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WHERE ARE YOUR ASB FUNDS GOING?
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MAC TOWN 12.02.2015
1
SOCCER LOSES IN HEARTBREAKER
The Bruin MAY 29, 2015 mhsbruin.com
SPECIAL CENTER PULLOUT See story on page 8
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OPINIONS
Hannah Siepmann gives her opinion on terrorist attacks. Check it out on page 14
Letters to the Editor Policy
EMMA BEYER
SCHOOL VIOLENCE
NEW EATS: BANNERS
Quinn Van Horn discusses the epidemic of school shootings. Read more on page 9.
Leo Martinez and Elizabeth Kokoruda share their experience at Banners Restaurant .
PAGE 17
MOVIE REVIEW: THE MARTIAN Sydney Stern shares her opinion on the new movie staring Matt Damon
PAGE 10
LAYERING
Students are showing off their style for the cooler weather. Check it out on page 14.
MEET THE NEW TEST Starting in March, the College Board will be offering a brand new SAT test.
PAGE 3
SOCCER EXCEEDS ITSGOAL Boys soccer makes it to the state quarterfinals. Check out the special soccer insert.
PAGE 12 2
A guide to navigating this issue
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com
Letters should be limited to 200 words and may be subject to editing for libelous and/or obscene content as well as length. All letters must be signed and names will be published. Submission of material is not a guarantee of publication. Letters may be dropped off in Room 227 or mailed to The Bruin, McMinnville High School, 615 E. 15th St., McMinnville, OR 97128.
The Bruin is a member of Quill and Scroll, International Honorary Society for High School Students, The Journalism Education Association, and Northwest Scholastic Press.
HANNAH SIEPMANN Editor-in-Chief EMMA BEYER Editor-in-Chief DIANA DENNEY News Editor BEN STUART Opinions Editor ETHAN COLLINS Features Editor JOE GULLO A&E Editor SYDNEY STERN Sports Editor DIANA DIAZ Fashion Editor NANCY MACIAS What’s Bruin Editor QUINN VAN HORN Off Campus Editor KATHY BEYER Adviser
Contact The Bruin (503) 565-4159 www.mhsbruin.com
REPORTERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
ISABELLA ALLEN KARLEE BIRD DEVIN BALDWIN JAKE FOWLER HUNTER HARRIS MIGUEL LOEZA LEO MARTINEZ SKYLAR PEAK JORGE QUINTERO SALINAS MCKENNA SUAREZ ELIZABETH KOKORUDA KOBY WRIGHT CHLOE ZINDA MERICA ZOCH
Cover illustration by Skylar Peak
NEWS
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR DIANA DENNEY HUNTER HARRIS
THE NEW SAT COLLEGE BOARD CREATES NEW SCORING SCALE, SAME DIFFICULTY BY DIANA DENNEY
news editor
Beginning in the spring of 2016, the SAT will be completely new. The College Board has been working on updating the SAT for a while and this March, high school juniors and seniors will finally get to see the new test. The biggest change from the old test is the scoring scale. According to the College Board, the old scale was 600-2400, and the new one is 400-1600. Instead of there being three sections (math, reading, and writing) worth 800 points each, there will be only two sections that are each worth 800 points. The reason for this change was that reading and writing have now been combined into one section. Students may also find relief in the fact that the SAT Essay will be optional within the new test. Depending on their prospective school’s requirements, students can choose to opt out of the essay. This also means that the test will be shorter: three hours and 45 minutes with the essay, and only three hours without. The College Board also advertises that there will no longer be a penalty for guessing. Previously, one-fourth
of a point was subtracted for every wrong answer, but now no points will be deducted on questions answered incorrectly. “The test is changing for the better. It’s not going to be more difficult, just different,” said Maria SandovalPerez, College and Career Center Facilitator. Other major test content changes include: common vocabulary questions, more evidence based questions, algebra and problem solving math, and more science and social studies knowledge will be applied to reading and math sections of the test.
Q&A WITH BURKE
Sandoval-Perez recommended taking lots of practice tests to prepare for the new test. Khan Academy already has lots of practice tests for the new SAT. “Taking the PSAT is also another really good way to prepare,” she said. Although some students may be nervous about the changes in the SAT, it appears that the test will benefit students. According to the College Board’s website, the new SAT is, “the test that measures the real skills you’ve learned in class to show colleges you’ve got what it takes.”
