Issue 11

passage NORTHWEST VOL. 42

ISSUE 11

MARCH 11, 2011

being the best /12

ASIAN STUDENTS DISCUSS THE CULTURAL EMPHASIS ON DOING WELL ACADEMICALLY.

getting the ball rolling /16

FRESHMAN CASSIE QUERAL STANDS OUT ON THE VARSITY BOWLING TEAM.

in the spotlight / 11 STUCO’S ANNUAL TALENT SHOW RAISED $661 FOR THE CLUB SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

/ PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

contents 

PASSAGE STAFF

Co-editors-in-chief MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER

Copy Editor

BRIANNA LEYDEN

Design Editors

STEPHANIE SPICER + BAILEY KOPP

Assistant Copy Editor WYATT ANDERSON

Photo Editors

DAVID FREYERMUTH + HANNA MEIGS

Graphics Editor TYLER ABSHER

News Editor

HAYLEY BATTENBERG

Opinions Editors MARIA DAVISON + STEPHANIE SPICER

Features Editors MORGAN JONES + BRIANNA LEYDEN

Entertainment Editor WYATT ANDERSON

Sports Editor BRADY KLEIN

Ads Editor

CLAIRE MARLEY

NORTHWEST PASSAGE / VOL. 42 / ISSUE 09 SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST 12701 W. 67TH STREET SHAWNEE, KS 66216

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Staff Writers

JEFFERY ALLEN, KIRK BADO, LOGAN COFFMAN ASHLEE CRANE, RACHAEL DEMJANIK, RACHEL FERENCZ, MICHAEL GRIFFIN, PIA HECKMAN, DANIEL MAGWIRE, JOSH MEIGS, TESSA MILLER, EVAN SHINN, CONNOR THOMPSON, ERIC ZOELLNER

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SMNW.COM

Co-editors-in-chief LAUREN MINICK + STEPHANIE SPICER

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05 / band chili dinner

/GRAPHIC BY TYLER ABSHER  NEWS 04 news

Updates on happenings at Northwest.

06 news schmix  ENTERTAINMENT 09 reviews

Words I Never Said: Lupe Fiasco finally released his politcally charged album.

10 reviews

I Am Number Four: For a science fiction/ romance movie, it wasn’t half bad.

Rev Theory: Justice, Rev Theory’s new album is lacking diversity.

Justified: FX’s cop show is good because it’s believable.

 OPINIONS 08 rest: the season’s best medicine

Think twice before going to the doctor next time you’re sick.

fight against skinny

Senior Jordan Dillion, along with the rest of the band, perfoms at the band chili concert. / PHOTO BYBAILEY KOPP

 FEATURES 11 in the spotlight

StuCo hosted the annual talent show, raising money for the club scholarship program.

12 being the best

Asian culture puts strict emphasis on excelling academically .

 SPORTS 19 boss

The best sports photo and Q&A with varsity track runner Aaron Thornburg.

16 getting the ball rollings

Freshman Cassie Queral reflects on her experience on the varsity bowling team as a freshman.

19 upcoming games 19 new knicks good for the NBA?

Every fan knows the feeling, but they occur in some sports more than others.

A staff member discusses her struggle with an eating disorder.

(TOP) Senior Janie Queral and her sister, freshman

Cassie Queral practice for bowling on Mar. 7. / PHOTO BY HANNA MEIGS (BOTTOM) Senior Daniel Fry sings “You Make it Real for Me” by James Morrison. / PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. the Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine.

The paper will be distributed every two weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $35. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff.

When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find a solution.

In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people.

In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The co-editors-in-chief reserve the right to refuse any letter.

REVIEWS

NORTHWEST GAINS UNIQUE NEW CLUBS In the last few weeks the NW hallways have had considerably more to say. Posters with big letters in green, blue or red suggest students to, for example, “Get that Hot Bod.” The messages are all part of an effort to interest students in some of Northwest’s newest clubs, like Pilates Club, Knitting and Crocheting Club, Cooking Club and Health Careers Club. It seems to be just a coincidence that all of these clubs have started up at about the same time.

The Health Careers Club was started by human anatomy and physiology teacher Sarah Moles in the beginning of this semester. This club talks about possible opportunities to shadow or do something in the community related to health careers.

“Hunter [Holman, senior and I] stepped up and took control of it, ” senior Jessica Tingle, president of the Health Careers Club, said.

Pilates Club was organized by sophomore Edelawitt Hussien, who enjoys doing Pilates and yoga at home by herself. The club already boasts 20 regular members after its first three meetings.

“I thought if I like it other people might like it too,“ she said.

The knitting club that had his first meeting on Jan. 24 has had some problems with getting more members. Although students are interested, only a couple come to the meetings, especially with confusion was caused by the snow days.

“It is tricky with the snow days, people thought it was canceled because of the bad weather, but it wasn’t, “ Knitting and Crocheting club sponsor Susan Nagel said.

After spring break, Nagel plans on putting some signs up to gain more members.

The Cooking Club also hasn’t had a good start. Bad organization concerning the purchase of the ingredients, and the loss of pressure to have the necessary cooking supplies for a voluntary club and not for class are two reasons why this club probably won’t continue this semester.

Despite club organizers having to go through an approval process, which includes securing a teacher sponsor, the administration usually supports the formation of any new club.

“It is a great way to support the students’ interest,” principal Bill Harrington said. / PIA HECKMAN

Knitting and Crocheting Club: Mondays after school in room 214 Health Careers: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays after school in room 241 Pilates: Thursdays after school in room 12

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SPRING BREAK SAFETY sun damage

alcohol poisoning

Nearly 60 percent of teens will experience a sunburn each year according to OrganicYouth. org. With many students headed to a sunny spring break destination, they need to take precautions against skin damage. Even those who are headed for skiing should be precautioned, as the snow can reflect UV rays, causing sunburns.

Sunburns are caused when skin cells are damaged by the absorption of UV rays, the body send extra blood to the damaged area in order to repair it, which creates the redness that many associate with sunburns. In order to avoid sunburns, be sure to apply a sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.

For women, there is another option existing in cosmetics. Many cosmetic products contain SPF, including lip balm and foundation products.

If you plan on staying outside for a long period of time, reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming, as water and sand reflect the sun’s rays.

The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., be sure to seek shade in these hours, especially if your shadow is shorter than you are.

There are a number of ways to nurse a sunburn.

