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Beak ‘n’ Eye
BUILDING WALLS
Volume 51 Issue 7
West High School
3505 W. Locust St. Davenport, Iowa 52804
Friday, April 15, 2011
West builds sandbags for flood effort By Brandon Rostenbach
The scrapes of shovels scooping up the sand could be heard from the West parking lot on March 23 and 24 as hundreds of West students volunteered to help the city build flood walls for the rising Mississippi. The goal was to produce 10,000 sandbags in two days. West reached and exceeded the goal by putting together 17,000 sandbags. The first day there was over 120,000 pounds of sand used. Central followed suit but, could not keep up with West. iJAG teacher Scott Moore came up with the idea to start helping Davenport sandbag. He brought the iJag class to the davenport public works building and about 20 kids started working. He introduced the idea to Steve Verdon who came up with the idea to bring it to West High so the entire student body could help. West set up the sandbagging in the parking lot along the track. There shovels, ladders, and huge piles of sand that the students went to work on. They lined up like an assembly line and put about 50 pounds of sand into each bag and stacked them up. “It was an awesome experience to
share with the students,” said Deb Hall, a business academy instructor. “They worked hard and felt so proud of their effort. Many of my former as well as current students wanted me to notice that they were there. It was very cool!” The wave started when Mark Bigler brought his students out to help the other two classes. Next, all of the gym and bfs classes came out to help. Soon after that, all of the teachers caught wind of this idea and it spread like wildfire. “At one time there were almost 800 kids out there bagging at one time. It was crazy,” said Verdon. A thousand bottles of water were donated by Sandy Elscamp of WalMart. She also donated snacks for the kids who were out bagging. This showed that the community was proud that students were out doing something good. “It’s been great seeing people out there sandbagging to help out and it is going to help so much,” said junior Shawn Simmons. Even though the student body is putting all this effort into helping the city of Davenport and the other towns affected by the flood, the city council has waited until this week to
Photo by Erin Pershall
BAG ‘EM UP - George Caldera shovels sand into one of the 17,000 sandbags that the student body put together on March 23-24 in the West High parking lot. City trucks delivered supplies to West and other local schools for sandbagging.
build floodwall along River Drive. The Mississippi has swelled to 18 feet–3 feet above flood stage–and
may crest to 20 feet this week, so they are contructing 21 foot walls. “I personally was on the phone
Earthquake in Japan scares U.S. By Brandon Rostenbach
Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/MCT. Used with permission
A WALK ON THE BEACH - A couple strolls by the potentially dangerous nuclear power plant located in along an earthquake fault line in California.
Japan’s most devastated areas
Beak ‘n’ Eye graphic
Quake Magnitude: 8.9 Photo by Yomiuri Shumbun/MCT
DAMAGE - Australian rescue workers clean up in Japan to look for missing people.
Total deaths: 11,578
Total missing: 16,451
with city council members explaining to them our situation in Buffalo, If another flash flood comes, it is going to do a lot of damage.” said junior Mercedes Mendez. The people down there on Front Street in Buffalo are going to be affected the most and they need to sandbags as soon as possible. The rising river is very scary for people who live close to the river. The water has not yet raised over the railroad tracks in Buffalo which is a good thing. The water is coming over the bike path and covering parts of River Drive now. South Concord is also closed due to the flood. It runs right along the river and it is underwater almost completely. Credit Island has been blocked off and cars are not allowed down the road. As the water continues to rise people are starting to get intimidated. City officials are waiting until they feel that the flood is becoming dangerous and can do damage to start putting up the sandbags. The river was at first expected to break our past record of 23.6 feet, but now it is a waiting game to see what the weather and the water is going to do.
After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Americans are reconsidering their view on nuclear power plants here in America. On March 11 in Japan an earthquake that held a magnitude of 8.9 triggered a ten meter high tsunami. It swept up everything in its path and destroyed thousands of houses, cars, and buildings. The biggest scare was to the nuclear power plant, Fukushima Daiichi, which is leaking radiation into the Pacific Ocean, forcing citizens to evacuate the 12 mile radius around the reactor. “The radiation won’t reach us here,” said Kathy Jacobsen, the AP government teacher. It makes Americans question the structure of our nuclear power plants. People aren’t as worried about the radiation from Japan but, they are worried that the five plants in the U.S. located in California, Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina, which are on fault lines, could cause problems if they were damaged. In America we have had a nuclear plant damaged before and radiation has leaked. Three Mile Island happened March 28, 1979, in Pennsylvania. A pilot relief valve was stuck open which was caused by human interference and this radiation to leak in to the United States, but it was not enough to cause any damage to the people living here and it was kept under control. This year marked the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl, the worst nuclear power plant damage in history. In Russia, Feb. 3, 1986, the Russians were doing safety tests and lost control of the leaking radiation. Here in the Quad Cities, there is a nuclear power plant, called Exelon, less than 40 miles from here. The plant in Cordova, Ill., was built to withstand tornados and other natural disasters. Some people have questioned the fault line that it is near, but an earthquake there could not cause a tsunami like it did in Japan. Exelon has been standing since 1973 and
has never had a leak of radiation. If something were to happen they have an emergency plan of evacuation that includes surrounding countries that is approved by the National Regulatory Commission and the state of Illinois. Also it has to alert school districts and other businesses within the ten mile radius of the plant. “If a tornado or a blizzard was to damage the plant, it would be hectic around here even
“
If a tornado was to damage the plant, it would be hectic around here.”
if it didn’t cause any huge damage,” said junior Justin Stites. In Japan there they are slowly releasing information on how bad the radiation really is. Information have been released saying that the disaster in Japan is now as bad as Chernobyl. There has been over 11,000 deaths and still, over 16,000 are missing. Cleanup has started and people are trying to adapt to the situation, which is the only thing they can do. They have tried to stop the leak into the Pacific Ocean and workers have been there non stop doing everything they can. Japan exports such as cars are all being tested for radiation before they are sent over here to be sold. Japan is cooperating with not only the U.S. to make sure the radiation stays contained and does not do more damage than it already has. “The people of Japan did not look back far enough into the records to see that where the plant was built could have waves that high,” said social studies teacher Jeff Hermiston. “If they would have looked back far enough they would have found that the spot they built on was not a good spot.”
