AN OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENT EXPRESSION
Pwned (pônd) – When one
gamer defeats another gamer in a particularly dominating fashion. Often used to taunt or boast. Some say the term derives from the word “Pwnage” or “Pure Ownage”. Some say it was a typo from the word “own” which occurred so often that gamers adopted it as an actual word.
EMERALD RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.12405 184TH ST E SOUTH HILL, WA 98374
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX.march2008
14
24 Hours
Gaming
●●●●●●
Why Play?
Video games have grown in popularity over the past several years to become the most profitable branch of the entertainment industry. Everybody seems to be playing them, but no one seems to be able to say why they’re playing them. What does it say about the world we live in?
Joey and Carlo Creek share a birthdate, and little less. The twins have very different personalities and very different circles, but their brotherly bond has made their rough lives easier on one another, from their premature birth all the way up to today.
Winterim Changed
Brotherly Love
After eight years of the only changes to Winterim being the schedule, the administration has decided that a major upheaval of the week’s structure is necessary for it to continue. The proposed changes include a heavier emphasis on speakers.
News >>03
Op/Ed >>07
Baseball Uneven Features >>09
Sports >>18
A lack of focus has led the boys baseball team to an OK start this year, with a 4-3 record. But what games they have won they have won by large amounts, proving that their potential to be a great team. Can they improve their record by the end of the season?
A&E >>24
NEWS
Winterim changes proposed After receiving negative feedback from staff and students, administration revisits plans for future Winterim Weeks by
ALIESHA DRIVAS
REPORTER
A proposal was drafted on March 6 by the administration for the reformation of Winterim Week, due to the staff and student feedback after this year’s World Week. The proposal will need to get staff feedback and consensus in order to move forward to next year. For the past eight years, a week has been dedicated to a certain professional development theme: business, world issues or science and technology. This week has usually taken place in December, and so was entitled Winterim Week. Goals that were to be met during the week were: to deepen student knowledge and understanding of the professional theme, to connect this knowledge with real life issues, and to form lasting relationships between students, advisors, school and community partners. Many changes have been made to Winterim Week over the years, either due to student attendance or student learning, so that these goals could be met. These adjustments include: changing the time of the event from between semesters to earlier in the academic year and changing the all-day advisory schedule to include morning seminars. After World Week, the school’s leadership team decided that input from students and staff was needed to assess the effectiveness of Winterim Week. Left: Senior Nick Nylin works on his advisory’s flag for the Parade of Nations. Bottom: Senior James Knight speaks to an auditorium full of students, one of the many times he held the attention of the student body as a spokesperson for the “United Nations”. Right: Junior English teacher Jay Bates plays “Guitar Hero” during down time, an activity that many students got familiar with throughout the week.
Student feedback, gathered through surveys, was varied, but most students maintain that the actual experiences were not the same as the desired ones. Usually the student leaders within the advisory were the ones reporting gained knowledge, while other students were either not willing to learn or not able to. This data was taken both before and after the events over the past two years. The staff feedback showed that all activities, with the exception of guest speakers, were unsatisfactory or ineffective. The average scoring on the five-point scale (five being most effective) was approximately 2.1. The average rating on the guest speaker day was 4.1. “The administration has genuinely tried to give students as much freedom as possible,” Junior English teacher Rebecca Waller said, “but every time those freedoms are abused, unfortunately, the staff is reminded that this is a high school.” Student and staff feedback being significant, a call for reformation seemed necessary. The administration proposed that the goals be met in another way. The proposal for the reformed Winterim Week stays with the themes of previous years, focuses on the speaker day, and moves the week back to the original date between the semesters. A keynote speaker will be the focus of the day, and it may include three other speaker sessions, lunchtime activities and a closing advisory activity. Also, the regular advisory time during the week will be used prior to the Speaker day to “set-up” and “follow-up” the theme of the speeches. The administration’s proposal also states that, “ERHS staff and students must commit to making this experience worthwhile in order to move forward.”
Do you feel Winterim is a worthwhile use of time? Sean Halligan, sophomore
“No, because I didn’t ever go.”
Michael Guimond, junior
“I think it is because you learn worldly things and get educated in things that normal school doesn’t cover and its good bonding time.”
Ansley Tworek, senior
“No, because the majority of the school doesn’t take it seriously.”
Gary Osborne, staff
“Yes because it offers my video kids a real dead line driven production.”
Photos by TJ Hart
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
03
NEWS
Proctoring requirements let AP students sleep in by
ADAM FANGMAN
REPORTER
For sophomores, the WASL test means two weeks of testing, but to juniors and seniors enrolled in Advanced Placement courses it is a fluctuating schedule focused on their own test preparations. During WASL week, AP students are required to attend their AP classes for test preparation. The test is in early May, leaving students with few months left to get ready. On April 15 and 16 AP teachers will be required to proctor the math WASL and AP students’ morning sessions will be canceled. Typically during WASL time students meet with their AP teachers. The math WASL is the only test that AP teachers are required to proctor, and there are 800 students
taking the math WASL; 300 test takers are retaking the WASL to meet graduation requirements. AP teachers consider proctoring the math WASL necessary to the testing process. “I think it’s fine.” AP Biology teacher Rebecca Ogden said. “Students taking the math WASL need it to graduate. AP students, on the other hand, can study on their own or we can assign them out of class work.” Most teachers are fine with proctoring the math WASL. “It’s part of helping all students be successful on the math WASL.” AP Literature teacher Molly Susee said. The extra students would otherwise overcrowd classrooms and make testing more difficult if just lumped in with current WASL-taking advisories. The additional AP teachers will help prevent disruptive crowding during the WASL. AP students
on the other hand will simply have to sleep in or find their own means of test preparation for the two days devoted to the math WASL. Many people view canceling morning sessions as something that can easily be compensated for during shorter afternoon classes. “I think we deserve to sleep in, it’s not like we can’t practice during class,” junior Kevin Fleishman said. Students also view the break as necessary simply for sleep. “I would rather just sleep in and deal with practicing for the tests in the afternoon.” senior Brian Svoboda said, “At least I’ll be awake for what we do during class.” Whether or not the two days spent proctoring the math WASL actually affect AP students will not be measurable until AP test scores are released in the summer.
Unexpected fees shift attitudes, stir controversy WASL becomes a costly matter for the state and taxpayers by
ASHLEY O’BRIEN
REPORTER
The Washington Assessment of Student Learning testing made a huge increase in cost since last year. For one student to take the test, the book will cost $17, which means it will cost the state $25,500 for the students at ER. That does not include the students who did not meet standards and have to take the test again next time. It is estimated that the cost will increase by $15 to $25 per book next year. The book could then cost the state $48,000 to $63,000 for all students at ER to take the test. This increase is for the higher demand of testing, and the education law No Child Left Behind.
For each section of the WASL, taxpayers pay $18 dollars. At the end of the year it costs about $60 million to create, give and grade the test every year. “There is nothing to disagree on with the price of the WASL,” Principle Brian Lowney said, “it had to happen either way.” The state leaders are working hard for changes to lower the cost by millions next year, and cut the amount of time spent testing in the classrooms. The test will be shorter and have fewer open-ended questions, which could save 10.5 million dollars. However, after doing so the test will be $15 million extra. The math section of the WASL will have the most cuts because most students do not meet standards in this section. They plan to make more multiple choice questions, rather than “show your work” questions. In the long run it will cost less with fewer
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re-takes. The Senate Education Committee plans to cut 20 percent of the test, making 60 percent multiple choice, and 40 percent open-ended questions. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is making sure the test does not get easier, just shorter. The school only pays a portion of the WASL test. is paid to the administration. They pay each teacher to stay in the WASL room with the students. Ultimately it is the taxpayers who pay for the test each year. One major group of WASL protesters is named Mothers Against WASL. They are against everything pertaining to the state-
required exam. These protesters fight for the students who have not met standards and will not receive a diploma because of the test. March 7, 2008 Mother Against WASL met at the steps of the capitol building to display their anguish. One of their arguments was the cost. Tax payers pay a lot of money a year for students to take a test that could possibly take their diplomas away from them. They protest for students who don’t pass the WASL. “The WASL is something every student needs to graduate, and this only makes things harder,” Lowney said.
NEWS
Explosion causes alarm in chemistry combustion by
AMANDA WYMA
REPORTER
“Everyone was dazed, you like couldn’t hear anything for a good ten seconds after the explosion,” senior Jeff Paine said. When the fire alarms went off on March 13, most students assumed it was just another alarm after somebody burnt popcorn. The truth, however, is much more interesting. Fire alarms were pulled when the combustion lab demonstration failed to occur as planned. The explosion caused no injuries to students, and there was virtually no damage to the lab. Chemistry teacher Jennifer Senior was performing the combustion lab for her fifth period students when the explosion occured. The reason for it lay in the fact that there was a higher quantity of oxygen than Senior thought, which caused the combustion to be larger than expected. “It was crazy because the water jug completely exploded and knocked the protective shield over,” Paine said. “I looked up after the explosion and the floor and counter was on fire,
it was really surreal.” “In a reaction experiment there’s always a reactant that runs out the quickest to end the combustion,” Senior said. “But with the higher level of oxygen it took longer to run out and created the larger explosion.” The combustion lab was safe, all students were wearing proper eye-protection and Senior was equipped with safety gear as well. There was a protective shield around the container that the experiment occurred in to ensure the students’ safety in case of an accident. “I don’t want to scare kids in Biology this year,” Senior said. “The experiments are always safe and even this unexpected reaction didn’t cause harm.” While in college, Senior worked at Whitworth as a chemical hygiene safety officer assistant. The explosive reaction could never have been predicted, and simply was the response to too much oxygen. “There wasn’t any damage to the lab,” Senior said. “It’s funny because the only mess was the fire extinguisher dust afterwards, but the explosion left no trace.”
Pierce County firefighters cleared the lab after a short inspection.
Salvia bust on campus by
ZAC TRAN
REPORTER
On March 15 a student was caught in possession of salvia on Emerald Ridge campus. Disciplinary action was enforced by administration and the student, a minor, was suspended for five days. Schools enforce banning of salvia by subjecting violators to standard protocol that can be found on page 19 of the Student Handbook. Students found infringing on this rule can receive at least a long-term suspension of up to 90 school days or expulsion from school with loss of credit. Legal authorities are notified as well because the use or possession of dangerous drugs by minors is prohibited, which may result in criminal or other legal proceedings. Even if the student is not a minor, not the case in this situation, the use of drugs is prohibited at school. It was a regretful decision on behalf of the student. “If weed is illegal, then salvia should be too,” the student said. “I don’t think it should be legal because you can mess yourself up. It’s pretty strong, you could hurt yourself.” Salvia is legal within the majority of the United States, and can be easily purchased at tobacco shops by customers 18 years or older. It is also known as Diviner’s
Photo by Ashley Vincent
Sage and is a psychoactive herb that produces hallucinations resembling those of LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide). Because salvia is categorized as a tobacco/drug product it is banned from schools. The drug causes users to act and think irrationally. According to the Salvia Divinorum Research and Information Center, when smoked, an intense high is experienced within a minute and lasts for about five minutes, tapering off and returning to normal in about 15 minutes. During a high, users experience effects that are similar to LSD and marijuana. “Salvinorin – The Psychedelic Essence of Salvia Divinorum” mentions that the effects may include: uncontrollable laughter, past memories, such as revisiting places from childhood memory, sensations of motion, or being pulled or twisted by forces, visions of membranes, films and various two-dimensional surfaces, merging with or becoming objects (such as a Ferris wheel), or overlapping realities, such as the perception of being in several locations at once. As far as the school and administration looks upon this, “This is something that is not an epidemic,” assistant principal Cari Ake said. “But it’s an area of concern that goes hand in hand along with anything else that is harmful to the body.”
