Beak 'n' Eye No. 6

BeaknEye_ISSUU_6_10

3/4/2011

4:00 PM

Beak ‘n’ Eye

Page 1

Volume 51 Issue 6

West High School

3505 W. Locust St. Davenport, Iowa 52804

cool idea

Friday, March 4, 2011

Photo by Felicia Raymond

WHERE IS THE CEILING? - Ceiling tiles have been removed in the main hallway and English hallways on the first floor. They have been removed so Phase One can wiring and pipes for the new heating and cooling system. Workers work from 4 p.m. to midnight to not disrupt classrooms.

By Felicia Raymond

Construction has started on installing a new geothermal heating and cooling system to West high. Geothermal heat pumps (sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps) have been in use since the late 1940s.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems use naturally occurring energy from underground to provide heating and cooling.

This process is going to cost more than 4.6million dollars.

The earth’s crust is always shifting, moving and breaking down. As this happens energy is released in the form of heat, steam, or hot water. The pumps are installed close to the business, home, or school. Piping is attached to the place and run underground for hundreds of feet. The heat exchange system is run threw electricity, and transfer the heat energy from the pipes into warm air to heat. The cold water in the pipes in then re circulated threw the heat pump, minimizing waste and keeping the system cool.

This process has already begun. Workers have been coming into the school around four and working third shift, to not disrupt classrooms that goes on during the day. They begin their day at four and work second shift for the rest of the school year and during the summer to complete ‘phase one’, which is the installing of all of the geothermal equipment, wells, tunnels, and hallway piping. The installation of the HVAC units in the classrooms on the first floor.

The geothermal portion of the project will include the drilling of a well field to the east of the school. This well will consist of 60 loops of pipe and it will be 600 feet long, with 27 loops of pipe 400 feet long. One third of the loop will be 15 feet deep, another third will be 30 feet deep and the last third of the loops will be 45 feet deep.

In each classroom there will be four water pipes, two hot

“

West begins to install geothermal air conditioning

In the end, I think that the air conditioning will help more just because students will be more comfortable in class.”

and two cold that will regulate the temperature.

The ‘second phase’ will be completed by the summer of 2012. in the stage they will be installing the HVAC throughout the second floor, and connecting the existing hot water boilers into geothermal systems.

“I have seen the ceiling by the English department on the first floor,” said Audrey Anderson, senior, “It looks like a lot of work. They have torn everything off of the ceiling and it looks really bad but in the end I think it will pay off if it means that West will have air conditioning.”

The looks of the ceiling may look bad but the progress of everything is going well according to Nancy Jacobsen, principal.

“In the summer go out of my way to walk down the science hall way,” said Nick Ransdel, senior, “It is just the coolest hallway. The classes are just more comfortable. I am happy that West is getting air conditioning. I just hope the underclassmen appreciate it, because we (seniors) went without it.”

The benefits of geothermal heating and cooling are the durability of the systems, if put in correctly the pumps can last for 20 or more years.

In a home homeowners can save 30 to 75 percent of their

New superintendent comes to Davenport with high hopes

By Felicia Raymond

The Davenport Community School District has selected its new superintendent. Arthur Tate has stepped up to the plate and is taking the place of retiring Superintendent Julio Amanza.

Tate is a former Army colonel who once taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is currently the superintendent at Tempe, Arizona. He has been serving as superintendent for six years now. Tate is expected to take the Davnport position on July 1 in Davenport.

His philosophy is that relationships in school should be between teachers and students. Tate also feels highly on giving the teachers what they need to teach among the schools.

Tate has served as a U.S Army officer for nine years in Europe, three tours in Vietnam, and he taught math at the U.S military Academy at West Point. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, three master’s degrees from Boston University, Texas University and the University of Rhode Island and an education doctoral degree from Florida Atlantic University.

“I am an educator with a military background,” said Tate, “but also I have a Boy Scout background and a background as a teacher, principal and superintendent. All of my prior life experiences influence the way I look at education. As the superintendent of four public school districts, I found that setting the example and taking action to accomplish the goals have always served me well. I can’t say whether those characteristics are a result of military background or just the way I think and act as a leader.”

Though Tate is moving across the country to Iowa he has high hopes for the Davenport school district.

“My plan is to get to know the district by talking to students, parents, employees and members of the Davenport community so that I can understand the strengths of the schools,” said Tate, “I want to learn about the hopes and vision of those who have a vested interest in the Davenport Community

Schools. Together with the district leadership and the school board we will determine the immediate and long-term priorities for our work.”

Tate may be from Arizona and is used to warm weather but he says that he will adjust just fine, and that the snow is not anything new to him.

“Prior to coming to Arizona 6 years ago I lived in New York State, New Hampshire and Massachusetts for 15 years,” said Tate, “During that time I spent a lot of time with snow shovel and blowers, and making decisions about whether or not to have school on bad weather days. I do have to get me some warm clothes and coats, and a pair of gloves before next winter.”

And now that Davenport schools have a new superintendent the prior one can step down and retire. Julio Almanza will retire at the end of this 2010-2011 school year.

“I think the fact that we are getting a new superintendent is going to help,” said Dane Schroeder, senior, “A new face should bring in new rules and a set of mind. I think that it will help.”

Almanza’s salary grew from $150,000 to $195,868 during his four years with the Davenport District.

Superintendent Amanza is currently 61 years old. He began his career in Chicago, IL. He was hired as the Superintendent of Davenport Community Schools in July 2006. He has led Davenport’s 31 schools through the cutbacks in state funding. He helped work on the city’s efforts to improve education for children.

“It’s time to hang up the teaching and retire and enjoy thing that I have missed,” he announced.

“I felt I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and to give back to those who helped me through college and my career,” he said.

He told the Quad City Times, “We’ve accomplished a lot of things because we as a team have worked together for higher student achievement, we still are not perfect, but my years in Davenport have been my best years in my 42 years of educa-

annual energy bill by switching to geothermal heating and cooling. And as a large school the lease expensive the better.

Also geothermal heating and cooling is economical friendly.

This helps avoid the use of fossil fuels and other technologies that can create greenhouse gases and hurt the ozone layer.

“I think it’s going to be a lot better for the students. It’s going to cool down the students and won’t make the floors and desks all gross. Not too many kids will be complaining as much that it’s hot,” said Jordann Sperry.

Of the 11 Davenport poll community school district schools, only two have air conditioning; Wood Do you think the Intermediate and North District should spend High school. Though some money for air condistudents have started that the air conditioning in tioning for West North is rarely on, or doesn’t work Wood students say Yes 70% that the learn in comfort.

No 30% “Wood is usually cool.

We have days where it is warm but nothing that anySOURCE: Beak ’n’ Eye one can’t handle. I think we survey of 100 students are a lucky school. I know some schools just don’t have it,” said Wood student Briana Blake.

“In the end,” said Sperry, “I think that the air conditioning will help more just because students will be more comfortable in class. When their mind is off the heat and on their school work the prices paid shouldn’t mean as much.”

Photo by Gary Aungust

GETTING TO THE KIDS’ LEVEL - Supt. Arthur Tate observes a class in Tempe, Arizona.

tion. I just felt it was time to hang it up and enjoy some things that I have missed.”

He plans to spend time with family. He has worked in the Davenport community district for 42 years now. I plan to do more fishing, not worry about snow days and enjoy each and every day.”

“It’s just something you just know. And after 42 years in education, I felt it was time for someone else to take my place,” he said.

BeaknEye_ISSUU_6_10

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2 News

PLEDGE’

Beak ‘n’ Eye

Friday, March 4, 2011

Students take the ‘Safety While Driving

By Felicia Raymond

Ya, lol, lmao and where u at?, are just a few of the thousands of words sent threw texting that kills about 6,000 people a year according to The Washington Post.

And now West is taking a pledge to not text and drive. The top school who receives the most pledges gets the 1,000 dollar prize. The money goes toward the schools after prom party. Second and third places receive prizes as well. The pledge is sponsored my Trinity Iowa Health, McLaughlin motors, Volvo, Cadillac, and Subaru.

Students can sign the pledge on www.facebook.com/trinityqcdrivesafe or by filling out a pledge card that are located in the library.

Students are signing the pledge because they are learning more and more about safe driving.

“I have a report for my second block and it is about the dangers of texting and driving,” said Kendall Tawney, senior, “and each cases makes me think how dumb and dangerous it is.”

The main candidates for these incidents are those who are under the age of 20. 20 to 29 year old rank second. Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old according to safe drive. com Overall, 81 percent of U.S. residents said they have used their cell phone while driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of the 82 percent of 16- to 17year-olds who have cell phones, 52 percent said they use them while driving.

“I learned that texting and driving you are 91 percent more likely to crash, If you use marijuana it’s only 47 percent,” said Tawney, “That is crazy

“

A look behind the scenes of West Connection

that my cell phone is more dangerous than a drug.

My phone is like a drug.”

The statistics show that texting while driving is becoming a huge problem across the United States, and static’s show that in more cases than none people are dying. So researchers are asking the question if why is it so important, and why can’t it wait until later. The research found was phenomenal showing the reason that teen’s text and drive is to update face book, find a friend, and flirt. This information is leaving many parents and some teens wondering is this worth the lives that it claims every year?