EMMA BEYER
A: “No, the fact that I have been here for 22 years, I think I have pretty much understood what was coming, maybe not the volume of things that fall under it, but I think I have been pretty familiar with the type of issues and responsibilities, so I think I was prepared.” Q: What has been the highlight of your year so far? BURKE DISCUSSES HIS FIRST YEAR AS PRINCIPAL A: “Homecoming Week. Watching the student and staff participation during BY JORGE QUINTERO SALINAS writer Homecoming was amazing. Mrs. Canady’s recognition and students’ recognition for academic performances were pretty cool to see as well.” Q:What is your biggest challenge? A: “My biggest challenge has been spending the time I would like to with each of the individuals I work with, I feel like I’m more spread thinner and not able to go in depth as I’d like to. I would say that and I would say E-mails! E-mails are killing me! I want to test out a no e-mail week.” Q: Are there any changes you would like to make this year? A:“No. A lot of students thought I was making a bunch of changes with attendance and the dress code and everything else, but all we’re really doing is trying to be consistent. I don’t have my own personal agenda by any means.” Q: What do you think of the students of MHS? A: “I really think that we have the nicest, most spirited group of students in the state. I’ve always been drawn to the people here. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else and that’s because of the kids that are here.” Q: What do you think of the staff at MHS? A: “Love the staff! Our staff would do anything for each other, I like to spend time with them.” Q: How is this year going so far? Q: Anything you’re looking forward to? A; “I think it’s been going pretty smoothly, I’m enjoying the fact that I get to spend A: “I’m looking forward for the next season to start, the next series of events that go more time with the students, as well as the staff. I’ve made a commitment to be in- on. I enjoy going to choir concerts, I enjoy watching people doing things that I can’t volved and present in all the activities that we are having. It’s been fun! It’s been a very do.” busy fall season.” 3 The Bruin DECEMBER 2 2015 mhsbruin.com Q: Is the role of principal different than what you thought it would be?
NEWS
ASB FEES EXAMINED
FLYING HIGH
ASB APPROPRIATES MORE THAN EXPECTED $250
YOGA
ASB FEES PAID: $40,524
$260 $300 PROJECT UNIFY PAY IT FORWARD $300 PING PONG
ASIAN CULTURE
$350
ART CLUB GSA INTERNATIONAL
ASB MONEY ALLOCATED TO CLUBS: $27,072
$400 $450
DOERNBECHER
$460 $500
FCA
$500 $500 $500
EQUESTRIAN ENVIORNMENTAL CULTURAS UNIDAS $500 LINK CREW
ASB MONEY TO ATHLETICS: $8,905
$600 $625
THESBIANS DRAMA CHEER CHOIR SPEECH & DEBATE
$850 $965.99 $1,400.00 $2,000.00
MODEL UN ROBOTICS BRUIN ASB LEADERSHIP & ACTIVIIES
MONEY LEFT: $4,546
$2,500.00 $2,500.00 $2,772.51
ATHLETICS BY ETHAN COLLINS
$6,330 $8,905.41
features editor
Last month, as well as helping with Homecoming 2015, ASB Leadership finished budget allocations for McMinnville High School Clubs. These allocations come from money funded by the students that purchase ASB at the beginning of the year. The budget they were working with started at $31,618, which is approximately 700 students contributing ASB to the general fund. Compared to previous years averaging $25,000, this is a twenty percent increase and is a figure that has profound effects on the school. With the emergence of new clubs and the need for established clubs increasing, the increased budget offers greater opportunity. Current allocations rest at $27,072 with $4546 remaining for next semester for clubs that missed the budget request deadline or formed after requests were due. In an interview with current ASB Treasurer Jorge Bautista and ASB Leadership Advisor Susanne Sayles, Sayles 4
NEWS
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015mhsbruin.com
said, “Looking back, I think that we spent more than we were expecting, but in that moment, we were like YEAH!” Sayles attributed this increase in spending to the larger budget as well as the increase in the number of clubs and their activity. Clubs that previously flew under the radar have expressed a need for funding. Allocations were based on current number of members, presence in the school and community, total fundraising for club budgets, the amount requested, and what the requested funds would go to. Received funds are intended to reflect these considerations and for clubs that received less than requested, it is suggested one of these fields were lacking. One issue that faced McMinnville High School this year was that many groups had yet to meet prior to the budget request deadline much less elect their executive members. As a result, not all clubs were able to submit forms by the due date or submitted forms may have
reflected predictions that were premature. Moving forward, Sayles and Bautista suggested more work on leadership’s part to establish better lines of communications with club advisors and executive members. Requests were made for senior members of clubs to attend the meeting and validate their requests. Representatives from two groups were able to attend and this low number may be attributed to a failure in communication or because clubs had yet to meet and were in a dash to make requests. Another suggestion was for club elections to take place at the end of the year so that clubs have ample time throughout to set them up for the next year, ask questions and communicate with their members before the hustle and bustle of a new year begins. As the next semester approaches, so does a new start for this year.
A&E
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT EDITOR JOE GULLO
IS JAMES BOND GOING EXTINCT?
ITALIANS & US TV
THE JAMES BOND SERIES CONTINUES WITH THE NEW EDITION, CALLED SPECTRE, WILL COME OUT THIS MONTH BY JOE GULLO
ITALIAN STUDENTS GIOVANNI AND CLAUDIO DISCUSS AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT
a&e editor
BY JACOB FOWLER
writer
As most of the world knows, America is a country with a passionate and very professional entertainment industry. Throughout time and history, music, film, television, radio, and theater have gone through evolution and have received critical acclaim in culture. Now, here in the U.S.A, it all feels normal, but people from other countries have a different perspective on the Ameican entertainment industry.
