News Briefs: March 5

School
Orchestra assemble concert routine
The Orchestra is having their annual Collage Concert, which differs from past years. This year they are performing harder pieces. With the band, the students will be playing a variety of pieces including Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger Von Nurnburg”, which is one of the longest operas performed today and the “Mendelssohn Octet.
What makes this concert so different from others in the past is the accompaniment of tango dancers while the Chamber Orchestra performs “Choclo” by A.G. Villoldo. Although they accomplished a lot with last year’s Collage Concert, they are hoping to outdo what they accomplished there and show the crowd what they are capable of. The concert is this Wednesday in the East auditorium; tickets are on sale for $5.

Latin students prepare for national exam
Latin students are getting ready to prepare for the biggest exam of the year this Thursday, and see how the do relative to students around the world. The National Latin Exam is offered for any student enrolled in a Latin class in all 50 states plus 13 different countries. The test, which is different for each level of Latin, is optional for students, but if they take it for four years and score in a certain range than they will be eligible for scholarships.
“I am a little nervous because of how hard it is supposed to be,” junior Madison Hattaway said. “I have been studying grammar and vocabulary to prepare.
Students prepare with Latin teacher, Athanasia Worley, by completing half of the previous year’s Latin exam on their first semester final, offering practice tests online and learning students grammar and vocabulary.

Old club gets ready for new incarnation
East offers over a variety of 20 clubs, but until last year there wasn’t one that taught students survival techniques. Shawnee Mission East Fellowship of Outdoor Explorers and Survivalists (SMEFOES) was started last year by five seniors to teach survival techniques and explore any wooded or mountainous region in Kansas, such as Blue Ridge Cutoff.
Junior Bucky Kessinger, an Eagle Scout, is in charge of starting the club up again after spring break. The group meets every couple of weekends and spends two to three hours exploring, learning new survival techniques such, as building a camp fire and learning how to survive bitter cold conditions.
Since a majority of the club has graduated, Kessinger looks to attract more members.

Community
Students across town flock to talent competition
KC’s own version of American Idol is coming to Johnson County Community College. KC Superstar, sponsored by Wells Fargo, is a singing competition for high school students around the KC metro area that has been a tradition for two years. Junior Lily Kaufmann tried out and is planning to audition again this year with an estimated 400 students.
Kaufmann and others will attend tryouts at the end of March, semifinals on June 11, and finals on Aug. 26. Wells Fargo awards a $7,500 scholarship to the best singer in the area, gives them an opportunity to perform around Kansas City and donates $1,000 to the winner’s school’s fine arts program. Proceeds from the event help the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City underwrite $330,000 in scholarships.

KU Medical Center receives $10.5 million donation
The Hall Family from Kansas City recently donated $10.5 million to support the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Truman Medical Center in their goal to get National Cancer Institute designation. This designation recognizes cancer centers and gives financial support to the center awarded. The faculty at the cancer center in Westwood will receive $7 million of the donation – $3.5 million will go towards the Truman Medical Center and will help refurbish the facilities there because patients don’t have the equal amounts of resources.
The Hall’s donation will also be used to expand and renovate the chemotherapy facilities. By doing so KU and the Hall family hope to end the disease with these new improvements. KU Cancer Center submitted their application for the National Cancer Institute designation and will not find out if they qualify until May at the earliest.

State
“Safety Corridor” causes contention in legislature
On Feb. 22, Legislators narrowly passed a bill to create a safety corridor fund and decrease accidents on highways Wednesday, Feb. 22. There was a dispute between Kansas senators on whether the “Safety Corridor” bill was necessary. This bill doubles the price of a speeding ticket on Highway 54 in Wichita and on Highway 10 between Lawrence and Johnson County. Senator John Vratil disagrees with this bill because of existing similar laws. However, Senators Bob Marshall and Les Donovan think this law is necessary to prevent accidents on highway, such as the two different accidents that killed two five year olds.