March 2012 Pelladium

“HEY!” PELLA HIGH

BODY ODDITIES

PELLADIUM P. 4

P. 11

THE PELLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL NEWS PUBLICATION

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Commercials and advertisements bombard students everyday.

Some love it. Some hate it. But everybody’s buying it, whatever it is.

Why?

03. 27. 2012.

Volume 24, Issue 7

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Athletic council discusses Good Conduct Policy

PAGE EDITOR: JILLIAN SAGERS

NEWS

03. 27. 2012.

A new group of athletes sharing inputs regarding the

athletic department has started affecting athletic events, and some big decisions are forthcoming involving the Good Conduct Policy.

“One part of the Good Conduct Policy that we have discussed is the honesty provision, and if it is really a big incentive for a 5-10 percent reduction in punishment to students,” said Athletic Director Dale Otte.

“We have just talked about things like ineligibility, and we are just looking at other schools for input,” said sophomore Noah Sinclair, one of the members of the group.

The current good conduct policy states participating in school activities is a privilege. It says they must refrain from activities that are immoral, illegal or unhealthy because they are ambassadors to the school.

“We did a pros and cons list and studied about six or seven other schools, and compared them to ours,” said Otte.

One of the bigger changes could be adding a mere presence clause to the Good Conduct Policy.

“Mere presence, which means if you were at a party or in a car with someone who is drinking, even if you were not drinking, you would be condoning the activity and then be just as guilty,” said Otte.

“Our school’s policy is about average compared to other schools, but we have a citizenship clause,” said Otte.

“With the Good Conduct Policy we are talking about changes with the honesty provision, and maybe adding community service,” said junior Josh Deward , member of the athletic counsel.

One more change up for discussion is the opportunity to give students a second chance.

“If a student gets in trouble maybe twice in his or her freshmen year but can stay clean for a year, we could then give he or she a grace period to erase those first strikes,” said Otte.

Another concern was that some of the policy seemed to be mixed up. For instance the council brought forward there should be a different punishment between drinking and failing a class.

“We should have something by May 1 that we can bring in front of the school board for approval we still have one more meeting with the kids in April to get their feed back,” said Otte.

Additionally, the group has discussed other matters.

“We have talked about sportsmanship, Character Counts and what could be improved on. We also talked about atmosphere at games and how to get fans to come out,” said Otte.

The council was involved in trying to improve the the atmosphere at sporting events which led to things like the interlude dance at the halftime of home basketball games.

•Gregory Frommelt (greg.f.pelladium@gmail.com)

>>PERFORM: Tulip Court members Sarah Van Maanen, Kelly Anderson, Queen Alexa Zylstra, Taylor Van Woerkom and Hanna Martin, all seniors, performed March 20 at the Community Center. The performance which celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Vermeer Windmill, included songs, dances and Tulip Time facts. “Being part of the Tulip Court process has been awesome. Getting to know the girls has been a really rewarding part. Also, everyone that we interact with is so fun, a lot of the elderly audiences especially appreciate what we do. Even outside of the court, a lot of us girls have become really good friends,” said Van Maanen. •Photo by Tiffany Carter

Facilities committee prioritizes projects During the last month, some 60 members of a facilities study committee have wandered the halls of the district's schools, noting any areas of the buildings that need improvement.

These areas are then added to a list of projects that are to be finished.

This is still an ongoing process, but a few of the main objectives for the high school have been specifically discussed. They include the cafeteria, the student drop-off zone at the front of the building, the locker rooms, and the vocations hallway, which includes the agriculture, art and shop classes.

These three projects have been prioritized for the high school, but there are many more to follow. These changes will not happen overnight, according to Principal Eric Nelson.

“The plan to update these areas is called the 10-year facility plan. The facilities study committee tours each school building for two hours, writing down which areas have the highest need for being updated. These projects will be prioritized and put into the 10-year facility plan,” said Nelson.

The committee, which includes adults directly related with the school and community members, works under the guidance of Superintendent Greg Ebeling. He shared how the projects are to be carried out.

“The school board facilities committee meets once a year to evaluate the facilities that need to be updated. This happens during the spring so the projects can be completed over the summer,” said Ebeling.

With so many areas in need of upgrades, a worry is how much these projects will cost, and if they will affect the school budget.

“The funding for the projects come from a separate account that was set up specifically for these alone. It does not affect any other area, for example, salaries paid. These areas need to be modernized, and by doing so, it will support programs that can provide experiences for students and encourage teachers to strive for excellence,” said Ebeling.

Junior Madison Doren had an idea regarding the facilities situation.

“It would be great if the school could get air conditioning or better ventilation for the upstairs because I constantly hear my friends complaining about the heat in their upstairs classes,” said Doren.

•Jillian Sagers (jsag.pelladium@gmail.com)

Three main areas of improvement

Cafeteria & student commons

Ag, art, shop areas

Student drop-off zone

03. 27. 2012.

NEWS PAGE EDITOR: MADDY SCHOLTEN

Van Wyk proudly wears Honey Princess title Honey Princess? Bee Keeping? Queen Bee? Senior Hannah Van Wyk knows all too well about the art of bee keeping, after all she is a Honey Princess. She is the first one in 11 years, and a special one at that. This year marks Iowa’s 100th anniversary of the Iowa Honey Producer’s Association and of organized bee keeping in Iowa.

Hannah Van Wyk proudly wears her title as the first Honey Princess since 2001. She is joined by her fellow Honey Queen Renae Beard from Chariton and is determined to spread the word about bee keeping in Iowa. Seven different districts feature multiple chapters of bee keepers. Van Wyk attends the club at Red Rock Bee Keepers in Knoxville.

Van Wyk first started being interested in bee keeping when her father and brother went to a class about the subject hosted by Craig Greene through the extension office of Marion County. Although Van Wyk was skeptical at first, she eventually began to accept the hobby.

“My dad and brother went to the classes, and I just stood back and was like ‘Okay father/son bonding’. I guess the bees just grew on me. Last year at this time I thought my dad and brother were crazy getting into it, and come to find out it’s really exciting,” said Van Wyk. Her passion for bees led her to pursue the crown for royalty. She was coached

by Gina Hoy, the national Honey Princess of 2012. Hannah became educated about bees throughout this past year, and decided to run for Honey Princess primarily because her father encouraged her to do so.

“It was mostly for my dad, since I am a daddy’s girl, I •Graphic by Micah Zeimetz

wanted to get involved and I was told that not many ladies run. I also had an amazing coach that helped me,” said Van Wyk. This year, there were two girls that ran for the Queen crown. Renae Beard took away the Queen title but the board decided that they enjoyed Hannah’s presence so they decided to have a Honey Princess. The competition for Honey Royalty takes place at the annual IHPA meeting in early November. To compete, the girls have to fill out an application as well as deliver a speech to the IHPA board.

Van Wyk took part in this ceremony on Nov. 4.

“As far as Hannah as a person, she did very well and good at her speech, and presented the information well to the board. She has a lot of good ideas about trying to promote our hundredth year,” said Connie Bronnenberg the chair for Honey Queen.

Van Wyk is not only a princess, but she is also an active participant in bee keeping at her home. Her family owns their own hives and Van Wyk helps to tend these hives.

These hives are known as ‘Nucs’ which consists of one Queen Bee and four pounds of bees. Hives are imported from California, coming from almond pollination.

In addition to importing Nucs, the Van Wyks must keep their hives alive as well as take the honey from the hives. The business of tending to hives, without proper equipment, can be somewhat dangerous.

