issue 9 2010

INSIDE

Deteriorating conditions

Behind the scenes with STUCO

Track conditioning

Bathrooms are simply low quality in maintenance, students say

Student council group organizes school assemblies, dances and activities to try to improve school spirit

Track conditioning begins in preparation of new season

[ PG. 2 ]

[ PG. 3 ]

[ PG. 5 ] Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or of the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

HOOVER PUBLICATIONS 4800 AURORA DES MOINES.IA. 50310 515.242.7313 3.10.10 V.43 I.9 WWW.HOOVERCHALLENGER.COM

Band travels to Japan this spring School band takes a visit to sister school in Kofu, Japan

SCHOOL BOARD ADDS

30 MINUTES TO SCHOOL DAY

BY MICHAEL ROBY OPINION EDITOR

TO MAKE UP SNOW DAYS HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

KIRA HERRON PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

Making up snow days School board makes ﬁnal decision on how snow days will be made up with longer days The district has to make up eight snow days. The school board had an online survey that asked community members what should be done to make them up. They decided to add 30 minutes to the school day starting Apr. 5. Science teacher Eric Hall thinks that this is the best option. “I think of the options we were given and it’s the best one,” Hall said. Hall thinks that this will help students in the long run even if it sounds stupid now. “I don’t know if it will see a huge benefit just because you add three or four minutes to a class. I think what it does though it gives the total class time during the day is longer and hopefully it will have an accumulative affect

said. and you won’t notice it right away but Senior Charae Miller thinks hopefully over the last 8-10 weeks you differently. Miller thinks that will see a difference,” Hall said. adding time to the end of the day is Hall thinks that adding days to the a bad idea. end of the school year is a better choice “I don’t think that it benefits than adding students at all because time to the our classes are already school day. long,” Miller said. I don’t think that it “I don’t Principal Doug beneﬁts students at all Wheeler think on a day doesn’t really because our classes have an opinion on the to day basis the extra time way the school board are already long. is really going handled the snow days. to increase “I think that - Senior Charae Miller you know they are student learning noticeably if at responding to the all, I just think community’s desire not the extra full days make more sense,” to go four extra days,” Wheeler Hall said. said. Hall does give credit to the school Wheeler thinks that there aren’t though for how they made the choice to many benefits to the way the school add time to the end of the day. is making the days up. “I think the school did a nice job “Really the only benefit is that asking for input, the teachers were they won’t have to go that third given an opportunity and so was the week of June to school,” Wheeler community with an online survey,” Hall said.

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Pennies

4Patients What?

TAKE A TRIP TO JAPAN

Band members will be traveling with director Randy Hoepker across the world to Japan to play music over spring break

ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC SIDEBAR

How?

Donate spare change in advisory when collectors come. Or donate at assigned tables in student center during lunch to make cards as well.

Pennies for pa�ents is a fundraiser for the leukemia founda�on. The money goes directly to families who are dealing with leukemia * top contribu�ng advisories

Goal: $1200

will receive a pizza party

Survivor

New Patient

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Logan is the school’s past honors pa�ent and has been cancer free for three years Money collected this year will be helping Zack, who goes to elementary school in Urbandale. Zack is currently undergoing chemo and whole brain radia�on

It just brings the school together for a cause and I see a lot of kids open their hearts to the needs of someone else. -Cindy Grandquist

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BY ERIK HOFFMAN FEATURES EDITOR

When band director Randy Hoepker first brought up using the band’s semiannual large trip to visit Japan, he recalls his students taking the idea as a complete joke. Over a year later, Hoepker and the band are preparing for a band trip across the world. “I think they were in disbelief we were doing anything like this,” Hoepker said. Two years ago Hoepker was invited to be a guest director at Hoover’s sister school in Kofu, Japan, and considered the idea of returning with his students. The idea officially became an effort on the part of the band in November 2008. Freshman Tyler Gilbreath was among the students who saw this idea as an inside joke from the director, and is now ecstatic for this trip. “I’m really excited to do this, to go to Japan again and play music with my band,” Gilbreath said. In total, the trip cost $135,000, which was paid for by numerous grants the band made and by students selling anything from sushi to candy to fruit. The commission song is an original composition written for their performances and made by one of the musical writers for the movie Spirited Away. As the band prepares for this trip to Kofu, Hoepker hopes they get everything out of it they can. “The kids will have a great opportunity to travel and experience another country,” Hoepker said.

ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC SIDEBAR

2 news

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NEWS NEWS BRIEFS BRIEFS

�� BY KIRA HERRON

The Hoover-Meredith GayStraight Alliance was unable to a�end the Fourth Annual Student Day at the Capitol because of conﬂic�ng schedules concerning the Diversity Assembly. GSA will be performing two skits regarding homophobic remarks, teachers and homophobia. Seniors Kira Herron, Stephen Boatwright, Ajla Kapic, Juniors Logan Sanders, Logun Buckley, sophomores Indira Sheumaker and Michael Siroise will be performing in the skits. They will also be discussing plans for next year’s GSA mee�ngs because advisor Sco� Rieker’s job was cut.

�� BY AARON HOMARD

The mock trial team finally wrapped up their season Mar. 3. They lost to Urbandale but can officially say that they made it in the top 16 of mock trials in the playoffs. Those contestants include Merisa Lengeling, Alli Nu�ng, Jacob Sco�, Andrew Woods, Ka�e Hawks, John Jordan, Zach Dickhoff, Brenna Carlson, Ann Strom and Tyler Bainter. Coach Sarah Hamilton was impressed by her team and with how far they’ve come. “They were a great team that pulled together during compe��on. They showed excellent team work and I’m very proud of them,” Hamilton said.

�� BY MICHAEL ROBY

The school board has recently been discussing how the schools will go about the budget and employee cuts and increasing morale over the extended school days to make up for snow days. The board is discussing ideas such as sugges�ng early re�rement for some teachers and faculty to avoid a surplus of job cuts later. Those who lose their jobs more quickly will cause fewer jobs to have to be sacrificed at a later �me. The board has also opted to increase school days by half an hour star�ng in April, so that only two days would have to be made up at the end of the year, although the members fear some students will oppose and fight the idea. Member Dick Murphy has expressed the difficulty of these issues. “There are a lot of things that are going to change next year. We have to let some people go and figure some money issues out, and we can just hope it won’t damage the process too much,” Murphy said.

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Conferences will be held tonight from 4-8 and tomorrow from 12:15-8. There will be no classes on Thursday, Friday or the following week for spring break. Parents are invited to donate meals for teachers and staﬀ during conferences. Parents have been encouraged to show apprecia�on for the staﬀ by dona�ng drinks, salads, main entrees or dessert. Volunteers are also needed to help serve the meals tomorrow at 4 in the East cafeteria. If interested, contact Lyrio Cloma-Read at lyriocread@yahoo.com.

Deteriora�ng condi�ons �� BY AARON HOMARD NEWS EDITOR

When sophomore Holden Clark walks into the school bathrooms he finds them littered and in deteriorating conditions “They (the bathrooms) are disgusting. Every time I use them, they are always a mess; paper towels are all over, water on the floor and toilets are unflushed in every bathroom,” Clark said.

KIRA HERRON PHOTOS

Clark believes that the school is near Clark and Johnson agree that it is just the bottom of the chain for cleanliness the immaturity of the students. across the district. “They feel like they’re breaking the “I’ve been to Roosevelt’s before and rules by writing on the bathroom stalls,” those are clean. East’s Johnson said. are a little bit better. Head of operations Dowling’s are just Jason Kono has no idea I’m sure they better than ours,” why students would wouldn’t act Clark said. want to graffiti the walls. Senior Sydney “I really don’t know that way at home. I Johnson also finds the why they have no bathrooms’ cleanliness think they just have respect. I’m sure they different from her part wouldn’t act that way at no respect for the time school Central home. I think they just Academy. have no respect for the school. “They’re gross. At school,” Kono said. Central, I could leave Kono does disagree -Head of operations with my stuff outside the Clark and Johnson stall but at Hoover I in that the school is no Jason Kono would never do that,” different from others in Johnson said. Des Moines. Overall Johnson thinks that the floors “They’re probably about the same. are nasty and the stalls are just as bad. I’m saying there’s graffiti everywhere “They just need to fix the doors and in the district. It’s just not isolated here put in general maintenance,” Johnson at Hoover High School. It’s at Lincoln, said. East, Roosevelt and middle schools Graffiti in the bathrooms is also an as well. It’s just not Hoover students,” issue according to these students. Both Kono said.

