Vol 12 issue #7 by Central Stampede

Senior

Stampede Friday, June 1, 2007

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

Vol. 12 Issue 7

50 cents

How to save a life...

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS: Coach Tom Monroe gives some advice during a recent game. JORDAN PETERS/STAMPEDE

Monroe retires Scott and Richards revive cardiac arrest victim after 35 years OF THE

HALLWAY: Robsinson with her two lifesavers, Scott and Richards.

BY JORDAN PETERS

Staff Writer

Maggie Robinson’s morning started out as any other on April 25. She woke up, dressed herself, ate breakfast and went to school. No one could have predicted an unknown life-long illness would strike Robinson during third hour that day. Robinson suffered from cardiac arrest in her third hour seminar class that Wednesday. “I was playing cards, and my head started to spin so I put my head down,” Robinson said. Officer Ray Sco� called 9-1-1 just before he and hall monitor Sam Richards arrived on the scene. “She was lying on the floor unconscious. I noticed her eyes were pin-point and that she wasn’t breathing,” Sco� said. “Richards did a sweep of her mouth, but at first we didn’t see anything, so we proceeded with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).” A�er performing CPR, Sco� and Richards discovered chewing gum had been lodged in her esophagus. When the ambulance arrived, they used the automatic external defibrillator (AED) to jump-start her heart. “I just relied on my training and concentrated on my CPR,” Sco� said. “You just want the person to live. She’s a young lady that deserves every chance at life.” Richards also said those few anxious minutes allowed him to think about his own children and his hopes that a similar situation could be prevented. “A�erwards, you just start thinking about your kids,”

Into the sunset...

FREE

Richards said. “I would hope that if something ever happened to my kids, somebody would step up and help them.” According to her doctors, Robinson suffered an attack from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). This illness leaves people vulnerable to fast, chaotic heartbeats that may lead to fainting — and in some cases, cardiac arrest and possibly sudden death. “Her heartbeat would slow down and pause, then start back up again, but this time it didn’t,” said Sharon Robinson, Maggie’s mother. “She was born with this sickness, and we never knew about it, but we did find out it was genetic.” Robinson underwent open-heart surgery, where she received a pacemaker defibrillator. This device enables her heart rate to speed up and jump-start itself should it ever pause. Unfortunately, the pacemaker forces Robinson to give up sports and physical activity for the rest of her life. “We were in the doctor’s office, and when he told us about the pacemaker, Maggie’s response was, ‘Only old people have pacemakers,’” Sharon Robinson said. Luckily for Maggie Robinson, Sco� and Richards were there for her. “Students were calm and cooperative,” Sco� said. “There were a lot of hands doing the right thing at the right time.” The Portage school board recently recognized Sco� and Richards for their heroic actions. As for Robinson, she remains grateful to her two saviors: “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have lived.”

BOND, PETERS AND HAM/STAMPEDE

Step 1

BY KELLY LINS

Enroll in CPR classes at Red Cross 353-6180

Step 2 Know where an automatic external deﬁbrillator (AED) is located and how to use it

Step 3

React to the emergency and

S�� A L��

In today’s Central Stampede, you will also ﬁnd an insert of our special, 16-page Senior Issue. Enjoy!

LAST: Lawrence Javier exits the Rideout with his fellow seniors on May 16.

Insider the

Herd in the Hallways

“It’s kind of like football, only with crazy English guys.”

-Senior Sagar Deshpande is going ruggin’ on p. 14

Staff Writer

There will be no more whistles from the dugout, signs of congratulation or words of advice: Coach Tom Monroe is retiring. A�er 35 years of coaching at least one Portage Central sport, he has decided to hang up the clip board. A�er 32 years of coaching so�ball, Monroe has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, won Coach of the Year and has more than 600 victories under his belt. He believes that these awards are not the most important, though, pointing instead to his relationships with athletes and the time they spent together. His best memory was when the 1977 so�ball team won the state championship. “We won our state championship, and it’s always rewarding to think about that,” Monroe said. “We have had some great games and played good teams.” Sophomore Sarah Wolfe definitely appreciated the short time she got to play for Monroe. She is sad about the news of him retiring even though she has many fond memories of him. “He constantly gives you stuff to work on so you’re never se�ling,” said Wolfe, who has played under Monroe one year. “He keeps you working hard all the time.” Sophomore K.C. Christopher also played so�ball for Monroe. A�er her two years ge�ing to know him, she thinks he is a great coach and will miss him a lot. “Monroe is the kind of coach that will get on you when he needs to, but is always there to joke around with and have fun,” Christopher said. “He is supportive and encouraging, but will correct you if you do something wrong. All around, he is a very good coach and person. We will miss him when he leaves.” He also has coached the women’s varsity basketball team in recent years and made some of his best memories with them. “This last team that played here in ’06 had really good chemistry,” Monroe said. “It was fun to go to practice. That whole year was a good memory.” Sophomore Julia Howlind enjoyed playing for Monroe on varsity this past year. She enjoyed the practices when they joked around and just had fun. “I feel he really told people how he felt and wasn’t afraid to help someone get be�er at their weaknesses,” Howlind said. “He respected the seniors but le� the underclassmen room to grow ad fit in with the team.” A�er coaching for so many years, Monroe has learned many lessons: don’t take the game too seriously, enjoy it what it is and remain consistent when coaching. “I think you learn not to be too serious about it,” Monroe said. “There are ups and downs. You’re coaching high school young people, and they’re not pros. We’d like to be successful every time you go out there, but you’re not.” A�er he retires, Monroe looks forward to spending more time on Long Lake. He hopes to be able to fish and golf more, and he is vey excited to have more time to visit his daughter in Alaska.

page 2 Cry me a river... • page 7 On the road again • page 10 What’s your current event IQ?

SVEIKS!

STUDENT LATVIANS SAY “HELLO” TO PORTAGE CENTRAL

Which Stampede senior will you miss the most?

Ryan Ray 23%

Meredith Perrin Gage VanderVeen 9%

30%

Rashid Chapeyama 38%

poll of 100 students

HEROS

BJORN GRUBELICH/STAMPEDE

friday, june 1, 2007

CLASS OF 2007 all grown up a supplement to the central stampede

News

Stampede

page two

hallways and city streets

June 1, 2007

Teacher requests wreak havoc Counseling department struggles to keep up with increasing demands BY IRFAN SYED

Staff Writer

M N A

PE AM

T /S

Ready to

With an increase in teacher requests, the administration has been confronted with a mass of scheduling issues due to the confliciting limited amount of classes offered next year. Guidance counselor Jennifer Russell is the person responsible for the overall scheduling process, and Principal Eric Alburtus approves each of the actions. Together, they come up with a master computer copy comprised of each student’s schedules to make sure everything fits, and if not, certain changes are made to accommodate each student as well as it can. Counselors struggle to keep every student happy when it comes to scheduling. Typically, about 80 percent of the students are satisfied, and the other 20 percent are called in to ask about a close second to that course/teacher. Student rationale for choosing teachers varies in multiple ways. “I’m requesting Mrs. Moss next year because her teaching fits my learning abilities, and I’ve been recommended to her by another teacher,” sophomore Stephanie Murray said. She wishes to have her for IB Spanish SL next year; however, Murray is unaware of the many conflicts that might not make this transaction possible. Another student, Caitlin Taylor, wishes to have Mrs. Pence next year for an IB English HL course. “Pence is a really good teacher; she’s funny and very knowledgeable,” Taylor said. “I am expecting it to be difficult, but I will definitely learn a lot” Sometimes, teachers don’t know what they will be teaching until well into the summer. Teachers can, however, request which subjects they want teach, which is typically decided by their experiences in that area, such as the amount of time and ability of teaching that course. “I think teachers should be allowed to request students!” English teacher Becky Pence said. Pence wishes that teachers could have the right to request who they can teach, since “teachers don’t have a say of the students they can pick.” In Pence’s

teaching career, there have been very few cases where some students have had to switch teachers between semesters. As much as the administration would like to avoid this, sometimes conflicts such as EFE and KAMSC take place. IB Diploma candidates are given special considerations, since the school is also responsible for making a schedule suitable to the student to achieve his/her diploma. KAMSC students usually have core classes such as English, history and a foreign language in the morning, and they are usually placed according to what is available throughout the free teaching blocks. “It’s a tricky business to fit a schedule,” Pence said. All together, teacher requests can only be so effective, since the requested teachers may possibly be teaching another subject, or at a conflicting period in the day for a student’s schedule. Still, many students seem to appreciate their previous experiences with a teacher or have heard many good things about them from peers and friends that typically influence their requests.

RULE

the school

Newly-elected Student Council ofﬁcers prepare for upcoming school year BY KAY TARLETON

Staff Writer

A�er a week of feirce campaigning around the school, freshmen, sophomores and juniors voted on Student Council candidates for the 200708 school year. Junior Kent White will serve as president, junior Barry Beranek takes over as vice president, junior Kelsey Nedervelt was voted parliamentarian, freshman Tony Beranek will be the next treasurer, and sophomore Sarah May will take the place of the present secretary next year. The new officers are excited students elected them and are looking forward to get working next year. “I plan on next year being a revolutionary year for Student Council,” White said. The elected officers themselves make up a revolutionary group; the team consists of a freshman, a sophomore, as well as three juniors and a pair of brothers. However, the differences in age (and the family connection) don’t appear to be potential sources of interference in the coming year. “We’ve all worked with each other before,” Barry Beranek said. “[We] understand each other [and] we know how to work well together.”

Looking forward to next year, there seems to be a mutual goal for the new squad: being taken more seriously. “Everyone thinks…[Student Council] is just a blow-off class,” Tony Beranek said. The group hopes to correct this misconception by changing the way it operates. They hope to become more efficient and organized, as well as make other positive changes. A clear leader in this movement to be�er the school is the new president, Kent White. “He has a lot of really good ideas how to change the class for the be�er,” May said. The squad hasn’t had a lot of opportunity to deliberate amonst themselves so far. However, they have a few collective ideas for the coming school year, such as the possibility of moving Homecoming to a Saturday. Lately, they claim to have been brainstorming additions and changes to events rather than new ones. In the end, the elected officers appear satisfied with the outcome of the campaigning as well as the process of the election itself. “Last year was really…competitive,” Barry Beranek said. “[This year] people were running because they wanted to be able to make a difference.”

PHILL HAM/STAMPEDE

NEWLY ELECTED: (From left to right) Secretary Sarah May, Vice President Barry Beranek, President Kent White, Parliamentarian Kelsey Nedervelt and Treasurer Tony Beranek will lead Student Council.

Underclassmen are scheduled once again for the last four days of school, but a conveniently placed weekend will provide extra study time for students. On Thursday, June 7, students will take 1st- and 2ndhour exams. Third- and 4th-hour exams are set for Friday, June 8. A�er the weekend, 5th and 6th hour are scheduled and students will take their ﬁnal (7th hour) exam on Tuesday, June 12. Exams are daily from 7:50-9:40 and 9:50-11:40.

Assistant Principal Roehm heading for West Middle Assistant Principal Denny Roehm is leaving Portage Central a�er the this academic year. He will be working next year as the assistant principal for West Middle School. Roehm says he’s leaving because he “want[s] to spend more time with [his] two young daughters.” He said the move will be a ”diﬀerent opportunity that will allow [me] to broaden [my] horizons.” He has worked at Portage Central for 13 years: 10 as a teacher and three as an assistant principal.

Football tents available to rent for graduation parties The Portage Central Football Boosters are renting canopy tents for end-of-the-year graduation parties and summer picnics again this year. The tents are transported and assembled. The boosters have one 20x30 tent and three 20x20 tents available for rental. The prices are $80 for the 20x20 tents and $90 for the 20x30 tent. Contact Kathy King at kings49002@yahoo.com or call (269) 321-2279 for more information.

CMU summer event

Weekend splits ﬁnal exam schedule, June 7-8/11-12

graduation tents

Brief

little roehm leaving

ﬁnal exams

CMU hosts event for health, science program Friday, July 20, Central Michigan University is hosting a 2007 Health Professions and Science, Engineering and Technology Day. The event will be held at CMU’s Mount Pleasant campus. The purpose is to provide the opportunity for exploration of the university’s health, science, engineering and technology programs. The day includes campus tours and a complimentary lunch. For more information or to register go to www. cmich.edu/admissions.

Briefs compiled by Carly Nagengast

Seniors Class of 2007

page two senior issue. june 1, 2007

s r o i n Se

k a Spe

Out...

here was your favorite place to hang out in Portage?

hen you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? What do you want to be now?

hat words of advice do you have for underclassmen?

hat is your favorite memory of high school?

“Barnes and Noble cafe, because it’s a nice place to grab some books, coffee, and crazy magazines.” - Anne Voss

“My house because I can play ping-pong.” - Josh Roth

“When I was little, I wanted to be a waitress, but now I want to be a senator because there are a lot of issues in this country that need to be resolved.” -Jessica Bertolina

hat was your least favorite thing about high school?

“My first hour and stupid high school drama.” - Logan Ambrose

“At a basketball game, I tripped and fell all the way down the bleachers.” -Jessica Dawson

ho was your favorite teacher in high school?

“The hallways because they’re extremely crowded.” - Jessica Hipskind

“When I was little, I wanted to be a Barbie or a ballerina. Now, I’m going to be a cosemetologist.” -Kristen Hubbard

“I wanted to be Ken so I could marry Barbie and live in a beach-house. Now, I want to be a policeman.” -Perry Bowden

“Don’t take anything too seriously and try everything.” -Alexi Thompson

“Don’t conform. You can be ‘emo’ and wear Hollister.” -Dan Harkins

“My favorite part of school is Betty B. because she was my buddy.” -Josh Klinkers

“Know people in high places because it gets you somewhere.” -Justin Grubka

“Meersman because even though she can’t sing, I learned a lot, and you have a good time in that class.” -Lance Shave

“My favorite teacher is Borden because he always picks on everybody and makes you laugh.” -Eric Grogg

News

Stampede

page three

hallways and city streets

Cry me a

Kudos!

June 1, 2007

River...

Forensics students make ﬁnal round

Recently, the forensics team participated in the state tournament the weekend of May 45, claiming an overall fourth place in the Class A division. All 11 of the students who made it to the state tournament qualified for the semifinals, and eight of those 11 went on to the finals. Individual accomplishments included Katie Corbit winning second in state in Prose, Matilda Shaw winning second in state in Dramatic Interpretation, Peter Hong winning best in state in Impromptu, and Evan Po�s winning best in state Poetry.

