Torch December 17, 2010

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 44, Issue 4 -

“THE TORCH HAS BEEN PASSED TO A NEW GENERATION” - John F. KEnnedy

December 17, 2010

graphic by Rachel Gilman

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JFK Torch

News

December 17, 2010

Page by Darcey Altschwager

Sal comes to Kennedy

Photo by Jessica Rowan Laughing along. Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta laughs as he tells stories of his days at Kennedy High School.

Photo by Darcey Altschwager Key to the city. Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta accepts the key to the City of Hiawatha from mayor Tom Theis. He is the only person ever to receive a key.

Photo by Jessica Rowan Part of the team. Varsity girls basketball players laugh along with Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta as he tells of his adventures in high school.

Photo by Darcey Altschwager A warm greeting. Emily Feltes, fr., holds up a sign welcoming Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta home at the parade held in Hiawatha.

Torch staff receives exclusive interview with Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta After countless interviews, talk shows, stuffy luncheons, and traveling around the world, Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta returned to Kennedy to relive memories and revisit where it all started.

“Its crazy I mean I know where it’s at and everything but it’s been a long time. I haven’t been back since 2003 so seven years,” Giunta said while walking around the halls once again at Kennedy High School. “I still remember the gym. It’s the library that I have trouble finding,” Giunta said.

While at Kennedy, Giunta was involved in football his freshmen and sophomore year, and had a role in the play “The Outsiders.” Giunta was also involved in a few fun pranks.

“I remember one time Mrs. Bradley, who taught Algebra, she was tough, would spend forever helping me.” One night while Bradley and Giunta were at school late into the night working on math, Giunta took Bradley’s shoes from under her desk and proceeded to hide them around her room.

He also took the mouse ball out of her mouse. “I didn’t tell her about it till the next day.

She started complaining that someone took her mouse ball,” Giunta said.

During his senior year, Giunta did not know if he wanted to continue on to college. “I did not have a plan and I did not necessarily want to go to college,” Giunta said. After

going to listen to a recruiter for the army, Giunta decided that the army would be the right fit for him after high school.

Now that Giunta has received the Medal of Honor, his life has completely changed.

“There is about 100 cameras everywhere and no matter where you turn there is always someone watching you so you fake a sneeze to itch your nose so no thinks you are picking it,” Giunta said.

The one thing that Giunta hates the most is that people are constantly popping his personal bubble. He has been in countless interviews but they are getting easier as time goes on. “The question that I think is the most difficult is when they want me to walk through in detail what happened on the night of the attack. That’s a sore subject in my mind. I lost two good friends that night, it was a really rough time. That’s like a nightmare in itself.”

Giunta said.

Giunta enjoys being asked any question that allows him to talk about the other guys in the infantry because he can talk about the other people that were also involved during the night of the attack and not just himself.

Giunta was only in town for a short time over Thanksgiving break, but he enjoyed seeing his family and friends. “It feels great to be back home.” darcey altschwager

Photo by Darcey Altschwager Waving goodbye. Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta and wife Jenn ride by on a fire truck during the parade in Hiawatha held in honor of Giunta’s award.

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December 17, 2010

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Students host party for staff kids

Photo by Asmaa Elkeurti Wish list. Patience Quick accepts her gift from Santa during the staff Christmas party. Kids were able to color, decorate cookies , play games, and watch the dance team perform at the party.

Student government hosts a Christmas party every year as a way to say thank you to the teachers. The party is a good way for the kids of Kennedy staff members to have a fun time with their families and other staff.

Joe Benedict, student government advisor, said, “The students enjoy it [the Christmas party]. I think the teachers appreciate the opportunity to bring their kids.”

The students involved in student government have been hosting the Christmas party for at least thirty years.

Chase Sullivan, vice president of student government, says that it’s a great way to spread Christmas cheer. This is his fourth year helping with the party. His favorite part is when the kids get to meet Santa. “My favorite moment is seeing the vibrant faces of the children,” Sullivan said.

The kids enjoy decorating cookies, coloring pictures, playing pin the nose on Rudolph, and meeting Santa Claus. Braden Hoyer, 7, asked Santa Claus for an Xbox 360 and some games to go with it.

Hoyer said it was his third time attending the Christmas party. This year he received a football from Santa. When

Photo by Asmaa Elkeurti Little Picasso. Peyton Hoyer colors a picture of Rudolph at the staff kids Christmas party. asked if he had decorated a cookie yet he said, “I’m making one and it’s probably going to taste good.”

They also get to see a preview of the dance team performing their “Christmas Kick” routine. Charity Quick is ten years old and is the niece of George Anderson. She said, “I counted thirty kicks [in the ‘Christmas Kick’ routine]. I started counting after the second kick.”

After the dance team performed, the kids were able to

see Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

Santa gave a gift to each child and told the children that the elves had made the gifts especially for them. Quick received a flower magnet decorating kit from Santa. She said that it was something she had asked for because she really liked to paint.

Grace King

Retirement incentives reward age, longevity As 2011 rolls around, it is decision-making time for some teachers. Retirement, or the conclusion of a person’s long-term career, can be declared for personal reasons, but for most, their retirement is based on incentives.

Dr. Mary Wilcynski, principal, revealed that our school district uses the rule of eighty-eight to decide who gets incentives. The teacher must be at least fifty-five years old and they have had to have worked in the school district for at least thirty-three years. If the descriptions do not apply to them specifically, they do not qualify to get any incentives.

If the teacher has all the qualifications, they get a $25,000 buy-out, health benefits and money for any unused sick leaves. To retire, teachers need to send a letter to Human Resources by Jan. 10.

Spanish teacher David Schmidt has decided to retire after twelve great years. “It is time,” said Schmidt when asked why he was retiring.

Since he has only worked here for twelve years

he does not get any incentives, a fact that he fully understands.

When asked if he thought it was unfair that he would not get any incentives, he said, “Unfair is not the right word. It would be nice, but I know the rules.” He said he learned more than his students during his years teaching.

Schmidt’s favorite thing about his job has been the students. He said that he will be sad when he leaves.

Schmidt’s last day is on July 3 if we do not have any snow days. When asked if he would visit, he replied, “I hope so.” He might substitute later, but not in Cedar Rapids. “I live far enough away that it would be impractical,” Schmidt said.

After retirement, he plans to enjoy life on the farm. “It has been a good run,” Schmidt said. He does not have any advice for other teachers planning on retiring soon. “Ask me in a year if I survive retirement.” nicole lindo

Photo by Hanna Krivit Going through the motions. David Schmidt teaches his AP Spanish class. Schmidt will be retiring this year but will not receive incentives because he does not meet the requirements.

Torch staffers describe their first impressions of Medal of Honor Recipient Sal Giunta and what he means to Kennedy and Hiawatha

T

he first time I ever talked to Sal Giunta was over the phone. I was so nervous that I kept messing up my words, probably coming off as a babbling idiot. He agreed to participate in an exclusive Torch interview.

After I finished my conversation with Sal I had less then one hour to get everything set up and ready to go at Kennedy. Once I arrived at school, I quickly learned that news of Sal coming to Kennedy had spread quickly.

Teachers and coaches were also waiting in the parking lot to get a chance to shake hands with a national hero.

When Sal’s car came around the horseshoe, my heart started racing and my hands started to sweat. I probably wiped my hand about five times on my jeans before I shook his. But to my surprise, Sal was one of the most laid back people I have ever met. He came to the interview alone, finally glad that he had some time

to himself, dressed in jeans and a North Face jacket and not having shaved in a few days.

While standing next to Sal I kept thinking, “Oh my God. I am standing next to a national hero that shook hands with Obama and what not.” However, those thoughts kept leaving my mind because of Sal’s personality. He was so relaxed and funny that I felt like I was talking to a long lost friend.

After Sal was introduced to all of the teachers and coaches that were waiting for him, we were finally able to start our interview.

Walking around Kennedy with Sal is something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I got to hear first hand what it was like for him being a student at Kennedy and some of the crazy shenanigans that he got himself into.

DARCEY ALTSCHWAGER

M

y first encounter with a national hero was unlike anything I could have imagined. Sal Giunta was the complete opposite of my expectations.

Initially, I pictured somebody like John Mayer walking through the doors, sporting an outfit that his wardrobe person picked out, and not giving a care in the world about my fellow Torchies or me. He’d sit there, stare at us with a blank expression. Occasionally he’d tap his fingers impatiently and check the clock, knowing he had more important things to do rather than be friendly to us and wait on the world to change.

Giunta, being no conceited Mr. Mayer, rolled up to his interview in a button-up blue shirt, jeans, and a smile. Throughout his interview, I discovered that Giunta was a down-to-earth guy who didn’t see himself as famous. He gave off a warm vibe, and actually put thought into what he said. Throughout the interview I began to notice that Giunta

had a great sense of humor. He turned out to be an average guy, sharing the same feelings and experiences as anyone else in the universe would.

Giunta, in my book, is someone that everyone should strive to be like as they grow up. He put his life on the line to provide his country with a better future. After receiving the Medal of Honor, he didn’t let his fame get the best of him. He keeps his mind set on more important things and keeps his head held high. He is one of the most well-rounded, highly respected individuals to ever come from Hiawatha. If you ever happen to run into Giunta at some point in time, the two most important things to remember are: 1.) Introduce yourself and smile. Though it may sound simple, it can easily be forgotten.

2.) Thank him and shake his hand just like Obama did.

Jessica Rowan

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December 17, 2010

Page by darcey altschwager

Slow internet causes frustration While you were doing a research project or browsing YouTube when you shouldn’t be during computer time that your teacher had lined up you may have noticed that the internet has been incredibly slow.

The reason that the internet has been slow lately is due to the large load and stress on the district’s bandwidth. Bandwidth is an amount of consumed or available data that can be used in electronics and communication networks, such as the internet. The district has been limited to amount of bandwidth they currently have which is causing the internet to go slow.

