October 20, 2008

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Permit #56 Paso Robles, CA

Volumn 68, Issue 1

Pas Paso so R Ro Robles obl bles es H High igh SSchool ig chooooll • PPaso aasso R Ro Robles, obblles, California

October 23, 2008

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Blind Date

crimsonchronicle.com

Juntos Returns

People 8

new website

PÁGINA 12

Students confess depression

by Ethan Baietti-Saponaro,

Students chalked downtown sidewalks

Editorial Editor

Despite government efforts to relieve anxiety by intervening to rescue main institutions such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, and the $700 billion bailout plan, stocks fell below 9000 points on Oct. 9, to 8579.91, the lowest level in five years, a 180 since reaching a record close of 14,164.53 on (ironically) Oct. 9, 2007, the Associated Press said.

The depreciation of stocks has caused the loss of money for many

Here is something to cry about: one in eight adolescences will suffer from depression, and one in five suffer from a behavioral, emotional, or mental problem. “Psychiatric Annals”, a journal of continuing psychiatric behavior and understanding, states that of these children, only 30 percent receive any type of counseling.

According to these statistics, in the average 30 student classroom at PRHS, three to four students are suffering from depression and six are suffering from some emotional disorder. The other 70 percent who go through life battling this disease have soundless cries and are more likely to decide to end their pain…permanently.

Some untreated adolescents deal with their depression by ways of self harm such as burning, cutting, drug or alcohol abuse, anorexia, bulimia, or simply lashing out.

Some make another choice. Suicide is the third leading cause of death from the ages15-24, and sixth leading cause of death from children ages 5-14. So that boy you sit in front of in math class, or the girl at your table group in science, may be suffering underneath the skin.

The following are some anonymous interviews from PRHS students that have a personal understanding of depression: “I always thought of myself having a pretty normal life. I always had a lot of rage, and I always held in my anger. Every once in awhile I would totally explode, just breakdown on the ground and shake. It was kinda like a seizure, but I didn’t bite at my tongue or anything. Then my freshman year at high school, over spring break, my dad died in a car crash. He drove a big truck for a gas company. I didn’t know the details; I just knew that he died. That’s when things started to change. My dad’s family stopped talking to us, and my incidents became more common.

I started thinking in a different way.

I became afraid to cry and let anyone see me vulnerable. I thought it was better to be the bully than get bullied. I attacked without reason or logic. It was

See ‘MARKET’ NEWS pg. 2

See ‘DEPRESSION’ In-depth pg. 5

PRHS brought color to gray sidewalk with chalk

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor

Eleventh and Pine Street’s sidewalks became the artists’ canvas for nearly 100 participants on Saturday Sept. 20. PRHS students joined the community and participated in a chalking event designed to bring art and a chance at expression in the community, according to those who participated and organized it.

As students bent over the concrete at 8 a.m., creative passion filled the atmosphere.

“We like art a lot, so we are here and it’s fun… I did this last year, as long as I’m in Paso I’ll be doing it,” said artist and junior Mae Bradley.

Bradley and her junior friends Alison Hutchinson and Sarah Park worked together on a portrait of a person they found in a magazine.

CHALKING IT UP: (ABOVE) Students chalking in their squares on Sep. 20. Junior Jessica McCrum on the caw fish drawing won third place. Juniors Bethany Kilpatrick (middle) and Ali Whitebear (bottom) work on their square that won second place.

(LEFT) Zoe Kingsbury’s winning drawing. (RIGHT) Adult working. (BOTTOM TWO) More masterpieces.

Photos by Maxfield Vermy and Zoe Kingsbury

See ‘CHALK’ News pg. 3

Anxieties rise as the economy weakens Investors on a rollercoaster of recession

by Jairo Loranca, Business Manager

The fear of another Great Depression has grown in the past few months. With the government takeovers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae on Sep. 6, bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth largest investment firm in America, on Sep. 14, and government seizure of American International Group (AIG), one of the world’s biggest insurers on Sep. 16., investors and the nation have felt the pressure of the world’s greatest economic downturn of the century.

Investors’ frantic selling of stocks

in the past weeks has only served to weaken the market further, dropping to its lowest point in five years on Oct. 9. As investors continue to sell, with few buyers, stocks will continue to lose their value further.

“It’s like having a fire in a cinema,” said Hyun Song Shin, an economics professor at Princeton, in the New York Times. “Everybody is rushing to the door. You are rushing to the door because everyone is rushing to the door. Clearly, as a collective action, it is a disaster.”

Congratulations to PRHS ’08 alumni Gina Alessi and David Hood, who won first place in the National Scholastic Press Association 2008 Design of the Year contest. Alessi was a Crimson Chronicle staff member for 3 years, her third reigning as Editor in Chief. David Hood was a staff member for two, with the position of World Editor.

We done on this momentous Well achievement, we’re proud of you! ach

CONGRATS: Staff alumni ‘08 Gina Alessi (above) and David Hood (right)

THIS SUCKS: NYSE investor reviewing panel of

Chronicle Index News.............................2-3 Editorial ...........................4 In-Depth .........................5 Opinion .......................6-7 Peoplve .......................8-9 Center .....................10-11 Juntos ........................... 12 World ............................ 13 Environment............... 14 Fun&Games ................ 15 A&E ..........................16-17 Health ........................... 18 Sports......................19-20

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October 23, 2008

‘MARKET’ Continued from Page 1

WHERE IT’S AT: Wall Steet where the New York Stock Exchange is located. Photo by Associated Press.

investors and the effects have been felt by some PRHS students.

“My dad has lost over 25 thousand dollars in the market in the past 3 months,” said senior Kevin Glaudel.

“The $700 billion bailout has not been

working yet, although the government says it will work. I don’t think bailouts are the answer.”When the $700 billion bailout plan was first proposed, disagreements between Democrats and Republicans led to a breaking down of

the deal in its first attempt at passing.

The plan was proposed with the hopes of buying shaky financial assets in an attempt to prevent a severe recession.

The plan failed on Sep. 29 after the bipartisan committee could not settle the deal, losing by a margin of 23 votes.

On Oct. 3, the bill was revisited and passed by a margin of 92, with 108 Republicans voting against it.

After failing to pass, the plan was given new additions in an attempt to appease both parties. The new plan now provides aid to small community banks and gives the government power to renegotiate terms of mortgages to ease the stress on homeowners.

After being approved, President Bush immediately signed the plan into law. The plan will buy assets to ease the credit crunch on banks so that they may continue lending to mortgage owners.

Since its passing, the economy has not responded positively. Though the law was reworked, disapproval of its passage continues.

“I think the bailout plan is very

iffy. So far, we haven’t seen any improvement, and the economy is just getting worse,” said senior Vivian Hatley. “The government shouldn’t

have gotten involved, this is suppose to be a free enterprise economy with limited government interference and this is just giving them more control over the economy.”

Other proponents of free market enterprise agree, and falling stocks have added fear that further government intervention could only make it worse.

“We need a market economy. We need to believe in ourselves. We need to believe and understand how the economy got us -- how the government got us into this mess,” said Representative Ron

Paul (R-Texas) in the LA Times. “And believe me, it wouldn’t be that tough. It would be a bad year. But, this way, it’s going to be a bad decade.”

Not everyone is as unforgiving towards the government for its involvement in the nation’s economy.

“I guess it was good for the government to get involved in some ways because it shows they want to help,” said senior Cristal Gonzalez.

“But I think the bailout plan could have been thought out better, the money put into something that would have worked. The stock market is still going down.”

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is now considering guaranteeing debt issued by banks in an effort to unblock credit markets, according to Bloomberg News. Paulson will seek to keep a level playing field for American lenders with the debt-guarantees before he can get his stock and asset purchasing plans up and running.

As the nation watches the economy sink lower and lower with despair, it seems that the recession is here. All the government and investors can do now is hope to find a viable solution to the crisis that is upon us.

New PRHS Senate gives students a voice School pride and campus beautification at the school wide level

by Meaghan Sullivan, Opinion Editor

PRHS students now have the opportunity to become involved in the politics of the campus, due to the founding of the school’s newest student government innovation, Student Senate.

Senior class President Roy Bezkostny had a large part in the recent formation of the senate. “The senate is a body for students to give their input on any issues they deem important,” said Bezkostny, founder of the Senate. “It’s an organized body that will unite the classes that are currently divided and bring a sense of unity to the school.”

More students than ever before have the opportunity to participate in the school’s decision-making process.

Students of every grade are invited to join as long as they maintain a GPA of at least 2.5, have no disciplinary record, and commit to the senate/ attend meetings. Member titles are President of the Senate, Class Presidents, Senators, and Senate Secretaries, most of which are still up for grabs.

In addition to these titles, several committees within the Senate specialized to different areas are being formed.

These include the finance committee, dealing with the Senate’s funds, events committee, which plans and carries out events, and the advertising committee, informing students and media of the Senate’s plans. The final committee is the Ambassadorial

Committee.

Members of this committee will act as diplomats with the PRHS administration in case of legitimate student complaint against the school. They cannot decide on the issues discussed with the administration, but have the ability to present their case and make suggestions.

Applicants should have a general knowledge and passion for helping to improve the school, not just filling up the extracurricular box on your college applications, according to Bezkostny.

“If you’re going to be involved in school activities, you have to be motivated,” he said.

Senior and potential MAKING A DIFFERENCE: The PRHS Sentate meets weekly on Wednesdays at lunch to address several school issues. Photo by Max Vermy. senate member Chris Dana, had a large role in the forming of the senate. He agreed would try to work out a compromise.” the importance of student involvement. discussion of what is to come, but they with Bezkosny’s message. “Students Students will primarily run the show “It should be a place where students can soon will turn into discussions and should be involved so that their voice is once the senate is established, however feel comfortable to discuss the issues debates about increasing school pride, heard,” said Dana. “The idea is to get Denise Conte helped the group get on its that matter to them: dress codes, bell beautifying the campus, and school as many people in the loop as possible, feet. “Adults don’t always know what is schedules or whatever else. As far as I policies. so that the true interests of the students important to the kids. We need people know, we’ve never had anything quite Interested persons can attend the are fully represented. If there is a to get involved so their complaints can like this at PRHS.” Wednesday lunch meetings in room conflict between the student body and be addressed,” explained Conte, citing The meetings are currently just a AD15 and inquire about participation. the administration, ideally, the senate

More to Nov. 4 for California than history making presidents

California has 12 propositions hidden under the mud of presidential debate

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor

Proposition 8

411 Prop. 8

Casting this year’s ballot requires some If passed the careful consideration. California voters have right of same twelve propositions some of which have sex couples to stirred up some recent controversy. Many marry will be banned. have heard of Proposition 8 with the potential to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. If passed, the right of same-sex couples to marry will be banned by the constitution of California.

“I definitely disagree with prop. 8 I think anybody should be allowed to marry anybody,” said senior Brittany Wolfe. “They [the state] should let anyone get married, shouldn’t ban anyone from it since they already live together.” Sophomore Natasha Wright also agrees, “It’s America we are suppose to have rights…and to sit there and say that they can’t get married because of their gender is B.S.” “I think that traditional marriage should be protected,” said senior Cameron Kerr. “Four judges from San Francisco overturned sixty-one percent of the popular vote for traditional marriage last year.”

Proposition 4

411 Prop. 4

Proposition 4 will change If passed California’s constitution to prohibit will prohibit abortion to unemancipated minors abortion to ununtil forty-eight hours after emancipated minors. physicians notified the minor’s parents with exception to medical emergency. Unemancipated minor is identified as an unmarried female under eighteen.

“I hope it won’t pass because kids could probably try and get an abortion their own way,” said senior Vivian Hatley.

“Kids are scared of their parents knowing they had sex.” Sophomore Melissa Gomez disagreed, “It’s a good idea that parents would be involved with what their children are doing.”

Proposition 5

411

Prop. 5 Marijuana possession penalties may be passed reduced under Prop. 5, the nonviolent drug If would reduce offenses. Sentencing, parole and rehabilitation penalties of initiative. 4.6 million dollars will annually non-violent improve treatment programs and limit courts drug offenses. authority to incarcerate offenders of certain drug crimes, treatment rules, or parole. This measure would expand rehabilitation programs offered to inmates and will have to begin ninety days before scheduled release. For possession of twentyeight point five grams of marijuana the offense would move from misdemeanor to infraction (like traffic ticket). Offenders under eighteen would no longer face a fine for first offense but would have to complete a drug education program.

“I think that’s [prop. 5] good. What else would they spend the money on anyway,” said sophomore Jorden Welch-Davis.

“I would vote “no” cause it doesn’t solve the issue,” said Megan Wookey.

October 23, 2008

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‘CHALK’ Continued from Page 1 The requirement was: waking up. This event in its seventh year was supported by the PR Art Association and other local businesses and was free to close to 100 contestants who labored From red carpets to a block-buster-filled parade, this year’s Homecoming over the sidewalks with bright should expect quite a crowd, according to Leadership teacher Denise Conte. blues and reds drawing whatever “It’s all about the glam this year, glam, glitz and glam,” said Conte when came to them. describing this year’s Homecoming theme: Box Office Bliss.

“Participants have fun Before the annual homecoming game and dance, there will be spirit week creating art in the community,

Homecoming sparks more than fireworks

and a parade to help pump up the students spirits.

During ‘Spirit Week’ activities will include games such as Hole In The Wall, a game inspired by the TV show where shapes are cut out and you have to go through it without ripping the styrofoam. There will also be giveaways, and the presentation of Homecoming royalty and nominees Leading up to the game, the parade, will consist of each grade level and clubs portraying themes from different movies. The parade will start at 4 p.m., and will start going down Spring St., around the park, down 17th St. then will return to its starting place where the floats will be dismantled.

The price for the Hollywood-themed Homecoming dance on Oct. 18th is still being arranged.

—Jessica Madrid

A city in celebration

Free beans and free music; there is no better way to spend a Saturday morning in Paso Robles. The citizens of Paso Robles get all this and more when they celebrate Pioneer Day. This is an annual event held in the downtown, and this event is used to bring together citizens of this city to remember their heritage as well as celebrate their hometown.

Many prominent citizens and teachers of Paso Robles are involved in this event. Since 1986, foreign exchange club director, economics and history teacher Gregg Williams, has been an annual participant. “It’s very fun when we bring foreign and American students together, doing this adds a lot to the quality of the parade,” stated Williams as he reminisces on past parades.

Another long-term participant has been the PRHS marching band. For several decades the band has been a focal point of this event.

“Hopefully, people will get the sense of community, and will be reminded where their roots are, and the bravery their founding fathers had when they settled here,” said PRHS band director, Doctor Kirk Weller.

The first Pioneer Day was held on October 12, 1931. The goal of the volunteer’s was to provide a day of community friendship and a commemoration recognizing the heritage of the Paso Robles area.

Pioneer day has also become a time to say “Thank You” to all of the people who support the business and professional community of the area throughout the year. Most businesses are closed. There are no charges for any of the events, no commercial concessions and lunch is provided at no cost.

—Taylor Szabo

School Board seeks four contenders In November seven Paso Robles citizens will race for a spot on the Joint

Unified School Distrtict Board of Trustees.

With four positions open, the seven will be given the opportunity to share their ideas on how they can improve Paso schools. The four candidates will join incumbents Jay Packer, Joe Quiroz, and Jeanne Dugger to assist with new projects and programs.

“I think the favorite part for me is to going out to the schools, seeing what the students are up to, and the new things they are learning.” stated Debi Saunders, president of the board and whose son Scotty is a junior at PRHS. The Board was established on Jul. 1, 1997 in the hopes of creating a more structured school system, and finding better ways to support and guide students and teachers. Today, the Board is responsible for accepting and denying proposals and setting policies for the district. Tim Gearhart, one of the prospects, says that the biggest issue the new board will tackle is finances.

With so many new developments, such as the new buildings being added to PRHS the prospects all wish for good communication and representation throughout Paso.

—Caitlin Raithel

As RTA riders increase, funds decrease

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a new spending plan under which more than 828 million dollars that is supposed to go to public transportation will be redirected towards bailing the state out of its financial problems, as reported by the L.A. times. Schwarzenegger’s plan was made public on May 15, 2008 and still awaits approval from legislature in order for it to be enacted.

While Schwarzenegger suggests that these cuts are intended to be spent on bond payments and school transportation for students, the lack of funds for our local Regional Transit system could create a shortage in public transportation in our county, thus causing problems for central coast commuters who have to spend more money on gas or find new means of transportation.

RTA Riders have gained the last six months and with fuel prices at all time highs, most of our buses are running at capacity. Our riders increased 26 percent for our last fiscal year (July 2007-June 2008) compared to the same period last year,” said Ed King, Regional Transit Manager of RTA. RTA is receiving fewer funds, making it harder to provide efficient equipment and more buses to offset the overcrowding of our current buses.

“As it looks right now, RTA stands to lose over $100,000 in state funding this year. This means that we will need to cut that amount out of our operating budget, which could include service, which is the very last thing that we want to do,” said King.

“I’m pretty much horrified,” said senior Danielle Martin, a frequent RTA bus rider, “There are so many people who rely on [RTA public transportation],” she said.

Many people relying on the RTA will be forced to await the changes they may have to conform to.

—Melissa Serna

the competition that ended at 2 p.m. The contest was broken up into four categories; elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult. In the high school category third place went to junior Jessica McCrum for her caw fish drawing. Juniors Ali Whitebear and Bethany Kilpatrick placed second on the two elephants they drew, and

Senior Zoe Kingsbury won first for her portrait of a women and a fox.

Junior Will Venturini, who worked solo on the figure featured in “Blue” by the band Europop, also attended the event. “[It was] really cool to see what people can do with chalk and their artistic abilities,” said Venturini.

College presidents spark debate about minimum drinking age Questions arise concerning the 21 year cutoff

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Editor Although the drinking age has been at a minimum of 21 for over 20 years, an organization titled the Amethyst Initiative aims at raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the law.

“Our experience as college and university presidents convinces us that twenty-one is not working,” it states on their official website, www. amethystinitiative.org.

Amethyst Initiative has gathered together nearly 150 signatures from university presidents all over the country, including those from Dartmouth College, Arcadia University and John Hopkins University.

Many college leaders however, including President Warren Baker of Cal Poly, oppose the idea of a lower drinking age and have refused to sign. Vice president of student affairs at Cal Poly, Cornel Morton, states that a lowered drinking age would lead to more alcohol related deaths of those under 21.

“One unfortunate perception is that drinking in college is expected, [and] lowering the drinking age doesn’t resolve that issue for us,” Morton said.

Reported by the Tribune, Aug. 19 2008.

On the other side of the debate, Amethyst Initiative officials believe that underage college students binge drink to “hide their illegal activities and consume alcohol rapidly,” Reported by the Tribune, Aug.

PARTY TIME: The Amethyst Initiative has raised questions requarding laws directed at drinking the drinking age, which is highly controversial. Photo by Zach Burgraff.

19 2008.

“I don’t think the alcohol age should be lowered, people aren’t mature enough at the age of 18 to handle the responsibility,” said PRHS junior Matt Ramos.

Another statement made by Amethyst Initiative is that “adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.”

The United States also holds the place of highest minimum drinking age in the world, while most other countries allow alcohol consumption at 16 or 18.

Senior Ingo Simons, a German foreign exchange student this year at PRHS, agrees. “In Germany

the drinking age is 18 and it’s not really a problem, the people are not going mad and people are not drinking too much,” he said.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984, and since then, under this and the Federal Aid Highway Act, a state that didn’t enforce the 21 year minimum drinking age would receive a 10 percent decrease in its annual federal highway apportionment. It was reported that after the law was set at 21, traffic fatalities involving drivers ages 18-20 were cut by 13 percent. However, nearly 25 years later, there are still 500,000 full time students attending fouryear colleges that suffer injuries each year related to drinking, and around 1,700 have died from such

alcohol related incidents.

Principal Randy Nelson opposes a lowered drinking age, and advocated his concerns that such a change could bring to PRHS. “I have yet to hear an argument that has convinced me that changing the laws that exist today [would] benefit anything more than a personal choice. I look at our school as, okay, out of the 2,300 kids in the senior class, we probably have 200, 10 percent, that are 18. If the law changed and they were all allowed to drink, what would the ramifications be? All you would be doing would be bringing the situation they have at colleges to high schools. As an educator, I don’t see any benefit to that. Would it better society at large? I’m not convinced.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving are opposed to the Amethyst Initiative, accusing the participants in the movement to be looking for a “quick and easy fix” on the underage alcohol problem at hand, Reported by the Tribune, Aug. 19 2008.

“You don’t have to have alcohol to have a good time,” said Nelson, “You don’t have to numb your senses and get involved in something illegal in order to enjoy life.”

The Amethyst Initiative has indeed been causing a stir, and this debate and conversation is exactly what the movement intended to provoke.

Super Wal-Mart planned for Atascadero PRHS students are looking forward to lower prices

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor

Atascadero citizens aren’t all welcoming the dancing smiley face, even if it is offering low prices always. Citizens have had mixed feelings since 2007, about the possibility of having a Super Wal-Mart erected at the southeastern corner of Del Rio Road and El Camino Road in the next couple of years. Wal-Mart opposers’ main concern is that the large building will destroy Atascadero’s small town image and ruin business for the small “Travel is one of the great educational experiences,” said PRHS drama local businesses nearby.

The Atascadero Oppose Walteacher John Lambie, who is putting together a trip, along with Cynthia Mart organization, composed of Anthony, for any PRHS student who wants to go.

The trip, to London, takes place the first week of spring break; and the volunteers and led by spokesman dates are Mar. 30 - Apr. 6. The cost of this week long trip is going to be $2,595. Tom Comar, was able to put a This trip includes a trip to Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, a trip measure (Atascadero Shield to William Shakespeare’s home in Stratford, many museums, along with a visit Initiative, or D-08) on the to Abbey Road. Lambie will also lead the group to four musicals playing while November ballot that will restrict the group is there. large company stores, like Wal“Friends, and family can attend this trip,” said Lambie who would like as Mart, for certain reasons. Also, many people he can get to make this trip.

This is going to be the drama departments eighth trip to Europe, and as of a recent Chamber Commissions right now 12 people are signed up to go. If you are interested in attending this survey showed that 23 percent of trip or want more information, go to room 504 (the drama room) and speak the 762 businesses polled were not in favor of the Super Walwith Lambie or Anthony.

—Amanda Bean Mart and in favor of D-08.

“I just don’t see the big

PRHS is going to London

a chance to express themselves on the sidewalk,” said volunteer Liz Hanson, who oversaw the action in place of Page Graeber, the event organizer. Any profit made through donations went directly into the art scholarship that is awarded to PRHS seniors majoring in art.

People of all ages were invited to attend to draw or participate in

A-TOWN BECOMING MORE LIKE PASO: Soon Atascadero may have a Wal-Mart like our very own here in Paso. Photo by Max Vermy.

savior everyone sees. If we have to get something big, I rather it be something else than Wal-Mart,” said a small business owner in Atascadero.

On the other side, PRHS students would enjoy having another Wal-Mart nearby.

“Wal-Mart is great! There are so many things there, and it’s cool to hang out there. We should put Wal-Marts everywhere! It’ll provide more jobs for people; I’d work there!” said sophomore Courtney Aslanadis.

Some Atascadero citizens are in favor of the smiley face’s home and are convinced Wal-Mart is the way to go.

“There’s no draw [in Atascadero]. Wal-Mart is a draw.

Good or bad, it’s a draw, and they’ll [visitors] come to see WalMart,” stated supporter Betty Huff, according to a Jun. 24, 2008 KSBY news report.

After citizens vote on the November ballot, the Atascadero Council members will make a decision on the issue. Atascadero Councilmember Jerry Clay would be in favor of Wal-Mart.

“I have a high opinion of Wal-Mart [in general] based on my own investigation in this area…I think they’re [Wal-Mart] are making a great decision and Atascadero will be a good place

[to have a Wal-Mart]. Some people only stop in towns for the Super Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart will bring us to ground zero, so to speak [financially],” said Clay.

Outsiders, who’d visit Wal-Mart according to Huff and Clay, would also have the opportunity to observe the local businesses, which would help customer rates for those businesses. Atascadero citizens will save money by not traveling to Paso Robles for their Wal-Mart needs. Plus, a Super Wal-Mart needs about 350 workers, according to an article on ppw.org. This will help the unemployment rate in Atascadero, which is approx.

4.5 percent.

Some PRHS students, besides Aslanadis, would also consider taking a job at the new Wal-Mart.

“Yeah, I’d want to work as a cashier,” commented sophomore Hector Gutierrez.

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October 23, 2008

Juntos a regresado Juntos remplazó a Cultura

por Michael McLean, A&E Co-Editor y Gloria Rivera Juntos Editor

El equipo de el Crimson Chronicle estan contentos en presentarles el regreso de Juntos. Pensamos que los Latinos de PRHS no estan representados bastante. Por eso estamos agregando Juntos para darles un voz. La voz que muchos maestros, y estudiantes han ignorado por mucho tiempo. Cuando tenίamos Cultura enfocaba en las culturas de Europa y no en las culturas Latinas.Me diverti haciendo esta parte del periodico y espero que a ustedes les guste tambien. Los latinos de esta ecsuela tienen mucho que decir, y espero hacerles justicia en este periodico. Si tienen ideas hablen conmigo o con Sr. Mount, en 601, para agregar sus sujerencias. visitalo en pagina 12.

Cartoon by Matthew Pridgeon

Ivy Leagues support middle class Top schools are cheaper than most

by Kelsey Garman,

Managing Editor

Now those who make the grade have just as great a shot of not only getting accepted by a top school, but being able to afford it. Anna Chang, PRHS alumnus, class of ’08 and Cornell student wrote in a postcard to Cantrell, “Working on an application: 2 hours. Submitting application: $65. Getting your acceptance letter to an Ivy League/ school of your dreams: priceless.”

Yale, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth and Northwestern announced plans to use their heavy endowments, ranging around $1 billion, to support middle class students attending their school. Our own PRHS alumni have already taken advantage of this price cut.

You too can get a piece of the action. The idea of paying less for an Ivy League then a California State University is something we want you to embrace: Dream Big!

In all, families who make less than $120,000 will experience a 50% price cut. Ivy Leagues have increased their financial aid spending by roughly $24 million, meaning $80 million is being spent to help you afford your dream school.

“Consider it. Write an excellent college essay. One way to approach this is to look at our 16th president honest Abe Lincoln, the log splitter. His initials are ABE: Anecdote, Biography and Epiphany. The best essays find a way to combine an anecdote and biographical information and come

to an epiphany/ conclusion about the universe,” said AP English teacher, Aaron Cantrell.

A majority of their undergraduate students are either of the upper-class who can afford the Ivy League tuition, or of the lower class who can receive financial aid, according to the Senate Finance Committee. The Committee instructed the largely endowed schools to fix this irregularity by off-setting tuition costs. The number of middleclass students has been declining at Ivy Leagues, because middleclass families can’t pay the high tuition, which ranges from $30$50,000,but receive too high an income to qualify for financial aid. Those who make less than $60,000 a year will no longer have to pay tuition, and families earning $60,000 to $120,000

will contribute from 1 percent to 10 percent of total family income, according to yale.edu.

“Going to Cornell was the best decision I have made in my life,” said Chang. “Although it is far away from home and my friends, exploring a different environment and meeting different people more than makes up for leaving home.

Also the prestige of an Ivy League gives you special opportunities.”

According to Chang, in September Google and Microsoft gave presentations to the Engineering students for possible interns.

PRHS alumnus Elaine Silver attends Columbia, where in September held a McCain-Obama debate this year. She agreed with Chang, but admits to some downsides. “Most people are

extremely competitive and the general atmosphere ripples with intellectual energy. There are so many good opportunities…”

You have a greater chance to receive one of the finest educations you can, without the financial hardships.

“You do not have much to lose by trying to apply but, you have so much you can potentially gain.

Initially, it was very scary to go so far from Paso, but the experiences I have gained make everything incredibly worthwhile,” said Silver.

Chang agreed, but left these words for PRHS students: “Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Go out and explore the world and grab every opportunity out there.”

Sara Callahan

Rebecca Horne

Kelsey Garman

Max Vermy

Jeff Mount

Co-Editor-in- Cheif

Co-Editor-in- Cheif Sports Co-Editor

Mangaing Editor A&E Co-Editor

Mangaing Editor Front Page Editor

Advisor

www. crimsonchronicle.com/801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446

Paso Robles High School (805) 237- 3315 EXT. 5601 Room 601

Karlee Anderson

Christina Weber

Monica Patel

Jessica Madrid

Amanda Bean

News Editor

World Co-Editor

People Co-Editor

Health Editor

Business Team Circulation Manager

Ethan Baietti

Tyler West

C.J. Prusi

Torey Wise

Caitlin Raithel

Editorial Editor

World Co-Editor

People Co-Editor

Fun & Games Editor

P/R Manager

Zach Burggraf

Melissa Serna

Michael McLean

Kellie Kennan

Webmaster Photography Editor

Center Co-Editor

A&E Co-Editor

Enviroment Editor

Jairo Loranca

Zoe Kingsbury

Aryn Fields

Gloria Rivera

Business Manager

Center Co-Editor

In-Depth Co-Editor

Juntos Editor

Guest Appearences Matthew Pridgeon Cartoonist

Chynna Rowe Guest Graphic Artist

Taylor Szabo

Meaghan Sullivan

Alicia Canales

Brandon Stegall

Business Team

Opinion Editor

In-Depth Co-Editor

Sports Co-Editor

The Crimson Chronicle is an independently funded, monthly publication of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. We publish monthly newspapers free to students and teachers. Subscriptions are available for US mail delivery for $15. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. The Crimson Chronicle is an open forum for the exchange of ideas. We welcome feedback in the form of letters and emails. Letters must be signed but names can be with held upon request. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students.

The staff actively pursues advertisement accounts but reserves the right to refuse those deemed overly controversial or aimed at illegal behavior.

The Crimson Chronicle is designed using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop and prints with North County Newspapers, Atascadero, CA. Email: prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org

October 23, 2008

5

‘DEPRESSION’ Continued from Page 1 Confession #3

HIDDEN CRIES: Student who is suffering from depression photo by Alicia Canales

Confession #1: “. . .better for people to see me as a bad guy than feel sorry for me. I started stealing, drinking, smoking, and cutting; none of it was enough.

I would play girls. I would give them two weeks, and if I didn’t get what I wanted , then I would get rid of them, and if after two weeks I did get what I wanted, then I would get rid of them. Last summer my mom found out that I had been smoking weed. I went to Grizzly for five months. If they would have given me the choice, I would go back.

My sister saved my life. It wasn’t till after she found out everything I was doing and didn’t talk to me that I realized something was wrong. They [sisters] always saw me as being strong; and when they realized how strong I wasn’t, it hurt them, and I couldn’t let that happen.I have began rebuilding my life. My best friend now is the guy I use to pick on the most. I have a steady girl now, she is at Grizzly now, so I don’t get to see her often, but I am waiting for her.

