Vol 11 issue #2 by Central Stampede

Central

Stampede Friday, November 5, 2004

Portage Central High School 8135 S. Westnedge Ave. Portage, MI 49002

Vol. 10 Issue 2

50 cents

Laying down the law

New assistant principals settle in By Dana Cronyn FOCUS EDITOR

Wielding walkie talkies and power suits, Denny Roehm and Kim Lummis are PC’s new assistant principal power team. Lummis and Roehm ﬁll the vacancies in two administrative positions resulting from the departures of Kelly McHugh and Craig Ross. Since their parting, both Ross and McHugh have moved on to other administrative positions. Ross remains in the district and now acts as building administrator at the Portage Community Education Center. McHugh, however, has traveled much further outside of the district, returning to her home state of New York, also as a principal. These two openings prompted the formation of a hiring committee, consisting of teachers, parents and other staff members. This committee then had the challenge of spreading word of the opening, which they did by posting advertisements within district schools and also at colleges and universities in the area. The massive campaign brought in 60-some applicants, ranging from employees within the district to teachers and administrators across the region, the most applicants ever seen at PC for one position. Principal Eric Alburtus attributes this increase to two factors. “I’d like to think we did a better job of getting notiﬁcation out

assortment of new responsibilities, aside from the obvious disciplinary duties. Both Lummis and Roehm express sincere desires to provide the most secure and consistent learning environment possible, a major priority for the school year. Lummis also explains her position as assistant principal allows her to act as a support system for both students, teachers and, of course, other administrators. “I like it because it is a change from what I did in the past,” Lummis said. “I enjoy talking with students and helping them to make the right decisions.” Along with this new responsibility also comes much sacrifice as time with family becomes more scarce. Both assistant principals agree that the new position requires a balancing act, as less work can be brought home so more time is spent within the school walls. Lummis, however, Autumn Roodbeen/STAMPEDE attempts to consistently create time in Denny Roehm and Kim Lummis, new assistant principals, round out the Portage Central adher schedule, even if ministrative team. it means missing a there…we really pushed to get math teacher of 18 years, also confident of their own ability as load of laundry on occasion. the postings out there,” Alburtus from PC. Much like Roehm, each maintain they have qualifiRoehm’s new title means less said. “Secondly, I would like to Lummis saw the assistant prin- cations that set them apart. When time counseling students and think people want to come to cipal position as an opportunity asked to note specific experience more time disciplining, leading for both herself and the school both Lummis and Roehm stated him to observe a new trend in PC.” Among the 60 applicants was system. An added bonus, she their people skills, organization, student behavior. Denny Roehm, a full-time math states, was the new administra- familiarity with PC and a “firm “I used to have a really good and science teacher from PC, tive team of Alburtus, Larry but consistent form of discipline” relationship with students at with more than 10 years of teach- Edlund and Roehm, hired earlier made them top candidates. times when they would make Alburtus echoes a similar mistakes,” Roehm said. “Now I ing and administrative experi- in the year, with which she was sentiment, adding, they are have to assign consequences so ence. While sorry to lose Ross eager to work. During the application pro- “bright” and “exceptionally a lot fewer [students] stop to talk and McHugh, Roehm admitted he was glad to have such an cess, each candidate underwent hardworking.” with me in the hallways.” “I have never had a better opportunity. He believed a new an “intensive” roundtable interThe entire administrative staff job position meant two things: view, lasting approximately an start than with this year; 90 per- sees nothing but positives for first, an opportunity to lead the hour and a half. With questions cent of that is because of them,” the school year ahead and looks much younger staff population being fired from fellow co-work- Alburtus said. “Students trust forward to the many challenges and secondly, a positive change ers and peers, Lummis notes this them, parents trust them, and and rewards of their environment was an especially nerve-racking we can’t just buy that type of which “changes every day.” in scenery. credibility.” Another eager applicant was experience. “I am really happy we have a Despite several trepidations, These new positions within team of folks who can help our Kim Lummis, International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator and both applicants were extremely the school system provides an school be better,” Alburtus said.

Pep jug back after brief joyride By Alex Clothier VIEW EDITOR

The school’s pep jug is back under lock and key after a couple of boisterous seniors recently hijacked the beloved object. What appeared to be a serious breach of school security actually turned into a humorous attempt by seniors to steal back what, they thought, was rightfully theirs. The theft was carried out as revenge after the sophomore class won the jug during Homecoming festivities the week of Oct. 11. According to Principal Eric Alburtus, the heist went down like this: on Oct. 19, a senior dressed in camouﬂage grabbed the pep jug from inside its case in the front hallway. Jim Schafer, who had taken over assistant principal duties for the day, ran after the robber and followed him to the teacher’s parking lot, where the thief jumped into a waiting vehicle and sped off. Eventually, after some detective work on the part of administrators, the individuals responsible confessed and returned the jug to the administrators two days later. Contrary to hallway gossip, the burglars are not responsoible for the de-activation of the school’s security cameras. Alburtus believes the boys’ actions weren’t intended to be malicious, but that any theft must be taken seriously. A full investigation of the event took place before those accountable were punished with a couple after-school detentions. “The last thing I wanted was it to turn into ‘us vs. them,’” Alburtus said. “It had the potential to be ugly, but luckily it turned out well.”

Without contracts, teachers continue working By Amanda Boltrick STAFF WRITER

In protest over stalled contract talks, Portage teachers are beginning to ﬂex their muscles in a campaign to reach a fair compromise with administrators. Because state law forbids teachers from striking, Portage educators are instead hoping to be victorious in the court of public opinion by appealing to community members for support. Since teachers continue to work under last year’s contract and negotiations are currently at a standstill, administrators are reluctant to speak on the issue. “Since negotiations are still in progress, we really can’t comment,” said Tom Vance, director of communications for the district. Teachers aren’t picketing on Westnedge

yet, but they may soon begin donning T-shirts, sporting buttons and displaying signs in an appeal for support from parents and community members. Union leaders and administrators failed to reach common ground during recent contract negotiations. Last month, a state mediator could not unite the teachers’ union and Portage school leaders with a contract that would be acceptable to both sides. Union President Eric VerHey said both sides are working hard to reach a compromise, and while he said the general morale is still positive, he conceded that teachers are frustrated and concerned. He also said this is the only time in his memory that administration and faculty have had this much trouble reaching an agreement. “We have a good history with the administration, and no one wants to see that disintegrate,” said VerHey, a 15-

The

Insider

People everywhere are ing

page

FALL

for their favorite season

year Portage teacher. In September, more than 90 percent of the PEA’s 560 members overwhelmingly rejected a two-year tentative agreement. The proposed contract called for freezing teachers at last year’s “step” on the payscale and offering them a ½percent pay raise for this school year. A step is a seniority raise based on years of service. VerHey indicated that teachers rejected the tentative agreement because administrators offered “inadequate” raises. The biggest sticking point, however, may have been the administration’s request to freeze teachers at last year’s step on the payscale. Under the proposed contract, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and ﬁve years’ experience this year would remain at four years service and salary, missing out on a seniority raise of $1,955. Instead, with the ½-percent proposed

salary increase, that teacher would earn a raise of $189.03, a net loss of more than $1,765 this year alone. Some teachers at Portage Central feel administrators are not supporting teachers as they need to be supported. “I feel the administration offers verbal support, but the fact they don’t want to give us a meaningful beneﬁt increase contradicts what they are saying,” said Randy Borden, speech and debate teacher. Art teacher Dee Fitzsimmons agrees. “Compliments are nice, but they don’t put money in my gas tank and food on the table,” she said. Both teachers believe that the current philosophy dictates that budget cuts be taken from the staff, and that other areas should be considered before that decision is reached. “The budget shouldn’t be balanced

on the backs of the teachers,” Borden said. “There are other programs and expenses that can be cut before immediately lowering teacher benefits.” Fitzsimmons was quick to suggest other reasonable budget solutions; for example, requiring athletes to find alternative rides home from games, as opposed to the school bus, so that bus drivers wouldn’t get paid for sitting at a game for four hours. Negotiations, which began in earnest last spring, have now entered the “factfinding” phase. This involves an outside party who is assigned by the state and reviews the opinions and facts from each side, and finds the best solution based on his/her judgment. “We teach our students to think creatively and outside of the box to find unique solutions to problems,” Fitzsimmons said. “I just ask the administration to do the same.”

page 2 will you ‘be there’? • page 8 coke: not the real thing • page 10 are you phobic?

Check out PC’s hottest new bands

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16 page

Everything you need to know about playing

l l a b e Dodg

News

Stampede

page two

November 5, 2004

hallways and city streets

Kudos!

An even bigger big screen

Forensics team is off to a strong start

New owner plans for 15 screens at UA theater

Tyler Trierweiler and Matilda Shaw placed fourth in duo interpretation at California State University Forensics Tournament on Oct.1. The West Coast tournament featured 1,200 participants from 13 states. Alex Clothier made the semi-ﬁnals (top 12) in Humorous Interpretation. In addition, Jessica Walter and Jeff Osowski placed ninth out of 150 teams at the Mid-America Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct.1.

By Kate Pennington SPECIAL

TO THE

STAMPEDE

An expansion and renovation project will result in a new 15-screen theater at what was previously the United ArtistsCrossroads movie complex. With better sound, more comfortable seating and a complete reshape of the building’s interior, the owners of Jack Loeks Theaters are ready for the renovation process to begin at what will be “Celebration Cinema.” Five of the UA’s 10 screens will be receiving “new everything,” said Ron Van Timmeren, vice president of marketing and ﬁlm for Jack Loeks Theaters. By mid-month, these screens will be back and running as three of the remaining ﬁve screens are worked on in preparation for the Christmas holidays. Finally, the last two screens will be destroyed and seven new screens will be added by next summer. This renovation reinforces what many retail executives believe to be true: that to be in the heart of the Portage retail

Sophomore takes county volunteer award Congratulations are extended to sophomore Alicia Pomeroy. After volunteering more than 140 hours at Curious Kids this past year, A l i c i a has been recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by the Volunteens Program of Kalamazoo County.

district is like hitting the lottery. “Location, location, location,” said Van Timmeren, who previously owned the Plaza 2 theater on Westnedge and feels very comfortable with the city of Portage. With restaurants and shopping centers nearby, this location becomes “the center of the retail world.” Students are excited to see the results. “I’m glad that they are redoing the theater,” said Liz Ferry, a junior. “I’m excited for a new setting to see movies.” Other changes will be made as well. The entrance will be reoriented to face a more suitable location in regards to parking. The bathrooms will be moved along with the remodeling of the lobby and a bit of expansion among concession items. “It was an okay theater before, but I think that it is going to be so much better and more people will come now,” freshman Jordan Tieche said. A common concern among cash-strapped teenagers is the possible raising of prices on tickets and food. As of now, Van Timmeren said prices should remain the same.

Autumn Roodbeen/STAMPEDE

Renovation of a theater viewing room at UA Theatres is under way. Look for an additional ﬁve theaters at the complex by the end of next summer.

While the theater name will not stay the same – it will change to Celebration Cinema – customers can expect fabulous service, online ticketing and daily matinees. The current employees of the UA will re-apply and many

have already been rehired. Jack Loeks Theaters has brought in its own management team, but the staff is still predicted to double in size, eventually providing 100 jobs. “Movie theaters are very important,” Van Timmeren

conceded. “The money is good for the economy.” With the remodeling in process, eager movie-goers wait patiently for the ﬁnal completion of the theater, operating on all 15 screens by the end of next summer.

Foundation at Portage Northern, at Hope College, within a youth group at St. Catherine’s, and a new chapter just launching here at Portage Central. Carpenter expects that new chapters will soon spring up nearby in Mattawan and Kalamazoo Central. He also hopes that chapters will arise as far away as Virginia and North Carolina. The Be There Foundation is a non-proﬁt organization and in order to show support for the group, students are encouraged to donate a minimum of $12, one dollar per month. This donation includes a $3 membership fee. This is a small price to pay, Carpenter believes, as this $1 per month shows that many little changes can make a huge difference elsewhere. “Be There is meant to be used by peers everywhere to

teach the world that only by being there can we change the world,” Carpenter said.

