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((VIEWLiberty North High School Eagle’s
Volume 2 Issue 7 April 5, 2012
CONTENTS
Parents as TeachersSome Liberty North students express their opinions about having their parents as teachers
Health ChallengesStudents overcome the challenge of balencing school and overcoming rare health challenges
TelethonLiberty North’s Brodcasting class prepares to put on it’s 11th annual telethon
Easter Egg DyingStudents offer creative ways to dye Easter Eggs
OUR STAFF
OUR MISSION
Haley RichardsonDylan SanchezCeci KuronKevin PageSavana MorrisonCassidy WarneBailey ReardonKelsea Graham
Editor-In-ChiefEditor-In-ChiefPhotographerPhotographerInDepth EditorStudent Life EditorSpotlight EditorA&E Editor
Emily RhewAlly PayneMadi SaundersCortney SnyderBenjamin WhalenPayton WolffKatelen Permenter Brock MitchellJennifer Higgins
ReporterReporterReporterReporterReporterReporterOnline EditorWebmasterAdviser
Arianna SkindellSummer Prather Timmy FalleriMark OylerKatelynn DowneyShelby GregoJessica GriffithChris Kandlbinder
Opinion EditorSports EditorSports WriterFun EditorReporterReporterReporterReporter
Our mission for the 2011-2012 school year is to create a quality magazine that informs our readers as well as provide a professional journalism experience for all members involved. The Eagle’s View is a public forum of student expression.
www.eaglesviewonline.comFIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!
OUR WEBSITE
( )TABLE OF CONTENTS
EAGLE’S VIEW2
16
16
12
12
6
6
19
19
JUSTFOR FUN
ON THE COVEROn March 27 Liberty North competed in the William Jewell College Quad track meet. “It was a good feeling just to get the first meet out of the way. It let us know what we all needed to improve on this season,” senior Mason Caywood said.
JUST FOR FUN04/05/12( (3
TRINIDAD’S TRIVIAMrs. Trinidad returns with another tough trivia question of the month.
Education is something that is valued by the American public. Many great opportunities open up for those who continue on to higher education after high school and many jobs offer better pay for those with higher education rather than dropping out of high school. Yet does this advantage also affect lifespan?
True or False? Americans who receive higher education live 6 years longer than those who don’t continue their education after high school?
Guess the right one and be the first to report it to Trinidad and win a HEALTHY SNACK FOR THE DAY!
The answer to last issue’s question was No. No matter who you are, or how flexible you are, it is not humanly possibly to kiss the tip of your elbow. Provided by dailysudoku.com
SUDOKU PUZZLE
COACHES CLASH
CHILDHOOD CANCERfor
Liberty North April 25th, 6pm
Liberty North vs. LibertyFootball coaches from both schools will compete in a
softball gameRaising money for childhood cancer research
&
Imagine being pool-side with bright blue skies, the hot sun browning skin, and the taste of summer in the air. With summer coming around the corner which means it is time to get in swimsuit season shape. Getting a head start on sculpting the
desired summertime body is the first step to success. With a handful of tips and the right moves, a body will look great in that swimsuit. “I eat healthy and make sure that I get all my runs in every day. I normally run about four to five miles a day. I’d tell people who are trying to get fit to eat fruits and vegetables and make sure you drink lots of water,” Cross country and track runner sophomore Beth Hemenway said. Although not everyone may like to lace up their shoes and go running for miles on end, there are other things people can do in order to get in shape. “When I was younger I played sports. I played basketball and soccer so those always were fun and kept me active. You can always join a gym. A lot of gyms offer class for their members. Find a class you really enjoy and go with your friends! If you can’t join a gym then just exercise; play a game with your friends or go on a walk,” JV softball and basketball Coach Angelina Finazzo said. Anyone and everyone can exercise in order to get ready for swimsuit season. Even the simplest tasks can be turned into a way to burn some calories. “I ride bikes to get fit. I ride my bike to places that are within a few miles of my house. It’s a fun and eco-friendly plus you know… the wind in your hair, the ring of the bells and streamers flying is a great feeling,” Communication Arts teacher Abby Saverino said. Of course different people enjoy doing a variety of things in order to get in shape. It is best to find something enjoyable to do in order to exercise. “I go to TITLE Boxing Club. I work out three to four times a week. It works out not only your arms, but your legs too. It is also important to make sure that you eat the right foods when you are trying to get fit,” junior Danny Blackwell said. When getting in shape for summer, the most important thing to remember is to stay motivated. “I try to spend as much time as I can outside. Whenever I have nothing to do I try to do something physical instead of lying around and watching TV. Just remember, even if you don’t see results right away, realize that everyone is different and it takes different amounts of time for people to see their results. Just don’t give up!” senior Macy Angle said.
TONED,TAN,FIT,READY
STORY BY KATELYN DOWNEY
3tanningat Eagle
Anytime Fitness
24/7open
4 treadmillsat Liberty Community
Center
$30Membershipat Anytime Fitness
bedsFitness
( ) FOOD AND LIFEEAGLE’S VIEW4
Photo by Bailey Reardon
EXERCISE #1: ALLEN TRIANGLE
SHOULDERS, ABS, OBLIQUES, INNER THIGHS
F
Do 3 reps. Switch sides; repeat. Do 2 sets.
Start on the ground in a push-up position, balancing hands and feet with arms extended, body a straight line from head to heals.
Move into a side plank, shifting body weight to left hand and rotating body to extend right arm directly up, palm forward, extend the left leg under torso and to right. Pulse left leg up and down 1 inch 5 times.
Return to start to complete 1 rep.
WORKS YOUR:
EXERCISE #2:LOOKOUT LUNGEStand with feet hip-width apart and extend arms over-head, palms facing each other.
Lunge forward with left leg bending knee 90 degrees, right leg extended behind.
Hinge forward from hips 45 degrees, keeping back flat, so that torso and arms point diagonally
up.
Rotate palms out and lower arms to sides, then raise arms again, turning palms in.
Marinating lunge, lower and raise arms 8 times. Switch legs and repeat. Do 2 sets.
WORKS YOUR:SHOULDERS, BACK, BUTT, QUADS, HAMSTRINGS
EXERCISE #3: SWINGERStart on the ground on all fours; for extra support prop your left hand up on your fingertips.
Extend right leg behind you at hip level, bring it directly out to side.
Hold for 1 count; return to start.
Do 8 reps. Switch sides and repeat. Do 2 sets.
EXERCISE #4:SPIDERMAN PRESS
WORKS YOUR: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS, OBLIQUES, BUTT, HIPS
Start on the ground in full push-up position, balancing on hands and feet with arms extended, body forming a straight line from head to heels.
Bring bent right knee out to side at hip level as you bend elbows 90 degrees, keeping arms tucked close to ribs, so that right knee and elbow touching.
Press up and return to start.
Do 8 reps. Switch sides and repeat. Do 2 sets.
WORKS YOUR:BUTT, HIPS
PU
( )FOOD AND LIFE04/05/12 5
EGGSTRAVAGANZACOLORFUL SALT SWIRLWhat you need:SaltFood ColoringWhite GlueBlown-Out Eggs
1 Make shades of salt by adding a couple drops of food coloring to a cup of salt. Mix it together until it is combined.
2 Place layers of the different colors of salt on a plate. Make sure it is in a swirled pattern.
3 Brush egg with the non-toxic white glue until egg is fully covered.
4 Apply the pastel shades of salt.
RUBBER-BANDWhat you need:White VinegarFood ColoringMugs for Each ColorSpoonsHard-Boiled EggsRubber-Bands
Wrap multiple rubber bands around boiled egg.12 Dye the eggs as one normally would. Let the color dry for a
couple of seconds.
3 After the color has completely dried, remove the rubber bands.
4 Once the rubber bands are removed, dip the egg in another set of color dye and let dry.
MARBELIZEDWhat you need:Hard-Boiled EggsFood Coloring1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 Add 1 tablespoon of oil to each color that is going to be marbelized.
