the
EYRIE Volume 39, Issue 3
Me Too: The Hidden Issue of Sexual Violence Page 16 We never think it’s going to happen to us, until it does. An anonymous source shares their experience and how they overcame the trauma
NEWS MARCH 6, 2020
The Eyrie Staff | Table of Contents
Editor-In-Chief Megan Stoerman
4: Wind Ensemble goes to KMEA
Alex Burbidge
6: Clearview AI
Assistant Editor-In-Chief
Copy Editor
Hannah Holliday
Layout & Design Editor Maddie Black
8: Trump Impeachment 10: Voting
Photo Editor Alek Mackey
Business Manager Faith Holliday
Reporters
12: Senior Focus 14: Spring Break Ideas
Wesley Coats Hunter Daniels Mark Elliott Alyson Gad Emily Gray Gagani Liyanawaduge Mandi Marstall Gavin McAferty Morgan Montgomery Elijah Nichols Skye Pancer Grace Price-Brown McKinley Schrader Emily Selgelid Amanda Turvey
16: Sexual Assault
Brianna Calderon Katie Dickerson Jordyn Napier-Johnson Anna Palacio Edsel Quintana Puente Aja Wong
24: Review of Big 12 Teams
Photographers
Adviser
Heather Springer 2 THE EYRIE
18: Preparation for musical 20: Star Trek Picard; old movies vs. newer versions
22: Winter sports review, prep for spring sports
26: Kobe Bryant Legacy 28: NFL free agency 30: Royals Update
MARCH 6, 2020 NEWS
Internet going away for student phones after spring break By: Emily Gray
On March 24, the internet connected to student phones will be turned off. This has been a plan talked about for a few months, but the final decision was made recently. Clint Albers, principal, stated that it was a district decision, not a building one. The amount of internet that people were using up with their phones was causing it to become slower and caused issues in other schools. “Because of the bandwidth that’s being used and the traffic that all the phones being on the network causes, it slowed down and almost crippled the network for times when it’s needed for testing and educational purposes. The district has been monitoring the bandwidth used and it’s been increasing all year long,” Albers stated. “We were affecting and hurting the internet in all schools, not just ours, but kindergarten through twelfth.” Although some may be annoyed over the removal of the internet, there
are solutions to accessing the internet for a class. “I think because our building doesn’t have good cell service, some will be frustrated. The good thing is with our laptops they will still have internet connectivity so anything they need to look up or do can be done on the laptops since the laptops are on a different network” Albers stated. A majority of the student body is against the decision. Sophomore Matthew Tolman says he uses his phone and laptop at the same time in class. “In accounting, I put the workbook on my laptop and watch the video on my phone so I don’t have to keep switching back and forth,” Tolman stated. Other complaints such as the laptops not always connecting to the internet and parents not being able to reach student phones once the Wi-Fi disappears have also been voiced. It is the assumption that students will eventually get used to no internet, but only time will tell.
Students were asked if they agree or disagree with the Wifi disappearance Agree 1%
Disagree 99%
mona’s ad
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NEWS MARCH 6, 2020
The Road To KMEA
Wind Ensemble Represents FalconsDOOP in Wichita BOOP DOOP DEEtheDOOP
photos by Edsel Quintana Puente
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MARCH 6, 2020 NEWS By: Faith Holliday The Wind Ensemble traveled to Wichita, Kansas on February 28 to participate in the esteemed Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) festival. “We submitted some songs last year, then we got chosen for this year,” senior Mitchell Reno said. “[And] ever since marching band, we have been working on this music.” Pieces as challenging as these require an extended amount of attention, which is why the ensemble started work on their set list in November. They prepared five pieces for this prestigious event: Traveling the Three Trails (Turning West Towards Olathe) by Richard Saucedo, Afterlife by Rossano Galante, Panhandle Prelude by Jack Stamp, Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold and arranged by John P. Painter, and they ended with Exultation by Philip Sparke. Traveling the Three Trails (Turning West Towards Olathe) was commissioned in a joint project with Frontier Trail Middle School and
Olathe Northwest High School. The United Sound, a program that was created to involve special education students with music, was also involved in this project as they traveled to Wichita to play the piece with the Wind Ensemble. The Falcon bands are the first in Kansas to adopt the program, followed by Northwest. Preparing for this prestigious event was no easy feat. Freshman Susan Bilderback is experiencing not only her first time going to KMEA but also her first year in high
school band. “The most challenging part is all the difficult pieces and all the pressure for everything to sound good,” Bilderback said. She also wants to be respectful to the band students that came before her. “I am worried about messing up all the work that everyone did last year,” Bilderback said. Sophomore Larissa Coughlin has also struggled with working the music up to perfection. “Four Scottish Dances [is] really hard to perfect,”
Coughlin said. Coughlin had many oboe solos in Four Scottish Dances and Afterlife. The Wind Ensemble participated in a send-off concert at Olathe Northwest on February 25. In the concert program notes, the ensemble revealed that the students and directors dedicated their piece, “Afterlife,” to the members of the Olathe South Falcon Bands family that they lost over the years. After KMEA, all of the Falcon Bands will be preparing for contest season.
New Musicians of United Sound Janae Coughlin, euphonium
Caleb Traylor, euphonium
Jessica Vaughn, clarinet
Collin Hinds, xylophone
Gabe Njai, tuba
Brittany Endecott, clarinet
Anna Weinand, trumpet
Devin Lemke, euphonium
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NEWS MARCH 6, 2020
Clearview AI: The end of privacy? By: Grace Price
Clearview AI debuted in 2017 as a small software company, but three years later is known for its ground-breaking technological advancement: a facial recognition app that’s out to end human anonymity. This resource allegedly gives its owner the ability to scan any face and immediately retrieve access to all public information kept on that person. This power comes with a long list of dangers and downsides, not to mention its sketchy means of obtaining data and its questionable CEO. Clearview AI is a tool that sounds good in theory, its advertised purpose being to aid law enforcement with the ability to catch predators and identify victims with just the scan of a picture. With proper restrictions, perhaps an argument could be made to defend its use; however, misuse has already emerged after its short time of being in the public eye. While this AI system has existed since 2017, it wasn’t until very recently that many people discovered its existence. At the end of January this year, London’s Metropolitan Police Department announced they would adopt the AI as a new form of surveillance, which is exactly what Clearview AI promises not to be. In fact, the company’s CEO, Hoan Ton-That, often uses that claim as a defense for his company’s actions, iterating that because it is not a surveillance service, it is not a breach of privacy. After the news of the London’s Metropolitan Police Department’s plan spread, a
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new onslaught of complaints surfaced but not because of surveillance. This time, it was a wave of cease and desist letters on behalf of companies who Clearview AI had taken photos from. Clearview AI had amassed a collection of over 3 billion photos, which they still have currently, from sites like Google, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Venmo. This raised a huge problem; the companies who’d been targeted had terms of services ensuring its users that something like this would not happen. For example, Twitter found out their users’ pictures had been, in a sense, stolen and immediately demanded Clearview AI stay clear of their platform. The damage had already been done; however, pictures that had been on any of the violated applications and sites were already in Clearview AI’s possession. Clearview AI has also been faced with issues of false claims. In August last year Clearview AI claimed they had helped crack a terrorism case in New York, a claim which they sent to a massive network of police organizations. This skyrocketed use of the AI and many police departments adopted it. The New York Police Department (NYPD), though, insisted Clearview AI was completely uninvolved with the case. They said the suspect was caught after comparing a still from a security camera to arrest photos they had already possessed and obtained in a lawful manner, unlike the AI. A police department in Toronto admitted in February 2020 to using the tech-
MARCH 6, 2020 NEWS nology without their police chief’s awareness since October 2019. Unsurprisingly, their police chief immediately seized the department’s use of the resource upon finding out. Prior to this exposure, Clearview AI’s participating in the Toronto force’s legal work had gone completely under the radar. Clearview AI is providing law enforcement with access to unprecedented surveillance, which allows them to obtain any information desired on a person. If it’s easy enough to get past their boss for over four months, wouldn’t they be able to covertly use it in everyday life too? Clearview AI has also faced some recent legal trouble as citizens in Illinois have filed lawsuits against the company on grounds of threatening civil liberties and violating multiple privacy laws. The case has just been assigned a judge and the predicted outcome appears unclear to those involved. If any of Clearview AI’s past actions are factored though, it seems the company will once again get away with their unlawful behaviors. Even the company’s CEO maintains a shady background with his past allegations. In 2009, he grew to be a person of interest after his website, ViddyHo, was exposed for phishing users. Essentially, it was stealing people’s sensitive information like passwords and credit card details through scam emails. He denied this, citing it as a “software bug.” Not long after though, his second website, Fastforwarded.com, was exposed for the same thing and yet, Ton-That never received any consequences. Overall, public concern had generally been focused on the AI’s unethical ability to capture information about a person just from a blurry
security camera photo. As new scandals and information emerge, people have shifted their gaze to whether or not it’s even lawful for law enforcement to possess the resource at all, regardless of the potential good it can do. A recent news story has provoked even more questions of whether or not the technology is justifiable. In late February, only about a month after the public even became aware of the AI’s existence, the public was alerted to the newest Clearview AI problem: hackers. Sometime last month Clearview AI’s entire client list was stolen by hackers. So far, this just means hackers know which users have had and continue to have access to the software, but for the future it could mean unprecedented use of the technology’s features. Speculation prior to this had already sparked a fear of what would happen if this technology was in the public’s hands, but now it seems closer to reality than fiction. Another notable problem with Clearview AI is its less than 100 percent accuracy. The company itself has proclaimed it is not perfect in identifying or providing information. An artificial intelligence researcher from the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, Liz O’Sullivan, spoke to Buzzfeed News about the problem. “There has to be some personal or professional responsibility here. The consequences of a false positive is that someone goes to jail,” O’Sullivan said. As technology continues to adapt and advance, people must continue to be wary about what these new products and resources mean for their safety, especially when it’s an AI specifically designed to exterminate their privacy.