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2 News
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Friday, April 15, 2011
RESCHOOL’S BIG MOVE TO PUTNAM By Felicia Raymond Children’s Village West will have a new home as soon as July, of this year. The school is moving to the Putnam Museum. The goal is to make the museum a part of the children’s regular curriculum. The city sold the space to the school district for $415,000. The renovations to the building to make it into a preschool friendly classroom are expected to cost $4.6 million. Officials have said the district could face a $1.5 million shortfall in state aide, in a worst-case scenario. That leaves many questions about what Davenport schools might be able to afford in the aftermath. The Birth to Work Grant provided though the United Way of the Quad-Cities Area is providing teachers and parents new skills of how to incorporate the museums galleries into the schools every day life. The preschool is on a balanced calendar, making the students go year long. The preschool services children as young as six weeks to six-years old. The current Children’s Village West on Locust Street holds 16 different classrooms. Of which one is for infants, and young toddlers, two are for two years old, and the final 13 rooms are homes to the preschoolers. Behind all the action is the principal/administrator Kathy Schulte. The reason for the move is simple–space. Children’s Village West currently holds more than 300 children. The school that is currently 35,000 square feet is just not big enough for the children’s minds to grow. The new home (Putnam) is more than 40,000 square feet. The current library can only hold about five children comfortably. The Fast Forward program for the students can only hold about a dozen children at a time. Fast Forward is a cognitive learning and memorization computer program to enhance the children’s memory and patterning. This new move includes the move of the other preschools. Buchannan’s Children Village will have a new program. The preschool program will now be two hours long. At first the initial plan was to completely cut all of the preschool classes but the school district decided on simply making a two hour program that still prepares the children for kindergarten. The course will be taught at Children Village at Buchannan by Kamiel Detoye. Other schools that may be affected in the move are Children’s Village at Hoover and Children’s Village at Hayes. The site at Buchanan Elementary School could see staff reductions and programming changes, but nothing has been decided yet. School board members have not discussed or voted on changes in preschool programming. Because state lawmakers haven’t decided on proposed cuts to early childhood education funding, however, Davenport does not know how much 4-year-old preschool funding it might receive for the upcoming year. “I know that there will be some sort of preschool programs
offered at Buchanan and a few other sites for two hours,” said thing because ultimately it is about the children and they will Detoye. “I am excited that more children will have the opporbenefit from the museum in a great deal,” said Blake, “It may tunity to attend preschool and very happy to be a part of the be a rocky road but in the end I believe that it will all work preschool programs. The district has done an excellent job of out.” realizing the importance of early childhood education. The new programs will continue to follow the curriculum we are currently using and will help prepare children for kindergarten.” This leaves the question of whether or not a two-hour program is good enough to prepare students for kindergarten. And what about the working parents that may not be able to unroll their toddlers in a two-hour long program. Although the future is unclear for the new program, what is clear is that the move to the Putnam will be a good improvement. A big reason for the move is the cost of the rental for the space of the strip mall. The rent for the space monthly is $35,000, and the lease is up in August. The initial move to the strip mall seemed great until they learned in the spring that the playground floods. An important part of the preschoolers day is large motor skills time, where they go for walks, ride bikes in the halls, and go outside to play when weather permits. Though when the weather is not up to standards they have a large motor room, where they can play with large and small balls, on tumbling mats, duck duck goose and play with parachute ball. Though the move is a great opportunity for the students this may come to more of a burden for the parents. As now there are no local preschools all preschoolers will have to be transported to and from the new home of the Putnam, which may be out of the way for some parents. “The initial move will be hard on all of the parents,” said Nicki Blake, local parent. “The fact that the students will all be in one school is a good and bad thing. The school will be better fitted for the children but the busing and transportation for the kids will be the down fall of the whole move. Buchannan school is far from the Putnam and that drive may not be an option for some parents.” For the Occupational Child Care students, the class photo by Felicia Raymond will remain the same though. The school will bus all students who do not have a vehicle to drive. PLAYING HARD - Preschool children have 45 minutes to The future looks bright for the preschoolers of the just play with each other, It is called small groups. They Putnam. interact and have a choice between computers, blocks, “All in all the transfer to the Putnam will be a good house keeping, and art.
The intial move will be hard on everyone, including the parents and children
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1976
Graduated from West high school
1977
Received welding certifacte.
1985
Dr. Byron Peterson’s education
Started college at University of Iowa
1990
Graduated Univeristy of Iowa
1990
Attended Duke Univeristy for one year
1996
Received PhD in molecular toxology
1996
Became an assistant professor at the University of Florida
2011
Now a full professor at the University of Florida and Wake Forest Univeristy in North Carolina
“Don’t follow your dreams, chase after them and tackle them”
Photos by Felicia Raymond
DR. BYRON PETERSON RETURNS -- Eric Moon gives the West Graduate a tour of the school.
MEMORIES - Dr.Byron Peterson reconnects with his old locker No. 2001.
By Felicia Raymond The guest speaker at the National Honor Society initation last Tuesday was Dr. Byron Peterson, a ground-breaking researcher in stem-cell experimentation. Dr. Byron Peterson graduated from West High School over 30 years ago but was seen walking the halls April 13. The professor at Wake Forest University and the University of Florida was back for a tour of his old high school given by three National Honor Society Members, Eric Moon, junior, Megan Mollenback, senior and Courtney Long, senior. He gave a speech to Renee Lietz, science teacher, class room as Steven Saladino, science teacher, also filed into the room for the short speech. “Being back is fabulous; 35 years ago I walked out of this school,” he said, “and now I am back. It is just cool to see the old school. Nothing is really the same, except for maybe the gym. But everything is different.” Peterson talked about his career and how your goals and how you look at your goals affect you, and make you the person you become. “Don’t look so far into the future about your goal,” said Peterson. “The ride (to the
Teachers must now dress for success Casual wear will no longer be allowed, making some wonder do the clothes make the man? By Felicia Raymond
Students get upset when rumors of a stricter dress code float around, but teachers have little room to complain when their employer sets a stricter standard. The Davenport school board last week approved an employee dress code that prohibits casual wear at all times. happens to teachers they must take the news lying down. The intent is to have teachers and staff convey a professional appearance to the public. The usual Monday through Thursday dress code will remain the same but for casual Friday will be no more. Teachers are not allowed to dress down on “casual Friday” as in the past. Staff may not wear jeans, sweatpants, shorts, flip flops and rubber shoes.
Though teachers do not come to school dressed in sweat pants as students do, teachers must keep the professional look on all contracted work days. “I understand the new dress code,” said Joy Saladino, computers teacher, “but I think that kids will learn even if I am dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. The way that the kids will learn there will be no difference.” Contracted work days are days that the school is open. The first three days of school when no students are in the school, are considered contracted work days. This is leaving teachers to wonder why they have to dress up Photo by Erin Pershall on the first days movDRESSING DOWN - Lisa ing into their classroom Harrington dresses comfortably and why they can’t have a to teach her science classes. casual Friday on spirit
! M O R P
Who? All juniors and seniors and dates What? 2011 Prom Where? Starlight Ballroom at the fair grounds
When? 7-10 p.m. April 30 Why? To have some fun
After Prom
Who? All juniors and seniors and dates Where?West High School When? 10-2 p.m. April 30 Deatails: Free entry, pizza, drinks, 3
inflatables, magician, and raffle all night
How to keep the costs down GUYS
● Don’t buy a tux, rent one. When are you really going to wear it again? ● For diner the most expensive place isn’t always the best. Try Applebee’s two for 20. It is good food and cheap. Or have a romantic picnic. Women love anything romantic. ● The crusher, order in advanced. Flower places spike up the prices when prom rolls around. Get it while it is cheap. ● Limo? Why a limo? Unless you have 15 dates then a limo isn’t necessary. A normal car can do for prom. GIRLS
● Buy the dress in advance. Don’t do it last minute. Stores know that the dress is a must have and that you will pay anything to look beautiful on your prom night. ● Also try a retail shop. No body will know where you got it from. Why pay 100 more dollars for the same dress? ● Do you own make up. Why let someone do your make-up for $35 when you know what colors you like and how to do it. ● Don’t buy $75 shoes. 1. You take them off. 2. Nobody can see them. 3. You probably won’t wear them again. ● Find a friend who is amazing at hair. She will love to do your hair, and you will love the cheap to no price. If you don’t have any friends that can do hair try hair and beauty schools. They need the practice and you get a student discount.
ree bagging
By ErinPershall
Came back to West High school for a tour of his old school “where it all began”
goal) is more fun. High school is like a roller coaster ride, once the ride is over the fun has stopped.” Peterson attended Wilson Elementary, then Williams Junior High, and graduated from West High School in 1976. He originally did not want to go to college. “There were the nerds who went to college and there were the blue collar people who just went to work after high school,” he said, “It was much defined back then.” In 1977 he received his welding certificate. But wasn’t complete satisfied with that so in 1985 he began to go to The University of Iowa. He graduated in 1990. The same year he attended Duke University only for a short year because his mentor moved. He later received his Master in Toxicology in 1995 and his PhD in Molecular Toxicology in 1996. From there he went to The University of Florida and became an Assistant Professor. He is currently a full professor at both The University of Florida and Wake Forest University. “Life after high school is fun,” he said, “but you always have to keep learning and remember give it back to the community and generation.”
days. “I have to move everything out of my classroom in the now dress up clothes,” said Saladino. “I am working on the floor, hooking up wires, carrying heavy boxes. I think that if students are not here then we should be able to dress more lax. I can’t wait to see what Sal and Vern do.” However, on Fridays teachers are allowed to wear school spirited shirts with dress approximate pants and shoes. “I think that if the air conditioning works next year then the dress code won’t be such an issue,” said John Pagan, social studies teacher, “I believe that the only reason that we are allowed to wear shorts now is because we don’t have air conditioning throughout the building. It has just been too hot to dress in full pants and teach.” Other examples of unacceptable attire include; hats, short, tight skirts, clothing that shows to must cleavage, back chest, stomach or underwear, T-shirts (expect for on Fridays when worn with a school-spirited shirt), tank tops, tube tops, and halter tops. “I think that it is important for teachers to look professional,” said Dennis Mott, band teacher, “but I hope that we are granted some flexibly for special occasions like marching in the mud and moving a piano.” The reasoning behind this is to ensure that all teachers and professional authority figures retain and uphold a professional and respectable image to all students, parents, and outside viewers. The new dress code will go into effect at the beginning of the 20112012 school year. The employer’s supervisor or the Director of Human Resources will decide if the teacher’s attire is appropriate or not. Failure to abide by the new dress code will result in a warning. If the problem reoccurs the teachers will be asked to go home and change the outfit, and disciplinary actions may be put into action. “I think that it is a Photo by Erin Pershall good thing, that’s all I have to say about it, as DRESSING TO IMPRESS - John Forrest Gump would Kealey already dresses to the say,” said Kim Strunk, new standards. science teacher.
