

The introduction features a dialogue between a girl and her friend, where one is trying to stage an intervention against the other’s obsession with killing boys. The mischievous and miscreant lyrics and talk of keying a Ferrari had me in the mood to get revenge on everyone I know — especially the guy that honked at me in the QuikTrip parking lot.

“Manic” did an amazing job of broadening Halsey’s sound, exploring multiple genres with dance-worthy country tunes, singer/songwriter piano ballads and classic dream-pop anthems.

F E B RUARY M OVIE RELEAS ES

FRI, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM CST

I M P ROV C L AS S KC I M P ROV CO M PA N Y F R I , F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 2 0 7 : 3 0 P M – 9 : 00 P M C ST

FA N TASY I S L A N D | P G -1 3

BIRDS OF PREY | R

G E N R E | M YST E RY

G E N R E | C R I M E / AC T I O N

R E L E AS E DAT E | F E B 1 4

R E L EAS E DAT E | F E B 7

22 | A&E Bieber’s return to the spotlight in the 10-episode series is a mustsee, showing fans Bieber’s life off the stage

by winnie wolf

I

design by | natasha thomas photos courtesy of | imdb

BIE BER

I S B .C K

f you weren’t a Belieber before, Justin Bieber’s new YouTube documentary series, “Seasons,” will change that.

Besides the annual wave of Bieber Fever I get while listening to “Mistletoe” on his Christmas album and swooning every time Hailey Bieber posts a photo with him on Instagram, I haven’t thought about Bieber much since he stepped out of the spotlight after his “Purpose” album world tour in 2016.

Even though I no longer have my special edition Justin Bieber Barbie’s or my signed Tiger Beat posters, I still got a rush of excitement when I heard the news that his documentary was going to be released on Jan. 27.

“Seasons” is broken up into 10 episodes, seven of which have already been released, ranging from seven to 15 minutes long. They premiere on Bieber’s personal YouTube channel each Monday and Wednesday at noon.

Even after watching the two minute trailer, I didn’t have many preconceived notions of the series going into the first episode.

I didn’t expect to be immediately thrown into some middle school deja-vu when a blonde-haired and bandana-wearing Bieber danced and sang on stage for crazed teenage girls all over the world during his “Purpose” tour.

But the minute the flashing lights, blaring music and screaming Beliebers was over— and it cut to Bieber excitedly announcing the start of his documentary to his close friends

BIE BE R O N THE BIG SC R E E N

— there was a takeover of a mellow vibe that would continue throughout the series.

It’s far from an action-packed Marvel movie, presenting itself as a behind the scenes look into the low-key, away from the cameras, lifestyle Bieber adapted in 2018.

The 15 minute episodes allow for only the most important clips and interviews about Bieber’s life. I was so genuinely interested that I couldn’t help but binge the first four episodes in a row — a favorite being episode four titled “Justin & Hailey,” which focused on the dynamics of their relationship.

Something that surprised me — and probably most of his other fans — was how involved in Bieber’s music Hailey is. The documentary showed Hailey sitting on the couch in the studio alongside Bieber for every late night recording session and rehearsal.

Aside from his wife, viewers got to hear from his manager Scooter Braun, producer Josh Gudwin and friend Drew Good, among a few more, making Bieber’s comeback story piece together with the inclusion of the details, point of views and stories from his associates and close friends.

But the best part had to have been seeing Bieber’s process in making his return album, “Changes,” set to drop on Feb. 14. With 17 songs on the album, Hailey as the core inspiration and a few Spanish lines, it’s bound to be the ultimate comeback.

It all began at the Coachella Festival last year, when headliner Ariana Grande invited Bieber to perform with her. It had been two

“ S EASO NS ” AT A G L ANC E The series’ best and worst qualities, according to staffer review

years since Bieber was on stage and he had been going back and forth on whether it was the right time to come back.

After deciding to go and performing his hit song “Sorry,” for a mic-drop moment, Bieber left the stage that night by announcing “album coming soon,” into the crowd of screaming fans.

The majority of each episode following this backstory moment included Bieber and his music producer working in the studio on songs for the album. The footage of him singing lines over and over until they were up to his standards and staying at the studio into the early morning was all a part of the process for Bieber and his team.

The raw clips of Bieber showed no drama and tension in his life — showing his fans the how the new Bieber stays dedicated to his work while maintaining a life that avoids stress.