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features

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BEHINDwith THE SCENE student council �� BY JASON REICHENBACHER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Senior Cody Sargent leads the student council leadership class during fourth block. Student council is an organiza�on that helps plan certain school events. “If you stay on track, you never get ‘overwhelmed’,” Sargent said. KIRA HERRON PHOTO

Student Council Officers SENIOR CODY SARGENT

PRESIDENT

SENIOR KATIE KING

JUNIOR KIANNA ROPPE

SENIOR MARISOL MEZA

TREASURER

VICE-PRESIDENT

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SECRETARY

together assemblies Sargent enjoys the responsibility. “If you stay on track, you never get ‘overwhelmed’,” Sargent said. Behind the scenes of the school’s Sargent believes that they should be pep, Homecoming, student of all more involved with school policy, but in seasons and prom court assemblies is a way feels limited to what they can do. a group of students know as Student “It’s really to bad; I really feel Council (STUCO). STUCO organizes most of the student body activities up to that we should be involved. I mean, if someone has an idea they should be the last minute literally running around allowed to share it,” Sargent said. the school making sure that everything Student council has not given an runs smoothly. opinion or been informed about any Along with the responsibility of changes being made to the building over student assemblies the next few years. STUCO is always “We are pretty limited looking for ways It’s good to in what we can do. I to make the school know I can do know we can make look better. Painting a difference, but a little help people; I murals is something involvement in that the students can try to make more policy development would have done lately to be good to help establish things better, improve the vibe more of a stake on what around the school. happening at Hoover,” STUCO advisor for -Senior Cody Sargent isStevens said. the last four years Vice president Kirk Stevens helps Katie King is not worried about their coordinate these jobs. involvement in school policy, geared “Many people come through these more towards the tasks at hand king tries walls when school isn’t in session and their only impression of us is what is on to be as efficient as possible. “I want to see less horse play, the walls. It would be nice to improve staying focused is a problem. I mean, we upon that impression,” Stevens said. get things done but without the messing Student body President Cody around we would get things done more Sargent oversees and delegates all jobs efficiently,” King said. in order to accomplish the goals that King steps in for Sargent when he they have set out. is absent and assists in making executive “It’s good to know I can help decisions on assembly agendas and people, I can try to make things better,” themes for dances. Sargent said. “We can definitely make an impact Sargent recognizes the importance on the spirit of the school, there is of School activities and is always nothing better than when an assembly willing to help groups and clubs get goes well and students are all pumped started. up,” Stevens said. Despite all the stress of putting

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Where will we use this?

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tudents have always asked “Where will I use this?” Now teachers ﬁnally answer the question that has been asked for ages. “Besides informa�on on teaching kids how to vote, hopefully the skills you learn in history, like cause and eﬀect, sequen�al reasoning and other skills are the kinds of things we use in the workplace,” Murphy said.

Y HISTOR Maureen Murphy

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“We are studying Climate Change (what some people call Global Warming) in Environmental Science so you can try make sense of what is said by the many people who oﬀer their two cents’ worth on this issue,” Goldman said.

E SCIENC Julie Goldman

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“I’m not sure that anyone uses language in their lives. I’m afraid that just about everything English teachers do is a lot of gratuitous nonsense. Especially the teaching of concepts such as irony,” Eller said.

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ENGLIS

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John Eller

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“You don’t use geometry per se in the form it’s in, but the logic behind it and the idea behind it can translate to any career in life. For example, the logic and the reasoning taught in second semester geometry could be used by lawyers,” Roney said.

