JagWire | Volume 8 | Issue 3 | Dec. 2007

AN OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENT EXPRESSION

tobacco

:

it's what's for lunch EMERALD RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.12405 184TH ST E SOUTH HILL, WA 98374

volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE.december2007

13

14 On Campus

Tobacco

15

Emerald Ridge has seen a recent surge in students smoking and chewing on campus. We all know that the school has a zero-tolerance policy on tobacco, but we also know that a large amount gets through anyways.

Marketing

Bradley Lake Park is the scene of many an epic battle on Saturday afternoons.

These battles aren’t fought by just any random group of people: They are members of the local wing of a society that aims to recreate the ancient days of swords and sorcery.

06

MRSA

12

Chain (Mail) Gang

A new, drug-resistant version of the common staph infection MRSA has begun to move through the state.

With one student already reported to have had it, the likelihood of an outbreak at ER becomes more likely with each passing day.

News >>03

Op/Ed >>08

18

Wrestling Potential Features >>10

Sports >>18

Despite their seventh place finish in the first takedown tournament of the year, with two brutal victories since, the boys wrestling team is finding themselves headed back to their former glory. Will their success continue, or will they lose their recent push?

A&E >>24

NEWS

Anderson wins the crown Following in her sister’s footsteps, senior Anna Anderson was crowned Daffodil princess, and is excited to represent ER and the Puyallup community by

BRIANNA LANTZ

REPORTER

The 75th annual Daffodil coronation, titled ‘Remembering your First Daffodil Parade,’ featured nine beautiful and lively aspiring princesses who hoped to wow judges with their integrity and grace.

Each highly qualified and purpose-driven candidate exhibited her own unique personality through a prepared speech recalling her first Daffodil parade, followed by an impromptu speech in response to various on-the-spot questions dictated to each candidate.

“The girls were so good with their presentations and with their impromptus,” English teacher and event coordinator Linda Fallstrom said. “I cried. They could not have been any more perfect.”

This year’s Daffodil princess candidates proved exceptionally qualified and to many, one of the better groups in Emerald Ridge history.

“It was awesome,” assistant principal and speaker Troy Hodge said. “At least during my time here, this was the best group ever.”

Each candidate impressed, but ultimately it was Anna Anderson that left a lasting mark.

“I will not let life’s opportunities pass by ‘sitting on the curb’,” Anderson so confidently said, leaving the audience

whispering in surprise.

When the much-anticipated moment of revelation arrived, shouts and screams erupted from the crowd as Anderson was crowned the esteemed role of Daffodil princess.

“I’m so excited, and ready to get started,” Anderson said. “It was such a surprise because everyone did so well.”

In 2005, Anderson’s sister Cydney won the Daffodil crown for ER. It is hardly a surprise that Anna would follow in her sister’s footsteps.

“After watching her, I learned a lot about the Daffodil tradition,” said Anderson. “I just knew it was cut out for me too.”

It is obvious Anderson had an enjoyable experience and holds an enthusiastic pride in her fellow eight candidates.

“They were so amazing,” Anderson said. “No one messed up on their speeches, and I truly think everyone deserved to win.”

Anderson holds high hopes for this coming year as she assumes her princess duties. Anderson will be representing ER at various events around the community.

“I want to bring a positive attitude, a great amount of leadership and hopefully a lasting impression of ER,” Anderson said.

With the afternoon sun glimmering from her luminous crown and glowing skin, Anderson radiated like a natural princess.

“I am so honored and excited to be in this position,” Anderson said. “I want to thank the girls and everyone that came out to support us. It meant a lot.”

2007 princess Erin James crowns Anna Anderson at the 2008 coronation.

Voters pass amendment House Joint Resolution 4204 passed, resulting in easier voting process by

RACHEL WEBBER

REPORTER

3703 9th St SW (253)845-0767 Buy $25 in gift cards get a $5 gift card free

Photo by Ashley Vincent

On Nov. 6, voters approved House Joint Resolution (HJR) 4204, a proposed amendment to the Washington State Constitution which will allow a simple majority vote for school levies.

“Thousands of volunteers called proeducation voters and reminded them to approve 4204,” said Rich Wood, Washington State Education spokesperson. “Without that effort, 4204 would not have passed.”

Statewide, the resolution was rejected by 49.4 percent of voters and approved by 50.6 percent of voters.

“4204 needed a simple majority to pass.

It was approved with 50.6 percent of the

vote,” Wood said.

In Pierce County, 52.2 percent of 166,379 voters rejected the ballot and 47.8 percent approved the proposition.

Even though voters in Pierce County rejected HJR 4204, Wood still believes that Pierce County residents generally show strong support for their schools.

Because HJR 4204 did pass, all levy propositions will only need a 50 percent simple majority.

“The approval of 4204 is good for schools and students because it will be easier for local voters to invest in their local schools,” Wood said. “With a simple majority requirement, more levies will pass on the first try, saving schools money that can be spent on students instead.”

Ballot measure HJR 4204 will go into effect on Dec. 6.

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03

NEWS

New grading system continues to torment school by

ADAM FANGMAN

REPORTER

Many students realized at the end of the quarter that their grades in class were not accurately reported on the new district grade access site, Home Access. Some students’ grade reports were off by percentiles as low as five or as high as 20, while others were reported to have zeros in the grade book.

The online report problem is one of many growing pains associated with the development of a new system for student information management that the Puyallup School District has opted to use. The new system is designed to make overall information management easier and more efficient on a district scale.

The Student Plus Information Management System (SPIMS) was developed by Pentamation, a division of the company SunGard Data Systems, who signed a two-year, $1.7 million contract with the Puyallup School District. The system was developed to combine several aspects of student information – including attendance, grades, registration and discipline – into an easier mode of access.

The design of the new system, maintained on a district server, streamlines student information by presenting it all in one complete package.

“Before, we had all these different programs for different student information – one for attendance, one for grades and one for discipline,” said psychology and senior social studies teacher Ben Muehlenbruch, a member of the committee monitoring the implementation of the system. “But now

everything is all in one system that is run through the district. For about 10 years, teachers did everything on their own and there were sometimes compatibility issues with different operating systems and programs that were hassles. This system solves those issues.”

The system is currently used by all secondary schools in the Puyallup School District, and mandates that teachers use a uniform grading scale and average quarter grades into an overall semester grade. It requires teachers to observe 94 percent and above as an A, and 64 percent and higher as passing. Students who maintain anything lower than 64 percent are failing.

Though it encompasses the whole district and requires teachers to follow a uniform scale, teachers do have the power to change a student’s grade as they deem appropriate for report cards, meaning, if the system contorts the final grade, the teacher may go in and change it. Though the system is designed to make the information management aspect of teaching easier, it has dissatisfied many teachers.

“The system is obtuse and useless and nonuser friendly,” AP Psychology and AP Government teacher Matt White said.

When a teacher enters a new assignment into the system’s grade book, the number of points and individual point value must be figured and accounted for by hand. This means that teachers must do their own math to figure the value of each point in an assignment, a laborious process that, according to White “is a step fifteen years backwards.”

“There are kinks and bugs

Defibrillator now in place by

BRIAN SVOBODA

REPORTER

An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) was placed inside the case located in the Commons on Oct. 30. After the district moved to place it in the Commons for students’ safety, the devices were distributed to fifteen different locations.

These included all the secondary schools in the Puyallup School District, RHS and PHS pools, and Spark’s stadium.

“It wasn’t a completely random decision,” school nurse Joan Rowe said. ”The district has worked on it to figure out what was appropriate.”

The Philips automatic OnSite model

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enables a person to use the device even if they are not trained personnel. The green LED on the front blinks to show that it has been adequately charged. If the case is opened, it sounds an alarm to alert officials and deter accidental openings by students.

A defibrillator is used to get an uncoordinated heartbeat back on rhythm by using a pulse of electricity to depolarize the heart, which then lets the body’s own pacemaker resume its natural tempo.

“If the heart isn’t beating, CPR needs to be applied,” Rowe said.

The defibrillator is meant for adults, but can be used on children above 55 pounds.

in the system that need to be worked out, but that’s not to say that there has not been a ton of effort put into it at the district level,” Muehlenbruch said.

The direct causes of the issues with the system are unknown, but the system’s lack of refinement seems to be to blame.

“Somebody should have piloted it,” White said. (The system was introduced without any prior testing to find bugs, despite the contract.)

The system is also infamous for speed issues. Teachers have trouble using the system at hours when many users are trying to access the server. This increases the time needed to do basic tasks.

In response to system errors and widespread frustrations, a meeting was held and teachers were given the option not to use the system altogether. They may return to the previous grading program, EasyGradePro, but teachers opting out of the system must now use SWIFT (Simplified Web Interface for Teachers), a different server, to handle online grades.

SWIFT is not the server used last year for online grades, but something new that teachers will need to learn.

Despite inaccurate grade reports, connection speed issues and system design flaws, some teachers remain optimistic.

“I think that once we get used to it, it will be fine,” business and marketing teacher Randy Walden said “The district will get it straightened out, and everyone will adjust.”

NEWS

World Week expected to acknowledge diversity Students prepare for World Week – the annual winterim – as they assume leadership positions for their countries by

BRI ROGERS

REPORTER

Every year, Emerald Ridge has one week where students participate in activities that improve their understanding of a certain topic. There are three “weeks” that rotate year after year so that every student can experience each once throughout their high school career; they are Science Week, Business Week, and World Week.

Each week has its own goal to teach the students to understand major aspects related to each sphere. For instance, Business Week requires that the advisories act as companies and invent and sell their own product; the students often have a lot of fun with it, according to Rebecca Waller, AP Junior English teacher at ER. This year, World Week will be taking place at ER on Dec. 10-14. Over the course of five days, students will learn how to develop citizenship and expand their knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity. They will experience different customs and cultures, and various major issues going on around the world.

Each advisory will be assigned to act as a different coun-

try and will be given five world topics, which include major problems that the advisees will be working to resolve. These topics are the environment (global warming), population, human rights, weapons of mass destruction, and AIDS. The students will present, discuss and write out resolutions for these issues, which will be debated during a model of a U.N. meeting.

A Head of State will be selected for each advisory. This person is required to attend mandatory training meetings, attend the country drawing, and attend a.m./p.m. briefing meetings. They will also assist the advisor with accountability records such as daily attendance, passports, and making sure all citizens are where they are supposed to be.

Other duties of the Head of State include picking up the supply box, participating in a Parade of Nations, leading a small group for writing resolutions, participating at the Regional Resolution Summit, representing their country in any U.N. disputes and speaking during the Resolution Presentations on Friday.

Every person will have a job in their advisory, whether it be making the country’s flag and banner, or researching the country’s recent events, etc. Classroom curriculum will also focus on content that relates to world affairs and/or culture.

The Parade of Nations will take place on Monday, signifying the start of World Week. This is an opening ceremony for World Week and gives the students a chance to get

started in various World Week activites, like showing pride for their countries.

Then students will attend a conference on Wednesday where they will have a chance to listen to over thirty guest speakers (Holocaust survivors, Iraq war veterans, ER graduates, etc.) from several different countries talking about hunger, apartheid, world trade and other important issues.

Finally, on Friday, the World’s Fair will take place, where each country will have its own booth showcasing their work over the week, which will be visited by ER peers, sixth graders, and judges. During the World’s Fair all the hallways will be decorated with the advisories’ creative cultures.

Overall, World Week is supposed to be a fun environment for students. According to Waller, teachers are generally excited for the upcoming week, for various reasons. Some, for the bonding experience with their advisors, especially sophomore advisories, others for the opportunity of learning more about cultures.

“Bombing” other countries, though done in the past, is not appropriate. Students are asked not to do it for the respect of others that may be offended.

World Week can be a fun and educating time if students cooperate and put forth effort.

“For the most part, students get a lot out of it,” Waller said, “but there are always some dummies who try to ruin it for everyone else.”

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05

NEWS

MRSA

19,000

causes deaths in the United States every year.

It kills more annually than AIDS Experiencing MRSA firsthand (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aure)

Senior Nate Wetterauer shares about his skirmish with communal, or type one, MRSA by

AMANDA WYMA

REPORTER

“We were all really worried,” junior Spencer Kajca said. “I mean, my mom’s a nurse and she’s always warned me about how dangerous it is and how I should be extra careful. After one of our own guys got it we just made sure to stay really careful to stay really clean.”

