December 2009 by Cedar Rapids Washington Surveyor

Surveyor The Washington

2205 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403 Volume 53, Number 4

December 21, 2009

Johnny Russia

David and Bailey

A rock cover band that formed in 2008. Members include Ryan Brown, ‘10, Jack Mescher, ‘14, Joey Mescher, ‘10, Nick Sattler, ‘10, and Dan Williams, ‘10. The band hopes to start making their own music soon.

David Yepez, ‘11, and Bailey Sande, ‘10, created their duo on Monday, November 30th for a show on Friday December 1st. The two played an acoustic set with Yepez on acoustic guitar/piano and Sande singing.

WLP SMACKDOWN Jackson Bartleme Jackson Bartleme, ‘10, played an acoustic set with two Washington alumni, Alex Schulte and Josh Wagner. His setlist included “Collide” by Howie Day and “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.

Joey Mescher Staff Writer Washington expressed its appreciation for poetry and the arts on Friday, December 4. The WLP Poetry Slam was held in the little theater, where students showed their support for performers, poets, and the Washington Literary Press. Student poets competed against each other to be the best poet at Wash, and in between rounds, student bands entertained the crowd with music. Proceeds for WLP will contribute to the production of the Fingerprints issue at the end of this school year. WLP found a good way to spread awareness of the club and do a literary competition with the poetry slam. The Poetry Slam consisted of three scored rounds, the lowest scorers being dropped at the end of each round. The table of judges were random members of

the crowd to make everything fair. The first round was a reading from an original poem by the contestant. Two poets were grouped together and the one who scored higher moved onto round two. There were five groupings in the first round. The second round had participants read a poem chosen by another poet. Scores in this round were mainly based on quality of reading. The two lowest scorers were then dropped. The last round consisted of the three finalists reading another poem of their own. Again, scores were based on quality of the reading and the overall quality of the poem. In the last round, the finalists were Trevor Polk, ‘10, Lauren Manninen, ‘10, and Erika Narhi-Martinez, ‘10. Narhi-Martinez stole the crowd with her poem about being afraid of carbs, “inspired by Eric Owens,” and subsequently won the competitition receiving several perfect scores.

The Polkins Family Tour

Andrew Watkins

Headed by Trevor Polk, ‘10, and Andrew Watkins, ‘13, The Polkins Family Tour got together to play an Indie-artsy show for the Poetry Slam. Also in the band are Sam Claasen, ‘11, Brad Lock, ‘13, and Elizabeth Matus, ‘10.

Andrew Watkins, ‘13, soloed with his guitar for his set. Watkins has been playing for one year, and his music was instrumental improv based on the songs “Ocean” by John Bartler and “drifting” Andy McKee. Photos by Jessica Wohlers

The focus section wraps up this decade, recalling important events in the United States and at Wash

In this issue Tyler Hubler reports on the inexplicable rise of teacher abuse in the state of Iowa

Page 8-9

Page 3

Sanju Sathian chats with Dan Roalson about his time spent as a foreign exchange student in Spain Page 7

News

12-21-2009

Note: All News section content this month is satirical and is not meant to be perceived as factual.

Belgrade, Serbia: Dec. 3, 2009 Matija Gobec of the CEFL (Central European Football League) team the Novi Sad Dukes missed a block in their third game of the season, resulting in the “blind side” tackle of quarterback Brett Favre. Favre was paralyzed from the waist down, but maintained his spot as starting quarterback from his wheelchair. Favre continues to lead the league in passing.

Just so you know

South Pacific Ocean, Australia: Dec. 7, 2009 The lost city of Atlantis has been discovered somewhere off the Western coast of Australia. Two Mongolian divers, who were originally searching the coast for warheads, came upon the city unexpectedly. A treaty between Australia and Atlantis is expected in the coming weeks.

Events written by Charles Parks IV

Graphic by Trevor Polk

Jupiter Island, FL: Nov. 27, 2009 Tiger Woods has died after driving his car into a tree, according to a recent police report. His wife, Elin Nordegren, was seen chasing the car with one of Woods’s golf clubs. Police reports confirm that Woods’s Scandinavian wife discovered his multiple outings with men and then threw a worse tantrum than Woods did on the PGA tour.

Chéngdū, China: Dec. 12, 2009 Santa Claus, under the alias Kris Kringle, has been discovered running a sweatshop in Chéngdū. Claus was previously believed to have had his handy elves making the toys he provides. The discovery was made after travelers found a boat carrying Chinese toys was left abandoned near the North Pole.

Aspiring mavericks bring ideals to Washington Patrick Anderl Staff Writer One October afternoon this fall Joe Berry, ‘13, was hanging out in cross country coach Willis Harte’s classroom when he heard a song that would change his life forever. The inspirational lyrics came from Dr. Dre in the N.W.A. song “Express Yourself.” “Yo, man [...] There’s a lot of brothers out there flakin’ and perpetratin’ but scared to kick reality,” said Dre. Immediately after hearing the lyrics, Berry knew that he needed to take action. After sprinting out of the room, Berry gathered all of his friends for a meeting that would change history. “At that time, I was just really inspired. I mean, I’ve probably heard that song a lot, but never before had I really thought about the message. I needed to express myself,” said Berry. With that thought, he and his friends gave Dr. Dre a call and Dre told the boys something they will never forget. “Dreams are like turntables,” said Dre. “You only need a nudge to get them going.” This was just the nudge Berry and his boys needed. They are aspiring underground politicians and despise organized government and organized political parties. “Parties ain’t my thang,” said Saromo Mugisha, ’11. With all of this inspiration, the group made a club at Washington under the code name of “Young Mavericks”. They follow the lead of Sarah Palin, Ron Corbett and Mark Twain: true Mavericks. “Yeah, me and my Pops run this town. No big deal. We just like to keep it real, ya know? Our idol Ron is a real

Maverick. He don’t listen to nobody, just like our club,” said Mathieu Corbett, ’11. The Mavs are true rogues. Their activities stay under the grid for the most part. At a recent meeting held in Washington language arts teacher Marlyse Strait’s classroom, the guest speakers were seniors Andre Dawson and Saxon Dolan. Dawson and Dolan moved the audience to tears as they spoke of politics with great passion. Members Neel Ghosh, ’11, and Drew Stevens, ’10, then handed out Maverick cupcakes with the statement, “cash money over everything.” What is certain is that the Young Mavs are a force to be reckoned with. They already hold key power and influence over many members of the U.S. Senate and plan to overthrow the federal government. Watch Photo by Jessica Wohlers out for these powerful figures throughout the halls Young Mavs club members David Yepez, ’11, Ellen Hart, ’11, Joe Berry, ’13, of Washington as their club Michael Olson, ’11, and Neel Ghosh, ’11, pose for a picture of their new club in grows in number.

Marlyse Strait’s classroom during one of their bi-weekly meetings.

12-21-2009

Note: All News section content this month is satirical and is not meant to be perceived as factual.

AP addiction on the rise

Briefly

Sara Larson Staff Writer

• This season’s hit show on Fox, “Glee,” will reportedly be discontinued for 2010 due to the excessive singing, dancing and smiling exhibited by the program’s characters. • White House proclaims that the National Gift Return Day holiday will be held on Dec. 26.

Compiled by Tyler Hubler, News Editor

Researchers have recently discovered that an obsession over Advanced Placement [AP] examinations is leading to an addiction in many students, which often causes extreme behavior. AP exams take place every year in May for a period of around two weeks. Students all over the country are tested over topics ranging from Human Geography to Physics. If a student receives a passing grade [a three or higher], they gain college credits for the equivalent of the class. These exams have become so important to high school students that their everyday lives revolve around them. The preparation required to pass these exams is a staggering amount of work, and students are doing whatever it will take in order to pass. Twenty-four-hour study sessions prior to the exams are one growing trend among teenagers. Gail Barnum, ’11, is one student that has participated in an extreme study session. “I had two exams this year. I didn’t know how I was going to cover everything, so I just decided to replace sleep with studying,” said Barnum. Another trend that is becoming increasingly common is spending immense sums of money on review books. Some students have even admitted to purchasing up to as many as 10 review books for a single class. Max McGee, ’11, bought nine books for his World History exam. “I would go into Barnes & Noble to study for hours on end. Before I knew it, I had bought nine different books to review with,” said McGee. The long-term mental and physical affects of the AP exam on students have not been completely examined. The

few known effects found include lack of sleep, which has been shown to lead to insomnia, caffeine addiction and anxiety attacks. Rare cases have even led to hospitalization. Despite these newfound revelations, AP exams will continue to be emphasized and the number of students addicted will continue to rise.

