Issue 1

the

NW PASSAGE Sept. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

TA B L E OF

Is su e 0 1 V o l . 49 S e p t . 1 4, 2 0 1 7

7 9-11

CONTENTS

Pushing the boundaries Boundary changes start in the 2018-2019 school year

Show me what love looks like

A former student organizes a march through The Country Club Plaza

14 There goes the sun

Students traveled to be in the line of totality during the 2017 solar eclipse

17 On the clock

The new associate principal familiarizes himself with students and NW culture

OUR PASSAGE:

STAFF:

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a news magazine, 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 20-page news magazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. 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 the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial board will have the say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. 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 editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

02 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49 +PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

STAFF WRITERS: Jake Ditto Anastasia Kling Nicholas Lorino Sonni Meyers Matthew Owens Sam Rice Kaili Sitz Catherine Taggart

Cadence Elder Jack Lynch

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Ads Manager Online Copy Editor

Rachel Albers Maddy Manning Asher Norberg Samantha Joslin Will Gross Annalissa Houser

STAFF DESIGNER: Kennady Bustamante

ADVISERS: Adviser Assistant Adviser

Susan Massy Wes Mikel

s e u t a t s

TEAR DOWN THOSE for “Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ cries she With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”

— Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus

T

hese words are inscribed on a plaque inside of the Statue of Liberty’s museum.

A statue of such renown and significance that it is an United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and UNESCO describes it as a “masterpiece of human spirit.” We are a country built on the ideal that no matter who you are, where you come from or what you have gone through, you have the right to live your life here.

At least we are supposed to be.

On August 12, 2017, at a “Unite the Right” march, people protested the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. After the neo-Nazis and Klan members left and the violence of Charlottesville ended, the statue of Lee still stands.

It should not.

In 2017, not a single reasonable excuse exists for a statue of Robert E. Lee, a man who led an army into war against the United States of America, continuing to standing in a place of honor in an American city. As commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Lee fought to divide the country he had once served, the country his father, a hero of the American Revolution, fought to create.

Roughly 1,500 Confederate symbols, ranging from statues and plaques to street names and army bases remain in the United States according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. These range from statues to schools to military bases. If schools are named in honor of Lee and Jefferson Davis and statues celebrate Stonewall Jackson, where is the Benedict Arnold Elementary School A common argument is “but what about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson?

against

They owned slaves. Are you going to tear down their monuments?”

There is no need to tear down the Jefferson Memorial or rename the state of Washington.

Yes, Washington and Jefferson owned slaves and Jefferson committed especially heinous acts, but they still deserve a place in history.

They founded this nation— where for the last two and a half centuries people have strived to ensure that “all men are created equal”. Lee, on the other hand, fought a war to destroy the United States and own his fellow human beings. His is a place in a museum, to teach future generations of the failures of the Confederate States of America, of how those who fought to expand rights for all men, regardless of race, won. We do not advocate a push to forget history, but to make sure that we as a people do not forget who the oppressors were, and to guarantee they are not celebrated.

But, almost inexplicably, they have been celebrated. These men, these “heroes” of the Confederacy, whose insurrection against the United States, dedicated to the continued existence of the enslavement of African and African-American peoples, have been just short of deified. In the early 1900s as Jim Crow laws swept through the South, mass produced statues of these confederate leaders were placed in town after town, city after city.

This happened again in the 1960s in direct opposition to the civil rights movement. There is no denying that these men — Lee, Jackson and Jefferson Davis — are the symbols of the Confederacy. Not one single reason remains justifying their veneration in this day and age.

If you need a statue, build one to George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott, Sojourner Truth or any of the millions of slaves that suffered in the United States. Name a park after Thurgood Marshall or anyone else who fought to bring our country closer to the original vision of equality and freedom.

It is incredibly disheartening to explain that people who fought to own other people should not be literally put on pedestals. America has a long history of heroes and inventors, explorers and statesmen who deserve to be recognized.

We should honor those who have made our country better, not those who have tried to rip it apart.

NW PASSAGE | STAFF ED 03

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13020 Shawnee Mission Parkway Shawnee, Kansas 66216 ShawneeCyclePlaza.com 04 SEPT. 14, 2017 | VOL. 49

Barry Bunner scp2@swbell.net Phone: (913) 631-1111 Fax: (913) 631-1217

Forks

Raising Cane’s

+BY ANASTASIA KLING

Raising Cane’s raises the bar for chicken fingers and fries The moment you stroll into Raising Cane’s, which recently opened in Shawnee, the aroma of fried chicken and fry sauce invites you inside. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the spinning disco ball and all of the sports gear from SM North, SM West and Northwest that decorates the walls.

The crispy chicken fingers were presented in a black plastic basket overflowing with fries. The chicken was warm, tender and quite delectable. The 3 Finger Combo basket includes coleslaw, toast, fries and three chicken tenders, and comes in at a comparatively smaller 1,040 calories, in relation to Slim Chickens’ 1,197 calories. At Slim Chickens, the chicken tasted and looked more like chicken nuggets and not fried chicken. Cane’s chicken was crispier, a little more breaded than Slim Chickens’ and tasted more like fried chicken — not a chicken nugget. The crinkle-cut fries at Cane’s are dusted with a pinch of salt, while the fries at Slim Chickens were cold, tasted like freezer burn and had limited flavor.

The design of Cane’s was accessible, while Slim Chickens’ entryway was cramped. Cane’s school-oriented decor sparked conversation while customers waited for their name to be called to go pick up their food at the counter. Slim Chickens had more options on their menu while Cane’s was more of a limited menu.

One of the things customers noticed about the restaurant were the smiles and laughs of the families and the workers. In fact, one of the best things about Raising Cane’s was the service: it was phenomenal. From the moment customers walked in the door to the second they left their seats, the staff was kind and helpful. They even came around to throw away the trash at the end of the meal.