It’s true when people say you don’t truly know someone from social media. The passionate, nervous, romantic and funny side of Bieber is something everyone needs to know about. And they can experience it in his documentary.

I mean, if you aren’t obsessed with Bieber — and Hailey too — after starting the first seven episodes of “Seasons,” he’ll turn you into a die-hard Belieber in minutes, trust me.

And if you just can’t wait for more, tickets for Bieber’s U.S. tour are open to the general public on the same day of his fifth studio album release, Feb. 14.

H IG H P O INTS PREVIEWS OF HIS NEW SONGS QUALITY EDITING, MUSIC AND TRANSITIONS

I N P U T F RO M LOTS O F S O U RC E S C LOS E TO JUSTIN

PEAK INTO JUSTIN AND HAILEY’S R E L AT I O N S H I P

LOW P O INTS NO BIG DRAMA TO K E E P YO U ON EDGE SCENES OF JUSTIN IN THE STUDIO CAN BE REPETITIVE

input courtesy of sources close to Bieber

Justin’s no stranger to starring in movies — here’s how the video projects that he’s been a part of stack up against each other, according to IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes

ROTTEN T O M AT O E S AUDIENCE

ROTTEN T O M AT O E S AUDIENCE

ROTTEN T O M AT O E S AUDIENCE

3.5 3 /5

3.28 / 5

3.85 / 5

ROTTEN T O M AT O E S AUDIENCE n ot e n o u gh episo des o u t fo r a ratin g

IMDB

IMDB

IMDB

1.6/ 10

1 /1 0

5.9 /10

IMDB

1. 5 / 10 2011 | Ju stin B ie be r : Never Say Neve r

2013 | J ust i n B i e b e r ’s B e l i eve

2 011 | J u st i n B i e b e r : R i se to Fa me

20 2 0 | J ust i n B i eb er: S ea so n s

IS

“ S EAS O N S ” B E TT E R ?

BIEBER’S NEW S E R I E S I S AT LEAST

+4

IMDB POINTS HIGHER THAN HIS PREVIOUS MOVIES

A&E | 23

design by | riley atkinson photos by | maggie klumpp

C H EA P

by jilli foley

WHILE DEVOURING THE LAST beachball-sized sprinkled donut from the box the morning of the Super Bowl, I realized it might be time for me to start working on my “Spring Break Body.”

And after Googling the closest health-food spots to replace my 400 calorie glazed donut with a salad or juice, the cons of the “healthier side” of the menu hit me — not only was I about to burn a massive hole in my wallet, but the foods I’d be eating weren’t much better than that donut, at least calorie-wise.

So instead of forking over the entirety of my birthday money to get that beach-ready bod back, I activated my inner Chrissy Tiegen to buy the same ingredients the overpriced restaurants use for their meals and made my own meal that saved me calories and my hardearned babysitting money.

EAT$

$6 $1.5

420 CALS 210 CALS

original homemade

T R O P. S M O OT H I E J E TT Y P U N C H

T . LO F T S P I C Y C H I C K E N B OW L

WITH ALL THE TIME I spend at Tropical Smoothie Cafe before school on Thursdays or as a pre-soccer-game snack, I’ve developed a talent for making their drinks without working there. And to make it healthier, add a packet of Splenda instead of Trop Smoothie’s cup of sugar. After a quick trip to Price Chopper, I got all the ingredients I needed for less than half the price. And making it was faster than doing my 10-minute morning makeup routine. Now I can get my beauty sleep on late start mornings AND save money.

T.LOFT IS KNOWN for their healthy eats, but it’s also infamous for draining people’s wallets. A small 12 oz bowl consisting of a cup of quinoa, a few celery chunks, shredded carrot, blue cheese, buffalo sauce and two thin slices of avocado cost as much as my homecoming accessories. Sure, it’s spicy and delicious, but I can make it better for half the price — and even put the whole avocado on top if I’m feeling festive. Lucky for me, someone who struggles to make their own Kraft Mac n Cheese, the two-minute cooking process isn’t much of a process at all. Mixing the ingredients in a pan, cooking for two minutes and adding the buffalo sauce, blue cheese and avocado are the only steps it takes to make the spicy chicken quinoa bowl while saving $11 for that new Mario Badescu spray you’ve been needing.