Clearview AI Q: Should it be available for public use? Student Answers: "Absolutely not. If someone wants to know something about me they can have my permission first." - senior Kaylee Coker
HAVE YOU HEARD OF CLEARVIEW AI?
19% said yes
18.9%
81%81.1% said no OUT OF OVER 100 STUDENTS SURVEYED
Q: What would you use it for? Student Answer: "To see if babysitters are good or who the creepy man on the playground is." - senior Addison Ramsey THE EYRIE 7
TRUTH
NEWS MARCH 6, 2020
The
about
IMPEACHMENT By: Alyson Gad
Is Trump's impeachment similar to any past impeachments our country has gone through? In what ways?
"It has a different feel than the Clinton impeachment had. The Trump impeachment is nasty on both sides and seems to have a definite aggressive political undertone." - Mrs. Wilson
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Since the very beginning of the Trump presidency in 2016, American citizens have been demanding his impeachment, some even before he was elected. On Dec. 18, 2019, the impeachment process officially started. Most republicans declared it non bipartisan, and most democrats shouted victory from the mountains. However, one of the biggest misconceptions about impeachment is how serious it actually it is. It is long and tedious, starting off with closed door meetings which were led by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Those meetings and investigations lasted a whole month before the first House vote. The vote was to approve a resolution created by Trump’s investigators, which laid out the rules for the impeachment inquiry. The next step was to hold public hearings by the Intelligence Committee, from November 13 through December 10. These hearings closely resemble a classic court case, including witnesses available for questioning. The president and his counsel were invited to these hearings but declined to participate. Once the official articles were created by the democratic majority of the Judiciary Committee, they were voted on, and approved. Those two articles were on abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. In the context of impeachment, abuse of power refers to a president using their vast powers for personal benefit. An article was passed on obstruction of Congress because of Trump’s act of stonewalling-refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive repliesnot only in the two year investigation on
whether or not Russia played a part in Trump’s election, but the impeachment trial itself. When these two articles got passed Trump wasn’t exactly impeached, rather in line to be tried for impeachment, yet the media plastered the word “impeached” on every article published shortly after, giving the general uninformed public the notion that the president was no longer in office or power, when, in actuality, the impeachment had only just began. After a month of trial preparations, which included setting up a team of prosecutors as well as Trump’s defense team, the two articles were finally presented to the senate. The senate, which is currently ran in majority by the Republican party, has the final say on whether or not Trump remains in power. During each day of the trial, members of the senate surrender their phones. Each side spent three days explaining their case. As predicted by those who knew the rules of impeachment, the Republican majority senate did not vote him out of office. On the contrary to popular speculation of the Senate, the vote was not purely partisan, or a decision made by only one political party. In the official vote one republican, Mitt Romney, the representative of Utah, voted yes to impeach Trump, making the vote bipartisan. Once the senate voted no, Trump was officially acquitted, or set free from a criminal charge. In the history of the United States, Congress has conducted three impeachment trials. President Andrew Johnson in 1868 for firing a cabinet secretary without the consent of Congress,
MARCH 6, 2020 NEWS
Based off your knowledge on US history, do you feel this impeachment was justified?
"I do. It is unconstitutional for a sitting president of the United States to ask for foreign help in an election. To me, it did rise to the level of “high crimes and misdemeanors” - Mrs. Nycklemoe
President Bill Clinton in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice and President Donald Trump in 2020 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. However, all three of them were acquitted, so they stayed in office. The problem with impeachment is how badly it is represented in the media. Many people aren’t informed about the facts, which causes problems and uneducated fights about it.
The most important pieces to note about the process are its rarity, and who is in charge of the whole thing. The Senate and Congress ultimately decide whether or not the president stays in office, which is mainly decided by which political party runs majority. It’s important to be informed and especially to get information from more than one news source to ensure its unbiased.
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NEWS MARCH 6, 2020
Registering to vote By: McKinley Schrader
3.9063 in x 2.5 in
Why citizens should vote By: McKinley Schrader
In 2012, there were 235 million people of voting age in the United States; however, only 138 million voted in the election. With those statistics, only 58.7% of the population voted, which means 41.3% of the population didn’t have a voice in the election. Voting is essential to uphold the United States’s ideal of a “government for the people, by the people”. Everyone has their ideas on how the government should run, but getting those ideas out isn’t always easy. “Voting is the easiest way to have a say in the government,” government teacher, Tyler Lemke said. For a country with a voting age population of 235 million, one vote may not seem like much of an impact, however, doing so can inspire others to vote as well. “If just one person votes, it can start a chain reaction, as others around them will be more likely to go and vote,” Lemke said. With this in mind, the 97 million people that decided not to vote in 2012 had no
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say in how the government was run. “When we scale one person up to 100 million, that’s a huge amount of people that are unaccounted for when considering who will be our next president,” Lemke said. Many voters attempt to vote, but due to strict schedules of jobs, college, or other activities, are unable to vote on voting day. “Personally, I think there should be a national holiday for voting day, but the reason it’s not required is due to first amendment rights, the freedom of speech. One shouldn’t have to vote if they don’t want to,” Lemke said. Early voting is available for those whose schedules don’t line up with the regular voting day, but some are still unable to even do early voting due to workplace or educational schedules. There is to be another election in 2020, and a presidential one at that. The more people who choose to vote during this election, the more reflective our government will be of the people’s interests.