Graphic by Gabrielle Lisinski

News

Increase in teacher abuse during 2008-2009 school year Tyler Hubler News Editor A report on teacher abuse in Iowa public high schools released on Dec. 17 showed an 8.3% increase in reported abuse during the 2008-09 school year. Once again George Washington High School placed as the second-highest rated school in reported incidents of mistreatment, only following Thomas Jefferson High School. The annual study, which began in 2007, was prompted by the number of teachers retiring in their twenties and due to the massive student-caused fire that set Xavier High School ablaze in 2006. The inquiry into such wide-spread maltreatment of teachers was conducted by the Adult Beatings Under Student Exposure or A.B.U.S.E. Agency. The agency’s research found that Washington had 25 cases of abuse reported during the 2008-09 school year, 17 cases above the state-wide average. The A.B.U.S.E. Agency focused on four main criteria in conducting their study: reported incidents of cruelty towards teachers, average number of homework assignments for students, number of tests given on Mondays and the number of dangerously sharp objects in each school. “I am not surprised in the least at these new teacher abuse rankings,” said Washington language arts teacher Peter Clancy.“I was verbally harassed by five students in one of my classes for 16 straight days last year.” Clancy also commented that students tended to

State dinner infiltrated by uninvited guests

Turn Your Jingle Into A Crinkle!

Shana Matthews Staff Writer

No matter how much (or how little) money you have, living by a budget is a very wise idea. However, in order to do so, you need to track where your money is going so you can identify the “leakages” that may be whittling you down to the spare change in your pocket! Metco Credit Union has a free budget spreadsheet you can download at www.MetcoCU.org - simply enter your expenditures to see where your money is going, and then use the spreadsheet to create a budget for 2009. Keep with it and maybe at this time next year you’ll hear the crinkle of paper in your pockets rather than the jingle of coins!

Brought to you by: Everything is online & on YOUR time at www.MetcoCU.org

torture him more if they were at the time receiving failing grades in his classes, or if he assigned papers greater than one page in length. Other Washington teachers pointed out how students had made multiple attempts to keep them out of the classroom in hope of having more substitutes teaching classes, who might not give them homework. These incidents ranged from locking teachers out of their classrooms, slashing the tires of all cars parked in the staff lot on May 13, 2009 and throwing Washington math teacher Matt Miller’s computer out a classroom window. “Last year my seventh hour gym class hung me upside down from a basketball hoop every other week because they were tired of walking to Beaver Park,” said an anonymous Washington gym teacher. Following the release of the study last week, the Cedar Rapids Community School District’s main office has vowed to issue new protocols on informing teachers how to deal with cruel students. Every teacher in the district will receive an e-mail with “10 tips on how NOT to be abused” to their personal classroom computer within the next week. Tips are said to range from “Duck behind your desk when textbooks are being thrown at you by students” and “Issue straightjackets to students who refuse to take vocabulary quizzes.” “I was really looking forward to receiving these tips from the district on how to combat mistreatment, but unfortunately [senior] Connor O’Neil just set my computer on fire,” said Washington language arts teacher Kristi Schultz.

115 8th Ave SW in Cedar Rapids 319.398.5007

Since 1874, state dinners have been a U.S. tradition. They show respect to foreign leaders and invitations to such events are coveted. President Obama held his first state dinner for the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh on Nov. 24. Obama’s intention was to cement a growing friendship with India, but as the night progressed, the state dinner quickly turned into much more. The list of guests held political allies, celebrities and important figures in India’s government. However, Tareq and Michaele Salahai, a couple known to be “aspiring reality TV stars” who were not on the guest list, managed to make it past security and into the White House. Despite security’s promise to “do better next time”, the next uninvited dinner guest was Arnold Schwarzenegger. He left what would have been a night of intensive weight lifting and speech therapy to munch on “fresh cheese” and “chocolate dipped fruit” with the president. White House security attempted to have him removed, but First Lady Michelle Obama was so enamored with Schwarzenegger’s “cute Austrian accent” that she insisted any guests with “such big muscles” were welcome to stay. The final surprise of the night was the arrival of Osama bin Laden. An uncomfortable silence filled the room when his name was announced and made a surprising public statement. “My friends, do not be afraid. I come in peace to celebrate and honor the new President, my Muslim brother!” Popular radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh told reporters after the dinner that the infiltration of terrorists at the White House was an inevitable occurrence under an Obama presidency. “Overall, I would say this has probably been the most successful state dinner the White House has hosted yet,” said Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s Chief of Staff. “We feel that it has really strengthened America’s international ties across the board.” Obama had no comment on rumors that the first lady was last seen leaving the White House with Schwarzenegger.

12-21-2009

News

Note: All News section content this month is satirical and is not meant to be perceived as factual.

Stinky smell from classroom raises concerns Emily Wicke Staff Writer

“I use the extra credit to encourage my students to speak more French in class as well as to participate more, and they are motivated by the idea,” said Nicol. French teacher Lisa Nicol has always French one student Tori Wheeler, ’13, was believed in giving extra credit to help hard workquite surprised when she was first was given extra ing students give their grades an extra boost, but credit. the recent smells coming from her classroom have “I was really happy to be receiving extra been giving students more headaches then help. credit, but when Madame Nicol began to ap After giving out the same old extra credit proach me with this little blue bag I was sudfor numerous years, denly overwhelmed by Nicol decided that she a horrible smell,” said needed a way to spice it Wheeler. up for her students. Nicol is used “I was on a fishto complaints over the ing trip with my family, stench by now, and she sitting on the boat, knows how to deal with when a fish the size of a the issue. football suddenly flew “ I just tell up and hit me in the them [my students] head,” said Nicol. that the smell is from The bizarre Biology teacher Nikki experience ended up Rowland’s class dishaving some positive secting pigs. They stop benefits for Nicol. She when they -French teacher, Lisa Nicol complaining came up with the idea realize all of the points to hand out extra credit they can gain,” said Graphic by Brian Kopec in the form of fish. Nicol. “I thought, what Nicol knows French teacher Lisa Nicol shows off a fish that she caught recently better than to give out ‘un poisson’,” said Nicol. that her motives of extra credit are less then ordi When Nicol sees that one of her students nary, but she plans on continuing the extra credit in the Canadian boundary waters. Nicol uses the fish she catches as part of an extra credit rewards program for her students. has performed exceptionally well in class she rewards for as long as she can. hands them a fish. Students can receive extra “If I can get more fish I’ll keep handing credit worth one point or worth five points. them out. They get my student’s attention and When they have collected ten points, they can they keep them focused. After all, you have to be turn them in. on your toes when fish are flying,” said Nicol.

“I just tell them [my students] that the smell is from Biology teacher Nikki Rowland’s class dissecting pigs. They stop complaining when they realize all of the points they can gain.”

Reindeer strike for more health care Alyssa Christian Staff Writer

It is cold and flu season and the North Pole is no exception. Recently, Santa Claus’ eight reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen) have gone on strike for the upcoming holiday season to the chant of “No care, not fair!” in response to some preferential medical treatment paid to a certain “red-nosed reindeer.” Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer along with Blitzen, Comet and several of Claus’ elves have contracted the H1N1 strand of influenza this winter. It is reported that Rudolph is being paid special attention while the remaining reindeer have been neglected. Such preference includes allowing Rudolph sick leave on crucial test flights, extra cups of hot cocoa and recovery time spent in what is being called the “Santa suite.” “Rudolph’s illness is being carefully managed by Mrs. Claus, while Blitzen and Comet are forced to fight through this alone due to the sky high prices of professional medical care,” said Dasher, the strike spokesdeer. “It’s no secret that Rudolph has been Santa’s favorite ever since that infamous foggy Christmas Eve. When it comes down to it the principle issue is not one of favoritism, it’s that the rest of us [reindeer] are risking our lives to give to the children of the world without even a mention of health care.” The reindeer are threatening to boycott Christmas 2009 if the remaining reindeers’ health care is not improved to the level that Rudolph is currently being offered. Such conditions would include an undisclosed number of days for sick leave and free medical consultations and treatment with Mrs. Clause (a Registered Nurse.) The strike, which began Dec. 1, has not only caught the attention of Santa Claus, but also that of the Agency for the Protection of Reindeer Worker’s Rights. The APRWR worked on and won Rudolph’s “Red-Nose” discrimination case decades ago. The agency will soon be releasing information from an investigation conducted early last week. “Our goal is not to punish the children, but rather to instill the fact that we have been treated unfairly and we are not going to go unheard,” said Cupid. “We take our job seriously. Now it’s time for us to be taken seriously.”