MATH Dawnda Roney

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4 health/lifestyles

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edward rodriguez page design

Coping with Legg-Calve Perthes Disease

�� BY AARON HOMARD NEWS EDITOR

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hile other students go out for football, basketball and swimming, one student is restrained from those commodities. Senior Michael Neal is diagnosed with a rare disease known as Legg and Calve Perthes Disease (LCPD). LCPD prevents blood flow to the joints and deforms the ball in the joint. He was first diagnosed in seventh grade. “I woke up in the middle of the night and I couldn’t move my leg. It was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t walk,” Michael said. It didn’t take long for Michael to realize there was a problem. “We went to the doctor at first and then we went to a couple different hospitals for x-rays. We had it done within two or three days and then we went to Iowa City to meet my surgeon,” Michael said. Only one in ten thousand people get this disease. Of those, only one in eight get it in both legs. Michael falls into the one in eight. “You usually get it when you are four to eight years old. I guess mine was

Senior Michael Neal plays li�le league before he was diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes disease. The disease aﬀects 1 in 10,000 people across the world. “I permanently limp but I can kind of hide it now. When it hurts people can usually tell because I limp a lot and move a lot slower,” Neal said. MICHAEL NEAL COURTESY PHOTO late,” Michael said. Michael now cannot play in any contact sports. He does, however, work at Skate North where he pushes the limits in his safety by skating. “It’s just something I can enjoy. There are days I can’t skate because it hurts too much,” Michael said. There are a few restrictions put on Michael. For instance he cannot walk without a constant limp. “I permanently limp but I can kind of hide it now. When it hurts people

can usually tell because I limp a lot and move a lot slower,” Michael said. Michael’s girlfriend of 10 months Senior Ashley Neal is has been there for him a while. “I know only a little about it. I know it’s a very very rare disease,” Ashley said. Ashley thinks LCPD has brought the two of them together. “We were out to eat and there was a girl making fun of how he walks. He knows I’m always there. When someone makes fun of him, I’ll always stand up for him,” Ashley said.

You usually get it when you are four to eight years old. I guess mine was late.

-Senior Chris Neal

Legg-Calve Perthes Disease Quick Facts SYMPTOMS

CAUSES

 Hip or groin pain, which may be referred to the thigh  Mild or intermittent pain in anterior thigh or knee

 The blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis is interrupted.

 Limp

 Changes to the epiphyseal growth plate occur secondary to the subchondral fracture.

 Usually no history of trauma

 Revascularization occurs, and new bone ossiﬁcation starts.

Despite some of the physical movement disabilities, Michael still wants to pursue his dream of being a fireman. “I’ve liked the idea of putting out fires and pulling people out,” Michael said. Michael thinks things will work out for him even though he’s dealing with this issue. “You have to pass physical training. If I can’t do that, they won’t let me in,” Michael said. In order for Michael to have the chance to become a fireman he will have to go through a couple of surgeries first. “There will have to be a replacement of the ball (in the joint) and maybe a hip replacement,” Michael said.

Normal hip with rounded femoral head

RANDOM

Femoral head

Legg-Calve-Perthes diseased hip with ﬂa�ened femoral head

Fla�ened Femoral head

 Caucasians are affected more frequently than persons of other races.  Males are affected 4-5 times more often than females.  LCPD most commonly is seen in persons aged 3-12 years

EDWARD RODRIGUEZ SIDEBAR AND ILLUSTRATIONS SOURCE: HTTP://EMEDICINE.MEDSCAPE.COM

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sports

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Track team condi�ons

SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS BRIEFS

Track team prepares for mee�ng Mar. 16

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BY MICHAEL ROBY

BY ERIK HOFFMAN FEATURES EDITOR

The track team has started conditioning for the upcoming season. The track team for guys and girls do a lot in conditioning. Junior Anna Strait has run track since she was in fourth grade. “One it gets you into shape. You feel accomplished each day if you try your best,” Strait said. Strait thinks that the girl’s team will do well this season. “I think we will do well because there is a lot more girls out and more positive attitudes and attitude is what counts,” Strait said. Woodshop teacher Byron Williams is the boys track coach. According to Williams the track team goes through tough difficulties during conditioning. “Conditioning right now we do a lot of long runs, miles on the bike and a lot of squats. We are trying to increase our endurance and then work on speed once we can go outside,” Williams said. Williams said that right now they are really good at sprints but this year they have a lot of distance guys so they are looking to be good at distance. Williams says that there is a difference between girls and boys track. “Speed is different; the boys are a lot closer in speed. In girls you usually have the slow girls and the fast girls it’s not as close,” Williams said. Williams thinks that they will do well