The process of registering to vote can be daunting to new voters, but it’s not as complicated as some make it out to be. For starters, check the deadline for registering in your state. In Kansas, the deadline for the Democratic primary is May 2, 2020. The deadline for the state primary is July 14, 2020, and the deadline for the general election is Oct. 13, 2020. If you wish to vote online, head to vote.gov. This service is available for 38 states
plus the District of Columbia, including Kansas. The site should redirect you to your state’s registration website. There you must complete the steps needed to register. To register there, you must have access to a driver’s license or a nondriver’s identification card. Once these steps are complete, allow for a few days to verify your registration, and then you will be ready to vote when voting day arrives. For further help, visit Tyler Lemke in room 414.
Check the deadlines for your state Go to vote.gov and find Kansas Complete the required steps found on the Kansas website Wait a few days to verify your registration
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You will need access to a driver's license or a nondrivers identification card!
MARCH 6, 2020 NEWS
Candidates debate for the presidency
By: Hunter Daniels
Bernie Sanders
Graduating Schools: University of Chicago, Brooklyn College Degrees: Political science, Law Jobs: Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator of Vermont Student Loan: New tax on Wall Street transactions, forgive 45 million American’s student debt Health Care: Medicare for all Immigration: A supporter of immigration, believes it is a broken system that needs to be reformed Taxes: Create an annual tax on the extremely wealthy 0.1% of American households Quote: “The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that work for all is with a grassroots movement — the likes of which has never been seen in American history.”
Joe Biden
Graduating school: University of Delaware, Syracuse University Degree: Law Jobs: Senator of Delaware, former Vice President of United States Student Loans: If you make less than $25,000 a year debt is forgiven, if you make more than $25,000 a year then its a sliding scale. After 20 years, debt is forgiven. Health Care: Revising the Affordable Care Act to improve coverage Immigration: Wants to reduce Trump’s immigration policies, continue deportation of illegfal immigrants Taxes: Repeal Trump’s tax cuts, raise income taxes and corporate taxes Quote: “If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are, and I cannot stand by and watch that happen.”
Elizabeth Warren
Graduating Schools: Rutgers School of LawNewark, University of Houston, George Washington University, Rutgers University Degree: Law Job: Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Senator of Massachusetts Student Loan: Wants to eliminate up to $50,000 of student debt Health Care: Improve coverage for all and lower medicinal costs Immigration: General supporter of immigrants, calls for ban on deportation and mistreatment of immigrants Taxes: Tax corporations and highest income earners at a higher rate Quote: “It’s time for women to go to Washington and fix our broken government, and that includes a woman at the top.”
Donald Trump
Graduating Schools: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Degree: Economics Job: Businessman and CEO, current President of the United States Student Loan: Improve student aid but not forgive debt Health Care: Improve access to be affordable Immigration: Against the idea of immigration and wishes to stop illegal immigration and continue deportation of illegal immigrants in the United States Taxes: Provide tax relief for 82% of the middle class Quote: “Considering that we have done more than any administration in the first two years, this should be easy. More great things now in the works!”
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FEATURE MARCH 6, 2020
How does
Ian Wiley
dive into senior year? “Be kind to people and be a leader,” senior Ian Wiley said. Wiley is involved in Chorale and Southside Singers, swim team and Choir Leadership Team. Outside of school, he is involved in his church, a club swim team, and is a life guard at the Olathe Community Center. These activities “will prepare [him] by giving [him] leadership skills, time management,” said Wiley. He plans on going to Oklahoma Baptist University to major in nursing. Wiley also plans on swimming at Oklahoma Baptist University. Wiley has been swimming for four years. “I started swimming because a friend said I wouldn’t be good,” Wiley said. He has been on varsity swim for three years. He was on varsity his freshman year but unfortunately did not get a varsity letter. “My favorite memory in swim is getting my first state cut sophomore year,” Wiley said.
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When Wiley is not swimming, he enjoys singing in choir. He has also been in choir for four years. “I took two choirs because I really enjoy choir and singing,” Wiley said. His favorite memory in choir was participating in the masterworks concert because he got to work with a professional conductor and sing with the other Olathe High Schools. He also liked the masterworks concert because he got to meet new people from other schools. “My favorite memory of high school would be getting the school record for an event in swim,” Wiley said. If Wiley could give advice to incoming freshmen he would tell them to “walk on the right side of hallway and keep moving.” Wiley wishes he could have gotten closer with his friends and worked on his friendships that he had during high school. “I would like to thank Mrs. Peterson because she is always willing to help anyone and has been a great teacher,” Wiley said.
MARCH 6, 2020 FEATURE
How does
Mayci Armstrong
cheer through senior year? Mayci Armstrong is very involved in the community and the school. She spends most of her time helping out and being a role model to other students. “I love helping out at Olathe South and I love helping out classmates and teachers. I like to make the school a better place.” Armstrong said. On top of helping out at school, Armstrong is also very dedicated to her youth group. “Wednesday night [we] worship and [play] a game and then we do a big group sermon and listen to our youth pastor speak about something and then we break off into individual groups by grade and gender and we talk and we go deeper into the lesson. My faith is my biggest aspect in my life, it’s the biggest and most important thing for me, everything I do I base off my faith and what God tells me is my duty for my life and everything.” Armstrong says. Armstrong also cheers for the Olathe South cheerleading team. “I’ve been [cheerleading] since I was eight, 10 years now. I like being able to go to all the games and support all the teams I got into it because my older brothers played a ton of sports and I
had to be at the games anyway so I was like might as well be a cheerleader and then I ended up falling in love with it, being able to cheer at all the games and be involved in all those things. Armstrong says that “the best part is all the friendships you get to make and the family aspect of it.” Cheerleading also has its challenges. “The hardest part about it is trying to cooperate 47 girls and get them all to listen to you and just that stuff.” Armstrong also has a job. “[I work at] Nothing Bundt Cakes. I really like that I get free cake and I get a lot of free treats all the time, they’re really flexible with hours and its really good with my cheer schedule and I found out about the job because I just love that place.” Armstrong said. Armstrong finds a way to manage her time between all of the things she does. In her free time Armstrong hangs out with friends. “I typically watch The Bachelor, it’s really fun to watch and it’s entertaining and it’s just kind of, makes me laugh. Or [I] eat with my friends, Carmen’s is always really good, and then Freddy’s and Chipotle, like the basic fast food,” Armstrong said.
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FEATURE MARCH, 6 2020
Spring Breakers
How do students plan to spend there spring break this year?
Story by: Kate Marshall
During spring break, students either decide to travel or stay home. Some places students are planning to go to are Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, Arizona and Texas. Some activities to do out of Kansas are college tours and if you want to go out of the country students go on cruises. Many people escape the cold by traveling to the beach and other warm places. “I am going on a cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. Then to St.Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and Haiti,” said junior Addi Hardy. Another warm place that junior Nina Tasic is traveling to is Hawaii. During March, Hawaii can get as warm as 85 degrees.
Some students travel inside the 48 states and a little closer to Kansas. “I plan on going kayaking, white water rafting, canoeing, and just hangout while camping while in the Gulf Shores with my family,” said freshman Megan Proberts. Some students don’t have the opportunity to travel for luxury but travel for sports and other activities. “I am going to Florida for a cheer competition at the ESPN Wide World of sports complex,” said freshman Clair Gottschalk. Family trips during days off of school are a good way to spend time with the people you are close too. “I might go to Pennsylvania with my
grandma to see how she grew up,” said freshman Jace Altman. Some students take the opportunity to visit colleges. “I am going on college tours to Kansas State University, Wichita and Fort Hays,” said junior Elizabeth Stoeck. Participating in these tours helps students decide what college they want to attend. Spring break is a much anticipated week off from school. Students look forward to the stress free days that it provides. Some students take the time to get a great amount of shut eye or to leave Kansas for warmer places. To most students, spring break is a time for friends and free time.
