Tiger Times May 2011 - First part

PHOTO BY SARAH BARNISH

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THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

Tiger Horoscopes

by David Mills

These horoscopes are provided for entertainment purposes only, and as such, they come with no guarantee of accuracy or usability of the information and advice contained within. Read at your own risk!.

Aries, March 21 - April 20 There is something in the air and it isn’t love! Don’t forget about your hygiene this month and be sure to shower!

Be sure to save where you can and eliminate the unnecessary expenses!

Taurus, April 21 - May 21 This is a good month to try and achieve past goals. Set your eyes on the prize and go for it!

Scorpio, October 24 - November 22 The winds of change are blowing your way this month. Things that you felt were always going to be constant will soon disappear, but don’t worry! For every door that closes a new one will open.

Gemini, May 22 - June 21 Don’t let the people’s bad attitudes get you down. Keep your head up and walk tall no matter what others may think!

Sagittarius, November 23 - December 22 It might seem like everyone needs your help this month, but don’t forget to take care of yourself! It is ok to ask for some time to yourself.

Cancer, June 22 - July 22 If you begin to feel a little adventurous this month, go for a trip!

This is a good time to broaden your horizons.

Leo, July 23 - August 21 Be careful where you step this month! Opportunities to hurt yourself are everywhere, and you seem very prone to trigger them.

Virgo, August 22 - September 23 Work will be building up all this month and it will be very easy for you to fall behind! Be sure to use the weekends to get caught back up.

Libra, September 24 - October 23 Money might be a little tight this month.

Capricorn, December 23 - January 20 This is a good month to explore new possibilities! If something new presents itself to you, go ahead and try it out!

Wamfle

To walk around with flapping clothes.

MAY ARTIST OF THE MONTH HOLLY LEGACY, JUNIOR

Aquarius, January 21 February 19 Life is going to throw a lot of curve balls your way this month. However, as long as you go with the flow you will reach your intended destination.

Pisces, February 20 - March 20 It might feel like you have been forgotten about and kept out of the spot light. But no need to be alarmed! Your time to shine will come soon!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE IF’s got talent!

Check out how the annual talent show went down and who won.

WORD OF THE MONTH

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Find out what happens to you if you decide to haze someone on an IF sports team.

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CONTACT The Tiger Times Idaho Falls High School 601 S. Holmes Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Phone: (208) 525-7740 FAX: (208) 525-7768 Facebook: www.facebook.com/tigertimes E-mail: iftigertimes@gmail.com COST: Single editions are free.

STAFF 2010-2011 Editor-In-Chief Amanda Johnston News Editors Cody Bowyer Shayla Skillings Sports Editor Austen Kutsche Features Editor Megan Ciciliot ArtsEnt Editor Matthew Campbell Ad Manager Teleigh Martinez Staff Rachel Almason Zackari Ball Madison Billingsley Niko Boicelli Brandon Cole Jacob Dyett Mercedes Erikson Faith Kimery Justin King Jonathan Latham David Mills Cheyenne Olson Ryan Rogers Steven Schaeffer Ciara Shaul Julius Vasquez Colby Walker Lauren Wirkus Adviser Ryan Hansen POLICY

The Tiger Times, a legally recognized public forum for student expression, is published five to eight times a year by the newspaper class for students of Idaho Falls High School. Expression made by students in the exercise of the freedom of speech or freedom of press is not an expression of District 91 school board policy.

The views expressed in The Tiger Times do not necessarily represent the view of the entire staff, adviser, IFHS administration or the School District 91 administration. © 2011 The Tiger Times.

All rights reserved.

NEWS

IFH S TIGER TIMES

EDITORS SHAYLA SKILLINGS & CODY BOWYER

MAY 2011

BULLY FOR YOU

Results from a poll given on Facebook.

• Have you ever been bullied?

Yes 60% No 40% • Have you ever bullied someone?

Yes 60% No 40% • Do you consider kissing the Tiger Tile a form of bullying?

Yes 40% No 60% • Were you afraid to come to IFHS because of possible hazing?

Yes 0% No 100% • Do you think the IF staff does enough to stop bullying?

Yes 60% No 40% Do you consider bullying a major problem at IFHS?

Yes 0% No 100% * 220 participapants, percentages rounded.

