C Vampusiew

“Celebrating 50 years of Charger pride”

Topeka West High School2001 SW Fairlawn Rd.

Topeka, KS 66604

Vol. 51 Issue 5

February 2012

Spring

Inside...

Read all about new spring fashions on page 10.

Court RoyaltyA West tradition revivedBy DEREK ROHRER

Court royalty was a part of West from the beginning of school until the 2006 school year. Many of the other schools in our discrict continue to have a corronation at this time. An interest in having Prom Royalty has beenexpressed by many students this year and in years passed, but the school was weary. “Prom is focused on the student body, not the select few,” April DelaCruz, Junior Class President, said. As such, STUCO voted unanimously to bring back the King and Queen of Courts. “I felt that more seniors deserverecognition.” Adam

Kinsinger, Executive President of STUCO, said. Court royalty at West began with just a Queen. Candidates were nominated by the T-West Lettermen and then voted on by the student body. The first Queen was Sandy Davis. King of Courts wasadded in 1977, with Robert North as the first King and Susan Owen, his queen. The Queen candidates this year are Alexa Bowen, Shelby Heydon and Jill Siebert. The King candidates are Alec Dean, Chris Harris and ColinNeukirch.

-Read more about candidates on page 7

First ever Queen of Courts was Sandy Davis. Originally only a queen was selected.

Photo courtesy of the Chevalier Yearbook.

First ever King of Courts and his date. In the 1970s Kings were added to the court.

Photo courtesy of the Chevalier Yearbook.

2006 King Derick Dixon and Queen Ora Kemp. The last King and Queen of Courts, until this year.

Photo courtesy of the Chevalier Yearbook.

Unusual PlacesFind unusual places with map and QR code, see a new side of the city! Page 5.

Book ReviewRead about the harrowing new age adventure, Ship Breaker on page 3.

Girls BasketballRead all about the girls basketball team and new coach on page 11.

ReviewsUnderworld: Awakening Underworld: Awakening is the fourth in the series, and another great additon for fans of the series. The plot once again follows Selene (Kate Beckinsale). She awakens after being in a lab for 12 years, entering a world where humans have virtually eliminated lycans (werewolves) and vampires. Once free, she learns that she was freed by another who was being experimented on. As a vampire, she flees the lab to find her savior, who she believes to be her lover, the lycan-vampire hybrid Michael (Scott Speedman). Most of the movie has Selene traveling between the lab and city limits. She also makes a visit to a vampire coven. The movie is very action oriented like the previous films. Humans are shown to have silver and ultravio-let weapons as to have an edge versus the lycan and vampires. The plot seemed to focus more so on Selene and Eve instead of the my-thology focused on in the previous movies. The fighting has Selene live up to her death dealer title, killing human and lycan alike. The movie is based around the dark violence, which pushes the plot forward. While the story has never been the selling point for the Underworld series, this movie had a pretty strong plot, with an

ending that left an open-ing for another. The movie also added two characters that played pretty large roles. Selene meets David (Theo James), a vampire who wants to fight back against the humans, and Eve (India Eisley), a 12 year old lycan-vampire. The special effects in the movie were pretty awesome, with many fight scenes showcasing them. There are a few bad instances, however, such as when they show Michael, as his face is digitalized. It seemed that the directors could not get Speedman in. The 3D effects also do not add much to the movie. The directors, Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein, do not have the best record for movies. Their last movie in 2010, Shelter, recieved a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, and many other negative re-views. They did manage to carry out the action the Underworld series is known for. Overall, I would give the movie 4/5 stars. As a fan of the series, this is my favorite to date. This movie is not for people who want an amazing plot with character de-velopment, but if you are in the mood for a good action movie, this is it.

By Derek Rohrer

2

Book Review: Ship BreakerBy ANDREA SUAREZ Nailer, a 17 year old boy, scavenges beached oil tankers in order to survive and hopefully see another day on Bright Sands Beach, along America’s Gulf Coast. Being on a light crew to collect copper wiring to barely make quota and avoiding his violent, drug-addicted father: Richard Lopez. Bright Sands Beach is nothing to being a bright home other than the bright sunny days there. He is named Nailer because he would survive all different-kinds of abuse from his father. Most people believe he is like his father. He tries not to be though, he makes a terrible mistake that changes his life. Takes part of his soul away. After almost losing his life for the sake of

making quota to avoid being kicked off the crew, The Fates have decided to keep him alive for little while longer. When a hurricane comes and nearly de-stroy the town, Nailer and his friend Pima decide to go along the coast for “free” scav-ange. To their surprise, they find a Lucky Strike, a clipper worth millions of dollars. After finding a girl inside the ship, they decide to save her. They then decide to make her part of their crew for promising a fortune as a reward for saving her. Except, Richard Lopez also finds the ship after Nailer does. Lopez captures Nailer Pima and the rich swank girl that was aboard tbe ship. They call her Lucky Girl for sparing her life.