I would not regret anything I have done because I wouldn’t be the person I am today. If I would not have been knocked down so many times, I could not stand up and be the man I am today. You can only stumble down the wrong path so many times before you find the right one.”

Confession #2: “I have always considered myself a reasonably happy person.

I have always been able to take on heavy loads of work and stay calm. I had to learn to deal with stress because my parents work a lot, so, me being the oldest child in the family, it is up to me take care of my younger siblings. My only comfort was my boyfriend.

We were dating two years before we mutually ended it. Before the end, we started fighting more and more; before I couldn’t say anything to him without him throwing it back my face. We were together nine months before we had sex the first and last time. I didn’t have my period for three months and when I finally did, we decided it would be better to wait till we were both ready just in case that did happen. When we broke up, I fell into a hole. I spent most of my time trying to make people as miserable as I was. I went days without eating anymore than a fraction of cereal or a piece of fruit.

The only way I got out of this was my work. It was the only thing I could do to stop thinking of him because every time I did, I wanted nothing else than to collapse where I was and cry. I still have feelings for him to this day, and I don’t know how long it will take me to get over him.”

“1 in 20 high school “sweethearts” stay together for a lifetime. In my opinion none of them should get married at all.

My own parents started dating in high school, and when they were in their very early twenties, I was conceived. From the beginning I thought I shouldn’t have happened, [and] my parents never made me feel any different. My father said I was ruining his life, or at least my mother’s by having me. He just wanted the abortion, but I happened anyway, so there I was, born into a life that I would never really understand.

By the time I was a year my parents were married and mommy was already along a month with my sister. As far as I can remember I have been traumatized by these terrible, horrifying nights of violence. I have lived a life of fear of not knowing of what is going to happen when I get to my so called home. My mommy was subject was to my father’s beating and we [my siblings and I] were subject to my mommy’s when she loses her temper. I have been a mediator since about nine, throwing my own punches and soothing the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by my parents to one another and to my brothers and sisters. The cops have been involved twice, once to protect me, and once to protect my mom. I was told by one of the officers that it was ok for a parent to hit their child. I have realized they aren’t a very big help.

I have never really felt as comforted by my parents. My mom has too much baggage of her own to care about me, and my dad would rather go smoke weed or do Crystal Meth. , then read me a bed time story. Now I have a constant amount of anger and emptiness about me that makes it hard for me to connect with many people. I

have asked my mom about seeing a counselor, but she would rather me talk to her. It is hard for me to open up with a woman that claims to be my mother but wants nothing to do with me.

If I learned anything from my parents it is how to pretend that bad things don’t happen. When those nights are over we pretend nothing happened. We pretend my brothers and sisters aren’t crying.

We pretend not to see my dad punch through the window. We pretend that my mom isn’t bleeding, and I pretend to be as happy as I can be.

When most people see me, they will see me smiling and laughing and pretending that my life is perfect.”

According to Recovering from Depression: a Workbook for Teens the first step is recovering from depression is to reach out and say you need help. Dr. Mary Ellen Copeland states that the longer that a person waits to ask for help, then the more difficult it will be in the future. It is also stated that when asking for help, it is more beneficial to talk to someone who will understand and someone who will be able to find psychological help if necessary in cases of self harm and suicidal thoughts, like a parent or a teacher The National Institute of Mental Health believes the best method of treatment is pharmacologic treatment [medication] and therapy.

Local treatment options are the Family Resource Center on campus, which helps with matters like mental health services, drug and alcohol abuse, and support groups. The number for the Center is (805) 2373470. In the case of an emergency, the suicide hot line can be found in the telephone book under Mental and Health services.

Codename: Random baggage search An investigation into racial discrimination

by Zach Burrgraff, Web Editor & Jairo Loranca, Business Manager Dr. Wakefield, professor from California State University Northridge, performed a study on racial discrimination at various Southern California high schools; results showed that over time school police harassed 27 percent of the eighty-five participants.

Interested by this study, we decided to test the accuracy of the report at PRHS. Our own scientific study tested whether or not minority students at PRHS are more likely to be harassed by school officials. Before we ran the test, we wondered what students thought of racial discrimination in general. Most felt discrimination was something left behind after the civil rights movement.

“The school system is about as racist as a color TV. I have never seen any type of discrimination from administration or students,” said junior Ian Dingler.

On a different note, some students feel that discrimination still occurs today.

“I do believe that in our school there is still racial discrimination, between students, teachers, and staff. It may not be obvious, but it is still under the surface,” said one student who preferred to remain anonymous.

To test the results of Wakefield’s experiment and quell rumors of discrimination, we decided to create an experiment that would put students in the path of meeting security and see how they were treated.

One Caucasian (white) student and one Hispanic (non-white) student were sent on a walk around the campus, at different times within the same class period, with an incompletely filled out hall pass. When asked, “What are you doing out of class?” each student gave the same answer, “I’m doing something

for my teacher.” Any data based on an answer different than one given was removed from the study.

Each student completed the walking course within the same class period to ensure that conditions, such as where the school security was positioned, remained as similar as possible. After each student returned from their walk, they reported back to us regarding their encounters with the security team or another school employee. According to the theory that school officials are biased according to race, skin color, or general appearance of students, a notable difference should have been recorded in the experience of the Caucasian student from that of the Hispanic student and there was.

Despite cases like Brown v. the Board of Education, which decided that the act of segregation was unconstitutional in 1954, claims of racism still occur in schools today. The topic of racial discrimination in schools was investigated

by W. David Wakefield, a professor at California State University, Northridge, in a report published on Apr. 13, 2004.

The report, titled Discrimination at School: Latino and African American Male High School Student’ Experiences, investigated experiences with racial discrimination at the high school level.

The study involved 85 participants from urban, Southern California high schools. The findings uncovered that at some point, school police had harassed 27% of the participants. One student reported, “I got to school late after going to an academic decathlon event and when I was entering school the school police stopped me and wrote me up for ditching.”

Codename: Agent Harvest Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian

Codename: Agent Deo Gender: Female Ethnicity: Hispanic

Official 1: Hi, how are you today?

Harvest: Um. Good.

Official 1: Good, see you later.

Harvest: Ok.

Official 2: What are you here for?

Deo: Um, I’m getting something for

Official 2: Oh, Hi there.

Harvest: Hi. Official 2: What are you bored or

my teacher.

Official 2: Do you have a hall pass?

Deo: Yes. Official 2: Is this a TA pass?

Deo: No, I’m not a TA. Official 2: Do you know what’s

something?

wrong with this pass?

Harvest: No, I’m getting something

Deo: No… Official 2: Do you see your name?

Deo: No… Official 2: Do you see a date?

Deo: Ok, sorry.

Official 2: Who is your teacher?

Deo: Mr. Everest Official 2: You need to tell Mr. Ever-

for my teacher.

Official 2: Oh, ok.

est that it’s not an acceptable pass. If it doesn’t have a name or date you could be marked truant.

Deo: Oh, ok.

Official 2: I just don’t want you to get in trouble.

Hide and Seek

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor We all know it. We live in isolation… cut off from the ocean, shopping (that expands beyond The Wal-Mart), and events that appeal to our teenage mind frame. We hear the complaints, see the drugs, and smell the beer, so staff members Karlee Anderson, Jairo Loranca, and I are dedicating time and energy to find and exploit fun and free things to do in Paso.

Our first experiment focused on small groups of friends, although larger groups might be more entertaining.

We took the classic game of hide and seek and attempted to find the perfect place. Oct. 1, senior Nicole Smeltzer joined our trio, and our first destination was The Wal-Mart. We believe smaller groups, like ours, kept the game under control and the attention diverted.

When I became “it,” I tricked my victims by looking and then hiding when I saw them coming toward me, letting them walk right to their defeat. Loranca had a brush with defeat; I hid behind a clothes rack, and when I jumped out right in front of him, well I’ve never done a ninety degree turn that fast, so I tripped and fell. He was able to escape because I knew I would have lost a chase out in the open. We thought a game in The Wal-Mart would have been exciting but it is a store, full of shoppers, and it wasn’t worth disturbing them or breaking something and angering the management.

That was not our only stop, remember we were trying to find the best place in town, so the next place was Sherwood Park located off Creston and Scott street on the south east side of Paso. The park closes at eleven, but eight was dark enough to still hide in the shadows and trick Loranca’s blind vision. As I was hiding, I realized there were possible hiding places despite the large light force the park had established. After Smeltzer was discovered, I made a mad run for a new hiding place only to trip on grass and face plant in the mud. The ruckus caught Loranca’s attention, and he came darting over. We determined that Sherwood Park had plenty of opportunities for an exciting game with all the structures, flora, and even a little river lagoon thing next to the park.

Our next adventure occurred downtown because, with the intertwining alleys, we thought it would provide a unique game. We were wrong. The only hiding places were obvious and limited. The game lasted four minutes, so we determined that a game of tag would be more appropriate for this area.

We attempted to play at the Oak Meadows Pathway that runs through town, but the size of our group was too small for a sketchy area. We came to the conclusion that a large group, not afraid of very dark areas, would enjoy this place.

Our last stop was Barney Swartz Park, last right off Union Road before it dead ends into Highway 46; you can see the tall light poles and green hills, so you can’t miss it. A soccer game was being played when we arrived, so we went up to the top only to find that it is heavily lit and lacked hiding places. We determined to play tag instead because of the amazing play structure. Our rules were complicated, but we saw how physically draining it could be.

Hide and seek was best played in Sherwood Park for small groups. If we were to play hide and seek again with a larger group, we would return to the multiple oak passageways for they had the darkest and most prevalent hiding places. We hope you take our findings and find your own activities to entertain yourself with. We are done with boring Paso, so go have a good time!

6

October 23, 2008

The Day ¡Viva México! Replaced 9/11

PRHS trades moment of silence for vibrant dances as the United States is, we should have should. “I thought that it was a great

MEXICAN DANCERS SHOW THEIR MOVES: Dancers showcase their skills in the Gil Asa Gymnasium on Sep. 11, 2008 in the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Photo Provided by Stan Cooper

by Tyler West , World Co-Editor There we all were Sept. 11 crammed like sardines in to the gym for a “Mexican Independence” assembly. The music began to churn

up, the dresses of the Mexican folk dancers spun around in unison on the wooden platform, tapping franticly but in unison, accented by the multihued ribbons tied in their braided hair.

“The idea of including all kids form all cultures and traditions at this school… it’s a great concept,” commented Linda Bernhardt, a Spanish teacher at PRHS. And as multicultural

U.S. quick to aid Georgia while Darfur is put on the back burner

no problem with that.

So as the skilled, but repetitious, dancers went on and on again, ¡Viva México! echoed in synch with mariachi music blasted through the speakers outside the gym.

Almost as immediately as the dancing began, the realization came that Sept. 11 is today, and here we all are, doing nothing about and as much as we could about a different country.

The victims of 9/11 were being left unhonored.

Yet this folk dance was the center of the stage, when just seven years ago, our country was a victim of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. Latino culture is an important part of the culture in California, but remembering 9/11 should never be forced to be remembered on just the History Channel and memorialized just in text books.

“Every day in Paso is white history day,” said Gregg Williams, a history teacher at PRHS. “If we take a moment or two include other cultures, it is great.

Including other cultures at Paso high is a great idea, and kudos to the PRHS Cultural Outreach Committee for organizing it. Students learn from the American or European viewpoint of history, so having a different perspective on things can really be valuable tool.

But this assembly was planned on the wrong day at the wrong time.

“You couldn’t hear anything. I just went along with it,” said Vicki Villa, a junior at PRHS. “It seemed like it went on forever.”

Teachers found this cultural assembly worthy of praise, just as they

assembly,” said Jennifer Fuller, another Spanish teacher at PRHS. “It’s great to share Latino heritage with students.”

“The further our country gets away from 9/11, it becomes less important,” added Williams. “I think that’s really sad.”

One “moment of silence” was held after the pledge of allegiance on Sept 11 to hold in memoriam the 3,000 that died and 6,200+ that were injured on that day.

“The school’s job is to educate students. The point of the assembly was to educate about Latinos. But it’s not that 9/11 wasn’t important, it’s about expanding student’s minds, to prevent other 9/11s in the future,” concluded Fuller.

So to set the record straight September 11 got one minute out of the school day, while Mexico’s Independence stole a good 45 minutes a choreographed dance, and a history lesson, two times that day. The school had to alter its schedule and add to the school day, just to promote a foreign day of celebration.

“Although the assembly was really representational, more should have been done to make Sept. 11 more meaningful,” concluded Villa. “But I enjoyed the dancing.”

More should have been done to commemorate the tragic day in which thousands died, and millions became scarred. Assemblies should have been planned, memorials should have been conducted, or lessons should have been taught so those victims aren’t forgotten “The attack on our country that day was very tragic,” added Bernhardt “More should have been done.”

U.S. foreign aid criteria may not be as sound as you think

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Co- Editor In present day Darfur, Sudan, a violent six year war is raging. Two million lion innocent civilians have ave heir been forced to flee their homes as refugees andd a roughly estimated number of around 400,000 have been gruesomely killed through an unbridled g. ethnic cleansing.

Multitudes more have ve died from disease and onflict, starvation due to the confl while others, often children, have been raped, mutilated and abducted and brainwashed by the Sudanese government backed Janjaweed militia. The country has been considered in a state of genocide by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a statement backed by the Genocide Intervention Network and the International Criminal Court.

Head north and another, perhaps more familiar, war is being fought.

Located at the dividing line between Europe and Asia, Georgia was invaded

by Russian forces in early August of this year. The massive military response was issued after Georgia, a former Soviet Republic, tried to retake the breakaway region called South Ossetia. Before the conflict began, Georgia was looking to join NATO and develop a democratic government. It has also been brought to light that the pipeline through Georgia could be another reason for Russian invasion.

“It is evident that the alternative for Caspian energy to reach world markets without using Russian pipelines is through Georgia,” said Georgian Ambassador to the U.S. Vasil Sikharulidze, according to the Washington Post in mid-august.

The fact that the US aided Georgia so quickly and has continued to neglect Darfur is unacceptable. Basing foreign policy on involvement that benefits our country directly and brushing aside issues that have, for years, needed immediate help, would by definition

make the US an em empire, not the de democratic republic w we so proudly declare ourselves to be. The fact that helping their co country benefits ou our own cannot be ove overlooked. Spheres of influence in the Georg Georgian region would be usef useful to the United States. Furthermore, the fact tthat giving aid to Darf Darfur holds very little bene benefit economically to th the US should also be taken into account.

In every sense, the Georgia-Russia conflict isn’t genocide, which doesn’t exclude it from needing aid, but which should put Darfur higher on the list for need of support. The US has sent Georgia a US Coast Guard cutter “loaded with humanitarian aid”, according to www. npr.com, as well as a one billion dollar a i d package in September, all within two months since t h e conflict broke out. America, as well as Britain, have also been “closely involved in providing military assistance to the Georgians in the form of arms and training,” according to www.timesonline.com.

Although some aid from the US has been sent to Darfur, it certainly hasn’t solved any of the underlying issues, and if anything the situations in Darfur have been escalating.

A 2004 Human Rights Watch report stated that, “The international community, which so far has been slow to exert all possible pressure on the Sudanese government to reverse the ethnic cleansing and end the associated crimes against humanity it has carried

out, must act now… [for] it will soon be too late.” Too late in the sense that “300,000 are believed to have died in the tribal conflict in the past two years,” said United Nations emergency relief coordinator John Holmes to www.cnn. com.

In May of 2008, the World Food Program cut back its food distributions, that weren’t nearly enough in the first place, by 50 percent due partially to increasing food costs. Also, little cooperation from the Sudanese government has come from the 14 security council resolutions and several UN peacekeeping efforts advocated towards stability in the Darfur area.

Clearly a more forceful approach is needed to create a lasting solution.

Now, with our country in one of the greatest economic crises in history, the much needed aid to Darfur from the US is becoming a more and more unlikely story. All at the expense of thousands of innocent lives.

The bottom line is that if humanitarian need was truly basis for determining foreign aid, the injustice in the Sudan would have been stopped years ago. Clearly there are other issues that the US and other countries find more important. If a war breaks out in Georgia the whole world hears about it and aid is delivered in a matter o f weeks, while the Sudanese continue to suffer and are cast aside. The United States cannot claim we advocate justice and fight for liberty while lending little more than concerned expressions towards the Sudan, it is simply hypocritical.

As stated by presidential candidate Barrack Obama during the second presidential debate on Oct.7, “When genocide and ethnic cleansing are happening, that diminishes us.” The Sudanese continue to suffer, and we continue to diminish our leverage to be a nation that stands for justice.

by Ethan Baietti, Editorial Editor & Jairo Loranca, Business Manager

Which is worse: Drug abuse or sexual activity Most young people have sex for the first time at about age 17, but do not marry until middle or late 20s.

This means that young adults are at risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for nearly a decade.

Teens, according to drug statistics, have a good chance of trying drugs at least once in their school career.

Students as young as 13 have often already tried drugs as powerful as cocaine, and the rate of overdose doubled from 1999 to 2004, according to a study on accidental overdose deaths.

Jairo: It’s obvious that drug abuse is the bigger problem in society than teen sexual activity. Not only does the influence of drugs affect the person doing them, but their friends and family have to deal with the effects as well.

Ethan: Well what about people with unwanted pregnancies? Girls ages 15-19 have 750,000 unwanted pregnancies every year, affecting many people. Mother, father, the grandparents of the baby that will have to support it, the child, and, in some cases, the tax payers that will have pay extra in April for all of the free health care and food stamps.

Jairo: You want to talk about the economy? It costs the government more than 58 billion dollars every year to treat drug addicted teens. As for the amount of people affected, drug abuse not only physically debilitates the addict, but the people close to them also have to suffer emotionally and that trauma can affect so many. If the problem of addiction isn’t treated, then all those lives are affected.

Ethan: If you want to go into

money then, let’s talk about the millions, if not billions, of dollars spent on the treatment and research of sexually transmitted diseases. Who is more traumatized the unwanted child or the casual stoner?

Jairo: While an unwanted child is probably going to have trauma, many unwanted pregnancies are the result of some kind of substance abuse.

According to researchers who wanted to see the relationship between binge drinking and pregnancy, 76 percent of the women in the report had unprotected sex as a result of binge drinking. Obviously the chances of an unwanted pregnancy are higher. In the end, they tie together, so why not treat the problem at the source. With drug use, the odd of risky behavior between teens goes up and an unwanted pregnancy may result. So if those teens had not done drugs, then the chances of the unwanted pregnancy would have been greatly reduced.

Ethan: They may indeed tie together but there is no rehab for AIDS or HPV. 9.1 million new cases of STIs are diagnosed every year. At least with drugs you have a second chance.

Jairo: A second chance assuming that nobody overdoses from cocaine, or gets into a car accident. The fact that the threat seems less likely makes it all the more dangerous. Teens are constantly reminded of the dangers of unprotected sex just as much as they are of drug abuse, yet the number of teen deaths due to drug related accidents like drunk driving is still higher.

Ethan: In the end Jairo, I think that it comes down to good judgment because neither drugs nor unprotected sex is good for your health, the economy, or society in general. In a nutshell, if you are going to do something dumb, at least do it with some intelligence.

Jairo: That’s the first smart thing you’ve said...

7

October 23, 2008

Debating the death penalty The following opinions do not suggest the personal views of the writers in any way but were expressed in support of that side for the purpose of this story.

Opponents speak out: Capital punishment is killer

by Kellie Kennan, Environment Editor Supporters of the death penalty assert that because killing is wrong, murderers must be put to death; however, the following points might just stick a knife in this mentality.

Although 35 states defend its use, along with the U.S. government and military, the death penalty may be faulty – as a deterrent or as a practice. Jeffrey Fagan, a professor of law and public health at Columbia University, would agree, according to his 2005 report on the subject as found on deathpenaltyinfo.org.

In his report “Public Policy Choices on Deterrence and The Death Penalty: a Critical Review of New Evidence,” Fagan stated that the death penalty is not a proven deterrent to future murder, and that studies that imply either side are too weak to trust.

“These studies fail to reach the demanding standards of social science to make such strong claims….Some simple examples and contrasts…lead to a rejection of the idea that either death sentences or executions deter murder,” Fagan wrote.

Fagan also noted that the cost of the death penalty is “extremely high.” The average cost of one of these cases is $2.5 million to $5 million, juxtaposed with the cost of a life sentence, which is usually less than $1 million, according to Fagan.

Another point opposers bring up is the potential of making a fatal mistake, and ending an innocent person’s life. "I

cannot support a system which, in its administration, has proven so fraught with error and has come so close to the ultimate nightmare, the state's taking of innocent life,” said Governor George Ryan of Illinois in 2000, according to amnestyusa.org. He eliminated the death penalty after the thirteenth innocent death row inmate had been released.

Mark Bradford, a modern world history teacher, would agree. “[The amount of innocent people killed is] a small number, but I think that one person who’s executed with the death penalty is one too many,” said Bradford.

Some would also argue that the death penalty isn’t fair to the killer’s family.

“I think that the person that killed another has caused that family great pain, so odds are the killer has people who love him too,” said Nicole Vogelpohl, sophomore. “[It would] just [cause] more pain in the world if he were killed.”

Another reason many say the death penalty is unjust is the argument of justice vs. revenge. “There are blood-thirsty people out there, and that’s their idea of justice,” said Bradford. “I don’t share that idea. I say lock [them] up for life in prison and be done with it.”

Even some victims’ families are against the idea of retribution. Bud Welch, whose daughter was killed in the Oklahoma city bombing in 1995, said on deathpenaltycurriculum.com that killing “is simply vengeance, and it was vengeance that killed Julie…vengeance is a strong and natural emotion, but it has no place in our justice system.”

It’s Time to Die: Pro views for the death penalty

by Jessica Madrid, Health Editor Imagine someone you loved so dearly, shared so many happy moments with was taken from you forever in such an untimely, crude and hideous manner. It’s a hard idea to think upon, but it’s a reality for many Americans.

What we need is justice, and justice is taking the lives of those who are far too careless to think of the lives they’ve stolen and the families who they’ve affected. We must show an example to the rest of the murderers out there that these sorts of horrendous actions will not be tolerated.

An eye for an eye.

We have a duty to keep the death penalty alive and to rid the world of rapists, serial killers, child molesters, etc.

Once they’re gone, the crime rate would lower and we would cease from worrying about who the next victim would be.

We would be living in a much safer environment, it’s proven. In 1973 Isaac Ehrlich employed a new kind of analysis which produced results showing that for every inmate who was has been executed, seven lives were spared because others were deterred from committing murder, according to www.deathpenaltyinfo.edu.

“Even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot be, capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else,” said Elrlich Now, there is the grand argument that innocent people are sometimes found to

be on death row and death is their result.

However, it is a small price to pay in order to save the lives of thousands if not more.

Also, it isn’t as if the government is being careless and allowing them to die for the simple belief that someone should pay.

They actually go through quite a difficult process before deciding whether or not the person should die.

“Our present system of capital punishment limits the ultimate penalty to certain specifically-defined crimes and even then, permit the penalty of death only when the jury finds that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweigh all mitigating circumstances. The system further provides judicial review of capital cases. Finally, before capital sentences are carried out, the governor or other executive official will review the sentence to insure that it is a just one, a determination that undoubtedly considers the evidence of the condemned defendant’s guilt. Once all of those decision makers have agreed that a death sentence is appropriate, innocent lives would be lost from failure to impose the sentence,” said Associate Professor of Law, University of Utah, College of Law, and former law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, Paul G. Cassell to www. deathpenaltyinfo.edu.

Sure there might be a few problems in the system, but nothing that can’t be fixed and there is no reason to abandon the whole death penalty system. There is a greater good that must be done in this world, and that is to rid the world of evil and cruel people by supporting and continuing the death penalty.

We polled 109 random PRHS students to find out their views on the death penalty.

They were asked if they found themselves pro-, con-, or undecided. The results are as follows.

Pro-

Undecided

Con-

39%

33%

36%

Artwork by Matthew Pridgeon

Dress code controversy sheds light on deeper student issues One inch straps could be a baby step toward professionalism in the workplace

by Rebecca Horne, Co-Editor in Chief “It’s soooo hot today. How are you surviving in that sweatshirt?”

“Oh, I just don’t want to get caught by security for what I’m wearing underneath.”

“Straps not wide enough?”

“Nope.”

I have overheard such a conversation many a time since coming back to school, and the more I’ve been lectured about dress code crack-downs and forced to give up pieces of my own wardrobe, I can’t help but wonder, “How could school officials find clothing important enough to create such a controversy?

Did the dress code really change so much this year? And how are one inch straps that much different from one centimeter straps anyway?”

In a relatively simple explanation from Principal Randy Nelson, I believe I’ve actually found some meaningful answers to my burning questions.

“Many students are blurring the line between personal life and professional life, personal dress and professional dress,” said Nelson, who was responsible for hiring and firing young people in retail before beginning his career in education in 1993. “This is your job right now: to go to school and do the best that you can. You should consider school to be your professional setting.”

Though I have often considered my high school performance to be my current occupation, I still found an administrator’s separation of school and personal life to be strangely refreshing.

Not only do PRHS officials care about our future success on the job, but they also don’t judge us for what we wear outside of school. But I still had more myth-busting ahead of me: did the dress code really change from last year, or have PRHS employees merely tightened dress code enforcement?

The students’ answer: “it’s stricter.”

Out of 36 upperclassmen polled, only 22 percent thought the dress code hadn’t changed. And most interestingly, 100 percent of the students that both believed the dress code had changed and claimed to oppose some of its policies were female.

“Well yes, [it’s gotten stricter]. And personally, I don’t really like the one

inch tank top rule. It doesn’t seem like a big deal,” said senior Paula Baniqued, one of four senior girls to specifically mention strap requirement as their primary dress code concern. Most males polled, on the other hand, seemed little affected by this year’s code.

“I think it is supposed to be stricter, but it is not in enforcement,” said junior Thomas Grandoli, echoing the common statement that supposed changes in the code were mostly rumor-driven.

Indeed, for all the rumors about prohibition of flip-flops and NBA jerseys, the PRPS 2008-’09 Dress Code was only “modernized,” according to Nelson, not changed. The Paso Robles School Board, aided by a panel of elementary and middle school principals, specifically targeted clothing with “geographical references” (such as SouthPole) as fostering gang affiliation.

This simple emphasis on regionally related clothing has sparked rumors as to whether or not college sweatshirts or the popular Hollister brand should be banned. While I can’t officially confirm or deny this report, since all security

personnel (including supervisor Henry Jenkins) declined to comment on the issue, I feel confident that such a universal ban is highly unlikely as it would not serve to discourage gang activity and unprofessional clothing.

Allow me a quick side note: I visited the SouthPole clothing line’s official website, expecting to find some offensive statement that would explain the school’s singling out of this brand name as unacceptable for school. I was actually hoping to find some evidence of regional bias or gang affiliation so as to explain why SouthPole’s label is overtly “geographical,” while others like Hollister are supposedly not so offensive. I came away disappointed in the school’s judgment of SouthPole: while many of the label’s lines include styles that do not pass dress code, they have no more tube tops in their fall line than do Abercrombie and Fitch or American Eagle. In fact, the site even featured press releases supporting American troops in Iraq and featuring inspiring stories of hip hop artists from across the United States. Bottom line: I think that the school board could afford to revisit this brand name and sense the hypocrisy behind targeting specific labels over others . . .

Though I might still be frustrated with the school board’s poor clarification of “geographical references,” it surely couldn’t hurt me to look a little more clean-cut when I’m taking a test or to throw away a couple ragged tube tops . . . as long as I can sport a college hoodie to show a little school spirit. After all, until I can leave for that college, coming to PRHS is my job. And fortunately, I don’t seem to be the only senior who is optimistic on this topic.

“Yes, [the new dress code] is stricter, but I don’t disagree,” said senior Madeline Stokes. “Mostly they’re just enforcing the old one a little better.”

Myth vs. fact: Did the PRHS dress code change? no, it’s the same as previous years Yes, it’s different than previous years

22%

(36 students polled)

78%

8

October 23, 2008

The adventure began even before the date did!

by Sara Callahan, Co-Chief Editor and Karlee Anderson, News Editor “Road closed to through traffic” read the sign on South River Road. Yes, one of the lanes was barricaded and yes, clearly construction was going on.

These thoughts never entered Karlee Anderson’s mind. After all, we weren’t going all the way through.

She drove over the bar r ier

issue’s blind dater, as a piece of torn up concrete forcefully hit the side of Anderson’s Ford Focus. Fortunately we survived the treacherous journey and arrived at the Harris Ranch a couple miles farther down the windy road in one piece.

“Oh, Tiffany!” said senior Cactus Harris at the sight of his date for the day.

“I didn’t really know her. I just know of her. She’s a grade below me, and we went to Georgia Brow n together.” g ilin Harris n are sm Laughli c M y n had the a f if T d rris ane! a i t i nerary H s tu : Cac outs. Chees PARTYin for the day planned t IN u K c P M k PU gh pump better then we did. He began by along throu the torn up r o a d . introducing McLaughlin to two of The farther we traveled, the his many horses, Molly and Jana. more we realized we shouldn’t have Through a somewhat awkward silence, come this way. A collection of large the couple brushed the horses, and pipes two feet in diameter crowded the mounted their saddles, and made their right lane, forcing us on the wrong side way to his authentic Wild West themed arena. Harris showed the apprehensive of the road.

“Open trench ahead,” read the McLaughlin how to steer the hose second sign. After half a mile the pipes forward, side to side, and to her were gone, but then so was the street; surprise, backwards. From across the the right side of the road wasn’t even arena we yelled “your mom!” This was no joke. Harris’ mother walked into the intact.

“I was nervous about the date arena and first watched as the couple before, now I’m nervous for my life!” rode their horses silently in circles said junior Tiffany McLaughlin, this stirring up dust.

said After a picnic under the trees, both everyday,” daters anticipated the River K corn maze. Harris.

As you can tell, We hitched a ride with Tommy Harris, Harris’ father, on his hay wagon and slowly—very slowly—approached the corn maze. Along the way to the corn maze we made photo opp stops.

The couple put their faces into the wood cut outs and pretended to be anything from ghosts to skeletons. We finally made it to the maze and broke off into two teams: the daters and the matchmakers. Let’s just say the couple “got lost.”

After an eventful afternoon, Harris successfully got A’MAZE’ING DUO: Harris and McLaughlin find McLaughlin into his their way through the corn maze. bedroom. No, it’s not what you think. Actually, the date ended on a good note, but you would never think of this. Harris McLaughlin didn’t seem to be wooed ooed opened the door to his bedroom and by Harris’ insightful speech. Both oth gasped. We peeked around the corner confessed later that the afternoon on and soon knew why: McLaughlin was was a little awkward. seeing stars. Star Wars that is! Every “The picnic was nice. I was square inch—from the floor to the afraid the date was going to be ceiling—was covered in memorabilia of awkward. And, yeah, it was a the sci-fi series. little awkward,” said Harris.

