Blue and Gold January 29, 2010

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Popular e-readers bring books into digital age page 3

After 100 days, Swartz looks back, plans for future

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blue & gold

Drug testing could end athletes’ substance abuse

Volume 87, Issue 4 Friday, January 29, 2010 1200 Broad Ave., Findlay, Ohio, 45840

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Mission group survives deadly quake Volunteers see Haiti destruction firsthand

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By John Sisser

tepping off the plane at the Port-au-Prince airport Jan. 9, Julie Bishop had absolutely no idea her seemingly routine mission trip to Haiti would be turned upside down — literally. Bishop, public relations director for the Findlay organization Mission Possible, led a team of 12 regional volunteers to photograph students at a school in Montrouis, 40 miles north of the capital.

Shaken up Just three days after their arrival, the group survived a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the island nation. “It felt like the walkway we were standing on was rocking and it got really loud,” Bishop said. “Part of our team was in a building and they said it was like elephants crashing through.” Bishop was on her second trip to Haiti with Mission Possible, which operates six schools, a Bible school and vocational center on the island of Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Of the six facilities, only one sustained damage and will need to be rebuilt. The Jan. 12 earthquake rocked the densely populated country at 4:53 p.m., leaving a confirmed 150,000 people dead and many more possibly still buried under the rubble.

The aftermath Bishop and her team caught a glimpse of the devastation as they left the country. “There were some bodies on the side of the road covered by sheets,” she said. “We looked out across the bay and we saw smoke rising from the city (Port-au-Prince).” While the quake dominated the news in recent weeks, Haiti is no stranger to natural disasters. Records of earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis battering the country date back to 1770. The nation has faced poverty, homelessness and starvation since its founding, but some fear the earthquake could ruin the progress made in the last decade.

HELP

“Haiti was in crisis to begin with,” Kurt Bishop, Julie’s husband and president of Mission Possible, said, “this just compounds it dramatically. All of their systems are broken—they have an economy in shambles, 80 percent unemployment, 50 percent illiteracy—and then this earthquake comes and leaves 1.5 million people homeless. It’s a tragedy, it’s a huge setback.” While the stories of destruction and devastation in Haiti continue, Julie Bishop believes she is lucky to have helped the country in its time of need. “What happened down there, it’s scary,” Julie Bishop said. “I talk to people, and they tell me they could never go there. But all of us (volunteers) were glad that we went, and we are glad we were able to help.”

Photo by Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT

Charities offer ways to help nation in need Students collect supplies for devastated country n

A country in ruins

A girl clings to her mother as a food handout line surges forward near the United States Ambassador’s residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Jan. 20. Volunteers from Mission Possible, a Findlay-based charity which operates schools in the country, were in Haiti at the time of the quake.

By John Sisser

Students and community members are stepping up to donate money to disaster relief organizations helping in Haiti. Special education classes at the high school are collecting money for International Services of Hope/Impact (ISOH/IMPACT), a Northwest Ohio organization helping survivors on the island. “I encourage my students to donate to this cause because it is important to help others in need,” teacher Lisa Baer said. “ I would hope everyone could go beyond their own lives to help people who are in such desperate need.” Those wishing to support relief efforts can also donate to Mission Possible. Members of the organization stationed

in Findlay have worked in Haiti for decades, operating six schools in the country. The group is now trying to rebuild facilities. “Money donated will go to help rebuild our school that collapsed, taking care of housing problems and providing medical supplies,” Kurt Bishop, president of Mission Possible, said. “We are also expecting a rise in the price of food, so we will need more money to provide meals to the students.” Students in French Honor Society began working with Mission Possible before the quake, but are broadening their project to include collecting relief supplies. Mission Possible and ISOH/IMPACT aren’t the only groups helping in Haiti. The local chapter of the American Red Cross raised over $15,000 for relief efforts. To give to the Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999 and the message will be accepted as a $10 donation.

Saturday

Sunday

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Sophomore Spencer Wood, seniors Jarred Korecky, Tim Welker, Andrew Kerns and junior Sam Misamore rehearse Act I songs for the upcoming musical, Kiss Me, Kate. The show runs March 19-21. photo by Katie Trinko

SING

“Playing a love interest with my best friend is going to be awkward, but we’ll both be professional and it will work out,” Miller said. “But at times we have to fight during the show, and that’s going to be like normal life between Lucy and I because we argue all the time.” Senior Derek Schadel can’t wait to see how

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the musical comes together. “I’m anxious to get things together and to see the show take shape,” Schadel said. “Everyone is excited, and if they are excited, they will be more productive. When you like what you’re doing, it will show on stage and the audience will like the performance better.”

things to make you look smart today 1. Avatar, now the highest-earning movie of all time, only places 26th in the list of most tickets sold.

2. Groundhog’s Day was first celebrated in 1841.

3. Ohio’s record low for Jan. 29 is -39 degrees.

High: 21 Low: 16 Partly Cloudy

High: 26 Low: 22 Partly Cloudy

When the deadly earthquake struck Haiti, 12 regional volunteers with Mission Possible were already in Montrouis. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Leogane and most of the devastation seen on television is in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

graphic by Emily Rivest

Open auditions are new feature

By Michaela Marincic

Cast members of Kiss Me, Kate are beginning to learn lines and dance steps for a March 19 opening. Audition week saw an increase in students trying out for the musical, bringing the cast list to 65, including nine principal roles. “We love having as many people involved as we can because it’s great sound-wise,” codirector Andrew Cantrell said. “But directingwise it creates problems because we do the show at Central, which has a small stage.” With the cast list set, junior Lucy Anders received the role of Lilli Vanessi/Katherine, a part which fits her personality. “Kate is a fiery soul who is difficult to control and outgoing,” Anders said. “I can connect with the fiery, passionate side of her.” Playing opposite Anders is junior Brady Miller as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Lilli’s exhusband whom she still loves.

Disaster zone

Music Tech plans Reverb

Cast begins rehearsals for Kiss Me, Kate n

Wowing the crowd

4. Sweethearts Valentine’s Day candy will add “Text me” and “Tweet me” hearts.

5. “Hope for Haiti” raised $58 million for seven charities.

By Emily Rivest

Music Tech is offering open auditions for all students for its annual concert, Reverb, on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. Interested students should attend auditions either Feb. 1 or Feb. 3 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the band room. The concert, with around 15 acts, will offer a variety of music. “Based on past Reverbs, it has been anything from classical to rock,” teacher Craig VanRenterghem said. “People that come should expect to hear different genres of music and different styles.” Although it is a concert meant for entertainment, there are also important lessons the class will learn from the show. “I hope the students learn a sense of responsibility and what it takes to put on a concert,” VanRenterghem said. “Some of these students may want to major in something like this, so it’s an important experience for them to have. “We’ve done so much planning for this. My favorite part will just be seeing the show up there on stage and happening and being proud of our accomplishments.” The class is confident they will put on a successful show. “Last year’s show was a big success, but if we all try pretty hard we can top it,” Williams said. “It’s a really fun show. It will be cool to see people they know (performing) and it’s fun seeing what people can do.” Tickets can be purchased in the cafeteria during lunch periods Feb. 15-19 for $3 or for $5 at the door.

Hats Off Findlay Indoor Drumline won first place in the Scholastic A Marching category at Olentangy-Liberty High School last Saturday. “It is great to start off with a win,” senior Jake Kiene said. “It gives us that drive to keep working because we know we can get better.” junior Zack Climes


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