Junior wins ﬁrst in debate competition

MEREDITH GAGE/STAMPEDE

Active residents prevent dumping of harmful PCBs BY ANDREW KRIETZ

Staff Writer

In Southwest Michigan, one river cuts through the region, dumping its contents into the calm waters of Lake Michigan. The Kalamazoo River, scarred with years of contamination, has been in the middle of a countywide debate on where to dispose of its pollutants. Causing a setback for the Environmental Protection Agency, officials have heard the outcry of the citizens to not dump the toxins from the river to a proposed landfill site. In 1989, the Kalamazoo River and the Portage Creek were placed on the National Priorities List to begin the planning stages of cleaning up surface water and the riverbed below it. With the cooperation of Georgia-Pacific and Millennium Holdings, parent companies of former local paper mills, both business and government have given the region full a�ention to perform a cleanup project at the cost of $21 million. But what has many outraged is the plan for dumping the water’s pollutants. Guidance counselor Carla Kelly has been a prominent activist in the negotiations between the EPA and the city, as the plan would have affected

her in her own backyard. “The people living near the area [of the proposed landfill] were first involved,” Kelly said. “[But] anyone in the county should be concerned.” One particular area has been set aside to dispose of the contaminants near Comstock. The Willow Boulevard/A-Site landfill is just one of four proposed localities. Because of the its close proximity to an urban area, the local population is standing up against something they do not want. And in the short term, they have succeeded. Hearing the cry, a group of Western Michigan professors, city officials, and EPA representatives met with more than 300 concerned citizens on April 13, making sure what was said did not contradict with their views. Though the feeling of anxiety may have been in the room, Kelly felt at ease. She felt as though the meeting was successful through co-operation. “The first meeting seemed hopeful, it had a very community-like feel,” Kelly said. “There were older people, college-aged students, and mothers with children. People came out and shared their views; people who usually aren’t politically involved came out, which moved things along.” While the landfill is the most contemplated

option, officials have brought up alternatives. The most expensive possibility, moving and disposing of the material, would be to “drain and stabilize” the waste and then bring it back into the environment. Overall, this comes at a $46.1million price tag. As of April 25, the entire topic has been put back to the drawing board as officials would not be dumping the toxins onto the proposed site. The 2007 plan calls for cleanup to continue on May 2 with the toxins going to the permi�ed commercial landfills. In reaction to the recent events, Kelly and many others against the previous proposal are pleased, but are not totally at ease with the future. “I was thrilled [at the announcement], but I’m still very concerned about the future,” said Kelly. “I find it hard to believe that it was the best decision they could make. This would have gone through if no one became involved.” Used by major paper mills for over 20 years as both a coolant and insulator, the consequences of dumping polychlorinated biphenyl, known as PCB(s), are severe for both humans and animals. For more information on the EPA’s past proposals and future decisions, visit h�p://www. epa.gov/region5/sites/kalproject/.

Junior Peter Hong recently won the national competition for the Legislative Debate Novice in Iowa City, Iowa. This is his third year in forensics, but only his first year in legislative debate. Central students Charles Chu, Jessica Bertnlina, Charley Bogren and Erik Malin were also the respective 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 8th-place finishers. The Mustangs were competing against hundreds of other students from all over the country. Bogren was elected presiding officer of the session. Peggy Hopkins and Randy Bordon presided as assistant coach and Director of Debate.

Freshmen raise funds to help Darfur

Three classes of Honors English 9 students raised $707.65 of their own hard-earned cash and donated that cash to beneﬁt humanitarian eﬀorts in Darfur. One student alone donated $100. Additionally, a Student Council donation of $200 will allow motivated students in Cheryl Braford’s classes to generate more funds through the sale of “Save Darfur” wristbands. The students learned about genocide currently occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan in conjunction with their study of a Holocaust memoir. “I was truly overwhelmed by their generosity,” Braford said.

Stampede staff goes for the gold

The Central Stampede recently brought home a Gold Medal for overall excellence in the 2006-07 school year. The award was bestowed upon the staﬀ at an April 17 state competition in Lansing. Additionally, the following staﬀ members were recognized for individual achievement: Meredith Gage, Ryan Ray, Adel Johnson, Perrin VanderVeen, Mary Claire Oppel, Sarah Drabik, Sean Cleary, Levi Barry, Phill Ham, Holli Smith, Amna Azam and James Phillips.

Students resent Internet ban Staff Writer

It all started with a YouTube ban, and then, many students found they could no longer use the Internet. One of them was senior Michelle Sindelar who, like many, were banned from the Internet while at school due to breaking the contract every student signs before allowed to use the web. “The reason I got kicked off was because of YouTube,” Sindelar said. “A lot of the sites teachers ask us to use are blocked. It’s really dumb.” While some students may think it is unnecessary for the administration to go to such extremes, administrators defend their decisions. “We’re obliged to filter, by state law, inappropriate content,” said Michael Ba�erson, director of technology systems for Portage schools. “There is no technology in place to filter (YouTube) video content. We can’t let the good and the bad stuff go through, so we have to block the whole site.” Portage administrators recently blocked student access to the popular video website, although teachers still have access. They also started cracking down on students who have tried to find a way around blocked sites. This decision sparked an outcry among the student body, and many have been trying to find a way around this ban and bans on other sites deemed inappropriate. While many

“

The school can ban whatever they want because it’s their Internet service. BRANDON DUTTON Sophomore

“

BY JENNY KILDUFF

students have been doing this all year many are ﬁnding they can no longer get away with it. “Some videos on YouTube are good like videos talking about eating disorders, public service announcements, and examples of police brutality,” speech and English teacher Randy Borden said. “Those are all legitimate uses with appropriate material.” Principal Eric Alburtus agrees that a new policy is in order to deal with today’s ever-evolving technology. “Right now we are coming to a bit of a crossroads,” Alburtus said. “We are going to discuss it. With technology you will have to ﬁgure it out as you go along.” Many students have been banned from accessing the Internet for the rest of the year. It is clear that administrators next door are not messing around; however, many students feel that peers ge�ing

banned disrupts classrooms. Students like sophomore Brandon Du�on believe this ban will affect the grades and work of students. “The school can ban whatever they want because it’s their Internet service,” Du�on said. “They just need to know they’re affecting students’ work. They might not do as well on projects and stuff.” In the past, teachers have been responsible for the punishment of a student who does not follow their Internet use agreement; however, that is no longer the case. All students have signed an appropriate use contract for the Internet. If students try to find a way around the ban on YouTube or any other blocked site, they are breaking this agreement. Teachers like Borden, however, question the censoring of some Internet content. Many students have been banned from the Internet altogether for violating this contract. “At some point it’s just like, why not ban the Internet? “ Borden said. “At what point does it stop?” It is clear to everyone that something needs to change for next year. Teachers and administrators want to bring technology to students, yet at the same time there are some bad things that come from the Internet. Alburtus said: “We are always trying to ba�le technology. If we make a mistake, it would be to do the same thing over and over again without thinking. That’s why I think it is really important that we take another look at this issue.”

Congratulations, seniors! Best of luck next year. Have a fun and safe summer! Love, - Student Council

Your 2006-07 Portage Central Student Council.

STUDENT COUNCIL Portage Central

Seniors

Class of 2007 senior issue. june 1, 2007

Party

Central

page three

Marah Klose STAMPEDE

The Class of 2007 puts a new spin on graduation parties BY MARAH KLOSE

future Sitcom Writer

College pennants, coolers filled to the brim with pop cans, and tri-folds crammed with certificates and evidence of other achievements: the telltale sign that graduation party season is upon us once again. No one knows better about planning a graduation party than a parent in the process. Kelli Palsrok, a Freshman-Focus and biology teacher, began preparing early for the open house of her son, Tyler, who will graduate June 10 from Vicksburg High School. “I started planning in the fall – making a guest list – I needed to order invitations,” Palsrok said. “Also, I set the day and time early on to be sure our party did not interfere with Tyler’s other friends.” Her son’s party is a catered Sunday brunch, meant to have easy preparaton, in addition to no conflicting parties. “I like it when people have their parties catered,” Palsrok said, “so that the parents are free to socialize and not worry about food.” Another teacher that knows the stresses of party planning is Janet LaVasseur, whose daughter graduates from Gull Lake High School on June 7.

The menu will be catered appetizers and desserts, but will also include characteristics of a “green” party. Green parties are simply environmentally-friendly parties, specifically planned as such. One of LaVasseur’s friends hosted an all-green party for his grandson, and LaVasseur borrowed some of the ideas to carry over into her daughter’s party. Simple ideas for a green party of your own are a compost bucket for leftover food, real silverware, real plates with dishwashing stations, paper products that will biodegrade, and absolutely no Styrofoam or plastic. In any setting, “you have people on the cusp of doing something [for the environment],” LaVasseur said, “and maybe hearing about green parties will get them to seriously consider having one and doing good for the environment.” Besides just teachers preparing, the entire senior class is in a mad rush to secure essentials for their own parties, then getting ready for the chaos of all the others scheduled in the four weeks or so following graduation. “Literally, my ‘day(s)’ consist of going to graduation,”

senior Christie Noonan said, “then Grad Bash, then sleeping a bit, then going to everyone else’s parties, then hurrying back to my own that night.” Busy schedules can seem daunting, but interesting and original party ideas can brighten up the cross-town traversing for friends’ parties. “If you’re going with a theme,” senior Jenna Ziegler said, “like my friend, who’s doing a luau party, it’s cool to do that with all kinds of decorations that go along with it.” “I’d suggest heat lamps for parties at night because it gets really cold,” Noonan said. “I’ve seen bonfires at some parties, too. It’s really fun when the bonfires consist of old tests and big, 22-page papers.” For personal touches, “videos are nice and fun to watch,” Ziegler said, “and obviously all the picture boards and all the high school accomplishments displayed.” Other ideas to add some excitement to a run-ofthe-mill party are snow cone machines, a milkshake/ malt/sundae bar, disposable cameras on tables like at weddings, root beer kegs with ice cream, t-shirt quilts, inflatable bounce castles and even dunk tanks with the graduate as the target. Every year, graduation parties come and go, but drawing on past ideas and dreaming up new ones can make this year’s batch of parties a blast.

Military provides an interesting alternative to college for some BY NICOLE CHRUSCIEL

future Boxer

While many seniors eagerly await departure from Portage, some wonder about the next few years of life. Many seniors choose to follow the path that’s been drilled into their brains since kindergarten and continue to a college or university, but senior Jason Flanders is considering altering that path slightly. “I might do the Army Reserves and PLC while going to college,” Flanders said. “Then I’d come out a Second Lieutenant.” PLC stands for Platoon Leader Class, which is a popular way to be active in the Marines while still attending college. Senior

Garret Coning has a similar plan with the Air Force. “I applied for an Air Force ROTC scholarship,” Conning said. “Basically, based on the scholarship, they pay for your college, but you have to give up a number of years, four or five, I think, after college to the military, but you start out as an officer.” ROTC, or Reserve Officer Training Corps, is what prepares young men and women for the Air Force with training in leadership, problem solving and other skills. If the good old “high school to college, college to job, then job to the end of time” pathway doesn’t sound very appealing, there are other possibilities. To name a few, the Air

Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps and the Army are perfectly sufficient alternatives. You’ve seen the commercials; you’ve seen the recruiters at their stations in the halls, so why would you want to choose this challenging way of life? “Because I love America,” Flanders said. “It may not be the best paying job, but my dad can sit there and tell stories about all the things he did while he was in the military for days and days, and that’s pretty cool,” Coning said. “That’s the kind of direction I’d like to take my life.” Next time you feel anxious and nervous

Phill Ham STAMPEDE

MEN IN UNIFORM: Flanders (left) and Coning (right) are headed for the military next year. about the rest of your life, Flanders and Coning recommend considering some changes to the path currently before you to “be all you can be.”

Stampede “Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

page four

View opinions and editorials

June 1, 2007

Our View For Internet banning, punishment does not fit the crime No time for socializing on MySpace. YouTube is officially banned. And as an alternative, we dug deep into our inner geekiness and used a proxy to get around our Internet obstacles here at school. Since the beginning of the year, Central students have been involved in an underground movement to visit harmless websites the school doesn’t allow us to access thanks to the use of proxy sites. A proxy, being a special web address, directs you to sites that are supposed to be blocked. In the last month, however, officials at the Portage administration building took a snapshot of where kids were spending their Internet time. As a result, punishments were given to a handful of unlucky students. The behavior “intervention” stated if you used a proxy, you are not allowed access to the Internet on any Portage Public Schools. As no warnings were issued, the Stampede thinks the penalty doesn’t fit the crime. Too many kids got kicked off too quickly. Proxies should be forbidden, but a large number of students ge�ing in trouble at the snap of a finger is too rash. Furthermore, students are wrapping up big projects for the end of the year and banishment from school computers is inconvenient. Additionally, many kids don’t have computer access at home, so access here is the only opportunity they have to connect to the World Wide Web. Administrative reprimands were too severe, in our view, when firm warnings to the students involved would have been just as sufficient. Even more chilling, however, is the administration’s intrusive surveillance of students without their knowledge. We urge administrators to abandon this practice for the 2007-08 school year.

Stampede Staff Meredith Gage, Editor-in-Chief Adel Johnson ...............................................News Editor Ryan Ray ........................................................View Editor Marah Klose ................................................ Focus Editor Laura Pone......................................................Vibe Editor Levi Barry.................................................... Sports Editor Romy Bond/Phill Ham ...................... Co-Photo Editors Bjorn Grubelich...........................Art & Graphics Editor Jessica Atteberry......................................... Copy Editor Staff Writers ..... Amna Azam, Nicole Chrusciel, Keenan Cronyn, ..............................Alaina Dely, Nate Frisbie, Christianna Gluys, .............................Jenny Kilduff, Andrew Krietz, Erin Lenczycki, ............................. Kelly Lins, Carly Nagengast, Amanda Norris, ................. Jordan Peters, James Phillips, Alex Ray, Holli Smith, .............................. Irfan Syed, Jake Turner, Perrin VanderVeen, ............................. Mier Wang, Taylor Whisman, Austin Wordell Graphic Artists ............................Rashid Chapeyama, Phill Ham Photographers ................ Romy Bond, Phill Ham, Jordan Peters Sarah Drabik ................................................... Business Manager Mary Claire Oppel .......................................... Business Manager Phill Ham ......................................................... Business Manager

RASHID CHAPEYAMA/STAMPEDE

Ready to blast off?

Money for exploring can Space trips are dangerous save the world and expensive staff staff A L E X R AY writer writer CHRISTIANNA GLUYS A L E X R AY

T AY L O R W H I S M A N

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the world has been fascinated by outer space. Stars, planets, meteors, nebulas, li�le green men… we love to learn about them and study them and wonder about them. So, then, who would ever think to stop exploring this beautiful, astounding “final frontier,” as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk once told thousands of geeky teenagers in the 1960s? In order to understand the great mysteries of our universe, we should continue to fund space exploration worldwide. Aside from simply answering questions about what we are in ALIENtechnologies E LY developed by scientists XA AY the great vastness of space,L the for exploring space also has helped us back here on Earth. The metal wire used in your braces or retainer? It was originally developed to make satellites spring open a�er launch. The remotecontrol system used to program those satellites is also used to monitor pacemakers. The alarm systems used in space shu�les were used to develop home smoke detectors, and extremely fire-retardant fabrics used to make fire blankets and the like were created by NASA scientists looking for a way to insulate the shu�les. NASA also created the lightweight materials used to make stronger helmets, tennis rackets and other sports equipment. CAT scans and MRIs, now used for detecting cancers, was used in the Apollo missions in the late ’60s to study the moon and other space bodies. Altogether, scientists searching for ways to explore space have, surprisingly, found over 30,000 ways to make us safer and healthier in the process. Who knows what else geniuses like them could create? Perhaps a technology to cure cancer, or a way to make living on Mars and the moon a reality instead of a space-race-inspired daydream. Until we have these marvelous ideas in physical form, space exploration and technologies cannot be abandoned as a thing of the past. Millions of dollars a year are spent on this research, yes, but similar amounts are spent on sillier things such as theme parks and sports events ($16 billion per year in America), t-shirts ($11 billion) and potato chips ($4 billion). America spends $2.5 million annually on chewing gum! If the money put toward those things were given to space exploration, imagine where the world would be now. We may have found that cancer cure and have discovered ways to stop world hunger and help the poor survive. Space research must remain a priority. Our government should encourage it so we can discover all the amazing secrets the universe has in store for those brave enough to explore it.