$11 420 CALS $5.5 210 CALS

AVO C A D O T OA S T

CRUSHED RED P E STO S H R I M P SALAD EVERY FRIDAY-NIGHT-TRIP to Freddy’s is ruined by guilt when I catch a glance at Crushed Red, the healthier place next door. Assorted with build-your-own salads and flatbreads, their items are double the price of a Freddy’s burger and fries. The pesto shrimp salad is one of the more popular bowls, but honestly it’s too big for me finish and the bloating that comes after doesn’t exactly make me feel healthy. I made the same thing with the same ingredients — pesto shrimp, avocado, pepper and peanutcashew dressing — in a smaller bowl, cutting the price in half.

*calories calculated from nutrition labels

original homemade

$13 $4

270 CALS 140 CALS

original homemade

THE EVER-SO-ICONIC avocado toast is key to every girls’ brunch, but you won’t find me ordering it at First Watch. As I looked at the five-inch piece of grain toast and salt-covered pericardium on the avocado spread, my seventh-grade-self felt betrayed — I could’ve eaten a blueberry pancake with the same amount of calories in it. So to make my version of avocado toast appeal to my eye-rolling seventh-grade-self, I used a 40 calorie piece of Sara Lee thin toast, smashed avocado with a squirt of lemon and two sunny-side-up eggs on top. For some extra flavor, sprinkle some salt and drizzled some balsamic vinegar — because every thing’s better with balsamic vinegar.

$10 700 CALS $2 220 CALS original homemade

24 | A&E

design by | cesca stamati photos by | noelle griffin

K I TT E N A

Staffer Kate Heitmann tries painting with cats at Whiskers Cat Café

by kate heitmann

M Y A RT O N

t Whiskers Cat Café, shelter cats in need of homes bounce around the warm, bright space while guests sip on their café mochas. But on Jan. 28, guests got to pick up the paintbrush and paint with the cats.

Ever since kindergarten, you could always locate cat doodles in the margins of my notebooks and cat silhouettes drawn on my math homework — I love drawing cats.

After hearing about the opportunity of taking a painting class with cats at Whiskers Cat Cafe, I knew that’s where I would be spending my Wednesday night.

The cat cafe consisted of two spaces — the caffeination station and the cuddling cat zone. An employee read us the “selfexplanatory rules” of the cat cafe – don’t mess with the cats, pick up the cats or let them bite you, to name a few. Then it was time to enter.

Everyone mingled with the cats, taunting the more energetic cats with toys and petting the quiet ones. At each table sat four

After hearing about the opportunity of taking a painting class with cats at Whiskers Cat Cafe, I knew that’s where I would be spending my Wednesday

crying cat meme — lovely.

After adding the whiskers and nose, my cat was ready for the Super Bowl. The instructor made the simple oval shaped cat look easy — her simple brush stroke walkthrough had my rarely-used painting skills come to life. I felt validated that I could follow, even though my painting was far from Van Gogh.

While I waited for the others to finish painting, I could pet an adorable, sleeping cat while sipping my blueberry hibiscus tea.

I chose a decaf tea instead of a coffee drink considering it was 6 p.m. on a school night, though they offered other caffeinated drinks. Only the drinks under $2, which included most of the teas, were included in the $35 reservation fee. Because the reservation fee was so expensive, I was looking for a more complex drink included in the fee.

While I sipped on my tea, a tiny cat snuck out onto the table — something you can’t get at any Starbucks. It was hard to juggle holding the palette, while keeping the cat from drinking the murky, yellow paint water, all while trying not to knock over all the easels. There was a lot of movement happing at once. It was hectic. A little bit more space for the cat to sit would’ve been

SCAN ME | WEBSITE Scan this QR code to

kate heitmann

visit the homepage of

easels, a red solo cup full of water and a paper-plate palette with red, yellow, white and black — Chiefs colors. We were going to paint a cat holding a Chiefs logo, which was intimidating as there were quiet a few components to it. Luckily, the instructor reassured the class that she’d explain the painting step-by-step.

My Chiefs logo somewhat looked like it could be put on a T-shirt, and the gradient was only a little streaky. It was going well until I got to the eyes. The instructor made one quick swoop with her brush and the cat could see — easy, right? Meanwhile, I had managed to paint something resembling the

Whisker’s KC!

beneficial for the both of us.

Overall, the Paint Night with Cats night was a success. This would be a great way to experience something new if you love to craft. Next time though, I might just stick to the standard one hour reservation of pure cat time for only $10. But fair warning, either option you choose will leave you wanting to come back and hang out with the cutest cats.

