One Copy Free
The Black & White
Johnston High School Student Paper
February ‘06
Vol 16 No. 6
Club approval prolonged by changes Gay-Straight Alliance awaits go-ahead from school board after policy revision BY KARI DOCKUM MANAGING EDITOR Changes made to the policy regarding the formation of student organizations have lengthened the process of approval for the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). The new policy, which was approved by the school board on Nov. 27, 2006, requires groups to submit a constitution, bylaws and a list of officers to district administration. Under the old procedure, groups completed club applications for the principal, who then relayed requests to the superintendent. The modification to policy was made to establish a
structure for club approval. “The purpose of the new policy is to create guidelines,” superintendent Clay Guthmiller said. Unaware of the new policy, senior Josh Merritt submitted a mission statement and proposal for the formation of a GSA in late November. According to Merritt, he learned of the new requirements in early January, two days after winter break. “I was called down to (guidance counselor Stephanie) Guthrie’s office, and she told me that (the GSA) had to write a constitution,” Merritt said. “We had to include a mission statement, meeting times, officers and what the group is about.” Merritt submitted the constitution to the school board
in January after returning from winter break. “We thought that everything would be good to go because the next board meeting was on Monday (Jan. 22), and we thought it would be on the agenda and be approved,” Merritt said. “However, I was told on Tuesday that it hadn’t been on the agenda, so we Merritt weren’t approved.” Merritt met with Guthmiller and principal Bruce Hukee the following day. “(We) had a meeting to find out why (the GSA) hadn’t been on the agenda, and
see CONSTITUTION page 3
SWIM TEAM SURFACES IN CIML
Dan Haight/BW
Swimming for the finish, Waukee senior Rob Bany competes in a butterfly event at the Johnston Invitational. The JohnstonUrbandale-Waukee swim team placed first in the dual meet. See page 13 for further coverage of the team.
In this issue...
Seniors work for creation of Disability History Week Page 2 Schools choose to enforce CIML rules differently Page 4 Junior Chelsea Kumbera’s hobby turns into business Page 12 Ice arena provides boarders with snow
Page 14
Music ordinance raises curfew BY JORDAN VAN ESSEN STAFF WRITER The Des Moines City Council recently decided to pass a new music regulation after several citizens expressed their wishes for changes to city music ordinances. This new regulation will allow 16to 21-year-olds to remain in designated music venues until 11:30 p.m. According to the mayor of Des Moines Frank Cownie, the new ordinance states that, “Designated music venues must meet certain criteria: They must book at least 150 live performances per year . . . minors under 16 may not stay in the venue past 9:00 p.m. . . . they must demand photo id at the door.” While these requirements may seem harsh, according to the Des Moines City Council and Mayor Cownie, the goals of
the ordinance are intended to benefit the music venues and patrons of Des Moines, not hinder them. According to Thomas Vlassis, a member of the Des Moines City Council, the ordinance will benefit young people. “This will provide greater opportunities for young people to expand their own horizons, mix and mingle with the many cultures that call Des Moines their home and be a formative part of the communities in which they live,” Vlassis said. J.C. Wilson is the owner of The House of Bricks, a music venue and bar in Des Moines. He is also optimistic about the new ordinance. “More people will be able to attend more shows,” Wilson said. “We’ll also be able to arrange better shows. This will be more convenient to live music lovers who
see CURFEW page 3
Jordan Van Essen/BW
Ash Veneer plays at The House of Bricks on Feb. 3. A new ordinance will raise the curfew for minors.
2
NEWS: what’s important February ‘06
NewsBriefs State wrestling returns
Thomas Lashier/BW
Wells Fargo Arena The Iowa High School state wrestling tournament is back again. The tournament will be in Des Moines from Feb. 22-24. Four wrestlers have had the experience of participating in the tournament. Junior Josh South and seniors Eric Reese, Ricky Rodriguez and Kyle McDowell all competed last year. “It’s one of the toughest tournaments in the country,” said Reese. “There’s always a big crowd, so it’s fun. Other states hold their tournaments in high schools, so it’s not as big of a deal.” The event will be held downtown at Wells Fargo Arena. Tickets will be available to the public for $8 per ticket.
IFlurtz for results Student council is planning on selling the quiz iFlurtz during the week of Valentine’s Day. The results will be available before and after school for $2. “It’s basically a little quiz that we have everyone take, and then (students) can buy their results,” senior Sarah Froehlich, president of student council, said. After all the quizzes have been filled out and sent back to the company, the committee receives the results to sell. IFlurtz is a nationwide company that sends out test as a fundraiser for schools to use. “We get a box of everyone’s results and we’ll put them on sale right around Valentine’s Day,” Froehlich said. Student council has been giving the quiz iFlurtz for at least five years. They hope to use the money they raise for the student council treasury.
Mock Trial ready for state ELP teacher Sue Cline and mock trial are gearing up for another state tournament run. The Iowa Mock Trial State Tournament begins with regional competition on Feb. 27 and continues with the state tournament from March 15-17. “We’re in excellent shape. We have one of the strongest programs in the state,” Cline said. Cline Last year, Johnston’s highest finish was third place. Cline also encourages other students to attend the tournament. “The atmosphere is craziness. It’s a lot more intense than it sounds,” she 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 staff writers Kiera Morrill and Thomas Lashier
B &W
Seniors support
Disability History Week
BY TINA LI STAFF WRITER Seniors Joel and Neal Rydberg are working to pass a resolution that will be proposed to Iowa State Legislature. This resolution would designate the third week of October to be Disability History Week. The aspects of Disability History Week include educating students about disabilities in order to promote awareness and tolerance. Joel and Neal have epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by seizures, and aproxia, a condition which makes reading difficult. They are involved in Self Advocacy and Leadership for Youth with Disabilities (SALYD), the organization that put together the resolution for Disability History Week. “I feel like I was called to get a bill started, so people who have disabilities can get spoken for, and students can know about their disabilities,” Neal said. Joel believes the bill will aid students in understanding disabled persons. “(If you don’t have the experience of having a disability,) you can kind of see it on the outside, but you don’t know what the day-in day-out struggle of having a disability is like,” Joel said. “I think the bill will help bring some awareness of that, so that they are able to make connections easier.” Joel and Neal’s job is to alert the general public about the bill and to get their support. Neal and Joel conducted a survey to students in American Government and teachers to find out how students and staff felt about Disability History Week,
Provided/Beth Rydberg
Seniors Neal and Joel Rydberg and got a positive response. “It’s a day to remember all the presidents who have had disabilities and all the famous people (who had or have disabilities) like Beethoven, so disabled kids can say, ‘I can do this; I’m the same student as anyone else,’” Joel said. “You can step out of your box. You can join an organization, it doesn’t matter what it is. You can get out and enjoy life. You don’t have to sit in a home.” Jeff Berger, the legislative liaison for the Department of Education, hopes that Disability Awareness Week will rectify misunderstandings people have about disabled persons. “The students advocating for this resolution said it best. There is no need to tiptoe around the issue of disabilities,” Berger said. “Students with disabilities would much rather other students simply ask them about their disabilities and talk openly about how they are managing the barriers they face.” Joel and Neal hope that this bill will en-
courage students to talk more to people with disabilities. “Typical students don’t want to go talk to other disabled kids; they’re too afraid they might hurt them or do anything wrong,” Joel said. The Rydbergs believe this attitude is an inaccurate perception. “Don’t be afraid to go up to a disabled person and help them out. If you see them on the street, go up and talk to them. They don’t care,” Neal said. Berger is optimistic that the resolution will strengthen relationships between students and disabled persons. “Increased awareness will again hopefully lead to increased tolerance and inclusion. Students with disabilities sometimes suffer greatly from isolation and prejudice. You don’t ‘fix’ that by making a rule or ordering people to behave. You fix that by relationship building and education,” Berger said. For more information on disabilities and this bill, go to salyd.org.
Admissions requirements to change BY AMY LOVEJOY STAFF WRITER A new college admissions rule, known as the Regent Admission Index (RAI), will apply to all public universities in Iowa, beginning with the graduating class of 2009. The RAI will help to ensure that students admitted to the universities will be academically successful because of the preparations they took in high school. This rule will be used to better determine the qualifications of college applicants. “The Regent Admission Index does a better job of identifying those students who are likely to be successful than the current requirements,” Phil Caffrey, senior Associate Director of Admissions at Iowa State University, said. The RAI will replace the 50 percent rule, which requires students to be in the top half of their class in order to gain admission to public universities. This new rule will incorporate a student’s class rank, grade point average (GPA), American College Testing (ACT) score, and number of core subject courses completed. The admissions equation is (2 x ACT composite score) + (1 x high school rank) + (20 x high school grade point average) + (5 x number of high school courses completed in the core subject areas)2. The minimum RAI score for admission will be 250. The RAI will motivate students to take more classes. “The (RAI) provides a significant incentive for high school students to take more core courses,” Caffrey said. According to guidance counselor Sue Baker, the new rule will be used to
motivate students to take more rigorous classes. “In the past, there has been concern that students don’t always challenge themselves because they are afraid that doing so may negatively impact their class ranking,” Baker said. According to Caffrey, the amount of students admitted to universities will remain relatively the same, although the quality of the students will improve. “The number of students who are not academically successful at our institutions should be fewer,” Caffrey said. With this new rule, people who have taken challenging courses, but have lower GPAs, will be more likely to be admitted. Students who rank in the top half of their class may not necessarily be admitted because admission relies more on the level of difficulty of the courses the student took in high school. The RAI will also help to level the playing field for students from differently sized school districts. “When you base admission requirements primarily class rank, as we currently do, you make the assumption that all schools are pretty much equal in terms of their level of competitiveness,” Caffrey said. “Unfortunately, all schools are not equal.” By taking multiple factors into consideration, the RAI does a much better job of accounting for the fact that schools vary in their level of competitiveness. Students will now have more control over their admission to universities. “It’s a better idea because if you don’t test well, you can’t get in (college),” sophomore Allyson Mayer said. “It’s stupid for
X 2 X 1
ACT composite score
Class rank
X 20 X 5
+ + +
GPA
(# of courses in course2 subjects)
=RAI
score
(admission) to rely on one thing.” According to Caffrey, the most beneficial thing a high school student can do to increase their chance of admission to a university is taking more core classes.
