Issue 17

News

discussing Iraq, teen drinking law

page 2

In-class Iraq discussions: War of the words Libby Nelson news editor The European History class in room 317 usually spent class time discussing Europe. During the week before spring break, however, a map of the Middle East replaced the one of pre-World War I Europe. Instead of textbooks, they used news magazines. And instead of discussing Europe in the past, they were talking about Iraq in the present.

European History teacher J a n e M c C u e devoted the last week of third quarter to discussion about the war in Iraq and its implications. Students received packets of magazine articles dealing with issues like the role of oil, the plans for reconstructing Iraq, the likelihood of finding Saddam Hussein and whether the war was just or unjust.

“One thing that surprised me is the small number of students who weren’t interested and didn’t want the packets,” McCue said. “Once they started talking about it, they all wanted them.”

McCue stressed the importance of knowing whether sources were accurate.

“To argue a point, you need evidence,” she said. “You can’t always depend on sources to be accurate. Being a skeptic or a critical thinker doesn’t necessarily mean you’re anti-American.”

American Government teacher N i c k P a r i s tried to put the Iraq war in historical perspective by listing the provoking incidents in other wars the United States fought. His classes then discussed the war as a “delayed reaction” to September 11.

Paris’s classes spend about five minutes every day talking about the war and catching up on the news. They also spent two full days before spring break talking about the war, raising questions like whether the president has the right to change a regime, the moral implications of war and whether it will be possible to have a stable government in Iraq afterwards. Paris said more of his students seemed to be against the war.

“The ones against are the most vocal,” he said. “I would say over half have serious reservations.”

None of the teachers saw much concern about the threat of terrorism from their classes.

“I don’t think most kids think Iraq can reach us here,” World Geography teacher J o h n N i c k e l s said.

Nickels and Paris agreed that discussions didn’t result in changes of student opinion, and Paris said a lot of people are undecided.

In Nickels’s classes, opinions about the war often varied

based on the age of the student. While a majority of his freshmen supported it, seniors in his classes were mostly opposed.

“Seniors are a lot closer to the war and are more conscious about it,” Nickels said, adding that seniors were less likely than freshman to simply repeat their parents’ opinions.

“The war means a lot more to 18-year-old senior boys,” Paris said.

While most students didn’t change their opinions during the discussions, Nickels said he hoped they left class with a more open mind.

McCue agreed. “I can accept any opinion,” she said.

“What I can’t accept is someone who says ‘here’s what I think, don’t confuse me with the facts.’”

The teachers agreed that the discussions had helped students understand the issues the United States faced in Iraq.

“I think they have a little more understanding of why we are there, and the continued reaction to the 9/11 attacks,” Paris said.

New teen drinking law proposed in Kansas Stephen McKim staff writer Drinking is a social activity. It is seen all the time, whether it is at parties, on television, in your house or at a restaurant; drinking is a fact of social life. But in a short while, teens drinking with a parent will face more severe punishment.

The Kansas State Legislature was recently presented with a bill that outlines reforms of the current laws governing the drinking of minors. It is currently legal in the state of Kansas for a minor who is under the age 21, but 18 or older, to drink with their parent. If caught, the penalty is a 30day suspension of the minor's driver's license. The new bill, currently advancing in the House, would put an end to this law and increase punishment for those caught.

The proposed bill outlines punishments including suspension from driving, community service and criminal prosecution.

Minors who are caught for the first time face a 30-day suspension of their driver's license, second time offenders face a 90day suspension and third time offenders face the suspension of their drivers' license for a year and community service.

Parents are also accountable under the bill. Parents caught giving or allowing alcohol to be consumed by minorities in the house can face criminal prosecution.

Despite the strict new rules, some feel that the legislation will not achieve what the government hopes it will accomplish. “[The legislation] is a bit of an invasion of the parents' discretion,” Safe Home Pledge Parent T o b i a s F r i t z said. “In my experience, parents are better suited at dealing with their kids than the government. The government can get it horribly wrong.”

To teens, parent discretion is just as important as the law. Those students who are 18 or older feel it is acceptable to drink to a toast on special occasions and that parents should have the final say about what

they can and can't do. alcohol at parties. To become a Safe Home is the communication that the program “Parents know you better, and decide Pledge, parents have to sign an agreement promotes that makes parents feel more what is reasonable and unreasonable,” sen- that says they will not willingly buy or give secure about where their children are ior Z a c h a r y K e r r said. “It might be rea- alcohol to kids, or let students walk in with going. sonable to have a small glass of champagne alcohol. “[The pledge] helps the parents make at a wedding, or it might not be. It is what “I think it is the parents responsibility to wise decisions and to better assess the situthe parents feel is right.” communicate with other parents that you ation,” SADD Exec J e f f M i l l e r said. “It proDespite opposition to the new law and are going to be [at the party], and that there vides the parents a way to know what the its reasonability, Student Resource Officer isn't any alcohol,” Safe Home Pledge Parent other kid’s parents think about drinking.”

S t e v e T a y l o r believes that this new law is D i a n e K e r r said.

Despite any laws, it is this wise decisionvery beneficial to teens and parents alike.

Overall, the Safe Home Pledge program making and communication between par“[The new law] will definitely change the has been most beneficial to the parents. It ents that really keeps teens safe. way parents act in regards to underage people. It will curtail a lot of providing alcohol to minors,” Taylor said.

Currently, police officers enforce the law by receiving calls from disgruntled neighbors about a loud party.

Usually, police officers go to the residence to quiet the party down, but find alcohol instead.

“If alcohol is there, then it is very possible for officers to find out whose parents are there,” Taylor said. “The adult is charged with furnishing alcohol to a juvenile.”

The new legislation, Taylor says, makes the penalties for both parents and minors more stringent. Because of the health risks of drinking, East has set up a program to help keep teens away from alcohol.

The Safe Home Pledge program is NOTE: This is an example of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s new public service announcements discussing the reprecusgeared toward deterring students from drinking sions of underage possesion of alcohol and drinking and driving. photo courtesy of the Kansas Department of Transportation

Features page 3

Spring Cleaning Annie Harrigan Art Editor Daffodils springing up from the ground. The Royals home opener. Open-toed sandals.

All of these seem to announce spring in one way or another, but there's one ritual that defines the season: spring cleaning!

Don't groan just yet. Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a chore. It can be used as an opportunity to replenish a room with new colors and accessories. An opportunity to empty out a cluttered corner to make room for a new soundsystem. An opportunity to try out some tips from TLC's "Trading Spaces."

Maybe not that last one. But whether a particular room needs a full-out makeover or just some much-needed dusting, the tips on this page can help the most unsavvy cleaners-to-be.

Clea ning

e r o f Be

• W ear comfortable, old clothes that you won't mind staining or getting dirty.