2 Dye the eggs as one normally would.
3 Remove the eggs and see the marbleized look.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY EMILY RHEW
( ) FOOD AND LIFEEAGLE’S VIEW6
Festive Technique on how to decorate extravangant eggs for Easter
HAPPY TIMES
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Basketball is one of the things that led Chris and Melynda McCabe together. While Chris was an assistant coach at K-State for three years, Melynda was head of the marketing and promotion department. This led to the couple
spending more time together and eventually a relationship forming. “From both of us spending so much time at K-State, we were always seeing each other. It was nice to have Chris there,” Melynda said. Melynda was enrolled in grad school in Oregon and Chris proposed by surprising her at her home when she had graduated. The couple was married in July 2009 at Beaver Creek in Colorado. It was a small wedding with only thirty people. After the wedding, however, K-State pulled up the floor in the basketball arena and allowed a large party to be thrown in celebration of the newly wed couple. Basketball is one of the many things that both McCabes love. Watching basketball is an activity done during much of their free time.
“Just as best friends share interests, we do too. She is my best friend and basketball is one of the many things we can share,” Chris said. Although both Chris and Melynda work at North, they do not see each other as much as one would think. They are each on different schedules, but do make time to say ‘hi’ to one another throughout the day. “It is nice to know that if I need something Melynda is right down the hallway,” Chris said. From working with each other, the McCabes know the same people. This is nice when it comes to spending time with friends due to the fact that they are use to being around the same people. “It is nice that we have the same coworkers. When spending time with friends it is never a struggle to decide who to invite,” Melynda said.
MRS.MR.&Liberty North teacher and assistant principal share their relationship story from their start
STORY BY KATELEN PERMENTER
( ) SPOTLIGHTEAGLE’S VIEW8
Chris McCabe is known as the head basketball coach, assistant principal, and husband, depending on who you are at North. McCabe has inspired the basketball team to become a family. He has taught the team how to work together and to give all they have no matter what. In order to motivate the team to become a family, each day he showed them what a family looks like by how the players and coaches were treated. They had to be consistent with the family idea through good and bad for everyone to really buy into it. “No matter what the score is I always want the boys to do their best because at the end of the day that’s what matters. They have to hold each other accountable and always be there for each other just as a family would,” McCabe said. After falling short of a district championship and placing second in the 2011 basketball season. The boys came out strong into the 2012 season hoping to make it all the way. After a tough season coached by McCabe, the boys finished third overall in Class 4 District 15. “It feels great to have coached a team third in the state. It’s a very cool honor, but the guys deserve the credit for it,” McCabe said. When not watching or playing basketball, McCabe can be found spending his free time playing with his schnauzers, Jax and Bella, at a sporting event, or spending time with family. “I probably need to find a hobby, but I really do not have much free time,” McCabe said. Before becoming the assistant principal of Liberty North, Chris worked as a student assistant at Johnson County Community College for one year. He also spent three years as a student assistant at K-State. He then was an assistant coach at Liberty High School for the mens’ basketball team. “I feel like even though I have a job, I have never worked a day in my life. I am able to enjoy and love what I do,” McCabe said.
CHRIS McCABE
At North, Melynda McCabe is referred to as the head of sports marketing, teacher, advisor of Key Club, and wife. As head of the sports marketing class, Melynda has a lot of personal job experience to help her students. After working as the head of sports marketing for all sports at K-State for six years, she also worked over the summer for the Chief’s production company. In the sports marketing class the students are taught to completely run the basketball games. The students help promote the sports at North. Through the things that they do, they bond the athletic and technological part of the game. “I feel that sports marketing really helps different kids get involved with the sports. The students also help promote the basketball team and are able to gain experience of what it’s like to run things like the field house.” McCabe said. McCabe is also the advisor of Key Club, which promotes community service. “The students in Key Club work really hard on the services they do to help others in our community,” McCabe said. When McCabe has free time it is spent traveling, spending time with family, and at sporting events. “I really do not have a lot of free time. When I do, I enjoy mostly spending time with family,” McCabe said. Not only has McCabe had an abundance of job experience, she has also had many special events occur. She has been to China and met with the Chinese Basketball Association, met David Stern (head of the National Basketball Association), and met the Bejing Olympic Committee. “I would say the most interesting thing about me is everywhere I have been due to my past job experiences,” McCabe said.
MELYNDA McCABETOGETHER SINCE: JULY 4TH, 2009
( )SPOTLIGHT04/05/12 9
PHOTO BY: CECI KURON
PHOTO BY: BAILEY REARDON
A WHOLE
I t is easy to forget the uniqueness of other countries because life in America has become the “norm” for citizens. However, when other cultures are brought to America, the vast contrasts are brought to attention. With differences such as laws, education, sports and food; it is hard to overlook society’s
distinct variations. Three students; Natalia Johannesen of Denmark, Dominik Lange of Germany, and Filipa Valentim of Portugal have overcome the culture shock of the U.S. in many unique ways.
STORY BY SHELBY GREGO
NEWWORLD
( ) STUDENT LIFEEAGLE’S VIEW10
PORTUGAL
GERMANY
DENMARK
Senior Natalia Johannesen is a foreign exchange student from Copenhagen, Denmark. She arrived in America last August to stay with her hosts, the Manglos family in America. There are many things about the U.S that have affected Natalia in a positive manner. “I just love the size of things in America. Everything is larger than back at home. Another thing I have come to love is how outgoing the American people are, everyone seems so friendly,” Johanneson said. Laws in other countries vary greatly from American laws. This can take much getting used to for people who are not American citizens. “The legal driving age in Denmark is 18 years old. Another law that is very unique is our drinking age. We are allowed to drink at age 16, so teens party much younger in Denmark,” Johanneson said. In America, sporting events are very significant to some individuals. However, in other countries, sports are viewed in other ways. “In Denmark we play a lot of handball. A lot of people also play soccer, but it isn’t really considered a big deal. However, there is no cheerleading and there’s also no American football,” Johanneson said. Natalia has faced many adventures in America, however will be returning to her home in Denmark this coming June.
Filipa Valentim is a foreign exchange student from Portugal. Though Filipa has spoken English since she was five years old, nothing could have prepared her for life in America. She departed Portugal last August and headed for the Barros’ family home in America. “I love so much about America. I have really enjoyed getting to know the people here. I appreciate the way that everyone has welcomed me to this new country,” Valentim said. Though many people in Portugal speak English, there are many distinguishing factors between the two countries; a major aspect is the education. “In Portugal we spend a lot more time at school. We go from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. It is also a lot less fun because we don’t have sports or clubs; we only have the necessary classes,” Valentim said. An additional difference between Portugal and America is the foods. “In Portugal the food is much healthier. American food has a lot more salt and sugar and is served in huge portions. But I do enjoy eating the food here in America, there is so much flavor, like ketchup and mustard. We don’t have those in Portugal,” Valentim said. Filipa has made many memories while staying in America. Some memories hold a very special place in her heart. “My host family took me to Colorado. That was a lot of fun, and was very different from Portugal. Other things I love to do in America is go to Worlds of Fun, and also go to football games. Both are very unique from Portugal,” Valentim said. Over the past seven months Filipa has taken part in the opportunity of a lifetime, and for the next three months, until she returns to her home in Portugal, she will continue to make more memories in America.
Senior Dominik Lange is a foreign exchange student from Germany. He arrived at Nathaniel Smith’s home last August. “I’m from a small town in Germany. It is between the cities of Frankfort and Stuttgart,” Lange said. Not only has Dominik traveled across the world to get to Missouri, his host family has also taken him across the country to experience much of what America is about. “My host family took me to Tennessee. It was a lot of fun and I saw a lot of unique things. We went hiking and we even went inside of a cave. It was very different from other things I have seen before,” Lange said. Aside from all of the sights Dominik has gotten to see during his stay in America, he has also experienced many different types food. “The food at home is very different than food in America. At home, the food is much healthier; nothing is fried like it is here. But I’ve grown to like the food here. My favorite is barbeque,” Lange said. Food is not the only thing Dominik has grown to love. “I love the people here. Everyone seems to greet me with open arms and they are all very interested when they find out I am from Germany. I also really like school here. It is much more fun than back home,” Lange said. Although Dominik enjoys many things here in the U. S, there are also many hobbies that are very different. “In America the hobbies are sort of boring, people do a lot of relaxing. But in Germany it is legal to drink at age 16, so the hobbies of teenagers is very different from America,” Lange said. Though Dominik will be leaving his host family this June, he will be returning to Germany with countless experiences to share with his friends and family.