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
05
NEWS
Month of giving starts slow Minor setbacks give March Gladness a rough start, but students help to make the month a learning experience by
KATIE KREMPL
REPORTER
The school district has taken a new direction in serving the community. March Gladness is now presented to the district, giving every school the opportunity to take part in multiple services to help out in the community. For the first time, leadership was given the task of planning the events of March Gladness in an attempt to get ER students personally involved in the community. Junior Melanie Stambaugh was head of the event throughout the school district. “It’s a lot easier for students to get involved when we can give them a set date for them to participate in a service,” junior leadership member Samantha Stanfield said. This year’s March Gladness aspired to reach a higher level of enthusiasm and participation due to the lack of involvement practiced when March Gladness was
first presented last year. The district hoped for each of the schools to reach $4,000 of overall donations to contribute to different organizations in the community. Unfortunately even though it was intended for March Gladness to be successful, that was not the case in several respects. Due to lack of school participation and some errors in planning, there is much to be improved upon in the future. “I wouldn’t classify it as a failure; it’s more of a learning process that we’re all going through,” Stambaugh said. Leadership volunteered for ER to donate teddy bears for adolescent patients at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. New teddy bears and other related toys were collected from donors and delivered to child patients to help brighten up their stay in the hospital. Initially leadership had organized an intended gathering underneath the I-705 Bridge on Puyallup and A Street on March 21. This was a venture to provide a means of food and clothing for people with out homes and/or financial support. Later it was discovered that authorities were threatening to arrest anyone involved with the distribution of food without a specified permit. As a
result, the gathering was cancelled and the money donated was given as funds for the teddy bear drive. Funds that were to be given to the feed were supposed to be collected from an organized movie night featuring the options of three different movies held in the auditorium on March 14. People did not show up and the event was classified as being unsuccessful. The penny drive proved to be the one turn around point in which March Gladness was able to attain some amount of success. All donations are given to patients dealing with leukemia and lymphoma. Both of these are cancerous disorders that affect the blood and tissue. Although the drive started out slow donations began to steadily be given during the last extended week. “We saved the penny drive! So that gives me hope for next year,” Stambaugh said enthusiastically. Next year leadership is hoping to build more on school-wide involvement. Leaders expressed the importance of student’s participation and donations. The month of March proved to be a learning procedure. Slowly but surely March Gladness is gaining progress in the right direction.
Get Glad Happenings 26 schools were involved Over 50 documented projects recorded
10,000 plus students participated in some shape or form in the Puyallup School District TEDDIES FOR TOTS & PENNIES FOR PATIENTS
were school-based fundraisers
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS raised $573.45
State Competitions in Brief DECA The DECA students attended the state conference in Bellevue on March 6th, 7th and 8th. Many students attended and four qualified to go to nationals, which will be held on April 24th through April 30th in Atlanta, GA. Seniors Dannielle Brock and Jodi Farr, along with juniors Brian Logan and Tyler Meyerhoff will be attending the national competition. Overall the DECA students did reasonably well and had a blast, even though many were disappointed that only four of the 30 students who attended qualified. For those who qualified for nationals, they are excited about the opportunity and are hoping to do well. The students are expecting a better outcome next year and hopefully they will be able to take even more students to nationals. DANCE The dance team went to state Thursday march 20th in Yakima at the Yakima Sun Dome and competed Friday march 21st. Captain Shelby Wickett was very proud of the team and says it was their best performance yet. This being the teams first time to state in over a year, Mrs. Muehlenbruch
06 volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
says the team did great. At the competition the team did their “pom” dance, one like at half time for a football game, and was placed in the top 13. The team received many good reviews from each of the judges such as excellent staging, good music choice, and cute costume and uniformity. Not all the reviews were good though; the judges did say they need to work on their transitions and the level of difficulty on pom passes. The criticism was taken to heart for the girls are back at practice working hard. JOURNALISM AND YEARBOOK On March 15 JagWire newspaper students, along with the Facets yearbook students went to state at Auburn Senior High School. Four people from the newspaper received individual awards and four from Yearbook received awards. Those awarded were seniors Ashley Vincent, Danny Canham, Morgan Gard, Nate Wetterauer, TJ Hart, and Samantha Fikilini, along with juniors Kristen Steenbeeke and Heidi Osborne. JagWire won the Best of Show Newspaper award. Vincent won a superior award for newspaper news/feature
photography and Canham received a superior award for newspaper/newsmagazine layout. While Steenbeeke received an excellent award for newspaper feature writing, Gard, who won an excellent last year in review writing, earned an honorable mention in the same category. In yearbook, Wetterauer received an honorable mention award for advertising design, Hart received an honorable mention for yearbook news/feature photography, Fikilini received an honorable mention for headline/copy/caption writing, and Osborne received an honorable mention for yearbook feature writing. The newspaper and yearbook staff had a great and memorable time at the conference and learned a lot. For those who did not participate in the write-off competitions, there were seminars they were able to attend which were lead by many professionals specializing in the seminars they were teaching. “Hopefully we will get more students participating in the write-offs and receiving awards,” yearbook adviser Jim Meyerhoff said. -Alanna Nugent
OP/ED
State showings bring ER pride STAFF I n recent months, many ER students have competed at state competitions and represented their school well. This includes dance team, yearbook, JagWire, DECA and especially state champion Brianna Howe. All those who competed shouldered the responsibility of proving ER’s excellence in several events, and for this we would like to applaud them. These students have without a doubt given ER students a reason to be excited about their school once more. As we have opined in the last several months, the lack of school spirit has come from several sources such as a general lack of excitement concerning sports events, and poor showings in the same. This recent string of excellent showings at state competitions certainly remedies the latter, and if the students are paying any attention it should shortly remedy the former as well. The students who went to these state competitions deserve all the praise they get, and more. But not just from the administration, or their coaches, or this newspaper. They deserve it from all angles. Some students have shown themselves too callous about these events now to care about even one of the most major successes in ER history, that of Howe, and they refused to attend the winter sports assembly for fear of experiencing such a showering of
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
adoration upon her as they expected. A high school is only as strong as the faith and pride its students give it. We now have strong and ample reason to give ER that faith, and even more, we know exactly who to thank for it – these people went out on a limb, and gave their all for the sake of the school. So yes, congratulate every single person who competed at any state events, whether they placed or not. They went out and did what so many students only wonder aloud about doing: They brought pride back to ER. Editorials are composed by, and are the opinion of, the JagWire editorial
Clarification: In the design for the Mrs. Cypher feature last issue, we did not mean to impress that Cypher used the phrase “I used you for sex” in any of her classes. The correct pronunciation of the phrase presented is: “I used U for the integral of E to the X,” and is a common calculus joke, not a quote from Cypher herself. 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 . .............................................................................................KATIE KREMPL . .......................................................................................LINDSAY NOLAN . ....................................................................................ALANNA NUGENT . ........................................................................................ ASHLEY O’BRIEN . ................................................................................. ASHLEE PITIGLIANO . ..................................................................................................BRI ROGERS .......................................................................... JULIA SERVA-DELMONTE ............................................................................................... NIKKI SEADER ................................................................................KRISTEN STEENBEEKE ...................................................................................................... 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 ksmyth@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.
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
07
OP/ED
“
“ the voice of the people: Do you feel that the portfolio is a meaningful use of time and energy in high school?
“
“
No, because it causes a lot of stress for the seniors. I don’t see the benefits.
I do not, because it just seems like we’re going over work we’ve already done. It’s not teaching us anything new.
I think it is, because it gives colleges a better idea of who you are, and your goals.
-Kody Bringman
-Jay Girard
-Jamie Brown
12
”
11
”
If students put what they should into it, yes. The students who do it at the last minute don’t get what’s expected.