“You wear a full veil and suit, but last summer I wasn’t wearing the full bee suit and I got stung. It was a little bit of an awakening, but I still go and check on the bees without all my gear on,” said Van Wyk. Bee stings might be some people’s greatest fear, but Hannah acknowledges that stings can even be therapeutic.

“Doctors even prescribe bee stings in some instances for

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people with arthritis to get blood flow moving,” said Van Wyk. As Honey Princess, Van Wyk must attend board meetings as well as raise awareness of bee keeping to the general public.

At board m e e t i n g s , >>TEACH. Senior Hannah Van Wyk gives a speech about honey in her oral communications class. •PhoIHPA discusses to by Tiffany Carter. ways to interest the public about bee keeping in Iowa, an industry worth $350 million during the past five years, in which 3.1 million pounds of honey have been produced annually. Van Wyk looks forward to the rest of her year reigning as the Honey Princess.

“I’m looking forward to the events and meeting new people. I’m excited to participate in doing a bee beard, which is where you hold a Queen in her Queen cage to your chin and then expert bee keepers put the youngest bees onto your face to surround the Queen which then makes a bee beard on the person. It can weigh up to four pounds of young bees,” said Van Wyk. •Madeline Meyer (mm.pelladium@gmail.com)

Mayor Mueller makes commitment to town, family James (Jim) Mueller, father of senior Lindsey Mueller, sophomore Rachel Mueller and 2010 graduate Madeline Mueller, was sworn in as the newly-elected mayor, beginning his four-year term at the start of the year.

Although the three girls did not play a direct role in the process of addressing the public, they did make efforts to get Jim’s name out there to others in the community.

“We knew my dad wanted to run for a while, and then, he told us when he finally decided to make it official. I told my friends that my dad was going to run and told them to tell their parents to vote,” said Rachel.

Jim said the girls not only offered advice and designing skills, but also emotional support for the campaign.

“My family helped me in a number of ways. First, they gave me advice on the fliers that I handed out- what picture to use and issues to address. But, the biggest thing they did for me was to offer encouragement and support,” said Jim.

After the election, Lindsey shares what He couldn’t stop smiling. Just seeing how the Mueller family has also gained a greater it was like to hear the news of her father’s happy that made him was definitely the appreciation for their time shared.

“I have been attending a lot more best part,” said Rachel. success.

With the added responsibility of being meetings, [which means] more time away “It wasn’t until 10:30 p.m. that my in city from my family. It makes us appreciate the mom finally office comes time we get to spend with each other more. called to tell c h a n g e s It makes us focus on spending time together us the good within the when we have the opportunity,” said Jim. news. When While it may seem as though running household. we first found “ R i g h t for and becoming Mayor is an individual’s out, Rachel now, it’s a responsibility, the family of the elected and I jumped little hectic. I official must also make a commitment to a r o u n d mean, he was the Mayor’s new role. and started “Any time a person offers their service in busy when screaming he was just an elected office, it becomes very personal, for probably on council, especially if they have family at home. It a good 10 but now, isn’t just the candidate that gets elected to minutes and •Photo submitted. he has a lot an office, it is the entire family. Everyone kept freaking >>SMILE. Pella’s ‘First’ Family. out,” said Lindsey. more duties on his shoulders. He still has in the family serves in some way, as the Later, after learning the news, Rachel time on his hands to come to softball games mayor’s wife or daughter, the Councilman’s and Lindsey were able to also see their dad’s and show choir concerts, but he has a lot of wife or husband. They have an interest in and a commitment to the success of the response to the election results. work when he comes home,” said Lindsey.

“The best part was seeing his reaction.

The time apart may be a difficult office,” said Jim. He was so happy when he came home. transition for the family, but because of it, •Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com)

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PAGE EDITOR: GREGORY FROMMELT

Parents work toward big night It is one of the most speculated nights of the year, but few ever take the chance to truly understand how much effort and expenses go towards one night. It’s prom, a junior/senior formal tradition that has been occurring here for more than 30 years.

Decorations, location, DJ, food, afterprom... the list goes on and on. Prom alone costs $3,800. Of these monies, half of it is allotted to just decorations. The Pella Opera House is the next on the list with $850 going to location. Finally, food for the night tops off the budget around $400.

“If you remember prom last year it wasn’t necessarily overdone, but the [prom committee] did a good job,” said assistant principal Jon Muller.

This year, fundraising for prom was different from previous years. Since the state doesn’t allow a stipend for each grade any longer, less money is left in the account for the junior class to use on prom. The money they did have, $1,500, was left over from their eighth grade party. The additional $2,300 was raised by a combination of fundraisers, such as donations, the sale of prom tickets and a middle school dance.

After prom, on the other hand, triples the cost of the night. Whereas the junior class is in charge of prom, the senior class heads the after party. At after prom, prizes are awarded to students who win games and are put into drawings. Entertainment, such as a hypnotist, and games involving large inflatable structures, are a part of the night. Although the two events are not linked to one another as far as cost and organization, they are still part of making the night of prom a night to remember.

After prom was designed to help insure that students are safe after the big dance. After prom became a way to keep students out of trouble during prom night. After prom costs double of what the dance cost, and takes tremendous effort to coordinate. This year, senior moms Debbie Sunderman and Kris Scholten are heading up the committee.

Last year alone, the after party cost $11,800. These expenses are paid for by generous businesses and parents. The after prom committee sends out a letter to all business and

Vander Wert supplies minty freshness

Out of the kindness of her heart and from the depths of her pockets, office administrative assistant Charma Vander Wert treks to Wal-Mart to load up on bags of mints to be offered to students she sees everyday at school.

Vander Wert, a mother figure for many in the school, has been providing this selfless act of kindness for the students for as long as anyone can remember. The reason for this is very simple.

“I wanted a way to get to know the kids, •Photo by Gregory Frommelt and I wanted to brighten their day a little,” said Vander Wert.

Candy is usually the way to a teenager’s heart, and the thought of a sugary treat and seeing Charma after lunch is anticipated by many.

“I’m not sure whether I love the mints more or Charma’s beautiful smile,” said junior Zoe Vermeer.

While one mint a day may not seem to amount to a lot, masses of students flocking to take a mint each day adds up fast.

“Usually, seven to eight bags are used up in one week,” said Vander Wert.

With some students grabbing a handful of mints at one time, and others not giving a thought to the number of mints it takes to fuel the school, it came as a shock to junior Jake Wesemann.

“I had no idea that she paid for all of those mints by herself. That’s a ton of mints,” said Wesemann.

The basket of mints is open for the public, but it also means that some may abuse this privilege. Vander Wert sets few guidelines and has but two wishes.

“My request is that students take only one mint and pair it with a thank you because it is a gift, and it shows good manners,” said Vander Wert.

“People that take a handful are being disrespectful because it’s a privilege and it shouldn’t be abused,” said sophomore Tristan Miedema.

• Jillian Sagers (jsag.pelladium@gmail.com)

LIFE

03. 27. 2012.

parents in the area, and the response is tremendous.

As the treasurer of the after prom committee, Marcena Schwab is in charge of all of these expenses. She has been working on the after prom committee for two years. Schwab has worked with the committee to coordinate the letters that go out to the community and to insure that the money is budgeted correctly.

“With the economy the way it is, we aren’t sure how much money people are willing to pay, but we are pleased. People are very generous,” said Schwab.

Schwab has a strong connection with the tradition of afterprom. As a Pella High graduate and former grand prize after prom winner, Schwab remembers the difference that after prom played in her life.

“I won this little black and white TV; it was the grand prize for the after prom in 1982,” said Schwab.

