The
Looking for Love
Tiger HI-LINE
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Hi-Line staff put famous romance experiment to the test/Page 4 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org
Volume 55 Edition 16
CF generations remember Mitchell If success is defined by the numbers on a scoreboard, then legendary CFHS coach Pat Mitchell had one of the most successful tenures in the history of Iowa with 344 wins across 47 seasons while patrolling the Tiger sideline. But for Mitchell, success always went far beyond the football field and into the lives of not only his players but every person he came across. “Coach Mitchell was always in a good mood,” said Tim (Tiny) Kofron, the groundskeeper for Cedar Falls Schools for the last 15 years. “He was appreciative.” Last January, Mitchell was diagnosed with cancer. Despite that diagnosis, he remained upbeat because the doctors told him they could contain it. “He’s one of those people you don’t knock down and keep down,” CFHS offensive line coach for the last 21 years and current CFHS offensive coordinator Ken Kohltoff said. “He’s gonna make the best of the situation. That’s just who he was.” Despite his consistent positive attitude, he ultimately retired this summer because he physically wasn’t going to be able to keep up with the demands of coaching his players. The cancer then spread to the bone in his hip and then his brain, which is what finally took him. Mitchell died on Feb. 4, but his legacy and the feelings he entrenched in people all over the community will never be forgotten. The appreciation for everyone he crossed paths with extended from giving the groundskeeper a camp T-shirt every year to making everyone feel like they were a valuable part of the team. “He always made an effort to talk to me before and
Coach Pat Mitchell’s legacy has made an impact on generations at Cedar Falls High School. after practice,” Chase Koch said whose contribution came on the kickoff return team during his junior year, Mitchell’s final season. “He made everyone feel welcome and like they were apart of something bigger.”
Twenty-two of Mitchell’s former players suited MITCHELL continued Page 8
Junior cooks up tasty path to theater dreams As the aroma of freshly baked goods fills the air, junior Grace Gubbrud pulls a tray of homemade chocolate-chip cookies from the oven. “My mother bakes the best chocolate cookies, and whenever I bring them somewhere, people always love them,” Gubbrud said. Gubbrud often brings homemade cookies to different events, but now she is using the cookies to propel her dreams forward. Referencing an order sheet, she counts the cookies and adds the number to her total of cookies already baked. Taking orders off a self-made website, Gubbrud is selling cookies for $5 a dozen. “I needed a way to make money so I can go to some camps this summer, but between school and theater, I don’t have time for a normal part time job, so I figured I could start my own business and work hours that work for me,” Gubbrud said. Gubbrud will be balancing her new business with high-level classes, a lead role in the musical
and other extracurricular commitments. “The cool thing about what I am doing is I can choose when to work. I can mix up a batch of dough and then do homework while the cookies are baking. I can also bake a bunch during the weekend and then sell those during the week,” Gubbrud said. Gubbrud has been involved in theater programs since she was a young girl, acting in productions at the Black Hawk Children’s Theatre and joining youth acting troupes such as Parabola. Now, she dedicates a lot of her time to the CFHS drama department, currently acting, singing and dancing as character Ethel McCormick in the musical Footloose. “I did my first play when I was five and ever since then I’ve known that it’s what I want to do. Acting energizes me,” Gubbrud said. Gubbrud has spent the past few summers attending various theater camps and intensives and would like to continue pursuing her dramatic passions this summer.
Junior Grace Gubbrud has recently launched a cookie business to help fund her upcoming theater involvements. “I am applying to go to two separate camps. The first one is a three week intensive in Chicago at The Second City. My time there will be spent writing sketches, improv-
ing, doing standup and overall just learning about comedy. The other one is through the National Student Leadership conference. That camp will be 10 days in New York
City taking classes in theater, seeing shows, meeting professionals and honing my leadership skills,” Gubbrud said. Gubbrud’s cookie business will prepare her financially for her summer, and the camps themselves will prepare her for her long-term future. “I plan to major in theater in college, out of state somewhere. A lot of the schools I am looking at have selective theater programs, so we’ll see. After college I just want to perform, the ultimate goal would be getting on SNL, but as long as I am doing what I love I will be happy,” Gubbrud said. To help support Gubbrud bake her way to her dreams, you can go to http://sprinkleoflovecookies. weebly.com/ to order cookies and get details about payment and pick up. “I figured this would be a great way to make the money I need for the summer, but still have fun and make people happy. Who doesn’t love cookies?” Gubbrud asked. By Staff Writer Agatha
FENECH
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FEATURE
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 12, 2015
The dress, the date and the details Follow this three-part series for making prom preparations months before May
By Staff Writer Mikaela
MALLIN
One doesn’t have to listen too carefully to hear talk of prom steadily increasing throughout the halls. Even though the dance is months and months away, students begin to anticipate it as early as February, making preparations far in advance. Every element, from the dress to the date to the final details of prom night itself, seems to be planned earlier and earlier every year. What’s the rush all about anyway? The HiLine is setting out to discover in a three-part, three-week series. Last week we discussed the dress.
