Issue 2

the

NW PASSAGE Oct. 12 ,2017 Vol. 49

+PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING

TA B L E OF

CONTENTS Is s u e 02 Vol . 4 9 O c t . 12, 2017

Broken dreams

The repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program leaves some students wondering what their future will hold

Northwest Royalty

Meet your homecoming court candidates and hear stories of your classmates asking their dates in noteworthy ways

Fall Fashion

15 OUR PASSAGE:

STAFF: PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT:

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

Cadence Elder Jack Lynch

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Rachel Albers Madeline Manning Erin Henton Asher Norberg Samantha Joslin Will Gross Annalissa Houser

ADVISERS: Adviser Assistant Adviser

02 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

9-11 13

As the weather gets colder, these trends will keep you hot

Design Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Ads Manager Online Copy Editor

7

Flipping out

The gymnastics team continues to place first after almost being eliminated last season

Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

NORTHWEST PASSAGE

Susan Massy Wes Mikel

STAFF DESIGNER: Kennady Bustamante

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.

+PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS

A Clean Screen I deleted my Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter apps for 30 days +MADELNE MANNING

Stand or Kneel People should have the right to kneel for the anthem but should be prepared to face the consequences +BY MATTHEW OWENS

No more likes.

No more streaks.

No more re-tweets.

A month into my senior year, I felt a scary obsession with my social media apps. I would spend hours during school Snapchatting my friends, checking on how many likes I got on my Instagram photo every five minutes after posting and running out of data two days after it was renewed.

I started to notice my connection to technology disconnected me from the world around me. I started by trying to not scroll through whenever I’m bored, but after the muscle memory kicked in, I decided that my will power was gone and I had to delete the apps.

Deleting the apps was not hard, but the week following basically ate me alive. Every moment of boredom or awkward social interactions, I whipped out my phone but then put it away after realizing my go-to uncomfortable situation vices were gone.

Although there were times I wished I could pop a funny video of my boyfriend or a juicy cheeseburger from Five Guys onto my Snapchat story, and times where I had a photo of myself to post for senior Sunday, I couldn’t.

I wish I could have shown these to the world; but why? Showing my life off to people who do not

concern themselves with me no longer has any appeal. In those funny moments and in the good parts of my life that I usually would post about, I found myself watching through my eyes rather than through a screen.

Early on in my challenge, I attended the U2 concert at Arrowhead Stadium. While I stood there with lights flashing, guitar bass bumping and the cool night breeze going through the crowd, I felt connected with my life. During the concert, my phone stayed in my pocket. Looking down on the crowd in General Admission, close to the stage, I saw thousands of phone screens illuminating every face. I could not help but feel sick to my stomach when I realized that they would all remember finally seeing their favorite rock band live through Snapchat/Facebook/ Instagram. To me, “pics or it didn’t happen” needs to become “live or it didn’t happen.”

Although I’ve gone through many situations where my Instagram story would be aesthetically pleasing or my Snapchat story would be so funny it would knock your socks off, I learned over these 30 days that the person who is most important and needs to see these things is myself.

If I am living my life simply for other people to envy, then why am I

living that life? If every time I scroll through Instagram I feel more insecure about myself than when I began, why would I do it until my data runs out? Social media in itself is a trap, my friends. If we only post what other’s want to see, who are we living for at that point?

The point I am trying to make here is not that you need to become completely disconnected with the world and fly with birds. But you need to close your apps sometimes, and watch when birds fly. Not to mention how much data I have leftover at the end of the month (you’re welcome, mom).

Although I say all these things, I am going to re-download the apps after the 30 days to share cute pictures, share more of my photography and send filters to my friends; that being said, I promise to you that I will never go back to my old ways and my old obsession.

This social media cleanse has taught me a few things. It has taught me that I do not need to be accepted virtually by others, “pics or it didn’t happen” is a myth, data rollovers are an actual thing, and, most importantly, I learned to watch the birds fly by. Just be careful, Northwest. If you have your nose in your Snapchats all the time, what are you missing by not looking up?

The National Football League has an image problem. This business owns one day every week from the second week in September until the first Sunday in February, made $14 billion in revenue last season and hosts the most quintessential American event, the Superbowl.

No, it is not the brain damage or its inability to properly handle domestic violence problems. This problem occurs in the minutes before kickoff.

Last season, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in order to protest what he saw as injustices in the United States.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said in an interview with NFL.com. He has not played in the league this season.

He is not the first athlete to protest the injustices he sees.

Back in the mid 2000s, Blue Jays’ first baseman Carlos Delgado stayed in the dugout when “God Bless America” was performed as a form of protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twenty years ago, the National Basketball League’s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended for two days without pay when he refused to stand during the national anthem.

On Sept. 23, President Donald Trump said owners should fire players who do not stand for the national anthem. As so often occurs with people in the spotlight, NFL players staged more protests during the anthem.

Every Steelers’ player, except for former Army Ranger captain and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, stayed in the tunnel for the anthem. Many everyday fans booed the players who did not stand for the anthem, but a 2009 rule requires teams to be on the sideline for the national anthem.

Now that we know that background, let’s break down each situation. First, Colin Kaepernick is not playing in the league.

Why? He creates controversy while being unable to create touchdowns. As quarterback for the 49ers last season his record was 1-10 and he finished 23rd in the league for QBR. Kaepernick did, however, lead the 49ers to Superbowl XLVII, which they lost to the Ravens 34-31.

Other quarterbacks who have made it to the Superbowl are Jeff Hostler and Brad Johnson. Ever heard of them? Nope. It is simple with Kaepernick. The risk is high, the reward is low: never a good investment. On the other hand, if Russell Wilson protested during the anthem, he would still have a job because he is a good player.

Kaepernick is just one part of the

entire national anthem protest.

