Zack Childers: New Irish mascot
Zach Todd: Sheldon’s Football star
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Stephen Colbert: I Am America (And So Can You!) page 7
the Talisman a student newspaper
shstalisman@gmail.com myspace.com/shstalisman 2455 willakenzie Road, Eugene, Oregon 97401 volume 43 Issue 2 November 8, 2007 Sheldon High School
Multicultural Center teaches diversity New Multicultural Center celebrates diversity in its many different forms by Olivia Davis staff writer The beat of the drum echoed off the walls as Sheldon’s own campus supervisor Darin Henry performed a Native American dance while clothed in a colorful and bright traditional costume. A Japanese dance was performed by four individuals in vibrant kimonos as well. These performances were just two of many that took place during the open house for Sheldon’s new Multicultural Center which happens to be the only one to exist in our area. In fact, no other school in the district has a multicultural center. The Multicultural Center, formerly known as the little theater, is located between the auditorium and the art room, and it’s not hard to miss. There are two double doors that open up to the new world of the Multicultural Center. There is also a class offered this year, Multicultural Studies, that is part of the new Multicultural Center. The class lasts for a term, and is currently during second and third period.
The Multicultural Center itself is just like one big club for anyone interested in a new and intriguing experience. José Alonso, the teacher of the Multicultural Studies class, stated, “The Multicultural Center and the Multicultural Studies class are the result of the leadership of [Principal] Dr. Bolden and his desire to prepare our students for the diverse world they will encounter upon graduation from Sheldon.” Alonso went on to say, “Without his vision, there would be no Multicultural Center or Multicultural Studies class. He was willing to take Sheldon beyond the ‘mono’ and create the opportunity for Sheldon to enter into the beautiful paradigm of the ‘multi.’” One member of the LSU (Latino Student Union), junior Isamar López, who also takes the Multicultural Studies class during second period, said that the class is “really fun. It’s pretty easy, but you learn a lot.” The fact that the class might be easy is deceiving, because López continued on and said, “you learn about other ethnicities and their histories that you would not normally learn about in other classes.” The class seems like a great new opportunity to all who are interested. Senior David Lee, who is part of the third period Multicultural Studies class said, “I like the class. We can have our own opinions about things. We learn about positionality.” Positionality is a new concept that students have discovered in the Multicultural class, and, as Lee put it, “It’s a really
chill class.” But the class is apparently quite inspiring, and most importantly, José Alonso said, “It’s about hope.”
Ashley Admire photo
A breakdancing performance entertained spectators at the Multicultural Center open house on October 2.
Suicide prevention phone calls startle students Sheldon suicide prevention seminar concerned students and families by Jon Schoonhoven publicity Recently, Sheldon’s automated call system sent out a message that left many families and staff concerned. “It’s difficult for us as parents and staff to hear that 22% of our teens report thinking about suicide at some time or another. Even more difficult to know is that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Oregon’s teens and young adults,” the message said. Though for many students any call home is cause for worry, this message was found to be particularly distressing. “I was shocked!”
said senior Victor Palma about the call, “I felt abused.” This sentiment seems to be shared across campus. Distressing as the calls may be, most agree that the automated calls serve a good purpose. Senior Jordan Welch said on the subject, “I think it’s good to know that there is help for suicidal people.” Indeed, the message was more than just a disturbing warning to students and their families. It was to inform them that they were invited to “join our parents and staff at Sheldon High School… October 15, to learn how to prevent suicide with our youth. The program [was] designed to train parents and staff to identify and respond to depressed and potentially suicidal youth.” In addition, the message was to inform everyone that “Students are receiving this training in their freshman health classes this school year.” But is this school’s administration doing its job in keeping
students informed about suicide prevention? Although a suicide prevention conference is certainly a step in the right direction, there is still much room for improvement. Few people showed up to the conference, and it seems that its impact on the community may have been minimal. Of the students interviewed, none could name more than three of the signs of a suicidal personality, when there are dozens of potential signs. Suicide.org provides a relatively concise list which includes such traits as appearing sad or depressed most of the time, sleeping too much or too little, feeling tired most of the time, performing poorly at work or school, and lack of concentration. They recommend that anyone showing three or more of these traits seek immediate help. Said senior Geoff Moore, “These things may be painful to hear, but it is necessary that we listen so that the healing can begin.”
Associated student body leaders boost school spirit ASB officers work hard to provide school spirit and strong leadership for all Sheldon students this year by Gracie Beaver editor-in-chief Associated student body representatives are perhaps best known for their morning announcements and their colorful performances during assemblies. However, the full extent of their jobs goes beyond silly outfits and reading the daily Sheldon news. The seven senior girls in charge of ASB also plan everything related to school spirit, such as October’s “spirit week” and the “Snowflakes of Joy” fundraiser. ASB also plans all school dances aside from homecoming and prom. Homecoming is planned by the sophomore class, and the juniors are in charge of prom. ASB President Judy Lee has a few goals for this year, including a 4J district-wide canned food drive. More than that, she wants to “basically have everything run smoothly.” This year’s ASB representatives’ main new change to the school is “pep rallies.” Lee said she wants to incorporate new
aspects into ideas that have worked in the past. She called this philosophy “a new mix of ideas.” ASB adviser Elyse Myers said that there are not too many new items showing up this school year because the girls “have their plates full.” Although everybody in ASB has her own unique title, each member does about an equal amount of work. Treasurer Ashley Ruderman said, “As the year goes by, our ASB titles mean less in a way. Our ASB is such a collaborative group.” Last year, when ASB elections were held, all seven girls ran unopposed. Does this mean a bought of apathy from the student body? Lee suggested herself and her fellow ASB members were unopposed “because leadership has always been a set group of people.” She also hypothesized that students were afraid of the workload, although she admitted many students do not know what ASB actually does. ASB is a huge time commitment. Members meet for fifteen minutes every day and two hours on Sundays, attend weekly lunchtime leadership meetings, and have to set up for dances. They are also “strongly recommended to attend as many games as possible,” Lee said. Unplanned events often take up time as well. Ruderman elaborated, “Sometimes we get stuck doing random things, like passing out class pictures or student body cards.” More than anything, though, ASB members are committed to their student body. Myers said, “[With] anything they do, they have the thought of ‘students
first.’” Ruderman agreed. “After all, as seniors, it’s a year for us to enjoy…and we want the best.”