With the recent release of “Spectre” and the continuation of the longest running movie series with the same central character, James Bond is on top of the world. Many people, however, are questioning if the series should close its doors forever. While “Spectre” did gross $70.4 million its opening weekend putting it just behind “Skyfall” as the highest grossing bond film in the series, critics have not been super kind towards Spectre. The question remains, is the character of James Bond going to end soon with Daniel Craig? First, it needs to be known that this is definitely Daniel Craig’s last movie, so the public will have to say goodbye to one of the greatest Bonds ever. The team behind Bond’s movies is looking
for a new actor to replace him. Leading the pack are heavyweights such as Tom Hardy, Colin Firth and Idris Elba followed tightly by lesser known actors like Damian Lewis. It needs to be realized that the Bond team wants to make a new movie, and although “Spectre” wasn’t a critical phenomenon like “Casino Royale”; it did make $70.4 million in its opening weekend. Plus, one downfall is not something new to the James Bond series. “The Man with the Golden Gun” debuted in 1972 and only made 21 million; however the Bond series has lasted 43 years since. On the other side of the spectrum, many people offer the argument that James Bond is culturally not up to date. The argument is that there
haven’t been very many positive depictions of African Americans or women and that things like drinking and womanizing are too positively depicted. People also say that losing a star like Daniel Craig, and relatively negative critical reviews are a little bit too much for the series to handle. Both sides show good argumentation, and neither one has any really weak points. Whether it be negative depictions of women or $70.4 million both sides should be respected. Overall, it is up to the public to decide the answer to a question that affects many people. Is James Bond going to continue his reign as the longest running character of a movie series, or should he become extinct?
Giovanni Mariotti and Claudio Conte are two exchange students here at MHS that are visiting us from Italy, who say that they love the film and television here in the United States. “In Italy, I already watch mostly American movies,” said Conte, “I love them.” Both students said that they loved to watch American movies, even though they were raised in Italian culture. Mariotti said, “Only about three channels have Italian television, and the rest are American. One that I love is Breaking Bad.” Conte said, “I’m currently watching The Walking Dead; it’s one of my favorite T.V. shows.” When asked, both of them said that they love everything in American arts and entertainment. “Of course I still love Italian entertainment, it’s my culture and home, but things in America hold a special place within me.” Mariotti said.
The Bruin APRIL 5, 2015 mhsbruin.com
4
A&E
MOVIE REVIEW
THE MARTIAN IS HERE
CINEMA 10
HWY 99, MCMINNVILLE OREGON
MATT DAMON STARS IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR
Imagine your biggest fear... Then multiply that by 1,000. In this year’s newest blockbuster hit, “The Martian” Matt Damon stars as botanist Mark Watney who is abandoned on the desolate planet of Mars. With the odds very much against his favor, Watney somehow manages to survive long enough for NASA officials to find him. His crew, made up of Captain Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Beth Johanssen (Kate Mara), Rick Martinez (Michael Pena), and Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan) race against the clock for the majority of the movie in order to find their abandoned crewmate. SYDNEY STERN During his 724 days of solitude on Mars, Watney uses his sheer brain power to grow life on Mars and create a sustainable living environment. Of course, something is bound to go wrong. With a plethora of missteps from both Watney and the head of NASA (a very nefarious Jeff Daniels), the chances of survival seem unbearably slim. I mean it, throughout the whole movie I had my hands over my eyes, horrified that I was going to watch the beloved Matt Damon die. Overall, “The Martian” was an excellently made film, especially when it came to the special effects. There have recently been a lot of comments comparing “The Martian” and Matthew McConnaughey’s 2014 thriller, “Interstellar.” I personallly appreciated the plot of “Interstellar” much more than “The Martian,” only because of all the twists and turns during the film. “The Martian” was just Matt Damon trying to get home and things getting in his way. I would 100 percent recommend this movie to anyone who likes intense thrillers. Those with weak stomachs and tolerance toward constant mishaps should probably avoid it. It is definitely a fun movie to see on a date or with a bunch of friends. RATING: PG
RUNNING TIME: 2 hr 22 min 5
The Bruin APRIL 5, 2015 mhsbruin.com
MOONLIGHT THEATER
CURRENT LISTINGS
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
TAKING CARE OF OUR SOLDIERS FRANCESCA MORRISON’S FRESHMEN CLASSES PUT TOGETHER PACKAGES FOR OVERSEAS SOLDIERS
& LIVING HISTORY DAY AT EVERGREEN MUSEUM
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE VETERANS
The Bruin DECEMBER 2 2015 mhsbruin.com 6