Forks down, Raising Cane’s is the preferred chicken restaurant.

+ PHOTO BY CIARA SANDNES

Slim Chickens

+BY JAKE DITTO

The variety of options softens the blow of the forgettable food If you want quality chicken tenders, Slim Chickens isn’t my first choice. When walking into Slim Chickens, the first things visible are the registers. They are separated from the rest of the restaurant and make it feel very closed in. After the registers, the restaurant opens up into the dining room.

The dining room looks modern with the comfortable red and black booths large enough for six people. Metal tables and chairs contrast with wood walls and a big wooden table in the middle of the restaurant. The ceiling matched the modern feel with low hanging lamps. But it was an odor that got me. I expected the scent of hot chicken and French fries, but instead was greeted by the smells of a hardware store. Maybe it was just the smell of new construction, but it surprised me.

The chicken came out fast and scorching hot. It had a thin batter, and smelled good. Initially, I thought the strips were tasty, but as they cooled, they got chewy and less appealing. I would have preferred more outer crunch. The French fries were forgettable, but not bad, and they came out hot, just like the chicken. The serving size was generous and perhaps even overly so. Before I could finish them, they had cooled to the point that they were no longer appealing.

Slim Chickens provides more options than Raising Cane’s, including chicken wings, chicken and waffles, a salad and a sandwich. They also have a wide assortment of sides including mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad and fried mushrooms that can’t be found at Raising Cane’s. Slim Chickens even offers a wider variety of sauces, a total of 17 to be exact, including the original Slim Sauce, fiery Inferno sauce and Mango Habanero.

Slim Chickens was a good-looking restaurant with food that came out hot and fast, but was fine at best and far from great.

+PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

NW PASSAGE | feature 05

It’s senior year and you have put it off for as long as you can. You haven’t listened to your parents or teachers and haven’t really started making the choice. But it’s time. You need to start or you’ll end up paying an extra $4,000 just to have a room at your school. It’s time to pick your college. As you go about deciding where you are going to spend the next 2-8 years of your life, keep a few things in mind: 1) Can I afford this school? It’s uncomfortable, but you need to have a conversation with your parents and come to a consensus on how you will pay for college. Is your dream college worth debt that you won’t pay off until you have kids of your own?

+BY JACK LYNCH

Information to help students make the right decision about regional colleges

University of Kansas 28,401 undergrads 93 percent acceptance rate $18,485 average tuition per year 16:1 student to faculty ratio 22-28 average ACT score $44,600 per year—median income six months post graduation 90% find jobs or go to grad school within 6 months Top Majors: Journalism, Psychology, Accounting

University of Missouri Kansas City 5,231 undergrads 63 percent acceptance rate $14,197 average tuition per year 14:1 student to faculty ratio 21-28 average ACT score $43,100 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Business, Nursing, Liberal Arts and Humanities

06 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

Kansas State University 22,048 undergrads 95 percent acceptance rate $17,022 average tuition per year 19:1 student to faculty ratio $43,300 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Animal Sciences and Husbandry, Human Development, Business Administration and Management

Pitt State University 7,130 undergrads 81 percent acceptance rate $12,526 average tuition per year 18:1 student to faculty ratio 19-24 average ACT score $38,200 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Nursing, Elementary Education, Liberal Arts and Humanities

2) Do I feel comfortable here? You should consider visiting the campus. Sit in on classes. Talk to professors. You won’t know if you will enjoy your next big step unless you go and find out for yourself. You aren’t your friends or your family. You need to see if the college is a good fit for you.

3) Does this school have the majors I want? If the school you find is affordable and you feel at home the moment you step onto campus but it doesn’t have a good nursing, law, education or design program, it is not worth it. College is a stepping stone on the path to the rest of your life. Don’t take a wrong turn just because you like how the path looks.

Johnson County Community College 19,139 undergrads 100 percent acceptance rate $7,037 average tuition per year 20:1 student to faculty ratio $34,900 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing Assistant, Railroad and Railway Transportation

Emporia State University 5,887 undergrads 87 percent acceptance rate $12,645 average tuition per year 18:1 student to faculty ratio 19-25 average ACT score $35,900 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Elementary Education, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Accounting

Fort Hays University 5,075 undergrads 86 percent acceptance rate $11,890 average tuition per year 16:1 student to faculty ratio 18-24 average ACT score $37,400 per year—median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Business Support Services, Business Administration and Management, Liberal Arts and Humanities

Wichita State University 8,683 undergrads 95 percent acceptance rate $12,926 average tuition per year 18:1 student faculty ratio $39,300 per year— median income six months post graduation Top Majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Curriculum, Nursing

Pushing the Boundaries Boundary changes start in the 2018-2019 school year

On the evening of April 11 parents fought for a spot to be heard on a subject they cared about passionately: where their children would attend school in 2018-2019 school year.

“Boundary changes are not one of those things where you make everyone happy,” interim superintendent Dr. Kenny Southwick said. “We are not intentionally trying to cause anyone harm. We are trying to balance our elementary schools because we are seeing growth across the district.”

This is the first time the district has undergone boundary changes since 2012-2013 school year. The boundary plan was approved on June 1. This year was a transition year, meaning that if the parent wanted their child to go to the new school, they could. However, they would not be required to go until 2018-2019.

The first plan was submitted to the board for consideration at the March 27, 2017, school board meeting. The elementary schools that were most affected were Rhein Benninghoven, losing approximately 100 students and increasing the free/reduced lunch percentage from 31 to 36; Mill Creek, gaining approximately 90 students and increasing free/reduced lunch percentage from 10 to 17 percent; Shawanoe gained 10 students but lost most of the single family homes in the boundary.

Other elementary schools that were affected were Broken Arrow, Christa McAuliffe, Lenexa Hills (opening 20182019 school year) Rising Star, East Antioch, Overland Park and Sunflower.