While I think that kneeling for the national anthem is disrespectful, players have the right to kneel.

It is their First Amendment right to protest. That being said, fans have every right to boo them for their actions. But, let’s remember that these rights apply only to government intervention: actions can be deemed by a business as distractions and therefore players can be fired. For instance, you have a right to stand on a street corner with a bullhorn and ask for peace in the world. However, if you were creating office or workplace distractions, then your employment could be terminated.

Additionally, offending customers while working is grounds for termination in most businesses.

While the NFL is trying to expand its target market to be more diverse, their main market stays the same: white middleclass, middle-aged men. This market is usually patriotic and therefore would support standing for the national anthem. That being said, it would seem perfectly okay with me if a team were to fire a player for not standing. It creates a controversy for the team that distracts them from the job at hand (teams waste time figuring out how to protest instead of preparing) in addition to offending or alienating the target market.

Actions have consequences.

NW PASSAGE | opinion 03

913 - 219 - 7580 04, Oct. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

Ranked #1 Haunted House in Kansas by Scarefactor.com www.3rdstreetasylum.com For Dates and Times

155

Same Seat, Different Hour Three students sitting in the same seat throughout the day couldn’t be more different

+BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN AND ANNALISSA HOUSER hile these three students lead almost W completely different lives, they all have one thing in common: they all sit in the desk five seats

she wants to attend college.

“I need to do art, I love it,” Gaul said. “Reading is my fun, and also watching too much Netflix, which I feel like everyone does. I love being in plays, musicals, singing — anything you want to know about me relates somehow to art and literature.”

Gaul’s love for books and reading is lost on Calvin Howard, who finds his way to the seat in sixth hour.

And this time, something else is different — Brett Mach, junior and senior English teacher, is at the front of the room instead of Pabst. They are studying The Scarlet Letter, which Howard hates with a passion.

“English is boring,” Howard said. “I hate reading.

Why would I want to read about other people’s adventures? I want to make my own.”

According to Howard, his class time is spent joking around with Mach, falling asleep and complaining about The Scarlet Letter. Outside of 155, Howard participates in ultimate frisbee club and varsity track and field. Beyond his athleticism and his ability to endure 55 minutes of English four days of the week, his greatest pride is his friendliness.

“I’m the friendliest person I know,” Howard said.

“I like to have a great attitude all the time; I don’t have time to be in a bad mood. My mantra is peace and love always. The effect you have on people is the greatest currency you have; I try to leave all people in a better attitude than when I met them.”

As Howard said, he feels that time spent reading is time wasted. His goal for his life is to, quite simply, travel the world.

“I want to go everywhere,” Howard said. “I want to climb Mount Everest, I want to surf the biggest waves in California, I want to go mountain biking in Chile, I want to snowboard in Alaska, I want to survive the wild. I want to live.”

Between these two hours is another very different

story, the story of freshman Colby Johnston in fourth hour’s Advanced Placement English Language Composition. Instead of theater or ultimate frisbee club, Johnston has been playing trumpet since fifth grade and currently plays for the NW band, along with playing football and hoping to do wrestling and track and field later in the year.

“Band has just been one of those things I’ve found enjoyable no matter what,” Johnston said.

“I’ve been able to find great friends through [band] who have played a part in who I am.”

Despite the impact that band has had on his life, Johnston admits that his religion has impacted it more. He goes to church every Sunday morning and youth group every Sunday night, discussing with friends how the lessons they learned that day will be applied to their lives. “[My religion] impacts what I hold as true, my worldview, as well as how I approach different obstacles or challenges in my life,” Johnston said.

“It has also been an area I can lean on when things aren’t going well.”

In contrast with Howard’s perpetually peaceful disposition, Johnston’s patriotism calls him to join the military after high school. He wants to be an aeronautical engineer — or, someone who develops air and space crafts — for any branch of the military.

As passing bells ring and students shift from class to class, these three students, whether a seating chart placed them there, or friends called them over on the first day, or it was the only spot left when they arrived, found a place in the same seat.

It’s hard to believe that students with a common thread connecting them every single day could be so different.

“Anything you want to know about me relates somehow to art and literature.”

“I want to travel the world.

I want to live.”

“Band has been one of those things I’ve found enjoyable no matter what.”

Senior Alyssa Gaul

Junior Calvin Howard

Freshman Colby Johnston

from the door, first row from the aisle in room 155.

The room goes through two teachers and three grade levels during its seven class periods — and the seat is held by senior Alyssa Gaul, junior Calvin Howard and freshman Colby Johnston during three hours of the day.

Gaul is the quintessential artsy girl. She is in theater, works at Michael’s and spends her free time painting and reading. Gaul occupies the seat during first hour IB English HL2, a class she loves. She is sandwiched between two friends and surrounded by familiar IB faces; her class time is spent delving into the text (currently, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”) and talking “too much” during discussions.

“I talk a lot in that class,” Gaul said. “I try to bring up interesting points that people don’t think of. I am a very talkative person, in general. When I get going about things I enjoy, I just can’t stop. [IB and freshman English teacher Benjamin] Pabst and I both see potential in literature to mean something more, and I like that. He also likes talking and discussing more than giving out homework, which I don’t need.”

Outside of the classroom, Gaul explores her love of art in other ways. She’s been playing piano since middle school — when she started getting into theater — and now does singing lessons to complement both hobbies. Gaul is playing a lead in the upcoming NW play, “Fools”, so most of her time is spent practicing for that performance in the Greg Parker Auditorium.

Majoring in English, going to art school or studying to become a director are all currently on Gaul’s radar, although she has yet to decide where

NW PASSAGE | feature 05

+ PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

A Storm Is Brewing

+BY ANASTASIA KLING

Science teacher Debra Brewer struggles with brain tumor treatment One side of biology teacher Debra Brewer’s tumor lies next to the facial nerve which controls swallowing and on the other side is the carotid artery. If the tumor pushes through the artery, her chances of survival would be slim.

