April '07

One Copy Free

The Black & White

Johnston High School Student Paper

April ‘07

Vol 16 No. 8

In this issue...

Custodian burned feet Yearbook qualified as Lefties struggle to live in a Students describe their on calcium chloride finalist for, and won, work dress codes right-handed world during marathon Page 12 coveted award Page 2 Page 5 Page 8/9

Opening Day

Soccer begins after four delayed games

Dan Haight/BW

Junior Dustin Pirie fights for the ball against his Fort Dodge opponent on April 16. The team had four cancelled games to begin the season, but won its game 2-1.

College Board instigates course audit

BY LARISSA FRENCH NEWS EDITOR College Board, the organization that runs and overlooks the Advanced Placement (AP) program, decided to implement a course audit, which will require AP teachers to prove they are teaching a meticulous curriculum.

According to Executive Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Topiel, there has been such “great growth in the number of AP courses offered that the College Board needs to make sure schools are providing a rigorous enough course.”

Teachers will fill out a form and submit their class syllabus.

“You have to demonstrate that AP themes are being woven throughout the course,” AP World Studies teacher Jason Jauron said.

Educators from across the country will review the submitted documents to ensure that each course meets the demands of a college-level class, according to Topiel. Teachers need to send in the information by June 1.

If College Board decides a class is not rigorous enough, the teacher will have two opportunities to make changes.

“Teachers are given information about what’s wrong with their syllabus,” Topiel said. “The goal is not to limit the number of AP courses available to students.”

Principal Bruce Hukee does not expect College Board will reject any of the 12 offered AP classes.

“I don’t anticipate problems, but you never know how the process goes and who it goes through,” Hukee said. “If a class is not approved, (College Board) notifies (the school) by Aug. 1, and until it’s approved, (the school) can’t call it an AP course.”

If a currently labeled AP class loses that title, it could have an impact on students planning to take AP courses.

“I did not know that,” Wessling junior Ally Hughes said.

Hughes plans to take AP Biology and AP English. “My only thing would be that (AP English) is a hard class, and if you can’t get the (dual) credit for it after putting so much work into it, that would be disappointing.”

Graduate Tyler Buller took the AP English exam last year, and received a 5, the highest possible score.

“I absolutely think that the AP English course, coupled with the review sessions (AP English teacher Sarah) Wessling held, was more than adequate preparation for the AP exam,” Buller said. “Having learned the necessary tools and methods for literary analysis in her class, the test was just a matter of applying them to new content and demonstrating an understanding of their application.”

Teachers are working to meet College Board’s requirements. Wessling said, “I’m always paying attention to College Board, because I certainly wouldn’t want

to put my students at a disadvantage.”

Even if a class lost its AP label, students could still take the exam and obtain college credits that way.

“You can take any AP exam you want to,” AP Psychology teacher Sue Cline said. “I suppose, if you’re a self-monitoring learner- you’re highly motivated-you can just do it.”

As of this point, no one seems to know what the effect will be on students currently enrolled in an AP class.

“Next November, a ledger listing all AP certified schools, and the certified courses in each school, will be available,” Topiel said. “It’s possible (a student’s) AP course won’t be listed. I’m not sure (what that will mean for current students).”

According to Associate Director of Enrollment Services at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Dennis Hendrickson, UNI would accept students who have taken either Accelerated classes or AP courses, as long as each student meets the admission requirements.

According to Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Iowa State University (ISU) Phil Caffery, ISU would prefer students who have taken AP courses over students who have taken Accelerated courses, because “college and university faculty are so closely involved in every stage of the development of AP courses and exams, AP is nationally recognized for its high standards and rigor.”

Despite the unknown effects on current AP students, Topiel sees the audit as a positive thing for next year’s students.

[ ] AP Fast Facts

Two-thirds of test-takers receive at least a 3 out of 5 Costs $83

Two weeks of tests, from May 7-18

Students can take any exam as many times as they want

“It will benefit students, as they can do better on the (AP) exam, and colleges will see that students took a certified AP course,” Topiel said. “In the long run, it would affect them more if the course audit wasn’t done, because (students wouldn’t know if they were actually taking a college-level course).”

Dual-credit courses Some classes, like AP English, offer dual-credit, which means if students pass the class, they will acquire high school and college credit. Rumor has it that College Board disapproves of this.

“The question people are asking is, ‘Does dual-credit prepare student for college?’” Hukee said.

Topiel, however, has never been told that College Board criticizes dual-credit.

“It very well could be rumor,” Topiel said. “Dual-credit has to do with the local community college. College Board has no say about that.”

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B &W

NEWS: what’s important April ‘07

NewsBriefs Silent day for GSA

Yearbook wins Pacemaker

The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) took part in the National Day of Silence on Wed, April 18 to aid in the worldwide demonstration against discrimination as a result of sexual orientation.

According to GSA president Josh Merritt, The National Day of Silence is to show the world the silence of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community that couldn’t raise their voices.

“I think it went alright, but it could have been better. We all made our slips (by speaking), including myself,” sophomore GSA member Chloe Coulter said.

Coulter estimates that there were between 20-30 kids who participated in the Day of Silence.

“We really tried to get the word out to everyone,” Coulter said.

For the first time, the National Student Press Association named The Dragon as a Pacemaker finalist. Contest coordinator Sarah Rice presented co-editors Kiley Dewhurst and Grace Meiners with the finalist plaque on Sat, April 14. On that same day, they were also presented with what is considered by most to be the highest honor student journalists can receive: the Pacemaker.

Muffins for Mark

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Photos/Special to BW

Olivia Schiefelbein/Dragon

Serving a treat to junior Jake Highfill, student council member Cory Gagne helps with Muffins for Mark.

Muffins for Mark, a fundraiser hosted

by Student Council for athletic trainer Mark Pierson, raised over $175.

“It went really well,” student council member junior, Cory Gagne, who headed the project, said. “We’re very proud.”

Held April 3-4, student council members made cookies, brownies and other baked goods to sell to students for 50 cents each.

“At first, we were a little nervous about what people would say, but once people saw that we had good, cheap food, they were excited,” Gagne said.

All proceeds from the fundraiser went to the Pierson family. Pierson had a pacemaker implanted in February after his heart stopped.

Econ. class competes Students competed in the National Economics Challenge to learn more on the principles of economics. “(The objective) was to give the students an idea of what is important in economics,” teacher Ben Knight said.

Thirty students volunteered to take part in the competition, a 45-minute online test given on March 14. Those participating were split into teams of five.

The highest team placed 6th in the division of 16. Members of the team were senior Larissa French and juniors Pat Ackelson, Jeremy Biggs, Taylor Brown and Cory Gagne.

Although no team advanced to the state competition, Knight felt that the experience was helpful.

“It was worth a shot to see where we measure up against other schools,” Knight said.

Corrections and Clarifications The Black and White strives to be both accurate and fair. Readers who believe the paper has printed an error should call 515-278-0449.

Compiled by Managing Editor Kari Dockum

Co-editors Kiley Dewhurst and Grace Meiners accept the Pacemaker award from contest coordinator Sarah Rice.

Sports sub-edtor Leah Kron revises her rough draft.

Dan Haight/BW

Photo sub-editor David Zorn consults with Meiners about a division spread.

The Dragon gains NSPA recognition

BY BRITTANY DEAL STAFF WRITER The 2006 yearbook, The Dragon, won a Pacemaker from the National Student Press Association (NSPA), the highest honor for a yearbook.

“I was shocked,” co-editor Grace Meiners said when she found out The Dragon was a Pacemaker finalist. “I never thought we would (become a Pacemaker finalist), because (yearbook advisor Leslie) Shipp has told us that the Pacemaker was a big deal, and that she would retire if we ever became a Pacemaker book. But I doubt she will retire.”

Unlike past yearbooks, this yearbook did not have a vertical layout.

“I think that changing the binding definitely made our book stand out more for the judges,” last year’s co-editor Rebekka Broeker said.

Academic sub-editor Megan Browning felt surprised when she first learned of the yearbook being a finalist.

“I was like, ‘I guess they don’t read most of the book, a.k.a. the index,’” Browning said.

According to Browning, the index in the 2006 yearbook did not match names of people with the correct pages that they appeared on.

Browning explains that the yearbook

would have never become a Pacemaker without the contribution of last year’s photo editor Shaina White.

“I have to say the only reason that we even had a chance was because of all the design work that Shaina White did,” Browning said.

The Pacemaker competition winners were announced at the NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Denver on Sat, April 14. Shipp, along with co-editors Kiley Dewhurst and Meiners, attended the award ceremony.

“I thought it would be weird if we were a finalist and a winner the first year we were a finalist,” Meiners said.

NSPA announced the yearbook Pacemaker winners last. When The Dragon was listed as a winner, Meiners screamed.

“Grace and I kind of looked at each other for a couple of minutes,” Dewhurst said. “It was shock. We were shocked.”

After receiving the Pacemaker award on behalf of The Dragon, Dewhurst spread the word to fellow staff members.

“I sent out a text message to everyone that was in my phone,” Dewhurst said.

“There was, like, a flood of text messages after that. Everyone kept responding.”

Meiners believes the 2007 yearbook also has an opportunity to become a Pacemaker finalist.

“The design this year is really different than anything else we’ve ever done,”

Sizing up

the Competition

Comments made prior to announcement of winners

“I think it’s going to be hard because a lot

of the books that are Pacemakers have been Pacemakers before. Like year after year after year.

”

Leslie Shipp

“I think we have a really good chance be-

cause it’s original, and it’s a lot different than the other books around. But even if we don’t, it’s a great honor to say we are a finalist.

”

Kiley Dewhurst

“I think our writing was pretty good and it

seemed like we had a lot of good ideas, and the theme seemed to really fit the year. I think it was a well-chosen theme.

”

Grace Meiners

Meiners said. “It’s another risk like the horizontal book, and I really hope it pays off like that one did.”

Shipp believes that an honor this great highlights how well The Dragon has done as a high school yearbook. “(The Pacemaker) reaffirms that when people purchase a Johnston yearbook, that they are getting one of the best yearbooks around,” Shipp said.

