northwest passage
DESCRIPTION
2012, the Northwest PassageTRANSCRIPT
vol. 44 • issue 1Sept. 14, 2012
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIKALA COMPTON
HIGHLYCLASSIFIED
Each of the five most prevalent stereotypes at Northwest are examined.
Spinning successSenior Cameron Rex is one of the top cyclists in the nation.
Brightening the lightStudents raise funds to pay for head janitor Joe Ketcham’s son’s kidney surgery.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to get a baby ad for the yearbook. Pictures and messages will be featured in the baby ads section of the yearbook. The first deadline to submit pictures, a message, and your money for the lowest price possible is Sept. 14. The final deadline to submit everything is Dec. 18. But don’t wait until the December deadline otherwise you won’t be able to purchase an ad in color. Forms can be downloaded on smnw.com, as well as picked up in the office or the journalism room. If you have any questions, feel free to come to room 151 and contact Liz Hudson.
SENIORS
$15 CLASS SHIRTS IN ROOM 151
Come support the Northwest Journalism Program[ Yearbook Newspaper Web Photojournalism ]
05 • Northwest NewsUpdates about happens at Northwest.
06 • CurrentlyPop culture and news from around the world.
07 • High School FraternityA staff member discusses how NW students dress like they belong to a fraternity.
08 • Just Like Everyone ElseA staff member reflects on how she conforms to the social norm.
08 • The American DreamA staff member discusses the benefits of hosting a foreign exchange student.
09 • ReviewsFreebirds, Premium Rush + Hulu vs. Netflix.
11 • Reheat with CareSome fast foods are better
eaten fresh rather than as leftovers the next day.
12 • Brightening the LightStudents raise money to help the head custodian’s son.
13 • Highly ClassifiedSterotypes are customary in any high school, but they don’t typically reflect one’s true personality.
16 • Spinning SuccessSenior Cameron Rex has traveled around the country and the world to compete in cycling races.
18 • Armstrong’s Fall from GraceLance Armstrong’s hero status has been reconsidered by some after being stripped of his medals.
Issue 1 • Vol. 44 • Sept, 07, 2012
NEWS /
OPINIONS /
FEATURES/
SPORTS/
ENTERTAINMENT /
PHOT
O IL
LUST
RAT
ION
BY
MIK
ALA
COM
PTON
PHOT
O B
Y M
IKA
LA C
OMPT
ON
16
09
The purpose of The Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and stu-dents of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. As a newsmagazine, The Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 24-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every two weeks during third hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find a solution. In these cases, the co-editors-in-chief will the have final say in all decisions. Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged, but will only be published if signed. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The co-editors-in-chief reserves the right to refuse any letter.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Sometimes, there is a clear-cut social group into which each person can fit. More often than not, a person can fit into more than one of the five stereotypes chosen by the students in the roundtable discussion that was held Aug. 30 (page 13).
Personally, I have never fit into any of them completely; at least, that’s how I see it.
I’ve never been athletic enough to be a jock. I played softball for 10 years, and I’m a huge fan of wearing comfortable athletic clothes, but I couldn’t quite reach athlete status.
I conform far too much to be classified as a hipster. Like staff writer Grace Freeman (page 8), I dress just like a lot of students at this school and occasionally go along with trends like Camelbak water bottles and yoga pants.
I can sometimes fade into the background a bit and listen more than I talk, but if I have an opinion, I will voice it if I feel it is important. “Wallflower” would not describe me: I’m far too loud.
I personally would rather save my money for college, a new car and my plan to move out at 18, than spend it all on expensive, brand-name clothing. I respect others’ style choices, just like web managing editor Edelawit Hussien (page 7); I just choose not to dress like a “prep.”
The stereotype I’ve been closest to fitting into would have to be the “nerd.” In elementary and middle school, I was the “smart kid’ in class. Everyone wanted to copy my answers and would always come to me when they had questions about how to write their English papers. I was in the gifted program and participated in the school’s Science Olympiad program.
While I might have been classified as a “nerd” by other people, I didn’t let that affect how I felt about myself. I knew who I really was deep down, and nothing could ever change that.
The great thing about this high school is that no matter where you come from or what you look like, you can always find a group that shares your interests and ideas. What our school really succeeds at is giving everyone a place to stay.
Sincerely,Ashlee CraneEditor-in-chief
STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / Ashlee Crane
CONVERGENCE DIRECTOR / Aaron Messick
DESIGN EDITOR / Bailey Kopp
ASSISTANT DESIGNER / Maddy Grimes
COPY EDITOR / Mac Cook
WEB MANAGING EDITOR / Edelawit Hussien
PHOTO EDITORS / Mikala Compton + Nate
Compton
GRAPHICS EDITOR / Mitch Feyerherm
NEWS EDITOR / Brooke Courtney
OPINIONS EDITORS / Ashlee Crane + Aaron
Messick
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR / Sam Bellmyer
SPORTS EDITOR / Grace Freeman
STAFF WRITERS / Atalie Black, Nina
Gramajo, Haena, Gabby Lorino, Daniel Magwire,
Baili McPheeters, Alaura Moore, Randy
Prosser, + Paige Waltman
CYCLING FOR SUCCESS WITH MITCH FEYERHERM
Many upperclassmen students are very excited and eager to participate in the presidential election for the first time. With the excitement there may also be some questions and concerns students may want to address to a captive audience.
“That’s why we started [the Young Democrats club], as well as to have a forum for people who wanted to talk about different issues,” King said.
While some students may pass up the chance to be a part of history by selecting the new president, others are informing and educating themselves on today’s most important political and controversial issues by joining either the Young Democrats or Young Republicans club.
Young Democrats club meets every other Tuesday morning at 7:10 to discuss democratic issues as
well as plan for future activities like watch parties, debates, phone banks and other group events.
Young Democrats Club, founded by president Edelawit Hussien and vice president Anna King and sponsored by social studies teacher Rebecca Anthony, was created with a strong foundation.
“Overall our main goal of the club is to educate people, to become educated voters, and educated citizens.”
“We’re doing a lot with the Obama for America campaign office and just trying to get involved in this election,” King said. “Right now our main priority is the election and helping the president get re-elected.”
The leaders want more students to get informed about their decisions for this year’s election and about
politics in general.“We’re really excited for the
upcoming election and we’re really passionate about our views,” King said.
Young Republicans Club is sponsored by Social Studies teacher Tina Griggs and is student lead by co-presidents Ryan Ellis and Sarah Hansen. The club holds meetings every other Thursday morning at 7:10 a.m. in room 135.
The club is meant to not only be a place for discussion and debates over political issues, but also a place to come to have fun and be open about your views.
“We want to make it fun and light and actually make it something people want to come to,” Ellis said.
Another main goal of the club is to keep students informed.