“It makes me mad that the internet has become so slow, teachers will expect us to have something done by a certain time and it’ll take a page two minutes to load and that’s two minutes wasted that could be spent doing something else,” Nick Roosa, so., said.

The amount of bandwidth has becoming limited due to the increased usage of web sites and resources that are available to everyone online. Earlier this fall, 80% of the district’s total bandwidth was being used which caused the network to run very slowly. Webvsites such as: YouTube, Pandora, Napster, Rhapsody, Hulu, Netflix, and Blockbuster take up a large portion of bandwidth and cause the internet to run sluggishly and programs to load slowly .

“Until a larger fiber optic network can be installed the main solution at this time is for everyone to limit their usage of watching YouTube videos, and streaming music for only

Photo by Michael Nordstrom Wasted. Nick Roosa, so., wastes his time waiting for the school internet to load. The school’s internet has become increasingly because of sites such as YouTube and Pandora. school related purposes,” Deb Baber, technology facilitator, said. Along with limiting use of music and video streaming websites, the district is asking to only download and upload large files if needed. Staying connected

Korea split by war

Gun threat at Prairie High School Following a rumor previously circulated around Prairie High School that supposedly there would be a shooting in the cafeteria on Dec. 1, school administrators say that the school is completely safe and students have no need to worry. They say that the students who started this rumor have been caught and punishment is being decided.

The rumor started on Facebook and quickly spread, causing 40% of Prairie High School students to appear absent on the first. The shooting was allegedly scheduled to happen during C lunch. It was said that Prairie was going to be the next Colmbine. There were many debates on the Prairie Facebook page as to whether the shooting would actually happen.

“I first heard about the rumor Monday or Tuesday at lunch but prior jokes were going around about a gang.” Said Prairie senior, Austin Plotz. “I wasn’t worried, I had had my digital camera set to video in my pocket partly as a joke, but maybe to catch a fight, I never thought there would be a shooting.”

According to students on the Prairie Facebook page, they heard that the shooting

to websites that maintain an active connection, including those that refresh regularly and have video feeds such as CNN or ESPN also use bandwidth and should be limited.

The district and the City of Cedar Rapids

Photo by Katie Hefflefinger Prairie scare. After rumors of a possible shooting at Prairie High School were spread on Facebook, 40% of students stayed home. was going to be an open fire and was not directed at any specific person. KCRG recently reported that authorities have been staying at Prairie for a couple of hours each day, monitoring the school very closely. amy brause

Since the Korean War, there has been an on- that divides North Korea and South Korea are going battle between South Korea and North demonstrated everyday. On the South Korean Korea. side, United States troops are stationed along The ongoing feud between the two sides with South could have potential implications on the Korean troops, and they intensely eye down United States.

North Korean troops on the opposite side.

Problems between the two From that small line that divides Koreas originate from the harsh them, drastic differences can be rule of Korea by Japan. After seen.

Japan was defeated in World “South Korea is thriving ecoWar II, Korea was divided in nomically and politically as a deNorth Korea two. The upper half was influmocracy and is modernized. enced by the Soviets and the However, the North suffers lower, by the United States. In under oppressive dictatorship 1950, South Korea was attacked backed by a military that reby a communist North Korea. ceived special perks from the This led the United States to leader Kim Jong II”, Hendryx South Korea intervene, due to the fact that said there was a United Nations orSouth Korea and the Unites der to defend States troops would be affected South Korea, and keep comthe most if North Korea atGraphic by Rachel Gilman tacked the South. However, the munism from spreading.

“Though an armistice ended the fighting, entire region would feel the aftershock of a technically the war is still going on because no nuclear North Korea. actual peace treaty was signed. North Korea A nuclear attack could potentially happen and South Korea have periodically engaged in anywhere, and if a nation like North Korea diplomatic talks over reunification, but talks uses its weapons other countries could follow. never last long,” said Kennedy social studies Grant Sheeley teacher, Stephanie Hendryx.

Tensions over the disputed 38th parallel

Kennedy provides home for retired counselor

Photo by Tyler Marsceau Lending a helping hand. Counselor Dave Coates came out of retirement after five years to become a counselor at Kennedy.

are looking to construct a fiber optic communication network which would increase the bandwidth and ultimately in time make the networks internet run faster.

Along with the new bandwidth, the talk of wireless internet throughout the school has become a question. The possibility of the district going completely wireless throughout the school is very unlikely.

“With the size of our district and amount of computers we have, going to a strictly wireless internet for such a big network is not feasible with the number of desktops that are throughout the buildings,” Baber said. The district will be installing a wireless network at Kennedy early next year in addition to our wired network. Because Kennedy can not rely on just wireless internet, the wired network will still be used.

As for now the district has blocked Pandora radio to help alleviate the level of bandwidth being used. If the percentage of bandwidth usage doesn’t decrease, websites such as YouTube may need blocked to help improve the load on the bandwidth.

“Everybody can do their part by limiting their usage of watching YouTube and streaming videos and music for things that are only school related. By everybody doing their part, this will help the whole network run more efficiently,” Baber said. mohammad cheetany

Dave Coates, the newest counselor at Kennedy, taking place of Tom Srp, has worked in the Cedar Rapids Schools District since 1970. After being retired for the past five years, Coates has decided to come out of retirement to start his first job at Kennedy.

“My main goal is to help other counselors in the department,” Coates said.

Coates started working at Kennedy in the middle of November as the new counselor for 10th-12th graders with last names starting with letters A-E. Even though Coates is new to Kennedy, he is not new to being a counselor.

Coates, who grew up in Illinois, has previously taught science and P.E. in Tiskilwa, Illinois.

He was an admissions counselor at Illinois Wesleyan University, a counselor at Nixon Elementary, and a counselor at Washington High School. Coates has also been a crosscountry coach for 31 years.

Coates, who has a Masters Degree in

Counseling, enjoys being a counselor each day brings new challenges, which is both a positive and a negative. While Coates was an admissions counselor, he started to learn more about counseling and thought it would benefit him by taking on a wider range of counseling, so he decided to get his degree.

“I enjoy their enthusiasm. I enjoy being part of the process to meet their goals,” Coates said commenting about why he enjoys working with young people.

In his free time, Coates also enjoys gardening and yard work. “I also like to run and spend time with family,” Coates said.

Though being retired, something about working at Kennedy sparked Coates interest.

Coates has had very good first impressions of Kennedy. According to him, Kennedy has hard working students and a helpful and friendly staff that made his first days much easier.

Alli Nemecek

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december 17, 2010

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Senior plays his way to top

photo by Asmaa Elkeurti Music Man. Tait Madsen, sr., practices his trombone every day in hopes of attending the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City. Madsen has been playing the trombone since sixth grade.

Club reaches new heights

Everyone has heard of the prestigious academic schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. But when it comes to preparing young musicians, no school can match The Juilliard School in New York City. Tait Madsen, sr., has applied to Juilliard and has been offered an audition with the school.

Madsen is a down to earth student with a rather ordinary musical start. The reasoning behind Madsen’s decision to join band was, “It was either that or singing.” When it came to deciding which instrument to play for his middle school band, Tait didn’t have a major epiphany to help with his decision. He simply chose the trombone because it was what he had at home. “My dad played the trombone,” said Tait, so he did too, and from that moment it’s been really nothing ordinary at all.

In middle school, Tait took lessons from his father to help him get better at trombone.

Madsen also supplemented his lessons with 45 minutes of practice a day. “Practice time is a time to develop habits that can carry through in the most stressful moments,” Madsen said. In 6th grade he rose to the top of the

Student creates club based on Harry Potter’s quidditch game fields around Kennedy. It will meet once a week for intense games. As of right now, Feltes isn’t sure when the club will meet, but he hopes it will be sometime soon.

Ben Feltes, jr.

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Quidditch club won’t only be a sport for kids to play, it will be an escape to the world of witchcraft and wizardry.

”

-Ben Feltes, jr.

“I think there is enough interest about Harry Potter for people to join, but I will also go on the announcements,” said Feltes. “Quidditch club won’t only be a sport for kids to play, it will be an escape to the world of witchcraft and wizardry.” He believes there will be both positive and negative feedback from the club.

However, those who have read the series or watched the movies will enjoy playing.

One of the club’s biggest issues is the absence of a sponsor. When Feltes was asked about whether or not he had a sponsor he replied, “I don’t.

I’m hoping this article will stir up some interest about sponsorship.”

Grant Sheeley

Rules of Play 2 chasers 2 beaters 1 keeper 1 seeker 30 points for snitch 10 points for normal goal 1 quaffle 2 bludgers 1 snitch

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Grab your broomsticks and head out to the field, but don’t forget the golden snitch, or in this case a tennis ball. It’s the latest and greatest club that Kennedy has to offer. Ben Feltes, jr., is starting a quidditch club for all avid Harry Potter fans, or those who just love to play the sport.

Feltes got the idea from his sister, who plays the sport at college. He was also inspired by the Harry Potter series.

When asked how close it will be to the real Harry Potter quidditch, he replied, “In a nutshell, there are six players on each team; two chasers, two beaters, a keeper, and a seeker. The chasers try to throw a ball through one of three hoops to score ten points. The beaters defend the chasers by throwing volleyball type balls at the opponent’s chasers. The keeper tries to keep the balls from entering the ring. The game is over when the snitch, worth thirty points, is caught by the seeker. The team with the most points wins.”

Throughout the game, a player rides a broom. There are four balls; the quaffle (volleyball), two bludgers (dodge balls), and a snitch (tennis ball).

Games will be played in the gym or after the snow leaves, out on one of the various

trombone section, earning 1st chair. Because of his early musical prowess, he was able to help other musicians get better. “During one trimester, in the 7th grade, I taught another student to play trombone,” Madsen said.

He was invited to the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band and then auditioned for the Iowa bandmasters association. “I learned a lot from those directors of those bands. They inspired confidence in me,” Madsen said.

