LHS Advocate 2003-2004

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ByTinaWilson PhotoE.ditor

The first week of school for many is a week of new beginnings in every aspect. For the past six years at Lincoln High, to celebrate those new beginnings, DECA has provided students and staff with the Back to School Bash. The Back to School Bash is an event where all the clubs at Lincoln High come together to celebrate the school year and promote their organizations. "This tradition is for the students," DECA sponsor Trudy Hines said. "it's a time when everyone supports everyone; It's a positive experience for all." Spanish Club sponsor, Janine Theiler said. "The Back to School Bash is an amazing opportunity for students, staff and community members to come together with a common purpose, entertainment." The Bash takes several months to plan. During the preparation time, the "big toys," are rented (mechanical bull, iron man), the t-shirts are designed and the layout is completed.

This year was similar to previous Back to School Bashes in that there was plenty of food, fun and entertainment, and some new attractions as well. Like the Iron Man Rock Climb, the mechanical bull. The skate park, the National Guard simulator, and all of the club booths returned as well. Some of the clubs offered food such as nachos, hamburgers, snow cones, rueditas (little

Students and staff test their skills with the mechanical bull at the Back to School Bash. Some had better success than others. The bull, sponsored by Real Girls Club, was a feature attraction.

Photo By Ricky Cardwell

L elcomes Freshmen

First TimeFor9th Gradersin 26 Years

------=By NickVaske WebE.ditor

A new year of school has started, bringing new students to Lincoln High. But this year is different with two incoming classes. Because of the new high schools, Lincoln High now has freshmen. Half the student population is new to LHS and many of the rules and policies have changed to accommodate the additional students.

Additional classes have been added to the LHS course offering to provide necessary requirements for freshmen, including English 9 and 9D, 9 th grade band, Boys Chorus and Girls Chorus, Fitness for Life, Civics and Civics D.

Along with new classes, many of the classes offered have been looked at and changed to be able to accommodate the new freshmen. Freshmen are now able to take classes like Debate, Small Engines Technology, swimming, or French, German, Spanish, or Chinese up to 5 th ye ar. Many of the classes available to freshmen in high school weren't available in middle school. There are also sports and clubs that freshmen no lon ger have to come from middle sc hools to participate in.

"Educationally and maturity-wise the classes (freshmen) are able to take and the activities they are able to be involved in," said Dr. Wortman, "it's more appropriate that they be in high school."

• This year was different with the first day of school only being attended by

freshmen and sophomores. "We had an orientation just for 9 th and 10 th graders that first day to kind of help them have a day without juniors and seniors being here just to find their classes," said Wortman. During the first day freshmen and sophomores were given the Lincoln High School Under.ground Handbook , "a book of information compiled by students of L.H.S."

The Underground Handbook includes "secrets" about I.S.S., the dress code, clubs and organizations, and tricks to getting around LHS.

Many steps were taken to make moving freshmen - to highschool go easy. · Parents of freshmen and sophomores were sent newsletters starting back in January. Students and parents were also invited to basketball games in January, the musical in March, and an open house in April. Tours were also given by teachers individually to about 200 freshmen and sophomores over the summer.

One question many people had was if the addition of freshmen would make our school population and class sizes even larger? Last year there were over 2100 students attending Lincoln High. But this year there are a little under 2000 Part of the reason is because the two new classes coming in are around 400 students.

There usea to be classes around 700 and the junior and senior classes this year are around 550 to 600 students. A large number of sophomores and juniors from last year moved to North Star this year, along with new freshmen and sophomores entering North Star. "Overall as a building we're a little smaller," said Wortman, "though it's hardly noticeable." • r,o

fried wagon wheels), kabobs, funnel cakes, and, French vanilla ice cream.

If you weren't interested in the food or the other activities at the club booths, you could've listened to live bands from LHS, or karaoke. If that didn't interest you, you could have experienced the National Guard simulator or watched our football team scrimmage on Beechner field. Around 8 p.m. the Oklahoma State Marching Band took the field to provide us with some great music.

As many as 750 students (past and .present) teachers, and others from the community attended this year, and are eagerly anticipating the new attractions for next year. However, no one is exactly sure if it will return at all. With no DECA cookies being sold in the mornings, the funding is less than certain. "It will be a sad day when it's decided that there will be no Back to School Bash at LHS," Theiler said. "Without the funding from the Cookie Link, I don't think that there will be funding for the bash next year," Hines said. "The ultimate loss of DECA cookies this year isn't the cookies or the money, but the sense of community inside Lincoln High," Hines added. The Back to School Bash was a time to meet new people and get to know more about the community within the school. "The Bash is a multicultural ac~ivit} that isn't forced. It's a celebration of our school," Hines commented.

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----=-By i\ndrraShonibin OpinionE.ditor

Of all the changes made to Lincoln High's policies this year, students responded more strongly to the new lunch guidelines than to any other. Instead of students eating in the cafeteria hallway, outside, or roaming the halls during lunch, they are limited to eating in the two main areas: the West Gym and cafeteria.

Not only are students restricted to eating in their initial area, but also are to stay there for the remainder of their lunch.

Students who leave campus for lunch must be a junior or senior,have their school ID's, and have a parent permissionform, which is given to them at the beginning of the year, signed by their parent or guardian.Even when students leave for lunch, they must stay outside until lunch is over and are not permitted to bring food or drink into the building.

There are approximately six teachers, and five administrators that help assist campus supervisors monitor students at lunch. If teachers volunteer to help s11perviseduring lunch on their plan periods, they'll get paid as if it were a class period

Each supervisoris issued 10 passes to hand out to students To be issued a pass you must sign in and out of the area in which you eat lunch. There is supervision almost everywhere in the

•.

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By i\mberGage___ _ E.ntertairunentE.ditor

Homeroom brings back so many elementary school memories, does11't it? At least we don't have to line up in front of the door before we leave the room, and walk in a straight line through the hallways. That would be asking a little too much from the LHS students. However having homeroom as an addition to our school week is a big change.

Just walking through the hallways you can hear students asking their friends, what's up with homeroom? Homeroom is a brand new program at Lincoln High that serves several purposes, according to Principal Wortman. "The purpose of homeroom is to break a large high school into smaller units so that students do not feel anonymous; so

building to prevent studentswho are not eligible from exiting the building.

If any rules and regulationsaren't followed, it will result in consequences such as referrals, lunch detentions,and even in-schoolsuspension under certain circumstances.Administrationis

preparedto graduallyraise the consequenceseach time rules are broken.

Many students question what will happen when they made to stay outside during bad weather. Administrators are still discussing the issue. They suggest that studentseat at the place they buy their food or, if they do come back to school early, eat in the car.

One of the main reasons new policies took place was because of the amount of trash being left behind by students. Therefore food in the building is not an option. Faculty believe that new regulationshave irn proved Lincoln High's environment. Another reason to motivate administratorsto choose theserules was becauseof the noisefrom students on first floor travelingto second, then eventually unto third floor.

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change.

According to many freshman and sophomores there are no real big concerns. They feel accustomedto these types of lunch policies and think they are similar to lunch in middle school.

The administrationis reviewingwrittenproposals that are reasonable and abide with distlict expectations. Students wrote a proposal which included keeping the band room clean, having appropriate supervision, and following the administration's expectations. Students who eat in the band room are under a 9-week trial period to attempt to maintai11faculty expectations.

Students who enter the band room must be -accompaniedby a band member and eat at a table. If students don't comply, the band room will no longer be an option to eat lunch in.

By&an FlowerDay . OpinionE.ditor

Thanks to four ambitious students last year, Lincoln High has obtained a new digital marquee. Senior Mitch Memming, class of 2003 alums Jessie Wolfe, Glynna Ridge, and Jocie Krull along with the help of Work Study Coordinator Richard Patterson wrote an antitobacco grant through the DECA organization. Li11colnHigh students have received this grant once before. The grant gives $100,000 for antitobacco public relations and another $5,000 to each of the four students to go to any Nebraska college.

Associate Principal Arlyn Uhrmacher checks passes during lunch. Students must now stay in the cafeteria or West Gym during the entire lunch period unless they have permission to leave.

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they feel like they know people and people know them."

Homeroom is also being used to address school business and work on student study skills and life skills. It is a program designed to help students make connections and find adult support.

"This need became even more pronounced as the incoming classes of new students comprised half of the student population," Homeroom coordinator Janine Theiler said, referring to the addition of freshmen. "This meant that roughly half of the students at LHS could have possibly been entering without established relationships with other students and LHS staff."

According to Theiler, homeroom was arranged around five goals: to help students make connections and build positive rela-

Associate Principal Arlyn Uhrmacher, as well as other administrators, believes that the policy has resulted in students creating fewer problems Supervisors say they've given "very minimum" referrals to students.The administration believes that with these policies studentsare easier to supervisein specificconfined areas that also keep 9th and 10th graders on campus

"If administrators say 'it's for the new students', then why did freshman and sophomores have more freedoms last year than they did this year?" senior Justin Shack asked. Many students think that the new lunch policies should

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tionships, to assist in the smooth transition of students to a new grade level and a new school, to provide adult support on a longterm basis, to develop good study habits, and to conduct school business.

Many different activities will occur in Homeroom each week, and all Homeroom lessons are designed to meet the five goals, and a getting acquainted activity will always occur to meet goals one and two. While working hard in Homeroom make sure you still follow all the LHS rules and reg11lations, don't think you can skip Homeroom, because there will still be consequences.

The Homeroom program will allow you to stay with the same group of people for four years. The thinking is that if you continue to see the same people year after year you will begin to form stronger relationships with

From Tooacco

The marquee was bought for Lincoln High on the condition that 40% of the time it would display anti-tobacco messages. "A marquee would not usually be bought with money from a grant," Patterson said, but due to the high-traffic nature of the area around the marquee's placement and the fact that so many of the messages would be anti-tobacco related it was deemed acceptable to purchase it with the grant money.

The new marquee replaces the previous, out-of-date, and rather decrepit analog marquee. This new marquee can be programmed from the office six months ahead of time, it

displays the time -and temperature, school announcements, anti-tobacco messages and

Another exception for places to eat lunch is room 227 with the theatre teachers.Studentsmay not bring in lunch trays from the cafeteria, and they must have a pre-arranged pass to eat there during lunch.

Student Council began a petition objecting to the new policies and requesting a change. On September 11111, Student Council presented Principal Dr. Mike Wortman with the petition to discuss lunch policies.

He reviewedwhat other studentshad thought about the lunch policies and said he would make an effort to bring forth the topic in an administration meeting and schedule a follow-up meeting.

,estion 1se

them. When Homeroom continues next year you will have the same students in your class and will only have a few new students, most likely freshmen.

_ Lincoln High is not alone in the homeroom program. Other high schools use programs like homeroom, even Southwest had a homeroom program last year as a new school. However Southwest met in homeroom everyday for about twelve minutes, so there are a lot of differences in the homeroom programs between schools.

Here at Lincoln High we meet in Homeroom once a week on Wednesdays after third period. It does shorten the class schedule by a little, so some of you may be glad about that. In conclusion, I hope you have learned the basics about Homeroom, and hopefully you will make the choice to take advantage

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will probably be used for advertisement in the future. It is estimated that 30,000 people drive past the marquee in one day, and the fact that it is nearly the only the possibility for advertisement in the area is expected to draw in advertisers. The revenue yielded through advertising will go to the school.

Besides the marquee, which was nearly one third of the grant money, the money will also be used for door hangers that will be displayed at smoke-free establishments. Also a smoke-free public relations video game was created along with an activities book that will be distributed to local rec-centers shortly.

Photo by Lisa Broome ,

by&an Flowerctay Opinion&Ii.tor

A new tardy policy has been implemented at Lincoln High this year.

The new policy that all teachers are required to follow is an attempt at making the tardy discipline procedure a more uniform process so all students receive the discipline equivalent to their offense.

The policy requires that for the first tardy a student must fill out and sign a referral form. For the second offense the information is recorded and the student writes

byAndrea.Sl1onibin Opinion&Ii.tor

In the spring of 2000 a school bond for $100 million was passed to construct two new potential high schools. Lincoln North Star High School, as well as Lincoln Southeast High School, received funding to build high schools.

On August 25th of this year, classrooms were filled for the first time at Lincoln North Star. A number of students attending North Star were living in the Northeast or Lincoln High School district.

Much of North Star's student population went to Lincoln High or Northeast before transferring to the new high school. Lincoln High now stands at approximately 1,900 students compared to l ast year's 2,100 students.

One of the newest additions to Lincoln High this year are the 9th graders. For "ex-Links", now "Gators", the newest addition to them is an entirely new high school.

For many students that attend North Star, it's a big change from Lincoln High. North Star is also a middle school that includes grades 6th-8th, and the high school includes grades 9th-12th.

oura plan to resolve the pr~lem.

On the third offense parents are contacted. A fourth offense and the student is assigned lunch detention along with a referral to the office Upon the fifth tardy there is another referral to the office. And for the sixth or higher offenses a discipline referral is handed in to the attendance office.

In previous years teachers have been relied upon to create separate tardy policies for their individual classes. This lead to an inequality of disciplines received.

Some students with as many as a 25 tardies were receiving the same

punishment.

Last year Principal Mike Wortman took a survey of the staff, 63% of whom voted for a new uniform tardy procedure in which they would not be required to perform the actual discipline themselves, but could leave it up to the attendance office.

Dr. DeAnna Jurgens, the Attendance Coordinator, said that much of the new policy is "piggybacked on some of the things Northeast was doing" where they have had a school wide tardy policy for several years now. The Northeast policy is a three step

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system; wtirchon the first offense a student recieves a verbal warning, the second disgresion and parents are contacted, and the third tardy recieves a lunch detention.

While the policy has been met with some student resistance, "the feedback from the staff has been very, very good," said Dr. Jurgens

Associate Principal Pam Cox said some teachers complain that it is one more thing they have to keep track of.

As for the questioned necessity of the new policy, administrators seem quite optimistic about it. "Tardies have been a real problem,"

Jurgens said, but she is genuinely hopeful that the new policy will reduce the tardy problem. Cox also said that she believed it was helping. "Out in the halls, kids are in class now," she said.

Jurgens and the rest of the staff would like to encourage all students with constructive ideas or critique to give them any feedback about the policy.

Any thoughts on how the policy is working or suggestions for rearrang ement and reorganization of the program are welcome and can be directed towards Dr. Jurgens or Principal Wortman

EnjoyFreshStart

Unlike Southwest, North North Star because she lived in the Star does not have block sched- North Star district, and it brought her more opportunities through the academy program.

uling. One thing ·that is unique about the school is the individual academies that provide students, who have a special interest in a certain curriculum, to focus on their talents and skills in smaller learning environments. The six spe-

teacher Kristi Nelson-Hitz, and the Social Studies Chairman Jack Brestel moved to North Star from Lincoln High.

---!by MirandaFreeman __ _ BusinessManager

Back to school is a sad time that nobody looks forward to. Waking up early, no parking, long hours of school, being locked in the cafeteria, and that's just the teachers! Well, relief is on its way. The fall play,

Art Department Chair George Sedlacek, former photography which is a comedy, is a good way to teacher at Lincoln High, trans- relieve the stress of the first quarter ferred to Lincoln North Star. As · of the year. "The Perils of Lulu" is a well as Sedlacek, Math teacher cific academies to participate in are John Catlett, a Physical Education Arts and Communication; Business and Finance; Health Sciences and Human Services; Law and Global Affairs; Science and Technology; and a Freshman Academy. Academies are only provided to the high school.

Academies are a long-term goal, Lincoln North Stars faculty believes. If students wish to, they may change what academy they want to be involved in. The

"After 30 years I wanted a new perspective, a chance to re -invent myself. I didn't leave because Lincoln High was lacking anything, I wanted to experience starting an art program from scratch," said Sedlacek. The main reason for Sedlacek to switch schools was

comedy directed by our own Chris Maly. Surely you have seen the bright orange signs with the giant monkey on them. Most people are wondering, is the monkey named Lulu? Is the monkey the peril? Does the show actually even have anything to do with a monkey? Without giving away the whole story line, let me just say that the giant monkey is not the only peril

academies aren't necessarily for because he wanted to become students to decide a career to pur - apart of the academy concept, "to sue, but a focus program to direct pay more attention to the arts 'in the student's interests, skills, and student's overall school plan," talents. ''Newness means nothing. It's According to Jaime Gr~en, a what you do inside and the people ' I' senior at North Star and a former who are there that count," said Lincoln High student, the only clear Dr.Nancy Becker, the principal differences between the schools are of North Star, referring to if North "student population being smaller, Star would be one of the successnewer surrou11dings,and the acade- ful schools in the district. "Our curmies," Green decided to transfer to riculum is as diverse, or as similar,

in the play. There is also a tornado, a plane crash, and a shark along with others that you'll have to discover for yourself.

When can you see this hilarious show, you ask? "The Perils of Lulu" will be showing O,ctober 16th 17th and 18th at 7:30 PM in our very own auditorium. I know, that's so far away. But if you just wait patiently, you'll be able to see a show that has more perils than a teacher goes through in a normal school day. And when you see "The Perils of Lulu," being locked in the cafeteria for 35 minutes without even getting through the lunch line won't be so bad.

You'll be thankful that you weren't on an upside down boat with poor little Lulu Barnes. (Oops, I gave away another peril!)

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By BeccaMelpolder__ _ ,\ ssistantPhotoF..ditor

Homecoming is two weeks away and you are so excited. You got a great outfit, an awesorne date, and everything is perfect. Well until you get to the dance floor and step on your date's toes, then trip and land on the table behind you causing all the drinks to spill all over you Well all that can change.

dance you are going to learn.

You have probably seen the movies Dance with Me, Dirty Dancing, Center Stage, and The Wedding Planner. The dances in those movies are popular forms of ballroom dancing. The different types of dancing included in ballroom are Tango, Argentine Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Mambo and Rumba (box step). These and many There are plenty of places here in Lin- other dances are included. coln that offer dancing lessons. Two wellknown ballrooms are the Del Ray, and Pla Mor. Del Ray has dances that are open to the public every Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Association, Lincoln division said.

National Ballroom Dance week was September 19-28. Its purpose is "to educate and inform the public about ballroom dancing," Dick Kahle, president of the The last Friday of every month is singles United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers night but everyone is welcome to attend, and the cost is only $6. Starting October 5 th every Sunday from 1-3 p.m there are free youth dances and lessons. The Del Ray is located at 817 "R" St. down in the Historic Hay Market.

The Pla Mor is located at 6600 W. "O". St. Swing Music is the first Thursday of every month. The cost is a $4 cover charge. Lessons starts at 8 p.m. and the dance is from 9 p m. to midnight.

Del Ray offers lessons and the prices vary depending on hours and the type of

USABDA has a lot of young dancers competing for medals some as young as five years old compete at top levels.

The benefits to dancing are not only so you don't embarrass your self at a social gathering but also the fact that it is healthy Dance relieves stress, and keeps you at a fit level.

So get out there and sign up for some lessons. But do it quickly. Homecoming is rapidly approaching, and classes fill up fast.

ByE.milyE.mst -StaffWriter

Six months ago, Mariel Harding was a junior at Lincoln High School. Some knew her as a volleyball teammate, others as a saxophone player in the symphonic band or a Tuesday recycler for the Ecology Club. Even the theatre crowd recalls the work she did for last year's one-act play, "The Laramie Project." But above all, Harding was a student. While taking Differentiated Precalculus, Physics and even AP U.S History with Mr Brestel, Harding maintained straight A's and was ranked second in a class of over six hundred students. Though it seemed as if she had reached the top, Harding wanted something more.

Last April, she received a brochure in the mail advertising an international pre-university program called The United World College. "I decided to apply at the last minute. It was a big decision

and I wanted to be sure this was something I really wanted

travel. Three weeks after she sent in her application, Harding received word that she was to be interviewed as a potential student at UWC. to do," Harding said prior to her September 5th departure. "A part of me doesn't want to leave my friends and teachers at Lincoln High, but at the same time I know that this opportunity is exactly what I've been looking for," she added.

leges 1n countries throughout

Because of her academic success at Lincoln High, the only expense she has to worry about is her plane ticket. All UWC students are Europe, Asia and North and South America, applicants accepted into the program are given the choice of where they ,vould prefer to award~~ scholarships covering study (Harding requested Italy). both tu1t1onand room and board for

Feel

BycarrieTodd AssistantFeatureF..ditor

A.nd-sarahBartelt

A.ssistant-SportsF..ditor

Lincoln's biggest rivals, Lincoln High and Southeast, now have more in common this year than ever before: the addition of freshmen. But at Lincoln High, the restricted eating areas at lunch, vending machines being turned off, the removal of the Cookie Link, and the new tardy policy have caused many students to feel like they are on lock-down.

There have been so many complaints that Student Council has organized a petition and hopes to negotiate some changes with the administration. Senior Carly Buzz, Student Council President, said that 865 students from all four grades signed the petition before it was brought to Dr Wortman.

LSE is in the same position we are in this year, with the addition of the freshman class, yet the changes in their rules seerri much less drastic. Some LSE students felt there was no difference between this year

and last.

Unlike LHS, the vending machines at Southeast continue to be on throughout the school day, DECA still sells cookies in between classes, and there is no new tardy policy.

Instead of being locked out of the building until the bell rings after lunch, like juniors and seniors at LHS, upperclassmen that leave campus at LSE are allowed to wait or eat inside until the next passing period.

"I think it [rules and policies] is mostly the same," said Tara Anderson, a senior at LSE. Southeast senior Eric Tesmer said that the biggest change is that students at Southeast now have to carry around planners and use them as hall passes, something Lincoln High has been doing for three years

"We can only get out of class [with the planners] three times a week and it's kind of a drag," said Tesmer.

Gary Czapla, an associate

two years, leaving only the cost of • ?haine I

principal and co-director of 9' h grade transition at Southeast, said that the planners were a way to give younger students some structure. Students at Southeast, such as Anderson and Tesmer, seem to be adjusting well to the few changes in their school this year; but at Lincoln High, the resentment towards the new policies may be stronger because so many rules have changed. Upperclassmen may also unfairly target their frustration towards the freshmen, because many feel they are the · reason for most of the changes . Southeast has stayed mostly unchanged, and their transition has been successful so far, according to Czapla.

"I don't think there's any policy, positive or negative, that is more important than that relationship between the teachers and students. If that's good, I think the chances of success here are really good," Czapla said.

Some teachers at LHS aren't convinced that things here are go-

For her interview, Harding traveled out-of-state to meet with a group of other applicants. "The interview was more than just a oneon-one conference-we worked in groups and I had a chance to meet some really wonderful people," she said. After the interview process, the final 50 letters were sent out across the nation informing their recipients of their acceptance into the program. Harding was one of them.

"When I got the letter, I didn't know whether to jump up and down or cry or both. It was such a life-changing decision." Students generally apply for the United World College their

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ing so smoothly. Carolyn Goodwin, an English teacher at Lincoln High, said that she can understand why some of the policies are in place, but she thinks adding so many new rules at once is overwhelming, especially for students who have been attending LHS for the past one or two years. Goodwin also expressed some concern that students may not be very comfortable at LHS anymore.

"I'm not sure kids feel that Lincoln High is as welcoming as it once was," Goodwin said. She is willing to follow the policies because it is part of her job, and hopes that the changes have a positive effect in the long ru11.

"The real test is going to be in five or six years, and seeing if the kids are really performing better," Goodwin said.

Buzz also thought that adding so many new rules at once was a shock for students.

"I think if they would've gradually [implemented] them then it · would've been a little easier on the

sophomore or junior years in high school. Harding will graduate with an International Baccalaureate Degree one year after the class of 2004 finishes their senior year at Lincoln High. Applying as a junior (as Harding did) will delay regular college by one year, but according to LHS teacher and UWC alum Shaunna Meyer, the experience is well worth it. "The international composition of the student body leads students to internalize an intensely global perspective on things,'.' Meyer said of her UWC experience in New Mexico. "The idea is to understand oneself as a citizen, not of a particular country, but of the world-to broaden one's loyalties to include all of humanity,"

For more information about the United World College, contact director of Admissions, Greg Walsh at (505) 454-4201 or visit the UWC web site at: \V\V,v.11\vc· usa.or2:, or visit Mariel's web site ---·----at www.geocities.com/mariel harding

students," said Buzz.

She said that Student Council has been listening to complaints from students since the first couple days of school, and the petition was a way for them to get the administrators' attention and hopefully come to some sort of compro• m1se

Before their meeting with the administration in mid-September, StuCo came up with a proposal for changes to give to Dr Wortman.

"It [the petition] will just address different ways they could go about it. Maybe loosening up on some of the lunch policies, or · maybe enforcing the tardy policy still, but tur11ing on the vending machines, and seeing how that works," Buzz said.

After the meeting, the administrators agreed to let students in the building two minutes earlier after lunch.

However, the other rules seem like they're here to stay. It may take LHS students some time to again feel linked, not chained!

~HS senior Mariel Harding will be spending this school year With col- 1n Italy as part of an international student program.

Photo courtesy of Mary Harding

---- ByTravis.Shippen NewsE.ditor

The start of the 2003-2004 school year brought many new rules from the administration - rules they thought would improve Lincoln High. Some of these rules make sense, but others should not have been implemented.

For instance why did they have to take away the vending machines when we already have the tardy policy? The MAH 1 {) 0 I lOVE SCHOOL L VNCl--fE$ !

tardy policy is enough to keep kids from being late to classes. They didn't need to take away the vending machines, too.

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Some students used to just get food from the vending machines at lunch and that was good enough for them. We can't do that anymore, so we have to either go out to lunch and be locked out until the bell rings or stay in, be locked in the cafeteria, and take a chance at not getting the lunch we deserve.

It was much better last year. Sure, they say we will be disrupting classes, but which is worse: us disrupting class Wtl\. 1AA1SW~1' l W¢Vt.Jil8E I

SJ\'fJ.NG1 f Tl-tE 'f PIDN1THAVE All THESE WE1RV1.vNC11RULG$ '• "---· lalll #- '-'2>VJL',

Another problem is that some kids are not '6/301 2 0 0 '"!., 1/1,,.,,f;i."Jff,,a,,..____

even getting sufficient time to eat lunch during the lunch period. Because the machines are off, many more students are going through the lunch lines. The lines are so long that if you are

stuck at the end, you might as well not bother, because by the time you get to the front of the line the bell will have rung and you will have to get to class. I'm sure that many parents would be outraged if they knew that their sons or daughters were · not getting time to eat lunch, especially when we are in school for so many hours • a day.

It is also forcing students to go out to lunch and spend more money on food than they would in school. They are also getting less nutritional food going out to eat compared to the food they can get here at school. It is unfair that we have to spend more money just to make sure that we can get something to eat.

I have found myself going out to lunch every day since the second day of school when I found out about the new lunch plan, just so I can get something to eat. Going out to lunch also takes up gas. I wouldn't have to go out to lunch everyday if I knew I would be guaranteed a sufficient amount of food and a sufficient amount of time to eat it in.

Because of where I live, I should be going to Southwest, but I didn't want to because I thought Lincoln High would be better. Now it doesn't seem to be.

Students at Lincoln High are not being treated fairly. We shouldn't just sit back and let the administrators do this.

We want the rules changed, but they are not going to change if we don't say anything. We need to speak up. We need to be heard. .Nr£fl'> '5J<li"TLE £

Jacob.Miller E.ditor-in{)hief

Travis.Shippen NewsE.ditor

F..llaF..ngland FeatureE.ditor

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TheA.dvocateis publishedmonthly Department.bytheLincoln~ighJournalismTheviewsrepresentedherearenotnecessarilytheviewsof the LincolnlfigiiA.dministrationTosubmitlettersto theeditor,contact Mr,K.ellerin room310or emailus at advocate@lps.org.

or students that can't make it through the line to get their lunch? It's not fair. ''We as students should be able to ... buy candy and drinks," Lincoln High senior Ryan Davis said. "It is a privilege at Lincoln High to have concessions that we might have taken for granted. I think it (the vending machine policy) should be and will be over turned. The policy is unjust to not only the students but the teachers, too."

Some of the new rules were good ideas to improve the school, but turning off the vending machines was not one of them. Administrators don't have to worry about waiting in line and possibly not getting · lunch. They should have anticipated how this would have turned out, instead of just changing things.

The only benefit to this policy is that it keeps students from littering. Last year we didn't have a problem with getting students through the lunch line because we had vending machines on, and because we had more room to walk around and more options for lunch. We also had more checkout lines.

• ByGwenLawson___ _ NewsE.ditor

Jessica Lynch fought like a hero on March 23, 2003, when the humvee in which she was traveling took a wrong turn and was ambushed by Saddam Hussein's soldiers in Iraq. Despjte her valiant efforts, she was taken as a prisoner of war. During her period of captivity, she was tortured, shot, stabbed, and beaten with rifle butts.

Or was she?

A week or so after her story was brought to the news (consequently after she was on the cover of every news magazine in America), another story surfaced. Brought to the attention of the world by the BBC, the second story suggested that the humvee she was traveling in crashed, and she and several others were badly hurt (with several broken limbs) but no injuries suggesting intentional malice.

It continued to say that observing Iraqis took Jessica Lynch to a hospital, where she was treated with kindness and given medical attention. Further more, it said that the Iraqi hospital staff had tried to return her to an American Checkpoint, but U.S. troops opened fire on the ambulance, at which point they returned to the hospital.

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Mainstream news must have heard this second version too, because shortly after the first accounts of battle and tor1nent, a dif' ferent story was being published in bigger news sources. On April 2, CNN reported that Lynch had bee n taken to Germany for treatment from her "many wounds," and broken limbs from gunshots; on April 3, after her first surgery, they reported that "despite reports to the contrary," absolutely no stab wounds or evidence of gunshots were found.

Only two days later, on April 5, CNN reported that she did in fact have "smallcaliber, low-velocity entry and exit wounds" from gunshots. How this ,vas overlooked during her first surgery ,vas not mentioned.

By this time, every news source in America was reporting a different story, and none of th ,em seemed to be based on interviews with her; most articles were quoting things she had said in interviews only a few days after her "rescue." One month later, it became apparent that the readers weren't the only ones who had no idea ,what truly happened.

On March 5, CNN reported that Jessica Lynch was suffering from memory loss that prevented her from remembering both the ambush and a portion of her captivity.

A recent article in People Magazine focused most attention on the fact that she was home, but also reported that she wasn't ambushed or tortured; her injuries were indeed received in a high-speed collision. A recent CNN article said that she has accepted an offer to tell about the ordeal in a book.

Even in her publicity today, the stories don't line up. It's interesting that the first version of her story, which demonizes the Iraqis yet makes her out to be a hero, came out when the President's approval ratings (especially concerning his actions of war) were reasonably low. It's also interestingthat, despite the obvious discrepancies in the stories that first came out and the current ones, the tone of the articles hasn't changed. Now, rather than torture, American press is accusing the Iraqi hospital where she was taken of giving her sub-par medical care.

At this point, Jessica Lynch is more a victim of lies than torture. No one can claim to know what truly happened, but even with" out knowing which version of her story is true, anyone can see that the rest of them must be lies. It is possible that she intentionally lied about what happened, but it's also possible that she was coerced into telling an untrue story, or that she was bribed.

Even more possible is that she's simply

'

one person who has no control over what the media prints about her, whether or not she truly said and did the things that were written.

She might have memory loss, and if that is the case, then she certainly can't be held responsible for the discrepancies in her stories; chances are that she never told any of them to begin with. Only one fact in all the different stories is consistent-whatever happened, even if she wasn't mistreated at all, she must have shown incredible courage simply to be able to pull through the fear of being injured in a foreign place and having no control over what happened, even if no one ever intended to hurt her.

The latest articles on her have covered everything from the addition on her house to the fact that she wanted to look at the steers at the county fair. The details that are being printed on her personal life are not only extraneous; they're really no one's business but her own.

While the country might not have learned any valid information about her ordeal in Iraq, we can learn to take everything we read with a grain of salt. Don't automatically assume that everything mainstream media has to say is false, but at the same time, don't immediately accept it as true.

ministrators Showe . .ommon Sense in Decisions

ByJacobMiller E.ditor-In-Chief

There is only one word that can describe the latest rules made by the Lincoln High administration.

Brilliant!

I'm still giddy with excitement over the new rules for this year. Just when I thought the leaders in this school displayed sensible and fair rule making, BAM!, they hit you upside the head with a big dose of reality. Like it or not, this type of no-nonsense rule making is exactly ,vhat we students need. It's about time Dr. Wortman and Co. stepped up and took charge.

Lincoln High has been out of control. The selling of cookies, the fact that vending machines were on, and too many messes in the hallways during lunch were clearly the reasons we students were failing and not getting our work done. This year, I guarantee you not one person has been late to a class for a stupid reason that could have been taken care of after school.

Now I realize that everyone has kind of been upset over these rules, but once you think about it logically, it all makes sense. Take the Cookie Link for example. Why

is this not such a big deal? DECA doesn't need the money. What exactly has DECA ever done for this school anyway, besides funding the Back to School Bash, sending buses to away games, aside from doing all ' the other things that DECA and Ms. Hines have done for this school?

No more pop and candy machines on during school? Who cares? Drink water out of the fountain. Everyone knows that that piece of gum someone always sticks right on the fountain makes the water tastes better. Mmm. Spearmint water.

Everyone needs to wake up and quit whining. It's not like anyone actually bought stuff from all those vending machines during the day. Lincoln High has plenty of money sitting around, what's the big deal ifwe lose vending sales?

Perhaps the best decision this school has made has to do with lunch. Everyone who stays in for lunch whines that there's nowhere to sit and that some people don't have enough time to eat. Cry me a river.

The decision to not let students that go out to lunch back into the building was a thing of beauty. It's Lincoln High's little way of saying, if you aren't staying here and eating our food, then we don't care

about you. Stay outside, punk. This policy is really going to come in handy during the frigid winter months. No one is going to say outside, so we will all eat lunch inside. It's okay though. I hear there is plenty of seating in West Gym during lunch. Wait, it's already too crowded.

Don't even get me started on the not eating in Johnson Gym hallway rule. Whoever came up with this deserves a Nobel Prize in pure genius. It was obvious that aside from the floors covered with wrappers, we were just too wild in the hallways. If I had a dime fo.r every time I saw someone deal Cocaine during lunch, I might have enough to buy some myself.

Don't forget about the daily fights in the hallways. I'm pretty sure that if we could still eat in Johnson Gym hallway, this year we would have Friday Cock Fights. By doing this, we are saving our janitors a lot of work. The janitors already spent hours a day cleaning up wrappers, food, and blood. By seating all of us together or keeping us outside, it's easier to keep an eye on all of us. Or is it? Was the true reason for no more Cookie Link and no more vending machines truancies? Did our a,dministrators really have the freshmen's needs at

heart when they simplified lunch? No. The simple reason is we students are overweight. It's true. The evil geniuses we call our rule makers, are just telling us to slow down. Eat a salad. It wouldn't hurt some of you. If a lot of us start to lose weight, maybe the halls will move quicker. Don't take offense to this. You'll appreciate it when you don't fall over with a heart attack at the ripe age of 23.

I can't wait for more rules to be leveled on us. You know, "to make the transition for the freshmen easier." How about a dress code? We don't need to be individuals. Isn't the goal ofL.P.S. to keep us exactly the same anyway?

I also think something needs to be done about sporting events. The student sections have been way to mean. What were we thinking, jeering the other team?

I'd hate for us to be like every other student section in th,e state. We need rules to keep us in check and make sure we don't have fun. There should be no cheering when oh; we already have rules like that set in place. Never mind.

Please keep coming with the strict, some say senseless rules. The more students hate school, the better they learn right?

e Cross Coun Runs

ByJoshMills ____ the beginning of the game, jumping off to a l\.SSistant.SportsE.ditor 14-0 lead. On the kickoff after the Hawks

The Lincoln High Football season second touchdown, Arps broke a couple of kicked off Thursday, September 4th, against tackles and returned the kick for a 79-yard Omaha Burke at Seacrest Field. Coming into touchdown. the season the Links had to replace several On the next possession for the Links, players at key positions including quarter..:/ senior Quarterback Lance Grell ran it in for a back, running back, and many offensive touchdown. Unfortunately the Links missed linemen. the extra point, leaving the score 14-13 in

This Lincoln High Football team is one favor of the Silver Hawks. On the ensuing of the smallest in the state, but hope to over- kick, the Silver Ha\vks returned their kick all come this with hard work. Senior captain the way for a touchdown, but missed their Ryan Blahak predicts that this season will extra point to still lead by seven. Then Arps go pretty well. "I think [the season] will go returned the following kickoff back for the · good because we have a lot of speed, talent, Links for his second toucl1down of the game. and commitment." It was for 84 yards to tie the game at twenty

The season began for the Links at all.

By BenK.athol E.ntertainrnentF..ditor

On Saturday, September 6 th , both the Boys and Girls Varsity and JV Cross Country teams took to Pioneers Park to kickoff the 2003 Cross Country season. Boys captains include s enior Mitchell Memmingand junior Chris Hatch. home against seventh ranked Omaha Burke. On the nex ~p qi,session fo r...LS W , H l\w.ks

,, Burke's defense dominated the offense and senior quarterback Clay Peterson telegraphed ran a personal the Bulldogs beat the Links 31-10. The next his pass and Massa jumped in the way and best of 17:01 week the Links had a showdown with Lin- returned the interception all the way back for ( 4 th Place) to coln Southwest. The Silver Hawks definitely a touchdown The Links really stepped it up lead the Links had more momentum on their side, coming in the second quarter and from there on out to a fourth off a victory over Hastings, the firs.t victory the game was in favor of the Links. The score place finish at in Southwest school history. ended up being 48-27, making the Links 1-1 the Wesleyan Southwest carried that momentum into on the season. Invite.

'"'lhis S1rt'~hcas 1 : """ d's ~assia1

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Districts will take place at Pioneers Park on October 16th and qualifying athletes will participate at the State meet in Kearney on October 24 th •

R eturning letter winners include Chris Hatch, Ray Michelson, Mitchell Mem-

"I think the Wesleyan Invite was a real good first step of the season ' ' ,

said Hatch. This team's finish earned the Links boys an eighth Junior Matt Allen runs in a cross country meet at Pioneers Park earlier this year Most of the Links return and the group has been in and out of the top ten rankings this year.

place state ranking, and Chris Hatch received a 13th place state individual ranking. Hatch said, "I think th e guys worked hard to get ranked in state and we really deserve it." Also having a strong finish was first year runner junior Bandek Chei, finishing in an impressive 13th place, Leading the girls are captains junior Taylor Jones and senior Abby Wood New to the girls squad is freshman Brandis Hurt, who regularly performed well in Jr. High Cross Country meets. The boys team also had an impressive 3rd place team finish at the Kearney Invite on September 12. Returning to the coaching staff is Assistant Coach Jon Dawson in his 20 th season and Head Coach Robert Smith, wh o is back for his 8th season. Kim Rathe, former track star from the University of Nebraska in the heptathalon and the pole vault, is also joining the coaching staff as assistant coach.

Jones, a n d Kendra Wolfe. "We lost some of our Varsity guys to North Star, but some of the other g u y s stepped up well to fill the hole " , s a i d Hatch. "We have

a lot of

teams up there, but if we run to our potential we can compete with the best "

1;

Photo by Renne Krenk

__ ....;B=yJenniferF...ndr_es __ _

-SportsF...ditor

The Lincoln High Volleyball team has big goals this season in proving that they are still one of the top teams in the state. They are going into the season with a never die attitude. "I know that as a senior it is now or never," senior captain Riki Klabenes said.

The Links were ranked tenth in the Lincoln Journal Star and have high hopes of going to the State Tournament with six returning letter winners from last year's 18-14 team. The returners include seniors Alissa Holland, Korey Mohr, Halley Van Laningham, Tanya Warren, Riki Klabenes, and junior Cheri Klaberres. Others to watch are seniors Morgan Raymond, Amanda Brakhage, junior

e Faces an 'eS

questions do not bother this confident team. "With Hitz as our head coach now, and the girls with have on the team, I feel very confident in having a good, winning season," Holland said.

We do know for a fact they will not run out of gas in the end of a hard, fought match.

"The styles of coaching between Nelson-Hitz and Hitz are completely different. Nelson-Hitz seemed to work on the perfection of

ian team. The Links lost in two sets 0-15, 7-15. The second day of the tournament they faced Norfolk in the Consolation Bracket and won 14-16, 15-7, 15-7. The Links then advanced to the Semifinals and beat Council Bluffs Lewis Central easily in two sets 15-9, 15-4. Their next match was against Lincoln East for the Championship of the Consolation Bracket. The Links gave it their all, butlost0-15, 10-15. "Afterthetournament we became closer and more of a team,"Holland said.

year's team is a top-10 team and a state contender. filled with talent

and experience.

Last season, former head coach Kristi Nelson-Hitz announced she was going to take the head coaching job at North Star. Nelson-Hitz was a highly successful coach at Lincoln High. The Links will face the Navigators on October 14th • That will be

· an emotional game for the players and Nelson - Hitz, since she meant so much to the Links Volleyball program.

Now, her sister-in-law Jill Hitz, is taking over the job and has the Links focused and on the right path: the path to success. "I feel that Riki Klabenes ,and I will lead this team to a successful season,'' captain VanLaningham said. This squad is led by the most dominant duo in the state: Holland and Mohr. Holland led the team last year with 224 kills, a hitting efficiency of .35(i, and 68 bloc ks. Mohr led the team in blocks with 82 and also spiked down 195 kills. There is also some pressure facing this team. Will they be as good or better? Will they have a winning record? Will they go to State? These

by Amanda

Davis

each skill and Hitz seems to work more on physical condition of the team," Klabenes said. With more physical conditioning, the team will be hard to beat.

The Links had their first game of the season on September 4 th against the Islanders of Grand Island They lost in three sets 10-15, 15-8, 1015, but Holland had 10 kills and Mohr added 8. The team struggled a little bit because of not having all played with one another and some have never even played in a Varsity match before. Therefore, the jitters came into play a little. However, the team as an overall played pretty well for their first game with a new team and head coach.

The Links squad then competed in the two-day Bellevue East Invitational that weekend. The team played pretty well, and after a couple of sets they started clicking as a team. They lost their first match of the tournament to Lincoln Southeast 15-13, 1416, 3-15. Then, they faced Council BluffTJ and won 15-6, 14-16, 15-4. The team's last opponent of the first day was a very tough Omaha Mat-

[)ITU all

Starts Stea

---~By JambM.ille=-r __ _ E.ditor-ln-Chief

As the 2003 season begins for the Lincoln High Girls Softball tea,n, you can feel the excitement building for the girls. After a rqugh start to last year's season, the Links made a huge turnaround towards the end of the season and even made it to State. Now the Links return several key players and have their eyes on going even deeper in the State Tournament.

0 n September 9 th the squad traveled to Millard North to face the Mustangs. They earned their fourth win of the season and brought their record back to .500. The Links overcame the obstacle of losing one of their key players, Tanya Warren, to a severely sprained ankle in the first set of the match. The Links ended up losing the set 7 -

15. However, the squad refocused for the next set and took it to the Mustangs. They won the last two sets 15-9, 15-10. Van-

Laningham led the team

with 32 set assists and 3 blocks. Holland led in the kills category with 15, while Mohr had 8.

The Girls Volleyball team recorded two more wins September 16 when they traveled to Omaha to face Omaha Westside and Omaha North. The team played well against Westside and won in two sets 15-9, 15-11. They kept up their intensity and team work for their next match against Omaha North and won again iI1 two sets 15-5, 15-10.

The Links competed in the LPS Invite and ended up gettng third place in the Consolation Bracket as they beat Southeast, Norfolk, and Omaha Gross.

"I am excited that we have seven returning starters and we all know what it is like to go to State,

Links experience and depth, something she thinks will help the Links. "We only lost two starters last year, and with eight seniors I believe ,ve are very experienced with many returning juniors." Strain also feels confident about the Links chances toward the end of the season. "After making an appearance at State, I believe we now know that we can compete with anyone," she said.

Coach Michelle Gaines feels that so many returnees will help the team too.

"My players know my system and they also provide

a n o t h e r Senior Amanda Cades awaits the ball good thing as junior Danielle Lohernier prepares to leadership for the.team," Gaines said.

T h e is we all have pitch. the drive

Photo By Tina Wilson Links, who to go back this year," senior Captain Amanda Cades explained.

Cades is one of the key players for the Links. As one of the best pitchers on the team, she has a full repertoire of pitches, including · a 63 mile an hour fastb all, a change up, a drop ball, a rise ball, and a screwball pitch, all of which keep opposing batters guessing.

Senior shortstop Abby Strain is another retun1ee who gives the

were also a preseason top-10 team in the Lincoln Journal-Star, have posted a record of 8-6 through the early part of the season. They will be participating in the Lincoln Southeast Invite and games against Northeast, Norfolk, Grand Island, and the regular season finale against Southwest on October 7. To end the season successfully like the Links did last year, both Cades and Strain think the Links will need to "work on communication."

C:ly ~erson, Senior Alissa Holland spikes the ball in a game against Papillion ~ss La-Vista played at Lincoln Southeast. The Links are looking like

Photo

·sTennis Loo To tate I e

_____ By E.llenOland_____ And this year, there's no stopping me." DurPhotographer ing their first tournament of the season (the When you think of high school sports, LHS/LNE Invite), Lincoln High placed first what comes to mind? Football, volleyball, overall. "I placed 3rd with Chris Bambery or even softball? For many students, sports at the are an important part of the high school tournaexperience, whether you are a participant, m e n t , a cheerleader, on the dance team, a member b u t of the band, or simply a spectator in the should stands with your fellow classmates. For h a v e some Sports, however, many participants gotten put in just as much practice and play- 2nd place ing time as the more popular sports, yet o v e r they receive little to no attention for their Southachievements. west, "

Varsity Boys Tennis, with a new coach O 1 d s and a new attitude, are ready to dominate said. the competition this year. Coach Steve Ward A is in his second year of coaching and teach- strong ing here at Lincoln High. As a former coach t e a m for Northeast High School Ward said, "Both means .ar_s:_qual.\t Y.pLQg ~i}m ~ "Y,l:;ti,c,;p__ I am happy t 9 tr o n g be associated with. However, LHS feels like compehome to me where I ought to be." With an ti tion, emphasis on goal setting, his ne.w approach and this

1s a winning one with the members of the year, the boys team. Senior Peter Olds, a four-year team has Varsity letter winner, has high hopes for this it." Most season. "Ever since 1 was a freshman I've of Varsity wanted to play in the second day of State. returned

from last year. We ha,ve improved last season's finishes in our first two tournaments [placing] 2 nd in the LHS Invite last year, this year we placed 1st in the mvite. At the Millard

Many of you may now be saying, "But te nnis? I don't understand the rules, or I don't have enough money to go to the football game and the tennis matches!" The price isn't an issue since all matches are free and open to the public, as Olds put it, "When people come to support us, we perform better." Mikah also added, "it's a lot more personal. You can watch one person, rather than a team, and being close to the court makes the game more intimate." The rules are simple and easy to follow after watching for a few minutes, and it is just as easy to get caught up in a tennis match, as it is in a football game. Also, if you are more riterested in understµnding the basics of tenni ~ there are usually one or two matches on tele i.sion most of the season.

1'1e boys are up against some heavy compef t ion this year, with LSE, Creighton Prep, Frenont and Westside being at the top

West Invite last year we placed 5 th , this year, we tired for l st," Ward said. Olds added, "My goals for the team are to improve overall this season and have a winning season!" Mikah Meyer, a senior and Varsity player, added, "It's very competitive an d allows you to excel in a sport individually."

- w un -sTa1:<i-rurthe past 2 }ears, and Southeast has always had a stror,g, solid team," Meyer said. There '•re a number of players to pay attention to tijs season, specifically, seniors Peter Olds, M ,kah Meyer, and Josh Ward. "[This group] cf seniors have already provided leadership ;tnd good performances. Dan Beckwith is a l'~turnerwho has already ' medaled in the first two tourneys," Ward said.

There is more to the Lincoln High sports world than you may think, so take a chance and go watch some te~nis!

By JambMiller ____ _ E.ditor-In-Chief

' The Li ncoln High Girls Golf team is ushering in a new era this year. With a new coach and only a couple of returning letter winners from last year, the season promises to be a learning experience for the Links.

Coach Sam Sharpe, who is also the Boys Golf coach and an assistant on the Boys Basketball team, has taken over the Links this year from former coach John Brady, who will become the Boys Golf coach this spring at North Star.

Only thre J 1 letter winners return from last year's team. The team is led by seniors Kestrel Haup tman, Jenika Johnson, and Alma Deumic. ,.In addition, the Links have also thrown two newcomers, senior Allie "' Cole and freshman Katie Miller, into the action at the Varsity level this year.

The team practices each day after school and also plays a tournament-heavy schedule. Sharpe has been working hard with the team on the fundamentals of the game, working

especially hard on shots around the green, an area of the game that the Links can use to help them save strokes.

They also work on the men tal part of the game too. Senior Allie Cole sa:1:,s, "I've learned that a positive attitude an \ being patient always has to be a part of i very tournament."

The girls began the year with a tournament in Kearney, then followed that up with the Pius X Invite at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club here in Lincoln. Wilderness Ridge is considered one of the toughest courses in the city of Lincoln, so it was no small feat that every Link playing that day improved their score on the back nine.

The Links continue to play tournaments throughout the fall and play in the District tournament October 6 th at Pioneers Golf Course and the girls hope they will be playing in the State Tournament October 13th and 14th at Jack Rabbit Run Golf Course in Grand Island.

Senior Josh Ward returns the ball back at his opponent during a recent match. Ward is a returning Varsity member on the team.

Photo by Lindsey Ward

HomecomingSpeti«I , Refreshthatlostsurpmertanjust in timefor the homecomingdancewitha spraytan. • looksnatural • takesonly20minutes& lastsupto 7 days 1sttimecustomerspecialfor $22.00.lf you'vehada spraybefore,get $5.00off regularpricewithyourstudentI.D. The Hot Spot Salon 1265 S. Cotner Blvd. 488-5101

Attention: The Advocate staff welcomes all suggestions, letters to the editor, or other comments. Contact Mr. Keller in Room 310.

SENIORS! Remember that you can use your Interstate Studios photo as you Senior Photo in the Yearbook FREE! See Mr. Keller in Room 310 for more information.

____

ByNickVaske WebE.ditor

advertise on TV or in the paper, they're Control (3140 'N' St., 441- 7900). If you too busy trying to provide services to enjoy the arts, call the University Place the homeless or underprivileged chil- . Art Center (2601 N. 48 th St., 466-8692). dren," Hakenkamp said, "they don't Maybe you like history, so you might have the money to focus on telling enjoy helping out at the Nebr:a ska State everybody what they do." Historical Society (1500 R St ,, 471-4955).

Some students are having trouble There are organizations in Lincoln that finding a place to volunteer that cor- have to do with art, athletics, children, responds with their interests. the elderly, whatever you want.

"Within Leadership of Lincoln, I did Over the summer, senior Jonathan the Cancer Walk," senior Celene Deste- Good ding volunteered for Bright Lights, fano said. "But I don't know where a non-profit organization that teaches else to go." kids through hands-on learning. "I

There are places and people out was in it and I liked it as a kid, and I've there to help lost students find places helped vl'ith it before," Goodding said. to volunteer. C.I. teachers can help But don't expect your experience to be students find places to volunteer, as all fur. and games. "Sometimes students well as places outside of school like have the mistaken notion that, 'I can go Volunteer Partners. Another place for ar.d just kind of sit and call it good'," said students having trouble finding a place J;Jancy Grant-Colson, one of the Citizento volunteer is the Ventures in Partner- ship Issues teachers, "no, these people ship website (vip.lps.org), which haiaa expect you to come and participate and list of over 60 organizations that n eed engage kids or the animals." volunteers.

Volunteering isn't ~ j ust for seniors. Findingaplacetovolunteerwhere For students interested in National you might have some fun, too, isn't so Honor Society, volunteer work done in hard. If you like animals, try Animal any year of high school counts toward

Linco Police Creates Par·

N H.S. requirements.

"Certainly a lot of students [volunteer] because they know it is going to benefit them on a scholarship application or admission to a school," National Honor Society Advisor Russ Uhing said, "and that's OK, many people are motivated for different reasons."

Some students may find it easier to get their volunteer service completed before their senior year. Most organizations have jobs for many different age groups from middle school to high school ages.

Don't stress out, seniors. If you're worried about finding a place to volunteer before your deadline, there are still and will always be plenty of places to volunteer. But as y:ou look for the best place to do your community service, remember that volunteering is a service to others and no matter what, it is still a job that someone needs to get done. "Why do you think they call them volunteers?" Grant-Colson said, "sometimes the jobs are jobs that other people don't want to do."

Crac Down on 'I ut-of-Contro Parties

ectiveness

ByGwenLawson

NewsE.ditor and&mmBartelt

1\SSt.-SportsE.ditor

The Party Patrol is a pretty new development for the Lincoln Police Department. Formed to keep wild parties under control, it's already been pretty busy.

Although it may seem like a godsend for parents and teachers, the Party Patrol was conceived within the police department. According to Officer Kathrine Finnell, media relations officer at the L!ncoln Police Department, large, out-of-control parties with several violations often take a group of officers several hours to handle-that is, to break up and hand out tickets, etc. Because the officers are then tied up for most of the evening, they're not out dealing with other crimes that are going on. So, to combat this, the Party Patrol was for:med so that a group of officers exists only to deal with parties, and other officers can handle the other • crnnes

Often, t he officers will let partygoers off with ;1warning, but they do hand out citatio1,s too. The most common offenses art maintaining a disorderly house, distu:bing the peace, and minor in possession. of p.lcohol. The penalties that should be gi1Ven for these offenses are decided ],y a judge, though a typical penalty for a Minor in Possession is a fine and divergence. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, the maximum penalty for a city citation is a $500 fine and six months in jail.

Thus far, the Party Patrol has, in fact, been sl/ccess fij Since its creation, the police department has had fewer calls repor ting wi ~d parties (though they don't have any statistics as to how many fe\;'t;:}), especi ally from neighborhoods with frequen 1complaints in the past. Also, there have been no repeat •• offende zi s so far

Despite its succes \ opinions concerning the Party Patrd are still pretty lukewarm. Within the poliee department, t l_l e party patrol has solved a lot

of problems, and is regarded as a good development. Among students, it's respected a little less. Many feel that its negative aspects outweigh its positive ones. One senior at Lincoln High felt that the Party Patrol was ineffective because they don't frequently punish anyone but just tell people to leave. Others felt that the Party Patrol was harmful, because they cause people to leave somewhere that they might have been staying, and drive while they're drunk. Some students felt that the Party Patrol is ineffective, because it won't discourage people from doing what they want, although the police department has said that they're getting fewer calls. One student, however, said that he really couldn't see anything wrong with the Party Patrol.

Although opinions about the Party Patrol might not all be on the same page, it will continue to intervene in parties that get out of control. You may or may not agree with its purpose or effectiveness, but be aware that it does exist.

By &an Flowerday OpinionF..ditor

Some of you may remember Elizabeth Eckford' s emotionally charged visit to Lincoln High last January. It was North Star on her ticket this time when she spoke there October 6th • She spoke alongside fellow alumni and friend, Kendal Reinhart, advocating integration and equal rights for all, along with relaying the tale of their harrowing experiences.

For those of you not familiar with Eckford' s tale, she was one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine black students chosen to be the first to integrate into the all white Central High of Little Rock Arkansas in 1957. The nine consisted of Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls Lanier, Minnijean Brown Trickey, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed-Wair, and Melba Pattillo Beals. The students, all chosen because of academic success in their former schools, were transferred into Central High to begin the integration of Arkansas schools after the Supreme Court ruled separate but equal wa s inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional.

The students were faced daily with an unruly mob of segregationists outside the school and the hostile near entirety of the student body inside the school that hated and protested the students attendance of Central High.

In the end, the National Guard was called out to simply secure the nine students safety while attending school. Guards had to follow the students around from class to class to make

Legendary Little Rock Nine figure, Elizabeth Eckford speaks for a filled auditorium at Lincoln North Star High School. Eckford speaks across the country with her friend Ken Reinhart about what they endured while desegregating Little Rock Central High School.

sure violence did not break out. Fellow speaker Reinhart was one of the few white students to give aid and extend a friendly hand to the nine black students of Central High. Both Eckford and Reinhart were confronted with death threats and physical and verbal abuse throughout the years they attended Central High.

The friends implore everyone to remember their tale and not to take for granted the progress made and the progress that is still needed for all to be treated equally. "Some debts can never repaid, but must be acknowledged" Eckford said in regards to those of the armed forces that protected them. The two would like to remind us all that the battle of equality for all is not over, that it is up to the next generation to carry on the fight.

They'd also like to remind us that if you ever see anyone oppressed, shunned, or mistreated simply because they are different, extend a friendly hand and show compassion to all. After all, you never know, you may be the only one to be kind to that person, you may be the only one who offers solace in a time of pain.

Photo by Greg Keller

anl?e

ByMirandaFreeman BusinessManager

•,

The following is an excerpt from an interview with two Russian exchange students, Alina Selyukh and Sveta Kuchina.

The two girls were here from October 7th to October 28 th with seven other Russian students and two teachers from their school, Perspective Gymnasium, in Samara, Russia.

""'c:""':a""n-yc""'o=u-u - e's'-cri be- you r trip here?

AS: First we went from Samara to Moscow by train where we spent a half a day in a hotel. It was terrible, impossible to sleep. Everyone was talking.

Then we went from Moscow to Frankfurt (Germany). It was a four-hour flight and it was very turbulent. It was impossible to sleep and it was very scary. Then we had an hour in the airport. Then we went from Frankfurt to Chicago, it was 10 or 12 hours.

The flight was a bit calmer, there were movies, music, and we could talk or sleep Then Chi-

ents

cago to Lincoln in three hours and we lost our luggage.

(NOTE: They had been told several times that their lu9.gage would be okay. It wasn t. Luckily, the luggage arrived in

of flats (apartmentsf, and your houses are like our villages. What was your first reaction when you saw our school?