• Collect all of the supplies you're going to use and put them in one place. Getting them all at the same time is a big time-saver.

Some basic supplies you might want for an all-out cleaning session are paper towels, vacuum, all purpose cleaning solution, duster, trash bags, and a disenfectant spray, such as Lysol.

• G ather several boxes labeled: To Keep, To Trash, To Donate/Sell, Undecided. These will be used in organizing clutter later.

• O pen your windows and let some sunlight in. Not only willthis remove the musty smells of winter, but you'll also protect yourself from inhaling dust and dangerous fumes from cleaning products.

3.

2.

P ut on some fun, upbeat music.

•P Before you know it, your adrenaline will be pumping and cleaning will seem to take no time at all.

• Thoroughly dust the room. Dust often builds up during the winter months. Dust all your knickknacks, bookshelves, walls, and picture frames.

Less dust will also help you to handle allergies better.

• Vacuum the floors. Empty trash cans. Clean the windows-- it'll change the look of your room dramatically.

•B egin sorting the excess in your closet, drawers, bookshelves, and anywhere else you see clutter. This is where those boxes come in. Sort them accordingly, putting a treasured t-shirt in the To Keep box, and shorts that are too small in the To

1 .

Donate/Sell box. Don't try to find a place for everything until your items are sorted.

•E verything, off the floor! Utilize your closet as an organizing station.

Hang clothes up, and use hangers for ties and belts, cubbies for shoes and purses. Use a hanging organizer or fishing box for jewelry. Hooks for caps, bags, umbrellas and purses keep things in sight for quick retrieval.

•P ick a section of your room and tackle it. Fully organize your room, with, "Everything has a place, everything should be in its place" as your mantra.

Sort CD's and place them in a CD tower or shoebox. Fold t-shirts and put them in a large tupperware container to slide underneath your bed or lean against a wall. Leave no stone unturned, or in this case, leave no sock unorganized.

During Cleaning

• Put knickknacks, picture frames, and posters in different places than they were before. This will change how your room looks instantly. Try placing posters high on the walls of your room-- it makes the room look more spacious.

• Colorful accessories are one way to change a room without making a dent in your wal-

After Cleaning

let. Decorative pillows on your bed add a splash of color, or you can put one in the corner of your room to creative a comfy reading nook. Frame drawings and photos and hang them near your bed to create an aura of relaxation.

Organize a collection and place it atop your dresser for a cheerful display. Most importantly, lamps can open up a room with a literal flip of a switch! Place a lamp on your desk for sufficient reading and studying light, by your bed for

late-night reading, and in your closet. Light makes a room seem bigger than it is, so a few strategically placed lamps will open up your room immediately.

• If you want to splurge on a piece of furniture for your room, look for a chair that folds up when not in use, such as a director's chair. Find one with soft, cushy fabrics for the seat and the back instead of the standard canvas-the soft fabric is more comfortable on which to sit.

Features page 4

around the store and watched them.

“It bothered me because they had no reason to suspect anything,” said Rainka.

Rainka told the lady working behind the counter that she felt discriminated against and the men stopped Although not all teens steal, juveniles make up nearly 25-30% of the 23 million shoplifters in our nation today, according to “Theft Talk” Counseling Service.

“We deal with teen theft very often. I can’t say the percentage of it is higher than adult theft, but it is just as high,” said a security guard at the Ward Parkway Target.

Ironically, even though Rainka was offended by the employees at Tiffany Town, one of her peers was caught stealing from that same store not too long after.

Junior Amy* stole from Tiffany Town with three of her friends in 8th grade. It was the very first time Amy had stolen. She thought it looked easy. It became complicated when a small, decorative candle dropped out of her friend Becky’s* purse. When the worker asked if Becky had a receipt and went to get the proof of purchase, the other girls ran out and dumped their stolen items into a trashcan.

“We took the stuff because it was a thrill.

We weren’t compulsive thieves,” said Amy.

Five-Finger Discount Is teen theft m y t h or p r e j u d i c e?

Lindsey Melvin Copy Editor A pack of teenagers huddle around the accessories area of J-Crew, the area that suffers the most from theft. “Can I help you with anything?” the employee asks eagerly, never taking her eyes off the teens. Too many times before, teens have slipped an accessory into their pocket or bag and walked out. Theft is constantly an issue at retail stores, according to Angela Karius, former manager of J-Crew.

“The longer I was there, the more familiar I became with the different groups of shoppers,” said Karius. “We weren’t on the lookout for every teen that came in there. Those are our customers. We don’t want discrimination, but we know the warning signs.”

Karius watched for big groups of teens huddling by the accessories or going in dressing rooms to steal. The store workers and security know that teens make up a fourth of all theft. Even though their friends steal, other teens feel discriminated against when being watched closely.

Junior M a r g a r e t R a i n k a felt she encountered discrimination while shopping with her friends at Tiffany Town in middle school. Two middle-aged men followed them

The police called each of the girls’ parents and they all had to go to the police station.

The girls had already called each other and decided to deny knowing anything about Becky stealing.

“Two police officers called us in one by one and we had to tell our statement and write it down, and since we all had the same story, they released us,” Amy said, “It was the only time I’ve ever been to the police station.”

That incident was not enough to teach Amy her lesson. She continued to steal periodically throughout freshman and part of sophomore year.

“I would steal something, and then go home and feel guilty. Then after the first and second time it becomes a game, like let’s see how much I can steal today and get away with,” said Amy. She wouldn’t steal every time she went into a clothing store or a mall. She and her friends stole flip-flops and clothes that they could rip the censors off of. She would buy the clothes that she really wanted and had enough money for.

“A lot of the stuff I stole was so expensive I felt like I didn’t have the money,” said Amy. But after a while, Amy got a job and the need to steal faded away. She hasn’t stolen

anything for a year and a half. The risks aren’t worth it anymore.

“Stealing gets progressively worse,” Amy said, “Once people get away with it and find it fairly easy, they keep doing it. Now, I feel it’s really wrong. I don’t think I ever will again,” said Amy. Some teens never stop stealing. They grow up and become adult criminals. Some teens, like Amy, become sensible after a couple years of theft. But then there are those who are convinced after stealing one item to never make that mistake again.

Junior Mary** liked a bracelet from Urban Outfitters and had no money. Her friend said she should just take it.

“It was really scary, and when I think back on it, it wasn’t worth it at all. I’d feel really stupid to get caught over a tiny bracelet,” Mary said.

Mary has never stolen anything else. She realizes now what a poor choice it was.

“You should pay for something you want,” said Mary, “There is no point in stealing. It will give you something for free, but you’ll have the guilt for the rest of your life.” *Names changed to protect privacy.

Photo illustration by Patty Morrisey and Annie Harrigan

Features page 5

Coffee Shops , Remembrance Day

Wake Up and Smell The Coffee Times have changed since the 50s when diner’s and malt shops were the popular hot spots for teens.Coffee shops have turned into teens’ home away home.

