The
JV team undefeated
Tiger HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014
Basketball team experiences turn around season/page 4 Follow us on Twitter at tigerhiline, Facebook at TigerHilineOnline and on our website at www.hiline.cfschools.org
Volume 53 Edition 16
New AP music class to enter next year’s school curriculum
Class provides head start for music majors There are several AP classes that have existed over the years in all kinds of subjects. However, there has never before been an AP class offered in music, until now. Next year, Cedar Falls High School will be offering an AP music theory class for any students who believe they will be participating in music in college. The class is specifically intended for those who are planning to major in music in college. Because very few students are exposed to theory before college, many music majors struggle when they take their required theory classes in col-
lege, due to their lack of prior theory training. CFHS band teacher Gerald Ramsey said, “In the past we have had several students take music theory as an independent study, but with this new class, we will be able to give them a more thorough music theory experience.” Many of the music teachers at the high school have wanted to offer a music theory class at the high school. However, prior to this year there has only been one music teacher at the high school all day every day, so they were not able to offer the class. This year, Ramsey is also full-
Speech team competes at state Last Saturday, Feb. 8, thousands of people gathered at Waterloo West High School to watch the state speech competition. There were 103 different teams there competing to have the chance to compete at All-State on Feb. 22. “Speech competitions are CRAZY,” head coach Alissa Unertl said. Cedar Falls High School had 21 groups competing at the the district competition. In order for a group to get to State, it must get a Division I rating at Districts. Sixteen groups got a Division I rating at Districts and got the chance to perform at State, where they would try to qualify for All-State. At State, 10 groups got a Division I rating. At speech competitions, even if students get a Division I rating, which is the best one can get, students are not guaranteed to go to All-State. None of the teams from Cedar Falls qualified to participate in the All-State competition at Iowa State University. To prepare for these com-
petitions, the speech team members practice after school. They also practice some mornings and some afternoons, or whatever works best for the people that want to do it, so many people can be involved. “I would compare it to a mullet,” Unertl said when talking about a typical speech practice. “Business in the front, party in the back.” The speech team is coached by art teacher Alissa Unertl. This year is Unertl’s first year as the head coach for Cedar Falls. “I love seeing the growth in students from the first practice to when they perform at contest. Sometimes students don’t realize how much better they have become, but since I watch them from day one, I’m witness to it. The confidence they gain and the smiles on their faces when they are done with a performance make it worth it,” Unertl said. By Staff Writer Abby
YOUNG
time at the high school, so he and choir teacher Eliott Kranz will share music theory teaching duties, which allows them to continue to teach music lessons to students. The year long course will cover material typically learned in first-year college music theory courses, covering topics such as scale identification and inversions of chords. Like any AP class, the credit received from the course may or may not be accepted by students’ selected college. However, Ramsey said, “Our main goal is to have students well-prepared for the next
stage of their education.” Ramsey said he is excited about a theory class being added to the high school curriculum. He especially likes that with current staffing, none of the music classes will have to eliminate a class period from their lesson rotation in order to make the theory class possible. “This will give us time in the school day to teach music theory more thoroughly to students who will need this in preparation for their college education,” Ramsey said. By Editor-in-Chief Mallory
AP Classes Offered at Cedar Falls High School:
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AP Biology
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AP Calculus
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AP Chemistry
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AP Composition & Rhetoric II
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AP Great Books II
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AP History
• AP Psychology
VALLENTINE
Doing it for the kids:
High school to hold dance marathon
Henry Zimmerman was diagnosed with Hydronephrosis, which creates problems in the kidneys.
Walker Gardner was diagnosed with Ectopia Lentis, which is a displacement of the eye’s crystalline lens, and Adams LT4.
Jude Corkery was diagnosed with Epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder characterized by seizures. He also has trouble with his eyes and focusing.
Maddox was born 17 weeks early weighing 1Ib and 4 oz. He spent months in Iowa City.
Bryant was born 11 weeks early weighing only 2Ibs and 3ozs. He and many weeks in Iowa City.
The Dance Marathon will be held this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dancers must have their student IDs with them to enter, and it costs $7 at the door to get in. In addition to dancing, there will also be dodge ball, tie-dying shirts and casino games. The Dance Marathon raises money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.
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FEATURE
Tiger
HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014
Vamping Up Valentines History
Valentine’s gets a bad rap for being a pointless holiday for lovey-dovey couples and a source of clearance sale chocolate for everyone else. But Valentine’s Day can be fun for anyone and everyone. Here are fun facts you probably didn’t know, plus some gift and date ideas that beat chocolate and flowers any day. You don’t have to be in a relationship to enjoy these. Yo can make these with or for your friends, your family or even yourself. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day developed from the legend of Saint Valentine. There are several St. Valentines, so it is difficult to determine who did what. Some legends say he was a priest who secretly married young couples so the men did not have to go to war. Another legend says that he was thrown in jail, and wrote a love letter to his beloved, signed “From your Valentine.” Some say that the Roman Catholic Church put the feast of St. Valentine on Feb. 14 to replace the pagan festival Lupercalia, which was dedicated to fertility.