One of the simplest pleasures in life is being able to look up and see an endless sky filled with stars and a luminous moon. For many years, people wondered what was beyond those celestial bodies and if life existed on other planets. Since the late 1960s, the United States has made numerous expeditions into space to explore “infinity and beyond,” answering questions us humans have pondered for centuries. NASA continues to explore other planets in search of an environment where advanced civilizations could exist. Their goal is to learn to live and work in space efficiently. NASA plans to continue to build the International Space L E X Station AY and search other planets. The data they receive could help us to understand our planet a li�le more. Regardless, space exploration is becoming too dangerous and expensive. Currently, American astronaut Sunita Williams is stuck in space. A hailstorm damaged the fuel tank of the space shu�le Atlantis. Luckily, she is able to return at the expected time in June. I honestly didn’t realize someone was in space until this happened, and knowing that someone is trapped outside the planet is nothing but alarming. Astronauts risk their overall health when traveling to space. A�er long periods of time in a low gravitational environment, headward fluid shi� can occur; blood starts to flood the upper body, and the muscles begin to deteriorate. Astronauts take medication in order to control the pain and discomfort. The 2007 presidential budget for space exploration is exceeding $16 billion. NASA is planning a 2008 expedition, and the presidential budget for 2008 is expected to be well over $17 billion. Billionaire and Microso� mogul Bill Gates is interested in his own orbital space flight, which is fine. He can fund that himself, but with the problems we’re having here on this planet, I would rather spend my tax dollars spent on something a li�le more practical. For example, the amount of funding for No Child Le� Behind (NCLB), in my opinion, should increase dramatically. $24.4 billion of the presidential budget for 2008 is aimed toward NCLB. This amount divided by the 48 million students nationwide is only approximately $500 per student. Education is a more legitimate issue than exploring space. NASA has accomplished a great deal in the past, but the risks have become too great and the expenses are too much. We have too much to worry about on our own planet. It can’t be a priority at this point in time. Mars can wait.

Freshman Christianna Gluys is a staff writer for the Stampede.

Junior Taylor Whisman is a staff writer for the Stampede.

Students

Speak Out How much money do you think should be devoted to space exploration?

Cheryl Braford .................................................................. Adviser 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 The Central Stampede is a member of the Great Lakes Interscholastic Press Association (GLIPA) and the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA). The purpose of the Central Stampede is to act as an open forum for students of Portage Central. The staff will achieve a balance between

informing and entertaining our readers. Editorials Staff editorials 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 views. Letters As an open forum, the Stampede welcomes all members of the Portage community. However, the staff reserves the right to edit letters based on length and content.

“More money, to make our country look stronger.” ABBE ADAMS Freshman

“Depends on what we’re doing. If we explore Mars, then it deserves top priority.” NATE ODDY Sophomore

“Maybe a little more. “A little more. We’re so close to ﬁnding It would benice to life on Mars and new know more about planets.” space.” BRENDON FOSTER KAYLEE FAUX Junior

Senior

Seniors Class of 2007

page four senior issue. june 1, 2007

Dream on!

Courtney Byrd New York University Byrd has always loved New York City and is glad to have been accepted to the largest private university in the country. “This is a really great opportunity for internships because it’s New York University,” Byrd said. She is majoring in biology industry and knows she will learn much from NYU’s biology department, which is known for its advanced approaches and outstanding faculty. “It’s great because it is part of the city, and it will be so fun living in New York City for four years,” Byrd said. She is very eager to live in her favorite city and is sure to become one of the best and brightest at New York University.

Some seniors get what they’ve always wanted — acceptance letters from their dream colleges BY CHRISTIANNA GLUYS

future Psychologist

Rahul Dalal Yale University

Meredith Gage University of Chicago Gage has been excited about going to the University of Chicago ever since she visited the campus last summer. She was surprised by one aspect of the unique campus: parrots. “Apparently, somone’s pets got out a few years ago and now they’re living there, surviving and flying around campus,” Gage said. “It’s crazy.” After her visit, Gage set her heart on the college and applied early decision. “The application process was really weird,” Gage said. The application featured an absurd essay which asked the student to describe who he or she would invite and what would be served if she or he were to have a tea party for famous people. After applying, “I then appreciated the uniqueness of the college… It was very different,” Gage said. Gage was accepted and is now thrilled to be going to this quirky, fun, and rigorous college in an urban environment.

Tina Roe Cornell University Roe will be attending Cornell University, a prominent Ivy League school in New York, and is very enthusiastic about the college. “The chemical engineering department there is very prestigious,” Roe said. She hopes her major and the college from which she gets her degree will help her find a solid, high-paying job. But aside from just success and prestige, the college offers a beautiful campus and a peaceful ambience. “The atmosphere is really relaxed,” Roe said. She finds this to be an advantage to other colleges, which may have an uptight and strict air, making studying and learning difficult. Roe is happy to be going to this comfy, well-known college next year.

Dalal was wait-listed by Harvard University, but would make a brilliant addition to any college he attends; he has been accepted to other well-known colleges like Duke University and Yale University. “Harvard was my top choice,” Dalal said. While Dalal has not been accepted to Harvard, he plans to make the best of this situation and will be attending another beautiful Ivy-League school, Yale University, in the fall. “I’m interested in violin performance and biology, which [Harvard is] known for,” he said. Dalal is also attracted to the vast array of things to do in New England, where both Harvard’s and Yale’s campuses are located. Yale is famous for its distinct reputation, its diverse faculty and its unique student body. The university also maintains over 600 square miles of natural preserves for the enjoyment of its students. Dalal recognizes the opportunities available to him in any Ivy League schoo, and hopes to become a sucessful Yale graduate.

Sunita Saith Duke University Saith has been accepted to Duke University, the famed college in sunny North Carolina. “There is a separate campus for freshmen – the East Campus – and it builds a sense of community and unity. That’s really important to me…” Saith said. “I go to KAMSC, which is a small school, so the students have close contact with the teachers.” She is also glad for the personal feel other aspects of the college offers, such as the community service program, Duke Engage, begun this year for underclassmen. Duke paid for her to visit the school, and she was immediately hooked. Saith considered some other colleges, but rejected University of California-Berkley and University of Michigan for the expensive tuition fees and, “when I went to Duke, it took about 10 minutes for me to want to go there, and at Washington [University, in St. Louis] it took 10 minutes to decide I didn’t want to go,” she said. Saith is excited for the opportunities available to her while she pursues a medical degree at Duke.

View

Stampede

page ﬁve

opinions and editorials

June 1, 2007

Longer summer days, only

15 minutes away staff writer

JAMES PHILLIPS

Let’s face it: the school year is long. Depressingly long. Endlessly long. So long that sometimes we forget about all the fun that we’re not supposed to be having at school and might start enjoying diﬃcult classes that would otherwise drive you insane, in my case math and science. Either way, one thing is certain: you will be dripping with sweat come June. Some students might ask why we just don’t get rid of all this and make the year shorter. Some of them ask this knowing that the reply will be a roar of reasons for why the year should stay the same, or maybe even be longer, while others are just plain

curious. The thing is, you would probably expect there to be no reason for why we should shorten it, but there is a reason, and it’s the simplest reason you could imagine. If we just added 15 minutes to every school day from the beginning of the year, we could easily finish the whole thing by Memorial Day. We would also be saving thousands of dollars on food, transportation, and energy due to the fact no students would be eating, commuting, or flicking lights on and off at school. If that isn’t every student and faculty member’s dream and prayer, I don’t know what is. One would think there wouldn’t be too much to this, but there is. The biggest fence that the shorter school year/ early summer would have to jump would be appealing to the picky but good consciences of the administrative workers of Portage Public Schools. They think that just because they weathered the storm of an eternity that lasted seven hours a day when they were younger means that we all have to. They

see the year being changed for the shorter as nothing less than spi�ing on the flag. What they don’t see is how adding two minutes to the end of every class will ensure that we complete required amount of school hours every year with none of the late-spring angst we all seem to get now. Also, everyone would be a lot happier all year round. Even on the darkest, most depressing Monday, we all would have reason to smile--summer would be a month closer than before! In a way, finding the means to shorten the school year is like finding the cure for the common cold. It seems impossible, maybe even needless, but if it is found, then life as we know it will change dramatically.

1,098

number of hours required by the state each year

minutes added to each school day could lead to vacation by Memorial Day

James Phillips is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

Why I’m playing as a Huskie... Our building

ERIN LENCZYCKI

Lacrosse isn’t a very well-known sport in West Michigan, but this spring, the girls that signed up for a season of women’s lacrosse brought considerable a�ention to the sport, or rather the jerseys they were wearing. When I was a kid, I never doubted the fact that I would go to Portage Central. In fact, I couldn’t wait to get to high school so I could be the fourth generation in my family to a�end Central. Since I was young, I’ve heard stories of this school and pranks my uncles pulled and how my great-grandma wrote the school song. Therefore, I have a lot of school spirit, to say the least. However, when I signed up to play lacrosse this spring, I was one of eight girls who willingly passed the opportunity to don the blue and gold uniform for a slightly

vs. staff writer

to me, and to be honest, it bothered me. My friends and even mere acquaintances called me a traitor. Whether said jokingly or not, the word made me ashamed of my team the ﬁrst few times it happened. What’s more, it made me ashamed to be a Central High student. As the season went on, I learned to ignore the looks and the words thrown at me, but the fact of the ma�er was it shouldn’t have happened. The only thought that went through my mind as I tolerated the stares was, would they still be this rude if I went to Northern? I may never know the answer to that question, but I can hope that next year, if Northern needs more girls again, that people would be a li�le more polite. Without volunteers like me, club sports like women’s lacrosse could disappear altogether. Moral of this story: please don’t stare a person down with a sneer on your face or rudely question them if they wear a shirt supporting an opposing school. Not only are you beli�ling them, but you make yourself seem rude and disrespectful. It should be about team spirit, no ma�er what jersey a person wears.

Erin Lenczycki is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

:The ultimate showdown

MIER WANG

Numerous seniors know frustration when their dream college rejects or waitlists them, which leads to many underclassmen wondering: what went wrong? One would think that such accomplished students with outstanding academic resumes would have prestigious colleges fighting over them. The competitive collegiate world has led many students to wonder if the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, truly gives them a significant advantage over other kids around the globe. Unquestionably, IB is a widely-respected program that gives students a well-rounded foundation. Portage school leaders are seriously considering expanding the programs in grades six through ten. However, people must recognize that IB is not the only praised program available to us. The international standard of excellence of the IB program is significantly less recognized by colleges when compared to the Advanced Placement (AP) program. AP is considered to be a nationally recognized standard of achievement. With a large majority of schools in the U.S. teaching 37 different AP courses, colleges undoubtedly look at AP as a high accomplishment for the student. Additionally, AP’s curriculum is based closely on national standards, and colleges are more comfortable in recognizing it. On the other hand, IB courses were originally created to supply an equally recognized curriculum across the globe. The vast variety of cultures on this planet has led to requirements that may differ in many aspects from the national standards, which leads American colleges to be a li�le pickier when looking at IB students when compared to AP students. IB courses are considered to be a very broad program that ensures students can be well rounded in numerous elements of academics; AP, on the other hand, is a program that focuses deeply on specific course material, giving the student a detailed education

of all the necessary requirements for each class. Both programs offer a rigorous curriculum that will challenge any students looking for a demanding course. In addition to IB’s lack of recognition, IB courses do not transfer as many college credits in comparison to AP. First, colleges only give credits to IB HL classes, which are two years long. All AP courses are a year course, and college credits can be earned without even taking the class; a student can earn the same number of credits from an IB HL classes by just taking an AP exam. For instance, at the University of Michigan, five credits are earned for passing HL Biology in addition to scoring five or above on the IB exam. Scoring four or higher on the AP examination earns you the same number of credits. Currently in the United States, more than 14,000 schools officially offer AP classes, which greatly outnumber the 450 authorized IB schools. But the main advantage for Portage Central students is that we can freely take AP exams to earn college credits (for any class) even though the school does not teach it. Unless a school is authorized, students are deprived of any IB exams for subjects they do not take as a part of their schedule. The biggest advantage to IB is unquestionably the IB Diploma; the diploma symbolizes the students’ hard efforts and achievements throughout their high school career. But, according to the Office of Admissions at University of Michigan, the IB diploma “is not an instant ticket into acceptance.” So, are all the hardships for an IB diploma truly worth the stress and time for the student? One has to take at least three HL classes (representing 240 teaching hours), along with at least three SL classes (representing 150 teaching hours). In addition, a 4,000-word essay plus creative works, activeness and community service are all necessary factors in earning this coveted diploma. So it really depends on the student’s determination to decide whether the IB Diploma is right for him or her. In the end, it completely depends on a student’s ambitions. If he or she wants to stay in a domestic academic system, AP has an excellent program that will prepare you for college. If one wants to look at a more international picture, IB will undoubtedly give you a be�er edge. All in all, the AP program gives more advantages to American most high school students, and Portage Central students seeking a prestigious college should find ways to test in AP subjects.

Mier Wang is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

deserves to be treated with respect

staff writer

JORDAN PETERS

In February, Portage voters rejected a bond proposal that would have provided Portage Central students with a new school building, leaving both students and teachers disheartened that a new building is out of the question. It’s safe to say that the current building isn’t in the best of shape; however, that does not diminish the quality of education that the Portage Public Schools provides. Education can be influenced by many factors: the staff’s teaching methods, the students’ choice to listen and participate, even the location and the amount of money given to the school district play a part in determining the quality of education students receive. However, I strongly disagree with my peers who say without a new building our education is inadequate. The condition of the building has nothing to do with the learning quality of this school. Although the idea of a new building excites many of us and raises hope for a new learning environment, it It’s safe to say would be a good the current building idea to step back and take a look at the isn’t in the best of present condition of shape; that does not the school building. Throughout the diminish the school year, I’ve quality of education noticed paper wads, that Portage Public paper bags and trash li�ering the floors Schools provides. and surrounding campus. Lunch tables are a mess, students leave food in the hallways a�er lunch and vandals destroy school property. The rejection of the new school building is a disappointment, but that doesn’t give people the excuse to treat the school with disrespect. The accumulated trash around the hallways, in the classrooms and on the fields shows not only laziness to pick up a�er ourselves; it also shows a lack of school pride. Before the excitement of another bond proposal, take the time to look around and see what you can do to improve and show respect for our school. Being a transfer student from Comstock High School, I notice the extreme differences between this high school and my old one. Stepping into the building for the first time, I was taken aback by the size in comparison to Comstock. Imagine the main hallway being the only hallway of the first and second floors. Envision ceilings that actually do cave in on people, doors that are literally off the hinges and floors that cause major mold allergies among students. Students in this high school take advantage of the quality of the building and the level of education that our district provides for us. Before pushing for a new bond and convincing the Portage community that we do need a new building, show people that we can treat our school with respect and dignity, and just maybe voters will pass the next proposal.

“

staff writer

less-loved jersey in this school. Portage Northern and Central, unknown to many, are basically one team. Central had almost enough girls to make three teams, while Northern couldn’t make one. When our coaches approached us before the official season began to tell us our options for dealing with the lack of players on Northern’s team, many were flabbergasted at the solutions. We could either group together and make one large team with more than 40 girls, or at least five of the Central girls would switch and play for Northern during the games. In the end, eight of us passed on playing for the Mustangs, one even in her senior year, and signed up to play for the Huskies. The change, in my opinion, was a good choice for me. I got more playing time in games, more instruction, and I could still practice with all my friends from school. We all saw each other as a single team at practice, and when the time came to play each other, it was more like a scrimmage than anything. However, there were downsides. Wearing our uniforms to school the day of our games became a task instead of a way to show team spirit. In one single morning as I walked down the main hall, I received 29 evil glares, all from people I have never met. The feeling of people burning holes into my shirt was new

Jordan Peters is a staff writer and photographer for the Central Stampede.

1. Logan Roberts 2. Nichole Fruehauf 3. Nicholas Mannon 4. Katie Johnson 5. Michelle Smodic 6. Michelle Repyak 7. Lauren Ahle 8. AJ Peck 9. Lexi Ruder 10. Zack Drake 11. Michelle Sindelar 12. Virginia Bushnell 13. Amber Wessel 14. Melissa McIntosh 15. Scott Klassen 16. Kyle Centers 17. Logan Ambrose 18. John Drogetti 19. Brianna Schmall 20. Katie Wagner 21. Lucas Hamlow 22. Katie Salik 23. Katie Loftus 24. Chris Gormley 25. Allison Haas 26. Stephanie Marsh 27 Melissa Witham 28. Hilary Ruimfeld 29. Kristin Houck 30. Ashley Schmidt 31. Jason Thickson 32. Alison Ciesa 33. Andrew Rosine 34. Andrew Smith 35. Angela Hanchar 36. Daisy Howlind 37. Paige Reesor 38. Renee Patten 39. Betsy McInnis 40. Chris Atkinson 41. David Chadderdon 42. Dahlia Yehia 43. Brent Martin 44. Sara Kidney 45. Corie Trimner

Answers: 4 3 2 1

9 8 7 6

14 16

13 12 11

Can you spot familiar faces from these past kindergartners?

