Vol 13 issue #2 by Central Stampede

Central

Stampede

Yes!

Friday, Nov. 9, 2007

the

‘Rights’ or wrong? Are you friends with the First Amendment?

Pages 8 & 9

Bond approval ushers in new era for PCHS

Ivory Tower

BY LAURA PONE

A look at this year’s hottest student band

Page 7

Wallace, Balboa and Gump Stampede’s list of the top inspirational movies of all time

Page 12

Herd in the Hallways “I can’t share that. It’s top secret.”

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

-Sara Brown’s fantasy football insight on p. 15

?Pop Quiz ? ?

Who was Stuart McCamley, and why is the football ﬁeld named after him?

For answer see Kudos p. 3

What is your greatest fear? Spiders 41%

News......................................1-3 View........................................4-6 opinions and editorials

Focus...................................7-10 features and lifestyles

Vibe.....................................11-13 entertainment and events

Sports...............................14-16

-auditorium upgrades -new gym and locker rooms -new tennis courts

Staff Writer

Junior Lisa Justen likes to keep things nice and simple. She likes to go to the tanning salon and simply hand over a $5 bill. But starting next month, Justen might find it necessary to shell out the extra change as a result of new tax guidelines set to take effect Dec. 1. Michigan legislators agreed on Oct. 1 to raise the income tax rate from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent. The increase in income tax will bring an additional $765 million for the state. Legislators designed the income tax bill for the rate to gradually drop back to 3.9 percent between 2011 and 2015. Even with the increase, the new tax rate puts Michigan with the fourth lowest rate in the country. Lawmakers also voted to expand the 6 percent sales tax to various other services, which is the final part of a plan to erase the $1.75 billion deficit in the state budget. The expansion of sales tax, taking effect Dec. 1, will generate $725 million over a full year. Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the combination of the income tax and the services tax will cost the average citizen about one dollar per week. Legislators implemented the sales tax on new services that are meant to be discretionary. Businesses and consumers will pay sales taxes on previous untaxed services such as ski tickets, administrative and investment services, consultants, warehousing and storage, interior design, commercial landscaping, carpet cleaning, janitorial services, tanning salons and many more. The sales tax will not apply to sporting events, entertainment events, golf courses, dry cleaning, haircuts or

accounting services. Students and teachers have mixed feelings about these new taxes. “I don’t mind the expansion on sales tax,” junior Elena Stachew said. “But raising the income tax isn’t a good idea. It’s not the people’s fault that our state has such a huge deficit. The people should not forfeit more of their income to make up for it.” Junior Gary Ossewaarde feels indifferent to the situation but knows that this may cause concern for some parents. “My dad is an investment advisor so the expansion of sales tax will affect him,” Ossewaarde said. Social studies and economics teachers share a coinciding opinion in that Michigan legislators did what they had to do to keep the state running. “It’s necessary to raise the income tax and expand the sales tax since Michigan’s economy is doing so poorly,” social studies teacher Tama Salisbury said. “I support the increase because we need to get out of our budget crisis.” “I can’t get mad at the state because my job is supported by state funding,” economics teacher Eric Rayle said. “I’m human; I don’t like to pay more taxes, but I think they did what they had to do.” “It was a responsible thing to do,” adds social studies teacher Gordon Andrews. “We have a balanced budget amendment, and there are only so many ways you can fix the deficit. I don’t, however, like the way it was done. A lot of the smaller businesses that didn’t have the big lobbyists ended up ge�ing taxed. They got picked on and couldn’t fight back.”

$ 4.5% income tax rate as of Oct. 1

Ski tickets, Tanning H/STAMPEDE

hallways and city streets

{features of the new PCHS }

-air conditioning -student commons -new media center -new cafeteria

A�er months of tireless campaigning, Portage students, parents and teachers celebrated the passage of both school improvement bond proposals on Tuesday. Student Council President Kent White breathed a sign of relief that students’ campaigning efforts were not in vain. “I am ecstatic,” White said. “Even though we won’t see it, it will be great for everyone.” “I am so very excited,” English teacher Nancy Pederson added. “I was so disappointed when it didn’t pass last spring because I didn’t want to live in a community that didn’t support its schools, but I am very glad that they do.” Principal Eric Alburtus believes the bond passed this time due to a greater effort on the part of the administration to listen to the community. “I do think we did a be�er job listening to the people in the community in terms of the surveys, the community meetings,” Alburtus said. “We took what we learned to create a plan that people in the community would support.” Alburtus also a�ributes the bond’s success to active student involvement. “The biggest difference is our students here,” he said. “I’ve never seen so many students actively engage {themselves} in the political process.” Math teacher Dana Grosser shares Alburtus’ and Pederson’s excitement. “The community has spoken, they truly value the education we provide here at Portage Central,” Grosser said. Jennifer Whistler, Board of Education vice president, believes the bond’s passage will improve not only the buildings within the school system, but ultimately the quality of education as well. “This is a huge victory for the kids, the schools and the community,” Whistler said. “We’re going to see not only improvement in the buildings, but also in academics and in the economy.”

GRETE GRUBELIC

Stampede

poll of 100 students

Public 24% Speaking Heights 12%

Coming Soon

BY JOY DUO

c) President of the Board of Education, named in his honor.

Death 23%

CASTING HIS VOTE: Senior Erik Malin, who voted for his ﬁrst time Tuesday, completes his ballot at Moorsbridge Elementary School. Voters approved the $90 million bond to improve both Portage high schools by a 58-42 percent margin. A second proposal for the elementary schools also passed, by a 56-44 percent margin.

Editor-in-Chief

State imposes new taxes

a) A businessman who donated money to build the ﬁeld. b) Superintendent during the time the ﬁeld was built.

athletics and leisure

Vol. 13 Issue 2

50 cents

Insider

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

examples of services now taxed

Stampede

page two

News hallways and city streets

a t b e e goe D t a su e r nn

BY JENNY KILDUFF

Vibe Editor

acknowledgement in school is a li�le bit of a sore spot for the team. The process of preparing for a competition is timeconsuming and involves an enormous amount of research. “Since we have about a month [to prepare], [we prepare] about an hour a day,” Borgren said. “The closer you get [to competition], the more time you spend.” For students considering law or political science, admission oﬃces like to see debate on applications. Former Portage Central debaters have gone on to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, Georgetown and MIT.

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

An outsider’s view of debate may be limited to visions of people standing behind a podium and droning on about ﬁscal policy. Most would not associate debate with traveling around the nation, to places like Long Beach, Calif.; Chicago; Atlanta; Washington, D.C.; Cambridge, Mass., and all over the state of Michigan, but the debate team has been doing just that. According to senior Charley Borgren and debate team Coach Randy Borden, the team has been doing well, but they rarely get recognition in school for their success and hard work. It takes about 40 hours to prepare for just one competition. “Just like any sport, it takes a lot of time,” Borgren said. “I think it should get recognition just like any sport. Last year we won states, and it didn’t even make the announcements.” However, lack of recognition doesn’t stop the debate team from competing. Several people have placed in tournaments in Michigan

this year, and they said they only hope to improve as the season continues. The next competition is Glenbrook’s invitational tournament Nov. 17-19. Recently, Borgren and senior Peter Hong traveled to California State University-Long Beach with Borden for a national tournament. Hong came in fourth place, and Borgren placed 10th out of about 600 students. “We don’t always get a lot of recognition [in school],” Borden said. “If we kicked the ball while debating and we won a national championship, we would probably have a parade down Westnedge Avenue.” In recent years, the debate team switched from policy debate to legislative debate. Policy debate is where two teams debate a speciﬁc policy and whether or not the policy should be passed, whereas legislative debate mimics U.S. legislation. Legislative debate has grown widely popular and continues to grow. Oprah Winfrey participated in legislative debate, and she is just one of several celebrities who have participated in this type of debate. “We are nationally recognized,” Borden said. “We are kicking bu� and taking names. We are every bit as good as we were in policy debate ﬁve years ago.” Not ge�ing much

ced o ti

T he

Nov. 9, 2007

Challenge Day urges students to ‘be the change’ BY JAMES PHILLIPS

Gospel Mission opens doors BY HOLLI SMITH

Staff Writer

Pop! A yellow giraﬀe ﬂoats to the ceiling at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, as seniors Lindsey Alberty and Vanessa Forero chase around kids and keep them entertained. It’s just another day in the life of Alberty and Forero at mission, where volunteers like themselves serve food to the homeless, watch the kids or sort through donations. Alberty and Forero have both volunteered their time watching kids at The Gospel Mission. Both were members of a social justice group sponsored by St. Catherine’s Church that chose to volunteer last year at the Gospel Mission. “We watched the kids while their moms were at Bible study, and they played with our hair and did our makeup,” Forero said. Gary Gordon is another senior who has volunteered his time at the mission. At the Gull Lake United Methodist Church, he helped to sort all the donated clothes and toys. “[We] got a tour, and we got to meet the guy that runs the kitchen, who is a really neat guy,” Gordon said. This organization is open to anyone who needs a li�le help.

They offer food, shelter and clothing to anyone who needs it. “For teenagers especially, we live in such an affluent society, it’s easy to compare ourselves with people who have a lot more than we do, and when we come into a se�ing where we compare ourselves with people who have absolutely nothing, that really puts materialism in perspective,” said volunteer coordinator Donna Pearce, adding that the experience really allows students to make a difference. On one occasion, Pearce said a client told her: “When people come in and smile at me, and are pleasant and work with us, it makes me feel like a normal person.” “It’s a great experience and they have stuff for everyone to do,” Forero said. This organization is always in need of a few extra hands, and Pearce added, “We use volunteers a lot, because it helps us keep our staff costs down.” The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission is located at 448 N. Burdick St. in Kalamazoo. They can be reached at (269) 345-2974. They will be needing volunteers soon for their Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, which will serve more than 450 people.

Brief

“Be the change.” For three days in December, from the 10th to the 13th, a unique opportunity will teach the student community how to do that exactly: Challenge Day. Though the name may throw some off, Challenge Day is actually more of a half-week of seminars, games and lectures promoting positive community-building rather than a relay race or the name of a popular game show. During the week, four different churches— Faith Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Portage Free Methodist Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church—will host several activities driving students toward optimistic a�itudes about peer-to-peer relationships and selfesteem, each church will host a different group of 100 students each day. Activities include icebreaking games such as “walk the line,” in which students cross over a line on the floor if certain experiences have happened to them. Chuck Connors, head pastor of Portage Free Methodist Church, is glad to have his church be part of the program. While the church is essentially being leased out for free to those participating, it is still playing a vital role in the agenda of Challenge Day—that is, providing a positive environment for all students present. “We think it’s a worthy cause, so we let them use our building,” Connors said. As a pastor, Connors sees that the motives of Challenge Day are very agreeable with what

he teaches his congregation. A�er a video presentation of the event the church staff saw, Connors said he was “pre�y surprised by how people responded to the program.” Assistant Principal Kim Lummis, one of the main organizers of the event, has been with Challenge Day in Portage since the beginning. She believes firmly that what will be gathered by all during that week will be “the entire mission of Challenge Day.” Laughing, she states how the staff came to know of it. “One of the teachers heard about it on ‘Oprah’!” she said. Counselor Jim Herm had heard of the event, and checked that Challenge Day was not just something blown out of proportion on television. The administration in other local schools—such as Vicksburg and PCEC —also helped refer it to Herm and others. English teacher Carolyn Oudman has high hopes. Being the teacher in charge of the DALT program, a once-a-week meeting a�er school in which tolerance and common feelings of friendliness toward all are taught, she naturally sees Challenge Day as being the same thing, but on a broader scale. In fact, it was the success and motives behind DALT that led to Challenge Day coming to Portage. Altogether, all students want to be accepted for who they are. This upcoming event of great proportion and promise, may allow that notion to be felt fully throughout the community. “Even though you don’t agree with what somebody thinks or believes, you can still accept them as a person,” Oudman said.