Photo illustration by Niko Boicelli

Despite progress, intimidation still at IF Students’ fuzzy definitions of bullying fuel ‘vicious circle’ of abuse

Lauren Wirkus Staff Reporter

You’re walking down the hallways at Idaho Falls High School and from the corner of your eye you spot a group of girls pointing and laughing hysterically at a strangely dressed, new girl with glasses.

The girls in the huddle yell out a snobby comment at her and you can see the glisten of a tear on her cheek.

What would you do if you were watching a similar situation like this?

IFHS staff and administrators are trying to make it clear to everyone that bullying is wrong and we should do everything we can to prevent it. “There’s a reason we stand at our doors during

Cyberbullying a more popular, convenient way of persecution Bullying is no longer about the strong picking on the weak in the schoolyard. The physical assault has been replaced by a 24 hour per day, seven days a week online bashing.

Savvy students are using Instant Messaging, e-mails, chat rooms and websites they create to humiliate a peer. No longer can parents count on seeing the telltale physical signs of bullying—a

passing periods,” Brett Schwieder, art teacher, said. “We’re there to make sure kids feel safe and know we’re looking out for their well-being.”

Another way adminis-

black eye, bloody lip, torn clothes.

But the damage done by cyber bullies is no less real, and can be infinitely more painful.

A research team called i-SAFE America has discovered a disturbing trend about American teens — cyberbullying has affected more than half the students surveyed, on both sides of the issue. Their latest assessments surveyed more than 1,500 students rang-

trators are trying to prevent bullying is to educate students about it. This is why IFHS has Multicultural Week to remind students to celebrate, not persecute, differences.

ing from fourth to eighth grade across the country.

If you think you are cyberbullied, i-Safe America says students should tell a trusted adult about the bullying, and keep telling until the adult takes action. Students should not open or read messages by cyber bullies, either.

For more on cyberbullying, see pages 8-9.

- Cody Bowyer

The faculty also talks to students one-on-one and reminds them to report any cases of bullying of others or themselves because administrators believe there are many

more cases of bullying than people actually report.

Many people believe that bullying is only an “at-school occurrence.”

School officials know

bullying occurs off and on campus. “This is why we need to educate the parents of our students about it as well,” Jason McArthur, assistant principal, said. “If parents know, they are more inclined to watch for possible problems. We need to get community as a whole to stop bullying.”

Parents, teachers, administrators and staff are striving in the effort to educate students about the dangers of bullying and remind them that its wrong, yet in the end it lies in the hands of the students to end the vicious circle of abuse.

“We just need kids to tell us when they are being bullied,” McArthur said. “That’s the bottom line. We can’t fix what we don’t know.”

NEWS

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THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

City issues bullying tickets to students through administrators Johnny Latham Staff Reporter

Remember the days when making a kid eat playground sand got you sent to the corner and no recess time? Those days are long gone, and with the drastic increase in the severity of bullying comes

a drastic increase in consequences. And that means bullying tickets.

Students will now be held accountable via the Idaho Falls Police Department and receive a $68 ticket for bullying. “A bullying ticket is an infraction from the city of Idaho Falls,” Haley Jones, as-

sistant principal. “If a bullying complaint is brought to the administration’s attention, evidence will be gathered and a ticket may or may not be issued.”

Tickets are given based on the results of the investigation done by the school officer and the administrators.

ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS School Crime and Safety information from around the nation:

• 46% of males reported they had been in physical fights.

• 26% of females reported they had been in physical fights.

• Those in the lower grades reported being in twice as many fights as those in the higher grades. However, there is a lower rate of serious violent crimes in the elementary level than in the middle or high schools.

• Teenagers say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings. * 87% said shootings are motivated by a desire to “get back at those who have hurt them.” * 86% said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them” causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools.

• Students recognize that being a victim of abuse at home or witnessing others being abused at home may cause violence in school.

The HOTTEST and NEWEST Competitive Hip Hop Crew In Idaho Falls!

I-Crew Tryouts for ages 14-college age June 4th 3:30-5:30 @ 450 W. 15th Street If you can Break, Crump, Tumble, OR Hip-Hop We want YOU!!!

Questions email samdancing@hotmail.com

“I yelled and threatened a sophomore to the point he became very upset,” Scott Schaeffer, junior, admitted.

“I didn’t get a ticket but I was warned if any more bullying took place I would get one.”

Students at IF have received tickets from making

and distributing “gag” posters to physical violence.

Administrators consider all forms of intimidation bullying.

Some common “traditions” that are considered bullying are kissing the Tiger Tile, paddling, sophomore initiations and any act of underclassman humiliation.