When kids at school began talking and worrying about the rapid increase in cases of the deadly staph infection (MRSA) and its quick invasion of local schools, senior Nate Wetterauer became worried about a newly discovered bump on his back.

Within a week of the doleful Puyallup game on Oct. 5, Wetterauer noticed the small bump on his back. The bump, which he noticed within a week of the Puyallup game on Oct. 5, looked similar to a small spider bite.

“By the time practice began the next week my teammates and coaches started to notice the bump growing,” Wetterauer said. “I thought it was a spider bite, but once it had grown so big you could see it through my shirt, coach advised me to get it checked out by a doctor. We went to the doctor and they lanced it off and put gauze where the two-inches of fluids had been pushed out. They had to keep replacing the gauze every day or so just so it could heal a little more, but the hole in my back lasted overall about a month.”

According to Wetterauer, the turf at downtown Puyallup’s Spark’s Stadium was found to contain MRSA from another quarterback in the district.

“I heard the Puyallup quarterback had it on his chin, and after a couple tackles it got into the turf,” Wetterauer said.

Wetterauer, being an active offensive and defensive lineman in the Puyallup game, assumes he might have

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contracted MRSA through an open turf burn in his elbow.

“When I found out it was MRSA, I was at football practice and everyone started asking me questions about what MRSA even was,” Wetterauer said. “When they heard stuff on the news about people dying from it everyone really began to flip out.”

For two weeks the MRSA pimple began to enlarge over his back and grew to be two-inches deep filled with fluid with MRSA bacteria. MRSA comes in two different types: types one and two. Type-one (what Nate had), is the less serious of the two and is called communal MRSA. Type-two, the most critical and severe cases of MRSA, are nonsocomial, and are only caught through hospitals.

“Communal MRSA (type-one) is really present right now,” registered nurse Mechelle Amburty of Woodcreek Pediatrics said. “We get a lot of cases each week and it’s pretty common, especially in young people. If MRSA is suspected we usually drain the fluid out of the pimple and send it to the lab to be diagnosed. We’ll put the patients on antibiotics, and it’s not much more complicated than that. Type-two is very rare in our offices, mostly the bigger hospitals deal with that because it’s much more serious.”

Some people assume that MRSA is a foreign disease - a mounting epidemic that has no cure or treatment; however, what people do not understand is that MRSA is something people are exposed to everyday and only type-two cases can escalate to the fatal level.

“MRSA is a serious thing, but the type I had was the less serious, and there was a cure, and everything is okay now,” Wetterauer said. “Everyone has a small amount of MRSA on their skin, but it’s when your body takes in MRSA bacteria through an open cut or scrape that you have a reaction like mine.”

The MRSA experts at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital confirm the fact that everyone’s skin contains a small amount of MRSA. According to MRSA specialists, everyone contains the Staphylococcus Aureus organism on their skin and noses which is the reason why they urge the

public to cleanse their skin frequently by washing their hands. Doing this can prevent MRSA from spreading through open cuts and wounds.

When MRSA was reported as fatal and contagious, rumors around campus spread quickly. People started to stay clear off Nate, thinking they could somehow pick it up by being around him.

“People said a lot of weird things about me and the whole MRSA thing, and really it’s gone,” Wetterauer said.

“Just by walking by you I couldn’t give you MRSA. I just want everyone to know they can be around me and not get it, I mean it’ll always be in my system but you couldn’t get it unless we like rubbed open wounds.”

MRSA has not kept senior Nate Wetterauer from football or wrestling.

Photo by Julia Serva-DelMonte

NEWS

MRSA in its raw form “ KATE KAYE

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, out of the 94,000 serious MRSA cases a year in the United States, approximately 19,000 of them are fatal. There should not be a huge Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aure, better known as MRSA, panic about MRSA because influenza kills twice as many people a is a type of staph skin infection that is resistant to a wide range of year, though awareness and increased cleanliness is crucial. commonly used antibiotics. Up until recently, MRSA only infected Smith recommends these three simple tips to prevent the spread people who had poor immune systems, were on antibiotics or had of MRSA and germs in general. an open wound or burn while they were in a hospital. However, 1.

Wash hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap now it is more likely that anyone can get MRSA by simply touching 2.

Any person with skin sores or open wounds should wear clean, something or someone who has MRSA and gets drainage from his dry bandages. or her infection on any part of their 3. Clean and disinfect items that come body, specifically hands.

MRSA primarily spreads by in contact with others or may be comHealthy people can have the skin to skin contact where one monly shared such as sports equipment, bacteria on their skin and have no ill computer, desks, etc. effects but they can pass those germs to person who has MRSA touches “People should not share personal items others. According to Jill Smith, a public another or has close contact because MRSA is more easily spread that health nurse for the Tacoma /Pierce Health way,” Smith said.

Department, MRSA cannot be spread through with someone else.

-Jill Smith, the air or by the mouth unless someone has In a lot of the cases where sport Public Health Nurse an infection around his or her mouth. students contract MRSA, personal items are “MRSA primarily spreads by skin to skin contact where one person the likely cause of the infection’s spread, as well as contact with who has MRSA touches another or has close contact with someone equipment that had not been cleaned properly. In light of this, the else,” Smith said. health department is doing everything they can to prevent more MRSA bacteria are usually harmless unless they enter the body people from getting affected. through a cut or wound. If a MRSA bacterium does enter a wound, “The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that the Tacoma/ the wound may become infected. There are treatments that can stop Pierce County Health Department is one of the best in our nation,” the infection and kill it so it is not always deadly. school nurse Joan Rowe said. by

REPORTER

“

”

Likelihood of a MRSA outbreak at ER Following the MRSA scare covered by local news networks, many students began to question the likelihood of a school epidemic by

KELSEY HOWLAND

REPORTER

MRSA, the super bug of today. Anyone can get this staph infection. Emerald Ridge is susceptible to housing MRSA, just as any other public building.

“It’s very possible for our students to get it (MRSA),” physical education teacher Lynn Wardle said.

During a school day, students move in and out of classrooms and throughout halls.

Skin to skin contact is made, along with skin to surface.

“You can get MRSA from any class because we work with mats, weights, door knobs and desks,” Wardle said. “Any place is at risk.”

Students are allowed to continue attending school while carrying MRSA – they just have to be bandaged correctly so no transfer can be made.

Athletes participating in contact sports because I don’t think that kids with MRSA are where the most outbreaks are seen. will wrestle,” senior Kenny Velasco said. “I These athletes are more likely to have open take showers daily so I’m not too worried.” cuts and wounds compared to the average Senior Bryce Kitchens, realized he had student, giving them a greater chance of it last June. being infected. They are also likely to share “I don’t know exactly where it came personal items, like towels in locker rooms, from,” Kitchens said. “I do wrestle, but it or come in direct contact with other athletes may not be related.” who may have open and Once infected with MRSA, a person is draining wounds on the susceptible to getting it again You can get for up to a year. playing field. This is why it is particularly important “If you see someone in class MRSA from any that athletes and their with a cut and they touch someclass because coaches be on the lookout thing, wash it before touching it for MRSA symptoms and yourself,” Kitchens said. “It is a we work with practice good hygiene. serious thing.” mats, weights, Wrestling season has After experiencing this rejust begun, and a meeting sistant variation of the common door knobs and has already been held conbacterium, Kitchens said, “I desks. Any cerning MRSA and how to know I don’t want to get it keep protected against it. again, it really does hurt.” place is at risk.

“We clean our mats The affects of MRSA are -Lynn Wardle, properly to help prevent painful. Teachers and students Health Teacher it,” senior Jason Iliff said. alike who are aware of these Other members involved in wrestling have details are cautious. had MRSA, but most are not worried about “It makes ugly blisters and kills people,” coming into contact with it themselves. aviation teacher Jeff Coleman said. “I’m glad “I’m not really concerned (about MRSA) I don’t have it.”

“

”

I’m not really that worried about a MRSA outbreak, because the people most susceptible to it are wrestlers and we take every reasonable precaution to protect ourselves from skin diseases. -Garrett Yockey, sophomore

“

”

Yes, because I play girls basketball and a lot of people use the gym so there’s a higher risk of it spreading.

”

-Jessica Laky,

Are you

junior

concerned

about a potential outbreak of

?

MRSA

“

at ER

No because (MRSA) is rare. The cases being discovered aren’t increasing; it’s just a matter of where they’re happening.

”

-Brent Young,

“

senior

Of course, I’m concerned about any infectious disease. I think the (media) was a little irresponsible with (MRSA); skin bacteria are everywhere, but the strain that causes MRSA is relatively rare. People have staphylococcus bacteria all over them, whether or not it’s MRSA, who knows?

”

-Joan Rowe, School Nurse

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07

OP/ED

Do what it takes to drive safe This school year, Emerald Ridge students have become increasingly irresponsible and inconsiderate on the road. Car crashes are more prevalent as students seem to be throwing caution to the wind and pushing down on the gas pedal.

On any given day, far too many students can be observed cutting each other off, using left hand turn lanes as a means to get ahead in line out of the parking lot, then using the turn lane on the road as a personal express way to avoid traffic by taking a U-turn. One student earlier this week even chose to use the sidewalk to cut ahead of his peers in line.

There is only one way out of school, and so we all have to wait in traffic. So what makes the cutters and turn lane users any exception? The answer is simple; students are doing these things because, frankly, there is not anything stopping them from getting away with it.

Last year the security officer assigned to ER happened to be visible most days after school. He was there to help implement the new system of getting busses out of the parking lot early, but while he was around students drove more cautiously.

This year there has yet to be an officer on the road after school, and this laissez-faire attitude is obviously not working out. Just the sheer idea that there could be a police car somewhere between school and home would make the hot rods on the road drive reasonably and make us all safer.

We recognize that police forces in the area have better things to do than monitor the driving abilities of high school students, however this is not simply a matter of enforcing the simple procedure

the fine print Emerald Ridge High School 12405 184th St. E. South Hill, WA 98374 253-435-6300

Editorial Mission

As an open forum, JagWire exercises student free expression rights to their fullest extent. We pursue an unbiased truth while maintaining the highest journalistic integrity. Our top priority is to raise awareness while covering a wide variety of issues that impact our readership. By exploring different angles to make sure

08 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

of waiting in line, it is a matter of safety.

Security officer, Rick Burnley, recognizes the abysmal conditions and is concerned about the safety of students as they leave the parking lot.

He is in contact with the police department and hopes to have an officer on call to help stop the crazy driving. The thing is, a quarter of the school year is over and nothing has happened yet.

This type of driving has become commonplace and has escalated to the point that many students do not feel safe driving home after school.

Students need to hold themselves and each other accountable for these irresponsible habits, and the administration needs to take measures to get a police car on campus before someone gets seriously injured.

Editorials are composed by, and are the opinion of the JagWire editorial board.

STAFF

Corrections: In the editorial “Not everybody should be a winner in high school” in issue 8.2, it was reported that eight sophomores ran for eight positions. In actuality, six sophomores ran for five positions. The outcome, however, was the same: The number of positions was still raised to the exact number of students running. We regret the error.

our coverage is fair, balanced and accurate, we seek to continue the publication’s tradition of excellence through self-reflection and improvement.

Letters Policy JagWire will accept unsolicited copy from students, staff and community members. Only signed and dated letters with address and phone number from community members, or grade level from students, will be accepted.

Letters should be limited to 300 words and will be published as space is available.

All letters are the sole opinion of the writers, and the staff reserves the right to edit any letter for space and/or clarity.