Kenzie Barnett
Gwynnann Johnson
Oh the places students go... Mexico - Mandi Marstall (12) South Carolina - Lacee Hunt (9) Arizona -Gwynnann Johnson (9) Texas - Kendal Wesley (9) St. Louis - Emily Gray (11) Colorado - Kenzie Barnett (9) Florida - Corbin Dozier (11)
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MARCH 6, 2020 FEATURE
Oh the things to do in Olathe... Bowling Main Event The Kansas City Zoo Oak Park Mall
Staycation
How students keep busy while staying in town? Story by: Deborah Kelecha
A lot of people travel for spring break, but the majority stay in Olathe. The opportunity to stay home and relax is a big favorite for many students. It is a good time to catch up on sleep and binge watch a new or popular Lacee Hunt show. A very popular thing to do over break is nothing at all. Some students take the opportunity to catch up with Emily Gray Corbin Dozier friends. They also have the chance to go visit relatives. Most students do eventually transition to spending time around town. Some things Kendal Wesley include shopping at Oak Park Mall, going out to eat, spending time outside with friends, going downtown and going to the zoo. Some things Mandi Marstall that freshman Olivia Toliver said are fun to do around town are, “bowling, going to a movie, paintball, and eating out with friends.”
Not only do students get to hang out with their friends and family, but they also use the time to hang out with their boyfriends and girlfriends. “My boyfriend and I like going to the Arboritum or walking around open houses in rich neighborhoods,” said junior Regan McGonigle. For some students the week is better utilized putting in more hours at their jobs. For others it’s a chance to gain volunteer hours. A lot of volunteer opportunities open up over break, many through the library or the City of Olathe. Whether the week is spent sleeping, working, or going out to movies, students believe spring break will definitely be a welcome respite from the stress of constant classes.
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FEATURE MARCH 6, 2020
By: Hannah Holliday
Sexual assault: no one ever thinks it could happen to them until it does. In 2006, sexual harassment survivor and activist Tarana Burke coined the phrase “Me Too” in an effort to provide solidarity with women who had survived sexual violence. In 2016, Me Too became a fullfledged movement for both women and men to share their stories of sexual violence and support each other. Now more than ever it is being recognized that sexual violence has happened more often than dated studies perceived. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, “about 10% of high school students were sexually assaulted in 2017, with females (15 %) experiencing higher rates than males (4.3%).” Anyone can be in that ten percent, classmates, friends, siblings.
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According to the same survey, 74% of the 10% of high school students indicated that they had been assaulted by someone they knew well, 32% were friends, 21% were family members, while only 23% were strangers. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reported that out of 1000 sexual assaults, 995 perpetrators walk free, but this is because most assaults go unreported. The Department of Justice found that only 310 out of 1000 sexual assaults are reported to police.
“I told people I was in a relationship, but I hadn’t ever told anyone that he was pushing too hard.” There are many reasons that assaults go unreported; many victims just want to forget
about their experience and not face the trauma of trial, some victims want to protect their family and friends, others are too ashamed of their experience to talk about it, among many more possible reasons. The more the Me Too movement flourishes and sexual assault becomes less stigmatized, the more the statistics on reports of sexual assault will change. Even in Olathe schools students have experienced sexual violence. An anonymous female source, for the purposes of this article will be called Wren, spoke on her sexual assault experience. She was assaulted multiple times at age 16 by her then steady boyfriend. It took her awhile to talk to anyone. “I told people I was in a relationship but I hadn’t ever told anyone that he was pushing so hard,” Wren said. While she has since told a few close friends and now speaks more openly about her
MARCH 6, 2020 FEATURE
experience, she has never told her parents. This is a common theme in children, as 73% of child victims do not tell anyone about their abuse for over a year. Wren used art, music, and time to cope with her assault. “Knowing myself and knowing my boundaries. And knowing my worth and knowing that it wasn’t my fault,” Wren said, when asked what helped her to cope the most. The Me Too movement has also aided in Wren’s healing process. “It does make me feel more supported,” Wren said, “Since that movement has come around, the stigma about sexual harassment in general has gone down a little.” Lady Gaga’s story in particular moved Wren. After Lady Gaga was raped, she didn’t tell anyone for seven years. After she felt comfortable enough to speak out, she cowrote and recorded the song
“Til It Happens to You” to accompany the campus-rape documentary “The Hunting Ground.”
“Many victims just want to forget about their experience.” “That song resonated with me so much,” said Wren, “She’s my idol.” Me Too has become more popular as celebrities have spoken out about their stories of sexual abuse and harassment. The 2018 Oscars focused heavily on the movement. Many celebrities dressed in black in solidarity with victims and many speeches mentioned hope for survivors and anger against perpetrators, specifically Harvey Weinstein who was convicted of rape last week. Since the hashtag was brought to Twitter in 2016, millions of Twitter users have shared their
stories or support for victims using it. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, Gwenyth Paltrow, Terry Crews and Uma Thurman helped the movement gain momentum. Anyone can experience sexual violence. Telling a trusted adult can help victims to feel less alone and better get help to work through what has happened to them. If you or someone you know needs help, there are many resources available. Gateway of Hope is a women’s only center with counseling, support groups, and life coaching. Male Survivor is a company that helps men find resources to work through sexual trauma. 1in6 is also men-exclusive and offers both private and group online chats. The Help Clinic is a way for students and families to access a variety of different types of free counseling from mental health professionals in the Olathe School District. Visit the counseling office for more resources.
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A & E MARCH 6, 2020
By: Megan Stoerman
When it comes to the theatre, many find themselves being intimidated or out of place. When it comes to Mamma Mia the musical, everyone is bound to find this show exciting and the next thing they know they will be up dancing on their feet singing to the classic songs by ABBA. The school is performing this hit production of Mamma Mia March 5-7 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. This show is filled with the thrill and nostalgic feeling of all the hit songs by ABBA. The story line of Mamma Mia surrounds a young woman named Sophie as she spends the days leading up her wedding searching for her birth father on the Greek island of Kalokairi. You will laugh, you will cry, you will find yourself wondering where ABBA’s
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music has been all your life (and soon become obsessed with it), and leaving with feelings that you just have to see the production the following night. Mamma Mia the musical was originally written, and based on, the songs of ABBA, the Swedish pop group that had the whole world in awe for most of the 70s and part of the 80s. With killer songs such as “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper” and “Thank You For The Music,” fans of ABBA will soon find themselves wrapped up in the lives of Sophie, her fiancé Sky, Donna, and the dads and all the other fantastic characters. One other added advantage to getting wrapped up in the world of Mamma Mia, other than the music and characters, is that there have been two movies made based on the musical. With actors such as Meryl Streep, Amanda
Seyfriend, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan, the eccentric costumes, and the location it is very hard not to love the original movie and the sequel. With the core of the musical being ABBA’s music, it is completely essential that the actors have the songs completely committed to memory. For most of the lead roles, this production is not their first exposure to the superband. For sophomore Rowan Farha the music has been a part of her life for a very long time. She remembers her mom introducing ABBA to her as a little girl and she has actually seen the musical on Broadway. Learning all of the ABBA songs is by far one of the most stressful parts of this production. From memorizing the lyrics and harmonies to actually putting the songs with choreography, the cast has been very busy preparing for the show. Sophomore Molly McBride, who plays
MARCH 6, 2020 A & E
The mamma mia! inside scoop Donna, practices with the choir teacher, Elise Peterson, every day during Falcon 50 to prepare and make sure that she has the songs down pat. Sophomore Carter Stelting has focused on making all of the songs “sound like Sky.” Even though this musical has been a lot of hard work, the cast is excited to see all of it come together and has enjoyed the process surrounded by some of their very best friends. A lot of the cast said that what they will take away from this show is the sense of family and the importance of friendship. Stelting stated that his favorite part has been “creating the bonds with the cast.” One added concern to the show is that there are quite a few allusions to more promiscuous and sexual topics and how that will be handled in a high school production. Overall, being classy and mature with these topics has be crucial. Junior Max Pardo, who plays Sam Carmichael, said that you have to be mature about it and he “realized that it’s a part of the show.” Throughout all of the memorizing and dancing, one cast member in particular has really shined throughout the whole process and earned the praise of many of the lead actors. Junior Alyssa Deleon is the assistant choreographer for the show and really had a lot on her plate to make sure that the choreography ran smoothly and that all the cast knew exactly what they were doing. Deleon was in charge of learning all of the choreography for every single person in the show in case someone was confused on what they were supposed to do she could teach it to them. On top of all the choreography, Deleon plays Lisa, one of Sophie’s friends in the musical, had to learn all of her lines, memorize all the music and harmonies, on top of being involved at school and taking Advanced Placement classes. When all is said and done, the cast and crew of Mamma Mia have thoroughly enjoyed putting on the show and learning just what the name of the game is when it comes to taking on this production.