News 3
Club helps a community replanting project by
April 13,2001
Scientist returns to speak at West
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Friday, April 15, 2011
5
Ecology Club students volunteered for Living Lands and Waters by helping with the Million Trees Project. The volunteer work started on March 17 and came to an end on March 22. The project aims toward helping the local environment for rivers and damaged trees from floods and disease. Every year, Living Lands and Waters host the Million Trees Project to take volunteers to help bag trees. The goal was to get one million trees bagged and sent out to be planted all over. Some of the trees will be
easy steps to tree bagging
Step 1. Take the tree and wrap the roots in newspaper. Step 2.Take the wrapped tree and dip it in water. Step 3. Wring water from newspaper and roots. Step 4. Place tree in a see threw bag, roots facing down. Step 5. Tie the bag shut. Then dig a hole and plant your new tree.
planted in local areas such as Nahant Marsh. The tree-bagging process starts by taking the root of a tree, wrapping it in recycled newspapers, then you dip the tree in water. Afterward, you take the wrapped tree and place it in a bag and tie it shut. The bags are then distributed to areas that the trees are needed. There were around ten students that volunteered to for tree bagging. “Tree bagging this year was great! You get to meet new people and have a lot of fun while doing good for the environment. It’s definitely worth getting your hands dirty,” junior Brianna Fisher, said.
Photo by Erin Pershall
WORKING HARD - Emily Thompson, left, and Hoai Pham, juniors, prepare newspapers by unfolding them so that later they can be used to wrap the roots of tree seedlings. Davenport Public Works Department plans to replenish trees around the city that have died over the years.
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4 Faces
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Senior receives full ride to UNI due to hard work and determination
Friday, April 15, 2011
DIET COKE AND MENTOS YouTube hits: 13.5 million
Eckhardt retires from the service
by Micheal Lamar
EAGLE CAM DECORAH, IOWA Ustream hits: 32.5 million
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Kara plans to major in Geography with Environmental Emphasis, which she explains Paying for college is a struggle for many people that some- was influenced by Jodi Zimmerman, social times ultimately decides whether they attend, or not. It’s some- studies teacher and advisor of Ecology Club. “Ecology Club has influenced my career thing many students worry about as they become upperclassmen path and I am able to meet with memand graduation gets closer. bers/peers who have similar interests as However, after receiving a full myself,” Kara says. She explains that her pasride to the University of Northern sion for the environment didn’t start Iowa, Kara Poppe is left screaming until her sophomore year at West with joy. I could not when she joined the club. “Disbelief. Like in the sense that believe that “Bar none Kara has the best work I could not believe that everything I ethic of any student I have seen in 27 everything i had worked for my entire life had years of teaching…She has put her just paid off,” said Poppe about her imme- had worked for money where her mouth is by living diate emotion after receiving the my entire life by her morals,” said Zimmerman. University of Northern Iowa’s Presidential had just paid off With approximately 700 hours of Scholarship. photo by Erin Pershall community service work to her credUNI’s Presidential Scholarship is it, leaders, teachers, and students SCHOLAR - Kara Poppe talks to the Ecology Club. Working hard awarded to only 20 senior student applicants. Students must be in the top 10 percent of their class and have all seen Kara Poppe hard at work. With has paid off in a Presidential Scholarship at UNI. receive at least a 29 on the ACT. Service activities and leader- dedicating most of her time to her schooling ship also are important factors in receiving the scholarship. and clubs, free time isn’t something easy to come by in her life so finding time to devote to friends and fam- degree and possibly a Ph.D. “Whatever job I have, I want to Recipients receive $32,000 over four years. Kara will attend UNI next fall and continue on there for the ily has been a struggle and one of the hardest parts of high make a difference in the lives of others. I would love to travel next four years without needing to fret about money. Kara’s school. “I hold extremely high expectations, and I want to be a the world, and if my job allows me to do that, it would be the future looks very bright from this point on, but getting here took positive role model in life,” says Poppe. These expectations are best ever.” Life for Kara has not been simple or easy, Zimmerman says. her motivation to keep on giving back and pushing forward. a great amount of determination and drive. As her senior year of high school winds down, Kara express- “She has a lively sense of curiosity, as in when she wants to Giving 100 percent to the task at hand is something Kara displays often. “I have thought about giving up a few times, but es how much she will miss the people and participating in the know about something, she finds time to figure out…We need never seriously, because I could not live with myself if I did. If clubs. She dreads the last ecology meeting. However, she is still more students like Kara Poppe.” Poppe has conquered high school in a big way and now plans I start a project, I want to finish it,” Kara says. Throughout high very excited for the road ahead. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people, enriching my to do the same in college. She advises, “Be strong enough to school Poppe has participated in Camp West, Ecology Club, Environmental Club, French Club, Leadership, Leo Club, life experiences, traveling abroad, and participating in campus swim against the crowd, not with it. Avoid peer pressure. At National Honor Society, and SADD Club. Her favorite activity activities,” says Poppe. After her first four years at UNI, Kara times, it may be difficult, but by abiding to ones morals and plans on continuing with her education by pursuing a Master’s beliefs, one holds true to oneself.” was Ecology Club. By Krista Johnson
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A familiar face at West has retired after serving his country both in the field and at home. With his strong relationships he built with kids, he has recruited around 60 students from West High into the Army and Iowa National Guard in just about 6 years. Sean Eckhardt joined the military in 1985. He was in the Just like any Navy for twenty years, other job you and was in National have good days Guard for six years. and you have Eckhardt faced some bad days. You difficult problems are on call 24 while serving his counhours a day try he was in the Desert though Storm that lasted around a year. “The economy was bad in the mid-80s and I wanted to travel and see the world.” That’s the reason I joined the service,” said Eckhardt. Students are going to ask questions about the service. The most questions are, how long do I have to join? How much money for college and pay? There are typically good things about being in the service. The main one is “traveling and serving your country,” said Eckhardt. “The roughest times are being put in harms way. Being away from your family,.” said Eckhardt. People may think it’s a totally different world once you’re in the service, but Eckhardt disagrees. “Just like any other job you have good days and bad days. You are on call 24 hours a day though,” said Eckhardt. One of Eckhardt’s favorite memories is when he traveled to different countries. “I love Thailand,” said Eckhardt. He liked the beaches and the scenery. “It was very tropical and it was very nice,” said Eckhardt. He said he is going to miss “putting on my uniform and serving America.”
1.
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2. Are you left handed? Does it bug you when you can’t find any scissors that fit or when you write you get ink on yourself? Don’t fret about this; this may get you money for college. But the catch is that you have to go to Juaniata College in Huntington, PA. Call 8146413142 for more information on the two $1,000 scholarships. 3.
Are you a master of the duck call? The winner of the duck calling contest receives $1,500 for college, first runner up $500, second runner up $300 and third runner up receive $200.
NEW CAREER - Recruiter Sean Eckhardt has retired from serving his country to become a realtor. He was in the Navy for 20 years and the National Guard for six.
Life outside of the service for Eckhardt has been really fun. He has more time with his family and his is very happy. After retiring from the service, Eckhardt is now a realtor selling houses. “It takes awhile to get established as a realtor, but I feel it is going well,.” “I have not sold a house yet but I expect to in the next few weeks,” said Eckhardt.
“FRIDAY” BY REBECCA BLACK YouTube hits: 100 million
FRED FORGETS TO TAKE HIS MEDS YouTube hits: 32.8 million
4. Do you enjoy milk? Like the mustache? Are you good at
school? Athletic and are a good leader? Can you do all this with a milk mustache? If so you may qualify for the SAMMY or Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache or the Year.