This week’s topic: The Date Once girls find the perfect prom dress, they often start he early search for the perfect prom date, ideally one that they can keep around long after the dance is done. Around the same time guys too begin to look for the girl they want to escort onto the dance floor. It is human nature to want to be loved, cared for and protected, so it’s only natural that we place such importance on finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. When it comes to the date, we want to make the right decision, even for events as small as prom. It makes sense that this anticipation months before May; finding Mr. or Mrs. Right can take a long time. And it should. Choosing the right date, and eventually the right relationship, is a very important decision. It takes plenty of thought and consideration. Plenty of hard work and dedication. It’s a big step that most high schoolers are taking for the first time, and it can be very daunting. Luckily, many before us have done it and are able to leave us with some advice. Coupled with sophomore couple Casey McIntyre and Daniel Licari’s insight into how they make their happy long term relationship work, we’re sure to find a tip or two that can help us either find the date we want, or keep the date we already have.
Submitted Photo Sophomore couple Casey McIntyre and Daniel Licari share thier thoughts of maintiaining a healthy relationship. Licari says, “it’s like a special bond. It’s one of those things you can’t describe. It’s just there. And I love it. I love her. Shes just perfect. McIntyre admits,“We’re both the most awkward people, so it just kind of works. He does all these nice surprise things for me all the time that I don’t ask for.“ They offer advice to couples as well. McIntyre’s biggest advice is“just don’t break up when you get mad at eachother, actually talk it through, it owuld work so much better.” Licari says, “you really have to put in effort. You should try to make them smile. You should try to make them happy. You should try to see them laugh. If you really like them and are interested in them you should get joy out of seeing them smile. I’m so happy to see [Casey] happy. Also, never give up if you guys fight or disagree. Use it to make you guys closer and stronger. If you just give up on a relationship just because of one stupid little fight, you have no idea where it could have gone.”
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 12, 2015
Getting into Relationships:
FEATURE
3
It’s hard to find a prom date from scratch, let alone someone you can develop a lasting relationship with. It can be a scary, nerve-wracking, experience that puts a lot on the line. Keep the anxiety at bay by keeping these tips in mind. Despite not bringing any revolutionary ideas to the table, they still offer helpful, applicable relationship advice that is often overlooked. first to understand yourself. Ask yourself both what your passions are and what you are looking to get out 1. Discover what defines you:Seek of a relationship. You want to find a date that is on the same page as you when it comes to those passions and relationship goals. Once you discover these things about yourself, you have a much better chance of finding someone. Odds are, when you find someone like that, you’ll be more than just a couple, but also best friends. “It helped that we were actually best friends before anything. We got to hang out before that and make sure we didn’t hate each other,” McIntyre jokes about her relationship with Licari. is the single most important 2. Find someone you can talk too, then actually talk to them:Communication aspect of a healthy relationship. If you can’t talk to your date in the beginning of your relationship, odds are that you never will be able to. Forced conversations and conversations where we run out of things to say spell bad news. You must be able to have meaningful conversation with your date. Don’t just ask them about their day. “Small talk gets you nowhere in a relationship” Licari warns. Instead, ask about their fears, ambitions, regrets and dreams. Talking about real, meaningful topics will create a real, meaningful bond that won’t easily be broken. the other person an honest representation of yourself. Mistrust and deceit will ultimately harm your relationship. Be truthful about your 3. Be yourself:Give passions, your relationship goals, your fears, ambitions, regrets and dreams. You want a date that likes the real you, so don’t pretend to be someone that you’re not. You can’t pretend forever, and eventually your date will realize your superficiality. That too spells bad news. T
here is no need to rush into a relationship. Try to continue doing your normal routine, simply with your date in mind, rather 4. Take things slowly:than changing your whole life to suddenly revolve around them. Many of us don’t have the time needed to sustain a healthy relationship, so easing into the relationship can help us adjust to a new set of timelines and priorities. Slowly incorporating your date and the idea of a relationship into your life rather than impulsively acting off of your immediate instincts ultimately saves the relationship from burning out too quickly. On a similar note, you should never feel pressured to do anything physical with your date if you’re not ready. Take things slowly.
