Harrison Morris “A Puppy, named Hunter.”

Trace Clark “A kitten.” Sydney Lower “The super sweet calculator Mrs. Chrisler always talks about!”

THE SPARTAN VOICEVOLUME 5, ISSUE 7 DECEMBER 9, 2011

WICHITA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL

HOLIDAY EDITION DIGITAL EDITION:WWW.THESPARTANVOICE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Spartan Holiday Spirit!

On display in the foyer. STUCO sponsored a Salvation Army Angel Tree and helped boost the WCS food

drive. FYI: Peanut Butter donationswanted by MONDAY!

“What no boy’s dance?”India Cohlmia

We Have a Swimming Team?By: Jake Barrett

Despite popular belief, we actually do have a swim team, and we have already gotten off to a good start. There have been a month’s worth of practices and two meets so far, and outlook for the state meet is already good.

Practices in the morning are going well, and they aren’t as bad as many people originally thought. Almost everyone on the team agrees that they would rather have only morning practices. Our beginners are perfecting their strokes while the experienced swimmers continue to get stronger.

At the first meet in Emporia, WCS finished fabulously. Rhys Powell and Sam Horner both won both of their individual events, as well as contributing to one first place relay and one second place relay, both qualifying for the state meet. In addition, the second place relay broke a WCS school record. Also in the relays were Trent Pirner and myself. Trent placed 3rd in the 100 breaststroke and 4th in the 100 butterfly, and I placed 3rd in the 100 backstroke and 4th in the 200 Individual Medley (IM). Even our beginners and underclassmen Mikey Hoekel, Andrew Steele, Arri Evans,

and Christian Kraft finished well with a 7th place finish in the relay.

Tuesday, our team went to Emporia, where we competed well again, but it was a meet with much tougher competition. Our A relays (Rhys, Sam, Trent, and me) finished second, and Rhys, Sam, Trent, and myself all placed (1st through 6th) in one or both of their individual events. People should try to come to a meet or two to support our team, and it would

be great to see some friendly faces in the stands. Wish us luck as we continue our season that

will hopefully end with a successful run at the state meet!

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

“To be 6ft tall.” Trevor Flamini

SWIM TEAM

Muscle milk hot

The meet was much tougher, but we didn’t have much practice at all between last meet and this one. The next meet can only be better.

Rhys Powell tries to recognize his teamates in clothes, Christian Kraft, Jake Barrett, Arri Evans, Andrew Steele & Mikey Hoekel.

chocolates

“Marcel the Shell.....with shoes on.”

Andrew Feist

MOVIESNew Year’s Eve

12/9

Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy 12/9

Sherlock Holmes:A Game of Shadows

12/16

Mission Impossible:That guy

12/16

The Adventures of TinTin

Steven Speilberg12/16

The Girl with the Dragon TattooDaniel Craig

12/21

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

12/16

We Bought a ZooMatt Damon

12/23

War HorseSteven Speilberg

12/25

Christmas season, especially "Winter

Break," is a perfect time for three things: family time, holiday spirit, and curling up on the couch with a warm blanket to watch a movie. That is the reason why Christmas movies

are so successful and popular. There is no better activity in the anticipating days of Christmas than to sit around the television with family and friends-perhaps even a

fire in the hearth- and watch a holiday special-maybe have some peppermint hot chocolate as well. For this purpose, I offer you a short list of Christmas movie suggestions,

that my family and I have watched over the years-with hot chocolate and a fire.1. Home Alone3. It's a Wonderful Life