“I don’t text and drive, it makes me really nervous to see others looking down while driving,” said Audrey Anderson, senior, “If they aren’t paying attention to the road or their surroundings then I can only assume the worst could happen. Every day you hear these stories about teens dying from texting and driving, or killing someone because they couldn’t wait to update their face book status until they got home, but I don’t think that something like that could be that important to possibly take a life from someone.”

Many people would agree with this but many are still not changing their ways. Of the 52 percent who admit to texting while driving, there is no proof that the other 48 percent do not do the same.

There is no proof that someone is texting and driving, no blood alcohol content or blood shot eyes.

“I say I am going to stop, but every time I see my phone ring I have to pick up. It is just a bad habit that I can’t break,” said Tawney, “I want to stop but I can’t I might have to just put it in my trunk.”

Law makers are now realizing that, so now in

31 states it is illegal to text and drive, including Iowa and Illinois. As of right now the restrictions are that all adults are banned from texting messaging while driving and all teenagers are prohibited from using any handheld electronic devices, cell phones, iPods, ect.

This went into effect on the first of the year.

Though there is a grace period, where police officers will let off with a warning, the grace period is said to end July 1 2011.

“When I am in the car with someone who is texting and driving I’m worried that their focus isn’t on the road,” said Kamil Jamil, junior, “I always ask if they could put it down. I just don’t feel safe.”

HOW TO SIGN UP

Go to www.facebook.com/ trinityqcdrivesafe and fill the survey out OR Go to the West library and pick up a pamphlet.

Fill it out and drop it off in the guidance office.

Gas prices over the years 1960 1

197

0 95

0

Now

1980

2000

1990

Art by Felicia Raymond

The most important thing for the kids to remember is that they are there to entertain’

By Brandon Rostenbach

Imagine getting up to catch the bus at 4 a.m. and not getting back until 4 a.m. the next day.

That’s what the West show choir does in some of the competitions they have to travel to during the season.

The season starts for the choir kids at the beginning of fourth term when the last season just got over. They start to think of a song and a routine to do at their auditions over the summer.

Each audition needs to be a sixteen bar Broadway song, which is about one minute long.

During the audition they are also taught a 16count dance that they have to perform and get judged on.

At the end of the summer in August, they go to a choreography camp where a professional is hired to teach the kids steps to their dance routines and help them get better.

“In our show we have a lot going. The hardest part is not the actual dancing but singing and dancing at the same time. We have fast songs and it is hard to keep going sometimes,” said senior Sarah Nylin.

During the first two terms of the school year, it is book work and a class fourth block for the show choir kids. In this class they go over films from choreography camp and learn what they did wrong and how to improve. They also go over vocal skills and work on being an overall better team than they were.

During the third and fourth term of the school year is the time where the choirs start to compete with other show choirs, not only from Davenport, but from other states also.

“Traveling is the best part. We wake up and load the buses sometimes before 4 a.m. and we ride together and have a lot of fun. Competition season is what everybody looks forward to,” said Nylin.

They have had three competitions this year.

The team placed fifth out of 18 teams in Lincoln,

Lockheed entertains at Lincoln

Wisconsin collective bargaining bill stirs protest

Photo by Michael Sears/ Milwakee Journal/ MCT

CAPITOL FEVER - Protesters refuse to leave after the Wisconsin state capitol was ordered closed at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. Police refused to make any arrests.

By Felicia Raymond

Collective bargaining rights have become an issue that is sweeping the Midwest. Thousands of protesters have converged at the state capitol in Madison, Wis., after Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to take away the right of public employees to negotiate their contracts.

Collective bargaining is used by teacher and state employee unions to negotiate a contract which both sides can agree with. Typical issues covered in a labor contract are hours, wages, benefits, working conditions, and the rules of the workplace.

Once both sides have reached a contract that they find agreeable, it is signed and kept in place for a set period of time.

Wisconsin Republicans have enough votes to pass the bill eliminating collective bargaining, but the vote in the Senate has been stalled after 14 Democratic senators fled the state so that there is not a quorum to vote.

Several other states have bills aimed at weakening bargaining rights, including Iowa.

“I went to Wisconsin two weekends ago to support the people that are protesting,” said Patrick Shoemaker, Spanish teacher. “There were massive protests. I couldn’t get close to the capital without seeing someone with a sign protesting.

All of the protests were at a minimum of four blocks away from the capital.”

The capitol was ordered and the doors of the capital building have been welded shut and chains

“

You couldn’t get within four blocks of the capital”

put on the window to prevent people from coming in.

“But the protest was a peaceful one, there was no fighting and violence,” said Shoemaker.

Seeing how the protesters are cops, firefighter, janitors, and teachers (all union workers) there is little violence and is a protest with manners.

“My friend lives in Wisconsin,” said Steven Lyle, English teacher, “and she said that the protesters are polite; they move out of the way for the janitors to clean.”

Collective bargaining rights vary by state, and in Wisconsin police officers and firefighters are not affected by the bargaining bill, but 200 police offers joined the protest and standing beside those who are fighting for their rights after the Walker ordered the capitol be cleared at 4 p.m. Sunday.

No arrests have been made.

The collective bargaining rights include salaries, hours, medical and dental insurance, layoff procedures and grievance policies.

“It (collective bargaining) makes everything for everyone predictable,” said Shoemaker.

The collective bargaining rights have been set in place in Iowa since 1975, with few changes.

News 3

Beak ‘n’ Eye

Friday, March 4, 2011

And in Iowa the collective bargaining has become an issue that has come to the minds of some teachers. If the bill is passed to remove the union then the teachers that have been in the school district the longest that get paid the most could be the first to be fired. As of right now, if budget cuts were made the teachers with the lowest seniority of teaching would be fired before the teachers who have been here. And the teachers that have been teaching longer are weary of their position.

“I have been teaching in the Davenport Community school district since 1995,” said Shoemaker, “but there are people who have been here longer. I just don’t want to end up like those people who have lost their jobs with their backs to the wall all because of a salary basis.”

“I have been teaching since 1973,” said Lyle, “I am worried about any teacher losing their jobs unfairly. Our negotiated contract has a clear guide line of who would go first. In our case it would be the least senior teacher in the department. The district would save the most money be getting rid of the most senior teachers because they are more expensive. But you just don’t want young teachers in the school, they need experienced mentors.”

“The teachers who have been here longer have been through more training and schooling,” said Shoemaker, “when they go to get a higher degree they get paid more, which makes them a better teacher. But the schooling cost a lot of money, and if the bill goes into effect then the incentive to get a higher degree is pointless.”

Abel Uribel/ Chicago Tribune/ MCT

UPSET -Thousands of teachers and state workers protest Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation to take away collective bargaining in Wisconsin. Ohio also is trying to take away public employees right to bargain.

DANCE- West Connection performs their routine at the 25th annual Logan Invitational competition.

Nebraska, on Feb. 5. On Feb. 7 the team placed seventh out of 24 teams in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

They hosted an exhibition at the River Center on Feb. 18-19 where teams such as North and Central came and competed. None of the teams placed, but the show will be aired on Mediacom network, Channel 22 within the next month.

In the past, show choir has traveled to places such as Nashville, Tennessee, for nationals. They have also traveled to Orlando, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles for a competition called Fame where teams from all over the country compete.

The choir is judged on mainly vocals but also their dance routine, costumes, instrumental, and the overall effect of the performance. The high scores vary from 100 to 800 points.

The choir doesn’t have a set theme for their costumes, but one of their songs titled “Devil with the Blue Dress” there is one girl who wears

By Brandon Rostenbach

“Forward! Reverse! Forward! Reverse!”

That’s what was yelled as the Lockheed, the improv team at West performed their forward and back routine at Lincoln Elementary when they rewind a scene that they just did on Feb. 11.

The fifth graders were ecstatic when they were there.

“You can tell they enjoyed themselves while performing at Lincoln,” said junior Karli Murrens. They put on a show at Lincoln for the anti-bullying procedure.

Lockheed is an entertainment only group that does not compete but performs games and activities on stage all on impulse. Wayne Hess, the

a blue dress. A few other songs you would hear at a concert would be “Fever” by Michael Buble, “Anyway” by Martina McBride, “Underground” and “Steal Your Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

“Even though a lot of people don’t think so, show choir is a sport because it wears on you mentally, physically, and emotionally. You have to work hard constantly,” says senior Courtney Long.

There are 33 people on the varsity West Connection team that Rosalie Dunnegan directs.

There are 44 people on the JV This Just In team that Tyler Finley directs. Each team also has a pit, or a band that plays in the background while they do their routine. Also, each team has 13 people that manage backstage helping get the choir ready to do their routine.

“Show choir allows me to do what I love and learn how to work as a team at the same time,” junior Dylann Eagleson said.

drama director, came up with the idea last year because he thought that it would be a lot of fun.

The point of improv is to raise awareness about drama and get more people interested.

They have had six shows since last year when they started. Anybody is invited to attend their shows and to be entertained. All the money that they have earned this year has gone to the Achieve the Dream, which is the auditorium improvement fund. They are looking to buy new lights and a new sound system to put in the auditorium.