FILIPA VALENTIM-PORTUGAL
DOMINIK LANGE- GERMANY
NATALIA JOHANNESEN-DENMARK
( )STUDENT LIFE04/05/12 11
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAGE
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAGE
PHOTO BY KEVIN PAGE
Teenagers all over Liberty look to school as a great escape from their parents from 7:40-2:50. However, for some students here, their parent comes to school with them
as a teacher. “I love having my son, Clay, at the school I teach. I feel a deeper connection to the school, students, and community because our family is invested emotionally and financially,” art teacher Chablis Brendel said. Having a parent at school could be stressful and a blessing at the same time. Students know that there are pros and cons to having their parent as a teacher. “It definitely has its ups and downs. On one hand, she [Mrs. Trinidad] finds out anything I do wrong. On the other hand, she is able to keep food for me if I am hungry,” sophomore Harrison Trinidad said. As teachers, they have easier access to all of their child’s teachers, friends, and information.
“She [Mrs. Callura] is always there to check up on me. If I were to get into trouble, she would know right away. It’s kind of annoying sometimes,” junior Kylie Callura said. The parents agree that the best advantage of being at the school is being able to know what is going on in their child’s life. “There are a lot of little things that are my favorite part about going to the same school. When we talk about school, I can better understand what she [Kylie Callura] is talking to me about her day,” athletic secretary Heather Callura said. With their parents at the same school, they are able to get what they need; which allows the parent to see their child more often throughout the day. “If I need anything, I can go to him [Mr. Kernell]. I can have him give me money or go home real quick to get something for me,” junior Zac Kernell said. With teachers having their children as students, there could
arise conflicts of interests. However, this has not been an issue. “In class, I strive to maintain a teacher-student relationship, even though he [Jonathan Thomas] gets to call me “Mom.” I try to take into account all of my students’ intelligences, strengths, and weaknesses, and push them where they need pushed. I provide support where I know they aren’t as skilled. The difference is that I’m even more keenly aware of Jonathan’s strengths and weaknesses because I’ve lived with him for over 16 years,” communication arts teacher Kimberly Brownlee said. There is an agreement that just because their parent is a teacher, they do not get to catch a break during school. “I don’t think that she [Mrs. Brownlee] treats me differently. She tries as hard as possible to treat me the same as the other students,” sophomore Jonathan Thompson said.
TEACHING(LIFE)LESSONS
STORY BY MADi SAUNDERS
Many students around Liberty North have their parents with them every day
( )STUDENT LIFE
EAGLE’S VIEW12
“I love having my mom at school. If I ever need something, she is always there when I forget to ask before school,” junior Kylie Callura said.
( )STUDENT LIFE04/05/12 13
SPRING FASHIONFOR THE FASHIONISTAS
Available at Pac SunApproximately $16
Available at Forever 21Approximately $7
Available at BuckleApproximately $98
Available at KohlsApproximately $25
Available at Abercrombie and FitchApproximately $50
Available at JourneysApproximately $75
STORY BY PAYTON WOLFF
A students’ quick guide to fashion for less
Warm weather , sunshine, rain, antsy for summer... All of these bring to mind Springtime. Spring brings along many changes, one of them being a wardrobe change. It is time to switch out jeans for shorts, sweaters for tank tops, and sneakers for sandals. Spring is a time to transition attire for summer weather. Junior Mckenzie Simon and junior Jase Willhite model the perfect outfits to enjoy some sun.
“I love to wear this outfit during the spring because it is super fresh. It is perfect for the weather,” junior Jase Wilhite said.
“This outfit is perfect for the spring weather and an even be adjusted for summer weather. It is easy to mix in colors and prints,” junior Mckenzie Simon said.
defying ( ) INDEPTH
EAGLE’S VIEW14
A stressed student walks into class and starts complaining about how hard their life has been lately, not aware that the person next to them has had an abnormally hard life since birth. A bad grade or a shattering heartbreak does not compare to hospital visits every six weeks or daily check-ups from the school nurse due to the life threatening medical condition. Whether it is an extremely rare allergy to Greece’s favorite fruit, the olive, or a bone rattling disease that makes its victim more prone to breaking their skeleton during the simplest activities; life is a bigger challenge for a selected few students. The Eagle’s View held a round table discussion on Wednesday March 7th and 14th during advisory with Cameron Hellrich, Alex Westhues, Taylor Bennett, Austin Salmon, and Ian Lane to interview them about their medical conditions and how it affects their everyday life.
STORY BY CORTNEY SNYDER
Five Liberty North students defy the odds by overcoming their unique medical conditionsPhotos by Kevin Page.
ODDSdefying the( )INDEPTH
4/05/12 15
theoddsWhat is your condition?Cameron Hellrich: Osteogenisis Imperfecta or brittle bone disease is a kidney condition. While in the womb calcium was not distributed to my bones correctly causing them to grow hollow and break easily. Alex Westhues: Amniotic band syndrome is a congenital disorder caused by entrapment of fetal parts (usually a limb or digits) in fibrous amniotic bands while in utero. And I have an “empty” spot on my brain I don’t know how to find a legitimate definition for. The amniotic band wrapped around my arm and cut off circulation and I don’t know if it just never grew or it just fell off before I was born.Taylor Bennett: I have a severe food allergy to olives and olive oil. My olive allergy started freshman year, they say my proteins changed which caused me to have asthma, and risk of liver and kidney failure. Ian Lane: I had a brain tumor that was in my body since birth. At 14 it burst inside my body. It really affected the left side of my brain and caused me to have a stroke. The right side of my body is still recovering from my stroke. Austin Salmon: Chrones disease affects the intestines and digestive tracks. They don’t know how I got it, it’s a hereditary disease, but no one on either side of my family that we know of has it. It causes a lot of pain though, especially without the medicine. What do you want people to know about your condition?CH: There is a lot of in-depth info about to my condition. So if people want to know, I just give them the basics. But most people know, “oh, that’s the kid who breaks bones.” I prefer to tell people in a group so I don’t have to repeat it 20 times.AW: As far as accepting my condition, it was easy to accept for me because I’ve had it all my life. But for others, I always get the same question, “where’d your arm go?” I’ve noticed that kids who didn’t go to school with me or are new, they just kind of stare, and I’m like, “if you want to know, come over and ask, I don’t really care.” Whenever people say “oh that’s the kid that has one arm,” it makes me more known and so people know e by that, but I don’t know them. I want them to come introduce themselves to me so I’m not like, “I don’t know you.”TB: When people acknowledge me about it, they just say, “oh that sucks,” and it’s like, “ya trust me, I know.AS: When there’s a bunch of people asking questions and they put you one the spot, it’s weird. To be honest, I don’t know as much about Chrones as I probably should, so I don’t always know what to say.
Has there ever been any close calls or very stressful moments that have happened?CH: When I broke my sternum I was out of school for like two months, I was on oxycontin like three times a day, I got pretty depressed and it was tough. It’s kind of hard to talk about it; it helped change me as an individual.AW: The empty spot in my brain that causes seizure. They thought it was just a phase, like they only thought it would last until I was 14, so they took me off the medication, but I had to be put back on it because I had a seizure, and I couldn’t drive for six months. I’ve had 6 or 7 seizures in my life, but they usually happen right before I wake up. It’s weird because I don’t remember the seizure, I just remember waking up.TB: I was diagnosed sophomore year, and I was in the hospital all the time, it was awful. I couldn’t eat anything. There was one time I was in the ambulance with my mom and she started crying. You can only take so many drugs, and I was already on steroids.IL: Each day is a challenge for me. My condition does not follow any patterns, therefore my body may suddenly give out on me and I have to patiently wait for the control to return to my limbs.AS: The close call I had was 7th grade when I first got sick and they didn’t know what was wrong with me for a month. I didn’t know what would happen to me, so it would make me really nervous.