Madsen reached the top level of middle school band.

Playing in high school, however, was a different experience. “The band was smaller, so there were fewer mistakes,” Madsen said. As a freshman, he was second chair in Kennedy’s top ensemble.

In high school, Madsen continued to take private lessons with a new teacher who helped him continuously improve. “She has a masters degree in trombone, and is an active player in the music scene,” Madsen said. He supplemented his lessons with an hour of practice a day, as compared to the 45 minutes he practiced in middle school.

“She taught me to practice

more efficiently,­­­­” Madsen said. His hard work paid off.

Madsen was named to the AllState Band senior year.

Madsen wants to continue honing his musical talent in college. “I have applied to Juilliard, Northwestern University, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, and DePaul University,” Madsen said. Although all of these colleges have prestigious music programs, Madsen’s top choices are Julliard, Eastman, and Northwestern. The application process at Julliard consists mainly of a musical audition, for which Madsen has been practicing for months.

“I’m working more intensively on specific pieces; getting each piece to an outstanding level,” Madsen said.

Despite Madsen’s hard work, getting into these schools will not be easy. “If I’m lucky, there are fifteen bass trombone spots available, and I don’t know how many people will apply from all over the world. My chances are slim,” Madsen said.

Although Madsen’s backup plan is to pursue an engineering education, “[I will keep playing trombone] until I die.”

Zack Goodall

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Lending a helping hand The holidays are time for family, friends, shopping for presents, and helping others.

Volunteering brings out the best in people and joy to those who need it during the holiday season. Whether it is bell ringing for the Salvation Army, donating toys and clothing to the Angel Tree programs, or serving food at the local soup kitchens, people are bringing joy to families who need it.

Students at Kennedy are going above and beyond this holiday season. Student Government is contributing in big ways.

Already, they have adopted 15 families and are bell ringing on two Saturdays during the holiday season.

One of the students at Kennedy who is going above and beyond with volunteering is the president of Student Government, Amy Hanson, sr. During this holiday season, Amy is volunteering at all kinds of places.

“I volunteer at St. Luke’s all year round, but as far as Student Government is

concerned we do a lot of stuff around school.

This includes a staff Christmas party and ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. I did that last Saturday,” Hanson said.

Giving her time to help other people is what Hanson believes volunteering is. It is not just shopping for families, but helping bring them a merrier holiday season. “I am going shopping this weekend for more families, so it is not really volunteering at places, more so just giving your time to basically handle Christmas for other people,” Hanson said.

What brings Hanson joy is giving to people who she knows will need it. “The best part of volunteering is probably knowing that you’re giving people something they can’t get on their own, at least around Christmas time,” Hanson said.

Another student who is going above and beyond with volunteering this holiday season is Shauna Happel, sr. Being the treasurer of Student Government, Happel gets to deliver the gifts to families that they adopt. “The best part is getting to see how your actions impact other people. We especially get to see that during the holiday

season because we get to deliver the gifts,” Happel said.

Every year, Student Government adopts families to help them celebrate Christmas by providing them with gifts they cannot afford.

Buying the gifts for the families might cost a lot, but that won’t be a problem this year. “We have a business donor that is anonymous and over the past few years they have liked what we have been doing and so they have donaned money to us. This year they have donated $7,000 dollars so we’ve got a fair set to shop with,” Happel said.

“

I just like helping other people. The look on their face and the reaction that they have after you help them are rewarding.

”

-Jon Chadick, jr.

jr.. Instead of shopping for gifts and bell ringing, Chadick is helping out at the Multiple Sclerosis Society. “I worked around the school with Student Government. I did that last year and I help with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society,” Chadick said.

Helping other people is what Chadick likes about volunteering. “I just like helping other people. The look on their face and the reaction that they have after you help them are rewarding,” Chadick said.

Bringing joy to the lives of others is what volunteering is all about. Just bringing a smile to someone else who needs it is one of the best feelings in the world. Being a part of Student Government, volunteering at the Salvation Army or any other charitable organization around Cedar Rapids, are great ways to give your time to the community. Giving your time to help someone in need will bring joy to their life and your own.

J o r d a n Calef

Another student who is volunteering a lot this holiday season is Jon Chadick,

Three steps to charity graphic by Rachel Gilman

1

Get 8-9 people together who you would like to volunteer with.

2

Call St. Matthews church and ask to speak with Marianne Riester about Green Square Meals.

3

On your day to volunteer go to 605 2nd Ave. SE at 4:30 to start volunteering. information gathered by Spencer Grekoff photos by Jessica Rowan

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September 24, 2010

Dancing to her own beat Tap, ballet, lyrical, jazz, pom, hip-hop, jammers- you name it, she does it.

Emily Pei, sr., has been dancing since the tender age of three. Starting out at Cherie’s Dance Studio, she danced at the competitive studio until sixth grade, when she joined her middle school show choir, FLAPCO. Since coming to Kennedy, she has become a successful member of the Varsity Dance Team and Happiness, Inc. It is an intense schedule, and a huge commitment to be enrolled in both, but to Pei, the hard work is worth it. With only twenty-four hours in a day, dancing and school have kept her busy, teaching her how to manage her time well.

“Dance Team’s schedule is pretty tough,” Pei said.

With less than a month of what most would call off-season time, the Dance Team’s schedule is pretty rough.

Throughout the entire summer, dance team members practice three to four times a week, much like the two to three practices they have a week during the school year.

Practices usually range from

two and a half to three hours, depending on how close the team is to an upcoming competition.

Dance has always been a big part of Pei’s life. It has given her a sense of confidence from having to dance in front of large audiences. Dance team has given Pei something special to belong in, gaining many great friends from it. It has given her once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like getting to dance at Nationals in Disney World.

“The hardest thing about dancing, to me, is the effort.

Most people would not believe how effortless we try to make it seem,” Pei said. “Every time we have an intense practice, the next day we [the dance team] all talk about how sore we are and how it hurts just to walk up the stairs.”

Dancing as much as Pei does, homework and dance together tend to create mental and emotional stress. It’s challenging to get all of her homework done on top of the school nights that consist of Dance Team and Happiness back to back.

Pei does not plan to go to

college based on her dancing, but is probably going to try out for a college dance team to meet new people. She most likely is not going to pursue a career in dancing, saying that “My limbs would fall off before I was 30 from all the stress and work I’d have to put in!”

Even when things get tough, Pei said that the longest she usually thinks about quitting is for a day, until she comes to her senses and realizes that yes, it’s hard and it does take effort, but pain goes away. It’s not worth throwing away everything just because she feels tired.

After all, Pei would be extremely bored without it!

Though dancing and show choir takes up most of her free time, Pei still finds time to enjoy her hobbies. Daughter of the owner of Pei’s Mandarin, she enjoys eating good food, napping, watching movies, and playing the Wii. b a i l e y zaputil

“

The hardest thing about dancing, to me, is the effort.

Most people would not believe how effortless we try to make it seem.

”

photo by Rachel Gilman

photo provided by Cathy Thompson

Entrepreneur hits the halls

Injured skater found success

When most teens are looking to make some extra cash, they submit their applications to local restaurants and grocery stores. That wasn’t enough for Nolan Herlocker, jr. He runs his own independent lawn care and snow removal business, referred to as Nolan’s Handyman LLC, that has become quite successful.

It started four winters ago when Nolan began plowing a neighbor’s driveway, and others began to notice his quality work. He began to see a business opportunity beginning to develop. “I handed out flyers after I realized people would pay me to [plow driveways] for them. That winter we cleared eight drives.”

As spring came around the corner, and after a successful winter, Herlocker pushed

Although ice-skating took a lot of hard work and was very time consuming, she stuck with it up until now because it was fun and provided many opportunities. One of many opportunities gained from her ice-skating abilities happened to be traveling across the United States. From Pennsylvania to Delaware, to California’s Ice Palace, and even to Washington, Lauren participated in numerous competitions. When she wasn’t required to travel to other states for competitions, she skated here in Cedar Rapids at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Gifford skated competitively in pair skating, single skating, and synchroskating.

She has had many accomplishments from these three kinds

his parents to let him mow people’s lawns. “By the fall we were mowing five lawns a week,” Herlocker said. As the business grew, so did the need for other employees.

Eighteen people now work for Nolan’s Handyman LLC, fifteen of which are from Kennedy. One of Nolan’s employees is Madison Currie, jr., who has worked for Nolan for over two years. “I started a little while after Nolan began his business. He was a good friend of mine and told me that he needed help because his customer base was growing. He also offered good pay,” Currie said. Currie works in many different areas of the business such as mowing, trimming, landscaping, retaining walls, and occasionally furniture moving or power

Nolan Herlocker, jr.

Lauren Gifford, so.

washing sidewalks.

Though there are a lot of jobs to be done, and it’s a lot of hard work, Nolan genuinely loves his job. “The best part is running all the equipment like mowers, skid loaders, backhoes and other fun toys. It’s also nice to be able to say that you own your own business all by yourself, although my parents help me if I need any advice. The nicest thing though, is being your own boss and if you’re ahead of schedule you can take a day off and relax,” Herlocker said.

Andrea Traeger

The majority of students here at Kennedy are involved in a sport, whether it is football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, etc. For Lauren Gifford, so., up until now, her particular sport used to be ice-skating.

Gifford, currently sixteen years old, started ice-skating at age six. The lessons started as a Christmas present from her parents, but turned into much more. One of the things that she loved about skating was how unique it was, along with the fact that she loved the feeling of skating fast and twirling in circles.

of skating, and each one was earned with hard work. One of her achievements was her winning of fourth place in the nation as a pair skater. She had practiced for three hours a day, everyday, and to her, it was all worth it.

Unfortunately, Gifford recently experienced an injury.

She fractured her knee about seven months ago. Gifford quit ice-skating on August 20 for many reasons on top of her injury. Some of these other reasons include the opportunity for more high school experiences, and because ice-skating tends to get very stressful.