10 STAFF
”
-Jim Meyerhoff, photo teacher
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Editorial Board and Staff of JagWire: It is disheartening to see a publication that has produced quality journalism sink to the level of magazines one would expect to find behind the counter of a convenience store. Actually, this is really not a great surprised, as this type of tabloid-inspired strategy has been employed previously by JagWire over the past couple years. One would hope that those with a true concern for helping to bring positive change to our society through the use of journalism would feel an ethical responsibility to forego the use of salacious images in order to increase reader interest. Your photos were highly suggestive and undermine the alleged serious nature of your feature topic. Here are some questions for you: Was the photo on the cover one of our students, or was it a download? If it was one of our students,
I dare say we, as a school, may be skirting laws related to child pornography. If it was downloaded, why do you have access to images that are not available to our student body at large? If a student did bring such an image up on a computer screen at school, would it be regarded as appropriate to the school setting? In addition, the inclusion of specific student experiences along with their names undermines the alleged objective of presenting a serious discussion of the issue. Whether the respondents in your interviews are 18 or 80, there seems to be only one reason for the use of these accounts, and that is to use sex in order to “sell” papers. If a basic tenet of journalism is to know your audience, in this I believe you have succeeded. I can only speak for my own classroom, but instead of provoking a thoughtful
discussion among students, I found myself dealing with crude jokes and innuendos. If this issue was so important for our student body, one would expect that there would be an attempt to prepare advisors to handle the topic in a proper manner. Perhaps what is most disappointing for me is the lack of responsible direction provided for you by adults who are ethically bound to do so. If the portrayal in the News Tribune article is accurate, the response of adults at all levels in the district was the equivalent of a collective shoulder shrug and, “Oh well.” Maybe this is an unfair depiction, but if the quotes are accurate, this is basically what we will see come of this incident. One would hope that we would see our adult leaders express their personal disapproval, although they may have been powerless to do anything due to legal considerations. Each day I walk
through our commons and see the portrait of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am thankful to God that he was willing to stand for what believed, even when it wasn’t legal, popular or convenient. In conclusion, I bring an appeal to those of you on the JagWire staff who strive to encourage the better parts of our nature. Stand strong during editorial discussions and demand that the content of the paper is designed to build up those who choose to read it. Those of you who know me well, understand how painful it is for me to see our student body encouraged in unhealthy thoughts and actions. With this in mind, I cannot in good conscience support the mission of the JagWire as it now stands. Sincerely, Brad Mirk
5th Annual ERHS
Battle of the Bands 2008 Auditions: April 11 08 volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
”
Show: May 2
FEATURE
Life
in the by
Ruck
Senior Alex Walker is a member of the Tacoma Tsunamis, a regional rugby team “Well, I was tackling a guy and I got cleated in the face,” Alex Walker said pointing to the stitches running between his nostrils. “It kind of ripped apart my nose.” Walker, a senior, has been playing rugby since last year and received his battle wound playing against the Bellevue Tyrants on March 22. This is not his first rugby-related injury. Last season he got a concussion after being tackled, and countless other scrapes, bruises and bloody noses can be attributed to the sport. “It’s really rough and some positions are really confusing the first time,” Walker said. “The worst part is trying to tackle someone, I don’t mind getting tackled I mean it hurts, but if you try to tackle someone and miss then they score and it’s your fault. And when you do get them then they all start rucking over you. ”
Emerald Ridge Student Store Presents:
NEW! AriZona Tea Flavors • Strawberry-Kiwi • • Watermelon • • Mango •
Photo by Ashley Vincent
ASHLEY VINCENT
EDITORIAL BOARD
In rugby, when one player not wearing pads tackles another player who is also not wearing pads, both teams then “ruck” over the ball and try to push each other off of it. During the time this is going on the two players at the bottom of the pile basically try not to get kicked. “It is super scary watching it,” senior Kiah Harris, Walker’s girlfriend, said. “Every time he gets tackled I get scared because they all kind of get on top of the people and I always wonder if he’s still alive under there.” Walker got involved in the sport after his father saw the team practicing. The team, the Tacoma Tsunamis, is one of nine teams that compete in league games in the Washington Division of the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union. The Tsunamis are made up of high school students in the Tacoma area. The team was first in its division last spring and went on to represent the Pacific Northwest in the USA Rugby High School National Championship Tournament in Utah, where it placed seventh. “We won seventh place in nationals,” Walker said. “We lost out in the first bracket. It is the top eight teams and we were seventh. We beat the team from Texas; they were really funny, they had cowbells on the sidelines and stuff. I don’t think we are going to be able to go because of money this year, but the coaches are trying to put together a
northwest competition.” After the national competition, Walker played in a tournament for the Pacific Northwest Loggers, a select team that combines the best players from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. He also participates in the summer sevens tournaments playing 15 minute long games with teams of only seven men. On his regular team of 25 Walker plays fullback. If a player gets past the other 14 members of the team on the field he is the only thing between them and scoring. “It’s really dirty,” Walker said. “Sometimes it is intimidating because a lot of the guys out there are bigger than me.” Next year Walker plans to continue playing rugby through the summer, and at college at either Central Washington University or Western Washington University next fall. He also hopes to study abroad in Australia, and plans to play rugby there and in Europe. He got an appreciation for travel after participating in the People to People student ambassador program the summer before sophomore year, during which he visited France, Italy and Malaysia. “I like getting to know different cultures and other ways of life,” Walker said. “It kind of gives you some perspective about the United States. And whether the differences are good or bad, they are still differences and it is good to experience that.”
Action shots of Walker running the ball during the Bud Bay game. Images courtesy of Kate Hunter Photography.
“I like having breakaways and running with the ball. The aggression of the sport is so much more than anything I have ever played, even football and soccer.”
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
09
FEATURE
Balancing the equations of life Chemistry teacher Jennifer Senior displays an array of different interests and activities in her busy life by
KRISTEN STEENBEEKE
REPORTER
Jennifer Senior, formerly Miss Mason, lives on the edge. Her wall and whiteboard are covered with pictures of her “Adventure Club” escapades. A recently acquired motorcycle permit sits in her wallet. Pictures of white-water kayaking, skiing, and snow-tubing trips adorn the walls of her classroom. However, her first love is the love of elements and compounds. Attending college at Whitworth, Senior majored in biochemistry and participated in several school activities. “I was in the science club,” she said, smiling. “But we were a cool science club.” During college, she also began working as the science lab tech at Emerald Ridge, where she worked for two years. After experiencing the high school atmosphere and working alongside its students, she decided her goal was to stay at ER and teach chemistry. “I definitely want to teach for my whole career,” she said. “I love seeing students grow and learn material and seeing where they start and end up; just being able to be a part of that development is really neat.” Her students also enjoy sharing their learning experiences. “I think Mrs. Senior is really good for a first year teacher. She really interacts with her students and makes sure we learn everything well,” junior Nick Bleich said. To throw in some variation, fun activities
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are also interspersed throughout the extensive notes that come with a chemistry class. For International “Mole” Day (a mole is certain measurement of something in chemistry), Senior decided to have a “mole” party for her classes, where they could bring food and celebrate the day of the mole. While at Whitworth, Senior also studied abroad in South Africa. Many students have heard the story: during her stay in an openair hut, she found a large spider in her bed. A while later, she discovered that her foot was swelling up immensely. After many confusing visits to the doctor, the cause of the footswelling was found – the spider had laid its eggs in her big toe. Like most people, she was a little frightened about the fact that minispiders were running around in her foot. “My sister was telling me ‘You’re the best, you’re like an urban legend come to life.’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, yeah I know,’” Senior said. They were eventually removed after long months of swelling. Aside from teaching and traveling, Senior also has a love for extreme sports. “The most daring thing I’ve ever done is probably white water kayaking, because it takes going out into the open water and getting tossed around,” she said with wide eyes. “You end up upside down and don’t know what direction you’re going sometimes, then you fall out of the boat into the river.” Stemming from her love of sports that vary from the norm, Senior and ER special education teacher Shannon Ross came up with the idea for Adventure Club. Because there aren’t many opportunities for students who aren’t into major sports to be active, they wanted to provide a social setting where students could share their love of extreme and alternative sports.
Te acher
“The competition to be in the major sports like football and soccer is pretty high. I loved doing extreme sports in high school but there was never anyone else around me who wanted to and it wasn’t easy for me to learn alone,” Senior said. Many students have joined because of her welcoming demeanor and passion for introducing new Mrs. Senior poses while mixing chemicals in the ER science laboratory. and interesting sports. right now. But what’s really cool is we get “I think Mrs. Senior’s a sweetheart,” senior Kate Gibson said. “I re- to talk to each other every day and we can ally enjoy adventure club, it’s pretty interest- do web-cam and he has a phone connected ing. We’ve done rock-climbing every Friday of to his computer so I can call him on a local number. I can actually call him right now.” the month, plus snow-tubing and skiing.” Students can see how much he cares by Under the stress and frenzy of being a the flowers that mysteriously show up in her first-year teacher, Mrs. Senior also found the classroom during the week. time to plan the most important event in her As many people have heard, Senior also life - her wedding to Gary Senior. They met encountered her own combat – the epic at the YMCA, and soon after became running battle of human versus isopropanol, oxygen partners. Two years later, he proposed in Key and fire. However, she provided a quality West, Florida on a dock at sunset. defense for the explosion in the science “He did a really good job, actually,” she laboratory. said, smitten. “He really thought it through. “You know, I have an excellent safety I was so proud of him.” record,” she said. “I worked in my college They recently tied the knot on February university as a chemical hygiene safety offi15, 2008. cer assistant. I learned a lot about lab safety However, Senior must wait until Septemand I implemented that here when I worked ber to see her husband again after their as the lab tech here for two years, buying wedding. He is currently stationed in Iraq a lot of safety equipment and getting rid of as a Chief Warrant Officer CW3, instructing a lot of chemicals that weren’t safe. So out trainees on flying helicopters in combat. of a seven-year career of safety I made one “It’s really hard having him gone and not mistake that was fairly noticeable. I learned knowing just what he’s seen and what his my lesson. I won’t be doing it again.” life is like kind of on a daily basis,” she said It is now safe to enter the lab. wistfully. “We live in two very different worlds
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un-lover
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ewlywed
Photos by Gerry LeConte and courtesy of Google Images
FEATURE
everyone has a story
She’s a senior with aspirations to become a professional photographer, but not only is she intelligent and creative, she is truly an individual by
JULIA SERVA-DELMONTE
REPORTER
She won’t respond to you if you call her Kristin Keller. It’s a name a handful of girls answer to. Instead, she prefers Yuki. “I met this guy named Jing, and I got close to his family,” Yuki, a senior, said. “They gave me the name Yuki and the name sort of stuck.” Yuki is a diverse girl of many interests and aspirations. She hopes to dive into the fine arts and follow a career as a photographer while also sculpting on the side. “I’ll take pictures of anything I find interesting,” Yuki said. Yuki enjoys taking photographs of landscapes and portraits, but also lends her attention to small detail. “I do like a lot of macro (photographs),” Yuki said. After high school, Yuki hopes to get accepted into Cornish College of the Arts. “I’m trying to go next year. I’m going to take a year off,” she said. In her spare time, Yuki uses her creativity to write fiction stories. “I always put meaning in my writing,” she said. “It’s like photography, but the writing portion.” Fine arts aren’t the only thing Yuki puts thought into. With her layers of pink leg warmers, skirts and sweaters, she prides herself in her individuality. “For a while I was into the Japanese culture, but then I started layering and trying to do my own style,” she said. Shopping at the mall like the majority of teenagers isn’t her taste. Instead when it comes to buying clothes, Yuki takes a different approach. “I buy a lot of stuff online on eBay,” Yuki said. “I’m extremely picky when it comes to clothes.” Not only does she buy clothing on eBay, but she also has made profits off old toys and clothing she has. “I don’t want a job because I want to maintain my grades,” she said. She claims she makes about a 100 dollars
Photo by Julia Serva-Delmonte
a month off of online auctions. Grades are really important to Yuki; they played a big part on her decision to transfer to ER from the Bethel School District. She started out her freshman year scoring high grades and excelling in her schoolwork. However, situations at home and school got complicated for Yuki, and her concentration slipped away from school. “There were really big classes of mean people there. I was uncomfortable,” Yuki said cringing. She described the severity of cliques and how seemingly impossible it was to make friends. “No one could get in a group unless you dressed like them,” she said. Slowly Yuki’s grades dropped, along with her happiness. “I just kind of got twisted up,” Yuki said. Shortly afterwards, she transferred to Challenger Secondary High School in Spanaway where she heard there would be smaller classes and not as many distractions. However, she was turned off when she discovered the drugs and violence her peers were tangled in. “I thought to myself, ‘I don’t want to be around this,’” she said. “(So), I did an online program and earned credits that way.” It was then that a friend of Yuki’s recommended ER as an alternative school. “I came here and I saw people mixing. And I thought ‘that’s weird,’” Yuki said. “But I like it a lot better here.” Despite the sometimes overwhelming hardships, Yuki has overcome them and is staying strong. As far as stereotypes go, she’s quick to wave judgments away. “It’s stupid,” she said wisely. “We’re all people.”