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B &W

NEWS: what’s important April ‘07

Leslie family moves forward

BY BRENNAN WINGET STAFF WRITER Summit Middle School’s lunch clerk Wendy Leslie died of bone cancer on Friday March 23.

“She was so young, well too young to die of cancer,” nutrition staff Cathy Rhodes, who worked with Wendy at Summit Middle School, said. “She was always happy all of the time, and was always talking to all of the students.”

Wendy left behind two sons and her husband, all of whom are still trying to cope with the death.

“I knew she had cancer, and I know that millions of people die because of it, but it just seemed too unreal for my mom to die,” Wendy’s son, 8th grader Dalton Leslie said.

Before Wendy was bedridden, she dealt with her pain quietly, so as not to worry her family, according to Dalton.

“When she was first diagnosed with cancer, it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me,” Dalton said. “Although she lived with it for many years, when she started getting really sick, that’s when it finally hit me.”

Wendy progressively got worse with few warnings from her doctors.

“I still am thinking of things that I could have done for her,” Dalton said. “I spent a lot more time at home the sicker she got. A lot of the time we just sat around the house and talked about anything we could think of, just trying to get all the time in we could together.”

Wendy was bedridden for months, and the most the family could do together was stay at the house and talk.

“We talked about the future a couple times,” Dalton said. “What my job would be and where I would live and how many children I would have. One time, we talked about my life without her.”

Wendy told Dalton that coping with her death would make him tougher and able to handle life’s hardships.

Dalton said he felt that he could always go and talk to Wendy, and therefore, told her that he would prefer her to be in his life later on to help him through whatever he’s dealing with.

Dalton was not able to be with Wendy during her chemotherapy treatments, because he was in school.

However, he made sure to attend her first chemotherapy treatment, because Wendy wanted his support, and he

Photos: Provided/Don Leslie

wanted to be there for her.

Her bone cancer started in her knee; she started treatment, but it didn’t help. After a while, it moved up her leg and into her lungs, according to junior Stroh Leslie, Wendy’s other son.

Chemotherapy no longer worked after the disease reached her lungs. Doctors gave her a year and half to live; however, she fought the disease for almost three years.

The week after his mother had passed away, Dalton was going to all of his soccer practices, even though his coach advised him to take some time off.

“I just needed to get away from everything, and just focus on something else besides my family,” Dalton said.

(Above) Don, Wendy, Stroh and Dalton stop for a picture while vacationing in Wisconsin.

(Left) The Leslie family poses in a tree while visiting family.

“I love my family, but I just needed some time by myself.”

Dalton was really close to Wendy and had a hard time dealing with her death.

“Dalton isn’t really one to show how he feels,” Stroh said, “so he went to every practice and acted like everything was normal; even though you could tell he was hurting, he tried not to show it.”

According to Wendy’s husband Don Leslie, bone cancer is very painful, and the bones get very weak.

“This is very difficult for my family to deal with, but I’m just happy to see that her pain finally ended,” Don said.

Friends of the family went to her funeral that held on April 4. Several of Dalton’s friends also attended the visitation to show their support for Dalton and his family.

28 years of teaching, 28 years of memories

C h o r u s t e a ch e r Jo d y W h i t e, s p e e ch t e a ch e r M a r i l y n M i dd l e t o n s h a re t h e i r fa v o r i t e t e a ch i n g m e m o r i e s. . . more community shows. Now, we can not fit in the Lions Club.

BY ALLISON KANE STAFF WRITER

Why did you want to teach here?

When I came here, there was a full-time job open. Also, Johnston was cultural, and I felt like music had a part in the community. They appreciated the arts, and that has proven to be true.

Middleton How has being a speech teacher changed you?

Being a speech teacher has given me the opportunity to get to know students better. Kids are willing to share so much; probably more than their parents would like them to share. It also has given me an appreciation for how hard it is to get up in front of people and speak.

What is the best part about show choir competitions?

My favorite moment is when you are in the middle of a show, and when you feel the electricity you know everyone is trying hard. It just takes your breath away.

What was your favorite costume?

The first time we got “real” sequin dresses. They were purple on top and bottom.

What is your favorite filler word?

Gosh, I really do not care for filler words at all. I think it has become a pet peeve of mine over the years, especially when I hear adults using filler words so often.

What was the worst choir costume?

During my first year of teaching, the boys wore a light plaid shirt and gray pants, and the girls wore gray skirts.

In your opinion, what is the hardest speech to give?

Informative... too many people like to throw in their opinions. It is truly very difficult to be strictly informative.

What is the biggest note card you have seen a student make?

I told one class, years ago, that they could use a 3-by-5 note card, assuming they knew I meant 3 by 5 inches. Well, this young man came to class with his entire speech written on a piece of cardboard 3 by 5 feet.

How has the speech program changed over the past 28 years?

Obviously, the classes are bigger so we can not give as many speeches. We concentrate more on the writing process and how those skills transfer to the speak-

Photos: Allison Kane/BW

ing process. The types of speeches have changed somewhat and, of course, the topic selections that the students make change with time.

What are you planning to do after retirement?

I have a novel that I have been writing, and I need to get that completed, if nothing else. I paint acrylic and mixed media abstract artwork, so I will do a lot more of that, since I will have the time. Oh, and I plan to play a lot of golf.

(Above) White conducts the chamber and concert choir during third period rehearsal. (Left) Middleton discusses debate speeches.

White How has the choir program changed over the past 28 years?

When I started out, my first show choir had 16 kids. We had store-bought dresses, and it was very low key with no costume changes. We used ladders first, and then bought triangles to use as levels. The choir was very compact, and we could do

What is your favorite character in the Madrigal dinner?

The Jester, because every year there is someone different playing the part. It is cool to see the different personalities that go into the part each year, and how each person develops the part differently.

What are your favorite All-State memories?

During All-State, one of the volunteers kept yelling, “Time; your time is up!” And it messed up all the kids. The kids are supposed to finish their auditions. Also, I remember one year there were so many flies in the room, and they were all over the kids’ faces while they were singing.

How has working with choir students changed you?

I think it has kept me young. Working with kids keeps you youthful.

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B &W

OPINION: what they think April ‘07

Drop out age raise killed, keep it dead

The Iowa House cast aside a bill in early April that endorsed making it illegal to drop out of high school before turning 18. It is evident after examining the facts and claims regarding the issue that such proposal needs to remain dead in further years. It is obvious that education is not the primary priority in this bill. The fact of the matter remains: it’s not going to prevent students with other priorities from dropping out.

The bill proposed raising the current drop out age from 16 to 18. According to the State Education Committee, an additional 200 Iowa youths would stay in school each year. The change would have kicked in during the 2008-09 school year, but the first group of students affected are currently freshmen.

The ultimate goal of the proposal was to aid the state in reaching its goal of graduating 95 percent of its students by 2014. About 3,380 students in seventh through 12th grades dropped out in fiscal year 2006, according to an analysis by the Legislative Services Agency.

Graduation rates are rising on their own; forcing a student to stay in school until he or she is 18 does not ensure that they will graduate. State education statistics show Iowa’s graduation rate for last spring’s graduating class was 90.8 percent, up from 90.7 percent in 2005 and 89.8 percent in 2004.

The change in age would have allowed students who want to drop out to become part of the “special needs” program and continue their education until 18. Schools will still be getting the tax dollars for those “special needs students” who would have wanted to drop out in the first place.

According to principal Bruce Hukee,

Miniature

such a rule is not going to directly affect Johnston, who had a graduation rate of 98.7 in 2006. Hukee said the administration’s goal is to get kids to stay in school and get a receive diploma. “We look at every avenue if the traditional course load is not working out,” he said.

“We recognize that not every student is the same.”

Student who drop out often feel bored, disengaged, or that no one truly cares if they stay or go. Some choose to leave school to work for their families, or they become parents themselves. The legislation of this proposal would mean legal issues beyond lack of education, such as truancy. Students who do not have an interest in school or that have

we care about OPINIONSsmallNewthings approach to prom

BY KYLE HANSON STAFF WRITER

Alerts like this are shown if students attempt to access a blocked site on a school computer. Such sites include YouTube and Google Video.

Blocking sites is not beneficial for students Say so long to your favorite Internet videos because not only YouTube, but Google Video has now been blocked. Whether you enjoyed watching Diet Coke and Mentos commercials, stupid human tricks or Ronaldinho highlights, you will no longer be able to entertain yourself using the school’s computers.

The real problem however is that students can no longer access news videos for current event projects or Power Point presentations. In the past, students have used school computers for making power points for current events and sometimes they contained videos that were educational.

However, because of the large number of students watching videos for their own leisure, students have lost the privilege altogether. This may also cause a large decrease in students who go to the library now that they will not be able to search for hilarious or even rare educational videos. Both YouTube and Google Video will be missed greatly.

week was beneficial It’s impossible to think that there is any way to make the week leading up to prom more exciting, but this year, unlike others, prom week has dress up days, much like homecoming. Throughout the week, students will be able to dress like pirates and other characters, making it go by a little quicker. The dress up days include Disney Day, Anchorman Day, Pirates of the Caribbean Day and Movie Star Day. This will give prom week a homecoming-like feeling with activities during the week. Some of these activities include an iron man volleyball tournament to compensate for the girls’ powder-puff football game. The new approach to prom week, combining Spring-Fling and prom, is a good one and will get more people involved.

The dress up days will allow underclassmen to be involved, since they can’t attend the dance unless asked by and upperclassman. This is a great way to boost excitement going into prom week and should be continued into future years.

Senior Eric Tubbs does his best anchorman impression for Anchorman Day. Tubbs and others participated by dressing in suits on April 18.

other priorities are more than likely not going to consistently show up and perform to an optimum level and thus may not be able to graduate anyway. Also, upon one’s 18th birthday, a student may drop out and not graduate.

Such students may also cause further disruption in the classroom and may deliberately cause trouble in aspiration of suspension. In North Carolina’s House Select Study Committee’s report on drop out rates, several students who already had dropped out or were considering to agree with this statement.

One freshman, who was to turn 16, the legal drop age in NC, said, “If I have to be here until I’m 18, what I’ll do is bring a firearm to school or make a bomb threat so you will suspend me for 365 days and I won’t have to be here anyway.”