AS: Huge! Crowded, people everywhere! The lessons are very different. In Samara, ye desk, a ch, copybook. speak, eat, 1 Ve' or turr

'ck?

Are you omeSl

lli AS· No not

yet. SK: It feels like , home. Why did you decide to come to the US?

Lincoln ·that evening , and was SK: It has always just been delivered to the hos~ houses a dream, something we didn't between 9:00 and 11:~u.) know.

How areyou enjoyingyour stay AS: It was very far with different so far? people and tra?itions. An~, of SK: I like every;lhing here. I course, to practice our English. really like the faim,y. What was your biggest fear What was your first reaction about this trip? when you saw Lincoln? SK: My luggage! It was ter-

SK: Much clc:aner, our city rible. is like vour downtown, blocks ·

uss1an XC an e

I

IJcJt!I IIS

___ ByAdrianAllen____ classes. The exchange students GraphicsE.ditor / also went to classes with their During the weeks of October host's friends.

7, 2003 through October 28, 2003 The students have gone Lincoln High students hosted to the homecoming game and Russian exchange students. The dance, the SAC museum, the s.tudents..cnme..from..Eers.R,e.ciiYe State Ca pj vtl JJ.u llrung ,_t he_y:1"111 =""' Gymnasium, which is a specialized school with grades 1-11 in Samara, Russia. This exchange program was made possible by The American Council which is a non-profit organization funded by the states

"The idea of the student exchange is to come here and experience American Life," English Department chairman John Heineman said. The student exchange has been going on for two years with Russia and will continue next year for the last year. · Lincoln High is the only school in the district that was involved in the exchange.

The exchange went on for three weeks; they arrived on October 7, 2003 and left October 28, 2003. During their stay the Russian exchange students followed their hosts around school to their

went to the movies, and other activities with their hosts. "We enjoyed being here, we had a lot of fun, and it was a good experience." Russian exchange students Sveta Kuchina and Alina Selyukh said. The exchange not only involves the Russian students coming to America but also the American students going to Russia. This exchange will go on during Spring Break in March and will also last three weeks. During their stay the students will stay with the family of the students they hosted. It is not too late to sign up for the exchange program. The trip will cost you $700, which includes your plane ticket, and any group activities. If you are interested talk to Mr. Heineman in room 220.

ea WO an inutes

By c.arrieTodd Asst.FeatureE.ditor

As of October 3 rd , 2003, students at Lincoln High have been granted two more minutes during the passing period after lunch. Perhaps this will save juniors and seniors from the psychological trauma of being locked out of their own school, but some may be asking, "How could I possibly fill this extra time?" Look no further. This is your complete list for "The Top Ten Things to Do With Two More Minutes."

10. Push all the buttons on the Pepsi machine, hoping it will malfunction and tum on. 9. Play tag with the Redcoats.

8. File and organize all the tardy policy forms you've signed.

7. Go sledding down Senior Dip.

6. Feed the freshmen that are locked in your trunk.

5. Bust out your moves with the Drumline.

4. Hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" with your Homeroom class.

3. Call Campus Security to report vandalism after you find a large orange sticker on your car window.

2. Re-sew the ID number to your orange jumpsuit. And the Number One thing to do with your extra time is 1. Fill out your school transfer forms.

aKe a 1~i e wit .eatre's: ''

ByStaffE.miJyE.mst Writer

Lincoln High is known statewide for its outstanding theatre deparhnent. Sure, a few of the auditorium seats are a bit rickety, and the acoustics are less than pleasant, but this doesn't stop the program from thriving.

The LHS theatre department focuses hPavily on performance more than production. New equipment, expensive scen~ry, and sometimes even hired actors contrloute to high school drama, but too much at'-.entionto the superfluous aspects of a production simply causes us to lose sight of the 'true purpose of theatre: telling a story. 1\ie one-act is shorter than a full-length sh0w and is a competition piece that will give students the opportunity to present thett show to hundreds of students throughout November and December. This year's ca.t members will see a variety of one-acts pu +-on by other schools when they attend fb;tivals and competitions.

Last year, "The Laramie Project" showed what hate can do to a corm.1tunity,

Five i He Discusses Fads, Re-gi ing, and Beyonce

ByE.milyE.mst -StaffWriter

creates a climate of "them and us," which E. BlackYoung Educator. can be dangerous. Thank you.

Where did you graduate from high What about the tardy policy? How much money will you get for school? I love it. that?

Class of '92 Grand Island Senior High, Sorry I asked. Who's going to win the ~20, only because they weren't lookwhich is neither grand nor an island. World Series? mg! What fads did you succumb il:TT!=====

to?

with very large bangs.

John, Paul, George or Ringo?

the Wh t uld

a wo you say was the

mos e g movie O your

you t d finin

generation?

Friends. 16 Candles.

and it taught about fighting homophobia. In 2001, "The Rememberer" told the story of Native American children kidnapped from their homes and forced to attend White boarding schools. This year, "The Orphan Train" will tell a similar story of a group of children in search of love, a home, and a family to call their own.

Over one hundred years ago, estimates put the number of homeless children living in New York City at 34,000. Out of desperation, many of them turned to selling newspapers, begging for food, and even crime. Seen as a public nuisance, some of the transient children were arrested by New York police and jailed with adult criminals. A5 the condition worsened, it was apparent that something had to be done.

Charles Loring Brace, a Methodist minister visiting New York, was moved by what he saw and founded a national organization called, "The Children's Aid Society of New York." The program was designed to "rescue" the children by placing them in foster homes throughout the Midwest. Though Brace's plan was theoretically ideal, the overwhelming number of children prevented the movement from succeeding. Hundreds of thousands of children were systematically uprooted and sent by train to farming communities in the Midwest. With virtually no belongmgs and only the clothes on their back, thi: ,children were expected to break all ties to their past and start a completely new lie-one that promised to be better than tre world they knew. Some found loving parents and comfortable homes. Others were not so lucky.

Put to \ ,vork as farmhands, some of the orphans 'lived in abusive homes, neglected by then new foster parents. They were forced to work in poor conditions with little food and almost no time to rest. Some were seen by 1;heirnew parents as a disgrace to the town, and were treated as such.

Vending milchines: do you miss Coke or Pepsi? ' 'em? COKE!

I have the teachers' lounge ... don't

What do you love about teach- publish that. ing? Navigators or p ilver Hawks? It doesn't feel like work. Two wrongs don't make a right. Do you have a favorite word? I hear stories about your karaoke talJakamahaka. It's a word that ent. What's your best piece? describes what 95% of the Welcome To The Jungle. 'Nuff said. population would do at any _ What about your band, "Forces Of given moment. Maly prepares for h1"s"Forces of B " f Bowser?" When is your next pers lik f · Wh"l owser per or- f - 7 o e a con orm1st. 1 e mance at J ·t 2003 · ormance. we're on the topic, let's talk oyni e · . Joynite--be there. LHS pep rallies. How would

by Emily Ernst Mr. Maly the Movie. Who plays you improve them? Maly?

We need to be more inclusive. It's dif- T~e_Ch1cago Cubs ONLY because their Hugh Grant. ficult, given the time we have to plan original na1:1e was th~ Whi~e Sox. Song of the Summer? them, but if they' re solely for athletics, it Congratulations on being this year's Dale Beyonce: Crazy In Love!

Theatre teacher and Director of 'The Orphan Train," Patsy Koch-Johns knew she wanted to do this show \he moment she read it. "This play tells ar,, amazing story that many students would never learn about," Koch-Johns said. She began her October 6th and 7thauditions with an introduction explaining the tradition of the LHS one-act: "Theatre at its best teaches," she said. Of the seventy -four students who auditioned, thirty-one were cast in the ensemble show.

The cast and crew of 'The Orphan Train" will present their show to the public on December 2nd and December 61h at the Class A District One-Act Competition, hosted by Lincoln High School. Tickets are $5. Don't tniss this historical and enlightening experience.

Photo

By JacobMiller E.ditor-in-Chief

After experiencing success the last couple of years in Homecoming games, the Links were looking to keep that success going against the Kearney Bearcats. Unfortunately for the Links, the Bearcats had other ideas.

,ainst Kearne

favorable field position from the start and that helped the Bearcats jump out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

On the Links next possession, quarterback Lance ,p rell hit Travis Taylor with a long pass to get the Links back in -· the game. From there, ,, Chris Arps three-yard run cut the lead to 14-7 heading into halftin1e.

Coming into the game, both teams had been struggling a bit. The Links had suffered three straight losses, while the Bearcats had been experiencing trou- Senior quarterback Lance Grell readies fo r ble getting their ground the snap against Kearney. The Links lost

In the second half, a failed fourth down conversion bythe Links translated into a touchdown by the Bearcats. After that, the momentum was completely in favor of Kearney, as-they pulled away to beat the Links 30-7.

That game dropped the Links to 1-5 on the season and makes the road to the playoffs a lot tougher for the Links. game going. 30-7

The Bearcats had

b Nave Hal ern

From left to right: French teacher Barbara Weiner, and Spanish teachers Jill Hanshew, Janine Theiler, Pat Shepard, and Jeanne Stark were all decked out for Luau Day during Spirit Week. The foreign language teachers have always participated in the long running Lincoln High Spirit Week tradition. This year was no exception, as the teacher's dressed for the occasion e ach and every day.

Photo by Lindsey Ward

Photo

Senior Ashley Henry takes a step back into the Sixties with here tie-dye shirt and bandana on Old School Day.

Photo by Lindsey Ward

Sophomore Mallory Davis shows her school spirit by dressing up for Lazy Day at Lincoln High.

Photo by Lisa Nelson

By TinaWilson ___ _ PhotoE.ditor

In the past, LHS students have taken trips to Bourbon Street and Hollywood and thls year Student Council decided to "Take it to the Beach."

The royalty winners for this year were, King senior, Paul Kenney, Queen senior Celene Destefano, Prince junior Alex Hall, Princess junior Kim Mai, Duke sophomore Andy Hawley, Duchess sophomore Melissa Morton, Lord freshman Tim Moeller, Lady freshman, Jenna Keller.

This year nearly 900 students attended .homecoming this year, which is down a few from last years 1100. "Homecoming was a lot of fun, the decorations were cute and it looked like a lot of hard work went into making them," senior Stefanie Vocasek said.

The planning for homecoming began the second week in August. The first duty of the Student Council members was to come up with a theme. The theme that student council agreed upon was a luau or beach theme. Student council figured that it would be an easy

theme to work with for decorations, in such a short amount of time.

The council spent much of their time making decorations and planning for concessions. Some of the highlight decorations included the tiki men, pa4n trees. "It was a lot of hard work, but things went smoothly and it was a lot of fun," student council treasurer, senior Kevin Akerson said.

The DJ for Homecoming this year was DJ Fizzle. Many may remember DJ Fizzle from the Snowflake Semi-Formal last January.

Opµ1ions were split about DJ Fiz' zle.

"The DJ was better than last year, but he could have played more of a variety of music. It was basically all the same stuff," senior Aaron Chvatal commented."

"The DJ this year was a lot better than last year. He played good music and that's all that really matters," senior Tiffany Bundy said.

Overall, Homecoming was a great experience this year, and continued the great LHS tradition.

final nominees from each gender the night of Homecoming.

Alex

and uke and Du<:::hesscrowns

All Homecoming photos courtesy of Mike Reinmiller

Seniors Celene Destefano and Paul Kenney were the Homecoming Queen and King. Destefano is a Pomalink, while Kenney is a drum major in the marching band. All the winners were chosen by their fellow students. After the first nominations in homeroom, students chose from three

Juniors

Hall

Freshman Tim :l¼;~ Iler Kim Mai were crowned ent to sophorllores Andy "ArasHo~ecoming Homecoming Prince and a w l e y and Melissa Lord, while Jenna Keller was HomecomPr1ncess. orton.

ost n ranstation:

One Of This Seasons' Definite Must Sees

E.llenlJland _____ wed and young Yale graduate. VacaPhotographer tioning with her husband (Giovanni Language barriers, vivid color, and a Ribisi) who is working on his latest phofew wild nights set the tone beautifully tography endeavor and never around, for Bill Murray's (What about Bob,Rush- Charlotte is forced to the confinement more) latest success, Lost in Translation. of her hotel room and the bustling forSet in Tokyo, Japan, Murray's character eign city. Bob Harris, a formerly wildly s,1ccessful Their relationship now commences. actor, is the newest spokesperson for a Slowly realizing the commonalities they popular whiskey in Japan. Traveling share, Charlotte invites Bob to spend constantly for promotional work and the evening with her and some friends, photo shoots, his marriage and the life and their platonic night on the town is he once knew is slowly deteriqrating. a memorable one.

Writer and director Sopllia Cop- Littered with music from artists pola (The Virgin Suicides) ltas definitely such as Kevin Shields, Squarepusher earned her place in the Hollywood elite and Sebastian Tellier, the soundtrack is with this picture. With vibrant imagery, romantic and appropriate as well. with a flawless cinematography, Lost in Bill Murray, with a more serious, yet translation,is a must se~. ..iark comedic approach steals the screen

While staying in his hotel, he slowly with out even batting an eye. Murray's begins ta adapt to his surroundings. abilities are beautifully showcased in this Spending his evenings in the hotel bat film, and long time fans will love his ap.i long nights watching movies wJl:h flawless performance along with costar subtitles, he has found -eomfort , but Scarlet Johansson at his side as a mature little release. During a phone ca)l from young woman. A vivid and captivating his wife regarding carpet samples, she film, Lost in Translationkeeps the audiannoyingly asks "Do I need tu ence engrossed with visual appeal, stunworry about you Bob?" his response ning cinematography, and a beautiful is simply an exhausted, "Only if you score. If independent film work and want to." "' artistic styling grabs your interest, I Enter, Charlotte (Scarlet Johansson, The highly recommend this film Horse Whisperer, Ghost World) a newly

;\ndreaShonibin___ _ OpinionF..ditor

"Some Devil'' is what some would call Dave Matthews' debut solo album It could also be called Dave Matthews other band or side project.

With Brady Blade on drums and percussion, Tony Hall on bass, Trey Anastasio of Phish and Tim Reynolds on guitar, Stephan Harris on keyboards and programming, and Dave Matthews as lead vocals and some guitar, "Some Devil" could be mistaken as a bad cover band for Dave Matthews Band.

The thing this CD lacks is the violinist Boyd Tinsley; drum artist Carter Beauford; the amazing jazz compatriot Leroi Moore; and the prodigy bassist Stefan Lessard whom are all of Dave Matthews Band. The original DMB that • lS

Without the up beat energized jazz melody of DMB, Matthews' voice is the only thing that flatters this record. DMB supports Matthews' voice, whereas the musicians on this album don't. Matthews' voice and the artists on this CD aren't a good combination. Together they produce a depressing sound.

Matthews sings," Some devil is stuck inside me, I cannot set it free, I wish, I wish I was dead and you breathing,"

Record sales don't seem to support my opinion that "Some Devil" may have been a wasted effort without the members of DMB.

During the second week of Matthews debut release; "Some Devil" sold 469,000 copies taking second place on Rolling Stones music charts.

Critics are giving "Some Devil'' high reviews and state they believe Matthews can survive on his own feet without DMB.

Without the highly talented and skilled members of DMB, Matthews is barely standing on one foot.

Sure, Matthews is talented, but it isn't exposed as much as it is with his band. Matthews; style of singing and playing guitar matches DMB, as the band and him embellish one another. "Some Devil" emphasizes the essence of depression in the sound of his music than the cures as he does with DMB.

I ouRan - ut [J Time uch

With songs like "Gravedigger" and "Some Devil", the hidden manic depressant in Matthew is easily revealed.

You idn't

;\ndreaShonibin OpinionE.ditor

If you' re looking for a movie for the whole family to see, don't see "Out of T " rme . Although "Out of Time" is rated PG-13, tfa• this is a film for an • older audience seek- ,,,. ing to see an exciting, complex, keep-youreyes-open-the-wholetime kind of movie.

To grasp the plot of "Out of Time," the viewers must cling on to every detail leading to the climax. (Which is .n't difficult with Denzel Washington as the main charac-

for Banyan Key, Florida Police Department.

Throughout the story Whitlock is having an affair with his high school sweetheart, Anne Harrison, played by Sanaa Lathan.

"Gravedigger When you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain," ar e ju~t some of the eerie lyrics. In the song "Some Devil"

As many critics give praise to "Some Devil", it won't be receiving mine. Don't get me wrong; it's a mediocre, mellow record. You'll love it especially for taking a drive in the country with the windows down and the wind blowing in your hair.

_ But other than a CD to put in and relax to "Some Devil" is a runner up for a :table coast_er.

the movie Out of Time.

In the process of his divorce he's investigating a double - homicide and soon finds himself becoming the main suspect. Tangled in his mistakes, Whitlock has to stay one step ahead to cover up clues leading Photo Courtesy of OutOffimeMovie.com

ter.) Denzel definitely fulfills the thrilling role.

In this film Washington plays a married Chief of Police, Matt Whitlock, to him.

Overall "Out of Time" should be given two stars for its effort capturing the audiences' attention with the actors' performances.

Left to right: Eva Mendaez, Dean Cain, Denzel Washington star in

____ .seanFlowerday___ _ OpinioinE.ditor

As November rings in we are reminded that one year from now our nation will be selecting whom it deems most fit for the job of leading the free world in the United States' 53rd presidential election.

And in accordance with tradition, a free-for~all has broken out, for the nomination to give the incumbent a run for his money (of which there seems to be no short supply).

Remem er to Vote or Love

in a feeding frenzy and allow the Shrub Administration to sneak back into the White House for another four years.

Former Governor of Florida Bob Graham was a candidate also but has dropped out due to what he interpreted as lack of support.

Now I think that former President Clinton said it best when he said, "The difference between Republicans and Democrats is that come November Democrats want to fall in love, Republicans just fall in line." He, and I second the motion with enthusiasm, urges Democrats to "go ahead, fall in love, but come November, fall in line."

Do no allow the minute differences between your favorite candidates and another's favorites obscure your focus from the real matter at hand, taking back the White House from those that would use it to rule with fear and fill it with those that would lead with love.

Nine people with any notoriety at all have declared their intention to become the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States: Senator John Kerry, Senator Dick Gephart, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Congressman Denis Kucinich, Congresswoman Carol Mosely Brown, Congressman John Edwards, Governor Howard Dean, General Wesley Clark, and professional rabble-rouser Rev. Al Sharpton.

Since Al Gore announced that he would not seek the nomination for President in 2004, it has been a growing fear that Democrats pursue one another 7 • 1 ion! 0 a

Travis.Shippen NewsE.ditor

Now that the war with Iraq is technically over - although there have been more deaths now than when we were in war - the rebuilding has begun. The Bush Administration is spending $87 billion, which we don't have, rebuilding Iraq when the United States has not solved all its problems.

The Bush Administration obviously didn't anticipate everything that would happen if we went to war with Iraq, and they obviously didn't plan well for what would happen after the war ended.

They did, however, figure out what it would cost: $87 billion, for an electric transmission network, 3,528 housing units, 160 bridges, two prisons, faster mail delivery, a pediatric hospital, and much, much more.

We should be using this money to solve the problems in the United States. We still are having problems with unemployment, the federal

deficit, education, and our economy all together. It is costing us $3.9 billion a month for the reconstruction of Iraq.

This $87 billion is not really going to the people of Iraq, it is going back into the American corporations like Halliburton, whose former CEO was Dick Cheney, our current Vice President. In March of 2003, two units of Halliburton were about to file for bankruptcy to help pay for asbestos lawsuits. Now, with a $1.7 Billion contract for "rebuilding" Iraq, their bankruptcy problems have been solved.

We are so caught up in the issues of other countries that we have no time to worry about the problems that the United States has.

When Bush started his presidency we had a surplus of $3.053 trillion. According to the New York Times, "The Federal deficit is projected to be the highest in U.S. History at $455 billion this year, demolishing the $290 billion record from 1992."

At least when Clinton was Presi-

I am sad to say that my fears are becoming a reality. The Democratic candidates are attacking one another in a political fashion that is frankly atrocious, weakening each other with attacks upon character as oppose to policy and position, leaving themselves open to dissection by Team Bush whenever Team Bush sees fit.

Edwards and Clark are currently the victims of character assassination by former colleagues and fellow candidates, being called "Hotheaded and Cutthroat."

Personally I feel the left side in this country could use a bit of that old-time Bobby Kennedy ruthlessness.

I don't know about the rest of the left, but I miss the days when the liberals had an edge. When they were the party of rebellion and excitement. When did we began searching for conformity and moderation in place of intelligence and energy?

Another sorry example of candidates attacking candidates is this business of an

• 1 urton!

dent, he helped solve important issues like creating jobs and helping to lower the federal deficit. All the Bush Administration has done is increase the federal deficit, given tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 %, killed many innocent Iraqis by "collateral damage" in the war, and ,oh yeah, help the people in Iraq who didn't want us to destroy their land in the first place.

We are just lucky that our military defense is as good as it is, because with as many people as the Bush Administration are making angry we will need to protect our country.

When the next election comes around in November of 2004 we need to find out the whole story about the candidates, so that we don't end up with a President that spends a large sum of money that we don't have.

We need one that will fix the problems in the United States, and we don't need one that will try to control other countries and create war.

allegiance formed between Senators Gephart and Kerry to destroy the reputation of one of the favorites for the nomination, Governor Dean.

Now I pray this is not true, yet I suspect otherwise. If this proves to be true, I have but one thing to say to these men: bad pool, Gentlemen, bad pool.

I implore all Democrats, particularly the younger generation that will be for the first time participating in the 2004 election, to of course pick a favorite. Pick the man you feel best fit for the job, but never lose sight of the goal to take the White House back.

And please, please, please refrain from character assassination and degrading tactics, not simply between the opposition and ourselves, but more importantly during inter-party business.

Let's unite ourselves with the vast majority of interests that we have in common as opposed to the minuscule difference, and never, never, never allow yourself to lose sight of the goal.

Republicans govern through fear, Democrats through love. Let's act like it.

overnator' Rea To Take Action in . ealif ornia

Terminator is the guy to lead us." I guess the man who led a bunch of kids in "Kindergarten Cop" has the ability to lead one of the most populated states in America.

.,._, JacobMiller F..ditor-In-Chief

My ears are ringing and my body is still numb. Movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger is now the governor-elect of California.

When it became evident that former Governor Gray Davis was going to be recalled, people came out of the woodwork, deciding to run against him. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who announced his bid on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," credible journalism for sure, decided he was worthy to be governor.

Like most people, I chuckled to myself and said, "Whatever. He'll never be elected." Alas, I was proven wrong. Californian's voted overwhelmingly in support of Schwarzenegger and said, "I think the

How was he elected? What was his promise, to tum around the economy? Doesn't everyone promise this? Were all the other candidates for governor promising to keep the economy down? Can someone explain this? This has to be a joke.

I keep waiting for Arnold's first day on the job. He's going to sit down at his desk and right before he's going to do something important Ashton Kuchar is going to come running through the door yelling, "Arnold, you've been punk' d, dude!" Then they'll share an awkward hug and Arnold will smile and say, "Iknew it dude. I am so getting you back"

Schwarzenegger managed to win an election without ever discussing what he would do if he were to be elected governor He just said that he would tum the economy around. Did he ever explain to the citizens of California just how he was going to do it? This is mind-boggling.

Consider Gray Davis TERMINATED!

From now on, I will never, ever, feel sorry for the state of California again, barring catastrophic tragedies: earthquakes, floods, or a second Good Charlotte C.D. They have made their bed and now they have to lie in it.

These recent events have led me to believe two things.

One, California's citizens might just be the dumbest citizens in the United States. I don't even think that the people of Florida, in all their confusion that led to a mess of a Presidential election, would elect Schwarzenegger governor. I really don't think they would.

This has led me to my other conclusion Anyone can be governor or any other political position if they have at least one of three things, the fame (Schwarzenegger in California), the family genes (any Kennedy or a Bush), or the right dope head citizens (California).

Don't kid yourself; Tom Osborne will be the next governor here and he could possibly do it without ever really going into details on any issue. After California's election, nothing

Colle .e Ai

Start Looking

carrieTode AssistantFeatureF..ditor ·

The time has arrived for Lincoln High seniors to begin making major decisions about their plans for next year. Most will be off to continue their education at a college or university. Overall costs and the amount of financial aid available are big factors in deciding on a school, and now is the time to begin working on scholarship applications. Lincoln High Guidance Counselor Dave London said that the

would surprise me.

This has led me to say this. (Taking a deep breath.) I am running for the mayor of Lincoln. I feel like it is my time. I am turning voting age soon and feel like Lincoln needs me. If Schwarzenegger can be governor of California, why can't a kid with a dream be the next mayor?

I have a couple of promises for the citizens of Lincoln.

First of all, there will be no sticky sex scandals. I will keep my hands to myself at all times, and failing that, I promise to look everyone in the eye and lie about. You will not catch me red handed!

Second, no corporations will run this city. I will have the great citizens of Lincoln at heart when I respectfully announce that the State Capital Building is now the State Capital Building presented by Alltel.

Third, read my lips when I say no new taxes for the first three weeks of my administration.

As mayor, I will tum around the city of Lincoln. The economy will be better than ever. Don't ask me how, just vote for me.

for Seniors or Mone

Now

eral different applicafions.

Along witfi essays, many scholarships also require letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or counselors. London recommended giving those writing recommendations two weeks to finish them. He also pointed out that giving them a copy of your resume helps them to write a better recommendation.

The Counseling Center offers a number of Helpful Hints for seniors preparing for college next year:

most important thing for seniors to be • Meet with college representatives when doing now is preparing their personal they visit Lincoln High. Watch the bulletin resume. for these notices.

"You've got to sit down and do that • Prepare your personal resume and keep before you can do anything else," Lon- adding to it as you go through the year. don said, because having your resume • Begin researching colleges. The interfinished will make applying for scholar- net is a great source of information. Every ships much easier. college will have a website.

The counseling center has schol- • Begin identifying scholarship programs arship applications available for stu- for which you are an appropriate applicant. dents, but London said that the best • Have a calendar and time-line for your resource for schol~rships is the Internet. activities during your Junior and Senior Fastweb.com is a free website that can year. help students find a multitude of schol- • Keep taking challenging/rigorous arships. There is a 30 minute student in- courses. They are the best preparation for formation questionnaire, and when that college admission and for college success. is completed, the website will take each student's information to match them with scholarships they are eligible for.

"The more you know about yourself, the easier it is to find scholarships," said London. He also stressed the importance of applying for as many scholarships as you can, but said the best approach is to write a good essay that can be used or changed slightly for sev-

Starting the application and scholarship process now means having more time and information to make the best decisions about upcoming years. Keeping up with deadlines, and having records of school and community involvement will make the list of applications less intimidating, and may just help land you in the school of your choice.

• • 0 an rovi es ee e enence or

By JenniferE.ndres .SportsE.ditor____ _

Four-year Varsity volleyball standout player Alissa Holland has set high standards this season not only for herself, but also for the team. It is her senior year and she is making the best of it. She does not want to look back and have regrets. She wants to prove she is an All-State caliber player. Last season she was on second team All-City. She has received three letters in volleyball and has the most experience on the team. She is leading the team in kills with 230 and leads the state with a .418 hitting efficie~y She is definitely a p~ yer teams have to look out for.

Holland has been playing volleyball since she was in fifth grade and started playing competitive in seventh grade. Her experiences have helped her gain more knowledge of the game and most importantly have helped her learn how to stay in the game mentally. She tries to use her superstitions to her advantage by doing the same warm-ups and same things during matches, and of course, she listens to her CD player before she gets on the court. Her pump up music is Eminem.

She has a good work ethic and fire to win, all of which bring an important role

to the team. She has helped the team earn a sixth spot in the Lincoln Journal Star rankings and seventh in Wild Card points with an overall record of 23-11. She was a dominant force as she helped the team earn victories over ranked opponents, Columbus and Northeast. She is clicking with her teammates and things are finally going in the right direction not only for her, but most

importantly for the team.

"There is no "I" in team. One player doesn't win matches. Everybody on the team plays an important role for us to succeed. I wouldn't be able to hit it if Halley wasn't such an awesome setter and if our Defensive Specialists like Riki couldn't pass. I love to see Korey nail the ball down as well as Carly and Jess," Holland said. She is a great team player and will do what's best for the team.

On Saturday, October 11th , Holland had the career game

many good players who have played Lincoln High Volleyball, and to think that I'm almost up there is a great feeling. All my hard work I have put in is finally showing," Holland said.

She was a domi n ant force at the Heartland Athletic Cqnference Tournament as she ignited the Links to a first place finish with wi;ns against North Star, eighth ranked Northeast, and seventh ranked East.

Her goals to finish out the season are very important to her. If accomplished, they would top off her volleyball career at LHS. She wants to win Districts since --'Jf"--hg:r...life...-.-Sbe s.pi..1<.edsh@F1:as-Rev er ,L;\ ·\ron"'l!-8.<-11Dis,f:.r-ict;i:---e,urn."a-" down 17 kills in a first place win against Bellevue East at the Millard W est/LHS Tournament. She was two shy of tying the Lincoln High record of 19 held by Michaela Franklin and Makyla Lonewolf, both former outstanding volleyball players at Lincoln High. "It's very exciting to know that I'm close to breaking a

ment before. Also, like every volleyball players dream, she wants to go to State. Holland would love to just play once more at Pershing Auditorium and help the team make it to the championship match that she was so close to advancing three years ago She loves the atmosphere of the State Tournament and gets an amazing feeling playing on the court.

Holland's future plans are still up in the air. She wants to attend a college that is somewhat close to home, but out of Lincoln. She doesn't know whether to play volleyball or basketball, she hopes

o Liose, Yet ::,o -

Girl's Make Run At State Birth

ByBenl(athol _____ ter than, their season average at Districts. E.ntertainmentE.ditor Senior Allie Cole Shot a 104, which was

The Girl's Golf season was a learn- an impressive 13 shots better than her ing experience for mm season average. some, while it was New to the team this a finale for a couple year was Cole and freshman of seniors who have Katie Miller, who both letbeen in the program tered in their first seasons. for four years.

Coach Sam Sharpe encour-

Leading the team ages any girl interested in is four-time letter learning how to golf to winner, senior Kes- come out next season (fall trel Hauptman, who 2004) due to the fact that won the individual 80% of this year's team championship at the were seniors.

Northeast Invite this

The night before Disyear after shooting a tricts, the girls practiced personal best of 92. and talked with former Link

The team fell and now professional golfer short in their bid for Sarah Sasse, to prepare for the State Tournament Districts. Sasse, 2003 Big after finishing fourth XII Player of the Year and behind Omaha Burke, :~ ••m All-American, spoke about Grand Island and what it takes to oe success-

Pius X. Unfortunately ful on the course, as well as for the Links, the top Senior Allie Cole prepares to putt tips to build team unity off three teams advance at one of h 1 t cti the course. "She [Sasse] has to State. The girls put er as pra ces. a great attitude," Hauptman together a team best said, "Sl1e's just like one of 428 combined score, Photo by Brittany Allen the girls on the team. She which was 28 strokes really helped everyone out better than their season average. All five and made it seem simple. She's going to of the girls shot right around, if not bet- make a great coach someday."

s

_____ By JacobMiller ___ _ F...ditor-In-chief

It's pretty safe to say that this year's Lincoln High Varsity Football team didn't begin the season the way the team had hoped. After beating Lincoln Southwest, the Links dropped a tough game to Lincoln Southeast 21-7, and then were beat ' - by Lincoln Pius X 47-14.The Links record then dropped to 1-3 with District play starting against in-town rival Lincoln East.

Lincoln High was looking for redemption against Lincoln East after last year's heart-breaking loss. Unfortunately for the team, the Links offense could never get anything going and the Spartan offense did just enough to beat the Links 24-0.

The next week the Links hosted Kearney for Lincoln High' s Homecoming game. The game was hard fought from the start and -after senior Chris Arps scored from three yards out, the

e na eason e

Links were only trailing 14-7 with much of the game left to go. Unfortunately for the Links, a fumble on the next possession stalled the offense and from there

on out, the offense couldn't score against the Bearcats. Kearney's offense eventually wore the defense out and the Bearcats prevailed 30-7.

After the Links dropped to 1-5 on the season, Coach John Farrand reflected on what went wrong so far in the season.

"First of all, we've played a good schedule. We are just in a situation where we have made too many mistakes, and sometimes we've just hurt our own effort," Farrand said.

There have been some bright spots for the team, though.

ByJoshMills f\ssistant.SportsMi~..,.to_r

The 10th ranked Links Softball team was eyeing the State Tournament, but first had to overcome teams in Districts such as Omaha Bryan, Omaha Westside, Lincoln Northeast, and Lincoln Southwest. However, the Links were not worried coming in; all of these teams were most definitely beatable. The Links had a record of 16-15 coming in and had a pretty decent season. The Links took 2nd at the Omaha Westside Tournament and were on their way to either tie for first or take second for the City title.

So far, it was an up and down season. The biggest victory for the Links was when they beat the number one team in the state at the time, Lincoln Southeast. They lost the first game of the doubleheader 1-0 in a hard fought battle , In the

Lincoln High's junior Ricky Massa (21) and senior Josh Mills (40) come in for the tackle against a Kearney player.

Pfloto by Renee Krenk

doubleheader. With that win, the Links ended the regular season with an 18-17 record.

The first game of Districts was played on October 9 against Lincoln Northeast. In order for the team to go to State they had to win Districts. The Links took care of their first challenge by winning 4-0. Then, in their next game they played Lincoln Southwest in the Semifinals. This time however the Links came out on the wrong end, losing in extra innings 1-2 After their loss, the Links

"The defense has held up, but we've struggled with scoring points and that means the defense has been out there too long sometimes," Farrand said.

Since the Kearney game, the Links lost on the road at Columbus 17-7.

Despite their record, there were

some individual highlights for the team. Junior Ricky Massa was leading the Heartland Conference in interceptions with nine, while senior Jared Waddel was one of the leaders in the state in punting averaging 40.4 yards a punt. Meanwhile, seniors Chris Arps, Josh Mills, and Travis Taylor are all high in the conference for tackles. Through the Columbus game, Arps had 73 tackles, Mills had 62, and Taylor had 52 tackles.

One change for the Links this year was on the offensive side of the ball. Farrand switched the offense to a Wing T offense, rather than the normal I Formation.

"The kind of running backs we have are quick and without a real good blocking fullback, I thought this better suited the team," Farrand commented.

After nearly upsetting North Platte 20-16, the Links ended a disappointing season with a 28-7 loss to Lincoln Northeast, finishing the season 1-8.

Photo by Tina Wilson

Links were ready for revenge. They came out strong, but ultimately lost in extra innings to the Silver Hawks 3-2.

Lincoln High junior Sarah Swanson rounds first base after hitting a single were not done. Their next game would come against Omaha Westside. Coming into the game after just losing to the Silver Hawks, the Links were ready and they came out with a 2-0 victory. Their next challenge would come against Lincoln Southwest again. After beating them in the regular season, but already losing to them once in Districts, the against Lincoln East. second game, they finally got some key hits against the Knights' top pitcher and won 4-2. It was an exciting and thrilling win for the team since it was the first time the Links beat the Knights.

The Links ended the regular season with a win against Southwest 2-0, after losing the first game 2-J. In the second game they started out strong. They didn't want Southwest to end their streak of not being swept in a

Senior right fielder Katie Hawley said, "I wish that my senior season could have went longer and been better. I was sad to see it come to an end so quickly."

The Links finished with a 20-19 record, second in the city behind Lincoln Southeast, and ninth in the state.

LHS's National Honor Societv ' ·Aaualin

BycarrieTodd AssistantFeatureE.ditor

able program in helping students continue their education

Ever -wonder why some graduates "It is a note of accomplishment for

wear red collars over their . gowns at outstandingachievementinhighschool,

graduation? This symbol represents stu- and from that, they are able to use that

dentswhoaremembersofNationalHonor distinction on things like scholarship

Society ~t Lincoln High. . . a~plica~ons and ap~lymg for schools,"

National Honor Soaety, or NHS, 1s a said Uhing. He believes that colleges

program of academic recognition that has look for outstanding students, like those

chapters all across the country. The 104 in NHS.

members of Lincoln High' s NHS chapter "When a student is a member of Na-

were recogmzed at the Honors Convoca- tional Honor Soaety, 1t does show that

tion on November 12, along with com- they have accomplished a lot of things,

mended students of all grades. in a variety of areas," Uhing said. Th

ey were At Lincoln High, only seniors can be a In addition to being an excellent re-

ByFeatureF..llaF..ngland E.ditor

s ears reat For eason

ward, forming a shape resembling a star.

2000

In part of NHS. Requirements include having sume builder, National Honor Society is b s ecial Eduat least a 3.5 GPA, and displaym· g qualities becoming more and more involved with Yt·

, of sc:holarship, leadership, character, and helping the community and scho0l. Lin- Barb Weck= = ,senricP ~ l .incoln Hig l:t.i::eq!!il:e&tba U..h.e.:..ti.J. e coln iBig h ~:....'IW:::IS..lli..esident, s e ri.ig..r...__]\J_.i.i;i;i i - "- "••~- ;,!!! ~ I dent has had at least 20 hours of volunteer Abebe, says that projects are in the works work, which can be done any time between for the officers and members of the orga9th and 12th grade, and has held some type nization.

of leadership posltion. Character evalua- "We are planning on doing commutions are made by teachers or counselors. nity service projects ()r activities that will Russ Uhing, the NHS advisor at Lincoln help Lincoln High," said Abebe. Possible

program was cancelled for several years because of the lack of a

sponsor and interested students.

nual Aqualinks show.

This year, Aqualinks kicked off their season early with a show on November 14 The show's main purpose was to recruit new members to add to the already existing nine members.

In May, will be the an- High, calls National Honor Society a valu- activities include fundraisers for a donation to charity or to make improvements to the -school.

National Honor Society also has scholarship opportunities, with two students from Lincoln High selected each year for scholarship nomination. Overall, Uhing' s advice to students is to look towards membership in NHS as a goal for their high school career. He pointed out . that, unlike CI hours which need to be completed during the senior year, the service and leadership areas can be completed any time throughout high school, so even freshmen and sophomores can begin fulfilling the qualifications.

Advantages to being in NHS are well worth the effort it takes to keep your grades up. Good grades are important for college and scholarships anyway, and being a member of National Honor Society gives you extra distinction that will give you an advantage over other applicants. Lincoln High commends its members of NHS and would like to congratulate them on their academic success.

The officers for the 2004 class are:

President- Mimi Abebe

Vice-President- Sarah Frank

Secretary- Maddie Hansen

Treasurer- Zoe Holmes

Historian- Matthew Peters

Parliamentarian- Peter Olds

As an Aqualink, you learn many tricks and stunts including Pinwheels, spinning in a circle at the top of the water, and forward

The theme has not been decided yet, but you can bet that the team will be one hundredand backward summersaults under the surface percent "N'Sync" with all their moves and that of the water. Another basic move is Skoaling, it will be a totally enjoyable and fun show that • you won't want to miss :

Five · inutes ''Ba er • n '' • c1ence air Steve Ferris

____ By E.milyE.mst____ _ .StaffWriter

We'll start with the usual Where did you graduate from High School?

Central City High, home Senior of the bison and not too far from Grand Island.

What do you have againstneckties?

They get in my soup. You couldn't wear a tie tack?

Tie tacks are wack.

Nice ~go. People tell me you're pretty hip when it comes to that kind of thing. How abouta lesson ?

On Lingo? Yes.

I make itup. Really?

Fo shizzle, my shtizzle.

favorite junkfood?

Pringles! Mmm salt 'n vinegar

What'sthe mascotof FerrisUniversity?

The North American Badger. What CD is in your CD playerrightnow? Jive Pistol.

Whilewe're on the topic of music, John, Paul, George,or Ringo? Ringo.

WHAT?!

I hate the Beatles--AND the ship they • came 1n

Science department Chair steve Ferris tells of his life, preferences, and lingo. Photo Courtesy of Steve Ferris ever.

Then of course you know the ternt, "jakamahakar'

Yes, I do.

What is jakamahaka to you? Talk radio.

Coke or Pepsi?

Pepsi one or diet coke but NEVER diet Pepsi.

Red chain for"

Whathappenedto the Aztecs?

They're still around. I saw them this summer.

Ferristhe,Movie who plays Ferris? . WOLVERINE!

What'syour theme song? Badger-badger-badger.

Whataboutyour Karaokepiece? I'd teach the audience the badger song!!

L arches Its

By BecraMelpolder___ _,; ,\ssistantPhotoE.ditor

This year during winter break, 295 Lincoln High Marching Band members and family will be going to London to march in the London New Years Day Parade. The group will be leaving on December 27 and returning January 2. The LHS Orchestra has been to London several times over the years, including a trip last year. For most of the students however, this is their first trip.

The band was invited by the Lord Mayor's Console for the parade. The members of the band did fund-raisers and some are saving up paychecks from jobs or having sponsors pay. ·The trip itself is $1900and there are extra site seeing options like the London Dung eoh and other things tl1at come up to about

$50 extra. This is going to take place over Christmas Break, December 27 to January 2

The fund the band has • raisers done are: Gold cards, The Great American, The All American and The Red Wheel. They sold everything from bath and body to tins of cashews and peanut brittle. They band will be performing the famous tune Dan Ehly arranged "A Pomalink Christmas" which includes; Joy to the World, The Nutcracker Suite, I'm getting nothing for Christmas, and many more.

Along with a Pomalink Christmas, they will be preforming, Strike Up

This former ight is gettinga

workingeduc

-ationat Nebraska.

LINDSAY GRIESER, a senior news-editorial ' major at the University of

Nebraska-Lincoln, received job offers from newspapers last May-and she still had a year to graduate! She's already had three internships

across the country, worked two newspaper jobs in Lincoln and served as

lead designe.r on the student "With all of my internships, to Nebraska. We like to The Journalism College

FORCONNECTINGTO CAREERS There is no placelike Nebraska.

• produced Cuba magazine. I keep hearing, 'Oh, you go hire people from Nebraska. ' has a great reputation. "

-

ByBenl{athol ' __ world, is the only stronghold F..ntertainmentE.ditor left to fight off the machines, The machines who run the Maworld.

After the huge success of who dominate the rest of the trix also have bad programs that the 1999 film, The Matrix, star- real world. are out to get the freed people ing Lawrence Fishburne, Keanu But you are still probably who are "plugged into the MaReeves, and Karrie-Anne Moss, wondering, what is the Ma- trix." Some of these programs directors Larry and Andy W a- trix? This is a question posed are "agents" programs that con chowski decided that a trilogy to Neo in the original movie. not be terminated and have was in order. Filming for the The Matrix is , a computer pro- lightning fast reflexes. One of sequels began in 2001. Wire gram that is used to house the the stray agent programs, Agent fighting and weapon training "un-freed" humans, and is run Smith, has found a way to clone took up most of the actors' time by the machines. The Matrix himself and poses the biggest and energy. The second ---· · ·- ··--·-··-· installment (Matrix Reloaded),was released on April 15th of this year and · ;'ilfl second movie, Smith ',''. was released on DVD i!vif~Iw·' · plagues Neo in Revoluand Video last month. !iWJljl' 3% tions after Smith took , Matrix Revolutions ,;;~t;; over the body of a freed was released Wednes- iiF human and received a ·:day November 5 th • phone call to teleport There was not nearly as himself out of the Mamuch hype for Revolu- trix. After the Smithtions as there was for inhabited human' s ship Reloaded. Moss, Reaves, · crashes, this human who and Fishburne, all re- has been taken over by turned for the third Agent Smith is the only movie. Jada Pinkett r=================:::c.c, survivor. The Crew of Smi th (Captain Niobi~) eo Fighting Agent Smith inside the Matrix. Neo'~ ship w;is :1naw_are from the second movie Photo Courtossy of thematrix.com of this man s identity. has also returned to play Will Neo Be defeated a vital roll in Revolutions. is the world that we are living by Agent Smith or will Neo be triumphant in his efforts to save humanity?

In the original Matrix Neo in right now. It is filled with (Keanu Reeves) was a n~rmal sub-pro8:ams like The Oracle, everyday citizen who lead a The Architect, an~ _Agents. The normal life, but who also had O~acle has the abil1~ to propha second life as a computer eciz~ the future and introduces hacker. He met a woman by the idea to Neo that there are

The idea of the Matrix Revolutions is that the Machines are coming to attack Zion. The Movie is focused solely on the actually no real choices and no Human/Machine war and the the name Trinity (Karrie-Anne Moss) who introduced him to the idea of "The Matrix." Neo then chose to be freed, and entered into the "real world;" which was a world run by machines. Zion, the last city still inhabited by humans in the real matter what a person does, the chance to save humanity. outcome is predetermined and Don't expect to see much will happen a certain way. Neo Matrix fighting as most ot the is "THE ONE", an idea that he .· movie is set in the real world, has supernatural powers and but do expect a great showhas the power to single hand- down with highly advanced edly change the fate of the special effects between Neo

ut •and Agent Smith in one of the final scenes of the movie.

The Matrix Revolutionscompares in quality to the original Matrix and far surpasses the Matrix Reloaded Though there was some poor acting by newly introduced characters, some cheesy love scenes, and some special effects that are a bit much, I still give the Mqtrix Revolutions a solid 4 Stars, and recommend the movie to any-

eone interested in the first two. I also recommend that you see the first two movies before seeing the Matrix Revolutions, due to the fact that it has a complex storyline and would lose effect without a previous knowledge. Though the first two movies had complex storylines, Revolutions, fortunately for the viewer is more straightforward and easier to understand.

•

__

ByGwenLawson NewsE.ditor

In our frenzy to be told every little detail regardingthe "liberation" of Iraq, important events happening in other countrieshave been seriously neglectedby the media.

Right now, Israel is building a 409 mile long, 26 foot high concrete wall which will essentially enclose Palestinians inside the occupied territories of the West Bank. Twice the height of , the B . erlin Wall, it contains armed watchtowers and a "buffer zone" 100 feet wide for electric fe11ces,trenches, cameras; sensors, and military patrol. This apartheidwall, which the Israeli Defense Ministry refers to as a Security Fence,11 or a II Seam ZoneII is a serious violation of human rights and basic freedoms.

The official reason that the wall is being erected is for securityagainst suicide bombers entering Israel. Unfortunately, it's not being built just

111na11 ts

along- tlie6o ""rder oetween Securitv/Sealll/Siei •aration/ADartll~d Zionism,the !ewish mo:e- s~ch an ~portal_ltev~nt? !he erecthe West Bank and Israel. F /Z inej••• II ment to reclaim Palestine tlon of this wall is a histoncal event The path of the wall cuts ence Olle ,...a and establish a Jewish state, that challenges the world's percepwell inside the Green Line began in the late 1800s.As an tion of human rights. Why haven't (the border establishe~after - Pa1es11n1an-eo.111~edTerritoQ .,¢,. attemptto gain supportfor the we heard ~bou~it? Here's one ~dea: the 1948 war) and zigzags After cOM1r110 wan ·• ·· ···· Britisheffortsin WorldWarI, the Amencan idea of human nghts around Israeli settlements, 1111

England declared ' it's support in other countries doesn't extend thus giving the Palestinians of Zionism in 1917. It was beyond the right to give us their resome 50% less land. And . then decided that Palestine sources.The Bush administrationwas it's not just Israelis who live ww would be the land west of the very determinedto liberate the Iraqi on Palestinian land; there Jordan river. Britain would people,when their rights were being are Palestinianswho live on

have control of the land east taken. It's not merely a coincidence Israeli land, ·too. Approxi- of it, and regulateJewish im- that Iraq is an oil-rich country. mately 300,000 Palestinians ,_ migration to it. Palestinian Fortunately, other countries, will be left on the Israeli uprising caused Britain to such as Canada, several European side of the wall when it is · drastically limit Jewish im- countries, several Latin Americau complete,cut off from other migrationin 1939. countries, and Australia are recogPalestinian villages. This After the Holocaust, the nizing the travesty that this wall is, wall will not only separate Zionist movement gained and they're reacting. Palesti11iansfrom Israelis, momentum, and Britain On November 9th of this year, it will also separatePalestin- stopped limiting Jewish the anniversary of the destruction ians from other Palestinians. immigration. On May 14, of the Berlin Wall, demonstrations In order to build the 1948, Israel was established againstthe separationwall took place wall, homes, crops, and vil- by the United Nations as a all over the world. lages in its path have been · homeland for all Jews; With Although this apartheid wall destroyed. When the wall is .._ __________________ __, the establishment of Israel, may not be an issue that's important complete, Palestinians will d•"t th H 1 L d I 1 al 750,000 Palestiniansbecame to the Bush administration,it can be ll be h all regar i as e o y an s am so If 'd lik essentia y captive 1nt e sm area .d Pal tin. t be h 1 1 refugees· others stayed and fought lmportant to you. you e to cons1 ers es e o a o y p ace. ' · that it encloses. A ct· t th B 'bl 1 - 1 h against the occupation. Homes and take part m protesting the wall, you Th b . ,, th" nfl. h ccor mg o e 1 e, srae isw ere . . th all . e as1s1or 1sco 1ct1st ou- Ab ah · ,, th f J d fi t land were confiscatedand occupied · can v1s1twww.stop ew .org to see · · r ain, 1a er o u a1sm, rs es- ' sands of years old. Both Judaism and tabli h d 1 1 ti· In 63 and over400 Palestinianvillageswere what can be done. Chri d Pal h s e a re 1g1ouspopu a on. I , 1 ll h th stiamtyong1nate 1n estme,t e B C th 1 d d b th destroyed. t s too ear y to te w e er or 1 d hi h I 1 d th ., e an was conquere y e ill ak diffi b

an w c isnow srae ,an asit1s e R h betw 135 d 132 ThiswallisagainmakingPales- notprotestw m ea erence, ut h th B"bl omans, w o, een an th 1 h 1 d countryw ere manyeventsm e i e B C dr th J t It th tinians refugees in their own land. e more peop e w o are mvo ve , d h 11 ah tak 1 b th Ii ., ove e ews ou . was en . h h h . h h an t e or e P ace, o re gions that the land was nained Palestine. So why is the U.S. neglecting t ~ore c ance t ere is t at t e buildmg of the wall can be stopped

s

e, • emean eens

Linksletter Article Portrays All Youth as Drunken Troublemakers

· Lincoln High community, sent which our busy schedules don't the places Casady told parents to wrong is the not so distant past,

ByF..llaF..ngland Feature

F.ditor and BeccaMelpolder AssistantPhotoF.ditor

In his letter that appeared in the norm. Teens like to hang tips! have not, shoula not. the October issue of the Linkslet- out with their friends / which ALL of the rules were over- Casady had no reason to ter, Casady wrote an "informal" Casady says is the wrong thing done. Rule eight says that ther e' s write what it is he wrote and letter to parents providing them to do because it leaves teens with frequently alcohol at parties. We publish it in a newsletter that with a list of rules that every par- the opportunity to cause trouble all know this, but just because hundreds of parents would ent should abide by for all chil- (see rule number three). there is alcohol, does that mean read. He did not base his indren, except a few exceptional

The next rule that irked that we are , going to drink? formation on statistics of any ones. us beyond belief was number Ummm ... NO! Next, rule seven I sort, it was merely his opinion.

Rule number six stated that eleven. According to Casady says that teens should not go Yet he did not state clearly that "overnight stays with friends "you (parents) are free to look camping without parental su- these rules were his opinion, should not be a weekly occur- around in our teen's room, car, pervision. We can somewhat and nothing more. He made rence." He continued saying drawers, closet, books, back- understand this, ·but again, not them seem as if they were rules that parents are sometime packs, under the bed, above ALLteenswhogocampingwith everychildmustabidebyforall unaware who is supposed to the ceiling, inside the duct- friends are having sex, drinking, teens will get into trouble and be staying at their house, thus work, under the spare tire, in and doing a plethora of other il- do things behind their parents' making it possible for teens to be the ashtray, glove box, trunk, l~gal activities, as Casady implies. backs. This isn't true. Yes, we do out and about without supervi- etc. An obsessive concern with Finally, rule number thirteen, stupid things, and yes; most of sion. This is sometimes true, but adults looking around is a major titled "You Don't Trust Me," us lie to our parents, but these frequently it is not. We stay the warning sign." What normal kid tells parents not to feel guilty rules are extreme. Lying to your night at one another's house would want their parents snoop- about their teen tellirig them that. parents and doing something every weekend and sometimes, ing around in their room? Just Well, some parents should. The you shouldn't every once and all weekend. We aren't running because we need our own space parents of some teens distrust awhile isn't just cause for your about causing trouble. We just doesn't mean we're doing any- him/ her for absolutely no rea- parents to snoop, nag, and just like to spend time together, thing wrong. Oh, and most of son. If a kid has done something plain flipping out on us.

Teenagers are evil. They should not be trusted. Parents beware--your kids, all of them, are out in the world doing horrible things. They do drugs, drink alcohol, and party like they were going to die tomorrow, and don't even get me started on all the sex that's going on behind your backs. This is the message that went out to hundreds of parents in the by our very own chief of police, allow during the week. We look, I have never even thought yeah, they should have slightly Thom:as Casady and LHS SCIP. are not the exception. We are of hiding things. Thanks for the harsher rules, but those who

E ucation -oesn't

,

ByJaoobMiller FAitor-in-Ohief

Sometimes you learn more from what's going on outside of the classrooms, or even in classes, than what's being taught by the teachers. Take a look at what I've learned at school so far this year.

I've learned to never admit when you are wrong and to never even attempt to .listen to people when they are angry. Thanks to Lincoln High' s ridiculous rules on lunch, vending machines, and the Cookie Link, students everywhere are free to be this stubborn and nai:vein their everyday lives.

I'm still confused why the administration has made no serious attempt to listen to students and try to compromise on some new, but less strict rµles. Evidently, admitting you are wrong and trying to amend the wrongs would be a sign of weakness. What a great example for us students.

The restricted rules at lunch give Lincoln High the prison atmo- 298753 just stop his movement towouldn't have been the worst thing sphere we have now. wards his class? What, is he talking in the world if Lincoln High had And can we please get rid of to someone? It's a girl!! Did they enough room to pull off something our planners? It's tougher to go to just hug? We've got to stop this like that. Has it occurred to anyone the bathroom here than in Memo- nonsense. We can't have feelings in that wintertime is rapidly approach- rial Stadium at half time. Is it really school. Let's MOVE!!!" d h t d t W 't · d 1ng an w1t more s u en s ., ·tW,t:.,;;l,':iiW:{Jii/tt· ;,: 1;I:l*;,,,:m:rn;m1mmiltt•mrnm••iw e won even nee names staving in we won't have ¥fatiliitililt. I ,.u~il1Jlll'.'l!li!;l!f-!Xtmf®fa anymore. It'll be great. It's the - - - ,_._J, - -exact thing that Lincoln High nee ds to attract students to come here. Why go to a new school

The Cookie Link made money when you can have your moves which was then invested back constantly watched here at Lininto Lincoln High. Remember coin High? the Back to School Bash, that

As a family, because remember event that i;veryone hypes as Lincoln High is a family, we'll a greafevent for Lincoln High? · print out a pamphlet and distribMs. Hines and DECA funded ute it t.o middle schools. "Why that. Not any more. you should go to Lincoln High."

One of the reasons that the Include highlights like having a Cookie Link was shut down

Photoillustration by Amanda Lowe storyteller and musician come to was because too many students Lincoln High, and only giving him were late to_t~eir classes. _ necessary to have a planner signed 20 minutes to speak, because our In add1tio1;1to the loss. of this by a teacher to certify that you are classes are mar~ valuable than_any valu~b~e sn?cking commodity, the okay to potty? Why don't we just sort of real mult~cultu,raleducation. ad~inistration also added a tardy have tracking devices tied to our A1;1otherthing I ve learned at policy that all tea~hers have to fol- legs so our every movement in the ~cho_ol1sthat some students are headlow. If we were going to add a tardy school can be monitored? It'll give mg mto the real world completely P?licy, why shut down the Cookie the Red Coats something more to do, clueless about real life. Though most Lmk, too? _ and it can even open up more jobs. are good t? go to co~ege, tha~ks to

The n~w tardy policy could (Maybe we can hire Frank Solich, I a steady di~t of ~ed1ocre, .pointless have taken ca~e of any stude~ts doubt he'll have anything to do after classes that Just fill the requirements that were late instea~ of sh~ttmg this year.) Then they 'can sit back for college, good luc:\cto a l?t of them d?wn a n:ioney making busine~s. in their office and keep track of us when they ha_veto_do their taxes or It s thes~ kind of r1:1es_t~at_arelaid electronically. change a flat tire without the help of down with no real Justification that "Wait a second, did Senior anyone.

Le ation of •• a ..... 1, uana evita .e, utcome

·ContributingE

ByNickVaske WebpageF..ditor

ts WouldR

and potency restrictions.

Likewise, if it were legalized for personal growth and use, people could · grow however much they needed and whatever type or quality they wanted. If marijuana is legalized, the laws should be designed to promote individual use and production instead of commercial mass production.

Many people say they want The main argument that has marijuana legalized, but what kept marijuana illegal is that it do they mean? Do they want is harmful. The perception that to go to the gas station and be · marijuana causes violent crimes able to buy a pack of joints? Do and is a top cause of vehicular they want to be able to grow a homicide, however, is false. plant or two at home to smoke There are bad effects from and use personally? Or do they -marijuana, like dulled mental want to be able to grow mass abilities and memory, some dequantities to make themselves pression and the "I just don't rich? care" attitude, as well as harm

Marijuana could take to the lungs, teeth and nose. But many different roles in society cigarettes hurt your lungs, teeth depending on the way peopl ,e and nose, and alcohol causes ulwant to legally use it. cers and liver damage. Not to

If marijuana were legalized mention all the automobile acas a commercial product, it cidents and violent crimes that could be heavily taxed and des- happen because of alcohol. ignated as a crop only allowed If the illusions about marito be grown by corporations. It juana and its -effects are excould also be given high tariffs posed, then people will realize

A long time ago, high school was supposed to prepare us for real life. Now it just prepares us for college. That's great, but students who aren't going to college fall through the cracks of education.