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
11
FEATURE
&
Joey
Identical opposites
Carlo
The Creek brothers, fraternal twins Joey and Carlo, have been best friends for as long as they can remember despite their overwhelming differences by
NIKKI SEADER
REPORTER
Carlo and Joey Creek are twins; fraternal twins born three minutes apart, and four months early. Joey will gladly insist upon informing you that he is the oldest and those three minutes are meaningful. Joey will also tell you all about anything and everything. Additionally, he will cover as Carlo’s spokesman. “Joey talks enough for the both of us,” Carlo said. Carlo, on the other hand, only speaks when necessary and the words that come out of his mouth are well thought out. Joey describes Carlo’s speech as “a chosen eloquence.” “I’m very laid back and chill, while Joey takes the floor,” Carlo said. Carlo and Joey weren’t born with these characteristics, though. They have been slowly molded into the diverse people they are today. In fact, they weren’t born with much. Their mother had complications during the pregnancy and had to delivered at half term. “Our mother’s water broke at 19 weeks,” Carlo said. “After the mother’s water breaks, the babies have to be born. There was no holding us in,” Carlo said. Their early birth almost cost them their lives and both boys were immature and weak. “With my birth and its complications, a large section of
12 volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
my large intestine was grossly underdeveloped,” Joey said. “It didn’t connect with what it needed to. They had to cut me open and take that part out and sew the remaining parts back together. My lungs’ growth was also stunted, now they’re about the size of a ten-to-twelve year-old. “It sucks, but it still doesn’t stop me from doing things today, they just had to be really careful with me when I was an infant. The doctors did their jobs, but still had their doubts. Everyone told my mom that she should have prepared for us to not make it through the night, but we held on,” Both twins have different scars from the unusual birth problems that occurred. Carlo has a shunt (a tool used to drain excess liquid from the brain into other parts of the body) in his skull and Joey has a scar on his stomach. Not only did these twins endure a complicated birth, but a difficult family life as well. “We were forced to grow up at a really young age,” Carlo said. “Growing up the way that we did could take a very long time talking about; all I can put into summation is that we grew up quick and that somewhat put a maturity into the equation. I seem reserved because that’s how I’ve had to be, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.” The adversity served as a blessing for these two brothers and brought them closer together- they are each others’ best friend. “We’ve always been best friends because we’re all each other has,” Joey said. “We tried to make a language, but it
just didn’t work.” Unlike most siblings and twins, these two don’t argue. “We don’t really fight,” Joey said. “We treat each other with respect.” Although twins, Joey and Carlo are extremely different. “Joey and I really are complete opposites, but it works,” Carlo said. Carlo and Joey have persevered through their physical distress and family hardship and are now successful high school students. Joey is one of the most skilled signers at the school and Carlo is in the middle of recording a rap album. Joey participates avidly in the American Sign Language Class (ASL) and after school on Tuesday interprets for an eight-year-old deaf girl. “I want to do court room or medical interpreting (after college),” Joey said. Carlo has performed in an MLK assembly and was nominated for the 2005 amateur poet of the year award. “I’m actually planning on going to school for audio engineering,” Carlo said. “I want to open up my own studio.” After all these boys have been through they are still going strong and trying to make a difference in the lives of others. “If I can spare anyone feeling even an inch of sadness, I’ve done my job,” Joey said.
Photo by Julia Serva-Delmonte
Please review the following terms while your game loads... Alt: BIo:
A term used to refer to a person’s additional character or one other than the person’s main character that they choose to play. Term used to tell someone or a group of people that you have to leave the computer to use the bathroom. Some believe it was derived from the word “Biology” as in, “Nature calls.”
loot: Items or money gained from a defeated character or gamer. ninja:
Term used when a gamer earns am item/point/kill and it is stolen from someone another gamer. Example: Don’t you dare ninja my kill.
tank:
Term used to describe a member in a group whose role is to gain and keep the attention of an enemy while other members in the same group defeat it.
used to describe a character or class whose main role in the healer: Term game is to heal other players.
SPAWN: A point where players that have been defeated reappear or resurrect. twink:
A low level character which has gear above average for a certain level and is usually built by someone with a high level character to fund the “Twink.”
buff:
A spell or ability that directly improves the performance or character.
Spam:
A message that is sent repeatedly to annoy someone, or a group of people.
14
The routines of avid Eme KELSEY HOWLAND
RE P O R T ER
Is it routine or obsession? There are many reasons behind why people play video games. Creating an alternate identity, relieving stress, partaking in genuine recreation and exercising more power and control are just some of the various incentives. A simple video game is now the new anti-drug for some students at Emerald Ridge. “I don’t have my driver’s license yet, so it’s something to do after school,” senior Michael Grey said. “If I wasn’t playing games, I would just be doing something else.” Addiction to video games is defined as persistent thinking of the game, increased time spent playing, loss of control; withdrawal from the particular game and lying about how much time is spent on the game according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Grey indulges daily in “Second Life” among other fantasy games, but considers it routine. “I would have to say addicting is the wrong word,” Grey said. “It rather catches your interest.” Senior DeAnna Fain also likes fantasy and role playing games such as the “Final Fantasy” series.
Online gaming marathon
compiled by
MEGAN ALBERT
r e P O R T ER
Simple multiplayer textbased games, MUDs, were often played on BBS systems using a modem.
Today’s four most popular online games by
LEXI BROCKAMP
RE P O R T ER
The first graphical multiplayer online game, “Air Warrior,” created a milestone in the generation of online gaming.
WORLD OF WARCRAFT
HALO
Players control an avatar with the ability to interact with one another as computer-controlled characters. The characters explore, fight monsters and perform quests to move up through the 70 levels, while collecting equipment. Players may choose to fight duels and conduct raids against enemy factions and territories.
The Comba tinued the ga known vating bent o galaxy. for mo game i
“Quake” is released. It was one of the first online first-person shooters and allowed players to chat during game play or while connected through the server.
1999
History of online gaming
1980’s
The challenge presented to me was to spend 24 hours, midnight to midnight, playing what is arguably the most popular and addictive computer game in the history of the medium. The reality, after a painfully lengthy install process and a three-hour nausea-nap, was only a little over 16 straight hours. A Herculean feat to be sure, but I’m certain that people play 16-hour WoW sessions for fun on normal weekends, much less as a challenge. The first thing that struck me was the massive scope of the game. Every time I walked in any direction for more than 3 minutes I hit a new area with bad guys whose level of difficulty grew so quickly I was often forced to turn back or die. The game takes place on a supercontinent called Azeroth, comprised of two smaller continents called Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, which each have three to five nations in them, which each have 10-20 regions, which each have 3-5 towns, which are each about a five to 10-minute walk apart. And it is extremely easy to spend two or three hours doing all of the quests given by each town. Suffice it to say that the game and the world within it are massive. So, this is what 16 hours got me: nine towns in three regions, 50+ quests and 14 levels. I barely brushed the surface of what the game has to offer. As a habitual nonplayer of the game, and someone who intends to never play it again, I can safely say it was the most wasted hours of my entire life. But here’s the rub: Even though there were a million other more productive things I could’ve been doing, while I was playing there was nothing I would’ve rather been doing. To put it
into the most paradoxical terms possible, those 16 hours were some of my most productive hours I’ve ever spent on the computer. Every time I felt like I was getting bored with what I was doing, I noticed a new goal was approaching. Every hour or hour and a half I approached a new level; every 20-30 minutes I was close to finishing a new quest; every time I thought I had reached the limits of my exploration I noticed a blank spot on my map marking an area I hadn’t been to yet, and upon exploring I gained even more quests, which yielded even more experience points, thus beginning the process anew. The great anomaly of WoW is that some people have gone so far out in the antisocial direction that they’ve appeared at the other end, and WoW is the only kind of social life they have. After all, it allows players from across the world to come together without ever leaving their computer desks. The worst part about playing WoW like I did was not the time expenditure, it was the physical hell I went through. I came out the other side ruined and exhausted, all of myself given to the purpose of the quest, and smelling like a wet dog. If this be dubbed a cautionary tale, let it be for this reason: I sustained myself, for the last three hours, on jellybeans, sugar cookies, Hershey’s chocolate and a Pepsi. WoW is not a tale of heroic feats. It is the shared experiences of over 8 million souls with similar paths and convergent dreams. Society often frowns upon this kind of life, but there is an old saying that goes, “Never judge a man until you have walked the length of Tirisfal in his Leather Boots,” or something. And now I understand. I completely understand.
1996
MORGAN T. GARD
EDITORIAL BOARD
1987
by
“I like to make strategies with c weapons on the characters,” Fain sa should do to beat a boss.” People may think that wallowing i like these – where people create a new alternate identity and play to enhance their real lives are lacking - are subst “It’s a way to meet new people onli that I normally wouldn’t have met,” G Playing video games is no longer a ity. It is very social to have a local party, where a group of gamers all br or TVs with their consoles to one destin friends have a big influence on the rea why they play. “I play because my friends play,” Vanstone said. “Also, because I’m ski pick up any game and own it.” Some game fanatics are the root friends’ gaming habits. Family also ha on whether or not a child plays. I plays, it is more likely that their offsp Thirty-five percent of American par play computer and video games, while parents say they play video games with
1999
by
“Counter-Strike,” an online person shooter, is released February 28, 2007, it was th played “Half-Life” mod acco to Gamespy.com.
“Everquest,” a 3D online role playing game, is released and becomes the most popular MMORPG.
erald Ridge gamers
characters and aid, “or what I
in video games w world with an the things that tituting reality. ine or at school Grey said. a solitary activl area network ring computers nation. Gamers’ asoning behind
” senior Jacob illed, I can just
t to their own as a big impact If their parent pring does too. rents say they e 80 percent of h their children
according to the ESA. “I got my friends into gaming,” Fain said. “My mom also gets me into some games.” Fains’ whole family plays video games; her brothers’ life revolves around this activity. “He plays hours and hours on end,” Fain said. “It can be very addicting because you want to get to the next continuance.” Many students experience stress and handle it in different ways. Video games are an easy way to prevent or rid stress. “People just want to relieve the stress of everyday,” Vanstone said. “I have two AP classes. It’s a great way to unwind in the comfort of my own home while still hanging out.” Though they may toe it once in a while, it appears that students are aware of the dividing line marking the world of reality and that of fantasy. However, as always there are exceptions. There are (and will be) people who do become obsessed; and ones who do skip out on real life to live out a fantasy on the web. Fortunately, the majority of ER students say they can control their addiction. “I know it’s not a substitute for the real thing,” Vanstone said.
WHO PLAYS WHAT ONLINE?
The essential dictionary for gamers compiled by
GERRY LeCONTE
editorial board
42%
{Woot}: A common form of exclamation of excitement after completing some sort of accomplishment.
58%
Women
Men
{Ding}: A proclamation that one has achieved a higher level. {Mob}: An enemy NPC. Bears, dragons and murlocs are examples of these.
Fifty-eight percent of all online gamers are men, and 42 percent are women.
{Aggro}: Short for the word “aggravation”. This term is used to tell which player an enemy is focused on, or has aggro.
*Information from the Entertainment Software Association Web site.
{Zerg}: Rumored to have been derived from the game Starcraft, this is when a large group of players attack a single place, person or mob. {Nerf}: To lower the potential ability of a certain character, class, or item. “They nerfed my sword and now it’s horrible.” {Toon}: A term used to label a person’s character in a specific game. Usually used when a single person is in possession of multiple characters.