Josh Reeves

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Junior Kaleb Thomas stretches during a track condi�oning prac�ce. Team members are condi�oning to increase their endurance. “One it gets you into shape. You feel accomplished each day if you try your best,” junior Anna Strait said. ��

for the season. He is staying positive and would like them to get to state and maybe a good showing at the Drake Relays. “I would like to thank all senior guys, and to the coaches as well,” Williams said. Math teacher Megan Smith is the girls track coach. There seems to be a big difference between track and cross country. “Cross country is through the woods and outside, and track and field we also have more options. We have the shorter distances we have the hurdles we have field events,” Smith said. Smith looks for a good season this year with a lot of key people returning. “We have a lot of star returning athletes. We had quite a few events qualify for state last year and we have a lot of those girls returning this year,” Smith said.

Track Conditioning We are trying to increase our endurance and then work on speed once we can go outside. -Track coach Byron Williams

LONG RUNS

SQUATS

MILES ON THE BIKE

STRETCHING

RACES

EDWARD RODRIGUEZ SIDEBAR

Athlete of the issue Bio

Age: 18 Height: 6’0” Sport: Soccer Year: Senior

Accomp lis

Reeves started playing soccer at the age of four. “I wanted to play soccer because a lot of my friends played. Then I grew to love it,” Reeves said. His best memory is from his freshman year when the team went undefeated.

hments

Reeves le�ered last year for managing. His personal bests include scoring a goal for the Hoover team in tenth grade. He also scored two goals in one game for the Northwest soccer club. He’s also been a part of the Menace U18 team last season.

Goals

Reeves hopes the team makes it to state. Individually, he hopes to con�nue playing in college at Indian Hills for two years then he will transfer to a four year college. ��

Buy your yearbook today! expires 4.8.10

! 5 7 $ Only See Timm Pilcher in room 172 for more information

The girls track team meets nightly at the Hoover track from 3-5:30. The girls will be off on their first official compe��on Mar. 16 at Iowa State University. The exercises will range from basic runs to some cardio to keep up muscle mass. Track member Kayleigh Wren is looking forward to the day as another opportunity to show off some raw power and speed. “We’re going to go out there and show off why we’re the best there is,” Wren said.

Tennis team to decide on varsity players BY AARON HOMARD

The season is just about to begin and the athletes are ready. Senior Parker Wolfe is one of the athletes ready for the season which starts the week a�er spring break. According to Wolfe tennis is one of those sports which is relaxed but when game �me comes is compe��ve. “Each match really ma�ers. It’s relaxed and we play for fun but we s�ll want to beat teams,” Wolfe said. The top six on the varsity team is predicted to be ﬁlled with a few underclassmen such as Jerod Smith, John Joy and Ma� Andorf. Wolfe just wants to make his own personal goal. “All I want is to make it on varsity,” Wolfe said.

Boys soccer to hold tryouts BY ERIK HOFFMAN

The boys soccer team is preparing for their first game. Their first game is Apr. 9 against Urbandale. Soccer coach Josh Griffith says that he is not worried as long as the team plays together and as a team. Right now the team is just ge�ng into shape and they start prac�ce during spring break. They also have tryouts during the start of spring break. “I’m excited to see how the boys play for the first �me together,” Griffith said.

Girls soccer team condi�ons weekly BY JASON REICHENBACHER

The girls soccer team is ge�ng ready for another season with condi�oning at least three �mes a week, and weekly prac�ces for goaltenders. Coach Jon Rubino is looking forward to the upcoming season with a program that according to Rubino has close to doubled in size. “Its extremely high, all nine of our returning starters were either ﬁrst team, second team or honorable men�on all conference,” Rubino said. The team’s ﬁrst match is Apr. 6 at Lincoln, and prac�ces begin the day school begins a�er spring break. “I think we have great leadership returning, we are excited to defend our conference championship and have a chance to qualify for state,” Rubino said.