Although the grand prize this year hasn’t been an>>DANCE. Senior Hanna Martin and nounced yet, the night is sure to bring smiles to stu- junior Lauren Manecke dance at last dents’ faces. year’s prom. •Photo by Blake Lanser “The goal is not to make it super extravagant, but we want the kids to take something from it and make memories. It’s a labor of love for the parents, not just those on the committee, but for all those who donate,” said Schwab.

•Madeline Meyer (mm.pelladium@gmail.com)

Flahive gives students wake-up calls As the school year wears on, school can become quite monotonous or boring. For sophomore Daniel Flahive, the progression of the year has cultivated the opportunity to shine a little light on not only his world, but the worlds of those around him also.

About two months ago, Flahive received a CB (citizen’s band) radio and a PA speaker from his father, and he hooked the two up to his vehicle. CB radios were first used for truckers to communicate on the road, accomplished through one of 40 channels, giving the ability to speak to any other radio-ers within a short radius. For Flahive, however, the radio provides a •Photo by Nathan Clayberg source of some good old fashioned entertainment.

“I just thought it would be funny [to hook it up] so I could talk to people. I knew some people who have already had them and the school is a good place to talk to a lot of people.

I’ve had it for two months now, and I like it,” said Flahive.

Though Flahive has been creative with his way of spreading fun, he still likes to keep his comments to people short and classy.

“I usually just say things like “Good morning,” or just yell their name and have them come talk to me,” said Flahive.

It is possible that this type of communication could be frustrating to some, but other high school students have enjoyed the morning pick-me-up, and Flahive feels that the response is generally positive.

“People usually just laugh and wave [when I yell to them],” said Flahive.

“I think it’s pretty funny, he says 'Hi' to me every morning,” said sophomore Mallory Lynch.

“It’s a little weird, the first time he [called my name] it made me jump because it was right behind me,” said sophomore Brianna Buzick.

Either way, the speaker has allowed Flahive to have a good time, but also to make some good memories.

“Probably the most memorable thing that has happened so far was when I said good morning like the first day I had it and everyone in the parking lot was looking to see where it came from, and my friends and I just laughed,” said Flahive.

•Nathan Clayberg (nc.pelladium@gmail.com)

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03. 27. 2012.

SPORTS

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PAGE EDITOR: MADELINE MEYER

Semi-pro football team relocates to Pella Are you ready for some football? If not, get ready because Pella has a semi-pro football team coming in the form of the Pella Knights.

The Pella Knights are formerly thie Bridge City Knights located previously in Ottumwa. They decided to move to Pella over the summer. “[The move] was to give Pella a chance to have a semi-pro football team and Pella was very welcoming,” said Tom Lathrop owner and kicker for the Knights.

“It seemed like a nice and tight knit community when I took the team here for a couple of games last year,” said Lathrop.

The team is members of the Midwest Football Alliance who is in association with Minor League football teams. There are six different teams in the Pella Knights league.

One of the six teams is the Des Moines Blaze, who finished number one in the country for minor league teams.

“It is a step above college football where kids coming out of college programs don’t get into the arena league or the pros can come and play competitively,” said Lathorp.

The Knights were looking for free agent players who registered and went to a tryout in an attempt to get onto the team. The tryout were on March 11 at the William Penn PAC Center. You can find information

on their web site, bridgecityknights.com.

All the players are volunteers and are not paid for their play, they are simply wanting a chance to continue playing football.

“I’m looking forward for a chance to show off the talent. We already have a core of our team,” said Lathorp.

New head coach Steven Miller, formerly the defensive line coach at nearby William Penn University will lead the team.

The team is coming off of a 3-7 season but are hoping to improve in a new town and with a new atmosphere.

“We are competing to win a league championship, we want to be competitive,” said Lathrop.

The Pella Knights pride themselves on providing a family friendly atmosphere at their games so people of all ages can have fun.

“We have festivities for adults and children. We have things such as a clown coming to the game for kids, live DJ music for the adults and cheerleaders,” said Lathrop.

The Pella Knights will play their home games at the Pella Community High School Field. The first home game is scheduled for May 12 against the Great River Gladiators.

•Greg Frommelt (gregf.pelladium@gmail.com)

>>Sophomore Jordan Pingel soars over the high jump bar at 5’2” in an indoor meet March 16 at Central.

“It was great to get back into the swing of things and get a measurement of what’s to come this season,” said Pingel. The team is preparing for 12 outdoor meets this season, beginning March 30 in Winterset. •Photo by Derrick Akers

This spring marks the busiest athletics season of the year.

Each sport has a different tip-off time. Below are first competitions for each outdoor sport.

Girls 9/JV/Varsity Soccer: April 9 vs. Marshalltown, 4:45 p.m.

Boys’ JV/ Varsity Soccer- April 12 @ Newton, 5:30 p.m.

Girls’ Golf: April 7 @ Chariton, 8:30 am Boys’ Golf: March 30, Quad @ Chariton, 4:15 p.m.

Girls’ Outdoor Track: April 5 @ Nevada, 5 p.m.

Boys’ Outdoor Track: April 3 @ Davis County, 5 p.m.

Girls’ Tennis- April 5 vs. Oskaloosa, 4:15 p.m.

Boys’Tennis- April 10 vs Norwalk, 4:15 p.m.

Show choir makes statement for exercise

•Sophomore Nathan Clayberg (Photo by Blake Lanser)

The list of premier athletes doesn’t usually include Chris Brown, much like show choir isn’t typically considered a sport, unless, of course, you know how much blood, sweat and more sweat is poured into the song and dance combination.

As a four-year football player, senior Jordan Baker knows the demands of a traditional sport, and show choir compares.

“Show choir is more like cross country or a really long distance track run because it’s 20 minutes of really intense cardio, but, at the same time, you’re also exhaling and singing so you don’t get a whole lot of chance to breathe,” he said.

Show choir director Michelle Chaplin said it was more physically demanding than the two sports she participated in while in high school: volleyball and cheerleading.

Besides the cardio endurance required, multi-tasking is a must-have skill for show choir performers.

“In football, or when you’re running, you can control your breathing, but when you’re singing, you’re constantly exhaling and, not only exhaling, but you have to control the pitch and sound good, so you’re thinking about that. You’re also trying to think about ‘How do I look to the audience?

Am I crisp? Am I hitting everything where it’s supposed to

be?’ and, at the same time, you’re breathing like crazy and we’re sweating like pigs out there,” said Baker.

Even sweat-induced tears can stop a performance.

“When you perform, you can’t move your hand and wipe your eyes or anything because you’re performing and you don’t want people to see. So, you just blink your eyes a lot and look dumb. When you’re performing on stage, you’re not allowed to do selfish movements like that. You can’t fix your hair, you can’t itch your nose, anything. 10 to 12 minutes at a time, then we go off stage to change,” said Baker.

The pressure while performing even ranks favorably with the pressure of Friday night lights.

“It’s really stressful that you know you’re getting judged, but there is a little comfort in that it’s a group of 60 people,” said Baker. Those 60 people also demonstrate another common sports theme: teamwork.

“There’s a lot of people from different backgrounds.

Everybody melds together a little bit, so you get this unique sense of ‘we’re a team’ and ‘nobody’s gonna mess with you.’

It’s just you and 49 other people out there singing and dancing and looking like a fool,” said Baker.

•Benji McElroy (bme.pelladium@gmail.com)

•Freshman Klaire De Vos (Photo by Blake Lanser)

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6

PAGE EDITOR: TIFFANY CARTER,

IN FOCUS

i’m buyin’ it Advertising rules television, marks miles on highway billboards and entices viewers on social networking sites. As consumerism continues to control the salaries of millions, marketers continue to inch their way into multiple facets of daily life, including in the lives of high school students.

