Volume 46, Issue 1
THE
October 2010
BANNER Does Facebook help with homework ?
Teachers as Friends Should teachers be accepting student friend requests?
Pg. 8
Pg. 8
Comedians march for Reason
Video Game Review: Medal of Honor Pg. 15
Pg. 13
Islamaphobia???
An analysis on Americans’ continual fear of the Middle East
Pg. 12
An Interview with Derrick “Mississippi” Goff Pg. 5
2
On the Team
Football Update
One team. Sixty-four different people. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication for that many people to form a winning team, here is the season as it stands.
Hannah Murdoch
-(Photo Editor)
In the season opener against the Carman-Ainsworth Cavaliers the Bobcats showed how hard they worked over the summer by shutting down the Cavaliers 21-7. Even though the guys did have a few mistakes they showed that they would not let the mistakes keep them down. In addition, this year the Bobcats have some all-star players such as 3-year varsity senior running back, Justice Hayes, who not only played running back in this game but also quarterback and threw for 17-yard touchdown. Another all-star is 4-year varsity quarterback Ryan Morley who scored the first touchdown of the season and looks very impressive and confident to take the Bobcats to another winning season. Also, this year the bobcats have some new players that are already showing that they will be a great addition. Nick Koutouzos is one of those players; the defensive tackle was unstoppable against Carman. Koutouzos even scored a touchdown to help the bobcats win. The Bobcats have already made history this season by having the first ever-Grand Blanc female varsity player, Traci Carson. Carson is the kicker for the bobcats and sure looks like she has a promising future in helping the bobcats. Every player on the bobcats shows that they are serious about this season and they mean business. Every game should be a great game to watch and If the bobcats continue to improve, they should have a winning season and make a long run in the playoffs. Grand Blanc v. Brighton After two straight away games, both being losses the bobcats were more than happy to be back at home. This game though came without the help of Justice Hayes, who was injured in the Milford with a dislocated wrist. The game started with aMurdoch 75Hannah yard run from Kyle Artinian and a successful kick from Traci Carson with 9:14 left in the first quarter. Brighton came back though in the second quarter to make it 14-7. In the second half the Bobcats came out fighting, with Detrick Goff, who stepped up his game due to Hayes being injured. Goff scored three times in the third and fourth quarter all of which were followed by a successful kick by Traci Carson. The Bobcat defense helped out tremendously with Tyler DeFrain leading the defense with 10 tackles. The final score ended up being 27-20 Grand Blanc. Grand Blanc at Howell After winning the last game the bobcats came into this game hoping for the same results. News broke though that Justice Hayes, starting running back, will be out for the rest of the season due to his wrist injury. The Bobcats who stepped up to take on the role of running back were Kyle Artinian and Detrick Goff, both of eager to step up to the plate. Howell though handed the Bobcats a loss of 28-14 Grand Blanc at Hartland The Bobcats now being 3-3 this year needed to win this game in order to keep playoff dreams alive, and that’s exactly what motivated them. Lester Liston had two touchdowns, but what was significant was that one touchdown came on offense and the other came on defense -- that’s right Liston intercepted the ball and ran for a Grand Blanc touchdown.
Record: (5-3) Grand Blanc at Canton The first league game of the season came with a lot of anticipation. This being only Grand Blanc’s second season in the KLAA, they are are considered one of the best teams in the league due to an off season last year by the other teams in the league. This year was different though. The game began with Canton scoring a touchdown with 10:56 left in the first and made the 1 point field goal. The Bobcats answered with Will Wheat scoring on a 23-yard pass from Ryan Morley, unfortunately the kick was blocked and the score remained 7-6. By the end of the first quarter the score was already 20-6 in Canton’s favor. In the second quarter Canton continued to keep scoring by putting up 35 more points in addition to the 20. Detrick Goff though scored a touchdown on a 52-yard run. The Bobcats didn’t give up though and they scored in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard run by Detrick Goff. The final score was 62-20
Grand Blanc at Milford After the loss to Canton the Bobcats came back with a vengeance, putting up a fight at Milford to the very end. The game began with a 2-yard run from Detrick Goff and a successful kick by Traci Carson. Milford put up 14 points in the first quarter to make the score 14-7. The second quarter belonged to the Bobcats putting up 21 point with two touchdowns from Will Wheat and one touchdown from Justice Hayes. But Milford came back by the end of the game to tie the game 3535. In overtime Milford though came out on top with a 41-35 win. Grand Blanc v Pinkney The Homecoming game. Probably the biggest game of the year had arrived and the Bobcats were more than ready to prove themselves. They sure did too. Kyle Artinian scored not once but three times in the first quarter alone, one of the touchdowns was an 82-yard kick off return. Making the score 21-0 by the end of the first. But the Bobcats weren’t done they continued to score right into the second quarter with a 38- yard pass from Ryan Morley to Terrance Stocker for the touchdown, followed by Tyler Mattingly scoring on a 25-yard pass, and finally Karter Huber scoring on a 3-yard pass to end the second quarter. In the fourth quarter Pinkney scored twice, but the Bobcats still remained on top and scored again with an 83-yard run from Kaleb McElwee. The Bobcat defense was a great force on the field limiting the Pinkney throughout the game. Leading the defense was Lester Liston and Kaleb McElwee each with 10 tackles. The final score was 41-13 Grand Blanc.