Ashley Admire photo
ASB President Judy Lee addresses the student body during the homecoming assembly.
2 November 8, 2007
News
the Talisman
Winter break dates affect vacations plans Winter break dates have changed, hopefully plans will not by Jenness Howery staff writer Sheldon’s school year has been changed. Instead of having the week before Christmas off, students will be in school up until the weekend before Christmas. This means that Sheldon will go back to school later in January. The dates of winter break, as posted on the 4J school district website, are Dec. 24 - Jan. 4. These dates do not include the weekends off before and after winter break. In comparison, last year’s dates were Dec. 18 - Jan. 1. That is a big difference, especially when people’s holiday plans are taken into consideration. A few days before Christmas is when people get to the place they are traveling, not when they are leaving.
This change in the schedule also means that Sheldon will get out of school later into the summer. Last year, school let out June fifteenth, but this year the last day is the eighteenth. Elyse Myers said, “The seniors should get out on June ninth this year because graduation is on the twelfth.” The reason for the calendar change is because of the time that was given to teachers to plan their curriculums and classes. Previous half-days have been changed to no-school days, and five half-days have been added to the schedule according to 4J’s website. Teachers have been granted extra days in their year to plan, therefore, the students now have more days off. The district has added three days of school to the year to balance out the difference. Parents and students don’t seem to know about the change either. Sophomore Amanda Lewis said, “I hadn’t
heard about it until it was mentioned. Nobody informed me of it.” Brittany Blankenship, another sophomore, said, “There was a change?” It will become apparent when the holidays come, but shouldn’t students know ahead of time seeing as it applies to them? Lewis also said, “I’m okay with the change in schedule. We still get the time, it just happens later.” Blankenship had a similar opinion. “As long as I get my vacation time I’m fine with it, but I would rather have vacation in December,” she said. The benefits of the schedule change apply more to teachers than students. It does mean that teachers will be better prepared for their classes and overall, students should benefit from this. Chemistry teacher Dave Whalley said, “I think it’s awesome. Planning for classes isn’t viewed as an important factor in teaching in the U.S. That’s why there are other countries doing better than us education-wise. I think it’s a good step.”
Japanese Club Late starts are rare this year A fun way to learn about culture
Opinions vary on value of late starts
by Gracie Beaver & Kathy Bowen
by Jake Babcock staff writer
Martial arts, poetry, origami, and manga. Every aspect of Japanese culture, which of course has many different branches, has its own interesting history. Sheldon’s link to Japanese culture is found in its Japanese club, which started up again this October. Japanese teacher Yoshiko Shioya said the purpose of Japanese club is “to spread awareness of Japanese culture school-wide.” Shioya seems to be getting the message out as almost sixty students came to the first meeting on October 26. The first meeting was a “food party” where a veritable smorgasbord of Asian and American goodies was served, and the club leaders introduced themselves. The second meeting, which earned only a slightly smaller turn-out, featured Japanese-style cartoon drawings, music, and origami. The third meeting, coming up on November 16 is set to feature a martial arts demonstration. Japanese club leadership is a diverse group of about eight students. The leadership students are a real mix of ages, genders, academic programs, and interests. In addition, many of the members go by fun, Japanese nicknames instead of their English names. Junior Halcyon “Kaze” Binder, a member of Japanese club leadership, said, “I personally am looking forward to all meetings. We’ve changed much of the structure of the club’s central body, and I believe it’s a change for the better.” Although Japanese club got off to a late start, the club is in full swing now, and welcomes all students to come to the meetings, not just those who take Japanese classes. The club meets roughly twice a month in the Japanese room, C-1, and a schedule is posted listed all upcoming activities.
Late starts have been at Sheldon for many years, causing mixed feelings throughout the student body. However, late starts have ceased to exist this year except for the one that already happened yesterday and one on February 13. Senior Lauren Strauch said, “Classes used to start at 11:12 and recently they have been starting an hour later.” Most students really enjoyed the late starts, and were disappointed that the school was canceling them. However, students were soon happy again when they heard that late starts are being traded in for no-school days. Junior Andy Dodds said, “I never thought there were enough late starts. I usually stay up late when the next day is a late start. Sometimes I will use the extra time to do homework or study.”
Sophomore Ashleigh Heaton said, “I think that it would be cool for everyday to be a late start for awhile. However, I think it would get old because you wouldn’t get enough school in.” “Usually I stay up late every night, and wake up at the same time every day.” “I just take extra time to get ready.” Ashleigh said, “I had a friend who one time came to school at the normal time because she thought that it was a normal day when in actuality it was a late start day.” “She had to sit there and do extra homework just to pass all the time by.” Ashleigh, Lauren, Andy, Nick, and Jay said late starts do not conflict with my schedule but rather works to my benefit.” Math teacher Scott Baumgartner said, “Whenever there were late starts, the student would either think it’s an excuse to goof off in class, or just skip class all together.” Baumgartner said, “I do not like late starts; I would prefer to have early release days.” The union doesn’t like the idea of late starts either. They think that teachers need more time to plan out what they are going to teach on what days.