“Advertising and marketing of all kinds is extremely sophisticated and uses scientifically proven methods and psychology to get people to buy their products,” said Raimee Eck, program coordinator for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth.

The number of ways to market a product or service is infinite. Many businesses have tried methods all across the spectrum, from body art to simple fliers. But, when it comes to appealing to high school age students, social media pulls ahead as one of the most effective means.

“Social media ranks high when the need to engage with high school students arises. A successful social media campaign is built on a sound strategy. Interaction with consumers is key, so we need to engage with the audience in a way they want to be reached- social platforms.

Some platforms we use to target your generation: text message campaigns, targeted online ads, Facebook, Twitter, mobile ads and YouTube,” said 2004 graduate and Lessing-Flynn Advertising account manager Jordan (Bloodsworth) Beynon.

Social networking site Facebook may be one of the most popular outlets for social advertising.

“Money is being moved from traditional media social media, especially Facebook,” said Eck.

The continuous rise in technology only further aids companies in accomplishing this strategy. The importance of appealing to the younger generation is not only vital for the purpose of covering a wide age range, but many companies view high school age students as some of the most important to target.

“If anything, it [the rise in technology] has helped companies offer better communication with high school students. Many companies are quickly trying to adapt to new means of advertising via social platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Pinterest to stay in front of the younger generation. After all, the younger generations will someday supplant their current customers,” said Beynon.

Still, many companies do not solely rely on obtaining business through social media methods.

“When considering a marketing campaign, we urge our clients to use an integrated marketing campaign in an effort to engage with the consumer. Although most teens are wired in these days, it’s best if you use a mix of traditional and digital media to interact with them to ensure you reach all consumers,” said Beynon.

Marketing has proved one of the most deciding factors in the success of a product or service and the business that provides it. Sometimes,advertising is the determining factor of success, and because of this, many companies are willing to make a huge investment in the

Alternative advertising gains interest Over recent years, many different methods of advertising have been used. Companies have also reverted to more alternative forms, to catch potential buyer’s eyes. Advertisements have pushed the envelope in delivery techniques, finding new and inventive ways to attract buyers.

Others have merely served to puzzle. A prime example comes from a Chevrolet billboard that used real pennies and was stripped clean within 30 minutes. The stunt sparked talk around the globe, and ultimately coincided with higher profit growth than usual markings.

In Singapore, advertisers painted an extra yellow safety line on a train platform with the name “Wonderbra” on it, leaving commuters to figure out the message - that the bra’s lifting qualities were so forceful that wearers would have to stand back.

For the most part, the craziness is designed to lift an advertiser’s message beyond the clutter.

This has included some increasingly weird publicity stunts. People in London were not so fond of a prank by Right Guard, which sent a team of people onto the city’s subway systems with tiny video screens in the armpits of their shirts. Whenever one of the team members reached overhead, a commercial for Right Guard would play in someone’s face.

Alternative advertising is certainly embodied by the Right Guard

Students share advertising preferences

The phrases “Just Do It,” “What would you do for a Klondike bar?” and “You’re in good hands” have been heard so many times they will be forever burned into the heads. These slogans are seen on television, in magazines and on the Internet in hope that they will draw attention to their products. Companies use slogans and many other strategies to market products. However, many companies have difficulty in deploying strategies that make their products more enticing to a younger audience.

According to the Media Awareness Network, a website created for advertisement education, companies use 13 different strategies when attempting to appeal to the public. These strategies range from “star power” (placing a famous celebrity on the advertisement) to basic ideas such as repetition and popular music. Although many companies try and use a wide variety of these tactics, many of them are not as effective as the companies expect. advertising of their products or services.

“Commercials with a catchy slogan or theme song really get to me. You just can’t get that “Usually, brands that are better at marketing are more successful than others, no matter stuff out of your head, and when you are walking around Wal-Mart looking for some food, or how good the actual product is in comparison. But, none of these places actually do the work. shampoo maybe, and the catchy slogan pops in your head, I’m sold,” said junior Kyle Van Wyk. for themselves. They hire marketing agencies that use very sophisticated research and polls to Harris Interactive, one of the largest and fastest-growing research firms in the world, condecide what will be the most appealing,” said Eck. ducted an investigation in 2006 about youth advertising and its effectiveness.

Often times, viewers discover that internet advertisements are often strangely linked to They polled 1,306 kids and teens, ages one’s interests. Internet clothing store shoppers may begin to notice a high number of cloth8-18, in a nationwide ing ads on all of the web pages they visit. Technology lovers may begin to notice an increasing survey. amount of advertising for iPads or television. But, how do they do it?

Some “Many of these platforms also allow for target specific ad placeadverments based on your page visits on the web. As you browse tising the web, you will start to see ads specific to your interests, stratebased on pages you view. This is known as ‘Geo-Targeting’,” gies are said Beynon. more effecBut, browsing the web isn’t the only way markettive, but none ers can make those with the highest potential to buy of the results showed their product will see their advertisements. an alarming front-runner in “Facebook offers a similar approach to their ad the “battle of the best strategy.” placements. You can select the gender, age, location, According to the survey, 29 percent of interests etc. so that you only target a specific group kids and teens would feel more inclined to buy of consumers. Advertisers pay per click for online ads so nara product if a celebrity had advertised their use •Graphic by Blake Lanser rowing your demographic is key,” said Beynon. of the product, while only 18 percent of them felt Although it is illegal for many high school students to like they would be more likely to not buy the product due to buy or use certain products until reaching age 18 or 21, many the celebrity advertisement. Along with this, 26 percent of kids and teens said they would by a industries that sell those products still target underage consumers. product if they saw advertising in stadiums and other sporting event arenas, and only 17 percent “The alcohol industry would not say they use ANY strategies to target underage youth, of them disliked this strategy. because that is illegal, and they would never do that, etc. However, what our reports show is that underage youth are exposed to alcohol advertising on the radio, on TV and in magazines consistently more than adults. There are also at least 14 studies that have shown that exposure of young people to alcohol advertising increases the chances they will start drinking, or if they are already drinking, that they will drink more,” said Eck. With advertisers having such refined abilities to make their products or services so promi As the harmful effects of smoking and the consumption of alcohol have become more clear in nent in many areas high school students are frequent in, many youth struggle to avoid advertis- recent decades, many restrictions have been placed on the advertisement methods of cigarettes ing. and alcoholic beverages, drawing a fine line of legality.

“The best thing to do is to understand that advertisers are just giving you one small part of The first restriction on advertisement came with the Public Cigarette Health Smoking Act of the whole story. They [businesses] don’t show the unfortunate side of their products. [Students 1970, which blocked all forms of television and radio advertising for cigarettes. Further restricneed to] be able to say, ‘Look, I want to make my own decision on what I will buy,’ and make tions did not arrive until 1998, with the master settlement informed, responsible decisions about what they will use,” said Eck. “The ban on broadcast advertising was the first form of prohibition. By 1998, most of the •Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com) states had sued the tobacco industry to be reimbursed for the healthcare costs of treating smokers.

This was called the master settlement and resulted in a tighter restriction on magazine ads and sports sponsorships,” said Marie Cocco, director of national communications at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in an interview with the “Pelladium.”

These restrictions were not coded into law until 2009 when the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act law passed. The law puts stricter regulation on all facets of the tobacco campaign staged in London in July. While Right Guard referred to the subway stunt as “pitvertis- industry with a focus on protecting youth. ing,” bloggers called it repulsive.

Many of the restrictions focus on youth smoking, such as Section 105 which states, “Not later Despite the criticism, executives at Dial, which owns Right Guard, said they were pleased. than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human “We were obviously hopeful that the Right Guard brand would come out in a good light, Services shall develop and publish an action plan to enforce restriction[s]…on [the] promotion which I believe that it did,” said Nina Daily, a marketing manager at Dial in an August and advertising of menthol and other cigarettes to youth.” press conference.