Photo: Hannah Murdoch Blue 42, Set, Hike: Number #16, Clearance Thomas, gets ready to strike against the opposing team.
On Campus 3
An Ending Will Bring a Fresh, New Beginning Boys’ Varsity Water Polo Team Loses Seniors
Seniors on the boys’ varsity water polo team have brought many victories to the team over the years. Enjoy it while it lasts, because nine will be leaving next year out of a total of 13 players. Some of the guys on the team are worried that their record next year won’t live up to the wins of the current season. “We have a lot of good people leaving after this year,” explained sophomore Ryan Scannell, “so next year we won’t do as well.” Not only are the returning players concerned, but the seniors are as well. They want their teammates to do their best to succeed without them after they leave. Captain Robby Rariden, senior, said ,“I think the team is going to lose a lot of leadership. They’re going to have to work twice as hard to make up for losing a whole starting line-up.” Wins and losses are important to
the guys, but the seniors contribute more than just talent to the pool. The rest of the players look up to them and simply enjoy their presence at practice and at games. Junior Zachary Howell said, “The seniors bring a lot of humor and good morale to the team.” Before and after practice, the upperclassmen lead the boys in “dance parties” with loud music in the locker room, and some of them enjoy disc golfing together in their spare time. Scannell agreed with Howell saying, “They [the seniors] are funny and fun people to be around.” As far as this year goes, the boys have a pretty well-rounded team. Currently, they have a record of three wins and two losses. Despite what the future may hold, they will continue to work together as a team to strongly finish out the season.
Photo: Sullenger/Banner Everybody in: Boys’ varsity water polo, coached by Dan Command, comes together in a timeout to prepare for the rest of their game.
Charlotte Sullenger (Design Team)
Photos: Sullenger/Banner
Next time you want to prepare yourself for a big game, listen to “Eye of the Tiger” six times. That’s how one tennis player warms up before every match -- it helps keep the teams undefeated conference record. Athletes all have our own ways to get in the zone for a game and to get focused so they can play their best. Each team has its own traditions. “Before we warm up, we make a circle around Nick Martin and he pretends to be a beast, and we all yell ‘kill’ louder and louder,” senior RJ Lambert said. “Then we go out in the pool to tread water and stretch.” Besides stretching and doing quick drills to get muscles loose, the mindset of the athlete also needs to change. The player needs to get pumped up. To do this, the cross country team visualizes the race they have to run as their coach talks them through the route. The football team is different than most other teams because they get together about 3 ½ hours before the game
Pre-game Tactics
Left: Senior Robby Rariden guards the goal. Right: Daniel Sullivan, Rariden, Nick Martin, and Alex Grimmer re-enter the pool after a timeout.
How Athletes Prepare for Competition
“After team dinner, we usually keep to ourselves and focus on our responsibilities before the game,” senior Karter Huber said. “Then later Lester Liston Jr. loses control and goes crazy to hype the players up.” Much like the football team, the volleyball team has a serious team talk to prepare for the game, but directly before they warm up, a designated player starts yelling to energize the other players. It’s a different story for the soccer team, “Before the home games the whole team gets in the locker room, and we listen to rap music with the lights off,” said sophomore Chris Sullivant. “Then we do our team cheer and head out to the field.” The success of many athletes depends on preparation before the game.
-Nichole Boehnke (Morale Chair) Coming together: Girls’ varsity volleyball team gets pumped up for their next game. Photo: Boehnke/Banner
4 On the Team
Spikes of Personality
There are many ways that people show off their personality, such as which stores they shop at, how their hair looks, their make-up style, or how tricked out their ride is. However, the boys’ varsity soccer team has a very unique way of showing their personality - Hunter Lambert, Nichole Boehnas skilled soccer players. On the field you’ll notice a ke, & Kelsey Carson variety of different colors -(Staff Writers) drifting from one side to
Max List- My cleats are red total 90 lahsurgs.I bought them because they caught the attention of my eyes. Bryce DeLamielleure - My cleats are lime green and black power V-cat Puma’s. I bought them because they were the most comfortable. Zach Carroll- My cleats are bright green Nike Lasers. I bought them because I got them for free with my National Team. Chris Sullivant- My cleats are orange and silver Vapor 6’s. I bought them because they are easy to play in. Luke Neuenfeldt – My cleats are chameleon purple Adidas 750’s. I bought them for their light weight. Tyler Janeway – My cleats are dark blue/teal Vapor 6’s. I bought them because they don’t weigh me down when I am on defense. Eddie Nassar- My cleats are orange, silver, and yellow Nike Vapor’s. I bought them because they look cool, and stood out.
