Volume 49 Issue1 - October 4, 2013

Bases Loaded

Opportunity Village

page 2

page 5

a student-edited newspaper Sheldon High School

shstalisman@gmail.com

2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 49

Issue 1

October 4, 2013

Privacy: is it a right or a privilege?

A school district in California hired a company to view student social media in an attempt to stop negative behavior and bullying Kennedy Potts co-editor-in-chief

A Los Angeles school district recently hired a company to monitor its students’ social networking, and strong opinions are forming about the topic. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Glendale Unified School District paid a company named Geo Listening $40,500 to track the public activity of its students’ social networking sites for the year. If the company were to find evidence of bullying, suicide threats, substance abuse, or other actions that violated district policy, they were to report it to district officials.

This situation has sparked some controversy. It has posed many questions about students’ privacy rights and how far their school should be able to go in order to monitor their safety outside of school. Opponents compare their actions to government stalking while the school claims it is simply taking measures to protect its students. The district could possibly be challenged over violations of the students’ first and fourth amendment rights for practicing unreasonable searches and seizures and violating freedom of speech.

Some Sheldon students are opponents of the Glendale school’s actions, like senior Ashley Kim. Kim said, “It would be weird for schools to look at kid’s Facebook accounts.” She thinks that monitoring students’ social networking is a huge breach of privacy.

Even though the program is meant to promote the safety of the students, most are unhappy with the idea. Students consider it an invasion of privacy in a place where they are supposed to be able to

share thoughts and feelings with their friends without worrying about their school viewing the posts.

The district has yet to punish any student based on his/her social media post; however, it is not out of the question if an action warrants penalty. Sheldon senior Jordan Laughlin was asked if she thought schools should be able to discipline students for what they post online. In response she said, “I don’t think they should be able to do anything about things they find on the [students’] pages. It’s an outside of school activity.”

Not all students are against the school’s tactics, though.

Sheldon senior Ian Adair thinks that there is not necessarily anything wrong with what the school is doing because “it’s your responsibility to only post things you’re okay with others being able to see. It’s the internet.” It is true that if students’ pages are set to being “public,” they wave their fourth amendment right because they do not have an expectation of privacy.

English teacher Ms. Tierney shared her mixed opinion about the issue. “On one hand I think that it’s important to have personal privacy. However, at the same time, I understand that everything I post on a social network is out there for anyone else to see, and I am also responsible for what I choose to post.”

The program has reportedly had success so far. With the assistance of Geo Listening, the school has helped multiple

“It’s your responsibility to only post things you’re okay with others being able to see.”

- senior Ian Adair

photo by Holly Ford

teens who were dealing with depression and were speaking out about their suicidal thoughts online. The district decided to hire Geo Listening after experiencing two suicides within the last two years. These suicides occurred during a time when California reduced mental health services in schools. Some support the monitoring because they think it will provide necessary assistance to kids who need help and are too afraid to ask for it, or don’t know who to talk to.

While student safety is of great importance, Glendale School District’s decision to monitor its pupils presents an important question of exactly what rights a student has in regards to school, and just where the line between helping and hurting is.

New schedule, grading system have flaws The New schedule and grading system have everyone scrambling Holly Ford co-editor-in-chief The new trimester schedule is one of the many new initiatives that has turned Sheldon upside down. With an extra period, students have more classes to study for, and less time to do it with a longer school day. Classes are shorter as well, giving teachers less time to prep, more students to teach, and more work to grade in less time.

Proficiency grading is supposed to help teachers with their workload and free up more time for students, but it hasn’t turned out that way in the slightest. English teacher Ms. Tierney said, “Proficiency grading should make my job easier, and it could if my class sizes didn’t go up.”

The grading process isn’t that easy either. In past years teachers would use Easy Grade Pro, a simple grading software, to accumulate students’ grades. This year, however, they are forced to use Synergy: a new grading program that not only shows a student’s grades from middle school, but also takes much more time for a teacher to submit assignments. When a teacher tries to add an assignment to a class, she/he has to answer many mandatory questions that categorize the work given to

the students. Once in a category there are even more questions about the assignment, meant to standardize the scoring.

With teachers having more classes to teach, they have more work to do as well. Originally, Tierney only had one College Now Writing class. Even with just having it one period a day, Tierney accumulated 300 pages worth of senior papers to grade at the end of the term. Tierney said, “Now I have sixty students which is 600 pages of final papers to grade. It’s increased quite a bit.”

Most students aren’t too keen on the new schedule. Senior Nick Hetrick said, “With the earlier start time, traffic driving to school is outrageous. Last year it took me five minutes to drive to school, and this year it takes me 1520. And it’s even worse after school!”

For IHS it’s different as well. Senior Solan Megerssa said, “For every 30 days, we have 20 days of one particular class.” Megerssa later added, “It’s harder because we have less in-class time to get assignments done.” However, Megerssa likes proficiency grading more because homework isn’t required. Also, IHS no longer has a zero period because there are five classes in a day. Many students enjoy this because they now get to sleep in later in the morning.