“I like it,” said Harris with a shrug.

“We just didn’t click,” added ded That much was obvious. He moved McLaughlin. the Darth Vader cut-out to access his closet. He reemerged with one of the many instruments he has mastered: the accordion. He humored us and played a little ditty. “[My instruments] are all old, but that doesn’t really matter to me.

As long as it works. I make time to do whatever I want. What ever makes you happy you should do. I am high on life

Photos by Sara Callahan and Karlee Anderson

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor, C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor, and Torey Wise, Fun and Games Editor

“Boys have cooties!”

—McLaughlin

Will there be a second date?

“I don’t think there will be a second date because sports and band don’t mix much.”

—Harris

The End

October 23, 2008

9

PRHS gains a Colombian gem Nishino’s school year begins on a good note Nicolas Walker Polanco speaks out PRHS welcomes new band member, Yuko Nishino

about his country

by Melissa Serna, Center Co-Editor

by Gloria Rivera, Juntos Editor

Hailing from Matsuyama City in Ehime, Japan, 16 year old Yuko Nishino, hosted by the Taylor family, arrived in Washington State with 11 other Japanese exchange students in mid July. Nishino, one of the only two foreign exchange girls this year, is following in her mother’s footsteps.

“My mother was an exchange student in college when she was 20 years old,” said Nishino. Her mother spent a year in Georgia, where the Nishino family later vacationed in 2001, and this year Nishino is back as a high school senior ready to take in some new knowledge of American culture.

“I wanted to learn about American culture and get better at speaking English,” she said.

Nishino’s favorite activities back home in Japan include practicing music, going to book stores, playing table tennis (a very popular sport in Japan), and spending time with her mom, dad, and sister.

“In Japan, on weekends I usually go to band practice for half a day then sometimes I go to the bookstore or study,” she said. “Here, I play music, watch a little TV, read, and play with my host family’s cats. They have 11 wild cats that they saved from a fox!”

Here in the United States, Nishino’s interests are relatively similar, but she is fascinated with American student life.

“School is different in Japan, because instead of students moving to their classes, they stay in homeroom, and the teachers move to the class,” she

When thinking of Colombia, some “Being around Yuko and listening said. “Also, we have to wear uniforms,” said Nishino, who was relieved when to her play has inspired me to work people only think of the drug dealers, she heard PRHS students didn’t have to. harder in improving my music,” said or narcos that are shown on the news.

In America, the only uniform she looks senior and fellow band mate Ellie However, Nicolas Walker Polanco sees the beautiful land that produces forward to wearing is her marching Davis.

Nishino will be performing and their world famous coffee. band uniform.

Arriving at PRHS, Walker has “We don’t have marching band competing with the PRHS band and where I live,” said Nishino, whose color guard during this year’s fall been to plenty of history classrooms favorite class this year is Marching/ marching season, which should provide to share this information with various her with many new experiences and students. His native country isn’t only Symphonic Band. famous for coffee but for spreading “We performed at the football friends to make along the way. game and it was very fun, and very exciting!

Marching and playing at the same time is hard for me, but it’s fun,” she said.

Nishino began playing the clarinet three years ago, and has continued to play in her school’s symphonic band until this year when she arrived in the United States.

“At school in Japan, I was in the Brass Band Club. I wanted to play flute, but there were too many flute players, so I had to play clarinet, but I like it very much,” said Nishino.

Besides introducing her to a new musical style, marching band has introduced her to Photo by Michael McLean plenty of new people LOVING CALI: Foreign exchange student Yuko Nishono flashes a peace sign while Nicolas who share a love for Polanco Walker smiles. music. peace. His home town, Pereira, is known for the warm, and friendly nature of the people that live there. The march of peace is where the guerillas are going against the government, in a non-violent way. These marches are trying to end violence against innocent civilians. The country wants the world Photo by Aryn Fields

Faall ffashion from the Fall runw to the hallways runways

Photo by Monica Patel

GIRLS: The flattering tones are the ones that float around us at this time year: autumn hues (gold, dark yellow, orange, brown etc). They’re nice to wear, but not all at the same time; there’s a greater impact on the outfit when the colors are worn monochromatically. (You don’t want to look like a pile of dead leaves when wearing fall colors). Then there’s the floral print, can someone say flower power? When wearing floral clothing, accessories should be plain. But if you’re wearing floral accessories, they should be worn against solid pieces. The next trend is the art print. One needs

plenty of confidence to pull off an artsy outfit because it could sure attract attention.

Make sure you don’t wear jewelry with the art print, it can become a distraction. A substantial shoe, strong eye, prominent lip, and sleek, pulled-back hair expect to get pulled into this fun look. Lastly, there’s the feminine look, which consists of straight-leg pants, pencil skirts, or coats with clean lines. To complete the feminine appearance, wear light makeup and bold statement jewelry. (InStyle.com) One trendy girl you might see on the school scene is junior Lauren Redberg. Her good friend, Heather Buckley, 11, described her style as “Very creative, colorful, and cute… and definitely unique.” Redberg’s favorite season for

5

ITEMS

to dress to impress—for girls:

1. Printed dress 2. Tailored jacket 3. Ruffled blouse 4. Fuller skirts 5. Chunky knits

Freshman faces fears Hannah Martinez isn’t scared

by C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor Thhe gus The gusty d oof audays tumn have fifinally nally blown in; aalong with them come the faashion fall fashion trends trendds of 2008.

2 s This season the buzz is all aabout autumn autum mn hues, hu p floral prints, art prints, printts, and femininit ty for tthe femininity girls. Ass for th the boys boys,s, mod modern fit sstriped shir shirts rts and dark ddenim i jean jeans are what’s hot.

to know that this is going on, and they show it publicly by these marches.

“The march of peace is the changing face of my country, I am an ambassador of my country to show the changing face of Colombia,” said Walker in the Paso Robles Press.

He wants people to think of his home country the same way he thinks about the United States.

“It’s a nice school, [in] a nice town, [in] a beautiful state” said Walker about PRHS. “It’s so different,” he said.

“You see people walk here: it’s calm.

When you live in the city, you see more movement.”

Though the city is filled with action, his home town of Pereira is no different than Paso Robles.

“It is really quiet, and it’s near many places of importance,” said Walker. “It’s a commercial and tourist city, located in the middle of the coffee region in Colombia.”

This isn’t the first time that Walker has visited another country. He has been to Quito City and Guayaquil City in Ecuador. He went to Florida and visited Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. That trip didn’t fulfill his thirst for travel, so now he’s here to see California. “[I want to visit] Yosemite, Tahoe, San Francisco, and San Diego,” said Walker.

PRHS history teacher Gregg Williams is in charge of the International Club here on campus. Throughout the years he’s seen people from various countries come and go.

“They are young ambassadors representing their nations here in America” Williams told the Paso Robles Press.

Walker has brought his perspective of Colombia to us so that PRHS could see something other than propaganda shown by the public media. As an ambassador, Walker has shown us the

fashion is fall, so you’ll be seeing seeiing her around the hal hallways llways working her chi chicic ense ensembles.

“You ccan wear cuter an wea things like jac jackets, scarves, scarvess, hats, etc. [duringg fall],” said Redberg.

Redberrg.

GUYS: GUY YS: If yyou’re a guy who has his h style in order like senior Max Baker, then you might want to know what’s up this season. The modern fit striped shirt is what it’s about when you pair them with jeans or casual shorts. iStorez.com said that dark denim jeans work very well because jeans are the one thing in your wardrobe that would go along with almost anything.

Baker’s older brother’s way of dressing inspired his casual and skater style. Like Redberg, his favorite seasons to dress in are fall and winter. He said that his favorite decades of dressing were the 30s and 40s because they wore clean cut suits and nice hats, which says a lot about his taste in fashion. “Sometimes I judge others by what they wear, mostly if they wear anything that’s offensive,” said Baker. (Tip: those rude comments on shirts—not so hot!) In the end, “Uniqueness is key,” he said.

So, whatever season it may be, just remember: fashion forward… not backward!

Entering ering high school can be a very the railing,” she said, “so I scary time ime for just about anyone. started walking on [it] and it Puberty, y, peer pressure, pimples, was really high up. I made it oh my! But none of this scares the across safely ssix times with gly shy freshman Hannah seemingly a little bit of instability.” i Martinez. ez. In fact, nothing really Martinez isn’t just a seems to. o. daredevil th though. In fact, Martinez rtinez stopped being she doesn’t give off the afraid a few years ago. impression of someone efore, I was “Before, who has ha conquered afraid of bees, every fear there is. dying, She said that she and a is just a normal, j lot of shy 14 years other old who’s things enjoying most people are afraid her freshman FEARLESS FRESHMAN: Hannah of,” said Martinez. Martinez karate chops her way year, and that it’s “But it just came to through life. Photo by C.J. Prusi easier than middle me one day, I realized school. She likes that there is nothing to be afraid of, PRHS, and she’s trying her best to do and I overcame [my] fears.” well.

One may ask how she overcame Martinez has been in the dual all the phobias, and the answer is immersion program since kindergarten somewhat surprising. She just did it. and is continuing learning with No trials, tribulations, or tear-jerking Spanish 4 with the possibility of taking moments. She simply decided not to the Spanish AP test in the spring for be afraid anymore. Her self-driven college credit. absence of fear wasn’t sparked by “She’s really quiet,” said her anything at all.

Spanish 4 teacher Jennifer Fuller, who The riskiest thing that she said she was surprised to find out that the timid has done is walk across the railing of a Hannah Martinez doesn’t have any bridge. fears.

“I was at a party and I was really “I never seemed to get to as many bored, so I looked at the bridge and high places with fear,” said Martinez. thought it would be fun to walk on “Now I have been able to do so many more things.”

Why abortion is morally wrong Pro-LIFE

O

opinion

Although the subject is taboo, sex is a very real issue in many teenagers’lives. With PRHS

by Aryn Fields, In-Depth Co-Editor

ne of the moral wars this country has been fighting for decades is abortion; the Pro-life camp pitted against Pro-choicers. The Pro-life students on campus have started speaking up.

“I think if you were responsible enough to have unprotected sex than you should be responsible enough to have a kid or at option.” said senior and band member Ke K lly Smith. least give it up for ado adoption.”

Kelly eop o le hhave ave time to get down aand av nd have sex they shouldn dn d n be able to kill a in n’t “If pe people shouldn’t innocent baby. They put themselves into th that situation. What if their parents had should uunnpr npr protected d ssex ex aand nd d killed them?” agre unprotected agreed junior Charlie Reed Re ed. Thee “P “Pro-L Lifee” m ov vem men nt st sstands tan ndss ffor o the main idea of Reed.

“Pro-Life” movement llo owing abortions, ab borr tio ons,, because becaus caus usee abortions ab bo not al allowing kill babies.

Allfo or women orw n.co om de des scri rib bes on ne of the methods that Allforwomen.com describes one doctors use to perform abortions: open ns your y ur cervix, yo cervi v x, but in this case the “The doctor opens ddone ne with a loop-shap abortion is do loop-shaped knife which he uses to scrape the wall of your uterus; cutting the llaacentta into o smalle baby and pplacenta smaller parts and pulling of your your ur body bod dy through th thro hrooug u h the cervix.” them out of R eccenttl tly, iitt se seem ems aas though abortions em Recently, seems n ggetting etttin i g mo more re aand nd more popular. have been “1 1.5 5 million mil illlion lion li o bbabies abie ab ies eeach year get aborted ie “1.5 [in the United States]; T That’s 4,000 babies every day; ever twenty seconds,” That’s one baby every g to www.m according www.mighttolife.com. A grue gr r eso some aamount m un mo untt off b bab a i get aborted each gruesome babies yeearr, aand nd ssome ome stu udeentts aat PRHS think they year, students kn now w the reason reaasoon wh hy. know why. t it’ ’s be beca c us ca usee th he “II think it’s because they’re scared, or they wan antt a kid,” said Smith an Sm just don’t want unhea “Or [they have an] unhealthy lifestyle, or [are] too young to have a kid,” adde added Reed. Sophomore and member Emily Em T and ba band Taylor doesn’t think g “s scared” is a go good en being “scared” enough reason to have n aabortion, bo ortio io on, bbecause eccau usee llast asst year her sister got an ppregnant reg gnaant nt and and n decided deeccid c ded d to to keep ke the baby. ““Just Jus ust be ust us eca cau use th hey y’rre scared doesn’t mean because they’re iit’s t’s there ch hoice on wh he choice whether a baby lives or dies, it iit’s ’s God’s choice. She didn’t think it was okay for her to be b irresponsible and then have the baby go li live a life not knowing it’s real parents. She al also didn’t want to get th he ab borr ti t on bbecause eccau usee sshe thought everyone the abortion de d eseervees tto o ha ave ve a llife. iffe. e. Even though it was deserves have kind kind ki nd ooff a w ake uup p ca ccall, llll, we are glad we have wake [[the [t he bbaby]. aby] ab y]]. N o mat tter ter wha te w wh ha everyone deserves No matter what, to have a life, sometimes we may like it and sometimes we may hate it; but it’s our own fault because we did it to ourselves ourse We like having a life and babies should shhou ould l have h that same feeling of hhap of appi ap piine ness e and nd life life as we do.” happiness A bortio on do oe what it is meant to Abortion does do: erase a bbaby do: ab b and make a human li ife disap appe ap peaa Abortion is morally pe life disappear. wrong bec because you’re killing a human life. l The baby who is dying for your carelessness didn didn’t do anything to des deserve it. Don’t punish an unborn child for one nig night’s mistake.

in the running for highest pregnancy rate in the county, it shouldn’t be a subject to be covered up. These are the facts, opinions and stories to help make intelligent decisions and form educated conclusions about the serious issues involved when going past third base.

Choice is a blessing Pro-CHOICE

by Karlee Anderson, News Editor opinion

“I had to do it,” said one anonymous PRHS student. “My life would have been ruined if I would have had the baby.

People say that they would never do it, that it’s wrong and murder, but you never know what its like to be put into that position unless you’ve been there.”

By definition, abortion is the termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus. Pro-choice is the belief that abortion ion is the right of a woman, and her choice.

“Can you imagine m gin ma g ne w what hhatt my life li fe wou w wo would o ld d hav hhave avee bbecome? e me? eco m Ev me E Everyone very e one nee wo w would o uld d ha hhave ave known. I would never n err be nev b e able abl ble to t o sshow how w my fa fac face c e aga ce again. a in n . IItt wa n. w was as oone ne ni nig night, i ht, h oon ht onee mistake; I couldn’t ruin life.

Take care baby? don’t dnn’t lett itt ru u inn my my oone ne llif li ife. e Tak akee car are aar r e of a ba bab y? I don’ o n’t on on’ even take care of myself wasn’t going help; of mys m my y elf ye yet. e The T e dad w asn’t goi asn i ng n g to t o hel lp; p I cou ccouldn’t ou dn’t oul tor

by C.J. Prusi, People Co-Edi face my parents, s, and adoption? Just one n m ne more burden on society,” socie i ty,” the family. said the student. t. worth every minute. d plans on attending college Garrie f Garried Mitchell were a to Garried, it was Current laws ws in California make it legal for minors to Although things turned out next fall majoring in sports, journalism, stereot ypical teen father, he would receive abortions ons withou without u t pparental arental consent consent. t. T Thirty eightt d doesn’t want people to Garrie well, logy. He is doing well as a kinesio or have nothing to do with his six uences for conseq other states have v pas ve ppassed pa see llaws sed wss thatt ppr prevent r even rev ent mi minor minors orr s from f rom om aren’t there that is think son his ately, and Fortun . season this Damon player football month-old son receiving an ab abortion b ort o t io ion o wi w without thout p parental arent ent t al l co con consent. o s en t . thing. of sort this to one of his biggest fans.

Damon will grow up with a father t consequence California’s Supreme u pre r me re m e Court Co o u rt found ou founnd n d th that h at tthe h e sta state’s taa te’’s bigges the bly “Proba him with y memor best my far, “So look up to. law is in violation tion of the California Constit Constitution. titution. on on. n this was that I have was when he showed up right after Garried Mitchell sees his six month- that came from times,” all at for This is a majorr controversial law law, w, as parents and out look to ne someo said able is Lake),” He g.

West t blessin a (agains as game Damon the old son pro-life supporters orters don’t think it’s acceptable “As far as any advice Mitchell. “He had my #20 jersey on and to enjoy his son and the experiences of said Mitchell.

When out. hold to for teens to terminate rmii nat n e a pregnancy without the na try say would I goes, NFL calm future so a saw always I t. wasn’t perfec He looked daddy. a he being . raging are nes adul dult dul t. consent of an adult. hormo your kid a you’re out found superstar.” about the idea. When he first nts would woo u ld d have h avee kic hav kkicked i ed me oout ick ic t.

“My parents out. you’re married or until until wait But going know keeps ll didn’t he Mitche d father a be Garrie to So was he that g a child].”

I would have been n p pre pregnant, re e gn n an n t, alone alone, e , and d [havin handle can you as Damon son every day, seeing his what to think. homeless, I did id wh what h at was w as best wa bee stt for me, me m e , it Mitchell was worried about telling much as possible and loving every “I never thought it was going to his d an ell tch Mi would ed they that rri saved my life, , call it selfish h if you like, knew Ga he but , P: family his MV but d, LE shocke was LITT minute of fatherhood. happen, but when it did I chell hance to succeed now,” she but I have a chance He told his dad first son Damon. Photo courtesy of Garried Mit “The best part about being I knew that I had to take responsibility,” suppor t him. said. [could n’t] hit me through said Mitchell. His closest friend, senior because, “He family was disappointed, but also a father,” said Mitchell, “is knowing Women have ave the right to choose what ” phone. having ne, someo t suppor Damon to er have I consid that now Jeff Montero helped him face the music the They s suppor tive. i H they want to doo wi with th the their hee irr bod bbody, od d y, y, and an th thee to up g that n lookin decisio be the of will someone that as just another part and ultimately make fetus inside th tthem. h em e m. m Banning Ba Bann a n i ngg abortion aborti abo r tionn rti me.” he was going to be a great and loving takes away tthe hee pri privacy ivacc y rrights ig g htt s th that h att father.

American women men are guaranteed by our “I pretty much said, it happens, but

by Sara Callaha constitution. It’s fetus, t’s not a person; it’s a fetus uss , n, Co-Editor in Chief you need to just step up to the plate,” nothing more or less then a ball of cells ast year Jenna Pa said Montero. “And that’s exactly what culba was a Varsi to a certain point. oint. FOCA (Freedom of ty boyf riend’s Cheerleader, a he did. He took my words into play and either. dedicated frien Choice Act) is passed Congress an act pa a ss ssse s d by Cong n ress d, son an d a college boun “T here was neve of the consequenc now he’s a great dad who loves his d student. Then r that option. Ry es of sex until it that invalidates restrictions e s aall l l the ll he re res e s tr ictions onn she had a baby. An [W an turned ha really ag n pp ne situatio en to The r] s someone they kn was actually the very much. d she still does all ow or them thems fi rst to say that these we were abortion, passed 1991. e d in 199 9 91. IIn n the 197 11973 3 things. elves.

Paculba used to be not even going to out for the better.” just like them. thi nk Roe v. Wade decision, dec e isi ec isioo n, ab aabortion boo rtion was of giving “Ju he four st to r three up be Damon . ca I sees d us ag Garrie e I had a baby “Before I did n’t reed of course.” think much abou doesn’t legalized underr the constitutional mean I’m the on Paculba and her t it.

Just ever yone did ly person that ha times a week and is happy to be on good pa ren ts it and it wasn’t s ha de d cid right to privacy, acy, which still se Ev ed x. er it yo wa be ne hing s st everyt do rea after to , es so mother tak lly the it. me with e I thing I was supe a break from scho terms just got caught.” ol r ag gives women the absolute an ain d go st Li int ke ind or ing o beginn ep tot ally most teen preg endent studies for for. Now whenev they went through. “At the nancy dramas, the remainder of er sex comes up right to abortion tioo n in the you’re probably ex r, I pr he ins eg togethe r were tan na we thi ed] nc tly happen y. nk it pe Pa [when of preg nancy…in cting that when Pa culba actually go culba the game a general sense. first three months onnth h s of of t ahead of thi discovered she ha I nk about how ma by en rolling in tw d become preg na then we broke up, then she found out,” ny girls in the fol o Cu nt es wi pregnancy. he ta th r cla boyf riend of then sse wh s ile low ma ing ye ars na gin said Mitchell. “We knew we had to wi g a part-time job five month’s baby ll get preg nant . , her from unprotecte 42 percent ntt ooff world came crash On Jul. 12, 2008 sex. To say ‘use d ing down. The thi work it out for him.” Garried went to , Paculba went a condom’ would ng is, all women choose oose did it n’t . Paculba took he into because labor at 10:30 p.m n’t wo rk almost every doctor appointment for most of the tim r sit uation step . e to get an abortion tion ste by no p, bo be dy to gin it lis make ’t nin “[L ten couldn especially not rig g with telling her abor] was actuall s, his unborn son (he secret. ht in the mome y easier [than I because they doo not “I told my paren tho nt. ug ht Bu I’d it t als wo a couple because of football). He was o uld say make su re yo ts fou r days aft be]. I think I go er I easy, thoug have the resources rces fou nd out. It wa u pick the right t let off perso s a Satu rday mo h. I did get an epidu n. Sex isn’t just there during the 19 hours of labor that rn an act, at least no ing ral an to bring up a cchild. hii d. hhil I ab go d ou t t in ha wa bed with my mo lf me. You mi y thr t ou to gh , it took Damon’s mother to have him and an d ght end up being m and just blu rte it was the best de Eleven percent believes t bel el iev eliev i ess it out. She starte att cis d ac ion he on . d I ly to pu tha pe sh rson forever.” t ed for 20 minutes d cr ying and we just cried thing and did n’t feel a together. But she that they are too ooo young you ng to to . I was very for tu told me thanks for nate.” telling her now instead raise a child. Six Sii x ppercent errc r c entt At 1:2 0 pm, Paculba he of six months for ld 6lbs, 9oz Jade m now. Kalea Then I told my receive abortions in her ar ms. With dad and he cried blue eyes and brow too and hair, could n’t even loo because either her the n Jade looks exactly k or tal k to me the like her father. whole day. For about thr woman or the fetus is “[Life is] actually ee weeks my paren prett y much the sa ts cried except ever yday about it. in danger. Twoo percent me, I have mare res I felt so selfish.” ponsibilities, and of all abortionss aare re don donee Paculba’s friends have a baby to ca I seemed to take re for most of the news easier. the still do ever day. But I due to an abusive ivve sexual sex ex uall ything I did befor e: same friends act as reported www. d byy ww w w w..

“W hen I told my and I still go out friends we were ever y once in a wh together, and the all NARAL.com. ile.”

Although Pacu y were all quiet. lba’s high sc But then life they were excited The PRHS student fits hool doesn’t seem to and suppor tive. have changed too I don’t dramati know how ever yo into the too young ung to raise a cally, her futu re ne at the high sc plans have. hool felt, and I did n’t want child category.

“O bv iously I can’t jus to know. I’m su re t take off and people leave ou had rude things to “I don’t think that I t of tow n, but I am say about it, but going to apply at I alw ays Cal Poly an just told myself tha could have given baby vee n the t he bab ab by d hopefully get in. t I also was some one who alway If not, there’s decided to keep a good life,” sh she said. h e sa he a id . “II s Cuesta and the her. There are mi n transfer ring, bu llions of I’m girls who have go wasn’t about to give o giv ve my my t for su re going to tten preg nant but go to college. Af just did n’t colle follow through, an child away to a stranger stranger, err, ter ge Ryan and I wa d I’m proud of my nt to move out of self that either I was confident en and create another other messed d sta te, Co lor ough to do that.” ado or Ut ah and try and have a up person because use I made a The thought of better life than an abor tion ne str uggling in expe crossed Paculba’s ver Califor nia mistake. No, abortion saved nsive .” mind. It did n’t cro ss her PR ICELESS FACE my life.”

Many teens don’t : Je nn a Pa culba and her think about the gr avity daughter Jade Kalea. Photo cou rtesy of Jen

More playing time

I

Not another tee n mother

L

Of 176 students polled we found that

na Paculba

Student Resource C Center t on a mission

I

n the th school scchool year yea ye e r of of 07-08, 07-008, Student Studeentt Resource R essource ourrce Center C terr counselor Cen couns unselo elorr Tina elo Tina Lessi Leessi s si met with 177 pregnant and 25 parenting teens teen ns enrolled in PRPS. Although it may seem like a large number, it was down from the previous year.

22,” “I think it was waas a little over o ovver 22 2,” ssaid aid Lessi about number the nu umber of teens teen ns that that were weere pregnant pr gna pre naant nt in n thee 06-07 06-07 -00 school year.

Lessi is the counselor couns nselor who ns ho wor w works kss clo closely ose sel e y with wit ith t all aalll the parenting teens in Paso Robles school district using a program called Cal-S.A.F.E. Some of Cal-S.A.F.E.’s goals are to keep the students graduate in school, help them gradua dua duate uatee and nd prevent rep repeat epeat p ep pr pregnancies, eegn eg g anc ancies, w which, hich, hic ich, wit with ith tthe he he program, progra pro g am, gra m, iss less lees ess than than one one percent. peerccent ent.

Illustrations by Zoe Kingsbury girls] before ““Usually “U sually llly [t lly [[the the g girls s] ccome s] om me in be eforee

they know for sure if they are pregnant, so they are scared and nervous,” said Lessi.

“After they find out some are super excited and some don’t know how to tell their boyfriend and families,” said Lessi “And a lot ask, ‘What am I going to do?’” she continued.

Lessi also wanted to make it clear that she didnt limit her work to the mothers only.

“I work with both males and females,” said Lessi.

Although in the past Lessi has seen the father leave the picture after the first year of their child’s life, but many stay.

Sophomore Tyler Dollinger was surprised by the pregnancy rate in our school district.

“I never really thought about it. I didn’t think that any one would be dumb enough to do it,” said Dollinger, who thought that teens should be using birth control and condoms to prevent pregnancy.

Because the number of pregnant teens varies every year, it is unclear whether PRHS has the highest pregnancy rate. We are in the top two percent as far as counties go, with the other spot going to the Lucia Mar School District which encompasses Arroyo Grande. “[The pregnancy rate] is too high, I would love to put myself out of business in retrospect,” said Lessi, whose goal is to see the pregnancy rate at Paso drop to almost nothing. One of Lessi’s ideas to accomplish her goal is that, “Parents should keep open lines of communication with their teens, and hold to their household rules. Know where and with whom your teens are associating with.”

by Amanda Bean, Circulation Manager RIGHT: Student Resource Counselor Tina Lessi Photo credit: Amanda Bean

The facts, truth and legality of statutory rape

W

hether or not a couple decides to have sex is presumptuously the decision between the two, however, there are a series of laws that actually condemn sexual activity between a minor and a adult of certain age difference as an illegal act.

“I’m sure people who go to Paso are sleeping with people who are over 18,” said junior Matt Ramos. If this is, in fact, the case, such people would be wrestling with the complicated issues involved with statutory rape. As stated in the California Penal Code Section 261.5 Article C, “Any person who engages in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is more than three years younger than the perpetrator is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony.” Penalties increase if the minor is under 14 and the adult is older than 21.

According to a school pole held at PRHS, 75% of students know someone at the high school that has had sex with someone over 18. That number should not be taken lightly, according to California Criminal Defense and Social Security Lawyer Jerry R. Lowe.

“It’s the law, and there’s a lifetime of consequences that can attach to being charged and convicted, for instance they could have to register as a sex offender for life,” said Lowe.

These laws were issued in order to protect minors that may desire re sex from manipulation or deceit.

“The bottom line is the government doesn’t view minors as being g able to make a choice like that,” said Lowe. s.

It isn’t only a matter of adults being sexually active with minors.

Even when two minors are three years apart and under the age of 18, 8, “they can still be found guilty,” said Lowe.

“Typically they don’t get prosecuted, but its possible and it has as happened.”

The reason they often aren’t getting prosecuted is because a case e like this is usually private and consensual. In order to be prosecuted, d, the issue has to be brought to the district attorney’s office, and this is often happens when the parents find out and have a problem with thee their child’s sexual relationship.

“Its up to the district attorney’s office whether they want to o pursue the case. Typically, if the parents of one of the parties are not ot happy about it, they can go to the DA’s office and put pressure on n them. The DA is going to look at the whole situation and decide if its ts worth pursuing,” said Lowe.

“An “Another A thing kids n need ee eed e tto o be aware of and take into t to consideration consid ssid idera eratio ttio on [is [iss that], tha hat] t], iff this t] th his i love llo ove relationship ov re tionsh rela nship nsh ip p goes go goe g o s bad, oe bad, ad d it i could co ou uld d have em ore r co re onse n qu uence nces than n a broken nh ear t.”” sai ssaid sa a d LLowe. owe. owe more consequences heart.”

TThat Tha hatt is, is, if a minor mino or and and an n adult adu ad d lt are r involved re in invol inv volved e se ed ssexually xu llyy w xua itth with eac ch other, and then get into a fight, gh ht, the e minor mi minor no can c ttake ake k the case each to the e di district strict attorney, claiming statutory rape. rape.

“Usually guys get prosecuted [for this],” said Lowe, “I’ve never seen a girl get prosecuted.”

Lowe feels fee elss that that too many young people p ople are unaware pe unawa war wa w are of the repercussions repercus cusssionss involved inv in nvolv nv olved e with wi h statutory wi wit stat ta uto ta utoryy rape. rap a e. many understand “There are are e too man a y tthat ha do hat don’t n’t u nder derstaand d the consequences,” conseque en ncces,” hee said, saa d, “There “TTherre are are too oo o o many ma m nyy kids having sex and getting i into trouble.”

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Co-editor

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October 23, 2008

¿Desea papas fritas con eso?

Mexico places among the U.S. in obesity

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor “It’s the tacos!” said one PRHS student when hearing Mexico is now the second fattest country in the world, according to NationMaster.com and Fox News. Tacos are not the only foods to blame; fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s, and unhealthy vending machines have appeared in the past couple years and are doing their job, according to SignOnSanDiego.com.

“People don’t eat right anymore.

Instead of coming here [fruit stand] and purchasing a fruit drink, they prefer to walk across the street and buy fried pork chips. That’s why so many Mexicans are obese,” said Lidia Gracia Garduno in a Mar. 2008 report by Fox News.

In 1989, less than ten percent of Mexican adults were overweight.

Now, more than 71 percent of Mexican women and 66 percent of Mexican men are overweight, according to Fox News.

Over the past 19 years, the percentage of overweight adults increased by approximately 58 percent. Children between the ages of five to eleven are also overweight. They had a 40 percent increase in weight from 2000.

As a result, more Mexicans are being diagnosed with diabetes, along with high blood pressure and heart disease.

Mexican health officials are worried about the obesity problem and are trying to figure a way to fight against fat foods. However, some students at Paso Robles don’t seem to be too shocked to

hear their neighbor’s problem.