6 entertainment

KIRA HERON PHOTO Seniors Alyssa Gourd and Cassandra Tant visit UpTempo owner Dave Khorry to put up a poster to adver�se the murder mystery dinner. Sophomore Jay Jacobson is the event chair alongside Gourd. “We are required to raise $500 and my dad does it for a career,” Jacobson said. KIRA HERRON PHOTO

Mrs. Peacock, with the knife, in the auditorium �� BY ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC MANAGING EDITOR

With a night of food, laughs and one mysterious murder, the drama department is ready to break all barriers between the audience and actor.

THEDEETS

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As part of thespian fundraiser requirements, senior Alyssa Gourd and sophomore Jay Jacobson came up with the idea of a murder mystery dinner theater. During dinner the audience becomes a lead role in a sudden death mystery. “We’re required to raise $500

Location: Walnut Creek Community Church- 900 64th Street Windsor Heights

(as thespians) and my dad does it for a career. He did it a few years before for Hoover when my sister was here,” Jacobson said. Audience members will receive dinner from Felix & Oscar while watching a mystery unfold as actors interact with everyone in the room in the hopes of finding who among them murdered the hostess. “Expect the unexpected because there’s no actual script and you never know what’s going to happen next,” Jacobson said. The interactive production calls for a cast of 12 with additional servers who also are in character. Each performer gets a role but there are few lines, making the show heavily dependent on improvisation. The script loosely guides the actors with a storyline they must follow. “No experience is needed to audition. It’s a low time commitment, it’s fun and it’s like being inside CSI,” Gourd said. Performers would be able to develop improvisation skills and act one on one with the audience, which is a change from main stage shows. “They’re going to have to stay in character and keep what they’re doing fresh and interesting,” Jacobson said. The show will be directed by assistant drama director Billy Kirby and mime coach Melissa Chavas. “I’m always excited to work with Hoover drama, any opportunity. The students come up with a cool and unique project like this; I want to help,” Kirby said. Kirby also hopes this opportunity

For Tix:

draws in some students who haven’t yet realized their potential in theater. “It’s a unique opportunity for actors with another kind of theater and setting. You learn how to maintain and stay true to your character and what you say is meaningful with the story,” Kirby said. The dinner theater is one of the few productions organized by students. Gourd and Jacobson along with other thespians have been in charge of finding a venue, talking to caterers, getting auditions and show dates approved and organized publicity with posters and press releases. “I’ve learned that trying to do a production is a lot of hard work and it takes organization and patience. If we do everything we need to do, it will be a very successful fundraiser, maybe the most successful of the year,” Jacobson said. Gourd is looking forward to participating and performing in a new situation with new people. “It’s a good way of showcasing Hoover drama which is a part of promoting good representation in our community. All money benefits Hoover drama. It’s going to be a fun night full of dramatic mystery,” Gourd said. With new skills comes a rewarded night in which all talents are showcased in close proximity of each audience member. “Hoover drama students have a unique passion for performing. It will be a lot more intimate for the audience and actors alike. There’s no dinner theater in the metro area so it’s a great opportunity to have a different kind of theatrical experience,” Kirby said.

Contact Chelsea Cunningham: 242-7263 or email: chelsea.cunningham@dmps.k12.ia.us.edu

Brought to you by:

Dinner theater company: E 2 G Inc. Entertainment

individually or $175 for a table of six. Grubb: Felix & Oscar’s Cost: $25.00 All money goes to the drama department

BAND COVER

The Script

ALEKSANDRA VUJICIC SIDEBAR

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Bio: The Music:

The Album:

The Script is an Irish trio whose music has the ability to mend a broken heart and inspire a hur�ng soul. The band began in the James street area of Dublin near gennus brewery as teenagers. The band now is touring around the world as a successful produc�on. Must Hear songs from The Script are “Together We Cry” a hip hop feel song with a message of togetherness, friendship and support. “Break even” a classic song for every heartbreak and the smash hit “Man who cant be moved”.

The Script has released only one album that went double pla�num. It also hit number one on the billboard charts in London and the U.K.

JASON REICHENBACHER SIDEBAR

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opinion

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staff editorial

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CHALLENGER

See Jane crash

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SHALIYAH AMBROSE ��

ALISHA SUTTON ��

Valentine’s day wreck

It was Feb. 14, a Sunday without school in the morning, and I was hoping to spend a long day with my girlfriend. I was excited we’d give each other gifts, go out to eat and see the movie Valentine’s Day. This was all well on its way until we came to our last turn to Jordan Creek Mall. As I pulled to the front of the left turning lane, everything got quieter. I looked at my dashboard and all my lights suddenly turned on. When the light turned green I released my brake. Nothing happened.

