September 2010

BW the black and white

the black and white. Sept 2010. volume 19 issue 2. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston. iowa one copy free

in this issue august three Find info on the differences

five Read about the Black and

and similarities between advi-

White’s opinion on students

seminar.

thier rights.

sory, homeroom and freshman

and how they should know

six-seven As pictured above, groups

twelve Read about the creative

have been making big steps

ways students were asked to

ball season.

backpage.

toward school spirit this foot-

the homecoming dance on the

.

0 1 0 r2

e b m

e

t p e S

News

in this issue...

3 Advisory, Homeroom & Seminar C&C AlertNow prevents skipping

Opinion 4 NY Mosque should not be a problem That’s what Shi said

Editorial 5

Amping up American rights

Doubletruck 67 School spirit

Entertainment/Review 8

Parkour takes off MapMyRun.com

Fashion 9

Unique consignment shops

Feature 10 Who is that unicycle guy?

Sports 11 Staph attack Full-Court Press

Backpage 12 Homecoming brings graduates back

3

10

6-7

11

BW

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8

12

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelsey Kruse DESIGN EDITOR Kelly McGowan PHOTO EDITOR Michael Knoedel

NEWS Mike Shi OPINION Kristine Hayes EDITORIAL Zach Winjum ENTERTAINMENT/REVIEW Evan Culbert FEATURE Lauren Coffey FASHION/HEALTH Spencer Vasey SPORTS Ryan Smaha BACKPAGE Ethan Meng DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ian Dunshee STAFF WRITERS Isabella Engbloom, Wes Monroe, Alexa Anderson PHILOSOPHY The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff.

Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material. The paper is published nine times per school year. The paper will avoid material that is 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. 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 editors at jhsblackandwhite@ gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings.

on the cover: Senior Alexa Probst cheers to the student section during an away game. School spirit is featured on pages 6 & 7

the b&w p.3

news

sept 2010

Advisory raises questions “Homeroom was just a gathering place to disseminate info” -Roz Weaver

-Advisory in no longer doing polls/survey -Advisory has curriculum

“Advisory program has some substance to it” -Roz Weaver

Advisory will focus on advocacy, community skills, 21 century skills and invigorating activities in addition with connecting to one’s advisor and peers

-Advisory has portfolios

A member of the personalization team in charge of advisory

[

Differences From Advisory

Seminar

-Course Audit/ITED Review

]

As with anything new, advisory brings up questions on similarities to old experiences. In order to help distinguish between advisory, homeroom and seminar, here is a chart, comparing and contrasting the three.

-Advisory is not for credit and shorter -Advisory is mandatory

“Bottom line, not even close to seminar” -Roz Weaver

-No polls/surveys in advisory -Advisory is more transparent

-Same teacher all three years

The curriculum is available online for people to see and comment on

Portfolios are new to advisory that let students store things of value such as photography, certificates or A+s

-The two are divided up differently

-Once per week for approximately 20 minutes

Homeroom

-Advisory has smaller classes/divided differently, no longer alphabetical

-Advisory is more transparent

Mike Shi

Similarities To Advisory

-No more passing out papers in advisory

doors left to right: Weaver Behrens Altman Both advisory and seminar have curricula but they focus on different things

Similarities To Advisory Seminar

Homeroom

Differences From Advisory

words & layout

-Curriculum -Connecting with teacher and peers

http://www.johnston.k12.ia.us/schools/ highschool/AdvisoryProgram/

-Advisory has no study hall/reading time

-Games/spirit activities Games and activities such as door decorating are found in both

District implements new alert system Starting this year, students with unexcused absences

the messages have followed the format of Klein introduc-

the district started using a new system called AlertNow to

AlertNow can send information in a text, an email or, most com-

may find a message waiting for them. At the end of last year,

record a message and send it out to large groups of numbers at once. “It’s a quick way to get information to a lot

of people quickly,” Associate Principal Randy Klein said.

monly, a voice message. “Once we can make it more user-friendly, we’re hoping to allow families to choose the method,” Klein said.

“The numbers are only as good as the information on Infinite

Twice a day, AlertNow sends a message to the parents of stu-

and then again at the end of the day. It replaced the old system of

Infinite Campus, the phone call sent out won’t reach them. The

one person calling all the absences. Klein said, “[AlertNow is being used] to be more efficient and to make sure we don’t miss anyone.”