Staying in Relationships: Once you seal the deal with your new boyfriend or girlfriend, things are pretty much guaranteed to work out perfectly for the first few months. Living in a time period called the honeymoon phase, we are blind to our date’s flaws. We don’t hesitate to go extremely out of our way for that person. However, the honeymoon phase is bound to fade. Eventually we will begin to notice our date’s imperfections and lose the motivation we had to perform so many caring acts. So how do we beat it? How do we stay happy in our relationships? How do we make it all the way to prom? If we’re all so worried about finding our date months in advance, we better be able to keep the relationship going until prom night. Nothing would be worse than losing your date days before the dance. often as the months roll by, we tend to slink into our proverbial sweatpants and get lazy in our relationship. We lose our patience, 1. Don’t get lazy:Too gentleness, thoughtfulness, understanding and the general effort we once made toward our mate. We no longer speak the loving words we once did to them. We no longer do the small things we once did for them. Such a relationship is destined to die, so don’t let it happen. We let other things in our lives take priority. McIntyre says, “some people just get too preoccupied with other things and don’t realize what’s important: actually keeping people around the mean something to you.” Licari agrees, noting that “couples [often] just get tired or give up. They think the title of dating means you’re just together, and that you don’t have to do any extra work. There’s always extra effort I’m gonna put in just to see [Casey] be happy, and seeing her smiles makes the happiest person ever. So continue to speak kind words and perform small deeds that keep your date smiling. Always reserve a special place for your date. It is the little things that keep relationships going. out of the “dinner and a movie” routine and try something 2. Get creative about the time you spend together:Break new together. Getting out of your comfort zone to learn or experience something new together strengthens the bonds between you and your date. Licari says “you should do crazy things! Do something you’ve never tried. [Casey] got me to go out for dance and then I got to go to state with her. I never would have expected that I’d be doing that.” Struggling for ideas? Luckily the possibilities are endless: dance like McIntyre and Licari, cook a meal, workout, sled, go on walks, snowshoe, ice skate, go to museums, go to local shows, volunteer or spend time with family. The list goes on and on and on. got to give some so you can get some. In healthy relationships, both party’s thoughts, ideas, actions and opin3. Keep everything 50/50:You’ve ions are equally important. Understand that it is not all about you and your wishes. If you’re in a relationship, you’re part of a team, and teammates work together. This doesn’t mean you always have to agree, but it does mean that you have to listen to each other to jointly come up with a solution that will be best for the both of you. most disagreements, we tend to communicate only our obvious emotions such as anger or 4. Dig deep to unearth true feelings:Inannoyance. We rarely reveal our deeper feelings, the ones such as disappointment, rejection, loneliness or disrespect, that are really driving our obvious emotions. It requires empathy, honesty and vulnerability to share deeper emotions, but it is much more worthwhile. Couples who explain how they really feel are much more likely to come to an agreement over the issue at hand because by truly understanding one another, they get to the root cause of the problem. McIntyre admits, “I’ve told [Daniel] that if he’s thinking something, just let it out and tell me what’s wrong. That works a lot more [in resolving problems] than if he’s quiet and doesn’t talk about it.” that it’s normal for couples to argue. It’s necessary. Licari agrees, saying, “in a 5. Talk about it, apologize, then move on: Know healthy relationship you’re going to fight about stuff because you care about each other. You’re gonna fight for each other.” So don’t go breaking up the second you and your date disagree. Instead, resolve to solve the problem. First, really listen to what your date has to say, and talk about it until you reach a conclusion. That conclusion may be to agree to disagree, and that’s OK. “You don’t have to fully change their opinion, you’re never gonna be able to do that. But as long as you can understand where [the other person] in coming from and accept that you might have different views about a certain topic, then it makes you guys closer,” Licari advices. Second, apologize, and know that that apology only makes a real impact when you mean it. Even if you don’t agree that your action was wrong, a sincere apology can have a significant impact. When you love your partner and hurt them, intentionally or not, you can always honestly apologize for the pain you caused regardless of your perspective on what you did or didn’t do. However, McIntyre warns against apologizing too much, saying that “ it can be an issue too. When you’re just saying it over and over again, [after awhile,] it might not mean anything to the other person. When you apologize make it so that the other person knows ur genuine.” Third, move on. Let your relationship grow and strengthen. It does no good to carry the baggage of past arguments. It will only weigh you and your date down. McIntyre and Licari strive to “always go back to each other and say we love and care about each other, no matter how big or little the fight [was.] We’re not gonna let fights get in our way. [They] make us better. [They] make our bond stronger.”
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The
FEATURE
Tiger
Friday, Feb. 12, 2015
Arthur Aron’s 36 Questions
Staff Writers Dino Obobasic and Sommer Danielsen put Arthur Aron’s research for establishing loving relationships to the test last Saturday, Feb. 7.
Looking for Love? Hi-Line puts famous romantic experiment
To the Test
In a study over 20 years ago, social psychology researcher Arthur Aron of the Interpersonal Relationships Lab at Stony Brook University in New York, succeeded in making two strangers fall in love after honestly answering a set of 36 questions and then quietly staring into each each other’s eyes for four sustained minutes. He published his results in “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness” in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin in 1997. We decided to put it to the test last weekend. Music wafts down from the speaker overhead, the Roots- early 2000s. The red glare from the exit sign reflects off his glasses as he tips his head back to take another sip of coffee. Straight black of course. That’s how we both drink it. We also both make sarcastic jokes, like to write, wish to improve our memories and love our moms. I know this thanks to testing Arthur Aron’s interpersonal psychology theory. According to this tried and true theory, two people can fall in love by answering 36 questions, keeping eye contact for four minutes, and holding a few common interests. The questions are designed to quickly force transparency between two people — arguably one of the hardest things to attain in real relationships. These questions ask you to share your worst memories, conceptions of one another and hopes for the future. Intimidating at first, but once you begin, time soars, moments bleed together like smooth jazz on a turntable, and by the end of the night you could tell that person anything. When you finally realize how deeply immersed in conversation you are, three hours have passed. Though I didn’t fall in love, those three hours taught me something. Love is a verb in which we all are active. How we participate is up to us. This study teaches one to appreciate a person’s characteristics and the origination of their opinions, which teaches us to value them rightly. If we all took the time to be transparent and authentic,
HI-LINE
imagine the potential social transcendance. That being said, this realization should be taken into the paths of everyday life. Adjust your mindset: Every person is who they are because of the way life has molded them up until this point. The same is true of you, which makes us all very much alike. When you keep this in mind, you become a vessel for kindness and understanding. Be transparent: You may be surprised how rewarding honesty is. Saying what others are afraid to admit connects you to others, and you might just find some new friends. Ask questions: Ask a person how they’re doing, then ask one more question. Five extra words can truly impact someone’s day. How is the musical coming? How was your weekend? The one thing I can verify in this study is that questions are powerful. If you can go from 0 to 100 with an acquaintance in three hours, you can have an even greater impact on your friends, and the people you see everyday. There is a lot to learn from asking and answering 36 questions. The only real way to gain that knowledge is by trying the study for yourself. Ask a friend to grab coffee tomorrow night, and pick a few of your favorite questions to ask. You might be surprised how much you can learn about others, and yourself. By Staff Writer Sommer
DANIELSEN