Are there any side effects to your medicine?CH: One side effect was that when I was five, this medicine deteriorated my jaw.TB: I take steroids if I have a reaction, and those can make you feel really mad and upset. The Epinephrine can make you really shaky. AS: I was put on medicine that made my cheeks puff up for a while. It was kind of embarrassing.IL: I have to take medicine that is so powerful that I will have a seizure if I don’t take it.
What are the advantages/benefits of your condition?CH: I benefit from handicap parking.TB: It makes me unique, it’s weird because I’m the only person known in the United States to have an olive allergy. People at the hospital recognize me and know who I am.AS: I feel unique, especially since the doctors do not exactly know how I got Chrones.
defying
cameronhellerich taylorbennett
The students discuss the difficulties of their medical conditions at the round table dicussion held by reporter Cortney Snyder.Photos by Ceci Kuron.
( )INDEPTH04/05/1217
Any funny stories?CH: One time it was snowing really badly and I was running home. I had my hood up and I had my head down because the wind was blowing in my face. And I ran into a parked car. What’s so strange is that I can run into a car and not break anything, just have a sore knee that temporarily was blue. But I break bones from the simplest activities.AW: This one time when I was in 5th grade, I went to the hospital and for some reason they had to prick my fingers for blood. But the doctor said that my pointer finger wasn’t good. So she pricked all five.TB: There was this one time I was at the hospital, and I was on a ton of medicine. So I was a little loopy you know; well apparently, though I don’t remember it, but I was playing with the oxygen thing and I was like, “look mom, I’m a blowfish!”IL: When my body took on a mind of its own I accidently kicked Mrs. Trinidad very hard in her left quad.
When someone complains about a headache or something petty, what comes to your mind?CH: I think it’s funny when people will be complaining about jamming their fingers and then I’ll be like, “well um…I broke my sternum.”AW: Whenever people are like “I can’t do that,” and yet I can, I’m like, “look at your hands, and look at mine.”TB: When people complain or become really picky about their food like “Oh I don’t like this/that food,” it’s like; well at least you can eat it. People can be really inconsiderate and unappreciative.AS: Mainly for me, it’s when people complain about their stomach hurting. I’m like really? You don’t know stomach pains. I mean, I kind of mumbed myself to it, so what hurts to them is probably minor to my pains.
Which is worse, when people give you pity or judgment?CH: I really don’t like the pity. I can handle myself and I know what my limits are.AW: With me, the reaction is like…how do you react? I mean, I’ve lived with amoebic bonding syndrome all my life and I’m over it. You can’t do it anything about it so just leave it alone. AS: I personally don’t like the pity. It’s unnecessary. My condition is not life threatening, so I don’t need their thoughts, I’d rather them just keep their opinions to themselves.
How is your lifestyle different or the same as others?CH: I have to take nerve pills and not do any physical activity. Every three to six months I visit the hospital for a bone density test. I’m allergic to morphine so that limits my food intake too. I’ve broken so many bones I lost count of them after 80.AW: I don’t really have anything different in my routine. The biggest issue is that I can’t drive a stick shift.TB: I take a lot of medicine; my medicine changes throughout the seasons and I have to read everything before I eat it. I also have to carry an Epipen everywhere I go.AS: I can’t stay anywhere without my medication. Morning and night I take it and every six weeks I get an infusion to make sure it’s in check.
Does your condition define you as a person?CH: I don’t think it really defines me. I mean I can do just about anything that I want to. But I want to be an orthopedic surgeon, so it helped me chose what I want to do.AW: I want to do sports medicine; it might be a little hard for an athlete while I’m wrapping them up though.TB: I don’t see it as a limitation, and I don’t think anyone is held back by his or her limitations. It defines me but it isn’t going to hold me back in the future.AS: The main thing for me is I really want to travel around the world. But I don’t know how realistic that is because if I’m in some remote place and run out of medicine, I could die. I think my disease defines my lifestyle, and myself. I just don’t want it to and I try not to let it.
Do you ever wish you didn’t have your condition? What would you do without it?CH: I wish I could play basketball; I want to play sports without worrying about breaking anything. I’m really tired of taking pills and only being able to play basketball for a half hour before my feet start to hurt.AW: I’d like to be able to bench press normally and drive a stick.TB: I would enjoy not having to read everything I eat and not having to go to the hospital constantly.IL: I am very aware that my condition limits my social and classroom access. I would much rather start and end my day without all the physical limitations in between.AS: I wish I didn’t have to take medicine everyday. I just want to go a week and not worry about it.
alexwesthues austinsalmonianlane
DIFFERENT ERAS,
STORY BY JESSICA GRIFFITH
The desire to be up close and personal with a favorite musician is timeless. Going to concerts is an experience that can open up a new world for many individuals. It can be surprising to see different concerts that teachers and students have attended.
“I think it is weird when teachers go to concerts that I would not expect them to go to. I know that Mrs. Hoff went to a Taylor Swift concert with her daughter, I think it is weird because I didn’t know teachers liked that kind of music like a lot of students at our school,” senior Kathryn Surprenant said. Many students are seen going to concerts like Drake, Lil Wayne, Demi Lovato, Tim McGraw and many other contemporary singers, while teachers taste in music is from a different genre and generation than what many students appreciate. “My favorite concert I have gone to is the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I have also been to concerts like U2, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac and Sting. I like some new alternative music but some lacks imagination,” culinary advisor Jody Fowler said. When students and teachers go to concerts they may have a hard time finding reasonably priced tickets. Yet, it can be worth the extra bucks to see a concert they would enjoy. “I went to the Autumn of Apologies concert and it only cost me five dollars, I try my best to look for good deals so I don’t spend a ton of money. Concerts are fun because you can be who you are without being judged,” junior Jordan Corcione said. When teachers were in high school and college many had favorite bands from the seventies, eighties, nineties and some going further back in time. “One of my favorite concerts was Metallica because I had liked the music it was in the early nineties when I went to their concert. I have also been to U2, Paul McCartney, and different Festivals concerts that hold more than one band,” math instructor Mark Warner said. Music favorites can range from the early seventies of rock and roll, to eighties big hair bands and as of today the twenty first century contemporary music. The type, era, or culture of the music is personal but being in the presence of a favorite musician is a timeless matter.
DIFFERENT MUSIC
( ) A&EEAGLE’S VIEW18
UPCOMING CONCERTSMIRANDA LAMBERTFRIDAY, MAY 11 AT THE SPRINT CENTER
VAN HALENTUESDAY, MAY 22 AT THE SPRINT CENTER
BIG TIME RUSHFRIDAY, JULY 22 AT THE SPRINT CENTER
NICKLEBACK, BUSH, SEETHER, & MY DARKEST DAYSTUESDAT, JUNE 5 AT THE SPRINT CENTER
Regardless of generation, music lives on
Many students saw Taylor Swift last September when she came to Kansas City, “The concert was good. The backgrounds were also re-ally good. She was better live than I’ve ever seen in a video. Everyone was holding up the number 13. There was a tree in the middle of the audience that she walked out to in the crowd and sang “You Belong With Me”. I would definitely see her again if I had the opportunity to,” sophomore Haley Allen said.