The goal of proficiency grading is to eliminate the subjective grading and rely on concrete criteria. This is meant to make students learn how to be self sufficient in the classroom, and develop a good and steady learning

rate personally suited to them. Proficiency based grading better prepares a student for life out of high school as well, giving them deadlines they need to meet and letting them do the work to get there. Only time will tell whether or not these new initiatives will help or harm student learning.

photo by Kennedy Potts

Most students know the door to the scheduling office well since almost all students have or will have to make changes to their schedules this year.

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News

the Talisman

Opportunity Village: the homeless regain their lives Homeless people are provided a shelter on city land, but people have mixed opinions Isaac Meyer staff writer “Addressing homelessness is definitely important!” said senior Solan Megerssa.

Last summer, amid protests from homeless advocates around the community, the city of Eugene began working on an innovative new way to help the homeless. Opportunity Village, which opened last month, provides homeless people a legal place to sleep on city-owned property in west Eugene.

Up to 45 homeless individuals and couples will be allowed to sleep on the property in up to 30 portable structures built by volunteers. Homeless people are screened before they are allowed to stay, and the project is managed by volunteers. The project also includes resources, such as garden beds and a space for homeless entrepreneurs to conduct business, to help the homeless become selfsufficient and ultimately find housing. Already 15 people have moved in, and the Village seems to be operating smoothly. “It should work … as long as everyone pitches in to help,” said Scott Layman, the outreach and building coordinator at the similar Dignity Village in Portland.

But the project still remains contentious. Homeless advocates argue the project doesn’t go nearly far enough.

Some worry that with the opening of Opportunity Village, the city will feel they have done their part, and momentum for future projects to help the homeless will be less.

Advocates would like to see an expanded Opportunity Village, perhaps on multiple sites, as well as locations where homeless people can legally camp in tents.

Others are concerned that Opportunity Village will simply attract more homeless people to Eugene.

Opportunity Village board member Andrew Heben

disagrees with that viewpoint. “We have 15 people here now, and none of them have moved to Eugene because of Opportunity Village.”

Heben went on to explain how many other cities have already embraced similar concepts, including Portland and Seattle, so it’s unlikely that Eugene will suddenly become a magnet for the homeless. Referring to Opportunity Village, Heben added, “It’s not like it’s an unprecedented thing.”

Other cities in Oregon are watching Opportunity Village to see if it works out. “We’ve been contacted by many other cities across Oregon that want to do the same thing,” said Opportunity Village volunteer coordinator, Joline Kessler.

The concept for Opportunity Village

is based on Portland’s Dignity Village, which began in 2000 with a series of protests by homeless individuals and activists. Like Opportunity Village, Dignity Village allows homeless people to stay in portable structures on city-owned land, and it so far has been a huge success. Protestors from SLEEPS, or Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep, an offshoot of Occupy Eugene, collaborated with the Eugene City Council to establish the plan for Opportunity Village.

Homeless activists are also pushing for a number of other city-sponsored projects to help the homeless. In another recent victory, the city council has voted to allow homeless people to camp in tents on vacant city property or property offered by

photo by Isaac Meyer

Opportunity Village opened last month in west Eugene.

nonprofit organizations or businesses.

Some people are still critical of spending city resources on homelessness, given the city’s budget crunch, especially when so many cities have done nothing to help the homeless.

Layman disagreed, saying, “I believe they [the city] have an obligation to help … at least they should anyway.”

And Opportunity Village is primarily supported by donations and volunteers – the city just provided the land.

Opportunity Village supporters would like to see the project grow.

Kessler said she would like to see more sites around Eugene, and that Opportunity Village is a pilot project for a hopefully much larger program. In addition, Opportunity Village leaders would like to see a more permanent authorization to use the site, since the current permit expires in October 2014.

Kessler also said Opportunity Village can always use volunteers.

She is expecting to hold multiple fundraisers and volunteer work days in the coming months. “We’re excited to get people involved,” she said. In addition to volunteers, Opportunity Village currently needs donations of tools, building materials, nonperishable food, and warm clothing.

Volunteering at Opportunity Village Contact Joline Kessler (937)-470-8572 kesslejc@gmail.com Needs: volunteers, tools, builiding materials, food, clothing

Assad’s forces use of chemical weapons on rebel civilians

Sheldon students respond to Syria’s use of chemical weapons in the longlasting Syrian civil conflict Justin Duke staff writer

On August 21 Syria’s government led by Bashar al-Assad unleashed a deadly chemical attack upon the rebellion trying to overthrow the government. Over 1000 people were killed and hundreds injured by the toxic sarin gas.

The Syrian Civil War also known as the Syrian Uprising is an armed conflict between those loyal to the Bashar government and those seeking to overthrow it.

In April 2011, the Syrian army was sent to neutralize demonstrators across the country and after many years those protesters evolved into what is now the rebellion fighting the Bashar government. The Syrian government is supported with Russia and Iran’s military forces while Qatar and Saudi Arabia transfer weapons to the rebels.

In June 2013, the death toll number had reached 100,000. In addition, tens of thousands of supporters and protesters have been imprisoned and there have been reports of torture and terror in state prisons. This is not the first time Syria has used chemical weapons

and President Obama has made himself very clear that he will not ignore Syria’s use of chemical weapons. Russian experts found samples of sarin gas, and assigned blame to the rebels. On June 13, the United States announced that there is definitive proof that the Assad government has used limited amounts of chemical weapons on multiple occasions on rebel forces, killing 100 to 150 people.