New club promises to By Malkam Wyman NEWS EDITOR

3 Mustang bowlers set annual record

There is violence, destitution, hunger and disease in every corner of the world. Children run naked and starving in places where these are commonplace occurrences in many thirdworld countries. However, one group of passionate teens are working toward change. The Be There Foundation is an organization that promotes the benevolence and compassion that many teenagers haven’t tapped into yet. “In a nutshell, at its core, it’s youth uniting with youth to make the world a better place,” said Addison Carpenter, founder and president of the Be There Foundation. Carpenter, currently a senior at Portage Northern, said that he had the idea for Be There while driving his lawn mower, oddly enough. The idea just came to him and was further fortiﬁed by

Mustangs Brian Haske, Matt Smith and Jason Toma as well as former Mustang Matt Stuut bowled the top handicap team game in the nation this year with a ﬁnal score of 1,024. In competition March 13, Haske led the charge with a score of 269 followed by a 268 (Smith), 213 (Toma) and 189 (Stuut) which came to a socre of 939. Add in their 85-pin handicap and the four ended up with the highest score in the nation at the end of the season. Editor-in-chief Alison Beranek compiled these Kudos.

a mission trip to Jamaica where he saw the incredible need for improvement in the conditions of the lives of the youth. “I had to put that idea into action,” Carpenter said. Since October 2003, Carpenter has spent countless hours working for a movement of kindness and compassion for those who desperately need it. He has assembled a mixed board of adults and students. He has co-written a guidebook that he intends to send to every chapter of the foundation. The entire production is incredibly organized that it’s amazing someone so young could do so much. Then again, the entire organization is about young people doing as much as they can. “It’s about a sense of empowering youth,” English teacher Janet LaVasseur said. LaVasseur is one of two advisers for the Be There Foundation, and she is assisted by guidance counselor Mary Scott. Both advisers stress that the

Be There Foundation is a student-run organization. A part of the premise for the Be There Foundation is raising the belief that teenagers can do something and, in essence, giving them the power to do it. “It’s hard not to be caught up with this,” Scott said, “I believe that kids want to help, they just don’t know how.” According to Carpenter, the ﬁrst step is showing love and kindness to our peers within the community. The Be There Foundation is entitled as such because the main objective focuses on being there for each other. “I think that when kids take a responsibility for their own society, it’s more meaningful,” Scott said. LaVasseur agrees. “I think that they (students) care,” she said, “I think that empowerment is very appealing.” Already, there’s evidence to prove the two advisers are right. There is a chapter of the Be There

Where the donations go Isle Go Missions : a non-proﬁt organization focused on helping needy youth in Jamaica, Bahamas, Cuba and Brazil. Children International : a nonproﬁt organization that helps needy youth in Chile, Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nepal and the Philippines.

November Sunday 7

2004 Monday 1

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Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Parent-Teacher conferences

fall play ends 14

Tuesday

12:30 - 3:30/ 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

PLAN Test 16

1/2 days

Musical Auditions

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Saturday

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SAT test

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News

Stampede

page three November 5, 2004

hallways and city streets

Parking passes cause controversy

Conﬂict arises as some students protest cost of parking stickers SPECIAL

TO THE

STAMPEDE

While most students simply shrug as they exchange their $10 for a bright yellow parking sticker, junior Kevin Ledbetter represents a small minority. Ledbetter refuses to buy a parking pass because he feels his parents already pay taxes and should not have to pay more on top of that. “I had a parking pass last year and paid $10, so I don’t need to again,” Ledbetter said. He is not alone. Although a few students disagree with the school’s p a r k i n g passes, school administrators cannot change the rules for a select number of rebels. And an informal survey of Principal Southwest Michigan high schools indicates that Portage Central is actually in the middle of the pack when it comes to parking charges. Niles and St. Joseph high schools charge $20 and $25, respectively, to park in their lots. “The hardest part is communicating with the students; they need to know it’s not unreasonable,” Principal Eric Alburtus said. Many students, despite how long they’ve been at PC, do not know where the money for parking passes is allocated. Last year, much of the parking money went into opening the

school store, which raised nearly $3,000 profit last year, profit that all went back into the school. Dispelling a common myth, back office Secretary Erin Barker said students need to know the money “does not go to the band.” Remaining funds from parking passes is used to re-stripe the parking lots and to help buy the passes themselves. Even though the money all goes back into the school, many students still refuse and for this, there are consequences. Consequences begin with the assignment of multiple 2:50s and possibly revoking a s t u d e n t ’s driving privileges. Officer Ray Scott said that the situation could lead to being “towed off” the lot, but only as a last resort. Not only are there problems with students not buying the passes, but several students decide to parking in other locations. The old Treat Street lot seems to be an easy alternative instead of buying the parking pass; however, the owners of the Portage Center Plaza last month said they would begin towing students’ cars. The perception of some that administrators are enforcing parking regulations more severely is not accurate, Scott said.

“We need to be consistent and clearly send the message about why we are doing this.” Eric Alburtus

Loy Norrix............................FREE Parking Costs at Area High Schools

By Sadie Leversee

K-Central..............................FREE K-Christian...........................FREE Paw Paw..............................FREE

By Meredith Gage Vibe EDITOR

One small group of PC girls is working hard to bring about big changes in the attitudes of their peers. Rupal Patel, Rebecka Manis and Christie Noonan are all

Montage wants art, writing

During November parent-teacher conferences, the staff of the Montage Literary Arts magazine will be selling decorative cups made by the art staff. Also in November, the Montage staff will be speaking with all English students about how to submit to the magazine.

Senior ads due by Dec. 6

Plainwell...............................$1

Anyone interested in placing a senior ad in this year’s Roundup yearbook should stop by Ms. Hoffman’s room (300) by Dec. 6. Forms are also available in both ofﬁces.

Portage Northern..................$5

Breadlift just 2 weeks away

Mattawan.............................FREE

Portage Central.....................$10 Niles.......................................$20 St. Joseph..............................$25 Source: Local high schools

“In the beginning of the school year, we check a lot because we have to make sure the students have their passes,” he said, adding that the enforcement of the parking passes is not expected to dwindle. Alburtus agrees. “We need to be consistent and clearly send the message about

why we are doing this,” he said. “We need to make sure there are parking spaces for people with stickers.” For those students still refusing to purchase a parking sticker, Scott said parking stickers are not a money-making venture, but rather to help make sure the school is safe.

members of the local Youth Advisory Board, a group of teens in Kalamazoo County who meet once every two weeks to increase awareness of the dangerous effects of substance abuse, violence and other issues surrounding their peers. “It’s a great feeling to know that I’m helping someone not mess up their life,” said Manis, a Rupal Patel sophomore. Granted, this all doesn’t come without a little work. The Youth Advisory advice and prespective from Board (YAB) has been involved in various activities, a teenager’s point of view on from attending workshops on various topics. “It’s great because you feel diversity to speaking at the library to younger children about like you’re making a difference drugs and alcohol prevention. in the community, and it’s also The YAB also meets with local a way to volunteer,” said Patel, community leaders to lend a junior.

The YAB is run by a Western Michigan Univeristy graduate, Nicole Storteboom. Growing up in East Lansing, she said she wished something like the YAB had been available to her when she was younger, calling it an “awesome opportunity.” “Some of the kids that come into the program are just so shy, and you watch them over the year and they just bloom,” Storteboom said. The YAB also is an excellent way for the students to boost up their college applications. “Some of the kids we’ve had in this program have gotten full rides,” Storteboom said. “And you can’t beat a full ride.” The YAB pamphlet promises to

To avoid 2:50s, parking passes are sold daily in the back ofﬁce from 7:30 a.m. to noon. “If they have any questions or concerns, they can come to me,” Alburtus said. “Don’t let it get in the way of your education. I would like to encourage them to get a parking sticker and go about with their lives.”

Youth Advisory Board kicks off for the year

Local group devoted to teenage awareness

In ws e N Brief

“I’ve learned that it’s important to be a diverse and open person. The one thing I would encourage people is to get involved.”

Junior

help members “gain experience that will help build a resume” as well as “be introduced to local community leaders who will offer networking opportunities.” “My counselor recommended me to the group, and I joined because I ﬁgured it couldn’t hurt for college,” Manis said. Noonan, whose counselor also recommended her to the group, agreed. “It gives me something to do. Better than sitting at home, right?” said Noonan, also a sophomore. Overall, the YAB has been a positive experience for all of those involved. “I’ve learned that it’s important to be a diverse and open person,” Patel said. “The one thing I would encourage people to do is get involved.”

Students who wish to participate in Breadlift should come to the school the morning of Nov. 20. There, students will divide into carloads and hit the streets of Portage to ask for donations in exchange for loaves of bread. All donations go toward the March of Dimes, an organization devoted to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality rates.

Fall plays hit the stage

The Portage Central drama department continues to present the comedy “Bullshot Crummond” tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. Portage Northern presents the musical “The King and I” tonight, Saturday and Nov. 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., and on Nov. 14 at 3 p.m.

Secretaries continue work

Portage school secretaries are currently working without contracts, as they have been since the summer of 2003. The rising cost of health insurance has delayed the talks between the school board and secretaries. School bus drivers approved a two-year contract that increased pay by 1 percent this year. Portage teachers, as reported on page 1, are still working without a contract.

Briefs compiled by News Editor Malkam Wyman.

Portage Central Student Council

Just a reminder, Breadlift is November 20th, so everyone mark it on your calendar! Also thanks for everyone’s participation during Homecoming week. A new marking period is starting, so keep up the good work.

Still...doing good stuff.

President: Nate Bauman • Vice President: Katie Brink • Treasurer: Chris Burns Secretary: Jenni Leung • Parliamentarian: Jennie Perrin

Stampede

page four

November 5, 2004

View opinions and editorials

Our View Pep assemblies need an overhaul Appreciation of one’s school is considered a positive attribute. Since Portage Central serves as a hub for both social and educational purposes, encouraging appreciation and furthering involvement in PC’s activities is also considered beneﬁcial. But a line must be drawn as to whether assembling the entire student body for the purpose of riling them up for a sporting event is necessary. Supporting the school in an endeavor is generally considered a pro-active pursuit, since by supporting you are helping to establish unity, but one must take into consideration why these rallies are so frequent, the general planning and presentation and why they only focus on sports-related activities. Homecoming would be an event that warrants a pep rally, since it would be difﬁcult to inform the student body of who won court if they were not assembled. It is also understandable that a pep rally is held when we face our rivals, Portage Northern. The Central Stampede believes that these events indeed warrant a pep rally. However, the presentation of the pep rallies is often very poor. Many times, the emcees are lacking in public speaking skills and when the sports team captains give their short speech, they are rarely heard. Additionally, other school teams are not represented at pep rallies. Credit is not given to forensics, debate, drama or any other school activity. Clearly they deserve equal access and time to recruit more members or advertise an upcoming event. Student Council should encourage unity, but should do so by getting non-Student Council members who excel in public relations or speech to better plan and deliver the pep rallies. Additionally, organizers should equally focus pep assemblies upon girls’ sporting events as well. By taking this course of action, we feel a greater sense of unity will be established at Portage Central.

Central

Stampede Editor-in-Chief -Alison Beranek News Editor - Malkam Wyman View Editor - Alex Clothier Focus Editor - Dana Cronyn Vibe Editor - Meredith Gage Sports Editor - Cody Ginter Photo Editor - Danielle Duplissis Graphics Editor - Mark Mason Business Manager - Nate Salemka Staff Writers - Amanda Boltrick Ryan Drake Allie Morris Lauren Stine Andrew Thornton Photographers - Laura Smith Michelle Beranek Autumn Roodbeen Sports Writers - Tyler Polderman Cody Ginter Staff Artist - Nolan Flynn Adviser - Cheryl Braford The Central Stampede publishes approximately one publication a month, primarily by the Journalism II class at Portage Central High School, 8135 S. Westnedge, Portage, MI 49002. It also uses work from Journalism I students. Ofﬁce: (269) 323-5218 Fax: (269) 323-5290 Room 306 e-mail: pcstampede@fast-mail.org The Central Stampede is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association (GLIPA), and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA). The Stampede is printed by the Kalamazoo Gazette, 401 S. Burdick, Kalamazoo. The purpose of the Central Stampede is to act as an open forum for students of Portage Central. It will do so by examining the issues affecting the school,

Finally seeing the light

Help arrived in the form of one small, blue pill Allie Morris

......................

Look right up there, at that picture of me (yeah, I know it looks terrible, but put that aside for now). I’m smiling, I am actually smiling, and I couldn’t do that last year. This summer, my doctor prescribed me anti-depressants. And I know what you all are thinking: “How could she be depressed? Her life can’t possibly be that bad.” You’re right — it wasn’t, and it isn’t. In fact, my life is actually pretty good. I have nice parents, great friends, and sure, sometimes things don’t work out to my expectations, but overall my life is everything I could ask for. My sophomore year, I was blind to all those things. No matter what happened or whom I was with, I was never truly myself. And no matter how many times someone would tell me there was something wrong, I wouldn’t listen. They were the ones that were wrong, at least in my mind. According to me, I was completely normal, and every other person was “crazy.” And

Art by Nolan Flynn/STAMPEDE

even now, less than a year later, I can see how truly oblivious I was. So after many a ﬁght, I broke down and went to a psychiatrist. That’s where I was told for the ﬁrst time that I had depression. And all I could think was, “I can’t be depressed. I don’t want to kill myself or anything. All I do is get pissed off sometimes. It’s probably PMS or something.” I just kept thinking that, over and over: “I can’t be depressed.” I kept thinking about that, until I noticed a trend — “can’t.” I never used to think that I couldn’t do anything or be

anyone. All of a sudden, I couldn’t be something. Maybe I could. Maybe “I can be depressed.” Finally saying those four words had already helped me, but not enough. What ﬁnally pushed into “the light” was, ironically enough, one little blue pill once a day. Now when I hear all of these news reports about “suicidecausing anti-depressants,” I think about how many people these medicines have helped, or of the teenagers that didn’t commit suicide because they were taking Paxil®,

Prozac®, Zoloft® or any other anti-depressant, or about the unhealthy and unhappy teenagers that refuse to take these medicines because of the reports. I’m not writing for anyone’s pity, attention or compassion. I am writing this because I know there are people like me. People just like that round Zoloft® blob, people that just can’t get happy. I am writing to let them know there is an option, and it can help. Nobody should have to live half a life. Allie Morris is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

Amanda Boltrick

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We’ve become a ‘Prozac nation’

You’re a helpless parent. Every day, your daughter comes home crying because of a ﬁght she had with her catty friends, and her grades are slipping. You try to help and now you’ve run out of options, so you take her to the psychiatrist. She’s prescribed Adderall® and an antidepressant. Turning to a psychiatrist may seem like an easy solution to this dilemma, and for some people, doctor-prescribed drugs can be the answer. However, these drugs are often over-prescribed and abused. Experience with family and friends has taught me that antidepressants are not the solution for everyone. Personal problems that can easily be overcome are often written off as depression, just because it’s easier to take care of it with drugs, rather than counseling and personal strength. Depression is a mental illness. While depression can be

Students

triggered by traumatic episodes, oftentimes problems that can be easily overcome are blown out of proportion, especially with teenagers and young adults. Many teenagers think that because they’ve broken up with their signiﬁcant other, they are depressed. While a situation like this may bring on “the blues” or maybe even trigger depression, excuses like this are often overused. Instead of dealing with their problems and moving on, teenagers will dig themselves into a hole from which they refuse to climb out. What’s their problem? They’re depressed, of course, or at least in their minds. Besides depression, ADD is over-diagnosed amongst young children and teenagers. Parents quickly turn to this disorder when their child can’t focus. The simple fact is, most teenagers and children are hyped-up because of their high caffeine diets, and also the simple fact

that they are kids. You can only expect children and teenagers to concentrate for a certain amount of time before they start thinking of something else, or simply get lazy. Adderall® is now the most common drug given to treat ADD. One of the main dangers of this drug being so heavily prescribed is that it’s often taken by people who don’t have a prescription. While the effects of taking this drug may not seem dangerous, taking any medication you are not prescribed can be hazardous. However, Adderall® has the same effect on a person not diagnosed with ADD as a person who is diagnosed with ADD. It simply makes the user energetic, productive and focused. Although ADD is a real medical condition, it is extremely overdiagnosed. The fact is, everyone gets bored, and nobody likes to do homework, but they get it done anyway.