The KLPS-TV Channel 18 Telethon is an annual Television event hosted once a year in Liberty. This year will feature a new segment called Liberty’s Got Talent. The segment will be similar to one last year titled Liberty Idol. The difference, however, is this segment will
reach out to people of all skills instead of just singers. This year the Telethon will be hosted on Friday, April 13th. It takes lots of people and time to produce something of its quality. “This event takes the skills of multiple students, and makes them collaborate with each other to produce something that brings the community together,” Broadcasting teacher and general manager Ann Bertoldie said. “The Telethon has two producers, me and Brock Mitchell, but there are tons of people behind the scenes working on it effortlessly,” Associate Telethon Producer senior Kelsey Taylor said. This will be North’s second telethon and the first to ever be hosted at North. The broadcasting masterpiece is composed of a 24 hour live broadcast. Some of the content is pre-prepared, but this year the broadcasting team is promoting the use of more live segments. It has been planned and worked on since September of last year and ideas for it have been thrown out since last May. “It’s all about knowing what people want to see on the Telethon,” Taylor said. This will be the 11th annual telethon and its producers think it will be the best. It will also feature various events. The admission to exotic animals sponsored by Exotic Animals R Us will be one dollar. This will let allow everyone to see a variety of exotic animals. This will be followed by the hantis tournament in which teams will face off, which will be six dollars per team, and Liberty’s Got Talent, which will be three dollars. To finish off the night will be a concert which will have a five dollar admission. This is supposed to be the most anticipated event. The concert lineup includes Powerslide, Helen Keller Sex Fiasco, and Boy in a Bear Costume. Students planning on going to all three live events can purchase a special ticket for seven dollars. “I’m looking forward to the concert the most. I’m in the dark for the most part though. I know there’s a concert and animals and that’s all I know. It’ll still be awesome though,” sophomore Emily Spittler said.
STORY BY CHRIS KANDLBINDER
Liberty North’s broadcasting students prepare to host their second Telethon
BROADCASTING BY THE NUMBERS
advisors
computers
hours
events
student producers
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GOING LIVE( )A&E
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1 Preparing for the Telethon is a bonding experience for all of the stu-dents. “My favorite part about the Telethon is how we are all a family. It’s like having a family away from family,” Sophomore Nick Jenness
Broadcasting can be an opportunity for students to decide what they want do do with their future. “Broadcasting is inspiring and I kind of want to go into it in the future because it is this fun and interesting,”
What seperates broadcasting from most classes is the experience students recieve. “Broadcasting is the best. There is always something new and entertaining going on. Especially in preparing for the Telethon,” Junior Kylie Calura said.
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AGAINST ALL ODDSSTORY BY ARIANNA SKINDELL
D espite having spent the premiere contending with hordes of middle school girls touting Team Peeta and Team Gale shirts and giggling, I found “The Hunger Games” movie to be satisfying. The film version of the popular dystopia novel
offers new insight into the inner workings of the evil Capitol and makes changes to the original material in advantageous ways. What struck me most about “The Hunger Games” movie were the performances given by the highly attractive Wes Bentley (Seneca Crane) and acting veteran Donald Sunderland (President Snow). Although Suzanne Collins’ book limits these characters’ depth and instead revolves solely around Katniss Everdeen’s struggles, the film lets viewers get better acquainted with the overconfident Gamemaker and the psychopathic President. In fact, the dialogue exchanged between the two during the film-exclusive scenes in Snow’s rose garden actually makes the Games seem more sick and diabolical: as Snow tells Crane to “contain” hope in the arena, the viewer is forced to come to terms with the
idea that these people really are evil—they truly believe that killing children is the answer to Panem’s problems. Plenty of fans seem to be griping about the film adaptation’s lack of attention to detail, but their qualms appear to go no deeper than protesting the omission of pointless details. Sure, Madge is not the person who gives Katniss the Mockingjay pin in the film, but in the grand scheme of things, isn’t it a little more moving to see our hero’s beloved younger sister offer some hope in a dark and dangerous time? Ultimately, “The Hunger Games” movie makes excellent use of cinematic embellishment, sometimes conveying emotion in ways even Collins couldn’t. It might not be what you remember, but it’s still just as good. Ever since “Harry Potter” ended, I couldn’t imagine another “book movie” worthy of being a cultural phenomenon. Somehow, “The Hunger Games” film has coaxed me into suspending disbelief. This film is modern, intense, and profound—but, more importantly, it touches your heart in all the right places, even when the book doesn’t.
IS NBC’S SHOW A SMASH HIT?Promotional photo provided by Lionsgate Films Inc.
Is it just me or do half the people on this show have British accents? I am not complaining, though. Despite all the rumors that “SMASH” is an “adult version of ‘Glee’”, I find it to be nothing like “Glee” whatsoever. While “Glee” tends to randomly break into song and dance, using hit songs and semi-attractive characters to draw people in.
“SMASH” is the exact opposite; it is a show about music, but the only reason there is song and dance is when it is necessary for the plot, such as when the cast is rehearsing a scene for the musical. The episodes seem to start off interesting and draw you in, but the middle of each tends to get boring. I like how there is still some conflict and drama between the families as a side-story; however, the middle does not hold my attention. Every episode seems to end with a bang or something that leaves you questioning what exactly is happening, so you are forced to watch at least the beginning of the next episode. Another thing I really like is that even if you miss an episode of “SMASH” or you start watching it after missing the first few episodes, you are not hopelessly lost. They seem to highlight the main points about what is going on at the start of the show so you can basically figure the rest out for yourself. Overall, the show is not awful, however it isn’t something I would recommend nor is it something I will be continuing to watch. It could not hold my interest and that is something that I have to have in order to keep up with a series.
STORY BY ALLY PAYNE
Promotional photo provided by NBC-Universal, 2012
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As I decided to submerge myself into the first book, “Marked”, in the “House of Night” series, I had no idea that the book would keep me hooked all the way until the end. This again happened to me as I read the next eight books in the series: “Betrayed”, “Chosen”,
“Untamed”, “Hunted”, “Tempted”, “Burned”, “Awakened”, and “Destined”. The “House of Night” series is about a young girl Zoey Redbird who is turned into a vampire fledgling. Not only is she going through the transition of being a “vampyre”; she is also Marked to be a Priestess with the ability to control all five elements: water, fire, earth, air and spirit. On top of all that, she has to balance being a teenager, in love, betrayal, evil, and plenty of more drama. Before I started the series I thought to myself, another vampire book? However, the books are cleverly written and are not like any of the other vampire books in circulation. These books actually have a significant plot. Each book indulges in many twists and turns that keep the reader emotionally invested. The writers do an incredible job of making the readers feel like they are in book as they are reading it. I quite enjoy the series as a whole, although as the series continues the books get more and more captivating. My favorite book so far is the last one, “Destined”, because it keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next. My least favorite book is “Burned”, but that is only because it is mainly about my least favorite character, Steve-Rae, Zoey’s best friend. Do not misunderstand me, it does have a few interesting parts. Authors P.C. and Kristin Cast are currently writing the rest of the series. The next book, “Hidden”, is to be released on October 16, 2012. Truthfully, the only problem with the series is the time between each book is released. The wait is excruciating because I want to continue to see how the characters progress because I am completely obsessed with the “House of Night” books.
STORY BY MADI SAUNDERS
HOOKED ON HOUSE OF NIGHT
Promotional photo provided by St. Martin’s Press, LLC.
Promotional photo provided by NBC-Universal, 2012
AN ALL-AMERICAN ALBUMSTORY BY ARIANNA SKINDELL
The particularly poigniant title of a Cobra Starship song tells us that “Pop-punk is sooo 2005.” Now that we have successfully escaped junior high school, I think every student at LNHS can agree that those words ring very true. Pop-punk is dead. And, while I admit that I am the wrong person to ask about the validity
of the mid-2000s pop-punk scene (I still listen to Fall Out Boy), I can assure you that it is going to stay that way. With the release of their new album, “Kids In The Street”, the last vestige of the pop-punk genre-- also known as The All-American Rejects-- has sealed up their genre’s coffin and buried it so deep within the earth that no one even cares to dig it back up. “Kids In The Street” opens with one good song, “Someday’s Gone,” a morbid little ditty about a tarnished romance that includes some interesting “freak-out” guitar moments. It’s rugged, quirky, and passionate-- some of the things pop-punk fans love best. But, as fate would have it, the rest of the album finds itself dabbling in anachronistic genre-bending (track 2, “Beekeeper’s Daughter”, channels ska in a way that would make Goldfinger slit his own throat, while track 4, “Heartbeat Slowing Down”, shamelessly imitates Fun.) and the quintessential whining that first made critics hate the scene. Most painful to listen to was track 10, “Affection”, which splices singer Tyson Ritter’s trademark high-pitched whining with an instrumental hybrid of a Disney musical love song and Louie Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World.” “Kids In The Street” is one project that The All-American Rejects should have kept a “Dirty Little Secret”. If you are feeling some nostalgia for 2006, spare yourself the expense of buying this album and dust off your copy of “Move Along” instead. It’s still whiny, but at least you know all the words.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS“They did a great job of depicting the book in the movie and didn’t cut anything from the book out.”