Coffee shops have been around for a while, but just recently teens have used them in place of libraries and other study areas or hang out spots. The relaxing atmosphere gives the students a sense of ease from the stresses of school and life.

“Coffee shops are comfortable places where you can focus and work for hours with out noticing the time go by.

The smell and the music are very inviting and the caffeine is great for long night studying,” said junior Holly Thomas

After a long week of school senior K r i s t i n A p p e n b r i n k finds time to relax with a group of friends at Starbucks.Before Starbucks, the girls would stay at school on Friday afternoons to knit and talk with friends.

“We didn’t want to stay at school any longer than we had to. Starbucks is more relaxed than school,” Appenbrink said.

Coffee has expanded past the ordinary cup of distasteful black bean; Today’s teens have grown up in a generation expecting more flavor from their coffee. Drink choices range from raspberry mochas to white chocolate frappes.

Hattie’s coffee employee A l l i s o n M u l l e r says teens are buying more

Story By Liz Tschudy

coffee “because there is more variety today then there use to be and something for everyone.”

Many local coffee shops provide more than coffee and baked goods: Sat. nights at 7:30 the New Earth opens its doors to groups of teens waiting to get inside for the latest concert. The concerts provide not only good music, but also a smoke and alcohol free environment. New Earth is a music venue where big name bands such as Relient K and The Pool Boys have performed. Every Saturday there are 100 to 500 people who come to the music venue to hang out with friends, have some coffee, and listen to music. Homer’s and Mildred’s coffee shops in Downtown

Overland Park have concerts every Fri. and Sat. night that vary in music from Christian rock to folk. Bands that perform here are all local.

“It’s a place to get away from home and hang out with friends and get a cup of joe,” junior Michael Bell said.

Whether it’s good music, caffeine, or a place to hang out with friend’s, coffee shops are becoming the new hot spot.

A Day To Remember Wednesday, April 16, is REMEMBRANCE DAY. The Survivors Support Group is a group of students who have experienced a significant loss of a parent or sibling through death.

They meet throughout the year to give support to one another.

On Wednesday they will be sponsoring a REMEMBRANCE DAY to honor those they have lost.

They invite you to join them in remembering our loved ones by signing the REMEMBRANCE WALL on the north ramp. There will also be a table set up and members of the group will be there to hand out white ribbons.

The white ribbons worn by the students and faculty represent and honor someone very special in their lives. Be sure to stop by and show your support.

A&E

Crimes of The Heart

page 6

CRIMES Of The

Heart

Family conflicts occur in family.

There are no families who agree on everything. The story is able to relate to the play Crimes Of The Heart that is being performed by East Drama students.

The story is about three sisters trying to work through their family and personal problems. The three sisters names are Lenny Magrath played by junior E l l e n K i r k, Meg Magrath played by junior C l a i r e W y a t t and Babe Botrelle played by freshman E l l e n H a u n. This plot may sound familiar to families everywhere. Lenny is the responsible one, Meg is the one, and Babe is the odd one. These three sisters have have different personalities, but all have to deal with hardships in their everyday life. The play is sort of a guide to people and families on how to deal with troubles in their life.

The real theme of the story is people finding irritation when seeking communication. Communication is needed in families, friendships, and

relationships in order to keep these imporant things going well. Drama teacher B r i a n C a p e l l o believes the viewers will understand understand the situations in the play because they have been in similiar situat “Everybody can relate to this play,” Capello said.

Junior EllenKirk loves how the play has deep meanings if you listen closely enough.

“The plot is simple and easy to understand, but there are really some deep meanings in the story,” Kirk said.

The mood of the play changes frequently in this p lay which Wyatt believes makes the play entertaining.

“The play goes from being extremely happy to very sad in a matter of minutes,” Wyatt said.

This play will might make some people sad. It also may act as a example to other friends and how to cope with their own family troubles.

Happy family: Senior Karla VanderLippe and junior Ellen Kirk rehearse a scene for the spring play “Crimes of the Heart.”

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America at War page 8 & 9

Baghdad is 6,812 miles from Shawnee Mission East.

But for some, a faraway war is very close to home.

Conflicting Holding their

SOL PEACE

Washington protesters still believe peace is possible Ben Proffer Editorial editor

FLYING THE FLAG: Senior Sam Stepp and sophomore Anna St. Louis protest for peace even during war at 75th and Mission Road. photo by Patrick Menihan

Two and a half months ago, senior Sam Stepp could be seen waving an American flag in Washington D.C. with three hundred thousand people.

This assembly consisted of activists gathered from all over the country to give a message to Congress, the president, the world.

That message, demonstrated through a peace sign where stars should have been, was a message of international cooperation and opposition to a war that, to them, costs more than the threat.

Despite all of these citizen's efforts, war began. The ball has been set in motion.

Stepp has not changed his mind since that day. They went to the peace rally and saw that they were not alone. They were proud to be Americans on that day despite the signs that read "F--- you George W. Bush," not because of them.

Stepp, junior Marcia Lowe and junior Julie Wu, three of the East students who attended, agreed the only drawback they could find in D.C. was the individuals who took it upon themselves to strike at the president's character and not his policy.

Those who attended in January

haven't joined this minority.

"We always need to remember to respectfully criticize," Wu said.

Do these protestors support the troops? Yes but they make a distinction in the support they offer. When Stepp says he supports the troops, he means he supports the troops as human beings, not the actions they are taking. Lowe supports them and the fact they are doing something they believe in, but again refuses to condone this foreign policy.

This is a fundamental difference Stepp noticed between war supporters and UN supporters: war supporters support what the troops are doing and peace supporters support the troops as living beings. Both see themselves as patriotic.

Still striving for a world of cooperation and peace, these activists continue their support of the UN and the rights of everyone, Iraqis included. Do they regret the time they spent marching in Washington?

Absolutely not. They feel frustrated, disappointed, maybe a little disillusioned, but not defeated. As long as they have voice to give it, they will take advantage of their right to speak a message of liberty, honesty, and a world without war.

Despite war, business a for ROTC students David Lucas Editor

Out of approximately 50 fre started out in the Shawnee Miss ROTC, 20 seniors remain to gradu gram. Out of those cadets, only thr ning to join the service after grad in light of our current military end The program, led by Captai Shawnee Mission West, has not c matically as an effect of the war in coverage is on in the ROTC room b starts, while in class minds are usu on the tasks at hand. He will answ concerning the war if a student rai in general he says it is best for him opinions on the war private.

As far as the troops in Iraq, F pleased with their work, regardless ions on the war.

“People always have to understa military is only an instrument to c country’s foreign policy,” he said.

Fagan is proud of the former knows are currently in the Middle E difficult personally knowing a grea of soldiers than most civilians.