Jimmy Coffman (plays Bill Austin)
Margo Stewart (plays Tanya)
Raleigh Jones (plays Harry Bright)
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A & E MARCH 6, 2020
Capitalism’s influence on movie remakes By: Emily Selgelid A surge in new technology in the Hollywood movie business has produced an upward trend in the modernization of old movies. While still telling the same stories, some would argue that the new versions just lack the power and nostalgic memories of their original versions. “I would say in most cases the original seems like a derivative of the original film,” said theatre teacher David Hastings, “They are fine, but lack inspiration.” Although the modern versions have more impressive visuals and animation, most just do not have the nostalgia and charm of an original
film. Take any Disney movie for example, like Mulan. The live action, set to hit theatres this March, is rumored to completely cut Mushu out of the story in hopes to give the movie a more serious tone. In other words, they are taking out the comedic and relatable traits of the original 1998 film. Additionally, it has been rumored that General Li Shang, a major character in the original film and love interest of Mulan will not be returning for the 2020 adaptation. Despite changing many plot points in the 2020 adaptation, Mulan is still predicted to make $60-$70 million its opening weekend.
This example is just one out of many cases of big movie corporations producing remakes of their old movies with an almost completely different take on the story. In most of these cases, it is apparent the goal is not to retell classic stories and fix elements that have not stood the test of time, but to make money. On the side of the public, many go and view these inaccurate remakes solely to see how different they really are. An example of this is director Tom Hooper’s recreation of the classic Broadway musical Cats. His attempt at mimicking the original can be described as a disturbing disaster, and in Hooper’s defense,
Cats the musical lacks much of a plotline, mostly focusing on dance and visuals. Although definitely not a new phenomenon for stories to be retold, the recent influx of watered down versions of widely loved classic films shows the distance between the audience and the producers.“It is done all the time because the original made money. This is show business. The people that create films want to make money, “ Hastings said on this topic. The sad truth is, in today’s society largely influenced by capitalism, producers care more about making money than keeping the power of classic films alive.
Mulan 1998
Mulan 2020
Budget: $90 million ($142.5 mil. in 2020) Opening weekend: $22.8 million ($36 mil. in 2020) Total income: $304 milion ($480 mil. in 2020)
Budget: $200 million Est. Opening weekend income: $60-$70 million Est. total income: $550-$650 million
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MARCH 6, 2020 A & E
Star Trek By: Alex Burbidge
Cats 1981 Budget: $4 million ($10.7 mil. in 2020) Opening weekend: n/a Total income:$3.5 billion by Feb. 2020
Cats 2019
Budget: $95 million Opening weekend income: $6.7 million Total income: $74.6 million
The Star Trek franchise was given yet another revival in January with the latest addition to the series, Star Trek: Picard. However, this revival isn’t so much a breath of fresh air as it is yet another tired attempt to ride the nostalgia of past series. The first season has largely disappointed so far, as it simply has dragged on, with a lot of backstory pertaining to Data’s death after the events of Nemesis, and not nearly as much action as you would expect from a show with the Star Trek name. Every episode is relentlessly swamped with backstory and moments that are supposed to be seen as “sentimental” and “meaningful,” yet fall flat on their face in terms of character and plot development; this slowly-unfolding story is only hindered by the fact that episodes aren’t one-offs that are able to be watched out of order, but instead are part of a saga that just doesn’t feel like a Star Trek series. Patrick Stewart reprised his role as Picard, which is both a great thing and a bad thing; on the bright side, Stewart is sure to bring in views for the Star Trek series no matter in what shape or capacity, as he is often mentioned as the best captain in franchise history. However, Stewart has slowed down, as he is nearly 80 years old, and his strained voice and now-frail figure doesn’t make for the authoritative captain that was once known to fans. In fact, that can be a good metaphor for the series itself; though it is only seven episodes in, it already feels tired and old.
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SPORTS MARCH 6, 2020
A Recap of the Winter Sports The winning moments and students of the winter By: Mandi Marstall
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team started off their season with a three win streak. In their first tournament of the year the team captured first, beating Lawrence High for the win. The team also beat their rivals Olathe East in a nail biting game. The game went into two overtimes but ended with South winning 80-76. The team has since continued to dominate finishing with a 15-8 record. The team hopes to play their way to a state championship.
Boys Bowling
Girls Basketball
The girls basketball team started with a tough schedule but have been raking up the wins in February. At their tournament in McPherson they won two out of their three games and finished in 3rd place. The girls ended their season with a 13-7 record. Coach Allen said that “teamwork” was what made the team so outstanding. The girls will compete in substate and hope to advance to the state tournament.
Girls Wrestling
The boys bowling team consists of only four seniors this year. Ben Ebeling, Nicholas Lauffer, Harrison Lemke, and Vincent Tavernaro. Junior Brady Beverman has averaged a 197 throughout many of his games this season. Another junior, Eddie Shipley has a high average of 190 throughout the 29 games he has bowled this season. At regionals the boys team placed 6th out of 10 teams. Beverman also qualified as an individual for state.
This year has been the first year for girls wrestling. The team consists of 13 female wrestlers. “They have gotten better each and every week,” coach Fitzgerald said. Kianna Skinner qualified for the state tournament at regionals and could become the first female state medalist in school history. “The team is ready and able to compete for a state title,” coach Fitzgerald said.
Boys Wrestling
“The boys wrestling season is shaping up to be the best,” coach Fitzgerald said. The team went 8-2 in dual competition, with a win over Mill Valley, the number one ranked team in 6A. The team also won their first Sunflower League title. Dallas Koelzer, Cash Thomas, Gavin Brown, Blake Jouret, and Alec Younngren all won individual Sunflower League titles in February.
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Coach of the Year
Coach Connor Fitzgerald, head coach for boys and girls wrestling team, won coach of the year in the Sunflower League. Fitzgerald will be headed to Wichita to help both the boys and girls teams win a state title.
MARCH 6, 2020 SPORTS
Springing into Sports Girls Bowling
The girls bowling team has taken many wins this past season. On February 21 the team took third place at the varsity city tournament. Senior bowler Malia Toomay also individually took 3rd place at the tournament as well as placing in almost every meet she has attended. The girls team consist of three seniors. Kaitlynn Llamas, Nichole Herrmann, and Malia Toomay will be bowling there last season this year.
Boys Swim and Dive
The young swimmers showed competitive strength. Freshman Logan Smith broke the 100 meter backstroke record that was previously held by his brother Fletcher Smith. Logan then went on to break the record again during finals. The team is a tight knit group and are very supportive of each other. In addition to the swimmers there was one skilled diver. Freshman Brice Faulkner finished 14th at the state meet this year and was the only diver on the team this year.
The start of a new season of spring sports.