“It’s really important to educate people, especially since this is highschool, and we’re about to go out into the world and form our own views,” Hansen said. “People definitely need to have an understanding of politics and how the government works.”
To help make students more aware of what’s going on in the group, Young Republicans Club plans on sending representatives to the social studies classes to let people know about upcoming events. They are also in the process of working with Kelly Meigs, a Kan. State Representative.
“We thought it’d be a nice compliment to have both political parties represented equally at our school and to offer students a chance to voice their opinions,” Ellis said.
The Student Council team is no longer missing its final members. On Aug. 30, the freshman class elected representatives.
“Picking the freshman representatives is always a good way to kick start the year,” StuCo sponsor Sarah Dent said.
The nominees each gave a two-minute speech to the freshman class in the auditorium during seminar.
“When I walking up there, I really wasn’t that nervous, but once I started my speech, I got really nervous,” freshman representative Sam Oberbroeckling said.
The candidates reported to the conference room in the library at 2:15 p.m. to hear the results before they were announced.
“While we were in the conference room in the library, it was like torture,” freshman representative Zachary Ziegenhorn said. “My heart was pounding so hard.”
When the results were revealed, the freshman representatives were to take down their posters and go to work right away.
“I would just say [to my peers] thanks for voting for me,” freshman representative Emiel Winkolmolen said. ”They won’t regret it.
These are the freshman representatives: Blake Allen, Emilie Amunatigui, Erica Esch,
Amelia Hoelting, Hallie Ingraham, Nathan Jone, Sam Oberbroeckling, Katy Terry, Emiel Winkolmolen, Zachary Ziegenhorn
FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED
STUDENTS GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS WITH NEW CLUBS
THEATER MARQUEE TO DISPLAY PERSONALIZED MESSAGES
The Little Theater is offering students the chance to display messages on the monitors above the auditorium doors.
“We actually did them last year as well,” she has an actual leadership position. you might want to figure that out as well, because I don’t think she is just a member Brooke Golladay said, “[the advertisements] help fund us.”
Many types of messages will be accepted, such as displaying a Happy Birthday message for a friend, ask that special someone to the dance, or even wishing a friend good luck in the upcoming sports game. Messages can be displayed for $3.
“Posting a message is simple,” she said. “All you have to do is fill out a form.”
Filling out the form includes the message itself, and how would like it to be displayed, such as the color and font. Forms are available on the doors to the Where can the forms be picked up?
All proceeds go to Thespian Troupe #888 and will help fund musicals and plays.
05Briefs
NORTHWEST NEWS
/ HAENA LEE
/ ALAURA MOORE
/ RANDY PROSSER
PHOTO BY CLARA DAVISON
PHOTO BY AARON MESSICK
Freshman Zachary Ziegenhorn gives
his election speech on Aug 30 in the
Greg Parker Auditorium. Ziggenhorn
was elected as a freshman
representatives.
A WILDFIRE THAT BROKE OUT IN ANGELES NATIONAL PARK NEAR LOS ANGELES, CALIF., DISRUPTED LABOR DAY WEEKEND WHEN OVER 1,000 CAMPERS AND 50 RESIDENTS WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE. ON AN AVERAGE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, 10,000 TO 12,000 PEOPLE USE THE PARK.
06 Sept. 14, 2012
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR ATTORNEYS TO BE PRESIDENT ANYWAYS… I THINK IT’S MAYBE TIME FOR A
BUSINESSMAN. HOW ABOUT THAT? A STELLAR BUSINESSMAN.” — Clint Eastwood said in his “invisible Obama” speech in support of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Romney earned dual degrees from both Harvard Business and Harvard Law School. politico.com
79 LOCATIONS OF FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO
CHIPOLTE LOCATIONS IN THE U.S.
COMPILED BY ASHLEE CRANEGRAHPICS BY MITCH FEYERHERM
1000+
The beloved american astronaut Neil Armstrong died
in Cincinnati, Ohio on Aug. 25. The space legend, who
had been known for being the first man on the moon, died at age 82 “due to complications... with cardiovascular surgery”.
cnn.com
cnn.com
THIS YEAR, THERE ARE 8 FOREIGN
EXCHANGE STUDENTS FROM
5 COUNTRIES.
New
O
rlea
ns
resi
den
ts
liv
ing
in
the
path
of
H
urr
ican
e Is
aac
repo
rted
floo
din
g 5
-7 f
eet
hig
h,
and
win
ds w
ere
repo
rted
to
be a
s fa
st a
s 8
0 m
ph.
foxnews.com nasa.gov
Neil Armstrong was decorated by
1 7countries in his
lifetime and received many
awards including the Congressional Gold Medal and the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Violence and crimes have become an outstanding problem in Brazil’s capital city. Brasilia’s public officials have asked for help from federal police to aide them in fighting the war on violent crimes. The head of the public security department says 100 federal police will patrol on the border between Brasilia and Goias. Police have stated that the mass of robbers and car thieves may have been escaping to Goias to retreat from arrest. bcnews.com
Columns 07
HIGH SCHOOL FRATERNITY
FOR MORE COLUMNS, VISIT smnw.com
The fashion look that has stormed the hallways is a call to be more accepting of others’ choices.
by Edelawit Hussien
Fashion trends seem to come and go like seasons. We have seen the disastrous 80s, skinny jeans,
and, most recently, the peplum top. There has been a particular fashion trend that has called Northwest home for the past few years and has been adopted by a large segment of the male population here: the high school frat boy look. The look includes, but is not limited to, pastel polo and crew-neck shirts, button downs, khaki shorts, Ray Bans and Sperry Top-siders.
From what I have observed, freshmen boys rarely sport the frat look. The look is mainly adopted late sophomore year and continues all the way to senior year. There is no explanation to why this trend is popular, but it seems like a rite of passage to becoming an upperclassmen for some.
I am not for or against this particular fashion trend but I find it interesting why people dress the way they do. Usually, there is a stigma attached to teenagers who dress like they’re in a fraternity. Some see these boys as posers or trying too hard.
The fashion trend itself is not the issue, people put a negative connotation on the look itself rather than the individual person. The way people dress does not reflect on their character. There is a difference between dressing for oneself and dressing to fit in with a crowd. Seniors Johnny Terry and Mitch Nolan both agree that the way they dress is for themselves and not to conform to a fashion trend. It has to do with confidence more than trying to dress “frat”.
“I like to look nice,” Terry and Nolan both said. It’s a confidence
booster for both of them. Instead of judging the way people
dress, shouldn’t we accept their personal style and individuality? The real issue should be the people who dress for others. If dressing in a preppy outfit or maybe just wearing sweatpants makes people feel good about themselves, then it should be celebrated rather than negatively stereotyped.