Half-days give students a break before Thanksgiving

Teacher conferences track student progress

Staff Writer

Portage Central’s annual Breadli� will be held Nov. 17. An estimated 200 students are expected. The object of Breadli� is to go door to door to raise money for the March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to the study and research of premature births and birth defects. Student Council representatives have passed out sign-up sheets. Students should visit the Student Council room, Room 403, for more information.

Three colleges that have yet to visit will be here to meet with juniors and seniors. Kuyper College will be visiting Monday at 10:35 a.m., Hillsdale College on Tuesday at 9:40 a.m., and Olivet College will visit on Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. Juniors and seniors wishing to a�end should sign up in the counseling oﬃce one to two days prior to the scheduled visit date. Meetings will take place in the Counseling Oﬃce conference room.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 20 and 21, are both half-days due to parent-teacher conferences. On Tuesday, only 1st through 4th hours will meet, and Wednesday’s schedule is 5th through 7th hours. Students will be released immediately a�erward for Thanksgiving break, leaving the following Thursday and Friday free of any school activities.

teacher conferences

Last-minute college visits help students prepare

thanksgivng break

Breadlift raises money for premature babies

college visits

breadlift 2007

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 19. The conferences will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Conferences are held in the gym, and parents can pick up report cards and meet individually with teachers at that location.

-Briefs compiled by Carly Nagengast

News

Stampede

page three

hallways and city streets

Nov. 9, 2007

Peace Jam works to create a better world BY JORDAN PETERS

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

SSSSLIPPERY: John Grifﬁoen, a sophomore, holds one of his 19 corn snakes. He also owns two lizards, two frogs, 80 ﬁsh, a dog and a parrot.

A sssssssssweet escape BY JOY DUO

Staff Writer

John Griffioen’s bedroom is flourishing with life. Tank a�er tank of mice, fish, frogs, lizards and snakes line the walls. Reptile posters cover closet doors, and sounds of bubbling water fill the room. Students have a wide variety of hobbies and interests, but very few can say they work with pets that are more than five feet long. Griffioen, a sophomore, owns 19 corn snakes; three of them are adults and the rest are babies. He is a registered snake breeder and a member of Michigan Society of Herpetologists, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on reptiles and amphibians. Corn snakes are one of the most popular types of pet snakes. The name “corn snake” refers to the checkered pa�ern on their bellies, which looks like Indian corn. Some say they got their name because they are o�en found in corn fields where they search for rodents. “Corn snakes are the number one pet snake in the world,” Griffioen said. “They are my favorite type of snake. They’re convenient in size and easy to manage.” Griffioen’s love for snakes started when his fi�h-grade teacher brought a ball python to class. The ball python stayed in the classroom for the year and became the class pet. In addition to the 19 corn snakes, he has a dog named Dakota, two lizards, a bull frog and a tree frog, around 80 fish, about 25 mice and a parrot named Peaches. “This is actually the least amount of pets I have,” he said. “I really want a rainbow boa. My mom stopped making me get more pets because I’m going to college in a couple of years and nobody else wants to take care of them.” Griffioen is fully responsible for all his pets, an arduous task that requires patience and diligence. “It takes a lot of time and work to take

care of all of them,” he said. “It takes me an of people do,” Griffioen said. “There’s just hour just to feed all the snakes. I buy all the something about snakes that I love. Most mice, cages, tanks, food and other supplies. people don’t like snakes, but that’s because I want to get a job at MVPets so I can afford they don’t understand them. Most of my to keep them all.” friends think what I do is really cool.” Griffioen used to breed fish before he Griffioen’s girlfriend, sophomore started breeding corn snakes. He found his Allyson Mills, remembers how her first corn snake in the Kalamazoo Gaze�e four perspective of snakes changed dramatically years ago. a�er she met Griffioen. “Rico, my first corn snake, is my “The first time I walked into John’s favorite,” Griffioen said. “She was about bedroom, I was really scared when he took four months old when I got her. She’s the out Rico for me,” she said. “But the more mom of all my baby snakes.” I got to know his snakes, the more I got to He named the love them. I actually other female corn want a ball python as snake Corazon, a pet, but my mom which means “heart” is deathly afraid of It takes me an in Spanish, because of snakes. It takes a hour just to feed the heart on her head. while to get used His longest snake, to them, but they all the snakes. about five and a half are truly amazing. I feet long, is a male think what John does JOHN GRIFFIOEN corn snake named is really unique.” Sophomore Gordo. Griffioen has “All the adult sold a total of 26 snakes have Spanish corn snakes. The names,” he said. “It baby snakes range all started with Rico. I don’t name the baby from $25 to $40 depending on the color snakes because I don’t want to get a�ached morphs. He made over $500 last year but to them.” spent most of the money on an incubator “My parents never thought they would and snake rack. have this many snakes in the house,” Griffioen’s corn snakes have escaped a Griffioen said. “They didn’t want me to get few times; most were found alive and well. [the snakes] in the beginning, but I talked One of his snakes, however, did not have a them into it. My mom tolerates them, but my happy ending. dad likes them.” “I got an ultramel male corn snake Griffioen has a freezer in the garage in May of 2005 as my birthday present,” where he freezes his mice. Before he feeds Griffioen said. “He was going to be Rico’s them to the corn snakes, he thaws the mice mating partner. He arrived in the a�ernoon, with hot water. and I put him in his tank. The next morning, Griffioen makes sure his adult corn I woke up and went to check on him, but snakes are healthy for the breeding season. he wasn’t there. We looked everywhere He puts them in the basement a�er but couldn’t find him. That Christmas, I Halloween where it is about 50 degrees went to get the Christmas tree box and saw for them to go into brumation, which is something stuck to the duct tape. I realized hibernation for snakes. it was the male corn snake; he had been dead They go four to five months without for seven months. It was gross.” food and come back out in February or It’s clear that Griffioen has a love for March to mate. The eggs usually hatch in reptiles, so it’s no surprise when he said he the late summer. Griffioen keeps his baby wants to be a reptile vet when he grows up. snakes in plastic containers. He has 16 baby To find out more about Griffioen and corn snakes for sale right now. his corn snakes, visit his web site at h�p:// “Breeding snakes is not something a lot www.jagcornsnakes.com.

“

Sophomore John Grifﬁoen, a snake breeder, owns 19 corn snakes

Staff Writer

Only one-fi�h of the world’s population has access to clean, drinkable water, while students spend countless dollars on bo�led water. The daily fret of not having a $1.25 bo�le of water seems insignificant compared to the needs of people in foreign countries, who spend a great deal of time and effort working for clean water. Peace Jam, a student-driven organization focuses on world issues and works hard to provide aid for many of these problems. Teacher Kate Hazen, Portage Central’s Peace Jam ambassador, believes the success of the organization is dependent on the ambition of high school students everywhere. “The idea is to look how we can bring about peace through the awareness of youth,” Hazen said. “We work for the ‘call to action’ and ge�ing the youth involved.” The world’s water issue has been a concern for some time, and Hazen is determined to enlighten students about it. The issue at hand does not only concern drinking water but other forms of water usage as well. “I see people leave on their sprinklers even when it’s raining,” Hazen continued. “People take hour-long showers and waste so much of our supply.” Senior Sarah Nemire has been an active member of Peace Jam for the last two years. The chance to make a major difference in the lives of people appeals to her. “I hope this year we take a more active stance,” Nemire said. “We have the drive to go out there and make a difference.” Regardless of Peace Jam’s message, students’ schedules are o�en very difficult to work around. Many people would like to have time to help, but it’s easier said than done. “If we can reach out to students to get involved, we would be incredibly successful,” Nemire said. “There is so much opportunity to make a large impact.” Throughout the year, rallies held at Western usually require an entrance fee. For those who wish to partake in Peace Jam activities without financial commitment, Hazen o�en holds meetings in her room, though upcoming events are unknown.

Coca-Cola recognizes English teacher English teacher Janet LaVasseur has been named a 2007 Coca-Cola Educator of Distinction by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She is one of 250 educators nationwide chosen for this honor. These awards are given out to the educators responsible for heavily inﬂuencing the scholar winner’s education. In LaVasseur’s case, Rahul Dalal named LaVassuer the biggest educational inﬂuence of his high school career.

Student body president is DAR winner Congratulations to Kent White, the local DAR winner. DAR, Daughters of American Revolution, is an organization that presents awards to people who excel in character, integrity and commitment to service. These people are nominated by the faculty and are expected to submit an essay focusing on the American democratic system. “It’s an unexpected honor,” White said. “I really appreciate that the staﬀ and teachers recognize the work that I do.”

-Jordan Peters

PC Pop Quiz answer: c) President of the Board of Education, named in his honor.

Breadlift is coming up!

New e-mail address: pcstudentcouncil@yahoo.com

Your 2007-08 Portage Central Student Council.

STUDENT COUNCIL Portage Central

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

Nov. 9, 2007

Our View

DLEY

BRA

LINDER

PED /STAM

Voting, ﬁghting and beer Young adults can handle drinking

Higher drinking age keeps us safe

vibe editor

news editor

JENNY KILDUFF

Stampede Staff Levi Barry and Laura Pone Editors-in-Chief Andrew Krietz.................................................News Editor Erin Lenczycki.................................................View Editor Amanda Norris...............................................Focus Editor Jenny Kilduff....................................................Vibe Editor Nate Frisbie...................................................Sports Editor Romy Bond.....................................................Photo Editor Marah Klose...................................Art & Graphics Editor Carly Nagengast.......................................Deadline Editor Assistant Editors/Staff Writers............................................. ...................Amna Azam, Nicole Chrusciel, Keenan Cronyn, ............................ Alaina Dely, Joy Duo, Christianna Gluys, ..........................Jordan Peters, James Phillips, Holli Smith, ................................................Mier Wang, Taylor Whisman, Artists.................................Grete Grubelich, Bradley Linder Business Manager..................................................Phill Ham Adviser...........................................................Cheryl Braford The Central Stampede publishes approximately one publication a month, primarily by the Journalism II class at Portage Central High School, 8135 S. Westnedge, Portage, MI 49002. It also uses work from Journalism I students. Ofﬁce: (269) 323-5218 Fax: (269) 323-5290 Room 306 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.

ANDREW KRIETZ

At 18, a person can vote for people to lead his community, state and country. He can also join the Army and risk his life for his country. He can even be tried as an adult in court or get married. Yet, at 18, he cannot drink. Our government recognizes 18-year-olds as adults and affords them certain rights because of it. Drinking alcohol is not one of them, but it should be. The United States of America was founded on basic ideals and individual freedoms. Those freedoms should include drinking. It is each individual’s right to choose if he or she wants to drink; it should not be the government’s decision. In other countries, kids grow up drinking. Maybe it is just a glass of wine at the dinner table, but by the time they turn 18 (the drinking age in most other countries), it is no longer anything special. Changing the drinking age to 18 would lessen the mystique surrounding alcohol. Forcing teens to wait until they turn 21 doesn’t work. The government is finding that kids don’t want to wait and are rebelling. America has the oldest drinking age in the world, and yet is clear that the current drinking age is not working. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 5,000 people under 21 die as a result of underage drinking each year. Nearly 50 percent of 12th-graders have had a drink in the past 30 days. Drunken driving-related car accidents are significantly greater for teens 16- to 20-year-olds than it is for those 21 and older. Once teens have been trusted with the responsibility, they will become more responsible. In 2005, a Vermont legislator proposed a bill to lower the drinking age to 18. Clearly, it didn’t pass. Dr. John McCardell of Middlebury College, agrees that the drinking age should be lowered to 18. As a college president, he saw many students drinking who were not yet 18, and so his argument is that having the drinking age at 21 creates more problems than it solves. There is even a petition at petitiononline.com to lower the drinking age to 18, and they have over 33,000 signatures. By changing the drinking age to 18, we will be helping today’s youth. If we can choose to risk our lives at 18, we should be able to drink at 18.

