October Issue 2009

October 2009 - Vo lume 72

- Issu e3

Inside This Issue

Hallway etiquette p.2 From being aggressive to avoiding hall-blockers, learn the “do”s and “don’t”s of navigating the RHS hallways and walking safely through the school.

Wheelchair sports p.8 1 80 S.

Livernois

- Rochester High School - Rocheste

7 , 4830 I M s l l i H r

Dirty Little Secrets:

Sophomore Ellie Gassen has participated in wheelchair basketball for the past five years, pushing herself to become a star at this sport.

Everyone has them . . .

RHS students shared some of their deep dark secrets by anonymously submitting decorated note cards. They followed the guidelines set by Post Secret. Post Secret (postsecret.blogspot. com) is a web site that shares peoples’ secrets sent from around the world. They are mailed to a certain address where they are then chosen and posted on the web.

As different as students and teachers or children and adults may be, it seems like they all have one thing in common: secrets.

“Everyone has secrets and something that they just don’t want anyone else to know about them, so they keep it from people,” freshman Michael Williams said. “If they didn’t, then it wouldn’t be a secret.”

While almost everyone has secrets, there may be a difference in the types of secrets that people keep.

“Girls tend to have more secrets about other girls, who everyone likes, or what people have done,” sophomore Sarah Rich said.

It seems that boys, on the other hand, have different kinds of secrets.

“Boys probably mainly keep secrets about what they think,” Williams said. “They tend to just act how their friends act and keep their real feelings to themselves.”

While boys and girls may have different secrets, it seems that they both have the same reasons for keeping them.

“I think that there are a lot of reasons to want to keep secrets.”

Rich said. “Someone could be keeping a secret to protect a friend, a family member, or even themselves.

And sometimes there are things that people just don’t need to know about.”

Many students believe that while there may be many reasons to keep a secret, it still may not be a wise decision.

“I think it’s good to have some secrets, like something personal since you don’t really want to be an open book,” Rich said. “But when those secrets make you start to lie, that’s when it becomes a bad thing.”

Others, however, believe that keeping secrets is not at all a bad thing.

“Keeping secrets is a good thing,” freshman Helene Fertal said. “If people don’t have secrets, then there’s nothing to keep from anybody else, and their life is just boring.”

Juniors Jessica Glaser and Nicole Armold swap secrets, a common high school activity.

Photo by Amy Mackens

Regardless of whether or not students believe that it is a good idea to be keeping their secrets, therapist Mrs. Linda Carver, who works at the Perspectives of Troy counseling center, feels that it is important that people sometimes share their secrets.

“If your secret is that you’re embarrassed about something that you did and you tell people that you trust and love, then you just learn that they love you and can be trusted with your secrets,” Mrs. Carver said. “But if you keep something to yourself, it’s almost like you’re just living in guilt and shame.”

With this, Mrs. Carver does the best as she possibly can to encourage her patients to share anything that they may be hiding.

“I’m a therapist, so I usually would only tell someone’s secret if it would hurt them or someone around them,” Mrs. Carver said.

“But what I really encourage my patients to do is to tell their secret to someone themselves. I just try to get them to tell somebody, whether it’s their best friend or a parent that they can trust.”

While it may be difficult, many agree that it is sometimes necessary for people to open up.

“It’s really important that every once in a while, people share their secrets,” Rich said. “It helps them connect with other people, which is really important. It also just helps takes a load off of their shoulders of something that they’ve been hiding.”

2 Inside the Nest Crowded halls cause trouble Talon the

October 2009

When the bell rings, the hallways transform from vast empty spaces to fast-paced, stressful, and sometimes downright impossible crowds. As the days of the 2009-2010 school year speed by, students are figuring out which hallways to take, which to avoid, and most importantly— the “do”s and “don’t”s of hallway etiquette.

Although class breaks do seem to mostly be a social time, this could potentially contribute to a back-up in the hallway.

“My biggest pet peeve would be kids that congregate in the middle of the hall,” hall monitor Penny Burke said. “They just don’t have consideration for anyone else.”

It seems that the hallways are over-populated. In order to survive and get to class, it’s necessary to be able to keep up with the fast-paced.

“The problem could be fixed with less people in one place,” sophomore Hanna Corneliussen said. “Crowded halls make it hard to walk fast and get to class on time.”

Unfortunately, many students continue to be slow-walkers and hallway-blockers.

“The freshman hallway is always busy because the freshmen crowd in big groups,” senior Meghan Montemurri said. “It would be better if people learned to just keep moving.”

The hallways would be crowded even if everyone was calm and focused. But people continue to miss-use the time.

“It’s really annoying how people stop in the middle of the hallways,” sophomore Ivan Fucich said. “It’s a struggle to get around them.”

Most students and teachers agree that the most crowded places are the entrance to the freshmen hallway and the area around the block of junior lockers.

“Prepare ahead of time with your books and don’t lollygag,” Mrs. Burke said. “Prioritize.”

Sometimes the only way to get to a destination is speaking up, and the use of short cuts.

“Walk fast and [gently] push people,” Montemurri said. “Be aggressive!”

One thing that is agreed upon is that hallway traffic has gotten out of hand. Hallway backup has a chain reaction, as does the solution. It affects every person at RHS, and if an awareness of the causes can be generated, then the effect can be avoided completely.

Students walk around in the hallway by the sophomore lockers, demonstrating that during passing time, the hallways can become extremely crowded. Photo by Katie Ziraldo

Students walk in the hallway past the counseling office and the cafeteria. Photo

by Katie Ziraldo

Students walk up from the side stairs of the mall area, just as they typically might after lunch or on the way to class. Photo by Katie Ziraldo

Many students depend upon computers and technology From using them to do homework or listen to music, society has become almost completely dependent on computers.

“Our generation is completely dependent on things like Google and Wikipedia,” junior Claire Grawburg said.

“We don’t really look at encyclopedias anymore when searching for information, so if the internet went down, we would totally be stuck.”

Along with helpful sites like Google and Wikipedia, the computer seems to provide other benefits.

“A huge advantage of computers is that you can basically find out anything you want to know, like if you have trouble with homework or you’re just really curious about things,” senior Ashley Brees said.

The computer can also be used as a way of communication for people who may not be able to talk to each other any other way.

“Computers can be really good because they can allow people to communicate who haven’t spoken in years, such as high school classmates from forever ago,” Grawburg said. “It also allows people to communicate when other means aren’t available.”

However, this instant communication is not always positive.

“There are all kinds of ways that people can talk to each other through the computer, like Facebook chat, AIM, and e-mails,” Brees said. “Sure, they’re easy, just like texting, but not personal enough in my opinion.”

Many believe that there are other reasons that computers might not always be good.

“Some kids are on the computer way too much,”

How is today’s technology different from the technology in the 1970s?

I-Pods have become extremely popular in recent years and are a convenient way for students to listen to music. Photo by Emily Hayward

Then Now Computers

This picture shows a printer that students use on an almost daily basis.

