EMERALD RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.12405 184TH ST E SOUTH HILL, WA 98374 volumeTEN.issueTHREE.november2009
11
12 >> What is Policy 3220?
Censorship How it affects students and staff throughout the district.
14 >> Silenced in and out of class
Both boy and girl wrestlers are planning to smash the competition during this year’s season.
14 Wrestling 6 In Loving Memory
17 Invictus
The passing of four Lakewood Police Officers in a coffee shop shooting hits the hearts of students and staff.
News>>06 Op/Ed>>08
The uniting of races in South Africa through sport brings students to theatres to watch this inspiring film over the holidays.
Sports>>14
Features>>15
A&E>>17
NEWS
Three year degree option Colleges are considering a new approach to cut costs and time spent in school BY ALLIE RICKARD
FOCUS MANAGER College administrators realize implementing the same strategies that worked in years past may not be the most advantageous route to continue to take in higher education in the 21st century as technology, and practically every aspect of life, is constantly changing and adapting. “Not surprising, then, [is that] there is across higher education a palpable sense that at last we too will have to rethink what we are about,” said Professor Robert Zemsky of the Penn Graduate School of Education. In addition to the typical four year
bachelor’s degree program, a three year bachelor’s program is being considered and implemented by colleges. A few colleges already offer the option to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years and other higher education professionals are beginning to consider such an option. The most immediate, and potentially greatest, benefit being a 25 percentage reduction in college tuition. “A number of innovative colleges are making the offer to students anxious about saving time and money,” said Lamar Alexander, current US senator and former U.S. Education Secretary. In the past, a bachelor’s degree was all that was needed to be successful in a career after college. Higher levels of education have become necessary to succeed in many careers as job competition increases. Therefore, the bachelor’s degree is
being regarded more as a stepping stone on the pathway to higher degree options available to students. The argument for offering more three year bachelor’s degree programs is to speed up this intermediary part of a student’s college education so that they may progress quicker to their intended higher degree and be able to contribute to society sooner in their job after college. “Professional master’s degrees in business administration, health care, and information technology have become industry standards,” Zemsky said. “Since 1987 the number of master’s degrees annually awarded by American colleges and universities has more than doubled.” Some higher education professionals view a three year option as detrimental and inadequate due to the fact that an ever-expanding pool of knowledge that college students are expected to learn is
impractical to be condensed into three years. “I think my view is that [the common base of knowledge has] expanded. And so even a longer period of time [of college], I think, is justified. There is so much about the world that it is critical that young students coming into our universities have access to,” argued Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia University, in a debate on the changing face of higher education. Three year degrees would doubtless not be suitable for every college student considering the necessity that the course load and learning curve would be much accelerated. However, the advantages gained by such an education, such as saving money, faster progression toward a higher degree, and a more challenging course of study for well-prepared students, make the notion one worth considering.
THE WIRE “I would like that better because it would be a challenge.” Lisa Hwang, Sophomore
“I think it is a good idea because it would save time since I will be going on my Mormon mission.” -- Spencer Norawong, Junior
“It’s good to save money, but a four-year degree would give you the opportunity to take electives that would broaden your horizons.” -- Brian Cook, Senior
“For somebody who can do the work in three years, yes, it would be a good idea.” --Mr. Mirk, Teacher
Junior weekend well in the works In efforts to increase class camaraderie, the junior officers are planning new events and activities for the 2011 class. BY MILENA McLAREN
NEWS MANAGER Recent efforts by the current junior class officers have sparked major changes and plans this year. “I’m really excited about the changes the junior class officers are implementing this year,” junior officer Melissa Horton said. Responsibility for planning Winter Formal is up to the juniors. New ideas and possible changes are being considered for this event. Typically less successful than other Emer-
Photos by Allie Rickard
ald Ridge dances, the junior officers are working to create a larger profit. Drastic changes are necessary in order for this to happen. The junior class officers are taking this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the junior class. Winter Formal will be a Junior Prom. With the event off campus, the Liberty Theater will house the dance. Unlike past dances Emerald Ridge has hosted, a catered dinner will be provided at the venue. A capacity limit at the Liberty creates a limit on tickets up for sale. The junior class officers hope to sell out the dance. Only 300 tickets maximum will be sold. Juniors will have a week of priority to buy tickets. After that week, sales will be open to sophomores and seniors. Costs of a single ticket will include the dance, decora-
tions, and the formal dinner that is served to guests. Revenue from this junior prom will go toward senior prom for the class of 2011. The junior officers hope this will be a larger incentive for current juniors to attend this years dance. Feb. 11 is the scheduled date for the dance. If successful, the implemented changes will continue. It is hoped Junior Prom creates success for the future. “Our two big events are going to be Junior Weekend and having Junior Prom at the Liberty Theater,” Horton said. A Junior Weekend is scheduled for January 14-16. “I’m really stoked about planning Junior Weekend and seeing how many juniors can get involved,” junior officer Josyln Overby said. “It is something new and I have confidence it
will work.” Beginning Thursday of Junior Weekend, the entire class of 2011 will meet at the South Hill Round Table Pizza, and then proceed over to support the varsity basketball team versus Todd Beamer High School. Friday the juniors will greet the students into school from the corner to not only show off their school spirit, but their class spirit as well. That night, there is an all school movie night, sponsored by the junior class. Saturday, a bus will be provided to take juniors up for a trip to Crystal Mountain for a day in the snow. Tickets for the trip include the bus fare as well as a ski pass. Permission slips will be available in the office soon. The junior class officers and ASB are trying to take advantage of the popularity of Face-
book by getting every current junior to join the site This would give students an opportunity to join Facebook groups for Emerald Ridge and its class of 2011. It will keep students who join more informed on upcoming school events and opportunities. The hope is to get more students involved and aware of what is happening at school. Listen for more announcements during lunches and advisory on how to create an account for those who may be new to the site, and where to find the specific groups. With each activity devoted to the juniors, it will be a celebration of the halfway mark of high school for the 2011 class. The goal is for the class to come together and unite through these upcoming activities and events creating memories and camaraderie.
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Tents: homeless solution A sub-city may soon be created in Puyallup to house the growing homeless population BY ANDREA COTTLE
REPORTER
Being homeless is something that exists more than just on the alleyways of Tacoma and the streets of Seattle. In Puyallup and on the South Hill we have people of all ages and family situations on the streets and in parking lots. According to The Puyallup Herald, the Puyallup School District stated 318 of its students last year were considered homeless. As the economy has experienced an extreme downfall, and families have lower incomes, hundreds of citizens are without shelter and
somewhere to get a hot meal. With this situation only increasing, an option of bringing a “tent city” into Puyallup was brought up at the Puyallup City Council Meeting on Sep. 1, 2009. Together the Council ruled against this decision. “I must consider the safety impacts, visual impacts, property value impacts and comfort,” Council member Kathy Turner said. “I also am not sure that in the beginning of winter is the time to begin a tent city.” Most homeless shelters are filled and individuals don’t have a place to live. As more individuals lose their jobs and have no money to pay their bills or rent, the
problem will only continue to increase. “We have a crying need – hundreds of homeless people in Puyallup – and apparently they have to go back to the woods and to the Wal-Mart parking lot while we figure out what direction to take,” Ted Brackman the co-founder of the Puyallup Homeless Coalition told The News Tribune. Families are trying to find a place to stay and ways to get back on their feet but with the lack of jobs these opportunity aren’t available. “Many of the families I’ve been meeting with in recent
weeks have hit a wall. They don’t want to be homeless. They are vulnerable and at risk. They are pregnant women and small children and very young parents. They are grandmothers with children,” Bev Cascio of Open Hearth Ministries told the City Council. The community is relying on churches and parking lots as a place for the needy to stay until another proposal is made. The days are getting longer and colder, and more people each day are getting thrown out on the streets. There are no more room in shelters, and people have nowhere to go. The decision of having a Tent City is final, there won’t be a Tent City Homeless Encampment in Puyallup or South Hill anytime soon.
Safety shelters cut from budget Youth are losing the safe housing provided to them by the government and are forced into dangerous situations BY NATHAN McCURTAIN
PHOTO MANAGER
The state of Washington recently cut funding for Secure Crisis Residential Centers or secure CRCs, forcing their closures in multiple counties. A secure CRC is a facility which protects abused and endangered youth who have run away from home, are in an abusive relationship with their family, or are forced by gangs into prostitution. “The primary thing is to
keep the juveniles safe and to find out what the issue is that stopped them from either going home or a parent not wanting them there,” Lakewood Police Officer Ralph Rocco said. It is a secure environment aimed at taking juveniles away from such problems for a short period of time. Without a CRC, when a youth is arrested, regardless of the seriousness of the offence, police are forced to send the youth to their home or to the county juvenile detention center. Youth are commonly arrested for such offenses as trespassing, loitering and running away. A detention center is not the sort of environment to help these teens. Nor is it always safe to send them home, as it
often puts them back into the environment which drove them to their desperate situation in the first place. Statistics provided by “Homeless Youth and Sexual Exploitation” organization, as sited in the New York Times, shows that one third of underage teens who run away from home multiple times will end up in some form of prostitution. The longer an underage youth is on the street, the less cooperative they usually are with police even when they are being victimized. This makes the help from the Secure CRC even more important. The CRC staff is usually more trusted by the teens than the police because they can be
more personal and don’t have to follow such strict rules as the police. Because of budget cuts, funding for the CRC’s have all but dried up forcing their closure throughout the state of Washington. Pierce County, King County and many other counties have had their access to the CRC’s closed. Although there are talks about improving the situation in King County through federal and state grants to establish safe houses for at-risk youth, there are currently no plans offered to help Pierce County. So, juveniles from Pierce County are sent to the Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center. “The CRC in Kitsap County that supported Pierce County
went away which reduced our beds and some of our ability,” Rocco said. “Taking away another avenue for us to give them an opportunity to succeed in a different way.” There was a bill brought to Congress in 2007 to give 55 million dollars toward funding safe housing for at-risk youth but the bill was rejected by President Bush after federal budget issues. The 2010 Washington State budget has 32 million dollars to save mental illness facilities and drug dependency programs for endangered youth. The majority of that funding is going to counties other than Pierce County, and it is still questionable if even that money will be allocated.