3
B &W
NEWS: what’s important February ‘06
Constitution necessary for GSA, clubs continued from page 1 (Guthmiller and Hukee) said it was because the school board was not aware of any changes to policy,” Merritt said. “Guthmiller said we will be discussed by a subcommittee, then approved at the meeting two weeks after that.” According to Hukee, the GSA’s proposal will go to the school board in February. “The next meeting will be Feb 12. I assume it will be on the agenda for discussion and approval,” Hukee said. Guthmiller confirmed that the GSA is up for discussion on Feb. 12. The board’s decision was unavailable at press time. To be placed on a school board agenda, board members and citizens may request that items be put on the agenda, according to board member Jill Morrill. The final agenda is decided by Guthmiller and school board president Chris Sonner. The school board has been kept aware of the possibility of a GSA discussion. “The board has been receiving updates regarding the
The policy says:
“The district will register any group . . . if it submits a list of members as designated contacts, its constitution and bylaws...” -No. 504.2
establishment of this club in our FYI packets,” Morrill said. According to Morrill, these have included receipts of paperwork and information about meetings between involved parties, among other things. Merritt is unhappy with the amount of time the process has taken. “This means that we won’t be able to have meetings until March, which is highly unacceptable since I’ll be graduating in May,” he said. However, an “informal gathering” took place Jan. 26 to plan for the future of the GSA. “We need these (gatherings) now to explain what will happen next year when me and the other seniors (sic) will be gone,” Merritt said. The turnout at the get-together pleased Merritt. “I was expecting maybe 10, but we had about 30 people there,” he said. “I really hope we have a lot of people come back for the next one. I know there won’t be 100 percent, but from what I’ve gathered, most people will be there again.” Future gatherings depend on the school board’s response, according to Merritt. “If they wait until February to approve us, then we’ll start meeting officially in March,” he said. “Until then, it’s tentative to what the school board says.” The policy will also affect clubs currently running. “All existing clubs will go through and do the same process, so we’re not asking the GSA specifically to do anything new and different,” Guthmiller said. “It just happens that the GSA is the first new club to fall under the policy.” Although both Guthmiller and Hukee are involved in the process of club approval, neither is included in the ultimate approval of a group. “After a formal request through the principal, part of the process is that it’s sent to our office,” Guthmiller said. “As far as final approval goes, it rests in the hands of the board.”
Building expectations for Bahamas BY ALLISON KANE STAFF WRITER The Bahamas trip, called “Bahamas Blue,” is run by director James Jordan and program director Tara Short for an organization called Wild Studies. Wild Studies promotes the study of endangered environments in the Bahamas and Costa Rica, and encourages students to learn about them. “Students will get to experience the Bahamas like no other tourist will ever do,” Short said. According to Short, the trip is not a tour. There will be no tourists or crowds, and the students will visit places Burns that only local Bahamians know about. On the trip, students from states across the country, including Colorado, Nebraska and Virginia, will learn about ocean ecology and the tropical island of Eleuthera. They will explore four marine habitats, including sand flats and turtle grass, interact with local Bahamian culture, spelunk through caves and snorkel. “Most of our students have never worn snorkeling gear or even seen the ocean, but by the end of the week, many are free-diving 30-50 feet,” Short said. The theme of the week is, “No matter where you are, you are upstream from an ocean.” The goal of Wild Studies is to make sure students understand that the ocean plays a critical role in everyone’s lives, and that each person impacts it. Throughout the week, students will learn about the endangered ocean habitats and how to protect them. “Coming eye to eye with a southern stingray, swimming with schools of fish, watching animal interactions and seeing a fully functional coral reef will provide education like no other textbook, lecture, zoo or video will ever do,” Short said. Science teacher Kyla Burns hopes that students attending the trip will experience different cultures and develop a better appreciation for natural wildlife and the environment. “In the future, we won’t have the opportunity to see such diverse coral reefs because of increased global temperatures
FasFtundraising Ideas students have come up with for quick fundraising for the Bahamas trip...
Borders Gift Wrapping
Pizza Hut Gif t Cards
R e c yc l i n g C a n s
During holiday seasons, students can volunteer at Borders store and wrap shoppers holiday gifts for cash.
Students going to the Bahamas will have the opportunity to sell Pizza Hut gift cards for $20 or more to raise money.
Students put together recycling bins to help raise 5 cents for every can recycled.
and decreased ozone layer,” Burns said. According to Burns, Johnston students would especially benefit from this trip because they live in a wealthy community where they are not exposed to a variety of cultures and lifestyles or the true extent of poverty. Giving them an opportunity to see this in the Bahamas will be a real eye-opening experience, Burns said. Sophomores Molly Mellinger and Alex Garland are excited to attend the trip and are looking forward to all the new opportunities they get to experience. “I’ve never been to the Bahamas before, and it’s a good opportunity to get out of my comfort zone,” Garland said. Mellinger mentioned that the expense of the trip is not as much an issue as is enjoying the entire experience of the trip. “I love photography. I can’t wait to take my camera and take lots of pictures,” Mellinger said. While on the trip, upcoming juniors
and seniors have an opportunity to receive one college credit through the University of Wisconsin. They will receive the credit by paying an extra $186 and attending one-hour classes each night. “In the evenings, students will be expected to attend a one-hour class each night on marine science topics such as coral reef ecology, invertebrate identification, natural history and fish evolution,” Short said. College credit will be accepted at any major state university. According to Short, Wild Studies is a program that will challenge students to go outside of their comfort zone and help them become more worldly and accepting of others. The main goal for the trip is to be eye-opening and life changing. “We aim to change the world, one student at a time,” Short said. The Bahamas trip, chaperoned by Burns, is scheduled for July 5-11, 2007, and costs around $1,800.
Youth optimistic about new music ordinance continued from page 1 who show up and pay to get their money’s worth. Also, the artists will realize they’ll get more money. The talent wants to meet their fans, and their fans want to meet the talent.” Junior Nikki Ward, who supports the local music scene in Des Moines, was unimpressed with the original curfew. “Usually when I’d go to shows, you had to immediately leave after the music,” Ward said. “No chatting, no hugs, no ‘great job,’ nothing. A lot of people had the feeling like ‘Oh, well, if I can only stay until 9 p.m., what’s the use in even going?’” Wilson shared the same sentiment about the previous curfew. “It was restrictive to the art form as it’s hard to do shows between the hours of 5 to 9 p.m.” Wilson said. “A tour will usually have four bands, so that’s at least four hours. People have a hard time getting off work and getting down here by 5 p.m. The reason they had the curfew was
to curb underage drinking.” Although pleased with the new ordinance, Vlassis is apprehensive about the alcohol present in music venues. “I also have concerns about mixing adults with teens in a venue which serves alcoholic beverages and “A lot of people allows smoking,” had the feeling he said. “This is like ‘Oh, well, if I where the ‘responsibility’ tag can only stay until comes in . . . the nine p.m., what’s underage patrons the use in even must realize that going?’” they can’t seek to NIKKI WARD ‘08 obtain alcoholic beverages, nor can they involve themselves in other adverse activities.” Problems may arise with the later curfew the ordinance creates, since bands sometimes have concerts during the week. “With the 9 o’clock curfew, it was re-
ally easy to go to a show and be home when my parents wanted me to be on a school night,” junior Nathan Heller said. “So it may make things harder to go to on school nights. But otherwise I think it sounds great.” Despite the words of skeptics, Wilson believes that venues, as well as bands and patrons, will benefit from the later curfew for which the ordinance allows. “The House Of Bricks is looking forward to having more people,” he said. Cownie believes that the new ordinance will also have wider implications. “I know the difficulty in finding something to do that is both entertaining and legal (for the youth in Des Moines). As mayor, I want to keep our youth interested in staying in Des Moines to work and raise their families,” Cownie said. “To do that, we need to make (legislative) changes to allow youth an opportunity to enjoy their music.”
4
OPINION: what they think February ‘06
CODEConduct of
B &W miniature
OPINIONS little things we care about
Delia’s to come in Jordan Creek Iowa is not exactly an exciting place when it comes to fashion, trendsetting or anything cool. In a place where we consider Des Moines the big city, not a lot of options for shopping were available in past years. Once Jordan Creek Dots Cinched opened, everything changed. Des Moines Bandeau $29.50 is becoming a more hip, urban area. Stores that we once had to shop online or drive 400 miles away are now at our convenience. The most recent arrivals are Sephora, a high quality cosmetics retailer, and Delia’s, which sells clothing, shoes, room furnishings and sports equipment geared for girls ages 12 to 20. Both stores are announced to open in spring 2007. Finally, some big-city stores in lowly Des Moines.
