e g h iin Ti er l THE
May 18, 2010
Volume 50 Issue 28
1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Dalai Lama pays visit to UNI Sara Gabriele Staff Writer
One of the world’s most prominent figures will be making an appearance in Cedar Falls on Tuesday, May 18. The Dalai Lama, His 14th Holiness, is a Nobel Prize winner and world renown leader of Tibet and Buddhist teachings. He will be visiting UNI to give a speech about education that will focus on the importance of education in a global society, the role of education in developing socially responsible citizens, and the impact an individual can have on the world. Although the event is sold out, several CFHS students and teachers managed to procure tickets earlier and are excitedly anticipating the event. Senior Ben Sadkowski, who has studied medita-
tion and Buddhism on his own time, said is looking forward to hearing the talk. “He gives a strong message of interracial cooperation, and he himself has done and gone through a lot,” Sadkowski said. “He’s not just some glorified icon; he actually has some meaning to his life.” Junior Melina Gotera said that although she knows little about the Dalai Lama, she is excited just to hear what he has to say. “It’ll just be neat to hear from a man with such a different perspective as his. He’s someone that obviously thinks about things in a different way, and it will be great to hear him talk about that,” Gotera said. Another lucky person to get tickets for the event was Harmony director Susan Langan, who got 15 tickets for selected Harmony
Kickin’ It Run supports Cambodian grade school Ali Miller Staff Writer
The fourth annual Kickin’ It For Cambodia 5K run/walk will take place this Saturday, May 22. The fundraiser supports an elementary school that Amnesty International, an old CFHS club, started to build in 2007. The school was finished in 2009, and the fundraiser is now run to
members. “I just feel like what a powerful experience to hear him talk about how he’s lived his his life and how he’s peacefully delt with conflict, which kind of fits in with what we try to do with Harmony,” Langan said. Harmony member Colin Ashwood said he’s excited for the opportunity to attend the talk. “I think hearing him speak is going to be a great opportunity,”Ashwood said. “To hear from one of the most prominent world figures who has a profound impact on the world today will be enough in itself, but it will also be really interesting just to learn more about his personal philosophies.” The event will be held Tuesday, May 18 from 2-3:30 at the McLeod Center.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is making a historic visit to the University of Northern Iowa.
Race raises funds for Asian school
make money for maintenance of the school among other things. Student Senate sponsors the 5K, and they will decide what the money will be used for after the race after they know their profit margin from the event. Student Senate adviser and counselor Ryan Flaherty said, “There is a way for us to stipulate what types of improvements and maintenance we would like to use our money for in Cambodia. That will be a discussion topic in Student Senate to conclude the year.”
Many staff, students and community members cooperated to raise $15,000 to build the school. The 5K has been a tradition ever since for maintenance and those sorts of things. There are usually between 60 and 80 runners, and Student Senate would like to raise between $500 and $1,000. The run/walk will take place this Saturday, May 22 at George Wyth State Park in Cedar Falls. The start of the race is at 9 a.m., and check-in/registration begins at 8.
Kaylee Micu Photo
Give to Live
Junior Robert Dusenbury participated in last Friday’s CFHS blood drive that brought in 141 students, 77 of whom were first-time donors. Due to weight or health concerns, 109 of these donations actually went through.
2 opinion our view
End of semester tests not needed
Semester tests seem to be a subject that many people have different ideas about. It is said that semester tests in high school are to prep students for college because of the exams you will be given at that level. People also say that semester tests should not be necessary, because some teachers are giving a semester project and that a 90-minute period we are given for each class the last two days of school are not needed. If we did not have the last two days set up that way, we could end the school year with just a regular chapter test, a project or whatever the teacher chooses is necessary. Here at the Tiger Hi-Line we believe that by not taking semester tests, it would eliminate a lot of a student stress for theses large exams. By teachers giving an end of the year project or finishing out the year by taking a regular chapter test, it would make the end of each semester much easier, not just for students but for teachers as well. Even though there is a side saying that by taking these tests it will ready students for college, why couldn’t we simply take a little longer chapter tests throughout the entire year to prep students for college? Many of us are taking classes during high school because it’s a requirement. In college, it will be for our career and hopefully something we want to do in life. College is supposed to be a new experience, and if students are taught better studying habits throughout their high school years, they will be plenty ready to handle these large exams throughout the rest of their schooling after high school.