All of the other reindeer...

and

Opinions

12-21-2009

Wasting life with forced volunteering? It’s that time of year again: college applications. Upon filling out the numerous parts of the various applications, there is one section which I leave conspicuously blank every time - volunteer hours. The straightforDaniel Williams ward answer to this Staff Writer is because of my philosophy on life: in short, my primary goal in life is to simply enjoy living. Unfortunately, volunteering isn’t something from which I get any real delight or even slight satisfaction. I’ve tried volunteering many times and I’ve concluded that unless you devote an absurd amount of time to it, you’re really not contributing to anything. This may seem like a somewhat cynical and slothful point of view, but, honestly, most people know volunteering is a bunch of crap anyway. How many times have I volunteered with the pretext of doing something (“making a difference”), only to arrive and either have the organization tell me they don’t need me or give me a ridiculously crude or uncomplicated task that could have been done - usually much faster and more efficiently - by an experienced staff member. Volunteering, I’ve come to realize, has become grossly distorted from what it used to be. Today, all volunteering consists of is a bunch of lazy high school students who want to bolster their college resume with a few hours of the least strenuous and ineffectual volunteering they can find at a place that probably doesn’t even need their help.

Moreover, I believe that volunteering is fostering the development of more inefficient organizations so that they may create more volunteering opportunities for the youth under the guise of needing more help. If organizations wanted to be run more efficiently, they would want less help; that way they would be forced to become more competent and resourceful and actually better at what they’re trying to accomplish in the first place. Thus, I have abstained from volunteering not because I don’t agree with the concept - the idea of helping people without any reward is an incredibly noble and great cause. What I don’t agree with, however, is the idea of “forced volunteering”. An oxymoron perhaps, but nevertheless the truth. The reality is that the volunteers that organizations in the community receive are incredibly insolent, lazy, distracted, unreliable and, above all else, wrongly motivated. Volunteering for the sake of improving one’s resume completely defeats the purpose, no, the very word, “volunteer”. Volunteer implies that one is receiving nothing in return, and the fact that colleges put any measurable amount of weight in the admissions process on “volunteering” makes the expression lose all meaning. Consequently, the only reasonable conclusion that one can make is to refrain from volunteering IF one finds oneself volunteering for the wrong reasons. As I stated before, a true volunteer is a very righteous position and should be revered as such. But the instant one “volunteers” for the reason of boosting a resume, he or she ceases to become a true volunteer, and, as such, those hours are ineligible to be put on a college resume. How many volunteer hours would my peers have then? Not many, I suppose.

Homosexual harassment is bogus

Ryan Brown Staff Writer

On February 12, 2008, 15-year-old Lawrence King asked his classmate Brandon Mclerney to be his Valentine. Threatened by King’s homosexuality, Mclerney shot and killed him. Cases like these are uncommon, but not rare. While we have yet to experience something like this at Washington, I hear the terms “fag”, “queer” and “gay” tossed around unsparingly. Most people don’t mean to hurt people with these words and defend themselves by saying they had no negative intention. Nevertheless 30% of all teen suicides are from gay and lesbian students. They are two to three

Thorns

Roses - Mr. Rieck - cozy fireside talks - trip to Chicago to see Jersey Boys - Uggs - ISU beating Iowa in Basketball - only two people fainted at the Biology cadaver lab - DP keychains - Modern Warfare 2 release - beards - Hawkeyes going to Orange Bowl - team Jacob

- cleaning the car off in the cold - subzero degree windchill - Cedar Falls Referees - Keile losing her voice - not being able to see any lines in the parking lots - team Edward - college application deadlines - no more half days until the last week of school - chapped lips

Does Dan William’s article make you furious? Have an opinion about it? Tell us about it! Write a 300 word article and put it in the envelope outside of Schultz’s room (217) or give it to Connor O’Neil.

times more likely to commit suicide than their straight peers. According to “The Gazette”, in Iowa, 78% of gay teens report they are verbally harassed while 38% report they are physically harassed. The fact that one doesn’t “intend” to hurt people, doesn’t mean it won’t. I came from a school in Oregon where I never once heard any homophobic slurs. If Southridge High School can do it, why can’t we? We’ve legalized gay marriage and yet every day I hear “he’s such a faggot”. Even if you do mean gay, what’s wrong with liking someone of the same gender? Why is that supposed to be an insult?

Expansion of vocabulary is important. Instead of saying something’s gay when you really mean “stupid” or “dumb”, call it bogus. It’s a way cooler term anyway. It’s the 21st century and we live in, surprisingly, one of the most progressive states in the nation. Our education is continually ranking in the top three states, and yet we’re speaking like cave men. Some boys like boys. Some girls like girls. Some people like both, and some like neither. Get over it. Think about what you say before you open your mouth - it might just save someone’s life.

Surveyor Editorial Policy Surveyor is established as a school-sponsored open forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers. It is published nine times each school year by students enrolled in Sam Seyfer the Journalism News class at Washington High Editor-in-chief School. The staff will report as fairly and wellbalanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff’s ability. Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalistic ethics. Jessica Wohlers Editorials and the reviews that appear under Photo editor a byline are the opinion of the writer, not necessarily the staff. Unsigned editorials represent the majority of the Editorial Board. The opinions section is designed to provide a forum for the opinions of the Surveyor staff and the Washington High School Community. Molly James Readers are encouraged to express their Profiles editor viewpoints through guest editorials. Surveyor Writers also welcomes letters to the editor, with these Patrick Anderl guidelines: Natalee Birchansky Jill Broghammer 1. It is not libelous or obscene. Molly Brown 2. It explains the material clearly. Ryan Brown 3. It is not longer than 300 words. Alyssa Christian Catherine Cooper 4. It is signed.

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12-21-2009

Opinions

So you want to be a doctor? For most of us students, the future is still unclear. What lies ahead in terms of our occupational career is nothing but a soft bubble floating on a sea of soapy opportunities. Others of us have strict rules dictating what will become of us in the near future. Many dream of becoming hard working politicians, research-minded engineers, or tall and sexy Ian Klemans. Moreover, if you’re a competitively smart student, Grant Gregory, or, for that part, a participant in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, you might actually have the guts to dream of a career in the medical field. Although a highly respectable occupation, the road to attaining your M.D. is not as easy as Meredith Grey makes it look. Let’s see what really happens behind the glorious Jack Shey journey of becoming a legal practicing physician. Staff Writer Education proceeding high school will be filled with demanding scientific and humanity courses. On top of a rigorous schedule filled with organic chemistry and applied mathematics, aspiring physicians will have to participate in various research projects to show an initiative in learning medicine. Without monetary support from parents or sponsors, you may also need to start exhausting many options to pay off debt, including: selling body fluids and organs (Yuchen), marketing an easy-flow elbow on eBay (Abby Shey), or performing subtle sexual favors (Tiger Woods). Midway through your undergraduate education, you will have to start applying to medical school, a process that is not only mentally and emotionally draining, but also

physically painful. Applicants will have to take the MCAT: a test that covers chemistry, biology, and physics as well as a writing section that, as one University of Iowa medical student said, “will blow your brains”. The applications to medical school will require multiple letters of recommendation, intensely demanding essays, and grueling interviews by faculty members. Even if you get in, just imagine what the campus would look like. Everywhere you look there would be thousands upon thousands of Jeff St. Clair’s and Max Ernst’s just waiting to demolish your medical dreams solely through the power of their competitionoriented brains. The classes will be unyielding and impenetrable, filled with demanding teachers that expect nothing short of perfection. Residency is the next step and located halfway through this journey. It is usually a fourto five-year process filled with tests to mark your learning progress and sleepless shifts that are part of an 80-hour work week of hands-on medical training. It’s definitely not as easy as J.D. or Turk, the stars of the comedic medical drama Scrubs, make it look. Your meager salary will do nothing to counter the accumulating debts from medical school and living expenses, you won’t be making emotional connections with dying patients and you won’t be sleeping with your extremely attractive residency director. If you can muster the courage to complete the daunting tasks of medical residency, you can move on to a fellowship - the two- to three-year training in a particular medical specialty. If you complete this, you must take a final test to evaluate whether or not you are fit to start practicing medicine. After all these years you now enter a career while halfway through your midlife crisis. Your weekends will now be filled with wine-tasting, mahogany-scented leather bound books, and sophisticated dining within the homes of social elite. Although most of your life was consumed by debt and stressful studying, you make a steady salary that will eventually make up for everything you have missed. I will admit that there are many here at Washington who have the structured drive to make the sacrifices that entail becoming a doctor. But let this article serve as a warning to those who can barely pass high school chemistry: your hopeful aspirations will die a slow and painful death. So, Shay Gutman, do you still want to be a doctor?