I will be honest, before deeper analysis, I thought this fashion trend was just a way for guys to mimic fraternities. I was completely oblivious to the fact that maybe people actually like to dress this way, and not because it impresses others. It was a wake up call to not judge others, no matter their sartorial choices.
by Baili McPheeters
Sept. 14, 201208
T his summer I visited my “sister” in Spain. She isn’t really my
sister, but I consider her more than just the exchange student I hosted for 10 months during my sophomore year.
I first got introduced to the idea of hosting an exchange student when Bambi, an exchange student from Thailand, and I did the musical name of the musical? together freshman year. We instantly became best friends, and once it was time for her to leave, I knew I wanted to host a student and help them live the
“American Dream” like Bambi did. I remember the first time I brought
it up with my dad; I thought I would be shot down instantly. For parents, it’s a big decision, considering all the responsibilities that come with being a host family. However, my dad instantly loved the idea.
I knew we would have to talk more about it, but we got online that night and started filling out the application on the Education First website (EF.com). Soon we were looking through profiles of teens from across the world, from us wanting a chance
to spend their next school year in America.
Two weeks before school starts the exchange students arrive all at once to get situated at their new home before school begins. talk about how you felt when your first exchange student arrived. What did you have to do? Did you do anything fun the first few weeks, since it was still summer? Also mention her name and where she came from.
The best part about hosting is probably the little things. For example, I remember showing
Martina last name?, the student I’m hosting this year from Italy, how to use her locker the first time. She tried, but all she did was giggle and laugh, repeating “Oh my gosh, I feel so American, it’s just like the movies!”
I’ve learned it doesn’t just change their lives forever, it also changed my family. I know in one way it’s made me a better person, I realized how great a city I live in and how fortunate I am to live here, it also helped me learn how to manage my responsibilities too.
THE AMERICAN DREAMWe always say high school isn’t like the movies, but to kids all around the world who come here as an exchange student couldn’t disagree with us more.
W hen I step into a hallway people see a 5’2” brunette, wearing
jean shorts and a little v-neck. I walk down the hallway usually saying “hi” to everyone I know.
Some nights I think ahead and set out an outfit. If I don’t do that the fashion police usually feel the need to come and arrest me. That is probably because have never been one to color coordinate my apparel. You can ask any of my stylish friends or my mother.
Despite not being able to match my clothes, I consider myself normal.
So many things make me normal. Basically by telling you I’m normal,
I’m proving that I’m normal. Confused? Don’t be, or at least try not to be. The definition of normal on dictionary.com is “conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.” To clear it up a bit, it is what everyone else does. Conforming to that is to be normal. We all have our own definition of normal in a secret place in our heads. I define it as the things I see on girls in the hallways: the jean shorts with graphic t-shirts or flowy tank tops.
Everyday I wear the “usual” clothes. That means jean shorts or jeans, or even some colored shorts,
but only on occasion. T-shirts and tank tops, maybe some v-necks for the top part of your outfit. When people pass me in the hallway, I don’t get a second look. Wherever I look, people are dressed just like me. Do I like this? Sure, I guess. I don’t really realize it, to be honest. I don’t stand out, in the hallway or in my head.
I am sure people who don’t know me classify me as “normal.” I am also sure that, in my head, I classify others as “weird” or “unusual.” Not everyone, just certain people subconsciously. It is horrible I know, but everyone does it. We should all stop denying it, because we all do.
The question is why? Why must we judge others for what they wear? It is something built into all of us, and honestly that should change. It all starts in your thoughts.
But to me I’m not actually “conforming.” The clothes I like to wear, I wear them because I like them. And the things I do, the social activities I attend, and the sports I play, I do all those things because I like to. These things simply respond to correspond with conformity. And that is just the thing. To me, I am not changing myself to fit in. I am simply being myself.
JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSEI dress like everyone else in the hallway, but what is really normal? by Grace Freeman
With all the excitement about the new Chipotle that opened a few weeks ago on Shawnee Mission Parkway, students may have missed the opening of another new burrito place: Free Birds, on Metcalf and Johnson Drive. Free Birds started out at the University of California-Santa Barbara in Isla Vista as an easy way for college students to get a fast but nutritious meal on-the-go.
Chipotle is more convenient, but it’s something we’ve all had. Free Birds gives you more choices; instead of just one tortilla, they give you four different kinds to choose from including flour, wheat, spinach and cayenne.
They also give you more options for toppings and meats. Unlike Chipotle, tomatoes, cilantro, even mild or spicy queso can be added to burritos. They also offer four different sizes of burritos and baked goods including their famous “pot brownies” which are the best part of a double chocolate muffin (the top).
The atmosphere in Free Birds is also one you’ll remember. A motorcycle ridden by the Statue of Liberty hangs from the ceiling and loud music plays in the background. Workers are decked out in crazy unique styles. The brightly colored walls are decorated with designs, shapes and statues made of old foil from customers’ burritos. Another small but creative thing they provide is multiple layers of foil so as you eat the burrito you can tear off the layers and your hands never get messy!
It’s somewhere affordable and memorable for the whole family to enjoy, and also cheaper than Chipotle.
sudoku
UPCOMING RELEASES FreeBirds
/ BAILI MCPHEETERS
DIFFICULTY:medium
6 1453
6781 2 9
6
1
26
9
9
77
537
81 3 5
8 4
photo by mikala compton
photo by mikala compton
1009Entertainment
albums:Carly Rae Jepsen — Kiss — SEPT. 18No Doubt — Push and Shove — SEPT. 25Three Days Grace — Transit of Venus — OCT. 2Ellie Goulding — Halcyon — OCT. 9
movies:House at the End of the Street — SEPT. 21Dredd — SEPT. 21
Frankenweenie — OCT. 5Sinister — OCT. 5
books:How Music Works — David Byrne — SEPT. 12Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started — Justin Bieber — SEPT. 13The Casual Vacancy — J.K. Rowling — SEPT. 27
Premium Rush follows Wilee, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a New York City bike messenger with no brakes who attracts the attention of Bobby Monday, (Michael Shannon) a gambling-addicted cop in debt to a Chinese gambling den owner.
The trailer for the film made the movie look very worthwhile, but it was misleading. After watching it, I thought the movie had to do with drug trafficking or other illegal actions. But the movie itself involved a member of New Yorks finest in debt, and a woman trying to get her son into the states illegally. The movie itself was atrocious than the trailer portrayed it to be.
The movie had an abundance of flaws. It was confusing, the script was horrible, and graphics were a dreadful.
In Premium Rush, the flashbacks was almost as confusing as, Inception, the 2010 movie that established Gordon-Levitt as a mainstream star. In Premium Rush there were four
flashbacks, the movie starts with one flashback then would move forward and go to a different flashback in a different point of view. Going back and forth in time made it extremely hard to keep track of what happened at what time.