Where are the classes that teach us real life skills? Students should be taught how to pay bills, taxes, basic car and home care, along with many other things that will pop up in life well before Poe's writing will.

Instead, students are forced to fulfillludicrous requirements just to please a bunch of stiffs in suits in government that think they know what is important for students. Who came up with the logic that if a student does well on his/ her ACT, then suddenly they are ready to be a productive member of society?

There is also the lie that you have to have a college degree to be successful in life. There are a lot of homeless people with college degrees, just like there a lot of successful people without degrees in the world. A collegedegree doesn't guarantee success Having a variety of skills and the ability to handle responsibilitydoes. How can students learn to be responsible if their every action is dictated?

That's what I learned in school.

uestiona le

IntotheDeatho MarijuanaAs We It

that marijuana isn't any worse than alcohol or cigarettes, and perhaps even a lesser evil. If marijuana is legalized even -

green houses and farms. be enforced even stronger than They could also create laws the laws that keep minors from that would prohibit growth getting tobacco or alcohol. within city limits or certain Because marijuana is zones. If that happened, virtu- more harmful than cigarettes ally all of the available marijuana in terms of its carcinogenic would be commercial quality. properties, regulations would Higher quality marijuana probably be made to make would be less abundant because it less harmful to the lungs. it would be much more cost ef- Though marijuana, or at least fective for corporations to grow commercially made marijuana, types that can be cultivated in would be less harmful, it wouJd greater quantities and in a faster probably also be less potent. time, which are factors that But, if and when marijuana lower quality of marijuana. · is legalized, people could grow

on the basis of its current false pretenses, then many harsher laws will be enacted to "protect" people from marijuana abuse

If marijuana were legalized, most likely the government would be doing it to make money from taxes. The government would make restrictions and rules for who can grow and who can't.

Permits would probably be required, and they could make safety codes that restricted growth to specially equipped

Marijuana would most likely their own marijuana plants at be sold in packs like cigarettes. home, though there might be And, like cigarettes, joint packs restrictions on how much, and would have similar taxes placed they could grow much higher on them, maybe even higher quality with more personal atones. tention and care

Laws would also be placed The legalized marijuana on age, either at 18, like ciga- would not only be cheaper and rettes, or 21 like alcohol. Even better, but it would also cost though minors would still be the public less money if law able to get marijuana products, enforcement no longer had to they would still get in the same spend time finding, prosecutamount of trouble if caught as ing, and jailing or fining. they do now with marijuana be- There would also be more ing illegal. Their buyers would time and resources to spend still get in trouble and so would finding real criminals like the sellers, and those laws would murderers and rapists.

•

• ) I

·m Team

___ B-yE.llaE.ngland __ _ FeatureF..ditor year.

they will do even better this

The bell sounds and According to Head Coach they're off! Diving into the Richard Conradt, the goals water and racing towards for this year's swimming the finish line. Bystanders team are to be open to gaze in awe as the Lincoln learning new techniques. "I High Swim team shows - want them to be willing to their stuff. Soon, this will sacrifice individual goals for be happening for yet another the team and to swim fast. season as.the swim team pre- Conradt expects the team to pares to kick off an exciting easily meet those goals and have an exc 'ep tional season se ason.

year several made · if they follow their coach's Last the swimming _ plan for success. competition, in many of the If you want a good show, events. Overall last year, the the best people to watch team did great, especially in would be the seniors, espepulling together as a team cially the 4-year seniors, who and not just individuals. have been swimming the However, we all know that longest. Conradt hopes that it to State

they will, "Step up to be lead-

Rea

ByTinaWilson PhotoF..ditor

This year's senior class is looking for something rnore. After a shaky start to last year's season, the Links want to get off on the right note and make an appearance in the State Tourna~ ment. Ending their 11-7 season last year with a shortfall at Districts, the Lincoln High Girl's Basketball team is ready to succeed. Their success won't be complete without help from the returnees from last season.

The returnees this year are seniors Alissa Holland, Jennifer Endres, Riki Klabenes and Abby Wood. These returnees have beenplaying together since the seventh grade. "We know

h

with Holland in saying, "I don't necessarily have a plan of leadership, I just plan on leading by example and I hope the younger girls will learn from me."

The other returnees, Wood and Klabenes, look to help their team despite recovering from in-

ers and put aside their individual differences to ,become a team in the truest sense of the word." If that happens, this season will definitely be something worth watching and the team will excel at every meet this year.

The first meet of the season is against Millard South on December 4, 2003 at 5:30 pm right here at the Lincoln High pool. If you cart' t make it to that competition, meets are about one or two every week until the State competition at the end of February. If you have any questions about dates and times, the schedule is posted on the Lincoln High sports website.

To Start

Wood is recovering from an injury from the cross-country season and looks to be a strong team member as well. Wood strained her S.I. joint and she is slowly healing. "It's my senior year and I'm not going to let this injury stop me from my dreams in basketball," Wood said.

Girl's Basketball Head Coach, Bill Myers, in his zgth season wants to see his team be competitive and successful. "Our strengths this year are three point and free-throw shooting, and the privilege of having 4 letter winners," Myers said.

Some areas Myers looks and hopes to see improved are rebounding, ball handling and defense.

This season looks to be a strong one. The Lady Links are determined to be united that we know if someon~ Seniors Alissa Holland, Riki Klabenes is having an off-night and and Jennifer Endres are ready to lead if another one of us needs the Girl's Basketball team to a successto step up," Klabenes said. ful season and hope t.o make it to State. "I plan push the other girls (Not pictured is Abby Wood.) to succeed and also support

as a team. All four returnees have the same goal, to win their District, and proceed on to the State Tournament. This year is a little different for the Varsity Girl's Basket- and encourage them to reach their goals," Wood said. Holland and Endres, who have been playing together for seven years and are both fouryear returnees, look to provide a strong sense of leadership for this year's team.

"I want to lead by example, and be there for the younger girls when they have questions," Holland said. Klabenes agrees

juries. Klabenes missed out on half of the season last year due to knee surgery. "I've always pushed through things, whether it would be a illness or an injury, and that's what I plan on doing this year," Klabenes said. Due to an injury this summer, Klabenes' knee won't be completely healthy, but like anything else, she vows to give her all until the end of the season.

ball team. The schedule has changed a lot. In past years, the Links have played North Platte after the Holiday Tournament in January. This is due to the addition of Lincoln North Star to th.e schedule. The season kicks off Friday, December 5 in North Platte. Their first home game is the next day, Saturday, December 6 against Millard South.

Photo by Tina Wilson

___

'

By_._JenniferE.ndres~--SportsE.ditor

Unfortunately for the Lincoln High Varsity Volleyball team their season didn't end the way they had hoped. The team had dreams of going to the biggest contest in high school sports, the State Tournament. The Links went into the District Tournament as the number one seed with a 23-11 record. They needed to win Districts in order to go to State despite being seventh in Wil<i Card points. The four teams standing in their way for the quest for the District championship were Omaha Bryan, Omaha Westside, Lincoln Northeast, and Lincoln Southwest. The links got the first round bye and would play the winner of the Omaha Bryan, Omaha Westside match.

For many it would be the last tournament and last games of their volleyball career at Lincoln High. They were ready to give everything they had to enjoy one more last journey of the season. At the beginning of the season no one thought things would go as well as they did since the team lost their former Head

I ,i11ks OOKl

all Faces Season En • In Loss at Dis ·cts

Coach, Kristi Nelson-Hitz, to Lincoln North Star. It was a struggle just getting to know how everyone played, but the players never gave up and kept their heads high until things finally started clicking. Once they got that down, the Links got on the winning path that they hoped to continue into Districts. Practices for the final week before District play were outstanding. "We are playing better this week than we have all season," senior captain Riki Klabenes said. The team's goal was to

"I am very excited. I am ready for us to play our hardest and go to State. We are ready to show everyone that we are the best in the city,"senior captain Halley VanLaningham commented before Districts. made the links even more focused, confident, and determined to prove that they were one of the top teams in the state.

Their first opponent ended up being Omaha Bryan in the semifinal

forget abou_t every- Senior Tanya Warren goes up high in the air to spike it down thing else that had for the Links during the District championship match vs. happened during Southwest at North Star High School. Junior Carly Akerson the season. Their (10), and seniors Alissa Holland (12) and Halley VanLaning-

recorddidn'tmatter ham (2) watch Warren spike it.

Lincoln Northeast was picked to win the District Tournament by the Lincoln Journal Star. That article

match. The Links came out fired up to play and won easily in two sets 15-5, 15-3. Senior Korey Mohr led the Links in the victory with eight kills and two ace serves. Lincoln High hoped to continue their dominance in the championship match against the winner of the Lincoln Northeast, Lincoln Southwest match.

looked a little sluggish and out of sync against the Silver Hawks in the beginning of the match. The Silver Hawks ended up winning the first game 15-5. In the second game of the match, the Hawks continued their success and took what seemed to be a commanding 7-0lead. That's when Lincoln High finally got into a groove of their own. Junior Carly Akerson helped turn the momentum around for the Links squad with her strong serves that started with an ace. Her other teammates seemed to also get some key digs, blocks, and spikes and all of the sudden the Links got five straight points. However, that didn't keep the Hawks from playing their best.

After two costly errors by Lincoln High, Southwest won the second game 15-12 to take the District championship match.

After waiting for more than an hour-and-a-half anymore because it wouldn't help them get to State. Their desire, will, and hard work were what they needed. ,,

Senior Leaders Will ~eed to Take Charge

By JambMiller --E.ditor-ln-Chief--

ByJoshMills f\ssistant-SportsE.ditor

The Lincoln High Boy's Basketball team is corning off of a season in which they electrified students, teachers, parents, and alumni with their exciting run . through the State Tournament to capture the first Boy's Basketball title since 1959. The only thing about that is the majority of players from that team are off to college, leaving only one returning starter, seruor Seth Sharpe, and one other player that received good minutes off the bench, senior Marcus Minzel.

Coach Russ Uhing isn't concerned about the number of seniors lost from last year. "Each season is unique and each team takes on it~ own persona_lity. I aip very confident that this _year s team will compete at a hign level and that we can have another successful season," he said.

The nu1nber of seniors the team lost doesn't bother Sharpe, a second team All-City selection last year. "We can actually use it as motivation. Teams will see that we lost ~ys like Tyi;on [Canby] and Jake [Brestel] and they might under appreciate what we have," he commented.

For the first time in a couple going to be critical for the success of years, the Links will be play- of the team. in_g without Tyron Canby, tfie "I think that everybody as a Mr. Nebraska selection last year whole team will need to step UP. for Bov' s Basketball. when the time comes," Minzel "Tyron was a tremendous said.

--~ "All the kids moving up from lower teams will .especially need to step up because we need to have a deep team again," Sharpe explained. Despite the fact iliat the team lost so many players, there . , ., will still be. a 1~rget on the ' · ,. · ; team, considermg th~y are , , t~e defending State Cnam-

Seniors Marcus Minzel and Seth Sharpe will be heavily counted on to provide scoring and leadership for , pi()ns.

-when asked if there is any added pressure after winning State, Minzel said, "It's not really pressure, but I know that ~very_team we go up against 1s going to be after us, so Ph b T. w·i tha1 puts a little more on our oto y 1na I son shoulders." the Links this season. player for us and had a lot of sue- Even though the Links lost cess as a Link. I feel good about a lot of players, so did a lot of this year's guards andknow they other teams all across the state, can have a great year," Uhing which should be a goo9- thing for said. the Links. Sharpe trunks Omaha Senior Eric Rose will be one Central and Bellevue West are of the players counted on to fill two teams that should start the in where Canby once played. season as favorites. The Links will Shawe even said of Rose, "[Rose] probably be added to that list not has improved a lot. He's going to too long after the season starts. be real important to the team.' Maybe the Links will put Fi))ing the gap that has been fans through another exciting left with so many seniors gone is season.

after their victory against Omaha Bryan, the Links faced a very confident Lincoln Southwest team that had just upset number seventh ranked Lincoln Northeast. The links

The links battled hard to the ·end, but it wasn't enough. Senior All-State candidate Alissa Holland led the team with seven kills and VanLaningl1am added 16 assists of her own. The Links Volleyball squad finished their season with an incredible 24-12record, which was much better than last year's 13-14 record.

Photo by Michael Scully

•

ti-Smo

____ By Travis-Shippen___ _ NewsF..ditor

Lincoln High students gathered in Johnson Gym on Wednesday November, 19th for the Great American Smokeout wearing their new shirts that they received in homeroom. The shirts had facts about tobacco-related deaths on _ the back that were 'just another way to explain the harmful effects of tobacco use to LHS students.

The shirts were given to every student at Lincoln High for the Assembly. The assembly was to inform students of a $100,000 grant that was awarded to Lincoln High, which enabled LHS to buy an electronic marquee. LincolR High is one of only two schools with an electronic marquee, the other school being Southwest.

Seniors Jesse Humpal and Kelly Donahue put Lincoln High' s Great American Smokeout together. Every year there is an observance of the Great American Smokeout. Last year the student body gathered at "smoker' s corner" to demonstrate

Assem Entertai 11j11

opposition to second-hand smoke. This year Humpal and Donahue wanted to do something different, to show people the effects of smok-

ormative

looking over us and making sure that we were doing a good job with the assembly and we had to get him involved in the assembly, because he has a powerful voice. "

The assembly was so spectacular, that Humpal and Donahue have planned to do more assemblies in the future.

During the sembly on Nov. 19.

Partial Bir

By .sarahBartelt ___ _ i\SSt.-SportsF..ditor

After seven years in the maki11g, on Wednesday, November 5th 2003, President Bush signed a bill making partial-birth abortions illegal. The president received the bill after it passed the Senate in a 64-34 vote, and the House three weeks later in a 281-142 vote.

In the bill, ,partial-birth abortion is defined as "delivery of a fetus until, in the case of a headfirst presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the bod y of the mother, or, in the case of the breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother for the purpose of per.forming an overt act _ that the person knows will I<lllthe partially delivered Jiving fetus." Partial birth abortions are most commonly performed in the third trimester of the woman's pregnancy.

The medical term for partial-birth abortions is , Dilation and Extraction. f The medical steps involved }, with a Dilation and Extrac- ill tion or partial-birth abor- ff tion are as follows: I 1. Guidedbyultraso.und, f the abortionist grabs the i. fetus's leg with forceps. ,, 2. The fetus's leg is i1 pulled out into the birth • canal. ,

3. The abortionist deliv- ID ers the fetus's entire body, !" except for the head. !1, 4. The abortionist then W jams scissors into the fetus's skull. The scissors are then

Human Services, also spoke at Lincoln High during the assembly. He is the person in charge of okaying how Lincoln High spends the $100,000 grant.

Smokeout students got to watch a video and hear the rap style of Kdiddy and J-Hump. "People like to be entertained and we like to entertain. People listen (to rap)," Donahue said. The Roe, (Roe Mueller) the head of Health and ing. "We wanted to make it fun so that people would enjoy it and really learn something from it at the same time," Humpal said. It took about two weeks of planning. "We met with Mike Reinmiller and he worked some magic with the video. We did about two days of ta ping and we drank a lot of Mountain Dew. It basically just came together," Donahue said. elly Donahue (12) entertains the crowd lduring the Great American Smokeout as-

"He was

C\._[]ortions

opened to enlarge the hole.

5.. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The fetus's brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead fetus is then rem°'1ed.

It is estimated that before the bill was passed 2,200 partial-birth abortions were perforrrted every year. If a doctor is foun d violating the bill in any way, he/she will be subject to prison terms of up to two years. It is a federal law, so it will be the federal government's job to enforce the law.

Three yearS' ago, the Supreme Court ruled that a Nebraska state law banning all partial-birth abortion was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court found this law unconstitutional because of its vagueness regarding women's health. If the women's health was at risk, would it be OK to

"We are not really too concerned about topping this assembly, but we have a couple ideas up our sleeves ana we are just trying to go with the flow and see what happens," Humpal said.

The two also have words of thanks for the people who helped them with the assembly, namely Audio Visual Technician Mike Reinmiller "for giving us Mountain Dew, and being Smokey the Bear," and DECA spons_or Trudy Hines "for giving us the inspiration to do this."

In the end Mr. Urmacher ended the assembly with some wonderful words of wisdom, ''Have clean lungs or not. The choice is yours."

ow e

perform a dilation and extraction? Also, they found the bill was too broad and could affect other laws on other types of abortions. However, the prosecution (supporters of the bill) brought in expert witnesses and medical doctors who stated that the , procedure is "never necessary to protect a woman's health " Furthermore, the prosecution argued that it is very easy to find a doctor willing to state that a women's physical or mental health is at risk. According to the prosecution, the bill does include "clear anatomical landmarks" (specific points) that state the separation of partial-birth abortions and other types of abortions.

Many more pro-choice organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproduc:: tive Rights have filed and will file, more lawsuits against the new bill.

Photo by Tina Wilson

1tions

By Andrea.Shonibin . OpinionE.ditor the right to share with other students

Many of you question what is the clubs' message, but not "convert" prohibited in school, more specifically, someone to their religion religious freedoms. There are many Myth # 3 - Religion cannot be misconceptions, that both teachers and discussed in the classroom. students have, about religious rights in When religion is a relative topic, public schools. According to the Ameri- students have the right to discuss can Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) their religious beliefs during class these are some of the most common . time. Every student has the right to myths: exercise the First Amendment (Free,Myth# 1- The Constitution restricts dom of Speech). The Supreme Court religion in public schools by the phrase has repeatedly supported the rights of "seperation of church and state". students to speak and express them-

That is false. "Separation of church selves on campus. in state" is not found in the Constitution. Myth # 4 - Students cannot share In 1802, Thomas Jefferson gave birth to their faith in public schools. the phrase when responding to the School advisors do not have the Danbury Baptist Association protecting right to control student speech just bereligious rights, which was 13 years after cause it includes religion. They must the Constitution was established. allow students to share their beliefs. As

The phrase wasn't even recorded in long as students do not disrupt school the notes of Constitutional Convention. discipline, they have every right to The Supreme Court has said repeatedly pass out religious literature, flyers that separation is impossible, so the Con- promoting religious clubs, and even stitution does not enforce that religion wearing religious T-shirts. Promoting must be kept out of public schools. students' beliefs by wearing T-shirts is Myth # 2 - Religious groups cannot protected by the First Amendment. be formed in public schools. Myth # 5 - The Bible is restricted False again. The Supreme Court from use as a part of curriculum in hasn't limited religious groups from school. forming in any way. There is no law - The Supreme Court states, "the or regulation limiting religious clubs. Bible constitutionally may be used in They, like any other club, must receive an appropriate study of history, civifull rights and privileges. The school lization, ethics, comparative religion, cannot make restrictions on religious or the like." Therefore, it is constituclubs in any way. Religious clubs have tional for a teacher to assign students

to study biblical passages, for instance, public interest law firm and educational i:f the purpose was to study historical organization, defends cases involving or literary meaning, Christmas could be religious discrimination in the Supreme studied. Any student with objections Court. One of the lawyers known here in complying with reading the Bible may our very own state is; Family First Execube excused. tive Director Dave Bydalek.

These are just some of the misun- Bydalek has been an advocate for derstandings a majority of people have religious rights and making them clear about religious rights in public schools. to the public for several years. He's Some of these misunderstandings have worked hard to correct people about led to the Supreme Court even. Many the misunderstandings about religious cases have been tried, yet the biggest rights. From being a co-founder of the right granted to students lies within the Family First Organization, receiving his federal Equal Access Act. law degree at the University of Nebraska

In 1981, the Widmar v. Vincent Law School, to working as an Assistant case was tried in the Supreme Court Attorney General for eight years arguarguing that Christian student groups ing cases l:>eforethe Nebraska Supreme should receive equal privileges as politi- Court, Bydalek has done it all fighting for cal student groups. The Supreme Court students' rights in school. ruled in favor of having equal rights.to "Students do not have to check their s~dents who have religious beliefs and faith at the door, and their religious fre, wish to express them, as opposed to doms are very much in tact. The proble1 students who don't have religious be- ·we face is that some school officials do nc liefs. This case, as well as others, helped understand the constitutional protectior lead to the passing of the Equal Access afforded to religious expression in th Act. public schools. As a result, many fam

On August 1-lth, 1984,the EqualAc- lies end up confused about their rights, cess Act was passed in the Senate with a Bydalek explains that students can righ vote of 88 to 11 The act gives students fully express their religious beliefs in a the religious rights in public schools. appropriate way. If the school allows secular student If you would like more informatio groups to promote themselves, they about your rights you may contact the are required to extend "equal access" ACLJ at W\Vwaclj.org. Or if you would to religious student groups also. like to know more about Dave Bydalek Lawyers such as Jay Sekulow, Chief and the Family First Organization, go to Counsel for ACLJ, an international www.familyfust.org.

r.uIJs DC] . ..reates wareness, E ucation

By E.llenlJland Photographer

"Live and Let Live: Stigma and Discrimination" was the theme for this year's 15th annual World AIDS Day. Since December 1, 1988, hundreds of thousands of individuals have gathered around the world to recognize a disease that has affected and infected, nearly 650,000 to 900,000 people that must live with the glaring eost of HIV and AIDS.

World AIDS Day was created to bring awareness, hope, and knowledge to those that must live through

HIV and/or AIDS on a daily basis. The main purpose behind World AIDS Day however, is fo educate people of all ages about the HIV/ AIDS virus:

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), attacks the body's immune system, which is made primarily of "helper T cells" and CD4 cells, which are part of the body's natural line of defense against illness (including cancers, viruses, parasites and bacteria).

Untreated, the HIV virus may lead to AIDS, or potentially death.

AIDS, the Acquired Immunodefi-

ciency Syndrome, is typically brought (or subtle ones), your partner may not on first by the HIV virus, or a severely even know he or she has one. Being as damaged immune -system. safe as possible is important. Practicing

For 22 years the world has been abstinence is essentially the safest form fighting the AIDS epidemic, now of prevention, however consistent use deemed the "youth's disea~e", almost of a condom, which has been proven to half of new AIDS diagnoses go to youth be 99.1 % effective (if used correctly), is between the ages of 15 and 24. also one of the most common methods

One in four teens will be infected of STD prevention. with some form of sexually transmitted While there are more and more ways disease (STD) this year, and an esti- . to protect yourself from STDs, many don't : mated 15 million new cases of STDs in Besides abstinence and condoms, the safest the United States. In the case of STDs, form of protection is knowledge, knowing what you don't know can hurt you. Be- your status and the status of your partner cause many STDs have no symptoms could potentially save your life.

____ By Berol.Melpolder___ _ ,\sst.PhotoE.ditor

Oh, the wonders of being a teenager, having a job, going to school and juggling after school activities. But try adding something else; a child. Many teen mothers who find themselves in this position drop out of school.

One solution to keep some teens in school is the Student-Child Learning Center here at Lincoln High. It's not just to supply parents with a childcare center where they can visit with their children at lunch but to serve as a learning center for students who take child based classes like Infant and Toddler, Preschool-age classes. The students get a day to sign up and visit the CLC. There are three rooms: the infant room, toddler room and the preschool room.

There are requirements to keep or enroll a child in the center. Glenda PlettnerNelson explained that the student must be enrolled in at least 5 classes, have acad emic success, and they have to have a parenting class. But they still have to pay money like any day care provider.

For the toddler room it is $125 and for infants it is $150, unless you qualify for Title 20, also known as a Financial support from the government. As long as you're in school and under 18, they don't base it on your income or your parent's income. The government under Title 20 pays for ·childcare.

S.C.L.C is impressive. 70%-80% graduate and about 20% drop out. "That's opposite to nation wide," Joann Bartek said. Bartek is a Teacher/Director for the center.

"I think it's a great opportunity for them. If it wasn't here, some of them wouldn't come to school and some don't have day care, so it's great they can go to school and get their degrees,'' Child Care Specialist Marla Saum said.

The CSC was started in 1993 with grants to help with thelearning for teens. The one who started the CSC was Glenda Plettner-Nelson.

The centers are full right now and the waiting list has three people on it right now. It will have room next semester.

One of the programs for the children is story time, where the librarians from the Media Center here at Lin coin High come to read stories of valuable or enjoyable interest. They also had a program Kindermusic (a bonding for parents and child which involve activities and songs) which were cancelled due to budget cuts.

The Center helps a lot, according to Michelle Borger. Her son Zennith (21months) is in the center. She says she spends about $200 a month to get things for Zennith. Her schedule is very busy. She has a job where she's been working for 15months. But the center isn't just limited to the mothers. Fathers who are in enrolled are also allowed to visit the

The success rate with the · center at lunch or if they're in the parenting class. It's not easy being a teenager, or for that matter being a parent. The people in the Student-Child Learning Center and the parents at Lincoln High do a wonderful job.

The teens at Lincoln High are just that: teenagers, but to someone else they are also a parent.

LHS u1ticul tura ''Da '' E ucationa

By Travis-Shippen NewsE..ditor

Sounds of music filled Johnson Gym as Dr. Cornel Pewewardy sang southern plains songs, and played music on his native flute before he spoke to a packed crowd at Lincoln High School on November 12. He spoke of diversity and how the way we act now reflects our future. "The school is a reflection of who we are as a society," Pewewardy Sal.d H1· s mus1· c 1· s a

reflection of tribal knowledge base.

Although Pewewardy vis- If,

ited Native American Caucus students, as well as a few classrooms throughout the day, his speech in the Johnson Gym was the only allschool "event" for the day.

But ort

Professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership, School of Education at the University of Kansas. He received his Bachelor of Science in 1976 in Elementary Education and Master of Education · in 1977 in Guidance and Counseling from Northeastern Oklahoma State University.

Pewewardy received a Masters of Art in 1980in Educational Management and De-

IDr.CornelPewewardyvisitswith students David Cox i(12)and StaceyGrant (12)before the MulticulturalDay

dents and staff felt that the assembly wasn't long enough, and that more events sh ould have been included in the program.

"The Assembly was too short to get the message across, " senior Jason Sindelar said.

velopment from New Mexico State University. He received an Educational Specialist Certificate in 1986 in Educational Administration from the University of New Mexico. He earned a Doctorate of Education in 1989 in Educational Many stu- ssemblyon Nov. 12. Photoby BeccaMelpolderAdministration from the Pennsylvania State University. He also received a postdoctoral fellowship in the Center for Research on MultiEthnic Education from the University of Oklahoma.

Pewewardy has achieved a lot in his life. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas as an Assistant

In 1999 and 2001 he received the Big 12 Outstanding Indian Faculty Member of the Year award.

Using Private Funds Allows Candidates To Spend More Without Penalty

___ By&an Flowerday __ _ Opinion&litor

candidates receive co-ntributions from if spending cap, a candidate that is taking th,ey comply with government restric- public funds may not spend more then tions. the imposed spending cap, this causes

I realize that few people are famil- The first documented use of a lot of problems for candidates due to iar with the current system of federal government money for a political the fact that spending caps are often campaign financing for electoral races in campaign became possible in Presi- relatively low, but the problems have this country so I have provided a brief dent Theodore Roosevelt's message to always just been excepted as cost of doexplanation and history of our current Congress in 1905. Although at the time · ing business and candidates have always system. Campaign financing is how a there. were almost no expenditures lim- just tried to work around the spending candidate's electoral race is paid for; it its and those that existed were nearly caps. consists of private fund and public funds. unenforceable. In post-Watergate 1974 For a long time it has been general Private funds are basically how most FECA (Federal Election Campaign Act) practice by all candidates to receive half people imagine a candidate gets money Amendments pretty much constructed of their campaign contributions from for a campaign; private donations and the system we have today. In which public funds and simply deal with the contributions from him or herself, other a candidate has the opportunity for an spending caps. That is until the 2000 individuals, or outside corporations, entirely public funded general election presidential election race when now ·unions, or committees directly to his campaign and matching primary cam- President Bush declined all public funds, race for office. Public funds on the other paigns. A matching campaign means by refusing these funds he suddenly behand many people are less familiar with; that for every dollar a ~andidate raises came able to spend as much money as these are contributions to a candidates in private funds it is matched by the he could raise through private contribucampaign made by the government. The government public funds, but only up tions. Many felt this phenomenon was money comes from public funds that all to a certain point. This point is called a simply that, an anomaly that would not

continue. This has proved untrue.

Now in the 2004 races for the presidency President Bush is continuing his system of rejecting public funds in order to avoid spending limits and two other candidates have taken up this practice too. Former Governor Howard Dean and Senator John Kerry both have begun to reject all public funds as to avoid the spending caps.

The truly remarkable thing about this practice is the fact that it has been an unprecedented success. Many thought entirely relying on private funds would leave the candidates short but Howard Dean has already raised twice as much as most of his opponents and John Kerry a close second behind Dean. This new system of public-fund-free campaigns is revolutionizing our country's campaign finance system and is likely to become the trend of the future.

RussianExchangeS

ts ExamineDiffi es in UnitedStates and Russia

One Student Ponders, Will The Extra FreedomHurt American Learning?

____ By ,\lina.selyukh____ minds. the world. small."

GuestWriter

I don't know if it is interest-

The second thing is LHS. It is a "I liked their cafeteria - in our

It is now two months since our ing for you, but it appeared that really wonderful huge school, where school canteen we are given food group from Samara Russia has there are several things that practi- everything is very well thought-out. and don't have a chance to choose visited Lincoln and LHS. You can't cally all of us noticed and kept in Maybe you don't always realize it, what we want ourselves and so imagine how difficult it was to get mind. · . because you are used to everything sometimes (when we don't like the back to our own school and normal First is your ecology and condi- here, but we have our schools to food) we have to stay hungry, and life after having three weeks of real tion of the city. I know that not all compare to Lincoln High. there you can always decide yourfreedom and fun! American cities are as clean as Lin- So the main things my friends self what to eat or not."

Some of you may remember c~l~, but anyw~y Russia is much men_tioned when I asked "what, in "The way how students commum~ previous arti~le, where I've de- d1rt1er and thats why we were all particular, do fo_u_rem~mber mist nicate with teachers impre~sed ~e scribed several differences between so pleased how clean the streets of all, because 1t impressed you. most of all. I could never imagine the places, where we live and study, are compared to Samara's. And it's "Every~odf is free to do a~y- myself speaking to the teacher or and the places where we did it dur- not only streets - the same about thing they like 1n the classes - I wish treating him or her the same way I ing our trip to the USA. If you are roads. T~ere is a sayin? that one of we ~ad t~is chance t?o." do with my friends! _The_same thing -among those then you know how the Russ1a:1 problems 1s roads ... so . They ve got their own sw1~- about teachers - I think 1f they were different many things are. the roads 1n th~ state o~ Nebraska ming pool,. several_ gyms, tennis the same in Russia, our sc~ools I should say the trip made a great ma~e a good 1mrr~ss10:1 on u~. court, special stadiums _for both would become very dif~erent. impression on us! Even now, when Besides, the traffic 1n L1~coln 1s sports~en ~nd th~ marching band, However, speaking about it's already a lot of time gone since not very heavy, and whats more, an aud1tor1u~ with a huge stage ~choo~ 1 s, there also were such opi~we are back, we still sometimes just there are a l~t of trees an~ bushes etc. - everything anybody may need ions: Well the way t~ey study is meet and recall the moments which and other things of the kind - all to prove themselves or show people good when you are still at school, wer~ so surprising or intere;ting or this creates a good atmosp~ere _for wha 1 t they can do. Unf?rtunately we because you don:t hav e to work too funny etc. that they stuck in our a good ecology, and such situation don t have that much .in our school, hard, but when it comes up to the ' becomes rarer and rarer all over mostly because it is too young and knowledge, I wouldn't be shocked if somebody will find out they don't know many things, even though they've studied them at school - that's because American schools don't make kids study as hard as they do in Russia."

To explain that I want to mention that in Russian schools we have to attend all the classes not being able to choose them, and so when we graduate from the school we know a lot from everything including English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Geography etc. and the main subjects: Mathemat, ics, Russian and Literature.

I don't know what you think about Russia now, but the aim of my article was not to give you an idea what Russia is like, but to show you that the place where you live and study is really wonderful and you should take care of everything that surrounds you - then it will remain the same for many more years and will impress more and more tourists and visitors!

And what about Russia? You'll have a chance to learn more about it from opinions of those students from your school, who are going there in March!

She Discusses the Loon, and Navi

• • Ainesworth, Nebraska

You're an . E g1i h t ch. c·

Whose classroom at LHS needs

;:\;,;iB!it ii the ''queer eye'' treatm t? n s ea er 1 ve

"" en us your favorite line from Shake- , , ,,,,,~,.,,:i,ii!il1 I think it's gotta be Z us pan's speare. room.

T 11 th

"Nothing is but what is not." '"'': iii\fulit,M " '.lj'1!i · OK, let's do some word assoH h

ave you ever ated teaching a .·41¥,,rn,smrn,,,,,,,,,''"""""''•''.'it! '''

me e st word book?

that comes to mind. yes. I:'.; llllllillllllilllllillllllilllll;s1111w111111'161111 Advocate. Which book? L.~glish teacher Judy Strand grades home- Doing a great 1·obi · 1work from one of her English classes. · · Which time? (Mrs. Strand laughs)

. Photo b Mike Scull Emmem.

I had to teach A Tale of Two Cities Would the loon be the mascot of The red ones. to seventh graders. (Mrs. Strand Strand University? Moby .. shudders) Definitely. Um: ... John, Paul, George or Ringo? Coke or Pepsi? Joynite ·Ringo. Coke. Navigators or Silverhawks? Fun! Switch-rally. Yuck! WhRin ? y go.

Nobody has a name like that. Who's your favorite?

Anyone but Ringo. Speaking of music, what's in your CD player right now? · Nothing.

OK, what do you usually listen to?

I have a loon tape I like to play. Umm .... OK. Do you mean the bird? Yes.

The Navigators. You've got to give them some credit for coming up with the Gators as their

mascot. You don't wad<?

No, I like it. You know, at Northstar they let people come in from Lunch out of the cold. What do you think about the lunchtime locl<down? Very jakamahaka.

Club's Fresh R t Huge Success With Lincoln S ents

BycarrieTodd AssistantFeatureF..ditor

There's a new place for teens to dance in Lincoln that's getting the attention of many area high school students. It's the Chatterbox, a club recently opened by Nick Fitch (DJ Fizzle, who DJ' ed LHS Homecoming), Lawrence Chatters (DJ XL, featureq on KFRX), Bode Alabi (a 2001 LHS grad), and Jon Fitch. It is located in the Haymarket, at 815 'O' Street, in the space formerly occupied by the Haymarket Hideaway.

The Chatterbox opened its doors August 21st and has been drawing big crowds, mainly consisting of collegestudents. The club features live DJ's and dancing throughout the weekend. Normally, Friday nights are reserved for private rentals and Saturdays for people 19 and over, however, the Chatterbox held its first Teen Night on November 7th and has had three mote since then, on November 28th, December 5th, and December 12th. The Teen Nights are held on Friday nights from 8-12 and are targeted towards 16 to 18 year olds .

Co-owner Nick Fitch said that Teen Nights will most likely become a regular occurrence as long as interest stays as high as it has been. The first Teen Night drew about 250 people throughout the evening, and there was a line outside the door most of the night, as

the Chatterbox's capacity allows only 150.

The November 28th Teen Night brought in even more students, a considerable number of them from Lincoln High. The $7 cover charge didn't seem to deter the almost 300 teenagers who showed up.

DJ XL kept the music going and the crowd dancing, and the two performers who placed first and second in the Midwest American Idol Contest were brought in to sing and rap. Lincoln High senior Anthony Canada also performed with Ishma Valenti and Zach Watkins. Fitch said that bringing in new performers and changing the format a little is something they want to keep up.

"We're going to try to switch it up, keep it fresh so that nobody gets bored or anything," Fitch said. Few people looked bored on the second Teen Night, and the dance floor was constantly packed. DJ XL played a lot of hip-hop, which seemed to please the crowd. The line at the door was backed up from about 8-11 p.m.

The Chatterbox's success is probably due in part to the fact that Lincoln teenagers haven't had a place to go and dance for quite a while. The PlaMor Ballroom sometimes hosts The Rumbles, and allows teens to attend, but otherwise no mainstream clu,b has

been willing to do Teen Nights until the Chatterbox opened.

"We recognized that nobody else was doing it, and there are lots of teens who want something to do," Fitch said. The Chatterbox relies mostly on Lincoln teens to promote their Teen Nights. Fitch and the other owners realized that the best way to reach teens was through their peers and friends.

"Lawrence works for 102.7, and we met some teenagers through that, people calling in and ·stuff, and they had really expressed that they thought we'd have a huge crowd if we did one," Fitch said. "So we figured we'd try it out, we're just getting a feel for things so far it's gone really well so we'll probably continue."

The club's co-owners also approached high schoolers at fast-food restaurants and the mall, and held meetings with a group of students who gave input on what they would like to see happen at the Chatterbox.

The next Teen Night at the Chatterbox is scheduled for the day after Christmas, Friday December 26th. From now on, expect Teen Nights to be regular, probably twice-monthly, occurrences.

Judging by the turnout at past events, the Chatterbox will likely become a regular dancing spot for Lincoln teens. Come check it out December 26th. •

eare's e 0 s e • es 0 I e

Two Writers, Both Alike in Dignity, Review ·shakespeare' s Creation

By Andrea..Shonibin OpinionF..ditor ----and E.milyE.mst ____ _ ..StaffWriter

Two writers, both alike in

dignity

At the Lied Center where we lay our scene,

On a school night went to see, "Othello"

With pen in hand their joum'lists' eyes were keen.

Andrea, thought you well of Othello? Nay, 'twas not so good.

The players' costumes had seen better days

And the set was not so large or one that Pleased the eye; or perhaps 'twas the dreadful Fog machine that seemed to trouble me so.

at? A

You Can See

BenKathol E.ntertainmentE.ditor

After the success of Old School and his skits on Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell is venturing into a new area of filmmaking, family film . I know....-

What fire is in mine ears? Thou liked it not!

The wretched scent of the fog machine did · Mock the very scene it opened; The play

Could rival UNL but nothing more. Oh, blister' d be thy tongue for such a wish!

I' faith the play was wondrous in mine eyes

Or those well-versed in Shakespeare's ancient hand.

But methinks that which thou doth criticize

Was language thou should seek to understand!

OK, enough with the iambic pentameter! Shakespeare CAN be confusing but, when performed well, is perfectly understandable with a little

Ferre

Your

man and has poorer work ethic than the elves. Buddy later overhears other elves discussing his lack of skill as a human, and decides he needs to go to New York City to find his father.

When in New York, he has to adapt to the ways of lthe American public~ 'acting as one if them. errell plays the part ell, and has some ery funny moments hat both kids and what you're thinking, isl this the same Will Ferrel that made movies lik Old School? (only on of 2003' s least famil friendly films). It cer tainly is and does a fin_ job as one of belove dults can enjoy. Santa's reject elves. Unlike past

Sorry there's n errell movies, Elf kegger, no thank yo ·s appropriate for all sir may I have another ges and still manno college girls, and n · ges to genuinely streaking, but Ferrel entertain. can still put together I enjoyed the funny, and appropriate ovie and would flick. r E g 1t r L ; give it 3 1/2 out of 5 Elf, which was re- · ,, 0 :, ; ,:/\ ; 'i'';; ' "''

stars for it humor and leased November 7th is

* appeal to all family a holiday film that tell ill Ferrell featured on his movie embers. Although the story of a baby h~ oster for the family corned~ Elf. here was no streakman who was acciden- Photo courtes of elfmovie.com ng, one downfall of tally taken from the orphanage he lived the movie had to be Buddy's skintight, in on Christmas Eve by none other than spandex elf outfit that he sported the Chris Cringle himself. He was taken to entire movie. He might as well have the North Pole and raised by elves. Be- been running naked down the street ing a human, Buddy (Ferrell) grows at a asking about KFC, green hats, and faster rate than the elves he lives with Snoop da Loop. C'mon Will, next ' and also fails to realize that he is a hu- movie just keep it to yourself.

preparation on the audience's part. Taking the time to learn about Shakespeare will not only help with comprehension, but allow you to appreciate the structure and beauty of his language.

Having seen a number of Shakespearean plays, we credit The company's successful p roduction of Othello to the vocal talent of the ensemble. The actors spoke clearly, moved well, and understood ExACTLY what they were saying. Here is ,a little background on the play itself:

The scene: Verena, Italy I.

Type of Play: Tr agedy

Leading lord a:nd lady: Othello the General and Desdemona

The Bad Guy: Iago

Themes: Love and war, jealousy and revenge

In a nutshell:The play revolves around

Iago's plot t o undo Othello. h.friend of Iago has been paying him in excha. 'te for wooing the fair Desdemona but, wt, , ,,_ Iago learns that she has already married Othello, Iago swears to ruin him. Iago toys with Othello's mind, pretending to be his friend by telling him that Desdemona is unfaithful when in reality she is not. Othello, overcome with jealousy, eventually murders Desdemona in an I act of revenge. When Othello learns he was wrong in accusing his late wife of adultery, he takes his own life, and Iago is arrested and sentenced to death for his crimes.

Though Desdemona lived up to the expectations of a leading lady, Othello's character peaked before intermission. Iago was particularly memorable as well. We agree that the show was a success and, well, the play' s the thing.

• 8''-sean Flowerday___ _ OpinionE..clitor

Tl< Orphan Train: a dramatic rPi~resentation of the stories of

,nany New York orphans who were sent out to _ live in rural America in hopes of a new life. The - play consisted of monologue narration by the orphans, each orphan telling his or her own story and a brief portrayal of what they went through with the other actors.

There were seven stories told in all.

times, the cast and the crew performed admirably, transforming what would normally be a noth~ ing-to-write-hom 1about play into

While I found Actors perform the opening scene in an ''Orphan Train" the writing of the dress rehearsal. The play was a hit withev_eryone.

crew did an exceptional job at nearly all aspects of technical theatre and the setting and backdrop were very well done, with the possible exception of the train (which did lack a certain dimension).

Sitting in the middle of an auditorium with poor acoustics, I was surprised to find that I could

lar went above and beyond in their portrayals: James Oliva (10) who · played the quick thinking street urchin "Lucky", Emily Ernst (12) who played the street smart harlot, and Kestrel Hauptman (12), one of the two abandoned orphan girls who remained unwanted by anyone.

_ The Orphan ear every a f!!Ji". ,,,;,g\f:J'll'!N;Wllf':, rain s exem h Ctor -IWff,N1iiti!!ilwL, - T 'in the show ( es- '' l1fa.1'f!t!i!l!iml/1 1F • plary acting perp e ci ally "Little '''\'i':+IJilii'.if::t:>:tr*" formance carried ·. Lucy", who · them through disnever talked!). Junior Natalie Zikm~ nd a nd Sopho- tricts and finally

Even the weak- more Ben Holmes discuss the Orphan to state wh ere they est actors were they wish to adopt. took home the state entirely adequate Photo b Miranda Freeman championship for play to be some-

Photo b~ Miranda Freeman what ordinary and even dry at a truly excellent performa11ce. The and the majority of them excelled in the first time in thirteen years. Another their rolls. Several actors in particu- LHS job well done!

Prince of Persia as The ait an e __ one

By NickVaske WebE..clitor

_ One of this fall's most highly anticipated games, Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time, is out and the wait was worth it. A strong plot, amazing graphics, detailed environments, cool weapons and moves, and a twist on the damsel in distress, - make this game the best yet in the Prince of Persiaseries.

King Shahraman of Persia and his son have defeated their enemy, the Maharajah, and gotten a hoard of priceless treasures, including a giant glowing hourglass, a nift ,y knife and Farah, the Maharajah's beautiful daughter. While in the crumbling palace, the king and son meet a strange old man, who really wants to have the dagger and hourglass, but the king already has plans for the treasures. The dagger goes to the Prince as a prize for finding it, and the hourglass will be a gift for the Sultan of Azad.

They travel to the Sultan's palace to 'deliver their gift, and the Sultan is amazed with the glowing sands The old man explains that it is full of the Sands of Time, and the only way to release it is with the Prince's dagger, which he encourages hini 1~ to do. The Prince releases the sands, ancl as it rushes from the hourglass, ma11y men, including his father, are consumed and presumed dead <).nddestroyed. The ,) old man demands the dagger and szys

only he can undo it i but the Prince runs.

The only survivorsare the Prince, Farah, and the old Vizie 1. Faced with the guilt of what he has done, the Prince decides he must reverse the mistake he nlade and save his f .fther.

That's where you come in to p lay as the Prince.

The Sultan is a

When the Sands of Time were released, the people not saved were turned into monsters, which the Prince must fight and defeat. To do this, he is given a sword and the magic Dagger of Time. He can slice enemies, ":l:;''''1~and vault over them, ,¾

tHiMfoifa t l rebound off of walls

, and block and coun, , ter-attatk.

Once an envery rich ma n, and ' emy is down, the his palace and trea- 't" ,- ;11Prince must retrieve sures are ,protected . ' the sands of time by a defe nse system, ' trapped inside of which th e Prince un- them with the Dagger witting)y activates , · or the enemy will be settin8 ' up a ma22

• revived. The conof traps includirg

• trols for fighting are spik~, saws, knives amazingly easy and and , swinging lo_gs. , fun. The enemies

As .:he Prince makes

way thro

come in giant p!lcks

and the moves the the palace, he 1has Prince Of Persia by Ubisoft, is now Prince performs and 10 climb ledges and available for Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, the ability to switch columns, avoid bot- Gameboy Advance, and PC. from attacking one tomless pits andcliffs, Image courtesy of Cicuitcity.com enemy to another and swing ont and L---------------------1 by simply pushing a jump from po s and ropes. To pass joystick make the fighting in Prince of these challen ng traps and environ- Persiaamazing. ments, the Pijce is given some really The second, and very important, cool moves ~e running on walls, re- technique the Prince employs is the bounding off hf walls and ledges, and power to control time, which the Daga really long j f mping distance. ger holds the power to do. If the Prince

is killed, either by enemies or by traps or falls, he can reverse time and revive himself. When fighting enemies, the Prince can stab them with the Dagger and freeze them out of time with everything else, then he can destroy them with his sword. He also has tl1e Power of Haste, which allows him to speed up time and destroy all of the enemies in an amazing attack. If the moves weren't cool enough, the ability to manipulate time is very cool and useful. The Power of Haste is especially amazing, allowing you to destroy dozens of enemies in just seconds, and none of them see it com• ing

The palace is full of locked doors and switches and levers, which the Prince, along with Farah, who just happens to be able to crawl through the conveniently placed cracks and holes, makes for puzzles and challenges to add to the enjoyment of the game.

Along with the spectacular environments, amazing fighting moves, and ability to control time, the puzzles create a challenging game. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time gets five stars and two thumbs up. Everyone with a Playstation 2, Gamecube, Gameboy Advance ot, PC, or Xbox needs to go out right now and buy Prince of Persia,or beg for it for Hanukkah, or Christmas, or any other reason to get a gift.

Pe erson

JacobMiller

F..ditor-in-Cheif

Sometimes the truth hurts. Frank Solich had to go. Ever since the Lincoln Journal-Star broke the story that Solich would be forced out as Head Coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, there was serious talk of him retiring or being fired. And while that story never should have been written considering they did not have one named source agreeing with the others, it still created a ruckus in the city and state of Nebraska.

Athletic Director Steve Pederson squashed any talk of him being fired, saying he would wait until the regular season was over to evaluate Solich. Players even came to the defense of Solich, which is funny because last year they

never played defense for him, but that's not the point. Anyway, after the Huskers beat Colorado 31-22, everything was set up for a feel-good story. Solich was smiling, the players were screaming things like "We did this for Coach Solich," and the ABC announcers were pretty smitten with Solich too. Everyone was on his bandwagon, except for Pederson.

In a move that shocked people who don't know much about football, Pederson fired Solich on November 29th. At the press conference the next day, Pederson explained his move.

Basically citing that no matter the record, the program was slipping in the wrong direction and that recruiting had dramatically declined, Pederson let Solich go and named Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini Interim Coach.

This move confused people on the street as they cited things like Solich's 9-3 record this year, and everyone's favorite, how his record was similar to Torn Osborne's.

The bottom line is, Solich needed to go. This program has slipped to a level of mediocrity. He can be everyone's favorite coach now that he was sent packing, but was he everyone's buddy when

For B

he went 7-7 last year? Even if Pederson decided to go off of the teams record this year, in the three games NU lost this year, they looked like Iowa Sta te. Nebraska W?S outplayed in the fourth quarter against Missouri, the Husker's didn't even look like they wanted to play against Texas, and Kansas State just had too many good players for us to beat them. How does that make Solich look? A game like Missouri will occasionally happen, but what happened against Texas? And what happened against Kansas State? Once the team was down, its as if they gave up. What kind of team gives up in a game?

Pederson hit the nail on the head when he said recruiting had dramatically slipped. Nebraska is in a position where they can go after every athlete in the country. Instead we go after every athlete in Nebraska. Solich recruited players from the state of Nebraska way too heavily. You can see it when Nebraska plays a team like Texas or Kansas State. Those teams have speed all over the field. The linebackers are just as fast as the cornerbacks, and the defensive linemen can r:.in sideline to sideline just as well as they can rush the quarterback up field. On offense, the

Fi1·i..... ,1

linemen are big, but mobile, the receivers are fast, the running backs are capable of hitting holes and big plays, and the quarterbacks can hit guys when they are wide open down the field. Instead, Nebraska looks like a high school team. And not even a good team.

Nebraska should be able to recruit itself. Parents should love Nebraska because most of our players graduate, and players should love Nebraska for multiple reasons. One, just about every game Nebraska plays is on T.V. Second, in normal years, Nebraska is in the chase for the National Championship, or failing that, major bowl bids. And last, Nebraska has sent more players to the NFL than any other Big XII team. Solich needed to realize that for most Nebraska high school players, they'll walk on to Nebraska. Plc;lyers like Bo Ruud and Andy Birkel would have walked on here. No matter what the Journal-Star says, their first and just about only option was to come here. The Lincoln Journal-Star hypes players up further than they should, making them look like serious college recruits. It doesn't make any sense to give a guy a scholarship when his college choices are Nebraska, Wyoming, or some Division II schools. A local player will come here, even if he has to pay for school. Maybe, the team can save some s,cholarships for players from out 9f " 1 state. There are only a handful of difference makers on the 2003 Husker Football team. Not one player is from Nebraska. Linemen Richie Incognito hails from Arizona, linebacker Demorrio Williams is from Texas, safety Josh Bullocks is from Tennessee, and cornerback Fabian Washington is from Florida. These are the only guys on our roster that could go anywhere else in the country and start. Bullocks and Washington might not start right away since they are only sophomores, but their talent equals anyone else their age in the country. Under Tom Osborne, even if they didn't win every National Championship, there were still high quality football players all over the field. You don't see that anymore with Coach Solich, and it could take the new coach a year or two before he can redo this team and the talent level on this team.

It's important for people to understand this wasn't about his record. This was about the direction of the program. Against good teams, Nebraska has looked slow and inept and this needs to change. Programs always fire their coaches before the bowl games. It gives I them more time to find a new coach before February 4th, the start of a crazy recruiting period. Pederson did what was best for Nebraska. ·

-

ouna me LIOCK Loverage ...1'',

11 •chael, e Time Does One Man, Especially Jackson, Deserve All This Coverage?

The Aids Crisis? PLEASE! I mean holiday shopping at the very least boosts the economy. Report on that if you just can't muster anything else.

Let me get this straight. Neverland was searched. He posted a three million dollar bail. He has set up an official website to dec;1.lwith the case.

By &an Flowerday Opinio11&litor

Oh Why God? Why? ,No it can't be it just can't be true that we are to be cursed with 3-6 months of news centered on Michael Jackson and his new news cri• SlS.

Whatever happened to all the forgotten world crises we were so enamored __ with such a short time ago?

' Does Iraq ring a bell? No? How abo11rt Afghanistan? North Kor 9a? The Medicare Bill? The West Bank? The Budget Crisis?

No we can't do this again. Not him. Not this. We can't let ourselves be sucked up in this media filth again. For another who knows how long?

Here is h ow I figure it:

We are about two weeks away from hearing the words "carpet fibers". Also, another four before we discover Just how the' Orange Coun ,ty Sheriff's Department bungled evidence and misled the public to one conclusion or another.

It will b e come the single topic of conversation at water coolers across the nation's office buildings. After several mind-numbing months of this agony

DUICJ, mve .e

some other celebrity or elected official When all the channels and all the paor foreign leader will do something else pers are only covering four stories at any positively outrageous that will be swept given moment a lot of things fall through away in a newly galvanizing media the cracks, too many things. storm. We are a country of primarily intelDo we really care this much? Are we ligent people, or at least I'd like to believe this pitiful? Are we a country of gerbils? - so, but even to the most nimrodic it has So transfixed by the animated "Fox" logo got to be evident that something has flashing across the screen that we don't gone horribly wrong with our media . notice the garbage that is being shoveled Something has to change when we down our throats and all the real news have six news stations around the clock that is flying right past us. delivering us the exact same coverage

Yes of course child molestation is 24/7.

serious, in fact I can't think of anything I'm sorry but I never ordered the more serious. And being a public figure "All Michael, All the Time" channel and loved by many I can understand the frankly don't want to pay for it on my occasional story following the case, but cable bill.

there absolutely no call for this. Ok now I'm going to go crawl I don't care if he is the Grand-Poobah under my pillow, cry myself to sleep of the Galaxy. There are six billion people while praying that when I wake from on this planet and one man's life does my slumber it will all have been a bad not ever deserve 24/7 news coverage. dream and fll be able to find out just

This feeding frenzy news style that how many of oµr boys have been killed began with the O.J. case has got to stop. in suicide bombings today. tTo .oose .oTo

MassachusettsRuling Gay Maniages a S Fmward For EqualRights

marry.

And whi le opinions may be split, the real question is, who cares? Honestly, why are people so obsessed with wha t other people are doing with th eir own lives? '~ If two men or two women want to be to gether, let them. Why should other people get to dictate what they do withtheir lives?

I',

By JarobMiller &litor;In-cheif

The state of Massachusetts recently passed a bill that legalized same-sex marriages in their state, becoming the second state to do so.

Since this has -happened, politicians and citizens alike have been sounding off on whether they agree _ with the law or not.

Nebraska's own Attorney General Chris Bruning, who is against gay marriages said, "Does that mean you have to allow a man to marry his pet or a man to marry his chair? I mean, at some point, it has to stop."

And while most were probably wondering after Bruning' s comment if he is even fit to serve in public office, the focus has been on whether people of the same sex should be allowed to

This control-freak society needs to stop. :Everyone these days is so nosy ab 9,ut what others are doing, and it's ~eally none of their business.

Some people who don't even want to !:other to explain why they believe h ,)mosexuality is wrong, cite things lik e their religion doesn't agree with homosexuality, so it's wrong. Then some will say it disgusts them when they see two homosereuals kiss or hold h ands in public.

Perscnally, anyone, homosexual or not, n;aking out on the street ,or in the ha j,lways is disgusting. What changes if the people are gay?

But h>w many of those guys that scream tt ,at homosexuality is wrong think twc girls kissing each other in a movie i i okay?

And "re shouldn't let religious beliefs af :ect those that think the

Bible is about as credible as the Na- the fact that you can choose how you tional Enquirer. Some people don't _ want to live your life. believe in the Bible and they shouldn't And while we keep slipping closhave to follow what is in it. er and closer to that time in society ff two people love each other, then where everything is monitored by why can't they marry? the government, thanks to the office

In both cases, it's really only their of Homeland Security, we should be business what they want to do Why thankful for the right to choose who should other people's beliefs affect to love and marry. others? People should have the right to People should be more worried choose what they want to do in this about what is going on in their lives life. The arguments that gay marinstead of who is getting married. riages will ruin family values are the

If people are so interested in run- same arguments that used to be used ning other people's lives, why don't by people disagreeing with inter-racial they start telling married couples how many children to have?

_ If a couple is attractive, let them have three attractive children. If a couple isn't so attractive, only let them have one.

And while we are on the topic of control, let's go back to the days of banning interracial marriages.

What, is that not such a good idea? What, is that racist? Well it's sex discrimination if you stop gay marriages. Both types of discrimination, whether it is racial or by sex, are the same thing. Gay marriages cannot ruin family values, much in the same way interracial marriages cannot ruin family values.

Until someone can come up with a fundamental idea that makes sense and gives a good reason as to why gay people shouldn't live their lives the way they want, let them marry a nd do what they want.

If you're against gay marriages, don't marry someone of the same sex. It's not a hard concept to understand.

One more suggestion. Just for fun, lets marry Chris Bruning to his pet and his chair. It'll be a great time

1 What makes this country great is • marriages. It's a senseless argument made by people too uncomfortable with themselves.

ByJacobMiller Editor-in.Chief

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. Forces December 13th in an underground hideout on a farm near the city of Adwar.

His capture ended months of searching after he was forced out of power in the war between Iraq and the United States.

Hussein was found in a tunnel cut into the ground just in front of the small house on the far near Adwar. The hole in the ground was covered by dirt, a rug, and some styrofoam. Hussein was said to be holding a pistol in his lap, but he made no attempt to use it.

Hussein was said to be bewildered

Savin

when captured. He had · long, unkept hair and a long, scraggly beard.

Even the soldiers were unaware of who they were capturing until when they questioned who he was, he answered with his name.

I (JI/,,

Around 600 U.S. sol- . ,!Hilt• ,., :APTURED diers were told that they were going to get "a big fish", but they did not know they were fishing The cover of the Lincoln Journal-Star Monday December 15th, announces to the 1the capture of Saddam Hussein. for Hussein.

According .,

Associated Press article, Major General Raymond Odiemo said of Hussein, "He was just caught like a rat." He continued, "When you' re in the bottom of a hole, you can't fight back."

One big question surrounding the whole matter is where Hussein will be tried. It is thought by many that he will be tried in Iraq, but some think there is a possibility that he could be brought here to the

ation From t e air u

orces

United States.

In writer Don Walto:.i.'sarticle1 in the Lincoln Journal-Star, senat\)r Ben Nelson said subjecting Hussein to a World Court would have' "a great deal of a;>peal."'