We will not publish material that may substantially

EDITORIAL BOARD..........................................MORGAN T. GARD . ....................................................................................... GERRY LECONTE . ...........................................................................................LAUREN SMITH . ...................................................................................... ASHLEY VINCENT . ...................................................................................DALLAS M. WELKER COPY EDITOR....................................................................MIMI SISON DESIGN MANAGER ...................................... HEATHER GORMAN BUSINESS MANAGER.................................... ANDY DICKERSON CIRCULATION MANAGER............................... STASIE HENSON REPORTERS................................................................ MEGAN ALBERT . ................................................................................ KRISTIN ANDERSON . ......................................................................................LAUREN BARRON . ........................................................................................ LEXI BROCKAMP . .....................................................................................DANNY CANHAM . ..........................................................................................KAITLIN CLARK . .........................................................................................ALIESHA DRIVAS . ...................................................................................... ADAM FANGMAN . ..............................................................................................DEVIN FLOYD . .................................................................................. KELSEY HOWLAND ....................................................................................................JOSH JOYCE . ....................................................................................................KATE KAYE . ....................................................................................KATELYN KREMPLE . .......................................................................................BRIANNA LANTZ . .......................................................................................LINDSAY NOLAN . ....................................................................................ALANNA NUGENT . ........................................................................................ ASHLEY O’BRIEN . ................................................................................. ASHLEE PITIGLIANO . ..................................................................................................BRI ROGERS .......................................................................... JULIA SERVA-DELMONTE ................................................................................KRISTEN STEENBEEKE .........................................................................................BRIAN SVOBODA ............................................................................................... TESSA TORRES ...................................................................................................... ZAC TRAN .......................................................................................... RACHEL WEBBER ..........................................................................................AMANDA WYMA ADVISER............................................................................KEVIN SMYTH AFFILIATES

JEA, NSPA, SPJ, WJEA, WSJA

disrupt the school process.

Letters to the editor may be submitted by mailing them to JagWire c/o Emerald Ridge High School, or by e-mailing them to jdnusser@puyallup.k12.wa.us Advertising Mission The JagWire publication staff accepts advertisements for most products and services available to the public.

However, the staff reserves the right to reject, edit or cancel any advertisement that the staff deems offensive in light of normal public standards.

Ads identifying students as athletes by photo or text (WIAA 18.20.0 and 18.20.1) also will not be accepted.

The staff will not accept advertising that is racist, sexist or illegal for high school students.

OP/ED

“

“ the voice of the people: Does it reflect good judgement to “bomb” other advisories during World Week?

The only reason they do it is because they see things like that on the news.

12

“

It brings back all of the bad things happening in the world and the whole purpose of World Week is to bring about togetherness.

11

“

As a Head of State, I’m worried about people performing these acts because it’s not what World Week is about.

No, I think it shows immaturity and lack of world knowledge. The administration should lay out some real consequences for it.

10 STAFF

” ” ” ” To minimize frustrations, return to EasyGradePro Late last month, the Puyallup school district decided that the problems of the new grading system were finally too much and began allowing schools and individual teachers to temporarily revert back to the old program, EasyGradePro for the remainder of the school year.

For this reason it is necessary to applaud the school district for their recognition that the new system – called the Student Plus Information Management System (SPIMS) – has not been working properly. The various problems the system has caused

-Stephan Wooley

range from the inability to check grades online to online grades being off by anywhere from five to ten percent. These errors are hard to ignore, and the fact that the school board recognized them is a mark of humility and excellence that is rare in a city-wide bureaucracy.

The only thing left to do now is to not only allow, but to recommend that all schools and teachers return to the EasyGradePro system while the SPIMS is being worked on. Not only are we certain that the old system works, and works well, but it is famil-

-Lisa Thompson

-Dan Knierim

iar to all teachers and most students and parents.

The difficulty this would raise in the online grade-checking process is quickly remedied by the fact that all teachers’ e-mail addresses are available at the school’s website.

The district could also encourage schools to set up SWIFT (Simplified Web Interface for Teachers) accounts for teachers, which can be used to post not just grades but notes and assignments online.

Despite anyone’s personal opinions on the new system, it is commendable

-Rod Hart

that the school district chose to step up and recognize its own mistake in forcing the new system on teachers before it was fully operational.

In the meantime, we encourage all Emerald Ridge teachers to switch to EasyGradePro until the district is certain of SPIMS’ ability to accurately and effectively manage grades.

Editorials are composed by, and are the opinion of the JagWire editorial board.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, On behalf of every student who has made the personal decision to challenge themselves in an upper level course and every teacher who assists students in meeting these challenges, we must address the erroneous and elitist claims made about the AP program in your October 2007 editorial “Not everybody should be a winner in high school.”

In building you case that “not everyone is a winner,” you correctly state that “at ER, anybody who wants in [to AP classes] gets in.’ Over the past several years, enrollment in the Advanced Placement program at ER has more than doubled, showing that students

are eager and willing to embrace an academic challenge in order to better prepare themselves for postsecondary life. In response, teachers have taken new challenges on themselves to design and revamp curriculum in order to meet the needs of this population and help ensure their success on AP exams and in college.

However, you go on to say “whether they are qualified and able or not.” Who are you, or we, or any other Advanced Placement teacher, or administrator, to decide who is “qualified” and restrict student access to challenging courses if that student is hungry to learn?

A simple search of the AP Central Web site reveals the AP Equity

09 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

Policy Statement, which says “the College Board is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous and academically challenging courses and program. All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP courses. The Board encourages the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP.” This is the credo that Emerald Ridge operates by— to provide access to more rigorous courses for anyone curious enough to entertain such a challenge. The instructors of these courses believe in this policy and work to make this learning accessible to all.

Your attempt to pontificate about the harm that exists in a feel-good society is admirable, but you are remiss to compare a standards-based, college-level curriculum that is available to anyone who wants to work hard to a class election or sports contest. Even a student who doesn’t have a stellar grade in AP is at least choosing to challenge themselves by taking a college-level class in high school.

In our opinion, those kids are winners—genuine winners whose achievement of excellence is based, unlike the sophomore elections you cite, on authentic academic performance rather than social entitlement. Even though AP at ER is made available for self-selected

enrollment, the assessment of student performance in all AP classes is nevertheless held to a national, rigorous and intensely competitive standard. It is this competitive ethic that drives teachers to teach AP and inspires students to take AP, and your suggestion that the AP curriculum at ER falls short of this competitive ethic and contributes to the problem that “everyone’s a winner at ER”—meaning, that students at ER believe themselves entitled to a minimalist’s definition of success­­­­—is not only regrettable but reason for retraction and apology.

Sincerely, Molly Susee and Jay Bates

FEATURE

Mal’s Malyon’s classroom is peppered with photographs of her two boxers.

Many students view Art and Ceramics teacher Jami Maylon as the typical hippie art instructor, but she is actually far from the stereotype by

JULIA SERVA-DELMONTE

REPORTER

Room C108. When looking in, you can see bags of clay stacked on a desk, paintbrushes peppered throughout the room, clay dust softly covering the floor’s surface, and if you scan the room, a smiling tall blonde will catch your eye who is usually doing a random personal art project right next to her students. It’s one of the few classrooms at Emerald Ridge whose character rivals that of the teacher running it.

It’s Jami Malyon, or just simply, Mal’s room. She teaches the

10 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

spin on life

pottery and sculpture classes at ER. Taking her class is no difficult procedure. She sits a 3-pound hunk of clay in front of every student and allows him or her to express any emotion bottled up, as long as they turn it in on time.

Malyon wasn’t always the pottery guru she is today. In ninth grade, she recalls taking her first pottery class.

“I could not center (the clay on the wheel) to save my life, and I made some of the saddest looking pieces of work you have ever seen,” Malyon said.

But even though she started rough, she realized how much she enjoyed it and continued to take two more years of pottery in high school.

“I fell in love with what you could do with the clay,” Malyon said. “Clay has a life of its own.”

After high school, Malyon went to the University of Washington to study to be a veterinarian.

“When I discovered that we had to dissect hairless cats, I couldn’t find the heart to do (it).”

She continued on and instead she picked the Art Institute of Seattle and received her associate’s degree. In her early twenties, she ended up doing freelance graphic design.

“I did business cards and original illustrations for a hair design place in Ballard,” Malyon said.

It was then that a beauty style magazine ended up publishing an ad she designed and illustrated for Fred and Fidel’s Beauty Salon.

“That was hard because I wasn’t working for a company, I was freelancing. So it was either feast or famine.”

With help from her grandmother she went back to school to Pacific Lutheran University and got her bachelor’s degree of arts in education. Then she received her master’s in creative arts and learning at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. “(The program taught us) how every subject is integrated with art. And that people actually learn more successfully by doing more artful things in their life.”

Walking into Malyon’s room, one can see pictures of her two boxer dogs, and on some days, maybe even the dogs themselves napping by her feet.

“No kids, just dogs. They’re always happy to see me no matter how late I get home.”

Jami Malyon also loves to roller

blade and ski. She enjoys taking time to visit her sister in Hawaii when she can.

“I love the sand and the surf, and playing in the sun shine,” Malyon said with a smile.

What most people don’t know is that she’s a family woman who loves hanging out with her parents and siblings.

“I’m really absorbed with my family. I probably talk to my mom a ridiculous amount of times a day,” Malyon said laughing.

When they think of Jami Malyon, many students have the impression that she’s a hippie. Her bright layered clothing and curly hair might make her seem like the stereotypic hippie, but she’s not.

“I never did any drugs, but I love peace and happiness.”

Jami Malyon is an eccentric woman, with an extreme appreciation for the world around her, and a gift at helping her students find themselves while creating art.

“When you’re becoming completely absorbed in what you’re making you’re very quiet,” Malyon said while stroking paint over white poster boards. “I think it’s nice to have peace. When you create art, you do that.”

FEATURE

Art, talent and passion collide Artist, musician and writer Alyssa Christensen turned to her passion and talent for art when her health turned for the worse by

ASHLEY VINCENT

Editorial Board

“It’s like breathing to me,” senior Alyssa Christensen said with a laugh. “I just have to do it. The reason I write it is because I just can’t not write it.”

Christensen began to express herself through art in her freshman year. She began writing poems and creating paintings, and describes the time as when she “woke up from childhood.” Along with painting and poetry, Christensen is a gifted musician. She has written and recorded her own CD, entitled “Dreambox,” and plays guitar and violin.

Like many artists Christensen uses her talents to get in touch with herself, and they help her to keep tabs on who she is and what she is thinking. Fortunately, she had these talents to turn to when she began to have health problems that have not been attributed to the stress of junior year.

“I have had

a lot of health problems and I am still trying to learn to deal with them and accept that they are a permanent part of who I am,” Christensen said.

What Christensen describes as “health problems” were dizzy spells and anxiety. She began to notice them in the spring of sophomore year, and as her symptoms progressively got worse during the winter of her junior year she turned to art to help her cope.

“I write a boatload of poetry,” Christensen said. “A ridiculous, almost unhealthy amount of poetry. And I paint a lot, though not as much as I used to, and I write music now too.”

Though she missed almost a full semester of school last spring Christensen is back strong at ER this year.

She is currently enrolled in three Advanced Placement (AP) classes: AP Literature, AP Government, and AP United States History. Christensen is still working through the problems she faced last year, but she by no means lets them define her. Alyssa is content and she attributes her health and happiness to the support of her loved ones.

“It helps to have really nice parents,” Christensen said. “They have been so amazing. If I had a daughter like me I do not know what I would do, they are so understanding. My friends are too.”

Christensen has not let her health problems hold her back in the least. She is a member of the Tacoma Youth Symphony, and active in her Girl Scout troop and Key Club. Christensen also serves as president of the Honor Society and gives violin lessons.

Recently Alyssa created illustrations for a Christensen plays a tune on her violin, which she nicknamed “Wild Child” fantasy story, “Paint the Sky.” She and Tommy Pauly, a senior at Rogers, created and published the book.

“It’s kind of a fairy tale,” Christensen said.

“But that sort of gives the wrong impression.

I guess I would call it a story of friendship and creativity.”

The story centers around a character named Lucy, who, like Alyssa, is a gifted painter. The book is filled with paintings by Christensen. The story itself was written by Pauly, who then self- published it and marketed it to Borders. The book will go on sale this month, and there is a book signing Dec. 8.

Next year Christensen hopes to attend either Pitzer College or Palomar College, both of which are liberal arts colleges located in California. She plans to study Art, English or Psychology.

Though she is not sure what next year holds for her, Christensen plans to continue utilizing her passion for art as a hobby and a way to relax and recuperate.

She may choose to go further and use her talents to persue a career in art.

Excerpt from Alyssa’s poem

I bring my hands together and wring them ‘til they are invisible laundry.

