October 2009

Surveyor The Washington

2205 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 Volume 53, Number 2

October 26, 2009

Student Senate held a successful homecoming again this year, despite very unsettled weather that brought nearly four inches of rain throughout the week.

The varsity football team defeated Iowa City West 47-21 on a cold and rainy night, and Jack Shey and Shayma Elsheikh were crowned homecoming king and queen. The dance itself was moved to the Old Gym due to the rain, but staff and students adapted and the dance ran smoothly.

Photos courtesy of the Washington yearbook, Monument

Catherine Blades’ entrance into Broadway is covered by Natalie Neppl

Page 7

In this issue Washington participates in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in big ways Pages 8-9

Shana Matthews examines the candidates for the upcoming mayoral election Page 3

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10-26-2009

Washington D.C., United States: Oct. 9, 2009

President Barack Obama is announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama was not considered one of the forerunners to win the Nobel Prize. Chinese dissident Hu Jia and the Colombian senator Piedad Cordoba were thought to be the two main candidates. Obama is awarded the Prize for his work towards strengthening international diplomacy.

News Just so you know Events written by Charlie Parks

Karnataka, India: Oct. 5, 2009

Food supplies are dwindling as the worst floods in a century continue to hit southern India.

Many of the poorer villagers are unable to feed themselves, not only because of the recent floods but from the droughts in previous months. So far, it is estimated that around 280 people have died because of crop failure.

Graphic by Trevor Polk

Bloomington, IN: Oct. 12, 2009

Indiana University’s Elinor Ostrom is the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science. She shares the Prize with Oliver E. Williamson, who is a professor at the Univeristy of California. The two have received the Prize for their individual studies on ecenomic governance, organization, cooperation, relationships and nonmarket industries.

Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast: Oct. 10, 2009

Ivory Coast secures a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup for international soccer. It is only their second time doing so, behind their star player Didier Drogba. The World Cup is the largest international soccer tournament held; it occurs only once every four years with a limited number of teams.

Interact and Friends of the Library partner up to raise “Bucks-for-Books” Sara Larson Staff writer

As the flood ravaged downtown Cedar Rapids in June 2008, it did not take any mercy on the Cedar Rapids Public Library. About five to eight feet of water made it into the first floor of the library. The water, in addition to the humidity that it caused, destroyed a majority of the books that the library owned and lent out to the public.

In an effort to replace part of the library’s resources that were damaged during the flood, the Friends of the Library and the Washington High School Interact Club are teaming up along with the Robject in a mission called “Bucks-for-Books.” Washington students will receive the opportunity to donate one dollar towards the restoration of the library. If one thousand dollars is raised in the month of November, the Robject will match the donation.

The Robject is a project that was started by Rockwell Collins employee Robby Marvin.

Marvin is donating 31.2% of his annual salary and dividing 365 hours of community service between twelve different non-profit organizations over the course of a year. The money raised will go towards all aspects of the rebuilding and restoring the library.

“Everything was lost but the children’s section,” said Greer Fry, president of Friends of the Library. Some irreplaceable books that belong to the library were saved before the flood hit.

Interact was specifically chosen for this project because of its involvement with the library in the past. The club organized a book drive last fall that was held at Washington.

“When this project came up, we thought that Interact would be interested,” Fry said.

In addition to having the opportunity to aid in the rebuilding process of the library, students will also directly benefit from this fundraiser. The “Bucks-for-Books” program will give students the ability to contribute to the replacement of the library.

“It doesn’t matter who you are. You can go there, and without paying fees, use any of the resources available,” said Fry.

While the downtown location continues to be closed, a temporary library has been opened in Westdale Mall to offer the remaining resources to the public. The final decision on where the new library will be located will occur in November, after which new building plans will begin to be drawn.

The interior of the library following the 2008 flood that ravaged the city of Cedar Rapids.

Photo courtesy of gazetteonline.com

A sample “book” from the Washington library that students can sign after donating a dollar toward Interact’s and the Friends of the Library’s “Bucks-forBooks” fundraiser.

News

10-26-2009

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The race is on: mayoral election draws near As the election for Cedar Rapids’ new mayor draws near on Nov. 3, so does the time to examine the candidates. There are three candidates running this year: Brian Fagan, Ron Corbett and P.T. Larson. Shana Matthews, a Surveyor staff writer, conducted interviews with the two leading candidates, Brian Fagan and Ron Corbett.

What prompted you to run for mayor?

Corbett: I have been active in promoting Cedar Rapids since first being elected to the Iowa House back in 1986. The devastation of the flood and the void of leadership in the mayor’s office prompted me to run.

Fagan: I believe this is a critical time for Cedar Rapids, and the direction we take will drastically affect our future. I have been on the city council for three years and have a vision for our community.

Why should you be the next mayor of Cedar Rapids?

Corbett: I have held various leadership positions over my lifetime. I also bring many years of experience as a consensus builder, which I believe Cedar Rapids could use now more than ever.

Photo courtesy of Ron Corbett

Corbett graduated from Newton High School and Cornell College in Iowa, and moved to Cedar Rapids in 1983. He served in the Iowa House for seven terms and was Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999.

Warriors Vote!

Fagan: All of the experience I have makes me the best fit for Cedar Rapids. I have the right experience because of my years on the city council, and I hope to lay in place a foundation for the future of Cedar Rapids.

What is the biggest issue facing Cedar Rapids?

Corbett: The two biggest issues are flood recovery, especially in neighborhoods and small businesses. The second would be creating more jobs. I have put forward several plans to address these issues.

One example is to start allocating the local option sales tax to flood victims. My entire plan is laid out in detail on my website.

Fagan: Right now, flood recovery is a huge issue, along with economic development. However, a broader challenge is to invest in quality of life. We need to attract and keep workers and companies in Cedar Rapids by being competitive with other states. We can do this through community affordability and investment in quality of life.

Trails, parks and recreational centers are all important for drawing in citizens and businesses to the city.

Do you have any plans for the Cedar Rapids Community School District?

Who would you vote for if the CR Mayoral Election was held today?

P.T. Larson: P.T. Larson is independent and my beliefs could go both ways. I am socially democratic [liberal] and financially Republican [conservative].

- Taylor Westpheling, ’12

Brian Fagan: Because I like his plans for the city, especially the flooded areas.

- Rachael Nading, ’10

Ron Corbett: Because it seems as if he’s trying to build Cedar Rapids back to what it was before the flood, and [he] seems very passionate about becoming mayor.

- Messiah McDaniels, ’10

Corbett: I will work with Dr. [David] Benson [Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent] to make sure we have safe schools. I also believe our schools are an asset and need to be a part of our economic development effort.

Fagan: As mayor, I would want to find opportunities to collaborate with the school district, such as getting police involved in schools, and increasing the standard and quality of education, not only in the school district, but also in [local] colleges. All of these institutions need to have an atmosphere that people want to be in.

What are the issues that you believe will affect the young people of Cedar Rapids?

Fagan: I want to work on the quality of education in Cedar Rapids, and give Cedar Rapids an atmosphere that young people want to be in. I plan to accomplish this by helping out Theater Cedar Rapids, restoring the Paramount, creating a “bohemian area” in Cedar Rapids, revamping the U.S. Cellular Center and I also have plans to build an amphitheater in Cedar Rapids.

Corbett: I believe we need a strong recovery from the flood to show that Cedar Rapids is a “can do” community. People want to live in a community that is on the move. I believe jobs, good schools, and a great quality of life will attract young people to Cedar Rapids. We lost our stride after the flood, [and] it is time to get on track and start rebuilding.

Photo courtesy of gazetteonline.com

Fagan graduated from Regis High School and attended the University of Iowa College of Business. He also has a law degree from Drake University and serves on the Cedar Rapids City Council.