They have 12 people who perform on the team, and Hess even performs sometimes. They practice one to two times per week in the auditorium or in the hallway for about an hour at a

Photo by Show Choir

poll

Do you think Show Choir is like Glee?

Yes 35% No 65%

SOURCE: Beak ’n’ Eye survey of 130 students

time. They have about four or five practices in between each show. The team practices on games and helps improve their skills and it helps the games be more entertaining for the crowd.

One of the games that they play is called ABCs. “One person starts a sentence with the first letter of the alphabet, and the second person starts the second sentence with the second letter of the alphabet,” junior Dan Kuttler explained.

Hess performs in a game called Symphony.

Each person gets a sound designated to them, and Hess is the conductor.

“They were very entertaining for the fifth graders,” said junior Katie Hoeper.

Penguin goes to school

By Breanna Pairrett and Bailey Graham

Would you have ever thought that a penguin likes to play with a toy stuffed animal, monkey to be exact? Well they do!

Kim Strunk, Environmental Science III teacher, had Doodle visit them on Feb. 10. Doodle is as African black footed penguin, brought to west by Niabi Zoo, and presented by Sharon Freedman, care taker of all the penguins at Niabi Zoo. “Doodle loves her toy monkey,” Freedman said. “All the penguins in our zoo have an assortment of stuffed animals that they love to play with.”

Doodle is not the only species of penguin out there.

There are 18 different species of penguins, and only five species are found in Antarctica. Most people think penguins only like the cold, but that is not true.

“Penguins like it warm on land and freezing in the water,” said Freedman.

Penguins can dive straight down 144 feet and can stay underwater for 15 minutes. The penguins become camoflauged while in the water and are usually safe from predators.

However, all penguin species are endangered. Threats include commercial fishing, oil spills, guano harvesting, and climate change.

Penguins use guano to build their nests. They return to the same nest each year and have about two-three eggs.

The babies are called chicks and both parents share the responsibility of taking care of them.

Penguins are carnivores and eat mostly fish. in the zoo

Photo by Breanna Pairrett

HI - Doodle from Niabi Zoon shows off in front of students underneath the science desk. each penguin is hand fed rainbow trout three times a day.

The reason the caretakers hand feed them is because it helps tame them. An example is Doodle. If they wouldn’t have tamed her, she wouldn’t be allowed to visit classrooms around the state. A lot of students like to take pictures too and Sharon even lets you pet Doodle.

If you want to see Doodle and many other animals, Niabi Zoo opens for the season on March 10.

Photo by Bailey Graham

BEAK ‘N’ EYE- Caretaker Sharon Freedman holds Doodle for a snapshot. If Doodle was not tamed this would not be possible.

BeaknEye_ISSUU_6_10

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4 Faces

Beak ‘n’ Eye

Quick look

Friday, March 4, 2011

IMPACT

Rock ‘n’ Roll’s

Jordann Sperry

By Edvin Turcinhodzic

Photo by Erin Pershall

SEWING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - Emily Tompson gets close to the sewing machine to make sure of no errors.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to talk to my friends and listen to music.

What is something odd about you?

I can remember license plate numbers really well.

What is your favorite color?

Lime green

What is the stupidest thing you have ever done?

I tried to talk with my mouth full of water. It went everywhere! It was sooooo embarrassing!

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is of drowning. I am so scared of dying that way.

What is your favorite thing about high school?

It would have to be all of my friends and the fun classes I have, I also really like the extra curricular activities.

What do you plan on doing when you grow up?

I plan on being a nurse or a doctor.

What is the strangest thing about you?

My love for SpongeBob

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Beak ‘n’ Eye

Friday, March 4, 2011

Making the dress to impress

By Erin Pershall

Emily Thompson, junior, has found a way to add art to fashion by making her own articles of clothing.

She wanted to make clothes that she liked and that were affordable. “I have always been a creative person and this is an affordable way to make clothes the way I want, though sewing is a challenge for me,” said Thompson.

She said she “hadn’t done it (sewed) since eighth grade, and I don’t remember sewing machines hating me so much! There was a lot of trial and error.”

Before going over to the Thompson’s residents, found a simple pattern online to make dresses from.

The pattern uses old t-shirts and a contrasting bottom.

Thompson had a strange experience when she made her first dress in her basement with her sewing crew.

Some of the sewing party goers were Eileen Thompson, Samantha Thompson, Taylor Thompson, Libby Burken, Erin Pershall, and Catherine Aronson.

“One day I woke up and my basement was filled with people sewing! So with the help of my friend Erin (Pershall) and my mom, I made my first dress. Erin and I ended up staying up until four in the morning making dresses and such.”

Thompson has made three dresses, tote bags, and shorts. The dresses are each made of an old t-shirt and material. One of Thompson’s dresses is made of an old pink tank top. The bottom has purple and pink flowers on it.

Her sister, Samantha Thompson has made pillow cases, tote bags, a dress, a tank top and doll clothes for their younger sister, and with the help of her mother, she has successfully made a quilt. Eileen Thompson has previously made a quilt out of her husband’s blue jeans.

The best part of sewing to Thompson is “The fact that I get to hear people say ‘Where did you get that?’ and I get to tell them that it’s one-of-a-kind. Plus, I get to wear my own creations!”

He is sitting in a black chair holding his red Ibanez seemingly lost in the music he is creating. His fingers moving in an almost dance like rhythm. His brown eyes gleaming at his fingers to make sure of no mistakes. He is lost in his world he has just created by simply playing a song one guitar. Almost like a painter with an empty canvas.

He makes a masterpiece. You can see in his eyes he seems proud, content, and happy. It seems just spending a moment with him makes you feel happy and whole,

When Ozzy Osbourne performed on February 14th at the iWireless Center, he brought back memories of other rebellious rock and roll bands. Ozzy, with his band Black Sabbath, were one of the early heavy metal bands to make an impact on society. They were known for being a bit on the extreme side.

Ozzy is to some most commonly known for biting the head of a bat during a performance in 1981.

As outrageous as biting a head of a bat might sound, there is a band that has seemingly surpassed Black Sabbath.

“The most outrageous band is by far Slipknot. There are eight members and all they do is crazy screamo. They do crazy stunts all the time and one of the members broke both his ankles after jumping onto the stage,” said sophomore Sebastian Roe. “The lead singer from Breaking Benjamin broke a club’s microphone at one of their first concerts,” said junior Dakota Kirkley.

Rock and roll has always had a rebellious attitude that appealed to much of the youth during the early 1950’s. Rock musicians have shown rebellious behavior through lyrics, fashion, appearance, drugs and tattoos.

With rock and roll’s exciting beats came about a new way of expressing yourself. A man by the

name of Elvis Presley had a way of showing passion- with his hips. It is hard to imagine that when Elvis first was on TV, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, shaking his hips to his music outraged many people.

They felt his moves were too sexual in nature and they also believed that he was a white man trying to dance like he was black.

For a while it became quite a controversy for him to be on shows.

In fact, many of the producers only wanted to show him from the waist up so that they wouldn’t offend their viewers. Even so, there was no stopping the following that Elvis developed in part due to his amazing dancing abilities.

Rock and roll has had a great influence on present day society.

Whether it has influenced today’s music or the behavior of people to this day, there is one aspect that stands out a little more than anything else.

“The band I believe was the most influential is The Beatles simply because the shaped most of today’s common rock music,” Roe said.

Rebellious music really came out around the 60’s with The Beatles.

The Beatles were not very fond with the war going on at the time so they acted upon it in their own way.

Starting a hair trend by growing their hair out and they even wrote songs about it. Hippies all over the United States connected with The Beatles and their music. This behav-

1954

Photo by Erin Pershall

POSES - Emily Thompson shows off her two dresses that she made from scratch. She is wearing one of her creations. She has also made a purse, pair of shorts and two interchangeable skirts. Her bright colors and vibrant patterns are just a statment that she likes to make. “My dresses are how I like to express my personailty,” Thompson said.

Student masters guitar after two years

By Anna Hayes

on American culture

as it does for him. As he continues to play he seems more and more into the music, the sound of different notes and chords fill the air in a beautiful way. This is the world of Bryce Swanson. This is his symphony.

Have you ever done something out of boredom and come to love it in the end?

Adoring it complete and wishing you could do it everyday? Byrce Swanson, senior and skilled musician, did just that. He turned his love for music into a brand new way to express himself.

“I started playing when I was stuck in Nebraska for two years,” said Swanson, “All I had were the VH1 classical channel

and a crappy acoustic guitar along with an audience of dogs. So I learned random little things through the channel.

Swanson started just two years ago and now one of his closet friends John Schilder, junior, describes him as an accomplished and radical guitarist. But Swanson doesn’t just play guitars. He also plays violin, piano, bass, drums, and sings.

“Music is the best way to express myself,” Swanson says. “It’s what I love so It’s always in my life.” He believes music helps people in school.

Swanson plans to go to UNI and study music in some way.

Elvis Presley was the first real rock and roll star. A white southerner who singing blues laced with country and country tinged with gospel, Presley brought together music from both sides of the color line. Presley performed this music with a natural hip swiveling sexuality that made him a teen idol and a role model for generations of cool rebels.The force of his music and image signaled to the mainstream culture it was time for a change.