Summer sports need superfans
Looking into the big gym at 4 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, it is not unlikely to see a few rows of students dressed in purple and gold. These “superfans” are devoted followers of school athletics, especially basketball and football. However, summer sports are often neglected by the student body. Take baseball as an example. This sport is played in the nicest weather in Iowa, and the burdens of school are nowhere to be seen. Part of the problem is that no one knows when games are or who is even on the team. Attendance lags at the spring and summer sports of softball, baseball, tennis and soccer. It is merely a matter of getting the word out and promoting all athletics equally. It does not mean arriving four hours before first pitch, but it only takes one student to step up and be a leader. Dan Haight/BW
Senior Abby Davis lends senior Austin Strawhacker a hand before the Johnston-Urbandale game by safety-pinning his “throwback” shorts. Students purchased the “throwback” uniforms the day before at a wrestling meet for $5.
CIML rules enforced erratically The current code of conduct policy for Central Iowa Metro League (CIML) athletics has been in place for two years now. It consists of various rules to ensure safety of players, fans and officials. The strains of the policies have not been felt as strongly until now, during the current basketball season. The CIML restrained students from jumping up and down in the bleachers, charging the playing area or directing chants at the other team. The Johnston administration enforces these policies, which has a lot of students flustered, because they are not able to participate in traditions that they have done in the past, such as jump up and down in the bleachers or charge the floor after a big win. It is good to have a set of rules to keep students safe, but many students are having trouble adjusting. Students have been kicked out of the games for various reasons, such as yelling profanity or kicking the bleachers after a bad call. At times, students yearn to jump up and down in the heat of the game but they are quickly advised to stop. At the end of a game, a line of administrators prevent anyone from stepping foot on the court after a big win. These rules, although they apply to all CIML schools, are enforced differently for each school. For example, at the first of two Johnston vs. Urbandale match ups, the student section for the J-hawks charged the floor and was hardly contested by anyone trying to stop them. The students of Johnston stood in dismay. ”I thought it was a very blatant form of disrespect to our team, students, and school,” senior Connor Elmitt said. At the second of the two meetings, the Urbandale students jumped up and down on the bleachers and, fol-
lowing the game, huddled in front of the bleachers and continued to chant. Urbandale athletic director Bill Watson said that he agreed with the code of conduct policy. However, these rules have been in effect for two years and Urbandale has yet to develop a method of enforcing them. The rules are very straightforward and it would be impossible to misinterpret them. One rule specifically states that no fans should run onto the playing area. If these rules are in place to ensure safety, they should be enforced. Students do not approve of the rules because “I thought it was they enjoyed the past antics of a very blatant jumping up and down, creating form of disrespect a crazy atmosphere and directing cheers at the opposition. to our team, However, if these rules are placed on all CIML schools, students, and then schools that do not follow these rules should be punschool.” CONNOR ished. For the rules to be effecELMITT ‘07 tive, the CIML should reward schools that enforce them and punish those who do not. They rules are very clear and it is unfair that other schools can get away with breaking them. The reason these rules were put in place was for safety, yet there is no penalty for those who do not enforce. These rules should be called “the guidelines for schools that choose to enforce them,” until there is an actual incentive for schools to follow them.
Editor-in-Chief Mike Slusark Managing Editor Kari Dockum The News Editor Larissa French And 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,
Black White
Brittany Deal, Nels Engblom, Kyle Hanson, Austin Hartsook, Drew Houp, Kelsey Hyde, Stephanie Ivankovich, Hana Kajtazovic, Allison Kane, Thomas Lashier, Tina Li, Amy Lovejoy, Kiera Morrill, Chelsea Nelson, Shawna Polen, Lauren Proffitt, 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.
5
OPINION: what they think February ‘06
Tougher requirements
B &W Leahy’s Leaven
better education Parents, play nice! Sam Leahy Opinion Editor
BY MIKE SLUSARK EDITOR IN CHIEF The new Regent Admission Index (RAI) is a positive step forward towards making Iowa’s public universities more competitive. The current Required standards for autoScore matic acceptance to the The new state’s universities took RAI score in to account only class rank and not course sefor 2009 lection, grade point avwill be erage (GPA), or college 245. U of entrance exam scores. I wanted However, each univerto set the sity should be allowed score at to set its own standard, instead of a blanket 250. RAI score. According to a Dec. 12, 2006, Des Moines Register article, University of Iowa Provost Michael Hogan wanted to set a RAI score of 250. Iowa State and Northern Iowa leaders wanted a score of 245, and that was the number decided upon by the Regents. The RAI score is a formula that combines a student’s GPA, class rank, course completion and ACT score (for more information see page 2). In the article, Regent Mary Ellen
Becker defended the choice by saying the score would allow the same number of Iowa students to be admitted in future years as there are now. Unfortunately for Ms. Becker, she stated the exact reason why setting a blanket score is flawed. Only 52 percent of students who enter a university in Iowa will receive a degree within six years. Too many students who are not prepared to enter college are getting in and then dropping out. Tougher admission standards will help to ensure those who can handle the course work at the university are admitted and those that are not up to it are not allowed automatic entrance anyway. Thus it will help to lower the dropout rate. It also hurts the reputation and prestige of the school. The University of Iowa dropped four places in the U.S. News and World Report annual college rankings for 2007. In a Nov. 9 Register article, Hogan cites lax admissions standards as one of the reasons for the drop. If U of I wishes to strive for excellence for their institution, they should not be stopped by the Regents. A more prestigious university makes the school look better, it makes the state look better and it makes U of I graduates look better. Of course, it is still a state university, so a limit on the standards will prevent
the standards to get so high that they allow very few residents from the state. In the articles, Hogan proposes letting universities set their RAI score between 245 and 260. This range will allow for a greater diversity amongst the schools. Instead of having three choices that are relatively similar in terms of academic standards, students who are better suited for more challenging coursework will be presented with an affordable school that suits their needs while there will still be quality schools for those who are not admitted or do not wish to attend to the more academically strenuous school. A more prestigious in-state school might also encourage many of the state’s more gifted high school students to stay in state. These students might then be more likely to stay in the state after college and contribute to the Iowa economy, which is desperate for young, talented professionals. The Regents one size fits all approach marginalizes the ambitions of the University of Iowa. If the university wishes to increase its prestige and lower its dropout rates, it should be allowed to set its own reasonable standards and be applauded for being dedicated to providing an excellent, relatively affordable institution for Iowa residents.
Friday night games boost spirits for soccer BY AMANDA LOWER DOUBLE TRUCK EDITOR Friday night is the one night during the week that I, along with many other students, actually look forward to. Football games and double-header varsity basketball games are two sporting events on Friday that guarantee student attendance. However, when spring finally comes, students no longer have any Friday night high school sporting events to look forward to, and they are left with the puzzling question of ‘what’s going on tonight?’ The Friday night hype is decreased in the spring due to the lack of sporting events scheduled. The solution: double-header varsity soccer games. Soccer is rapidly growing more popular, and the idea of high school soccer games scheduled on Friday would provide an activity for students to look forward to. During the fall, Friday nights are packed with high school football games, and in the winter season, there are constant double-headers for boys and girls basketball teams. So why not schedule varsity boys’ and girls’ soccer games on Friday nights? According to the district calendar, there is only one home double-header
“I would definitely go to more soccer games if they were on Friday. It would give me and my friends something to do.” BRIANNA STONE ‘08
“From a coaching stand point, who wouldn’t want to be coaching on the sidelines on a Friday night.” JASON JAURON, SOCCER COACH
scheduled on a Friday night. Although this is an improvement from the past years’ schedule, there ought to be more Friday night soccer games. By scheduling soccer matches on Fridays, there would be an increase in fan attendance. Students are more likely to attend a sporting event that takes place on a Friday instead of on a Thursday or Monday. Most students have homework or tests to study for on a school night,
“Having soccer games on a Friday night would really build up excitement for the teams. It’s also a good starter for the rest of the night.” LAUREN WHITNEY ‘07
so spending two hours at a soccer game would be a waste of time for them. However, students are rarely worried about getting their homework done on Friday when they have the entire weekend to do it. Lastly, looking forward to a Friday night soccer game would get the teams fired up. There’s an atmosphere for Friday night sporting events that gets everyone excited.
Parents have always gives us long and sometimes boring speeches about being respectful and courteous to others. But the problem arises when they themselves don’t follow their own advice. As an avid sports fan, I attend nearly every basketball game I can. While observing, I always notice parents who blows their stack not only at the refs, but also at players and parents alike. What has, or hasn’t, happened to make these parents so uptight about their own children’s games and driven some to even go as far as to kill someone? According to abcnews.com, two fathers at a Massachusetts hockey rink in July of 2000 got into an argument about whether the kids were playing too rough. One thing led to another, and Thomas Junta killed Michael Costin and was charged with manslaughter. Few parents take it this far, but there are plenty of other ugly incidents that have happened at games. Such an example is a Sarasota father. The man was arrested after storming the field and punching the referee during his son’s flag football game. Other incidents involving bad parental sportsmanship have included: a brawl involving approximately 30 adults following a youth soccer tournament in Los Angeles, two Salt Lake City women allegedly beating a women unconscious after a youth baseball game, and a Wisconsin father accused of hitting a coach’s 10-year-old son during practice. I would like to think that other parents would be mortified and schooled by such incidents, but it seems they really haven’t. We continue to hear horror stories from coaches who have to deal with the “whiny” parent. While I think that parental involvement in children’s activities is great, there is a time and a place for it. Sporting events are meant to be fun and educational for kids, not an opportunity for parents to bicker at each other, their children and/or coaches and referees. But let’s be honest. Parents behaving badly also affects the children of those parents. On familyeducation.com, there is a story about a young girl who breaks down on the pitching mound during a softball game because her dad is embarrassing her so much by his yelling and antics. Who wouldn’t feel the same way? No one wants his or her parents to make a scene. Parents are supposed to be there to support and encourage their children, not to yell and harass them or any other participant in the sporting event. Can we chalk up such behavior to youth sports being too competitive? I don’t think so. It’s nearly impossible to reign in competition in sports with the emphasis our society places on athletics. Parents need to learn to not take the games so seriously or take the fun out of the games. Sports and recreation exist to help kids learn a variety of life’s lessons and realities, which I don’t think should include swearing, yelling or inflicting harm on anyone. Parents, it’s time for you to grow up as well.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this column, send emails to sam.leahy@gmail.com
6
B &W
OPINION: what they think February ‘06
Johnston traffic dilemmas
Light unchanging 70th & Merle Hay By Mike Slusark
Mike Slusark/BW
The left turn light on Merle Hay Road remains red as cars pass straight through the green light in the right lane.