Hussein has allegedly ccmmitted crimes not only in Iraq, but in oth~r countries like Kuwait and Iran. \

When or if Hussein is found '&Uilty, it will also be interesting to see how"l\e is punished.

If Hussein is tried in the United States, the possibility remains that he could be put to death. Human Rights interest groups will most certainly voice their displeasure with the Death Penalty, even if someone like Hussein is convicted.

In

the ole

Weapons oMass Destruction Were

____ By-seanFlowerday___ _ ·OpinionMitor

Ding dong! Saddam is gone, Saddam is gone, Saddam is gone. Ding dong! Saddam is really gooonnneee

But hold on a second, I swear to goodness sake that th€re was something else we were looking ,for there. Now what was it? Ruby slippers? No that

Never Really The Objective

wasn't it. The one ring to rule them that he is gone. But what I'm looking all? No that's not it either. Now what for from the greatest super-power the was it? umm Oh Yeah! I remember: weapons of mass destruction that was it. Now whatever happened to those things anyway?

Not six months ago we were assured again and again that weapons of mass destruction were hidden deep in Iraq and for American safety and the safety of the free world we just had to go in and remove them. If I remember correctly that was our goal, was it not? I don't actually recall anyone saying that it was our objective to try Saddam as a war-criminal

Now don't get me wrong, I don't like Saddam Hussein; I thought we should have taken him out of the picture long ago when Iraq attacked Kuwait. I'm just as glad as the next guy

world has ever known is just a little bit of continuity.

fm sorry to say this but once again Team Bush has pulled a bait and switch, and once again we took it hook, line and sinker. President Bush has been: itching for an opportunity to take Saddam Hussein out of power ever since he took the oath-of-office. It's the Hatfields and McCoys all over again. This is a blood feud people, a personal vendetta between the Bushies and Hussein. There were never any weapons of mass destruction, and they knew it. ,

Again I'm sorry to say this but our president has used this country's new found enthusiasm over national security and eliminating international terrorists to get us to fight his battle for him. It

was our taxes that funded this war. Our ·s oldiers that have died bringing Saddam Hussein in, and now it will be our soldiers who feel the repercussions of displaced Saddam loyalists. Bush is acting like the scrawny kid in class who does chem papers for the tough guys in class in exchange for them fighting his fights for him. And in this day and age no one is tougher than the American public. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to afford us the intellect to see through this man's schemes.

Thi? whole war has been nothing but vengeance for a previous assassination attempt upon President Bush's father, former President George H. Bush. It was a gift for his father. He finished the war his father started. Gee George, seems to me like a tie rack would have been easier

,,

Ne\.V '=

By TinaWilson

PhotoE.ditor

Lincoln Hi_gh Basketball program works and rooks to be a sheer asset to the team.

In the y:e~r of new beginnings here Next we ha_ve Akerson. Akerson at Lincc1n High, alollg comes a brand has been playing basketball for 5 new Varsity Girl's S-asketball team. years and was also on the Junior With only four Varsity returnees this Varsity team last year. Akerson P.lays seasC"'.l,if makes way Ior the addition in the post position and looks to he1p of r new girls. The new girls this sea- senior returnee, Alissa Holland. AKs('il are freshmen Taylor Schmid_gall erson wants to see this y:ear' s team a,.'ldEva Johnson, sophomoreJess I:iv- go far. Her main goals for herself this ers, juniors Carly Akerson an Maddy season include practicing and playBiggs, and senior Halley VanLaning- ing as hard as sbe s,an and _contribham. uting to her team. My main focus

With a brand new team with fresh this season is to concentrate on my faces, Coach Bill Myers looks to see the free-throws, those shots can make or new girls step up and take an active break the game," Akerson said. part on the feam. "We have a lot of

Another asset to the team down new girls this year, which means it will low is Biggs. With her height and take some time for everyone to come skills, Biggs is going to be a great together," Myers said. According to help. Biggs played on the Junior Myers, the strengths this season s1em Varsity team with Livers and Akerfrom the senior leadership, involving son as well. Like the other girls, Biggs the hard work, dedication and determi- would like to see the team do well nation. The main weakness this season and contribute evenly. is going to be the inexperience. Returning to the court for the first

You can expect all the girls to step time since her freshman year is Vanup. Each Laningham. individual

VanLaninggirl brings • ham played aifferent as- liiiiil@i\fil basketball for pects to the 5 years becourt. Let's fore taking a take a brief break to play look into volleyball. each girl's

VanLaningshinning ham would qualities. like to play

First up an active role we have and can look Schmid_gall. to an injured Schmidgall senior wing, has been Riki Klaben1 a y i n es, f?r tips on

and ooks

VanLaning- to be a good nside the ate as seruor Alissa Holland (40) watches ham's goals addition to n. The Links beat Lincoln Southwest 49-39 to for the seathe teaip.. ·mprove to 2-1 on the season. son incl~de Her main encouraging focuses for Photo by Morgan Raymond her teamthe season mates and include making good passes, shooting havin_g a great record as a team. threes and keeping a positive attitude. Afihough this article mentions While only being a freshman, Schmid- only 6 girls, _you can expect to see gall can look to senior point guard, more fresh faces. Due to the low Jennifer Endres for guidance. Endres numbers of girls trying out this seawas on Varsi!y her freshman year and son, the Junior Varsity and Varsity could give Schmidga~l r.ointe,rs ~n t~ams are ~ombined. You can expect how to nandle the Varsity level. I will girls to swing up and down to 5oth definitely: look to Jen for sup,Port. She feams. · knows all the plays and she s a great Despite having an all-new team, athlete," Schmidg,all said. the Lady Links are currently 2-1. In

Next we have Johnson. Johnson has their season or.ener at North Platte, been playing for 6 years and plays ei- the Links fell short and lost, 71-51. ther the wing or point-guard position. On Saturday, December 6 the Her main goals for the season include Links had their first home game contributing to the team and doing against Millard South, and came out what is needed to help make the team on top. Senior Alissa Holland led the successful. team with 18 points, while Endres

Up next is Livers. Livers has been finished with 14, to make the final playing basketball for 6 years and was score, 55-47 on the Junior Varsity team last year. On December 12, the Links faced Livers swung up to pla_yon the Varsity Southwest in their first city: game of team for a few games last season. Liv- the year. Led by Endres' 13 points ers plays the wing position and looks and Abby Wood's 13 points, the Links to be of great help to the team. "I want held on to beat a tough Southwest to improve my confidence on the court team, 49-39. Biggs macfe six of seven and do whatever I can to help our team free-throws to nelp the Links down out," Livers said. Livers knows how the · the stretch and earn the win.

Teen Night-- Teens Only! 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 4 to 7 pm • sexuality inform~tion

• condoms • birth control • pregnancy ~sts Teen can also receive all services durinJ regular ho urs, Monday thru Saturday.

Bu s

By JenniferE..ndres .SportsE..ditor

This year's LHS Boy's Basketball team · is looking on the bright side despite having lost basically all of last year's team that won the State championship. They come into the 2003 basketball season rated seventh in the Lincoln Journal Star. The new players that will need to play key roles immediately include seniors Eric Rose, Jesse Humpal, and Curtis Coatman, and juniors Bandak Chei, Preston Petersen, Yusuf Vinson, Christian Lewis, Bobby Weaver, and Andrew Klein. The players to watch are Seth Sharpe and Marcus Minzel, who both received letters lastseason and were key roles for the success of last year's 19-3 team that produced a championship season.

It will be tough to beat last year's team, but this year's team is confident they have the potential to take State again. It will be very crucial that they get better every week and push each other during practice to improve. "I think the team has the potential to go real far. It won't come easy, but I know that we have a team that can do great things," commented Humpal.

Even though they did lose a lot of seniors from last year, they do have a lot of underclassmen that are going to have to step up as well as the five seniors that will lead by example. Everybody on the team will be greatly counted on if the team is going to be successful. "Everybody on

By Travis.Shippen___ _ NewsE..ditor

This year's Lincoln High Swimming teams have started off on a good note with the - boy's swimming team 2-0 and the girl's 1-1, losing the one meet to Millard South on , De-

this team is going to have an impact on what kind of season we're going to have, whether it's during practice or during games, we need everybody to contribute in order to get better throughout the season," Minzel said. The most important tool for the team

the team out greatly and things are looking good for him. "Rose is going to be someone that can help our team a lot. I think our biggest loss from last year was Tyron. Rose has worked hard to try and replace him. I also think Petersen and Chei will catch opponent's eyes inside the paint," Minzel said.

The Links an

finishing with 12 points. Petersen led all rebounders with 9. The Links dominated the Bulldo .gs and won easily, 61-37.

The next day, the squad traveled to Omaha to face eighth ranked Omaha Creighton Prep. Things were looking good for LHS in the first quarter as they took an 18-13 lead. Then, in the second quarter foul trouble put the squad in a huge hole. Petersen picked up his secplayed their first ond and 'third fouls, causing him to sit game of the 2003 out the rest of the half. From that point high school bas- on, the Junior Jays started playing well ketball season together and shots were falling for them. · at home against The last time the Links had the lead was the North Platte in the third quarter, 30-29 with only a Bulldogs on Fri- minute into the quarter. They went on day, December a 6-minute~ 42-second drought in which

will be its bench production. They will need to have someone who can come off the bench to give the team ,, ,, 5. Minzel gqt the they did not make any shots. Nothing a spark. µSw.ean1111iolliir=M=a=r'"'c=u•s iiiMiiii'"'n'""z'""e.,.l:=kee'""p'""s;;;;;tuhiillle111bc:a:.l:.luaw...ua:.yuf1111ro'"'m'"'·.·· ·.·.=i·· · Links oft to a great went right for the squad as ~hey lost,_49-

0ne a North Platte defender in the season opener a~ start and the team 62. Sharpe led the team wr1:h 1~ poin_ts of those Johnson Gym. The Links won the game 61 37 never looked back. and Petersei:i added l?.Chei chipped in P 1a Yer s and Minzel led all scorers with 21 points. - He had the ~ar~er 7 rebound~ in the losing effort. that feels

by Mike Reinmiller game of his life On Friday, December 12, Lincoln like he as he 1,nailed an High faced up against Southwest. Vincan contribute quickly to the team is Eric Rose. "I will bring leadership and energy to the team, along with looking to set our shooters open shots," Rose said. He is quickly catching people's eyes with his talent and hard work. He will be replacing All-State and Mr. Nebraska point-guard, Tyron Canby. However, he does not feel there is any pressure on him to do well. He has a lot of game that he can bring to help •

00 n

incredible six three pointers in the son came up big for the Links off the first half, missing only two. He led all bench. He did the little things for the scorers with 21 points. Sha t pe also was · team as he finished with eight points, knocking down threes as he made five · nine rebounds and two blocked shots. and finished with 15 points Together Sharpe had 17 points fo lead the Links they shot an outstanding 44% from to victory, 50-40. three point land. The team had great The Links squad is now 2-1 and play bench production from Vinson and Pe- their next two games at home against tersen. Vinson scored eight points and Omaha North and Fremont on Decemgrabbed down four rebounds in the ber 19 and 20. first quarter and shot 6-6 from the field,

or ore e ·co

ming teams are all about. Basketball and football get Coach Conradt tells them

The boy's swimming team · a lot of support at pep rallies how to prepare and they are in dominat- but swimmers don't. charge of how they get ready after that.

c: e"m.=B,e-=J?.=4t-h= B~ --=-8Pt'e = f' •s ~i:•FL=t, w g4_ '' ·\t,.J@-= a= • 83. the most

''They are the ones that South, 1J11W[4 ''We don't do it make or break their season," for the glory, we do Conradt said. Two football it for the game," se- players already dropped out • • w1nn1ng 101-63.Fflil•P.ctl:i-a:...£.t-a-1@¥ fr..om~s..win:tm.ing~heca use ~it..was '= too hard.

''The important thing is labor in- I' how we respond when we .get tensive beat," Coach Richard Conradt sport and said. Conradt would prefer they the least s:,;;;Samanth~'st~ley prepares to stick together as a team and not r e c o g - dive into the pool off of the block break apart. This is how they fo- niz e d (at in a recent meet at LHS. cus on being good teammates. Linc o 1n

Teamwork and unity are High),'' what the Lincoln High Swim- senior Ben Stalder said. - meet.said.

"The reward is in work and effort," Conradt said. Swimming practice is strenuous; swimming multiple miles is necessary to prepare for the next

The Lincoln High Boy's Swimming team challenges · anyone who thinks swimming isn't hard to come and try it for a day.

The Lincoln High Swimming teams look "to send many swimmers to State like last year. ·

Photo

Photo by Renee Krenk

Linco. F s orts Review an ents2003 Fall Season Was Not

JacobMiller F..ditor-in-Chid

==c-== -"-'bis~was an -Up~and ~do.wn fall s eas on for Lincoln High athletics. Only one team went to the State Tournament, Boy's Tennis, but they went because every team gets to go to state in Tennis. · While the momentum from last year, in which the Boy's Basketball Team won state and senior Ryan Blahak won the Triple Jump at the State Track Meet, is probably gone there is time to recover. For now, it's review time.

FOOTBALL: INCOMPLETE:A 1-8 reora was aenn1re1y no pressive. . The tea gets an inc om o 1 "" 0 because, ,.,."

J • O niroct grad<> tho OUlG get Some p,." .:.,..cseemed confide

the Best Start For Linc _ oln High

for the problems on the team. A season highlight was junior Ricky Massa, who lead J:hR.s.tate..in inter c.eµ tions. ,

· VOLLEYBALL:B: The gi rls were a improved throughout the year, and consistent top 10 team throughout the look to improve next year with a good season, but no major upsets and the number of returnees. loss to Lincoln Southwest in the district BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: B: The ,ii.cw\:.:&tm,--" ''"" 1 finals hurt boys had the team a solid in grade. team this There was year. The an adjust- team lost ment pe- a number riod early of players in the sea- to Lincoln son for the North Star, Links, but but still renew coach bounded. Jill Hitz and While the her team team didn't recovered - qualify for

Athletics

promising players returning, but if there ·is still mistrust within the team, more 1-8 seasons look likely. The volleyball team is going to lose a lot of seniors, as will the softball

team, so this may h a v e been the best shot at state at least for a couple of years for both teams.

Cl.lllte beginning of th~ 1::ien1orNl1tc11e11v1~m1111~g runs 1n a moo

0 ""'0n, but the conf1- at Pionee,.,,,. ctJ.-" ,,.u,,,."

for a 24-12 the State . . . . d Th M t

Senior Halley VanLanmgham sets Seruor Alissa Hollan

B o th Cross Country teams are recor e ee ' Ju- h d" t 11 b 11 _ 11 B dak 1n t e1r 1str1c vo ey a game. team - WI ruors an - Photo b Mike Scull lose a lot of ' Chei, Chris

seniors, no- Hatch, and Ray Mikkleson did qualify tably four- individually for the Links. Those three year letter will headline a team that loses just a winners couple of seniors this year. · young a n d should be able to improve. The Girl's Golf Team is only going to have one re• turning player, so any girls that golf or Photo b" Ronoo K '----------------~ Korey Mohr GIRLSGOLF:C+: There were three

aence went away as I 0 "'"ason progressed are interested in golf, go try out, you'll probably letter. The boy's Tennis team will lose some players, but with good 0 J,,,,ol of talent on tho and Allisa Holland.

SOFTBALL:B: Much like the volleyball team, the softball team came • into the season with high expectations. The team had strong pitching 9-llseason from senior Amanda Cades. The Links were a consistent top 10 team, but they

returning letter winners for the team this year in seniors Kestrel Hauptman, Jenika Johnson, and Alma Deumic. Senior Allie Coie and freshman Katie Miller · were nice additions to the team in Coach Sam Sharpe's first season with the girls. The season highlight , was probably Hauptman winning the Lincoln Northeast Invite with a score of 92. The Links fell short at the district

field while

failed to make it to the state tournament again. Once again, much like the volleyball team, the softball team will lose a lot of senior leadership next year.

coaching they look to improve. Hopefully for Lincoln High, the winter season will be an improve• ment over this fall.

Congratulations to all the Lincoln High athletes that were recognized by the Lincoln JournalStar. In volleyball, Alissa Holland was first team tournament, finish- Senior Abby Strain gets ready for All-City, while seing fourth. the pitch. nior Korey Mohr

BOYS TEN-

NIS: B: The boys returned notable players in seniors Mikah Meyer, Peter Olds, and Josh Ward. The team made it to state

because every team does, but strong play and leadership within the team promotes the idea that the team would have

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: C +: Just like last year, some injuries slowedmade it to state if they had to qualify.

·· OVERALLGRADE:C: One of seven teams qualified for the state tournament. This probably wasn't a banner fall for the

by Tina Wilson was second team

All-City. Senior Amanda Cades was an All-City selection for Softball. For football, Senior Chris Arps was an All-City selection for football. Arps was joined by Massa, and senior punter Jared Wadell. Junior Chris Hatch was a first team All-City selection for Cross Country : Congratulations to all those fall athletes and good luck to all winter athletes

<

Photo

Junior Ricky Massa runs down

senior Chris Arps is ready to block the defensive player.

Photo bv Renee Krenk

Dean's Outspoken Beliefs Make lli1n No. 1 Democratic Candidate

_____ ByGwen~wson_____ and more clear every day what a ri-tistake is a d"eeply personal decision, which ought NewsF..ditor this administration made in launching a to be made between a woman and her

As the primary elections draw near, preemptive war in Iraq. physician. It's none of the government's there's really only one question that the The evidence mounts that not only did business." Dean also disagrees with the public is pondering: who will win the the Administration mislead the American partial-birth abortion bill that President Democratic seat? It's no secret that George people and the world in making its case for Bush recently signed. Dean says that while Bush will be running as the Republican war, but that it failed to plan adequately there is no such thing as 'partial birth aborcandidate, but the next presidency will be for the peace." tion' in medical literature, there are times determined by the strength (or weakness) Dean also criticized the administra- when a late term abortion is necessary to of the Democratic candidate. tion's lack of preparation for entering the save a woman's life. He does not think it

Howard Dean has made headlines with war. In an October press release, Dean should be a crime for a doctor to perform his strong stands on a variety of subjects. said, "The president has to be up front something to save a life. His outspoken beliefs on war, abortion, gay with the American people. Dean's beliefs on gay marriage also opmarriage, and fiscal policy have turned many If we go into Iraq, we'll be there for pose those of the president. On his webheads. ten years with American troops on the site, Dean stated "I'm proud to say that as

His willingness to outrightly contradict ground in the most volatile region of Governor or Vermont, I signed legislation Bush on many of his policies displays his the wor_ld W~ere ~e's going to get into to grant homosexual couples the right to ability to stand up for what he believes in, trouble is: (1}gomg without adequate sup- enter into civil unions. This law, the first despite popular opinion or the opinion of port either internationally or at home... of its kind in the United States, guarantees the presidency. [and (2)] what's he going to do when lesbian and gay couples the same basic legal Dean first started gaining significant we're there? He ought to listen to Colin rights that married couples enjoy: the right amounts of public attention last year, Powell. Colin Powell's philosophy is that · to inherit property, obtain child custody, around the beginning of the Iraq war. Of- you never go in anywhere unless you have visit a partner in he hospital, and control a ten, when faced with a very controversial an exit strategy. We have no exit strategy partner's affairs upon death." · topic, candidates aim to please political from Iraq." · Dean does not neglect the ever-presmoderates as well as their own party, with Although the war may be one of ent issues, such as education and economy. neutral, inconclusive stands on issues that the most pertinent topics the candidates Dean has said that a child's education starts don't show resolution in any way. This must address, Dean's stands on other is- upon entering the world, not the classroom, is not the case with Dean. sues are equally resolute. Dean feels that and he supports programs that help chilRegarding the wary in Iraq, Dean said in a abortion should be a personal choice. In dren enter school prepared. recent press release, "It only becomes more a June press release, Dean said, "Abortion Dean does not share Bush's zest for

s tostandardized testing, and denounces Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program ' for devastating education in lower-income areas. Dean also endorses making postsecondary education more accessible, and blame's Bush's "reckless fiscal policy" for the rise in college tuition.

Dean preaches discipline as the key to a healthy economy. He acknowledges that the current unemployment rate is atrocious, and he knows that the American people have grown distrustful and suspicious of the economy of late. Dean hopes to restore optimism through not only decreasing unemployment, but also advancing equality in the workplace. He intends to do so by repealing Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, and introducing a more just and simple taxation plan.

Only time will tell who the Democratic candidate will be, but aided by his strength, Howard Dean certainly has a good chance of winning the seat. Although his stands are in opposition to nearly every one of the current President's, the country may well be rea dy for a new administration, especially one endorsing peace, justice, and economic growth.

Many people are ready for a change in the status quo, and Howard Dean appears to be one of them.

sBy F..llaF..ngland FeatureF..ditor

In 2000, 98 people were killed and 1783 people were injured in alcohol related crashes in Nebraska. The holidays are over and so is the time when the highest percentages of drunk drivers are on the road. Fortunately, a local law firm is trying to change that and lower the number of deaths and injuries yearly.

Friedman Law Offices is a local firm that has been sponsoring the Friedman Holiday Taxi Service for thirteen years. The service is a free taxi that will come and pick an intoxicated person up and drive them home- all free of charge.

The service was started in 1990 by Friedman in order to lower the number of people in his office who were injured in an accident involving a drunk driver. Friedman Holiday Taxi Service was set

up to keep people from getting into their cars when they really shouldn't because they have had too much to drink. Annually Friedman spends over $7,500 yearly (including advertising) and has a contract with a taxi service in order to have more than enough taxis for those who need the ride home. They feel ' it is well worth the cost because it not only gets their name out there, but if it helps even one person get home safely, then their safety is what matters, not the money.

In 2002, Friedman Holiday Taxi service picked up between fifty and seventy-five people around Christmas and New Year's Eve. The average is anywhere between fifty and one hundred people each year. The numbers have not yet come in for 2003, but they are expected to be at least as high as last year.

It is simple to get a hold of the taxi service; so simple a person

could even do it while drunk. Simply call, or have someone you know call, 476-SAFE, and ask for a ride home, and then a taxi will come and pick you up and take you home. There are only two stipulations: you must have a valid driver's license and you must be dropped off at your home or a residence, not a bar or party. And remember it's a completely free • service

Friedman Law Offices provides an invaluable service to Lincoln and the surrounding area during the holiday season. Luckily, they are not the only ones in Nebraska or the United States doing it. If you find yourself in Omaha during the next holiday season, Hauptman, O'Brien, Wolfe, and Lathrope Law Offices offers their Safe Ride Home Taxi Service. Law offices and other organizations all across the nation sponsor similar services. So, don't be a statistic and call if you or someone you know is in need of a ride home, and don't drink and drive!

• I r ____ !\YAndrea.Shonibin ___ _ OpinionMi.tor

''Ladies and gentleman, we nc,.- 4- b .-i.n-i th .,, f::;i mr11-1 <:: ~:iY lAf_ord s 5

spoken by, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer announcing Saddam Hussein's' capture on December 13th, 2003. But it's been a month since his capture and many question why he hasn't been on trial yet. There are yet requirements to be considered according to, BBC correspondent in Baghdad, Chris Hogg.

First, there are more to be tried for crimes against humanity other than Saddam Hussein. As a matter of fact, Iraqi Governing Council, Salam Chalabi states, "

orrun

By NickVaske -----· WebMi.tor ____ _

On Tuesday, December 16, An Advisory Counsel to the Food and _ Drug Administration voted 23 to 4 in favor of making the '' morning after'' pill available over-the-counter.

The emergency contraception pill, known as Plan B, is simply a stronger dose of synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progestin, used in birth control pills.

It is taken in two doses, 12 hours apart, having up to a 90% success rate if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse.

Though emergency contraception has been deemed safe for use by a number of studies, the long term effects of single and multiple uses are not known

In 1999, the morning after pill was approved for use by prescription only. Since then, over 2.4 million women have used the pill. CNN reported that a study in 2000 predicted an estimated 51,000 abortions were prevented by emergency contraception pills. Though the majority _ of the panel agrees that emergency

''He has probably not killed a be built in safe areas to prevent investigation process could ~huge number of people with his insurgency. In addition to that gin in February and potentially own hands. He has most likely secure detention facilities will be build a case by September. This ..Q-rd..e.red - the . killing." =-Whic h__ne...cessar.~ As~man)': are ~flg~ to could mE, n that Saddam has brings forth questions of other see Saddam persecuted, it may years to live. defendants being tried," We're take longer than anticipated. Analysts suspect that when going to try to demonstrate ''Once we have an appropriate he is convicted, the results will that the crimes were commit- detention facility and an ap- be colossal. But until then inted and those who perpetrated propriate court room structure, vestigation is being carefully them will be the only ones who we could probably start issuing collected and detail preparation will be tried. We don't want this charges and indictments for a is taking place. to turn into a witch hunt." If number of people within the When all is organized Sadnext two to three months Cha- dam will be tried in the Internalabi said. tional Criminal Tribunal and ap-

In order for things to follow pear before more than 100 Iraqi through and justice to be fairly judges that went through a two judged, the investigation process week training program that helps Another concern is secu- must proceed to insure infallible ·them in"·estigate and prosecute rity. Courtrooms will have to facts. Chalabi implied that the crimes committed by Saddam.

more defendants, other than Saddam, are tried before him and convicted, then evidence from previous cases could be used in Saddam's trial . .,

Latest Controvers

contraception should be available over the counter, there are widely differing views of how that should happen.

_ Some think it should be available by request from a pharmacist, not on a shelf, and only with counseling from a pharmacist while taking it.

Others think it should be on the shelves with condoms, available to anyone to pi,ck up and take home. There's also the question of an age minim um being discussed.

Other arguments against emergency contraception have also been presented to the FDA. Opponents argue that the easy availability will increase promiscuity, especially in teens

If people know that they can end any potential pregnancy, opponents say, then they will also be less likely to use condoms, which would increase

transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

The issue hasn't gone unchallenged by antiabortion groups and other similar organizations.

Many groups argue that emergency contraception is a form of abortion because it interferes with natural fertilization.

Organizations, such as the American Life League, have encouraged pharmacies not to

THE

For De ate

provide emergency contraception since its original availability in 1999 and will continue to do so. Pharmacies don't have to sell the pills, and many, Walmart for example, have already chosen not to.

Though the panel has already voted, the FDA isn't expected to make a final decision until February.

dies

Res ecte Re u ican Politician te s own

Doug Bereuter Spent 28 Years in Congress, Active in Many Causes

By..seanFlowerday

OpinionE.ditor

First District Congres s man Doug Bereuter will not be seeking a 15th term as a Nebraska representative come this fall. Bereuter, a graduate of th e University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Harvc1Tdschool of Public Administration and distinguished military graduate served as a Nebraska state Senator fro:tn 1974 to 1978 when he made his first bid and won 1the seat of 1st congressional district rep resentative of Nebraska.

Bereuter has served the last 28 years in congress. He now is expressing interest and eagerness in the job of NU President, although no conclusive decisions have been made as to whether or not the job will be available to him.

Bereuter' s declination of the Re- were going to write in a different name championed Ag exports, the selling of

publican nomination is particularly and people who said that they didn't US food to other countries. good news to first vote at all, coming in second Bereuter has also been a strong time Congressman ~Y!ffi;;1#'Jt'iif!!f!;if#;Y!/ff//f/!!7!!ii7f1!!iff!ff!!//J!!!!/!7!/ff!!!!f!/!!/!.!f!!!f!!!i!!!!!!!!!j!!J!!f! and third respectively, with member in the anti-terrorism commu-

th<;>seadmitting that they were nity, _using s po_sition '?n t_ e House Senator Matt Conealy iff!!!lf!!/!.!!J!J!J!!,frJ!i!Jfi' __ 1111;f!Jf!WJ!J!J!!J!t!!tl!Y!4 gomg to vote for Kurt Braum as Intelligence comnuttee to institute more of Decatuer, who is T'rff"'~¼'#(("'''-~;·1&#T'#"s'y"'1';'#FTT''(;'''i"' a notable fourth. a~tive and aggressive anti-terrorism poll-

endorsed Kurt Braum !fJ1J!ff!J1/i!!/';f'fJ,,1;,,;,\"'''''''''''.;!/lffZ!!'P•111f!ff!!f!'t't!t1u,was a respected and well known telligence committee, that he has been to be his replace- ?'JJJ#t#IJ%flff;JJif'!¼ 11t!/Ji¼ff ? '0 "f"! member of Republican Party and overly zealous and has cared more for ment in the House of ll]f!ffY/· ff J,?i considered by some one of the international matters then domestic. Representatives, in a f!f_j

most powerful men in congress. Bereuter has been accused in the past Omaha World Herald ~'.' In his 28 years as the 1st district of ignoring the wants and needs of those poll conducted after ff representative he worked on he is representing and focusing much Bereuter's Declination many international relations too heavily on foreign policy In 1988 the number of people who planned to issues, in particular, aggressive foreign he was named diplomatic ambassador vote for Matt Conealy was by far the policy reform. An active member of the to the UN summit on international relahighest with people who said they House Agriculture committee, Bereuter tions with Indonesia.

I las To ·ve Uo to er S· o~ .er • nu ,s GroupsMembersHave to Deal With TougherRulesand

No /Place To Practice

_____ By JarobMiller _____ our classes;" explained IIG Captain LaR- "There's money in there (the account) the situation E.ditor-in-Chief eshia Weaver. "She thinks we can excel from past IIG members, but we're not al- 'Wealwayspracticeddownstairsbythe Everyone sees IIG at pep rallies, basket- more, and with our grades set at a higher lowed to touch that money. The outfits we cafeteria, then we were moved up to this Jail games, and even the pep rally after the standard than anyone else. It shows we have, we paid for ourselves," Weaver said. room to room 328. Then we were told we Lincoln High One-Act won state. They are work hard, and we care about our grades," Co-captain Lydia Madlock says the weren't supposed to use this room anymore, widely popular with students in the school Weaver added. money is supposed to be in place for trips it was for band or choir or something, but md the group is counted on to perform The decision to raise grade standards and competitions, but she said that they they're never in there," Weaver said wherever and whenever needed. They are was Washington's. never tra'vel to any competitions, so the Derek Jones, an original member of IIG Jften viewed as equals to the Cheerleaders "I chose a C level because I know money just sits there. from 1992 and current co-sponsor, tried to md Pomalinks, but they are actually held to students can excel. They are all capable "Hopefully, if we do any fund-raising find the group a number of rooms to prac1 higher standard with more strict rules. tice in. ITGhas had a number of unique problems

"They gave us some hallway up in ?lague the group recently. They have fourth floor. Who wants to step up in :ougher grade standards than any of other fourth floor?," Madlock said. "Derek asked ::,erforminggroups in the school. The group for [302]and they said that it was unstable. 1lso has weekly grade checks, and because ,_ Then again, Martial Arts Oub practices in Jf those checks, IIG will sometimes perform that room." with less than a full team.

~ff',. iffff· ;z" • ,. ;';,~"!;,'I i, , The group is also interested in seeing

Th h l h d bl 'fiim'•m- · · IIG d. cl ' d e group · as a so a trou e even - :''if'!• ~!!!//JP, ;, •J!!,fi/f;;,,;;;srJ;,:J;p·· fi, turne into a ass. It s an i ea Wash:inding a pla~e to practice after school. , .;,p,1';~;,,;,Jf~fll/l!?~iJ!} ;; ,u, ington ~grees with. Washingto1:1said s~e fhey were assigned a classroom, room 328, !/ff!:":'·;; ''Ji"/ f ".f!,'l,;~ '1i;/1f!;":if{ffJ'!fff ' , 01;,.,. would like to see the group receive credits Jut music groups also practice there, often .,. ·.•. '" '" ,,,,, : ::J':fJ;Jflf throughaclass. ''Itwouldbeniceforthemto ;endingthe squadto the hallwayto practice. z7c;;:._!i;['Jjf]#_;tflff ,~,, -, Z%ifJ!tf!/!Jjl!J,!iX~ifi 1;,iffl.!;!, ;1f!;,'fi/f.efi;,i"tt~ift1gitJ.1~;_;;;,, 1~ff_:;!!i;,,~-;;s;m1;;'.~~'l!!!t,; 1;: :;.¥..~~iii%fit.ti.!ii.~,iii!iiiJ/!/i/!f!!ff!:1! !;;,,,;,/ldff:{J.:,,,%JJJ{47,$W Jftifli'f1its1;W.~1 i~, get school credit. It would be nice for them

tfit th h th . . th . IIG routinely performs at sporting events and pep rallies. Unlike Cheerlead- 1 bb. d t h try t

Ju s, even oug ere is money m err , : . group o ie o ave re- ou s once some lccount. ers and Pomalinks, IIG receives no school credit for what they do. of the girls raised their grades, their request

Grade checks are one of the more noto-

Photo by Jo rd an Green was denied. She said for next year, they :ious things that seem to be hurting IIG. A of performing at C or average level,"Wash- that would cost us an output, that's what want to have tryouts this spring, so they :onstitution was drawn up over the summer ington said. we would like to usethe money for," Wash- have more time to be prepared. · :hat the members have to abide by. One Vice-Principal Annie Scott agrees with ington said.

All of these sudden rules left an impact Jf the areas covered in the constitution is high 1 ~r standards. . Washington added that students on s?,me members of IIG. . ;;rad,~s. , There_ were times last year, when ca,n receive help with their payments if They put so many rules on ~o ~mckly It was [Sponsor Betina Washington s] students rmght have had three or four F's needed. that it was crazy A lot of people d1dn t want ..dea and t~e administrator, Ms: Scott, !o put and that's not good."

The ladies are also supposed to have to be in rr9anymore, ~ecause it wasn't fun :he grades m there. I guess IIG is the highest Th: membe:s also have to buy their a room to practice in, but that is often not anymore,_ Madlock said. ;tand~d of gra~es. I know Che 7rleaders and own uniforms this year, even th~ugh some the case. The)' are frequently bumped by Despite _someof the ~etbacks, IIG conPomalinks, their grades are differe1:1tthan of the _members of ~e group estimate that other groups, leaving IIG to practice in the tinues to deliver 01;1tst~ding perf~1:11ances Jurs. We have to have a C average m all of there 15 up to $700m the IIG account. hallway. They still try to make the best of and shows determination by not giving up.

1/,

____

at a reat Resolution? 0 ore Resolutions!

ByF..llenlJland _____

self-worth of othe rs? "I'm going to tose Photographer 10 pounds by the end of the year"! Of-

With the New Year off and run- ten prompts responses such as, "\A!ell, ning many of us may be full of .regret, I'm going to Jose 20!", Belittling your while others seem to be nostalgic when perfectly encouraging resolution , makthoughts of 2003come flooding back to us. ing is seem worthless.

Regardless of the mistakes or accomplish- Why che competition? Rather than men ts of the previous year, one thing may feeding into the frenzied post holiday be certain, the inevitable question, "So, hoopla, why not make realistic goals for what's your New Year's resolution"? is yourself? Perhaps rather than thinking looming just around the corner. that you're going to turn that Fin your

While some may have hopes to lose math class into an A (that you coincithe extra holiday pound, tell a family dently skip every time you're tardy to member that they care, or for the high avoid in school suspension), perhaps school seniors of the world, perhaps sim- instfad, you should think in terms of ply to gain admittance to their college of pas,ing the class. Or, figure out how choice, everyone seems to be looking for yort can improve your grades in the improvements. semester to come.

So, what makes a resolution, a resolu- Better yet, let's not make resolution? Why have we as a society, decided tions at all. I've made a resolution to that making typically unattainable prom- avoid setting goals for myself, and ises, define who we are? Define not onJy instead, take the New Year in stride, our self-worth, but comparatively, tile rather than argue with friends and £am-

ily members, enjoy this last semester of the school year and look on the bright side.

If you're going to chance, and you make an active effort to improve, you will. But waiting until the first of the year shouldn't be what determines your success rate.

Changing, or making improvements takes time and making an empty New Year's resolution isn't something to get all hot and bothered over. any24ozSmoothie

a e 0

Band Members Explain Mysterious Name and What~sNext or Group

____ By BeemMelpolder___ _ AssistantPhotoF..ditor

By now you've probably heard of the band Catalyst. You may have seen their T-shirts, seen advertisements for their shows or been to one of their concerts. You probably don't know much about the members themselves. How did they start? What got them to start to play? The members all have their own stories

e 1ot@-lJ========-======

Catalyst consist of Lincoln High sophomores James Oliva, Sam Risenhoover, Jordan Kelley and Southeast sophomore Ian Brown. They preformed at the Back to School Bash and have done two shows at the Irving Rec. Center. They are also well known at Knickerbockers, a downtown club that features 18 •and older shows.

Oliva is the bass guitar player, and has been playing for 2 years. He started playing bass when he moved here from California because," every Midwesterner plays guitar, and no Midwesterners plays bass, so when one of my friends needed a bass player, I taught myself how to play,"

Oliva said.

Kelley is the guitar player and has been playing for 5 years. He thought the guitar looked appeal-

years ago.

Ian Brown, the only non-LHS member, is the drummer and has been playing for 10 years. He started when he was little by messing around with drumsticks. He was shocked that they wanted him to join.

practices once a week, twice if there is a show coming up. A day or two in advance, changing strings (if

Left to Right: Ian Brown (11), James Oliva (11), Sam needed) and Risenhoover (11), and Jord an Kelley (11) perform at the making sure Back to School Bash earlier this year. they have all the Photo b Mike Reinmiller equipment they ing which got him into playing. need on stage are just some things Risenhoover does vocals. He they do in preparation for a show. started singing in the seventh T h e band got its name by pickgrade and was in the group ing 1·andom words, Risenhoover Sounds and Spirits at Irving. He said has been the lead singer for Cata- § I was on the phone with James lyst since the band started three ano we were just looking for names

because we needed one and I was looking through a magazine and saying different words." Risenhoover suggested Catalyst, and Oliva said, "Hey that's kind of cool."

Brown thinks the name fits well. "I think Catalyst has sort of a mysterious type of meaning to it. If people want to see a band that is hard rock, the band should

don't know what we are, so I think Catalyst kind of fits it."

The first CD titled Paradox is sold at their concerts or you can purchase one from their web site, for $10. They also sell T-shirts. For concert showings and booking information visit their web site: catalystrock.com, and for fan mail or letters to the band their e-mail is: catalyst63l2@hotmail.com. There is a concert with Trial by Error and Wasting Disease at Knickerbockers February 27, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The admission price is $5 -and it is a fundraiser for our Media Center here at Lincoln High

. um ~£?t. Lamer, .... , te reen Statione

Former Link Explains Duties, Responsibilities,Typical Day in Baghdad

ByTraTis~hlppen_

. __ _ _____ .;; NewsF..ditor a.m. to start her day. She then goes to the fii;ness, running around the compound, the states as well as spending a year in Korea. Former Lincoln High student Sgt. shower tent and gets ready

and weight lifting to She was also a recovery worker during the Cat~e_rine Green (Wood) is a part. of a for _wo~k.She walks to work,

relieve stress. After that Oklahoma City ~ombing. Coalition Task Force that was sent m to which 1s about a quarter of a ,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,;,,,,"'!'":'"'

· she heads back to the "The experiences I have had during rebuild Iraq She is located in Baghdad but mile away. tent to r elax and play these ten years have helped me grow and supports many places all over Iraq. During the course of the cards or watch a movie. realize how important.life is," Green said. Green graduated from L_incolnHigh in day she helps with requests to ff!i!ii!i!!ii;! Going to ?,ed they hear a Camp Victory is the U.S. Army base 1991. She was involved in many activities at purchase goods and services. lot of gunfire, and some- located on the airport grounds. It's about Lincoln High such as: All School Play, Spirit About every other day she times they will wake up a fifteen-minute drive from Camp Victory Club, and Soccer during her sophomore will go out on convoys to the to mortar rounds hitting to downtown Baghdad by Humvee. Iraqi year; DECA, and Joynite during her junior downtown area or over by the rights outside Camp workers are working on building up Camp year, and her senior year she was involved airport to see the contracting Victory. Victory's new Tent City with a population in DECA, Joynite, Peerhelping, Pomalinks, people so they can purchase "You are always on of 12,000 soldiers from dozens of nations, SADD, Soundstations, and Soccer. the goods and services. guard and yo11will al- including the U.S A. She helps fund the military side of "On convoys we are wayshaveyourweapon TheU.S.Armyisworkingonimproving the operation by putting seized money dressed in body armor and with you at all times," the living environment for the troops while back into the economy of Iraq to rebuild carrying our weapons," Green Green said. When she Operation Iraqi Freedom progresses in Iraq. schools, women's shelters, buildings that said. When the task force is Class of '91 LHS alum Air Force arrived she was toJd by a Saddam Hussein's former Al Faw Palace is were bombed, banks, and the prisons. The in armor there are different gt Cathy Green (Wood) is wise Sergeant Majo: (the located on Camp Victory and is surrounded Tas~ Force is in the process of training t~e maneuvers and precautions E:ntly serving in Baghdad, highest enlisted ;,a~ i~ by a man-made lake. Iraqis to run there own government, police that they must take to protect the Army) that thi~ is As of October 2003 the 1st Battalion, 152nd forces, and hospitals. themselves. not a safe place and everyday you wake uo Infantry if the Indiana National Guard is reGreen describes a typical day in Bagh- They are always watching to be aware you need to tell yourself that." sponsible for making sure Saddam's former dad, Iraq as follows: She sleeps on a cot of their surroundings. Green has been in the military for ten palace stays in good repair and keeps it's in a tent with NC. She wakes up around 6 Around 8 p.m. Green does some physical years now and has been to many places in oresidential charm.

I

• ra

BenKathol F...ntertainrnentF...ditor

Theatrical genius was given new meaning, after the Lord of the Rings trilogy was completed.

Lord of the Rings Return of the King hit theatres world wide of December 17, 2003. In its first week and a half it grossed over a quarter billion dollars worldwide. There's only one thing that can be on director Peter Jackson mind after hearing that stunning figure, Bling Bling.

The Return of the King, the third part of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale the Lord of the Rings, was not only a literary masterpiece, butin the last three years was brought to life on the big screen, was an instant success. All three films were shot in New Zealand prior to the release of the first movie The Fellowship Of The Ring, and

Return Of The King). As if each of the of the first two, three hour movies weren't long enough, Jackson decided that for the third installment, a three and a half hour movie was in order.

In the first movie, The Dark Lord Sauron created a "Ring of Power'' that eventually got into the hands of Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), a Hobbit from the Shire. The only way to eliminate evil in Middle Earth was for Frodo to take the ring to Mount Doom in Mordor (the stronghold of the evil forces of Middle Earth) and throw it into the fires of the volcano. This was the only way that the ring could have been destroyed ar,d good could have been restored in Middle Earth. Frodo and Sam (Sean Astin) set out from the shire on a jour-

MOrdOr t0

nic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), ommend seeing the movie unless you an Elf named Legolas (Orlando Bloom), have seen the first two, which are now two men, Boromir (Sean Bean) and Ara- available on DVD. The idea of the third gorn son of Arithorn (Viggo Mortensen), movie is that Frodo is returning the ring aDwarfnamedGimliGohnRhysDavies), to the source, and Arigorn is claiming and the Gray Wizard, Gandalf (lan McKel- his rightful thrown of Candor, (thus the len). Together they became the Fellow- name The Return of the King) over the ship of the ring and all departed from current steward who was the father of Riverdale, on their way to Mordor. Boromir.

At the end of the first movie the fellowship The special effects in the whole split up and went trilogy were on their own way. awesome but Frodo left with were on a much Sam and the ring, larger scale in Merry and Pippin The Return of went on their the King. It own way, and was absolutely Legolas, Gimli, necessary that and Arigorn, left the movie make and later ended so much money up at Rohan. due to the fact

Later Gandalf that they had to reunited with Le- compensate for galas, Gimli, and the money spent Arigorn. With for the ridicuthe help of the lous amounts of people of Rohan, special effects. they moved into The casting for the stronghold, the roles in · the Helms Deep. The ,,, movie were also first big scale bat- r

were released in theatres in December of 2001 (Tl1e Fellowship Of The Ring), 2002 (The Two Towers), and 2003 (The destroy the ring.

When they arrived at the Elven settlement, Rivendale, Frodo and Sam teamed up with two other hobbits Merry (Dami-

done well. The 1 f h tril ;Collum casts a often seen stare at unsuspect-; h t e o t e ogy, i- h bb"t 1 person me arge took place th ere, rg O l s. Pboto courtesy of lordoftherings.coml of_castin g need a and the small er 1.. ,,. , ., .:, raise because (s) army of Rohan, he filled the role held battled the ores from Isenguard, the with people than no only could act but fit fortress of Sauromon(Christopher Lee). the descriptions given in the books. The Return of the King is easily the If you are going to see this movie best of the three, though I wouldn't rec- make sure that you go to a theatre instead of waiting for it to come out on DVD, because the movie doesn't have the same effect on the small screen. This movie was great and there is no excuse for not seeing the most epic tale to ever bee seen in the theatre.

How good was tlus movie? Let's just say that on a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 6. The only thing wrong with the movie was the fact that the end could have been 15 to 20 minutes shorter because it took to long for the movie wrap up. Tons of money was spent to make this movie, but it was all worth it because tons of money is being spent at the box office, and rightfully so. This trilogy if it were to be lumped into one movie would be the best movie I have ever seen. With that in mind I strongly recommend anyone to see The Return of the King, but not until you have see, The Fellowship of the Ring, and the Two Towers. Until now true theatrical genius hadn't been achieved and director Peter Jackson is living up the benefits of this.

____ By MirandaFreeman. ___ _ BusinessManager

While director Patsy Koch Johns was busy taking The Orphan Train to State, several of her cast members were working hard to create another Lincoln High comedy, Take Five. The very funny forty-five minute show started with a couple of hard working stage hands, preparing the set for the evening rehearsal. Or so they think. When the prop phone rings with an emergency call for Greg Baxtor in the audience, the two stage-hands realized that there were people watching them. In shock, they hide. Or, rather, try to hide.

With the audience member (actual cast member Greg Radwick (12)) standing on stage, arguing with his wife on the phone, the play within the play starts. Unfortunately, no one bothered to tell the actors that there was a new member of the cast. The actors tried their hardest not to "break character," but with Had wick's perfect timing on a double conversation that blended hilariously with the talk of a pregnancy, it was difficult. Finally, his wife hung up on him and Radwick went storming off stage and back into the audience, presumably to watch the rest of the show.

But he didn't get far before he was back on the phone, loudly apologizing to his wife. A s if that wasn't enough, the poor actors had to deal with the hungry stagehand hiding behind the couch who kept stealing props. The food

By JacobMiller -----E.ditor-in-Chief

· Puddle of Mudd first broke through a couple of years ago with their first major label release, Come Clean, and it sold five million copies. With Wes Scantlin on vocals, Paul Phillips on guitar, Douglas Ardito on bass, and Greg Upchurch on drums, the band came out with their second major label release, Life On Display, recently, much to the delight of fans. Mudd' s first single from

licking sandwich crumbs off the stage. Throughout all of this, the actors managed to keep a straight f a c e Until the "techies" in the 1 i g h t booth started forgetting their C U e S Well, not so much forgetting them, as doing them all late. Such props, th t •

a IS.

as nnging

While the the door play tried """"" - 'i/ii!iiiii/ii.!iiiii!iiiliii.~'/jjjfjjfjifjj/!f!iiii.fiii!ii bell, after to go on, Senior Greg Hadwith talks on a phone a performance of the acthe stage- Take Five. tors gave h a n d

the door without it.

came when the actors forced another stage-hand (Ryan Poyer, 12) to take the part of an actor that didn't show up. Literally forced him. As in tackling and dragging him. Being a stage-hand, he didn't know any of the lines. Because of this, he panicked when he found out that he was responsible for his characters girlfriends' pregnancy. He denies it until they explained that was just part of the play.

The chaos ensued from there with everything going completely wrong. The set fell over (literally), Poyer began to take advantage of his new stardom, an actress went into labor, and through it all, Radwick was chatting away with his wife.

All in all, the show went beautifully. The jokes were light and funny, the timing was excellent, and the actors had well defined characters. It was a nice light show, and I wish more people had been there to watch it.

Photo by Miranda Freeman up and (Jessica Wallen Thompson, 11) was munching away on everything from brownies, to e1eases opened

A particular high light of the show .,

Student director Jeff Tinnean (12) will be taking his show on the road to the annual State Thespian Convention on January 15 and 16. At the convention, they will compete with several other schools and hopefully receive yet another state championship.

CD Proves To Be a Worthy Follow-up For Their First CD Come Clean

much the same as Come Clean did, but at times the CD had a little bit of a darker sound in a couple of songs. Away From Me is one of many solid songs on the CD. Nothing Left To Lose and Freak of the World also seem to follow Away From Me's harder music and vocals.

Displayis the song , Away From Me. Life on ~1splay IS Puddle of Mudd s sec-

The boys from Kansas City also change things in a couple of songs. Heel Over Head and Spin You Around were a little bit lighter, but not in a Matchbox 20 sort of way, so fans of the group don't have to worry about that. It was still nice to This album ond ma1or label release. sounds pretty Photo courtes of I rics.com

hear a little bit of a change-up in ,the for any fans of the group, or any fans of songs. rock music. It's a great CD to listen to, Most of the songs on the album especially when you are angry. seem to deal _,""'" ~"'f/11 """'""'" In the end, with heart- Life on Display break and love. M deserves four Even though out of five stars. the topic in It's a good CD, the songs are but it's not all basically the something that same, the band you' re going was able to do to remember it in a way that forever. Some you get tired of people may not hearing each view it as a CD song. that is as good Overall, Life as their first on Display is a one, but it is still good CD. The a solid CD. songs are solid Puddle of and the vocals ~,_ Mudd is defifrom lead_sing- These four from Kansas City have had hits like nitely one ba nd er Scantlin are 81 Sh H t M . d A F M not affected urry, e a es e, an way rom e. goo<;I. I_t~hould Photo courtes ·of puddleofmudd.com by any so~~ of be a definite buy Y sophomore Jlnx.

rer • • ,us1crans, [DJ

The thing about Oay was, he didn't even WIN American Idol Ruben Studdard won American Idol 2. Yet it is Oay that is getting all the publicity and all the accolades. It's like someone losing an election, yet still getting to be the Presid

Has anyone ever watched Oay dance? Well,has anyone watched Oaybytodance?

Watching him by to dance is as uncomfortable as watching a counby musician by to dance. Not good times. And his first single points to the fact that he probably has at least one restraining order against him.

, The only thing that Oay is missing is ByJacobMiller the guitar that he pretends to play on stage. F..ditor-in-Chief That leads us to John Mayer. At least Oay and pretends to be in it for the music. Our Be_nKathol , good friend, Mr. Mayer, is strictly in it for E.ntertainmentF..ditor the ladies. He was probably sitting around

"If I were invisible, I would watch you in Starbucks somewhere, learning the names your roorr..." No this isn't a Michael Jackson o~his guitar strings, and a couple of college or R Kelly lyric aimed at under aged persons. grrls, tweaked on caffeine, said he would It's American Idofs runner-up, Oay Aiken's _ m_akeagoodmusician. Hethenwenthome newest single, Invisible. · and found a two-week lesson package for Oay is a prime example of artists stealing s~ging and bought it, desperate for girls. people's money by playing dulled down mu- Smee then, record companies realized that sic for people that don't want to think about gulli~lewomenlikehismusic,andhislooks, the lyrics. · and the rest has been one big gravy train

· ,tration

One Shirt Was Denied,

By &!rahBartelt ,\sst..SportsF..ditor

Students at Lincoln High have always been encouraged to think more about what they are doing and how it affects other people rather than how they look or what people think of them. Shouldn't the administrationalsofollow the same guidelines?Recently it seems that the administration has been more concerned with their appearance than their students ability to expresstheir freedom of speech

Thispast semesterJohn Brady's6th period applied economicsclassdesigned a T-shirtto sellas part of the class'scurriculum.The students who caine up with the originaldesignwere SethSharpe(12)and RyanBlahak(12).They presented the generalidea to the classand then alltogether the classcaine up with the final product. On the front of the shirt

of money, women, and terrible music for Mayer.

Hey, who ever said that Boy Bands were dead? Haven't you guys seen killer bands like Good Charlotte and Simple Plan? For the past year of so they have been gracing the stage at the Mecca of Punkrock. That's right TRL.Gees, you are hard-core, guys, and we bet that you are glad to hear that the same teenybopper girls that once voted N'SYNC, the BackstreetBoys and Pop Princess Britney Spears to the top of the countdown, have since given you their vote.

Simple Plan in their newest single tells us that they aren't perfect. And that is painfully obvious after listening to their CD, C'mon, your CD has songs about three different topics How about some variety? All of the thirteen songs on the CD are about, how no one likes them and they have no friends, how they think that they' re rockers, and how they plan on hooking up with a certain girl Hello?! Try to find someone to help you write some new songs. There is a lot going on in the world that you could use in your lyrics. But remember, you have to identify with the mindless, suburban kids that buy your records.

Fame!

At least Simple Plan has one thing going for them. They aren't Good Charlotte. These "rockers" have been stealing unsuspecting fans money for a while. What kind of rock band features a member of N'SYNC in their video? They had Chris Kirkpatrick in on of their videos. Seriously. And he wasn't even the talented member of N'SYNC. But these "hardcore'' punks realized that having a member of N'SYNC was a way to grab young fans attention. That is exactly who their fan base is. Teenage girls and boys that are scared offby real rock,but feel uncomfortable listening to rap, so they turn to Good Charlotte. They' re like decaffeinated coffee or diet pop.

These are just a couple of prime examples of fake musicians.

Some of these artists, especially Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, are just the latest attempt by record labels to lure young listeners. They realized that some teenage listeners are past the Britney stage, so they give them something else with no substance, only packaged differently. Aiken is only capitalizing on American Idol fame, and Mayer is capitalizing on fans more captivated by his looks than his songs.

,OWS 1verT- s

ilea Sexually Suggestive One Was Allowed

in the upper left hand comer there were two lettersfollowedby five numbers, this was to be the "inmate"number. On the back it stated: LHS CorrectionalFacilityRegulations

1. Absolutelyno eating between the times of 7:50-2:35

2. Bathroomsare off limitsto inmates

3. Probation meetings held every Wednesday at9:42am

4. No yard time without proper identification

5. Standing room only in the mess hall

6. No readmissioninside regardlessof weather

7. Guard's countdown

2 minutes between cell transfers

8. 3 tardies

dents have had to suffer through this year. The point of the shirtwas to point out how ridiculous and unnecessary the students at Lincoln High felt the new rules were.

You may be thinking well, no wonder the administrationdidn't approve their shirt, it violatessome sort of schoolrule,right?Wrong. First of all, the process to getting a shirt approved is completelyoutrageous.When the classhad the general idea of the shirt, a few of the students stopped AssociatePrincipalAnnie Scott in the hallway and gave her the general idea of what they wanted to do. She gave the class permissionto proceed as long as there were n0

never given a dear answer as to why the shirts were rejected.That'sbecausethere was no good reason

The shirt had no sexual innuendoes, and nothing to do with drugs or alcohol.In addition, there isn't even a specificpolicyon what canand can'tbe on T-shirts.Althoughthe onlyguidelines are the generaldress code rules,Scottreferred to districtregulation 1350,which addresses fundraising activities by students. HQwever, this policydoesn't address T-shirtcontent.Scottalso stated, ''Theadministrationdid not approve [the design] based on the shirt's negative portrayal of LHS."This reason .appears nowhere in any written policy.

After never really receiving a reason for the rejectionof the design, the class moved on and decided to sell a differentproduct. A few months later,DECAstartingsellingshirtswhich state "EarlJohnson Gym" with Johnson as the biggest word. The back of the shirts read: "The BestPlayHere, Harder Working,LongerHours, BiggerPay Off,PleasingFans Since1871."

a ball and · These are the front and back of the t-shirts that were and took it chain at the approved by the LHS Administration. back to Scott, bottom. The Photo by Tina Wilson she then kept "rules" the L----------------------....1the design class caine up with were just an exaggerated and showed it to the other associateprincipals. version of the new rules that LincolnHigh stu- It then, came back, rejected.The students were •

Rememberhow the dresscode rules dearly prohibitthe displayof any sexualinnuendoes or references?Somethingtellsme that the administration failed to even look at these shirts before approving them.

To avoidmaking arbitrarydecisionslike these in the future, the administrationshould come up with a more specificpolicyand followit consistently

carrieTodd l\_sm.FeatureF..ditor

I knew when I woke up that it was a cursed morning. Something I can describe only as my sixth sense told me that the bell would ring as I was walking up to the doors of Lincoln High School, and I would tip-toe into my 2nd period class ... TARDY.

The 10 inches of snow on the ground and ice-covered streets didn't help any. By the time I dashed into Mr. White's C.I. class, it was 8:01 and 17 seconds. My palms got sweaty, I glanced around the room for a hidden emergency exit. No sooner did I sit down than an inch-thick stack of paper was shoved in my face.

''Your FIF'I'H TARDY!!!!'' Mr. White screamed menacingly. At that moment I saw my young life flash before my eyes. The seven sheets of carbon copies mocked me as I signed my name on the line. Below my signature, the words REFERRAL and IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION burned holes in the page.

I, Caroline E. Todd, take responsibilityfor my actions. I was late. I'm not quite as punctual as some, but I'm not late all the time. I realize this isn't a great quality, but sometimes my non-anal retentive personality gets the best of me. And sometimes people in front of me drive like idiots.

My sentence was supposed to be served on January 5th, the first day of school after Winter Break. But being the conscientious student I am, the thought of missing a whole day of class right before finals just really ticked me off.

Normally, I could let this slide. Nevermind the fact that whoever decided to take students out of all their classes to serve time for being tardy to ONE class was on crack. It's irrelevant that skipping 2nd Period would have made more sense than going tardy. I could get past the fact that I'd be sitting in a small prison-like cell adorned with posters making declarations like, ''Not Bad Kids, Bad Choices." But really, the timing could use some work.