Richard decides to hold on an offer Lucky Girl has made for him; if he lets her live and let her people come for her. Or he could just draw her blood for the fun of it. Shortly after Nailer’s father goes away with his gang of horrible criminals are away, Nailer and Lucky Girl make a run for it. Will Nailer finally run away from his hor-rifying past and father? Will he finally for the first time in his life, have a happy life unlike the dark days in Bright Sands Beach?

3

Entertainment 4

Free is what everyone wants, and in this age of over-the-air app downloads it’s more important than ever. Everyone has been there, shopping the Market or AppStore and find one of their favorite apps for cheap or even free. There are a few services that pick an app or other content and make it free for a day. For Android, there is a daily free song in the Android market under music. Often obscure, recently “Moves Like Jagger” was free.

Also on Android the Amazon App Store, downloadable via QR code at the bottom of the story, has a free app every day at the top of the main page. It could be a ten door to-do list or a three dollar game, free. For iOS and Android alike, companies like EA (Electronic Arts) Mobile make apps free or very cheap, especially around holidays.

Free Phone AppsBy MITCH MONTAGUE

5Unusual Places That Go UnseenBy MITCH MONTAGUE

A look at places that aren’t typical

Topeka is a fairly large city, as large cities go there are just as many unusual and interesting places to go see before you head off to college. Among this list there are places that are familiar to most like Lazios, and Ward Meade. Though, there are also amazing places that feature massive beasts frozen in stone that once protected the state, now

confined to a minuscule park. Hidden in one of the oldest parts of the city is a great, if only in size, man who watches all who enter, gun in hand. A tragic symbol of lives lost for freedom. There aren’t many of the typical sites such as the Capital Building, simply to make this more interesting. There are also trails and directions to a new fishing spot. Scan the QR code with your smart phone and open with Maps for pinpoint locations and detailed descriptions. You can also then use your smartphone’s nagivation

gps app and find your way to discovery. Among the many new places to see, there are some areas that have annual events that are free entry. Aaron Douglas Art park has a show every September with work from all over Topeka. If you saw last year you may have even seen Melanie Ralston in a booth, tending for her husband. Ryan McCoy was also walking around viewing some of the art. Pottery, watercolor, and oil images as well as photography and other compilations of images and forms. The gifted coordinator, Lila Bartel is

also often seen showing her watercolors. This was written for anyone who think’s there isn’t anywhere interesting around the city, nowhere they haven’t seen. If you have suggestions to add just tweet us and we can update it!

Most people would think dating your friend isn’t a good idea because you might end up breaking up and your friendship would be an awkward afterwards, although that is not always the case. The parents of Maribeth Emmert, 12, and Laura Emmert, 10, were friends at West. “My parents met in the Journalism room (C308) on Newspaper. My father was Co-Editor, and my mother was a reporter,” Laura said. Bruce and Melissa Emmert were friends for a long period of time before actually dating in their senior year. They were also part of a youth group, in which they got to know each other some more during and after school. “They were going to different colleges, at first my mom went to Kansas State University and my dad went to Washburn Univer-sity. Then my mom went to Washburn with my dad to finish her studies,” Laura said. Now, lets go back to high school where all the romance started. “Their first date was at a Pizza Hut,” Laura said. But that’s not the only place where their parents would go on dates. “They would go to A & W’s Restaurant, my mom would drive and my dad would pay,” Maribeth said. After going on several dates Mr. Emmert gave Mrs. Emmert a necklace that had a cross with two circles together, not understanding the meaning. “At the end of senior year, dad gave mom a necklace that had a cross and two circles together, that signified marriage which he didn’t know at the time and he got embarrassed about that,” Maribeth said. Another funny moment would have to include roaring and a pay phone here on campus.