BROCK MITCHELL
“The movies were some of the best ever made and they did a great job of following the storyline of the book.”
DYLAN SANCHEZ
“Both the movies and the books were suspenseful and kept me reading.”
KELSEA GRAHAM
STAFFFAVORITESNICHOLAS SPARKS
“The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks because the book was very well written and it was just such a sweet story. I really enjoyed the movie too.”
HALEY RICHARDSON
“Dear John by Nicholas Sparks because the book had a heart felt storyline and I really enjoyed it.”
KATELYNN DOWNEY
“I really like Dear John because the story line is phenomenal and I hope my life turns out like that.”
BAILEY REARDON
HARRY POTTER“The books just had many exciting storylines with a lot of twists and turns. It was very fun to follow Harry as he grew up from a young boy all the way to adulthood.”
KATELEN PERMENTER
“It was a very interesting series to read and it was very hard to stop reading them and the movies were great.”
KEVIN PAGE
“The books were really good and the movies didn’t butcher the books like they usually do.”
CECI KURON
THE HUNGER GAMES“It looks like they did a very good job of recreating the images I had imagined while reading the book.”
ALLY PAYNE
“The books were very suspenseful. I just wanted to keep reading them. It’s a very imaginative book and it put me in a different world.”
PAYTON WOLFF
“It was a very action packed series and they just kept you wanting to read and I can’t wait to see the movie.”
COURTNEY SNYDER
Liberty North’s Eagles View staff shares their favorite books turned into box office hits
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( )OPINIONEAGLE’S VIEW24
DYLAN SANCHEZEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
HALEY RICHARDSONEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
HIS HEART WILL GO ON
A “SOAPY” SITUATION
For as long as I can remember, I have been anti-soap-opera. My hatred for these drama-loving shows has driven me into many heated rants. Never have I understood why someone would willingly, and even excitedly, watch hours-upon-hours of fake slapping, bad acting, and ridiculously fabricated, murderous plots. Despite this hatred, something unbelievable has happened. I have become a “soapy”. Granted, I am not even entirely sure if there is a technical term for our kind, but considering the horrifically embarrassing implications involved in loving this genre, I do believe a “soapy” fits the humiliation quite well. I cannot remember the first time I realized I had become “that girl”: the one who anxiously awaits the next episode, the one who sits mesmerized by the sheer entertainment of every twist and turn my television presents, the one who analyzes everything until I am sure I have discovered all the juicy secrets. It sickens me really, being “that girl”. She is not quite the drama free, relatively tasteful girl I once knew.
This being said, I have not yet entered the realm of the daytime soaps. Instead I have been sucked into the incredibly crafted drama that channels like ABC Family and the CW have concocted. Whether it is twins searching for their estranged mother, the crazy lives of four Pretty Little Liars, or any of the sob stories on One Tree Hill, I love (and am borderline obsessed with) it all. Part of me believes that I was lured into these shows purely as an unconscious reassurance that I am incredibly lucky to not live amongst complete psychopaths (well, mostly). Or that somehow by watching episode after episode of ruthless drama I could learn important life lessons (i.e. do not walk into an abandoned house alone at midnight while scary music plays in the background). However, the realistic part knows otherwise: drama is something I secretly, and shamefully, am quite fond of. Luckily for me, this madness has a cure, albeit temporary. My beloved shows have ended for the winter and will not be back for a very long while, leaving me with a drama-less pit in my soul.
It is no secret that I am a huge movie fanatic. I watch movies constantly and usually stay fairly up to date with recent releases. However, while plenty of people are intently focusing on “The Hunger Games” or “Breaking Dawn Part II” right now, I have my sights set on only one major release. It helps that I have seen the movie countless times before, so I already know I will love it. That movie, of course, is the 3D re-release of the 1997 masterpiece “Titanic”. Ever since I was a child, I remember “Titanic” being one of my favorite movies to watch. Even to this day, I still feel the same bond with that piece of film and its characters; it is a bond that’s been there since I first saw it on the VHS set my family owned, which I remember had to come in a box of two tapes because the movie is so long it could not fit on one. Still, I cannot put my finger on exactly what it is about this movie that I fell in love with. I mean, as a child, there was no way I would have understood the historical significance of the sinking of the Titanic, and the romance at the heart of the story would never have caught my interest if it were any other movie. Maybe it was just the
nostalgia of it, something that I latched on to and continued to love just to revisit my childhood. Who knows? But it happened. Even the first pets I owned, two little goldfish, were named Jack and Rose after Leonardo DiCaprio’s and Kate Winslet’s characters in the film. The story of Jack’s and Rose’s romance aboard the Titanic became a fascination and just watching them come alive on the screen was almost like some sort of emotional catharsis for me. Not that six year-old-me had any clue what it was like to be in their predicament—two young lovers separated by class aboard an ill-fated ocean liner in 1912—but I liked to pretend I did. So on April 4, when “Titanic 3D” is released into theaters, you can guarantee I will be in the front row. To witness “I’m the king of the world!” and “I’ll never let go, Jack” up on the big screen rather than on my home television is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could never let pass me by. The actual 3D conversion does not mean much to me—honestly, I could really do with out it—but that is just a minor detail. “Titanic” really became, and still is, a piece of my childhood. This piece of cinematic history will forever be something that I love and a work of art that I could never appreciate enough.
PRO CONUN-weighted? After painting your heart out on the most difficult acrylic painting you have ever done, you get the A+ you are proud of. Unfortunately, that high grade in your art class will not affect your GPA near as much as the C you received on your AP English paper. Weighting grades makes this difficult core class seem more important than your art class, no matter how much effort you give. A weighted grade system means that a different grading scale is used when a student takes an advanced class. An AP-level class is graded based on a 5.0 scale instead of a 4.0 scale, meaning that a B in an AP class would be worth the same as an A in a grade-level class. So, if you are taking all AP classes one year and get all As, you would have a 5.0 GPA instead of a 4.0. If a weighted grading system were implemented, many students would use it to their advantage and take as many high level/AP classes as possible just to bring their GPAs up. That is a heck of a lot of work to do and a huge amount of stress to manage. AP classes come with higher expectations in addition to more work and effort than grade-level classes, and that is something that many students are not prepared for. With students focusing all their attention on AP classes and getting the highest GPA possible, they would have no room in their schedules for creative classes. Courses like newspaper, choir, and sculpture will be considered too low-level of classes, so students will refrain from taking them. Deterring students from participating in fine arts programs would lose our school district a bunch of revenue. Furthermore, high-level art, music, and writing classes actually look the same, if not better, on a transcript as AP classes, especially if the student is looking to pursue a career in one of those areas. It has been shown that fine arts actually increase students’ test scores. Students do better on creative writing/thinking parts on standardized tests, and they tend to have more active social skills and be happier over their high school career. If students are pressured to take only high-level classes to raise their GPA, they will be missing out on these opportunities. Weighting grades just puts added stress on teenagers who are already stressed out enough. I would much rather take classes I enjoy and that will help me in the long run, rather than take difficult classes just to make my grades look better. GPAs should be kept the way they are now, instead of basing them off of how difficult your classes are.