The movie has a lot of profanity. I believe I heard one cuss word in each sentence, which was only unnecessary. Even though it was a not very well written script, Gordon-Levitt overall, did a wonderful job acting. He expressed his character’s sarcastic and daring personality very well.
Premium Rush has very few good qualities. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the bike stunt are the only things i like about the movie.
The movie shows various scenes of Gordon-Levitt doing many impressive bike stunts. The twists and flips every now and then made the less thrilling action scenes more interesting to watch. Knowing that he never stops adds a new element
to the scenes. The 360 jump turn onto a narrow platform in a garage almost made me hold my breath.
But what would have taken the stunt scenes to the next level is if the graphics were any good. The scenes where Wilee planned his escape in his head made him look like a ragdoll being swung around among the cars. In the opening where he was falling in slow motion and it did not look realistic at all. His position made it very obvious that he was being held by cords and a vest.
Overall, I would not recommend this movie to any of my friends. I regret wasting my money to watch it.
Premium Rush
/ HAENA LEE
Rated PG-13Running Time: 91 min
allmoviephoto.com
/ SAM BELLMYER
When the start of the school year comes around the pickings for new TV shows or movies are, put kindly, slim. What is one to do while devoid of new media? The savior at this time is old media, and with current generation streaming, that’s never been easier. But with two very popular streaming services to choose from, which is the best choice?
HULU
You can’t put a price on art. Having the entire Criterion and Mirimax collection at your fingertips on HuluPlus is gratifying in an insanely pretentious, but entirely justified, way.
At any moment, it’s easy to see
almost every film from the golden age of Kevin Smith, or the incredibly influential films that made the movies we see today, like Akira Kurosawa’s legendary The Seven Samurai or The Red Balloon from Albert Lamorisse. However, accompanying these films are some of the shows that actually define “second-rate”.
Unfortunately, Hulu has these incredible films, shows and miniseries mixed in with current-generation Family Guy and Bachelor Pad. If you want to watch The Seventh Seal, Hulu has you covered. But the bulk of of Hulu is shows like Beverly Hills Nanny and, consequently, not the cream of the crop. If you get HuluPlus you have some of the best films ever made, but after that all you can do is watch The Secret Life Of The American Teenager.
NETFLIX
Even more than art, you really can’t put a price on irony. Does Netflix have some classically great films? Of course, you can watch Donnie Darko or The Fall, but what’s really important is that it has some of the best worst films in the history of the world: Birdemic, Troll 2, Piranha. Not only that, but the real gem that keeps Netflix fun is the constantly changing cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 films. All of them are golden in the best possible way.
What’s not to love about the horrible films on Netflix? If you have nothing to do, there is a cornucopia of cheesy action movies, non sequitur-filled dramas, and comedies so unfunny that they wrap around
the dry and into the hillarious. When you’re tired of the bad, they also have some unironically phenomenal films to fall back on, like Clerks or the 2010 True Grit. The real kick here is that, unlike Hulu, there are no commercials, and that makes Netflix faster, if only marginally more expensive.
OVERVIEWI have to say that the real
winner here is Netflix. There’s no commercials, excellent films and TV shows and the greatest gift of all: horrible movies. , you can still love the speed of Netflix and the incredible back catalog.
Hulu vs. Netflix
10 Sept. 14, 2012
Entertainment 11
We’ve all been there; after a dance, a stressful day of work or a school day that just won’t end, all you want is something fast, cheap and tasty. But what happens when you order too much? Do you throw it away, or do you take it home, throw it in the fridge and eat it the next day? It’s time to find out what food is worth keeping and reheating all while staying on a student budget.
My worst fears were realized when I opened the microwave door. My McDonald’s burger now had a smell and I’m pretty sure microwaved shoes smell better than this. Trying to ignore the smell, I bit into what was a surprisingly not-horrible burger. It still looked, smelled and felt disgusting, but the taste was above average. Despite the pleasantly surprising taste, the texture was similar to day-old chewing gum.The pickle felt like a limp lukewarm piece of rubber. Would I eat this again? No, McDonald’s isn’t ever truly fresh but after a night in the fridge and a minute in the microwave, it’s just not worth it.
The first thing I noticed was that the bag felt heavier than when I put it in the fridge. I lifted my burger. It felt like I was holding a hockey puck. Then came the first bite: it felt and tasted like chewing gum that had long lost its flavor. The pickles and onions were just ice cubes. I had to struggle to make my way through half of the sandwich. Would I eat this again? No.
I opened the burger. The only things visible were two buns with a little bit of cheese and ketchup stuck to the wrapper. Lifting my bun revealed cheese, onion bits, ketchup and a pickle slice but no meat. The cheese dwarfed it. The top bun was dry while the bottom bun felt like gum. In the end, it was cheap, good, but in the most bland and boring way possible.
C- D- c-C- D D
D F CC- C- C-
D- f f
Appearance
Taste
Texture
Cost vs. enjoyment
Smell
FRESH COLDREHEATED
FOR 1 MINUTE
a b+- b-b c c
a d bb- c- b-
b- c c
Appearance
Taste
Texture
Cost vs. enjoyment
Smell
FRESH COLDREHEATED
FOR 1 MINUTE
A- b- a-A b- b
A- c b-b- b- b-
a- c+ a
Appearance
Taste
Texture
Cost vs. enjoyment
Smell
FRESH COLDREHEATED
FOR 1 MINUTEREHEATED FOR ONE MINUTE
REHEATED FOR ONE MINUTE
McDONALDS CHIPOTLE
COLD
COLD
COLDThere are two types of macaroni and
cheese: the decent tasting mac and cheese and the kind that blows your mind. Panera’s mac and cheese is an example of the later. My mouth is watering just thinking about it now. This white cheddar cauldron of cheese and pasta is fit for the gods. The only problem is the cost: I’ve never paid more than $6 for mac and cheese before.
The hardest part of writing this story was not getting to eat all the macaroni in one sitting. So when I got up the next morning I just took it out of the fridge and shoveled it into my mouth. That isn’t the best tactic, but it’s practical. The texture was slightly gelatinous, which made it difficult to get down at times. Plus it loses some of that heavenly, cheesy flavor when it’s cold. I would recommend eating it warm.
Reheating Panera’s mac and cheese is the best option for left overs. Eating it cold cuts out the flavor, and the texture is unpleasant. I heated mine up for a 30 seconds, adding a little milk to keep it from getting dry. That is a critical step. Without it, the mac and cheese becomes a dried up bowl of disappointment. Reheating the dish is like watching a bootleg: it’s so familiar but just not the same. I can’t say this was a bad way to eat macaroni and cheese, it just isn’t the best. I would rather have it in the store alongside the smell of fresh-baked bread and coffee.