By: Skye Pancer
With quarter three coming to a close for the entire high school, all of the spring sports are hitting the ground running. Girls soccer is coached by Melissa Miller, who played soccer herself in college. Miller says she hopes to “coach others who are as passionate as [she] is in playing this wonderful sport.” She’s also helping her team members become better, not only as players but also people and students. “Soccer is unique because you use mostly your feet to play the game. Foot coordination is very difficult and really cool when you continue to develop your foot skills as a soccer player.” Miller said, commenting on how difficult it is to use only your feet while playing. As for softball, they have gotten a new coach. Her name is Katie Burkhardt. “This is kind of a crazy question for me because it’s hard to put into words. I love the game of softball. It’s always been such a huge part of my life, I was practically raised at the softball fields,” Burkhardt said, stating how much she truly loves softball. Coach Burkhardt’s personal goal is to “creat[ing] a learning environment for [her] players.” She continues with “I want them to enjoy their high school softball experience while also competing with every team in this league.”
By: Amanada Turvey
As spring break is approaching and many students are excited to head out of the country or on vacation, some students who are staying in town are prepping for the new track, tennis, and baseball seasons. Students who participate in these sports may be required to attend preseason practices to start preparing for
the upcoming season. “I started conditioning for track season a few months ago that way I can focus on being a better runner during practice instead of getting back in shape.” Selena Umana, junior, said regarding any preparation for the new season. The first meet will be at Olathe District
Activity Center at 3 p.m. on March 27. Boys tennis and baseball had tryouts the first week of March and their practices
will start shortly after. Dani Winslow currently holds second place at the state competition for a 5’06” high jump and third place for the 300 meter low hurdle. The upcoming seasons may be tough but students believe that they can do well as a team for the regional competition that will occur in spring.
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SPORTS MARCH 6, 2020
Kansas has continued to show their might this season through Big 12 play. They are currently 15-1 in conference play having their only loss come at the hands of the number one team in the nation, Baylor. Since that loss though, KU has won 11 straight games and is ranked third in the nation. They have been led by sophomore guard Devon Dotson who leads the league in PPG, averaging 18.2 points according to ESPN. Head coach Bill Self has continued to prove time after time this year why he is one of the best coaches in college basketball. He continues to change his game play style to help and match his team’s players. This year with a large amount of size down low and speed at the guard position he has adapted to include a drive and post heavy offense mixed with a shutdown defense. In the biggest game of the year, Self exposed Baylor’s biggest weakness on defense which allowed senior center Udoka Azubuike to have a monster game that included 23 points. The Jayhawks look primed and ready once again heading into the big dance where they will likely be the favorite to cut down the net in Atlanta.
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Baylor has been a dominant force in the Big 12 this season, currently having only two losses in Big 12 play. They have the fifth highest scorer in the league, Jared Butler, according to ESPN, and a suffocating defense. Coach Scott Drew is in his seventeenth season as the Bears coach and is leading the best team of his tenure at Baylor. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketologist, currently has them as one of four number one seeds. Baylor had several key victories to keep them on their 23-game winning streak. Their biggest win came at Allen Fieldhouse where they beat the Kansas Jayhawks 67-55. This was Baylor’s first ever win at Allen Fieldhouse in school history. Though, this win has since been undermined due to their only loss in conference play at home against the same Kansas Jayhawks by a final score of 64-61. In that win, Baylor’s greatest flaw was exposed on defense, the high ball screen and roll. Baylor will have a tough run down the stretch and is likely on a collision course to meet Kansas in a rubber match game to decide the Big 12 champion in March at the Sprint Center.
Texas Tech has had a down year coming off an appearance in the National Championship game last season. They have a 9-7 record in conference play and an 18-11 overall record. This team had high hopes coming into the season, but have been fairly middle of the road this year. They are currently second in PPG in the conference as a team, averaging 72.4 points according to ESPN. Chris Beard is in his third season as Red Raider head coach, currently posting a 94-42 record. He took the program to their first Elite Eight in 2018 and first National Championship in 2019. Joe Lunardi currently has Tech as a eight-seed going into the big dance and they are currently third overall in the Big 12 heading into the conference tournament. The Red Raiders have a possible brutal end to the regular season where they play Baylor and Kansas back to back to end the conference portion of the schedule. If they can win just one of those games, they will become a team to watch heading into March. It would not be a surprise if Tech makes it as far as the Elite Eight come the NCAA tournament.
* All stats are current as of 03/02/2020
MARCH 6, 2020 SPORTS
Texas Christian University continues to try and find their footing in the Big 12 as one of the newest schools in the conference. Head coach Jamie Dixon is in his fourth season in coaching in Fort Worth, Texas. This year, the Horned Frogs are above .500 with a 16-13 record. They are led by second highest scorer in conference, Desmond Bane who averages 16.1 PPG according to ESPN.
Texas has had a roller coaster of a season under head coach Shaka Smart. They currently post a 18-11 record overall, and in conference play going 8-8. They do not feature a top 10 scorer in the conference and have struggled with offense in Big 12 play, scoring over 70 only once. The Longhorns are led in scoring by Matt
Coleman III who is averaging 12.3 PPG according to ESPN. With a rough start to Big 12 play, the Longhorns have turned things around to end the conference portion of play. They are coming off their biggest win of the season, beating the West Virginia Mountaineers 67-57. This was their first win against a ranked opponent this year
and comes at the perfect time of year to gain momentum going into the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments. Texas has mostly started this renaissance by focusing on defense. They continue to grow stronger as the season has gone on and with this sudden gain in momentum should be a team to fear going into postseason play.
West Virginia has had a complete identity shift this season due to new players that came in to replace the former seniors. “Press Virginia” as they used to be called is no more, instead opting for more of a balanced attack. Currently, they are fifth in the conference with 208 steals over 29 games played. Bob Huggins is in his
thirteenth season as head coach of the Mountaineers and has led his team to a 19-7 record for the season and a 7-6 conference play record. They currently have one win over a ranked opponent this year when they beat 25th ranked, Ohio State, in non-conference play. West Virginia has struggled here towards the end of the
season with losses to Texas Christian University and Texas. Looking ahead, their schedule doesn’t get much easier down the stretch with a trip with a trip to Waco, Texas to take on the Baylor Bears. Currently, Joe Lunardi has them as seven seed for the NCAA tournament in March.
Oklahoma has been middle of the pack this year in the Big 12. Currently fifth overall in the conference, they have not been anything special. Fifth in the Big 12 in scoring averaging 70.6 Points Per Game according to ESPN has not been enough to get their conference play record over .500. They are led by Kansas native and head coach
Lon Kruger who played his college basketball at Kansas State University. Christian Doolittle is the Sooners leading scorer on offense this year. Doolittle has averaged 15.7 points per game this season according to ESPN. Their recent stretch of games has been brutal, having to play the top three teams in the conference over
a four game stretch. Through that gauntlet of games they ended up winning one of the four games. The winning game was against Texas Tech. Though this stretch also included a loss to crossstate rivals Oklahoma State who are doing quite poorly this season. Oklahoma will continue to find their footing
Iowa State has had one roller coaster of a season this year. They beat a very good Seton Hall team earlier on in the season, though have fallen off a cliff since. They have gone 0-10 on the road this year which is not good if you want to try and make a run in the Big 12. They feature very little talent this year and haven’t since head coach Steve Phrom took over in 2015.
Oklahoma State has struggled mightily this year. After starting 7-0, things have taken a turn south for the Pokes. They are 5-11 in Big 12 play and lack any true identity on either side of the ball. They currently post a 1514 record overall but feature no key wins against top 25 opponents. The Cowboys are led by third year head coach Mike Boyton, all three years missing the NCAA tournament.
going into postseason play.