C AT-T I V I T I E S A list of some things you can do at Whiskers Cat Cafe

T O P One of the Whiskers Cat Café’s curiously walks along a bench towards bottles of paint. photo by | noelle griffin

BOTTOM LEFT After waking up from a nap, one of the cats finds a marker to play with. photo by | noelle griffin

BOTTOM RIGHT After playing with some of the cats, Heitmann goes back to continue painting. photo by | noelle griffin

CAT YOGA

CAT CAFE

CAT PAINTING

A&E | 25

design by | celia condon photos by | elise madden and noelle griffin

HOLY CREPE S by

sydney newton

ure, First Watch and IHOP have the word crepes buried in their menu amongst eggs benedict and waffles. But they will never compare to real crepe restaurants — and Crepe KC, which recently opened about 40 minutes north of East, made me feel like I was sitting in a cafe next to the Eiffel Tower.

The restaurant was barely bigger than my English classroom, but the shelves were decorated with plants and the brown tables were packed with high schoolers studying. The decor created a homey vibe — one of my favorite parts about the place. But the chalk board menu was limited, offering only six crepes — very different than the singular one on the First Watch menu.

The cashier working at the front went through the different crepes with me, telling me what she liked and disliked about them — whether that be the tartness of the lemon in the original crepe or the perfectly cooked bacon in the BLT. Although it took about 20 minutes for my crepes to come after I ordered them, the friendliness of the workers made up for it.

I ordered the strawberries and cream, Nutella crepes and ham and cheese crepes — the perfect combination of sweet and salty. The three different crepes all held a unique combination of flavors, and the drizzle of the sauces and the fresh fruit on top blew me away.

The strawberries and cream looked like something straight out of Candy Land. The strawberry glaze created a pink river moat around the two crepes, and the powdered sugar sprinkled on top made it shine — literally. To finish it all off, it was garnished with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

The dough combined with the cream cheese created a smooth texture in my mouth, and the glaze added the perfect touch of sweetness. However, the excessive amount of cream cheese in every bite left a bitter aftertaste behind, which was a deal-breaker for me. Every other aspect was good, but I wouldn’t recommend ordering unless you’re a cream cheese enthusiast.

The presentation of the Nutella crepe was almost as disappointing as the aftertaste of the cream cheese. The

two small crepes were lightly sprinkled in powdered sugar and topped with just a touch of whipped cream thrown to the side — not a good start.

Luckily, the lazily-thrown-together presentation was redeemed by the crepe, which was cooked so perfectly that my my fork cut right through the thin, flaky surface. The thin dough created an envelope around the creamy chocolate Nutella — something that paired perfectly with the sliced bananas inside. I ate the entire thing in four minutes (yes, I checked).

It was a predictable Nutella crepe — but ol’ faithful is called ol’ faithful for a reason. If you’re a Nutella

****

C R E P E KC | 4 S TA R S 771 1 | GLADSTONE, MO | SIT DOWN

enthusiast but aren’t looking for an Instagram-able presentation, this is your crepe.

The ham and cheese was the show-stopper — it looked like something straight out of “The Great British Baking Show.” The crepes were drizzled in bechamel, a buttery white sauce, topped with diced tomatoes and garnished with rosemary. It looked like a bouquet of flowers on top of a crepe.

The crepe was filled with diced ham and melted American cheese. The savoriness of the ham melted with the creaminess of the cheese created a rich taste, and the tomatoes on top balanced out the richness with the acidity. This dish will definitely fill you up, and be the highlight of your experience.

There may have only been six options, but each one I tasted offered different flavors and presentations.

While I wouldn’t recommend the strawberries and cream crepe, I would definitely suggest Nutella for the chocolate lovers or the ham and cheese if you’re going for the savory type.

Even though the 40-minute drive was long and the menu of only six items didn’t provide a very diverse selection, the items I got there provided tasteful, filling crepes for $21.70 — making the drive totally worth it.

A review from staffer of the newest crepe spot, Crepe KC

ARE YOU SAVORY OR SWEET? SWEET NUTE L L A

N U T E L L A A N D B A N A N A TO P P E D W I T H F R E S H S T R AW B E R R I E S , W H I P P E D C R E A M , A N D P OW D E R E D S U GA R , A N D STRAWBER RY

S T R AW B E R RY C R E A M TO P P E D W I T H F R E S H S T R AW B E R R I E S , P OW D E R E D S U GA R , A N D WHIPPED CREAM.