“They [Mexico] had a lot of Mexican restaurants with all the fat foods you can think of. I seriously gained like ten pounds when I was there,” said sophomore Arianna Meleandez, who’s traveled to Mexico.

Some other PRHS students are doubtful that Mexico is so obese.

“They might be bigger [in size], but they are poverty ridden. Most people live in shacks; they have a lot less than us,” said an anonymous sophomore, who’s been to Ensenada and Rosarito.

Sophomore Josue Gutierrez, who traveled to Tequila, Mexico when he was 12, agrees with the anonymous sophomore.

“I’ve seen poor streets where people are only eating fruits and vegetables,” said Gutierrez.

The increase in weight is mostly a mainland Mexico phenomenon.

Places, such as Ecatepec, Alsea, or Ixmiquilpan, have shopping malls and movie theatres, according to a USA Today report. Some towns, such as Rosartio, may not be as obese as other towns.

Either way, Mexican health officials are thinking of new ways to encourage people to watch their weight.

Some legislators think warning labels on junk food would be a good idea, according to SignOnSanDiego.com.

It’s possible food industries, such as Starbucks, would oppose to that idea because it might lower their customer ratings. Although one company, PepsiCo, has started a health program in order to get kids exercising and eating healthy.

“We understand there is an obesity problem. We’re trying to be part of the solution,” said Monica Bauer, spokeswoman for PepsiCo International, according SignOnSanDiego.com.

A national campaign called “Vamos Por Un Million de Kilos” (Let’s Lose a Million Kilos) has been initiated to encourage Mexicans to lose weight, according to Fox News.

However, PRHS junior Megan Bradshew is skeptical of both plans and stated a flaw.

JUMP ON IT: Arianna Meleandez and Josue Gutierrez

“I don’t know if there is something you can do as a whole for Mexico because it is each person’s individual choice what they do to their bodies.”

The defeat of obesity will not occur over night, but it important to start taking the first steps. According to Mexican health officials, Mexico could even become the first most overweight country, passing the United States, if people continue to eat how they are now.

“We have to put the brakes on this obesity problem,” said Mexican Health Secretary Jose Cordova, reported by SignOnSanDiego.com.

Fast food competes with the authentic

Students weigh in on what they enjoy the most

by Amanda Bean, Circulation Manager When PRHS students think of Mexican food, the first places that pop into their heads are Taco Bell, Del Taco, and El Pollo Loco. All of them call themselves Mexican fast food, but students like sophomore Emmanuel Jimenez feel that it does not come close to the taste of authentic Mexican food. “[Authentic Mexican Food] just tastes better, because it has a culture behind it,” said Jimenez, who enjoys eating the authentic food.

In a poll of 30 students around campus 100 percent said that authentic Mexican food tastes better, although 75 percent of the students still liked its fast food counterpart. “[I like] both but Taco Bell makes [the food] fast,” said freshmen Shannon O’Brian, who eats Taco Bell when she’s in a hurry. But making the food in a hurry is ultimately what makes the fast food chains lose in the overall taste test.

“Our [tacos] have a big ball of meat [called Al Pastor] and it takes eight hours to prepare them,” said senior Alonzo Torres, whose parents own Los

Alonzo Torres Photo by Micchael Mclean

Robles Cafe. The Cafe sells authentic Mexican food such as Chilaquiles and other cultural dishes that tend to take a long time to prepare.

“Mexican American fast food [places] like to think they are authentic, but they’re not,” said Torres who thinks that Taco Bell is fake.

“The first [difference] is the quality of the ingredients, and the second is the time taken to cook the food from scratch

versus making it fast, it takes many procedures [to make the authentic food better], real Mexican food is not deep fried, it’s grilled” said Spanish 1 teacher Linda Bernhardt.

Although fast food chains such as Taco Bell and El Pollo Loco are considered Mexican food, all the students feel that the title is not deserved. However they still don’t seem to know just what to call these chains.

“I consider it American food,” said freshmen Megan McManus, who does not like Taco Bell. However many others think that it should be called Mexican American, because the food produced is influenced by both cultures. “[I think it should be called Mexican American] because it’s [Taco Bell] a little bit of both, it combines the traditional food and the other food, and the ways of making it,” said sophomore Emily Galvez, who prefers home cooked Mexican food.

Although this battle may go on until one of the two cease to exist, it will never be a doubt about what PRHS students want. And in this case the winner of the best taste award goes to … the authentic Mexican food.

Photo by Michael McLean

Quick & Easy Salsa

by Brandon Stegall

Sports Co- editor

(Makes 6 servings)

Salsa (a combination of chilies, Dash salt tomatoes and other spices) can be traced 2 Dash pepper all the way back to the Inca people. The Tortilla chips history of salsa sauce began with the Dash of seasoning (whatever you Spanish encounter of tomatoes after like; have fun with it) their conquest of Mexico in 1521. The combination was first called salsa by DIRECTIONS priest and linguist Alonso de Molina In a small bowl, combine the in 1571. Now salsa is known as popular tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, cultural flavor. oil, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

INGREDIENTS 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes CAUTION and green chilies, undrained When cutting or seeding hot 1 tablespoon seeded and chopped peppers, use rubber or plastic gloves to jalapeno pepper protect your hands. Avoid touching your 1 garlic clove, minced face.

1 tablespoon olive oil

October 23, 2008

13

Hurricane Ike devastates Caribbean 200,000 Cubans left without a home

by Kelsey Garman, Arts & Entertainment

Editor

Two hurricanes, three weeks, seven deaths, 200,000 homeless: Texans weren’t the only ones running.

Hurricanes Ike and Gustav left the Caribbean in disarray. Gustav is considered one of the most violent hurricanes in the past 50 years, even compared to Katrina and Rita. Gustav hit the coast of Pinar del Rio, and Isla de la Juventud and Havana.

Ike, a Category 4 hurricane, hit the eastern portion of Cuba with winds of 215 km/h, reported in a letter to ACT members by Bob White, Deputy Director The cost of the damage is equivalent to $5 billion, most of this sum accounted for in the 444,000 homes damaged, and 63,000 homes destroyed. The citizens and government had civil defenses and contingency plans in place making the casualties small, but the impact was still great.

Out of those who still had homes, 30,000 families spent 25 days without electricity, according to plenglish. com. Due to this massive disadvantage to 86 percent of those Cubans, 300 electricians from across the region set work to repair the national electrical power system. 76 percent of these families have regained light.

Others are also contributing to the recovery. The Cuban Council of Churches (CIC) has supplied 5,000 families with food relief and hygiene kits, 2,000 families with social care, and 1,000 families with tools, seeds and fertilizers. However, this is only 0.4 percent of those homeless due to the hurricanes.

However, some Cubans were already living in ‘in-transit’ shelter since 2004 when Hurricane Charley hit and took four lives. “They told me it would be six months, but that was in 2004, and I want out of here already,” said kindergarten supervisor Marcia Escalona, who is currently living in an in-transit shelter. (according to ap.google.com) These ‘temporary’ homes are built to be just that, temporary. Cubans

who are forced to live in these until their houses are rebuilt suffer with small rooms, leaky roofs, and no ventilation.

In one case, ten people were forced to bunk together in one shelter.

However, those in Escalona’s case will have to continue to wait. Seeing as Cuba has a communist government, all building is under government control and many families are being put second to infrastructure. Government may use its resources for food before

construction.

Many people and companies have recognized Cuba’s need for assistance, as 63 countries and institutions have helped, along with 230 offers of support in cash and projects totaling in $30.5 million.

The U.S. has put its aid toward the need in Texas, our foreign policy making it difficult to send support to Cuba, and Haiti goes almost forgotten.

One thousand lives were taken this Hurricane season in Haiti. That is the last number the government counted before giving up counting all together.

One million people have gone homeless in a country with the population of 7 million, according to latimes.com.

Most homes don’t have a foundation, just two posts in the ground-making it easy for hurricanes to tear their homes apart.

The hills in Haiti are only occupied by the rich, and those who serve the rich live in shantytowns on dangerous and muddy slopes. Haiti hasn’t received the aid that New Orleans did, making even more difficult to withstand a storm.

“We are more likely to aid those closest to us. I am sure that there are

ENDURING DEVASTATION: Haitians wade through the water after Hurricane Ike. An estimated 1 million Haitians are homeless. Courtesy Assiciated Press

many Cuban Americans, for instance, who would like to help out in Cuba, but our political differences with that government make it difficult to act outside of our foreign policy,” said Ethnic Studies teacher Stan Cooper.

Also with the state of the economy, Cooper doubts that our charitable foundations will last much longer.

“We would expect our charity to be local given the massive need in Texas and the on-going problems in Louisiana and Mississippi from Katrina. I fear that as our economy topples in on its self that simple charity like supporting the local food bank and other community service organizations will begin to dry up.”

Hurricane History Across the Globe 1274

A typhoon ruined Kublai Khan’s first invasion of Japan.

1502

Hurricane present on Christopher Columbus’s fourth visit to New World.

1609

Hurricane near Bermuda wrecked English fleet bound for Jamestown.

1715

Hurricane destroys Spanish treasure fleet off coast of Florida.

1876

Hurricane strikes the Meghna River region in Bangladesh.

1957

Hurricane Audrey hits Texas Louisiana border.

1969

Hurricane Camille causes distruction through southeast Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

2005

Hurricane Katrina

2005

Hurricane Rita

2008

Hurricane Ike and Gustav, two week period.

Eight stupid laws from here and there 1. In the English city of Liverpool, a woman is prohibited from walking around topless, unless she is selling exotic fish at the market.

2. In Indonesia, masturbation is strictly forbidden. Anyone who breaks the law and gets caught risks getting beheaded.

3. In Scotland, the law obliges citizens to allow whoever knocks on their door to use their toilet.

4. In the state of Alabama, people are not allowed to drive while blindfolded.

5. In London, people are not allowed to catch a cab if they are infested with the plague.

6. Throughout Great Britain, pregnant women are allowed to deliver their babies in any public place and even use a policeman’s helmet if necessary.

7. In the state of Florida if a single woman parachutes out of an airplane on a Saturday she risks doing jail-time.

8. In Kentucky people are prohibited from withholding firearms if they are longer than six feet Source: News and Hotelclub.com

Current news from beyond our borders

by Tyler West, World Co-Editor Thailand: The Thai government and the Muslim majority regions of southern Thailand met in Indonesia this week to put a stop to years of internal warfare and thousands of lost lives.

Three Malay Muslim majority provinces in Thailand, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala have been trying to achieve independence for years. The wars between the Thais and Muslims have claimed 2,700 lives since the fighting began in September 2004.

The two factions agreed to meet again to continue negotiations in November, a meeting that could decide the future of thousands of people.

China: Li Chiangjian, China’s head of food and safety, stepped down on Sept. 22 after the Chinese-made tainted baby formula was released and infected over 53,000 infants, 6,000 of whom were Chinese.

The company that makes the formula, Sanlu Group, issued an apology and fired its head manager, after one of the company’s suppliers added the chemical melamine to the formula to create a higher protein content.

158 of the babies that are afflicted by the formula are experiencing acute kidney failure, and three have died.

murders in Rio de Janeiro is committed by police.

In Rio, Brazil’s second largest city, police kill an average of three people per day, and very few are in the line of duty. Confrontations with police killed 1,260 civilians in Rio de Janeiro last year, more than the total number of murders in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York combined, the magazine The Week reported.

“A remarkable number of police lead double lives,” said Philip Alston, a U.N. extrajudicial killing envoy to The Week. “While on duty, they fight drug gangs, but…on days off, they work as foot soldiers of organized crime.”

Many of the deaths are caused by miss-guided information and assumptions, according to ABC News Online.

Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a power sharing agreement after months of violent political struggle.

In the new deal, Mugabe will remain president, but Tsvangirai will Brazil: A U.N. conducted be the prime minister, but into investigation found out that one in five details have yet been presented

about how government duties will be split between the two.

Tsvangirai, who won Zimbabwe’s March elections, was unable to take office after Mugabe refused to give up power, which he has held for 28 years.

Mugabe had Tsvangirai beaten and jailed on several occasions, and did the same to his supporters.

Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe with an iron fist for the past 21 years, and violence and rapid inflation have followed.

14

October 23, 2008

Central Coast cleans up their act Sierra Vista keeps the coast clean and drug-free

by Michael McLean, Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor

Drugs have been an ongoing issue in the United States, and that doesn’t just include stoned teenagers. According to an article from the Associated Press, an annual estimate of near 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals (medicinal drugs) and contaminated packaging is being disposed of improperly, affecting up to 46 million Americans by contaminating the air and killing off animals that interact with the alienated wastewater.

This upset is generated when medication has been opened and exposed and the subscription cannot be fully consumed because of the death of the intended patient, or other causes. According to uspharmasist. com, hospitals and medical agencies used to have several options of how to dispose of the hazardous waste.

Sewers, landfills, and hospital or public incinerators were typically used for a long time, but, because of the Clean Air Act (an act put into effect to maintain quality of the air) put into effect by the EPA, incinerators became a scarcely used method. This left the dumping of pharmaceuticals in hazardous or biochemical waste bags that are taken

picture courtesy of freestockphotos.com

to medical waste treatment plants.

“There are three kinds of waste: sharps, medical, and biohazard. Sharps may contain broken waste and bottles, and most syringes,” said plant operations technician of Sierra Vista Medical Regional Center Paul Hess. “All pharmaceutical waste generated by this facility, if it cannot be sent back, is put in a waste container, picked up, and sent to Utah to be incinerated. Sharp and biohazard containers are picked up by a carrier and sent to Fresno where they are steamed and sterilized so the bacteria is killed and [then] sent to a landfill,” said Hess.

According to Hess, all local medical centers dispose of pharmaceuticals in a similar way.

“If they aren’t they’re violating state law,” continued Hess.

Disposal is so important that the government has strict standards for its disposal. “There is no ‘it cannot be done.’ It is done,” said a firm Hess.

California hosted a statewide “No Drugs Down the Drain” Campaign, which extended from Oct 4-11, 2008. This movement was meant to educate the public on how to dispose of leftover medication (more information can be found on www.dtsc.ca.gov).

“It’s a very good thing to do, because primarily hospitals are large disposal areas, but compared to residential disposal, it’s not the unit cause of water

contamination,” said Hess.

“It’s a bad thing [when pharmaceuticals are disposed of improperly] because it’s polluting the world we live in,” said BCASE member, leadership member, and junior Alexis Fabian.

Say goodbye to the Freegans live off society’s abundance Bluefin Tuna

The sea-creature we are hunting into extinction

One man’s trash is a freegan’s basic need

by Melissa Serna, Center Co-Editor To the modern day American consumer, the dumpster is a putridsmelling receptacle swarming with flies, trash, slimy food and old junkleft outside for the garbage man to deal with. To Freegans, however, the dumpster may just resemble an oasis of free meals, clothes, and usable items.

Freegans, a combination of the words Free and Vegan, are people who choose to live an anti-consumerist lifestyle by adopting strategies that result in minimal consumption and waste. Generally, vegan or not, the freegan movement is about living off

photo by Amanda Bean

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor of the excess of resources that appear to be wasted in America. Freeganism is a complete boycott of the capitalistic system in which consumerists are viewed as slaves to money, competition, greed, and materialism.

Often mistaken for “bums” or “moochers,” freegans believe in doing all they can to do good for local and global communities, and they believe it sets them apart as civilians.

For Leia (who chose not to reveal her last name) of Brooklyn, New York, collective member of Freegan.info, the lifestyle she lives is all about shying away from a culture of consumerism. “[America is] living in a bubble right now; a bubble of privilege,” she said.

T h e U . S . economy loses $100 billion every year as a result of food waste.

Supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores toss out approximately 27 million tons of edible food worth $30 billion according to the University of Arizona.

By r u m m a g i n g through trash recept acles,(a.k.a. “dumpster diving,” or “urban foraging”), freegans are able to find anything from untainted food to clothing, and/or electronics.

“I haven’t bought clothes in a long time.

The other day I found a bag of awesome clothes that fit my baby perfect,” said Leia.

Through the act of dumpster diving,

Freegans can obtain many usable items while minimizing waste.

The downside to this dirty deed is that it’s, well, illegal. Freegans do run the risk of breaking the law when it comes to scavenging for food.

If a dumpster is butt up against a building, or inside a fenced enclosure that says No Trespassing, you can be arrested or ticketed by the police, According to Freegan.info.

“People who are considering [becoming freegan] should know that it’s actually really hard and really illegal,” said senior Jamie Kellet, who, last year, studied the philosophies of freegans in a cultural anthropology class.

“I think freeganism is a good way to break down the barriers of consumerism,” she said.

Most freegans do not believe in sacrificing time for what they consider to be socially and ecologically abusive companies, especially those which cause destruction and waste.

“There’s no reason to put your hard work into something that’s, in the end, just going to shoot you in the foot,” said Leia.

So long as they can get the basic necessities of food, shelter, and transportation without spending a single cent, freegans will continue to embrace and encourage that community, generosity, freedom and cooperation that they live by.

Chefs may have to say goodbye to their good friend, the bluefin tuna. In the Mediterranean Sea and east Atlantic Ocean they are nearing extinction because of widespread illicit fishing.

The restriction for tuna catches across the Mediterranean is 32,000 tons. But WWF (international conservation organization) estimates

photo courtesy of the Associated Press

that the real amounts of catches of bluefin tuna are around 50,000 tons, violating the quota by about 50%. The organization says that the main offenders are France, Libya, and Turkey. These tons and tons of tuna from the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic are shipped to Japan, where they are of highest value according to the Bluefin Tuna Program. The meat can sell for as much as fifty dollars per pound.

Populations of the bluefin tuna have declined alarmingly over the past few decades in the Atlantic. Since the 1960s, populations have continued to decline due to overfishing. The population is classified as overfished and endangered.

The bluefin tuna has already disappeared from the North Sea and the Black Sea. If overfishing continues, the population could subside in just a few years.

October 23, 2008

The Dating Disaster

by Karlee Anderson, News Editor

Write in the funniest, appropriate things you can create in the bubbles shown above. Turn them in to Room 601 by Oct 31. The top five entries (judged by the CC staff ) will win a Jamba Juice Card!

Remember: Keep it appropriate—and more importantly—funny! Good luck!

—C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor Thanks to Ray White, Science Department.

By Aryn Fields, In-Depth Editor & Michael McLean, A+E Editor B e w a r e !

Uh oh! An U n w e l c o m e Aquarius extremely geeky tidings will face you. Little obnoxious pimple popping, Proactive salesmen preschoolers in sheet ghost costumes will come and steal your candy and ruin will swarm around you and conspire to all the parties you attend, to save you tackle you…beware the little children! from potential zits….sounds like you’re bound to have fun!

W h o o p s…

Sagitarius seems as though Your life will you forgot to wear your pants to school Cancer change as you never today! If you just looked down to before thought possible…your grandma check you’re condemned to only get will come trick-or-treating with you…

Twizzlers this Halloween! as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz… so sorry…

Oh snap!

Taurus Looks like you Oh my jeez!

Scorpio dressed up as a A crazy hippy at boy this Halloween. Believe me: your one of the doors you go to for candy this friends will notice your extra boy-ish Halloween will give you a picture of appearance, and extraordinarily…you Celine Dion gone rapper! Fo swizzle! make a pretty cute boy.

Wow! A super Gemini bubbly (and H A L L O W E E N ! sometimes ditzy) blonde girl wearing a Aries H o r r e n d o u s , pink tank top will soon be coming to a Approaching Lavender-Loving Old school near you! It’ll be almost as bad Women Embrace Everyone Nearby! as your little sister taking you to High RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN! School Musical 3 this Halloween.

[You get an A+ if you figured out that sentence spells Halloween]

Pisces:

Leo

Nancy Regan was wrong. You can’t just say “no.” This lesson will finally click for you this Halloween season.

O M G !

T h i s Halloween you will be forced to talk only in text message lingo, I know it is super annoying but you better do because not even I know what will happen. LOL....OMG..... NM...HBU...

IBD...get used to these phrases your going to need them.

Capricorn

I’m sorry but I, the psychic, am not in right now. I’m currently in Venezuela.

Please leave a message at the beep… *BEEP*

Virgo

Halloween is a conspiracy! So are income taxes...and

Libra global warming!

Sagitarius

Embarrassing Moments This year I was in the locker room and I decided to dance around naked before getting dressed, as I did my coach walked in and saw me in the act and if that wasn’t bad enough, later at football practice he told the whole team what he saw!..

— J.V. football player I was walking behind chairs in advisement and my foot got caught in between the leg of a chair and the wall so I totally faced planted it on the floor right in the middle of class, my shoe came off and everything! I was so embarrassed but I couldn’t stop laughing and neither could anyone else!

—Colby Yarborough, grade 10

“One of Those Days” Art by Kellie Keenan Day 1 of week 1

This month’s concept inspired by Isaac Andrade

Day 1 of week 9

Okay so I’m not exactly perfect, despite some preconceived notions (just kidding). I don’t always say the right thing, my skin isn’t exactly cooperative at times, and, well, the definition of graceful is my antonym.

First dates are full of excitement and apprehension and yes, awkwardness, but I was convinced that my cliché movie date four years ago was going to be perfect.

So I’m sitting in third period and he, (the dater, whose name will be withheld for much needed considerateness, passes me a note, “how adorable,” was my first thought…

Immediately followed by “Oh God he, (the all knowing teacher), isn’t going to read that out loud is he!?” I could feel my heart beating as he snatched the note from my hand and proceeded to read the following to the whole class “Will you go on a date with me, check yes or no.” My face turned a brilliant shade of magenta, and after what I thought was a near death experience due to sheer embarrassment, I told him (the dater) that I would in fact go on a date with him.

The following week consisted of tonguetied conversations about our plans to go to the movies, uncomfortable good-bye hugs, and no doubt constant chatter to our annoyed friends regarding each other, all of which took place between classes when we walked past each other and actually talked.

The following event happens in all the movies the day before the wedding, the perfect date, or the important interview. I woke up with the most unattractive zit on the very tip of my nose. It was like Rudolph came early. I was mortified. It wasn’t even the popable ones; it was like the red pimple bound to curse my face forever. I tried to fake sick and avoid the entire situation, but I had to face him,

15

texting wasn’t quite the trend it is today, and I wasn’t about to call my crush, so instead of faking sick, I put on all my mom’s cover-up (to her dismay) and headed to school.School went without incident.

Then my mom dropped me off at the movies as planned, staring at my nose every free minute she had from the road. Thanks mom. So I see him looking good, tall and blonde with the preferred messy-surfer hairstyle, (clear skinned) as I was about across the ever popular crosswalk to the front of the theatre (you know the one with all the people and cars, the center of downtown, yeah that one.) And as fate would have it, I trip over my own clown feet and go down in the middle of the road. Thanks feet. If that wasn’t enough, on-lookers, probably high school students started laughing! I get up, my outfit it took three days to pick out is ruined, my face looks like a pizza and I haven’t even talked to him yet. So after my little stumble, I walk up to him, his face twisted in what could only be an effort to not laugh, and his eyes steadily pinpointed to my nose. Figures. I wait for him to buy the tickets which is awkward, just standing there waiting for him to spend the money no doubt given to him by his parents.

We speed past the candy counter; because, lets face it, a kid in middle school doesn’t get that kind of money. We take our seats at the movie.

I’d like to tell you which one it was, but I don’t remember. (We’ve all been there right!?) not really, I was simply too nervous to even think about the giant screen in front of me. I know you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to hear what happened, so I’ll just tell you. He pulled the classic, ever popular yawn- now-my-armis-miraculously-over-your-shoulder move. I have to admit for an eighth grader it was most impressive. I opened my mouth, (not like that!), turned to him, looked him in the eye and said, “You must be tired, that was a huge yawn.” His arm automatically went back to his side, and his “yawn” suddenly registered, durr on my part.

So the end of my ever disastrous first date was our parents picking us up, another awkward hug, and a memory of the perfect first dating…disaster. It may not have been the perfect date, but hey I had a story to tell!

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October 23, 2008

On Campus- PRHS students create, express, and aspire

OUTSIDE THE LINES: Kelly Clark’s students sit around their tables as they work on their art project. (above) Photo and caption by Brandon Stegall

GETTIN’ DOWN AND DIRTY: Junior Zach Heaston makes his newest creation.

Photo and caption by Karlee Anderson

ARTIST’S GIVE: Gwiazda’s art classes make greeting cards to raise money for the Red Cross Hurricane Fundraiser.(above) Photo and caption by Monica Patel

Crim Chron crew critiques cinema Helping you decide what’s hot--and what’s not

Film

Rating

Summary

We Give It

“…If I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate. Now there are some people that might be comfortable doing that, but I am not one of those people.”

- Senator Barack Obama on Nov. 8, 2004

With the presidential election quickly approaching, some voters are still undecided. For those potential swing voters, understanding the candidates is key. The Case Against Barack Obama, released in early August, presents facts and key points made by the senator’s critics.

Freddoso examines the personal Nick and Norah hit the town of New York for one wild adventure. Nick (Michael Cera, PG 13 background of Senator Obama and, Juno) just broke up with his girlfriend, and meets Norah (Kat Dennings, The House more importantly, digs deep into Bunny). Wanting to prove to her friend Tris (Nick’s ex) that she wasn’t “alone again”, she his political record (or lack thereof). randomly walks up to Nick and asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes. Unbeknownst The author outlines Senator Obama’s to Norah, she just told Tris that her ex was her new boyfriend. The two of them get taken on an adventure when Nick’s band members lose Norah’s drunk friend, and are also on the strong left-wing political voting search for the whereabouts of the concert of their favorite band, Where’s Fluffy. After some record and his personal relationships crazy and vomit inducing acts, Nick and Norah learn they just might be perfect for each with questionable characters, such as other. The movie features an eclectic sound track and great cast, but just wasn’t able to Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a well known avoid the party and ‘boy meets girl’ clichés. name in Chicago Machine politics and A romance story starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, takes place in Florida at a convicted felon, and Reverend Jeremiah PG 13 beachfront hotel in marvelous condition, considering the regular occurrence of hurricanes.

Wright, his former pastor and mentor.

Adrian (Lane) is taking care of the small hotel for the weekend while her friend takes a With chapters titled “The Rhetoric vs. business trip; and Paul Flanner (Gere), a retiring doctor, came to recover from a surgery the Reality” and “Obama’s Foreign gone wrong, and was the only guest. They begin bond over wine, canned-food and real-life drama, and fall in love (didn’t see that one coming). From beginning to end the movie is Policy: Inexperience and Uncertainty”, filled with high-intense moments, bringing continual tears for the hard-core weepers. Howit would be safe to say that Freddoso ever, moments came which may make you question the realism of the film. The film tends to didn’t cut the Senator any slack; he did attract more of an older crowd, only a few customers who saw it were too young to own an his homework and found out the facts AARP card. However, it is a rather successful romance story. (Males are forewarned). that many in the American media have turned a blind eye to. Freddoso reveals how Obama managed to get elected for the first time: by getting all his competitors thrown off the ballot based on technicalities. He questions (several times) if the Senator is really offering change or just more of the same.

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor Along with using his voting record Paul Newman lost his battle with students. and personal influences against him, cancer on Sept. 26, 2008. His last hours “Paul Newman was a brilliant were spent with family at his home in actor who worked hard at his craft.

Westport, CT His last 83 years of life He was also a fantastic humanitarian were spent living the dream. who donated money to ill kids. Each Newman’s first big entrance was generation has stars who stand out for as an understudy in the Broadway play one reason or another [like Newman]; “Picnic”. After that, he played in movies the talented and famous ones [stars] are such as The Long Hot Summer, “Cat on dying,” said American history teacher a Hot Tin Roof”, Cool Hand Luke, Road Greg Williams, whose favorite movie to Perdition, and many others. Newman with Newman is Butch Cassidy and the ended his career with Cars, as the voice Sundance Kid. d i d ffor seriously i l ill children. hild h designed The of Doc Hudson.

Even in Iran, the citizens mourned “There is a point where feelings Scott Newman Center, which finances for Paul Newman. Newspapers, which go beyond words. I have lost a real drug and alcohol abuse education, was usually avoid tabloids on American friend. My life—and this country—is made by Newman after his son, Scott, celebrities, had front page features on better for his being in it,” said Robert died of a drug and alcohol overdose. the American actor.

Unfortunately, not all PRHS Redford, Newman’s film/liberal activist “I am sad for his death. He had a partner and friend, according to People students realize this man who passed positive impact on the world cinema," away. However freshman Josh Martinez said Tahmineh Milani, a director who’s magazine.

Besides acting, Newman created knows a little about Paul Newman. seen at least thirty Newman movies, “He’s [Newman] a great guy. He’s according to the Associated Press. his own brand of food in 1982, like popcorn, salsa, salad dressing, etc., a legend. He made his own ranch Paul Newman has joined Natalie called Newman’s Own. The profits from dressing! … And Paul Newman made Wood, James Dean, and John Wayne in those items went to various charities. good movies,” said Martinez. the big acting stage up above. He shall PRHS teachers realize Newman’s not be forgotten down here.

Newman also contributed to building the Hole in the Wall Gang camp in 1988 lead role in the world, unlike the Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are forced into government matters when a female voice calls Jerry and Rachel randomly (they must have been listed in the phone book). She gives them orders (for what, no one knows till the end) and send them on a wild goose chase (no geese actually used). They cannot disobey, and for their sake, must follow orders till the end, or death awaits (that’s original). Starting in a New York and ending in Washington D.C., the duo take on a series of illegal missions with their mysterious leader and bond over the life threatening tasks. Attracting all who seek a good thrill, Eagle Eye is filled with suspense, however reminds you of 20% of the movies you’ve already seen.

Nights in Rodanthe

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Eagle Eye

PG 13

Blue eyed kid smiles no more America grieves for actor Paul Newman

Freddoso uses Obama’s words to present his case. In the Senator’s book, The Audacity of Hope, he comments about his first political victory being the offshoot of producing and giving a “pretty convincing speech”. This speech may be similar to the speeches we hear today, loaded with talks of change and hope in the future. But the problem remains: no real substance to back up the claims.

Freddoso dethrones the King of the Media by using his own ultraliberal record against him. While a claim that the book was a fair look at both candidates would be untruthful, Freddoso does criticize McCain’s advertisements, which juxtapose Obama and Paris Hilton, saying that they’re not attacking the real issues.

Senator Obama has not yet issued a statement of response about the book.

Freddoso’s book has earned the honor of being a main selection of the webbased Conservative Book Club. Even a diehard Obama supporter would be well advised to read. If you’re conservative, you’ll enjoy the hard-hitting facts; if you’re liberal, you’ll enjoy being a well-informed supporter of your presidential candidate. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would suggest it to any American who doesn’t want to be a zombie voter, casting a ballot on a whim.