Transgender Student Speaks Out
COVER STORY
Transitioning Toward Acceptance MHS MAKES CHANGES TO PROMOTE TRANS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
BY DIANA DENNEY
news editor
In the United States alone, there are approximately 700,000 people who currently identify as transgender individuals. This year at MHS, the number of openly transgender students has grown to an all-time high, at nearly 10 students. According to Nichelle Greene, counselor and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club adviser, this growth in people being openly transgender is due to the fact that celebrities in the media, like Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner, have begun to normalize it. In the world today, one is more likely to encounter transgender people, making it essential to be educated on the topic. MHS recognized this increase and has made some adjustments to make the school more trans-friendly. One such adjustment is the opening of gender neutral bathrooms in Fifth Hall over the summer and GSA plans to help transgender students with their transition through clothing exchanges. 8
The Bruin DECEMBER 2 2015 mhsbruin.com
Likewise, transgender students are still able to participate in OSAA sports, clubs, and other activities after their name and/or gender is changed in school, so long as they follow the specific guidelines about which gender’s team they are able to play on. The Bruin was recently able to interview a transgender student who attends MHS. The student knew in middle school that the gender they were born with was the wrong fit, but didn’t know that being transgender was an option until they reached high school. “It felt weird fitting into gender norms,” the student said. “The pronouns being used didn’t fit me,” and about a year ago, the student decided to come out as transgender while on a trip with friends. CONTINUES AFTER SPECIAL SOCCER INSERT
WHAT A RUN! OSAA STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS
GRIZZLIES MAKE IT TO SEMIFINALS, LOSE TO LINCOLN IN 2-1 HEARTBREAKER
2015
STATE SOCCER PULL OUT SECTION FINAL FOUR
EMMA BEYER
SENIOR JONAH CROWN PASSES THE BALL DURING THE QUARTER FINAL ROUND AGAINST ROOSEVELT IN THE 4-0 WIN. ORS MAC KEIZER AND SHAY BRISTOW REIGN AS KING AND QUEEN OF HOMECOMING.
SENI
SENI
ORS MAC KEIZER AND SHAY BRISTOW REIGN AS KING AND QUEEN OF HOMECOMING.
“AS A TEAM, WE CAME TOGETHER . . . IN THE PROCESS WE CREATED AN EXCITING ATMOSPHERE AT MHS.” JORY SHENE
ORS MAC KEIZER AND SHAY BRISTOW REIGN AS KING AND QUEEN OF HOMECOMING.
ENI
SPECIAL STATE S
GVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR S
CENTER BACK JOSE BAUTISTA
EMMA BEYER
(TOP)COACH JORY SHENE SPEAKS IN A HUDDLE WITH HIS TEAM AFTER THEIR SEMIFINAL LOSS
show (ABOVE)SENIOR
GABRIEL CEJA HOLDS THE LINE IN DEFENSE.
EMMA BEYER
SENIOR JOSE BAUTISTA SCORED SIX GOALS AND LED THE DEFENSE TO 11 SHUT OUTS THIS SEASON. THE GRIZZLIES ALSO CONCEDED THE LEAST AMOUNT OF GOALS IN THE STATE, EIGHT. BAUTISTA WILL PLAY COLLEGE show SOCCER IN THE NORTHWEST. “I THINK THE SEASON GOT PROGRESSIVELY BETTER, WE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO TOP OUR LAST PERFORMANCE. IT MADE THE SEASON MEMORABLE FOR ME,” SAID BAUTISTA.
SOCCER INSERT
EMMA BEYER
DEViN BALDWIN
COACH JORY SHENE AND SOPHOMORE CAMERON AUTENCIO CELEBRATE THE QUARTERFINAL WIN.
LOSS IN SEMIFINALS ENDS MAGICAL SEASON It was almost the storybook season. One game, the semifinals, ended the run for the Grizzly soccer team to advance to the state OSAA finals and possibly take the state championship. The team took a 2-1 loss to the Lincoln Cardinals [16-1-2]. Lincoln scored early in the first half with Carson Graham setting the Grizzlies back on the first score against them in nine games. Cardinals senior Nicholas Marcy collected a rebound in the goalie box and put Lincoln up 2-0. McMinnville kept up possession and pressure, finally breaking through in the 64th minute Even though the Grizzlies dominated possession for the remainder of the game, they could not capitalize and never scored again in the game. Head coach Jory Shene said, “This season was an incredible one full of great moments. As a
SENIOR RENEE RENSENDEZ SCORED THE ONLY GOAL IN SEMIFINALS.
EMMA BEYER
with a score from Renee Resendez’s free-kick.
team, we came together and reached goals and in the process created an exciting atmosphere for soccer at McMinnville High School. We had a team full of camaraderie and passion. Despite not becoming state champions, they achieved greatness with one one loss all season and were able to show the state what this town is made of.” It has been since the 2006 state championship led by current assistant coach Frankie Lopez that the team has made it this deep into the state playoffs. “It was tough to not conceded more than one goal all season until the most important game,” said Jose Batista. “I thought that even though we had a tough loss we had some great team chemistry this season,” said senior Luis Lopez. Senior captain Jonah Crown said, “The loss was really tough but we can overcome it and our season was great overall.”
SENIOR ANTONIO CABRERA GUARDS THE GOAL AGAINST ROOSEVELT.
EMMA BEYER
game of the season. We would have won the state title I if we could have gotten past this one
ENI
ORS MAC KEIZER AND SHAY BRISTOW REIGN AS KING AND QUEEN OF HOMECOMING.