5. R u a s8er boi/gurl? If so you a skater shoe in, for the
Patrick Kerr Skateboarding Scholarship. Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. First runner up receives $5,000 three others will receive $1,000 in college funding.
6. Are you a vegetarian? Do you play a good role in your
community and school? If so there is a scholarship for you. The Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship will award a $10,000 scholarship to anyone who promotes vegetarism in school and community.
Viral videos are the
ULTIMATE DISTRACTIONS By Edvin Turcinhodzic
Distractions are apart of life. The latest consumers of free time are viral videos. From babies dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” to pets chasing a laser. After social networking on the web, this may be the second resort to many distracted people. YouTube is the third most visited website in the world only behind Google and Facebook. Over 100 million people go on YouTube every day, and with over 300 million accounts it would take approximately 600 years to view all of the videos. Viral is a word used to describe videos that become popular and spread like a cold virus. After a few days, everybody is talking about them. “Charlie Bit Me,” “The Evolution of Dance” and “Charlie the Unicorn” are some YouTube
To advertise in the May 13 issue, call 563 386-5500
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)
CHARLIE BIT MY FINGER YouTube hits: 303.9 million
Unusual scholarships that will blow you away
Are you tall? Really tall? Do you duck under door ways? This may not be completely necessary, but if you are a male that is 6’2’’ or taller or a female that is 5’10’’ or taller, you may be in the running for the Tall Club International Scholarship. Write an essay of what it means to be tall, and you could receive a $1,000 scholarship.
photo by Micheal Lamar
Leisure 5
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Friday, April 15, 2011
“Texting becasue I literally can’t go 30 minutes without it.” –Anna Hayes, sophomore
videos that have been “viral” in the past. People make videos and post them on YouTube hoping to become rich and famous, and sometimes they do, but it is usually a quick laugh and gets to be the “video of the week.” The latest video to go viral is “Friday,” a music video by a 13year- old girl named Rebecca Black. With help from the Ark Music Factory, a company that charges kids $2,000 to $4,000 to turn their own original song into a music video, Black made “Friday” to describe the happy choices she has t with friends on that day. The video has been on YouTube for only a month and already has over 60 million views. (Not counting the views it will probably have by the time this story is released.) There are many different opinions on Black and her video. She has received many threats and many
hateful comments about it. She has even admitted that she is not the best singer, but with the song now on “iTunes”, she has made over a million dollars. Like a traffic accident, West students had to see it. “That was four minutes of my life I will never get back,” said sophomore Kyle Bramman. “I think the chick in the video had an annoying voice and that the song got too much publicity for the lyrics that were in the song,” said sophomore Kris Burney. Web cams are common on the Internet in ways such as revealing urban traffic, buildings and weather. One web cam went viral a few weeks ago thanks to our fascination with our national emblem. A web cam at the Iowa Fish
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(‘Friday’) was four minutes of my life I will never get back.” Hatchery near Decorah, Iowa, has received over 11 million hits because it shows two eagles nesting in a tree. “It’s very interesting to see a bird in its natural setting and to see how it behaves,” said senior Henry Nguyen. Viral videos have been affecting a lot of people as of late. Serving as entertainment, education, or just flat out comedy. If videos continue to come at the pace we are at now, we are going to be in a much more dis-
traction prone world. “It’s definitely a distraction because people can spend hours on YouTube, so it’s a pretty good timewaster,” said journalism teacher Steve Lyle. He says viral videos creates a common culture and instant gratification. “It connects Americans as a community like sharing a joke with friends. Like Andy Warhol once said, everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame, and the Internet allows that to happen.” Viral videos have their good and bad points. “They’re positive because they establish our culture and community,” Lyle said, “but are negative because the videos are hardly Shakespeare. They tend to focus on offbeat, human interest topics such as pets, babies and attractive women.”
What is your biggest distraction?
“Facebook because it is good for your health.”
–Kyle Bramman, sophomore
“I never get my homework done because I’m always hanging out with friends.” –Hannah Fandel, freshman
“Myself because I always daydream.” –Makenzie Eckhardt, senior
“My Blackberry.”
–Karli Murrens, junior
photos by Edvin Turcinhodzic
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What is something dangerous that you plan on doing before you die?
s Lind
I would go sky diving in Vegas because I think that the whole city would look amazing from the sky as I fall to it.
el ey Te
I would go bungee jumping in the Grand Cannon. I think that the experience would be amazing.
Risky behavior in teens on the increase
Teens making bad choices affects everyone around them. The dumb things that seem ok now may not be all they are cracked up to be later. By Xuan Phong
Many teenagers today are choosing to be engaged in risky activities that could harm themselves and others around them. On May 21, 2010, 19-year-old, Kelsey Alexander chose to drive while under the influence of alcohol, with her sister as the passenger in the front seat. She got into and accident and her older sister, Amanda B. Alexander got killed in the crash. Kelsey could have served five years in prison as a punishment for drunk driving and underage drinking, but she was sentenced to probation instead. The death of her sister is already a lifelong punishment. Kelsey now has to live the rest of her life with the knowledge that her sister was killed because of her dangerous decision to drink and drive. Driving is a normal thing for teenagers to do but it can get dangerous when the driver decides to drink and drive or drive past the speed limit. The leading cause of death for teenagers is motor vehicle accidents. In 2009 about 3,000 teenagers were killed in car accidents, and about 350,000 were put in emergency room for injuries, reports, Center of Disease Control. Compared to all other age groups, teenagers have the lowest rate for using seat belts. According to survey conducted by the CDC taken from high school students all across the nation in 2009, nearly 10 percent of the student said they rarely wore seat belt. About 28 percent said they have ridden with a driver who had been drinking and nearly 42 percent said they have drunk alcohol 30 days before
the survey. Twenty-one percent said they have used drugs 30 days before they taken the survey. Drug use is another factor that contributes to car accidents. Illicit drugs are proven to have negative effect on its users. Illicit drugs also cause damage brain damage and damage to major organs in the body. It is also link to sexual activities and violence. Forty-six percent of the students said they have had sex at least once before they graduate. Sexual activities can cause physical damage as well as emotional damage. It also increases the chance of them contracting a Sexually Transmitted Disease. Sex and drugs are great contributors to teen pregnancy. In 2008 about 435,000 births were given by teenage girls. Over the decade the rate of teen pregnancy have decreased but the rate of abortion and STDs are still high. Overall the Teenagers can be rates of teenage egocentric; they risky activities are decreasing. think the world There are sevrevolves them. eral reasons to why teens chose They think they to do these risky are Superman and activities. nothing can harm “Teenagers can be egocentric,” them.” said West High counselor, Jennifer O’Hare. “They think the world revolves them, they think they are Superman and nothing can harm them. So when they do it, they can’t get hurt.” Lack of attention is another factor that contributes to these risky decisions. “Even negative attention is better than no attention,” said O’Hare. “They do not get enough attention at home.” Teens during their adolescent stage will start to mature physically because of puberty. Their physical appearance might look more mature but their neurological development is still incom-
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plete. Their brain will continue to grow until they reach their early twenties. During these times of rapid change teens can feel very stressful and fragile, which will make them very easily influenced. Without parents or guardian’s attention, teens are more likely to participate in these risky activities. Parents and teachers have to reach out and help them confront the problem. “I tell them treat other like how you want to be treated,” said O’Hare. “I’d also tell them to think before you act because there are always consequences. I also try to talk about why they’re doing what they’re doing and try to make them better. The difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful person is you learn from your mistake.” In order to make the statistics go down, parents and school need to work together. “There should be good communication between kids and adults,” said O’Hare. “Everybody have to work with kids together. We have to help hold them accountable.” Kids sometimes blame others for their wrong doing so parents and teachers have to help them realized the consequence of their action. It is also important that parents listen to their teens and respect what their teens have to say. Some just want to be heard and not be dismissed. Parents should also teach their teens to have a strong sense of values. It will help them value the things that are around them. Miscommunication can make the teens stray away from their parent’s expectation, so parents have must be clear about that their expectation is out of the teens. There will be time when the teens will disagree with their parents, and will seem like they don’t like their parents. Parents must be strong and resist the urges to compromise with them and please them. This will spoil the teens and make them lose their sense of value. A good way to prevent teens form participating in risky activities is for parent to encourage them into doing positive activities such as sports. This will keep their mind busy and will expose, the easily influenced teens, to healthy social environments.