Without it, many students might have trouble turning in assignments or obtaining a copy of a certain document. Photo by Emily Hayward

sophomore Jocelyn Kidder said. “They’re so busy using Facebook or playing online games that they don’t even want to go outside and get exercise.”

Some even feel that computers can have both positive and negative effects.

“I don’t think that computers are necessarily negative,” media center specialist Mrs. Julie Harris said. “But anything can become too much of a good thing if you overuse it. It gets to be bad if kids are playing too many video games or are using the computer too much.

Computers are helpful, but can be abused, just like anything else.”

Regardless of whether they are good or bad, computers do seem to be hard to resist.

“The computer is extremely addicting with all of the new information that it just throws at you,” Grawburg said. “Everywhere I look, I find something that grabs my attention. It takes a lot to get me off the computer.”

This is a computer that might have been used in the 1970s. There was no internet, and the computer and keyboard were one piece.

This Dell computer is an example of the more modern computers that we now know and love; brands like Apple, Mac, Dell, Sony, and Toshiba.

Music

This picture is of a record player that was common in the 1970s. This made it so that music was not really portable.

Today, people can listen to CDs on the computer or in their car, and can even place songs from the CD onto an I-Pod or other music device.

Automobiles

The car that is shown in this picture is a 1970 Chevelle SS.

This picture shows a 2009 Camaro, which is very different from a 1970s car.

With Michigan’s economy in shambles, the state is frantically trying to find ways to balance the budget, which currently stands at a 2.8 billion dollar deficit.

Although many cuts have been proposed, it looks like it is the schools that are going to be further burdened during the process.

The two major proposed cuts are eliminating the Michigan Promise Scholarship, and reducing k-12 funding by 218 dollars per pupil; cuts that could soon affect RHS. The Michigan Promise Scholarship provides up to 4,000 dollars to high school graduates for successfully completing two years of postsecondary education. If cut, the money would not be provided to any student.

“I think it’s frustrating,” principal Wendy Zdeb said about the Michigan Promise Scholarship. “It’s really tragic for a kid who already put that money in their budget and are counting on that to help pay for school. As we struggle, to not have that money available is devastating. All other costs are going up and now they’re cutting how much money we’re getting. Flat out, the district just doesn’t have the money. Cuts have to be made and nobody’s going to like it.”

In order to avoid being harmed by these cuts, RCS employees are feeling pressure to make sacrifices.

“Mr. Mull told us at one of the meetings that the only way [schools] will be able to maintain the same standards [if the budget is cut further] would be if every employee took a 10 percent pay cut,”

“Flat out, the

district just doesn’t have the money.

Cuts have to be made and nobody’s going to like it.

Ms. Wendy Zdeb,

principal

”

Ms. Zdeb said.

And with new teacher contracts still under negotiation, the situation could get sticky very fast.

“School finances are very hard to figure out based on limited incoming taxes and budget allocation from the state,” math teacher and teacher union representative Mr. Robert Byrd said. “It all makes it hard when it trickles down to the local level.”

However, there is some hope.

“I think that by working together and having an open dialogue, we’ll be able to figure out what will be best for all parties,” Mr. Byrd said.

However, this hope does not eliminate the immediate worries concerning the future of the schools.

“Obviously we’re all afraid that it’ll get worse before it gets better,” secretary Mrs. Lantz said.

Talon the

Outside the Nest

Spending vs. Saving: October 2009

3

Teens voice fiscal opinion Teens always seem to be complaining about being nearly or completely broke. However, when there is money involved, the way a high school student spends it is as unique as the person themselves.

“I put my money towards things that are permanent,” senior Richard Bryant said. “Or towards memories that will last me a long time.”

Of course, not every teen focuses on making memories. Sometimes they focus on buying more materialistic items.

“I like buying new shoes the best,” senior Alison Marek said.

Like Marek, sophomore Sean Williams doesn’t center his attention on permanent things, but rather items that he currently wants.

“I spent it on a DVD player, food, and on X-box 360 stuff,” Williams said.

Some teens tend to buy whatever, with no real rhyme or reason to it. This works out well for certain students, like sophomore Lauren Daleo.

“Normally I will buy things my parents won’t buy or I will buy things that just catch my eye, or that I really want,” sophomore Lauren Daleo said.

“I also spend it on football games.”

Buying things can be kept a secret from some parents, especially if it is something said parent would generally refuse to buy. Mrs. Jackie Lepore, a mother of two RHS students, thinks she has a good view on what her children are buying.

“I feel like I know what my kids spend their money on,” Mrs. Lepore said. “Whether or not I approve of it is another question.”

What a parent will or will not pay for can vary greatly from everything to nearly nothing, and can depend on what the child wants the money for, and whether the parent approves of the reason.

Juniors Doug Boehm and Elisha Marshall buy a sucker at the school store during their lunch period. Photo by Aly Rosenau “When I want to go do stuff with my friends I have to pay for it,” Daleo said.

“My parents say it’s my responsibility, not theirs.”

Williams has a slightly different

outlook on having his parents pay for his endeavors.

“It’s 50-50,” Williams said.

“Sometimes I ask for money, but if I have the money for it then I pay.”

There are many students who try to save the majority of their money.

Instead of spending it all, they put it away for bigger and better things.

“I save as much as I can,” Marek

said. “But I also like to spend it.”

On the other hand, that is not always the case. Some teenagers, like Williams, tend not to save their money.

“I usually spend my money,” Williams said. “But if there is something I really want, then I will save for it.”

Not everyone agrees with the idea that saving is not a number one priority.

“I think it is stupid to spend everything you earn,” Marek said.

“Saving is definitely the way to go, but it is really hard most of the time.”

Age may have something to do with how one feels about spending – or saving – money. It would seem that older students, perhaps ones who support themselves more, feel that spending it all is not the way to go. “[Teens] are making a huge mistake that will hurt them in the long run,” Bryant said.

Sophomore Kara Syzmanski holds a similar opinion to Bryant in that it is important to save.

“It’s their choice to do what they want with the money they get,” Syzmanski said. “But they lose out on better stuff.”

This position on the matter is not limited to high school students. Parents can agree – or disagree – with saving as well.

“I think that it’s not a good idea, regardless of age, to spend all your money,” Mrs. Lepore said. “But I realize that many kids, especially high school students, have a lot of wants and a lot of peer pressure to spend it.”

Clearly, age is not the only factor.

Adults and students alike can feel strongly one way or the other. Whatever the cause of a student’s decision, the effects can affect everyone – and not always positively.

“I hate when [people] beg for other people to pay for things for them,” Daleo said. “I think every teen should save a certain amount of money for those emergency moments.”

Movies help MI economy Mexico redefined

“

I moved up here to save

money to get out to Los

With Michigan leading the nation in the worst unemployment rate, there Angeles. Coincidentally ... may be a light at the end of the tunnel for this economically depressed state. I’ve been working nonstop That light is the up-and-coming film ever since industry.

As major manufacturing companies Brandon Williams, shut their doors, cries for help have producer been echoed through the state. The film industry has swiftly relieved the economy by creating nearly 3,000 jobs in a very short amount of time.