Instead of forcing unmotivated or unfit students to finish their education, lawmakers could use the same money to fund alternatives to aid struggling students. For example, the “Future Pathways” program at Des Moines’ Central Campus replaces textbooks with computers and lets students demonstrate their understanding of subjects through projects they choose. If legislature put more money in programs like this, motivated teens having difficulty could finish their education to become a functional member in society, rather than ‘faking’ through it, and students who have other priorities would not be required to stay in school.

It is a mistake to label dropouts criminal for not staying in school until 18, and the bill needs to remain dead in future years.

Staff

Editor-in-Chief Mike Slusark Managing Editor Kari Dockum News Editor Larissa French Opinion Editor Sam Leahy Feature Editor Kelsey Hyde Sports Editor Bryan Lippincott Doubletruck Editor Amanda Lower Review Editor Alex Guns Backpage Editor Cicely Gordon Photo Editor Dan Haight Ideas Editor Veronica Roshek Staff Writers: Chris Ajluni, Caroline Byrd, Emily Conn,

Brittany Deal, Nels Engblom, Kyle Hanson, Austin Hartsook, Drew Houp, Stephanie Ivankovich, Hana Kajtazovic, Allison Kane, Thomas Lashier, Tina Li, Amy Lovejoy, Kiera Morrill, Chelsea Nelson, Shawna Polen, Lauren Profitt, Torey Robinson, Jordan Van Essen, Dawn Wilkens, Jenna Willson, Brennan Winget, Lee Yocum The Black and White is a publication produced solely by the newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain the Johnston students, faculty and community. It is an open forum.

In accordance with Iowa law, students assign and edit material.

Publications are released monthly during the school year.

The paper will print nothing libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves.

Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school officials or the district.

Letters to the editor must be signed. Grammatical and spelling errors may be corrected and length edited. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy.

Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue.

The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the Editor at michaeljohn48@aol.com or contact the school via phone at 515-278-0449.

The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the Black and White earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association All-American, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA State Champion, IHSPA First Place Photography Second Place Layout/Design and Honorable Mention Writing.

B &W 5 Lefties left out in right-handed world Leahy’s Leaven OPINION: what they think April ‘07

BY VERONICA ROSHEK IDEAS EDITOR

Taking our seats at a restaurant for a family dinner, I force my unwilling sister to scoot into the booth first. I slip into the booth on the outside with enough arm space to eat comfortably with my left hand. Annoying elbow wars are guaranteed to happen eating next to a righthanded person.

This is one of many burdens lefties deal with on a daily basis that righties just don’t understand.

Being in a right-hand dominant society, righties make everything for their own convenience. One of the most inconsiderate right-handed inventions has to be the spiral notebook.

When opening to a fresh page, I struggle to adjust my hand in a comfortable position over the mountain of metal wire sticking out in my writing space.

Then, dragging my hand across the page over what I’ve already written smudges the side of my hand a shiny black. But completing projects is worse yet; smearing markers across poster board gives the look of utter sloppiness, but is impossible to avoid.

Another righty invention can give left-handers blisters: the dreaded scissors. Unfortunately, I have been forced to squeeze my left hand into the cramped mold of scissors made for a right hand’s perfect fit. Left-handed teacher Audrey Bell, learned how to use scissors with her right hand when she was younger. “My mom didn’t want me to have to worry about getting left-handed scissors all my life,” Bell said.

If there was no influence from parents or teachers to be a “normal” right-hander instead of a lefty, lefties would make up a lot more of the population. Thirty-four percent, instead of 10 percent, of people would be left-handed, and three percent would be ambidextrous.

Leftover Luck As unfair as it is to be a lefty, I’m proud to be in the 10 percent of people that are left-handed. And even though lefties are shunned away by most of the world, they are hailed golden in the sports world.

“There are a number of advantages to being left-handed in softball,” softball coach Todd Merical said. “Hitting from the left side cuts down on the number of steps it takes to get to first base.”

Left-handed pitchers in softball or baseball curve the ball differently. Other sports such as tennis and volleyball also benefit from lefties putting a unique spin on the ball that opponents aren’t going to be used to playing against. Coaches often pay more attention to left-handed

Government never a necessity in personal life Sam Leahy Opinion Editor Veronica Roshek/BW

Left-handed teacher Audrey Bell writes the weekly calendar up on the board for her World Studies class. As a lefty, she makes sure she doesn’t drag her hand over what she already wrote.

Eskimos

Punjab Tribe

As many as 70 percent of people use the left hand by choice

Romans

Most militantly righthanded people in the world; made up rules against left-handers

Zuni Tribe

Lefties-

Early Eskimos viewed every lefty as a potential sorcerer

Around the

French

Word for left, “gauche,” also means clumsy, socially inept or incorrect

World Incas

Saw left-handedness as a harbinger of good fortune

Believed left-handedness to be a sign of good luck athletes for this reason, and it has given me important opportunities I wouldn’t have if I were right-handed.

Unlucky Lefties Lefties in sports have a clear advantage over the less unusual right-handers.

But starting out as a little tyke in sports as a lefty is extremely confusing and frustrating. Most coaches, being right-handed, can’t give opposite demonstrations, making left-handers helplessly mirror their actions.

Thoroughly explaining complicated, at the time, sequences of steps and arm motions for a variety of sports pushes lefties behind right-handed teammates at first.

But eventually, all the right-hander practice gives the lefties more versatility in some sports.

The Facts Sadly, on average, lefties are prone to dying nine years sooner, and being prone

to broken bones, allergies, depression, schizophrenia, sleeping disorders, developing alcoholism, dyslexia and repetitive strain injury, left-handers have a physical disadvantage compared to the dominating right-handed people. On top of that, lefties deal on a daily basis with the awkward functioning of all the inventions right-handers happened to create. In fact, 2,500 people die each year using products designed for right-handed people.

There is one day of the year, though, that all my fellow lefties can celebrate our uniqueness: Left-Handers Day, Aug. 13. The overall purpose of this day is to spread the awareness of challenges that lefties go through on a daily basis related to right-handed designs. Another aim for this day is to build new products and building design to ensure the safety and comfort of lefties.

But the best part about having LeftHanders Day is that there is no RightHanders Day.

Teenage celebrities coming up short

BY KIERA MORRILL STAFF WRITER

Now & Then Judy Garland Hilary Duff

The problem today is Talented young stars are a rare thing that we are bothering with today. Most teenagers on the scene are these stars. Some TV draBreak Out Film Break Out Film there because of family ties, or because mas are not even using •The Wizard Of Oz •Cheaper By the they had a gig when they were five. They actors anymore. MTV’s Dozen have their own shows and records; they shows The Hills, Laguna TV are seen posing for magazines and paTV Beach, and Maui Fever are •The Judy Garland parazzi. The public gives celebrities powexamples of how extensive •Lizzie McGuire Show er by giving them attention. reality TV can be. They Award Award Hilary Duff can do basically anything are reality dramas; no lon•Teen Choice Award •Juvenile Oscar Award she feels like as long as she gets publicger impressive, no longer ity: clothing and perfume lines, a new althought out, no longer bum, a tour, an MTV reality show and an acting career since she works of art. The shows are the lives of rich kids who talk bad was 7 years old. Most people would say Duff is rather accomabout each other and complain about relationships. plished for someone her age. She is lucky to have been around Our generation has a lot to offer. We need to prove that we for awhile, the way people know her name. are capable of making an impact like those before us, starting But isn’t it time people heard of someone new? The producwith something everyone knows: the media. ers don’t seem to think so. Directors use her over and over again It is really quite simple. Don’t bother with actors who can’t because they know they won’t have to go through the trouble of act, singers who are famous because of Daddy’s money and making her noticeable to the public anymore. clothing designers who got started on a kid’s show.

She is not the only one either. How do you think Paris Hilton Instead, give up your time for local bands; magazines with got a record deal? People know who she is, so it does not matactual articles; and movies that make you think, cry or laugh ter if she is gifted or not. She is given enough attention to make your head off. Do not bother with entertainers that are less her president. than brilliant.

The state government has recently been pushing for a law that would require all motorcyclists and passengers to wear a helmet at all times on a bike. For someone who has never ridden a motorcycle, you may think this law really has no affect on you. However, it has opened my eyes to how ridiculous it is that our government is now so involved in our personal life that they are now making laws that have always been a matter of personal choice. Sadly, this is not the only example of government being too involved in our everyday lives.

When people decide to ride a motorcycle, they are already taking a much bigger risk than getting in a car. You know right away that the risk of dying is much higher as there is no seat belt. If you are hit, you are thrown from the motorcycle no matter what may happen. Sure, wearing a helmet might be a good idea, but it shouldn’t be forced upon individuals who drive a motorcycle because they love the open air.

While some states suggest making laws based on age restrictions, I think this is even worse. We are forcing kids to join the draft at age 18, but in some states, these kids are still required to wear a helmet. We are willing to put kids out on the line to die for our country, but we will not allow them to make a simple decision such as whether or not to wear a helmet.

In 2004, 28 states had a law in place based on age, and the funny part is that more accidents occur in adults 40 and above, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Yet we have these laws in place for the younger adults. In 2005, adults ranging from 40 and above made up 60 percent of all motorcycle deaths according to NHTSA. Don’t be confused; I agree that wearing a helmet would be smart, but I most certainly do not believe it should be made a law and forced upon people.

Some may complain that by not wearing a helmet increases the likelihood of getting an accident which would potentially raise insurance rates of others. According to NHTSA, there are more pedestrian deaths each year than deaths on motorcycles. It may change your insurance rates slightly, but it is nothing compared to the affect cars or even pedestrian deaths have on rates.

The real question comes down to whom is truly affected by this law? Some might argue that everyone is, but as you can see, the only people who are really affected are those who choose whether or not to wear the helmet, that being of course the rider. People need to open their eyes and realize that the government should not be determining such personal decisions as this.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this column, send e-mails to sam.leahy@gmail.com

6

OPINION: what they think April ‘07

B &W

Athletics trump academics

Dan Haight/B&W

Rushing to the ball, senior Quinn Bailey and junior Danny Sigmund try to beat out a member of the opposing team, Fort Dodge, in the home opener. The boys’ soccer team won 2-1. This is one of the many sports that take precedence over other academic activities.