The first time that Brewer had surgery, one of her jugular veins (not the jugular artery) was removed.

“The jugular vein was removed because the tumor infiltrated the vein,” Brewer said. “[They did this] to make sure the tumor cells did not spread.”

Opposite the vein that was removed is her brain, and the tumor also has the potential to travel into the gray matter of her brain.

Five years ago, Brewer was told she had a glomus jugular tumor and that the doctors could not remove the entire tumor because of its critical location.

Because it was not entirely removed, Brewer and her doctors knew it would grow again. And they would try to remove it again. This meant that Brewer’s life would become a constant battle of waiting for the tumor to grow back. But she was determined to do whatever it took to stay in the classroom.

“If the nerve gets damaged, then I can’t do this,” Brewer said. “I can’t teach. I put on a brave face every day; I am 50 and I am too young to not work.

Mortality is not on my radar.”

After four years, the tumor had grown back bigger and faster than before, and the doctors had to declare it an inoperable benign tumor. Without

06 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

taking the tumor out, they had to find a way to shrink it or else Brewer’s brain and facial functions could be in danger.

Radiation was the next step.

For Brewer, an experimental radiation treatment that uses protons to minimize the size of a tumor was the safest and most compatible option for her.

“They fit you to a [radiation] mask; it is tight to a point where you can’t open your eyes, you can’t move your mouth,” Brewer said. “You also have a mouth guard, [and] it holds your mouth open as wide as it can go while pushing your tongue down. And then you are laying down on a treatment bed, and they bolt you in so you cannot move at all.”

For 32 days, Brewer spent 30 minutes, five days a week strapped down and motionless in order for the radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor.

“I would drive myself to the proton center. I had to talk myself into getting out of the car,” Brewer said as tears pooled. “After about 10 days, I really struggled with getting out of the car.

You see the same people [in the waiting room]. Some of them are older than you, some of them are younger than you and some of them are sicker than you.

You start to feel bad for having self pity because you see other people in worse situations than you.”

Then there was Harvey.

When Brewer went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, for treatment, the last thing she expected was to be in the middle of a hurricane.

“Just about the time you think you are going to handle it, you get a hurricane,” Brewer said. “The storm was horrible and the storm changed the whole playing field.”

Hurricane Harvey was recordbreaking — it rained 52 inches. Roads were flooded and homes were destroyed.

The hospital where Brewer was being treated was closed to everyone but critical patients. All she had was her car, a suitcase and the apartment she was staying in. Brewer was considered a critical patient.

But Brewer’s pain did not subside after the treatment ended. Today, she still faces the harsh reality the tumor poses.

“I no longer produce saliva,” Brewer said. “The [saliva] glands are gone which makes it hard to eat things that aren’t juicy or liquid. I can no longer taste. Food is boring. I can no longer eat processed sugar because it sticks to your teeth. I have to have fluoride treatments every day. I lost hair and it won’t grow back.”

Despite these struggles, Brewer continues to stay positive.

“The biggest thing I took away without a shadow of a doubt is that my problems in the grand scheme of things are not that big,” Brewer said. “There are many people that have struggles that I can’t even imagine. I learned a new way to look at life and a new way to live it. I hope that I continue to seek the positive things.”

The brain scan below shows where Brewer’s tumor sits in her head. Her tumor lies where the cheekbone and ear would meet in her skull.

When Brewer was in Houston, she received proton radiation, which sends radiation through a proton beam. This brain scan shows how much proton radiation is going into Brewer’s tumor.

Broken Dreams

The repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program leaves some students wondering what their future will hold + BY CADENCE ELDER Editor’s note: The names of the Northwest students featured in this story have been changed in order to protect their identity.

Junior Isabella Garcia noticed a missed call. It was from her immigration lawyer. Her phone rang again.

It was her mother.

“I was kind of in shock. My mom called me crying,” Garcia said. “That was really scary. I didn’t know what was going on and she said, ‘Oh honey, they shut down the program.’”

Her mother was talking about DACA. On Sept.

9, the Justice Department announced the end of this Obama-era program. The program gave children of undocumented immigrants, commonly called “Dreamers”, an opportunity to request consideration for deferred action, which kept them from being deported for at least two years, with renewals available as long as they keep a clean criminal record and can obtain a worker’s permit or license in order to be able to function in American society. (See sidebar for details).

The Justice Department announcement meant that no new applications would be accepted for the program, but that renewals for immigrants who were already a part of the program would be accepted until Oct. 5, granting recipients up to two additional years of legal status.

Garcia, one of 800,000 Dreamers in the United States, came to this country at the age of two to help take care of an ill family member. Her family left behind everything they had to start again in America.

“My family and I would always travel in and out of the United States,” Garcia said. “We would always just travel everywhere. One time we just decided to travel and we found out a family member was sick and we were like ‘Okay, we need to stay.’ We didn’t really plan on it.”

When she was 14, the DACA program was created, allowing her to plan for a more stable future.

“I was really happy about it,” Garcia said. “I was like ‘Hey, I’m going to be able to do something with my life. I’m going to be able to succeed.’”

DACA’s elimination set off a ticking clock for Dreamers’ lives in America. Without a replacement for DACA, Dreamers will be deported, possibly returning to a homeland that has never been home for them.

“I am terrified because I don’t know what I am going to do,” Garcia said. “I have only lived in my other country for two years. That’s nothing. I don’t remember anything. I consider myself an American.

I can barely speak their language. I don’t know what I’m going to do because this is basically my outlet to get a bigger future. It’s scary. What if everything was taken away from you?”