What are your chances of... ■ bowling a 300 game: 11,500 to 1
Teag ue
ey Ashl
er ming s t n E
I would love to go biking in the Grand Canyon. I would love the exersise, the view and the thrill, because it is such a dangerous place to be biking it would make it all the more fun.
■ injury from shaving: 6,585 to 1
■ drowning in a bathtub: 685,000 to 1
■ being struck by lightning: 576,000 to 1 ■ being murdered: 18,000 to 1
■ getting away with murder: 2 to 1
■ dating a supermodel: 88,000 to 1
■ finding a four-leaf clover on first try: 10,000 to 1
Art by Vinh Nguyen
Kyle
Vrom
Before I die, the riskiest thing that I want to do is egg a police station. I think that the thrill of actually going through with it might put me in g in my grave but I think that inn f it would be a fun last n lde u thing to do. la G Tay
Avi onn aL ew is
Another bad decision that teens do make is driving dangerously. From the text messaging to eating and driving to drunk driving all are dangerous and put not only the teen’s life at risk but other peoples. As a teen you may think you are unstoppable. The 12 candy Sixty percent of teens text and drive, according to Live bars won’t hurt, and that weed you smoked last week won’t affect Science. This is an alarming rate considering the deaths from texyou today, but as a teen you are wrong. ting and driving. Almost 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are The frontal lobes are the part of the brain that make judgments, killed each year because others are texting, calling, checking controls impulse, language, memory, social and sexual behavior, Facebook, and simply not paying attention. They are called disand problem solving. All of these are key elements when making a tracted drivers. There are three parts of being a distracted drive. choice, and as teens the choices come in every shape and form. One visual, taking your eyes off the road, manual, taking your The frontal lobes are not fully developed until one reaches age 19 hands off the wheel, and intellectual, thinking about the phone, and for females and 21 for males. This is the part of the brain that connot the road. All three are needed to trols how and what you think, and tells text and drive. you that driving fast without a seat belt “I text and drive,” said Audrey is safe. Anderson, senior. “I don’t want to but As a teen the frontal lobes are not as soon as my phone goes off I feel as fully developed making the bad deciI know that as a teen I though I have to answer it. I think that sions look okay. Frontal lobes are locatis can’t wait. It is scary looking up and ed in the front of the skull. They are make dumb decisions, realizing that you almost hit something highly sensitive, and can easily be dambut at the time it seems because you couldn’t wait to text.” aged. To see if one’s frontal lobes are As a teen, friends come first, but damaged a MRI test is required. justified.” sometimes it can wait. Another risky As the frontal lobes begin to mature behavior that teens take part in is the and develop the choices begin to lead partying. No one wants to be the perto better decisions. And as it matures son to say no to a party. They don’t slowly teens make bad choices along want to say no to the cool kids, or no to looking cool. They will do the way. whatever it takes to become popular and putting their life at risk Over-eating is a huge risky behavior that teens take part in may be the thing to do. because what they can’t see won’t hurt them. But if they could see “Smoking weed is dumb,” said Tayla Guldenfinning, senior. “I they would see the three Big Macs clotting their arteries to their can go to a party and not come home a total mess. I can have a hearts, slowly killing them. good time without jeopardizing my future and getting in trouble. I More than 16 to 33 percent of teens and children are obese, have friends who are like ‘Oh, you have to drink and smoke to according to American Academy of Child and Adolescent have fun.’ But you really don’t. It is stupid.” Psychiatry. Becoming obese is one of the most recognizable health Resulting in smoking weed you kill brain cells, make you do problems but one of the hardest to fix and maintain. Becoming something that you may not do sober, and being caught by the obese can lead to heart disease, liver failure, and depression, diapolice. One in five teens has smoked marijuana, according to the betes, breathing problems, and sleeping problems. National Institute on Drug Abuse. The future is not always what is on a teens mind. They don’t Though these decisions are bad decisions teens make them every think about the Big Mac hitting them when they are in their 30’s. day for numerous reasons. But what teens do care about is having fun, looking good, and “I think that after everything is said and done, you realize that making friends. So is putting their life on the line really worth it? it was dumb, but at the time it seems to be safe and fun,” said “I make dumb decisions, “said Victoria Essary, senior, “But Guldenfinning, “I just hope that all teens know this, that it is stuafter it is said a done I know it was dumb and I regret it. The cigarette or driving too fast without a seat belt, or eating way too much pid and that the future is bright and you don’t want to mess it up now for something so little and dumb.” that I feel sick are all really dumb things that at the time seem like a great idea but really it isn’t.” By Felicia Raymond
an
I would go to war for my country before I die. I just think that is the thing to do.
I want to drive down Locust going 200 miles per hour when nobody is around. The fact that I could say that I actually did that would be really cool.
What you do today affects you tomorrow
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■ being an astronaut: 13,200,000 to 1
SOURCE: www.funny2.com/odds.
Treve z
Focus 7
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Friday, April 15, 2011
What are the odds of...
■ getting heart disease: 1 in 5 ■ getting cancer: 1 in 7
■ having a stroke: 1 in 23 ■ dying in a car accident: 1 in 84
■ dying from suicide: 1 in 121 ■ dying from a fall: 1 in 218
■ dying from a gun: 1 in 314 ■ electrocution: 1 in 5,000
■ dying from a bee sting: 1 in 1,000,000
■ dying from a dog attack: 1 in 147,717
SOURCE:www.funny2.com/odds
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Friday, April 15, 2011
Boys track is off to good start with win over Burlington
Girls track shows improvement By Krista Johnson
By Krista Johnson
The West High’s boys track team has started the year off in an outstanding way. On Tuesday, April 5, the boys team traveled to Burlington and left victorious. “It was a good meet, the kids performed well,” said Coach Brody. Leading athletes included James Denkmen, who threw the shot 51 feet 5 inches, Kyle Bennet and Skylar Moore, who ran the 400 low hurdles in 56.7 and 56.8 seconds, respectively. “Our kids have really been working hard. We’re developing into a better team than I thought we would be,” said Brody. The team’s next meet will the Jesse Day Relays at Brady Street on April 15. This is one of the big meets of the year that will determine whether some of the athletes will continue at state. “We’re going to try to qualify some relays for Drake,” says Brody. Junior Eli Kirschbaum said the team is doing great. He expresses, “We go hard.”
Fun in the Mud
Boys tennis team holds enthusiasm and pure athletes
Four-wheeling excitement attracts riders By Erin Pershall
Wind blowing against you, the sound of the engine roaring as you press on the gas, then you shift to go even faster, climbing inch by inch to the top of the jump. Adrenaline pumping, then it hits, in an instant you’re soaring through the air. Students find four wheeling exhilarating. Depending on the brand, four wheelers have a variety of costs. A brand new 2011, Honda four wheelers can range from anywhere from around $4,000 to $7,500. They tend to as fast as 70 miles per hour. Senior Andrew Van Fossen didn’t know how fun ridding four wheelers was until he needed to use a four wheeler for hunting. “I got started because I needed an easier (and faster) way to retrieve the deer. I realized how fun it was to ride, and now I ride a lot of the time.” There are many different places where you can ride four wheelers. Many people choose places like fields, large backyards, and woods to ride, but there are parks where you can ride four wheelers. These parks have many different jumps and trails for the public to ride on. According to iowadnr.gov, Iowa has eight of these parks throughout Iowa. The trails and jumps are regulated by the DNR. To ride at these parks, you must have OVH (off highway vehicle) sticker and majority of them request that you have a helmet, says atv.off_road.com. Van Fossen rides with a few people. Instead of riding at specialized four
wheeling parks, he would rather ride in woods or in bumpy fields. “I have never been to a park and I don’t want to. I ride with just a few people. I ride anywhere (woods and trails), but I really prefer riding in fields.” There are different tricks that you can learn to do when riding a four wheeler. Heal clickers is when you take you’re legs and lift them over the handle bars and click your feet together. To do a nac nac, jump and simply lift one of your legs over to the other side. A superman is when you go off of a jump, and when in the air you push the four wheeler forward and you grab the seat so that your body is in the air. Four wheeling may be fun, but it can be vary dangerous. According to youhaverigts.com, an estimated 700 people including about 200 children under age 16 are killed every year in four wheeling accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. An additional 135,000 people more than a quarter of them children are treated in emergency rooms for four wheeling related injuries. Most injuries occur when the four wheeler flips or rolls. When this happens, the driver can be thrown off or could even be pined by the four wheeler itself says, injury.findlaw.com. There are no exact rules if you are on private land, but some important safety tips are to always wear a helmet, never carry passengers, and make sure that the driver knows how to operate the four wheeler, always have a cell phone on you in case of an accident, and never drink alcohol beverages and ride. “I was going across this field when I hit a hollow (hole) and I flipped. I think I broke something but I never went to the doctor about it,” said Van Fossen.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST Senior Aaron Bunch turns the corner of a dirt road and makes the dust fly!
photos by Erin Pershall
WATCH ME FLY! - Aaron Bunch gets up to speed and makes a jump. To make jumps, it takes a lot of practice and skill to land safely. Otherwise the rider could be injured or killed.
