Tiger Hi-Line The
Volume 48 Edition 3
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Podcast Plethora
Check out the audio and video stories on the Hi-Line Online, a link off the the Cedar Falls High School web page. Features include arts reviews, CF personality profiles, a travel show, a cooking show (Cooking with Molly with host sophomore Molly Ihde is pictured at right), sports recaps and more.
Sophomore Leadership taking applications, members can help school, community Kara Schreiber Staff Writer
Sophomores looking for a good start their first year at Cedar Falls High School have a resumé-building opportunity waiting for them: sophomore leadership. “It’s a good way to build community through social services,” sophomore leadership adviser and English teacher Kirstey Ewald said. The group is made up of students that help organize school fundraisers supervised by Ewald and co-adviser and Spanish teacher Grace Valdez. Members also participate in exciting team-building activities, and there’s still time to sign up. Applications are due Friday, Sept. 28 by 3:15 p.m. No applications will be accepted later than this date.
Hungry for Homecoming
About 25 students will be chosen to be involved in sophomore leadership. Those who are accepted for membership will be notified by Oct. 1, and the first meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 4. Sophomore leadership will be held in the Spanish portable every Thursday morning at 7:25 until the end of the year. Meetings usually go for about 25 to 30 minutes each day. Advisers are looking for the following traits in applicants; students who can work well with other students and adults, students who are responsible and who can meet reasonable deadlines. This is the high school’s second year of doing sophomore leadership. Each member of the group will also do two service projects and two social projects—one for each semester. Last year the group did a mitten
drive and volunteered for the women’s shelter for their two service projects. For their two social projects they had dress up days and also held a scavenger hunt. This year they are planning on doing the mitten drive and the scavenger hunt again. They are also considering helping out with Toys for Tots, which is a toy drive occuring during the holdiday season. This activity provides gifts for children from low-income families. This year, sophomore leadership students will be designing their own tshirts for the group. Sophomore leadership also “trains” students for junior and senior leadership, two groups with much the same responsibilities. “Sophomore leadership is more of a student thing. We are more of the adult supervision,” Ewald said.
CF junior injured in recent car accident, finds solace in friends Ashely Ehrig Staff Writer
Junior Jaron Balvanz was hospitalized after getting into a car accident on highway 218 on Monday night, Sept. 17. Along with him in the car were his two younger sisters who both walked away with minor bruises. “I was picking up my sisters from my grandma’s house and dance class in Waterloo, and I was on my way back home. I was trying to get back on 218. I somehow got turned around and made a left turn where I shouldn’t. Some lady in a Dodge Durango was come back Everyone’s been really going over the to school.” speed limit, and Denngood; they’ve all made she didn’t get a ler, who sure to come up and see has been chance to stop before hitting friends me and everything. me,” Balvanz with Bal -- Jaron Balvanz said. vanz since He is now facing three to four months of bed elementary, said,“I was really shocked rest, due to injuries including a bro- when I heard the news. Jake showed ken collar bone, eight broken ribs, me the paper, and I couldn’t believe it. a broken pelvis and a collapsed left I just broke down sobbing.” “I’ve realized life can change in a lung. Balvanz said, “I’m pretty much split second. I’ve been more involved OK, just a little sore. Now I tend with my friends now, especially Jaron. to get a lot more sleep, read, play I’ve been with him almost every day games, stuff like that. It’s kind of ir- now visiting,” Dennler said. While it’s unsure when Balvanz will ritating though, having to be bed ridden all this time, but other than that, fully recover, Dennler and other friends will be there every step of the way. nothing really major has changed.” “We really just want to be there No plans for Balvanz’s education while in the hospital have been for him, encourage him to try hard in finalized, but there are options being therapy and getting better in all. When he gets home and back to school we’ll considered. “It really depends on what my help him get around and help with parents finally decide depending on homework if we can, but he’s really how long I’m out of school. If I’m smart and a good student, so he probout of here in a short while, then I ably won’t need it.”