We’re still the minority

Graphic by Alexandra Bergman

Politicians and media don’t deserve our faith People have put their faith into many things. Many of those people have been let down to the point where Nick Heins the truth is Staff Writer hard to see. For one, how can pro-small-government Republicans feel anything but let down after Republican politicians, over the course of eight years, clearly expanded the government’s power? In the same sense, how can prounion Democrats feel anything but let down after electing the majority of Democrats to the state and the national government and no labor legislation has been passed. A democratic Iowa governor even vetoed union legislation. So when do you believe a politician when they make promises during their campaign? Where or who is one suppose to put their faith in? Environmentalists such as Al Gore say that manmade global warming is impacting our environment and heating up the world. Environmentalists also say that carbon dioxide emissions

are destroying the ozone. A CBS report states that emails were stolen from the University of East Anglia Climate Research that says that some scientists had manipulated evidence in order to get the answer for manmade global warming that they wanted. The report also shows scientists talking about hiding evidence of a decline in global temperatures. What is the truth? Some politicians say that the medical insurance bill being discussed in Congress will save jobs; some politicians say it will force companies to lay people off because of the costs that will be added. Some politicians say the bill will save Medicare; some politicians say that it will take 500 billion dollars out of Medicare and divert it. What is the truth? When I watch the news, whether it’s CBS, CNN, Fox, or something else, I cannot for the life of me figure out what’s true. It would be foolish to just believe one side and not the other. I know I can’t trust a politician because they’ll take the most popular issue and make it their campaign chant. Do they even know what they believe? Does anyone know the truth? I don’t know who’s telling the truth, and if this is the case for everyone then don’t we have a problem? Don’t the politicians have a problem? Isn’t anyone just a little bit suspicious

that politicians of Democrats and Republicans are always opposites on every single issue? With two opposing sides at least one of them must be wrong. Surely one cannot side with a person who had the slogan, “Reformer with Results,” after the course of eight years where that reform and those results weren’t what we were looking for. Surely one cannot fall for a person just because that person’s campaign slogan was “Change”. I, for one, try to look at both sides of an issue and let my faith guide my conclusions. I no longer put my trust in people or what they say. Someone who says that they have the answer might have one, but it might not be the one to solve our problem. My faith teaches that good trees bear good fruit and bad trees bear bad fruit. Or in other words, judge by actions and results, not by promises. What I put my faith in has little to do with politics. I put my faith into the truth, into the one who lived two thousand years ago and came not sent by himself, but by another. I put my faith into the mercy that he preached and to love one another as he had loved us. Because only by him will you see the truth, and everything else will become clear. Faith is a precious thing, so don’t give it easily.

The difficulties of the college admission process seem to be endless. Suddenly the topic of race comes up, and the already numerous issues multiply. In the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, affirmative action is defined as, “positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been Isaac Halyard historically excluded.” Staff Writer Historically being the key word. Before affirmative action, the luxury of higher education was only available to the Caucasian majority. Jim Crow laws and segregation continued to plague the nation. When segregation was lifted, affirmative action was set in place to increase the percentage of minorities and women in universities and colleges, and to promote diversity and opportunity for all. This system is still “...40 years has in use today, simply due to the not provided unfortunate fact that it is still necessary. Ethnic representation is still much time for uneven within universities. social and ecoUniversity of Iowa enrollment statistics show that only 9.6% nomic factors of the total 2008 enrollees were minorities. Many fewer minori- to become truly ties are applying to colleges than equal.” white students. Intelligence in no way differs from race to race, so this difference in number of applicants has nothing to do with intellect. It is essentially the result of socioeconomic class differences. It has been a little over 40 years since the Civil Rights Movement. Although equal rights were provided to all, minorities still had nearly 200 years of inequality riding upon their backs. Therefore, 40 years has not provided much time for social and economic factors to become truly equal. As a result, many minorities still exist on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. There is no way to climb the economic ladder if equal opportunity for education is not given. A student body made up of all different races, ethnicities, genders and religions remains the ideal goal for many of the top colleges and universities. However, many of these colleges still have far fewer minority students than white students. Affirmative action is not a system that is skewing college acceptance in favor of minorities, but rather providing minorities who are much less represented in the application process an equal opportunity to be accepted. With the idea of diversity in mind, affirmative action is simply a way to promote equal opportunity in areas where it has been historically uneven.

Profiles

12-21-2009

Talent and dedication pay off for Wash tenor Cole Rhatigan Staff Writer A Warrior spirit and a finely tuned tenor voice gave a first place finish to Washington student Miles Maurice, ’11. Maurice competed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) vocal competition on Nov. 6 and 7 held at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Approximately 300 high school students from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri participated in the event. Within a division with 18 other students, Maurice received first place honors. The competition was a two-day event. Auditions were held on the first day, and Maurice was then called again for a second round. Contestants had to wait out the night to

discover if they would be called back for finals. Maurice received a call and competed in the final round. Despite the extended process and the multiple callbacks, Maurice was able to remain calm. “I was confident early on, and knew I had a good chance of winning,” said Maurice. His confidence paid off. Not only did he receive first place, but he was given 100 dollars for his efforts. Maurice, who participates in all the top choirs at Washington, including Slice of Jazz, Momentum and Madrigals, only recently discovered his talent in singing. He did not participate in any choir group until middle school. Now it consumes his life. “It’s hard, between all the school groups and lessons it’s pretty time consuming. It’s good, though, to get all of the experience I can because it’s what I plan on doing in college,” said Maurice. On top of his college dreams, Maurice desires to be the best, and his voice teacher, Karla Goettel, keeps him motivated.

Emily White, ‘11, also a member of both Momentum and Madrigals, has sung with Maurice since middle school and has no trouble seeing him succeed in a singing career. “Everyone knows Miles is the best,” said White. “He’s so easy to work with, and the coolest thing about Miles is he can sing in any style: opera, jazz or musical theatre. It all sounds awesome.” Choir teacher Matthew Armstrong has taught Maurice since his freshman year and is well aware of his capabilities and determination. Armstrong had nothing but praise for his “exceptional” student. “Miles is a hard worker. Even as recently in the last year, he’s gotten more serious about singing, studying privately more,” said Armstrong. “His talent’s so sophisticated, and yet he’s very humble.” With singing style so great and versatile and a commitment to excellence, more top finishes can be expected from one of Washington’s finest male singers.

Roalson furthers cultural experiences with trimester in Spain Sanju Sathian Staff Writer Dan Roalson (far left), ’11, and some of his friends take a time out from a Barcelona vs. Zaragossa soccer game for a snapshot to remember his time in Spain.

Photo courtesy of Dan Roalson

To stay away from home and live in a place where most of the population speaks a foreign language can be difficult for most. Dan Roalson, ‘11, can attest to this after spending the fall trimester in Casteldefells, Spain. Roalson spent his time studying at Babylon Idiomas, a language school located in nearby Barcelona. “I can honestly say that I didn’t have one bad experience there. I absolutely loved it,” said Roalson.

“I love so many people here, but Casteldefells was unmistakably beautiful.”

Dan Roalson, ‘11

After taking the train daily to his school in Barcelona, Roalson spent his days studying and becoming fluent in Spanish. Speaking Spanish competently came quite easily for him because of his previous experience speaking French. He became well versed in that language while spending three years in France for various mission projects. “I’m fluent enough to carry on conversations with natives and not have them laugh at me, but I couldn’t carry on that conversation without them knowing I’m American,” said Roalson. Roalson learned important catch phrases for conversation. Comprehending and conducting normal dialogue in Spanish is something that he greatly improved since being in Casteldefells. When he was not studying, Roalson went running, played beach volleyball, attended soccer games, took walks on the Mediterranean Sea shore and spent time with many other “foreign” students like himself. “I didn’t have too much in common with (my classmates), but I could name 15 to 20 people that I could call friends,” said Roalson. Lacking a host family, Roalson lived in a seminary where Americans, Germans and Argentineans interacted together. The atmosphere exuded an international vibe. From September through late November, Roalson had the time of his life. Concerning which place he likes best, though - Cedar Rapids or Casteldefells - Roalson said, “That’s a trick question. I love so many people (in Cedar Rapids), but Casteldefells was unmistakably beautiful, so it’s too hard to pick. I can easily see myself living there for a while a little bit later.”