Photo courtesy of gazetteonline.com

This will be P.T. Larson’s thirteenth time running for city office and fourth time running for mayor. He is running without political affiliation, unlike Fagan, an Independent, and Corbett, a Republican.

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News

10-26-2009

Obama proposes lengthening U.S. school year Patrick Anderl Staff Writer President Barack Obama recently made a proposal to either lengthen the school day or school year for America’s public schools. The proposal is part of an effort by the Obama administration to improve America’s education system’s standing among other industrialized countries.

New statistics from Tom Loveless of the Brookings Institution show that with longer school days, even adding just ten minutes to classes, will cause math scores [which were specifically tested in the study] to rise significantly. Some schools in Massachusetts have experimented by adding 300 hours of educational time to their school year, and recent results show the students of these schools have scored higher on standardized tests than those of schools that have not lengthened their school year. Supporters also say that summer is a crucial learning time, especially for those students who need extra help.

Supporters say that the current school year format is based upon the agrarian calendar, although most students are no longer needed to provide extra help on the family farm during planting and harvest seasons. These proponents suggest that the United States increase its public school year from 180 to 200 days, in order to be more in line with the length of other higher academic performing countries’ school years. Obama also states that American students are falling behind other nations’ educational achievements, and that the challenges of today require more time in the classroom. On the opposite side of the spectrum, American students tend to be busier than ever before. Whether affiliated with music or rigorous Advanced Placement classes, adding hours on to school days may not be sensible.

There also is no statistic that clearly shows more time in school leads to success. The U.S. public education system is different from other countries’ systems in many respects, therefore making it difficult to compare other countries’ high educational achievement with the U.S. system on only the factor of time.

Although this proposal to lengthen the school year is being reviewed by the US Department of Education, it would take several years to implement such a plan on a national level.

Graphic by Trevor Polk

What do you think of President Obama’s proposal to lengthen the US public school system’s school year?

“I don’t think we should lengthen our school year because [foreign students] definitely aren’t learning more. But it’s really hard to compare [education systems] because everything is so different. You can’t just compare the amount of time the kids are in school. There are other factors too.”

“I don’t think that kids these days have the time to add another hour of school to their schedule.

They are too busy with extracurricular activities. Longer days might be helpful in closing the gap between the U.S. and other countries, but time is an issue.”

- Dan Roalson, ’11. Roalson is a Washington High School student who has attended school in France and Spain.

-Marlyse Strait, Washington Language Arts teacher.

Drama Club frightens for funds Alyssa Christian Staff Writer Visitors to Frightmare Forest stumble through a maze of blood-soaked hallways, dodge a mass of asylum escapees set aglow by flickering lights, and then dash through the woodlands to escape the terrorizing experience.

Many people find Frightmare Forest, the well- known haunted forest attraction located past the gravel road off of Preserve Lane in Cedar Rapids, to be a chilling and entertaining adventure around the haunting holidays. Most are not aware of its connection with Washington High School. Beginning last year, the locally operated attraction partnered with Washington and today serves as one of the drama department’s most profitable fundraisers.

Before the Halloween season begins, auditions are held for acting roles in the production and this year Frightmare Forest hosted a separate round of auditions specifically for Washington students. Based on both Photo courtesy of www.frightmareforest.com a student’s audition and their availability, students were then assigned parts as A section of Frightmare Forest, the haunted members of the cast and “scare crew.” attraction that serves as a drama department “It’s a really fun experience for fundraiser. those who visit and for those who work. Aside from having a blast and freaking people out, it’s a part of a cause beyond just oneself,” said Nikki Stewart, ’12. Stewart works as a member of the cast over her weekends with a designated role as the “Psychotic Nurse Nikki.”

Not only does the relationship between Frightmare Forest and Washington’s drama department serve as a significant fundraiser for the department, but it is also a way that the speech team and drama club can get involved in the community.

“Aside from the fact that the students who work there get to have fun while working on improvisation and other acting skills, Frightmare Forest gives us [the Washington drama department] a donation at the end of the season based on how many students we have participating,” said Carrie Fattig, Washington Language Arts teacher. Fattig has served as a leading force behind the growing relationship between Frightmare Forest and the drama department since she started working at Washington last year.

This year, Fattig estimates there are between 15 and 18 Washington students either participating in the cast or involved with behind the scenes work as security guards or ticket takers at Frightmare Forest. Only eight students participated last year to help raise over one thousand dollars, so only time will tell what the fundraising efforts will bring this year.

“I think it would lessen the gap between us [education-wise] and other countries. It would help the overall knowledge of students now to make America smarter when they become adults. But no one wants to go to school any longer than [they are] now, and if we had a longer school year kids would have a harder time focusing toward the end of the year, making it [an extension] almost worthless,” - Katie Hammond, ’12.

Opinions

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10-26-2009

Evenings at the emergency room I’ve been subjected to all kinds of work throughout my short life. I’ve tested my luck in the field of physics (W=FxD), movie renting, garment design and babysitting solely for the benefit of my spending pleasures. However, when looking at overall work vs. pay ratio, I find it somewhat odd that the greatest benefit I receive from working is not rewarded monetarily. It is within the halls of St. Luke’s Hospital that I find peace and satisfaction working as a volunteer.

I took up a volunteer job to experience life Jack Shey in the fast lane. Up until my enrollment into Staff Writer the St. Luke’s volunteer program, I had considered volunteers to be the cream of the crop, the “Shay Gutman’s” of modern society: they lived life on the edge and never looked back. With this mindset I knew I would have to overcome many obstacles (namely my colorblindness and vision deficiency) in order to become a St. Luke’s volunteer. The road ahead would be tough, but I was determined to make a name for myself.

In April of 2009, I got accepted to volunteer for the Emergency Department at St. Luke’s. Immediately, I tried hard at recognizing the responsibilities laid before me. As I did, I noticed an excitement I had towards helping many of the patients. I will admit that the first few weeks were rough, but once I learned the workings of the hospital, everything

started coming together. After a while, I even started to take pride in my work. I found a subtle joy in telling people that their finger was going to be OK or that their grandpa had a liver infection. I loved the curiosity of what surprises might be awaiting me every time I sat down at my desk. I lived on the adrenaline rush of performing heart transplants and neurosurgical procedures. In comparison, the only downfall of my time spent volunteering has been the constant annoyance of some of the incoming patients.

All sorts of people run through the emergency room doors. I’ve seen fat, skinny, confused, lice-infected, and even red-headed. On slow days, I can usually expect one or two drunken homeless men. On fast ones, a couple dozen. A lot of people refuse to work with me and I am forced to throw them out of my ER. It’s a tough decision, but someone has to do it. Others are very laid-back and mellow. I once had a man come in with his finger cut off. When I told him what happened to the actual finger, he picked up a cooler and pulled out (among other things) mustard, relish, ketchup and a package of hot dogs. Seated right in the middle of this package was his left index finger.

Looking back, I know that the ride is only getting better every weekend. With each new Saturday comes the opportunity to save someone’s life and the excitement of expecting the unexpected is always a thrill. I need to be ready for anything that comes into my department. Whether it be a school bus full of blistered children or an old man with terminal wart - their lives are in my hands.

“A lot of people refuse to work with me and I am forced to throw them out of my ER”

Where did the time go?

A man named Tom Ulrich once said to me, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper; the closer tto the end it gets, the faster it rolls.”

While I am seventeen years old and still considered young (by my paents’ standards), it seems that time has overtaken me. It seems that middle school just ended recently, but, in truth, I’ve been in high school for over two years. I am well over half-done with Washington. All of my life I’ve been told that the older you get the faster time goes. I believed it, but I never thought that time would move this fast at such a young age.

Was it just me or does every child look forward to beNick Heins coming sixteen so that they can get a license and finally be Staff Writer independant? Can you remember the time when it would be awesome to turn fourteen and get a permit, distancing yourself from parental control? Or even thirteen, when you would offically become a teenager? Could you even recollect the time when turning ten would be cool just because you would be in the double digits?