Producer and assistant director a new industry.”

Brandon Williams believes that Mr. Gollon also states that it is a Michigan has become a key place to great experience to witness something film movies. like the making of films.

“Currently, I am working full time “It is amazing to see everything that on major studio productions, feature gets put into a film shoot,” Mr.Gollon films, and television shows here in said. “From the grips to the caterers, it Michigan,” Williams said. “I moved truly takes a small army to put a film up here to save money to get out to Los together.”

Angeles. Coincidentally, it seems that One of the great parts of this industry Hollywood came to me and I’ve been is that movie making is not just for working non-stop ever since.” people who have had skilled training Williams also feels that Michigan in this profession. Any person can sign brings a lot of unique aspects to the up with casting companies to become industry. an extra, which allows locals a chance “Michigan has amazing locations,” at fame. Junior Connor Antenucci has said Williams. “We can pretty much benefited a lot from the new industry. double for anything except the Vegas “Film and stage work is so different. strip.”

Film is a lot of hours and the same The 40 percent tax break that the shot over and over again.You have to Michigan legislature passed to entice be patient.” Antenucci said. “I have Hollywood to come to the motor city gotten to learn a lot of new things played a huge role in the success. about movies, and how the movies are Theatre teacher Mr. Frank Gollon, made because of the new opportunities who is also an extra, is very enthusiastic to the area,” Antenucci said. about the new opportunities in Former Rochester High student Michigan.

Kathleen McEneaney had an excellent “The tax breaks have been a Great time as an extra, and is very inspired benefit to Michigan,” Mr. Gollon said. by the movies.

“Each of the projects that I was on “I would encourage others to try employed hundreds of people who out because it’s great to have that were all paying taxes on their earnings. experience,” McEneaney said. “It The breaks have led to a large variety is great for meeting a variety of new of film projects, and they have lead to people.”

”

Talon Top 5 Movies Made in MI

Transformers

1.

Super-evoled alien robots come to earth to look for the “All Spark.”

2.

Player/coach/owner/ singer Jacky Moon (Will Ferrell) tries to save his team from being left behind in the NBA ABA merger.

Semi Pro

Gran Torino

3.

Korean War vet Walt Kowalski tries to change the ways of his neighbor after he tries to steal his 1927 Gran Torino.

Whip It

4.

A girl living in suburban Texas goes into Austin and finds inspiration while watching a roller durby match.

Dreamgirls

5.

Three black female soul singers chase their way to the top of the pop charts.

In America, many cultures come together to form a wonderful place for everyone to be themselves. But to truly understand America, one must first understand the different cultures.

“I can’t really tell you what Mexico is like,” junior Carla Ramirez said. “Just like when people say one thing about the U.S., it may not exactly be true for every state.”

The food is similar all throughout Mexico.

“Let’s just say Mexico is not a place for vegetarians,” she said.

“Almost every famous dish includes some sort of meat.”

But this is no Taco Bell meat.

“Let’s get something straight: tacos do not have hard shells, and they are not made with ground beef, rather with small corn tortillas and only meat,” she said. “And we don’t waste food. So you have an animal’s body part in mind? We probably have a dish for it.”

Even through their food is different, the music is similar and “danceable.”

“The traditional music is very different, but other than that, it’s basically the same,” she said. “We have our alternative rock, electro, pop, emo, etc. The traditional music includes genres such as salsa, cumbia, and meringue which feature the drums, guitars, accordions, and brass instruments.”

The distance does not affect Ramirez’s relationship with her family.

“I don’t really have a hard time communicating with them,” she said. “It’s not like they live in a different world or anything. I talk

Junior Carla Ramirez and her family have fun in Mexico. Photo Courtesy of Sofia Ramirez

Carla Ramirez and her sister Sofia spend a day at the beach in Mexico over the summer. Photo Courtesy of Sofia Ramirez

to my cousins through Facebook, and the rest of my family is only a phone call away.”

Mexicans have similar style to Americans.

“The clothing is basically the same, and no, sombreros are not part of our everyday wardrobe,” she said. “You can still find Hollister, Abercrombie, Gap and designer stuff.”

The generalizations about Mexico are far from what this country is really about.

“I want people to know that there is so much more to it than spring break, tacos, ponchos and sombreros.” she said. “We’re a fun and exciting group of people!”

4

Outside the Nest

Talon the

October 2009

Inside look at wheelchair basketball Athletes with disabilities share their way of getting back into the swing of things by immersing themselves in the sport of wheelchair basketball

Motivation and dedication are key to wheelchair basketball.

Some people can’t make a basket standing up, let alone sitting in a wheelchair.

Imagine doing so with the pressure of your teammates surrounding you, 10 seconds on the clock, the chanting of the fans and yelling of the coach.

Wheelchair basketball was started around WWII to get wounded veterans involved in activities and sports. Today wheelchair basketball motivates disabled athletes to get back to the sport or the newly wheelchair-bound to try something new.

RHS has its own wheelchair basketball star: sophomore Ellie Gassen. Gassen has been playing for the Sterling Heights Challengers for five years.

For Gassen, basketball came naturally and stuck with her once she got down the makingthe-basket part.

“Basketball motivates me to push my limits,” Gassen said. “I go out there every Monday and Wednesday to put my blood, sweat and tears into the game and my team.”

According to the NWBA rule book, the wheelchair is part of the player. For example, in one practice, three players fell out of his or her wheelchair.

“I know my team is playing hard when they fall out of their chair,” Sterling Heights Challengers coach Carl Vereen said. “Rarely someone will get hurt; it just takes them time to get up.”

Coaching, like in other sports, is a key component to wheelchair basketball.

Not only does the coach have to be familiar with the different disabilities on his or her team, but he or she also must know the basics of the game.

“

Basketball motivates me to push my limits. I go out there every Monday and Wednesday to put my blood, sweat and tears into the game and my team.

Ellie Gassen, sophomore

”

“My coach has been there for me, and he has taught me what it is like to be a part of a team which has made me a better person,” Gassen said.

“Coach Vereen knows what the team is capable of, especially being second place in the nation.”

Just like any other athlete, these individuals love winning trophies and medals, being in the newspaper or on television because of their team’s winnings or accomplishments.

“We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into our trophies,” Gassen said. “We deserved second in the nation, [and] this year we are aiming for more. Coach wants us to reach for first in the nation.”

Considering the fact that sophomore Alex Wheelock is a cross country runner and a soccer player, it is no surprise that she had some difficulty with wheelchair basketball at first.

“It seemed fun, and I thought I would give it a try,” Wheelock said. “I kept wanting to stand up during the game.”

However, she quickly agreed with Gassen that rolling down the court with a basketball in hand became more natural after a few minutes into the game.

“It makes me a bigger and person, and I hope it will all pay off in the future,” Gassen said. “I’m in love with the sport. It keeps me involved, and I definitely encourage other people to give it a try.”

