May 15, 2017
History of Herbert Spencer Klein
humor editor ‘17-‘18
Herbert the Snail is not the official mascot, yet he has represented MIHS at assemblies and sports games for the past three years. In the 1950s and 1960s MIHS’ mascot was The Islander, a depiction of an Indian with a club. After the district terminated the offensive mascot, a Hawaiianlooking mascot garbed in a hula skirt and lei was suggested, but “they really couldn’t find anything that really looked official,” said athletic director Mark Jergens Zmuda. Then a new mascot originated by the MIHS students was created. The snail vision came from a track bag sporting the old district logo, with a wave and an M over it. It looked like a snail shell and its body. Students saw a snail and grasped onto the idea, despite protests from the administration. “We are the Islanders and there’s not a specific mascot or symbol,” said Jergens Zmuda. The district disapproval only
SPORTS
furthered student dedication to the snail. In the 1990s the Snail became more popular amongst students. “When I first got here it was kind of this forbidden thing,” said MIHS principal Vicki Puckett. “We weren’t supposed to allow kids to have snail gear because that’s not our mascot.” The process to make Herbert the official mascot would take two to four months, consisting of district approval committees, reaching out to alumni and surveying the Mercer Island community. “In 2001 I taught at Issaquah high school. At the time we were the Issaquah Indians and we embarked on a two or threeyear process of changing the mascot,” said administrator Jamie Prescott. Although the Snail has been rejected as a symbol of spirit, it is embraced by students. Herbert is a positive influence on school morale and a spirit booster at pep rallies and football games.
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A Non-Athlete’s Guide to Sports Lucile Shield
your skills and strengths by winning the warmups. Don’t No matter if you’re a worry if you don’t know the couch potato or an Olympic rules of the game; confidence athlete, MIHS requires you and enthusiasm will make get at least 1.5 athletic credits up for any ignorance on your to graduate. part. If the coach If you don’t still doesn’t seem have space for convinced, a small another class in bribe goes a long your schedule, way! a school sport Other tips: To get can help you fit quickly, do yoga. secure twoYour teammates thirds of the will be so impressed requirement if you can touch without taking your toes without PE. But the bending your knees! question is, make friends, Photo by Sophie Poole To how do you Lucille Shield demonstrates exercises to prepare you for next sports season. bring doughnuts join a sport when every other week; you can barely climb a flight check for $190 to the Athletic you can condition them to feel of stairs without getting Office. Stand straight and act happy when they see you. To winded? Fear not! The confident while you hand the suck up to the coach, break following three steps will papers to Ms. LeMaster in the into their house and leave teach all non-athletes how to Attendance Office and wave food there every night. They’ll get involved: away any comments about it be so thankful for your help, Note: Cheerleading and being too late into the sports that your coach won’t even Drill are a no-go. They’re season to join the team. notice when you don’t show year-round, so it’s a lot of Next comes the hardest up to practice! PS: Facebookcommitment, they require so part: convincing the coach stalking them is also not a bad much strength and stamina, and the rest of the team that idea. and you have to try-out to you can actually play your Don’t worry if you’re not do them. No couch potato sport. Make sure to show off the best! If all else fails, you front editor ‘17-‘18
would be able to make the cut. First, you have to sign up. All you need to do is fill out a few forms (found hidden in the depths of the MIHS web page) and bring them and a