Time

For

a

When I was first informed of my harsh sentence, I asked to serve the time before or after school. I was told that ISS was the only way tardies were handled, but I was determined to fight the system. The next day, I went to talk to an associate principle, and my request was the same: to serve time outside of class. The A.P. graciously granted my

Tou _rime ... Tar • 1ness

thinking. ''You'll never get by with that in the real world!'' ''Just wait 'till you get to college, they won't put up with it!'' I agree that tardiness is an issue in places outside of the high school classroom. But the last time I checked, UNL had yet to install synchronized bells in all of its lecture halls. In most cases, we are left with the natural consequences that come

respectful protest and special request. If I hadn't been so adamant about challenging the punishment, I would have been sent to regular ISS like the rest of the half-asleep suckers sitting next to me 7th Period in Room 142.

As the minutes drag on, I'm developing an angry, nervous sort of twitch. Flashbacks of mornings when I hit the snooze button twice are haunting me. Why, WHY did I do it? How could I have let myself be tardy, even once? The realization that I'm supposed to actually be in a classroom when the bell rings dawned on meJ ike. a .summer d.ay~ This revelation kept me up the whole night. Hallelujah!

Maybe it's some kind of subliminal message they're feeding us through the intercom system, but this ISS thing really works. Sitting in a desk in a classroom for 49 minutes completely changed my outlook on life. Not only will I never be tardy again, I think I'll make Room 142 a regular stop ... if only I could find a way to steal that ''Not Bad Kids ... Bad Choices'' poster.

QUIET!

OR ELSE!

request and sent me on my way with a pink copy outlining my five days in 7th Period Detention. I left the Main Office with a bounce in my step, until I realized that I had just pleaded with the administrationto let me go to class call me crazy, but I thought I was supposed to be at school to get an education, not to be slapped on the wrist (or rather, smacked really hard in the face) for missing the first 20 seconds of class.

I know what you teachers are

of our tardiness (Get to class late, miss the beginning instructions, wonder what's going on). But at good ol' LHS, we are locked in a small room until we realize the error of our ways. My only consolation is that I was allowed to spread my sentence out to encompass an entire week.

Sitting here in the ISS room, my efforts seem wasted. Although I avoided missing class again (I'm already very well-acquainted with the attendance ladies), it was only by

____

• Wlffi

By JenniferF..ndres ____ _ .SportsE.ditor

Splish, splash! The Links Swimming teams are stroking their way to victories. Swimming 1.5-2.5 miles a day and working hard during practices, the boy's are 4-0 and the girl's are 3-1. The boy's have their victories over Millard South 101-63, Lincoln Northeast 95-86, Grand Island 8887, and Columbus 88-60. The girl's have recorded their wins over the Rockets of Lincoln Northeast 115~68, Grand Island 98-82, and Columbus 93-86. Their only loss came by one point, 83-84, in their first meet of the season against the Millard South Patriots. Both teams have outstanding swimmers that look to be State bound.

On the boy's side, junior Timothy Rosenau is surely one that has made a name for himself. Rosenau has been swimming for eleven years. His goals for the rest of the season are to improve his times and help out the team with his hard work. "Getting ready to swim for meets means staying as relaxed as possible while at the same time trying to keep all my muscles in constant motion," Rosenau said on how he gets himself ready before swimming a meet. So far, he has been quite successful. In the first meet of the season against the Patriots, his time of 23.67 in the 50 Freestyle placed him fifteenth on the charts in • a 1n s

ID'TinaWilson

..,;;:PhotoE.ditor______

____

_

With a young team, consisting of only four returnees, the Lady Links are off to a good start this season. After a hard, 71-51 loss to the Lady Bulldogs in North Platte, the Links have rebounded and succeeded in beating Millard South 55-47 and Lincoln Southwest 49-39 in the first city game of the season.

The Lady Links' next venture was , to play at Omaha North on Friday, December 19. In the game against North, the Links won 61-42. Leading the Links against North was senior Alissa Holland. Holland led her team with her career high 21 points while seniors Jennifer Endres and Abby Wood added 14 points each.

On December 20th, the Lady Links had another road trip, but this time to play Fremont. The Links ended the game with a 37-32 victory. In the game against Fremont, Holland led the Links again with 13 points, and Endres followed adding 11 points. The key to defeating the Fremont Tigers was playing good defense.

Over winter break, the Links headed to Lincoln North Star to partitipate in the Heartland Conference "Holiday Tournament." The Links first faced off against Grand Island and finished with their

earns • • 1ve

1n ea irst or . .uccess

the state. Rosenau is the type of swim- get my energy up," Lenz said. wants to do even better. mer that looks for perfection. Despite Even though the season is still fresh, Rosenau and Lenz are surely leading his good performances he still is not sat- she has placed. in the top fifteen in three the way, but swimming is a team sport ~ isfied. "I am very disappointed with my events. Against Lincoln Northeast she Each individual pushes himself or herperformance thus finished self hard during practice to get better, in far," Rosenau said. the 50 order to not only to better them, but also Look for Rosenau Freestyle in to better the team as a whole. to climb the charts an incred- Here are some other top finishes to in the next couple ible time mention for the boy's relay teams. The of meets. of 26.18 boy's are thirteenth on the charts in the

On the girl's seconds, 200 Fre e Relay, finishing in a time of 1: side, senior Marisha placing her 40.27 against the Rockets. The 400 Relay Lenz is leading the twelfth in team finished in 3:48.82 against the Rockway with fantastic the state ets as well, placing the team thirteenth finishes. She · has and two in the state. been swimming tenths of a Now, let's take a look at some of the competitively for second shy top finishes for the girl's relay teams. · seven years now of getting Against Northeast, the 200 Free Relay and with that much the au to- team finished in an impressive time of experience, has Senior Nick Svoboda strokes his way to the ma tic en- 1:48.73, giving them the automatic entry surely helped her finish 'during his Freestyle event in a meet at try into the to swim in the event at State. Against the swimming career as Lincoln High. The Lincoln High Swim teams State Tour- Patriots of Millard South, the 200 Medley a Link. Lenz is off are off to a good start. Both teams have nament in Relay finished in a good time of 2:05.72. to a great start this many swimmers that look to be State bound. that event. Those efforts put them sixteenth on the swimming season, In the 100 charts. being that her times

Photo by Renee Krenk Freestyle The Lincoln High Boy's and Girl's are ahead of what against the Swim teams will have their next swim they were at the same time in past Rockets, she finished in 57.89 secqnds. meet on January 15th at Columbus. The years Her strategy of getting ready for That brought her seventeenth on the very next day, January 16th they swim a swim meet must be working. "Right swimming charts. at the Cotter (LHS) Invite. On the 20th before my race I talk to my coaches or Last season she competed at the of January they will swim against the teammates who pump me up. I like to State Tournament, finishing in a time of Spartans of Lincoln East and on the 22nd visualize how I will swim the race. I also 2:0s.si, placing her the highest Lincoln they will swim against the second-year do a few jumping jacks right before to swimmer. This year, being her last, she school, Lincoln Southwest, at LHS as

second loss of the season. The final score of the Lincoln High vs. Grand Island game being 36-48. "I know that I wasn't prepared to play Grand Island, but after the game started I realized that I needed to step up and I became more focused," senior Halley VanLaningham said.

trivin or

mented.

After their win over Lincoln North Star, the Links moved on to compete for 5 th . place against

finished the tournament in 5 th place, but faced their second loss of the season, falling to Grand Island.

In the Senior Halley VanLaningham (~) plays tenanext game cious defense against junior Jessica McKinney the Lady (32) during the Links' inner-city battle versus Links fa_ced Southwest. The Lady Links came out on top 0 f! again st with a 49-39 victory at Johnson Gym.

L 1 n c o 1 n

Lincoln Northeast. After a shaky first half, the Links ended up victorious. In the fourth quarter, with 40 seconds left, the Links were down 40-41 when VanLaningham got lucky and added a quick lay-up to help the Links take control of the scoreboard with a one point lead. With a quick rebou nd North Star.

Photo by Rachel McGill

·In the game, the Links came out victorious against the new school in Lincoln. The Links finished the game with a 6133 win. "As a team, we became more focused and gained our composure and played together as a team, and that's why we won," VanLaningham com-

from Holland, the Links got the ball back to a wide-open VanLaningham, who added another quick lay-up. The Rockets then proceeded to turn the ball over, giving the Links the 44-41 win. Overall, this holiday season, the Lady Links received gifts. The Links

The Links next inner-city battle came on Friday, January 9, when the Links faced off against the Lincoln East Spartans. The Links played a hard game, trying to hand the Lady Spartans their first loss. The Links played hard matching East's Jenna Coles' offense and the teams were tied. After half time, the tone of the game went down, as East used their stalling tactic. During the second half, an absent senior, Abby Wood was unable to contribute to the team for unknown reasons. The Links ended up falling to the Spartans, 44-34.

On Saturday, January 10, the Links headed to Grand Island for s ome revenge. The Links faced off with the Islanders and started out strong, playing good defense. Despite playing hard, the Links fell to Grand Island yet again. The final score being 44-32

So far, the Lady Links are off to a good start. The Links a.re currently, 6-4 and hope for a better second half of the season. It will be important that they get key wins over some of the top teams in the state. The Lady Links host undefeated and number 3 ranked Norfolk on Friday, January 16, 2004.

Bovs Basketball is Showin Promise Earl in me ::,eason

Wliether i(s Inside or Outside, the Links Have Found Ways to Win

By JacobMiller &litor-ln-Chief

If other ·basketball coaches in this ciry look depressed in the next couple of weeks, it's not from holiday blues. It's likely from the thought of try:_ing_ to stop Lincoln High this year. The Links have found <l:ifferentways to hurt opponents early this season.

The Links have been able to hurt teams from the perimeter. Seniors Marcus Minzel and Seth Sharpe have been good from outside the perimeter, while senior point guard Eric Rose has been tough for teams to guard, thanks to his quick style.

On the inside, juniors Preston Peterson and Yusuf Vinson have been a lot for teams to handle. Vinson has been able to power through some teams, while the 6-8 Peterson has been tough on the boards. Juniors Andrew Kline and Christian Lewis have also been solid off of the bench.

The Links had a busY. winter break. Winter break was startea with back to back home games for the Links. In the first game, the Links welcomed Omaha North to Johnson Gym. The game was close in the opening quarters, but the Links pulled away for a 55-44 victory.

The following night, the Tigers of Fremont came calling. Once again the game was close as the Tigers slowed down the tempo of the game. Eventually, the Links put the Tigers away and gained a 46-31 victory.

The Links were the second seed heading into the Ho1iday Tournament, that featured teams from Lincoln, plus Grand Island and Fremont.

In the first round the Links were • once again

schedulea to play Fremont.

the Links played Grand Island, which had upset Lincoln East the day before. The Islanders got off to a quick start and built a 17 point lead against the Links. Slowly, tfie Links clawed back into the game and G.I.'s lead was only 10 at halftime. The Links came out fir• • • ing again in the second half.

This game W!3-SSeth Sharpe (12) looks to pass to Preston Peter-

once again son (11) against Fremont. The Links won the played fo a 46 37 slow tempo. game ·

This time 1:he

by Morgan Raymond Links built a bigger lead earlier in the game for a 47=31victory over the Tigers.

In the second round of the tourney,

ere's e Student Section?

By JacobMiller &litor-ln-Chief

Something hasn't felt right at boy's basketball games Y.etthis season. In pursuit of an answer, I checked the scoreboard. Nope, the team is still winning games. Next I checked the personnel. The main coaches are still on the bench and the players are the ones we thought they would be. Desperate for answers, I checl.<edone last flace and that's where I found it. found the problem in the student section. Or the lack of a student section. Thanks to increased rules about sportsmanship and problem fans showing up at games, 1:hevoice and energy of the basketball games has not been quite right. This year, rfeel ashamed to be vocal. Yells of encouragement, and other· things, are met by stares of bewilderment. Students that do want to yell look at each other with the combined look of yearning and fright. It's just like whert two set of eyes meet at a "chick flick" and both male parties are ashamed to be there and both want to leave. Not that I'd know

To a point, students have been held back by new sportsmanship rules that limit certain _chants. \Yhile personal attacks may be inappropriate, what's wrong with chantinp "you, you, you" at opposing play:ers? We re only t ·ng to help the officials find out the ~il player. And since most players have the oak of "who me?" on their faces after they foul someone, we as students need to confirm, yes Y.Ou!

But it's not like students would want to cheer this _year. The student section is deader than Frank Solich' s career. No one wants to cheer, or cheer loud

At the Fremont game at Johnson qy!ll, most of the student section was sitting down. The Fremont parents were livelier than our student section. There are a number of types of students to blame in this situation.

The first type of student that brings the section down are the students that just show up because it's a social affair. They .couldn't care less about the game, and it shows. Thef.re the students that want everyone else to sit down, so they y:ell and pull people down. Last I checked the parents sit down during games. Go sit with them and be happy.

Another dreadful "fan" is the one that brings. t~eir younger sibling_ to a game. This is even more annoying than the lazy fans. Most of these students probably get stuck baby-sitting, so instead of sittin_gthis game out, they bring along the little tyke:Not a bad idea if you are going to sit off to the side or with the _parenfs. The people that have had to sit towards the top of the student _section !3-repr<?bably more aware of this growing_ epidemic than other students. Chilaren below freshman . age, and most are probably below the age of ten, run around the student section causing havoc. Not only that, bu~ at the Omaha~orth game, I was standmg near what had to nave been a child less than three months old. Why would you bring a baby to a student section? What was going through that persons mind? I almost fell:bad a6out screaming so much directly next to the baby. Almost.

In reality, nothing is going to change. Students will most likely continue to be boring and random fans will continue to bring the student section down. Give me one last chance to plea this. Please be more vocal and fun.1here is no bigger home-c~urt advantage than a crazy student section.

There are big games coming up. Wins against teams like Soutneast, Omaha Central, and North Star (I kid you not) will decide the fate of the season. Be crazy.

Eventually in t_he waning minutes of the game, the · Links took their first lead of the game, 51-50. The Islanders stalled with the ball until the final couRle of seconds. Then, G.I. star Shane

SweneY. drove inside and thr~w up a shot with two people guarding nim that went in to give the Islanders a 52-

51 lead with 2.6 seconds to go. A failed attemr.t at a basket sealed Grand Island's secona. upset of the tourney and sent Lincoln High to face Lincoln Northeast the following day for third place in the tourney.Against the Rockets, the Links played as well as they had all season, as they jumped out to a commanding lead. ·In the third quarter, the Rockets climbed back into the game and even narrowed the Links lead to six points. But a couple of key baskets from Minzel and Sharpe sealed the deal for the Lil).kS and gave them a 63-55 win and third place in the Holiday Tournament.

On Thursday, January: 8th, the Links traveled across the city to battle the East Spartans. It was a close game in the first half, but the Spartans go1 hot in the third guarter and handed tfie Links their third loss of the season, 64-46. Vinson led all Link scorers with 13, while Minzel had 12 and Sharpe had 10 points. · From tnere, it was to Grand Island for a rematch from the Holiday Tournament.

Both Sharpe and Minzel were hot for the Links, as they got revenge on the Islanders with a 50-43 victory. Sharpe had ~9 points, while Minzel liad 16 for the Links.

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____ By Travis.Shipl)en;;;....,

NewsF..ditor

__ _

Lincoln High students were emotionally moved by the story of Holocaust survivor Judy Meisel during the assembly held in Johnson Gym on January 28, 2004. During the assembly she spoke of her life struggles dealing with the Holocaust and watching her mother disappear in a Nazi gas chamber.

Not all of her stories were sad, though; she also spoke of reuniting with her brother and escaping the concentration camp in Poland with her sister.

Meisel was in Denmark with her sister when she heard of a woman who was searching for her husband. The woman received news about her husband from her brother, who was located in a Palestine camp during the time.

Meisel ·and her sister sent a sign in Yiddish to Palestine asking for any information to help in the search. Six weeks later, their brother eventually saw the sign and made contact.

He told them he was going to relocate to Canad a Meisel a nd - ne rs ister then decided to go to Canada, where they would reunite with him. After reuniting,

the three decided to come to the United food to the likes of you." When Meisel States. heard that, she dumped over food and Today Meisel resides in Santa Bar- left. bara, California, where she is a peac 1 When she lived in Philadelphia, she advocate. She ~,

befriending the Bakers.

lived near ' maintains an

a black fam-

While in the Concentration Camp, Judy, her brother, and her sister promised that if any one of them were to escape, they would spread the word that the Holocaust is real and tell of everything that happened there.

and the .irnFI:fitteaik race riots need to help in 1963. In each other. a way, the Sh e believes family was in helping treated like people when Meisel was everyone is during the against them. Holocaust. She b elieves H?locaust Survivor Jud [ Meis~l talks to Lincoln C r O w d s you have to High Students about c 7mpassion and tolerance of white fight for what during an all school assembly on January 23th._ p e O p 1 e you believe i Photo By J acob Miller gathe .red in, and you can't just say it, you have outside their house threatening and to do it also. 1 harassing the Bakers and racial epithets

On one occasion, Meisel went out were pai n ted on t fie n ouse. to get some food with three Afr ican The white neighborhood didn't American women friends. They went want them to move in. Meisel rememto a restaurant a nd waited for a long bered what it was like to be hated and time, thinking \ ltey were going to be unwanted, so she decided that she and waited on. Meisel went up to a waiter her friends should go over to them, and and asked him i f he could hurry up a welcome them into the neighborhood little so they could get something to eat, with some cookies. The neighborhood and the waiter said, "We don't serve would then turned against Meisel for

Neither Judy nor her brother or sister thought that they were going to escape the concentration camps, but they continl.led to hope. "Hope and faith were the only things I had that they couldn't take away," Meisel said.

This would help to prove to the non-believers that the Holocaust really happened, and this would also explain why we need to avoid another horrible incident like this.

To the non-believers Meisel say s, "They are misguided. I don't have t o debate them; the American Army wer e at the camps and they know it happened."

Meisel believes that all the nonbelievers are trying to kill her a second time, "And I am not allowing it," Meisel saicl'.

For more information about Judy Meisel, you can watch the film Tak For Alt, which takes Meisel back to the places in the concentration camp to show what it was like for her, or you can look up information on the Internet on one of the many sites that tell about her life • experiences

Students Hope To Restart Club By Next Fall

By F..IIEF..ngland____

vegetarian friendly items appearing

While club members in the past have FeatuleF..ditq f on the Lincoln High lunch menu. been largely vegetarian, it certainly Minks, and t abbjts, and cows! Beck hopes to reopen the Animal isn't a requirement. . Oh my! No, thi i is1l't some crazy Rights Club because a student saw By this time next year, Beck circus or zoo, it's- t~e animals Lin- several pays abusing a mouse and hopes to be dealing with getting rid coin High stude pcs want to help became :loutraged, wanting some- of illegal "puppy mills," farms that protect. Lincoln ~igh is trying to thin t d' be done. The student then mistreat female dogs by giving them restart the Anim l l Rights Club un- no exercise and expecting puppy afder the leadersJiip of math teacher "Bythistimenextyear ter puppy to be born. Nancy Beck. If ,enough students are She also hopes to have the club interested ,p.nd~how that interest to Beckhopestobedeal- working hand in hand with "ijreak Beck, th:n ' club will be open at ing~ thgettingridof th~ Link," an organization that figh~s year. I the beginn1 g of the next school ill ··atIn millS' 11 animal and spouse pbuse and their eg pUppy connection to each other and more

The clib was canceled three years ago ,ln 2001, due to lack of student intetest. Before il was closed, I , , the cluli was involve g in many activiti/s, such as creatit1.gdisplays that ~~owed the products which we:i;eneedlessly tested on animals and ,ihe cruelty of the fur inc.ustry. / hey are also responsible for ~'

• • serious crimes.

contacted Beck, the former sponsor If you are interested in joining of the club, in hopes of getting the the club, you need to contact Beck by club reinstated. the end of the year and let her know

The club is aimed towards Lin- your name and student ID number coln High students who are inter- by either signing up on her door or ested in animal rights,· especially talking to her in person, so she can animal cruelty, as well as students continue the process of restarting this who have a passion for animals great club. ·

• om orces to • em

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____ ByNhu-YNgo___ _ FeatureE.ditor

One of the perks of being Asian is that we have two new years; the one celebrated on January 1st and the Lunar New Year, which comes with the first full moon of the year. The date fluctu- F ates, and this year it fell on January 22nd , marking the new year of the Monkey. "

What's more, the New Year isn't ' just one day; rather, ~t is three days. It may differ each year, but always falls in either January or February. In order to celebrate this year, the Asian Caucuses of Lincoln High, Lincoln Northeast, and Lincoln North Star all joined together to sponsor a New Year dance titled "New Year Shakedown."

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Te''t m·v1·etnamese 1·sthe most rm·portant '.,J MKWii '·

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hol_iday in many Asia~ count~~~s, from Northeast junior Scott (Quang) Bui break-dances the night aw:;,;;, Chi1'.a and Korea to Vi~~na_m. Im g~ad the dance contest at the New Year Shake Down, which was held thatitallcametogether, saidLHSAsiart on January 31 to celebrate the Lunar New Year f th M k Caucus President Minh-Ngoc Nguyen Photo By Nhu-Y Ngo · 0 e on ey. (12), "and we were able to join forces instead of competing with each other like ~1X11s given to children by adults, wishes. we have in previous years." wishing them a happy and healthy new It may be the year 2004 based on the

The event was held at the Malone year. Words of wisdom, such as "Listen calendar devised many years ago, but Recreational Center and was open to to your p~rents and do_well in school," by Chinese count, it is the year 4701. the public with a general admission of are also given along with the money. The Lunar New Year date follows the $5. DJ Hiepsta and DJ Revo supplied Elders are central in Asian cultures, 160~year calendar devised by Emperor the music, and a dance contest was even therefore they are much respected and Han Wu Di. It can be downloaded free held. The winners received money prizes reve~ed. ~~ey are usually the ones wh_o of charge at http://lunarcal.tripod.com/ in traditional red envelopes (known as Li are first v1s1ted on the New Year. It 1s download.html. Xi in Vietnamese or Lai See Hong Bao in customary to call loved ones and visit The Lunar New Year also comes Chinese). on the New Year, bringing goods and with many superstitions. It is said that '

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spring cleaning must be started and finished before the New Year in order to have a good year. Also, no bickering · between loved ones is to occur, and any sign of bad luck is considered an omen for an equally bad year.

With these superstitions come joyous celebrations to bring happiness. Lion dances are common. In fact, Lincoln High Asian Caucus members MinhNgoc Nguyen (12) and Nick Nguyen (11), members of the Lion Dance troupe of Lincoln, performed for children at the F St. Recreational Center. Anh Do (12), Mai Do (9), and Nhu-Y Ngo (11) also made lanterns and played games with the children there, such as the traditional Vietnamese New Year game of Bau Cua Tom Ca, where the participants could win candy.

The New Year is celebrated by Buddhists and Catholics alike in the Vietnamese community, and both religious institutions held festivities to commemo rate the coming year. The Linh Quang Temple had a Te't festival at the Malone Center on January 17th 2004, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church held a similar event on January 24th , 2004, with activities. Buddhists and Catholics went to both, all believing in one thing-having fun.

The Asian Caucuses believed in the same thing and wanted to provide the Asian youth of Lincoln with the opportunity to celebrate their heritage and also to dance the night away. They hope that you, too, had a tip-top Te't and wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.

____ By Berul Melpolder___ _

A,sst.PhotoE.ditor

Business teacher John Brady's Future Business Leaders of America (F.B.L.A.)class has brought Data Match back for the second . year. Data Match is an electronic survey that sorts out students into friends and possible romance partners. The question most often asked is "Does it work?" The answer is, it just depends.

Everyone takes the survey, but you have to pay to get your results. The results are $2 for the top ten matches in your grade and an additional dollar for the top ten in the school. They were available on the 11th, 12th, and 13th. The results were sold in both hallways during lunch, and in and outside room 106

The questionnaire was handed out during fifth period classes January 29.

The questionnaire which was 33 questions long and asked questions like: Your

friday night date cancels. How do you react?

1. Find a new date. 2. Find something else to do. 3. Stay at home. 4. Never talk to that ex-date again!

The questions had a variety of topics that cover issues that teens know about, like getting ready for dates, sports and schooling events--things that can help calculate someone's compatibility. ·

"Can you think of another fundraiser that five or six hundred people minimum can participate in for a fairly inexpensive amount of money and still be part of the school?" Brae,;,yasks. The fund-raiser rolled in about $500 for F.B L.A.

Bra 'dy hopes Data Match will be back for another year as another successful fund-raiser for F.B.L.A.

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Concertand SymphonicBandsAnticipateSuccess

!3Y&lrahKnigQt CopyE..ditor

After another marching season of consistent superior ratings, praise from top adjudicators and talented musicians, and a memorable trip to London, what's left for the Lincoln High band to do during second semester? One thing is certain--they will not be kicking back and relaxing anytime soon.

The second half of the year is the band's concert season, which is when the marching band splits up into two smaller groups--Concert Band and Symphonic Band. This year, Lincoln High' s first Freshman Band will also be joining concert and contest lineups.

Directors Terry Rush (Symphonic Band), Dan Ehly (Concert and Freshman Bands), and Ryann Johnson (Freshman Band) have selected unique and challenging pieces of music for each of their respective groups this year. Symphonic Band's newest piece, Symphony for Gaia, contains a portion where the band members sing. According to Terry Rush, Gaia is the Greek goddess of the forests and the outdoors, and the song was written about nature and what mankind has been doing to ruin it, like pollution and overforesting.

The Freshman Band also has a challenging repertoire. Their song Festivo is described by Dan Ehly as 11 one of the toughest pieces a fresh-

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man band will play at contests," but he says that the freshmen have been working hard.

The band me -mbers' next event will be their concert on February 23rd. The concert will be held in the LHS auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The band directors encourage everyone to show support for all three bands. According to Dan Ehly, larger crowds improve the acoustics of the auditorium and make the bands sound even better.

The LHS bands also have one festival and two contests coming up. The All-City contest _ will be held March 16th at Lincoln Southwest, and all -LHS bands will compete. On April 17th, the

Freshman and Symphonic Bands will perform at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Festival. All three bands and the LHS Orchestra will travel to Kansas City to compete at Worlds of Fun on May 16th, and the musicians will be able to spend a day in the theme park.

According to Dan Ehly, "I think it's great during concert season when we have nine hundred to one thousand people in the auditorium and people can see that not only are we a force to be reckoned with on the marching band field, we're an excellent and outstanding group when we get down to play real music. These groups are just incredible."

Streetballers Hit The Court, Prove That They Can Actually Play

By TravisShippen NewsE..ditor

Intramural basketball, or "organized streetball," as some like to call it, is under way once again at Lincoln High School. It is a fun way to play basketball for students who either tried out for Lincoln High basketball and didn't make the team, or for the students that didn't try out and just want to play for fun

"I think it's great fun. It gives students more to do after school," senior Angel Martinez said. " I think it's good for those who aren't that serious about basketball and think about it as more of a hobby than a sport," Martinez added.

This year there are 13 teams made up of anyone who put together a roster before the deadline. The games are held every week in the West Gym. The schedule is posted every week at the start of the week on the West Gym door.

The 13 teams include Straight Bailin', the Lakers, Dip Set, Da Squad, Desperados, L Town Ballers, 2-Sick, Global 5, That One Team, the Badgers, Pure Playaz, Bricklayers, and the Youngsters.

· There are no referees for these basketball games, so the players have to call their own fouls.

Although there are no refs, someone still watches over the game so it doesn't get out of control. That person is Counselor Dan Champoux, who does call technical fouls for hanging

on the rims or attempting to dunk before the game starts. Champoux has helped with Intramural basketball for the last 7 years. Champoux decided not to have referees because if they don't show up or can't come then there wouldn't be a game. He believes that the players are capable enough to be able to call their own fouls in the games.

The tournament started on Monday, February 9 th 2004, and is a single elimination tournament. Every team except "That One Team" is in the tournament. "That One Team" was disqualified from the tournament due to too many forfeits during the season.

The first round of the tournament featured undefeated number 1 st seeded Dip Set blowing out the winless 12th seeded Lakers; 2 nd seeded Da Squad eliminating the 11 th seeded L-Town Ballers in a game where Da Squad dominated; the Bricklayers beating Global 5; gu, seeded 2-Sick upsetting the 5 th seeded Badgers.

The Badgers, however, had to play with four players due to the fact that their whole team didn't show up. The Desperados won an easy game against Straight Ballin; the' Pure Playaz defeated the Youngsters.

As for the second round, the teams still remaining in the tournament are Dip Set, Da Squad, 2-Sick, Desperados, Bricklayers, and the Pure Playaz. Da Squad plays 2-Sick, and the Bricklayers p1ay the Pure Playaz on Monday, February 16. Dip Set against Desperados and the winners of Monday's games play on Tuesday, February 17. The championship will be held Monday, February 23 in the West Gym.

____ ByE.llaE.ngland___ _ FeatureE.clitor

been completed by the end of this for you that fits your personal and fiyear as well. nancial needs. You can contact them

First semester finals are in the past, Now, juniors who will be gradu- by visiting their office at 1300 "O" and now the REALLY stressful part is a ting next year and heading off to Street, calling their hotline number, right in front of all juniors. It's time college need to begin to apply for as 800-666-3721, or on the internet at to begin the grueling college entrance many scholarships as they can, which }Y\YW-v. .d :us,;<1t.i£>tli,l.ll.!e.~t"_1,2rg. process, which includes ' means writing After those are sent off, it is time to essays, scholarships, en- Sollege Preparation Checklist essay after apply to the colleges. This is the scaritrance forms, financial essay after es- est part. Students write even more aid forms, and only * Take most difficult classes for say, until your essays, get letters of recommendaab_out a hundr~d other our abilities AND pass them hand feels as tions, a:,1d ~ope that,,that one perfect things, all needing to be * Take even more hard classes as numb as your school accidentally looks over that done within the next six brain after sit- time you failed Chemistry. Either that h a senior h h h th t ·th to nine mont s-. * Ch ll d .d ting t roug or t ey notice - e ex ra zeros on _ e B h oose co ege an cons1

y t is- point in rm - t e w1tc c ec or t ea pp 1ca 10n ee. school, juniors should 11-~,aJor Rally, and The hard parts are over soon afhave already taken * Apply for scholarships you honestly terwards. Now you have to apply for care of one of the hard- * Apply for more scholarships think your any last-minute financial aid, and bite est things: taking the - * Apply to colleges hand is going your nails waiting for the scholarship ha_rdest classes you can * Apply for any needed financial to fall off. For money and acceptance letters. Finally, =• ,A-¥ D.... s ~ tb£ .111,... ~ aiJ =1=F.r.:1e,r,e'#l ~l-p;, g-e s t-l¼ei e r1-t~ "v"i=ll.c,p t1E=kc-ct-pe=a~=l-a-t-=};a[-ei = ~ ~t=t=i. =ff~, = 1 That job still is-n't over. * Go to college and don't party to Education move out of mom a1:d dad's ~01:1se, As seniors, students are TOO much Quest, where and prepare for the ride of th:1r l~fe. expected to take even you can use In the next year, current Juniors harder classes, and not ._______________ __. computers and are going to be very busy! With all this slack off a bit. Also, telephones for free in order to contact work to do to prepare, it's no wonstudents should have at least thought the colleges. der so many people opt to not go to about possible choices for schools and They will also assist you in 'find- college. But for those of us who do, majors. SAT's and ACT's should have ing scholarships and the right school ho pefully it will be worth the effort.

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Great PrognosticatorMakes

Byzoeliolmes NewsE.clitor

For mos-tofus, February 2nd pass-es by without a notice. Yet for the thousands who gathered this year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it was the biggest day of the year. Each year, crowds of reporters, groundhog fans, and the elusive Groundhog Club "Inner ·Circle" meet in this small town for the unveiling of Punxsutawney Phil and his forecast -predictions. A groundhog with a "100% accuracy rate," according to his official website, Phil's predictions .are a mixture of German folklore, our desire to know the future, and good, clean fun.

Legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of winter. The roots of this belief date back to 1886 to a holiday called Candlemas. According to an English proverb, "If Candlemas be fair and bright/ Come Winter, have anotherflight! If Candlemas brings clouds and rain/ Go Winter, and come not again." While the evidence of a Candlemas weather forecast appears in English, Scottish, and German culture, it was the Germans who first placed it upon an animal to be the fortune teller,

Predictions for 117th Year!

proclaiming that the groundhog had pect that makes Groundhog's Day so powers of divination beyond human interesting to the approximately 30,000 comprehension. Americans who travel to Punxsutawney

The first settlers of Punxsutawney, to see Phil. As humans, we have long Pennsylvania, were German and they held a fascination with knowing our were unable to locate any hedgehogs, destiny, and Phil's weather prediction so they came up with the next best ani- falls witl1in the same vein. The weather mal they could find-the groundhog. for the next six weeks was of great im-

Over the years, Groundhog's Day has portance to early American settlers, esevolved from an obscure Christian holi- pecially in February when it helped with day to a national affair, with movies, their planting season. If they planted too Oprah appearances, and presidential early their crops would fail, but if they visits. All of these visits are presided planted too late the crops would freeze. over by members of the elite Inner The holiday of Candlemas thus served Circle of the Groundhog Club. to quell farmers' fears.

The Groundhog Club has chap- In this day and age we don't need ters all over America. Starting one is woodland creatures to tell us the weathas easy as finding ten other Grouµdhog er, so many question why we still have enthusiasts and sending in $10 to the Phil around. Some, especially members national headquarters. While many of the Inner Circle, say that it is the members aspire to the ranks of the tradition of the event that allows for its Inner Circle, only Punxsutawney resi- existence. Others argue that the fortunedents are allowed that honor. Most of telling aspect of the holiday is still what the Inner Circle members are _retired, attracts people to Punxsutawney. Either but a few, such as President and Banker way, the world held its breath this FebBill Cooper, have day jobs. Predicting · ruary 2nd _when, in the early hours of the the weather through the use of furry morning, Phil's prediction was read. animals is merely their hobby. He saw his shadow. Six more weeks It is the weather prediction as- of winter.

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ByTinaWilson PhotoE.ditor

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nation 2, and should reach out to all adult viewers.

movie role, • serious

In many cases, when you hear about MTV's Punk'd Prince, Ashton Kutcher, in a you begin to think that he is "punking" you. The truth is that Kutcher is trying to further his acting career and not continuousJy play the character from Dude, Where's My Car.

blackouts begin again, he digs out those childhood diaries and finds that certain passages in them catapult him back into the painful past, where he now has the ability to change things, for the better, he thinks. Evan tries to change past events in his flashbacks to make things better for the people he loves.

It of In the case Kutcher's Evan (Ashton Kutcher) and Kayleigh (Amy Smart) discuss their relationship In The Butterfly Effect. is only later, he realizes thatthose cahnges have Photo couttosev mtv.com first "take me seriously" role, he plays Evan Treborn, who as a child, along with two friends, is traumatized by the creepy predations of the friends' pedophile father.

The young Evan's mind represses these awful incidents by blacking out. To track the blank spaces in his memory, a psychiatrist suggests that Evan Keep a daily journal.

Years later, in college, when his

unexpected conseqtiencses.

The Butterfly Effect, rated R for language, sexual content and violehce, is set to be an experience for every viewer, as the images in the film are real and may set you back.

There are very ,,,ivid images of violence, and sheer hatred, although the movie was well put together by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber, ' who directed last year's Final Desti-

This movie is recommended to viewers who are able to pay vivid attention to previous events on the screen and can handle emotional jolts that can literally rock you back in your seat.

The Butterfly Effect provides aninteresting twist on the time travel plot. The way that the writers went about making the time travel scenes happen, provide an extra thrill and make the movie as a lot more interest• 1ng.

The cast performed wel1 and

• kept the audience thouroughly entertained. It was nice to see Amy Smart shy away from the character she played in Rat Race and take on a dramatic role as the older Kayleigh.

The rest of the ensemble performs extremely well and provides the viewer with an exciting film.

It will be interesting to see where Kutcher and Smart both go from here. As far as their audience goes, I'm sure they would love to see this duo act together again, and provide some great entertainment with their on screen chemistry.

Teen

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LHS'First ,U

____

By KentMasloskie ___ _ -StaffWriter

Clear your calendars for Thursday February 19th at 7:30 p.m., because that's the night of the first annual Lincoln High Film Festival to be held in the auditorium. Admission is free and open to all. Sponsored by Psychology teacher Jim Perry and Oral Communications/ Pl10tojournalism teacher Christopher Maly, entry was open to all Lincoln High students and staff.

The theme for this year's festival is "Who Am I," so all entries needed to be related to that theme in some way, whether itis the main conflict or just part of the film. For the most part, these films, which are all about 7 minutes in length, are works of fiction. Other than the limit on length and the stipulation that the "Who Am I"

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theme appear somewhere in the film, there are no specific criteria, which should ensure a more diverse film festival.

Some of the titles of the films to be shown are: Uncashed by Miles Roper and Tuesday Bassen, Small World by Josie Azzam, and a film by AudioNisual Specialist Mike Reinmiller, though the title is still unknown. Maly estimates that there will be a total of about 10 films.

Maly pointed out the possibility of another festival this spring if there is enough interest. Also, he expressed a desire for students to take charge and run future festivals. "The reason Mr. Perry and I are doing this is because we've seen so many student films that are just amazing," Maly said.

By-ShaunaBuck_____

Pit and Choral Director Wesley Hans.SportsE.ditor meyer, Pianist Jana Ghormley and Mistress, Mary, quite contrary how student teacher - Ben Smitl1 began does your garden grow? On February auditioning many talented actors and 12th, 13th, 14th (Valentine's Day wee~- actress. The obvious five qualities end) at 7:30 p.m. 50 actors and actresses that were being sought after were: stood silently on both wings of the someone who can sing with volume, stage ready to perform the well-known tone, pitch, and someone who can permusical "The Secret Garden" written by form in front of a large audiences and Masha Norman and Lucy Simon. step outside himself/herself to act as a The year is 1906 in colonial India. different person/character. A young girl, Mary (Emily Ernst) is or- From the beginning to the end, acphaned due to a great cholera epidemic tresses and actors stayed devoted to the that killed off musical. her parents. Orphaned, she was sent to live with her uncle Archibald (Mikah Meyer). Mary arrives at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, England.

Mary is unceremoniously greeted - by her uncle's housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (Molly Pearson) and in

The Lincoln High theatre company proves that they too can waltz with the best of

Hansmeyer and the cast of the musical began learning the music before the long holiday break. To ensure that the principle actors and actresses knew their songs, they also came in to practice during winter break. Some of the them.

by Gabby Santos songs formed perin the the morning is sympathetically greeted by her servant Martha (Allie Cole). Archibald rarely visits the manor because he grieves over the death of his wife, Lily (Allison Frenzel).

Believing no one cares, Mary feels bitter, but, because she is curious about her surroundings she begins to explore her new environment. While exploring she runs into Martha's younger brother, Dickon (Jeff Tinnean) and soon after, joining with her cousin, Colin (Devon McClauley) who's been confined to his bed since birth.

The strength of Mary, Colin, and Dickon, brings a grieving family together and unlocks the abandoned secret garden.

At the end of The Perils of Lulu/ on November 17th John Hieneman,

musical were; Winter's on the Wing sung by Jeff Tinnean, A Bit of Earth sung by Mikan Meyer, among rrtany others.

Highlighting some of the performances, Allison Frenzel as Lily was the perfect person for such a challenging part. Her high notes were stunning. Allie Cole as Martha was a very believable Irish maiden, giving a outstanding performance with a bonus accent.Emily Ernst as Mary perfectly transformed from a spoiled girl into someone who cared, bringing her family together.

At the end of the performance, all lived happily ever after recieveing a standing ovation.

Photo

A, miriistration Sto s Forrna at Linco Train Station akers

Lincoln igh's Rule-

bycarrieTodd____ _ J\.5.9.FeatureE.ditor

I apologize to you faithful Advocatereaders who are tired of hearing about what the LHS administration is doing wrong. Some of you may think we' re all crazy anarchists who want to take over the school. Rest assured, that's only on weekdays. Honestly, I'm sick of writing about it, but unfortunately another issue has arisen that students deserve to know about.

Lincoln High' s Student Council recently came to the administration with a plan to sponsor a winter semi-formal dance at the Lincoln City Train Station, just as they had successfully done the year before. This time, however, some "policy" has suddenly surfaced, which says no more than one dance per year (Prom) can be held outside of the school building. Thus, Student Council was informed that the dance at the Train Station would not happen this year.

During their meeting, Associate Principal Annie Scott was unable to locate a written LHS policy stating this rule, but about a week later, she presented Student Council with an excerpt from LI'S Policies,Regulations, and Guidelinesfor High SchoolActivities, The authorization reads, "All school-sponsored dances must be held on school premises, except the Junior-Senior Prom. Dances are intended for students and the ir guests. Schools may not sponsor public dances."

As last year's dance proved, this policy hasn't always been followed by LHS administration, although it is not a new guideline. Administrators were aware of the rule last year, but decided to allow the dance anyway.

Scott acknowledged that the administrators knew about the rule last year, but she gave reasons other than the "district policy" for not allowing the dance to be held at the Train Station this year.

"Last year, we went against policy and we had it at the Train Station. Our determination is that the [LPS] District is probably right with this particular place because it's in the wrong part of town with the bars and so-forth down there," Scott said. Principal Mike Wortman agreed with the decision.

Student Council Members were left scratchin

Shoot Down StuCo Again

their heads when Scott suddenly decided that there North Star, and Northeast recently held a "New Year were too many security dangers, such as "keeping Shakedown," which took place on January 31'' at the folks out who are not supposed to be there." Malone Center. Like Student Council, Asian Caucus According to Student Council Sponsor James is a school-sponsored club that organized and funded Perry, security measures were taken last year, and its outside event independently. It's not as if the everything went fine. administration didn't know about this event; they "There was security from the Train Station... were the ones who approved the posters advertising and we had teachers and administrators last year. the dance tl1at appear all over Lincoln High. Scott It seemed to go pretty well," Perry said. Wortman said that the Asian Caucus event was not approved also stated that there was no specific incident last or condoned by LHS administration. year that created a security

"That's district, and problem.

There

Winter Semi-Formal plans] together fast, but we had planned it for a couple of months. She also said iliat people came in off the street [last year] and they didn't," Wilson said.

She also questions what the administration really feels Student Council should be doing. "Ms. Scott wanted us to do activities with the students, but we tried and she shot us down," Wilson said. "It's frustrating to be in Student Council and [try to] work with the students to make them happy, but we can't because we are so restricted."

I have no idea who the Apparently, Scott saw

And we usually hire

district person is over

outside but the Train Station said

dances without adminthat they would have po-

lice there and they did not

go through with their part

Council should put on of the deal," she said.

When making their decision about the SemiFormal, the administrators even ignored the fact that Stu Co stepped up to organize Homecoming after the Pomalinks were11't able to get it done. Willi far too little notice, Student Council put on a great Homecoming and did the administration a huge favor.

consulting the LHS ad-

all their events without "Parking is the other

market, because that's just a :i. t:-:z4'.'#t°',.,,..4,,; (»lot°'°" (it.w~<*J<:½-<:~~.b.)-.~.~r.i(/~::?i4i11........ For the proposed zoo anyway," Scott added, ,, "")'"'""""-•,...,_·.,~••}!".'" · ..::[\"' Winter Semi-Formal, This might be a legitimate "'"'""'"."'-•-¢•, ~.,..,,,.,;.z~,L.!<'t t.~ the only suggestion of,~ ,;,~1,.ho~.)f(,<~1«)'<"'""!'"'"°""-"bt;-.mi!0,0<<i,i,pt .r;-~ C "-~-. reas~n if there weren'_t two ,' .,.,.,, ., z. · -Yr-,·~-~:c --..;;,,.,,,.. fered by administrators p~rk~ng garages available :;,:;:;;;.,.;, · , _ p;P,; ~as to hold the dance w1th1n three blocks of the ,/ ,,="~,..,.,,-.."' · r, \)-'\, .•f 1 ·\t~ , J m the gym, but Student Haymarket, along with ;:,..~,~~--~,....,,,... ' [fJ\ /;' 1)£ i, .,:tJJ'Council me~b_ers were ~ng. If sc~c1ty of parking ./ V ' iJ v.J-: I'\ (VJ' gym may be suff1c1ent IS such a big ISSU(;', maybe v"'.r-ffw' . for more ca~ual occaProm should just be held · · - I\, <;,V~Y.1.~ /iii' sivns like Homecomin the gym too, Parking at \:::'J{,\\)f~,)\\Jf.Y01; ing, but the success of Pershing is just as difficult. < -" , ·· u · last year's semi-formal

So we've gqt that was due in large part to whole parking thing, and A copy of the form Student Council the fact that it was held the "safety of the students" submitted requesting a Winter For- somewhere fun and difin mind. And in case you mal at the Train Station The request ferent. Maybe I'm beforgot in this confused mix : ing presumptuous, but of justifications, there's that was denied by the adm1rustration. I don't think anyone's district policy, which seems to be either disregarded going to want to get all dolled up to go hang out at or strictly followed at the administration's whim. the free-tlrrow line with the smell of sweaty socks

I'm sure planning and organizing was quite lingering in the air. a bit of work last year, although Student Council Needless to say, Student Council membe1:s took care of that. Maybe the administrators thought are getting very irritated at the lack of trust that the they would get stuck hanging up streamers and administration has shown in them. The endless exChristmas lights. cuses for not allowing events are also starting to wear

In addition to the administration's incon- iliin. Student Council President, senior Tina Wilson, sistency of upholding policies from year to year, expressed frustration about the Semi-Formal as well the club holding the event apparently makes a big as Stu Co's situation in general. difference. Asian Caucus clubs from Lincoln Hi h, "She [Scott] basically told us that we threw [the

The real issue here is not that LHS students won't be able to enjoy an evening of dancing at the Train Station, although it's a shame. The bigger problem is that ilie administration's immediate and unjustified denial of reasonable student requests is not limited to this incident. It seems that the only thing tl1ey are consistent about is being inconsistent. Policies are important when the administrators want them to be, and unimportant when they don't. The evidence of this injustice is obvious: LHS has been drastically changed this year by a controlling authority, regardless of student or teacher protest.

Student Council, an organization consisting of Lincoln High' s leaders and advocates for the student body, has continuously been treated with disrespect. Although they have been granted a few meetings this year with the administration, they have nothing to show for it.

A petition about the new lunch rules along with 800 signatures was possibly skimmed over, then apparently tossed in the trash. StuCo also had plans to organize a "Spring Day" event that would take place at the end of a school day, much like events at LSE and LSW. Surprise, surprise! Shot down again. The well-organized group consisting of the pillars of our school is being treated like a bunch of juvenile delinquents.

Unless students keep pushing for change and refusing to accept quick, unfair dictations passed down from the administration, things have the potential to get a lot worse.

Student Council has organized a Student Rights assembly to take place on February 27th during fourth period, which will hopefully raise some awareness and encourage students to speak up about the lack of input and influence the administration has allowed them.

Bush No Longer Worried About Iraq, Makes Plans for Mars

ByNickVaske WebE.ditor--

On January 14, President Bush unveiled his brilliant new plan to go to you guessed it MARS! What a genius idea! The only answer is that Bush stole a pot of gold from some rich little leprechaun, because the $12 billion that Bush proposes spending certainly won't come from that big surplus of money we don't have.

That little 1,040,000-pound International Space Station orbiting around our planet must have slipped Bush's mind. It is still unfinished, and the U.S. still has a lot to add. Congress hasn't even tried to predict the amazing financial costs the ISS will have, and we already want to shift nearly $11 billion of NASA's $86 billion budget to development of a new type of spacecraft by 2008 and operation of a manned mission to the moon by 2014, with more missions between 2015 and 2020. After that, Bush wants to build a permanent station on the moon, from which we will launch a very expensive exploratory mission to Mars. Congress most likely laughed when they heard Bush's cost prediction of only $12 billion. They have predicted costs of more than $100 billion.

While all this is going on, the International Space Station will still have to be completed by 2010. So a good question that hasn't been answered is: Where will all this money come from? The nation al debt is around $7 trillion, so hopefully someone has a couple hundred billion dollars stashed somewhere.

I would like to see a trip to Mars just as much as the next person, but I don't really see how realistic a plan it is to even start thinking of any more expensive plans for at least 10 more years. We still have the all-butforgotten wars in Iraq and against terrorism, as well as the tax refunds. Under Bush's administration, we have spent more than

$10 trillion and we are heavily in debt, yet an astonishingly uninformed 48% of people questioned in an AP poll supported the new space program.

Experts have predicted that Bush's pro gram will cost each citizen an average of 14 cents a day, or about $50 a year. This may not sound like a whole lot, but if this program lasts for a predicted 30 or more years and inflation and debt continue to rise, that could add up to thousands of dollars per person.

On Tuesday, February 3, President Bush released his budget plan for the year. He plans to increase Homeland Security's bud_ get by 10% and the military budget by 7%, while the Environmental Protection Agency's budget is being cut by nearly 10% along with 37% of a revolving fund for proper sewage and waste control. At the same time, Bush is urging Congress to make his tax cuts permanent, which will increase the debt by more than $1.1 trillion in the next 10 years. The budget is only expected to save $4.9 billion, and the money that will be spent in Iraq and Afghanistan hasn't even been figured in.

So what is Bush's newest money pit going to do to us? If it gets approved, we will be sent even farther into debt and we will continue to stay in debt for coming decades. Like the space station, this new plan will likely end up taking years longer than planned and costing billions of dollars more than expected.

But in our fast-paced world of terrorism and credit, we need a leader who wants to go to Mars. After all the pollution created with Bush's energy plans have set in, and all of the budget cuts and money shifting has occurred, we will probably all want to be on Mars.

In 30 years, when we touch down for the first time on our neighboring planet, we will have George Walker Bush to thank for the environmental crisis on our own planet and our country's financial depression.

By JacobMiller Mitor-in-Ohief

's ·t1 otAll AssembliesAre ,reat temative to L•ass reatedEqual,But Do TheyNeed To Be?

gives students the chance to talk to their relive history with the people that lived on those days, just like some are temptea friends and laugh a little bit. it. When someone takes the time out of to, especially the ones that already sched-

Some critics of the Switch Rally claim their schedule to visit Lincoln, much less ule tests on Club Day. The easiest way to the performances are poorly done, the Lincoln High, we should respect them keep things equal is to make everything performers laugh the entire time, __ ....,_________________ mandatory, but who wants to go to and the moves aren't synchronized. , something mandatory? Thosepeoplearebeingalittlemean-

"It'scertainlynosecretthat8Witch Now that the serious business is spiri~e_d. Those performers are Rallypossessnothingeducational in ov~r, it's time to talk about this yea~ s practicin? before so~e people even theprogram,NooneeverclaimedthatS~tch Rally. Personally, I loved i~. wake up m the morning. Most really h bin ed ti' al , th This years was better than the prevido work hard at what they do. t erewasanyt g UffiOn Ill e ous two years.

Switch Rally is not, never has actualrally,Butwhereistherulethat The opening was very creative.

been, and neve~ will be intended to . sayseverythingWearepulledOUtof The Rese_rve and Junior. Varsi~y make people think. The performers l f beed . ., .al?" Cheerleading squads both did a solid

What more can be said about Switch are out having a little bit of fun. Has C8SSOrffiUSt UffitiOn • job in their performance. The three Rally? Critics of the event point to the fact it ever crossed anyone's mind that best were Freshman Cheerleading,that it possess no educational value, the these people don't have that much and listen. Pomalinks, and IIG. All were b etter dances are "poorly done," and it's manda- time to practice and have their moves It's trickier than that when it comes than mo~t years, especially the Pomatory to attend, while other assemblies are down perfectly? It would be horrible if to things like plays. It's true that theatre -links. not. a student criticized a peer during a play students deserve attention too. So here's The only disappointing performance It's certainly no secret that the Switch and accused the performer of not trying a solution not only for plays, but for things was from Varsity Cheerleading. It's not Rally posseses nothing educational in the hard enough just because they messed like Switch Rally. Instead of leaving at- that some of the male performers did == F.,@f¥-.i,w.- W0 QJ.::l€!-@¥@rlaim@Gltl'l,,i ,t tl'l@r.@ap. tendance up to llie discretion of teacners, Bailly, it "just appeared ffiat they stoppe was anything educational in the actual And finally the biggest issue sur- leave it to students. Hold performances caring. Some of the male metnbers rally. Butwhereistherulethatsaysevery- roundingtheSwitchRally. S~tchRally right after Homeroom. That way in just gave up right in the mi~dle of the thing we are ===,........~-====rnim!rrl!""""""""""rn.,,=== is manda- evening perfor- 11 d t f ¾ ': ·.:,7101:1:Itttt:) !f; ' " :.,.._;,:,)\ffif;j\}Jl:~iil!illftfll~~i11101tt]S1ltl§m:r~mt}l~~t: :::i,,;::{if:1~I::im:1:1:r:~~;:imii~; t . f

d . th pu e ou O ,\UlfJt<r@.ttft::::=, ,,r , - :,i:::::._::::.:,:.:r::.:::r:,:;:,=trmimwmtmmttmmmmtmmmmmmtQJitJW+trmtrtrmttr ory or .-1 .mance ur1ng e 1 f ;,1:t+=(f@'.:ftF~,.,,,.= :: ··)1 :· - · -~>''.,::-: t :t:?t:::::,:::t%~1=ttf?f1:::it:::t:rtfJg?;\tnr1ft':ff,,,,::::::r/tt:/:1:%t :%:iNt t d t ...<~ V · B k tb 11 c ass or must =~h½l,:Mi~1fffi.W~ti. }:: , .,·,==-·,_,_..·-<:·~ -,::,;:t{/.t+:&:~fa~@w:t1r.mttw~tmr@..hr~:mm:@wt~:.;w:=?:c::??~:~M:::~::::::,? s u en s arsity as e a Game. A couple al? ma¥@ffmJlil1 Min just stood their during the rest of tainly aren't _ their performance, e d UC a ti Ona I , ,_,.il!J.iiibill!IIWl!I Jr%!', .,.,,·.·~,,,,w• ,, ,-,~- ·i"'""'""''''''"., .,, ,,,,,,,w,.;o,;;s?ill\l with their hand S N ei th,er are r:!';:l1"'.'.'.tlll!ti[;i!illllll;mmllt1kffl"'1"ff%ili:%ll¥1!!illli'iltrJ!ilii!i\M111111rn;•rnanmk!i1Mhl1 a n d on their hips. I felt most clubs in llt!~llilliit!ffWJ~B.llll~t1~mIT!Tu~~:!*!~0~lli~il~;j;Irnftf1fiillBl[~~-CB: 1\\l~D spea kers, bad for the actual r:,:~~i=i:=]ti@Frn='f :-: :- t ?ffi%tt ::?Jfj t : ;. \~\Fftrt=:tm:,, :,,,. c- ·a ,r.:m~'"»\¥? ·\1 d ;;''11l)lll!1 ', · ·~· · ·~li!:;:~''.'•';''!B,&~:·::~~&'';l~,~:~'.'I :iif!!t 1 ~st~:~:;~~ •Btlfil®iitmmm i1Tt.1fll~&•11~!&illfilf ~ ll i llI1~~MlW.~?i::t:~ii?l • f!¥mi¥~1lli!]l • Afl the male members •, •, •.•,•-•- - - - - - lmffl!f'T-,%'!!! !!t>"''"""@ffil""'"' ,, m ,,,,,"m ,,,.,,,,,.,,,,!!I h h much the rn:w.:@1t%;rni i '!!@illlfa£liiii "''' · , ,, , , All t e teac - ½1#B trying hard. They people that ers. As a ,_ "''''' ,,...,. W/1,11% had to endure is, or could ,i\jjf ' >• , · )%'SC'.?0~':!iJ!i:;\X!?':Ii/L:Xtfr:l\''./;:;;;,f;, %ii}\1i!iM@&Xi/. we should The emcee's for Switch Rall!, Kelly D~nah:1e (12) a:1d b S fun The Freshman Switch Rally crew performs their t t f Jesse Humpal (12) talk at mid-court with Lincoln High givmgup. e. ome es ge ou o d H d dance for the school. The Freshman squad was one 1 Volunteer Coordinator, Jack James. Donahue an ump- it can be goo -f d h S ·t h c ass every h ' d "bik " f

For the first of the outstanding per ormances uring t e wi c al mistook each ot er s intentions to ress as ers or for students R 11 · chance we th t time, I wasn't mad at Northeast students when they booed our performa y. e even. to be give n

Photo by Tina Wilson get. Go a break from a h e a d , the monotonous school day.

Maybe I'm crazy, but wouldn't stu" dents learn better if they had a fresh mind? Taking breaks other than the six minutes between classes and lunch could actually help. A good idea to alleviate the long day is a 20-30 minute break in the Iniddle of the day (no, not homeroom) that gives students a chance to wake up. Something like the Switch Rally does that, bec ause it

make everything mandatory. But there is something nagging at me. I guess it's the realist in me, the part of me that realizes that not everyone cares about everything going on at Lincoln High. Surprising, I know. There should be some discretion involved in deciding what should be mandatory.

Speakers like Elizabeth Eckford and Judy Meisel should probably be, and were, mandatory. It's a chance to

Homeroom, teachers can sign passes for students to go to the performance. You get into the gym with a pass, or something resembling a pass. Then students that don't want to go to Switch Rally, or the play, can go to class and the people who want to be at a performance can go. This would t;ike some cooperation from teachers that are convinced their class is the most important in the school. ' Some wouldbe tempted 'to schedule tests

Switch Rally is intended to enteitain and it's unfortunate that some people take it too seriously. The performers and everyone else at Switch Rally are more than likely not intending for the event to make people think. They are out there trying their best to entertain. Switch Rally may not make everyone laugh, but at least they are out there trying. Well, most of them anyway.

Photo by Tina Wilson ers.

J~b.Miller week with a number seven rank- field, while North Star experienced F..ditor-m-Ohief ing. They had two Parnes over the much more success, shooting 60%.