1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? 2. Would you like to be famous? In what way? 3. Before making a phone call, do you ever rehearse what you’re going to say? Why? 4. What would constitute a perfect day for you? 5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else? 6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you choose? 7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? 8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common. 9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful? 10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be? 11. Take four minutes and tell you partner your life story in as much detail as possible. 12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what would it be? 13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know? 14. Is there something that you’ve dreamt of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it? 15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? 16. What do you value most in a friendship? 17. What is your most treasured memory? 18. What is your most terrible memory? 19. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why? 20. What does friendship mean to you? 21. What roles do love and affection play in your life? 22. Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items. 23. How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people’s? 24. How do you feel about your relationship with your mother? 25. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “we are both in this room feeling...” 26. Complete this sentence “I wish I had someone with whom I could share...” 27. If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know. 28. Tell your partner what you like about them: be honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met. 29. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life. 30. When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself? 31. Tell your partner something that you like about them already. 32. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about? 33. If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet? 34. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why? 35. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why? 36. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Letters to the Editor:
OPINION
5
MLK’s ‘Letter’ inspires affirmative action debate Many traits deserve note in application acceptance
Dear Editors, I am writing a letter to advocate for an issue that I am studying to my American literature 1940s to today class. Our recent reading of Martin luther King Jr’s Letter From a Birmingham Jail has inspired me to write about the relevant issue of affirmative action. Before I get deep with the issue, I will provide a background anecdote to set the frame for the topic. Jennifer Gratz fought a fierce legal battle for racial equality. Gratz, a high school senior, applied for the University of Michigan. Months later she received the dreaded letter of denial. Her devastation of being spurned evoked a furious belief that while her achievement showed she deserved admission, comprehensive measures put her at a racial disadvantage. Gratz believed that her white racial identity gave her less opportunity than minorities benefiting from affirmative action. She took her case to the Michigan Supreme Court, who decided in her favor to gradually terminate all selective admissions and provide no benefits towards any race. The practice of giving higher priority to certain races is an idea that has many social, political and economic facets. Chasms between income levels, educational opportunities and higher living standards differ greatly between races. In many cases, this leads to few minorities receiving the opportunity for a college education, almost a prerequisite for a quality career and life. There is a growing group of crusaders like Gratz who believe America is a post-racial society without the
need for any assistance programs based on color. Selective admissions promote a collegiate diversity that reflects a varied country. Nationwide universities lack a variety of ethnicities. Increasingly diverse demographics in the United States differ from increasingly white universities. Recent Michigan legislation complements this. Nick Anderson of The Washington Post addresses these changes: “Thanks to Jennifer Gratz, the mIchigan Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban on selective admissions has seen its effect. African-American attendance at the University of Michigan has decreased suddenly over the past five years. It was 8.9 percent in 2008, a stark contrast to the current population of 4.6 percent.” Numbers collected in 2008, at the time of selective admissions, exhibit minority populations relatively proportionate to state demographics. However, the recent trends portray the color-blind admissions system producing student body of one color. Martin Luther King, Jr. also remarked about the effect of places with populations suffering from a lack of diversity: “It gives the false sense of superiority to the majority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority.” When people have smaller representations, they may feel a general sense of submission. King believes that environments that do not foster diversity suffer from a negative culture promoting the advancement of only one race. These decreasing minority representations are the opposite of the population trends around the
country. The article also addressed current demographics; “The 2010 United States Census showed over a third of our population are minorities. Even more are youth. The discrepancy between these demographics should not exist.” This excerpt compliments the points made in the first passage. Collectively, they show that while minorities populate approximately a third of America, they represent less than a tenth of college students. In the absence of selective admission in states, the minority populations appear to plummet. As Martin Luther King, Jr. remarked: “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” This excerpt relates to the issues today. At some point, the collegiate students of the country should be similar to the general populace. The educational system should strive to have a student body that is a good reflection of its country, one that evolves as twenty-first century demographics change. Affirmative action provides the chance to move forward from historical wrongdoings, and a future for all ethnicities unimpeded by limiting outside factors. Selective admissions provide a medium to give prejudice stricken youth a chance to better themselves. They provide minorities a greater chance of receiving higher education essential for quality careers in the modern day market. Why do minorities need this extra assistance now?” In a recent investigative article examining the purpose of Affirmative Action,
Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post uncovers statistics that show an income chasm between races: “Median minority family income was 61 percent of the white median in 2010. Yet young adult wealth (net worth, or assets minus debts) was an astonishingly low 5 percent of the white median.” These statistics exhibit a lack of financial progress over the last 40 years. Less wealthy people generally live in communities with lesser quality schools. Poor youth receive less education, have little funds to pay for college, and generally reside in areas where getting a higher education appears improbable. Those without a college education tend to have lower income levels. A miniscule minority representation at universities mitigate advancement opportunities. Selective admissions provides an opportunity for more youth to escape this cycle. Some figures may regard diversity quotas as extremist. However, as Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, extreme thinking is not a bad thing. Rather, the focus should be on what “extreme” belief one may have: “So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what extremists we will be.” If someone is pushing for more diversity at the collegiate level and they are labeled a certain way, they may be an extremist, but an extreme agent for change. King believes it is important to stand for the beliefs one has, and to welcome the questioning from others. Selective admissions benefit the nation in a multitude of ways. They ensure an otherwise indistinguishable collegiate diversity is proudly
exhibited as a more accurate representation of an evolving nation. Additionally, these programs help mitigate the chasm in academic achievement amongst races by ensuring all ethnicities have a chance for higher learning. Lastly, affirmative action diminishes many socio economic disadvantages caused by a racial history rifle with repression and discrimination. Those opposed to selective admissions policies misconstrue their purpose. Dissenters presume affirmative action exists to give minorities more better chances than white Americans at college education. The programs intent to provide the average minority student with an educational opportunity closer to that of their average caucasian counterpart. The slight priorities of admissions balance the effects of large, modern-day ethnic discrepancies in economic status. These chances lead to better careers, eventually establishing better standards of living, and instilling values in cultures more embracing of education. Jennifer Gratz’s crusade for white racial equality has spanned almost 20 years. However, the 200year ongoing struggle of minorities in America dwarfs that in size, scope and significance. All of the reasons expounded exhibit why to embrace ideas allowing a step out of the abyss of racial inequality, and the into the “promised land” of equal opportunity.
