InFlight March 2010

in flight

AU B U R N R I V E R S I D E S T U D E N T VOICE ISSUE #5 March 30, 2010 VOLUME 15

Wrongly convicted? See page 6

3/30/10 OPINION 2 Get to know who you’re talking about Portfolio Madness!

Jaymes Fleury STAFF REPORTER When people look at things, they can’t help but judge. People automatically judge on how the thing looks, smells, or sounds like.

It’s no different than when we judge other people we see day to day or may not even know. This person could be wearing a pair of “Hollister” jeans, and you may think that he is wealthy. Or this person can be wearing a pair of sweatpants, which may make you think that he is poor.

Another thing that happens is that we try and place this student in a clique that you think would fit best. But there’s a common

saying that we could all follow to prevent making rude stereotypes.

The phrase “You can’t judge a book by its cover” is often quoted from the 1946 novel, Murder in the Glass Room . Even though it’s more of a cliche now, it’s still a good principle to live by. Just by looking at a person without getting to know him doesn’t give anyone the right to judge them. Think of the long term consequences for that person.

His overall self-esteem could be denigrated and he’ll have more of a struggle throughout their social life. That person could lose respect from his friends or even have less of a chance to make new friends.

But instead of unrightfully disrespecting a person, try and get to know him. This

Photo courtesy Wikicommons.com

Judges use evidence before making a decision; what do you use?

in flight

editors-in-chief Kim German James Kozanitis business manager Brianne Kopp

photographer Sydney Shuman adviser Patrick Swenson

staff reporters Madeline Bastrom Jaymes Fleury Lisa Gray Brianne Kopp Berlyn Lee Shayla McGinness Ashlyn Mundo Cary Plewka Sydney Shuman

cover photo by Sydney Shuman

could give you an actual reason to judge the person. But who knows, this could help everyone gain a lot more friends. But this may also give you a wider perspective on how to look at people.

One of the biggest problems with quick judgments is the rumors that ensue. You may not come up with the ridiculous rumors, but telling others about someone you saw could give others shameful ideas. Rumors are sometimes nearly impossible to stop, but there are a few things that you could do to slow them down and don’t let them get blown way out of proportion. If someone tells you about a rumor that you’re not sure of, just ask if they have any proof. Most of the time people don’t have the evidence to back up their accusations.

Something you may be able to do is tell the person being targeted, and ask others not to spread it anymore. Once there are only a few people believing in a rumor, it usually dies out rather quickly. Or if you believe that the rumor is too hurtful to tell the person about, tell an adult, teacher, principal or someone who may be able to do something about it.

The human race has been judging people for countless years. But it has caused things that no one ever wants to see repeated, such as the holocaust, stereotypes, prejudices, and racism. All because somebody said something along the lines of “This person doesn’t look like us, so they are below us and we shouldn’t treat them with any equality.”

But then people believe what is being said, so they tell others, those people tell others, until everyone believes the judgment. So next time you’re about to judge someone, think of what could happen to the ones being talked about, before you say something you’ll regret.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them,” is a famous quote from probably the most selfless person who ever lived.

Mother Teresa, who was probably the world’s most influential nun and humanitarian, would be just ashamed of our judgmental culture. But she wouldn’t spend her time gossiping to others. She would try to get others to stop poor judgment and try new things and meet new people. So let’s take after people like that and be done with our stereotypical thoughts; this way the school, our community, state, nation and even the world can be an all around better place.

Berlyn Lee STAFF REPORTER “Duchess: Oh, darling. That’s only a little frog, my love.

Berlioz the Kitten: But he had a mouth like a ‘hippolotamus.’”

-The AristoCats (1970) Hello fellow seniors!

At long last the portfolio has come to an end. Now that it is in the past, does it really seem as big and bad as it did the weeks before its due date? In my opinion, the portfolio was a simple little frog and it just seemed like it had the gigantic mouth of a hippo when time was running out. While putting my project together, I realized something: My first semester Chemistry project was far more difficult than this project. Heck, the script I wrote to entertain my AP U.S. class for an hour took more time and effort than the portfolio ever did. Really, overall, Duchess the cat was right. It was only a little frog.

However, I will admit that Mariah and my case was different from most; we spread the portfolio over a good three or four months, while most waited until March rolled around.

I am ecstatic to tell you the exciting conclusion of this competition, but first I need to hit a few other points.

Portfolio wrap-up Because I have officially named myself Queen of All Things Portfolio, I have taken it upon myself to conclude the portfolio: It has been a long few weeks and thank goodness the dreadful thing is turned in and done with (except for those of us who chose not turn the project in at all and now have to do the “late” presentation).

Career Center Counselor Steve Mead stated that considering how many students he saw coming into the Career Center days before the deadline, he did not think many seniors got done early or finished at all.

The final round of the competition Though the portfolio has ended, I still feel obliged to inform you all about the last section of the portfolio challenge.

The final section of the portfolio was

See PORTFOLIO, page 3 InFlight policies InFlight is compiled by the student newspaper staff at Auburn Riverside High School, 501 Oravetz Road, Auburn, WA 98092.

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Greetings from Newspaper

Living and working in the Newspaper room

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Portfolio : Final Farewell continued from Page Two the “fix everything up” section to basically clean up everything for the final project.

For Mariah and me this consisted of creating dividers for each section, a title page, editing our essays and getting all the signatures we needed.

The last part of the portfolio is all about the looks — making the portfolio look as good as it possibly can.

“It should be nice,” Mead said, “with a well-done cover page, plastic inserts [to protect the pages], and make it look pretty.”

Mead also said that it should remain professional, nothing too floofy.

By the end of February I was in the homestretch. I just needed to edit my personal essay. Though I had other things to do as well, I managed to complete my essay the first week of March and win the competition.

I even finished with enough time to turn my portfolio in a whole day before Mariah.

Go me!

Mariah, who also had to deal with the musical as well as other difficulties, spilled coffee on her portfolio and had to start over. Mariah states that spilling the coffee on her portfolio is probably the best thing that happened to her portfolio. She believes it turned out much better because of the coffee spill.

As for punishment, I have decided upon a punishment I like to call “Rainbow Monday.” I typed up a petition for Mariah and asked her to get as many signatures as she could. My one requirement: be very passionate about making every Monday Rainbow Monday. In all, Mariah got 17 signatures.

“It went well,” Mariah said. “There were some grumpy people who didn’t think it was a great idea, but whatever. They can just have boring Mondays while mine are colorful.”

Though the portfolio is over for us, for juniors it has just begun.

To next year’s seniors (juniors): I would like to begin your section with a quote; this way I can make the portfolio seem as harmless as possible.

“The portfolio is a representation of you,” Mead said. “It’s supposed to fit your personality and style.”

Basically, the portfolio is about you.

Don’t freak out — it’s just a small binder focusing on how special you are. Just give yourself enough time and you will be fine.

So if you are currently a junior, Mead suggests that the portfolio be your summer project. By completing the portfolio over the summer then you will have more time to spend having a completely Batman senior year! So get to work and finish up early so you can avoid all the stress!

So, I hope all of you had at least a semienjoyable portfolio process. I hope the stress has evaporated and the rest of your senior year is the best that it could possibly be. As for Mariah and me, we are overjoyed that the competition has ended. Now we have time to focus on other things. It will be nice not to worry about getting punished and publicly embarrassing ourselves. I hope you enjoyed reading the column and I hope it helped carry you along during your struggles. Have a good end of the year! Seniors, I shall miss you more than the flower misses the sun.

OPINION

Pay in money not time shoulder. The once smoldering item cools off. Your heart is racing, but a somewhat surprised, somewhat guilty grin forms across your cheeks. Suddenly, there is an urge to do it again.

To most, of course, the idea of commit-

caught, they cannot stop the behavior him or herself. CASA, the Cleptomaniacs and Shoplifters Anonymous, is an actual organization dedicated to help chronic shoplifters. Yes, it You look down the aisle both ways. has become that large of a problem. In fact, The only person near is a woman pushing a 1 in every 11 people are guilty of shoplifting cart with her toddler gurgling in the front. on a regular basis and It’s your chance. You another 90 percent of reach for it. You preAmericans admit they tend to be studying have shoplifted at least it. You look at the once in their lifetime. woman again. She These shoplifting is walking the other incidents are continuway. You stuff it in ally increasing due to your pocket, it’s smolthe recession. After dering against your all, desperate times skin. You feel your call for desperate heart will pound right measures. Neverthethrough your sternum. less, morals and values You walk towards the shouldn’t fail just bedoors. A bead of sweat cause the economy is. rolls from your scalp As Allstate says, “Will down your shivering we remember this as spine. The door is a the Great Recession… few feet away. You or the recession that hold your breath and made us great?” clench your fists. You It has always been pray that nobody sees wrong and will continue you as suspicious, but to be wrong, recession hear someone speakor not. This includes ing to you. Everything buying an item, using it stops. You breathe for a day and then redeeply and slowly turning it. You bought turn towards the perit, you didn’t rent it. son behind you. It’s a PHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN Don’t be tempted to store clerk. His eyes try. dig into yours under Drugs are the most commonly shoplifted item.

If you’ve ever shoplifted, don’t do it a pair of furrowed again. You will eventually get caught, and brows. He knows what you did. There’s no time to run. “Can I help ting this crime or any offense is horrifying. could get sucked into the addiction that you find anything?” he asks. You shake your This is how society should see it. However, people the world over have to deal with on head and try to pry open a smile. You take many cannot stop. Shoplifting is considered a daily basis. Steal and the addiction could quick strides out of the door. You are in the a compulsive addiction and unless there steal you along with it. parking lot. A weight is lifted from your is a recuperation process or the thief gets

Sydney Shuman STAFF REPORTER

Cheap way to get cool stuff: thrift stores Kim German Editor In Chief With spring comes many new things: new clothes, new activities, new adventures.

But to acquire all the new things spring offers, teenagers often need some extra cash.

Instead of cutting back on the things you want this time, find a way to get what you want or more for less money. The solution is simple, really, but it’s one that not many people usually consider: thrift stores. Saving money is just one of the several benefits of shopping at a secondhand shop.

The main and most obvious advantage is that you’ll save lots of money by purchasing certain items at places such as Goodwill, Value Village and Salvation Army. Because of this, shopping at thrift stores has been looked down upon in the past. That has never made sense to me before. What is the shame in doing something to save money and help the environment? Nothing. Not everything in the stores may be at the top of your

must-need list, but the shelves are full of something for everyone. You could buy five pairs of shorts at a thrift store for the same amount you’d spend on one pair of shorts at a higher end store.

Want to add a splash of spring to a bedroom? This could be an inexpensive project with the combination of some creativity and an eye for potential. There’s no need to spend hundreds on the latest decoration trends when simple items from the local thrift shop can be used as inspiration for original creations.

Second, buying used is great for the environment, so frequent customers of secondhand stores are doing their part to protect the earth. By purchasing a used item instead of a brand new one, less greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere.

“If you decide to donate [your used jeans] you are reducing the amount of garbage that ends up in our landfills,” the Goodwill web site says. “And, shoppers at

Goodwill can extend the life cycle of the jeans by purchasing them, thus reusing the items.”