12-21-2009

2000- St. Louis Rams 2001- Baltimore Ravens 2002- N. England Patriots 2003- T. Bay Buccaneers 2004- N. England Patriots 2005- N. England Patriots 2006- Pittsburgh Steelers 2007- Indianapolis Colts 2008- NY Giants 2009- Pittsburgh Steelers

2002- Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City (U.S. takes third place behind Norway & Germany) 2001- World Trade Towers and Pentagon collapse

2001- George Bush is sworn in as 43rd president of the United States 2000- Summer olympics held in Sydney (U.S. wins with 36 gold)

2000-2009

Pass go, begin 2010

Focus 2003- Arnold Schwarzenegger elected California state governor

2003- Saddam Hussein is captured

2004- Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s right breast during Superbowl halftime show

2004- Fo Presiden ald Reag

Warriors recap a decade of change Lauren Kelley

Over the past ten years, Washington High School has been an ever-changing and always exciting environment. Whether it’s through sports, academics or fine arts, students and staff continue to leave memorable footprints within the halls of Washington High School. Academics have been one of the largest areas of change over the years. When asked what events stood out to them, counselors Dr. Peggy Hardesty and Ms. Sue McDermott were able to share many significant developments within the last decade. The large increase in advanced placement classes was one improvement Hardesty and McDermott mentioned first. Other large academic developments have been the IJAG program and expansion of the ELL and foreign exchange departments. More recent updates include the installment of Smart Boards, reappearance of consumer science classes, and Power School. Washington was also named one of “America’s Best Schools” by the U.S. News and World Report in 2008 as well as 2009. The fine arts department has also been an area of large accomplishment. Over the past decade, Washington students have performed The Fantasticks, The Odd Couple, Godspell, Les Miserables, Tommy, Sweeney Todd, Greece, Aida, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, and many more productions. Along with the growing choirs and drama departments, both counselors also commented on the growth of involvement

2009- Michael Jackson dies

in Washington’s speech team. In 2008, the speech team included over fifty members. The debate team has also been an area of interest to many. Washington’s sports department has also captured much attention over the years. The varsity women’s basketball team and their unforgettable trips to State is something many still remember. In 2005, 2006 and 2008, their varsity teams were State runner-ups. In 2007, they became State semifinalists. Another significant event in 2008, the varsity men’s swim team won the state meet. In 2009, Brandon Burrell was named the State champion for wrestling, and in the spring of 2009, the varsity men’s track and field team won the State meet. Dr. Terry Kahler, one of Washington’s science teachers recalls many of the physical changes Washington has undergone, such as the construction of the new science and social studies wing and the addition of the Grant Wood art gallery. The courtyard renovation is another change even current students remember. The recent addition of air conditioners to nearly every classroom is also a development many may appreciate. There are also many lighter, more amusing events remembered by Washington students. Whether it is finding pigs in the ceiling or a courtyard full of desks, seniors continue to leave behind creative pranks. The appearance of “Whiteface” during the 2008-2009 school year is one memory many will never forget.

2009- Obama becomes the first African American president

2009- First swine flu breaks out

2008- Ge Bush dod shoe thro Iraqi jou

Focus

ormer nt Rongan dies

2004- Summer Olympics held in Athens (U.S. wins with 36 gold)

Political Drive

Throughout the coming decade, the United States’ will still be the world’s most competitive economy. The country has a gross domestic product of $14.2 trillion. Thereby, it accounts for 24 percent of the world GDP. This is three times the size of Japan, the second biggest economy today.

United States Avenue

The United States has one of the world’s strongest military, making the nation a viable peace keeper. The United States is one of the leaders in technological innovation. The United States has a hopeful air in the coming decade.

eorge dges a own by urnalist

2004- George Bush reelected president

12-21-2009

2004- Martha Stewart 2005- Hurricane Katrina devastates sentenced to 5 years in prison New Orleans

Predictions for the upcoming decade Shayma Elsheikh

Green technology breakthroughs like dynamic towers, tubercle blades, micro-algae, wave and tidal power, and solar-thermal energy are expected to benefit the environment, particularly as it impacts the human condition. In fact, natural gas is reputed to become a dominant energy source in the U.S. in the decades ahead. A new computer model developed by German scientists predicts that the Earth’s temperature may stay roughly the same for a decade, as natural climate cycles enter a cooling phase. UN estimates that the world population will exceed 7.5 billion in 2020. Another 50-80 million people will likely be added to the U.S. population. Access to food, housing and clean water, not to mention waste control, will create new problems for our society to adapt. However, our society is already taking precautions. The Cancer Research Campaign says that technological advances will drive down the number of cancer deaths in the developed world. Research also shows that there is still a need to eat healthier and exercise more to lessen cases of bowel, breast, and esophageal cancers.

2006- Crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin dies after being stung by sting ray 2006- Winter Olympics held in Torino (U.S. gets 9 gold behind Germany with 11 gold)

2007- Virginia Tech Shooting

2008- Famous actor Heath Ledger dies

A&E/Fashion

2008- Summer Olympics held in Bejing (U.S. recieves 36 gold behind China with 51 gold)

2008- Flood waters engulf Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas

2008- The Great Recession begins in U.S. (highest unemployment rate in 26 years)

Lost Twilight World of Lady Gaga Warcraft Razor scooters Survivor Gladiator sandals Blink 182 American Idol Norah Jones Leggings Harry Potter Grey’s Anatomy iPods Brittany Spears Playstation 2

12-21-2009

Profiles

Bachelor of the Month: Jack Sunderman

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Team Long Live Strongâ&#x20AC;?

Natalie Neppl Staff Writer Any girl who is smart, outgoing and easy to get along with may be compatible with this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eligible bachelor, Jack Sunderman, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13. Sunderman, stands at five feet and five inches tall and has blue eyes and brown hair.Â He typically struts the halls casually wearing jeans and a tee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He always has a positive attitude and outgoing personality that is easy to get along with,â&#x20AC;? said his close friend, Quincy McGee, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13. A great deal of Sundermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time is dedicated to hanging out with friends and

playing sports.Â He is continually busy with Washington athletics, playing soccer, football, wrestling and track. Sunderman plans to attend John Hopkins Medical School to become an emergency medical doctor and hopes â&#x20AC;&#x153;to be married and have kids way down the roadâ&#x20AC;?.Â Although he despises public speaking assignments, Sunderman has an outgoing personality that is said to be hard to resist. Sundermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream date is â&#x20AC;&#x153;spending the day hanging out in Paris with Megan Fox and closing the day with a nice dinnerâ&#x20AC;?.Â

Jack Sunderman, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;13, Decemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bachelor of the Month, is swept off his feet by a multitude of girls, just as he would do to any girl priveleged enough to date him.

Photo by: Lauren Johnson

She hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been the same since the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Team Long Live Strongâ&#x20AC;? is a phrase that will soon be seen all around Wash imprinted on t-shirts. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a slogan from a famous bicyclist, rather, it represents the school-wide support for Luke Long, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;12, and his family. In March 2009, Long was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Six weeks later, his father was diagnosed with kidney cancer. One surgery later, Luke was cancer free, but his dad still has stagefour advanced kidney cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before I went into surgery, I was overcome with this incredible peace. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sad about having cancer. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go through whatever God puts me through with a smile on my face,â&#x20AC;? said Long. Longâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother, Joni Long, was shocked to learn that her son had cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very humbling experience. You never think that you would be in a situation like that; you always think it would only happen to somebody else,â&#x20AC;? said Joni. Long has been very proactive in fundraising for his family. Prior to the t-shirt sales, the Long family had a garage sale at Cedar Valley Christian School and a benefit with some of his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s co-workers, raising awareness for kidney cancer. Recently, Luke has been selling t-shirts imprinted with the words â&#x20AC;&#x153;Team Long Live Strong,â&#x20AC;? a phrase thought up by some of those co-workers.Â Long is also planning a benefit concert on December 20 at Catch 419 in Marion. He will be playing guitar and singing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll play a few songs Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve written and a few covers too. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m stoked,â&#x20AC;? Long said. There will be several other musical acts, and admission is three dollars with additional donations to the Long family also appreciated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a neat thing to see so many people coming together, people we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even know,â&#x20AC;? said Joni. A positive outlook has greatly helped the Long family through such hard times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you think about it too much, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll bring you down. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one way that I can go through something like this and still be joyous, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because of God,â&#x20AC;? said Long.Â

Thompsons: master musicians Sanju Sathian Staff Writer

ABORTION. You want to help. Maybe sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your sister, your girlfriend, or your best friend. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to feel helpless. You can do something for her. Connect her with Aid to Women. We offer a confidential and private faith-based healing class. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s led by women who know how she feels because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been through an abortion too. Questions? Give us a call or go online. www.AidToWomen.com 701 Center Point Rd. NE $FEBS 3BQJET t

Lily Gasway Staff Writer

Aid to Women Respect Answers Support

Eric Thompson is well-known as a passionate history teacher or a drum line coach for the Warrior Marching Band, but there is another side of him. He rocks life as an extremely talented jazz artist with a head-over-heels love for music. Thompson said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In my opinion, music is the only place where racism, bigotry, segregation and creed donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist - I know this sounds clichĂŠ, but music is the universal language.â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;¨ Thompson was introduced to music during his diaper years by his father, Slayton Thompson, who works as a homeless student liaison for the Cedar Rapids School District. Music is something that ran in the Thompson family. Both father and son enjoy playing together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no greater feeling in the world than doing anything with your children that make them grow and become what God has put us here for,â&#x20AC;? said Slayton.â&#x20AC;¨ Slayton encouraged Thompson to develop his musical talents and led him to great heights: performing on â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tonight Showâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dick Clarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Live Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;? and a feature on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kidsworldâ&#x20AC;? at the tender age of nine. He was also featured in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ebonyâ&#x20AC;? magazine and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Us Magazine. With success at such a young age, Thompson continued to shine through his college years and beyond. He was an active member in orchestras, jazz quartets and bands. Thompson holds numerous certifications in jazz studies, African-American studies and has a Masters Degree from Columbia University. He is now a performer for the Sabian Cymbal Company and is a part of the band Equilateral. â&#x20AC;¨ Photo courtesy of Slayton Thompson Despite so much talent and experience, Thompson remains Eric Thompson (left) and his father, Slayton one of Cedar Rapidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best kept Thompson, share a moment of comic relief after secrets. performing together many years ago.