5. The Grinch4. A Christmas StoryEach of these have a different appeal and suit a different mood. Home Alone would be my first choice for

an indiscriminate movie chooser, or anyone who feels alone or even just devious. Elf, I'm certain most of my readers have seen many times, but for those who haven't, it is very silly

humor, with a heart-warming plot, good for a light hearted evening of laughter. It's a Wonderful Life has likely been crammed down your throat growing up, and you may now

resent the movie, but trust me, now

that you're older, if you give it an

honest try-and forgive it for being black and white-you may just enjoy it. Note: it is not as light hearted as Elf. A Christmas Story is a classic film

with the famous boy whowants a Red Ryder BB Gun, but everyone tells him "You'll shoot your eye out!" Spoiler Alert: he may or may not get it and may or

may not shoot his eye out. The Grinch we all know the story of, we all know the classic Dr. Seuss story it's based on and have probably seen this Mike Myers version and

the classic animated version a numerous amount of times, but its good each time. Watch it just two or three times more. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is a television

special by ABC, technically not a movie, but madethe list because it is, in my opinion, very under-rated. If you really like this, there are many other similar

specials: The Year Without Santa Claus, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Rudolf's Shiny New Year, andRudolf and Frosty's Christmas In

July. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.

The Feist Fireplace

India...In 1954 Perry Como sang out, “Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays,” but is there? Everyone has their own personal set of traditions that they like to follow. Some people look forward to waking up Christmas morning in their house, other people treasure being at family member’s homes, and more recently some people would rather just vacation. For the people who cherish being at home during the holidays, traveling or vacationing is just inconceivable for them. According to Cora Burgoyne she would rather be home during the holidays because, it doesn’t feel like Christmas if she isn’t at home. On the contrary Brianna Lowden said she would rather vacation then endure holiday traditions with the family because, Wichita sucks and she would rather be somewhere warm than freezing in Wichita. Personally when my family went to Lawrence for Thanksgiving, I hated it. I found myself just totally miserable because, I wanted to be in my own home to celebrate and the idea of not being at my house when I wake up Christmas morning is mind-boggling. However, no matter how your family celebrates for the Holidays, I hope that everyone has an amazing holiday break and that wherever you spend it, you enjoy it!

Q. Favorite Christmas movie?A. A Christmas Story.

Q. Favorite Christmas song or album?A. “Under the Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber

Q. What do you do on Christmas day?A. My whole family comes over and we open presents together. It’s a Lebanese feast.

Q. Does your family use a real or fake Christmas tree?A. Switches on and off.

Q. What presents are you asking for this year?A. A hunky man to come and make all my Christmas wishes true (; somebody like theSituation.

Q. If you could have any gift in the world, what would it be?A. To be on JERSEY SHORE.

Q. Do you do anything special during the season?A. I write Christmas raps and then perform than for my family and friends- “Yo Yo Yo, it’s Christmas time snitchessssss”

Q. Naughty of nice?A. ohhh naughty!

Q. Cider of hot cocoa?A. Cider… cause I’m spice!

Q. Grinch or Santa?A. Grinch.. I was always a sucker for Dr. Seuss.

Q. If you could have anyone come celebrate Christmas with you and your family, whowould it be and why?A. I would say Justin Bieber because he’s Jesus reincarnated.

Q. Favorite Christmas food?A. PEEPS for anytime of year.

WHATS IN A NAME...?

India Flora Gabrielle

Cocoa Cohlmia

HOME....Bell Schwartz

CHRISTMAS WISHES?

“I want a new Puppy.”

Lauren Copher

SPARTANS ♥ SANTA

PAPER TWEET: Coach

Fiegel: “Favorite memory was when my grandparents still lived on their farm, there was an aluminum Christmas tree with a color wheel. The tree would light up in different

colors, and since it was the only tree it made the whole room light up.”

Tyler Dobbs “Books.”

Mr. Myers “A Missouri Valley Championship for the Shockers.”

Diana: “I wake up and open presents… That’s all.”

Jake Provenzano: “Sleeping in

my sister Claire’s room.”

Kara Maloney: “Watching the Grinch and Elf while baking Christmas cookies with my sister.”

Mr. Wren: “My sisters and their

families and my brother and me, go to church with our parents on Christmas Eve. Then we go to my mother’s house and celebrate. After that we go home and sleep, then we wake up early and go back

my mother’s and open presents. It is now a tradition for my mom to make blueberry muffins, and we drink coffee and mimosas.”