A third benefit of shopping at nearby thrift stores is one that not many people think about these days. By shopping and donating at secondhand stores, people are supporting local non-profit organizations.

Thrift stores have so many positive aspects but are often pushed aside because we don’t want to be looked down upon for being super frugal. But what it comes down to is that there are so many benefits that are commonly ignored. Students who want a bunch of new things can acquire much of them by purchasing them secondhand. Save money, help out the environment and support local non-profit organizations in one fell swoop. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a pair of jeans that fit perfectly or a chair that matches your room exactly. Just keep an open mind and use your creativity to find potential in all sorts of items.

3/30/10 OPINION 4 Stop being Debbie Downer, become a Lucky Larry Sydney Shuman STAFF REPORTER Feelin’ Lucky? The words of the Lotto simply say that luck comes and goes as it pleases. However, there seem to be a select few in this world who are never out of it.

They win everything, get once in a lifetime opportunities multiple times a day and ace tests by creating outlines of animals from the bubbles on their scantrons. So what makes them lucky? What are these lucky ducks hiding, anyway? Well, maybe they’re Irish. It could be that a four leaf clover or a rabbit’s foot is consistently veiled by the denim of their pocket. There are countless possibilities, but the true answer to this question is simply this: they are open to it.

Most of us don’t dwell on it, but our habitual behaviors determine our destinies every day. How you go about executing miniscule tasks can provide you a lush life of opportunity or one of a dry and monotonous nature.

“Lucky people create, notice, and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives,” said Richard Wiseman, PhD and professor at the University of Hertfordshire England, according to oprah.com. “Being in the right place at the right time is actually all about being in the right state of mind.”

Wiseman proved this to be true in an experiment he conducted a few years back. Wiseman taped a $5 bill on the ground at the entrance of a coffee shop— wherein there sat a millionaire ready to make a business deal. Wiseman put two people into this identical situation. One participant viewed themselves as lucky and easy going. The other saw themselves as a magnet for misfortune. Each was told to enter the shop, buy a coffee and sit down

to drink it. When it was Mr. Lucky’s turn, he immediately saw the money taped to the sidewalk and picked it up. He purchased his coffee and sat next to none other than, the millionaire. Together they engaged in a stimulated conversation. Still, when Mrs. Unlucky was put through the exact same circumstances, she passed right by the cash.

She bought her coffee, sat next to the millionaire, but ignored his presence. Unlike Mr. Lucky, she missed both opportunities.

When you see your life as empty of chance, it’s going to stay that way. But do not vex—there is a cure!

The first of this is to train your mind. Rerun over and over how you would like your next undertaking to go.

Expect the best, look for an open window, and notice your surroundings. According to Wiseman, you’re 50% more likely to pull a behavior off, if you prepare yourself for it.

Next, conduct a busy Has your luck ran out or is it just around the corner? life. If you are involved in a permarket, give them a smile. Shake hands wide range of jobs, volunteer work and extracurriculars, you have a broad more than necessary and be an extrovert.

Finally, just relax. Stress creates tunnel range of opportunity. You are exposed to it vision to all the exciting prospects around more often, than, say, someone who sits in front of the television all day. Thus, if you you. This explains why Mrs. Unlucky passed sit in the same place every day at lunch, right over the $5 bill on the ground. She felt rushed. She was so focused on the task switch it up. Change invites luck.

Furthermore, meet new people. The ahead that she failed to stop and smell the more the merrier. You are only expanding roses.

Stop your misfortune dead in its tracks. your network and opportunities. The next Remember, hearts, stars, and horseshoes, time you see an attractive person in the su-

PHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN

clovers, and blue moons, pots of gold, and rainbows, cannot help you. “Lucky charms” and dare I say, heritage, don’t determine your luck intake. You are in control. Decide now, to be open to change. Further expose yourself to the world around you. Don’t be afraid of strangers (unless they tempt you into their van) and be spontaneous. From there on out, your only problem is staying far, far away from Vegas.

Motivate students, pay teachers and attend school during summer Shayla McGinness STAFF REPORTER What a great school we attend. Our school offers a wide variety of activities, clubs and sports. We have some of the best teachers around who have come into this field of education to help students learn the knowledge for which we will need to advance in life. We are a great school, but nothing is perfect in this world. It doesn’t matter if it’s the slightest of things, everything could be improved upon. Some things I think could be worked on are teacher pay, unmotivated students, and summer.

Teachers play a vital and necessary role to a great school such as ours. If they are so important then why aren’t they paid as well as they should be? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they are dirt poor or anything, but compare them to other professions like doctors, psychiatrists, and lawyers. They do so much for our society and they get paid really well, which they should. But what about teachers? Acknowledge how much they do for

students; even if you don’t like school, it’s pretty obvious.

They give us the knowledge with which we need in order to progress in life when we are out of high school, and not depending on our parents. Think about if we didn’t have teachers, going out into the world not knowing basic math or how to read or write—it’s a pretty scary thought. Granted, teachers don’t go into the field of education for money, they go into it for the kids. For most, the reward of impacting a student’s life is enough.

A lot of people may think teachers are a dime a dozen. Maybe mediocre teachers are, but great teachers are much harder to find. Maybe the reason teacher pay is less than adequate is that our society doesn’t value learning and education as much anymore. If you add up all the work it takes to actually become a teacher, the pay they receive does not make sense in the least. If teachers are paid the way they should be, then the possibilities that could be reached in education would be amazing. Not only

that, but if they did earn better wages better teachers would come forth that couldn’t before because they couldn’t afford to be teachers. Although students can’t directly affect teachers pay, they can make them feel appreciated.

Another improvement is unmotivated teachers and students. When I look around our school I see studious teachers and diligent students, but I also see slackers who are unmotivated to excel in school. It makes me disappointed, and confused, because I honestly don’t understand why anybody could not care about school and their grades.

Some people simply don’t care about learning though; personally, knowledge is the greatest asset anyone can have. We should promote the advantage of learning in kids from a young age, and motivate students to want to learn.

Another point to that is some students need certain environments to learn in, not an oversized classroom where attention isn’t always given to one particular student. We need to motivate students to want to learn,

and to want to excel in life.

One last improvement that could be made relates to summer. I know most people won’t want to give it up because of its given benefits, but change is necessary. First of all, we spend about a month, maybe more, reviewing the previous year’s knowledge lost during the summer. I understand that summer break is used for kids who don’t see their parents often or to go on vacation and such. If summer was broken up then we wouldn’t have to spend as much time on review because we wouldn’t have had so much time to forget the things we learned over the school year.

Therefore, my suggestion is to break up the three month block into one month breaks every few months. Kids and parents who do use summer for visiting family and such would still be able visit and vacation, while kids who don’t travel or visit family will still be able to relax and enjoy the break.

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OPINION

What’s wrong with the world Letters to the Editors according to Berlyn and James

There’s obviously something wrong with the world, and we’re here to tell you what that is James Kozanitis Editor In Chief Berlyn Lee STAFF REPORTER

Reason #1: People care about stupid things.

Many months ago, the nation stood in shock and awe as Kourtney Kardashian told the world that she was with child. On Dec. 14, 2009, the nation rejoiced when she had her baby boy. The world can rest easier with a smile on its face knowing that the a curiously popular celebutante has given birth.

In other less important news, eight soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, and three family members were found dead in a Manhattan apartment, probably murder. But it doesn’t really matter anyway; I mean, we have the Kardashians.

Hey! Did you hear that Taylor and Taylor broke up? Did you see Miley Cyrus’ performance? Talk about “family friendly!” What about Michelle Obama’s dress on the Oprah show yesterday? Wasn’t it just gorgeous?!

Totally classier than that short, trashy dress that Britney wore on the red carpet the other day. What about that new coffee at McDonald’s? It sounds totally delicious. Anyways, did you hear Angelina threw Brad out? Man, what a bummer.

Did something seem off about that? If you thought “yes” then you are correct.

Two of these things are definitely not like the others.

I guess we will begin with Michelle Obama. She is the first lady of the White House, not a celebrity. She is far from it. The first lady is the wife of the president and, even though she does not have the power of the president, is equally important. As the first lady, she is looked to make positive public appearances; these appearances may include anything from reading to a group of young children to meeting important public officials — anything that makes the family in office look good.

What is it about the limelight that makes it always attracted to the unimportant things? Better yet, what is it about society that we care this much about the insignificant things?

By placing Michelle Obama in magazines next to the stars we see on the big screen, the media is making her appear like an American celeb: fake. Think about it. Every star in American history is open to gossip and lies and mental break down. The first lady is supposed to appear trustworthy and natural.

Don’t get us wrong; we love Michelle Obama.

We think she is an amazing first lady, but if she remains at this celebrity level the media could do exactly what they do with every other star: cut them down until everyone in America despises them.

Dear editors,

Reason #2: People still like McDonald’s!

While we’re on the topic of ridiculous popularity, we, personally, do not understand how people can still eat McDonald’s after the making of Super-Size Me. The managers of McDonald’s probably even stopped eating McDonalds after that movie. After the movie got popular, McDonald’s took the “SuperSize” option off of the menu, though they denied that it was because of the movie. We all know that the movie was the reason for McDonald’s’ desperate jump to “healthy” foods. However, even though McDonald’s realized that it was a crappy source of food, the American society did not.

For some reason people can look past all the fat, grease, sugar, and fructose corn syrup and still consume the gray matter that McDonald’s calls “food.” We realized that the food was inedible before we quit eating there completely, but what pushed us over the edge was the tiny hair placed so delinquently on the top of Berlyn’s fruit parfait; she threw the food away and quit that day.

We highly recommend you do too.

And not only is McDonald’s the poster boy for high cholesterol, it doesn’t even taste good. Their egg McMuffins scream “warmed up from yesterday after sitting out all night!” Their burgers aren’t much better, all slathered in who-knows-what, cupped in between two buns too soggy from the grease of the burger to still be considered bread.

At the end of the meal, even if your large number six tasted good in your mouth, give it a few minutes and ask your stomach how it liked it.

Not only that, but if you’re going to feed us crap, at least feed us a lot of it. Their Big Mac eats more like a mediocre mac, not that you’d know that from the ridiculously enlarged pictures on the menu.

The most we can say about McDonald’s: you get what you pay for.

The good: “That’s what she said” jokes.

On a brighter note, we would like to highlight one of our favorite American phrases: “That’s what she said.” In the world of high school this phrase has become unbelievably popular. It simply brightens the mood of the day. Also, even though “that’s what she said” started with the generation before us, I just recently got my mother to start saying it. This phrase is truly worthy of praise. It has the ability to make any boring day absolutely hilarious.

These clever quips turn even the most mundane comments into minutes of hilarity, and at least 90 percent of the time, they spark laughs from whoever happens to be around when it happens. More “that’s what she said” jokes would definitely up our tolerance of society.

Don’t care about stupid things. If it’s gross, don’t eat it. And yes, that is what she said.

I am writing to you in response to the article “Beyond profanity: transformation from words to offense” because I disagree with what was said in this article. I think you blew it out of proportion.

I disagree with the fact that these words hurt people. I hear somebody call somebody else a “fag” and the other person laughs and just shakes it off. People know you’re kidding when you say these words. I don’t think it is hurtful. People are being way too sensitive; I can say what I want! If somebody is homosexual that is their choice so own up to the choices you make. If the word “fag” offends you, don’t be one and you won’t be called one.