Outside pictures: Past players of boys’ varsity soccer cleats
Inside picture: Current players of boys’ varsity soccer cleats
Mississippi Has Arrived Detrick Goff shares his current motivations and goals about football
At the beginning of the year Detrick Goff was just another player on the Grand Blanc Varsity team, but things soon changed. Goff has already rushed for more yards then Notre Dame-bound Justice Hayes and has helped the Bobcats out tremendously this year. Detrick “Mississippi” Goff arrived at Grand Blanc this year straight from you guessed it, Mississippi. You probably have seen him in the hallway just walking quietly, but get him with his friends and he is extremely loud, his laugh is contagious, and he always has football on his mind. HM: “How do the things you learn in football apply to you in life?” DG: “It keeps you motivated, keep going no matter what the situation.” HM: “How old were you when you started playing football?” DG: “Three years old.” HM: “Seriously? They have leagues for 3 year olds in Mississippi?” DG: “Gotta get started early.” (Laughter) HM: “What got you started playing football?” DG: “My dad, he is the reason I do most things. I look up to him a lot.” HM: What’s the best advice you were ever given?” DG: “‘Keep up the hard work’ from my mom, my dad, and fans.” HM: “Would you change ever change your name for your sport, like Chad Ochocinco did?” DG: “Oh hell no” HM: “What’s your biggest accomplishment?” DG: “Taking the football team I was on in Mississippi to state playoffs.” HM: “Any songs you listen to before the game?” DG: “‘Cornbread and Kool-aid’” by Stan the Man” (laughter) HM: “How do you keep your team motivated when you guys are losing?” DG: “ I say keep your head up and keep going, next play, next play.”
-Hannah Murdoch (Photo Editer)
On Campus
5
6 Around Michigan
Pageant contestant finds reward in confidence Walking on stage, in front of hundreds of people, junior Briana Fidelino hoped to find beauty within herself. “It all started when I was watching the Miss USA pageant online, and I told my mom I wanted to compete in one, and because my boyfriend always told me how pretty I am, but I never believed it. So I searched online and entered myself in a pageant.” Briana Fidelino was once doubtful about her beauty, but something remarkable changed her mind. After receiving her first e-mail about being chosen to compete in the Miss Teen Michigan pageant in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she was in disbelief. “At first I thought it was a joke”, Fidelino exclaimed, “I didn’t think I would have been chosen. Then they kept sending me more follow ups about the pageant.” Once it was official she on. As the number of contestants dropped from 41 to 15, Briana was shocked to hear, “Briana Fidelino, from Grand Blanc.” As her journey continued, she made a lot of new friends that she would carry on beyond the pageant. The girls changed her outlook on things, and taught her it is possible to feel confident in yourself and beautiful all at the same time. As the competition moved forward, Briana did not. However, it wasn’t tears of sadness, but instead, tears of joy.
“Honestly, I didn’t care that I didn’t win. It was my first pageant, and I didn’t expect to win. I didn’t even expect to make top 15, but look how far I got. Once my name was announced for top 15, I literally threw my hands up, bent down, and hit my knees and just had the biggest smile on my face, but yet got teary eyed all at the same time.” Fidelino, and all the other top 15 contestants, received a $29,600 scholarship for college. She pushed herself to try something new and was rewarded in the end.
would be competing, it was “crunch-time.” Fidelino did a lot of working out, not through a trainer, but at her own will. Of course, for Fidelino, the most important thing to her was finding the perfect dress. It took her many stores and many search engines online to find one that stood out. Finally, Sept. 10 rolled
around, and she was more than ready. She was ready to face what the pageant had to offer. The pageant spanned the course of two days. The first day was a personal interview with five judges, bathing suit, and evening gown. The second day, the judges announced the top 15 contestants that would move
It all might sound cliché, but for Briana Fidelino it was a life changing experience that she recommends to any female out there. “Go for it,” Briana stated, “anything is possible.”
-Lauren Mokan (Public Relations)
For more on Briana Fidelino see “Not the average GBHS student” on bobcatbanner.com Head held high: Junior Briana Fidelino represented Grand Blanc in the Miss Teen Michigan pageant in September.