Taking root in many universities and communities, the notion of lowering the legal drinking from 21 to 18 has caused quite a stir across the country. In the city of Kent, Ohio, home of Kent State University, council members have asked state legislators to consider lowering the legal age minimum, but the age of 21 as the minimum age is just the regulation needed. By lowering the minimum drinking age, young adults will be free to hang out with friends and head to entertainment venues, likely with a drink passed here or there, under the influence of peer pressure. A supporter of the idea, Ruth Engs, is a professor at Indiana University; she believes that young adults will actually be “safer” in these public locations because they will be under the public eye. However, no one is there to watch what these individuals do or how they act once they leave that location, and therein lies the problem. A petition by the National Youth Rights Association argues that if members of the United States military can drink, the rest of the 18 and up population should too. The answer: why should they? The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 clearly defines that all states must enforce the age of 21 as a minimum age for purchasing or having possession of alcoholic beverages. Federalism also plays a role; while states must follow the 21 rule, they are allowed to legislate their own drinking laws. The exception, again, is the U.S. military, where the age is lowered to 18 on some occasions. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or M.A.D.D., 56 percent of all traffic crashes in 1984 were alcohol-related. That number dropped to a low point of 39 percent in 2004, but has risen a percent each year since 2005. If people are drinking in restaurants and on college campuses, they are going to want to travel away from those locations, either for meeting with friends, engaging in entertaining activities, or a�ending a sporting event. These young adults will step into a vehicle and drive while intoxicated, endangering the lives of themselves and others. A law that keeps the age at 21 and is known to save lives should not be changed or revoked for any reason.

Jenny Kilduff is Vibe Editor for the Central Stampede.

Andrew Krietz is News Editor for the Central Stampede.

Students

Speak Out

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?

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.

“No. A lot of high school students would come to school hungover.” DESIREE DOWNY Freshman

“Yes. If it was lowered, people wouldn’t be as motivated to drink as much as they are now.” MICHAEL BORRE Sophomore

“No. There would prob- “Yes. I think if you can ably be more accidents go ﬁght a war you should and people may come to be able to drink.” school drunk.” ROB HEATH Semior FRANCESCA BIGNASCI Junior

View Uniting for Uganda

Stampede

page ﬁve

opinions and editorials

Nov. 9, 2007

Fighting to expose a mass genocide overseas

COURTESY

view editor

GØRIL TRONDSEN BOOTH

BARE ARMS: Ugandan troops make their way to the next village to help innocent victims of the genocide attacks.

ERIN LENCZYCKI

The late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy firmly believed that the world needed the enthusiasm of youth. He once said, “It is young people who must take the lead,” and it is still young people, to this day, who must lead by example. For the years we have graced this green earth, people around us have told us to take our future and sculpt it. Our families, our teachers and our mentors taught us that even the humblest person can change the course of history. Now is our chance to do just that. For 20 years, a rebel army known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has waged a fierce war against the Ugandan government. The results of this war are devastating. When the LRA began losing followers to fight its war, they began abducting children from villages in the middle of the night. It’s estimated that 30,000 children from ages 7 to 17 have been taken and forced to serve as soldiers and sex slaves. Rebels use extreme brutality to keep the abducted children from fighting back, including torture and forcing the children to participate in the killing of other children who try to escape. If there is a successful escape, it’s estimated that only 2,000 have done so; those that remain in the LRA’s hands are punished. Since 1996, 95 percent of children abducted, Northern Uganda’s population raped and tortured has been forced to evacuate their homes and live in displacement camps to protect civilians and prevent the LRA from stealing food, children and supplies from the villages. More than two

30,000

million people have been forced raise money for 100 days for 24 predetermined schools in into these camps in the last ten Uganda. The money goes toward rebuilding, or in many cases, years. While in these camps, they building new schools, new books, teachers, technology and not only fear for their children’s be�er supplies. Last year, they raised over $1 million, and the lives but for their own. They must possibilities for next year are endless. We must band together as endure disease, small huts that a school and take action; when we do we can inspire others to children have are overcrowded, malnutrition do the same. escaped the wrath and nightly a�acks from the Last year, three Honors English 9 classes raised over $1,000 of the LRA to fight the genocide in Darfur. They did this in a ma�er of two LRA. The crisis in Uganda has been weeks. Student Council was gracious enough to donate $200 to ignored for far too long. This that cause, for the purchase of “Save Darfur” wristbands. I encourage Student Council to act on Uganda as well. is our time to let our voices be heard. Show the world our generation will not allow such If Student Council sponsored a school-wide fundraiser for heinous acts to occur; show them that we want change and we Uganda, we could raise over $15,000 if every student donates at will unite as one voice to see it through. Many already have. The least $1. non-profit organization Invisible Children Inc. was founded in What would $1 cost you? For you, a cookie at lunch or a 2003 when three college students journeyed to large slushie; for them, it could make the Africa in search of a story. difference between life and death. “Invisible Children: Rough Cut” is There are a number of actions you can take currently touring the country and will come that have the same effect. Write a le�er to Sen. to Comstock High School in mid-March. For Levin or Sen. Stabenow, or even President those who wish to see the film sooner, it can Bush. The le�ers you write are not ignored. be purchased online at invisiblechildren.com Even spreading facts about the crisis helps to people arrived along with t-shirts and other accessories that create change. Go to a showing of Invisible in 15 cities and benefit the people of Uganda. It can also be Children Inc.’s documentary or buy it and stayed over night found on YouTube. Since its first showing in watch it with some friends. late 2003, the film has sent shockwaves across Lastly, I encourage you to follow the words the country, creating a movement unlike any of the late Sen. Kennedy who once said, “Each other. time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of For example, on April 27 people gathered in 15 cities to others, or strikes out against injustice, he send forth a ripple unite for the displaced people of Northern Uganda. Over 68,000 of hope…and those ripples build a current which can sweep people arrived in those 15 cities and stayed for three nights down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” in tents, boxes and sleeping bags to demonstrate some of the Change is not made by one voice; change is brought along conditions the Ugandan people must cope with every day. by millions of voices joining as one. Another way to get involved is the Invisible Children Inc.’s “Schools For Schools” program. Schools throughout the country Erin Lenczycki is View Editor for the Central Stampede.

2,000

3,000,000

Under (college) pressure Calling for an end to second-hand smoke staff writer vibe T AY L O R W H I S M A N

People constantly ask me, where do you want to go to college? What’s your major going to be? When I answer “I have a few ideas, but I’m not sure yet,” they give me an odd look as if to say, “She’ll never make it. She’s too far behind.” Being a high school student, more specifically a senior, in this day and age is stressful. Preparing for college, homework, jobs, sports, friends, family – it’s not easy to balance it all. Time is scarce. I o�en have to schedule time to breathe. It takes every bit of strength to avoid falling off the edge. No wonder we get “Senioritis.” There is too much pressure on high school students to be focusing on the future. I doubt every successful idol we look up to knew who they were going to become at 18 years old. These are meant to be the best years of our lives. How can that be when we’re under so much stress? We want to be treated like adults, but let’s admit it, we’re still only kids. To answer the question “What do I want to do with the rest of my life?” doesn’t seem practical. It’s too early to make such an important decision. It’s ridiculous to put so much emphasis on which college we’ll a�end, choosing a career and becoming successful. As teenagers, we can barely plan past Friday night. There’s plenty of time to decide where we want to go and what we want to do. The “all work and no play” a�itude makes the best years of our lives some of the worst. I’ve been told that we should work hard now and in a few years it will pay off, but does it really? It may only bring us to the conclusion that we missed out on the best of times. The pressure parents and teachers put on their students to straighten up and get focused

is sometimes unbearable. We have it backwards. Our focus should be on the here and now. Life’s too short to worry about what we’ll get on the ACT and ensuring we have enough volunteer hours to put us over the top. We need to ﬁnd a balance between good study habits and having the best time we can in high school. These are the last few years of our childhood. Years from now, you’re not going to want to look back and say, “I never missed a homework assignment, and my teachers loved my dedication.” You will want to look back on your high school career knowing you had strong friendships and experienced the most out of life. If we stop worrying about the rest of our lives and start taking it day by day, success will surely follow. Relax, and ﬁnd time to breathe.

Taylor Whisman is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

BRADLEY LINDER /STAMPEDE

editor

JENNY KILDUFF

When smoke from another table wa�s over while enjoying a meal, it makes me want to do a “dine ‘n dash,” but not for the reasons you may think. Not only is it disgusting to be around secondhand smoke, not to mention to eat around it, but it has harmful side effects as well. Smoking in public places should be illegal. Premature deaths, asthma, cancer, heart disease, are just some of the side effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, from cigare�es, cigars, and pipes cause approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths, and 46,000 heart disease deaths in people who do not smoke each year. If someone chooses to smoke, that is their choice, but these people die without having influence over the ma�er. Want to go workout? Secondhand smoke can cause lasting damage to your cardiovascular system. How about having children someday? Secondhand smoke can cause miscarriages and may cause your baby to be underweight when born. Afraid of ge�ing cancer? Secondhand smoke can cause cancers such as lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer, cervical cancer and breast cancer. It can also cause heart disease, respiratory track infection, asthma induction, strokes, and behavioral problems in children. Everyone knows that smoking kills, it is a common fact. However, people still choose to smoke, but its not just killing them its killing the people around them. If we made smoking in public places illegal, people would be able to go to restaurants and bars without pu�ing themselves at risk. I go out to dinner a lot with family friends who have a 7-year-old daughter. As we sit

in the restaurant, it is not uncommon to see secondhand smoke surround us. We have done this for a number of years, and if we continue to do this, by the time she’s an adult their daughter’s lung will look like a smoker’s lung. With the magnitude of health risks present today, watching for secondhand smoke should not have to be a first priority. By making smoking in public places illegal we are eliminating one more thing we have to worry about. As many as 15 states have already passed this law, including California, New York, Massachuse�s, New Jersey, New Mexico and Washington. Some states have passed legislation banning smoking in public places but the law has not come into effect yet. These states have taken the initiative and are trying to save lives. Michigan should do the same. This may even encourage more people to quit smoking altogether. If you want to slowly kill yourself, then that’s your choice, but the people around you shouldn’t have to inhale secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous to young children. Parents in the state of Michigan should not be afraid to take their kids out BRADLEY LINDER to restaurants with /STAMPEDE them. It would be nice if people could walk into a bar or restaurant, have a good time, and come out not smelling like smoke, and with no toxins in their lungs. The American Lung Association has issued a challenge, Smokefree Air 2010. The challenge is to get all cities and states to ban smoking in public places by 2010. Michigan citizens need to pressure our representatives to sign on. A le�er available on their web site allows citizens to print, sign and send to your representatives. Make a difference. Save lives from secondhand smoke. Get involved.

Jenny Kilduff is Vibe Editor for the Central Stampede.