To eliminate the problem of lack of focus among students, a more practical solution needs to be employed. Less caffeine, more fruits and vegetables and better sleeping habits, if properly enforced, would greatly increase a student’s productivity. This is the simplest answer that is often overlooked because it’s much easier to hold on to those bad habits and simply take a drug every day. Depression and ADD are serious disorders that some teenagers have to face, however, most don’t. Daily problems and poor study habits are too often misinterpreted. Students, teachers, parents and psychiatrists need to stop taking the easy way out, and face up to the fact that teenagers just need better counseling, more sleep, and more motivation not found through drugs. Amanda Boltrick is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

Speak Out

Do you think doctors are too quick to prescribe medication to unhappy teens?

the community and the world. The staff will achieve a balance between informing and entertaining our readers regarding Portage Central’s pastimes, both in and out of school. By sampling a diversity of sources, opinions and topics, it is our hope to appeal to all people within the community. Editorials Staff editorials in the Central Stampede are unsigned and represent consensus of the staff. The opinion of the staff is represented in the “Our View” column. The opinions of the editors, staff writers and guest writers will have bylines and will carry their own view. Letters As an open forum, the Stampede encourages the representation of all voices of the community. However, the staff reserves the right to edit letters based on length and content.

“No, because some teens really need prescribed drugs. You might as well prescribe more drugs than fewer drugs and not give them to kids that truly need them.” Lawrence Garber Freshman

“Yes, because kids are un“Yes, most kids diaghappy and stressed out and nosed use it as an excuse all they want is attention.” so teachers don’t have to Brittany Hartman deal wih them.” Sophomore Rob Forgey Junior

“I think a lot of kids are lazy and just use that as an excuse. A lot of doctors just prescribe it without running any further tests to know for sure.” Katie Grifﬁn Senior

View

Stampede

page five

November 5, 2004

opinions and editorials

Viewpoint ..........................

Portage teachers deserve a fair contract by Dee Fitzsimmons Are teachers frustrated with the ongoing lack of a contract? Yes. Has it affected morale? Of course. What other factors are involved? Plenty. The factors involved in diminished morale in teachers at Portage Public Schools are several. Administration has been generous in offering the “atta boy” compliments that everyone occasionally needs to hear. Those accolades, however, don’t pay the bills; they don’t help us face increased costs for our homes and our transportation. Make no mistake, most teachers love what they do; working with kids is probably the most rewarding challenge out there. In spite of that emotional gratiﬁcation, however, teaching is also a job. It must provide income to live a middle-class lifestyle. We love it, but we must be adequately

compensated. Salary increases have been non-existent for two years. We now have increased class loads and more responsibilities than ever. We realize that it is a tight economy, but it is disheartening to hear how good we are and then be told that there is no reward for the job well done. It is equally frustrating to see interviews in the Portage Gazette with some community members comparing our salaries to the state average. Probing questions (including the accuracy of what was stated as “average salary,” which, by the way, was inaccurate) did not consider levels of experience, the percentage of staff with master’s degrees, or other factors that played into the data. The frustration escalates in knowing that being a teacher today involves expenditures of between $15,000 to $20,000 to simply maintain

Meredith Gage

............................

‘Mag’ was tough coach, great guy

He called me “Gumby.” Beneath his rough exterior, he I met Jack Magelsson, or really and truly lived for the “Mag,” five years ago on a hot game, taking pride in the players day at the Igloo. It was my first he helped to develop. Mag was day playing volleyball, and I known to dress up in the Husky was a bit intimidated by the mascot uniform and walk older girls and the sound of nonchalantly around the gym balls smacking the well-worn at practice. His office was filled courts. During a routine passing to the brim with memorabilia drill, Mag stopped all action and wacky objects, such as a in the gym and looked at me. mini golf course. His softer “Why are your legs bent up like moments—however rare— that, Gumby?” he said. “You got were what inspired his players. rubber legs, Gumby?” For over 29 years, Mag had the Over the next few years, respect and admiration of the as I continued to attend Mag’s Portage sports community. This training is why many, camps and ...One cannot deny including eventually myself, were that Mag was the became a shocked to member of winningest volleyball learn that his spring/ coach in the state Magelsson summer was recently — and in the nation. travel team, fired from M a g n u m , Beneath his rough his coaching o t h e r exterior, he really position nicknames at Portage and truly lived for the Northern. w e r e c o l l e c t e d : game, taking pride in Exact “ S p a z , ” the players he helped details as to “ G o o f y, ” the reason of to develop. and when his firing are he really not available. wanted my attention, “Retard.” However, Magelsson is Mag was a tough coach, both continuing his teaching job as a physically and mentally. Every physical education instructor at two- to three-hour practice PN. It is because of this that I was packed with conditioning firmly believe the wild rumors routines and drills that left circulating Magelsson are just his players exhausted. If a girl those—wild rumors. wasn’t performing well—or Sure, I realize that as a PC perhaps was just daydreaming student, he was competition. He a bit—Mag would serve a hard was the coach we loved to hate ball directly at her. During one as the Mustangs faced off with particularly tough match when the Huskies. my team wasn’t playing to the But many of the PC best of its abilities, Mag simply volleyball players, including sat on the bench and read a myself, realize that we owe newspaper, refusing to even much of our individual success look at us. to Mag’s coaching. After all, he Some—perhaps even managed to turn me, a 10-yearmany—people don’t agree with old Gumby, into a volleyball his coaching practices. Yet one player. cannot deny that Mag was the winningest volleyball coach in Meredith Gage is Vibe Editor the state — and in the nation. for the Central Stampede.

Teachers should enforce dress code fairly and equally Editor, Attending Portage Central my freshman year was very difﬁcult. The difﬁculty lay in knowing that there would be so many diverse people and

certiﬁcation AFTER receiving a teaching degree. What other profession requires that kind of continuing education in order to be employed? In comparing teaching salaries with other college-degreed professionals, we have consistently been below those other college-trained professionals. For example, in 1940, educators earned 7.9 percent less than other college graduates. In 1980, we were earning 23.7 percent less, and in 2000, teachers were earning 27.7 percent less than other collegeeducated people. Now, with the mandated additional costs in maintaining certiﬁcation, what real incentives are there for the most important job in the world: preparing the young? Who will want the job? One of the community members interviewed in the Portage Gazette referred to the state “average,” yet in the 30plus years that I have worked for

Portage, I never had the feeling that the community members wanted “average” education for their kids. They never got average, either. In last year’s ACT tests, Portage students averaged 23.9 with more than 70 percent of our students taking the test. The national average was 20.9 and the state average is 21.4. In last night’s Kalamazoo Gazette, it was announced (again) that the MEAP scores are up for this year! The SAT scores were also anything but average, although a considerably lower percentage of our students take the SAT. Portage students had an average composite score of 1195, the national average was 1026, and the state average was 1136. Even in state data that computes the amount of state grant money that each district receives, and what percentage

of that money goes to provide teacher salaries, Portage scores well above “average,” meaning that the cost of the actual teaching of each student is low, compared to the state average. This community is deﬁnitely getting a lot of bang for its buck. When I inquired about how successful our students are in the area of scholarships, guidance director Jim Herm told me that at Portage Central, our students receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships, which include Merit Scholarships last year. Morale? Frustration? Why not? To most people in Portage, things are going on “as usual.” Not one student has been denied an activity; teachers are here early and stay late. Not one staff member would mention what we feel. In the process of negotiations, we are denied the right to strike,

and so we wait and beg for crumbs. Since most everyone has experienced schooling, mostly in public schools, it is easy to assume that they “know” about education. I would be happy to offer anyone an opportunity to visit my classroom for at least two full days and then try doing what I do on the third day. My fear would be that my students would be short-changed. It takes much more than the fond recall of slouching in the back row of a classroom 20 years ago to effectively meet the challenges of helping young people succeed today, or any day. Like Rodney Dangerﬁeld, teachers, too, want a little respect…and a little more in the pay envelope…and honestly, we’ve earned it.

Dee Fitzsimmons teaches Drawing and Painting, IB Art and Jewelry.

Viewpoint ..........................

Graphic by Mark Mason/STAMPEDE

Let them shave heads by Ryan McKernan

Fall is upon us, and with it comes its many joys: football, basketball, the fall play and, of course, hockey. Hockey is my sport; it always has been, it always will be. As the seasons roll around, my mind is ﬂooded with dozens of eager questions: Will the stands be packed? Are we going to win states? How badly are we going to dominate Portage Northern? But this year, a new question has been brought up: are they seriously going to ban shaving the rookies’ heads? You may have seen me last year at the beginning of the season and if you did, then you’d have noticed I barely even had peach fuzz on my head. It’s been a longstanding tradition for awhile that the rookies get their heads shaved by the seniors.

not knowing how to portray myself. Everybody dresses in a different fashion, and as you all know, the student body labels and judges people based on fashion. I never thought for a second that I would be told not to wear something that describes who I am. I know that the times and people have changed, but that doesn’t give a teacher the right

Lately, there has been a motion to stop this tradition, the thought being to prevent embarrassment. First of all, let me make it very clear that getting your head shaved is, and always has been, completely optional. Every year, coach makes the announcement that the tradition is completely your choice and he makes it extremely clear that not participating will be completely accepted without any negative consequences. That being said, the rookies willingly line up to have their heads shaved. I’ve never known of anyone on the team having a problem with it, myself included. Many may ask why we do it. I will answer this question with three reasons. First, hockey players are tight-knit guys. We know each other like brothers. I’d take a

bullet for anyone of these guys, no joke. When guys are that close, they play practical jokes, and I know from experience that these jokes have no bad intent. We mess around with each other and laugh about it, because everyone likes to have a good laugh, and hockey players are no exception. Secondly, it bonds the rookies and the seniors. I remember very clearly getting to know the rest of the team as Shawn McCallum tried giving me the new “reverse Mohawk” look, (which if anyone has pictures, I’d like a copy). My ﬁnal argument is that we don’t come into school embarrassed. Not at all! After all, we made the hockey team! “Hey, what’s with your head?” “I made the hockey team.” “Good job!” Not embarrassment. Pride.

You know how hard it is to make varsity in any sport? You ask any varsity player if they’re embarrassed about being a varsity player, and they’ll laugh you out of the school. Let me say in closing that it’s only hair. At least we’re not having them jump naked into Lake Michigan in January or dipping them in honey and throwing bee hives at them. We do this tradition to break the ice and to let people know: “These are our new boys, they worked hard to get on the team and they’re part of it now.” Let us shave heads! It’s harmless and a good bonding tool. Having someone stand out is not always a bad thing. Ryan McKernan is a junior and on the PC hockey team.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR to tell me not to wear parachute pants and then ignore the girl who is clearly breaking school rules by wearing short shorts and a halter top. I have seen this happen too many times. Seeing “different” people get judged and punished for who they are is wrong. I hope that some day, teachers can learn to follow the rules and not judge people just by their outside appearance.