The most common treatment includes using lotions containing aloe vera or topical steroids such as hydrocortisone cream. Dehydration can occur in some instances, so drink plenty of fluids like water and milk. Also be sure to wear loose fitting clothing during the recovery time, as some fabrics can irritate the skin further.

The most commonly abused drug among youth in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to statistics from the emergency room at Gulf Coast Medical Center last year at Panama City Beach around the time of spring break, 32 teens were admitted for intoxication or alcohol abuse during spring break, with the majority being between 18 and 20 years old.

Alcohol poisoning is caused by drinking too much too quickly. Problems with breathing, heart rate and gag reflex can occur if someone consumes large amounts of alcohol in a small amount of time.

Binge drinking (rapidly drinking five or more drinks in a row) is the major cause of alcohol poisoning.

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning include slurred speech and delayed or absent reflexes, no response to pain, confusion, unconsciousness, pale skin and slow, shallow or irregular breathing.

If you notice someone exhibiting these symptoms, they need medical attention right away. Call 911 for immediate emergency help.

Source: http://www.about-alcoholism-info.com/ Alcohol_Poisoning_Symptoms.html

food poisoning It can be easy to forget about taking care of the food that you eat when you’re away from home. But food poisoning could very easily put a damper on your spring break, so taking good care of your food and using caution when preparing it can help you avoid the symptoms of food poisoning.  Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and use antibacterial wipes on the surface you’re preparing the food on.  Keep cold foods below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and hot foods at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or above.  You might want to consider these foods while on vacation because they are less likely to be contaminated with harmful bacteria: wellwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, cookies and cake, breads and rolls, peanut butter, cooked and well-cooled processed meat or cold cuts products.  After eating, put leftovers back in the cooler or refrigerator. If left out for more than an hour, throw it out.  Keep separate coolers for beverages and food.

Take plenty of ice, food storage bags and containers to keep your leftover food cold.

travel safety According to the State Department, more than 2,500 people are arrested abroad every year, mostly on narcotics charges. Many accidents caused by alcohol and drug use contribute to the large number of injuries that occur in foreign countries.

Some tips that they have proposed are to make sure to have a passport, avoid excessive and underage alcohol use, only use licensed taxis (taxis that are marked as “gypsy cabs,” personalized vehicles and cabs that don’t have meters are most likely unlicensed taxis) and be conscientious of your surroundings. Also, take all of the more obvious precautions, such as not purchasing or using drugs, obeying the local laws, taking warning flags on beaches seriously and do not carry weapons.

Taking these precautions if going outside the country will allow you to have a safe and enjoyable spring break. It’s also good to record the address of your hotel, knowing emergency numbers

bed bugs With the recent concerns around the outbreaks of bedbugs, these precautions can be taken to reduce your chances of acquiring them yourself.  Inspect the mattress for bed bugs or black, ink like spots. Report it to hotel management if you find either.  Check your luggage rack. If it’s clear of bed bugs, store luggage on the rack instead of on the floor.  Inspect your luggage for bed bugs before check wout and once you return home. / ASHLEE CRANE + TESSA MILLER

REVIEWS

GIPPLE AND PITTRICH WIN IN CLOSEST STUDENT ELECTION IN NW HISTORY Four juniors stood up in front of the school on Feb. 24 and delivered speeches, competing to win the majority of the student body’s vote. Jake Gipple and Grant Pittrich beat out fellow candidates Blake Evans and Aaron Terrill in one of the closest elections in NW history.

“We had to recount three or four times for over 1,800 ballots,” Student Council sponsor Sarah Dent said.

Gipple will serve as president and Pittrich as vice president for the 2011-2012 school year. Dent was thrilled at the response from the student body.

“After seeing how close it was, it really was a testament to all four candidates about how clean of a campaign it was. It showed what type of leaders they are in this school,” Dent said.

The candidates were surprised but enthusiastic about the outcome.

“I was shocked at first, but then I was excited. We decided to run because Grant and I thought we would make a good pair that could benefit the school,” Gipple said.

Although he suffered a loss, Terrill is still excited to be a part of StuCo. “Now, I’m just relieved it’s all over and I’m excited to apply for the executive board next year,” Terrill said. Terrill was named secretary on the executive board for the next school year; Evans will serve as treasurer.

Two other current StuCo members were chosen to work with Pittrich, Evans, Terrill and Gipple for the executive board. Bailey Sestak was chosen to be the publicist, and Abby Hoelting was chosen to be the parliamentarian.

“I’m excited for the executive board next year because Blake and Aaron are both great calibre leaders,” Pittrich said. “Abby and Bailey are both full of energy and have great organizational skills. We’re very excited that they’re on there and we know they / RACHEL FERENCZ will work hard.”

more nw news MARCH 1: BINGO NIGHT / NHS hosted a bingo night at Shawnee Gardens last Tuesday to get more service hours before the deadline on March 2.

FEB. 28- MARCH 4: SPRING SPORTS TRYOUTS / The seven spring sports held tryouts last week

MARCH 2-4: FRENCH CLUB BAKE SALE / French club members raised funds to benefit the club at a bake sale last week, selling chocolate croissants and crepes for $1 each.

MARCH 4: JAZZ CABARET/ Jazz bands from Northwest, SM North and Trailridge performed at the Jazz Cabaret last Friday. Free swing dance lessons were given before the bands played so that guests could dance along to the music.

Running mates juniors Jake Gipple (top) and Jake Gipple (bottom) present their speeches to the student body on Feb. 24. The two won the vote.

TOP PHOTO BY MIKAYLA COMPTOM BOTTOM PHOTO BY REBEKAH MEIGS

BAND PERFORMS CHILI DINNER CONCERT Bands from elementary schools, Trailridge and Northwest played music for students and parents, while raising money for the school, during the band concert and chili dinner Feb. 22.

The chili dinner and silent auction were both run during the concert and raised money for the band’s booster club. Band teacher Penny Snead helped set up and run the concert.

“The money we raised helps pay for instruments and expenses,” Snead said. “The money is also paying partially for the band’s transportation on their spring trip.”

The band and their parents have been preparing for the concert for a while. Items for the silent auction were donated by parents and local companies, while parents cooked the chili for dinner during the concert.

“The bands have been practicing the songs for this concert for about a month now,” senior Arjun Kumar said. He played percussion in the symphonic band.

Northwest’s Jazz band, percussion ensemble and concert band also performed at the concert.