SAVO RY BLT

AVO C A D O TO P P E D W I T H A I O L I , D I C E D TO M ATO , B AC O N B I T S A N D C H O P P E D S P I N AC H .

HAM & C H EESE

H A M A N D C H E D DA R , B EC H A M E L S A U C E , D I C E D TO M ATO A N D C H O P P E D D I L L .

A L E N GT H Y WAY

MO CREPE KC

KS EAST

DESPITE THE D E L I C I O U S TA S T E , I T ’S Q U I T E A D R I V E TO G E T TO C R E P E KC , O U T I N G L A D S TO N E , M O .

P A RTICIP A TE IN B RA IN RESEA RCH We are interested in understanding brain development and how it relates to thinking abilities, movement abilities, and sensory processing in indiv idua ls W IT H a nd W IT H OUT A utism Spectrum Disorder .

We are seeking individuals ages 10-35 to volunteer for this study. Participants will be compensated for their time..

W ha t’s n ex t?

Conta ct the BRAIN Lab Visit our website: 785-864-4461 brainlab@ku.edu mosconilab.ku.edu

Congratulations for 25 years of success to Michael J. Brown (Chairman, CEO & Founder) and Euronet’s 7,000 worldwide employees!

www.euronetworldwide.com Copyright © 2019. Euronet Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved.

27 |SPORTS

design by | allison wilcox

S P O RTS

HIGHLIGHTS Updates, schedules and quotes about the winter sport season

AT H L E T E ’ S T A K E

COMING UP THIS WEEK

WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST?

B O W L I N G | VA R S I T Y S U N F L O W E R

swimming

LEAGUE 2/1 1 @ COLLEGE LANES G I R L S & B OYS B A S K E T B A L L | J V /

[The season] started off kind of slow but after the past two weeks so many people have been getting so many state cuts and everyone’s been dropping time. It’s gone so much better recently.

VA R S I T Y G A M E S 2 / 1 1 @ L A W R E N C E H I G H SCHOOL S W I M M I N G | B O Y S VA R S I T Y L A S T C H A N C E M E E T 2 / 1 3 @ S M S D N ATAT O R I U M

evan deedy | sophomore

M A R K YO U R C A L E N DA R A few important sporting events in the future

FEB

FEB

15

20

W R E S T L I N G | VA R S I T Y

S W I M M I N G | B OYS

S U N F LOW E R L EAG U E @

VA R S I T Y S T A T E @

O L AT H E N O R T H W E S T

To p e k a H u m m e r Sports Complex

b a s ket b a l l Good we have a winning record and we’ve beat some good teams. And I definitely think the team chemistry is only getting better.

anabelle merchant | junior A B O V E | Junior Preston Reynolds shoots a layup during the boys Varsity basketball game against

STUDENT POLLS DO YOU HAVE ANY WEIRD SPORTS SUPERSTITIONS? | 223 VOTES

53% YES 47%

NO

WERE YOU AT THE KU VS K-STATE BASKETBALL GAME? | 259 VOTES

4% NO 96% YES

A B O V E | Senior JJ Ruf cheers during the Varsity boys basketball game against Rockhurst next to senior Joe Krause. photo by | julia percy

L E F T | Junior De’Andre Eubanks fakes out a Rockhurst defender during the JV game. photo by | julia percy

SCAN ME | WEBSITE Go to the Harbinger website to view a gallery from the boys Varsity basketball game win against Rockhurst

28 | SPORTS

design by | lauren dierks photos by | emily pollock

MORE THAN A H O B BY

Bowling is a competitive sport at East rather than just a fun after school activity

by peyton moore

S

ophomore Brady Aebersold glanced at Coach Fredrick Elliott, checking to see if he was being watched. When the coast was clear, Aebersold held the bowling ball in two hands and pendulum swung between his two legs — “granny style.” Just two lanes over, sophomore Victoria Leal gracefully sent the ball down the lane in perfect form, knocking all ten pins down.

Behind Leal, Aebersold’s friends gaped at her perfect form, paying no mind to Aebersold’s intentionally pathetic toss.

Some, like Aebersold, believe bowling to be a fun, nonchalant pastime, but for Leal and others, the team is competitive and cutthroat.