Sophomore Ellie Gassen practices along with the rest of the Sterling Heights Challengers who are currently second in the nation. Photo by Caitlyn Kuskowski

Gassen scrimmages her teammates during practice at Carleton Middle School. Photo by Caitlyn Kuskowski

Sophomore Ellie Gassen rolls down the court during practice. Photo by Caitlyn Kuskowski

5

Outside the Nest

Talon the

October 2009

Tricks are fun and candy’s sweet Teenagers decide whether or not to go trick-or-treating

feels that trick-or-treating is a part of growing up, and since high school kids are not grown they’re not too old.

“I do not think high school It is the time of the year when the crisp and colorful leaves delicately students are too old to trick-or-treat,” cover the land. As haunted houses Ms. Harris said. “I think that trickand pumpkin patches are in full or-treating is a fun thing to do that swing, the Halloween season has is safe.”

However, others like junior Joel truly arrived. While many little kids are anxiously preparing their Marchionna have different opinions on trick-orcostumes, many treating. teens are faced “I think that with the choice teenagers are too of whether or old because you not to go trickhave to grow or-treating. up sometime,” Sophomore Marchionna said.

RandiJo Dault“Only little kids Johnson thinks should do that. I that it is silly stopped because I to believe that am closer to being teens are too an adult than a old. child.”

“That is RandiJo Dault-Johnson, Some teens crazy, I do not think you’re sophomore like junior Hannah Lee did not trickever too old to or-treat for other t r i c k - o r- t r e a t because it is just about dressing up reasons.

“For the first 14 years of my life and being with your friends,” DaultJohnson said. “It is a tradition, and it I was not allowed to because my family is really Christian, and they do is a part of being a kid.”

History teacher Mr. Neil DeLuca not support it,” Lee said. “But now also does not believe that high school they say I am old enough to make my own decisions, and so I trick-or-treat, kids are too old to trick-or-treat.

“The spirit of trick-or-treating and I love it.”

Junior Brady Crites sees always lives on in everybody,” Mr. DeLuca said. “As long as trick-or- Halloween as a really fun and treating is done with class by being exciting experience.

“High school kids are not too polite and respecting other’s lawns, it is acceptable. The cut off point is old,” Crites said. “These are the last four years of our childhood, and we definitely college.”

Biology teacher Ms. Erin Harris should live them to the fullest.”

“

I do not think you’re ever to old to trick-or-treat ... It’s a tradition, and it is a part of being a kid.

”

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. Cut open the pumpkin and scoop out the insides. Separate and rinse the pumpkin seeds.

3. Add the seeds, along with 2 cups of water for every half cup of seeds, to a small saucepan.

Add the preferred amount of salt and bring to a boil. Let simmer for ten minutes, and then remove from the heat and drain.

4. Spread a tablespoon of olive oil over the roasting pan. Spread out the seeds in one layer across the pan.

The entrance to the Amazing Corn Maze. Photo by Steven McConnell

Favorite Candies

5. Bake for 10-20 minutes (or until brown) on the top rack of the oven. When finished, remove from the oven and let the pan and seeds cool. Then enjoy!

Recipe Courtesy of simplyrecipies.com

Skittles-20%

1.

Snickers-24%

Candy Corn- 11%

Reeses-22%

www.

Kit-kat-18%

Poll based on responses from 250 RHS students.

Bored?

Tootsie Rolls-5%

Fall is full of fun things to do

Go Trick-or-Treating Not just for little kids, trick-or-treating is a fun way to dress up and get candy with friends. Plan where to go and have fun! Trick-or-treating is from 6-8 p.m.

3.

2.

Buy a Costume

Go to Party City, located on Rochester Rd., or Halloween USA, located on Adams Rd. Costume Ideas: •Girls: witch, cheerleader or nurse •Boys: soldier, zombie football player or athlete

Carve a Pumpkin

4.

Buy a pumpkin from a local store and carve a cool design into it or paint it.

Pumpkin Design Ideas: sports logo, animal or scary face

Go to a Cider Mill Some suggestions: - Yates: 1990 East Avon Rd. - Paint Creek: 4480 Orion Rd. - Goodison: 4295 Orion Rd. - Rochester Cider Mill: 5125 South Rochester Rd.

Information by Aaron Kuhn, Madison Reitzel and Steven McConnell. Photo by Aly Rosenau

5.

Go to a Haunted House or Corn Maze Haunted Houses: •Erebus: 18 South Perry St., Pontiac •Slaughter at Sundown: 71700 Romeo Plank Rd., Armada Corn Mazes: •Amaizing Corn Maze: Hagerman Road, Leonard •Westview Orchards: 65075 Van Dyke, Washington Township

Entertainment

6 R.A.T.S. prepares for ‘Urinetown’ Talon the

October 2009

Each fall, the Rochester Alliance of Theatrical Students (R.A.T.S.) comes together to perform their annual fall musical. This year’s play is “Urinetown.” “‘Urinetown’ is about people who have to pay to pee,” junior Gabe Gibbs said. “They get fed up with the greedy corporations and start a revolution.

It is a goofy musical that uses pee to poke fun at modern corporations and government greed in a satirical way.”

With rehearsals every day after school, this musical is planned to take the stage in front of a crowd Nov. 1821.

“This show is very out there,” junior Nicole Armold said. “It appeals to just about everyone. It’s easy to understand, very funny, and has wonderful, catchy, well-written songs that everyone in the audience will have stuck in their heads!”

“Urinetown” takes a lot of effort, including all the motions that are needed to make this musical perfect for the audience.

“We learn all the dancing, singing, and acting separate,” junior Connor Antenucci said. “When we pull it all together in the final weeks of the show it takes a lot of effort from the star, to someone standing in the back row of every number, and at times people aren’t always giving their best, but everything usually comes together and we put out a great show.”

Tracks such as “Run Freedom Run” and “Mr. Cladwell” add to this musical’s great audio.

“There is such a variety of different types of music all squashed into a 90 minute show,” Armold said. “Some of my favorite songs include, ‘Act One Finale’ and ‘Why did I listen to that man’ just because there is so much going on, the audience won’t know what hit them.”

Having 1,800 students in the school, Rochester High students could

Freshman Allie Gibbs, junior john Haga, freshman Adam White, junior Ariee Mock, junior Carla Ramirez, and senior Jessica Furgeson practice a dance for one of the songs at after school rehearsals.

Photo by Amy Mackens

easily fill up the auditorium, that’s what R.A.T.S. is hoping to do with “Urinetown.”

“Rochester students should definitely come to experience ‘Urinetown’ the musical,” Antenucci said. “The show is very different from things we’ve done before. The music isn’t exactly current, but it’s definitely not old time Broadway. The humor is very witty as well, and I think it’s going to be a really good show all around.”

With all the effort these students are putting in, R.A.T.S. is hoping to put on a great show.

“My goal is to put Rochester High on the map,” Gibbs said.

“Rochester is a school that can crank out a really freaking good show.”

Jim and Pam’s

‘The Office’ Wedding Fans rooted for them since the pilot episode. “A Match Made in Heaven,” PB or J—Pam Beesly and Jim (Halpert). From secret crushes, to broken engagements, to long distance relationships, all the way to a surprise pregnancy, this television icon of a couple has been through it all to get to this day, their wedding day.