In high school, sports are everything while academia takes a back seat The message is simple: try hard in school, get good grades. This is what just about every adult has been hammering into students’ brains since they were in diapers. They should get it by now. The reason we have not: athletics. Sports seem to trump all academic goals.

This is not just in the eyes of the kids; it is in the eyes of the parents, the teachers, the coaches and the administration. This misguided focus is one of the reasons that kids are not doing their homework or studying for their tests. If they keep getting the message that athletics come first, then that is where they are going to put them. The sad fact is most athletes do not seem to the mind the fact that athletics are the more important role in school.

Students keep hearing “ITED scores are down,” but they get out early for basketball games. They keep hearing, “Your class average is terrible,” but they have 40-minute pep assembles to give recognition to athletes.

What do the teachers expect? When the focus is not on school, then it is going to be somewhere else, and grades will reflect that sentiment.

The school seems to think academic extracurriculars

balance out athletics. True, students do have activities available, such as mock trial, academic decathlon and knowledge bowl. But when was the last time anyone went to root on the knowledge bowl team, or students got out of school to support mock trial? The fact is that these activities pale in comparison to sports. The amount of money and fan support put into these activities pale in comparison to athletics.

The truth is that even though more support is given to athletics, they are still a privilege. In a recent action by an Illinois school facing a financial crisis, sports were completely eliminated. The school was completely out of money, and as an attempt to save its curriculum, it did away with all athletics and other extracurricular activities. Many angry parents and students demanded that the school reinstates these activities.

The school’s answer was that it was not legally required to offer these activities because they are privileges and not a right. So then the question is, if athletics are a privilege and academics are a right, then why does the community pay more attention to the privilege?

Communities stake their pride on athletic programs and instill the wrong priorities in their children. Attitudes such as this create nothing but academically stunted alumni who have little to be proud of except long-gone athletic glory. The last thing we need in this world full of problems is less scientists and more Uncle Ricos.

Twenty-five months ago on one overcast afternoon, I scribbled down some words for a column that made sense to me. Some garbage about oranges that, while it remains one of my favorite, it incurred a fair share of public ridicule (including one very poorly written letter). The oranges were meant to be a metaphor, a symbol for the balance of life amongst increasing doubt.

Now, I sit at a computer under the same fluorescent lights, shortly after navigating an April snowstorm on my way to school this morning, looking for a counterweight.

It seems externally, nothing’s any better than it was then.

This dawned on me as I was listening to a new Bright Eyes album last night (which is reviewed on page 7) and

this line, the headline for this column, stuck out at me.

It was gratifying to think that someone I admired held a similar belief, that the example of the oranges wasn’t ridiculous. It was even more amazing that Conor Oberst, a notoriously depressed head case, would hold such an optimistic ideal.

Still, what’s the basis? Our country is still run by the same type of people in Dylan’s “Masters of War.” Seriously, I think Karl Rove might use that title when amongst friends.

Our planet’s supposed to be melting at each end, our children being failed in our schools, and we’ve got our legs in a bear trap in Iraq.

So what’s to be happy about; what’s worthy of such optimism?

A favorite talking point of the GOP is the negativity of the media in covering the conflict in Iraq. John McCain doesn’t understand why his Baghdad shopping trip accompanied by several humvees, troops and a couple helicopters doesn’t cause rays of sunshine to emit from

BY STEVEN CRAIN GUEST WRITER

Erin Funk/The Dragon

Mock trial Team Purple files out during a break in its first round at the state competition March 15.

According to the team, the only fans present were their parents.

The scales always find a way to level out Death OR Glory

Michael J Slusark

writers’ pens. This isn’t where the good news is to be found. It’s asinine to accuse people of not seeing the silver lining of a funnel cloud. If the Army doesn’t like what reporters are writing about the conflict, maybe they should just pay newspapers to publish biased articles about the war. Oh wait. . . I think I already wrote an opinion about that one.

My digression aside, the real idea is that in the face of such world traumas, there’s no better time to examine the simple things that make life beautiful. Winter is slowly turning into spring, I’ll graduate and The Office is on Thursday nights.

Hopefully, for me, that’s enough to level out.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this column, send e-mails to michaeljohn48@aol.com

7

B &W

REVIEW: what’s new April ‘07

Cassadaga Bright Eyes

BY ALEX GUNS REVIEW EDITOR

As the third second turns, the fiddle screeches through the speakers, evoking the Americana sound of Tin Pan Alley thought long dead. In a head-spinning four minutes, everything has changed from what it once was. The brittle indie kid, collapsing under his own poetry seen in 2005’s I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning has been shed. Enter now the jaded blues man, with morals for a nickel and stories for a dime. This song is “Four Winds,” the first single on Conor Oberst’s new release — Cassadaga. This album isn’t so much a concept, but a crusade.

With Oberst’s sixth studio album, if there haven’t already been enough Bob Dylan analogies to Bright Eyes, Cassadaga will open a whole new forum for debate. Not that any of the arguments have any real merit, until Oberst spurts out a lyric like, “The motorcycle black madonna two-wheeled gypsy queen and her silver-studded phantom cause the gray flannel dwarf to scream” there is no point to comparing the two.

It’s going to be hard to meet Cassadaga with a smile and open arms. With the current state of country music, even the hippest music cynosures will be challenged. Country spoke for its own demise when the hit single was once “We’ll Stick a Boot in your Ass,” patriotic eloquence worthy of overtaking the National Anthem.

It’s good to hear an album for once that isn’t the Latchkey kid of Sgt. Pepper’s and Pet Sounds. A clean break from the barrage of indie praise-based imitation of the psychedelic sound. With constant “trippy” lyrics from the Flaming Lips and anthems to the sun left and right, Beatles-based guitar rifts have been the only music on the map since the indie scene began. Oberst lyrics are of card players, Babylon and a woman’s bed beneath a crucifix. Statements like these haven’t been heard since your grandfather’s turntable stopped spinning.

We have Bright Eyes calling the carpet on bands like The Shins, Of Montreal and Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, demanding room for a sound before 1962, a time when rock was considered an American invention and kept more to its country twang than modern listeners are comfortable with. Not to mention lyrics directly plucked from the Bible. This isn’t a new face — it’s a battle cry.

Conor Oberst takes a chance in the 21st century to crusade for the Holy Land of American popular culture. Taken

by Rock-Pop and fortified for the last half century. Now,

changes sails

film history

“The Prodigal Son” history lesson by Alexander S.G. Guns

echoing the imagery of the cowboy ballads, the guitar strokes of Maybelle Carter and the passion of The Band. The first shot of the crusade to bringing it all back home has been fired.

Of course, if you aren’t into any of that and just looking for a good album, pick up Cassadaga. Oh, and try to power through the first “song.” It’s a weird one. If you’re tired of what’s on the radio, and want the hot indie star, give this a listen.

Provided/Saddle Creek

Meet the Robinsons’ future looks positive

BY SHAWNA POLEN STAFF WRITER Disney’s newest animated movie Meet the Robinsons pulled in $2.1 million people opening weekend, falling in behind Blades of Glory.

Left on the porch of a foster home when he was only a few days old, Louis wonders why his mother never wanted him. After failing 124 adoption interviews, Louis begins to understand that no one wants a 12-year-old boy who can invent things.

At his school science fair, Louis meets Wilbur, a young boy who says he is from the future. According to Wilbur, he has come back to protect him from the ‘bowler hat man.’ When Louis tells him that he is crazy, Wilbur decided to take Louis to the future to prove himself right.

As soon as the boys arrive in the future, the time machine breaks down. While Louis tries to fix it, he is introduced to Wilbur’s family, the Robinsons. The family is composed of many relatives: a giant octopus, a talking robot, singing frogs and a dog who wears glasses, all of whom take a natural liking to Louis.

The family teaches Louis many things, like how “you learn more from your failures than from your success,” and to “keep moving forward.”

It does not take long for Louis to meet the ‘bowler hat man’, who is trying to ruin his life. With the help of a super genius

This month in....

Provided/Disney

MOVIE QUICK FACTS

Genre: Animated/ 3-D Rating: G Running Time: 96 min.

Director: Stephen J. Anderson

Producer: Dorothy McKim Voices: Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman,

hat named Doris, the ‘bowler hat man’ is able to take control of a dinosaur and wreak havoc on the Robinson family.

But the ‘bowler hat man’ is in for a surprise when the Robinsons fight back and defeat him.

When Louis’ secret gets out that he is from the past, the family says that he must go back. Otherwise, it could mean big trouble for the future, due to the fact

that without Louis in the past, none of the future would exist.

Faced with this decision, Louis goes back to the past to set the future right.

This is a story about finding family and never giving up your dreams. The characters’ personalities will leave you laughing; it is a movie the whole family will enjoy, and it is well worth the price of the ticket.

Stephen J. Anderson, Angela Bassett

Distributor: Disney

James Cameron, a man thought dead for the last decade, has reappeared in the spotlight to show us his latest wonder: the actual tomb of Jesus Christ! No one seemed to mind that he found Jesus’ family tomb in the exact spot where his tomb was suggested and later disproved, 20 years previous. James Cameron has recently produced a documentary to unveil the truth that scientific fact has been hiding for all these years.

The Tomb, or the “Talpiot Tomb” was found in Jerusalem, which makes little to no sense considering the family was from Nazareth in Galilee. But for argument’s sake, we’ll just say they moved their family tomb 100 plus miles over rugged terrain for no reason.

On one tomb, the name “Maria” in Aramaic, which translates as “Mary” (the most popular name for women of that era, around 21.5% of women had that name) appears. Then there is “Jesus” (the sixth most used name for men of that era). On Jesus’ tomb it says, “Jesus Son of Joseph” (Joseph being the second most popular name of the era). But there is a wife of this Jesus in the tomb with the name “Mariamne.” They translated it as Mary, as in the infamous Mary Magdalene. Now... why would they translate two different names (Maria/Mariamne) as one name– Mary?