I can remember the time when mhy parents were in their early thirties and I was just a lad. Though it seems only yesterday when five year old me was sitting on the bronze line at the Nebraska Zoo, I am thinking now that in less than a year I will be able to vote. I will perhaps take hold of the opportunity, no, the dream of becoming virtually and completely independant. Even now, I can see the transformation of my parents. I can remember myself when I was six or seven and they were in their mid thirties, but now I look and see them in their forties and myself as a seventeen-year-old wondering about buying a house in the

not-too-distant future.

This will probably sound like a cliche; it certainly sounds like a cliche to me. I’ll say it nonetheless. It’s important to spend your time wisely and to think about what you’re going to be in ten, twenty or sixty years. After eighteen, there are only two more landmark ages to excitedly anticipate: twentyone and retirement. Knowing how fast time has moved for me, I can see myself as I saw my parents. Can I imagine what they’re going to be like in twenty yearss? For that matter, can I imagine what I’ll be like in twenty years?

Oscar Wild once said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” The older I get, the better understanding of that I have. Time is precious. I now know that time can overtake you, me, or anyone. Tell the ones you care for that you love them and we should use our time to be the best that we can.

Surveyor Editorial Policy Surveyor is established as a school-sponsored open forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers. It is published nine times each school year by students enrolled in Lauren Sines the Journalism News class at Washington High Business manager School. The staff will report as fairly and wellbalanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff’s ability.

Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalistic ethics.

Lana Godlewski Editorials and the reviews that appear under A&E editor a byline are the opinion of the writer, not necessarily the staff. Unsigned editorials represent the majority of the Editorial Board. The opinions section is designed to provide a forum for the opinions of the Surveyor staff and the Washington High School Community.

Max Ernst Readers are encouraged to express their Managing editor viewpoints through guest editorials. Surveyor Writers also welcomes letters to the editor, with these Patrick Anderl guidelines: Natalee Birchansky Jill Broghammer 1. It is not libelous or obscene.

Molly Brown 2. It explains the material clearly.

Alyssa Christian 3. It is not longer than 300 words.

Joe Eken 4. It is signed.

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10-26-2009

Opinions

Nuclear weapons—the greatest peacekeepers yet

The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided on Oct. 9, 2009 that President Barack Obama was to be the awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”

President Obama became the fourth US president to receive the Nobel Peace after Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter.

In its official press release, the committee cited Obama’s “vision of a world free from nuclear arms” as one of its principal reasons for his nomination and subsequent selection to receive prize.

Daniel Williams the While a world without nuclear weapons is a good Staff Writer fairy tale story, it remains so only as long as it is relatively unattainable. How so? Presidents and organizations have been calling for an elimination of “the bomb” since its detonation in 1945. How can the abandonment of such a terrible weapon be such a bad thing?

First, imagine a world in which Obama has successfully outlawed nuclear weapons worldwide; no country could legally own them or use them.

This may sound like a sweet situation, but, as with other arms (such as biological and chemical weapons that have been banned by the Geneva Protocol), the outlawing of weapons only makes it so that the outlaws themselves are the only ones that may use them. So if Obama successfully gets rid of all legal nuclear weapons, you can be sure that the only ones that have them are the illegal organizations, and we all know how peaceful they like to be.

Moreover, nuclear weapons have arguably contributed more than anything else to the decrease in the amount of deaths due to war.

In the 20th century alone, prior to the invention of the atomic bomb in 1945, an estimated nine million to 16 million died in World War I while World War II claimed anywhere from 62 million to 78 million lives. Perhaps the fact that the intervals range from seven million (about the metropolitan population of Chicago) to 16 million (about the population of the state of Florida) is a tribute to how efficiently and discreetly man had become at killing each other.

Now we must ask ourselves, why has the world not seen such a conflict as enthusiastic and large scale in the years since? Up to that point, wars had been becoming bloodier and costlier than ever before. What happened?

The motives certainly haven’t changed. The pattern of wars and conflicts throughout

the world in the 20th century has continued for many of the same reasons. Take any conflict in the modern age; from Vietnam to the genocide in Rwanda to the current (and still ongoing…ahem) war in Iraq. They are all fought for the same basic reasons— cultural, ethnic, nationalistic, religious or ideological tensions. These motives have not changed since World War II, but the casualties have decreased.

Since World War II, the combined casualties from Vietnam, Korea, the Iran-Iraq War, the Rwandan and Burundian Genocides, the Ethiopian Civil War, the SovietAfghan War, and the War in Sudan total about 13.8 million deaths—roughly the same amount as World War I. Though the atrocities continue, one cannot argue against the fact that conflicts have indeed become less horrific (keep in mind that genocides and especially colonial brutalities still happened prior to World War II) and that wars are becoming less costly in terms of human lives.

This pattern of a reduction in global conflict and thus a reduction in lives lost due to wars is seemingly inexplicable. Have humans really learned from their mistakes in World War II? I doubt it—as already stated, numerous bloody and appalling wars have been fought since; and they certainly haven’t run out of reasons to fight.

Is it the UN? Come on. The idea of world peace is as distant as ever despite the efforts of the UN. The real reason is because of the fear of nuclear retaliation.

Since the advent of nuclear weapons no major country has dared to attack any other major country that possesses—or is close allies with a country who possesses—nuclear weapons. The powers of the world find ways to peacefully coexist simply because if they were to start a conflict over something like nationalism, the price would just be too extreme (no one wants to be that guy, you know, the one who kills us all).

So the concept of complete and total nuclear disarmament is an OK goal to reach for—so long as that goal remains out of reach. The more practical objective is to aim for a reduction in nuclear proliferation and an increase in the rounding up of “lost” nukes.

Heck, I’d even follow Mr. Sprouse’s idea and go ahead and allow Iran and North Korea to build nuclear weapons; if they even come close to using one against anyone, they’re dead. “We’ll kill you.” – Warren Sprouse.

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama was definitely not without controversy, but perhaps the fact that he hasn’t achieved his goal of total nuclear disarmament pays homage the fact that the Nobel Committee realizes that this just isn’t a good idea. But probably not…H-bomb for Nobel Prize in 2010.

Give peace a chance Americans watched in awe on Friday, November 9th as President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for Molly Brown his efforts toStaff Writer wards peace.

The last President to win this award while in office was Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. This award has created quite a stir amongst the American people.

Many Republicans are outraged by this honor to President Obama, and some such as Rush Limbaugh, and basically the rest of Fox (fake) News have spoken openly about it.

Most of the argument over the award is that it is too much too soon. Some say that Obama has not done anything to promote global peace. Others think that the award was no more than a slap in the face to former president George W. Bush.

There are also those who oppose Obama receiving the award simply because they oppose Obama.

Although Obama accepted this award after less than nine months in office, he was given this award because of his effort to promote peace. A direct quote from the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize Award Committee asserts the reason for his recognition has to do with, “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between

peoples.” They also commend his efforts to coordinate with the Muslim world and stop the creation of nuclear devices.

What some fail to realize is that since Obama was elected into office the view of America to other countries has improved.

He has personally met with many foreign officials and has handled international situations with maturity, instead of resorting to “freedom” fries. Obama has vowed to work toward climate control instead of pretending like global warming isn’t real. Obama is still standing strong with his efforts to close down Guantanamo Bay and issued an executive order against torture. That sounds pretty peaceful to me. Maybe it was a little premature, and Obama has said that himself, however Obama has helped to promote peace at the very beginning of his campaign. His signature chant, “Yes we can”, and his motto “hope”, united Americans across the country.

As for the award being too early, the committee added, only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.” Basically Obama was given the award for what he promises to contribute. In only nine months of his presidency, he may have a lot left to accomplish, but he also had a big mess to clean up from a former president.