View

Stampede

page six

opinions and editorials

Nov. 9, 2007

A war of morals

As society grows, so does racism editorin-chief

L E V I B A R RY

BRADLEY LINDER/STAMPEDE

It’s a hot day in the Deep South.Three African-American teenagers seek some shade under a sprawling oak tree in front of their Jena, La., high school. Not a problem, except this tree, commonly called the White Tree, is usually surrounded by a group of white students. The next day, three nooses hang from the oak tree. The students who hung the nooses are suspended, but no charges are brought against them. Soon a�er, six black students beat a white student, and these six are charged for a�empted murder. The case sparks protests across the nation by those fighting for equality in the justice system. The case and subsequent protests would be right at home during the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s, but this isn’t a story from a history book. The “Jena Six”, as the six black students are called, first had charges brought against them as adults. Since that time, only one of the six, 17-year-old Mychal Bell, has been tried, a�er si�ing in jail for almost 10 months. The horror of this story comes from the fact that this is not just an isolated incident in the Deep South. At Columbia University in New York, a noose was hung from an AfricanAmerican professor’s door and antiSemitic graffiti was found in a bathroom. According to an Opinion Research Corporation, 84 percent of blacks and 66

percent of whites see racism as at least “somewhat serious” in society today. These events portray an unnerving image of the true psyche of the American people, not one where all are created equal, but one in which racism still smolders in the hearts of many, waiting for an opportunity or reason to creep out. The issue is the way we as Americans are taught. We are merely told to tolerate each other. Tolerance is just a bad glance away from intolerance, especially if that tolerance is seated in social laws. We do not need to hear about tolerance; we need to hear about acceptance, which includes accepting everyone, seeing as others see and trying to understand points of view. The problem, also, is that intolerance is o�en seen as a problem speciﬁc to the younger generation. The youth, though, reﬂect the adults. Too o�en someone preaches acceptance, yet may secretly harbor feelings against Mexicans, Arabs, Asians, Jews and even whites. How are youth to learn when adults talk of acceptance but show none themselves? They can’t. Today’s youth show the most potential for acceptance, but they also have the most possibility for future disaster. It is true progress has been made; Sen. Barack Obama’s run for presidency is proof of that. Legally, we are all treated equally, but old stereotypes still exist. Racism and prejudice still run deep in America, but hopefully events like the Jena Six will one day stay where they should – in the history books.

Levi Barry is Editor-in-Chief for the Central Stampede.

Copyright laws suffocate brand names It’s hard to tell when copyrights are stepping on other people’s toes graphics editor

MARAH KLOSE

That major event, you know, the one in 2012. The logo for it is ﬁve colored rings, and it’s going to be in the capital of England. But don’t say the name, it’s copyrighted over there! Yes, that’s right. The word “Olympic,” as well as certain other phrases referring to the 2012 summer games, are all under copyright law in England. The commi�ee in charge of advertising the games can’t actually go as far as prosecuting someone for mentioning it in conversation, but under Parliamentary law, they can legitimately ﬁle suit against those using the phrases in an “unauthorized” published work. This is a step in a dangerous direction for England, and I dearly hope the United States does not seek to follow suit. Copyrighting words and phrases would give way to corporations scrambling to privatize as many phrases as possible so as to secure their images. By consenting to copyrights like these, citizens basically throw away parts of public domain to private businesses. If allowed to copyright freely, companies could severely reduce parodies simply for fear of legal proceedings

D PE

against the creator of the parody. These frivolous laws would also limit freedom of speech and of the press, which are both fundamental to our society. While Congress hasn’t passed any completely ludicrous copyrights yet, businesses have still made a�empts. CNN Money reported that Wal-Mart is claiming a list of its Black Friday sale

prices are copyrighted, almost a repeat of Best Buy and many other retailers in 2006, as reported by the Arizona Republic. According to Reason.com, Disney has long a�empted to claim their images as copyrighted, including murals of Disney characters in a day care (1989), and a painting by John Keane in 1991 of a war-torn beach that happened to have a

E VA N N P O T T S

In the past eight years, two sports have emerged in Portage: lacrosse and water polo. Eight years ago, a nationally known water polo player and teacher, Eric Lancaster, decided to start a Portagebased team. The Portage men’s water polo team has had great success considering the diﬃcult region that they play in, as has another club sport in Portage: lacrosse. Both teams are required to do their own funding. According to senior lacrosse

player Barry Beranek, it costs about $500 to play each lacrosse season plus extra expenses for equipment, whereas water polo fills gravel bags to raise about $3,000, lowering the price each player has to pay to about $200 per season Why Beranek would want to spend so much money on a sport is no doubt for his love and passion for the game. Beranek has been playing on the lacrosse club team for five years, and senior Levi Barry has dominated the pool and has been playing on the club team for six years. However, there is one major difference in these two players. While each has played on their respective club teams for nearly the same amount of years, Beranek has received a varsity le�er the past four years while Barry has been le� in the pool with no recognition

Polo players strive for guest writer

T /S

Mickey Mouse doll in it. In light of this ridiculous controversy over a simple phrase, I fear we could be heading toward a society with a lockedup lexicon and copyrights everywhere, making papers and stories nearly impossible to write.

Marah Klose is Graphics Editor for the Central Stampede.

arsity letters

of a varsity le�er. The lacrosse team and the water polo teams both follow the Michigan High School Athletic Association rules and play at the varsity level. It is absolutely absurd that one club sport receive a varsity le�er while the other does not. I am not trying to diminish the achievements of lacrosse players; however, the administration should not value one sport over another. Lancaster said, “We treat [water polo] as a varsity sport and play against varsity teams and I think that they should receive a varsity le�er.” Even Beranek admits “it’s confusing.” Obviously! There is no reason why players on the water polo team should not receive a varsity le�er. If America is about promoting equality, then why would a government-

funded school which supposedly abides by the Constitution not provide equal treatment to all of its student-athletes? Varsity le�ers should absolutely be oﬀered to players of both water polo and lacrosse. However, as of now, I will be graduating high school not receiving any varsity le�ers despite the fact that I have been playing water polo at the varsity level for the past four years.

Polo Stats

Players for the Muskies

Years Established

Evann Potts, a senior, is a Journalism I student.

Teams in Muskies’ Conference

Focus

Stampede

page seven

features and lifestyles

Nov. 9, 2007

Runnin’ on

EMPTY

6:45 a.m.

GETTING READY:

Alec brushes his teeth as he prepares for the day ahead.

7 a.m.

6 a.m.

WAITING FOR A RIDE:

At the bus stop, Alec is

ready for school. ALL PHOTOS BY KEENAN CRONYN/STAMPEDE

WAKE UP!: Alec Buerkel wakes up after a ﬁtful night of sleep. He is one of millions of teens who run on less than the suggested amount of shut-eye per night.

Sleep deprivation affects academic success BY KEENAN CRONYN

Staff Writer

Still hung-over from a Halo 3 binge, Alec Buerkel stumbles through a couple of cords toward a beeping alarm clock when he catches a glimpse of the time: 6 a.m. Buerkel, a sophomore, has only been asleep for two hours. He hastily completes his morning routine: showering, eating and dashing out the door. Like many teens, Buerkel rarely gets a full night of sleep. Plagued by homework, friends and various hobbies, his thirst for a full night of shut-eye is hard to satiate. According to the American Medical Association, the ideal amount of sleep is somewhere between six to eight hours a night, but according to senior Katie Moharter, the average amount of sleep for her is somewhere between five and six hours. “Even though I’m only able to get a few hours of sleep, it doesn’t affect me much; it’s really not that bad,” she said. Though Moharter doesn’t feel the strain, some students find the task of balancing a bulky schedule a daunting task throughout the course of a regular evening. Between hours of homework, friends, a job, a commitment to a sport or even just a few personal hobbies, it seems impossible for some to find time to breathe and unwind. By the time students do find relief in their packed schedules,

they’ve lost track of time. With many cramming for tests or simply wasting their evenings away with something a bit less important, their preoccupation has caused them to forget about the clock. Freshman Evan Carpenter also has had trouble finding a solid schedule. “Throughout the soccer season, I was constantly tired and had trouble finding time for everything,” Carpenter said. “But it made ge�ing to sleep that much be�er and waking up that much harder.” When students like Carpenter do get the chance to find the nearest clock, it doesn’t seem uncommon to find bad news. But that’s only half the ba�le. When students crawl out of bed and into the blur of morning priorities, some students reach their breaking point. Even Buerkel admits “it’s not unusual to hit (the snooze bu�on) a few times every morning.” Throughout the halls and classrooms, the lack of sleep students are exposed to could see a change. With some students unable to get their healthy amount of sleep, the thought of a full night’s sleep seems like “a dream,” according to Moharter. So when Buerkel sets foot on the steps of the bus and slowly makes his way back to his usual seat, he hesitates as he thinks of the long day ahead. And like some other students, he’ll look forward to the weekend and the relief of sleep where life is but a dream.

10 p.m.

NIGHTLY ACTIVITY: After a long day at school, Alec relaxes and plays video games.

12 a.m.

TIME FOR BED: Finally, upon the new day’s arrival, Alec hits the sack.

Cheff provides unique volunteering opportunity

Cheff

BY SARAH ERDMAN

helps nearly 100 patients a week through hippotherapy

Hippotherapy has been proven to have emotional beneﬁts as well as physical

Beneﬁts patients that have autism, cerebral palsy or have had a stroke or brain injury

where Dan lives is the executive director, Tara East’s office. “Everything we do is donated, all He stands quietly as his headgear is of the horses and the volunteer work,” put on and waits to go into the ring. This East said. “We have a constant ba�le is where all of his training and hard work of working the herd (of horses) and the pays off. He has never lost a ba�le, and kind of students who can ride those always comes out of the ring with a sense horses. We have to keep a balance of of accomplishment. the right number of horses and the right No, he is not a boxer waiting to go number of students so we don’t have into the ring and hurt his opponent; in extra horses we never use and have to fact, he is quite the opposite. Dan may be feed, or we have too few horses for too a large horse, but he is a gentle giant when many riders.” he helps disabled kids and adults at the Cheff charges a small fee for its Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center (Cheff) hippotherapy program because it is in Augusta. extremely expensive therapy, but that Dan is one of many horses at Cheff fee only covers a small amount of Cheff’s that help nearly 100 patients a week expenses. Therefore, Cheff relies mostly through a hippotherapy program. on donations and volunteers. Hippotherapy benefits patients that have Most of Cheff’s donations come autism, cerebral palsy or have had strokes from its annual Ride-A-Thon, where or traumatic brain injury to name a few. local horse owners can bring their horses Just two hallways away from the barn and ride on 15 beautiful miles that wind

Guest Writer

through Cheff’s property and Kellogg Forest, among other locations. Senior Whitney Thomas is one of hundreds who participated this year. “They give the families at Cheff what they need because they generally can’t afford it,” Thomas said. “It’s good for the horses too because most of them are pre�y old, and they are finished with their careers, and this a great opportunity at another job.” Even if the work of volunteers and administration of Cheff is tough when money is tight, it pays off. East especially loves interacting with the kids, as does sophomore volunteer Bri�any Boyer “I really love horses and (Cheff) is a good way to incorporate horses with people,” Boyer said. One week, a boy fell off his horse and did not want to get back on the next week. Boyer and other

volunteers encouraged the boy to, and he eventually did. “It was really cool to help him overcome his fear,” said Boyer. The horses at Cheff not only help individuals physically, but hippotherapy has also been proven to have emotional and physiological benefits as well. Not only does it help the patients trust their horses, but it also gives them a home away from home where they won’t be judged because of their differences. Although Dan is aging, his participation along with the other horses and volunteers assist in changing patients’ lives forever. Cheff’s giving of this home away from home and offering it at a reasonable price has touched patients and their families immensely. East said, “We know that we are doing the right thing when parents call and say, ‘We can’t live without you.’”