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

What’s a Pacemaker?

news

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Admin tackles campus fight club Johnny Latham & Scott Schaeffer Staff Reporter

IFHS administrators and Officer Brad Landes broke up a “fight club” on Wednesday.

According to school officials, a group of students had been meeting in the locker rooms to participate and witness fights with each other.

After several days of this, it was finally reported that there was a disturbance in the locker room and the club was discovered.

One participant was sent to the hospital for

head injuries. Those 16 students involved were sent to juvenile court Monday where several were cited for disturbing the peace.

“It all started when two guys wanted to box in order to relieve some stress,” one participant said. “Some others wanted to watch and record the fight on their phones.

Over several days, it grew from six kids to 50.

The fights weren’t only at school and whoever wanted to fight was given the chance to.”

According to witnesses, the fighters wore

boxing gloves.

After the investigation was complete, only the students identified fighting in videos taken by the cell phones were given tickets for disturbing the peace.

Those found guilty may also have to pay a fine, and were suspended for two days from school.

The spectators received no punishment for attending. “It was basically just a bunch of immature kids trying to show off and act macho,” Cole Leggett, sophomore, said. “It was dumb.”

Schools around nation forced to cut funds

Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Ohio received lay-off notices.

School cuts have lead Nearly 800 staff members to thousands of teachers total received notices as being laid off nationwide. the district attempts to Less funding for schools close the $53 million budmeans that classes have to get deficit. Other staff get larger because of less that were laid off includmoney to pay teachers. ed principals, assistant On April 20, 2010, more principals and paraprothan 500 teachers in the fessionals. School cuts Shayla Skillings News Editor

Seniors Mayce Somerville, Kylee Kishiyama, Adviser Ryan Hansen and Madison Smith, senior, pose for a photo after winning the prestigious Pacemaker award at the National High School Journalism Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The seniors helped put together the 2010 book that won the award.

are changing everyone’s lives, schools are closing down, students therefore have to go to a new school, which is a big difference for some people.

According to an e-mail from Superintendent George Boland, Idaho Falls School District 91 is not anticipating cutting their teacher workforce.

news

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THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

Taliban may be considering options for peace talks the chorus of calls to wind down the war in the wake of bin Laden’s killing.

In the days immediately following bin Laden’s bloody end, the Taliban leadership was silent — a rare occurrence for a movement that normally unleashes a flood of loquacious commentary on any development concerning the conflict. Only

Laura King Los Angeles Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his allies in Washington are hoping that Osama bin Laden’s demise will prod the Taliban into joining peace negotiations. But the aftermath of the raid in Pakistan that killed the alQaida leader could just as easily embolden the Afghan insurgent group in its long struggle against the West.

The dramatic U.S. strike against bin Laden may provide the Taliban with greater incentives to talk rather than fight, not least the fear that its own senior leadership could suffer the same fate as the chief of its longtime ally.

Afghan Taliban chieftain Mullah Mohammed Omar is also thought to be sheltering in Pakistan, probably somewhere in Baluchistan province, which until now had been presumed too deep inside the country for a U.S. raid

MCT Campus An Egyptian man shouts his support for Osama bin Laden at a rally outside the Nour Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, May 6.

About 400 people mourned the slain terrorist mastermind and vowed revenge for his death.

to pose a genuine threat.

Now that assumption appears shaky.

“This is a good time for Taliban leaders to consider their options, and it seems they may be doing so,” said Haji Agha Lalai, a provincial council member in Kandahar who has been active in the push for “reconciliation,” as the nascent peace process is known.

But even though Secretary of State Hillary Rod-

ham Clinton declared that the insurgents “cannot wait us out” in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters may have more reason than ever to believe they can do just that.

The Taliban leadership, always closely attuned to U.S. domestic political sentiments, is well aware of the pressure on President Barack Obama to soon decide the scope of an American troop drawdown that is to begin in July, and of

on Friday, after al-Qaeda confirmed his death, did the Taliban issue a somewhat perfunctory statement praising bin Laden as a martyr and vowing to continue the fight against Western “invaders.”

The relatively tepid rhetoric in response to the killing has given rise to speculation that the group may be po-

sitioning itself to sever ties with al-Qaida, with which it has long had differences anyway. The Taliban sheltered al-Qaida before and after the Sept. 11 attacks, but their agendas have diverged in recent years and the alliance had been held together in part by Omar’s personal friendship with bin Laden.

