Hawkeye 3 2015

Best Strategies to ace your AP tests March 2015 | Volume 30 | Issue 5

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Survey: freedoms of the first amendment

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‘Old man Pete’ in the kickboxing ring

Mountlake terrace high school | 21801 44th Ave. W Mountlake Terrace wA 98043

Hawkeye www.thehawkeye.org

Terrace’s

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Footprint

How well does MTHS conserve energy and natural resources in this era of growing climate concerns? 10

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March 2015 | 3 hawkeye Leadership ‘14-’15

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March 2015 | Volume 30 | Issue 5

Ban on words

Five freedoms

Words give people the power to change society and should not be banned by the government.

MTHS students share their knowledge and opinions of the First Amendment. See the results of our exclusive survey.

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Viewpoints

Tips to conserve

Read perspectives from different leaders in the MTHS community.

After reading about MTHS’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly, see how you can reduce waste in your daily life.

REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT Officials reveal what MTHS’s carbon footprint is, what that means and the steps the school is taking to pollute even less.

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AP testing What are the benefits of AP testing? Learn what strategies work best for test prep.

10 “There needs to be a balance between needs and conservation. Schools are for students to learn and learn effectively in a comfortable environment, so there needs to be some type of balance.”

Doug O’Donnel

Executive account manager at the snohomish county Public Utility District

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Hard knocks English teacher Peter White faces his fears, gets injured and bonds with his daughter in the kickboxing ring.

Letter from the Editor

We need to get serious about climate change O

n Feb. 26, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma threw a snowball on the Senate floor in order to prove, once again, that climate change is just a big hoax.

There are a few reasons this silly act filled me with a tremendous amount of conNick Fiorillo cern.

Editor-in-chief For one, Sen. Inhofe is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Yes, you read that correctly.

The man in charge of the U.S. Senate’s environmental policy doesn’t believe, despite overwhelming evidence from the scientific community, that our climate is changing.

Sen. Inhofe’s words are indicative of

a flawed way of thinking, one that has dangerous implications for the planet and humanity. Contrary to what climate deniers, such as Sen. Inhofe, would like us to believe, climate change is real; it is caused by human activity and it poses a massive threat to humanity.

Now, this is not a personal belief. This position is held by every major American scientific society, NASA, the Department of Defense, 97 percent of climate scientists and countless other agencies and groups.

Research from NASA and other organizations show sea levels are rising, global temperatures are increasing, oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic and ice sheets and glaciers are melting.

These are facts, not opinions.

We must look at this issue objectively and listen to the experts. The scientists from NASA are the experts. The senator from Oklahoma is not.

Our generation must take the lead in addressing this issue. The implications of climate change due to human activity are drastic, and are affecting us today.

For example, California Governor Jerry Brown recently announced a $1 billion plan to provide relief for the effects of massive, record drought in his state.

However, this plan is a temporary solution, with drought predicted to continue to ravage California. Scientists at Stanford University said the causes of California’s droughts are linked to climate change. It is clear we must make serious changes to preserve and protect our planet and its resources.

A good start would be to replace people like Sen. Inhofe with well-informed legislators committed to this goal. However, if we continue to toss vapid political snowballs and ignore our abuse of the planet, we’re headed for a grim future. H

2014-2015 Hawkeye Staff Alex Croce, Anna Vu, Anthony Markert, AsiaLee Donnelly, Clohey Horton, Edwin Olivera, Emily Anderson, Hannah Schuster, Ian Moffet, Irvin Zhang, Jack Fiorillo, Joshua Morrison, Katrina Pirie, Katryna Garza, Kiah Helms, Lilly Stelmack, Luke Smith, Max Tracy, Sarah Schank, Stephanie Garcia, Tessa King, Vivian Nowka-Keane and Zach Hoernlein.

Name in bold indicates the staff member of the month as selected by the Editorial Board.

Editor-in-Chief Nick Fiorillo

Editorial Board Nick Fiorillo, Paxtyn Merten, Isaac Otis, Erika Fisher, Stephi Smith Editorial News Editor Paxtyn Merten Sports Editors Austin McDermott & Luke Thurber Feature Editor Daniil Oliferovskiy Co-Op/Ed Editors Isaac Otis & Beza Ayele Lifestyle Editor Maxine Taylor Copy Editor Stephi Smith Business General Manager Open Advertising Manager Robin Choi Distribution Manager Brian Tran Visual Graphics Editor Erika Fisher Photo Editor Serafina Urrutia Design Editor Arsha Kiani Online Online Manager Jaira Arcilla Social Media Manager Maria Balcita ........................................................

Adviser Vince DeMiero FANs Coordinators Sandra Merten & Cathy Fiorillo Printing Pacific Publishing Member MTHS ASB, JEA/WJEA, NSPA, Student Press Law Center, Tao of Journalism

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Mission

Mission Statement The Hawkeye’s mission is to provide the MTHS community with quality, thought-provoking student produced publications. In policy and in practice since 1960, the Hawkeye is a designated open forum publication.

Policies

The Hawkeye has established several open public forums for the exchange of information, opinions and artistic expression dedicated to those in the MTHS community. Since 1960, we have faithfully served our audience and community as an open, public forum where student editors make all decisions.

Editorials The editorial section of the Hawkeye serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Hawkeye Editorial Board. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. The Hawkeye will print submitted guest editorials as space allows and requests that all contributors include their name, signature and position relative to the editorial. The Hawkeye will edit all submissions for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any submission.

Letters to the Editor Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section, a public forum for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Hawkeye will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Hawkeye will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter.

Editorial Cartoons Submissions represent the view of the artist.

Editorial cartoons accompanying editorials and editorial columns represent the view of the author. Cartoons are selected based on appropriateness and clarity of message.

Advertising The Hawkeye will not accept any advertising that the Editorial Board deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teens to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Hawkeye reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of the Hawkeye staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board.

Revised 9/2013

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Cover Photo/illustration

by Erika Fisher

Contact Us Email editor@thehawkeye.org Phone 425.431.7770 Mail Hawkeye | Room 130 c/o Mountlake Terrace High School 21801 44th Avenue West Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 © 2015 Hawkeye | All rights reserved.

reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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Why banning words is always a bad idea

ords are powerful. Ever since humans could speak, we have used words to express love and kindness as well as hate and bigotry. Words have the potential to bring people up and inspire and encourage one another; this is what makes words conceptually powerful.

The First Amendment actually entitles us to use these words freely with very few exceptions when it comes to speaking out Ian Moffet against the government and Hawkeye Staff others.

Some words throughout history have had a dark past and haven’t always had a positive influence on society. In turn, some would say certain words should be banned by law. However, it isn’t the government’s role to determine what words we can and can’t say write.

Just because there is a potential for offending someone with

ERika Fisher | Hawkeye

a certain word, does that justify banning it? If so, this dilutes and contradicts the concept of freedom of speech.

One example of this hits right at home. In 2013 it aired on KOMO News that the Seattle City Council considered banning words and phrases such as “citizen” and “brown bag;” “citizen” because it could be offensive to residents who aren’t actually citizens; and “brown bag” due to the racial implications associated with it.

Although not everyone is a citizen in Seattle and using the term “brown bag” in a derogatory sense is wrong, does it constitute an attempt to eradicate and punish those who use this word? This is an especially dangerous notion and concept due to the fact that it is the government that is censoring these words.