I never look at age when deciding the team lineups.

It’s all about the scores, form and coachability

fredrick elliott | coach The team bowls against other schools in the Sunflower league and manage to maintain a generally even record. And the team is always looking for new talent — this year’s varsity team has over six sophomores and one freshman.

“I never look at age when deciding the team lineups,” Coach Elliott explained. “It is all about the scores, form and coachability.”

Freshman Anna Mitchell walked into the galactic-themed College Lanes during tryout week with no worries — she believed 15 years of occasional bowling alley trips with her nannies would prepare her for the East bowling team.

But after the warmup rounds, Mitchell stood in complete shock, gaping her fellow peers, unaware that they doubled as bowling prodigies. Mitchell got the expected “I’m sorry but you have not made the team” email later that night.

Tryout week is a way for the coaches to see what upcoming talent is looking at joining the bowling team. At tryouts the bowlers will be instructed to bowl three games, which mirrors the daily practice schedule.

“Practice is a way to mess around,

but when it comes to meet time we are all business,” sophomore Wally Workman explained.

A couple lanes over, freshman Jack Shelton cradles the emoji ball which swerved and spun on the bowling oil, assisting him to score a spare. Before he’s even turned around, Shelton hears the cheers from his teammates: “And that’s how you pick up a spare baby!”

Shelton never knew he would be a starting varsity bowler when he first tried out for the team. For him, casual bowling birthday parties and his sixth grade gym class experience would be more than enough practice before trying out for the team.

But bowling is not just pure luck — each individual bowler has a different strategy that aids their very own bowling style, according to Coach Elliott.

Boys, for example, tend to cradle the ball to bowl with more power. Some players use a simple four-step approach, which leads to more balance and no foul lines that cost players a round. The more inexperienced JV bowlers will play around with their approach, eyeing and mimicking the varsity boys and girls who practice down in lane 24.

“We try to teach the newbies to aim for a certain board in the lane to hit your ball on because it will curve in depending on the oil,” Coach Elliott explains. “Every time you bowl it’s never the same oil. You can bowl in the same lane two days in a row and it will be a whole different game because of the oil.”

Elliott explains that bowling oil can make or break a bowler’s game. If the lane has a lot of oil then you must put spin the ball to lead the ball straight forward and if it is dry than you want to roll it straight with no spin.

In some games, bowlers must wipe off the extra grease present on the ball to prevent unwanted spinning. The littlest object, such as oil, can make or break a bowler’s game.

Bowling is not simply throwing a colorful, 12 to 14 lbs. ball down a slippery lane. It’s all about board placement, minor mechanics such as the spin put on the ball and the approach that helps keep balance after the powerful toss. Anyone can bowl, but it takes real talent to be an East bowler.

R I G H T Junior Beau Warner plays a practice round at Ward Parkway Lanes

P R AC T I C E B R EA K D OW N

1

P R AC T I C E STA RTS AT 3:30, B EG I N N I N G WITH ARM SW I N GS TO WA R M U P

2

N EX T T H E Y P L AY T H R E E RO U N D S A N D R EC E I V E CO R R EC T I O N S F RO M COAC H

3

BA L L B R EA K D OW N A breakdown of the different kinds of bowling balls sophomore Victoria Leal uses to bowl

M A I N BA L L

Used to get a strike on the first shot

CO LO R | P U R P L E T I E DY E S C E N T | F RU I T P U N C H

ST R A I G H T BA L L

Used for hitting the 10th pin

CO LO R | P U R P L E & B L AC K SCENT | NONE

S P L I TS BA L L Used for a curved shot CO LO R | N AV Y B LU E S C E N T | B LU E B E R RY

DEPENDING O N H OW T H E Y P L AY, P L AC E M E N TS WILL BE D EC I D E D

design by | caroline gould photos by | annakate dilks and emma kate squires

S P O RTS S U P E RST I T I O N S

SPORTS | 29

Students share different superstitions about the Chiefs victories

T H E M O N O C H RO M E

T H E I N T RO I T ALL STARTED about two years ago when I noticed the Cyclone socks my dad was wearing were on inside out. Thought provoking to say the least. Most days he wore the basic go-to dad socks: grey, black and brown — right side out — so I immediately asked him what was up.

“They’re not gonna win if they’re right side out,” he said without taking his eyes off the screen.