Photos by Erin Pershall
RUN FOREST RUN! - Boys track team runs laps during one of the many long practices in order to improve for the April 23 track meet in Bettendorf.
Starting at a young age, senior Aaron Bunch now ranks second in motocross races.
Riding with the right attitude
How long have you been riding? I’ve been riding four wheelers since I was eight, I started off on a small 90cc.
How did you get started? My dad got me started riding. He took me a lot when I was younger. I’ve also grown up with friends who ride, so that keeps it fun.
Do you know any tricks? I race motocross so I don’t know many tricks, just how to go fast! Where do you ride? I mostly ride at the track, but my dad and I still take trips to different places.
Do you compete in any races? I race motocross, last year I raced district 22, but this year I’m racing district 17 because the tracks are a lot closer. The first race of this year was in the beginning of April at Tri-City, I placed second overall.
When do ride? I ride a lot on the weekends, but I try to practice during the week when I have time. Do you ever ride at OHV parks? I go to a few of the OHV parks, Sandy Oaks and Solon are my favorites.
What kind of four wheeler do you have? I have a Honda Trx450r.
Do you have any tips for beginners? My tip for a beginner motocross racer is to practice, a lot! Also, hold your line when you’re on the track so you don’t get run over!
SHARP TURN - Aaron Bunch takes a sharp turn while on a bumpy dirt road.
Boys soccer team off to good start with three wins
Coach: Kyle Schieberl
Record: 0-2
What do your girls need to improve on? “I wouldn’t say there is really just one thing to improve on in tennis. After watching our first couple meets, our footwork, positioning, and getting spin on our balls are the major things we are focusing on now.”
AIM FOR IT - Senior, Rachel Smith, takes aim at a ball preparing herself for her next tennis meet at practice. The look of determintation tells watchers that she is ready for the April 21 meet at West.
BOYS TRACK Monday, April 18 Who we play: North Scott, Away Time: 4:15 PM Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: Clinton, Away Time: 4:30 PM Saturday, April 23 Who we play: Bettendorf, Away Time: 10:00 AM
GIRLS TRACK Monday, April 18 Who we play: North Scott, Away Time: 4:15 PM Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: LinnMar, Away Time: 5:00 PM Thursday, April 21 Greyhound Invitational, Away Time:4:30 PM
Who is doing well in their matches? “I have seen all the girls improve already in the season which is exciting because the season just started. Emily Braun has shown me and the team that she belongs at the number one position being a four year varsity player. Kelley Wallace, Savanna Bramstedt, Brianna Bellman, Hoai Pham, and Thuy Nguyen have also shown major improvement.”
Are the girls working towards state? If so, what are they doing to improve? “State is definitely what the girls are working towards. Everyday before we leave practice. That’s how we break out by yelling “state”. At each practice the girls tell me what they need to work on and we just do a lot of drills to help improve the area. There is also a lot of them that stay after practice to hit.”
What is the key to winning a tennis match? “The biggest thing is just to stay focused. Already with just playing in three matches, I’ve had girls come to me and tell me that they didn’t lose because the person they were playing was better than them but it was because they made mistakes and those mistakes then affected the rest of their match and they lost their focus.”
By Krista Johnson
After starting their season April 2 with a tournament at North Scott, the boys soccer team has managed to win three out of four games. The boys played Maquoketa on Tuesday, April 5, and brought home a W. “We had a very slow first half that was full of mistakes. At half time we talked about it and we come back out and played much more aggressively,” said Coach Nancy Dirschel. Dirschel gave props to Joe Bierl, saying he’s been showing the “most superb defense I’ve ever seen.” She explained that Jesus Duran is a strong center midfield, that Grant Leacox is an up and coming freshman, and Brandon Kelsey has had some grade scoring. “The season just started; it could go either way right now,” said senior defensive player Jamie Sanders. “We have a lot of good players. We need to do what we know how to do and win our games.” The team’s next home game will be against North Scott at the Davenport School Complex on April 19. “Both teams are young. I think if we play at the top of our game, we can definitely win,” explained Dirschel.
Girls tennis off to a good start
By Brianna Bellman
By Krista Johnson
The boys tennis team has started the year off with a record of 0-2. Coach Curtis Williams said the team’s main weakness is inexperience. “They’re a lot of new players to tennis,” he said. However, some athletes are succeeding. Nate Wells and Nat Gaston are undefeated in doubles. The next meet will be on Tuesday, April 19, against Bettendorf. “It’ll be a tough match, very competitive,” said Williams. “There has been a lot of growth in the tennis program here. The team has more than doubled in size. There is a lot of enthusiasm on the team and pure athletes.”
The girls track team took fourth at the Davenport Ladies Classic at Brady Street Stadium on Tuesday, April 5. “Our shuttle hurdles, 4 x 100 relay, and our 4 x 400 relay are leading the way,” Coach Arron Rietz, said. “Veterans such as Amanda Miline, Jesse Pierce, Kelsey McCreight, Jordan Phares, Ranae Stock, and Amber Yaddoff are continuing their success from last year, while underclassmen like Tanner Werthmann, Iguan Mosley, Mary Perex, Kelsey Ehrecke, Samie Koberg, and Hannah LeBrecque are leading the next wave,” explained Rietz. “They all are working hard and being committed to getting better every day. In order to improve we need to keep working hard and get faster.” The next meet for the girls will be Friday, April 15, at Brady Street Stadium for the Jesse Day Relays. This is a coed meet where each team’s goal is to qualify for the Drake Relays. “I feel like we have a very good chance at having a lot of people going to state this year. And our team bonding has improved a lot,” said junior Brianka Morgan.
Girls soccer team looks to improve
By Krista Johnson
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL - Sophomore Edi Turcinhodzic keeps his eye on the ball while practicing on his kicking and shooting skills before the April 14 game at Mount Vernon. The next game is April 23 in Burlington, Iowa.
SPORTS SCHEDULE
BOYS TENNIS Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: Bettendorf, Away. Time:4:00 PM Thursday, April 21 Who we Play: North Scott, Away Time: 4:00 Saturday, April 23 Who we play: Pleasant Valley, Away Time: 9:00 AM
GIRLS TENNIS
Saturday, April 16 Who we play: North Scott, Away Time: 9:00 AM Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: Bettendorf, Home Time: 4:00 PM Thursday, April 21 Who we play: North Scott, Home Time: 4:00 PM
BOYS SOCCER Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: North Scott, Home Time:4:30 PM Saturday, April 23 MAC invitational, Away Time: 9:00 AM Monday, April 25 Who we play: Pleasant Valley, Home Time: 4:30 PM
With the season just starting, the girls soccer team hasn’t had the best start, but still has time to recover. On April 5 the girls played their first game against Dubuque Hempstead, losing 6-3. “We need to improve on formation,” says Coach, Mike Wells.
GIRLS SOCCER Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: North Scott, Away Time: 5:00 PM Saturday, April 23 MAC invitational, Away Time: 9:00 AM Tuesday, April 26 Who we play: Muscatine, Home Time: 4:30 PM
GIRLS GOLF Tuesday, April 19 Who we play: Clinton, Home Time: 3:15 PM Wednesday, April 20 Who we play: Maquoketa, Away Time: 2:00 PM Thursday, April 21 Who we play: Pleasant Valley, Away Time: 1:00 PM
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Say What?