Photo by Allie Rickard
Shoppers Tighten Wallets With the recession still affecting the economy, shoppers and stores are lowering prices and accommodating the tough times. BY ANDREA COTTLE
REPORTER
Holiday shopping sales are continuing to decrease this year in the same way they have in the past. Due to the
recession, many holiday shoppers are tightening their wallets and not buying all the new items that stores have to offer. Families are more worried about putting food on the table which results in less gift giving around the cheerful season. “I’ve definitely cut down. You have to cut down, because you have to eat,” Robin Fryman, 47, of Mount Orab, Ohio said to King 5 News. “It’s definitely made a difference in the way I’m shopping.”
Sales have been coming to a slow as the year progresses to an end and the loss of jobs is causing a lack of income in homes. Stores are trying to accommodate their shoppers by lowering their prices on items during the Holiday season. The deals that stores are willing to offer are still not comparing to the ones you might find on the internet. Websites such as Ebay and Craigslist, are becoming more common this Holiday season because of the lowered prices that have been set. Also stores such as Best Buy and Walmart have online sales that can’t be found in the stores. “This year’s best deals will be online,” Michelle Madhok, CEO and editor in chief of shopping sites Shefinds.com and Momfinds.com told SeattleTimes. “It’s easier for retailers to launch and retract deals online, where matching inventory with customers is less of a challenge than in stores.” Internet sales are on a constant rise
each year and this year they are continuing that trend. “Online sales Thursday and Friday, however, rose 11 percent to $913 million,” according to data given to the SeattleTimes by comScore, an Internet research firm. The National Retail Federation expects the 2009 U.S. holiday sales, or retail industry sales in the months of November and December, to fall 1 percent this year to $437.6 billion. Last year, sales in the period fell 3.4 percent to $441.97 billion. In result there aren’t going to be very many shoppers having a “happy holiday” due to the recession. Shoppers are keeping an eye on their wallets and buying gifts with precaution. Without a doubt, there will still be people willing to push their budgets as far as they can but most families are going to be much more careful about buying name brand clothing and new electronics.
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WEIRD NEWS OF DECEMBER
Local news television broadcasts may tell headlining news, but these odd stories take a new spin on top news stories. BY ERIN BECHTOLD
REPORTER
- A Florida woman, Elsie Egan, repeatedly hit her boyfriend with uncooked meat, slapping him in the face because he wouldn’t have a piece of sliced bread. She was arrested and charged with abuse of a disabled adult. According to online records, Egan has been released for a 2,500 bond and
is scheduled to appear in court in January. - A 112-year-old Somali man was married for the sixth time with a 17 year old bride who he hopes to have children with. The Somali man has thirteen children by his five previous wives and his oldest son is 80. His new wife is young enough to be his greatgreat-granddaughter. - A man stages a knife attack just to miss work. Police said a man stabbed himself and that he was attacked by three men dressed in black, in a ploy
to miss work. Police arrested a 29-yearold man for making up a false assault and said that he was responsible for the knife wound to his leg and other superficial cuts on his body. The reported assault caused five police agencies to come to the scene and K-9 units. - Ademir Jorge Goncalves, 59, was reportedly killed in a car accident. His family was shocked to see him at his own funeral. Some of the family members said they weren’t sure if the body was his but explained to the police that the body was dressed in
similar clothing even thought the face was disfigured. - 12-year-old Lauren Johnson, can’t help but sneeze about ten times a minute. She and her mother have gone to six professionals--a doctor, psychologist and a hypnotist--but no one had any cures for the girl. Johnson’s mother says it started with a normal head cold with regular sneezing but turned into sneezing more than 10,000 times a day. Johnson has to stay home from school and have teachers come to her because the sneezing is a big distraction to other students.
Laky gets lucky T E N T I P S Horrific crash leaves student shaken, but fortunately alive.
anything that happened the night of the wreck,” Laky said. For the next ten days she remained in the ICU. The doctors determined BY BILLIEMARIE KLEIN that Laky had severe whiplash and a FEATURE MANAGER concussion. Laky also suffered from The most exciting car crashes ERHS tremors--an unintentional muscle ever witnesses are fender benders on movement that mimics seizures. the crowded hill by the light. Rarely do “For a while I had them almost every we ever see car accidents take students two minutes,” Laky said. “It was hard out of school for a month and leave when I had them while visitors were them in the ICU for ten days. However, there. I would start crying, so they junior Jaynee Laky’s car accident was would start crying. They hurt and were not just a fender bender; it was someuncontrollable.” thing out of the ordinary, and incredAs a starter for Emerald Ridge’s varibly frightening. sity soccer team, she has missed nearly Each year, 300,000 teens are inthe whole season. jured in car crashes. On September 16, “It’s really hard not being able to 2009, Jaynee Laky became part of this play,” Laky said “its hard statistic. She was found sitting on the side lines unconscious in a ditch while the girls are doby a stranger after a car ing so good. I want to wreck. According to the be apart of it, but I can’t police report, Laky spun be.” 180 degrees into a ditch, Laky will not be able after turning a corner, to return to the field totalling her car. When until January. the police arrived on the Laky returned to scene, they found her school on November 2, unconscious and called and must go through her parents with the cell a series of doctors’ apphone they found in her pointments and physisoccer bag. cal therapy sessions as Junior Jaynee Laky “My parents were at the a part of her recovery Fair when they got the call plan prescribed by doctors. from the police,” Laky said. “They had just gotten their food and they immediately got up and left their food at the food court.” Laky woke up in the middle of the night at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Tacoma General Hospital. “I don’t remember
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Don’t talk on your cellular device or text: talking or texting could distract you from the road. and it’s illegal!
Be courteous: letting others in or out of a lane can help the flow of traffic.
Pay attention to your surroundings: you don’t want to run into something or go into the wrong lane.
ALWAYS wear your seat belt: it could save your life.
Go the speed limit: just because you don’t see a cop, doesn’t mean they don’t see you. Don’t drive when you’re sleepy: it is extremely dangerous and you could fall asleep at the wheel. Think about what other drivers are doing: keep in mind that the driver behind or in front of you might change lanes or suddenly stop. During the winter: keep an ice scraper in your car and defrost your windows before driving anywhere. This will help your visibility. Limit your passengers: driving a car full of friends can be distracting and you need to focus your attention on what you’re doing. Tailgating sucks! Give your fellow drivers their space!!
BY CRISTA NOONAN
REPORTER
Photos by Amanda Wyma and Billiemarie Klein
Six months of restrictions Just licensed teen drivers need to be prepared for the regulations that come with driving. BY QUINN SANDERSON
TOC MANAGER
More and more teens are receiving their driver’s license every day. The ability to transport you from place to place is an exciting freedom. However, teen drivers don’t have as much freedom as they thought. For the first year, drivers have special restrictions they need to follow in order to maintain their right to drive freely. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing website, “these rules are in place to protect teen drivers from accidents and help them develop and improve skills in the safest way.” Within the first six months of having a license, teen drivers are not allowed to drive any passenger under the age of 20 unless they are members of their immediate family. This includes parents, stepparents, siblings, and stepsiblings. This rule is to ensure a quieter and less distracting environment for drivers with less experience. After those first six months are over, up to three passengers under
Photos by Amanda Wyma
the age of 20, who are not immediate members of your family, are permitted to ride with a teen driver. By this time a teen has had enough driving experience to be able to handle more distractions in the vehicle without it interfering with their driving ability. Along with these passenger restrictions, limitations are put on the hours a teen may drive. Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. new drivers are not to be driving unless accompanied with a parent, guardian, or licensed driver 25 years of age or older. Since these times are late and typically very dark, it is safest that teen drivers do not drive during these hours. Drunk drivers are also known to be out more frequently around these times. Since bars close late at night, the chances of a new driver encountering a drunk driver is a high possibility, and because a teen driver lacks experience, this could be a very dangerous situation. If a teen driver chooses to not abide by these rules, there are consequences restricting their driving privileges. The first time a rule is violated, both passenger and night time restrictions will remain in place until the driver turns 18, and a letter of warning is sent to the
teen and their parent or guardian. These violations include: violation of restrictions or other traffic law, or being involved in an accident that the teen received a ticket, caused the accident, was the only car involved, or no one involved got a ticket or was found to be the cause. At the time of a second violation, the driver’s license is suspended for six months, or until they are 18, whichever comes first. Finally, if there is a third violation, the driver’s license is suspended until the teen is 18. Both the teen and their parents are notified before a suspension takes place. After a year of driving, or once the driver becomes 18 years old, these rules can be lifted, as long as they have not been in a vehicle collision, committed a “rules-of-the-road” offense, or violated any of the former restrictions. Speeding is the major cause of tickets and car accidents. Checking the speedometer and watching for speed limit signs are both good ways to avoid getting a speeding ticket. Along with not speeding, it is important not to drive too close to any over vehicle. Rear-ending accidents are incredibly common, especially with new drivers. In addition to being in an accident, a ticket is distributed when a driver is following too close. Going at speeds of 30 miles per hour or less, a driver should leave a space between them and vehicles in front at two to three seconds in order to be able to stop in time if need be. At speeds over 30 miles per hour, a four second space is appropriate.