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Focus Stampede

page eight

page nine

features and lifestyles

Fight for your rights

A look at students and the First Amendment Editor-in-Chief

She didn’t intend to oﬀend anyone, just voice her opinion. Last year, junior Amna Azam published an opinion article in the Central Stampede discussing the stereotypes o�en associated with students who a�end the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC). Azam based her opinion article on personal observation of student and teacher behavior. Almost immediately a�er the article’s publication, she received a surprisingly large amount of negative comments about her views. Still, Azam never regre�ed publishing it. “I’m entitled to my own opinion, and I’m open to any criticism that follows,” Azam said. Every day, students like Azam exercise their First Amendment rights, o�en without ever realizing to what greater extent those rights could be utilized. The First Amendment guarantees all United States citizens freedom of religion, speech, peaceable assembly, the right to petition their government, and it assures freedom of the press. Although these rights are guaranteed to all American citizens, according to a survey conducted by the Knight Foundation in 2005, about 63 percent of high school students say they don’t know how they feel about the First Amendment, or that they take it for granted and do not exercise their rights. Principal Eric Alburtus believes that, despite the controversial political climate within the United States today, students o�en don’t feel very connected to important issues like the Iraq War because they are so far removed from them. “It doesn’t feel immediate to many students, most of us don’t feel it as closely,” Alburtus said. Senior Brandon Soderman, who o�en speaks passionately and openly about First Amendment issues at Portage Central, agrees with Alburtus that many students simply accept their rights, but do not use them to initiate change. “I think people don’t question the way they live, they live their lives simply by habit,” Soderman said. Soderman believes that overall, students are able to fairly exercise their rights, but believes that sometimes students receive mixed messages from teachers about how to do so. “School teaches us to do things about issues that are bothering us, but sometimes when students try to speak out, teachers believe they are doing so at the wrong time and students receive detentions,” Soderman said. According to Alburtus, Portage Central has rarely had an issue with students and groups protesting or exercising their rights in a way that is disruptive to the educational environment. “If someone has an issue they tend to bring it up right

away,” Alburtus said. “There are times when students want to make a point, but they do it in ways that are appropriate. I feel that the Stampede and Student Council are also good outlets for student expression if a problem arises.”

weren’t viewed as a threat in any way, then we would think that people aren’t reading it.”

No prior-review here

Many students do not realize the Central Stampede is not priorreviewed by the administration before publication. One of the most chilling limits to student speech is simply When faced with a controversial article, Stampede adviser and referred to as “Hazelwood.” It is Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, a journalism teacher Cheryl Braford reminds students to research 1988 Supreme Court case that maintains public school student thoroughly and interview carefully. newspapers have not been established as “The first thing I do when “forums for student expression.” The Court a student journalist proposes a further argued that student newspapers controversial topic is make sure that the do not require the same amount of First journalist completely understands that Amendment protection as individual any comment that is made in print must student expression. be backed by fact. That is the hallmark This ruling essentially allows high of good, ethical journalism, which I school administrators to censor, or “prior promote,” Braford said. review,” a publication if they feel it is too Alburtus, a former adviser for the controversial or disruptive. Stampede with a journalism degree from Such is the case at Loy Norrix High Northwestern University, believes that School, where the student newspaper, Knight despite a few problems with controversial Life, is reviewed by the Dean of Students stories published during past years, A MNA AZAM before publication. the Stampede does not need to be priorJunior If the administrators deem an article, reviewed. advertisement or photo “inappropriate,” they can stop “{The Stampede} has never done anything to make me think the paper from publishing it. we should somehow restrict students’ free speech rights,” Alburtus Knight Life adviser Tisha Pankop admits that said. the process is sometimes frustrating, especially when Soderman agrees that the Stampede has a right to not be paper deadlines are pushed back, which Pankop says censored by the administration in order to provide readers with happens about two times per year. be�er information. When students disagree with a decision made “The Stampede should not be censored,” Soderman said. by the administration, they first go to the Student “Readers have the right to know what is really happening in our Press Law Center, a Washington, D.C.,-based school.” organization dedicated to helping high school and Braford said she o�en reminds journalism students that the college newspapers with free speech issues, to see freedom of publication comes with an obligation: to be overlyif censorship of the article is justified. The issue critical of how news is presented and to work tirelessly at ge�ing then follows a chain of command; it is first taken the facts right. to the school principal, then the superintendent, and if necessary, the school board. The process, Religion in school Student religious groups like the Fellowship of Christian Pankop says, is o�en exhausting for students. “Usually a compromise is found,” Pankop said, Athletes (FCA) and Lighthouse Christian Fellowship are also “but the journalism program at Loy Norrix has protected by the First Amendment to freely practice their religion. Sophomore Emily McCollum has been a member of FCA and been threatened several times.” Occasionally, students become very frustrated Lighthouse for two years and admits to facing some criticism from while fighting for stories, and simply decide the fellow students. “We do get comments about ‘Jesus water’ sometimes when we ba�le is not worth fighting. “I think o�en they give it up, and I feel that is hand things out before school,” McCollum said. Despite the situations that sometimes arise, McCollum says something that the administration depends on,” that they in no way impact her decision to continue as a member of Pankop said. Loy Norrix senior Sean Stoto has been FCA. “I’ve been a Christian since I was born,” McCollum said. “I see on the staff of Norrix’s paper, Knight Life, for two years and believes that knowing stories absolutely no reason why I would change that now.” Although Soderman does not share McCollum’s religious views, will be prior-reviewed affects how the staff he respects that the FCA employs its right to religious freedom at writes its stories. “Most certainly yes {prior-review has school. “They are just exercising their rights, so I don’t have a problem an effect on us}; for instance, we can’t go too deep into some school issues that with it,” Soderman said. Back in the Stampede newsroom, Azam meticulously looks over may cause a problem among students,” her next opinion article, fact-checking and making final corrections. Stoto said. Despite the frustrations Despite the potential for negative comments, Azam knows her Knight Life has faced, Pankop does article, along with the rest of the Stampede, will not be reviewed by not completely disagree with the any members of the administration before going to press. Braford respects students like Azam, who share their opinions process of prior review. “I don’t think it {prior review} confidently with the student body. “I really sometimes am discouraged by the lack of passion I is all bad,” she said. “When cuts are made by the administration see in students, and I wish that more of them would use their First it gives us an opportunity to go Amendment rights,” Braford said. “{I admire} people like Amna, back and think about things from who aren’t afraid to voice unpopular beliefs. Freedom of speech is a different point of view. If we our most precious right.”

Students need to speak up

Do you feel the school has ever restricted your right to free speech? No Yes

91%

staff writer

How much do you know about the First Amendment?

40%

CHRISTIANNA GLUYS

44%

16%

Censorship of Student Voice

“

I’m entitled to my own opinion, and I’m open to any criticism that follows.

“

BY LAURA PONE

Nov. 9, 2007

BRADLEY LINDER/STAMPEDE

Nothing A little

A lot

Do you believe the government has the right to censor the media?

84%

Yes

“

12%

4% No

Don’t Care

How often do you use your First Amendment rights?

73%

18%

Here, in the United States of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, I find few people are brave enough to speak freely. Ironic, right? But how many times have you thought, as a teacher is lecturing, What? That’s ridiculous! I completely disagree! You lean over to a friend and whisper a wi�y retort you’d love to use. She laughs, so you raise your hand, itching to blurt out your discontent with this absurd idea—only to mu�er, “Uh… I forgot…” when your friend says, “What are you doing?! You can’t say that!” In spite of our right to freedom of speech, we can’t get over this idea we “can’t say that!” The First Amendment was not created so we could idly stand by as millions struggle through another day; it was created to allow us the opportunity to change the world. For some reason, though, America seems to think si�ing alone and apart from each other is going to change the world, not realizing the only way to make a difference is to stand together and united for a cause. Years ago, the world was just as tumultuous, violent and disheartening as it is today, but the teenagers of previous decades managed to produce stunningly effective methods for making the world be�er, ideas which we now tend to take for granted today. Where would we be without the thousands of protests for civil rights and world peace in the 1960s? Certainly, we would not have such a diverse melting pot of cultures and ethnicity. What if America hadn’t fought for the rights of women or the freedom of slaves? I imagine women would be condemned for their opinions still, and minorities abused in the extreme. And what if, in the 1700s, no one was brave enough to demand something be done about the overwhelming power England held over 13 tiny colonies with nothing to lose and everything to gain? When the Bill of The First Rights was wri�en by Amendment was our Founding Fathers, not created so we there most definitely was could idly stand by a reason why as millions struggle the very First Amendment through another allowed the freedoms of day. speech, press, petition, assembly and religion; our founders strongly believed everyone should be allowed to speak their minds and to help others. And change the world we should! We live in an era of wars, diseases, genocide and awful living conditions, and the amount of effort being put into solving these issues takes care of just a miniscule fraction of our global problems. In order to actually save the people of the world, we must speak up. We simply must allow everyone to know the devastation the homeless and hungry are le� in every day. Those in war-torn countries are frightened and helpless and in need of far more than just houses—they need homes and families and lives again. The AIDS epidemic in Africa has been played down so much few people pay a�ention when comes up in the news, but until something can be done about a cure, it is essential to educate about the disease itself. It is important teenagers realize we are the next generation of the world. Our world would be enormously unjust and rigidly strict if no one could question authority and demand change. We have grown up in a time of tragedy, and we are the ones who will change that with our anger, our determination, and our passion, but only if we allow ourselves the freedoms established so long ago for this exact purpose.

Not Very No idea often often

ED MP

A /ST ER

L AD

LIN

“

Nov. 9, 2007

Christianna Gluys is a staff writer for the Central Stampede.

Can I...

...wear an inﬂammatory t-shirt? No.

...protest the war? Yes.

According to the First Amendment right to free speech and the Fourteenth Amendment right of Due Process Clause, students can protest the war. This right was given in the Tinker vs. Des Moines case of 1969, when students wore wristbands protesting the Vietnam War. The court ruled that this was a quiet, passive way of expressing their opinion.

...publish my own newspaper? Yes.

According to page 12 of the student planner, no student is permi�ed to wear anything that advertises or supports drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, or is profane or vulgar. Additionally, school oﬃcials are allowed to restrict clothing that disrupts the learning environment.

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE LEVI BARRY/STAMPEDE

Students are allowed to publish their own newspaper according to freedom of the press and freedom of speech. You are, however, required to obey the Defamation Law, and you can be prosecuted if you commit libel. Also, administrators would likely come down hard upon content that disrupts the educational se�ing. Page 16 of the student planner, however, states that school administrators have the right to editorial control over school-sponsored publications, a practice not embraced by the administration here.

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

Stampede

page ten Nov. 9, 2007

Focus features and lifestyles

How low

CANyou go?

Northern, Hackett establish stricter dress codes; no changes expected here BY CHRISTIANNA GLUYS

Staff Writer

BRADLEY LINDER/STAMPEDE

On those early, sweltering, steamy September days when students at Portage Northern High School came back from summer vacation, they were appalled to discover the dress code had changed. Girls could no longer indulge in the cool summery shortshorts and tiny tank tops they’d worn for the past months; boys were forced to buy belts for their baggy shorts. Even now, as the weather turns from beautiful sunshine and fluffy white clouds to rainy, cold and gray days, students are still carefully monitoring their a�ire at Northern. “Their definition of ‘low-cut’ is not low-cut,” said Kelin Michael, a sophomore at Northern, pointing out a neckline which cut off just below the collarbone. “It’s good to have restrictions,” said Central sophomore Chelsea Kirby, “but that’s ridiculous.” For students here at Central, the dress code is more relaxed and laid-back than at Northern. And while no revision to the code here is expected any time soon, the new policies there have been made at Northern for a reason, according to Northern Assistant Principal Kevin Riggs. “The biggest thing was that what was in the handbook was very vague and le� a lot up to interpretation,” Riggs said. Teachers at Northern felt uncomfortable correcting students on their clothing because they were unsure what was and was not acceptable. The updated dress code was modified by the policy commi�ee for the school, and now it defines precisely what students can wear to school and what they should save for hanging out with friends. Riggs feels the students are reacting well to the updates. “There is a difference, and I’ve heard a lot of positive comments,” he said. “To be honest, I’m very pleased.” The dress code at Hacke� Catholic Central was also modified this year in an a�empt to promote more appropriate choices among its student body. Among the previous requirements for students at Hacke� were restrictions on certain hairstyles and jewelry. New additions to Hacke�’s dress code are specified lengths for skirts and shorts during warmer

months. “It hasn’t been really enforced [in recent years],” said Hacke� junior Will Benoit. “I think if there was more leniency, it would be abused. I appreciate they’ve drawn a line and [are sticking] with that stance.” The students at Hacke� are also taking the changes to their dress code well, Benoit said. Not as many positive comments on the dress code are heard at Central, possibly due to the vague dress code itself, which is hardly as detailed as Hacke�’s or Northern’s. Found on pages 12-13 in the student planner, it states, “In order to maintain an appropriate educational atmosphere, students’ dress should be suitable for a professional environment. Student a�ire should be neat, clean and not distracting to the educational process.” “[This dress code] lets girls get away with too much,” Kirby said. “And boys should pull up their pants.” Another reason some students are disappointed with Central’s dress code may be the lack of reinforcement. Hall monitor Be�y Beighler knows this and makes an effort to encourage it as much as possible, as several students know. Beighler said she has seen far too many pairs of boxers in recent years, and “with girls, there’s cleavage or tummies showing.” Students are shocked when they are sent home or told to change for violating the code, but this is because they are unsure what has been deemed appropriate for school. “I think, since teachers are busy teaching, it’s probably very difficult to reinforce the dress code in class,” Beighler said. She believes the hall monitors’ efforts are not enough, though. “There should be a conscious effort by all staff members [to enforce the dress code],” she said.