The government shouldn’t be allowed to impede the free exchange of words that people are entitled to, regardless of the ethical implications that have been associated with those words. In addition, does the government really think that people won’t stop saying certain words? Throughout history we see that when government intervenes in essential rights, it never goes well.

Again, words are powerful, even the disparaging ones.

They shouldn’t be censored–they have a role in history, and we can not act like they do not exist. In fact, proponents of such absurd policies are hypocritical when they want to ban a word, for they are solidifying the definition to that word or slur.

If people want the meaning of words to change they have to be said and society has to change them. Words aren’t only powerful, they’re malleable and can change. If a law defines what a word means and not society, that is the real problem.

We can see the way that many words have evolved over the years. The word “gay” used to mean happy and joyful, yet a cultural transition happened with that word and now it is used to describe homosexuals, then in turn the word

Hawkeye

became an insult by those in society who viewed homosexuals negatively.

This is a sad reality, but it’s true and we can’t act as if it isn’t.

But what do we see now in 2015? We see much of society deeming it unethical to say such a word as an insult. This word’s meaning is changing in a benevolent way–no law necessary.

This adds on to the point of how not only is banning words futile, it is also unethical and not something the government should have a say in.

In 2012 the New York City Department of Education set up a list of about 50 words that they deemed offensive and that couldn’t be used on standardized tests, according to CBS New York. Some of these included the words and phrases: “dinosaur,” “dancing,” “celebrities,” “rap,” “religion,” “loss of employment,” and “evolution.” So, if a science related question was asked on one of the tests involving dinosaurs, it would be considered offensive and taken off the test.

If you asked me why they considered some of these words offensive, I couldn’t say. With this logic, if anyone deems any word or phrase offensive it should be banned. There is a difference between being sensitive and being just plain ridiculous. This is what the concept of banning words and the New York City Department of Education are exemplifying.

The banning of words and phrases is plainly a detriment to society and goes against everything freedom of speech entails. Even if the word is an insult with a bad history, people should be able to express themselves through the power of words.

Words are something we sometimes take for granted, and many people lack understanding of their impact on society in both good and, admittedly, bad ways.

However, that is the exact reason we should be able to use words freely – to help us realize what is right and wrong as a society. H

Hawkeye staff editorial

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Few contested positions in ASB

n the recent Executive ASB Election, candidates for three out of six positions ran unopposed. ASB elections are a way for the student body to choose how and by whom they will be represented.

However, this year, candidates for president, vice president and historian had nobody to run against. The lack of opposition created a guaranteed outcome for several of the student body’s top offices.

This lack of participation in elections is incredibly concerning, and is indicative of a disconnect between student government and the student body.

ASB serves a vital role at MTHS. It is responsible for supporting

students, clubs and sports, while making efforts to improve the school climate and culture.

The newly elected officials (although half by default) should focus on increasing participation and awareness of the role and functions of ASB. In order to have a truly democratic student governing body, students need to have a real choice as to who will represent them. There should never be uncontested positions, especially the Presidency and Vice Presidency.

There is no such thing as a student run government if the students are not able to run it. There is no way for students to have a voice if the ballot box puts them on mute. H

A

More security on campus

dministrators at MTHS have implemented new security measures in response to several incidents of trespassers on campus this year.

Nearly every door that leads to the outside will now be locked at all times, and educational assistant Jerry Myers will now have a desk set up by the front door to prevent potential trespassers.

With all but four of the doors locked at all times, it will be harder for students to eat outside during lunch, cross the courtyard to classes and limit the amount of times

a student can come into the building during any after school activities that are held outside.

While slightly inconvenient, these new security measures will make MTHS a much safer environment and will lower the number of unauthorized persons entering the building, potentially threatening staff and students.

We applaud the administrators for implementing these limited, reasonable measures to promote safety on campus, while not over-restricting students and staff. H

The staff editorial represents the views of the Hawkeye Editorial Board

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March 2015| 5

The Pledge and the law

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remember my first day in public school. her First Amendment right to choose how to Seriously. It was a long time ago (46 years demonstrate patriotism and respect for our to be exact) but I remember it very clearly. country.

We got to school Even in our school there has been some in the morning controversy over this issue. There have been and went to our concerns from staff that students aren’t parclassrooms. We ticipating in the Pledge and that somehow found our desks we need to enforce that students take part in and then the bell it. There have been concerns from students rang to start the that they feel forced to recite the Pledge. It is Greg Schwab day. something that we have to address each year.

Principal I remember Fortunately, we have state law to help us with my first grade this issue. teacher Mrs. Stafford telling us to all stand Our state law simply states—public schools up because we would be reciting the Pledge need to make sure the Pledge of Allegiance of Allegiance. It felt like such an important happens at the start of each school day so thing that we were all doing that students who want to and we were all so very seriparticipate in it can do so.

“By each of us exercising ous as we recited the words Those students who choose our rights, we are she had written on the not to participate in the reinforcing the fact that chalkboard.

Pledge need to maintain a we live in a country and As I moved from grade to respectful silence during it. a society that allows grade in my schooling, the I recite the Pledge of for these freedoms and Pledge became one of those Allegiance every day because the right to choose how to demonstrate our things that we just did each it is my First Amendment beliefs.” day—it was part of the rouright to do so. For me it is a tine of school. representation of the counFlash forward more than a few years—the try we live in and the freedoms we enjoy. But reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance in pubI also respect the right of those who choose lic schools has been the subject of many not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance as it is court cases as we have tried to find a balance their First Amendment right as well. between respecting individuals’ rights to free By each of us exercising our rights, we are speech and the desire to demonstrate our reinforcing the fact that we live in a country patriotism and respect for our country. and a society that allows for these freedoms There is a belief among some that not stand- and the right to choose how to demonstrate ing and reciting the Pledge [of Allegiance] is our beliefs. H a sign of disrespect, almost a subversive act Note: The Hawkeye provides the MTHS administration space by those who choose to not participate. And each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a there is the belief among some that not recitdesignated open public forum. ing the pledge is simply one exercising his or

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Raise your voice by voting

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t’s that time of year again. Class ASB One of their biggest projects is to orgaelections will soon be underway! nize fundraisers in order to raise money Elections are your opportunity to make for prom. Interhigh is in charge of all a difference activity that involves other schools such in our school. as; macho volleyball, powder puff football, Whether as well as the food drive. Another fun way you’re running to get involved with ASB is to join Cheer. for office or Unlike the rest of ASB, you have to tryout you’re voting to become part of the cheer team. for candidates, As you can see, there are many different Alisha Clingan you have an ways to become a part of ASB. Whether ASB Public Relations Officer influence on you want to hold a big position, be part of how our school a team, or work with other schools, ASB is run. is a fun and effective way to get involved.

The first part of elections consisted of Not only is ASB a great way to get electing the new executive ASB officers, involved, it is a very rewarding experialso known as “Big 6”. This ence. Through all the group of officers includes hard work, you learn “Not only is ASB a president, vice president, how to work efficiently a great way to get secretary, treasurer, public with others, you gain involved, it is a very relations coordinator, and a rewarding experience.” effective communication historian. skills, and develop helpEach of us carries a lot of ful leadership attributes. responsibility; we all have different jobs The experience of being part of something and work together as a team. We are in bigger of yourself and giving to others is charge of planning big events such as unmatched. If you would like to improve homecoming, dances, and assemblies. As our school, this is your opportunity to executive officers, Big 6 oversees all of make a difference.