ALLY PAYNEREPORTER
KATELYNN DOWNEYREPORTER
SHOULD LPS IMPLEMENT WEIGHTED GPAS?( )
For those students who partake in AP and college-level classes, you can relate to my pain: the extra note taking that amounts to almost three hours of work at times, the weekly tests and the endless lectures that put us ahead of the rest of our grade on the educational path. Despite our hard work, our grades may still suffer from these higher-level classes. The Liberty Public School district grades all classes on a 4.0 scale
instead of on a 5.0 scale for AP and college classes. Higher-level classes should be on a 5.0 scale, no question about it. Not only is it not
fair to those students who give extra effort in taking harder classes, but also it is also not fair when you consider students who maintain a 4.0 by taking non-challenging elective courses. Whenever you log onto PowerSchool and four “A’s” and three “B’s” in AP Biology, College-Level Composition and AP Physics are revealed, that 3.45 GPA is looking pretty good. If the schools allowed us to be on a 5.0 scale, you would be graciously be viewing a 4.0 with 3 college-level classes. It is ridiculous that we are not on a 5.0 scale. Non-weighted GPAs could possibly be taking scholarship money away from our students. If our school allowed for a 5.0 scale while being enrolled into college-level classes, it would help provide seniors with the chance to get more scholarship money for college. When students apply for certain scholarships or programs, the highest GPAs are normally admitted first. Students who have 4.3 GPAs might be chosen over a LPS senior because you cannot have over a 4.0 GPA in the Liberty Public School district. When students who are enrolled in a large amount of AP classes and have shaky grades, it is sometimes difficult for them to be able to explain their sinking GPAs to their parents. I would know first hand. Though I was once a 4.0 student, being enrolled in college-level classes has definitely taken a toll on my GPA although I have been working just as hard. In real life situations, LPS students who are enrolled in “higher-level” classes are still sent trudging along the path of AP and college-level courses with negative repercussions. For every note or test taken, every lecture sat through, every lab completed, our “higher-level” skills are viewed in the same light as any other student’s average skills. To take advanced classes is a good choice for students; reward them for challenging themselves by using a weighted grading scale.
( ) OPINION4/05/12 25
For years, my mom tried to break me of my Pokémon obsession. Reminding me that making friends would require prying my eyes away from the screen, she once made the mistake of grounding me from my special edition Pikachu Game Boy Color. Once. When I entered high school and remained obsessed, veracious Mom just kept on trying. She even threatened to show the “secret” pictures of seven-year-old-Ari in a Pikachu costume to all of my prospective prom dates.
ARIANNA SKINDELLOPINION EDITOR
Honestly, I thought that strategy was well-played on her part; those pictures might as well have been captioned “Virginity, I choose you!” Unfortunately for Mom, I only find myself attracted to guys who don’t mind that sort of thing. Needless to say, her plan failed miserably. I’m almost eighteen now, and I still can’t go to school without bringing a Pokémon game along. My boyfriend happily enables my addiction, and my eternal goal to “Catch ‘em All” has made me quite a few friends over the years. I might have grown up, but I definitely haven’t grown out of my favorite childhood obsession. To call my love for Pokémon obsessive might be a little euphemistic; my entire world revolves around those magnificent little monsters. My favorite is Dragonite, whom I find simply adorable because his tiny wings defy laws of physics everyday by holding up his giant, bulbous body. My plush version of the cuddly dragon sleeps with me every night and even travels to debate tournaments. When I’m not spending my time curled up with a stuffed Pokémon or playing a video game from the series, I’m finding ways to connect my obsession to the real world. For instance, after Herman Cain dropped out of the GOP candidate race, I cried. A lot. Not just because I was totally on board the “Cain Train” when it came to political
ideology, but also because there wasn’t a single other candidate who would quote lyrics from songs featured on the “Pokémon: the First Movie” soundtrack. As it turns out, I’m not alone; high school kids love Pokémon. I’ve had plenty of people I don’t know strike up conversations with me about the topic, compliment my Pikachu hat (you know, the awesome one with the dangling Pokéballs), and even finish the verse when I randomly sing out, “I wanna be the very best/ that no one ever was!” Maybe it’s because we all grew up with the cultural phenomenon, or maybe it’s just that everyone I know is a total nerd. Regardless, there’s something socially acceptable about being a Pokémon-loving teenager, so I have no qualms about embracing that. My one fear is that being a Pokémon-loving adult isn’t so okay. If college kids shouldn’t wear their high school letterman jackets on campus, then why would it be a good idea to carry around a Game Boy? For all I know, I’m setting myself for epic ridicule this autumn. Still, I have high hopes that collegiate life will accommodate my Pocket Monster friends. I’m already off to a good start: Mom has actually agreed to throw me a Pokémon-themed graduation party. I know she’s secretly excited for it, too.
To the most dedicated student athlete, sitting on the bench or missing the big game might as well be a death sentence. When you live to play the game you love, why would you ever take a backseat and risk missing out on the best season yet? Unfortunately, this mentality can result in terrible consequences: injuries understated by students, coaches, and parents despite their ability to cause severe damage and even death. A concussion is one of the most common and dangerous injuries sustained by student athletes, yet it is also one of the most down played. The Eagle’s View staff believes that concussions pose a real threat for student athletes and should be treated seriously. Most people would never think that a high school football game would lead to the death or permanent injury of a player, but concussions have been known to make that nightmarish situation a reality. For instance, in 2008, a 16-year old high school linebacker named Ryne Dougherty died after suffering multiple concussions, and in 2002, 17-year-old Max Conradt was hospitalized for bleeding in the brain, eventually sustaining significant neurological damage that left him with the mental capacity of a 9-year-old. Many laws calling for high school
athletic programs to deal with concussions more seriously have been drafted in response to these terrible events. As it turns out, these laws might be incredibly necessary. Despite the danger of returning to the field with a serious head injury, many schools do not require full treatment of concussions. In fact, the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital said that, between 2005 and 2008, about 40 percent of athletes with concussion were allowed to play again too soon. Most of the problem stems from lack of education about the severity of concussions, so educating coaches and parents should be a priority for school athletic programs. In response to growing concerns about teen athletes and concussions, team physician for the Seattle Seahawks Dr. Stan Herring said, “It’s better to miss a game than to miss a season ... better to miss a game than to miss the rest of your life.” Even if missing the big game might feel like the end of the world for a player, an untreated concussion could cost a young athlete much more than one night of glory. When it comes to school athletics, it is much better to be safe than it is to be sorry.
POKéMON, I CHOOSE YOU!
)(
STAFF EDITORIAL
CONCUSSIONS: LAUGHABLE OR LETHAL?
( )OPINIONEAGLE’S VIEW26
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MINDMANIAConcussions become a rising problem in high school sports
Kicking or tripping in soccer, taking a hard hit in football, falling down in cheerleading, slamming the pad in wrestling or sliding
hard for the base; concussions are, and have been, rampant for some time. Many students who are not aware of concussions and their aftermath are learning the definition first hand. An article from MidMissouri.com (powered by KRCG in Springfield, MO) reports 850 Missouri students suspected of having a concussion during the 2011 fall semester alone, a statistic that shows a rise in this traumatic brain injury. “I believe that concussions have always been around, but as we continue to build bigger, stronger, faster athletes concussions are more likely to occur. Things that deter concussion are proper technique for specific sport play as well as properly fitting equipment. However, when coaches, athletes, or parents fail to monitor the details that keep themselves or athletes safe, that is when concussions increase in frequency,” athletic trainer Amanda Andrews said. Players walk onto their respective field and do not expect to leave with any type of serious injury. Football, soccer, wrestling, cheerleading, and baseball are the sports that normally have athletes who get concussions. With the sports that are open to head-to-head and knee-to-knee contact, concussions spread even further. “To get my concussion, I tripped over my foot and afterwards landed on my head. But I still ended up laying the rest of the game. My head really started throbbing afterward. I went to a doctor and found out I had a concussion and was out for the next two weeks. I did not notice my head hurt until it ended up hurting really bad later,” junior Katie Wallace said. There is now a very highly efficient method to test the possibility of a student having a concussion from their respective sport. If a coach, parent, or athletic trainer believes that an athlete may be susceptible to a concussion, then the athlete can be asked to participate in an Impact Training Test. The athlete will sit down at a computer and take a series of mental tests to see if they are healthy. The athlete
will take the test on a consistent basis until the concussion has subsided. If an athlete takes a third Impact Training Test, the chances of returning to their sport for the season becomes minimal at best. “The staff has been well trained and does an amazing job monitoring their players for concussions and other injuries. The coaches are there to monitor practices, but it is equally important that players are forthcoming when any type of injury occurs,” nurse Misty Trinidad said. Technology and awareness of concussion possibilities in high school sports have shown a clear rise as years progress. Athletic trainers, parents, and school staff members are attempting to lower the risk of this injury, and the precautions further aid in the decline of this injury from occurring. People making sure all equipment fits properly, playing the respective sport properly, and proper technique for specific sports all contribute to stopping the rise of this injury. “To get my concussion, I was running a play and had the ball, and then I just remember getting hit in the head. I had sensitivity to light, and nausea right away. It took me at least three weeks to recover, and it was not a horrible concussion, but it was my second one,” sophomore football player Brad Slobodnik said. Though concussions can be minimized, there is really no way to prevent these injuries from happening. Students will have head-to-head and knee-to-knee contact now and in the future. Containing concussions must be the primary goal, and whether the awareness of this injury has grown, or the actual injury, the statistics for this particular injury are on the rise in Liberty and across the nation. “We try to prevent concussions by the normal procedures. We make sure helmets are up to date; we provide all safety drills, and practices and procedures that we know. I think it is a manageable issue. The equipment and identification will improve. It will all level out, and we will continue to try to prevent this from happening,” Athletic Director Bob Kernell said.