For anyone with a passion, Giffords’s advice is, “Do what you love to do with whatever your dreams are.”

Katy sullivan

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JFK Torch December 17, 2010

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Page by Michael Hoefer

Photos

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JFK Torch

Page by Asmaa Elkeurti

December 17, 2010

Winter Pep Assembly

Stripping for a crowd. (left) Boy’s swim team captains strip out of their clothes into swim suits for the winter pep assembly captains games (photo retouched).

Spirit in color. (Middle left)Students from each class show off their multi-colored outfits in the spirit-stick competition at the pep assembly.

CENSORED

Beatles Fanatic.

(Middle center) Jack Green, so., wins a point for his class by having nearly 200 Beatles songs on his iPod.

All photos by Asmaa Elkeurti

Lovin’ the fun. (Middle right) Two senior basketball players enjoy the fun of the assembly.

The seniors won the spirit stick.

Sing a song. (Bottom left) The sophomore representatives sing a christmas song for the school.

One-two step (Bottom center) Students at the pep assembly show of their quick footwork by jumping side to side over a line.

Filling the air (Above) The Kennedy band provides grandiose music for the entire student body.

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JFK Torch

Feature

December 17, 2010

Page by Michael Nordstrom

Feature

JFK Torch

Page by Michael Nordstrom

December 17, 2010

Hallucinogenic drugs make a comeback Editors Note: The primary source’s name has been changed to the pseudonym John Smith at their request.

John Smith, sr., relaxes in the back of a van as it rambles down an Iowa country road. He casually drinks what he has in his hand. He gazes out at a cool, fall day. A few trees begin to float peacefully off the ground.

Suddenly, everything is thrown into the air as a hurricane roars to life outside the van. A barn is ripped from its foundation and flies near the van, mere inches away from its window.

He tears himself away from the scene outside and looks at the people sitting around him. They are talking in gibberish, and colored geometric shapes form above their heads. His skin begins to tingle, and he feels himself transform into a reptile. He stuffs his fist into his mouth and thinks he swallows it whole. He can feel his fist in the pit of his stomach.

Still hungry, he licks the window. It tastes amazing, like nothing he has ever tasted before. Still not satisfied, he licks the seat, but finds it not quite as delicious as the van window.

What Smith drank was no ordinary drink. It contained Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, a hallucinogenic drug.

“I thought it had been about 2 hours at this point,” Smith said. “I looked at my phone and it had been about 5 minutes since all this had started. We

were still experimenting with the oral dose of DMT. I don’t know how much we did exactly, but we had a lot.”

Psychedelic drugs, such as DMT, LSD, and psilocybin mushrooms, are commonly associated with the 1960s. However, psychedelic drugs are being used today by Iowa’s youth. And unlike the symbolic users of The Sixties, they are not longhaired, tree-hugging hippies.

Smith is a part of the new generation of psychedelic users. He dresses like everyone else, participates in athletics, and is involved in other extracurricular activities. The only difference is that one of those extra-curricular activities is hallucinogenic drug use.

“It’s more about exploration for me,” Smith said.

“I want to see what else is out there. You only have one life and there are those things that people say are worth it and you have to try for yourself one time. There is no significant physical harm and they aren’t addictive.”

Investigator Chip Joecken of the Cedar Rapids Police Department sees a few cases of hallucinogens in every year. He says that they are potentially harmful to users.

“Drugs like LSD are manufactured and chemical reactions have to take place,” Joecken said. “You don’t know what the person could have mixed into it. Someone could have laced it with another

chemical.”

“And you don’t know what the person could be using when they grow [Psilocybin mushrooms].

They could be using Miracle Grow, or you name it, anything to make it grow faster, so they make money faster.”

Lisa Neuendorf is the director of Area Substance Abuse Council, or ASAC, West Outpatient facility here in Cedar Rapids.

“Health wise, usually people that use that type of drug are using marijuana and alcohol and are not living a healthy life style,” Neuendorf said. “We see a lot of people with memory loss and the inability to concentrate.”

“Overall effects are due to mental health. It affects relationships, school, and work. It can also cause different things like money problems or legal issues.”

Smith follows unwritten rules whenever he uses psychedelic drugs.

“It’s important not to force it,” Smith said. “A lot of times something won’t work out. You’ll set plans, and then the plans don’t work out. Don’t do it just to do something. Do it because you want to explore in a safe environment and not just to act like an idiot. People do it to flaunt it and it’s a waste and it’s disrespectful to the chemical.”

Alex Busbee

Mixed perspectives on hallucinogens The Doctor

The Druggie

Lisa Neuendorf, Director of ASAC West Outpatient, a certified drug and alcohol counselor, with a master degree in social work

A drug using Kenne dy High School student who asked to remain anonymous.

“Hallucingens aren’t usually peoples drug of choice. They usually use them in addition to something else, like alcohol or marijuana. We focus on treating the main drug of choice.”

“In general with adolescents, the earlier the age you first used the drug, the more likely you are to be an addict. So my advice is to don’t start using drugs, and don’t try stuff you don’t know what it is. It can kill you.”

“The overall affects of drug use are due to mental health. It affects the user’s relationships, school, and work...They make bad choices that lead to legal consequences or money problems.”

“The hallucinogenic drugs I like most are shrooms (psilocybin mushrooms). Afterwards you just feel better about your situation in the world...” “[Hallucinogenic drugs] are all different, its kind of hard to explain. They all have hallucinations but the hallucinations are all different.

Schrooms flow really nicely. They’re not scary at all. It just seems right. With DMT, occasionally the entire existence, every inanimate object can be torn from its existence and thrown into hyper drive. Everybody responds differently to different stuff.”

The Cop

Investigator Chip Joecken of the Cedar Rapids Police Department “Basically my experience with drugs, even just a little amount, can cause problems. If you’re caught it goes on your record forever. Its tough economic times. Who is gonna get hired, you or the person with the clean record, even if you have better qualifications?”

“DJK (Darrius Johnson-Kouliounos) is an example. He may have just thrown millions of dollars down the drain. It doesn’t only affect you. It also affects your family and loved ones.

It affects everything.”

Alex Busbee

Graphic by Rachel Gilman

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JFK Torch

editorial

december 17, 2010

The Grinch, Mike Hoefer It is that time of year again. Yeah, that time. It’s the time when it gets cold, the time when roads are clear about 25% of the time, the time when life is sadder. That time. The warmth of summer has frozen into the desolation of winter, and our spirits have gone with it. To put it simply, winter is not as good as summer (or any of the other seasons, for that matter). Here’s why: 1) You can’t wear mini skirts in winter.

2) The lack of sunlight in winter can disrupt your sleeping cycle and mess with your circadian rhythm, causing seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression). (Info from WebMD) 3) It’s difficult to go swimming outdoors in winter.

4) There are less hours of sunlight in winter, so you have less time to do yard work.

5) You can’t sunbathe naked in winter.

6) In winter, there is a much higher risk of falling through thin ice and drowning in frigid waters.

7) More people commit suicide in winter.

8) You crash in winter.

9) You don’t get to learn as much with all the snow days.

10) Dry skin. Enough said.

Page by alex busbee

Winter warfare Two Torch staffers battle over whether winter weather is wonderful, or just painful

Iced. Rachel Gilman, jr., smashes snow on Mike Hoefer’s, sr., head.

The Ice Queen, Rachel Gilman As we reach the frigid months of Iowa winter, some sigh with dread. They look gloomily to the future of short days, cold nights, and snow. I feel quite the opposite. Many take our Iowa winter for granted. I for one am very thankful to have a season with an abundance of snowfall.

1) Starbucks coffee cup design: winter edition. Your classic latte always tastes better when coming from a festive red cup with a wintry graphic.

2) Ice storms resulting in power outages. A day to learn what it’s like to be Amish. It’s always good to widen your cultural horizons, right?

3) Snow days. ‘Nuff said.

4) Sitting by the fireand snuggin’ it up.

5) Fresh blanket of snow in the morning. 6) Wearing hats, scarves, sweaters, boots etc.

Oh so warm and oh so comfy.

7) Hot chocolate. Yum. 8) Bundling up, venturing into the wilderness with friends, and sledding down the biggest hill available.

9) Harry Potter weekends all the time. Best. Thing. Ever.

Thank you ABC Family.

10) Lights are everywhere and there is always a merry spirit.

photo by Allison Kindig

Torch’s guide to avoiding those awkward family questions at this year’s Christmas gatherings The Torch’s tips to navigating awkward questions like, “So how’s your love life?” at your next Holiday family dinner Strategy 2: Lie, lie, and lie some more

For this to be successful you need to be a strong storyteller. But more importantly, you need to lack a soul. When your grandma asks about your love life, start by telling very cheerful lies. “Oh, I’m glad you asked. Yesterday we were on the best date ever. We held hands and skipped down train tracks through the most picturesque meadow.” As your smiling grandma nods her head along pleasantly, hit her with the most crucial part of the lie. PLOT TWIST! “Then suddenly, her foot got stuck in the tracks, and we heard a train coming. I grabbed her hand and tried to pull her free. It was horrible! There was blood everywhere!” To really sell it, break down in tears and use her ugly Christmas sweater (or her facial hair, depending on your grandma) as a tissue. If she doesn’t have a heart attack right then, she won’t ever ask you that question again. Then smile at her and ask her to please pass the ham.

Strategy 4: Create a distraction

This one will take some preparation. You’ll need to stash some fireworks in your pockets, the bigger the better. When your drunk uncle asks, “Gettin’ any?” start throwing bottle rockets and Black Cats around the room. As the Christmas tree (apparently dry wood is flammable) bursts into flame, your family will be too busy to pester you about your love life. But remember, SAFETY FIRST! Always aim away from the presents, unless one is a Twilight DVD. That deserves to burn.