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Who?

Seniors

page senior ďŹ ve issue june 1, 2007

Class of 2007

Stampede

page six

June 1, 2007

Focus features and lifestyles

ero tolerance for grafﬁti BY ALAINA DELY

Staff Writer

When art becomes the scene of a crime and an innocent student becomes a criminal, the school may want to reconsider its “zero tolerance” policy. In early April, a student in New York was arrested for writing “okay” on her desk. The act of a scribble has corrupted the classroom! The consequences for sneaking out to lunch may only be a 2:50, but students, please don’t write on the desks because you might end up behind bars. A brave PC sophomore, Sarah Thompson, has pleaded guilty to a similar crime, saying, “I guess I draw on desks because I run out of room on my paper. I doodle a lot on everything.” While felons, drug dealers and bullies roam the halls, those being arrested are the ones who commit “erasable” crimes. One might think this is outrageous, but when an angry teacher catches you in the act of graﬃti, watch out!

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

Although teachers may seem perfect, they, too, have commi�ed this sinful crime. “In the 2nd grade, I was spanked. The teacher made me stand in front of the class for drawing on my desk,” English teacher Becky Pence said. “Because the desk had writing on it already, I didn’t understand what I had done wrong. I was mortiﬁed!” It’s not just the artists who get arrested, but also the Boy Scouts who accidentally leave their pocket knives in their coats, or the paper clip sling-shot makers. Even the girl who makes brownies for her class could face prison, or at least expulsion, because she brings a knife to cut the brownies. Zero tolerance in schools is a very serious issue to consider. Even if no harm is done physically or mentally, a crime is a crime. Doodling your crush’s name in a heart could land you in prison. So all those mini-skirt-wearers whose skirts may not pass the ﬁngertip test, or all those movie quoters, beware, you could be the next students to be thrown in the “chicken coop.”

Unnatural phenomenon Puddle near cafeteria catches students’ attention BY MIER WANG

Staff Writer

In a small corner near the cafeteria, some kind of divine act of nature (or faulty engineering) became a small portion of land for a semi-productive purpose: a body of water. As useless as it may sound, the body of water gives students something to stare at and wonder about as they walk between classes. Lake Alburtus may be the “oﬃcial” name, but students have created their own name purely for selﬁsh reasons. “Some of my friends call the disgusting pool ‘Charlie,’ and I honestly don’t know why,” freshman Rosalea Pedrolini said. Sophomore Charity Tarn has heard rumors among friends that Lake Alburtus is capable of magical things as well. “My friends call that thing ‘The Puddle of Youth,’” Tarn said. “If you take a spoon down to the puddle in the summer and take a

drink, it’ll give you eternal youth, obviously.” Sophomores Kathryn Pavlovic and Elizabeth Perry both think glaciers formed Lake Alburtus, somehow not harming the school. Both girls also feel that the puddle has been there for such a long time that it has some historic backgrounds. Pavlovic and Perry say the word on the street is that Moses practiced parting water on it, while Jesus ﬁrst tried walking on water. Sophomore Kathryn Wiglesworth has her own far-fetched theory: “Once upon a time there was a magical platypus and his dream was to create a lake where he could live in chaos. This led to the ba�le for a plot of magical concrete basin against our school’s principal, Mr. Alburtus. The platypus was eventually slain and the lake was named Lake Alburtus for his triumph.” However, economics teacher Eric Rayle knows the cause. “That’s been there since they repaved the pavement,” Rayle said. “They had to seal the manhole in there to prevent electrical

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

LAKE ALBURTUS: Ever since its creation, the puddle has been famous. Students and teachers have a variety of theories for its existence.

problems, but they really need to ﬁx that sloping.” The pond also caught the a�ention of junior Tara Bradsher who brieﬂy considered an IB Biology research project until mysterious activities swayed her decision. This pond will always create rumors and myths among the student body and make a good story for future generations. “I’m a puddle expert!” Pavlovic said. “Silly puddles!”

Attention, students!

SUMMER WORK ● Excellent pay ● Flexible schedules ● Customer sales/service ● No experience needed ● Will train ● All ages 17+ ● Conditions apply

269-323-3226

6235 S. Westnedge - Next to Chili's - 269-327-7942

Call M-F 9 a.m.-6 p.m. E-Z Way Driver Training “Developing Safe and Skilled Drivers Since 1979”

SEGMENT 1

SEGMENT 2

CLASSES LOCATED AT PORTAGE CENTRAL AND PORTAGE NORTHERN

Enroll online at

www.ezwaydriver.com OR CALL 372-3300

Portage Central Ad. 8.47 x 5

page six

Seniors Class of 2007

senior issue. june 1, 2007

Dorm room

essentials

The Stampede ﬁnds out what you need to succeed BY LAURA PONE

future Secretary of State

Milk crate- This ever-adapting piece of furniture can be used as a chair, a desk, a nightstand and, of course, a shelving unit. White toothpaste- Though good for brushing your teeth as well, toothpaste can be used as a cheap alternative to caulk for plugging up holes in dorm room walls. Duct tape- A universal fixer-upper or statement of individuality? You pick! Tools- Not just for a handyman, learn how to use them and you will find a large group of friends on move-in day. Flip-flops- Community showers lack that “freshly-cleaned” feeling, and when it comes to athlete’s foot, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Whiteboard- This will give you a way to communicate with even the most anti-social roommate. Frisbee- Grab one and head out to the quad on a sunny day; you are guaranteed to meet some new people looking for fun. Dishes- When you tire of cafeteria cuisine, they can be useful for making ramen noodles or some Easy Mac.

Focus

Stampede

page seven

features and lifestyles

June 1, 2007

On the road again Quit daydreaming, get into your car this summer BY ALEX RAY

Staff Writer

A road trip is probably one of the best ways to bond with passengers – whether they are your parents, boyfriend/ girlfriend or friends. In a fastpaced way, a road trip is a great opportunity to relax while still having an ultimate goal. “I’m going on a road trip to Cedar Point soon with a few of my friends,” senior Alisha Hull said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to have the feeling of being able to go anywhere on your own time.” With no obligations and warm temperatures over the summer, there is more time to hop into a vehicle with friends or family and go on a road trip. Road trips normally take way longer than hopping on a plane and going someplace, but where is the fun in that? Although road trips are fun, with higher gas prices and limited choices for locations, there are many precautions to take when hi�ing the streets for a trip. First, the biggest thing to worry about when ge�ing into a vehicle: gas. There are a few

• Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park (Muskegon) Plenty of rides with high speed, steep drops, sharp turns and exciting forces. Approximately 105 Miles / 1 hour and 40 minutes

things to keep in mind to preserve the fuel in your car and the money in your pocket. Remember only to keep the air conditioner on when in need, because it will eat up your gas faster than a C lunch student can eat a six-inch Subway sub. Also, keep in mind that the dramatic speed changes will not only burn your gas, but also burn your wallet. “I think lately it’s more diﬃcult to follow through with road trips because everything is so expensive,” senior Eli Wyman said. “It seems like the easiest way is to train-hop or hitchhike.” Planning your route and which roads to travel are extremely important. Ge�ing lost in the wrong place can ruin a car ride. Although mapquest.com is not always the most reliable, it oﬀers helpful landmark hints worth printing out. A general view of the area helps in case there are any detours or construction going on. It’s always a great idea to wear light-weight, loose and comfortable a�ire. Having a nice pair of sunglasses is always a smart idea as well. The more protected your eyes are from squinting, the longer you’ll be able to drive without ge�ing drowsy. Not

• IMAX Theatre Celebration (Grand Rapids)

Huge screen for the ultimate movie experience. Approximately 76.65 miles / 1 hour and 15 minutes

only does the comfort sunglasses offer make it easier to see, but they also protect your eyes from the extra air as ventilation in your vehicle can dry out your eyes. Always position yourself correctly while operating a motorized vehicle. To reduce stress in your back and knees, make sure your seat is far enough away from the pedal until your knees are slightly bent. The right amount of comfort while still being strongly aware is crucial, especially when driving for an extended period of time. Some essemtial things to always keep in the car during a long road trip are a flashlight, flares, pillows/blanket, jumper cables, cu�ing device, warm clothing, cell phone charger, a gallon of water, and, of course, a first aid kit. Be prepared for anything! Road trips possess a lot of potential fun, but only if you are ready. For every road trip you take, you need to make sure to prepare your vehicle, mind, body and entertainment needs before venturing out on your trip.

• South Haven Beach Walking, swimming, laying out; perfect place when it is perfect weather. Approximately 45 miles / 1 hour

• Outlet Plaza (Michigan City, Indiana) A short drive, different state, and most importantly: a few more choices than the Crossroads Mall. Approximately 90 miles / 1 hour and 30 minutes

Parents tell you to ‘park it’ in Portage? Take their advice literally

BY MEREDITH GAGE

Editor-in-Chief

Swingsets aren’t just for the preschool set anymore. Summer is the perfect time to check out Portage’s extensive park system. Here are just a few ideas to get you started. Ramona Park Best-known for its plethora of athletic playing ﬁelds, Ramona Park also has another reputation—molehills. “Ramona has molehills all over the place, so it’s hard to do anything there,” senior Brianna MacLeod said. The problems don’t end there: the bathrooms, an essential part of any park, are o�en closed. “The girls’ lacrosse team, when we have games there, always complains,” senior Rebecca Manis said. The one saving grace of Ramona is that it does have some lakefront property. Still, this bonus isn’t enough for many park-goers. “If you want to see the lake, go to Lakeview

Park,” MacLeod said. Central Park Behind the ﬁre and police station complexes on Westnedge lies Central Park. The safest park in Portage features a bandshell that hosts live music during the summer months. “It’s cool to chill by the river and listen to whatever’s at the bandshell,” senior Mindy O�o said. West Lake Nature Preserve Tucked away on the side of Lakeview, West Lake Nature Preserve is one of Portage’s best kept secrets. “It’s got sweet trails through the bog,” senior Jason Rhew said. The trails also take one to the edge of West Lake and through a forest area. The varied environment of the park isn’t its only draw. “It’s nice to climb on top of the pavilion and just lay there for awhile,” Rhew said. If the park rangers are around, however, it’s best to just stick to the more traditional

EDE

RASHID CHAPEYAMA/STAMP

playground equipment in order to avoid a reprimand. Portage Creek Bicentennial Park The oﬃcial name of the park most students simply know as “Celery Flats” is meant to honor our nation’s 200th anniversary, so what be�er place to plan your Fourth of July picnic?

“I like to go to various parks at least once a week, so picnics are always a fun idea,” O�o said. If you’re in the mood for something more active, the park is home to over four miles of bike trails and also features a kayak and bike rental service.

Thank you, 2006-2007 Stampede Subscribers! PUBLISHERS

Becky Pence Eric Alburtus Arnis and Diana Pone Barb Barry Evelyn Puckett Jim and Gwen Gage Ronda Stryker Becky and Bob Klose Brian and Dawn Wager Scott McQueen Sarah Wilson Carly Nagengast Portage Public Schools Administration

TRUSTEES

Rick Beauregard Connie Chadderdon Greg Chambers Jayme Heimonen

We would like to thank the following people for their generous contributions to our publication this year. Thank you for your support!

-The Stampede Staff

Kim and Carlene Heimrich Nancy Pederson Doug VanDeVelde Anne Fassler Matt Jones

EDITORS

Marty Meinzinger Joe Woodin

FRIENDSKen and Sue Grifﬁoen

Dana Grosser Victoria Jenkins Jean Johnson Vicky Jozwicki Kathy Kaakani Kathleen Kallen The Karnemaat Family Larry and Sally Klose Shawn and Steve L’Esperance Denise Al-Kharusy Gifford Blaylock Elizabeth Borre Linda Brown Virginia Bushnell Jim and Kaye Chodl Molly and Katy Ettwein Johannah Green

Michelle Rosenbaum Lindsay Steenbergen Kim Stewart Holly Walls Patti Warner Jill Waskowsky Valerie Wynne Colleen Young Lummis, Kim Sara Brown Autumn Miller Mills Family Carolyn Oudman Gerald and Inez Pochyla Evan Quiñones Hunter Rencis

Seniors

Class of 2007

page senior seven issue june 1, 2007

Back at the bottom

The basic rules all seniors will need to be freshmen again BY KEENAN CRONYN

future Firefighter

When my year began, I was one of many who was nervous and feeling anxious. I was one of 370 who was plagued by the fear of being a freshman. The tables are about to turn as fall approaches, and the Class of 2007 re-emerges into freshman-hood. From those sneaking into class a few minutes late to those who have mastered the forging of their parents’ signatures, the incoming college freshmen have a lot to learn, or re-learn for that matter.

Rule # 1 – You’re in the Back of the Line When the year started, each senior had reached the peak of the mountain, looking down on the underclassmen and flexing their muscles over the helpless students below. Sadly, going into college with that attitude gets you poor grades and possibly a black eye. Keep your head high,

but keep it out of the clouds.

Rule # 2 – Class Costs Money, So Pay Attention Whether the money is being taken from your parents’ bank accounts or dug out of the bottom of your pockets, it’s being spent somehow. Unlike the past 13 years of public schooling, each college asks for a fee, and no matter what the cost, it’s vital to get your money’s worth out of each class. Your parents aren’t paying for you to sleep in and forget the early morning lectures; they’re paying to prepare you for the years to come.

Rule # 3 – Comfortable and Practical On those rainy days or during tedious lectures, it’d be a good idea to dress properly. By college it’s about time to forget the daily heels and popped-collar-polos; instead, dig the t-shirts from the depths of the drawers and slide into a pair of tennis shoes. Freshmen have much to worry about as it is, so the least you could do is treat yourself to a pair of sweats.

Rule # 4 – Get Used to Public Transportation All Over Again Spoiled by the luxury of driving to school every day, most seniors have grown oblivious to the words “public

transportation.” By the time their first year on campus is over, most will be all too familiar with it. Spread out over acres, most college campuses are too big to walk even for the most ambitious students, so freshmen will find that without a car, the bus is the ultimate way to get around.

Rule # 5 – Learn to Pinch Your Pennies Living off the prosperity of your summer job may no longer be an option. Even if your parents are paying for your schooling, you’ll find that money goes quickly and so do your open house earnings. Laptops, evenings out, and the occasional snacks on the way to class all begin to add up, and pretty soon, you’re left sorting through your change purse for dimes and nickels. It would be a good plan to keep the bank full, and your wallet stocked with an emergency $20 bill. From cramped halls and jammed lockers, to misplaced dorm keys and countless ways of getting lost, this year’s seniors have a lot to learn about becoming a freshman all over again. Take it from me.