Even with all that, the actual odds of those popular names all being in the same family tomb is 600 to 1. For something to even be considered original, it must be in the 1,000,000s to 1. So, we have a family tomb in the wrong place, with false translations, and names so popular there have been in multiple tombs... sounds like hard evidence to me.

I’m sure this release of the “truth” debunked two decades ago has nothing to do with the recent popularity in alternate Christian history. And I’m sure the fact that just last year The Da Vinci Code made $758,239,851 also had noooooothing to do with this in Cameron’s mind.

Two weeks before the documentary premiered on Discovery Channel, Cameron held a press conference. With him, he brought two of the actual tombs to be photographed. TWO, of what he claims are the most important artifacts in history, sitting in a PRESS CONFERENCE! Right then I would assume red flags would fly up all across America saying, “Uhh, I think this might be a farce.”

Whatever Christians left in Hollywood decided that this was the last straw, and struck back. “Over the years Hollywood has attacked and mocked Christianity,” National Clergy Council president the Rev. Rob Schenck said.

Perfect, they had the moral high ground on this argument. No way could they lose this battle. Then they followed with, “It is evident and clear that Jews control Hollywood productions!”...The best summary for this transaction would be the Christians waiting patiently, getting Hollywood in their sights, then quickly turning the gun on themselves and firing—BAM! Every group of people, religious or filmmaker, seem to get dumber when they live in California.

Either way, the documentary came and went with little difference. Cameron made a few bucks and turned in his director title for sell-out. He could have been a disciple of D.W. Griffith, now he’s just a poor man’s P.T. Barnum.

Senior Antonio Rodriguez works in the stockroom at Hollister Jordan Creek on a Saturday evening. He is wearing ripped jeans, a colorful T-shirt and flip flops.

Hollister Co. emphasizes a natural, classic California style, for both its customers and employees. “We want a customer to notice the employee, not what the employee is wearing,” Bob Brownawell, a manager at Hollister Jordan Creek, said. “We don’t want big hoop earrings to be the first thing noticed on an associate.”

Employees are allowed to wear clothing from other brands as long as there is no obvious competitor logo visible on the clothing item. Employees clothing must be similar to Hollister Co. style and look similar to something that could have been purchased at the store. In addition to this, employees must wear clothes that are in season and are not permitted to wear black or any clothing that is too casual, such as gym shorts and a T-shirt.

Female employees must have clean, natural hairstyles and make up. They are only allowed to wear two pairs of earrings, with each earring no larger than a dime. Male employees are not allowed to wear jewelry. Facial piercings are not permitted.

If an employee disobeys the “look policy”, he or she will first receive a verbal reprimand.

After that, the employee may be sent home to change their clothes. The employee may even be terminated at a manager’s discretion for disobeying the dress code.

Although the look policy appears strict, employees say it is not always followed. “We don’t follow the dress code 100 percent,” Rodriguez, an Employee at Hollister Jordan Creek said. “But even if we did I wouldn’t have a problem with it because it’s what I would normally wear.”

Black longsleeved suit top

Victoria’s Secret T-shirt

Black dress pants

Black ‘trendy’ shoes

BY AMANDA LOWER DOUBLETRUCK EDITOR

<<

April ‘07

Colorful, Hollister brand T-shirt, $19.50

Brown Leather belt with large buckle, $39.00

Brown leather flip flops, $34.50

BY AMY LOVEJOY STAFF WRITER

Senior Sarah Schultz gathers her belongings as she prepares for another day of work at Victoria’s Secret in Merle Hay Mall. She is dressed very professionally in black slacks, a colorful top, a black suit top and trendy black shoes. “I actually don’t mind having dress up for work,” Schultz said. “You basically wear the same thing every time, so it’s pretty convenient.”

According to Schultz, when she was hired to work at Victoria’s Secret the rule she remembered the most was that black looks professional. “If I didn’t meet the dress code requirements, my manager would have a talk with me about clothing expectations and most likely send me home because I didn’t look professional enough,” Schultz said.

Head Manager of Victoria’s Secret at Merle Hay Mall, Mary Mefferd, explains the dress code policy. “It’s vital our employees look professional,” Mefferd said. The whole idea behind the black suit requirements for Victoria’s Secret employees comes down to what makes them look professional and consistent.

As an employee of Victoria’s Secret, there are expectations such as wearing either a plain-colored shirt or a Pink Victoria’s Secret brand shirt under the black suit top. Schultz encountered a small obstacle the first few days she worked because she didn’t have the appropriate shirts. “I had on an Abercrombie shirt on under my suit, and there was a small logo on it. One of my managers noticed the logo and told me I wasn’t allowed to wear it or any other shirt that showed a logo,” Schultz said.

According to Schultz, she owns a lot of Abercrombie shirts that she thought would be acceptable to wear to work because they’re plain and colorful. However, she understands that it makes most sense to wear clothing that supports and promotes Victoria’s Secret.

[ ] fashion After visiting four job locations and speaking with managers of employed students and teachers, it is apparent the expectations of dress codes have changed. Some students face having to spend much more money on their work attire than they intended to, while others simply put on a cheap pair of khakis and red shirt. Read on to find out how clothing color depicts job status, what the ‘natural’ look is, and why some faculty members may be dressing up.

“

Not a lot of makeup or hair things. We don’t want makeup to be the first thing noticed on a girl.

Siedel

Sneakers are prohibited.

BY LAUREN PROFFITT STAFF WRITER

Junior Nick Ligouri has worked at Target on Merle Hay Road for only three weeks. Prior to working he went through training to learn the do’s and don’ts of the dress code. According to Leah, LOD of Super Target, employees are required to wear any red shirt, khaki pants and comfortable dress shoes.

“I wear my red chucks because I work at Target, but I think the only kind of dress shoes you could not wear would be bunny slippers,” Ligouri said.

According to the dress code if employees want to wear an undershirt it must be white or black. Also they must not wear studded belts or have any logo on their clothing.

Ligouri mentions that the dress code is reasonable and is not that bad.

“You don’t have to worry about how you dress or wearing a tie, just wear a cheap red shirt and pants,” Ligouri said.

If one thing could be changed about the dress code, Ligouri suggested the khaki pants.

“They are baggy and feel weird,” Ligouri said. “I would rather wear some nice jeans.”

”

-Todd Siedel, assistant manager at Hollister Jordan Creek

“

Black is definitely professional. Also, wearing black high heels instead of black sneakers looks much more professional.

”

When Speech teacher Marilyn Middleton was interviewed for a teaching position here twenty-nine years ago, one of the interviewers commented on her attire, which consisted of a pants-suit, as opposed to the expected dress for women.

“People just don’t dress up like they used to,” Middleton explained. “Even five years ago, people dressed up.”

The faculty’s dress code is summed up into one paragraph in the Staff Handbook.

It places an emphasis on maintaining a professional image. This includes: no sneakers, jeans, and sweatshirts.

“When I first started teaching, people dressed differently,” Middleton said.

According to Middleton, teachers are not specifically told what to wear, but that each year becomes more casual than the one before it.

“I like to dress more formally because you feel better when you dress-up,” Biology teacher Kyla Burns said. Burns, who is in her second year of teaching, explains that some staff members participate in casual Fridays. Teachers usually wear nice jeans on these days. Sweatshirts and tee-shirts that support the school are permitted, others that contain brand names or slogans on them are not.

Both Burns and Middleton explained that they are not aware of any major problems that teachers have had with the dress code.

plain red shirt, no logos or slogans $17

khaki pants $20

tennis shoes or comfortable dress shoes

BY ALLISON KANE STAFF WRITER

What is the ‘profional’ look?

What is a ‘natural’ look at Hollister?

JOHNSTON HIGH SCHOOL

No jeans,“business-casual” pants and skirts.

FORCE

Deconstructed jeans, $59.50

B &W

No tee-shirts and sweatshirts that contain slogans and logos. Johnston logos are permitted.

WORK

Brown leather cuff, black is prohibited $12.50

MANAGERS say...

What the

>>

DOUBLETRUCK: what’s the scoop

>>

8&9

What is your policy for tattoos and piercings?

“

-Mary Mefferd, head manager at Victoria’s Secret Merle Hay Mall

Hukee

There is really no policy on piercings or tattoos. I’m aware of the teachers that have tattoos, but I assume that they would keep it discretely covered.

I’ve never had to deal with a teacher on this issue.

”

10

ENTERTAINMENT: what’s happening April ‘07

B &W

Know the skin you’re in

HANA KAJTAZOVIC TOREY ROBINSON

SOFT AND SOOTHING

face

{1

summerskin

Tanning may provide for a flawless bronze color, but it can also cause dry skin and serious sunburn.

2 3 {4 5 6 Despite its thick appearance, Nivea face creme uses natural ingredients that intensively hydrate skin at an unbeatable price.

Tanning is expensive and unhealthy. For an alternative, a good self tanner will give you color without the cancer. Splurge on Lancome AquaFlash for all skin types.

$0.99, Walgreens

$40, Lancome.com

lips

Tap or Bottle

Excessive exposure to sunlight or extreme temperatures lead to a chapped and scaly appearance.

Carmex, traditionally used for cold sores, provides a tingling relief for chapped or sunburnt lips. It also prevents future agitated damage.

Burt’s Bees uses nut butters and beeswax for a cooling sensation in any condition. As a natural product, it reduces splits and scales.

$3.49, Hy-Vee

}

Sunburn produces peeling, puffy skin caused by dehydration. Drinking water, in addition to rinsing one’s face, will reduce healing time.

}

Shine, shade, and moisture combine in Estee Lauder’s high gloss with SPF 15.

Such products are colorful alternatives to chap-sticks.

$16, Younkers

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

acne

{7

clearskin

Blemishes and breakouts can increase in the summer months from clogged pores due to sweat.

CLEANSER. Over 20 million people have used Proactiv Solution and for a reason, too. Even though the informercials are annoying, most users swear by this product.

PRODUCT STASH

$20,1-800-876-9717 800-876-9717

3

8 9 TONER. Clinique No. 2 toner gently exfoliates normal skin while de-flaking to reveal clearer skin. The system is pricey but it will last for longer than most.

$42, Dillard’s

2

}

LOTION. Clean and Clear has several different products for all types of skin problems. They even have products for sensitive skin and are easy to find.