The process for boundary changes takes time. Michelle Hubbard who was the lead architect had to take into account different factors and advice from different outlets related to Shawnee Mission. These include the facilities staff, transportation,

+ BY MATTHEW OWENS

principals, school board members and the assessment team. They looked at how to address overcrowding, using under utilized facilities, the new elementary school, and how to deal with the new construction of homes and multi-family living areas. The initial plan took four to five months to complete.

“These are extremely tough for families and we recognize that,” assistant superintendent for leadership and learning Hubbard said. “No one here takes [boundary changes] lightly. They are emotionally tough for kids, emotionally tough for families and even emotionally tough for teachers that have to move as a result of boundary changes.”

April 11 was one of two planned school boundary input events; the other was May 3rd at West high school, and combined, they received over 100 attendees.

“I attended all the meetings and tried to listen to parents,” NW area school board member Patty Mach said. “Some of the parents that were going to be moved out of Shawanoe were very upset. The community forums had an impact on me.”

After the community forums were finished, the plan did change slightly. Of the NW feeder schools, only one changed.

Rhein Benninghoven saw decrease of 90 students instead of 100. This plan was approved by the board during the June 1 meeting in a 5-2 vote. Mach and at-large board member Brad Stratton voted no.

Mach proposed an alternative of to plan A at the June 1 meeting. The plan adjusted what she thought would be the best for the district. Under the new plan, Mill Creek’s student population increased by 140 students.

“I voted against plan A because of several things,” Mach said. “The main reason was I didn’t understand why

Current Boundaries

Shawanoe had to change their boundaries at all. It took away almost all of the single family homes from Shawanoe.”

For the teachers at Mill Creek, a school that will receive approximately 90 new students in the next two years, adding the new students could be a benefit for the school. For the past few years, eight classrooms have remained empty while class sizes have remained in the upper 20s.

With the addition of the new students, the number of grades with three or more sections or classes could increase.

Last year, only second grade had three sections.

“I think this is going to be a benefit that we are able to have more teachers and class sizes can be smaller,” Mill Creek NEA (National Education Association) building representative Genie Scruton said.

Parents and students have been given opportunity to make the switch this rather than waiting until next. Although some have taken advantage of this option, not much has changed in regard to school culture or chemistry. For the most part, this year’s suggested boundary changes have been received positively.

“I think the move has been positive,” Mill Creek PTA president Tracy Wolfe said.

“Everyone has transitioned well. We are just happy to have more students in our buildings.”

For the district, boundaries are never easy to change because of the big impact they have on families.

“It is one of those necessary evils,” Southwick said. “We don’t like doing it, I don’t like doing it. But it is something we have to do.”

“

[Boundary changes] are emotionally tough for kids, emotionally tough for families and even emotionally tough for teachers that have to move as a result of boundary change.”

— Michelle Hubbard, assistant superintendent

Proposed Boundaries

NW PASSAGE | NEWS 07

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+ PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

Show me what love looks like NW PASSAGE | feature 09

This is what love looks like

+PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

A former student organizes a march through the Country Club Plaza +BY CADIE ELDER

T

ypically a place for high schoolers to gather for pictures before the Homecoming dance, the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain was teeming with more than 500 demonstrators August 20.

Former NW student Andi Overmann organized the No Place for Hate protest via Facebook to draw attention to the prominent Kansas City real estate developer, J.C. Nichols, who included racial and religious restrictions in the neighborhoods he developed. Overmann also wanted to draw attention to the fact that Kansas City had a Confederate memorial.

Overmann did not want something like Charlottesville to happen in Kansas City.

“It was a direct reaction to Charlottesville,” Overmann said. “We have a Confederate monument, we have a fountain named after a white supremacist.”

Even today, the deeds and plats to the properties in the areas Nichols’ developed still include racially restrictive covenants. While not enforced, the racial divide caused by Nichols and other developers is easy to see. In 2015, the Huffington Post named Kansas City the 9th most racially segregated city in the country, after Birmingham, Alabama.

But Overmann is pushing for change.

“I made a Facebook events page, and then I had a bunch of people from different organizations around the city reach out to me and be like ‘Hey! Let me help you plan this,’” Overmann said.

Members of different Kansas City organizations reached out to Overmann, including KC Democratic Socialists of America, KC Incarcerated Workers of the World and the KC Grassroots Network, offering their help.

The goal of the demonstration was originally to march from the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain to the United Daughters of the Confederacy Monument on 55th and

10 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

Ward Parkway, however, on the morning of the march, the Confederate memorial was removed due to vandalism the previous Friday. Overmann also set up a petition to change the name of the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain.

“The way that we had it set up was once [the petition] got enough signatures, it would go up to the parks department,” Overmann said. Overmann’s goal was to have the people of Kansas City vote on what to rename the fountain; however, the petition failed to gain enough signatures, and has now moved into an open letter format. Despite this setback, Overmann still viewed the march as a success.

Surrounding the marchers were members of the “III Percent Security Force Militia,” a civilian volunteer organization that aligns itself with the far right.

“They said they were there with the KCPD to make sure that we were all safe,” Overmann said.”They were watching our every move. They had automatic weapons, they were fully armed, and they were following us around the entire time.

People marched down the Plaza streets chanting “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” and “Nazi scum off our streets.”

But seeing all of the planning come together was a good experience for Overmann.

“It felt more surreal than anything else,” Overmann said. “I expected it to just be a small event, and it blew up so big and it got a lot of attention. It felt good to be able to start a conversation.”

In fact, Overmann has been a part of that conversation every time there has been a march in Kansas City.

“Ever since Trump was elected, I have been in attendance of every [protest],” Overmann said. “You feel invincible, like you’re changing the world.”