The silent auction was directed by band parent Barbie Kendrick. The items auctioned off at the auction included gift cards, beauty products, sports gear and different items donated by band parents. The chili dinner was coordinated by fellow band parent Holly Gibson.

“In total, the dinner and silent auction raised roughly $3500, which was more than the previous year,” Snead said. The concert also had a much higher attendance than the previous year, filling up the whole cafeteria.

Musicians who also qualified for the state band were recognized at the concert. Overall, band members and coordinators believed the concert was very successful.

“We were surprised by how many people came, it was pretty packed,” Kumar said. “It was so filled in the cafeteria, we ran out of places for people to sit.”

MARCH 11

1:10 p.m. / FRIDAY Early release, end of quarter

12-21

NO SCHOOL /

SAT.- MON. spring break

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7 p.m. at SM East /

TUESDAY Band festival

concert

/ MICHAEL GRIFFIN NEWS

/5

Compiled by Connor Thompson

RUSSIA

ITALY UNITED STATES

A tornado 300 yards wide tore through Rayne, La., killing at least one person March 5. The tornado ripped several houses from their foundations, and caused mandatory evacuations due to a gas leak.

Six crew members died in a plane crash in western Russia on March 5. The plane was being tested before it was sent to Myanmar and no passengers were on board.

Italian prime minister Silvio Berluscoloni is standing trial after being accused of paying for sexual favors from an underage prostitute during parties at his villa last spring.

LIBYA

The Libyan government is in crisis due to a string of protests attempting to oust leader Muammar Gadhafi, who has been in office for 42 years. The protests have spread to other North African countries and the Middle East.

ARGENTINA

A group of ex-Argentine military officers, including two ex-dictators, are on trial for war crimes. They are accused of systematically stealing babies from political prisoners and giving them new identities.

I’M BI-WINNING.

I WIN HERE AND I WIN THERE. NOW WHAT?"

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NFL lockout in the making for the 2011-2012 season if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached

FRIDAY, MARCH 11

the deadline for the updated CBA at 5 p.m. eastern time.

18

game season proposed for the next NFL season instead of 16 which both players and owners dislike because it brings the possibility for player injury higher.

$2 BILLION

is the amount the NFL Players Association wants to take off the top before revenue sharing with the league. The rest of the $7 billion is to be distributed between the teams for other expenses.

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— Charlie Sheen in an interview on 20/20, after being asked about concerns of his being “bipolar.”

GOOD TIME TO BE:

BAD TIME TO BE:

Involved in the making of The King's Speech.

As well as winning the Best Picuture Oscar, Collin Firth won best actor, Best Director was awarded to Tim Hooper and film also took the Oscar for best original screenplay. Inception also won four Oscars.

an iPad 1.

The Gentle Barn.

After Justin Bieber’s recent hair cut, a lock was given to Ellen DeGeneres who sold it in an online auction. The $40,000 plus in proceeds went to the Gentle Barn, a safe haven for abused animals.

Living in northern The area is in turmoil as leaders are being deposed and and Africa and the forced out of their office.

Middle East

A Trojan virus.

Now Apple products can be infected by a Trojan virus.

16 years old.

The new younger brother (iPad 2) comes out March 11. New features include a longer battery life, ability to make FaceTime calls and a thinner design.

The Community Blood Center has a minimum age requirement of 17 to donate blood.

smnw com {dot}

 ENTERTAINMENT

Whole diets: Whole foods offers many options for people on vegan, gluten-free or lactose-free diets.

Swamplandia!: Karen Russell weaves Floridian history into a magical tale in her debut novel.

With winter sports seasons coming to a close, go to smnw.com for final coverage from league, regional and state tournaments.

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The Onion Sports Dome: The satirical newspaper takes a look at sports.

Going out in style: They may not actually be going out, but the Dropkick Murphys sure are doing it with style.

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Unknown: The thriller was packed with action that didn’t drag.

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 NEWS

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STUCO HOLDS ANNUAL TALENT SHOW:

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Like our page: www.facebook.com/smnwdotcom Follow our tweets: www.twitter.com/smnwdotcom

Stuck? Solution can be found at smnw.com.

For more news about the Talent Show, head over to smnw.com to read about StuCo’s latest event.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PASSAGE?

WRITE US A LETTER

We would love to hear your opinion about anything we published or other things going on around Northwest or in the outside community. Letters can be sent to passageletters@smnw.com or be brought to Room 151. Only signed letters will be published.

SMNW.COM

/ 07

FIGHTAGAINSTSKINNY

I never expected something like an eating disorder to end up being my problem.

MORGAN JONES

ASHLEE CRANE

REST:THESEASON’S BEST MEDICINE

With germs running rampant this cold season, the best remedy may be good old-fashion rest and relaxation..

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard, “I think I’m getting sick,” from one of my friends this winter. Every time my class goes silent for the last 20 minutes of hour, working on homework, there’s a chorus of sniffles, sneezes and coughs (Schwartz could conduct).

It’s cold season, and it’s hitting hard.

The increasing number of common illnesses is causing hospitals to prohibit certain people from coming in for visits if they are a certain age and just have minor cold symptoms. Common illnesses that plague the general public can be devastating to patients in hospitals who have severely compromised immune systems.

In order to avoid the hassles of common winter illnesses altogether, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests all the precautions that your mom used to encourage: wash your hands and stay away from people that have a cold or other respiratory illness. The best way to do this is to use your own utensils and drinks and keep your hands to yourself as much as possible. You’ve heard them a million times before, but they really are the only way to avoid feeling miserable for two weeks on account of a cold or the flu.

As a general rule, hospitals advise that if you have minor cold or flu symptoms, it is best to stay at home and get rest. The CDC suggests that you stay home unless you have a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, symptoms that last more than 10 days or that are not relieved by over-the-counter medicines. So if you get sick this season with a common illness, it’ll most likely go away within a week. Relax, you’re not dying; just rest for a few days or try over-the-counter remedies to relieve the symptoms.

So the next time you get sick, before you go running off to the doctor’s office with a tissue box in your hand, you might want to consider some good old rest and relaxation.

Only three more times I thought as my body lunged over the toilet again.

Through blurred eyes I looked down. I still couldn’t believe I was doing this. It was disgusting, plunging my fingers down the back of my throat just to get myself to throw up, something I hated to begin with.

Just years before I had felt immensely sure that I would never become who I was today.