I fold up my worries and stack them and they are labeled ‘Today’ ‘Tomorrow’, and ‘Yesterday’.

Photos by Ashley Vincent

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FEATURE

Chain mail and boffers Welcome to the dream, we’ve been waiting for you As the Amtgard warrior and archer Odo, senior Nick Megrath joined the world of live-action fantasy roleplaying by

ALIESHA DRIVAS

REPORTER

e Th re pi

ks

ac

Bl go

Lo Above: Members of the clan Angel’s Haven prepare for one of the battle games that take over Bradley Lake Park.

Below: Senior Nick Megrath faces “death” weekly.

12 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

From “Lord of the Rings” to “A Knight’s Tale” people have been fascinated by the chivalry and heroism of medieval times. However, most do not take their fascination to the same height as senior Nick Megrath.

Megrath makes chain mail, which is flexible armor usually made from linked chains or scales. To accomplish this, he spends around 200 hours (approximately eight and a half days) linking hundreds and thousands of tiny chains together.

The protective covering is worn for his weekly excursions to Bradley Park, where he fights to the death and braves many horrors with friends.

Megrath is a member of Amtgard, a non-profit organization that is devoted to the recreation of sword fighting and sorcery, as well as the history and culture of medieval and ancient ages. The focus of the club is the weaponry and combat, but also includes the art and science of the time.

“We play a few different games, but they’re all based on specific hit points,” Megrath said. “Like if you get hit in the arm, you can’t use that arm anymore. If you get hit in two limbs, it’s death. When you get hit in the chest, head, or back, it’s also death.”

The organization’s activities include: ditch battles, a game where the members line up and fight until only one player is left, quests, and crown ournaments. These activities go more in depth of the character of the players and the history of the time.

There are many rules for the conduct of the games, which include the type of weaponry used during the battles. No metal is allowed. The weapons are usually constructed of plywood, bamboo or graphite. There must also be two inches of padding on the striking area, and the whole instrument needs to be wider than an eye socket, to prevent any damaged eyes.

Besides the brawn and ferocity of the combatants, there are also sorcerers. The magic works by either memorizing a certain incantation or using foam stress balls with different colored cloths.

Each colored cloth represents a certain spell meant to incapacitate another player. The wizard must repeat the name of the spell five times and then throw the ball at the target.

Amtgard is made up of different “clans.” Each clan has their own name and coat of arms. The local clan is called Angel’s Haven which is under the subdivision Blackspire. Every clan member also has their own persona name. The players choose their persona name like one would choose a screen name.

Senior Michael Gray, also known as

Frey Darkstone, joined Angel’s Haven after relentless prodding from Megrath, also known as Odo. “Nick had been bothering me at school to come and join Amtgard for awhile, and I decided to try it one day,” said Gray. “I realized how much fun it was and then started coming regularly.”

The cliché “chivalry is dead” can now be put to rest, thanks to the brave souls that reside in Nick Megrath and the many other Amtgard members.

Nick Megrath’s chain mail armor takes him over a week to make by hand.

Photos by Stasie Henson and Ashley Vincent

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Dribbles of dip and cigarette butts have become as common a sight around campus as the remants of a healthy school lunch. All of these are signs of the new craze around Emerald Ridge:

TOBACCO

Source: American Lung Association Web site

adolescents will die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.

6.4 million

If current under age tobacco use patterns persist, an estimated

Source: TeensHealth Web site

Americans learn they have mouth and throat cancers due to the use of chewing tobacco.

30,000

Anually, aproximately DANNY CANHAM

The first European settlers to North America were introduced to tobacco usage by native peoples and quickly imported the practice home. That practice has grown so much in the intervening 400 years that tobacco has become a nearly $50 billion industry.

According to the popular anti-tobacco website, NoStankYou.com, about 23 percent of high school students are current smokers. Compare this to a survey of 176 Emerald Ridge students, which found that approximately 25 percent and 8 percent have smoked or used chew, respectively, just around the national average.

Taken as an indicator for the entire school population, that’s about one-third of the roughly 1500 students at ER, with some room for overlap.

More than half the ER student body has at least one friend who smokes or

REPORTER

by

LEXI BROCKAMP

Media practices in the tobacco industry continue to draw consumers in at an early age despite claims that their advertisements are not aimed at children.

Thirty percent of children have already tried smoking by the beginning of their second year at secondary school. Most of these children are between the ages of 11 and 12. Though awareness of tobacco’s negative effects are rising, the number of child and teenage users hasn’t dropped.

Though it is not widely recognized, the media has much to do with this by specifically targeting youth audiences in their advertisements.

“The tobacco and alcohol industries publicly maintain that they do not adver-

REPORTER

by

(the mascot for Camel cigarettes) was as recognizable as the Disney channel logo.

This brand awareness leads to more than just recognition of products. Research shows that the advertising and marketing of tobacco – despite the industry’s claims that their advertisements are only aimed at adults – contribute to youth smoking.

This same research shows that advertising is especially effective when it portrays using tobacco as a normal activity and associates it with sex appeal and glamour.

One such way of glamorizing tobacco to children is evident in the candy market.

Wrigley’s product “Big League Chew,” with the slogan “The Ballplayers’ Bubble Gum,” is modeled after the chewing tobacco baseball players are known for.

The introduction of fruity flavored ciga-

consumers about health risks of smoking.

Kessler also prohibited tobacco companies from conveying health messages, and required tobacco companies to make corrective statements about health risks smoking and secondhand smoke pose and their “deceptive practices through newspaper and television advertising, their web sites and as part of cigarette packaging.”

If children fail to be drawn in, the industry has tactics to entice the teenage population as well.

“The tobacco industry frames smoking as an ‘adult activity,’” “Stop the Sale, Prevent the Addiction”, a video released by the Department of Health and Human Services says. “This is an extremely effective strategy. First, adult activities are by definition attractive to many young people.

Second, this strategy lumps smoking in

Products on the market such as flavored cigarettes and chewing tobacco-esque bubble gum tempt preteens and teens to dabble in tobacco use

“A big problem for us is kids chewing (tobacco) and throwing it on the ceiling or down the toilet,” Facilities Office Manager Lucy Mathena said.

The custodial staff must first try to clean chew off walls with standard spray bottles and cloths, but if that doesn’t work, they have to scrape it off with putty knives.

“Sometimes we have to use Spitfire,” sub-custodian Janna Wilks said. “It’s the strongest solvent cleaner we use.”

Tobacco litter affects more than just the bathrooms though; cigarette butts can be found all over the parking lots alongside empty chew cans and half-full spit bottles. Outside, near the gym, certain pillars have been repeatedly marked, apparently for target practice, with chew spit-wads. Even the occasional stairwell in the school has been hit with brownblack spray.

“Why can’t we catch that?” Mathena asked. “It makes no sense.”

Source: NoStankYou.com

· is as addictive as cigarettes · infects the body with about twice as much nicotine as smoking a cigarette · is linked to receding gums and leads to excessive cavities · contains 23 cancer-causing agents · can cause oral lesions

Chewing tobacco:

· causes yellow teeth and bad breath · causes premature aging of skin and lungs · can cause infected or dirty lungs · causes discoloration of the fingernails · can cause hairy tongue · can cause Asthma or other respiratory problems

Smoking cigarettes:

Though many choose to ignore health risks of their tobacco endeavors, it may be time for reconsideration ...

uses chewing tobacco. To most, tobacco use is not a problem even when it reaches school, and despite district regulations to the contrary, it continues to affect ER’s image and sanitary condition.

ER has seen a decrease in tobacco use and tobacco related incidents, as seen by administration in the last year.

“I actually think there’s been a decrease,” Assistant Principal Troy Hodge said. “I just haven’t seen as much in the halls and around the school.”

Students, however, attest that tobacco use is on the rise.

“A lot of kids brag that they’re doing it and say that they’re (smoking or chewing),” senior Steven Cruz said. “Every time I go into the bathroom, there’s chew on the sinks or in the toilets.”

At custodial discretion, certain upstairs bathrooms have repeatedly been closed due to vandalism which has included tobacco products being strewn across floors, walls, sinks and on the ceiling.

The growing practice of tobacco use and increased vandalism of facilities jeopardizes both the reputation and sanitation of the school as a whole

er lacking responsibility

media luring adolescents

focus 14

what's the big deal?

rettes and chew reach ever further out to children. Piña Colada flavored cigarettes called “Kauai Kolada” and citrus flavored “Twista Lime” are only two of the many available flavors.

While these practices have not been banned, a court case against the tobacco industry presided over by U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler banned terms including: ‘low tar,’ ‘light,’ ‘ultra light,’ ‘mild’ and ‘natural,’ which were used to mislead

4. Attempt psychotherapy treatments:

and inhalers allow a low, steady flow of nicotine to enter the bloodstream, and ease withdrawals. If product guidelines are followed, nicotine cravings can completely disappear in as little as two to four weeks.

Sources: Hypnotic World, NetDoctor, Quitline, Surgeon General, and Tooele County Health Department Web sites

Aversion therapy and hypnotism have proven valid solutions to kick the habit in past health studies. Aversion therapy Individual or group counseling can uses behavioral approach principles better chances of quitting. Having to outlaw addiction through negative personal support can be a helpful stimulants – such as shock treatments. solution during difficult times. Many Persons undergoing aversion therapy hospitals and health care centers offer are instructed to think about their programs that will suffice as the support undesirable habit while the negative a person needs. Call a local health stimulants are applied, in an effort to department for more information associate the habit with negativity. about programs in the area.

Hypnosis on the other hand, alters state of a persons mind, making 3. Use various medications to the them more susceptible to suggestion. ease away the habit: Hypnosis offers a benefit that other There are several types of medication programs and medications do not that can be purchased at any local drug – the power of positive thinking to store to help stop addiction. Nicotine strengthen and determine them to gum as well as patches, nasal sprays, stop using.

2. Seek the help of a counselor or check into a program:

Over 100,000 people have called Washington’s Tobacco Quit Line. A quitting coach will be provided to all callers and will provide them with easy-to-follow materials that will help in taking control of the quitting process.

Call toll free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

1. Call a tobacco hotline:

if you or someone you know is abusing tobacco, consider the following options ...

-Lucy Mathena, Facilities Office Manager

-Troy Hodge, Assistant Principal

“Unless they’re just blatantly throwing it in our face, we don’t sped a whole lot of time on to-bacco.”

Source: TeensHealth Web site

of all Americans who use chewing tobacco are under 21.

33%

Even with the many “tobacco free zone” signs around campus, tobacco has been, and still is, a commonly used substance among students.

“It’s the same as when I was in high school,” security guard Rick Burnley said.

Those were the days of cigarettes and smoking sections at schools. Now, chew tobacco is becoming more popular due to the fact that it is easier to hide and use in school.

The student handbook states that a first offence of using tobacco will result in discipline.

According to the same handbook, it states the following disciplines could be issued: A three-day suspension from school, a parent or guardian to be notified of the offense and the action taken, a satisfactory conference to be held regarding the violation, and a citation by law enforcement may be issued. Also, enrollment in a district approved tobacco cessation clinic or diversion option may be substituted in lieu of suspension. This differs slightly from what administration actually does.

“There will be a confiscation, a talk and sometimes a Tuesday school because they’re usually skipping when they do it,” Assistant Principal

JOSH JOYCE

REPORTER

by

Source: American Lung Association Web site

adolescents under 18 start smoking.

6,000

Each day, nearly

Troy Hodge said. “It’s a double problem.”

A Tobacco Intervention Education and Support (TIES) class was also part of the punishment for students caught using tobacco in the past.

“We’re having trouble getting that lined up this year,” Hodge said. “We don’t have the funding for it.”

As for the suspension, Hodge said it usually doesn’t get that far. This is all due to a factor of time and resources.

“It would be nice if we had more time,” Hodge said. “Unless they’re just blatantly throwing it in our face, we don’t spend a whole lot of time on tobacco.”

With tobacco being an addiction and the legal age being that of about a senior in high school, the consequences do not usually change the habits of a tobacco user.

“We do our best to educate kids on tobacco use. A lot of student’s parents know,” Burnley said. “We just try to keep it off campus.”