Seniors debate the ultimate question: Macs or PCs? BY JENNY KILDUFF

future Journalist

Most of us have seen the ads on TV from Apple trying to convince us that Apple computers are superior to their Windows competitors, but which one is really better? Now that going to college is in the not-so-distant future, a computer is a necessary item. A MacBook costs $1,299, but an HP Special Edition Notebook (model number dv6358se), one of HewlettPackard’s best computers, goes for $1,249. Do you want to spring for that extra $50? “There is a wider variety of programs [on PCs],” senior David Chadderdon said. “If PCs break, you can take them apart and fix it. Also, [PCs] are not trendy and overpriced.” Memory in a computer is also very important; if the computer has too little memory, then your files may not fit. The Apple has a 1 GB memory expandable to 2GB, and an 80 to 200 GB hard drive. The HP has a 2 GB memory that is completely unexpandable, and a 160 GB hard drive. Another important component of any laptop is its speed; nobody wants to sit around while their computer loads. The Apple computer has a speed of 2 GHZ and the HP has a speed of 1.73 GHZ. Despite the protection

Windows offers, senior Janet Brooks has invested her money in a MacBook. “They [MacBooks] don’t get any viruses at all, I’ve never had any problem at all,” Brooks said. “Everything you think a computer should do, it does it. The one thing I don’t like is its battery life; I’d say it only lasts three hours.” If you’re planning on schlepping your way around campus, then the size and weight of your computer is very important. The MacBook has a screen size a little over 13 inches and a weight of about nine pounds. “They’re so thin and light,” Brooks said of MacBooks. “I love it.” The HP has a screen size of about 16 inches and a total weight of about six pounds. With any computer comes fun aspects. Both computers have a camera on the top and can be used for video conferencing. The Apple can be controlled from across the room using a remote control. The HP has a built-in omnidirectional microphone to make it easier to talk to people from your computer. “[Macs] are only for a certain kind of person,” Chadderdon said. “They’re good for artsy people. If you don’t like art, you don’t need a Mac for anything.” So which computer do you want: a MacBook or an HP?

I’m a PC.

I’m a Mac.

Seniors 9 Class of 2007

page eightsenior issue. june 1, 2007

BY JESSICA ATTEBERRY

future Record Label Owner

The ABC’s of College Life

lpha Beta Whatevers - Sororities and fraternities are a big part of campus life whether you belong to one or not. While the perks of belonging to an exclusive club with better dorm rooms are many, first ask yourself how much of your dignity you’re willing to sacrifice. “Untagging” those embarrassing pictures of yourself on Facebook only does so much. asketball Riots- It doesn’t really matter if your team wins or loses because there’s still the chance for rioting afterwards, especially with basketball. While no one really knows why the mostly nonviolent sport brings out so much violent behavior in college students attending, you still run the risk of having your couch lit on fire if you don’t leave your door locked during the season.

afeteria- In college you live your (dietary) life by meal plans. If you run out of meals it helps to bring a large book bag and fill it with stolen a-la-carte food items such as granola bars, fruit and bags of corn chips.

ormitory- Dorm life is an interesting experience for most, especially students who were accustomed to their own rooms at home. Dorm rooms mean roommates who could range anywhere from being your new best friend to the person that keeps stealing your clothes and locking you out.

ublic Transportation - The good news: no more driving your car. The bad news: no more driving your car.

gnorance- You may think it’s funny to pick on the geeky looking kid in your history class now but there’s very little tolerance for that kind of thing in college. College means all new groups of people and all new social situations, so remember what your mother told you: if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

ujitsu- While we’d never advocate violence, self-defense techniques are key for walks back to your dorm at wee hours of the morning. Find your inner Jackie Chan.

napsack- A quality heavy duty knapsack with many pockets (especially one designed specifically for laptop and textbook storage) is ideal. Hello Kitty’s backpack for kindergarteners may be adorable and a cute accessory but it won’t hold up to the standards of college knapsacks.

ooching- Do not be ashamed to mooch. Mooching will get you money and food from loving relatives that don’t expect you to pay them back. Some may say moochers have no pride, but guess who’s having a lovely Tuesday evening meal every week with grandma as opposed to stolen granola bars from the cafeteria? The moocher.

uestioning - College is place where many people find themselves. Many students find themselves questioning themselves. While it’s good to look hard at your own beliefs and to try new things, make sure you’re not on the seven-year plan for graduation. Investing in a therapist is cheaper than extra years oftuition.

oans- Get some.

tale Pizza - You will be in at least one fight with your roommate at some point over the last slice of four-day old, stale, mini-refrigerated pizza.

rades- Like in high school if you don’t pass a class you don’t get credit. The difference is in college, not only do you have to take the course a second time; you have to pay to take the course again. Buzzkill.

ugs- Make sure you get one from Mom and Dad before they drop you off at your dorm, because it’s the last one you’ll get until Thanksgiving break. Interestingly, this rule also works the same way for clean towels.

rganization - Your mom won’t be there to do your laundry when it piles up, so keep track of how many clean pairs of pants you have left. You also have to learn to keep new, scary, grown-up things like bills and bank slips in order.

A schofter 12 our ol, we years but ABC’s ’ve lear of fast with c and 1 ned it’s appro ollege 23’s, revi import aching alph ew. He ant to , to m abet t re’s a emo o com new ry. mit

amen - Buying your own groceries for the first time is a frightening experience and a little bit overwhelming. Who would’ve known that Oreos and Pepsi would’ve cost so much? Ramen noodles are the way to go. They’re cheap, delicious and plentiful. They also have many different flavors; if you’re bored with chicken, there’s always shrimp. When you really want to treat yourself, there are the kinds that come in cups with freeze-dried vegetables! Now that’s gourmet.

reshman Fifteen-The freshman fifteen is a curse that gym teachers have been warning us about since the 5th grade. The cure to this curse is as equally elementary: eat less and exercise more. And no, Wii Sports and beer runs do not count as exercise.

senior issue june 1, 2007

atural Selection - Darwinism takes an intellectual form in college. The survival of the fittest that seemed to have dominated the social scene of high school is no more. Survival of the cleverest is what rules college campuses. Several classes will have the dreaded bell curve grade. This means even if you scored a 97% on your essay, if everyone else scored a 99%, you fail. Remember how you’ve always been told that everyone is special? Not true.

ight a.m.-8 a.m. is the new 6 a.m, so roll over and hit the snooze.

page nine

elevision - You won’t have time for this anymore.

lcer - College equals stress. Stress equals ulcers. To maintain your stress at a healthy and functional level, don’t put things off to the last possible second. On the other hand, vegging out in front of a “Laguna Beach” marathon always does wonders for our stress levels.

egemite - Many schools offer student exchange programs. When you grow bored of the same building and same campus for four or more years, consider traveling and taking in the customs of a new country. The experience is both educational and interesting. Not to mention, student exchange is better this time around because you won’t have to deal with exchange parents.

orld of Warcraft -Many a student has flunked a class or two because of their addiction to the virtual world. Like anything, enjoy in moderation—nobody wants to be a Leroy Jenkins.

-Rays - So maybe sledding down your dorm’s stairs wasn’t a good idea. This will be the first time you’ve had to admit yourself into a hospital without a parent by your side. Many schools offer a cheap clinic for students with a fee you pay at the beginning of the year; most services are free after that.

ale - Rahul Dalal is going to Yale. Congratulations! The rest of us will discover that college is what you make of it, whether you’re going to KVCC or Harvard. Do your best!

oology - Specific programs generally have smaller classes and are more interesting for students because they don’t have to sit there and learn about things they don’t really care about and won’t use.

Stampede

[ ] SVEIKS!

page eight

June 1, 2007

that’s “hello!”

Focus features and lifestyles

Local Latvians celebrate heritage in unique ways BY PERRIN VANDERVEEN

Staff Writer

In 1940, the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic nation of Latvia. Over 25,000 troops controlled the country and held a fraudulent election that put the Soviet puppet government, headed by Augusts Kirhensteins, in power. Shortly a�er the Soviet annexation of the country, Latvia was invaded by Germany as part of Hitler’s plan to control Russia. Latvians fought for the Nazis and the Latvian Legion ba�led the Soviets to try to win Latvian independence. More than 200,000 Latvians died in this struggle, and many ﬂed the country to save their lives. Escaped Latvians stuck together and started their own communities where they found safety. Southwest Michigan became home for many. Now the Southwest Michigan Latvian community has become one of the most active in the country. Western Michigan University is home to the Latvian Studies Center and only a half hour’s drive south in Three Rivers is the Latvian camp, Garazers. At Garazers, Latvian children and teen-agers learn about the heritage, language and customs of Latvia. The camp also provides a place for Latvians to meet other Latvians who come from around the country. Volleyball is a favorite pastime for many Latvians, and the camp has become known for its beach volleyball tournaments where campers engage in friendly competition.

Larisa Grinvalds

Andris Grinvalds

Senior (100% Latvian)

Favorite thing about being Latvian: “I wouldn’t want to be anything else, and I can’t imagine myself without my culture and my Latvian friends.” Number of trips to Latvia: 2 Favorite thing about Latvia: “The

Freshman (100% Latvian)

Favorite thing about being Latvian: “Hanging out with my Latvian friends.” Number of trips to Latvia: 1 Favorite thing about Latvia:

capital city , Riga, beause there is a part of it that is industrialized and a part that is old with brick roads and old stores.”

“Just being with my friends and having community.”

Latvia

Europe WWW.WORLDMAPS.COM

Karina Pone Freshman (100% Latvian)

Favorite thing about being Latvian: “I’m unique because I’m Latvian, and I can speak two languages.” Number of trips to Latvia: 2 Favorite thing about Latvia:

“The pretty, old, cobblestone streets.”

Kristina Krautmanis

Erik Krautmanis

Freshman (100% Latvian)

Senior (50% Latvian)

Favorite thing about being Latvian: “All the Latvians play volleyball, and that’s always fun.”

Favorite thing about being Latvian: “The community and the people I meet.” Number of trips to Latvia: 2 Favorite thing about Latvia:

Number of trips to Latvia: 1 Favorite thing about Latvia:

“The city of Riga.”

“Seeing the Latvian President in Riga.”

BY HOLLI SMITH

Staff Writer

While some students may choose to loaf around all summer, others will be working hard in hopes of generating a li�le extra cash. With summer around the corner, many teens are gearing up for a season of hard work and responsibility. For junior Chris Ambroselli, the ideal summer job is serving up scoops of ice cream behind the counter of Coldstone Creamery. “I’ve worked there for two years since the summer of freshman year, and it’s a lot of fun, and I make a lot of money,” Ambroselli said. But, in order to get the job at Coldstone, Ambroselli had to audition for singing, since Coldstone workers are known to break into song when

given a generous tip, as well as give a formal interview. With ice cream in high demand for the summer, there is sure to be an ample supply of summer jobs. Junior Kara Mulvihill’s first summer job is going to be at an ice cream shop as well. She will be spending her summer working at Ri�er’s Frozen Custard. “It’s a custard place, so it’s a summer thing, so it worked out well, and it’s close to my house,” Mulvihill said. Another summer job reserved for teens is corn detassling, and this summer will be junior Judd Gilbert’s fi�h summer in the fields. “It was a way to make good money during the summer and be out in the sun with all my friends,” Gilbert said. For students worried about not being able

to get a summer job, many of these are not hard to get. For most, the only thing required is an application along with an interview. And, in order to be a corn detassler, you must be at least 13, a�end a meeting, sign up and fill out some paperwork. Another summer job popular among teens is lifeguarding. Senior Lauren Ahle will be lifeguarding at the YMCA for her second time this summer. “[I took the job] because I’m a swimmer and it just kind of seemed to fit,” Ahle said. “I had to have my lifeguard, CPR, and first aid certification, and I had to take a test.” Ahle’s favorite part of the job, is that she just has to sit there and watch people swim and get paid for it, even though she recognizes the importance of monitoring people’s lives and

HAM AND FRISBIE/STAMPEDE

Cash: The ultimate incentive for a sluggish-free summer

SUMMER JOB: Chris Ambroselli is ready to serve you a cone at Coldstone Creamery.

making sure they are safe. If you are looking to pocket a li�le extra change this summer, there are quite a few popular summer jobs out there.

SENIOR & FAMILY PORTRAITS

Congratulations to the Mustang Class of 2007!

Cherish the memories of your senior year & open houses in an affordable way!

Remember that a picture speaks a thousand words! *Free online gallery for sharing with friends and family **CD of pictures included with every order ***Plus $10 per paying referral

www.PhotosByCook.com

269-978-6804 Cook@byu.net

Focus

Stampede

page nine

features and lifestyles

Mattawan teen’s drowning sparks debates over water safety BY NICOLE CHRUSCIEL

Staff Writer

The Fourth of July last summer in South Haven was a scene of pure chaos: mobs of half naked people le� and right, umbrellas and boom boxes, ice cream and hotdogs. The water was celebrating Independence Day, whipping up choppy six-foot waves with a serious undertow. While these may not be the most inviting conditions to swimmers, it could not stop everyone, including 17-year-old David Ni of Ma�awan, a soccer and track star at Hacke� Catholic Central. In the evening, Ni and his friend, 17-year-old Paul Harris of Portage, had been swimming near the North Pier in the far-fromperfect water conditions. Someone managed to pull Harris out, but at the time, Ni could not be located. Early in the morning July 5, Ni’s body was located. His drowning has inspired his family to ﬁght for tougher safety precautions along Michigan’s beaches. As of September 2006, the only safety precautions at the

June 1, 2007

inadequate South Haven safety, but the South Haven beaches - both North Beach death of David Ni has opened more eyes and South Beach - are buoys, signs and and sparked more a�ention to what needs ordinance/codes. There are no ﬂags, phones, to be addressed and altered. call boxes, PFDs (life jackets), life rings, “I guess the big problem was monitors, rangers or lifeguard. that there wasn’t anybody to really take Phil Ni, David’s father, said, “I’m responsibility,” Ni said. “Nobody really focusing on recovering.” wanted to be liable, so they didn’t have Jennifer Ni, David’s sister, a�ends all anyone or anything really enforcing the meetings discussing South Haven safety safety.” and with her help, many beach-goers are There are, however, some pushing the safety precaution issue. beaches in Michigan that have safety The purpose of the South Haven precautions, possibly allowing them to be meetings is to install new measures of safety held liable if something were to happen. and to coordinate all rules of Michigan Three well-known beaches in Michigan beaches. – Saugatuck city beach, Berrien County “People from Kalamazoo need to go Silver Beach and the Muskegon beach - have to the meetings in order to change what’s lifeguards. Monitors/rangers keep their eyes happening in South Haven,” Phil Ni David Ni was 17 when he drowned last summer on beach-goers at the Berrien County Silver explained, “and even though Jennifer lives off the North Pier in South Haven. Beach, Muskegon beach, Warren Dunes, Van in East Lansing, she’s been going to every Buren beach, Saugatuck city beach, Holland meeting.” State Park and Grand Haven State Park. Between 80 and 90 signs, printed in English and Spanish, “Hopefully by this Fourth of July, South Haven will be a safer will be put up near access points to public beaches, warning beachplace,” Ni said. goers to swim at their own risk with no lifeguard present, as well “If you believe there is something dangerous, you have to tell as the warning of rip currents. someone,” Ni said. “Somebody will listen, somebody has to listen, “Safety at beaches is very important,” Ni said. “It’s very but you have to say something. You have to be safe.” dangerous and people just aren’t aware.” Many people have been less-than-thrilled about the

FUN AT THE BEACH: Tourists and beach-goers stroll along the North Pier to enjoy a fun day at the beach.