Date Ideas
No money to spend on dinner reservations or chocolate hearts? Have no fear; there are an abundance of cheap, easy date ideas that cost very little money.
Fun Facts
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day started to be celebrated in the 17th century. Americans started exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s. Esther A. Howland, known as the Mother of Valentines, began selling the first mass-produced valentines in the 1840s. An estimated 1 billion cards are sent for Valentine’s Day each year. Women purchase approximately 85% of all valentines.
Gift Ideas
Tired of sending the same old commercial valentines? Never fear, Pinterest is here. Here are a few ideas inspired by Pinterest, but there are tons more you can find. And don’t roll your eyes: Pinterest does not have to be just for 20-something college girls. Take an idea and make it your own. Even though today is Valentine’s Day, it’s never too late to send a Valentine’s gift. And you can keep ideas until next year, or adapt an idea for a birthday or Christmas. Gifts in jars seem to be taking over. Put a special treat in a jar and attach a note to your special someone. You can send a favorite candy, dessert or dessert mix. For the more health-minded Valentine, you can send trail mix, granola, soup mix, tea, a yogurt parfait or even salad. Matching mugs: Decorate ceramic mugs with Sharpies. You be reminded of your special someone every day as you drink your morning cup of coffee. Handmade Crafts: Reveal your artistic side with a handmade card. Draw a picture, or write a poem. There are no bounds to creative possibilities. Go wild!
Make a homemade dinner: Instead of going out, make your favorite meal together. Or, surprise your special someone with dinner already prepared. If they’re tired or stressed, they will appreciate not having to lift a finger. Valentine’s Day seems to be all about sweets and treats. Make your favorite sweet treat together, or try one of these recipes: Candlelight dinners are all well and good, but you could even plan your date according to a theme. It all depends on what your special someone likes. For Downton Abbey or Alice in Wonderland lovers, throw a tea party. For Whovians, fish fingers and custard would be perfect. Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be about food. Spending time together is all that matters. Build a blanket fort and watch your favorite movie (and it does NOT have to be a rom-com!). Play board games, a round of cards or recreate your favorite puzzle. Reveal your inner artist and make homemade Valentines for each other. If this crazy Iowa weather allows, you could go sledding, build a snowman (for all you Frozen lovers out there) or even take a beautiful wintry walk.
Ellen Wallingford Photos By Editor-in-Chief Ellen
Wallingford
The
Tiger
HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014
OPINION
“Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opend with its ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, injustice must be exposed ...”
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—Martin Luther King, Jr. “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
MLK letter inspires lit students to stand up for change Iowa’s current baseball seasons create unequal playing field for prospects
Dark secret hiding below the waters for orca whales trapped at Seaworld
Dear Editors: I am writing as a member of Mr. Winkel’s 5th period class, American Literature 1940s to Today. An issue that I believe needs to be looked into is the high school baseball season. Currently, the Iowa High School Athletic Association has its teams play during the summer, while every other state plays its baseball during the spring and sometimes very early summer. I have just read Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” and it has made me take action on this topic. Beginning in ninth grade, baseball players are starting their high school careers. These young kids are now committing to the sport they love while all their friends are having fun with no school. These athletes deserve some recognition and a little bit of help. By having their seasons during the summer, they are not only missing out on a wonderful summer with their friends, but scholarship opportunities. Most players play varsity during their junior and senior summers. If the players want to play baseball in college, they have to outperform every other athlete in the country in their junior years. By the time their senior seasons come around, colleges have already made their recruiting trips and chosen the athletes they want to have on their rosters. Players from Iowa are hardly recruited unless they perform before their senior seasons. This appeals to the masses because according to the High School Baseball Web survey in 2012, there are 38,000 baseball players in the state of Iowa. Currently, just 1.8 percent continue their careers into college, but this number could increase if the season was moved to earlier in the year so scouts could see the potential in these athletes. Dr. King
Dear Editors: MLK wrote “The Letter from a Birmingham Jail” in order to inform and persuade readers to open their minds to his side of an issue he felt strongly about. In his letter he said, “Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.” By this he means, we are all a part of the same unit, and if we come together we could put a stop to any injustices taking place. As a part of Mr. Winkel’s 5th hour, we’ve all been asked to write a letter to the editor in regards to a topic we have formulated a strong opinion on. my idea began at a nice family trip to Seaworld that would seem like an ideal vacation to many. The exciting shows and attractions along with the opportunity to not only learn about but also see face-to-face, various aquatic creatures that I’d only read about in my elementary school science books, well, why wouldn’t I want to go? I was so overwhelmingly excited about getting to spend my day in such a wonderful place that the underlying issue with Seaworld didn’t even cross my mind until an increasingly popular documentary called Blackfish finally made its way to Netflix. Within 90 minutes the film goes into graphic detail of the horrible things that go on after hours at such a respected place and how harmful and unethical it truly is to force a 6-ton creature to spend its life in an unnatural enclosure that’s size is comparable to a human living in a bathtub. Because of this, extensive amounts of regular people have been able to see first hand the dangerous effects of captivity, not only on whales, but on any wild, “non domesticated” creature.