The advertising restrictions on the tobacco industry are well-founded as they spend over $10 A whopping total of $7.3 billion on outdoor ads last year, an in- billion a year on advertising. crease of 7 percent from 2006, according to the Outdoor Advertising “The industry spends $10.5 billion a year to market its products. In fact, that’s $29 million Association of America was spent on enticing consumers. every day to market cigarettes and smokeless tobacco,” said Cocco.

About 16 percent of that fell into the “alternative” cat- Major tobacco companies will deny advertising to youth, but many studies have been done egory, which covers ads that were not on billboards, bus which present evidence that youth are constantly being targeted. Tobacco companies target youth shelters or the like. in two main ways: through colorful conveinant store displays and price promotions.

Some find certain alternative methods to be outrageous.

“What they [cigarette companies] say and do are two different things. They say they don’t “It’s kinda crazy. You can’t go anywhere without an ad in market to kids, but they have it refined down to a deceitful art. They constantly portray cigarettes your face, and now that people are trying this sort of thing, it with themes to portray smoking as fun and cool. There are two things we know: 1) Kids spend puts it in your face without even reading a sign,” said sopho- a large portion of time in convenient stores; and, 2) These advertisements raise youth smoking more Cass Blom. rates,” said Cocco.

Whether it’s in an armpit, on traffic markings, or Associate professor John Murry, of the University of Iowa’s Tippy School of Business believes even on your penny, companies will continue to adver- that peer pressure has a larger impact on youth consumption of alchol and tobacco products than tise in the unexpected, regardless of whether you’re look- advertising. ing for it, or not.

“That [youth advertising] was a problem, and a legacy exists, but the bigger issue is that kids •Graphic by Marielle Gaiser

•Jack Parisee (jp.pelladium@gmail.com)

Advertisers strategize for youth appeal

7

03. 27. 2012

“[Celebrity advertisements] don’t affect my decision of buying something. For me, it depends on the product, not who is trying to sell it to me,” said senior Alli Balk.

Certain strategies that companies use were universally disliked by the surveyed teens. Only four percent of kids and teens agreed that personal emails were acceptable ways to advertise, and 66 percent of teens marked “strongly dislike” on this section. Along with these, 50 percent of kids and teens disliked cell phone advertising, and 41 percent disliked chat-room advertising.

“No, [online advertisements do no not influence purchasing]. Honestly, when I see those advertisements, it’s annoying. When I am on Facebook playing my games, those ads throw me off my game. I want to get those ads off the net,” said freshman Tanner Wood.

It has been widely believed by companies that repetition is the key to profit. The idea behind repetition of advertisements is simple; the more people see a product, the more they will begin to remember and want the product. Companies often times use this strategy on younger audiences more than older audiences, with the thought that it will produce more positive effects.

“It really depends on the product. If the commercial is entertaining, I’ll like it, and then, if I see it in a store, I’d be more likely to remember it. If the commercials aren’t entertaining, it’s just really annoying,” said freshman Colin Jones.

The Marketing Science Institute conducted a study looking into the effectiveness of the repetition technique. The study concluded that the constant of repetition does little for increasing the effectiveness of the advertising. In reality, the constant repetition leads to a decrease in the success of the advertisements, but these studies, along with other studies on repetition, have been conflicting with each other.

Possibly the most successful method of advertising in youth is putting catchy songs and jingles onto the commercials. Many teenagers find that these advertisements leave the jingle or song stuck in their head, and then they are more likely to remember what was being advertised.

“I would say that ones with catchy songs would make me more inclined to buy a product.

The song will get stuck in your head and then when you hear the song, you think of the product and want it,” said sophomore Sydney Swanson.

Many companies also try lowering prices on their goods to make them more available to the teen market. Many cigarette companies, even though it is illegal, employ this strategy.

“The way [cigarette companies] promote youth smoking is through discounts. Kids do not have a lot of money, so the more cigarettes are discounted, the more youth and adults are likely to buy,” said Mary Cocco, a director of national communications at the Campaign for TabaccoFree Kids.

Advertising for the youth market is an incredibly difficult task, it is a lot like music and movie taste, because everybody has different preferences.

•Mitch Shepperd (mps.pelladium@gmail.com)

Lines drawn in ad legality are influencing each other.

The greatest influence in purhcasing a product is having a peer use the product,” said Murry, who spoke with the “Pelladium.”

Contrary to the restrictive legislation affecting the tobacco industry, the alcohol industry has far fewer restrictions. According to the Federal Trade Commision, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States had a ban on liquor advertising on radio and television, but the ban was lifted in 1996. Other than voluntary bans by the industry, the only re•Graphic by Marielle Gaiser strictions placed on alcohol advertising come from the FTC’s Comission’s Deception Policy Statement.

The lack of restrictive legislation on advertisement by the alcohol industry stems from two factors. 1) Documents were found within the tobacco industry explicitly encouraging the target of youth, resulting in restrictive advertising legislation. 2) The public sees alchohol and tobacco as greatly different substances.

“Even people who smoke, probably don’t enjoy it, but alcohol has been a part of our lives for centuries,” said Raimee Eck, the program coordinator of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

CAMY focuses on releasing reports which illustrate the various ways youth are exposed to alcohol advertisements rather than attempting to prove that the industry targets youth.

According to camy.org: “Alcohol advertisers spent $2 billion on alcohol advertising in measured media (television, radio, print, outdoor, major newspapers and Sunday supplements) in 2005, Between 2001 and 2005, youth exposure to alcohol advertising on television in the U.S. increased by 41% and For each additional dollar per capita spent on alcohol advertising in a local market (above the national average of $6.80 per capita), young people drank 3% more.”

•Alexander Ropes (ar.pelladium@gmail.com)

8

PAGE EDITOR: ALEX ROPES

IRREGARDLESS

•BENJI MCELROY (BME.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM) I’m in my room watching Blake Griffin attack the rim like Republican presidential candidates attack Barack Obama. It doesn’t matter if the orange cylinder deserves the perpetual punishment or not; it’s going to happen one way or another. Griffin is in Los Angeles, and I’m in Iowa, yet I can see every freckle on his face as his eyes flash a look shared only by your mom after she realizes you’ve re-carpeted your room with last month’s wardrobe.

I’m watching this all unfold on a TV thinner than Nicole Ritchie while sharing in the excitement with Vinny from Jersey Shore (via Twitter) and unsuccessfully trying to use the pick-up lines I Googled during the commercial break on underclassmen (via text). All from the comfort of my crumb-covered bed.

Then, I wave my magic remote and rewind live TV. Essentially, Harry Potter doesn’t have a thing on me at this moment in time.

But I complain. And complain.

And complain. If I put on 300 pounds and a pair of jorts, I’d be a 21st-century version of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.”

The French might thumb their pastry-plastered noses at our American brand of “lazy ungratefulness,” but it’s that lack of contentment that allows us to sit atop our global throne, no matter how many I.O.U.’s it sits upon. Satisfaction is better left in the hands of senior citizens slowly expiring on the beaches of Florida.

It could be worse, after all. Blake Griffin could be a fuzzy, colorless blob on a screen the size of a

What was the best part of your spring break?

•Ben Konfrst (bf.pelladium@gmail.com)

“I was really bored most of the time because I didn’t go anywhere exciting, but I did have fun going shopping with my family!”

Gameboy Color, I could be sharing in the “excitement” with my Vietnam-scarred dad, and Paul Revere could be my only shot at communicating with ladies. Or, even worse yet, I could be forced to watch Billy Crystal host the Oscars.