On Campus
7
The Fear to Overcome: Student uses disease to move past fears
By: Cody Harrell -(Editor-in-Chief)
Blake Whitmore was carefree. She went about her life with minimal worries about the future and the typical teenage attitude. Whitmore was actively involved a grueling AP homework schedule, spinning weapons for the colorguard, and singing her heart out on stage for the drama department. Alas, this fairytale was short-lived. In June of this year, Whitmore’s life did a complete 180 spin, into a direction that any “typical teenager” wouldn’t be able to handle. In June, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the digestion system, specifically where the large and small intestines meet. “I had been having symptoms for nearly a year,” Whitmore said, “and the worst part in all of that was not knowing what was wrong. When I found out, I was relieved.” When confronted with the problem of this disease interfering with her daily life, Whitmore showed her perseverance. Despite feeling intense abdominal pain, Whitmore attends Marching Band rehearsal daily and continues to show improvement with her condition. “A lot of people have asked me if I was going to quit band, if I was going to give up,” Whitmore said. “But I am going to keep spinning for the guard as long as I can.” But the tale doesn’t end here. Whitmore has shown consistently her ability to move forward, past her fears and into an intimidating bliss of progression. “I have overcome three fears of mine since I was diagnosed,” Whitmore said. “The first was during my first emergency room visit, when I had to have an IV put in my arm, and I freaked out. I had never dealt with needles before. As time passed, with every shot and IV put in me, I used deep breathing and overcame my fear of needles. “My second fear was of heights, so I tried the Ripcord at Cedar Point. I used my deep breathing, and when I ripped the Ripcord, I felt gravity pulling me down, and my Mom freaked out even more than I did. “My third fear was stage fright. I chose to sing at band camp, and I was nervous. My knees started to shake, but then I asked myself, ‘what’s the big deal?’ If I make a fool of myself, no one will judge me.” Today, Whitmore can honestly say her fears are gone, describing them as “irrational.” Despite Crohn’s being a chronic disease, she hasn’t given up her AP classes, and is still performing with the Marching Band every day she can. Blake Whitmore’s life may not be as simple or carefree, but she is still strong, still overcoming what most “typical” teenagers wouldn’t be able to handle. Something that some teenagers couldn’t imagine moving past, even pushing forward. “If anyone asked today if I was afraid of anything, the only thing I could say is death, because who isn’t?”
8 Facebook
When your teacher is your ‘friend:’
Students, teachers discuss facebook friendships Over the last six years, Face book has grown from an idea created by a Harvard freshman into a global social networking site with over 500 million active users. While students were first to create pages, increasingly teachers and school administrators have Facebook pages. It is common among adults because it provides a unique way to keep in touch with friends and old classmates you don’t see often. While it is okay for teachers to have lives out of school, when they become friends with students, allowing them to see all of their personal information, it could be crossing a teacher/student boundary. Teachers “friending” students is one of the controversial topics in schools today. While some argue that it can be used as a communication tool for teachers and students, others think it is an invasion of privacy.
One teacher that is okay to with accepting friend requests from students is history teacher Heather Grzymkowski. “I think it is a great way to communicate with my students,” Grzymkowski said. “When someone in my class messages me a question, it is easy for me to look at it on my phone and get back to them quicker.” Facebook can be a excellent tool for teachers, but it can also get them in trouble. A Pennsylvania teacher was suspended when another school employee posted pictures from her bachelorette party were posted on Facebook by another school employee. While these pictures were appropriate for an adult, many students she had “friended” saw the inappropriate photos before they were removed, just hours later. Teachers not only need to monitor what other people post about them, they also have to watch what they say. In Massachusetts, a teacher
was asked to resign after she posted comments on her Facebook wall calling her students “germ bags”, and their parents “snobby” and “arrogant.” Even though the teacher’s comments were only intended for her close friends, her privacy settings didn’t limit her “friended” students from seeing them as well. These are not the only reasons teachers hesitate to add students as friends. Some, like English teacher Andrea Comiskey, feel uncomfortable with learning too much information about their students. “I don’t like seeing inappropriate pictures or statuses about things like dating and partying posted by my students,” she said. Think about times you have had a bad day and posted inappropriate language in a status, or gotten tagged in a picture that is really not appropriate for a teacher to see, the same goes for teachers. You don’t want to see or hear about what they did over the weekend that is inappropriate for
Call me Mr. Facebook, I can make your grades drop Most students would say they are most productive on homework when they are sitting in a quiet room with no distractions, but are they practicing this habit? The majority of high school students get home, set their books down, and log onto Facebook. “I get on Facebook at least five times a day,” senior Jamie Mastromatteo said. “It does distract me from my school work, but I don’t think it has affected my grades too bad.” Some students think Facebook
helps with homework because if they are confused by a homework assignment, they simply set their status asking for help. Other students see Facebook as a distraction. “This past weekend I had the most homework since school started, yet all I’m compelled to do is analyze every detail of girls’ dresses and hair,” junior Virginia Choe said. However, students also use Facebook as a distraction from a long night of homework or to vent about a hard test or homework
assignment by making jokes about their struggles, but this isn’t always a good choice. “When I’m doing my homework, I hear the sound of notifications from Facebook and it draws me in,” said junior Eric Nielsen. “Then I start talking to people and I completely forget about my homework, and sometimes it just doesn’t get done.” Depending on the student, Facebook can be a positive or negative factor in homework completion, but students will use it regardless.
Nicole Boehnke
their students to know. It makes class uncomfortable. Despite this, many students, like sophomore Kelly Garland, think having teachers as friends is perfectly acceptable. “As long as the student is the one who sent the request and the teacher is not stalking your pictures, it is fine,” she said. Others might be more hesitant, but it depends on the type of person you are and what is posted your profile. As for rules concerning this issue, there aren’t many now, but as Facebook becomes popular, new issues are starting to rise. “I don’t think rules are needed as long as both teachers and students are careful,” Comiskey said, “but if they are not, it could become very problematic.”