So far, the system has been used three times for a large

cell phones, and doesn’t notify the district or make a change in program makes a note that the number is disconnected, and the administration is able to figure out the problem, and fix it.

The idea came from other businesses that use alert sys-

group: at the beginning of the summer, after schedules were

tems like this. “Before we used the TV and radio to let peo-

want to overuse it,” Klein said. In order to discourage peo-

throughout the district can now learn about absences, emer-

sent out and the week before school started. “We don’t

ple from hanging up before the automated message is over,

Rachael Meyer

ing himself, and explaining the reason why the call was made.

Campus,” Klein said. If a family switches from a landline to only

dents with unexcused absences. It goes out once after fourth period,

words & layout

ple know when school was cancelled.” Klein said. Families

gencies, or snow days sooner, faster, and with less hassle.

The district has implemented a system of voice messages to communicate with parents.

the b&w p.4

opinion

sept 2010 The mosque planned to be built outside of Ground

life as an American Muslim incredibly difficult for some.

month. These protesters are claiming that this Islamic

ated a public service announcement to address the

jackers shared the same religion. The protesters believe

nouncement exclaims that they do not want to impose

that killed thousands of Americans to practice so close

country and that they do not support terrorism of any

as a sort of victory mosque that insults the ones who

being stereotyped to such an extreme that they have to

If these protests are only about the mosque’s prox-

said. Although these protesters have good intentions,

Zero has experienced major protesting within the last

Islamophobia words & layout Michael Knoedal

A group of Muslims called “My Faith, My Voice” cre-

mosque is too close to Ground Zero because 9/11 hi-

negative stereotyping directed towards them. The an-

that It would be inconsiderate to allow the same religion

their faith on people, they do not want to take over the

to where the bombing occurred. The protesters see this

kind. It is ridiculous that it has come to this; a group

died in the attack.

announce something that should never even have to be

imity to Ground Zero, than protesters of a mosque in

they need to be sure they are fighting the right battle.

away is too close as well. Protests against the building

tution. While they do seem to know parts of the First

nessee to Florida. The issue of the mosque being too

dom to petition, they are conveniently forgetting about

an incorrect connection between the Islamic religion and

be able to practice their faith anywhere as long as they

Whoever caused the World Trade Center bombing

Atheism or Islam. The whole point of the Constitution is

why we are fighting a war. The only problem is that peo-

take them away, no matter how many people disagree

Muslims. The protesters are holding a grudge against a

This dispute is not an issue of proximity to Ground

Temecula, California, apparently think that 2,412 miles

What the protesters are dismissing is the Consti-

of mosques have erupted all over the country, from Ten-

Amendment, including freedom of speech and the free-

close to Ground Zero clearly isn’t the problem. There is

another part, freedom of religion. These people should

the 9/11 hijackers developed by the protesters.

do it peacefully. Whether it be Scientology, Christianity,

should be punished. That is in fact one of the reasons

that everyone has rights and no one should be able to

ple are not distinguishing Al Qaeda from all the other

with another’s point of view.

major minority simply because it is easy.

Zero. One block away from the mosque’s designated

got injured by a drunk driver started to hate all people

protesting for being too close to Ground Zero. This is

guish if a person is driving a Honda, than it is to distin-

In America, everyone has the right to be able to practice

It’s the same thing as if a parent who had a child that

location is a strip club. A strip club that experienced no

who drive a Honda. It is simply much easier to distin-

about misplaced Islamophobia on a misjudged religion.

guish if a person is driving drunk. This mentality makes

his or her religion; everyone deserves to be free.

Illustrations/Rosemarie Freymark

what

That’s

Bacon mania around us, whether it’s bacon and eggs

words Mike Shi

bacon on it, some of these ads are just out-

colored bacon to bacon lollipops. On page

Bell commercial, advertising some taco or

line will bring you everything from rainbow-

Bacon, that crispy, delicious pork is all

said

there one way or another. A quick look on-

for breakfast, bacon bits on your salad for lunch, or bacon ice cream for desert. While

bacon may be good, our nation’s obsession with it has just gone too far.

What used to just be a component of

breakfast has exploded. Everywhere you look, you can guarantee that bacon will be

one of Google Image Search there is, of course, regular bacon, but also a bacon

briefcase, bacon bandages and even a bacon bra.