OUTLOOK IFH S TIGER TIMES

WOOT!

EDITOR

AM ANDA J OH N ST ON

MAY 2011

The affects of harassment could reap more violence

Our school rocks!

Isn’t great that we have no bullies here?

Brandon Cole Staff Reporter

B

Cartoon by Dakota Kimble

Stand up, IF, and be nice!

Amanda Johnston Opinion Editor

H

igh school is tough.

Teenagers are finding who they are and what they like. They are trying to find those people they get along with and decide what they want to do with their future.

Bullying to these kids are just causing them so much more grief. Bullying is seen throughout high schools and the top reason for high school kids to commit suicide because they have been bullied.

Bullying is a serious issue that some people take too lightly.

With the added pressure to the teenagers lives, they need to find a way out. That’s where people see the accounts of cutting and the more extreme escape — sui-

cide. If people realize the hurtful things that people say to each other will cause them to commit suicide or to hurt themselves physically, wouldn’t they stop?

Isn’t a basic human belief that deep down, people are good?

A form of harassment is calling people names as a greetings.

This may seem OK or funny, but it’s not. Hurtful names as nicknames or as greetings are still as hurtful as full-out physical violence.

Our generation has come to the point where we can no longer determine the difference between “teasing” and bullying. People believe that they are not bullying people because they are just “teasing” them. Just because you call it teasing means it’s OK. Teasing stops people from trusting the others and causing more problems for people then most

people realize.

Another defense for bullying is that “It was done to me when I was a sophomore.” This is not a reason to bully. In fact, remember how you felt as you were being swatted or kissing the Tiger Tile?

Humiliated. That is the definition of bullying.

We need to take a stand right now, Idaho Falls High School. We can end the cycle of abuse that has plagued our high school for “traditions sake.” I encourage you to stand up for the people that are being bullied and taking the initiative to stop it. If one person stands up, then more people will follow because they see that it is acceptable to do so.

Everyone just needs to spread the love. Don’t say mean things!

Everyone needs to remember to treat people around them how they want to be treated.

ullying is not a joke. Whether you believe it or not, it really happens … all the time.

Either subtle or harsh, everyone has experienced bullying at least once in their lifetime. It must stop because it can affect everyone. It doesn’t just happen in schools, it happens in workplaces (sexual harassment), on the Internet (cyberbullying), even on the streets.

There are students harassing other students just so they can feel good about themselves. But here’s the point I’m getting at: in some schools, teachers won’t do anything about it. They say that they won’t step into the situation until they see it for themselves. I think that this is unorthodox because these kids are being abused for somebody else’s joy.

I remember when my mother told me about Colombine shootings in 1999. Two students went to school one day with guns. They killed and hurt so many people then committed suicide after the incident.

So many people had to go to counseling because of it and it all started from those two kids who were bullied to the breaking point.

We need to remember that harassing people, even sarcastically, could offend someone. We all have feelings and we need to be loved, not to be hurt constantly. To stop bullying, get teachers involved. We need to improve supervision during break times, lunchtime and other school activities.

Talk to the bullies and parents. Let the bullies understand what they are doing.

Explain why it is so wrong and make them stop.

Remember kids: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. What does that mean to you?

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FEATURES

While school may end at 3:30 p.m., the internet is available all the time. It is not just the schools’ job to get rid of it, but also the community as a whole.

With sites like Facebook and MySpace, it is easier every day to cyber bully. You don’t always know the effect you will have on someone. Self confidence is a quality that most teenagers lack. It is the students that can be the cure to cyber bullying. By speaking out and telling someone, you can help stop cyber bullying and those who are also suffering from it.

Texting is one of the worst ways to cyberbully.

Texting spreads faster and is harder to track down and destroy. Sexting happens all the time, and even though it has been tried to put to a stop, it continues on. Most cyber bullying takes place outside of school. The reality with cyber bullying is that there is no escape.

Being ignored and disrespected are the most common forms of cyber bullying. Several students have admitted at one time or another to being bullied online, but would not tell anyone because they didn’t know for sure if they were really being bullied.

When someone degrades your self esteem at any time, you need to tell someone.

Cyberbullying may be easier to catch, but while the evidence is there it is now always obvious who did it. Anonymous comments or e-mails are sent on a day to day basis. Fake profiles are made as a joke to comment on friends walls to make fun of them. After awhile, you start believing all of the things people tell you that aren’t true. Things like this happen every day without anyone even knowing it.

