November 5, 2009
Vol. IV Issue III
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland High School’s fall play, now showing Show Times:
Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. Nov 5,6,7 and Nov 12,13,14 Special $5 preview on Wed. Nov 4 @ 7:30 p.m. One Sunday Matinee - Nov 15 @ 2 p.m.
Senior/Student $5 Reserved $15 General $10 Tickets can be purchased at Paddington Station, Music Coop and Tree House Books in Ashland. In character, Aurielia Grierson, Emma Harding, Ford Murawski-Brown and Clementine Von Radics.
by Elle Swarttouw Imagine a dark stage, a full audience before you and the pressure of remembering the complex stanzas that dear old William Shakespeare wrote so many years ago. Well, we’re not quite there yet, but the actors are working hours upon hours to bring Merry Wives of Windsor to the Ashland High School Theatre’s stage early this November. For now, that scary dark stage is just a partially painted set, behind the set scraps of wood and props strewn about. Though the stage is dimly lit, it is far from intimidating and the entirety of the theater building is a playhouse and rehearsal area for both actors and technicians. Actor and technician Nicholas Dake said, “This production is very of the period, a lot gigantic dresses, and even bigger words in the script.” Can the actors and actresses of
Photo submitted by Betsy Bishop
AHS give justice to the works of Shakespeare? Only time will tell. “At first it felt like a drag having to do Shakespeare, but then we all saw that it [Merry Wives of Windsor] was funny and witty, and now we really like it,” Actress Jasmine Dake said on behalf of all actors in the play. What is giving this particular play a head start is director Tyrone Wilson, a Shakespeare actor himself who some of us may recognize from last seasons Death of a Kings Horseman and Henry VIII at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival. Wilson misses nothing on stage; he diplomatically critiques each line and pays attention to every detail. The consensus from the all involved in “Merry Wives” (as it is referred to on set) is that what sets this play apart from others is simply, as actor Tay Smith said, “It’s Shakespeare! With very precise directing we work line by line. It’s very in-depth.”
Before each rehearsal, the actors crowed around on stage, trouble shooting with Wilson, who sits in the first row of the audience. Then with little notice, the curtains are drawn and everyone scrambles to find their places, adjust lights and review lines. A certain amount of stage time is devoted to far out acting exercises, sometimes leaving the actors with no vocal cords left. Actors and actresses not in the scene being rehearsed sit in the audience, cramming in some homework and social time. Though things seem to be running smoothly, there have been some drawbacks in the production, “It’s been really tough with the flu. A lot of people have been sick,” Actor, Uriel Blank-Wolfe said. This has never been much of an issue in prior productions. With the amount of work and vigor poured into the production, Merry Wives of Windsor ought to be smash-hit worth seeing.
It’s the Great Pumpkin pie by Megan Ganim
Photo by Ila Sturges
Maddie Chaves with potential victims
During fall season your mind drifts and you crave spices and comfort foods. You long for those autumn walks when your feet crunch up against the purple, yellow, and red leaves. The air is chilled and the scarf around your neck just isn’t creating the warmth you need. When you go home, all you want is a sweet pumpkin pie. But you don’t want to make it. Maddie Chaves is the solution to your sweet tooth.
Every fall and winter season AHS freshman Maddie Chaves sells homemade, organic pumpkin pies. She grows fresh pumpkins in her vegetable garden and prepares the piecrust herself. Each and every one of her special ingredients are fresh, clean and organic. Chaves is an avid alpine ski racer who travels all around the Pacific Northwest with the Mount Ashland Ski Racing Association. She sells her famous pies in order to raise money for items such as a pair of slalom skis or a new ski
jacket. Last year was Chaves’ first year making and selling the pumpkin pies and she established a base of over 30 customers. Each of her clients had a different purpose in mind. Some wanted to have a delicious hand crafted pumpkin pie for their Thanksgiving dinner table and others just wanted a pie for dessert. “Maddie’s pies are unbelievable. I ordered two last year and each pie came beautifully with a crust leaf to add to the fall look,” said Mike Ganim, a past client
of Chaves. “Last year was a complete success! I am definitely looking forward to making more pies for my new and old clients.” Chaves said. If you are interested in buying an autumn pumpkin pie from Maddie Chaves, either for Thanksgiving or just to satisfy a craving, you can reach Maddie at (541) 482-2741 to place an order. A single pumpkin pie cost $15. So this autumn season, don’t worry about slaving over that pumpkin pie, simply call Maddie Chaves!