Wait to judge Obama until halfway through his term, because he has made great strides to improving foreign relations and deserves our respect. For now, have a little hope.

Profiles

10-26-2009

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Blades hits Broadway Natalie Neppl Staff Writer Early bird classes are a thing of the past for former Washington student Catherine Blades, ‘10, who now resides in New York City.

Her new routine consists of class at noon at the Henry Miller Theatre, rehearsals all day, a dinner break, and closing the night on Broadway.

As a new member of the Broadway cast of “Bye Bye Birdie,” she is working alongside John Stamos and many other talented performers. Blades went through a hectic audition process, flying out to New York City multiple times with her mother, Amy Blades. She is in the chorus of the musical and also serves as an understudy for the lead.

Performing on the Broadway stage is “crazy, lots of hard work and stressful from insane last minute changes, yet (it is) so much fun,” said Blades. “The show itself is amazing. The costumes are beautiful.”

Blades has enjoyed meeting everyone in the show and felt the Photo courtesy of broadway.com first performance showed that the cast’s hard work has paid off.

Catherine Blades (far right), former Washington student, performs alongside John Stamos (center) in Ellen Hart, ’11, recently visited the Broadway revival production of “Bye Bye Birdie” in New York City.

Blades in New York City and spent

Graham and students gear up for a “greener” Washington Sanju Sathian Staff Writer John Graham, science teacher and environmentalist at Wash, has started a project with his A.P. Environmental Science (APES) classes to make Washington a “greener” place to be.

Graham has revived the school’s greenhouse by cultivating rows of spinach and other leafy vegetables and planting another garden of vegetables outside the greenhouse. However, permission is still being asked from administration, and special lighting is being discussed.

The idea was conceived while taking a trip to an organic farm located in Marion, Iowa.

“Organic foods are products grown without any type of chemicals or pesticides. After going to the organic farm, my classes and I had the idea that we should try to make Wash more environmentally friendly, too. We hope to get more students and even staff involved,” said Graham.

He also thinks this project will be a great hands-on experience and learning tool for his APES classes. These students will be joined by Vegetarian Club and Environmental Awareness Club to form a group effort. The organic food planned to be grown at Washington will be donated to shelters in the Cedar Rapids area, such as the Catherine McAuley Center.

“You are what you eat, and organic foods are a great thing for the environment and the body; neither the producer nor the consumer is harmed,” said APES student Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, ’11.

Photo by Molly James

a lot of time with the Broadway performer and her friends.

“I had to continually remind myself that I was watching her in the Henry Miller Theatre. I am so used to watching her at TCR (Theatre Cedar Rapids). It was so awesome watching her perform alongside such great and talented performers,” said Hart.

Blades spends her free time with friends from the show, catching up on sleep, spending time with the cousin with whom she lives, and doing her own laundry.

“Being independent and so far away from home is hard. I never really realized how hard it would be. I miss Wash a lot,” said Blades.

However, Blades also said the experience has been amazing. She has met Chace Crawford, Ugly Betty (America Ferrera), Bob Saget, and a lot of John Stamos’ friends.

“Everyone is so supportive; my cousin has acted as a mentor, and she is great. I am one of the few kids who had to travel so far to follow a dream. I love that I have accomplished all of this, but I do miss my friends and family,” said Blades.

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10-26-2009

Focus

Washington Warriors took on the challenge of fundraising through an eventful Breast Cancer Awareness week. Students had the chance to get involved in the week’s events through various activities. Nearly all Wash sports teams, as well as drama clubs, were wearing pink to promote the worldwide fight against breast cancer. Students, faculty, family and community with d e os or members also were able to participate by purchasing pink wariagn t last f d n no ee rior t-shirts and scarves. After the pink football game, jerseys ve b and did a h were auctioned off raising even more money. ad who stage n e an h y l m m r t o a u r e w rs. G es of he r any d at an fe. m M f t te o li fte ori ha one as detec ted her ed t s mem ished a w t s m r u o a o n w ac sj s inf scared as asto know h an i disease ce imp a m w t t t u d n mily ked an was jus e didn’ ie G ugh the experie a l f e u J n c . agre ma g sho family ause w t r Mrs r. Altho ow the u e h G n ce ibes h mot this the bes bei d. Her rst, bec n , s

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ctiv ought e e l e l w r v a a co h a er halfe. Althougught the cickly life cmother hraeast canc cancer awh school.Carr, ’11i,ms. “We hbere,” tim ving ca ow qu and his other b breast ton hig d Alex er vict from t t h c g u a at h der of utman merous for Yo Washin , ’10, an aid can ust wen j in oth G u n mo- t lly lls of to n o y o l a s r r l i n rem a c o p w o B ith mos ey f al Espe the ha dre Da ashingt te. It re l n w a o p e

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r d i t n h h f a s s g of t- groups cure l cancer u in the thou dea to C s a e l g . l a o i d ndin es for a tares y our Gutman gh the s ams an fi s s y r e a e said Throu many t an s that cu diseas 2. m t 1 y t u e r a e ra G th

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Cross Country

Football

Focus

10-26-2009

Ever ball field y Friday Andre D , while h is mothe awson, ’10, bat ongoing r, Hilda tles an o cancer, l Dawson pp asting fiv , c ontinues onent for 48 m

e years.

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“The do United S st cancer s ctor said tates. is rare, a of his mother ’s d s c h iag counting within 1 e had a p 2 oor prog for five p nose - int o 1 8 n e

osis. The rcent of months Daw all internet says mo began he son responded t ; I became very st woma oh afraid of rr n die fro losing he of his sin ecovery process is family’s pain m it r.” Daws ful news , howeve gle paren on said. by acting r, he lear t househ ed chem ned he w ol out in sc otherapy ould nee hool. As and radi d. He learned to cancer. d his moth ation to c t o o o g k r o and clea w up to shrink h

n b ecome th er while hi er cance Dawson s r e . m Hilda th took car night ma en had tw other regularly man e of his m king sur at o surger other as e sh my mom ies to rem tendshe reco and I kn e had taken her ove the vered, “I ow she w medicin

h a d e Both An t o s o u o c ld do the n h dre Daw and they same for time. I didn’t m eck on her throu son and thought i ghout th n m d e.” doing th Shay Gu of the id e other spo i t s m b a e n e c a for Wa ’s mothe ause she rts, it spr s r ’ s hi s ead the a the affec warenes ngton’s pink we have been affect ted fami s e e l d k i o .

f the dis “The gam es. ease and As the idea spre by breast cancer , e ad from m v than that ade the f football , though s. Jefferson wen u n d r a iser mor t . We told t well, an Women e meanin o d we cam ourselve who get g f ul to s that we e out wi bre to have t th a vict only hav hat 48 m ast cancer have o e r y. It was to fight a to fight f i

much m or the re The Bre nutes and be don nd strug ore a g s e t s l e for 48 t Cancer of their l with it,” scribes h m i awarene D v i is mothe e n a s u w . t e s I ’m sure on sa ss rs overw showed. they wou s. helming game was very e id.

The foot ld love motiona joy for t ball team the warr he love a l for Daw ior fight brought nd suppo s D song wit rt Washi on’s family; he h her. Th awson’s mom t Hilda Da den g o the fie en I gav wson’s b ld after t ton High School e her a h attle isn’ he victor ug, we b touchdo t over, b y. “We a oth kept ut Andre wns again ll sung crying, s is proud st Jeffers a y o i n f g h ow far s we made on, one f he has m it!” or every ade it. “I year she scored fi has surv ve ived.”

Swim Team

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Washington School

465,000 lives worldwide are lost each year out of the 3.5 million

diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the death rates have been dropping steadily over the year, breast cancer remains a large problem for women everywhere. The annual Especially for You race is just one of the many fundraisers aimed at aiding breast cancer patients as well as increasing awareness.