BEATLES- The Beatles’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Vol I, released in 1980, contained 14 of the Beatles greatest hits. The Beatles had 20 No. 1 hits in United States.

Metropolitan Museum of Art acknowledged the major influence that Rock Music has had on fashion.

“All in all, I really believe that rock and roll has evolved over time due to the ‘image’ of bands and singers. It won’t be long before another style of music impacts the next step in the music industry and society,” said sophomore Jake Stewart.

SOLO- Electric guitars are what made the sound of rock so contagious and still provide amazing solos today.

Major influences on culture

1960

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr.Together they inspired many people around the world through their famous “love not war”belieF.

1967

Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in musical history, and one of the most influential musicians of his era across a range of genres. Hendrix is credited for bringing a new style and sound to the electric guitar. If it wasnt the guitar, he brought a new form of performing to music.

By Kayla Mirfield

The i wireless Center was packed top to bottom when Slash and Ozzy Osbourne came to town on Feb. 14.

Before Ozzy came on stage, a short movie played with clips from different shows and movies, such as Avatar, Jersey Shore, The Hangover, Lady Gaga’s music video for Telephone, Twilight, and ending with Iron Man, putting a funny twist on all videos by having himself be the main character.

While the video ended a moon showed on the screen and the crowd starting howling, Ozzy came out on stage and started playing “Bark at the Moon”.

Through the hole show there was not a boring moment, Ozzy was fully energized and what seemed to be that he was the happiest one there. He jumped up and down on stage and was running all over, swaying back and forth.

After about an hour and a half of performing, Ozzy took a break and let the

guitarist and drumer take over, it was long and drawn out. The drummer would play, and then stop, then it would be a surprise and he’d start up again.

That could have been shorter, but with Ozzy’s old age he needed the break.

Twice during the show, Ozzy took a long hose and hosed the audience spitting out soupy water all over the first 15 rows of the audience.

The crowd was never sitting, even during slow songs such as “Momma I’m Coming Home” the crowd all held up phone lights and lighters to show appreciation.

When Ozzy was done performing the crowd kept screaming “ONE MORE SONG, ONE MORE SONG.” He came out to do one more song, he played a Black Sabbath cover, “Paranoid,” with a huge smile on his face and then decided he was done.

The opening show of Slash playing “Ghost” also got the crowd rowdy with long, fast chords and lots of movement on stage with all songs that the crowd new every word too. The crowd was wild through the whole show.

REVIEW

Photo by Erin Pershall

DEBUT- Blizzard of Ozz was Ozzy’s first solo album. It was rereleased in 2002 with the original bass and drum tracks. The album featured hit songs such as Crazy Train, Suicide Soluion, and Mr. Crowley. This album can be purchased today for around $20.

1976

“The King of Pop” Michael Jackson is arguably the most influential and entertaining person to ever walk the face of the earth. With his creative music and mind-boggling dance moves, he has inspired many and likely more to come.His music revolutionized the music industry and it will undoubtedly withstand the test of time. To this day, Michael Jackson’s Thriller has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

Ozzy Osbourne delivers at the i wireless Center

Congratulations, Falcon Nation

on a great boys basketball season

ior and attitude started trends of pot and LSD usage that were above average. The Beatles also went to India to study meditation and began the Love and Peace generation which became very crucial during that time.

Since its birth rock ‘n’ roll has had a firm influence on fashion. From Elvis Presley’s Blue Suede Shoes to the Beatles hair styles and Nehru Jackets to the tattoo inspired fashion designs of Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx, Rock ‘n’ Roll “Style” and what the rebels and bad boys wear influences fashion trends in our society. Even the

1987

Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band.

The band formed in Los Angeles,California in 1985.

Their mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s years have been described by individuals in the music industry as the period in which "they brought forth a hedonistic rebelliousness and revived the punk attitude-driven hard rock scene.

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

5

March 12 - I wireless Center, QC Mallards face off against Mississippi. There will be a Mallards Replica Black Youth Jersey Giveaway to the first 1000 fans.

March 12 - St. Patrick Society Grande Parade XXVI and Post-Parade Bash. The parade will travel through downtown Rock Island to downtown Davenport.

March 12 - Third Day performs at the Adler Theatre. Tickets available at ticket master.

March 18 - Much anticipated movie Limitless starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. The drama/thriller is about how aspiring author Eddie Morra’s life changes when introduced to new drug that lets him tap into his full potential.

March 19 -Comedians Cheech & Chong perform at the Adler Theatre.

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“I’m getting SO

Facebook posts get kids in trouble

SICK

By Kayla Mirfield

*&^#Љ of your

Rants!”

What bloggers really think of Charlie Sheen

Ranting online can cause consequences

By Andi Holdt

The goal of Facebook and other social networks is to make everything a more open and connected place; however, more people are using social media to attack others.

Lara Logan, a reporter for CBS, was in Egypt covering the overthrow of President Noshi Mubarak and was attacked and raped. When this story was posted online, one personal comment was, “What does she expect going to a country that treats women that way.

She should have known better.”

A blogger on NYPost wrote, “News reporters put themselves at risk for fame and profit. Congratulations to Mrs. Logan, she now has both.”

Rants are getting worse because people have realized they can attack one another and not see the personal reaction of their words. Sometimes one’s name is even hidden. It’s a very impersonal way to attack someone.

The Quad City Times’ Quadsville now removes persons without warning who make posts that the staff at Quadsville feels is inappropriate or attacks another.

“When I was first hired as social media editor for t he Quad-City Times, I e-mailed all the users who had multiple comments removed, explained what their offenses were and asked them to avoid such language...” wrote Stephanie De Pasquale in the latest issue of Quadsville. “The vast majority of the cases, the warning e-mail did no good and the user continued to violate our terms of use. The only thing it did… was giving abusive commenter’s a person, me, to focus their rage at.”

Online ranting is causing people to lose their jobs, their friends, and could even cause issues with your school.

People have lost their jobs for blogging about their work. Mark Jen was fired from his job at Google for

“

posting what Google called inappropriate comments about his time at work consisting of things to do with how the company runs and the way it’s managed. In 2005 a woman flight attendant was fired for taking pictures of herself in her work uniform and then posting them on her blog.

Students are being rejected from college because of their statuses on sites such as Facebook and their blogs from places like Twitter. There are people that fight over these sites as well that cause friendships to end and couples to split.

Almost all teens are blogging about people that makes an appearance in their lives. A lot comes from things about their teachers.

“Back in freshman year I made fun of a teacher because of the way she looked,” said Tom Kneipp, junior. “Luckily she never found out.”

Making sure one knows all of their friends is an important thing to keep in mind when blogging as well.

“I forgot I added my teacher on Facebook and I set my status to ‘I hate History Viewpoints’ because I was having trouble with one of my assignments, I later got back on to find out that she commented on it saying ‘the class is Historical Viewpoints,’” said Brianna Bellman. “The next day she gave me crap about it in front of the entire class.”

Others blog about they way they feel they were treated.

“I had a teacher that treated me terribly. So I ripped her on Facebook. Called her mean names and did a few other things,” said Tim Hutchenson, junior.

Colleges are another factor to consider when posting comments on a blog.

“Each year more and more schools are taking a closer look at the students applying to their university as a measure of quality control,” wrote E. Thomas, a writer from youniversitytv.com. “So yes, it does happen at some schools. Social media outlets like Facebook provide an unfiltered, real life look at the potential student. If a college has access to that, why

If you don’t want someone to know something... don’t post it because it’s where everone can see.”

not use it?”

Students are becoming more aware of the effects of their blogging.

“I’m always careful about what I write,” said Brittany Mulligan, junior. “I fear someday I’ll want to have a nice job but be stopped because of something I posted on my Facebook or Twitter.”

Other ways blogging can hurt one is posting personal information on their site and getting negative feedback.

“When I’m upset I’ll make an entry about poll my day and hope people Have you ever posted will talk to me about it and a comment online that work through you later regretted? my issues that happened that Yes 47 % day. They’re like my perNo 53% sonal shrink,” SOURCE: Beak ’n’ Eye said Heather survey of 100 students McPheeters, junior. “There have been times though that someone had made a remark that was demeaning towards what I had posted and it really got to me. They ruined our friendship over something they could have ignored.”

Incidents like this happen every day. More teens are going to the Internet to have an emotional release.

“Blogging is my therapeutic outlet,” said McPheeters, “like my online diary or a conventional booth.”

After someone posts a blog, friends and family are able to post comments on the entry and hold conversations about it. Sometimes though, it’s not always a positive comment and causes drama and more negative feedback.

“In my opinion, if you don’t want someone to know something about you, don’t post it because it’s where everyone can see it,” said Bellman.

what she said..

Natalie Munroe, a high school teacher from Pennsylvania, posted these comments about her students in her blog to family and friends.

“Kids! They are disobedient, disrespectful oafs. Noisy, crazy, sloppy, lazy LOAFERS.”

“My students are out of control...They are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners. They curse, discuss drugs, talk back, argue for grades, complain about everything, fancy themselves entitled to whatever they desire, and are just generally annoying.”