6 7

$10, Walgreens

9

5

1

4

8

Behind the wheels of Streetsmarts driver’s ed

BY STEPHANIE IVANKOVICH STAFF WRITER Driver’s education is something we all take sooner or later. Currently, the two most popular driving programs offered are Streetsmarts and Autopilots. The main difference between the two is that Streetsmarts uses a PowerPoint presentation and Autopilots uses the book to take notes.

I took Streetsmarts because it is through the school. Before taking the class, I had only driven three times, each time in an empty parking lot, so as one could imagine-I had a lot to learn. The first day of class was almost like going to a new school. A few of the kids I knew, but most were freshmen. The course greeted me with intense notes. Not side notes, but notes for tests. This came as a

shocking surprise for me. I didn’t know that we would take a written test. Being a bad test taker, I suddenly became frightened.

I began to really buckle down and take notes. There was one obstacle in my way to the top, the underclassmen. They would talk and chat it up while I was trying to concentrate. The freshman just want their school permits, and while they still have a year until they get their license, I was two months late on getting mine.

My first drive was fun. It was a lot easier than I thought. I got to listen to my techno music, which reduced much stress. But going on Merle Hay Road during five o’clock rush hour wasn’t easy for a first drive. I stopped in the middle of the turn twice. When I got home from my drive, I dragged my mom to the car, so I could practice more.

My next driving experience was great.

Although it was snowing, my instructor told me I was pretty much a different driver. I guess those practice sections paid off. This made my day. I was confident and ready to roll.

Weeks went by of a few tests and drives. Then the day of the final drive came. Both my partners drove fine and now it was my turn. We were in the Valley West Mall parking lot and I was instructed to park and I completely bombed it. I had to drive around to re-do it. I drove up on curb! I was so nervous. If I didn’t pass, I would have to drive to the DOT and wait on getting the Corolla of my dreams. I had to calm myself down. When I did, the rest was smooth.

My overall experience of driver’s education was intense, but worth it. I drive everywhere now. However, I regret not taking the course as a freshman.

Stephanie Ivankovich/BW

Students take a written test while in StreetSmarts driver’s ed. Students have to have at least a 60 percent in order to pass the class.

11

B &W

FEATURE: what people are doing April ‘07

S

enior enior Willie Lowe recaps his sledding accident acci

FINE LINE the

BY TINA LI STAFF WRITER What happened to your leg?

Me and a few of my friends were sledding in a canoe down the Saylorville Dam on the snow day. We put the canoe on the top of my friend’s car and we drove it to the top of the hill. We greased up the bottom (with White Lighting Grease) and we all jumped in. The hill ended in a road, so you had to jump out of the canoe at the bottom of the hill. When I jumped out, I landed on my ankle and rolled, causing me to break my fibula and damage my ankle.

between fun & frActur Ed

How did your friends react?

My friends Nate Nuzum and Chris Ajluni didn’t think my injury was that bad, and were giving me crap and saying that I was making a big deal out of nothing. My other friend Erica Eaves was a bit more concerned.

She thought it was broken and that I should have gone to the doctor right away.

Quote

“

I didn’t thin k it was broken at all when it happened a nd I was still able to walk. That night, I wen t to the Red Hot Chili P eppers’ concert and sto od on it for a few hours .

How much did it hurt?

I didn’t think it was broken and I wasn’t in much pain, so I just iced it. It wasn’t until the next morning until I decided that it would be a good idea to see the doctor.

When I found that my fibula was broken, it came as a bit of a surprise.

What did the surgery involve?

My first surgery involved them slicing the side of my leg open and placing a plate across the break in my leg and putting a long screw through my ankle. Then I had to go in a week later and they put another screw in.

Willie Lowe Senior

”

Tina Li/BW

Senior Willie Lowe stops at his locker as he goes to class. His cast, which he has had for about a month, will come off on April 25.

Inset: Lowe’s x-ray. After breaking his fibula during a sledding accident, he had pin placements put in at the hospital.

Provided/W illie Lowe

Students give up goods for lent

BY KELSEY HYDE FEATURE EDITOR

{ Students share some of the different

Ellis[sophomore] Breanna gave up meat Why did you decide to give up meat?

I knew it was going to be really hard for me because I eat meat with almost every meal and I wanted to give up something that was really hard.

What’s been the hardest part?

I gave up meat but not seafood, so whenever I go out to restaurants I have to get seafood or something else.

Eating in the lunchroom is really hard too because lots of dishes are meat.

Does your church require you give up something?

I’m Lutheran, so I don’t have to give up something, but its encouraged.

What’s the first thing you’re going to eat when lent ends?

Probably a steak or grilled chicken.

things they gave up for 40 days}

[senior] Dzubak John gave up quoting Family Guy Why did you give up quoting Family Guy?

Because my friends always said I was quoting it and it was bothering them.

Do you usually give up something?

I usually try to but don’t succeed, but so far I have been this year. I’m Lutheran so they like to challenge you to give up something every year.

What’s been the hardest part?

I used to quote Family Guy everyday. I notice I sometimes almost bring it up but remember I can’t so I have to hold back my conversation.

Have your friends been happy since you’ve stopped?

I don’t know if they’re happy but they like to make fun of me because they know there are quotes I can’t say.

[senior] Coughlon Collingave up church

...last year

Why did you give up church?

It all started off as a joke from my dad, but we didn’t go to church that much to begin with. But then, with my help, it actually started happening.

Did you have to give up something?

I’m Catholic so my church actually encourages it. That’s why it makes it that much more funny.

Was it hard not going to church?

No, it was funny.

What did the rest of your family think about it?

My mom wasn’t too thrilled about it, We all thought it was a joke at first, but with my help, I got my dad on my side, that made it good.

Heredity wreaks havoc on hairlines

BY BRYAN LIPPINCOTT SPORTS EDITOR At age 12, senior Khanh Nguyen noticed that his hairline was starting to recede. “I really didn’t care, I just grew my hair out to cover it,” Nguyen said.

Like Nguyen, other students have begun to lose their hair. This can be due to a number of things, according to Head of Nursing Administration at Reese Hair Restoration Kirsten Behr.

Genetically, hair loss comes from both parents, contrary to the belief that it comes solely from the mother’s gene pool. The time line for baldByrd ness for a person is encoded in his or her scalp from the time that person is born.

“Hair is constantly in different phases,” Behr said.

“The hair on your head is not all the hair that you have. There are dormant follicles, and the hair can change color, density, and coarseness. Also, your hair is always shedding.”

Senior Scott Byrd started to notice the movement of his hairline around the age of 15. Byrd never tried to hide it by changing the way he cut his hair.

“I didn’t really care because I knew there was nothing I could do about it,” Byrd said. “The worst part was knowing that I was going to be bald when I grew up.”

Senior Joseph Pavelka figured that his hairline started to recede around sophomore year. Pavelka figured that this would happen because hair loss is wide spread on his father’s side of the family.

“My dad doesn’t have any hair, and neither does my uncle. My grandpa on my mom’s side is bald, too,” Pavelka said.

Pavelka accepted it and didn’t change the way he cut his hair. “Man, I just don’t worry about it,”

Pavelka said. “I just go to Great Clips because it’s the cheapest and that way I don’t have to worry about it.”

Byrd and Nguyen were unaware that the gene was passed on to them from both of their parents. The hormone that causes baldness is dehydro testosterone. It attacks the follicle and causes it to fall out.

The drug Prophecia is given to men who experience this, and it stops or blocks the hormone.

Senior Todd Sexton was aware that hair loss was genetic, but in his case, the small bald spot on the back of his head is a birthmark.

“I’ve always had it and it doesn’t bother me because I am used to it,” Sexton said. Sexton used to try to hide the spot when he was younger, “around third or fourth grade.”

Byrd and Nguyen have had friends tease them in the past about their hair. It didn’t bother Byrd as much as the fact that he is going to be bald when he is older.

B &W 12 Custodian conquers calcium chloride FEATURE: what people are doing April ‘07

BY EMILY CONN STAFF WRITER

“My toes were burnt like charcoal and I had one blister that was about the size of a lime.”

After six marathons, calcium chloride had never been a problem for custodian Forey Jacobsen. That is until the 2006 Des Moines Marathon when the weather was cold and the chemical was put on the streets to prevent ice and snow form sticking.

Unfortunately, the people who put the chemical on the street weren’t planning on anyone running the race barefoot.

“I run barefoot because it’s more spiritual,” Jacobsen said.

“I feel closer to the Earth. It (provides) better grip, and I get more air to my feet.”

Jacobsen finished the race and after posing for many pictures, because he was the only person running without shoes on the cold day, he waited for awards. As he was waiting, he suddenly noticed that his feet felt funny. Looking down, Jacobsen noticed he was standing in blood. He took a couple steps back and realized his feet were leaving a trail of blood.

The blood was caused by contact with calcium chloride, which can cause burns to the skin.

“My toes were burnt like charcoal and I had one blister that was about the size of a lime,” Jacobsen said.

Jacobsen didn’t try to press charges or contact the city about the burns.

“It’s my own fault,” Jacobsen said. How many people run barefoot in the snow? The snow may have been a factor, I’m not going to blame it all on the calcium chloride.”

Barefoot running started for Jacobsen when the YMCA’s Red Flannel Run had a contest for least dressed.

“One guy went as a streaker. He won, but during the race he was wearing a hat and gloves,”

Jacobsen said.

“I wasn’t wearing a hat, gloves, or shoes.”

After the race, Jacobsen kept the tradition going and came to be known as the ‘Kilt Runner.’ His license plates read, KLTRUNR (Kilt Runner) and BEARFTN (bear footin’).

Although Jacobsen has, for the most part, been a successful barefoot runner, he doesn’t recommend trying it out without first preparing yourself.

There are advantages to running barefoot.

“You don’t have to worry about corns or foot fungus, (but) you can only bare so much.

You shouldn’t just go out and try to run in the cold.”

Staying away from coffee, doing squats, and taking niacin to open up the blood flow, are a few of the things Jacobsen does to better prepare himself for the cold weather.

“Marathon is Greek for endurance test.”

Jacobsen runs about three times per week and lifts weights to keep in shape. Most of the time he runs barefoot.