Courtney Evans
Facebook lowers exam results by 20 percent, study* says *To be published in the journal of Computers in Human Behavior
Creepin’:
One new notifcation
(v) To persistently look for and gather online information about a person, either through searching their name or looking for them on popular social networking sites. Don’t be Creepin’! We all have those people on our friends lists that we just don't quite know all that well. A friend of a friend? An old myspace acquaintance? That person you met at that party last Saturday? Add, add, add. Our fingers just keep itching and waiting for those ever frequent friend requests to come into our mailboxes. But there is never a sure way to tell just exactly who you are letting see your profile, personal information, wall posts etc. the list goes on. Students were asked in several interviews just how seriously they take Facebook “creepin.” "Someone who comments on everything, or always talks like they know me... that is what I think a creeper is!" junior Emily Machala said. Machala gets especially disgruntled when foreign people add her, then spam her wall. "It is so aggravating to get a billion notifications from someone who doesn't even speak English, "Machala vented.
One thing that was rather shocking about the “creepin” phenomenon, was that a very small amount of people interviewed said that they would actually intervene if they knew of, or witnessed someone 'creepin' on a profile. "Part of it is the other person’s fault if they put up too much information," senior Caitlin Smoot said. "Certain things just need to be left OFF of Facebook, stuff that could lead to that dumb 'stranger danger' line people always talk about." Junior Brandon Moore laughed at the subject matter, saying, "There is so much creeping going on all the time. Everyday you can find some odd or uncomfortable comment being made, but nobody ever really stops it." Moore often gets requests from people he has nothing in common with, not school, friends, or family. "It is really random most times! I don't know half of the people that add me, but it would be rude to ignore them..."
Cell phone numbers. Pictures of your house. Pictures of your family, or your pets. Anything that you put out on the web, especially onto a site such as Facebook.com which has had some recent controversy over their privacy policies, can be a direct link to “creepers.” While Facebook and other social networking sites are made specifically to show your profile, but protect your user information, there is nothing stopping a dedicated “creeper” from your vulnerable information. So while Facebook is a great way to connect with friends, share photographs, socialize, as with everything else, it has its downsides. Users must beware.
Amber Chance-Merino
Sports Pages
help teams communicate
Sports teams know that to keep in contact with their team and fans, presence on Facebook is a must. The teams at Grand Blanc have started these pages for many different reasons, some include posting pictures, letting people know of upcoming events, and notifying fans of their accomplishments. Some of the many different teams have these “pages” are, boys varsity football, basketball, girls swimming, girls soccer, boys lacrosse, and cheerleading. “It’s a good way to keep up with the team like knowing what outfit to wear to school or when to get our ‘little sisters’ gifts,” said junior
9
Jessica Daniels. How do theses different pages help out the athletes that participate on the teams? “The cheerleading page lets us share pictures and videos with each other of our performances,” said junior Molly Robertsongifford. How can Facebook be a way of communication for the teams? “Our football page shares our scores and accomplishments with students and parents,” senior Tyler Mattingly.
The Grand Blanc varsity sports page show team records and when up-coming games will occur. This lets everyone be aware of how the teams are doing throughout their season. The Facebook pages keep both parents and teachers “in the know.”
Jennifer Gerrish
After a long day at school, turmoil amongst close friends, and overall exhaustion of the body and mind, it’s time for a flustered Facebook status update. Something along the lines of “What an awful day” followed by the appropriate “smiley.” Is this what human emotion has been reduced to? Many people have lost all incentive to approach a personal problem on a personal level, turning to a more “socially” secure means of venting. This newly developed habit of ours is anything but “social networking”. The words published on sites such as Facebook are nothing more than mechanically printed phrases strung together by the hottest technological trends only visible to other “Facebookers”. Websites such as Facebook have not only entwined an inescapable grip over the public perception of “healthy venting,” but around everyday conversation as well. For instance, writing on another user’s “wall”. is hardly a means of healthy discourse when it is “published” on the “news feed” Essentially, the interaction that occurs here is an interaction between the entirety of both individuals’ Facebook “friends”. Privacy, in these terms, does not exist. Along with these social violations, many social networking sites have changed how people get to know each other, as well. Companionship sites, for instance, are becoming increasingly popular amongst people of all ages. However, sites with this particular focus neglect the core element in the search for a relationship: the ability to comfortably interact with others. Dating sites allow people to list all expectations in a profile and let the matchmaker’s magic take care of the rest. The quest for compatibility has been chiseled down to a a list of names expelled by a search engine. Human to human relations have been flipped upside down and backwards with the coming of social networking sites. Ask yourself: how many “friends” do you really have?