When discussing comments that are put on report cards, she stated that the school prevides “canned comments” but sometimes those do not fit the student. She picked out some that did.

“I hear the trash company is hiring.”

“I called out sick a couple days just to avoid your son.”

“Just as bad as his sibling.

Don’t you know how to raise kids?”

In Nashville, Tennessee, a 17-year-old athlete was expelled for posting an angry status on Facebook about his coaches. He claims that it was just out of anger and didn’t mean anything, but the school district decided that they can’t take any chances of if something could really happen.

Another incident happened in Georgia, when a teacher was forced to resign for posting pictures she had taken at vacation to a brewery in Ireland on Facebook. The pictures showed her holding wine and beer. A parent saw these photos and took it to the principal who gave her the option to resign or be suspended.

Social networking sites were made for people to communicate and reunite, but also around the United States it is causing much trouble.

Six years ago at a Davenport Community School two girls got in an argument on a social networking site and then one of the participants printed it out and took it to the school to show the principal and got the other person suspended.

The First Amendment states that everyone in America has the right to freedom of speech. Is being punished for such things taking away this right?

According to SPLC.org, when something is said on the Internet about the school or district, a court is more likely to side with the school.

Students may not realize that school administrators poll keep track of what students do on Facebook and Youtube. There has been Should schools be some incidents at West able to punish stuwhere teachers have gathdents who post comered together to watch videos from West students. ments online that Some students think it is harshly criticize and wrong for schools to hold make fun of teachers? students accountable for what they post at home..

Yes 34% “If someone brought a No 66% video of a fight that happened at a local park and SOURCE: Beak ’n’ Eye showed the principal would survey of 103 students they get in trouble?” said senior, Zac Skinner. “Its people’s personal life that’s not in school, no one should get in trouble from the school because of the internet.”

Facebook postings can even prevent a student from attending a University if that college looks up each admission’s profile to check to see they aren’t up to bad news.

“I deleted my Facebook for a while because I didn’t want colleges to see what I was putting on there,” said a senior who wishes to remain anonymous.

Schools are getting stricter and stricter as years go by, maybe next they will have monitor what happens on each students websites.

“If someone is being harassed or bullied online, adults need to step in and take control of the situation. But if it isn’t harming anyone then yes, they are taking away freedom of speech.” said junior Sarah Buffenbarger. “They are taking advantage of things they have no right to hold against us.

That is our personal life and they should keep that separate.”

Teacher’s blog stirs controversy

By Andi Holdt

A high school teacher in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, was suspended for blogging about her students. Natalie Munroe, who teaches 10th, 11th, and 12th grade at Central Bucks East High School, posted things such as, “my students are out of control… they are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners. They curse, discuss drugs, talk back, argue for grades, complain about everything, fancy themselves entitled to whatever they desire, and are just generally annoying.”

No names were mentioned, and the blog was made in August of 2009 for her friends and family, but her students brought this to the attention of the school board at the beginning of February.

Jeff Shoolbraid, one of Munroe’s former students told the associated press that he was very offended of his teacher’s comments.

“I hear the trash company is hiring,” and “I called out sick a couple of days just to avoid your son,” were a few comments she had posted on her blog saying she wished she could place them on her students report cards.

Shoolbraid said he felt her accusations were right, but the comments she made were out of line for speaking her mind in her profession.

“Whatever influenced her to say what she did is evidence as to why she simply should not teach,” Shoolbraid said. “As far as motivated high school students, she’s completely correct. High school kids don’t want to do anything. … It’s a teacher’s job, however, to give students the motivation to learn.”

“

In her defense, Munroe pointed out she did say positive things about her students and she said a lot of things out of pure frustration from her students and their parents.

“Parents are more trying to be their kids’ friends and less trying to be their parent,” said Munroe.

Some West students say she should not be fired for her comments.

“I don’t think a teacher should be fired for expressing their feelings as long as they are not directly targeting students,” said Krista Johnson, junior. “The job of a teacher is to teach us, to give us information that will hopefully allow us to live a good life.

Math problems mean nothing without common sense though and if a student needs some improvement in an area other than academics, I think the teacher has the right and duty to try and help them. So many of us go through life unaware of certain flaws we contain that could change our outlook and perspective. If a teacher, a person older and wiser than I, notices that I need to make some sort of change in order to succeed, I truly hope they will inform me of it.”

Junior Megan Rice also thinks firing Munroe is too harsh.

“She didn’t use names and she didn’t threaten anyone or anything like that. She shouldn’t be fired for her own opinion,” Then there are others who have mixed feelings on the subject.

Family and Consumer Science teacher Megan Ratkiewicz said, “I think it was wrong but I understand where she was coming from because of certain situations.

We let a lot get to us, but she vented wrongly.”

My students are out of control...”

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Hot shots

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Falcon Nation brings school spirit back to West

By Michael Lamar

“

RACK ‘EM UP When people play pool, the loser always racks the balls together and the winner breaks.

Most people rack the 15 balls so they go solid then stripe.

Photo by Steve Lyle

GOING FOR TWO - West junior Darren Stringfellow drives the baseline for a layup against Burlington on March 4 at West. The Falcons

Falcons go 14-2 to win MAC

Photos by Erin Pershall

GOOD TIME - Brianna Fisher, junior, is about to take her turn at shooting at Miller Time Billiards on Feb. 26.

By Michael Lamar

POOL

Places to play Miller Time Billiards

2902 E Kimberly Rd Davenport, IA (563) 359-4770 Cost: $7 an hour.

Miller Time also has a few $1 tables.

Famous players

Michael Phelanl - He won the first billiard stakes match in 1859.

Eddie Taylor - Twotime world all-around tournament champion.

Leisure Time Billiards

845 Avenue Of The Cities East Moline, IL (309) 752-9559 Cost: $4 for one person, $7 for two or more.

Top five most popular tournaments

1.

Amateur 8-Ball 2. The Tournament World All-Around 3. The Tournament World Straight Pool 4. The Tournament Great Britain Snooker 5. The Tournament for Men The World 9-Ball Tournament

Ray Martin - His world titles in straight pool in 1971, 1974, and 1978 makes him one of only seven players in this century to win three or more world 14.1 titles.

SOURCE: library.thinkquest.org

LOTS OF PRACTICE - Kellen Johnson, junior, demonstrates how to shoot pool behind his back. To learn how to do this, it takes a lot of time and practice to finally get it right.

Students find pool is a fun sport

By Erin Pershall

Many students are looking for a ways to have fun and spend time with their friends. A growing trend with teens is that they are playing pool to fun with friends.

Many students like Dustin Shaw, junior, and Samantha Covey, junior have been spending Friday and Saturday nights playing pool at various places such as Miller Time.

Shaw has been playing for three years. “I’ve been playing for about three years. It all started when I saw my dad playing,” said, Shaw. “It looked fun, so I just wanted to try it. I found out that I was good at it and I have loved it ever since. It’s really fun, and it’s something to do on the weekends.”

Others like Samantha Covey picked up the sport from friends. “I have played for about two years. I just went with friends and I started playing,” said Covey.

They try to play as much as they can. “I try to play every week,” said Shaw. Covey likes to go even more than that though, “I go about ten times a month.”

Wrestlers make it to state

By Cody Lewis

McPhee

Herrig

Two West wrestlers made it to state this year: senior Reid Herrig at weight 152, and sophomore Randy McPhee at 125.

McPhee’s ended with 28-9 record. At state he went in with a sprained ankle, but that didn’t stop McPhee from competing.

“I lost my first two matches, it was upsetting,” said McPhee.

Herrig’s record ending with 25-10. Like McPhee, he lost his first two matches.

“My best match was when I beat the number two kid in the state (Connor Ryan from Bettendorf) at home in overtime,” said McPhee.

“My best match was when I was going into the match knowing I was going to win and

coming out victorious, at MAC against number one ranked in 2a Nick Georgean from Davenport Assumption,” said Herrig.

Winning by yourself is one accomplishment, but winning as a team is an even bigger one.

“The most exciting part of the season as a team was against Muscatine on our Senior Night,” said Herrig. “We won and it was our last match at West.”

“For me, the most exciting part was when we had a close meet with Assumption and had a opportunity to beat them but came up short,” said McPhee.

Both wrestlers plan to wrestle in college; however McPhee has two years to improve himself before he goes on to college. Herrig is undecided on were he wants to go yet.

Covey feels that the best part about playing is winning. “I get happy when I beat the other person that I was playing against.” “The best feeling is making the ball in.”

Some people who play in high school try to play professionally later.

There are different teams and tournaments that people can join. Some high schoolers even bet money when they play, but Shaw just does it for the fun of it. “I don’t play professionally; I just do it for fun.” There are national tournaments that are held in Los Vegas.

They’re many things you can do differently with the cue ball to make it go where you want. According to billiardsforum.com there are moves called the inside English and outside English. Inside English is when you hit the cue ball in the same direction that the object ball will travel. Outside English is when you shoot the cue ball towards the rail side or the outside of the table.

Another trick is to shoot the cue ball with the cue behind your back. Shaw can do this trick. “It took a lot of practice. It still isn’t perfect but I’ll get better eventually.”