CIM testing: some meaning for students State tests here to stay by Alyssa Bierce staff writer When you think of the CIM, you probably think of those tests you take on a computer, but the CIM is actually a certificate. CIM stands for Certificate of Initial Mastery, and it is awarded to seniors at graduation. The test which students take on computers throughout school is actually called the OSAT, which stands for Oregon State Assessment Test. The CIM is rewarded as a combination of a student’s OSAT scores and work samples. You have probably had to take the OSAT many times before, and have probably had teachers telling you how important the tests are, and encouraging you to do your best. The truth
is these tests do not affect your grade at all. “There’s no consequence for the students,” said Jeremy Washburn, who is the testing coordinator at Sheldon. “The consequence lies in the public report card.” Low scores reflect poorly on the progress of a school’s students, which can lower a school’s public opinion. This really only affects teachers and administrators, which doesn’t really encourage students to do well. “I think it’s stupid because it doesn’t affect your grade,” said junior Chelsea Welding. Since their own grades are not affected, some students don’t take the test seriously. So how could these tests be improved upon to make them more interesting? “Have pictures… nice colorful pictures,” said junior Nick Hadley. This year, however, is the last year that seniors at Sheldon and throughout the state will be awarded the CIM at graduation. Sheldon will also no longer be administering the OSAT through their old internet carrier,
Vanguard. Last year, the carrier which was used to administer the online tests was done away with. Now, students will be taking the OAKS, which stands for Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skill. Although the test is administered through a new online carrier, it will still be serving the same purpose and will be given under the same circumstances, including that students only have to pass the test at one point in high school. But even with this new system, the OAKS, the test will still not affect grades. Even though students’ grades will not be affected by their scores, the test should still be taken seriously as it still affects the public report card and our very own teachers here at Sheldon. Although they may not care about their school’s report card, students still need to understand what it means for their teachers, so they really do need to try. If you have one of these tests coming your way, take it seriously at least for your teachers, if not for yourself.
Reward offered for stolen golf flags Golf flags dumped at Sheldon by Leslie Lundy staff writer For anyone who hasn’t heard the announcements about this incident, someone stole the golf course flags from Oakway Golf Course, then dumped them here at Sheldon. The theft of the flags has cost the golf course a lot of time and money. Sheldon is offering a $100 reward for anyone who has any information leading to the person(s) who stole the flags. People can contact any administrator and/or teacher if they have any information, or they can contact the golf course directly. The school and the golf course are trying to find out who keeps stealing the flags before it happens again. “The people that steal the flags are rude,” said junior Erin Wullschleger. Wullschleger stated that if the vandals steal the flags again then they will get caught. Wullschleger also said that it could be someone from a different school, because people would look at Sheldon for the vandal rather than other schools. Sophomore Julia Frederick said, “It’s not just
Sheldon students, but all teenagers that the vandals are giving a bad name.” Frederick wonders why they would take the golf course flags, because they are such an uncommon thing to steal. Frederick also said, “It could be a student from another school because of rivalries and/or competition.” Frederick is doubtful of the vandals getting caught unless someone comes forth with information. The vandals have stolen the flags and dumped them here at Sheldon more than once, so there is a possibility of it happening again. Teachers also have opinions about the golf course flags being stolen then dumped here. Mr. Paul Schultz thinks the vandals are malicious. “They are just doing this to get attention,” said Schultz. “Sure it could be someone from another school, because there is really no way of knowing,” stated Schultz. The school is trying to stop the leaving of the golf flags on Sheldon property as well as finding the person(s) who did it in the first place. These thefts make Sheldon students look bad, like they are the kind of people who do rude things to others. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for any information about the vandals, so that you can help too.
the Talisman
The new mascot Sheldon welcomes our new mascot, Zack Childers, to lead school spirit at the football games by Jaime Fazio centerspread editor A school mascot is an essential part of any sports team. Sheldon’s new mascot, Zack Childers, describes his exciting experience as our new leprechaun. Zack shows his peers that he is willing to dress up in the leprechaun outfit and cheer our team toward victory. Zack wants to be the best mascot that Sheldon has ever seen. Q: What three traits do you think are most important in order to be Sheldon’s mascot? A: You have to be peppy, you must have school spirit and you are obligated to be funny. Q: When you were younger, did you always see yourself being a leprechaun? Why or why not? A: No, being the Sheldon leprechaun is something that I have wanted to be though, plus, all of the football players were begging me to become the mascot. They thought I would be perfect for the role. Q: Do you get a lot of respect for being Sheldon’s mascot or do people make fun of you for it? A: Yes, I get a lot of respect for being the mascot. I love being Sheldon’s mascot. Q: Is there specific training that you had to go through to become a leprechaun? What was it like? A: Yes, there were auditions and they were fun. In my own opinion I blew the judges out of the water! I came to auditions with a Halloween mask of a leprechaun with sideburns, and I brought chocolate gold coins from Larson’s and put them in a black bucket and called it my “lucky bucket.” I also came with green socks and a black mallet. I was all ready to become Sheldon’s mascot. Q: Do you think the mascot brings more spirit to the fans at games? How? A: Yes, definitely, when we played Roseburg, we won forty-two to seven. Our team played so well, and the mascot brings power to the students cheering.