once said, “oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” By having these athletes overlooked by colleges, we are creating doubts in these Iowa baseball prospects’ minds that they are not good enough, and isn’t that the exact opposite of what high school sports are about? Now is the time to step up and do something about this problem. First we need to spread news on this issue across the state. Dr. King once said, “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than the absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.” This shows how athletes tolerate this ruling because not a lot of people realize it. If half of these athletes realized the opportunities they were missing, they would step up to the plate and take a swing. This could all be solved by moving the seasons starting date sooner in the year. If the season started around early April instead of late May, we would give coaches another month to look at prospective players and get these athletes in the same grouping as the rest of the country. King said that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It is unjust to give an athlete less opportunities than others, and these athletes will eventually rise up and do something about it. This is the right thing to do because every athlete should be given equal opportunity as the next one. Just because we continue to do things the way they always have been does not erase that we are cheating athletes of their opportunities. Many kids’ dream to play in the Major Leagues, and who wants to crush their dreams? Not me. Sincerely, Luke Mozena CFHS Student
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 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.
Editors-in-Chief: Austin Anderson, Martha Hall, Mallory Vallentine and Ellen Wallingford Staff: Zuhayr Alam, Kaleb Bengston, Kaitlyn Brocka, Mackenzie Dallenbach and Abby Young
Anything that involves animal shows (aquatic centers, circuses, some zoos) has become quite family friendly and is so positively connotated by people worldwide, but the fact is that inhumane captivity of any intelligent, self aware creature is nothing but cruel. Action needs to be taken now, before it’s too late. In his letter King discussed the idea of “negative peace” by saying, “Actually time itself is neutral, it can be used either destructively or constructively.” The only place to start the long process of terminating unethical captivity of non-domesticated animals is to inform the public of the truth. Animals forced to spend the remainder of their valued lives in these places undoubtedly suffer from major stress. Almost always, regardless of species, animals in captivity live a significantly shorter life than those in the wild. Endangerment rates are actually increased in animals kept in captivity. Also, more often than not, the living conditions and treatment of the inhabitants are the farthest thing from humane, especially after all the paying customers have left. That’s all the animals are there for, a profit. King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This can easily be applied to the situation at Seaworld, for if a such an unethical issue like this is accepted and tolerated, the whole foundation is set to continue down the wrong path. If children are leaving these places with any new knowledge, it’s that the use of imprisonment for entertainment is acceptable. I think we can all agree, it isn’t. Respectfully, Halle Knox CFHS student
Our View
Gay prospect’s NFL potential far from a ‘distraction’ 2014 NFL draft hopeful Michael Sam is a 6-foot-2, 260-pound, 2013 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, African American football player who happens to be gay. Sam, a first team All-American, is a projected mid-round pick in this May’s NFL draft, yet some anonymous NFL personnel think the league is “not ready” for an openly gay player and he will be viewed as a “distraction.” Another anonymous general manager
predicted that Sam will not be drafted. He shared his sexual orientation to his teammates at the University of Missouri prior to their season. This “distraction” led to Missouri finishing No. 5 in the country and Sam being selected as the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year as well as a first team All-American. Clearly the team managed to do just fine. It’s time to move past the ridicule and dark shadow of
gay athletes in professional sports. Regardless of your viewpoint on the hotly debated issue, if Sam comes in to a football team and helps them win, nothing else should matter. Just like Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier, Sam’s courageous and heroic act to break the barrier of openly gay athletes in professional sports inspires kids everywhere to be themselves.