THE TEAM
SEASON RECORD
S
15-1-2
ROSTER
No. Name Pos. Yr. 0 Antonio Cabrera GK 12 1 Grant Vicniar GK 10 2 Sergio Gudino D 11 3 Renee Resendez D 11 4 Jakob Wright M 10 5 Julio Ceja M 12 6 Carlos Lucas M 12 7 Jose Bautista D 12 8 Irvin Figueroa D 12 9 Efrain Rivas M 11 10 Isaias Flores M 12 11 Alejandro Martinez M 12 12 Ashton Walters GK 11 13 Cameron Autencio F 10 14 Luis Lopez D 12 15 Nicholas Denley D 10 16 Gabriel Ceja D 12 17 Jonah Crown M 12 18 Arel Espinoza M 10 19 Claudio Conte M 12 20 Christian Mancilla D 12 21 Omar Mena M 12
I
ORS MAC KEIZER AND SHAY BRISTOW REIGN AS KING AND QUEEN OF HOMECOMING.
ALL-LEAGUE
FIRST TEAM Antonio Cabrera GK 12 Jonah Crown MD 12 Cameron Autencio FWD 10 Renee Resendez D 11 Jose Bautista D 12 SECOND TEAM Isaias Flores MD 12 HONORABLE MENTION Jake Wright MD 10
SEN
“Being transgender is not about becoming someone else, it’s about being yourself,” the student said. This form of expression, however, has come under scrutiny. Transgender students have recently become targets of cyber bullying on Twitter by other MHS students. Even though this occurred outside of school, administrators became involved. “The school is obligated to step in on situations like this when a student’s peace of mind or the school climate is affected,” said Steve Cooper, Dean of Students. Other students at MHS have been, for the most part, accepting of transgender students at school. “I think we should treat them the same as everybody else,” said sophomore, Rupa Hanson. “We shouldn’t act weird about it.” Transitioning is hard for transgender people and their loved ones; however, there are many resources out there to help everyone understand what it truly means to be transgender. For family and friends of trans-people, there are many online resources and organizations such as, PFLAG which was created to help people in the transgender community. For those who believe they may be transgender, there are resources such as Outside In and SMYRC were created to help young trans-people. There are also many resources in McMinnville for trans-people, including: GSA club, which provides a safeplace for transgender students at MHS and the public library has a LGBT support group as well. Greene suggested that transgender students and their families seek regular counseling to help understand each other. Although being transgender has become a controversial topic over the years, it is important to make transgender students welcomed, and safe, at McMinnville High School. “Be open to difference, be open to more than just the two main genders. Throw gender stereotypes out the window,” Greene said. “You don’t have to be fully onboard, but trans-students will appreciate it if you use their preferred name and pronouns.” CHLOE ZINDA
“I sent an email to my mom just before I left. I wanted to give her some time to process before I saw her. She’s still not totally onboard with it, but she’s mostly gotten over it,” the student said. “My dad was surprised, but he was accepting and wanted to learn more about what it meant to be transgender.” When the student came out to friends on the trip, they found the amount of support received surprising. “I expected conflict,” the student said. “But there wasn’t any.” This student decided to officially go through a gender and name change within the school system at the beginning of this school year. To do this, the student had to fill out a form with parent approval, and then they needed to attend a meeting with school counselors and their parents to discuss what it means to be transgender and what the effects of the transition will be. According to Greene, there are many different ways a person can go about their transition. Often, the first step is changing the person’s name. “To finally be called the preferred name or pronoun makes a transgender person feel at home,” said Greene. Another step a person can take is to have hormones and surgeries to aid them in their transition, but not everyone who identifies as transgender chooses to do it. The student interviewed also stated that it is important to remember that gender transition isn’t a process. “When a person realizes that their assigned gender is wrong for them, their behavior changes and they become their true self,” the student said. “When you transition the point is not to fit a label, it’s to be yourself,” the student said. “Don’t let your fears get in the way of that.” Although the student also stated that the hardest part of transitioning was the fear of standing out, once actually coming out, it was fine. “The people who mattered the most were the ones who showed that they cared about me,” the student said. For the student, the best thing about transitioning, was finding friends who were supportive and trustworthy. “I didn’t feel like I had to hide anymore,” the student said. The student remains optimistic for the future and hopes to be happily attending art school within the next five years.
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com 13
OPINIONS
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR BEN STUART
MEDIA NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE WORLD MEDIA FOCUSES ON TRAUMA IN PREDOMINATELY WHITE COUNTRIES BY HANNAH SIEPMANN
editor
Each issue the The Bruin Editorial Board meets to discuss the topics of the school and give their opinion. The board is chaired by Hannal Seipmann & Emma Beyer [Co-editors] and Ben Stuart [Opinion Editor].
A
NO SCHOOL NOVEMBER
A B
Between a two-day week because of Veteran’s Day and parent-teacher conferences and now a three-day week for Thanksgiving, Mac High students are excited to get a break from their schoolwork. This year, No School November only has 7 A days and 8 B days for students, which provides a well-deserved relief from a stressful first semester.