“You feel invincible, like you’re changing the world.” ­— Andi OvermaNn

1. A young boy holds up his father’s sign by the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain Aug. 27.

2. Policemen gather on horseback to protect the protesters in front of the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain on Aug. 27. +Photo by Maddy Manning 3. A young boy shouts through a megaphone to the crowd Aug. 27. Some chants include “Show me what America looks like” and “black lives matter”.

4. Two men verbally argue over the reason why the anti-hate march is being held by the fountain on Aug. 27. The fight did not get physical. +Photos by Maddy Manning

Charlottesville 101 The “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. occurred August 12.

Several white nationalist and right wing groups came together to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Described as one of the largest white nationalist events in recent U.S. history.

Counter demonstrators also showed up in support of the removal of the statue. The event turned violent when according to CNN, man described as having a “fondness for Adolf Hitler” drove his car into a crowd of counter demonstrators, killing one person and injuring 19 others.

“White supremacists are obviously gaining a foothold in our country, both politically and socially. President Trump did make a mistake in pinning the blame on both sides. He chose to victimize liberals for getting killed. The incident at Charlottesville was big enough to prove that there is more than a handful of white supremacists and the fact that our president wasn’t willing to blame them shows that they are gaining a persuasive power within our government.”

— senior Ashley Ellis

“Regarding the statues, that is an intersting debate. I understand that General Lee was fighting for the South, which supported slavery. If people feel that that represents hate, I will respect that, on one condition. If they democratically vote to take down the statue, then I agree it should be taken down. However, when you have people who taken down the statue in the middle of the night because they think it represents hate, not only is that vandalism, it’s destruction of public property, and that also acts as a slippery slope for what could happen next. I do think [the Robert E. Lee statue] should be taken down from the pedestal, because it does seem like we are honoring General Lee and I see why that is a problem.

But it shouldn’t be completely removed from society; maybe put in a museum so we still know it’s there as a stepping stool or learning point.”

— senior Mihir Shroff

“There are these nuance issues with the confederate statues and the confederate flag because some people feel there is a history element. [But] there’s also people who use it as a symbol for hate and discrimination and so you have this nuance argument about getting rid of symbols like that but sometimes it gets hijacked by people who are flat out racist. So it makes it hard to have that nuance discussion and understanding and appreciation for each other’s positions when there is also this hate element” -American government teacher Christin LaMourie

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

OUT OF SIGHT, out of mind For students, lunch will never be the same again

+BY CADENCE ELDER AND NICHOLAS LORINO

Students have never had to think so hard about lunch.

Since the Shawnee Mission School District incorporated compost bins into the lunchroom, sorting out compostables from recycling and trash has been difficult. Luckily, representatives from Johnson County Solid Waste Department arrived to help students.

“I think it’s important,” Johnson County Environmental Health Specialist Brandon Hearns said. “If usable materials go to the landfill, then there is really no use for them.

Then we have to look at building new landfills for that waste or material. If it can be used for something else and not wasted, that is just the better option.”

It all started with an idea from a mother of a student at Briarwood Elementary back in 2008 and has been growing throughout the district, reaching cafeterias in the NW area this year.

Three labeled bins allow students to sort their trash rather than throwing everything away. The blue bin is for recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, the green bin is for compostable materials such as food and cardboard, and the gray bin is for trash such as wrappers.

“They are keeping 80-85 percent of their trash out of the landfill, so that’s awesome,” solid waste coordinator Craig Wood said. “It’s either being composted or recycled now.”

The district has partnered with Missouri Organics to take trash that would usually take years to decay in a landfill and instead turn it into fertilizer for the newly opened Center of

FIRST WEEK WASTE TOTALS

After only a week of composting, the results were impressive and have continued in the first four weeks of school.

16 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

Academic Achievement (CAA). This process takes only four to six weeks. At the CAA, they will use the fertilizer at the Broadmoor Urban farm to fertilize the variety of produce used at the Broadmoor Bistro.

“People have to rethink how the system is,” Johnson County Environmental Health Specialist Sadie Gardner said. “For most people, trash is out of sight, out of mind. But it never actually goes away, it goes directly to the landfill. [There are 222,277 households] in Johnson County, so the behavior change has a ripple effect of not just the students but their families. You will take this behavior with you.”

The Johnson County Solid Waste Department not only works with schools but also businesses and households to spread awareness of composting and help implement systems. Changing a behavior can be difficult after years of following a school routine.

“I do not like it at all,” sophomore Braeden Trondson said. “One, it’s too complicated. I say we should throw all the trash away; two, it takes like two minutes to throw my trash away when I used to be able to just dump it all in and be fine. Now one piece goes in here, one piece goes in there and it’s a pain.”

Other students, such as senior Mikayla Doyle, see the positive impact of composting.

“I’m happy that we are being eco-friendly,” Doyle said. “[Because before] we weren’t being sustainable at all. We were leaving a huge footprint in a way shorter time than we should.”

1. In the mall, freshman Angel Thompson is taught about the new compost bins by a volunteer visitor from the SMSD district during 2nd lunch Aug. 17. +PHOTO BY SOFIA OIVERA 2. During 3rd lunch, freshman Jacob Mars learns how to dispose of his lunch waste in the compost, recycle, and trash bins in the cafeteria.

Aug. 17. +PHOTO BY SOFIA OIVERA

CHIPS

COMPOST

843.4 POUNDS

TRASH

245.8 pounds

RECYCLING

238 pounds

+PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

Since the introduction of laptops, students have grown increasingly “addicted” to their technology Students walk down the hallways, eyes glued to their phones. A walk down the stairs becomes a game of chance with students’ eyes focused only on their screens. Teachers wait a minute or so after the final passing bell for students to finish their messages or save their endangered Snapchat streaks before forcing them to put their phones in their bags.

There’s been talk of a “technology addiction” recently across various media platforms, and, since introducing laptops into the classroom, teachers have seen an increase of this among students.

“Society as a whole is addicted to technology,” Dr. Debbie Lopez-Boren said. “And that holds true for my students as well. But it’s not just my students — it’s everyone.”

