Volume 79, Issue 4
Standing as “one body” Dawson Wohler Dominic Santore Reporters Early Wednesday evening, Buckeye Boys’ State delegates filed into Millett Stadium to watch the inauguration ceremony for the newly elected officials. As they took their seats, the band played a rousing rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Once the officially organized fanfare died down, members of the audience took up their own chants. In Stellar city, many young men took up the cry of “Tanh Famh,” the name of runner-up candidate for governor. In Alberts city, every delegate called out the name of their city in an impressive display of patriotism. Eventually, every city was declaring their pride for their new home town in one way or another. These sundry calls all fell away into reverent silence when the legionnaire took to the podium and gently tolled the bell three times. When the delegates stood as one body and spoke with one voice to recite the pledge of allegiance, it became eminently clear that in the four short days these young men had spent together, they had become a brotherhood. The band, empowered by
Thursday, June 15, 2017 the air of camaraderie fostered by the recitation of the pledge, burst into another powerful performance. This heralded the arrival of Acting Secretary of State Legionnaire Melissa Fowle, who then began the inauguration ceremony. Fowle began by swearing in Lt. General Brenden J. Ralston, Secretary of State Jacob Chestnut, Attorney General Nathan A. Forrest, Auditor of State Colin R. Flanagan, Treasurer of State Thomas Varley and Chief Justice Jack Meinke. Next followed the oath of the six Associate Justices until the affidavit was taken to the attendees. In the order of County Officials, City Mayors and the General Assembly, the gentleman belonging to each position stood up and vowed to govern and serve orderly and fairly while upholding “the Constitution and laws of the United States, the Constitution and laws of the state of Ohio and Buckeye Boys State.” Once all of these young men were sworn in, Faris Rehman was escorted to the stage by an honor guard consisting of members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Rehman was then sworn into office by Acting Secretary of State Fowle. During his inaugural address, Rehman called for unity among delegates of all racial, religious, and economic backgrounds, likening the program to a mosaic. Rehman continued by outlining his plan for his term, drawing particular attention to his program to end the opioid addiction epidemic through
pharmaceutical regulations. Rehman concluded his speech by thanking all of his supporters and then invited Judge Dan Favreau to the stage. In turn, Favreau, after a few opening remarks, welcomed Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy to the stage. Justice Kennedy delivered a speech stressing the importance of the democratic process that every member of Boys’ State had become intimately familiar with in the preceding days and wished the delegates good luck in their future endeavors, both inside and outside of the program.
Governor of the 2017 Buckeye Boys State, Faris Rehman, delivers his inaugural address to the public. Photo courtesy of Dylan Hoover
2 The Hetuck
Order in the court Jackson Stuff Reporter The Supreme Court is the final authority over disputed cases within the state of Ohio. Following the recent elections, we are now presented with a new Supreme Court at Buckeye Boys State. During the debates for state office, the now Chief Justice, Jack Meinke from Allen city in Galbraith County said, “By being a judicial activist there is no way to be fair and balanced.” Judicial activism is the argument that the court should be active in trying to reform the United States. While judicial constructionism is looking at the Constitution as is and sticking to past precedents. The argument between judicial activism and constructionism is important because the Supreme Court has the power of judicial review which allows the court to have the final say on any case and whatever social or economic issues that are tied to the case are subject to change as well. Cases like Brown v. Board
which made segregation in schools illegal and Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized gay marriage in the United States. While these cases are examples of judicial activism and from an objective standpoint, the argument for judicial constructionism is valid with the case Plessy v. Ferguson. Judicial activism created the separate but equal doctrine which has no basis in the Constitution. Led by the chief justice, the remaining associate justices consist of two constructionists and four activists despite being outnumbered Meinke later said, “The difference creates balance.” The argument between judicial activism and constructionism is a strong one. The Justices have all come out as being as unbiased as possible with Associate Justice Emmanuel Adams from Sklenicka City of Welsh County saying, “This court cannot afford to be biased. We are the top court
and our decisions affect everyone.” Associate Justice Tejas Dinesh from Leonard City of Warner County added with, “We would not talk to members of our city about the case and any information we’ve read about the case we would leave at the door so that the only thing we’re judging the case on is the facts presented to us.” Meinke concluded with “[Tejas] said it right from the cup. We are the final band aid and you can’t fix things after us.” When a case is disputed in the municipal courts, the case is sent to the appellate courts and if there is still no decision with the appellate courts, the case can be appealed to the Supreme Court and they can choose to review the case. However, if the Supreme Court justices wish to see a case at any time they can submit a writ of certiorari which allows them to see the facts and evidence of a case no matter which court the case is in.