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Cedar Valley Sportsplex opens The Cedar Valley Sportsplex opened on January 17, and it offers many features such as swimming pools, a track, basketball courts, a water park, a gym and some indoor soccer fields. The Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association, CVYSA for short, has already begun to use the soccer fields and looks forward to a long future with the Sportsplex as its winter home. Junior Hiram Marquez has been to the Sportsplex, and said he is impressed. “I think that the Sportsplex will be an excellent winter home for the CV Select team, and it will help them stay familiar with outdoor conditions,” Marquez said. Many levels of club and recreational teams have already played at the
Cedar Falls High School and relish the fact that they can play on grass in the Sportsplex even From the Cedar Valley Sportsplex website when snow is still on the ground outside. Sophomore Aaron Iehl plays for both CV Select and the men’s soccer team. “The turf inside provides almost identical conditions as the outside. There is only so much that you can do on hardwood,” Iehl said. “The addition of the Sportsplex can The recently opened Cedar Valley Sportsplex is a brand new, state help the CFHS socof the art facility that can be used for a variety of sports. They are cer team to become one of the best in the Sportsplex, and they all said ers involved with CV Select, state.” the CVYSA’s club team, are that they loved it. By Staff Writer Zuhayr Quite a few of the play- also involved with soccer for
Alam
JV men’s basketball finishes undefeated This year’s CFHS men’s basketball junior varsity team underwent about as much change as a high school JV team can undergo. The 20122013 Tigers didn’t manage to win a JV contest while the varsity team took a deep and talented team on a run far into the state tournament. The winless group graduated nearly every contributor, and newly promoted varsity assistant Chris Dyvig took over on the sidelines. The new regime of the 2013-2014 Tigers didn’t have high expectations as just one win would improve last year’s mark. Their six-game schedule includes Waterloo East, Valley Lutheran and a pair of games against Waterloo West and Waverly each. The tight knit JV squad constantly built their chemistry throughout its season. The guys often went out for breakfast on weekends, played video games together and went to the gym outside of practice for fun. “We all looked at it as an opportunity to impress the coaches, and we looked at it to have fun. We got to do something we love,” leading scorer junior Ben Fienup said. The JV team breezed through its first four games by defeating West twice, Waverly and Valley Lutheran. Their fifth game presented the big-
Durrell Jackson Photo
The JV team breaks down one of their final hudles of the year in the team’s final game, a home win against Waterloo East. After finishing the season 2012-2013 without a win, the 2013-2014 Cedar Falls Tiger men’s junior varsity basketball team finished the season an undefeated 6-0. gest challenge for the Tigers as they were faced against an improved, hot-shooting Waverly team led by 6-foot-9 inch Davone Beckert. Shooting an extremely high percentage from the field, the Go-Hawks led the Tigers by 18 to start the fourth quarter. That’s when junior Ben Fienup took over. “We just knew that we could win the game and looked inside instead of taking quick shots from the outside. We played hard and played good defense.” Coming into the fourth quarter, Fienup had seven
HI-LINE
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014
points, and 16 points later he led his team back into the game, hitting his final shot with 30 seconds remaining in the game. Up by one, the Go-Hawks had one final shot. The ball was in Waverly junior Bo Greenlee’s hands. The GoHawks final shot went up as the clock was set to expire but was blocked by who else other than the star of the night, Fienup. With their record improved to 5-0, one obstacle remained in their undefeated path, Waterloo East, but 6-foot-4 inch junior big man Sam Pierce led his team to the win, finishing
with 16 points. Fienup also stuffed the stat sheet as he finished a mere two assists shy of a triple double. Going from not winning a game to not losing one completely flipped the script from last year. A 6-0 JV team can take a much needed winning attitude to practice every day. The 6-12 varsity club has three regular season games remaining but might be able to learn a thing or two from their very own, free-flowing and fun-filled junior varsity basketball team. By Editor in-chief Austin
Anderson
Athlete of the
Week
Ben Fienup JV Basketball
Junior Ben Fienup helped turn the JV Tigers from a winless team to an undefeated 6-0. How did you make such a quick turn around from last year to this year? Last year we graduated everyone of the JV players that played. We came into the year of a goal of going undefeated, and we once we got rolling. We just kept on rolling. How did the JV team impact you this year? When we weren’t getting many varsity minutes we could all just look forward to having fun on JV and winning games. How do you and your JV teammates help bring a winning attitude over to the varsity team? In practice we go as hard as we can to try to make the varsity team better. We try to show them how to have a litttle more fun because sometimes they get a little uptight. How will you go from a JV junior to a varsity senior? With a lot of hard work in the off-season and a lot of time in the gym.
Tigers in
Action
Men’s Basketball
Feb. 14 @ Waterloo East
Women’s Basketball
Feb. 14 Waterloo East Home
Wrestling
Feb 15. Districts
Men’s Swimming Feb. 15 State meet @ Marshaltown
Bowling
Feb. 14 vs Waterloo West @ Maple Lanes