ASB and is in charge of all the important Take initiative and put yourself in a posidecision making; giving us tremendous tion of power because being part of ASB influence over the school. gives you the opportunity to have tremenAfter electing the executive ASB dous influence over the school. When Officers comes the time to elect class and elections come around, I encourage you to Interhigh officers; which include a presitake it seriously. Take advantage of your dent, vice president, secretary, treasurer, power to vote and be mindful of who you as well as seven representatives. Similar vote for because, it will affect you. H to the executive ASB, class officers have Note: The Hawkeye provides the Associated Student different duties but they all work together Body space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our to organize class functions and to raise mission as a designated open public forum. money for their activities.

Gossip: The single most disruptive force in the universe

have come to believe that the single most disruptive force in the universe can be summed up in one word. “Gossip.”

It has probably done more harm than all the wars put together since the dawn of time.

Now I am not going to try and tell you that I have not spread my share of regrettable inconsistent babble a time or two in my life, but about 10 years ago I was reading on old Life magazine in the Kim Stewart athletic director/activities dentist office and came across this. coordinator Here are Socrates’ thoughts on gossip. In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, “Socrates, do you know what I just heard about Diogenes?”

“Wait a moment,” Socrates replied. “Before you tell me I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”

“Triple filter?” asked the acquaintance.

“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me

about Diogenes let’s take a moment to filter what you’re “No, not really.” going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made abso“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me lutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?” is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me or “No,” the man said. “Actually I just anyone at all?” heard about it.”

The man was bewildered and ashamed.

“If everyone at Terrace “All right,” said Socrates. “So you If everyone at Terrace adopted this phiadopted this philosophy how don’t really know if it’s true or not. losophy, how many arguments, fights, lost many arguments, fights, lost Now let’s try the second filter, the filter friendships and relationships could we friendships and relationships of Goodness. Is what you are about save? could we save? How many to tell me about Diogenes something How many times could we stop ruining times could we stop ruining good?” a person’s reputation or not hurt another a person’s reputation or “No, on the contrary...” person’s feelings? H not hurt another person’s “So,” Socrates continued, “you want feelings?”

To promote positivity, rather than gossip, to tell me something about Diogenes Stew will be including "Stew Shout Outs" that may be bad, even though you’re not in his column. To send Stew shout out nominations, email stewartk@edmonds.wednet.edu certain it’s true?”

To see the full version of this column, including Stew's first The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continshout outs, go to www.thehawkeye.org ued, “You may still pass the test though, because there is a NOTE: Hawkeye provides the Athletics and Activities office space each issue in the Op/Ed section as part of our mission as a designated open public forum. third filter, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about Diogenes going to be useful to me?”

6 | March 2015

Hawkeye

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AP

Are you a current AP student, stressing over the coming tests in May? Start there.

Are you an underclassman, trying to decide whether to take AP classes?

Start here.

Stories by Daniil Oliferovskiy Graphics by Erika Fisher Hawkeye staff

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tudents today may face the greatest challenge and pressure to attend and succeed in college.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, student debt in the United States has risen to $1.16 trillion, with 11.3 percent of those loans in delinquency. This means many college students have defaulted on their loans.

Coupled with the inflating price of college, students in high school are forced to seek additional ways to find money to drive the cost of college down and prevent going into debt.

As a result, the popularity of the Advanced Placement tests has increased in recent years since it’s a way to earn college credit while still in high school. That being said, students are often confused about what AP testing is, how to succeed on an AP test, how to pay for the test, and how to take advantage of AP exams.

Making sense of AP AP exams are tests conducted each May to evaluate a students’ proficiency in a variety of subjects.

High schools offer year-long AP courses to prepare students for these exams, but students are not required to enroll in the class in order to take the tests. Students can study and take the test on their own if they so choose.

The classes, however, are based on a curriculum constructed by the College Board, the company that issues the tests, to closely imitate introductory level classes in college.

“An AP class is a college freshman class taught in high school,” AP Chemistry teacher John Traxler said. “So the expectation for AP Chemistry [is that] we use the same textbook that they use for chemistry at the University of Washington.”

Therefore, the College Board curriculum is never designed by the teacher and is modeled upon an entrance college class, which creates a rigourous coursework and challenges high school students.

“The AP test is created so that regardless of where the course was taught and who taught the course, the student was tested on the same material and the scores were able to be compared. This means that the scores can be trusted and have meaning when compared to each other,” AP Biology

“[Students] don’t realize that if they prepare and score well, the cost [of AP tests are] significantly lower than the equivelant amount of credit taken at the university level. ” Penny Lefavour AP Biology teacher

teacher Penny Lefavour said.

These tests are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest score and a 5 the highest score.

To reward students who earn a passing score, students earn college credit, which can save students a great deal of money and time.

That being said, colleges determine what scores they will accept. Higher level colleges, such as Ivy League schools, often only accept a score of 5.

“Most colleges accept AP credit, but they differ as far as what a passing grade on the AP exam will get you as far as college credit,” AP Calculus teacher Nick Lencioni said.

“Typically [colleges accept a] 3, 4, or 5.”

Paying for AP This year, AP exams set students back $91 per subject. This creates a limitation for students who want to take the test but are unable to due to financial hardships.

“We live in a very diverse community from very poor [families] to very wealthy [families],” Traxler said, so to accommodate those who cannot afford the price, the cost is reduced to $12 for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Furthermore, “It’s been the policy for the Edmonds School District for the last couple years that every student who wants to take an AP exam should be able to take it,” MTHS Career Center specialist Barb Brister said.

“So we try to advertise quite broadly that if a student is not on free and reduced lunch to come see us. We have sometimes had funds available from [the Rotary service club] that will support us and pay for those tests that the students would like to take.

In his chemistry room, Traxler has a variety of AP Chemistry study aids including the Princeton Review, Barron’s and Kaplan books and Traxler encourages students to borrow one and study for the exam.

“There’s at least one kid who comes to me and says the reason they’re not taking the test is financial and I find a way [to help them],” Traxler said.

Students who pass up on the opportunity, “don’t realize that if they prepare and score well, this cost is significantly lower than the equivalent amount of credit taken at the university,” Lefavour said.

Additional benefits of AP Some students may argue that it is not worthwhile to take the AP test if they believe they are not able to pass the exam.

That being said, there is more value in taking the test than just receiving college credit.

“Students who take several AP exams get a good feeling of what ‘hell week’ [the week prior to finals] feels like at the university,” Lefavour said.

Furthermore, AP tests in high school provide excellent experience for taking other standardized tests, such as the End of Course Exams (EOCs), SATs, ACTs, MCATs, GMATs, and so on. “The AP tests are administered by [the] College Board, which also does the SAT test,” Brister said. “[AP exams] also give you a head start on SAT type testing because you become much more familiar with that high stakes, timed, [and] difficult test that’s going to evaluate you where you’re placed nationally with everyone else,” AP European History teacher Jeannie Brzovic said.

Taking AP tests reflect positively on a student’s college applications. Teachers said AP classes help prepare students for college and tells admissions officers that students are prepared for the rigor of college classes.

“A lot of colleges use [AP testing] as a way for sorting students who are able to take challenges and are demonstrating that they have those college skills,” Brzovic said.

“When you’re applying for college, they see that you’re taking a variety of AP exams and [understand] that this kid is a go-getter,” she said.

“If money is not an issue, then jump at it. If money is an issue, then its still something to consider. The potential benefits of getting credit for a college class are huge. And again, the experience itself is valuable and liable to help them in the future,” Traxler said. H Note: Statistics and figures were gathered from the U.S. News and World Report article on the Student Debt Crisis.

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March 2015 | 7

tips & tricks for the veteran AP tester

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ith so much incentive to pass the AP exam, College Board has made sure to make the tests very difficult to pass. But with good study habits, students can increase their chance of receiving a passing score.

Lencioni said that students who are successful “[don’t] just get by, but really have a desire to learn the material.”

In other words, teachers encourage students to become inspired and excited about the subjects. Students may not find particular subjects particularly enticing, so it helps tremendously to enroll in classes you enjoy.

But say you’re not the biggest fan of your AP class subject, but still want to get a 3, 4 or 5. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways you can study in order to increase your test score.

The most important thing is to plan ahead.

Making a study plan Knowing how and when to study is critical for success. AP students must develop good study habits to be successful on the exam.

“AP tests are a good indication of whether a student has become an independent learner. In order to score at a high level on these exams, students must be able to learn in the classroom and on their own,” AP Biology teacher Penny Lefavour said.

“Plan out your study time. Study daily. Stop studying 24 hours before the exam so that your brain can incorporate any last minute ideas you learned.”

AP European History teacher Jeannie Brzovic said that students, “going into an AP exam should know that you have to be prepared. You can’t bluff your way through an AP exam. You can’t cram the night before an AP exam. It has to be stuff that you are preparing over the long term.”

Resources in print and online AP teachers said that students who used outside resources often do better on the AP Exams.

“Students that use anything to study and prep do better,” Traxler said.

For all AP exams, companies have published complimentary test booklets with summarized content matter, example

Best of the books:

problems and practice tests.

In addition, many AP teachers believe that practice tests are important to prepare students for the AP exam.

“You actually need to sit down with one of those Barron’s or Princeton Review books and time yourself and go through a full exam on your own to really get an idea if you’re prepared or not. And if that doesn’t really work out, then you need to do it again. You need to find another exam and try it again, because without actually doing a three hour exam, you can’t fully prepare,” Lencioni said.

Preceding the week of the AP Calculus exam, Lencioni schedules two full class days solely to test students in order to give them a “feel” for the actual exam.

“In class, we do a practice exam [within] a couple of days.

[It’s] very condensed just to give you an idea of how fast you “Going into an AP exam, you should know that you have to be prepared. You can’t bluff your way through an AP exam.

You can’t cram the night before an AP exam. It has to be stuff that you study over the long term.”

Jeannnie Brzovic

ap European History teacher

need to go,” Lencioni said.

But if your teacher doesn’t have practice exam sessions in class, you can take them on your own and without needing to purchase a book. Simply purchase study aids and use a timer to time yourself.

At APStudent.CollegeBoard.org, you can see questions from past AP tests and take them yourself.

The College Board’s website also has examples of written responses and essay questions for the various tests, enabling you to practice your writing skills as well.

Depending on the class and the textbook, some textbooks have supplementary content online.

For example, AP European History students have access to practice tests, chronological exercises, flash cards, primary resources, interactive maps and summaries online on the

AP teachers’ recommendations for the best exam prep books

AP Calculus Teacher: Nick Lencioni Choice: REA: Are You Serious About Getting A 5?”

AP Statistics Teacher: Stephanie Lee-Henning Choice: Barron’s

AP Chemistry Teacher: John Traxler Choice: Princeton Review

AP Physics Teacher: Gil Comeau Choice: Undecided

AP United States History Teacher: David Brophy Choice: Princeton Review

AP Computer Science Teacher: Daniel Lafferty Choice: No recommendation

AP U.S. Government & Politics Teacher: George Dremousis Choice: Barron’s

online McKay History of Western Society, Eighth Edition online website. Resources like these exist for every AP test, you just have to find them.

Other tips and tricks

Other than using outside resources and building good study habits, teachers suggest that students develop good test taking skills.

In his chemistry classes, Traxler teaches his students to read questions carefully and underline key words.

“We work on understanding questions and on reading questions carefully, because a lot of kids understand the chemistry but miss the problem because they misread the questions,” Traxler said.

“Underline words. If they say compare and contrast, underline as they go because students will compare and not contrast and they get half the question wrong.”

It is also common knowledge that it is helpful to utilize all of the allotted time given on the tests.

An uncommon but useful trick Brzovic encourages students to utilize is the “plus and minus system” on the test.

“We go over a variety of different ways to approach a test and getting the most right possible questions. One of the ones that I think works best for a high stakes test like this is the plus minus where you go through the test and you answer all of the questions you can answer,” Brzovic said.

“When you get a question that stumps you, decide on whether that’s a question that you can get – if you have a little bit of time to think about it – and if it is, you put a plus by it. If it’s a question that is not within your realm of knowledge or skill, you put a minus by it. And then you go on continuing to answer all the questions you can answer. Once you have completed the entire test, then you go back and start working on those pluses.”

This method allows students to use their time efficiently.

Essentially, the method encourages kids to mark questions that they can potentially answer correctly – but need more time to do so – and mark it. If they finish the test early, go back and answer the questions with pluses.

With so many studying strategies in existence, the most important tip is to start studying now. H

AP Psychology Teacher: Kimberly Nelson Choice: 5 Steps to a 5

AP English Language & Composition Teacher: Gaynelle Derr Choice: Princeton Review

AP European History Teacher: Jeannie Brzovic Choice: Princeton Review

AP English Literature & Composition Teacher: Peter Breysse Choice: Undecided

8 | March 2015

Hawkeye State of the First Amendment

Terrace students more aware of rights than American adults

By Isaac Otis and Paxtyn Merten Infographics by Erika Fisher

could name. The Hawkeye’s survey revealed that 12 percent of MTHS students were able to recall the right to petition, compared to a mere 1 percent of respondents from the Freedom Forum survey.

The First Amendment guarantees five freedoms to the Overall, fewer MTHS students were unable to name people of the United States: freedom of and from reliany of the five freedoms than their adult counterparts. gion, and the rights to free speech, press, assembly and Compared to the 29 percent of American adults surveyed petition. by the Freedom Forum, just 21 percent of MTHS stuSo, after receiving the First Amendment Press Freedom dents failed to name any. award (FAPFA) for the past two years (the fifth time The Hawkeye also used questions similar to those of overall), MTHS students’ knowledge of the First another student survey regarding the First Amendment Amendment became a topic of interest on campus. administered by the Knight Foundation, an organization Do students at MTHS actually whose goal is to “preserve the best “The founding fathers know as much as one might think aspects of journalism and use innovaunderstood the importance about the First Amendment? tion to expand the impact of inforthat for a free society, you must As a matter of context, accordmation in the digital age.” have a well informed populace ing to the State of the First Although some may believe that and the only way to have a well Amendment, a survey conducted the First Amendment goes too far informed populace is to have a by the Freedom Forum, which in the rights it guarantees, this is free press.” surveyed hundreds of adults not true for a majority of MTHS Angelo Comeaux across the United States, 29 students or a majority of adults and Broadcast journalism teacher and HBN adviser percent of Americans surveyed students throughout the country. couldn’t name any of the rights guaranteed by the First The surveys revealed that 74 percent of MTHS stuAmendment. dents and 53 percent of students nationwide believe that After administering a survey based on the State of the the First Amendment does not go too far. The Freedom First Amendment to students at MTHS, the Hawkeye Forum asked a similar question, in which 67 percent of found that a greater percentage of students here could adults didn’t think so, either. recite each of the five freedoms of the First Amendment than the adults surveyed by the Freedom Forum.

Compared to the Freedom Forum’s survey in which 68 percent of people could cite freedom of speech, 79 percent of MTHS students could accurately name the same Not only do students at MTHS know more about the freedom. An even greater gap appears between Hawks’ First Amendment, they also exercise those rights on a and national respondents’ knowledge of the freedom of daily basis. religion, at 54 and 29 percent, respectively.

As stated previously, MTHS has received the FAPFA, The Bill of Rights – including the First Amendment sponsored by the Journalism Education Association – was added to the constitution in part to ensure that (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and Quill and Scroll Society, for the past two years and citizens could express their dissatisfaction with the govwas also a charter recipient in 2000. ernment and keep public officials in check, especially According to the JEA website, this award is given through the press. to “schools that actively support and honor the First “The founding fathers understood the importance that for a free society, you must have a well informed populace Amendment through their student media.”

The MTHS student publications, including the and the only way to have a well informed populace is to Hawkeye, the Hawkeye online, Tempo yearbook and have a free press,” broadcast journalism instructor and Hawk Broadcasting Network (HBN), are truly studentHBN adviser Angelo Comeaux said. run publications, led by student editors, directors and This mentality has persisted throughout the history producers in charge of content and publishing as opposed of the United States and remains important to students to teachers or administrators. today. Although just 14 percent of adults surveyed could “[HBN is] a First Amendment class so I, as an instrucname the freedom of press, MTHS survey respondents tor, advise and the students decide. That is one of the more than doubled that at 38 percent. principles of the class. I give them advice, I give them While religion, press and speech might be more recoginstruction, but they make the final decision of what goes nizable to the general public, the right to assemble and in [the announcements],” Comeaux said. petition the government are equally important.

Directly correlating with MTHS’s practices of student While one fourth of MTHS students were able to press rights is the belief that students should have the identify the right to assemble, it may seem shocking that same freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights just 7 percent of people surveyed by the Freedom Forum as adults.

This is a belief held by 92 percent of the stuwere also able to do so. dent body, which is significantly higher than the 75 perThe freedom to petition the government was the First cent of adults who feel the same way.

Amendment right that the fewest number of respondents

Speech 79%

Hawkeye staff

Five freedoms

First Amendment Press Freedom Award

68%

Religion 54% 29% • MTHS Hawks • American Adults

Hawkeye

MArch 2015 | 9

Can you name any of the specific rights that are guaranteed by the First Amendment?

Survey says...

Can’t name any 21% 29%

Press 38% 14%

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Assembly Petition 25% 7%

Tessa King | Hawkeye

· 12% 1%

Percentage of respondents who say high school students should have the same freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights as do adults.

• MTHS Hawks • American Adults

“It’s interesting at schools how much we teach the First Amendment, but at times how it doesn’t apply,” history and civics teacher George Dremousis said. “I always like to see, as we go from generation to generation, just how much further the First Amendment does apply to public schools.”

Compared to adults and students throughout the country, a higher percentage of MTHS students think that student newspapers at public schools should be allowed to report on controversial issues without the approval of school authorities. While 78 percent of MTHS students at least mildly agree with this statement, only 68 percent of adults and 61 percent of high school students across the country agree.

Student publications at MTHS reflect these beliefs, as there is no prior review, meaning that administrators do not preview content, nor do they censor student media or decide what can and cannot be published. This has been the tradition at Terrace since the school opened in the fall of 1960.

“I think it goes back to [Principal Greg] Schwab and [journalism teachers] really valuing the students’ thoughts more than pushing their own personal agenda. I think if you go to some school districts around America, it’s a principal and a journalism adviser pushing a specific agenda through the paper,” Dremousis said.

The views of MTHS students matched more closely with those of students across America when it came to students being allowed to express their opinions about teachers and administrators.

Some 63 percent of Hawks and 69 percent of other students believe that students should be guaranteed the freedom to do this without worrying about being punished by teachers or school administrators for what they say.

Student media access American adults and MTHS students have similar ideas of what it

means to be a journalist. While there was no majority opinion in either survey on the qualifications to be a journalist, the largest minority of people in both the Hawkeye’s and the Freedom Forum’s surveys believe that creating news stories based on objective fact is what really makes someone a journalist.

Over the course of history, journalists have adapted to expanding technology and social media. Recent innovations in technology have allowed news to be more accessible to people of all different demographics across the country and the world, instantly. According to the Hawkeye’s survey results, 44 percent of MTHS students access the news at least once a day.

This frequent consumption of news happens across several different types of media. About 42 percent of students get a majority of their news from a video source, such as television. Similarly, 55 percent of adults reported getting their news from TV. Another 40 percent of students and 33 percent of adults get a majority of their news from an online source, such as a website or social media. Of MTHS students who said they access a majority of their news online, 38 percent go to Twitter and another 29 percent go to Facebook most often for news updates.

Other findings Other findings from the Hawkeye’s survey suggest somewhat contra-

dicting trends concerning MTHS students.

A slight majority of students surveyed believe that people shouldn’t be allowed to post videos or photographs online without permission from anyone, including the people depicted in them.

Also, a majority of students at MTHS and throughout the nation think that people shouldn’t be allowed to burn or deface the American flag as a political statement. While 67 percent of MTHS students believe, to some extent, that people should not have the freedom to practice this, 79 percent of students nationwide feel the same way.

In addition, 73 percent of MTHS students at least mildly agreed that a business providing wedding services to the public should be required to serve same-sex couples, even if the business owner objects to same-sex marriage on religious grounds, just 54 percent of students nationwide agreed to the same statement. H There’s more online: View the extended story at www.thehawkeye.org to see additional survey results and comparisons in the form of interactive data visualizations.

10 | MARCH 2015

Hawkeye

eco impact

tracking the hawks’ carbon footprint

Hawkeye

MARCH 2015 | 11

CONSUMING AND REDUCING

By Stephi Smith Graphics by Erika Fisher Hawkeye staff

I

t takes a great deal to provide heating, cooling and lighting for more than 1,400 students and staff on a daily basis. This dayto-day production raises the question: what is the carbon footprint of MTHS?

MTHS’s energy consumption totals Executive Account Manager at Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) Doug O’Donnel said that high schools tend to be big users of heating, cooling and lighting. He said that those things usually tend to be the big “energy wasters.”

The most common way energy is measured

by Edmonds School District (ESD) is the Energy Use Index (EUI), which measures the amount in British thermal units (Btus) used for every square foot.

ESD Resource Conservation Specialist Matthew “The Energy Guy” Daly, reported that the EUI for MTHS was 61.1 in the 2013-14 school year. According to Daly, it’s average for a school to have an EUI of about 60, but 50 is considered “good.”

The year before MTHS had an EUI of 50.8. Daly said that the 2012-13 school year had better weather, which could have been a factor in a smaller EUI due to less use of heating and other equipment. “[An EUI of] 60 isn’t bad for a high school, but now we know we can get down to 50,” Daly said. “So, that’s what [ESD is] aiming for now.”

Daly said schools with more after school programs and sports teams will tend to have a higher EUI than others, due to students being at school for longer hours.

Between September and November this school year, MTHS has an EUI of about 20. The EUI target for the year is 50 and all ESD high school buildings are expected to stay under that number.

MTHS Energy Use Index per square foot (in Btus)

ENERGY USE FOR MTHS

Years (2006-2014) Statistics provided by Snohomish PUD

“We try to educate people as much as possible, what are the effects on [the carbon footprint], the causes of it, what we can do to reduce it,” Jonathan Tong Science teacher

MTHS’s energy costs Schools, offices and other work places that run all day tend to use a lot of energy, due to the amount of activity within the building.

In the school year of 2012-13, MTHS paid about $0.98 per square foot for energy, just under the goal set by ESD of $1.00 per square foot. The following year, 2013-14, MTHS paid roughly $1.03 per square foot, just above the ESD goal.

As of December, MTHS was at about $0.39 per square foot for the school year.

The most MTHS has paid per square foot was in the school year of 2006-07 when nearly $1.50 per square foot was paid.

Every year since 2006, more has been paid toward electricity as opposed to gas.

According to Daly, energy with an EUI of about 60 costs roughly $1.30 per square foot.

With an EUI of 50, it costs about $0.98 per square foot.

The MTHS building is about 211,000 square feet. With 10 cents more in energy costs, that amounts to roughly $21,000.

Daly described this as “losing” $21,000 every year. In addition, money goes into fixing old or broken equipment such as boilers or air conditioners. Daly said work orders are sent to his department when the school finds broken pieces of equipment and they then send someone to fix them.

“If something breaks, we’re losing energy,” Daly said. “Sometimes, I don’t know for a while and [it] wastes energy for a long time.”

However, he also said sometimes broken equipment isn’t seen right away or they don’t have the correct equipment on hand. Daly said sometimes they have broken equipment for a long time and don’t know about it for a while.

Due to this, a building will run the other equipment more or try to put more energy in the broken equipment.

For example, if a building has a broken heater, a school might run the others heaters at a higher level or more often, to balance out the loss of heat. The consequence of this is that the school uses more energy than it would have if the building had a fully functioning heater.

In the summer of 2013, ESD paid $453,633 for new lighting at MTHS. ESD is expecting to save at least 201,831 kilowatt

hours (kWh) per year. The cost per kWh is about $0.85, so ESD is looking at a 26+ year payback.

According to O’Donnel, for every kWh consumed, 0.058 pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere.

The electric kWh produced as of September to December 2014 was roughly 631,000.

Using a kilowatt meter, the Hawkeye tested out a Windows PC, a Mac desktop and a Chromebook while they were all idle.

In just one hour, the Mac was at .6 kW, while the Windows desktop reached about .4 kWh. The Chromebook reached just .02 kWh in an hour – by far the most efficient.

How MTHS stacks up among other ESD schools While MTHS had an Energy Use Index (EUI) of 61.1 last year, Meadowdale High School had 67.1, Edmonds Woodway High School 61.8, Scriber Lake 60.8 and Lynnwood High School had the district’s lowest EUI at 55.

Older schools tend to have a higher EUI, according to Daly. He said it’s usually due to older equipment and the way the school was first built. Daly also said that larger schools will have a larger EUI just because they have more surface area to cover.

Principal Greg Schwab said that MTHS is a fairly old building, making it understandable for MTHS to In the 2013have a higher energy 2014 school use. The current year, MTHS MTHS building had the third opened in the fall of lowest EUI 1991 – the oldest of among ESD the comprehensive high schools. high schools in the district.

“We’re the oldest building now, our building was built at a time that energy efficiency wasn’t something that people thought about,” Schwab said. “So it’s not a surprise that our building compared to the other three high schools probably doesn’t perform as well.”

Science teacher Jonathan Tong agreed, saying that he doesn’t see any big waste of energy since he’s worked at MTHS. He said that MTHS has always been efficient in saving energy. He also said that, from what he’s seen, MTHS is doing fairly well compared to other schools and that while there is work to ...continued on page 12

12 | MARCH 2015

Hawkeye

Reducing energy use at school and beyond Continued from page 11...

be done, MTHS is on the right track.

“I think we’re pretty good about [conserving energy]. People are pretty good about turning off lights when they’re not using them. I don’t really see any big waste of electricity around the building,” Tong said.

Daly agreed with Tong and said ESD schools are improving in efforts to reduce the consumption of energy around the buildings.

“In general, our schools are doing pretty well, better than our neighboring districts, but at the same time we’re losing a lot of energy,” Daly said.

Where Washington’s energy comes from According to O’Donnel, Washington gets 86 percent of its energy from hydropower as opposed to coal. He said that this is definitely a factor in the Northwest carbon footprint because there are no carbon diox-

ide emissions from hydropower like there is from coal.

However, O’Donnel also said that there can be effects from hydropower such as the ones shown in the Columbia River. The Columbia River is owned by the federal government and currently carries 14 hydroelectric dams. Due to this, the federal government spends money every year to help the salmon in the river migrate around the dams.

O’Donnel called this “taxpayer dollars being spent to fix the dams.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Washington is the 27th state in the ranking of total energy used per capita.

The EIA states that, as of 2012, Washington consumes about 298 million British Thermal Units (Btus) of energy every year. Comparatively, Oregon consumes about 253 million Btus per year, according to the EIA. In another ranking of total energy produc-

Cost (in dollars) for MTHS energy per square foot

ENERGY COSTS FOR MTHS

Years (2006-2014) Statistics provided by Snohomish PUD

tion, Washington help the entire area of “In general, our schools are state is at 17 with Mountlake Terrace. doing pretty well, better than our 1,110 trillion Btus “I really want to neighboring districts, but at the and Oregon at 30 take everyone’s opinsame time we’re losing a lot of with 497 trillion ion into play and see energy.”

Btus. how I can help the Matthew Daly In a ranking of school and how we ESD CONSERVATION SPECIALIST total carbon dioxide all can help the comemissions, the EIA munity – not just the states that Washington comes up at 27 with school grounds but the overall community,” 69 million metric tons and Oregon follows Manevich said. closely behind at 39 with 36 million metric Eco Club meets on Tuesdays in room 122 tons. from 2:00-2:25 p.m.

Schwab said he thinks that updating building equipment and hardware is also a big key to change. According to Schwab, MTHS is expecting new windows and ventilation systems within the next two years and said both On and off over the years, MTHS has had will be used to help reduce the energy use of an Eco Club in which students gather and the school and improve the overall EUI. talk about the environment on campus and “I think that with some of the implements how to improve it. Eco Club has hosted mul- that they have Hydroelectric tiple service projects over the past few years, planned here we’re power including cleaning up local parks and places going to be closer accounts for around the school. to performing like 86 percent Tong has advised the Eco Club for the some of the newer of all power past few years and said that a few students buildings in the disproduced in have shown interest in starting it up again trict,” Schwab said.

Washington, this year. In Eco Club, Tong said that they Daly said that according to do a lot of recycling, community service and ESD “front-loaded” Snohomish PUD. brainstorming on how to make MTHS a the labor and more environmentally friendly place. Eco expense in order to Club has also hosted multiple clean ups in maintain the lights the “Naturescape” in the back of the school. in MTHS. The LED lights in the HUB are Tong said that it’s usually much needed, expected to last 10-20 years. due to the invasive blackberries that grow “This project is saving about 16,000 kWh there. As a biology teacher, Tong tries to per year and costs us just over $10,000,” educate his students as much as possible on Daly said. the environment. He said that education is He called this a giant improvement from the biggest key to change. years past and said it would definitely help “We try to educate people as much as posreduce the carbon footprint. sible about the effects on [the carbon footWhile recycling is important, Tong said print], the causes of it, what we can do to that MTHS has not always been huge in reduce it,” Tong said. recycling and that it’s only been in practice as Eco Club sophomore president Liza of recently.

Manevich said she started Eco Club again “Recycling is a big thing because it uses a this year for what she hopes it will bring to ton more electricity and energy to make new MTHS. materials from scratch rather than recycling “I wanted to start it because I wanted to it and using already made materials,” Tong have the school be more eco-friendly and said. “Anything we can do to save our elechelp the environment because I feel like we tricity consumption is a big deal.” really need that,” Manevich said.

Daly said that his department tries to conShe said that Eco Club is going to try do vince the people who use the ESD buildings fundraisers for ecology organizations, host to try to turn the temperature down and use more school clean-ups and has been considless equipment when they can. However, he ering partnering with the culinary class and said that he won’t force any building occustart a garden so that the class doesn’t have pant to be colder than they need to be and to buy all of its food supplies. that everyone should be as comfortable as She said that her current biggest goal is ...continued on page 13 to help lead the other members more and

Reducing Terrace’s footprint

Hawkeye

MARCH 2015 | 13 ...continued from page 12

they can while at school.

“Nobody should be cold. If, at the end of day, 70 degrees is what’s comfortable for people, it’s what we’ll [set the temperature to],” Daly said.

However, Daly’s department will usually try to push reducing the use of energy and heat and will try to convince the occupants of the building to conserve energy as much as possible.

“If something isn’t being used, turn it off and keep what’s on down to a minimum. Don’t turn on more than what you need,” Daly said.

The PUD’s O’Donnel gave praise to ESD for having a Resource Conservation Specialist on staff and said that it “says a lot” about the school district for having someone in place to care for the environment.

Many high school students either drive themselves or get a ride from their parents to school, increasing the number of cars on the road every morning. A few people carpool, take public transportation or walk to school.

Tong, however said he thinks that transportation uses up a lot of energy in society.

“You see people driving alone in their cars everywhere, including to school,” Tong said. “So, encouraging use of more carpooling, more use of public transportation is a big deal.”

Becoming more educated on the environment is also an important factor, Tong said.

“I wanted to start [Eco Club] because I wanted to have the school be more eco friendly and help the environment because I feel like we really need that,” Liza Manevich sophomore

He said that, as a country, everyone needs to agree on ways to reduce the carbon emissions.

“It’s great if each of us turns off lights in our household, that’s a little step that can help a lot,” Tong said. “But most of our carbon emissions aren’t coming from people’s homes, they’re coming from big industries, utilities and commercial use.”

Tong said he thinks that the next generation of voters should be aware of who they’re voting into office. He said that they shouldn’t be voting in people who don’t care for the environment and instead, [should vote] for people who will do things to help reduce the country’s energy use.

How you can make a difference Daly encourages anyone to turn off what they don’t need to have on and to be mindful of what is a big energy waster. He said that if you can feel comfortable with the thermostat a few degrees lower, to keep it there.

Schwab agreed and said that there are a many devices that are unnecessarily left on all day. He called them “vampire devices” and referred to appliances such as coffee makers and microwaves that “draw power” from being kept on all day.

O’Donnel said that people need to find a way to assess what they need and what’s comfortable when considering their use of energy.

“There’s a whole situation with energy and there needs to be a balance between needs and conservation. Schools are for students to learn and to learn effectively in a comfortable

During an Eco Club meeting on March 26, freshman Carlee Wilson plays with kinetic sand. Adviser Jonathan Tong can be seen at left. The Eco Club meets every Tuesday in room 122 from 2:00-2:25 p.m. serafina urrutia | Hawkeye

environment so there needs to be some type of balance,” O’Donnel said.

He also said that not having laptops plugged in and lights turned on when they’re not in use would be a big way to conserve energy.

Manevich wants Eco Club to bring in more recycling bins around MTHS. She said that recycling is a big step to helping the overall environment.

Tong invites anyone to join Eco Club and to take small steps to reducing energy use. He said that even the minimal things, such as turning off your water when brushing your teeth can make a big difference.

“Electricity alone counts for about 30 to 35 percent of all carbon emissions in our country because [to] generate electricity in most parts of the country you burn fossil fuels to generate electricity,” Tong said.

He also wants the next generation of voters to consider who will do something for the environment and reducing the country’s carbon footprint when voting people into office. “[The next generation] is the hope for the future,” Tong said. H

Making up the carbon footprint

Washington state’s energy sources

For more tips on how to reduce your own carbon footprint, see page 14.

Information provided by Snohomish PUD

14 | March 2015

Hawkeye

8 ways you can have a positive impact on the environment

Story by Max Tracy Graphics by Tessa King and Erika Fisher

Hawkeye Staff

“Going green” has become more and more popular in recent years and is a movement that’s smart and environmentally responsible to undertake.

However, statistics show there are still many people who aren’t doing even some of the basic tasks to help conserve energy and resources. According to a 2011 survey by GfK Custom Research North America, just 58 percent of Americans reported that they recycle on a regular basis.

That number could easily be improved. When you factor in pressing issues such as climate change and other potentially earth-debilitating problems, taking care of our environment becomes that much more apparent.

Here are eight simple ways you can help reduce your carbon footprint, both at school and at home.

1 Recycle

Y

ou’ve heard it countless times, from kids’ shows on TV to PUD employees who visited your elementary school back in the day.

Recycle.

Why? The bottom line is that it’s a very good way to slow the amount of waste we create, while also saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. On top of that, it helps the economy. Statistics from The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put the total revenue from the recycling industry at $12.9 billion in 2001. Recycling can be done almost anywhere, from here at school with old papers and bottles or cans from lunch, to at home with similar materials.

2 Fully shut off faucets

M

aking sure faucets are completely shut off can have a bigger impact than you may think. In addition to reducing your water bill, it also has a positive impact on the environment. Think about a faucet leaking all day, every day, 24/7. It can add up pretty fast.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) drip calculator, a single faucet dripping once a second will add up to 2,082 gallons per year. You can help conserve a tremendous amount of water by making sure those faucets are fully turned off. For example, schools are notorious for running faucets, so changing that is a start.

If you do have a leaky faucet at home, encourage your family to get it fixed.

3 Wash your car responsibly

6 Changing light bulbs

B

T

y washing your car in the driveway you allow soap to flow into the storm drains, which goes straight into fresh lakes and other bodies of water, contaminating that water and making it more basic, which in turn pollutes the water and harms wildlife.

You can change that by either going to a commercial car wash or washing your car on a lawn, where the water can seep into the ground.

Clean water is of primary importance to healthy living as there’s a limited supply of fresh water on our planet.

4 Use a refillable water bottle

U

sing bottle after bottle of store-bought plastic water bottles can be a huge waste. Single serve water bottle sales have gone up in past years, making plastic bottle waste even more relevant.

The EPA reports that today 13 percent of municipal solid waste is due to plastics, a huge increase from past decades. Using a refillable bottle and getting water from a filter instead is a great alternative.

his is another very common, yet very effective way to save energy. Newer LED and fluorescent light bulbs are extremely efficient in comparison to older, incandescent light bulbs. The newer bulbs give you anywhere from 25 to 75 percent better energy savings, according to Energy. gov (a website focused on America’s energy and environmental impacts and effects).

There are also pushes in legislation to phase out incandescent lights, and more efficient bulbs will save you moneyin the long run.

7 Brush your teeth without keeping the water running

H

opefully most people no longer do this, because it wastes a good amount of water and is extremely easy to change. Depending on how long you brush your teeth, this bad habit can waste multiple gallons every time you leave the faucet running.

Also, it doesn’t just stop with you, if you have little siblings or anyone else you know who does this, encourage them to change their ways.

8 Cut baths

5 Chill on the thermostat

and take shorter showers

A

O

lthough it applies to the winter much more than the warmer seasons, keeping the thermostat lower and instead putting on a sweatshirt or wrapping up in a blanket to keep warmth is a great way to conserve energy.

While our power comes mainly from hydroelectric sources, the less power we do use, the less we must rely on other nonrenewable power sources, such as burning coal.

Also, lowering the thermostat when you’re away from home has the same positive effect.

ften referred to as the holy grail of water conservation, that title does hold some merit.

Baths use around twice as much water as showers that last about eight minutes. Showers alone already are a large part of our everyday water consumption, not including the energy required to heat the water.

Cutting back on shower time even by a few minutes can have a big impact over time. The EPA reports that standard shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute, so every minute counts. H Have more tips to save energy?

Email your suggestions to editor@thehawkeye.org or bring your letter to Room 130 after school

Hawkeye

‘Old Man Pete’

March 2015 | 15

ENGLISH TEACHER PETER WHITE SPENDS HIS OFF DAYS IN THE KICKBOXING RING

By Irvin Zhang

that ended up being was that it drove me,” White said. “I’ve It’s 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning. English teacher Peter always been physically active, I’m in good shape for 53 [years‘Old Man Pete’ White wakes up to the tune of “The Dream old]. I’ve always done the weight lifting, the Tai Chi, the Remains the Same,” by Tangerine Dream while his iPod is mountain climbing, the whatever.” buzzing. He goes through his usual routine which ends with Coincidentally, he started around the time the Ultimate waking up his daughter. The two then leave the house at 8 Fighting Championship (UFC), now the largest mixed a.m. Every time he leaves his house, he isn’t just going anymartial arts promotion company featuring most of the top where. Rather, he is facing a fear, the same fear that has been ranked fighters, started to gain popularity. haunting him ever since his senior year in high school.

“I barely paid attention to it. It was the ’90s, I was married, In 1975, White entered high school and began his first doing that kind of thing,” White said. steps to where he is now.

As the UFC kept growing, White White started wrestling during his freshbecame more attracted to it until it finally “The one message I man year. He was 5 feet tall and 92 pounds, hit him in 2007. have from all of this putting him in the lightest weight class.

“When the UFC started getting really is that I have found in my life that it’s always He lost every single match. big, I thought, ‘s---, I’ve got to do this,’” he best to face your Over the following summer, he gained 15 said. “I’ve got to go back and wrestle. I can’t fears, whatever it is pounds and that next season he wrestled in not do it anymore because that failure of that you’re afraid of.” the second lightest weight class. He improved not being able to step up has been eating at Peter White and got two wins that year. me for all these years.”

English teacher Between his sophomore and junior year he White chose to kickbox at Charlie’s put on another 15 pounds and had a breakCombat Club because it was close and not even record. as daunting as the other gyms.

When his senior year came he made a choice – a choice Kickboxing was definitely not easy, especially during a time that would haunt him. when White was experiencing the golden years of parenting.

“I chose not to wrestle my senior year “I was very in and out,” White said. “In 2007-08, this guy and the main reason I did that was picked me up by my head and threw me down, I got whipbecause of this new kid that wanted lash. And so, I thought ‘screw this, my kids are little, I’m to wrestle, David Saldivar. The missing every Saturday from my kids and I feel like I’m missguy could do 50 dips and I forget ing out on my kids.’” how many pull ups, White would take a long break until 2009 when he learned and he was my weight that he could take private lessons at Charlie’s. class. I was like, ‘I can’t During all of his private training, White would sustain a wrestle varsity for three broken rib while wrestling and be forced to take a leave of years and then go JV absence from the sport to recover. my senior year.’ I just “I kind of used it as another excuse to couldn’t do it.” take some more time off,” he said. “I White quit kind of let the six weeks grow into six months until it started to eat at me again.”

White returned and was referred to a new coach, Jake Furney. Along with this comeback came a new, strict regimen.

“For several weeks, I was truly only a weekend wrestling before the warrior,” White said. “I would come in at 9 a.m. and then tryouts in his senior year Jake and I would spar, then I would take the kickboxing class and subsequently set off a from 10-11 a.m., and then I would take the submission class chain reaction that would from 11 a.m. to noon. I was pretty much toast by the end of gnaw at him for years. the three hours, but that was it. That was my Saturday rou“That’s the genesis of it tine.” all because that failure to White mostly went on Saturdays due to a comfortable face my fear has eaten at schedule and to avoid missing out on time with his kids. That me ever since. That was is, until his daughter started getting interested in kickboxing.

1978, before I graduated “My daughter got interested in [kickboxing] and would in ’79, so it’s almost been come with me,” White said. “My daughter would come and 30 years.” [we would] grapple and kickbox together. Now that she But like most great stowas coming, I decided to do a little more. We started doing ries, there is always a Thursday nights and Saturdays.” silver lining.

White began attending even more kickboxing classes when “For me, what Charlie’s implemented a levels system to the club, which michaela chase | Hawkeye fueled White to get past level one. Due to age and attrition hawkeye staff

English Teacher Peter White bloodied up after sustaining a blow to the face. Photo courtesy of peter white and the sheer physicality of kickboxing, White has been forced to take breaks due to injuries.

These include injuries such as a separated rib, a torn pectoral muscle, a torn tendon in his left foot and, currently, a broken foot.

Even after suffering all these injuries, White still goes back to train once he’s healthy again.

“I think everyone should do something that frightens them,” White said. “Being scared is moving yourself out of your comfort zone and that’s what I like about it more than anything else. I have to face the fact that I’m old and slow, but you’re not just going to curl up and whimper. You’ve got to step up and do something.”

White has not only faced his fears, he is also turning his own story into a lesson for his students.

“The one message I have from all of this is that I have found in my life that it’s always best to face your fears, whatever it is that you’re afraid of,” White said. “If you face it, you can leave with your head held up. If I had let David Saldivar take my spot by doing my absolute best, yeah, it would’ve hurt and been humiliating, but I did my best. And I tell my own children this, you want to do something in your life that makes you both excited and scared because that means you’re growing and if you’re not growing, you’re stagnant. When I drive up, there’s still a little thing in my stomach where I’m still a little nervous about this.”

Despite all the injuries he’s had and his age, ‘Old Man Pete,’ as he’s known by his mates at Charlie’s, is determined to keep kickboxing until his body completely gives out – whenever that may be.

All of this stemmed from a single decision that caused a whole ton of regret.

“You’ll never regret facing your fears and doing your best, but you’ll always regret backing down,” White said.

“That’ll always eat at you.” H

16 | march 2015

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