While I may not know about you, to me,

a lot of that bacon stuff is just not appetizing at all. I really wouldn’t want to eat yellow bacon or a bacon lollipop? The rainbow

rageous. I remember watching one Taco

whatever, with two women in a bar. One has a taco with bacon in her purse, the other, sadly, does not. Next, some fellows come over; of course, they are transfixed by the mere scent of bacon. Personally, ba-

con doesn’t get me all hot and bothered like this ad wants me to believe.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate bacon.

may taste delicious in Skittle form, but with

I think it’s a good side dish to have oc-

Not only has bacon invaded the Internet,

other stuff too. I just think we’ve taken our

bacon, it’s just disgusting.

but it has also taken over our televisions.

While I understand that some people are more likely to buy a product because it has

casionally with breakfast and it’s good on love of bacon a little too far. If we keep this

up, what’s next? Bacon-flavored floss? Oh wait, they already have that.

the b&w p.5

editorial

sept 2010

You have the right to remain silent What else do I have?

Illustration/Austin Smoltdt-Saenz

Do you know your rights?

A cop pulls you over because your left front headlight is out. He then proceeds to ask you to open your trunk.

What do you do?

As Americans, we are pretty well-off. We have a gov-

know their rights or what to do. Not only were the students

rights unlike any other country on the planet. Every day

ment, the school officials were also oblivious to the laws

ernment that does not oppress the people and we have

we are granted the opportunity to practice these rights. But when students are put in situations when authority figures are involved it can get fuzzy.

Five girls from Atlantic High School were strip-searched

unaware that they could refuse the search without punishprohibiting these searches from occurring. The end result of the strip-search was the firing of the assistant principal

and a lawsuit against the school filed by the students and their parents.

A.Tell him he does not have probable cause.

B.Get out of your car and open the trunk.

C. Start crying.

in the school locker room after one girl reported $100 missing. The event took place after the girls had finished their

happening is to have a basic understanding of our rights as

The principal randomly decides to search through your locker while you are at lunch.

What do you do?

ing $100, the assistant principal ordered the strip-search to

cannot do, especially when authority figures are involved.

A peer claims you have stolen $100 from them. You are asked by an authority figure to remove your clothing so you can be searched for the missing money.

What do you do?

A. Refuse.

B. Proceed to take off your clothing. If it was wrong, an authority figure wouldn’t be asking you to.

C. Punch your peer and run.

occur. The female guidance councilor continued with the

procedure, which the three girls allowed. The search involved the removal of various items of clothing.

Although this has not happened at Johnston, that does

not mean a situation like it could not occur. There are so

many situations that students are put in when they do not

Results

A. Nothing. Your locker is school property.

B. Get angry because your first amendment rights are being violated.

C. Call your mom.

physical education class. After being informed of the miss-

Mostly A’s You know your rights! When a situation arises where you are being asked to do something, you do the right thing, by law that is. You know when to say no and when to go with the flow.

The first step in preventing these types of situations from

students and Americans. We must learn what we can and The best way to do this is by following what is happening in our community, state, and country.

Talking amongst friends and classmates about current

events and issues can also expand your knowledge of your

basic rights. The school is filled with opportunities to ask questions and share knowledge of student rights.

Mostly B’s

Mostly C’s

It is evident that you are unsure of your rights! Although your answers seem somewhat responsible, there are better solutions. You might want to study up so you can make informed decisions.

Dealing with stressful situations is not your strong suit! As well as learning and comprehending your rights, you should probably develop a sense of independence and maturity.

the b&w p.6&7

school spirit

sept 2010

YOU KNOW

“Woo!” The sound that used to end football warm-ups, until linebacker coach Brent Ksiazek decided it did not sound manly at all. He decided “You know” would be a more appropriate cheer; a cheer, that actually, has caught on.

Enthusiasm. Support. Motivation. Spunk. Representation. Heart. All are components of the recipe for school spirit; it matters. It matters to those who try to inspire it: with their cheers, with their dance routines, with their instruments. But, it matters most to those on the field.

When fans are not present, it makes it hard on the cheerleaders because there isn’t anyone to pump up.

“Most people don’t know this, but when there are more people there it pumps us up, too,” senior cheerleader Elissa Wiley said.