The Office started in 2005 based on the U.K. version of the show. In the U.K., “The Office” love interest characters were not named Jim and Pam—but rather Tim and Dawn.

However, Jim and Pam have beaten them to the punch. Tim and Dawn have yet to have walked down the isle.

According to Entertainment Weekly’s October 2009 article, The Office we know and love received close to 5.4 million viewers when it first aired in 2005. However, as Jim and Pam have grown closer, the viewings have jumped up to an impressive 9.3 million last year. But how will the astronomical amount of viewers respond now that the moment they’ve been waiting for— the wedding— has arrived and gone by?

M i c h a e l Scott’s craving for a role in the wedding brought back uneasy memories of Season Three’s episode “Phyllis’ Wedding.”

Predictably and yet at the same time still shockingly, Michael attempted to save the day when Jim accidentally gave away the fact that Pam was pregnant to her old-fashioned grandmother. This among other things put a damper on Jim and Pam’s “mental pictures” of their wedding experience.

As Jim toasted to his soon-to-be bride—“People told me I was crazy to wait this long for a date with a girl I worked with. But I think even then, I knew I was waiting for my wife.”— The audience of familiar “The Office” characters as well as viewers across the world welled up.

In the end, the couple decided all they really needed was each other. On the day of their wedding they ran away from the church and married on The Maid of the Mist by the boat’s captain. They then returned to their friends and family to hold another wedding, with tensions— and spirits—lifted.

Overall, the awaited episode exceeded expectations.

Mixed into the romantic episode were both sentiment and humor, as well as the element of surprise.

What’s next for “The Office”?

No one can say for sure, but what we do know is that, as Jim would say, it was worth the wait.

The manager in the show “The Office,” Michael Scott, is played by Steve Carell. Photo Courtesy of www. sacbee.com

“

This cast and crew is filled with some of the most talented people I have ever worked with. They work so hard and deserve a phenomenal show.

Nicole Armold, junior

”

Juniors Jessica Glaser, Connor Antenucci and Nicole Armold, read over their scripts during rehearsals after school. Photo by Amy Mackens

7 Opinion

Staff editorial: It is hard to believe that Homecoming 2009 has come and gone. It feels as though the bulk of the year so far has been spent preparing for the big day and now that it has passed, it truly is time to buckle down and concentrate on school. Before the refocusing begins however, we would like to take this moment to recap what we think were the highs and lows of this year’s festivities.

Highs: the music, the Homecoming Court and the decorations.

Aside from the awkward “pick which song you’d rather hear” moments, the music was a definite improvement from past years.

Although the back-to-back slow songs had the potential to be a negative for some, for the most part there were no major complaints. We also felt that the selection of the Homecoming Court was dead-on. The members of the court represented their respective grades well and embodied the spirit that RHS is known for. Special congratulations to the 2009 King and Queen, Nick Davis and Rhiannon Bailey! Lastly, the student council did an amazing job of decorating for the dance. The animal cutouts, balloons and other circus-like

decorations definitely helped add to the atmosphere, making it truly feel like the dance was “under the big top.”

Lows: the carnival, the uncooperative weather and the football game.

The weather can be partially to blame for the carnival’s lack of success; however, more people would have come had they known that there were alternate plans if the weather was awful. Instead, many just figured there was no point in going to the school on a cold, rainy day if it meant that they would have to be outside in the midst it. The only thing that said it would be held in the main gym if it rained was one poster on the corner of the wall in the mall. More advertising of this fact would have drawn bigger crowds.

The weather also put a damper on the game as well. As if it wasn’t hard enough to lose, we lost on a day that left the spectators numb with cold and soaked with rain.

Overall, Homecoming was a success with only a few uncontrollable problems standing in the way of perfection. From the successful spirit week to the dance, it is going to be a hard one for future years to beat.

Talon the

October 2009

highs and lows of Homecoming

Our Views

Editor in Chief Jordan Hubbard Features Editor Laura Herbert Opinion Editor Arthur Lee

“

There were tons of people without it getting overly hot.

Arthur Lee, senior

“

The mix of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ and ‘La Macarena’ didn’t work.

Caitlyn Kuskowski, sophomore

”

”

“

The decorations were off the chizzane, and the DJ was real good.

Madison Reitzel, junior

Graphics Editor Max Kleiner

“

The decorations were almost non-existant, and it was way too hot.

Chris Saber, junior

” ” Childhood can last forever

The world economy is failing.

There are wars raging all around the world. The earth is getting warmer, and the polar bears are running out of shelter. And on top of that, California’s on fire. The world today is a daunting place, so it is no wonder that now, more than ever, people are remembering the “good old days” of their childhood, even if it was a century ago.

To students whose childhood was spent in the 90s, being a kid meant

Video game characters leap across junior David Keller’s hoodie. Photo by Arthur Lee

listening to really bad pop music, trading cards with pictures of mythical creatures shooting beams out of their eyes, and watching Spongebob and Disney movies. Now, we have come to an age of 90s nostalgia. According to voanews.com, Spongebob stills airs regularly in over 170 countries and in 25 different languages. Since its introduction in 1998, Pokemon has sold over 13 billion cards and counting in the U.S. alone. And as for Disney, according to boxofficemojo. com, the top grossing Disney movies of the 90’s were the “Lion King”, “Aladdin”, “Tarzan”, “Toy Story 1 and 2” and “Beauty and the Beast”.

Between all of them, they made nearly three billion dollars. That is about enough money to build a 740 foot tall sky-scraper. Today, students everywhere can quote a line from Spongebob, name Nintendo characters or sing a song from a

Disney movie; these factors are forever a part of who we are.

However, the 90s were not the only years in which little ones participated in the glory that is carelessness. No matter how old one is, believe it or not, he or she was, at once, a child.

If one were to approach a parent and ask if he or she could recite “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” without a doubt, said parent should be able to at least hum out the tune. Some parents may even remember their glory days of attending sock hops or watching “Howdy Doody” with their little siblings. According to fiftiesweb.com, the television game show “The Price is Right” has been on the air since 1958, a career of over 50 years, further proving the fact that everyone, no matter how old, is still a kid at heart.

Despite the clear need and want for nostalgic products, some still

Seniors Sam Daleo, Christie Nelson, Natalie Phillips, and Erin Eble (from left) dressed up for Baby Night at a football game. Photo by Max Kleiner

say that what people go through as a child, they will soon grow out of.

Clearly, this statement is a fallacy.

It is safe to say that the Pokemon Club here at RHS is one of the most popular, and even teachers have said that if there were a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Club, they would be first in line to join. Disney is still churning out movies that are aimed at children, and yet, the theatres are packed with teenagers and adults.

Even now, certain people stroll down the hallways Gameboy in hand.

People will never forget their childhood, which is why people will always be children at heart.

One does not have to immature or innocent to be a child. An inner child may not be as present as a Spongebob merchandise-clad student or a Pokemon club, but look around the halls, inner children are and always will be running rampant.