Halo series began with Halo: at Evolved, Halo 2 and cond with Halo 3. The object of ame is to stop the alien army n as the Covenant from actig a system of space stations on destroying all life in the y. Halo 3 topped the charts ost popular online console in 2007.
The fourth game in the series focuses on a fictional war from various viewpoints of people involved. The game is set in a war in the near future involving the United States, Europe and Russian loyalists against Middle Eastern rebels and Russian ultranationalists. Players work to unlock new weapons and vehicles to fight the war.
Rock Band takes the rocking experience a step beyond Guitar Hero by allowing players to form entire virtual bands of up to four people playing guitar, bass, drums and vocals. The game comes with 45 built-in songs as well as 13 bonus songs. New tracks continue to be made available for download online each week.
Sega Dreamcast launched in the United States. It was the first console to feature a built-in modem and Internet support for online gaming.
{Gank}: To repeatedly defeat a player with an exceptionally low level at ease. {Leet:} Short for “Elite”. A term used to describe an item or character that is exceptionally efficient.
Xbox Live reaches two million subscribers.
“World of Warcraft” is released.It currently dominates MMORPGs with more than 60 percent of the player base, and 10-11 million monthly subscribers world-wide.
2005
Microsoft launches Xbox Live, allowing subscribers to play online Xbox games with other subscribers around the world.
2004
1999
e firstd. As of he most ording
{Noob}: A person that is new to a certain game. This term is used to insult or belittle an experienced person when he or she commits a mistake that would normally be committed by someone who is new to the game.
Xbox 360 is released in the United States and Canada.
2007
ROCK BAND
2005
CALL OF DUTY 4
2002
O3
“Halo 3” is released for Xbox 360. First-day sales reached $170 million in the United States, setting a record for highest gross of an entertainment product within 24 hours of release.
15
Excessive gaming has unwanted side effects by
ASHLEE PITIGLIANNO
REPORTER
Although playing video games is one of the main and most popular pastimes for students, playing consistently and excessively can have adverse side effects. The negative effects of these games on the mind and body far outweigh the positive, and this seemingly harmless use of free time could cause serious damage. Overuse of gaming systems can usually be connected with problems today’s youth are facing, like obesity, a lack of social skills, decline in schoolwork productivity, confusion between perception and reality and aggressive behavior. Add in the medical side effects of hitting level 57 after 7 hours of straight gaming, and herein lies the issue. Many popular games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 encourage a sedentary lifestyle. These games do not require any social interaction, so players may sit for extended periods of time and eat foods that are unhealthy, but convenient. The medical effects of this type of lifestyle can be extreme and may not be reversible. According to a study done at The University of Southern California, most games, regardless of violent content, can cause a drop in diabolic and systolic blood pressure, and nearly 100 percent will cause a substantial increase in the player’s heart rate. Other serious and painful medical effects include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, which are caused by repeated motions for extended periods of time. According to EhealthMD.com, carpal tunnel syndrome results in more than two million visits to
Gaming applies to real life affairs by
STASIE HENSON
REPORTER
16
physicians’ offices each year. The treatment for these problems can take weeks to be completed, and include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, diuretics, and steroid injection into the wrist. On the other hand, there are some games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Tennis
those who played the violent game showed more activity in the amygdale – involved in emotions of fear and aggression – and less activity in the prefrontal portions of the brain associated with control and focus. With the exponential growth in popularity of video games in recent years, many
video gamers spend “ ...teen 30 percent less time reading and 40 percent less time doing homework when they are consumed with video gaming.
a greater chance of exhibiting violent and aggressive behavior later in life than children who have not seen violent media. While adolescents spend their time beating the expert level on Guitar Hero or reaching the highly revered level 70 in World of Warcraft, their schoolwork suffers. A study published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine states that teen video gamers spend 30 percent less time reading and 40 percent less time doing homework when they are consumed with video gaming. In Valdemar W. Setzer and George E. Duckett’s essay The Risks to Children Using Electronic Games, they state, “One may contrast this situation to that of a chess player, where thinking is absolutely essential and motor movements secondary. In the electronic game, the latter are essential, and conscious thinking only disrupts the play because conscious thinking requires reasoning (the construction of chains of thoughts), which are always slow...” Though gameing is an enjoyable use of free time, many players do not know the serious effects and continue on with their virtual lives.
”
or Boxing that actually increase activity and may even be a significant source of exercise. An article in The Sydney Morning Herald states that this kind of gaming may help today’s youth lose body fat and weight while lowering their resting heart rate and body mass index. However, a majority of games being produced are aimed towards military combat and violent behavior, which has almost the exact opposite effect. A study done at Indiana University School of Medicine tested 44 students and their reactions to violent games versus non-violent games. The results showed that
In the recent past, video games were considered the “nerdy” kids’ way to get out of the real world and lose themselves in a virtual fantasy land. But not any longer. Video games are now widely used throughout society in ways both destructive and beneficial. Video games can be used to improve things like hand-eye coordination and reflexes, as well as stimulate brain activity in numerous positive ways. Nursing home residents have picked up new exercise and enjoyment with the Wii. The constant movement involved in the Wii games are an easy way for senior citizens to achieve daily fitness. Most elderly people have not played video games before, but new technology has given them a new way to stay active. Job training is more often occurring on the computer using virtual simulations, which saves the company time and money. These computer games are designed to improve employees’ specific skills needed in that particular field. Companies such as IBM have begun devel-
teens and tweens are zoning into their computer or TV screen and then picking fights at school. According to a study done by The Congressional Public Health Summit in 2000, young children who see media violence have
oping management games. These games are being developed to assist tech managers in understanding the roles of businesspeople. Military branches use a similar way of training their members. The computer programs train men and women for upcoming missions in the armed forces. In other instances, people spend so much time on the computer playing these games that it has brought on adverse effects, such as the loss of employment, social life and even family. There are blogs on the internet like “94 Ways to Keep Kids Busy for the Work at Home
Parent,” and websites like “10 til 5,” which include over 1,000 games to keep people busy when they should be doing their job or other necessary tasks. Rare cases of neglect and death have occurred because of people who gaming addicts in the recent past. In Korea, in 2005, parents left their 4-month-old daughter alone in the house for hours, while they went to an internet café in town to play online games. Two years after that in Nevada a couple let their two children, both under 2 years old, starve as they played Dungeons & Dragons.
Addicted to the virtual world
Escaping from reality, seniors Peter Kim and Andrew Martonik have devoted hours of their time to games like “World of Warcraft” by
MIMI SISON
REPORTER
While most people live day-by-day juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities, there are those whose existence revolve around juggling multiple worlds and identities. Seniors Peter Kim and Andrew Martonik are two out of millions whose allegiance is arrested between their native Planet Earth and “World of Warcraft”’s Planet Azeroth. “I guess I could say I play extensively,” Kim said. “Sometimes I play to an unhealthy level. Anytime you play for, say, more than a couple of hours is unhealthy.” Kim, who describes his weekday routine as getting home from school, playing for an average of 6 hours and then going to bed at around midnight, admits that gaming has definitely taken a toll on his studies. “It just tanks my grades,” Kim said. “I’m aware that I could be doing way better in school (and) getting into a way better college but I want to do what I want and enjoy my high school years.” In this massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG), Kim is a paladin who frequently parties with Martonik, a rogue and his real-life best friend. Each shell out $15 on a monthly subscription, contributing to WoW’s status as the largest and most popular MMORPG. “It’s just something to spend my time on that’s more interactive than like sitting in front of the computer all day,” Martonik said. “You’re playing by yourself but, at the same time, you’re playing with hundreds of thousands of people at the same time. Instead of reacting to a situation, you are kind of making things happen. What you do affects what happens in the game.” While this may be true, Martonik, like Kim, agrees that what he is not doing in
the real world also affects the life he leads outside the monitor. “My work ethic overall has gone down,” Martonik said. “I play video games when I don’t want to do something.” ‘Something’ meaning homework in general and his culminating project in particular. Besides decreasing schoolwork productivity, both acknowledge the health risks also associated with excessive gaming. “It’s a tradeoff between good and bad,” Martonik said. “I’m not out breaking curfew or getting into trouble nearly as much, but I’m in more playing a game; you get attached and it takes a lot of time from you.” Though both Martonik and Kim are certainly hard core about gaming, they are careful to draw distinctions between their approach towards it and that of the “roleplaying” community. “I’m not that kind of nerd,” Kim said in a mildly troubled tone. “I play for the fun of it. It’s not like I’m doing this to create my own little world, or be my character or something like that. “That kind of gaming is just...when you meet those kinds of people…I guess you could call them…” He chuckles and can’t seem to finish his thoughts without exerting another potentially offensive little laugh. Kim is referring to MMORPG players who may act or believe they actually are the characters they pretend to be online. “There (are) some people I know that would rather play the game than do real life stuff,” Martonik said. “I hope that I never get really bad that games take priority over real life. That should just never happen.” Kim agrees. “There’s a point where you just have to stop,” he said matter-of-factly. “If you want to keep playing WoW when your parents
want you to stop, it’s like saying that WoW is more important than your parents and for me that’s not the case.” Martonik, who routinely loses track of time while playing games, has known the disappointed looks of loved ones for allegedly putting the game before family. He says gaming is definitely not a substitute for spending time with family and friends. “I think that being aware of the fact that
games can take over and have taken over peoples’ lives keeps me from becoming like that,” Martonik said. Martonik’s closest encounter was a 40hour nonstop Halo session; Kim’s was 24 hours, including bathroom breaks. However long the session, at the end of the day Paladin and Rogue recede back into Azeroth – only to be brought back up, awakened and replayed again.
“Martonik’s closest encounter was a 40-hour nonstop Halo session; Kim’s was 24 hours including bathroom breaks.” Both Martonik (front) and Kim (behind) play “World of Warcraft” and other video games to the extreme.