Many grieve over officers Western Washington officers were killed in an eventful and tragic day. The event touched many people’s lives in Pierce County and around the country BY ERIN BECHTOLD
REPORTER
November 29, 2009 at 8:15 a.m. Sunday morning, an unexpected tragedy unfolded and left everyone speechless. Four local police officers were bombarded and killed by a gunman while they were at a coffee shop waiting to begin their shift. Police said the shooting was a planned murder. After hours of investigating, police had a suspect in mind—Maurice Clemmons..
They later came to find that he was indeed who they were looking for and were on the look out. Tuesday, December 1 a local Seattle police officer found an idling car reported stolen in Rainier Valley and saw a man who looked like Clemmons. He told him to put his hands up but the man refused so the cop shot him. The gun that Clemmons was holding was a gun that he had taken from one of the slain officers. Once Clemmons was dead, the community felt that it was time to mourn and honor the fallen officers. It is true to say that the death of the four police officers hit close to our hearts, especially here at Emerald Ridge. It left a hurtful impact on many students and faculty because they knew the officers
and had a very close relation to them. “I thought it was messed up what happened,” Senior Shelby Leimbach said. “It was scary and sad because my dad was friends with one of the officers that were killed.” It is always sad when a death occurs but more so when it is people who put their lives at risk everyday to protect our community from criminals like Clemmons. Police officers do their best to always serve and look out for citizens regardless of the circumstances. “It hurts me to know that people even think about killing innocent people let alone police officers who take a risk everyday to protect us, “ Senior Lissa Lozada said. A month prior to the shooting of
the four officers, Seattle police officer, Tim Brenton, was shot in his car on Halloween night during his shift. This is the first time for Washington to have five police officers killed in less than a month. On December 8, a memorial was held to honor the fallen officers, including Tim Brenton. Families, friends, and coworkers of the officers were there to speak out for them in regards of why they were such strong individuals. Military personnel, police officers, and firefighters from across the nation came to honor these brave men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. This tragedy has hit the hearts of every family in the country and many are doing their best to help the families by donating to respectable funds.
An American flag was raised in honor of the fallen officers between two cranes. Many came to view this sight and grieve the loss of loved ones.
Funding for Daffodil being lost As the nation’s economy continues to falter, western Washington’s Daffodil tradition is encountering funding issues BY ROSS REID
REPORTER The Daffodil Festival of the Puyallup area is enduring a possible end. It looks as though this 77th year of the annual parade might be the last. The organization is losing almost all of their long-term funding sources. They presently have no parade sponsors.
BECU, Sumner and Puyallup Paradises, Mountain Mist and Water for Parade Day VIP Busses & Lunch were all parade sponsors for 2009, and all have left the program. The most likely reason as to what’s behind this sudden loss of sponsors and donations is the state of today’s economy. Businesses today don’t have the budget to support themselves and the activities they sponsor. Not only could this be the death of a tradition, but it also takes away the opportunity for the princesses and queen to practice certain charisma and leadership skills during their term of pomp. The parade and marine parade are also cherished features, with
decorated boats and marching bands that promenade the streets of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. Just recently, the organization received a $10,000 youth grant from Pierce County to help with their royalty leadership program. “Our program fits the youth criteria,” Daffodil Festival Director of Finance Robyn DeLorm said in a recent News Tribune interview, “It’s a one-time thing but it’s a wonderful help.” It’s possible that the Daffodil Festival Headquarters could be moving from it’s current location in Sumner to the chamber office downtown Puyallup to decrease monthly rent up to two-thirds.
The organization is presently discussing funding plans with the Puyallup City Council to find another money source. During a city council meeting on December 1st, the city council came to the conclusion that they need to provide funding for the Daffodil Festival and other non-profit organizations. The money comes partially from our city’s lodging tax. The Daffodil Parade has been a Pierce County trademark since it’s founding in 1934. This festival hasn’t been cancelled since World War II. Bulb farmers organized the original Daffodil Festival Parade to celebrate the success of their own crops.
minor
ANNOYANCES
All the little things we hate
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Have you ever read the back of that shampoo bottle? Actually, have you ever used that shampoo?? BY BILLIEMARIE KLEIN
FEATURE MANAGER You know those Axe commercials, the ones with mad hot girls jumping uncontrollably on guys like they have gone literally insane by how crazy good those guys smell? Experts of the campaign call this the “Axe Effect”. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anyone, boy or girl, jump on anyone because of how amazingly seductive, attractive and beyond good someone smells. But, I would like to see the “Axe Effect” happen. Honestly, if someone smells so delicious they need to be tackled. You know they are doing something right. So what are they doing that is so beyond amazing? Unfortunately, I cannot tell you their daily hygiene routine, but I can give you some tips to increase your chances of being ravaged. Lesson 1: Clean hair is good hair. People who smell ridiculously good are not letting their hair ooze up with juicy, matted together, dandruff and they never have white flakes lining their shirt collars. Instead, they take showers daily and wash their hair thoroughly, just like your mom did for you when you were little. Disgustingly clean people probably don’t even use lavish hair-washing products like Paul Mitchell
in the shower. They probably just use the “Classic Care” formula by Pantene to combat their own hair problems- and it works. When they flip their hair, it’s like a slow motion commercial that showcases the shine and beauty their locks. Repeat it with me, clean hair is good hair. Lesson 2: So fresh, so clean. You know those mornings when your alarm obnoxiously rings, interrupting your warm dreams of running your hands through Jake Gylenhall’s perfect head of hair, and you hit the snooze button, and hit the snooze button again, and hit the snooze button again, until you have overslept by 30 minutes? Well, you shouldn’t hit the snooze button so many times. Not showering is not good and if you don’t shower there will be no angelic ray of light and holy “ah’s” for you. More importantly, no one will pounce upon you. Disappointing. So, hit your snooze button one time only, I am sure Jake will be in your dreams another night, and get in your shower. It’s okay if you use Dial, shh… no one has to know. Lesson 3: No manners, no game. There is more to being “fresh and clean” then just showering and taking care of basic hygiene duties. Manners are vital when trying to achieve “jump-onable” status. If you let out a loud juicy burp in public
that everyone can hear, including Sarah Palin and her Russian neighbors, people are probably going to say something along the lines of, “hmph...that’s kind of gross.” It is by no means attractive to anyone. Instead of letting everyone know that you have too much air in your stomach, go to a room by yourself and take care of your burping problems, privately. Thank you.
Vending machines cause mayhem Ever feel like the school vending machines never seem to work properly? Yeah, so do we. BY AUBREY KENDALL FEATURE MANAGER Dear Jags, You are all invited to be a member of my club. The club is called People-Who-Are-Sick-And-Tired-Of-The-ExremeleyUnreliable-And-Uncooperative-Vending-Machines. Interested? You should be, this concerns you. If you have not yet noticed, the vending machines near the Career Center are scamming thieves. Vending machines have one purpose; to supply the hungry pursuer of snacks with snackables. If only the vending machines here were feeding our bellies. Getting an unsatisfactory , half-filled bag of Cheez-Its is becoming nearly impossible. It seems that every day I see some sad, red-faced kid at one of the machines; banging on the window or pushing at the buttons angrily because Mr. Vending Machine pulled a Dollar Coin Scam (DCS) on him. Oh, you’re not familiar with the DCS? Let me explain. You are hungry, lunch has finally come, and you fight your way through couples eating each others faces for lunch and find yourself in front of the life-giving
Photos by Allie Rickard and Alanna Nugent
snack machines. Except.... the stupid thing won’t accept your dollar because it’s too wrinkled. This whole wrinkled dollar deal is bogus. Anyway, the machine isn’t in a ‘dollar bills’ sort of mood. You go for your back up: quarters. Unless, of course, some neanderthal jammed the coin slot. Again. It takes your change, but it counts it up wrong and says you didn’t actually pay a dollar. Does it think you’re some insectbrained idiot who can’t count out four quarters? The little screen reads ‘seventy five cents’. Seventy five cents!?! You get understandably upset and press the coin return button thinking you’ll be able to start over. But it keeps the coins you just put in, and you stand there. No Nature Valley or Snickers Marathon bar to satisfy your tummy that is now shrieking with hunger pains. You are thoroughly ripped off. That fellow Jags, is the infamous DCS. The majority of vending machine users at Emerald Ridge have expressed their frustration with our snack machines. Whether it be because of the DCS or just because they’ve had a sugar coated deliciousness they’ve been craving since advisory, bound by that evil black sinister coil, dangling a foot away behind glass, like a prisoner. Jags, this is a problem. We expect the vending machines to be our way of getting inexpensive food immediately. If the machines aren’t fixed anytime soon, there’s going to be a migration larger than when the bell rings on Friday afternoons from the snack machines to the lunch lines. Mr. and Mrs. Vending Machine are going to be sitting in a dusty hallway with only the overly hormonal couples to keep them company. Sincerely, Aubrey
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Take the chance to listen I t’s a fact--everyone has their own, differing opinions. This fact is perfectly okay until those who have opinions, start turning into stone walls--unable to hear anybody else’s. I mean face it--we are high schoolers, and the last attitude the world wants to see from us is that we think we’re done thinking about things, and that we’ve got it all figured out. Chances are, you probably have something to learn from your peers. With issues such as gay rights and health care heatedly debated daily by politicians and over national news stations, students’ personal and strong opinions are inevitably surfacing more and more in daily conversation. Debates take place everywhere, and not just debates regarding political issues. From religion and immorality, to understanding human behavior and why people act certain ways, arguments and differing opinions cause controversy in every niche of society. While there is virtually no argument that these debates can be extremely constructive, and lead to compromise and understanding, it seems as if more and more of these conversations are turning exactly the opposite. It seems a daily occurrence, in the lunch room, to classroom conversations, to advisory, even during passing periods, people yell ignorant comments like “Obama’s an idiot!” The term “open-minded” is often criticized because it insinuates that people should be more tolerant of others that are engaged in what they deem inappropriate or immoral behavior. In reality, this term simply means being willing to accept that another person has a view that differs from your own, and acknowledging that through the eyes and experiences of somebody else, an issue could be solved in a different manner.