The winning streak the boy’s basketball team has had for the Falcons has made Falcon Nation so much stronger.

The crowd goes crazy every time West scores.

Every game at West is packed full of students around just waiting for the tip-off so they can start screaming.

The student section dresses for various themes including Hawaiian night, crazy red and white, neon night, hillbilly night. Either one there is your going to see our section dressed out and ready to cheer.

When the Falcons travel to play, fans are ready to follow the Falcons to victory.

The enthusiasm is louder as the cheerleader’s chant, “Let me hear your Falcon spirit”.

The boy’s basketball team this year has brought a lot of attention to this school in a positive way.

“It has been a positive reaction from the whole west side of Davenport,” said Nate Wells, senior. “It’s the perfect senior year”.

The basketball team won the MAC championship season with a record of 14-2 and a 19-3 overall record.

On Feb. 25 the boys basketball team played Muscatine for the first sub-state game. They beat them 59-51 to advance.

“This year is a lot of fun. We’re MAC champs, have a great record, won a lot of close games,” said Joe Scott, junior guard, Good things happen when you win, too. Joe said he likes to celebrate by, “going to Brittany’s and eating pizza and wings that her dad prepared for us,”.

The whole school itself has changed because our boy’s basketball team. Many staff members wear some kind of basketball shirt on game day to support our Falcons.

French teacher Dottie Dailey likes how the Falcons are playing basketball, and the Falcon Fever carries over into her classroom.

Kids in her class are really excited and proud; “Kids I never would expect to go to the games now go,” said Dailey.

She believes school spirit has changed a lot.

“More kids stayed for the aud instead of skipped. You can feel the excitement,” said Dailey.

History teacher Jeremy Mosier can feel the excitement from all the students at West High.

“They are very excited. I hear many students talking about going to the games and having fun,” Mosier said.

Not only the students are happy coach Mosier is excited himself.

“I’m excited! It is great any time a Falcon program of any kind has success! As they said success breeds success,” This is Moiser’s first year at West high school but he says the school spirit is great right now.

After winning the MAC conference championship, the boys basketball team’s hope for going to the state tournament ended March 1 with a 59-38 loss to Iowa City West. West fell behind quickly to a hot shooting opponent and a tough defense.

“We lost to a very talented team in IC West. I was proud of our player’s effort. It just was not meant to be,” said Coach Mark Bigler.

West season record was 19-4 --one of the best in the school’s history. “(It was an) outstanding season. I am very proud of our players. Winning a MAC championship is a special accomplishment,” Bigler said.

They had struggles throughout the season with some tough opponents.

West lost to Central 62-57 on Dec. 17.

That loss gave them two straight loses early in the season. However, West bounced back winning 13 straight games.

West played Central again on Feb. 4 and won 64-53.

The boys played Assumption Feb. 11 in a game that scared many people.

West was down 21 points at half but came back to win it 68-59 to keep their winning streak alive.

On Feb.18 the Falcons played North Scott for the second time this season.

West lost that game with a half court buzzer-beater 48-45.

Sub-state was just right around the corner after the Falcons had lost to the Lancers.

They had to play Muscatine on Feb. 25 and won the game 59-51. That game was crazy, right after the win the crowd rushed down to the court thinking the Falcons was just one game away from going to the state tournament.

After beating Muscatine, West took on state ranked Iowa City West on March 1.

The Falcons lost a very hard game 38-59.

The game was packed with Falcon Nation fans, but that just wasn’t enough for

Joe Scott

Favorite game day meal?

Most memorable moment in a game?

Have you ever wanted to quit?

Meet the top five starters

Nate Wells

Nat Gaston

junior shooting guard 305 points avg. 14.5 points per game.

senior center 260 points avg. 12.4 points per game

senior power forward 93 points avg. 4.4 points per game

“When Nate got an And 1 on two people with an assist by Darren.”

“When we came back and beat Davenport Assumption and clinched the Mac title.”

“Running out of the tunnel to a packed gym, it gets me pumped.”

“Fried chicken, macaroni salad, regular macaroni n cheese, and ice water.”

“Yes I have because there was too much pressure, and a lot of jealousy.”

Favorite “Told ya’ll by Lil Wayne.” song to listen to before you play?

What do you want out of playing high school basketball?

West High to earn a trip to Des Moines.

Overall it was a good year for the Falcons a lot of players showed their talent.

West High had four players make all conference teams.

Joe Scott and Nate Wells was awarded first team all conference. Patrick Wright was named second team all conference.

Darren Stringfellow was awarded third team all conference. Jordan Hughes was an honorable mention.

Coach of the Year went to Mark Bigler.

Joe Scott led the Falcons in scoring with 14 points per game. He was 34 percent behind the three-point line.

Good defense is a factor in winning games, too.

Nate Wells led the Falcons with 187 rebounds and 101 blocks.

Nat Gaston was named part of the 2011 Academic All-State Team. Nat carried a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career. He will be honored at the state tournament in March.

“I like playing for Davenport West and making a difference for the school’s name.”

“Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, and a dinner roll.”

“Nope I have never wanted to quit.”

“I got a feeling- By the black eyed peas.”

“I want to win a state champion.”

“Hy-Vee spicy chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and ice water.”

“No I have not wanted to quit.”

Darren Stringfellow Jr.

junior point guard 87 points avg. 4.1 per game

“Hy-Vee meat loaf, with their cheesy potatoes and baked beans with water.”

“When the crowd goes crazy, it gets us pumped up.”

“I have never wanted to quit.”

“Till I Collapse by Eminem.”

“What’s my name by Drake and Rihanna.”

“To have a lot of fun and change the culture at West.”

“To pursue better in my career and to make my fans at West happy.”

This year is a lot of fun... it’s a perfect senior year”

Patrick Wright

senior small forward 203 points avg. 9.7 points per game

“Spicy chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, dinner roll and some HiC.” “When we beat Muscatine in the playoffs it was exciting.”

“Yes I have wanted to quit, but I stuck through it for myself and the team.”

“Wiz Khalifia Service.”

Car

and

“To have our senior class leave knowing we accomplished something at west high school.”

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Friday, March 4, 2011

dim view

Teacher who blogged about students should not be fired

our view

Art by Vinh Nguyen

Obama budget needs to pass

The U.S. government accumulated a national debt of $15 trillion over the years.

Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on how much to reduce government for government spending for this year. They must pass a budget bill by March 4th or else government services may stop.

On February 15th President Obama presented a $3.7 trillion budget to congress.

He plane’s to cut the national debt, but at the time maintain vital government programs.

If Congress approves the plan the deficit would decrease to $1.1 trillion next year. This is a big deal because we all pay for the deficit through out taxes. Obama estimates the deficit would quickly fall after the first of the year and about $600 billion per year through 2018.

The major changes in the president’s proposals are education, transportation, environment, community programs, and big companies.

For the education he wants to cut all year-round grants, which provided college aid to 8.9 million students in 2010. If you are a professional or grad student, you may

lose that interest-free period of your Stafford loans when you are in school.

Undergrad Stafford loans will still be subsidized, but the debt burden on grad students will go up.

The transportation budget cut reduce construction grants for airports. Plan tickets may get more expensive. The “passenger facility charge” that everyone pays on each flight may rise because the government wouldn’t be subsidizing airport construction as much.

Environment cut will hit the Environment Protection Agency , with 13 percent cut from the 2010 budget.

If you are in lower income bracket and live in the northern state you might feel the cold from the cuts on heating assistance.

But the middle income families would be safe from tax increase, but high income families (house hold income over $250,000) would feel income and tax increases.

Obama wants to cut community development programs that fund projects like housing, sewers, streets and economic development. So you may see community

projects slow down like fewer housing projects and sewers.

For the big companies, subsidies Obama wants to end the oil and gas companies. He wants to create new taxes on hedge fund managers and a $30 billion fee for financial institutions to help repay taxpayers for the bird “TARP” bailout.

Republicans in Congress have attacked Obama’s budget for 2012 and have presented him with an immediate challenge.

The Republicans want to make a better working area for the Americans, but they say the speeding binge has to stop. With the support of the Republicans governors, the new House of majority is working hard to work towards this goal. The Republicans not only locked down on the budget but they pledge to go further with their own spending plan.

Congress should pass the Obama budget proposal because Obama is going in the right direction with smaller cuts so that people aren’t suffering so much from the fast cuts. Republicans want to cut more, which will hurt the economy fast, by people losing jobs.

Short terms hurt school district Over the last 32 years seven superintendents have led the Davenport Community district. We appreciate the leadership they have provided, but few stay for very long.

Dr. Darly Spaans was the shortest to be a superintendent; he served as an interim superintendent for a year. Dr. Peter Flynn stayed the longest; he was here for 8 years.

Since 1980 the average stay for a superintendent in Davenport is 4 and half years. The national average stay for a superintendent is 6 years, according to docstoc. Ninety years ago the average stay for a superintendent was 14 years.

With so many short term superintendents how can the public expect them to make a difference with the school system?

When each superintendent leaves the new one has a different idea on what to do to turn things around.