Senior Eduardo Munhoz said, “We shouldn’t go to war with Syria because we can’t be certain which side is right.

Even if we knew who was right, we might just be helping Al-Qaida in the end.” There is a possibility that Al-Qaida could potentially use the Syrian uprisings chaos as a means to gain power in Syria by taking control of the government.

While there isn’t any present danger to the U.S., President Obama has made it very clear that America will intervene if there is any kind of chemical/nuclear attack on another country. Senior Samantha Green said, “There are other countries besides the U.S. that should be stepping in to resolve this conflict involving chemical weapons.” If Syria agrees to give up its chemical weapons it could take up to nine months if not a year to dispose of the chemical waste safely. The UN has agreed to take the chemical weapons and dispose of them in a mobile treatment center.

Even though President Obama said that he had the authority to issue a military order on Syria to punish the Assad regime, he instead decided to seek approval from Congress. “I know the country will be stronger if we take

this course, and our actions will be even more effective,” the President said. Senior Austin Hamilton said, “He probably decided to ask congress for approval so he can seem like a nice guy who wouldn’t abuse his power in office.”

Illustration by Micah Tamasakaa

Health care controversy continues in the community and across the nation Opponents of the controversial health care law continue to fight on as the Obama administration stands its Ryan Enos staff writer The newest addition to the social health care reforms has caused much controversy. Obama Care states that employees working over 29.5 hours a week are required to have healthcare and forcing the insurance companies to use 80% of proceedings towards rebates. Obama Care also covers kids under their parent’s insurance until they’re 26 years of age, and gives seniors discounts on their prescription medicines. Some people say that the government is making things too easy for people to get help that they don’t need and that the government is wasting money. Some people call this a problem, but some people call this a better way of

doing things, and some are undecided. Our very own economy teacher Mr. Temple thinks that this isn’t the exact solution we need. “This doesn’t help a lot because it isn’t good for the workforce.”

“Obama Care helps by allowing employees not to work too hard and makes employers pay their employees if they work more than 29.5 hours a week,” says sophomore Skyler Mazet.

According to Mazet, it is necessary to have this law because overworking employees can lead to stress and unhappiness among workers.

“We need to have something that helps employees receive more benefits with their jobs and there should be more benefits offered in the first place” said Mazet.

Many believe that the downside to having this law is that more and more employers are converting their employees to part time.

This helps the workforce by allowing more and more part time positions to open up, but hurts the workforce by not having enough full time employees. The restaurant Shari’s just con-

verted their entire workforce over to part time because of this law, and only did it because they did not want to pay healthcare for their employees. It is doubtless that this controversy will continue until resolved and all parties are satisfied which may never happen.

Entertainment

the Talisman

October 4, 2013

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The effects of crime in entertainment

Why are people so fastinated with crime in movies and on TV? Ethan Hauck sports editor

Picture this: a man lies on a cold steel table, with lights blinding him, mouth gagged and body bound, panic in his eyes. He starts to struggle as he sees a dark silhouette enter the corner of the room, grunting in fear, and the man screams as the knife lowers over him. This isn’t some twisted true tale, it’s the beginning minutes of a very popular television series - Dexter, which covers the double life of a man who works for the Miami police, moonlighting as a serial killer.

Crime in entertainment has become extremely popular recently, as seen in television shows such as Dexter, Breaking Bad, and Boardwalk Empire, as well as in video games such as Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row, and Sleeping Dogs. But why are people so fascinated by the idea of something so morally wrong? When asked about what makes Breaking Bad so appealing, junior Jonathan Kim says, “The factor of suspense, violence, and illicit activities is interesting and unknown to people like me who haven’t pursued any illegal activities, so watching it on TV is interesting.”

But what is it about crime that interests us?

Are we obsessed with wrongdoing as a culture, as a race, or as individuals? Crime is portrayed in almost all entertainment. We’ve been given the obvious “good guy” to root for: the hardened New York cop, the aged NCIS investigator, or the brilliant CSI team member. Junior Jarod Bays said, “Cop shows are the same as any other form of entertainment - it’s escapism. People like variety, and taboo is a great way to do that. You can picture these horrible acts mentally without committing them, and people won’t [usually] act on these ideas, so why shouldn’t they watch this as entertainment?”

Lately, violent entertainment has come under scrutiny as the sole cause of violent acts, such as the recent Navy Yard shooting, as well as the Aurora incident. Both people to blame for these incidents enjoyed playing violent games such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. But is crime-based entertainment to blame? Sophomore

Bryttnie Holden said, “I think people who already have issues will be affected by it, but otherwise people aren’t affected by it. The way the media portrays it is stupid; if it’s in a video game or movie, it’s cool and fun, but if someone does these things in real life, it’s horrible and the entertainment is to blame. It’s ridiculous!”

Sheldon students react to J.K. Rowling’s newly-released book The Casual Vacancy is not J.K. Rowling’s normal fare

to read it, perhaps because the novel is not about the usual world of muggles and magic, but about the struggles of being an adult.