Dear Editors: Writing as a member of Mr. Winkel’s fifth hour American literature 1940s to today class, the reading of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Letter From a Birmingham Jail has impelled me to write my own piece on a topic that I currently believe is controversial from the perspective of my peers and I. Are white males a growing minority on college and university campuses? If so, are they or should they be considered for “minority” scholarships? It all began on March 6, 1961. President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10925, which included a provision that government contractors “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. “With the abundance of positives to come out of this provision in regards to a nation of equality, little were we aware that a plentiful amount of colleges would
begin to abuse the affirmative action to fulfill diversity quotas. More recently, we are consistently seeing fewer scholarships available for the “average” while male, and for the scholarships that are offered to them, do they really have a better chance of filling out the information and sending it in? Debatable. Dr. King once said, “Society must protect the robbed and punish the robber.” The robbed being the white male, and the robber being the colleges and universities. The affirmative action is a great idea, and if used correctly would greatly benefit every single student heading into college no matter what their race, creed, color, or national origin appears to be. But, the way affirmative action is used currently appears to be the unjust way to perform the acts that the affirmative action offers. The affirmative action is, in one way, is supposed to ensure that applicants are accepted without regard to race. Pondering this idea, it is true that colleges
are disregarding a race and favoring others. When this law was first created, I believe that there was a misunderstanding that caucasians were excluded for the time being. However, now it is understood that they are not excluded. In the text a Letter From a Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King suggests that “The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself,” and that can not be any more true in this situation as people are already beginning to step up. If we continue to wait, there could be a significant impact on the nation’s future leaders within the upcoming years. Although contentious in its own way, college administrators claim that students admitted for the purpose of diversity eventually catch up academically to those that were admitted solely based academics, but the truth could very well be that those students fulfilling the diversity quota are taking easier classes and majoring in less difficult field. However,
though I do believe that this is not true for the majority of students admitted, I believe it is a pressing issue. Solving this issue is easier said then done. Simply, we could remove the race, creed, color, or national origin portion of applications allowing students equal opportunities for students based on academic and extracurricular activities. This can not be achieved unless more people began to stand up and realize that if we really want to reach the a world of equality we can’t just ignore the vital building block for potential careers. People need to stand up for what they believe is right, and I think it is easy to say that everyone want a world of equality. Imagine yourself walking down a hallway trying to get the attention of everyone around you. They don’t respond. You continue to attract the attention of others. They don’t make eye contact. They don’t acknowledge you. Similar in many ways, this is the life of a white male
when applying for scholarships. Although you try to attract the attention of colleges by applying for scholarships, a miniscule amount of the colleges take notice in you and accept your application with fair judgement. Dr. King states, “Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” Although the intention was to never degrade anyone via their personality, race, or color, people should stand up and discuss this pressing issue because if we want to achieve an ultimate goal of equality involving college applicants, it would make more sense to discuss than use violent action, as everyone is for equality in this day and time. Maybe we should become a truly color blind society and stop making admissions decisions based on skin color and realize what is most important to our society.
