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hoover high school publications 4800 aurora avenue des moines ia.50310 515.242.7313
9.20.07.v41.i1
grievances.
The 2008 Campaign Bus pulled into the parking lot of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. The bus’s program was launched in November 1993 to demonstrate cable’s commitment to education. Since then it has been to every states and all presidential libraries.
Inside: Cook’s new ‘hood’ p.2 Former principal moves downtown
Wake up call p.3
Senior Katie Taylor’s trip to India alters her perspective of life on the home front
Tech Ted p.4 Ted Mathews may know more about technology than trained professionals
Dub-Yah for the huskies p.5
Huskies get their first varsity football win in three years
‘You can’t live until you die’ p.6
Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx tells story of life struggles and addictions
Legalize love p.7
Gay marriage would bring equal rights
KYKER PHOTO
A boy named Bert Students get an enthusiastic welcome to a rare opportunity provided by C-SPAN
sponsored by Mediacom and Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) along with two other social studies teachers (Steve Koch and Stevens). Murphy used her break time at the workshop to talk to the host, Steve Roth, to see how she could get the 2008 C-SPAN Campaign Bus to come to Hoover. “He said he would talk to his people and get back to me,” Murphy said. After some phone tag, the idea of the bus coming to Hoover didn’t work out. But Roth was still enthusiastic about working with students, so he invited Murphy and up to ten other students to come to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum for a live taping of Presidential Sam Kyker Libraries: History Uncovered. “Unfortunately no football players, design editor cheerleaders, or band members could go because of the game. And I only had five days to organize the Bert could often be found fishing, hiking or whole thing,” Murphy said. exploring as a young child. Orphaned at the age of The students were asked, and seven decided to nine, by which time both of his parents had died, go along. he would grow to make a capital impact on the On Sept. 7 they left after fifth hour and headed United States of America. to Westbranch, Iowa. Among them were Junior Bert, or Herbert Hoover, was the 31st president Jordan Taha and Senior Adam Beaves. of the states. However, on Sept. 7, several students “I thought it was on the way to Omaha, not past who were willing to miss the football game got an Iowa City,” Beaves said. “The town was small. To opportunity to learn more than just which president us ‘big city kids’ that’s always such a novelty.” he was. Once they got there, they got a tour of the Accompanied by Maureen Murphy and Kirk library and a tour of the C-SPAN Campaign 2008 Stevens, a group of students experienced the Bus which has been to all 50 states, their capitals story of Bert in a way that few ever get a chance. and all presidential libraries. C-SPAN Marketing Murphy and Stevens provided an opportunity for Representative, Doug Hemming gave them the tour students. of the bus and informed them on the differences Murphy attended a teaching workshop between C-SPAN and other news networks.
C-SPAN prides itself in being an unbiased news network. “In my opinion, the only network that doesn’t present biased news,” Stevens said. They are a public service created to inform their viewers about the government. They don’t track their ratings. “It’s something to get used to,” Hemming said, “but students will eventually start making decisions for themselves.” In the museum, the students saw things that were exclusive to the institution. “Seeing the reading copy of Herbert Hoover’s inaugural speech was cool,” Taha said. The museum had a two story storage facility called the Stacks that housed 35 percent of Hoover’s presidential documents as well as hand written letters to his wife, workers and friends. The museum housed all manner of Hoover’s belongings. From his wife’s dresses to his office telephone. The students saw plenty of Hoover related things. “A replica of his office when he was older. I thought that was really cool.” “Being able to read and touch actual documents of president Hoover was cool. The films on display were interesting,” Taha said. “The people who worked there were really kind and enthusiastic about history, and they were willing to show us things that they would not usually show people.” These students got an opportunity that many didn’t. They learned about the connections of their school, community and country. “I thought it was a big deal to see these things,” Taha said, “because it’s not some thing that people normally get to see.”