Chipotle is my idea of what good fast food is. The only problem? The price is on the higher end of fast food. When you bite into the burrito you can taste every ingredient from the cilantro in the rice to the green peppers in the fajita vegetables. Would I eat it again? Yes, but not very often. It’s good, but for a price and normally I’m not willing to shell out almost $9 for a burrito and drink.
After a few hours in the fridge, the burrito seemed to lose most of its flavor. The only thing that had retained its flavor were the black beans. It tasted like a bean burrito but every once in awhile you would feel a crunch of vegetables to remind you what you were eating. Would I eat it again? No, besides the occasional crunch from vegetables, it tasted like a cold, mushy bean burrito
After reheating the burrito, the beans were again the star player. Most of the flavor came from the beans but the rice recovered a bit — but only enough to be slightly noticeable. The fajita vegetables had gone limp, and the sour cream was slowly running out of the burrito. The cheese had mixed with the sour cream allowing the cheese flavor to spread through the burrito. Would I eat it again? Yes. It wasn’t as good as when it was fresh but definitely good enough to justify the minute and half I had to wait to warm it up.
REHEATED FOR ONE MINUTE
PANERA
/AARON MESSICK + DANIEL MAGWIRE
photo by aaron messick
photo by aaron messick
photo by aaron messick
18 Sept. 14, 2012
Neon green bracelets are seen worn on the wrists of NW students; reading “Brighten the Light for Nicky,” on one
side, and “Jeremiah 29:11,” on the other.
Two-year-old Nick Ketcham, son of custodian Joe Ketcham, has an uncertain future ahead of him. Nick is home after an extended stay, beginning July 29, at St. Jude’s Hospital in Tennessee. Nick had surgery to remove his Bilateral Wilms tumors; tumors that grow on the kidneys. People with these tumors on average have a life expectancy of three years.
“He spent his birthday at St. Jude’s. I had to come back to help get the school ready,” Joe said.
Nick has also has Lenz syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the eyes, making them abnormally small or causing the absence of eyes altogether, and leukemia. He is still being tested for other genetic conditions.
“[Doctors] believe he has something genetic because he has so many different anomalies,” Laura, Nick’s mother, said.
In addition to Lenz syndrome and leukemia, Nick has epilepsy, a neurological condition that affects the nervous system and causes seizures, as well as scoliosis, a condition that causes the spinal cord to bend to either the left or right.
Nick’s condition affects his family’s lives as well. There are many doctor’s appointments and visits to the hospital, as well as surgeries. But from times of hardship comes beauty.
“He’s taught me how to love,” Laura said. “Even though he may not say he loves you back, you know he loves you back.”
The Ketcham family has learned how to read Nick, since he can’t communicate to them what’s wrong or what he needs. They show Nick a different kind of love altogether, and have different expectations for his future.
“It’s hard because when a child is born you have all these expectations for him. With Nick we’ve learned as he’s grown that those things probably aren’t going to happen. So things are different,” said Laura.
The Ketcham’s faith has grown since Nick came into their lives, and they describe him as “a bundle of joy.”
“We appreciate the little things he does,” said Laura. “He has gone through more than any person I’ve ever known, endured much more, and he still smiles.”
Neon bracelets don’t go unnoticed, just like Joe’s son, who is really a part of the NW family. Each bracelet holds a deeper meaning than just a brightly colored accessory. Every dollar spent on the bracelets goes towards helping to pay for Nick’s surgery.
“The students of Northwest have been amazing. The bracelets are helping [the Ketcham family] out, but more than anything, they’re an amazing emotional rock,” said senior Ryan Ellis. “This school is once again showing how amazingly they can come together and give support for those who need it.”
Laura Ketcham greets Nicky after he wakes up from a nap on Aug. 30. Nicky recently had tumors removed from his kidneys at St. Jude’s Hospital in Tenesse. photos by Sarah Dean.
NW students are “brightening the light” for Nick Ketcham by buying bracelets from Ron Poplau in 208; donating money towards Nick’s surgery. the light
Features 13
According to experts, stereotyping is simply a mental shortcut that allows humans to categorize and interact with those who share similar qualities and characteristics. But that doesn’t mean that
stereotypes are without negative impacts.
BY ASHLEE CRANE + GABBY LORINOPHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MIKALA COMPTON
HIGHLY CLASSIFIED
ccording to Roberto L. Montanez, M.S., of psychbits.com, “Stereotypes are mental frameworks that.... are useful for organizing, interpreting and retrieving information.”
Stereotypes are ideas and values collected and retrieved when we encounter people who have qualities and characteristics that we have encountered before. When it comes to labeling people, humans “choose the path of least resistance” by using the mental shortcuts created by the collections of ideas, Montanez said.
Stereotypes are the body’s way of reducing the amount of energy needed to identify and characterize people.
Junior Emily Thomas chooses to embrace the fact that stereotypes will always exist.
“It’s the human way of thinking; it’s never going to change,” Thomas said. “It’s human nature to classify people and mentally set people up in groups; it just happens.”
Regardless of the origin of stereotypes, the labels generated by them have both positive and negative aspects.
According to senior Tyler Jewell, “Stereotypes happen at every single high school no matter where you go,” so being able to identify with a specific group can help with changes in a teenager’s life.
Senior Joey Kendrick prefers to think of these groups as cliques more than stereotypes.
According to an education.com article by Joshua Mandel of the
NYU Child Study Center, cliques specifically have positive and negative characteristics. On the one hand, cliques build self-worth and provide children with a sense of belonging and support. On the other hand, cliques can be hurtful by creating ties within a group and excluding or demeaning outsiders.
Kendrick sees cliques on the positive end of the spectrum.
“[Cliques] are just groups of friends who have similar interests,” Kendrick said. “I don’t think that it’s bad because I never see them being hostile to each other. Just because they don’t necessarily intertwine, that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing.”
Sophomore Tatum Graves said that the major problems with stereotypes and labels are the negative assumptions that are made about people, and, unlike Kendrick, she thinks there should be more interaction between each social group.
“[A lot of people] don’t branch out, which I think we should do more.”
In a roundtable discussion, seven students identified and discussed the five most prevalent NW stereotypes — hipsters, jocks, wallflowers, preps and nerds. Each label has its own distinctive meaning and, sometimes, negative image.
According to Time Magazine, the word “hipster” originated during the jazz age of the 1930s and ‘40s when the word “hip” came into being. The term faded away during the Cold War period, but reemerged in the
1990s to describe “a generation of middle-class youths interested in an alternative art and music scene.”
Junior Emily Thomas said that two of the defining characteristics of a hipster, in most people’s opinions, are “thick-rimmed glasses and obscure music,” the latter being the reason for her association with the stereotype.