It’s all about the ‘Benjamins’...or lack of BY NICOLE CHRUSCIEL

Staff Writer

So much to buy, but so li�le to spend. While students are limited to a modest income through jobs, allowances, chores, Grandma and what can be found on the streets, they seem to be spending a significant amount collectively. Students spend $3.71 a day, $25.89 a week and $117.98 a month on average, according to a Central Stampede poll of 50 students. Thirty-six percent of students surveyed said the lack of money is due to gassing up their cars. With prices constantly fluctuating, more and more cash is being dished out to fill up tanks. Other students choose to spend their money on food, in and outside of school. With a wide variety of food provided in the school cafeteria, students can find the numbers easily add up with each option. Students privileged with off-campus lunch can also find the bills rapidly accumulating.

However, some students choose other options for their cash. “I spend my money on video games,” freshman Kyle Steward said. “Fi�y bucks can’t save the world, but it can save yourself from boredom.” Some students choose to save their money. For example, sophomore Becca Mundo, who corn-detassles during the summer, has saved more than $3,000, only spending money on drum equipment. Sophomore Cameron Restivo chooses not to save, taking an opposite approach and spending significant amounts on candy. “I spent $50 on Ski�les once,” Restivo said. A large sum of money lost could be blamed upon school itself, some students claim. Sporting games, lunches, yearbooks, and pop machines, to name a few, all have costs creating financial disadvantages. Others claim it’s their friends and significant others who eat away at their wallet. Senior Brad Phares spends a considerable heap

Teens get their money from… Chores—32% Job—25% Allowance—24% Grandma—4% Other—14%

(money saved 2%, poker 2%, friends 4%, birthday/holidays 6%)

Source: Stampede poll of 100 students

Teens spend the most money on… Gas—36% Food—24% Shopping/Clothes/Shoes— 18% Friends/Girlfriend/Boyfriend— 8% Saved—6% Other—8% (parents 2%, video games 4%, other activities 2%) ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

on his girlfriend. “It’s okay being broke because I know she appreciates it,” Phares said. According to research done by Mintel, a worldwide leader of competitive media,

teenagers across the United States spent $175 billion in 2003. Consider $175 billion. That’s almost 584 million XBOX 360s, 350 million Coach purses, or 17.5 trillion pony rides at Meĳer.

Vibe

Stampede

page eleven

entertainment and events

Haveyou

Herd?

E�� R�� S��

Across the Universe: A terrible tribute to the Beatles This “Blackbird” took its broken wings and learned to flop. “Across the Universe,” directed by Julie Taymor, was an over-the-top, psychedelic, musical acid trip told through the eyes of way too many characters. Though the characters, each with names derived from Beatles classics, serve as a connection between the film and the band it pays homage to, they are not a necessary component in moving the weak story line along. Despite the films disappointing dialogue, plot, and characters, visually the film was immensely psychedelic. Scenes such as “Strawberry Fields” involving a Vietnam War montage, and “I Want You,” a scene of over exaggerated soldiers and an animated Uncle Sam, used decent visual effects. Many of the other scenes were way too psychedelic, creating a visual nightmare. The music in “Across the Universe” won’t ruin the originals for you, and some of the trippy scenes make good use of symbolism and parallels within the story. If you love the Beatles music enough to handle undeveloped characters that only look good on screen and a crummy script, go see this film.

Nov. 9, 2007

Ivory Tower hits a

high note

Local band, Ivory Tower, rocks their way to the top by getting a sponsorship with Photobucket

-Alaina Dely

Rating:

-Jordan Peters

Rating:

ON:

Senior Tyler Gilliam, of Portage Central, and senior Tim Stone, of Kalamazoo Central, get the crowd cheering at the Black Hawk Bar and Grille on Oct. 27.

BY LAURA PONE Editor-in-Chief They were frustrated. The band’s music sounded great, they worked well together, but still, there was a problem. The band had no name. All of a sudden, it happened. “I honestly just opened the dictionary to a random page and pointed, and my ﬁnger landed on ‘Ivory Tower,’ “ said lead vocalist

and guitar player Tim Stone. Reference to an ‘Ivory Tower’ means that something is removed from the real world, and focuses on the intellectual meaning of life. Relatively new to the music scene as a whole, rock group Ivory Tower presents a catchy mix of old and new, and doesn’t hesitate to experiment with its sound. The band came together only this past summer, when three of its members played together in a

BRINGIN’ DOWN

jazz group. Three band members are seniors from Kalamazoo Central, two are from Portage Central. The band rotates their practice locations between the band members houses to accommodate everyone, which has become challenging as the school year has progressed. Academic stress, however, appears to in no way have hindered the band’s success.

At a recent concert at Elks Lodge in Otsego, Ivory Tower was oﬀered a sponsorship by the web site Photobucket. The sponsorship includes being featured on the web site as the ‘band of the month,’ which Ivory Tower hopes will help increase their fan base. Ivory Tower is currently working on a demo CD of their original songs, which they hope to release by Christmas this year.

Recommended

if you like...

CLASSIC ROCK: Tyler Gilliam rockin out with the rest of the band.

Queen,

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

ROCK

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

Thousands of fans raced for tickets as the pop-rock boy band known as Fall Out Boy launched its 2007 fall tour and traveled across the United States, performing with Gym Class Heroes and Plain White T’s in Grand Rapids in mid-October. Since the release of its latest album, “Infinity on High” in February 2007, Fall Out Boy’s popularity has nearly doubled and songs that were charted as #1 in the U.S proved to be even be�er live. As the band toured across the states and eventually made its way to Michigan, fans surrounded the stage and cheered for the band they long desired to hear. Immediately, the band kicked off the concert with an outstanding vocal and guitar combination. In hopes they would play my favorite songs, they lived up to expectation playing “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” and “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” flawlessly, with amazing note accuracy. With strong vocal lyrics and an innovative guitar sound, Fall Out Boy shook the crowd with its undeniable talent. It was completely deserving of my time and money, and it will be for you, too, if you choose to see them in future concerts.

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

THE HOUSE:

Tim Stone, Tyler Gilliam, and the rest of the band play to the crowd.

Led Zeppelin LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

KILLER MUSIC: Tim Stone and Tyler Gilliam playing their way into the crowds iPods.

LAURA PONE/STAMPEDE

Fall Out Boy Concert gets crowd cheering

Bryan Blowers Guitar Portage Central

CRAZY

GOOD:

Right, Theo Kuepfer playing crazy good at Black Hawk Bar and Grille.

Tim Stone Gavin Thok Theo Kuepfer Tyler Gilliam Guitar, lead vocals Kalamazoo Central

Bass Portage Central

Saxophone, keyboard, lead/backup vocals Kalamazoo Central

Drums, percussion, backup vocals Kalamazoo Central

Vibe

Stampede

page twelve

entertainment and events

Nov. 9, 2007

[inspired...]

Stampede’s list of the top 10 most inspiring movies BY TAYLOR WHISMAN

Staff Writer

Junior Brooke Mannon won’t soon forget the first time she watched “Remember the Titans” when it was first released seven years ago. As Mannon and her mother sipped hot chocolate and coffee, they watched the undefeated Titans claim victory once more in a way that is more meaningful than a winning score. With a passion for so�ball and basketball, Mannon identifies with the bonds shared among teammates in the film. “I like the part when Gerry Bertier’s mom walks through the stands and everyone starts clapping,” Mannon said. “It’s inspiring to see a team like that come together.” The Stampede couldn’t agree with Mannon more. We give you these classic films that are sure to make you stand up and cheer.

1 “Life is like a box of chocolates… You never know what you’re gonna get.” Forrest Gump

Tom Hanks takes us through all of life’s journeys through the eyes of Forrest Gump. From riding the bus to school, to ﬁghting in the Vietnam War, losing a good friend and knowing what love is, you’ll never look at crosscountry runners the same again.

2 “Freedom!” Braveheart Mel Gibson’s performance as William Wallace makes this a mustsee. The Sco�ish rebel will not stop fighting for his country’s freedom from British rule until Longshanks himself knocks on every Sco�ish door, apologizing for decades of crimes against humanity. This film is filled with action, romance and inspirational leadership.

3 “I think if people saw this

footage they’d say, ‘Oh my god that’s horrible,’ and then go back to their dinners.” Hotel Rwanda

This true-life story is one that is o�en talked about. Don Cheadle plays the role of a hotel manager who houses refugees struggling to escape the atrocities in the country of Rwanda. These events were unheard of by the rest of the world, and this ﬁlm open’s your eyes and gives a strong message of hope.

4 “Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gi� is discover a beautiful heart.” A Beautiful Mind

Looking at the world through the eyes of a mathematical genius has never been so thrilling. Winning an Oscar for Best Director (Ron Howard) and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (Russell Crowe), it’s not one to miss.

“Adrian!” Rocky

7 “This list is an absolute good. This list is life.” Schindler’s List

All those history lessons you wanted to sleep through become all too real in Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. One man’s ﬁght to save the lives of 1,100 Holocaust victims is nothing but courageous and honorable. Based on a true story, his gi� to mankind cannot be forgo�en.

8 “Don’t you see the resemblance? He’s my brother.” Remember The Titans

Denzel Washington plays a football coach whose goal is to integrate two races into one team. With many against him, he teaches these boys a life lesson many generations of people before them refused to learn. This ﬁlm never gets old, making it a perfect sick day movie.

6 “Neighbors bring food with death and

9 “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets

ﬂowers with sickness, and li�le things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a knife, and our lives.” To Kill A Mockingbird The beautifully wri�en novel by Harper Lee comes alive on screen. Gregory Peck plays an amazing role as small-town lawyer A�icus Finch, and in teaching his children and the world a lesson about justice, you’ll never see color the same way again.

its wings.” It’s A Wonderful Life

This 1946 Christmas classic teaches a man his value in the world. Thinking life couldn’t get much worse, an angel shows a frustrated businessman just how lucky he really is.

“Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.” Shawshank Redemption

The life of a successful man (Tim Robbins) comes to a screeching halt a�er being wrongly convicted of murder. With the help of a good friend (Morgan Freeman), he escapes his lifelong prison sentence.