Being bullied isn’t just being shoved in a locker or thrown in a trash can in this digital age. The most hurtful ways are through words when you post them on someone’s wall or send a text. These are messages you can’t take back.

How many times when you get that e-mail do you see someone call you a name or lower your self esteem? Instead of noticing that you’ve got mail you should be realizing that you got bullied.

Every day you receive texts, instant messages and e-mails from friends, family and even people you don’t know.

Mercedes Erikson posted 17 minutes ago

E BOOK I N T O T H E D I G I TA L A G E

RECENT STATISTICS SHOW THAT: • One out of four kids is bullied. The American Justice Department says that this month one out of every four kids will be abused by another youth.

Surveys show that 77 percent of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically.

• In a recent study, 77 percent of the students said they had been bullied. And 14 percent of those who were bullied said they experienced severe (bad) reactions to the abuse.

• One out of five kids ad-

BULLYING STATISTICS Thirty percent of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying — as bullies, as victims, or as both — according to the results of the first national survey on this subject.

Bullying is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents.

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

IN-YOUR-FA PAGE BY MEGAN CICILIOT

H A R A S S M E N T B U L L I E S I T S WAY

“I don’t like it. It’s not very nice.”

Kolton Smith, senior

“It’s not good at all, because it is mean and people commit suicide over it.”

Jimmy Beck, junior

“I think its just as bad as in person and it still can hurt people its whack.”

Dani Uptergrove, junior

What are your feelings on cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying can be very damaging to adolescents and teens. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Also, once things are circulated on the Internet, they may never disappear, resurfacing at later times to renew the pain of cyber bullying.

Cyberbullying affects many adolescents and teens on a daily basis. Cyberbullying involves using technology, like cell phones and the Internet, to bully or harass another person. Cyberbullying can take many forms: • Sending mean messages or threats to a person's e-mail account or cell phone • Spreading rumors online or through texts • Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages • Stealing a person's account information to break into their account and send damaging messages • Pretending to be someone else online to hurt another person • Taking unflattering pictures of a person and spreading them through cell phones or the Internet • Sexting, or circulating sexually suggestive pictures or messages about a person

Cyberbullying facts

Go to www.facebook.com/tigertimes

Megan Ciciliot likes this.

CYBERBULLYING STATS Beatbullying asked 2,500 young people about cyberbullying to find out what’s going on.

• Fifty percent said they’d been cyberbullied.

• Twenty-nine percent told no one about being cyberbullied.

• Seventy-three percent said they knew who was sending them bullying messages • Eleven percent admitted to being a cyberbully .

what is Cyberbullying?

Bullying which uses technology as a means of victimizing others. It is the use of an internet service or mobile technologies- such as e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, web pages, or SMS (text messaging) –with the intention of harming another person.

mits to being a bully, or doing some “bullying.” Eight percent of students miss one day of class per month for fear of bullies.

Forty-three percent fear harassment in the bathroom at school.

• One hundred thousand students carry a gun to school.

Twenty-eight percent of youths who carry weapons have witnessed violence at home. A poll of teens ages 12-17 proved that they think violence increased at their schools.

• Two hundred, eighty-two thousand students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.

• Every seven minutes a child is bullied.

• Adult intervention - 4%.

• Peer intervention - 11%.

• No intervention - 85%.

outlook

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IFspeaks

How do you feel about bullying?

“Although I think people are entitled to their own opinions, they shouldn’t be using it to bring others down. Bullying isn’t something that people should participate in, in fact, people should be standing up against it.”

- Payton McGriff, junior

“I don’t see bullying as much as I used too. It seems as if you just get past a stage where being a bully is not worth the time anymore.

Personally I feel like people who bully are just insecure of themselves. We should love.”

- Grace Gokey, sophomore

“I don’t like it at all. I don’t appreciate it and I try to be friends with the people who get bullied. I see bullying a lot in school and it just saddens me. So that’s why I am not a bully at all!”

- Freedom Walrath, sophomore

It would only take one

Name Withheld

T

he truth is that 100 percent of the students at IF have been bullied.

I have been bullied and I’d be lying if I said I have never bullied someone.

Many say the reason people bully is because they have issues expressing themselves in an appropriate manner. But I don’t know if that’s completely true.

My story goes like this: I was just starting my junior year this year and for some reason I decided to let people know that I’m gay.

Needless to say, I didn’t get the acceptance I hoped for.