The race began 19 years ago in October of 1991 by breast cancer patient Sandy Knight. Over the years, Especially for You has raised over

Volleyball

$1.1 million and

aided over 4,300 women. The money is used for CAD technology, mammograms and other exams, and fees for office visits.

Kathryn Bell, ’10, is one of many students from Washington high school who participate in the annual event. “It’s really cool to see the community come together in support of such a great cause.” Bell, ’10, is a captain of the women’s cross country team at Washington. Members of the team have participated in

the event for the last 15 years, and began attending as a team in 2001. “Women cross country runners have always had a passion for serving their school and their community. This event became so popular that the tradition has been repeated each year,” said Cross Country Coach Dave Coates.

Staff members as well as students, have chosen to take part in the Especially for You event. “My first run was in 2004. This year was my sixth. I began participating when I started helping out with the cross country team,” said teacher and Coach Lisa Nicol. Nicol shares several other reasons for joining in the tradition. “My first experience with breast cancer was when I was in college, and the mother of a very close friend died from the disease. Then last year, my grandmother was diagnosed, but she’s doing well now.” She describes watching the advances made in the treatment of breast cancer and says that any event or fundraiser is for a great cause.

9

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10-26-2009

Profiles

A day in the life of Washington royalty Lily Gasway Staff Writer

King: Jack Shey

Queen: Shayma Elsheikh

4:30 AM: Wake up and run five miles until the break of dawn.

5:30 AM: Begin weightlifting, doing 90 reps of 120 pounds on biceps and triceps.

7:00 AM: Arrive at school and do homework while talking to Shay Gutman about the week’s football game and the political

dilemmas of a utopian society.

8:00 AM: Begin rigorous schedule.

9:12 AM: “A.P. Economics: the opportunity cost is way too high.”

12:15 PM: Go to the physics room and work on building a quantum theoretical particle accelerator.

12:45 PM: A.P. Physics begins. “Drew Stevens usually teaches the class while Kleman takes notes.”

3:00 PM: Go to golf practice.

4:00 PM: Go to baseball practice.

5:00 PM: Run five more miles; cool down cycle is complete after reading one chapter of “Plight of Emotional Despair” by Socrates.

6:00 PM: Do homework. “Gotta keep pushin’ towards the American Dream.”

9:00 PM: End of homework...time to party.

3:00 AM: Party’s over, time to go home and sleep.

“I believe in natural selection; the weaker ones will eventually die off, while the strong will flourish.”

Photo courtesy of Washington Monument

Shayma Elsheikh and Jack Shey, both ‘10, smile for the crowd as they are crowned as Homecoming royalty.

5:30 AM: Wake up, pray, and then fall back asleep. “Some days when I get up at 5:30, I watch random Sudanese comedy shows online.”

6:00 AM: Wake up again and get ready for early bird.

9:30 AM: “In AP Lit, I lecture Luke Hurn and Jake Harder about being better people.”

10:15 AM: Potluck snacking time in AP Calculus.

11:20 AM: Bible session in the library with Kathy and Erin Briggie during lunch. Also time to write love notes and birthday cards for random people.

2:00 PM: Seventh hour is time for flirting with Sam Gray and listening to Trevor Polk talk about his digestive system.

2:45 PM: “I walk with the cross country team.”

4:15 PM: “I walk into the kitchen carrying my books and backpack and eat everything I see. I like to eat peanut butter out of the jar.”

4:40 PM: Shower, and then it’s usually time for another snack and prayer.

5:45 PM: Listen to first grade twin sisters’ drama of the day.

7:00 PM: Eat dinner with family, usually a Sudanese or Middle Eastern meal, and prayer again after dinner.

8:00 PM: Read “New York Times” online and then start homework.

11:00 PM: End the day with memorizing some of the Qur’an and going to bed.

Wash equestrian rides the road to success Natalee Birchansky Staff Writer For the past seven years, Abby Maxwell, ‘13, has dedicated a majority of her time to horseback riding.

She rides six days a week for four to five hours a day. Maxwell is one of the few competitive jumpers in Iowa, and she has been to more than 100 shows.

“My favorite parts of horsebackriding are the friendships, (the) relationships that I’ve developed and seeing the progress that I’ve made,” said Maxwell. With this success, she has traveled to competitions as far away as Mississippi.

In July, Maxwell went to the Young Riders Championships in Lexington, KY. It is a competition comparable to the Junior Olympics.

However, along with the fun also comes many challenges.

“The hardest part is to keep going after you have a really bad day, and to overcome that. But my family and friends really support me through all of it,” said Maxwell.

Photo courtesy of Abby Maxwell

Congratulations to Jack Shey and Shayma Elsheikh, 2009’s Homecoming king and queen, and both members of Surveyor...way to represent!

A&E

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10-26-2009

Six fearsome films to thrill your Halloween season

By Katharine Goodwin, Staff Writer

Jonathon Demme, 1991

The Silence of the Lambs FBI agent Clarice Starling is sent to interview Dr. Hannibal, who has been sent to prison for murder, in the hope of finding information on the latest serial killer.

Dark and strange, Dr. Hannibal’s antics cause even the toughest audience member to squirm. Winning five Oscars, The Silence of the Lambs is sure to leave you tossing and turning in bed with the light on.

Stanley Kubrick, 1980

The Shining

If you can handle scary, chilling and daunting movies that will make you want to plug in your nightlight, A Nightmare on Elm Street is the film for you. When dreams begin to affect reality, children in Springwood, Ohio are in deadly danger. The ghost of serial killer, Freddy Kruger, is haunting children in their dreams.

Nominated for best movie by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Movies, A Nightmare on Elm Street will make you jump with every new shot.

Six year old Danny has the ability to see the deaths of guests and workers who have stayed at the hotel where his father is the caretaker. Equipped with knowledge that the previous caretaker went crazy and murdered his family, Danny fears for his life upon his father’s gradual descent into madness. Watching Academy Award winning actor Jack Nicholson’s transformation into a homicidal monster is enough to make anyone squirm with fear.

breakitdownblog.com

Psycho

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

You may check into the Bate’s Motel, but you will never check out. Run by the shy Norman Bates and his deranged mother, the Bate’s Motel is not your typical vacation spot. Psycho is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most remembered horror tales about a woman’s mysterious disappearance at the Bate’s Motel. After watching this suspenseful movie, you will never look at your shower the same way again.

ugo.com

Francis Coppola, 1992

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Wes Craven, 1984

When killer aliens dubbed “The Pod People” murder and impersonate Santa Mira’s citizens, it is up to Dr. Bennel to save his town. As the invasions increase in number and severity, Bennel realizes that he and friends must escape the ‘snatchers’ or suffer the same fate of their victims. Released in 1956, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers is full of eerie moments that will make you wish you had left at least one light on.

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Alfred Hitchcock, 1960

Don Sigel, 1956

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

If the long-running Twilight craze has left you thirsty for a little more "bite" in your vampire flick, sink your teeth into Bram Stoker's Dracula. Since its initial release in 1992, this fearsome film has become a classic of the horror-romance genre. Don’t pass up a chance to experience this Academy Award winning thriller; terrified fans across the globe prove Count Dracula’s deathly romance with Mina Murray to be well worth the nightmares.

thedevilsdemons.com gg

The Surveyor staff wishes Washington High School a happy Halloween....

igccenter.com

themadrose.com

A&E Teacher spotlight: Willis Harte Joey Mescher Staff Writer On the streets of Cedar Rapids, Russian and mathematics teacher Willis Harte often can be seen logging miles with the Warrior cross country boys. At home in Iowa City, Harte is better known to frequent the local movie theater with his thirteen year-old son, Neil.

The most recent movie they saw was The Hurt Locker, the story of an army bomb squad in Iraq fighting an addictive cat-andmouse game with insurgents. They both enjoyed the film and Harte found it to be "deep, funny, violent and tender". Harte's other favorite movies include Breaking Away, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Oceans Eleven.