SOCCER THRILLS US THIS SEASON
The world was shaken Sunday night by the news of terrorist attacks in Paris, resulting in the deaths of 129 civilians who happened to be watching a soccer match or eating at a restaurant or attending a rock concert. When the Eiffel tower went dark, the rest of the world lit up their buildings and monuments with the colors of the French flag. Millions of people from every corner of the globe were shocked by the killings and mourned the lives lost. But why do far fewer people hear of the atrocities committed in Middle Eastern countries and of the thousands of people who live every day afraid for their lives? Why aren’t the Lebanese or Syrian flags offered as overlays for Facebook profile pictures? In October, over 100 people were killed and 200 injured in Turkey as a result of similar attacks. Why didn’t anybody in the western world hear of this tragedy and mourn those innocent citizens? I’m definitely not attempting to trivialize the devastation that Paris witnessed last week because every life lost in the attacks is a tragedy. The senseless murder of completely innocent people whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time is horrific, and what the friends and families of the Paris victims are going through right now is heartbreaking. However, while the world weeps for Paris, we seem to be oblivious to the extent to which the people of the Middle East live with the apprehension that any day they could be killed by terrorists. The western world still can’t seem to differentiate between people from the Middle East and terror14
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com
ists; simply because one of the Paris attackers was a Syrian citizen doesn’t mean that the people of Syria have been any less hurt by terrorism than France was. The deaths of whites and Christians are not the only ones that matter, and they should not be the only ones for which the world grieves. The attacks in Paris shocked and caught the attention of the western media and the people of the world because they were completely unexpected. The western world can easily forget about the violence in the Middle East because attacks are “bound to hapHANNAH SIEPMANN pen” and so many die in that area of the world every day from bombings and shootings. Is a life somehow less valuable if it is lost in attacks that are a regular occurrence than in an unusual event? Is a Baghdadi woman’s death more justifiable because the violence was already in her backyard. Thelevel of violence that occurs daily is outrageous, and no innocent lives should be taken through senseless terrorist attacks, no matter if they’re Christian or Muslim, European or Middle Eastern. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims of attacks in Paris, Baghdad, and Beirut, as well as with the cities themselves. Nobody, in any part of the world, should have to live in terror like this.
Our soccer team, who went undefeated through the regular season, was heartbreakingly defeated by Lincoln High School in the semifinals of the OSAA State Tournament. Despite this one loss, they still finished with the best record in the state. Congrats to Jory Shene and the entire coaching staff & athletes for a great run. The Bruin created a special 4-page pull out to honor them this issue.
BLOOD DRIVE GETS BLOOD
c
The annual blood drive lead by Key Club got a much better turnout than was expected. Around a 100 students donated their time and blood to the Red Cross, when only about forty were expected to. Key Club did an incredible job running this blood drive and many lives were helped.
FIRE ALARMS WON’T STOP GOING OFF Classes have been consistently interrupted over the course of the last few weeks by fire alarms that won’t stop going off. Some people say that there is dust in the old fire sensors. Regardless, while it’s fun to get out of class every now and then, someday soon we may have a Boy Who Cried Wolf situation wher there actually is a fire but nobdy pays any attention to the alarms
MR. MAC HIGH BOYS CONTESTED
F
Several students at McMinnville High School took to soical media to contest the selection of boys in the Mr. Mac High pageant. The contestants of Mr. Mac High, selected by the Doernbecher Club executive board, all deserve to be in the pageant, and the board firmly believes that everybody has earned the right to participate, regardless of who they are. Mr. Mac High is about what the contestants can do for Doernbecher.
PARIS HIGH ATTACKS OPINIONS FLYING
GUN CONTROL
REBUILDING PARIS EVEN HERE PEOPLE ARE REALING FROM THE ATTACKS IN PARIS BY EMMA BEYER
editor
of the restaurants that were attacked. “I lived by Charlie Hebdo, only five minutes away, but wouldn’t have been a target. The bombings were different because I could have been a target,” said Stahl. Shootings are very scarce in Europe, especially France. I think of it as the 9/11 of Paris. In the event of these heinous crimes, Stahl only wants to go back more, “I wish that I was there healing with them. I want to be there.” Already the citizens of Paris are getting back into their everyday lives, walking through the streets and eating out at restaurants. All healing together. “Students are very open in schools and are talking to teachers about it [the attacks],” said Stahl. EMMA BEYER They have refused to succumb to the fear that ISIS wanted to implant in them and are rising above the murderers. Why go back to France now? Stahl replied, “I want to go back to prove that people can still live in Paris and have fun and be happy.” That’s a good enough reason for me. I hope to be able to travel to France and visit Jeanne this summer to talk to her in person. My prayers and love go out to the people of France.