BRADLEY LINDER/STAMPEDE

Disney Channel stars livin’ up the high life BY AMANDA NORRIS

Focus Editor

Sold-out concert ticket: $1,000. Disposable camera: $15. Commemorative concert tour tshirt: $30. Hearing Hannah Montana perform live…priceless. Fan bases are increasing steadily for Disney Channel teen stars such as Miley Cyrus, alter ego Hannah Montana, whose ratings continue to climb. The young, 15-year-old pop sensation has commenced her “Best of Both Worlds” 52-week tour across the U.S. Tickets have sold out in as li�le as four minutes, leaving thousands of children and

teens alike disappointed. Cyrus’ fellow teen star, Zac Eﬀron, has also been enjoying the spotlight a�er his run of successes which include “High School Musical One,” “High School Musical Two,” the anticipated “High School Musical Three,” “Hairspray,” and now murmurs about the reproduction of “Footloose,” all starring the young phenomenon. These Disney teens are taking over the radio and television airways, quickly overshadowing their elder precedents and gathering fans along the way. “Most people think that 17-yearolds aren’t watching the Disney Channel, but I swear I’m not alone,” senior Kathleen Matyas said. Wholesome lyrics and familyfriendly storylines set them apart from more promiscuous artists of the present movie and music industry. “They (Disney Channel

SPEAK YOUR MIND. Letters to the editor now being accepted in Room 306.

Central Stampede

stars) have multiple talents; most of them can sing as well as act,” Matyas said. Furthermore, Disney Channel actors and actresses portray characters closer to their real ages, rather than older actors playing the never-graduating high school senior, and many students appreciate it. “When I ﬁrst started watching her show (Hannah Montana), I liked it because she was more real then other characters,” senior Sarah Ridenour said. Intentions of these Disney Channel patriots may have been to focus on a younger generation of fans, but their appeal has caught the eyes of older teens like Ridenour and Matyas as well. “I think her (Hannah Montana) aim is kids from eight to twelve,” said the 17-yearold Ridenour, “but I like her music a lot, some of my friends listen to her too.” Many Disney Channel stars have broken out with their own musical endeavors a�er the popularity of their show or video productions has become evident in all age groups. “I like the music from ‘High School Musical’ because it’s happy, it’s cheesy, but it’s fun,” 17-year-old senior Marine Tempels said. These new artists are ready to break out in every direction, tackling all aspects of

the entertainment world one by one. Fellow “High School Musical” stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu have all been enjoying the spotlight from their recent premier of “High School Musical Two,” along with working individually on their own careers. However, since their previous musical accomplishments have been so successful, “High School Musical Three” is in the works. They have “Bop Bop Bop, Bopped” their way to the top, they may not “All Be in This Together,” but they know “It’s the Best of Both Worlds” living the life their fans only dream of having.

Vibe

3 1

Stampede

page thirteen

entertainment and events

Nov. 9, 2007

ay I take your

order?

Students rate the most popular lunch spots around the area BY MIER WANG

Local Hot Spots:

Staff Writer

Fast food chains are not the only places keeping students occupied at lunch; local restaurants deserve honorable mentions for feeding students as well.

The familiar thrill of the lunch bell launches junior Emily Ruimveld from her seat. She plunders around in her purse and sighs a breath of relief to find a $10 bill, more than enough to feed her hunger for the day. Ruimveld’s moment of relief is short-lived when she realizes she still doesn’t know where she will eat. As other students rush to their friends and cars for lunch, many questions flash through her mind: “McDonald’s or Burger King? Subway or Substation? Taco Bell or Arby’s? There are so many choices!” Sizzling burgers; spicy tacos; luxurious curly fries; there are so many options, yet so li�le time. For some, lunch add stress to students’ already over-complicated lives. For students who spend precious minutes contemplating their lunch, ponder no longer. A survey of 40 students indicates that fast-food restaurants lead the pack of lunch hot spots. Students now know where to find the most luscious subs and juiciest burgers, and they can expect to find their friends there too.

Taco Bob’s – Taco Bob’s has been serving students more than 20 years, and students should only expect high-quality service there. Located right beside the school, Taco Bob’s is unquestionably one of the hot spots for lunch. Pizza Yen – Serving foods from soup, salads and toasts to pizza, subs and hot dogs, Pizza Yen is located just oﬀ Shaver Road. It is only open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so for those who plan on feasting there, make sure to plan ahead.

Pizza Yen

Cruiser’s Pub – As the only ‘50s-styled restaurant nearby, Cruiser’s keeps up a legacy of being the place for amazing deals. Cheap burgers and delicious buffalo wings are what students anticipate. Not only is the food highly recommended there, wings can come with 12 different sauces ranging from Spicy Garlic to Caribbean Jerk. “[I like] the 25 cent wings every Wednesday,” senior Dan Holmes said. “They come in a lot of different sauces, and I like the spicy buffalo wings.”

Subway – The simple taste of fresh wheat and veggies and the perfect complement of meat ﬁll the mouths of many students every day. Junior Nathan Johns is a one of the Subway lovers, and he dedicates his lunch time to eating a BLT sub. “Subway is good,” Johns said. “I go to Subway for lunch every week, and we sometimes get in a�er the rush comes, but we still wait.”

JENNY KILDUFF/STAMPEDE

Burger King – Students can always LUNCH TIME: Juniors Mia Frye and Sam Miller order lunch at Arby’s, a popular and conveniently count on Burger King to satisfy their located lunch spot for students. In a Stampede poll, students rated Arby’s #4 as a lunch hot-spot. hunger. John Jasinski, a hungry senior, is one of many who frequently travels Taco Bell – On this side of town, Arby’s – Every day, students walk out to Burger King. the mecca for Mexican-lovers is to lunch thinking Arby’s. Famous for “Burger King is fun and all because you indisputably Taco Bell. Bringing their chicken and roast beef sandwiches got those Gold Cards that makes meals buymemorable experiences to the people and their renowned curly fries, it’s hard one-get-one-free,” Jasinski said. who eat there, Taco Bell oﬀers food that to resist the tantalizing smell of Arby’s . Burger King’s popularity has is not only savory but also extremely cheap. “Arby’s is great with the Arby’s Extra’s unquestionably integrated itself into many “Taco Bell has decent food, but I love Card,” Babcock said. “I’m going to keep students’ primary diet for lunch. For those the cheap priced 45-cent tacos,” junior Tim going there as long as the food is decent pondering what to order at this hot spot, Babcock said. “Me gusta el Taco!” and cheap.” Jasinski recommends one item: chicken fries.

McDonald’s – The king of the golden arches, McDonald’s is known to many as the restaurant proud enough to say “over 99 billion served.” Students have deﬁnitely contributed to this monstrous number, and senior Grant Betzig is just another famished student looking for a reﬁll. “It’s the greatest there,” Betzig said. “The Dollar Menu is the craze.” Some local McDonald’s restaurants have “Hamburger Happy Meal Tuesday” where Happy Meals are discounted to prices ranging around $1 to $1.50.

4 1

Sports

Stampede

page fourteen

athletics and leisure

Nov. 9, 2007

Minis

ustang

Calling all

swim and dive

uperfans

Past:

7-1 dual meets, SMAC Champions

BY CARLY NAGENGAST

Next: State Championship,

Nov. 16 - 17

State swimmers:

Ashley Akiyama, Grete Grubelich, Bethany Schmall, Marine Tempels, Annaliese McGavin

“

We were really dedicated... it shows in meets when we work this hard. Junior

“

JAMIE MORTON

SUPERFANS

AND SUCH:

Fellow superfans but mortal enemies, sophomore Matt Jones, above, and teacher Kent Baker show off their superfan apparel. Baker and Jones often participate in bets over the games, forcing the loser to wear opposing team colors.

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

cross country Past: Men: 8th in Regionals

Women: 6th in Regionals

Next year’s returner:

Zach Warner, Alex Walvogel, Katie Martin

Key seniors:

Kevin Steinbach, Ryan Schmidt

LET IT SHINE: Superfans know

“

It takes a lot of hard work...all that (shows) in meets.

how to show their team spirit wherever they are. They have been known to paint their team’s logo in their bedrooms, classrooms and even cars.

ACCESSORIZE: Accessories are

a must for any superfan. Be it hats, cups or a giant foam ﬁnger, come game day, superfans know how to let their spirit show.

“

KEVIN STEINBACH Senior ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

Attention Students!

The bell rings at 12:01, signaling the end of the “A” lunch passing period. The freshmen of Room 411 se�le into their seats reluctantly as the door opens to reveal their teacher, Kent Baker. He makes his way nonchalantly across the room in a University of Michigan shirt. What’s wrong with this picture? Anybody who knows anything about Baker knows he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a Michigan shirt of his own free will. However, on the occasion that his beloved Michigan State team loses to its cross-state rival (as it did last weekend), he has no choice. Baker o�en makes bets with his students, specifically Michigan fans, on vital sports games. Those supporting the losing team are forced to wear apparel of their rival team the day following the loss. “It’s a fun thing to do during football [or] basketball season,” Baker said with a light smile. Such activities are only one way that sports pride intervenes with the history teacher’s life. Yet he is only one of many at Portage Central who claim the title of “super fans.” This elite breed of sports fans are people whose devotion to their team, or teams, tops all else. They are the type of people who brand everything they own with their team’s name and colors. Their pride even helps define their lives. “It ruins my day when Michigan loses,” said sophomore Ma� Jones who has participated in Baker’s bets in the past. “And it ruins my year when the [Detroit] Pistons lose.” Why are people so enthralled with different sports and the teams who represent them? Certain students pledge their allegiance to their alma maters. For some, it’s because they admire a certain player or coach. Perhaps they see something more during the games than just a sport. “I like the way [The New York Yankees] run their team,” senior Lisa Ellis said. “Like a business.” For others, the pride may exist exclusively for their hometown teams. Yet still, there are those to whom the meaning of some sports runs deeper. “My mother took me to my first [baseball] game when I was 5,” Baker said. “I love the sport, but it was also family to me.” Besides wearing apparel, sports fans like to show their pride in other ways. From customized bed sheets to bumper stickers, “super fans” love showing off their team loyalty. Baker is even the proud possessor of a Spartan head mural that adorns the far wall of his classroom. Even showmanship has its limits, though. Refusing the title of “super fan,” Baker said, “Am I a face painter? No. [But] I am pre�y passionate.” So much so, it shows at times in relations with his co-workers. “There’s definite conflict with other teachers, be they heathen Wolverines or Buckeye [supporters],” Baker said. How much they might deny it, it’s their faith in their teams that makes both this sophomore and this teacher “super fans” at heart. “I always stick with my team,” Jones said proudly, “through thick and thin.”

Attention Students!

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Sports

5 1

Stampede

page ﬁfteen

athletics and leisure

Nov. 9, 2007

Closing another chapter in life

Minis

ustang

men’s tennis

Seniors say so long to sports as fall season ends

Record: 7-1-1 dual meets Past: Ryan Richmond and

Travis Wolf won states in singles competition

Next: Season complete Players to return:

Jeﬀ Morgan, Bobby Phillips

Key Seniors: Travis Wolf,

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The gridiron’s dark, the soccer field’s empty and the tennis courts are silent as another fall sports season draws to an disappointing end. This may just be another end to another sports season, but to others, this marks the end of an entire season of life. Many seniors will never return to the fields, courts, courses, or pools they spent so much time at over the years. A�er spending hundreds of hours on soccer fields throughout Portage, seniors Nick Kroll and Ben Orchanian finally decided to hang up the cleats and say goodbye to organized athletics. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 5,” Orchanian said. “I definitely thought about the decision a lot, and I am sad. But I look back, and I have good memories. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Senior Ma� Utrevis has played football since the fourth grade, but he knew he’d need to give it up in college to focus on his studies. He hopes one day, though, to get back into it again as a Rocket football coach. “I know I’m going to miss it,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll get into it again, but I’m really going to miss being around the whole team and ge�ing really close to everyone.” Senior tennis player Charles Chu agrees with Utrevis and Orchanian about the difficulty of giving up something into which they’ve put so much time and hard work. “I guess it makes me a li�le sad,” Chu said. “But I want to enjoy the full college experience and not leave every weekend for tournaments.”