Of legal age or not, tobacco laws and school policies do not change in any case of tobacco use on campus. A citation of up to $500 can also be given to any person using tobacco on or in sight of school grounds before, during or after school hours depending on the decision of the judge.

Though disciplinary action is taken if students are caught using tobacco, administration finds little or no time to enforce policies

PRACTICE OVERLOOKED

with many other adult activities, such as making one’s own choices, which are not inherently harmful.

“The tobacco industry has identified the ‘forbidden fruit’ appeal as an important factor in adolescent experimentation with smoking. Youth access policies should not promote the status of smoking as the forbidden fruit, which is much more attractive to rebellious youth.”

“A big problem for us is kids chewing and throwing it on the ceiling or down the toilet.”

tise or promote their products to children or adolescents,” the American Psychological Association (APA) website says, “yet evidence strongly suggests that both are exposed to and influenced by ads for tobacco and alcohol products.” Children are more susceptible to these advertisements because they lack the cognitive skills and abilities of their older counterparts.

A 1991 study done by the APA involving 6 year olds showed that Joe Camel

need some help quitting?

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excuse my breathing habits

Staff member discusses the current tobacco trend surrounding Emerald Ridge, and how it effects both the health and mentality of students who do not use these substances I’m not sure if anyone has noticed the increase in tobacco use around Emerald Ridge, but I have. The effect of tobacco is too dangerous for my health to be using only to look cool, Devin Floyd or whatever the practical Commentary use of tobacco supposedly is. But apparently some of my classmates don’t feel the same.

This is why I’ve never understood tobacco addicts. The idea of spending money on something that gives nothing in return except diseases is ludicrous. But the part that gets to me the most is by using tobacco near me there is a chance it will be harm me as well.

Secondhand smoke has surfaced in the past decade as a high risk to non-smokers, affecting anyone in contact with smoke. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, an estimated 42 percent of the US population smokes, and approximately 3,900 high school students try their first cigarette every day. With this in mind, you can imagine that this is a concern for nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke is a problem, worrying millions of people around the world,

and only continues to be a pest for everyone who doesn’t enjoy blackening their lungs.

I don’t mind if people smoke, I just don’t take pleasure in having tobacco byproducts blown in my face. Along with this, I don’t enjoy stepping over chewing tobacco left on the sidewalks of what was once a clean school.

Chewing tobacco has suddenly become the thing to do at ER. I have no clue why anyone uses chewing tobacco, but people must have their reasons. Chewing tobacco gives off two to three times the nicotine that smoking a cigarette does, and contains 28 cancer-causing agents. The growing popularity at ER has been noticed, from water bottles filled with chew spit in the parking lot, to countless dips that plaster the pillars outside. Can’t we just put it in the garbage can? Is it that hard? Oh, I forgot, you wouldn’t be cool. We wouldn’t want to have your peers thinking lowly of you now would we? I’m sure in another 10 years when you have lip cancer everyone will think you’re the coolest guy in town.

So please tobacco addicts of ER, be more civilized. Throw the dip in the garbage can and stay in your car when you smoke. It’s the frame of mind users have that creates conflict. If it

wasn’t for the fact that I get smoke blown in my face daily, and step in chew dips in the parking lot, I wouldn’t get frustrated with its users. It’s that most tobacco users impose their habits upon me that sets me off. I shouldn’t have to deal with someone else’s choice. It seems the war between smokers and nonsmokers will never end. It will once smokers figure out a civilized way of feeding their habit, and that needs to start now.

an irresistible craving

Use of minimal tobacco regulates pleasure in the brain, causing both newcomers and regular users to become addicted by

MIMI SISON

COPY MANAGER

Addiction is a brain disease; couple that with nicotine and we have one serious illness alive and well in society.

What is nicotine?

In natural function, nicotine protects tobacco plants from insects. It is what John Polito, editor and founder of WhyQuit.com, describes as a “super toxin that, drop for drop, is more lethal than strychnine or diamondback rattlesnake venom, and three times deadlier than arsenic.”

Despite its deadly potential, nicotine remains a tobacco component, which more than 57 million people currently indulge in, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

What is addiction?

According to Alan Leshner, MD, addiction is “the uncontrollable, compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences.”

The birth of chemical addiction begins within eight seconds of the first puff. The National Institute on Drug Abuse contends that during that time, nicotine travels to the brain and gains control over the flow of over 200 neurochemicals, organic molecules that participate in brain activity.

Nicotine then activates reward pathways in the brain that regulate pleasure. Within another two seconds of inhalation,

focus 16

acute effects and feelings of reward derived from nicotine dissolve, leaving smokers wanting more to maintain these feelings and subconsciously prevent withdrawal.

What are the brain’s defenses?

The main reason nicotine gains control over the brain is because of structural similarities between it and acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for conducting neurochemicals in the body. As “acetylcholine,” nicotine passes through unhindered chemical locks.

To defend itself against toxins, the brain conducts defense activities that leave people dependent on nicotine.

With protective measures in place, any attempts by smokers to stop will leave their dopamine reward system, mood circuitry, and nervous system temporarily desensitized.

How do people overcome addiction?

“It is essential to understand when dealing with addicts that we are dealing with individuals whose brains have been altered by drug use,” Leshner said. “They need drug addiction treatment.”

There is no magic cure to help a smoker quit. Individuals who abuse nicotine need behavioral therapy as well as biomedical treatment in order to salvage what is left of their personal autonomy.

“It may not always be easy but it is simple,” Polito said.

“There was always only one rule: no nicotine today.”

FEATURE

everybody has a story Desig e m nin a e a g t e m a ti gh n o is future by

KAITLIN CLARK

REPORTER

Sophomore Jake Lunde is not just your average football playing jock. He is also a video gaming, church-going, redheaded comedian who loves his family and friends.

He has specific goals and a planned future ahead of him.

“Jake is very well rounded,” said Barbara Lunde, Jake’s mother. “I tried to raise him to always do the right thing, be a good person and have a sense of humor.”

In his leisure time, Lunde likes to play video games with his best friends. He is also incorporating his love for video games and technology as a part of his future goals.

“I want to invent and help design video games,” Lunde said. He also includes other interests in his life by filming and editing videos for his church.

After he graduates in 2010, Lunde plans on attending DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Wash. Lunde’s friends and family have supported and encouraged him in his future interests.

Lunde is a strong believer in Christianity. It has helped him become the person he is today.

“I’ve been going to church for as long as I can remember,” Lunde said. “It motivates me to be a good person.”

However, Lunde’s life hasn’t been all fun and video games. In sixth grade, one of his best friends, Christian Pellegrini, moved out of state with his family.

“It’s something a lot of kids go through, but I was pretty depressed,” Lunde said.

Christian and Jake were best friends since elementary and were very close. Christian recently moved back to live with his older brother and currently attends Emerald Ridge as well.

“Me and Christian dominate at Guitar Hero,” Lunde said.

Even though his main interest is technology, Lunde also has a love for football.

He suited up with the varsity team and also played JV. Lunde has been playing football since he was eight, and he has also played for Sumner Valley, and Ferrucci Junior High.

“Football has taught me teamwork, which is very useful inlife,” he said.

Jake hangs out and interacts with all different kinds of people. “ I ’ m p ro ud

that Jake can get along with anyone from any social group,” Barbara Lunde said. “Jake hangs out with anyone from football players to ‘emo’ kids.”

“Once, when Jake was little, we went to help out at the Special Olympics and Jake was mistaken for one of the athletes,” Barbara Lunde said as she laughed along with Jake.

Jake’s sense of humor allows him to laugh at himself sometimes.

Jake Lunde loves his family and friends.

He is known for his sense of humor and keeps everyone laughing.

“I get my sense of humor from my mom,” Lunde said.

Jake Lunde lives at home with his parents, his older brother and his beagle, Copper.

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SPORTS

Working for more than pins by

DALLAS M. WELKER

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jaguar wrestling began its season with minds set on building character, improving academics and building champions. Coach Jim Meyerhoff hopes to create student athletes who are positive influences in the school and community.

Despite the Jaguar wrestling team’s opening loss, improvements shown in the double duel match have Jags working towards another successful season.

Jag wrestling faced a disappointing loss at the Titan Takedown Tournament at Beamer on Nov. 27. They placed 7th out of 8 teams, defeating Franklin Pierce.

“We didn’t wrestle our best,” Meyerhoff said.

Performance at the takedown tournament revealed what improvements still needed to be made.

“We need to work on setting up our shots better, finishing, controlling our opponents and not just kind of diving in,” Meyerhoff said.

Eligibility was a factor that kept the Jags from reaching their full potential. Inadequate grades, not enough practices, and athletes at wrong weights are hindering the development of a full line-up.

Meyerhoff hopes to have all eligibility problems solved for their match up against Beamer.

After a rocky initial start, the Jags redeemed themselves when hosting a double dual against Mt. Tahoma and Sumner.

The Jags crushed Mt. Tahoma with a final score of 63-12 giving up only two forfeits to Mt. Tahoma.

Pins for Emerald Ridge included: senior Jason Iliff in the 215-pound weight class, seniors Nick Tennison (130), Andy Martinez (140), Kameron Munroe (160), junior Nathan Martinez (152), and sophomore Tom Halsey (171). Senior Gabe Webber (145) won by technical fall.

ER beat Sumner with a final score of 44-11.

Pins for the Jags against the Spartans included, seniors

Andy Martinez (145) and Erik Halsey (189).

“We finished through on our pins,” Erik Halsey said. “When men were on their back we didn’t let them up. We wrestled smart and we kept our composure.”

During the first week of practice coaches Meyerhoff and Fredrikson decided to spend two days off the mats not wanting to take the risk of spreading staph infections.

“It was early enough in the year that we could do that,” Meyerhoff said.

All floor mats were bleached, along with wall mats. Mats are washed daily for overall cleanliness and to decrease any chances of infection or skin problems.

Another way to ensure health in the athletes was dehydration testing. Dehydration testing is a nationwide program that has been implemented in Washington State this year.

The test is used to determine the lowest safe wrestling weight for an individual based on their body-fat percent.

Wrestlers are only allowed to lose a certain amount of weight each week (the amount of weight varies for each wrestler) until they are at their optimum wrestling weight.

Apple Physical Therapy determined the optimum weight for each wrestler by examining a urine sample and measuring their body fat percent. The dehydration test ensures that wrestlers are not dehydrating themselves in order to lose weight. This program has been put into practice above all to keep wresters healthy and safe.

“It’s not fair to everyone,” junior Mikey Pewitt (125), who is out because of a knee injury, said. “Not everyone has 7% body fat which is the minimum requirement.”

The Jags lost key senior wrestlers like state placers John Gallagher (152) and Kevin Wills (145), and state alternate Ryan Kusche (171). Regardless of these losses to the team, Meyerhoff sees positive senior leadership.

“Right now we have eight to ten strong senior leaders on the team,” Meyerhoff said.

Nick Tennisen (130) pinned his Mt. Tahoma opponent Kevin Rampp.

Seniors are continuing to show leadership which will become more apparent as the season progresses. Captains have yet to be determined.

The Jags face Beamer on Dec. 6 and Meyerhoff is shooting for success.

“I think we’ll be able to win the upper weights,” Meyerhoff said. “Close in the middle, in the lower weights, they might win a couple, so it will be a close one. I think we can beat them by 15 or 16.”

Results from Beamer were not available as of press time.

New coach seeks positive changes for swim team by

LINDSAY NOLAN

REPORTER

New coach Nathan Jendrick and assistant coach Zack Bregal lead the boys swim team this season, replacing former coaches Ray Belleza and Lorri Stoyles. Jendrick and Bregal are changing the system and working hard to create a successful team.

“I got a lot of feedback about the previous coach from the swimmers,” Jendrick said. “Before, they weren’t being taught much technique. I want to change that so the swimmers have more knowledge about all four strokes and become better swimmers as a whole.”

Jendrick has had experience with water

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sports since he was a junior in high school during water polo season and continued his swimming career from there on out. He was an assistant coach two years ago for a swim team but this is his first year of being a head coach.

“I was excited to apply for the job when the opportunity came about,” Jendrick said.

“There are new things I have wanted to change with the program and this was the perfect time to take the chance.”