Presorted Standard Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit #56 Paso Robles, CA

Volumn 68, Issue 1

Pas Paso so R Ro Robles obl bles es H High igh SSchool ig chooooll • PPaso aasso R Ro Robles, obblles, California

October 23, 2008

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Blind Date

crimsonchronicle.com

Juntos Returns

People 8

new website

PÁGINA 12

Students confess depression

by Ethan Baietti-Saponaro,

Students chalked downtown sidewalks

Editorial Editor

Despite government efforts to relieve anxiety by intervening to rescue main institutions such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, and the $700 billion bailout plan, stocks fell below 9000 points on Oct. 9, to 8579.91, the lowest level in five years, a 180 since reaching a record close of 14,164.53 on (ironically) Oct. 9, 2007, the Associated Press said.

The depreciation of stocks has caused the loss of money for many

Here is something to cry about: one in eight adolescences will suffer from depression, and one in five suffer from a behavioral, emotional, or mental problem. “Psychiatric Annals”, a journal of continuing psychiatric behavior and understanding, states that of these children, only 30 percent receive any type of counseling.

According to these statistics, in the average 30 student classroom at PRHS, three to four students are suffering from depression and six are suffering from some emotional disorder. The other 70 percent who go through life battling this disease have soundless cries and are more likely to decide to end their pain…permanently.

Some untreated adolescents deal with their depression by ways of self harm such as burning, cutting, drug or alcohol abuse, anorexia, bulimia, or simply lashing out.

Some make another choice. Suicide is the third leading cause of death from the ages15-24, and sixth leading cause of death from children ages 5-14. So that boy you sit in front of in math class, or the girl at your table group in science, may be suffering underneath the skin.

The following are some anonymous interviews from PRHS students that have a personal understanding of depression: “I always thought of myself having a pretty normal life. I always had a lot of rage, and I always held in my anger. Every once in awhile I would totally explode, just breakdown on the ground and shake. It was kinda like a seizure, but I didn’t bite at my tongue or anything. Then my freshman year at high school, over spring break, my dad died in a car crash. He drove a big truck for a gas company. I didn’t know the details; I just knew that he died. That’s when things started to change. My dad’s family stopped talking to us, and my incidents became more common.

I started thinking in a different way.

I became afraid to cry and let anyone see me vulnerable. I thought it was better to be the bully than get bullied. I attacked without reason or logic. It was

See ‘MARKET’ NEWS pg. 2

See ‘DEPRESSION’ In-depth pg. 5

PRHS brought color to gray sidewalk with chalk

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor

Eleventh and Pine Street’s sidewalks became the artists’ canvas for nearly 100 participants on Saturday Sept. 20. PRHS students joined the community and participated in a chalking event designed to bring art and a chance at expression in the community, according to those who participated and organized it.

As students bent over the concrete at 8 a.m., creative passion filled the atmosphere.

“We like art a lot, so we are here and it’s fun… I did this last year, as long as I’m in Paso I’ll be doing it,” said artist and junior Mae Bradley.

Bradley and her junior friends Alison Hutchinson and Sarah Park worked together on a portrait of a person they found in a magazine.

CHALKING IT UP: (ABOVE) Students chalking in their squares on Sep. 20. Junior Jessica McCrum on the caw fish drawing won third place. Juniors Bethany Kilpatrick (middle) and Ali Whitebear (bottom) work on their square that won second place.

(LEFT) Zoe Kingsbury’s winning drawing. (RIGHT) Adult working. (BOTTOM TWO) More masterpieces.

Photos by Maxfield Vermy and Zoe Kingsbury

See ‘CHALK’ News pg. 3

Anxieties rise as the economy weakens Investors on a rollercoaster of recession

by Jairo Loranca, Business Manager

The fear of another Great Depression has grown in the past few months. With the government takeovers of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae on Sep. 6, bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., the fourth largest investment firm in America, on Sep. 14, and government seizure of American International Group (AIG), one of the world’s biggest insurers on Sep. 16., investors and the nation have felt the pressure of the world’s greatest economic downturn of the century.

Investors’ frantic selling of stocks

in the past weeks has only served to weaken the market further, dropping to its lowest point in five years on Oct. 9. As investors continue to sell, with few buyers, stocks will continue to lose their value further.

“It’s like having a fire in a cinema,” said Hyun Song Shin, an economics professor at Princeton, in the New York Times. “Everybody is rushing to the door. You are rushing to the door because everyone is rushing to the door. Clearly, as a collective action, it is a disaster.”

Congratulations to PRHS ’08 alumni Gina Alessi and David Hood, who won first place in the National Scholastic Press Association 2008 Design of the Year contest. Alessi was a Crimson Chronicle staff member for 3 years, her third reigning as Editor in Chief. David Hood was a staff member for two, with the position of World Editor.

We done on this momentous Well achievement, we’re proud of you! ach

CONGRATS: Staff alumni ‘08 Gina Alessi (above) and David Hood (right)

THIS SUCKS: NYSE investor reviewing panel of

Chronicle Index News.............................2-3 Editorial ...........................4 In-Depth .........................5 Opinion .......................6-7 Peoplve .......................8-9 Center .....................10-11 Juntos ........................... 12 World ............................ 13 Environment............... 14 Fun&Games ................ 15 A&E ..........................16-17 Health ........................... 18 Sports......................19-20

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October 23, 2008

‘MARKET’ Continued from Page 1

WHERE IT’S AT: Wall Steet where the New York Stock Exchange is located. Photo by Associated Press.

investors and the effects have been felt by some PRHS students.

“My dad has lost over 25 thousand dollars in the market in the past 3 months,” said senior Kevin Glaudel.

“The $700 billion bailout has not been

working yet, although the government says it will work. I don’t think bailouts are the answer.”When the $700 billion bailout plan was first proposed, disagreements between Democrats and Republicans led to a breaking down of

the deal in its first attempt at passing.

The plan was proposed with the hopes of buying shaky financial assets in an attempt to prevent a severe recession.

The plan failed on Sep. 29 after the bipartisan committee could not settle the deal, losing by a margin of 23 votes.

On Oct. 3, the bill was revisited and passed by a margin of 92, with 108 Republicans voting against it.

After failing to pass, the plan was given new additions in an attempt to appease both parties. The new plan now provides aid to small community banks and gives the government power to renegotiate terms of mortgages to ease the stress on homeowners.

After being approved, President Bush immediately signed the plan into law. The plan will buy assets to ease the credit crunch on banks so that they may continue lending to mortgage owners.

Since its passing, the economy has not responded positively. Though the law was reworked, disapproval of its passage continues.

“I think the bailout plan is very

iffy. So far, we haven’t seen any improvement, and the economy is just getting worse,” said senior Vivian Hatley. “The government shouldn’t

have gotten involved, this is suppose to be a free enterprise economy with limited government interference and this is just giving them more control over the economy.”

Other proponents of free market enterprise agree, and falling stocks have added fear that further government intervention could only make it worse.

“We need a market economy. We need to believe in ourselves. We need to believe and understand how the economy got us -- how the government got us into this mess,” said Representative Ron

Paul (R-Texas) in the LA Times. “And believe me, it wouldn’t be that tough. It would be a bad year. But, this way, it’s going to be a bad decade.”

Not everyone is as unforgiving towards the government for its involvement in the nation’s economy.

“I guess it was good for the government to get involved in some ways because it shows they want to help,” said senior Cristal Gonzalez.

“But I think the bailout plan could have been thought out better, the money put into something that would have worked. The stock market is still going down.”

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is now considering guaranteeing debt issued by banks in an effort to unblock credit markets, according to Bloomberg News. Paulson will seek to keep a level playing field for American lenders with the debt-guarantees before he can get his stock and asset purchasing plans up and running.

As the nation watches the economy sink lower and lower with despair, it seems that the recession is here. All the government and investors can do now is hope to find a viable solution to the crisis that is upon us.

New PRHS Senate gives students a voice School pride and campus beautification at the school wide level

by Meaghan Sullivan, Opinion Editor

PRHS students now have the opportunity to become involved in the politics of the campus, due to the founding of the school’s newest student government innovation, Student Senate.

Senior class President Roy Bezkostny had a large part in the recent formation of the senate. “The senate is a body for students to give their input on any issues they deem important,” said Bezkostny, founder of the Senate. “It’s an organized body that will unite the classes that are currently divided and bring a sense of unity to the school.”

More students than ever before have the opportunity to participate in the school’s decision-making process.

Students of every grade are invited to join as long as they maintain a GPA of at least 2.5, have no disciplinary record, and commit to the senate/ attend meetings. Member titles are President of the Senate, Class Presidents, Senators, and Senate Secretaries, most of which are still up for grabs.

In addition to these titles, several committees within the Senate specialized to different areas are being formed.

These include the finance committee, dealing with the Senate’s funds, events committee, which plans and carries out events, and the advertising committee, informing students and media of the Senate’s plans. The final committee is the Ambassadorial

Committee.

Members of this committee will act as diplomats with the PRHS administration in case of legitimate student complaint against the school. They cannot decide on the issues discussed with the administration, but have the ability to present their case and make suggestions.

Applicants should have a general knowledge and passion for helping to improve the school, not just filling up the extracurricular box on your college applications, according to Bezkostny.

“If you’re going to be involved in school activities, you have to be motivated,” he said.

Senior and potential MAKING A DIFFERENCE: The PRHS Sentate meets weekly on Wednesdays at lunch to address several school issues. Photo by Max Vermy. senate member Chris Dana, had a large role in the forming of the senate. He agreed would try to work out a compromise.” the importance of student involvement. discussion of what is to come, but they with Bezkosny’s message. “Students Students will primarily run the show “It should be a place where students can soon will turn into discussions and should be involved so that their voice is once the senate is established, however feel comfortable to discuss the issues debates about increasing school pride, heard,” said Dana. “The idea is to get Denise Conte helped the group get on its that matter to them: dress codes, bell beautifying the campus, and school as many people in the loop as possible, feet. “Adults don’t always know what is schedules or whatever else. As far as I policies. so that the true interests of the students important to the kids. We need people know, we’ve never had anything quite Interested persons can attend the are fully represented. If there is a to get involved so their complaints can like this at PRHS.” Wednesday lunch meetings in room conflict between the student body and be addressed,” explained Conte, citing The meetings are currently just a AD15 and inquire about participation. the administration, ideally, the senate

More to Nov. 4 for California than history making presidents

California has 12 propositions hidden under the mud of presidential debate

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor

Proposition 8

411 Prop. 8

Casting this year’s ballot requires some If passed the careful consideration. California voters have right of same twelve propositions some of which have sex couples to stirred up some recent controversy. Many marry will be banned. have heard of Proposition 8 with the potential to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. If passed, the right of same-sex couples to marry will be banned by the constitution of California.

“I definitely disagree with prop. 8 I think anybody should be allowed to marry anybody,” said senior Brittany Wolfe. “They [the state] should let anyone get married, shouldn’t ban anyone from it since they already live together.” Sophomore Natasha Wright also agrees, “It’s America we are suppose to have rights…and to sit there and say that they can’t get married because of their gender is B.S.” “I think that traditional marriage should be protected,” said senior Cameron Kerr. “Four judges from San Francisco overturned sixty-one percent of the popular vote for traditional marriage last year.”

Proposition 4

411 Prop. 4

Proposition 4 will change If passed California’s constitution to prohibit will prohibit abortion to unemancipated minors abortion to ununtil forty-eight hours after emancipated minors. physicians notified the minor’s parents with exception to medical emergency. Unemancipated minor is identified as an unmarried female under eighteen.

“I hope it won’t pass because kids could probably try and get an abortion their own way,” said senior Vivian Hatley.

“Kids are scared of their parents knowing they had sex.” Sophomore Melissa Gomez disagreed, “It’s a good idea that parents would be involved with what their children are doing.”

Proposition 5

411

Prop. 5 Marijuana possession penalties may be passed reduced under Prop. 5, the nonviolent drug If would reduce offenses. Sentencing, parole and rehabilitation penalties of initiative. 4.6 million dollars will annually non-violent improve treatment programs and limit courts drug offenses. authority to incarcerate offenders of certain drug crimes, treatment rules, or parole. This measure would expand rehabilitation programs offered to inmates and will have to begin ninety days before scheduled release. For possession of twentyeight point five grams of marijuana the offense would move from misdemeanor to infraction (like traffic ticket). Offenders under eighteen would no longer face a fine for first offense but would have to complete a drug education program.

“I think that’s [prop. 5] good. What else would they spend the money on anyway,” said sophomore Jorden Welch-Davis.

“I would vote “no” cause it doesn’t solve the issue,” said Megan Wookey.

October 23, 2008

3

‘CHALK’ Continued from Page 1 The requirement was: waking up. This event in its seventh year was supported by the PR Art Association and other local businesses and was free to close to 100 contestants who labored From red carpets to a block-buster-filled parade, this year’s Homecoming over the sidewalks with bright should expect quite a crowd, according to Leadership teacher Denise Conte. blues and reds drawing whatever “It’s all about the glam this year, glam, glitz and glam,” said Conte when came to them. describing this year’s Homecoming theme: Box Office Bliss.

“Participants have fun Before the annual homecoming game and dance, there will be spirit week creating art in the community,

Homecoming sparks more than fireworks

and a parade to help pump up the students spirits.

During ‘Spirit Week’ activities will include games such as Hole In The Wall, a game inspired by the TV show where shapes are cut out and you have to go through it without ripping the styrofoam. There will also be giveaways, and the presentation of Homecoming royalty and nominees Leading up to the game, the parade, will consist of each grade level and clubs portraying themes from different movies. The parade will start at 4 p.m., and will start going down Spring St., around the park, down 17th St. then will return to its starting place where the floats will be dismantled.

The price for the Hollywood-themed Homecoming dance on Oct. 18th is still being arranged.

—Jessica Madrid

A city in celebration

Free beans and free music; there is no better way to spend a Saturday morning in Paso Robles. The citizens of Paso Robles get all this and more when they celebrate Pioneer Day. This is an annual event held in the downtown, and this event is used to bring together citizens of this city to remember their heritage as well as celebrate their hometown.

Many prominent citizens and teachers of Paso Robles are involved in this event. Since 1986, foreign exchange club director, economics and history teacher Gregg Williams, has been an annual participant. “It’s very fun when we bring foreign and American students together, doing this adds a lot to the quality of the parade,” stated Williams as he reminisces on past parades.

Another long-term participant has been the PRHS marching band. For several decades the band has been a focal point of this event.

“Hopefully, people will get the sense of community, and will be reminded where their roots are, and the bravery their founding fathers had when they settled here,” said PRHS band director, Doctor Kirk Weller.

The first Pioneer Day was held on October 12, 1931. The goal of the volunteer’s was to provide a day of community friendship and a commemoration recognizing the heritage of the Paso Robles area.

Pioneer day has also become a time to say “Thank You” to all of the people who support the business and professional community of the area throughout the year. Most businesses are closed. There are no charges for any of the events, no commercial concessions and lunch is provided at no cost.

—Taylor Szabo

School Board seeks four contenders In November seven Paso Robles citizens will race for a spot on the Joint

Unified School Distrtict Board of Trustees.

With four positions open, the seven will be given the opportunity to share their ideas on how they can improve Paso schools. The four candidates will join incumbents Jay Packer, Joe Quiroz, and Jeanne Dugger to assist with new projects and programs.

“I think the favorite part for me is to going out to the schools, seeing what the students are up to, and the new things they are learning.” stated Debi Saunders, president of the board and whose son Scotty is a junior at PRHS. The Board was established on Jul. 1, 1997 in the hopes of creating a more structured school system, and finding better ways to support and guide students and teachers. Today, the Board is responsible for accepting and denying proposals and setting policies for the district. Tim Gearhart, one of the prospects, says that the biggest issue the new board will tackle is finances.

With so many new developments, such as the new buildings being added to PRHS the prospects all wish for good communication and representation throughout Paso.

—Caitlin Raithel

As RTA riders increase, funds decrease

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a new spending plan under which more than 828 million dollars that is supposed to go to public transportation will be redirected towards bailing the state out of its financial problems, as reported by the L.A. times. Schwarzenegger’s plan was made public on May 15, 2008 and still awaits approval from legislature in order for it to be enacted.

While Schwarzenegger suggests that these cuts are intended to be spent on bond payments and school transportation for students, the lack of funds for our local Regional Transit system could create a shortage in public transportation in our county, thus causing problems for central coast commuters who have to spend more money on gas or find new means of transportation.

RTA Riders have gained the last six months and with fuel prices at all time highs, most of our buses are running at capacity. Our riders increased 26 percent for our last fiscal year (July 2007-June 2008) compared to the same period last year,” said Ed King, Regional Transit Manager of RTA. RTA is receiving fewer funds, making it harder to provide efficient equipment and more buses to offset the overcrowding of our current buses.

“As it looks right now, RTA stands to lose over $100,000 in state funding this year. This means that we will need to cut that amount out of our operating budget, which could include service, which is the very last thing that we want to do,” said King.

“I’m pretty much horrified,” said senior Danielle Martin, a frequent RTA bus rider, “There are so many people who rely on [RTA public transportation],” she said.

Many people relying on the RTA will be forced to await the changes they may have to conform to.

—Melissa Serna

the competition that ended at 2 p.m. The contest was broken up into four categories; elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult. In the high school category third place went to junior Jessica McCrum for her caw fish drawing. Juniors Ali Whitebear and Bethany Kilpatrick placed second on the two elephants they drew, and

Senior Zoe Kingsbury won first for her portrait of a women and a fox.

Junior Will Venturini, who worked solo on the figure featured in “Blue” by the band Europop, also attended the event. “[It was] really cool to see what people can do with chalk and their artistic abilities,” said Venturini.

College presidents spark debate about minimum drinking age Questions arise concerning the 21 year cutoff

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Editor Although the drinking age has been at a minimum of 21 for over 20 years, an organization titled the Amethyst Initiative aims at raising questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the law.

“Our experience as college and university presidents convinces us that twenty-one is not working,” it states on their official website, www. amethystinitiative.org.

Amethyst Initiative has gathered together nearly 150 signatures from university presidents all over the country, including those from Dartmouth College, Arcadia University and John Hopkins University.

Many college leaders however, including President Warren Baker of Cal Poly, oppose the idea of a lower drinking age and have refused to sign. Vice president of student affairs at Cal Poly, Cornel Morton, states that a lowered drinking age would lead to more alcohol related deaths of those under 21.

“One unfortunate perception is that drinking in college is expected, [and] lowering the drinking age doesn’t resolve that issue for us,” Morton said.

Reported by the Tribune, Aug. 19 2008.

On the other side of the debate, Amethyst Initiative officials believe that underage college students binge drink to “hide their illegal activities and consume alcohol rapidly,” Reported by the Tribune, Aug.

PARTY TIME: The Amethyst Initiative has raised questions requarding laws directed at drinking the drinking age, which is highly controversial. Photo by Zach Burgraff.

19 2008.

“I don’t think the alcohol age should be lowered, people aren’t mature enough at the age of 18 to handle the responsibility,” said PRHS junior Matt Ramos.

Another statement made by Amethyst Initiative is that “adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.”

The United States also holds the place of highest minimum drinking age in the world, while most other countries allow alcohol consumption at 16 or 18.

Senior Ingo Simons, a German foreign exchange student this year at PRHS, agrees. “In Germany

the drinking age is 18 and it’s not really a problem, the people are not going mad and people are not drinking too much,” he said.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984, and since then, under this and the Federal Aid Highway Act, a state that didn’t enforce the 21 year minimum drinking age would receive a 10 percent decrease in its annual federal highway apportionment. It was reported that after the law was set at 21, traffic fatalities involving drivers ages 18-20 were cut by 13 percent. However, nearly 25 years later, there are still 500,000 full time students attending fouryear colleges that suffer injuries each year related to drinking, and around 1,700 have died from such

alcohol related incidents.

Principal Randy Nelson opposes a lowered drinking age, and advocated his concerns that such a change could bring to PRHS. “I have yet to hear an argument that has convinced me that changing the laws that exist today [would] benefit anything more than a personal choice. I look at our school as, okay, out of the 2,300 kids in the senior class, we probably have 200, 10 percent, that are 18. If the law changed and they were all allowed to drink, what would the ramifications be? All you would be doing would be bringing the situation they have at colleges to high schools. As an educator, I don’t see any benefit to that. Would it better society at large? I’m not convinced.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving are opposed to the Amethyst Initiative, accusing the participants in the movement to be looking for a “quick and easy fix” on the underage alcohol problem at hand, Reported by the Tribune, Aug. 19 2008.

“You don’t have to have alcohol to have a good time,” said Nelson, “You don’t have to numb your senses and get involved in something illegal in order to enjoy life.”

The Amethyst Initiative has indeed been causing a stir, and this debate and conversation is exactly what the movement intended to provoke.

Super Wal-Mart planned for Atascadero PRHS students are looking forward to lower prices

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor

Atascadero citizens aren’t all welcoming the dancing smiley face, even if it is offering low prices always. Citizens have had mixed feelings since 2007, about the possibility of having a Super Wal-Mart erected at the southeastern corner of Del Rio Road and El Camino Road in the next couple of years. Wal-Mart opposers’ main concern is that the large building will destroy Atascadero’s small town image and ruin business for the small “Travel is one of the great educational experiences,” said PRHS drama local businesses nearby.

The Atascadero Oppose Walteacher John Lambie, who is putting together a trip, along with Cynthia Mart organization, composed of Anthony, for any PRHS student who wants to go.

The trip, to London, takes place the first week of spring break; and the volunteers and led by spokesman dates are Mar. 30 - Apr. 6. The cost of this week long trip is going to be $2,595. Tom Comar, was able to put a This trip includes a trip to Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, a trip measure (Atascadero Shield to William Shakespeare’s home in Stratford, many museums, along with a visit Initiative, or D-08) on the to Abbey Road. Lambie will also lead the group to four musicals playing while November ballot that will restrict the group is there. large company stores, like Wal“Friends, and family can attend this trip,” said Lambie who would like as Mart, for certain reasons. Also, many people he can get to make this trip.

This is going to be the drama departments eighth trip to Europe, and as of a recent Chamber Commissions right now 12 people are signed up to go. If you are interested in attending this survey showed that 23 percent of trip or want more information, go to room 504 (the drama room) and speak the 762 businesses polled were not in favor of the Super Walwith Lambie or Anthony.

—Amanda Bean Mart and in favor of D-08.

“I just don’t see the big

PRHS is going to London

a chance to express themselves on the sidewalk,” said volunteer Liz Hanson, who oversaw the action in place of Page Graeber, the event organizer. Any profit made through donations went directly into the art scholarship that is awarded to PRHS seniors majoring in art.

People of all ages were invited to attend to draw or participate in

A-TOWN BECOMING MORE LIKE PASO: Soon Atascadero may have a Wal-Mart like our very own here in Paso. Photo by Max Vermy.

savior everyone sees. If we have to get something big, I rather it be something else than Wal-Mart,” said a small business owner in Atascadero.

On the other side, PRHS students would enjoy having another Wal-Mart nearby.

“Wal-Mart is great! There are so many things there, and it’s cool to hang out there. We should put Wal-Marts everywhere! It’ll provide more jobs for people; I’d work there!” said sophomore Courtney Aslanadis.

Some Atascadero citizens are in favor of the smiley face’s home and are convinced Wal-Mart is the way to go.

“There’s no draw [in Atascadero]. Wal-Mart is a draw.

Good or bad, it’s a draw, and they’ll [visitors] come to see WalMart,” stated supporter Betty Huff, according to a Jun. 24, 2008 KSBY news report.

After citizens vote on the November ballot, the Atascadero Council members will make a decision on the issue. Atascadero Councilmember Jerry Clay would be in favor of Wal-Mart.

“I have a high opinion of Wal-Mart [in general] based on my own investigation in this area…I think they’re [Wal-Mart] are making a great decision and Atascadero will be a good place

[to have a Wal-Mart]. Some people only stop in towns for the Super Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart will bring us to ground zero, so to speak [financially],” said Clay.

Outsiders, who’d visit Wal-Mart according to Huff and Clay, would also have the opportunity to observe the local businesses, which would help customer rates for those businesses. Atascadero citizens will save money by not traveling to Paso Robles for their Wal-Mart needs. Plus, a Super Wal-Mart needs about 350 workers, according to an article on ppw.org. This will help the unemployment rate in Atascadero, which is approx.

4.5 percent.

Some PRHS students, besides Aslanadis, would also consider taking a job at the new Wal-Mart.

“Yeah, I’d want to work as a cashier,” commented sophomore Hector Gutierrez.

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October 23, 2008

Juntos a regresado Juntos remplazó a Cultura

por Michael McLean, A&E Co-Editor y Gloria Rivera Juntos Editor

El equipo de el Crimson Chronicle estan contentos en presentarles el regreso de Juntos. Pensamos que los Latinos de PRHS no estan representados bastante. Por eso estamos agregando Juntos para darles un voz. La voz que muchos maestros, y estudiantes han ignorado por mucho tiempo. Cuando tenίamos Cultura enfocaba en las culturas de Europa y no en las culturas Latinas.Me diverti haciendo esta parte del periodico y espero que a ustedes les guste tambien. Los latinos de esta ecsuela tienen mucho que decir, y espero hacerles justicia en este periodico. Si tienen ideas hablen conmigo o con Sr. Mount, en 601, para agregar sus sujerencias. visitalo en pagina 12.

Cartoon by Matthew Pridgeon

Ivy Leagues support middle class Top schools are cheaper than most

by Kelsey Garman,

Managing Editor

Now those who make the grade have just as great a shot of not only getting accepted by a top school, but being able to afford it. Anna Chang, PRHS alumnus, class of ’08 and Cornell student wrote in a postcard to Cantrell, “Working on an application: 2 hours. Submitting application: $65. Getting your acceptance letter to an Ivy League/ school of your dreams: priceless.”

Yale, Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth and Northwestern announced plans to use their heavy endowments, ranging around $1 billion, to support middle class students attending their school. Our own PRHS alumni have already taken advantage of this price cut.

You too can get a piece of the action. The idea of paying less for an Ivy League then a California State University is something we want you to embrace: Dream Big!

In all, families who make less than $120,000 will experience a 50% price cut. Ivy Leagues have increased their financial aid spending by roughly $24 million, meaning $80 million is being spent to help you afford your dream school.

“Consider it. Write an excellent college essay. One way to approach this is to look at our 16th president honest Abe Lincoln, the log splitter. His initials are ABE: Anecdote, Biography and Epiphany. The best essays find a way to combine an anecdote and biographical information and come

to an epiphany/ conclusion about the universe,” said AP English teacher, Aaron Cantrell.

A majority of their undergraduate students are either of the upper-class who can afford the Ivy League tuition, or of the lower class who can receive financial aid, according to the Senate Finance Committee. The Committee instructed the largely endowed schools to fix this irregularity by off-setting tuition costs. The number of middleclass students has been declining at Ivy Leagues, because middleclass families can’t pay the high tuition, which ranges from $30$50,000,but receive too high an income to qualify for financial aid. Those who make less than $60,000 a year will no longer have to pay tuition, and families earning $60,000 to $120,000

will contribute from 1 percent to 10 percent of total family income, according to yale.edu.

“Going to Cornell was the best decision I have made in my life,” said Chang. “Although it is far away from home and my friends, exploring a different environment and meeting different people more than makes up for leaving home.

Also the prestige of an Ivy League gives you special opportunities.”

According to Chang, in September Google and Microsoft gave presentations to the Engineering students for possible interns.

PRHS alumnus Elaine Silver attends Columbia, where in September held a McCain-Obama debate this year. She agreed with Chang, but admits to some downsides. “Most people are

extremely competitive and the general atmosphere ripples with intellectual energy. There are so many good opportunities…”

You have a greater chance to receive one of the finest educations you can, without the financial hardships.

“You do not have much to lose by trying to apply but, you have so much you can potentially gain.

Initially, it was very scary to go so far from Paso, but the experiences I have gained make everything incredibly worthwhile,” said Silver.

Chang agreed, but left these words for PRHS students: “Don’t be afraid of the unknown. Go out and explore the world and grab every opportunity out there.”

Sara Callahan

Rebecca Horne

Kelsey Garman

Max Vermy

Jeff Mount

Co-Editor-in- Cheif

Co-Editor-in- Cheif Sports Co-Editor

Mangaing Editor A&E Co-Editor

Mangaing Editor Front Page Editor

Advisor

www. crimsonchronicle.com/801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446

Paso Robles High School (805) 237- 3315 EXT. 5601 Room 601

Karlee Anderson

Christina Weber

Monica Patel

Jessica Madrid

Amanda Bean

News Editor

World Co-Editor

People Co-Editor

Health Editor

Business Team Circulation Manager

Ethan Baietti

Tyler West

C.J. Prusi

Torey Wise

Caitlin Raithel

Editorial Editor

World Co-Editor

People Co-Editor

Fun & Games Editor

P/R Manager

Zach Burggraf

Melissa Serna

Michael McLean

Kellie Kennan

Webmaster Photography Editor

Center Co-Editor

A&E Co-Editor

Enviroment Editor

Jairo Loranca

Zoe Kingsbury

Aryn Fields

Gloria Rivera

Business Manager

Center Co-Editor

In-Depth Co-Editor

Juntos Editor

Guest Appearences Matthew Pridgeon Cartoonist

Chynna Rowe Guest Graphic Artist

Taylor Szabo

Meaghan Sullivan

Alicia Canales

Brandon Stegall

Business Team

Opinion Editor

In-Depth Co-Editor

Sports Co-Editor

The Crimson Chronicle is an independently funded, monthly publication of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. We publish monthly newspapers free to students and teachers. Subscriptions are available for US mail delivery for $15. Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. The Crimson Chronicle is an open forum for the exchange of ideas. We welcome feedback in the form of letters and emails. Letters must be signed but names can be with held upon request. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students.

The staff actively pursues advertisement accounts but reserves the right to refuse those deemed overly controversial or aimed at illegal behavior.

The Crimson Chronicle is designed using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop and prints with North County Newspapers, Atascadero, CA. Email: prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org

October 23, 2008

5

‘DEPRESSION’ Continued from Page 1 Confession #3

HIDDEN CRIES: Student who is suffering from depression photo by Alicia Canales

Confession #1: “. . .better for people to see me as a bad guy than feel sorry for me. I started stealing, drinking, smoking, and cutting; none of it was enough.

I would play girls. I would give them two weeks, and if I didn’t get what I wanted , then I would get rid of them, and if after two weeks I did get what I wanted, then I would get rid of them. Last summer my mom found out that I had been smoking weed. I went to Grizzly for five months. If they would have given me the choice, I would go back.

My sister saved my life. It wasn’t till after she found out everything I was doing and didn’t talk to me that I realized something was wrong. They [sisters] always saw me as being strong; and when they realized how strong I wasn’t, it hurt them, and I couldn’t let that happen.I have began rebuilding my life. My best friend now is the guy I use to pick on the most. I have a steady girl now, she is at Grizzly now, so I don’t get to see her often, but I am waiting for her.

I would not regret anything I have done because I wouldn’t be the person I am today. If I would not have been knocked down so many times, I could not stand up and be the man I am today. You can only stumble down the wrong path so many times before you find the right one.”