They have different educational philosophies and agendas. If they are liber-

Superintendents from 1980-2011

Dr.Ted Gray 1979-1985 Dr.Daryl Spaans 1985-1986 Dr.Peter Flynn 1986-1994 Dr.Brad Allison 1994-1998 Dr.Jim Blanche 1998-2004 Dr.Norbert Schuerman 2004-2006 Dr.Julio Almanza 2006-2011

al they are going to be more lenient on things. If they are more conservative they are going to be stricter which may cause stricter school laws.

The benefits to having a long term

superintendent are getting more things done, and improving the learning environment. They get to know the community and school staffs better. They have enough time to follow through with new programs and staff development. A long term superintendent can be held accountable for student achievement.

One reason why superintendents leave is they are offered jobs with higher pay.

Not only does it hurt the school board with all the switches of superintendents, but it costs a lot of money to hire a search firm to find new candidates. Davenport spent $14,000 for a firm this year.

This is not good for a Davenport community schools. Short tenures may lead to a public perception of school district instability. It also can cause lowered staff and community morale and a loss of direction.

How would you feel if your doctor changed every four years and you had to search for a new one?

What do you label yourself as and why?

“Artistic, because I’m creative and I do what I want without caring what other people think.”

-Samantha Thompson freshman

“I don’t have a label. I get around with everyone.”

- Cody Guertsen sophomore

“I would say Twirl Girl, because I do all the girly sports like dance and figure skate.”

-Katie Hunt sophomore

Compiled by Paige Daily

“I would say funny, because whenever my friends are feeling down I put a smile on their face.”

-Kya Hinton senior

The First Amendment states that residents of the United States have the freedom of speech. But does this amendment include teachers to be able to voice their opinions on students based on how they act?

Natalie Munroe, an English teacher from Central Bucks East High School, posted a blog online.

Criticizing her students for being rude, lazy, whiners.

The blog was only for her close family and friends and did not have any of the student’s names in them, a parent read it and complained.

According to phillyburbs.com, Munroe posted, “My students are out of control. They are rude, disengaged, lazy whiners.” “They curse, discuss drugs, talk back, argue for grades, complain about everything, fancy themselves entitled to whatever they desire and are just generally annoying.”

We feel that she shouldn’t be fired for complaining about her student’s behavior. They were her opinions, and the blog wasn’t supposed to be shared with others.

Her blog was her way of venting. Just think, if you have a bad day, you want to talk about it.

Can the school board expel students for complaining about teachers, rules or other students? No, so why should she be fired for doing the same thing? Private business employers can regulate employee’s speech, and they can fire you for what you post. School districts are part of the government, however, and the government should not censor an individual’s general opinions about working conditions.

The comments were in fact harsh, but maybe they were true. Maybe the students and the parents should own up, and take her comments and learn from them.

Our Wish List

Gas prices

We would all love to be able to pay for gas at $2.35 again. Now there talking about how the gas prices are going to be $5 by the summer due to the revolutional upheval in Libya.

Student respect

We wish that we all could have that one class room that had no immature, blurt anything out students in our class. We should be able to have a class room that is for learning then having to be stopped all the time by the immature students.

Safer school parking lot

We should be able to walk in our school’s parking lot and not have to worry about another student flying around in the parking lot in their car, just to show off.

Compiled by Paige Daily

Beak ‘n’ Eye

Managing editors Felicia Raymond Kayla Mirfield Erin Pershall News editor Brandon Rostenbach Focus editor Andrea Holdt Sports editors Cody Lewis Michael Lamar Leisure editor Edvin Turcinhodzic Voice editor Paige Daily Pulse editor Kayla Mirfield Artist Vinh Nguyen Adviser Steven Lyle

The Beak ‘n’ Eye serves the West High student body by informing, investigating, and interpreting events which concern students. It also provides an open forum for its diverse readership.

The school board grants student editors the First Amendment right to determine the coverage and content of their pages. The adviser’s role is to teach and advise the staff so that it can follow responsible journalistic practices.

Readers are encouraged to submit letters to Room 161.

Letters should be 300 words or less and should be signed. We reserve the right to edit the letters for length.

Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the student editorial board and not necessarily the views of the adviser, administration, or Davenport Community School District.

The Beak ‘n’ Eye is published eight times a year from 3505 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52804.

Member of Iowa High School Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Quill & Scroll International Honor Society.

Voice 11

Beak ‘n’ Eye

The facts on why girls are way better than boys

Art by Vinh Nguyen

Immature students disrupt the entire class

When you enjoy a class you get into it, you enjoy the work, the conversations you have and the people who are in there. But when you have that one or two people who disrupt the class, walk in late and are straight obnoxious you start to feel yourself drifting away from the class that you once loved. You don’t feel as though the work is as important and you dread going to that class.

So why should those students be allowed in the class?

When they obviously don’t want to be there, and don’t do the Felicia work. Why should Raymond everyone else suffer because those two people still have the mentality of a third grader?

I don’t think this is right. I think some classes should be a privilege, and if you don’t earn it you shouldn’t be allowed to take the class. There are just some classes that goof balls don’t belong in. I’m not saying that no fun should be allowed in these classes, but because they are advanced. I don’t think that people should army crawl into class, or come in screaming about their weekend, grabbing their butt’s, interrupting the class, talk obnoxiously like their opinion is the only one that matters or should be heard. There are

students that come to class text, talk, sleep, scream, run around and make a total fool of themselves. I don’t understand why someone would act so immaturely that they think that what they are doing is ok, and yes I’ve been in class where people have army crawled into class, came in screaming, interrupting the class and making a fool of themselves.

I know that the teachers get upset, frustrated, and tired of stopping class for people who rather update face book or text than read the book or do the worksheet.

When the teacher is upset the mood and atmosphere of the class changes, students start to feel uncomfortable and the whole day is ruined. Now your whole class is behind and the next day is dreaded. What for? Why does that one person think that they are so much better than everyone else to ruin the whole block?

In an advanced literature class either you read the books or don’t right? Wrong, if you don’t read the book the teacher explains it, goes through it, reviews it and takes the whole block holding your hand through the book. Now the whole class is behind and for those who read the book they are bored out of their mind. I don’t feel this is right, I feel that some people should not be allowed to be in the advanced classes, because when all we have is immature people ruining the class it is hard to learn and I feel as though I am being cheated of my education. Why should someone’s stupidity stop someone

else’s education?

There is a time for play and there is a time for work. This is high school and some students don’t realize that their behaviors now are setting stepping stones to their future. In the real world you can’t army crawl to work or interrupt your boss.

You can’t sit there and talk bad about how unfair the paper work you have is. No one is going to hold their hands through life like teachers have to do here. School is for getting an education, finding who you wants to be in life and making yourself a good overall person, so why do we allow these jokesters in the classes that we are learning these life lessons?

In the end it comes down to students who don’t want to do the work and students who do. They will always butt heads so the only solution that I can find for this problem is either have more disincline, we need to crack down on theses kids who think that school is a joke, and if this isn’t going to work then we need to make it so that for the advanced classes, hard working classes, and serious subject classes is that it should not be open to the full student body. Some classes you should be chosen for or been asked by a teacher to join or show that you are dedicated to the work.

I just believe that some classes would function better without the immature students that we allow in. We want the best education we can possibly get, so why let that one person ruin it for everyone?

“

agement, business, and politics; even if there is only one male in a program for some field of study at a college, it is that man who is likely to end up with a job of high importance and leadership compared to the women. Caucasians (particularly males) can take things like higher education for granted; they know they’re going, they just have to find out how to pay for it.

That is privilege.

There are, of course, plenty of things that white people can and should (and do) receive scholarships for, besides merit: they may be poor, they may be immigrants, they may have special needs. All of these are disadvantages. The simple fact of being a white male, in and of itself, is the opposite of a disadvantage.

All that this scholarship does is highlight the direction that the structure of our society has always had. We tend to think of society as somehow post-racist, post-sexist, when in many ways it is not. We think in terms of all the achievements we have made, which all need to be acknowledged, but we can’t stop looking for equality there.

We need to truly offset and get rid of racial and sexual discrimination, as well as ageism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination. Equality needs to actually be achieved, finally, and addressing nonexistent problems is not the way to do it.

Females, minorities need special scholarships

I was poking around the Internet when I came across a rather disturbing bit of news: a man named Colby Bohannon, in Texas, created something called the Former Majority Association for Equality.

According to the FMAE’s website, they feel the lack of scholarships specifically for white males is discriminatory and aim to provide financial aid to that demographic in Caitin order to fill the void.

Henkel In general, financial aid for higher education is a good thing, but the logic behind this move only highlights some of the deep and ignored parts of racism and sexism in our society.

Bohannon’s argument is a direct response to affirmative action, a type of policy that encourages preferential treatment of minorities, women, and other discriminated groups in order to raise the status and quality of life those groups have.

Some affirmative action programs have issues in how they function, but most criticism (and this response) just exemplifies misunderstandings about “modern” dis-

Relationships can last

So there is a legitimate reason why women and racial minorities receive “special” scholarships to even the playing field.’

crimination.

