V i e wthe from park hill south

Use alternative fuels

Unplugged

from aCOLOURto a VISION

Recycle

Increase window insulation

Decrease pollution, create low emission factories

Replace halogen lighting

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How to help the environment while saving energy every day

Volume Thirteenissue number eightMarch 25th, 2011

The environmental movement has been a major part of society for generations now, but that movement still needs more action.

Look for this sign to find all our environmental stories this issue

r e c y c l e t h i s i s s u e

a f t e r r e a d i n g

log on to phsview.com for even more

OMG

Ever since my mother answered my youthful inquires with “it’s the right thing to do,” I have always been distasteful toward conformed morality. In short terms, I don’t always like to play nice. This is not because I enjoy the evil and selfish nature that resides deep, deep within me, but rather, because I don’t like the idea of doing good for the image of doing good. For example: when the green movement first came out, I was all about being the rebel who threw stuff away in the trash because the effort seemed futile and I had no need to bear a false face to anyone. But as things get serious with the growth of time, I am

starting to realize that while the ‘right thing’ to do may not always make sense, it could very well be the thing that saves the human race. In this issue, we as a staff wanted to do something more than just a centerspread/editorial feature. With a topic like environmentalism, we felt that it would take more than just a single spread of information. We hope that this issue brings our self-destructive nature to light with each and every reader, to spark the process to save the planet and ultimately save ourselves. I know, sounds dramatic, but I guess I have given in; I am one of those tree-huggers that I once despised.

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Table of Contents

TMI

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BTW

FYI

MVP

Letter from the editorby jesse mcginness

Unplugged

From Color to a Vision+ p a g e e i g h t .

One Step at a Time+ p a g e e l e v e n .

Wire Transfer+ p a g e f i v e .

FAQ

The Spring Fling+ p a g e f o u r t e e n .

Purple Going Greener+ p a g e t e n .

cover design by alec russell cover photo by austin cosler

Survival of the GreenestStudents should move past knowledge of enviornmentalism to actionthe v i ew s ta ff editor ia l

What if, instead of telling ghost stories of the past, grandparents started telling ghost

stories about the future? Instead of giving children nightmares each night about some creaky old mansion, society’s new source of fear would be found in a quick glance to the city. A cemetery would pale in comparison to the scare-power of a city dump. Of course, these future horror stories would be no longer told out of entertainment, but rather as a warning. The environmental movement of the past few centuries seems to be gathering more and more attention as sights move from ‘saving the animals’ to ‘saving ourselves’. The green movement is not something unknown in modern times; more students are likely to know Al Gore for his “Inconvenient Truth” than for his presidential campaign. Even youth icons such as Diego on Nick Jr. spend entire episodes saving animals and protecting the planet. But since the idea of living green has become the moral thing to do, has it become any more important? The image of another baby seal dying or a chopped down forest is one that most Americans are desensitized to by now. But being a ‘mindful’ tenant of the Earth has now become the least of any concern. According to the US Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA), Americans, on average, will throw away over 600 times their body weight throughout their lifetime. With almost 7 billion people in the world, this statistic does not come lightly. We are no longer merely saving the planet by going green; we are saving our own existence. But of course, this does not even begin to touch the tip of the ‘environmental

iceberg’ if you will. Energy consumption, waste production, food shortage and the killing natural resources make for human kind, not very kind. This message is not one you would hear on your average Sarah

McLachlan commercial, however. Recently, being a good human being is no longer a matter of morality, it’s a matter of sustainability. The beautiful thing, however is that we can still do something about it. The last 20 years of pop culture have done at least one thing right, as being environmentally friendly is coded into the brain of the masses. You know, the usual stuff: recycle, innovate technology, spend energy sparingly, etc. For example, as found in our “Unplugged” article found on page 4, if a household chose to use power-strips to turn off televisions rather than the remote, one would save over $84 and 1217 lbs of carbon waste a year. Know-hows like this one are found everywhere. All it takes is some looking power and a little motivation. So with the power of action in everyone’s hands, it’s now time to save ourselves or become another sad ghost story.

"According to the US EPA, each American, on average, will throw away

600 times their body weight."

Lasting Litter

plastic Bottle

How long does it take for Trash Found in South’s Parking

Lot to decompose?