“One time my parents were sitting on a bench and a pay phone started ringing, my dad answers and he roars like a lion , hangs up and they both run away. That still makes my mom laugh,” Maribeth said. Now after being friends, then going on to a relationship during high school and college comes to the part where the guy proposes to the girl. “Dad actually had to proposed a couple of times before my mom actually said yes to him,” Maribeth said. Most guys who propose to a girl and they say no usually give up on the her. Mr. Emmert still held on just in time for Mrs. Emmert finally said yes. “They are extremely happy and love the family they have,” Maribeth said. The Emmerts are proof that sometimes high school relationships do work out. “Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things, hopes all things. Love never fails.” –Anonymous

A Love StoryBy ANDREA SUAREZ

Bruce EmmertMelissa (Mauck) Emmert

Campus View Staff 1977Second row from the front third person over is Melissa Mauck and next too her is Bruce Emmert.All photos taken from the Chevalier yearbook 1977

A current photo of Bruce and Melissa Emmert.Photos submitted by the Emmert Family.

Bruce and Melissa Emmert today.Photos submitted by the Emmert Family.

3VALENTINES

Chris Harris

Jill Siebert

Colin Neukirch

Alexa Bowen Shelby Heydon

Alec Dean“I’m not gonna lie, I was

excited. I couldn’t believe it at first.”

“I was really excited and also really nervous. I didn’t

think I would get it but really wanted to, so it was

awesome to hear that I was a nominee.”

“I was actually pretty surprised at first but it was

a great feeling knowing that the student body had

nominated me.”

“Feels awesome, I love them for nominating me.”

“Freaking awesome! It feels really good knowing that my classmates respected

me enough to make it hap-pen.”

“I felt super surprised and honored. I couldn’t be

more thankful to the class of 2012 voting for me. I

couldn’t of been happier.”

King and Queen of Courts Candidates

It’s almost that time of the year, some of us dread it, some of us can’t wait to go all out. Either way the day is near, Valentine’s Day. One of the toughest things about this day is finding the per-fect gift for your sweet-heart. Here are some gift ideas to ease the process.

Valentine Gift Idea’sBy ARIANNA ZAMORA & MICAH SNOWDEN

FOR HER

Flowers

Chocolate

Jewelry

Romantic Movies

Purse

Gift card to a salon and spa

FOR HIM

Home cooked meal

Watch

Wallet

Sports equipment

Video Games

Funny Movie

Silk Boxers

Feature

We are now over a month into the new year! Most of us know that one friend that is showing us up by continuing their commitment to lifting and running. For some there just isn’t enough incentive to go. It takes forever to lose weight and it’s impossible to keep it off unless you go religiously. Tied to the gym for hours! Luckily it is the age of the Internet and one incentive than ever is out there. Now the Internet has turned going to the gym into a game! Countless apps have facebook integration so you can compete with friends. Two web apps have come up. Fitocracy is an invite only service that allows you to add your day’s activities and you get points for how much you do. These points allow you to level up. They also have the option of quests such as “I <3 the bench press” which says: “The Bench Press is one of the most impor-tant exercises for upper body strength. Hit at least 3 sets of

New Years ResolutionsBy MITCH MONTAGUE

“Yes, my grandma died a while ago so I’m helping my mom around the house.”

“No, I couldn’t think of one.” “No, I don’t want to make a goal for myself and not meet it then feel guilty.”

“Kind of, not much of a resolution as much as get-ting ready for college But if I had to say if I made a reso-lution or not I gues I would say yes.”

Jaylon Riles, 9 Ryan Watson, 10 Stephanie Baxter,12Kate Sundbye, 11

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? If not, why?

Barbell Bench Press in a week to show your love for it!” It is worth 100 points towards your next level! This is just a fun way to in-teract with members of the app and challenge yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to just start and go, and it often helps to have goals. Some don’t know what is a good goal, this is where Fitocracy comes in. Much like Fitocracy is Gym-pact. We have not used Gymact like we have Fitocracy. Gympact, in general, allows you to put in the days you want to exercise and allows you to set goals. These goals require a member-ship of sorts. This membership is pooled and then divided up between those who completed their goals, those that don’t get nothing back. You will make money if you do your work. This does revolve around the idea of the honor system. If you really want to lose weight, there is no better way than putting your wallet at stake.

A creative way to keep up on exercise

8

Adel

aide

Sarah PressMiss Adelaide Adelaide is a showgirl and Nathan’s fiance of 14 years. She worries that she will never actually get married.

“Its fun being so emotional and having my accent.”

9Dolls

Sky

Nath

anSa

rah

andGuysSpencer Raymond

Austen Hanley

Jill Siebert

Sky MastersonSky is a gambler who doesn’t want anything to do with love. He takes Sarah out on a bet and unexpectedly falls in love.