Senior Emily Newsome plays with an experimental Barbie. Photo by Arthur Lee

Letters to the editor Talon should cover hockey September’s issue of The Talon was great. Each writer in your paper had their own unique style displayed in the stories. The topics that were put in the printed version were all interesting. I read each story thoroughly.

When hockey season comes around you should put an article in about our team. Also, the trend regarding tanning is really interesting. I’m sure a lot of people weren’t aware of the risks regarding UVA rays. I personally don’t tan, but the facts mentioned helped back my view. Tanning is unhealthy and dangerous.

George Holt, senior Alternative copy is good I think the best story in this issue is “Getting to know the DMs” because it was written differently from all of the other articles in the newspaper. Also, because I’m in

what students had to say

the band, I think it’s awesome that people are given the opportunity to know the drum majors a little bit better. Another reason would be it puts the interesting information into an interesting format.

Nicole Repetto, sophomore

Homework is a problem A topic that I would like The Talon to cover would be on homework and why some kids do it and some kids don’t. I think you should cover this topic because a lot of kids come to school each day without completing their homework. Some haven’t even started it. I would like to know why people don’t do it and some statistics on the number of people that do and don’t do their homework.

Jessalyn Nelson, freshman

The Talon

Teens don’t know true love I really likes the story “Teen Love: is it possible?” A lot of kids go through break ups and finding love thinking “he’s the one” or “she’s my girl forever.” As Newer said, some young teens don’t exactly understand what “dating is,” more so just flirting and laughing. Students sometimes don’t know how to talk about love or their partner. People need to date in high school and go through break ups in order to find true love. I think people get tangled in the word love, because it is so over used.

Ashley Starr, sophomore

Energy drinks are everywhere One trend that I feel is prevalent throughout Rochester is teens drinking energy drinks. Almost anywhere you go, you see teenagers sipping on Monsters or Rockstars. I think this trend deserves to be looked

in to. I would very much like to see an article discussing the large number of teens drinking these things and what exactly is in them.

Evan Barlage, senior Thank you for your feedback We thank you for your interest in the September issue of The Talon. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. We will be sure to try to run stories in accordance with your interests in the future.

Your comments let us know what we are doing well, and what we can improve next time. All of your contributions help us create better issues of The Talon that are more represtative of your needs. Keep the letters coming!

Sincerely, Talon Staff

Photo Story Editor Amy Mackens Business Manager Dan Offenbacher Circulation Manager Caitlyn Kuskowski Staff Writers Sara Corneliussen James Giardina Emily Hayward Drew Hoffman Aaron Kuhn Simonne Lakamper Arthur Lee Steven McConnell Kristen Pop Madison Reitzel Aly Rosenau Chris Saber Melanie Sweet Kate Ziraldo Andy Zhou Adviser Ms. Julia Ridgway

Mission Statement The Talon presents an open forum for student expression to be used by the Rochester High School community to promote and express thought and action.

The stories, opinions, and bylined content in The Talon do not necessarily represent and should not be interpreted as the views of the Rochester Community School Board of Education or any of its staff, faculty, or employees.

Unless otherwise noted, all stories and opinions expressed here are the views of The Talon staff which is comprised of students in the Journalism II class of Rochester High School.

The Talon believes it is its duty and right to inform, educate, influence and entertain its readers and will do this by exercising the First Amendment Rights as defined in the Constitution of the United States of America.

The Talon is devoted to professional journalism and fairness in all reporting.

The Talon will adhere to a standard of responsible journalism and will refrain from publishing material which is legally libelous, obscene or could disrupt the operation of the school.

Letters The Talon accepts letters to the editor from and all concerned parties. The Talon reserves the right to screen and/or edit any and all letters for inappropriate content and length. All letters must be signed. Requests to remain anonymous will be considered by the editorial board.

Mailing address: The Talon 180 S. Livernois Rd. Rochester Hills, MI 48307 E-mail: jridgway@rochester.k12. mi.us

Sports

8

Talon the

Cross Country:

October 2009

A Freddy fanatic

Running towards rebuilding

E

Senior Megan Goethals leads the pack while running a recent cross country race. Photo by Kevin Goethals

very day they meet on the track, run multiple times around it, complete some sprints and stretch, all in preparation for 3.1 mile race, the cross country team’s only event.

“The boys are a very young team but improving,” Coach Mr. Larry Adams said. “The same is with the girls and with the exception of Megan Goethels and Brook Handler, who are running really well, the group behind is improving.”

Both teams are in a rebuilding mode after the loss of runners like Kenny Laskowski, Molly Pzolo, Anthony Rocco and Kyle Johnson. But the 2009 team has a superstar of its own, senior Megan Goethals “I want to win the state meet and improve on my third place national finish last year,” Goethals said.

While Goethals goal is a national title, sophomore Craig Renny’s is simpler. “ My goal is just to beat my times and try to do better,” Renny said.

In a sport where time is key, many members on the team like Goethals and Renny, have a time centered goal as well.

“Hopefully I can finish in the 23 minute range,” junior Kelli Wetherhold said, “Which is average for a girl.”

At the same time, others have a more team oriented goal.

“Everyone wants to run their best times, keep improving and keep PR-ing(personal recording),” senior Nick Hunsanger said.

The team’s personal record is even an accomplishment due to low expectations at the beginning of the season.

“I knew we weren’t going to be the best but we’d do OK,” Renny said. “We weren’t going to be the worst or the best.”

A widely accepted reason for the lowered expectations were the loss of seniors.

“I thought the team was going to be terrible because all the good seniors’ left,” Wetherhold said. “But I knew it would be fun.”

On the other hand, Hunsonger sees the expectations in a different light.

“They weren’t going to be high because of the void of experience,” Hunsonger said. “But we’ll make the best of it while we’re rebuilding our team.”

With the low expectations, one would think the leaders of the teams would have to step it up

a notch, which seems to be the case.

“There’s a lot more pressure, due to last year, which is something I have to deal with,” Goethals said.

Eliminating pressure and expectations from the equation, the runners still enjoy the sport they play.

“I really like to run and you feel really accomplished when you finish a race,” Goethals said.

The same goes for Wetherhold.

“It’s fun because I like the meets, team and running,” Wetherhold said.

Renny feels the same.

“I thought it would be fun and my friends do it,” Renny said.

OK, it’s obvious they think it’s fun, and there’s still time to join the team and have some fun for one’s self.

“If anyone wants to join cross country, they should, it’s a blast,” Wetherhold said.

PR-ing, time’s, fun, friends and expectations aside, the cross country teams is riding the wave of a good season and hopes to ride it out until the end.

“It’s been a good and enjoyable season, the kids have a great attitude,” Mr. Adams said.

“Everyone is close and we look to finish the final five weeks on a high note.”

XC Fast Facts • Regionals- Oct. 31, at Goodels County Park, at noon.

• From the coach’s mouth: “ Hopefully we’ll do good at regionals, we’ve done a good job this year despite being in transition,” Mr. Larry Adams said.