Noleft turn NW 86th St
New no left turn signs by entrances to 1-80 on NW 86th Street are ignored by unconscious drivers.
Speed it up By Brittany Deal
Kelsey Hyde/BW
By Kelsey Hyde Cruising south down 86th Street on the way home from school is relaxing with the radio loud and moving along at forty miles an hour after a long day slaving away at school. But it is all brought to a sudden halt as red brake lights flash, cars swerve in and out and your entire life flashes before your eyes right in front of a GREEN light at the end of the I-80 bridge. Some nimrod has again failed to notice the two signs pointing out the interstate’s new west entrance. The clover entrances built on NW 86th Street have not yet been idiot-proofed. Every day around 3:15 p.m., when the roads are filled with speeding high schoolers leadfooting their ways home, some absent-minded jerk must slam on his breaks and pull left onto the entrance across the road, not a thought in his mind that we’re all about to die. No left turn, idiots.
The light at 70th and Merle Hay needs immediate revision. It is next to impossible to get a green arrow when turning left onto Merle Hay Road. Numerous times, a car will pull up to the turning lane on the left side on a red light. Cars in the two lanes going to the right that are continuing straight on 70th get a green light and proceed straight. The car in the left turn lane will still have a red light and will not get any kind of a green light and a chance to turn. The two lights for the lanes going straight will turn red and the cars going straight or turning left on to 70th will be allowed to go. I have personally seen this happen several times and, in some cases, the process will even repeat itself with the cars turning left onto Merle Hay still sitting in the turning lane. Due to this, I have also seen several cars run the light because of sheer annoyance at its unwillingness to give them a turning arrow. For everyone’s best interest, the light at 70th and Merle Hay needs to give more frequent turning arrows.
NW 62nd Ave
The speed limit of Northwest 62nd Avenue needs to be increased to 35 miles per hour (mph) between Northwest Beaver Drive and Northwest 86th Street. Being one of only two streets crossing through the center of Johnston, this change ought to be made. According to City Administrator Jim Sanders, changing the speed limit has previously been proposed to the Johnston City Council. The last time this issue was brought up in June of 2005, the city council voted against raising the speed limit. Their reasoning included the fact that Northwest 62nd Avenue has four schools, three of them close together on the west side of Merle Hay Road. To the east, there are no sidewalks and pedestrians are forced to walk on the shoulders of the street. Sanders believes raising the speed limit could bring risks for pedestrians and young drivers. The raised speed limit could increase the possibility of speeders and result in more rear end collisions. However, raising the speed limit would improve traffic flow. As for the safety of students during hours of arriving to and departing from school, flashing lights could be installed, similar to those by Horizon Elementary and Beaver Creek Elementary. These would warn drivers to slow down to 25 mph when flashing.
Dan Haight/BW
The flashing lights on Northwest 86th Street by Beaver Creek Elementary sit dormant during the day as cars pass by, reaching speeds of 35 miles per hour. There need to be similar lights on Northwest 62nd Avenue.
Don’t be “above the influence” (of me) I love the idea behind those Above the Influence commercials. Not that I actually like the commercials, I don’t like seeing leeches, I won’t even use them for bait. But the idea of taking something completely unrelated to anything, and then alluding that is the same as something, is just hilarious. For those that don’t know what I’m talking about, the commercials show a bunch of kids in a high school doing something called S.L.O.M.ing (sticking leeches on myself), a made up practice that is pretty self-explanatory. At the end of the commercial, they cut to a joint being rolled, because obviously
Death OR Glory
Michael J Slusark
sticking leeches on yourself is the exact same thing as smoking pot. You can see the commercial at www.abovetheinfluence. com. I’m not condoning marijuana use, I just think it’s funny that instead of demonstrating any actual health effects they just resort to leeches. I’m so taken with this idea that I’ve come up with a few ideas for commercials: 1.Man’s voice: “I don’t know how I started doing it. Everyone said it wasn’t a big deal. They said they’d all done it loads of times. I thought I was fine. I didn’t think I was going to hurt anyone. I thought it was ok. I thought I was ok. But now I can’t stop my ravenous necrophilia.” Text on screen: “Don’t drink and drive. Seriously.” 2.Teenager’s voice: “All the kids were doing it under the bleachers. They all
looked so cool. They had slicked back hair and leather jackets; they were all so popular. After they finished one, they’d take another out of the pack, one after another like a chain. The blood on their faces glistened in the moonlight and I could see the sinew in their bared teeth as they raised their heads to draw breath in to their lungs, and then once again buried their heads into the mutilated gophers. Their entrails slid on the ground and at that moment, I knew: this is how to get cool.” Text: “Smoking isn’t cool.” 3.My voice: “I was starving so I went down to the landfill. As I climbed my way through the broken glass, old appliances and rotting apple peels, I saw what I was looking for. A large rat was sitting on the hood of a broken Chevrolet, nibbling on a molding loaf of bread. I snuck up slowly. I crouched. Then, with cat-like agility I leaped and grabbed it in my hands. I then
swallowed it whole.” Man’s voice: “Try the chili at Village Inn.” I hope you get my point. These comparisons are ridiculous (although from what I tasted with no actual evidence as to the ingredients, the last one could be more accurate than you think.) All of these things have real consequences. Drinking and driving, smoking, necrophilia, these things kill loads of people every year. Do you know where that corpse has been? I mean seriously, I think we can do a little bit better than fear-mongering in our anti-drug commercials. Stick to the facts.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this column, send emails to michaeljohn48@aol.com
7
REVIEW: what’s new February ‘06
Get hooked by
Catch and Release
B &W This month in....
film history
BY LARISSA FRENCH NEWS EDITOR Writer and director Susannah Grant brings audiences Catch and Release, an inspired effort that rejuvenates the genre of aptly-named “chick flicks,” and brings them a level of depth that they have previously been missing (see Little Black Book, 2004). The story begins after the funeral of Grady Douglas, where his fiancée Gray (Jennifer Garner) attempts to deal with her own grief and regrets while also managing the people offering condolences. After the funeral, Gray returns to her home, where she rooms with Grady’s old friends, the witty but out-there Sam (Kevin Smith) and the shy, considerate Dennis (Sam Jaeger). A third friend, a seemingly shallow womanizer Fritz (Timothy Olyphant), also decides to stay, rather than return immediately to his home in Malibu, Calif. While taking care of Grady’s estate and effects, Gray stumbles across evidence of the double-life he led, which includes a secret child with a massage therapist, Maureen (Juliette Lewis). An encounter with Grady’s ignorant, oversexed mistress leads Gray to examine her perceptibly perfect self. The vast difference between Gray and Maureen causes Gray to reveal a different dimension of herself, and allows her to see the people around her as humans. In the beginning of the movie, Gray was excessively neurotic. After hearing Maureen describe her as “perfect,” and how this caused Grady to cheat, Gray shows her friends that she, too, has secrets and quirks. This allows Gray to be more relaxed and appreciate the odd, little things her roommates do for her. This quirky cast skillfully avoids simple farce or slapstick, and instead brings a nice dose of dry, sarcastic humor. All of the characters, including Maureen, prove to be deeper than expected, while still retaining real-life qualities, allowing the audience to connect to most, if not all, of the characters. Although the story fails to remain mys-
“Format Fun”
history lesson by Alexander S.G. Guns
Provided/Columbia Pictures
Gray flips through Grady’s documents, discovering part of her fiancée’s secrets. Grady’s friends, Dennis and Sam, look on, equally puzzled. Press kit provided by Doug Peterson, The Des Moines Register. terious, it definitely wins the audience over with its likable characters, making the audience want the cast to have the classic happily-ever-after ending.
Catch and Release Grade: B Starring: Jennifer Garner,
Timothy Olyphant Director: Susannah Grant Rated: PG-13 Now showing: Coppercreek, Springwood and Wynnsong
Twilight leaves readers wanting more Twilight (left) has currently won six awards, while New Moon (far left) brought in three.