If fans do fill the stands, and they need some pumping up, the cheerleaders have a challenge; it is their job to give the crowd spirit. “We try to do a crowd-involving cheer so they have to stand up and do an action,” Wiley said. A stunt or two also helps to energize the crowd.

The half-time show is meant to entertain, but also to inspire school spirit into the hearts of the fans. The band performs during the half-time to show off all of their hard work, as well as to represent the school. “It definitely helps when we are playing and people are paying attention to us,” senior drum major Sarah Mayer said.

At pep assemblies, as the band plays the fight song it is awkward for people not to stand and clap along, so join in.

“People do a pretty good job of participating,” Mayer said.

“Especially the ‘D-R-A-G-O-N-S, Dragons Fight!’ part.”

Also performing during pep assemblies and the halftime show is the dance team. Senior Taylor Coakley said that the improvement they have made, due to team bonding, an increase in dedication and numbers, among other things, has contributed to school spirit. “People are paying attention to us more,” senior Taylor Coakley said, “So they are getting more excited.”

Dance team member Spencer Vines said the team really gets into it at the pep assemblies and games to get everyone spirited. “The first football game we had to prove ourselves,” senior Alli Christ said, “and now it’s going to be about getting everyone psyched for the game.”

The game: the reason behind all the pumping up. Senior football player Brandon McBride said that seeing and hearing fans in the stands encourages him and his teammates. “If the fans are cheering for somebody it gets them to step up,” McBride said.

16 pairs of overalls: $512 25 cans of spray paint: $70 School Spirit: Priceless Over the course of a week, sixteen senior girls spent time in senior Brooklyn Drake’s barn spray painting, stenciling, and glittering what once were white overalls to show their school spirit. “School spirit has been kind of down these last couple years,” senior Katie Lashier said, “so we wanted to bring it back.”

Provided/Paige Plaskitt

It’s every performance that counts, “We, along with the cheerleaders, the students, and the football players, help create the ‘Friday night’ experience,” Band Director Patrick Kearney said.

Katelyn Fritcher

Photos Provided/Molly Ward

“We want everyone to be a part of it. If you are there to sit down, you shouldn’t be in the student section. Go sit with the parents or something.”

What does school spirit look like?

Two guys jumping up and down, screaming

Why so much school spirit?

in skin-tight purple and gold full-body morph

told me to cheer my heart out, so that is what I

morph suits, one in a purple and one in a gold,

Smith, the boy in the purple morph suit

suits. Purchased for $60 each, two guys in

do,” Payne, the boy in the gold morph suit said.

can be seen at football games cheering enthusi-

added, “It is not embarrassing to cheer for your

com, printed across the lower back area.

lieve they work hard on the field so I cheer for

astically, with the place of purchase, morphsuit.

(Right) In the gold… junior Nick Payne (Left) In the purple… junior Andy Smith

Brooklyn Drake

“When I was a young lad, my parents always

team. I love the people at Johnston, and I bethem.”

Provided/Molly Ward

The Varsity girls dance team proforms at the first football game. Members include Alex Cordes, Allie Christ, Amelia Medici, Brianna Demoss, Brittany Faley, Brooke Stephens, Carly Christ, Elin Tegels, Katelyn Lunders, Katherine Gillette, Katie Hermanson, Spencer Vines, Stephanie Vines, Stephanie Phillips, Taylor Coakley, Amanda Judas, Laura Smalley and Kenzie Foldes.

Megan Randolph Katie Lashier

“Why would you go to a football game and not cheer?”

“School spirit is important because people who play football always say that when they hear us it gives them motivation.”

“I think wearing the overalls to school got a lot of people excited to see such a big group of girls get into it. School spirit is important because it brings people together”

the b&w p.8

entertainment

sept 2010

Hardcore Parkour

Junior Lucas Wittman jumps into the hardcore phemomenon sweeping the globe, parkour.

words & layout Evan Culbert At the age of 2, as opposed to teaching him to walk,

junior Lucas Wittman’s parents were focused on finding

ways to keep him from scaling the walls of his crib, and

climbing down the side to freedom. At this age, Wittman had no idea he was technically doing Parkour, much

2.

like he had no idea what the alphabet was. Eventu-

ally a tent-like cover kept him from escaping, but not from climbing everything else, and eventually stumbling upon Parkour.