Contact the Tiger Hi-Line
The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Our website is www.hiline.co.nr. The Hi-Line is distributed to CFHS students on Tuesdays to read in their DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) classes. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Hi-Line or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View. 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 the following Tuesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.
Editorial Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Vincent Stigliani News Editors: Vincent Stigliani and Ben Sadkowski Opinion Editor: Monica Clark Sports Editor: Alex Entz Feature Editor: Aubrey Caruso On-Line Editors: Vincent Stigliani Senior Writer: Alex Entz Photo Editor: Ben Sadkowski
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tiger hi-line May 18, 2010
Miley Cyrus Can’t Be Tamed
While Miley Cyrus may claim she can no longer be tamed, her attempt to break out of her role as a Disney poster girl is just lame. Released on Myspace on April 30 and available to digitally Photo courtesy of mileycyrus.com download as Miley Cyrus’s new video, Can’t Be Tamed, has people buzzing of today, about where her career is going. While she has continually stated Cyrus's that she wants to get away from the Disney venue, the lack of latest muclothing and racey material might not be the way to go. sic video, Can't Be Tamed Vanity Fair the U.S.A. has caused two years Personally, I feel this quite a stir ago and video just looks like a comamong viewers, provocative bination of a Lady Gaga and whether they dancing at the Rihanna music video, with are fans or not. Teen Choice choreography that could While her dieAwards last have been done by a fourhard supporters August, critiyear-old. Her voice meets maintain that cal parents its usual awful standard, she simply could have singing repetitive lyrics that wants to break seen a video becomes obnoxious within out of her Ellen Gustavson like this com- minutes. Not to mention goody-goody ing. the fact that her outfit takes Staff Writer Hannah MonHowever, if the metaphor of "spreading tana image and express her Cyrus keeps going in this one's wings" or "leaving the individuality, those who are direction, she could find nest" way, way too literally. not fans bluntly point out: herself following in the It seems Cyrus only Cyrus looks like a slut. footsteps of Britney Spears. wants to get a reaction. Any Many parents of HanThough few may remember, kind of attention is good nah Montana-loving girls Spears was once a Disney attention for her, and this are outraged about both Channel icon too, being fea- video will definitely receive Cyrus's lyrics and attire (or tured on the show The New it. While wanting to "break lack thereof) in this video, Mickey Mouse Club back out" is fine, Cyrus needs to and rightfully so. However, in 1994. In fact, she was realize that acting mature Cyrus has made it obvious the same age as Cyrus now doesn't require dirty dancthat she no longer wishes to when she released her debut ing. She is trying too hard target the Disney age group. single, Baby One More to change her image, and it This is not the first time Time. Cyrus also mentions just looks unoriginal to the Cyrus has displayed racey Spears as one of her biggest point of being laughable. behavior. With the release sources of inspiration and Next time, at least lose of controversial pictures in references her in Party in the feathers.
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SPORTS 3
Upstart trapshooting team shoots well at State as season finishes up Jayne Durnin Staff Writer
“I feel like we’re doing pretty good this year. Our teams are placing very well in the meets,” senior shooter Jonathan Smith said. Head coach David Grund agreed. “The first year shooters have shown some great improvement
The CFHS trapshooting team is halfway through an excellent season, but aim to end it even better. According to their website, trap is the old“The first year shooters have shown est of all clay target some great improvement progress sports. A throughout the year, and the veteran full squad shooters have been competing well consists of one shooter also.” on each tar—David Grund get thrower Trapshooting coach station with five shooters total. progress throughout the year, and Shooters will only shoot single clay the veteran shooters have been combirds starting with the shooter on peting well also,” Grund said. post one then moving on to posts At the state meet on May 1, two, three, four and five. Once each 70 teams competed. Out of those shooter has shot five targets at the teams, the Cedar Falls Red Squad station, he or she rotates to the next placed 6th, the white squad 19th, the station. A complete round of trap black squad 25th, the orange squad consists of 25 targets, five at each 40th and the blue squad took 42nd station. to round out the results.