“The stereotype of a hipster is
kind of like way far out of the curve fashion taste and tastes in art and music,” senior Graham Wills said. “I always get branded a hipster, but I see myself as more of an average joe; I don’t lean especially one way or another.”
The reason Wills thinks he is classified as a hipster because he dresses traditionally.
“I like the look of traditional clothing over the silhouette that athletic shorts and a t-shirt would produce,” Wills said. “It’s all personal preference. It’s important to me to dress in the correct manner and a manner that is fitting to how I view myself.”
The hipster subculture has the negative connotation of being “smug,” “obnoxious,” loathesome and “full of contradictions” according to a time.com article titled “Hipster Subculture Ripe for Parody,” published in July 2009. Because of these views, being classified as a hipster can be harmful to one’s ego. Although Wills understands why he is often associated with this subculture, he doesn’t think that negative opinions should determine how he feels about himself.
“I enjoy music that not everybody in my age group enjoys,” Wills said. “I like art that most people wouldn’t touch with a stick, but I don’t think that all these things will shoehole me entirely into one group.”
He also has noticed that each stereotype has its own positive and negative interpretations.
“There’s nothing bad about being labeled with something that once you analyze is actually a good thing,” Wills said. “Especially when you get called a hipster, you look at what hipsters are: they are on the
cutting edge of fashion, art, music. I don’t think being progressive, like being welcoming to new ideas, is a negative thing at all.”
Wills acknowledges that based on appearance alone, many people may think negatively of him, but he doesn’t let others’ opinions affect his feelings towards himself.
“If I don’t see myself as a hipster, I’m just not. It doesn’t matter what
people say. If you see yourself one way, you don’t have to validate it to other people,” Wills said.
“I see myself as a jock because that’s really all I do,” senior Tyler Jewell said. “I just play sports every day, and that’s just the way it is.”
Throughout history, especially in the media, the label “dumb jock” has stigmatized many male and female athletes. Those who are known for their athletic talents are often dismissed as unintelligent and undeserving of academic acknowledgement
Of 538 collegiate athletes surveyed for a study conducted by Project Innovation, Inc., 33 percent said they were perceived negatively by professors and nearly 60 percent said they were by peers; 62 percent reported that a faculty member made a negative comment about athletes during class.
“I think jocks do get labeled as ‘stupid, dumb jocks,’” Jewell said, “but I don’t think people understand how hard we work inside and outside of the classroom. We are called student athletes for a reason: student first, athlete second. I don’t think people realize that.”
According to Graves who is Graves?, athletes who maintain good grades and manage to excel in their sports are the most successful students in the school.
“They can handle academics and three-hour practices after school and games,” Graves said, “and there are people who come to school and aren’t involved in sports or clubs or anything and also don’t get their homework done.”
And Graves manages to make the grades in nearly all honors classes while playing three sports.
“I don’t utilize my weekends as much as I should, but after practice, I try to get home and get [my work] done. I use seminar, and I also come in early for help; all that helps my grades a lot.”
According to Graves, another stigma attached to female athletes is a lack of femininity.
“I play a lot of sports. I [often] come to school in just a t-shirt and athletic shorts. I think that people assume that I’m kind of tomboy-ish,
14 Sept. 14, 2012
“I JUST THINK THAT WHATEVER PEOPLE LIKE, THEY LIKE. CLASSIFICATIONS MAKE HIGH SCHOOL A LOT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT SHOULD BE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.” — junior Emily Thomas
Features 15
but I’m not. [Sometimes] if a girl plays sports, all the other guys and girls automatically think they’re a tomboy, which is totally not true,” Graves said. “I’m very contradictory to what people think.”
Despite this image of athletic women, Graves embraces her style and wouldn’t change it.
“I don’t really see myself as a girly girl, but I like to be stylish,” she said. “I like the way I am.”
Graves also credits sports for making her more open to different types of people and helping her stay away from labels.
“I'm friends with all sorts of people, and I have friends from other schools who I know through sports,” Graves said. “I’ve made a lot of friends through sports that I otherwise wouldn't have met without playing.”
“I think wallflower describes me correctly,” senior Kaitlin Neill said, “as the person who has a personality but doesn’t really know how to show it and who is awkward in overly social situations.”
Although Neill doesn’t see the label of “shy” carrying a negative connotation, she remembers the struggle of trying to fit in while she was in middle school.
“[My friends] acted like they weren’t treating me any differently, but at lunch in middle school they would say that they wanted to sit by somebody. I would be pushed to the end of our table because people wanted to sit by someone else more than they wanted to sit by me,” Neill said.
Before high school, Neill realized that if she opened up more to her friends, she would feel much more included at school.
“I was feeling kind of left out, and my mom was really telling me that that was a very bad thing to be shy,” Neill said. “I realized that I should start saying things even if I’m uncertain as to what their response will be.”
While it may not necessarily always be a bad thing to be shy (see sidebar), the stereotypes that her peers had formed helped push her to break out of her shell and become more outgoing in school. She no longer sees herself as an introvert.
Neill also said that being able to break away from your stereotype can happen if people really want to change; however, there can be some issues with getting away from the negative images of classifications in high school.
“A lot of the stereotypes are about appearances and how other people see you just from your appearance, and that’s a harder thing to change than just your personality,” Neill said.
When making the transition from Catholic middle school to public high school, sophomore Maggie Marx recalls being referred to as a “prep” and a “snob” because of the way she dressed, as well as her background.
“When people see me, their first impression is the goody-goody who gets all of her homework done on time and has [that girly] attitude and personality,” Marx said.
Marx has competed in beauty pageants for 10 years, and, sometimes, first impressions of her can be negative because of the media’s portrayal of beauty queens and “girly girls” in general.
“The first thing that comes to people’s minds when they find out I compete in pageants is, ‘Oh, she’s one of those Toddlers & Tiaras girls,’” Marx said, “but it’s not like that at all. It's about inner beauty; no outer beauty is required at all. It’s all about personality skills, interviewing skills, public speaking, stage presence, things of that sort. It’s not based on looks.”
Marx says that, while the “preppy girl” label is not her favorite, she doesn’t mind being classified as stereotypically feminine. However, she strongly disagrees with the negative connotation that comes with the label.
“I don’t want [people] to think of me as a valley girl. I’m more down to earth than people think I am,” Marx said.
Marx proves her point by spending at least 100 hours each year volunteering with different organizations, as well as participating in theater and singing.
Marx’s suggestion for staying away from labels is to move from group to group and get involved, making it easier to make friends and meet people from all different social groups.
“I don't stick with one group because I don't like stereotypes on me,” Marx said. “I like just being my own person.”
According to Kendrick, he ranks either second or third in the senior class, and he spends half of his school day in band classes. For these reasons, he places himself in the category of both a nerd and geek.