Hardcore Parkour.

Perhaps the most official and agreed upon defini-

tion of parkour was created by ‘American Parkour,’ the

leading parkour community in the world: “parkour is the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle

1.

within one’s path by adapting one’s movements to the environment.” Parkour movements usually consist of

1. Handspring 3. Wall Run 2. Human Flag 4. Kong Vault

jumping, vaulting, running, climbing, balancing, and in some cases flips.

Wittman had been doing some form of parkour long

“Parkour is getting from point A to point B as efficiently and fluidly as possible using your body and surroundings,” 4. junior Lucas Wittman said.

before he found out there was a name for what he was doing, let alone a world-wide group of parkour activists.

“The first time I found out about parkour and actually

3.

knew there was a name for it, was when watching ‘The

walk up to it to check for handholds and footholds, so I know I

Risk.

they showed videos of actual parkour on the show.”

Gear.

and vaulting, there comes a certain risk factor. Parkour

of videos online, and after that I just went outside and

back. However clothing is important, especially shoes. “You need

erly and cautiously. “You definitely have to be in good

ting the hang of the basics, he has since progressed to

or constricting,” Wittman said. “Shoes are important. There are

Office’,” Wittman said. “They couldn’t really do it, but From there, it was to the Internet. “I watched a bunch

started trying rolls off my deck,” Wittman said. After getparkour movements such as kong-vaults, cat leaps and

front handsprings. Wittman usually does parkour wherever he sees a good spot, like buildings he’s allowed to

climb. “I love trying to get on top of buildings,” Wittman said. “Anytime I want to get on top of a building, I’ll walk

around it and if I see a place that I can get on top, I’ll

can do it.”

Essentially all parkour requires is you and the clothes on your

to be able to move comfortably, without (clothes) being too baggy a lot of things that will make a shoe good for parkour, like lightweight, good grip, and the sole should have just one part.” Wittman owns a pair of ‘Ariakes’ made specifically for parkour by K-Swiss. Although important, shoes don’t determine skill level.

“One kind of rule for parkour is to never blame your shoes if you can’t do something,” Wittman said.

Along with any activity that involves running, jumping,

can be very dangerous, especially if not practiced propshape for parkour, and you need to be athletic,” Wittman

said. “It’s important to just have all around core, leg and arm strength.” Even if you’re a straight up macho man,

the second you act stupid you could wind up in the hospital. “You really have to think things through before you

do you do it,” Wittman said. “I always visualize things in my head before I do them.” So check out the world of parkour, even if you couldn’t stand up at age 2.

MapMyRun.com words & layout Wes Monroe There are several different ways to re-

cord the miles you run so that you can cre-

ate a summary of your workout. Map My Run is a Web site that allows you to do just

that, and more. “I like Map My Run since

its primary purpose is for runners,” senior Drew Jackson said.

Map my run gives you the ability When you enter the site you start by to create your own maps, show- making a personal profile where you iniing the distance and elevation.

tially put your miles, goals and the time it

From there you can add them as friends,

addition to the site compared to other sites

workouts they have posted. Also when us-

took you to complete your routine. one nice is the ability to add people to to a friends

list. You and the people you add as friends have the ability to chat about your workouts,

use their route as your own or browse the

ing this feature you have the chance to look up groups of runners around you.

“The info and tools are very easy to use

share goals, and the routes or routines you

and understand compared to other sites,”

On the front page of the Web site there

to have some fun with your workouts and

have completed.

is an area where you enter your location

and the routes of people near you show up.

Jackson said. Map my run is a good way

daily routines while maybe making a friend or two along the way.

the b&w p.9

fashion

sept 2010

Reused, revamped

Consignment shops sell name brand and vintage clothes at a fraction of their retail price words & layout Spencer Vasey

Repeat Boutique

3913 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines

Repeat Boutique is the best place in Des Moines for used formal wear. They have several racks full of designer

dresses that have only been worn once or twice. All of the dresses are marked down to a small percentage of their full retail price. Repeat Botique also offers several hun-

dred pairs of pants and tops, along with a full selection of designer purses, belts, and shoes.

Worn

835 42nd St. Des Moines

Worn shies away from the typical consignment shop “mall brands” to offer higher quality clothes at a much lower

price. They specialize in high-quality denim brands such as True Religon and Rock & Republic. They also sell

many designer brands of purses, shoes, and other accessories.