�� In 2008, nine teens ages 16-19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash. In 2008, about 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed. In 2006, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 15-19 was almost two times that of their female counterparts.

This had only happened once or twice before. I stayed calm and attempted to restart the car. The engine started, the radio played and the heat came on, but the car would not budge. That’s when the cars behind me started to honk and yell at me and there was nothing I could do. I looked over at my girlfriend and we both knew we were going to be stuck there for a while. She called her mom to try and figure out what to do. When she was done I reluctantly called my own. She wasn’t mad at me, but was frustrated by the situation and comforted me, saying she was calling a tow truck and she’d pick us up so we could finish our date as soon as she could. After about 20 minutes a cop knocked on my window and wanted to know what was going on. When I told him I couldn’t get the car to move, he called in a high priority tow truck so we just sat there and waited. The car’s heater, radio and hazard lights soon went out as well. We were now trapped in a car in the middle of winter without any heat, entertainment or any way to let anyone know there was danger. To add insult to injury, my hood was frozen shut. I couldn’t even pop it to let other drivers know not to enter the lane.

Publica�on dates for 2009-2010: • august 27-orienta�on • september 25-homecoming • october 9 • october 30 • november 13 • wednesday, november25 -Thanksgiving • december 18 • tuesday january 29-second semester • february 5-black history month • february 19 • february 26 • march 10-spring break • april 9 • thursday, april 22-drake relays • may 14-commencement • may 28 subscrip�on rates $10/year

Ad rates for 2009-2010:

SOURCE: CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL(CDC)

D’QUAYBYON TATE ��

personal column

by michael roby opinion editor

drive home and a fatal car accident. If these steps are not taken, Dick and Jane will continue their careless driving habits, endangering the lives of those around them. Teenage Dick and Jane love to text. Dick and Jane love to drive. Dick and Jane love to text and drive. Don’t be a Dick.

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CASSIE TANT ILLUSTRATION

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Student sound oﬀ

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eenage Dick and Jane love to text. Dick and Jane love to drive. Dick and Jane love to text and drive. Dick and Jane love to crash. Across the country teenagers have unified to become the most dangerous drivers out there. As cell phone usage skyrocketed so did the number of vehicular accidents among So in order to keep students from giving in teenagers. to these distractions, driver education classes Even more horrific than the growing must put more emphasis on the dangers number of accidents among teenage drivers is of these distractions. If a few extra classes the overall reckless mentality toward driving focused on safe driving, then the point would among this age group. be received among Dicks and Janes across Teens like Dick and Jane would find it the country. perfectly acceptable to text, eat and even do Alongside the shifted curriculum in driver their makeup while education classes, the DOT driving. Distractions should take steps to create The Challenger staﬀ such as these have safer drivers. The DOT already led to numerous could create safe driving tips voted 9-0 reported and unreported handouts and distribute them for this editorial “accidents” in the in high schools, create extra student parking lot. driving classes centered on Teenage drivers should The Iowa distractions or push a law drive be�er and have fewer prohibiting these distractions Department of Transportation (DOT) while driving. distrac�ons. set up a program to try These were just a few to decrease the number examples of what others of unsafe drivers on the road by imposing could do to keep teens like Dick and Jane restrictions on teenage drivers. The program, from being reckless drivers. But the biggest however, is obviously flawed. change can only come from the Dicks and The DOT program does not punish Janes themselves. distracted drivers until it’s too late and their Teens should become more conscientious actions have caused an accident or death. of what they are doing and what they Driver education classes don’t spend too much shouldn’t be doing. A conscientious driver time on driving distractions either. could be the biggest difference between a safe