Bregal is assisting Jendrick in coaching.

He has no experience coaching swim but coached water polo for three years prior to this.

“I am here more to have fun and be with

the swimmers,” Bregal said.

Several swimmers to look out for during the season include senior Ryan Renggli in the 100-yard backstroke and freshman Tanner Kuestermeyer from Ferrucci in the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freeystyle. Kuestermeyer is also a club swimmer and has been swimming most of his life.

Renggli suffered a collapsed lung injury his sophomore year and competed most of that season injured. He was still able to compete at state and take fifth place overall in the 100-yard backstroke.

“I didn’t think anything that bad was wrong with me,” Renggli said. “After racing a lot in club and stuff I finally realized some-

thing was wrong and that maybe I should go get checked out.”

Renggli took his junior year off of high school swim to let his body recover from the injury. Coming back this season, fully recovered, he hopes to make it far in competitions and build a strong team that can work well swimming together.

“It’s my senior year and I decided I really want to represent Emerald Ridge my last year,” Renggli said. “I have strong competition (in the 100-yard backstroke), but I’d love to try and bring home the first Emerald Ridge state title this year.”

New coaches and a larger team helped the boys have gained a positive outlook.

SPORTS

Boys basketball optimistic Overcoming the fact that many talented seniors graduated last year, the team has new players stepping up and a hopeful outlook on the upcoming season. by

LAUREN SMITH

EDITORIAL BOARD

Despite a slow 1-3 start, the boys basketball team looks to capitalize on offense this season with a well-balanced line-up, as well as a tight-knit group of players.

“There’s a lot of team chemistry this year, because a lot of us are great friends,” junior guard Michael Guimond said.

“We feel a lot more comfortable because we have a good idea of where people are going to be and when they’re going to be there.”

Even with the graduation of last season’s key seniors – such as guard Torey Wambold, who was named first team all-league, and forward Bryn Allen, named second team allleague – the Jags have no issue filling in the losses.

“Nothing needs to be filled in, we have good guys who could’ve played those positions last year but didn’t,” senior center Joey Williamson said. “We have a lot of good newcomers who are stepping up.”

After a rough 6-12 overall finish last season, the Jags seek to attack opponents with a more balanced offense. This has already taken effect in the first few games.

“The fact that five guys are a threat to score a lot of the time has been a positive factor,” coach Ben Muehlenbruch said. “They go out there and take better shots so they have a legitimate chance to score every time down the court.”

The Jags suffered a close loss to Stadium on Nov. 26, 61-67, but played an even four-quarter game – barring an inadequate nine points scored in the second quarter.

“We had a good lead after the first quarter,” junior guard Colby Williams said. “After that, we let up on defense a little, and thought we didn’t have to play as hard.”

On Nov. 28, the Jags claimed victory over Jefferson 7168, averaging almost 18 points per quarter. The Jags were led by Williams – who transferred from Rogers at the end of the last school year to join the aviation program here at ER–with 16 points.

“He’s added to the team because he’s a constant player,” Guimond said, considering Williams’ 14.5-point average per game so far. “We always know what we’re going to get out of him and where he’s going to be.”

A tough loss was recorded on Nov. 30 against Stanwood, 34-74. Another was suffered on Dec. 4 to Bethel 58-74. After a slow first quarter of only eight points, the Jags played a solid game, but the height and depth of Bethel’s line-up was too tough to stop.

“Down the stretch we had the potential to make it a close game,” Muehlenbruch said. “They had good possessions, and we had some that were not so good, and that made the difference.”

Photo by Lauren Smith

In addition to a balanced offense, the Jags are also benefiting from past experience and time spent on the court.

“This year one of the differences is that I’ve had more time to work on how I want these guys to play,” Muehlenbruch said. “Having summer league with the guys made quite an impact because they know how to do more, and the learning curve isn’t so high because they remember a lot of the things from last year.”

Also, the addition of assistant coach – and close friend of Muehlenbruch – Tyce Nasinek has proved a welcome and positive step for the Jags. Nasinek was named the most valuable player in SPSL basketball twice during his time at Rogers, and was an all-area player at Central Washington University in later years.

“He has volunteered to help us out this year,” Muehlenbruch said. “The cool part about Tyce is that he has been a Division II assistant basketball coach at Central for the past few years. So, when he moved back over here he wanted to stay involved and help out, and the knowledge he brings has been an asset.”

With a glance at the roster, it is obvious that the varsity team consists solely of juniors and seniors, and the JV of sophomores. According to Guimond, this is part of a strategy the coaches have to continue building the team in a positive direction in the coming years.

“The depth of the roster now is not permanent; the coaches re-evaluate after six games to see who goes where,” Guimond said. “That’s part of the reason JV is all sophomores, because the coaches want to build them for the future.”

Overall, the team seeks to always be moving in a positive direction, and playing with intelligence to achieve such.

“The most important thing for us to do is take care of the basketball and get the most out of every possession, because we need to play efficient basketball if we’re going to compete,” Muehlenbruch said.

Muehlenbruch has set legitimate goals for the team to this effect.

“First, I expect to go out and compete every night with the thought that we can beat any team on any night,” Muehlenbruch said. “The second goal is to make postseason play, and I think that is a realistic goal.”

Senior Todd French prepares for a shot at the Dec. 4 ERHS vs. Bethel game.

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19

SPORTS

Prospective hopes for girls basketball this season Coach and team confident that with ample practice and attention to defensive game, the girls can come out on top by

BRIAN SVOBODA

REPORTER

Although they are off to a slow start with an overall record of 0-2 and a younger group of players, the potential for a successful season lies within the girls basketball team.

Their first game was against Thomas Jefferson – who competed at the state tournament last year – on Nov. 27, and resulted in a 29-69 loss.

“At first we weren’t as serious as we should have been,” senior captain Kaitlyn Stoltenberg said.

Coach Greg Farias attributes the performance in the game

to be relatively due to defensive efforts.

“Our lack of physically tough rebounding hurt us,” Farias said. “We saw some things we had seen in practice and some things that we had not.”

The team played then played in two non-league games where they showed progress and improvement.

On Nov. 31 the Jags lost to Yelm 51-81, and were led by junior Shannon Byrne with 18 points. They lost their next game at Bonney Lake on Dec. 1, 39-57. They improved from a scoring standpoint – losing by 40 to Thomas Jefferson, 30 against Yelm and only 18 versus Bonney Lake.

The next game was on Dec. 4 against Bethel, and culminated in a 26-67 loss for the Jags.

Despite the Jags lacking performance in their first few games of the season, Farias thinks that their cohesiveness as team is improving.

“It seems that right now they collectively get along better at this time,” Farias said. “They are very receptive to new

members and coaches.”

Farias is confident that even though the team is young this year with only two seniors playing – Stoltenberg and Samantha Moss – there are still many talented players.

“The major question will be whether we can play defense,” Farias said.

Farias believes that one of the team’s greatest strengths is height, but thinks that their presence on the court can be improved.

“They have to play tall physical,” Farias said. “If they play both then they will dominate.”

He also cited the team’s new sophomores as determining factors in their performance for this year, considering them a great asset to the team.

The girls basketball team, along with their coach, are certain that with practice and determination they can bring their season to a successful end.

Big turnout helps wrestling by

TESSA TORRES

REPORTER

Confidence and preparation are key ingredients for success in this year’s girls’ wrestling team of thirteen.

“We have a lot of good girls this year who are really talented; and we have a bigger team than most schools,” said senior Madeline Hyatt, a second-year member of the team.

The girls have benefited this season by having their own coach, security officer Cathy Wicker.

Wrestling coaches Jim Meyerhoff and Craig Fredrikson discussed Wicker’s joining the coaching staff because Wicker is knowledgeable of the sport after having three sons who were involved in wrestling. This is Wicker’s first year coaching a team.

“My family’s been really supportive throughout this experience,” Wicker said.

She is looking forward to learning together with her team.

“Some goals for this season are to have the basic fundamentals learned at least,” Wicker said. “Also, I would like to give the girls a stronger desire for the sport than they started with.”

With six more girls than they had last season – along with returning seniors, Hyatt, Leah Welch and Samantha Caldwell – the girls’ primary focus is building up from the bottom.

20 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

“Most of the matches went well.” Hyatt said looking back at the previous season.

“There was also not as many duals as we wanted, which was hard.”

Since this is only the second year of the girls’ wrestling program, the excitement for this year’s season is building, along with its team members.

“I’m really excited for the first match and to see how the other girls will do,” Hyatt said. “I’m also excited to see a bond of

friendship come through our team.”

A majority of the wrestlers had the chance to attend a wrestling summer camp in Leavenworth, WA at the end of July, which has proven beneficial for a few of the girls.

“Camp was a great way to get to know the guys better,” Hyatt said. “It was also a lot of fun.”

“I’m just excited to be in a few matches,” said sophomore Lauren Cross, a new member of the wrestling team. “I’m also looking for-

ward to proving myself this season (among the team).”

Wicker is excited for this year and awaits the outcome of this season.

“This next season I see the wrestling program building in relationships among the boys and girls teams,” Wicker said.

“I hope that I can look back on these years as the time when I was a part of something very special. So far I have yet to be disappointed.”

Sophomore Cindi Nordheim took second place in her weight class at the girls and JV boys tournement hosted by Emerald Ridge on Dec. 1.

Photo by Lauren Smith

SPORTS

Adequate start for bowling Bowling attributes recent sucess to positive attitudes and skill resulting from experience by

BRIANNA LANTZ

REPORTER

With standout players, a new coach and a 2-2 record, the girls bowling team is expecting to improve throughout the season and establish themselves as a team to watch.

In the first match of the year versus Spanaway Lake, the girls came away with a 5-0 win. However, they did not pull through against Graham-Kapowsin in their second match, losing 5-0.

“We were down 204 pins (from the first match), and left a lot of open frames,” coach and athletics director Dell Dittus said. “We just didn’t bowl as well as we could have.”

The girls were defeated by Puyallup on Nov. 15 by a score of 0-5.

“We tried our best and I’m not disappointed in our performance because Puyallup is a tough team to beat,” junior Anna Edwards said.

ER redeemed itself when they defeated Rogers 3-2, winning by one pin on Nov. 19.

“I think we had really positive attitudes,” junior Kerrianne Davidson said. “When one frame didn’t go well we didn’t get down on ourselves.”

Senior Rhiannon Hughes has once again proved herself one of ER’s top bowlers. After placing 35th at state last year, she hopes to continuously improve her averages and qualify for state again.

“Before our first game, my average was 174,” Hughes said.

“That’s exciting, and I hope to keep that up and improve on it throughout the season.”

Ferrucci freshman Shannon Dexter and Stahl freshman Allison McCormack have also established themselves as emerging talents. McCormack holds a notable personal record of 246, while Dexter has achieved a 264.

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Junior Kerrianne Davidson, with an average score of 134, bowled a 157 and 158 in the game against Rogers Nov. 19, ending in a win of 3-2.

After beating two out of three pro bowlers in the proam tournament this summer, Dexter is currently the team’s number one bowler, and a likely state competitor.

“I competed in the pro-am tournament, where local pros compete against juniors,” Dexter said. “I beat my old record of 248, and now I hope to get a 300.”

Even with the valuable talents of gifted bowlers, the girls are adjusting to the difficult change of a new coach. Former ER teacher and coach Matt Mueller transferred to Edgemont

Junior High to coach wrestling. Athletic director Dell Dittus is the current coach until a permanent one can be found.

“My intent is to continue into the season now that I’ve started,” Dittus said.

The players are handling the situation with confidence and are performing satisfactorily despite the challenge.

“I think we are doing well adjusting to a new coach after Mueller left,” Edwards said. “Sure, it’s tough, but we can handle it.”

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volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

21

- Whitney Sidor Athlete of the month

How long have you been doing gymnastics? Dive?

Gymnastics: For 14 years. I did club for 14 years and then started doing school gymnastics my freshman year. Dive: I just started dive in August for the first time.

Are you in club for either sport?

Gymnastics: I’m taking a break from club gymnastics, but I’m going to be starting back up at Puget Sound Gymnastics; I did club for 14 years though.

Dive: I just do school for dive, but I’m thinking about starting to do it at King County Aquatics Center.