Lopez-Boren, an AP senior English teacher, knows this subject well; she wrote her doctoral thesis on children and technology and has been teaching at Northwest for 17 years. She’s seen the progression of increased technology usage over the years in students as cell phones became popular and laptops became integrated into education.

“More often than not, I don’t use the laptops,” Lopez-Boren said. “They stay in the backpacks until I feel like we need them and will use them effectively.

Technology can be a useful tool, and perhaps students can learn a concept better using their laptops or other technology. Phones have always been a big problem because you’re not going to be learning as effectively with your phones out. When students don’t put them away it can verge on disrespect for your teachers.”

Sophomore Megan Acton disagrees. She doesn’t view it as disrespectful to have her cellphone on her desk, although she admits that it’s a distraction. Acton finds it difficult to resist the temptation of seeing her notifications, partly because she’s worried about missing something important.

“I get frustrated when teachers tell me that I can’t even have it on the desk, but when I have my phone right there, I constantly press the home button just to see,” Acton said. “If I miss something, someone will have to go back and explain it all to me, and then I feel like they might leave something out. I have this fear of ‘what if something happens and I miss it?’”

Fear of missing out, recently publicized as FOMO, has quickly become a social norm. The phrase refers to the feeling that something interesting is happening

somewhere else without you, and it’s usually spurred by social media posts by friends or peers. Both Acton and her friend, sophomore Stephanie Land, claim to have some anxiety about missing something important. For Land, things are even more intense: she has a group of friends on Twitter that she has to keep in contact with.

“I feel naked without my phone,” Land said. “Just being able to touch the technology, I’m immediately off task. I get home and I’m immediately on the computer again. I have a bunch of online friends and we talk daily; either I’m on [video chat] all night or I fall asleep on it. I text my friends on and off during school as well. I catch myself checking [my phone] even when I’m not supposed to have it out.”

One of the goals of introducing laptops into the classroom was teaching students how to be responsible with technology before releasing them into the 21st century technological world. Lopez-Boren argues against the extreme freedom given to students — because if they have the technology, they’re going to use it.

“I understand the idea of teaching digital citizenship, but there has to be another way to teach that beyond letting students have access to Netflix,” Lopez-Boren said. “Because, depending upon the classroom and the situation, if the student can gravitate away from doing work, they will.”

According to a 2016 CNN survey, 50 percent of teens believe that they are “addicted” to their phones.

There’s no situation where an addiction is a positive thing, but although 50 percent is a big number, it is not everyone. Senior Jordyn Pomerantz represents the other side of the 50 percent. She is in no way addicted to her technology and isn’t affected by FOMO. She also recognizes the technology problem with her friends and fellow students.

“I can absolutely say that my peers are addicted to technology, for sure,” Pomerantz said. “I go to restaurants and see people not talking to each other, just [sitting] on their phones. About the fear of missing out, I just don’t get that. Life is full of opportunities and you can always create more; it’s okay to miss out sometimes. You just don’t need your phone during the school day — you don’t.”

But is the technology really the problem? According to Kansas University professor Doug Ward, no. Ward

+BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN AND KAILI SITZ is the Associate Director at the Center for Teaching Excellence at the School of Journalism, and he has some expertise in students and technology. He’s one of the founders and professors of a class called Infomania, a course committed to researching digital literacy in classrooms. He says that technology isn’t inherently a bad thing, and, if used correctly, is extremely useful in classrooms. The rest of the world demands that people handle a thousand things that require the use of technology. However, the world also demands that people have social skills and be able to interact face-to-face, a skill that people have begun to lose.

“The issue that concerns me is the way technology can isolate young people,” Ward said. “I’ve seen a decline in social skills among many students. However, I don’t see a return to pen and paper as an answer.

There have been studies showing that students do remember things better when they take notes with pen and paper, but I don’t want students to memorize. I want them to use information and technology to solve problems and answer questions. Rather [than getting rid of laptops], teachers should help students learn to use laptops as tools, not toys.”

Technology should and can be a gateway to information,not just entertainment and distraction.

People decide when to pick up their technology, what they do on the internet, who they message.

People tend to blame technology instead of taking responsibility for their actions. The first year laptops were received, Lopez-Boren had a conversation with one of her students about them. He claimed that the laptop discourages conversation and discussion — that the open screen was a barrier between people.

Pomerantz agrees technology itself isn’t the problem: it’s how people are using it.

“Teachers are just trying to help kids out [by not allowing phones], but kids aren’t willing to accept that help from them,” Pomerantz said. “At the end of the day, it’s not the technology’s fault that you didn’t do well on the test, that you didn’t do your homework.

It’s the fact that you didn’t make the smart decision and get the work done when it needed to be done. You chose to mess around, and that’s a situation that you made for yourself. The laptop did not make that for you.”

NW PASSAGE | feature 13

THERE GOES THE SUN

The United States experienced a solar eclipse from coast to coast on August 21, and, luckily enough, we weren’t too far from areas of 100 percent totality. While astrologists raved about how the eclipse could mean trouble for Donald Trump and extremists claimed that it signified the arrival of space aliens, the real news is that this solar eclipse was the first to cross the United States in 37 years.

Because of the importance of this event, parents called in to allow their children to leave to view the eclipse around the area.

Students traveled to St. Joe and Atchinson as well as other areas nearby. Although clouds obscured the moment of peak totality at Northwest, students who traveled had varied experiences, some more positive and some more negative. Those who thought they were traveling for the best view ended up with no view at all due to rain, and some saw the clouds part just as the eclipse reached totality, providing a perfectly framed sight.