Strategy 1: Go into great detail

This strategy is perfect for dirty-minded teenagers. When your ‘hip’ aunt shuffles up to you with a smirk and asks, “Do you have a girlfriend?” spare no detail as you wipe that look off her face. Pull down your shirt collar and reply, “Well I certainly didn’t give myself this hickey.

Or the other ones I’d show you but I promised my mom I’d keep my pants on this Christmas.

And when you said ‘a’ girlfriend which one you were referring to? Stacy Wheeler or Mrs. Wheeler?” Then smirk back and walk away.

She won’t say a word to you for the rest of the night. Or for the rest of your life.

Strategy 3: Frighten them with technology

This strategy is especially effective against anyone over 40. As your grandpa mumbles out the obvious, “You’re growing,” whip out your iPhone and start ranting quickly using words like Skype, Twitter, and Google. If your Superman of a grandpa is still standing, then its time for the kryptonite. Keep ranting but throw in the phrase, “rap music.” He’ll keel over on the spot.

Old people can’t stand rap.

Strategy 5: Play dead

A strategy already mastered by any younger brother, but easy enough for anyone else.

When your aunt poses an awkward puberty question, simply fall ‘dead’ to the ground, spilling your glass of red sparkling grape juice on your aunt’s brand new white leather couch.

No one will think you’re faking, because if you were, your aunt would kill you for real. The secret is commitment to the part. Once you’re on the ground, don’t move a muscle for at least one whole minute. Then just stand up and answer the incredulous look on your aunt’s face with, ”What? I got better (a Christmas miracle, obviously).” Then ask her, “When will you be finished cooking dinner? Because I’m starving and you’ve been doing a lot of lounging around, and not a lot of cooking. Chop-chop.” cartoon by Josiah Wilbur, captions by Alex Busbee

editorial

JFK Torch

Page by Alex busbee

december 17, 2010

Illegal downloading Why buy something when you can get the same thing for free? Why would it be necessary to even pay 10-15 dollars for an artist’s album even though you could just do a Google search and save 10-15 dollars?

The use of the internet has become something we are all familiar with. A fair majority of us have probably listened to music through the internet, streaming the song or music video through YouTube, or at least used iTunes to download or listen to a song. Anybody can get on the internet and type in a song they want to hear and instantly find it, also with a little extra work you could probably find a free download link to that song.

Kanye West recently released his much hyped album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. He released his album and in the first week which sold nearly 29,000 copies. A week before the album was released a download link or “leak” was released to the internet that included the free download link of the full album. Soon after the leak was out the whole album was on YouTube. That included several different downloadable links to the album. Not only did this affect the album sales of the album, Kanye West gave Amazon MP3 the rights to sell the album for 3.99 for two weeks. This is only one of millions of examples of on how illegal online piracy of albums has not only changed the way that albums and songs are so easy to get for free but also how it affects the artist as well.

Of course not everybody downloads their music illegally, but it has become a

common instance where an album will be released the day and I will ask if a friend “hey, are you going to go buy the new (artist name here) album today?” and I’ll get a reply of “I got it a week ago online,” or something along the lines of that. I’ll often talk to people about music and find out how they got a song that they showed me or I heard that they were playing in their car, and they’ll tell me they used a website to get it for free. It happens often and with every genre of music regardless of the popularity of the album.

According to theRecording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) website, music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic losses every year, 71,060 U.S. jobs lost, a loss of $2.7 billion in workers’ earnings, and a loss of $422 million in tax revenues, $291 million in personal income tax and $131 million in lost corporate income and production taxes. Of course this might not be to the point, on how much actually is lost but it shows that even downloading a few songs for free can still hurt the artist and the industry.

Bottom line: Even though it is easy enough to go to Google, Limewire, or use a Torrent website to download a song or album if you actually support the artist and the music that they are making, get on iTunes, Amazon MP3, or go to a store and pick up the CD and rip it to your iPod to show true support to the artist. Even if you want one song and can get it for free through the use of the internet, buy it and show your true support for the artist.

Mo Cheetany

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photo graphic by Rachel Gilman and Asmaa Elkeurti

Just the facts: Illegal downloading $12.5 billion of economic losses every year

$131 million in lost corporate income

71,060 U.S. jobs lost

$291 million in personal income tax lost

$2.7 billion in workers’ earnings lost

$422 million in tax revenues lost

photo by Asmaa Elkeurti

Jam. Male Bonding, a band from England, performs at Grinnell College, in Grinnell, IA.

‘90s revival Within the past couple of years indie music has hit the limelight. Bands that sign with small record labels or even bands that choose to independently produce their musiclike Sleigh Bells, a completely independent due from Brooklyn, New Yorkhave surged in popularity, winning the support of many counterculture teens. And within this indiesphere comes a recurring trendmany, many bands are heavily influenced by the 90’s.

The 90’s were a great time to be a teen, and also a great time to have been a musician. The increased popularity and accessibility of the personal computer and the introduction of the internet led to a prosperity that Americans had been missing for decades. Less economic troubles eased society’s stresses, and Democrats may credit it all to Clinton’s brilliant liberalist financial strategies, while Republicans insist that it was the influx of revolutionary technology, but the fact of the matter is, America was happy.

With an economy in such crisis now it’s easy to lose yourself reminiscing about this seemingly happier past. And it seems that is exactly what many famous alternative musicians are doing as they incorporate much of that 90’s vibe into their music. Weezer, Pavement, Wilco, Sonic Youth, Biggie, Elliot Smith were all leading artists of that generation that have greatly influenced music that makes up much of what counterculture youth listen to today. Surfer Blood, a popular indie rock group, have sounds highly reminiscent of Weezer and Pavement.

WAVVES is a punk rock garage band that seem to be completely stuck in the 90’s. And Arcade Fire, a band that has carried through the 90’s and are still popular today (and a band everyone should have on their playlists) incorporates so much retro sound, that you feel like you’ve rewinded a decade just listening to Rebellion (which is easily the best song off Funeral). A lot of the time, I feel like these bands may, on the surface, just incorporate such sounds because they’re the sounds they enjoy, but I honestly feel that in a time where our economy is in such a dire state these bands go deeper, and make statements with their music.

So whether you like Kanye or Swift, music does for us all the same thing, to whatever varying degree. It takes us back to better times.

It makes a statement. It makes us happy, and that can unify just about anybody.

Asmaa Elkeurti

1 3 5

Asmaa’s Top 5 Indie Bands Sleigh Bells, Brooklyn NY W. Palm Beach, FL Surfer Blood Oberhofer, Tacoma WA Los Angeles CA, Best Coast Beach House, Baltimore MA

2 4

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JFK Torch

editorial

december 17, 2010

Page by Alex busbee

torch the

Step 2 Send a heartfelt message full of love and sincerity to your celebrity. Google all of their favorite things and claim that you have a lot in common.

Make sure you mention how you would love to talk to them.

John F. Kennedy High School 4545 Wenig Rd. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Volume 44, Issue 1

Mission

The Torch staff and adviser are committed to producing a top quality student newspaper, applying high standards of writing, editing, and production. The Torch seeks to fairly serve the Kennedy High School faculty, students and staff, showing no favoritism to decisions about content are the responsibility of the individual editors and the Editorial Board.

Letters to the editor will be printed from anyone in the Cedar Rapids community. However, Torch retains the right to edit stories for length and style, without changing the writer’s intent. We also reserve the right to refuse publication for legal and ethical reasons. All letters must be signed in order for them to be published.

Editorial Board

Editor-In-Chief Alex Busbee Managing Editor Mike Hoefer Design Editor Allison Kindig

Step 1 Wikipedia your celebrity in order to find close relatives and friends. After friending them on Facebook you will be able to find the real celebrity on facebook. Beware of imposters.

How to stalk your celeb crush

Congratulations, you became a stalker! Please do not take any of my advice seriously or commit a crime. I do not endorse anything I write about or encourage you to break any laws­—except for indecent exposure. That’s okay!

Step 3 Since you wrote such an awesome letter to your celebrity, they will obviously respond to you. Make sure you get their phone number (***KEY*** GET A LANDLINE!).

With the phone number you can go to a website like Yellow Book and find the address of your celebrity.

by Michael Nordstrom Step 4 Steal your parents’ credit card and buy a 1-way ticket to go meet your celebrity.

Don’t tell them your going, because everyone loves surprises. Show up at their house and break in. Make sure you have gifts because you’re going to need to explain that broken window or door.

Editors

News Darcey Altschwager Profile Jessica Rowan, Rachel Gilman Photo Asmaa Elkeurti Feature Michael Nordstrom Copy Editor Sean McQuade Lifestyle Allie Sindlinger, Shane Goodall Sports Riley Galbraith, Mohammad Cheetany

Writers

Jordan Calef, Zack Goodall, Grant Sheeley, Sam Nordstrom, Spencer Grekoff, Austin Johnson

Photographers Rachel Gilman, Jessica Rowan, Asmaa Elkeurti, Michael Nordstrom

Graphic Artist Rachel Gilman

Staff Editorial: Kennedy’s honors The Torch recognizes the unsung heroes who make Kennedy a very special school Sal Giunta won the Medal of Honor. The Torch is extremely proud of Giunta’s bravery in the face of danger. Giunta has been received especially well here at Kennedy, his alma mater. In this issue, the Torch unveils an inside story on Giunta. Despite Giunta’s humbleness and desire to remain modest, he has received media attention worldwide.

With all the attention given to Giunta and his accomplishments, we would like to take time to thank not only Giunta and the rest of the armed forces, but other people who quietly help us throughout our lives.

What follows is the Torch’s top 10 honors for the holidays.

”...we would like to take time to thank not only Giunta and the rest of the armed forces, but other people who quietly help us throughout our lives.”

-The Torch Staff 1) Cafeteria workers, for always serving us with a smile 2) Teachers, without you, there’d be no learning.

3) Custodial staff, for keeping our school clean during the winter months.