On the other hand, I agree with you on the inappropriate usage of the word “rape.” Rape is a very sensitive subject for people and the victims can’t help the fact this took place. I know somebody who has had this happen to them and they don’t think it’s funny when it’s misused.

To conclude, I think that people are being way too sensitive nowadays and they need to understand that words mean new thing. If you hear these words let it go and move on.

Sincerely Rob Nunes, sophomore

Dear editors, The reason I am writing is because I really liked the article on first love. I thought writing about the “love” subject was a good idea.

Almost everyone in Riverside is in a relationship or has one of their exes in school. In the article you explain what people our age go through in the relationship rollercoaster, but I really wish you would also give out information to those teens who feel like their world is coming down on them. There’s a lot of talk about the awkwardness girls feel having their ex boyfriend at school, but where are the solutions?

I’ve had a lot of friends ask me for advice when they are feeling down about a relationship, but what about the people who have no idea what to do or who to go to to move on. I would like to see some advice in the articles or some ideas to pamper yourself when you are feeling down. Girls tend to only weep and not do anything for themselves. I want to read an article that helps girls feel positive and help them move on with their lives and will actually want to come to school instead of staying home and weeping.

I hope you take these ideas in consideration to help students at Riverside be happy and come to school positive.

Keep up the good job!

Sincerely, Jessica Castillo, sophomore

ADVICEaskACE Anonymous question: “What should you do if you’re in love with your best friend?”

Second thoughts...

Problems? Need HELP? Or just need someone to talk to?

ACE is here to help!

- advice.askACE@yahoo.com - locker #4069 - Discussion board on newspaper Swift page

Do some serious thinking before doing anything. Though your feelings may seem strong, there are several things to consider.

1) Think about whether or not your heart is playing tricks on you. Do you actually want to be with your best friend, or do you just like the idea of it? Do you actually like them, or do you just feel extremely comfortable and safe with them? There are many subtle differences that can become clearer upon consideration.

2) Is your friendship strong enough to survive the awkwardness that may sprout from expressing your feelings?

If not, you had better be pretty darn sure that the feelings are returned.

3) If you are happy with the way things are, you may be better off trying to curb your current feelings.

For more, go to the “Ask Ace” thread on the newspaper Swift page.

Good luck!

OPINION

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3/30/10

Are games and TV training teens to murder?

Berlyn Lee

STAFF REPORTER

It was 8:45 p.m. on a Sunday and everyone else in the house had retired to their bedroom, but 17-year-old Andrew Conley remained downstairs in front of the television. As the clock struck 9 p.m. he changed the channel to Showtime and waited for the opening title for Dexter. For an hour, Andrew watched as Dexter, a man who kills serial killers, slashed up murderer after murderer. When the ending credits rolled Andrew got up and walked to the kitchen.

From one of the drawers he pulled out a large knife and creeped up the stairs and slipped into his mother and father’s room.

He then proceeded to stand over his sleeping father contemplating murdering him for a good few hours.

Though Andrew Conley did not kill his father that night, he did later kill someone.

News groups are calling him the “Dexter Killer” because the boy informed the authorities that killing made him feel like Dexter.

To some, this raises the question of whether Andrew is a cold-blooded killer or just a boy who has been convinced to kill via television show. I should assert right now that Andrew is not the latter; he is a cold-blooded killer and should not be identified as anything other than that. Instead of being known as the “Dexter Killer” Andrew should be identified as a young man who killed a member of his family for no reason other than to try it out.

Like I said above, Andrew Conley did not kill his father that night after watching Dexter. Instead, he killed his 10-year-old brother a short time later.

While wrestling in the kitchen, Andrew pulled his younger brother, Connor, into a headlock and choked the young boy until he passed out. He then proceeded to strangle Connor until he was no longer breathing, then taped a plastic bag over the boy’s face and dumped his body in the woods.

Connor’s last words were “Andrew, stop.”

After all of this, he went and visited his girlfriend and gave her a “sweetheart” ring.

His girlfriend stated that Andrew appeared to be “the happiest he had been for a while.”

When he was arrested and questioned on why he would ever harm his brother he responded, “It made me feel like Dexter.”

For all the people who watch Dexter weekly or on the Internet every so often: has murder become a craving for you? For anyone who watches any type of show that follows police teams who uncover murder mysteries: do you contemplate killing your parents after the show? No. Most, if not all, teens do not usually kill their siblings because of what appeared on the television. No matter if the show is one about murder or one about surviving when stuck on a desert island, most teens would simply retire to their bedroom like the rest of the family after the television show ended.

So, does this seem like a plausible reaction to a TV show? No. Andrew is obviously some sort of psychopath. Most likely, Andrew is a sociopath, a person with an antisocial

personality, not someone who was hypno- Theft Auto III on the shelves. However, the web site to add parental blocks. This is an tized by a television show. Sociopaths are a question arises: how is it that all the other effort from keeping teens from stumbling group of people who do not have the normal teens who play Grand Theft Auto III manage upon a video that could turn them into sex emotion function; they do not feel guilty to wake up the next morning without a giant addicts or murderers, much like blocking certain channels on a television set. In other about the things they do or worry about the urge to kill three police officers? feelings of others.

Also, the BBC News reported another cases parents have tried to make it harder “He spoke with no emotion, no remorse, 17-year-old boy who claimed that he was for teens to make personal pages on sites in describing the death of his brother,” somehow trained by the video game Halo III. like Facebook and MySpace to prevent their teens from meeting dangerous people Aaron Negangard, the online. prosecutor for Dearborn Parents have a strange idea that and Ohio counties said, teens do not know how to handle the according to Cincinnati Internet; like it is a space ship with no News. “This was a delibset course, like they have no grasp on erate murder.” how to steer. Now, teens are not stupid.

Andrew Conley Teens who find themselves in situations was not entranced by with predators from the Internet did the television shows he not get there because they had no idea watched. He was simply of the risks. They were overcome with a cold-blooded teen who emotion, as most of us do during this killed his brother. time, and allowed themselves to invite Andrew’s case is someone they had never met over. Teens much like the case of are not stupid, they are simply bubbling 15-year-old Alyssa Bustaover with emotional disquiet. mante who murdered The teens who play video games her 9-year-old neighexcessively or who choose to watch bor. Bustamante stabbed gory television shows are not trained or Elizabeth Olten and then hypnotized by what is happening on the buried the little girl’s screen. If a teen decides to kill a load of body in the backyard. people, it is not because of anything but She said that she had to the fact that he or she have some sort of know what it felt like to mental illness and need help. However, kill someone. Her case is they are not stupid: They need something eerily similar to Andrew to blame so that they will not appear as Conley’s and only months freakish to the public as the everyday apart. The difference? psychopath does. They want to seem Alyssa Bustamante was like a victim, when in reality they are not allegedly hypnotized making a victim out of the resources they by a television show. have used for so many years to entertain Clearly, there is somethemselves. thing wrong with Alyssa Something must always be blamed, Bustamante and no one and with every generation comes new is questioning that. No and scary technology as well as crazy one is blaming it on a trends. In the ‘50s Elvis’ dancing was television series because offensive, in the ‘60s and ‘70s war in it is quite obvious that other parts of the world created a war she has a problem and needs help and jail PHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN on the home front, and so on. Though these changes seem drastic, it is simply time.

Are violent video games the real culprit behind adolescent crime? something that occurs. Just because video Andrew Conley games and television shows have changed and Alyssa Bustamante are both sociopathic killers, both killed in Daniel Petric got in a fight with his parents does not mean that they now have the ability cold blood and should face punishment. one day and as punishment they took away to turn people into killers.

CBS News reports that on Dec. 4, 2009 Andrew Conley was not convinced by a the game that Daniel always seemed to be television show to kill his brother. He had on. In a fit of anger, Daniel found the key to Andrew Conley pleaded not guilty to the premeditated the murder. the lock box in his house and pulled a 9mm murder of his brother. Friends sat in the auConley’s case is similar to plenty of gun from it and stepped into the living room. dience, but no family attended the trial. His cases. All the children in these cases are He shot his mother and father in the head, family attended the funeral for the younger not controlled by the games and television then attempted to make it appear to be Conley boy. The court claims they will be goshows they watch. They are just kids who murder/suicide. He ran away from the scene, ing for the maximum sentence, life without need help. only taking the video game, not knowing that parole, because Andrew is too young to be given the death penalty.

For example, msnbc reported that a his father survived the attack.

It is clear that the courtroom does not 17-year-old boy in Alabama killed three Though many teens may feel anger and police officers when he was taken to the yearn for revenge when something is taken share the idea that Andrew was “trained” station after trying to steal a car. Once he from them, most do not grab a gun and by the television series Dexter, he’s just was in the station he escaped and shot three proceed to kill their parents to “get back another boy with a lot of problems.

In conclusion, all the teens listed were police officers on his stampede out the front at them.” doors. When he was finally apprehended he These cases are just a few of many not trained by the television shows they responded, “Life is a video game, you’ve got where teens try to convince the world that chose to watch or the games they chose to to die sometime.” His lawyer claims that what they did was caused by something else, play. They are not victims of training via the video game Grand Theft Auto III trained something they could not control. It’s not games and television and therefore should the boy to kill those police officers. The evi- only teens, though. Parents, for many years, not be able to blame these products of the dence? The bloody scene that was left at the have blamed everything from suggestive media. They have no right to blame their station looked eerily similar to one simula- posters to hip hop for their child’s misbehav- terrible act on an innocent subject. These tion in the game. The boy’s lawyer claimed ior and scandalous actions. In recent years teens should be labeled not as the “Dexter that the boy was trained by all the video YouTube has come under fire. As reported by Killer” or “Halo Killer” but as what they actugame producers who created and put Grand CBS News, parents are pressing the popular ally are: cold-blooded murderers.

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NEWS

ASB UPDATE Matt Hudgins

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Flowers are blooming, the sun is coming out and the end is in sight for many seniors. But rest assured, your associated student body officers are still working hard to ensure a strong and successful finish to the 2009-2010 school year.

March was a very busy month for Auburn Riverside and also for the ASB. One of the biggest events of last month was the Auburn Food Drive, a district-wide drive benefiting the Auburn Food Bank. Students and schools all throughout the Auburn School District proved both competitive and generous in this drive. The food bank is still making the final counts, but Riverside truly pulled through and donated a huge amount of both money and food. Rough estimates put the can count at approximately 4,000 items and over $2000! Way to go, Ravens!

You guys did your part and proved to the Auburn community that we have power and we have pride! Congratulations also to Angela Rigley’s second period class, who raised the most donations and won a donut party! Thanks to your generosity in the food

drive and Key Club’s coin drive, the Auburn Food Bank will be able to provide help to even more needy families in the Auburn Community this year.