How do you keep in shape during the offseason?

I workout at the YMCA, PSG, and I run a lot on my own time too.

Personal Records Gymnastics -placed in Regional 2 years in a row -Regional vault champion 2 years in a row Dive -top 3 the whole season -got 3rd once Both -went to state in both sports for school

What is your inspiration?

It’s something I started when I was three, I was never really good.

I had a coach, she always told me I had huge potential even though I wasn’t good. We became good friends. Also, I had a coach named Emily Prichard; she said I remind her of her and she became top gymnasts at the University of Washington.

My mom would always tell me I would get out what I put in, Gymnastics was just my passion, it still is.

What goes though your mind before a meet?

I do a lot of meditation, just visual meditation. I never go in with high expectations, I know I’m an average person, and I just do my best. I talk a lot too and I talk to people even when I don’t know them. To calm myself down, I pray.

What is the worst injury you have ever suffered?

I popped my knee cap out of its socket. Last year I did it again before the season and was out for four months. Now I have tendonitis.

What steps did you take for rehabilitation?

I had a lot of physical therapy. I had 4 different doctors and different opinions on what was wrong. It was hard to go to physical therapy when you don’t know what to fix. I went to it for six months and just started working on skills again.

What is your favorite event in gymnastics and why? In Dive?

Gymnastics: I really like bars. It’s extremely different from the rest. You can’t tumble on bars. It’s the most challenging and most rewarding. You have to learn all different skills. Dive: Double front is my favorite dive because I worked so hard and every meet I landed on my flat on my back and then on the last two, I landed it. I was a big accomplishment for me, and it looked cool.

What is your greatest memory at ER for gymnastics? Dive?

Gymnastics: When we placed first at one of our home meets for gymnastics, and at districts, when we almost made it to state as a team. We were one point off. Dive: All the practices and state.

What is your greatest accomplishment for gymnastics? Dive?

Gymnastics: I could never do a back hand spring on beam and this season for club I worked on it and got to Western’s with it. Beam was my highest score. Dive: Making it to state; I didn’t even expect to go to districts.

What are your goals for high school for gym? Dive?

Gymnastics: We want to go to state as a team, get the sportsmanship award, and for each competitor to compete in one more event then last year. Dive: I want to make state again, hopefully place in the top six or finals.

22 Photos by Ashley Vincent

NEWS

Fall Sports Follow-Ups Varsity Volleyball On Nov. 3, Varsity Volleyball attended districts after a 6-8 season. The lady jags played two games, both of which they lost. Their first game was against Kentwood, ending with a score of 0-3, and their second game was against Gig Harbor, also ending in 0-3. “We just couldn’t finish the game,” junior Lauren Barron said.

Girls Swim The girls swim team sent senior Lindsay Nolan to state at the end of the season after she placed 20th in the 100-yard freestyle in the Nov. 9 meet. “This score was tenths away to my personal best time,” Nolan said. “I am glad I was able to represent Emerald Ridge my senior year, hopefully the rest of the girls can step it up and make it in a relay next year.”

placed 7th and 8th, respectively. On Nov.9, the dive team sent Sidor and Miller to state. Sidor placed 21st and Miller placed 23rd. All three girls are returning next year.

Boys Water Polo Struggling at state, Boys Water Polo was one of four seeds. They lost to Wilson and Enumclaw.

After a few injuries and illnesses, they played against Auburn Riverside and, unfortunately, Cross Country lost to them as well. Hopes are set high for next Girls Dive Boys cross country was able to send one member to state finals on Nov. 2. Junior Kevin Girls dive had a decent season sending all year’s season with only four seniors leaving.

Thomson attended the finals competing well but three members to districts. Districts were held not as good as he had hoped. “It was one of my on Oct. 19. Junior Whitney Sidor placed 4th and worst races,” Thomson said. sophomores Tad Miller and Kimmy Johnstone -Kristin Anderson

Gymnastics shoots for state and more team spirit Self motivation and set goals prepare the Jag gymnasts for the season by

MEGAN ALBERT

REPORTER

After a strong finish last season, the gymnastics team has come out fresh and with a ton of excitement. Their main goal: to make it to state as a team, and with more conditioning and preparation, the girls are ready to go out and compete against the other high schools.

“We have so much potential this year

as long as we stay healthy and uninjured,” coach Bobbi Jones said.

Last year, juniors Brianna Howe and Whitney Sidor competed at state along with sophomore Taylor Wesenberg. Howe placed third in state in the all-around competition while Sidor placed 12th on bars and 13th on vault, barely missing the finals. Wesenberg, then a freshman, competed well, placing 49th in vault and 37th in bars. All three athletes are returning to the team this year.

“The team is way smaller this year than last year,” Wesenberg said. “But we have a lot of potential.”

With only twelve competitors, the team may be lacking in numbers, but they aren’t lacking experience or focus.

“We’re all determined to work hard,” junior Whitney Sidor said. “And there are a lot of goals that we have for each other this season.”

Among these goals is to win the ‘Team Spirit’ award at state, and to surprise the other teams in the league as they come out prepared and fired up.

“This year the girls are very self motivated,” coach Chris Rowan said. “They want to improve themselves and that is a big deal,

especially on a small team.”

The gymnastics team has improved immensely in the past few years, and coming off of a third place finish at districts last year to rivals Puyallup and Rogers, the team has an overall goal of making it to state this season.

“I’ve been on the team since my ninth grade year and there’s been so much improvement since then,” Sidor said. “I’m really excited to see what we can accomplish this year.”

Information for the first meet on Dec. 5 was not available at the time of press.

volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

23

A&E

“Rimers of Eldritch” sets new standard for drama by

KATIE KREMPL

REPORTER

This year’s fall play, “The Rimers of Eldritch”, set a new level of theatrics at Emerald Ridge. The event was held Nov. 15 through the 17.

“It’s definitely an AP level play,” senior cast member Mikaela Bates said.

Unlike any other play performed at ER, this production required the entire cast to remain present on the stage at all times. The multiple scenes were performed on different sections of the stage. These scenes also coincided with various time periods, allowing the clarity of the plot to finally surface at the end.

The script itself was found to be difficult in several aspects. Those viewing the play were expected to keep an attentive focus on the events of the play in order to gain full understanding.

“The play made you think and made your brain hurt–in a good way,” senior Madeline Hyatt said.

Senior TJ Hart described the script as “hard to convey to other people,” but says he was pleased about how the audience reacted on opening night to the different events.

There were specific reservations as to how the audience would grasp the concept of the production.

“The Rimers of Eldritch is a poetic piece used to help understand the fundamentals of poetry,” drama teacher Steve Glass said.

Overall the play was a success according to Glass, who was very pleased with the cast’s performance and surprised about the attention the play received.

Far left: Senior Scott Woodruff as the judge. Left: Sophomore Lauren Waldorf as Lena and junior Kristen Steenbeeke as Patsy discuss Patsy’s marriage plans.

Lower left: Sophomore Aili Jordan plays cafe owner Cora with her lover Walter, played by junior Matt Showacy. Below: Junior Jenny Walling (Eva) tells of her love for autumn to Robert, played by juniorJay Girard.

Despite lack of plot, “Prep” surprises with depth by

KRISTEN STEENBEEKE

REPORTER

Though Curtis Sittenfeld insists otherwise, her novel “Prep” has been described as more of an autobiography than a work of fiction.

The novel offers such a poignant and insightful look into the life of the protagonist, Lee Fiora, that it appears as if Sittenfeld experienced Fiora’s life firsthand.

Soft-spoken and inherently awkward, Fiora spends four years stumbling through Ault School, attempting to understand the intricacies of boarding school life. When she arrives in Massachusetts from her hometown in Indiana on a scholarship, she realizes the drastic choice she made by choosing boarding school–a school of students whose egos rival the sizes of their trust funds.

Though many authors that write for teens tend to rely on the use of clichés and surfacelevel analysis, Sittenfeld constructs a charac-

24 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

ter that is neither the alpha-popular-girl nor the overly dramatized “geek.” She is simply Lee Fiora, the average high school girl.

Her experiences are described in such an honest way that readers can’t help but nod understandingly as Fiora expresses her feelings. However, the distinct lack of a plot will leave readers wondering why exactly her story is so significant. Sittenfeld also took a step in an unusual direction by making Fiora a less-than-likeable character.

Sittenfeld reverts back to her high school years and offers up every insecure thought and passing judgment ever to plague a teenager’s mind.

As Fiora realizes what she has gotten herself into by deciding to attend Ault, her loneliness engulfs her and she is pushed farther into the oblivion of her mind. Silently, she observes all the components of the quintessential private school life–the sinfully attractive, well-liked boy, Cross Sug-

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arman; the poor but compassionate kitchen workers; the girl who seemingly has it all together; the girls who are struggling just to keep it together. Each person and event she witnesses seems to be a social science experiment as she dissects the minutiae of the inner-workings of Ault.

Sittenfeld touches on an array of issues from race, to friendship, to the complexities of romantic relationships.

Fiora’s thoughts are often about boys: “The interest I felt in certain guys then confused me, because it wasn’t romantic, but I wasn’t sure what else it might be. But now I know: I wanted to take up people’s time

making jokes, to tease the dean in front of the entire school, to call him by a nickname.

What I wanted was to be a cocky high-school boy, so (expletive) sure of my place in the world.” Each quote further illustrates the complications of a teenager’s coming of age.

Sittenfeld puts every insecurity on the witness stand and cross-examines it.

In one paragraph, Sittenfeld accurately describes the redeeming quality of her novel through Fiora’s eyes: “After Ault, I was unaccounted for…I never paid as close attention to my life or anyone else’s as I did then…I remember myself as often unhappy at Ault, and yet my unhappiness was so alert and expectant; really, it was, in its energy, not that different from happiness.”

Because of its general lack of a significant plot, the novel could have been an enormous flop—and yet as the reader wanders farther and farther into Fiora’s observant mind, they find just a little bit of themselves.

Photos by Ashley Vincent

A&E

FAT

getting with Gerry LeConte and Zac Tran

Sushi Town

20649 State Route 410 E Bonney Lake, WA 98390 (253) 891-2046

Gerry’s Opinion Environment: 2.5 Service: 3

Food: 3.5 Overall: 3

Good sushi is hard to find in this area so most people abandon it completely. Many people say, “Raw fish? What? Gross!” I say, “Raw fish? Bring it on!” But no one brings it. Around here, you have to find it. Getting Fat found it.

Way up in Bonney Lake, there is a small restaurant called Sushi Town. The name fits considering it is, in fact, the best sushi in

town. I thought I knew something about sushi. Raw fish wrapped in sticky rice, how hard could it be?

Really hard.

The list of different types of sushi available seemed endless. Between the two of us, four different kinds of sushi were ordered.

It all tasted fantastic. The portions seemed small but were surprisingly filling. All the different blends of crab, veggies, and jalapenos blended fantastically. Every bite was like another adventure in flavor land. Try the Mariner and the Spider rolls.

The presentation was clean and organized. Each of us was given small plates and then we were given a large plate containing our orders. This way we were free to take what we wanted to eat a little bit at a time. The atmosphere, however, was nothing special beside the fact that it seemed that this place was a regular visit for several customers. It looks much like an everyday teriyaki restaurant someone revamped into a sushi bar.

I enjoyed the sushi for sure, but that’s all

this restaurant has going for it. If all you’re looking for is great sushi and friendly service, take a gander up the hill and chow down.

Zac’s Opinion Environment: 3.5 Service: 3.5

Food: 3 Overall: 3

Raw fish, soy sauce, and wasabi. Who would have thought that good sushi could be found in Bonney Lake? Sushi Town is a nice little place located in a corner right next to the movie theater.

The sushi here isn’t too shabby. For any sushi fan, Sushi Town will hit the spot when that craving comes around. Sushi is usually judged upon the quality of the fish, and how fresh they keep it. Sushi Town does a decent job of doing this, but not the best.

An indication of non-authenticity would be Sushi Town’s own little creations using American ingredients in place of Japanese ones. An example is the Firecracker – fish

top ten ways to make your winter break 8.

Catch up with the familyNo, not only when you are opening presents on Christmas morning but throughout the break. Have a muffin with

with cream cheese spread and jalapenos. The taste is alright but it’s an odd recipe.