Dorothea’s Closet

1733 Grand Ave. Des Moines

Dorthea’s Closet is all about vintage. They buy from

sellers all over the world to provide the best selection of

vintage clothes in the Des Moines area. Dorthea’s Closet sells everything from 1920s flapper dresses to 1980s red

leather jackets. But beware, because of their vintage quality, the clothing here can get expensive. Most pieces sell for around $100.

How to sell consignment Clean out your closet If you have not worn an item of

1

clothing in the past six months

it is probably time to give it up.

Choose a store

Sell

Different consignment shops

have different styles, so make

2

sure the clothes that you want to sell are consistent with the

store you are trying to sell to.

Most consignment shops accept walk-ins, but some require an

Make Money If you accept the offer, the

appointment, so call ahead first.

store will usually pay you in

will look over your clothes and

stores wait and pay you a

them to be sold in the store.

clothes sell.

3

4

When you arrive, the owner

cash for your clothes. Some

make you an offer, or accept

percentage of sales if your

the b&w p.10

sept 2010

One

feature

of a

words Lauren Coffey layout Micheal Knoedel

kind

As the day begins, students arrive

to school in all different ways. Most

he has had a few setbacks. “I actu-

off the bus, and a few exercise enthu-

surprising, because I haven’t fallen in

siasts pedal up to the bike rack. Senior Quico Ellsworth chooses to take

an entirely new mode of transporta-

bunch of cars, which is always great.”

One time, Ellsworth even got

said. “It was on a complete whim.”

I looked around, didn’t see any other

don’t have a parking pass this year,” Ellsworth said. “I didn’t want to be the

loser senior riding the bus, so I ride my unicycle.”

He started the hobby on a complete

whim. “I just wanted to do it,” Ellsworth

said. “I guess my parents were supportive, they got it for me for my birth-

day present.” He said that learning

ing, and I heard sirens all of a sudden.

cars, so I pulled over to the side,” Ells-

worth said. “He asked if my unicycle was street legal and I’m like ‘I don’t

know, isn’t that your job to know?’ He kind of grunted and said to get off the

road. As soon as he drove away I just

got on the road again. He gave me a warning, like I’m ever going to get pulled over again.”

Ellsworth plans on riding his uni-

how to ride is not as easy as it looks.

cycle every day to school. “The only

Ellsworth said. “My basement was get-

and ice,” Ellsworth said. “Sometimes

“It took me about a month to learn,”

ting redone, so I used the boards on the wall to pull myself along.”

He has been riding since he was in

seventh grade, and uses it as his main mode of transportation. “The most I’ve

Ellsworth hopes to become a part of the “Gallon Club”. He donates a liter of blood or two every few months.

It adds up to donating a gallon over his high school career. “I figured to do it for the sake of doing it, like everything else I do.”

over a year. Plus, it was in front of a

‘pulled over’ on his unicycle. “I was rid-

“I didn’t have a car last year, and

After his brothers left for college, Ellsworth decided to take advantage of the situation. “I just fall asleep in whatever room is closest to me. I cycle through the rooms when I get bored,” Ellsworth said.

ally fell today,” Ellsworth said. “It was

tion: a unicycle. “I just decided one day that I wanted to learn,” Ellsworth

“I have this bottle of hot sauce with the hottest peppers in the world called Ghost Peppers.

“This kid didn’t think it was that hot and he put a bunch of it on his food.

I felt kinda bad, his face turned all red and started quivering. I was just like, ‘Oops, my bad.’”

While Ellsworth is skilled at riding,

have the luxury of coming in cars at whatever time they please. Some file

Quico’s Quirks

know how to do it right away.”

ever ridden is 10 miles, which was

hell,” Ellsworth said. “I tried to go to my

brother’s new place, but I couldn’t find

time I won’t ride is in thunderstorms I’ll text while I ride.” Once, Ellsworth

almost caused a car accident. “This

guy was driving and just glaring at me,” Ellsworth said. “The car in front of him stopped, and the guy swerved

a little and slammed on his brakes. He just barely missed him.”