Jaime Fazio photo
The new mascot Zack Childers demonstrates his Irish pride.
Features
November 8, 2007
3
Sheldon’s marching band Sheldon’s marching band plays at every home football game by Nick van Eekeren sports editor What do you do when you have to go twenty yards in twelve counts? You jazz run of course! That would be marching band terminology for all you confused non-band geek students out there. Most people at Sheldon don’t give a hoot for the band program, let alone marching band. It’s a shame because the Sheldon marching band plays at every home football game. They recently went to the University of Oregon festival of bands where they took ninth place out of eighteen. They also went to the Pacific Coast Invitational where they took second place out of four in the single A division. Tracy Ross, the band director, was very happy with the band’s performance at PCI. “We learned a lot from FOB which was great! PCI was the best show the band did all year,” Ross said. She’s right; an award for outstanding visual performance shows how hard the marching band worked. The marching band does a different show every year. This year’s show happened to be Batman. Unfortunately, marching band is over now. If you missed any of their marvelous performances from this year or last year, you can hear the shows at the marching band’s website: http:// w w w . s h s . l a n e . e d u / b a n d .
Other than marching band there is also the concert band, made entirely of freshmen and a few sophomores. This band focuses on the finer points of how to play in a big band, and how to sound better overall on their instrument of choice. The concert band plays three songs per term and performs them at a concert at the end of the term. A lot of new friendships are made in concert band; these are people students will be in band with for a long time. Freshman trumpet player Cory Ketchum has already made a nice bond with his section. “All the trumpets are awesome. We Rock!” Ketchum said with more enthusiasm than can be described. The band bonanza doesn’t end there though; there are also three jazz bands. Not all band students are in a jazz band, but the ones who are show true dedication to their instruments and love to play music. The jazz bands are entirely optional though, as they are audition admittance only. Freshman alto saxophone Conner Pavlat is involved in marching band, concert band, and intermediate jazz band. “I love the band program here at Sheldon. It’s so fun and all the other saxes aren’t…dumb,” Pavlat said. The three jazz bands are Elements, Evolution, and intermediate. Intermediate has mainly freshmen and sophomores, Evolution is a mix of grades nine through twelve, and Elements is reserved for the best, mainly seniors and juniors. Check out a band concert near the end of a term. The concert band, all three jazz bands, and the soon-to-come Wind Ensemble, will
Which gadget will you get this fall? The must-have gadgets this fall are being widely talked about by Larry Simmons features editor Fall has just begun and students have been gossiping around school about certain gadgets that are hot this year. You’re probably thinking, what is a gadget? Well it could be a bunch of things, such as a cell phone, mp3 player, or even a laptop. Some say that the new iPhone is the must-have this year, others think the Blackberry Curve is way hotter. Who is to say which is better? Senior Krystal Fischer has a third option. “The must- have that’s been buzzing around school is the newly released iPod Nano Video.” The new issues of In-touch Weekly and Teen Vogue show your favorite celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton sporting the new Blackberry Curve, which is relatively inexpensive. The retailed price is $200. Fischer elaborated, “If I had the money I would so buy the Blackberry Curve.” Junior Mohona Doe said, “If
I had the money, I would buy it also.” The new iPhone is much more expensive than the Blackberry Curve; it retails for $400. Whoa! That’s major cash spent on a phone, internet, camera, and iPod all in one. What are these expensive gadgets used for now days? Some teens just get these electronics for flaunting them around school, so everyone will think they’re cool, but others actually use them to communicate with their friends and family. Doe continued, “It’s really ridiculous how much kids spend on those things; it’s not necessary.” Sometimes people go to the extreme of buying these things to gain popularity. Some students have even stopped talking to their friends because they’ve purchased the hip new gadget before them. Doe elaborated, “I’ve heard of this type of thing happening, but it’s preposterous.” Almost everyone who attends Sheldon knows Parker Alberts, the kid who plays funny little pranks, and will make you laugh without saying one word. Alberts said that a gadget can be a cell phone or a pocket-sized video game, but he wishes he had other types of “gadgets” this fall. “I want a George Foreman grill, a
portable trampoline, and a blender,” Alberts said. Keeping up-to-date with gadgets may be important to some teens nowadays, but Alberts said, “I keep up-to-date with these gadgets because I am a man.” Now that we know what hot new gadgets to get, we should have no excuse to be walking around school without bopping our heads to the music from our iPod, or talking on our celebrity-inspired cell phones. Keep up-to-date with these gadgets, because by the time you get yours, another hot new gadget will have inevitably come out, leaving your gadget looking old to everyone else.
Ashley Admire photo
Bio teacher Ike Sanderson uses his new iPhone.
New Naviance program will be big help to Sheldon students
The Naviance program helps students search for colleges of their choice by Ashley Admire photo editor
Searching for the right college and filling out applications can be hectic for high school students, but Sheldon has a new way to help students organize their searches and keep track of their high school activities. Naviance is a web-based computer program focused on the college search. 4J has to pay several hundred dollars per year for membership of all four district high schools, but counselor Tia Dubé said, “It has shown a lot of promise and I think it will be great for our students.” With Naviance, students can search for colleges much like they can with CIS or Fastweb. Sheldon’s new program, however, allows students to save information about colleges that interest them. One of the most attractive aspects of Naviance is the improved communication between students and their counselors, and by saving schools to their profiles, students are able to give their counselor a better idea of what they are looking for. With the counselors more informed, they can better aid in the students’ searches
by sending information directly to their Naviance profiles. Naviance also contains a checklist of what should be done in high school (such as junior interviews and senior night) and a place for students to list their community service and extra curricular activities. This is meant to prepare students to fill out college applications, in which they often want to know what activities students have participated in. The program is new this year, so it is uncertain exactly what students will think of it or whether the majority of the students will even take advantage of it. It also remains to be seen which students can get the most out of Naviance. It might be too late for this year’s seniors who have narrowed down their college choices and are already filling out applications. Senior Elyse Elder said, “In all reality I probably won’t use it. I’m sure it will be helpful for some, but I already know what I want to do.” Naviance has a lot of potential, however, that applies to students who are just starting their search. Counselor John O’Donoghue said, “Naviance is most beneficial for this year’s juniors and it’s really good for students interested in a number a colleges.” Students who want to use the
Naviance program need to get their login information from the school. Some seniors received theirs during senior night, but those who did not attend can get the information by making an appointment with their counselors. Juniors will be given their logins during the junior interviews, and counselors will decide in early November how to give the information to underclassmen.