Suggestions include the Spicy Tuna Roll and the Spider Roll. Both of these rolls can be enjoyed at any sushi restaurant and each place adds their own little twist. Here, they use bigger and thicker soft shell crab legs that taste great. The spicy tuna is minced up, tossed with spice then rolled with a little bit of rice.

If rolls aren’t your thing, then there is a variety of sashimi (raw pieces of fish served chilled), nigiri (raw pieces on top of rice), or lunch and dinner entrees including tempura (battered vegetables and prawns) and teriyaki.

The restaurant isn’t too big, meaning the waitresses will check on you more often. If something isn’t right they’ll fix it right away.

The environment is a nice place to take two or three friends for dinner, and the price isn’t too heavy on the wallet. Overall, Sushi Town is a place to try out for both a person who has never eaten sushi before and somebody who loves it.

10.

Hit The Slopes Use your lift passes and snowboard or ski the days and nights away. Invite some friends to tag along, shred some snow and become the next Shawn White, at least in your own mind. Crystal, White Pass and Steven’s Pass are all great mountains to strut your stuff.

9.

Build a gingerbread house The holidays are around the corner, and the best way to get in the spirit is to create your own candy-made home. Make sure to get the perfect peppermint windows, Skittle ponds and gumdrop tree shrubs that all add some color to your world.

your mom, a donut with your dad, and snow cones with your siblings. See what’s going on in their lives and spend some quality time with the people that love you.

7.

Walk through the winter wonderland Stroll through the streets of your neighborhood and check out the engaging decorations in their yards, lights on their houses and their glistening trees sparkling through their main windows. You could get new ideas from the great sights or just mosey on through to grasp the concept that the holidays are finally here.

6.

Bake and eat ... a lot Whether you prefer the men and women of ginger, snicker

doodles or simply the sugar cookie, bake them with all your heart and soul this season. Make some for your family, friends, neighbors and elders. Just don’t forget to gorge on them yourself.

5. Snuggle Gather around the fireplace, sip some hot cocoa and 4. Go ice skating Ice skating season is in full force so sharpen those blades up and squeeze into the bedazzled suits. You might not be the best skater, but it’s enjoy some holiday flicks, all while cuddling and enjoying each other’s presence.

Surprise one another with a little mistletoe hanging from the door top to complete the night when saying your goodbyes.

that time of year to show off your skills. Sprinker’s Recreational Center has a good rink to skate on, so bring your buddies and skate on slippery, sleek ice.

3.

Build a snowman Give Frosty a wife, some children and even a dog! The snow should be fallin’, so get off 2. Spend those gift cards Think the presents are gone once their your behinds and get outside. Sculpt the perfect snow angel, sled down the local hill, and be the winner of all snow ball fights in the area.

I recommend ice balls fresh from the freezer.

package is torn away? No way. Use those gift cards to buy the things you didn’t receive. Whether it’s the jacket in the window of Zumiez, the season’s new makeup collection at MAC, or just your favorite band’s new CD, use those cards to the last cent!

1. Party the New Year Away Don’t be the Debbie Downer and not be awake as the ball drops in Time Square and people are screaming the old year away. Be there to celebrate all the things you accomplished that year and everything that awaits you in the following one. Stay up all night, get your twelve o’clock kiss and go over your New Year resolutions you plan to achieve.

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A&E

‘Awake’ is a gruesome flop by

MORGAN T. GARD

Editorial Board

A fully conscious man gets his heart removed during a scene in the movie “Awake.” He also experiences everything else that goes along with a heart transplant – slicing, bonesawing, rib-spreading, suturing – while perfectly awake, but paralyzed. There is screaming. There is realism. It feels like it’s actually happening.

If that was hard to read, trust me, it’s even harder to watch and listen to. If you don’t think you can watch a surgery as it happens, then “Awake” is most likely something you won’t want to see.

Now, the surgery doesn’t comprise the whole film, but from the marketing and the film’s intro cards (“21 million people receive general anesthetic each year … 30,000 remain fully conscious, but paralyzed”) it wouldn’t have been surprising if it were indeed all that happened.

The surrounding story involves young and wealthy New York businessman Clay Beresford Jr.,(Hayden Christensen, better known as Anakin Skywalker), his girlfriend Sam (Jessica Alba), his mother (Lena Olin), and his surgeon (Terrence Howard), and the secrets surrounding all of them.

To tell anything else about the plot would give away the various twists the screenwriter, Joby Harold (who also directed), all but stakes the movie on, despite one of them being given away in certain trailers and other press. Harold is one of those writers who thinks he’s clever, with certain parts playing out like an Agatha Christie mystery novel; every little phrase everyone ever said ever suddenly becomes important at one point in the movie, to a degree that skips “intriguing” and goes straight to “trite.”

Harold also prides himself a little bit too much on the backstory to all of the characters. If the meat of the film can be said to be the surgery, he takes entirely too long getting to it – almost a half-hour of screen time. (For perspective’s sake, the movie is just under 80 minutes long.) In that time, we get a love story, an in-depth introduction to all of the characters and a little bit of background on Christensen’s business involving a merger with an apparently vicious Japanese company.

The problem with this is that most of it – especially the merger – is either entirely unnecessary, or would’ve worked better if it were put at other parts of the movie: for instance, during one of the many flashback sequences. At one point,

26 volumeEIGHT.issueTHREE

Clay Beresford Jr. (Hayden Christensen) experiences “anesthetic awareness” during surgery in the film “Awake,” which opened Nov. 30.

Christensen finds himself able to “get up” from the operating table and walk through his own subconscious memories, a la “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”—it could have very easily been put there.

We get quite a bit of backstory at that point anyways, and as it is the pacing is terrible. Most audiences will find themselves uninterested by the time the good stuff, the gripping developments that start shortly after the surgery, starts.

All this makes the movie feel disjointed. The fact that there is a character-driven section, a horror-driven section and a mystery-driven section (topped off by a family secretdriven ending) is bound to leave the audience confused as to what kind of movie “Awake” actually wants to be. I’m still not quite certain. It’s unclear as to whether this is the fault of the director or the editor, but either way, someone is to blame for ruining what came very close to becoming an engaging plotline.

There’s also a little bit of awkward allegory and paralleling going on within the plot, but less because it serves to enhance the experience of the attentive movie-goer and more because Harold most likely thought it would make the film seem smart and deep.

It’s unlikely that anybody will be engaged enough in the story to try and pick up on it, even if some of it is blindingly obvious (“Oh man, this scene is totally heartwrenching, and they’re taking

MOVIE REVIEW



one star - poor | two stars - average | three stars - good | four stars - great

out his heart while they’re doing it.”), but for those that do look for that kind of thing in movies: don’t expect to be floored by any sort of complexity.

What foundation there actually is can be attributed to the actors, who range from great to competent to struggling.

Howard, who is getting an awful lot of work as of late, plays Beresford’s surgeon masterfully as a tortured and conflicted soul at the end of his rope, and has my pick as the film’s best actor.

Christensen turned out better than I expected. Anyone who saw “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” knows that he was flat-out bad in both of those. But, as “Awake’s” center, he is remarkably…okay. He is at least owed an apology from everyone who called him the worst actor in the world after “Revenge of the Sith,” myself included.

Jessica Alba should consider a new line of work.

There are some scenes in “Awake” that are just painful to watch. For some of them, it is because they are either punishingly boring or awkward. For some, it is because there is almost no chemistry or believability between Alba and Christensen. And then there are scenes that are bound to make people stand up in the theater and scream, “Holy crap, I can’t believe they just showed that.” It will also probably do the same for surgery that “Jaws” did for water.

If you’re into that kind of thing, maybe you’ll find yourself enjoying this movie. But I sincerely doubt that anyone will much enjoy the kind of pain that “Awake” has the tendency to dole out.

Pete Yorn Nighcrawler

Julie - I like the softness in his voice and the relaxing feeling Pete Yorn develops in his music. His songs have an alternative sound with a decent acoustic to balance it out. If I heard his stuff on the radio, I wouldn’t change the channel.

However, I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy the cd. There isn’t a huge difference between him and all the rest of the alternative folk rock bands out there right now.

Zac - First thoughts about Pete Yorn is me driving across the country in a car. With soft vocals and great acoustics, he switches from slow to straight rock. Some sketchy things on my part were some songs reminded me of country music with that twangy sound – I hate that.

Devin - Pete Yorn has always been a favorite for me, from his slow acoustic to his straight forward rock. His music changes from album to album always making him a good choice.

vin De

Stasie - I’m not going to lie, I love this CD. Before this, I had only heard Rumors, and to be completely honest, I hated it. Her other songs are upbeat and fun. She uses actual music, not just a required noise in the background, which makes her CD more than bearable.

It’s what sets her apart from most people out there in the music scene. She is definitely worth adding to your music collection.

Back To Black Amy Winehouse

sie

Zac - I love Amy Winehouse!

Her voice is so crazy weird that it makes her unique. All her songs have a nice funky soul feel to it with hip-hop thrown in the mix. Her songs incorporate a wide array of musical instruments, from using the generic drum and bass mix to incorporating a whole brass ensemble with jazz piano thrown into it. Her CD is something good to bump in the car.

Z a c

Julia -When I heard Rehab on the radio, I thought it was annoying. But the rest of her stuff is really good. I like her voice. It’s jazzy and soulful. Like her appearance, her music doesn’t fall into the stereotypic rock star category. She mixes catchy beats with strings and brass to develop her original sound. It’s like modern hip-hop and Patty Labelle had a baby, and her name was Back To Black.

The Soundoff Sta

Devin - Aside from her rather unusual social behavior, Amy Winehouse brings a fresh sound to jazz music. Her lyrics are raw and it is clear they are from her own personal experiences.

The songs bring forth a bold message while still keeping an up beat melody and tempo.

Four people, four cds - see what happens when they come to the round table

Stasie - The techno song gave me a headache, but when I heard the slower version and their more calming music, I wanted to leave the CD . Their songs have meaning, which makes it easy to like them. This band is beautiful – something I really didn’t expect of a group from the early 1990’s.

ia Jul

Stasie - His voice is really soothing.

Unfortunately, his music reminds me of the guys who sit in a staircase with their acoustic guitars, singing to girls, telling them exactly what they want to hear. I think he should use that amazing voice to sing about something girls older than fifteen care about.

Everything But The Girl Amplified Heart

Zac - Lock me in a dark room and let me cry. The lead vocals sound so depressing. The tracks are all slow and boring. Not my style. Indie – fun to listen to sometimes, but this group drags out some melodies for way too long.

If you like soft, slow, and tiresome, hit that

Julia - The band has a squealing guitar in the background with a decently talented lead singer. She hits the notes but she lets her voice whine, which wasn’t particularly appealing to me. However, I liked the tempo and beat. I realized that I could go to a concert and enjoy it. My first overall impression is mixed, but music originality is difficult to achieve these days so I give them kudos for that.

Devin - The first word that comes to mind is drowsy and flat. Some of the acoustic music is okay but still it’s just nothing I’d listen to by choice.

Julia - Tracy Thorn’s voice is beautiful with her jazzy notes and smooth tone.

This cd is untraditionally acoustic for them. With romantic lyrics and a light tempo, Amplified Heart contrasts heavily with the techno/house music they’ve made in other albums.

At the end of this album, they included a remixed version of Missing, which is the song that most people recognize.

Stasie - A majority of their new music is beautifully harmonic. Lead singer, Ryann Donnelly actually sings in this album, as opposed to her screaming antics in their first two CDs. I have a love-hate relationship with the new album. Now, I can sing along without feeling like an idiot, but they lost some of their individual charm that was established on The Funeral Sciences and Fantastic Wounds.

Devin - My first thought was a dark No Doubt.

With a female vocalist, this band has a completely different sound than most popular bands these days.

Zac - At first thought, Schoolyard Heroes freaked me out with their sound. But jumping into it more reveals a girl lead singer that loves to whine and wail in her verses. It’s cool because she accents some words to make them stick out more. Along with vocals, the guitars jam out some crazy lines as well. I found myself tapping my foot along with them. It’s catchy.

Abominations School Yard Heroes

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