THE FINE PRINT Emerald Ridge High School 12405 184th St. E. South Hill, WA 98374 253-435-6300
EDITORIAL MISSION
As a limited forum, JagWire exercises student expression rights under the jurisdiction of the Puyallup School District. We pursue an unbiased truth while maintaining the highest journalistic integrity. Out top priority is to raise awareness while covering a wide variety of issues that impact our readership. By exploring different angles to make sure our coverage is fair, balanced and accurate, we seek to continue the
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It would be much more constructive if people engaged in these kinds of conversations, so that there is a balance between listening and talking by all parties involved. Being stubborn and unwilling to even hear someone out only makes us come across as ignorant individuals, someone who doesn’t intend to increase their knowledge to make the best decisions on how to view the world and the problems we face on a daily basis. High school students are especially guilty of falling into this ignorant category. Few actually research the facts to back their arguments, and many just regurgitate what their parents or friends have impressed upon them. It would be great to see people of all ages focusing less on why they are right, and why their opinions reign supreme, and more on why there might be opposing view points to their own. How can we expect people to hear us out, understand us, and virtually accept our opinions as at least valid, if we don’t give them due respect by listening, at the very least? Editorials are composed by, and are the opinion of, the JagWire editorial board.
STAFF
EDITORIAL BOARD................... Alanna Nugent ....................................................... Chris Schroll .................................................. Amanda Wyma TOC DESIGNER........................Quinn Sanderson NEWS MANAGER......................Milena McLaren OP/ED MANAGER..........................Moe Herbert FOCUS MANAGER..........................Allie Rickard FEATURE MANAGER..................Aubrey Kendall FEATURE MANAGER................Billiemarie Klein SPORTS EDITOR.............................Chris Schroll A&E EDITOR...............................Amanda Wyma SOUNDOFF/BEAT EDITOR.........Alanna Nugent PHOTO MANAGER................Nathan McCurtain SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER...............Casey Duke AD MANAGER.............................Kaitlyn Schlegel REPORTERS.................................... Zach Albert ...................................................... Erin Bechtold .......................................................... Jason Britt ..................................................... Andrea Cottle ......................................................... Casey Duke ....................................................... Kayla Gower ........................................................ James Hunt .......................................................... Sean Klise ......................................................... Kate Meyer .................................................. Christa Noonan ............................................................ Ross Reid ......................................................... Jacob Roos ......................................................... Kelsey Yost ......................................................... Mellisa Yun ADVISER....................................... Kevin Smyth
AFFILIATES
JEA, NSPA, SPJ, WJEA, WSJA
publication’s tradition of excellence through self-reflection and improvement. As part of the curriculum of the Puyallup School District, we are subject to the scrutiny and evaluation of The administration. JagWire is used as an academic tool to interact with the surrounding community and improve journalism education.
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 disrupt the school process. Letters tot he editor may be submitted by mailing them to JagWire c/o Emerald Ridge High School, or by e-mailing them to smythkg@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 to 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.
D E R O S N E C
BY THE PUYALLUP SCHOOL DISTRICT
censored:november jagwire issue This year’s November issue of JagWire was the first act of censorship under Regulation 3220R BY QUINN SANDERSON
TOC MANAGER
Emerald Ridge was rocked with irony last month when the November 2009 “censorship” issue of JagWire was censored. Although it might be assumed that it was something regarding content that caused the cancellation, it was a communication error that stopped JagWire from reaching the student body. “There was an issue with communication between Mr. Smyth, myself, and the editorial board,” Principal Brian Lowney said. Communication between the student press and the principal is critical in order to avoid any sort of problems, especially since Regulation 3220R was implemented in August 2008. Since this incident, the three-part team
of Lowney, newspaper advisor Kevin Smyth, and the editorial board have figured out a way to stop this problem from reoccurring. “Smyth, the editorial board, and I met the day after the issue was censored and talked about where the break [in communication] occurred so [that] it would not reoccur,” Lowney said. “The problem wasn’t about context, but because of a break in communication.” The irony of this issue may be humorous, but censorship is not something that should be taken lightly. The JagWire staff has taken this as a warning and from now on will be sure to share both important and correct information with Lowney especially, as well as the rest of the student body. JagWire is reorganized into departments to distribute responsibility and streamlines the production process. This will hopefully lower the stress level in the newspaper production class as well as make sure that JagWire is distributed to the students of Emerald Ridge on schedule.
POLICY and r 3220 disclos Censorship has not always been a requirement of the Puyallup School District; learn about the policy that requires certain activities and programs to be censored BY KAITLYN SCHLEGEL
AD MANAGER
Recently, the Puyallup School District enacted prior review in schools requiring that all publications be previewed and even censored by the administration. Certain activities, such as covering potentially controversial topics in school newspapers or dance routines in spirit assemblies, are edited by the administration to insure that nobody gets offended. All of this is due to Policy 3220 and Regulation 3220R. Policy 3220 states students are not permitted to use vulgar language or behavior to express themselves. As long as students are not disruptive to the school environment or offensive, they are more than welcome to express their opinions through whatever source they choose. The policy also mentions student publications and their restrictions. Student publications can talk about controversial topics, such as sexual intercourse and the use of drugs and alcohol, but are required to be unbiased so as not to offend anybody. If the reporting is offensive towards anyone, the publications will be censored and stories will either have to be re-written or will be deleted entirely. Along with Policy 3220, there is Regulation 3220R, which
controversia covers oral When JagWire covered oral sex in February 2008, the school, students, and local community were caught up in controversy and a lawsuit BY JACOB ROOS
REPORTER Censorship wasn’t always an issue at Emerald Ridge, but since prior review was adopted in August 2008 the district has cracked down. District Policy 3220 states students’ First Amendment rights at school, and after the February 2008 JagWire issue that covered “oral sex,” the district changed the way the policy was handled with the implementation of Regulation 3220R. Now all clubs, sports, and school activities must get all publications and performances reviewed in advance by school administration to insure they are school appropriate. “I now spend considerable time reviewing student publications and performances prior to the publication and/or performance.” Principal Brian Lowney. It all started with the decision to write an article about oral sex, something a large number of students were involved in, but knew little or nothing about. After discovering that 33 percent of students at Emerald Ridge admitted to engaging in oral sex, JagWire staff decided that it was a pressing issue that needed to be reported. Many people were concerned with whether or not the issue was school appropriate. After the release of the issue, the topic had the community
regulation sed enacts censorship in schools and outlines the administration’s job regarding prior review. The principal has the right to void any student publication if it is disrespectful to the school or to the students, and is required to review the school newspaper before it is sent to the printer. If the publication is altered after it was approved by the administrator, the administrator also has the ability to censor the document from being released to the student body. Schools are subject to, and in some cases required to, have their student publications and performances censored by an administrator or district official. Neither Policy 3220 or Regulation 3220R seem to have a huge impact on students, but in reality, they affect students in very direct ways. All school publications and performances must be authorized by the administrator. Whether it is the music played at school assemblies, or the school’s newspaper, everything is prior reviewed. Students’ opinions put into publication have to be monitored in order to abide by Policy 3220. The policy is designed to create a neutral atmosphere throughout the school, even if that means editing student publications and going against what students were trying to portray with their publications. Policy 3220 has become a part of the Puyallup School District, and its impact on the district makes freedom of expression more difficult for students and staff.
al jagwire sex and school talking. The focus contained five articles that included the consequences of oral sex, national perception and influence, and oral sex at ER. Within the focus spread, surrounding the written articles about oral sex were five pulled quotes, one stating that they had not engaged in oral sex and four saying that they had. There were multiple areas of the issue that the Puyallup School District saw as provocative and controversial. The cover picture of the issue is a woman chewing on a pencil. In other pictures, the same girl is depicted as a teacher, but all that is visible are her legs while she instructs a man to write “I will not perform oral sex” on a chalkboard as discipline. What caused JagWire to be sued were not the quotes, but the names under them. Some students who had been quoted in the article claimed that they had not given permission to the reporters to publish their names in the paper, however, the reporters claim that they did obtain permission. Parents claiming that their children were singled out for ridicule filed a lawsuit against the district. The school district placed a regulation in effect that limits students’ first amendment rights at school, prohibiting any expression that in any way disrupts the educational process. Although the school district was not happy with the controversial issue, the focus-story reporters and editors felt that they had done a successful job of informing students of an important topic. “Through personal conversation, I have been told by many students that they learned something about oral sex from that issue,” former JagWire Editor Gerry LeConte said. “And that is what our goal in covering the topic was.”
censorship and the constitution The Constitution grants all citizens free speech, but under Regulation 3220R students are not allowed such freedoms BY ALLIE RICKARD
FOCUS MANAGER Student rights of free speech and freedom of the press, in the Puyallup School District, are governed not by the Constitution, but by Regulation 3220R since October 2008. The introduction of 3220R is accused of conflicting with the First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of the press by requiring all student publications and productions in the Puyallup School District to be reviewed and possibly subject to revision and removal by school administration. Regulation 3220R states that these student activities “...must be in keeping with the school’s instructional message and values, and recognition that school sponsored student publications and productions are not an open forum for first amendment expression...” In 1988, the Supreme Court case of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier established three distinct forum classifications for student expression: open, limited, and closed. Prior to the implementation of 3220R, Puyallup student publications and productions were considered open forums for student expression. Open forums for student expression operate under the full range of First Amendment rights with students taking on the full responsibility of the content created. Limited forums are subject to the supervision of school administrators and closed forums are completely restricted with the school holding the right to limit expression as long as such censorship is deemed ‘reasonable.’