Back when microwaves were coming attractions, “settling” was the name of the game.

[Cut to every woman married in 50’s nodding grimly.] The moon race was the only semblance of innovation in a landscape dominated by stagnation. When it came to TV’s and cars, consumers just had to deal with flaws or maybe switch over to the lone competitor. Things, quite literally, were simpler.

Today, we have more options than a Mormon has sister-wives and thank Jehovah that we do. Settling is a product of laziness, no longer a product of the status-quo. I can appreciate my remote with the unicorn-tail-core, but I can also ditch it on a dime if it starts to go the way of Myspace.

On the other hand, when it comes to things with beating hearts, you can't just "upgrade" without regard. Sure, your dog has a habit of chewing holes in your favorite boxers, but that doesn't mean you can send him the way of an old Etch A Sketch.

Sometimes living, breathing things do need tossed aside, though. For example, Rihanna should probably toss Chris Brown out like an excessively old and abusive remote (assuming trusty TMZ reports are accurate).

Despite the connection many of us share with our phones, technology doesn't have feelings (sorry, R2). My TV has, undoubtedly, seen my pasty behind one too many times, but it isn't the same as a nagging girlfriend. When I want to move on to a bigger, better screen, I'll move on with little remorse.

I still count my lucky stars that I can count Blake Griffin’s freckles because watching security-tape-quality basketball broadcasts with Fred, Barney and the rest of Bedrock would, undoubtedly, blow. So, thanks for everything, but no thanks.

I want more.

EVERYTHING’S NOT LOST

Society will do anything to “foster learning.” Letting students retake a failed test? Oh, if it’s necessary! Extending deadlines? By all means! Letting students talk through it rather than taking a detention? Gladly! Ask anyone from a generation or two ago if they had these “opportunities,” and I’ll bet money that you have a “when I was a kid...” speech coming your way. This new approach to learning, with teachers as more of a friend than an authority figure, has yielded results, but it has made the traditional approach to learning far more lenient. Most importantly, it expects conformity.

The process expects that all teachers will be their students’ best friend. Outliers inhibit the process. For the most part, this conformity has successfully pervaded the teaching atmosphere, but a few teachers haven’t crossed over. Some teachers take a deadline to mean a deadline, and a 0 to mean a 0. Life isn’t full of extended deadlines, so why should the classroom be? It would seem that the student body begs to disagree.

The teaching ability of such educators is wholly overlooked, and all attention is directed towards their “rigidity” and “harsh discipline.” “Mom, I learned about Boss Tweed today!” Rather, they become “Oh. My. God. Guess what Mr. Smith did today.”

This attention to behavior rather than instruction can quickly turn from an annoyance to a grudge, and the entire learning process is interrupted. Class can evolve from a place of instruction, to a stove, letting a grudge simmer until it boils over into a vendetta.

Suddenly, the most harmless remarks can become provocation for a stand off. Suddenly, calling on a student is targeting them. Pointing out an error is singling them out.

The fact of the matter is: school is not like real life, and these so called “harsh” teachers are often the closest we’re going to get to it. I do not have any personal experience with this so called “real life” or even college for that matter, but from what I’ve heard, it does not sound nearly as tolerant as high school. I doubt the editor of “The New York Times” is going to be forgiving with missed deadlines, nor will the chief of surgery be understanding of staying home because a heart surgeon was tired when he got called in at

A

“WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS THAN A MORMON HAS SISTER-WIVES”

•ALEX ROPES (AR.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM)

three in the morning.

I don’t speak on speculation. I’ve been involved in these petty feuds. I’m not sure how many of them were actually a two-sided affair, though. I regret letting my emotions alter my judgment; I regret taking offense to the simplest comments; I regret ignoring instruction to brood, but I am sure it will, inevitably, happen again. Even with this knowledge, I am glad that out of it all, I have learned something. I have learned to be more self-reliant, to compromise with those I don’t see eye-to-eye with and to get over myself and take a hit to my ego. I have learned to deal with people, and understand that everything isn’t fair.

The current educational method is working. Our teachers are some of the best in the state, and I am grateful for every extended deadline. But, I have learned from the 0’s on my progress report. I have learned that it’s true that if I muster the energy to cross the room and retrieve a dictionary, I will have a better remembrance of the word than if I asked the kid sitting next to me. I have learned to appreciate teachers who aren’t afraid to put their foot down just as much as those who let me retake a test.

•Graphic by Blake Lanser

“THE PROCESS EXPECTS THAT ALL TEACHERS WILL BE STUDENTS’ BEST FRIENDS”

OPINION

03. 27. 2012.

“The best part about it all is just “Arizona was an awesome “I went to Des Moines to see a getting the chance to get away experience! The view was stand-up comedy guy called Jeff amazing, and I got to experience Dunham. I would have to say my from school and reconnect with friends that you haven’t gotten to it with my best friend, spring break was fun.” hangout with for a while!” [sophomore] Kaylyn Roose.”

>>Freshman Stephanie Rennich >>Sophomore Aimee Uitermarkt

>>Junior Lucas Rietveld

>>Senior Zach Buchheit

OPINION Editorial Cartoon 03. 27. 2012

PAGE EDITOR: JACK PARISEE

9

•Graphic by Mitch Shepperd

•Graphic by Blake Lanser

Alternative News Limbaugh continues to offend

Rush Limbaugh is known for his certainly unique political commentary.

This month, the media had a field day covering his comments about Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown law student. Fluke spoke in front of the House Democratic Steer•Mitch Shepperd ing and Policy Committee in support of mandated private health coverage for contraceptives. During this testimony, she referred to the cost of her birth control over the past three years, which amounted to around $3,000. Limbaugh then commented about this on his radio show, The Rush Limbaugh Show (Clever, right?). He called Fluke a “slut” and a “prostitute”, and he even said that Sandra Fluke is “having so much sex it’s amazing she can still

walk”.

In celebration of Rush’s latest faux pas, I’ve compiled a list of his most ridiculous comments.

1. “That cracker made a lot of African-American millionaires.” --Rush Limbaugh, on the death of longtime New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, July 13, 2010

2. “[Obama] wouldn’t have been voted president if he weren’t black. Somebody asked me

over the weekend why does somebody have a lot of money, because she’s black. It was Oprah. No, it can’t be. Yes, it is. There’s a lot of guilt out there, show we’re not racists, we’ll make this person wealthy and big and famous and so forth.... If Obama weren’t black he’d be a tour guide in Honolulu or he’d be teaching Saul Alinsky constitutional law or lecturing on it in Chicago.” --Rush Limbaugh, July 6, 2010

3. “Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.” --Rush Limbaugh, 1987

Staff Editorial Back in a world that may now seem foreign to us, advertising used to consist of catchy jingles and clever hooks. Now, as it seems these promotions have no limits on their exposure or content, people, and more specifically teens, are succumbing to the heat of advertising.

Everywhere you look, from the internet to television to publications, advertisements can be found, encouraging the purchase of a product, donations to an organization and more. In fact, advertisements have become so normal, so routine, that often times they are unrecognizable. A study from the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that an average teenager spends about six hours a day using some type of media. This is exactly what advertisers hope for; it is no wonder that advertisements have become an accepted aspect of culture. In some circumstances, advertisements are even praised, as the Super Bowl, perhaps, gets more attention for the commercials played than the actual game.