“We think about our graduates it’s tough,” he said “You’ll see a par While knowing people in comba ful reality for Fagan, he continues cadets and instill cooperation and

Emotions

SO MANY UNKNOWNS: Fitzsimmons holds a portrait of her boyfriend, Sgt. Russell Pence, who has been in the Middle East with the Marines since March. photo by Patrick Menihan

LDIERS Missing

as usual s

eshmen who sion District uate the proree are planduation, even deavors. in Fagan of changed dran Iraq. News before school ually focused wer questions ises one, but m to keep his

Fagan is very s of his opin-

and that the carry out our

students he East, but it is ater number

all the time; rent…” at is a stresses to develop d leadership

at home skills in every person he works with.

Not everyone who has gone into the military has been a ROTC cadet. The program is for determined students who have a desire for military discipline early in their development.

ROTC is a class which teaches skills like other classes, and is not necessarily a primary track for joining the military. Last year, virtually half of the military recruits at SM West, the location of the ROTC program, were never cadets. ROTC is an elective class, and its primary goal is to develop skills, just like any other elective.

Seniors Sean Leak and Josh Seitz have been in the program for four years now, and though neither one plan on entering the military after high school, they made the decision to stick with it to the end.

“Graduating from [the program] will look good on applications later on,” Leak said. He says he is content with his decision to stick with it through high school. And the majority of cadets choose this path, taking the skills they learn there into civilian life.

While the battle heats up in Iraq, the kids in ROTC continue their training as usual. There are days when the war is not even brought up.

But in the back of his mind, Captain Fagan always remembers his former cadets who are putting their lives on the line half a world away.

For two teachers, the war can never fade into the background.

Owen Morris Staff writer Although before Discrete Math teacher Hannah Fitzsimmon’s boyfriend, Sgt. Russell Pence, left for the Iraqi war he told her not to worry about him, some days she finds that hard to avoid.

“There are just so many unknowns,” Fitzsimmons said.

One of the ways to ease the unknowns is to talk and stay in touch.

With the boom in technology, communication overseas is easier and quicker then in previous wars. But it still is not without difficulty.

Especially communication from the middle of America to Bahrain.

“We communicate mostly through emails. I have also written him and sent

the

Marines

him packages,” Fitzsimmons said. “We have talked on the phone some also, but that is tough because he has to call me, I cannot call him.”

Pence went straight into the Marines after graduating from high school. Two years ago he became a reserve, which he stayed until he was called up in the middle of March. He has one daughter who is staying with her mother until he comes back home.

Another teacher who has close ties to this war is precalculus teacher Patti V o l k m e r, whose son, Sgt. Steven Volkmer, is stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California. He has not yet been called to Iraq because, as Volkmer puts it, “they still need someone to supply the ammo.” But he

has said that he would go if needed.

“That worries his mother.” Volkmer said. “I do not think he will go, only a couple of guys from his unit have been called to Iraq. …If he did go I would tell him to be careful. Even though he has not gone I try to stay very positive and support him and our troops. [I] stay strong and pray.”

When asked if she supports the war, Volkmer carefully thinks before giving an answer.

"I trust that Bush has more information than we do," she said slowly. "And yes, I kind of trust him.”

Whether the soldiers in Iraq support the war is a different matter.

“Russ is doing his job.” Fitzsimmons said. “He is doing his job.”

America at War

Debate over Iraq

page 10

The

line

David Lucas Editor-in-chief

“We are in this war now, and we should work to bring good of it.”

in the

sand

Should the U.S. be fighting in the Middle East . . .

Is gray such a difficult concept for our complex human brains? The conflict over the war in Iraq has become a civil war of Black and White.

Gray has been swept under the rug, and meanwhile the preaching soap-boxers thump their opinions until we are sick of both sides.

We are in this war, and that’s a fact. And now that we’re in it, we should finish the job and move on. Let’s not kill a bunch of people and leave the monster in charge. We’ve already been there, bought the T-shirt, and it just doesn’t fit.

Yes, we do have poor people in America; many people lack basic health care. These people have not been forgotten because of the war in Iraq.

Just because we’re spending money on foreign affairs does not mean all others are neglected. As the richest nation in the world, a nation with astounding freedoms, we do have a responsibility to bring aid to those not fortunate enough to be born in America.

The reasons for entering Iraq have been questioned greatly, but there is a gray area, a sort of no-man’s land enveloping every war we’ve ever fought. When we took on Nazi Germany, we had to ally with an equally evil man in Stalin, who was responsible for a far greater number of deaths than Hitler. If the rationale for the decision to fight is always based on immediate numbers of casualties, then America should have bought several million swastika armbands and started goose-stepping. The war would have been over

much quicker if we had sided with Hitler, and fewer lives might have been lost.

So if it’s not about human life, so precious, what is it? Allowing Hussein to continue his murderous reign is comparable to allowing Hitler to remain in power. When you get to matters of war and peace, life and death, we should learn to see shades of gray. We can’t fix everything, but we can do something We must start some place.

Is it about money? Is this blood for oil? If we had loaned money to Germany instead of England before World War II, would that have affected our alliances? We were massively invested in England and her allies, and if she had fallen, it would have been a major economic disaster for America. I will take my hat off for anyone who can find a war which is not somehow economically related. “It’s all about the oil!” Again, this blind ranting leaves no room for gray. We are not always out for our benefit. We provide more international aid than all other nations combined, never expecting to be paid back. Is that the work of an empire does? Is that how Rome was built?

Oil is vital to America, and there is always a financial interest. They have one and so do we.

Right and Wrong? War cannot be reduced to simple moral extremes. There are so many factors leading up to armed conflict that it is often difficult or impossible to separate all the motivations.

We are in this war now, and we should work to bring good of it. War is always a tragedy.

Decisions for war are always second-guessed.

Perhaps Hussein might have come around one day, giving up his reign of terror: “Ok, boys, she’s all yours.” Unlikely, but possible.

My request is that the conservatives who blindly support and the liberals who blindly oppose this conflict would take a minute to understand how both sides contain validity. This war, any war, is not right or wrong. It just is.

I condemn the hyper-conservatives who can’t see the gray, can’t see the horrible side of every war. There is an ambiguity in modern war which makes decisions based on dogma unacceptable.

But likewise, I condemn the preaching peacemongers who think that if America would just lay down our weapons and butt out of the world, everyone would somehow get along. There are innocent people in Iraq and elsewhere who do benefit when we butt in.

The debates we have every day at school or work or with our friends bring about the wrong kind of thinking. When you debate, you have to choose sides, and then all capacity for complex thinking, for compromise based on reality is crushed.

History will remember this war like all wars, its good and its bad. Let’s support our troops, help Iraq, and make the most of our position. We could save the historians some time and devote our days to activities besides senseless bickering.