"You get in a different world; you're part of the story [at the movie theater]," Harte said.

"It's like you're seeing a different world through movies."

Growing up outside Boston, Mass., Harte and his parents would go to movies together at the famous Brattle and Coolidge Corner Theaters as well as the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. He saw many plays, operas and movies there and even caught a glimpse of some famous faces of today, including Tony Shalhoub and Cherry Jones.

Today, Harte and his son are able to watch live HD broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera in New York at the Sycamore 12 Theater.

"The Met" broadcasts nine productions via satellite each year and recently began the new season with Puccini's Tosca. Harte describes opera as his favorite genre of entertainment. "It combines different elements of art in a seamless way," said Harte.

“As you get older, your world is opened by entertainment,” said Harte. “In high school, maybe you’re an Adam Sandler fan, but your tastes can change.”

“You get in a different world; you’re part of the story [at the movie theater].”

-Willis Harte, teacher and coach

Graphic by Apisit Puangpia

Photo by Lauren Hoth

A film and opera aficionado, Washington teacher and coach Willis Harte has been known to engage in the occassional pre-practice fine arts discussion with his cross country team.

Left to Right: Kyle Rouse ’10, Willis Harte, Jack Shey ’10, Andy Marshall ’10, Brenice Ndayizeye ’11, Robert Hogg ’12.

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10-26-2009

A&E

Audiences across the nation partake in “wild rompus” Mackenzie Hepker Staff Writer

photo courtesy of slashfilms.com

Those who arrive at the movie theater this fall with expectations to revisit the feelings associated Maurice Sendak’s classic story, Where the Wild Things Are, may their favorite childhood book’s film adaptation to be quite a different experience.

photo courtesy of tututoday.com

they’re all gone. It also exceptionally portrays the emotional rollercoaster that is childhood, forceWhen “Where The Wild Things Are” romped fully stabbing the viewer with powerful feelings of across the big screen on its much-anticipated open- loss, anger, and confusion expressed by both Max ing weekend of Oct. 16-18, it spurred a wild ruckus and the wild things—who each have their own all across the nation. Spike Jonze, the director of the deep-seeding issues with their lives—and vividly controversial film, creates a world full of real-life resurrecting overpowering sentiments from beyond terror, sadness, loneliness, confusion and general dys- the years. It’s a bizarre and amazing experience.

The drastically emotional approach has negative function through the imagination of a troubled boy as well as positive effects. As a whole, the film is exnamed Max (Max Records) that is extremely effective tremely depressing, with few moments of pure childin making the viewer feel intense and overwhelming like bliss.

There is a schism between the wild things emotions from heated beginning to heartbreaking creating tension and anxiety throughout the group, end. A psychological masterpiece? Definitely. A and they constantly voice must-see for young chiltheir misery with phrases like dren? Absolutely not.

Where the Wild Things Are “no one ever listens to me,” Based on Maurice or “I don’t matter,” or “soon Director: Spike Jonze Sendak’s classic chilthis place will all be dust, and Starring: Max Records, dren’s book, the greatthen I don’t even know what est allure of this film is Pepita Emmerichs comes after dust.” Many parts its appeal to nostalgia. were long, dull and boring, However, what is surand others were absolutely prising young-adult auterrifying, keeping the audidiences is that the film ence wide-eyed and at the does not bring back the edge of their seats. There are warm and fuzzy feelings also some subtle implications associated with reading in the film that are morbidly the book, but rather forces the viewer to revisit the chilling, such as a pile of bones suggested to have emotional ‘state of being’ they experienced throughbeen those of previous kings, from which Max’s out childhood as a whole. Records (Max) give such a crown is first retrieved.

Being bombarded by such convincing performance that it is impossible not to negativity, with a few exceptional periods, inspires a relate to his character as he attempts to solve all of feeling of distress throughout the duration of the film. the wild things’ real problems with his still-abstract All in all, “Where the Wild Things Are” is not at sense of child logic. However, the interaction between all suitable for current young fans of Sendak’s clashim and the wild things is where the true genius of sic, but seems to be intended for viewers that have the film lies, because it gives a perfect representation of how children (the wild things are quite childlike already experienced Max’s world for themselves. The themselves) universally cope with problems and at- movie is depressing, but it gives out something special tempt to solve them by simply pushing them away, and real to take away from it. One thing’s for sure: hitting them with sticks, or eating them up until anyone who dares to see this film is in for a wild ride.

Rap = “emcee” 2 A movement of intelligent lyrics reforms the face of the hip-hop genre

Isaac Halyard Staff Writer A style of rap focused on meaningful issues and composed of intelligent lyrics is quickly growing in popularity. It has severed any ties with the commonly associated violent themes of hip-hop. An influential art form with a history of violence and sexism has undergone a sort of “schism”. As a result, a hip-hop movement focused on issues entirely separate from those of the popular “gangsta” rap, is re-emerging from the old school days of original hip-hop.

In a sample of Washington students, the overwhelming majority of students selected Lil’ Wayne as the most intelligent rapper. Lupe Fiasco followed in second and the young Dylan Shah tied Tupac, Eminem, Jay-Z and Will Smith for third. Other rappers commonly categorized as intelligent include Nas, Talib Kweli, N.E.R.D., Mos Def, Common and Kid Cudi. In a time when Lil’ Wayne rules the rap kingdom, many listeners seek the alternative sounds from other intelligent “emcees”.

“Some rappers have meaning to their songs, while others are rapping about nothing,” said Sophie Klingenberger, ’10.

However, the deep meaning behind this newer style of rap may not be as contemporary as it seems. This particular style of intelligent rap can be traced back to the earliest days of hip-hop; when “deejays” and “emcees” would rap about the issues of greatest importance in their life. Since its unofficial integration into the world of popular music,

hip-hop has been a favorite type of music for listeners around the world. During the 1980s and 1990s, rappers Tupac Shakur, N.W.A. and Notorious B.I.G. led the transformation of hip-hop from open-house party music in which deejays showcased their talents, to a powerful “gangsta” rap genre based on rebellion and the struggle of gang life.

The “gangsta” rap variety quickly became the foundation for aspiring many hip-hop artists. However, as “gangsta” rap skyrocketed in popularity, many artists who wished to revert back to the “old school” days of hip-hop made contradicting efforts. Artists like The Roots, Nas, Talib Kweli and Mos Def shared their morals, beliefs, and substantial issues with the world through songs of deep meaning.

The “gangsta” rap form proves to be the most profitable rap style for artists. The dilemma over intelligent music and monetary gain plagues the rap world.

“Lupe and Jay-Z are the smartest rappers right now, but [Lil’] Wayne knows how to appeal to everyone,” said Alex Carr, ’11.

Recently, B.E.T. refused to allow the hiphop group Little Brother to be seen on the network; on the basis that Little Brother was “too intelligent.”

The lack of values within much of hiphop reflects more than just the music. It has created a way of life in and of itself.

The intelligent hip-hop movement may not reform the genre entirely, but it will make a valiant effort.

“The lack of values within much of hip-hop reflects more than just the music.

It has created a way of life in and of itself.”

Kid Cudi's "neo-psychedelica" hip-hop career began in 2008 with the release of an original mixtape entitled A Kid Named Cudi.

After attracting the attention of hip-hop mogul, Kanye West, Day ‘n’ Night, the tape's hit single, went on to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Day 'n' Night is a part of Kid Cudi's studio allbum, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, which has been praised as "futuristic bleak-beat hip-hop" at its finest.