Junior Ali Kerns’s award-winning photo “Tip Toes”
Senior Kelly Scoble poses with her dragon bowl made in Mr. Lanier’s ceramics class
Junior Chen-Yun Yang and sophomore Eleanor O’Campo focus during calligraphy
Sheldon Student Artwork “Fox” painted by sophomore Dalannah Gleen
“Wild Cat” painted by sophomore Beka Reynolds
Junior Chen-Yun Yang and sophomore Eleanor O’Campo work diligently on calligraphy
The new multicultural mural made by students in the art club
Fall creations made by Ms. Cavin’s art class
Junior Ali Kerns’s photo “Sunny Toes”
6 November 8, 2007
Sports
the Talisman
Zach Todd: the heart of Sheldon football Sheldon superstar Zach Todd lets his skills on the field do the talking by Robert Anglim staff writer Move over Chuck Norris, Zach Todd is in town. Sheldon High has been known for our first class athletics for years, where boys become men and some men become heroes. Senior Zach Todd continues this tradition and has made his mark in Sheldon Football. His accolades include: one thousand yards rushing in team stats, frequently named weekly team captain, named first team all league in his junior year, and has the highest yard per carry average in the state. This young man has reset the bar for other football players to follow. The question remains, how does someone ascend to athletic superstardom like Zach Todd? To mere observers, Zach Todd is The Flash, a superhuman speed demon with a witty personality. He reminds sophomore Sam Peer of “Spider-Man. He’s not quite the Superman type, but he’s strong and agile like Spider-Man.” For all we know, he may be superhuman. He could be a star athlete and student, while secretly wielding a power morpher, becoming a Power Ranger to fight evil in his spare time (Power Rangers were perfect students and athletes like Todd). Beyond these theories, his athletic ability cannot be denied. “He’s in there almost all the game,” senior teammate Aaron Blake recalled, “He’s really
talented and very athletic. He’s a funny, good-spirited kid.” If there is one thing this mammoth with a heart of gold Sophomore Sam Peer said, “I see us getting good players hopes to have taught us, “Things are not given to you, you in the future, but the other players are close to him [like have to achieve them.” brothers].” Blake believes in a bright future for Sheldon Football even after Zach leaves, “We’ll continue to find good players and grow as a team. It’s not about individual players.” Letting Mr. Todd go will not be easy, but the future looks bright for this star athlete. “I see him playing for the Ducks or Beavers or even professional,” Peer stated. Here is an exclusive interview with the man-beast himself, Zach Todd. Q. How do you stand out among other players? A. I’m faster than everyone else. I dominate all aspects of the other football team’s life. Q. How does someone become an athlete like Zach Todd? A. In seventh and eighth grade, I was on the worst team, but it all pays off in the end [perseverance]. Q. How many ladies do you think love you? A. Every single one that knows me. Q. If you could make an autobiographical movie, who would you cast to play you? A. Arnold Schwarzenegger because he has almost as much testosterone as I do. Q. Finally, what qualities do you have that you want your children to have? A. How hard I work on anything I do, to strive for Robert Anglim photo perfection, and always have a smile on your face. The man of steel himself is running back Zach Todd.
Water polo makes a splash
New football regulations
The little-known sport of water polo is one of the most physically brutal sports of all
New rules not necessary according to students
by Ryan Pedersen staff writer You’ve heard it a lot. The players on the teams talk about it, but what exactly is water polo? Water polo is a violent sport played in a pool. There are six players including the goalie, in the pool, per team, at a time. There are four six-minute periods, but the clock stops every time somebody scores, goes out of bounds, or commits a foul. The objective is to get the ball and throw it into the opposing team’s six-by-three foot goal. It’s a little confusing to watch because some actions get called as fouls while others don’t. Sheldon has one boys team and one girls team, so everyone has a chance to try out. Sheldon’s water polo team did not do so well this year. It was decimated by many of their top players graduating last year, leaving the team with fewer players and less experience. The most influential team member who left was Reed Rosenberg, who was Sheldon’s top scorer last year. According to Junior Ben Dixon, “The team
is pretty much going to stay the same next year because we don’t have any seniors on our team, so nobody is going to be leaving from graduation.” Though it wasn’t an official match for the season last year, Sheldon did win a tournament last year against other teams in Cottage Grove. When asked if water polo had a small turnout for new recruits, junior Leif Odegard, who has been playing for Sheldon’s water polo team for two years said, “Yes, because people don’t want to wear Speedos.” Sheldon’s biggest rival is South Eugene, and Odegard feels that they probably won’t win against them because South has a more experienced water polo team than Sheldon does. Water polo players need to be strong swimmers, be able to take a beating, and be okay with practicing a lot before and after school. Some of the benefits of playing water polo include getting a workout, as the entire time is spent swimming and moving around in the pool so it’s a good workout, and it’s a fun sport to play for those trying to lose weight and get healthy. It’s still not a sport for just anyone though. Players need to be ready to fight their way to the goal, and use anything, including people, to boost them forward. In short, it is not a sport of the feint of heart, but if you are looking for a contact sport and football isn’t the right one for you, try water polo (that is, if you don’t mind wearing a Speedo).