Well maybe if you could behave yourself and not eat candy, if you would not eat things that make you fat, this wouldn’t happen. That familiar thought popped up in my mind and I threw myself over the toilet once more. Just two more times to go.

I didn’t really mean for all this to happen but honestly, looking back, it’s inevitable that it would.

My sophomore year the tiny frame I had held for all my life was beginning to fill out. My pants and tops didn’t fit quite the same and for once I was worried about my weight. I tried to cut back on my addiction to multiple pieces of the school’s banana bread for lunch and avoided eating every cookie that came into view but even that wasn’t really helping. Then one day, the worst that could possibly happen, happened. Someone close to me pulled me over and began examining my body and said, shocked, “You look like you’ve gained weight.”

I knew I was getting bigger but was it so evident that other people had noticed? Was I even that much bigger? As I looked around at my still skinny friends I knew that it must have been. There’s no way I was as small as them anymore.

With summer approaching soon and the desire to be thin gaining momentum with each passing day, I was looking for a quick way to get what I wanted. The cutting back was clearly not working and starting a healthy diet would take too long... then it occurred to me: An eating disorder.

I’d seen pictures of people with them before, read their stories. They just didn’t eat or threw up their food then all of the sudden they got thin. Sure, they got too thin, but suppose I didn’t go to such an extreme, that I just did it until I was back to a “normal” weight—it wouldn’t be bad. Surely it couldn’t be.

I checked out some anorexic-help sites and formed a strategic plan: eat blueberries for breakfast, a salad somewhere in-between then workout for 10-20 minutes a day. Oh, and every morning I would weigh myself and log my progress. This was the best idea ever.

Little did I know that just trying out an eating disorder for a short time wasn’t something that was actually possible. I didn’t know that I had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and that eventually, that was what would take over the disorder, not me.

Making that decision was the worst thing I’ve done

to my life. While the anorexic phase only lasted a week, obsessive exercise took over then — a strict routine of working out 40 minutes a day with an equally strict diet plan that included lots of protein and very few carbs.

I was losing my mind. What I was eating and how much I was working out consumed my every thought.

Every single morsel of food I took in was scrutinized and there were multiple occasions, too, where I wouldn’t hang out with friends just so that I could work out instead.

Skinny, I have to be skinny.

What I couldn’t see was that I was. I always had been. Sure, at the beginning I could have benefited from a healthier diet and exercise, but who wouldn’t?

On a car ride back from a Texas trip with my family the summer of 2010 I broke down crying. My parents had known I was struggling, but it was now that it finally hit them how bad things actually were.

The eating disorder was pulling me apart. I felt so absolutely broken. Happiness was something that seemed ages away now, all because of the desire to get thin.

Since then I’ve gotten help, yeah, but I’m not better.

You don’t really ever get better from something like an eating disorder and OCD is something I will probably deal with my whole life. I have bad weeks sometimes.

My social life and education life are constantly on a roller coaster of failing and being awesome. But I’m getting there, and reminding myself that helps.

Being afraid of food is silly. Being afraid of a changing body weight is too. Not just for me but for everyone. We’re made the way we are and that’s different from everyone else. There’s no point in striving for the impossible. As cliche as that sounds, it is obviously not cliche enough if things like eating disorders are still a problem.

Don’t neglect to talk to someone if you feel down about yourself. If that person doesn’t seem to help, talk to someone else. I had to talk to my parents quite a few times before they got it — I needed help. Finding someone willing to listen is important because no matter what you think, your thoughts matter. It’s important to never stop trying, either.

Recovering from an eating disorder or any psychological issue doesn’t just happen over night.

It doesn’t happen in a couple days or a week. It’s something that take awhile to get through. Don’t ever give up on yourself because the second you do, you dismiss the progress that’s been made and the help that’s been offered.

Though I wish this all would have never happened, I know I’m not alone and only hope that somehow I can turn the situation towards good and help other people who are struggling. I want to help in the fight against skinny.

OPINIONS

/ 07

REVIEWS

words i never said 4/5

Finally, it’s here. After four years of speculation, a protest and 32 thousand petition signature’s, Fiasco fans finally have a third album. And if it weren’t for them, it probably would’ve been another four years, due to that, as Lupe calls it, “bastard” label, Atlantic.

Lupe Fiasco’s socially driven Lasers calls for a new direction for mainstream hiphop — a hip-hop without drugs, sex or money; a hip-hop with positivity. And to back it up, he has 12 tracks of just that.

For starters, the album’s title stands for Love Always Shines Remember to Smile; an appropriate name for the enlightened rapper’s awaited release, but unfortunately, it misses the cut for passing as mom-friendly.

Politically charged tracks like “Words I Never Said” lash out at almost everything.

From referring to the war on terror as “a bunch of bulls***” to slandering talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck as racists, Fiasco covers it all. And while unbiasedly taking hits at Obama for his silence during the Gaza strip bombings, Lupe urges his listeners to end the bigotry toward Islam. Seeing as Fiasco is a Muslim himself, he raps, “murdering is not Islam/ where’s that in the worship?”

And it’s sad too, because although “Words I Never Said” is one of the album’s primary singles, its almost guaranteed that it won’t have any airplay, unlike its catchier tune “The Show Goes on,” which is a candy-coated sample of Modest Mouse’s “Float On,” filled with lyrics of encouragement and unnecessary social statuses.

Lasers is painted with allusions to inner-city life and its culturally accepted ways, claiming that in its entity, it’s the reason why it’s the way it is. But by using positive reinforcement, Fiasco channels his anthem for change by putting his listeners in a different perspective.

In a Lupe Fiasco personal favorite, “All Black Everything,” he creates the idea of a color-blinded and culturally-accepted world, where there were never any slaves, Bill O’Reilly reads from the Quran and Ahmadinejad is awarded the Mandela peace prize.

And as trite as the whole song may be, forming what-ifs and rhetorical questions, it makes a point at what no mainstream artist has the time or care to say.

It’s been four years since The Cool, and it has taken an artist’s battle in depression to execute the message in his album, as heard in “Beautiful Lasers.” So don’t illegally download its tracks. Save that for Lil Wayne, Waka Flocka Flame and Wiz Khalifa, who argue their music as escapism. Buy the album and enjoy stimulating lyrics. / EVAN SHINN

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REV THEORY I AM NUMBER FOUR

Imagine all the bands you love rolled up into one. For me, the result is Rev Theory.