...Or should our troops leave Iraq?

March 19, 2003, is a date that will go down in history not just because the war on Iraq began, but because it was the first time the leader of a “democratic” country claiming to be the leader of the free world launched an massive, unprovoked, illegal and immoral campaign of aggression against a weak country that has been under UN sanctions.

This war is pointless and will only result in the deaths of hundreds of Americans and Iraqis and will increase the hatred of America all over the world.

Bush’s reason for invading Iraq and causing all of this is that Saddam Hussein and his sons defied his order for them to leave the country.

He ordered them to leave the country because he claimed they weren’t cooperating with UN weapons inspectors, despite the fact that chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix repeatedly stated that they were.

Iraq destroyed over 40 missiles that Hans Blix ruled were illegal under the Gulf War ceasefire. The inspectors located the remains of the anthrax that had been destroyed by the Iraqi government and that Bush had claimed Iraq could use against the US. Bush’s invasion of Iraq is an act that has and will continue to cause many attacks against US targets by angry Muslims and others. Already, five people have been killed in riots in Yemen, massive fires were set near the US consulate in

Bahrain during protests, and thousands of people attempted to storm US embassies in Cairo, Seoul, Yemen, and elsewhere. An American Muslim soldier attacked his unit’s command tent in Kuwait with grenades (an act of war, but called a “terrorist attack” by the corporate media), killing 2 and wounding 10. A suicide bomber injured 50 people in Israel as a “gift” to the Iraqi people and another one killed four soldiers in “liberated” Iraq. All of this has occurred within the first several weeks of the invasion.

When it talked about “liberating” Iraq, the Bush regime said that Iraqi civilians would welcome US troops and the Iraqi resistance would crumble. Bush seems to be forgetting that throughout history, people ruled by oppressive governments have mobilized to repel invaders, for example, the Soviets who were ruled by Stalin, a man who killed over 10 million of his own people, fiercely resisted the 1941 German invasion not out of loyalty to Stalin, but to their country.

The same thing is happening in Iraq. The Bush regime claims that Iraqi soldiers are dressing in civilian clothes and attacking US troops.

It hasn’t thought of the possibility that Iraqi civilians at are defending their homes, just as the Southerners did in the Civil War and the Soviets did in WWII. In fact, a US Apache attack helicopter was shot down by a rifle-wielding Iraqi peasant farmer and its crew was captured.

The only place in which US troops have been welcomed has been southern Iraq, home to the anti-Saddam Hussein Shi’a Muslims.

This war is also illegal under the international laws that the US helped to write. The UN Charter states that no member nation can attack another unless that nation attacked first. Kofi Annan, UN Sec.-General, has pointed this out many times, but Bush refuses to listen to him and the people around the world who oppose this war.

Some people might point out that Iraq violated the charter twice when it attacked Iran and Kuwait and that it is a threat to the region. This doesn’t justify an invasion of Iraq by the US ten years later. For twelve years Iraq has been under complete sanctions that have killed 1.2 million Iraqis (according to the UN) and it has had most of its military capabilities destroyed by disarmament and war. Iraq has learned that it should not attack other countries. The US, has not.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration cares nothing about the wishes of the people it governs. It refuses to listen to the voices of the millions who protest this war in the nationwide protests that have not ceased since the day the bombs first fell on Baghdad.

Soon, America will be at war with the world due to the actions of Bush and the axis of evil running through Washington and London.

Peace out.

Andrew Finnerty Online Editor

“This war is pointless and will. . . increase the hatred of America all over the world.”

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Opinion page 12 editorial cartoon

discrimination, letter to the editor, editorial cartoon

by Annie Harrigan

letter to the editor War for Iraq, not against it

OD NO BLO FOR OIL

SUPPORT

OUR

TROOPS

STOP THE FIGHTING!

Discrimination: poison of the mind Palestinians hate Israelis; Southerners hate blacks; muslims hate non-muslims; S h a w n e e Mission East students hate S h a w n e e Ben Proffer Mission South Editorial Editor students; people who live on 63rd street hate people who live on 63rd Terrace. You may agree with some of the previous statements, but none of them are really accurate.

Just as one East student spouting obscenities about South doesn't reflect all of the student body, a few extremists in the Middle East do not speak for every person who claims that area as a homeland. I'm sure most of you understand this concept, but a different kind of hatred is still supported in this school every day of the week. This hatred is fueled by the apathy of students who hear homosexuals being

slighted every day of the week and say nothing.

At one point recently I began a discussion with a junior about the use of the word "gay" to describe a quality such as enthusiasm, stupidity, effeminacy, or pretty much anything that can be seen in a negative light. He tried to support the point that in modern times this word has evolved into something disconnected from the men and women who are homosexual. What he does not understand is that people are still hurt by this abuse. When homosexuals hear someone refer to a negative quality as “gay” or someone calling out fag, it does sting.

Erase all excuses from your mind – using the word gay under the wrong context is just as damaging as any other stereotype of a racial or ethnic group. I can't even comprehend how people consider calling someone "fag" different from calling someone "nigger." In both cases you are discriminating against a group of people who have no control over

HARBINGER The Harbinger is a bi-weekly publication of Shawnee Mission East High School •7500 Mission Road • room 416 • Prairie Village, Kansas • 66208 • 913.993.6688 E d i t o r : David Lucas A s s i s t a n t E d i t o r s :Katie Whitson Andrew Wagner C o p y E d i t o r s : Courtney Condron Grant Calcara Katie Wiley Lindsey Melvin Dianne Smith Nate Milburn A r t a n d D e s i g n E d i t o r : Annie Harrigan A s s i s t a n t A r t a n d D e s i g n E d i t o r : Matt Goehausen

what they are discriminated for.

Gay people don't choose to be gay any more than black people choose to be black, yet some people refuse to understand this simple fact. If you're one of those people, think about this: why would anybody subject himself or herself to that much abuse voluntarily? Why would anybody choose to enter a group of people that, at most, could find a companion in 10% of half the population, at least, 3%? If you still don’t understand, then let me put it this way. If you claim that being gay is a choice, then theoretically you could choose to be gay.

Would you? No, of course not -there is no choice involved.

If your walking around the schhool and you hear someone casually call out fag or gay, say something. By remaining silent you are allowing the flow of ideas that belittle and estrange perfectly normal individuals from the rest of the population. You are supporting bigotry.