He was referring to the Iowa State Cyclones game. In case you’re wondering, they won because of the socks. Like most students at my school, my dad is a prisoner to superstition, especially when it comes to sports.

Fast forward to about three weeks

ago, I’m sitting in an uber, heading down Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The Titans are (to put it lightly) destroying the Chiefs in the playoff game.

The uber is driving too slow — I, personally, have to be watching the game for our beloved Chiefs to pull ahead (duh). That was the aha-moment. I’ve joined the likes of my friends and my dad in the superstition prison.

Luckily for me, I’m not alone. East is just brimming with teens who have bizarre superstitions — and I mean bizarre. Read on to discover how some students lose their rationality when it comes to their favorite sports teams.

T H E STAT U E SOPHOMORE MAX FRANKLIN has spent the last three Chiefs games in his dad’s recliner in his family living room.

And by “spent the last three games,” I mean he doesn’t get up. Ever. Not to use the bathroom, not to grab a snack, not even to stretch his legs through the duration of what could be a four-hourlong football game.

“Oh I just have to wait until halftime,” Franklin said.

Again, duh. At my own Super Bowl party, any person who moved from their

seat when the Chiefs were in the lead would be picked up and thrown back into their seat, or yelled at by 25 other seated sophomores.

But not only does Franklin stay put in the chair — when he does leave during halftime (and only halftime), he must take the necessary precautions before sitting back down in the lucky recliner.

“I walk in and out of the room twice,” Franklin said. “It’s kind of weird but I don’t want to mess up the Chiefs.”

S O O N W I T H T H E S U P E RST I T I O N F RO M H A R B I N G E R ’S I N STAG R A M M Y F R I E N D I S B A D LU C K , S O H E ’S N OT A L LOW E D TO T H E S U P E R B OW L PA RT Y W E A R T H E SA M E S O C KS , B EC AU S E I A LWAYS S CO R E M O R E P O I N TS I N T H E M S H OW E R B E FO R E E V E RY GA M E A N D L I ST E N TO R I H A N N A P R EGA M E T H E C H I E F S D O G O O D W H E N M Y C AT S I TS I N T H E CO R N E R

“I can only wear orange. It’s a specific color to me especially on soccer days.”

sydney daris | senior

DURING THE JAN. 19 AFC game, sophomore Arden Menke posted updates on his Snapchat story straight from Arrowhead.

When the Titans were at peak performance, Menke updated his Snapchat followers with a shot of him taking his jersey off, as if wearing it was bringing bad luck to the team.

“I threw my jersey at my brother, and as soon as I did we got a forty-yard kick

return.” Menke said. “The whole game we just dominated.”

Since this bad-luck encounter, Menke is sure to steer clear of any Chiefs gear on game days — or any days at all.

“I don’t even touch it. It brings me bad luck,” Menke said. “I touch my Chiefs jersey and then I lose my phone or something.”

Sure enough, on Super Bowl Sunday, Menke was jersey-less as he cheered the team to victory.

T H E A N T I - FA N “I threw my jersey at my brother, and as soon as I did we got a forty-yard kick return. The whole game we just dominated.”

arden menke | sophomore

ON THE OPPOSITE side of the sports world, soccer is full of fans and players acting in ludicrous ways in the hopes of helping the team. For senior Sydney Daris, game days look like a movie on a repeated loop.

It begins with moderate, normal superstitions. Always putting on the right shin guard, then the left shin guard.

Followed by putting on socks in the same order, and finally the cleats — staying consistent, right then left. And don’t forget the lucky water bottle she keeps on the right side of the goal during practice.

“Right is right.” Daris said.

The team watches over the water bottle

like a toddler, to make sure the positioning isn’t shifting the tide of the game or Daris’ mojo during a play.

“When I’m playing it has to be sitting upright,” Daris said. “And if I’m on the field everyone else watches to make sure it’s upright.”

East varsity soccer wears an orange and a gray uniform. And when it comes to colors, orange is the “right” one in Daris’ mind.

“I can only wear orange. It’s a specific color to me especially on soccer days.”

During mealtime on game days, if there’s an orange food on Daris’ plate, it remains untouched until the rest of the plate is clean.

FORGOT YOUR CAMERA? HARBINGER

Scan this QR code to view and purchase photos from all the latest galleries.