“I don’t think anybody sees my intelligence or my really being into band, and somebody thinks less of me because of that,” Kendrick said, “but I do think, generally speaking, people will think that nerd and geek have negative connotations.”
Kendrick has noticed the negativity towards the smartest students in class that stems from the higher standard they set.
“Interestingly enough, when I see
[the term] ‘nerd’ in a negative light, it’s actually referring to someone who is cocky and pompous about their intelligence,” Kendrick said.
Even though Kendrick doesn’t see the negative image of smart students being unpopular and belittled by the “popular crowd” as much at Northwest, he still sees small examples of it.
Kendrick is confident in his relationships with other people, but can still feel as though pity plays a part in his popularity. “I wouldn’t consider myself unpopular because I have plenty of friends, but I’m not going to be the guy who’s crowned homecoming king or anything,” Kendrick said. “Personally, I have never felt belittled by the ‘popular crowd.’ In fact, I even get compliments for being funny or whatever, but there is always a feeling of [them not being genuine], which makes it almost seem like they think they’re going out of their way to even talk to me.”
Humans tend to rely on stereotypes as a way of simplifying our surroundings so that they are easier understand. Stereotypes allow students to put people in manageable groups, allowing us to form expectations about people and situations. Consider the way restaurants are categorized. Stereotypes work to help us understand how to interact with others and what to expect.
But, most often, stereotypes are remarkable for their negative aspects. Judgments about people based on stereotypes are sometimes completely misguided and incorrect, causing a person to act inappropriately or ultimately to offend the person being stereotyped.
Stereotypes can be simplistic and make the assumption that groups of people share the same personality traits and interests, often, because they dress in the same manner or like the same music.
Neill thinks that “You can be thrown into a group with some people that you might not be like and might take that as a negative thing.”
On the positive side, the variety of stereotypes allow nearly everyone to fit in to at least one stereotype.
“That’s one of the reasons why I like this school,” Thomas said. “There’s such a variety of people. [Each group] is well represented.”
NOT AFRAIDAccording to a 2006 study led
by Amanda Guyer, a development psychologist at the National Institutes of Health, shy people can be more sensitive to more stimuli than just the ones that induce fear.
Researchers scanned the brains of 13 extremely shy adolescents and 19 outgoing ones while the children played games in which they could win or lose money. They were instructed to press a button as quickly as possible after being shown a signal. If they pressed the button quickly enough, they either won money or prevented themselves from losing it.
There was no difference in the activity of their amygdalas, the area of the brain that controls fear. Shy children, however, exhibited two to three times more activity in their striatum — the part of the brain associated with reward.
According to Rutgers University psychologist Brian Knutson, “Shy children may experience positive emotions such as success very strongly, helping them succeed.”
16 Sept. 14, 2012
A lmost every child watched the Disney Channel growing up. After seeing Ice Princess, some girls decided to become skaters. Johnny
Tsunami made Midwest children yearn to live by the ocean. For senior Cameron Rex, the movie Motocrossed is what got his attention.
Rex started BMX riding in 2003. By 2009, he was a state champion and competing all over the Midwest. Rex stopped BMX riding when gas prices started to rise and the competitions got farther away. But he was still determined to ride so Rex got rid of the motocross bike and began cycling.
“[Biking] is what I’ve always done, it’s what I’ve always known,” Rex said. “I ride to
relieve stress. I feel lazy and guilty if I don’t. If I don’t ride, I feel like I wasn’t productive that day.”
DAILY ROUTINE“During the spring I usually do really long
days, with a 50 or 60 mile ride being the norm. Moving into the summer, I add more intensity and 40 miles becomes the average ride,” Rex said.
Rex rides everyday. Winter doesn’t slow down training, but snow and sleet are far from ideal cycling weather.
“I hate [the stationary bike], so I only use it
SPINNING SUCCESSSenior Cameron Rex proves that flat Kansas land can still produce a cycling champion
by Haena Lee + Paige Waltmanphoto illustrations by Mikala Compton
Sports 17
if the streets are snowy. When I train indoors, I go by time. The season begins with two- or three- hour rides, but toward the end I’ll be on the bike for close to four hours,” Rex said.
Since Rex is a competitor he never takes a break from cycling, even after a big race.
“I just finished three months of really hard racing, so I’m only doing 20 or 30 miles a day. I’m resting and letting myself rebuild, because that’s the way racing is nowadays,” Rex said. “With so many back-to-back races, whoever can recover the fastest is going to be the best off.”
Locally, only five or six other riders compete at the same level as Rex.
“Most week days [I bike alone]. For the long weekend rides, I’ll be with the group. We have a long ride and then an even longer ride the next day,” Rex said. “There are ten or 15 additional cyclists that join us on [the shorter training rides].”
THE BIG BANGThere’s a risk of getting injured in any
sport, but for cyclists the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be far more drastic than in other sports. Rex was riding southbound on Quivira near 59th Street two years ago.
“I noticed the oncoming car was in a hurry. The driver only let their turn signal blink once before they went, and they didn’t yield,” Rex said.
The next thing he knew he was in the air. After being hit at 25 mph, Rex crashed into the windshield, flipped and landed on his
head.“At first, I thought it was a dream. I thought
my leg was shattered, because I got hit in the shin. Luckily I had my leg pulled up instead of down, so it didn’t get crushed. I couldn’t feel anything,” Rex said. “I was so adrenaline shot...I was thinking that my racing would be over. I didn’t know if I’d be able to ride again, or at least not for a long time.”
The incident landed Rex in the hospital with a minor concussion, tendonitis, whiplash and a punctured lung.
“She came out [of the car] and was saying ‘oh my God, oh my God’... She asked if I was going to die and if she was going to jail,” Rex said. “I would’ve died if it wasn’t for my helmet. I picked quite a few glass shards out of my hair. My injuries were minor compared to what could’ve been. I was lucky.”
One night in the ICU was the only thing that has disrupted Rex’s routine.
“I got home from the hospital, woke up the next morning and went for a bike ride.”
WHAT IT TAKES TO TRAVEL
This past summer Rex travelled all over the globe to compete, and sponsors are essential for that to happen.
“I was with SKC Communication for awhile, but that team folded and I didn’t receive much support. I got 15 percent off equipment and that’s about it,” Rex said.
His current team is sponsored by Gateway Harley Davidson, which operates out of St. Louis. Trek, a bicycle manufacturer, gave Rex a bike, but Gateway pays for the uniforms, equipment and some travel costs.
“I train about 16 hours a week, so having a job is out of the question. I had to buy my plane ticket to Belgium, but almost everything else is covered by [Gateway],” Rex said.
Rex spent a week training in Michigan before going on to Canada. From Canada, he flew to Belgium.