The Lincoln High Boy's Basketball weekend, 9n the road" against Vinson led the Links with 22 points team has experienced several differ- Lincoln North Star, and then the and 10 rebounds, while star shootent emoti~ns throu}s"hout their s_ea- foll<;>wingevening at Johnson Gym ers Minzel ~nd Sharpe were ~eld in son. They ve experience the elation against number four Omaha Cen- check, making the game easier for of beating teams like Northeast and tral. · North Star. · Southeast, while they've also suf- The Links fered through the depression that waded into comes with Tosses to North Star and the "Swamp" Omaha Central. This didn't change to play the as the team played the middle part G a t o r s of their schedule. North Star

Following a win at Grand Island, jumped out the team traveled to Norfolk to play to a quick 17the 7th ranked Panthers Even 6 lead in the _,. though Norfolk led through most first quarter. of the game, the guys continued to The Gators fight and with 12 seconds left, ju- played a nior Yusuf Vinson made a basket to quick, uptput the Links ahead. Norfolk then empo, style missed two opportunities to pull of basketball, ahead of the Links and the guys · causing plenwere able to escape Norfolk with a ty of prob45-44 victory. · lems for the

The next Thursday, the Links Links. The

welcomed cross-town rival Lincoln Links would

including seNortheast to Johnson Gym. The f~ht back _

nior Courtney ath~ Yusuf Vinson (11) drives t~-~h~ b ;~k~t light up a scoreboard. The game game, tied the against Lincoln Southeast. Vinson has to play football went back and forth early on, but game 29-29. been a vital part of the Links success. at Nebraska late in the game, t he Links took con- North Star

Photo by Travis Shippen a number of trol, thanks to a couple of late threes kept fighting days earlier. from seniors Marcus Minzel and Seth and would take back the lead. Ulti- Like the night before, the other Sharpe. Sharpe had one basket early mately, the Links could not convert team jumped out to ·a quick lead in the game from 27 feet out, then on several late attempts at baskets against the Links. The Eagles were another after Minzel set a pick and and the Gators pulled off the big- able to find space in the lane for allowed Sharpe to get the ball off. gest victory in their young history, a number of short jumpers and That shot gave the Links a six point 51-45 over the stunned Links. layups, and the Eagles were also le~d t_hat they would not relinquish, · To see why the Links lost deadly from the outside, making a winning 62-53. Sharpe led the team to the Gators, look no further number of early threes. The Links · with 19 points. ' than their shooting percentages. shot better than they did the night

The Links headed into the next Lincoln High shot 30% from the before, and they were able to keep •

the Eagles in their sight. About midway through the fourth quarter, with the Eagles up by nine, Minzel hit a three from the top of the key to pull the Links to within six, much to the delight of the frenzied crowd.

Six was as close as the Links would get, though, as Central was able to hold the Links at bay, and hand the Links their second straight defeat, 70-62. '

Next up for the Links were the Knights of Lincoln Southeast.

Just like last year's State Championship game, the Knights jumped out to a 17-4 lead in the early part of the game. One of the plays of the game happened with a couple of seconds left in the second quarter when Sharpe hit a three pointer and was fouled by LSE senior Zac Rabe. Sharpe hit the following free throw to close the Southeast lead to six points at the end of the half.

After that, the Links had all of the momentum, and with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter, junior Point Guar~. ~.9 ?.Y.Y" ver h!.t..~~p_er Irom tfie Baseline to pul1 ffie r:1n1<s= ahead 41-40. From that point on, the Knights could only muster one more point, while the Links closed out the game with a couple of fre e throws to win a huge game against the Knights, 46-41. ·

The Links close out the regular season against Columbus, Omaha Benson, Kearney, and Millard South. ·

From there they will go to districts, which are being held at Lincoln East, hoping to win their district and earn a birth to the State Tournament

By BenKathol E.ntertaimnentF..ditor

In one of the best Super Bowls to date, on the first day of February the -New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers played in Super Bowl XXXVIII (the most letters ev:er to be used in a Super Bowl number) in Houston. Houston hadn't been the site of a Super Bowl in some 30 years, but it was worth the wait. It was a very explosive game, which was surprising because both of the teams involved were known for their defense. With a 32-29 score it's hard to believe that the first points were not scored until the 13th minute of the second quarter. By the fourth quarter, the Patriots were experiencing deja vu as Panther receiver Rickey Prohel, who played for the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, caught another touchdown to tie the game again. If that didn't bring back memories of Super Bowls past, Adam Vinitari came on to the field and kicked another Super Bowl-winning field goal. Tom Brady also managed to grab

his second MVP award in two years.

Even with the Super Bowl lc;,ss,Carolina still had some things going for them this season. They started the season with veteran Rodney Peete at quarterback, making coach John Fox the early candidate to be fired before the season ended. Instead, Fox substituted Jake Delholmme in late in their first game. ,They won that game and ten others, reaching the playoffs. They then dominated Dallas, outlasted St. Louis in double-overtime, and beat Philadelphia in a game that deserves its own article. Were the Eagles' receivers trying to getreleased from their contracts? Wouldn't it be easier to just show up late, or wear the wrong uniform to the game?

When it comes to the Cincinnati Bengals, sure they did well this season, but they didn't even make the playoffs. Everyone is talking about how they are a force to be reckoned with. The Cincinnati Bengals will never be a force to be reckoned with. The only shot they have to be a dynasty is if they can work out a

trade with Green Bay for Brett Favre and sign now free-agent, Jerry Rice. We all know fair well that that's not going to happen and the Bengals will be back in the same elite group as the Chargers and the Cardinals.

"America's Team" the Dallas Cowboys, one year removed from a 5-11 season, were taken over by legendary coach Bill Parcells. Parcells came into Dallas with a history of turning trash (the New York Jets) into treasure.

Sure, as soon as Parcells gets a new gig somewhere else the Cowboys will return to the league of quality teams like the Detroit Lions, but until that day comes the Cowboys will be good enough to get by.

This year has also proved that winning one year doesn't necessarily constitute being good next year. Just look at the 2003 Super Bowl XXXVII champs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They pulled a move like they were the Charger1:1after their 1995 Super Bowl run. I know what you're thinking, who are the Chargers and what sport do they play? The

same ting will be pondered about the Bucs. It won't even be 2 years before they're worse than thier winless inaugural season.

The Oakland Raiders, the Geriatric league champions of last year, excuse me, I mea,nt AFC. They just proved that it's about time that half of the team retires.

Owner Al Davis, a Nazi sympathizer, continues to look for a coach. Clearly, current coachNorv Turner won't be able to fill the rollNext year the U. of Nebraska will unexpectedly fire Bill Callahan, and Al Davis's partner in crime, Steve Pederson, will think that Notv just might fit the roll until they can find another former Raiders coach to coach the Huskers.

Kansas City began the season with a 10-0 season before losing to the Bengals. Sure, head coach Dick Vermeil seemed to be crying just about every day, but wouldn't you if you had their defense?

If next year's NFL season is anything like this season's, fans of football will have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years.

ers .consistenc

Lady Links Strive to Finish the 2003-2004 Season Strong With Good Senior Leadership

By:TinaWilson -----photo Mitor ____ _

As the winter sports season is in full swing and the chill is still in the air, the Links are heating things up in gyms across the city. The Varsity Girls Basketball team is currently 9..,7_Lately, the Links have faced many key opponents who will help in their conquest to the state tournament.

On Friday, January 16, the Links faced off a then 10-0 team, number 3ranked Norfolk. In an amazing game, the Links came out victorious. During the game, senior Abby Wood injured her ankle and refused to give up on helping out her team.

Wood ended up scoring 15 points to lead the Links to the 46-39 victory. "The key to beating Norfolk was playing as a team, hustling, and being ready to play and win," Wood said.

On Thursday, January 22, the Links headed to Omaha Burke to face off against the Bulldogs. In the game, the Links struggled a bit to beat Burke, and ended up losing by 3 points, with a final score of 48-45. " We led the whole game until late in .the 4 th quarter," head coach Bill Myers said. "We made some big turnovers, that impacted the end of the game."

On Friday, January 23, the Links

- '1..

,vuv-e. HS swim.er Nick Svboda ;1!} sWiml?at Lincoln IH.igh.The Links wim teamlooks to o well at conference ..d "then state. _ hotoBy:

Scott.Rutz

'ght;Swimmers therine Herrick(10) .nd Amanda Brow:n ;9)talk to Coach Eric ,hanks before a :tneet. hoto Sy: DieterCastillo

headed to Ed Johnson Gym to face the Omaha Burke and Lincoln Northeast, Rockets. In one of the most important and they were ready to take out their city games of the year, the Links tried grief on someone. The Gators seemed to fight off the Rockets once again. The to be the perfect fit, because the Links Rockets didn't make th~s game easy at ended up winning, 57-31. Senior Riki all. The Links fought hard all game, Klabenes led the team with 13 points while both teams were in foul trouble.

Senior Jennifer Endres finished the game as the high scorer with 23 points. "We missed some critical -shots, and the foul calls didn't help, but we fought hard all game and gave it our best," Endres said. The Links missed some crucial Senior Jennifer Endres, takes the ball up court, to help add a free throws, few points to the Lady Links 57-31 win against the Lady Gaand ended up tors from Lincoln Northstar on January 29, 2003. · falling to the

Rockets, 43-38.

In the Links' next battle, they faced off against North Star for the second time this season. The Links played a hard game, coming off of two losses to

and senior Alissa Holland and junior, Maddy Biggs both added 10. "It was a good game, and it gave us the chance to try some new things, and for the JV swirtgers, a chance to play at the varsity level," Klabenes said.

On Saturday , January 31, the Links played the Eagles from Omaha Central. Good defense and Holland ·were • the keys to defeating Omaha Central for the Links Holland had 20 points and 18 rebounds to help the Links earn their victory over then-ranked Omaha Central.

"We played really good as a team, and we were all pumped to play. and that was key to beating them (Omaha Central)," Holland said. The Links finished the game with a 61-41 win.

On Saturday, February 7, the Links faced off against 5th _ranked Lincoln Southeast.

The Links played a hard game, trying to stop the Knights, but ended up losing 53-44 .. "When it came down to it, we panicked and that was a cause of some of our turnovers," Klabenes said. "We let them get inside of our heads, and from that point, the game was over. ,,

It remains to be seen how the Links will finish up their season. After games against Columbus, Omaha Benson, and Kearney, they head for the district tournament, and hopefully on to the state tournament. With good leadership from the seniors on the team, the Links look to see a great end to this season.

LHS wrestler's "compete at the Lincoln High JV Invite on February 10, 2004.'.In the Pictures above and to the right, HS wrestlers take charge and pin their opponents. Photosliy: Kent

Photo B Jacob Miller

Masloskie

: Linco\ Unco

Shocking Steal By Omaha Westside Leaves Links, Fans in Disbelie

_____ By Jacob.Miller E.ditor-in-Chief

In a sb;ange twist of irony, Omaha Westside broke the hearts of Links fans when Tyler Knust stole an inbounds pass with 3.5 seconds left and dribbled down the court to make a lay-up as time expired to beat the Links 46-44 in the State semifinal game.

Knust was the same player that lost the ball off of his knee in last year's game, giving the Links an extra chance, which they capitalized on. This year, Knust jumped in the way of both the inbounds pass and the Links' chance of a repeat championship.

To even reach the point of a tie game, Westside's Denny Johnston hit a three with eight seconds left, tying it at 44. After the Links inbounded the ball, they quickly called a timeout to set up a play. Westside followed with their owh timeout to read just their defense. When play resumed, senior Seth Sharpe wasn't open for a pass, leaving junior Yusuf Vinson just enough

time to pass the ball in to senior Marcus Minzel. It was then that Knust jumpeq in the way.

Lincoln High led for most of the game. The Links were a minute and two seconds away from

Of course, to reach the semifinals, the Links needed to beat • someone 1n the first round. That som eone turned out to be Omaha Central, for the third straight year.

This year,

Marcus Minzel (12) brings the ball upcourt against the Eagles came an Omaha Westside defender. Minzel made the into the game as All-Tournament team for averaging 16 points in the top-ranked winning, two games.

· team in the leading the Photo b Jordan Green state. They game 41-35. . . . had already Westside never quit though, making a beaten the Links once this season, 70couple of threes in the final Ininute to 62, breaking the Links' long time home pull closer. winning streak.

Minzel later described being "upset It was different this time around as about the way the game and season the Links beat the Eagles 54-46 to send ended." the Eagles home early once again.

Both teams traded the lead until the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Links finally put away the Eagles.

The game was tied at 31 heading into the fourth quarter when the Links began to pull away. Minzel scored 12 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.

As the game continued, the Links would answer any Central scoring chance with a basket or free throws

"It was very important. Any time you can beat a higher seed, you can carry over confidence, which we did, " Sharpe explained.

In the previous game against Central, the Links committed 24 turnovers. In the tournament game, the Links only committed 12 turnovers.

The Links ended the season ranked third in the Lincoln Journal-Star top-10 poll. ·

For the story on the games leading up to State, turn to· page 11.

By Beni\athol E.ntertainmentE.ditor

One of the finalists then chose to withdraw before the names were

Long-time superintendent Phil Schoo announced that he will retire at the end of made public. Candidates the current school year. This left a vacancy were then infor the job, but it was soon determined that terviewed by Dr. Susan Gourley would be his replace- the board as ment. · well as commit-

Gourley is currently a superintendent tees made up at the Puyallup School District in Wash- of parents and ington. She was selected over LPS Asst. members of the Superintendent Marilyn Moore, ·as well community. as the current superintendents of Tucson, "It was a Arizona, and Overland Park, Kansas who strong pool, were also being considered for the posi- and we could tion. have been well

The school board, the body that se- fit by any of lected Schoo' s replacement, held public fo- the four," Zimrums in the weeks leading up to the official mer said "She s~lection of the new superintendent. · [Gourley] had

advancement to the fact that Lincoln is a bigger city and is home to a major

"We listed the characteristics that we the best range were looking for and we hired a consul- of experience. tant to help," LPS School Board member She had been Ed Zimmer said. "We then went through in key leaderthe advertising and recruiting process." ship positions IDr. Susan Gourley will replace Phil Schoo ext year as LPS' superintendent.

The board had about two dozen full in Salem, Orapplications by early January, which was · egon, which is sorted down to five. almost exactly

university. "I accepted the offer because of the people I met. I was very impressed with the staff that I met, and the students," Gourley said. She added that both Puyallup and LPS have excellent staffs, but there are some differences as well. "One of them of course is the size, the fact that Lincoln is a capital city, and of course it's much colder there (Puyal~ lup)."

diverse than Lincoln. It has a higher minority population. Lincoln, though, has a larger number of races, which I think adds a wonderful richness."

Currently Gourley has no immediate plans for drastic changes. "I don't think one can walk in with any preconceived ideas, and I don't have any," she said.

In 1972, Gourley received a Bachelors of Science in Home Economics E ducation from Oregon State University. Two years later she returned to OSU, where she got a Masters of Education in counseling and guidance.

In 1985 she once agairi returned to school, but this time to the University of Oregon, where she got her Ph.D. in · Educational Policies and Management.

"fve been in education for over 30 years. I've been a teacher, an athletic director, a counselor, a school administrator.

I've worked in the district office, as assistant superintendent, a· deputy superintendent, and now a superintendent," Gourley said about her involvement in education.

Photo Courtesy of LPS

"Up to that point we [the school board] Lincoln's size." '------------------'----...J had to protect the confidentiality of all the Gourley's reasons for coming to

saying, "The district I'm in now is more

Gourley also commented on the diversity of the two school districts, applicants," Zimmer added. Lincoln ranged from professional

"The kinds of challenges she's met in the last four years, in her current district, and how she met them, strongly recommended her," Zimmer said.

____ By Neel,\min ___ _ OpinionF..ditor

The LHS speech team members completed districts on February 28th at Millard North High School and sent seven people to state. Seniors Emily Ernst and Keeley Dunn, juniors Samantha Mussman and Jordan King, sophomore Jordan White, and freshmen Meredith Ernst and Maya Naff qualified for the state competition, which will be held on March 18th at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Lincoln High will participate in the categories of Dramatic Interpretation, Group Interpretation, and Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID). Even before they went to districts, many people were pretty confident that they would do well. ''I probably won't make state just because my event is a tough competition, but I would love to go again," junior Samantha Mussman, who finished third, said right before state ;

The season itself lasts from September to March, which is longer than all of the other sports' seasons. The members of speech have a lot of dedication to this after-school activity. They meet numerous times cluring the week in order to prepare for their events. The team

Deu ate

-

·cts, • CJ to tate

prepares for their events ·repeatedly · the team still managed to send seven which is a good reason for people and by researching when required. people to participate in state, which to join the team. ''Many students They use practices to help them at is a great accomplishment. have commented on how the writmeets and tournaments, which are There are four major categories ing exams are easier when they every weekend during the season. of speech competition: Original know the corrµnon format used at __ Oratories, Interpretations, competitions. Students learn to be Extemporaneous, and Im,.. more confident with their school promptu. Original Ora- and social life," said Schaaf about the tory is where contestants advantages of being on the speech write their own speech team.

and then present it in one It also.allows participants to build of three categories: inf or- up their communication skills, which mative, persuasive, and willcomeinhandyin the workplace. entertainment. Interpreta- , It will build up their speech~giving tions are monologues that skills, which might be really imporare written with either a tant when they are CEO of a big corhumorous or serious tone poration. Speech provides people and are performed by one the opportunity to gain confidence or two people. based on their accomplishments in

participants

_One of t~e !ll?re th~ir event~. It also allows you to

exciting categories 1s 1m- gam the ability to rese~c:1 and anaunn (12) prepare for competition. promptu because contes- lyze problems more effiaently.

The team has only had a mediocre season due to the small number of members, which was caused in part by the opening of North Star.

''There were some hard workers on the team this year, and I hope we see even more of that next year," Head Coach Tammi Schaaf said co11ceming the outlook for next year. Even with the shortage in members,

Ecology Club is collecting dead

ts are given a script to Speech and debate isn't for ev-

perform with only a few eryone, but for the people in speech minutes to prepare. For an opinion- and debate it is a wonderful experiated person, there is nothing better ence. than extemporaneous, because in The team may not be the best in thirty minutes you have to write the state, but they will take a lot away informatively about a current event from their time spent on speech and without knowing the topic before- debate. . · hand.

Along with the skill that they The experience that students get have developed, they have also met from the events in speech and de- many new people and made new bate will be helpful for their futures, friends during this time

AmericanRed Cross,LancasterCountyChapteris seeking Instructors& Lifeguard~for our 2004 SummerSwim classes,paid and volunteerpositionsavailable.Certificationsrequired; experiencehelpful.Call 441-6391for informationor application. batteries so that the lead in them can be disposed of properly. · ·· Please bring your . dead batteries to Mike Reinmiller in the media center.

!State

Maya Naff (9), Jordan White (10),

eredith Ernst (9), Jordan King (11) and Keele

Photo B Ella En land tan

LaReshiaWeaver .SportsE.ditor

On Saturday, February 21, students from Ljncoln High School, North Star High Schoof, and East High School performed with the Watts Prophets on the Lied Center stage. The Watts Prophets, who visited Lincoln for 10 days, worked with some of the high schools to shoyVkids where some rappers and artists like 50 Cent and Jam Master J . got much of their rhymes and music. In other words, where hip-hop and rap came from.

The Watts Prophets are the innovators of raR music, fOetry, and "Sistas" and "Queens.' The Watts Prophets consists of three men: Otis O'Solomon, Richard Dedeaux, and Amede Hamilton. They have ·been together since 1968. With performances of what O'Solomon calls "Spoken Word''-not really music but words that make music-the Prophets have come a long way to show us what real music is in their own unique fashion.

The performance consisted of poetry, dancing, singing, stepping, instrumental · really nic e." Bettena WasI:ington, a member of Campus Security here at the High,

playing, and a performance by the Watts Prophets themselves. Lots of J?arents and Lincoln High alumni and staff came to support the students performing. Some responses from a few of the staff and students who

e x c 1aim e d , "The overall performance was superb!"

act. The students at Lincoln High decided that they were still going to come out as a crowd and stand and support each person who was performing. ·

Anytime someone was performing, students standing benind them would be doing something to show that they were supporting the other person's act and to show that they were all together.

"I think that by coming out together and supporting each person, we showed tnat we were together and that we were as one. That is how we represent Lincoln High," LHS sophomore August Traylor said.

by -Jordan Green! to the 21st, which was the date of the performance. Lincoln High students wanted to be different from the other schools, so the coordinators (Karina Leon and the Prophets) set the stage up for all the students so that everyone would come out together and sit. Then, one by one, students would do their

When the Prophets came to Lincoln High, they worked ·with a number of students every day after school from the 18th of February at the Lied Center. · went to the performance include one from Danielle Menyweather, a LHS senior who said, "Lincoln High' s performance was excellent; the overall performance was wonderful. I was shocked to see that there was so much talent here at Lincoln High, and that the stepping was

"Hey world! Hey world! Aren't you afraid? Why? This fool cool man is gonna kill you dead World, World, World, what are you ? ' b d coming to you can t e roun , you must be square! Telling me you, cool your round you' re cool you re slick and let a fool called man put you in his trick!'' ~ Watts Propnets

Students get creative with the Watts Prophets

Photo

e es OU Issues

Students Bring Horrors of Child Abuse to Stage

____ By Travis.Shippen___ _ NewsF..clitor

Once again, Lincoln High School's Theatre Department presented another great school _play. "I Just Wanna Tell Somebody," written by Harold J. Haynes and directed by senior Alisha Williams, focuses on the many children in America who are abused by adults. The play was produced with special permission from I.E. Clark production and was held in the auditorium on Thursday, Februa~ 26th at 3:30 p.m and Friday, February 27t at 7:30 p.m.

Child abuse happens more than people know about. Here are some facts that many people may not know:

• In America, approximately one and a half million children are abused annually.

• The single most common factor among families reported for child abuse is an unemployed father.

• Forty percent of all Americans living at the poverty level are children.

• Over fifty percent of abused children suffer serious developmental, medical, or J?sychoiogical problems

• About eighty percent of all abusive parents were once abused children. As few as two and as many as fifteen children die each day from abuse.

• More than half of the abused children choose to run away rather than allow themselves to be abused.

• The suicide rate among abused teenageTs has increased seventy-five percent. _ 1 The play showed different scenes of how many children are abused. One of the scenes told a story of a boy

named Tony (sophomore Jordan White) who isabused by his father (senior Jeff Upchurch), Louis, Tony's friend, knows that Tony's father abuses him, and insists that Tony should tell their coach about what is happening. Tony resists at first, not wanting anything bad to happen to his abusive father.

_

Also, Tony's father told him that if he did anything about the abuse, Tony would be killed. Tony eventually does tell someone, and even testifies against his father in court.

The play comes to its tragic conclusion with Tony's father following through with his threat. A variety of other stories are intertwined throughout the play, which included a large cast who did a great job. Overall, it was another successful performance for the LHS Theatre Department.

BritsRi ff Ra ,Sen It Bae ith Renewe - Vieor

By 1d 1-fohnes NewsF..clitor

Britain has a long tradition of taking American music, making it uniquely their own, and then sending it back across the Atlantic. From the Beatles to Cream to Oasis to Coldplay to the Spice Girls, this pbenomenon has repeated itself throughout the 20 th century. While many British artists have trouble ''breaking'' the American charts, others find vast commercial success overseas.

Other artists find the ever more elusive critical acclaim in America, even if other success eludes them. However, through the years we have come to expect things from our British counterparts, such as what type of music they'll play, their lyrics, their politics, even their style of dress. "

But British rappers? Say it ain't so!

Once again, Britain has taken a unique American art form and warped it to fit their own small island, drawing heavy influence from England's dying rave and dance culture. While it's easy to scof~ at the_ idea of Brits rapping, · the 1ncred1ble talents and fresh perspective on the genre given by the new British rap stars are leaving those of their American counterparts in the dust.

The rap invasion started in 2001 when Mike Skinner, a.k.a. ''The Streets," released his album Original Pirate Material in the United Stafes to much critical acclaim. S.kinner, a white Londoner, eased the idea of Brit Hop into the American public's mind. His skittish garage beats, slang, and sometimes incomprehensible accent made him stand

out against the American rappers, although not always for the right reasons. Most record buyers, however, did not bite. While Skinner did find some surprising success within the indepencfent rock and hip-hop crowd, his debut release was hardly the success that had been predicted.

In 2002 Ms. Dynamite, a Mercury prizewinner, released her debut album in the States. While Dynamite has stronger roots in an R&B style of singing, her garage beats and focus on urban decay, civil· rights, estate living, and street life allowed her to fit nicely in the growing category of British Rap

This year Dizzee Rascal, another Mercury prizewin'ner, released his debut album Boy In Da Corner in the Stat .es. Like Skinner and Dynamite, Rascal relies heavily on garage-

influenced beats, creating a far different and more futuristic sound than the typical American production. Like Skinner, Rascal raps about boring nights, depression, and finding hope. Li.Ke Dynamite, he talks of street life·-specifically in East London where he was raised--and a tough childhood

These elements, combined with Rascal's pro.found maturity and relatively young age (19), ma:ke for an extraord-inary talent. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have hailed him as a new age of hip-hop, the start of ''rap's fu ture.' Whether or not this praise will help him shift records has yet to be seen, but given the chance, his influence on music-on either side of the ocean-coul'd be tremendous.

British hip-hop tends to differ from its American counterpart in the lyrics. They ignore swagger and bragging and fo-

cus instead on the world around them. As Rascal says on his album, ''MC' s best start chattin' about w?t's really 'appenin', because 1f not, who are you? Whatcha talking about?''

The British invasion has begun again in full swing, and just in a time where complaints of the blandness of American music have been increasing every day.

_ -

Many industry experts have said that the British releases in America will ''breathe new life'' into the rap genre here. But the question remains ,-will this new sea of British musicians take America by storm, a la the Beatles 40 years ago?

Or, like many British 'invasions," will it end with a few good albums, but little to no commercial success and become increasingly monotonous? Only time·-and record sales --will tell . .

Jeff Upchurch (12) portrays an abusive father in this scene with his son Tony (Sophomore Jordan White) in the student-directed play, "I Just Wanna Tell Somebody."

Photo by Travis Shippen

The Passion o

By &!rah)(night CopyF..clitor

In the last two tho usand years, faithful men and women have depicted the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with wl-1atever medium they've had available, from mere pencil sketches to paintings that covered entire walls or ceilings. The technological developments of the twentieth century have provided yet another way to show this event--film. Numerous movies have been created about Christ's crucifixion, but none have had the contro• versy--:or the budget--of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ

The movie, which was released on February 25th, grossed $117 million in its first five days and cost Gibson $25 million to make. James Caviezel, who had roles in The Thin Red Li ne and The Count of Mont e Cristo, was cast to portray Jesus. Maia Morgenstern plays Mary, and Monica Bellucci (of the Matrix movies and Tears of the Sun) plays Mary Magdalene. Italian actress Rosalinda Celentano portrays Satan. The movie is rated R for its graphic, and sometimes disturbing, depictions of torture.

Many people may · wonder what motivated Mel Gibson to take on such a

the movie have is that itis anti-Semitic. Lit- Star. Scott Guenther, youth ~pa:tor at ~es-

eral interpretations of the Bibli.cal accounts siah Lutheran Church, told the newspaper, ______ Byl(entM~loskie_____ _ found in Matthew 27, Mark 14-15, Luke "I would not want to take kids to see it and CopyF..ditor 22-23, and John 18-19 have caused some · have it be something they don't want to see." Last February, Lln_colnHighSchoo!~eld the ~t Christians to direct their blame and hatred He added that someone who had seen it told of what many hope will be a new tradition-a Film at Jews, and because the movie's plot is a combination of all four of these accounts, it could also be interpreted as blaming the Jews for the killing of Jesus. Lincoln High junior Jacob Thompson-Krug, who is Jewish, explains that Jews do not accept New

him that the scourging and whipping scene is eight minutes long. Thompson-Krug has the same idea. "It's such a bloody movie, and I don't understand why all these churches want to take their youth gr0up kids to see "t,,1 •

Others say the violence is simply accurate "It depicts the way that it was, as depicted in the New Testament, and it's a good idea for people to see how it really was when he [Jesus] was alive and to see what happened to him," senior Sara Duncan said. "Everyone pictures the story of Christ as a light and fluffy story with Jesus coming and saving the world from everything. He does [according to Christian teaching], but the way he got there wasn't all light and fluffy," she added.

Festival. Altogether there were 10 films,which ranged from TheCerealKillerby junior LarissaPace a satire of horror films over the last 20 years-to Uncashed,written by freshmen Tuesday Bassenand MilesRoper-an expressionist piece shot entirely in black and white, without dialogue of any kind and set to music. _ When asked about Uncashed,Miles said, "I was surprised it got the award because there were a lot of older kids and kidsfromArtsandHumanities."Sheadded,'Wedidn't really write a script We (Tuesday and I) went over to my house after school and jotted down ideas."

AudioNisual Specialist Mike Reinmiller's film RandomAds of 54nity,which he shot after his return from Haiti, was one of the more poignant works. It showcased ideas about life in America and abroad as well as commenting on Governor Bush and his "No Child Left Behind" li - pocy

different type of movie In a testimony he l . . . . h d •th p • d. G'b .d esus, p ayed by Jim Caviezel, carries his

Testament descriptions of the crucifixion of Christ. "We believe that the Romans killed him," he says. "Why would the Jews want to kill another Jew?" Gibson is quick to defend his film from anti-Semitic charges. According to Newsweek, he says that he "does not believe in blood guilt" and cites church teaching that "the transgressions and failings of all mankind led to the Passion--not just the sins of the Jewish people."

Some are interested in the film for its artistic and historic value. "I think that [a movie about the crucifixion of Christ] is a good idea. That's something that has been represented in film before, but not really recently, " junior Brendan Mc Cauley said. ''I think that I'm actually excited to see it, just because I'm wondering what's going

Mixed in with the other filmswere filmsmade by the Information Technology Focus Program's Interactive Media 2 students for the "Red Eye" competition, which is a contest in which students have 24 hours to story board, cast, shoot, and edit a complete film Senior Greg Hadwick and sophomore James Oliva directed the two "Red Eye" films, and though they both used the same script, the two' filmswere very different Hadwick chose a more TrumanShow-€squeroute with The Message,involving a person living in a completely false reality constructed by studio executives who monitor his ,every move with a series of cameras.

members of the Lincoln community expressed mixed reactions when they were interviewed by the Journal-Star. Some people ap preciated the experience of feeling like they were really at the crucifixion; however, others expressed disgust in reaction to the "unrealistic" amounts of violence.

The film is now showing at the Douglas 3, East Park, and Edgewood theaters, and there's still plenty of time for those who are curious to see it for themselves.

s are w1 asszon au 1ences, 1 son sa1 · on." that about twelve years ago he began to hate cross before his crucifixion. _ the man he'd become. To find fulfillment, Photo courtesy of 1mbd.com After seeing the movie on opening night, he turned to his father's faith, a conservative form of Catholicism called Traditionalism. Traditionalists deny many of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965, including reforms that acquitted Jews for the killing of Christ. According to Newsweek magazine, Gibson favors the Latin mass, does not eat meat on Fridays, and adheres to a strict interpretation of Scripture and doctrine. ReneRusso, who also appears in the movie, told Entertainment Weekly, "He's always been a seeker in terms of finding God." In a recent Newsweek article, James Caviezel explained, "He began meditating on the passion and the death of Jesus. In doing so, he said that the wounds of Christ healed his wounds. And I think the film expresses that."

One of the biggest concerns that critics of

Others are concerned about the amount of gore and brutality in the movie. Scenes of violence are prevalent, and some say they are much too long. Many Lincoln churches are not buying large amounts of tickets, but a re encouraging members to make their own decisions about whether or not to see it, according to an article in the Lincoln Journal-

No matter what opinions people have or what reasons motivate people to see the film, it is certain that The Passion of the Christ will be surrounded by questions and controversy for many years to come. The issues it resurrects have stirred debate for two millennia, and it is clear that they will continue to do just that

Oliva's film Gimmeemffee,which was closer to the actual script, involved an underachieving older sister whose younger brother and an unexpected houseguest tum into zombie-like creatures that she tries to escape in her car.

Of the nine films entered, SmallWorldby sophomore JOSieAzzam most literally followed the festival's theme "Who Am 17' It followed the first few daysof a girl (sophomore Lin~ Hand) in college She wakes up in her dorm room and finds an e-mail on l1ercomputer, which ends with "Who am 17' It bothers her, but she really doesn't think much of it until she starts to receive more notes which all end with 'Who am 17', leading 1\erto believe she is being stalked. Eventually, a note shows up in her room atop her laptop that ends the same way as the previous notes, and it prompts her to run out into the snow, where she sees the man who gave her her room assignment

· The other films shown during the festival were · Stoneand Eclipseby C.J.O'Hara and sophomores Rose Staley and James Oliva.

All in all the festival was an incredible success. I believe that this is only the beginning, and it has set the bar at a reasonable height for film festivalsin the years to come.

U. . Laws,Attitu esA

Solutionto UnderageDrinkingProblemis

age 21 for the legal age of alcohol consumption. It must have seemed like a perfect solution-make young people · hold off on drinking until they are mature enough to handle it. But it's painfully obvious how ineffective that law has been in stopping young people from consuming alcohol.

____ BycarrieTodd___ _ Asst,FeatureE..ditor

Everyone knows the tradition: it's the night of your 21 st birthday, and you're out with your buddies, taking shot after shot, stumbling down the street. Later you wake up vomiting, with a ' pounding headache and somebody else's shoes on. Sound like fun? Luckily, a wild night like this probably doesn't have to wait until you hit the big 2-1.

No, Nebraska hasn't lowered its legal drinking age, and there isn't a new bar in town that caters to mi11o r s. This isJ·ust a typical weekend for many un erage high school and college students. Party-hopping on a Saturday night, a foreigner probably wouldn't believe that in the United States it is illegal to buy or consume alcohol under the age of 21.

Alas, it is true. Many regular, law-abiding youngsters become hardened criminals come Friday and Saturday evening. It looks like teens haven't taken too well to being restricted to root beer kegs until they are almost finished with college, so they have found ways to get their vodka and drink it too.

Some get fake ID' s, some use older friends or siblings to buy for them, and some go to parties where strangers provide the booze. Alcohol is nearly as available to teens as it is to their parertts, so it's no surprise that drinking in high school has almost become like driving over the speed limit or jaywalking:.._many people do it.

Young people have already figured out that trying to buy a six-pack or strolling into a bar before age 21 will 9et you into a lot of trouble. But they ve also come up with a solution. After using the vast resources available for obtaining their alcohol, the underage crowd drinks in private locations, and it's done heavily arid quickly, before stepping out into public. The current alcohol law has become just a small roadblock for underage drinkers.

Most of today's minors don't even remember when the qrinking age was changed, but it hasn't been that long, Starting in July of 1987, every state in the country adopted

Even 17 years ago, kids caught · on quickly. An examination of East Carolina University students' intentions regarding their behavior following the passage of the age 21 drinking law revealed that only 6% planned to stop drinking. The vast majority, 70%, said that they planned to change their drinking location. Surveys at Arizona State University right after the drinking age was raised from 19 to 21 found no reduction in alcohol consumption. Obviously, these newly underage drinkers weren't going to let that pe_sky little law get in the way of their fun.

·

And they still aren't. Although police have been trying to crack down on underage drinking, it's a battle that they aren't likely to win. Efforts to stop off-campus "drinking parties" resulted in the Lincoln Police Department's formation of the Party - Patrol, a group of officers that are dispatched only to break up parties attended by underage drinkers.

While the Party Patrol has cracked down on a few patty spots, LPD' s biggest strategy is to make the few citations they do issue sound like more, in order to scare young drinkers. When the Party Patrol makes a weekend bust, the story is reported i,,nthe Lincoln Journal Star, the Daily Nebraskan, local news stations, and anywhere else LPD can get publicity.

·

Evidently, officers think that parties and underage drinking will stop if students are manipulated into believing they have a good chance of being caught. The Lincoln Police Department acknowledges that there is still a very small likelihood that underage drinkers will be reprimanded, but says that they have seen some results since weekend "party arrests" have become widely publicized.

·

"The media strategy has been critical to our success. Making the most out of small numbers of arrests is vital to changing students' perceptions," said the Lincoln Police Department in a report detailing the pvrpose and recent statistics from the Party Patrol.

Most Lincoln-area students are aware of the Party Patrol, but it doesn't seem to have scared them into ~eekend sobriety. Th~ number of minors who have been issued alcohol citations has increased greatly over the past 5 years, but underage

drinking appears ,to be as prevalent as ever.

In 1995, LPD made less than 700 artesfs for minors in possession of alcohol. In 20 01, that number had more than doubled to over 1400. If that constitutes only a small percentage of minors who consume alcohol, the number of underage drinkers in Lincoln alone is staggering.

Experts have been pondering the solution to this epidemic among young people for years, and all they've come up with seems to be more restrictions. Maybe if they took a look at the real cause of the problem, they would see that the solution is just the opposite of what they've been trying for decades.

· The fact is, continuing to uphold an age-21 drinking law is ineffective. The law isn't stopping young people from drinking; it's just distorting their views on alcohol. It's obvious that the current alcohol laws are not working. The biggest apparent effect of these laws have been that they inadvertently encourage binge drinking among young people, who drink large quantities on the occasions when they can _ obtain alcohol. If beer was just something they could order along with their pizza, teens probably wouldn't see it purely as a window of opportunity to get wasted.

. The solution to heavy drinking among teens isn't stricter laws, an expansion of the heroic "Party Patrol," or even mandatory Breathalyzer tests at every public event. The only way to change our society's attitudes towards drinking is to change the law and lower the legal drinking age.

·

Once people s tart viewing alcohol as a normal part of life and not just another substance to abuse, drinking behaviors will change dramatically, especially among teens. I don't deny that there are foreseeable problems, especially at the beginning, but it has to start somewhere. America's problem with drinking is not going away, and the sooner we start viewing alcohol the way the rest of the world does, the better.

Many respected scholars agree that the U.S. s legal drinking age is too high. Numerous valid arguments exist for changing our alcohol laws to those similar to many European countries.

In almost every developed nation in the world, alcohol is treated as a completely neutral substance that is neither an evil drug nor a miracle-drink. Young people in these countries learn responsible drinking at home, by watching their . parents drink moderately.

Many anti-drinking campaigns in the U.S. portray alcohol to go hand-in-hand with illicit drugs, and only encourage youth to com-

pletely abstain from drinking. The problem with this approach is that it tries, in vain, to scare kids with the "unknown dangers" of alcohol without teaching them anything about responsible drinking.

"We don't tell young people to 'just say no' to driving, fail to teach them to drive, and then on their 18 th birthday, give them drivers' licenses, and turn them loose on the road," says sociologist Dr. David J. Hansen, who supports lowering the drinking age.

The U.S. is the only country in the world to have a legal drinking age as high as 21. Many countries, such as China, Sweden, and Poland, have no minimum drinking age Other developed European countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have set age 16 as the legal drinking age. The United Kingdom allows 16 year-olds to order alcohol in restaurants or bars, but other alcohol purchases are restricted until age 18.

Compared to the United States, these countries have few problems with alcohol abuse among young people. There is no doubt that alcohol problems exist all over the world, but the fact that they are much more widespread in the United States than in countries with lower drinking ages says a lot about the effect alcohol laws have on be havior.

The fact that many European countries treat 18, 19, and 20-yearolds like the capable adults they are influences the young people to act as such,. In the U.S., young people of the same age are ·expected to act like adults, and are given all of the responsibilities that come with maturity but not all of the privileges.

In the United States, -eight~enyear-olds are eligible to join the military, allowed to vote, and ·in most states, to enter into legal cont racts, gamble, marry, and carry normal adult responsibilities. But those young adults must wait three more years before ordering a glass of wine at dinner. Is it any surprise that they've passed up moderate social drinking for slamming multiple shots of Jack in a dorm room?

Our attitudes about alcohol in the United States need to change, and the only way to effectively do that is to change the laws. My proposition is that the U.S. adopt age 16 as the legal age to order alcohol in a restaurant, and age 18 as the legal age to purchase alcohol elsewhere, like the U.K. has done. It would take very strong support that many older, conservative Americans may not be willing to gi ve, but in the long run, I'm convinced that revisip.g the alcohol laws would lead to more responsible and safer drinking by peopfe of all ages.

I

Bans on

____ By F...llaF...ngland FeatureE..ditor

The air is still buzzing with controversy. The legalization of gay marriages in Massachusetts has people filled with a mix of emotions, from happiness and relief to outrage and di~belief, and they are taking sides on the issue. Unfortunately, the fact that this is even an issue simply proves how closed-minded people can be.

Some people hide behind their faith, adamantly stating that the Bible supports them in their views. And in the book of

Free • CJ

By NickVaske WebE..ditor

Aroundtwo thousand years ago,there was a giant empire calledRome, This empire didn't growovernightwithoutany effort.It tookseveral ftundredyearsto grow to the P.Owerit onceheld. The RomanEmpirebecamewhat it was because it had rich,driven,and power-hungryemperors callingallof the shots. Witha strongmilitary,and the populaceto increaseits size,the Romansconqueredor coercedother nationsinto being;under directRomancontrol. Mostof them didn t want anything to do with the Romans,but because of the K'omans'amazing strength, they had no choiceor theywouldhavebeen completelywiped out of existence.

Whilethis processtook the Romansa ~eat deal of time (bothbecauseof the lack of teciinology, and the limitationof driven individuals}, tne UnitedStatesof Americamay just be able to do the same thing in severalshort decades. Unlike the Romans,the U.S.has nuclear weapons, submarines,an enormous army .with ungodly firepower, and an administration consisting largelyof driven.1'.eo-Rom~sa_ndtheir friends.

· A more officialorganization for many of these neo-Romans is The Projectfor the New AmericanCentury(PNAC),a think tank (a group organized for intensive research and problem sofving)in Washington D.C. The difference betweenthis think tank and the other hundreds of think tanks in Washingtonis that this one's membersare almost all either part of the Bush ~dministrationor have strong connectionswith it.

Somenamesyou !nightrecognizeof PNAC's membersin the WhiteBouse are:

, • arna ,e a

Leviticus it does. Of course, it also says that you shouldn't wear clothing made of mixed fibers (Leviticus 19:19).Finally, no more cotton/ polyester blends! And that if a man should die without any sons, his brother shall marry his widow (Levitcus 18:16).

If some people are going to hide behind the Bible and pick and choose what parts they want to follow, could their argument really be that strong? The Bible discusses marriage frequently and defines it quite clearly.

In the book of Genesis, it states that a marriage is a union b-e"tweena man and one or more women. It also states that if there are no acceptable men in the town, you don't have to get married, simply get your dad drunk and have fun (Gen 19:31-36)!Deuteronomy states that a marriage is only valid if the woman is a virgin (Deut 22:13-21), which means that many Americans are not married through the church, like they believe they are.

Maybe the truth is that people are

e

into Se ·ation

afraidof change. Go back twenty or even thirty years to the issue of interracial marriages in this country. Ministers were highly scrutinized and harassed for performing unions between AfricanAmerican and Caucasian persons. Now, it seems like almost a non-issue. Has history taught us nothing? Nothing bad came from interracial marriages, even though some of the same reasons for banning it were used.

Several people have recently expressed concern that allowing gay marriages will only lead to a man marrying a pig, or a chair. People made the same ridiculous arguments about interracial marriages as well, but the effect was positive.

I support civil unions as a step in the right direction, but people deserve more; Why should they settle for anything less than equal? A marriage is a symbol of love and compassion for a person. It is a sign that you want to be with them and only them. Civil unions represent the same thing. So, what's the difference? The dif-

• Vice-PresidentDickCheney spacecontrol;

ference is that in somestates civil unions don't provide spouses with the right 11o t to testify against the other in court, tax deductions, or other governmental benefits. It seems an awful lot like separate drinking fountains, which I thought had been done away with three decades ago when the Supreme Court ruled that _ "separate but equal" was not equal. We have conquered racial segregation, and now people are pressing for segregation based upon sexual orientation. History is repeating itself, and it is time people open their eyes to it.

Same-sex unions are happening. The world around us is changing, and ignoring those changes will not make them go away. Same-sex marriages are not going to hurt anyone. So what if there are a few more loving, caring couples in our society?

History is repeating itself, and hiding behind a Bible or silly misconceptions is not going to change that. The Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law, and it's time people uphold it.

mi11istration in Power

•Secretaryof DefenseDonaldRumsfeld •"Exploitthe 'revolutionin military_affairs' •peputy Secretaryof Defense Paul Wolf- to m~urethe lon_g-termsuperiorityof U.S.conow1tz _ ventionalforces;

• Deputy Se.cretaryo~Stateand formercon- ~"~ncreasedefense spending gradually to a sultan£to HaliburtonRichardL. Armitage m1n1mumlevel of 3.5 to 3.8 percent of gross

• Employeeunder SecretaryforArmsControl domesticf roduct." and InternationalSecurity 1 PaulaDobriansky Wha may be saddest about all of this is And.many oth~r inaividuals closelyin- that few peopleactuallyknow what is goingon. volvedwith the WhiteHouse, Pentagon,and Alm!)Stevery me.mber_ofPNAChas a position DefenseDepartment,such as: ~r directconnectionwith the BushAdministra•Govemorof Florida/brotherto the President ~on an~ have been p~g many strings and Jeb Bush influenang~any deasionssmceBushcameinto •ZalmayKhalilzad,formeradvisoranli Af- power,espeaallyafter the attackson the World ghanistanpipelinenegotiatorfor Unocal Tra~e Center. ·Many policies that deal with

• RichardPerle former subjectssuch as Iraq and terrorismwere writchairman of the Defense ten or influencedby members Policy Board (according T I b . of PNAC. Someexamplesare: to CNN.com,he resi~ed O earnffiOfe 8 OUf •The blueprints for our becauseof allegation~that TheDroiPrl ForThe/\Tewcurrent ~oreigneoµcy, which he had a conflictof mter- J 'J'A-' 1 1" 1 were wnttenoy Diel<Cheney est petween the Defeµse 1\_mericanCenturv in 1992 . Policy ~oard and being • , I' • Advisory letters directly an aqvisor f9r Globa1 VISifhttp://WWW.fr?m PNAC to Presidents Crossing, which could , Clinton and Bush on subjects ca~se probl~ms with newamer1cancentury.org such as ~e War on Te.rrorism, national secunry because the war in Iraq, policies with of its proposed sale to a Israel, China and 1aiwan and foreignfirm in China) the defensebu~get ' •SteveForbes •A s1:1b-coi_nmittee of PNAC,the Committeefor •B1:1s~Sr.'sVicePresidentDan Quayle the L~beratiol;l of Iraq (CLI),met _withNational •WilliamJ.Bennett,formerspeechwriterfor ?ecunty Advt~orCondoleezzaRiceon educatformerPresidentGeorgeBusli,Sr. !11\the Amencanpeople on the need for war P~AC ha~W!ittenmany reports and let- m aq , ,, . _ . . ters statingtherrvtewson terrorismthe war in

almostexactly3.8%of GDP.

Alreadlb'!ePatriotand HomelandSecurity Acts have ·ted our rights, we've lost allies suchas Franceand Russia,and a PatriotActII is currentlybeing developedto even further limit our rights. What'sworseis that it is what PNAC wanted. "Franceis no longer the ally it once was,"saidPerleon February4, 2003,concerning the war in Iraq. He also accusedFrench Presi• dent TacquesCftiracofbelieving"deep in his soul that SaddamHusseinis preferableto any likely successor."Perlealsostated"itis now reasonabre to askwhether the UnitedStatesshould now or on any other occasionsubordinatevitalnational intereststo a show of hands by nationswho do not shareour interests."PNACno longerwants allies,merelypawns to manipulateand use. What PNACwants to cfois dominate and control the amount of freedom for everyone else. Imaginea world comp!etelycontro_lledby power-hungryneoconservativesmWashing!:on, D.C. Likely,you see a nightmare-worldfiill of suppression,hate and war. When most of the wor1dwould like to have nothinz to do with us, it is guaranteed that they will fight being controlleaby the U.S. As we have alreadyseen in Afghanistan,Iraq, Palestine,Turkey,Colombia,and variousplacesin the MiddleEast,Asia, South Americaand Africa,other countries do not want to be controlledby our government and military,they do not want to have our cultural values,and they do not want us makin~ money off of their work and their countries resources.

• Bushs NationalSecuntyStrategyof the UrutIraq, the 9".S.A.' s role in the world,'and many ed States C?fAmerica,",r~Tease1~n SepteTI_1ber other s:ubiects~almostall of which can be reaa 20,2001,lJl;IITOrsPNACs Rebuilding~enca' s on therr website,www.newamericancentury.Defenses m alm9ste_veryaspect,even usmgthe org. exactsall},eW?rdingm manY,,Place~. Somescaryplans stated in PNAC's main The maiortheaterwars mentionedabove report, RebuildingAmerica'sDeffnses·Strategy have alreadY.largelybegun, the main war curForcfS_andResource~for a New Centu·ry,are: ' rentlybeirtgfought~ Iraq Ot~er"theater"wars

• Fightand decisivelyv.rinmultiple simul- we nave seen were m Afghanistan,the nuclear tan~ou~majortheater wars," ' standoffwe !1festill~aving wi.~ ~orth Korea,

• Mamtamnuclearstrategicsuperiority·" strugglestakingplacem the Philippmesand the •"Develop and deploy globaf missile'de- Balkans,and very_recently a rel:5ellionin Haiti fenses;" · supported~y~e U.5.,whichwill likelyend with •"Controlthe new 'internationalcommons' new Amencaninfluences. of spaceand' cyberspace,'and pavethe wayfor fNAC suggestedt~at 3.8%of the G!ossDothe creationof a new militaryservice mesticProductbe used ¥1defenses,an mcrease

•U.S. Space Forces-with the mission of 2 fr0o04 m arksoufnd$3%.B:u~h s proposed budget.for as or 379billionm defense spendmg,

Ascitizensof the United Statesof America, we have the opportunity to decide who controlsour country,and we can preventAmerican maniacsfrom trying to conquer the world and eventuallythe universe.We have the duty to protect other people from being oppressedby our militaryand having our values forced on themwhen they alreadyhave culturalvaluesof their own that are important,whether we think we know what they reallyneed or not. We shoulduse diplomacyto createfriendshipswith other countriesand do businesswith them in _aciviland symbiotica~ybeneficialway. The Proiectfor the New AmencanCen!IDYl1as no desire to use diplomacyor any civilmeans at all. They want to ~onquer.th:eworld with weapons and oppression,and it IS our duty to stop their nightmarebeforeit can happen.

_____ By JacobMiller ___ _

Mi.tor-in-chief

The University of Colorado, and college sports in general,arereachingfor the make-up to cover collegeathletics'latestblack eye.

Reportsfrom Coloradoare saying that high schoolfootballplayers visitingBoulder are being entertained with strippers and sex parties. This comes a while after a student on campus at the University of Colorado claimed several football players raped her at a party. And just when things could not have gotten any worse for the program, a formerfemalekickerfor the Buffaloes, KatieHnida, is claimingthat footballplayersfrom the program sexuallyviolatedher in many ways, including one case of rape. In an interviewwith Sportsfllustrated,she says that severalplayers exposedthemselvesto her, groped her, corneredher and calledher names, and the most shocking,one player allegedlyraped her

Thisis yet another digressionin the world of collegesports,one that has becometoo often:filled with coachescheating,players acceptingmoney , and other poss_essionsfrom boosters, and other problemsplaguing athleticdepartments.

Breakingthe rulesis nothing new in Boulder. illegalpracticessurrounding the Buffalofootball program have been around for years now. Now, it's time for the NCAA to step up and level the

harshest punishment possiblefor violators The Death Penalty. Seriously. The NCAA needs to stand up, say that enough is enough, and eliminate Colorado'sfootballprogram. Thereisprecedent for this. In the late eighties,SouthernMethodist Universitylostitsfootballprogramfor a number ofyears afterthe program lostallcontrolofwhat was going on. Playerswere being arrestedand recruitswere being paid by boosterslookingfor performance on the field. So SMU lost their program, and even though they got it back a couple of years later, things were never the same. Even as recent as a year ago, legendary program Alabama was threatened with the Death Penalty after their dirty laundry came dean and players admitted to being paid by boosters.

Much likeSMU became the example · of what cheatingwill do to you, Colorado needs to become the example of what happens when you

The Big XII can survive without Colorado PlayerslikeDetroitPiston RasheedWallaceand football. Schoolscan always play with one less Tampa Bay BuccaneerWarren Sapp have been conferencegame, or a schoollike Notre Dame doingtheirbestRushLlmbaughimpersonations. canalways be invited to join as a football-only Twolong,confusing,ignorant,quotesshort,both member. basicallylabeledthe peoplerunning the NBAand What a money-rich conference like the NFL"slaveowners''because,well,nooneisquite BigXIIwould do isri'tthe biggest concern. The sure why. Maybe Wallacehas been toking up biggest concern is where athletics in general toomuch(hewasarrestedin2003forpossession are going. Colorado isn't the only place with ofmarijuana),buthefailedtorememberthathe problems. At the Universityof Miami,top Hur- · and Sapp make millionsand millionsplaying a , ricanerecruitWillieWilliams sport. Sure sounds like slaveryto me. was arrested recentlywhile The landscapeof sports is depressing. Athan a recruiting trip to the letes are celebrated,despite most never earning campus of Florida. That that golden ticket in America,a collegedegree. was Williams' 11th-yes , Someone- needs to remind these "role models" 11th-arrest since2001. that kids everywhere are watching. Thanks to All over the land- a player like AllenIverson,young hoopsters are scape of athletics, college double-dribbling,trave!ing,and breaking just and professional, athletes !~ut ev~ other rule m_thebook Thank.5to are testing to see how pion~ers likeformer Ohio Statefootballplayer much fans will let them Maunce Garett, the NFL could become the latget away with. St. John's estplaygroundforplayersthatdon'tlikeschool men's basketball team is and probably haven't even read something for playing without fiveof their themselvessince eighth grade. , players because of broken ~mething needs to change. We s~ollldn't rules. Ruben Patterson of be talking about loud-mouth athletes like Keythe Portland Trail-Blazers shawn Johnson and TerrellOwens.

Colorado has come under scrutiny after claims of rape and harassm ent of female players by teammates.

use sex,or other means, to attractplayers. Critics have beencorrect in saying that Colorado is not the only place this is happening. But for right now, Coloradohas been the only team to be caught Now is the time to put a stop to it doesn't

went to Oregon because staying with Seattle in Washington would mean registeringas a sex offender.

In fact, the Blazershave so many troublemakerson their

We should admire players like San Antonio Spur TimDuncan,someonewho completed schooland conductshimselfwith classand dignity. Maybe once more athleteslikeDuncan are made examples,others might get th€ message.

This means starting with the Colorado footballprogram. An ignorant, classlessdown likeColoradoBuffaloHead Coach Gary Barnett, and anyone else associatedwith the program, shouldn't be allowedto get away with a slap on the wrist, or "administrativeleave."

team that a couple of years ago, the team decided to draft someone who coula represent their whole teall)..They drafted a talented,but troubled,high schoolplayer with the name of Outlaw. Sportsis not just litteredwith law-breakers. I even have -a suggestionfor Colorado's"last meal" BuffaloWings,anyone?

Superstar

____

By E..llaE.nglanct___ _ FeatureMi.tor

Lincoln High has its very own superstar~ -Phylicia Robertson! Robertson is the 2004 Star City Youth Athlete of the Year for her gymnastics skills, according to the February Star ~itY.Spqrtspublication. With plenty of backing behind 1t.

Rooertson is a senior here at LHS who has managed to find balance between school, work, and her sport. • She was nominated by longtime friend an d teammate Michelle Gonzalez for her dedication and Ph li R b (12) long list of ac- y c1a o ertson . complishments. Robertson, who has done gymnastics for 14 years, is a six-time Junior Olympic Participant in regional, state, and national level cnampionsnips and a fivetime Junior Olympic qualifier in state and regional championships. She has also won several certificates of achievement from vari-

ous gy_mnasticsacademies. , While representing Solid Rock, Robertson was balance beam st~te cham'P,ionin t~e Ne~ra~ka USA Gymnasti~s State ~hamp1onships m 2003. Sne also tied for first on the uneven bars. She was one of only three from Solid Rock to qualify to compete in the regio~al championships, where she tied for tenth m the alf:around catego!Y.

Robertson trains at Solio Rock Gymnastics, and according to an article in Star City Sports,she is the first performer on track to graduate from high school from the academy. Robertson spends fifteen to twenty hours every week training in the gym and she also teaches some younger gymnasts from Solid Rock.

Despite the lack of a high school gymnastics team at Lincoln High, Robertson-has still· found plenty of ways to stay involved at the high school level byjoining many local teams sponsored by academies in town. Currently, Robertson is looking forward to college level gymnastics and she 1shoping to win scholarships to help defray the cost of tuition. Roberfson' s gymnastics make her a champion, but she has other reasons She has successfullymanaged to balance work, school, and gymnastics without faltering. Also, she has not l~t _hersuccess go to ~e r Fiead PhyliciaRobertson 1sdefinitely a Lmcoln High superstar in every sense. I

Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com

L s res er Steve A1nos ·Ta ,.omman at State

By JacobMiller -----E.ditor-in-Chief

Lincoln High senior Steve Amos came into the 2003-2004 wrestling season as one of the favorites in Class A in the 160 lb. weight class. Througl1.out the regular season, Amos plowed throu .gh opponents, racking up win after win. Amos then ttirned his eyes toward the District tournament, looking to qualify for the State Tourname nt for the first time.

In the district tournament, Amos de~ feated Columbus wrestler Tyler Johnson, 10-2. Amos had finally qualified for the State Tournament, in his final season with the team.

From there, Amos headed to the State Tournament at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Joining Amos at the State Tournament was fellow senior Bill Dieckhoff. Dieckhoff qualified for the 275 lb. weight class.

BoBy JambMiller ___ _ E.ditor-in-Chief

In basketball, there are several different types of pressqre. There's always the pressure to win, something felt every year at Lincoln High. There are expectations Jelt for certain players to excel ·like the fans and media expect them to. But Lincoln High senior Jesse Humpal felt a different type of pressure this season.