It was once said that “beauty is only skin deep.” I have learned much from that quote, and I believe others can learn from it, too. But most of all, teachers need to understand that not treating people as equals based on clothing preference is wrong and discriminatory. It hurts to see my teachers look at girls with clothes that show too much skin, compliment them, and then yell at

another person for wearing too much clothing. If you ask me, that doesn’t make sense. I only want our “Mustangs” to be able to enjoy our high school years, because you’re only a teenager once. Gail Pierce Junior

Stampede

page six

November 5, 2004

Focus features and lifestyles

Freeland lives the Simple Life Early years on a Kent City farm teach value of hard work By Alison Beranek EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The saga continues of important life lessons from teachers, who have been there and done that. Last month, we learned that Laura Huff’s high school life reﬂected her eccentric personality today. This time, we hear this science teacher’s unique story of a life of simple pleasures, strong home life and the willingness to work hard. The ﬁrst time I walked in to Dave Freeland’s classroom, his amiable and gentle demeanor immediately tranquilized my nervousness of an interview. In fear that most teachers who lived during the “dinosaur age” forgot what their high school lives were like, I naively thought that Freeland’s memory wouldn’t withstand my extensive interview questions. But to my surprise, his memory was more than sharp, and his story provided me with a different perspective. Freeland attended Kent City High School in Kent City, near Grand Rapids, and graduated in 1969. Because Kent City is a smaller town, there were only 61 students in his graduating class. After high school, he went to WMU and graduated as a physics and math major. And unlike the majority of Kent City residents, the Freeland family owned a fruit and dairy farm. While sorting through the confusion of the farming lingo, as Freeland tried to explain how to back up tractors and

Clockwise from top left: As a Future Teacher of America, a young Freeland instructs a student; a dashing Freeland poses for his school picture; Freeland (in top left, #30) after a basketball victory; and Freeland makes the top ten for honor roll and later becomes valedictorian (back row, right.)

bailer wagons, his next sentence immediately caught my full attention. Freeland drove a tractor when he was six years old, and drove a truck when he was only nine. Being extremely excited, while at the same time ashamed that I still can’t back up into a parking spot, he casually described how getting his license wasn’t a big deal compared to other teens because “driving skills were a natural part of farm life.” However, Freeland didn’t own his own car until he was a junior in college.

He usually rode the bus to and from school, except when he had the privilege of driving the family truck during basketball season. Besides his farm chores, including working on the farm before and after school, Freeland participated in most school functions. “I enjoyed being involved in high school and participating in activities like classes, athletics and student government,” he said. He also was in marching band/

band for three years at Kent City, where he also played the coronet, hit some homers in the church summer softball league, played a teenage boy role in the class play “Father Knows Best” and was also a class ofﬁcer in student government. However, with so many activities Freeland was involved in, he still found plenty of time to do his homework and get straight A’s. Two teachers in particular, his math and chemistry/physics teachers (go ﬁgure), did impact his teaching

school and who didn’t. “No matter what you wear, kids will act the way they are,” Kuda said. School uniforms are obviously commonplace in most private schools. But a small percentage of public schools across the country have instituted a uniform policy, and have achieved excellent results. For example, parents spend less money buying uniforms than having to buy the new fashions, which can be very expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Education, it is easier for a parent to buy clothes for their child that they could wear all day, not just for the time they are at school. Children can walk down the halls knowing that they are not

being judged on what they are wearing. It also saves time; kids don’t have to waste time ﬁguring out what to wear. Despite these positives, there are also some negative aspects of having to wear a uniform. Uniforms take away a student’s individuality, and clothing makes a statement about who the person is. Uniforms can be very expensive, also. “Uniforms by themselves cannot solve all of the problems of school discipline, but they can be one positive contributing factor to discipline and safety,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. Andra Zommers, the principal at St. Augustine Catholic School, has both positive and negative comments on

uniforms. Middle school kids don’t like the uniforms, but they have to wear them. It seems the older the students get, the more they don’t like the uniforms, Zommers said. Still, “school uniforms promote school pride and the love for the school,” Zommers said. Brena Gieber is another student who went to a school where uniforms were a must. She didn’t like that she couldn’t express herself through clothing, but she knew there was no competition, “so nobody was judged by what they were wearing,” Gieber said. She said that kids at her old school dealt with the uniforms in a very positive way: they knew everyone had to wear them so she had no reason to argue.

style today. “They both took a personable interest in me, and besides helping students with their studies, they did other things for students in their classes,” Freeland said. In addition to his teachers, both of his parents stressed the importance of learning, education and doing well in school. In fact, ﬁve out of the seven Freeland children later became teachers. But most prominently, living on a farm developed Freeland’s

character and personality and developed his willingness to work hard. “I enjoyed farm life, but I’ve been away from it too long now to go back,” Freeland said. “Living on a farm and raising animals, you literally see the fruits of your labor.” Freeland’s story coincidentally parallels his favorite television show, “The Andy Grifﬁth Show,” which portrays the simple, good-hearted life of small-town living and the value of family and hard work.

School uniforms: a friend or foe? By Amber Wessel SPECIAL

TO THE

STAMPEDE

She used to walk among the mirrors. “Why do I look like everyone else?” sophomore Laura Kuda would ask herself. Kuda previously attended a school where uniforms were required. Kuda attended St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School for seven years. The uniforms – white- or redcollared shirt, plaid skirt three inches above the knee or navy pants – were strictly enforced. The pants could not ﬂare , the shirt had to be tucked in and students were not allowed to wear make-up or nail polish. Kuda says uniforms were a way of knowing who belonged to the

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Stampede

page seven November 5, 2004

features and lifestyles

Proud student, proud mother By Meredith Gage VIBE EDITOR

Rachel Hausmann is a proud mother. When asked, she can rattle off her baby’s measurements—6 lbs., 8.2 oz; 19½ inches long, 14½-inch chest— seemingly arbitrary numbers that mean the world to her. She carries pictures with her that she is eager to pass around. She points out the weight she’s worked off since the birth. Hausmann is just like any other new mother—except she’s a 15-year-old sophomore at PC. “I held my head up,” Hausmann said. “You can’t let it bug you. It’s bad for the baby and bad for you.” Not only did she have to hold her head up during the school day, but she had to deal with her parents as well. “My mom knew Kyle and I were having sex,” she said, referring to her ex-boyfriend, senior Kyle Meyers. “She was the one that brought me to the doctor’s, and made me take the test.” Hausmann’s reason for not using birth control is simple: she can’t swallow pills and didn’t want to undergo intensive procedures (today, although pensive, she admits that she would have taken birth control measures if she had known). Still, she was “shocked” when she found out she was pregnant. “I was scared, because I didn’t know what I would do,” she said. “But I was conﬁdent that Kyle wouldn’t leave me.” Meyers agreed. “We just had to ride it through and I had to be there for her,” he said. “I was confused and numb at ﬁrst, but then I got sort of excited that I might be able to raise this child.” Hausmann and Meyers “considered all the possibilities.”

Sophomore Rachel Hausmann reﬂects upon her time as a pregnant teenager. Graphic by Mark Mason/ STAMPEDE

She found out she was expecting during the 20th week of her pregnancy. To terminate the pregnancy at that point “would have been too much risk,” Hausmann said. “My parents really wanted to keep the baby, and hers really wanted to give it up for adoption,” Meyers said. “We didn’t let it come between us, and after awhile I realized I wouldn’t be able to support and raise the baby right. “The pregnancy really stressed both

of us out, but we still loved each other,” Meyers said. The couple mutually decided to give the baby up for adoption after Hausmann’s mother’s coworker told them about Adoption Associates, located in Jenison. “Our caseworker, Shelly Nibbelink, was really supportive,” Hausmann said. “We met with 39 different couples and ﬁnally met one that seemed very much like us. They had similar a heritage and

hobbies and kept in contact.” The adoptive couple was at the hospital on May 29, the day Hausmann gave birth to Julianna Eileen. “It was hard letting her go, but knowing the couple so well was comforting,” Hausmann said. The couple later renamed Julianna Eileen to Kaylee Marie. Because of the circumstances and the date of birth, the administration excused Hausmann from taking her

second-semester finals. “I guess that’s one perk of being pregnant,” Hausmann said with a laugh. Hausmann’s grades actually improved during her pregnancy. “Major stresses make me work harder,” Hausmann said. “I guess my pregnancy motivated me, in a way. “The school staff was great, and the body of students was supportive. I couldn’t ask for anything more. It was overwhelmingly positive. I never heard, ‘Oh, she’s a slut,’ or anything like that.” Meyers had a different experience. “I felt that people looked down on me, while at the same time everyone was being so nice to her,” he said. “I felt like crap.” According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on sexual and reproductive health research, teen pregnancy is down to 2.7 percent—an unusual occurrence for PC that sent both positive and negative whispers flying through hallways about the couple. “I knew people would talk about it,” Hausmann said. “I had to take it day by day and not think of it as a bad thing.” Yet the majority of people who were talking about her wouldn’t necessarily talk to her. “I think people wanted to respect my privacy, and that’s fine,” Hausmann said. “If people came up to me I would answer their questions, and that was fine too. I didn’t care.” The couple keeps the lines of communication open with the adoptive parents. Letters, pictures and telephone calls are exchanged, as well as the occasional visit to see the baby. “I want to be her pen pal,” Hausmann said. “I want to be her best friend.”

Draft rumors frighten youth By Samah Choudhury SPECIAL

TO THE

STAMPEDE

“Hell no! We won’t go!” And so was born the rallying cry of opposition to an infamous institution known as the draft. It was actually many of our parents that led this resistance— successfully—when President Nixon abolished the draft 30 years ago. These days, the word “draft” is coming up more and more often in daily conversation than many would like it to. Just how real is the possibility of a draft? The concept of the draft has been a part of American society since colonial times, when militias were recruited to ﬁght in the Revolutionary War. But by the time Vietnam unfurled, people weren’t as gung-ho about the draft as they were years back. By the 1960s, Americans across the nation were criticizing the selecting system, blasting it for innumerable reasons, including the fact that the selection favored middle and upper classes, and that is was the poorer men that were unable to afford college who were drafted since they couldn’t exempt themselves with student deferments. But it was the morality issue that sparked the ﬁercest controversy. Men and women alike felt that they shouldn’t serve if they didn’t believe in the cause. And still others

looked beyond it and saw this as a full-blown infringement on their individual liberties, claiming that it was their right to serve or not. Gordon Andrews, a PC history teacher, understands this firsthand. “I was about 13 when this fired up,” he told the Stampede. “A lot of my friends were in danger of the being drafted. Luckily, no one was. But the possibility was so real, and we were so against it.” It seems that attitude has prevailed and still stands strong years later, even here in Portage amongst our own peers. David Spalvieri-Kruse, 16, of neighboring school Portage Northern, said, “In my personal opinion, I think the draft is a vile concept.” He says that forcing people to fight for a cause that they may not believe in is not only a breach of an individual’s freedom to choose but can cause problems if those forces to fight refuse when they get to the battle anyway. “The draft will not be acceptable. Nope.” And he’s not the only one with this mindset. PC alumnus Dustin Wayo, 18, told the Stampede that if the war were to be for a worthy assertion, the reinstatement could be looked upon favorably. Seeing the course of the two current wars the current administration is directing, Dustin says he would unquestionably resist,

especially if he were to be conscripted to the current Iraqi War. This, he says, is a very real possibility if the incumbent is re-elected. “I would sit in jail before taking part in W’s unfair and unjustifiable war,” Wayo said. “Now if this was a justifiable war with an actual reason behind it, I’d consider it.” Now the bill that is currently circulating the floor of Congress, known as Bill S89, has taken out many of the loopholes the previous draft contained. First introduced January 2003, the bill essentially translates into this: all 18- to 24-year-olds are fair game; that includes the ladies, too. Junior Amanda Montgomery, 17, opposes this aspect of the bill. “A lot of people have said women should be allowed to fight alongside men,” Montgomery said. “But a draft would force them to. I mean, I personally, wouldn’t know what an AK-47 was if it hit me in face!” Spalvieri-Kruse, in contrast, says that women should absolutely be allowed on the front lines. “If that is what the woman wants to do, then what gives any man more a right than she?” he asked. “Equality is a necessary standard and it should be upheld not only in life, but in war as well.”

Wayo feels the same. He says that when the first draft was instated, women were excluded for the sole purpose of staying at home and taking care of family needs (a traditional lifestyle). But the status quo has drastically changed since those days, so “I personally feel it is fair to say that if a draft is reinstated, women should be required to fight alongside men,” he said. This reality, if indeed it does come to pass, will affect many more than those who are conscripted. Liz Rosenberger, a mother of two PC students who both fall under the prerequisites for a draft, adamantly believes that the draft should, in no way, be reinstated. “I don’t want to imagine what it would be like [if they were sent]. War is a scary thing, and I don’t wish it upon anyone,” she said, adding that an all-volunteer army could work, if the war was a global effort. “That way, all countries will send troops and we won’t be strained to find more of our own.” So if so many people fiercely oppose the possible reinstatement, why was the draft introduced in the first place? And more importantly, how real is the possibility? New York Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel, himself a veteran of the Korean War, reasons that his rationale for the proposal in

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the House is simple: if the draft encompasses everyone, perhaps the administration won’t be so quick to rush into spur-ofthe-moment wars. So far, the possibility remains ambiguous. Many sources, such as the Washington Monthly, say that the need for a back door draft will be critical if the US continues in the direction it’s in, while just as many others, such as the National Review, say it’s impossible. But there’s no reason to fret yet. Both presidential candidates in this election year have promised an all-volunteer army; nevertheless, in the rapidﬁre world of today where the death toll is steadily increasing

by the day, things can change. “What we need is a president who understands war and how to utilize resources,” Andrews said. “Over 40 percent of our troops are from the National Guard over in Iraq. At this point, [between Afghanistan and Iraq] we’re spread way too thin.” Regardless of what the future has in store for the able young men and women of America, it appears that one particular phrase keeps reoccurring above any others: even though there’s no catchy chant to voice opposition here in the new era, the potential draftees all concur that, widespread resistance exists.