Rev Theory takes elements from many bands I adore, including Puddle of Mudd, Alter Bridge, Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed (mostly alternative stuff) — the list goes on and on - which resulted in the creation of their third album, Justice.

The album was mostly heavy fight music, leaving little room for ballads. I had to wait until the last three songs to get to anything that would even remotely fit into the category of half-way sentimental songs. “Say Goodbye”

REVIEWS 4/5

and “Hollow Man” should not have been placed so close together and should have been more spaced out to provide a break between songs that make you want to smash something.

No matter how much I like how Rev Theory borrows from some of my favorite bands, I can’t see Justice being on my top 10 list of 2011 albums. All of the songs sound too similar; they all flowed into one big blob of Rev Theory.

This album isn’t going to be the band’s major success, and I don’t see it moving them very far in the music world. It was a good attempt, but I know they could do better. /ASHLEE CRANE

3,5/5

I Am Number Four is a surprisingly decent film. It wasn’t up for any Oscars this year, but for a science fiction/romance movie, it was top of the line.

Like the rest of the world, I went into the theater expecting 110 minutes of awful plot and emotionless romance. I didn’t think it was possible for a film about a gorgeous alien falling in love with a Cheerio (watch Glee) to be so well depicted.

Alex Pettyfer and his band of evil-alien fighting friends proved me wrong. It helped that most of the actors were beautiful, but the storyline wasn’t too shabby, and the directing was high quality.

The previews for I Am Number Four don’t really tell the audience what to expect. Nine alien teens escape from their planet, Lorien, after the Mogadorians invade.

The nine are hiding out on Earth, each with his or her own protector, while the Mogadorians are tracking them down in numerical order. Alex Pettyfer’s character, John Smith, aka Number Four, moves to Paradise, Ohio, where he meets Sarah (Diana Agron) and an alien enthusiast, Sam (Callan McAuliffe).

The rest of the plot is fairly predictable. Boy meets girl, boy woos girl, boy defeats evil forces with the help of new human friend, possible room for a sequel. While this doesn’t sound too wonderful, it is.

The Mogadorians are Voldemort-esque in appearance, they are truly villainous and slightly terrifying. The fight sequence in which they were defeated was a little too easy, but what can you expect from a predominantly romantic movie?

Some scenes tugged at the heart stings. My throat swelled shut when Pettyfer’s mutant beagle puppy/giant dog monster was hurt in a fight with the Mogadorians’ beast. The puppy lay bleeding in the showers of the locker rooms, his blood washing into the drains. It was honestly like an ASPCA commercial.

So the movie wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread either. I would say if you really have a craving for attractive people blowing things up, this is your movie. Otherwise, don’t waste your time and money. / HAYLEY BATTENBERG

justified 4/5

Plenty of cop shows on TV right now focus on major cities like Los Angeles and New York, where the plots and themes revolve around inner-city life and crimes. Justified is not one of those shows. It takes law enforcement to a whole new level by turning away from the city and going to the country. The first season of the FX network show was good, but the second season is already looking to be better.

The main character Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) struggles to make it in his home town in rural Kentucky. Growing up with a convict father, Givens ran from his past in the Appalachians to Miami only to get re-assigned because of his gun-slinging approach to law enforcement. His attitude proves to get him in trouble on many occasions, all of which he eventually shoots his way out of.

Justified is a take on society outside of the inner-city, and that is what sets it apart from other cop shows. The rural country town in the Appalachians is full of run-down bars, shotgun shacks, trailer parks and meth labs.

The characters are even worse; from serial killers and rapists to drug dealers and bank robbers. Many shows have all of those, but their characters aren’t as fully-fleshed out as the characters of Justified. The women dress

in skanky and tattered clothes showing off their multiple tattoos and bruises, and the men aren’t much better, with dirty T-shirts and torn pants. Many have drinking and drug problems, and some of the women are even reduced to prostitution.

The entire show has an attitude that says, “I’m trying to survive and if you get in my way I’m not afraid to kill you.” This can be said about both Givens and the people he is chasing down.

He not only has the job of being a marshal in one of the most lawless places in America, but he also must prove himself to his town and his family. The shame he faced after leaving, his disturbed father — he must overcome all of this and gain respect to save himself and his career.

Watching a man struggle to get justification for his past while also trying to stay alive is what makes this show so great.

Justified isn’t great just because it isn’t afraid to be controversial, it’s great because it’s believable. The stories in this show are ones that I can believe in, and so are the people. This show doesn’t give you Hollywood characters the way most do, it gives you honest characters trying to make it in life. It’s genuine, it’s filthy, and it still has room to develop. / DANIEL MAGWIRE ENTERTAINMENT

/ 09

in the

SPOTLIGHT

Everything from Bollywood dance to guitar and piano duets made up the 14 acts of the Jan. 24 talent show, which was just a talent show this year, instead of a talent contest as it was last year. According to Student Council talent show coordinator Carolina Mach, the crowd turnout for the show was very good, considering the weather. The $661 raised from the show will be donated to the Club Scholarship program.

Sophomore Ashley Sanders performs a song she wrote called " Boy Meets Girl." Sanders has written countless songs about her life.

"It was my first time ever performing an original song so it was scary but I had a great time doing it," Sanders said. / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

Junior Ronnie Padilla sings a song with his sister at the talent show. "In order for me to be this good I had to have passion. I think that I am the same as anyone else who wants to pursue their dream. You just have to work hard to get to where you want to be even though my dad always says that I have music in my blood," / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

On Feb. 24, freshman Harsheen Kalsi dances at the talent show.

The talent show has been put on Senior Aaron Thornburg plays the piano. "I think my by StuCo for the past two years. / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON main goal of the talent show was to have fun and put on a good show." Thornburg wasn't planning on trying out but was convinced by a friend and ended up making it. / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON Freshman Amy Padilla sings with her brother, Ronnie, during the talent show. The Padilla family came from Honduras and moved to the US in 2004. They are all musically talented.

While singing "You Make it Real for Me" by James Morrison, senior Daniel Fry strums his guitar at the Talent Show. " It's a really good feeling to be able to express yourself on a stage like that and have other people enjoy it," Fry said.

/ PHOTO BY SHEA DRUMMOND

For more news about the Talent Show, head over to smnw.com to read about StuCo’s latest event.

/ PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

FEATURES

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being the best

THE ASIAN CULTURE OFTEN PUTS SUCH A STRICT EMPHASIS ON SUCCEEDING AND ACHIEVING THAT PEOPLE CAN VIEW THOSE PARENTS AS BEING TOO HARSH AND OVER-WORKING THEIR CHILDREN.

6 a.m. (in China Standard Time) Wake up and prepare for school.

7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

At the time American children would be leaving their schools, stretching before a sports practice or running off to yet another extracurricular activity, most Chinese students would still be in session for at least two to three more hours.

5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Attend night classes or “cram schools” for homework and more studying.

8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Work on any remaining homework, possibly practice an instrument, read, etc.

The next day: repeat.

With schedules like that, it is not hard to believe that China and other Asian nations are quickly rising to the (or already at the) top of every list comparing education, literacy and test scores globally, according to the Program for International Student Assessment. In a culture that places a great emphasis on teaching the next generation to be the best it can be, concerns have been raised over how far people are willing to take it. Books like The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother have revealed just how much parents and teachers in Asian countries can be over-involved in children’s lives, traits that have extended across the ocean to Chinese students here in the United States.

“When I was little, my parents used to always want me to work as hard as I could and be the best at whatever I did,” junior Yih-Wen Huynh said. “Now it’s more like I feel I have to work hard for myself and get into a top: Junior Yih-Wen Huynh studies for an upcoming good school.”

The importance of a strong work ethic and study test. According to Huynh, her parents pushed her to habits is definitely reflected in the parenting styles of excel when she was younger. Now she works hard her mother and father, even though Huynh herself has for herself. / PHOTO BY MIKALA COMPTON never lived overseas.

“My dad was raised in Vietnam for 17 years because bottom: Senior Yuffie Gong rehearses with the NW his father, my grandfather, was a soldier in World War Symphony Orchestra before the March 1 concert.

II. So my dad must have been disciplined very much Gong is a foreign exchange student from China. because he was the oldest son and, in the Chinese cul/ PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON ture, sons are a very important part of the family. My mom was also the oldest, and she had to take care of her younger siblings when her parents were out working, so she had a lot of discipline as well,” Huynh said.

Sophomore Alex Dang has a similar story. His father was the youngest of six children and had to work his own way through school, eventually teaching himself how to program computers during night classes.

“He’s pretty strict with me,” Dang said. “He didn’t have much when he was a kid, so he wants me to take advantage of all the resources I have now to do what-

12

/ MARCH 11, 2011

ever I feel like doing and make myself a better person because of them.”

It is easy to see how hard the two of them are pushed.

Not only are both involved in orchestra and Academic Decathlon, but Huynh also is in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, the Latin Club and volunteers as an assistant teacher to first graders at the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City, while Dang is in Categories, Boy Scouts, cross country and track.

“I think everybody thinks that their workload is stressful, and I feel the same about my workload because I am an IB student. IB is really easy some weeks, and you sometimes don’t have any homework for the entire week,” Huynh said. “But some weeks, it’s like you have a mountain of homework and seven tests in a week. You have to prepare for all of them and sometimes you can’t because you have other activities.”

Both are also former students of the Chinese school where Huynh works. There students are taught elements of Chinese culture, proficiency in the language and other activities like martial arts, folk dance, calligraphy, etc.

Both have also seen the pressures other Chinese parents put on their children.

“At my Chinese school, the kids don’t usually speak Chinese, but the kids that do get pushed into it by their parents. Their parents will make them memorize pages; they will print off multiple copies of pages we’re supposed to learn; they will spend hours on pronunciation and everything. The kids just hate it because it’s miserable,” Dang said.

Foreign exchange student Yuffie Gong is a product of the actual Chinese school system and knows firsthand how tough it can be.

“I guess the Chinese are all very hardworking kids, and since I was little, my mom used to push me all the time to study. I started learning violin when I was 3,” Gong said. “I think the situation for me now is because I’m an exchange student, my mom in China always tells me what to do and what not to do; for example, the SAT test, I’m preparing for it now. And my host mom here always tries to pull me out of the house because she says it’s not good if you just stay in your room and study.”

All three have admitted that their parents have been strict with them and their schooling over the years.

“They used to, whenever I got a B, even if it was an 89.4, look at my grade card and say, ‘Why didn’t you get an A?’ And sometimes when I got an A, they would ask, ‘Why didn’t you get an A+?’ They used to force me to practice piano or force me to do my homework right away when I got home and I couldn’t do things like watch TV or hang out with friends until I was done

Sophmore Alex Dang rehearses in the NW auditorium on 28 Feb. He began playing the violin in his 4th grade year.

“The atmosphere of playing in a complete orchestra feels unbeleivable,” Dang said on why he has stayed in orchestra throughout the years. / PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

with my homework,” Huynh said.

“My mom, she’s a rocket scientist, for real, and she’s a kind of scientific person, but I’m not. So I always have a problem with my scientific classes, and my mom’s frustrated with it because she’s smart and I’m not in those kind of subjects,” Gong said.

With time, however, their parents have begun to take off some of the pressure that begun in elementary and middle school.

“My parents expect me to do my best,” Dang said. “They accept the fact that I can’t always be the best, but they expect me to do the best I can because they aren’t nearly as crazy as the mom in [The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother].”

In The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, author Amy Chua often forced her young children to practice or study for hours or prohibit them from doing other activities, punishments that many Americans do not understand.

“I think the difference between Chinese culture

and American culture is American kids have more freedom. Of course, they can have a job here, but we can’t until [we are] 18,” Gong said. “And usually most of the parents don’t want their kids to do any housework; they just want their kids to focus and study all the time, so that’s probably the biggest difference.”

“I would say that they are less surprised by success and awards than American parents. If I come home from a competition and am like, ‘Hey Mom, I won four or five medals,’ you know, a typical American family would freak out and be really happy and go out to places, but they’ve just accepted it, and it’s like, ‘Oh good job,’ but nothing happens,” Dang said. “I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the celebration of winning prizes, but it’s just kind of expected now. It’s basically impossible to get my parents that excited about succeeding.”

What many people don’t comprehend is how Chua’s children are able to forgive her for being so

harsh. However, in the Chinese culture, it’s expected for children to bend to their parents’ will.

“Personally, I think that hard-line, ‘you must succeed, you must focus on your schoolwork’ — that wouldn’t produce a good kid. Well, it’d be a good kid in school, but once that kid gets out in real life, they’d only know school. And once they graduate college, they’ll only know school, school, school and won’t have any knowledge about how normal life is outside of school,” Dang said.