STORY BY TIM FALLERI
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS1. Appears dazed or stunned
2. Moves clumsily
3. Is unsure of the game, score, or opponent
4. Can’t recall events
5. Headache or “pressure” in head
6. Balance problems or dizziness
7. Blurry vision
8. Sensitivity to light and/or noise
9. Confusion
10. Nausea or vomitting
Information provided by sportsconcussions.org.
( )SPORTS
EAGLE’S VIEW28
1,100Missouri athletes suffered a head injury in fall 2011
871of the reported head injuries were concussions
81concussions in boys soccer
40 concussions in sideline cheerleading
29 concussions in girls’ volleyball
653concussions happened while playing football
Information provided by sportsconcussions.org. Photo by Ceci Kuron.
( ) SPORTS04/05/12 29
PITCHER PERFECT
In basketball the leader is the point guard, in football it is the quarterback, in volleyball it is the setter, in soccer the goalie, and in baseball: the pitcher. “I create the pace of the game,” senior Reed Morton said.
The pitcher can work quickly and keep the pace of the game fast, or he can work slowly and slow the game down. The pitcher controls the speed of the game and the beginning of each play. “My mind set, no matter what, is to focus on the glove: my target. I’m going to challenge him to hit the ball. I strive to get him out, no matter if he puts the ball in play or I strike him out. My job is to prevent base runners and if there are base runners, then my job is to prevent runs,” Morton said. As a pitcher, every single throw matters. It affects the game in so many ways. If the pitcher leaves a pitch up, then the ball could be smacked out of the park. If he loses control of a pitch, it go to far inside and hit the batter. This could cause the opposing team to gain all of the momentum and a base runner. A pitcher has to strategize how they are going to get the result that they want. “I aim to hit my spots. The goal is to hit the corners and don’t leave anything up,” junior Zach Starr said. Pitchers, with the help of their catcher, have to decide which pitch they want to throw every
time. So many factors contribute into their decision: how many base runners, how many outs, the count, score, and of course the batter. Pitchers have to make important decisions based on the situation. “My mind set is that there is no way this guy is going to hit me. I run the game. There is nothing that will stop that,” senior JD Williams said. The pitcher has the focus of everyone watching before every pitch. And they touch the ball on every single play. The pitcher is one of the most important positions in baseball and easily the position with the most pressure. “Everything I do on the mound reflects the team as a whole. I know I have my defense behind me. Pitching is a huge part of the game and it adds some extra pressure, but you learn to deal with it,” senior Blake Starr said. The Eagles’ baseball team has high hopes for the upcoming baseball season after another year of experience. “My goal for the team is for us to win districts and then make a run at state,” Williams said. In all sports there is that one position the leader on the field. In baseball, it is the pitcher. The pitcher is an extremely important player. They control the game, keep the pace, and affect every play.
STORY BY BEN WHALEN
“The mound is the focal point on the field and everyone’s focused on you,” senior Reed Morton said.
“My goal for the team is to win districts and then make a run at state.”
75-100 pitches per game
65%1lb 2.30
2-38
batters hit per season
sunflower seeds eaten per week
current ERA
games pitched per season
Senior JD Williams
pitches thrown are fastballs
Photos by Kevin Page
“I like the pressure of having the whole defense revolve around you and you feel like a million bucks when you walk away with a win,” senior Blake Starr said.
( ) SPORTSEAGLE’S VIEW30
The pitchers of Liberty North’s baseball team play an important role on the field
bailey
Taylor
SPRING ATHLETE PROFILES
Baseballfullerzach
An in-depth look at five spring athletes
( )SPORTS04/05/12 31
Men’s Tennis Track and Field
Men’s GolfWomen’s Soccerbarnett
kippChristopher
marcOhlhausen
julia parker
Years played: 15 years
What do you do at practice: Warm up, do skill work, then scrimmage
Biggest Influence: My dad
How do you prepare for game day: Just try to focus, listen to music and not try to freak myself out
Biggest Accomplishment: Winning state in soccer Sophomore year
Goals for this season: Improving our record, competing in district championship game
Favorite Movie: Titanic
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
“I like baseball because It is just really laid back yet at the same time it is a very competitive sport.”
max jobson
STORY BY MARK OYLER
Years played: 10 years
What do you do at practice: Stretch, play catch, go through different situations, conditioning and then hitting practice
Biggest Influence: My dad
How do you prepare for a game: Focus and just block everything else out
Biggest Accomplishment: Hitting first homerun for North
Goals for this season: Improving my batting average this year
Favorite Movie: Radio
Favorite Food: Steak
Years played: 5
What do you do at practice: Regular days we golf nine-hole game. If it is a day before a tournament we will work on putting, chipping, and other situations
Biggest Influence: Grandpa
How do you prepare for a match: Listen to music and just concentrate on doing my best
Biggest Accomplishment: Placing in JV Confrence Goals for this Season: Try to letter this year
Favorite Movie: Wind Talkers
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Years Played: 5 years
What do you do at practice: Challenge matches, agility drills, and a lot of skill work
Biggest Influence: My dad
How do you prepare for a match: Try and plan what I’m going to do plan my moves and focus.
Biggest Accomplishment: Making it to State last year
Goals for this Season: Make it to State again and win Districts and Conference as a team
Favorite Movie: Inception
Favorite Food: Sushi
How long have you been running: All my life
What do you do at practice: Monday, Wednesday, Friday. We do Cardio Workout Tuesday and Thursday we do jumps
Biggest Influence: My mom and a family friend of ours Megen Herren.
How do you prepare for a meet: Listen to music, pray, and focus on the meet and running hard
Biggest Accomplishment: Maintaining a 4.0 while being a varsity athlete
Goals for this Season: Win some races, work my hardest, get a scholarship
Favorite Movie: Tangled
Favorite Food: Pizza
How long have you been running: 4 years
What do you do at practice: Run. Some days we will do distance runs and other endurance work, and then on other days we will do sprints
Biggest Influence: My family. They are very motivating and they are reason I keep running
How do you prepare for a meet: Listen to music and just relax
Biggest Accomplishment: Getting second at State in Cross Country
Goals for the Season: Run fast, run hard, Do my best
Movie: Don’t have one
Favorite Food: Tacos
Track and Field
“I love that it is a team sport and you have to really work together to be successful, you can’t just rely on one person.”
“I just enjoy the sport as a whole, it’s a very fun and challenging sport to play.”
“I just like the competition and it is just a sport I enjoy playing.”
“I just love running and being able to be around all my friends.”
“My favorite thing about track is that feeling I get after a hard work out, knowing I worked my hardest.”
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