4) Administration, for helping our school through disruptive issues such as bullying and drugs.

5) Counselors, for helping senior with college applications while still fulfilling normal counselor duties.

6) Tech crew, for making our pep assemblies possible.

7) Student government, for putting together great school activities.

8) Librarian staff, for keeping our web access fast by ensuring we stay off Youtube.

9) Coaches, for helping us to grow as athletes and students.

10) Parents, for supporting us in all our endeavors.

Lifestyle

JFK Torch

Page by Shane Goodall And allie Sindlinger

December 17. 2010

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Upcoming British artist Kate Nash: Concerts: Torch’s December hot artist pick Artist: Kate Nash Genre: Pop Hit Songs: Merry Happy Pumpkin Soup

Comedy

1/15/11 Jeff Dunham, Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena, Sioux City, IA (Comedy) 1/15/11 Daniel Tosh, Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA (Comedy)

Music

12/18-19/10 “Follidays” Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA (Orchestra) 1/14/11 Silverstein, Blue Moose Taphouse, Iowa City, IA (Rock) 1/21/11 Quietdrive w/ Rookie of the Year, Blue Moose Taphouse, Iowa City, IA (Alternative Rock) 1/29/11 Buckcherry, 7 Flags Event Center, Clive, IA (Rock/ Metal) 2/4/11 TobyMac, Mid-Amercia Center Council Bluffs, IA (Christian Hip-Hop) 2/7/11 Avenged Sevenfold w/ Stone Sour and Hollywood UndeadTyson Events Center/ Gateway Arena Sioux City, IA (Rock/Metal) 2/10/11 Against Me! Blue Moose Taphouse, Iowa City, IA (Rock/Metal) 2/19/11 Pete Yorn, Whiskey Roadhouse, Council Bluffs, IA (Rock) 3/5/11 Dropkick Murphys Val Air Ballroom, West Des Moines, IA (Rock/Punk) 4/10/11 My Chemical Romance!

Val Air Ballroom, West Des Moines, IA (Rock) 4/13/11 Darius Rucker Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City, IA (Country) 4/28/11 John Mellencamp Stephens Auditorium, Ames, IA (Folk/Light Rock) 5/14/11 Alice Cooper Westfair Amphitheatre, Council Bluffs, IA (Hard Rock/Metal) 5/29/11 Taylor Swift Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA (Country/Pop) Mohammad Cheetany

photo by Asmma Elkeurti Hot artist to look for: Kate Nash an up and coming British pop songstress from Dublin, Ireland performs at the Blue Moose in Iowa City.

With her number one hit single, “Foundations”, taking storm among audiences and fans all around the world, the London born singer, Kate Nash, has a style of pop music that can entertain just about anyone.

Her lyrics speak of heartbreak, post break up resentment, dickheads, and love of the most innocent kinds.

Kate Nash slowly gained fans by playing local gigs in England, and by putting her music on MySpace. Many of her songs are a mix of upbeat piano tunes that contrast with her darker lyrics. She has a classic style reminiscent of feminist musicians, but has a mouth like a sailor. In “Foundations,” Nash shows her attitude by singing “Then you call me a b**** and everyone we’re with will be embarrassed, and I won’t give a s***.” Nash’s voice variety will keep you on your feet throughout her music.

Her album Made of Bricks, was in such high demand months before it was even released, so it came out two months before it was originally scheduled to be released in the UK. It took the number one spot on the UK Albums Chart. She was then named Best Female Artists on the 2008 BRIT Awards. Her most recent album, My Best Friend Is You, was released just earlier this year.

Nash is not only a talented musician, but she helps the community as well. Nash has supported and funded many humanitarian efforts, such as V-day, a global effort to end violence against women.

Asmma Elkeurti

Hit winter albums

Torch staffer rates top trio of the season Mo’s Rating scale: 1/5 stars= Repulsive 2/5 stars= Acceptable 3/5 stars=Nothing too special 4/5 stars=”Must listen to” 5/5 stars=Mind blowing Artist: Cee Lo Green Album: The Lady Killer Genre: Soul Mohammad’s rating scale: 4/5 stars Release Date: November 5, 2010 In a time where soul music is underrated and hardly listened to Cee Lo Green has managed to step up and create a soul album that really gives a new twist on soul. At the same time it also shows that soul music can be enjoyed in the mainstream. After the release of Cee Lo Green’s previous album with the group, Gnarls Barkley, the announcement of an upcoming solo album received a lot more hype, as fans enjoyed his well known singles from his Gnarls Barkley album: “Crazy” and “Smiley Faces.” In early August Cee Lo Green released his first single off The Lady Killer entitled “F**k You.” The song has gradually risen up the charts, and hit the mainstream as radios made the more appropriate version, “Forget You.” The album has put a new spin on soul, making a very up tempo and fun album to listen to. Songs like: “Bright Lights,” “Bigger City,” and “It’s Ok” really give the album a groovy feel that make you want to dance as you listened to them. Overall the whole album really captures a good mixture between Soul, Pop, and Funk that allow the diversity of this album to flourish.

Mohammad Cheetany

Artist: Kanye West Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop Mohammad’s rating scale: 5/5 stars Release Date: November 9, 2010 After intruding on Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV VMA’s and giving such an incredible performance at the 2010 MTV VMA’s, Kanye West used his new album to as an apology to his fans and Taylor Swift. West has gone with a whole new approach with the album and has done something he has never done before. His attempt at keeping his old fan base while adding a new fan base is really evident with this album. West features multiple big name artists including: Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Kid Cudi, and Swizz Beatz. After the first single was released [“Power”] the album gained attention from multiple artists and producers. The album shows Kanye West’s true musical and artistic side with songs such as “All of the Lights,” “Gorgeous,” “Devil In A New Dress,” “Lost in the World,” and “Dark Fantasy” where the production and lyricism flow together amazingly along with all the features from different artists on all of the tracks.

Kanye West also took some of the tracks on the album and made them into more of an experiment rather then a song. The songs “Monster” and “Hell of a Life” are very experimental but still flowed with the album while also taking on a different approach. Overall the album continually progressed without any songs messing with the flow of the rest of the abulm. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is an album that can be enjoyed by fans of multiple genres and was put together as well as many of the top albums this year.

Mohammad Cheetany

Artist: T.I Album: No Mercy Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop Mohammad’s rating scale: 3.5/5 stars Release Date: December 6, 2010 After being released from prison earlier this year, T.I was looking to make a full recovery on his album entitled King Uncaged to regain his fan base. After being arrested again in September, T.I was later sentenced to serve another 11 months in prison due to violations of his probation. After his plans of releasing King Uncaged he later decided that he would change the name of the album to No Mercy, due to his current situation.

Before he served his 11 month sentence, T.I recorded four songs off his new album that captured his scenario: “Welcome to the World,” “Get Back Up,” “How Life Changed,” and “Castle Walls.” These songs showed great lyricism and had underlying meanings behind what he said.

Along with “All She Wrote,” “Big Picture” and “No Mercy,” T.I really showed his true hip-hop side to him that was seen on his album Paper Trail [Which was released before his first encounter on going to prison].

Other songs on the album were generic mainstream rap, where no meaningful lyrics were present but were songs that you would expect from T.I including: “Strip,” “Poppin’ Bottles,” and “I Can’t Help It.” While some other song on the album were interesting on meaning and showed an experimental of his southern hip-hop roots in songs such as: “Amazing,” “Lay Me Down,” and “Salute.”

Overall the album is a great hip-hop album that shows every element of T.I that we’ve seen in his previous albums, although could’ve used some consistency throughout the album.

Mohammad Cheetany

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JFK Torch

Lifestyle

December 17, 2010

Page by Shane Goodall and Allie Sindlinger

The wonders of winter The six hottest gifts of the season Xbox Kinect

iPad

photos by Hanna Krivit The newest game in the Call of Duty series is called Black Ops. This first person shooter has swept the country and with kids of all ages joining in on the fun it is sure to be a big hit. Even though Call of Duty: Black Ops has been out for a little bit of time now, you can be sure all the kids who didn’t get it the day it came out will have it on their Christmas list this year

Apple’s newest, most innovative creation is the iPad, a much bigger version of the iPod touch. With one of the biggest and best portable touch screens on the market right now, it is a great gift for all ages. It is linked with the whole iTunes market, so you can still get all your favorite songs and apps.

The iPad can also fit into many price ranges with the starting price at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi connected model. Also if you really want to go high end, Apple offers a 64GB Wi-Fi plus 3G enabled model for $829.

This new gaming system from Xbox offers a completely different gaming experience to the player. Kinect makes you the controller without using any real controllers. With fun games featuring everything from sports to adventure, it would be a great gift for everyone’s Christmas list. Another great feature about Kinect is that if you already have an older Xbox 360 you can just buy the 150 dollar sensor bar add on and plug it into your existing Xbox 360 and have the same gaming fun as if you had the Kinect model Xbox.

Digital Camera

Nike I.D.

People take so many pictures these days that everyone needs a good camera. With everything being digital these days, cameras are always evolving to the latest and greatest thing and there is always the newest one “hot camera”. Also with every one putting pictures on Facebook there are now new cameras with direct uploading tools for all you Facebook junkies.

Depending on what you’re looking to take pictures of also can affect the camera you choose and the price. With lower priced cameras now, this gift will fit into anyone’s price range.

We all wear shoes and like to pick them out from the store, plus with so many to choose from there’s a brand or shoe for everyone. Nike is one of the biggest shoe producers in the world and with their Nike I.D. program, you can choose from a variety of their shoes and go wild with all your favorite colors and design ideas. Now with the price also climbing on shoes, these days people are looking for just the right shoe for what they want.

Spencer Grekoff

Kindle The Kindle is what is called an e-book reader, which allows you to buy books a lot cheaper than at the book store, and then read the book on your Kindle. With popularity growing and a recent price drop occurring, this is sure to be a hot ticket item this year for Christmas. And with kids wanting to carry fewer books around this could be the way to go storing all the books you want to read on one system. Also, now there is a Kindle app for Apple products where you are able to read the books on your Kindle on any iPod or iPad.