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1. Along with the Seek class, sophomore Kelsey Volk plays in the rain in Atchison, Kansas Aug. 21. The Seek class traveled together to Attchison to watch the Solar Eclipse only to miss the sun in the clouds. +Photo by Skylar Brogan 2. A young boy holds up his home-made eye glasses up to his face in Jefferson City, Missouri Aug. 21. A large group gathered in ellis-Porter Park to watch the solar eclipse. +Photo by Maddy Manning 3. Senior Jonothan Sommerfeld sits and watches the sun with his friends at Lake Jacomo Aug. 21. The lake is located in Jackson County, Missouri. + Photo by Maya Lee

The Science Behind the Glasses With every mention of the eclipse there came a warning: make sure you have your eclipse viewing glasses. Rumors began to spread, some of them more absurd than others -- “keep pets safe, if they glance at the eclipsed sun they could go blind,” or “the sun will warp and break your iPhone camera if you try to take a picture of the eclipse.”

Although some rumors, such as the camera tale, were rooted in truth, things quickly spun away from factual information.

People continue to say that the eclipse warped and intensified light, but there’s no evidence to support that. In truth, the only danger is that people were tempted to gaze up at the sun for an extended period of time.

People felt safe staring directly into the sun while it was covered by the moon — and you

2.

“It’s almost indescribable. I was at my grandparent’s estate in St. Joe and they have 45 acres so there was no lights. When totality happened for two straight minutes it was completely dark. Their house is on a hill so you can see into the valley. It was like night. You couldn’t see anything. If you looked out into the valley, you could see the sunset sort of and crickets started chirping.”

- senior Lydia Simms

3.

“I was at the Shatto Milk Farm. It was pretty busy, but not too overcrowded to be uncomfortable. Even though it was cloudy, it was still fun, and having that many people there made it more interesting. My favorite memory has to be when it got darkest outside; it was pretty amazing to see nighttime when it was really just one in the afternoon.”

- sophomore Allison Banks “I was in Atchison for the seek field trip when I saw it. My experience was not the best, nor the worst. I was very cloudy, but during 100% totality, it got extremely dark and everyone around me completely lost it with excitement, including me.”

— senior Mihir Shroff “We were right off of I-70 (near Marshall, Missouri); you could see the highway, and that’s where we watched it.

And the sun came out, it was awesome. It got dark, and seeing the 360 sunset was the coolest thing I have ever seen. Everywhere you looked, it looked like a sunset. My 12-year-old was like ‘Mom, we have to go to the 2024 eclipse.’ So, he’s now a solar eclipse junky.”

—Environmental Education teacher Stacy Robins

14 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

Line of

Totality

wouldn’t feel pain after about 50% totality.

However, even though you wouldn’t feel the sun burning your eyes, it still would be. Permanent damage occurs as the sun burns dark patches into your cornea, and this will happen within a minute of staring directly into the sun without the proper glasses. Sunglasses do dim the sunlight, but have you ever stared into the sun even with sunglasses on? After a while, it hurts.

Eclipse-viewing glasses make it impossible for anything but the strongest light to reach your eyes. You’ll know if they’re the real deal if you put them on indoors and everything goes black. You shouldn’t be able to see shaded lamps or ordinary light sources through them and, if you could, they were not safe for eclipse viewing.

WHY DO YOU IDENTIFY AS A FEMINIST?

“I think it’s important because so many people don’t understand the concept of feminism. People don’t want to be associated with feminism because they see the extremely radical feminists who hate men and they want to avoid that. I think having this club will help people understand that feminism isn’t about hating men or trying to make women superior, it’s about making everyone equal.”

Senior Hadley Sayers discusses the impacts of feminism Aug. 29. Along with Sayers, seniors Natalie Jones, Carson Krehbiel, and Rachel Tao helped form Feminism Club. “The main goal is to better spread the message of feminism,” Sayers said. “Hopefully [we are] discrediting the stigma that feminism unfortunately carries.” +PHOTO ABBY RYAN

— S E N IO R TR E NAD E B ROTH E RTO N

the future is

feminine

In reaction to the recent election, students create a club to encourage discussion and volunteerism It all started last spring in the state capital. Seniors Hadley Sayers and Natalie Jones were introduced to Shawnee Mission East senior Imaan Jaroudi at the annual Youth in Government conference in Topeka.

Jaroudi explained how she had started a Feminist Club at East and made it successful. This gave Sayers and Jones the idea to start a Feminist Club at Northwest this year.

“We were just like ‘Wow, that is an amazing idea,’” Jones said. “The first day we came back [from Youth and Government], we were already trying to find a sponsor.”

The two approached social studies teacher Rebecca Anthony and presented their idea for a club about feminism, but Anthony was not interested in sponsoring it.

“She thought that not enough people would be interested,” Jones said.

A week later, senior Carson Krehbiel came to Anthony and asked her if she would be willing to sponsor a Feminist Club. He had no idea that Sayers and Jones had already proposed a similar idea.

Anthony agreed to be the sponsor.

“It reaffirmed to her that if a diverse group both proposed the same idea then there was interest,” Sayers said. “Our first goal is

to spread the message of what feminism is, in its most simplest form: equality of the sexes. Just get that message out there and get everyone at Northwest to see that in a positive light.”

The group plans to provide a space for educational discussions involving feminism as well to mobilize members to volunteer around the Kansas City metropolitan area. Another goal the club has is to fundraise for the Global Fund for Women, a non-profit foundation that focuses on economic and political empowerment for women in addition to sexual and reproductive health rights.

Sayers says she became a proud feminist about a year ago, but that her ideas have always fallen in line with feminism.

“As a young female, I think that there is nothing a woman can’t do that a man can,” Sayers said.

“I’ve always liked seeing women making a powerful impact. I loved seeing women being nominated for political parties. I loved seeing glass ceilings shattered in every sort of profession for women. [I love seeing] women making a difference and doing things that just have not been done and may not been seen as a women’s role.”

However, politics are at the center of the club’s ethos. Sayers, a liberal, started this club as a reaction to the misogynistic language espoused during the 2016 presidential campaign.