Rogue News
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November 5, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are: movie review
by Lucas Opgenorth
Director Spike Jonze has tackled some pretty heady issues in his previous films. “Being John Malcovich” was centered around philosophical themes of identity and being while “Adaptation” painted a portrait of the existential crisis of a modern screenwriter. Now Jonze is taking on a classic of children’s literature: Maurice Sendak’s “Where The Wild Things Are.” The product is an inventive, visually interesting and amusing film that encapsulates the both simple pleasures and complex emotions of childhood. The movie’s plot is simple, as was that of the ten sentence book: a young boy named Max (Max Records), after being scolded by his mother (Catherine Keener), sails to a far away land, meets and becomes king of the “Wild Things,” engages in a wild rumpus, becomes homesick and finally returns from whence he came. Jonze enriches the established storyline by sparking conflict between two wild things, Carol ( James Gandolfini) and KW (Lauren Ambrose), who are obviously experiencing the recent fallout of a relationship. The tension between the two adds to a ubiquitous yet unexplained feeling of unhappiness that plagues the tribe of beasts when Max first discovers them.
While “Wild Things” purists may be quick to identify the differences between the book and the film, on the whole, it stays true to Sendak’s original story unlike other children’s
Il=lustration by Sarah Lochmiller
book adaptations, such as “Shrek,” that create almost entirely new plots and multiple sequels. However, the substance of Jonze’s
film is not in the plot, but instead, the way he sculpts the movie to look and feel like the dream of a little boy. The wild things, voiced by seasoned actors such as Forrest Whitaker and Chris Cooper, possess both the carefree qualities of children and the emotional immaturity that goes along with it. Much like children, the beasts go from happily romping to bickering in a matter of seconds. Also, each of them has a distinct personality that expresses common childhood feelings and characteristics: one is bashful and soft-spoken, one is bossy and antagonistic and one feels as though the others never acknowledge him. Perhaps the film’s most complex character is Carol who, over the course of the movie, expresses conflicting emotions of hope, optimism, insignificance, frustration and betrayal. Additionally, Max struggles with the authority and responsibilities of his newly
acquired royalty when he finds the great difficulty in trying to make all of the wild things happy. “Wild Things” dream-like feel appropriately complements Jonze’s surrealistic style. The topography of the beautiful island, where the wild things reside, ranges from lush forests to sandy deserts to vast canyons all in course of a half a minute of the movie. Not only is the film visually fantastic, but also much of the action occurs without any explanation, leaving many questions unanswered. Why is there a giant dog roaming around the sand dunes in one scene? Why does Carol insist that he will need to eat his toes if he doesn’t fulfill his dream of building the perfect fort? Why is there a bull that periodically appears in seemingly random situations? Those searching for answers to these questions will most likely be missing the point. This film’s whimsical bizarreness creates a dreamy environment in which the audience can share the imagination of young boy. Ultimately, to classify “Wild Things” as a kid’s movie would be a mistake. The film forgoes the traditional and overused formula, consisting of corny jokes and an uplifting fairytale ending, and instead offers a picture that is more artistic and, in some parts, darker.
Achieve language goals with OCDC by Alexa Wood Located at the old Briscoe Elementary School there is now an academic educational program that provides a Dual-Language foundation for children, families, staff and the community. Founded in 1971, the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC), a non-profit organization, was established to ensure that children with parents working in the agricultural industry or from low-income families would have the opportunity for child development and education. The school also enables children to have medical care and overall health support as needed through various contracts
and Interagency Agreements. “We have both part day state- funded and federal-funded classrooms as well as full-day federal- funded programs,” Don Williams, Program Director stated. For Oregon Child Development Coalition Head Start and Oregon Pre-Kindergarten. Many parents enroll their children not only to eliminate the language barriers, but also because the school acts as a “pre-kindergarten.” Children are taught the primary basics of their chosen language, consisting of Spanish or English, and how to participate in classroom activities. This is not a year-long program but does include programs that last 32 weeks down to 14 weeks. Depending on the family’s situation children can be enrolled in the
schools short or long term program and can reapply until the child transitions into kindergarten. Oregon Child Development Coalition is committed to helping those in the community achieve their personal goals when it comes to language. Not only does the school offer a safe learning environment for children, but parents also come in for advice on how to further their language skills and where to find the best affordable scholastic programs in the valley. Throughout Oregon, OCDC has ten different locations in counties rangin from Jackson to Umatilla. Check out Oregon Child Development Coalition at http://www.ocdc.net.