Respectively, Nathan Tesfa CFHS student
White male students deserve equal consideration
Respectfully, Cole Wetzel CFHS student
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The
OPINION Our View
Feminisim blow up on social media ignores golden lesson Clashing views over gender-inequality have recently sparked massive controversy here at Cedar Falls High School, turning into a firestorm of opinionated mayhem amongst CFHS students on social media and in hallway conversations. It seems like nearly everyone has something to say regarding the issue of feminism and gender equality, and everyone wants to win. However, there may lie the issue. For equality to truly be reached, a consensus must be reached between all people - not one side proving the other wrong. All sides must realize that women’s rights is a pertinent issue in today’s society that needs to be addressed and dealt with in a rational and objective manner. One issue that arises from this controversy is the misconception of what the feminist movement is. Feminism, first and foremost, is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities — the political, economic and social equality of the sexes. Negative connotations often come about with the term “feminism.” This is because views are taken to extremities that involve man-hating and altogether anti-male stances. This is not feminism, and those who demonize the male population as a whole are not feminists. Men and women alike suffer from the discrimination brought about by gender-role stereotypes. This is not to detract from the issue at hand — women ought to be treated equally. However, this issue is more than that. It’s not about just about men and women, it’s about ourselves and our ethics as humans. It may sound novelty, but there is a reason it’s called the golden rule. There is a reason we all learn it as children — it sounds so simple, and that’s because it really is. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Tried and true, this philosophy cannot be refuted. However, we often struggle to truly put it into practice. Human equality means that everyone receives the same rights, opportunities and freedoms to be him or herself without oppression or degradation. Equality disregards gender, race, social class, sexual orientation and religious affiliation. Equality is a societal ideal that has proven to be inherently correct. The right to being happy with who you are and how you were born is a basic human right, and this right encompasses all people. This encompassment can be thought of as a great big circle that we’re all a part of — and a circle does not have sides. Resolving these issues is not about taking a side and arguing your way over the others. It’s about realizing that we all truly want to be happy, and we all truly deserve to be happy. Which means all of us. We humans. It’s an amazing experience that we all get, and not a single person deserves to have their experience worsened at the hand of their fellow human beings.
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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 Fridays to read during their fifth period classes. 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 Monday for publication in the following Friday 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: Austin Anderson Online Editor: Zuhayr Alam Copy Editor: Annebeth Ahrenholz Staff Writers: Sommer Danielsen, Agatha Fenech, Taylor Hylton, Ben Louviere, Mikaela Mallin, Malcolm Musoni, Dino Odobasic, Josie Speltz, Skylar Starbeck and Sarah Stortz
Tiger
Friday, Feb. 12, 2015
HI-LINE
Single on Valentine’s Day? Follow these steps to happiness 10. Post Valentine’s Day Bliss
Go shopping for chocolate. The day after Valentine’s Day all of the chocolate is going to be on sale, so go to the store and buy as much as you would like. Just don’t go too crazy.
9. Embrace a lack of expectations
Some couples on Valentine’s Day expect the day to be great and filled with love, and sometimes that doesn’t always pan out, and they are left with unfulfilled expectations. Those who are single don’t have any expectations for Valentine’s Day at all, so they can’t be let down. When you hear someone complaining about how the day isn’t turning out to be like anything they expected, just be grateful that you didn’t really have anything that you were looking forward to, so you can’t be let down.
8. Ignore the holiday altogether
Most people don’t even make Valentine’s Day into a big deal whatsoever, including couples. It could be possible to go the whole day without hearing one reference to it at all. Even if someone brings it up, you could just ignore the question or change the subject as quickly as possible.
7. Take up extra shifts at work
Everyone who is in a relationship will want to take the night off for Valentine’s Day, so that means you can take up extra shifts, possibly taking over someone else’s shift. If you take over someone else’s shift, it would mean they owe you in the future, and they might return the favor and take a shift of yours when you are in dire need of a night off. Working the whole night also allows for a lot of money, especially if you work at a restaurant where a lot of couples go to eat because it could mean massive tips for the night.
6. Save money
Not having a date for Valentine’s Day means one thing in particular, you don’t have to buy an expensive gift. Couples always tend to rack up massive bills on holidays. Although you may not avoid the gift giving during Christmas, when you are single during Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to participate in a gift exchange at all. In addition to this, you also don’t have to spend time looking for a gift, not knowing what to buy or being worried that you will buy something that your date will not like.
5. Make a playlist
Create a soundtrack that has all of your favorite dance and mood boosting songs on it and listen to it throughout the day. It’s hard to feel down when you are listening to your favorite music. You could also sing along to the songs, which may make you look silly, but it would be fun and definitely something to laugh about.
4. Exercise
Working out for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes releases several brain chemicals that leave you happier and more relaxed. Working out can also make you feel better about your appearance and raise your self esteem, so you can see how exercising on Valentine’s Day would be a good thing considering everyone else will be out eating at a fancy restaurant or maybe eating chocolate, but you will be working out and getting in shape. Leading you to feel happy and not even care that you don’t have a date for the night.
3. Treat yourself
There is no harm in allowing yourself a day to just relax and be alone. Help yourself to a trip to the spa, get your nails done or get a long-needed massage. After being pampered, you will feel carefree and be able to just enjoy yourself, without the company of other people.
2. Bake
Go to Hy-Vee and buy an assortment of goods that would be fun to make. The bonus to baking is that after you are done, of course you get to eat it. You could even make an entire dinner plus dessert. Preparing the food would take up a lot of time, and it would be super fun to do with either friends or family.
1. Be with friends
Who says Valentine’s Day has to just be a time for couples? Go out and celebrate with your friends. Getting dressed up could help to boost your mood of not having a date for the night. Embrace the holiday for what it is and just have fun with it. Staying in for the night with friends could also be fun, rent a couple of movies, and you will forget that Valentine’s Day is even taking place. It will feel like just another regular night with friends. Even with all of these 10 tips, when it comes down to it, is Valentine’s Day really even something to get worked up about? It’s just one day, so why not make the best of it. Plus, 50 Shade of Grey comes out, and who isn’t excited to see that?