There are many trapshooters out this year with a total of 53. “(When) keeping up with that many shooters, getting everyone on the same page and understanding what it will take to be competitive (is a priority),” Grund said. Some tough competition for the team are Mason City, New Hampton, North Wood and Waterloo West. “Our team goals are to do well at state competition and compete at a level to be considered one of the prominent trap clubs in the state,” Grund, who has been head coach for seven years, said. The team seems well on its way to achieving those goals, as they did very well at their last meet. “We just had a dual against Waterloo West last week. We placed first and third with squads and top two as individual shooters,” Grund said. The next meet is a tri-meet with Waterloo West and Mason City at the Cedar Falls Gun Club at 4 p.m.
Victory over #4 Linn-Mar exhibits team depth, potential Sara Gabriele Staff Writer
The women’s soccer team took a surprising win last Tuesday, May 11, beating an undefeated Linn Mar 1-0. Linn Mar, who was 4th in the state, was expected to be very tough to get by, but the Tigers came out on top with a strong team effort. “We knew that they would be really strong and hard hitting. I think our girls played tough and with a lot of heart to withstand their momentum,” head coach Beth Huber said. The one goal of the night was scored by sophomore Allie Gearhart, who was moved up from junior varsity in the middle of April. “It was exciting to get the win against Linn Mar,” Gearhart said. “It was a tough game, but we played well and our defense worked really
hard.” Gearhart, who only played for about 10 minutes during the match and rotates around in every spot except for goalie, serves as an allpurpose player on the team, but Huber said that Geathart’s utility role is not unique to the team this year. “That’s the way the team is this year. We have a lot of all purpose players — everyone’s working together and plays their role and their best when they’re out there,” Huber said. Huber continued to say that she feels this exceptional teamwork is the team’s greatest strength this far into the season. “Regardless of what we’re trying to do, we have a lot of heart and want to work for each other. In some ways, we don’t have any true stars, which kinds of makes it better
because everyone’s working for each other,” Huber said. Although the team has an 11-3 record so far, the rest of their season is comprised of tough competition. The next five teams they will face are all ranked higher than Cedar Falls, but none are ranked higher than Linn Mar. Senior Amelia McMurrin said she feels excited about the team’s success so far and optimistic about the remainder of the season. “We know we can beat pretty much any team when we stay focused and we just have to go out with confidence and play our game,” McMurrin said. “I feel excited to be a part of this team.” The team has five games left in their regular season, which will end with their game against Iowa City West on May 25.
Athlete Week of the
Louis Redfern Men’s Tennis Junior
1. How have you done in tennis so far this year? My singles record is 7-5, and my doubles record is 10-2. I’ve been doing pretty well, but I’m a little streaky at times. 2. What’s your favorite part about tennis? My favorite part about tennis is focusing on something that isn’t academic for once. Our coach is awesome, and hanging out with him and some of the guys at practice and meets is great. 3. How did you practice and prepare for this year’s season? I rested up this winter but started working out with Colin Ashwood a couple months before the season started. 4. What are your favorite things to do outside of tennis? I like to play my saxophone and hang out with family and friends.
Tigers in Action
Women’s Track Away 5/20-5/22 @ Coed State Track Meet @ Des Moines, 9 a.m. Men’s Track Away 5/20-5/22 @ Coed State Track Meet @ Des Moines, 9 a.m. Women’s Soccer Away 5/20 @ Cedar Rapids Xavier, 4:15 p.m. Men’s Soccer Home 5/20 vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier, 5 p.m. Women’s Golf Home 5/24 @ Regional Meet @ Pheasant Ridge Trapshooting Home 5/18 vs. Mason City and Iowa City West, 4 p.m.
4 feature Monica Clark Opinion Editor
Some Cedar Falls residents have made service into a 24/7 dedication by joining a global initiative to make the world a better place through the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps program started way back in 1960 when Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students of University of Michigan to go out and serve their country by working in undeveloped countries around the world. This idea turned into an agency of the federal government solely for the purpose of worldwide peace and friendship. Since then, 200,000 volunteers have served in 139 countries. Today, the Peace Corps is dedicated to things such as AIDS education, the teaching of environmental preservation and business development. People put away months or years of their time submerged in the lives of people living completely different lives than our own. CFHS choir teacher Kendra Wohlert had one such experience when she was stationed in the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, Africa. “I specifically asked for the most remote site, and I got it. My village was called Ramahaela. I lived in a small round dung hut. I was lucky and had a ‘tap’ in the middle of my village to get my daily water, and my toilet was a bucket kept under my bed,” Wohlert said.