I got a lot of crap for being openly gay in the school and outside the school, but my main issue was how violent people got.

I was with a few of my

friends and we were hanging out at Skyline High School and a few kids, whom I didn’t know, came up and started calling me a “faggot” and a “queer.”

I tried to let it blow by, but it became too much. “Hey! Leave me the hell alone,” I said. “My sexuality is my business, not yours.”

One of the boys got right in my face and threatened to beat me up and called me a “freaking queer bag.” By then my friends and I decided to leave. We made the plan never to go back to Skyline after dark again.

What really bothered me was that nobody around me stood up to this bullying. It would take just one to think, “How would I feel if somebody did this to me?” It would take just one.

Bullying is all around us

whether you choose to see it or not.

No matter who’s getting bullied, it isn’t fun and it can have serious repercussions.

Please be that one to end the cycle.

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

ARTSEnt

IFH S TIGER TIMES

EDITOR

APRIL 2011

TALENTED

all juniors. After preparing for a month, and some for two, had their talents rewarded.

The awesome talent of Idaho Falls High “I was extremely nercame out in full force for this one night. vous before the So much talent came out to perform performance, bethis year, like Cynthia Lopez, senior, cause after all of with a dancing routine. Or Taylor Bur- the practice and gess, junior, with her rendition of “Get rehearsing,” Nick It Right,” from Glee. But, unfortunately, Stone, the firstnot everyone gets to place winner said walk away with a after his performance. “It really prize. seemed like I didn’t know any of

T h e what I was about to play. I was so three plac- excited after the show. I never exers were pected to win, I just wanted to do Matt Campbell ArtsEnt Editor

The talent show winners, in their moment of triumph.

1st Place: Nick Stone, junior (ABOVE) performed a Ragtime and Swing Medley on the piano 2nd Place: Cassie Vance, junior (LEFT) performed a piece on her violen.

3rd Place: Brooklyn Dyer (BELOW) and McKenzie Haan performed a duet, a piece that the two wrote together..

what I loved.”

Thirdplace winners, Brooklyn Dyer and McKenzie Haan, had similar reactions.

“I was sort of calm before the performance, because I perform all the

M AT T C AM P B EL L

time, but I was still really queasy,” Dyer said.

These placers were rewarded with prizes from all sorts of sponsors from around the area, like Staker’s Floral, KiwiLoco, and Orange Leaf.

“I was so excited, but not necessarily surprised, because Brooklyn and I worked really hard for it. But we are definitely grateful,” Haan said.

Stone took his standing ovation, with shouts and catcalls from his fans with a gleaming smile.

“I was so happy and so excited,” he said. “I never expected to win! But then I went and forgot to do my homework!”

OR MAYBE NOT . . .

There is still no excuse to bully others

David Mills Staff Reporter Bullying exists, in many ways, shapes and forms. It can be a bigger kid picking on the smaller ones on a playground or someone insulting someone based on how they look, or don’t look. It can even be people leaving insulting comments on the media, such as all the nasty comments that people have left on the 13-year-old singer Rebecca Black’s YouTube song, “Friday.”

Ever since her first song came out on YouTube, Black has had nothing but grief from the media, with several comments by viewers — some even harsh enough to suggest that she com-

mit suicide.

While all the cyberbullying that Black has experienced may have left her speechless, other pop stars, such as Lady Gaga, have stepped up to defend her. “I say Rebecca Black is a genius,” Gaga said in one of her interviews recently. “(Cyber bullying) is bad enough that people have to deal with bullying on a day to day basis, in real life,”Ryan Hootman, senior, said when asked about his views on cyberbullying. “The fact that they have to put it up on the Internet makes me sick.”

While many are telling Black to call it quits, artists have encouraged her to keep trying out music. Glee even featured her song in a recent episode.

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Arts_ent

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

NOH8 @ IFHS

California campaign promotes tolerance, acceptance of homosexuals Madison Billingsley Staff Reporter

When people are young, they are told that their differences make them special.

But in the real world, differences can divide people and be the cause of abuse. Gay bullying is one example. It’s a big problem in schools and it shows in the media.

In 2010, in response to opposition of Prop 8, the NOH8 campaign began. Some of the most iconic images of 2010 are of celebrities getting their photos taken with their mouths duct taped shut and “NOH8”

painted on their faces.

Many celebrities have stood up for tolerance and ac-

ceptance of other sexualities. bullying after an increase in In October of last year, Justin suicides resulting from this Beiber spoke out against gay abuse.