By Staff Writer Josie
SPELTZ
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
On Your Marks Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
SPORTS
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Track teams preparing for season CFHS men’s and women’s track and field teams are gearing up for an exciting season with practices officially set to start on Monday, Feb. 16. This year’s track athletes are motivated and eager to compete in all events this season. Many of the athletes who haven’t played a winter sport have been hard at work in the weight room before and after school for some preseason preparation. Sophomore Nathan Hoy, keen to compete in hurdling events at the varsity level this season, has been adamantly attending the off-season strength and conditioning workouts. “It’s taught us a lot about dedication already and has gotten us in the mindset for the season. We have to commit to getting up early even though it’s tough, and we’ve put in hard work that we know is going to pay off. I’ve definitely noticed myself improving in the workouts and getting stronger,” Hoy said. Junior Kate Moody has been among those frequenting the weight room at 6 a.m. and running the streets after school. Moody’s enthusiasm drives her to strive for success on the track this season. “The preseason workouts have definitely made me more athletic, and it’s really fun to see the results, like moving up in weight and getting faster and stronger. One of the best parts is being with the people who also do the workouts -
we’ve all gotten closer and we get to be competitive with each other. I’m ready for this season to put all of our hard work into action,” Moody said. The dedicated group of men and women that have been committed year-round to improving their athleticism will certainly be the ones to watch this season, working under the philosophy that hard work pays off. Already proving this philosophy are the aforementioned Moody and junior Larissa Haan. Both sprinters for the women’s team, Moody and Haan have recently broken the female records for back squat in the CFHS weight room, leaving a legacy born of their hard work. The girls are aspiring to translate their efforts onto the rubber oval with their teammates. “I’m excited about getting to know the girls on the team better. It’s really fun to get close to them and encourage them because you are with them everyday. I’m also very excited to see how far we get this year and what goals we accomplish, such as State and the Drake Relays. Those are the most intense times of the track season which makes it exciting,” Haan said. The ambitious family of distance-event runners on the men’s team has also been working relentlessly. This heard of energetic boys is a common sight on the streets of Cedar Falls, running miles upon miles year-round. Excited to begin
Ben Louviere Photo
Though the track is still framed in ice and snow, the track teams are ready to begin their seasons. his third year running distance events for the CFHS track team, junior Andrew Nurse has been hard at work with his comrades. “I really enjoy the team bonding experience, and every run is like a relaxing getaway from everything else. I love running, but I am nearly certain that I would abhor it if I didn’t have my teammates with me. Our workouts seem next to impossible on paper, but it’s insane how motivating it is to run with the distance team. We push each other farther than we could imagine, and this is how we continue to get
better each and every day, in each and every way. Amen,” Nurse said. Perhaps most excited about the start of the 2015 track season is avid men’s head coach, Dirk Homewood. Working tirelessly to encourage and motivate male and female athletes alike, Homewood looks to drive the team to success in his third season as head coach. “I think each year brings new challenges to overcome. I’m looking at the group of athletes returning from the 2014 season to succeed, and I’m excited to see the inspired athletes that have been working
hard. I’m excited to see them succeed this spring and reach their goals,” Homewood said. After coaching last year’s prolific 4x400 meter relay team to take home a 1st place state championship, Homewood has been pushing this year’s athletes to step up and be leaders. Anyone looking to significantly improve their athletic ability is highly encouraged to participate in the coming season and become a part of the exciting track and field family.
competition and enjoyment of bowling with friends.” In order to make it to the State competition, the team will have to win Districts. The other teams at districts include Waterloo West, Dubuque Wahlert and Dubuque Senior. Baker said that practice hasn’t changed too much in preparation for Districts. “We’ve tried to keep practice a bit looser, not too much of a change,” Baker said. “We’ve had a good year, and we just need to just relax and
do what we do.” Jerome said that the team will do well. “If we go out and shoot our best, we will win,” Jerome said. “We just need to hit our marks.” Jerome said he hopes to bowl a 500 series at District, to be competitive as a team, and to make a run at State.
By Staff Writer Ben
LOUVIERE
Bowlers rolling toward postseason
After a 1-10 season last year, the CFHS bowling team is currently 8-2 and, after one more regular season match this Friday, Feb. 13 against Cedar Rapids Kennedy, will be heading into Districts at Maple Lanes on Feb. 17. Junior Brandon Jerome credits the turnaround to new depth, development and commitment. “We added three freshmen to the varsity team, all of whom are really good,” Jerome said. “The other three varsity mem-
“We’ve had a good year, and we just need to just relax and do what we do.” —Brad Baker Bowling Coach
bers all increased their averages, and we have more people who are committed to the team.” Head coach Brad Baker credits the season’s success to
numbers. “A big reason that this season is better is because of the numbers. We have 30 kids this year, and that helped a lot,” Baker said. “It increases
By Online Editor Zuhayr
ALAM
8
The
SPORTS
Tiger
HI-LINE
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Athlete
MITCHELL, Continued from Page 1 up to play collegiate football last season alone, but none were of a higher profile than Ross Pierschbacher who was the only four-year All Metro selection in CFHS history, as well as the country’s top ranked offensive guard in the entire class of 2014, but Mitchell didn’t treat him any differently than the special teamers. “He taught me a lot more than just football,” said Pierschbacher, who now plays college football at powerhouse Alabama. “He treated me the same as any other player throughout the entire CF program, which I thought was pretty neat and is one of the many things that made him special.” Mitchell was a three-year starter and letterwinner at the University of Northern Iowa back when it was called the Iowa State Teachers College and then the State College of Iowa. There he played for coach Stan Sheriff, who the field in the UNI Dome is named after. After stops in California and Wisconsin, Mitchell returned to Cedar Falls where he originally taught typing classes before moving on to PE, coached the sophomore basketball team and was the defensive coordinator under Ed Lyons. When Lyons retired in 1967, Mitchell was inserted into the head coaching role at 27 years old. Jerry Ward, or coach Ward as most people around the community know him, was an All State running back on Mitchell’s first team in 1967, but back then he had no idea the legend that his coach would become. “To do what he did, 344 wins, 47 years, you can never see that coming,” he said. Ward thought so highly of coach M i t c h ell that he and his teamm a t e s CFHS offensive coordinator thought he would take over as the head coach at UNI and potentially coach at the NFL level after that. “I honestly, sincerely think he had opportunities but didn’t go,” Ward said. “This is what we thought would happen; he’d coach us for a few years, go to be the head coach at UNI then just keep going up.” Immediately, Mitchell had the respect of his players who hated to let him down. In his first season, Mitchell and his coaches left the field during practice, upset by his team’s performance. As a captain, Ward kept his team out there to practice without the coaches because he was so disturbed by disappointing his coach. Despite losing games that season, Ward and the other 18 seniors on that team gave Mitchell a message. “As far as we’re concerned, we were undefeated because we got to be with you,” his first players told him.