He needed to score this season. Late into the season, Humpal was the only member of the boys basketball team not to score. But with the Links' final four regular season games against relatively easy teams, he would have more chances to put a number other than zero in the point column for the season.

The Links headed to Columbus for a game against the Discoverers the week after the thrilling win against Lincoln Southeast. The Discoverers have been having a down year, and the Links gave them no chance to rebound. Thanks to accurate shooting from seniors Marcus Minzel and Seth Sharpe, the Links jumped out to a 41-18 half-time lead. Thanks to 16 points from Sharpe and 15 each from Minzel and junior Yusuf Vinson, the Links went on to win the game 65-42. Humpal had l1is chance at scoring, but went 0-4 from the field. The team did have one spectacu1ar highlight when Vinson had a fast break dunk, the first dunk of the year for the team.

The next night, the Links headed up to Omaha Benson for a Valentine's Day showdown with the Runnin' Rabbits. The game was never in peril for the Links, as they took a 5-0lead thirty seconds into the game, and then continued to pull away from the Rabbits. Vinson contributed a game-high 24 points, while Minzel contributed 15 more, and the Links blew out the Rabbits, winning 65-34. Late in the game, with the outcome already decided, Humpal substituted into the game, along with a couple of other reserves. A couple of Links possessions later, Humpal received the ball on the wing, wide open. He attempted the three, and for the first time all season, he made the shot, much to the pleasure of the fans in attendance.

In tl,e opening round of the State Tournament, Amos defeated Josh Magill of Millard South, 12-1. Dieckhoff joined Amos in victory by pinning Stacy Allen of Omaha North in 53 seconds, one of the fastest times in the opening round.

Later that afternoon, Amos defeated crosstown rival Park Sloup from Lincoln Southwest, 14-5. But while Amos continued to roll through the competition, Dieckhoff met his match in the future state champion, Lincoln Northeast wrestler Lewis Fleisher. Fleisher pinned Dieckhoff in one minute, three seconds.

The next day, Amos prepared to face Ross McMullen of Kearney for the right to head to the State Championship match. Amos was able to control the match from early on, and would go on to defeat McMullen 7-2, earning him a birth in the championship match. Dieckhoff meanwhile pinned Lincoln Southwest's Cole Gore in 2:48 to advance in the Con-

solation Bracket.

In the championship match, Laufenberg took a commanding lead over Amos, 10-3. Amos fought back, though, and with time running down, he tied the match 10-10. Amos was on a roll and he continued his advantage, as he led Laufenberg 12-11 with only a couple of seconds remaining in the match.

With time runnir;tg down, Laufenberg surprisingly scor ,ed a takedown on Amos, garnering two points and the lead as time ran out, leaving Amos in second place,

"Even though · it would have been good to win, I was still happy I made it there. I'll have the memory I competed (in the finals)," Steve Amos said.

In the battle for fifth, Dieckhoff held strong for the opening minutes of the · match, but ultimately Lewin would pin Dieckhoff 4:56 into the match.

Steve Amos (12) defeats an opponent Amos headed to the Championship on his way to the State Wrestling match to face Micah Laufenberg of Belfinals at the Bob Devaney Sports -Cen- le~ue East. _Dieckhoff would wre~tle Dieckhoff did finish sixth though, a good showing for another first time participant t P h t b J d G Michael Lew_in of Norfolk for the fifth er. o o Y or an reen place crown in Class A.

d of Seasonand

Humpal later said of the shot, "I was thinking it was just like practice. (I wanted to shoot) just like I shoot in practice." Humpal continued. "It's great I'm glad to have the fans behind me. It makes it easier."

· The next week, the Links returned home to Johnson Gym for a game against the Kearney Bearcats, the final home game for seniors Curt Coatman, Humpal, Minzel, Eric Rose, and Sharpe. For

a player like Sharpe, wno has been starting since midway through his s ophomore year, 'f ' it would be the final · game in a building

.

Humpal could no_tfollow up hi~ t~re~ point ~ttempted to make a ~ree, <;>nly to miss, sendperformar:ce aga1nst Benson, fmishing 0-1 mg the gam~ to over~me tied at 67. from the field. In the first overtime, the teams traded

The very next night, the Links went more baskets with each other before two on a road trip up to Millard South to face Southwest free throws tied the game again the winless Patriots in the final game of the at 74. When Minzel missed a basket to win, regular season. The Patriots were actually the Links and Silver Hawks were headed to

able to stick close to a second overtime. In the second OT, the the Links, thanks to teams went up and down the court, being a number of threes careful not to make a mistake that could cost from the Patriots you the season. With "fhe Links leading 80and rough shooting 79 late, the Links made a potentially costly from the Links. At mistake when an errant pass sailed out of halftime, the Links bounds. It couple of seconds later, the Links only led by one, fouled Silver Hawk Cody Fisher, sending him leading the Patriots to the line. There, he missed the first free 30-29. In the second · throw, but made the second, tying the game half, the Links pulled at 80. From there, Peterson was fouled as away, outscoring the he went up for a shot. He missed the front Patriots 32-8 to win end of two, but sarrk the second to give the 62-37. Vinson led the Links an 81-80 lead with eight seconds left. Links with 22 points, ·Lance Novatny from Southwest missed a while Humpal scored three pointer off of the front of the rim at another three points, the buzzer, giving the Links a victory over much to excitement the feisty Silver Hawks. Vinson led the team of the crowd follow- with 28 points and 10 rebounds

· he had all but grown up in, since his father is longtime assistant coach Sam Sharpe , ing the team. In the District Finals, the Links played

"Before the game I just treated it like any other game," Sharpe said "After the game, I really didn't have much time to think about it because I was thinking about the next night's game. I just thought when you look back at your

high school career, it won't be a big memory, even thou 9h there have been a lot of good moments.'

The game got off to a slow start, as both teams missed shots and traded a couple of turnovers. The Bearcats actually jumped out to a 21-12 lead in the first half. The Links clawed back into the game, thanks to a couple of baskets by Vinson and two threes from Sharpe, to take the lead 24-21.

In the fourth quarter, the Links took control and scored the game's final 16 points, all from the free throw line, to win the game 52-37. Sharpe and Vinson each scored 12 points, while Minzel added 11.

- squared off against to a 19-0 run, giving them a 21-10 lead. Lincoln Southwest, who had won a couple From that point on, the Huskies never got of nights before against Omaha Benson. The any closer than nine points behind, and the Links jumped off to a quick 14-7lead, thanks Links cruised to an 83-61win before a rowdy to quick points from Minzel and Sharpe. Af- crowd. At one point in the fourth quarter, ter that point, the Silver Hawks went on a the Northwest student section threw bottles 19-0 run against the Links, to take the lead onto the court and caused problems, giving 26-14. The Hawks led throughout most of the team a technical foul in punishment for the game, until in the late third quarter, when their fans. Vinson had another huge night, junior Preston Peterson hit a shot to tie the scoring 30 points, while Sharpe added 23 for game at 52. From there the teams went back the Links._ and forth, trading shots. When the Links The district champions then headed to took possession of the ball with less than a the State Tournament to face the Omaha Cenminute to go, they worked the ball around, tral EaglBS,a team the Links have played in looking for the final shot. That chance came the first round the last two years, both times with a couple of seconds to go when Sharpe escaping with overtime victories.

The very next the Omaha Northwest Huskies, a winner week, the Links the previous night over Omaha North. The =;..;;; "...i headed into their Huskies jumped out to a 10-2 lead midway ISeth Sharpe (12) shoots a free throw District Tournament th~ough the first quarter, but from that d • t t titi as the number one point, Sharpe and Vinson took over Seven ./ ··uring s a e compe on. . seed. In the semi- consecutive points from Vinson, jqined by a hoto b Jordan Green finals, the Links pair of threes from Sharpe, helped the Links

Nhu-YNgo FeatureE.clitor

State Lea ., School Recor s

The excitement mounts as the swimmers take their positions. The crowd looks on in anticipation. With the bell, the competitors jump into the water, hoping to finish victorio us. The cheers are deafening, and the water becomes alive when a champion emerges. The State meet then comes to a close, marking the end of the swimming seasoi;i. But it has proven to be a productive and successful one for the Lincoln High swim team.

The LHS swim team came out victorious at State this year. While not taking the state berth, they managed to do very well, meeting some expectations and far outpacing others. This achievement came as no surprise, for the team started 01't the season strongly. "They really came together," Head Coach Richard Conradt said of the team's performance this year and at State. The boys placed 14th overall, and the girls ranked 12th • As a team of individuals, they managed t9 gain strength from each other's performances.

"The team did great this year. This team [has] accomplished more than just about any other team I've coached," remarked Coach Conradt. Finishing the season with strong showings at numerous competitions, the team included many swimmers who achieved personal best scores and new school record holder,: ·

BftinaWflson

Last year, numerous swimmers made it to State, and this year ~shley Henry (12), Sarah Costello (11), Maggie Terry (10), Katherine Herrick (10), Samantha Staley (12), Renee Krenk (11), M arisha Lenz (12), Stephanie Meyer (10), Misha Coleman (12), Gillian Price (12), Morgan Parr (11), Nie Svoboda (12), Luke Jones (12), Jeremy Lenz (9), Ray Mikkleson (11), Jason Castro (11), Ben Stalder ; (12), Mike Crane (12), Seth Sapp , (11), and Tim Rosenau (11) made the same trip.

The tournament was held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center natatorium, with schools throughout Nebraska in attendance.

From February

contenders. The equally convincing performance at State also helped create a reputation that the LHS swim team will have no difficulty living up to next year.

Preparation was strenuous: swimming 1.5 to 2.5 miles every morning before school. They worked hard and long every day in order to prepare. "I swam as much as I could

on improving their times at State Such a goal ,vas accomplished. In fact, the 200 freestyle relay team went on to brea:k the school record with a time of 1:44.30. Marisha Lenz (12), a member of the relay team, also left the competition with a new personal record of 25.23 in the 50 freestyle sprint. All of the swimmers put in their best effort, meeting [to train for the sea- the expectations of Conradt. "All [of] our athson]-at least 3 times letes are expected to do well at State," he said a week during the beforehand. He was right in his prediction: summer-and lifted "These were the fastest times we have swum weights," commented in several years," Conradt commented later. senior Marisha Lenz. They look to do even better next year. "For State, I prepared The freshmen added immensely to the a lot mentally, and team's success and look forward to carrymy coach helped me ing on the legacy of accomplishment. "We during the practices." keep improving each year," says Lenz (12). A great coaching staff New additions such as Jere~y Lenz (9) and also lends itself to the Christine Reavis (9) ensure a bright future. achievements of the Outgoing seniors will be missed, including team. Head Coach Nick Svoboda (12), Lucas Jones (12), SamanConradt motivated the tha Staley (12), and Misha Coleman (12). team to do well during There was much experience on this team, practices, along with but the strong freshman and sophomore seethe assistant coaches, tions, along with the equally powerful juniors, Reynaldo Castro ana will ensure many more victories in the future.

26 th to the 28 th ; Ben Stalder (12) dives into the water at Eric Shanks, and the · Making waves throughout the state, the swim athletic trainers-Jere! team can finish a season satisfied with manv Welker,James Varner, superior performances. The water becomes swimmers too State.

Photo By Renee Krenk

the water. The competition was fierce, but LHS remainea strong. Their third place showing at Districts snowed everyone that they were formidable

·es,

and Cydney Barnes. Before the State meet, Coach Conradt said that the swimmers would be focusing

ter

silent as the swimmers leave the pool here at LHS, but it will once again liven next winter.

To end their regularseason, the Links win to the~, were the number three team in order to witt,"flolla':'d said. "We fbQto·f..ditm head ed up to Kearney ta face off ~.iinst seed in t}le tO\U'nantent. -~ gave it our all and played the gan:ie as

, • • . . . the Lady Bearcats. The Lirtb wer : led by Ott Thursday, February ~, ~e if it ~as:e~r la!t, and Ul the end we came lt s a once m a lifetime chance to_bre~ their seniors and ended up coming out headed to Lirtco!h "Eastto finalize their out t~qs and !etyour name go down \fl-~- with a 40 39' vie- · · · conquest to the state tour- ·.On Fnday, Fe'b~ary _'27, 2004, the tory._On Fnday, Februar,y1?, 2004, ~ruor tory Despite not ~ament. TheUnbhea~ed Lin~ he~ded back to East to compete Jeru:ufer Endreswentdown_m the !,incoln bein Jugh scor- mto thetoup'ament _ VISu- aga11?-5tL1m:o~ So~th~st~o r the A-.1 High "recorq books .• The senior guard, who irtg ia.n1e, Holland alizin,_g_what µiey~anted. District Ch: mJ'i$nship. 1ne Links played has been a ~er Slllc~her fr~n year, led theLinks with J Knf wmg that ,~ ~uld whard game ~d-~t up the momentum. broke tb,e all--ttr11esconng reco~, _. 10 points, while potentiallybe the seru0rs' !he keys to wmrung the game were gµar4Amy 4>th, who ,had 927 po~ts, pteVl- Wood added 9. ·. · 11st gante, 4 we focused a mg Southwest's pos~s, Ashley Nelson and,;i ously held this record. "Amy J:,oth. was a "' "I think we lot q_n workfng together ·Jessie Mcic;iMey. . !1'~9ou:sbasketballp~rer,andher~e ~eaJly* wanted t() , andputtingourdiffereJ;JceS One of the key high~ights of the is.,1n alljhe reco:~ ~oks, En~ said. T-0 , win this g;une. We aside," I<Iabenes s~d. game :was ~whe~ Endres -~tt twp b~cktl)at I af m~e books with her,llllffie got ahead and I Head Coa fh Bill,MJ:rs to-baei< three pomters., to give_the L~ IS m_credll,le.. ~dres broke the tecord by thought that we spen! time work_1:ng 1n " some _-moment\lm. Endres -finish~? !;1th ,,sconng · 13 ig,ornts a~amst Co~~bus. En- woubi - keep the pr~ctice on f~s1ng on ~,J?omts, ~d Wo_odadqei;i 21, to gi,ve the dres also hokls the Lmcom •Hign rero,td. fol' lead but we made what needed . to be done Links th~ 54-43wm. _ the most con~cu.tiv~ games starte? m her ._sdm.~ :mistakes and and which key players _During this game, Holland ~~the career, surpassmg ,Mich~ela Franklin. then came &ack,, ,needed to be stopped. record holder form0$1'.rebounds ma stngle

As i)ef teammates were ov_erwhelmed: ·W ·d said. "I'~ · Determination and team- season. "Being able to throw the ball~ withjoyforherafteradi_sappo1nting40-28 gt;: we pulled it -work were allit took for the~withsecondsdwindlmgdo~and loss to Columbus, the~ then h~aded out and 11iHolland ' the.J.mkstooverpowerthe havmgevery-0necheerandrushdownon off to play the Omaha Benson Bunntes on ftni""shedwith her C _ t Rockets and earn a spot in the court w.as a fantastic moment," Endres February 14. 'fhe Links played a ~~:I game, lC1$tminute shot,, · •·-· • the Z00-4.A:,l district final said. "We gave it our all and played from working on defense and :not tumm~ over . · Headin into. alley V,an Lanmgham (ll) bl .. game. 11. the heart, and that's what led us to the the ball, ~ut th~ Links ended falli~g to what the g call , in~oln East_player Sarah Se<:il~Wood led her team with win." _ the Bunmes 49~43."W~ wer:° t phys1call! in basketb~ll the unng the first round at the state 25 points, while Holland Overall~the ~dy Links faced a season prepa:re~ ~or the gam~ a~~mst Benson, ,,second season,,, oumaments. · · added 16 points~ to help _ of ex~me _mco~1stency, hard wort< and semor Rik!I<ila~ne~ ,said. TI;ey played a the Links headed .· Photo By Mike Retnrn1Jler add to the 56-37~. '~- ~~~tion. n 1Sa sur~ fact that the five very physical and -dirty game. to the district tout- · ingwarm-ups/'my &hot1ust semors will be greatly missed qext se~n,. Endres h~lped her _team 1n_the cl~se nament to play Lincoln Northeast y¢t felt :right,"Wood said. · _ · an~ the Lady Links w~ look to rebuild game by adding 19 points, while se.mor ain. iii - 1111 "WewerereailyfocusedonbeatingNorth- thexrprogramandcontmuetoworkhard. • Alissa Ho1land added 15. 111 ;t Links,who had one previous lQSSand east and re/ifized that we had to play as a and strive for consistency

April 21, 2004

Eight Lincoln High students and one Southwest student joined over one hundred other Native American high school and college students from Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota at the Crazy Horse Memorial outside of Custer, S outh Dakota for the 5th Annual Native American Newspaper Career Conference on April 13-15. Participants

Monument.

LPS Bu

By&rahKnight CopyE.ditor

_uts ,.OU

won't be known until next year's budget is finalized in late summer, according to an April 9th Journal-Stararticle.

What would you do if you ne~ded a The newspaper also says that nine LPS few million dollars? How about eight or teacherscouldreceivereduction-in-force,or nine? To simply make ends meet, _Lincoln RIF,notices on April 15,which is the deadPublic Schools has determined that it needs line for notifying staff of their job status for to con~ue to make cuts !o staff a1;1dpr~- next year. A staff member who is "RIFe~" grams m schools. Students m all of Lincoln s has been laid off. Other staff members will public high schools may notice absences and be surplussed, which means that they are changes due to shifts and cuts in funds next still guaranteed a job in the district next year, and Lincoln High is no exception._ . year, but they might be moved to a different

In the 2004-2005school year, the district schoolbuilding. The staff members with the could have $8 million less in state aid than it least district-wide seniority are typically the needs to make sure programs and staff stay ones who are surplused. Oral ·communiat their current levefs, according to a recent cations and Photojournalism teacher Chris LincolnJournal-Stararticle. The amount may Maly, who had been notified that he may not seem like m~c_hin relation t~ the approxi- be surplused, said, "I know that I ~ant to mately $243.7million that LPSwill have sp~nt · teach here, and that that's what I enJoy and this year, but it will bring about some notice- what I love doing, and so until they tell me able differences and changes. '' to go, I'm not gonna go They talk about

Perhaps those who will be affected m?st surplussing, but rm noping that someone by the budget cuts are LPS empl~yees. Lm- will find a way where things are kept intact coln Public Schools, one of the third-largest - and rm optimisticthat that could happen. employers in Lincoln, has a staff of 6,500em- I think what they turned in was the worstployees. In the high schoolsalone, there are 32 case scenario,and I'm hoping that that's the administrators, 755 teachers, 111 custodians, case and no teachers are 1ost." He was later 81 food service workers, 86 office staff -~em- informed that he has been surplused. bers, 92 paraeducators, an~ 80 tec~rucia:is, The LPS District Office uses a point according to LPS records. Lincoln Hi~h Pnn- system to determine how much is cut cipal Dr. Mike Wortn_lanann?~ced a staff from each school. The number of points a meeting that 14 full time positions will be cut school has is based on student enrollment, at Lincoln High. 11µ-oughoutthe district, the school building size, and student mobility, LPS teaching staff could possibly be reduced as well as the number of free and reduced by 80 full time positions,but the exact number lunch students, limited English proficiency _,,,,,,".

ill students' spedal Education stud en ts/ and gifted students enrolled, according to LPS. Schools use their points to "establish relative class sizes, allocate paraeducators, determine the type and number of specialists needed, adjust their priorities in tlie face of

ean Loss in Staff, asses

student growth, accommodate reduction in student numbers, and absorb overall budget reductions."

Lincoln High had a high number of cuts, as well as fewer points allocated to it, partially because of the change in projected student enrollment. So far, 1,751 students have expressed interest in attending Lincoln High next year. That number shows a 12% decrease from this year's enrollment, or a decrease of approximately 240 students. A student survey revealed that 91.3%of those who responded intend to stay at Lincoln High. Many students indicated that their reasons for leaving included stricter rules and less freedom at lunch, but just as many students cited family relocation or having more friends at another school as their reasons.

The smaller number of students equals almost a mathematically proportionate reduction, percentage-wise, in the number of staff, according to Wortman. "That seems mathematically logical that it makes sense," he said, but "it hurts worse to reduce staff ... because when you're reducing, you need a certain number [of staff]. Twelve percent of staff is a lot of staff for a reduction of 12% of students, and when you reduce 12%of your staff,you can't continue to do all of the things you did before."

"[There are] probably two things that will be the most noticeable [to students next year]. One is, there'll be some classesthat we won't be able to offer that are smaller classes In almost every department there are some classeslike that. The second piece of it is, the classes we do offer will probably be a little bigger. We've had to increase the maximums in those," Wortman said. In previous years, the cutoff for the minimum number of stu-

dents in a class was 15 - next year, it will be 20. If fewer than 20 students have expressed interest in a class, it either won't be offered or will be combined with another class. It's not clear at this point which department has lost the greatest number of classes; however, it is known that one foreign language, Chinese, will be cut entirely due to the lack of student interest. The maximum number of students per classin all classeswill increase by two to five students, The result will be fewer classes that have more students in them, as well as more limited course offer• mgs

"As a teacher at Lincoln High seeing what's happening throughout the building, I see it as something that isn't easy for anyone ... and you can talk to the school board, and they are struggling. I mean, no one is getting any joy out of this, and that's what's the most depressing. No one, in my opinion, wants this to happen The reality, for a number of reasons, is that it is happening, and so the question is, well then what do we do with this? And so, if you're talking about budget cuts, the board's going to have to figure out where those cuts are, and nothing will be easy," Maly said. Echoing his statement, LPS School Board member Jim Garver told the Journal-Star, "These are dark clouds over the public schools' horizon. We're regretful of that. But these are tough times."

Lincoln's public school students and staff will need to weather the budget storms next year with patience and understanding. Despite all of the bad news, however, one victim of the money-saving axe may provide students with a glimmer or happiness: Homeroomwill no longerbe a part of our Wednesdaymornings.

Earth Dav: Same Celebration, Different Date

By7,reljolm, NewsE.ditor

If you're planning on celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, you're a month late. While most of us grew up learning about the April 22nd Earth Day - the one celebrated around the country, the one chock full of picnics, recycling, and family hikes - very few of us know about the March Earth Day. The Original Earth Day.

In 1970 John McConnell saw a dream come true. Since the 1950s he had worked tirelessly to create an Earth Day, a day of global peace and unity. Not only did he feel that humanity needed to care about the planet more, but he felt that we needed to care about each other more as well. The date of March 21st was set as the kick-off date, as it was the Vernal Equinox. The Vernal Equinox was chosen by McConnell because he felt that the unity of day and night present during that day was a powerful symbol for both Earth's power, and for the peace he hoped to obtain. It's also

the first day of spring, a reminder of our planet's potential for rebirth and growth. The Original Earth Day was proclaimed in San Francisco on March 21st, with the United Nations accepting McConnell's Earth Day proposal. To this day the United Nations celebrates Earth Day by ringing a bell at the beginning of the Vernal Equinox.

. During that same year, California Senator Gaylord Nelson also declared an Earth Day. His Earth day originated out of what was originally part Vietnam War protest and part environmental awareness, initially called Environmental Teach-In Day. According to McConnell, when he mentioned his idea for Earth Day at an Ecological Conference in December, Senator Nelson heard the name and attached it to his own event. Today we celebrate what some have dubbed Earth Day 2 on April 22nd - ·the anniversary of Gaylord Nelson's event.

McConnell feels cheated by this turn of events. According to essays pu l;:>lished on his website

(www.earthsite.org), Nelson "stole'' the name Earth Day from him turning what was meant to encourage world f eace and unity into a political too. Nelson supporters have yet to respond to McConnell's claims.

While there may be squabbles over the name Earth Day itself, McConnell does not complain about a second Earth Day. His beef, he claims, is with them blatantly stealing his name. He does not mind a second day devoted to Earth-friendly activities and world unity. Instead, he applauds the notion.

In the end, of course, it doesn't matter which Earth Day you celebrate, it just matters what you do with the one you have. So if you missed Earth Day 1 in March, be sure to get involved in Earth Day 2. Ecology Club will be sponsoring a trash cleanup picnic the Saturday following Earth Day here at Lincoln High starting at 10:30 am. And if you'd rather enjoy our planet on the 22nd, just Reuse, Recycle, and Relax, by enjoying our beautiful outdoors as well as helping keep them that way.

.er,

Do0

ByNickVaske WebE.ditor

This summer, from July 4 to August 6, Julia Doerr, a Lincoln High English teacher, will stay in Nottingham, England, to take part in a seminar on the Historical Interpretation of the Industrial Revolution in Britain.

The seminar, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, will be a five-week focus on the Industrial Revolution in England from around 1750 to 1850. The director of the seminar is Gerard M. Koot, a professor of British and Modern European History at Dartmouth. Fifteen school teachers and education professionals, including Doerr, will take part in the seminar. "British Literature has always been my favorite part of English," Doerr said. "It's what I have my concentration and my major in. Though it's a history seminar, mostly, it's an area that I am limited in my knowledge of and I wanted to fill in that gap a little bit. When I teach people like Charles Dickens

Five

and the romantic poets, their work include an introductory text, some pois directly related to the Industrial etry, Hard Times by Charles Dickens, and Revolution." five 20th century historical studies. The

The plans for the seminar have total reading will consist of about 1300 already been arranged, including the pages. "I haven't started on it," Doerr reading list, group sessions, and field said. "I've probably read some of the trips. poems already. I did go out

"There was a time and buy the Dickens novel that I thought the and I intend to open it any Industrial Revolution day novy." was probably the most

During the five weeks, boring thing you could the group will be visiting study about English historical sites and musehistory," Doerr said. urns in England. They will "But I'm seeing more """''" first be visiting the Frameand more that it had work Knitters museum in such an effect on so Ruddington, which is an many different aspects industrial village complex. of English society and The second trip will be to history that it's going Lincoln Hig~ English Ironbridge Gorge, where to be a pretty cool thing eacher ulia Doerr the world's first iron bridge to study about. I won't even mind the was built and still stands. The third day field trips to textile plants and iron trip will be to Richard Arkwright's 1771 bridges. It'll all be something new mill in Cromford, England, the site of and pretty interesting." the world's first successful water-pow-

The reading for the seminar will ered cotton spinning mill. The fourth excursion will be to the Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, wbich includes the world's oldest extant passenger railroad station.

Finally, the group will make a threeday trip to Yorkshire and the Northeast to st1,1dy mining, early railroads and steel making. They will be visiting the novelist D. H. Lawrence's birthplace and the National Mining Museum and will tour a mining pit with retired mineworkers. The trip will also include visits to England's first railway line and the oldest surviving railroad bridge, a lead mining site and museum, and an open air museum that houses many Industrial Era buildings and sites.

Most of the five weeks will be spent at the University of Notthingham, where the participants will be staying in private dorm rooms, as well as the room where they will be meeting. They will also be offered breakfast and lunch and other group meals.

The group will meet daily between Sundays and Thursdays, taking trips on Wednesdays, and will have Fridays and

Saturdays to explore Nottingham and England.

People interested in the seminar filled out an application and wrote an essay describing their interest in the seminar's subject as well as their qualifications. "They list several choices of seminars and you only get to apply to one, you have to pick." Doerr said. "I looked at several." She wrote a "lighthearted" essay about why it is important for teachers to refresh themselves over the summer, "as far as their academic pursuits are concerned." Participants can send for information from the coordinator of any seminars that they are interested in. After she saw the information from three or four different ones, she decided the Industrial Revolution was the most interesting and applicable to her teaching.

Each applicant also included two letters of recommendation. John Heineman, the English Department chair at LHS, and Pat Friesen, the District English Consultant for LPS, wrote recommendations for Doerr. Selected applicants were notified by April 1st and also received a stipend of $3,250 for expenses in England, including room and board, food, and any personal plans. All of the travel for field trips is covered by NEH.

To prepare for her trip, Doerr said she would be doing some of tl1e reading ahead of time. "I'll want to sit down and plan something that I want to do," Doerr said. "I'll go a couple of days early and probably stay in London for a couple of days before I go up to Nottingham." She plans on using the internet to find some activities to do, or maybe play tickets.

"I'm starting to get pretty excited. I'm sure I'll bring back a lot of new knowledge, and I'm hoping that it will be a refreshing kind of thing," Doerr said. She has already been to England three times, and to other places in Europe such as Italy and Austria. "Every time I go to Europe I bring back new experiences and information that I can share with my students. I'm sure I'll learn a lot. I have a lot to learn."

How Far Is Too Far?

The truth is,two-thirds of sexually active teens regret their initial sexual activity and wish they had waited. Why? There are over 1.2 million teenage pregnancies in the U.S.each year. For every pregnant teen, there are 10 who get an STD.Sex has physical, emotional, spiritual and social consequences.

Tea,n

Neelf\min t>pinionF..ditor

It was another great year for Lincoln High' s DECAteam at state, which was held March 18th to March 20th at the Cornhusker hotel in Lincoln. Seniors Joseph Manglitz and Mitchel Memming finished first in the event of Sports and Entertainment Marketing. The win allowed them to qualify for the national competition in Nashville, Tennessee, but they aren't able to go due to the fact that their sporting events interfere with it and they can't go without each other. "I am very disappointed as an advisor because they could have won at nationals in Orlando, Florida," said DECA sponsor Trudy Hines, who believes this to be true because of last year's team being second in the nation.

Joseph and Mitchell weren't the only ones that did well at state. Junior Maddy Biggs finished in the top 20 in Quick Serve Restaurant Management. Senior Brandon Meyers finished ninth in Business Ser-

at State,

• vices. It is just an accomplishment to place

group of students, who are excited about competing. She expects that there will be in state because of the number of people who participate in the state competition, which is about one thousand. The team was just able to send eighteen people to state compared to last year's thirty-five, but this is due to bad timing for the competition, which fallson the first weekend of spring break.

The eighteen state participants competed in numerous events including Business Services, Full Service Restaurant, Retail Merchandising, Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Travel and To~m, Hospitality; and Quick Seniors Mitchell Memming Service Res~urants. and Joseph Manglitz display Mrs. Hines, who is in her their DECA State awards. twenty-first year of being advisor, Photo by Trudy Hine is proud of the performance the

more participants next year due to • • the increase In marketing classes. DECA's season starts in September and lasts through April. They meet only two to three times a month because most of the preparation form the comes marketing class itself. The curriculum for marketing has DECAin mind, so it requires fewer meetings.

The way that team gave at state. She believes the team will do remarkably next year due to a good core they prepare for their events is by taking multiple-choice tests and solving case prob-

to

lems on their events. Add that with a little hard work, you have a team that is ready for state competition.

DECA does more than prepare for competitions, which mostly involves giving back to the school. "We market things, things for Lincoln High," sums up Mrs. Hines about the extra work DECA puts in for the school. They sell t-shirts to Lincoln High fans for sports such as football and basketball. They help to plan and run the Back to School Bash, which they might not have next year due to the lack of funds. DECA along with Student Council plan to bring back a tradition that was stopped about ten years ago and that is Brown Bag Lunch day. It will occur on May 14th and will include a double lunch period that day.

DECA finished another great season, maybe not as well as last year, but still a good year. They were able to have four people place out of eighteen and even two first place finishes. DECA finished great and hope to finish even better next year come

ew .es 1..,0

_____ ByNeel~min____ _

OpinionE.ditor

Pictureit. Youare at a LincolnHigh football game and it is halftime.You are ready to see the band and the Pomalinks perform. Scratch that image because next year the Pomalinks won't be doi?g the color guard for the band. Instead, a specralgroup calledthe Color Guard has been created to do this. This new group has taken a big load off of the Pomalinks,which will allow the Pomalinksto have more time to prepare for dance competitions.

The issue of the Pomalinks no longer doing the flag routines for the Lincoln High band has been brought up many times. The Pomalinks were forced to spend a great deal of time preparing for the flag routines, and it was actually hurting the amount of time they had to practicedance routines. They would end up having to meet on Sundays to practicetheir dance routines, which decreased their time to · do school work. Like many of the sport teams, the Pomalinkshave to maintain a certainGPAin order to compete,which shows the importance for less practice time.

All of this helped lead to the creation of the Color Guard, but it isn't the only reason. The band was told by professionalsand judges that if they wanted to compete on the national level, they would need a larger Color Guard. SponsorsDan Ehlyand TerryRush believedthat a good Color Guard would enhance the music by providing the visual aspect through visual impact by using a combination of flag, dance, and marching routines. Since the Pomalinks no longer wanted to be the Color Guard, auditions were held for the creation of a new Color

• es Duu

Guard.

"We are excited about having a Color Guard because we haven't had one in about eighteenyears,"said Ehly,showiI1gthe enthusiasm that he had when deciding to create a new Color Guard.

The next step for the sponsors, Dan Ehly and Terry Rush, was to decide on how they would go about selectinga new Color Guard. They ended up deciding to bring in a professionalwho would help teach the applicantsthe skillsthat are required to be in Color Guard.

On the finalday of auditions,which were held between March8th and 12th , they had the actual tryouts, where they chose 23 people who they thought would succeed next year.

The new Color Guard will have the duty of performingat every halftimeduring Lincoln , High footballgames. They will take part in the marchingband competitionsthat are held during the month of October. The Color Guard will even march along with the band at the Star City Holiday Parade. There is even the possibilitythat the team will perform during halftime at LincolnHigh basketballgames.

The important thing to note is that with the creation of the Color Guard, there will be more opportunities to participatein schoolactivities.Mr.Ehly put it best when he said,"Not only will it allow more people to be involved, but it will allow the band to be even more successful."Students will now have the choiceof becoming part of the Color Guard and helping to contribute to the school. More students feelinggood about contributingto their school will help to build the school's morale, which makes Color Guard a valuable addition.

$200 off on

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How Far Is Too Far?

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By MarandaFreeman BusinessManager

For those of you who love to listen to Big Band music, listen up! Nationally known Bobby Layne and his Orchestra are going to be at the Pia Mor Ballroom (6600 West "O" St.) on Saturday, May 1st at 6:45 pm. And for those of you who don't know who Bobby Layne is, our very own Lincoln High band will be performing in addition to Layne. There will also be Trudy Du May to accompany Layne with her singing. And if Lincoln High and two nationally known musicians aren't enough of a good thing, the Pia Mor Ballroom is going to give students, parents, and friends from Lincoln High a $9 .00 discount. Bring your cameras because Bobby Layne may choose some musicians from LHS to play with his band. Bobby Layne was born in

Waverly, Nebraska in 1933. He bought his first trumpet as a freshman in high school, and joined the band the next year. In two years of playing, he moved up to the first chair. Layne served eight years in the 43rd Army Band as the official bugler for military funerals. In the 1960's, he began to play other instruments for his own band because of player shortages. His band was starting to become well known all over Nebraska. Layne has worked with several celebrities, including Bob Hope, Bob Newhart, Myron Floren, and the Lawrence Welk cast. Layne has had several articles written about him and he has produced a few albums. He also received awards for "Best Band," "Outstanding Performance," and "Excellence in Modern Music."

Tall A11d

By Benl\athol ____

Down the Law Makes Taking

a$sault Vaughn. He then searches the town is to become sheriff himself,

F..ntertainmentE.ditor for justice at the sheriff station but and casts Ray Templeton (Johnny

Though predictable, Walking Tall finds none as he is told the casino Knoxville) as his deputy.

surprised me due to the decent act- is the only thing keeping the town This remake of a 1970' s original, ing by not so decent actors. which starred Joe Don Baker

Johnny Knoxville playing and Elizabetl:t Hartman, was Ray Templeton and The !l corny but still managed to Rock as Chris Vaughn both •wZ· •.·· · keep me entertained for an played their parts well, as hour and a half. The acting both roles were believable. was surprisingly decent. Jay The Rock plays a man (Knoxville) was cast perfectly named Chris Vaughn, who for his role as a recovering alreturns to his hometown coholic hick. I was also pleasafter finishing his service in the U.S. Army to find his old town overrun by drugs and gambling. He finds that the owner of the casino is an old acquaintance, Jay Hamilton (played by Neal McDonough). He also finds that the casino has

antly surprised that The Rock didn't talk like he was on an episode of Smack Down. This enabled him to keep what little respect he had. This movie was ., written by Brian Koppelman, !11(:who looked to have the intelrr1.I'ligence of a third-grader, as its :=,~@#' corrupted the town and it ,\i!:ldialogue was cheesier than The

Goonies, or an episode of Full drove the former source of ·.•.

'111ifHouse. It kept me, the viewer, rev~nue, the sawmill, out of Chris Vaughn played.by The Ro~~'ieanson his Sherif;;~ entertained, which was good business. ruck in the MGM re-production of the 1973 blockbust- enough to earn 1 1/2 out of

The Rock ruins the ca- er Walking Tall. five stars. Don't expect to see sino, breaking mirrors, walls

Photo Courtesy of movies.yahoo.com director Kevin Bray receiving and slot machines, with a any awards anytime soon, but cedar 4 x 4 that becomes his trade- alive. After finding that the sheriff with its combinations of laughs and mark. The crooked casino security department is also corrupt, Vaughn action, Walking Tall didn't fail to guards seek revenge and proceed to finds that the only way to correct entertain.

By JacobMiller ----E.ditor-ln-Chief

For all movie-goers looking for a movie with good acting, but a predictable ending, Taking Lives might be for you. Starring Angelina Jolie and Ethan Hawke, the acting was convincing, but the story line, which at times was a little predictable, wasn't as good.

In the movie, Jolie is called in to help solve a murder in Toronto. During the investigation, Jolie interviews the only witness to the murder, played by Hawke. Hawke then plays a key role in the attempt to find the suspected killer. During the investigation, Jolie and her associates begin to conne ct the alleged killer to more unsolved murders in history. The killer is believed to have taken over the lives of everyone he has ever killed, dating back to the 1970's, the date of his first killing.

Throughout the movie, the investigators try to think ahead of the killer in an attempt to find him, a process that the characters find difficult.

The actors in movie were very impressive, especially Jolie and Hawke. It's just that the story line holds them back. The intentions were to create a suspense movie that surprises, but the writers failed for the most part. The only part of the movie that was actually surprising was the very end of the movie. The first hour or so was predictable and moved slow at times. If you've seen at least one suspense-thriller in your life, you could probably name what is going to happen next in the movie, which makes it very disappointing. If the movie had featured lesser actors, it would have been downright terrible:, but Jolie, Hawke, and Co. carry the movie, making it watchable, and a little enjoyable. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of five.

o Seniors afe From ri 0 Senioritis

Denial ofIts Existenceby .LHS AdministrationCoulcfLeadto UnforeseenDangers

doors and hallways, and no senior And no offense to the underclass- jury as well as cuts to his face. is safe from its grasp. The most dan- men, but seeing 14-year-olds play Obviously, the deranged stugerous disease known to those who freeze tag in the hallway is just an- dents were so corrupted by the dishave not yet passed twelfth grade other reason I can't wait to get out of ease that they were driven to the has officially infested Lincoln High here. I'm getting older by the minute, point of violent physical assault. School : close to moving out on my own, and I can just imagine the horror, Senioritis is known to dramatical- these tiny people are running around the vicious seniors foaming at the ly reduce class attendance with light- my feet yelling, "YOU'RE IT!" That mouth as they gleefully attack a ing speed, drag GPA' s to an all-time sledgehammer would be so handy poor IHOP manager. low, and mysteriously extend every about now... Similar incidents have occurred flight of stairs in the contaminated It all just seems so wrong. Only all over the country, and something area. a few short months away from in- must be done to prevent this brutal-

By CmrieTodd Asst.FeatureE.ditor

It startea slowly, creeping up like a lion waiting to maul its prey. A few students trudged the halls with glazed eyes, homework assignments were completely discarded, and seniors seemed to forget that their 24minute Juice Stop run on Wednesday mornings was not actually supposed to be a breakfast break

I only wish this were as bad as it got, but these are telltale symptoms of a horrendous and potentially lethal disease: Senioritis.

It has spread to epidemic proportions, and one by one, LHS students are succumbing to its almighty power.

One may discover that walking dependence and complete freedom ity among Lincoln High students. from 1st floor to 3rd suddenly takes from parental rules, we seniors must Just let us out now. Seriously, 20 minutes. Ailing seniors may also continue to get our planners signed other students shouldn't have to find that their nearly empty backpack to use the potty fear disturbed seniors on the verge now feels like it contains a solid steel Loud, agitating bells dictate when of completely snapping. sledgehammer, and many of these we come and when we leave, and Smaller schools have already students are disappointed to find in case we haven't yet learned to taken proper precautions by letting that they are not, in fact, carrying a tell time, there's always that certain their seniors out up to two weeks sledgehammer, which is a potentially someone in a red jacket pacing the earlier than younger students, but useful tool for relieving one's agony. halls to remind us that we only have it looks like LPS may wait until it's

You'd think that with five classes, two minutes. too late to give seniors the early diszero homework (that actually gets And for those of you who think missal they so desperately need. done), and a 12:30 dismissal, most Senioritis is an illness feigned by By mid-April, Senioritis has alseniors could easily ride it out until lazy kids who just want an excuse ready spread throughout the school, graduation. But that's just the prob- for skipping class, there is now solid and with nearly two months left, lem We've come to realize that se- proof that this disease can lead teens it has more than enough time to nior year is more or less a complete to do the unthinkable. wreak havoc on Lincoln High. waste of time, making our few hours In Memphis, about 50 high school Some school administrators try spent in school that much more un- students gathered to eat breakfast at to play off Senioritis as an imaginary bearable. IHOP on Senior Skip Day. Senioritis or exaggerated ailment, but they

Some infected students will be The view outside from the class- had taken such a hold of them that, obviously haven't seen the crazed struggling to gasp for air, come June room windows is just a reminder that after trying to leave without paying looks in some students' eyes ~· 4 th • Tragically, many others will not the sun is shining, the birds are chirp- their bill, five seniors proceeded to - - Just wait. make it that long. ing, the flowers are blooming, and all beat the restaurant manager. And if anything, say, crazy, The invisible fungal slime is you can do is pray that someone pulls The manager was forced to visit should occur, we have only Senioriquickly seeping through classroom the fire alarm. the hospital, and suffered a head in- tis to blame.

One Day of Freedom. Necessary For Oppressed Seniors

:

· · I an~ cannot do. It's also a chance for Seniorsthisyearreallyfeelimpris- clas~ Other students th~t cannot

By Travis-Shippen NewsE.ditor

It's that time again seniors, time to mark another important day on your calendar: Senior Skip Day. It's a tradition that goes back in time as 1 far as anyone can imagine. It is the one day that seniors are free to do as they wish without the administrators bugging them about what they can

seniors to prepare for Prom. oned at Lincoln High, and being that participate are athletes with games Senior Skip Day, as it is well- it is our last year, we want to have a that week because they cannot miss known throughout all, is one of the year just like all of the past seniors class .es or they will not be allowed last events seniors have to participate have had. Sure, some teachers may try to participate in the games they in before they graduate and prepare to stop us by assigning tests for that have for that week. This is unfair to go to college As seniors we should day that cannot be made up if you're to many students who can't skip on be allowed the right to one free day. not there, but is that really going to the day. Which brings me to another After the hard work we have put into stop seniors from skipping on senior interesting point: Why can't we just high school for 4 years, trying to get skip day? have that one day that we ask for, good grades and accomplishing all "Seniors are going to do whatever when some other schools allow their our requirements, we need and de- they want on Senior Skip Day, that seniors to get out of school many serve that day , especially after this is what it is there for," senior Mike days or a week before the other stuyear. Everyone says you will always Showalter said. dents? remember your senior year and the All seniors have to do is have We should be allowed our one day, good times; these good times so far their parents call them in and they it'snotlikewe'reaskingforaweek. The this year have been new rules, and can be excused without being counted Administration just doesn't want to give less rights as students. We should truant. However, this will affect stu- usanythingthatwouldgiveusanysort finish this year with a time that we dents with absence problems. Due to of freedom to do as we please. They will remember as the most fun time of the fact that students are not com- have controlled every thing that we our lives by doing something that we pletely excused, it will show up as have done so far this year, and we as want to do, and not something that is an absence and add to the minimum seniors should not allow them to control required of us. a student can have and still pass a our last chance to enjoy being seniors.

ore Bu . .uts owS

are endless, etc. And then our government goes and sends us mixed signals. Instead of finding something else to cut, or even better, finding new ways to make money, the state decided to cut from our schools. Teachers we needed were cut. Supplies that students need have been cut. From now on, classes are going to be huge. More than thirty people in most classes.

It all adds up to a horrible environment to learn in. Sure, most will fight through and find a way. And the good teachers that still remain will find ways to make sure students learn what they

ByJacobMiller___

F.ditor-in-Chief

~_ need. But does it even matter anymore? ,

These will probably not be the last cuts, Good thing I'm graduating. I don't even though I have doubts that there is want to be around here next year when the anything left to be cut. effects of more budget cuts cause students What more of these budget cuts are to be in classes with as many as 30 students. doing is a disservice to everyone. If we I don't want to be around this place when students are truly the future, then that money restraints mean even fewer teach- future looks bleak. With the idea of ers, classes, and supplies. thinking on your own already replaced School is supposed to be a safe ha- by standardized tests, learning will soon ven for kids. We've been taught that an be extinct. It's very unrealistic to think education is invaluable and will lead you that most students will be able to learn to bigger things in life. All throughout just as well in a classroom that is packed school, the same message is pounded to the door. into our head. Take advantage of this. What is more realistic to think is that The teachers are great, the opportunities students will certainly struggle in super-

ents e

sized classrooms.

All of this raises serious questions about the competency of the people running the state and city. There has to be, HAS to be, somewhere else to take money from. With how much politicians everywhere love to spend, there are certainly places to take money from. Schools should be the last thing that money is taken from. This is definitely not a good sign for our population.

Hey citizens of Nebraska! If you think the people that lead you now are clueless, just wait until we hit the streets. We'll be making laws with no point. Spending money we don't have will be extreme. Maybe someone will do something like erect an arch over a stretch of interstate near Kearney. Wait, I forgot, someone else beat me to the punch on that one. Looking back on it now; I'm sure making that arch would still be the right decision, instead of spending carefully in case we would run out of money someday. If the state was going to build something, why wouldn't they build something that could end up making money? Most people driving through the middle of the state are looking to get away, not sit around looking at some arch.

There are plenty of cases where the

state and city could have saved mone just being fiscally responsible.

Was there ever a reason to give parting LPS Superintendent Dr. Phil Schoo a pay raise after he announced his retirement? What was the reasoning behind that? Or how about when state senators decided to give themselves raises a couple of years back, without every asking the public? Time after time, money has been blown and now students and teachers are going to be among those that suffer the consequences.

What's become more and more evident is that schools and children aren't that much of a priority.

No Child Left Behind? Please, every child, everywhere is left back. Our federal government is trying to send things to Mars, but they can't give more money to schools? There has to be a way for things to work out. ff there are billions to spend on outei; space fantasies, then there can be money for schools.

I wish that I could promise changes in the future. I wish that I could assure people that someday schools will become a priority again, not just an unkept promise made by politicians looking for election.

Unfortunately the way things look, nothing will change.

'S

By JaoobMiller E.ditor-in-Chief

Coming into the 2004 Boys Soccer season, no one expected the Links to make much of an

another with Southwest a couple of days later.

The opener against the Rockets was a defen-

ows Pro1nise

give the Links a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Memming scored one more time, giving him two for the day on his birthday, and the Links won the game 3-1, improving their record to 2-0.

The following week, the Links went on the road for the first time to play a Bellevue East team that had beaten the Links in districts last year, and that this year was one of the topranked teams in the state. This time the Links got the best of them as Fixter posted his second shutout of the year, and junior Ben Katt scored for the Links, giving them a 1-0 victory.

avid Frack (11) battles for the ball agains Norfolk defender on April 15th.

A couple of nights later, the Links headed west to square off against Grand Island The Islanders came into the game winless, and after the Links left town, they were still winless. A great defensive effort, led by Co-Captain Jared Wadell and Fixter, held the Islanders scoreless Senior Tanner

That undefeated season wouldn't last for much longer, though, when the Links lost 3-2 to the Columbus Discoverers. A goal each from Memming and junior Ben Katt couldn't defeat the Discoverers, as they took 21 shots on goal.

The Links' next game looked a lot more intimidating against the fifth ranked Southeast Knights. Senior Eric Rose scored an early goal for the Links, and heading into half-time, the score was 1-1. Late in the game, Memming, with his red hair "glorified in shine," scored to give the Links a 2-1 victory over the Knights and up the Links record to 5-1 early in the season.

At 5-1, plenty of people are beginning to take notice of the Links.

own goal to tie the game, but that wouldn't remain for long when junior Thien Kieu scored to Hamby scored for the Links to give them a 1-0 victory. The Links were 4-0 at that point of the season.

Photo by Travis Shippen

[r(J g

By TinaWilson _____ team. In one of this year's first meets, Arps in the 1600, At the Grand Island Invite on been involved with track for 5 years. Her PhotoE.ditor finished second in the 55-meter dash and April 10, Hatch finished first in the 800. main goals for the season are to finish the

With the addition of Lincoln North Star third in the 200.

On the girls' side, the key athletes season in good standing and try to make this year, the LincolnHigh ,Track team is feel- Amin has been involved with Lincoln to watch are seniors Tanya Warren, Riki it over 5 ft in the high jump, "I have been ing the impact of players changing schools. High track for 3 years. He participates in Klabenes, Lisa Schiffbauer, Danielle Meny- workingtomakeitpastthe5feetmarksince Many of last year's participants are now their the pole vault, In the Devaney meet, Amin, weather, and juniors Miranda and Nicole my freshman year, I hope I can see this goal opponents, and although the loss was hard no heighted and finished 6th at the Grand Hruska. met by the end of the season, " Schiffbauer in many areas, Lincoln High still has many Island Inivte. As a senior, Amin looks to First up, providing strong leadership said. In her first meet this season, Schiffkey athletes. provide strong leadership to the other and experience, Warren, a track participant bauer only competed in the high jump and

On the guys' side, the ones to watch are Lincoln pole vaulters and wants to work for 4 years. Warren, participates in the 4xl, made it only to 48 feet. seniors, Chadd Stutheit, Chris Arps, Ryan on his mental game. His main goals for the 100 and the 200. On the junior side, the girls to look for Blahak, Deep Amin, Curlis Coatman, and season include going to state, reaching a

Another senior leading the girls is are the Hruska twins. Miranda participates Jarod Gilmore and junior Chris Hatch. height between 13'6" and 15'1". captain Menyweather. Menyweather par- in the triple jump and pole vault. Nicole First up, Stutheit has been a track par- Coatman, a returning letter winner ticipates in the 100,200, 4xl and the long participatesinthehighjumpandpolevault ticipant for 4 years. He runs in the 100, 200, for his fourth year, participates in the long jump. Menyweather hopes that the girls They tied for first in the pole vault at the 4xl00, and the 4x400 events. His goals for the and triple jumps, 4xl, 4x4, and the 400. As team finishes well and wants to provide the Devaney meet. season this year include running the 200 in well as providing leadership for his team, younger girls with great leadership. This year seems to be a great chance for 21.5 seconds. He would also like to see the Coatman looks to be an active leader and Adding some experience from the the Links track team to dominate. Despite 4x100 make it into the top two at state. In the make it to state and have a good finish to throwing perspective is Klabenes. Klabenes the loss of many key participants to Lincoln first meet this season, Stutheit finished first in his high school track career. In the meets has been a track participant for 4 years. Kla- North Star, both the girls and guys track the 200. Stutheit is one of this year's captains so far this season, Coatman has finished in benes participates in the discus, but can no teams look to make a difference. along with Blahak, Hatch and Gilmore the high rankings with the 4xl. longer participate in the shot put because Currently the Journal Star and Omaha Blahak, a state champion in the triple Gilmore, participates in the discuss of a shoulder injury. In her first meet of the World Herald have the guys track team jump last year, has been participating in track and shot put. He has been a member of season, Klabenes finished in fourth place at ranked in fifth place. It will be interesting to for 4 years and participates in the triple and the Lincoln High Track team for 4. At the the Grand Island Invite. see if they will climb higher in the rankings, long jumps and the 4x4. Blahak's main goals Grand Island Invite, Gilmore finished in Schiffbauer, a participant in the 300 and if our girls team makes an appearance for the season include working hard and second place in the discus. hurdles, high jump, 4x4, and pole ·vault has in the top ten. making another run to state. At the Grand Hatch has been involved with track for •illVi~.;:;,;m

Island Invite, Blahak finished first in the triple 3 years. He participates in the 4x4, 400, 800, jump with a leap of 44 feet and 6 1/2 inches. 1600 events. Last year, Hatch was a part He also finished first in the long jump with of the relay team that went to the Kansas a 21-41/2 effort. Relays. Hatch, a strong leader as a junior, Arps, a participant in track now for his looks to provide some leadership as a jusecond year, is a participant in the 100, 4xl, nior, and finish in the top places at meets200, long jump, 4x4. Last year Arps proved this season. In the first meet of the season, to be a pivotal part of the Lincoln High track the LPS Indoor Invite, Hate._hfinished first

ew _oac es, ewTeam Lea Lin Baseoa Team

By TinaWilson PhotoF..clitor

We are now in the fourth quarter of the school year. This means spring sports are in full "swing." This year's baseball season got kicked off on Thursday, March 25, 2004.

For the Links' season opener, they faced off against the Rams from Gorham, Maine. They played a tough game, and fought to take the lead the whole time. The Links ended up winning their season opener. "It was fun playing against a team that we knew nothing about, it was a great season opener," junior Max Hubka said.

This game was a first for the new Lincoln High Head Coach Todd Sandberg. Sandberg coached the JVt~am for Lincoln Southwest last y:ea_rand made the ~move. .to coach Lincoln High to replace former head coach Stan Haas. Sandberg has been a college assistant coach for four years, ,one at Doane as pitching coach and three at Nebraska Wesleyan as the outfielders coach. "I am very excited about being the LHS coach. I played for LHS from 1987-1990and was the varsity assistant two years before Southwest opened," Sandberg said.

It seems as if the players on Sandberg' s team are just as excited to have him. "Personally, I love the new coaching staff," junior Derec Schmidgall said. "The coaches are young and we (the players) can relate with them easier. Sandberg is probably one of the best varsity coaches we ever had, he has great game management and knows how to handle adversity."

The Links next venture was to play Lincoln East. The Links set out on a mission, but fell short. Despite scoring four runs in the 5th inning, the Links fell to the Spartans, 7-5.

Orl Tuesday, March 30 the Links headed

on their first road trip to face off against Norfolk in a double header. In the games against Norfolk, the Links were lead by great pitching performances from junior Jacob Brokaw and senior Lance Grell. Grell, pitched a two-hitter the second game. The Links ended up having a total of 10 errors in the two games, and ended up losing both games. The final scores for the games were, 7-2; 3-2.

Off of three losses to East and Norfolk, the Links headed out on April 1 to play another doubleheader against __.!_ 1 UfiCOln 1'1.US-A ana Beatrice. In the first game against Pius, the Links fought hard trying to pull out of a large run by the Thunder- \

bolts, but ended up losing, 18-4. "We just dtdn' t come out ready to play. We came out lazy like we didn't want to be there,"

On April 3 the Links headed out to face off against Omaha Bryan and Omaha North in another double header. In the first game against Omaha Bryan, Hubka started the Links off with excellent pitching. Despite Bryan scoring a few runs, the Links continued to battle back and match them up. "We had some very productive innings, and we just kept responding to their hits;' Schmidgall said.

'The Links I ended the · game with ' a 14-13 win.

i In the secI ond game, against

game beating the Silverhawks 5-4. In the second game, the Links refused to give up with out a fight. Throughout the game the Links thought they would grasp the win, but they would eventually take the game into extra innings. Despite fighting the whole game, the Links lost 7-6."We had a lot of errors in the last inning and that is what killed us," Brokaw said.

The Links next out of town venture was to Omaha South on Wednesday, April 7. The Links lead by pitcher, junior Eric Hoffman defeated Omaha South 6-2. Some of the highlights of the game include, sophomore Trisden Williams going 2-2 at the plate with two RBI's and Schmidgall adding a two-run double.

0 mah a For the Links' first tournament of the r, y@m-1"t...~@,,.Li.n.Jc..s-pai:l.iGLpateo ~Lri~t.lte North

' the Links Star Tournament on Saturday, April 10. In dominated the first game, the Links faced off against all game. Lincoln Southwest for the third time that The Links week Despite playing a hard game, the played as a Links lost 17-5. In the second game, for team with a third and fourth place, the Links played lot of in ten- Lincoln North Star. Lead by pitcher, junior sity and ex- Chris Meskimen, the Links defeated the ecuted at the Navigators 20-3.

Senior Lance Grell pitches against Lincoln Southwest in the double header on April 5.

Grell said. In the second game, the Links came out prepared to win and make up for their loss against Pius. The Links pulled it out and ended up victorious, beating Beatrice 5-4. "The loss to Pius right before this game provided us a lot of motivation," Hubka said. "We knew we didn't want to go back out on the field and face another hard loss like the game before."

plate. With On Tuesday, April 13,the Links headed the help up to Millard South. The Links played a Hubka' s hard game, but ended up losing 14-0.

390 foot On Wednesday, April 14, the Links home run and two triples by Grell the played Papillion La-Vista. Despite having Links ended the game victorious with a a few good hits, the Links lost 11-1. 12-5 win. So far the Links baseball team are cur-

On April 5, the Links faced off against rently 7-8 and look to make an interesting Lincoln Southwest. In the first game, the and joyous end to their 2004 season. The Links played with a lot of intensity. The Links plan to improve as a team and hopekeys to success for this game was executing fully finish their season with at least 20 wins, at the plate and playing solid in the field. and hopefully a district championship. ' The Links ended up victorious in the first

Photo By Tina Wilson

In This Issue:

Festivus - pg 5

Prom- pg 8 - 9

The Crucible - pg 10

Parting Advice - pg 12

Varsity Track - pg 13

Varsity Soccer - pg 15

Sports Review - pg 16 •

LHS Observes50th Brown v. Board of Education

By LaReshiaWeaver -SportsF..ditor

1 am able to go to school today with kids of different colors and differe nt religions and many different back~ounds. Because people stood • up for what they believed in at all costs to make things right, I am able to learn and to be treated equally not because of the color of my skin but by the content of my character. I can repay the people who stood up for me and for everyone before me and ones who are going to come after me, by getting the best education possible to show others what they did so that the hard work can continue to be taken advantage of.