In the end, though, her children (among others who have experienced this stricter style of parenting) realize that she was just doing what she thought was best and have accepted that, although, they may not have liked it while it was happening.

“I think that strictness is required when you’re raising a child, but there is a limit,” Huynh said. “I think that they were really hard on me, but maybe it was good for me in the end.” / BRIANNA LEYDEN

FEATURES

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SPORTS

Freshman Nate Sterns plays a practice match during tryouts for the spring tennis season on Mar. 3.

boss/

BEST OF SPORTS SHOT

// by josh meigs

QUESTION + ANSWER

WITH AARON THORNBURG SENIOR, CROSS COUNTRY + TRACK AND FIELD

Q: How did you break your foot?

A: I’ve played soccer for most of my life, and as such there are times when I miss the thrill of the game. So when an indoor soccer team needed another player, I happily volunteered my services. Unfortunately, my services weren’t appreciated by the other team as they proceeded to mutilate my foot (toe actually) with their feet.

/ PHOTO BY DAVID FREYERMUTH

Q: What are you doing to condition with

Q: Personal records from last season and

the injury?

A: I’ve been doing a lot of biking, lifting and core stuff to try and stay in as good of shape as possible without actually getting out and running.

goals for this season?

A: Last season I ran a 4:22 in the mile and won the State two mile with a 9:27. I’d love to break 4:20 in the mile as well as break 9:20 in the two mile. We’ll see how that goes.

Q: What is your favorite part about track

Q: How does the track team look heading

season?

A: Probably just being around the guys and all of the fun times that seem to follow us wherever we go — they’re a great bunch of guys.

into this season?

A: When most people think of track, they think of people running various distances around the oblong track. This is only partly true. Track includes pole vault, shotput, discus, javelin and jumpers, so it takes a lot of people to contribute to having a solid track team. This being said, I think we’ve got enough potential to be a force with which to be reckoned come late May.

Q: What are your plans for running in college?

A: Right now, barring any major disturbances, I’m planning on running collegiately. Possibly at the University of Tulsa.

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GETTING THE BALL ROLLING EXPERIENCING VARSITYBOWLING AS A FRESHMAN, CASSIE QUERAL REFLECTS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ON THE TEAM WITH HER SISTER. photos by hanna meigs

Freshman Cassie Queral lines up her shot, staring down the 10 pins that stand at the end of the lane.

Taking a few steps to gain momentum, she hurls the ball toward the pins. The ball looks as if it’s headed for the gutter, but then at the last moment, it curves and crashes into the upright pins. They all fall down.

It’s just what she expected. Cassie is used to strikes; her bowling skills have landed her on the varsity NW bowling team. She averages 197 a game, a school record and second highest in the city. As a freshman, Queral has plenty of time to break her own record. But an average like that doesn’t come over night, she has been bowling for many years.

“I have been bowling since I was able to walk, since about two or three years old,” Queral said.

Having bowled for so long, it’s no surprise that Queral participates in bowling leagues outside of school. Cassie bowls in the Kansas City Open and the Youth Pepsi Tournaments every year.

“I bowl all the time outside of school, in tournaments as well as leagues. I get in at least one league every season and do monthly and yearly tournaments,” Queral said.

Her bowling experience has paid off too. Cassie, a freshman, is a vital part of the varsity bowling team, a very rare occurrence in 6A high school athletics. In fact, there have only been three bowlers who have lettered all four years on varsity at Northwest, and Cassie is on track. This season Cassie placed third at League, fourth at Districts, and fourth at Regionals.

She earned a medal at State as well, creating a superfecta (earning a medal at all four major meets).

At the beginning of the season, Coach Brit Haney was unsure of how the freshman would perform.

Although she had a lot of experience, freshmen can be inconsistent their first year, but Cassie did not disappoint. “[Cassie was] a lot better than expected. She handled the pressure and bowled in the varsity two spot,” Haney said.

Cassie actually improved her scores over the season; something that seems like it should be common but is actually rare in bowling.

“Usually, with all the adrenaline, kids try out really

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/ MARCH 11, 2011

high, then struggle throughout the rest of the year.

Her average actually went up nine pins,” Haney said.

Even Queral had qualms about her first high school season, but through team bonding she became much more comfortable with her new team.

“I was a little nervous about coming in. I was curious how all the teammates would take to me just barging in like that, but they were really friendly from the start and were beside me through all the meets and tournaments 100 percent, and we all became really great friends,” Queral said. “We all feed off of each other really well in competition and just have fun. We are like one huge family.”

I think what got me interested [in bowling] the most was seeing my older sister Janie bowl ahead of me.

Seeing her excel made me want to try and soon enough I was trying to beat her,” —freshman Cassie Queral For Queral, the bowling team is literally family.

Senior Janie Queral, Cassie’s older sister, is also on the varsity bowling team. In fact, Cassie might not be in the position she is in now if it weren’t for her sister. Janie was the source of inspiration for Cassie as she started her bowling career.

“I think what got me interested [in bowling] the most was seeing my older sister Janie bowl ahead of me. Seeing her excel made me want to try and soon enough I was trying to beat her,” Queral said.

But as Cassie bowled more and more, the sport became an important part of her life.

“What kept me interested was the great people I met and the friends I made. It kept the fun coming,” Queral said.

Janie is also glad to have her little sister on team.

Cassie’s prolific contributions have helped the bowling team this season.

“I think having Cassie has been one of the best

things that could ever happen. She has helped all of us get to where we ended up,” Janie said.

And succeeded they have. The team has had, according to the KC Star, a ‘historic’ season. The Lady Cougars were District, League, and Regional champs, and headed into State last weekend with high expectations.

“Going into [State], we were all extremely confident. We realized just how much of a chance we had to really take home the gold. We knew it was within our grasp,” Queral said.

Despite a hard-fought performance, the team was barely beaten out of third place and finished fourth.

“We put everything we had into it and I believe we really did win,” Queral said, “but even though we took fourth, it was amazing to realize how far we came.”

A fourth-place finish is very respectable for an eastern Kansas team at state, where Wichita teams have had a long history of winning. NW is usually at a disadvantage when it comes to bowling.

“SM Northwest isn’t known for breeding bowlers.

We have to do a lot of our work inside of high school, usually working with first-time bowlers,” Haney said.

Queral was content with their finish. Northwest fared well against the Wichita bowling juggernauts.