Celebrities like that have given supporters and victims hope, but tolerance and acceptance shouldn’t be limited to Hollywood. Respect should be shown to everyone, regardless of their sexuality. It is clear that that isn’t yet the case in Idaho schools.

One IFHS student recalls his own personal experience with gay bullying in junior high. “It was around the beginning of my freshman year when it was at it’s worst, for me,” he said. “People would call me disgusting, or make sexual gestures toward me.

Some people treated it like a joke, and others were harsher.

But it still hurt.”

Many others have been put down in the same way, and sometimes the result is worse — as in suicides and even murders.

This is one situation where imitating celebrities can actually be a good thing. IFHS could follow in their footsteps by learning to accept and respect others.

‘Beastly’ a new take on classic Shayla Skillings News Editor

This movie gives the feel of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” but supplements the cartoon optimism with a newage twist.

This movie pulls you in with an intense dislike of the male role, and then you watch it intently, just to see what happens at the end, and

when it is done it makes you feel happy and sad that it has ended.

The makeup artists outdid themselves with the intense artistry on our lead actor’s face. The intricacy of the artwork takes your breath away.

The story teaches the Golden Rule, and reminds us all to: ‘Do unto others, as you would have done to you.” It provides a new

perspective of Karma, and how everything you do badly can come back to haunt you.

If you are looking for a romantic movie to take your girl friend (or boyfriend) to, that both of you will enjoy, this is the one for you.

It is a great story, filled with sweetness and just a little bit of adventure.

GRADE: 5 stars out of 5.

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

ARTS_ENT

SCOTT SCHAEFFER/STAFF REPORTER Jason Lancaster, member of the band Go Radio!, rocks out for fans at a concert in Salt Lake City.

They played with Runner Runner, Valencia, and AnnArbor, with the featured band being Rocket to the Moon, March 14.

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SPORTS IFH S TIGER TIMES

EDITOR

AU ST E N K U T S C H E

MAY 2011

Steep consequences await those who inflict athlete ‘rite of passage’

Colby Walker Staff Reporter Over the years, hazing in our nation’s high schools and universities has taken many forms, from the seemingly harmless to severe forms of mental and physical abuse that are criminal in nature, including forced binge drinking and beatings.

Schools are not the only places where hazing and bullying exists. Our nation’s military has also had incidents where people were removed from leadership for setting the wrong example.

With news headlines filled with reports of hazing from Blackfoot earlier this year, Tiger Times wanted to take a closer

look into hazing at Idaho Falls High School.

Hazing, as defined by District 91, “includes but is not limited to, any act that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health, or safety of a student for the purpose of attaining membership in, or affiliation with, or as a condition or precondition of any Districtsponsored activity or grade level attainment.”

According to a Facebook survey on the Tiger Times wall, 100 percent of those who responded said they feel administrators and staff do a good job protecting students against hazing. “My position on any incident of bullying, harassment, or hazing is

that even one incident is one too many,” Principal Randy Hurley said. “We take every case very seriously.”

As soon as administrators receive a report, Hurley says they investigate immediately. “We conduct a proper investigation that includes interviewing witnesses and taking statements, checking surveillance cameras and anything that we can do to further help the investigation,” he said. “Depending on the severity of the incident, we do anything from giving a warning, calling parents, to sending kids to Saturday school and referring them to the Idaho Falls Police Department for a bullying ticket.” > See HAZED, Page 16

Rookie literally pays for being new to NFL team MCT Campus

IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant knew there would be payback for having refused to do the rookie rite of carrying teammates’ shoulder pads during training camp. The check came due this week at the traditional rookie-picks-up-the-tab dinner.

The damage: $54,896.

The meal was supposed to be only for offensive players, but more than 20 guys showed up at a steakhouse – and brought their appetites, said Bryant’s adviser, David Wells. The story first was reported by espn.com.

“People had goooood meals,” Wells said, laughing. “If you’d never had lobster before, you had it that night.”

Steaks, fish and plenty of beverages made for a fun evening, albeit at a high price. Then again, Bryant is making $2.8 million this season so he can afford it.

“Dez knew what he had to do and he took responsibility for it,” said Wells, who wasn’t there but saw the bill. “He made the best of it, nothing negative. He had a good time with the guys, bonding with his teammates.”

Traditions like carrying pads and paying for meals are typical for NFL newbies.

This time, Bryant knew what was coming.

“He just didn’t know that many people w e r e g o i n g to show up,” Wells said.

Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboy rookie

SPORTS

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011

iWorkout

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When it comes to working out, if you aren’t listening to music, you’ve got problems. Here are some playlists from IF athletes and a few professional athletes, too. Because we are a high school, we made the cuts on what was “school locker room appropriate” or not.

Want to create an all-IFHS athlete playlist? Here it is, numbers and all: 1. “Anything Lil Wayne” - Ethan Bennett, senior 2. “Can’t Be Touched” by Roy Jones, Jr. - Max Benson 3. Nick Varnazzo “Sun Shine” by Atmosphere 4. “But It Is Better If You Do” by Panic! At The Disco - Katie Caspary 5. “Thunderstruck” by ACDC -Jesse Caudle 6. “Freebird”- Lynard Skinard - Sam Elsethagen

7. “Back in Black” by ACDC - Riley Fish 8. Anything by Disturbed - Matt Fox 9. “Real Switzerland” by Kya Bamama - Dylan Raymond 10. “Paperthin Hymn” by Anberlin - Jennifer Culents 11. “The Final Countdown” by Europe - Levi Hicks 12. “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats - Cabe John

Sarah H ask ins, Triathlete

mic h ael ph el p s, swimmer

Sarah Haskins competed in her first professional race in 2004 and her first Olympics in 2008. Here’s an excerpt from a playlist she put together for a women health magazine.

• Crazy in Love

Beyonce • Since U Been Gone

Kelly Clarkson •Welcome to the Jungle

Guns ‘N Roses • Eye of the Tiger

Survivor • Hey Ya!

Outkast

Ever since Michael Phelps picked up sponsorship from waterproof headphone makers H2O audio, I’ve wondered what he’s listening to with those aquatic buds.

• Overnight Celebrity

Twista • Burn

Usher • Roses

Outkast • ‘Till I Collapse

Eminem • Smile

G Unit

13. “All I Ever Wanted” by Basshunter - Jonny Hatch 14. “Chillin’” by Wale - Jake Guza 15. “Who Is We” by Desolet - Shaun Wells 16. “Here Comes the Boom” by Nelly - Kylee Kishiyama 17. “Space Jam” by Quad City DJ’s - Kolby Arehart 18. “Beast” by N9NE - Spencer Brasher

al e x h onnol d, rock climbing

t ony h aw k , pro skater

lindsey vonn, skier

Out of all the insane climbs that Alex Honnold has done, his free solo of Moonlight Buttress has to be the most insane. As if climbing a 1,200-foot-high sandstone tower without a rope isn’t impressive enough, he did it all while listening to his iPod. •New Dark Ages

Bad Religion •Humanoid

Chevelle •Can’t Repeat

Offspring •Something Wrong With Me

Pennywise

The Bird man has definitely had a pretty good run. This selection, from a playlist Hawk put together for The Adventure Life, definitely has an oldschool vibe to it.

• The Beginning of the End

Nine Inch Nails • Clampdown

The Clash • Strange Times

The Black Keys • Mr. Brownstone

Guns ‘N’ Roses • White Unicorn

Wolfmother

Vonn put together this playlist for Rap-Up. The Olympic gold medalist, as well as winner of 41 World Cup wins in four different disciplines, has a weakness for Lady Gaga.

•Sweet Dreams

Beyoncé

•Anything on Tha Carter III

Lil Wayne •Dead and Gone

T.I. feat Justin Timberlake •Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys •Poker Face

Lady Gaga

SPORTS

16

HAZED

From Page 14 According to the Facebook survey, 60 percent of those polled say they have been hazed. However, administrators have not received reports of hazing.

“We’ve had a relatively small number of cases that we have investigated this year, which is a good thing,” Hurley said.

The problem with hazing though, according to Hurley and other school administrators, is that it’s very rarely reported. According to a national study by a research team from Alfred Univer-

sity in 2003, 48 percent of students that participated in organized group activities and sports reported they had been victims of hazing. Unfortunately the majority of the people that have been hazed don’t speak up about it.

“In order for students to feel safe, they need to report any violent or shaming acts immediately,” Jason McArthur, assistant principal, said.

“In order to stop the cycle of abuse, we simply have to know about any instances of hazing.”

“This is one of the greatest schools in the nation, we should be welcoming people in with open arms,” Hurley said.

facebook.com/tigertimes We like you. Why won’t you ‘like’ us?

THE TIGER TIMES • MAY 2011