17
SPORTS
Jag’s pitching keeps their winning record alive by
LAUREN SMITH
EDITORIAL BOARD
Though talent in pitching and offense is prevalent, the Jag baseball team has started the season with inconsistencies in defense and focus, leaving it with just over a .500 winning percentage and a record of 4-3. The majority of the team’s wins have come in the form of blowouts – such as the 9-0 shutout against Franklin Pierce on March 21. According to senior catcher and first baseman James McMullan, the team has the potential to defeat most teams if focus is a vital component in the team’s game. “When we played Franklin Pierce we won 9-0 because they took centerfield at our field (an act that is considered unacceptable in baseball as the visiting team), so in that game we came in angry and wanting some blood,” McMullan said. “But then sometimes we come into the game and our heads just aren’t into it.” When focus has not been a main priority for the players, losses have resulted. In the March 12 game against North Thurston, the Jags lost 2-3 due to lack of offense and errors. While the Jags tied up the game at two in the seventh inning, they were not able to hold North Thurston from walking off with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Lack of offense against Sumner on March 20 caused the Jags to suffer their second loss of the season. Though senior outfielder Logan Bushnell went 2-4 on the game and senior outfielder and first baseman Colby Sokol contributed with a double, the Jags were only able to convert one run in the seventh inning – not enough to match up to the two Sumner had scored earlier on in the game. “In the closer games, we didn’t capitalize when we needed to,” junior pitcher and infielder Tim Peterson said. “We made some mistakes we shouldn’t have, and didn’t come up clutch in hitting. We have the talent; we just need to put it all together.” Errors were the main issue in the March 25 game against Curtis – the Jags committed five. Though this inevitably led to a loss, the Jags rallied in the bottom of the seventh in-
ning to score three, but a strikeout, miscommunication at third base and fly out to shortstop left them one run short of sending the game to extra innings; Curtis won 4-3. “I think we did a good job overcoming our defense today to make it a ball game at the end,” Spears said. According to Spears, defense is a key component of success on the field. “Defense is important, and I believe if you have good defense you can always be in the game,” Spears said. Though the Jags have had troubles defensively throughout the season, wins have outnumbered losses. On March 18, the Jags defeated Tahoma 5-3, led by the pitching of freshman Bryan Burgher. While Tahoma took an early two run lead in the first inning, the Jags capitalized on a two-run homerun by McMullan in the bottom of the fourth to secure the win. The following day, the Jags shut out Kentwood 4-0. They were led by Peterson’s pitching and his solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior pitcher and catcher Michael O’Bryant contributed to the win hitting 2-3 with an RBI, and Sokol with a double and an RBI. On Wednesday, the Jags traveled to Beamer and shut them out as well, 7-0. Burgher advanced to a 3-0 pitching record, and Hendrix hit 2-3 with two RBIs and a triple. Senior Ronnie Ovechka was also 2-3 with an RBI. Spears believes the “bright spot” of the team’s play this season, and a primary reason they have won most of their games, has been the talent of the pitching staff – an issue that concerned him before the beginning of the season. “Coming into the season we knew we had a few guys, but when you get to the point of the season when you are playing three or four games a week, you need to have depth in your pitching staff,” Spears said. “We’ve had a lot of younger players come in, and I was pleasantly surprised by our ability to pitch.” With returning pitchers in Peterson and senior Aaron Koveleskie, as well as three incoming freshman, the pitching staff currently maintains just over a 1.00 ERA, and has proved to be the most stable aspect of the team’s game.
Junior Tim Peterson’s pitching versus Kentwood led to a 4-0 shut out.
“If our pitching keeps holding up, then our hitting will come around,” Peterson said. “If we hit the ball and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll win.” Ultimately, the team expects to advance to the postseason and exceed what the 2006 team accomplished – competing in the state tournament. In the 2006 season, the Jags were defeated by Woodinville in the first round, 2-10. “We just need to play the way we did that year,” Peterson said. “If we keep up our pitching and hitting and just play some scrappy baseball, we’ll be able to win and reach that level.”
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SPORTS
Boys and girls track foreshadow success with wins by
AMANDA WYMA
REPORTER
Girls
Even with only 32 members, there are strong underclassmen adding depth and a promising future for track. “It’s nice to have a large group of sophomores,” coach Gary Osborne said. “They’re the building of our team, and mean that we’ll continue strong in years to come.” Currently the girls hold a 1-1 record; on March 13 the girls defeated Spanaway Lake, 87-50. The following week however, the girls suffered a tough loss against Rogers with a score of 80-55. At the Spanaway Lake meet the girls took first in every event. Junior Dallas Welker took first in the 100 and 200-meter open, with sophomores Samantha Rodgers and Sierra Szabo in second and third. The girls have beat Spanaway Lake already this season, with highlights in field events, the 1,600-meter relay, and the 100-high hurdles. Emerald Ridge filled the podium in long jump and triple jump at the Spanaway Lake meet. Sophomore Tad
Miller took first in the high jump with 4 feet, 10 inches. At the Rogers meet, junior Megan Albert placed second in the high jump with 4 feet, 10 inches, falling only two inches shy of first. “We’re doing well in discus and shot put,” sophomore shot put and discuss participant Hollie Stager said. “We’re setting personal records and I think at the rate we’re going we have potential to make postseason.” The hurdlers are turning over impressive times. Sophomore Kayla Stueckle placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.8 seconds. Mahaffie also placed first in the 300-meter low hurdles with a time of 52.1, and second in 100-meter high hurdles at 16.8. Rogers took first in the 100 and 200-meter open, however, Welker received second and third place with times of 13.8 and 28.8. Seniors Livia Mahaffie, Alicia Brannon and Whitney Henderson of the 1,600-meter relay team are showing consistent improvement from previous seasons with the 400-meter relay team. The relay team went to state and placed 13 out of 16 at state
last year with a time of 4:09. “We broke the school record last season with a 4:05,”Mahaffie said. “This year we are already where we were in the middle of the season last year, so I am sure we will improve.” Last year, post-grad Lakia Arceneux continued into post season as apart of the girls 1,600-meter relay team, as they broke the school’s record of 4 minutes, 5 seconds. “The girls 1,600-meter relay team only lost one senior,” Osborne said. “She’s been replaced by sophomore Kayla Stueckle, who is even faster.” Unfortunately Mahaffie has suffered from bruises to the bones inside her foot, which disables her from running. Mahaffie hopes to return to the relay team before the end of the season. Meanwhile, sophomore Kayla Cook has taken her place. In addition to being a part of the 1,600-meter relays, Cook took first in the triple jump, and second in both the long jump, and the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 53.84 at the Spanaway Lake meet. When facing Rogers, Cook broke all of her previous meets’ records and continued in the same places for all of her events.
Boys
Junior Jordan Mirk placed second in the 1,600-meter run versus Rogers.
Photos by Lauren Smith
The 400-meter relay finished with a time of 53.2 seconds against Rogers.
The boys track team is on a winning streak with a 2-0 record as of press time. Both coaches and team members are excited about pursuing advancements to district and state competitions. They have a large team of 55, a majority of whom are underclassmen, yet the coaches still are hopeful to send as many kids to postseason as possible. On March 13 the boys defeated Spanaway Lake in every single event, winning the meet with a highly impressiing score of 85-50. At the Rogers meet the boys won 66-61 by a single 1,600-meter relay, yet still placing first in the long jump, triple jump, 400-meter relay, 3200-meter relay, 800-meter, and 200-meter races. “I think that we have a really good chance at going undefeated this year,” junior distance runner Derek Gowrylow said. “We have a really hard working and dedicated team this season.” Last year, graduate David Pollard placed 2 and 6 in high jump, and though the boys didn’t send anyone else to state, coaches feel that this year their chances are higher, especially for the 1,600-meter relay team. “I am really proud of the guys who are on the relay team that were at the Rogers meet,” Burnley said. “The guys really stepped up their game that day and won the meet for us.” Juniors Brent Young, Kyle Vuksich and Jordan Mirk, and sophomore Erik Pollard make up the boys 1,600-meter relay team. By only one single race, the relay team won their
meet against Rogers on March 19 with a score of 66-61 and a time of 3:35. Pollard also took first place in the 200-meter open with a time of 23.8, and first place the high jump with five feet. “As far as talent goes, our team is very young, but we have a lot of guys,” coach Rick Burnley said. “If we keep working hard I expect to have a good season as well as a good postseason.” The distance runners are proving to be some of the stronger of this track season. Junior Jordan Mirk has already broken a personal record this year at the Rogers week in the 800-meter open with a time of 2:05. Mirk runs the 800-meter open, 1600-meter, and is apart of the 1,600-meter relay team. “Throughout the winter, after cross country is over, I train six days a week,” Mirk said. “We have some good individuals especially in distance and the relay team.” In addition to Mirk, sophomore Chris Schroll and junior Kevin Thomson, who participates in the 3200-meter open, participated in cross country at the beginning of the season, and have improved their talents in track immensly this year. Thomson, who has not lost a single 3,200-meter race so far in his entire high school career, managed to place first in both the Spanaway Lake and Rogers meets. He improved his running time from a 10:24 to a 10 within those two meets alone.
volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
19
SPORTS
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
E I R K
HOW LONG HAVE YOU RUN TRACK? I’ve been doing it since 7th grade, and started because I was very active and loved running.
FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL AND
TRACK
POLLARD
AS A SIBLING OF A PREVIOUS EMERALD RIDGE ATHLETE, DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN SURPASS HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS? I already know I can pass him. I just need WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EVENT? a sunny day; I can’t do it in all of this rain The 200-meter sprint because I don’t and wind. have good acceleration at first, but I have a very fast top speed. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE REST
BOYS TRACK COACH RICK BURNLEY ON ERIK POLLARD AND BROTHER DAVID POLLARD: HOW DO ERIK AND DAVID DIFFER? “Erik’s a little taller. David was always more of a happy go-lucky kind of kid, and Erik is a quieter kid, but they are both very serious about sports and have great personalities.”
OF THIS SEASON? I plan to take 1st at state in the 200-meter sprint, place at state in the high jump, DOES ERIK HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO and take state in both the 400-meter and PASS THE RECORDS DAVID HAS SET? “If everything goes well for him this 1,600-meter relays. season – barring any injuries that could DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER SPORTS? set him back – I think that Erik will be able I’ve played basketball since kindergarten. DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE IN to live up to the accomplishments his I’ve always loved the game and was a big ATHLETICS POST-HIGH SCHOOL? kid. I wanted to get more aggressive. I’ve I want to go to a Division I college and brother made during his time at Emerald Rige and pass them as well.” played football since 7th grade. play football and run track. HOW DO YOU KEEP CALM BEFORE A RACE OR JUMP? I just think about getting better and not necessarily winning or losing.
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SPORTS
Boys soccer works new talents by
LINDSAY NOLAN
REPORTER
Although losing several key players, the boys soccer team has a young, new and fresh team that has capabilities of being even more successful than last year, starting off with a 1-2 record. Because of such a new team, the boys are still working on communication and teamwork on the field. “I brought up a lot of players that played junior varsity last year,” coach David Rosdahl said. “The idea of JV is to build a strong team which is always helpful. We also had a few new guys come out and they have really contributed as well.” New players that made the team this season include: sophomores Sean Fernando, Tim Hansen and Angel Ventura; juniors Tyler Whitmire, Doug Rochester, Leon Hardman and Chanuk Park; and senior Zac Tran. Besides Ventura and Park, all of these players were on the junior varsity team last season. “(Being on varsity) is more fun and laid back, but we still work pretty hard,” Tran said. “We have so many new guys and we all know each other from school, but it’s taking some time to get to know each other on the field.” Having a handful of new players has been a plus for team, but certain injuries have been a downfall as well. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Weeks underwent an arthroscopy on his knee on Feb. 29 due to torn ligaments. Without surgery, he would not be able to continue his soccer career. Weeks was able to attend the first four days of tryouts and was out for the following three weeks, only to return in time to play in his first game against Rogers. “I started practicing (a month into the season),” Weeks said. “I plan on working harder, which I will be able to do now, and then hopefully I can get back to where I
was before.” Weeks’ replacement as a goal keeper during this time was junior Tommy Todd. Rosdahl has also arranged a strong defense line to make up for the loss of several strong defenders from last season. These players include: Fernando, Whitmire, Rochester, junior Teddy Ciocca and senior Zach Britton. “My biggest concern was defense,” Rosdahl said. “But now it is my least concern. I didn’t think they were capable 3of replacing the defense from last year, but they play well together as a team.” The Jags faced Kentwood on March 11 for a preseason game. The team lost 0-2 due to injured players (among them Weeks, Ventura and Dew), and lack of communication on the field. “We had four starters that couldn’t play,” Weeks said. “That forced coach Rosdahl to put players in positions that they don’t normally play, which made it hard to play the game properly.” On March 18, the Jags turned their mindset around on the field and shut out Spanaway Lake, 6-0. Fernando, Hardman, junior Justin Pense and Ciocca all scored one goal, while except Ciocca, who scored two. Facing Rogers on March 21, the team lost 0-4. Weeks got a yellow card when a Rogers offender slid into him. Weeks pushed him in retaliation and both players got carded. “We beat ourselves,” Britton said. “We just had an off game. It happens. Unfortunately it had to be against Rogers, but it’s in the past now.” Despite the start of a rocky season, the team’s talent all together has set the bar high for the rest of the season. “With the returning guys and new guys, we have a nice mixture of talent,” Rosdahl said. “They enjoy practice, and work well together. I think at state this year we can take it all the way.”
