SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
Student Senate takes on new issues By Anes Kapo
aneskapo@thelittlehawk.com
Student Senate has finished their work planning Homecoming and Spirit week and are now setting their sights on new improvements for the school. The current problems relate to the parking lots not having enough space, and frustration over the locker distribution. The recycling project was started last year, and is still under development. “We are currently discussing topics regarding recycling here at City High, problems with the parking lots, and locker distribution,” says Ryan O’Malley ‘13, vice president of Student Senate. The planning takes a lot of cooperation between the members. The agenda for the week is set up on Monday, and group members have an open discussion about their plans for resolving a problem or starting something new. “We’ve been working very hard to keep everything going, things have been running very smoothly,” said O’Malley. Students believe that they have made a lot of progress. Mohamed Rouabhi is the Student Senate president. He keeps the group on track at their meetings and discussions. “Without us, it would be extremely hard to keep track of everything that’s going on,” said O’Malley, “It takes loads of responsibility, but it is extremely rewarding.” Student Senate welcomes new members. For more information, talk to Mr.Hellwig or any of the other teacher coordinators.
NEWS
Debate season starts off strong Debate team captains Kieran Green ‘13 and Ava Vargason ‘13 are starting this season with strong rounds and high hopes. Hard work and dedication are their key to a good season, and all the members of the team are putting in the effort. By Will Lubaroff
willlubaroff@thelittlehawk.com
To begin their season, City High debate has performed well at several national tournaments, and is ready for more. Kieran Green ‘13 is kicking off his senior year as captain of City High debate. He has been a member of the debate team since his freshman year. Green is a member of Policy debate, partnered with Ava Vargason ‘13. Vargason is captain of Policy Debate. In policy debate, two debaters either defend or attack a proposed new government policy, called the resolution. Green and Vargason are skilled at policy debate. “This is going to be a pretty strong year for debate,” Green said. “We’ve gotten off to a good start so far, we went 5-1 at Valley,” Vargason tells a similar story. “At Valley we were ranked the 8th seed, out of over 100 teams,” Vargason said. “We made it to the double octo-finals.” Vargason has had a lot of inLEFT TO RIGHT Ava Vargason ‘13 and Kieran Green ‘13 celebrate their debate on October 27, 2012. Photo Courtesy Kieran dividual success so far this season. She was ranked as the 20th best Greeen speaker at Valley, and the 19th best to be eligible to compete in it, Green doing well this season. Joe Weideman ing home any big trophies.” speaker at New Trier, another recent and Vargason must receive two bids ‘16 is the only freshman member of Throughout the season, debate tournament. from tournament judges, by doing varsity debate. Weideman is also a partners learn to work together as a “I got a cool trophy for that one, well enough and advancing to a cer- member of policy debate, partnered team, and develop a special relationit looks like a grammy,” Vargason tain point in a tournament. with Michael Olesburg. Joe has real- ship along the way. said. “We almost got a TOC bid at “I’m feeling good about this istic expectations about this year. “They’re like a combination of New Trier.” season,” Vargason said. “We worked “I want to go to a lot of tourna- a spouse, a sibling, and an annoying The TOC, or Tournament of really hard over the summer, and I ments and do well,” Weideman said. child you hate,” Green said. “But that Champions, is the biggest debate think we’ll do well.” “I’m hoping to improve along the last part might just be my relationtournament in the country. In order It’s not only the seniors that are way, but I’m not counting on bring- ship with Ava. But all that aside, you
City Students travel to Camp Wapsie for leadership retreat
City-West robotics plans for success in new 2013 season
The City-West robotics team looks to improve upon their success from last year. They will attend the regional competition in January that they finished second at last year. By Lilly Reitz
lillyreitz@thelittlehawk.com
Students eat breakfast at Camp Wapsie at the annual Leadership Retreat, Oct. 1819, 2012 . Photo by Emma Gier
By Christian Kennedy christiankennedy@thelittlehawk. com
Seventy seven City High students returned happily from the annual Leadership Retreat held at Camp Wapsie. The event was held in Coggon Iowa. For many students this was not there first time attending the retreat “Last year’s retreat was great, so I knew I wanted to go again this year.” Said Neve Heimer-Lang ‘15 “I wanted to learn more about good leadership skills.” During the trip students participated in many activities, ranging from team building games, to writ-
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ing and performing skits. “It was really enjoyable getting to know all of the people in my cabin.” Heimer-Lang added. The retreat was also attended by many city high staff. “Rick Spears, the school’s UAY representative lead the students in several leadership games” said Elise Goodvin ‘15. The retreat concluded after lunch on Friday. In the end It was a valuable experience for many students. “The leadership retreat helped me gain the knowledge of how to make the change I want to see in the world happen,” Goodvin said.
What started in 1992 in a high school gym in Wisconsin with 28 teams competing now involves 250,000 teenagers, including a team from right here in Iowa City. The combined City-West robotics team participates in the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics competition in January. “Everything you look for in life is all in Robotics,” Abram Nothnagle, ‘13 said. Nothnagle is the Robot Pilot and Electrical Team Captain for CityWest Robotics. Robotics is a program that includes students from both City and West into one club. “[Robotics] unites the two schools that always seem to be rivaling...it connects us,” Doron Tsachor, ‘13, said. The two schools are unsure of how many students will participate, but they expect between 20 and 30 students to be involved in Robotics by competition season. Robotics meetings started in September, and during this time they discuss plans for the upcoming season.
“We mostly just talk about fundraising, our website, and what we want out of the season,” Tsachor said. The season starts in January when members are given an assignment, and they have to program a robot to go with the assignment. After receiving the assignment, Robotics members discuss the best way to go about accomplishing their task, then they program the robot and design their project over the course of six weeks. “Those six weeks are short, but very intense,” Boris Perkhounkov, ‘13 said. After members of Robotics have planned and assembled their robots, they will travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the regional competition. The team that wins this competition, or receives a grant, will have the opportunity to go to nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. Last year, the City/ West Robotics team nearly went to nationals, winning 2nd place in the competition. This year, Robotics members hope to do even better. “I think we have what it takes to get to nationals this year,” Zach Wil-
liamson, ‘13 said. The season starts in January when members are given an assignment, and they have to program a robot to go with the assignment After receiving the assignment, Robotics members discuss the best way to go about accomplishing it, then they program the robot and design their project over the course of six weeks. “Those six weeks are short, but very intense,” Boris Perkhounkov, ‘13 said. This year City-West robotics hopes to improve on their accomplishments from last year.