THE JEANNE RIVOALLEN FAMILY
BY QUINN VAN HORN
editor
It is an unfortunate reality that school violence is becoming a part of our national identity. But this really shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the United States ranks number one in the world in civilian gun ownership. Not only does America contain a high density of firearms, but the average number of school shootings is by far the highest rate in the world. Increasingly, it seems that school shootings are regular QUINN VAN HORN occurrences, no longer capable of drawing national outcry as we grow hardened to the sort of violence which would have appalled and outraged us a decade ago. From 2013 to October 2015, a minimum of 156 shootings took place in American schools, and most of these went without fanfare: few people can recount the tragic events at Winston-Salem State University on November 1st, and relatively no one on the west coast heard of the shooting at Harrisburg High School in South Dakota last September. MCKENNA SUAREZ
This time ISIS chose the City of Lights. Why? Imagine sitting in a restaurant in Paris. The soft babble of conversation and laughter fill the room on a casual Friday night. At 9:25 p.m. the peace is broken with gunfire. I found out what happened right after I got home from swimming practice, it was all over the news, but no one knew what had happened. My first thought was of Jeanne Rivoallen, the French exchange student who spent a month with my family over the summer. She lives on the edge of Paris and could have been one of the over 130 victims of the ISIS terrorist attacks. All weekend I was so worried for my friend, until I got in contact with her through Facebook. Her family was safe. Her message was, “I’m very good. Don’t worry--and my family too. I pray for Paris.” It’s a weird feeling having someone you know halfway around the world have such a devastating event happen to their city. French substitute Meagan Stahl was living in France only four months ago, and she feels like she is still there. It hits home for her especially because the attacks were in places that she had seen regularly, “I passed the Bataclan (concert hall) everyday on my morning run.” Thankfully all her friends are okay, but it could have been her in the Bataclan or eating at one
GUN VIOLENCE IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LIVE
Strangely, the overall incidence of gun violence in America has plummeted in the last two decades, dropping by nearly fifty percent. It is in the face of this statistic that we ask ourselves – if the majority of the country isn’t committing acts of armed violence, what is compelling the nation’s kids to? Most likely, this is the result of a range of factors – overavailibility of guns, lack of support for the mentally ill, and a violent national culture have all shouldered blame in the past. Whatever the primary cause, America has it in abundance, but we can’t simply resign ourselves to accepting our failing. It’s impossible to definitively say what should be done, but it’s certainly no coincidence that the country with the highest rates of gun ownership is also the one which succumbs most frequently to school violence. That said, it is only once we commit to changing national policy that we can fairly expect to see a change in things, and until then, we are doomed to our designation as the ‘gun’ country.
The Bruin DECEMBER 2 2015 mhsbruin.com
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CHECK OUT
ACTION CORNER Bagels, smoothies, italian sodas, and more! Open everyday at lunch in the
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The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com
OFF CAMPUS LEO MARTINEZ
CHECK IT OUT BANNER’S RESTAURANT OFFERS ARRAY OF ENTREES BY LEO MARTINEZ AND ELIZABETH KOKORUDA writers and photographers
Banner’s is a popular Mac restaurant located near the school in the same cluster of stores as Dollar Tree. It provided a wonderful and open atmosphere. The décor was very minimalistic and basic, which was ultimately very aesthetically pleasing. The restaurant was pleasantly open, and it emitted a positive and family friendly vibe that was very inviting. Banner’s offers an array of food, for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Food selections are diverse, including Italian cuisine, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, steaks, seafood, and more. The food had a great taste, with a gorgeous presentation to go with it. When you look at the mouth-watering dish, you crave it even more than before. Also,
the first words that come out of your mouth are, “How appetizing and luscious!” The flavors were bright and divine. The food had exceptional flavor, and on the side, there was an unlimited supply of ranch with each dish. We were served by lovely waiters, and they always asked whether we were satisfied and well taken care of while serving us. The waiters weren’t rushing the customers or being rude. Banner’s had a very merry working environment, and the employees seemed glad to be working there. It was very pleasing there because it wasn’t a long wait for the food to arrive, which therefore made the entire experience lovely.
LEO MARTINEZ
WHAT WE LIKE: THE FOOD’S PRESENTATION The food was well-arranged on the plate, with vibrant colors and distinctive smells.
BEST DISH: CHICKEN SALAD
The chicken salad provided an array of flavors that were brought together seamlessly, resulting in a well put-together dish.
SETTING: OPEN AND FAMILY FRIENDLY
The restaurant was a very open space, and it provided relaxing music. It was decorated in nice, calming colors.
1310 N BAKER STREET (503) 474-6014 MONDAY 7AM – 3 PM TUESDAY-SUNDAY 7AM – 8PM
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com 17
2015
MHS CANNED FOOD DRIVE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL YCAP FOOD BANK BY BRINGING IN CANS TO YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER REIGNING CLASSROOM CHAMP KERRIE SAVAGE HOLDS THE COVETED CANNED FOOD DRIVE TROPHY
THIS IS THE GAL TO BEAT!
SAVAGE’S CLASSES COLLECTED OVER 4,000 CANS LAST YEAR
OUR COMMUNITY IS COUNTING ON US!
LAST YEAR MHS COLLECTED OVER 20,000 CANS Bring cans into your classroom teacher Dec. 7-18. YCAP will pick up cans on Dec. 18. There will be classroom prizes for most cans brought in.