BY SHAWNA POLEN STAFF WRITER Stephenie Meyer makes her debut with Twilight (2005), a tale about vampires and their abnormal lives. This book targets teens, and can be found in the fantasy section. Twilight is about a 17-year-old girl named Bella, who decides to move to the small town of Forks to live with her father. Her mother had recently remarried and desired to travel with her new husband. On her first day of school, everyone already knows who she is because Forks is such a small town. Through all the commotion, Bella’s attention is drawn to a strange
looking group of students. When she tries to learn more, all she gets is vague information. But when Edward Cullen (one of the oddballs) ends up in her science class, curiosity gets the best of her. She tries to be nice, but when she gets the cold shoulder, she wants nothing to do with him. Little did she know that Edward was not to be ignored. Now, he is badgering her and will not leave her in peace. When Edward saves her life, she accidently finds out his secret. Soon she finds herself madly in love with him, enough so that it would kill her to let him go, literally! This book is a story of high romance, action, comedy and suspense that will leave readers wanting more. You must read this book! But even if you don’t, there is a high possibility that Twilight may be made into a motion picture. MTV is looking it over right now, but has not yet come to any real decisions. Like most books, Twilight has a suspenseful ending leaving you wanting more. But do not worry, New Moon (2006), the sequel, is out in stores and adds 563 pages more to the growing story. The third book, Eclipse, will be in stores this fall. The forth, Breaking Dawn, and fifth, Midnight Sun, will be coming out sometime after 2007. For more information, go to www. StephenieMeyer.com.
It was the year 2000; I was 12 and I figured before we would face the end in Y2K, my family should buy a DVD player. After much debate, I was able to get my dad to go to American to bring one home. When I clicked the power button, text scrolled across the screen saying “Hello, Welcome to Panasonic DVD Player.” I practically melted. Six years later, I was chillin’ at Best Buy with my dad when something caught his eye: a smaller DVD case with a blue cover and a price of $29.99. “Blu-Ray” it said. Then another right beside it only with a red case saying “HD-DVD.” My dad, in his growing anger turned to me and said, “What in great Ceasar’s ghost is this...” I tried my best to explain that the DVD could soon be replaced a mere eight years after being introduced. My father, like so many Americans, became enraged. The idea that after replacing their entire VHS collection to DVD, they would have to go back all over again. But I am with you, gentle reader, to calm you; we don’t have to cash in all over again. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are hardly new formats, and not even worth replacing the DVD. The only thing that really separates them from the current DVD is their information capacity. They can hold about seven times more information than a DVD. But that begs the question, “Does that mean they are going to make movies seven times longer?” No, there is no need for a 14-hour-movie. Both formats put their emphasis on picture quality. They boast that they have superior audio and visual quality to DVD. Yes, this is true, but entirely irrelevant. Are Americans going to buy a new player that costs $1,000 and movies for $29.99? If yes, I’ll have to pull the “Laserdisc” card. VHS was brought on the market in 1976, the first of its kind. Then, just five years later, a new format called “Laserdisc” boasted one thing: better audio/visual ability. And the price of a laserdisc was considerably higher than its VHS counterpart. Laserdisc barely stayed profitable and never was able to replace VHS. In the end, the few Laserdisc owners had to turn right around and replace them all with the high quality and much more affordable DVD. I can remember a time when my family and I took a trip to see my aunt and uncle. Their basement had the greatest library of DVDs on this side of the Mississippi. After some intense viewing, I went to the guest room where I saw a bookcase chalk filled with these dustcovered movies that looked liked vinyl records. These were Laserdiscs. I needed to know when my uncle bought these and why. It was at the dinner table when I brought it up. I began to ask, but as the “aser” of Laserdisc hit my tongue, I saw my uncle’s fists begin to clench and a small tear escape his left eye. My parents tried to change the subject, but the damage had been down. I had reminded my uncle of all the money he dished out because of the “improved audio visual.” Going with the hype on home video has damaged my uncle and injected fear in my father. The truth is, neither format will overtake the market. DVD is still in its infancy and there is no reason to replace your growing collection. Just chill.
8&9
B &W
DOUBLETRUCK: what’s the scoop February ‘06
Emily Kuster
Abby Davis the communicator
the caretaker
At the end of volleyball practice, senior Emily Kuster watches everyone carefully to make sure they are putting their sweatpants on before going outside on cold days. “It was part of my role set as volleyball captain,” Kuster said. “All three of us, Susan (Clausen, senior), Sarah (Froehlich, senior) and I, had different positions as captains. My job was taking care of everyone.” Clausen was more of the leader on the court, and Froehlich was the bubbly captain that kept everyone pumped up. “(Kuster) brings a mature leadership style and an accountability to the team,” volleyball coach Rick Brooks said. Kuster also looks out for teammates during softball. When girls are involved in multiple sports, she makes sure they are careful when practicing for out-of-season sports during the sport that is in-season. “I also like making sure that everyone is being safe, like wearing active ankles during volleyball,” Kuster said. “And wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated during softball.”
Ultimate Dream Team The
Carly Hammer the comedian
Senior Carly Hammer runs at a steady pace down the 2.486 mile course, raising her hand as she high-fives the fans and parents on the sidelines. Hammer has been running cross-country since the seventh grade, and over time has come to be known as the comedian of the team. “A few of us do some crazy stuff. It makes the team more fun and makes people less nervous before meets,” Hammer said. Coach Chris Siewert feels Hammer is an essential member of the team. “There’s moments when you’re too intense or too focused on something and you need to break that ice and get into that fun frame. It’s going to be excited and competitive instead of being nervous,” he said. “Carly adds zest and humor when we need it at the right times,” Siewert said. Hammer dressed up as a dragon for state and always has “goofy” fire-ups. Sometimes being funny can be distracting and take away from the competitiveness of the sport. “As a coach, you’re on a different wavelength so you get frustrated, but then you feel that it was fun and needed, no harm, no foul,” Siewert said. “It’s just part of dealing with athletes; you can’t always be funny, but you can’t always be intense.”
Katherine Burggraaf
the motivator
[
Jonathan Nelson
]
Every team has its stars, but what truly makes up a team is its supporting roles played by various players. These are some athletes that bring important qualities to their teams that build positive team chemistry. After all, there is no “I” in team.
the intimidator
Compiled by: Amanda Lower (Doubletruck Editor), Veronica Roshek (Ideas Editor), Emily Conn, Nels Engblom and Brennan Winget (Staff Writers)
Every team needs communication in order to succeed. “That is why it is so important to be vocal on the field” Abby Davis said. “You rely on your teammates to tell you where opposing players are on the field and whether to pass, cross or shoot the ball,” said Davis. Davis is always helping her teammates by saying ‘Man-on, swing or down-line.’ Each person has a certain position they play and are used to watching out for certain things. “I only play left defender,” Davis said. Most people play one position because they are good at it. “It’s hard switching between two different positions when you are so used to watching out for certain people and where the ball is supposed to go.” Davis said. Coach Alicia Rollison stressed the importance of a single leader. “It’s not necessarily that all the players on the team need to be vocal all the time,” Rollison said. “It’s more important for certain players to talk at key moments.“
Sophomore Jonathan Nelson aggressively prepares himself for his upcoming match against Southeast Polk with warm-up partner, senior Topher Riddle. To his teammates, Nelson is just like any other wrestler, with one exception. “He’s intimidating as hell,” Riddle said. Nelson wrestles in the 189 pound weight class for the varsity wrestling team. According to Nelson, he considers himself more of a motivator for his team, but he hopes he intimidates his opponents. “I hope I intimidate the other guy,” Nelson said. “I’m definitely focused on winning.” Nelson has been wrestling for four years, but it’s his first year wrestling for Johnston High School. Recently, Nelson moved from Maquoketa High School of 550 students. “It was a pretty big transition from roughly 500 to students to 1,000 students,” Nelson said. “I definitely didn’t expect to be wrestling varsity at Johnston because there’s more competition.” Nelson and Riddle usually pair up with each other to warm-up before meets. According to Riddle, he does what he can to put Nelson in the right mind-set before a varsity meet. “We do our best to push each other and get ready,” Riddle said. “We take (warm-ups) seriously because we both want to win our matches.” Nelson’s goal for the remainder of the season is to make it to state, and to continue motivating teammates and intimidating the opposition. “I’m not afraid to fail,” Nelson said. “I’ll go up against anyone and everyone.”
The gun goes off for the start of the varsity girls’ cross-country meet. As a fan, junior Katherine Burggraaf is cheering the runners on. “I like running cross country because I like being out with my friends and cheering everyone on,” Burggraaf said. During practices and meets, Burggraaf is always going around giving high fives and hugs to cheer teammates on. Also, when the team goes on long runs for practice, she talks and gives encouraging comments to the girls to keep them going. She supports everyone on the team and dedicates a lot of her time to keeping everyone going, according to cross-country runner Sammy McConeghey. “Athletes on teams that support others are even more important than the fastest people on the team,” McConeghey said. “They bring a more important asset to the team.” Burggraaf enjoys motivating other runners on her team, and she likes trying her best to improve her times, too. “I’m not the fastest girl on the team, and I don’t have to be the fastest girl on the team,” Burggraaf said. “I’m happy with where I stand.”
Tyler Smith the quiet leader Leaders are not always the most vocal or the flashiest members of the team. That is the case for Tyler Smith. He is a 6’2 sophomore, who has earned playing time on the varsity basketball team. “Teammates look to Tyler because he works so hard in games and practice,” basketball coach Randy Barrick said. “He is kind of quiet, but we don’t want to change who he is.” Smith thought the coaches had other expectations for him. “Coaches look to me to get the offense started and to successfully execute plays,” Smith said. According to Barrick, Smith is a good leader in the locker room. Smith is more vocal in the locker room and sometimes helps coaches to get the team motivated. Sophomore Aric Greenfield agreed. “Tyler connects with everyone and talks to them in a way that they understand,” he said. Smith’s goal however, was not to be a leader. Smith said he was worried more about doing his best to help the team win games. Smith is one of the team’s leading scorers and he also brings motivation when he plays. Hohweiler also said Smith makes his teammates better by motivating them in practice and keeping the team focused. “He is always working so hard, and the other guys see that and work hard too,” Barrick said.