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Megan Booth Photo
Homecoming candidate Nina Savage feeds fellow candidate Michael Streicher spaghetti as a part of the homecoming assembly antics while “waiter” Jon Hennings looks on. The coronation will be Thursday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. at Hauser Stadium.
should be able to catch up with school. If not, then we are going to get a tutor,” Balvanz said. Friends and family have been close by his bed since the accident happened. “Everyone’s been really good; they’ve all made sure to come up to see me and everything,” Balvanz said. He also noted that many have brought balloons, candy and reading material. Friend Katie Dennler has been by Balvanz’s side. “Jaron’s been really good. He hasn’t been angry or depressed. He knows what happened and is trying hard to get better as fast as he can and
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Tiger Hi-Line The
OPIn n IO OPI IOnn
our view our view
Restriction of Iranian president reflects poorly on United States The United States of America should never have reason to be affiliated with the restriction of movement and free expression. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was recently barred from visiting ground zero to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11. We do not mean to insinuate that his actions as Iranian president should be unopposed. If he does visit, he should be met with thousands of protesters. Is it not likely Ahmadinejad wants the Iranian people to see that the United States is hypocritical and inconsistent with our constitution? It will only breed hostility and skepticism toward our government. Is it not also blatantly obvious the last thing Ahmadinejad wants his people to see is their president facing protests and ridicule from the American people? Our government and our peoplle must prove to the world that we are a free country, and that we do not support restrictions on free expression like that of Iran. If we do not allow Ahmadinejad to visit ground zero, our country will become one step closer to being like the totalitarian regimes we criticize.
Write 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. Each edition is published on Wenesdays during the school year in The Insider and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the HiLine 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 Wednesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Briana McGeough News Editors: Olivia Schares and Kellie Petersen Opinion Editors: Andrea Huber and Torie Jochims Sports Editor: Jacqueline Jordan Feature Editors: Honor Heindl and Briana McGeough On-Line Editors: Ellen Wrede and Olivia Schares Entertainment Editor: Kristen Hammer Photography Editor: Honor Heindl
Senior Andria Huber and Junior Joseph Higgins joined an estimated 100,000 protestors to show their disconent for the war and the administration by marching from the White House to the Capitol on Sept. 15.
After 3,782 casualties,
Iraq war situation calls for direct action With the war raging on and no end in sight, it’s important for voters young and old to take a stand against our administration and show law makers that we want peace and we want it now. On September 15 Joseph Higgins, Andria Huber a Cedar Opinion Editor Falls Junior and I joined an estimated 100,000 peace supporters in a protest unlike any other. Opposed to the usual march and rally this protest featured something new, direct action through civil disobedience. Protestors marched behind Iraq war veterans from the White House to the Capitol where a siren blared and several thousands participated in a “Die-In” by dropping their signs and their bodies to symbolize the 3782 soldiers who have died in vain in Iraq. Since Bush’s speech, the 6th anniversary of 9/11, and General Petraeus’s testimony on a troop surge a week before sparked peoples attention and the fact that if the American public doesn’t step in and show their
extreme disapproval for the war we will never get out. Although this D.C. protest had far less attendance than past protests it may prove to be the most effective because of the mass civil disobedience in the ‘Die-In’. One reason that the civil disobedience featured during this protest may be effective is that of the several people who were pepper sprayed and over 160 people were arrested many of whom were Iraq war veterans, showing that they are more than welcome to participate in a quagmire, but when it comes to speaking out against the war they are almost immediately silenced to keep up morale for the war. It was also very important that the march, rally, and “Die-In” to go well so that less attention would be paid to the Gathering of Eagles, an organization that fully supports our president and his decision to ‘stay the course’. One of the less obvious reasons as to why we wanted to steal their thunder is since Bush’s approval rating has dipped below 30% we need to constantly remind congress of majority rule and that if nearly 70% of Americans disapprove of the way our country is being run and especially our presence in Iraq then we need our congress to vote with their constituency. Yet another reason why we wanted to keep the focus on the peace supporters opposed to the Gathering of Eagles and other counter protest-
ers was the complete disrespect they showed fellow veterans and their families. While conversing with fellow peace supporters I learned the veterans who were leading the protest were subject to insult, degradation, and their patriotism questioned by the pro-war supporters, showing a complete lack of respect for those who have a differing opinion. While I was participating in the ‘Die-In’ I had the opportunity to speak to a woman who lay next to me, she told me of the extreme disrespect her and her husband faced while marching past the pro-war supports carrying a coffin which displayed pictures of their deceased son who lost his life in Iraq. She told me that while her husband was carrying the symbolic coffin past the Gathering of Eagles one group member attempted to desecrate the symbolic coffin by tearing a photograph of their son off which showed extreme contempt for their feelings as parents as well as supporters of the peace movement. With even more people coming out against the war and administration and mainstream conservatives like Alan Greenspan admitting that this war is over oil, it’s very important for everyone democrat, republican, or undecided to take a stand and admit that this war is hopeless and vote for a candidate who will bring respect back into America.