Students face the “ big guy” truth

?

How did you find out the “big guy” isn’t real?

Allie Sindlinger

“One year the “big guy” gave my brother an acustic guitar, and then I walked in on my brother thanking my mom for the guitar.”

-Logan Letellier, jr.

“When i was in third grade my Dad whipped out both the talk about the “big guy” and the sex talk. It was an awful day.”

-Hunter Thompson, sr.

“Kids at school were saying Santa wasn’t real, so I went home crying to my parents, and they couldn’t lie to me so they had to break the news.”

-Andrew Stoll, teacher “I wrote a note to him, and left it on the Christmas tree, and the next morning, the note was still there and I found my parents reading it in the kitchen.”

-Hailey Eide-Hull , sr.

Lifestyle

JFK Torch

Page by Shane Goodall and Allie Sindlinger

December 17, 2010

Hot spots to sled in town

Pierce Hill Behind Pierce Elementary School just off the top of the parking lot of: Lovely Lane United Methodist Church 2424 42nd Street, NE (you enter the parking lot off of Wenig Road) Go BIG or go home. That is what they say about this sled run.

If you want to challenge yourself, run some risks and go fast, this is the place. A shorter run but you can really get the speed.

Make certain to bail out before you get to the brick wall!

Bowman Woods Hill located at Bowman Woods Elementary School 151 Boyson Road, NE Some people enjoy the challenge for seeing how many people can ride a sled at the same time. Whether you scrunch together, having people lying on top or each other, or have one of more people stand during the run are all options. Doesn't make for the longest or the fastest runs but these runs can be the most fun, especially when you are with your good friends.

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Big Hill in back of Jones Park Jones Park 201 Wilson Avenue SW Go the distance. If you want the longest run in the area, this is definitely the place to go. While it makes for a good hike back, the important thing is the run down. If you can stay on the edge and pick up good speed at the top, you can finish out the longest run around.

Allie Sindlinger

Ban on Four Loko

Loko

New concoction now illegal

Graphic by Rachel Gilman

Four Loko, an alcohalic energy drink, has been taken off the shelves in various states this month across the United States and is creating quite a stir.

The popular fruit flavoreddrink with a kick has created controversy throughout the country. Critics said that the makers of Four Loko were engaging in misleading marketing. Critics have also raised concerns about the health effects of caffeinated drinks, noting they can result in wideawake drunks; a combination of the results of alcohol and the stimulant.

The name Four Loko, is derived from the drink’s original ingredients: alcohol, caffeine, guarana and taurine. Each of these substances (except alcohol) can be found in just about every energy drink available on the market.

The danger of Four Loco particularly comes from the combination of large amounts of alcohol mixed with stimulants. According to a study done by Creighton Universty, drinking one 23.5 ounce Four Loko infuses similar levels of alcohol as five 12-ounce beers into a person’s bloodstream.

The mixture of the active ingredients has also been a

cause for concern. Alcohol is a depressant, whereas the energy-creating ingredients are stimulants. The mixture of these two is typically unadvised.

Four Loko is often used out of hand, which critics say can lead to danger and health risks. Several states, including Iowa, have banned it from stores. Several other states are in the process of banning Four Loko as well.

The producers of Four Loko have agreed to stop supplying the drink to any grocery or convienient store. The producers have promised to return the drink without the caffeine. The producers plan on reworking and changing the formula of Four Loko to remove the caffeine.

Combining these symptoms can be very serious When the buzz from consuming the drink is over, the alcohol can make a person feel a lot less than perfect. Add that to a sudden crash that can be expierienced, and it becomes very possible that the drinkercould lose conciousness. The big push to get rid of Four Loko is considered by several a step in the right direction.

Tyler Marsceau

By the numbers

7 percent 12alcohol ounces 23.5per can calories per 660can milligrams 156of caffeine grams of 60sugar warnings on each can

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JFK Torch

Sports

December 17, 2010

Page by Mohammad Cheetany and riley galbraith

New team starts strong It’s a totally different team walking on the every game, but we’ve got to get some shots to court this year for the Cougar girls’ basketball drop and do that well because we’re going to team. After losing all five starters from last always have tough games against teams with a year, the girls’ team is looking to work out a big center so we have to do those other things understandable identity crisis, and live up to really well,” Head Coach Dennis Roloff said. how the team has done the past 3 years.

This is Roloff’s 21st year coaching the team.

“Losing all five starters] has affected us a lot Although this team has lost a lot of substance because the same leadership isn’t there as much from last year’s team, and is underestimated as it was last year because last year everyone by everyone, ultimately their goals are still kind of just knew what they were doing and the same, to make it to the state tournament this year and do as it’s kind well as they of hard to can there. “I Losing all five starters has affected really dethink that cide who we’re going to us a lot because the same leadership isn’t is going be stronger there as much as it was last year because to lead than everylast year everyone kind of just knew what the team one thinks. this year,” they were doing and this year it’s kind of Nobody reCourtney ally has big hard to really decide who is going to lead Strait, jr., hopes for us, the team this year. said. but we have Even Courtney Strait, Jr. big hopes for w i t h ourselves, all new and I think starters the team has still started with a solid we know that we can do it,” Meier said. record of 2-3, with their only two losses to the Although the team is very self motivated tenth ranked Waterloo West and fifth ranked they are really hoping to get some support Pleasant Valley. “Even though we should have this year from the student fan base which has maybe won our first game, I think we’re all been lacking the past few years. “It just kind starting to really gel so the rest of the season of disappoints me that people think that just we should do really well,” Captain Olivia Meier, because we’re not as good that we don’t desr., said. serve support, and even when the guy’s team The team still however has a long way to go is away we still get mostly only parents,” Strait to reach their full potential. Even with a record said. “Support is one of the biggest things that just below .500, the team hasn’t performed helps get us going and it really pumps us up, their best with their offense being a little bit and when we don’t have that it’s really harder off, particularly their shooting, which is impor- to play.” tant due to their lack of size this year. “We give Riley Galbraith 100 percent hustle, and the girls work very hard

“

”

Photo by Jessica Rowan Crossover. Olivia Meier jukes Xavier defender during the game last friday.

Wrestlers utilize new talent, win matches Roll out the mats! It’s time for another exciting season of Cougar wrestling.

With the return of several state competitors, including Taylor Moss, so., Ryan Rodriguez, jr., Luke Kremer, jr., Shane Williams, jr. and Ryan Sheldon, sr., the Kennedy wrestling team looks to have the potential for continued playoff success this season.

Brent Paulson has been the head coach at Kennedy for eight years. He is excited for the possibilities this season holds. “We have strong senior leadership this year. These seniors have put in a lot of time and I expect them to end their Cougar career in a great way. We also return some very good junior wrestlers combined with some quality sophomore and freshman guys. I see us being very competitive at the end of the year when it counts the most,” Paulson said.

It’s not all guaranteed though. The wrestling team has a long way to go before postseason rolls around. “I would like us to improve every practice. The guys should never stay the

same. You either get better or you get worse,” Paulson said, “If we prepare like we need to, we should be successful on the mat.”

Shane Williams, Jr., is in his third year of varsity wrestling. He has high hopes for this season. “I want to go to state again, obviously, it would be my third time, and I would like to place very high there,” Williams said, “As a team, we basically want to win as many duel meets as we can and place as high as we can at tournaments.”

The Cougars have several very talented and proven wrestlers. Other returning state performers include Moss, Rodriguez, Kremer, and Sheldon. Kremer, Rodriguez, Williams, and Sheldon are all currently ranked in the top ten of their respective weight classes. Paulson also expects breakout seasons from seniors Logan Kubovec and Jordan Baskerville.

The wrestlers hit the mats again this Thursday against Cedar Falls and Iowa City West.

Shane Goodall

Bowling looks to contend Bowling season has begun! With two meets already under their belt, the boys and girls bowling teams hope to make it to state this year.

In the girl’s bowling meet against Washington, only seven pins kept them from a win. The team was led by Alecia McEachran sr., who scored a 337 series. As for the boys, they lost their meet against Waterloo East by 2694-3005.

Boy’s head coach, Don Kilts, expects the team to do well. With 49 years of bowling experience and six years coaching Kennedy, Kilts enjoys working with the team. Although we have lost both our meets so far, to Waterloo East and CR Washington, Coach Kilts said,

“The second meet we increased our pin count by 200 pins.”

Compared to other schools, right now we are in the upper 40%. “Once we get all of our bowlers eligible, we should do well,” said Coach Kilts. Now that the season has started, varsity has a good chance to be a contender at state.

Bowling is one of the newer sports Kennedy has acquired. Many people don’t go to cheer on bowlers and coach Kilts said “We could use more students coming to the meets for support.” Meets are held at the Cedar Rapids Bowling Center, moral support would definitely get the bowlers into the game, and hopefully we will take it all the way this year.

Katie Hefflefinger

New coach leads team Men’s swimming has undergone a series of transformations recently; from losing a lot of seniors coming into this season to getting a new coach.

Senior captain, Christian McKee thinks they will do pretty well. “It’s kind of frustrating that we lost so many seniors.” McKee said, the only senior remaining on the team. “It’s a good experience for underclassmen to take over those spots and know what it’s like to swim varsity.”

McKee said.

Although the swimmers have lost many of their seniors, they have gained one new member on their team, Coach Shawn Thomsen. Coach Thomsen is the new head coach, replacing Coach Steve Shean after his retirement last year. Coach Thomsen is also an official for swimming so he really focuses on what the guys can do, not to get disqualified, according to McKee. He also helps the underclassmen “learn the ropes” when it comes to swimming.

“He works a lot on team unity and stuff which is different, his workouts are a lot different from previous years, too.”