Ayla Bussel copy editor J.K. Rowling’s new book has recently been released and it has got Sheldon students talking. Sophomore Wyatt Wilcoxin said, “Her new book will probably be as popular as the Harry Potter series if they advertise a lot for it and make commercials so that it will be a big deal and people will get excited about it.” The Casual Vacancy is Rowling’s latest novel, and it has many fans already eagerly turning each page.

When asked why he thought waited such a long time to come out with a new book, sophomore Josiah Darland said, “Because she’s loaded! She didn’t need to make any more money after producing the Harry Potter series.” Rowling’s latest release has got many fans buzzing with the excitement and nerves about a book without the beloved Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. The book is completely separate from the idea of the witchcraft and wizardry that encompassed Harry Potter. The fans have mixed feelings when it comes to the topic.

Sophomore Daniel Osipovich said, “I might read her new book, but I will still see her as the writer of Harry Potter, so this new book will probably be hard for me to read.” Overall, the release of The Casual Vacancy has many fans worldwide anxiously awaiting the arrival of another novel from J.K. Rowling. However, it seems that many Sheldon students are not as excited about the new release and are unsure of whether or not

Illustration by Micah Tamasaka

Many people love to play violent video games; in fact the recentlyreleased Grand Theft Auto V just grossed over $1 billion, and is the highest selling video game in U.K. history. Meanwhile, Breaking Bad and Dexter are on their way off of television, and are popular as ever.

People say that crime is awful, but seem to love it on their television screens.

Talisman Staff Editor-in-Chiefs

Holly Ford Kennedy Potts

Frontpage Editor News Editor Entertainment Editor Features Editors Opinions Editor Sports Editor Backpage Editor Graphics Designer Copy Editors

Holly Ford Noah Jang Ben Ely Kennedy Potts Jarred Rogers Ethan Hauck Micah Tamasaka Micah Tamasaka Ayla Bussel Sam Fox

Staff Writers Justin Duke Daniel Halstead Jonah Jellesed Kayla Wilbur-Bash Trisdon Zepeda

TJ Barber Ryan Enos Sam Holmen Isaac Meyer Noah Savage

Staff Advisor

Greg Cantwell

A message from the Talisman The Talisman is run by students for students. The views expressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talisman staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Sheldon community. If you have any letters to the editor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a letter in our box located in the office. We kindly reserve the right to edit all stories we print. photo manipulation by Ben Ely

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October 4, 2013

the Talisman

Features New club gives students a creative outlet

The Creative Club provides an oppurtunity for students to share their creativity with each other once a week Sam Fox copy editor

There are many long-established clubs at Sheldon, but every now and again, somebody takes the step towards creating a new one. That’s exactly what happened with the Creative Club. The Creative Club is a club in which its members are asked to make something creative once a week, bring it to the group, and show it to the other members in order to give and receive constructive criticism. It can be anything creative such as cooking, painting, drawing, or even just coloring in a coloring book. The purpose of the club is to bring out the artist in everyone and give its members an outlet. A member of the club, sophomore Madisen Honey, said, “[The club is] about expressing your creativity.”

People can feel uncomfortable joining clubs, and most clubs require some kind of background knowledge or a certain interest that a person must have. This club was meant to be something that required nothing but a person and his or her creative spirit. Sophomore Taylor Marvel said, “[Sam Fox started the club] because there are not a lot of activities

that a student can just jump into and suddenly be a part of.”

Sophomore Bailea Nance said, “[Sam Fox] started the club because she thought that we should be involved in something.”

In a school as big as Sheldon, it is easy to feel disconnected.

In this club, people are encouraged to try their hand at new things and to express themselves without worrying about being judged or unfairly criticized about their work. Members of this club can do anything that allows them to express themselves. Marvel said, “I am going to do drawing, painting, cooking, and creating 3D stuff.”

photo by Sam Fox

Honey added, “I’ll probably draw, cook, and color.”

Students may now be wondering whether or not this new club is accepting members quite yet. “We only have six members, so yes we are open to new members,” said Nance. Marvel added, “We are accepting people of any grade into our club and we hope to get some freshmen to carry on the club after we’ve graduated.”

Currently, the Creative Club does not have a teacher to sponsor their club but they are trying to find one. “[We are] trying to figure out a place and time to meet but until we have more members we are more focused on getting a teacher to sponsor us,” said Nance.

“[Sam Fox started the club] because there are not a lot of activities that a student can just jump into and suddenly be a part of.”

-Taylor Marvel

Taking power into their own hands - today Power of Today club has been working hard in order to improve the living conditions of others Triston Zepeda staff writer Can you imagine what your life would be like without a clean source of water? Think about how many times you’ve used clean water in the past day. You’ve probably: taken a shower, brushed your teeth, flushed a toilet, cooked dinner, washed the dishes, watered the plants and of course used water for drinking. Having a clean source of water is something we in America take for granted, but

in less fortunate parts of the world finding a suitable source of water for your family is a battle many have to face every day. Many families will have to walk miles just to fetch a single pale of water, which they will have to use for everything, from bathing to nourishment.

The water that some collect is rancid. In countries like Somalia, children from the ages of five to ten suffer from blindness caused by Bacterial Endophthalmitis and Bacterium Serratia Marcescens found in the contaminated water; others are infected by the Guinea Worm (also known as Dracunculiasis, a worm spanning up to four feet long that lodges itself inside connective tissue and feeds on it until they are pulled out of blisters.)