Elected Buckeye Boys State Supreme Court of 2017. Photo courtesy of Zach Potkanowicz
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Troopers graduate and ready to enforce road laws Blake Simcox Reporter The state highway patrol ensures our safety on the roads of Ohio. In order to do so, they diligently watch and observe the highways of the state and country. This means that they must recruit the very best to achieve results. At Buckeye Boys State, many people applied to be a recruit, however only the 20 best were accepted into training. The test was both simple and straightforward. A 1.5 mile run through 90 degree heat and plenty of push-ups and sit-ups were completed to prove one's fitness. A written test was administered as the final task before being considered to become a cadet. Those accepted on Tuesday spent most of that day in training. Sergeant Jeff Kramer, Trooper Ray Santiago (2016 Ohio State Trooper of The Year) and Sergeant Jason Murfield taught the many protocols and procedures that the cadets had to learn and follow. Nicholas Pizzedaz of Copeland described the training as, “intense but well worth
Members of the State Highway Patrol receive instruction. Photo courtesy of Aaron Crank
All 2017 graduated delegates of the State Highway Patrol, along with their leaders. Photo courtesy of Aaron Crank
it.� Alongside this was practice for graduation on Wednesday, after which they would be the Highway patrol. On Wednesday morning the cadets greeted a helicopter which came to deliver two people to meet the cadets, as well as to teach them about the functions of the helicopter in the highway patrol. Marching into Millett past Stair P, the cadets training and practice was acknowledged by a ceremony of graduation. From that point on they were officially the Buckeye Boys State Highway Patrol. When asked how he felt about having just graduated, William White of Stockner responded with, "Pretty excited, very honored, looking forward to keep the streets safe and serve the young men of Buckeye Boys State." This sentiment is shared among all the new officers as they prepare to begin patrolling Miami University campus and enforcing the law.
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Election fraud for Merritt city’s mayor Davyn Williams Reporter only city plagued with voter fraud, During this week’s elecmultiple cities around Buckeye Boys tions a peculiar thing happened to State have found voter fraud in their the votes of Merritt City. Apparently elections. The secretary of state’s the city’s mayor is being accused of office is bustling with activity trying election fraud due to an extra vote to fix the problems with the electhat was cast for him during the city’s tions. Although the secretary was election. It is unknown if the extra not available for an interview, the vote was intentional or not, but most plan for solving the voter fraud is to people assumed that the extra vote look through all the votes that were was just a mistake made by the sysmade and identify any suspicious tem. However this has not stopped activity. There will be a court trial on conspiracies that someone, maybe June 15 where all members involved even the mayor, knew of a glitch in with fraud will have to testify in the system where one person had the court. ability to vote twice. Dominic Julian of Merritt city said, “It was probably just an accident, but who knows.” It is still unclear how the city is going to deal with the recent problems that arose from this extra vote, but Jackson Casteel had this to say about the whole Political Cartoon courtesy of Nolan Andrasik predicament, “It was kind of funny and confusing.” Although it is unclear what the city will do about this problem, the citizens seem to support their mayor despite the alleged fraud that was committed, “I like the mayor” continued Jackson, “even though he Dylan Hoover wasn’t supposed to go on a trip and Reporter now our city is a day behind.” It is unlikely that there was Buckeye Boys State is run any Russian involvement in the fraud, by a number of absolutely amazing however the matter may need to be legionnaires. One of the most amazinvestigated further. ing men who ever worked with the Merritt city was not the Boys State program is Ed Voisard.
Buckeye Boys State legend, Ed Voisard
Mr. Voisard is from St. Marys, Ohio, and started working with Buckeye Boys State in 1983. He started out helping with legislation but in his eyes there is no small job, and he made sure to give everything his all. He loved a lot about the program, but his favorite part by far was getting to meet all of the guys. “They all come from so many different backgrounds,” Mr. Voisard stated. “It was just so interesting to get to know all of them.” Over the years, Mr. Voisard continued his work with the program, eventually climbing to the top to become the assistant director. When inquired if he liked being higher up more, he shook his head and said, “It was never about [rank]. It was just about doing the job the best I could, no matter where I was.” In 2013, Ed Voisard stepped down from working with the program. He fondly remembers his friend Jerry, who worked the program alongside him. “My favorite thing about Jerry was how he approached his work; he would always give it his all.” When he stepped down, Mr. Voisard said that “[Jerry] said with me gone, there would no longer be a number two.” Mr. Voisard was irreplaceable to his peers; so much that he has a city named after him, whom he looks forward to getting a chance to meet.