Senior Gabriela Costa is suffering the side effects of DACA in a different way. She was born in the United States, so she is considered a U.S. citizen, but her two older siblings were born in Brazil.

“My sister is graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology this year,” Costa said. “If DACA isn’t replaced by then, she can’t use that degree or get a job.”

Costa’s parents came from Brazil in order to create a future for themselves and their family and,

“ I have lived here my whole life. America is my home, but the President think it’s not, I guess.”

-junior Isabella Garcia

according to Costa, leave behind a corrupt country.

“My dad owns a flooring business and my mom owns a cleaning business,” Costa said. “There is a lot of people that say ‘Oh, they are stealing our jobs,’ but they created their own jobs. They came here not knowing a single word of English and now they have businesses that are doing really well.”

Garcia had similar plans. She planned to become an immigration lawyer, a dream inspired by the lawyer who has helped her.

“That is what I want to be,” Garcia said. “He actually helped me get started with the DACA program and he keeps me informed about things that are happening. When the DACA program was shut down, he called me right away. He told me I was going to be okay. I’m going to get mine renewed and I’ll be okay for the next two years.”

Tears began to form in Garcia’s eyes as she tried to explain the importance of this career path.

“My grandparents are sick, [but] my parents can’t go visit them at all,” Garcia said. “Basically, if they leave, they can’t come back and I can’t leave, so we can’t see each other ever again.”

Although Congress is discussing a Dream Act to help immigrants in this situation, the future is very uncertain for people like Garcia and Costa.

“I would definitely say that Donald Trump doesn’t really know what he is doing when he puts an end to something like that,” Costa said. “He doesn’t know how much it affects individuals like my siblings.

I don’t think anyone has the right to separate a family.

“That is what you’re doing when you put an end to something like this. That’s inhumane.”

Children were able to request DACA status if they; - were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012 - have a high school diploma/ GED certification - have been honorably discharged from the military - do not have a criminal record - came to the United States before turning 16 - have lived in the country since June 15, 2007

NW PASSAGE | feature 07

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With the Homecoming dance approaching on Oct. 21, students are still making plans. Inside find what you need to know to have the most memorable evening. Additionally, meet your homecoming court candidates and hear stories of your classmates asking their dates in noteworthy ways. +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Northwest Royalty Rachel Albers

Kaden Bower

Cassie Gomer

BJ Harvey

SPIRIT CLUB & NEWSPAPER

DRILL TEAM

MATH NHS & GIRL’S GOLF

FOOTBALL

Austin Andersen MARCHING BAND

Gia Vargas CHEER

“I’m glad that I’m walking with Rachel. We go way back, all the way to sixth grade when she moved here and we sat next to each other.” ­­­— AUSTIN ANDERSEN

-GIA VARGAS

+BY ANNALISSA HOUSER & CATE TAGGART October marks the beginning of fall, but for high schoolers, it also marks the beginning of homecoming season. Girls are busy searching for the “perfect” dress while boys are busy trying to find the difference between plum, maroon and mauve.

Students begin to worry about who they are going to ask or if they will be asked to the dance. Year after year, students have seen similar trends in homecoming proposals, but this year, students have begun to break the mold.

10 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

INTERACT CLUB & VOLLEYBALL

Geneva Allen BPA

SPANISH NHS

Jack Lammers STUDENT COUNCIL

“It’s cool walking with someone you know — and someone who’s not way taller than you.”

-B.J. HARVEY

“I’m honestly surprised. There’s so many amazing girls and boys in our grade and I’m so honored to have this opportunity.”

More than just a sign

Skyler Ford

Abriel Jarrett

“My mom was Homecoming and Prom queen, so it was always something that I wanted growing up.”

-ABRIEL JARRETT

Dirty dancing While everyone else danced their hearts out at Muckfest, senior Jonathan Sommerfeld and junior Jacob Shreve were in the parking lot with bright orange poster board and handfuls of mud. The two friends were preparing a sign for Sommerfeld to ask fellow senior Sophia Terryberry to Homecoming.

“Jacob gave me the idea to do it right after school the day of [Muckfest],” Sommerfeld said. “I went to Hy-Vee and bought a poster and flowers and then at Muckfest, Jacob and I snuck away and made the sign in the parking lot.”

Sommerfeld asked Muckfest director Wendy Franco to call Terryberry to the front of the action. He climbed up on the back of a pick-up truck and asked her with the sign he had made just minutes before displaying the phrase “HC?” and she said yes.

“Fo kno w

Samantha Anderson

Abby Lewis

Jordyn Pomerantz

Michael Scott

Reid Stimach

DRILL TEAM

GYMNASTICS

LINK CREW

CROSS COUNTRY

CCC

Eric Maxon

Spencer Pope

David Russell

KUGR

PROM COMMITTEE

MEN’S CHOIR

“I’ll be able to remember this for all of my life. I feel the love from my senior class.”

-ERIC MAXON

Molly Born CROSS COUNTRY

Rachel Perez STUDENT COUNCIL & CHEER

“I’m happy to be walking with Molly because we’re dating.”

-MICHAEL SCOTT

or me, it’s one of those things where you don’t ow you want it until you get it. I didn’t know it would even be a possibility and then I made it, and I feel very honored.”

-JORDYN POMERANTZ

Just keep swimming Junior Jacob Shreve really wanted to make a splash when asking senior Abigail Kelly-Salo to homecoming, and he did just that.

“I wanted to do something really fun for me, so at first I bought her some beta fish and I was going to put them in her pool, then I had the idea to throw her in the pool too,” Shreve said. “Because why not have a little fun?”