Pre-prom assemblies trigger alcohol awareness BY LAURA PONE

Vibe Editor

“Stay close to each other, seatbelts on, we’re out of here.” While listening to announcements during 3rd hour, many disregard this signoff and return to staring out the window. A�er the pre-prom assemblies regarding drinking and driving, however, many students are finding this statement hits a bit closer to home. The activities included a presentation by a Bronson Hospital trauma nurse, as well as an opportunity to drive an EPIC car, a car designed to simulate the effects of alcohol on driving. “I found the assemblies very effective; I don’t want to end up in one of those pictures, “ junior Ashley Akiyama said. Many upperclassmen shared Akiyama’s view that the assemblies were effective, including senior Chris Gormley. “They hit most people about drinking and driving at the same time. There were no accidents and I kind of have to believe that the

assemblies played a part in that,” Gormley said. at prom, where, luckily this year, no serious accidents involving According to teacher and Youth In Action (YIA) adviser Dana Portage Central students occurred. Grosser, this was the impact YIA hoped to have on the student Junior Sarah Ridenour feels that the assemblies positively body. influenced her decision to enjoy prom “We hoped to establish awareness; without the help of alcohol. kids need to recognize that it can “Seeing the pictures of drunk-driving There were no happen to them, that they are not accidents really scared me,” Ridenour said. “I decided there was no way I was going invincible,” Grosser said. accidents and I kind to risk my life and my friend’s lives just to Grosser, a Class of 2000 Portage Central graduate, feels very strongly drink for one night. We just went back to my of have to believe house and watched a movie.” about the anti-drinking and driving that the assemblies Junior Ma� Perry agreed that the campaign. She believes that Portage assemblies showed that over prom weekend Central students do drink and drive, but played a part in that. it was important “to be safe, you can have not at any higher or lower levels than any other schools. fun without drinking.” CHRIS GORMLEY “It definitely happens,” Grosser Gormley said that the assemblies were Senior effective, but that he had already made said. Grosser decided to become involved his decision about his prom activities long with YIA a�er she lost her best friend in a drunk driving accident. before the celebration started. “I feel very strongly about it,” Grosser said. “They had no effect, because regardless of an assembly or not, I Ultimately, the effects of the assemblies were measured would never drink and drive, ever,” he said.

Fresh, Fast & Hot Off the Grill A Short Walk from Central High School in the Portage Centre Plaza at the Corner of Centre & Shaver Mon-Sat: 10:00-10:00 Sun. 11:00-9:00 Dine-In

● Take-Out ● Drive-Thru

Ph: (269) 327-0911 ● Fax: (269) 327-0922

“

Organizers hope message resonates during graduation

SAVE BIG WITH OUR STUDENT SAVER COMBO PURCHASE ANY SUB OR SALAD AT REGULAR PRICE, GET A 20 OZ. DRINK AND CHIPS OR FRIES FOR $.50, A SAVINGS OF OVER $1.35. JUST PRESENT YOUR STUDENT ID AND MENTION THIS OFFER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT DEAL (Not valid with any other offer)

Let us prepare you one of our authentic Philly Style Subs, grilled fresh with Steak or Chicken Breast, topped with melted Swiss-American Cheese, Provolone, or Cheese Whiz, and your choice of 15 other toppings. We also have a variety of other grilled subs, cold subs, soups and salads.

Vibe

Stampede

page ten

June 1, 2007

From Ozzy to What’s your Warped Tour

Students could have ears full with big-band names BY JESSICA ATTEBERRY

Staff Writer

Summer is quickly approaching and bringing the most exciting season for live music with it. With so many summer music festivals, several of which are only a few hours away from Portage, a�endance should be judged upon cost of tickets and bands in a�endance. Luckily for metalheads, Ozzfest is free this year as long as you sign up for a code at www.ozzfest.com. Codes can also be obtained with the purchase of the new Ozzy Osbourne CD, “Black Rain.” Headliners include Ozzy himself, Hatebreed and Lamb of God. A festival with a wider range of musicians in performance is Lollapalooza located Chicago’s Grant Park. This three-day festival features an astounding lineup including Iggy & the Stooges, Lupe Fiasco, Modest Mouse and Regina Spektor. With more than 70 bands in a�endance, there’s something for almost everyone; however, the ticket cost is mildly excruciating. While the festival brags that there are no surprises or service charges, tickets still cost $195. Arguably the price is worth it for the number of bands in a�endance, although coming up USIC M with $195 isn’t easy for most. R E SUMM ST Somewhere in between the FE variety of Lollapalooza and the aﬀordability of Ozzfest lies Warped Tour. Warped Tour performers include a range of punk to indie rockers. Headlining the tour this year is the genredefying Coheed & Cambria. Not one of the bigger, but one of the best bands performing, is Straylight Run. Warped Tour, like Ozzfest, is a tour so there are shows in both Chicago and Detroit. Tickets are only $25, and merchandise and food are also reasonably priced. Warped Tour is probably the best bet for a somewhat diverse yet aﬀordable summer music festival experience.

entertainment and events

Current Event IQ?

With so many events happening around the world, the news can never do enough to keep everyone informed.

Can you name a country that starts with a U?

a. Utah b. Ukraine c. Ujacid

Who is Fidel Castro?

a. a U.S. Senator b. Dictator Of Cuba c. South Korean Leader

What is the common religion in Israel?

a. Hinduism b. Islam c. Judaism

What is the currency in the United Kingdom?

Who was the ﬁrst man on the moon? a. Neil Armstrong b. John F. Kennedy c. Lance Armstrong

Who is Tony Blair?

a. Switzerland’s Monarch b. a Blair Witch character c. Prime Minster of Great Britain

Sarkozy-What now? Change the channel from MTV to CNN every once in a millenia. And no, whatever animal the latest brat of a rich girl is riding in to her sweet sixteen doesn’t count as current events.

What kind of government is North Korea? a. Communist b. Democracy c. Dictatorship

How many world wars have there been?

a. Two b. Three c. Does this one count?

a. Pounds b. Dollars c. Euros

9-15

Where was the Berlin Wall located? a. France b. Berlin c. Russia

16-22

Score Your

Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

a) 1 a) 2 a) 1 a) 3 a) 3 a) 2 a) 1 a) 3 a) 2

b) 3 b) 3 b) 2 b) 1 b) 1 b) 1 b) 3 b) 1 b) 1

c) 2 c) 1 c) 3 c) 2 c) 2 c) 3 c) 2 c) 2 c) 3

23-27

Keep working on it

It’s lonely at the top.

From time to time, you might pick up a newspaper and browse through the front page news, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if you turned to this page just because of the “pre�y colors.”

Welcome to the elite, the best of the best, the smartest, and the lonely .01% of the human race who chooses to utilize that lump of gray mass between their ears. We’re glad you’re here.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL... HIGHSCHOOL SENIOR SESSIONS FREE THRU JUNE!THAT’S AN $85 SAVINGS! MENTION THIS AD AND ALSO RECEIVE A FREE GIFT! WE OFFER OVER 50 NEW VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AS GREAT SENIOR PACKAGES! CALL TODAY FOR DETAILS. 327-9930

Subscribe for 2007-08!!! Central Stampede __Publisher of the Stampede ($25) __Trustee of the Stampede ($20) __ Editor of the Stampede ($15) __ Friend of the Stampede ($10) checks payable to Central Stampede Name: _____________________________________ Address:____________________________________ City: __________________State: _____ ZIP________

PHOTOGRAPHY, FOR SENIORS WITH CLASS!

e-mail _____________________________________ Mail to: Central Stampede PCHS 8135 S. Westnedge Ave. Portage, MI 49002

page ten

Seniors Class of 2007

senior issue. june 1, 2007

Unforgettable friends from the Class of 2007

Remembering Margaux Hajek and John Yuhas Future Tae Kwon Do Master

ALWAYS SMILING: Hajek, second from top left, with friends at a party. Margaux Hajek October 18, 1988 to November 10, 2004 Friends of Margaux say she was a strong-hearted girl who had a close bond with her family. She adored her grandma, was close to her mother and looked up to her older sister Chrissie, who graduated from PC in 2002. Her friends seemed to bring out her crazy fun-loving personality. They would watch scary movies and be terrified, yet all Margaux could do was laugh. “She was a person I feel lived life to the fullest, always laughing, always smiling,” senior Kristin Houk said. “Just the goofiest girl ever!” For example, she had once bought a small, plastic alien figurine out of a gumball machine in elementary school. She lovingly named it “Pippy Ross,” and it soon became commonly known among her friends. They recall it as “the most ridiculous toy ever.” Senior Paige Reesor met Margaux in preschool, instantly creating sister-like bond. Like many best friends, they talked openly to one another.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAIGE REESOR

When a loved one passes away, our lives feel as if they’re being torn apart, but as time passes, we learn to laugh again and celebrate life. Margaret Paige Hajek and Jonathan Lawrence Yuhas were two beloved students in the Class of 2007 who are not graduating today, but family and friends described them as out-going and fun-loving people who basically taught everyone to live life to its fullest.

“We would just talk for hours,” Reesor said. “Those were probably the best times. She was always out-going and energetic. She had a great laugh. Everyone knew her laugh.” Friends say Margaux was one of those people who always smiled, never showing any sadness even though she had plenty of reasons to be upset. She battled liver disease and other health problems, yet her biggest fear was the humble ladybug. Her friends were never aware of just how serious these health problems were. Margaux was never worried or troubled by it. Nevertheless, in November 2004, Margaux departed, surrounded by her loving family. Her friends say her smile sums up her personality. Her friends learned a lot from her. “I feel like she showed that no matter what you go through, you can always find the good in life. She proved that,” Houk said. “Most importantly, attitude is everything.”

BEST FRIENDS: There was never a boring moment around Yuhas! John “Bubba” Yuhas March 7, 1988 to Feburary 13. 2005 Kids at school knew John as quiet and calm, but to those close to him, he was always daring and compassionate. Senior Katie Johnson knew John for 11 years. They were more like brother and sister who had met through their older sisters, Monica Yuhas and Jaime Johnson, who both graduated from PC in 2005. John is missed incredibly amongst his family and friends, who say he touched the lives of those closest to him, was a special person, always had an open mind and was willing to try everything. There was never a boring moment around John. “He loved to laugh and to make his friends laugh,” Johnson said. “He always tried to put a smile on your face.” Laura Huff, John’s former English teacher, spoke highly of him. She said he changed the way she perceived her students. Teachers sometimes get caught up in the routine of teaching, but John helped her to regain the relationship between student and teacher opposed to teacher and class. “I miss him,” Huff said. “When I see John, I see his smile. I’ll always remember

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATIE JOHNSON

BY TAYLOR WHISMAN

his ability to give. He was generous when it comes to giving respect.” John was very active. He played ice hockey for about eight years, scoring two hat tricks in his career, which some players only dream of. Other than hockey, he loved camping and especially fishing. “We went fishing, and he was making fun of me because I’m a bad fisher,” Johnson said. “He tried to tip the boat over!” John loved his family. He was close to his sister, more than most siblings, and he really looked up to his dad. His dad was in the National Guard and a firefighter, and John hoped to follow his example by becoming a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. The interest grew when his family traveled the country while his father was on active duty. “His friends meant a lot to him,” said DeDe Yuhas, John’s mother and one of our cafeteria ladies. “He would have done anything for them. He would have liked to be everybody’s friend.” When Johnson walks across the stage to receive her diploma tonight, she plans to carry a picture of John with her, ensuring that John “makes it across.” “Going through graduation would have meant a lot to him,” Yuhas said.

Friends and families simply ask the Class of 2007 to remember Margaux’s smile and John’s gentle nature. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as you graduate tonight.

Vibe entertainment and events

Stampede

page eleven

Summer Reading

June 1, 2007

Keeping notes on

BJORN GRUBELICH/STAMPEDE

9 th 10th 11th 12th Centre Street Subway

1256 E. Centre St. — 324-7827 - fax 324-7870 Walmart Location - 8350 Shaver Road

Buy one 6” sub get one free! 2nd sub of equal or lesser value (with this ad)

Headline: To bee or not to bee

Headline: Boy, weak in the knees, leads to friend’s downfall A Separate Peace by John Knowles

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

A coming-of-age story of a boy with memories ﬁlled with nostalgic secrets enveloping a forgo�en past.

The quest of one girl to ﬁnd a home where she belongs, instead of a house where she is simply a tenant.

Quote: “I thought it was interesting. It was diﬀerent than the other ones we had to read. It was more in-depth.” -Freshman Treva Wyman

Quote: “I liked The Secret Life of Bees because it was an unlikely story of people of diﬀerent races bonding in hard times in America.” -Freshman Holly Evey

Headline: More brawn than brains e.g. new world leaders

Headline: Wife accuses husband of identity fraud a�er long absence

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

The Odyssey by Homer

Foreign creatures, ancient lands, untold stories of before humans ruled, tales of bravery, courage and chivalry.

The quest of one man to ﬁnd his way home through a perilous labyrinth of events.

Quote: “I liked some of the stories, but some of them were too boring to read.” - Sophomore Kevin Roose

Quote: “When we were ﬁnished reading it, there were a lot of questions that I had.” - Sophomore Alan Ormanovich

Headline: Local man preaches peace as nation falls to pieces

Headline: Mentally unstable boy found stranded pleads the Fi�h

Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

In a time of fear, hate and prejudice, one man dares to believe that kindness will not go unnoticed.

A boy’s decision to survive against the race of time to strip him of his sanity.

Quote: “It had an interesting perspective on the Israel-Palestine conﬂict, to hear the thoughts of someone who lived during a time of ﬁghting.” - Junior Hannah Whistler

Response: “I read the whole book, and the conclusion was anti-climactic.” - Junior Katelyn Lum

Headline: Local doctor charged with malpractice a�er tormenting tiny fortress Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swi�

The story of a level-headed doctor who leaves his home a�er losing his business to ﬁnd himself on the open seas, but ends up ﬁnding himself among strangers, more lost than ever before. Quote: “It’s really important to learn about satire and people’s perception about what was occurring in the 1600s.” - Senior Katie Tennant

Reader’s choice!

Text by Amanda Norris/ STAMPEDE

FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS

DRIVE DRUNK

BE INFORMED. ADVERTISMENT PAID FOR BY

Central Stampede

-CONCERNED CLASSMATES

Seniors

Class of 2007

Congratulations!

We’re proud of you, Perrin. Good luck at Georgia Tech!

page eleven senior issue june 1, 2007

Celebrate every day like it’s your ﬁrst!

Congrats, Sarah! We love you! -Mom, Dad, Patrick, Natalie and T.A.D.

Congratulations, Beatrice

David Chadderdon Never underestimate the special person you are and what you can become. Seek what you love, and follow your heart.

We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished. We love you! Your host family Breanna Evan Cahlia

Love, Dad, Mom and Cheryl

Mom Dad Aaron

SON...BROTHER...FAMILY...AND FRIEND

Well Done! Love, Mom & Dad

JUSTIN JUDGE YOUR SUCCESS BY THE DEGREE THAT YOU’RE ENJOYING PEACE, HEALTH, AND LOVE. THINK BIG THOUGHTS, BUT RELISH SMALL PLEASURES.

Congratulations, Geoff!