Jacobsen went to the hospital to receive medical care about three hours after finishing the race. He has been out of work since Feb. 17, and recently started working half days.

He is recovering and should eventually be able to get his feet back to where they were before the burns.

Above: Forey Jacobsen participates in the Living History Farms race. Top left and right show the blisters caused from Jacobsen’s reaction to calcium chloride in the 2006 Des Moines Marathon.

Jazz Ensemble ranks in top five at Championships

BY DAWN WILKENS STAFF WRITER

^

Playing at the Civic Center, the Jazz Ensemble performed their music at 8 a.m.

^ ^

Jazzing his solo up, junior Jon Emheiser plays his alto saxophone. (Right) Junior Paige Sanders, plays on the vibraphone while junior Brad Halbersma plays on the piano.

Dawn Wilkens/BW

Junior Paige Sanders was sitting in the Civic Center auditorium waiting for the places of the Jazz Championships.

“When they announced the winners for 8th, 7th and 6th place, I figured they forgot to call Johnston’s name,” Sanders said. “Then once Johnston had made the top five, I almost (soiled) myself.”

The highest jazz band, Jazz Ensemble, performed at the Iowa Jazz Championships on April 3 at 8 a.m. at the Civic Center. This was the fifth time that Johnston has been chosen to play.

“Bands get invited based on how they do at their district Jazz Festival,” director Patrick Kearney said. “We did well enough at the festivals and competitions to qualify.”

The students were excited while playing and right before their performance.

“Right before we go on stage, we enjoy the time we have,” Kearney said. “While being on stage, there was a lot of momentum, which made the band great.”

The band performed “Dizzying,” “Birdland West Georgia,” “La Llama Azul” and “Chrometry.”

Kearney was pleased with the Jazz Ensemble’s performance.

“The band performed great, it was their best performance all year,” Kearney said. “There were some pretty hard conditions to play in. They performed on a big stage and it was very early in the morning. It was a really, really, really good performance.”

Top Five Des 1 West Moines Valley 2 Iowa City West City 3 Sioux North Rapids4 Cedar Washington 5 Johnston The Jazz Ensemble placed fifth out of 15 bands, breaking the school record of eighth place.

Next year, if the Jazz Ensemble qualifies, they will perform in the afternoon because they made the top five. Along with placing fifth, freshmen Chris Oatts and Eric Oatts, junior Jon Emheiser and senior Erik Mortens had outstanding solos.

“Performance is always a lot of fun, but it was sad for me because my closest friends are seniors and that was our last performance together,” Sanders said. “But I loved it when Urbandale, Waukee and Ankeny got little plaques and we got a huge trophy.”

DUNGEON

2

R E N T R A G M BAU

BREAKS R E T F A S K N RA YEARS When soccer practice started after spring break, Chase Baumgartner’s last thought was that he would play varsity. “I was actually really surprised when I made it,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner had not played soccer since his freshman year, but went out this year to get back into the sport and see his friends a little more. Baumgartner ended up making varsity as an inside defender.

According to boys’ soccer coach Matt Todd, he is a very good one-on-one player and tough to get by. “I really thought it would be a problem for Chase since he had not played since his freshman year, but he came out, worked hard and proved me wrong,” Todd said.

Baumgartner stopped playing after his freshman year to focus on other things such as basketball and academics. “I really have missed the sport and I wish that I would have stuck with it, especially now that I have made varsity,” he said.

He attributes his success to his athleticism, as well as part of the team being ineligible due to the new grade system and the three strikes rule. According to Baumgartner, he also has a good relationship with the coaching staff.

[ ]

Chase Baumgartner catches his breath while watching a play unfold during their third game of the season. Baumgartner is a starting defender, but hasn’t played soccer since his freshman year.

Dan Haight/BW

UPPER LEFT: Chase Baumgartner, senior, chases after a loose ball during the first varsity soccer game. Four games scheduled before this one were cancelled due to cold weather.

MIDDLE LEFT: Chase Baumgartner passes the ball to teammate Danny Sigmund during the first half of their game against Fort Dodge. The Dragons improved their record to 2-1.

LOWER LEFT: Danny Sigmund, junior, guards a Fort Dodge opponent during the second half of the soccer game April 16. Sigmund hasn’t played with Baumgartner before, but feels that they have created some chemistry.

“He has very solid man-to-man mark-

ing skills and is hard to beat one on one. Chase is great at clearing high balls in the defensive zone.”

~ Coach Matt Todd

“Chase is an aggressive player, and he steps up when we need him to.” ~ Defender Danny Sigmund

Chase Baumgartner

Compiled by Staff Writers: Lee Yocum and Nels Engblom; Photos: Dan Haight/BW

14

SPORTS: what the athletes play April ‘07

B &W

NBA branches into Iowa

BY THOMAS LASHIER STAFF WRITER

The state of Iowa was awarded an expansion basketball team in the National Basketball Association Developmental League (NBADL) on Feb. 27. The announcement was made by National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner David Stern. The new team will begin play in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena starting next season.

This announcement marked the first time that the NBA has branched into Iowa. According to Chris Makris, the assistant general manager for the Iowa NBADL team, Des Moines was an attractive location for the NBA. “There are a lot of reasons the NBA selected Des Moines for this franchise.

First and foremost, Des Moines, and Iowa as a whole, has a strong desire for basketball,” Makris said. “A professional basketball franchise can add yet another entertainment option for the people in the greater Des Moines market.”

The Iowa team will be owned and operated by Iowa Basketball, LLC. This organization is made up of a group of successful Des Moines businessman, led by local attorney Jerry Crawford.

Crawford felt Des Moines needed more athletic entertainment. “People always complain that young people leave Des Moines and Iowa because there isn’t enough to do,” Crawford said. “My partners and I decided we should put our money where our mouths are and make sure there is one more thing for people to do here.”

Getting Des Moines prepared for an NBADL franchise wasn’t easy. “From negotiating the lease with Wells Fargo to reaching an agreement with the NBA to preparing all the financial projects, it was a long process and a lot of work,” Crawford said.

The NBADL works as a minor league system for the NBA, providing a useful environment to develop players, coaches, and officials for NBA-level competition.

NBA teams use an assignment system with D-League affiliates, sending certain players to the minor league system and bringing other athletes up to play with their NBA teams.

Since the start of the assignment operation two years ago, 26 of the 30 NBA teams have assigned 49 different players. Also, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has had experience officiating in the NBADL. According to the official NBADL web site, the league’s goals are to “promote fun and family entertainment at afford-

Jeffrey Bottari/NBAE/Getty Images

Former Iowa State guard Curtis Stinson drives to the hoop in an NBADL game this season. Stinson plays for the Fort Worth Flyers, but could be seen in action in Iowa next season.

Possible

L A Y E R S

These former in-state collegiate basketball stars could be returning to Iowa next season to play in the NBADL.

Greg Brunner

Curtis Stinson

Marcus Fizer

Adam Haluska

Iowa’s all-time leading rebounder and former first team all-Big 10 Conference selection.

Former All-American at Iowa State. Won NBADL Most Valuable Player for 200506 season.

able prices”. D-League games are not as expensive as NBA contests, though they still offer the experience of watching professional basketball players.

On March 27, the Iowa team announced they will have an all-Iowa coaching staff. Nick Nurse, a former standout basketball player at the University of Northern Iowa, will be head coach. Nurse was excited to learn about his selection.

“I was extremely grateful,” Nurse said.

“To be in Europe the past 12 years coaching professionally, to be able to return

A three year starter at Iowa State and former first team all-Big 12 Conference selection.

A starting guard for Iowa last season. Led the Big 10 Conference in scoring in 2006-07.

home to Iowa to do this is awesome. I am excited to have this opportunity.”

Nurse returns to Iowa after a successful period as a head coach in Europe.

During his 12 years in the British Basketball League (BBL), Nurse accumulated a 343-153 record, winning two National Cups and one league title as head coach of the Brighton Bears. Nurse also won the BBL Coach of the Year award twice.

Nurse has limited experience with the NBA, coaching with the Milwaukee Bucks summer league team in 2000.

“There are only 45 top professional coaching jobs in the USA, 30 in the NBA and 15 in the NBA D-League,” Nurse said.

“It is a great situation for me considering my background and future.”

Gary Garner will be Nurse’s top assistant. Garner coached at Drake University, and he ended his tenure at Drake as the third most successful head coach in the history of the school in total wins.

He was the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 1982.

According to Nurse, a combination of things brought the NBADL to Des Moines. “(We have) A great arena in Wells Fargo, a great local ownership group, and a great triple A sports city.”

Nurse is also convinced that Iowa will enjoy watching the athletes on this new team. “These guys will be great players.

(They are) NBA players that are looking to find their right time and place in the NBA,” Nurse said.

Makris agrees that there will be no shortage of talent next season. “The talent level in the league is very high,” he said. “As you look at the current rosters of the NBADL teams, players like Curtis Stinson (Iowa State), Gerry McNamara (Syracuse), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Julius Hodge (North Carolina State) are in the league. Those are all former collegiate superstars.”

Some people question Des Moines’ ability to support a professional basketball team. The Iowa Stars professional hockey team has not gotten as large of a fan base as they expected in their first two years.

Makris says the expansion Iowa basketball team will be different. “I really feel Des Moines is ready for top-level basketball,” Makris said. “Couple that with the level of entertainment we will provide at the games, and I am confident the fan support will be very strong.”

Crawford thinks spectators are in for a treat. “(The fans) will see the best basketball anyone has ever watched in the state of Iowa. The players will be the top three or four percent of all Division I (college) players,” Crawford said. “And we will make the arena entertaining around the game as well.”

Season tickets are already on sale. According to team management, the early response from fans has been impressive.

Season packages start as low as $99 for 24 home games.

“We want to make this more than just top level basketball,” Makris said. “From our halftime shows to our on court contests, we want everyone to leave with a smile on their face.”

For tickets and more information, visit www.iowanba.com or call 515-462-2849.