ALUMINUM can 50-100 years

500-700 years

PAPER

StyrofoamOver

1 MILLIONYears

2-3 Weeks

s id eb ar b y harr ison whi te

10% off Prom Dresses

You Must bring the ad in

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What would you do to put extra money in your pocket? Eat a disgusting bug? Bungee jump from the Empire State Building? Genetically engineer a unicorn, perhaps? Instead of doing something that could potentially harm you, or spend your life trying to create the impossible, wouldn’t it be easier to just help the environment? When people say they are trying to preserve the environment, recycling comes to mind. “My mom was big on the whole recycling thing before it was a big deal,” said Jessica Sachs, senior. Recycling is good, but there’s a simpler way to help trees spread their branches. The solution? Unplug appliances. “If it’s still plugged in, it’s still drawing electricity,” said Marcia Umsheid, environmental club sponsor. “[People] have become too inconvenienced and lazy to unplug.” The government’s Energy Star Program states electronics turned off yet plugged in use 40 percent of power. Imagine what money could be saved by unplugging your laptop or phone charger when they are not in use. According to terrapass.com, cell phone chargers zap 95 percent of its electrical energy when left plugged in; only five percent more is used when charging. Someone should prove it is possible to unplug, save money and help the environment. That person is me. This March, I have decided to go greener than ever before. Honestly, it’s been hard. Who wants to turn the light off when you know you’ll be right back? I have ripped charger and lamp cords from walls. Annoyed parents may be an unwanted side effect, but one can only hope that by the end of the month, things will turn out for the best. After all, who wouldn’t want to see results like the ones Park Hill School District saw? “Park Hill in the last 14 months has saved enough energy to effectively plant more than 123,092 trees and remove 864 cars from the road with their reduction carbon dioxide emissions,” said Bridget Kellam, environmental energy specialist for the Park Hill District. In plain terms, the district has saved roughly $637,661 by making an effort to unplug and power down appliances when not in use. Realistically, family size does matter. My pet bearded dragon alone uses two different lights to keep her desert enclosure at 100 degrees. However, if I can reduce the electric bill of my family of six, including pets, anyone can. The US Department of Energy states that 75 percent of electricity is used by devices that are switched off. So, let’s turn off the lights, unplug and help the environment reach its former potential. To read more about my unplugged month and see how much my family was able to save, log on to phsview.com.

by e l izabeth wi l l iams

Ta king a loo k at how unp lugging electr onic s ca n save trees and money

Going Green by Unplugging

faq.Beware -- these items still use energy when plugged in, even if

the power is “off”E

N

E

R

G

Y

H

O

G

S

According to terapass.com, cell phone chargers zap 95 percent electrical energy when left plugged in.

Don’t unplug your fridge -- but turning it down a notch all the time or when on vacation can save serious dough.

Let your computer sleep while you sleep. Unplugging it for the night lets you both recuperate.

Stereos suck power even when they’re off because they’re always telling time. Unplug it and give your watch some love.

Hey teachers -- turning the projector on “mute” doesn’t turn it off. Hit the power button!

Wire Transfer 4. don’t share your SSN with any site!

“How are they ever going to make it out of the dump?” you ask yourself anxiously, as you bite on the straw of your over-priced theater drink and watch the characters from some of your favorite childhood films fight to survive the fall with all the other trash into a huge fire pit. If you saw last summer’s flick “Toy Story 3,” chances are you are one of three things: one, a child younger than ten, two, a parent of the said child, or three, a “Millennial” trying to get your “Toy Story” fix. Millennials are children and teens who gew up between 2000 and 2010. This generation is also known as the “Peter Pan” generation, as the products of said generation have been said to act “younger”

longer and having an attitude of wanting to be a child forever. Trevor Eiken, sophomore, recalled some of his favorite childhood memories as a Millennial. “Video tapes were used as blocks, and I loved Legos,” said Eiken. Legos were one of many favorite toys of the Millennial generation, according to UnashamedStudios, as stated in a blog post about toys. Robotic pets and folding aluminum folding scooters topped the

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fyi.millennial the ‘sremembering what it means to be a

member of the peter pan generation

by maxx beshearsbest-selling toy charts in the year 2000, according to the Toy Retailer Association’s “Toy of the Year” list. In the years 1998 until the beginning of 2000, Furbies were favored by both children and their parents, selling over 14 million in those three years of production. A Furby is a talking fluffy electronic bird toy. Furbies were sold all over the world and even translated into 24 different languages. “I don’t like Furbies. In my eyes, they are very creepy,” said freshman Bailey Palmer. “My sister used to have one and it often went off in the middle of the night when I was little.” Though Palmer insists Furbies creeped her out, most children, like Eiken, enjoyed the Furby phenomenon. Furbies even had their own movie, “Furby Island,” though it wasn’t included in the top movies of the generation. In 1996, Millennials were introduced to “Toy Story,” which inspired to parents rush around Toys ‘R Us to obtain a Buzz Lightyear or Woody action figure. “Dinosaur” was another big movie, making Disney $137 million in the box office. However, the movie and book series that caused the most excitement to Millennials was most likely “Harry Potter.” “Harry Potter. Best thing ever,” said sophomore Mary Bahl. From Mr. Potter to the amazing epidemic that was Furbies, South students seemed to have an enjoyable time recalling their childhood in the Millennial times. Whether they are called Millennials or Peter Pan children, something can obviously be said about the students here at South. They never ever want to grow up.

Snow Creek credit card hackers shine light on prevalent Internet fraud by danny jones

4 ways to avoid internet scam

3. keep your information in a physical safe.

2. watch out for suspicious deals/emails.

1. memorize your passwords/ssn.

‘‘‘‘The technological advances that have shaped our generation made purchasing

goods easier than ever before. Unfortunately, it also makes it easier for those with malicious intent to scam innocent customers. The vast amount of information transferred with each transaction has a way of slipping through the cracks of modern security – often right into the hands of a new band of thieves that has

emerged with the technological age. The most recent form of tech-crime to hit South was a credit card scam