WITH OUR LOVE, -MOM AND JARED

LAUGHTER...MEMORIES...MAGIC...AND FUN

Love, Dad, Mom, Greg and Hailey

12 RAVE

Stampede

page twelve

June 1, 2007

it list

Prom, with panache BY MEREDITH GAGE

Editor-in-Chief

Each month, Ryan Ray and Rashid Chapayama talk about what’s hot and what’s not in today’s society. This month, in their final Rave, the pair dish on their prom experiences at downtown Kalamazoo’s State Theater. Ryan: A�er a three-hour dinner—why did she get the filet mignon?—I finally made my way to prom. Rashid: I thought it was a nice set-up. Dancing on the stage was pre�y cool. Ryan: Yeah, Rashid and I had our own section of the stage for dancing. It was exclusive. Rashid: I don’t like it when couples are just doing their thing and won’t dance with anyone else. Like, I didn’t have a date, so I was just dancing with everyone. Ryan: You should’ve go�en an escort. Rashid: I just did the palm-reading instead. Ryan: What? There was palm-reading? Rashid: Yeah, upstairs. There was an iPod giveaway too. Ryan: What? I’m furious. I’m absolutely furious. Why wasn’t this be�er advertised or something? Rashid: They were doing free portraits too. I didn’t find out about this until later either. Ryan: I had money coming out of my bu� the entire night. Money. Gone. It was ludicrous. And I could have won an iPod? Whatever. I need to give a shout out to Lisa Ellis in her li�le zebra outfit. Ho�est girl of the night, easily. Rashid: Everyone looked mighty exquisite. The music, though, was not good. Ryan: You can’t play two hillbilly songs in a row! There was so much country. Rashid: They played old stuff, too. It was played out. Ryan: “Sandstorm” is always tight though. Prom was fun, but I’m still ready to leave high school. Rashid: Me too. But ladies, if you need a date for next year, I’m available.

entertainment and events

the

THE

SEAN CLEARY/STAMPEDE

Vibe

E�� R�� S�� S��

Movies: “Spiderman 3” Restaurants: Sushi Ya “Spiderman 3” knocked out the competition in the box-office with record-breaking opening weekend sales. “Spiderman 3” is by far the greatest Spidey movie yet. The trio of villains are the most difficult and personal Peter has had to beat. The Sandman killed his uncle, the return of the Green Goblin is his best friend, and Venom, who has no problem with Spiderman, has everything against Peter Parker Peter also must struggle within himself when a mysterious substance from outer space (very reminiscent of the Blob when introduced) takes over his suit, turns it black, and amplifies his powers. However, the suit comes some side-effects including higher aggression levels and increased emo-ness. The suit’s addictive qualities change Peter’s personality. This change, mixed with his new-found fame and arrogance, helps to drive the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson, away. The film is intense and intriguing but like any movie, has

its occasional ﬂaws. Dedicated comic book lovers will be confused why Gwen Stacy, a female friend of Peter’s, is added to the cast so late in the series. Topher Grace, of “That ‘70s Show” fame, doesn’t make a very believable or frightening Venom. He just seems like a very angry and vengeful Eric Forman. Peter Parker’s emo-ness is unintentionally humorous, sometimes a li�le awesome, but mostly ridiculous and hard to swallow.

However, those minor failings don’t sink the greatest Spiderman installment yet with the best plot. Part of what makes this movie the best installment would have to be the villains. Of all the movies, the villains in “Spiderman 3” are the least cheesy and most believeable. Overall, “Spiderman 3” is a winner. It has all the elements of a great superhero movie, like villians, damsels in distress, awesome special eﬀects and lots of inner conﬂict. It even has a moral: forgiveness and le�ing go.

-Jessica Atteberry

JENNY KILDUFF/STAMPEDE

Sushi Ya, located on East Kalamazoo downtown, oﬀers real sushi along with other traditional Asian dishes. Located in a new modern building with convenient downtown parking, Sushi Ya recently received its liquor license with a full bar separate from the main dining area. The interior is a mix of old Japanese art and modern design. Sushi Ya is a real sushi bar in which you can watch your food being prepared by sushi masters, in an atmosphere similar to that of a bigcity sushi restaurant. The menu is puzzling because the food is foreign and there is so much to choose from, although pictures of all the dishes do help. While sushi is o�en raw seafood, it also can include a variety of foods, cooked and raw. I chose the kamikaze roll which is a spicy cucumber and salmon. The restaurant is friendly, if not geared

toward people who are new to sushi. If you aren’t interested in raw fish or sushi, there is still a full traditional Asian selection, even a few American-influenced dishes. A�er a serving of kamikaze rolls I ordered a Diablo roll, which included Alaskan snow crab and shrimp tempura, both items were excellent. Both did the job and were tasty in their own right. Sushi isn’t very filling, so I ordered my third roll. This time, I tried crab and avocado roll, a simpler and less expensive roll but just as good. The ginger root ice cream for dessert was some of the best I had in a while. The total cost for a family of three came to $90. The lunch menu is much more affordable with frequent lunch specials under $10. Overall, Sushi Ya is an excellent restaurant and a great introduction to sushi.

-Austin Wordell

Go out on an intellectual limb. ONE OF THE REGION’S BEST COLLEGES Aquinas is listed as one of the top tier colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

When education is this good, powerful things When can education is this good, happen.

At Aquinas, we seek the truth. Founded by Dominicans and named for St. Thomas Aquinas, we’ve been empowering students to ask the big questions – and ﬁnd their own answers – since 1886. If you’re ready for some truly challenging intellectual terrain, consider Aquinas. We will ask you to go out on a limb. But we’ll also hold the ladder.

Aquinas College | 1607 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799 | 616 632-2900 or 800 678-9593 | www.aquinas.edu

powerful things can happen.

PLEDGE TODAY! www.portageps.org

PLEDGE TODAY!

Seniors Class of 2007

page twelve page senior issue. june 1, 2007

A.J. PECK

Congratulations, Angela!

From the little boy you once were...

May your future be bright and blessed. We are very proud of all your achievements. God Bless! Love you! -Dad and Sarah

...to the man you have becomewe couldn’t be more proud of you! CONGRATULATIONS! Love, Mom and Dad

Best wishes, Senior Stampeders! “Opening up a newspaper is the key to looking classy and smart. Never mind the bronze-plated stuff about the role of the press in a democracy — a newspaper, kiddo, is about style.” -Garrison Keillor [Guess who we Photoshopped in!] Meredith Gage [4 years of service] Ryan Ray ● Adel Johnson ● Jessica A�eberry [2 years of service] Perrin VanderVeen ● Bjorn Grubelich ● Austin Wordell ● Rashid Chapeyama ● Sarah Drabik ● Mary Claire Oppel [1 year of service]

Sports

Stampede

Running&Gunning

athletics and leisure

3 1

page thirteen June 1, 2007

Men’s team trains for tomorrow’s tournament at East Kentwood BY JAMES PHILLIPS

Staff Writer

The biggest dream a track & field team can have is going to the state meet. An even bigger dream is not only going there, but dominating the competition and taking home the title of state champions. And while that may have been a passing fancy in the past for the track team, this year things are looking different. Dan Wytko, head coach of the track team, not only tells of how confident the men’s team is this year, but it looks the part as well. His hopeful a�itude comes from the great athletes on the team this year, such as sophomore Doug Hamilton and senior Brendon Foster. Wytko also knows where to focus his a�entions when the time comes should they want to meet—or maybe even beat—the previous year’s record. “We came in 2nd in state last year…it all depends on who qualifies this year,” he said. “We want to try and qualify as many people as we can and go from there.” There are also a number of events Wytko believes the men’s team will excel in: the 800meter, 1600-meter, and the 400-meter relay. While not disagreeing with their coach, many of the team’s captains have confidence in other events as well when state rolls around. Jaron DeShazor, a senior and one of those captains, says that while the team’s strength is in its sprinters, long distance is coming along nicely as well. However, Jarred Sherrod, a junior and another captain, actually thinks that long distance is a weak point for the track team, but seconds his fellow teammate’s opinion for sprinting. Sherrod believes Portage Northern to be a tough opponent due to its powerful distance

runners, but is “not too worried” about other schools such as Kalamazoo Central and Ba�le Creek Central. DeShazor, on the other hand, thinks that Kalamazoo and Ba�le Creek are schools to think about because of their speed, along with East Kentwood. At the Big 16 conference meet, the team placed 3rd, with B.C. Lakeview winning second and rival team Portage Northern taking first. At regionals, the team took 4th, with East Kentwood placing 1st, Hudsonville taking 2nd and Portage Northern placing 3rd. Events that qualified for state are the four-by-four, fourby-two, and four-by-one relays, with school records being made in the four-by-four and four-by-two. Foster also qualified in the 200meter dash with Doug Hamilton qualifying in the long jump. But what will really decide if the team finishes well or not are those who compete in the events. Sherrod exudes confidence, so much so that his speed is worthy of “no comment.” DeShazor, on the other hand, who has recently recovered from a leg injury, is concerned but not doubtful. When asked if the season was going in the direction he imagined it would at the beginning of the year, his response is mature and encouraging. “Since my injury, not really,” he said. “It’s taken a long time to recover, but the more it heals, the more the rest of the season will be be�er.” And with the state meet just around the corner, the team will need to be at its best to win. Renee Pa�en, a senior and female captain of the team, has also made it to state for polevaulting, showing that the women’s team is just as strong as the men’s.

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE LAST LEG: Track team members, from left, Doug Hamilton, D’Angelo Stevenson, and Brendon

Foster train for the state tournament.

Why we sip on the ‘Hate-r-ade’ when BIG names are headlines staff writer

N ATAEL EFX RRI SAY BIE

During the Masters in April, Zach Johnson came silently out of nowhere to defeat Tiger Woods, who according to many people, is the best golfer since Happy Gilmore. Why is it that we want to see the greats lose but could care less about the nobodies winning? Over Easter weekend, the Masters drew many families around the television to watch the golf tournament while trying not to die of boredom. Whether the televisions were tuned to the Masters because of grandma and grandpa, who saw one or two swings before falling asleep, or because people actually wanted to watch it, makes no diﬀerence. The Masters was the “it” thing that weekend, not because people were curious about seeing who would win, but because they could watch considerably one of the greatest golfers ever, lose. I guess that America, in general, likes seeing the small guy take on the big money-making, egotistical foul-mouth champions. Tiger Woods

isn’t that extreme but it seems that, similar to NASCAR drivers, one either loves him or hates him. Zach Johnson, a relative unknown, inspired many that Easter weekend. But Tiger was the story. Even Sports Illustrated put Tiger on its next week’s cover, and Johnson, who achieved only his second win since turning pro in 1998, was le� out in the cold. This misfortune for Tiger got me thinking. Why is it that the great franchises and players are hated because they’re good? Why do we love to hate? Ohio State University and the University of Michigan have a historic football rivalry, but both are generally despised in the sports world. Most years, these two teams are in the hunt for a national championship, but everyone wants to see the underdog team turn around from nothing to something. Last season, Rutgers came out of nowhere and challenged the Bowl Championship

Minis

Series commi�ee to let them possibly play in the championship. Well, they never got there. OSU went on to lose the national championship. Rutgers didn’t make headlines for being an underdog and were not the top story until they easily won in their bowl game. The NFL has cities all over the U.S. with great teams. The Dallas Cowboys, the Packers of Green Bay, the San Francisco 49ers and the Pi�sburgh Steelers, all usually the greats, and NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE all teams we simply love to hate. We want them to lose; we want the Bre� Favres, Tom Bradys, Terrell Owenses and Randy Mosses to stumble. Then we hate teams based on weird stuff, like the Raiders, who a�ract a massive following of loyal and loud fans. The Red Sox and Yankees definitely take the cake in the can’t-stand-èm category. Many feel these teams are spending too much money and taking away players from poor or mediocre

teams. So much for parity! Every year going into the last weeks of the season, the headline is stolen by which one of them slips and doesn’t make the playoﬀs. Last year, the Tigers were only news in Michigan, still taking second place to the Yanks and BoSox. Then the playoﬀs happened, proving once again that the team that is the surprise is the be�er story. In my lifetime there has been only one true underdog that people tuned into. In 2006, George Mason University brought passion and fun back to watching the NCAA March Madness Tournament. This past season, experts and fans kept asking, “Who is the next Cinderella team?” Why we hate teams and players is extremely odd. Some people are jealous that they make more money or the team/player just keeps winning while their team serves as a punching bag. Sorry Lions fans, but it’s true. People love to see the underdog win because the underdog has no fame. There usually isn’t a superstar; there usually isn’t a great coach. It is a bunch of guys working together as one. We love to see the nobodies win because of the passion and excitement they show when winning, and we in turn become excited and inspired.

Nate Frisbie is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

The Mustang women’s lacrosse team has bounced back from a rough first season last year to post some impressive wins. With familiar members and fresh faces, the team has progressed greatly throughout the season, notching a 9-5 record that definitely drew a�ention as well as anticipating fans. AMNA AZAM/STAMPEDE “It’s a lot be�er than last year, we have more experienced players and we are all trying to play as a team,” senior Rebecka Manis said. The team faced many challenges including a match with Kalamazoo College, in which the Mustangs were defeated due to personal conflict and arguments from the other team. The season ended with a great amount of satisfaction as well as a great number of goals. “We did our best and put in a lot of effort, that’s all that ma�ers,” Assistant Coach Katy Mohr said.

- Amna Azam

Conﬁdence going into districts helpful A�er a slow start to the year, the baseball team has come on strong, winning its last 16 of its last 17 games, including 16-2 and 20-1 blowouts of Ba�le Creek Central last week. ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE “A�er the loss to Northern (on May 1), it put things into perspective, and we really realized this was our season,” senior Chris Higgins said. “A�er that, we really picked it up.” During the Greater-Kalamazoo tournament on May 19, the Mustangs downed Comstock 12-2 and in the semiﬁnal match-up thro�led rival Portage Northern 10-3 to advance to the championship game. The team has found the right time to hit its stride, taking its 23-9 record into last weekend’s GreaterKalamazoo championship game against a talented Gull Lake group. This weekend, district play is scheduled to begin.

- Austin Wordell

softball

Team bounces back after last season

baseball

women’s lacrosse

ustang

Conﬁdence going into districts needed As the season winds down, the so�ball team gains more experience under the leadership of just four seniors. “It’s hard to live up to [Coach Tom Monroe’s] standards,” senior Sara Skolasky said. “I have to play my best so�ball and with only four seniors, I think it puts a li�le extra pressure on me.” Skolasky admits the team ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE appreciates the retiring coach’s high standards, calling him a “so� guy at heart.” “I’m glad he didn’t retire before I le�,” she said. With a record of 17 wins and 18 losses, including a double-header sweep of Grandville last week, 6-5 and 4-1. Going into district play, the team’s youth and desire could send Monroe out with bang. Next season, hopes are high for the team in 2008. “We will be very strong next season, both in spots on the ﬁeld and in the lineup,” sophomore Katie Mion said.

- Nate Frisbie

Seniors

Class of 2007

CONGRATULATIONS, BRI! “You are my sunshine” You give with a full heart, are grateful for what you have and radiate inner joy! You deserve all!

page senior thirteen issue june 1, 2007

CARLA

Estamos muy orgullosos de tus exitos. Que Dios te bendiga siempre.

Wish It, Dream It, Do It I love you! Your biggest fan....Mom Con Amor, Mami, Papi, Carlos y Lisandra

CONGRATULATIONS, ERIK! You have accomplished so much! Through studying, playing three sports, and making many friends, your high school years have been good to you. You’ve grown in many ways and we are so proud of you! We know you will continue to excel in college and your career. You’re a winner! Love Always, Mom, Dad and Lia

Congratulations, Kristen! We are so proud of you! We love you! Mom, Lance, Matt and Cassie

Congratulations, Matt! Go conﬁdently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. Dwell in possibility... We love you and are very proud of you! Mom, Dad, Steph and Phred

Hurrah for Adel! Felicidades por una gran carrera escolar en WMS y PCHS. Sabemos que continuarás en tu trayectoria exitosa en Columbia y más allá. Más buenas noticias - tienes la seguridad de saber que tienes el puesto permanente de ser autora de la carta navideña. ¡Te queremos!

Tus aﬁcionados más grandes, Dad, Mom, Tess

4 1

Sports

Stampede

page fourteen

athletics and leisure

Portage atheletes gone June 1, 2007

ruggin’

Students ﬁnd new opportunity on Kalamazoo Hawks rugby team BY LEVI BARRY

Sports Writer

The “scrum,” the “ruck” and the “try” may sound like foreign words, and many consider them so, but a small group of Portage high-school students is looking to put these rugby terms into everyday vocabulary. The Kalamazoo Hawks, the local area high-school rugby team, started last spring when a group of students from Central and Northern high schools united in a common goal to bring rugby to the Kalamazoo area. “Last spring, some kids came to one of the men’s practices,” Coach Brandon Sparks said. “They came to us and asked if anyone wanted to coach a high school team. I’d wanted to start a team for the last couple years, so I jumped on the opportunity.” A�er just one year, the team is still in its infancy, but Sparks hopes it will gain momentum over the summer season and the next few years. “Acceptance and awareness is a big challenge for the sport,” he said. “In general, we’re always ﬁghting the stereotypes to get the team going.” The few students who play agree there are certainly stereotypes associated with it. “It’s a very strange game,” senior Sagar Deshpande said. “It’s kind of like football, only with crazy English guys.” Deshpande’s main reason for joining the team was his need of a gym credit, but he has since grown to love the sport. He greatly enjoyed the spring season and looks forward to playing in more games and tournaments during the summer season. “The games are a lot of fun,” he said. “Last game we had two ﬁghts, a broken nose and a couple of other minor injuries.