Also in March was the Josten’s Leadership Conference at Highline Community College. About 20 Auburn Riverside students, both ASB members and non-members, attended the event on March 5. They listened to motivational speakers, played games, and helped bring Raven pride and presence to the conference. One last major event in March was the spring recognition assembly on Friday, March 26. This assembly, put on by the executive board ASB, served to recognize the talents and accomplishments of your peers and classmates, and highlight achievements that might otherwise go unnoticed. One group recognized was the Varsity Girls Basketball team, the new WIAA State Champions. Congratulations! Also honored were members of band, orchestra, choir, FBLA, DECA, Competitive Speaking, and wrestling, among many other ARHS students, athletes and clubs. The level of accomplishments and achievement of Auburn Riverside students is outstanding, and hopefully you are as proud as I am to

be a Raven.

It’s been a busy month of March, but one that’s been full of success, and we hope these next few months will follow suit. In the next few weeks we will begin the election process for next year’s ASB officers.

Executive officer positions (ASB president, vice president, etc.) are usually the first filled in the election process, followed by class council elections. Student government is a great way to get involved, boost your leadership skills and gain valuable lifelong experiences. For me, personally, being an ASB officer has helped me gain confidence, make new connections and friendships, and gain a pride in Auburn Riverside I may otherwise not have. I would encourage anyone to run for ASB; after all, we need all sorts of leaders to help run this school.

More information will be available soon.

Please see the activities office if you have any questions.

Other upcoming items include a spring sports assembly (still in the works), numerous end-of-the-year festivities, and possibly another fund raiser or philanthropic event.

But of course, one of the biggest things coming up this month is the senior prom.

Tickets will be available from Mrs. Jones in the Cashier’s office. Guest passes will also be available for students wanting to bring non-Riverside guests, and can be found in the Main Office. See the prom story below for more details. Senior class has put much effort into planning this dance, and all seniors are encouraged to attend. It’s sure to be a very fun night!

As for your other class councils, here’s what’s been happening with them. Freshmen have found an adviser and are busy working on spiritwear and looking at ways to raise money for future projects. Sophomores are looking to continue hosting fun run/walk events throughout the next two years and are still looking for ways to plan and raise money for prom. Juniors are finalizing planning for next year’s prom, and thinking of more ideas for raising much needed funds.

It’s been a very busy and successful school year thus far. The ARHS associated student body has accomplished a lot, but is still looking to do more and finish this year as strong as possible. Look forward to fun events in the coming months, and try not to lose focus as summer quickly approaches!

Prom to light up EMP once more End senior year with a bang: Grad Night Lisa Gray STAFF REPORTER On April 24, the prom that all the seniors and their dates have been waiting for will finally be here. The 2010 Senior Prom will be held at the EMP (The Experience Music Project). The prom starts at 9 p.m. and will end at midnight.

The theme of this year’s prom is “A Record Breaking Night,” so make the most of this night and remember to have fun and be safe.The colors are black, white and red, so you can match your dress and tuxes accordingly.

This year the price of the tickets are $40 each and remember to get the guest passes for your dates that do not attend this school.

“The school has this dance for them to celebrate the end of their high school life and to celebrate their adventure to come,” ASB Director Meri Benedict said.

About 500 anxious students are estimated to attend. Students who don’t particularly enjoy dancing or just

need a break can go and visit the different exhibits that are there to enjoy. At the EMP the exhibits range from the King of Pop to saving the planet.

Many seniors are excited to go dress/ tuxedo shopping, and can’t wait for the big day to get here.

“I am getting my dress made for me and I can’t wait to start on it!” senior Samantha Rodda said. “I’m looking forward to April and hanging out with my friends on prom night.”

For all of those men who are looking for an inexpensive way to rent a tux go see Clay Sin and he could get you a small

Kim German Editor In Chief

able for students of low-income families, so students who were planning on not attending just because of the price should contact Graduation is coming up soon, which Grad Night Committee Chair Monica Poe. means Graduation Night is as well. Over the Though the price may sound high, the cost years, Grad Night has provided a safe, alco- of tickets have helped cover the cost of hol and drug free celebration for graduated transportation, disc jockeys, location rent, seniors. As always, the destination of the equipment for games and activities and food celebration is a secret, but there are a few in past years.

A fund raiser will take place April 21 details open for the public.

According to the school web site, stu- at the BLT in Bonney Lake. Also, parents dents will arrive at the school at 9 p.m. on who would like to make a donation toward scholarships for students who June 19 to food, music and pictures. As usual, can’t afford students will be bused to a secret location the entire for a lot of fun. Ticket prices have gone cost can do up to $135 and can be bought at so by adding lunch on Fridays. the amount they Parent volunteers are want to donate on still needed! There is their check.

PHOTO a Grad Night ComCOURTESY Grad night has mittee and parent DAILYC LIPART been an excellent .COM event in years past, as it has proven to be a powerful influence in preventing the use of drug and alcohol vehicle accidents information meeting at the among seniors. dining/lounge area in the LakeGrad night is still months land Top Foods tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m.

Any and all help will be appreciated, so all away, but now is the time to help out, raise senior parents should seriously consider at- money and buy tickets. tending.

There are some payment plans avail-

Senior News

discount, or show some love to our sponsor, Rottles (see page 9).

“The dance will be amazing and the EMP is an amazing and perfect place to have a dance,” Benedict said.

Make the most of these last precious moment because you will never be able to get them back.

NEWS

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3/30/10

Texas law changes textbooks James Kozanitis Editor In Chief

tributors to our nation, including his stance on Separation of church and state.

“I would have no problem if it was adding things in, but not completely shutting

things out,” Jilbert said.

One board member avidly disagrees with most all of the changes that Texas Board of Education has implemented. Board member Mary Helen Barlanga said that they don’t

On March 12 the Texas Board of Education voted to add more conservative leanings to their textbooks because they felt current textbooks are too left leaning. Since Texas is such a large state, they have a monopoly in the textbook market. This means that their changes will affect most of the country’s social studies books. They will vote on more changes in May. Upon passage, this movement will change the way students learn about history. In a 10-5 vote, the board voted not only to add conservative-favoring views, but also to exclude what they saw as liberal “slants.”

Global Issues teacher Crystal Jilbert feels that this will only have a potentially small affect on Auburn Riverside.

“Well, it won’t affect global issues classes, because we don’t use text books,” Jilbert said. “But the one we do have is slanted on the ‘save the planet’ environmental side.”

The issue of slants definitely is the core of these developments, but which side they are currently slanted at is the question that those opposed to the board’s decision have raised.

Texas has implemented several different changes. According to Yahoo News, they include adding country music as a cultural movement and putting more emphasis on the conservative resurgence in the 1980s and 1990s. However, they also have moved to take out what they saw as liberal slants. New texts will exclude Thomas Among their changes, Texas is excising the majority of Third Party candidates, and positively porJefferson as one of the intellectual con- traying McCarthyism.

want to “face reality.”

“They don’t want to be reminded that, in our past, America made mistakes,” Barlanga said, according to Yahoo News, “And when you have the U.S. cavalry that killed all those Native Americans, and then you have the Texas Rangers who killed all those Hispanics who did not commit any crimes, and have the Ku Klux Klan, you don’t have any of that. They didn’t try and put in this information.”

Also, some textbooks portray the cultural movement surrounding rap and hip hop music. This is reported to be dropped by the new regulations, in favor of country western, instead of simply adding in country music to the list of United States cultural movements. “[Rap and hip-hop music] has helped bring cultures together,” senior Mark Davis said. “I think it’s ridiculous that they can dictate what the rest of the country learns. They shouldn’t be able to force their views on other states.”

Textbook bias has always been a hot button topic, but Jilbert feels that it exists no matter the circumstances.

“Every author of a textbook, despite how hard he tries, always has his own agenda,” Jilbert said. “Textbooks never show the opposite side of everything.”

This is where Jilbert says the teachers need to step up. Jilbert said that teachers are only vulnerable to this bias if they only use the textbooks. Assigning reading and tests on the reading is the only thing “If a textbook is adopted like Texas’, then it’s part of our responsibility to find supplemental material,” Jilbert said.

“Being aware of the fact that textbooks are slanted is key.”

Down with WASL; HSPE has taken over Shayla McGinness STAFF REPORTER On March 16, 17 and 18 Auburn Riverside sophomores took the High School Proficiency Exam. The HSPE is essentially a shorter version of the WASL with more multiple choice questions, and extended response questions have been completely eliminated from the exam.

“Superintendent Randy Dorn, who came into office in January 2009,” schools.fwps. org said, “believes the state assessment system should be a less complex and more responsive system of measuring student progress.”

The goal was to make a test that would measure the proficiency or basic skills of high school students that are necessary to move on in life. The graduation requirements for the WASL, now the HSPE, have not changed.

Students currently still have to pass the reading and writing HSPE and will have to at least attempt the math HSPE, but passing it is not required. The class of 2013, however, will have to take and pass not only the read-

ing and writing HSPEs but also the math and science HSPEs. One of the main differences between the WASL and the HSPE are the questions the assessments propose.

“HSPE tests are much shorter than the WASL and include multiple-choice and shortanswer questions,” schools.fwps.org said.

The WASL had four point extended response questions on the reading, math and science tests whereas the HSPE does not have the extended responses. The Office of The Superintendent of Public Instruction decided when they made the HSPE that the extended responses would be eliminated from the test.

“This change allows students to show they are able to solve the problems” schools. fwps.org said, “while not being scored on their writing ability on the math, reading and science tests.”

Also, unlike other standardized tests that measure students’ performance against their peers like the WASL, the HSPE measures students’ performance against set of learning standards.

One critical part about the HSPE is the proctors. When students sit down quietly with the given test booklets, and the appropriate No. 2 pencils, the proctor then gives the required instructions: sit down, no talking, no messing around rules. One important piece of information the teachers were instructed to give was if any student had a cell phone out while the assessment was being taken then the whole class would be at a serious risk of having their tests invalidated. Even talking during the test would bring serious consequences. Well one would hope anyway since it is distracting to take a crucial exam with someone whispering the whole time. One student had that very experience.

“The room I was in for the HSPE,” sophomore Jesse Moden said, “people were allowed to do one another’s hair and when people started to finish their tests they began to talk and were not enforced to stop.”

Some students disagree with how the proctoring is approached. The main purpose of a proctor is to make sure no rules are broken.

“Somebody who was taking the test,even called out to the class how to spell a word, and she got the answer she wanted,” Moden said.

InFlight makes news at State Nine InFlight students traveled north to Edmonds and competed in the 2010 Journalism State Conference held at Mountlake Terrace High School on March 13. Four students won coveted awards in the write-off competitions: Sydney Shuman, Superior Feature Photography Kim German, Honorable Mention Copy Editing & Caption Writing James Kozanitis, Honorable Mention Editorial Writing Shayla McGinness, Honorable Mention Review Writing

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FEATURE

Revealing truth behind “dumb laws” James Kozanitis Editor In Chief

several laws about falsifying information on a government form. This is where it most likely stems. If someone should happen to Do a Google search of “Dumb laws in lie about their parents being rich on a govWashington,” and you’ll probably be enterernment form, they would be committing tained with lots of borderline unbelievable a crime. laws, ranging from the allowed Law: It’s illegal to length of a concealed weapon, destroy a beer cask or to laws about whose outhouse beer bottle that belongs you can sleep in on what day. to another person.

However, there are those who Status: True. look at these with jaded eyes, Surprising as it may thinking that there’s no way seem, us Washingtonians they can be true. Don’t count are protective of our their opinion out just yet. Are beer. Not only does RCW these laws fact, or fiction?