But through all these hardships there are groups dedicated to providing aid for those less fortunate. The folks in the Power of Today Club, or POT, have taken it upon themselves to raise money for the construction of a well, capable of providing 600 gallons of water a day for

those who need it. They will be donating all the money that they raise to the World Vision program, the largest relief organization in the world. When asked where the well would be put in, senior Annie Beckstrand and president of the Power of Today club said, “We don’t yet know where the well will be built, but we are giving all of the money to World Vision and they will put it in where it’s most needed.”

As of last week Power of Today has raised $2100 through various fundraisers: change drives, candy drives, car washes, base drives, restaurant fundraisers and an event called the 30 hour famine, where members of Power of Today attempted to go 30 hours without eating while sponsors donated money for every hour they succeeded.

For the future, Beckstrand said that they don’t plan on moving on to any other world issues, “After we’re finished raising the money, we are probably going to stick with the water issue.”

New teacher profile: Mr. Wardwell The most recent addition to the Sheldon community shares a little about himself Daniel Halstead staff writer Mr. Wardwell is new to Sheldon and most staff and students don’t know a lot about him. He has taught at many schools including Pilot Rock High School, Illinois Valley High School, and Umatilla High School. In his high school years he played basketball, and he did track and field. He attended Griswold High School in Helix, Oregon, and went to Blue Mountain Community College. However, he finished at Southern Oregon State College. He has been involved in physical education for 23 years and loves teaching students.

Mr. Wardwell said, “I like all my students because they are all fun to have in class and they always have a good time.” He believes that Sheldon High School has treated

him well. He loves all sports that are in season right now, and his favorite player at the moment is Zane Wardwell for the Elmira Falcons High School football team.

Addressing student health habits, Mr. Wardwell advises students to stay away from any corn syrup products to maintain a nutritious diet. Healthy foods to eat on a daily basis are a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, anything with carbohydrates, and meats with low amounts of fat. Moderation is very important as well. His favorite food is a German dish called Grout Brook which is made of hamburgers, cabbage, onion, bacon, rolls, and salt and pepper. His favorite beverage is club soda.

Sports aren’t the only activity he enjoys. He also values spending time with his family and friends. As a hobby he takes pleasure in going fishing at the Willamette River.

Wardwell said sports are important to have in schools because they stimulate students’ brains. Mr. Wardwell also added, “Students need to move and not sit around all day playing video games and watching television.” On average, a teenager spends twenty to thirty hours a week on ‘screen time’ (www.sciencedaily.com).

Like other physical education teachers here at Sheldon High School, Mr. Wardwell is thrilled to come here to teach students about being active and the positive benefits of having a healthy lifestyle.

photo by Justin Duke

October 4 , 2013

the Talisman

Features

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Bases Loaded: an up-and-coming local band Three of Sheldon’s own students have formed a band and are looking forward to a bright future.

Kayla Wilbur-Bash staff writer It seems like everyone dreams of starting a band at some point in his or her life, but very few people actually do. Just under two years ago, three Sheldon High School students dared to follow that dream. Their band, Bases Loaded, consists of four members: senior Calvyn Villarino on lead guitar, senior Conor Drydon on bass guitar, senior Daniel Halstead on drums, and senior Aaron Kost singing lead vocals. “[Daniel and I] were friends and we started playing together, and I brought in Conor and we met our singer Aaron [through my church],” said Villarino of how he and Halstead started the band.

Since the beginning of their band they have played in many places from Cosmic Pizza, to the Eugene Summer in the City Event. They even won the Eugene Battle of the Bands. “We played a house show not too long ago and the cops came [because we were too loud],” said Villarino. They only play original songs, which makes them unique, and a big hit with many of their audiences.

Being inspired by bands like A Day to Remember, Fall Out Boy (in their early years), and All Time Low, it’s no surprise they consider themselves a Pop-Punk and Alternative group. However, a lot of their songs are based

on their faith. “Jesus is inspirational,” said Drydon.

When asked about the origin of the band name, Villarino said, “I found it somewhere. We used to have a different name. We’ve gone through like three.”

They practice at least once a month, sometimes more if they have a gig coming up. When asked where they practice, Drydon said, “At our drummer’s house, Daniel, in Coburg. He has the biggest house and you can’t really move the drums. And Daniel’s not that masculine.”

If they were to ever become famous, they seem to have a pretty simple dream. “[We want] one big show with a really enthusiastic crowd,” said Villarino. (above)photo by Bases Loaded

“We played a house show not too long ago and the cops came [because we were too loud]”

-Calvyn Villarino photo by Vilma Halstead

Food Review: Coburg Mongolian Grill Nick Hetrick contributing writer Upon entering the Mongolian Grill on Coburg Road, I knew right away that this restaurant had potential. The atmosphere was clean and vibrant, and the smell from the hot grill filled the restaurant. While having only been open for a few weeks, Coburg Mongolian Grill is definitely a place students should try. The employees were very nice, and seemed to value our opinion of the new joint. Like most Mongolian grills, customers are given their bowl and can begin their creations. The restaurant had four types of noodles/rices: yakisoba, spicy, rice, and plain, and several types of fresh vegetables. Also offered are four types of meat: beef, pork, chicken, and the unusual choice of hot dogs. After the customers pick their noodles, veggies, and protein, they begin the sauce selection. Sauces are where the flavor of the dish really comes out. For my first bowl I went Teriyaki sauce as my base (4 scoops), as well as garlic (2 scoops), chili oil (just a quick shot for some kick), sesame oil (2-3 second dousing), and soy sauce (2 scoops).