by Megan Keough staff writer Every Friday night students gather together to help cheer on the Sheldon football team. Lately though, regulations have been made that restrict Sheldon students from taking outside food or drinks into the stadium. Students are now also required to enter at a separate entrance and are no longer allowed to carry bags in with them. These changes have been made by administrators because, according to a message in the morning announcements, “they will provide a safer environment for the students.” However, the students argue that they can still be responsible without these regulations. Sophomore Chelsea Glenn, a football fan, said, “[The new
regulations are] ridiculous! The majority of Sheldon’s students are responsible enough not to abuse their privileges.” According to students interviewed, the student section hasn’t been as popular since these changes have been made. It seems like not as many students are showing up to the games. Students also are not allowed to bring in bags, but girls can bring in small purses. So is it fair that guys can’t bring in bags? Sophomore Megan Rasmussen said, “Yes it’s fair. Guys don’t usually bring in bags with them anyway.” With the home games coming to an end, soon these changes will no longer affect the student body. The question is, will these rules still be applied in the years to come and if so, what can students do to gain the administrators trust back? Vice Principal Mike Johnson said, “I don’t see any changes being made in the future unless Sheldon students can change their behavior.”
Teamwork needed for soccer Boys soccer has a building year and looks to the future by Andrew Sexton staff writer
Coming through the blazing flames is the heroic Sheldon High School soccer team. Whenever the name is mentioned, shivers go down players’ backs. They’re fierce and deadly, so stand back opposing teams, the Sheldon soccer team is after you. With the season coming to an end, the championship might not be in their hands this year, but Sheldon has seen the championship many times before and has plenty of other chances next year to win the big cheese. The varsity line up has some pretty strong players with good skills needed for a soccer team,
but there is room for improvement. Sophomore Jonathan Kim, number seven, said “Our team lacks a lot of team work. We would be a good team if we had much better team work.” So you can imagine they will be working on that during practice. Next year will hopefully bring new assets to the team with new freshmen or JV varsity players whose skills will have increased over this season. Sophomore Nick Thomas said he will be on the team, “Only if my coach actually puts me on JV next year.” But there are still many skilled players who will show up next year, like sophomore Greg Wolfer. “I plan on continuing my soccer passion for quite some time,” Wolfer said. Many people anticipate next year’s soccer team. People want to see them come back next year a lot more skilled from all the practice and hopefully go all the way to the championship. So keep cheering on your team, Sheldon High School, because the future looks good for them as long as they keep up the good work and all the practice that they soon have ahead of them.
Opinion
the Talisman
November 8, 2007
7
Time to leave the ghouls behind
A former member of leadership writes about the pointless nature of Sheldon’s “spooking the halls” by Kaylee Wolf assistant editor
Sophomore year leadership class left me with two memorable events where I literally spent all day at school. One of those days was to set up for homecoming, which was totally worth it. The other day was spent “spooking” the halls. I must say I had my doubts about whether I was wasting my time or not. The day was spent with large amounts of orange and black construction paper, which produced a multitude of gravestones and
jack-o-lanterns. We dimmed the hall lights by smothering them in paper, strung festive colored strings of light bulbs, and garnished spider webs here and there for a little extra ornamentation. By the time everyone was done, the halls were transformed. The next day, I walked to first period and found that the decorations had been mowed down and the halls were littered with pieces of poltergeists, and the fake spiderwebs had been manipulated in such a way that they were almost impossible to maneuver through. How dare these vandals ruin all my hard work! When asked about the tragic scene, senior Lacey McJunkin said, “I haven’t seen anyone doing it, but I have seen the decorations messed up before.” From looking at the decorations this year, it is easy to tell that the tradition of trashing the hallways is still going strong. Why is leadership still wasting time?
It is my belief that year after year the halls have been vandalized, so we should stop doing it altogether and put our resources towards prom instead, since the only decorations at prom last year were two balloons and a car stuck in the corner. Senior Andrew Elliot said, “Spending money on spooking the halls is the stupidest thing ever because money and effort should be spent on more important things.” Although each class was only allowed twenty to thirty dollars for their hallway, that is eighty to one hundred and twenty dollars that could be spend on prom. Think about where the most important memories are going to be made: in Halloween-themed hallways or at the last major social event we experience before we graduate? I believe junior Sarah Kirgis proves my point. When asked about spook the halls she replied, “What’s that?”
New book: Stephen Colbert reports If you plan to read one book for pleasure, make it Stephen Colbert’s, I Am America (And So Can You)
by Brad Morse staff writer
If you read only one book in your lifetime, make it Stephen Colbert’s I Am America(And So Can You). Unlike other journalists, Stephen Colbert doesn’t call it like he sees it, he calls it like he feels it. His book shows that; it’s filled with emotion, mostly the emotion of rage. The book expresses Colbert’s opinion on global warming, war, gay marriage, religion, pets, elderly people (he is right when
he says they look like lizards), and magicians. This book will open your eyes to everything you need to know about everything; it will tell you what college classes are really about. It tells you the rules of what was allowed to be shown on movies from days gone by (#664: Actors must never refer to the high rate of suicide among dentists in a way that implies they “have it coming”). It tells you about things that would have fallen through the cracks otherwise; for example, the Hairy-Nosed Wombat is going extinct because it is completely unlovable and god hates it for some reason that eludes theologians, scientists, and scientologists. It has tips on everything from dancing to equipping the bird of your choice to be the best cockfighter it can be. The book is filled with Colbert’s opinions on what is right and wrong (almost everything falls under the “wrong” category). Said Junior Cody Holman, “I don’t go anywhere without consulting it. I live my life according to this book.” In all seriousness, the book is a satirical work of certain political views, and is totally hilarious; I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Caroline Hanson photo
Stephen Colbert’s comedy appeals to youth.