19.76.110 make it illegal Law: It’s illegal to paint to destroy the beer cask or polka dots on the American bottle of another, it’s also Flag. illegal to use, buy, sell or Status: Trueish. even fill a beer bottle/ A common trend with cask that isn’t yours. One these “Dumb Law” web sites small caveat: there has to is to take a general law and be some sort of labeling make it specific for humorous on said beer bottle/cask purposes. This law stems from that has the owner’s name RCW 9.86.030, which prohibits on it. Interesting, to say “defacing” the flag, period. the least.

Paining polka dots on the flag Law: Lollipops are counts as defacing, so DumbPHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN banned in Washington Laws.com gets a joke. The Is it the law to be taken into custody because of lollipop possession? state. truth of the law is actually far Status: False. less humorous.

If only there was anyLaw: It’s illegal to spit Law: It’s illegal to pretend one’s par- thing to back up this humorous stipulation. on a bus.

Unfortunately, no such law text exists. Conents are rich.

Status: True. cerned 4-year-olds can continue to consume Status: Mostly False This is one of the few laws that is flat This is a tricky one. There is no RCW their chocolate Tootsie Pops, as this law was out true. Under RCW 9.91.025, it is unlawful to, while on a public transit vehicle, “Spit, law stating that this; however, there are invented by word of mouth for humorous expectorate, urinate, or defecate, except in appropriate plumbing fixtures in restroom facilities.” This is a defining characteristic of Dumb Laws that are true: they are less funny than the rest.

purposes. Although, one such law exists that bans nicotine lollipops. It is possible that this law was passed through the game of Telephone and evolved into lollipops being banned.

Law: It’s illegal to use X-Rays.

Status: True.

It is wholly unclear as to why anyone would want to use an X-ray to fit a shoe, which is why this law sparks so much humor. It almost seems completely unreasonable to do so, but sure enough, under the Nuclear Energy and Radiation Chapter, RCW 70.98.170 specifically prohibits fitting shoes using X-ray technology.

Law: In Spokane, strippers can’t give a lap dance, unless the dancer is four feet away.

Status: True, except ...

Though this law is actually true, it wasn’t made to limit lap dances, but to outlaw lap dances completely by making it legally impossible to give one. Also, this law only affects the Deja Vu Showgirls Nightclub in Spokane, not all of Spokane. Although there is no text on this law, InFlight staff contacted this club, who confirmed that dancers do indeed have to stay four feet away from customers.

The most important thing to remember about these laws is that they are invented for humorous purposes. If they are true, they are usually true by technicalities. If they are false, there will be no source to back them up. Curious about these dumb laws? Look them up at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/ default.aspx. It might be surprising what is or isn’t there.

Teens miss out on childhood by yearning for the future Cary Plewka STAFF REPORTER Imagine being five years old again when our only concerns for the day were the things we were doing at the park and how much longer until snack time.

The stress of school consisted of writing our ABCs with good penmanship and walking, not running, with scissors. Our best

friend was always there sharing candy and hugs without expecting something in return.

We felt that taking a nap was wasting precious playtime. Now, however, we could ask any teenager about naps and they would all agree that it is something they miss.

“If I could have anything back,” sophomore Rachel Akisada said, “it would be nap time.”

We could spend an entire summer

day outside without our phone having to worry about who is texting us. Hours could be spent running and playing without the chance of boredom or need for something to do. Having a filter wasn’t needed because everything we said was either cute or we got a time-out for it.

“I liked not having to worry about having consequences to things that I said or having people take it the wrong way,” senior Kevin Robertson said.

Then the world changed and we had to grow up — we wished to grow up. We somehow knew the world would be so much better when we were older. Looking at people who were older made us think how much cooler they were and wish we could be like them.

Then we did.

Now we are accountable for so many things. Now we don’t only have to read a book — we have to then take a test on it.

That’s only the beginning.

“As we get older it adds more pressure,” senior Sarah Nunes said. “We have to decide who to vote for, when to move out, and trying to find a job. Obviously we didn’t have to do any of that when we were younger.”

We find out that some of our friends weren't so reliable after all and that in a second they could be our worst enemy spreading our secrets like wildfire and all

we can do is sit back and watch because what’s done is done.

The fear of being talked about behind our back or not fitting in became almost overwhelming until we figured out that the stress can be used elsewhere and people are going to do and say what they want no matter the actions we take.

We start to deal with more school work that sometimes seems like a pile of papers that never gets smaller. Then we’re exposed to relationships, which occasionally lead to broken hearts that seem to never fully get fixed no matter how much effort is put into it. Not to mention the fact that eventually putting your hair in pigtails and putting on your favorite pair of overalls and calling it good isn’t going to cut it. Of course not. Now it has to perfectly straightened or curled and your makeup has to be perfect or you’re going to want to hide in a hole the entire day.

It is not long before we stop and wonder what happened to our carefree childhood, why is it that now when we go to Safeway we have to ask for a cookie instead of just being handed one without knowing their existence?

We are in such a hurry to grow up and begin living our lives that we miss out on the easiest part of life, and before we know it, it’s already passed us by.

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FEATURE

2010 Prom has trends Dto fulfill Brianne Kopp STAFF REPORTER

The guys have it easy. Go to the tux shop, get fitted, pick out a vest and then pick it up: an easy 1 2 3. For the ladies it’s a whole other story.

Trends to fulfill and fighting the challenge of finding that perfect dress for your body type. Fortunately, this year leaves a little more leeway.

Mix and Match: Lots of prints and tons of color.

Dresses with one pattern on top and another on bottom are favored in the 2010 trends, as well as added feathers and rhinestones.

Continuing from last year are animal prints a n d vibrant fabrics.

Stand-out dresses for this year are one-shouldered dresses, bubble dresses and anything with stand-out, gorgeous backs. Along with the fashions, ladies keep in mind how your dress fits you.

Slender:

If you are: Thin Such as: Mischa Barton Do: For a more curvy appeal choose a dress that draws attention to your bust or waist line. If you’re going for accentuating your thinness, try a dress that draws attention to your waist via a belt or a wrap.

Petite:

If you are: Shorter Such as: Rachel Bilson Do: Dresses that have an asymmetrical hemline or shows off your legs both will make you look taller and help even your body. Also, to add some height, pair your dress with a higher heel.

Don’t: Wear anything too busy; it will only take away from your body. Also stay away from full body gowns/skirts because they tend to overwhelm petite body frames.

Busty:

If you are: Full chested

Such as: Carmen Electra Do: A gorgeous neckline can really play up your bust. However, be aware of support, and make your

Prom? You too can save ! ~ Make your own dinner for you and your date.

~ Borrow accessories/shoes from your friends. The more closets you raid only adds to your choices. ~Test out your make-up ahead of time! Find some tips that fit you. You’ll save money and feel accomplished. ~Give yourself plenty of time to shop so you can find the hot deals. Check the clearance rack; you never know what you’ll find. ~ Get ready with friends. You’ll all have your strengths. Trade off doing each other’s hair, makeup and nails.

dress adequate in this area.

Don’t: Wear widely spaced straps; they only take away from your big bust.

Full figured:

If you are: Wide in the torso (full bust, waist and upper back) Such as: America Ferrera Do: Look for a dress with an empire waist, also v-necks can make your top seem less round. If you like your legs find a dress that shows them off; it can try attention away from your middle.

Higher waist lines really work in your favor.

o’s and Don’ts

Pear-shaped:

If you are: Bigger bummed Such as: Kelly Clarkson Do: For a more balanced look, try a full or a-line skirt. Also go for a fitted top. If you’re comfortable showing off what you have, a form-fitting dress would work perfect with your body type.

Just have fun and feel great doing it !

FEATURE 12

3/30/10

Seattle: more than Space Needle Jaymes Fleury STAFF REPORTER Seattle is a beautiful place, sitting right on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and right next to the mountains. This city has been a huge tourist attraction for many years.

There’s so much to do it’s almost overwhelming. Some places are just to crowded and kind of over-rated, but within the big city there are little places full of strange and crazy things.

One of the biggest years of tourism was the year of 1962 at the Worlds Fair, where our icon the Space Needle was built. It’s around 605 feet high with elevators, gift shop, and a restaurant with a revolving floor. However, since it attracts a lot of tourists, their menu is too expensive for most high school students. So where should one go instead?

Another tourist hot spot is the Pike Place Market, where visitors can purchase all sorts of novelty items, deli, collectables, posters and fish while bumping into a thousand strangers.

While that can be exciting, sometimes people want to get away from the everyday tourist traps of Seattle.

In the city of Seattle, there are many different hobby shops. A shop that is strange to many is Utilikilts. This shop has all kinds of kilts you may need: Work kilts, survival kilts and even dress kilts. They also have boots and belts for all of your Scottish-like necessities.

Once you walk out of this shop you’ll feel like

a real highlander.

If you’re looking to grab a bite or totally pig-out, try a place with your own menu. The Counter allows customers to choose anything possible that could fit on their burgers. Pick from five different types of burgers, 12 kinds of cheeses, 30 toppings, 21 sauces, and four different kinds of buns.

Another place to see would be a favorite to many Seattle natives, Beth’s Café.

This place is known for its “greasy spoon” cuisine, such as its 12 egg omelet. But you may just want something a bit spicier. At Paseo you can get a real spicy sandwich for a really good price. Their hottest seller is their famous Cuban Roast Sandwich. Though the lines

talk, more monkey.” In this shop there are hundreds of collectibles, novelties, memorabilia, costumes and other wacky things to please your craziness.

There’s an artist’s paradise in the downtown area of Seattle. The SAM is a museum full of the best modern art the Northwest has to offer of modern art. History buffs should check out Seattle Underground. Not a lot of people know that the modern day Seattle is above the original.

But parts of the old city are still available to go to on an adventurous tour.

are lengthy, it’s well worth the wait.

There are plenty of novelty shops in Seattle, but none match up to this one in particular. Archie Mcphees, a novelty shop where you can prank, decorate or scare for cheap. Their appropriate motto states “less

Some really fun tourist spots in town are the EMP and the SFM. The Experience Music Project is an interactive music museum, while the Science Fiction Museum is a building all about the history on the worlds most famous and lesser known sci-fi films and

novels. Or if you want to brush up on your marine biology, then head over to Seattle’s very own aquarium. Though it is kind of a tourist trap, with around 40, 000 student visitors annually, it’s also full of tons of beautiful fish and underwater mammals.

Perhaps you’re not going to Seattle but to some other planet. Then consider going to Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company.

They have everything for shuttle repair and décor, personal defense and rooftop rocket parking. They even have writing and tutoring classes for most ages and your inner sci-fi author on the other side of their operational teleporter.

If you are a reader type and love to have a nice espresso while you catch up on your favorite novel, there’s no better place than The Couth Buzzard Books store. All of the genres you could imagine are here, with titles old and new.

They also hold events for artists, musicians, and poets who want to show their talents.

Seattle is bustling with people of all varieties. But it’s pretty obvious to tell the difference between a tourist and a Northwest native. With hundreds of things to do in Seattle, tourists only have time to go to the most popular places, making them over-crowded. These places will get you out of the rut that tourists have made and hopefully take you off the beaten track.