“The guy had a great heart. He had a heart of gold, but it wasn’t like he was putting it on display for people to see.” —Ken Kohltoff
After playing semi-pro football, Ward came up to coach for three weeks with Mitchell and realized that maybe he would be interested in coaching. Ward has coached seventh grade football for 23 years, seventh and eighth grade track for 20 and is now getting back into coaching basketball but without coach Mitchell. Ward said he may have never become a coach. “The way I can pay guys like coach Mitchell back is to coach young people and hopefully be as good as they’ve been to me,” Ward said. Ward isn’t the only coach that has come out from under the Pat Mitchell coaching tree. Coaches from across the state of Iowa have learned under Mitchell before they went on to coach and inspire their own crops of student athletes. Cedar Rapids Jefferson coach Brian Webb is a CFHS alum and spent one year as a volunteer coach under Mitchell before going on to be a head coach at other schools and become the 2012 Class 2A District 2 Coach of the Year. “There was never a better guy in the profession who stood by what he believed in and was not going to compromise his values to simply win a game on the scoreboard,” Webb said. While some say winning is everything, that wasn’t the case for Mitchell. The impact he made off the field is what people turn to first when talking about his legacy. For Rodney Hinton, Mitchell was more than just a coach. He opened up his house for Hinton to stay at when his mom was in the hospital and put groceries in his fridge when there weren’t any. “Besides coach, I never had a person who cared about me in that type of way and made me feel special,” Hinton said. “He’s been a huge role model in my life.” When players moved up to Cedar Falls after Hurricane Katrina and they didn’t have equipment or winter coats, Mitchell took care of them and made sure they had everything they needed. When coach Ward’s father passed away, Mitchell was the first person to give him a call, and one time when a player’s parent committed suicide, coach Mitchell was the first person they called looking for help. There are countless stories of Mitchell’s character, but often times these stories wouldn’t be revealed until years after they happened. “The guy had a great heart. He had a heart of gold, but it wasn’t like he was putting it on display for people to see,” Kohltoff said. In 47 years, he made it to the state championship game five times, winning it once in 1986. Kohltoff said that Mitchell’s quick witted and dry sense of humor shined through when he jokingly said the reason for his four losses in the title game was because Kohltoff was around. In 1982 Kohltoff was a player on the team and was a coach in the team’s losses in ’99,’05 and ’08 but wasn’t associated with the team during their ’86 championship run. The impact coach Mitchell made on the field will always be in the record books, but more importantly in his eyes, the impact made on his players will last in their hearts forever. There will be a celebration mass for coach Mitchell on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. at Saint Patrick Catholic Church, 705 Main Street in Cedar Falls, followed by a luncheon. Afterwards, a celebration toast will be held at the Amvets at 20th and Irving Streets in Cedar Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. By Editor-in-Chief Austin
ANDERSON
of the
Week
Nick Gehling
Swimming
Sophomore Nick Gehling qualfied for State in the 100 m backstroke and will represent the Tigers on Saturday in Marshaltown. How do you feel like you improved from the beginning of the year until the end? I feel like mostly my starts improved and my turns improved, and it made me an overall faster racer to beat out some other people. How does it feel to represent Cedar Falls as the only Tiger headed to State? It feels great. I’m glad somebody made it in and that somebody will be there to make sure that our name is out there. Where do you think the program is headed in the next few years? I think it’s only headed up. We’re going to get a lot of new freshmen in that are gonna help us out, and I definitely know there is going to be more than one person at State next year. Who do you credit with helping you get to State? Just the whole team in general helping me out in practice, racing me, encouraging me and a lot goes to coach Brown for helping me out with the mental part of swimming.
Tigers in
Action
Men’s Basketball Next up: Feb. 13 Waterloo West Away at 6 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Next up: Feb. 13 Waterloo West Home at 6 p.m.
Wrestling
Next up: Feb. 14 Districts TBA
Men’s Swimming
Next up: Feb. 14 State Marshaltown @ 12:30
Bowling
Next up: Feb. 12 CR Kennedy Away 3:45 p.m.