Such conditions are not unusual when living in poor and underdeveloped countries. When people join the Peace Corps, they understand that they will be living in the same conditions as the local people. That includes hygiene and eating habits — no beautiful claw-footed bathtubs or fancy cuisine in sight, just the minimum. Every person in the Peace Corps is trained once they arrive at their location. After Wohlert arrived in Lesotho, she completed eight weeks of job, language and culture training with 16 other people before heading off to their individual villages in the country. “My official job was ‘Teacher Trainer,’ and I created teacher workshops for teachers to create lessons and teach them in front of other teachers to learn from each other,” Wohlert said. Every day she walked to one of four different schools, walking through the Maluti Mountains for sometimes three hours each day. “Each volunteer must also have a secondary project. I had four. I helped to build a two-room school house in one village, created sewing classes in my village and created a youth girls choir which traveled and performed to raise money for a chicken project for my village’s school,” she said. While all these projects have hopeful outcomes, there is, however, a more serious matter that looms above all others in Af-
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rica: AIDS. According to countless other members Eric Giddens who was also Wohlert, the biggest probthat have amazing stories stationed in Lesotho. lem she found concerning such as Wohlert’s husband, “I lived in Lesotho from AIDS is that there are many misconceptions about it. Some believe having sex with a virgin will cure AIDS and that the disease is a “white man’s disease” brought to Africa to teach Photo submitted the locals not Choir teacher Kendra Wohlert teaches children during one of to have sex. her Peace Corps projects. Among others, she helped to build a Wohlert school in her village, Ramahaela in Lesotho, Africa. said that in Lesotho and much of the rest of Africa, one in every three tested has the disease, but it is even harder to convince people to get tested. Many would be shunned and ostracized from their community if they are tested. “It is a Photo submitted very sad and frustrating Choir teacher Kendra Wohlert’s experience was a huge contrast situation,” to Amercan life. She had to walk sometimes three hours a day Wohlert said. through mountains to get to her destination. There are
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May 18, 2010
Peace Corps from page 4 May of 1997 to September of 1999. I managed a rural water supply project in a very remote part of the mountains of Lesotho. Prior to the project that I worked with, people got their water from open springs or streams. There were virtually no sanitation systems (toilets) in this area either, so water sources were often contaminated with human waste. The project with which I worked was funded by the Irish government and was administrated through the public health program of a hospital that served the area in an effort to reduce water borne illnesses that were commonly treated by the hospital. We built water systems that provided villages with clean, protected water, which not only reduced water borne illnesses but also reduced the distance that women had to travel to get their water,” Giddens said. As dedicated and hardworking as these volunteers are, some of them get to enjoy the culture and scenery of the country like Giddens did. “I had the opportunity to travel quite a bit around southern Africa. I saw most of South Africa, traveled through Swaziland and up the coast of Mozambique and spent some time in Zimbabwe, including a rafting adventure down the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls,” Giddens said. Another Peace Corps member and friend of Wohlert who now lives in Oregon, Anais Alexander, was also stationed in Lesotho. While many members
want to join because they would be helping people around the world, others, like Alexander, wanted to learn from the native people. “I realized that the Peace Corps was the best option because they’d pay my way there. Most people go because they want to help others. I really wanted to learn from them,” Alexander said. She also went through a training period before heading off, living with the locals and learning from them. “The beginning of my stay was training based. I lived at a training center with 17 Peace Corps volunteers. We went to classes for most of the day. The (core) of the classes were language and vocational. I was an education volunteer, so the classes introduced us to the education system, what we could expect in our working environments and an overview of protocol that needed to be followed in schools; we worked in teams to create various lesson plans. The other sections were cultural classes, preparing us for the adjustment to living there independently. Then there was Peace Corps-related general info about adjusting to life there, services available to us, medical info, what to do if, political info, travel info, HIV info, etc. Part way through the training, we left the training center, were separated into two villages and had a ‘Village Based Training.’ Each volunteer lived with a family for a ‘homestay.’ The classes remained the same, the primary difference is that we were separated, living with