that affected visitors up to Snow Creek, a ski resort in Weston. A number of South students were affected, including senior Jordan Ill. Visa, Ill’s provider, called a couple months after his visit. “They told me there were a number of ‘sketchy purchases’ that were happening in places like Texas and New York,” he said. When it was all said and done, Ill was the victim of a scam totaling up to $300. (The money was eventually reimbursed by Visa.) According to the Kansas City Star, the Snow Creek scandal was large enough to attract the attention of the Secret Service, who began investing the situation in late February. The Star’s report states that the credit card information was hacked “in that nanosecond before the information is encrypted.” Snow Creek maintains that no employees were involved in the incident. Senior Tyler Arthur was affected by another form of Internet fraud, this time through the online sales site Craigslist while trying to sell his Jeep Wrangler. “The man interested in buying the car told me he lived offshore as a ‘marine engineer’,” said Arthur. “That was the first red flag.” Arthur received a number of confirmation e-mails saying the buyer’s payments had gone through, but after checking with the payment company endorsed by Craigslist, Arthur found the money had never been paid, and the e-mails were fake. For future online transactions, Arthur has words of advice. “If someone says they are ‘offshore’ or if they sound sketchy, don’t deal with them,” he said. “And always make sure you have a conversation with the buyer on the phone.” Ill, who has been victimized twice by credit card fraud, including once at Snow Creek, also cautioned credit card users from being careless with their information. “[On the Internet] I always look for the ‘https’ when paying with a credit card, which means the site is secure,” he said. “And I only use Paypal to pay online.” Ill and Arthur hope their words of warning will help other people from becoming victims themselves. At the end of the day, the only successful transaction is one where both sides get what they want.

Ill was the victim of a s c a mtotaling up to $ 3 0 0 .

You see it in the movies, parents talk about how it was the best night of their lives, but for some people who attend multiple times, going to Prom happens so often that the “magic” of the experience is lost.

Rachel Carney, senior, has been to more than one Prom throughout high school. Last year, she went to both South’s and Park Hill’s Prom.

“It’s annoying trying to buy two dresses, so that’s why I just borrow,” said Carney.

But coming from a guy’s perspective, Kristian Harmon, senior, thinks differently.

“It’s easy getting tuxes,” said Harmon. “They show you what they have and you pick what you want.”

Harmon also thinks it is unfair that he has to pay the same amount as girls do for their dresses, but he only gets to keep it one night while they have theirs forever.

When going to multiple dances, senior Kellie Jackson also believes in borrowing dresses and knowing how to do your own hair.

“It saves money,” said Jackson. Regardless of what students are wearing, the whole novelty of

Prom could easily be lost with too many Prom experiences.“After you go to one, then the other is just not very fun at all,”

said Carney.

Carney was not alone in her opinion. Jackson has also been to more than one Prom, and has gone every year since she was a sophomore.

“I regret going my sophomore year,” Jackson said. “There was no significance to it because even though I had a good time, it was just my sister’s friend who didn’t have a date. So I wished I would have waited and gone with someone who I actually wanted to go with.”

Whether Prom is the biggest night of your whole high school career or just another dance, it does not mean to blow tons of money on just one night. You can aways save somehow. Jackson said she did not spend over $250 total for the night.

“The only time I ever spent money was when I actually went to my own Prom,” said Jackson.

There may be both downsides and advantages to going to many different Proms, but students like Jackson say it is much more exciting than a school dance like Homecoming or Courtwarming.

“I really like that it’s more formal. It’s the big thing,” she said, “and also the convenience of it all being in one place: dinner, dance and everyone together.”

So even if you can go to more than one Prom, according to South students with experience, you may want to think again. Maybe save it, and make it more like the movies.

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by jess ica f reeman

They sing, they dance and they act. It is South’s own Theatre Department, of course, but the question is, what are they doing this spring? The department typically holds a musical in the fall and puts on a one-act and a play in the spring. This school year, they performed “Fiddler On The Roof” first semester. However, this spring, things have gotten a little shaken up. “There has been much confusion this year and several issues including obtaining royalty rights and a large number of snow days,” said Vicki Witt, drama. “The student directed one-act the kids were practicing was canceled when we had a large number

of snow days and there wasn’t enough practice time.” Most full-length plays or musicals have two or more acts. This year’s one act would have been “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog.” But when the lead had to quit, the show was canceled. “It’s been a really tough semester. I’m a senior and with all the snow days and sick days I was getting behind,” said Erik Burns-Sprung, senior. Not only did the eight snow days effect learning, but they also affected rehearsals. Because the conditions were bad enough to cancel school, they also had to cancel practice, which in turn led to a lack of preparation. “I’m sad it did not get to go as well as we thought it would,” said Burns-Sprung.

In replacement of a play and one-act this semester, Witt said they will present a collection of small one-acts called “All in the Timing.” Auditions for this production were held March 21 and 22, and it will be performed on May 6. Because the drama department is self-funded, they will charge a ticket price. According to Witt, they are currently exploring several other options to help cover the loss of funds from the cancellation this spring. “As to next year, we will start the process much sooner to account for snow days,” said Witt. With all the problems they have encountered this year, they are not giving up until they put on a show.

by cydney conner

source: www.ehow.com

Find out how much your parents are going to contribute. Then think about how much you’re willing to contribute.

Find as many friends as you can to share the limo costs. If you are going in a smaller group, consider renting a car or SUV instead which will be a lot less expensive.

For the girls, save money on hair and nails by doing them yourselves. The focus should be on the dress.

For the dress, try looking in places other than prom or bridal stores. Major department stores like Macy’s or JCPenny’s carry formal dresses

throughout the year.

1.

2.

3.

4.

aving Green

The whole meaning of Prom can be easily ruined when attending too many dances

The Theatre Department cancels its spring play and reschedules one-act performances.

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+ p a g e e i g h t .

from aCOLOUR

While walking down an urban street in the middle of the March, when one sees green graffiti covering the buildings, two things come to mind.