“Riders come from all over; Belgium put the sport on the map. America has football, they have cycling,” Rex said. “It’s different over there. If [the Belgian cyclists] don’t succeed, they go back and work in their family’s trade. They’re riding because they don’t want to be stuck doing what their dad does. They ride like their life will end if they don’t win.”
Travelling and sponsorships are the gateway to becoming a pro cyclist.
“I took third out of 120 riders when I went to Nationals this year in Augusta, Ga.,” Rex said. “Of course [cycling] won’t sustain me for that long, but it would be enough to get by for a couple of years. After I’m done competing, I want to study environmental sciences. But, for now, I want to make a career out of cycling and I’ve been told I have a great shot.”
BY THE NUMBERSAVERAGE SPEED TRAINING RIDE: 20mph SOLO TIME TRAVEL (30K): 30mph HIGHEST: 54 mphSHOES: $350BIKE FRAME: $3,500TOTAL FOR BIKE: $6,000UNIFORM: shorts/$120 shirt/$70TRAVEL: $1,200 (Belgium) $650 (Oregon)HELMET: $300GLOVES: $30OAKLEY SUNGLASSES: $170WHEELS: $500 - $1,200 eachRex owns 5 bikes.
TERMINOLOGYPELOTON - main group of riders during a bike raceDREWPETTO - group at the back of the pelotonBREAKAWAY - group in front of the pelotonDRAFTING - saving energy by following right behind a teammateCHASE GROUP - Somebody in between the breakaway and the peloton.DOMESTIQUE - The “water boy.” Somebody that works for the benefit of the team. French for “slave.”GRON COOP “GC” - The leader of the team.
18 Sept. 14, 2012
Lance Armstrong was a hero. A shining example of someone who overcame cancer and
became a record holder. He was considered the best cyclist of all time, winning a record seven Tour de France titles.
Armstrong created the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 to fight cancer, after surviving testicular cancer himself. According to its website, Livestrong has raised $470 million in the last 15 years. You have to wonder if there are any faults with this man? Unfortunately for the cycling world and all his fans, there is.
The shining image the public held of Armstrong came crashing down last week when he was accused by the USADA, the official anti-doping agency the of using banned substances during his cycling career. The shock comes into play. This was after a long court battle, that Armstrong simply gave into, and refused to plead innocent one more time. That made the trial swifter than one of Armstrong’s cycling races. How did this happen and what does it mean?
Armstrong’s was drugs accused of using illegal steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. In biking this usually means the accused was blood doping. Blood doping is the use of another’s blood to quicken recovery in the
body, since the other blood isn’t deprived of oxygen. This means that he will be stripped of his seven Tour de France wins. That is seven wins of the most popular bike race ever, according to joannabicycle.com. More than 12 million people watch this race live according to francetravelguide.com These wins are what brought Armstrong to the top of the cycling community and his fame. He will also be stripped of his Olympic bronze medal and any other awards, titles or money he won after 1998.
To some, Armstrong is now considered a lesser hero, and stripping his title seems justified. If he used performance enhancing or participated in blood doping, then he deserves to be considered a failed athlete. Some will simply shake their heads and say it’s sad that he had to cheat. After all, shouldn’t competitions be fair? His other competitors never had a chance.
In some students’ opinions these races were fair. Senior Laura Crosley certainly thought so. She believes Armstrong has been simply didn’t want to fight anymore.
“He didn’t do anything wrong. There are so many tests proving that he didn’t,” Crosley said.
That is true. Armstrong has been to court more than 40 times and taken many steroid tests, all of which have been negative. “I
think he did it,” sophomore Jessica Kirchner said. “A lot of bikers dope, according to what I have heard,” Kirchner said.
According to a recent poll by RoadBikeReview.com 66.43 percent of the public believes all pro bikers dope. And CXMagazine.com reports that 570 professional bikers were caught doping last year in the first quarter of all the races of the year.
Personally, I believe Armstrong did not cheat. Maybe it is wanting to root for the underdog — the guy that survived cancer and still became an amazing athlete. But it’s also more than that. He had many tests that came out negative for doping. When he finally stopped fighting the court system, after more than 10 years, he was accused. Its like he finally wouldn’t put up a not guilty plea, so they simply charged him guilty. “There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say ‘Enough is enough’ ” Armstrong said. Also, I don’t believe that the United States Anti-Doping Agency should have the right to take away French titles. This authority is said to come from the fact that Armstrong is an American athlete. The whole situation is frustrating to me, which makes me sympathize with Armstrong.
However, doping in the sport of cycling is extremely common. Throughout his whole career Armstrong was accused
innumerable times. He barely got out of a two year lawsuit from the US government based on doping accusations. As a leader of the sport, there in unfortunately a huge chance that he was doping.
However, Lance Armstrong will always be a hero in my book. You don’t use steroids while making a company that has donated over $470 million to curing cancer. To me that is his true accomplishment. It shows his true character, and for that I refuse to believe in the allegations. I still believe in Armstrong.
Armstrong himself may be the only one who knows the real answer. Should he be classified as a world-class athlete? Or as a disappointing cheater? It is up to interpretation. Whether he cheated or not, Armstrong will never be able to cycle competitively again.
ARMSTRONG’S FALL FROM GRACE
25 14
BY GRACE FREEMAN
Lance Armstrong, the most decorated Tour de France athlete, is stripped of his seven titles.
Girls Tennis team beat SM South and Olathe North 3-1 on Aug. 30, and tied 2-2 with Olathe Northwest.
DRU
G T
ESTS
TH
AT
LAN
CE A
RM
STRO
NG
PA
SSED
IN H
IS
CAR
EERSOCCER TEAM CAPTAIN CODY SLIVA
MISSED ONLY ONE GAME AFTER SUFFERING A CONTUSION AT AN AUG. 30 SOCCER GAME.
was the score of the
victorious Cougars’
first football game.
WHAT’S NEW ON
Meet the foreign exchange students
NEW TO NORTHWEST
Why, why, whyEven though AP and IB classes may seem challenging, and the workload, daunting, pushing yourself in high school will be highly rewarding.
by Nina Gramajo
Follow the stories of the eight foreign exchange students as they travel from across the globe to get a taste of American life.
by Sarah Egger, Nina Gramajo and Edelawit Hussien
Read profiles and view photos and videos of the eight newest members of the teaching staff.
Despite the fact that the Bonfire assembly was without fire, students were optimistic about participating and being a part of the crowd.
BONFIRE 2012Gallery:
PHOTO BY BRITTANY BONSIGNORE
PHOTO BY BRITTANY BONSIGNORE PHOTO BY TAYLOR ADCOCKPHOTO BY SARAH DEAN
“The biggest obstacle of the game was the rain [which
made it] hard to hold the ball, but in the end we did
everyting perfectly and [it all] went
our way.” — SENIOR KELBY QUINT
PHTOO BY NATE COMPTON