A&E

12-21-2009

WHS video gamers answer to their “Call of Duty” Isaac Halyard Staff Writer Every so often, a video game comes along that redefines the very activity of gaming. The newest addition to the greatest game genre is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Surpassing the standards set by Pac Man, Mario Party and Halo, Modern Warfare 2 seeks glory as potentially the most popular game of all time. In the first five days the game was available, it earned $550 million. Trumping Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince’s $394 million five-day box office earnings, Modern Warfare 2 now holds the record for the greatest five-day earnings in all of entertainment history. This popularity is due in part to the “sequel effect”. When the first modern warfare game was released in late 2007, the realistic war-like campaign and intense online action immediately earned numerous followers. For this reason, much of the success of Modern Warfare 2 can be awarded to the first Modern Warfare. The two-year wait for the sequel has provided time for anticipation to grow and minute perfections to be made on the sequel. With growing technological capabilities, the expected quality of the sequel had become exceptionally high. In the areas of graphics and audio quality, Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed these expectations. “It’s so realistic, and the fighting is really intense. You feel like you’re actually in the game,” said John Kopec, ’13. However, to earn this insanely high amount of popularity, Modern Warfare 2 had to excel in areas where other games do not. “The online is great. Xbox had not come out with a great online game in a while, and Modern Warfare 2 pretty much answered the call,” said Jacob Meyer, ’11. “It’s very realistic and addicting. I can see how it would be possible for people to play it for hours on end.” Despite the game’s ban in Russia due to a scene of violent terrorism, players worldwide are flocking to the game’s online network. On Nov. 11, Xbox Live reported 2.2 million users were signed in and playing Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox Live. At roughly ten percent of Xbox Live’s total user population, 2.2 million set the all-time record for most users on a single game.

As a popular first person shooter genre of game, Modern Warfare 2 is often compared to the Halo series, which have become invincible classics within the Xbox community. However, Modern Warfare 2 may also be solidifying its claim within the video game world. With 6.34 million total sales, Modern Warfare 2 easily trounced the newest addition to the Halo series, Halo 3: ODST, which only had 3.68 million total sales. “School, homework, swimming, Modern Warfare 2. That’s my life,” said Kopec. “ I used to play Halo all the time, but now I’d much rather be playing Modern Warfare 2.” Alongside games such as Madden, World of Warcraft and Halo, Modern Warfare 2 has joined a class where games are not only activities, but also a significant part of many peoples’ lives.

gamesareevil.com

Lyrics of a fearful summer soothe wintertime blues anyway) are combated and neutralized by instrumentals that Mackenzie Hepker invigorate the listener with good feelings of happiness and Staff Writer peace. Because this album was produced at the urging of RobMiles Benjamin Anthony Robinson’s virtually unknown inson’s friend, Kyp Malone, long after that fateful summer, this sophomore album “Summer of Fear” sneaked its way onto the could be a suggestion that Robinson has crawled out of “that shelves in late October 2009, a mere six months after his selfbig hole in the ground, where my fine friend fear had first been titled debut, but this time under the label Saddle Creek and found” (Track 2, Always an Anchor). with the production aid of TV On The Radio’s Kyp Malone. While nearly all thirteen tracks are fantastic, fadContrary to the tense and ing fluidly into one another, there unmethodical style of his previous are some highlights, namely “The album, Robinson seems to have Sound,” “Gold and Grey,” “Summer pulled this one together nicely of Fear Pt. 2,” “Death by Dust” and with the resources provided by his “Boat,” all of which include amazing Artist: Miles Benjamin Anthony new label. The solo artist name, backing instrumentals. The weakhowever, is misleading; the core of est track is “Hard Row,” in which Robinson the musical mastery is the talented Robinson compares heartbreak to a orchestra backing up Robinson, Release Date: October 2009 forsaken garden in need of hoeing. more than making up for his tremThis track is both musically and lyribling, incoherent vocals and featurcally inferior to the others, but does ing members of the bands Grizzly fit the tone of the album, and does Bear and TV On The Radio. not significantly bring it down. “Summer of Fear” was actually Overall, “Summer of written before Robinson’s debut Fear” is an excellent indie pick, album, born out of a horrendous summer that bombarded the and, ironically, perfect for driving through falling snow or man with bitterness, betrayal and regret apparently due to an gazing out a window on those cozy winter nights. Robinson’s ugly breakup. The lyrics of the album are thus permeated with sophomore album, though different from his acclaimed debut, cynicism, self-loathing and an underlying demand of “Why?”. is sure to impress fans and new listeners alike. While this might suggest a whiny emo cry-session in the form of a CD, the depressing lyrics (nearly impossible to understand

Summer of Fear

Upcoming Events December 25 - “It’s Complicated”, a romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep and Steve Martin, hits the big screen. January 8 - The second annual WHS Dance Marathon is held in the cafeteria. January 8 - Written by American film legend, Tennessee Williams, the much anticipated drama, “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond”, is released in theaters.

americansongwriter.com

muzzleofbees.com

January 15 - New Orleans country music group, The Crossroads Project, performs at CSPS, 8 p.m.

A&E

12-21-2009

Deck the halls with boughs of HOLLYWOOD

A Christmas Carol

Elf

If the holiday season has you spouting bah humbugs, consider sitting down to revisit the ageold tale, “A Christmas Carol” (1951). In this film, Ebenezer Scrooge’s selfish ways condemn him to a heartwrenching journey through Christmas past, present, and future. This seemingly devastating plotline, however, redeems itself in holiday cheer when a transformed Scooge gives back to those he has taken for granted. Though this classic movie exists in color, the Surveyor staff assures that kickin’ it old school with the original black and white version is the way to go.

Whether or not you tend to be a fan of Will Ferrell’s goofy comedic style, his famous holiday blockbuster is sure to prove itself a cinematic classic well worth your time. While engrossed in the story of Buddy the Elf ’s transition into a normal adult lifestyle, everything from Ferell’s oh-so-witty one liners (“What’s your favorite color?”) to his awkward romance with a toy store employee have been known to fill viewers to the rim with Christmas spirit. You won’t be disappointed; six holiday seasons worth of laughter prove “Elf ” (2003) to be a holiday must-see.

“The Soundtrack to My Life” Rebecca Moehn, ’10, reveals the musical staples of her day-to-day routine

Katharine Goodwin Staff Writer Which song do you most enjoy listening to while driving to school? “The Song of Purple Summer” by Spring Awakening. I favor their music and the song itself reviews childhood. As a senior, it is important for me to look back. What song do you love to dance to? “The Taste the Touch” by Asteria. A couple of friends and I always danced along to the dance break on cue. It goes from being rock star to sweet and childish. It’s completely random. It’s a lot of fun. What songs do you listen to the most when hanging out with your friends? The Beatles. Not really a specific song, but my favorite is “Blackbird” because the movie “Across the Universe” makes it a sad song, but the actual song is happy; no matter how I feel, “Blackbird” works. What is your favorite song that you have listened to in the last 24 hours? Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” [I like it] because she is very convincing. The lyrics are about driving and driving with some one you care about and how that feels. It’s like a thought process. What song do you listen to most while you are working out? I run, so I like an upbeat song like “Save Tonight” by Eagle Eye Cherry. A friend introduced me to it before he went to Iraq and it made sense why he’d like it. It’s motivating because it’s about how he doesn’t have much time left. Which song do you think best defines your personality? This is hard. I guess “Time Turned Fragile” by Motion City Soundtrack. It’s a happy song, but also sad. Motion City Soundtrack writes personal songs. It makes it lifelike.

It’s a Wonderful Life

A Christmas Story

Love Actually

Though a tale of devastating depression and suicidal musings may not seem like the recipe for a holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) has been an inspiration to American audiences for over 30 years. When George Bailey falls into a bout of deep despair, he is sent a guardian angel to open his eyes to the nightmare-ish vision of a world where he had never been born. The angel convinces Bailey that he has lived “a wonderful life” and sends him home with confidence that love can overcome his struggles. Nominated for five Academy Awards, this beloved film is the perfect testament to friends, family and the holiday spirit.