“I like that I get to play the cool guy in the musical because its completely the opposite of how I act.”

Nathan Detroit Nathan, a gambler, has been engaged to Adelaide for 14 years. He sets up the local crap games in New York City.

“I feel like I could be friends with my character, even though he would probably rip me off.”

Sarah BrownSarah is a churchgirl who works at the local mission. She is the subject of a bet between Nathan and Sky.

“My favorite song is If I Were A Bell, because I get to pretend I am drunk.”

Guys and Dolls will be in the Douglass P. Goheen Theater February 16 through the 19. Ticket prices are $8.75, and can be bought from any cast member and at the door.

Guys and Dolls, the musical coming in February, is a story of gambling and love, similar to The Gamester that was performed last year. Set in New York City, this story has four main characters. These characters are Sergeant Sarah Brown, played by Jill Siebert, 12, Sky Masterson, played by Spencer Raymond, 12, Nathan Detroit, played by Austen Hanley, 12, and Adelaide, played by Sarah Press, 12. The story revolves around a bet made between Sky and Nathan. Nathan needed money to run his gambling operations, and so he bets that Sky cannot persuade Sarah to fly with him to Havana, Cuba. Sky takes this bet, and makes it his goal to win. The side story revolves around Adelaide, a hotbox girl, who has been engaged to Nathan for fourteen years. Her goal is for Nathan to stop his illegal operations and finally marry her. The play was created by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and was performed for the first time on Broadway in 1950. This first run ran for

By TREY DARR 1200 performances and won the Tony Award for best musical. It’s second, third and fourth run took place in New York City, in 1955, 1965 and 1966 and had 31, 15, 23 per-formances, respectively. The fifth run in 1976 was back on Broadway and featured an all-black cast. It had 239 performances. The sixth run was in 1982 in London. This production won five Olivier awards. 1992 had the greatest amount of performances on Broadway since the original, totaling at 1143. The latest run was in 2009 on Broadway. This run had only 113 performances with mostly negative reviews. The film adaptation came out in 1955 and was cast with Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine. This adaptation won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture for a musical/comedy and the Best Motion Picture Actress: Jean Simmons. For those interested in seeing Guys and Dolls see any cast member for tickets. The show will be in the Douglass P. Goheen Theater February 16 through the 19.

Opinions 10

As the weather starts changing and the temperature begins to warm up we see that spring is on the way, the fashion curve is beginning to change. For men, this means ditching the sweats, hoodie and moccasins and grabbing the jeans and polo’s. What’s in this year? A lot of new trends are in this year, some outrageous and some endless classics.

What’s in for the more dressed up look?

· Khaki pants· Polo’s· Desert boots· Boat shoes· Colored Chinos· Cardigans· Toms

What’s in for the sporty look?

· Air Jordan Spizike “Bordeaux” (re-leased February 4th)

· New Nike Air Max 95 (released Febru-ary 18th)

· Basketball Shorts· Baggy Sweatpants· Nike Elites

Spring is just around the corner and so is spring fashion. Time to get rid of your wintercoats, boots, scarves. Bring out your spring dresses, shirts, and sandals. This spring bold, bright colors are in along with tribal and floral prints. Noth-ing completes the ultimate “spring look” like a spring dress. One sleeve dresses are trending, you can also look for a bold clored body-con skirt toped with almost any kind of shirt. For a casual, comfortable look, there are yoga pants.

What are the trends?· Body-con dresses· Yoga pants· Bright colors· Floral patterns· The front tops· One sleeve cameras

Spring Fashion

GIRLSFASHION

What new trends do you think will be in style for spring?

Who is a celebrity fashion

icon to you?

Describe your outfit for a night

out.

What is a big fashion Don’t?

Asia Ortiz, 12 “Capris, sunhats (little), light scarves, flats...lots of flats.”

“The Kardashians, Selena Gomez, she always looks cute/fashionable.”

“Black boots, skinny jeans, silky shirt, lacy cardigan.”

“Combo of stripes and polka dots, shorts and boots, pajamas at school.”

Alyssa Bautista, 12 “Sundresses and rompers, flowers.”

“Selena Gomez.” “Anything flowery.” “Pajama pants.”

By ARIANNA ZAMORA & MICAH SNOWDEN

GUYS FASHION

What new trends do you think will be in style for spring?

Who is a celebrity fashion

icon to you?

What are your favorite stores to

shop in?

What is a big fashion Don’t?