Tiger Hi-Line The
Volume 47 Edition 24
SPORTS SPORTS
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Science teacher captures disc golf title Steffen becomes five-time State Disc Golf Champion Omeed Kashef Staff Writer
Science teacher, Jason Steffen, recently became the first person to win the State Disc Golf Championship five times in the highest professional division. He has now won it in 1990, 1992, 1995, 1999 and 2007, which was the 31st Iowa State Championship. Steffen can throw a disk over 450 feet with incredible accuracy. “I have always been a good driver. The state championship was a very long and wooded course. It was much like the U.S. Open in golf. If you threw it off the fairway, you were in trouble. I had one of the best driving days of my
career.” Steffen says it’s his short game that’s a little iffy. “I have a l w a y s struggled at putting. I am a very Science Teacher streaky Jason Steffen putter. I am al- Five Time Iowa Disc w a y s Golf Champion trying to find ways to get better and more consistent.” "I have been playing for such a long time, that the mechanics of throwing are very natural to me," Steffen said. Steffen said he's accomplished everything he wanted to in disc golf including being the head rules official in the 1989 World Championships, play-
ing in seven World Championships, and taught a five-time women's professional world champion after introducing her to the game of disc golf. The competition was very tough for Steffen, though. Steffen had to play against about 25 of the best disc golf players in Iowa that practice five to six times a week. “Some of them even tour around the country and play for a living,” he said. He added he is lucky if he finds time for two with his teachings at the Cedar Falls High School. Steffen first started disc golf when he was 10 at a course right across the street form his parent’s restaurant. He joined the Black Hawk Metro Disc Golf League in 1985, a year after he moved to Iowa. "I always found it fun to play, but I didn't really have anyone to help me get better," Steffen said. Now, however, Steffen has a group of fellow golfers that he plays with.
“Now I spend most of my practice rounds playing with my brother Mike and my friends Ed Bennett and Matt Wieben. These three also played with me on our four-person league team the past two seasons. We have won the Black Hawk Metro Disc Golf League the last two summer seasons,” Steffen said. According to Steffen, there’s no shortage of disc golf opportunities in Iowa. There are tournaments almost every weekend from April to October, and Iowa has 129 courses listed in the state. This is second only to Texas in the United States. Disc golf is also very competitive for Steffen. He also said he likes to make it fun by playing for something. "I will play for something no matter what I'm doing, " Steffen said. Steffen said he still needs to work on his putting game, but for now he is the one and only five time state champion.