Talib Kweli

Kid Cudi

sohh.com

Originally gaining popularity through Black Star, a collaboration with fellow American emcee Mos Def, Talib Kweli has become one of the most critically successful rappers in hip-hop music. His first solo album, Quality, was met with considerable mainstream attention, largely thanks to its hit single, Get By. Kweli is currently working on a collaborative project with R&B singer Res and musician Graph Nobel. Their studio album, Party Robot, is in production.

antiquiet.com

Often referred to as “The Legendary Roots Crew”, this Philadelphian soul group quickly became beloved for their jazzy, alternative approach to hip-hop upon the release of their debut album, Organix, in 1993. In 1999, The Roots’ hit single, You Got Me, peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and won the Grammy for Best Performance by a Duo or Group. How I Got Over, their politically-focused new album, hit music stores on October 20th of this year.

Lupe Fiasco

musiciconplay.net

The Roots

citypaper.net

Lupe Fiasco's September concert in Hubbard Park lured masses of high school students to Iowa City, but some Warriors have yet to experience his unique lyricismfocused rap compositions. Fiasco has been referred to as the "hip-hop Generation Next vanguard", breaking free from the mainstream hip-hop scene with increasing popularity. His acclaimed album, Lasers, released in 2009, has been well received by fans and critics alike.

Sports Warrior Numbers 5

Touchdowns scored by running back Andre Dawson, ‘10, in the Warrior’s pink-out game against Jefferson.

Dawson said he scored a touchdown for each year his mother has lived since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004.

4.65

Average number of digs per game for Maddie Kennedy, ’11, who is ranked seventh for 4A girls according to QuikStats.com.

3

Consecutive Mississippi Conference Championships won by the varsity women’s cross country teams. The Warriors edged out Cedar Falls by two points for their win on Oct. 15 at Birdsall Park.

10-26-2009

13

Feeling tired? Check your iron Jill Broghammer Staff Writer All athletes worry about injuries such as a torn ACL or a broken bone, but those competing in endurance sports also have to worry about iron deficiency anemia. Many athletes at Washington have developed anemia or are taking precautions to prevent the condition.

Cross country runner Kenzy Lewis, ’10, was recently diagnosed with iron deficiency and is learning that being anemic is more of a struggle when in a sport. Lewis first noticed that she was tired after practices and was out of breath after going up and down stairs.

“I could definitely tell a difference from this season compared to last season,” said Lewis. “I got tired more easily and it was harder to complete a race.”

Lewis has learned to eat foods that are high in iron, such as spinach, soybeans,

broccoli, raisins and meat to stay healthy.

Men’s cross country coach Willis Harte hopes to keep his runners strong and healthy by supplying them with plenty of fluids and nourishment after practice. Cross country runners burn many calories, which makes it very easy for runners to become sick and develop iron deficiency anemia.

“We’ve been working really hard and increasing our milage,” said Harte. “Sometimes the guys can become worn down from too much work.”

Harte encourages his runners to drink Gatorade or water twenty to thirty minutes after practice and eat protein such as a Clif or protein bar.

“We refuel right after each workout, but the guys understand this is not a substitute for dinner,” Harte said.

Some high school athletes do not have the ideal balanced diet, which is why coaches and athletes have become more conscientious about the need to refuel after athletic events.

12

Rank of the women’s swim team’s 200 yard freestyle relay. The team of Sami Puk, ’10, Maddie Dietz, ’13, Greta Oldach, ’10 and Jill Broghammer, ’11 swam a time of 1:44.84.

Athlete of the Month: Megan Schmidt 1. How long have you been playing volleyball?

I started playing when I was eight.

I tried every other sport and it was the only one I didn’t completely embarrass myself at. I tried basketball, dance, and T-ball.

2. What is your favorite part about playing for Washington?

My favorite part is that we’re so close, closer than any other team in the state. We’re together every day before and after school, and even a little outside of school.

3. How do you prepare for a big game?

I usually take a nap after school on every game day to clear anything in my head that went on at school that day.

Then I go to school and carb load. After dinner I sit and listen to music while watching the other games. It gets me pumped up.

4. What do you like to eat before a game?

The volleyball moms provide either spaghetti or sub sandwiches, fruit, water and cupcakes. I always drink orange juice right before I play.

5. What is your favorite pump-up song?

“Warrior” by Nelly.

6. Do you play any other sports?

I do cheerleading for basketball and I practice with the track team to stay in shape.

7. What do you do to wind down after a game?

I go home, take a cool shower, eat a little something and go to bed because I’m usually tired and worn out.

8. Does the Warrior volleyball team have any traditions?

The morning of a game we put

Graphic by Alexandra Bergman

The competitive edge Joe Eken Staff Writer

Megan Schmidt ’11 Volleyball tatoos on everyone’s right leg. We also have cheers we do before every game.

9. Who is your favorite coach of all time?

I would have to say Coach Kari Lombardi has been my favorite coach.

She helps me on and off the court, whether it is school help or personal problems. She’s like a mom to me.

10. What has been the most exciting moment of the season?

The most exciting moment for me was when we beat City High in two games. They’re ranked fifth in the state.

We’ve also taken a game from Kennedy who is ranked third.

11. What are your expectations for the rest of the season?

Our expectations are to stay focused and give our all every day at lifting and practice, and through every point of every game so hopefully we can make it to state.

12. How do you keep from getting nervous before a game?

I drink a box of orange juice which helps me, and I sing a song with Cailey, Laloni, and Jordan.

The Warrior football team tore through the “Crush the Cougars” banner and raced out under the lights of Kingston field, sporting brand new blue uniforms during their Sept. 25 game against Kennedy.

Inspired by this jersey switch, Washington beat its local rivals 44-6.

Tactics like these are certainly not new to Warrior athletics. Teams are constantly striving for a competitive edge either through flashy new gear, hard work or healthy lifestyles.

Rob Hogg, ‘12, who runs varsity cross country, believes that like the football players, his team gains a competitive edge from their new uniforms.

“They psyche out opponents. People look at us and just say, ‘Whoa, look out’,” said Hogg.

Hogg stressed the importance of eating lots of whole grains, vegetables and nutrients to improve performance, a sentiment shared by the women’s track coach Frank Scherrman.

“You can’t perform at your best if you’re not nourished,” Scherrman said.

He advises his team members to use the food pyramid as their guide and to always make sure they refuel their bodies after practice.

Scherrman believes that drinking water is key to achieving a healthy diet and that sports drinks are no substitute.

“Gatorade has way too much sugar.

In moderation it’s okay, but water is the perfect drink,” he said.

Healthy meals are just as important in sports like volleyball and football where athletes frequently participate in team dinners before games.

Danielle Gallet, ’12, says that the volleyball team often has Zio Johno’s spaghetti on game days along with fruits like apples and grapes. Other times, parents provide sandwiches and bread to ensure the team gets plenty of carbohydrates.

The football team has a similar pre-game ritual. Usually the team gathers in the cafeteria to have dinner before traveling to Kingston.

“I eat about 2 plates of spaghetti before games,” said football player Cory Harrison, ’11.

Harrison’s secret to staying in shape through the season is fairly simple.

“Just don’t eat foods you know are bad for you,” he said.

There are countless ways for the student athletes at Washington to gain a leg up on the competition, but their ultimate goal is always the same: be the best athlete possible.

Teams and athletes are constantly striving for that competitive edge, whether they get it from flashy new gear, hard work or living healthy lifestyles.

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10-26-2009

Sports

Warrior athletes prepare for the post-season Maddy Becker Sports Editor As temperatures begin to drop and the leaves turn from green to red, fall athletes at Washington begin preparing for the most important part of their season. In the next few weeks, Warrior athletes will fight for every point and every second in their district, regional, and state meets and games.

Volleyball The Warrior women’s volleyball team earned a bye in the regional quarterfinal with their 15-5 record in late September.

The eighth-ranked Warriors will take on either Des Moines East or Southeast Polk in their game on October 29 here at Washington. If successful, they will advance to play in the regional final on November 3.