Brock Elgin, 11 “Khaki shorts, Polo shirts, the preppy style.”

“Brad Pitt and Kanye West.”

“American Eagle, Dick’s Sporting Goods, The North Face, Abercrombie and Fitch.”

“Layered clothing.”

Joseph Galvin, 10 “Pac Sun clothing and boat shoes.”

“Michael Jackson and Justin Timber-lake.”

“Pac Sun, Holister, Journey’s, Kohls.”

“Aeropostale.”

Ryan Malone, 10 “Cargos and Chuck Taylor’s.”

“Dwayne Wade and P. Diddy.”

“Champs, Finish Line, Dillards.”

“Not matching.”

11 Sports If you have been paying attention to the women’s basketball games this season then you must have noticed the improvement over previous years. Many atribute the changes to the new coach, Jason Wilson. Coach Wilson seems to be showing that Topeka West isn’t as bad as some may think. We may not be the best at every sport but our Women’s basketball team is making up for it. Coach Wilson, who has been coaching for eight years, says he plans on “continuing to get better as a team and individually, and to hopefully make it to the 5A State Tournament.” Growing up Wilson played for his father who had been coaching for 27 years, and continued to play in high school and college. Wilson said the inspiration for coaching was his dad and coaches. “It’s a learning profession. I strive to find new ways to teach the game,” Wilson said about being a coach. He hopes when his team looks back on their basketball seasons during their high school

career they will have completed their goals in high school. His mission as a coach is “to see student athlete’s excel in class and on the court” and clearly they are excelling tremendously on the court. Many of the lady chargers seem to be pretty happy with how he’s coaching. “I believe that this year we have a really good coach,” Jade Heartke, 12, said. “He is the best thing that has happened to this program. We can trust him and we know he belives in us. ALthoguh he can be very strict, he keeps us motivated to play hard, play together, and to have fun.” Before a game he doesn’t say things you would expect to hear from a coach. For example you might think a coach would just tell their players that if they don’t win or try their hardest then they won’t do anything besides run, pushups, or crunches during their next practice. But he tells his team “Have fun. Play hard. Play together” including going over plays for the game.

New coach changes the game Anyone who attends a girls game can see Coach Wilson on the sidelines with the team. He is always cheering on his players and encouraging those chargers to keep up the good work. Wilson is one of the few coaches who yells and cheers almost as loud as the Dub Zone. He has many strengths, including being a good motivator and being very enthusiastic. He also likes to build relationships with his team, and have honesty and respect involved in those relationships. “I have no weaknesses”, Wilson said, though some would disagree. Wilson doesn’t only coach basketball but softball as well. In 2010 his team took 4th place in regional’s, which he describes as one of his proudest moments as a coach, along with making it to sub-state finals during 2010 in basketball. So not only has he proven to everyone who thought West wasn’t great at every sport that West is best, but he has also given the dub zone something more to cheer about.

1. Jade Hartke, 12, looking to pass the ball. 2. Battling for the ball. 3. Ashley Grant, 12, driving down court. 4. Shawna Harris, 12, shooting a lay-up.5. Coach Wilson cheering on the team.Photos by Shelbi Markham

By AUDREY STEVES

Editorial Policy

Campus View is an accessible public forum for the publication readers. Editorials represent the collective opinion of the publication staff. Other opinions expressed in any Topeka West student publication are not necessarily those of the Campus View staff, the student body, faculty, administration or school district. Signed columns and letters to the editor represent the view and opinions of the writer only. The publications are subject to state and federal laws, and the content reflects student thinking and is not necessarily in agreement with administrative policies. The Campus View

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“Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort

the disturbed”

A photography company, we’re not new, just now open to the public. In 1978 the first photograph was sold, and wanting to be different or unique has plagued most of us at one time or another in our lives.

NOW you have that option. ReferralsOnly.org is a place where it is OK 2BU. Have an idea? Concept? Theme? But don’t really know how you can pull it off or think it would be too expensive? Lets visit. Almost every photo shoot we do is custom or one off,

because no one is the same. Not everyone wants the same thing, or wants to look like everybody; you just wanna look good. We’ve provided photos from just a few head shots to full hair and make up with a themed shoot. This is your option.

We want you 2BU.

Topeka has close to 200 photographers with many different skill levels. I’m NOT the best, cheapest, nor fastest. I’m Kevin and I’ll do my best to give you what you want and deserve, great photographs that will put a smile on your face for many years. Facebook, YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, I’m THAT GUY