It’s Christmastime and the only item on little Ralphie Parker’s wish list is a 200-shot Red Ryder BB Gun. Unfortunately, his quest to gain this prize is hindered by the repeated claim: “You’ll shoot your eye out!”. Beloved by audiences since its initial release in 1983, this film epitomizes the emotional roller coaster of an American child’s holiday experience. From frozen tongues to humiliating bunny costumes, “A Christmas Story” seldom disappoints. This holiday classic is not likely to fade from our memories anytime soon.

In this heartwarming holiday film, eight irrestibly emotional stories prove love to be the underlying reason for the season. Through a labyrinthine plotline of romantic frenzy, “Love Actually” (2003) follows the loosely related lives of everyone from an eleven year-old boy to the prime minister, all during the five frantic weeks before Christmas. Whether these characters are falling in love, flirting with love, or caught in the middle of someone else’s relationship, this emotionally-charged comedy is sure to remind even the grinchiest viewer that “love actually is all around”. -Lana Godlewski/A&E Editor

The PTA would like to congratulate the AP Scholars & the Anna Purna Ghosh Recipients

Carrena Bailey Collin Barker Sarah Barnes Allison Barr Alexandra Bergman Catherine Blades Rachel Bode Jill Broghammer Jordan Brown Gregory Carrera Katharine Christiansen Andrew Clair Matthieu Corbett Benjamin Davenport Sarah-Elizabeth Deshaies Joseph Eken Madeleine Ficken Anna Fisher Anna Fritsche Neel Ghosh Karinne Graves Alyssa Hamilton Susanna Herder Nicole Johnson Brian Kopec Kunwei Liu Ben Matsuda Maxwell McGee Joseph Mescher Vance Mueller Sadie Nunemaker Abbey Overland

Charles Parks Kaitie Parsons Alyssa Pearson Hannah Philgreen John Reasoner Kyle Rouse Mary Kate Schmitt Haley Schulte Rachel Stolba Molly Strand Lindsey Taylor Brennen Tevis Rebekah Veldhuizen Bradley Weaverling Emily White Brianna Zumhof Amina Ahaddad Caitlin Allen Gail Barnum Jackson Bartleme Ryan Beardsworth Brittany Bergquist Natalee Birchansky Filipe Camarotti Christopher Danielson Zachary Detweiler Celia GarnerProuty Joseph Gallet Lana Godlewski Mo Green Isaac Halyard Maria Hanson Ellen Hart

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Surveyor’s top five holiday movies are the perfect fireside entertainment for those freezing winter nights

Abby Varn Keile Wahle Margaret Wenndt Tobiah Ziemer Meg Zmolek Madeline Becker Isaac Behrens Anne Brenneman Erin Briggie Katherine Briggie Marissa Carson Tracey Cook Shayma Elsheikh Julia Emery Maxwell Ernst Kestrel Henry Tayler Hines Tyler Hubler Molly James Krista Johnson Sharon Kann Jack Kohn Chase Lehrman Elizabeth Matus Connor O’Neil Christina Scharmer Samuel Seyfer Skylar Smith Jeffrey St Clair Elizabeth Townsend Victoria Walling Maria Welch Tiffany Westrom Daniel Williams Madeline Young

Sports “Just like a family...” Men’s swim team logs countless hours during season Ian Fischer Staff Writer When late-night comedian Conan O’Brien was born, the Warrior men’s swim team began their streak of championships at districts. Conan O’Brien is now forty-six years old, and that winning streak continues today. “No one wants to be on the team that loses districts, and that thought only makes us work harder,” said Mo Green, ’11. Winning against six to eight teams is not easy. The teams in districts change annually. Last year Washington’s district held seven of the eleven eventual State champions, and yet for the last forty-six years, it has been the same result for the Warriors: victory. The swim team requires a lot of hard work, but it pays off. “Pain is only temporary. It’s worth it in the end,” said Sam Gray, ’10. Every weekday morning Morgan Barnes, ’12,

wakes up at 5:00 a.m. and heads to Wash for a 5:45 a.m. practice. He then goes through the school day and finishes his evening with another three hour practice. After this, Morgan heads home to do homework and ends his day by going to bed at 8:30. Though he spends approximately four and a half hours each day practicing, Barnes still enjoys the “killer” ones. Being on the Washington men’s swim team comes with a cost. “During swim season I become friendless and never get to spend anytime with my family, because in my time off all I do is sleep. My whole life is run by swimming,” said Gray. Losing time with family, the swim team has developed into a sort of “brotherhood.” “There is tension on the team, but we are just like a family,” said Barnes. Traditions throughout the program have become popular with the swimmers. Activities such as bleaching hair, running in speedos, rookie cuts, team parties and Christmas trees on the pool deck increase team chemistry. “Team traditions make us that much stronger,” said Green. As Conan O’Brien continues to crank out jokes, the Warrior men’s swim team continues to grind out practices, and hopefully, more victories.

Photo By: Gabby Lisinski

Beyond the regular challenge of 5:45 A.M. practices and afternoon practices lasting up to three hours, the men’s swim team was forced to deal with high chlorine levels in the pool earlier this season, causing many athletes to feel sick.

Weighty decisions for Warrior wrestlers Jill Broghammer Staff Writer Imagine having to lose over thirteen pounds in two weeks. This is what junior wrestler Justin Cole did in order to wrestle at the 152-pound weight class. Weight cutting is notorious for the long term health effects it has on young athletes, but there has been major improvement in the last five years. There are now national rules and regulations about how much weight each wrestler can lose per week. Each wrestler takes an initial body fat, weight and hydration test. These results are then plugged into a national website determining how much weight each wrestler can lose per week based on losing one half percent. “The long term health effects have greatly improved in past years,” said wrestling coach J.P. Graham. “The new

Photo by: Sky Smith

Tyler Burrell, ’12, handles an opponent at a meet against Xavier on December 15.

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Warrior Athlete of the Month: Quincy Bruce 1. When did you start bowling? I started bowlng when I was four years old. 2. Are you a member of a bowling league? Yes, I’m a member of Lancer Jr./Sr. 3. Do you prefer to bowl recreationally or competitively? It doesn’t really matter because it’s bowling. If I had to pick one it would be recreational, though. 4. How do you prepare for a big meet? I listen to my iPod. 5. What do you do between turns at a bowling meet? I talk to the team. 6. Do you throw spin balls or straight balls? I throw a hook ball. 7. When was your best game ever, and what happened? My best game ever was a 289 this past summer. I strung the first nine frames in a row. On the tenth frame I left a solid ten pin. I picked it up, and the last ball was a strike! 8. What’s the best part of bowling for Washington? Bowling with different and new people. 9. How do you wind down after a meet? Talking to team members about the meet. 10. Do you ever bowl during Laser Bowl nights? Yes, I go all the time. Almost every Saturday.

rules that have been implemented have eliminated some of the long term health effects from cutting weight.” Once wrestlers find out how much weight they can lose per week they decide which weight class they would like to compete in and make a goal to lose as much weight as needed. Wrestlers do not have to cut weight, but wrestling a smaller and lighter person gives wrestlers a mental advantage. When trying to cut weight for wrestling, diet intake is crucial. Wres-Justin Cole ’11 tlers need to eat five to six times a day and each meal needs to contain very small portions. Wrestlers need to eat pasta for carbohydrates and fish or chicken for protein. Other essentials include water, fruits and vegetables. Most of a person’s weight doesn’t come from food, but rather from liquid. Therefore, not only does food intake need to be limited but liquid intake does, too. “It is really difficult to cut weight because you have to stop eating your normal routine. You are hungry most of the day and when you do get to eat it is all healthy food,” said Cole. In addition to regular practice, running or lifting is something that wrestlers can choose to do on their own if they are trying to cut weight. “When cutting weight, it’s important to try and get more workouts in a day. Running in the morning or after practice helps burn more calories when cutting weight,” said Graham.

“It is really difficult to cut weight... you are hungry most of the day.”

Quincy Bruce ’13 Varsity Bowling 11. Do you play any other sports? Yes, I play basketball and football. 12. What’s your favorite sports movie? “Grid Iron Gang.” 13. Who is your favorite professional athlete? Michael Jordan. 14. What are your hopes for the season? My hope is to make it to State. 15. What is your greatest sports accomplishment? My greatest sports accomplishment is bowling my 757 series. 16. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football. 17. What is a typical bowling practice like? We get there, bowl, and leave. 18. What is your favorite pump-up song? “Put Me in the Game” by Lil Wayne. 19. Who has been your all-time favorite coach? My dad and John Staub, the owner of Lancer Lanes.

Warrior Numbers

Last-second three-pointers by junior basketball player Alissa Oney. Oney sank one at the third quarter buzzer in the Warrior’s 48-40 victory over Waterloo West and another 35-footer at the end of the first quarter against Prairie in a 68-43 win.

Place by the Warrior women’s dance team at the state meet. The team won in Division 12, the second largest, on December 4. The team placed first with their pom routine and sixth in jazz.