Essence: “Snow ball fights and

drinking hot chocolate on Christmas morning.”

Mrs. King: “My whole family gets together and we make sugar cookies. This year will be Mason’s first year.”

Mr Bixler: “Luminaries at Grace Presbyterian church on Christmas Eve walking around and awaiting

Santa’s arrival.”

Books for the person who has everything.....

Food Drive dance, Thanksgiving

Concert,Joey’s Humanities notes on his computer, Pep Rally, Chess matches and Basketball study hall.

Quisque Lacinia: Phasellus tincidunt ipsum id quam. Quisque lacinia.

The Gifts of ChristmasBy Diana Kim

Christmas 2011 is soon on the way, which not only means receiving presents, but giving presents. Having trouble looking for something in your price range? There are many gadgets and fun stuff I found on the internet that I thought might give you an idea of what to get. I was literally just looking through some websites that caught my eye. Seriously,though.

Top 10 Fascinating Gifts:1. iPhone 4S - Of course, iPhones always make it to the top ten list. - Starting at $1992. Flying Alarm Clock - Having trouble waking up? Let this alarm wake you up while you struggle to catch it while it flies around your room. - $11.99

3. Skyrim - $72.99 (starting)4. Jukebox iHome - This iHome not only plays your music, it gives your boring room a little 50’s vintage spice. - $159.995. Uggs - Sweater weather gets even better with this cozy, three-

styles-in-one silhouette. Cable-knit Merino wool cuff can extend above the knee, detach, or fold down over the traditional Twinface sheepskin boot.$250.00

6. Beats by Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre Solo on-ear headphones have a smaller, lighter design than the bigger ones, but offer great sound quality. Ideal for digital music, these headphones provide deep bass, a bold midrange, and clear, undistorted treble so you can hear everydetail. - $179.00 - $199.007. LED Jellyfish Mood Lamp - Just something to make your room a little prettier and to give it a relaxed feeling. - $29.998. Onesie Pajamas - $19.999. Teddy Bear with Chocolates - $9.99 (minimum)10. Custom make Nike Shoes online - Starting at $435!

Hot gifts for

2011!

The Willing to Compromise Movement*By Andrew Elkouri

*Titled by Mr. Ron Darmon.

In the past years there has been a clamorous emergence of outspoken political movements. TheTea Party began in 2009, and Occupy Wall Street two years later. The conflict between these twogroups will never end because neither is willing to compromise.What’s discouraging is that to join either of these groups, the main requirements are unbelievable

stubbornness and the ability to plug one’s ears when hearing the voice of reason. And that is theproblem: the voice of reason – however loudly it may shriek – remains unheard.At this point, a troubled reader might wonder: “What entitles Andrew, a thoughtless charlatan, todecide what is reasonable and what is not?” The impression I get, from a painstaking analysis of the aforementioned movements, is that not

only are their participants ardent radicals, but they’re also foolishly provocative. This results indeep-seated tenacity and a political gridlock follows naturally. If the public felt more inclined tovote for bipartisan policies, the congressmen would follow suit. The prevention of compromising stems from a firm attachment to one’s party, and consequently,an inability to recognize the other party’s ideas as effective. If we could just gather a group of

open-minded protestors and call them the “Willing to Compromise” movement, they would get asurprising amount of political leverage. The question now becomes, “Why haven’t we seen such a party emerge?” What the polls tell usis that most Americans identify themselves as “Independents or Don’t Know.” The majority ofpeople fall into the latter group, even if they label themselves as “Republican” or “Democrat.”

And in all likelihood, that demographics’ tagline is something like “I have no opinion on thematter.” These are the types of people who never take sides in arguments and always aim to please. Eitherthat or they don’t understand the argument in the first place. In any case, one thing is clear: thisgroup of people lacks powerful conviction, and thus, lacks incentives to protest.