families who didn’t speak English, eating foods they prepared for us, etc. It was a preview of what was to come when we were all assigned to different villages across the country, except we prepared our own foods and had our own small hut,” Alexander said. And how did these people get interested in the Peace Corps? “During my third year of college, I studied in Italy and fell in love with the world, other cultures, languages, traveling and the freedom, adventure and sense of unknown that it brought. I wanted to be in an international environment after that. And then two years later, nearing graduation and not having a clue what I wanted to do, I realized that more than anything I wanted to be in another world. I wanted to be in the most different world I could imagine. I wanted to learn from wise women. I wanted to be in the most remote part of Africa, deep in some village, learning about traditional ways from women. I never got that from my education or from my culture and felt that that without such an experience, one of learning from people who were so incredibly different, who had a knowledge beyond technology and books and information, people who were connected to the earth, people who were bound to a tribe, entwined in tribal traditions, I would not be complete,” Alexander said. Unfortunately, she never met those wise women she dreamed about because the United States declared it too dangerous for travelers. Nonetheless, her experience was life
changing, and she hopes to meet those women some day. Wohlert, on the other hand, was exposed to the Peace Corps at a very young age. “My first exposure was in sixth grade when a returning Peace Corps member came to our school and talked about
their experience. I don’t remember much about it except that I thought it sounded cool to travel to another country and live in a hut,” Wohlert said. After many years with that memory in the back of her head, she decided at the age of 29 to pursue
Peace Corps, page 7
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tiger hi-line
Digital: Ben Sadkowski News Editor
The Internet is one of the most sophisticated inventions of man — a constantly morphing, digital organism that seems to almost have a life of its own. It serves all facets of media, but a particularly unique facet of the Internet is its facilitation for promoting creative work and the spread of information. Bettina Fabos, a professor of modern culture and media at the University of Northern Iowa, said, “Every creative industry is now dependent on the Internet.” “One of the best things the Internet has brought for creative people and artists is a more efficient and successful way of advertising your art,” said CFHS graduate Robb Klassen, now a senior student at Brooks Institute of Photography. “Because of websites like Facebook, Myspace, Deviant Art, Wordpress and Tumblr, artists are able to put their art up and showcase themselves to a very large audience.” A unique facet of current artistic websites is their lack of complexity. “What’s beautiful about these sites is that they are extremely simple to use and put together, so artists who may not be all that savvy with technology are able to use these sources and use them successfully without having to pay someone to create a website for them or
spend hours trying to figure time able to show him more out how to create one themof my work online, which selves,” Klassen said. in the end got me the paying Often, the Internet serves job.” best as a marketing tool for However, despite its artists and not necessarily as popularity and ease of use, a tool to create art. the Internet does not hold all “I feel that my online the solutions to promoting portfolio hasn’t necessarily oneself as an artist. helped me creatively, but I “What a lot of people do know that it has helped me in a marketing standpoint. Being able —Bettina Fabos to give UNI modern cluture profssor people my website don’t think about is that who show an interest in my if you want to become work is an amazing thing to a successful artist, you do,” Klassen said. need to use all means of Klassen went on to publicity and not just the describe a specific instance Internet. This means holdin which he utilized the Ining art shows, trying to get ternet to promote his work. publicity in art magazines, “Just the other day I was socializing at events and talking with a client over the during all of this trying to phone and he was wantpresent yourself as a unique ing to show me the type of individual and not like the photography he was looking millions of other artists who for,” he said. “Before the are out there,” Klassen said. Internet was created, we Also, despite its promiwould have been able to nence, visual art shares the talk on the phone but then Internet with many other on top of that we would creative genres, particularly have had to set up a meetmusic. ing so he could bring all of “In terms of music, Rahis information and show diohead was one of the first me in person what it was groups to break from their specifically that he was label and distribute their looking for. Because of the album online. OK Go is the Internet, though, he was really significant band right able to explain and show me now, breaking from their everything that he was lookmajor label after getting ing for within the course of famous from their treadmill a half hour phone conversavideo that was released on tion, and I was at the same YouTube,” Fabos said.