But what does this all mean? Are advertisements really anything more than just those annoying t.v. commercials before getting back to the show? Apparently, they mean much more, as research confirms. Advertisers realize that teens not only influence the purchases of the goods and services that they see, but they also influence many of the purchases of the entire household. It is estimated that advertisers spend over $40 billion each year in television alone. The average teen is exposed to as many as 5,000 advertisements a day, according to a CBS news report. And, the advertisers are succeeding. Teens are now responsible for spending $144 billion per year on material items. Teens are often characterized as being impulse shoppers, being easily influenced and just wanting to fit in. This all plays to the advertiser’s advantage, and, perhaps, now more than ever, it is important for teens to start practicing to be wise consumers. Going further than just avoiding the traps of advertisers, by learning to be wise consumers, teens are helping to prepare for a successful future, a future hopefully free of overspending and debt.

(The Pelladium staff voted 17- 1 in favor of this editorial.)

4. “Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between

the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.” --Rush Limbaugh, Jan. 19, 2007

5. “Guess what? Faisal Shahzad is a registered Democrat. I wonder if his SUV had an

Obama sticker on it.” --Rush Limbaugh, lying about the failed Times Square car bomber, who is not registered to vote, May 4, 2010

6.”I am addicted to prescription pain medication.” --Rush Limbaugh, in 2003 7. “Take that bone out of your nose and call me back.” –responding to a black caller he

was having a hard time understanding in the 1970s when he worked under the name “Jeff Christie” on a top-40 music program in Pittsburgh, as quoted in Newsday, Oct, 8, 1990 • Jake Dorman (jrd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Executive Editors: Tiffany Carter, Benji McElroy, Madeline Meyer, Maddy Scholten Page Editors/Reporters: Benji McElroy, Jillian Sagers, Maddy Scholten, Gregory Frommelt, Madeline Meyer, Tiffany Carter, Alex Ropes, Jack Parisee, Evan Jones, Mitch Shepperd, Marielle Gaiser Visuals: Blake Lanser, Marielle Gaiser, Jillian Sagers, Mitch Shepperd, Micah Zeimetz Reporters: Derrick Akers, Nathan Clayberg, Kayla Da, Jake Dorman, Ben Konfrst, Sarah Muller, Ji Seo, Haley Sytsma Adviser: Ann Visser The Pelladium is a monthly tabloid produced by the high school journalism department to serve as an informative, educational and entertaining communications media and to provide an open forum to students and readers. •Letters to the Editors are welcome and encouraged. These letters must be signed and should, in no way, be libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters must have verified facts and should deal with issues. The Pelladium reserves the right to edit grammatical errors, libelous content or length due to the space limitations. Letters may be brought to Room 201 or sent to Pella Community High School, Box 486, Pella, IA 50219. •The Pelladium will strive to deliver information in a fair and truthful manner. The Pelladium will function in accord with all applicable laws, both in regard to the rights and restrictions of journalism. •The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the Pella Community High School Administration or the Pella Community Schools Board of Education. The Pelladium will make retractions in the event of errors made in the content of printed stories. Retractions will be printed in the issue immediately following the issue containing the errors. •The Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School Press Association.

10

PAGE EDITOR: EVAN JONES

ENTERTAINMENT

03. 27. 2012.

MOST WANTED: BEST OF THE WEB The image hosting website that seemingly consists of only memes, kittens and puppies.

Imgur basically exists to bring you the best pictures on the web. The interface is incredibly simple; “hot” pictures (highly rated), “top” pictures (highly viewed), and “new” pictures (selfexplanatory). Click on a category to view the pictures (again, most will be kittens).

Junior Olivia Mason enjoys the site’s vast collection and most of its humor.

“You never come across the same thing twice, at least I never have.

Also, it is usually guaranteed to make me laugh, unless some fool tries to be too clever,” said Mason.

• Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

•Graphic by Marielle Gaiser

Pinterest is an online breeding ground for the female population to look at cute fun new ideas to boost up a normal to daily routine with some creative crafts and recipes. Whether the objective is to find an intricately braided hairstyle or how to make a collage photo frame, several activities can be found to spice up your life. Pinners can post their interests on boards and be followed by other members of the site. No matter the activity or interest, a creative spin on it is available on Pinterest.

Senior Caitie Hones enjoys the website but has a unique view on it.

“It’s an online encyclopedia for

moms,” said Hones.

• Marielle Gaiser (Marielle.Gaiser@gmail.com)

• Graphic by Kayla Da

Stereomood

•Graphic by Evan Jones

If Pandora’s relentless advertising has you looking for other online music sites, Stereomood is worth your time. The site offers playlists based off of states of mind, moods or activities. From “cooking time” to “candle light dinner” there is a decent sized selection to choose from. The site also, tries not to offer up the same play-lists every time you chose a “mood”. For example the mood “Jazzy” has 658 tracks, from which 20 are randomly selected to be played.

The followers for Stereomood are few and far between, but junior Kayla Da has been a fan for awhile and still sings its praises.

“The playlists Stereomood has really fits what mood I’m in. The studying playlist has a chill and mellow music selection that’s perfect for me to study to,” said Da. • Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com) •Graphic by Marielle Gaiser

Reddit is an online forum where people post things they find on the web, likely from the other websites on this page.

Perhaps the best part about the site is the creativity of the comments, or the absurd threads created. From “Cute Cuddly Kittens” and “Banana Gore” to threads of a more mature nature, there are no limits to Reddit, with the possible exception of the human imagination. Reddit has been a popular site since 2009. Today, it dwarfs Imgur in site views but takes a back seat to the image hosting site in news coverage and attention among a high school demographic.

Junior Maddie Gates is a frequent visitor to Reddit.

“I love the super entertaining, weird, interesting posts.

I’m on it at least twice a day,” said Gates.

•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

Ulrich Motor 1130 West 16th Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2184

Wiskus Group 821 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1505

Van Hemert Chiropractic Center 1310 East Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2099

Van Gorp Corporation 1410 W. Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-9212

Van Sant Collision Repair 80 Truman Road Pella, IA 50219 641-628-3206

Support Publications Advertisers!

•Graphic by Marielle Gaiser

Anyone unsure about their knowledge of fruits, every movie ever made, or perhaps the geography of the globe? Sporcle is where its at. You can test yourself on any information acquired throughout a lifetime. There are several timed quizzes on this site designed to test individuals on whatever subject they choose.

Sporcle’s incredible variety of quizzes has something for everyone, from cat lovers to sports nuts.

“I really like knowing about college athletes and how they have transitioned to the pros, so the games on there about that information that I take make me feel intelligent,” said senior Payne Pleima.

•Marielle Gaiser (Marielle.Gaiser@gmail.com)

Green Supporters...

Central Cellular, 1530 Washington Street, 641-628-9520 Dutch Meadows Landscaping, 100 1/2 Vermeer Road, 641-628-4450 Embellish, 605 Franklin Street, 641-628-1738 Git `n Go, 209 East Oskaloosa Street, 641-628-1420 Monarch’s, 705 East 1st Street, 641-628-1633 Odyssey Spas, 514 East Oskaloosa, P.O. Box 524, 641628-8292 Pella Concrete Contractor’s Inc., 669 Highway T-14, 641628-3753 Pella Implement Company, 655 Hwy. T-14, 641-628-2131 Plumb Supply Company, 208 South East 9th Street, 641620-1406

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03. 27. 2012.

MENTAL HUG

PAGE EDITOR: MITCH SHEPPERD

BODY ODDITIES

Students’ Top 10 tweets from the past month 1.@kidcoleman - junior Coleman Neil.

Ran out of chocolate milk and toaster stroodles on the same day.....#whygod #why

2. @skinny_swag8- senior Ryan Shull.

Just changed in front of my fish for the first time. #bonding

3. @T_Swan - senior Tyler Swanson.