“To me, feminism will always be relevant,” Sayers said. “However, the current political climate has put feminism in a really fragile place.

Feminism is equality of the sexes and anyone with basic common sense can decide that, under the definition, feminism is good and just. Our club is bipartisan and that’s because there are so many representatives on all sides of the spectrum who promote women’s equality.”

On the other hand, as a conservative and vice president of feminism club, Krehbiel stresses that the club will be non-partisan, and wants to see more conservatives and members of Young Republicans join.

“You can be conservative without being primitive,” Krehbiel said.

Regardless of political affiliation, gender or experience, Feminist Club hopes to open up a conversation about gender equality as well as provide volunteer and fundraising opportunities every other Tuesday at 7:10 a.m. in room 126.

“I call myself a feminist because slavery still exists in many places, sex trafficking is a big issue and those who have a voice should speak for those who don’t. I call myself a feminist because there are wives and mothers out there younger than me. I am a feminist because so many people deserve an education that they are denied.”

— S E N IO R J E N NA STE I N LE

“ My grandma always taught me to respect not just women but other people in general, even if they’re different from you.

If they have a different religion or gender or whatever, you just respect people.”

— J U N IO R ALI E U JAG N E

NW PASSAGE | feature 15

PHOTO BY SKYLAR BROGAN

The Perfect Score Jackson Brogan earned a perect score on the ACT +BY ANASTASIA KLING

t all starts with fingers to the pencil, Iscored pencil to the paper. Jackson Brogan a 36 on the ACT, the standardized

test used to compare applicants from different schools and different states “When you open the ACT website, the second you log on, it pops your score up,”senior Jackson Brogan said. “I wasn’t really expecting to see it right away and when I did, I had to do a double-take because I thought I had to be seeing the wrong thing. I was ecstatic but shocked.”

Only 0.1 percent of those who take the test receive a perfect score on the ACT. Brogan is the only NW student to receive a perfect score so far this school year.

“My biggest piece of advice is that hard

work pays off,” Brogan said. “Everybody has different abilities, strengths, weaknesses, but if you put time and hard work into something, you’re always going to improve.”

Brogan is an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidate. He did not take the test prep class offered at Northwest; instead he studied at home, and used his own book to study. As an IB candidate, most of his classes during his school day are IB classes, except for Marching Band.

Brogan plans on going to college at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., to major in Architectural Lighting Design.

He hopes to design and build lighting systems in museums and stadiums. He

PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

Vargas must wait From Immigration Gia for citizenship before applying to college to Graduation

+BY ANNALISSA HAUSER AND CATHERINE TAGGART ost seniors have a good idea of what they M will be doing after high school, especially if they are top-of-their-class, remarkably

involved students. Senior Gia Vargas is a prime example of this model student, so she must be uber busy applying to colleges, right?

Wrong.

Vargas began applying to colleges later than the rest of her class. Not because she does not have the GPA or test scores, but because she is not a naturalized U.S. citizen, so she cannot apply for federal aid (FAFSA).

Both Vargas’ mother and stepfather are American citizens and Vargas holds a green

16 SEPT. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

card. According to Vargas, after her mother became a naturalized citizen, the family needed to focus on school and work rather than her citizenship. In addition, the family was misinformed on the process of citizenship for children under 18.

“My stepdad told me to hold off on applying for colleges until I get my citizenship straightened out,” Vargas said. “I like getting things done right away, so I had already started filling out applications. It was frustrating to not be able to submit. I don’t want to lose out on scholarships because I applied late.”

wants to go to Northwestern because of its proximity to the big city combined with the feel of a small college town. Another factor is the Northwestern engineering program.

Brogan can receive his Civil Engineering Degree with an Architectural certificate.

Brogan hopes to be just as compassionate as his father someday.

“My dad has worked hard his entire career to give our family everything we need, yet he always finds a way to try and make everyone around him happy,” Brogan said.“My biggest dream is to have a happy life. That sounds really cliché, but if I can get a job I love, have a nice family, provide well for my kids, yet keep playing music for the rest of my life, I’ll be happy.”

After growing up in America, this has become her home. In the Philippines, resources were limited and Vargas’ mother had to work exceptionally hard to provide for her. Now, Vargas wants to succeed in order to help out her mother.

“Being a citizen is very important,” Vargas said, “I have grown up most of my life [in America]. This is where I learned to find myself. I take pride in this country and I love the people here. And I want to be able to provide for [my mom] because she has always provided for me. In the Philippines, she would give me her food and now she works so hard to help me with college.”

Vargas moved from the Philippines when she was seven-years-old. She had no idea how different it would be in the United States. She expected the food, clothing and everything else to be different, but was pleasantly surprised by the similarities between America and the Philippines.

“I thought everyone dressed differently, but it was the same type of clothing and the food was the same,” Vargas said. “My mind was blown. When we got here, the first place we went was Walmart. I went through the aisles and saw Pantene and Head & Shoulders and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, they use the same stuff as us.’”

Vargas is using her green card to apply for colleges, while her citizenship is being finalized, but she still has to make the decision on what she wants to pursue.

Currently, she is deciding between computer science and pharmacy.

“If I chose computer science, I want to go to University of Texas because I hear so many great things and they have a great program,” Vargas said. “Tuition is a big challenge for that, however. For pharmacy, I wouldn’t mind going to University of Kansas.”

$725

Cost of applying for U.S. citizenship You may qualify for naturalization if you are at least 18 and have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least five years and meet all other eligibility requirements.

To apply to become a naturalized citizen, the applicant must be able to read, write and speak basic English; be of good moral character; and go through a 10-step naturalization process which includes an application and interview.

ON THE CLOCK New associate principal Jack Johnson familiarizes himself with students and NW culture + BY SAM RICE AND SONNI MEYERS Around 6:30 a.m., while most students are waking up, associate principal Jack Johnson is already at work keeping up with emails, scheduling meetings with parents and doing his best to make sure your day goes well.