The cooking process is entertaining; watching the cook prepare the dish brings the customer closer to their food.

Just before the food is finished cooking, the cook will ask if you would like a shot of teriyaki - I recommend taking that offer. The food was very good, my sauce selection was on the sweet side (too much teriyaki - I would reduce to 3 scoops) but the overall flavor was spot on. My second bowl was Mongolian sauce based (3 scoops), and had just the right amount of soy sauce and spice. Wraps are available for

Chris Hughes contributing writer $0.50 cents and you get three of them, which allow for the creation of a delicious dumpling. Also included with the lunch is a bowl of egg flower soup and white steamed rice. The soup was good, but I found myself eating my noodles over the soup. At $7.95 for the all you can eat student special, I find that the value is pricey for a student, but if you were looking for a very filling and flavorful meal I would recommend a stop at the Mongolian Grill. Overall for sauce choice, flavor, and quality of the experience, I would give the Coburg Mongolian Grill four out of five stars.

photo by Nick Hetrick

We all know there are many places to grab a bite to eat during lunch around Sheldon. There are several places, however, that slide under the radar.

One of these places is the Coburg Mongolian Grill. This new restaurant is in the same strip mall as Safeway, and is a nice change from the five or so fast food places we’re all used to.

It is a sit down buffet style restaurant with a clean quiet atmosphere. It very similar to Jung’s Mongolian Grill on West 11th, but Mongolian also serves you a hot bowl of egg flour soup and a bowl of rice. The staff was very nice and they seemed to welcome students, unlike some nicer sit down restaurants.

My only complaint of the whole experience is that there was less selection of sauces than Jung’s. The price is fairly good for this kind of restraint at $7.95.

Overall, this was a refreshing new place to eat, with a great atmosphere and a great staff.

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Opinions

March 4, 2013

the Talisman

Radioactive water leaks from Fukushima power plant uranium, plutonium, and tritium are moving into the ocean at an average rate of 600 tons of water per day.

Following the discovery, authorities raised the gravity of the Fukushima leak level from one to three on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES); level three is considered to be a “serious radiation incident.” On August 28, according to Aljazeera America, Japan’s nuclear regulator said that the radiation readings at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant have risen by more than a fifth, fostering anxiety among the Japanese people as well as people of neighboring countries. Shortly after the report, South Korea responded by banning imports from Japan’s northeast coast.

However, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, according to a report by Voice of America, assured the public that

Japan’s nuclear radiation problem may be bigger than we experts originally thought Noah Jang news editor Three years ago, some students were shown live pictures of the catastrophic disaster in Japan.

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northeast Japan. The earthquake caused a 40-foot-high wall of ocean water to hit the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and triggered meltdowns in reactors 1, 2, and 3. This was the greatest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

The cleanup project, which includes decommissioning the damaged

reactors, has been taking place since that day, but according to recent reports, things are not looking so well.

Recently, on August 19, news agencies reported that 300 tons of highly contaminated water had leaked from a storage tank at the plant and seeped into the ground. The report suggested that large amounts of contaminated water are being spilled into the Pacific. Now it is suggested that toxic elements such as iodine-131 and 129, cesium-134 and 137, and strontium-90, and several isotopes of

the Fukushima Daiichi power plant is under control, a few days after Tokyo’s successful bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Although ocean waters contaminated by radioactive materials are not visible to us, their implications to local fisheries and foreign fisheries, are quite obvious.

Tokyo Electric and Power Company and the Japanese officials should pay more attention to undertaking accurate scientific measurements of the radiation levels and analyzing the effects it could have on the aquatic ecosystems nearby. It has become obvious that more research and better planning for nuclear energy are a necessity. It is also time to start an international partnership in discussing possible threats and preparing for consequences.

illustration by Micah Tamasaka

E-cigarettes: the newest product to cause controversy In November of 1971, Hunter Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was released. The book chronicles the story of protagonist Duke as he tries to find the American dream in a drug-fueled haze. One of the themes of the book is the drug craze of the sixties and how that impacts life. Drugs still impact our lives today, but in different ways. New products are developed, new chemicals synthesized, and new trends created. Fear and Loathing did an excellent job of showing the life and mind of an addict - unfortunately, this article isn’t about that book. The latest fad to sweep the nation are e-cigarettes; originally a device used to help smokers kick their addiction.

Now, however, they are being used by freshmen everywhere for… well, nothing.

I think it’s a safe bet that most Americans have tried or at least come in contact with an addictive substance. Whether it’s nicotine or alcohol, recreational drugs have become a large part of today’s society. Of course, not everyone is an addict. Some people merely enjoy a drink or a smoke at a party, or to help unwind after a stressful day. For those who do become addicted, however, quitting is incredibly difficult to do. As a result, there is a large market for products to help ease any difficulties. e-cigarettes are one of the latest of said products, and some smokers are attempting to use them to help rid the need of actual cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes have been the cause of some debate. They are allowed in some countries, while others expressly forbid them. The adverse side effects are not yet known, so a fullon ban seems a little unreasonable. If negative effects are discovered later, then it will be justified, but until then, I say allow them. If an adult wants to use e-cigarettes to help with an addiction, that’s fine. If you know the risks, you should have the right to use this sort of thing.