Junior Teddy Ciocca sets up a pass during the Jags 0-4 loss against Rogers on March 21 at Sparks Stadium.
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21
SPORTS
Inexperience has negative effects on girl’s tennis Girl’s tennis seems to be struggling through the first couple weeks of the season. However, players and coaches beleive they can weather the storm. by
HEATHER GORMAN
REPORTER
The girl’s tennis team is facing a rough start this year off with a record of 0-3. A big problem this season is the weather. “Rain is part of the girl’s tennis season,” coach Theresa Gotter said. Rain has caused most of the matches to get canceled and pushed to the next day. Because of the weather, matches and rematches have been scheduled everyday, leaving there no time for the team to have practice in almost two weeks. “It is very difficult with our inexperience and new girls playing varsity not to have practice outside between
matches,” Gotter said. “There are only so many things that can be fixed with a conversation; they need to practice the skills they know they need in a match.” The rain isn’t the only thing holding the girls up; there are several new, inexperienced girls on the team this year. “We do not have a lot of experience this year, so I expect a lot of improvement and a big learning curve for some new players,” Gotter said. The rainy weather and lack of practice did not help the girls in their first couple of matches. The team lost 0-5 to Puyallup. “I was really hard,” senior Alexa Belvill said. “They are like a power house.” They then had a close loss to Curtis 2-3. Both Belvill and sophomore Kim Auton won their matches, but all 3 doubles lost. They also lost 2-3 to Bethel on Monday, Mar. 24. Belvill and Auton won their doubles match with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Junior Brenna Guthrie also won her singles
match, 6-4, 6-4. “I think there are a lot of new girls out and it’s a big learning experience for them,” Belvill. “If we get the right line up and get more practices in we could win more matches.” Belvill is the team’s only captain, and is doing a lot to help the team get closer together and do better. “I encourage them during practice and I’m trying to get them closer as a team with spaghetti dinners and other things,” Belvill said. Belvill is not the only one on the team stepping up and helping the team improve and get closer. “So far I would have to say Alexa Belvill and Kim Auton have really improved their game,” Gotter said. Even though the season has started out rough, the girls are hoping for a good turn around and setting some goals for themselves as a team. “(Our goal is) to win at least half our matches and to get better,” Belvill said, “and to help the JV girls so they can be better next year.”
Fastpitch starts undefeated Girl’s fastpitch starts off a fresh new season with a bang going undefeated and showing no signs of slowing. by
LAUREN SMITH
REPORTER
Currently undefeated with an overall 3-0 record, the Jag fastpitch team is continuing the precedent for excellence it set last year – it took 9th place in the state tournament – despite the loss of significant senior leadership.
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“It’s difficult to lose players like that,” coach Lynn Wardle said. “One of the things I like about high school sports, though, is that when you lose somebody, somebody else always comes up and makes the difference.” In addition to losing a core group of seniors last season in center fielder Courtney Millsap, second baseman Cortnee Crane and first baseman Michelle Rasmussen, the team has had to deal with adverse weather conditions. Of the four games completed, one (against Curtis on March 25) was called on
account of rain, ending the game at the bottom of the fifth inning. Another game, against Kentlake, was considered incomplete due to weather at the bottom of the fourth inning; at that time, the Jags trailed 1-0. Even with the setback of the weather conditions, Wardle believes the team is maintaining focus and a positive attitude. “They haven’t complained and that’s one key,” Wardle said. “When something doesn’t go right or it’s raining hard, you can get mad, or you can live with it, and the girls live with it. It’s all part of that positive mental attitude, and that makes them a tough team mentally.” The Jags have claimed two victories thus far, in addition to the shortened game against Curtis. They defeated Decatur on March 18, 8-7, led defensively by the pitching of junior Alisha McKnight, and offensively by junior Kerrianne Davidson who batted 2-4 with a double. On March 21, the Jags defeated Kentwood 3-1. They were again led by the pitching of McKnight – who is now 2-0 on the season. McKnight pitched a seven-inning shutout before allowing only one earned run in the top of the eighth inning. The following day the Jags faced Beamer, and while they were ahead 14-1, the weather caused a delay of game. The game will be finished at a later date.
According to Davidson, the team is finding success due to the positive connection the players have made both as teammates and personally. “We communicate well together both on and off the field,” junior third baseman Kerrianne Davidson said. “We all mesh well together, and we’re a better team on the field because we are together all of the time off of it.” Regardless of the team’s record, Wardle believes maintaining this positive team atmosphere is essential to the remainder of the season. “Continuing on with the team chemistry that was developed last year is important,” Wardle said. “Between losing those seniors that helped establish that chemistry last year, the kids that are coming back and the new kids that are coming out. You just have to wait and see if they all click.” While the Jags have proved they “click” well and possess much individual talent, they intend to maintain focus to stay on track this season, as well as make another run at the postseason and advance farther in the state tournament. “We need to just keep up our intensity and not lose focus,” senior first baseman Kimber Rhodes said. “We have goals set (to return to the playoffs and place higher at state) and we need to keep shooting for them.”
SPORTS
Water polo works through challenging changes Team begins season with unsuccessful record, but still maintains aspiration for postseason play by
ASHLEY VINCENT
EDITORIAL BOARD
With a new coach, only two returning first string varsity players, and a lot of young and underdeveloped talent, water polo is off to a rough start this season; its record is 1-4. Dave McMullan, who also coaches boys water polo, has taken over this season and brought with him a new style. He and assistant coach Jenna Buswell have been working with the girls on the fundamentals and strategies of the game. “Dave and Jenna have been doing a great job,” senior Lauren Gonick said. “We have been doing more endurance this year and learning more about the game. We are all learning things every day that we didn’t know before.” Buswell is familiar with the sport after playing on Emerald Ridge’s team and at Washington State University. She gets into the pool to help the girls with the underwater game and other fundamentals. Because so much suit-grabbing and pinching goes on under the water it is important for the girls to know how to respond to the jabs and grabs coming from other teams. “Going into games being able to play the underwater game helps because we know how to show it if we are getting fouled and we don’t just get frustrated and give up,” Gonick said. The team is currently 1-4 after losses to Rogers, Puyallup and Auburn Riverside last
week, and to Bonney Lake early this week. It is still struggling to show the improvement on the scoreboard that it has been working for this season. The team’s lone win came against Sumner on March 20, where the team won 6-5 in the final moments of the game. “I scored the winning goal in the last 12 seconds of the game,” senior Kate Gibson said. “It was my first varsity win so it was really exciting.” McMullan and the girls are happy with the progress they have been making this season, but hope to improve their record as the season continues. “They are learning from experience,” McMullan said. “It is a young team, the first year players play very well, but not having game experience hurts a team, and I think we will get better as the season progresses.” According to many members of the team, lack of game experience is holding the team back, so reflecting on each game - whether a win or a loss - is something coaches and players have been focusing on. The entire first string of varsity from last season graduated with the exception of senior goal keeper Missy Pruitt and junior Callie Hyman, leaving the two to pick up leadership roles in the pool. Because of her strong knowledge of the game, the coaches decided to pull Pruitt out of the goal to run plays in the offense, leaving sophomore Megan Turner as the team’s main varsity goalie. “Missy knows the game really well,” Gonick said. “So right before the Rogers game we decided to pull her out of the goal to kind of run the offense. Megan has stepped up to play goal and she’s doing really well.”
Senior Kate Gibson, a second year player and varsity starter, beats the Puyallup goal keeper to the ball.
Hyman is the only returning player to play first string varsity in the field last year and has been working to pick up leadership roles in the games. “There were a lot of big leaders on the team last year, and being the only one left I kind of have to step up and be that for this team,” Hyman said. “It’s different not having those girls out there to look up to.” In order to build a stronger overall team, the coaches have also worked four nonleague games into the season. In addition to 16 league games, the girls will play extra games against Stadium, Mount Tahoma, Peninsula and Gig Harbor. “We really tried to fill out the schedule
and get as many games as possible,” McMullan said. “We have 16 league games and four more opportunities to play, so we are going to face some of those teams from the west side which should be a good challenge.” Another pertinent reason for facing teams from the “west side,” is so if the girls make it to state, they will have already faced these teams before. Though this team does not have a winning record yet this season, they still expect to make the state competition – something the team missed making last season by only two goals. “The season is not over yet,” Gonick said. “As long as we keep learning from our mistakes I believe we will make state.”
