Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, November 9, 2012
www.issaquahreporter.com
Races decided Senior Justin Kim measures the refractive index on a glass fragment to see if it matches glass left at the crime scene, in Tricia Vannoy’s forensic science class at Issaquah High School. LINDA
BALL, ISSAQUAH & SAMMAMISH REPORTER
SCIENCE WITH A TWIST Issaquah High students get a chance to be crime scene investigators
BY LINDA BALL ISSAQUAH & SAMMAMISH REPORTER
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Senior Jennifer Duff uses tweezers to pick up a small piece of glass to analyze, in the forensic science class at Issaquah High School.
t’s easier to engage high school kids in learning if they can relate to what they are being taught — to the real world. Or in the case of the new forensic science class at Issaquah High School, the TV world, as in “CSI.”
This fall, science teacher Tricia Vannoy, started teaching forensic science, which she said is designed for every student — those who excel in science and math, or those who are struggling — because of the intense interest of the class. “Everyone likes a good mystery,” Vannoy said. She said the class focuses on the science, not the morbid aspects of forensics. The program was the brainchild of department head Linda Sorenson and Skyline High School teacher Ty Swiftney. With two grants — one from the PTSA and one from the Issaquah Schools Foundation — Vannoy was able to buy forensic kits for all the students, who number about 95, and are taking the class. Most are juniors or seniors, but she does have a few sophomores taking the course, like Amanda Fawcett. “I’ve always been interested in forensic sci-
LINDA BALL, ISSAQUAH & SAMMAMISH REPORTER
ence, and I love writing true-crime stories, so I wanted to learn more about it,” Fawcett said. Right now the students are studying and analyzing glass fragments from a makebelieve crime scene. One set of fragments are from the suspect’s shoes. The challenge is to figure out if those fragments match those found at the crime scene. The glass fragments are measured for density. Then different tests are done in lab to check the refractive index. Vannoy said as the class progresses they will be working with blood splatters and doing blood typing, where her class might
buddy up with the physics class because so much math is involved. Senior Justin Kim wants to pursue a career that involves science. His favorite class is chemistry and there is plenty of chemistry involved in the forensics class because the students use various chemicals to test evidence. The kits also include the tools they need to look at gunshot residue. When the students study toxology they will learn about techniques involved in drug testing — and no, they won’t be drug testing each other. SEE FORENSICS, 2
Those looking for drama in local elections Tuesday night were likely disappointed — at least on the Legislative side. After the first wave of results, Democrat Mark Mullet carried a comfortable lead over Republican Mark Mullet Brad Toft in the District 5 race for State Senate. The latest results before The Reporter’s deadline had Mullet leading with 53.75 Chad Magendanz percent of the vote, to Toft’s 46.1 percent. Also in the 5th District, Chad Magendaz (R) held on to a 10 point Roger Goodman margin over opponent David Spring (D) for Position 2. In the latest results, Magendaz, a former Issaquah Larry Springer School Board president, led with 55.1 percent of the vote to Spring’s 44.8 percent. In the 45th District, Roger Goodman (D) held a comfortable lead over Joel Hussey (R) for Position 1. Goodman collected 55.99 percent to Hussey’s 43.93. Larry Springer (D) also held a comfortable lead for Position 2, carrying 57.04 percent of the vote, to Jim Thatcher’s 42.87. The most tightly contest local race was the City of Sammamish’s Proposition 1 vote to gauge public interest on a Community and Aquatic Center. The latest results have 51.22 percent in favor and 48.77 percent against. For more on all the local races, turn to page 8 and 9.