10
ENTERTAINMENT: what’s happening February ‘06
S
B &W
STYLISH
martphones
Carrying around a laptop, camera, mp3 player and a phone can be a hassle. Invest in one of these new smart-phones and stay connected everywhere.
BlackBerry Pearl
Pros: The BlackBerry Pearl is the newest and thinnest BlackBerry yet. It has all of the great features of BlackBerrys- fast e-mail and an HTML web browser, but, this is the first BlackBerry to include multimedia features: music and videos. Its easy-to-use email and instant messaging are still the BlackBerry’s most outstanding features. The speakerphone feature is great; the voice sounds clear and crisp. The camera takes decent photos for a cell phone camera.
Cons:
The Pearl does not include a video camera. New multimedia features are nice, but to upload music and videos, a MicroSD card must be purchased. A one GB card costs a little less than $20. Cingular advertised the BlackBerry Pearl as being thinner than a Razr, but after testing this, the Pearl looked about the same size as the Razr and its buttons made the Pearl look slightly thicker. Yet, the phone is still sleek and attractive.
Sidekick III
Motorola Q
T-Mobile
Verizon
Cingular
Pros:
The Motorola Q is an easy-to-use phone. Its thin design attracts consumers at first glance. Typing is easy on the phone’s full keyboard, and it can memorize sentences used in the past to minimize the time it takes to text, e-mail or instantmessage. The “Q” includes an HTML web browser that is very speedy for a cell phone. It also has a 1.3 mega-pixel camera and multimedia features, like music and videos. The Motorola Q is comfortable to hold and use as a phone. It can fit perfectly in a jacket or pant’s pocket. Verizon’s service is excellent; the phone gets service almost everywhere. The Motorola Q is the best deal on the list, for only $99-$199.
Cons: The Motorola Q’s sleek design is very attractive, but the phone is not very durable. The paint on the phone chips easily. It has also been known to break, but Verizon is great about replacing them. Video and camera on the “Q” are not very impressive.
Pros: The main attraction for consumers is the way the screen on this phone flips one-hundred and eighty degrees to reveal a full keyboard. Although phone companies have made phones similar to it, this is a feature unique to the Sidekick III. The menu is easy to navigate through, and overall, the phone is simple to use. An HTML web browser, e-mail and instant messaging are some of the features. The Sidekick III has a plan that includes text-messaging, internet, e-mail and instant-messaging for only a dollar a day.
Cons:
Although the dollar-a-day plan is a good deal, T-Mobile has forgotten the main function of the device- a phone. This plan is also prepaid, which may cause problems for buyers that tend to be forgetful or unorganized. In addition to this, T-Mobile’s service is poor, with service unavailable in many areas. The Sidekick III’s HTML web browser is the slowest and the phone is the bulkiest of the three.
Compiled by staff writer Lauren Proffitt
I’ve never been to Paris (France)
BY ALEX GUNS REVIEW EDITOR
In mid-January, I took a weekend trip to Paris, France with my older sister, Elizabeth. With the exception of stopping in Canada to go to the bathroom, this was the first time I left the country. On the 9+ hour plane ride, I contemplated the two stereotypes of our French brothers: (1) They are all well dressed, and (2) they are regular sissies when it comes to wartime. After returning to the U.S. of A, I have to break the news- the first stereotype is terribly true. Even as I ventured to the deep corners of the metro, a sharp looking man with a scarf wrapped in an ever so intricate pattern, was with his Gucci model wife in hand. Coming off the airplane on the way home seeing sweats galore makes the yearn to return that much stronger. On the last day in Paris, we had seen just about everything, from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower. The last thing on our list was Napoleon’s tomb. Along with the little guy in his grave, it was a French Military Museum. After a quick giggle at the idea of a French military, we figured it would be best to take a peek. Things went as expected, the rise of the French Empire, expansion, various quarrels with Britain. Then there was the World War II section. I turned to my sister and we both smiled; the American inside us surfaced. After thirteen years of public school, pride enters the mind when World War II is spoken. That time when America took this sick old world and slapped it into shape, saving our old buds and taking care of business. But as we walked in the section, instead of the
<<The view of the Eiffel Tower from Notre Dame in Paris.
Alex Guns/BW
American fanfares, planes overhead and excerpts from General MacArthur, there was stone silence. A dark sense of foreboding was in the room, not the battle cry of the gentle giant. This was the first of a completely different look on what we consider our greatest moment. I remember the tongue and cheek teaching of France giving up immediately to Nazi Germany. Instead, we saw in detail,
every man possible defending to the death an unstoppable force. Many times with no real battle equipment besides a gun. They would see as the enemies destroy their very homes. A sight we as Americans, cannot really fathom. In Paris’ version, America comes in late in the conflict and just cleans house in a blink of the eye, a departure from the films that showed Americans being deep in the struggle for freedom. Europe saw us as a titan coming upon earth, leveling the enemies and then cutting out. The museum had a feel of the whole war being a great mistake. Even entering the war was shameful, regardless of what side they were on. America took the experience and used it as a shining achievement in our history, where we did what was right. But, only a select few can know the war- the men who fought. In France, an entire generation can remember the very real threat of an enemy force, and the path of destruction they left behind. It brought more than enough perspective on the French stance in the world today that none of us can really understand. Even our leaders don’t get why the French are they way they are with war. Democrats pretend to and Republicans don’t even try to. The French can remember the result of war, imprinted on their memories and taught to their children. Capitols made rubble, towns made graveyards. If being on the wrong side of history is the cost of never having to see war again, the French seem more than willing.
11
B &W
FEATURE: what people are doing February ‘07
CLINTON CAPTIVATES CROWD AT EAST Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made a stop at East High School in Des Moines on Jan. 27. The campaign rally was just one of many stops the Democrat from New York is expected to make in the state as she builds momentum for the Iowa Caucuses and a possible nomination for the presidency. Admission to the event, which was held in the school’s gymnasium, was free with tickets available at Clinton’s web site.
photos by Grace Meiners/The Dragon
Photos clockwise from left: (1) Clinton listens to a question from the audience. (2) Clinton reacts to a question, the event was held in a forum-like manner. (3) Student body president Sarah Froehlich stands in the background during the national anthem. (4) Clinton explains to the crowd what the steps she will take as president.
[
Unexpected volunteer project takes students by surprise
[
Students from the Social Problems class learn about required service-learning project BY DAWN WILKENS STAFF WRITER Senior Kathryn Huen was frustrated. She had just done 30 hours of volunteering for her Government service-learning project when she learned she had to do 15 more hours for her Social Problems class, and her hours did not carry over. In the Social Problems class (name changing to Social Issues next year), taught by social studies teacher Kelly Coleman, the students learn about society and the way that it views different issues like homosexuality and cultural groups. The class also provides information about why the issues exist and how they can be solved or elevated, according to Coleman. For the final in the class, the students have to do a service-learning project. “The students volunteer 15 hours and also journal the hours,” Coleman said. “Then they write a four to six page paper on their experience and the nature of the issues. After this, students present the projects to the class. This
is their final for this class.” There are some specific expectations required for the volunteer project. “The students have to choose to volunteer with a non-profit organization,” Coleman said. “They have to attempt to address a social issue.” Huen decided to continue volunteering with the Animal Rescue League. “I’ve been volunteering at the Animal Rescue League for five years,” Huen said. “The issue I’m working with is the overpopulation of pets.” The Social Problems project is similar to the Government service-learning project. Each project contains a certain amount of volunteering the students have to complete, and they must write a paper or create a portfolio telling of their experience while volunteering. Both of these projects are considered during the students’ final grade for the classes. “Volunteering is part of being a good citizen,” Coleman said. “For Social Issues, it’s about being a good citizen, but also it is what social workers do.”
Social Problems
Government
vs.
15 Volunteer Hours
30 Volunteer Hours
4 to 6 page paper on experience and issue/presentation
Portfolio on the experience
Required for the final for class
Required for final and to graduate
From “Problems” to “Issues”
Next school year, the Social Problems class will now be known as Social Issues. “There is a philosophical debate about this,” Coleman said. “The word ‘problem’ can have a negative connotation to it and we don’t want to consider the issues as ‘problems.’”
12
FEATURE: what people are doing February ‘06
B &W
Photos by Dan Haight/BW
C-SPAn
Students from government classes called in questions to USA Today reporter David Jackson and Washington D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton on the program Washington Journal on Jan. 24. The C-SPAN campaign bus kicked off its 2008 presidential campaign coverage the night before, live at the state capitol. Government students toured the bus throughout the day. Photos clockwise from top left: (1) C-SPAN staffer Doug Hennig points to the screen as the Washington Journal displays a map of Iowa with Johnston marked. (2) A Des Moines Register reporter interviews junior Doug Haefele after he called in a question to the show. (3) Senior Jenna Winzenburg calls in a question to the show. Winzenburg asked about the media’s impact on the Iowa Caucuses. (4) The C-SPAN campaign bus sits in the parking lot outside the school.