Therefore, Puyallup’s student publications and productions fall under the limited forum distinction for student expression. Instead of exercising free choice of speech and press in school papers, plays put on by the drama department, and music for dance routines, student content must conform to certain district standards, and in some cases principals or other administrative faculty are required to review certain material. “Material must be free of content that: runs counter to the instructional program; is in poor taste or otherwise offensive for the student or general community; invades the privacy of individuals, defamatory or otherwise unlawful for a school district to disseminate; demeans or otherwise damages individuals or groups; supports the violation of school rules or, is inappropriate for the maturity level of the student,” states Regulation 3220R. Furthermore, “student prepared written materials or student oral speech on school premises or at school activities” are under restriction by the rules of 3220R and not the freedoms that the First Amendment dictates. Such student generated material distributed at school that is deemed to have the potential to cause fights, intimidation, protests, and harassment can be restricted and disciplinary action can be taken against the students disseminating such materials. The purpose of 3220R is to prevent legal action from being taken against students, teachers, or the district as a whole and also to ensure that students are not misrepresented through material distributed by various school programs. However, students question whether this regulation stifles their rights as American citizens.
in class and subject to censorship Students and teachers must cope with the fact that everything done in the classroom can be censored BY MOE HERBERT
OP/ED MANAGER
When the Puyallup School District enacted Regulation 3220 in August 2008, academic life at Emerald Ridge and throughout the entire district changed for students and staff. Schools have always been at battle with the First Amendment in the school setting. What students wear, say, and do is now under more scrutiny and restriction with the enforcing of Policy 3220 through the application of Regulation 3220R. “High schools need restrictions and control,” drama teacher Steve Glass said. “Society in general has differ-
ent standards than what we are allowed to have at a campus.” Between prior reviews and quick denials, some students may start to feel like they have fewer freedoms at school. Students are not able to watch full length movies in class, and teachers have to censor students’ academic projects in art and drama. From essays in English, to posters in social studies, even movies, educational or recreational, now have to be approved by administration. Now, these restrictions upon curriculum can make it difficult for some students to understand the instruction from teachers and for some teachers to be able to present their chosen curriculum to students. “I cannot imagine me doing something that wouldn’t be approved,” said Glass. Students cannot and sometimes should not say whatever flows through their heads. Throughout history it is shown that their actions to be controlled in a
school or else you will have serious legal and ethical problems involving both students and administration. The legal issues that the Puyallup School District is currently invovled in with the pending lawsuit is a perfect reminder of what power censorship holds in this country. Schools under limited and closed forums are required to regulate what is said and done on campus, though these policies of censorship continue to be an ongoing struggle with both students and the administration as both sides do not always agree. “You have to set boundaries in both directions, so kids know where the limits are about what is appropriate and what isn’t,” art teacher Jami Maylon said. Students need to be aware that when they come onto any school campus their rights are limited; and the administration needs to also know that kids have no concrete filters between what they do and say, even though they are merely enforcing adistrict wide policy.
extracurriculars under restriction Activities that are not curriculum based are also subject to being censored BY ZACH ALBERT
REPORTER
Prior review seems to be everywhere these days, used by the Puyallup School District administration to silently monitor nearly every aspect of school life. Regulation 3220R constantly influences extra-curricular activities from drama, to video productions and even sports. “The administrative team works with yearbook, newspaper, video productions, theater, and other activities groups that produce student publications and performances,” Principal Brian Lowney said. With its impact on these clubs and other activities it is obvious that prior review is deeply embedded in the education system. Though the administration has not forced any
changes in what the theater department wants to perform yet, every play must now be reviewed and approved by them. If prior review was established earlier last year the spring play, Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams, could have very well been axed. The reason behind this is that the script and plot line contained some words and scenes that are considered inappropriate. The use of the “N-word”, which was changed anyway, and its many references to sexual activity, drinking, and the use of marijuana could have come under increased review by administration. Despite the road-blocks set up by the prior review system the administration is doing the best they can to support students in their extra curricular endeavors. “We are working hard to ensure that authentic student voice is maintained in our student publications and performances.” Lowney said. Even aspects of sports are subject to prior review, such as a team’s warm up music, or other songs played
at sporting events. When asked if this policy is actually enforced “To the best of my knowledge, yes, they need to be submitted to Rick Wells, PSD Athletic Director, prior to the event,” athletic director Dell Dittus said. This is necessary because some songs may contain inappropriate language that could be offensive to certain audience members. The group that probably is the most affected by the prior review system is Emerald Ridge’s comedy group, the Hypokritz. Every skit that they want to do must be typed and turned into the administration to be approved. Due to this policy of prior review and approval, many promising ideas may never make it into shows because those that are considered even slightly risqué are quickly stopped. Shows and ideas will continue, but not with the level of artistic freedom that is desired. This policy of censorship will continue into the foreseeable future and has a solid grasp on the entirety of the Puyallup School District.
impact of 3220r on administration Administrators are the enforcers of Regulation 3220R for all student produced material BY SEAN KLISE
REPORTER
Many seniors, and a few juniors, probably remember when JagWire’s February 2008 issue was published, along with the consequences that followed. Though the issue did not mean much for the student body at large, something much more important was affected. In 1999, Policy 3220 was adopted which, among other things, makes prior review a sort of non-mandatory protocol. Policy 3220 was a part of the district for years, and there is no evidence of a specific event that triggered the creation of the policy.
“There has always been a policy,” Principal Brian Lowney said. “I don’t know about other incidents, I don’t know the history of it.” In 2008, Regulation 3220R was introduced in the Puyallup School District, making prior review mandatory. The preceding events that caused 3220R are a long, jumbled affair that involved students long graduated. When it comes to the work load 3220R has put onto the administration throughout the entire district, there is a definite increase. “[My] volume of workload has increased, I have read every play, every page of the yearbook, every article [of the newspaper] before it goes to print,” Lowney said. After Lowney has ‘prior reviewed’ such materials they are sent to the district for further review by the superintendent’s office if there is a dispute between students and the administration.
Censorship regulation has not always been this way. Prior to 3220R, Puyallup schools had always operated as open forums for student expression. “[I don’t think] schools should have prior review,” photography and yearbook teacher Jim Meyerhoff said. Lowney sees both advantages and disadvantages in the relationship he now has with prior review. “It has made us close,” Lowney said. He described the relationship as collaborative rather than a dictatorship. Enforcing 3220R is not always an easy decision for the administration. Occasionally they are faced with the task of removing something that may be offensive, but if removed, could change the quality of the work. “It would be more difficult if I was not such a fan of the newspaper,” Lowney said. “But it is necessary to implement the regulation.”
censorship affects entire district Every single student, school, and employee in the Puyallup School District is subject to censorship BY KAYLA GOWER
REPORTER
In February 2008, the JagWire produced the oral sex issue. The issue generated a response that spread across the district like wildfire. The following summer, the superintendent’s office unveiled Regulation 3220R. This regulation specifically addresses Policy 3220, student freedom of expression, and how the district is enforcing this policy district wide. The new regulation states that “students’ constitutional rights of freedom of speech or expression provide for the opportunity to distribute on school premises any written materials they have produced,” though these materials still must be approved by administration. This “freedom of expression” holds true for publicly funded productions
as well, such as the school newspaper. “The stricter regulations affect all our students as their voice truly needs a place and somehow I have to believe it is a bit quieter as a result,” Rogers High School principal Scott Brittain said. 3220R also specially states that the principal, or other designated administrator, must review all articles before the paper goes to publication: all play scripts before being performed, and even assemblies before they are enacted. Specifically, the administrator has 24 hours to approve and return the any materials submitted for review. If they aren’t given back within this deadline, the materials are effectively censored. “I am much more aware of the deadlines and our students and advisor keep me fairly well connected to the content,” Brittain said. Schools now have to balance the issue of being strict on censorship and letting students still have the freedom to voice their opinion on issues important to them. Hence, 3220R also includes that censorship “may
not be based on intent to discriminate against a particular viewpoint involved in the expressive activity. High school programs in the district are undergoing the most change as a result of 3220R, compared to the junior high and elementary schools. In junior high schools, a high level of prior review has been maintained even before the enactment of 3220R. “At the junior high level, we have always practiced prior review, so the new district policy did not cause us to change many practices,” Glacier View Junior High principal Mark Vetter said. The new regulation specifically addresses the issue that school sponsored student publications must not invade the privacy of individuals or demean and damage individuals or groups, which was of concern after the February 2008 JagWire issue. As a result, students in the Puyallup School District have a limited form of the freedom of speech that the First Amendment dictates and are subject to the control of the district administration.