Taylore Drye
10 Facebook
R.I.P....... MySpace 2006 -- the birth year of the famous “MySpace Face.” Everyone knows it, and you can’t deny that everyone has done it. The upside down peace sign and the fishy lips were the look that almost every single MySpace user had as their profile picture. Whether it was your profile picture, layout, or song, MySpace was the most competitive place on the web to express your own personal creativity. Not only was it a rivalry with creativity, but when it all came down to popu-
larity contests like the “top 8” and “heroes section,” everyone was all about being number one. Basically everything was centered on a personal profile page, where a user could either keep it simple or completely go all out. If you didn’t have the best layout, the newest undiscovered song, the sassiest about me, the most picture comments, the best graphics, or the greatest quote… you had nothing. The MySpace era was pretty stressful when it all came down
to it. Nothing was copyrighted on anyone’s profile, but if someone stole your song then it would be the end of the world. Checked multiple times daily, any user would get on hoping to have new comments, photo comments, or messages. The stressful dog-eat-dog web zone of MySpace was probably one of the main reasons of why it failed. Not everyone could keep up with all of the friends, music, graphics, and HTML codes. MySpace was also unsuccessful in the social networking world
Policy effects home computer use At home or at school, how you use the Internet could get you into trouble.. At the beginning of the school year every student has to sign a form called the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This form ensures people so that they will know what is prohibited in school in terms of online interaction “There are still students who have not signed the form because they don’t agree with it.” assistant principal Gary Goetzinger said. “If the form is not signed they’re not allowed to use any of the schools computers. This form clearly states, “That any off campus computer uses or activity that result in or presents a significant likely hood of causing a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation of the school district will be subject to discipline in accordance with the penalties set
forth in the student handbook and or use policy.” In the student handbook it states that you can receive up to three days of suspension depending on what kind of offense you commit. Although there has not been many offenses made in school regarding Facebook, there has been some. Goetzinger said, “Their have been fights and threats started on Facebook that have ended up back at the school.” Recently there was an incident with some girls and one girl decided to create a burn book talking about other girls. There was no proof that the specific girl who people think made the burn book on Facebook made it so no action was taking place. There have been several other incidents in the past that came along with students and facebook, most of the time it has been from girls.
“I think Facebook is misused,” claimed Goetzinger. He thinks Facebook should be looked at as a resume or a billboard of yourself saying, “if you don’t want your parents to see it then why put it on there?” The rules are simple if you attacking another student on Facebook, and it is brought back to the school then you will get into trouble. If you have any
because of the limited safety. Between actual Internet viruses and possible pedophiles, this crazed website became way too creepy. Most users said goodbye to MySpace when Facebook slowly took over the Internet. Facebook’s easy-to-understand layout and simple status updates took everyone’s attention away from the flashy MySpace webpage. Competitiveness also disappeared, since on Facebook the only race is to see who can upload their Homecoming pictures the fastest. For now, MySpace may rest in peace. Facebook has most definitely taken over, and it’s probably here to stay for a long time. Who knows what could be next. Maybe it’s Twitter’s time Elizabeth Berklich to shine… - (Web Editor)
Insults a at hom nd threats o nline e co suspenuld lead to sion. inappropriate picture on the profile the school has no control over that unless it is brought to their attention, then they are forced to take action.
Paula Newton
-(Photo Team)
Facebook 11
Do teachers make good ‘friends’? Charlotte thinks so but Alexis Disagrees Pro:
Con:
Phone calls and emails have been replaced as far as sharing the latest news. If someone has information to share with family or friends, they simply post it on Facebook. Some people may think that being Facebook friends with parents, relatives, or even teachers is a negative thing. However, it can actually be very helpful. Family members are usually spread out throughout the country, and it gets pretty complicated to try and keep in touch. Having aunts, uncles, and grandparents as friends on Facebook can make sharing good news or pictures a lot easier. It also allows family members to keep in touch all year long, rather than waiting until holiday gatherings or waiting to receive postal mail. Becoming friends with teachers online can also be beneficial. If homework becomes confusing or a test date needs to be cleared up, messaging them is a simple way to ask for help and get answers quickly. Even if it’s a teacher from a previous year, it’s sometimes nice to keep in contact. An issue that many people come across when deciding whether to friends certain adults is the amount of information that’s being exposed. Most teenagers aren’t fond of the idea of parents or teachers viewing sketchy pictures or reading their statuses. However, this can be easily fixed by blocking certain people from seeing specific information