Kumbera’s creations come customized BY STEPHANIE IVANKOVICH STAFF WRITER Junior Trista Woody is in need of a new stylish bracelet. Instead of going to the local Claire’s or Target, she heads to junior Chelsea Kumbera’s house to pick one out. Kumbera sells and makes necklaces, earrings, rings, anklets, watches and any other type of jewelry out of her home. The jewelry can be customized, too. “I first started to sell them when I was thirteen years Kumbera old, in order to get money for the Washington D.C. trip in seventh grade,” Kumbera said. Kumbera has been selling jewelry ever since, with an endless selection. She sells to her close friends, as well as to friends of her mother. Woody has been a customer of Kumbera’s for two years. “I buy from her because it is easy to get from her,” Woody said. “I call her, and she lets me come over and pick out what I want. They
are pretty beads, and are really well made.” Another customer of Kumbera is junior Jill Swoyer. Swoyer bought from Kumbera for the first time last year. “I went to one of her jewelry parties last summer, and my mom bought earrings from her,” Swoyer said. Swoyer has bought a bracelet and earrings from Kumbera, as well. “She uses pretty beads and has unique types of jewelry such as wirey. They are different from the stores,” Swoyer said. Lucy Suvalsky is a friend of Kumbera’s mother and is a customer who purchases earrings most frequently. “She can make any design using any colors. She is flexible with the jewelry. If anything breaks, she fixes it right up.” Suvalsky said. “Her jewelry is more personal. I can chose the colors I want and the design or let her design it if I give her ideas.” Kumbera will still sell jewelry when she is done with high school, but not necessarily as a business. “I would like to continue selling bracelets as a hobby,” Kumbera said.
Stephanie Ivankovich/BW
Chelsea Kumbera made this necklace and pair of earrings. The earrings cost $15, and the necklace would cost around $40-$50.
DUNGEON
Johnston-Urbandale-Waukee swim team moves on to state after strong district win As the state swimming competition approaches, the Johnston-Urbandale-Waukee swim team comes off of a fine performance at its district. The team beat runner-up Ankeny by 31 points with 32 swimmers achieving personal best times or relay splits. The victory marks the first districts win ever in the history of the 23year sharing agreement between the Johnston and Urbandale swim teams. The swim team also won their conference meet and with it the first place
Water World
spot in the CIML Central division. After taking conferences, coach Shari Walling expressed her excitement. She said that the boys had been pushing themselves to be ready for the districts meet, which took place on February 10. However, the swim team’s success hasn’t come without hard work. “It takes a lot of determination and focus to make yourself get up every morning, but after you win a race you know it was all worth it,” junior Soren Hirst said. Hirst swam the 500-yard freestyle,
along with the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays at conference, achieving 10th in the 500 and 6th in the 400 relay. Varsity swimmers’ practice starts at 5:30 a.m. everyday, with a hearty breakfast provided by the swim team parents. Regular practice takes place from 3:45 -6:00 p.m. but the swim team isn’t all about work, they have fun too. Every winter break, the swim team alumni come back to have a little friendly match of water polo with the current swim team. “(Water polo) is fun because the coaches
CIML Central 1st Place
Overall Record
Districts 1st Place
CIML Record
make French toast and we play, it can get pretty intense,” said senior Josh Belner, one of three seniors, “it’s always french toast, and it’s always alumni versus students.” Even though everyone may not know the rules, everyone always gets excited for the big winter break game, Belner said. Water polo isn’t the only way the swim team has fun; they hang out outside of swimming and school, too. “(The swim team) goes over to Charlie (Thuente’s) house some Sundays to watch the medical drama Grey’s Anatomy,” Belner said.
4-0
7-1
32 Swimmers 3 Schools
-State QualifiersTim Albright
Nick Staub
Mitch Taylor
Brad Waldorf
Anthony Kottke
Rob Bany
Scott Herren
John Waldorf
Blake Johnson
Invitational Results
Dual Meets Roosevelt W 112-58 Dowling W 104-66
Ames Invitational 3rd Place
Valley L 75-95
Ottumwa W 125-45
Bobcat Relays 2nd Place
Ankeny W 118-52
Indianola W 108-62
Johnston Invitational 1st Place
Preparation » (Left) Senior Josh Belner listens to his Mp3 player to mentally prepare for the Johnston Invitational. Belner began swimming his junior year. (Middle) Junior Rex Davidson practices his breaststroke form before the Johnston Invitational. (Right) Urbandale freshman Brad Waldorf is on the block, about to dive into a race at the Johnston Invitational.
Dan Haight/BW
Dan Haight/BW
Dan Haight/BW
Competition » Junior Charlie Thuente is one of several team members with state swimming hopes. Thuente is entering the 200 and 500yard events at the district meet, which took place at Summitt Middle School in Johnston on Feb. 10.
Compiled by Chris Ajluni-Staff Writer, Dan Haight-Photo Editor, and Cicely Gordon-Backpage Editor.
Dan Haight/BW
14
SPORTS: what the athletes play February ‘06
B &W
Seniors haul snow for backyard sessions
BY KELSEY HYDE FEATURE EDITOR After two and a half hours of loading and unloading snow, the 350 foot run is covered and ready to be carved. When Iowa’s weather is lacking, senior Chris Williamson and friends haul snow from the local Buc’s Arena to cover a hill they love to snowboard in Williamson’s backyard. “We had the idea in the past to haul snow from the Buc’s arena, but we never got around to doing it,” Williamson said. “At the arena, they just dump ice shavings out of the back of the Zamboni thing to melt and we take it, and we haven’t had any problems doing that so far.” According to Williamson, the first time he and his friends hauled snow from the arena to cover his hill, the snow only stuck for a couple of days before melting. However, in November, it stuck longer. Williamson hauls snow in his own trailer along with seniors Troy Nielsen, Austin Strawhacker, Eric Tubbs and Scott Cronin. “This is the first year we’ve hauled snow,” Williamson said. According to Williamson, usually only he, Cronin and Strawhacker snowboarded the hill in the winter. Now that they have started hauling snow, larger groups have been coming, including some junior and senior guys. “It takes about two and a half hours to load the snow, drive it to Chris’ and put it on his hill,” Tubbs, who helps haul snow in his truck bed, said. “I’m going to start snowboarding this year, and it’s something I want to learn, so that’s why I’m helping Chris and everyone haul snow.” According to Tubbs, it is not the easiest job to unload the snow onto the Williamsons’ hill. “We started out trying to back down the hill to unload the snow and the hill is so steep my truck stalled out,” Tubbs said. “Troy Nielsen hooked up his Jeep to my truck and had to pull it to the top of the hill. Now we start from the bottom of the hill and go up.” Once the hill is covered though, the fun begins. “It’s a pretty cool session when we have eight or ten guys,” Williamson said. According to Williamson, a lot of what he has on his hill is make-shift, but so far no one has gotten seriously hurt. “At the end of the hill, we built a jump over the road and it’s about a twenty-five foot gap to get over,” Williamson said. The road gap, along with one other small ramp, two boxes and a rail, are what Williamson and friends have put together for their runs down the hill. “One time I went off a jump, did a 360, landed it, but then the landing was flat so my knees buckled and I hit my mouth,” senior snowboarder Tommy
Provided/Chris Williamson
Junior Bryce McClure does a 180 grab off of a ramp on senior Chris Williamson’s backyard hill as senior Austin Strawhacker watches in excitement. A group of juniors and seniors frequently snowboard on the hill in Williamson’s backyard. Stroud said. Whether landings are perfect or not, the guys still have fun. “It’s sweet when people land stuff,” Cronin, who also snowboards, said. “We try to show each other up, but we don’t do very well.” Now that snow has finally fallen, the hill is getting a lot more use. According to Williamson, a group of he and his friends snowboard almost every other day since snow has fallen, and weekends are when the bigger sessions take place. “We probably go out there a little after noon on
Saturdays because we’re all too sleepy to get up any earlier,” Cronin said. “We snowboard for a couple hours, probably go up and get hot chocolate, and then maybe snowboard a little more.” According to Cronin, Williamson’s parents don’t mind the boys’ snowboarding, and just make sure they are not doing anything dumb. “We tried to jump a Jeep once, but his dad wouldn’t let us,” Nielsen said. Even if they can’t make every jump, the group of snowboarders still thinks highly of themselves. “We’re all sick at snowboarding,” Cronin said.
Siewert to fill shoes as girls’ track coach Thoughts on Siewert:
“
Kristen Strawhacker senior
We needed a new coach, and Siewert will do a good job. He will bring new ideas and motivation to the team.
”
“
I am really excited, I had a chance to work with (Siewert) in cross-country. He is someone who will help us meet our goals.
Obsie Birru junior
“
Dave Beason assistant coach
”
I’m excited (that Siewert’s) got clear goals set for where he wants the season to go, and he will take our program to the next level.
”
BY LEE YOCUM STAFF WRITER The girls’ track team has high hopes with a lot of returning senior leadership, but one leader, the coach, is new to the job. On Dec. 12, cross-country assistant coach Chris Siewert jumped into the role of girls’ head varsity track coach. Siewert coached crosscountry and track at Mason City, as well as serving as an assistant coach for the girls’ cross-country team. Siewert feels his first season of coaching in Winona, Michigan, was the most sucSiewert cessful, with high finishes in state, “I had a passion for running; it started in high school,” Siewert said. His biggest achievement was running in 20 marathons and completing them all. Siewert feels this team has all the makings to be another special season. “We have a lot of senior leadership and experienced athletes coming back,” Siewert said. “We can expect to see school records broken, state and Drake Relays qualifiers. We have always had a big number at state. If things go as planned, we’re looking at 14 (qualifiers).” He feels there is a good chance to break the 400 hurdle, 4x800 and the 800 meter records in the upcoming seasons. Senior Kristen Strawhacker is one of the returning state qualifiers who has high hopes for the season. “Siewert will bring new ideas and motiva-
tion to the team,” Strawhacker said. “We expect to improve on our season last year and do even better at Drake and state.” “(Siewert) is experienced and works with runners. He is a determined and organized person,” junior Obsie Birru said. Siewert is planning to bring a few changes in how practices are operated. For example, Siewert plans to set aside time at the beginning of practice for field events a couple times each week. Field events were previously held at the end of practice, however Siewert feels they should be given more attention. Siewert will be replacing Craig Oldham, who retired after 30 years of coaching. “(Oldham) was a great person and he will be missed,” Birru said. The assistant coaches for the track team are Rick Rynning, Dave Beason and Brian Lutter. Another assistant coach has not yet been chosen. All of the assistant coaches have had coaching experience before this season. Rynning has been an assistant coach for the girls’ track team in previous seasons, and this year will be working primarily with the distance runners. Beason is the coach of the boys’ varsity cross-country team and has coached the girls’ track team in previous years. He will be working with hurdlers and high jumpers. This will be Lutter’s first season assisting with the girls’ track team. He will be working with the throwing events and helping out with warm-ups. He is also an assistant wrestling and football coach. “(We will) train hard and have fun; success will come,” Beason said.