One: there is some serious NCAA “March Madness” going on, or two: the Irish Mob is back and has taken up the arts.

However, since the 1980s (or some may argue as far back as the 1940s), green has garnered a new meaning all across the globe: environmentalism.

The aforementioned graffiti? Well, according to the Huffington Post, it was a 2010 environmental protest that has begun to pop up in cities worldwide.

the environmental movement has been a major part of society for generations now, but it may need to grow to more action to truly make a difference

by jesse mcginness and heather fat ino

“The past ten years have been great as far as educating the public on how our day-to-day lives harm the earth,” said Brian Van Batavia, environmental science. “But we have not even begun the action that is required to change

that harm.” Environmentalism, also known to many as the Green Movement, has been a defining aspect for the development years of many South students. But it may have been something of the past to some students; we all know about

Earth Day and it has something to do with Al Gore and the penguins, but has it become more than just a political movement?

From 1970’s “Environmental Acts” to Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” in 2006, activists everywhere have been fighting for Mother Earth. Everything from reusable grocery bags to smart cars, pop culture and the mass media

have been pushing Earth-conscoius messages.

phot

o by

aus

tin c

osle

rph

oto

by a

ustin

cos

ler

1930s 1940s 1950s

Atomic bomb testing and dropping in Japan caused governments all over the world to realize the devastating effects on earth

80 Years of Green.by a lec russel l

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Even South has caught on to this movement. Since this school year, students have the offer to take AP Enviromental Science--the advanced

version of the already popular science course. “Our students are learning how to become responsible citizens to not just

their society,” said Van Batavia, “but to our world.” Extra-curricular activities have even taken a stand. Lauren Blaire,

sophomore, is member of the Environmental Club. According to Blaire, the club already has a deep history in aiding its community to stay conscious of day-to-day wasteful habits, not just at South, but on the city level as well.

With things such as the ‘co-mingle’ bins and testing Riss Lake’s lake water, the club’s helping hand has stretched far.

“We have the ability to pressure our peers into doing good,” said Blaire. The Park Hill School District has taken up enviromentalism not just as a stance, but as a money saver. Bridget Kellam, district environmental specialist, has taken every measure she can to save money and energy.

“Our district has saved over $637,000 dollars in the last 18 months,” Kellam said in an e-mail. “That is more than 134,000 trees saved, energy wise.”

From society to the schools, the world has turned over a ‘new leaf’ over the last 30 years. But will the work ever be done? As the environmentally

acclaimed “Lorax” once said: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, it’s not going to get better. It’s not.”

to aVISIONOne example of environmentally friendly technology is the Solar Paneled Highway, developed by Scott Brusaw, which

would allow the road way to heat itself and melt snow and ice. It also acts as a generator for electric vehicles looking to fuel.

1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

The publishing of the book “Silent Spring” enforced the growing concerns about environment

SilentSpring

by Rachel Carson

First National Earth Day

Ozone depletion becomes a major issue among evironmentalists

One of the biggest oil spills occurs, releasing 26 million tons of oil

price at the pump: $3.41 $2.00 $2.25 $4.00+

The Kyoto Protocol comes into effect which requires almost all countries to pledge to reduce their global emission of green house gases

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Waking up in the middle of the night, not being able to breathe, avoiding going outside because of an itchy or

a runny nose and just plain feeling blah: these are situations that many people deal with every day of their lives. One cause of these miserable situations is allergies. Kidshealth.com explains that an allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a certain substance that is usually harmless. In someone with an allergy, the body’s immune system treats the substance (or allergen) as an invader and reacts to the extreme, resulting in symptoms that can be possibly harmful or annoying to the person. Sophomore Cody Shopper is one South student who suffers from allergies. “My allergies first started in fifth grade. I was at recess and there was snot that just kept coming out of my nose,” he said. “It was gross.” Allergies do not only affect people outside but also inside. Most things that people are allergic to inside are things not seen by the human eye, such as dust mites, which are small little bugs that live in pillows and mattresses. Any household that has animals also has a chance of triggering allergy symptoms. Dogs, cats, hamsters--any kind of animal can cause symptoms because of their fur or hair. “I can’t sleep with any animals close to me.

My eyes start to swell and itch and sometimes it gets really bad and I break out in hives,” said Chloe Jones, junior. “Then I have to go get a steroid shot for them to go away.” According to singulair.com, allergies are mostly common in boys especially when they are younger. Girls usually start getting symptoms when they enter adulthood. “I have had my annoying allergies since I was little,” said Andy Dale, communication arts. According to medicinenet.com, allergies have increased in the past 30 years because of the types of machinery Americans have come up with. People that are allergic to pollen are now being effected whenever people mow their lawns or rake their leaves. These activities stir up the pollens, causing extreme allergy symptoms to accrue. “Students’ allergies are usually the worst during the spring and fall,” said Robin Rowe, school nurse. Allergies may be annoying to some and stressful to others, but there are ways to make reactions less intense. According to Singulair Online, most people with allergies take medicine prescribed by their doctors, as well as eye and nose sprays. “Most of the students take a certain kind of allergy medicine every day, such as Benadryl or Zertex,” said Rowe.