Is There Hope For Cub Fans? Chicago clings to tiny lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central Alex Entz Staff Writer
As a young Chicago Cubs team provides a promise to make the playoffs for the first time since the infamous 2003 pennant run, local Cubs fans are getting pumped. “If they play the D-Backs, they’ll get past the first round...if not…I think we’ll make it to the League Championships,” sophomore Colin Ashwood said. After last year’s disheartening 66-96 finish, the Cubs management decided that they’d had enough. They hired a new win-now manager in “Sweet” Lou Piniella and famously decided to spend $300 million in an off-season spending spree reminiscent of George Steinbrenner’s Yankee team. Their money is finally reaping rewards as the Cubs lead the National League Central division by a few meager games. “I think they’ll finish two or three games ahead of the Brewers, and maybe 10 games above,” Ashwood said. But it hasn’t all been magic in Wrigley this year. They turned in a horrible
first half and only picked up after their ace, Carlos Zambrano, had a great July. Even that didn’t do the full trick; it took a couple of Sweet Lou explosions before the Cubs picked up the slack. Unfortunately, they weren’t alone in the crowded-yet-sloppy N.L. Central. The Brewers, or the Brew Crew as they are affectionately known, held onto first for much of the first half led by young slugger Prince Fielder. And the Cardinals consistently overcame problem after problem and hung around well into September, before a slide officially killed their playoff hopes. Sophomore Cardinals fan John Gogola was short and to the point regarding the Cubbies. “Not this year,” he said, referring to the Cubs’ playoff chances. When many pessimists are asked why the Cubs won’t make the playoffs with their $136 million man, Alfonso Soriano, behind the wheel, their answer is simple. They refer to “The Curse.” To baseball new-comers the infamous “curse” refers to the fact that the Cubs have tried-and failed-to win the World Series for 98 years running, but that
doesn’t mean they can’t hope. Many continue to point to the infamous Bartman incident in the 2003 NLCS as proof of the curse. Regarding whether the infamous “curse” was behind the Cub’s woes, Ashwood was straightforward. “No (there is no curse), just poor management and a certain fan in a certain game in the 2003 League Championships.” Cardinals fans also deny a curse, but for a different reason. “There is no curse, they just play terrible,” Gogola added. Despite bullpen problems and a head-scratching lack of home runs, the Cubs, according to www.coolstandings.com, have a 57.3 percent chance of
reaching the playoffs. The Brewers are listed at 42.8 percent, with the Cardinals trailing both. The Cubs play at the Florida Marlins from the Sept. 25 to 27. They finish the season at Cincinnati from Sept. 28 to 30.
Athlete Week of the
Andrew Tindall Senior Running Back
I have played running back all four years of my high school career. Freshman and sophomore year, I’ve played both ways. I’ve had the privlege to be in the State Championship my sophomore year. Getting the experience to practice and play with varsity players has benefitted me coming into my junior year. It helped me know what to expect for varsiy level.
1.Why do you think you were chosen for this week’s athlete?
I think that C.F. has many athletes that are top in the state, so it feels good. 2. Who is your role model that you look up to? My role models would probably be my parents. Just because, they help push me to do my best every day whether it be in school or in sports.
Tigers in Action
Football (4-0) beat Waterloo East 28-10 Next Up: Homecoming, vs. Linn-Mar. (Home 7:30 p.m.) Men’s Cross Country finished second Mason City Invite Next Up: Metro Meet-Warren Park Waterloo Women’s Cross Country finished first at Mason City Invite Next Up: Metro Meet-Warren Park Waterloo Women’s Swimming Next up: Diving, Marcussen Invite Next Up: Swim, Marcussen Invite (Home 7:30 p.m.) Volleyball Next Up: Wahlert 9/27 (Home 5:30) Men’s Golf Next Up: MVC Quad IC West 9/27 (Away 3:15 p.m)
Tiger Hi-Line The
FEATURE FEATURE
Homecoming Court
Abby Andrew Anne Austin Kelsey Corey Megan Eric Natalie Kavin Nina Landan Nirmeen Mark Sarah Michael How do you want to be remembered?
