West Linn, Ore. / Volume 98 / Issue 3 / Spring 2018
INSIDE
Amplifier West Linn High School
pg. 3 - Six scientists to present findings at national level
pg. 6 - A look back on the most successful season of girls basketball in school history
SPEAKING OUT IN SILENCE BY BROOKE MCKELVEY co-editor-in-chief
A little over a month after the walkout in remembrance of the 17 Parkland deaths, another walkout is scheduled; this one taking a political stance. “The walkout on March 14 was a memoriam for the students lost in Parkland,” Myzanne Huss, senior, said. “This next one will be more political and we are actually advocating for something.” Their goal is to raise awareness for stricter gun regulation. Oregon already has some laws in place, but Huss and the small group of students she is working with are trying to spread this awareness at a national level for states that have looser laws. “We hope that we will be heard, and maybe be able to bring this issue to DC,” Huss said. Like the previous one, this walkout is a national movement, but different in the way that it will take the form of more of a protest. The walkout will begin April 20 at 10 a.m. outside the front of the school. There will be a few speakers, including Huss, and then students will march to Representative Kurt Schrader’s office in Oregon City. “By the end of the day I want to have taken action to demand political action on behalf of the safety of my school,” Laila Elmashni, senior, said. Elmashni was an integral part in organizing
Gathered outside, students stand in silence mourning the lives lost in Parkland, Fla. This walkout that took place in March will be followed up by a march to Oregon City advocating for stricter gun laws later this month. Photo by Philip Chan
the memoriam walkout in March, and even though she’s not organizing the upcoming walkout, she will be participating. Although the walkout begins on campus, students will be marked absent if they choose to participate since they are leaving campus for an event not organized by the school. Principal Kevin Mills and SRO Jim Halverson,
however, will accompany students during the march for safety reasons. “They won’t be advocating for anything,” Huss said. “They’re just there to supervise since students are leaving campus.” Huss and the other students in charge believe that there will be a decent amount of support for this issue, but at the same time, that isn’t what
they’re trying to achieve. As long as they are able to participate in the national movement at a local level, they will feel successful. “We really just want to voice our opinion to create a safer environment,” Huss said. For more coverage on the March walkout, see pg. 2
Editor wins Oregon Journalist of the Year BY WALLACE MILNER coverage editor
Working late on editing yearbook spreads, Emily Martin, senior, continues to add to her portfolio. Martin recently won the title of Oregon Journalist of the Year. Photo by Philip Chan
The Oregon Journalist of the Year award has been won by yearbook editor Emily Martin, senior. A statewide competition that features broadcast, online and print journalists from across the state, as well as yearbook staffers, the title of Oregon Journalist of the
Year is given to the top journalist in each state. Winners then send their portfolios to a national competition. Martin has been on West Linn High School’s staff since her sophomore year, and after starting with The Amplifier, Martin found her home with the Green and Gold yearbook. “I liked the design and the artistic factor of year-
book,” Martin said. “I have a very design oriented mind.” Editing every page of the yearbook is a time consuming commitment. The yearbook is often more than 200 pages long. “It’s stressful to say the least,” Martin said. “During my editor period, I spend a lot of time editing pages. I go over the things people
have turned in, make sure everything is up to our standards. Just kind of mundane things like running spell check.” It’s no surprise then, that Martin received the news of her award during one of the three periods she spends working on the yearbook. For continued coverage, see pg. 3
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE BY JI HYUN AN co-editor-in-chief Dozens of cars pulled up to the high school on Sat. March 3, as students in suits and dresses stepped out for Solo and Ensemble—the annual district band and orchestra competition. Musicians began playing their pieces at eight in the morning to vie for a spot to compete at the state Solo and Ensemble, as only those who place first or second win the opportunity to do so. This year, Miki Nakai, senior and cellist, played “Saint Saen's Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor." She picked it because of its romantic, French style and worked on perfecting the piece for half a year. “This year was my second year participating in solo ensemble. Last year
I participated to enjoy the experience but this year, I was doing it for competition,” Nakai said. Although she was stressed, she enjoyed the overall experience by listening to fellow musicians. “I practice the cello many hours a week but I was not able to dedicate as much time as I wanted for this piece before the competition,” Nakai said. “But I enjoyed listening to other great players, it motivates me to get better.” Sheridan Hardy, senior and euphonium player, has participated in Solo and Ensemble for three years and won the district champion title this year and last year. “This is my third year doing solo and ensemble and my second year as district champion,” Hardy said. In preparation for the competition, Hardy practiced by himself for a few
months and then a few weeks with his accompanist. “For me, the most fun part is when I play with an accompanist,” Hardy said. “My favorite thing to do is to play solos after school, that was my hobby, just to go find music to play so this was fun.” Rehearsing her piece for Solo and Ensemble, Miki Nakai, senior, practices her cello. As district Over 20 musicians qualified to advance to the state competition. Photo by Ji Hyun An champion, Hardy will play at the “I have a really hard piece of music State Solo and Ensemble competition. I want to play for state so I’m going to He is planning on practicing whenev- practice half an hour to an hour a day er he has time, as he’s prepared a hard when I can,” Hardy said. piece for himself. For results, see pg. 5