Baseball league gives athletes second chance

BY AUSTIN HARTSOOK STAFF WRITER Tyler Wengert was first introduced to baseball at five years old. As he entered his freshman year of baseball, Wengert, who is now a junior, went into the situation positive but thought he couldn’t play on the varsity level. “I just wanted to have fun,” Wengert said. “I knew I wasn’t very good.”

After playing two years of high school ball, Wengert had a choice to make: either continue his baseball career and try to land a spot on the varsity baseball team, or quit the team to concentrate on football. In the end, he decided against baseball because of the amount of time it took out of summer weight lifting. “The main reason I left the team was to keep lifting, and to get bigger for the upcoming football season,” he said.

Even though Wengert quit the high school team, he still enjoyed playing and wanted to keep participating in baseball. “I might not have been talented enough to play at the varsity level, but I still wanted to keep playing again,” Wengert said. “I would miss it too much.”

Similarly, junior Zach Larimer was a backup/bullpen catcher for the sophomore team last year, and just like Wengert, decided against trying out for varsity. “My

main reasons for leaving the team were that I wasn’t getting along with the coaches, and I felt that there were better things to do then sit on the bench,” Zach said.

Larimer and Wengert, along with junior Kory Plagge, wanted to continue playing baseball, but they didn’t want to spend all summer as members of the varsity team. Their solution: form their own baseball team, and try to locate a league that will support them.

The first step was finding enough kids to play. Larimer was one of the main recruiters for the team. “I basically talked to some kids at school who were bench players on last years team,” Zach said. In the end, the team consisted of 10 juniors and one senior, all of whom have played at least one year for the school.

Next, they needed to find a league. After searching and calling around, Zach and his father Dick Larimer found a league perfect for the team.

“We’re playing in The ‘Big League,’ ‘its for teams that want to play a more leisurely style of ball,” Dick said. “It fits around the kid’s schedules, and gives them a chance to play a double header every week.”

The Big League consists of teams from teams in and around the metro. Home games will be played at the Johnston Little League complex, and all of the contests will be played on Sunday afternoons.

Provided/Deena Byrd

Juniors Zach Larimer, (top row, second from right) and Tyler Wengert (middle row, third from right) participated on last years’ sophomore baseball team. Both have decided not to go out for baseball this season.

The responsibility for coaching the team fell Dick.

Dick said, “It was the kid’s idea to play ball; I’m just holding the clipboard.”

15

SPORTS: what the athletes play April ‘07

B &W

Pumping iron, making steel

Dragon power training polishes athletes throughout offseason

h c n Be Bench Press Corey Pierce, senior Muscles worked: Pectoral muscles Secondary muscles worked: Anterior deltoids, triceps, serratus anterior, coracobrachialis

t a u Sq

n a e Cl

h c t Sna

Squat Corey Pierce, senior Muscles worked: Gluteus maximus, quadriceps Secondary muscles worked: Hamstrings, calves, lower Back Block Clean Jerk Danny Cahill, senior Muscles worked: Hips, hamstrings, core (abs), lower back, trapezius Techniques developed: Explosiveness, power, acceleration, force production

Snatch Jeremy Johnson, senior Muscles worked: Hamstrings, gluteus maximus, spinal erector, core (abdominals), trapezius, deltoids Techniques developed: Explosiveness, power, acceleration, extension, force production - with emphasis on quickness, keeping balance, and maintaining power

BY JENNA WILLSON STAFF WRITER

Washington, for a five-week intensive program, which she auditioned for in Chicago.

According to Pray, she enjoys the summer training programs because of the different environment. Pray has danced under the direction of Hank and Beth Adams since she started dancing.

“This is the highlight of my training,” Pray said. “Last summer, I went to a program sponsored by the American Ballet Theatre in Detroit and loved it. It was a different setting than what I am used to, and of course I made great friends while I was there.”

Along with dance, Pray also participates in show choir, chamber choir, student council and mock trial.

Throughout all of this, Pray has managed to find ways to balance out her time.

“It’s hard. I make sure that I have nights off, like I don’t dance on Friday or Saturday nights, so that way I have time to hang out with my friends,” she said.

Pray tries to get started on her homework as soon as she gets home from school.

“I try to start around 3:15, or at the latest by 3:45, because I know that if I don’t I will be much more tired the next morning. Next year, I think I will take an easier course load,” Pray said.

While most dancers aspiring to become professional dancers attempt to join a company after high school, Pray plans on taking a different route.

“I want the college experience. I get bored if I’m not academically challenged,” Pray said.

According to Pray, college dance programs are becoming more prestigious and getting more recognition.

Many dancers attend college to receive a bachelor degree in an outside field, which can be used to return to graduate school in the event that a dancing career not work out.

Colleges that Pray is interested in include Indiana University, Butler and The University of Oklahoma.

Photo essay compiled by Chris Ajluni, Staff Writer Photos: Dan Haight/BW

Pray catches up after late start in dancing As junior Jenny Pray makes the drive home from her West Des Moines dance studio, she prepares herself for the long night ahead of her. After returning home around 9:30, she doesn’t plan to be in bed until around midnight, after all of her homework is finished.

Pray began dancing when she was 10 years old, an unusual age because most girls begin when they are much younger, usually six or seven.

“I was a hyper pre-teen, so my parents enrolled me in a dance class. It kind of took off from there,” Pray said. “I was a late-starter, so I was behind all of the other girls. It took me almost two years to catch up. I’m a naturally really competitive person. Once I got the hang of it, I just kept going with it.”

Seven years later, Pray dances around 15 hours per week at The Iowa Pointe Academy. She takes primarily ballet and pointe, usually four times a week. She also takes modern and jazz once a week.

“We appreciated that the studio focused primarily on ballet and pointe because of its classical focus and emphasis on basic technique and classical choreography rather than competition performances,” Jenny’s mother, Rita Pray, said.

However, rehearsals are longer during the production of The Nutcracker and Dracula, in which she had a lead role.

According to Pray, local dance studios get together to form the Iowa Dance Theatre, which produces shows like The Nutcracker. Her studio puts on performances throughout the year, and last fall it also did a tour for the nursing homes located in central Iowa.

The cost of dance can also be expensive, but according to Rita, it has never been an issue.

“We look at the cost of her classes and summer

Provided/Jenny Pray

Junior Jenny Pray performs an arabesque in a dance routine at The Iowa Pointe Academy. Pray has danced there for the last seven years. workshops as an investment in her present physical and emotional well-being, as well as an investment in her future,” Rita said.

It also helps that The Iowa Pointe Academy has a “no recital” policy, which eliminates purchasing expensive costumes each year.

This summer, Pray plans on traveling to Seattle,

16

B &W

BACKPAGE: what’s fun April ‘07

iMania

Playlists created by high school students for every genre.

Allie Strawhacker

Country

1. Blake Shelton- Austin 2. Ashley Monroe- Satisfied 3. Deana Carter- Strawberry Wine 4. Garth Brooks- Thunder Rolls 5. Dierks Bentley- Long Trip Alone 6. Joe Nichols- The Impossible 7. Martina McBride- How Far 8. Miranda Lambert- New Strings 9. Miranda Lambert- Kerosene 10. Montgomery Gentry- Speed 11. Rascal Flatts- Then I Did 12. Tim McGraw- My Little Girl 13. Trick Pony- Hillbilly Rich 14. Trisha YearwoodXXX’s and OOO’s 15. Kellie Pickler- Red High Heels

1. Lloyd ft. Lil Wayne- You 2. Lil Scrappy- Oh Yeah 3. Rick Boy- Throw Some D’s 4. The Game- Southside 5. Jermaine Dupri- Welcome to Atlanta 6. DJ Unk- 2 Step 7. TI- Top Back Remix 8. Dr. Dre- Still D.R.E. 9. Obie Trice ft. AkonSnitch 10. Bow Wow ft. Chris Brown- Shortie Like Mine 11. YoungBloodz- Presidential 12. The Game- Let’s Ride 13. Young Jeezy- I Luv It 14. Yung JocHear Me Coming 15. Fabulous- Breathe

‘08 Nathan Heller

Ajdin Nadarevic

1. Pussy Cat Dolls- Tainted Lover 2. Fergie- Pedestal 3. Justin Timberlake- Summer Love 4. Carrie UnderwoodSome Hearts 5. Christina AguileraHere To Stay 6. Danity Kane- One Shot 7. JoJo- Good Ol’ 8. Cheyenne- One Original Thing 9. Spice Girls- Wannabe 10. Van Morrison- Brown Eyed Girl 11. Paris Hilton- Screwed 12. Mariah Carey- Get Your Number 13. Nelly Furtado- Glow 14. Backstreet Boys- Bad Boy 15. LFO- Every Other Time

‘09

Metal

Pop

Alex Swanson

‘08

‘09

Rap

Pat Shockey

Alternative

‘08

1. Dave Matthews Band- Pig 2. Hootie & The Blowfish- Let Her Cry 3. Eric Clapton- Bell Bottom Blues 4. Living Legends- The End of the Beginning 5. Pearl Jam- Jeremy 6. Steve Miller Band- The Joker 7. John Butler Trio- Zebra 8. Dr. Dre- The Next Episode 9. Eagles- Hotel California 10. Dave Matthews BandThe Best of What’s Around 11. James Taylor- Something In the Way She Moves 12. Birdman & Lil WayneLeather So Soft 13. Dave Matthews BandSugar Will 14. Ben Harper- Walk Away 15. Damon Dotson- Over Me

1. As I Lay Dying- Forever 2. As Blood Runs Black- In Dying Days 3. AFI- Dancing Through Sunday 4. Sworn Enemy- Scared of the Unknown 5. Anti-Flag- The Press Corpse 6. Rise Against- Chamber the Cartridge 7. Rear View Mirror- In the Beginning 8. Atreyu- Right Side of the Bed 9. A Kiss Could Be DeadlyThe Exit 10. Die Queen Die- New 2 11. Lamb of God- Now You’ve Got Something to Die For 12. Index Case- Deserver 13. HIM- Sweet 666 14. Death Cab For Cutie- I’ll Follow You Into the Dark 15. Three 6 Mafia- Bin Laden

Compiled by Cicely Gordon, Backpage Editor; Dan Haight, Photo Editor; Jenna Willson, Jordan Van Essen and Caroline Byrd, Staff Writers.