PHOTO

SCAN ME | HARBIE PHOTOS

TENNIS PLAYERS: interested in tennis lessons to get ready for the high school season? contact former D1 tennis player

ALEX KOCA

alex@opracquetclub.com

StudyLab provides a comfortable, structured student-friendly environment for middle and high school students to get organized, study better and finish their homework with the help from homework mentors.

StudyLab... turn homework stress into homework success.

StudyLab Homework. Done.

MENTION THIS AD FOR A FREE SESSION!

GO SME LANCERS!!!

7611 State Line Road, Ste. 135 Kansas City, MO 64114 www.studylabkc.com

design by | kate nixon and aislinn menke

PHOTOSTORY | 31

CRAZY FO R T H E MU SI CAL After months of rehearsal, the East Theater Department presents the Spring musical, “Crazy for You�

A B OV E Senior Lucy Brock, playing the lead of Polly, dances alongside cast members during a musical number. photo by | annakate dilks RIGHT Seniors Ben Blickhan, Lucy Brock, junior Charlie Birt, and sophomores Andrew Alka and Toby Rodriguez sit on a wagon during a scene of the play. photo by | megan stopperan RIGHT Senior Lucy Brock sings during a solo part of her performance. photo by annakate dilks FA R R I G H T Senior Janie Carr and junior Lily Utt gasp during the performance. photo by annakate dilks

TOP Senior Lucy Brock and freshman Fritz Sullivan dance during a musical number of the performance. photo by | annakate dilks A B OV E Sophomore Abby Goodman and senior Ethan White rehearse their saxophone pieces in the pit for a musical number. photo by | annakate dilks

32 | ALT COPY

LOVE HATE ACCORDING TO SOPHOMORE Nick Stamati, Valentine’s Day holds a love-haterelationship in many people’s hearts. When in a relationship with someone, Valentine’s Day is a day to look forward to — giving gifts, spending time with each other and just soaking in cupid’s arrow. But it’s a completely different story for those left alone on the holiday. “It’s kind of like a wakeup call for people who don’t have a boyfriend or girlfriend,” Stamati said. “That’s why I don’t like it.”

FRIENDSHIP TO SOPHOMORE CHARLOTTE HAWES, Valentine’s Day is a day for spreading love to friends, not significant others. Ever since elementary school, Hawes has brought valentines-candies for all of her friends. “It’s fun to see the look on people’s faces when I’m like, ‘Here’s a candy for Valentines Day,’” Hawes said. “It just feels good to spread love on Valentine’s Day and it doesn’t have to be romantic.”

14 F E B R U A RY

by sophie henschel

ALLIGATORS, UNICORNS, BASKETBALL HOOPS and rainbows galore — everyone knows the rush of walking into your secondgrade classroom, taking in the sweet smell of cherry Fun Dip in the air, totally pumped to give out the candy hearts you spent hours labeling the night before to all of your classmates.

design by | lilah faye illustrations by | sophie henschel + chloe sowden

APPRECIATION FOR SENIOR SIMON ZIMMERMAN, the holiday is used as a day to show his appreciation for all the people in his life that he loves. “For me and my family, Valentine’s Day is pretty huge, we don’t usually get to see each other a lot and we all have pretty crazy and hectic lives,” Zimmerman said. “So this is a day to just hangout with each other, walk in the park, play board games or whatever we want.”

DREADFUL VALENTINE’S DAY IS a day junior Josie Lenger has come to dread. “I’ve never had an actual relationship and I feel like I’m surrounded by people in love,” Lenger said. “I don’t like that feeling when I’m alone.” Going from a candy-for-all policy in grade school to being left empty-handed on Feb. 14 stings a little extra for Lenger, turning a day meant for love into 24 hours of bleh.

ROMANTIC AS FOR SENIOR Elise Griffith, the holiday has never failed to make her smile. From the grade school days to the romantic dinners, she’s a supporter of it all. Having been in a sixand-a-half-year relationship, she’s had her fair share of the typical, romantic Valentine’s Day. “I think it’s a fun little day to have an excuse to go on a fun date,” Griffith said. “We usually go out to dinner, last year was my favorite.”

Fast forward eight years later and we’re all in high school stressing over whether a gift for our kind-of-sort-of significant other of two weeks is a bit over the top. With all the nailbiting that comes with Valentine’s Day as a teenager, we just wish we could go back to the red-heart-shaped-lollipop days. Here are some East students who have experienced this shift.