Confession #2: “I have always considered myself a reasonably happy person.

I have always been able to take on heavy loads of work and stay calm. I had to learn to deal with stress because my parents work a lot, so, me being the oldest child in the family, it is up to me take care of my younger siblings. My only comfort was my boyfriend.

We were dating two years before we mutually ended it. Before the end, we started fighting more and more; before I couldn’t say anything to him without him throwing it back my face. We were together nine months before we had sex the first and last time. I didn’t have my period for three months and when I finally did, we decided it would be better to wait till we were both ready just in case that did happen. When we broke up, I fell into a hole. I spent most of my time trying to make people as miserable as I was. I went days without eating anymore than a fraction of cereal or a piece of fruit.

The only way I got out of this was my work. It was the only thing I could do to stop thinking of him because every time I did, I wanted nothing else than to collapse where I was and cry. I still have feelings for him to this day, and I don’t know how long it will take me to get over him.”

“1 in 20 high school “sweethearts” stay together for a lifetime. In my opinion none of them should get married at all.

My own parents started dating in high school, and when they were in their very early twenties, I was conceived. From the beginning I thought I shouldn’t have happened, [and] my parents never made me feel any different. My father said I was ruining his life, or at least my mother’s by having me. He just wanted the abortion, but I happened anyway, so there I was, born into a life that I would never really understand.

By the time I was a year my parents were married and mommy was already along a month with my sister. As far as I can remember I have been traumatized by these terrible, horrifying nights of violence. I have lived a life of fear of not knowing of what is going to happen when I get to my so called home. My mommy was subject was to my father’s beating and we [my siblings and I] were subject to my mommy’s when she loses her temper. I have been a mediator since about nine, throwing my own punches and soothing the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by my parents to one another and to my brothers and sisters. The cops have been involved twice, once to protect me, and once to protect my mom. I was told by one of the officers that it was ok for a parent to hit their child. I have realized they aren’t a very big help.

I have never really felt as comforted by my parents. My mom has too much baggage of her own to care about me, and my dad would rather go smoke weed or do Crystal Meth. , then read me a bed time story. Now I have a constant amount of anger and emptiness about me that makes it hard for me to connect with many people. I

have asked my mom about seeing a counselor, but she would rather me talk to her. It is hard for me to open up with a woman that claims to be my mother but wants nothing to do with me.

If I learned anything from my parents it is how to pretend that bad things don’t happen. When those nights are over we pretend nothing happened. We pretend my brothers and sisters aren’t crying.

We pretend not to see my dad punch through the window. We pretend that my mom isn’t bleeding, and I pretend to be as happy as I can be.

When most people see me, they will see me smiling and laughing and pretending that my life is perfect.”

According to Recovering from Depression: a Workbook for Teens the first step is recovering from depression is to reach out and say you need help. Dr. Mary Ellen Copeland states that the longer that a person waits to ask for help, then the more difficult it will be in the future. It is also stated that when asking for help, it is more beneficial to talk to someone who will understand and someone who will be able to find psychological help if necessary in cases of self harm and suicidal thoughts, like a parent or a teacher The National Institute of Mental Health believes the best method of treatment is pharmacologic treatment [medication] and therapy.

Local treatment options are the Family Resource Center on campus, which helps with matters like mental health services, drug and alcohol abuse, and support groups. The number for the Center is (805) 2373470. In the case of an emergency, the suicide hot line can be found in the telephone book under Mental and Health services.

Codename: Random baggage search An investigation into racial discrimination

by Zach Burrgraff, Web Editor & Jairo Loranca, Business Manager Dr. Wakefield, professor from California State University Northridge, performed a study on racial discrimination at various Southern California high schools; results showed that over time school police harassed 27 percent of the eighty-five participants.

Interested by this study, we decided to test the accuracy of the report at PRHS. Our own scientific study tested whether or not minority students at PRHS are more likely to be harassed by school officials. Before we ran the test, we wondered what students thought of racial discrimination in general. Most felt discrimination was something left behind after the civil rights movement.

“The school system is about as racist as a color TV. I have never seen any type of discrimination from administration or students,” said junior Ian Dingler.

On a different note, some students feel that discrimination still occurs today.

“I do believe that in our school there is still racial discrimination, between students, teachers, and staff. It may not be obvious, but it is still under the surface,” said one student who preferred to remain anonymous.

To test the results of Wakefield’s experiment and quell rumors of discrimination, we decided to create an experiment that would put students in the path of meeting security and see how they were treated.

One Caucasian (white) student and one Hispanic (non-white) student were sent on a walk around the campus, at different times within the same class period, with an incompletely filled out hall pass. When asked, “What are you doing out of class?” each student gave the same answer, “I’m doing something

for my teacher.” Any data based on an answer different than one given was removed from the study.

Each student completed the walking course within the same class period to ensure that conditions, such as where the school security was positioned, remained as similar as possible. After each student returned from their walk, they reported back to us regarding their encounters with the security team or another school employee. According to the theory that school officials are biased according to race, skin color, or general appearance of students, a notable difference should have been recorded in the experience of the Caucasian student from that of the Hispanic student and there was.

Despite cases like Brown v. the Board of Education, which decided that the act of segregation was unconstitutional in 1954, claims of racism still occur in schools today. The topic of racial discrimination in schools was investigated

by W. David Wakefield, a professor at California State University, Northridge, in a report published on Apr. 13, 2004.

The report, titled Discrimination at School: Latino and African American Male High School Student’ Experiences, investigated experiences with racial discrimination at the high school level.

The study involved 85 participants from urban, Southern California high schools. The findings uncovered that at some point, school police had harassed 27% of the participants. One student reported, “I got to school late after going to an academic decathlon event and when I was entering school the school police stopped me and wrote me up for ditching.”

Codename: Agent Harvest Gender: Female Ethnicity: Caucasian

Codename: Agent Deo Gender: Female Ethnicity: Hispanic

Official 1: Hi, how are you today?

Harvest: Um. Good.

Official 1: Good, see you later.

Harvest: Ok.

Official 2: What are you here for?

Deo: Um, I’m getting something for

Official 2: Oh, Hi there.

Harvest: Hi. Official 2: What are you bored or

my teacher.

Official 2: Do you have a hall pass?

Deo: Yes. Official 2: Is this a TA pass?

Deo: No, I’m not a TA. Official 2: Do you know what’s

something?

wrong with this pass?

Harvest: No, I’m getting something

Deo: No… Official 2: Do you see your name?

Deo: No… Official 2: Do you see a date?

Deo: Ok, sorry.

Official 2: Who is your teacher?

Deo: Mr. Everest Official 2: You need to tell Mr. Ever-

for my teacher.

Official 2: Oh, ok.

est that it’s not an acceptable pass. If it doesn’t have a name or date you could be marked truant.

Deo: Oh, ok.

Official 2: I just don’t want you to get in trouble.

Hide and Seek

by Maxfield Vermy, Managing Editor We all know it. We live in isolation… cut off from the ocean, shopping (that expands beyond The Wal-Mart), and events that appeal to our teenage mind frame. We hear the complaints, see the drugs, and smell the beer, so staff members Karlee Anderson, Jairo Loranca, and I are dedicating time and energy to find and exploit fun and free things to do in Paso.

Our first experiment focused on small groups of friends, although larger groups might be more entertaining.

We took the classic game of hide and seek and attempted to find the perfect place. Oct. 1, senior Nicole Smeltzer joined our trio, and our first destination was The Wal-Mart. We believe smaller groups, like ours, kept the game under control and the attention diverted.

When I became “it,” I tricked my victims by looking and then hiding when I saw them coming toward me, letting them walk right to their defeat. Loranca had a brush with defeat; I hid behind a clothes rack, and when I jumped out right in front of him, well I’ve never done a ninety degree turn that fast, so I tripped and fell. He was able to escape because I knew I would have lost a chase out in the open. We thought a game in The Wal-Mart would have been exciting but it is a store, full of shoppers, and it wasn’t worth disturbing them or breaking something and angering the management.

That was not our only stop, remember we were trying to find the best place in town, so the next place was Sherwood Park located off Creston and Scott street on the south east side of Paso. The park closes at eleven, but eight was dark enough to still hide in the shadows and trick Loranca’s blind vision. As I was hiding, I realized there were possible hiding places despite the large light force the park had established. After Smeltzer was discovered, I made a mad run for a new hiding place only to trip on grass and face plant in the mud. The ruckus caught Loranca’s attention, and he came darting over. We determined that Sherwood Park had plenty of opportunities for an exciting game with all the structures, flora, and even a little river lagoon thing next to the park.

Our next adventure occurred downtown because, with the intertwining alleys, we thought it would provide a unique game. We were wrong. The only hiding places were obvious and limited. The game lasted four minutes, so we determined that a game of tag would be more appropriate for this area.

We attempted to play at the Oak Meadows Pathway that runs through town, but the size of our group was too small for a sketchy area. We came to the conclusion that a large group, not afraid of very dark areas, would enjoy this place.

Our last stop was Barney Swartz Park, last right off Union Road before it dead ends into Highway 46; you can see the tall light poles and green hills, so you can’t miss it. A soccer game was being played when we arrived, so we went up to the top only to find that it is heavily lit and lacked hiding places. We determined to play tag instead because of the amazing play structure. Our rules were complicated, but we saw how physically draining it could be.

Hide and seek was best played in Sherwood Park for small groups. If we were to play hide and seek again with a larger group, we would return to the multiple oak passageways for they had the darkest and most prevalent hiding places. We hope you take our findings and find your own activities to entertain yourself with. We are done with boring Paso, so go have a good time!

6

October 23, 2008

The Day ¡Viva México! Replaced 9/11

PRHS trades moment of silence for vibrant dances as the United States is, we should have should. “I thought that it was a great

MEXICAN DANCERS SHOW THEIR MOVES: Dancers showcase their skills in the Gil Asa Gymnasium on Sep. 11, 2008 in the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Photo Provided by Stan Cooper

by Tyler West , World Co-Editor There we all were Sept. 11 crammed like sardines in to the gym for a “Mexican Independence” assembly. The music began to churn

up, the dresses of the Mexican folk dancers spun around in unison on the wooden platform, tapping franticly but in unison, accented by the multihued ribbons tied in their braided hair.

“The idea of including all kids form all cultures and traditions at this school… it’s a great concept,” commented Linda Bernhardt, a Spanish teacher at PRHS. And as multicultural

U.S. quick to aid Georgia while Darfur is put on the back burner

no problem with that.

So as the skilled, but repetitious, dancers went on and on again, ¡Viva México! echoed in synch with mariachi music blasted through the speakers outside the gym.

Almost as immediately as the dancing began, the realization came that Sept. 11 is today, and here we all are, doing nothing about and as much as we could about a different country.

The victims of 9/11 were being left unhonored.

Yet this folk dance was the center of the stage, when just seven years ago, our country was a victim of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. Latino culture is an important part of the culture in California, but remembering 9/11 should never be forced to be remembered on just the History Channel and memorialized just in text books.

“Every day in Paso is white history day,” said Gregg Williams, a history teacher at PRHS. “If we take a moment or two include other cultures, it is great.

Including other cultures at Paso high is a great idea, and kudos to the PRHS Cultural Outreach Committee for organizing it. Students learn from the American or European viewpoint of history, so having a different perspective on things can really be valuable tool.

But this assembly was planned on the wrong day at the wrong time.

“You couldn’t hear anything. I just went along with it,” said Vicki Villa, a junior at PRHS. “It seemed like it went on forever.”

Teachers found this cultural assembly worthy of praise, just as they

assembly,” said Jennifer Fuller, another Spanish teacher at PRHS. “It’s great to share Latino heritage with students.”

“The further our country gets away from 9/11, it becomes less important,” added Williams. “I think that’s really sad.”

One “moment of silence” was held after the pledge of allegiance on Sept 11 to hold in memoriam the 3,000 that died and 6,200+ that were injured on that day.

“The school’s job is to educate students. The point of the assembly was to educate about Latinos. But it’s not that 9/11 wasn’t important, it’s about expanding student’s minds, to prevent other 9/11s in the future,” concluded Fuller.

So to set the record straight September 11 got one minute out of the school day, while Mexico’s Independence stole a good 45 minutes a choreographed dance, and a history lesson, two times that day. The school had to alter its schedule and add to the school day, just to promote a foreign day of celebration.

“Although the assembly was really representational, more should have been done to make Sept. 11 more meaningful,” concluded Villa. “But I enjoyed the dancing.”

More should have been done to commemorate the tragic day in which thousands died, and millions became scarred. Assemblies should have been planned, memorials should have been conducted, or lessons should have been taught so those victims aren’t forgotten “The attack on our country that day was very tragic,” added Bernhardt “More should have been done.”

U.S. foreign aid criteria may not be as sound as you think

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Co- Editor In present day Darfur, Sudan, a violent six year war is raging. Two million lion innocent civilians have ave heir been forced to flee their homes as refugees andd a roughly estimated number of around 400,000 have been gruesomely killed through an unbridled g. ethnic cleansing.

Multitudes more have ve died from disease and onflict, starvation due to the confl while others, often children, have been raped, mutilated and abducted and brainwashed by the Sudanese government backed Janjaweed militia. The country has been considered in a state of genocide by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a statement backed by the Genocide Intervention Network and the International Criminal Court.

Head north and another, perhaps more familiar, war is being fought.

Located at the dividing line between Europe and Asia, Georgia was invaded

by Russian forces in early August of this year. The massive military response was issued after Georgia, a former Soviet Republic, tried to retake the breakaway region called South Ossetia. Before the conflict began, Georgia was looking to join NATO and develop a democratic government. It has also been brought to light that the pipeline through Georgia could be another reason for Russian invasion.

“It is evident that the alternative for Caspian energy to reach world markets without using Russian pipelines is through Georgia,” said Georgian Ambassador to the U.S. Vasil Sikharulidze, according to the Washington Post in mid-august.

The fact that the US aided Georgia so quickly and has continued to neglect Darfur is unacceptable. Basing foreign policy on involvement that benefits our country directly and brushing aside issues that have, for years, needed immediate help, would by definition

make the US an em empire, not the de democratic republic w we so proudly declare ourselves to be. The fact that helping their co country benefits ou our own cannot be ove overlooked. Spheres of influence in the Georg Georgian region would be usef useful to the United States. Furthermore, the fact tthat giving aid to Darf Darfur holds very little bene benefit economically to th the US should also be taken into account.

In every sense, the Georgia-Russia conflict isn’t genocide, which doesn’t exclude it from needing aid, but which should put Darfur higher on the list for need of support. The US has sent Georgia a US Coast Guard cutter “loaded with humanitarian aid”, according to www. npr.com, as well as a one billion dollar a i d package in September, all within two months since t h e conflict broke out. America, as well as Britain, have also been “closely involved in providing military assistance to the Georgians in the form of arms and training,” according to www.timesonline.com.

Although some aid from the US has been sent to Darfur, it certainly hasn’t solved any of the underlying issues, and if anything the situations in Darfur have been escalating.

A 2004 Human Rights Watch report stated that, “The international community, which so far has been slow to exert all possible pressure on the Sudanese government to reverse the ethnic cleansing and end the associated crimes against humanity it has carried

out, must act now… [for] it will soon be too late.” Too late in the sense that “300,000 are believed to have died in the tribal conflict in the past two years,” said United Nations emergency relief coordinator John Holmes to www.cnn. com.

In May of 2008, the World Food Program cut back its food distributions, that weren’t nearly enough in the first place, by 50 percent due partially to increasing food costs. Also, little cooperation from the Sudanese government has come from the 14 security council resolutions and several UN peacekeeping efforts advocated towards stability in the Darfur area.

Clearly a more forceful approach is needed to create a lasting solution.

Now, with our country in one of the greatest economic crises in history, the much needed aid to Darfur from the US is becoming a more and more unlikely story. All at the expense of thousands of innocent lives.

The bottom line is that if humanitarian need was truly basis for determining foreign aid, the injustice in the Sudan would have been stopped years ago. Clearly there are other issues that the US and other countries find more important. If a war breaks out in Georgia the whole world hears about it and aid is delivered in a matter o f weeks, while the Sudanese continue to suffer and are cast aside. The United States cannot claim we advocate justice and fight for liberty while lending little more than concerned expressions towards the Sudan, it is simply hypocritical.

As stated by presidential candidate Barrack Obama during the second presidential debate on Oct.7, “When genocide and ethnic cleansing are happening, that diminishes us.” The Sudanese continue to suffer, and we continue to diminish our leverage to be a nation that stands for justice.

by Ethan Baietti, Editorial Editor & Jairo Loranca, Business Manager

Which is worse: Drug abuse or sexual activity Most young people have sex for the first time at about age 17, but do not marry until middle or late 20s.

This means that young adults are at risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for nearly a decade.

Teens, according to drug statistics, have a good chance of trying drugs at least once in their school career.

Students as young as 13 have often already tried drugs as powerful as cocaine, and the rate of overdose doubled from 1999 to 2004, according to a study on accidental overdose deaths.

Jairo: It’s obvious that drug abuse is the bigger problem in society than teen sexual activity. Not only does the influence of drugs affect the person doing them, but their friends and family have to deal with the effects as well.

Ethan: Well what about people with unwanted pregnancies? Girls ages 15-19 have 750,000 unwanted pregnancies every year, affecting many people. Mother, father, the grandparents of the baby that will have to support it, the child, and, in some cases, the tax payers that will have pay extra in April for all of the free health care and food stamps.

Jairo: You want to talk about the economy? It costs the government more than 58 billion dollars every year to treat drug addicted teens. As for the amount of people affected, drug abuse not only physically debilitates the addict, but the people close to them also have to suffer emotionally and that trauma can affect so many. If the problem of addiction isn’t treated, then all those lives are affected.

Ethan: If you want to go into

money then, let’s talk about the millions, if not billions, of dollars spent on the treatment and research of sexually transmitted diseases. Who is more traumatized the unwanted child or the casual stoner?

Jairo: While an unwanted child is probably going to have trauma, many unwanted pregnancies are the result of some kind of substance abuse.

According to researchers who wanted to see the relationship between binge drinking and pregnancy, 76 percent of the women in the report had unprotected sex as a result of binge drinking. Obviously the chances of an unwanted pregnancy are higher. In the end, they tie together, so why not treat the problem at the source. With drug use, the odd of risky behavior between teens goes up and an unwanted pregnancy may result. So if those teens had not done drugs, then the chances of the unwanted pregnancy would have been greatly reduced.

Ethan: They may indeed tie together but there is no rehab for AIDS or HPV. 9.1 million new cases of STIs are diagnosed every year. At least with drugs you have a second chance.

Jairo: A second chance assuming that nobody overdoses from cocaine, or gets into a car accident. The fact that the threat seems less likely makes it all the more dangerous. Teens are constantly reminded of the dangers of unprotected sex just as much as they are of drug abuse, yet the number of teen deaths due to drug related accidents like drunk driving is still higher.

Ethan: In the end Jairo, I think that it comes down to good judgment because neither drugs nor unprotected sex is good for your health, the economy, or society in general. In a nutshell, if you are going to do something dumb, at least do it with some intelligence.

Jairo: That’s the first smart thing you’ve said...

7

October 23, 2008

Debating the death penalty The following opinions do not suggest the personal views of the writers in any way but were expressed in support of that side for the purpose of this story.

Opponents speak out: Capital punishment is killer

by Kellie Kennan, Environment Editor Supporters of the death penalty assert that because killing is wrong, murderers must be put to death; however, the following points might just stick a knife in this mentality.

Although 35 states defend its use, along with the U.S. government and military, the death penalty may be faulty – as a deterrent or as a practice. Jeffrey Fagan, a professor of law and public health at Columbia University, would agree, according to his 2005 report on the subject as found on deathpenaltyinfo.org.

In his report “Public Policy Choices on Deterrence and The Death Penalty: a Critical Review of New Evidence,” Fagan stated that the death penalty is not a proven deterrent to future murder, and that studies that imply either side are too weak to trust.

“These studies fail to reach the demanding standards of social science to make such strong claims….Some simple examples and contrasts…lead to a rejection of the idea that either death sentences or executions deter murder,” Fagan wrote.

Fagan also noted that the cost of the death penalty is “extremely high.” The average cost of one of these cases is $2.5 million to $5 million, juxtaposed with the cost of a life sentence, which is usually less than $1 million, according to Fagan.

Another point opposers bring up is the potential of making a fatal mistake, and ending an innocent person’s life. "I

cannot support a system which, in its administration, has proven so fraught with error and has come so close to the ultimate nightmare, the state's taking of innocent life,” said Governor George Ryan of Illinois in 2000, according to amnestyusa.org. He eliminated the death penalty after the thirteenth innocent death row inmate had been released.

Mark Bradford, a modern world history teacher, would agree. “[The amount of innocent people killed is] a small number, but I think that one person who’s executed with the death penalty is one too many,” said Bradford.

Some would also argue that the death penalty isn’t fair to the killer’s family.

“I think that the person that killed another has caused that family great pain, so odds are the killer has people who love him too,” said Nicole Vogelpohl, sophomore. “[It would] just [cause] more pain in the world if he were killed.”

Another reason many say the death penalty is unjust is the argument of justice vs. revenge. “There are blood-thirsty people out there, and that’s their idea of justice,” said Bradford. “I don’t share that idea. I say lock [them] up for life in prison and be done with it.”

Even some victims’ families are against the idea of retribution. Bud Welch, whose daughter was killed in the Oklahoma city bombing in 1995, said on deathpenaltycurriculum.com that killing “is simply vengeance, and it was vengeance that killed Julie…vengeance is a strong and natural emotion, but it has no place in our justice system.”

It’s Time to Die: Pro views for the death penalty

by Jessica Madrid, Health Editor Imagine someone you loved so dearly, shared so many happy moments with was taken from you forever in such an untimely, crude and hideous manner. It’s a hard idea to think upon, but it’s a reality for many Americans.

What we need is justice, and justice is taking the lives of those who are far too careless to think of the lives they’ve stolen and the families who they’ve affected. We must show an example to the rest of the murderers out there that these sorts of horrendous actions will not be tolerated.

An eye for an eye.

We have a duty to keep the death penalty alive and to rid the world of rapists, serial killers, child molesters, etc.

Once they’re gone, the crime rate would lower and we would cease from worrying about who the next victim would be.

We would be living in a much safer environment, it’s proven. In 1973 Isaac Ehrlich employed a new kind of analysis which produced results showing that for every inmate who was has been executed, seven lives were spared because others were deterred from committing murder, according to www.deathpenaltyinfo.edu.

“Even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, and perhaps cannot be, capital punishment is likely to deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else,” said Elrlich Now, there is the grand argument that innocent people are sometimes found to

be on death row and death is their result.

However, it is a small price to pay in order to save the lives of thousands if not more.

Also, it isn’t as if the government is being careless and allowing them to die for the simple belief that someone should pay.

They actually go through quite a difficult process before deciding whether or not the person should die.

“Our present system of capital punishment limits the ultimate penalty to certain specifically-defined crimes and even then, permit the penalty of death only when the jury finds that the aggravating circumstances in the case outweigh all mitigating circumstances. The system further provides judicial review of capital cases. Finally, before capital sentences are carried out, the governor or other executive official will review the sentence to insure that it is a just one, a determination that undoubtedly considers the evidence of the condemned defendant’s guilt. Once all of those decision makers have agreed that a death sentence is appropriate, innocent lives would be lost from failure to impose the sentence,” said Associate Professor of Law, University of Utah, College of Law, and former law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, Paul G. Cassell to www. deathpenaltyinfo.edu.

Sure there might be a few problems in the system, but nothing that can’t be fixed and there is no reason to abandon the whole death penalty system. There is a greater good that must be done in this world, and that is to rid the world of evil and cruel people by supporting and continuing the death penalty.

We polled 109 random PRHS students to find out their views on the death penalty.

They were asked if they found themselves pro-, con-, or undecided. The results are as follows.

Pro-

Undecided

Con-

39%

33%

36%

Artwork by Matthew Pridgeon

Dress code controversy sheds light on deeper student issues One inch straps could be a baby step toward professionalism in the workplace

by Rebecca Horne, Co-Editor in Chief “It’s soooo hot today. How are you surviving in that sweatshirt?”

“Oh, I just don’t want to get caught by security for what I’m wearing underneath.”

“Straps not wide enough?”

“Nope.”

I have overheard such a conversation many a time since coming back to school, and the more I’ve been lectured about dress code crack-downs and forced to give up pieces of my own wardrobe, I can’t help but wonder, “How could school officials find clothing important enough to create such a controversy?

Did the dress code really change so much this year? And how are one inch straps that much different from one centimeter straps anyway?”

In a relatively simple explanation from Principal Randy Nelson, I believe I’ve actually found some meaningful answers to my burning questions.

“Many students are blurring the line between personal life and professional life, personal dress and professional dress,” said Nelson, who was responsible for hiring and firing young people in retail before beginning his career in education in 1993. “This is your job right now: to go to school and do the best that you can. You should consider school to be your professional setting.”

Though I have often considered my high school performance to be my current occupation, I still found an administrator’s separation of school and personal life to be strangely refreshing.

Not only do PRHS officials care about our future success on the job, but they also don’t judge us for what we wear outside of school. But I still had more myth-busting ahead of me: did the dress code really change from last year, or have PRHS employees merely tightened dress code enforcement?

The students’ answer: “it’s stricter.”

Out of 36 upperclassmen polled, only 22 percent thought the dress code hadn’t changed. And most interestingly, 100 percent of the students that both believed the dress code had changed and claimed to oppose some of its policies were female.

“Well yes, [it’s gotten stricter]. And personally, I don’t really like the one

inch tank top rule. It doesn’t seem like a big deal,” said senior Paula Baniqued, one of four senior girls to specifically mention strap requirement as their primary dress code concern. Most males polled, on the other hand, seemed little affected by this year’s code.

“I think it is supposed to be stricter, but it is not in enforcement,” said junior Thomas Grandoli, echoing the common statement that supposed changes in the code were mostly rumor-driven.

Indeed, for all the rumors about prohibition of flip-flops and NBA jerseys, the PRPS 2008-’09 Dress Code was only “modernized,” according to Nelson, not changed. The Paso Robles School Board, aided by a panel of elementary and middle school principals, specifically targeted clothing with “geographical references” (such as SouthPole) as fostering gang affiliation.

This simple emphasis on regionally related clothing has sparked rumors as to whether or not college sweatshirts or the popular Hollister brand should be banned. While I can’t officially confirm or deny this report, since all security

personnel (including supervisor Henry Jenkins) declined to comment on the issue, I feel confident that such a universal ban is highly unlikely as it would not serve to discourage gang activity and unprofessional clothing.

Allow me a quick side note: I visited the SouthPole clothing line’s official website, expecting to find some offensive statement that would explain the school’s singling out of this brand name as unacceptable for school. I was actually hoping to find some evidence of regional bias or gang affiliation so as to explain why SouthPole’s label is overtly “geographical,” while others like Hollister are supposedly not so offensive. I came away disappointed in the school’s judgment of SouthPole: while many of the label’s lines include styles that do not pass dress code, they have no more tube tops in their fall line than do Abercrombie and Fitch or American Eagle. In fact, the site even featured press releases supporting American troops in Iraq and featuring inspiring stories of hip hop artists from across the United States. Bottom line: I think that the school board could afford to revisit this brand name and sense the hypocrisy behind targeting specific labels over others . . .

Though I might still be frustrated with the school board’s poor clarification of “geographical references,” it surely couldn’t hurt me to look a little more clean-cut when I’m taking a test or to throw away a couple ragged tube tops . . . as long as I can sport a college hoodie to show a little school spirit. After all, until I can leave for that college, coming to PRHS is my job. And fortunately, I don’t seem to be the only senior who is optimistic on this topic.

“Yes, [the new dress code] is stricter, but I don’t disagree,” said senior Madeline Stokes. “Mostly they’re just enforcing the old one a little better.”

Myth vs. fact: Did the PRHS dress code change? no, it’s the same as previous years Yes, it’s different than previous years

22%

(36 students polled)

78%

8

October 23, 2008

The adventure began even before the date did!

by Sara Callahan, Co-Chief Editor and Karlee Anderson, News Editor “Road closed to through traffic” read the sign on South River Road. Yes, one of the lanes was barricaded and yes, clearly construction was going on.

These thoughts never entered Karlee Anderson’s mind. After all, we weren’t going all the way through.

She drove over the bar r ier

issue’s blind dater, as a piece of torn up concrete forcefully hit the side of Anderson’s Ford Focus. Fortunately we survived the treacherous journey and arrived at the Harris Ranch a couple miles farther down the windy road in one piece.

“Oh, Tiffany!” said senior Cactus Harris at the sight of his date for the day.

“I didn’t really know her. I just know of her. She’s a grade below me, and we went to Georgia Brow n together.” g ilin Harris n are sm Laughli c M y n had the a f if T d rris ane! a i t i nerary H s tu : Cac outs. Chees PARTYin for the day planned t IN u K c P M k PU gh pump better then we did. He began by along throu the torn up r o a d . introducing McLaughlin to two of The farther we traveled, the his many horses, Molly and Jana. more we realized we shouldn’t have Through a somewhat awkward silence, come this way. A collection of large the couple brushed the horses, and pipes two feet in diameter crowded the mounted their saddles, and made their right lane, forcing us on the wrong side way to his authentic Wild West themed arena. Harris showed the apprehensive of the road.

“Open trench ahead,” read the McLaughlin how to steer the hose second sign. After half a mile the pipes forward, side to side, and to her were gone, but then so was the street; surprise, backwards. From across the the right side of the road wasn’t even arena we yelled “your mom!” This was no joke. Harris’ mother walked into the intact.

“I was nervous about the date arena and first watched as the couple before, now I’m nervous for my life!” rode their horses silently in circles said junior Tiffany McLaughlin, this stirring up dust.

said After a picnic under the trees, both everyday,” daters anticipated the River K corn maze. Harris.

As you can tell, We hitched a ride with Tommy Harris, Harris’ father, on his hay wagon and slowly—very slowly—approached the corn maze. Along the way to the corn maze we made photo opp stops.

The couple put their faces into the wood cut outs and pretended to be anything from ghosts to skeletons. We finally made it to the maze and broke off into two teams: the daters and the matchmakers. Let’s just say the couple “got lost.”

After an eventful afternoon, Harris successfully got A’MAZE’ING DUO: Harris and McLaughlin find McLaughlin into his their way through the corn maze. bedroom. No, it’s not what you think. Actually, the date ended on a good note, but you would never think of this. Harris McLaughlin didn’t seem to be wooed ooed opened the door to his bedroom and by Harris’ insightful speech. Both oth gasped. We peeked around the corner confessed later that the afternoon on and soon knew why: McLaughlin was was a little awkward. seeing stars. Star Wars that is! Every “The picnic was nice. I was square inch—from the floor to the afraid the date was going to be ceiling—was covered in memorabilia of awkward. And, yeah, it was a the sci-fi series. little awkward,” said Harris.

“I like it,” said Harris with a shrug.