We lost the game, but it was still a lot of fun.” Junior Gunter Singh also found his calling in rugby with the Kalamazoo Hawks. “I decided to start playing just because I need something to do,” he said. “It’s really fun to play, though, and you get to meet new people. The coaches are cool, too. They have sweet accents and make fun of people all the time; it’s like a big group of friends.” Sparks, Deshpande and Singh all agree that acceptance is a major issue with the sport and would like to see more kids try it out during the summer season. “I’m really hoping to see more kids this summer,” Sparks said. “I’d like to win our ﬁrst tournament and place in the league by the end of the season.” Sparks encourages anyone interested to come to a practice and give it a try. The practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at Maple Street Magnet School. “It’s the best sport in the world,” he said. “It’s one of the last games where there’s still camaraderie between players; you can beat on your opponent for 80 minutes and then go hang out a�erwards.” Players don’t really need to worry about how athletic or strong they are to play either, Deshpande added. “The thing is you don’t need to be that big to play,” he said. “You can take out a guy twice as big as you just by hi�ing him right.” Anyone interested in joining the Kalamazoo Hawks is encouraged to email Sparks at bigpapasgoneruggin@msn. com or visit the high-school page at kalamazoorugby.com.

Rugby lingo “Scrum” method to restart play a�er minor penalty has occurred

“Ruck”

players from each team a�empt to push the other team back with the ball on the ground

“Try” Worth 5

LEVI BARRY/STAMPEDE

points; scored by touching the ball down in opposition area

“BRITISH FOOTBALL”: Junior Gunter Singh prepares for a kick at a Kalamazoo Hawks rugby practice at Maple Street Magnet School.

What?! Staff softball team beats seniors BY PERRIN VANDERVEEN Staff Writer

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

BATTER’S UP: Senior Chelsea Harding, right, is up to bat while

Assistant Principal Kim Lummis catches. At left, Coach Tom Monroe calls the shots as umpire.

Like any great game, this year’s senior/staff so�ball game was flavored with conflict, sportsmanship, controversy, and of course, victory. Unfortunately, again this year, another senior class had triumph stolen from under its nose. “I demand a drug test! There’s no way those teachers are clean,” senior Jon Paul exclaimed a�er the game. A�er seeing the results of the game, the nine-run lead maintained by the staff team in a seven-inning game seems to support the accusation. The faculty of Portage Central mustered a so�ball team of such hard-hi�ing caliber and so handily subdued a team of mostly 18-year-olds, that any spectator could not help but be impressed by its 19-10 win. The entire staff team claims to abstain from steroid use. Even muscle man Bre� Foerster and the staff’s homerun hi�er, Dana Grosser, boast all-natural physiques. Although the substantiating evidence is lacking, the unnerving confidence of the

Minis

teacher team’s captain, Kent Baker, who claimed, “the outcome of the game was never in question,” still arouses suspicion. How could any team come into such an epic showdown so confident in its abilities? It would seem that the staff, currently undefeated in its Portage city co-ed league, had a plan to exact a win over the unwi�ing Class of ’07. Regardless, the faculty of Portage Central clearly showed where the so�ball talent of this school lies as the teachers managed to, again, grasp their trophy at the end of the day, but all involved said what really ma�ers is that everyone had fun. “We gave a very valiant effort,” senior Evan Bowles said. “Even if we fell a li�le short, we still had fun.” Bowles came to the seniors’ team as a standout, bringing with him years of baseball experience. He was a critical element for the ’07 Mustang team as pinch-runner for Louis Standiford and managed five runs total. Late in the fourth inning, he sprinted from third to home and emerged from the dust, safe, a�er knocking over Assistant Principal Kim Lummis, waiting to catch the ball at

home from pitcher Mark Sutherland. “It was a very satisfying moment. I felt a li�le sorry, but it was worth it because now I will be a legend,” said Bowles about the incident. Hi�ing the senior team’s only home run was their last-minute addition, class adviser Jason Badders, joining his class on the so�ball diamond. Even with the weathered experience of veteran Badders, the seniors’ team was still beaten. “You always take age before beauty, and that’s why we came out on top,” Coach Corey McNeal said. McNeal was a leader on the staff team with solid hits on offense and smart playmaking on defense. A�er shaking hands, both teams le� the field with smiles on their faces. Even though the beloved senior class did not win, all those involved, students and staff alike, seemed to embrace the common thread between them: their school. In the end, the game was not about who won or lost, it was about friendly competition between old friends: the Class of 2007 and the staff they have grown to love.

The women’s soccer team had two huge wins last week against Portage Northern and Ma�awan. The 3-2 win over Northern earned the Mustangs the league championship, with freshman Jordan Wolf chipping in two goals. These late-season wins are satisfying for a team that lost several seniors from last year and began the season with ERIN LENCZYCKI/STAMPEDE some losses to key opponents, including East Kentwood and Okemos. “We deﬁnitely didn’t start out as well as we hoped,” senior Meaghan Benne� said. “But we deﬁnitely picked it up and are excited for states.” A�er its slow start, the team pulled together to defeat Loy Norrix, Stevensville-Lakeshore and other opponents. The team was 14-4-1 heading into districts this week. Regional competition is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

- Jenny Kilduff

Men’s tennis expecting victory at state The men’s tennis team had the #1 seed in every flight and lived up to expectations, sweeping the regional finals in Jenison May 17. The 32-point performance and convincing wins in all eight flights easily secured a spot to the Division 2 state tournament. At one singles, senior Ma� Johnson dropped the first set before coming back t win 2-6, 61, 6-1, while fellow senior Isaac ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE Stein won 6-0, 6-2. Heading into the state tournament today, the Mustangs are 2nd in the state, behind Okemos in Division 2. The past couple years, the team has been very strong, and this is the senior year for six returning le�er winners. “This is the best team I have played on,” junior Travis Wolf said. “Half of us have USTA and tournament experience.”

- Austin Wordell

men’s lacrosse

Women’s soccer heads off to regionals

men’s tennis

women’s soccer

ustang

Men’s lacrosse team proven strong The men’s lacrosse team defeated Zeeland 10-9 last week in regional play to advance this week RASHID CHAPEYAMA/STAMPEDE against Forest Hills Central. As of Wednesday, the team sported an undefeated record in the SMAC and a 15-1 overall record. It entered the post-season ranked first in the state in Division 2. “We’ve had a really great season so far,” sophomore Al Carpenter said. “We’re working hard all the time, and we definitely play as a team. We should go far in the finals.” Against Zeeland, junior Trevor Wight scored the winning goal to earn the team a narrow victory. With that win, the lacrosse team won its first playoff game since the lacrosse program was developed several years ago.

- Levi Barry

page fourteen page senior issue. june 1, 2007

Seniors Class of 2007

MEGAN

Congratulations on your Medallion Scholarship to Western and being selected to the Lee‛s Honors College and to the WMU Musical Theatre Performance program. Thanks for hanging in there when times got tough. You are amazing! All our love, Dad, Mom, Will and Cowboy

Megan Elizabeth Jacobson

Class of 2007

She wasn‛t where she had been. She wasn‛t where she was going... but she was on her way.

The Lee Honors College at Western Michigan Universtiy

THE UNIVERSITY THEATRE

Seniors

Class of 2007

page senior ﬁfteen issue june 1, 2007

Congratulations, Anne!

We’re very proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad and Mitch

Seniors Class of 2007

page sixteen senior issue. june 1, 2007

what’s next Misc.

KVCC

Kevin Allan- Ferris State Jesse Anders- Lincoln Tech-Indianapolis Jessica Atteberry- Ferris State Travis Bambacht- University of Northwestern Ohio Kurtis Beadling- Albion Cassandra Beebe- Aurora Meaghan Bennett- Northern Illinois Jessica Bertolina- Georgetown Rachel Bierenga- NMU Beatrice Brobbey- ***Exchange Student Janet Brooks- Oregon Aubrey Brown- Covenant College Steven Bunch- Navy Virginia Bushnell- CMU Ashley Buyce- Olivet Courtney Byrd- NYU Michael Carter- University of Maryland David Chadderdon- Michigan Tech Rashid Chapeyama- Illinois Institute of Art Diane Chapman- Grand Rapids Comm. College Sam Chrusciel- Purdue Rahul Dalal- Yale University Amanda Devries- Columbia College Chicago Sarah Drabik- EMU John Droghetti- Johnson and Wales , Rhode Island Ashleigh Eaton- The University of British Columbia Trevor Eberstein- Trade School Chelsea Eckler- EMU Alan Ernst- University of Detroit -Mercy Phillip Eskander- travel Ashley Falk- Wright Beauty Academy Trevor Gabis- University of North Western Ohio Meredith Gage- University of Chicago Meghan Gajare-Carleton College Amanda Garrett- St. Mary’s Evan Gates- Columbia College-Chicago Taylor Gesmundo- Marines Elyn Grant- Aveda Institute Alysa Greenberger- College of San Mateo Justin Griffin- Fort Myers Comm. College Eric Grogg- Trade school Bjorn Grubelich- University of Washington Lucas Hamlow- Wabash Melissa Harman- Albion Nicole Heidelberg- University of Northwestern Ohio Mark Heins- Michigan Tech Douglas Heystek- University of Northwestern Ohio Kristen Hubbard- Wright Beauty Academy Derek Hutchinson- Ferris State Adel Johnson- Columbia College-Chicago Matthew Johnson- Notre Dame

Work Bo Arbanas Kyle Paradine Joshua Roth Cody Slager Edward Spicer Jake Trierweiler Troy Versluis Eli Wyman

Christine Ketteman- Robert Morris Chase Key- Edison College (Ft. Myers, Florida) Aaron Keyser- Marines Takumi Kimura- ***Exchange Student Josh Klinkers- Full Sail School of Film (Orlando, FL) Jeremiah Knapp- Tech School Cameron Larkin- EMU Josh Lascala- University of Guelph Viet Le- Ferris State Jason Ledden- Ball State University Amanda Leino- CMU David Linder- Navy Kelsey Luginbill- Albion Brianna Macleod- Wellesley Brent Martin-Hope Lena Muskat- ***Exchange Student Christie Noonan- Illinois Institute of Technology Mindy Otto- NMU Derek Paterala- Davenport Renee Patten- DePaul Jon Paul- Miami of Ohio Liz Pitchford- Penn State Ana Puckett- DePaul Jaime Reese- CMU Michelle Repyak- CMU Alyssa Rhoda- University of Utah Kailey Rose- EMU Sunita Saith- Duke University Meagan Sarratt- Illinois Institute of Technology Brianna Schmall- DePauw Michael Simpson- Ferris State Sara Skolasky- Marquette Bethanie Sladek- Olympia Isaac Stein- Washington University, St. Louis Chelsea Stewart- Olympia Nilo Takei- ***Exchange Student Katie Tennant- Albion Joey Ulman- Calvary Chapel College Lizzie Ulmer- University of Wisconsin- Madison Perrin Vanderveen- Georgia Tech Adam Vansweden- Army Katherine Vellom- University of Northwestern Ohio Anne Voss- Hope Emily Wagner- Hillsdale Katie Wagner- Arizona Sam Webb- Travel Greg Welke- Oakland University Alexa Westley- Hope Austin Wordell- Carthage Jenna Ziegler- Indiana University

MSU Michael Allon Sarah Argue Samantha Baker Garrett Coning Kerry Freeman Sebastian Hoepker David Hollerbach

Courtney Horkey Shaan Jaggi Alissa Kelly Kelsey Kirchhoff Kelly Konkel Mike Murray Brannon Pierman

Jason Rhew Hillary Ruimveld Lance Shave Michelle Smodic Alexi Thompson Nick Wester Lindsay Wilson

Dominic Armstrong Alexander Arvanigian Kristin Babcock Brett Beebe Bennett Ballingar Thomas Borrello Perry Bowden Andrew Bozell Clark Buckman Lisa Buford Jordan Button Molly Carpenter Kyle Centers Amanda Chingo Alison Ciesa Sam Clark Kelli Cody Ashley Covell Lindsey Crandall Steven Crawford Kevin Crill Brienn Crow Matt Dally Jessica Dawson Fiona Dickinson Brianne Dumois Daniel Ely Peter Everts Andy Fabian Katie Flagg Nancy Flores Brent Frazier Lori Goodwin Chris Gormley Chelsea Harding Dan Harkins Rachel Hausmann Quantell Hines Jessica Hipskind Monica Janssen Jared Johnson Katlyn Johnson Jordin Kibler Brandyn Kleeves

Jeremy Kooi Adam Kosier Kasey Koster Laura Kuda Heidi Lacey Jennifer Linder Andrew Lindsley Kimberly Loyal David Mann Ray Marshall Jack McCloskey Sam Medrano Cassandra Meyers Sandi Mielke Alex Mitchell Brandon Nash Nicolas Nieuwenhuis Alex O’Connor A.J. Peck Josh Peterman Alicia Pomeroy Branden Reiter Travis Ridenour Logan Roberts Kristen Russell Katie Salik Landon Schutter Candice Smith James Sootsman Bryant Stuut Chelsea Sullivan Jessica Sumey Chad Swander Justin Swenson Corie Trimner Jeremy Trinkle Brett Vandenberg Sara Vanfulpen Scott Vanness Michelle Voss Tiffany Webber Kristen Werner Chris Wright Eric Wynne

Grand Valley Lauren Ahle Brianne Chipman Evan Cyr Allison Haas Jill Justen Elizabeth King Kayla Macqueen Stephanie Marsh Betsy McInnis

Stephen McKernan Drew Moffit Mary Claire Oppel Gretchen Schatz Ashley Schmidt Chelsea Vargason Anna Veldman Jenna Wenglinski Aaron White

Kalamazoo College Logan Ambrose Kristin Houck Larisa Grinvalds

Meghan Moharter Alexis Ruder Dahlia Yehia

Where the Class of 2007 will become the Classes of 2011 WMU Brian Ameluxen Christopher Atkinson Omar Azam Laine Bassett Evan Bowles Anthony Boyle Michael Buckman Joe Dely Jonathan Depoian Jaron Deshazor Jason Dinkelmeyer Geoffrey Doctor Zachary Drake Sean Duymovic Emily Fell Jason Flanders Brendon Foster Nicole Fruehauf Audra Garvey Brenna Gieber Jordan Gilchrist Justin Grubka Chris Guthrie Alex Hoeksema Alisha Hull Megan Jacobson Lawrence Javier Brian Kemerling Adeel Khan Sara Kidney Derek King Scott Klassen

Erik Krautmanis Nicholas Mannon Melissa McIntosh Hannah McQuitty Toby Padilla Pankti Patel Steffane Patterson Lindsay Peterson Shelby Posada Ryan Ray Paige Reesor Michelle Ridge John Schneider Matilda Shaw Cameron Simmons Michelle Sindelar Phillip Slesinski Amberlee Smith Andrea Smith Andrew Smith Benjamin Thelen Jason Thickson Haley Thomas Cheniah Thunder Eagle Chelsea Tolley Joshue Tymkew Katie Valkner Megan VanBuskirk Jessica Voss Amber Wessel Melissa Withan Sarah Zomer

U of M Gifford Blaylock Michelle Bergy Caitlin Buckstaff Sagar Deshpande Katrina Diaz Carla Fernandez Angela Hanchar Chris Higgins Daisy Howlind

Rebecka Manis Melody Merati Neil Patel Kristina Roe Andrew Rosine Louis Standiford Molly VanTongeren Brent Zeitler

Compiled by: Laura Pone, Jenny Kilduff and the Stampede Staff