Kansas State has struggled to an extreme this year. Going 9-20 overall this season, the Wildcats have been awful from the get-go. If there is any glimmer of hope it’s that they lead the Big 12 in steals this season with 248. Behind coach Bruce Weber, the Wildcats continue to find their identity on defense where they have been pretty dominate, though they continue to lack any viable option on offense.
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SPORTS MARCH 6, 2020
Kobe Bryant: Remembering His Legacy By: Elijah Nichols
Bryant earned himself an Academy Award for his animated short film “Dear Basketball” as well as numerous other accolades for his well-produced short film. Bryant partnered with director Glen Keane and Academy Award-winning composer John Williams to produce the film. “Dear Basketball,” which was based on a poem he wrote to announce his retirement was well received not only by the NBA but also fans. Bryant also earned a $200 million windfall for a calculated investment of $6 million in the sports drink Body Armor, which later led to him being a prime cause of the boom in the production of the drink. Bryant’s most significant post-retirement commitment was to his production company, specializing in documentary storytelling. He was just as passionate about the arts and the natural narrative as he was with basketball. Bryant produced numerous films and raised money for multiple charities. “Documentary that goes behind the stats to reveal Kobe Bryant’s career, exploring the mentorships, allies and rivalries that have helped shape his stellar 18-year tenure in the NBA, and uncovering his greatest personal challenge yet” according to IMDb’s reviewers.
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Kobe Bryant, also known as “The Mamba,” was a National Basketball Association legend and a cherished icon for the sport. However, Bryant’s post-professional career of building an empire for good is arguably more impactful to more people than on the court. Since walking away from the NBA court after 20 years and five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant was busy racking up a remarkable list of achievements perhaps even more surprising than the exploits that turned him into one of the sport’s modern greats.
MARCH 6, 2020 SPORTS
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”-Kobe Bryant (1978-2020)
He opened two training facilities dubbed the “Mamba Sports Academy” in Thousand Oaks and Redondo Beach, and he has coached his second-oldest daughter’s Amateur Athletic Union basketball team, naturally called “The Mambas.” On the day of their death the father-daughter duo was expected at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball game. Gianna was going to play, and Bryant was going to coach. He sometimes shared photos of her at games, or videos of the two of them playing together on Instagram. Bryant also made sure he was involved in her development by coaching her team.
His daughter, Gianna, was 13 years old, and she was one of the individuals who died in the crash with her father. Gianna was an up and coming basketball star with a possible future in the WNBA. She was one of the nine individuals on the helicopter that crashed that Sunday morning into a hillside in Calabasas, California, as the group made their way to a basketball tournament where she was supposed to be a starting player. Gianna was the second of Bryant’s four daughters with his wife, Vanessa Laine Bryant, who were both passionate about their daughter’s basketball future.
“The best thing that happens when we go out, fans will come up to me and she’ll be standing next to me and they’ll be like, ‘Hey, you gotta have a boy! You and V gotta have a boy to have somebody to carry on the tradition and the legacy.’ She’s like, ‘Hey, I got this! You don’t need a boy for that.” THE EYRIE 27
SPORTS MARCH 6, 2020
NFL stars may find new homes in offseason By: Mark Elliott
When the offseason hits after the Super Bowl, NFL free agency is important for every team. They need to improve their teams, and oftentimes multiple teams go for one player, trying to pay as much as possible to be able to land which player they want. This year, there are some big names and players available in free agency, including one of, if not the greatest of all time, Tom Brady. Tom Brady has played 20 seasons in the NFL all 20 with the New England Patriots, making nine super Bowl appearances and winning six of them. Even though Tom Brady has slowed down over the years, he is still able to make plays and is a big target this offseason. I think Tom Brady will go to the LA Chargers as they need a quarterback and have a good enough supporting cast for Brady to somewhat succeed. Another huge impact player in free agency is wide receiver, Amari Cooper. Right now he is a wide receiver on the Dallas Cowboys. Amari Cooper was a great wide receiver in the 2019 season, but was inconsistent at some major key parts of the season. In week 16 the Cowboys were playing the Eagles for a playoff spot and Amari Cooper had two receptions throughout the whole game. Despite this Amari Cooper is still probably the best free agent wide receiver. I think Amari Cooper will end up as Philadelphia Eagle. The Eagles have a very bad wide receiver core, and having Cooper would be a great addition and another weapon for Carson Wentz to throw to. The Eagles had wide receiver drama last year as
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veteran wide receiver Alshon Jeffery anonymously said bad things about his quarterback Carson Wentz, giving more reason for the Eagles to sign Cooper. A big cornerback free agent to look at is Chris Harris Jr. on the Denver Broncos. Harris spent all nine years on the Broncos, winning superbowl 50. Harris has expressed possibly leaving Denver on his twitter. Any team that gets Harris is getting a top five cornerback of the decade. I think Chris Harris Jr. will end up in Kansas City as the Chiefs need a new corner back one to help lead the pass defence with Tyrann Mathieu. Another big defensive free agent is Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive tackle, Chris Jones. Jones had a huge impact on the Chiefs defensive line, swatting passes and heavy pass rush. The Chiefs could also franchise tag Chris Jones, making it more likely for Jones to stay in Kansas City. I think Chris Jones will end up in Kansas City, as he gets franchised tagged. A name that terrified most of the AFC is also on the market, Derrick Henry. Derrick Henry had an especially good playoffs, helping leading the Titans to a playoff run defating the unstoppable Ravens and then beating Tom Brady and the Patriots in a wild card game. Both games were on the road. The Titans run eneded to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Derick Henry is a top five running back and will make a huge impact on any team he ends up with. I think Derrick Henry will end up again on the Titans, getting franchised tagged. Another lockdown corner in free
agency is Dallas Cowboys corner Byron Jones. It is very important that the Cowboys resign Jones because if he moves on their secondary and pass coverage will take a big hit. He spent all four years with the Cowboys, and the Cowboys most definitely have the money for him, it is a matter of him wanting to be in Dallas. I think Byron Jones will end up with the Philadelphia Eagles, they are in need of a new cornerback and Jones hasn’t seemed comfortable in Dallas. One other good wide receiver in free agency is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green. Green has been a great receiver, but has also been injury prone. He sat out the whole year, this 20192020 season and has been injured multiple other times in his career. I think AJ Green will stay with the Bengals as it is a high chance that the Bengals take quarterback Joe Burrow out of LSU and will be a new, young quarterback for AJ Green and might give the Bengals one more chance.
MARCH 6, 2020 SPORTS
Mock draft has Burrow as Bengals’ No. 1 pick By: Gavin McAferty
The NFL draft is held annually in late April. It provides an opportunity for all thirty-two teams to select player that will contribute to their franchise. Picks are determined by scouting, game play, and positional needs. While the top ten picks are generally viewed as where the generational talent is, practically any pick in the first round is a well-rounded player with great potential. The draft is three days long, it goes first round, second-fourth round, then fifth-seventh. The 2020 draft class is supposed to be a very stacked class in comparison to the past couple years. The most stacked positions in this draft class are wide receiver, quarterback, and offensive line. A lot of trades and movement are expected to come into play during the draft. Some teams have an excessive number of picks that they can use as capital in trades. There are 254 picks in the NFL draft, the last pick is called “Mr. Irrelevant.” This year’s draft is being held in Las Vegas, Nevada on the strip. The players will be transported by an NFL theme boat when selected by an organization. The first two picks are basically locked in by their respective teams, because the players are generational talents and sources are saying the organizations have made up their minds already. Every pick past the first two are either smoke screens or undecided. This draft will have teams drafting
the best player available because of how talented this class really is. This is a very offense heavy draft that consists of many good quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and offensive lineman. Wide Receivers will be heavily targeted in the first couple rounds of this draft. All sports analysts and NFL fans are looking at the Bengals to see if they will actually select Joe Burrow. NFL free agency also plays a big part in who will be selected. The Broncos and the Rams are taking a different approach than usual; they won’t be sending any scouts to the NFL combine. Instead they are watching game film and just sending their head coaches to the combine. Sending their head coaches, Vic Fangio and Sean McVay to the combine. Teams will also draft more than just the first round which plays a big part in who they draft earlier than later. The linebacker class this year is very limited with Isaiah Simmons being the only first round talent in the class, although some edge rushers could be drafted as outside linebackers. Interior defensive lineman is another good position to target this year with players like Javon Kinlaw standing at 6’6 310 lbs. and Derrick Brown 6’2 245 lbs. The first round will probably be full of Alabama and LSU players because of what they bring to the table and how they already play at a high level; they are instant impact players.