• From the runner’s mouth: “I know we’ll do well, but I’m not sure because everyone’s been sick lately,” sophomore Paige Freeland said.

The S.O.F. and its many definitions From, “the best experience,” to “a great group of kids,” the S.O.F. and its definition are like its themes: crazy and diverse

It was dark, hot, and smelled slightly like mold. Everywhere around me, little kids were screaming and hiding behind their parents. Behind me was utter confusion – dogs barking, cages clanging closed.

I was being led around by someone I met ten minutes earlier due to the fact that I couldn’t see much of my surroundings. Every few steps I stumbled over my abnormally large feet. Helping the Michigan Humane Society, fun. Being a mascot, not so much.

On my fifteenth birthday, and I was spending the morning dressed up as Patches, a large and kind of creepy dog. As a Michigan Humane Society volunteer, I had been coaxed into helping out at the annual Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo event.

Before then, I had never thought about what went into being a mascot. It had always been one of those weird dreams that I assumed would never come true.

When I got the email asking me to volunteer at the Detroit Zoo, I jumped on the chance. Of course, no one told me that it would be absolutely miserable – something I didn’t discover until I was already in the suit and committed to being Patches for the next two hours.

The head was big and bulky, the body was itchy. Within seconds of putting the suit completely on and moving around, the temperature would rise to nearly unbearable.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t take off the heads in front of any little kids – who were everywhere – so the other mascot and I had to take turns running behind buildings or into tents to take a breather. Thankfully, our shift was only two hours long.

In retrospect, I’m glad I did it. I helped get 30 out of 36 dogs adopted. Though I have to say, I won’t be dressing up as Patches again anytime soon.

The other volunteers mentioned that there had never been a person to be a mascot more than once, and now I totally understand why.

Anyone who willingly puts him or herself through that torture, and doesn’t take credit for it, deserves a big round of applause.

Freddy the Falcon, I’m talking about you.

Good job and hats off to you for choosing to entertain us time after time. Keep flying, Freddy!

Neat numbers 684 Equals the final combined score of

The Facts- The S.O.F. was formed by 2004 RHS graduate Chris Stepanian-Bennett The Alumni- “We wanted everyone to come to the tailgates and to the games,” 2007 graduate Madison Tepoorten said. “We organized events for the student section such as tailgates and dressing up for games.”

“For the first football game we thought it would be cool and fun to have an all-day tailgate in the school parking lot during the summer,” 2007 graduate Eric Kendall said. “We didn’t know how the staff would react to us being there all day, but we went for it anyway. The staff ended up coming out and barbecuing with us.”

The Students- “It’s the best experience you’ll ever have,” junior Trevor Johnson said. “If you don’t come to S.O.F, you’ll regret not coming when you’re in college because you’ll remember how much fun other kids had.”

“Their super energetic, crazy falcon loving fans,” senior Molly Irvine said.

The Staff’s- “S.O.F is the die-hard fans of the school and represent the spirit of the school,”

Winter sport tryout dates

Here is the complete list of tryout dates for all winter sports at RHS.

Girls Basketball...November 9 Competitive Cheer....November 10

the girls golf team that gave them the 2009 Division 1 State Championship. The Individual state champ is senior Christine Meier, whose three day total was 147.

Saline High School was second with a three-day total of 709.

Juniors Gabe Gibbs and Zac Mitchell lead the S.O.F. in the traditional rowing halftime activity. Photo by Amy Mackens

athletic director Vic Fournier. “They are a great group of kids and are some awesome, raging, lunatic fans. They have the best dedication to the sports teams.”

“It’s the student led pep people,” English teacher Mrs. Kelly Cusmano said, “Our version of a student cheering section.”

S.O.F. things to know

- Tailgates start at 5 p.m.

- Don’t forget a costume - Voices will be lost - Bring money or some food - Have tons of school spirit - Know the words to the cheers United Hockey.....November 11

“

We didn’t know how the staff would react to us being there all day, but we went for it anyway; they ended up barbecuing with us.

Eric Kendall, 2007 RHS Graduate sophomore at MSU

”

Boys Basketball...November 16 Wrestling...............November 16 Ski Team...................November 16

37 Number of points the freshman football team scored, winning their game against the Lathrup Chargers. James Ward scored three touchdowns. Add a 55-yard TD pass to Jesse Farnsworth and a 14-yard running TD by Lucas Dishinger to the great defense, and the Falcons put a great game in the books.

24 The total points scored by sophomores Darren Witherspoons’ two touchdown runs and Andrew Shafkalis’ two touchdown passes. The JV team won the game 29-0 against Seaholm, with help from sophomores James Cox, Mike Santavicca and Mike Klotz.

7 Is the number of meets the girls swim and dive team has won in a row. League meets begin on Nov. 4. Good luck girls!

2 Was the number of goals needed for the varsity boys soccer team to beat Seaholm. Seniors Tyler Leppek and Austin Putnam scored a goal apiece.

Boys Swimming..November 23 For more information go to the RHS web site and click on Athletics, then Winter Sports

50 Is the total points the freshman girls volleyball team scored to beat Farmington Groves. Sofia Farah and Aubrey Konal each had three kills.

Senior swimmer Alycen Wiacek swimming in a current meet.

Photo by Amy Mackens

School spirit runs rampant

The Hatchling Junior Trey Simon, who now attends Lake Orion, hasn’t lost an ounce of spirit in his time away from Rochester High. Photo by Amy Mackens

OCTOBER 27, 2009 VOLUME I ISSUE 2 ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

2

The Hatchling

The Hatchling

October 2009

October 2009

Falcon spirit soars higher than ever before

3

Jenny Scott

“My favorite part about homecoming is the excitement that it brings to the school,” sophomore Maggie Irvine said. “All of the events get everyone pumped for the dance.” Seniors Gert Malile, Alex Greene, Pat Tallman and Michael Hansen sing Don’t Stop Believin’ karaoke during the day of the pep assembly. Photo by Amy Mackens

This year’s homecoming queen, senior Rhiannon Bailey, waves to the crowd after accepting flowers and the crown from the 2008 queen, Emily Kmiec. Photo by Amy Mackens

sophomore

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SPIRIT DAY?

The senior section takes out their papers as the underclassmen perform their lip sync routines. Photo by Amy Mackens.

“My favorite spirit day was probably superhero day for the costumes, but I also really liked the pep assembly!”

HOW DID YOU CHOSE YOUR SUPERHERO DAY COSTUME?

“I chose superwoman because she is my favorite superhero.”

WHAT WERE YOUR HOMECOMING HIGHLIGHTS?

All three cheer teams come together to cheer for the pep rally. “I really liked the cheerleaders doing their flips,” junior Gina Masell said. “It shows how amazing our cheer program is, and plus it gets everyone fired up for the game.” Photo by Amy Mackens

Juniors Carly Cribbs and Gabe Gibbs dance for the junior lip sync. Although the juniors were beaten by the seniors in the lip sync competition, they came in first for the spirit competition. Photo by Amy Mackens

“My highlights were seeing everyone dressed up and dancing!”

FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME?