Basketball having a rough start Despite a slow start, the Jags won the King of the Hill game, beating Rogers 32-31 BY KAYLA GOWER
REPORTER
Brady Tripp shoots for threee against Rogers
With the start of basketball, the Jaguar boys already carry a record of 0-3, losing to Mount Tahoma and Auburn Riverside in the first two non-league games of the season and then Beamer in the first league match. Even without a win in the record book, the Jags remain positive and continue to focus on team building. “Our team chemistry is good,” senior captain Layton Smith said. “We have
some guys hurt so it’s shaking it up, but when they get back things will get better.” Despite injuries early in the season, the guys are still stepping up as a team and preparing for the season ahead of them. “It’s been a team effort to step up and help the team this year,” junior Caleb Thaanum said. “We have done more conditioning and more team chemistry activities to prepare us for the season.” The team is also staying goal oriented, with hopes of a winning season. “We have the potential and a chance of beating Rogers and Puyallup this year,” Smith said. “I predict we will end up being third or forth in the SPSL.” This year, the Jaguar boys have also
picked up a new foreign addition to the team, the Spanish exchange student Jose Alcaraz Garcia. “I like my teammates. They are nice people and treat me good while helping me to adapt,” Alcaraz Garcia said. “Chase and Layton are good captains and help me out the most. Also, the coaches help me a lot as well.” Along with Alcaraz Garcia, a mostly senior centered team has some new underclassmen additions that are stepping up to the plate. “Caleb Thaanum and sophomore Adam Kirk are some underclassmen to look out for this season,” Smith said. The season has just begun, but the Jaguar boys already have their eyes set on a positive future.
Bowling early season favorites After only losing two players from last years State Championship team, the Jag bowlers are atop State rankings BY MOE HERBERT
OP-ED MANAGER/REPORTER With only an eight player team, the last thing the bowlers need is a teammate lost. With a high chance of injury or illness this season and the odds against them, these girls have already started on the road to another State championship. With the season just started, a 6-0 record has shown the bowlers strong play and puts them in a good position for another State championship.
“We can not afford to lose any players,” junior Shannon Dexter said. During their first game against Spanaway Lake, they won with an impressive 5-0 score, and set the season off to a good start. Facing Graham-Kapowsin for their second match, the Jags beat GrahamKapowsin 2-0. “Practicing will give us a chance to gain knowledge of the location,” Dexter said. The practice has paid off, beating Puyallup High School 4-1 in the third match. “Bowling is a fun sport,” spohomore Courtney Couch said. “Anyone can pick up a ball and do it.” The jags continued their winning
streak, beating rivals Rogers High School 4-0. Our lady bowlers pulled off another impressive win against the Vikings of Curtis High School, 5-0. The ladies continued their winning ways against Bethel, beating the Braves 4-1. For the second time in a row, the team beat Spanaway Lake with a final score of 4-1. “We should go to state but anything can happen in bowling,” Couch said. “But I hope we do.” With seven matches down, and seven matches won, the Jags hope to continue their winning ways and gain another State title.
Shannon Dexter bowling for a strike.
Girls Basketball Overall:
Win %:
3-1
.750
Home:
Away:
3-0
0-1
Scoring: T. Buie (15.3) Rebounds: C. Pleasance (6.3) Assists: S. Riley (2.3) Steals: A. Sullivan (5.3) Blocks: C. Pleasance (5.5)
Winning legacy remains Wrestlers strive to improve performance and better win/loss record BY CHRIS SCHROLL
EDITORIAL-BOARD/SPORTS EDITOR
There is a legacy of elite wrestlers at Emerald Ridge and the 2009-2010 team is no different from the past years. With numerous State ranked wrestlers, the Jags are looking to make an impact in the State competition this year. The Jags have struggled so far this
season, with a record of only 1-2. Though they are not wrestling to their full potential, this year’s team is more disciplined and has a stronger senior class then past years. “Right now the team is half and half,” senior Mitch Steed said. “Half is wrestling well and the other half needs to get used to high school and they could be doing better.” The team, coached by Jim Meyerhoff and Craig Fredrickson, hopes to make many improvements before seasons end. “Overall we need to learn to wrestle
harder through the match and not get tired from our conditioning,” Steed said. “We need more energy.” Good team chemistry has helped the Jags wrestle well this year and allowed to team to practice efficiently without bringing the drama of high school into it. “We’re all pretty tight,” Steed said. “I don’t think there’s any drama on the team.” Although the team has had early season struggles, they hope to end the season on a high note and send multiple athletes to the State competition.
Swimming makes strides Swim team ends losing streak and continues to better team performance BY JAMES HUNT
REPORTER
Through the years, the lack of a swimming facility at Emerald Ridge has made many problems for the Jaguars swim and dive team. This is only one of the many hardships that the team has faced in past years. Before, the swim team was undeveloped, lacking the leadership of seniors and the inexperience of the many underclassmen hurt the teams ability to win meets.
These combined problems have left more determination because we joked the team to much.” with a 4 year Even drought of no though there wins. This year troubles, the though, that team conlosing streak tinues to pracwas ended tice every day and the moral during the of the team season and rose. when thay are “The only not at practice reason we you could won this find them Swimmer perfects his butterfly stroke at practice together at Monmatch was we have a great coach with great ideas and golian Grill, or running around the streets has a background in swimming,” junior Puyallup. Tanner Kuestemeyer said. “We needed “The day before meet the team has a
Tom Halsey flipped by James Souza
team dinner and stuffs their faces with food” junior Tanner Mortensen said. The team may joke around, but when it comes time to compete, they try their hardest. Even if they do not win, they still meet there personal goals. During practice, the team practices their sprints on and off land and they also do strength and conditioning exercises. “If we did not do off-season recruiting than we would not be in the position that we are in now,” said Matthew Washburn. Though they are a young and evolving team, they are proving that they have the potential and drive to accomplish their goals.
Ken Fidler inspires students to start caring about the world they live in, and showing them they can make a difference even at a young age BY AUBREY KENDALL
FEATURE MANAGER
Ken Fidler, Honors and AP Chemistry teacher here at ERHS has a secret, has a wild and crazy past. Well, maybe his past isn’t a big secret but it is full of longhaired adventures and phenomenal music. As a teenager in the 1960’s, Fidler lit the nights on fire with his rock band, The Lighter Side. He was inspired by bands he’d seen live, including The Beatles, Blind Faith (Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood), Chicago, Crosby-Stills-Nash, Paul Simon and The Byrds. He also actively protested the Vietnam War. Fidler’s views of combat were shaped partly by his father’s stories from World War II, He formed moral objections to war and as the Vietnam conflict pro-
James Souza looks forward to the upcoming season of wrestling and hopes to win state and go all-american
gressed, Fidler began to grow increasingly opposed to what was happening in South East Asia. He was deeply disturbed knowing that several friends, two of whom lost their lives, were fighting in the civil war he felt America had no business participating in. “I went to rallies and sit-ins,” Fidler said. “I slowed traffic by sitting on the freeway on I-5 near Bellingham with about 350 other students, I sat on the steps of the County Building in Bellingham with about 250 other students from Western [Washington University]. I cheered when we got out, but I was afraid for every American citizen that was over there.” Young Fidler wasn’t all seriousness all the time. In fact, teenage Fidler got into monumental trouble in high school just like the rest of us. Even in his youth, Fidler was enraptured with the elements. After a teacher demonstrated the explosive power of a tiny hunk of sodium, Fidler stole a piece with some friends and hid it in the vents in the ceiling, to be retrieved later. As the day passed, the sodium gath-
A: Possibly, I might try wrestling for the military.
BY JACOB ROOS
Q: What is your greatest accomplishment? A: Last year, I took sixth in the nation.
Q: What inspires you to do well in wrestling? A: Previous losses, I hate losing and that motivates me.
Q: What was your worst injury during a meet? A: I don’t know, I don’t ever get hurt. I’ve never been hurt on the mat, I do the hurting.
REPORTER
Q: Do you have any pre match rituals? A: Not really, I do a stretch routine. Q: What are you looking forward to most this season? A: I’m looking forward to state.
ered moisture from the air (Sodium explodes when it comes in contact with H2O) and while the football players were out on the field, the sodium finally let loose all its explosive glory. The vent and the sodium shot out through the wall of the room and took parts of the wall with it. As you can imagine, there was uproar. Fidler, even in his youth, felt that it was his duty to turn himself in and he did. “I never wanted to hurt people. I was only ever having a good time, I never was revengeful. Just stupid” Said Fidler. Today Fidler is a family man and devoted teacher. He cares about his students and makes sure he is always respectful. But this doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to have a good time. Fidler keeps his classroom atmosphere light with corny jokes and laughter. Every Thanksgiving he and his advisees light candles and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner, buttery potatoes and all. It goes to show that Ken Fidler is one teacher that cares a whole lot about the world he lives in and the people within it.
Q: How do you keep in shape offseason? A: I do my nutrition plan and run and workout.
A: Wrestling Tom last year in a match, it was funny ‘cause we were smiling the whole time. It was weird.
Q: How many hours a day do you exercise? A: Three to four.
G: How do you feel about the competition? (Mitch Steede) A: Yeah, Mitch is an awesome training partner ‘cause he wrestles nationally and he’s got thirty pounds on me, better work out.
Q: How long have you been wrestling and what got you to start? A: About nine years ago I took home a flier from school and I thought it was awesome.
Q: Tell me about your nutrition plan. A: Nothing processed, I like to eat raw foods: milk, eggs and tuna are my favorites.
Q: Do you plan on continuing your wrestling career after high school?
Q: What is your greatest memory at ER for wrestling?