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e n i a c o C

page eight

November 5, 2004

The dangers of

features and lifestyles

Counselors, users share horrors of addiction The white powder settles in the cracks of the table, in the creases of the chairs, and into the seams on the ﬂoor. It’s what is left of the binge from last night. Rolled-up dollar bills and razor blades litter the coffee table. This is a common scene in the life of an addict. By Danielle Duplissis PHOTO EDITOR AND

Ryan Drake

STAFF WRITER

* Names in this story have been changed to protect the sources’ identities. Some people call it “blow,” “dust,” or even “snow,” but whatever you call it, it’s the same drug snuffed up thousands of teens’ noses each day. It’s cocaine, and according to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, there are nearly two million cocaine users every year since 1992. While crack cocaine is most often smoked, powder cocaine is usually snorted or dissolved in water and injected. The statistics of cocaine users may be troubling, however knowing friends and peers who use is a scary reality. “Carly”, a current junior at Portage Central, tried cocaine after friends offered her a line. “I don’t know exactly why I did it,” Carly said. “I guess I was depressed and someone was telling me I should try.” Peer pressure may be the “why” for trying, but the “how to stop” is another question. Rehabilitation clinics are in almost every city, providing help and counseling to those who use or are in relation to those who use. However, like all addictions, one must realize he or she has a problem and need help. “Addictions usually last at longest two years and generally not because they want to quit, but because of a consequence they’ve faced,” said Dr. Skip Kiel, residential coordinator at the Jim Gilmore Jr. Treatment Center in Kalamazoo. “They either lose a job, are in jail or on probation or family troubles.” “Alan,” a 2003 PC alumni, has been using cocaine for about six months. He considers himself a regular user, but not as drastic as George Joung, the ’70s drug dealer whose life is glamorized in the movie “Blow.” Joung, played by Johnny Depp,

Know the Signs… How can you tell if a friend is using cocaine? Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning sings, he or she may be using cocaine or other illicit drugs: • Red, bloodshot eyes • A runny nose or frequently sniffing • A change in groups of friends • Acting withdrawn, depressed, tired or careless about personal appearance • Losing interest in school, family or activities he or she used to enjoy • Frequently needing money depicts the extreme edge of cocaine addiction by averaging around 10 grams of cocaine in a week. Alan said he was averaging around two grams (or roughly 15-20 lines) per day. With such a high demand for the drug, one might assume paying $90 to $180 whenever he felt the need would become too expensive to do very often. Alan, however, set aside four to five days out of the week for bingeing. “You can’t break up the times you do it, it’s either an all-day thing, or an all-night thing, and a lot of times it’s both,” he said. Money never became an obstacle for Alan; he found any means necessary to support his habit. Spending almost all of the paychecks he received, he blew between $3,000 to $4,000 total, the most in one day being about $120. Not only is the drug easy to get, Alan said, but in most cases, it was easier to find a dealer with cocaine than one selling marijuana. Alan said the only reason he ever tried it in the first place was simply because he wanted the experience and he wasn’t disappointed when he finally tried it. “I feel extremely happy, like I have no worries in the world,” he said. “I’m friendly to everyone and am basically just having a ton of fun. “I think that so many kids are doing it these days because of how fast people are growing up, you can be around it more and it is so much easier to get.” What could possibly be the reason for this drug

“Addictions usually last at longest two years and generally not because they want to quit, but because of a consequence they’ve faced. They either lose a job, are in jail or on probation or family troubles. ” Dr. Skip Kiel

Jim Gilmore Jr. Treatment Center

What can you do to help someone who is using cocaine? Be a real friend. Save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.

*Source: The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

“I have lost so much more than I have gained. I’ve lost all my money at times, respect from others, self-respect, friends, almost my job, and most importantly, people who truly cared about me the most. ” “Alan”

2003 PCHS graduate

that creates a Zen-like mood and is so easy to get? The negatives outweigh the positives, and Alan’s response certainly hammered that point home. “I have lost so much more than I have gained,” he said. “I’ve lost all my money at times, respect from others, self-respect, friends, almost my job, and most importantly, people who truly cared about me the most.” Still want to party it up with snow? Out of all of Alan’s friends, 25 to 30 of his friends are users. The signs are obvious, although somewhat general. If there are any suspicions at all, measures should be taken to help out a friend in need. The only way to stop using or try to help someone who is using is to be aware. Cocaine is a serious drug that kills not only teens, but

thousands of people each year. In the year 2000, out of all babies born to drug-addicted mothers, 76 percent of them were born to mothers addicted to cocaine. Cocaine doesn’t discriminate. Those who sniff are susceptible to heart attacks, seizures, strokes and respiratory failure; those who sniff and share needles are at high risk for contracting hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Alan, however, simply ignores the major health risks associated with using cocaine. “I don’t know exactly what would make me stop using, I guess that it’s just up to me, I have to make myself stop, but it’s not easy,” he said. “It won’t be easy.”

Photo by Danielle Duplissis/STAMPEDE

Focus Stampede

features and lifestyles

page nine

     

November 5, 2004

Fall

10 reasons why fall is the best season ever 1. Halloween 2. Homecoming 3. Jumping in leaf piles 4. Carving pumpkins 5. Bonﬁres

Is there any doubt why fall is the king of seasons? When else could going on an ordinary walk allow you to take in these beautiful sights: a rustic barn near a fading yellow oak tree at Celery Flats (above); ripe pumpkins keep some yellow mums company on the doorstep of a festively-decorated Portage home; and a vibrant red tree weeps its leaves into a pond which leads to the Portage Creek (bottom right).

6. Football 7. Apple cider 8. Thanksgiving 9. Fall colors

Photo by S. VanNess/Special to the STAMPEDE

Senior Pete Rio and sophomore Ariana Puckett search for a red race car during the Homecoming pep assembly.

10. Trick-or-treating Photos by Danielle Duplissis/STAMPEDE

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November 5, 2004

Focus features and lifestyles

Are you afraid of the dark?

Paralyzing phobias plague the lives of PC students

Common

By Malkam Wyman NEWS EDITOR

Sophomore Steven Crawford is afraid of heights. He can’t go three rungs up on a ladder without becoming extremely uncomfortable. “It’s normally fine until I actually see it…” Crawford said, “…the ground being that far down.” Every one has a small quirk or idiosyncrasy. An interesting obsession or compulsive behavior. A lot of the time the things we hide are the things we fear the most. A phobia is a term that refers to a symptom of fear brought on by seemingly small or inconsequential objects or situations. These fears, no matter how small, can have significant impacts on daily life. Some phobias can interfere with our ability to work and socialize. Symptoms of a phobia include feelings of panic, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and uncontrollable reactions. “It depends on the structure. If the structure is partially unstable, my knees get weak,” Crawford said. For instance, looking out the window of a house is no problem. Looking out the window the Sears tower is a different story. Senior Chadwick Dillon states that he has ophidiophobia, or a fear of snakes. “They move wrong,” he said. “That’s it, that’s all it is.” Actually, most simple phobias develop during childhood and eventually disappear. Those that persist into adulthood rarely ever go away without treatment. Psychology teacher Chuck Schira classifies a phobia as an irrational fear that immobilizes a person and disrupts his or her

(and not-so-common)

Phobias: AracnophobiaFear of spiders AnthrophobiaFear of people or society AerophobiaFear of drafts or air AgoraphobiaFear of outdoors or crowds DeipnophobiaFear of dinner conversation ClaustrophobiaFear of conﬁned spaces

Art by Nolan Flynn/STAMPEDE

AcrophobiaFear of heights CancerophobiaFear of cancer

behavior because of anxiety over specific objects, activities and situations. There are three general types of phobias. The first is a specific phobia, or a fear of one thing. The second is a social phobia, or a fear of doing something in front of others. “I would say that the number one phobia is speaking in front of people,” said Schira, and anyone who has felt the slightest apprehension about giving oral presentations would agree. Given their experiences with students, most teachers could probably say this is true. The last one, agoraphobia which is a fear of a situation in which escape may be difficult or help unavailable when a panic attack strikes. People who suffer from agoraphobia tend to

avoid social gatherings, being in a crowd, on a bus, or even in elevators. “Most people who have this (agoraphobia) may never leave home for 15 years,” Schira said. Prolonged exposure to a particular phobia can yield high anxiety and serious health problems. During a stressful experience, the fight or flight stress hormone called cortisol is released throughout the body. In small amounts this hormone if fine. However, being perpetually exposed to cortisol can cause the immune system to work too much, and attack the body’s own tissues. Or it can work too little; and allow dormant viruses to cultivate. Fortunately, people are not

normally exposed to a phobia for extended periods of time. They’re usually apt to avoid the things that they’re afraid of. “I’m not afraid as much as I used to be,” Dillon said. “Like garden snakes. I just ignore them.” There are some situations where people could be phobic of school. These people become extremely anxious and stressed when they’re young. They’re exposed to their fears every day and frequently have serious health issues that allow them relief. Therapy is an option for combating phobias. Systematic desensitization is when a therapist gradually exposes a person to their fear in a safe environment. They try to desensitize the person by

steadily putting them into anxiety-provoking settings. The patient meets with a therapist and carefully confronts the feared object or situation in a controlled and secure environment. The person ﬁrst imagines the feared object. Then they look at pictures of the object. Eventually they work themselves up to experiencing or coming into contact with the feared object. Most people have little fears they keep inside. Illogical fears of simple things that can scare us to death. It’s nice to know that some of the things we keep inside aren’t so unusual and that everybody has some strange thing about them. Ultimately, time can treat all things.

AstraphobiaFear of thunder and lightning NecrophobiaFear of death or dead things CardiophobiaFear of heart disease ArachibutyrophobiaFear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Painlessly paying for college tuition

‘Scholarship expert’ eplains how to escape this ﬁnancial burden By Alison Beranek EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the school year quickly slips by, most seniors look forward to next year’s exploration of college life. Amidst the anticipation of the obvious benefits of college life, the financial aspects are frequently overlooked. However, the financial burden of college can indefinitely affect your financial future, during and after college years. Because the cost of college is out of reach for some, resorting to loans to get through school is the most popular choice. But unknown to most is that as the cost continues to exponentially increase, so do the scholarship

and worked,” Grosser said. opportunities. An inspirational scholarship “Basically, I busted my butt for expert whom teaches at PC is four years in high school to get none other than WMU graduate these scholarships.” For those and math teacher, Dana students with not-so-hot grades Grosser. Grosser received a or GPAs, Grosser added “it isn’t surplus of money from various only grades that people look at, scholarships to attend WMU. it is the whole package.” The scholarships she won To name a few additional included the Junior Achievement resources on-line, you can Scholarship (from her economics search for scholarships at class senior Fastweb.com, year), Rotary Collegeboard. Scholarship c o m , (from being findtuition. in Rotary c o m , junior and wiredscholar. senior years), com and starvi Lees Honors ngstudentscho College (an larships.com. invitation These user from WMU), Dana Grosser friendly sites M e r v y n ’s only require a Scholarship quick survey (from being to match your employed interests with there) and scholarships the Clarence you qualify Remynse Scholarship (from for. They then e-mail upcoming the Kalamazoo Scholarship scholarships, or you can Foundation). regularly check the sites. Two “I also played four years of essential books include “Cost basketball, volleyball and softball Efﬁcient College: Creative Ways and participated in Rotary, NHS to Pay for College and Stay Out

“It isn’t only grades that people look at, it’s the whole package.” Math Teacher

of Debt” and “How to Go To College Almost For Free.” Traditional money that additionally helps hinder the large sum includes the Michigan Merit Award and FAFSA federal grant forms, which are provided by local/federal government. However, even with all these opportunities, the majority remain neglected. Half of the eight million undergraduates in 1999-2000 who attended a college or university failed to even apply for financial aid, according to a report by the Department of Education. “I can’t imagine coming out of college with $40,000 debt, however, people do these days. Unless you are going to be an engineer or a doctor, a debt that large can make a huge impact on your financial future. However, if planned out, it is definitely doable,” Grosser said. So with the plethora of scholarships available, a little bit of hard work and planning, the financial burden of college could be fewer for the wiser. Grossers’ advises students, there is a lot of money out there, so look local, get involved and

keep trying, don’t give up. These words of wisdom shouldn’t be taken lightly; after all, Grosser is living a life some

people dream of: she is literally getting paid to go to school. Back at high school, that is.

Scholarship resources Websites: www.wiredscholar.com www.ﬁndtuition.com www.starvingstudentscholarships.com www.collegeboard.com www.Fastweb.com

Books: “Cost Effective College: Creative Ways to Pay for College and Stay Out of Debt” “How to Go to College Almost For Free”

Focus

Stampede

page eleven November 5, 2004

features and lifestyles

School leaders pleased with MEAP scores

Below is the percentage of students in the Class of 2005 who passed the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) tests at area high schools. Students must pass the math, writing, reading and science tests to qualify for the $2,500 Merit Award scholarship. Results for the Class of 2005 were released Oct. 14 and can be found online at www.michigan.gov/mde.