King Candidates Andre w T i n d a l l
“A s a t r u st wo r t hy an d r espo n s i b l e p e r s o n who likes to ha v e a go o d time”
Au s ti n P e h l
“ A s so m e o n e wh o bro u g h t a p o s i t i ve image t o C e d a r F alls”
Co r e y Al br e c h t
“ As a good person t h a t g ets a lon g with eve r y o n e an d is fr ien dly ”
Eric Ei c he l be r ge r “ A s t h e t a l l b lack kid with t h e g o o d p ersonality, kin d h e a r t a n d p h en ome n a l v o i c e t o match”
Ka v i n S u n da r a m “ A s people choose to r emember me”
Land a n Z ap ut il “As a very kind pe rs o n t h a t e ver yone loved”
Mark Iehl “As a nice guy”
Micha e l St r e i c h er
“A s l e a v in g C e d a r F alls be t t e r t h a n b e f ore”
In a land far, far away... Foreign Exchange Students react to U.S. homecoming Jakob Zierer Staff Writer
With events ranging from coronation to dress up days to a “No-Talent” talent show to a home football game and a dance, there is no question why homecoming week generates more school spirit and intensity than any other week at Cedar Falls High School. Cedar Falls natives anticipate many homecoming traditions while CFHS foreign exchange students discover what these traditions are. The words queen, king, game and dance are familiar to CFHS’ foreign exchange students, but questions still remain for Miska Balazecova (Slovakia), Arthur Burle and Andre Neves (Brazil) and Jakob Zierer (Germany). The most fundamental question was: what is homecoming? “I don’t know very well what it is, but it looks very good,” Burle said. “I never saw something like this at my two old schools, but I think it will be awesome.” Ten days before the game, students voted for a homecoming court. Members of the court advance to candidates for homecoming queen and king. The week before the big football game is full of activities. “I think that it is a very interesting thing in Cedar Falls High School. I have heard that it is connected to a lot of fun, so I am sure I will enjoy it,” Balazecova said. An assembly last Wednesday started things off with the introduction of the court. Additionally, the exchange students were introduced. “I felt a little bit strange. You know when almost everybody is watching you, but maybe it
is good that people know who we are and where we are from,” Balazecova said. A “blind date” skit followed the introductions. Homecoming week went into full motion on Monday with dress up days. “Dress up week is a good opportunity to have fun,” Neves said. Other highlights of the week include crowning of the king and queen on Thursday, Sept. 27, at approximately 8:30 (after the volleyball match vs. Dubuque Wahlert) with fireworks immediately following. The activities will be on the football field behind the high school. After a week of firing up for the game, the Tigers will take on the Lions from Linn-Mar. The game will start at the UNI Dome at 5:30 p.m. with the J/V game followed by the varsity game at about 7 p.m. During half-time, the king and queen will be presented to the student body and fans and the entire court will be escorted onto the field by their parents. The Tiger Band will be adding to the excitement with their music. The next big event is the homecoming dance on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Orchard Hill Church (1215 Elmridge Drive). The dance will last from 9 p.m to midnight. Tickets went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 25 and will be sold throughout the week. They cost $4 in advance and $5 at the door. “Unfortunately in Slovakia, in my school, there is nothing comparable with homecoming. We have a special dance in January, but it is different. I think that I will miss it next year.” Balazecova said.
How do you want to be remembered?
Queen Candidates Ab b y Co nrad
“Someone who is fun, hone s t and t r us tw or t hy”
Anne Schmitz
“ A ni c e c ar i ng person who loves to hang out w i t h m any di ffe r e nt p e op l e ”
Kelsey I hde
“As a person anybody could count on and truly ge nui ne t o al l ”
M egan Duke
“ T he gi r l t hat c an m ak e you laugh and put you in a good m ood”
N atalie Craig “Someone that was nice to everyone, went out of my comfort zone to be friends w i t h e ve r yone ”
N ina Sav age
“As the person who never judge d s om e one and accepted people for who they ar e ”
N irmeen Fahmy
“ T he p e r s on w ho w as always there when people ne e de d t o t al k ”
Sara M ackey
“As a person who tried to do m y b e s t i n e ve r yt hi ng”