Much like Shreve’s friend, Sommerfeld, the majority of the plan was developed and executed the day he asked Kelly-Salo. Shreve first went to Pet Stop where he picked out a pair of fish, then bought a poster to ask her with, which he decorated with the phrase, “Forget P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney, will you just keep swimming with me to homecoming.” Shreve and his friend senior Kaden Bower snuck into Kelly-Salo’s backyard pool and lured her outside with the help of her parents.

“All of a sudden, Jacob picks me up and jumps into the pool,” Kelly-Salo said. “I was so surprised all I could do was laugh about it. Now I’m just so excited for homecoming.”

“I’m especially glad to be on homecoming court, since you get the parade and the football game. It was always something that I thought would be fun.”

-REID STIMACH

Singing Along While the rest of his friends sat eating lunch, sophomore Tre’ Mutava nervously waited for lunch to end so he could ask sophomore Alyssa Murray to homecoming.

Mutava decided to sing Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” with his friends to Murray’s entire class before he asked her to the dance. When the group walked in, they did not say anything prior to singing. Everyone started clapping when the performance was over, thinking the song was just a publicity stunt for his band, Pretty Running People. He had a feeling that Murray would know that it was more than just a publicity stunt, but she had no idea.

“I usually get nervous right before, and then I start singing and it’s kind of second nature. I wasn’t nervous while singing, [but] asking her was crazy,” Mutava said.

“If you watch the video, I was kind of like ‘W - wou would you go to Homecoming with me?’ She seemed very surprised, but she didn’t hesitate at all; she was just like, ‘sure.’”

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

What’s on the Menu?

After taking pictures, the next thing to worry about is where to eat. There are the cliché, constantly-crowded spots — The Cheesecake Factory, Buca di Beppo, Paulo and Bill’s, Brio — but who wants to go to those anymore? Here’s a list of inexpensive, cool stops with varied menus and no wait, guaranteed, for when your reservation gets pushed back, when you want to take cute pictures with your date or when you don’t want to stress about dinner at all. +BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN & ASHER NORBERG

PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMERSON

PHOTO BY KELLY VANDENBOS

Winstead’s

Chubby’s

Food Winstead’s drink menu is as long as their food menu. That is to say, they have a lot of drinks and not a lot of food. Your main choice is a steakburger; you can order it with one, two or three patties.

Otherwise, there are some sandwiches (BLT, grilled ham and cheese, etc.) and a few salads.

Food With almost 100 menu items ranging from soups to burgers to low calorie options, everyone is guaranteed to find something they enjoy. The all-day breakfast menu has popular favorites like chicken and waffles and cornbread french toast.

The dinner menu is also varied and caters to comfort food. The restaurant is known for delicious cinnamon rolls.

Rather than a fancy, expensive dinner, Winstead’s offers a trendy setting with old-school menu items and a delicious selection of drinks and desserts

Their drink and dessert menu is where Winstead’s begins to impress. Original Winstead limeades, shakes and ice cream sodas are available in an array of flavors including cherry and butterscotch. If that’s not enough for you, their banana splits and sundaes are just as delicious.

Ambiance Winstead’s has a unique ‘50s prep feel; however, unlike Chubby’s, the waiters and waitresses have vintage uniforms and old-school serving style (tall shake glasses with cherries, whipped cream and long straws, for instance).

Chubby’s is a 24-hour diner with relaxed, oldschool vibes and an extremely varied menu for a quick, cool hoco dinner

Ambiance If you’re searching for a relaxed, old-school vibe, it’s here. Chubby’s is an interesting choice for a homecoming dinner, similar to Winstead’s; however, where Winstead’s is ’50s prep, Chubby’s attains a smooth ’50s greaser vibe with red LED lights decorating the front of the venue and black and white checkers across the inside. On every table is an old fashioned radio and a colorful, if faded, vintage jukebox in the corner.

Reservations Reservations won’t be a problem; that is, until all of your friends see the cute pictures you and your date can take sipping from Winstead’s classic shakes.

Reservations You definitely don’t need to worry about Chubby’s being full on homecoming night — it’s not a typical choice. You will feel like black-leather Sandy from Grease while you’re here.

Price Winstead’s has all the suave atmosphere of Chubby’s for less cash. You can get a cheap, delicious, nostalgia-inducing meal for under $10.

Price It’s fast food and it’s delicious and cheap. Including fried swai (fish), pork chops and hamburger steak, all for under $13.

Fun Fact Winstead’s minimalist, pastel website is almost as pretty and retro as the restaurant itself.

Fun Fact Get hype for the dance by popping a few quarters in the public jukebox.

PHOTO BY SOFIA OLIVERA

Eden Alley

Eden Alley is a chic, modern vegetarian restaurant.

They boast about their eco-consciousness, and 90 percent of their dinner menu is available with gluten-free and vegan variations. What they lack in formality they make up for with 5-star cuisine

Food It’s no secret that it’s ridiculously difficult for people on vegan or gluten-free diets to eat out. On Homecoming night, when a group’s majority rule could decide where everyone eats, things get even harder. That’s where Eden Alley comes in. The menu is unique, with starter options ranging from curry to falafels to tacos, all of which are gluten free. Most entrees are adventurous, but there are also simple items like grilled cheese and veggie burgers, both of which have vegan options.

If you’re more of a create-your-own meal type, customizable salads, burritos, flatbreads and wraps are $10.50.

Ambiance The outdoor patio gives a stunning street-level view of the Plaza. The restaurant is in the lower level of a temple, and this, mixed with the brightly colored food and plates give it an international feel.

Reservations With 120 seats, the indoor cafeteria almost never has a wait; there’s also the outdoor patio with extra seating on particularly busy nights.

Price Most menu items are a little over $10, with the most expensive being $13.

Fun Fact There’s free wifi as part of the solar-powered commUNITY on the Plaza.