Don’t get fooled on April Fools’ Day Maddy Bastrom STAFF REPORTER On April 1, 1996, the United States woke up to a new month. Thousands of people rose, grabbed the paper and were shocked to find a full page ad announcing that Taco Bell franchise had purchased the Liberty Bell. As the company boasted its new idol, the confusion and hilarity of the event would go down in history as one of the most famous April Fools’ pranks of all time.

The month of April is the only one to be initiated by a holiday where caution is of the utmost importance. April Fools’ Day is an opportunity to unleash the best pranks upon family, friends or enemies if the case may be.

“You get to play pranks on all the people,” sophomore Kayla Wicks said. “It’s a perfect day. It’s different from any other day because it’s for your best ones.”

Some countries around the world might

celebrate until noon, while the United States continues the mischief throughout the entire day. Methods of operation vary, but the common goal of April Fools’ Day is to go and mess with someone.

“Prank wars are the best,” sophomore Taylor Casey said. “Someone plays a prank, then someone plays one back. You get big groups of people together, and it gets out of hand.”

So where did the idea come from? Think of it this way; ever had the date wrong for a big event and gotten teased for it? Back in fifteenth century Europe this is exactly what happened. A pope from Rome changed the date of New Year to January. Most followed the calendar, but the rest still celebrated the April New Year. Those who did so were dubbed April Fools’, and it became a timeless concept for generations to enjoy.

Speaking of enjoying the holiday, here are some harmless ways to seize the day (courtesy of http://aprilfoolzone.com/

classic.htm- look into it). Position a cup above a doorway so that it spills onto the person entering. Put a rubber band around the spray nozzle at the kitchen sink and wait for someone to use the faucet. Hide someone’s alarm clock somewhere in their room for when they wake up to it.

Switch the keys around on their keyboard.

Load a closed umbrella with confetti. Steal someone’s clothes and towels while they take a shower. Spray shaving cream into someone’s hand while they sleep, then tickle their nose with a feather and see what happens. Hook a dollar bill onto a fish-

ing pole, then as someone reaches for it keep reeling it in until they realize they’ve been had.

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IBAAKO helps Samoa When Taupule Atafua’s home village got hit with a tsunami, she organized a fund raiser to help aid in the efforts for American-Samoa Kim German Editor In Chief IBAAKO (I Believe and Appreciate Knowing Others) is a club that focuses on cultures. As a group, they have always done a great job learning about and experiencing cultures of all kinds.

Recently, however, the club has done something above and beyond just believing in and appreciating a particular country. Samoa recently suffered from a devastating tsunami, and the club put on an extravagant fund raiser for tsunami relief.

Junior Taupule Atafua was the chief organizer of the luau fund raiser on Feb. 12 in the Riverside commons. Atafua called and invited other high schools to attend and participate in this fund raiser as well, and Franklin Pierce High School accepted the invitation.

The club had a potluck and entertainment. Donations of $1 were accepted for the food, but the majority of the money raised came from donations for the entertainment. A couple girls were dancing and some were playing ukulele.

The grand total of money raised that night was over $850.

Atafua and a few other club mem“Even if it’s not that much money,” bers had a personal attachment to this Atafua said, “we wanted to help out, fund raiser. and I’m glad we could.”

“It was my village that got hit,” Thompson was very pleased with our Atafua said. “I had family there.” school’s IBAAKO club.

After much consideration, the group “I have never seen so much money decided to donate the money to World come in from such a great group of kids Vision, an organization whose sole fo- in such a short time,” Thompson said. cus is taking care of children in tough Having Franklin Pierce at the fund situations. A World Vision representative raiser was also a great experience for came to an IBAAKO meeting earlier in the group. the month to accept the check from the “I hope it’s going to generate a fund raiser and to present IBAAKO with a connection between other schools,” certificate of appreciation. This money Swenddal-White said. will, without a doubt, greatly benefit the effort to rebuild areas of Samoa which were affected by the tsunami.

“About $180,850 have been raised in the Northwest for Samoa so far,” World Vision Representative Lina Thompson said. “But this is really the only effort organized by high school students.”

Wo r l d V i s i o n is planning on using the money for churches, homes, school supplies for kids who lost everyPHOTOS BY KIM GERMAN thing, sinks, buildIBAAKO club raised $850 for tsunami relief in American-Samoa ing supplies and a whole lot more.

Foreign Language teacher and IBAAKO adviser Kaisa Swenddal-White was pleasantly surprised by the amount of money brought in by the fund raiser.

“This is the first fund raiser I’ve been a part of that really generated any money at all,” Swenddal-White said.

Atafua stated that she and her friends just wanted to do what they could to raise money for Samoa and to benefit their hometown.

This certificate of appreciation was accepted by Atafua on behalf of IBAAKO for their services to American-Samoa

FEATURE

The Raven Ruling InFlight staff votes on pop culture

10

Harry Potter

1

Though most of the staff agrees about some minor issues with Harry Potter, we can’t deny its epic awesomeness. 10-1 says that a boy wizard created by a British woman on welfare couldn’t have been successful if he wasn’t Harry Potter. Thumbs up!

3

Energy Drinks

8

Sorry, Monster. Move aside, Rockstar.

InFlight staff is ruling you out. Though they can be tasty and give you energy for an hour or so, you might as well inject some sugar and other miscellaneous chemicals into your bloodstream. Thumbs down!

American Idol

1

10

Looks like the tables have turned, American Idol. We’re voting on you! See, we’re just not feeling it, dawg. It was utterly terrible.

We like you. We just don’t think you’re right for our television, our eyes or our lives, for that matter. A 1-10 thumbs down!

2

Miley Cyrus

9

As you say, Miley, “It’s the climb.” On our Raven Ruling you got two steps up, and fell nine rungs down. Although Cyrus does have arguable talent, 9-2 rules that she has done things unfit for a teen role model, while being in the shoes of one. It’s also a double whammy that she appeared on American Idol, which we’ve ruled 10-1 on the thumbs down.

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Gustafson’s art of self-expression James Kozanitis Editor In Chief

Self-expression is done in a majority of ways. The most popular way the populace prefers to use is the ease and straightforwardness of speech. However, you won’t hear senior Kat Gustafson using her words for much of anything. The self described “quiet type,” Gustafson thinks another way is more fulfilling. Nothing she has found is more expressive than the simple yet elegant practice of art.

Gustafson has been sketching ever since she was given a pencil as a child. This little act to stay occupied instilled a last-

PHOTO BY JAMES KOZANITIS

ing habit, which grew into a bloomed talent.

In elementary school, art class was always readily available and quickly became the favorite. Gustafson now cites the things she learned in school art classes as a main contributor to the talent she now possesses.

“Art is self-expression,” Gustafson said. “[Art class] shows different ways to express.”

Though drawing and painting are tools of self-expression, they are also the satisfier of a simple trouble we all share: boredom.

During her free time in classes, she’s often seen sketching anything and everything.

As most people find, boredom is not beaten by one activity alone. They need more than just one thing they like to do.

Gustafson’s other activity is reading.

She likes to read for leisure, enjoying herself while doing it, instead of treating it like a task.

“It’s entertainment,” she said.

“Others play video games; I read.”

Her favorite images to create are people and landscapes. The latter is Gustafson’s fun time in sketching and painting. Creating pictures of people is the challenge for her. She pushes herself to get them perfectly, saying that each time she t r i e s , s h e gets a little better.

“I have trouble with noses,” she said. “It makes me happy when things turn out well.”

Gustafson enjoys reading literary masterpieces when she’s not .creating her own.

Unfortunately, some attempts she’s made haven’t always turned out well.

Gustafson feels that a self portrait she made was among these attempts gone awry. Despite her friends’ liking to the picture, she said her nose turned out “dirty.”

Although most of her motivations have been intrinsic, Gustafson gets feedback from a lot more places than just her head. She has gotten nothing but positive feedback

from her friends, and this has been shown to be true by her accomplishments in art. In the Auburn Riverside Art Show, she received second place in painting for her painting of a Japanese girl she took a picture of while in Japan.

However, nothing seemed to hold the significance of one particular piece. It was a snow scene of Gustafson’s backyard, more landscapes like she loves to do. Her mother absolutely fell in love with this drawing and put it in their similarly decorated living room. Gustafson insists her mother wants to keep it “forever and ever.”

“It’s really special to her,” she said. “And I did it!”

As far as her future, Gustafson’s dreams, she said, “keep changing,” but they all of course involve art to some degree. Before, she wanted to be an art teacher, but her doubts about the availability led to seek a business degree to use in conjunction with her art skills. She also feels business is a good back up, regardless.

Gustafson’s favorite styles: realism and abstract.

Sound like a contradiction? How can two different things work simultaneously to create overall beautiful work? There seems to be too many differences.

That’s the thing with art: the artist makes all the Gustafson’s Japanese girl took 2nd place at the Auburn Riverside difference.

Art Show.

Blu-ray takes video entertainment to next level Maddy Bastrom STAFF REPORTER In 1975, Betamax was the new technology. The following year, its contest was the VHS tape. Competition has come a long way.

Gone are the days when movies came out on VHS and DVD. The new option is the highly appraised Blu-ray design. Today consumers are faced with the decision between the two up-to-date formats: DVD, and Blu-ray.

“I would pick Blu-ray because it’s HD 1080p,” senior David Berry said. “It’s more interactive.”

The price of Blu-rays is also not much higher than regular DVDs, making them a more practical expenditure. People just have to decide on purchasing a Blu—ray player, which can be from $150 to $200. The price of DVD players at major stores start at around $20.

Nonetheless, Blu-ray.com did say “the expectation” is that Blu-ray will replace the DVD format. The website backed up the

statement by saying not only are Blu-rays better in quality, but only Blu-ray players and disks are equipped to store HDTV channels. They store the HD format and have about four more times the storage capacity than regular DVDs (in both single and dual layer).

“They’re cool because you’re offered an entire new system,” sophomore Jaymie Baunach said.

This, however, is exactly why the transition from DVD to Blu-ray won’t be easy.

“DVDs are original,” sophomore Katie Alexander said. “Blu-rays are just a new thing.” The shelves in everyone’s living room are still filled with every product of the DVD age. Furthermore, families will gladly play each of their favorite movies on a regular DVD player or Playstation. DVDs are still the thing to beat, even if Blu-rays are far better in quality.

Today consumers are going to find big technology for big movies. Even though it’s currently in a limbo, the underlying idea is the fantastic advancements for everybody’s entertainment.

Blu Ray and DVDs duke it out for the place of top dog.

PHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN

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Honk!ugly duckling

A&E

e h t r o F

Brianne Kopp STAFF REPORTER After tough tryouts, nervous callbacks and intense practices, the drama department managed to put together a great performance of Honk.

Opening with an entertaining scene consisting of a mother and father arguing over their eggs, it sets up a sort of light

mood for the rest of the play. During this act the actors kept up perfect rhythm while singing “A Poultry Tale.”

It grabbed the audience’s attention with its high energy and humorous jokes.

As the play transitions, the same comic relief lingers on continuously throughout the play. A must-see scene would have been where “Ugly” comes out of the egg yelling “honk” repeatedly.

Beyond just that, the whole cast takes part in surprising the audience with “Warts and All,” an uplifting song that pops out to the crowd. The song was placed at the perfect moment to engage the audience.