Teachers, parents, family members and other adults that teens are “friends” with on Facebook is definitely something to not “become a fan” of. With Facebook being an open site, pictures, wall posts, comments, events, and other personal things are exposed. Not only will teens have access, but parents and other adults will too. This gives parents an opportunity to look into what their teen is up to, which is a total lack of privacy and does not sound great at all. Along with a lack of seclusion, being friends with adults on Facebook limits things an individual may want to post, or things that may be posted to them. Crazy parties, inappropriate or crude humor posts, or any other post that would put would put an individual in an awkward situation with an adult would all be gone. With that, a lot of the information Facebook shares would be confined if people delete/hide things to prevent adults from seeing them. Similarly, when teens post anything, it just gives adults the chance to post annoying comments voicing their opinion on the material of the post. The comments seem to become a nuisance when they are unwanted. The people that individuals are connected with on Facebook are called “friends” for a reason. Typically, adults are not literally friends and don’t need to see a lot of teens’ lifestyles off of the Internet. Unfortunately, the nagging, privacy being taken away,
12 On our Mind
The Next Red Scare
-Brandon Smith (Web editor)
Islamaphobia sweeps the nation
The Red Scare... The entire country in the clutches of fear. Fear of the new found movement called Communism. The government left in a panic, accusing and arresting innocent people, trying desperately to find a scapegoat for this communist problem. Trust was a distant memory. While this might have been 60 years ago, is our country still wrapped up in the same kind of fear? This world seems to be in the grasp of another Red Scare. But this time, the fear isn’t of Mother Russia or the mythical Iron Curtain over Eastern Europe. If you haven’t guessed what I am talking about, I am referring to our perceptions of the Islam, and of our current War on Terror. But who are these terrorists, and why are we still so bitter towards them? September 11, 2001 is a day that will live on in the hearts and minds of the whole country, as millions watched the World Trade Center struck by planes, and crumble to the ground.That happened 9 years ago, but are we still living in fear of those who did this to us? Most would say that we aren’t afraid of them, and that as Ameri-
Banner/ Smith
A New Face to the White House? According to Time Magazine, 53% of Americans think so. As Ameican diversity grows, so does the fear of Islamic influence througout the country.
cans, we are stronger than any terrorists. If we are truly not afraid of them, then why are we so up in arms when we hear about a proposed mosque near Ground Zero? Do we think that all Muslims are responsible for the horrors witnessed on 9/11? The group responsible was a group of Muslim radicals called Al-Qaeda. Their ideology was that
they must completely break away from all other foreign influences, and to do so, they must rid the Muslim world of any non Muslim influences. Furthermore, they believe that everyone else in the Muslim world is no longer truly Muslim, and they therefore exiled themselves from the rest of the Muslim world, to purify the Islamic religion. We were attacked by a group of
Muslim radicals, who consider themselves purer than all other Muslims. So why are we so bitter towards all other Muslims? It is our fear of an enemy that we know nothing about. We are letting fear run our mind, and when we are afraid, we look to the media for answers. Who did the media point fingers at? Muslims! It is our complete ignorance that has caused our fears. It is this ignorance that fuels the hatred in our society. We can’t turn our backs without hearing about a pastor that wants to burn the Qu’ran, or about France banning the wearing of burkas in schools. All the hatred in the world is being aimed at a group of people who are just as afraid of our attackers as we are. America is a very diverse country. It is the collection of all that makes us different that makes us such a great country. No one group of people is changing America, and making it any less of a great country. So the next time you hear someone trying to blame our problems on one specific group, know that they are just reacting to fear with hatred.
By the Numbers According to Time Magazine...
44%
61%
oppose the Park51 project*, while just
26%
are in favor of it.
46%
say it would be an insult to those who died on 9/11.
37%
of Americans know a Muslim American.
of Americans believe Islam is more likely than other faiths to encourage violence against nonbelievers.
23%
say it [the Park51 project] would be a symbol of religious tolerance.
*Refers to the proposed mosque being built near Ground Zero.
On Our Minds 13
Comedic Reason John Stewart and Stephen Colbert March for Moderates In a world where parading about in tri-cornered hats screaming hatred in the guise of “patriotism� and burning Qur’ans have become forms of political expression, it makes sense that the voice of reason would emerge from comedy television. In an attempt to cut through the paranoia of current politics, comedians John Stewart and Stephen Colbert have organized “The Rally to Restore Sanity� and “The March to Keep Fear Alive.� These two parallel comedic political events are scheduled to occur at the Washington Mall on Oct. 30. The 2010 midterm election campaigns of both parties have been run on sensationalism and hysteria. Issues are not on voters’ minds, fear prevents citizens from making sensible decisions about which candidates are capable of
leadership. This phenomenon has been subject to frequent criticism from both Stewart and Colbert. Their objective is to make this event a march of the moderates, where people wishing for reason
instead of bread and circuses will have the opportunity to express their views. The two comedians revealed their plan on Sept. 17, beginning with Stewart’s assertion “We have seen...these folks the loud folks, over the years, dominate the national conversation on our most important issues�. After a montage of videos demonstrating the extremism of both parties (a strong gesture of bipartisanship and focus on the theme of reason, rather than rallying), Stewart explained his wish to “take it down a notch for America.� Respected periodicals such as the New York Times and Washington Post have published opinions favoring the concept of Stewart and Colbert. Although their actions are admirable, they
are also a sign of the continuing blend of politics and theatrics. A voice calling for reason has gained the upper hand in politics, and hopefully a little comic relief will calm the terror that has become American politics.