Online Editor and Computer Manager: Andrew Finnerty P h o t o E d i t o r : P a t t y Morrisey A d v e r t i s i n g a n d B u s i n e s s M a n a g e r : Katie Wiley E d i t o r i a l S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Ben Proffer O p i n i o n S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Dianne Smith N e w s S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Libby Nelson F e a t u r e s S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Alex Abnos S p o r t s S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Jimmy Sevcik Arts and Entertainment Section Editor: Libby Brickson P h o t o E s s a y P a g e E d i t o r : Tierney Weed S p e c i a l S e c t i o n E d i t o r : Holly Garringer C i r c u l a t i o n M a n a g e r : Anne Steadman Exchange/Subscription Managers: Gordon Culver Joanna Cross R o a m i n g P a g e E d i t o r s : Patrick Ryan Kevin Bever David Vranicar

While I enjoy reading many of the articles written by Harbinger Staff, I can’t help but notice the seemingly unanimous support for anti-Bush/anti-war positions.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe in peace and justice, but opposing this war only perpetuates the lack of peace and justice currently present in Iraq. I am writing this issue to give the student body of Shawnee Mission East a different perspective on this issue.

For the most part, CNN and Fox News present pretty unbiased coverage of the conflict in Iraq. It is for this reason that I am surprised any sane American can actively condemn our reasons for going to war. I’m not going to spend a lot of time repeating our reasons, but I just want to clear up a few things. Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq has not accounted for 100 tons of weapons grad anthrax, and has failed to comply with weapons inspectors for over eight years. It is for this reason that UN Resolution 1441 grants us express permission to use force (Bear in mind this resolution was passed unanimously by the UN Security Council).

Last week I heard a clip from a Florida radio program in which a dialogue between a 16-year-old girl (Anti-War) and a middle-aged Iraqi immigrant named Mohammed took place. This girl had been preaching the usual anti-Bush rhetoric on the show for about 4 minutes when the Iraqi man called in. Mohammed described in detail how he had friends who had lost up to 20 members of their own family. The man made an excellent point of logic on the show in response to the girl (this man likened her to a “chirping little bird”) spouting the anti-war party line about how the war in Iraq was unjustified for killing “thousands of Iraqi civilians.” To paraphrase his statement, he said that currently, and in the past, Saddam kills massive amounts of his own people. So either we can have a short war, where many people will

Ben Huntley C o n t e s t C o o r d i n a t o r : Dianne Smith S t a f f W r i t e r s : Andy Heintz Joe West Stephen McKim Paul Thompson Elizabeth Tschudy S t a f f A r t i s t s : Ben Huntley Cynthia Goldman Tom Woodward Barrett Emke S t a f f P h o t o g r a p h e r s : Meg Stewart Tierney Weed Joanna Cross Pat Menihan E d i t o r i a l B o a r d : David Lucas, Katie Whitson, Andrew Wagner, Ben Proffer, Andrew Finnerty, Annie Harrigan, Ben Huntley, Alex Abnos, Anne Steadman, Katie Wiley

amounts of his own people. So either we can have a short war where many people will die in the fighting, or we can continue to allow this madman to kill his own people for the remainder of his stay in power.

This chirping little bird that called into this radio show is indicative of the population of the peace movement in our country. While their cause may be an honorable one, they really can’t present good reason as to why we shouldn’t be in Iraq.

Watching some footage of the recent demonstrations in San Francisco and New York (Which can be found at www.brain-terminal.com, and is very entertaining), I saw a diverse population of communist, anarchist, morons, conspiracy theorists, and many others (often appearing to be in a weed-induced coma) holding signs likening President Bush to Adolf Hitler, and then being cheered for it. It is people like Michael Moore, and about half of the other peace demonstrators, that blast Bush and condemn our country’s actions that bolster Saddam’s resolve, and the resolve of his Iraqi regime. I don’t necessarily care that these people are being complete and total morons in public. Hey, the First Amendment gives you the right to be ignorant. I just don’t want people to see these protests and think that they represent mainstream America or any sort of popular public opinion.

Protesting in itself is fine, and legal, but those Americans that choose to denounce our actions because of their partisan politics, dislike of Bush, or blind pacifism, in my opinion are anti-American.

If you fit into none of these categories, and have examined this situation objectively, yet still are opposed to the war, well then that is your choice. But for the rest of you, do us all a favor and pack up your white flag and your beret and take the next flight out of here to Paris. I’ll pay for your ticket.

Brian Benge, junior Mission Statement:

The mission of The Harbinger is to entertain, enlighten and above all educate readers about SM East, the community, the nation, and the world. It seeks to be a forum for student opinion and knowledge.

The Harbinger is not an expression of the Shawnee Mission District. All content is the responsibility of the student staff.

Letters & Columns: Looking for a forum to voice opinions? If something in this issue of The Harbinger sparks an interest or if there is some pressing issue that needs to be investigated, please respond. The Harbinger welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor. All editorials are subject to editing, and publication of any letters is left to the editor’s discretion. Please submit letters to The Harbinger in Room 416 or send pieces to eatate@smsd.org.

Opinion page 13

Plede of Allegiance, political cartoon, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Aethist dad makes pledge an excuse to whine, complain One nation under no one.

I don’t pledge allegiance.

In no one we trust.

America’s message for the future is clear: morals are Barrett Emke obsolete. This is the age of arrogant, isolatstaff artist ed self-tyranny. We don’t need their doctrines. Why idolize something intangible when you could just idolize yourself?

I’m not buying it.

The current get-rich-off-a-melodramatic-escapade is too much for me. Case in point: obese people actually had the audacity to sue McDonald’s for damaging their health and ruining their lives. No one wants to accept responsibility.

The pledge of allegiance has been

declared unconstitutional because it mentions You Know Who. Apparently some atheists have too much time on their hands.

“God” can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways: the Catholics’ God, the Muslims’ God, the Buddhists’ God. God is the universal protector, the force that watches over everyone. If nothing else, God can be thought of as nature.

I’m not a Bible thumper. I’m not even really sure what I believe in terms of a higher power. But I do believe this situation is ridiculous. I just can’t stomach the fact that someone honestly believes an elementary school tradition can be so detrimental.

Today, offending anyone might as well be worthy of the death penalty. I guess people have become so emotionally unstable that a simple tradition can send a loner with a chip on his shoulder into a nervous breakdown. Spare me.

The way I see it, people just need something to complain about, to catapult them

into the maudlin limelight. but I was trained to see through the bandwagon technique back in 6th grade.

Make a claim against someone or something—anyI implore you all to take heed of thing, and you can probthis situation. Please stop whining about things you should care ably get some money or at least some pity. nothing about. People of any religion should be able to tolChildren are not forced to say the erate the pledge based on the pledge. They haven’t sole fact that it doesn’t really matter! I’m sick of hearing been since 1943.

Apparently that wasn’t about some idiot on a soapbox rambling on and on about the good enough for atheist Michael Newdow, who most trivial thing he can think of unearthed all this turmoil, until someone from the Supreme Court shuts him up with a new law arguing his daughter was scarred for life just by listening art by Barrett Emke to make him feel special. At least ramble about hanging out with to others reciting the “under God” portion of the pledge. Somehow I aliens or playing ping-pong with the don’t feel sorry for her.