“We just didn’t click,” added ded That much was obvious. He moved McLaughlin. the Darth Vader cut-out to access his closet. He reemerged with one of the many instruments he has mastered: the accordion. He humored us and played a little ditty. “[My instruments] are all old, but that doesn’t really matter to me.

As long as it works. I make time to do whatever I want. What ever makes you happy you should do. I am high on life

Photos by Sara Callahan and Karlee Anderson

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor, C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor, and Torey Wise, Fun and Games Editor

“Boys have cooties!”

—McLaughlin

Will there be a second date?

“I don’t think there will be a second date because sports and band don’t mix much.”

—Harris

The End

October 23, 2008

9

PRHS gains a Colombian gem Nishino’s school year begins on a good note Nicolas Walker Polanco speaks out PRHS welcomes new band member, Yuko Nishino

about his country

by Melissa Serna, Center Co-Editor

by Gloria Rivera, Juntos Editor

Hailing from Matsuyama City in Ehime, Japan, 16 year old Yuko Nishino, hosted by the Taylor family, arrived in Washington State with 11 other Japanese exchange students in mid July. Nishino, one of the only two foreign exchange girls this year, is following in her mother’s footsteps.

“My mother was an exchange student in college when she was 20 years old,” said Nishino. Her mother spent a year in Georgia, where the Nishino family later vacationed in 2001, and this year Nishino is back as a high school senior ready to take in some new knowledge of American culture.

“I wanted to learn about American culture and get better at speaking English,” she said.

Nishino’s favorite activities back home in Japan include practicing music, going to book stores, playing table tennis (a very popular sport in Japan), and spending time with her mom, dad, and sister.

“In Japan, on weekends I usually go to band practice for half a day then sometimes I go to the bookstore or study,” she said. “Here, I play music, watch a little TV, read, and play with my host family’s cats. They have 11 wild cats that they saved from a fox!”

Here in the United States, Nishino’s interests are relatively similar, but she is fascinated with American student life.

“School is different in Japan, because instead of students moving to their classes, they stay in homeroom, and the teachers move to the class,” she

When thinking of Colombia, some “Being around Yuko and listening said. “Also, we have to wear uniforms,” said Nishino, who was relieved when to her play has inspired me to work people only think of the drug dealers, she heard PRHS students didn’t have to. harder in improving my music,” said or narcos that are shown on the news.

In America, the only uniform she looks senior and fellow band mate Ellie However, Nicolas Walker Polanco sees the beautiful land that produces forward to wearing is her marching Davis.

Nishino will be performing and their world famous coffee. band uniform.

Arriving at PRHS, Walker has “We don’t have marching band competing with the PRHS band and where I live,” said Nishino, whose color guard during this year’s fall been to plenty of history classrooms favorite class this year is Marching/ marching season, which should provide to share this information with various her with many new experiences and students. His native country isn’t only Symphonic Band. famous for coffee but for spreading “We performed at the football friends to make along the way. game and it was very fun, and very exciting!

Marching and playing at the same time is hard for me, but it’s fun,” she said.

Nishino began playing the clarinet three years ago, and has continued to play in her school’s symphonic band until this year when she arrived in the United States.

“At school in Japan, I was in the Brass Band Club. I wanted to play flute, but there were too many flute players, so I had to play clarinet, but I like it very much,” said Nishino.

Besides introducing her to a new musical style, marching band has introduced her to Photo by Michael McLean plenty of new people LOVING CALI: Foreign exchange student Yuko Nishono flashes a peace sign while Nicolas who share a love for Polanco Walker smiles. music. peace. His home town, Pereira, is known for the warm, and friendly nature of the people that live there. The march of peace is where the guerillas are going against the government, in a non-violent way. These marches are trying to end violence against innocent civilians. The country wants the world Photo by Aryn Fields

Faall ffashion from the Fall runw to the hallways runways

Photo by Monica Patel

GIRLS: The flattering tones are the ones that float around us at this time year: autumn hues (gold, dark yellow, orange, brown etc). They’re nice to wear, but not all at the same time; there’s a greater impact on the outfit when the colors are worn monochromatically. (You don’t want to look like a pile of dead leaves when wearing fall colors). Then there’s the floral print, can someone say flower power? When wearing floral clothing, accessories should be plain. But if you’re wearing floral accessories, they should be worn against solid pieces. The next trend is the art print. One needs

plenty of confidence to pull off an artsy outfit because it could sure attract attention.

Make sure you don’t wear jewelry with the art print, it can become a distraction. A substantial shoe, strong eye, prominent lip, and sleek, pulled-back hair expect to get pulled into this fun look. Lastly, there’s the feminine look, which consists of straight-leg pants, pencil skirts, or coats with clean lines. To complete the feminine appearance, wear light makeup and bold statement jewelry. (InStyle.com) One trendy girl you might see on the school scene is junior Lauren Redberg. Her good friend, Heather Buckley, 11, described her style as “Very creative, colorful, and cute… and definitely unique.” Redberg’s favorite season for

5

ITEMS

to dress to impress—for girls:

1. Printed dress 2. Tailored jacket 3. Ruffled blouse 4. Fuller skirts 5. Chunky knits

Freshman faces fears Hannah Martinez isn’t scared

by C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor Thhe gus The gusty d oof audays tumn have fifinally nally blown in; aalong with them come the faashion fall fashion trends trendds of 2008.

2 s This season the buzz is all aabout autumn autum mn hues, hu p floral prints, art prints, printts, and femininit ty for tthe femininity girls. Ass for th the boys boys,s, mod modern fit sstriped shir shirts rts and dark ddenim i jean jeans are what’s hot.

to know that this is going on, and they show it publicly by these marches.

“The march of peace is the changing face of my country, I am an ambassador of my country to show the changing face of Colombia,” said Walker in the Paso Robles Press.

He wants people to think of his home country the same way he thinks about the United States.

“It’s a nice school, [in] a nice town, [in] a beautiful state” said Walker about PRHS. “It’s so different,” he said.

“You see people walk here: it’s calm.

When you live in the city, you see more movement.”

Though the city is filled with action, his home town of Pereira is no different than Paso Robles.

“It is really quiet, and it’s near many places of importance,” said Walker. “It’s a commercial and tourist city, located in the middle of the coffee region in Colombia.”

This isn’t the first time that Walker has visited another country. He has been to Quito City and Guayaquil City in Ecuador. He went to Florida and visited Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. That trip didn’t fulfill his thirst for travel, so now he’s here to see California. “[I want to visit] Yosemite, Tahoe, San Francisco, and San Diego,” said Walker.

PRHS history teacher Gregg Williams is in charge of the International Club here on campus. Throughout the years he’s seen people from various countries come and go.

“They are young ambassadors representing their nations here in America” Williams told the Paso Robles Press.

Walker has brought his perspective of Colombia to us so that PRHS could see something other than propaganda shown by the public media. As an ambassador, Walker has shown us the

fashion is fall, so you’ll be seeing seeiing her around the hal hallways llways working her chi chicic ense ensembles.

“You ccan wear cuter an wea things like jac jackets, scarves, scarvess, hats, etc. [duringg fall],” said Redberg.

Redberrg.

GUYS: GUY YS: If yyou’re a guy who has his h style in order like senior Max Baker, then you might want to know what’s up this season. The modern fit striped shirt is what it’s about when you pair them with jeans or casual shorts. iStorez.com said that dark denim jeans work very well because jeans are the one thing in your wardrobe that would go along with almost anything.

Baker’s older brother’s way of dressing inspired his casual and skater style. Like Redberg, his favorite seasons to dress in are fall and winter. He said that his favorite decades of dressing were the 30s and 40s because they wore clean cut suits and nice hats, which says a lot about his taste in fashion. “Sometimes I judge others by what they wear, mostly if they wear anything that’s offensive,” said Baker. (Tip: those rude comments on shirts—not so hot!) In the end, “Uniqueness is key,” he said.

So, whatever season it may be, just remember: fashion forward… not backward!

Entering ering high school can be a very the railing,” she said, “so I scary time ime for just about anyone. started walking on [it] and it Puberty, y, peer pressure, pimples, was really high up. I made it oh my! But none of this scares the across safely ssix times with gly shy freshman Hannah seemingly a little bit of instability.” i Martinez. ez. In fact, nothing really Martinez isn’t just a seems to. o. daredevil th though. In fact, Martinez rtinez stopped being she doesn’t give off the afraid a few years ago. impression of someone efore, I was “Before, who has ha conquered afraid of bees, every fear there is. dying, She said that she and a is just a normal, j lot of shy 14 years other old who’s things enjoying most people are afraid her freshman FEARLESS FRESHMAN: Hannah of,” said Martinez. Martinez karate chops her way year, and that it’s “But it just came to through life. Photo by C.J. Prusi easier than middle me one day, I realized school. She likes that there is nothing to be afraid of, PRHS, and she’s trying her best to do and I overcame [my] fears.” well.

One may ask how she overcame Martinez has been in the dual all the phobias, and the answer is immersion program since kindergarten somewhat surprising. She just did it. and is continuing learning with No trials, tribulations, or tear-jerking Spanish 4 with the possibility of taking moments. She simply decided not to the Spanish AP test in the spring for be afraid anymore. Her self-driven college credit. absence of fear wasn’t sparked by “She’s really quiet,” said her anything at all.

Spanish 4 teacher Jennifer Fuller, who The riskiest thing that she said she was surprised to find out that the timid has done is walk across the railing of a Hannah Martinez doesn’t have any bridge. fears.

“I was at a party and I was really “I never seemed to get to as many bored, so I looked at the bridge and high places with fear,” said Martinez. thought it would be fun to walk on “Now I have been able to do so many more things.”

Why abortion is morally wrong Pro-LIFE

O

opinion

Although the subject is taboo, sex is a very real issue in many teenagers’lives. With PRHS

by Aryn Fields, In-Depth Co-Editor

ne of the moral wars this country has been fighting for decades is abortion; the Pro-life camp pitted against Pro-choicers. The Pro-life students on campus have started speaking up.

“I think if you were responsible enough to have unprotected sex than you should be responsible enough to have a kid or at option.” said senior and band member Ke K lly Smith. least give it up for ado adoption.”

Kelly eop o le hhave ave time to get down aand av nd have sex they shouldn dn d n be able to kill a in n’t “If pe people shouldn’t innocent baby. They put themselves into th that situation. What if their parents had should uunnpr npr protected d ssex ex aand nd d killed them?” agre unprotected agreed junior Charlie Reed Re ed. Thee “P “Pro-L Lifee” m ov vem men nt st sstands tan ndss ffor o the main idea of Reed.

“Pro-Life” movement llo owing abortions, ab borr tio ons,, because becaus caus usee abortions ab bo not al allowing kill babies.

Allfo or women orw n.co om de des scri rib bes on ne of the methods that Allforwomen.com describes one doctors use to perform abortions: open ns your y ur cervix, yo cervi v x, but in this case the “The doctor opens ddone ne with a loop-shap abortion is do loop-shaped knife which he uses to scrape the wall of your uterus; cutting the llaacentta into o smalle baby and pplacenta smaller parts and pulling of your your ur body bod dy through th thro hrooug u h the cervix.” them out of R eccenttl tly, iitt se seem ems aas though abortions em Recently, seems n ggetting etttin i g mo more re aand nd more popular. have been “1 1.5 5 million mil illlion lion li o bbabies abie ab ies eeach year get aborted ie “1.5 [in the United States]; T That’s 4,000 babies every day; ever twenty seconds,” That’s one baby every g to www.m according www.mighttolife.com. A grue gr r eso some aamount m un mo untt off b bab a i get aborted each gruesome babies yeearr, aand nd ssome ome stu udeentts aat PRHS think they year, students kn now w the reason reaasoon wh hy. know why. t it’ ’s be beca c us ca usee th he “II think it’s because they’re scared, or they wan antt a kid,” said Smith an Sm just don’t want unhea “Or [they have an] unhealthy lifestyle, or [are] too young to have a kid,” adde added Reed. Sophomore and member Emily Em T and ba band Taylor doesn’t think g “s scared” is a go good en being “scared” enough reason to have n aabortion, bo ortio io on, bbecause eccau usee llast asst year her sister got an ppregnant reg gnaant nt and and n decided deeccid c ded d to to keep ke the baby. ““Just Jus ust be ust us eca cau use th hey y’rre scared doesn’t mean because they’re iit’s t’s there ch hoice on wh he choice whether a baby lives or dies, it iit’s ’s God’s choice. She didn’t think it was okay for her to be b irresponsible and then have the baby go li live a life not knowing it’s real parents. She al also didn’t want to get th he ab borr ti t on bbecause eccau usee sshe thought everyone the abortion de d eseervees tto o ha ave ve a llife. iffe. e. Even though it was deserves have kind kind ki nd ooff a w ake uup p ca ccall, llll, we are glad we have wake [[the [t he bbaby]. aby] ab y]]. N o mat tter ter wha te w wh ha everyone deserves No matter what, to have a life, sometimes we may like it and sometimes we may hate it; but it’s our own fault because we did it to ourselves ourse We like having a life and babies should shhou ould l have h that same feeling of hhap of appi ap piine ness e and nd life life as we do.” happiness A bortio on do oe what it is meant to Abortion does do: erase a bbaby do: ab b and make a human li ife disap appe ap peaa Abortion is morally pe life disappear. wrong bec because you’re killing a human life. l The baby who is dying for your carelessness didn didn’t do anything to des deserve it. Don’t punish an unborn child for one nig night’s mistake.

in the running for highest pregnancy rate in the county, it shouldn’t be a subject to be covered up. These are the facts, opinions and stories to help make intelligent decisions and form educated conclusions about the serious issues involved when going past third base.

Choice is a blessing Pro-CHOICE

by Karlee Anderson, News Editor opinion

“I had to do it,” said one anonymous PRHS student. “My life would have been ruined if I would have had the baby.

People say that they would never do it, that it’s wrong and murder, but you never know what its like to be put into that position unless you’ve been there.”

By definition, abortion is the termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a fetus. Pro-choice is the belief that abortion ion is the right of a woman, and her choice.

“Can you imagine m gin ma g ne w what hhatt my life li fe wou w wo would o ld d hav hhave avee bbecome? e me? eco m Ev me E Everyone very e one nee wo w would o uld d ha hhave ave known. I would never n err be nev b e able abl ble to t o sshow how w my fa fac face c e aga ce again. a in n . IItt wa n. w was as oone ne ni nig night, i ht, h oon ht onee mistake; I couldn’t ruin life.

Take care baby? don’t dnn’t lett itt ru u inn my my oone ne llif li ife. e Tak akee car are aar r e of a ba bab y? I don’ o n’t on on’ even take care of myself wasn’t going help; of mys m my y elf ye yet. e The T e dad w asn’t goi asn i ng n g to t o hel lp; p I cou ccouldn’t ou dn’t oul tor

by C.J. Prusi, People Co-Edi face my parents, s, and adoption? Just one n m ne more burden on society,” socie i ty,” the family. said the student. t. worth every minute. d plans on attending college Garrie f Garried Mitchell were a to Garried, it was Current laws ws in California make it legal for minors to Although things turned out next fall majoring in sports, journalism, stereot ypical teen father, he would receive abortions ons withou without u t pparental arental consent consent. t. T Thirty eightt d doesn’t want people to Garrie well, logy. He is doing well as a kinesio or have nothing to do with his six uences for conseq other states have v pas ve ppassed pa see llaws sed wss thatt ppr prevent r even rev ent mi minor minors orr s from f rom om aren’t there that is think son his ately, and Fortun . season this Damon player football month-old son receiving an ab abortion b ort o t io ion o wi w without thout p parental arent ent t al l co con consent. o s en t . thing. of sort this to one of his biggest fans.

Damon will grow up with a father t consequence California’s Supreme u pre r me re m e Court Co o u rt found ou founnd n d th that h at tthe h e sta state’s taa te’’s bigges the bly “Proba him with y memor best my far, “So look up to. law is in violation tion of the California Constit Constitution. titution. on on. n this was that I have was when he showed up right after Garried Mitchell sees his six month- that came from times,” all at for This is a majorr controversial law law, w, as parents and out look to ne someo said able is Lake),” He g.

West t blessin a (agains as game Damon the old son pro-life supporters orters don’t think it’s acceptable “As far as any advice Mitchell. “He had my #20 jersey on and to enjoy his son and the experiences of said Mitchell.

When out. hold to for teens to terminate rmii nat n e a pregnancy without the na try say would I goes, NFL calm future so a saw always I t. wasn’t perfec He looked daddy. a he being . raging are nes adul dult dul t. consent of an adult. hormo your kid a you’re out found superstar.” about the idea. When he first nts would woo u ld d have h avee kic hav kkicked i ed me oout ick ic t.

“My parents out. you’re married or until until wait But going know keeps ll didn’t he Mitche d father a be Garrie to So was he that g a child].”

I would have been n p pre pregnant, re e gn n an n t, alone alone, e , and d [havin handle can you as Damon son every day, seeing his what to think. homeless, I did id wh what h at was w as best wa bee stt for me, me m e , it Mitchell was worried about telling much as possible and loving every “I never thought it was going to his d an ell tch Mi would ed they that rri saved my life, , call it selfish h if you like, knew Ga he but , P: family his MV but d, LE shocke was LITT minute of fatherhood. happen, but when it did I chell hance to succeed now,” she but I have a chance He told his dad first son Damon. Photo courtesy of Garried Mit “The best part about being I knew that I had to take responsibility,” suppor t him. said. [could n’t] hit me through said Mitchell. His closest friend, senior because, “He family was disappointed, but also a father,” said Mitchell, “is knowing Women have ave the right to choose what ” phone. having ne, someo t suppor Damon to er have I consid that now Jeff Montero helped him face the music the They s suppor tive. i H they want to doo wi with th the their hee irr bod bbody, od d y, y, and an th thee to up g that n lookin decisio be the of will someone that as just another part and ultimately make fetus inside th tthem. h em e m. m Banning Ba Bann a n i ngg abortion aborti abo r tionn rti me.” he was going to be a great and loving takes away tthe hee pri privacy ivacc y rrights ig g htt s th that h att father.

American women men are guaranteed by our “I pretty much said, it happens, but

by Sara Callaha constitution. It’s fetus, t’s not a person; it’s a fetus uss , n, Co-Editor in Chief you need to just step up to the plate,” nothing more or less then a ball of cells ast year Jenna Pa said Montero. “And that’s exactly what culba was a Varsi to a certain point. oint. FOCA (Freedom of ty boyf riend’s Cheerleader, a he did. He took my words into play and either. dedicated frien Choice Act) is passed Congress an act pa a ss ssse s d by Cong n ress d, son an d a college boun “T here was neve of the consequenc now he’s a great dad who loves his d student. Then r that option. Ry es of sex until it that invalidates restrictions e s aall l l the ll he re res e s tr ictions onn she had a baby. An [W an turned ha really ag n pp ne situatio en to The r] s someone they kn was actually the very much. d she still does all ow or them thems fi rst to say that these we were abortion, passed 1991. e d in 199 9 91. IIn n the 197 11973 3 things. elves.

Paculba used to be not even going to out for the better.” just like them. thi nk Roe v. Wade decision, dec e isi ec isioo n, ab aabortion boo rtion was of giving “Ju he four st to r three up be Damon . ca I sees d us ag Garrie e I had a baby “Before I did n’t reed of course.” think much abou doesn’t legalized underr the constitutional mean I’m the on Paculba and her t it.

Just ever yone did ly person that ha times a week and is happy to be on good pa ren ts it and it wasn’t s ha de d cid right to privacy, acy, which still se Ev ed x. er it yo wa be ne hing s st everyt do rea after to , es so mother tak lly the it. me with e I thing I was supe a break from scho terms just got caught.” ol r ag gives women the absolute an ain d go st Li int ke ind or ing o beginn ep tot ally most teen preg endent studies for for. Now whenev they went through. “At the nancy dramas, the remainder of er sex comes up right to abortion tioo n in the you’re probably ex r, I pr he ins eg togethe r were tan na we thi ed] nc tly happen y. nk it pe Pa [when of preg nancy…in cting that when Pa culba actually go culba the game a general sense. first three months onnth h s of of t ahead of thi discovered she ha I nk about how ma by en rolling in tw d become preg na then we broke up, then she found out,” ny girls in the fol o Cu nt es wi pregnancy. he ta th r cla boyf riend of then sse wh s ile low ma ing ye ars na gin said Mitchell. “We knew we had to wi g a part-time job five month’s baby ll get preg nant . , her from unprotecte 42 percent ntt ooff world came crash On Jul. 12, 2008 sex. To say ‘use d ing down. The thi work it out for him.” Garried went to , Paculba went a condom’ would ng is, all women choose oose did it n’t . Paculba took he into because labor at 10:30 p.m n’t wo rk almost every doctor appointment for most of the tim r sit uation step . e to get an abortion tion ste by no p, bo be dy to gin it lis make ’t nin “[L ten couldn especially not rig g with telling her abor] was actuall s, his unborn son (he secret. ht in the mome y easier [than I because they doo not “I told my paren tho nt. ug ht Bu I’d it t als wo a couple because of football). He was o uld say make su re yo ts fou r days aft be]. I think I go er I easy, thoug have the resources rces fou nd out. It wa u pick the right t let off perso s a Satu rday mo h. I did get an epidu n. Sex isn’t just there during the 19 hours of labor that rn an act, at least no ing ral an to bring up a cchild. hii d. hhil I ab go d ou t t in ha wa bed with my mo lf me. You mi y thr t ou to gh , it took Damon’s mother to have him and an d ght end up being m and just blu rte it was the best de Eleven percent believes t bel el iev eliev i ess it out. She starte att cis d ac ion he on . d I ly to pu tha pe sh rson forever.” t ed for 20 minutes d cr ying and we just cried thing and did n’t feel a together. But she that they are too ooo young you ng to to . I was very for tu told me thanks for nate.” telling her now instead raise a child. Six Sii x ppercent errc r c entt At 1:2 0 pm, Paculba he of six months for ld 6lbs, 9oz Jade m now. Kalea Then I told my receive abortions in her ar ms. With dad and he cried blue eyes and brow too and hair, could n’t even loo because either her the n Jade looks exactly k or tal k to me the like her father. whole day. For about thr woman or the fetus is “[Life is] actually ee weeks my paren prett y much the sa ts cried except ever yday about it. in danger. Twoo percent me, I have mare res I felt so selfish.” ponsibilities, and of all abortionss aare re don donee Paculba’s friends have a baby to ca I seemed to take re for most of the news easier. the still do ever day. But I due to an abusive ivve sexual sex ex uall ything I did befor e: same friends act as reported www. d byy ww w w w..

“W hen I told my and I still go out friends we were ever y once in a wh together, and the all NARAL.com. ile.”

Although Pacu y were all quiet. lba’s high sc But then life they were excited The PRHS student fits hool doesn’t seem to and suppor tive. have changed too I don’t dramati know how ever yo into the too young ung to raise a cally, her futu re ne at the high sc plans have. hool felt, and I did n’t want child category.

“O bv iously I can’t jus to know. I’m su re t take off and people leave ou had rude things to “I don’t think that I t of tow n, but I am say about it, but going to apply at I alw ays Cal Poly an just told myself tha could have given baby vee n the t he bab ab by d hopefully get in. t I also was some one who alway If not, there’s decided to keep a good life,” sh she said. h e sa he a id . “II s Cuesta and the her. There are mi n transfer ring, bu llions of I’m girls who have go wasn’t about to give o giv ve my my t for su re going to tten preg nant but go to college. Af just did n’t colle follow through, an child away to a stranger stranger, err, ter ge Ryan and I wa d I’m proud of my nt to move out of self that either I was confident en and create another other messed d sta te, Co lor ough to do that.” ado or Ut ah and try and have a up person because use I made a The thought of better life than an abor tion ne str uggling in expe crossed Paculba’s ver Califor nia mistake. No, abortion saved nsive .” mind. It did n’t cro ss her PR ICELESS FACE my life.”

Many teens don’t : Je nn a Pa culba and her think about the gr avity daughter Jade Kalea. Photo cou rtesy of Jen

More playing time

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Not another tee n mother

L

Of 176 students polled we found that

na Paculba

Student Resource C Center t on a mission

I

n the th school scchool year yea ye e r of of 07-08, 07-008, Student Studeentt Resource R essource ourrce Center C terr counselor Cen couns unselo elorr Tina elo Tina Lessi Leessi s si met with 177 pregnant and 25 parenting teens teen ns enrolled in PRPS. Although it may seem like a large number, it was down from the previous year.

22,” “I think it was waas a little over o ovver 22 2,” ssaid aid Lessi about number the nu umber of teens teen ns that that were weere pregnant pr gna pre naant nt in n thee 06-07 06-07 -00 school year.

Lessi is the counselor couns nselor who ns ho wor w works kss clo closely ose sel e y with wit ith t all aalll the parenting teens in Paso Robles school district using a program called Cal-S.A.F.E. Some of Cal-S.A.F.E.’s goals are to keep the students graduate in school, help them gradua dua duate uatee and nd prevent rep repeat epeat p ep pr pregnancies, eegn eg g anc ancies, w which, hich, hic ich, wit with ith tthe he he program, progra pro g am, gra m, iss less lees ess than than one one percent. peerccent ent.

Illustrations by Zoe Kingsbury girls] before ““Usually “U sually llly [t lly [[the the g girls s] ccome s] om me in be eforee

they know for sure if they are pregnant, so they are scared and nervous,” said Lessi.

“After they find out some are super excited and some don’t know how to tell their boyfriend and families,” said Lessi “And a lot ask, ‘What am I going to do?’” she continued.

Lessi also wanted to make it clear that she didnt limit her work to the mothers only.

“I work with both males and females,” said Lessi.

Although in the past Lessi has seen the father leave the picture after the first year of their child’s life, but many stay.

Sophomore Tyler Dollinger was surprised by the pregnancy rate in our school district.

“I never really thought about it. I didn’t think that any one would be dumb enough to do it,” said Dollinger, who thought that teens should be using birth control and condoms to prevent pregnancy.

Because the number of pregnant teens varies every year, it is unclear whether PRHS has the highest pregnancy rate. We are in the top two percent as far as counties go, with the other spot going to the Lucia Mar School District which encompasses Arroyo Grande. “[The pregnancy rate] is too high, I would love to put myself out of business in retrospect,” said Lessi, whose goal is to see the pregnancy rate at Paso drop to almost nothing. One of Lessi’s ideas to accomplish her goal is that, “Parents should keep open lines of communication with their teens, and hold to their household rules. Know where and with whom your teens are associating with.”

by Amanda Bean, Circulation Manager RIGHT: Student Resource Counselor Tina Lessi Photo credit: Amanda Bean

The facts, truth and legality of statutory rape

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hether or not a couple decides to have sex is presumptuously the decision between the two, however, there are a series of laws that actually condemn sexual activity between a minor and a adult of certain age difference as an illegal act.

“I’m sure people who go to Paso are sleeping with people who are over 18,” said junior Matt Ramos. If this is, in fact, the case, such people would be wrestling with the complicated issues involved with statutory rape. As stated in the California Penal Code Section 261.5 Article C, “Any person who engages in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is more than three years younger than the perpetrator is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony.” Penalties increase if the minor is under 14 and the adult is older than 21.

According to a school pole held at PRHS, 75% of students know someone at the high school that has had sex with someone over 18. That number should not be taken lightly, according to California Criminal Defense and Social Security Lawyer Jerry R. Lowe.

“It’s the law, and there’s a lifetime of consequences that can attach to being charged and convicted, for instance they could have to register as a sex offender for life,” said Lowe.

These laws were issued in order to protect minors that may desire re sex from manipulation or deceit.

“The bottom line is the government doesn’t view minors as being g able to make a choice like that,” said Lowe. s.

It isn’t only a matter of adults being sexually active with minors.

Even when two minors are three years apart and under the age of 18, 8, “they can still be found guilty,” said Lowe.

“Typically they don’t get prosecuted, but its possible and it has as happened.”

The reason they often aren’t getting prosecuted is because a case e like this is usually private and consensual. In order to be prosecuted, d, the issue has to be brought to the district attorney’s office, and this is often happens when the parents find out and have a problem with thee their child’s sexual relationship.

“Its up to the district attorney’s office whether they want to o pursue the case. Typically, if the parents of one of the parties are not ot happy about it, they can go to the DA’s office and put pressure on n them. The DA is going to look at the whole situation and decide if its ts worth pursuing,” said Lowe.

“An “Another A thing kids n need ee eed e tto o be aware of and take into t to consideration consid ssid idera eratio ttio on [is [iss that], tha hat] t], iff this t] th his i love llo ove relationship ov re tionsh rela nship nsh ip p goes go goe g o s bad, oe bad, ad d it i could co ou uld d have em ore r co re onse n qu uence nces than n a broken nh ear t.”” sai ssaid sa a d LLowe. owe. owe more consequences heart.”

TThat Tha hatt is, is, if a minor mino or and and an n adult adu ad d lt are r involved re in invol inv volved e se ed ssexually xu llyy w xua itth with eac ch other, and then get into a fight, gh ht, the e minor mi minor no can c ttake ake k the case each to the e di district strict attorney, claiming statutory rape. rape.

“Usually guys get prosecuted [for this],” said Lowe, “I’ve never seen a girl get prosecuted.”

Lowe feels fee elss that that too many young people p ople are unaware pe unawa war wa w are of the repercussions repercus cusssionss involved inv in nvolv nv olved e with wi h statutory wi wit stat ta uto ta utoryy rape. rap a e. many understand “There are are e too man a y tthat ha do hat don’t n’t u nder derstaand d the consequences,” conseque en ncces,” hee said, saa d, “There “TTherre are are too oo o o many ma m nyy kids having sex and getting i into trouble.”

by Zoe Kingsbury, Center Co-editor

12

October 23, 2008

¿Desea papas fritas con eso?

Mexico places among the U.S. in obesity

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor “It’s the tacos!” said one PRHS student when hearing Mexico is now the second fattest country in the world, according to NationMaster.com and Fox News. Tacos are not the only foods to blame; fast food restaurants, like McDonald’s, and unhealthy vending machines have appeared in the past couple years and are doing their job, according to SignOnSanDiego.com.

“People don’t eat right anymore.

Instead of coming here [fruit stand] and purchasing a fruit drink, they prefer to walk across the street and buy fried pork chips. That’s why so many Mexicans are obese,” said Lidia Gracia Garduno in a Mar. 2008 report by Fox News.

In 1989, less than ten percent of Mexican adults were overweight.

Now, more than 71 percent of Mexican women and 66 percent of Mexican men are overweight, according to Fox News.

Over the past 19 years, the percentage of overweight adults increased by approximately 58 percent. Children between the ages of five to eleven are also overweight. They had a 40 percent increase in weight from 2000.

As a result, more Mexicans are being diagnosed with diabetes, along with high blood pressure and heart disease.

Mexican health officials are worried about the obesity problem and are trying to figure a way to fight against fat foods. However, some students at Paso Robles don’t seem to be too shocked to

hear their neighbor’s problem.