Check out smnw.com for unique places to take Homecoming photos 12 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

Flipping Out The gymnastics team continues to place first after almost being abolished last season

+ BY SONNI MEYERS

T

he gymnastics team has won four out of five meets, placed second in the fifth and won the SMSD District Cup this year.

Last year at this time, the team wasn’t sure if they would have a program to come back to this fall. The sport was on the chopping block due to lack of participation in recent years. Although 165 gymnasts competed state-wide in 2014, only 120 were involved in the sport in 2015 and the number dropped to 110 last year.

“I think a lot of our effort is coming from us trying to prove ourselves and showing everyone what we’ve got,” senior Macey Walsh said. “They tried to take away the sport last year because they were unaware of our potential and our love for the sport but working hard and winning these meets shows our passion and how much we care for it.”

With the decision to almost cut the sport in the past, the team is focusing on preparing for meets and keeping their top spot in order to achieve their goals.

“To prepare for meets, we usually do a light workout the day before and, the day of [the meet],” Kopp said. “We exchange small gifts with our big sisters and little sisters on the team. We also usually have a pep talk right before our first event just to get everyone pumped up and focused.”

They believe growing closer as a team helps them in meets and as they move closer to the state tournament.

“Gymnastics started meaning more

than just a sport when I joined the high school team,” sophomore Kara Martin said. “It means doing what I love surrounded with the people that I love and having a blast while doing so. I love it because you can customize it so much.

You get to create your own routines and do the skills that work for you.”

The team has succeeded through multiple injuries. Kopp had her appendix taken out at the start of the season; sophomore Kara Martin just recovered from a concussion; and junior Celeste Gordon has a wrist injury. Every skill that is thrown is a risk but, after an injury, it takes a little more thought.

“Throwing skills that you haven’t thrown in a long time is always nerve wracking,” Ross said. “But I think deep down you’ll always remember the feeling. You’re like ‘Oh yeah, that’s what it feels like.’”

Not only has the team made a positive recovery, but they have also learned skills that goes far beyond gymnastics.

“My favorite thing about gymnastics is the real life lessons that you learn,” Kopp said. “Like, no matter how many times you fall on your butt, it should motivate you to want to try again and land on your feet. [Gymnastics] also has taught me that nobody can be perfect, but you can be the best version of you.”

Left: With her hands in the air, senior Macey Walsh performs her beam routine in the Main Gym Sept. 27. Walsh recorded a 8.25 on her routine. “I was really happy about how solid [my performance] was because I have fallen off at almost every other meet, but this time was special,” Walsh said.

Left, Below: After a teammate’s performance, sophomore Ellie Ridgeway and other members of the team applaud. This was the final home meet of the season. “The school spirit was definitely more prominent at the home meets and it really helps us get excited about our routines,” Ridgeway said. +PHOTOS BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

NW PASSAGE | feature 13

+ PHOTO BY JUSTIN LINTER

Walk the Walk

“Once you start [modeling], they show you that everyone has a look. You can be the weirdest looking person ever but you’ll be the coolest looking one on a runway or at a photoshoot.”

— senior Ali Lollas

Senior Ali Lollas has become used to being put in the spotlight Senior Ali Lollas did not find modeling — modeling found her. When she began at age four, she did not realize that, eventually, she would be posing for posters in stores like Buckle.

“It’s gives me confidence,” Lollas said. “When I was younger, I felt like the really awkward tall kid. I was nervous and shy. When I started modeling it gave me power in my height.”

An agent approached Lollas’ mother 13 years ago while on a cruise and said Lollas’ older sister should model. Even though Ali wasn’t born yet, her future already had plans.

Lollas began posing for Hallmark at the age of four. Although she enjoyed it, Lollas did not pick modeling back up until her freshman year of high school, but this time for a agency called Hoffman. There, Lollas took classes where she learned how to pose, how to model walk and how to take care of her body. Her favorite runway show was one 14 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

held by the American Red Cross.

“You wake up super early in the morning,” Lollas said. “There is probably like 20 girls for one show. You go in with no makeup and you sit there until they get to your hair and makeup.

That takes all day because there is so many girls. Right before the show you get all dressed and everyone is running around naked. That sounds weird, but literally everyone is.”

Minutes before the show, thoughts flood Lollas’ mind as the ache from wearing heels all day finally sets in. “[The designer] was just throwing items at us,” Lollas said. “I thought it was so fun because it was so hectic. Once you tried on an outfit and walked for her she was like ‘Oh yeah, perfect.’”

By her side the entire time, through classes, photo shoots and trips to runway events is her sister, Dani.

“We get mistaken for twins all the time and we love that,” Dani said. “It’s

+BY CADENCE ELDER

nice to have someone there who will give honest advice on what I can do better as far as walking, posing or smiling.”

The whirlwind of runway shows is hectic, to say the least, and Lollas has since participated in her fair share of them, earning over $2,000 to put towards college. The summer before her sophomore year, she participated in a runway show through Actors, Models and Talents for Christ (AMTC). There, she was trained to talk confidently in front of large crowds and walk down the runway. Participants were ranked and, out of 5,000 models, Lollas was awarded fifth best on the runway. Even with the success from runway, Lollas says her favorite part of modeling is photo shoots.

“I like wearing weird things or different things,” Lollas said.

“Whenever I put on an outfit, my friends are like ‘Only Ali could wear that.’”

Senior Ali Lollas appears on posters in the Buckle, modeling denim jeans. + PHOTO BY THE BUCKLE

FALL fashion As the weather gets colder, these trends will keep you hot

+BY MADELINE MANNING, CATE TAGGART & ANASTASIA KLING

Headband-

Boho Headbands ($12,Francesca’s) which feature shades of mauve and floral patterns are more popular than ever as fashion moves from fall to winter.