Affirmative action raises the standing of some groups in society by making more of those individuals happy and qualified. It works by offsetting some of the social issues that keep people from reaching their potential: any individual can, theoretically, get a merit-based scholarship for some talent they have, but it’s harder to find individuals with talents great enough to compete in a community where many people are kept undereducated, poor, or in ill health, which is often the case with minorities in America.

So there is a legitimate reason why women and racial/religious minorities receive “special” scholarships to even the playing field: those groups are underprivileged, with less of a chance at earning money or being taken seriously enough to succeed. To be white and male in America, like the targets of this scholarship, is to be very privileged indeed. Men dominate man-

I am writing about the relationship being to serious to fast, its on the wrong side. Yes you are correct that there are freshmen that ruin the relationship vies because they are to serious to soon, but to those few freshmen that relationships do last till junior or senior year are the ones that last longer and some do get married.

Relationships in high school should not be shut out cause of stupid statistics that say that they don’t last when there not even 100% correct. Relationships are personal views that shouldn’t be published. I’ve been dating my girlfriend since my freshmen year and we are going to get married. But it’s hard doing that when everyone out there is being critic. It’s are choice and belief.

-Kyle Vronman

Letters to the editor

ID badges not needed

I don’t think we should have to wear out ID badges. Not a lot of students wear them. The only purpose to wear the ID badges is to get lunch. Not a lot of teachers care if your wearing them in their class or not. Some are strict on wearing them in the class everyday, but very few teachers are strict on it. I don’t get why we have to wear them when we just use them for lunch and nothing else. There are like one or two teachers that stand in the hallways and make you put it on. The security guards aren’t really all the strict for students to put them on. A lot of the students just keep their ID’s in their pocket and not around their neck.

-Amanda VanSant

Girls are better then boys, plain and simple. It has been proven by a panel of 300 unbiased female scientists, that females are better then males. Many males will argue all day about it. The facts state females have higher pain tolerance than males, also females are better at multitasking, and females mature faster then males do.

Males always talk about how strong they are, and try and show off their muscles to everyone, just so they can sound cool in front of their friends or family. Males are immature, they don’t understand that things have to be done at certain times, they smell, and are to rough with girls, they eat too much, they burp and fart in front of people, and laugh about it. Of course, everyone knows that women never smell bad or have noisy bodily functions.

Females deal with pain of having babies and cramps and much Paige more. Males could never deal with Daily the pain that the women go through, but they do have the pain of opening up a cold beverage and a bag of chip and watching TV. Females can multitask way more things then males can, like by putting on their makeup, doing her hair and having to worry about if their kids are getting into anything. Males multitask by watching the football game, and telling his wife/girlfriend to cook him some food.

Females are more organized also. They organize appointments; they go to their children’s school activities, sports and etc. They also clean house after working all day, cook dinner, and worry about what their family needs and take’s care of their children. Females have mother instincts so they are always helping others and being there for others when needed at hard times.

Females/mothers worry about their children and everyone else’s problems and needs before they worry about themselves. When men’s worries are if they are going to be able to through their day without having to hear “get off the couch and do yard work”, or “when are you going to take a shower,” or “when are you going to wash you clothes, its climbing up the wall.”

Males can only keep track of things that interest them like playing their video games, or working on their cars, or just relaxing and watching TV Females can work all day and be a super mom and not complain about it, but when a male does one little thing like take out the trash, or clean up after dinner he acts like he is going to die. Males, you’re not going to break a pretty little nail, or mess up your hair.

The facts show that females mature faster then males do. It is a great thing that females mature faster so they are able to be ready for life when it comes at them. Maturing gets the women ready to be independent so they don’t have to depend on the men their whole life.

Males always think they are right. They never want to ask for questions. Just like when your on a road trip they never want to use a map, they always say “I know where I’m going’, but we females know that they have no clue what they’re doing.

So ladies before you think you need a man in your life to make it through, sit back and think of the things that you have already done on your own in life.

And remember, guys, we are not moody.

Letters wanted

SHHHH! Do you hear that voice? ‘Tis I, your opinions! As of right now, I am absolutely fuming and/or rejoicing about one of the topics that were addressed in this issue. I am becoming rather disquieted, because you are shutting me inside your head, and to be honest, I”m extremely claustrophobic. So please, for the sake of your ego, and for the sake of any student who may benefit from your opinion (believe me, it can happen!), write a letter to the editor, detailing just how irritated and/or over-joyed I am.

All letters should be 300 words or less, and there’s a good chance that it will be shortened if it’s too long.

Don’t forget to include your name and grade in your letter. Just drop them off in Room161, and staff will kindly take care of the rest!

Open campus a good idea

We all know Mr. Hess loves our cafeteria ladies and the school lunch, but come on having the same food gets really boring. That’s why I think we should have open campus. And by students’ I am only talking about the upper classmen juniors and seniors, because if you give a freshmen open campus they’ll just run out into the road and get hit by a car. If the students abuses this privilege of open campus it should be taken away.

Considering this it would be making the students happier to eat something different, and maybe them being happier maybe they will pay more attention in school.

- Mihal Olsm

BeaknEye_ISSUU_6_10

3/4/2011

4:01 PM

Page 7

12 Pulse

MACHINE

Man vs.

By Kayla Mirfield

In the 21 Century, technology has really expanded.

From smart phones that obey your spoken commands to touch screen computers. Now machines can think and operate on their own.

On Feb. 14 Jeopardy’s two biggest winners, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, took on a robot made by IBM named Watson. And won.

The top prize went to Watson winning $77,147, Jennings with $24,000 and Rutter with $21,600.

Besides this Jeopardy with winning robot, IMB has created other winners.

In 1997 IBM created a chess playing computer, named Deep Blue that won a six-game match against the world chess champion Garry Kasparov, even though in 1996 a earlier version of Deep Blue was beaten by Kasparov.

In 2010, a 340-pound robot named Ziggy was put on the football field to compete one-on-one with San Fransisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney. It was a competition on field goals. Even though Nedney won more field

The evolution of cell phones Nicknamed “brick phone” because of it’s size and durability.

Beak ‘n’ Eye goals, he helped the designers better Ziggy by explaining ball placement and some other kicking strategies.

With all these machines being able to do everything, what does that mean for human-kind?

“We can use robots to do things humans can’t, to make things easier” said Jason Franzenburg, robotics team advisor.

There are robots already made to clean floors and to do simple chores, but the robot world is clearly expanding so within the next 50 years, it is possible to have robots that can be personal servants to humans.

The movie I-Robot is about a robot creator who makes these robots have human like qualities. They can talk, respond, fight and protect. Is there a future in real robotics that can possess these qualities?

“It seems since our phones are even talking to us and can understand things we say and type it for us then who knows what there could be in the future,” said sophomore Zac Mirfield. “I do believe that in the future they won’t even need humans to be in war, it will all be machines.”

Also, people believe that machinery will take over hundreds of jobs from people, such as factory work.

While this is possible to save expenses, it would cost a lot of money to make and program each robot machine.

For Watson, IBM’s Jeopardy winning robot had a total cost of $18 million just in labor costs. It took 20 engineers and three years to build it.

Although machines will beat human nine out of ten times, humans will always have the advantage of being able to... breathe.

Art by Vinh Nguyen

Flip-phones were most popular for the longest time.

Talking on them was awesome. Until texting became a big thing.

HOW TO

10

Keyboard’s hit the market like crazy. Everyone had to have a phone with a whole QWERTY keyboard for texting.

Tie a tie

1

Friday, March 4, 2011

A lot of people enjoy having the touch screen phone with also the keyboard, so if they get sick of touch screen they can switch.

From small phones to bigger and better, and with Internet access wherever you go, it’s a must have.

most common cars in the West parking lot

West High’s parking lot if full of all different types of cars.

Here is a list of the 10 most common cars that found in the parking lot.

Cross the two ends of the tie after looping it around your neck.

2

Loop the skinnier side around the fat side...

3

and cross it over again then repeat.

Ford 1 Taurus

“It feels comfy driving it, and it is really good on gas,”

Alexandria Sisler, junior

4

Stick the bigger side up through the big hole you will see by your neck.

5

Photos and compiled by Kayla Mirfield

To advertise in the April 15 issue, call 563.386.5500 ext. 161

Stick the big end through the little loop you made with the twirls and pull

6

2 Chevorlet Cavalier

“My favorite thing of my car is that is gets awesome gas mileage,” Ondrea Farley, senior

4. Toyota Camry

pick-up 3 Bigtrucks

“I like the power of it and being able to hal my bike but 5 miles a gallon sucks a lot,” Michael Hulsing, sophomore

5. Grand Prix

6. Oldsmobile Alero

There you can adjust the tie to your neck size and voila!

Handsome!

7. Pontiac Grand Am 8. Honda Accord

9. Pontiac Sunfire

10. Chevorlet Monte Carlo

Photos and compiled

by Kayla Mirfield

Go Falcons!

Direct line: 563.441.5255 Cell: 563.349.TIME (8463) Fax: 563.359.0014 1228 Middle Road Bettendorf, IA 52722-3604 SeanEckhardt@RuhlHomes.com Sean Eckhardt.RuhlHomes.com

SEAN ECKHARDT

REALTOR, SFC (RET)