“The idea is that we all build knowledge, which includes creative works, collectively.”
May 18, 2009
Internet opens creative doors Regardless of which genre of art an individual works with, the Internet also allows for combining creative efforts. “We are in an age where people are remixing each others’ works, building mashups and recognizing that single authorship is not as relevant as the postmodern concept of ‘we stand on the shoulders of giants.’ The idea is that we all build knowledge, which includes creative works, collectively,” Fabos said. The Internet has indeed
Robb Klassen Photo
helped promote creative growth. However, with the growth of the Internet and digital has come the decline other physical forms of media. “Books will never go away, but textbooks will, newspapers will and DVDs are toast. All media is converging onto the Internet platform, and as the Kindle, iPad, HP Slate tablet and the new thing Google is developing (a new smart phone) get more advanced, we’ll be
Digital, page 7
Robb Klassen uses the Internet as a digital portfolio to display and market his photography.
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tiger hi-line May 18, 2009 Digital, from page 6 using these devices for all media,” Fabos said. Klassen was of a similar opinion. “Unfortunately, over the course of time I think the Internet will dominate most forms of media. Hopefully, if anything does stick around it’ll be books and magazines, but even that is questionable. I have hope though,” he said. Despite its ease of use, some feel that the Internet is not as idiosyncratic as other, printed forms of media outlets. “Books and magazines in my opinion are a lot more personal than the Internet, and I feel that other people feel the same way about them,” Klassen said. “Holding a book or magazine, feeling it and looking through it feels so much better than touching a mouse
Peace Corps, from page 5 it more seriously. It takes about a year for a full background check, so on her 30th birthday, she mailed in her application. For some people, the Peace Corps offers a great way for recent college grad students to take a break before heading off into the world, just as Giddens did. “I studied civil engineering at Georgia Tech and wanted to do something a little more adventurous and meaningful following graduation than enter the corporate world. The Peace Corps seemed like the perfect way to use my new degree, experience a new part of the world and
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and scrolling down a page on a website. It also feels better writing a letter than it does typing it, but nobody does that anymore either, so I guess only time will tell. If books and magazines eventually become antiques, then I’ll open an antique store because I can’t stand the idea of there not being books for people to look through and get experiences and ideas from.” Regardless of the substantial amount of controversy surrounding the benefits of the Internet in dominating a plethora of media outlets, it has produced very valuable benefits both for creative people and their audiences. “Before we were passive as viewers. We couldn’t engage in the content, and now we’re active: we post
comments, we download and remix and then upload it back again,” she said. “And it’s opened up a whole new extension of knowledge. They hyperlink is our new punctuation.” Examples of remixing are plentiful, particularly in the realm of video. “There are countless ex-
amples of people remixing work. Videos on YouTube such as ‘Endless Love,’ ‘Bush’ and ‘Blair Play the Weakest Link,’ and my personal favorite, ‘Hitler Finds Out KU Lost to UNI,’ are all great examples,” Fabos said.
Because of the ease in creating an online portfolio for free, the Internet has attracted flocks of artists.
hopefully do something to help people that were less fortunate than I was. So, I applied, was offered a job in Lesotho and left six weeks after I graduated from college,” Giddens said. All three of them feel that joining the Peace Corps is a wonderful idea and experience even though sometimes it was hard to incorporate different methods in foreign places. “I think the Peace Corps really tried to get Americans to understand other parts of the world. It was hard being a volunteer, knowing that your job was to teach them how to do things as we do them, and it simply doesn’t work and it shouldn’t work. We end up assimilating ourselves to their way of living, and we get something done,
and other things don’t work the way we wanted them to. In the end, we all agreed that we were much enriched by the experience probably more than we were of help,” Wohlert said. Giddens also explains his feelings and thoughts about how the Peace Corps changed his life. “My worldview changed radically as a result of my experience in the Peace Corps. I learned so much about the world and my place in it, about the impact that my country and its policies have on the rest of the world and about how the choices that I make in how I live my own life can have an impact on the lives of people in far-flung corners of the world,” Giddens said. Many members after
volunteering in the Peace Corps visit classrooms to discuss their experiences while hoping to open the eyes of others to what is going on in the rest of the world. Wohlert especially would like to offer up her stories and experiences to others. After this year, Wohlert will be leaving the CFHS teaching staff, and even though students and teachers alike will miss her terribly, she plans on using her Peace Corps experience in the future. One experience has truly changed the way she looks at life.When she was in her village in Lesotho, her village had a huge water shortage. She had to ration two liters of water for five days — something that is
“Unfortunately, over the course of time I think the Internet will dominate all forms of media.” —Robb Klassen Photographer
Robb Klassen Photo
hard to imagine here in the United States. Wohlert had to chose between bathing, having water to cook with or using it as drinking water. She recalls it as a scary experience, but looking back, Wohlert realizes how it made her appreciate the small, but important, things in life. In the upcoming year, Wohlert and her family plan on living as simply as possible. “For this upcoming year, my husband and son and I are going to see how simply we can live. We have vegetable and herb gardens supplied with water by our 300 gallon rain barrel, and I will be freezing, canning and pickling all summer for next winter. We also do a lot of recycling, repurposing and reusing,” Wohlert said.