The reason we haven’t seen what we call “Moderate Republicans” or “Moderate Democrats.” form such a party is the following. They do not exist. There is no conclusive ideology of themoderate. Therefore it is impossible for a group to call themselves “moderates” because eachwould have different views.

For these people to even gather, it would have to be a “big tent” party, and such parties havelittle influence on policy. If the group formed, one could go to their rally and ask “What do youwant?” and one would get hundreds of contradicting answers.Since a “willing to compromise” movement is impossible, that leaves us to choose between twoevils.

Top Christmas Albums 2011

1. Michael Buble: Christmas

2. My Morning Jacket: iTunes Session

3. Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 2

4. Justin Beiber: Under the Mistletoe (Deluxe Edition)

5. Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas

6. The Killers: (RED) Christmas

7. Various Artists: The Essential NOW That’s What I Call Christmas

8. Josh Groban: Noel

9. Various Artists: Number 1’s: Christmas

10. Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift Holiday Collection

11. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas

12. Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas

13. Justin Beiber: Under the Mistletoe

14. Various Artists: The Sing-Off: Songs of the Season

15. Martina McBride: White Christmas

By Kara Maloney.

Esther Cho “ I want a vampire

boyfriend.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

Angelo “I want Trevor because he is

the next best thing to a puppy.”

Decorations are up, presents are being bought and Christmas music

heard on the radio. Everyone, including Collegiate, is preparing for the usualChristmas holiday. But wait … what about the students that don’t celebrateChristmas? Millions of Americans don’t celebrate Christmas. Islam, Buddism

Judaism, among others, are religions that don’t recognize the Christmas

course there is the all-inclusive expression “Happy Holidays”, but its notchanging labels and expressions. The holiday season is a chance to spendfamily and friends, but it could also be used to find out something more afriend that isn’t celebrating this season. Take the time to learn about othersor holiday celebrations that friends or family members may celebrate. But

and be aware of other celebrations. So keep in mind that there are severalcultures in our Collegiate community, and take the time this year to celebratediversity.

Apple iPhone 4S (No Duh!):

Starting at $199Samsung Galaxy Nexus: Not Released YetAmazon Kindle Touch: $199Apple Macbook Air (Fall 2011):

Starting at $999 for 11 inch and$1299Apple Macbook Pro (Fall 2011): Starting at$1199 for 13 inch, 1799 for 15 inch,

and 2499 for 17 inchNokia Lumia 800: Coming SoonSony PlayStation Vita: $249.99IPAD 2: Starting at $499 for 16 GB

Asus Transformer Prime Tablet: Starting at $499 for 32 GB

Xbox 360 Kinect Console :

By Parth Khare

ChrismahanukwanzakahElly Vosburgh

THE SPARTAN VOICE ACCEPTS THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES:The Spartan Voice is a newspaper operated by students at Wichita Collegiate School. Content in the Voicce will consist of articles, editorials, letters, and any other material pertaining to the Wichita Collegiate community.

The Spartan Voice was founded in the principle that all students should have an equal opportunity to share their opinion in an open, unbiased forum of discussion.

Students, faculty, administrators, and parents make up the four fundamental parts of the Wichita Collegiate comunnity. Although controversial subjects maybe featured in The Voice, no part of the community will be discriminated against.

The views expressed in printed material do not necessarily represent the views of The Spartan Voice or Wichita Collegiate School.

SPARTAN VOICE STAFF Serjay SambrosAndrew Feist, Perri Fisher, James Engel, Elly Vosburgh, Bell Schwartz, Jake BarrettDiana Kim, Wynn Hukle, Parth Khare, Riley Kemmer, Kara Maloney, Christi Peterson & Eric Kelley

THE SPARTAN VOICE

Obama’s speech in Kansas this past Wednesday left the American people with two questions. The

first question being how President Obama would structure his re-election campaign around his economic policy, and the second question being where the hell is Osawatomie, Kansas? According to city’s Wikipedia page, Osawatomie, is a city located in located in Miami County, which is about 61miles southwest of Kansas City. The city of Osawatomie also has much historical significance. President, Theodore Roosevelt, delivered his famed “New Nationalism” speech in Osawatomie in