Attack

Some people choose this day to do something that is environmentally helpful by simply picking up a piece of trash or by planting a tree. Others choose this day to be aware of how we treat the Earth and what we can do in the future. And then there are the ones who choose to just appreciate the all-around beauty of the planet we live on. There are endless options for this upcoming Earth Day. Junior Katie Riojas said she believes “Everyone needs to realize the harmful effect we leave behind.” Make a simple commitment such as getting a group of friends together and walking around the Kansas City Theis Park on April 16. Earth Day is not the only day to raise awareness. The first step in making changes in respect for the environment is understanding the impact that the human footprint makes. Environmental Club is doing just that by joining the Earth Walk 2011. “I’m pumped to rock the walk,” said

junior Richard Powell, club member. Donations through pledges will benefit the Bridging the Gap organization of Kansas City. Bridging the Gap works to make the Kansas City area sustainable by connecting environment, economy and community. The club will be doing different activities throughout the school. During tutorial there will be a scheduled black out, this is where the club encourages all teachers to turn their lights off. “This is a fun and effective way to teach people how easy it is to save energy and how something so little can make a difference,” said Powell. Environmental Club’s new project for South is aimed at encouraging recycling. South students and staff have increased the amount of recycling but recycle items are still being carried to the dumps. How many people take the few extra steps at lunch to recycle a Gatorade bottle? Well, now those people who make the extra effort will be noticed.

Members of the Environmental Club will be hidden throughout the school, acting as “recycle bugs. “ If a member of the recycle bug team spots someone going the extra mile, he or she may be slapped with a bug sticker. Those tagged can become a recycle bug and wear their sticker with pride or the student can take the sticker to Ms. Umscheid’s room (A208) and receive a piece of candy. “I think this will make a great positive effect on recycling at South. I only recycle paper at school but from now on, I will start recycling bottles. We are hurting not only animals but ourselves,” said sophomore Lily Thoa. All of Environmental Club’s efforts are to help Panthers adjust their mindsets to automatically recycle and eventually really make a difference. “Our goal is to change the attitudes of our classmates,” said Abby Werner, junior. “We stick by our motto: Recycle or Die.”

Environmental club launches their new GreenerPurple

by heather fatino

Allergies

goinGbtw. Recycle or Die campaign

>>~Italian Designer Marcella Foschi makes purses out of old cas-sette tapes.

~Remarkable Design Productions makes various school supplies, such as pencil pouches out of old car tires and rulers out of plastic cups.

~Volksware Designers take clothes that are unfit for wearing and sew them into blankets, rugs, and carpets.

Catching the Recycle BugWith season changing, South students and teachers feel the effects of allergies

by blake reser

Across the United States, there are over 49 million teenagers that attend a public high

school. Out of those 49 million students, only around 16 percent of them volunteer in one charity aspect or another, according to the US Census Bureau. At a local level, there are about 1,600 students enrolled at South. That leaves 1,344 students who have not and more than likely will not participate in a charity organization or outreach program. Well, at least not on a conscious level. They may be walking right into charity without even knowing it, just by buying a pair of shoes. TOMS Shoes were created in 2006 when an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet, according to toms.com. The company made a ground-breaking promise. For every pair of shoes purchased, a new pair would be given to a child in need. Senior Stephen Jefferson said he had no idea the company benefited children in need. Jefferson was not the only one in the dark. Lindsey Rodhouse, junior, did not even know what TOMS were. “I didn’t know those shows were called TOMS and I had no idea they benefited charity,” said Rodhouse. If only 16 percent of South (approximately 266 students) bought a pair of TOMS, they would be putting a pair of shoes on the feet of an additional 266 people in over 20 countries,

including Afria, China and the United States. Some people may not know the philanthropic works behind the shoe company, but others were more than happy to buy a pair of TOMS solely based on the cause they are benefiting. Freshman Maddie Putnam bought two pairs of TOMS this year. “I love everything about my TOMS. They are comfortable, stylish and the money goes to a great cause,” said Putnam. No matter what your reason is for buying a pair of a TOMS, whether style or comfort, the effect is still the same. The average pair of TOMS cost $50, which may seem slightly pricey, but the price may not seem so bad when considering every purchase helps a person in need and staying trendy all at once. If every South student bought a single pair of TOMS, that would put shoes on almost two thousand people. “Most of my shoes cost around$50, so it is really not too big of a deal when you consider how many people you are helping,” said Jakob Gaumer, senior. So far, the shoe movement has placed shoes on the feet of over one million people worldwide and they are not stopping there, according to toms.com. It is TOMS hope that their One for One movement will continue to grow. Next time it is time to buy a new pair of shoes, put down the local Foot Locker catalog and give charity a chance.

One step at a TimeToms shoes put relief on the feet of millions

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tmi.

The gentle vibration of an acoustic guitar gently hums in the background as a soothing tenor fills the room with a fresh breath of air. I breathe a single sigh of relief as the perfect pitch is matched. Music is pure. Music is simple. Music is everything. Music can house so many different emotions and feelings in a single note. I could not imagine living in this world without sight, but the thought of losing my hearing sends a shiver down my back. Listen closely: that deafening quiet is the sound of a falling tear as millions of students put down their instruments as the curtain closes for the last time. To say that I do not possess a singing voice would be a vast understatement, but luckily for me, there’s the love of strings. I have been playing guitar for about six months. I’m no Hendrix, but I love it. I’m sure that many of you know the feeling of love that comes with the strum of a string, or the swell of a horn or even the sharp harmonic sound of hitting the right note to your favorite melody. What if I told you that schools just like ours have and are stripping away the core of America’s high school music programs one note at a time? It may be an inconvenient truth, but it is a truth nonetheless. Whether you are involved in our music program or not, it still affects you. Over 17 million sites flooded my computer screen when I

searched “Fine arts cut at school.” As school committees across the US face severe budget cuts, fine arts programs are being cut, one string at a time. A questionnaire was given at several Orange County (Calif.) schools to help administrators fully grasp the importance of music appreciation. An astounding 70 percent of students said that the music program held great importance at their schools. On the flip side, only three percent of students felt that the program held no significance.