Pins by Warrior wrestlers in their meet against Xavier on December 15. Jordin Eicher, ’12, Kaiser Herz, ’12, Will Hart, ’10, and Zach Pilcher, ’10, all pinned their opponents, leading the Warriors to a 45-20 victory over the Saints.

12-21-2009

Sports

A tale of two coaches... Joe Eken Staff Writer During the winter months, the gyms at Washington High School are filled with a flurry of activity. Basketballs fly, shoes squeak and two men pace the shiny hardwood floors overseeing it all. These two figures are Brad Metzger and Frank Howell, coaches of the men’s and women’s varsity basketball teams, respectively. Between them is nearly 40 years of coaching experience, but each coach is certainly at a different point in his Washington career. Howell is entering his seventh season coaching the women’s team, and has led the program to a number of impressive feats, including a four-year span in which the girls never finished lower than third in the state. Part of the reason Howell has helped the team achieve success is the fact that he trusts his players and their abilities. “We try to focus on what we need to do and build our system. If we do our stuff, the other team won’t matter,” said Howell. He also puts an emphasis on playing hard, playing tough and playing smart - a philosophy that led the team to a 14-8 record last year and a 4-1 start this season. Despite his fine record, Howell knows that winning isn’t every-

thing. “The best part of coaching is the relationships you build. With players, with coaches, with family members, you try to make it exciting for everybody,” said Howell. Metzger, on the other hand, is just starting to build his legacy at Washington. He took over the men’s basketball team last year after longtime coach Rick Williams stepped down. Metzger led the team to an impressive 16-7 record in his inaugural season. Although Metzger is fairly new to Washington, he is certainly no rookie to the coaching game. This will be his 13th year as a coach - a career that started at his college alma mater in Indiana - and he has developed his own style. “I’m pretty thorough. I put a lot of time into developing strategies, and I try to work with the team I have, not just do the same thing every year,” said Metzger. The team is off to a 0-2 start this season, but look to progress as the year continues. As for the coaches, they’re just enjoying themselves. “They say if you find a job doing what you love to do, you never have to work a day in your life,” said Howell. If that is true, these two may already be experiencing a very early retirement.

Photo By: Lauren Hoth

Coach Howell Height: 6’ 3’ Years Coaching: 18 College Alma Mater: William Penn Favorite Player: Barry Stevens, former ISU player Favorite Pro Team: Boston Celtics Favorite Sports Movie: “Miracle”

Back to the Outback Kitty McGurk Staff Writer

The Iowa Hawkeyes are going “bowl”-ing in Florida for the second straight year, but this year the stakes will be raised because the Hawkeyes will be playing in a BCS Bowl for only the second time in school history. The Orange Bowl Committee rewarded the Hawkeyes for their 10-2 season by giving them the opportunity to take on the ACC Champion Georgia Tech (11-2) on Jan. 5 in Miami. Iowa was defeated by USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl but that trip was not a total loss. The strong turnout by the “Hawkeye Nation” in the 2003 game went a long way in securing this season’s return visit. A lot will be on the line as Iowa looks to improve their bowl record to 5-3 under coach Kirk Ferentz and notch their first BCS bowl victory in school history. Their opponent in the 2009 Orange Bowl will certainly be a formidable one. The GT Yellow Jackets have a roster full of future NFL players and they operate one of college football’s most challenging offenses to stop: the triple option. Iowa’s defense must be able to at least slow down Georgia Tech’s triple option in order to come back to Iowa as Orange Bowl Champions.

Some bowlers end season early Abby Varn Staff Writer After a huge jump in the number of athletes participating on the Warrior bowling team, coaches found themselves having to make adjustments to keep maintenance costs reasonable. Jefferson High School set the standard for these adjustments in 2008 when they also had a huge number of bowlers on their team. After the addition of so many kids, the bowling alleys used for practice set the cost for schools at $1 per person per practice. With three practices every week, the fee became too high. High school athletic teams are allowed to make cuts if the facility used for practice does not belong to the school, or if students are not meeting the required 120 minutes of exercise every week, according to the Healthy Kids Act. Bowling coaches Traci Mooney and Monica Reeves made cuts after the first two weeks of practice. The cuts were based on attendence and bowling averages. Those cut from the team still had the opportunity to become a team manager and attend meets to support the players. “Being the manager, I get to still talk to the team and feel part of it,” said Evan Tarkington, ‘10.

Photo By: Sky Smith

Coach Metzger Height: 6’ 3.5” Years Coaching: 13 College Alma Mater: Indiana Wesleyan Favorite Player: Michael Jordan Favorite Pro Team: New York Yankees Favorite Sports Movie: None

Upcoming Warrior Athletic Events Women’s Varsity Basketball January 5 vs. Dubuque Wahlert at Washington, 6 p.m. January 12 vs. Dubuque Hempstead at Washington, 6 p.m. Men’s Varsity Basketball January 8 vs. Iowa City High at Washington, 6 p.m. Men & Women’s Bowling January 8 vs. Dubuque Wahlert at Lancer Lanes, 3:45 p.m. January 15 vs. Prairie at Lancer Lanes, 3:45 p.m. Men’s Varsity/JV Swimming January 12 vs. Dubuque Senior at Washington, 6 p.m. January 14 Warrior JV Invite at Washington, 5:30 p.m.

Sports

12-21-2009

How to avoid winter workout blues

An impact from the sideline

Abby Varn Staff Writer

Jill Broghammer Staff Writer

Winter in Iowa brings wind, snow, ice and more snow. This just means that Iowans get the chance to be more creative with ways to stay fit in the winter months. Though biking on your favorite trail or a good game of tennis on the Washington courts seem out of the question with ten inches of snow, there are a lot of fun ways to stay fit. Anyone can use the snow and ice to their advantage. Fun winter activities can be great ways to stay in shape. For an average 150-pound person, 60 minutes of ice skating burns 504 calories, one hour of skiing saves you 432 calories and half an hour of shoveling out the old lady’s driveway next door burns off 216 calories. “I stay fit by sledding mostly,” said Tim Westrom, ’13. Sledding is a great way to exercise be-

Courtesy of Google Images

MILE EQUIVALENTS: Popular Winter Workouts Stationary cycling: 13 minutes Raquetball: 15 minutes Skating: 15 minutes Cross country skiing: 12 minutes Downhill skiing: 15 minutes Stair-stepping: 13 minutes Swimming: 16 minutes Weight training: 20 minutes (Courtesy of Get Healthy UAMS) cause it can be made fun with friends and family. “Sledding doesn’t really feel like exercise. I just do it for fun,” said Alexia Weaver, ’10. Exercising becomes even more important around the holiday season because of all the food Americans consume. According to about.com, one cup of eggnog packs 343 calories and one piece of pumpkin pie contains 180 calories. A better treat to consider may be a candy cane, which contains only 60 calories. “People eat a lot more than they think around Christmas. I try to exercise in the winter by running and sledding,” said Kathryn Bell, ’10. Instead of repeating the same exercise routine in the gym, which can become monotonous and boring, use Iowa weather to full advantage. It can mean having fun staying fit this holiday season.

provide water. Wrestling managers get into wrestling meets for free and have the chance to bond with the wrestlers before practice and sometimes become While athletes are often in the a part of the practice. spotlight, student sport managers “I’ve been tackled often during work behind the scenes to keep the practice by many of the wrestlers,” said show running smoothly. sophomore Monique Ritzman. Men’s swimming has seven managWomen’s freshmen basketball has a ers this year. The job of a swimming manager this year, as well. His job is to manager is to count yards for each mop the floor, provide water, help the swimmer at every practice, fill up all athletes in any way and go to all of the of the swimmers’ games to support the water bottles, cheer team. the team on at every Freshman Robert meet and make Miley has been a scrapbooks for each women’s basketball swimmer at the end manager for the of the season. Men’s past three years. He swimming managers was a manager for receive a gym waiver women’s basketball and a varsity letter in middle school -Monique Ritzman ’12 for their duties. The and is continuing managers also help to be a manager out with certain through this year. team bonding events, like bleaching “I really enjoy being a part of the and shaving the swimmers’ hair. team even though I don’t play. My “I wanted to be a swimming favorite part is hanging out before manager because many of my friends practice and rapping with the other told me it was a lot of fun,” said players,” said Miley. sophomore Meredith Gantner. “I The women’s bowling team has get to hang out and talk to all of the three managers this year. The job of a swimmers while also making friends bowling manager includes taking stats with the other managers.” of each player and going to all of the This season there are three wrestling practices. Bowling managers receive managers. These managers take stats a gym waiver and go to all of the at the meets, clean up any accidents bowling meets to cheer on the Warrior during practice, clean the mats and bowlers.

“I’ve been tackled often during practice by many of the wrestlers.”

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Photos by: Sky Smith