Q: Who is your favorite wrestler? A: Socrates, ‘cause he was also a philosopher.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Fidler
ERHS crowns new princess BY ALANNA NUGENT
SOUND OFF & BEAT MANAGER
Every little girl dreams of becoming a princess. On Nov.24, senior Jenae Wilczynski’s dream came true when she was crowned Emerald Ridge’s Daffodil Princess. Though she is not Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, whom she has always wanted to be, she was still astounded and amazed upon hearing her name called. “I was just shocked,” Wilczynski said. “I couldn’t really believe it, like it didn’t really set in my mind that they called my name.” Wilczynski has watched Daffodil parade since she was a little girl, but it was around fourth grade when Jenae realized she wanted to be a princess. “Just seeing all the other princesses and seeing how beautiful they were, I wanted to be one,” Wilczynski said. After watching such a graceful princess float down the streets of downtown Puyallup for many years, she finally got her shot at running for Daffodil. Just like so many other things in life, the preparation for such an event was long and hard, but did not scare her away. “It seemed challenging and I wanted to be a role model in my community,” Wilcyznski said. The five girls who ran for princess: Katherine Beckstead, Kelsey Burgi, Anna Payton, Kim Auton, and Jenae practiced at least twice a week until the coronation with Mrs. Brandon. They learned proper etiquette, public speaking skills, and many other royalty mannerisms. There is much more to being a princess than just looking pretty and wearing beautiful gowns, Wilczynski is getting her chance to learn how to be the proper woman. Princesses have to make many appearances to different clubs throughout the community along with visiting elementary schools, retirement homes, and the state capital. While at places such as an elementary school, the girls talk to students about the importance of education. “We’re kind of like spokes people for the Puyallup School District and I like supporting kids and helping them to stay in school,” Wilczynski said. Besides taking on the responsibility of Daffodil Princess, Jenae is also maintains a 3.94 GPA, works 15-20 hours per week, was a captain of the girls swim and
dive team this year, and is taking four Advanced Placement classes. Yet, she manages her time with elegance and poise, and is always able to have a smile on her face; which is one of many traits real princesses contain. “I feel overwhelmed, but I am capable of handling everything,” Wilczynski said. Wilcynzki’s mature attitude and positive approach to live may have been a large factor in the judges decision, but for her, that is the only way to handle life. Her personal role models have been both her mother and grandmother. “They’re both pretty similar, but are always very composed,” Wilczynski said. With her mother being the stabilizer in the family, she has learned how to handle stress and challenges in life with out the drama, but instead with a calm and rational attitude. “I look up to her and she is always happy and tries to find the good in everything and doesn’t complain, ever,” Wilczynski said. The self proclaimed care-free princess shares her dreams of helping the world by building houses in third world countries. Wilcyznski has helped out the organization Habitat for Humanity, a group of contractors and community members that builds homes for the less fortunate, many times and has been inspired by the stories of the individuals who they have built houses for. “I’m inspired by people who are in tough situations, maybe financially and relationship wise,” Wilcyznski said. “I’m inspired about how they are able to make their way in life, support their families and keep smiling. It makes me realise that life should be cherished and have an optimistic outlook.” Could she a possible 2010 Daffodil Queen? Defiantly. Jenae Wilcyznski has a heart of gold and the motivation and knowledge to make a change. She knows the hard work it will take to become Queen, but that will not stop her, the challenge will instead push her to chase her dreams throughout life. “I want that challenge and I want to be able to do it,” Wilcyznski said.
Invictus praises peace efforts In a world trying to abolish the inequalities, an inspiring true story shows how a sport can bring together even the most broken of nations BY AMANDA WYMA
A&E EDITOR
As this year comes to a close—when American history was made as the first African American president was inaugurated—there couldn’t be a more perfect time for Hollywood to release a movie with the depth and proximity that Invictus gives its audiences. With multiple messages about race relations, unity, and the fight for peace across the planet, “Invictus” demonstrates the world’s continuing struggle for racial equality in all nations. “Invictus” follows the true story of South African President Nelson Mandela’s (Morgan Freeman) rise to power in the 1990’s, and his many efforts to try and unify the country of South Africa, despite a tragic history of apart-
heid. In efforts to try and unite the struggling African nation, President Mandela gets behind their national rugby team and their race to compete in the 1995 World Cup. With an uncanny resemblance to Nelson Mandela himself, Freeman impresses audiences with his soft, genuine demeanor. Captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) of South Africa’s rugby team the Springboks is in a similar position to Mandela with his teammates. In addition to brutal losses, the rugby team feels the dissent of much of the nation, for the Springboks used to represent the time of apartheid that they were now, as a nation, trying to leave behind. Damon, though not able to pull off a convincing Afrikaans accent, perfectly embodies an individual who was brought through the transformation that President Mandela wishes for his entire country to undergo. Hisgenuine heart for his team, and nation, mirrors Freeman’s character in almost every aspect. As the rugby team begins to turn its season around, the country’s spirits are lifted and, with the public sup-
port of President Mandela and the cooperation of the Springboks, the once negatively famed team is seen by the nation, as well as the world, in a new light. Inspiring it’s viewers through the smallest of scenes, “Invictus” was able to capture the emotion and poignancy of South Africa’s metamorphosis from a nation plagued with adversity to one which values all people reguardless of the color of their skin. If you have a spare couple of hours over Winter Break, I would highly suggest going to see this rendition of one of South Africa’s proudest moments.
one star-poor two stars-average three stars-good four stars-great
Mayday Parade shows maturity The third album from this Florida band brings a new sound BY KATE MEYER
REPORTER
Mayday Parade has done everything but disappoint with their newest cd. Tallahasse, Fla. natives Derek Sanders (lead vocals/guitar), Jeremy Lenzo (bass/ back vocals), Alex Garcia (lead guitar), Brook Betts (rhythm guitar), and Jake Bundrick (drums) took a complete 180 degree turn from how they put together their last two albums. Mayday Parade’s previous albums are full of energy and have the common theme of falling in love. Anywhere But Here is somewhat different from their last two albums Tales Told By Dead Friends and A Lesson In Romantics in the sense that the songs are darker, refined and more mature. It was a complete surprise with expectations already set to
hear an upbeat sound from the beginning to the end of the cd. There are a few fast-paced pop songs that would be commonly heard from Mayday Parade, like “Get Up” and “Center of Attention.” The guitar is fast, the drum is loud and overpowering and belting out the lyrics is the only thing to do. Those songs are the most catchy on this album. Picture a day out with friends, the sun is shining and not a care in the world. In the rest of the album the songs lean more towards the ups and downs of love, being broken-hearted and wanting a girl,
once lost, back. The vocals are deeper and all the instruments play at a slower pace as well. It’s like at a concert during a slow song when everyone puts their arms in the air and moves them from left to right on time to the beat. With the song “I Swear This Time I Mean It” listeners get a dose of heartfelt, tear-jerking lyrics that take listeners on an emotional and powerful ride. “Sleeping softly while I sing. I’ll be your memories, your lullaby for all the times hoping that my voice will get it right.” When all other distractions are
blocked out and the lyrics are really listened to, the song is felt instead of just heard. The other slow songs on this album, like “Still Breathing” and “The Silence,” are quite boring. The urge to skip to the next track takes over while wondering if the songs will change pace. There are a variety of instruments being played at the same time through out Anywhere But Here as well. From piano and heavy bass, to calm acoustic guitar and tamborien. In Tales Told By Dead Friends and A Lesson In Romantics the band was confined to only using select instruments. Mayday Parade has played along side bands like The Rocket Summer, The Starting Line, Armor For Sleep and Emery. Not only can you find this album at Target, Best Buy and Smartpunk.com for $8.99, it’s also available on iTunes for $10.00. As a whole, I would give this album 3.5 out 5 stars.
Photos courtesy of allmoviephoto.com
New holiday cookie recipes to enjoy BY AUBREY KENDALL
FEATURE MANAGER Winter Break is here at last! We finally get to sleep in, spend time with friends, and eat heavenly holiday treats. Perhaps you want to try your hand at baking, or just save some money by making your own holiday treats this year. Invite over some friends and try out these guaranteed-to-be-good cookie recipes. Triple Chocolate Cookies It isn’t dessert until there’s a whole lot of chocolate, so whip up a batch of rich cocoa delight. Add a half cup of walnuts or almonds with your chocolate chips to make them chunkier. 1 cup flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda A pinch of salt 1/2 cup sweet butter 1/2 cup white sugar
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1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup white chocolate chips Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Separately, beat butter until smooth and add the egg and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture and chocolate chips. Place tablespoon sized balls two inches apart on a baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes. Enjoy! Jelly drops This is the perfect cookie for any one who likes a fruity snack. Pour some tea and relax.
1/2 cup sweet butter 1 egg 2/3 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 cup jelly of your choice
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Random Hallway Quotes of December Ever hear just a fragment of an extremely odd conversation while walking through the hallways? We have. BY KATE MEYER
REPORTER
“There’s mashed potatoes in my french fry!” “Ask him what my t-shirt says.” “He’s looking right at you...?” “I found a dust bunny in the shape of an actual bunny.” “Don’t be such a homie-hopper!” “I’ll make you a chest sweater!” “I heard you saran-wrapped his hands together, what happened after that?” ”Make the noise again!” “Hold on, I think I’m going to puke.”
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Beat your butter and sugar together until fluffy and light then add the egg. Separately, mix flour, baking powder and then add it to the butter mixture. Roll the mixture into tablespoon sized balls and place the balls two inches apart on a baking sheet. Press your thumb into the ball and fill the indent with jelly. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Feel free to add a little more jelly. Yum.
Haystacks They may have an odd sounding name for a cookie, but I guarantee you will love these fun little nummies. 2 cups butterscotch chips (12 ounce package) melted 2 tablespoons peanut butter, plain or crunchy 6 ounces Chinese noodles or chow mein noodles 6 ounces cocktail peanuts 2 cups mini marshmallows
Melt butterscotch chips in a pan or in a double boiler. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butterscotch and peanut butter add noodles and marshmallows. Drop tablespoons of dough on waxed paper and refrigerate until solid, about twenty minutes.