Educational budget needs growth
our view
Art by Vinh Nguyen
Stricter dress code hits teachers The teachers of Davenport Community schools have been told they will have a stricter dress code next school year. The dress code states that the teachers are expected to have a nice and professional appearance for the students. They can’t wear jeans, shorts, flip flops. Other unacceptable items are hats, clothing that shows too much body skin. If they don’t follow the code they will be warned, and if they proceed to keep breaking the code, the teachers would be asked to leave and go change their clothing .The
teachers will have to look professional Monday through Friday. And there are also no more casual Fridays. Teachers should have a dress code, but not such strict dress code. Why would teachers want to wear professional clothes when they are setting up their classrooms? That’s like dressing up at home to just clean the house. Teachers would be so much more comfy if they had on shorts and a shirt while working. On spirit days teachers should able to wear West High spirit shirts with jeans
instead of professional pants. It just looks better with jeans and a shirt, than professional pants and a t-shirt. If teachers were allowed to dress casual, it would show that teachers have West Falcon spirit. Yes, teachers are supposed to have a positive and professional manner, but it doesn’t matter how well they dress, it’s how well they can teach. Students aren’t going to pay more attention if the teacher has professional clothes on more than if a teacher is wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Move detainees to Illinois prison
The Obama administration requested a $237 million for the federal government to buy, renovate and operate the state prison in Thomson,Illinois,as a maximum security lockup to deal with overcrowding. However congress did not want to open up the prison to Guantanamo Bay detainees suspected of terrorism. Congress will not pay for the purchase of Thomson prison without a guarantee from the administration that it would not move the Guantanamo Bay detainees there. Both the Republicans and Democrats joined to stop the federal government from using tax money to move the detainees. The prison was built in 2002 but never
opened due to state budget problems. Opening up the prison would lead to creation of 3,000 good paying jobs in the region. The jobs are tied to security requirements the defense department would maintain to keep the suspected terrorist lockup and away from others. The Thomson facility would only house federal inmates and would be operated solely by the Bureau of Prisons. Republicans and Democrats in Illinois hope that the pledge of operating the facility solely for prisoners in the United States prison system would loosen congressional purse strings and allow purchase of the prison. There are other states that are making a
pitch for the prison like Colorado, Montana, and Michigan. The detainees are just suspected terrorist, not fully convicted terrorists. The Guantanamo Bay detainees should be able to have a fair and speedy trial with a lawyer in the court house just as if a regular person would in the United States. Congress should allow the prison to open and allow the detainees to be transferred over to Illinois. The prison would help earn the town money. It would also help with unemployment by creating 3,000 jobs. If we believe in the United States Constitution, we should apply it to all the people, not just the U.S. citizens.
The earhtquake that crippled a Japenese nuclear plant has left everyone asking the question: Can we trust nuclear energy? Nuclear reactors create electricity. When fission heats radiation cores, causes water to steam and tun turbines. Certain countries use nuclear power more then other countries do. Using nuclear energy has many benefits. A nuclear reactor produces much more power per unit weight of nuclear fuel than conventional energy sources like coal and oil do. The main benefit is nuclear power does not release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and hence does not contribute to global warming.
Nuclear energy also comes with some harmful effects. All of the water that is steamed to power the turbines becomes radioactive and it can be harmful to humans. If it is not properly stored then the radiation can spread causing harm to living things, causing mutations and death. The technology used for generating nuclear power can also be used for producing nuclear weapons. If the radioactive cores over heat they could explode spreading unhealthy radiation for miles. There are other energy sources, known as Alternative Energy, that have no consequences like fossil fuels or nuclear energy.
Alternative energy sources are thought to be “free” energy sources. They have lower carbon emissions. These include Biomass Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, and the Windmill Energy. Nuclear power might be a great thing that the United States has but the effects that it carries have a great scare to many people across the world. The United States has so many other energy sources opportunities that can try out. The Iowa legislature is considering a bill that would allow Mid American Energy to build a new nuclear power plant in Iowa. It would be safer and more responsible to develop alternative energy sources instead.
Nuclear power is too big a risk
Should tanning salons be for 18 and older?
“No, because I need to tan and it should be up to the parents if their children should tan or not.” -Katherine Thomas freshman
“No because I don’t want to be pale this summer.”
- Sydney Fetters sophomore
“It should be their choice, but leave it up to 18 and older can only tan.” -Melissa Case senior
Compiled by Paige Daily
“It would be nice from 18 and older because it could be dangerous for their skin.” -Brittanee Gravert senior
Across the state more than 500 positions in education may be cut due to the education budget freeze Governor Terry Branstad wants. Iowa State education Association expects that the number of cut positions will start to increase as of April 30th. The legislature must decide if it will increase the allowable growth to public schools by 2 percent as Democrats have proposed or allow zero growth as Republicans have proposed. Branstad has told legislature he will get rid of any budget that isn’t fixed for the two years instead or one year. Branstad believes schools need a 2 percent increase. The budget freeze will cut unnecessary spending and programs that have passed their time, but will help other programs that do need government help. Each state is going to have to make the sacrifice with the education budget. Governor Branstad said will commitment to restore more education funding once the recession is over and that more money will be funneled in to the states economy. He also said “higher education is a priority, but Iowa needs to live within the realities of the funding it has and that means a two-year budget with a five-year projection.” Branstad thinks if we do the biannual budget, it might bring more jobs to Iowa. He also believes that this budget that he has presented is not going to be easy but is necessary, and that it’s going to clean up the mess that has been made and “clean out the cobwebs of the government’s closet”. Instead he wants to cut taxes on business. The programs that some of the schools are looking at cutting are the art, music, and physical education. Now they are on the tract of eliminating higher classes and other programs in school. The education spending freeze will create more unemployment than helping employment. It will be hurting programs out and inside schools. The education budget with also cause larger classrooms if they cut down teachers positions. Also budgets should be adjusted every year based upon the economy. The economy is improving in Iowa businesses. The businesses are making profits and hiring more people. Iowa should not cut taxes to business if students will pay the price.
Yay or Nay
YAY - Feels like summer
It’s the time of year when boys and girls are bringing out their flip-flops, swimming suits, and shorts. Ahhh... everyone sit back and enjoy the weather.
YAY - Freedom of speech
Westburo Baptist Church was sued for protesting near funerals that God is pusnishing the military for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment gives free speech to everyone, even if it is “hateful speech.” It’s good that the court did not try to determine what ideas are appropriate.
NAY - Tracking Students
A California high school is now sending students who tend to skip school home with a tracking device to know where they are when their susposed to be in school. Reality check: these kids aren’t criminals.
NAY - Filthy Fountain
Have you ever gone to get a drink and you look down to see gum or a big spit ball in there? Students should be more courteous and not leave a nasty mess for others.
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Managing editors Felicia Raymond Erin Pershall News editor Brandon Rostenbach Faces editor Felicia Raymond Focus editor Felicia Raymond Sports editors Erin Pershall 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.
Health 11
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Friday, April 15, 2011
Hearing loss increases in teens who listen to loud music
Earbuds are more risky to use than headphones since they are placed closer to the eardrums.
Causes
Hearing Loss
Photo by Steve Lyle
The partial or total inability to hear in the ear(s) is caused by being exposed to loud sounds, poor diet and nutrition, physical trauma to the ear and ear infections.
Statistics
● About 28 million Americans are hearing impaired ● 1988-1994 - About 14.9% of adolescents showed signs of hearing loss. ● 2005-2006 - The percentage rose to 19.5% of adolescents ● 1 in 5 teenagers has hearing loss in the U.S.