McKee said. “He works a lot on sprinting, and in past years we did a lot of longer sets and

stuff like that.”

As far as meets go, McKee doesn’t think that having a new coach has affected the meets so far. “You are always gonna work hard [in a meet], no matter who the coach is.”

McKee said.

Even though the team’s meet results haven’t been drastically affected yet McKee thinks that by February, they will really start to see the new

coaching techniques come into play with, what they hope to be, good results.

The team hopes to win more matches and get more done over the season with the addition of the new coach and hopes that they can improve throughout the year.

The team also hopes that the younger players can develop into leaders.

Amy Brause

Photo by Jessica Rowan.

Encouragement. New coach Shawn Thompsen encourages his swimmers during a meet.

sports

JFK Torch

Page by Mohammad Cheetany and riley galbraith

December 17, 2010

19

Senior leaders step up

Leadership, potential, experience. Three words that will ultimately define how the boys basketball season will go. The cougars return key players from last years conference championship team, including Jacob Misener, Christian French, and Kyle Lamaak.

Expectations are high once again this year.

“First, we definitely want to win the conference championship. Next we want to make it to state and do some damage,” said Jacob Misener, sr. Coach Fontana says, “[We need to] Take one practice at a time, one game at a time. Our team has to understand the nature of our league this year. It’s the toughest it’s ever been.”

There are some new players this year looking to make an impact. “Joe Coleman and Darius Fuller. Joe will be starting for us and he’s been scoring a lot of points for us lately.

They’re young but they’re leaders out there on the court and need to step up to the plate.

They’ll play a huge role for us,” said Christian French, sr.

While there will be new faces to get to know, an old one has returned. Jacob Misener separated his shoulder and was out three and a half weeks. He returned to action December 10 against Xavier, and couldn’t wait to get back.

“Sitting on the bench and watching my teammates was the worst part. I would rather go through the motions again and hurt my shoulder than have to sit on the bench,” he said.

The team is looking for an unprecedented fifth straight conference title, but a very tough schedule will make the journey very difficult.

“It will take a total team effort, and through our players understanding what it takes to win it will give us an opportunity to be in that position. All of our players, seniors and juniors, must understand the importance of

paying attention to detail. Our ability to win close games will depend on the quality of leadership we get from our seniors,” said Coach Fontana, who is now in his 14th year coaching here. Christian French is looking forward to playing Washington, Jefferson, and Linn Mar. “Last year those were the teams we struggled against, and we will try to get better against them. I think we can do it this year,” French said.

The MVC is the toughest it’s been in years, loaded with division one talent. “I think it’s more about slowing them down. We need to pay attention to the coaches because they watch game film and know what they’re talking about. We need to play as a unit and respect everyone and not take anyone to lightly,” said Misener. “Everybody is good in the league, it’s too tough to name one person,” said Kyle Lamaak, sr, when asked about who he will be most looking forward to guard.

“A good season for us is to play the best that we can. We need to play as a team and accomplish Coach Fontana’s goals. I believe we can win out,” said French. Winning out will be difficult with tough non conference match-ups, including a tournament in Sioux City and a game against Ames, who has won back to back state championships while going undefeated both times.

Even with the tough schedule, hard work and great fan support should take this team where it wants to go; Wells Fargo Arena in March for the State Tournament. “We thrive off of the crowd, we really want a lot of people to come out and support us,” said Misener.

Answer the call and support your cougars as they go through the rigorous season that is Iowa high school basketball.

Nathan Althoff

Photo by Rachel Gilman Tightening up. Darius Fuller, jr., tightens up his defense during the Kennedy- Xavier basketball game. The Cougars improved their record to 4-0 with a win over Dbq. Senior on Tuesday.

Dancers succeed at state Feeling the beat.

Mackenzie Thompson, sr., dances to the music during the winter pep assembly.

Thompson and the Kennedy dance team received 2nd place in poms and 3rd place in jazz.

photo by Asmaa Elkeurti

Photo provided by Cathy Thompson

Feelings were nervous as the Kennedy dance team prepared for the state competition at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“We have quality of dancing and talent, that we will do well in our categories,” Coach Miranda Arends said about how she expected to do at state. With getting second place in poms, third place in jazz, and sixth place in kicks, the team represented the school well.

“I thought we would get in the tops three for poms, either third or fourth in jazz. We went in to kick just wanting to have fun because this was the first year we have ever done it and we have cute costumes.” Said Coach Arends.

“We have been working hard all year so I thought that we would get good score for how hard we have been working. But I felt like we weren’t going to do as good as last year because we lost a lot of talent on the team.” Kylie Crippes, Sr. said.

“Poms is my favorite dance we did at state because its so energetic and fun to do and you can just give it your all every time.” Mackenzie Thompson, Sr. said.

The Kennedy team beat their rivals, Linn Mar, by two points in the jazz competition.

“I think a lot of people have a rivalry with teams that are better than them. Our second place is always to their first place, and this year we did get a head of them, based on the score we beat them by two point, that’s huge!” Coach

Arends said.

“The girls had a shocking event happen too them, Linn Mar refused to take pictures with their fifth place trophy, they had girls lie and tweet that they had three first place trophies, when in fact they only one two first places and won a fifth place. They hear rumors that Linn Mar dancers did not eat before competitions and they were required to tan. I don’t teach my girls like that, I teach them to have a good time, to dance cand do well. But they have to love what they are doing. My girls were ecstatic that they got second and third place.” Arends said.

Crippes and Thompson feel the team perform well because they danced as a team, they get along, they are all very close, and they have a good vibe. Compared to last year the team, in poms they did about the same, and in Jazz they got forth place while this year they got third, but last year’s score was ten point more. That means the scoring was harder this year.

“The team could improve on their technique, such as turns and jumps.” Thompson said.

The team will be performing at the Christmas kick on December 21, most of the home basketball games, and regional’s, which is January 7, 8, and 9 at the Mall of America.

Hanna Krivit

Poms 2nd Jazz 3rd

20

JFK Torch

Sports

December 17, 2010

Page by Riley Galbraith

The Guessing Game

photo and graphics by Rachel Gilman

-Kyle Lamaak

“I think he’s going to Notre Dame because he was wearing a dark blue shirt today.”

-Griffin Michael

-Alex Hayden “It’s going to be Oregon, because of the cool jerseys.”

OREGON T

off to

“He’s definitely going to Oregon because they’re number one, and they’re tight. “

-Darius Fuller

“I think he’s going to Oregon, mostly because I think it will be a good fit for him, and also they’re going to the national title game.”

-Courtney Kalb

“I think he’s going to Oregon because they’re number one, and I think he’d want to play for the number one team.”

-Larry Williams “I predict he’s going to Oregon, [because] they’re playing for national championship game.

he cafeteria was packed, as everyone waited for the highly anticipated decision

by Christian French, sr. Where would this 6’6”, 230 lb. football AllAmerican choose to play his college ball? As Christian appeared at the end of the hallway, the talking immediately stopped, and newscasters sprang into action.

The time was finally here.

Lights, camera, action.

French sat down at a table in the front of the room with all eyes upon him. In front of him, along with numerous TV microphones, laid the hats of the final three schools on his list, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Iowa. After a brief speech featuring thank you’s, and the rationale for his choice, he was finally ready to reveal his decision.

“The school that I am going to attend next year… will be…the University of Oregon,” French said. With that, he proudly put on the green and gold Oregon hat as the crowd cheered.

Ultimately, what it came down to for French was how he bonded with the team, the coach Chip Kelly, and the rest of the coaching staff. “It really came down to the personality of the coaches. They came here four times, and I got to see what types of people they were, and they really investigated and went in depth to see what type of person I was,” French said. “Also,

when I went on my official visit and met the team I really got that home-like feel.”

This was obviously a tough decision for the future Oregon tight end, as the choice wasn’t completely made until the night before his scheduled announcement. One reason for this was because all of the schools were so close in French’s mind. But in the end, Christian and his entire family are very pleased with the decision.

“I’m very happy, because it’s him making his own decision. We talked about this the whole time, that it has to be him making a decision he’s happy with and standing by it,” father Cherokee French said.

However, that didn’t make it any easier to say no to local school Iowa. “I definitely felt a little bit more pressure being around mostly Iowa fans. Going far away, I won’t be the hometown favorite anymore, but I still feel like the choice I made was the best one, and the best fit for me,” French said. This is true both in athletics as well as academics. French is also heading to the number one sports marketing school in the nation, which is the field of study that he is most interested in.

Even though French is heading to one of the most prominent football schools in the nation, which is on the other side of the

photo by Erle Kaasik L augh te r. C hr istian French, sr., laughs with the media a f ter si gn i n g to p lay fo otball at O regon on Thur sday D ec. 9th. country instead of staying everything else again,” French close to home in Iowa, he said. claims he is not worried or A key person that helped nervous; he just feels anFrench find that home was ticipation. “If you do what best friend, Herschel Dixon, sr. you’re supposed to do and Christian originally planned to focus on school and workconcentrate on basketball, and ing hard, and you handle possibly go out for cross counyour business, then you try to help his basketball, but should be the best you can Dixon convinced him to go out be,” French said. His parfor football his sophomore year. ents, however, are someThis may have been the advice what worried about him beanyone could have given him ing so far away. “I wouldn’t ,as he was immediately moved be a mother if it [him being up to varsity, and now is on his so far away] didn’t bother way to Oregon to play football. me, but we will just keep “I’m very appreciative of him, in contact on the webcam and what he did for me by getand the telephone and take ting me to go out for football,” trips when we can, and just French said. try to be together as often His hopes for next year are as we can,” mother Caroline simple, to learn, and to be the Dobbins said. best person that he can be.

“I definitely feel reWith that attitude, French is lieved because I know I sure to do great things during have a school and I know I and long after his career at have a home. Now I don’t Oregon. have to worry anymore and Riley Galbraith I can focus on school and