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SPORTS MARCH 6, 2020
Royals prepare for pivotal spring training
By: Alex Burbidge
With the Kansas City Royals reporting to Surprise, Arizona and beginning to play games, it is official that Spring Training has begun. Throughout the spring there will be many questions raised and answered pertaining to position battles, roster construction, and perhaps most importantly, who will fill the fifth spot in the starting rotation. The most important position battle the Royals have had in a while, Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan McBroom will duke it out all March to try and earn the nod to be the Opening Day first baseman. O’Hearn is no stranger to Royals fans, as he made his Major League debut in 2018 and was the regular first baseman in 2019. However, this is undoubtedly a makeor-break year for him, as he hit a paltry .195 with a .650
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OPS after overtaking Frank Schwindel’s spot. O’Hearn revamped his swing in the middle of the year, which contributed toward his second-half resurgence in which he hit .297 with a whopping 1.025 OPS in his final 28 games, which rivals the most prolific hitters in baseball. McBroom, on the other hand, busted onto the scene in September after being acquired from the New York Yankees. He only played in 23 games over the course of the season, but he hit a solid .293, and also contributed a good .361 on-base percentage. The big knock on McBroom, however, is that he didn’t hit for much power over his short big league stint. Indeed, of the 22 hits he collected, he only had five doubles with no triples or home runs, which contributed to his relatively low .721 OPS, which was actually seven percent below league
average, when adjusted for ballpark factors and other things. One thing that McBroom has going for him is that he can also play in the outfield, which is something that O’Hearn attempted to do for two games last year. McBroom, in his cup of coffee, played 14 games as a solid outfielder, and looked like a natural out there. The only issue is that since the club resigned Alex Gordon, there is now a logjam that prevents most outfielders from getting consistent playing time. Both O’Hearn and McBroom should also have their minds at ease, since in all likelihood both will end up on the Major League roster thanks to the new addition of a 26th roster spot to allow for more roster flexibility. There was a new issue created for teams wishing to stockpile their bullpen with the additional roster
spot though, as there is now a 13-pitcher maximum for every team, which may have a say in who stays and who goes in the Royals’ pitching staff. There are already locks, which include Scott Barlow, Danny Duffy, Jesse Hahn, Tim Hill, Jake Junis, Brad Keller, Ian Kennedy, Mike Montgomery, and Stephen Woods Jr., which leaves a maximum of three bullpen spots and one spot in the starting rotation. There are quite a few options the Royals have for the bullpen. Greg Holland is the name that should stick out most to fans, as he is often mentioned among the greatest closers in Royals history. His tenure in Kansas City abruptly came to a halt in the middle of the 2015 championship season when he tore his UCL and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. He led the National League in saves in 2017 with the
Colorado Rockies, but after a disastrous 2018 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals, he was mostly mediocre in 2019 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 4.54 ERA in 40 games. However, his ERA was nearly a full run below the collective ERA of the 2019 bullpen, so perhaps he would be able to find a prominent spot to setup for Kennedy. Trevor Rosenthal is another notable name vying for a spot in the bullpen. After beginning the season with quite literally the worst first four games in baseball history (he did not record an out in his first four games, while allowing seven runs), the Royals signed Rosenthal hoping that he could regain his form by reuniting with his former manager Mike Matheny. His stuff is certainly there, as he consistently hit 99 and 100 mph on the radar gun, but had virtually no control of any of his pitches, as he pitched in only six games where he did not issue a walk, and had the highest walks per nine innings of his career by nearly threefold, at 15.3. When both Matheny and Rosenthal were with the Cardinals, Rosenthal averaged 71 games a year for three years while also being one of the best closers in baseball, so the Royals are hoping that he can regain his control and return to his former self. Chance Adams was acquired from the Yankees in a separate transaction over the offseason, which was a move criticized by many casual Royals fans based on the fact that in two abbreviated Major League seasons, he has accumulated an 8.18 ERA. At face value, that is awful, but diving deeper into his analytics reveals that the spin rate on his fastball and curveball are in the 87th and 94th percentiles, respectively. This
suggests that he is due for a bounceback campaign, as a higher spin rate means that he gets very good movement on his pitches. Assuming he makes the roster, Adams will also benefit from the spacious outfield of Kauffman Stadium, compared to his former home in Yankee Stadium, commonly called a bandbox. As for the rotation, one name has consistently made headlines throughout the past year: Brady Singer. The first round pick out of Florida has been touted as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball since he was drafted nearly two years ago. In his first professional season, Singer impressed in nearly every situation he was thrown into; with a 12-5 record and a 2.85 ERA between Single-A and Double-A, many people speculated if he would perhaps make his Major League debut when rosters expanded in September. He ultimately didn’t get the call up, but the rumors alone may have been enough to force the Royals to get an extended look at Singer and give him a spot in the Opening Day rotation as the fifth starter. As time moves forward through the final three weeks of Spring Training, the answers to these questions will become clearer. Some players could perform much better than expected, a la Reymond Fuentes in 2016 and force his way onto the roster, while others may play themselves out of the starting lineup or off of the roster entirely. Though stats in spring don’t necessarily matter for players, it can be a good indication of what kind of production to expect from players against Major League-caliber opponents, especially for the players that are fringe Opening Day roster options for their clubs.
MARCH 6, 2020 SPORTS
Bats: Right Throws: Left Secondary position: LF, RF Draft: 36th round, 2013 Pro experience: Six years Free agent: 2026 Debut: Sept. 3, 2019 College: West Virginia 2019 slash: .293/.361/.360
Ryan McBroom vs. Ryan O’Hearn Bats: Left Throws: Left Secondary position: LF Draft: 8th round, 2014 Pro experience: Six years Free agent: 2025 Debut: July 31, 2018 College: Sam Houston State 2019 slash: .195/.281/.369
Bats: Left Throws: Left Secondary position: LF, RF Draft: 16th round, 2016 Pro experience: Four years Free agent: 2027 Debut: N/A College: NW Louisiana State 2019 slash: .255/.345/.387
Nick Heath vs. Bubba Starling Bats: Right Throws: Right Secondary position: LF, RF Draft: 1st round, 2011 Pro experience: Eight years Free agent: 2026 Debut: July 12, 2019 College: N/A 2019 slash: .215/.255/.317 All photos courtesy of the Associated Press
THE EYRIE 31
Dear Readers, You’re almost there! It’s almost spring break, and then it will be the last quarter of the 2019-2020 school year. There will be exams, projects, grad parties, and so many more things to keep you busy; the last quarter will go fast. Take it from us- high school goes by quickly. Before you know it, it will be you walking across that stage getting your own diploma. Make memories while you still have the time. It is easy to be so excited to leave that you focus more on your after-high school plans than the present you are living in. Say “yes” more often, study hard, take care of yourself, ask for help, and leave no room for regrets. We’re not going to lie to you; high school might not be the best time of your life, but it is so much better to be truly alive than just go through the motions. Make your mark on others, the school, and the world. You got this, go Falcons!
Megan Stoerman, Alex Burbidge, Hannah Holliday, Faith Holliday, and Maddie Black