“We made it to State as a team and really only got beat out by the Wichita teams that are bred for bowling,” Queral said. “The fact that we had a chance and we made them work for it really meant a lot to us. We have ended up the highest we possibly could and that’s just a great feeling.”

Cassie’s first experience on the NW bowling team has been one filled with success and happiness, but look for this freshman to continue to do well.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better season and it’s sad to think it all has to come to an end now,” Queral said. “The memories and the victories will always stay with us. There is no other way to describe this year besides fantastic.”

/ ERIC ZOELLNER

dominant: During practice on Mar. 7, freshman Cassie Queral throws the ball. “It felt really amazing to be on varsity and go to state. I was afraid the team wouldn’t take me in right away but I was wrong. They were by my side every step of the way,” Queral said.

top: On Mar. 7, freshman Cassie Queral gets ready to throw the bowling ball. Her sister, senior Janie Queral gives her advice.

“It’s really awesome to bowl with Janie on the team. We really feed off each other when we bowl. I just wish we had more bowling years together,” Cassie said.

bottom:

Senior Janie Queral practices with her sister, freshman Cassie Queral. “This year was a lot different than my past three. There is no way we would have made it as far as we did in previous years. Cassie was the backbone to our success,” Queral said.

SPORTS

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 UPCOMING VARSITY GAMES Coed Track and Field March. 23 at SM South, 4 p.m.

March. 26 at JCCC indoor meet, 12 p.m.

Girls’ Swim and Dive March. 23 at North sprint meet, 3:45 p.m.

March. 24 at North sprint meet, 3:45 p.m.

March. 25 at SM East 4 p.m.

March. 29 at Lawrence, TBA

Boys’ Tennis March. 23 vs. SM East, 3 p.m.

March. 29 at BV NW, 3:30 p.m.

March. 30 vs. Olathe North, 3 p.m.

Baseball March. 29 at SM East, 7 p.m.

March. 31 at Lawrence, 5:30 p.m.

Softball March. 24 vs. Olathe East, 4:15 p.m.

March. 24 vs. Olathe East, 6:15 p.m.

March. 31 at SM South, 4:15 p.m.

March. 31 at SM South, 4:15 p.m.

Girls’ Golf March. 28 at BV West, 1 p.m.

Girls’ Soccer March. 31 vs. Shawnee Heights, 7 p.m.

NEW KNICKS GOOD FOR THE NBA?

In the wake of a massive trade agreement, the acquiring of players like Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups by the New York Knicks have left many disgruntled but has also given life to a long lost rivalry.

Carmelo Anthony officially “took his talents” to the Big Apple on Feb. 23 at a fully-packed Madison Square Garden. The Brooklyn-born superstar led the team to a 114-108 victory in which he had 27 points and 10 rebounds. Lebron-esque to say the least, but unlike the King, Melo entered his debut to wild applause instead of loud booing. Through eight games with the Knicks, Carmelo has averaged 25.9 ppg, 6 rebounds and 3 assists a game.

Anthony finishes off a talent-packed lineup for the Knicks accompanied by stars like Amare Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups.

With the addition of Anthony and Billups along with a few other bench players, all part of a blockbuster three team deal which came at the end of the official trade deadline, the Knicks have a talent packed roster. In the process the Knicks have given themselves what has famously and historically been coined as a “Big 3.”

The NBA has been getting a ton of publicity in recent years due to superstars moving from team to team. Although this is good for television ratings and ticket sales, the same can’t be said for the spirit of the game.

The best example of the type of effect one single superstar player can have on a city is the Lebron James decision. After he left his hometown in Ohio to chase championships in South Beach LBJ stepped on some feet. Fans were upset. And that’s putting it mildly. Take for example the massive poster of James that hung outside Quicken Loans Arena, the homecourt of the Cavs, which was consequently ripped down after his departure.

The same type of situation happened in Colorado. The city of Denver was devastated to see their main attraction leave, and to put even more poison in the wound they lost Chauncey Billups, a crowd favorite, also.

Why is it that we give players so much power?

Isn’t paying them 16 million dollar contracts enough power as it is? The concept of trading players is good for the game because without it struggling franchises would never have the chance to shine and we would be watching the Lakers and the Celtics play in the NBA finals every single year. But why shouldn’t we put a restriction on the ability that players have on controlling their destiny?

Gathering trifectas of stardom is nothing new to the NBA. This technique has been used throughout

LOGAN COFFMAN

the years and brings to mind great lineups such as Bird, Parish and McHale with the Celtics; Kareem, Magic and Worthy with the Lakers; Pippen, Jordan and Rodman with the Bulls and, most recently, Garnett, Pierce and Allen with the Celtics.

On the flipside of the situation, the Knicks now having a serious championship contending team is something that could be very positive for the game. With their 91-86 win over the Heat, the new Knicks put some wood on a rivalry fire that has been extinguished since the late 90’s.

More often than not it seems like NBA regular season games develop an All Star Game feel, where no one is playing defense and guys are trying harder to get on Sportscenter top 10 than to actually win the game. Its constructive for the game if guys who are getting payed tens of millions of dollars to play are diving on the ground just to get a loose ball.

People love to see that.

The Heat and the Knicks have a rivalry that goes back almost 20 years. The intensity of the 90s may never again be matched. That era held many great moments such as a four-year streak from 1995-1999 where the two teams squared off against each other in the Eastern Conference Finals and all four years the two battled it out to dramatic seven-game series. Guys were giving everything to win those games. Fans loved watching how much passion was out on the court when guys were showing so much emotion.

Between Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Pat Riley and the Van Gundy brothers, there was more drama and action than the media could soak up.

Not to mention the brawls that took place during two specific instances during the playoffs where players duked it out.

I’m not saying that D-Wade and Chauncey are about to go Chuck Lidell on anybody, but I don’t think Spike Lee is the only one who is going to be out of his seat this spring watching the two “fight” for the Eastern Conference title.

Although the trades left many distraught fans in their wake, in the long run the pros of giving life to a great rivalry could outweigh the cons of lack of loyalty to players teams. The first match-up between the teams this year gave us just a small glimpse of how exciting regular season games can be between two true rival teams.

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IN focus

“[The two people] made me as comfortable as I could be and made a lot of jokes to make me laugh, and get my mind off the gross huge needle about to go into my arm.”

— junior Lindsey Denk

/ PHOTO BY MARISSA BRUNS