Ellsworth plans to ride his unicycle

it so I just kept going until I had to call

while in college as well. It’s definitely

The only person that Ellsworth has

portation, he isn’t interested in using

and have him pick me up.”

tried to teach how to ride is his brother,

Charles. “I’m not patient enough to teach,” Ellsworth said. “He got to go a couple of feet, but I get frustrated explaining things. I just want them to

convenient,” he said. Besides transhis unicycle for anything else. “Maybe I’ll be in a carnival or parade once, just to say I did it,” he said. “I don’t mind

being that guy who rides a unicycle. I have pride in being different.”

the b&w p.11

sept 2010

sports

Staph infection strikes fall sports words & layout

Ethan Meng

Recent cases of Staph infection in fall sports have forced

the school to take steps to prevent the further spread of the bacteria.

“I think initially once it was determined that there was

some Staph infection the biggest thing first was commu-

nication from our nurse, trainer, and the coaches on the steps that we needed to do to prevent it from spreading,” Athletic Director Gary Ross said. “That included things like

not sharing your equipment and if you suspect that you may be getting it, go to the doctor and get checked out.”

Staphylococcus aureus, better known as Staph infec-

tion is a group of bacteria that presents itself as a rash or a boil on the skin. Staph generally causes minor skin infections but it can become more serious if the bacteria enter the bloodstream.

It can be transmitted from one person to another by

physical contact as well as sharing equipment. The school’s

Michael Knoedal/ BW

Coach Rick Brooks cleans the volleyballs after practice to help prevent the spread of Staph infection.

reaction to the cases of Staph was to get it taken care of

had already been treated by the students’ physicians.

examined by his doctor. He was given Doxycycl hyc and

red lines begin to appear, it is important to seek medical

school as well as those who participate in sports. “I think I

symptoms and resulted in the treatment of the infection.

“I make sure that if a student is here in school that the in-

start off the season with,” Junior Tyler McCormick said. “I

95,000 people had Staph in 2005. Just five years ago, this

really bad.”

amoxicillin. Now a new type of type of Staph called me-

as fast as possible. If the infection becomes inflamed or attention immediately.

fection is covered and they don’t participate in sports where

it could be rubbed off on another student,” school nurse Susan Krebs said.

Krebs said that by the beginning of the year most cases

Full-court Press x

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By: RyAN SMAHA Instant replay not an option for baseball, a must

Staph infection has affected students throughout the

got it from my [football] equipment, it wasn’t very clean to had it across my back all the way down my arm, and it hurt

McCormick had begun to notice blisters appearing on

his arm near the begining of the school year which he had

manager Jim Leyland used his replay challenge to reverse the call and save the perfect game for Galarraga.

If only this were the case.

What actually happened was Joyce called the runner

safe, which effectively ruined Galarraga’s perfect game.

The fact that we still rely on the umpires’ eyes to determine

According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly

infection could have been treated by an antibiotic called

thicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is beginning to infect more people in community settings.

slow down the game. The average game in the MLB lasts roughly two hours and 50 minutes, and if every close call

were to be reviewed by replay, the games would take much

longer, considering an NFL replay can take anywhere from two to five minutes.

However, the reason baseball hasn’t utilized replay

close plays, while we clearly have the technology to prove

throughout its history is that the technology to review close

have a computer. It still gets the job done, but you‘re just

is the only major American sport to not use replay. Even

that all calls aren’t right, is like using a typewriter when we scratching the surface of technology’s potential.

A recent study by ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” in which

a two-week period of games were studied to determine

how many calls were correct, showed that on average, an

umpire misses 20 percent of close calls. That means that

On June 2, it looked as if 28-year-old Armando Galar-

every five close plays, one is called incorrectly. Two years

season. He rolled through the Cleveland Indians lineup for

only. However, as umpires missed big call after big call, the

raga was going to pitch baseball’s third perfect game this

ago, the MLB started to use replay to review home runs

eight and two-thirds innings, and Jason Donald came up

clamor for expanded use of instant replay has grown.