3.
TACO BUS VS TACO WAGON BY ZACH ALBERT
Being a patron of the Taco Bus since eighth grade, I was skeptical of this new purveyor of Mexican Environment- 1 food. The Taco Wagon is located in a vacant lot next to Hertz Rent-aFood- 4 Service- 4 Car on Meridian. The large white van-like vehicle, plastered with names of Mexican dishes in blue and red letters, is easy to see from the road. The menu ranges from a $4.99 soft-taco platter that comes with a side of REPORTER
rice and beans, to a nearly $15 steak platter with all the fixin’s. The Wagon also serves a wide variety of breakfast food for those of you that crave Mexican in the mornings, like eggs ranchero. Having a small budget, I purchased a soft-taco platter and a pineapple Jarritos (a delicious Mexican softdrink). I waited a few minutes for my meal, and could smell the savory aroma that issued from the open windows near the grill. To my surprise, the meal came with a bag of pickled vegetables: radishes, carrots, and peppers. It also came with two different spicy seasonings. When you factor in the actual meal and bag of pickled vegetables, which I later learned come with every order, the taco platter is quite the bargain. There were three small tacos that had a savory flavor with hints of spicy pepper that I was hoping for, and
BY MOE HERBERT
OP/ED MANAGER
Environment- 3 Food- 5 Service- 4 I pulled up to the big, silver, Mexican bullet, the Taco Bus, that sits on a gravel lot next to a gas station mini-mart, walked inside to this heavily Spanish themed restaurant and plopped my crinkled five dollar bill onto the cold, metal counter. With my taste buds already tingling, I received 13 cents back, which meant one thing in my mind. A delicious burrito was coming my way. I waited half as long as I honestly thought I would, and then was given this beast of flavorful ingredients. It was as long as my hand, and as wide as my foot. I walked
combined with Spanish rice and beans was perfect. Every time the spiciness of the taco got old for me I was able to cleanse my mouth with the flavor from a bite of rice and beans. Over all it was a very good experience and the Taco Wagon can expect my repeat business. If you have a craving for authentic Mexican food that doesn’t break the bank head down to the Taco Wagon. Just be prepared to eat in your car.
outside and sat down at a goofy red picnic table. My nose was sniffling from the cold northwest weather but I couldn’t stop now, I was already diving head first into this monster of a burrito. I clung to this creature as my only source of external warmth, and took the first giant bite. It was full of savory meat, but I knew the second bite had something more in store--and I was right. The second complimented the first by adding a warm array of cheeses and beans. To the right was beef, to the left, beans and cheese, so naturally the middle was the “sweet spot.” Every third bite was a combination of great Spanish flavors. Left (good), right (good), middle (GREAT). As I got about seventy-five percent of the way down, it started to set in. My
Washington digestive organs were not made for this meal, but heck, I slept like a fat baby on Christmas Eve that night. I quite enjoyed this restaurant if you want to call it that. Honestly though, if you have some spare cash laying around for food, skip the routine Taco Bell spot and pick up something a little bit more orignal.
“Les Miserables” in full swing Though still a few months away, the spring musical participants are already working hard BY KELSEY YOST
REPORTER
Les Miserables, once a Broadway hit, and still a huge sensation world wide, is now being brought to Emerald Ridge in the largest production in the Puyallup school district history, exceeding 130 people involved. “The most important thing is preparations. We normally start a week before Thanksgiving. This year auditions were were in Mid-September. This is the largest production, over 120 costumes for over 100 actors.” Mr. Glass, director and producer, said. Rehearsals take place four days a week after school. The group practices to perfect over 30 songs, and hundreds of lines which are also all sung, until they are memorized. “It’s a lot of hard work, and I don’t have a day off. This is a constant job, so much work to be done.” McKee, senior, said.
Senior Ben Rieke, who plays Valjean, is holding a lot of weight in the success of the musical, and he is determined to get it right. “I make sure I practice every night, and we all try to stay a cohesive as a drama family.” Rieke said. There are nearly three months until opening night, but Mr. Glass is feeling the deadline pressure. “As director and producer, I have to have chorus, actors, costumes, and the pit all fit all the pieces to make this come together. We also have more parent support than ever before, helping with the set, or sewing the costumes.” Mr. Glass said. Something new this year is that junior high students from Ferrucci and Glacier View were allowed to audition, and some even were given key roles. No matter the age, everyone is working to get a to make one of this the best in Emerald Ridge history. “Everyone involved in dedicated and in love with this musical. That is the only reason why we stay after school almost everyday. It’s one of the best high school experiences we will ever have.” Breanna Soliz, sophomore, said.
Musical participants practice until all the pieces in the musical are nearly perfect.
Photos by Allie Rickard, Alanna Nugent and Casey Duke
Billiemarie- Once upon a time... I wore chains on my jeans, wrist bands, and checkered ties. Avril, I will always love you and your whiny “punk-rock”,“my life sucks so bad because no one loves me” lyrics. Her music takes me back to the old days when things weren’t so “Complicated” and my 10-year-old heart loved “Sk8ter Bois.” Awe. Casey- I remember listening to this CD when I was in second or third grade. This CD is one of those classics that doesn’t get old even as we age over the years. The band that plays in the background has great rhythm. I think this CD is one of the best classics and if you haven’t heard it yet, you should try it.
Kayla- My girl Avril! Sitting here it’s almost like you have written your album to the story of my life. The “kiddy rock” style and lyrics bring back sweet memories of elementary school, gummy jewelry, and attempts to caress the cutest boy in third grade. Oh the memories.
Casey- This CD sends great messages to us and I enjoyed listening to Last Day because it made me think about my High School life and what I have done with it. When I listened to Gotta be Somebody, it gives off a great sound as well as a great message. I would recommend this CD to anyone.
James- This CD is filled with anger from a suppressed 12 year old girl. One thing I can say, is she has a natural singing voice. Her music sounds like cats scratching on a chalkboard.
James- Finally some good music. Nickelback has an awsome sound with a hard rock style. They are great to listen to all the time no matter how you feel or what you are doing.
James- These guys are great. They have a hard rock grunge style of music that is great to rock out to whenever. Their songs always seem to please me and the sound is great. Three Days Grace, I give you an eight out of ten. Kayla- I must say, I’m not a fan of the heavy metal. When I think of grace, beaten eardrums and piercing screeching doesn’t come to mind. I was more afraid they would come out of the speakers and beat me up than anything. Call me a baby, but this kind of grace is just a little too intense for my taste.
Kayla- When I asked the cashier for my “Nickleback” I never suspected she would also give me an opportunity like this. The passionate and inspirational lyrics send messages that one can apply to every day life and I can’t help but to sing along with aspirations of a future rocker lifestyle.
NicklebackDark Horse
Avril Lavigne- Let go
Casey- This CD is not my style of music. It was all about metal. The songs get repetitive after awhile and kind of boring to listen to. Maybe if you were to listen to this CD every now and again, it would be okay.
Billiemarie- The first 4.6 seconds of this CD has an inspirational feel, and then Chad Kroger’s throaty cow-like voice blasts through the speakers. Nickelback could have a small chance of being good if Chad wasn’t their lead singer. I want my nickel back for listening to this bad band.
Three Days GraceThree Days Grace Billiemaire- I hate everything about you--what a coincidence they named their song. Literally, there is nothing at all, that I like about this band. Not anything. The guitar is loud and harsh. The lyrics are awful, just like Adam Gontier’s over-powered dark voice. The lyrics are dry, empty, and meaningless. And honestly, why would anyone name a song “I Hate Everything About You”?
City and ColourBring me your love James- These guys were great their play style reminded me of old guitar and banjo playing, their songs bring together two generations of music. They have a jazz/blues swing sound to it with a new age undertone. One thing that I do not prefer about them is all their songs feel like flashback music. It seems like I would be going through my whole life while listening to this.
Kayla- They didn’t paint the picture I was looking for. If I wanted to be lulled to sleep by endless banjos then I would pick this CD. City and Colour needs a little splash of the rainbow before I ever listen to this group again. Casey- I wasn’t all that impressed. However, it did have a few good moments. They had a slow beat at first, and then picked up the pace. If I were to listen to more of their songs, I would probably find one of the CD’s for myself. Billiemaire- Grab your head-phones and your iPod, close your eyes and listen as City and Colour flows through your blood stream. Canadian song writer, Dallas Green, has a gift for making you fall in love with his raspy voice, and his sweet acoustic guitar. His voice sounds sincere, making every lyric that more meaningful.
Friday Dec. 18
Saturday Dec. 19
Friday Dec. 25
Saturday Dec. 26
Go see the Zoo Lights at the Point Defience Zoo in Tacoma
Finish your last minute holiday shopping
Happy Holidays!
Winterfest: Ice Rink and Carousel in Seattle
Spend a day with your family baking holiday cookies
5 pm-9pm $7.50
Ice Rink -$5 for adults $3 for childern $2 skate rental
Sunday Dec. 20
Sunday Dec. 27
Seattle Seahawks vs. Buccaneers
Watch the Nutcracker @ the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle
1:15pm $49 and up
Prices vary
Friday Jan. 1
Friday Jan. 8
Happy New Year!
Day Breakers and Youth in Revolt come to theaters
Enjoy the day with friends and family
$10 per person
Saturday Jan. 2
Sunday Jan. 3
Sunday Jan. 10
Saturday Jan. 9
Relax from New Years and start planning your New Years resolutions
Fantasy Lights in Spanaway
Hit the slopes at Crystal or Snoqualmie
5:30-9:30 pm $13 per vehicle
$55 for Crystal $57 for Snoqualmie
National Portfolio Day at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle 10am