Math Portage Central Gull Lake Three Rivers Portage Northern Mattawan Schoolcraft Colon Centreville Plainwell Wayland Vicksburg Otsego Marcellus Parchment Delton Kellogg Sturgis Comstock Constantine Burr Oak Paw Paw Allegan Lawrence Gobles Galesburg-Augusta Kalamazoo Central Decatur State average White Pigeon Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Bangor Lawton Hopkins Climax-Scotts Hartford Bloomingdale Mendon Martin South Haven

Science 88 81 78 78 78 75 74 74 73 71 70 69 69 68 66 65 65 65 64 63 63 61 61 61 60 60 59 58 58 55 54 54 54 51 51 48 46 43

Reading Parchment Portage Central Marcellus South Haven Schoolcraft Mattawan Plainwell Gull Lake Three Rivers Portage Northern Vicksburg Colon Centreville Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Otsego Comstock Galesburg-Augusta Gobles Climax-Scotts Wayland Delton Kellogg Constantine Hartford Mendon Lawrence Kalamazoo Central State Average Sturgis White Pigeon Hopkins Paw Paw Martin Decatur Lawton Allegan Bloomingdale Burr Oak

Portage Central Schoolcraft Gull Lake Mattawan Marcellus Plainwell Portage Northern Lawrence Vicksburg Three Rivers Mendon Centreville South Haven Delton Kellogg Allegan Wayland Sturgis Comstock Constantine Parchment Otsego Paw Paw Bangor Colon Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Galesburg-Augusta Decatur Climax-Scotts Bloomingdale Kalamazoo Central Hopkins State Average White Pigeon Gobles Martin Hartford Burr Oak Lawton

Writing 86 84 83 82 80 79 79 78 77 76 75 75 73 73 73 72 71 71 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 65 65 65 65 64 63 63 58 57 54 53 44 22

Social Studies 94 93 93 92 92 92 90 90 89 89 88 88 87 84 83 83 80 79 79 78 78 78 77 76 76 76 76 74 73 73 72 71 71 70 70 69 67

Portage Central Plainwell Gull Lake Centreville Three Rivers Portage Northern Lawton Gobles Wayland Sturgis Paw Paw Schoolcraft Mattawan Kalamazoo Central Constantine South Haven Marcellus Otsego Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Comstock Vicksburg Colon State Average Hopkins Allegan Delton Kellogg Parchment Galesburg-Augusta Bangor Hartford Lawrence Bloomingdale Mendon Burr Oak Decatur Climax-Scotts White Pigeon

55 52 52 52 49 49 49 49 47 47 46 45 45 44 43 42 42 40 40 40 37 37 35 34 34 33 31 30 30 26 25 25 22 21 20 20 19

Schoolcraft Mattawan Portage Central Vicksburg Colon Plainwell Portage Northern South Haven Gull Lake Constantine Centreville Mendon Marcellus Wayland Delton Kellogg Martin Galesburg-Augusta Paw Paw Otsego Three Rivers Kalamazoo Loy Norrix Hopkins Hartford Allegan State Average Kalamazoo Central Bloomingdale Sturgis Comstock Parchment Climax-Scotts Bangor Lawton Lawrence Decatur White Pigeon Gobles Burr Oak

86 81 79 77 76 74 74 72 70 68 67 66 66 65 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 59 59 59 58 56 56 53 53 52 52 50 49 49 48 45 36 30

Language Arts * Portage Central 86 Schoolcraft 83 Mattawan 80 Portage Northern 79 Vicksburg 78 Marcellus 77 Plainwell 74 Gull Lake 73 Galesburg-Augusta 71 South Haven 70 Hartford 70 Centreville 70 Wayland 68 Kalamazoo Central 67 Constantine 66 Lawrence 64 Colon 64 Sturgis 63 Parchment 61 Otsego 60 Paw Paw 58 Comstock 58 Gobles 55 Hopkins 53 Three Rivers 52 Bangor 52 Decatur 51 Allegan 51 Mendon 50 Lawton 50 Climax-Scotts 44 Martin 41 Delton Kellogg 41 Bloomingdale 34 White Pigeon 31 Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 25 * No state average available.

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“One can make way too much out of MEAP scores. We as teachers and schools and students are never as good, or as bad, as they suggest. And we all also know that they are not useful when trying to rate schools. Still, it was cool to see Friday’s Gazette with how well seniors performed. And there was no way they would have performed that well without their hard work and thought, as well as without the commitment and support of their teachers.” Eric Alburtus

Principal

“I’m not surprised at how well we did; we have a lot of good social studies teachers to back the programs. The surprising part is that social studies didn’t count for a scholarship and we did extremely well in that subject, while most people would have taken a day off.” Marc Uhlmann

Government Teacher “I thought it was surprising that we did so well because no one wanted to take the MEAPS, and no one really took them that seriously.” Justine Giambrone

Senior

“I think our class will do really well on the MEAPs, but I think that it’s bad we don’t get the money for taking them.” Cam Shields

Junior

“It was interesting to ﬁnd out how we placed over other schools. I hadn’t heard how well our class did, but that reﬂects really well on us.” Brandon Lemmons

Senior

Stampede

page twelve

November 5, 2004

ki n

fr ee w orl

’

Vibe PCstrut bands their stuff entertainment and events

c o R in

the

By Lauren Stine

ASSISTANT VIBE EDITOR

Open your eyes and ears and brace yourself for the young rock stars of Portage Central. Three of the most successful bands include: Vinny Keys, Dante’s Inferno and The Jive. Vinny Keys plays hardcore music and consists of ﬁve Portage Central guys: Vinny Trierweiler on keyboard, Kyle Sherman on guitar and vocals, Justin Vaughn on vocals, Ian Cooper on drums

and David Hollerbach on bass. Both Sherman and Cooper have been playing their instruments for five years, and Hollerbach for three. Trierweiler, who was self taught, has been playing for as long as he can remember. Vinny Keys formed five months ago when This Never Happened, the band Trierweiler and Vaughn were in broke up, and they fused with Sherman and Cooper. The band also has an unofficial sixth member, Jake Scott. Even though he doesn’t

play an instrument or sing, Scott goes to all of the band practices and shows to help when he’s needed. “I’m their biggest fan because they’re sweet, and I really like their sound,” Scott said. They are all serious about making quality music and they practice at least three times a week. They have played many local shows as well as shows in Detroit, Indiana and Flint. Vinny Keys is grateful for all their faithful fans, and they said the most rewarding part of being in the band is the compliments they receive after every show.

Although they enjoy the kudos they also know there’s always room for improvement and they appreciate feedback. “I like Vinny Keys, but I can’t seem to understand what they’re so angry about, I don’t know why they don’t just rebel against authority in a better way, like Good Charlotte,” junior Nauman Mangla said in jest. Vinny Keys plans on having many more local shows in the future. To ﬁnd out more about the band go to their website at www.Brokenglassvendetta. com. The second band, Dante’s Inferno, has been playing together for the last four years. The band has two members, Nick Lobel and Jim Monette, and their music is folk/ alternative/rock. Lobel plays the acoustic guitar and Monette

the electric. Lobel has been playing the guitar for nine years and Monette for over five years. Although they haven’t played many shows the band has more than 13 tracks, and has more coming in the future. “If you plan on going to see Dante’s Inferno in the future, bring a sandwich ’cause we’re gonna drop it on you,” Lobel said. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, see either Lobel or Monette. Lastly, the third is an alternative rock/ blues band called The Jive. Its members are junior Mike Ossewaarde and two students from Mattawan, Pat Mernaugh and Mark Garland. Ossewaarde and Mernaugh have been friends since middle school and with Mernaugh the three of them became a band. Ossewaarde is on drums, Mernaugh on guitar, and Garland on bass. For the last five months, they have been practicing a few times a week and they are hoping to soon start booking some shows. Sometime in November they plan on playing a show at a local church called the Underground. To find out more about upcoming shows, see Mike Ossewaarde.

Die-hard Nintendo fans rejoice

The new Nintendo DS is making waves By Andrew Thornton STAFF WRITER

For more than 10 years, Nintendo has dominated the handheld gaming market. Their Game Boy line has outsold every other handheld that has tried to oppose it and currently holds well over 90 percent of the handheld market. But despite the success of their Game Boy line, they have decided to do something different and that something is the Nintendo DS. The Nintendo DS, which stands for “dual screen,” is a new concept in gaming from Nintendo. It is being released on Nov. 21 for a suggested retail price of $149.99. The system has two screens for multitasking play. One example of how this will be used is in Madden NFL 2005. The player will see an overhead view of the action on the bottom screen and an up-close shot on the top screen. Or like in Mr. Driller, a puzzle game from Namco. In that game, they just use both screens as one big screen. In addition to having two screens, the bottom one is a touch

screen that can be used in such ways as swinging your club in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 or steering a car in Ridge Racer DS. Gamers are currently mixed on their outlook for the system. “I’m not sure whether it’s going to be good. You never see anyone with an N-Gage” said senior Scott Hitchcox when asked about the system that had been the subject of so many mixed reactions. Nintendo’s vice president of sales and marketing Reggie Fils-Aime is also optimistic about the future of the system according to a speech he gave at a recent gaming convention in Seattle. “Players want great games, new experiences, and a great value. The Nintendo DS drives creativity and drives excitement,” he said. One of the system’s best features is its wireless play. You can wirelessly link up with gamers who are nearby to play multi-player in your favorite games. Nintendo is looking into taking the system online in the future, but it haven’t made any speciﬁc plans for doing so yet. Players will also be able to download content such as game

demos wirelessly. Nintendo also promises to use the wireless download ability in new and exciting ways. One example offered is the possibility of downloading bonus content from a movie to your DS if you bring it to the theater. The DS will launch with a solid lineup of games, expected to sell for between $29.99 and $34.99. The lineup includes Super Mario 64 DS, a remake of the Nintendo 64 game Super Mario 64. It will also launch with new installments in the Mr. Driller, Rayman, Madden, Tiger Woods, Madden NFL, Sims (now titles the Urbz) and the Spider-Man series. Other games releasing on or around launch day are Asphalt Urban GT, a racing game from Ubi Soft, Feel the Magic: XY/ XX, an adventure game from Sega and Ping Pals, a chat program from THQ. The system

English 11 students of

Ms. Braford & Ms. Lentz “Will miracles never cease?”     One use only per student

expires 1-7-05

will also come with Pictochat, a simpler chat program and a demo of the upcoming Metroid Prime: Hunters. Upcoming games for the DS include installments in the Final Fantasy, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Advance Wars,

Metroid, Z e l d a , Pokemon, Viewtiful Joe, James Bond, Dynasty Warriors, Dragon Warrior and Pac-Man series in addition to many more new games and franchises. The systems are sure to go fast and

shoppers can already preorder the system at stores such as Gamestop, Babbages and Gamecrazy by putting down $25. Nintendo looks to have another hit on its hands. We’ll know for sure after its release this month.

Mystical Image Tanning Salon

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Vibe

Stampede

page thirteen November 5, 2004

entertainment and events

A fantastic farce

‘Bullshot Crummond’ will tickle your funny bone By Allie Morris STAFF WRITER

In most cases, extreme overacting, horrendous accents and stereotypical characters would sink a production, but in “Bullshot Crummond,” these characteristics make the play all the more enjoyable. The production features junior Andrew Franks as Hugh “Bullshot” Crummond, senior Emily Kammerud as Rosemary Fenton, senior Alex Clothier as Otto Van Bruno, and sophomore Matilda Shaw as Lenya Van Bruno. The play is a spoof of old British inspector movies, complete with sexual innuendos, plane crashes and a hunchback. When Bullshot gets a mysterious unsigned letter from a woman whose scientist father has been kidnapped, his detective instincts kick in. Using his sleuthing skills, he discovers the author, Ms. Rosemary Fenton. Noticing only the most subtle details, Crummond also recognizes the criminals behind this terrible kidnapping, none other than Otto and Lenya Van Bruno. The adventure continues while Bullshot and Rosemary try and stop the evil couple from drowning the international diamond market with Mr. Fenton’s newly discovered formula, “thus causing mass chaos.”

As Bullshot Crummond (Franks) was able to capture the hearts of not only Rosemary, but also Lenya Van Bruno and the audience. Franks embodies the stereotypical charming inspector, complete with a pipe, robe and an analytical nature. Though she is the daughter of a scientist, our female hero Rosemary Fenton doesn’t seem to share the brains. However, she is charming and beautiful, which leads Crummond to fall in love with her. Kammerud played Rosemary as written, but it seems that Kammerud’s acting abilities weren’t as utilized as they could have been with a more developed character. Otto Van Bruno (Clothier), the second most dangerous criminal in Europe, has had his plans foiled by Bullshot on many an occasion, his hopes are that this ploy will be his victory. Clothier plays Van Bruno with the worst of Russian accents which only adds to the hilarity of his character. Along with her husband, Lenya Van Bruno (Shaw) also is looking for success. She is quite infatuated with Bullshot, and this fascination has led to the downfall of the duos evil plans more than once. Shaws portrayal of Lenya is as funny as Lenya is diabolical. The rest of the cast is played by Jake Elzinga, Hussein Turk, Joe Deli and Ryan McKernan.