KC Hat -

Repping Kansas City has become a fashion statement of its own. Ball caps ($20, Scheels), t-shirts ($32, Charlie Hustle), jewelry (earrings, $18; necklace $28, Encore in Shawnee) are all ways to show your love for KC.

T-Shirt and jean jacket-

A simple white t-shirt ($8, Target) and light wash jean jacket ($39, Forever 21) are perfect for a cooler day. Pairing light and dark washes of denim are part of this season’s look.

Sweatshirt-

The crew neck sweatshirts, especially vintage looking ones, are making a comeback. The perfect source? Check out mom and dad’s closets. ($20+, Etsy)

Jean skirt-

The ever present jean skirt has never really gone out of style because it is such a versatile favorite. Look for dark wash, maroon or black and pair the skirt with a sweater and tights and boots or Ragg wool socks and Birkenstocks. ($26.99, Charlotte Russe)

Dark jeans -

It’s time to put away those light and medium wash jeans. Jeans this fall and winter are definitely dark wash jeans for both guys and girls. ($37, American Eagle)

Converse -

White shoes are the new fashion statement ($54.99, Off Broadway) for the season. Since keeping them white will be a challenge, consider Scotchguarding them before wearing them the first time. +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Brown boots -

These fashionable brown boots are not only great for cooler weather and snow, they pair well with khaki pants or darkwash jeans. ($50, DSW) +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

NW PASSAGE | feature 15

H A U N T E D H O U S E S H OW D OW N

PHOTO BY ABBY RYAN

PHOTO BY ABBY RYAN

One of the country’s largest haunted houses lives up to its name

KC’s oldest haunted house will bring you to your knees in fright

Down to every last detail, the Beast Haunted House is Kansas City’s most hair-raising haunted attraction. Located in an old warehouse in the West Bottoms, the Beast is one of the largest haunted house in the nation, with 100,000 square feet of terror.

Like most haunted houses, it is dark, it is loud and there is lots of fog. But what sets this attraction apart from the rest is the attention paid to the psychology of fear.

Each room guests walk through was thoughtfully designed to tap into certain phobias.

Nyctophobia (the fear of the dark) and agoraphobia (the fear of wide open spaces) are played upon heavily in the Beast. Cavernous spaces shrouded in total darkness are a common theme throughout, as a bulk of the haunted house is constructed in an open format.

The house was one of the first in the United States to pioneer the set up. The format disorients and perturbs guests, while allowing creatures to frighten them from every angle.

The Edge of Hell is Kansas City’s oldest and scariest haunted house. Founded in 1975, the Edge of Hell has set the standard for haunted houses ever since.

The attraction is also home to a python named Medusa and, at 25 feet and two inches, it is the longest snake ever to be held in captivity.

The house is owned and operated by Full Moon Productions, the same company that owns The Beast Haunted House.

Both houses focus heavily on common phobias.

This Kansas City tradition uses claustrophobia-inducing spaces and top-of-the-line special effects to craft a perfectly terrifying haunted experience.

The set design forces guests to get down on their hands and knees and crawl or climb. The actors pay attention to the guests and run ahead to give each other information they learn, including the names of the guests or a specific fear a guest has. They interact with everyone differently

This allows for guests to feel as if they have become a part of the sets themselves, and grants them the opportunity to interact with the actors. The house transports guests into their own personal horror movie.

The “Werewolf Forest” is the attraction’s most infamous example of the format. It is a quarter-acre maze of false trees veiled in fog and pitch blackness.

The only relief from the complete darkness is the occasional burst of bright white lumens from a strobe light. As guests stumble and claw their way through the maze, werewolves wait for the perfect moment to pounce and frighten guests. People can spend up to 30 minutes retracing their steps to try and find the way out before actors escort them to the next room.

The Beast is a world class haunted house that intelligently uses the psychology of fear to give guests a truly frightening and fun experience.

BY ASHER NORBERG

to create a unique experience for each person. They employ a variety of techniques to scare people, including eerily singing children’s songs and maniacally shifting between laughing and screaming.

The sets were intricate, but easy to navigate, which provided relief after getting lost repeatedly in The Beast. The makeup and masks on the actors were not very realistic when looked at closely, but they got the job done.

The animatronics seemed to come out of nowhere at some points and were frightening. The fog throughout the haunted house added to the spooky effect and the extreme darkness in places made the danger seem real. The electric fans in the haunted house kept it from being as hot as it could have been. The Edge of Hell experience is also about 20 minutes shorter than The Beast, making it feel less intense. Even so, the scenarios within this house were definitely the scarier of the two.

F I V E H O R R O R F E AT U R E S F O R A F R I G H T N I G H T

The Thing (1982)

16 OCT. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

Let the Right One In (2008)

Alien (1979)

The Babadook (2013)

The Shining (1980)

Month

8.

IN

Photos 1.

2.

1. Jumping up after the win, senior Abriel Jarrett, senior Kennady Bustamante, senior Morgan Berry, and sophomore Rylee Garrett celebrate the win against Olathe East Sept.