“Our toughest competition should be Xavier, but no one ever knows,” said Coach Kari Lombardi. “Any team can step up at tournament time.”

The volleyball players are optimistic about their regional parings, especially compared to last year when they narrowly missed qualifying for state.

Cross Country As of publication, both the men and women’s cross country teams were ready

to run in their regional meets at Noelridge Park.

The men faced tough competition from third-ranked City High and eleventh-ranked Dubuque Senior. The girls faced a strong, second-ranked City High team and ninth-ranked Linn-Mar. Before districts, the Warrior men were ranked fourteenth and the women were ranked eighth.

To qualify for state, teams must place in the top three. Individuals can also qualify by placing in the top ten.

Qualifying runners will compete this Saturday at the state meet in Fort Dodge.

Swimming Hoping for a less-than-spooky Halloween, the Women’s swim team will compete in their district meet this Saturday, October 31. The meet is a metro showdown, with teams from Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Jefferson, and Prairie, as well as Fairfield, Tipton, Vinton-Shellsburg and Waterloo East.

“I feel like we will have some tough competition at the district meet,” said swimmer Maddie Dietz, ’13.

Some of that competition will come from Linn-Mar and Kennedy, who are ranked eleventh and ninth, respectively, ahead of the Warriors who are ranked fifteenth.

For events to qualify, the individual

Photo by Sky Smith

Warrior football players watch their team take down the J-Hawks in their game against Jefferson on October 9, 45-7. swimmer or relay must either place first or swim a time in the top eighteen in the state.

“We’ve been working so hard all season, and I know the hard work will pay off,” said Dietz, who expects the Warriors to have a top ten finish at state.

Football The Warrior football team is set to

Swimmers work hard, give back Abby Varn Staff Writer Reaching out and helping others is easier with a family to back you up. It’s no different for the Washington women swimmers, who have united to help the community by fundraising, gathering canned goods and supporting cancer awareness.

Team bonding has always been a big part of the swim team. Practices start early in the summer months and the girls practice six days a week together as the school year begins. The team meets in the morning for their first daily practice usually before most students hit their snooze button for the first time.

“We spend more time at school than we do at our own houses,” said Laura Vestle, ‘12.

The girls meet again after school for a second practice.

Spending about four hours swimming together everyday naturally brings the team together, but extra bonding activites help solidify relationships.

Earlier this season, the swimmers split into teams

and spent the afternoon completing a scavenger hunt.

The team also met at Perkins for a team breakfast before school and attended a haunted house to become closer.

“The girls start to feel like your family. We’re together so much,” said Evan Tarkington, ’10.

Coach Smith and her team have used their strong relationships to reach out as a group and help the community when they can.

Washington women swimmers have had a running food fundraiser this year. If the girls bring in 200 pounds of canned foods, a morning practice is cancelled. This incentive has been enough to encourage the girls to donate numerous canned goods.

This month, the swim team participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They sported pink swim caps to show their support.

“It was fun being part of the cancer awareness month,” said Tarkington. “The caps were easy, but showed we wanted to support a good cause.”

With the season coming to a close, the Warrior women are closer than ever and have used their unity to reach out and make a difference.

Photo courtesy of Meghan Freme

Women’s swim team members spend some quality time together earlier this season.

play in their first substate game this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

“I feel confident in my team,” said running back Andre Dawson, ’10. “I feel that we will be ready to compete with anyone.”

The Warriors are currently ranked eighth. The team is hoping for a victory to advance to the playoffs which will take place on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6.

Upcoming Warrior Athletic Events Football substate game October 28 at Washington Volleyball regional game October 29 at Washington Swimming district meet October 31 at Washington Cross country state meet October 31 at Fort Dodge

Sports

10-26-2009

15

Hawkeyes vs. Cyclones: Intense rivalry Ian Fischer Staff Writer

already improved their record from that of last year, which was 2-10, and the Hawkeyes are also starting strong.

The skycam crawls mid-air along The last time the Hawkeyes had the cables like an acrobat, capturing a 7-0 record was in 1985 with head fans covered in paint and buff and coach Hayden Fry. With a narrow college kids throwing themselves at victory over Michigan and a major each other with abandon.

Both images characterize an event comeback against the Wisconsin Badgers, this year’s team has catamany people love: college football. pulted itself into the record books.

In the state of Iowa there is an The Cyclones have been busy conintense rivalry between University of structing a solid season, as well.

Iowa Hawkeye fans and Iowa State The Iowa-ISU rivalry is not inCyclone fans. The Cyclones have tense in Cedar Rapids. Over 70% of the students polled prefer to cheer for the Hawks, while just 7% chose the Cyclones.

Gary Rieck, who teaches chemistry at Washington, said that he is a Hawkeye fan “all the way.” His favorite former Hawkeye is Washington alum, Rob Bruggeman. “[Rob] worked really hard to get a Courtesy of isportsweb.com scholarship,” said The Hawkeyes and Cyclones in their game on Rieck, who also September 12. The Hawkeyes came out victoritaught Rob’s ous, winning 35-3. younger sister,

Caitlin.

There are still some Cyclone fans in the halls of Washington.

Will Hart, ’10, is among the minority of Iowa State fans at Washington. Hart is a fan of the college itself because of its traditions and the beauty of the campus. He also cheers for the Cyclones over the Hawkeyes during football season.

“Our colors aren’t the colors of plaque and decay,” said Hart, referring to what Hawkeye fans instead call black and gold.

Hart also prefers the Iowa State mascot Cy the Cyclone over Herky the Hawk.

Students with siblings in college often choose a school based on where their family member attends.

Erica Arndt, ’10, says that she would probably not like the Cyclones if her sister did not attend Iowa State.

Zach Detweiler, ’11, roots for the Hawkeyes in part because of a former Warrior now dressed in black and gold. Detweiler says Keenan Davis, who graduated from Washington last spring, is “hands down” his favorite Hawkeye.

College football has been an exciting fall activity for many Iowans, and it the rivalry between fans may intensify this year as both Iowa and ISU improve.

Do Washington students root for the Hawkeyes or Cyclones?

Iowa Hawkeyes Iowa State Cyclones Neither

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Warrior Homecoming ‘09

Photos by: Jessica Wohlers

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10-26-2009

THE PTA WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL ACADEMIC NUMERAL RECIPIENTS Kaelan Abernathey* Scott Allison Elliot Althoff Emily Arkenberg* Sarah Aucutt Emma Azelborn** Lynette Barber Morgan Barnes** Nicole Baty* Jillian Beer** Sara Belay Neshwon BenSaad Katharine Bergman* Lewis Blake Sean Bredl Alycea Brown Molly Brown* Tyler Burrell** Andrew Butschi* Ryan Cain Rodnika Carter** Alyssa Christian** Dylan Cole Macie Collins Ross Crump

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Megan Hepker* Maddison Hines Robert Hogg** Sebastian Hollandsworth Clayton Hoyt* Bryttanie Huff* Melissa Huffer Gabrielle Hughes Josiah Javier Lauren Johnson* Polly Johnson* Benjamin Jones* Cassandra Jordan Ashley Kanellis* Patrick Karamitros* Suzanne Keck* Anna Kline** Zachary Knight Chloe Kohl Liesel Kohn** Ashley Kraus* Caleb Larson Ethan Lindley Hannah Lodge** Hunter Loushin*

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Channing Tackaberry* Taylor Temple* McCauley Todd Braedon Tovey* Drake Triplett Tessa Turner* Dominic Valenti* Olivia Van Antwerp Forrest Vega* Max Versteegh* Jennifer Vestle Laura Vestle Taylor Vogel David Warner Terrence Washington Brenden Weberg* Ian Wedemeier* Theodore Welch* Taylor Westpheling* Emily Wicke* Clayton Willett* Zoe Wolter** *=GPA 3.5 and higher **=GPA 4.0 and higher