Photo courtesy PCHS drama department Emily Kammerud, Hussain Turk and Andrew Franks strike a pose in “Bullshot Crummond”

In some scenes the four stole all attention, but in others they proved much less entertaining. Turk and McKernan showed their variability by each playing more than one character, ranging from a waiter, to a cop, to a hunchback. Elzinga and Deli each play the same character all throughout, Elzinga as the kidnapped scientist, and Deli as Bullshot’s right hand man Algernon (Algie). Considering the PC vs. PN playoff game last Friday, audience turnout was small but the audience never stopped laughing. If “Bullshot Crummond” is an indicator of what is to come from the PC Drama Department, expect good things.

While PC has a wealth of comedic talent, the stale British comedy does little to highlight the abilities of these eight talented actors. One feels amost detached from the action and waits without suspense for a climax. Thanks to the cast, their humor was the saving grace of the play.

“Bullshot Crummond”

continues this weekend tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and $9 for adults.

Dangerﬁeld gets respect By Ryan Drake

STAFF WRITER

It’s time to give some respect to the dirty, perverted old man who never got any respect. Rodney Dangerfield lived through his jokes; from his looks, his poor economic standings and his abundant lack of respect, he held nothing back. Dangerfield took his stand-up comedy into uncharted areas time and time again, always giving his audiences something new and ingenious to laugh at – himself. Dangerfield died of heart complications and internal infections on Oct. 5; he was 82 years young. After his death, TV networks scrambled to compile specials and marathons with his movies, stand-up performances and his numerous television appearances. Although known mainly for his “I-get-no-respect” idiom, Dangerfield diversified himself by proving to be an animated guest on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and proving himself worthy for the silver-screen in “Caddyshack,” “Back To School,” “Little Nicky” and “Natural

Graphic by Mark Mason/STAMPEDE

Born Killers.” Yet, to truly appreciate his jokes, writings and movies, one should know his inspiration – his life. While Dangerﬁeld didn’t become famous until he was 42, he had been doing standup since he was 19 and writing jokes for others since he was 15. At the age of 28, his lack of suc-

cess and newly formed marriage turned him away from his disappointing career on the stage. For many years he suffered from depression, which would later start and fuel his comedic career. Dangerﬁeld liked to joke about his mental and physical health, neither of which were

exactly in perfect shape: “Last week I told my psychiatrist, ‘I keep thinking about suicide.’ He told me from now on I have to pay in advance.” When Dangerfield divorced his first wife after a bitter marriage, it opened doors for allnew comedic angles and jabs: “I have good-looking kids. Thank goodness my wife cheats on me.” It was when Dangerfield returned to the world of comedy with his perfected “no respect” line in his early 40’s that his career took off. From there, Dangerfield went on to open his own comedy club, “Dangerfield’s,” which helped launch the careers of Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Roseanne Barr, Jeff Foxworthy, Sam Kinison, Rita Rudner and Jim Carrey. After almost 40 years in the spotlight and teaching people how to laugh at the miserable things in life, fans and critics alike are giving reverence to the memory of Rodney Dangerfield. Leaving the mark of a true comedian, Rodney Dangerfield left with one final sentimental joke: he has finally been recognized with the respect he so often joked about.

Into the

e v o o r G

Entertainment Reviews from the Stampede Staff

DVD: “Saved” This “chick-flick” starring Mandy Moore and Jena Malone is a comedy and portrayal of the picture-perfect Christian life . Its exaggeration makes Christians look selfish and naïve, but in doing so, it’s pretty funny as well. It parodies the extreme fanaticism that sometimes follows major religions. The majority of the time, the film takes place at a private Christian school called American Eagle where the lives of most of its students are solely based around God and living as sinless as possible to get into heaven. The rebel, a teen named Mary (Malone), finds out that she’s pregnant, which is against all Christian standards of her school. She keeps it on the down-low for as long as possible

DVD: “Farenheit 9/11” The latest film from Academy Award-winner Michael Moore, “Fahrenheit 9/11” is finally out on DVD. Moore’s searing take on the aftermath of 9/11 and the supposed ineptitude of the Bush administration has been the cause of much controversy, but is it worth your time? There are two groups of people who might see this movie: those who like George Bush and those who don’t. If you do, you’re probably not going to like this movie. Moore isn’t attempting to be fair or even look at both sides of the issue here, he’s trying to bash George Bush into the ground, and in that he does well. Using humor, a fantastic soundtrack and tons of footage from the war in Iraq, Bush and 9/11, he creates a truly emotional and angry film. Michael Moore himself

CD: Jimmy Eat World”Futures” Upon picking up the longawaited Jimmy Eat World CD, “Futures,” I noticed a sign that said, “If you like Jimmy Eat World, try From Autumn to Ashes.” I was slightly confused and still am. Jimmy Eat World has maintained its original sound by reinventing itself once again. “Futures” is the perfect balance between the sounds heard on the band’s two prior releases. The ﬁrst half of the CD resembles “Bleed American,” with faster songs and catchy lyrics, such as “The Middle.” Remaining tracks are slower and similar to their second release, “Clarity.” Although it shows parallels to these releases, “Futures” is such a strong album because the band strays slightly from anything else it’s written, and rather than disappointing fans, it shows their willingness to grow and try new things.

until the whole school ﬁnds out and everything changes. Mary is scrutinized and frowned upon by everybody but a few. Her best friend, Hilary Faye (Moore), is your basic Jesus freak, and she banishes her from their clique and attempts to ruin her life and reputation. Mary ventures out on her own and ﬁnds true friends who understand her. Christian or not, it’s a hilarious representation of what’s viewed as conservative Christian closemindedness. Despite its hilarity, “Saved” forces viewers to realize who true friends really are. If you don’t have any friends, you’re looking for friends, or you just don’t have anything to do this weekend, check out this movie. It’s bound to make you laugh.

-Michelle Beranek doesn’t deny that this film is merely his opinion. Some facts presented as such are really Moore’s opinion. Other times, facts are taken out of context. However, if you do a little research and take the film with a grain of salt, you’ll be fine. If you don’t like George Bush, you are going to love this movie. It blasts him, calls him on poor decisions, and just generally makes him look bad. Moore uses humor in many cases to get his points across; it isn’t for the faint of heart, though. There are some truly disturbing images shown, including some from Sept. 11th and many from Iraq. If you’re queasy, you might need to look away in those parts. Michael Moore didn’t set out to make a fair and unbiased documentary. He set out to bash George Bush and make the man look like an idiot. And in this, he has succeeded.

-Andrew Thornton

The lyrics of the album mainly consist of getting over, or not getting over, a certain someone. Although this is a frequent subject matter for song writing, the lead singer, Jim Adkins, conveys his emotions in a way that makes you understand and relate upon the first listen. I found it difficult to take my focus off the music long enough to write this review, because I was so easily absorbed. Although the songs have a varying sound, it all flows in a way that it is difficult to pick out a song that you like more. Jimmy Eat World opened the door for the emo music movement and has a sound that is fulfilling, imitated, but never matched. Instead of creating an album that guarantees they will please fans, Jimmy Eat World reinvents themselves in a way that makes them better and more satisfying with each CD. I recommend this CD for anyone and everyone who is looking for something fresh to spin.

-Amanda Boltrick

Sports

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November 5, 2004

athletics and leisure

Women’s b-ball ﬁnishes up strong Big wins save team’s season By Tyler Polderman SPORTS WRITER

Teamwork is often an attribute to most successful sports teams. However, for the Lady Mustangs this season, teamwork is taking on a whole new meaning. The Lady Mustangs in 2004 started out slow, losing a lot of their early games by close margins. Since then, the season has started to take the shape of a rolling hill while the Lady Mustangs have been improving week after week. “Our team has looked well this year,” senior Shawna Noble said. “We’ve had a ton of unnecessary losses, but I think we’ve been coming together.” The Lady Mustangs’ best attribute hasn’t been their speed or experience, but their strengths with playing as a team. “We owe most of our success to our teamwork,” senior captain Ashleigh Carpentier said. “Our

teammates push and help each other at practice.” Despite having a poor record and losing the ﬁrst meeting of the season with neighboring rival Portage Northern, who the Lady Mustangs played again last night, the Lady Mustangs have been enjoying the 2004 season. The Lady Mustangs of 2004 are more than just a basketball team, they’re a family. Every family has a leader and the Lady Mustangs are no exception. Senior Captain Dayna Lohrberg has been one of many for the Lady Mustangs. “Dayna deﬁnitely is a leader for the team because she’s always working hard, whether it be a game or practice,” Noble said. “We all stand out in one way or another.” Junior Claire Schoolmaster has been a go-to Mustang for the team this season as she continues to trample other teams with her consistent shooting and passing skills. “Claire has really stepped up as a junior,” Carpentier said. “She has scored a lot of points for the team this year.”

The highlight of the Lady Mustangs’ 2004 season was its huge 5753 win over powerhouse Benton Harbor. “Beating Benton Harbor was huge after eight years of losing to them,” Catpentier said. With a couple of hardfought wins late in the 2004 season, the Lady Mustangs may have turned into the type of team they were looking to be. “Teamwork and friendship are our best attributes,” Carpentier said. “Lately, we’ve been looking strong and concentrating on how to beat Marshall.” Even though the Lady Mustangs are no longer a contender in the South Michigan Athletic Conference (SMAC), the 2004 season has been a memorable one. Friendship, teamwork and dedication are only a few key words describing the Lady Mustangs.

Photo by Michelle Beranek/STAMPEDE

Claire Schoolmaster matches up against her opponent.

Women’s swimming ready to sweep SMAC Strong group of seniors leads team to another stellar season By Cody Ginter SPORTS EDITOR

Photo by Autumn Roodbeen/STAMPEDE

Alyssa Greenberger prepares for a dive.

This year’s Lady Mustang swim team has jumped off the blocks strong and is on pace to contend for a fourth straight conference title. So far, the Mustangs are undefeated in conference and only have two losses to Ann Arbor Pioneer and Saline. In a heated rivalry meet against Northern, the girls drowned the competition and then went on to win 96-89 against Kalamazoo Central to close out the

regular season and come in ﬁrst in the conference. “I have been impressed with how our team has come together and helped each other out; the freshmen have stepped up big and have been a big part of this team all season,” senior Sandra Newberry said. The Lady Mustangs contended through many injuries to key swimmers and carry a lot of momentum coming up to the end of the year. The girls have swum strong so far and hope to win Regionals following a close win vs conference rival Kalamazoo Central. The Mustangs

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then hope to ﬁnish in the top ten in state competition at the end of the year. “We should have eight girls go to state competition this year, which is more than usual,” Newberry said. “Lauren Ahle has swum strong all year and is expected to ﬁnish well in the 500 at states.” Ahle, a sophomore, along with freshman Annaleise MacGavin have competed well and have supported the experienced core of the team all season long. Despite so many young swimmers, the Mustangs expected to do well and have accomplished that as of yet.

“It has been a tough year for us, but we have continued to swim well despite injuries,” senior Katelyn Clancy said. “Our biggest win was against East Kentwood where we were only up four points going into the final relay and we finished 1-2 to win easily.” Regional and state competitions are coming up soon and the girls are expecting to finish well and cap off a good year despite many setbacks. The prelims begin today at noon and the finals start Saturday. The Lady Mustangs are heavily favored in this competition and are expected to sweep all of their opponents easily.

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Sports

Stampede

page fifteen November 5, 2004

athletics and leisure

Mustang

Minis Football team keeps rolling into state playoffs The Mustang football team continues its gallop into the state playoffs after trouncing Portage Northern last Friday, 2919. Tonight’s district final at Hudsonville begins at 7:30. Tickets can be purchased in the athletic office. The underdog Mustangs started out the season with a 3-1 record, defying their critics with power running and stingy defense. Then they had a huge letdown with a twogame losing streak including a loss to rival Portage Northern. However, the Mustangs are now in full stride and riding a four-game winning streak. The streak including their rematch against PN has extended their season into the district finals at Hudsonville. “We started off strong but then broke down in midseason,” senior tackle Brian Haske said. “Finally at the end of the year we really started to play as a team and show how good we really are.” The Mustangs, riding the able shoulders of Captain Jordan Sherrod, have plowed their way into the District Final through old-fashioned hard-nosed football. The playoff success of the team lies heavily on whether the defense can continue to be pugnacious.

Cross Country speeds up This has been a tale of two seasons for the PC cross country team. Both teams have run strong, both faced struggles, and the women’s team came out a little less battered than the men. The men started off fairly well, but as the season wore on they began to struggle. One of the bright spots on the team was Brian Konkel, who ran a personal best 16:53 at the Portage Invite but was unable to run in the Central Jamboree due to a hip injury. Konkel finished 44th at the Invite and was able to medal while the Mustangs finished a disappointing 6th in the Jamboree. “This season hasn’t turned out like we planned, but I still hope to make all-conference and get to the state meet and I hope the team as a whole improves to finish the year,” said Konkel, the senior captain. The girls, on the other hand, have had another strong year including a first-place finish at the Jamboree. At the Jamboree, the PC girls finished with six girls in the top 20 and had a 7th, Emily Knight, step up in place of an injured runner to help the Lady Mustangs finish on top. The girls are running very strongly led by junior Laura Haskins who finish 3rd in the Jamboree with a time of 20:18. The team hopes to finish the year strong, and with a top three finish at regionals, move onto states. “It has been a good year and it was really good to see the enthusiasm of the girls after we won by two points in the Jamboree,” senior Angela Batizy said. The Mustangs have conference meets left as well as Regionals and States, hopefully, to close out the season. Mustang Minis are compiled by Tyler Polderman and Cody Ginter.