Baby proves a trial for new egg mother A new egg baby is a lesson in responsibility and poultry/child care by Caroline Hanson opinion editor Babies: are they really worth it? Is now the right time? I was forced to find out in my child development class. A couple weeks ago I was accompanied by an egg that is supposed to represent my offspring. I chose to name my egg Paris because I think Paris Hilton is a fantastic celebrity. In the beginning of the project, before we received our babies, there was a drawing for birth complications, gender, and weight. My egg baby was the result of a normal labor but emergency caesarean; she was also eight pounds, eleven ounces. We then drew for potential
problems before the birth. My card read, “A weight gain of 52 pounds has made life miserable and caused concern, especially from the doctor. Both you and your spouse have tried to limit calories but with little success.” It was interesting to see all of the different circumstances that could potentially cause complications. I learned that birth really is a miracle because there are so many things that can go wrong. Other students in my class learned even more valuable lessons such as Junior Cherie Lee, who said, “I enjoyed the egg baby project it; made me a little more responsible.” I really didn’t like carrying Paris around, especially over the three day weekend. I can’t imagine having to take care of an actual baby. I would literally have to spend every second tending to an actual baby’s needs. Senior Kevin Clark said, “A week is long enough, I couldn’t have handled any longer than a week.” If I was an actual mother I would have to get up in the middle of the night and feed Paris, but since this was just a simulation I kept her in the fridge while I slept.
Health teacher Debbi Eberle stated, “Students usually take this class because it’s known as the egg baby class. They can’t wait to get their egg, but by the end of the week they can’t wait to get rid of it.” One of the assignments was to create a fictional shopping list that included the items actual parents have to provide for their children. The items included: baby food, formula, diapers, a stroller, and clothing. It was kind of boring toting around an egg. She wasn’t very good company because she didn’t make noise or move voluntarily. This project gave me and my peers a different perspective on parenting, Most of us, if not all, don’t believe we are ready for a baby. If I couldn’t handle protecting an egg from overcrowded hallways full of obnoxious high school students, how would I ever be a mother?
Saw movie makes its fourth round Fans flock to see Saw IV as it cuts its way into theaters nationwide by Cameron Wray staff writer Saw IV, the most anticipated Halloween movie, returned for its fourth time this October to mess up our heads even more. This year, a lot of new and different things happened, along with some of the same killing and torture. Audiences wanted to see the little story development that the Saw movies usually have. The main question on everyone’s mind was whether or not Jigsaw would meet his end and have someone else finally take his place. You can only find the answer to that question in the movie. I saw the movie during its first week in theatres and was very impressed with the story development. It was everything I wanted it to be. The fourth installment of Saw does have a lot more in-depth story about how Jigsaw became
what he is. His devotion to his work is explained. This entire movie has a lot more of everything. It wraps up and explains everything that was presented in the other movies. I won’t say whether or not he dies. You will have to see for yourself. I also won’t say who is working with him, but there is someone. The contraptions that he makes in the fourth movie are much more creative and twisted than before. There were only two or three side torture games in the first, second and third movies. In this one, there are six or seven different ones. The other Saw movies purposely left you hanging at the end of the movie. They usually end with him leaving someone behind and saying “game over.” Saw IV did such a great job in explaining the details and the cleverness you didn’t catch in the other movies. This movie was very intense as were the other movies. But this time everything looks more real. There was a lot more blood in this one. The other movies showed blood, but this movie does it better; the blood starts right from the beginning. I would recommend this movie to everyone, even the little kids.
Talisman Staff Gracie Beaver Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Ads Manager Features Editor Opinion Editor News Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Centerspread Publicity Staff Writers Robert Anglim Alyssa Bierce Olivia Davis Megan Keough Justin Miljan Andrew Mross Andrew Sexton
Kaylee Wolf Nicole Callihan Larry Simmons Caroline Hanson Tia Kerrigan Nick van Eekeren Ashley Admire Jaime Fazio Jon Schoonhoven Taya Alami Jake Babcock Kathy Bowen Jenness Howery Leslie Lundy Bradley Morse Ryan Pedersen Cameron Wray
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 drop them off in the Talisman box located in the front office. We also kindly reserve the right to edit all stories we print.