15
SPORTS: what the athletes play February ‘06
B &W
Acceleration Iowa aids athletes BY BRYAN LIPPINCOTT SPORTS EDITOR
Lying on his back holding his feet six inches off the ground, senior Jay Quick completes his set of six scissors. The abdominal exercise is just part of the workout Quick receives at Acceleration Iowa. The facility aims to retrain muscle tissues and make athletes bigger and faster than before, according to its web site. Athletes are given a regimen based on the sports they play. The regimens target specific areas depending on the sport. “Our programs are tailored to fit specific sports,” Facility Director Jack Whitver said. Quick first heard about Acceleration Iowa through friends. “I go mainly for track,” he said. Quick said that he hopes to improve his vertical jump by two inches, and to improve speed in the events that he runs. Quick’s sister, freshman Ashley Quick, heard about the program through her friends, and her father looked into it also. She has been going to Acceleration for a couple weeks at three times per week. “I really like it...I feel stronger,” Ashley said. “It helps me get into shape (for cross country and track), so when the first practice comes, I won’t die.” After reading a newspaper article about the program, junior Taylor Young’s mother told him about it. Young attended 18 sessions each of the past two summers. The sessions were spaced over the course of three months. “I think I get quicker (a lot) faster,” Young said. “For football and wrestling you get more explosive.” Whitver and Acceleration Director Geoff Jensen opened the facility in 2004. Student athletes from area schools such as West Des Moines Dowling Catholic, Waukee and Indianola have taken on the program. “They’ll match you up (in the workout) with some Valley or Urbandale kid that you’ll see in the future,” junior Jake Highfill said. The program is aimed to benefit specific areas of sports, and that means that there are facets of the program tailored to the individual athletes needs. One specific machine used in the football training (according to Acceleration’s web site) is a hydraulic treadmill which is designed to produce 200-300% more recruitment of muscles responsible for increasing and maintaining speed. The program also uses sprint and power cord resistance training that are used to work on explosiveness with real game-like velocities. Each training regimen isolates different parts of an athlete to work on for specific sports. Highfill, who plays football and wrestles, first heard of the program in eighth grade through head football coach Brian Woodley. Over the last two summers, Highfill has gone through 21 sessions each. He thinks the program has helped him with his overall speed, footwork and foot quickness. The intensity of the workouts attracts athletes from all different areas of athletics. Senior Sarah Froehlich likes the pace of the program. “They work you really hard, but it’s a fun atmosphere to work out in,” she said. Froehlich said she went to Acceleration the past two summers about two to three times per week. “(Acceleration) definitely made me a lot quicker and more agile,” she said. Highfill agreed that Whitver and Jensen’s passion inspires the athletes. “The people that work there are really jacked up,” Highfill said.
(Above) Senior Jay Quick runs on the hydraulic treadmill at Acceleration Iowa; is runSam he Leahy/ BW ning at 17.3 miles per hour while being supervised by trainer Mike Kamer. Quick goes to Acceleration three days a week to work on foot quickness and vertical jump for cross country and track. (Below) Senior Jay Quick prepares to run during his session. Acceleration Iowa is located at 3000 Justin Drive Suite H in Urbandale (50322); or call them at 334-FAST.
Sessions
Prices
12
$270
18
$380
24
$445 Sam Leahy/ BW
Boys’ track gains confidence, new suits BY CHELSEA NELSON STAFF WRITER
Austin Pierce/ The Dragon
Former Johnston student Joel Quick sprints down the final stretch. Quick is wearing one of the track suits from last year, which are being replaced.
The boys’ varsity track team is replacing its speed suits with newer and professionally designed suits. The opinion of whether or not the new speed suits make a difference in the runners’ performance varies among the team. Boys’ track coach George Sypniewski believes that the suits are necessary to improve runners’ time and confidence. “The most important thing is you want to have your athletes feel confident and good about themselves,” Sypniewski said. The suits’ professional quality are said help to improve the runners’ time. “Supposedly, it improves, as far as your performance is concerned, that there’s less air resistance, just like in swimming when the kids shave down,” Sypniewski said. It is uncertain how much time the suits will cut off from the runners’ average performance. Speed suits are designed to decrease the amount of wind resistance against the runner, and the new suits are said to be better than the suits that the team currently has. “It’s just a mental edge that gives everybody the feeling that they’re going to be a little bit better because it cuts down on the wind resistance instead of the old tra-
ditional track uniforms,” Sypniewski said. Varsity track runner Nathan Clock, junior, believes the suits won’t have that much of an effect on him. “When I go out there, I’m pretty much gonna run my fastest either way, so it doesn’t really make a difference,” Clock said. The visual appeal was also a factor in the decision to order new speed suits. The new suits are purple and black, with a zipper down the front and the Johnston Dragon logo on the back. Discus thrower David Cox felt that the old suits were inadequate compared to the speed suits of runners from other high schools. “When we go to track meets, we’re seriously outclassed by the other schools’ speed suits. Last year, we just had plain speed suits, and this year we’ll look better compared to other schools,” Cox said. Money was raised and donated to pay for ten speed suits, which cost about $70.00 each. These suits went to the varsity boys’ track team, but the other runners can order them individually. Sypniewski believes that the suits also hold a psychological effect over the runners. The color composition of the new suits and their quality help increase the runners’ confidence. “Its also appearance because if you look good, then you feel good and you’re probably gonna run better,” Sypniewski said.
16
E X T R E M E water
sports
BACKPAGE: what’s fun September ‘06
B &W
Summer break may mean laying out, going to the pool or even a nanny job, but for some of your classmates this means countless hours practicing relays and scarecrows, thousands of dollars on gas and bruises galore. Here is a look at a different use for water than some of you may know. PROVIDED/SUSAN CLAUSEN
Sophomore Bryce Johnson water skis on Lake Panorama this summer. As well as participating on the Lake Panorama Ski Team, Bryce also competes in wakeboarding competitions around the country.
Wakeboarding wonder weighs options beyond high school Starting at age seven, sophomore Bryce Johnson has been wakeboarding, but not until three years ago did he decide to pick up the competitive side of it. “I really started getting serious and I thought why not give it a shot,” Johnson said. According to Johnson, what sparked his interest was an Omaha clinic for wake boarding. “Some instructors really encouraged me to try competitive wakeboarding and really thought I had a shot,” Johnson said.
Since then he has been successful, most recently receiving first at Fort Dodge and fifth in Omaha this past summer. He also competed in Florida, as well as attended a clinic there. He is part of the P-Town Gang, a group of wakeboarders who reside at Lake Panorama. “This is my third year competing and I am only getting better,” Johnson said. His number of sponsors has increased with his successes. Fuel Clothing, Monster energy drink, Truth Industries and Coulter Panorama Ma-
rina are Johnson’s current sponsors. Johnson has big goals and aspirations for his wakeboarding career. “ I plan on going back to Omaha and Fort Dodge, while going to Florida for a few more (competitions) and also spend a few weeks on the east coast this summer competing in various competitions,” Johnson said. While looking farther into the future, Johnson hopes major colleges notice his wakeboarding. “Out on the east coast, wakeboarding is huge with colleges,” Johnson said.
Twenty-two year tradition
PROVIDED/SUSAN CLAUSEN
Members of the Lake Panorama Ski Team perform a six-four-two pyramid at their annual Panorama Days performance. Senior, Susan Clausen is pictured in the second level, third from the left.
What is a hobby to most is a tradition to some. Practicing once a week, from six p.m. to sundown, the Panorama Ski Team works to perfect stunts, which are displayed at the annual Panorama Days. The team was established 22 years ago by Dan and Kathy York, who still coach the team today. “I’ve pretty much been water skiing all my life,” junior Alle Moffitt said, who joined the team when she was 14 years old, and went on to participate for three more years. According to Moffitt, she had always heard about how much fun it was, so she decided to try it out by attending one of the team’s practices. Skiing for ski team is different from skiing for recreation because rather than starting off by sitting, you start off of a dock. According to senior Susan Clausen, who joined the team when she was seven years old, the stunts done on the team can include pyramids, barefooting acts, and angel flying. The season for the team begins when the water is warm enough. According to Moffitt, the first few practices are the worst because of how cold the water is. Panorama Days is the only performance that the ski team does, because of how much preparation is put into the show. Spectators usually go to the lake on Thursday’s to watch the team practice. Although there has been talk of doing more performances, it has never been orchestrated because of how many team members commute to Panora, and many have other commitments. “The show is kind of like a musical, only the skiing replaces the singing,” Clausen said.
Compiled by Cicely Gordon, Backpage Editor, Sam Leahy, Opinion Editor, Jenna Willson, staff writer, and Susan Clausen.