NHL lockout: Thank you

Players’ stupidity saves us from hockey Cody Ginter ..........................

If money is the root of all evil, than you need look no further than the current NHL season to see a prime example of that evil. With the greed of the players contributing to the owners’ mindset about the amount of money they lose each year, the NHL will once again lose part of the season and its fan base. Only this time, it may be more than part of the season. With top-of-the-line players like Peter Forsberg already under way in European leagues, NHL owners and the players’ association are far away from any settlement that would end the current lockout. The league has been shut down for almost two months now following the end of the collective bargaining agreement set in 1994-95. In fact, the league and the players’ association are so far apart, that they haven’t met or spoken since Sept. 9, according to an ESPN source. Meanwhile, leagues like the upstart OSHL (Original Stars Hockey League) have tried to take advantage of the market left behind by ﬁnding new ways to make the game exciting.

The OSHL accomplished this by forming a league in which games will feature four skaters per side (each roster will have 12 skaters and one or two goalies), playing three 17minute periods. Penalties will be rewarded with a penalty shot with players remaining on the far blue line, so if the shooter is not successful, play will continue after the attempt. There will be no red line and no-touch icing, and each period will end with a mini-shootout. All these rules are an attempt by the league owners to bring excitement to a game that has lacked it in the past. This league features former NHLers such as Dominik Hasek and possibly Marty Turco. The only problem with this situation is that they are making a stab at a market that received lower TV ratings last year than women’s bowling. Unlike most hockey fans, I believe that the NHL should be done away with entirely due to lack of interest in the markets in which teams are currently located. However, since I know this will never happen, the teams need to either come to an agreement soon with the players or contract down to less teams. By contracting, the teams would be allowed to move to markets where hockey is more appreciated such as Canada or anywhere in the northernmost

part of America. The problem lies in that the fan base of many NHL teams is very small due to lack of interest in the sport in general. For instance, the team that won the Stanley Cup, the Tampa Bay Lightning, had fewer fans last season at their victory parade than the runner-up Calgary Flames had at their parade. This is simply due to the fact that there is no fan support for those teams in the areas that they currently occupy. As a result of this poor support, teams combined have lost over $1.8 billion in the last 10 years. Despite this consistent loss of money, the average player’s salary has risen from $733,000 in 1994-95 to $1.83 million last year. Many teams such as Carolina see no reason to end the lockout unless the players bend extensively, considering the Hurricanes lost $22 million last season and only stand to lose $7.5 million if no games are played this year. There is one ﬂaw in my contraction plan and that is NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Bettman has consistently said that there will be no contraction. “We have not, we will not and we do not believe in contraction. With the right economic system, all 30 of our clubs can be healthy and competitive,” Bettman told ESPN.

Right…and the last 10 years have simply been a ﬂuke. Let’s face it, in a market dominated by football, baseball and basketball, hockey will always be forgotten and will always get lost in the sports pages next to ads saying they can get you to look like a bodybuilder in just 10 days. The NHL and its players need to quit crying and come up with a solution fast before the little interest left in America for this sport disappears altogether in the blink of an eye. The players need to come to the conclusion that if they don’t stop being so greedy, the league will be forced to contract, leaving many of them jobless or moving. When it comes right down to it, the owners are tired of losing money and unless the players realize that and agree to a salary-cap and a pay-cut, last year’s Stanley Cup Finals may have been the last we will see for a very long time. I know I won’t be the only one who simply doesn’t care.

Cody Ginter is Sports Editor for the Central Stampede.

New sports complex kicks off Kingdom complex offers new alternative By Alexa Westley SPECIAL

TO THE

STAMPEDE

The aspiring David Beckham wannabe ﬁddles around with his soccer ball in his front yard. Although he’s only 8, this kid has big soccer dreams. Lucky for him, there’s a new arena in town where he can learn to achieve his dream of soccer stardom. The Kalamazoo Indoor Center, also known as KIC, has recently opened. According to Kalamazoo Kingdom Soccer’s website, it is “the ﬁrst sports center of its kind in Southwest Michigan.” It offers yearround academy training and league play for youth and

adults in soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball and performance enhancement conditioning on three stateof-the-art ﬁelds surfaced with rubber in-ﬁlled 2.5-inch “grass.” But the 60,000-squarefoot modern-day Coliseum isn’t good news for everyone. Soccer Zone, the originating indoor complex for southwest Michigan, now has some competition. Soccer Zone’s website says that, “since 1990, with the grand opening of the Kalamazoo location, Soccer Zone has emerged as a sports facility leader.” Soccer Zone credits intense community involvement with its success. The complex quickly

became known as an authority on league development, tournament management and instructional programs. Playing host to more than three million patrons per year, Soccer Zone provides more than just soccer. Select locations also provide inline hockey, lacrosse and basketball. However, not all of Soccer Zone’s patrons are loyal to their first soccer home. Silvia Phillips-Salemka, a referee and past Junior Varsity “B” boys soccer coach is excited about the new competition. Laughing, she tells of how as a player she always complained about the broken scoreboards, the bad fields and the “raggedy” nets. She says the fluctuating prices are cause for concern as

well. The concerned coach also says that she prefers KIC for her players because she feels it is less dangerous. “There are fewer tripping hazards at KIC because the ﬁeld is more grass-like,” PhillipsSalemka said. After repeated attempts to contact Soccer Zone for their point of view on the new complex, the management gave no response. Over the past few years, soccer has become one of the most popular sports in the U.S. Thanks to complexes like these, women have become more involved in athletics, kids are more active in sports at an earlier age and people overall are more energetic.

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Stampede

page sixteen

November 5, 2004

Sports

l l a b ge athletics and leisure

Mustang

Minis Soccer team’s sweet season comes to bitter end The men’s soccer saw its postseason dreams dashed on Oct. 30 by a quicker and stronger Okemos team in the 2004 state tournament. Entering the postseason with a 17-4 record and a team full of seniors, the men’s soccer team had high expectations. The Mustangs started off postseason play with a bang in a tough game against Holt, winning by the score of 2-1. The Mustangs then took on rivals Portage Northern in an emotional battle that left the teams scoreless in regulation and in three overtimes. The two teams were forced into a shootout, and the Mustangs finally achieved victory with a final score of 3-2. “We played with a lot of heart and determination,” senior Brandon Galia said. “We were a lot more dedicated this year.” The men’s soccer team faced their easiest opponent on Oct. 23, Jackson, winning by a comfortable margin of 2-0. The Mustangs’ defense stepped up once more against a much talented East Kentwood team, winning by the score of 1-0, adding another shut-out to Goalie Kevin Melotti’s long list of them. Finally, the season ended at the hands of a much-talented Okemos soccer team with the Mustangs losing by a final score of 3-0. By losing only five games the entire year and making a run deep into the state tournament, the men’s soccer team in 2004 will go down in history as one of the greatest at Portage Central..

Golf swings high at state The men’s golf team finished the season looking strong. Winning regionals and placing 12th out of 24 at the state tournament were only some of the major accomplishments of the 2004 season. “I’m very pleased with how we finished this year,” head coach Chuck Schira said. “It’s the first time we’ve won regionals in golf.” The men’s golf team learned how to play as a team fast. With golf being more of an individual sport, the team knew they’d have to pull together in order to be successful. “Everyone pulled together with a common goal to help make this team successful,” Schira said. “Different kids would step up when we needed them to.” Despite absolute horrible weather, including heavy rain, wind and sleet, team captain Brandon Lemmons shot a 75 and finished 10th in State. The men’s golf team’s practice over the summer paid off in the end with one of the most successfuly golf seasons in history.

Tennis finishes the 2004 season looking strong The Lady Mustang tennis team finished the 2004 season strong. By placing second at Regionals and with finishing ninth at States, the Lady Mustangs exceeded their goals of 2004. “We’re really happy how this season finished,” team captain Dina Salman said. “We weren’t expecting to make it to State. It felt good to qualify.” The Lady Mustangs proved themselves tough throughout the 2004 season, as for only the fourth time in PC history, the Lady Mustangs placed second at Regionals. The Lady Mustangs’ best attribute was their team work. “We all bonded really well this year,” Salman said. Freshman Cameron Chatman, who had an impressive winning streak during the season, lost finally in the state semifinals to the eventual state champion. Even without winning state, the Lady Mustangs’ season has been a huge success.

Mustang Minis are compiled by Tyler Polderman and Cody Ginter.

d o D

FEVER

New phenomenon hits Portage on Saturday By Tyler Polderman SPORTS WRITER

This November marks the first-ever Dodgeball Tournament being held at Portage First United Methodist Church (PFUMC) on South Westnedge. With the popularity of the sport and the divisions being open to boys and girls of all ages, it seems that this November everyone will have a case of dodgeball fever. The tournament consists of four different divisions. There are Middle School Open, High School Female, High School Male and High School Coed. All players under 18 years of age must have a filled-out Parental Consent Form. Tournament Director Henry Stamm has been heavily focused on the tournament for a long time. “The purpose of the tournament is to have a good time in a safe environment,” Stamm said. “I remember when I was a student at Portage Central, not having much to do on the weekends other than work. Thankfully I never got in much trouble, but friends of mine did. I thought by holding this tournament we can fill some of the inevitable down-time that comes this time of year.” The proceeds of the tournament will go toward the Youth Group of PFUMC, to help with costs of events as well as the study program that has been lost at PFUMC, to upgrade the video systems and also to benefit the National Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (NLLS). Senior Pastor Greg Wood from PFUMC is currently in remission from Lymphoma and the PFUMC youth group joined with the NLLS in honor of Wood. Through the NLLS and its Team in Training program, Stamm ran in the Detroit Marathon on Oct. 24 in honor of Wood and Derek Klobucher, another member of the PFUMC congregation who underwent chemotherapy to combat a football-sized tumor in his chest. Senior Mike Foster, a member of the dodgeball team, the Ragin’ Bronx, can’t wait for the tournament to start. “I’m most looking forward to breaking some nerd kid’s glasses,” Foster said. “When I play dodgeball, for once in my life my heart feels in the right place.” Stamm also can’t wait for the tournament to begin. “I’m excited to see all of the students and participants having a good time playing a fun game,” Stamm said. “I love the fact that anyone can play without any special equipment. All you really need is a team and a ball!” The goals of the tournament are positive in a safe way. “Our goal is that all of the participants have a good time and more importantly that everything is done in a safe manner,” Stamm said. “My number one goal is to get through the entire

tournament with no major injuries to players. “Second, I’d like to get an idea of what we will need to do to have an even bigger tournament in the spring of 2005!” Both Foster and Stamm

agree that good dodgeball teams possess some common characteristics. “A good dodgeball team has a cannibalistic-like craving for inﬂicting pain upon kids wearing glasses,” Foster said. “The Ragin’ Bronx has these qualities, but we also have a sweet name.” Stamm is a bit more humane in assessing dodgeball excellence. “So far, from what I’ve seen at our open dodgeball games on Thursday nights, a good dodgeball team is one that is out to have a good time and doesn’t really care if they win or lose,” Stamm said. “The teams that come out here and are playing to win all of the time get stressed out and forget how to play. Then you have one player trying to win the whole game themselves and usually you just have to take them out and they get so upset, I usually just have to sit back and laugh.” The tournament has been organized intensely through a great amount of effort. “My main focus on how to run this tournament was setting up the rules and making sure we have enough people to run the tournament smoothly,” Stamm said. “Thankfully when I was a student at Portage Central I was on the wrestling team and got to see how to run a large tournament like this well... “The best opportunity for kids out of this tournament is a chance to get together outside of school at a place where they all know they will be accepted, no matter what, as well as a safe place that they can come and have fun without worrying about getting in trouble,” Stamm said. The Ragin’ Bronx are one of several teams that hope to get off to a strong start on the opening day of the tournament. “Our chances are as good as a match between a tiger and a mouse,” Foster said. “Oh yeah, we’re the mouse.” Tournament play will

Graphic by Mark Mason/ STAMPEDE

Did you know...? The Craziest Rules ● The official ball used in tournament play will be a rubber ball. ● Participants must wear shoes. ● Participants must wear shirt and shorts or pants. ● Soft (no hard plastic) knee and elbow pads will be allowed. ● An out is scored by: Hitting an opposing player with a live thrown ball below the shoulders. Note: If a player ducks, and this clearly is the cause for the player being hit above the shoulders, the player is out and the throw is legal. ● If an equal number of players remain after regulation play, a 3-minute sudden death overtime period will be played. ● To reduce time required to finish an overtime game, team captains may choose to add an equal number of players prior to the start of the first overtime — sudden death still applies. Both captains must agree to the number of players added; if not, overtime will begin with the number of players left standing at the end of regulation. ● No time-outs allowed during overtime. ● Each and every ball retrieved at the opening rush must first be taken into the team’s backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent. Example: Following the opening whistle, a player rushes and is the first to secure a ball from the centerline. That player must then carry or pass the ball into their backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.

be held daily beginning Saturday, through Saturday, Nov. 13. Weekday games will be scheduled in the evening between the hours of 6 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Prizes will even be awarded to the top teams in each division and the

top overall team, as well as the Most Valuable Player, and the team that displays the best sportsmanship. Team captains will vote the Most Valuable Player award; Tournament ofﬁcials will decide the winner of the sportsmanship award.