Sasquatch or the banning of the pledge or Besides jumpstarting worldwide epipha- something… nies, Newdow bedazzled people everywhere with his atheist propaganda: “It’s a cool thing to do. Everyone should try it.” Sorry,

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Left out in the cold The desolate, scarcely populated tundra of northeast Alaska, where temperatures reach -70 degrees and the sun David Vranicar retreats for page editor weeks at a time is apparently more important than the livelihood of Alaska's citizens and America's economy.

Recent votes in the Senate reiterate what original Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) legislation set out to do in the 1970's: shut off the wildlife refuge and its estimated 10.3 billion barrels of oil to human development.

Reluctance to initiate oil drilling stems from fears that development in the region will destroy the last piece of pristine land in the country, endangering the livelihood of thousands of animals. But previous Alaskan drilling operations have yielded little environmental disturbance.

Starting in the 70s, scientists began studying Prudhoe Bay, America's largest domestic oil producer, to determine what damaging effects oil production would have on the area and its animal population.

Caribou, the animal at the head of the ANWR debate, have shown that they can coexist with humans, tripling in population since construction began.

"We don't see oil development having any effect on the [caribou] population level," said Mike Joyce, a former environmental scientist, contradicting the apocalyptic arguments anteed up by environmentalists.

"We know from experience at

Prudhoe Bay that oil development results in minimal [environmental] impact," Alaska Senator Al Adams wrote in a northern Canadian newspaper.

Despite the scientific facts, environmentalists still fail to acknowledge the relative safety and environmental friendliness of proposed ANWR drilling operations.

"We are not just going to allow Republicans to destroy the environment," Democrat Tom Daschle told reporters.

"We believe that this is a dividing line b e t w e e n Republicans and Democrats, a n d we're willing to take it a n y where in the country. We feel that strongly about it."

Thir ty years of technological advancements have lessened the impact that aleady benign drilling has on the environment. Of ANWR's 19 million acres, visited by a few hundred people annually, only 1.5 million would even be considered for drilling. Of those 1.5 million acres, only 2,000 would be directly affected by drilling. Because the government protects so much of ANWR, and because technology is so

advanced, a whopping .01 percent of ANWR's land would be disturbed.

Those who voted against ANWR drilling initiatives did more than keep derricks out of ANWR; they kept money out of the poor Inupiat Eskimo region. Alaska has an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent, compared to the national average of 5.8 percent.

The state saw an 82 percent rise in joblessness from the end of 2001 to December of 2002. An estimated 250,000 to 735,000 jobs would be created with the drilling of ANWR according to ANWR.org, bringing in a projected $2.6 billion to state and federal treasuries. Schools, running water and jobs would all be made available if drilling were permitted.

"Inhabitants of the North Slope [location of Prudhoe Bay]," said Sen. Adams, "have been able to move from a welfare and subsistencebased economy towards a jobs and subsistence economy."

T h e Senate's decision to prohibit drilling in Alaska is a statement that the livelihood of ANWR is more important than the livelihood of the Inupiat people. This is like telling Kansans they can't grow wheat or Pennsylvanians they can't mine coal.

America is sitting atop billions of dollars worth of energy, but because of environmental fears that haven't been realized in 30 years of drilling, Alaska's caribou get precedent over the people.

by Tom Woodward

Burstin’ your bubble

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Sports page 15

Boys’ tennis, college basketball

College basketball and its problems: Michigan, Fresno State, Villanova, Georgia, St. B o n ave n t u re .

The correlation? Every one of these schools was punished during the Paul Thompson recent NCAA basketball seaStaff Writer son for violations of NCAA rules. Whether the violations are compensating athletes, academic fraud, or using ineligible players, each of these institutions has been caught with their hands deep in the cookie jar.

Because college programs are not allowed to compensate their players over the table, many have risked compensating them under it. Former Michigan forward and current NBA star C h r i s W e b b e r (along with several other Michigan players) has been accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Michigan booster E d M a r t i n, who last year plead guilty to charges of federal conspiracy for paying Michigan basketball players from 1988-99.

With so many young athletes leaving school early in favor of professional careers, many colleges are feeling the need to change the trend, even if they have to break NCAA rules. The opportunity for a free education isn’t enough anymore to sway many college-age athletes to choose school ahead of the guaranteed millions available in professional sports. Is it the greed of today’s youth that pushes them to abandon their studies, or is it that the top tier athletes are finally coming to their senses?

Under current NCAA rules, it is prohibited for college programs to pay their players aside from providing them with a free college education. While supporters of the ‘no-pay’ policy claim athletes don’t need more than an education from schools, and that paying players would taint the NCAA amateur status, others see many blinding reasons for change.

The NCAA is in the middle of an eight-year $1.725 billion dollar deal with CBS for the right to broadcast their Division I Men’s basketball tournament. If a players team makes it to the postseason tournament, how big of a payday do they earn? None. They are playing strictly for pride and competition. The NCAA is pocketing the cash; while the players who make everything happen depart with a trophy and the memories. And the NCAA wonders why schools are violating their rules?

Whether the payments made to players are several hundred dollars or more, compensation of some sort is a necessity for many athletes. Because there is such an abyss between mid-majors and upper echelon universities, the payment system would only work if it were based on a percentage of each university’s profits. Under the percentage system, the starters would haul in a higher percentage than the second stringers.

The argument that paying players would take away the NCAA's amateur

Should collegiate athletes in the NCAA give up amateur status to receive pay? status has a structure weaker than a house of cards. The NCAA blew its amateur status when Kentucky’s basketball team shaved points in the NIT back in 1951, and it continues to lose its amateur status when football programs pay million dollar salaries to coaches and pack 100,000 fans into their stadiums.

The athletes’ games are nationally televised, they sign autographs, and pack stadiums, but they are paid for their athletic skills as lucratively as gas station attendants playing HORSE on a 15-minute break.

By the time athletes reach the college level, sports are a full time job. It’s in-season, preseason, or an array of “voluntary” off-season workouts. For those students who don’t come from wealthy families, getting personal money can be a major problem. As Division I basketball player U c h e N s o n w u - A m a d i explains, “We just don’t have time for anything else, playing basketball and going to school are all we can do. How many hours are there in a day?”

The current rules need to be altered to let college athletes be paid for their athletic prowess. Many players have major qualms with the current system, and rightfully so. Not being able to reap the rewards of excellent play has watered down college basketball to some degree, with most of the prime professional prospects leaving school early for their shot at unbelievable fame and fortune. As Wyoming Athletic Director E d M o o n wonders, “ How can we look kids in the eye and tell them to be satisfied with a scholarship when they know if they hit the winning free throw or kick the winning field goal, the coach gets a $100,000 bonus?”

The answer, Mr. Moon, is, “You can’t.”