1910. The city’s historical significance played a big role inPresident Obama’s speech Wednesday.Obama, throughout his speech, paralleled the current economic state of America, with the America of 1910. Obama, like Roosevelt nearly a hundred years before, recognized the importance of the free market in America. Obama is quoted as saying, “The free market has led to prosperity and a standard of living unmatched by the rest of the world.” Obama is clearly reverent of the historical significance

that the free market has had on the United States. However, as we begin to analyze the speech further, we begin to see the many basic misunderstandings that our own President has about economic progress. Starting off, Obama delivers a striking statement, “But Roosevelt also knew that the free market has never been a free license to take whatever you can from whomever you can. He understood the free

market only works when there are rules of the road that ensure competition is fair and open and honest. And so he busted up monopolies.” This is an important quotation because it’s shows how little President Obama really understands about free market economics. By drawing parallels to Roosevelt, Obama virtually outlines his plan for dealing with the United States economy. The paradox lies within the syntax of the quotation. By using terminology like the “rules of the road”,

Obama cryptically implies that regulation is needed for a productive free market economy.The problem is that regulation and the free market cannot co-exist. Regulation is antithetical to free market, and as soon as the economy is regulated, it ceases to be free at all. Though President Obama’s misunderstanding of economic theory is striking, his theory on individualism is “jaw dropping.” Obama then delivers the concerning quotation, Sure, they say, there

will be winners and losers. But if the winners do really well, then jobs and prosperity will eventually trickle down to everybody else. And, they argue, even if prosperity doesn't trickle down, well,that's the price of liberty. cont next page

by Edgar Corrigan

Remember Osawatomie

• • •

Now, it's a simple theory. And we have to admit; it'sone that speaks to our rugged individualism and our healthy

skepticism of too much government. That's in America's DNA. And that theory fits well on a bumper sticker. But here's the

problem: It doesn't work. It has never worked.”As we further examine this statement, we begin to see some fatal flaws. American

individualism has not only benefitted every single one of you reading this, but it has also benefitted the speaker in profound ways. In fact, this is

a rather ironic statement coming from a man who has made millions by selling an autobiography,but that’s beside the point. If

we look deeper into this issue, we can be enlightened.Life has winners and losers. Why shouldn’t the economy? The truth of the matter is as

soon as the government regulates the economy they

become the entity choosing

winners and losers in the economy. There will always be winners and losers inthe economy, and regulation just creates a more artificial

and bureaucratic way of deciding them. Towards the end of his speech delivered Wednesday, Obama delivered a quotation that served to

summarize the entirety of his speech. But there's an evenmore fundamental issue at stake. This kind of gaping inequality gives lie to the

promise that's at the very heart of America: that this is a place where you can make it if you try. The lesson of the speech can be obtained

through these lines. We as students at Wichita Collegiate School are not entitled to anything. The reality is that sometimes even if you try, you

don’t always make it, and that Inequality is a part of life. Some students are naturally gifted, while others have to scrap through their academic

careers. Some students get accepted to the most prestigious universities, while

others do not. We as

Americans get in trouble when we becomeentrenched in this idea of inequality and entitlement. Neither of these ideas stays

true to the American spirit. Individualism is at the heart of all we do, and more importantly is fuel of our society. America is founded on

the principles of individualism (i.e. the Declaration of Independence, DUH). We as a society cannever lose sight of each

person’s own individuality because it is the only factor keeping us from totalitarian rule.

Remember Osawatomie.

Remember Osawatomie Cont.

Mayor of Osawatomie: Philip A. Dudley

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ,

love, the SPARTAN VOICE

SPARTAN BASKETBALL @CheneySaturday Night

Boys 7:45pmGirls t.b.a. check catchitkansas tonight

(100 West 6th Avenue St. Cheney)Next Home Game: Tuesday!