-Haleigh Kent-Bryant (Copy editor)
Write to us! The Bobcat Banner welcomes letters to the editor and will print them based on space, content, and appropriateness. You can also comment on articles at bobcatbanner.com
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We have the professors, the labs, and the experiences that bring knowledge and practice together better than anyplace else. Bottom line - if you’re interested in engineering, math, science, or business - then you belong at Kettering. We’ll challenge you to think outside the box, and put classroom theory to work. You’ll have opportunities to change the world, serve the public, and improve the quality of life as we know it.
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14 On our Mind
Medal of Honor: An insult to the fallen or insight to the other side? Dylan Page
-(Managing Editor) If anyone has played Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, or even the Original Medal of Honor; they know about the way online multiplayer games really work. Recent controversy about the newest addition to the Medal of Honor series, titled...Medal of Honor…, is threatening the sale of the game in multiple countries. The controversy is centered on the multiplayer aspect of the game where up to 16 players can play at once. General game types differ from Team Deathmatch to Free-for-all. Team Deathmatch usually consists of two teams. Since the game is set in Afghanistan, the teams would be the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and the Taliban. Yes, the Taliban. That is the controversy: The ability to play as the Taliban against ISAF (combined U.S. and U.K. forces). In an interview with BBC News, The U.K. Defense Secretary Dr. Liam Fox condemned the game in advance of its release stating that it was “shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban against British soldiers……At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost
husbands…..It’s hard to believe any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game. I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product”
won’t let people take on the role of the Taliban.The change won’t make any fundamental difference to how multiplayer works.But EA is hoping the different labelling will help dilute some of the controversy sur-
rounding next week’s worldwide launch. The game is set to release on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 with a price tag of your usual new game release $60. The game is also rated M for Mature due to blood, strong language, and violence.
Notable Game Releases Halo: Reach - Available Now Fable III - October 25 Call of Duty: Black Ops November 8
Above: A screenshot of gameplay footage of Medal of Honor.
While it is understandable for Dr Liam Fox to feel this way, his stance is overblown. In games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare, You play as a terrorist group called OpFor. Yet no controversy was brought up about it. There is no Taliban story mode because of exactly this controversy. The developers of Medal of Honor decided to break the ice and create this game based on the War in Afghanistan to HONOR the veterans and soldiers currently on tour or back home allowing the world to try and experience the tip of the iceberg of what they been through, not to honor the Taliban. There is only a random team of online players titled “Taliban.” That’s it. Just like CoD Modern Warfare. If there was a story mode, then I would understand. But sadly because of this controversy, Medal of Honor developers say the latest game in the series
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood - November 15
On Our Mind 15 Vera Bradley
Never heard of Vera Bradley? Their bright colored designs, soft fabric, and trendy backpacks and handbags classify them. Founded by Patricia Miller and Barbra Bradley, the works are a phenomenon. Just by walking down the hall, anyone can spot hundreds of different designs on book bags, totes, I.D. cases, folders, pencils, umbrellas, belts, and many other items.
Juniors Hunter Moran and Mary Konieczny show off a popular Vera Bradley backpack print.
Bejeweled…Everything. Another new trend is embellishing: sequins, jewels, sparkles and other flashy articles are found on clothing, bags, cell phone cases, jewelry, and just about everything else. “I think bejeweled things look good as long as it’s not over done or over the top. It has to be worn in the right way,” senior Kelsey Brasher explained.
Hobo Chic Similar to the ‘70s and ‘80s styles, off the shoulder sweatshirts, oversized shirts, and loose simple clothing are now fashionable. Often, girls are seen wearing this look, but guys can pull it off too. The trick is keeping it cool and laid back. Freshman Deja Redmond said, “I like the off the shoulder look. It has be worn right though.” PheTill Reid, freshman, agrees. “As long as they have cute patterns, they look good. But they can’t be too ‘dusty’”.
Alexis Reid
(Design Team)
Fall 2010 Latest Trends
Combat Boots A new rebellious, trend-setting look is starting to become more and more popular this fall. Most women pair the army style shoes with skinny jeans or anything else they can pull it off with. This is a trend that Brasher won’t endorse, saying,“Combat boots were made for war, not for school.” Similarly, sophomore Whitney Whitehead agrees. “Combat boots aren’t for me, maybe with the right outfit though. Not something for everyday.” With many different opinions on the boots, they seem to be just a fad.
What Exactly is a Jegging? A new merging of jeans and leggings by the name of “jeggings” is growing to be a very popular style. They first appeared more common earlier this year, and now are a part of many girls’ everyday wear. “I really like them. I think they look the same as skinny jeans,” sophomore Whitney Whitehead said. Maggie Pearce, sophomore as well, agrees. “I like the jeggings. They’re comfy and I like the ones with zippers at the bottom.” Not everyone is in favor of the new trend. Senior Joseph Reeder and junior Carly Fockler think that the style is dumb and just the name sounds unattractive.“No one is fooling anyone. They don’t look like jeans, they just look like leggings,” Reeder justified.