Along with catchy songs and entertaining yelling, the chemistry between the characters made for a much better show. Each actor really adapted to their character and those around them. This was obvious in Ida’s response to discovering Ugly’s disappearance, as well in Drake’s disappointment in his son.

Random Facts →Honey never expires

(Has been found in Egyptian tombs and is still edible)

→“Red Eye” does not appear on photos if the person in the photo is dead.

(Personal Experience)

→The earthquake in Chile knocked the Earth three inches off its axis. →The song “Happy Birthday” is copyrighted.

(That is why it is not sung on TV.)

→Fritos are the most flammable chips. →A peanut is not actually a nut, but a fruit. →Illinois still recognizes Pluto as a planet.

The love connection of Ugly and Penny only added to the play. From the first meeting you could feel the tension of attraction as well as an unknown factor making these two right for each other and it stayed within each meeting of these characters.

However, these two weren’t the only ones holding tension and mystery throughout the play. There was not a moment you could find an actor or actress out of character, even if they weren’t front and center. Each face

maintained appropriate facial expression and emotion fit for that scene. The connection between Ida and her husband Drake was more than well played. From the smart remarks to simply the facial expressions, these two act out the perfect married couple.

The whole play pulled together nicely from opening curtain until closing, with a life message for all: Hold your head up high and don’t let what others say detour you.

PHOTOS BY BRIANNE KOPP AND KIM GERMAN

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Upcoming movies bound to blow minds of millions Shayla McGinness STAFF REPORTER

Clash of the Titans:

This is an epic tale based on the Greek myth of Perseus, son of a god but raised as a man. He is powerless to the brutal murder of his whole family by Hades, spiteful god of the underworld. With the importance stripped from his life he steps up to destroy Hades before he seizes power from Zeus and unleashes hell on Earth. With its fearsome battles and grotesque monsters, the movie is sure to satisfy history lovers, horror junkies and blood and guts fanatics.

Iron Man 2: The whole world is aware

that multi millionaire Tony Stark is the famous ironclad superhero Iron Man. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that pressure comes from the government, the public, and the press to share his technology with the military. Tony refuses to unveil his secrets about the armor of the Iron Man suit because he suspects it with fall into the wrong hands and be used for unnecessary reasons. It doesn’t look like it’s going to disappoint many fans of the series, and it should turn out to be a solid movie.

Shrek Forever After: The final chapter in the series, Shrek is now a family man

and no longer the fearsome ogre who scares villagers. Reminiscing about the good times when he was a real ogre he is inveigled in signing a deal with the infamous and devious Rumplestiltskin. Shrek finds himself in parallel universe where Fiona and him have never met, ogres are hunted, and the King of Far Far Away is none other than Rumplestiltskin. Now, it’s up to Shrek to save his one and only love, friends, family and to restore the right order of his world. A series that is loved by many, this fourth installment should be yet another wonderful family movie.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time:

Based on the video game, the movie is set in medieval Persia. It tells the story of a prince who teams up with a rival princess to defeat a tyrannical ruler who is trying to unleash a deadly sand storm that could destroy the world. In order to stop the angry ruler, and save his Kingdom from ferocious demons that were once humans, and the sands of time, he and the princess must return the sands to the hourglass. Starring hunk Jake Gyllenhaal as Prince Dastan this film should satisfy even the most hard to please person.

Date Night: An upcoming comedy star-

ring Steve Carell and Tina Fey as a suburban couple who have lost the spark in their lives and marriage. Even their weekly routine “date nights” of having dinner and watching a movie has become a burden rather than a

fun night. They decide to visit a local bistro, where a case of mistaken identity ensues.

They are chased all throughout New York in a relentless adventure to which they will never forget. Just from these two gut bustlingly funny comedians and actors this movie is destined to be an entertaining thrill ride.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: A remake

of the classic, the plot shouldn’t come as a surprise when Freddy Krueger comes back from the dead seeking to satisfy his sick urges after being burnt alive by an enraged neighborhood after it was discovered he raped and killed numerous children. After he comes back he starts killing the children of the parents who originally murdered him. Obviously, those are love horror films and blood and guts movies then surely this is for you.

The Back-up Plan : Jennifer Lopez plays a single woman named Zoe who is desperate for a child and seeking “the one.”

When finding the perfect man seems hopeless, she is artificially inseminated with the sperm of her male best friend. Unaware that she is pregnant and showing no signs, she meets a man named Stan and they hit it off and start dating. Romantic and funny issues follow after she informs him that she was impregnated before they started dating.

This sounds like a cute flick with a hilarious plot. If you adore Jennifer

Lopez and her voluptuous assets then this sexually romantic comedy is calling.

Get Him to the Greek: In this hi-

larious spin-off of the film Forgetting Sarah Marshall an overzealous record company executive tries to transport an unpredictable rock god to the famous Los Angeles Greek Theatre in time for his comeback performance that will reignite his career. Hopefully this film turns out to be way funnier and less naked then Forgetting Sarah Marshall; it should definitely be a hit.

Kick-Ass: The movie based on a comic book of the same name is about Dave Lizewski, a teenage boy who, inspired by the heroes of his comic books, decides to become a real-life superhero. After he realizes his aspiration he meets a strange vigilante named Big Daddy and his daughter Hit-Girl. He also then happens upon another curious vigilante named Red Mist. As the name hints ,this film is for action junkies and those who are a fan of “McLovin.”

Letters to Juliet:

Sophie, a young American girl, travels to the city of Verona, Italy, originally home of the heartbreakingly star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. She finds an unanswered “letter to Juliet” among the thousands of letters hidden in the wall of the fictional Verona courtyard.

She encourages the author of the found letter to seek her long-lost love which sets into motion a series of events that will eventually bring love into both their lives in the most unexpected way. Chick flick lovers will fall head over heels for this movie as they watch every tear shed and love gained.

Dancing to her own beat in a club with its own rhythm Berlyn Lee STAFF REPORTER The word “dance” is a word that everyone knows. There are countless professional dancers in the world, dozens upon dozens of people who dance in the shower or their bedroom to their favorite song, and even more who take part in watching dancing on TV. The word “dance” has always been one accessible to everyone. However, not everyone has the opportunity to be a part of dance.

This has been the case for Riverside teens for quite some time. The only activities close to dance that have been accessible for the past few years have been musicals and cheerleading, but those involve tryouts and are time consuming because of constant

practicing everyday or at least every other day. However, this year students have a new way to be a part of dance without the nervewracking auditions or constant rehearsals because of one of the newest clubs: Dance Club.

Freshman Ariel Bender created Dance Club to open up the world of dance to anyone who wanted to be a part of it.

“I really like dance,” Bender said.

“When I found out ARHS didn’t have a dance club, I thought it would be really awesome if they did.”

Bender has always been an avid participant of dance. She studied three years of ballet, two years of jazz, one year of tap and one year of hip hop.

Her training in many different forms of dance is not only helpful for training the other members of the club, but it also comes

in handy when leading the group.

“Being a former student helps me understand the others,” Bender said.

Every type imaginable are involved in the club. Some are well trained dancers, while others are just beginning.

“Our most advanced dancer is our foreign exchange student,” Bender said. “She has taken many different types of dance.”

The club is fun to attend and a good way to get away from the stress of life. Bender loves going to the meetings even though she has to lead them.

“I love it!” Beder said. “At first everyone was strangers and now they are like my best friends.”

Bender states that her inspiration comes from life in general. The people in her life, the things that happen around her, and music are her inpiration. Without music there

would be no dancing and no Dance Club.

Bender has big plans for Dance Club.

She wanted the group to be involved in pep assemblies, but she now thinks the group will participate mostly in the upcoming spring talent show. Then they can show the school what they can do and encourage others to join.

The world is full of dancers. We see them on TV, in the newspaper or magazines, in the halls, in stage performances, and on posters. Besides seeing dancers everywhere we go, many have the desire to dance. Unfortunately, in high school there are not many ways to be a part of dance. Thanks to Bender, now students can be a part of dance at school just for fun. The club is open to everyone and Bender would love for other students who share her love of dance to join.

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A&E

Low-budget bedroom trick-outs Hang stuff from the ceiling

Taken a look at your room lately? If any groans, yawns, or frowns ensued, odds are you’re not entirely happy with it. You’d fix it up, but things are so expensive these days.

What is a student to do?

Stuff? What stuff? Anything. CDs, pictures, different colored socks; they’re all acceptable things to hang. Just not all at once! Don’t overwhelm yourself or any of those who happen to come in it.

Price: $1 for ceiling hooks.

Changing the lighting

Word posters

You never know how the light can affect the mood of your room. Maybe it could be a little dimmer; try a darker lamp-shade.

Perhaps a different color; try an odd-colored light bulb.

Price: $3-10

Here’s a fun one: take some cardboard and cut out your name. Cover each letter with scrapbook paper of your choice. You now have a personalized bulletin board. Pin pictures, sticky notes, letters, reminders and anything else that really is “you.”

Price: $0.99 for the scrapbook paper.

Deck out your walls Perhaps the most fatal touch to a room is having four white walls staring blankly at you when you walk in. Try putting pictures, posters, memorable items, and anything else you can think of up on your wall. A collage of everything is better than a wall of nothing. Just don’t make it too cluttered!

Price: $1.99 for a box of thumb tacks

Doorway beads PHOTO BY SYDNEY SHUMAN

Finding easy and cheap ways to fix up your room will give you more time to relax and enjoy it.

Hit the thrift store You never know what’s lurking on the shelves of neglected stores like Goodwill or Marshalls. Maybe it’s that cool chair that would look amazing. It could be the perfect decoration. Even if you don’t know what you’re looking for, a thrift store or discount store is a good place to start.

Price: Varies, but always low-budget.

Chalkboard paint Ever write on the walls and get a strong reprimand by your parents for doing so? We feel you. But with chalkboard paint, you can make a writable surface out of any wall — erasable and everything. Have an idea? Write it down. Like doodling? Don’t fret! Give your room a perfectly personal touch that will always be unique.

Price: $12.42 per quart. It might be too pricey to paint your whole room, so stick to your door, or one wall.

Guests hate boredom. Make entering your room exciting. Grab yourself a tub of beads and string them up to your door frame. Who knows, maybe even you will like going into your room again.

Price: $12-15 dollars

Paint your window Can you paint? Doesn’t matter. Even if you wing it with some Behr, you have a personal touch that adds to the ambiance of your room. Know someone who can paint? Get them to paint a mountain scene, or a castle— whatever would make you want to be in your room more.

Price: $20-30 per gallon.

YouTube series combating chronic boredom James Kozanitis Editor In Chief A place everyone goes in times of boredom is the ever so entertaining YouTube. Any video interest can be instantly satisfied with anything from music videos to amateur films.

However, under extreme circumstances, the standard video just won’t do the trick, and the everyday viewer must look for something more. Fortunately for these bored pariahs, several groups out there put out regular YouTube series to give users a better viewing experience. Here’s a look at some of the best.

College Humor One word: hilarious. It can point out the funny in life, and the funny that life could be. However, implied by the title, some of the humor can be in more mature contexts.

All the college humor originals can be found on YouTube, as well as the college humor web site, which features all sorts of humorous videos from around the web.