FASHION BY DIANA DIAZ AND KOBY WRIGHT
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR DIANA DIAZ
fashion editor and photographer
JUNIOR ABE THORNBURG
SOPHOMORE FRANKY CARANZA
SOPHOMORE KASSIDY CROWELL
LAYERING MHS STUDENTS BUNDLE UP FOR THE FALL WITH LAYERS
JUNIOR SIMON ROLLERI
SENIOR ANNIKA MORSE
SENIOR ARIEL ACEVEDO
JUNIOR JJ RODRIGUEZ
The Bruin DECEMBER 2, 2015 mhsbruin.com.
WHAT’S BRUIN? Taurus (Apr. 20May 20): How are you reading this newspaper? You are a bull. Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20): Ooooh, Gemini. Oh ho ho ho ho. If only you knew. Watch out for hammers this week, Gemini. Cancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Just between you and me-what is up with Leo? I mean, did you see their pants today? It is sooo not flattering... But you look fine and stuff. Go chase your dreams or whatever, Pisces. Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): You are feeling confident and in command today, Leo! And those pants are really working for you! Go out there are prove them all wrong!
DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? CONTACT EDITOR NANCY MACIAS
CHILL’N WITH BENNI_STU
Every year I look forward to the last two months on the calendar, and one of the biggest reasons for this is that November and December are full of days off of school. Even when the District doesn’t actually give us a day off, a rainy November or December weekday is one of the best times to “get sick” and spend a lazy day at home. Now you might ask, “Gosh golly, what on this great green earth will I do for seven hours without putting on real pants and leaving the house?” Well I’m about to toss some great ideas your way. These are my four favorite things to do on a day home from school. 1. Take a nap. You’ve probably been putting a lot of energy into your life lately and getting at best six hours of shut-eye a night. Nothing will serve you better than setting aside two or three (or four or five) hours of this day without plans to catch up on sleep. 2. Make a crazy good Sick Day playlist. Whether you use Spotify or iTunes or Soundcloud, you’re going to need a quality soundtrack for your lazy day. Now remember that this day is all about chilling out, so keep it mellow. I recommend some old
school Kanye, the 1975, Ed Sheeran, or maybe some Skizzy Mars. Whatever floats your boat is good, but if I were you I wouldn’t put anything too rowdy through your earbuds. 3. Watch some old VHS movies. Rewatching movies is a pretty good way to make sure that you’re comfortable with whatever you’re watching, and this day off is all about comfort. You might not still have a VHS player, and that’s okay. The point is that if you’re gonna watch a flick, watch something that will put a smile on your face, like a Disney film that you’ve seen a couple hundred times. Another good thing about watching a movie you’ve already seen is that you don’t have to worry about dozing off and missing some of it. 4. Play a game. You’ve got seven hours of downtime, so you might as well have some fun. However, you’re likely alone, because all of your friends are at school, so you’re gonna have to be creative. Playing monopoly or chess against yourself is always a good time, or maybe, if you’re feeling particularly nerdy, you could spend your time playing a video game. I like to dedicate hours at a time to one game. Try to beat one of the Lego video games in a day, or beat the campaign mode of another game. Find a goal in your game and strive to achieve it.
CELEBRITY LOOK-A-LIKES
CELEB TWINS AT MAC HIGH
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your wisdom is underappreciated by those around you. Like that essay you wrote at three a.m last Sunday. It totally deserved an A! Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Check under your seat, because I’ve got a surprise you, Libra! Oh god. It’s biting your hand. Oh no. Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t know these were poisonous snakes! Maybe I should have just paid for an Outback Steakhouse gift card...
Seniors: 104 Rest of us: 109
CHLOE ZINDA
Aries (Mar. 21Apr. 19): Are you sure you’re not really a gemini? Your actions say otherwise, you traitor. Mars wants you to shape up this week, Aries!
DAYS UNTIL #WEOUTofHERE
JUNIOR GRACE CLABAUGH
POP ARTIST LORDE
MMA FIGHTER RHONDA R.
JUNIOR SUMMER PRESTON
Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21): You’re like, the scorpion sign, right? You probably like snakes. Here, take this box of poisonous snakes. No no no, they’re not that poisonous. Just...don’t tell anyone where you got them, OK? Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ve been struggling financially, but work opportunities are on the horizon. Seriously. I have ten minutes to finish these horoscopes and I just realized I probably should have taken that “psychic experience strongly prefered” thing a little more seriously. Pls send help. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are killing it, Capricorn! There is success in your future, and also cake. And I love what you’ve been doing with your-I mean, the axis of Saturn says that Capricorns are known for their acute sense of style.
JUNIOR KATELYN BLIVEN
VINE CELEB MIRANDA SINGS
SOPHOMORE NICK HOWARD
ACTOR NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
JUNIOR JACOB AVALOS
POP ARTIST BRUNO MARS
ACTOR TOM HIDDLESTON
TEACHER ERIC KNOEDLER 20
The Bruin OCTOBER 2mhsbruin.com