“Cheering, but also seeing everyone come out and support our varsity football team, even though the weather was so crappy.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR NEXT YEAR’S HOMECOMING?

“Next year I’m looking forward to everything. I love homecoming!”

“For the Homecoming game, we have to make the week of practice our best as a team,” senior Gabe Whiteley said. “For us to succeed we all need to step up and have our minds on football.” The team breaks up the huddle after its last timeout of the game on Oct. 9. Photo by Amy Mackens

Under the direction of a new student council teacher plans for this year’s Homecoming were a little different from past years, but it went off without a hitch and will be remembered. Though not necessarily all for good reasons.

A Facebook group dedicated to the change of “K-8” to pajama day is a prime example of some, more or less, disgruntled students.

“I made the group because I think K-8 day is really lame,” said senior Chris Tomko, the group’s creator, “and I hate that we haven’t had a pajama day in a while.”

There were also complaints about the class color day. Freshman or sophomores guys who didn’t own pink or purple, seniors who wanted to wear blue and white at their last homecoming pep rally, but nothing too serious. Possibly the most controversial change was the dropping of 80s day. This may have been simply because of the limited opportunities of a four-day homecoming week. Regardless of the reason, students were not pleased.

“I’m never against a day off,” said senior Natalie Phillips. “But I like having a whole week of spirit week. It makes homecoming more complete, and 80s day is a classic that everyone gets really into.”

Despite the small amounts of discontent among the spirit days selected, students participated with the same fervor as is expected out of Rochester High. With costumes everywhere from a student “camouflaged” as a teacher, to a student dressed up as former student/ superhero Nick Evans, creativity was not in small supply.

After the fantastic four-day week, came the all-day tailgate and the biggest and last home football game of the year.

“I’m looking forward to the game because I think we have a shot this year,” junior Gabe Gibbs said.

“And I’ve got a yearnin’, a yearnin’ for some Vernon.”

Despite the loss, the Soldiers of Fortune (S.O.F.) cheered on their team in a manner rivaled by no other student section, after an 11-hour all-day tailgate. The tailgate was filled with rain, movies, an RV, football and Jimmy Johns, and was much more fun then the students would have had in school for the day.

Led by seniors Christie Nelson and Jacob Czarnowski, and juniors Gabe Gibbs and Dr. Boobie Miles (Trevor Johnson), the S.O.F. is full of spirit and school pride.

“I contribute a lot during games with my vocal abilities,” said Dr. Miles (Johnson). “My favorite thing to be a part of is the roller coaster.”

But the S.O.F.’s yellers and screamers aren’t the only thing that drives them forward.

“My role in the S.O.F. is to organize. I try to get everyone on the same page and make sure there’s no mass chaos,” said Nelson. “But it’s not really about the group, not just one person.”

The S.O.F. tailgate partied on all day in the tailgate, in the rain, accompanied by an RV. Game time arrived and the stands were filled, front to back, end to end. The Falcons put on a good show, and missed a field goal to win the game with eight seconds to go. The game went on to overtime where RHS lost after the Falcons kicked a field goal on their possestion and the Seaholm Maples scored a touchdown.

The students were obviously not too crushed by the loss record numbers attended the Homecoming dance.

“Every year homecoming has potential to be one of the best weeks of the year,” Dr. Miles (Johnson) said. “And this year I really think it fulfilled that goal.”

4

The Hatchling October 2009

Like many things have the need to be updated and improved, I feel like the same applies for the age-old “golden rule.” The golden rule is the moral code of “treat others the way you would like to be treated.” However, since that does not seem to be catching on too well, I purpose a revamped version to fit the constantlybickering society we live in today. This new golden rule will be another slogan we all know well: don’t dish it out if you can’t take it. It kind of bears similarity to the old golden rule but is better fitted for today.

What this means, simply, is that

nobody should be expressing their opinion if they are not ready to hear from the other side. I’ve noticed this a lot, being a vegetarian (“oh no!”). That little “oh no” in parenthesis is very representative of the reactions I receive from many people newly discovering my choice of consumption. For many, an automatic carnivore guard of defense is put up, ready to spew their love of beef at me (hopefully not literally).

After a small pause, generally people ask “why?” Before I learned to say “why not” I’d try and give my actual reasoning, and many times be met with a resistance to accept my being a vegetarian. “Well, you know that even if you did eat meat you ... ” or “Humans are the top of the food chain … ” and the list goes on. I’ve heard it all before. Stop trying to get me to convert back to your meat-eater ways.

All of this brings me back to my new golden rule; how come, if I’m expected to take the criticism from some nonvegetarians, vegetarians are usually the

ones to get the bad rep of being preachy and obnoxious? PETA is not the voice of every vegetarian, just like KFC is not the voice of every meat eater. In my nearly two years of not eating meat, I have never looked at somebody taking a bite into their hamburger and said, “Hey, you know that eating that piece of beef is unhealthy for you and the planet for a number of reasons.”

I could use this space to write about all of my reasons for being a vegetarian, and why I think that everybody should follow in my footsteps, but I know that would be met with eye-rolls and underthe-breath mutters of “typical.” So, I’ll only say this: meat eaters, the next time you want to challenge your veggie friends about their choice to abstain from the meat variety, think to yourself about if you feel like taking in what you are dishing out, because to vegetarians (vegans and beyond) you’ll probably sound like the meat-lovers answer to PETA.

5 x 5:

Five lovely students answer five questions for your enjoyment.

Krista Fox, senior

Brady Crites, junior

Adam Dean, sophomore

Triston Dadou, freshman

Favorite school supply?

Scissors

Pencil

Calculator

Pencil

If p, then _____.

b

Poo

q

Flush

Pick a (Wingdings) letter.

Describe H.C. in three words ending in “ly” Can you name the colors of the rainbow?

Q

G

T

ÿ

Noisily, closely, entertainingly

Funly, awesomely, superbly

Openly, funly, crazily

Extremely, amazingly, lovely

Squawk

No

Squawk

Yes

Roy G. Biv

Mrs. Kelley Cusmano, English teacher

Q: Why or how did you become the student council adviser?

A: I was the junior class adviser at my old school, meaning that I planned proms. When I came here, I felt the need to do something similar and so I applied to become the student council adviser. Also, I believe that I have a fairly modern perspective on events like this so it will be easy for me to please the general student population.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you invite?

A: Oprah Winfrey, without a doubt.

She appeals to me because it’s so cool how if you go on her show, you could publish a book!

Q: Why did you choose to teach English?

A: My inspiration was actually the Freddie the Falcon book “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”

When I read that, I imagined writing a really good story like the ones in that Squawk book. So, I went into MSU majoring in journalism. There, I realized that I could teach better than I could write, and so I became a teacher and ended Squawk up here!

M

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple also

Q&A

‘Golden rule’ goes green

Q: How well are the students receiving you as a second year teacher?

A: It’s definitely much better than last year as I am much more familiar with the staff and students. I am not sure how much confusion my name change will cause the students (laughs). As for how well they are receiving me, I think most students do not have a problem with me, but there are some who probably do not like me very much.