B A C K P A G E Obscure hobbies of students Amusing activities that students take part in to escape from school-related sports, obligations, and occupations by Andrew Mross staff writer
Hobbies can be an activity for us humans to relieve stress, have fun and ultimately learn something new. According to the Britannica dictionary, a hobby is “an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.” There are many hobbies in the world, but each one is very unique, some are quite obscure. The spectrum of hobbies ranges greatly from stamp collecting to fresh-cut grass sniffing. It’s amazing the
potential creativity there is out there. One would be surprised at the strange hobbies that popped up around Sheldon. These are some of Junior Nick Davis’s obscure hobbies: rollerblading on a skateboard, glaring at random people in the hallway, watching insects die, clapping at friends that pass by and many more too crude to mention in public. Other Sheldon students said that they did not particularly enjoy any hobby that they could think of. Junior Jonathan Stewart had pretty fixed ideas of what he enjoyed doing in his free time, “I like hunting very much; it gives me a sense of being in touch with nature and of course if you’re going with a newb, it’s fun to trick them into snipe hunting.” For those who do not know, snipe hunting refers to an activity that involves taking someone out into the woods and ditching them. Stewart also likes to stare at random people in the hallway with his pal Davis. Another type of hunting famous to Oregon and the Puget Sound areas is mushroom hunting! Many at Sheldon had mixed opinions of this heterotrophic obsession. Davis said, “Heck yeah, dude! It seems really awesome and really strange at the same time; at least you can get some
fresh air.” Some have a bleak outlook on mushrooms, but if money is any motivation to people it is necessary they read the next line. A four pound Italian white truffle, recently found in Italy, was auctioned off for a whopping $160,406! For reasons like these, mushroom hunting has grabbed the attention of many outdoor enthusiasts locally and globally. Most mushrooms species are edible, but there are others that are not, therefore mushroom hunting must be taken seriously or fatality could occur. Others prefer to exercise their hobby from inside their own home. Juniors Bailey Philpott, Kelsey Hoard, and Rachel Taube all agreed that cooking, baking, and creating tasty treats is a great favorite and a relaxing hobby. Philpott said, “Baking cookies is so much better than a weird hobby like playing videogames in your underwear, in your parents’ basement when you’re thirty.” This is certainly a very interesting, undeniable opinion. There’s one thing to remember - hobbies are a way to relax and relieve stress from our daily rituals. However, one should never let a hobby became an addiction. Even if they are obscure, hobbies can be a great aspect of life.
Thanksgiving Upcoming Eugene concerts dessert tips Music is still playing a big part in Eugene life with different genres of music preforming at local for the cooks many spots like the WOW Hall and Mcdonald Theater
Mcdonald Theater: -Floater.........................................Nov.16 -Ozomatli.....................................Nov.19
Resources to help find the best Thanksgiving recipes and a recipe for students to try by Tia Kerrigan news editor
Thanksgiving is almost here; it’s a time to be with family and pig out. Sure, the turkey and stuffing are important, but for me, nothing can compare with dessert. Senior Andrew Roberts said, “My Thanksgiving is not complete unless we have multiple flavors of pudding at the table.” Yes, pudding. I will be giving you recipes and ideas for the best Thanksgiving desserts. Some good websites for tasty Thanksgiving desserts are: www.foodnetwork. com, www.allrecipes.com, and www.cooking.com. One of my favorite and traditional Thanksgiving desserts is a strawberry Jell-o mold. My Nana always makes two different flavors, and let me tell you, they are very delicious! Junior Scott Hicks agreed, “Jello molds, by far, complete any Thanksgiving feast.” Everybody loves eating fancy desserts, but what about the people who have to make it? Some can take hours to make, and don’t always go according to plan. For example, in the episode of Friends, “The One Where Ross Got High,” Rachel tried making an English Trifle, and she ended up making it half of a Shepard’s pie. Junior Chelsea Welding said, “Oh my gosh, I absolutely love that episode. I have actually done something like that before.” To help avoid such a catastrophe, I have found some easy and delicious recipes for you. Some recipes that I think seem quite appeasing are: pumpkin roll, chocolate pecan pie, maple pumpkin pie, skillet fried apple pie, and chocolate hazelnut dipped shortbread. These recipes can be found on the Food Network website. I have also found an easy recipe from the same site that I hope you will try and enjoy. PUMPKIN MOUSSE Difficulty: Easy 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 3 cups heavy cream 3/4 cup superfine sugar 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Ginger snaps, for garnish Combine pumpkin, 1 cup cream, sugar and spice in a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Cool fully. Whip remaining heavy cream and vanilla to soft peaks and fold into cooled pumpkin mixture. Pour into a serving dish and crumble the ginger snaps over top before serving.
-Floydian Slips.............................Dec.31 WOW Hall: -Bassnectar.....................................Nov.8
by Justin Miljan staff writer
-DJ KaatSkratch.............................Nov.8 As the vivid music pierces your ears and the music enters your blood stream, you start to tap your foot, head bang, put your happy face on, slow dance, and pass the energy. You throw the rave ball, and get down like John Travolta In Saturday Night Fever. You are enjoying that music and you want to hear more, wanting to go see that band again, and you start to become a music junkie for that band. Sophomore Joey Orsini said, “I’m obsessed with Jessica Simpson; she is amazing in every way.” When that band comes to your
town you get psyched, and so excited for that band to come. Sophomore Brad Kinch said, “I like to support my favorite bands.” You buy the first ticket and wait for that day when you get to see them in concert. Sophomore Alex Huynh said, “Music is my life.” Many bands have been to Eugene. Arctic Monkeys played McDonald Theatre in September. The infamous Flavor Flav even played at the WOW Hall. Eugene is very big on music. There are always of people looking forward to the next concert, and trying to advertise music, or just play music.
A family dinner
Stall karma
-Organik Time Machine.................Nov.8 -Del the Funky Homosapian........Nov.10 -Hot Buttered Rum......................Nov.15 -Tactics Board Shop showing......Nov.17 -Ryan Montbleau Band................Nov.19 -Grrrlz rock showcase..................Nov.23 -Kitchen Syncopaters...................Nov.24 -Juliette and the Licks..................Nov.30
by Olivia Davis
by Andrew Mross