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

All agree being part of a team is the hardest thing to say goodbye to, but there are certain aspects they won’t miss. “Sports take so much time,” Orchanian said. “I’m not going to miss all the pressure either. Plus, I’m kind of sore.” Despite the commitment and pressure, Utrevis and Chu recognize how much they’ve learned and grown because of their experiences in high school athletics. “I believe that I’ve go�en more disciplined,” Utrevis said. “Playing high school sports has definitely helped me in the long run.” Whether it’s making a great save or helping the team win a big game, high school sports brought the rewards of hard work and dedication to these athletes, they say. “Sports take a lot of time and energy,” Chu said. “Still, it’s really cool to see everyone on the court and cheering from the stands.” Cross-country coach Dan Wytko has seen first-hand how hard it is for someone to give up the sports to which they’ve dedicated so much. Each year, seniors write le�ers to their underclassmen teammates. Looking back at these le�ers, Wytko fondly remembers the impact each runner had on him and he had on the athletes. “Athletics can change a person’s life,” he said. “It can give them direction and make them realize things are possible that they never thought were. I look back at students like Pa�y Timmons (2001), whose life was changed by running, or Sam Marvin (2006) who finished 4th at states in 800 meter and just realize how great they were.” “Every good thing must come to an end, but the important thing is the memories that stay,” football coach Greg Chambers said. “Those are never taken away.”

BOBBY PHILLIPS Junior

volleyball Record: 15-14-2 Past: Lost to PN in districts Next: Season complete Players to return: Mari Schoolmaster, Taylor Galloway

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This year had deﬁnitely been a little bit of a struggle, but it really proves that when you work together as a team a lot of great things can be accomplished.

Fantasy football gives many teachers a competitive edge BY NATE FRISBIE

Sports Editor

Twenty-six years ago, business teacher Rod Nedervelt sat in the Silverdome in Detroit, watching the Lions lose again by a large amount. He overheard some nearby fans talking about the possibility of an imaginary game within the game, where one could own a franchise created by fans themselves. Today, he is finally participating in what has become a national phenomenon: fantasy football. This craze has revolutionized sports on the Internet. “Everything was done on pencil and paper,” Nedervelt said. “We put together our own rules. Of course, there were no computers back then.” Nedervelt and his friends, who hail from across the country have joined together to create a fantasy football league in 1981, and he’s still doing it today. In fantasy football, players earn points based upon statistics compiled by professional football players in the National Football League. Nedervelt has stayed interested in football thanks to his league, and it has helped him manage the ups and downs of Lions football. “Being a Lions fan, it has kept my interest in all of football,” Nedervelt said. “And to be honest, instead of watching the Lions, I’ll sometimes find a game that has some of my players. It’s a whole different perspective.” Many teachers here also have a league in which 12 are participating. Included in that league are Jason Badders, Rob Hoopingarner and

their opponent. “It changes the way you watch football,” Hoopingarner said. “You don’t root for people to get hurt but you hope they have bad games.” While fantasy football can be exciting and make Sundays enjoyable, there can be addictions with playing. Many leagues cost money and in Nedervelt’s league, many people place side bets on the week besides paying for the overall league. Brown has seen first-hand how those addictions can sometimes spiral out of control. “My dad’s a freak,” Brown NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE said. “He’s got too much time on SPORTS ADDICT: Math teacher Rob his hands. He spends a ton of every day Hoopingarner sits at his computer researching his players, and he’s in last researching NFL players with the best stats. place.” Brown’s dad can switch sites where Sara Brown, who is in first place with he researches his players, and there are Hoopingarner and Badders trailing near plenty of options for sources. the bo�om. “This year I have a website I go to,” “For me, [fantasy football] is a said Brown, who refuses to reveal her way to make the games a li�le more site to anyone. “I can’t share that. It’s top interesting and a way to learn about secret. I don’t want Mr. Hoopingarner to football,” Brown said. “Coming into find out.” fantasy [football], I didn’t know the However, even without the name sport very well. Fantasy has go�en me of the site, Hoopingarner can still find so I know names of players, positions information through the Internet and they play, I look for them on the field. It makes me look forward to the weekend a television shows. Even podcasts and radio programs contain information to li�le bit more.” help with team picks. One dra�s players and each week While many think fantasy football is one starts a certain number of players at fun and another way to stay connected each statistical position. Besides dra�ing with football, Hoopingarner disagrees. well, the trick is working around “bye “Fantasy football isn’t funny,” weeks” (weeks in which a player’s team Hoopingarner said about his does not have a game scheduled) as well participation. “It’s serious business.” as injuries. Most leagues match-up head to head against each participant and hope one’s players do be�er than

-Andrew Krietz

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE

KELSEY RAY Junior

-Marah Klose

men’s soccer Record: 8-7-2 Past: Lost in ﬁnals; beat Hudsonville 3-1

Next: Season complete Players to return: Sean Magee, Rich Campbell

Key Seniors: Nick Kroll, James Oh, Ben Orchanian

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It was the most difﬁcult season I’ve had, which made it the best season I’ve had. BRYCE BOWERS Senior ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

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Editor-in-Chief

Name: Ben Orchanian Sport: Soccer Years played: 12

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BY LEVI BARRY

Name: Charles Chu Sport: Tennis Years played: 6

We had a strong season, even though we lost many players from the previous year.

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Name: Matt Utrevis Sport: Football Years played: 9

ROMY BOND/STAMPEDE

Ma� Richmond

-Taylor Whisman

Stampede

page sixteen

Sports athletics and leisure

Nov. 9, 2007

R E V E R

Fame and glory

Committee to establish Hall of Fame next year BY NATE FRISBIE

Sports Editor

committee has been working behind the scenes to establish a Portage Central Hall of Fame.

follow a similar design. “Our biggest challenge is to try to get a fair shake for those athletes back in the [1930s, `40s and `50s,” Schonveld said. “We are counting on the public to give us information on some of the people nominated.” The nominations can come from anyone who completes a nomination form. “We’re expecting to get nominations from relatives or friends to submit them,” Schonveld said. “Our challenge is to be as fair and equitable as we can to the athletes from the distant past.” Schonveld has high expectations and feels learning past athletes will beneﬁt current players. “It’s a great way to connect the past with the present,” Schonveld said. “People now have no idea who the athletes that preceded them and what they accomplished. They laid the groundwork for people now and what they’re doing.” Schonveld has compiled a list of coaches and players through yearbook photos from the media center. He has contacted coaches for their input, and while it won’t be a deciding factor, it will deﬁnitely help some.

We hope it’s something the school and the public will embrace.

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PAUL SCHONVELD

Committee member

Anyone is eligible for induction but must meet qualifications. The main qualification is an athlete must have graduated at least 10 years ago, a coach must have le� the program at least five years ago and any special contributor is open for induction at any time. “We hope it’s something that the school and the public will embrace,” Schonveld said. “Some people are concerned ‘How are you going to include everybody, you might miss some?’ One of the beauties of this thing is just because you don’t get in one year, you’re automatically eligible for the next year and the next year.” Edlund estimates the inaugural year of the Hall of Fame will cost between $3,000 and $3,500 with an additional $1,500 to $2,000 every subsequent year.

Nomination forms are available in the athletic oﬃce or online at www.portageps. org. Just follow it to Portage Central’s main page and click on the Hall of Fame link. Any questions, please see Dr. Larry Edlund in the athletic oﬃce or call 323-5256. NATE FRISBIE /STAMPEDE

NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE

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NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE

SHOW CASE: The trophy case by the front office displays past achievements. A seven-member

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It gives people a chance to establish themselves and do things.

LARRY EDLUND

Committee member

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Inside the doors at Portage Northern’s Igloo, pictures hang on the wall of athletes who have had successful high school careers. The school’s “Hall of Fame” includes yellowed portraits of young ladies in knee-highs and gangly basketball stars with Afros. At the beginning of next school year, Portage Central will introduce the first class into its own Hall of Fame. A commi�ee is currently accepting nominations for the inaugural class. “Right now we have seven people on the commi�ee and it will stay that way,” said Athletic Director Larry Edlund, who is a commi�ee member. “If someone changes, we’ll continue rotating people in. Right now, they prefer their names not to be out there.” The Hall of Fame’s location is unknown at this point; however, the commi�ee is looking at locations around the gym where many people will be able to view the names of the inductees. Each inductee in every class, which will include 10 people the first year, will receive a plaque and a similar plaque will go on the wall. One side of the plaque will be a picture of the athlete, coach or special contributor to athletics. On the other side will be a list of accomplishments that person has achieved. “We thought 10 was reasonable, it gives a chance for people to establish themselves and do things,” Edlund said. “Go to college, and things beyond that.” In subsequent years, the classes will reduce to eventually three to five people a year. Former guidance counselor Paul Schonveld had been pushing for the establishment and is now a main member on the commi�ee. As the point man in charge of plaques and publicity, Schonveld traveled to other area high schools to see how they present their halls of fame to the public, and Vicksburg, Portage Northern and Ba�le Creek Lakeview were among those schools. Ba�le Creek Lakeview was the most influential, Schonveld said, so Portage Central’s will probably

It’s ‘Tabor-time’ for new era in women’s basketball program BY NICOLE CHRUSCIEL

Staff Writer

A�er six years of coaching here, Tom Monroe retired last year, paving the way for a new coaching regime and a new approach. That regime has arrived in the form of Ma� “T-Time” Tabor — math teacher, former assistant and men’s freshmen head coach — and his athletes are ready for a fresh approach on the hardwood. “I’m sad Monroe is leaving,” senior Ashley Weber said. “I’ve known him for eight years. Monroe has his old classic style and Tabor has the new modern style.” With three years of coaching under his belt, Tabor feels he is ready to step up and conquer his new position. Players feel similarly, claiming it is logical for an assistant coach to replace the former head coach when the time presents itself. However, Tabor feels it would be wrong to become the “New Monroe,” but rather add his own ﬂare to the job. “I learned a lot from Monroe,” Tabor said.

“But I think you have to be a coach that fits your personality. [Therefore] it’s important not to follow others.” Players believe Tabor may lead with an approach differing their previous coach’s. “He’s more about conditioning,” senior Heather Russon said, “like running all through practice. It’s a lot more intense.” Despite the hard work that will undoubtedly be required, Weber and Russon believe Tabor will benefit the team. “He’s a lot younger [of a] coach than the coaches we’ve had in the past,” Russon said. “So he’ll bring a new perspective to the team. He’ll bring a new energy that’ll help reenergize us.” Tabor feels many adjustments need to be made, as much mentally as physically. According to Tabor, a new mentality must be instilled in the minds of his players to improve the team as best he can. “Change is always exciting,” Tabor said. “This opportunity... I’m going to try to take advantage of. I’m going to try to do the things I think need to be done.”

As opposed to an assistant coach, the head coaching position demands many duties outside of practices and games. Now the preparation of calendars, buses, uniforms and boosters/parents all fall upon Tabor’s shoulders. However, he feels he is well-prepared for these new responsibilities. “The biggest difference though,” Tabor said, “is now I’ll have the final decision.” While Tabor prepares for the upcoming season, players eagerly await their new coach, believing they also are gaining friend as well. Tabor believes a fun but respectful atmosphere will help him and the team to band together, though a reasonable amount of banter and teasing is expected. “They have to respect me,” Tabor said. “But there can be a certain amount of...well, I don’t want a fear situation. I like to have fun and relax. But, I’ll demand hard work.” Weber says she has the same expectations for every coach: to win. She believes Tabor can help accomplish this goal. “Tabor definitely spends more time with

NATE FRISBIE/STAMPEDE

SHOE IN: (left to right) Weber, Tabor and

Russon select shoes for the varsity team.

us,” Weber said. “He helps us improve our weak spots by talking to us one-on-one.” Russon, however, has a diﬀerent goal. While a winning season would be desirable for Russon, her main goal is to bring the team closer together. She believes having Tabor as a coach will help accomplish this task.