Pulling us a little closer to home, the Lee’s Summit school district took an $8 million cut this year to their budget, and now their elementary band and orchestra department is virtually nonexistent. When is enough, enough? The Missouri legislature is currently considering dropping all fine arts programs in a cost-cutting

measure. What they are really cutting is the curriculum that trains creative minds — the minds of painters, musicians, actors, researchers, writers and readers. These are the areas of education in which left-brained learners, like myself, excel. Whether I like it or not, this is happening in every state. Yet as students, we all have the power to make a change. If art and music programs continue to be cut, there will cease to be creativity. The world will essentially become black and white. This is your turn to stand up and say “enough is enough”. After all, I prefer the world in all of its shades of beauty.

by ida patton

Behind the Lyrics: The Note that Pierced the Heart of Millionsby ida patton

Music is pure. Music is simple.

Music is everything.

Ralph Lauren sold co-branded Polo Rugby TOMS, giving a matched pair with every pair sold.

Element skateboards has issued limited edition TOMS+ Element shoes as well as a one for one skateboard for children at The Indigo skate camp in Durban, South Africa.

L o o k w h o e ls e i s g e t t i n g

i n v o lv e d !

photo by austin cosler

tmi.

+ p a g e t w e l v e .

Remember the good old days? The times when all you had to do was hop on your bike and ride back and forth in the tall grass in hopes that a wild Pokémon would appear so that you could gain some experience on

your Wartortle? Back then, all you needed to worry about showing up was a Pidgey or an occasional Rattatat. But these days, you may be riding through the brush and find yourself saying, “what the H. E. double hockey-sticks was that?” With the recent release of Pokémon Black and White, the number of Pokémon will now be up to 649, according to Serebii.net. This preposterous amount of Pokémon is undoubtedly too many for the children of America. “Why try to add on to something that has already reached its potential?” asked sophomore Kent Masters when informed of this new game. According to IGN.com and Gamefreak, the makers of Pokémon released Black and White Versions on March 6 in America, selling for $34.99. These games will be released for

the Nintendo DS and will not only feature a whole new region for gameplay named Unova, but there will also be 155 new Pokémon never before seen. I find this to be outrageous. Kids these days have a hard enough time memorizing 25 words for their spelling tests, let alone 155 new Pokémon and the GPS coordinates of an entire new region. Can we even feel safe now with our younger siblings wandering out alone in the wilderness with the possibility of a wild Patrat (a Unovian native creature) on the attack? Sean Judd, Senior, shared my sentiments exactly. “The Gold Version of the game was pushing it,” Judd said. “ It just seems like the new version of the game is going to ruin our childhood. It’s like saying everything that we learned is wrong.” It can be easily inferred from the response of many students here at South that this game is going to do nothing good. It will only lead to the disillusionment of our youth. With that said, we can only hope that Pokemon Black and White will not become nationwide hits like every previous Pokemon game ever made has done.

by malana bradfordSouth students take advantage of the popular website Youtube

Video- Sharing Succsess

The World of Pocket Monsters has Gone Too FarNew Pokemon game may lead to bigger problems than just laziness and extreme addiction

by ty ler arthur

In the days before computers, people with dreams of entertaining others either had to join the circus or drop

whatever they had going on in their life and move to California. In today’s tech savvy world, however, achieving fame has been made much easier through a website called YouTube. Most are more than familiar with it, but for those who are not, YouTube is a video-sharing website that was created in February of 2005. Unregistered users can watch as many videos as they wish free of charge, and registered users may do the same, as well as upload their own videos. One South student who has taken advantage of being able to upload his own videos is Drew Tryon, junior. Tryon has been making videos since he was in sixth grade. Not a musician or comedian, Tryon is simply a vlogger (video blogger). “I just kind of talk to the camera and try to make it funny,” said Tryon. “I hang up a tie-dye sheet behind me though, so the whole world can’t see my room.” Since his first videos, Tryon’s YouTube career has reached new heights. Tryon

said he was a part of the YouTube partnership program, which means he gets paid to make videos. He also has t-shirts with quotes from his videos on cafepress.com. Before others run home and start to make videos so that they can get paid as well, realize it does not happen for everyone. Tryon’s channel has had over 4,600 total subscribers and he had to make at least one new video a week to continue getting paid.

Although not everyone will become famous from the site, YouTube is still a fun way to entertain or stay connected. Tryon said, “It’s given niche groups of people a place to express themselves. People in a small demographic now have a media outlet. Plus, it’s free and entertaining.” No one knows this better than the average joes that we all now know and

love simply because of their videos, such as the cute little British boy who captured the hearts of millions just by saying, “Ouch, Charlie bit me.” Tryon, however, is not the only South YouTube star. Lindsy Kurzdorfer, junior, has also experienced Internet fame. “My favorite video I’ve made is ‘The Sheltered Life,’ because it made me YouTube famous,” Kurzdorfer said. “People quote me all the time.” ‘The Sheltered Life’ also features students Rachel Carney,senior, and Avery Russell, junior, and has almost 1,000 hits. The video features the girls acting as though they’ve lived a very sheltered life and do not know about many common sense topics. Visitors can find these students’ videos on Kurzdorfer’s channel, lindsykurz12, or Tryon’s new channel, moreoverthree. Whether watching or making videos is your style, YouTube has a place for everyone.