Must sees: “Shamwow Guy in Jail,” “Matrix Runs on Windows XP,” and “Minesweeper – The Movie” How It Should Have Ended See your favorite movies in a whole new way, with this series asking the very important question: “What if it happened like this?” This always yields humorous results, and sometimes even points out and exploits plot holes, making a good point in the process. HISHE is also a good arrival for anyone looking for some good movie spoofs.

Must sees: “How the Lord of the Rings Should Have Ended,” “How Spiderman 3 Should Have Ended,” and “How The Wizard of Oz Should Have Ended.”

HowCast Need to know how to do something? Anything? Want to know how to do something random? HowCast is your YouTube Channel. It’s currently doing a multi-video segment on Health and Fitness [check timeliness], but in the past they have done anything from picking locks to finding more cell phone service. There are also a substantial amount of comedic “How To’s,” but even these contain good advice. So laugh on, or learn on. Take your pick with HowCast.

Must sees: Whatever you must learn!

Spillcom: The problem with movie critics is that they’re just too...

critical. The everyday moviegoer doesn’t watch a movie for the cinematography, and we don’t want to hear that “the acting was [insert synonym for bad here],” without any explanation. Meet movie reviewers that get that with Spillcom Movie Reviews. It plays out like this: two animated characters that both saw the movie are sitting down and having a discussion about what they liked and disliked, of course with some humorous quips thrown in. So if Rotten Tomatoes is just too rotten, check out Spill’s YouTube Channel to see about that movie you want to see.

Must sees: whatever you must see in the theatres. They probably have it.

EDDSWORLD Follow Edd, Tom and Matt in cartoon, live action and comic book adventures. Comedy has never been dorkier with the antics of this trio. If nothing is quite giving you the laughs you need, Edds World will most likely do the trick.

Make sure to checkout their web site for tons of extras, like merchandise, comics and faster updates.

Must sees: “WTFuture”, “Moving Targets” and “Zhanta Claus.”

Player Haters Ever played a cheesy role playing game and wondered “what if I was controlling a real person?” The answer that Player Haters comes across: they hate it! Watch them try to save all the famous video game characters from monotony of video game life.

Must sees: “Force Quit,” “Donkey See, Donkey Do” and “Pellet Poppin’”

SPORTS 18

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Basketball dynasty leaders say goodbye Cary Plewka STAFF REPORTER On March 6, the girls basketball team won the 4A 2010 State Championship after beating Mead High School 56-52 in overtime at the Tacoma Dome.

For senior Mercedes Wetmore there couldn’t be a more perfect end to her high school basketball career, earning the 2010 all-league MVP. “I was excited that all the work paid off,” Wetmore said.

Not only was she named “player of the year” at State, she is also Gatorade’s player of the year. In addition, Wetmore earned a full-ride scholarship to the University of Washington with 17.8 average points per game.

This season the girls had a new addition to the team, Coach Terry Johnson. You might know him as your friendly Civics or World History teacher. He has been coaching basketball for 13 years but is new to Riverside this year. Johnson couldn’t be more proud of the girls he’s had the opportunity to coach.

“I admire their common desire to compete and how they stuck together to achieve a common goal,” Johnson said.

Having a new coach for the second time in two years was difficult, but they got through it together and achieved the ultimate goal that they had set for themselves.

They also became the ninth team ever in State history to go undefeated with a perfect

record of 29-0 and win State.

In past years, being a part of the basketball program meant the girls obtained a lot of experience and knowledge that they could use in the future.

“I’ve gotten experience with State and competing on a high level every day,” junior Kat Cooper said.

Even with the loss of this year’s seniors, they aren’t at all worried about the players they leave behind as far as the skill of the team as a whole.

“We have a lot of younger girls who will step up and carry on the Riverside tradition,” Wetmore said.

However, as a team they will be missed. They’ve become a second family with lots of unforgettable memories.

Cooper claims that what she will miss the most with the seniors gone is the team talking and dancing together before a game and the bus rides back home.

Winning State was a good way to end a perfect season and a final accomplishment in their high school career for all the senior players.

“We ended on a good note,” Wetmore said. “All the seniors couldn’t have gone out a better way.”

Winter Sports Wrap-up Brianne Kopp STAFF REPORTER

Gymnastics Wrestling Ending the season as Academic State Champs proves not only their athletic but also their academic ability. When competing in Districts, freshman Keaton Dalfrey, junior Jason Greely and senior Derek Clark placed fourth and moved on to Regionals. Senior Zach Platt placed fifth and freshmen Michael Robinson and Cody Child placed sixth in their weight classes.

Managing to place in each meet, these girls and senior Eddy Alupay gave it their all. With Districts and Subs behind them, they qualified for State. The rest of the team showed their support as team-mate senior Danielle Parris competed and took the title third in state with an 8.2 on bars.

PHOTOS COURTESY AUBURN REPORTER/TERRY JOHNSON

Girls Basketball Finishing their season in overtime, these girls took the State Championship title. With a team of just 13 and a new coach this year they also managed to go through their season undefeated, competing in the 4A division.

Boys Basketball The boys finished their season 9-7, making it to playoffs. Although they didn’t go all the way, they beat six out of ten of the top teams in the state throughout their season.

Swim and Dive With an impressive year behind them, our swim and dive team finished a season with only two loses. Taking their skill to compete, they placed second in league and qualified for State.

Junior Brandon Hand, seniors Ryan Atwood, Nick Serdahl and Madison Allen came in 16th at State in the 200 free relay.

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SPORTS

How ‘bout them Ravens?

Ashlyn Mundo STAFF REPORTER

Soccer As always the soccer team’s

goal is to make the playoffs.

Some of their strong talent graduated last year, but Coach Robyn Saarenas is excited about the talented returners and some incoming freshmen. “I’m really excited about the off field energy,” Saarenas said. The captains are creating a lot of excitement and the whole team is excited to go out and compete.

Track and Field The track team is looking

forward to a successful season this year and hoping to come out of this season with a lot of wins.

Coach Bill Sumner expects his athletes to be committed to the program and for the Raven runners to put up some good competition and hopefully get a lot of wins. “I like seeing each athlete improving their own personal score, no matter if they are our varsity or our JV runners,” coach Bill Sumner said. Events to be excited about are the weekend trips and invitational and the team pizza feeds.

Baseball As every year, the baseball

team aims to win as many games as possible and ultimately win a championship. Head coach Chris Garrison expects his team to put forth a great effort, win and have a positive attitude.

This season Kentwood and Kentlake are considered, on paper, to be the team’s best competition. According to Garrison, the team needs to be, “mentally tough and make adjustments during the game to win.”

Fastpitch Having graduated their pitcher/

catcher combo and having a few injuries, the fastpitch team still anticipates to pull together a winning team, this year. “I expect my team to step-up, work hard, and have confidence that we can win,” head coach Chris Leverenz said.

The majority of the team will be returning varsity, and the team hopes to make another strong appearance in the post season.

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s t r o Sp

Update Tennis The girls tennis team is

preparing for a successful season. With its relatively young varsity team, the girls are preparing to step up in order to fill the shoes of the graduated seniors. Coach Deilh and the coaching staff have been brainstorming new drills to build the skills of the players to help raise the level of play. The girls are frequently joined by Dielh and the coaching staff who enjoy participating in all the activities and drills and the team will frequently go to Dairy Queen after practice.

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Raven baller soars high Howard hot on the pitch Jaymes Fleury STAFF REPORTER A perfect season full of victories went to our girls basketball team. All the girls did a fantastic job. Along their side was the new girls coach Terry Johnson. Together their season was one of our schools finest and it was definitely one for the record books. Though it was hard to choose between a team full of great athletes, junior Kat Cooper dominated the court in all her games including the State Championship game.

All season she was able to play every position but point-guard. Her favorite positions would be forward. During the State game Kat really put in 100 percent of her energy. Kat was the top scorer of the game, scorring 20 points of the team’s 56. But she almost received a technical foul over a heated grab for the ball during the game.

The commentators couldn’t get enough of Kat’s performance. They would say things such as: Kat Cooper is dominating the board or that she has been the leading scorer and that she is just dominating the court.

Kat’s team has been at her side the whole way. Even students from the boys team helped her advance. Kat’s team has been her main priority for the season, and during that time she has closely bonded with her teammates.

PHOTO COURTESY BRIAN LIESSE

“They’re like a second family to me,” Kat said.

Along the way, the new head coach Terry Johnson, has helped the the team achieve their incredible state tournament victory.

“He’s really gained the trust of the whole team,” Kat said.

The whole team has sagaciously put their trust into Terry Johnson’s coaching skills. With his extensive experience, nobody had any doubts that he could take them this far. He has been playing basketball since the third grade and has been coaching for 12 years, mostly at Ken. Seven of those years were spent as a successful head coach.

Throughout her basketball career, Kat Cooper has had plenty of inspiring player and team role-models. Kat’s favorite basketball players are some of the most famous ones of today. The one Kat idolizes the most is Lebron James. He plays for her favorite professional team as well, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kat says that her favorite basketball team (other than the Ravens) is the North Carolina Wolfpack.

Through the team’s games they all showed great teamwork and trust. Junior Kat Cooper has shown her innate ability to trample on the court and yet she’s still able to be a graceful team player.

Sydney Shuman STAFF REPORTER Cameron Howard. Maybe you’ve heard the name. It could be that the chick in thirdperiod thinks he’s “dreamy.” It’s possible he’s that genius in AP Calculus. It would be likely that he was the gentleman who picked your books up for you a few weeks back.

“Dreamy,” “intelligent,” “nice”… yeah, you’ve probably heard of him, but have you seen him?

Hold on, not so fast. Nobody’s ushering you to slip a pair of binoculars in your fanny pack and pull an all- nighter in his rhododendron bushes. You’re merely being encouraged to attend one of his soccer games.

Believe it or not, he does that too.

Howard has participated in the sport for the last 15 years — more years than he’s been in school. Due to all of this practice and his undying dedication on his club team HPFC Heat, he is constantly improving.

Of course, Howard plays for the school as well and has from the time he was a freshman. Since then, he has earned his place as a captain. The team aspect especially appeals to him. “[My favorite part of soccer] is playing with the same teammates I see at school,”

Howard said. “I get to see a different side of them on the soccer field.”

Howard’s short term goal is to make it to playoffs this year. Recently, he made the tough decision not to continue competing in college. However, this decision only motivates him to make his last season the best yet. Accordingly, entering college shouldn’t be much of a problem for Howard.

Even with five AP classes pouring from his schedule, Howard’s 4.0 stands unwavering: not an easy task. This means countless late nights hovering over homework and excess time sacrificed to his books.

Besides his own obvious efforts, Howard owes his success to his parents and his role model. Howard’s parents have always been his greatest supporters, attending games and helping with the life altering decisions he has faced. Outside family, Howard sees Cristiano Ronaldo as his role model. Ronaldo’s athletic abilities inspire him to further develop his own skills.

Although Howard will not play soccer in college, he sees himself coaching a youth team in the future. By no means will his soccer days be over after high school. “Dreamy,” “intelligent,” “nice” and “athletic”… maybe it’s possible to have it all.

PHOTO COURTESY CAMERON HOWARD