While it is well and good to use e-cigarettes to kick addiction, for unknown reasons, freshmen have started to use them for other purposes. When I first heard this, I was amused that they thought smoking E-cigarettes was cool, but now I realize this could potentially heighten the chances of this product becoming more accepted. One bad apple does ruin a bunch, and it wouldn’t be fair to those who are using this to kick a smoking addiction if a bunch of high schoolers got it banned due to misuse.

Overall, e-cigarettes are a useful product that may help smokers kick their addiction. Whether it will be as useful as other products such as nicotine patches or if they will have any adverse side affects remains unseen, but in the end it appears to be a useful product for those smokers who wish to quit.

E-cigarettes are the latest product to help kick addiction- unfortunatley, that’s not all it’s used for Jarred Rogers opinions editor

illustration by Micah Tamasaka

New Catholic Pope’s philosophy brings mixed feelings Pope Francis reveals his stance on homosexuality and abortion, among other things TJ Barber staff writer “I see the church as a field hospital after a battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars!” said Pope Francis on September 19, 2013. This statement surprised many people in the Catholic Community, but some actually understood what he meant.

Several news sources spoke to Sister Mary Ann Walsh of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about Francis’ remarks. She remarked that Francis spoke “very pastorally” in that he was very inclusive. “I was struck by his metaphor of the field hospital,” she said. “A place where people come to be healed in a painful world.”

Senior Ian Adair said of the Pope’s quote, “Asking a question about something you can’t change is useless. What he said makes sense.” I had to agree with Ian on his opinion. Pope Francis has said many things that have been agreeable since he became the Pope in March.

The main thing he is focusing on is the church’s stance on homosexuality and abortion. He is attempting to change their main focus though, and I think that that is a good idea. He suggests that the whole church focuses on the community and how members can help locally and globally.

Adair said, “It is good for the church to change the focus but there could be a problem, because they are sensitive topics and they have been a concern for a while with the church. The past influence will remain for a while. However, they shouldn’t be ignored, but brought up at the right time.”

Popes before Francis have accepted the title people give them as “Holy Father,” but Francis has decided to call himself a Son of God instead. Adair and I both had the same idea of why this was.

According to Adair, this is because,“Pope Francis calls himself a Son of God because the church is the house of God, and he is a child of Him, therefore, he is the Son of God.” I like how the Pope has been trying to change the view of the church. I think that the ideas for being against homosexuals and abortion can change with guidance from the Pope, but it might take a little bit of work and time. I think it’s a good change for him to make. The church is your family; you should focus your actions and thoughts on your family. When you don’t take care of your family, it can fall apart.

Sports

the Talisman

October 4, 2013

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Sheldon soccer’s future bright in the face of adversity Sheldon soccer teams are committed to improving Jonah Jellesed staff writer “Sheldon is successful because of the large pool of talent, and very dedicated coaching staff,” said Pascal Konyn, sophomore midfielder for Sheldon varsity soccer. This young player thinks that the future is bright for Sheldon soccer, but like others, Konyn has some concerns with what direction the program will go in.

There are currently seven players on the junior varsity boys team and swing players from JVII and varsity who play on the JV team regularly.

Sophomore JV player Dylan Herron said, “I think that this program is strong, but I could use some more guidance from the coaches.”

Herron brings up some interesting points with this statement, like what

is the future of these young soccer players within this program?

There are currently seventeen seniors on Sheldon’s boys varsity team, and this could be potentially a big problem for Sheldon’s boys soccer in the future. Konyn also said, “I am worried about losing seniors, but I believe that we will have a strong team in future seasons.” This is expressing the same concerns, yet optimistic outlook most Sheldon soccer players have for the future. Right now Sheldon soccer’s main concern is the next game, and the rest of the season.

This is how they are so successful; they play in the moment, and leave it all out on the field.

Overall these two soccer players

Boys JV II plays Crescent Valley on Wednesday, October 2, 2013, at home.

would agree that the coaching staff is very committed and experienced. This will help the younger players in the program develop into Sheldon’s best talent by the time they are seniors.

Sheldon has some tough games still ahead of them heading into the state tournament. Konyn is excited for the state tournament and said, “State baby! We are going all the way.” It’s this kind of attitude and passion for the sport that will carry the program into the future.

photos by Ethan Hauck (upper L and R), Ben Ely (lower R) and Jonah Jellesed (lower L)

New 4j rowing team seeks members from area high schools Sheldon’s newest sport seeks more participants Noah Savage staff writer Before motor boats people had to use physical strength to maneuver their large boats through the high seas, with huge crews. Vikings, for example, pushed their oars in the water, pushing away from the boat, moving the boat in a forward movement. This method today is called rowing. Rowing is a sport practiced all around the world, and is also an Olympic sport.