28 in the aux gym. The cougars won two sets out of three against the Hawks. “It feels like such an accomplishment to win against a high competador,” Jarrett said. “It shows that hard work will out do any extreme height.” +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING 2. Senior Pierce Mitts defends the ball from a SM North soccer player Sept. 21 at SMAC. The cougars ended with a win against SM North with a score of 2-1. “This season I’ve started every game so far and as of right now we [varsity boys soccer] have five wins,” Mitts said. “We’re aiming for a place as regional champions and to make a play for state title.”+PHOTO BY KERI SENGPERSEUTH 3. Describing the boundaries of the Baker Wetlands Sept. 13, teacher Mike Pisani preps his class. Each year, the Enviornmental Ed 2 class attends the field trip to catch, tag and release butterflies. +PHOTO BY GRACE RODER 4. On the sideline, freshman football manager Peter Opoku-Ware gives football player a pep talk Sep. 21 at the NW football field. The Cougars lost 18-21. “The energy when I stepped on the field was amazing,” Washington said. “This is the only team I want to be a part of.” +PHOTO SOFIA OLIVIERA 5. Straddling the beam, senior Hallie Ross perfoms her routine Sept. 27 in the main gym. Ross scored an 8.9 in beam; with the Cougars placing first in the meet. “Beam can be more nerve racking than the other events but I enjoy competing it because when I do it really well it truly proves how hard I’ve been working,” Ross said.+PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

6. In the air, sophomore Cole Slack heads the ball Sept. 14 at SMAC. The Cougars lost 1-2 against Gardner-Edgerton. “When the intensity levels are high I don’t even think twice about heading the ball,” Slack said. “My intensity levels shoot through the roof.” +PHOTO BY SKYLAR BROGAN 7. With hand up in praise, sophomore Tre’ Mutava sings Sep. 27 under the flag poll. Mutava, senior Austin Bachart, and senior Zhenarden Vil led a group of Northwest students in song and prayer called “See You at the Poll” that is anually held at NW. “Worship to me, is one of the many ways of how I can connect with God,” Mutava said. “I love how we can praise him when things are going great and he we can praise him when things are not.” +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING 8. Going up for an attack, senior Ava Graves hits the ball to the Olathe East Hawks Sep. 28 in the aux gym. The Cougars won the game during the third set agaisnt Olathe East. +PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

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FORGET YOUR CAMERA? WE DIDN’T. CHECK OUT ANY EVENTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

BY GOING TO

PHOTOS. 18, Oct. 12, 2017 | Vol. 49

Trail On the

AT-LARGE SEAT

THE SHAWNEE MISSION BOARD OF EDUCATION

+BY MATTHEW OWENS

O

n the second Tuesday of November, citizens will cast their vote to determine three SMSD school board seats and, after a couple of years of what voters saw as an opaque board and a superintendent that made controversial decisions, more candidates than ever are willing to throw their name into the hat.

“There are a number of patrons who weren’t very pleased with some of the decisions the administration made under the leadership of [former superintendent] Dr. Hinson,” Shawnee Mission Post editor Jay Senter said. “So a slew of candidates entered the races seeking to replace long-tenured members, hoping to bring in a superintendent who will be a better fit.”

This November, the SM East area and SM West area seats as well as an at-large seat are open. Before the primary eliminated all but two candidates, five ran for the at-large bid. Heather Ousley and Mandi Hunter were the top two vote-getters for the at-large bid, with Hunter beating out incumbent Cindy Neighbor by 14 votes. Neighbor will complete her fifth term this January.

“This election is different in that there are several candidates running for each seat,” NW area board member Patty Mach said. “Since I have been on the board of education, there have

been no primaries and there were two this year.”

While school board races do not get the media coverage of presidential or even congressional midterm elections, they actually can have a significant impact. School board members each have a small constituency compared to most other government representatives. This allows them to get to know their constituents and find out what they believe is the right direction.

“The closer the governing body is to you, the greater the impact on your daily life,” state representative Tom Cox said. “There is no government body that affects the daily life of a K-12 student as much as its board of education, though, ironically, it is the election the least people vote in.

Conversely, the President has the least impact on your daily life, but has the greatest turn out.”

NW community members will vote on only one board seat: the Hunter vs.

Ousley race.

Hunter, a lawyer who specializes in business and real estate cases, owns Hunter Law Group. She graduated from SM West and has two children who currently attend SMSD schools.

As a teacher, Hunter’s mother gave her insight into some of the problems educators face in the district, including teacher pay and overcrowding.

“Having been around the district for a while, you see strings on the school based on legislative budget cuts and decisions that the administration made,” Hunter said.

“I felt like this was the best way to make an impact on the future, on my children’s education, the district and our community.”

Ousley, also a lawyer, specializes in civil rights cases and works at the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). She is married to Jarrod Ousley, a Democratic state representative in the 24th district (Merriam). She graduated from SM South and has children attending district schools. She is an education activist and walked the 60 miles to Topeka five times to voice opposition to various education policy proposals and has testified before Kansas Senate and House education committees.

“I felt like the priorities of the Dr. Hinson administration and my priorities were not necessarily in line,” Ousley said. “He created additional cabinet level positions and provided raises for administrators. I had initially wanted to run to be at the table and say ‘I don’t agree with the decisions you are making.’ Now I want to be there to select the next one.”

Each candidate has ideas to solve problems facing the district.

Hunter, along with making sure the

board looks beyond the resumes of superintendent candidates, wants to create a finance committee. This would help clarify where the money goes and ensure resources are allocated properly and efficiently.

“I am the candidate that has had tangible ideas from the outset that I have advocated to implement in the district,” Hunter said.

While Ousley would like to see more transparency from the board, she would use the board position as a platform in order to change current Kansas legislation. She would like to see fairness in school legislation so that all schools can be equal in the education that they provide. Ousley would also like to see the corporate scholarship tax credit removed as it does a “disservice to the vast majority of students in Kansas.”

While each candidate will try to provide answers to questions posed by voters, one topic remains fresh in the minds of community members.

Senter, who has been covering Johnson County for years, sees the selection of the new superintendent as the most important issue.

“Hiring the superintendent is the most important item people cite,” Senter said. “But improving transparency is a close second.”

NW PASSAGE | feature 14

“A ton of people pass by [the mural] daily and make nice comments about it. It makes me feel great because I’m very quiet so people don’t really have anything to remember me by.” — senior Althea Flores

the

NW PASSAGE