Signs and Symptoms
● Tinnitus (hearing a high-pitched ring, buzz, etc.) ● Muffled hearing ● Withdrawal from interaction with others ● Listening to music, TV, or talking louder than usual
Prevention
● Avoid being around noisy or loud areas ● Use ear protection when working or being in loud areas ● Eat healthy foods and drink more water ● Getting hearing checks by a doctor regularly
By Tracy Vo
Recently, many causes have made hearing loss a rising problem for this noisy generation’s teenagers in the United States. Unlike the last decade, more adolescents have a hard time hearing adults telling them to eat their vegetables, turn their music down, and stop going to music concerts every weekend. Most teens may think, “Hearing loss? That won’t happen to me, only the elderly.” It isn’t just a common problem for the older people; it’s a common problem for adolescents too. From 1988-1994, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) surveyed 2,928 adolescents, ages 12-19, for hearing loss.14.9% of the participants showed signs of hearing loss. However in 2005-2006, 1,771 adolescents were surveyed and the percentage increased to 19.5%. The results conclude that one in five adolescents in the United States have some hearing loss. Oddly, the teen hearing loss rate around the Quad Cities, specifically Davenport, isn’t as high as some larger cities. Larger cities are more likely to have higher rates of hearing loss than smaller ones. “It’s pretty low around here,” says educational audiologist
Teens soak up rays despite the risks SOURCE: http://www.ehealthmd.com
By Paige Daily
If people know the risks of using tanning beds, then why do they still use them? A lot of teens tan because they want to have that nice brown tan on their skin all year round. Also teens want to look good in the summer when playing sports, or to look good at school dances, and just to have that physical attraction. “I go tanning every other day so I can look good in my prom dress, because who wants to look pale at their prom?” said Ashley David, freshman. Many teens say looking tan makes you look skinner, than if you were pale. They say tanning also helps them relax and helps with acne and break outs. The ultraviolet ray in the tanning beds dry’s up the oil in the skin. “I tan because of athletic sports and it also helps with my acne,” said Ashley Entsminger Many teens don’t think about the risk of cancer caused from the tanning beds, because they don’t believe it would ever happen to them. They just want to look good and don’t really think about the effects it has on them. Elizabeth David, junior, said, “I feel that tanning is good because it makes you look good in the summer and in the winter. It also makes me feel better about myself. I know all the effects about tanning, but I really don’t think it would ever happen to me.” Exposure to ultraviolet creates health risks. Ultraviolet rays darken your skin. These ultraviolet ray cause three types of cancers; asil cell sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma (which is the most deadliest of them all). Ultraviolet rays also may damage your DNA and that leads to mutations. Then it produces activated oxygen molecules that also damage DNA along with other cellular structures. Another effect from tanning beds is eye damage. Ultraviolet rays have been linked to an increase chance of developing pterygium, tissue growth on the white of the eye, along with macula degeneration, damage to the retina. Since all of these serious conditions are possible side effects of using tanning beds,
always remember to wear protective eye gear when in the tanning bed Although skin cancer might seem like the worst thing you could receive from tanning beds it is not. Prolonged and consistent exposure to the sun rays can cause can cause the skin to become thick, wrinkled, and leathery. Though skin will age with the passing time, tanning beds seem to speed up the process. A total of 28 million people visit salons to tan, and 10 percent of them are teenagers. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed from tanning beds each year. Girls seem to start tanning at the age of 15. From the ages of 15 to 17 the numbers of girls that tan have doubled, according to Health Central web site. Tanning beds are the most caused reason why skin cancer raises up every summer. The population group most likely to spend time in a tanning bed is young females. Since tanning is females most priority in the summer to look good in shorts and in dresses, but they don’t stop to think back in think on how tanning beds could ruin their skin or body in the future. In Iowa teens aged 14 to 17 can go tanning if they have a parent’s consent. How often one can tan is not regulated by the state. Illinois recently has changed the law to prohibit persons under the age of 18 from tanning at a salon even with a parent consent. “Tanning beds have no point to them; people think they should be tan all year long well no is the answer,” said Allie Sisler, junior. “Why would someone want to risk their life just look tan through out their life? There is no point to it. I would rather be pale in my swimming suit, then having the risk of receiving nasty wrinkly skin and dying faster.” Ways to prevent skin cancer are staying out of the sun and any tanning booths. Apply SPF 30 or higher to your skin every few hours. Wear long sleeved clothing and long pants. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. This prevents the sun from striking your face and is also necessary for individuals without hair on their head. The scalp burns easily and needs to be protected. Also, avoid being out in the sun around noon because the rays are stronger.
Stephanie Childers who works at the local Mississippi Bend AEA 9. “The rate of high frequency (severe) hearing loss is decreasing too.” The first symptoms or signs of hearing loss are often very slight or not taken seriously. These symptoms gradually increase as one will be more exposed to the causes. O n e common symptom, known as tinnitus, is hearing a high-pitched tone or ringing in one, maybe even both, ears. According to WebMD, some other common symptoms are muffled hearing, difficulty understanding what others say, listening to music, radio, or television at a higher rate than before, or avoiding interaction. Some hearing loss cases can be so slight that one may not even realize they have any presence of hearing loss. What is really causing the growth in hearing loss among adolescents? Most would say the generation’s popular music player, the iPod. According to an article written by Nicole Martinelli on the Associated Content website, iPods actually aren’t the main cause of teen hearing loss, but poor diet and nutrition. Poverty also plays a role in teen hearing loss. Consequently, teens who live in lowincome households are more at risk than teens in higher-income households. Another common cause could be loud noises or even the environment. “The main causes of teen hearing loss are MP3 players, iPods, loud music, or areas” Childers said. “It’s usually noise induced.” Poor diet and loud music or noises are hearing loss’s common causes, but the real main cause remains debatable.
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Obviously, no one wants hearing loss. The condition can be easily prevented. Experts would recommend using ear protection like earplugs when around objects or places that are 85 decibels and up. But wait, what exactly is 85 decibels? Heavy city traffic is about 85 decibels so anything louder, such as a motorcycle, snowmobile, or wood shop would need ear protection. “You need to wear ear protection,” Childers advises. “Especially when around noisy places or doing noisy hobbies like hunting.” Another solution is getting regular hearing checks if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms or signs of hearing loss since hearing loss can
The main causes of teen hearing loss are MP3 players, iPods, loud music, or areas. It’s usually noiseinduced.”
be very slight. It’s a noisy generation and many adolescents are unaware of how loud things are going to affect them. When Sony’s Walkmans were a new fad and rock concerts flourished, the teen hearing loss rate rose quite a bit. Now today, most teenagers own some kind of portable media player with earbuds and attend all kinds of music concerts, which somewhat led to the rise in the hearing loss rate. “The hearing loss rate will continue to rise,” Childers said. “Teens just need to know how to prevent it.”
Photo by Steve Lyle
BEAUTY TREATMENT– Teens use the sun to tan their skin and to dry up blemishes. Cucumbers can help remove dark bags from under the eyes.
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o t w o Hump
12 Pulse
B ur yo ir ha
Beak ‘n’ Eye
Step one
Part the hair at the crown. Not taking to much or to little. spray crown with hair spray.
Look out! Prom is getting close. Consider doing your own hair this year and save some cash. Try the bump for an ultra cute look. Add curls or side bun for the must-have Prom look
National Poetry Month
Step four
April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate, here are some haiku poems written by students in Mr. Lyle’s “In the Spirit of Poetry” class. A haiku captures some aspect of a season in three lines containing 5, 7 and 5 syllables, respectively.
Summer night stars light Diamonds scattered wide skyward Thriving life abound –Wesley Reynolds
Puerto Rican men Finer than clean cut diamonds Always make me smile –Ta’Tiana Combs
Adverse Estival Old Jack Frost pierces his pawn Colder than dry ice –Makena Meyrer
Buds peek open slow Giving newfound life to all Spring has Sprung –Stephanie Littrel
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to all the spring sports
Go Falcons!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Step two
Step three
take hair and comb back, then place fingers on hair and push upward. Making the bump.
Take the hair and take a comb and run it threw the hair repeatedly. Spray with hair spray Begin to bobby pin the hair in place. Hair spray for perfection.
Add a cute clip or flower for a sweet touch. You can put into a pony tail or leave down
Step five
Splish, Splash, Splish, Splash, Splat On a sunny day to cool Refreshing water –Latree Jackson Moist green blades of grass Rivers raging under bridges Beautiful blossoms –Isaac Nickell Thoughts put into words Make up sentences of noise Shared with each other –Phu Hoang
Maple seeds descend Always spinning; never still Cannot find their way –Bradley Rees
Full of Empty Hope The young child plays, waiting For the Sun to dance –Ben Hansen
Warmth on my skin A smile spreads on my face Feels alive again –Ashley Greer
Now at daybreaks end Night seeps through ever cracked windows Everything ends – Jacob Stolley