“I think ultimately that we’re all here for the students and the future,” Johnson said. “I already have my degrees, I have my career set, so it’s a way to give back and get you guys ready for what you’re going to be doing in the future.”

Recently, Johnson made the switch from being a social studies teacher for five years at Mill Valley High School to becoming an associate principal here.

Johnson’s journey to becoming an educator began with the stories his father told about being a teacher.

He eventually decided that he wanted to help students and teachers on an even larger scale than just being a social studies teacher.

“I felt that I could help in a different capacity, Johnson said. “I coached and then I was also the department chair for the social studies department. I really enjoyed that it got me outside of the classroom.

I enjoyed working with adults. That’s why I wanted to transition to working directly with adults and helping teachers.”

Johnson is in charge of students with last names beginning with the letters H-O, technology, study skills, social studies, CTE, custodial work, Saturday school, graduation, teacher night duty schedule and Fine Arts. He never has a set routine but still manages to make students a priority in his job.

“It’s really fast-paced,” Johnson said. “I get to meet more people than just the 135 kids I had every single year and the 10 teachers that were in my department.

That’s what we’re here for is the students. I try to relate to kids in the hallways so they don’t just look at me as an authority figure. I want them to think of me as someone they can approach if they need something academically, socially or emotionally.”

By 5:30 p.m., Johnson’s day is coming to an end. He goes home, where he will be greeted by his wife and three children. He will then dive into a good book or listen to a podcast, or maybe even do some journaling.

Finally, he will prepare for the day ahead and the opportunity to form relationships with staff and students alike.

“My goal for this year is to get to know all staff and students,” Johnson said, “plus get to know the traditions and culture of Northwest and be positive each and every day.”

NW PASSAGE| PROFILE 17 PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

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1. In the first half of the Varsity football game, sophomore Emily Motsick performs one of their band dances, “Fingers”, alongside the JV squad Aug. 31. The JV team cheers for their first half only of the varsity games with the Varsity squad. + Photo by Abbie Roberts 2. At the freshman mixer, freshman Taylor McCarthy dances to the music Aug 11 in the cafeteria. The freshman mixer is hosted by StuCo and Link Crew. “The mixer created a fun-loving environment for our class to be at on our first day of High School” McCarthy said. +Photo by Erin Henton 3. Together, junior Mabel Anstine and senior Katherine Strohm talk briefly between points Aug. 30 at 103rd & Marty. Both Anstine and Strohm are a part of the “top six”. “We don’t have a ton of time in between games to talk strategy, but we try to give each other tips if we’ve noticed anything like a weak backhand or where to stand or serve,” Anstine said. +Photo by Abbie Robberts 4. Junior Spencer Stewart sits on a bench next to his little brother, at Northwest vs Lawrence football game Aug 31. Stewart’s little brother age 8 has been attending every Shawnee Mission Northwest football game and has became a great asset to the team. “It’s a great feeling, he’s always there to support and is becoming one of everyone’s favorite people to watch on the sidelines,” Stewart said. +Photo by Keri Sengpersueth

5. Shawnee Mission Northwest varsity football team

Best Of NW Photography 5.

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enters the North field Aug 31. The cougars begin the season with a lost against Lawrence with a score of 21-42. “I think we have a good chance at finishing the season with a good record. We’ve finished the hardest part of our schedule so the rest of the teams we play are definitely beatable,” Senior Bj Harvey said. +Photo by Keri Sengpersueth 6. Performing with the JV squad, sophomore Annelissa Houser cheers during the Cougar Cookout Aug. 30. Houser lead the squad in front during their performance. +Photo by Maddy Manning 7. Waiting to perform, senior Maddie Troutt smiles wide in the main gym Aug. 30. The varsity squad performed the fight song and a stunt routine. “The entire squad was so excited to be performing, which made me even more excited about performing in the assembly,” Troutt said. +Photo by Maddy Manning 8. In front of the senior section, senior Jonathan Sommerfeld dances along with seniors Gia Vargas and Kaden Bower Aug. 30. Sommerfeld, Vargas, and Bower performed in the class skit for the seniors at the Cougar Cookout. +Photo by Maya Lee

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18 Sept. 14, 2017 | Vol. 49

With fall just around the corner, there are several options for entertainment going on in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Haunted houses are opening, the Renaissance Festival is kicking off and there are plenty of concerts happening just in time for the leaves to change. + BY ASHER NORBERG

Upcoming events in Kansas City September 2 through October 15 Kansas City Renaissance Festival opens

September 14 The Mountain Goats @ the Madrid Theatre, Tonight

September 15 The Beast and Edge of Hell Haunted Houses open

September 16 Macabre Cinema Haunted House opens

September 16 Tech N9ne @ The Truman

September 16 Waldo Fall Festival @ 75th St and Wornall Road,

September 17 Banks @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland,

September 18 Tove Lo @ The Truman

September 19 through October 31 Halloween Haunt @ Worlds of Fun

September 22 Gorillaz @ The Sprint Center

September 22 through September 24 Plaza Art Fair opens

September 23 Tim McGraw & Faith Hill @ The Sprint Center

September 23 Wilco @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland

September 25 Post Malone @ The Uptown Theatre

September 26 The Weeknd and Gucci Mane @ The Sprint Center

October 3 The XX and Perfume Genius @ The Starlight Theatre

October 4 Willie Nelson @ The Starlight Theatre

October 5 Angel Olsen @ The Granada Theatre

September 28 Princess Nokia @ The Granada Theatre,

September 30 Busta Rhymes @ CrossroadsKC

NW PASSAGE | feature 19

“Thinking about it being my last year cheering gives me butterflies.

Cheer has been my lifeline to the school. It helped me meet people who have changed my life.

Coach Chambers has helped me grow not only as a cheerleader but as a person.”

— senior Caymen Northrop

the

NW PASSAGE

+ PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING