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Volume 53 Edition 24
The race is on to find a new superintendent Staff, students share expectations for new leader Supt. Mike Wells resignation signals a new superintendent to take his place next year, and Cedar Falls schools are anticipating one who that cares for staff and students. “I really want someone very similar to Mike Wells in the way that he cared for students. I’m hoping that the new superintendent will really care for us genuinely and take interest in the students individually,” junior Alyssa Vuong said. What students seem to be hoping for is a superintendent that’s kind. “I’d like the superintendent to be very welcoming. During board meetings, Mike Wells never acted superior and was very friendly. That’s what I’m looking for,” sophomore Agatha Fenech said. The teachers agree with this idea and even have a few ideas of their own. “We need a superintendent that’s innovative and progressive. He/she needs to get to know the staff and get out into the various school buildings,” science
teacher John Black said. At a work session on March 25, the school board’s search firm, McPherson & Jacobson, worked with the school board to identify their top five ideas. One of their ideas agrees with what Black said. “Someone who’s accessible and approachable; visible in the schools and community; someone who’s engaging and cordial to all stakeholders,” board member Deon Senchina said. Junior high teacher Abby Hendrickson agreed. “The new superintendent must be open with all staff and get involved in daily things,” Hendrickson said. The board decided on three more criteria they’d like their new superintendent to have. “He/she must also demonstrate the ability to work well with the district staff, the community and the board to create positive, sustainable change and work toward the accomplishment of a shared vision. He/ she must be a systemic leader with a proven track record of a collaborative
management style that promotes teamwork resulting in improved student achievement. He/she must be knowledgeable in school finance and financial planning and work with the board in maintaining sound fiscal policies,” Senchina said. Everybody — teachers, students and school board members — have basically the same idea for a new superintendent: caring, strong communicator and welcoming. “We’d like our new superintendent to possess dynamic leadership skills and strive for excellence in teaching and learning Costi Hendrickson Photo through professional development, coaching and men- Supporting the food drive last fall, Supt. Mike Wells races to a second place finish. toring,” Senchina said. By Staff Writer Alyssa
JENSEN
Students and staff are looking for another leader with his support of student efforts.
PRISM sends members to Governor’s Conference Conference addresses many LGBTQ topics
The 8th Annual Iowa Governor’s Conference took place near Des Moines on Wednesday, April 3, and Prism leader and French teacher Melissa Breddin accompanied four students there. Breddin has been the Prism/GSA leader for eight years and has attended the conference almost every year with students. This year one of the national speakers was Prince Manvendra Gohil from India. He is the first openly gay member of a royal family. He works to get homosexuality to be more accepted in India. “It’s neat to see his activism within his own country in his public role,” Breddin said. According to Breddin, over the years there have been authors, military personnel and professional athletes that have given speeches to the students at this conference. Throughout the day there are different sessions the students can attend that include subjects like bullying, health issues, running a GSA and learning what it means to be transgender. An important aspect of the conference is that students meet others like them from other high schools. “By networking from all over the state of Iowa,
PRISM adviser Melissa Breddin took Zach Davis, Matt Waltersdorf (both pictured above), Mychael Johannsen and Alyssa Nielsen to the 8th annual Governor’s Conference, which featured Prince Manvendra Gohil from India addressing LGBTQ topics. they see they aren’t just an isolated group at Cedar Falls High School,” Breddin said. The conference is not only for lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals. A lot of straight allies attend as well to learn more and show their support.
Melissa Breddin Photos
There are different workshops set up and different booths with things ranging from scholarship opportunities, college information, health information and further life experience information. “It gives them a good outlook for their future. It shows them what is there for them after high school,” Breddin said. “I
don’t think bullying is a huge issue here, but it gives some of the kids a great outlook for where their lives can go. There is such a broad world out there.” The conference has been expanding. “It’s huge and getting bigger every year. We have to keep getting bigger venues,” Breddin said. Junior Matt Waltersdorf attended the conference because he supports equality. “Pride to me is all about embracing and coming to terms with your own sexuality. Everyone should be comfortable with themselves,” Waltersdorf said. He said people can be more accepting of people with different sexual orientations. “It’s simple: Don’t judge someone for who they love. No one picks who they fall in love with, whether they fall for someone of the same sex or otherwise,” Waltersdorf said. He recommends this workshop to other students. “I had tons of fun, and I was surrounded by lots of accepting people. It really felt good to be thanked for being an ally to the LGBT community. If you enjoy learning about ways to be proactive for the cause and the history, I suggest going to workshops like that. It’s truly an eye opening experience.” By Editor-in-Chief Maya
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Tech Tools In the past month the students and staff at the high school and other district building have tested an array of educational technology tools, including Apple iPads, Windows Surfaces, Amazon Kindle Fires and Google Chromebooks. “The purpose of the demos is to collect feedback from all end users of the technology from staff and students. As we look at moving forward with a 1:1, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), or hybrid approach. It’s important that as much information as possible is collected on the functionality of these devices so we can find the best fit for the given application,” District Supervisor of Technology Shane Page said. In the near future for the school district, there will be changes to the technology that students receive. One possible plan is that each student will in some way receive or be able to use some type of computerized technology frequently during the day. There is also a chance that students will be able to get their own to use for the school year. It won’t be too long before these plans will be put into action. “Right now we are in the planning phases of the district’s five-year technology plan. Currently the consensus is that it could be as early as second semester of next year, but most likely the start of the 2014 school year. We still need adequate time to give proper professional development to staff and make adjustments to curriculum plans where necessary. Funding of new initiatives is always one of the hardest parts. Finding the funds just for sustained technology is the first hurdle. Beyond that you have additional support systems, software, staffing and training that need to occur that can dramatically add to the cost. In order for any program to be successful and sustainable long term, it is necessary for it to come from the general fund of the school and become a regular annual expense,” Page said. This new advancement doesn’t just stop at the high school; this initiative is trying to make all ages technologically literate. “We are looking at a total K-12 solution — what types of technology and how much per grade level. So far the devices have been through Peet, Southdale, Lincoln, Orchard Hill and the high school. At the elementary level there is more likelihood that classroom labs or sets would be assigned, and at the secondary level, the current thought is that students would begin to take the devices home provided a 1:1 style of program was selected over BYOD,” Page said. All this new technology isn’t just for the students, but for the teachers too. To be able to introduce this technology to the students, teachers also have to be able to use it and integrate it into their teachings.
HI-LINE
Staff, students explore new options for enhancing classroom technology
gone through proper planning and training before doing an implementation. When done right, a 1:1 or BYOD style initiative truly has the ability to transform the classroom,” Page said. Even though Cedar Falls students and staff are able to test many types of technology, at the end of the day, classes will only be able to receive one type of tool, and different people have different preferences. “Out of all devices presented, the Chromebook is by far the easiest to manage and maintain. It is also the Sandra Omari-Boateng Photos most affordable,” Page said. “I liked the WinDuring a testing session in beginning dows Surface keynews, senior Amanda Harwood and board, which makes junior Martha Hall tried out some of the it much easier to distict’s offerings for a 1:1 classroom type. I was confused environment, including the Apple iPad, about its touchscreen function, and Amazon Kindle Fire, Google ChromeI couldn’t figure out books and Windows Surfaces. The how to switch in bedistrict is also exploring the option of tween the keyboard implementing a Bring Your Own Device and touchscreen. (BYOD) policy. As the explorations are Surface is nice bejust beginning, no decisions have been cause it reminds made regarding what will be adopted. me of a laptop. I’m not sure if my lack of success with it is “I definitely think the new technolKeeping up with the new technology because of the interface or just my inexogy would help with class learning, and of this age is one thing that sparked this perience,” junior Martha Hall said. I use it now where I have to take my initiative, but it isn’t the only reason. “I found it difficult to type on the students up to the computer lab to do “Access to a device for each stu- Windows Surface keyboard. Personally, certain things which I would love to be dent in the classroom is no longer just I would like the iPad and a stylus to be able to just do in the classroom,” Span- a trend, nor is it the future of education. able to take notes in class, upload music ish teacher Monica Jarchow said. It is now. The possibilities for better col- for band and choir and read or highlight “There would be an expectation laboration and projects among students book pages. I think this would be very that teachers be comfortable and famil- and teachers, access for more timely handy for me and reduce the amount iar with the technology, but not neces- research, flipped classrooms and ex- of materials I need to bring to class. It sarily an expert. Proper professional panded 21st Century Skills are endless. would be much more organized and development and planning for staff is It can level the playing field for some even environmentally friendly because imperative to the success of any pro- students who might not have access to I would use much less paper,” senior gram. It has also been recommended technology at home. The key here, sur- Amanda Harwood said. that Instructional Coaches be hired to prisingly, is to not focus on the technol“Well, I’m an iPad user, and I have assist teachers in planning and training ogy. Technology is merely a tool. When my own iPad, but I really liked the Mifor better integration of technology in technology is successfully integrated in crosoft Surface, because the keyboard the classroom,” Page said. the classroom, it becomes second na- was very easy to use, wasn’t too touch “After a while, I do think most curric- ture and relatively unnoticed. The focus sensitive and you can also type on the ulum will be on technology, but some- needs to be on what you can do with screen. I also think it would be easier to times it is nice to have a book in front of the newly acquired access to technol- use in class because of the keyboard or you or to have to write something down ogy. What advancements and updates an iPad because it’s a good size and you in the process of learning. I do have a can be made to lesson plans and cur- can also get a keyboard to go with it,” feeling we’re going to lean towards riculum? What new ways can a subject Jarchow said. the technology side of things, but I’m be explored that weren’t possible behoping we will still be able to do some fore? We have seen and heard great ByFeature Editor Sandra things by hand,” Jarchow said. success stories from schools who have OMARI-BOATENG
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NEWS
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Amjadi captures sixth All State Morrissey also earns honor for improv
On Monday, March 25, two Cedar Falls High School students performed at the All-State Festival for Individual Events at the University of Northern Iowa, one of the biggest honors a high school speech team student can achieve. The performers, senior Maya Amjadi and junior Carrsan Morrissey, are no strangers to All-State Speech. “I have been to All-State six times, four times in Individuals and two times in large group. For individuals, my freshman year I went in acting, sophomore year in prose, junior year in expository address and senior year in acting,” Amjadi said. Coach Nick Chizek coached Amjadi for individual events for the fourth year in a row, and new coach Scott Sesterhenn coached Morrissey this year. This time Amjadi went for her acting piece, “Deaf Day” by Leslie Ayvazian. “My acting piece was about a deaf mother trying to get her deaf son to learn English by watching faces and reading lips. She takes him to the park so that he can interact with other children, but it is frustrating and overwhelming for the boy,” Amjadi said. Although it was an individual event, Amjadi’s piece required her to act as if she was talking to someone, who in reality, was not there. “Since this was an individual category, I performed the monologue by myself, which meant I had to visualize and interact with a little four year old on stage who didn’t actually exist. That was the most challenging part of this piece. My face had to react what my child was expressing, which meant I had to believe there was another person performing with me,” Amjadi said.
In her perforAmjadi said. mance, Amjadi Morrissey went to Allnot only spoke her State for his improvisalines aloud, but also tion, as he has every year signed them, despite since he was a freshman. not knowing sign lan“It’s my third year for guage prior to particiimprov, so it was really pating in this event. “I nerve-wracking actually learned the sign lanbecause every year you guage from a profesgo back you’re thinking, sor at UNI who also ‘What if I get a bad draw provided me with two or something?’,” Morrissign language books. sey said. My coach recorded In Improv, a person her reading the script Seniors Maya Amjadi and draws three characters and signing so that I Hanno Fenech in their All and two situations, and could learn piece by State ensemble skit. chooses two characters piece from those as and one situation to crewell,” Amjadi said. ate a scene from that information. For Not only did Amjadi perform at AllAll-State, Morrissey’s situation was a State this year, she also helped coach. first job interview, and his characters “This year I had the amazing oppor- were a window washer and a child actunity to help coach some individual tress. “I like the freedom that it gives speech team events. Working with Nick you. Improv has always kind of been my Chizek, I coached Alyssa Jensen in act- thing. I think it’s fun because you can be ing, Emma Reddington in poetry, Lexi anything. Obviously, you get a set charAbbas in poetry and Daniel McVicker acter, but you can interpret it however in acting. It was challenging to com- you want. Just because you get window municate ideas about their pieces so washer doesn’t mean you can’t take it to that they could feel different things and some crazy new level, and I think that’s have different ideas about the climax, great. For me it’s the most free and fun. character voice and inflection. It was I just get up there and go,” Morrissey fun to be on the other end of the pro- said. cess, and I gained a new appreciation Morrissey also first got involved with for what my coaches have been able to speech team in ninth grade. “Karen do on the speech team. The people I Franke, who’s gone now, she came into worked with were all very talented, so it my English class and completely got my was a pleasure being able to give them attention, so I decided to try it out. It feedback,” Amjadi said. was really cool. The auditions were so Amjadi has been involved with the fun, and so that’s what really got me speech team as long as the opportunity into it,” Morrissey said. has been available for her. “I first got inTo get to All-State speech for both volved with speech team in ninth grade individual events and large group, parbecause there were upperclassmen in it ticipants must first get to the state comwho I knew from doing plays when I was petition. Then, all three judges at State younger. I heard how great it was from usually must all rate the participant as them and have enjoyed it ever since,” Division I. Then judges must choose one
of the Division I-winning participants out of the other performers as one of the outstanding performers, nominating him or her for All-State. “All-State was a really fun experience. It started with an opening ceremony, and throughout the day there were centers spread across the UNI campus with performers ranging in categories from Solo Musical Theatre to Improvisational Acting. My session was in the afternoon in the Maucker Union. Each center had a guest critic who awarded medals and certificates and also gave comments to each performer,” Amjadi said. “I didn’t go for the whole day because it was just Maya and I, and we performed at the same time, so I got there about an hour early to see the other performances. It was a great experience,” Morrissey said. “The most valuable thing I have learned from my involvement in speech team is that literally whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve. There is no way I would have believed someone if they had told me in the two days before competition I would learn sign language for an eight-minute acting piece. I didn’t think it was possible. And it wasn’t. Until I started to believe in myself that I could make it happen. That is how speech team has worked for me over the last four years. I will have new challenges, whether it be an accent or memorization or writing my own speech or transforming into a character opposite of myself: and it goes really badly, until I consciously tell myself to kick it into gear. I have to believe it is possible. And then it is,” Amjadi said. “I also am much more comfortable speaking in front of people now than I ever was, and I have the speech program to thank for that,” Amjadi said. By News Editor Katherine
MAYHEW
English department offers three classes for college credit Options include speech, composition and literature
With the school year coming to a close, most CF students think they have their schedules for next year all figured out. However, recently the English department solidified new Hawkeye courses to offer seniors and juniors for the 2013-2014 school year. English department head and teacher Judy Timmins listed the different types of classes available to students. “Right now we are looking at three different types of classes: one is the lit class, one is the composition class and the other is the oral communications class,” Timmins said.
Susan Langan, guidance counselor, said she believes the new classes are a great opportunity for students. “They would be very good opportunities for our students to take, especially if they are thinking about going to one of the three state universities or community colleges because they will pretty much transfer into some good college credit. Any other colleges, the student is responsible for checking how it would transfer, but they are pretty basic classes that would pretty much transfer to general ed classes,” Langan said. There are still openings for the classes, and if students are interested they should make sure they meet the prerequisites. “They either have to have a 19 on the English and the reading on the ACT, or they have to take the Compass and have a 65 on the writing or an 82 on
the reading, or a combination. We are offering the Compass here in a couple weeks as well,” Langan said. Part of the reason the late sign up for these classes is due to the efforts to make sure CFHS English teachers were able to teach the classes. “We wanted the Cedar Falls teachers to be teaching the courses because they’re here, they’re in the building, they know the students and they know the department, so we wanted our teachers teaching the courses. That meant that teachers had to have certain qualifications, so we had to make sure those teachers had the qualifications, and that was part of our delay,” Timmins said. Different teachers in the department will be teaching the courses. “Mrs. Flaherty is teaching oral communication, Mrs. Lubs for the composition and Mr.
Lawrence-Richards for the literature,” Langan said. If students are interested in taking these courses next year, they can still sign up even if they’ve already scheduled their classes. “This is kind of a pilot for us. Next year it is going to be very different from the standpoint of these courses. Next year you’ll be able to sign up at the time we do scheduling, not after we’ve already scheduled,” Timmins said. “Next year it will be much smoother. It will be much clearer. There will be more opportunities for students to start thinking about it and considering it before the fact.” If students would like to sign up for a dual-credit English course to take next year, there is still time to sign up in the guidance office. By Staff Writer Amanda
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HI-LINE
Drones have dangerously loose restrictions Our government has no right to kill or monitor civilians
The United States has, over the past six years, increased its use of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to spy, surveil or even attack the Middle East. Most recently they have been bombing Pakistan, and Ben Emmerson, a U.N. special reporter on human rights and counter terrorism, took a “secret research trip” that was almost immediately leaked. In one of his interviews, he commented, “The Pakistani government made clear to me that it does not consent to the strikes.” How could they? The Pakistani government also said that “... eight out of 10 people killed in U.S. drone strikes are civilians.” In that case, how could they consent to the killing of innocents to eliminate the other two out of 10 Taliban or Al-qaeda renegades? President Obama is reluctant to talk about how he uses drones to kill suspected militants. Explanations about who gets picked for death-by-drone and who does the picking are not clearly stated. Just a few days ago, for example, Obama blew off a local Cincinnati tele-
vision reporter who asked the president about his “kill list.” He did, however release which “criteria” qualify. Obama said, “1: It has to be a target that is authorised by our laws. 2: It has to be a threat that is serious and not speculative. 3: It has to be a situation in which we can’t capture the individual before they move forward on some sort of operational plot against the United States. 4: We’ve got to make sure that in whatever operations we conduct, we are very careful about avoiding civilian casualties. 5: That while there is a legal justification
for us to try and stop [American citizens] from carrying out plots … they are subject to the protections of the Constitution and due process.” At least two of those five points appear to be half-truths at best. In both Yemen and Pakistan, our government allows the CIA to launch a strike based on the target’s signature, whether he appears to act or look like a terrorist. “Intelligence analysts don’t even have to know the target’s name, let alone whether he’s planning to attack the U.S. In some cases, merely being a military-aged male at the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to justify your death,” said Micah Zenko, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. I want to elaborate on number four from Obama’s qualification list. The president said that they are very careful about avoiding civilian casualties, but it is said that eight out of 10 people killed in drone at-
traditional combat zones while keeping the legal rational secret.” She later added, “... this court is constrained by law, and under the law, I can only conclude that the government has not violated FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by refusing to turn over the documents sought in the FOIA requests, and, therefore, the government cannot be compelled by this court of law to explain in detail the reasons why its actions do not violate the Constitution and laws of the United States. The Alice-in-Wonderland nature of this pronouncement is not lost on me, but after careful and extensive consideration, I find myself stuck in a paradoxical situation in which I cannot solve a problem because of contradictory constraints and rules — a veritable catch-22. I can find no way around the thicket of Evan Fairbanks Cartoon laws and precedents that effectively allow tacks are civilians. In total, it is the Executive Branch estimated that between 2008 of our government to proclaim and now, drones have killed as perfectly lawful certain acor injured up to 2,243 civilians, tions that seem on their face some American. incompatible with our ConstiWhen Jessica Yellin, an tution and laws, while keeping American television journalist, the reasons for their conclusion pressed further, asking Obama a secret,” U.S. District Court if he himself made the ultimate Judge Colleen McMahon said. decisions about who should live Yet again the United States is and who should die. Obama allowed to shroud the public contravened, saying, “I’ve got from a taboo subject. to be careful here. These are A man named Andrew Sulliclassified issues … I can’t get van defended the public when too deeply into how these he spoke to the Supreme Court. things work.” Obama and his “I’ve defended the drone proadministration are trying their gram as the least worst way of hardest to keep the idea that fighting a real enemy, as long the drones are only killing as it is restrained and takes exthe targets they are focusing traordinary pains to avoid civilon blurred and hidden. U.S. ian casualties, but I can see no District Court Judge Colleen rationale for the citizenry to be McMahon of New York, rul- forbidden from knowing the ing in lawsuits brought by the terms on which the president American Civil Liberties Union can assassinate one of them. and The New York Times, said One would think that is a pretty she “... is caught in a ‘paradoxi- basic principle for the American cal situation’ of allowing the polity,” Sullivan said. “Was this administration to claim it was country founded on resistance legal to kill enemies outside to a monarch only to give the
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continued from page 4 power to assassinate an American citizen to one person – with no transparency at all?” Mr. Sullivan is correct, in my opinion, that we as a people should be as involved in this kind of politic. Wasn’t the country based on a democratic system where the people were supposed to have a good amount of leverage of say in the dealings of the government? A scary prospect is that the U.S. government has the authority to use deadly force against U.S. citizens. A “white paper,” written by unidentified lawyers and other officials state, “Targeting a member of an enemy force who poses an imminent threat of violent Council attack to the United States is not unlawful. It is a lawful act of national self-defence.” People in the Obama administration justify these targeted killings on post-9/11 laws. A congressional law, called The Authorization for Use of Military Force 2001 states, “The President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.” That has been further expanded to any terrorist group or persons the government deems dangerous, based on the set of criteria focused on earlier. The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, brought a serious issue to public. Although the Constitution doesn’t directly state any “Right to Privacy,” it has been a taboo subject of phenomenal weight. “You can’t keep the tides from coming in,” Bloomberg remarked
ments imposed by the FAA for the issuance of certificates,” Stepanovich said. Jay Stanley of ACLU said, “Unfortunately, when asked about drones on nothing in the bill would adhis weekly radio show. “We’re dress the very serious privacy going to have more visibility issues raised by drone aircraft. and less privacy. I just don’t see This bill would push the nation how you could stop that.” toward an era of aerial surveilBy his reckoning, “it’s lance without any steps to proscary.” “What’s the difference tect the traditional privacy that if a drone is up in the air or on Americans have always enjoyed a building (surveillance camand expected. We don’t want era)?” he asked. “I mean, intelto wonder if every time we step lectually, I have trouble making out our front door some eye in a distinction, and you know the sky is watching our every you’re going to have face recmove,” Stanley said. ognition software. People are “The bottom line is: doworking on that.” mestic drones are potentially It’s similar to the new T.V. extremely powerful surveillance tools, and that power — like all government powers — needs to be subject to checks and balances,” Stanley concluded. “We hope that Congress will carefully consider the privacy implications that this technology can lead to.” on Foreign Relations member Micah Do you want to be watched in a Casey’s bathroom in case some anonymous person comes in show, Person of Interest, where to attack you? This is a serithe Fed has cameras set up ous matter of personal privacy. and watching you for crime at From what we know about all times, regardless of your hisdrones now, and no doubt tory or threat level. Bloomberg there is more that the Ameriput the timeframe for an allcan people don’t know, it is apseeing-eye society at about parent that the government is five years, when he estimated, willing to use drones on both “... there’ll be cameras every American citizens for surveilplace.” Using the same logic, lance and foreign countries to Bloomberg urged Albany to apspy or kill suspected terrorists. prove speed cameras to catch If this great and powerful motorists going too fast on city nation should fall into the cold streets. “The argument against grip of paranoia and resort to using automation, or cameras, the constant surveillance of it’s this hysteria ... oh, it’s Big Americans, who knows what Brother. Get used to it. When rash decisions may come there’s a murder, a shooting, next. This subject needs to be a robbery of something, the fully disclosed and be open first thing the police do is go to public scrutiny. If the govto every single building in the ernment makes it overwhelmneighborhood and say, ‘Let’s ingly obvious that the use of see your security camera,’” he such drones, whether against said. By this logic, you lose all suspected terrorist leaders or privacy outside of your home. American citizens, is a program Right now, the only thing that causes a majority of good, standing between the “testthen hold an election. If that is ing” of UAVs is the FAA. Amie done, then the American peoStepanovich, an attorney with ple can rest easy knowing that the Electronic Privacy Informawhat the founding fathers have tion Center, commented on set in place is working. this. “Currently, the only barrier to the routine use of drones for persistent surveillance By Staff Writer Kaleb BENGSTON are the procedural require-
“Intelligence analysts don’t even have to know the target’s name, let alone whether he’s planning to attack the U.S. In some cases, merely being a militaryaged male at the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to justify your death.”
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Our View
Preventing Korean nuclear war is essential
The potential nuclear war that could break out between the South and North Korea has many people concerned about their safety. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made threats about sending nuclear missiles towards South Korea and has also said they have a missile on its east border with capabilities to reach 3,000 km, which means it could also strike Japan. When Kim Jong Un stated, “The moment of explosion is approaching soon,” many people grew very upset. American troops have started rehearsing anti-nuke routines to show signs of strength and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has stated that there is “real and clear danger” from North Korea. On April 3, the United States also started deploying anti-nuke and biological warfare soldiers. The Pentagon also said that the anti-missile shield would be ready and up in as little as a few weeks to address this danger that the communist state presents to the United States and its allies. The American Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system is set to arrive in Guam within two weeks. These threats were made around a week ago with not much progress being made in any direction. All anyone can really do at this point is to take precaution. The United States is trying to be proactive. It announced that it was sending ballistic missile defenses to Guam that could be a potential target for North Korea. All this waiting around has just caused more anticipation and tension for everyone. After all this time if North Korea was going to make any moves, they would have probably done so already. Except for the verbal threats and moving some missiles closer to their border about a week ago, North Korea hasn’t really done much to show much progression. Un even told lawmakers at a committee meeting that the missile has “considerable range but not enough to hit the U.S. mainland.” Kim Kwan-jin, the South Korean Defense Minister also said that if North Korea were preparing for a full-scale conflict, there would be more signs. Some signs would be mobilizing units, more supplies and rear troops, but South Korean military officials haven’t found any of these preparations. Thankfully, this arms race hasn’t really come to much, but all we can really do is continue to play the even hand and hope for the best.
Contact Us The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes at Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Our website is www.hiline.cfschools.org. The Hi-Line is distributed to CFHS students on Tuesdays to read during their RCTs fourth period. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hi-Line staff or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial is presented weekly in the editorial labeled Our View, and it is the view of the majority of the editors listed below. Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to The Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday for publication in the following Tuesday edition. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Writers should include their contact information for verification. Editor-in-Chief: Maya Amjadi News Editor: Katherine Mayhew Opinion Editor: Maya Amjadi Sports Editor: Jared Hylton Feature Editor: Sandra Omari-Boateng Entertainment Editor: Lindsey Davis Hi-Line Online Editor: Martha Hall Staff Writers: Ana Cunha, Amanda Harwood, Alyssa Jensen, Lauren Nickerson, Kaleb Bengston
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FEATURE
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Works of Art Though the Oscar’s are long over, it’s still awards season for the CFHS art department. Art students have entered their work in numerous contests. The department has several students entering the Congressional Art Contest through Bruce Braley’s office, which accepts many different mediums. If an entry is chosen as a winner, the artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibit. Further, there will be one overall winner whose piece will be sent to Washington, D.C., for display. Art teacher Lisa Klenske also had seven graphic design students enter the Doodle 4 Google contest, which she assigned as a class project. Students used their talents to redesign the Google logo, incorporating the theme “My Best Day Ever ...” The single selected winner will win a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for their school. Two students from photography classes have accomplished impressive feats through entering their photos in contests. Junior Kyle Wiebers, a transfer student from NU, entered Photography Forum Magazine’s High School and College photography contest and made it to the finals. This is remarkable even before considering that there were over 16,700 photos entered. “I was taking creative photography with Ms. Klenske and thought that it would be fun to see what other people thought of my photos,” Wiebers said about entering the contest. Wiebers photo depicts the heartbreak of a lost baseball season. “I attended NU from sixth grade until it closed last year. When the school closed, we were not able to have one last baseball season. Baseball has been a huge part of my life since I was born, and I was devastated to hear the news. This photo really sums up the emotions me and everyone else from NU were feeling after the school closed. The picture shows how emotional not having baseball or NU was for me. For the first time since T-ball, my summer wouldn’t be jam packed with games and practices. This picture shows how not only I, but the rest of the team, felt far better than words could,” Wiebers said. “It was a huge honor to be a finalist in the contest since there were thousands of other entries. Even though I didn’t win, it was still exciting to be one of the top high school photographers in the country,” Wiebers said. Junior Laurel Smeins received an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Snapshot Iowa-Architecture student photography contest for her photo entitled “The Little Red Schoolhouse.” Smeins is currently doing an independent study in photography and heard about the contest from Klenske.
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Students use their photography skills to place as finalists in prestigious contests
“When I saw that the theme of the contest was Iowa Architecture, I started brainstorming possible buildings with unique architecture that I could photograph around town and eventually came up with the Little Red Schoolhouse, Overman Park and the Campanile. I wanted to take a unique picture that would stand out, and I tried lots of different angles before I got a shot of the schoolhouse that I liked. The picture shows the building from a different angle, from the front step looking up at it, as opposed to your traditional straight on shot,” Smeins said. Being honored in the contest came as a marvel to Smeins. “Winning honorable mention was kind of a surprise. When I entered I wasn’t expecting to win anything. It was sort of a last minute thing since I sent my photos in only two days before the deadline,” Smeins said. Klenske was a large source of support for the art students. She informed them about the contests and provided the printed information for them. She then walked them through the process of deciding what piece of art they wanted to enter and the actual entry process. “These are contests that students make the choice to enter. I try to encourage as many students as possible to enter these types of contests as it is so easy to enter online now,” Klenske said. Both Smeins and Wiebers hope to further their photography skills. “As of right now, photography is just a hobby. I am considering majoring in journalism in college, and if I do, I think it would be cool to have a photography minor. Currently, I’m just trying to gain more experience and build up my portfolio. My main interest is portrait photography, and I’m hoping to take some senior pictures over the summer,” Smeins said. “Photography is never something you can perfect. There’s always things to change and different angles to take shots from. I just want to continue to deepen my knowledge of photography and continue to hopefully take great pictures everyone can enjoy,” Wiebers said.
By Editor Lindsey
DAVIS
At top, junior Laurel Smeins’ photo “Little Red Schoolhouse” that received honorable mention in the 2013 Snapshot Iowa-Architecture student photography contest. Below, junior Kyle Wieber’s “Tough Day” photo that placed as a finalist in the Photography Forum Magazine’s High School and College photography contest.
The
Tiger
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
FEATURE
7
Holmes teacher uses prayer, assistance to connect with Cedar Valley citizens About a year and a half ago Corey Peters, a teacher and coach at Holmes Junior High, started a group that goes to different areas to pray for anyone they come across. Students from all over have joined Mr. Peters and have been deeply impacted by the people they have met. The group goes out every Thursday night to different neighborhoods. “We pack about 20 bags of groceries, and we go out to a neighborhood every week. We ask people if they need free groceries, and if they would like prayer. Whether or not they accept prayer is not a prerequisite to getting groceries. We have run into people from all walks of life. We treat and love everyone the same,” Peters said. Peters and the group try not to judge anyone they meet. They treat everyone with love and respect. “We have given groceries and prayed for the rich, poor, homeless, prostitutes, gang leaders, single parents, the elderly, Burmese refugees, homosexuals, police officers and people from every religion you can imagine. It is easy to pass judgment while sitting in your easy chair in your house. It becomes real when you are standing in front of a woman who was nearly beaten to death two nights before you got there, or when you are standing in the living room of a single mother with six children to feed wondering how she will pay rent this month,” Peters said. Many people welcome the group in to pray for them. “It is really amazing because they answer the door, and for a moment you are strangers and 10 minutes later, you are family. Most people keep asking, ‘You are really here to do that?’ They really can’t believe someone is doing that. We are a group of nobodies. We have business people, factory workers, mothers, retirees and students join us. We have people from all different area churches join us and people that don’t attend church. We have had infants up through 90 year olds go with us. It has been really amazing to see the people who have joined us to love others,” Peters said. One student who has joined the group is Adrienne Boettger. Boettger went to Holmes last year and was involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), which Peters started at the junior high. She is now a CFHS sophomore. “I wanted to go with Mr. Peters because I really enjoy loving people and
Holmes teacher Corey Peters with Angel. Peters has been involved in a community ministry initiative in which he and students at Holmes have reached out to help Cedar Valley residents through trying times, including Angel, who runs a safe house for children who need another place to stay.
Submitted Photo talking to them. I had heard about some really cool people he had met on these trips also. I have learned so many great things from these trips. The biggest thing I have learned is how much I have to be thankful for. There are so many things I take for granted on a regular basis without even thinking about it,” Boettger said. The FCA group members have also joined the community outreach trips. Peters made FCA open to anyone. The FCA members don’t have to join the outreach trips, but they are always welcome to. Boettger met a woman in Waterloo who really impacted her. Her name is Angel. “Angel’s house was a safe house for children (when kids needed a safe place to stay for a few nights or weeks, they would stay at her house). Mr. Peters had told me about how much she loved each of the kids that stay at her house. She cared for all nine of them, even though none of the children were kids of her own. He also told me how she did not have a washer or dryer, so she was doing everything by hand then hanging all these childrens clothes up outside, so when I met her, we were delivering a washer that was being donated to her by someone through Mr. Peters,” Boettger said. Boettger was touched by Angels
story. “I have never forgot that trip. I was so amazed by the love she shared with everyone and the happiness she had even without much money,” Boettger said. On another day, Peters met a young man who was struggling with his wheelchair. “One night as we were praying, I noticed a young man being pushed up an inclined driveway in a wheelchair. It caught my eye because the man pushing him really had a difficult time pushing him. It was a cement driveway, and it should have gone up easily. I ran across the street and the man pushing him was real resistant to us. He asked the man in the wheelchair if he wanted groceries or prayer. The man in the wheelchair nodded his head and said ‘both,’” Peters said. Peters found out that his name was Mitchell, and he as Multiple Sclerosis. It was very difficult for Mitchell to speak. “We were able to pray with him, and he asked us how to ‘accept’ Christ. It was very emotional because every word for him is a struggle. We also gave him his first Bible. I put his story on Facebook and my blog. I asked if anyone had a newer wheelchair that we could purchase or could be donated. Someone contacted me right away and said that she had a fairly new power wheelchair. We were able to give it to him with new batteries purchased by ‘Barn Happy,’”
Peters said. The new wheelchair has changed Mitchell’s life. “There would be days where he wouldn’t get out of bed because it was so difficult and no one would come and push him in his wheelchair. Now he goes to the river every day, and he is always going to neighbors homes to brighten their day. We are now in the final stages to install a ramp for Mitchell outside his home,” Peters said. Peters has started sharing some of these stories on his blog, kingdomcomeprayer.blogspot.com. “It took many months of prayer before I started writing a blog about some of the stories. I never want this to come across as “Look what I’m doing”. There are many stories I don’t write about. My point is to try to inspire people to get out of the four walls and come together as a community. Drop the lines of division that keeps all of us in our own corners. It is amazing to me that so many people from all over the world stop to read what is going on every week. I have been contacted by people all over the world for prayer, support or to see how they can start doing similar things in their community,” Peters said.
By Staff Writer Lauren
Nickerson
The
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SPORTS
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Cedar Falls aims to renew PEP grant for PE classes
Cedar Falls High School is striving to renew a grant that has helped the physical education program over the last few years. It’s known as the PEP grant, and physical education department head Jamie Smith said, “We believe our application is extremely strong and incredibly unique but are worried that having just received the grant four years ago will hurt our chances of getting it again.” However, applicants are optimistic that they’ll obtain the PEP grant once more. “The PEP grant is available to any school in the country, so it becomes very competitive to be chosen. Our unique feature will be our work on the Blue Zones project and partnership with the University of Northern Iowa,” Assistant Athletic Coordinator Troy Becker said. This grant would be a lucrative thing to receive for the high school in that it would definitely help fund innovative practices for students. “This grant will completely transform the PE program, literally. In our dream program, sophomore wellness would remain the same in structure and current activities but also be amped up with new, non-traditional activities like rock climbing, crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and biking. Junior and senior lifetime wellness would be no longer, and instead juniors and seniors would choose from different electives. Some elective ideas that we have thrown around are strength and conditioning, cross training, yoga, pilates and zumba, outdoor recreation and team sports.
This will take some creativity scheduling wise and would more than likely be phased in over the course of the grant. However, if this would happen it would allow juniors and seniors to choose which elective peaked their interests the most and give students more choices,” Smith said. Along with this, the PEP grant would also affect heart rate monitor use. “We’ll definitely get new heart rate monitors that don’t have the chest straps, as the students don’t really like them, and it’d be far more convenient,” gym teacher Paul Elser said. Not only would the PEP grant help the students but the gym teachers as well. “It will continue to provide all of our PE teachers K-12 the ability to purchase the latest technology, equipment and supplies available. We would be able to look at doing special programs that would normally not be an option because of cost and training. It will also help in our ongoing goal of having the best curriculum and program in the country. Finally, it provides great opportunities for professional development for our staff,” Becker said. Smith agreed. “A portion of the grant money is used for professional development for all of the PE teachers. It pays for different conferences we attend. These conferences are great, and we get a ton of ideas from them. We also have met many of our business representatives and fellow peers that have been able to help us with a lot of different things behind the scenes that students do not
Athlete of the
8 Week
Rylee Willett Baseball
Senior Rylee Willett reached base twice in Cedar Falls’ tie with Central Springs in their Spring League opener.
Brendan Wood (‘10) flashes his heart rate monitor which was purchased with PEP Grant money. often see,” Smith said. The last time Cedar Falls High School applied and achieved this grant, it obtained quite a lot. “Our entire cardio room and half our weight room equipment was furnished through the grant. All of our heart rate monitors, Bodybuggs, accessories and computer software were another major chunk of our purchases. Our gym sound system and all of our fitness equipment is new too. We restocked on all of our equipment so students would not have to share racquets, etc.,” Smith said. This year, the grant writers have many ideas on what they’d like to purchase should they get this grant. “We would really like to replace our current cardio room equipment with brand new equipment and upgrade and add to our weight room equipment. High on the list of priorities would be a portable three-four person
rock climbing wall, a classroom set of iPads, a classroom set of bikes, snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing equipment, archery equipment, yoga and pilates equipment, standard pieces of PE equipment for some new games we want to try and OmniKin Ball,” Smith said. Cedar Falls High School is trying its best to create a great gym program for students that will keep them healthy and happy. Those involved say getting this PEP grant will help immensely. “The overall goal is to improve the wellbeing of our students and to teach life long skills for living a life with fitness and health in mind. It focuses on partnerships with the city of Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County and the University of Northern Iowa,” Becker said. Staff Writer Alyssa
Jensen
Women’s tennis loses thriller to CR Kennedy
What are your goals for the summer season? Work well as a team and hopefully make the playoffs along the way. How are the three seniors going to have to step up this season for the team to be successful? Hopefully we’ll be able to provide some leadership for the team and some solid bats in the lineup.
Tigers in
Action
Women’s Golf
Next up: CR Prairie, IC West on April 9 at home at 3:15 p.m.
Women’s Track & Field
Next up: Ames Invitational on April 9 at Ames at 4:45 p.m.
Men’s Track & Field
Next up: Varsity Quad on April 9 at Waverly Shell-Rock at 5 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
Next up: Dubuque Hempstead on April 9 at Hempstead at 4 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
Next up: Dubuque Hempstead on April 9 at home at 4 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Next up: Dubuque Hempstead on April 11 at 4:15 p.m. at Hempstead
Men’s Soccer
Next up: Dubuque Hempstead on April 11 at home at 6:45 p.m.
Baseball
Photos by Autumn Timms
Junior Sophie Mallaro returns a serve, and sophomore Arianna Mitra, senior Maya Amjadi and senior Halle Benson drive serves over the net. The Tigers lost this match 6-3.
Next up: Waterloo West on April 13 at West at 10 a.m. (subject to change)
Softball
Next up: Waterloo East on May 21 at home at 5:30 p.m.