Idk how these kids go to different countries or states for spring break. I can hardly afford an occasional cheesburger #lifegoeson

4. @6etnyre9 - junior Michael Etnyre.

I think everybody at some point in their life wants a pet monkey.... right now I’m at that point #petmonkey

5.@Aaron_VanMaanen

- sophomore Aaron VanMaanen. @From_Greg is trying to get everyone to unfollow me. Don’t listen and I will throw in many perks #staytrue..

Plus Greg’s from wisconson.

6. @Seth_Johnson007 - freshman Seth

Johnson. Drove the whole way home on the left side of the road without brights on. #ilovegrandparents.

7. @Austremp - sophomore Austen

Rempe. Before someone gets their drivers lisence they should have to beat rainbow road on mario kart without falling off.

8. @ryanjm4444 - senior Ryan Morgan.

Ate some hot wings and forgot to wash my hands before going to the bathroom #ouch

9. @maceyguerena - junior Macey

Guerena. My grandma ate popcorn, cookies & cereal for breakfast. And she wonders why she can’t lose weight. #yikes

10. @GrantBarrick10 - senior Grant

Barrick. Moms making me clean my room before the cleaning ladies come... Isn’t that their job?

•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

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“Body oddities” might seem impossible to one person, but, to another, they’re just a simple task.

One example is the extreme flexibility associated with being hypermobile, or “double jointed.”

Hypermobility is definitely something that not all are capable of, which is why it seems to grab a lot of people’s attention. For juniors Taylor Dursky and Maddie Gates, this makes it possible to shift parts of their bodies into unnatural positions.

“I can turn them [my elbows] around the opposite way most people can and a little further. It doesn’t hurt, but it stretches them out a little,” said Dursky.

While Dursky is only double-jointed in her elbows, Gates can bend all of her fingers >>DOUBLE JOINTED. Junior Taylor completely back past their normal distances.

Dursky shows off her unique talent.

“For some reason my hands just bend super far Photo by Haley Systma. back, so it’s like they’re curling the opposite way, but it just feels like I’m stretching them normally,” said Gates.

Sophomore Nathan Boertje has multiple talents, along with flexibility, that he has no problem showing off to his fellow classmates.

“I am able to put my feet behind my head, make 'hand-farting noises' and bend some of my fingers behind my hand; I'm able to clap one-handed and able to clap really fast,” said Boertje.

Boertje believes that his talents are hereditary as his father also can put his feet behind his head. He enjoys sharing his talents and stirs up quite a reaction from those watching.

“Usually, the people who see some of my oddities either 1) turn away; 2) stare in disbelief; or, 3) attempt and fail to do it themselves,” said Boertje.

While the student’s above are just ‘blessed’ with their special body abilities, junior John Rhys Sutija’s came as more of a curse.

“As a child I had an ulcer located behind my nose. This prevented the muscles that controls my eyes from functioning properly. Because of this, I can "flip" my eyes, as opposed to crossing them. In short, I can make my eyes point away from each other,” said Sutija.

From flexible fingers to crossed eyes, the body oddity possibilities are endless. It might not seem like something too special to the person doing it, but it still might turn a few heads.

•Haley Systma (hs.pelladium@gmail.com)

Reasons You Should Promptly Drive Your Car Off a Cliff In high school it is common to envy the one percent of kids who pull up every morning in various 2011 Ford models. It is acceptable to drive a “tin can” or a mini-van, or even if you have to push your car to get it started. However there are a few exceptions to the rule. We understand its a tough economy, but here are some inexcusable characteristics of your car that can’t be overlooked!

1. Semi-Racist: Molly Pitcher isn’t delivering water to troops; therefore, it must not be the Civil War. Confederate flags should not exceed a maximum of three flags. Two for each side or end of the car is okay, but three? Now that is way too far, bro.

2. Super Bass: Inside the car, I’m sure you can hear every word Eminem pronounces perfectly, but from the outside, all we can hear is ear drum-shattering crashes and see your creepy head nods winks and pseudo Slim Shady wannabe advances. Nice try. I prefer Weezy, baby.

3. Social Networking: We get the message, you’re an, “All Stater!” or maybe you’re, “Home-bred and Corn Fed,” or maybe even, “LIBRARIANS not Libraryians.” Your bumper protects you from absorbing all of the shock in case of an accident. Don’t cover then entire back end of your car with tweet-inspired stickers.

4. Dice on the Mirror: Do you run a drug cartel? You can have dice on the mirror. Do you work at Jaarsma’s Bakery? You can’t have dice in the mirror.

Whatever Man •Micah Zeimetz

5. Indecency: If your license plate reads anything profane, check yourself before you wreck yourself.

Intentional pun.

6. Body Work: If you get rear-ended, bend your front axle, snap off a side mirror, and maybe even dent the side. It is obvious to the majority of the public that you are a death threat on wheels. Fix those fender benders so you won’t look like an impounded hunk of junk got pumped full of air like a Capri Sun. 7. Parking: No one can parallel park properly these days, but in your standard perpendicular lot, get your act together.

8. Hot Wheels: Are those flames? Didn’t know G28 was the Brickyard 500.

9. Vandal: You might feel super popular that your car got chalked while you were at that stellar ultra VIP party, but if there are rude remarks or images, wash your car. Don’t post pictures of yourself with it on Facebook and don’t drive around for months after the fact with detailed cave drawings of the human anatomy on your windshield.

10. Road Kill: Squirrel tails belong on squirrels. Deer antlers belong on a buck. Raccoons have been persecuted enough. Do not put deceased animals on your vehicle. If the risk of picking up a disease isn’t enough, then maybe consider it looks like roadkill got stuck to your car.

High School Hazard Jillian Sagers

• Marielle Gaiser (Marielle.Gaiser@gmail.com)

12

PAGE EDITOR: MARIELLE GAISER

PHOTO

03. 27. 2012.

•Advisor Mark Williams

>>BIG APPLE Choir and show choir traveled to New York City over spring break to perform and tour several different theatrical and television productions. “Going to the top of the Rockefeller Center was amazing to see the skyline all lit up. That was my favorite memory from the trip,” said junior Avis Van Zomeren.

•Photo courtesy of groupphoto.com

•Senior Hannah VanWyk

•Freshman Brody Doren with a Rockette.

>>TRADITION Senior Addi Van Vliet presents the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award to family and consumer sciences instructor Kathy Van Norden at the 2012 FFA banquet March 15. It was the final banquet for FFA advisor Mark Williams who will retire at the end of the year. •Photo by Marielle Gaiser

•Senior Girls on break

•Senior Boys on break

•Freshman Mackenzie Gustafson

Third quarter ended with FFA’s banquet, speech contest, spring break and choir’s NYC trip. Fourth quarter began with mock trial and practices for spring sports.

With these ends and beginnings, the last nine weeks of school begin.

•Sophomore Sydney Swanson •Junior Zach Adams >>LEAD Sophomore Taylor Humeston runs in the California mile (8 x 200 relay) at their first meet of the season at Central boys’ indoor meet March 16. “I liked the race because you didn’t have to have great times. You could still run a good time,” said Humeston. •Photo by Derrick Akers

•Senior Colton Haning

•Sophomore Jack Parisee

>>CELEBRATE Senior Kelly Anderson and speech coach Suzi Jones discuss Anderson’s poetry performance at individual state speech contest March 10. Five were named All-State, three performing (junior Micah Zeimetz, seniors Marielle Gaiser and Jessica Salpor) while two were selected non-performing (Anderson and senior Alex Ropes). •Photo by Marielle Gaiser

Prom is just around the corner!

Prom Sale: Any color full set: $30 Shellac manicure: $25 Pedicure & Manicure: $30