Fifty years ago a young woman by the name of Linda Brown stood up for what she believed in and changed American History forever. Linda Brown was a black girl attending third grade at the public school in Topeka, Kansas. She was denied admission into a white elementary school. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

(NAACP) took her case, along with learned about the same things. Mar- integrated, I just had to learn more. similar ones in Kansas, South Caro- tin Luther King, Jr. is on one page of Kids were so interested in learning lina, Virginia, and Delaware. All five our textbook and Rosa Parks is on the about the Civil Rights movement cases were argued in December of other. That is not only what the Civil that it carried on to being the proj1952 by Thurgood Marshall, a black Rights Movement was all about. ect of the year. Civil Rights CDs were lawyer who ran the NAACP. · I never really understood what made, and they had biographies and Brown v. Board of Education the purpose of Brown vs Board of stories on them about Civil Rights was the landmark case leaders and people who that resulted in the de- didn't get acknowledged segregation of public for their contribute to the schools. To this day struggle. The students we have Linda Brown made them to show that we to thank for standing didn't just read about Rosa up for what was right cM\j and Martin and Malcolm and making it pos- @;lBl; - my 6th grade class broke sible for all children, it down to show what it was no matter what their truly all about. race, to go to school ,to- This project led on gether. The landmark

to making it known that decision was made on L"

the Civil Rights Movement M 17 1954

R d ay , wasn JUS a ou osa an

The result of Photo courtesy www.pressrecord.com Martin. I t was about the Brown v. Board stated Ed t· t·l 1 th 6th way if affected and still is h . d'd . f . 1 uca

A

t at segregation 1 1n act v10 ate

t a ect1ng mer1ca to ay, not 1ust 1n gra

rom a pre om1nanthe 14th Amendment, which states, 1 h"t h 1 t th t d. the world but 1n the classroom. I be- " · y w 1 e sc oo 1n o e mos 1verse No state shall make or enforce any h 1 1 1 N b k _ Ell' tt l1eve that the study of something as I h h h 11 b .d h sc oo 1n 1nco n, e ras a 10 h c· .1 R' h M aw w 1c_ s a a_ r1 ge ! .e pr1v1- Elem en tar serious as t e ~v1 1g ts ovement leges or 1mmun1t1es of c1t1zens of I Y6th d 1 1 d should be continued all throughout n my gra e c ass we earne the United States; nor shall any state b t th c· 1Ri ht M t d the year. Learning about Brown v. a ou e 1v1 g s ovemen an deprive any person of life, liberty, II b t bl k h" t d h ·t Board of Education takes me back · . a a ou ac 1s ory, an w en 1 or property, without due process of t Bl k tt· t ·t d came o ac 1s ory 1 was assume !aw;_no: d~n~ to any person wi th in that I knew everything - that is what its JUr1sd1ct1on the • '

' """•· "

equal protection of the law." This meant that it was against the law that you be seg- ,w to learning in the 6th grade. I have not yet met the same standards of ,, , learning in any classroom more than I did in 6th grade. But I do continue to carry the knowledge of what I learned to others so i regat~d ftom a school !j~;\1 .,_ - · -··- · - ! "' ..;; · :,:,:nit==;, = that everyone knows how much this affects us. By showing this I have Linda Brown to thank, because without her I wouldn't because-· of religion !il:r 7 "'

,;//:

,: race, or •sex.

,1at

:::J,i:;:': Thurgood Mar- ;@h,. Ill shall, the lawyer for (,;,;i .: the NAACP, went '® on to become the • first African American Supreme Court have known. When I learned about Brown v. Board, it made me realize that I am here Justice. With segrega- ,·,x only because of the actions tion of public schools of the people in the past. declared unconstitu- . One of the things that I tional, segregation- This is a display in North hallway on first floor that was created question other students ists across the South y Criminal Justice teacher Bill Zuspan's 5th period class. It was about learning about the sprang into action to one for a Cable in the Classroom contest through Time Warner past is why they don't P revent · the imple- able. care. Reading and just Dhntn Q,, 1ac_obMiller mentation of public ' · ' v,v v unaerstana1ng wnat tnese school integration. I used to say just because I was black. , people went through will Brown v. Board of Education Brown v. Board of Education was show that we are here - every last had not only ch anged the life of the one of the first events from the Civil one of us - because they did what children living in struggle, but has Rights Movement that we learned was right, and it is only fair to pay changed the lives of everyone ahead about. After learning that this girl them back with your education. We of them, including me. Every year risked the lives of both herself and learn about our past so that we can that my class has studied the Civil her family and stood up for what she find where our futures lie and why Rights Movement, we've always believed in so that schools could pe they are here. Thanks, Linda.

.,

After that, they returned to class. There were some rumor problems. The wind was relentless, and it was a little ByNbu-YNgo ----Feature E.ditor

Spring has come, and in honor of such cold, but the student body found a way a wonderful season, Lincoln High decided to to enjoy celebrate. On May 14th DECA, in conjunction itself. with Student Council, sponsored an all-school Fe sbarbecue full of hot dogs and fun. The name tivus was Festivus, which was taken from a Seinfeld free to the episode, was given to the event. students,

Festivities included activities on the Lin- w i t h colnHigh campus. They ranged from blowing many fun bubbles and face painting to frisbee throwing • prizes for and a burping contest. The event was seen as them to a success by DECA and Student Council, who play with, both spent a total of $400on toys and prizes. e s p e -

There were some concerns that most stu- cially the dents, especially the upperclassmen, would popular

,ornative bands, the Aztechs offered a hip-hop flavor to the mix. Students could hang out with friends, play fun spring games, listen to some music, and, most importantly, eat. st ud en ts found the middleof-the-day break to be a sure remedy for the • growmg feeling of spring fever which

want to leave for their extended lunch, but a "splat to- S A Ch t 1 · · Do· n Ellis and seru·or ed. · th · bu chill eruor aron va a , 1un1or , lotof stu dents staY toenJoy ei:uce t Y matoes." imi Abebe participate in the hula hoop contest held comes with the end of every the school day. ''Ihopeenoughstudentsdeadeto"Create The cafe- th f t 1 M ry' ' (th DECAth r. this ) d also out on e ron awn. a emo e eme ior year an tena

Photo By Greg Keller stay so that we can do something similar next served L-----------------------' year "I year," DECA sponsor Trudy Hines said before food out- feel like the event. Some did leave to get food from side. a kid again," said Stacy McQueary (11). ''I outside vendors but came back to enjoy the Local bands Trial by Error, Aztechs, hope Festivus happens again next year." ~nvironment of fun. Periods were shortened, and American Revival supplied the enter-

T~shirtswere alsosold to promote Festiallowing for a longer lunch from 12:00to 1:34. tainment Different from the usual alter- vus. Selling for ten dollars a piece, they were

offered in many colors and had "Festivus for the Rest of Us" written on them.

Half of the proceeds from the sales will go to a scholarship fund for Camp Kitaki which, due to recent financial problems, turned to lHS StuCo for some ideas about fundraising. Hopefully the donation from lHS will help more kids experience camp. The other half will go to Elliott Elementary School.

A highlight was when the mayor of Festivus was appointed. James Oliva (10) won with what many saw as the "wackiest" outfit. Wearing a dress, blonde wig, and questionable make-up that made the ladies uneasy with envy, Oliva was a natural as mayor. He paraded the Festivus alummum · pole with pride.

Those who put on the event want the grill-out to be an annual event That decision, however, will ultimately lie in the hands of the admmistration. Lincoln High, in the past, used to hold a Brown Bag Day, which was the original name for Festivus, but that somehow disappeared as support dwindled. Students tried to revitalize the tradition with Festivus. Many felt that they have succeeded.

LHS Students T: to Launch a New, lium.orous

____ BycarrieTcxld

____ _

Asst.FeatureE.ditor

Wonder what happened to all the signs about a new literary magazine, Scribblez, that you used to see around Lincoln High?

It looks like the publication's distribution will be greatly limited due to objections by the administration. Though the students who worked on Scribblez put forth a valiant effo rt, their dreams of a humorous, schoolwide magazine have been crushed.

Senior Kelly Donahue, President of Scribblez, began working on the magazine for a DEC:A project. Trudy Hines' Marketing class, along with seniors Jesse Humpal, Jordan Green, and Mitchell Memming, helped him get Scribblez off the ground.

Their idea started as an attempt to boost the sales of Scribe, Lincoln High' s original literary magazine, but ended up as a separate project. Their first idea was to have Scribblez attatched to Scribe, but it was met with opposition from teachers and administrators. The students decided to keep on truckin', and put together their publication anyway.

"I wanted a fun, new approach to poetry, so me and my partner in crime, Jesse [Humpal], sat down and put our creative minds together, and what we came up with ' was spectacular," said Donahue.

Scribblez is a publication consisting of

original poetry and writing by LHS students, teachers, and staff. Donahue said that Scribblez received many submissions by a varied group of writers.

The magazine is intended to be humorous and fun, with sections insemble.

The magazine's founders emphasized that Scribblez is supposed to be an interesting and different way for Lincoln High writers to express themselves.

"We wanted to go places that no one

eluding "Look-A-Likes," in which LHS else in Lincoln High history has ever gone students and faculty are matched up before," said Humpal. "This book is what with a picture of a celebrity they re- everyone is thinking but is too scared to say."

Scribblez staff members compiled their work with the entries they recieved, and to fund publication, they also called several businesses to acquire corporate sponsors. Many of them, including Lee's Chicken, Tasty's In N Out, Hanger's Cleaners, Cobra Sewer and Drains, and Creation Screen Printing offered financial donations to help make Scribblez a reality. After all their work, Donahue and the rest of Scribblez' s staff were excited to start selling the publication.

However, they discovered many roadblocks on the way that have prevented them from doing so. The group's signs were torn from Lincoln High hallways twice, and they were also told that they needed to get Scribblez stamped by the LPS schoolboard.

"We did it for a great class project, it was fun, we learned a lot, and it just was too hard to make it available to everybody," Marketing teacher Trudy Hines said.

For now, the only people who will receive Scribblez are those in Hines' Marketing class.

Although the students who worked on Scribblez were hoping to sell throughout the school, they are still glad to have published something they can be proud of.

IScribblez staff members, from left: Jordan Green (12), Jesse Humpal (12). elly Donahue (12), and Mitchell Memming (12).

Photo by Kelli Ros

___ By E..llaE..ngland__ _ FeatureE.ditor

The swim team isn't the only team here at LHS that can make a splash! Lincoln High' s own Aqualinks have caused waves recently at their annual show. The theme for the show was "Name That Genre" and featured music such as "Barbie Girl" by Aqua and "Honey I'm Home" by Shania Twain. The show also featured two solos, one by Amber 1 Synder and the other by IS Leia Newman. It also had a duet by Matt Cox and Kayla Strom.

An Aqualink is a mem-

basic move is Skoaling, which is when the swimmer stays on the top of the water while stationary or moving forwards or backwards. One of the bestresembling a star.

The Aqualinks have a unique history. They were started in 2000 by Special Education Teacher Barb Weckman after the program was cancelled for several years because of the lack of a sponsor and interested students. The into LHS an tradiber of Lincoln High's syn- r11,t·1\'t!1Vi"'""' tion which fk* chronized swimming team. incoln High' s synchronized swimming team, the Aqualinks, inc 1 des They do a combination of erform one of their best-looking tricks, the star, at their annua the annual underwater music, gym- spring show that took place on May 6th and 7th. . I show which t d b 11 t A

Photo By Anna Gustafson h

Id nas 1cs, an a e s an L....--------------~--------1 was e on Aqualink, a student learns looking stunts is the Star, which · May sixth

This year the team kicked off the season early by adding a fall show back in November. The purpose of that show was to increase membership from the eight members it already had. The show was not successful and the team ended up with eleven members. The show did provide some help, though. It gave the team, especially this year's newest members, a chance to reform in front of an audience before the official show.

This season the Aqualinks did a great job. They worked hard and pulled off a terrific show. After seeing how great this year's show was, it will be very interesting to see what they manage to do next year. Also, special thanks go out to Aqualinks resident Leia Newman and coaches Barb Weckman and Julie Nguyen for another year of fantastic Links synchronized swimming! how to perform many tricks is when a group of swimmers and seventh this year. and stunts, including Pinwheels form a circle with their feet

(spinning in a circle at the top pointing toward the middle.

of the water) and forward and They then slowly s_tretch their

backward somersaults under the legs outward, forming a shape

surface of the water. Another

.U ,1ences an

Final Play For LHS Seniors Sets Standards For Future Link Performances

By ShaunaBuck '5portsE.ditor

On ""A"" p i.-il 29t h an d 30t h an a M ay 1st, the story of the unforgettable

of late January and the autumn breezes of Se p tember 1692-93 w h en t h e wit ch t r i a ls of S al em, Massachusetts happened, giving the town an infamous reputation in American history. Salem Witch Trials, ''The Crucible," directed by Patsy Koch-Johns, was presented by our very own Lincoln High Mummers, a total of 60 students. The play, which was based on the script by Arthur Miller that was published in 1953, came together once again to show an outrageous story of the unspoken hatred and wrong-ful prosecution and ordan King (11), Emily Ernst (12), and ames Oliva (10) look over Meredith Ernst (9) in The Crucible

As innocent as the dancing may behalf of his outrage, he spoke have seemed, it was believed to of the Devil and of evil, landin b -!-- f--.a.fi fi - --: =: _ - f evil. In ll imself in j a il. Soon t r i a ls were

In "The Crucible," young girls from the town of Salem danced barefoot in the night breeze, following the lead of killing of over 14 innocent residents of Salem, Massachusetts. It was between the winter chills

dancing, Reverend Paris stepped into a situation that changed Salem and other nearby towns forever. When Rev. Parris caught the

girls dancing, his very own daughter, Betty Parris (Mer~ edith Ernst), was among the first to collapse into a state of I

ames Oliva (10) and Jordan King (11) 1shakehands. held. Deputy Governor Danforth (Aaron Chvatal) and Judge Hawthorne (Elliot Anderson) called forth John Proctor to confess to the crime of witchcraft. He untruthfully confessed of witchcraft, but also adultery. The conclusion to such a dramatic LHS play ended with John

by Gabby Santos! Tituba (Allison Molloy), who was an African slave owned by Reverend Samuel Parris (Greg Hadwick).

had a great idea of what occurred at the time but withheld gaps of information untold and untruthfully misplaced.

Yes indeed the girls of Salem were dancing, caught, and brought unbearable controversy, but Abigail Williams and the other girls were much younger than they appeared within the script. Abigail wasn't an increasingly jealous, lustful teenager, but an innocent-looking child of 11 years of age; nor was John Proctor in his forties at the time of the Salem Trials, but 60 years of age. Literature has stated that both Abigail and John didn't share any intimacy such as ''The Salem Witch Trials," edited by Laura Marvel, and "Witches and Witch-Hunts," written by Milton Meltzer, would suggest. Again, as we explore the information of these trials, questions arise. The biggest question ev~ry historian asks is, "How could tj:le fate of the innocent or guilty be left up to the words of a child who is young and still has much to learn?"

Photo by Gabby Santosl ripping up the insanity from .________________ __, signed docua strong and undiagnosed illness. ment that stated he was practicing The town was furious, attribut- witchcraft. ''Hang them high over ing the illness to the idea of black the town," demanded Governor magic, witchcraft. Rev. Parris was Danforth. trying to assure the townspeople Many have retold the story that witchcraft wasn't afflicting the of the disaster which happened girls, but the people questioned during the late 1600's like Arthur him because of the words and ac- Miller's "The Crucible." The script tions of his devious niece, Abigail Williams (Emily Ernst), and the other girls. Abigail, a sev:enteenyear-old teenage girl, lusted and fantasized after John Proctor (Jeff Tinnean), who was a farmer supporting his family. John regretfully at one time committed adultery, which disobeyed the sacred Ten Commandments of the Christian Church. John made it very clear to Abigail that the acts he committed with her were wrong and wouldn't be repeated because of the love he had for his wife, Elizabeth (Keeley Dunn). Soon Abigail, Betty, Mercy Lewis (Dana Green), Mary Warren (Lindsay Hand), and many of the other girls tattled names of townspeople that the girls hallucinated walking hand-in-hand with the devil using witchcraft upon them. With the power to do this, Abigail accused Elizabeth. John was outraged, taking Mary Warren to the city council meeting to prove his wife was clearly not guilty of the crime of witchcraft. The court was stubborn, not listening to the words he was speaking. On

Photo

Revolutionary Third-PersonGameplayFor Your Gamecube,Xbox

ByKentMasloskie ___ _ CopyE.di.tor

In 2000, Eidos software designed a game that would revolutionize the genre of third-person shooters as people knew it. That game was Hitman: Codename 47. This was the first game to allow people to assume the dubious role of the faceless assassin. The only problem with Hitman, aside from the moral dilemma of making a career of ending people's lives, was the glitchy engine that made people's heads pass through doors as if they were specters. Naturally, this was a convenient aspect to the game, but it just wasn't very realistic. This wasn't really even a problem as far as most gamers were concerned, since it allowed them to shoot foes before they opened the door, but Eidos decided to improve on it anyway.

in front of you. The rest of the game is spent trying to figure out who you are and what your purpose is in life, which is killing anonymous people for vast sums of money. ·

Then in 2002 came Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. The new game more than took care of the face through the door problem, and it included the option of switching the camera from third to first • person view

The story for Hitman begins in . a room with padded walls. When one exits this room there is another room with a shower, a bench, and another do .or. On the . bench there is a threepiece suit with a crimson necktie, 47' s signature uniform. A voice that seems to come out of nowhere tells you to put on the suit and exit the room via the door depending on the amount of accuracy needed to make a kill.

res ,man

____ ByF..llaE.ngland

.___ _ FeatureE.di.tor

The freshmen here at LHS are the underdogs. They catch the blame for pretty much everything, and they are seldomly acknowledged,

were all designed to have the player arrive at a specific point while showing the player just enough of the overall plot to entice him/her into playing on, Silent Assassin has 21 missions, most of which had little to nothing to do with the actual story.

7 sporting his biker threads in Hitman Conltracts.

The problem this time was the lack of focus. Whereas the original game had just over a dozen missions, which

Now in 2004, the third installment of the series has arrived with a better graphics engine, allowing a greater number of polygons on the screen at one time, a darker story, and a greatly improved en-

Photo courtesy of hitmanforum.com!emy artificial intelligencesmarter, tougher bad guys. The game opens with 47 hobbling down the hallway in a seedy Paris hotel. He's been

owcases

tacular show, the play ''Chicken Heart," which was directed by Student Teacher Simon Ringsmuth.

The play's story line has many twists and turns in it that keep the audience very attentive. The let alone appreci- opening scene ated. Some may sets the stage. have called them The audience fools for trying to learns of the put together their taxcollector's own play, but they evil plan to managed to do it, get .a hold of to the enjoyment the Lady's of many. land that was

ew

The rest of the story is of their adventures with the sisters in the convent.

The play was a first at Lincoln High and it was the freshmen's first attempt at theater on their own. With this in mind, the play

wounded, shot in the stomach. He finally makes it to his hotel room only • to collapse the second he gets through the door. The rest of the game takes place inside of 47' s mind, and except for the final mission, every mission the player experiences is a memory of a past mission. In fact, some of the missions will give players a certain dejct vu, as they are remixes of missions in the first game. Altogether, players of the first Hitman will find six such remixed levels, but even those will have a few surprises for veterans.

All things considered, Hitman Contracts is a pretty enjoyable experience. It's not your typical shooter, so those who are looking for mindless violence probably should not play this game as it will frustrate them to no end, especially on the harder difficulties. However, if you are looking through Blockbuster some night and spy this game out of the corner of your eye, and you' re tired of mindless gorefests, try this game, but don't rent it unless you're a die-hard fan of this unique series, as it is only 12 levels long and you could beat it on the normal setting in about 4 days.

ii I I

behaved better and if the acoustics in the Lincoln High auditorium were better.

The show had its ups and downs, but it is obvious that these underdogs worked hard and received good results, whether

Students who left to her by were in attendance her father. If at the school as- she do esn't sembly for the marry him, play on Friday then he plans April 23 behaved to tax her atrociously. They ...._

mother out of

evil man, the

was not horrible. The acting was good and they were excellent at pantomiming to make up for not having a set of their own. They also did well at costumes and makeup. The only advice I have to offer would be that the freshmen need to speak louder and project their voices farther into the auditorium. This .ate Eno (9), Jewels Beck (9), and Abby Colean

may not have been such an obstacle if the audience ( especially during the school assembly) had

community what to look forward to in future all-school plays here at LHS.

the student body will admit it or not. It is a shame and does not look good for Lincoln High that students acted the way the did at the assembly, but it shows something about the young actors and actresses that they could put that -0ut of their minds, strut their stuff, and show the school and could get away girl hides in with. Still, this did not deter the little fresh- a poor convent, to which he follows her men, and the same night they put on a spec- with her mother and his right-hand man.

b~oed, tal~ed, and att Boring (9) and Roy Gonzalez Labato (9) it. In order ~o did anything else stand on the Chickenheart set. flee from this they thought they Photo by Kent Masloskie

(9), portray nuns in Chickenheart.

Photo bv Kent Masloski

Parti11 Advice For Students

ally participated in any teams, clubs, or life by yourself. If you learn one thing from productions. Try to work around your this, it should be that you can never take perceived lazine~s. Instead of it being a high school too seriously. negative that you tried to hit on every · Beingyourselfisn'tcoolBe someone member of the opposite sex in your Span- you're not. ish class junior year, remember that you

Much like the last bit of advice, I learned valuable people skills. Or when could not stress this enough. No one, you counted all the tiles in your math and I mean NO ONE, likes someone who class instead of doing your work, hey, acts like themselves. There are a number counting is still math, right? The main of groups that you can fit into. If people - By !a~b M~er thing is getting to college. And if you got to know you based on how you really E.dit~r-m-C~ef don't go to college, you'll live your life were, they would obviously hate you. It's Author'sNote- This articlets meant to be in a hellish abyss, filled with minimum much better to fake it and copy the latest sarcastic. Doing the oppositeof most of wage and trailers. At least that's what trends at the time. If dressing like a thug these things would probablybe betterfor the counselors told me. is cool, do that. Or if you want to give the your successin high school. . ·Remem~, highschoolis the begin- impression that you are different, dress in The end of the road is near for myself rungof your life, not the end. all black and show the world you are all by and other seniors. But time is not so kind I take that back High school IS the yourself. Heck, if peeing your pants ever to others in this school. Others are lucky(?) end all, be all, for the rest of your life. becomes cool, go with that. Be like a chaenough to return for at least one more year When you go in for job interviews some- meleon and adapt to your surroundings. of glory at ole Lincoln High. Some students day, most of the questions they ask you Later on in life, you'll be glad you did. have as many as three more years of good will be about high school. You are sure · Remember,adults are stupid and times in a crowded cafeteria or classroom. tohearquestionsabouthowpopularyou worthless . You can learn nothing from For those that are returning who are in need were, who you dated, and why you and · them. of guidance, this is for you - some pieces of your friends had fights and never spoke When has an adult ever said something advice to make high school a little easier. to each other again. So when it seems like valuable? They don't even know what we •Don'ttry too hardin school- colleges the end of the world when you break up students live through. We are growing up don't care. with your significant other, just remem- in a time of war. Did they? Even though When it comes time to fill out college ber, it is. It's a fact that most high school we are younger, we still know more. The applications and scholarship applications, relationships work out. If you lose that way life is these days, students live through you could feel bad for a while. You'll girlfriend or boyfriend, that's probably it more in one day than most adults did in sit down and realize that vou never re- for you. Get ready to live the rest of your one year. Whenever they try to give you

ext Year

advice, or give y,au instructions, ignore them. And remember, the older they get, the less valuable they are and the less they know. It's true.

And the last piece of advice · Go against everythingthat anyone ever says.

The world tries to operate through fear. Don't let them. Take candy from strangers, drink and drive, do as many drugs as possible, have unprotected sex, and never save your money. Being careful is for suckers. What if a car accident happened? Orwhatiftheworld blew up? Do you really want to die a virgin with no alcohol in your blood system? That's no way to live. The world tries to scare you with mythical lies. The school even tries scare tactics and sometimes students don't even realize it.

Remember before prom when they set that wrecked car out front. It's a good thing they clarified that the car was from drinking and driving. I thought a confused parent tried to drop their kid off too close to the door. Regardless, it was all a lie. People may have their "statistics" that alcohol slows your reaction time and so on. It's all scare tactics.

By following some of these pieces of advice, you will continue your high school education with nothing but success

ByNickVaske WebE.ditor

aaaan's Prison entence ea11ita le

ee;aces

____

By l(entMasloskie___ _ CopyE.ditor

The story of Nigerian refu_gee, and Lincoln resident, Tony Waadali is o .ne you may not have heara or remember, but it's on~ you should know about now.

W aadah was driving down O Street near 35th Street during Americruise (an unofficial and unlicensed f arade of vintage cars) in the summer o 2000. He was not part of the parade, but rather an unsuspectirlg motonst who got caught in the middle o1 it.

While driving down O Street, Waadah lost control of his '92 Ford Taurus. His car jumped the curb and struck a spectator, Connie McCullough. She was pmned to a tree and died as a result of her injuries. Waadah was tested to determine his

Free om o S

ortation/whichwould likely result in his death

blood alcohol level, and it was found to be well under the legal limit.

One of the truly disturbing things about Waadah's case is that tne prosecutor, Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey, charged Waadah with Manslaugliter. Waadah received a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Why is this disturbing? Because Lacey said that he felt tne sentence was appropriate, since Waadah was intoxicated (he was not).

In an article from the April 13th, 2003 issue of the LincolnJournal-StarLacey said, "I don't like people wl10 drink ana drive. If I could make a law myself, I would lower the limit to 0.05 or lower because I know what alcohol does to P.eOP.le'sjud~ent and Anthony Waaaah had been drinking."

The problem? Waaaah' s blood alcohol leve1 was well under the legal limit. It was recorded at 0.042 - that's even under the limit Lacey wants to have. Lacey didn't even bring up Waadah's blood alcohol level dunng the trial.

Lacey has P.rosecuted similar cases in which people have died in vehicular accidents. 1n those cases, however, although some of the defendants were intoxicated, Lacey decided not to seek such harsh sentences. Some even received only probation. The difference? Those defendants were white.

By the time you read this article, W aa- wall and escaped the campus more or less dah will be in the Penitentiary, serving unscathed. hisManslaughtersentence. Thatbattle1s Waadah spent the next three years all but over,but the war over his return in Benin in a refugee cam__p,in a tent he to Nigeria has yet to truly begin. When shared with three men. Fmally in 1999, Waadah gets out of prison, he is to be the United Nations High Commission for ~eported, and if ~e '"''' '""'" ' ·· ., '"'" ,, Refugees P.~t him on a plane 1s dep9rted, he. will ·.::~'':!li,; ·y·· "' ' irt>· bouna for Lincoln, !'Jebr_aska. mostlikely be killed

, Now Waadah 1s at nsk of

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as ~ere ~embers !tli\l',111'+' J many years, ~is wife ~inally of his family after .''tlit\iti<> 7 ex:' came to Amenca,. but 1f he_s he escaped. ,;:;., ilCfoUi} t

sent back, all of their effort will When he lived

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waidah 9~1il~ exam, W aadah' s write a letter to the editor of professor informed the Lincoln Journal Star, P.O. him that two men Box 81698, Lincoln NE 68501 were looking for or e-mail the editor's desk at: him. He looked up ~== gwinters@journalstar com. to se1; plainclothes Tony Waadah You can also contact the secu~1ty gua!ds ad- Lincoln Ch<;1pter of Am~esty vanc1ng on hrm. He bolted for the door International do Christy Hargeshe1mer and ran down the hall. Bullets whizzed at 477-7596. Efforts are underwa_y to send past~ as he jumP.~d out of a second- letters o~ support to the Parole Board on story wmdow. He climbed over a 9-foot Waadah s behalf.

Censorship Threatens Everything From Politics to Simple- Entertainment

By -----E.ditor-in-chiefJacobMiller

I better choose my words carefully before "Some offended person complains too much and I'm never allowed to appear in a paper again. Thanks to radio/f .V. personality Howard Stem, who has continually crossed the line of decency in the media and Janet Jackson's Sµper Bowl half-time display, everything has reeked of censorship. A combination of the two in a close time frame has concerned citizens and those in power wondering what is appropriate and what is not.

Shock radio personality Howard Stem has been shocking and offending people for years, exploiting handicapped people, celebrities, and a number of incidents with naked women doing things to earn publicity. But what happened at the Super Bowl this past year is what set off a fire storm that Stem

doused with gasoline. As everyone who owns a T.V., radio, newspaper, magazine, or the Internet knows, Janet Jackson had a portion of her top ripped off by Justin Timberlake during a half-time performance. Whether this was an accident or a planned event, it set off alarms all across the nation to people who were instantly offended by a split second of a breast. For some people, this "clothing malfunction" was an event that just may have signaled the end of the world. Other people calmly decided to use this "malfunction'' as a chance to clue their children who may have been watching into a little bit about the human body. Whichever camp you were in, nearly all water cooler conversations were dominated by the incident.

A couple of weeks later, Stem was suspended for a short period of time for violating decency codes when he featured two naked lesbians kissing on his radio/f. V program. After his suspension, Stem came out firing, asking to be released from his contract if he couldn't do his show the way he wanted to.

Both incidents, plus many other incidents in the past, raise the question, what is appropriate/mappropriate? And an even bigger question than that is who gets to decide what is appropriate or inappropriate? It certainly seems that lately, the offended

get to dedde. Whenever something con- town of Jacksonville, host of next years Super troversial happens, the offended lead the Bowlisdemandingthatthisyear'shalf-time backlash, quickly followed by the heartless, show feature marching bands, not perform(! mean caring) media, looking for a new ers. While this will be a breath of fresh air story. if the marching band performance actually What all this does is lead to a new happens,mostwillbewillingtobetbigmonlevel of censorship and sometimes, limits ey that big money influence will persuade on freedom of speech. Opinions are filtered someone to allow a pop star to perform. and content is censored to make sure soc- Personally, Jackson's performance cer moms in Connecticut aren't offended. wasn't nearly as offensive as Nelly's perforJackson/Stern's latest antics are not the first mance during the same halftime in which in line to receive criticism/censorship. Maybe he repeatedly grabbed his crotch, or when a bigger case of censorship is the way people Kid Rock managed to turn the American have dealt with issues involving the Bush flag into a poncho. Regardless, nothing Administration and this country. For a long that happened during that half-time show time, people were met with criticism wheh- warranted the attention it received. It's ever something negative about the country just when the offended overreacted that all or Bush was said. And even though that the ruckus started. Much like when a lawseems to have swung the other way and makermakessomethingillegalbecausetheir now everyone seems to be bloodthirsty for religion disagrees with it, offended people Bush, for those couple of months, anything raise tantrums because they were offended negative said was met with harsh criticism. by something that others may have liked That seems to be the common thread Maybe it's time for the people running with censorship. Most things that are cen- media outlets to grow a backbone and prosored are censored because people don't gram things that might offend some. Wawant to hear or see something out of their tering everything down and limiting what comfort zone. People that are offended by reaches the public is what some governments what could be considered risque program- do. If you're offended by something, it's a ming or materials, crusade to have things free country. No one's forcing you to watch changed instead of looking away or turning T.V. or do anything else like that. the channel. It looks as if the backlash from Besides, some people liked that half-time Jackson's performance isn't over either. The show.

earns ereat ur es, 0

By NeelAmin OpinionE.ditor

The track team members have overcome many obstacles during the season and they hope to finish the season on a high note at the state meet, which will be held at Omaha Burke on May 21st and May 22nd "I thought overall the season was successful because throughout the season, many athletes set personal records that they broke numerous times," said Coach Joe Shandera about the team's performance this year. All of the athletes who placed in the top four at districts were eligib1efor the state competition, including seniors Chadd Stutheit, Ryan Blahak, Jared Gilmore, Riki Klabenes, and juniors Nicole Hruska and - Chris Hatch. 'The field at state this year is really talented, but I feel that if I run a smart race and put forth a maximum effort, I should sfand as good of a chance as almost anyone," said Hatch, showing the confidence and enthusiasm that the team has heading into state.

Before the state competition, there were numerous track meets of importance held between April 22ndand the state com[ etition, including the Harold Scott Invite, PS Meet, and the District Meet.

The first meet was the Harold Scott Invite, which was held on April 22nd at Lincoln High School and featured both the men and women track athletes. On the men's side, there were great performances from Blahak, Stutheit, Hatch, and senior Chris Arps. These same four guys were able to finish 4th in the Boys 1600Meter Relay with a time of 3 minutes and 31.1 seconds. Arps, Blahak, Stutheit, and junior Ricky Massa were able to finish 3rd in the Boys 400 Meter Relay with a time of 43.8 seconds. Off his performance from the 1600-Meter Relay and 400-Meter Relay, Blahak finished a remarkable first place in the Triple Jump with a jump of 43 feet and 1 1/2 inches and was able to finish fourth in the Long Jump with a jump of 20 feet and 10 1/4 inches. Arps followed up his performances in the 400 and 1600-Meter Relay with a run of 11 seconds in the 100-

Meter Relay to take home first place and ished 5th in the Shotput with a throw of 31 finished 4th in the 400-Meter Dash with a feet and 111/2 inches. Senior Danielle Metime of 51.9 seconds. Stutheit was able nyweather finished 4th in the Long Jump to finish 1st in the 200-Meter Dash with with a jump of 16 feet and 1 inch Senior a time of 22.5 seconds. Hatch was able Tanya Warren finished 3rdin the 100-Meter to finish 5th in the 1600-Meter Run with Dash with a time of 13 seconds and 4th in a time of 4 minutes and 26.3 seconds in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 27.9 secthis highly competitive competition. onds. The team of seniors Warren and MeOn the female side, there were great nyweather, freshman Taylor Schmidgall, performances from Klabenes and Hrus- and junior Sara Brozek finished 2ndwith a ka. Klabenes was able to finish 4th in the time of 53.3 seconds in the 400-Meter ReD 1 h 1 1 SC US ".VF ' W\\G'.i•)i>JWS?i/JI}'iti :WM:+ ay to e p wi th a

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51 feet 5 2 9 t h , Senior Chadd Stutheit leads the pack in the 200 Meter 3/4 inches the LPS Dash. Stutheit would go on to win with a time of 22 5 to no one's Varsity seconds. surRrise. Cham pi-

Photo By Emily Zimmer B 1 a 'ha k onships ._______________________ __. finished t o o k 1st in the place at Lincoln High with improved Triple Jump with a jump of 44 feet and 1 showings from both the femafes and 3/4 inches and 2ndin the Long Jump with a males. The males had such a huge im- jump of 20 feet and 11 inches, which is an provement that they actually took home improved showing from the Harold Scott the city_championship b); an impressive Meet. T_heteam_of Arps, Massa, Stutheit, 38.5/oints. The females, on tfie other and seruor Curtis Coatman won the 400han , didn't fare as well as a whole, but Meter Relay with a time of 43.4 seconds. there were some great performances by The team of Arps, Blahak, Stutheit , and individuals. The day started off with Hatch finished 2ndin the 1600-Meter ReKlabenes taking top honors in the Dis- lay with a time of 3 minutes 3'1.9seconds. cus with a throw of 112 feet and 6 inches, Senior Angel Martinez finished 2ndin the while Hruska managed to finish tied for 110-Meter High Hurdles with a time of 3rdin the Pole Vault with a jump of 8 feet 15 6 seconds. Hatch finished 2nd in the and 11 inches. Junior Jessica Maske fin- Boys 1600-Meter Run with a time of 4 min-

Li ir s Tennis Ot Deterre - B ew

•

•

By Zri lfolmes ___ _ NewsE.ditor

The tirst thing sports teams noticed about the new schools opening in Lincoln was the increased amount of competition. Instead of having to play four teams in city tourneys, the matches were extended to five teams, and then six. A good tennis match can last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. And if you win, you don't have the option of resting for very long, you just have to keep playing.

The adjustment from four teams to six, from old coaches to new ones, was a hard one for the Lincoln High Girls Tennis team to make, but they're bouncing back.

When Southwest opened two years ago not only did the LHS Girls Tennis Team face more competition, they

also were facing losing old coaches. All three coaches (Reserve, JV, and Varsity) had left Lincoln High at the end of the 2002-2003 season. Now not only would the team have to face more opponents, but they would also have to do so with a coach they had never played with before. It's a tough task for any team to face, but despite those setbacks, the Varsity team finished last season with 8 wins, an .d JVended with 3. It seemed that against all odds, Lincoln High Girls Tennis was beginning to pick up steam.

~ It was with this optimism that the Lady Links started the 2003-2004 season. However, the addition of North Star to the city created some problems for the team. According to Varsity Coach Steve Ward, "It is getting tougher to fill all three squads since

the two new schools have lowered our incoming student enrollment." Instead of letting the lack of players hold them back, the Links practiced harder than ever, not just working on the fundamentals but also working on position and game strategy.

All this work paid off when the Varsity team won the LHS Invitational and placed 8th in the Papillion Invite Both tournaments feature some of the top-ranked teams in the state, and the wins meant a lot to the team . For them it wasn't just an award, but a record of their improvement, dedication, and achievement. As Coach Ward put it, "Years from now, - players on this team will be able to see the trophy and remember their hard work and commitment to each other resulted 'in a quality result."

utes and 33.1 seconds and 3rdin the Boys 800-Meter Run with a time of 1 minute 58.6.seconds. Thomas Foy finished 3rdin the High Jump with a jump of 6 feet. After the great showing at the LPS Meet, it was now time for districts. Gilmore put in another great showing with a first place victory in the Shotput with a throw of 53 feet and 9 inches and third in the Discus with a throw of 154 feet and 5 inches. Blahak finished second in the Triple Jump with a jump of 43 feet and 8 3/4 inches, which is down from the LPS Meet. Stutheit was able to finish third in the 100-Meter Dash with a time of 11.3 seconds. Hatch finished third in the 800Meter Run with a time of 1 minute and 59.5 seconds continuing his good streak in the 800.

On the female side of things, Hruska won the High Jump competition with a jump of 9 feet and 1 inch to take home her first place finish of the season. Klabenes took third in the Discus with a throw of 115 feet and 8 inches and fourth in the Shotput with a throw of 34 feet and 10 inches.

"I'm happy to be going, but honestly I'm a little disappointed in myself for not making it in the 1600 as well," said Hatch, showing the mixed emotions that many felt for not being able to make state in numerous events

The track team had a good season this year, even with the disappointment at Districts. The Boys track team can take pride in being the City Champion, which is a remarkable accomplishment in itself. Also, many of the members set personal records that they were able to break numerous times throughout the season. "I did set personal records in all my events this year," which is something that Chris Hatch and the other members can take great pride in.

The members that are going to state will surely make Lincoln High proud by trying their best at the state competition and maybe even take home a state championship for themselves.

etition

What has helped the teams, beyond old-fashioned hard work and practice, is its senior leaders-Jen Endres, McKinley Jons, Kasey Mathiesen, and Lindsey Ward-as well as some junior leaders, Zoya Dronova and Kristin Hilde. These players have done exceptional and had victories in the teams' biggest improvement area, doubles. With Jons/Dronova playing 2nd in the #1 doubles spot at the Papillion invitational and Ward/ Hilde also placing 2nd at Papillion, it's easy to see that the doubles improvement has been astounding.

Although the Reserve and JV season are over, the Varsity players will be ending the season with the State tournament on May 21st. Go out to Tranquility Park and cheer for the doubles, root for the singles, and support the hardestworking girls tennis team in the city.

Base 's reatest Ba ,es Fou ,t

ByTinaWilson PhotoE.ditor

As many of the Lincoln High sports teams are heading into the final stretches of their respective seasons, it is no different for the Links Baseball team. Bracing themselves for the district tournament and the end of their season, the Links faced off against many of the other Lincoln schools and participated in the HAC and Spartan Tournaments.

On April 14, The Links faced off against Papillion-LaVista, in the game, the Links gave it their full effort and tried to overcome Papillion's strong lead, but lost, 11-1.

Off of a hard loss to Papillion-La Vista, the Links headed out to participate in the HAC tournament. In the Links first game, they faced off against ' , North Star. One of the highlights for the game was the teams execution at the plate. The Links ended up with a strong 10-2 finish over the Navigators.

In the second round of the tournament, the Links faced off against Southwest. Coming off of a harsh, 17-5 loss the last time the two teams played, the Links came out fired up and ready to play. Despite playing a hard game, and fighting back each and every time Southwest scored, the Links had some errors and ended up losing 11-7. "We thought we had the game won, but we had some physical errors and that's what cost us the game," senior Lance Grell said.

In the third and final game, the Links faced off against Lincoln Northeast. In this game, the Links had some strong execution at the plate, but unfortunately, they ended up losing 11-1.

On Monday, April 19, the Links headed out to play Northeast for the second time As the Links came out prepared to play, and were out for revenge after their loss in the HAC Tournament, but they still

managed to fall short. The Links lost the first game in this double header 8-2.

In the second game, the Links headed out ready to play mentally. Although, the team had to battle their <«««-

Way through the ___ ,,,_,,&,•.-,., game, the Links still ended up on top. One of the key highlights for the team, was a hit by sophomore Ethan Grell. Grell hit his second double of the game, to bring in the runner and tie the game 5-5. After an error by Northeast off a hit from junior Jacob Brokaw, the Links

second game of the tournament, they faced off against Omaha Central. In a hard fought battle the Links gave it their all, but ended up losing, 11-4.

The Links final out of town trip

-

ByBenl(athol E.ntertainrnentE.ditor

With the NSAA state golf tournament fast approaching, the Lincoln High Boys Golf Team is preparing for their last stretch of practices and tournaments to prepare for state on May 25 and 26 at Lincoln's Highlands Golf Course. Previous state tournaments have been held at Mahoney, Holmes, and Pioneers.

In a Dual with Pius X at Pioneers on Tuesday April 27, Lincoln High came through with a victory. Senior John Paek, Junior Nate Munford, and Senior

won the game off Chris Meskimen (11) pitches in the April 16 game of a run by Grell. against Southwest, as junior Max Hubka looks on.

Off of a glori-

ous win against Lincoln Northeast, the Links headed out to play Lincoln East. Despite a valiant effort, the Links ended up making some careless errors and ended up falling to the Spartans for the second time this season, 13-3.

On April, 22 the Links played at Grand Island In the game, the Links had to battle cold and wet weather, and that is what many said contributed to their loss. Despite giving it their all, the Links lost 10-0.

In the Links final tournament before districts, the Links participated in the Spartan Tourney. In the first game, the Links faced off against top ranked Omaha Burke. In the game, the Links worked hard and concentrated on not making errors. Despite their attempt, the Links ended up losing, 12-4. "Our pitchers threw strikes, but Burke just found the gaps," Grell said. In the Links

was to Elkorn, on April 28. In a very interesting battle, the Links ended up losing to Elkorn 29-5, after 5 innings. fhe main highlights for the _ Links this game, were the hits by senior Lance Grell and sophomore Trisden Williams.

On April 29, the Links played North Star. In the first game of their double header, the Links came out and dominated, as they had done in the previous games. The Links had some excellent hits from many players, and won the game, 7-4. In the second game, the Links found that they weren't as prepared to play as they thought. In what became a close and eventually tied game, the Links pulled out the 8-7 win.

On May 1, the Links faced off against two different teams. In the first game they faced off against, Archbishop Bergan. In the game, the Links hit well, and dominated the game. In

Victories

Jacob Miller finished 1,2,3, respectively. "I played good. I shot a 38 (2 over) and placed second," Munford said. Miller held his putt total to only 11 for the 9-hole round.

This was an important victory for the Links since this win was the first in recent years. The Capital City Invite was held at

Tourna-

Teamwor,

what proved to help the Links in their winning streak, the Links won, 10-8. In the second game, the Links faced off against Marysville, Kansas. In the game, the Links got behind and had to continuously fight their way back. In a hard fought battle, the Links pulled it out and won, 13-10.

Heading into their last game before the districts, the Links faced off against long time rivals, Southeast in a double header. In the first game, the Links faced a hard battle and had to fight their way through the game. In what many thought would be a Southeast win, the Links came back and defeated the Knights, 9-8. In the second game, the Links weren't so lucky. They lost the second game, 3-1.

On Saturday, May 8, the Links headed to Fremont to participate in their district tournament. In their game the Links faced off against, Millard South. In the game, the Links played errorless defense and came out with 6-2 win. For the next round in the tournament, the Links faced off with Creighton Prep. In a hard fought battle, with the game staying 0-0 until the seventh inning, the Links scored the first run of the game. Despite a glorious first run, Prep scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to give them the win.

Despite being a rebuilding year, with a new head coach and lots of fresh faces on the team, the Links finished with a 15-18 record. "I could not be more proud of a group of young men on how we ended the season," Head Coach Todd Sandberg said. "This team played with tremendous heart in the last 8 games."

It was an amazing venture watching the Links Baseball team play this year and seniors Lance Grell, Jason Adams, Ryan Waters, Zach Capps, Andy Springer, Tom Hilsabeck and Nick Dinges will surely be missed.

simproving as the year has gone on as have his teammates Marcus Minzel and Senior Seth Sharpe.

Hopes for a team berth in the State Tournament seem to be a possibility as the Links have performed well this season against district opponents like Pius X, North Platte, and Grand Island, who is playing host to the District Tournament, which will be held at Jack Rabbit Run. Earlier this year the Links shot a team best on the course at Jack Rabbit Run with Munford shooting a 74, Minzel with a 75, and Paek shooting a 70.

Photo By Amanda Cades

Highlands on

By JarobMiller _____ into halftime. In the second half Mitchell The Links were able to put up one more E.ditor-in-Ohief Memming had opportunity to score for goal than the Tigers, thanks to goals from

So much for that quick start. After the Links on a penalty kick which he Mitchell Memming and Peter Olds, and jumping out to a 5-1 record at the begin- scored on, tying the game 1-1. As time the Links notched their seventh victory ning of the season, the Boys Soccer team ran out in regulation, the score was still of the year, 2-1. fell to a 7-5 record by the end of the season. tied 1-1. Overtime couldn't decide the In the next game against Kearney, the Following a victory over Lincoln South- game either, so the Links and Naviga- Links continued their trend of close, one east, the ......, ......,=m'l "7"7"7 tors headed goal games, except this time the Links Links beat "' ' 11 >,,> ', , 'e< to a sudden were on the wrong end. Kearney put up North Platte ;;/{ I death shoot three goals, while the Links could only in a game out. In the manage two, losing 3-2. Losing another that had ;;;: :;: shoot out, the heartbreaker can be tough on a team. previously :+n : , Links couldn't In the Links next game, the topbeen post- quite convert ranked East Spartans were on the bill, as poned due as many times the Links were looking to defeat another to muddy as the Naviga- highly ranked city rival. This wouldn't conditions. tors did and be the case though, as the Spartans were It was a high the Links lost too tough for a Links team that has been scoring affair, a tough game achieving on more effort than talent. The but ultimate- to their new Spartans beat the Links 4-0, giving the ly the Links rivals, 2-1. Links their worse loss this year. would score itchell Memming (l 2) dribbles the ball aown the field. If the Links The Links _ended the regular seas?n, o~e more and emming has been consistent with his goal scoring, ~ere look~ then played in the Omaha West~1de win the game d" th Links th 12 th ing for a re- Tournament. In the opener, the Links ea mg e wi on e year. · 4-3. The go ,als

Photo 8 Dieter Castillo bound game, took on the sixth ranked Westside Warfor the Links it wouldn't riors. It was a close game throughout, being scored come in their but two goals from junior Ben Katt gave by Mitchell Memming, Eric Rose, James next game. Norfolk proved to .be a the Links a 2-1 upset victory over the Gomba-Obari, and Jesse Humpal. tough opponent for the Links. The Warriors.

The Links followed that game with defense wasn't able to shut down the In the championship game, the Links one of the more anticipated battles of the Panther's offense, and Norfolk beat the squared off against Columbus Scotus. season, a game against Lincoln North Star. Links 3-1. Katt scored yet another goal for the Each teams familiarity with each other The Links were able to chalk an- Links and junior varsity player Jeremy helped make the game a close, heated other one up in the win column when Lenz added another and the Links would contest. The Navigators took the lead 1-0 they went on a road trip to Fremont. win the tournament with a 2-1 victory

over Scotus. The victory was all the more impressive considering the Links played much of the game down two players after junior Ben Beranek and senior Adam Daugherty received red cards, kic~ng them out of the game.

Following the tournament, the Links upped their record to 9-5, and headed to Tranquility Park in Omaha for Districts. The first game was a blood bath for the Links beating Omaha North 8-0. Katt, Rose, and Memming all scored 2 goals, and junior Ademir Karie and senior Jared Wadell scored for the first time on the year.

The second game was a b attle for the Links against a previously defeated Bellevue East team that was looking for an upset over the Links. After the first half the Links trailed 2-1, the only goal being scored for the Links by Ben Beranek. In the second half Lincoln High knew they needed to make a change if they wanted to go to state, so Mitchell Memming took over scoring two goals in the second half, giving Lincoln High the win and the 7th seed in the upcoming state tournament.

Lincoln High would have to play the 2nd seeded East Spartans on Saturday May 15th. The Links had already lost to East 40 on April 27th. Just like the first game the Spartans would shutout the Links, this time winning 2-0, and moving on in the tournament. Lincoln High unfortunately would end their season and exit the tournament after the first round with a record of 11-6.

Girls Soccer Takes 3rd in Tournament, Loses in Dis ·cts

ByTravis-Shippen____

Lincoln High then went to play unde~

NewsE.ditor feated Lincoln East on Tuesday, April

Heading into the final couple of 27 at Seacrest field. It would start of games before they prepare for the West- pretty even for both sides remaining side Tournament and Districts, the Lady scoreless through the first half, but Links had to take their 5-4 record to battle with 18 minutes remaining East would Fremont, Kearney, and Lincoln East. score, giving them a 1-0 lead on a goal

Going to Fremont to play the strug- by Jenna Cole. Cole would later assist gling, winless Tigers were not much of a on a gan)e-clinching goal by A.J. Jahde. battle for the Lady Links. Fremont, which East w uld stay undefeated shutting was 0-10 heading into the game against · out the Lady Links in a 2-0 victory, the Lady Links, would soon be 0-11, as marking the fourth tim e the Lady they would Jose 3-0 on Tuesday, April Links had been shutout on the year. 20, 2004. The Lady Links dominated the The shutout for the East Spartans game, in which senior goalie Alissa Hol- was not a surprise; they have posted land would record her third consecutive 9 shutouts in 10 regular season games, shutout. out scoring their opponents 62-1. Lin-

Following the game against Fremont, coln High finished the regular season the Lady Links went to Abbott to play with a 6-6 record. The Lady Links imKearney on Thursday, April 22 _. The proved their record from last year, in game was very close with the score 1- which they went 5-7. 1, the Lady Links' goal being scored by Lincoln High took their even resophomore Meggie Wells before heading cord into the Westside Tournament on to overtime. Overtime was not enough Thursday, April 29 against Columbus, for the two teams to decide the victory, which had previously beaten Lincoln forcing the teams into to a shoot out, High this year 3-0 on April 4 : The where Kearney would be victorious, tournament game ended in a pretty m 'aking 3 shots to Lincoln High' s 1 and similar fashion as the regular season giving them a 2-1 win. game with Columbus winning 2-0.

After the long, disappointing loss, Due to the Lady Links loss to Co-

lumbus, they had to play in the consola- The only thing left for the two teams tion game against Columbus Scotus on was to go into a shoot out. One of the May 1, which they would win 2-0, tak- most important games and possibly ing third place in the tournament. Wells the longest game for them this season andFreshmenMirandaKsionzekscored couldn't even be finished after one the Lady Links goals. Districts were round of the Shoot-out. Meggie Wells, held for . ,,. / ......, '0'7'0'7..,.,,,.,Jennifer Petthe # 3 _/} tit, Jessie seeded - nt,r ~[':;![i!tIi/{; .,•• , Singleton, L a d y ,., rn, t and MiranLinks at , >>?> da Ksionzek Seacrest all made on May shotsforthe 5 th Lin- Lady Links colnHigh to equal the would Rockets 4 have to makes.

s h o w The teams t h e i r headed to k. I I eggie Wells (10) chases after the ball. Wells has scored many dd s 1 s oals for the Lady Links, helping them win tough games ad thsuh en againS t against tough opponents. ea s ootthe # 2

Photo B Katie Funcke out, where seeded

Northeast Rockets that beat Lincoln High in the seas on opener 3-2. The game would be a defensive match-up for both teams this time around with the game scoreless heading into overtime.

Two 10-minute overtimes were still not enough to put in a goal for either team. the Rockets senior goalie Malerie Houdek would make a key save on a Lincoln High shot and then score the game winning goal on her own shot to knock Lincoln High out of the A-1 Districts in the semifinals. The Lady Links would finish their season in a long, and devestating fashion.

Linco .... eriences ·o er So~·. Yearo orts .. Winter Sports Teams ExperienceSuccess That Makes Up For ToughFall

By JacobMiller E.ditor-in-Chief

side stole an inbounds pass with In the final round of districts, the wasn't meant to be and the Spar2.4 seconds left and converted the Links had yet another showdown tans rallied, winning 58-51.

At least Lincoln High is con- lay-up, defeating the Links 46-44 with a cross- town rival, and this SENIORSTEVEAMOS MAKES sistent at being inconsistent. Yet and ending everyone's hopes for time the team was Lincoln South- AN EXCITING RUN THROUGH another year has passed and the a repeat championship. west. Every time the Silver Hawks STATEWRESTLING success of Lincoln High teams GIRLS BASKETBALLWINS made a run, the Links would have Senior wrestler Steve Amos finvaried from sport to sport. Some DISTRICTTOURNAMENT an answer of their own. Wood had i~hed a solid reguiar season with teams and individuals were able to Before the boys made their run another outstanding game, as did a surprising run through the State reach and compete at a high level, through districts, the girls team senior record breaker Jen Endres, Wrestling Tournament. Amos was while others fell short of what was laid out the blueprint, advancing and the Links would prevail 54-43, able to avoid defeat early and by expected of them, and some just through the district tournament. giving them their first berth into Saturday afternoon, Amos was in gj._sa 12.12ointed. ·

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There were a number pionship in the 160 pound of highlights that stood out weight division. The match through the year that will swung both ways early on, make this year memorable. but Amos would eventually BOYS BASKETBALL take control. With seconds SURPRISES, THEN LOSES

left, Amos appeared to have IN HEARTBREAKINGFASH-

the match wrapped up. But ION in the closing seconds of the

Coming into the season, match, Amos's opponent, expectations were mixed for Micah Laufenberg from Belthe team. With only one levue East, was able to score a returning starter, senior Seth takedown and defeat Amos. Sharpe, plus one more player The second place finish with significant playing time

was impressive for the Allfrom the championship year City wrestler, as was a sixth before, senior Marcus Minzel, place finish in the 275 pound there were obvious -questions weight class by senior Bill about the team's experience. Dieckhoff. Early in the season, Sharpe LINCOLN HIGH ATHand Minzel were able to LETESBREAKRECORDS carry the team until the rest

A number of LHS teams and of the roster became more ac- individuals broke a number climated with increased play- of records this year . . Perhaps ing time. As the season went none was more impressive on, juniors Preston Peterson than when Endres set the and Yusuf Vinson became ter- Lincoln High record for rors in the middle and senior career scoring this season. point guard Eric Rose gave

Endres, a four year starter the Links a steady presence op Left: Marcus Minzel (12) attempts to dribble around an Omaha Westside defender durin on the girls basketball team, at the point. Not only that, he semi-finals of the State Tournament. set the record in a home game but several players were able op Right:Renee Krenk (11) finishes and looks at the_cloc~as she completes th~ sec?nd leg of th against Norfolk. She finished to come off the bench and girls school recordbreaking 200 Freestyle Relay during finals of the State Swimming Meet. her career with 1 001 points. provide quality minutes for ottom Left: Steve Amos (12) prepares to wrestle Bellevue East's Micah Laufenberg in the finals Another memb~r of the girls the Links. f the State Wrestling Tournament. . . . . basketball team also broke a I h d. t t t ottom Right: Alissa Holland (12) looks to spread the ball around while Melissa Hinkley fro d S Al' H II d n t e 1s r1c ourna- . 1 E . t h recor . en1or 1ssa o an inco n ast tries to s op er. d · ment, the top seeded Links L ___________________________________ __. broke record for reboun s 1n survived dou?le overtime In the first round of districts, state in four years. . a season with 257. . scare against Lincoln Southwest, the Lady Links had a battle with In the state tournament, the Some school records also fell 1n and ~efeated Omaha Northwest for Lincoln Northeast, a team many Links would face their third swimming. The 200 freestyle r~lay the right to go to the State Tourna- t d t f That game straight inner-city rival. This team broke the school record with a h f d f t t expec e o go ar. f O I dd' t th t ment._ In t e trSt roun ° s a e, would be about as far as the time, the Links would battle the time O l: 44 . 3 ·. n a ition ° a_' the Links defeated the top-ranked Rockets would go. A 23_point per- top seeded East Spartans. The a number of sw1mmears ~roke t~e1r Omaha Central Eag~es 5446 · In th e formance by senior Abby Wood Links would lead throughout most owi:i perso1:aI reco rds , including second round, the Links had anoth- h 1 d th L' k d gave them of the game giving fans visions of senior Marisha Lenz, who swam 'f' I h · h O h e pe e in s an ' · · h O f 1 · t er se°:11 ina r_e~atc wit ma a a 56-37 victor over the Rockets. an upset. Unfortunately, the upset 25 -23 in t e 5 reeS t Y e sprtn · Westside. This time around, West- Y