“realize youtube fame does not happen for everyone”.

2008

20052006

2007 2009

2010Susan Boyle: Britans Got Talent

South Carolina: Miss Teen USA

O’Reilly:Does it Live

Ok,Go: Treadmill Video

Uploading Started Here

Antoine Dodson: Hide Your Kids

Sensational Viewing :top videos through the years

What combines the satisfaction of scoring a goal and

the joy of being with friends while engulfed in water activities? If you guess water polo, you’re correct. Did you know that there are approximately 40 different water sports? Yes, South does have a boys and girls swim and dive team. But some sports that involve swimming have different objectives, making them a whole new sport. For instance, Jake Fisher,

junior, plays water polo every day after school at the Park Hill Aquatic Center. In water polo there are seven players total, six on the field and one goalie. Through a combination of swimming and soccer, the goal is to get the ball to the other side of the pool. “You are treading water the entire game. It’s really hard,” said Fisher. Fisher is not the only one who plays. Also on his team is Weston Branchick, senior.

Branchick has been playing since sophomore year when his friends convinced him to start. “It’s a really fun sport and a lot of people don’t know about it,” said

Branchick. “I’m a swimmer, so it gives me an advantage.” Just like any other team, water polo has A and B string. Players wear caps over their heads and mouth guards for protection. Anyone seventh grade and older can play, and it’s co-ed, unlike a lot of other sports. “A lot of my friends play, and they were telling me about it so I decided to try,” said Dani Lake,

sophomore. The team was initially started by a couple of swimmers just wanting to do something in the spring, according to Kendra Mikuls, senior. The season began the first week of March, and ends late in April. “[I play it] because I’m not very good at running and it’s a good exercise,” said Mikuls. The polo team bears the school name, but Fisher said it is not officially part of the district because players cannot letter in the sport. There is not a team captain yet, but interested students should show up to one of their practices, held every day after school at the Park Hill Aquatic Center, to get information.

+ p a g e t h i r t e e n .

mvp.

This coming Spring, many South students may be looking for something new to try while having fun with some friends and staying active. One thing that may not have been considered but is loved by many is Ultimate Frisbee. It is a lot like backyard football; anyone can have a great time and enjoy the beautiful weather. Many South students love the sport because of the high level of activeness when played and the involvement of everyone. “It’s great to play outside with a lot of friends,” said senior Cody Miller. “It is also a sport that almost anyone can play without needing much skill.” Miller explained that a sport like Ultimate Frisbee just takes effort and a love for competition. Senior Mike Kegin said, “[Ultimate Frisbee] is great cardio and it is a good sport that you don’t have to be too committed to. I like that it is about pick-up games and time with friends.” Another plus to Ultimate Frisbee is

that it is environmentally friendly-- it takes very little equipment and can be played on almost any size of field. All one needs is a regulation weight Frisbee from any sporting goods store and a large open area. A local area of choice by South students such as Miller and Kegin is the field inside of the track at Park University in Parkville.

Because Ultimate can be played recreationally, a group of people could play in their back yards, on a regulation soccer field, or even at the local park, depending on the preference of the players. However, according to

Missouri.edu, many major universities offer Ultimate Frisbee intramurals for those who take the game a little more seriously. So whether one may be an avid Ultimate player set on playing at a competitive level, or just a teen looking to have a good time with some friends, Ultimate Frisbee may be the best choice for future athletic endeavors.

Fling

by ty l er a r thur

Ultimate Frisbee may become your new passion

TheSpring

M

by cydney connerWater Polo becomes more popular at South

PocrA o ol

“Ultimate is a sport that almost anyone can play with-out needing much skill.”

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or the shortest month of the year, February has a peculiar sense of length. The reasons why vary: being single on Valentine’s Day, surviving Arctic climates and passing midterms all make the only 28-day month seem like 50. For me personally, all of the above are contributing factors, but the real February pain is having to persist through the most sports-deprived month in the calendar. If it wasn’t for the Super Bowl, February would be certifiable sports agony. Even with the Super Bowl, it’s mostly anguish, with a side of aversion. Today, the actual game isn’t even the main event. Half the country watches for the commercials, and the rest watch because it’s on at the party. Combine that with February’s other top sports headlines (Carmelo sneezes. Carmelo uses the restroom. Oh, hey, Carmelo’s going to New York!) and getting through February seems more like a Man v. Wild episode than real life. Then there’s March. The third month of the year is arguably the greatest sports month, year in and year out. Disagree? Let me know when another month is in a nickname as often used, often copied and downright awesome as “March Madness.” Think about it. In sports terms, the March equation goes like this: NCAA Tournament + Opening Day + NHL/NBA playoff races + MLS Kickoff + NASCAR = “friggin’ sweet.” It really goes to show that timing is everything. The sequence of events is mind boggling; we pass through April to January without problems, hit a wall in February, then go to infinity and beyond in March. There is a lesson to be learned here, though. As lame of a sports month as February is, it is not without importance. February makes March Madness possible thanks to the slew of conference games that occur from Feb. 1-28. February sets the stage for Opening Day by providing the start of spring training. February makes NASCAR season worthwhile by holding the Daytona 500, a staple of the second month. February is the key to the NBA and NHL’s postseasons because of the oft-overlooked