Many countries participate in this sport during the Olympics, including America. In the 2012 Olympic Games

in London, America’s women’s rowing team won gold in the eight person race. Now Sheldon athletics have brought the opportunity for Sheldon students to participate in this great sport. Rowing has been around for hundreds of years, but has been newly introduced to the 4J school district. Students all over the district are new to rowing but that’s okay because no experience is needed! The OAR South Eugene Rowing Club Camp is a fun way for first time rowers to come and learn how to row. The great social environment and awesome councilors creates a great experience for anyone who is interested. The OAR South Eugene Rowing Club allows anyone from the 4J school district to join. According to the South Eugene Rowing Club website, all competitions will be held at South Eugene High School at the scheduled time.

The original South Eugene Rowing Club began in the

Cross country in full swing

photos by coach Tom Bolden Sophomore Jacob Sheldon (L) at LCC during the Northwest Classic on September 21, 2013 and girls team members practice on the new Sheldon bark trail (R).

spring of 1984 with a handful of rowers. The following summer the team had entered their first race. At the time, the team did not own their own equipment so they had to use borrowed equipment from the U of O. It wasn’t until the year 1995 when the team could afford their own equipment. In the year 2000 the South Eugene Rowing Club joined the OAR masters program and together they created the OAR junior crew. The team size varies from 30-100 students throughout selected schools. But since the year 2012, the OAR junior crew allows any student from any 4j school to come and join the team.

The OAR junior crew also has a middle school team.

The middle school team is only open to 8th graders in the 4j school district. This is a great opportunity for any 8th grader who is interested in rowing in the future.

Welcome to the

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October 4, 2013

Sheldon’s swim team dodges a bullet Fear strikes the Sheldon swim team as the beloved community center is almost lost because of budget constraints Ben Ely entertainment editor What is a football team without a field, or a hockey team without an ice rink? This is the exact scenario that the swim team faced when they almost lost the Sheldon Community Center, where the swim team practices and regularly holds meets. Due to funding issues, the city was considering whether the community center was worth keeping open. This issue produced a burning question: is the future of the Sheldon swim team still in jeopardy?

The Sheldon Community Center houses many different community amenities, including a preschool, before and after school programs, camps, a wide variety of

classes, a gymnasium, and, of course, a pool. When uncertainties with funding struck, the swim team was not the only possible victim; the many camps and classes would have had to find a different home, too. Sports are an important part of many students’ lives. Senior Lisa Evanoff said, “Sports are a good way [for students] to let out aggression and separate their academic and their home lives.” Evanoff later added, “I think it’s good for people to participate in sports, and the funding needs to be there.”

Possibly one of the largest groups that would have been affected by the possible termination of the community center from Sheldon’s point of view would be the swim team. Sophomore Avery Ford has been on Sheldon’s swim team since his freshman year. When asked what his

reaction was to the news of the pool possibly being shut down, Ford said, “I was peeved [that] the Sheldon swim team would have been shut down. Swimming is a large part of my life; both of my parents are swimmers.” For most members of the team, swimming is a large part of their lives.

Ford later added, “I can’t imagine not being on the [swim] team; it’s a great time and I wouldn’t want to lose that.”

Fortunately, the swim team lives on. The funding issues were resolved and the Sheldon Community Center is now able to remain open. It was a big win for the swim team and all involved. Now the center is able to continue with its normal routine of teaching kids the life-long skill of swimming, house one of the most popular after school camps, Kids City, and yes of course, be the noble home of the Sheldon swim team.

photos by Ben Ely/photo illustration by Micah Tamasaka

Pomegranate - the future of cell phones With the invention of the Pomegranate NS08, which can make coffee, will cell phone makers have to step up their game or will they fall behind in the market?

Micah Tamasaka backpage/graphics editor

coffee brewer. With it, all you really need is a mug and some water. In about 30 seconds you will have a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

People have been creating music since the beginning of time. With the advancements in technology over the past few years, the Pomegranate Company has implemented a feature in its phone that will allow its user to play a musical instrument, the harmonica.

With this feature you too can be Les Stroud, the Survivor Man. He is a survivalist and a musician.

He is also a bear in a man’s body.

The Pomegranate also comes with an electric razor that will allow you to shave whenever you want. This phone also has been built so that you can answer your phone and surf the web with all the power that a wireless internet connection can house.

With all of these technical advantages one might say that this is too good to be true. Well, it is.

The Pomegranate is a marketing campaign started by the government of Nova Scotia to promote its culture and life. It’s primarily trying to get people interested in Nova Scotia so that it will be able to bring in more business and attract tourists to visit and eventually live there.

New technology has always advanced our society as a whole and will continue to do so well into the future. With the rising of the next generation of hardware comes an interesting little development in the market of cell phones, one that will go where no other phone has gone before. The Pomegranate has supposedly been in development since 2007 and will be available soon, according to www.pomegranatephone.com/.

One of the features that this phone offers is a universal translator that will be able to translate any number of languages from one to another.

This feature will help bring down some of the language barriers between the different countries.

With the consumption of coffee and caffeinated beverages increasing in the recent years, many people find it easier to just go down to their local coffee shops to pick up their morning brew. But, what if you could make it at school or even in your office? A feature that the Pomegranate NS08 has is a photo illustration by Micah Tamasaka