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volumeEIGHT.issueSIX
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A&E
‘Drillbit Taylor’ unrealistic and unoriginal With its juvenile and recycled humor, this film will disappoint moviegoers who are looking for a quality comedy
by
MEGAN ALBERT
REPORTER
It’s the first day of school, and you’re excited because high school is finally here. You find out you’re wearing the same shirt as your best friend, you look goofy and out of place, and to top it all off, you get beat up when you try to defend another freshman. Sounds like fun right? When watching this scene from “Drillbit Taylor” I half-wished I could have been in his place, opposed to sitting in the theatre after forking over a whopping nine dollars. I entered Regal Cinemas hoping to enjoy a creative, hilarious comedy that was not only funny, but original and lively, especially coming from the innovative mind of Seth Rogen (“Superbad”) and producer Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”). To my disappointment, what I encountered was the opposite. In this unrealistic portrayal of High School three freshman boys hire a bodyguard, Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), to protect them from upperclassman bullies, Filkins and Ronnie. Wade (Nate Hartley), Ryan (Troy Gentile) and Emmit (David Dorfman) don’t immediately realize that Drillbit, instead of being a bodyguard, is actually a no-good homeless man trying to pay his way to Canada by scamming them into paying for protection and robbing their houses. Drillbit, in order to keep the boys “under his wing,” stumbles into the teacher’s lounge and lands a substituting job at the high school and falls in love with an English teacher. Even with Drillbit at school with them, the boys continue to be bullied, leading to a climactic fight scene at Filkins’ house during a party. But, let’s be honest here, how many high school principals completely ignore bullying when it’s brought to their attention? How
REVIEW
one star - poor | two stars - average | three stars - good | four stars - great
many freshmen would get chased into a stranger’s garage in attempt to run away from their bullies, who are driving after them in a sports car? In what day and age does a naked man shower on beach in front of thousands of cars? And frankly, how many people want to watch an attempted comedy surrounding those events? In many films, there are unrealistic and unbelievable occurrences, however if the viewer feels like they are real, the director can get away with it. In “Drillbit Taylor,” the realism didn’t shine through at all. Since Seth Rogen wrote and produced “Superbad,” he should know better than to include over-the-top sentimentality, lame puns and lack of focus. The “Superbad” theme just didn’t work for “Drillbit Taylor,” especially when it seemed to be aimed at preteens. Unfortunately for Rogen, this facsimile of “Superbad” is not only less funny, but pathetically formulaic and repetitive. With Rogen co-writing with Kristofor Brown, however, the tiring and juvenile humor is to be expected – stemming from Brown’s stint writing for “Beavis and Butthead.” Although Owen Wilson delivered a candid performance, complete with his distinctive charm and a few funny one liners – let me emphasize, a few – he seemed nearly too familiar. Wasn’t he homeless and jobless in his most recent comedy “You, Me & Dupree” in 2006? From director Steven Brill (“Without a Paddle” and “Little Nicky”), “Drillbit Taylor” follows the assembly line of comedies that Gary Walker
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Taylor (Wilson) is a bodyguard for freshmen boys Ryan (Gentile), Wade (Hartley) and Emmit (Dorfman).
are completely mindless and predictable. By the halfway mark, the film became repetitive. How many times can you see the same actions repeated with a different backdrop? As the movie progresses, the violence gets heavier, the jokes became
less and less amusing, and I found myself yearning for “Drillbit Taylor” to finish. Although I wasn’t expecting an Academy Award winner, “Drillbit Taylor” disappointed more than I anticipated. Here’s to another juvenile comedy down the drain.
A&E
The Mars Volta: the science-fiction turnaround A progressive rock band with a wide range of artistic influences defies music industry norm by
DEVIN FLOYD
REPORTER
With a strong Hispanic influence, The Mars Volta has always been a unique rock band, contrasting the immense amount of pop-punk bands our generation has created. Their albums are known for their high energy, large use of abstract sound, and long song length. Their newest album, The Bedlam in Goliath, not only continues these band signatures but incorporates a few new ones as well. The CD starts off with a bang as opening track “Aberinkula” tears straight into typical Volta chaos with rampant percussion and lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s piercing vocals. The song hits its chorus that brings on the albums theme which seems to be not only fast, but loud as well. The song is brought to its end by lead guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López playing an intense groove on guitar for nearly two minutes. Throughout the album, several songs resemble this kind of pattern of high energy percussion and vocals leading to an eventual RodríguezLópez guitar solo that causes listeners to lose touch with reality due to pure astonishment at the musical chaos that is occurring. This can be viewed
CD REVIEW
one star - poor | two stars - average | three stars - good | four stars - great
as a drawback for anyone that is looking for an album with a new sound on each song. One could start this CD and check half way through its 75 minute length wondering if the first song has ended yet. Each song is designed to blend with the previous song, linking them into what seems to be one giant composition and showing the effort exerted by the band to keep a theme throughout the album. Depending on the type of music fan you are this could either make or break this CD for you. The powerhouse on the CD is the lead track “Goliath.” This seven-minute epic starts off as a medium-paced funk song that foreshadows what’s to come in the chorus as it takes a sudden turn from funk to progressive rock. For a couple of minutes the song flips back and forth until Rodríguez-López takes up a guitar solo that changes the structure of the song into a quick moving psychedelic salsa masterpiece. As the song nears its end all musical mayhem occurs as Bixler-Zavala’s vocals explode, drummer Thomas Pridgen bursts into what gives the feeling of two men going at the drums, a massive jam bass line begins and once again Rodríguez-López takes his
mark at lead guitar. This song captures everything that is The Mars Volta from start to finish. In the second longest track of the album, “Soothsayer,” a new sound is found as Volta takes on a Middle Eastern twist. The song begins with a violin playing a slow, haunting melody which is then handed over to a faster moving yet still spooky guitar solo that is designed to resemble a sitar. The vocals take a measured and creepy turn, rather than the rapid ear-piercing voice that the band is known for. As the song gradually comes to a close, rather than picking up pace it slowly fades into another weary violin solo playing over a sound clip of a prayer occurring at a mosque. It is easily the most out of character song for on the CD, but is something original that is rarely found in the music world at the moment. Any fan of The Mars Volta will without a doubt love this album as it embraces everything that they are known for. Unfortunately the album does have its weak points found in a few songs, and its length can be a drawback for anyone with a short attention span. This aside The Bedlam in Goliath is unlike anything else that is being played on the radio today, making the Volta an exceptionally rare band. It is true that The Mars Volta isn’t for everyone, but this album could easily pick the band up a few more fans.
If you like this artist, maybe you’ll like: • • • • • • •
The Arcade Fire Coheed and Cambria Muse Queens of the Stone Age An Albatross Hot Water Music Orthrelm
• • • • • • •
Melt Banana Sparta Circa Survive Deftones Rage Against the Machine At the Drive-In Jane’s Addiction
The Mars Volta’s Discography:
Tremulant EP 2002
De-Loused in the Comatorium 2003
Live EP 2003
Scabdates 2005
Frances the Mute 2005
Amputechture 2006
The Bedlam in Goliath 2008
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A&E 1
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Homework – OK. School is the last thing you want to think about, but it’s the perfect time for working on your portfolio or prepping for those gruesome AP tests.
Stay home – Why not use this time to relax? Lounge around, sleep, eat and savor the comfortable laziness you’re given before you have to go back to the heavy schoolwork and early morning hours.
Go to work – Pick up some extra hours at your job, this will give you extra cash. Hey, you might even get to spend some more time with your cute co-worker.
3 Watch TV – Tune into that show ever yone’s talking about. Rent all the seasons and watch them back-toback, and you’ll be up to date by the time you get back to school.
10ten
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top
Go on a romantic date – Either spend time with your longtime sweetheart or go to the Cheesecake Factory with that person you’ve been interested in since the beginning of the year.
BRI ROGERS REPORTER
4 Exercise – Take a couple of your buddies out on a bike ride, go on a hike, or even do yoga out on the lake. Shed some pounds while exploring new sports.
9
Pamper yourself – Take this week to indulge yourself. Girls, hit the spa. Guys, head over to Gameworks for a couple hours. Spring break is the perfect excuse for spending money on yourself just for fun.
7 5 Take a drive – Taking a relaxing cruise across the state is something you wouldn’t normally do. This opens your mind to what else is out there when you’re not worried about life’s priorities.
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6 Go to the park – What’s better than playing ultimate frisbee and having a barbeque with all of your friends? Get your vitamin D while it lasts.
Visit the local wildlife – Nature is just outside your back door, so take a Saturday trip to Point Defiance or Northwest Trek. Hitting the zoo is not just for little kids.
SOundoff
Four PEople, Four CDs, SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY COME TO THE ROuND TaBLE
Danny CAnham
Andy – Muse combines amazing, original guitar work with memorable solos. However, the vocals are subject to Coldplay’s plague of repetition. Once you’ve heard it, you’ve heard them all as nearly every song’s vocals sound the same.
Danny – Please blast back to the corny space adventure movie you came from and die in said black hole. Calliope, Erato and their seven sisters would like to have a word with you.
Josh Joyce
#3
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Josh – If you’re just trying to chill or you have played Guitar Hero, you’ll like this band. Canadian without the accent, psychedelic without the twenty minute guitar solos- this is how the trio that is Muse does music. They keep the sap on the tree.
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and R s Mu
Kaitlyn – I’m really neutral about this band. I love the way the instruments sound but the singing was kind of blah. They aren’t really a band that I would listen to normally, but I thought they were really unique with their lyrics and singing style.
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Kaitlyn – This band sings about noodles and parakeets, which is pretty peculiar. I must admit it is amusing. I didn’t know CD’s like this were sold in stores. I give props to the band name, not so much the actual music. The lead singer sounds like The Killers’ Brandon Flowers gone terribly wrong.
With ds s Ki ame N
Kaitlyn – I hate techno. It’s so repetitive and gives me a headache. This type of music involves no talent at all; I can’t believe it is even a real genre. This band doesn’t even speak English. However, if you’re throwing a rave, play this and turn on the strobe lights – it will be sure to set the mood.
Josh – It’s techno. Also, from Europe. Unless you know…I went to a rave, well you get the idea. I’d rather use this space to talk about the other actual musically inclined bands. Not something a nerd made on his computer and put on You Tube. Though, I can’t say I haven’t listened to some techno before.
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Andy – Representing Sweden, Basshunter is one of the few great techno artists. His songs are instant classics in the techno genre. While we may not be able to decipher “Vi sitter här i venten och spelar,” it’s addicting flavor and catchy-trace/house beat make it popular for any culture or native language.
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Andy Dickerson
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Danny – I would never waste my money to get this myself. I mean, seriously, an emoticon? How do you even say that? But I like their vibe enough that if someone gave it to me, you wouldn’t find me sprinting to FYE.
Andy – This band exemplifies the true Indy-styled rock/pop, that… never existed. Their style is cheap recording equipment and poor vocals. This is one of the few bands whose music wouldn’t be worth pirating. The vibraphone and bells were amazing though.
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Danny – I appreciate the generically cool riffs and rock beats. And I love the lead singer’s distinctive voice enough that were I to hear her on the radio I wouldn’t change the station, but they’re trying too hard.
Danny – This Swiss duo wants to “turn all their dance floors into a burning inferno of ba-ba-ba.” Come on, that alone should be enough. Plus, how can you not like them with a name like Suburban Kids with Biblical Names? It’s what got me.
Josh – I think this is actually the soundtrack for “Monty Python’s Holy Grail” or “Juno.” If you considered a career out of this, expect to be paid as much as an elementary school teacher for it. Besides Danny, only a few people would buy this CD; at least I wouldn’t, but I guess not everyone can get signed to Minty Fresh.
Andy – A bit heavier rock style; however the guitarist is decent. The lead artist screams a bit too much for the background accompaniment. Overall, the group is reminiscent of a screaming, very angry Miley Cyrus.
Josh – I don’t know. They are original with catchy guitar rhythms, but their style is not. Not something I would listen to in the car, but if I heard this somewhere I wouldn’t complain. Typical VH1, fifteen minutes of fame band, but everyone deserves a chance.
Kaitlyn – I heart Paramore, they are one of my favorite bands. My best friend and I always crank it in the car. I like their style because it’s edgy but not so much that it’s not original. They have a good balance between fast and slow songs, and the singer’s voice is really cool sounding.
Kaitlyn Clark