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BRANDON BALLENTINE ��

I was suddenly frantic. If he pushed us and we couldn’t move at all on our own, my girlfriend and I could easily be tossed into oncoming trafﬁc and killed. Eventually another cop arrived and instructed me to put the car in neutral so he could push me out of the lane with his car. It was only after he was gone that I found I couldn’t shift the car’s gears. I became frantic. If he pushed us and we couldn’t move at all on our own, my girlfriend and I could have easily been tossed into oncoming traffic and killed. The moment his covered bumper hit mine was easily one of the scariest moments of my life. Both of us screamed in fear and hoped that he would hear us. When all else failed, I ripped open my door and screamed at him to stop. When the officer demanded to know what was going on, I said the gears would not shift and invited him to try himself. When he came up empty handed he walked back to his car frustrated. After an entire lifetime adding up to one hour, my mom and the tow finally arrived. My girl and I were both freezing, terrified messes. I remember we both embraced close, both about to cry in terror and joy. We finally made it to the mall, exchanged our presents, ate dinner and saw our movie, not forgetting how lucky we were we’d made it. It made the date all the sweeter to finally enjoy.

1/16 page (2.5” x 2.75”) $25 1/8 page (5” x 2.75”) $45 1/4 page (5” x 5.75”) $80 1/2 page (10” x 5.75”) $130 full page (10” x 11.75”) $230 banner (10” x 1.75”) $80 (across bo�om of page) The CHALLENGER is published by the newspaper staff of Herbert Hoover High School, and exists to serve as an open forum for the students, faculty, staff, administration and community. All state and federal laws regarding the publication of student materials shall apply, and the CHALLENGER will not publish materials which also fall under the guidelines established by the Des Moines Public School system, and are deemed libelous, obscene or a material and substantial disruption to normal classroom activities. The views expressed are not those of Des Moines Public Schools, faculty, staff or administration. All articles are researched, written, edited and designed by the staff, and are the result of editorial decisions made by the entire staff. Any student, faculty, staff, or community member wishing to contribute materials will need to submit copy within deadline restrictions; however, final publication is at the discretion of staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged, and must be 250 words or less in length and signed; letters may be edited for length, grammar, spelling, etc. Every attempt will be made to verify the authenticity of the author, and no anonymous letters will be published. Advertising will be accepted for all products or services that are legal for minors to possess or utilize. Advertisers wishing to reserve publication space should call 242-7313 and leave a message.

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{THE CHALLENGER BOARD}

} Events Calendar } MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 18 19 20 15 16 21 17 1st Prac�ce Girls Tennis & Golf

1st Prac�ce Boys Soccer Band Trip Girls Track @ Ames

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Boys Track @ Ames Band Trip

SPRING BREAK 22

1st Prac�ce Boys Tennis 1st Prac�ce Girls Soccer Boys Track @ UNI

MARCH

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Girls Track @ UNI

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Booster Club 7pm

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Band Trip St. Patrick’s Day Parade @ Noon Beginning at 15th and Locust Streets

Your spring break des�na�on ��

24 S

W

Uncle Kracker w/ Rehab & Jessie James at 7pm @ The People’s Court

E

25

Band Trip

Five for Figh�ng at 8pm @ The People’s Court

SPRING BREAK 26

Boys Track @ Johnston Middle School All City Fes�val @ Knapp Center

Mock Trial @ PCCC

Des Moines Buccaneers vs Waterloo Blackhawks at 7:05 pm @ Bucanner Arena

Black Eyed Peas at 7:30pm @ The Iowa Events Center

Band Trip

27

28

Spring Sports Assembly

Junior Quan Truong (far le�) performs a pop Vietnamese song. Viatnamese students (middle) perform the lion dance, a Viatnamese New Year tradi�on. Freshman Jeanine Ndihokubwayo (below) ﬁnishes a dance with her peers. The diversity assembly, which showcased eight school acts, was held Friday Mar. 5. The groups have been rehearsing under the supervision of sponsor Jennifer Shiek. “It’s important to have the diversity assembly because it’s an opportunity to share diversity here at Hoover and it allows students to see and listen and understand cultures that are diﬀerent than their own. It’s what makes Hoover cool,” Shiek said.

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3 places to go

Band Trip Iowa Energy vs Sioux Fall Sky Force at 7pm @ Wells Fargo Arena

SPRING BREAK

Mock Trial @ PCCC

2S

Band Trip

Milroy’s Tu xed Formal Weos and ar ��

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Wanted: le�ers to the editor

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