02 NewsNewsNews Ongoing Drug Testing Discourages Drug Usage
By Alyssa Bates Reporter
Random drug testing has been implemented at the high school for years; students are drug tested not just to catch the students abusing drugs, but to also prevent those students from making decisions they may regret later in life. The attendance of Avon has increased to 2,908 students in the past school year. As the testing pool itself is growing, more people are being selected for random drug tests to keep the same ratio of people tested the same. Essentially, the amount of tests being administered has to be increased due to the increase of students. Mr. Lance Larkey, assistant athletic administraor and the one in charge of the random drug testing program, said that the purpose of random drug testing is to decrease drug use among students via two routes. “First, the hope is that random testing will serve as a deterrent and give students a reason to resist peer pressure to take drugs,” Larkey said. “Secondly, drug testing can identify teens who have started using drugs and would be good targets for early intervention, as well as identify those who already have drug problems so they can be referred for treatment.” Random drug testing is a choice the school districts can choose to implement or not. The U.S. Supreme Court broadened the authority of public schools to test students for illegal drugs. In 2002, the court ruled to allow random drug tests for all middle and high schools participating in competitive extracurricular activities. The ruling greatly expanded the scope of school drug testing which had been previously allowed only for student athletes. “If a student tests positive on a random drug test, there are consequences related to driving to school and extracurricular activities and sports,” Larkey said. “However, the overall goal is to work with the student and their parents to get help and to prevent further use.” Due to the way drugs alter brain functions, they affect the ability to make healthy choices and decisions. This is FEBRUARY 2016
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I was drug tested with like two other people at the time, and I was the last person left to go so it took a little bit longer, but it wasn’t a big deal at all.” Megan Beresky, 12
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It was mainly go down there, wait in line to go pee in a cup and then leave. My reaction was like, ‘Why must I pee in this cup and what if I don’t pee to the line?’” Sarah Paxton, 12
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I do agree that they should drug test students. The problem is that schools don’t sample kids randomly and instead choose kids they don’t suspect of drug usage to keep their funding.” Evan Schafer, 11
especially apparent in teenagers since their brains are still developing. “Using drugs not only interferes with a student’s ability to learn,” Larkey said. “But it can also disrupt the teaching environment, affecting other students as well.” The drug testing process is for students involved in athletics, clubs and for those who wish to drive to school. These students have to fill out a Random Drug Test Form. The info is then entered into the school’s database and the names are sent off to a lab that the school works with. The lab then processes the names and assigns a number to each student. Larkey said the process is “similar to a lottery” as a computer generates the numbers each week and the numbers are sent to the school. “All in all,” Larkey said, “we believe the drug testing process is effective in reducing drug testing in our school.”
SB 35 Causes Controversy PROPOSED LAW CRIMINALIZES USE OF RESTROOM OPPOSITE OF BIOLOGICAL SEX
By Brenna Tiffany Reporter
An Indiana law maker, Senator Jim Tomes, kicked the 2016 year off by proposing a new bill, SB 35, to be imposed statewide. This is what some are calling the “Pay to Pee Bill.” The object of the bill is to make it illegal for people to use a restroom that does not match their biological sex. Violation would result in a sentence of up to one year in jail and a fine of $5,000. There are differing perspectives on what the intention of the bill actually is. Supporters say the bill is about ensuring that people do not encounter the opposite gender in restrooms and changing areas. However, the opposing side says the bill intends to persecute the transgender community. Student opinions at Avon differ but some students, such as junior Austin Mosier, don’t see the merit of the bill. “Transgender people should be able to use the restrooms and dressing rooms of the gender they identify as. It should not matter how they were born and they should not be discriminated against,” Mosier said. Some believe that the bill makes sense; others understand the idea of the bill, but think the punishment is a bit harsh.
Sophomore Bethany Short opposes the bill but can still see both sides of the argument. “I can see where [Tomes] is coming from. This could make it OK for grown men to use the women’s restroom and spy on young girls. This could raise concern for many parents. A possible solution is to make public places have unisex restrooms and locker rooms,” Short said. Citizens are petitioning to reject the bill due to the belief that gender goes deeper than just “male” or “female.” The bill focuses simply on the biological gender of people and not the gender that they may identify with. As with many laws, there may be a possible loophole that some students at Avon have noticed, such as: if people go into a restroom of the opposite gender, they are able to say that they were born of that gender, even if they were not. The bill has created a dispute not only among Indiana residents, but in many people around the world as well. In reaction to the bill, a petition has been introduced in order to reject the bill. The goal for the petition was originally to accumulate 3,000 signatures but has already more than 12,000 signatures.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS BILL? “As a member of the LGBT community, I feel that trans people should use the bathroom they feel comfortable using. I do think it is an attack on the transgender community and LGBT community.” Angel Valdez, 11
“I do believe that making it a crime would be a violation of personal freedom. Gender isn’t always what’s in your pants. It’s what’s in your head and your heart that matters.” Bethany Short, 10
“I think he is attacking the transgender people because it’s their right to be independent and free to be whoever they want.” Kassidi Rhodes, 11
“I believe that if someone is trans, they use the gender restroom and dressing rooms they identify with.” Alex Secrest, 10 PAGE DESIGN BY BRENNA TIFFANY
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