SMOOTH: Perfecting his forehand, junior Ian Stewart practices on the SM East courts recently. Photo by Meg

MOVING Stewart

AROUND

SUCCESS Despite changes, tennis looks to contend for state championship Jimmy Sevcik Sports Editor Senior B r i a n E b b i t t s and junior G a r r e t t G a t e s will tell you that they achieved only part of their goal for the 2002 season. The two left Manhattan last year with the state doubles championship. What more could they want?

“We missed first place by just a few points,” Gates said. “I think we have a strong chance to win it (the state team championship) this year.”

After all, the team didn’t lose any varsity members from last year’s state runner-up squad.

Coach S u e C h i p m a n’s challenge will be figuring out who will play doubles and who will play singles.

“It’s going to be painful because some people will get left out,” she said. “But if we do it right, I don’t think we will have any problems.”

The only trouble so far for Chipman has been figuring out what to do with all the talent, which goes well beyond the top six players.

“Anyone in the second tier of players would definitely have one of the top spots on any

other team in the state,” Gates said.

Chipman said the puzzle of where to place everyone should be solved within the next few weeks, just in time for the District tournament on Apr. 19.

“It’s still too early. In practice we’re going to have to try different combinations,” Chipman said.

As of now, the only definite thing about this team is their chance to contend for a state championship. Junior N o l a n L e m , who placed third at state in singles, has expressed interest in playing doubles. Gates would like to improve his singles game to perk up his college recruitment in the next year. Ebbitts may play singles as well. If the two do play solo this season, they will miss out on a chance at reaching the state championship match for the third straight year, but it’s a risk both would be willing to take. As for now, nothing is certain.

“I’m looking to do what’s best for the team and our chances to win state,” Ebbitts said.

Spring Sports Ticker Baseball Olathe East Olathe South Hutchinson* Wichita Heights* Emporia** Raymore-Peculiar** @ SM South SM North @ Bishop Ward @ SM West @Free State @SM South Olathe North @Lawrence Leavenworth SM Northwest @Blue Valley @SM North

Apr 1 Apr 2 Apr 4 Apr 4 Apr 11 Apr 12 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr 19 Apr 22 Apr 24 Apr 26 Apr 29 May 1 May 6 May 10 May 13 May 15

7:00 5:30 3:00 5:00 8:30 8:30 7:00 5:00 1:00 7:00 5:30 1:00 7:00 5:30 4:15 12:00 5:00 5:30

*Hutchinson Tournament **Lawrence Tournament

Baseball Did You Know?

•Glen Percy (1974-’76) and Rob Hole (2000’02) are the only two coaches in baseball history to have career losing records while at SM East.

•Last year’s 3-18 record was only the eighth losing season since the baseball program began in 1974.

•Assistant Coach Merrit Hess lead the 1995 team to a state championship as a pitcher with a 9-0 record and a 1.40 ERA.

Softball @SM South Lawrence @SM North Leavenworth Olathe South @SM West Olathe North @SM Northwest @Olathe East Free State Regionals State

Apr 1 Apr 10 Apr 15 Apr 17 Apr 24 May 29 May 1 May 6 May 13 May 15 May 19 May 30-31

Boys’ Tennis 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 4:15 TBA TBA

*All games are double-headers.

The SM East softball team split a season opening double header on Apr. 1 with SM South with a 2-1 win and 2-0 loss.

Girls’ Swimming SM East Relays Mar 25 SM Northwest Apr 1 Park Hill Invitational Apr 4-5 @Olathe Invitational Apr 11-12 SM North/Piper/Ward Apr 19 @SM West/ Aquinas Apr 24 @Manhattan Apr 30 SM South May 1 @Springfield, MO May 3 League Meet May 9-10 State Meet May 23-24

4:00 4:00 TBA TBA 10:00 4:00 3:30 4:00 TBA TBA TBA

The girls’ swim team started off their season with a first place team finish at home in the SM East Relays.

SM North Apr 1 Blue Valley Apr 2 @SM South Apr 10 Topeka High Apr 16 @SM West Apr 17 @Lawrence Invite Apr 17 Sumner Apr 18 District Tournament Apr 19 @Pembroke Hill Apr 21 Bishop Miege Apr 22 @Aquinas Invite Apr 23 Maranatha Academy Apr 28 BV Northwest Apr 29 Rockhurst Apr 30 Gardner/Edgerton May 3 BV West May 5 Topeka West Tourn. May 7 Regionals May 19 State May 23-24

3:30 3:30 3:30 3:30 2:30 3:00 3:00 8:00 a.m.

3:30 3:30 8:00 a.m.

3:30 3:30 3:30 8:00 a.m.

3:30 8:00 a.m.

TBA TBA

Girls’ Soccer BV North @Lawrence SM North Tournament @Olathe South BV Northwest @Olathe East Free State @SM West SM Northwest SM South Topeka West Leavenworth @Olathe North Regionals Quarterfinals State Semifinals State Championship

Mar 25 7:00 Apr 7 7:00 Apr 9 7:00 Apr 11-12 TBA Apr 15 7:00 Apr 19 1:00 Apr 22 7:00 Apr 24 7:00 Apr 28 7:00 Apr 30 7:00 May 2 7:00 May 10 1:00 May 14 7:00 May 15 7:00 May 19 TBA May 27 TBA May 30 TBA May 31 TBA

Track Boys’ Golf @SM South SM East Invitational @Olathe South League @Topeka West @Hutchinson @Olathe North @Leavenworth @Lawrence Regionals State

Apr 7 Apr 14 Apr 15 Apr 21 Apr 28 May 2 May 8 May 12 May 14 May 19 May 27

3:00 3:00 12:00 1:00 1:00 8:00 a.m.

3:00 3:00 8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

SME Quad Apr 1 SMS Relays Apr 5 BV Relays Apr 12 District Meet Apr 17 KU Relays Apr. 18-19 Leavenworth Relays Apr. 26 Aquinas Relays May 2 SMN Relays May 9 League Meet May 16 Regional Meet May 23 State Meet May 30-31

3:30 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

TBA 9:30 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

TBA TBA

In the SME Quadrangular Meet on Apr. 1, senior Michael Orlowski placed 1st in both the long and triple jumps.

Photo Essay page 16

Bistros at Broadmoor

VÉÉ~|Çz hÑ Perfection Students host monthly bistros to show off their culinary skills in a more realistic restaurant setting.

What’s Cookin’?: For effeciency purposes, students form an assembly line to prepare food in the most productive way possible. At Broadmoor, culinary students take two hour classes a day to learn the fundamentals of the food service photos by Tierney Weed

Pots ’n’ Pans: (Above) Junior Joe West selects his kitchen utensil of choice. (Left) Junior Ginger Case, of Shawnee Mission North, serves dinner to the bistro diners.