regular season match-ups that take place between January and March. It’s an American concept to idolize the cogs in the wheel, the truly important parts that don’t necessarily get all the attention. It’s why we give respect to the cities of Detroit and Pittsburgh, why every kid wants to be a firefighter and why the second-highest paid player on almost every NFL team is a lineman. If that’s the case, then February should be lauded by every American sports fan. We can’t ignore the background of our favorite portraits. We can’t skip all the mediocre songs on a good album. We can’t fast forward through the low points in life, and we can’t skip February because sometimes the pieces of the puzzle that don’t quite seem to fit are the most important. Maybe that’s why February always seems to last so long.

In the 1980s, the Kansas City Royals were one of the best teams in baseball under the ownership of the team’s founder, Ewing Kauffman. The Royals took the biggest honor in baseball by beating the St. Louis Cardinals to win the 1985 World Series. But all that is different now, thanks to one man: David Glass. Glass, a Wal-Mart executive, bought the team in 1993, after the death of Kauffman, for $96 million. And like a true Wal-Mart man, Glass immediately slashed prices. In the Royals case, the payroll was cut by more than half.

.....Oh, and did I mention? He doesn’t even live here. That’s right, this modern-day Scrooge lives in Arkansas. How can you run a team that lives an entire state away? Come on, Dave. Earlier this year, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Jeff Gordon wrote an article about Albert Pujols, arguably the league’s best player, coming to Kansas City. Glass immediately responded that he would never sign an individual player to a contract that large. Thanks, Dave.

In the meantime, ESPN named Glass one of the top 10 greediest owners in sports. There is no way a Major League team can win with a penny-pinching owner who sees his team as an investment. There is even a Facebook group called “I care a lot more about the Royals than David Glass does”. (I am a proud member.) Take the hint, Dave. Under Glass, the Royals have never won another division title, and have never earned a playoff berth. Bad ownership not only leads to a lack of incoming talent, but also to player departures. Team leaders Zach Greinke (Cy Young Winner), David DeJesus (former face of the franchise) and Yuniesky Betancourt (KC’s 2010 home run leader) all left KC just in this past off-season. The Steinbrenners, owners of the New York Yankees, may be the most hated family in sports, but at least they care about their team. In 1973 George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees and the team became his life. Since the Steinbrenners have taken over the team, the Yanks have won seven World Series titles, and had 20 playoff berths. Take notes Dave. To have a successful team, you need a committed owner. Plain and simple, the Royals cannot win with Glass, and we will keep having dreadful seasons until he leaves. But just like Wal-Mart, we’ll be okay as long as we do things the Glass way and “Save money, live happy.”+ p a g e f o u r t e e n .

Comparing the months of February and March … in sports terms

Pain in the Glass The reason behind the Royals problems

by harr ison white

M a r c h - i n g O n

“Bad ownership not only leads to a lack of incoming talent, but also to player departures.”

by dan n y jones

just

a b

it O U T S I D E

F February High Points>Super Bowl >NCAA conference BBall games>NASCAR Daytona 500 March High Points>NCAA Tournament “March Madness“>NHL/NBA playoffs>MLS Kickoff> NASCAR>MLB Opening Day

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UMKC has hundreds of ways to get a life. Find yours at umkc.edu/getalife

S:8”S:5

.25”

T:8”T:5

.25”

B:8”B

:5.2

5”

+ p a g e f i f t e e n .

Running

out of time to make memories?

high school

p r e t e e n

a d o l e s e n c e

i n fa n t

-List will include every goal that you, the readers, think should be accomplished before graduation

-Submit your ideas for things to do at phsview.com between now and April 1

-All the best ideas will be published in the next (and final) issue of The View

The View is compiling a Buried South Life

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of the View!

Reporters

Adviser

Editor-in-ChiefArt DirectorCopy EditorBusiness ManagerWeb EditorPhoto Editor

Jesse McGinnessAlec RussellDanny JonesBen AndersenTiernan EibergerAustin Cosler

Tyler Arthur, Maxx Beshears, Malana Bradford, Cydney Conner, Jessica Freeman, Heather Fatino, Ida Patton, Blake Reser, Harrison White and Elizabeth Williams

Megan Hughes

the view staff spring 2011

29 1Profesional Bull Riding at the Sprint Center at 6:50

First home Baseball Game vs. Staley

Boys Golf, at the National vs. Liberty andPark Hill

Boys Tennis Home vs. Winnetonka 4:00

Track Dual Home vs. Park Hill

Pick up The View!

Girls Soccer Home vs. Fort Osage 6:30

“Arthur” “Your Highness” and “Soul Surfer” movies premiere

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Home Baseball Game vs. Raytown 4:00

Boys Tennis vs. Lees Summit 3:30

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+log on to phsview.com for a full, up-

to-the-minute events calendar

mar

ch/a

pril

Take your glass recycling to a local bin

Start a compost pile in your backyard

Change all your old lightbulbs to energy efficient ones

Carpool with friends to school

Turn down the thermostat at home

Plant a tree to decrease CO2 emissions

Start buying organic products

Unplug unused appliances in your house

Easter

ACT

Prom

22Earth Day!No School