tiger hi-line feature 8 Tough goodbyes bring new THE
May 18, 2010
opportunities for retiring teachers Donald Halbmaier
Ali Miller
Staff writer
Staff writer
After teaching for 32 years, starting in 1978, Linda McCormack is finally ready to check papers for the final time. McCormack said that as she was walking out of school on the last day of 2009, she thought that she could keep teaching for several years because she enjoyed it immensely. But coming back on the first day this year, McCormack said it hit her that it was finally time to retire. "It was kind of a lightning bolt from the blue," she said. Her husband has been retired for several years, and she wants to spend her days with him. McCormack has definitely seen some changes over her years at CF, and they're not just appearance changes. "I think the biggest change is the role of parents; too many are doing too much for their children and not allowing them to be responsible for their own behavior and the resulting consequences. However, the students have basically remained the same." McCormack doesn't seem able to get enough of the teenagers here. "I absolutely love teenagers!" she said. "It's fun to watch them grow up and become young adults, to be able to relate to them as adults and have adult conversations and discussions with them."
World language department head Linda McCormack Retires after 32 years.
Travel with family is on the agenda for McCormack after her retirement. Along with that is, "reading that long list of books I haven't had time for," and enjoying friends and family. "I plan to not live my life in 48-minute segments," she said. Spanish II and III has had quite the impact on her life. "There have been many amazing students during my career here, and Facebook has helped me keep in touch with them, as well as to connect with some I had lost track of." The friends she's made as here are going to be what's missed the most. The students, "Keep me on my toes. I probably learn as much from them as they do from me, and I think I'm a much better person for having spent many years in their company."
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Not too many teachers can say they have seen the population of a school drop from 1,700 to 1,200, or have the chance (though not taken) to be drafted into the Vietnam war all during their career. Throughout his 42 years here at Cedar Falls High School, social studies teacher John Mullan can say he has. Now after his 42 years, Mullan has decided to take his leave. Like any career altering decision in one's life, Mullan says that he put a lot of thought into his final choice. "I thought earlier this year that I wasn't going to leave. I was still debating up until March of this year," Mullan said. "My wife was working up at UNI and retired six months ago, so that helped my decision." His post retirement plans involve time with his wife as well as his children, he said. "Me and wife plan on going to visit our sons Travis and Nick who both graduated here from the high school. We would also like to go visit one of our friends who lives in Chile. I'm also going to enjoy more pleasure reading because a lot of my reading material has to do with the courses I teach." Even with all these plans of nice life after teaching, Mullan said he will miss his students and the school.
Social studies department head
John Mullan
Retires after 42 years. "I will really miss walking into the classroom each day. That is why I came here; that's the best part. It (CFHS) has always been a great place to be able to do something creative with yourself and your teaching." Being the head of the social studies department, his retirement is also affecting other teachers, such as history teacher Robert Schmidt. "It's hard to measure how good of a teacher John Mullan has been. We are losing an excellent teacher and role model. I'm going to miss him as a teacher, colleague and friend. Someone has some big shoes to fill," Schmidt said.
Editor note: Later Tiger Hi-Line editions will feature more retiring/leaving teachers.
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