Donald grounded the ball to first-baseman Miguel Cabrera,

MLB is rich in tradition, and the human element of the game

base. The ball seemed to beat the runner by a split second,

lem for baseball’s “traditionalists” is that the average MLB

to bat, Cleveland’s last chance to end the perfect game.

mupirocin ointment for two weeks, which alleviated his

Experts against adding replay to baseball say that the

who flipped the ball to Galarraga, who was covering first

is what adds to the controversy. Another possible prob-

but first base umpire Jim Joyce called Donald safe. Tigers’

game is long enough, and that adding replay would only

calls wasn’t available until the past decade or so. The MLB college football, America’s most tradition-oriented sport (especially since they still believe the BCS is the best way to determine a champion) uses replay. I’m not suggesting

we review every close call. Instead, baseball should give

each manager one replay a game that he may use on a safe/out call or a fair/foul call, but not on ball/strike calls,

because that would eliminate the need for pitchers to prepare for the umpire’s unique strike zone and give pitchers a huge advantage over hitters. This system would be a lot

like the NFL uses. And that would add maybe, at the most, one minute to the overall time of the game.

Maybe then Armando Galarraga could be remembered

for his perfect game, and not the most famous one-hitter in baseball history.

the b&w p.12

backpage

sept 2010

Rolling out the red carpet for Johnston alumni What’s all the talk about? Dresses, dancing, and dates…It’s homecoming!

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Junior Amelia Medici asked her boyfriend, Johnston graduate Ryan Betters, to

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come back to high school and go to the homecoming dance.

Why would a college student want to come to high school after experiencing

the freedoms of college?

“Well I missed a lot of high school dances because of hockey, so when Ame-

lia asked me to homecoming I really wanted to go,” Betters said. “Going with

Amelia will make the night really special and I’m probably more excited than her to be honest. I think it’ll be a good time and I want to see all my high school friends and hang out with them.”

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College student Jeremy Mullen was also asked by his girlfriend, senior Bri-

ana Wengert. “It wasn’t really about me wanting to go to homecoming it was

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more about just doing what she thought was the best way to have her senior year,” Mullen said. “If she wanted to go with someone else I would be fine with that too but if she wanted to go with me and thought I’d be the most fun then I was all for it.”

Mullen is more excited to spend time with Wengert than to actually go to

homecoming. “To me homecoming will probably just be like a date with her, only with a lot of people and a dance break in the middle,” Mullen said. But I’m still excited to shake what my momma gave me.”

Ryan Betters and Amelia Medici

HOMECOMING? Provided/Medici

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Jeremy Mullen and Briana Wengert

“We were painting these boxes to store our letters in that we write each other when we’re apart and I took the lid for his box and wrote homecoming on the inside of it. So when I sent him his first letter he had opened the box and saw homecoming. And of course, he said yes!” -senior Briana Wengert

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Jimmy Siebert and Maddie Kreamer “I used goldfish to ask Maddie to homecoming. I just wanted to ask her in a way that wasn’t over a text. I went to her house and set a little bowl of a bunch of yellow fishy crackers on her front porch and a note that said ‘Out of all the fish in the sea I choose you. Will you go to homecoming with me’ Then she was calling me and I just walked around the corner and said ‘hey!’’’ -senior Jimmy Siebert

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Kensie Noble and Trevor Haden “I asked him to homecoming by sending mail to his apartment everyday and in each envelope would be a letter, [to spell out homecoming] Some days he may get two or three envelopes though while some he may only get one. It’s just whenever I put them in his drop box. Then the last day he gets a package with a question mark, candy and a note from me.”

- junior Kensie Noble

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Ryan Kitchen and Maddie Kleve

“We were hanging out at his house on Saturday (Aug. 28) and when we were hanging out he got my keys and he put one of those stuffed animals that you make at build a bear in the driver’s seat of my car. I found it when I went to leave and it had a bracelet of roses and was holding a little heart and it said, ‘homecoming?’” -junior Maddie Kleve

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Isabella Eng

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Andrew Schneider and Taylor Mithelman “Andrew asked me on Aug. 28. He gave my mom a little stuffed animal puppy dog with balloons tied around it. Inside the balloons there was a note asking me to homecoming. My mom put it on my bed and I found it later and popped the balloons to find the note that said, ‘homecoming?’” -junior Taylor Mithelman

Amelia Medici and Ryan Betters “Well, Ryan was in Kansas City for a concert and his car was at his house, so me and some of my friends bought a ton of balloons and took them to his car, blew them all up, and wrote messages on all of them saying, ‘homecoming? :)’ and stuff like that. Then we filled his entire car with balloons, like literally entirely full. After that we used window markers to draw pictures on his car.” -junior Amelia Medici

compiled by Isabella Engblom, Alexa Anderson and Ethan Meng