“They [Mexico] had a lot of Mexican restaurants with all the fat foods you can think of. I seriously gained like ten pounds when I was there,” said sophomore Arianna Meleandez, who’s traveled to Mexico.

Some other PRHS students are doubtful that Mexico is so obese.

“They might be bigger [in size], but they are poverty ridden. Most people live in shacks; they have a lot less than us,” said an anonymous sophomore, who’s been to Ensenada and Rosarito.

Sophomore Josue Gutierrez, who traveled to Tequila, Mexico when he was 12, agrees with the anonymous sophomore.

“I’ve seen poor streets where people are only eating fruits and vegetables,” said Gutierrez.

The increase in weight is mostly a mainland Mexico phenomenon.

Places, such as Ecatepec, Alsea, or Ixmiquilpan, have shopping malls and movie theatres, according to a USA Today report. Some towns, such as Rosartio, may not be as obese as other towns.

Either way, Mexican health officials are thinking of new ways to encourage people to watch their weight.

Some legislators think warning labels on junk food would be a good idea, according to SignOnSanDiego.com.

It’s possible food industries, such as Starbucks, would oppose to that idea because it might lower their customer ratings. Although one company, PepsiCo, has started a health program in order to get kids exercising and eating healthy.

“We understand there is an obesity problem. We’re trying to be part of the solution,” said Monica Bauer, spokeswoman for PepsiCo International, according SignOnSanDiego.com.

A national campaign called “Vamos Por Un Million de Kilos” (Let’s Lose a Million Kilos) has been initiated to encourage Mexicans to lose weight, according to Fox News.

However, PRHS junior Megan Bradshew is skeptical of both plans and stated a flaw.

JUMP ON IT: Arianna Meleandez and Josue Gutierrez

“I don’t know if there is something you can do as a whole for Mexico because it is each person’s individual choice what they do to their bodies.”

The defeat of obesity will not occur over night, but it important to start taking the first steps. According to Mexican health officials, Mexico could even become the first most overweight country, passing the United States, if people continue to eat how they are now.

“We have to put the brakes on this obesity problem,” said Mexican Health Secretary Jose Cordova, reported by SignOnSanDiego.com.

Fast food competes with the authentic

Students weigh in on what they enjoy the most

by Amanda Bean, Circulation Manager When PRHS students think of Mexican food, the first places that pop into their heads are Taco Bell, Del Taco, and El Pollo Loco. All of them call themselves Mexican fast food, but students like sophomore Emmanuel Jimenez feel that it does not come close to the taste of authentic Mexican food. “[Authentic Mexican Food] just tastes better, because it has a culture behind it,” said Jimenez, who enjoys eating the authentic food.

In a poll of 30 students around campus 100 percent said that authentic Mexican food tastes better, although 75 percent of the students still liked its fast food counterpart. “[I like] both but Taco Bell makes [the food] fast,” said freshmen Shannon O’Brian, who eats Taco Bell when she’s in a hurry. But making the food in a hurry is ultimately what makes the fast food chains lose in the overall taste test.

“Our [tacos] have a big ball of meat [called Al Pastor] and it takes eight hours to prepare them,” said senior Alonzo Torres, whose parents own Los

Alonzo Torres Photo by Micchael Mclean

Robles Cafe. The Cafe sells authentic Mexican food such as Chilaquiles and other cultural dishes that tend to take a long time to prepare.

“Mexican American fast food [places] like to think they are authentic, but they’re not,” said Torres who thinks that Taco Bell is fake.

“The first [difference] is the quality of the ingredients, and the second is the time taken to cook the food from scratch

versus making it fast, it takes many procedures [to make the authentic food better], real Mexican food is not deep fried, it’s grilled” said Spanish 1 teacher Linda Bernhardt.

Although fast food chains such as Taco Bell and El Pollo Loco are considered Mexican food, all the students feel that the title is not deserved. However they still don’t seem to know just what to call these chains.

“I consider it American food,” said freshmen Megan McManus, who does not like Taco Bell. However many others think that it should be called Mexican American, because the food produced is influenced by both cultures. “[I think it should be called Mexican American] because it’s [Taco Bell] a little bit of both, it combines the traditional food and the other food, and the ways of making it,” said sophomore Emily Galvez, who prefers home cooked Mexican food.

Although this battle may go on until one of the two cease to exist, it will never be a doubt about what PRHS students want. And in this case the winner of the best taste award goes to … the authentic Mexican food.

Photo by Michael McLean

Quick & Easy Salsa

by Brandon Stegall

Sports Co- editor

(Makes 6 servings)

Salsa (a combination of chilies, Dash salt tomatoes and other spices) can be traced 2 Dash pepper all the way back to the Inca people. The Tortilla chips history of salsa sauce began with the Dash of seasoning (whatever you Spanish encounter of tomatoes after like; have fun with it) their conquest of Mexico in 1521. The combination was first called salsa by DIRECTIONS priest and linguist Alonso de Molina In a small bowl, combine the in 1571. Now salsa is known as popular tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, cultural flavor. oil, salt and pepper. Refrigerate until serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

INGREDIENTS 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes CAUTION and green chilies, undrained When cutting or seeding hot 1 tablespoon seeded and chopped peppers, use rubber or plastic gloves to jalapeno pepper protect your hands. Avoid touching your 1 garlic clove, minced face.

1 tablespoon olive oil

October 23, 2008

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Hurricane Ike devastates Caribbean 200,000 Cubans left without a home

by Kelsey Garman, Arts & Entertainment

Editor

Two hurricanes, three weeks, seven deaths, 200,000 homeless: Texans weren’t the only ones running.

Hurricanes Ike and Gustav left the Caribbean in disarray. Gustav is considered one of the most violent hurricanes in the past 50 years, even compared to Katrina and Rita. Gustav hit the coast of Pinar del Rio, and Isla de la Juventud and Havana.

Ike, a Category 4 hurricane, hit the eastern portion of Cuba with winds of 215 km/h, reported in a letter to ACT members by Bob White, Deputy Director The cost of the damage is equivalent to $5 billion, most of this sum accounted for in the 444,000 homes damaged, and 63,000 homes destroyed. The citizens and government had civil defenses and contingency plans in place making the casualties small, but the impact was still great.

Out of those who still had homes, 30,000 families spent 25 days without electricity, according to plenglish. com. Due to this massive disadvantage to 86 percent of those Cubans, 300 electricians from across the region set work to repair the national electrical power system. 76 percent of these families have regained light.

Others are also contributing to the recovery. The Cuban Council of Churches (CIC) has supplied 5,000 families with food relief and hygiene kits, 2,000 families with social care, and 1,000 families with tools, seeds and fertilizers. However, this is only 0.4 percent of those homeless due to the hurricanes.

However, some Cubans were already living in ‘in-transit’ shelter since 2004 when Hurricane Charley hit and took four lives. “They told me it would be six months, but that was in 2004, and I want out of here already,” said kindergarten supervisor Marcia Escalona, who is currently living in an in-transit shelter. (according to ap.google.com) These ‘temporary’ homes are built to be just that, temporary. Cubans

who are forced to live in these until their houses are rebuilt suffer with small rooms, leaky roofs, and no ventilation.

In one case, ten people were forced to bunk together in one shelter.

However, those in Escalona’s case will have to continue to wait. Seeing as Cuba has a communist government, all building is under government control and many families are being put second to infrastructure. Government may use its resources for food before

construction.

Many people and companies have recognized Cuba’s need for assistance, as 63 countries and institutions have helped, along with 230 offers of support in cash and projects totaling in $30.5 million.

The U.S. has put its aid toward the need in Texas, our foreign policy making it difficult to send support to Cuba, and Haiti goes almost forgotten.

One thousand lives were taken this Hurricane season in Haiti. That is the last number the government counted before giving up counting all together.

One million people have gone homeless in a country with the population of 7 million, according to latimes.com.

Most homes don’t have a foundation, just two posts in the ground-making it easy for hurricanes to tear their homes apart.

The hills in Haiti are only occupied by the rich, and those who serve the rich live in shantytowns on dangerous and muddy slopes. Haiti hasn’t received the aid that New Orleans did, making even more difficult to withstand a storm.

“We are more likely to aid those closest to us. I am sure that there are

ENDURING DEVASTATION: Haitians wade through the water after Hurricane Ike. An estimated 1 million Haitians are homeless. Courtesy Assiciated Press

many Cuban Americans, for instance, who would like to help out in Cuba, but our political differences with that government make it difficult to act outside of our foreign policy,” said Ethnic Studies teacher Stan Cooper.

Also with the state of the economy, Cooper doubts that our charitable foundations will last much longer.

“We would expect our charity to be local given the massive need in Texas and the on-going problems in Louisiana and Mississippi from Katrina. I fear that as our economy topples in on its self that simple charity like supporting the local food bank and other community service organizations will begin to dry up.”

Hurricane History Across the Globe 1274

A typhoon ruined Kublai Khan’s first invasion of Japan.

1502

Hurricane present on Christopher Columbus’s fourth visit to New World.

1609

Hurricane near Bermuda wrecked English fleet bound for Jamestown.

1715

Hurricane destroys Spanish treasure fleet off coast of Florida.

1876

Hurricane strikes the Meghna River region in Bangladesh.

1957

Hurricane Audrey hits Texas Louisiana border.

1969

Hurricane Camille causes distruction through southeast Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

2005

Hurricane Katrina

2005

Hurricane Rita

2008

Hurricane Ike and Gustav, two week period.

Eight stupid laws from here and there 1. In the English city of Liverpool, a woman is prohibited from walking around topless, unless she is selling exotic fish at the market.

2. In Indonesia, masturbation is strictly forbidden. Anyone who breaks the law and gets caught risks getting beheaded.

3. In Scotland, the law obliges citizens to allow whoever knocks on their door to use their toilet.

4. In the state of Alabama, people are not allowed to drive while blindfolded.

5. In London, people are not allowed to catch a cab if they are infested with the plague.

6. Throughout Great Britain, pregnant women are allowed to deliver their babies in any public place and even use a policeman’s helmet if necessary.

7. In the state of Florida if a single woman parachutes out of an airplane on a Saturday she risks doing jail-time.

8. In Kentucky people are prohibited from withholding firearms if they are longer than six feet Source: News and Hotelclub.com

Current news from beyond our borders

by Tyler West, World Co-Editor Thailand: The Thai government and the Muslim majority regions of southern Thailand met in Indonesia this week to put a stop to years of internal warfare and thousands of lost lives.

Three Malay Muslim majority provinces in Thailand, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala have been trying to achieve independence for years. The wars between the Thais and Muslims have claimed 2,700 lives since the fighting began in September 2004.

The two factions agreed to meet again to continue negotiations in November, a meeting that could decide the future of thousands of people.

China: Li Chiangjian, China’s head of food and safety, stepped down on Sept. 22 after the Chinese-made tainted baby formula was released and infected over 53,000 infants, 6,000 of whom were Chinese.

The company that makes the formula, Sanlu Group, issued an apology and fired its head manager, after one of the company’s suppliers added the chemical melamine to the formula to create a higher protein content.

158 of the babies that are afflicted by the formula are experiencing acute kidney failure, and three have died.

murders in Rio de Janeiro is committed by police.

In Rio, Brazil’s second largest city, police kill an average of three people per day, and very few are in the line of duty. Confrontations with police killed 1,260 civilians in Rio de Janeiro last year, more than the total number of murders in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York combined, the magazine The Week reported.

“A remarkable number of police lead double lives,” said Philip Alston, a U.N. extrajudicial killing envoy to The Week. “While on duty, they fight drug gangs, but…on days off, they work as foot soldiers of organized crime.”

Many of the deaths are caused by miss-guided information and assumptions, according to ABC News Online.

Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a power sharing agreement after months of violent political struggle.

In the new deal, Mugabe will remain president, but Tsvangirai will Brazil: A U.N. conducted be the prime minister, but into investigation found out that one in five details have yet been presented

about how government duties will be split between the two.

Tsvangirai, who won Zimbabwe’s March elections, was unable to take office after Mugabe refused to give up power, which he has held for 28 years.

Mugabe had Tsvangirai beaten and jailed on several occasions, and did the same to his supporters.

Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe with an iron fist for the past 21 years, and violence and rapid inflation have followed.

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October 23, 2008

Central Coast cleans up their act Sierra Vista keeps the coast clean and drug-free

by Michael McLean, Arts and Entertainment Co-Editor

Drugs have been an ongoing issue in the United States, and that doesn’t just include stoned teenagers. According to an article from the Associated Press, an annual estimate of near 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals (medicinal drugs) and contaminated packaging is being disposed of improperly, affecting up to 46 million Americans by contaminating the air and killing off animals that interact with the alienated wastewater.

This upset is generated when medication has been opened and exposed and the subscription cannot be fully consumed because of the death of the intended patient, or other causes. According to uspharmasist. com, hospitals and medical agencies used to have several options of how to dispose of the hazardous waste.

Sewers, landfills, and hospital or public incinerators were typically used for a long time, but, because of the Clean Air Act (an act put into effect to maintain quality of the air) put into effect by the EPA, incinerators became a scarcely used method. This left the dumping of pharmaceuticals in hazardous or biochemical waste bags that are taken

picture courtesy of freestockphotos.com

to medical waste treatment plants.

“There are three kinds of waste: sharps, medical, and biohazard. Sharps may contain broken waste and bottles, and most syringes,” said plant operations technician of Sierra Vista Medical Regional Center Paul Hess. “All pharmaceutical waste generated by this facility, if it cannot be sent back, is put in a waste container, picked up, and sent to Utah to be incinerated. Sharp and biohazard containers are picked up by a carrier and sent to Fresno where they are steamed and sterilized so the bacteria is killed and [then] sent to a landfill,” said Hess.

According to Hess, all local medical centers dispose of pharmaceuticals in a similar way.

“If they aren’t they’re violating state law,” continued Hess.

Disposal is so important that the government has strict standards for its disposal. “There is no ‘it cannot be done.’ It is done,” said a firm Hess.

California hosted a statewide “No Drugs Down the Drain” Campaign, which extended from Oct 4-11, 2008. This movement was meant to educate the public on how to dispose of leftover medication (more information can be found on www.dtsc.ca.gov).

“It’s a very good thing to do, because primarily hospitals are large disposal areas, but compared to residential disposal, it’s not the unit cause of water

contamination,” said Hess.

“It’s a bad thing [when pharmaceuticals are disposed of improperly] because it’s polluting the world we live in,” said BCASE member, leadership member, and junior Alexis Fabian.

Say goodbye to the Freegans live off society’s abundance Bluefin Tuna

The sea-creature we are hunting into extinction

One man’s trash is a freegan’s basic need

by Melissa Serna, Center Co-Editor To the modern day American consumer, the dumpster is a putridsmelling receptacle swarming with flies, trash, slimy food and old junkleft outside for the garbage man to deal with. To Freegans, however, the dumpster may just resemble an oasis of free meals, clothes, and usable items.

Freegans, a combination of the words Free and Vegan, are people who choose to live an anti-consumerist lifestyle by adopting strategies that result in minimal consumption and waste. Generally, vegan or not, the freegan movement is about living off

photo by Amanda Bean

by Monica Patel, People Co-Editor of the excess of resources that appear to be wasted in America. Freeganism is a complete boycott of the capitalistic system in which consumerists are viewed as slaves to money, competition, greed, and materialism.

Often mistaken for “bums” or “moochers,” freegans believe in doing all they can to do good for local and global communities, and they believe it sets them apart as civilians.

For Leia (who chose not to reveal her last name) of Brooklyn, New York, collective member of Freegan.info, the lifestyle she lives is all about shying away from a culture of consumerism. “[America is] living in a bubble right now; a bubble of privilege,” she said.

T h e U . S . economy loses $100 billion every year as a result of food waste.

Supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores toss out approximately 27 million tons of edible food worth $30 billion according to the University of Arizona.

By r u m m a g i n g through trash recept acles,(a.k.a. “dumpster diving,” or “urban foraging”), freegans are able to find anything from untainted food to clothing, and/or electronics.

“I haven’t bought clothes in a long time.

The other day I found a bag of awesome clothes that fit my baby perfect,” said Leia.

Through the act of dumpster diving,

Freegans can obtain many usable items while minimizing waste.

The downside to this dirty deed is that it’s, well, illegal. Freegans do run the risk of breaking the law when it comes to scavenging for food.

If a dumpster is butt up against a building, or inside a fenced enclosure that says No Trespassing, you can be arrested or ticketed by the police, According to Freegan.info.

“People who are considering [becoming freegan] should know that it’s actually really hard and really illegal,” said senior Jamie Kellet, who, last year, studied the philosophies of freegans in a cultural anthropology class.

“I think freeganism is a good way to break down the barriers of consumerism,” she said.

Most freegans do not believe in sacrificing time for what they consider to be socially and ecologically abusive companies, especially those which cause destruction and waste.

“There’s no reason to put your hard work into something that’s, in the end, just going to shoot you in the foot,” said Leia.

So long as they can get the basic necessities of food, shelter, and transportation without spending a single cent, freegans will continue to embrace and encourage that community, generosity, freedom and cooperation that they live by.

Chefs may have to say goodbye to their good friend, the bluefin tuna. In the Mediterranean Sea and east Atlantic Ocean they are nearing extinction because of widespread illicit fishing.

The restriction for tuna catches across the Mediterranean is 32,000 tons. But WWF (international conservation organization) estimates

photo courtesy of the Associated Press

that the real amounts of catches of bluefin tuna are around 50,000 tons, violating the quota by about 50%. The organization says that the main offenders are France, Libya, and Turkey. These tons and tons of tuna from the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic are shipped to Japan, where they are of highest value according to the Bluefin Tuna Program. The meat can sell for as much as fifty dollars per pound.

Populations of the bluefin tuna have declined alarmingly over the past few decades in the Atlantic. Since the 1960s, populations have continued to decline due to overfishing. The population is classified as overfished and endangered.

The bluefin tuna has already disappeared from the North Sea and the Black Sea. If overfishing continues, the population could subside in just a few years.

October 23, 2008

The Dating Disaster

by Karlee Anderson, News Editor

Write in the funniest, appropriate things you can create in the bubbles shown above. Turn them in to Room 601 by Oct 31. The top five entries (judged by the CC staff ) will win a Jamba Juice Card!

Remember: Keep it appropriate—and more importantly—funny! Good luck!

—C.J. Prusi, People Co-Editor Thanks to Ray White, Science Department.

By Aryn Fields, In-Depth Editor & Michael McLean, A+E Editor B e w a r e !

Uh oh! An U n w e l c o m e Aquarius extremely geeky tidings will face you. Little obnoxious pimple popping, Proactive salesmen preschoolers in sheet ghost costumes will come and steal your candy and ruin will swarm around you and conspire to all the parties you attend, to save you tackle you…beware the little children! from potential zits….sounds like you’re bound to have fun!

W h o o p s…

Sagitarius seems as though Your life will you forgot to wear your pants to school Cancer change as you never today! If you just looked down to before thought possible…your grandma check you’re condemned to only get will come trick-or-treating with you…

Twizzlers this Halloween! as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz… so sorry…

Oh snap!

Taurus Looks like you Oh my jeez!

Scorpio dressed up as a A crazy hippy at boy this Halloween. Believe me: your one of the doors you go to for candy this friends will notice your extra boy-ish Halloween will give you a picture of appearance, and extraordinarily…you Celine Dion gone rapper! Fo swizzle! make a pretty cute boy.

Wow! A super Gemini bubbly (and H A L L O W E E N ! sometimes ditzy) blonde girl wearing a Aries H o r r e n d o u s , pink tank top will soon be coming to a Approaching Lavender-Loving Old school near you! It’ll be almost as bad Women Embrace Everyone Nearby! as your little sister taking you to High RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN! School Musical 3 this Halloween.

[You get an A+ if you figured out that sentence spells Halloween]

Pisces:

Leo

Nancy Regan was wrong. You can’t just say “no.” This lesson will finally click for you this Halloween season.

O M G !

T h i s Halloween you will be forced to talk only in text message lingo, I know it is super annoying but you better do because not even I know what will happen. LOL....OMG..... NM...HBU...

IBD...get used to these phrases your going to need them.

Capricorn

I’m sorry but I, the psychic, am not in right now. I’m currently in Venezuela.

Please leave a message at the beep… *BEEP*

Virgo

Halloween is a conspiracy! So are income taxes...and

Libra global warming!

Sagitarius

Embarrassing Moments This year I was in the locker room and I decided to dance around naked before getting dressed, as I did my coach walked in and saw me in the act and if that wasn’t bad enough, later at football practice he told the whole team what he saw!..

— J.V. football player I was walking behind chairs in advisement and my foot got caught in between the leg of a chair and the wall so I totally faced planted it on the floor right in the middle of class, my shoe came off and everything! I was so embarrassed but I couldn’t stop laughing and neither could anyone else!

—Colby Yarborough, grade 10

“One of Those Days” Art by Kellie Keenan Day 1 of week 1

This month’s concept inspired by Isaac Andrade

Day 1 of week 9

Okay so I’m not exactly perfect, despite some preconceived notions (just kidding). I don’t always say the right thing, my skin isn’t exactly cooperative at times, and, well, the definition of graceful is my antonym.

First dates are full of excitement and apprehension and yes, awkwardness, but I was convinced that my cliché movie date four years ago was going to be perfect.

So I’m sitting in third period and he, (the dater, whose name will be withheld for much needed considerateness, passes me a note, “how adorable,” was my first thought…

Immediately followed by “Oh God he, (the all knowing teacher), isn’t going to read that out loud is he!?” I could feel my heart beating as he snatched the note from my hand and proceeded to read the following to the whole class “Will you go on a date with me, check yes or no.” My face turned a brilliant shade of magenta, and after what I thought was a near death experience due to sheer embarrassment, I told him (the dater) that I would in fact go on a date with him.

The following week consisted of tonguetied conversations about our plans to go to the movies, uncomfortable good-bye hugs, and no doubt constant chatter to our annoyed friends regarding each other, all of which took place between classes when we walked past each other and actually talked.

The following event happens in all the movies the day before the wedding, the perfect date, or the important interview. I woke up with the most unattractive zit on the very tip of my nose. It was like Rudolph came early. I was mortified. It wasn’t even the popable ones; it was like the red pimple bound to curse my face forever. I tried to fake sick and avoid the entire situation, but I had to face him,

15

texting wasn’t quite the trend it is today, and I wasn’t about to call my crush, so instead of faking sick, I put on all my mom’s cover-up (to her dismay) and headed to school.School went without incident.

Then my mom dropped me off at the movies as planned, staring at my nose every free minute she had from the road. Thanks mom. So I see him looking good, tall and blonde with the preferred messy-surfer hairstyle, (clear skinned) as I was about across the ever popular crosswalk to the front of the theatre (you know the one with all the people and cars, the center of downtown, yeah that one.) And as fate would have it, I trip over my own clown feet and go down in the middle of the road. Thanks feet. If that wasn’t enough, on-lookers, probably high school students started laughing! I get up, my outfit it took three days to pick out is ruined, my face looks like a pizza and I haven’t even talked to him yet. So after my little stumble, I walk up to him, his face twisted in what could only be an effort to not laugh, and his eyes steadily pinpointed to my nose. Figures. I wait for him to buy the tickets which is awkward, just standing there waiting for him to spend the money no doubt given to him by his parents.

We speed past the candy counter; because, lets face it, a kid in middle school doesn’t get that kind of money. We take our seats at the movie.

I’d like to tell you which one it was, but I don’t remember. (We’ve all been there right!?) not really, I was simply too nervous to even think about the giant screen in front of me. I know you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to hear what happened, so I’ll just tell you. He pulled the classic, ever popular yawn- now-my-armis-miraculously-over-your-shoulder move. I have to admit for an eighth grader it was most impressive. I opened my mouth, (not like that!), turned to him, looked him in the eye and said, “You must be tired, that was a huge yawn.” His arm automatically went back to his side, and his “yawn” suddenly registered, durr on my part.

So the end of my ever disastrous first date was our parents picking us up, another awkward hug, and a memory of the perfect first dating…disaster. It may not have been the perfect date, but hey I had a story to tell!

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October 23, 2008

On Campus- PRHS students create, express, and aspire

OUTSIDE THE LINES: Kelly Clark’s students sit around their tables as they work on their art project. (above) Photo and caption by Brandon Stegall

GETTIN’ DOWN AND DIRTY: Junior Zach Heaston makes his newest creation.

Photo and caption by Karlee Anderson

ARTIST’S GIVE: Gwiazda’s art classes make greeting cards to raise money for the Red Cross Hurricane Fundraiser.(above) Photo and caption by Monica Patel

Crim Chron crew critiques cinema Helping you decide what’s hot--and what’s not

Film

Rating

Summary

We Give It

“…If I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate. Now there are some people that might be comfortable doing that, but I am not one of those people.”

- Senator Barack Obama on Nov. 8, 2004

With the presidential election quickly approaching, some voters are still undecided. For those potential swing voters, understanding the candidates is key. The Case Against Barack Obama, released in early August, presents facts and key points made by the senator’s critics.

Freddoso examines the personal Nick and Norah hit the town of New York for one wild adventure. Nick (Michael Cera, PG 13 background of Senator Obama and, Juno) just broke up with his girlfriend, and meets Norah (Kat Dennings, The House more importantly, digs deep into Bunny). Wanting to prove to her friend Tris (Nick’s ex) that she wasn’t “alone again”, she his political record (or lack thereof). randomly walks up to Nick and asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes. Unbeknownst The author outlines Senator Obama’s to Norah, she just told Tris that her ex was her new boyfriend. The two of them get taken on an adventure when Nick’s band members lose Norah’s drunk friend, and are also on the strong left-wing political voting search for the whereabouts of the concert of their favorite band, Where’s Fluffy. After some record and his personal relationships crazy and vomit inducing acts, Nick and Norah learn they just might be perfect for each with questionable characters, such as other. The movie features an eclectic sound track and great cast, but just wasn’t able to Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a well known avoid the party and ‘boy meets girl’ clichés. name in Chicago Machine politics and A romance story starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane, takes place in Florida at a convicted felon, and Reverend Jeremiah PG 13 beachfront hotel in marvelous condition, considering the regular occurrence of hurricanes.

Wright, his former pastor and mentor.

Adrian (Lane) is taking care of the small hotel for the weekend while her friend takes a With chapters titled “The Rhetoric vs. business trip; and Paul Flanner (Gere), a retiring doctor, came to recover from a surgery the Reality” and “Obama’s Foreign gone wrong, and was the only guest. They begin bond over wine, canned-food and real-life drama, and fall in love (didn’t see that one coming). From beginning to end the movie is Policy: Inexperience and Uncertainty”, filled with high-intense moments, bringing continual tears for the hard-core weepers. Howit would be safe to say that Freddoso ever, moments came which may make you question the realism of the film. The film tends to didn’t cut the Senator any slack; he did attract more of an older crowd, only a few customers who saw it were too young to own an his homework and found out the facts AARP card. However, it is a rather successful romance story. (Males are forewarned). that many in the American media have turned a blind eye to. Freddoso reveals how Obama managed to get elected for the first time: by getting all his competitors thrown off the ballot based on technicalities. He questions (several times) if the Senator is really offering change or just more of the same.

by Alicia Canales, In-depth Co-editor Along with using his voting record Paul Newman lost his battle with students. and personal influences against him, cancer on Sept. 26, 2008. His last hours “Paul Newman was a brilliant were spent with family at his home in actor who worked hard at his craft.

Westport, CT His last 83 years of life He was also a fantastic humanitarian were spent living the dream. who donated money to ill kids. Each Newman’s first big entrance was generation has stars who stand out for as an understudy in the Broadway play one reason or another [like Newman]; “Picnic”. After that, he played in movies the talented and famous ones [stars] are such as The Long Hot Summer, “Cat on dying,” said American history teacher a Hot Tin Roof”, Cool Hand Luke, Road Greg Williams, whose favorite movie to Perdition, and many others. Newman with Newman is Butch Cassidy and the ended his career with Cars, as the voice Sundance Kid. d i d ffor seriously i l ill children. hild h designed The of Doc Hudson.

Even in Iran, the citizens mourned “There is a point where feelings Scott Newman Center, which finances for Paul Newman. Newspapers, which go beyond words. I have lost a real drug and alcohol abuse education, was usually avoid tabloids on American friend. My life—and this country—is made by Newman after his son, Scott, celebrities, had front page features on better for his being in it,” said Robert died of a drug and alcohol overdose. the American actor.

Unfortunately, not all PRHS Redford, Newman’s film/liberal activist “I am sad for his death. He had a partner and friend, according to People students realize this man who passed positive impact on the world cinema," away. However freshman Josh Martinez said Tahmineh Milani, a director who’s magazine.

Besides acting, Newman created knows a little about Paul Newman. seen at least thirty Newman movies, “He’s [Newman] a great guy. He’s according to the Associated Press. his own brand of food in 1982, like popcorn, salsa, salad dressing, etc., a legend. He made his own ranch Paul Newman has joined Natalie called Newman’s Own. The profits from dressing! … And Paul Newman made Wood, James Dean, and John Wayne in those items went to various charities. good movies,” said Martinez. the big acting stage up above. He shall PRHS teachers realize Newman’s not be forgotten down here.

Newman also contributed to building the Hole in the Wall Gang camp in 1988 lead role in the world, unlike the Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) are forced into government matters when a female voice calls Jerry and Rachel randomly (they must have been listed in the phone book). She gives them orders (for what, no one knows till the end) and send them on a wild goose chase (no geese actually used). They cannot disobey, and for their sake, must follow orders till the end, or death awaits (that’s original). Starting in a New York and ending in Washington D.C., the duo take on a series of illegal missions with their mysterious leader and bond over the life threatening tasks. Attracting all who seek a good thrill, Eagle Eye is filled with suspense, however reminds you of 20% of the movies you’ve already seen.

Nights in Rodanthe

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Eagle Eye

PG 13

Blue eyed kid smiles no more America grieves for actor Paul Newman

Freddoso uses Obama’s words to present his case. In the Senator’s book, The Audacity of Hope, he comments about his first political victory being the offshoot of producing and giving a “pretty convincing speech”. This speech may be similar to the speeches we hear today, loaded with talks of change and hope in the future. But the problem remains: no real substance to back up the claims.

Freddoso dethrones the King of the Media by using his own ultraliberal record against him. While a claim that the book was a fair look at both candidates would be untruthful, Freddoso does criticize McCain’s advertisements, which juxtapose Obama and Paris Hilton, saying that they’re not attacking the real issues.

Senator Obama has not yet issued a statement of response about the book.

Freddoso’s book has earned the honor of being a main selection of the webbased Conservative Book Club. Even a diehard Obama supporter would be well advised to read. If you’re conservative, you’ll enjoy the hard-hitting facts; if you’re liberal, you’ll enjoy being a well-informed supporter of your presidential candidate. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would suggest it to any American who doesn’t want to be a zombie voter, casting a ballot on a whim.