Tiger Hi-Line
Class of 2008
The
Volume 48 Edition 29
As the end of their high school years draw to a close, many of the seniors of the class of 2008 reflect on their time spent at CFHS. To read some of these reflections from seniors, turn to the Opinion page.
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Senior reflects on high school experience as commencement speaker for 2008 class Paul Strike Staff Writer
With the school year winding down, fellow senior Michael Streicher is preparing to give the 2008 commencement address. Streicher was told he would be the class Michael Streicher speaker af- commencement speaker ter a senior leadership meeting. “During that meeting senior leadership approved me to be the class speaker. I was banned during the approving process and was told after the meet-
ing,” Streicher said. The speech writing process is well under way for Streicher. Already with a theme, he will take a most optimistic tone for the speech. “The overriding theme is making the most of our opportunities we have each day, especially the opportunity to help others in a plethora of ways,” Streicher said. The most difficult aspect of the speech for Streicher will be the time. “It’s tough though because there is so much to say in such a short amount of time. I’m trying to summarize 13 years of education into 5 to 7 minutes,” Streicher said. Already, Streicher has mixed feelings about addressing the seniors at the graduation ceremony. “I am a little nervous about it, but it will be something that I remember for the rest of my life,” Streicher said. Some of the senior speaker’s best
moments in high school were in athletics. Participating in the Drake Relays this year and standing on the podium his junior year at the State Cross Country Meet were Streicher’s favorite moments of high school. Another memorable event during was serving on the homecoming court. “I was honored to be selected,” Streicher said, “and my selection humbled me and made me feel I would be done with high school soon.” The senior also has some good advice for incoming sophomores next year. “Get involved in activities and make the most of your high school career,” Streicher said. “It only happens once a lifetime.” Next year, Streicher will attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., to study engineering. Though high school may be over for the graduates of 2008, much more lies ahead for them.
Briana McGeough Photo
Floating above the ground in the Silly Silo, physics students from around the state, including seniors Arusha Afzal and Sarah Anderson, learned the science behind amusement park rides at Adventureland last Friday.
Students share experiences with powerful words Honor Heindl Feature Editor
In early September of 2006, a bubbly, friendly 13-year-old girl by the name of Megan Meier was introduced to a mysterious and charming young boy on MySpace named Josh. They began exchanging messages on a regular basis until one day he abruptly ended their friendship because he had heard she wasn’t kind to her friends. He then began posting electronic bulletins about her, saying things like “Megan Meier is a slut. Megan Meier is fat.” Josh also sent her a message telling the girl she was a bad person and the world would be better without her. The next day, on Oct. 16, 2006, the devastated girl who suffered from depression and attention deficit disorder committed suicide by hanging herself in her bedroom. Want to know the worst part? Josh didn’t even exist. It turns out the mother of a former friend of Megan’s created the account as a hoax to find out if Megan was talking trash about her daughter. However, it all went horrifyingly wrong. Whether it’s spoken through a racial slur, spreading a rumor, labeling a peer or calling someone retarded or gay—
our culture’s tongue seems to be loosening its hold on morality. Words that may be ranked as one teenager’s top 10 most frequently utilized vocabulary can be lethal to another and rip them apart inside. Though students act like those tactless comments and jokes don’t wound them, in most cases, they end up leaving ugly, sensitive scars. People are all profoundly impacted by what others say or think, and that’s why it’s so tricky for kids and teenagers to grow up in a positive manner when they’re engulfed by negativity on all sides. Where do these verbal attacks come from? Surely not all victims egg it on. When one digs deeper, one finds that the core of harassment is often built off stereotypes and pure ignorance. This ignorance manifests itself in all sorts of shapes and forms, such as racism or homophobia. Ever since 9/11, racism against those of Middle-Eastern descent in particular has heated up, as senior Arusha Afzal can attest to. “Though most people are good, there are some people who are simply close-minded, either lack of exposure to other cultures/religions, or misinformation. I don’t think anyone actually
tries to be intolerant. Most intolerance is a result of ignorance. A specific personal incident was when a peer called me ‘Osama Bin Laden’s niece.’ He also asked me whether/when I would bring a bomb school among other remarks.” Before moving to Cedar Falls in 2003, Afzal lived in Jersey City, NJ where she does remember the tension and awkwardness following the attacks. A recollection that stands out was when a Muslim boy in her neighborhood was beaten with a steel rod by a gang of other boys; he required stitches for his injuries. Fortunately, Cedar Falls has for the most part risen above these stereotypes, and Afzal hasn’t had to endure much discrimination in relation to other areas of the United States. That being said, it is overwhelming how very little people know about Islam and Pakistan; in fact, many even believe Afzal to be Indian.“I wish people were more educated about such topics, especially in a post 9/11 world where it is important for each and every person to be able to pick through all of the media’s sensationalism about terrorism and its relation to Islam.” Along with racist remarks, differing sexual orientations have also created quite a commotion simply because
many people don’t take the time to comprehend the meaning behind something as basic as a national holiday. “The Day of Silence is a day to remember gays, bisexuals, lesbians and transsexuals who have been hurt both physically and emotionally by people who choose to be ignorant. I find it extremely rude when the Day of Silence is called a gay pride day by those who typically oppose it,” junior Katie Moore said. “It’s a day for mourning the loss of our friends or family members, not a plea to obtain marriage rights; it’s more of a way to show that gays and transsexuals are human beings that don’t deserve a gun to the head because they’re alive. It’s OK to oppose homosexuality, but leave it for the voting booth. The classroom is nowhere to tell someone that you’re going to kill them because you think they’re scum.” Sometimes the attacks aren’t even intentional. For instance, many people use the terms “gay” and “retarded” without actually meaning the true definition. However, they are often used in a venomous light, as synonyms of “stupid” or “lame,” which are almost more offensive. “I don’t see or hear a lot of harass-
ment in my classroom, but I’d like to think that it’s because I won’t put up with it. However, unintended hurtful phrases like ‘that’s gay’ or ‘you’re retarded’ aren’t uncommon in our school, especially amongst friends in conversations. I do not allow students to get by with those statements in my classroom when I hear them,” Developing Nations teacher Jeremiah Longnecker said. Even amongst the closest of friends, conversations drip with degrading remarks and name-calling. According to Moore, this may or may not have to do because of the media these days, but nevertheless it’s not something anyone should get in the habit of. “There’s not going to be a TV commercial that’s going to change anyone’s mind as long as people misinterpret sarcasm, continue to isolate themselves from others in person by way of Internet and continue to believe freedom of speech is something that allows you to go beyond respecting yourself and your neighbors. ‘I’m as big a n----- fag as you are a skanky b---- slut, but we’re still best friends.’ That’s what it’s like now, and it’s completely repulsive. Thanks, Paris Hilton,” Moore said.
Power of Words, Feature Page