Rogue News
November 5, 2009
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Tackling the Issues
by Ella Riley-Adams Run. Throw. Hit. We hear those action verbs in association with almost every sport. When applied to football, they become extreme. A player will run into a person on purpose. Throw an opponent. Hit the ground again and again and again. The intense nature of football has created the widest fan-base of any sport in America. National Football League players are household names who date supermodels and are paid millions of dollars to do what they do best: the afore-mentioned verbs. We revere these players because they are
indomitable; they represent America at its apple-pie traditional best. Our “leatherheads” persevere through pressure and find enthusiastic supporters at every venue because secretly, we all want to be playing the rough-and-tumble sport. “I watch football because it’s high intensity,” senior Brian Pascua says, a diehard New Orleans’ Saints fan. Junior Sam Taylor (a Steelers supporter) agrees, “…it’s fun to see people destroy each other.” So when does a good old rough-andtumble game become dangerous? A study by the University of Oklahoma, in which accelerometers were attached to players’ helmets, showed that the linemen were hit with twenty to thirty times the force of gravity (g-force) every play. Each team runs approximately 45 plays per game. Granted, the accelerated force of a tackle is brief, but a typical person can handle a sustained five g’s before loss of consciousness. Not every player is a lineman, but every player gets hit at some point, and they get hit hard, whether it’s the NFL or Southern Sky.
“I’ve had two concussions,” right tackle Joe Maulsby says, “Pain is a normal occurrence in football. If you love the game, you want to be out there so you will play through the pain.” That, perhaps, is the issue. Players are eager to be on the field, so they will ignore their injuries or hide them from coaches and trainers. Hard hits aren’t trivial; repeated concussions can lead to serious mental and emotional damage. According to an article in the New York Times, former NFL players are nearly 20 times more likely than ordinary men to suffer from Alzheimer’s or similar memory-related diseases. Ashland High School trainer Shanti Berlinger recognizes the gravity of the situation; “Most kids do not take [possible concussions] seriously because it is hard to not play when you just have ‘a little headache.’ However there are cases out there where high school football players have died because they felt that way and then suffered a second impact before properly healed.” Ashland High School is taking precautions to prevent concussed players from
taking to the field. “We’re doing some amazing work in the pre-testing and posttesting of athletes in determining their ability to return to play,” Football Coach Charlie Hall said. Berlinger elaborated, “All of the athletes have taken baseline tests prior to the season so that when they do have a potential concussion they will take a post injury test that compares their results to the baseline.” But how can those tests be taken when players will deny their injuries? Our all-American sport breeds an attitude of machismo. Countless movies depict the stereotypical scene; “C’mon coach,” says the desperate injured player, “I’m fine! Put me back in!” Our coaches and trainers are well-versed in saying no, but it’s the players that need to learn when to stop asking. Whether their need to play through problems is for the fans or for the team, it’s not healthy. Loyalty and intensity all the way, but not when it jeopardizes safety and sanity.
ate
by Wilder Schaaf What do you dread most in life? Spiders? Wild African dogs? The opposite sex? No. I’ll tell you what you dread most: Monday mornings. The anxiety, the feeling of exhaustion and dread one feels on a Monday morning is almost too much to bear; in fact it would be too much to bear for students of weaker mettle than us of Ashland. So, hardworking comrades, cut yourselves some slack. Late start Mondays, my friends, will make the school week, life and maybe even love, just that much easier. Think about the feeling you get when you wake up on Monday, a whole week ahead of you with no end in sight. Let’s face it; it’s hard to be an optimist when you’re waking up at 6:30 in the morning. Suppose, however, that forty-five minutes are added to your sleep, forty-five minutes of dreams are added to your Sunday night slumber. At 7:15, that glass of orange juice starts to look half full rather than half empty, and Friday seems like it’s going to come a little bit sooner. “It’s a way to ease you into the week,” said junior Zach Hartman, “by the time Friday arrives, you’re already used to the early wake-up.” The students of Crater High School do not even have school on Mondays, and this time of rest manifests itself physically in them. Crater had fewer students out for swine flu than did Ashland and as a result, picked up an easy win over
our non-existent football team. Coincidence, I think not. Opponents of late-start Fridays stand on the platform of tradition, claiming that we’ve always had our pre-school break on Friday and it would be difficult to adjust to Monday. As I’m sure you can understand, this misguided statement is akin to a caveman saying, “You know, I’ve always slept on rocks so even though I can get this Tempur-pedic mattress with free shipping and handling, I think I’ll stick to the sleepless nights I hate so much.” There is a choice before us, a fork in the road: we can either continue to trod the old path of late-start Fridays, an antiquated and unnecessary tradition, or we can take a new direction, one bright with the smile of rested students, looking forward to each successive day, loving life and each other. Your fate is in your hands, and let’s face it, the decision is obvious.
deb t r a t s e t a L
by Wynn Michael
Save the best for last. That is one of the mottos I strive to live by. Thus, when I first heard about the proposition to switch our schools beloved late-start Friday to a Monday, I thought I was the victim of some cruel joke. To all the rebels out there reading this, take heed: there is a strict order to all things in the world. To defy this order is to strip life of all meaning. If we start having late-start Mondays, the delicate equilibrium of the school week will be upset. Before you know it, we’ll all be eating dessert before dinner. Blasphemy! Take a moment to consider the great things in this world that we save for last. For instance, at the Olympics, when the victors are presented their olive wreaths, who is the last to be acknowledged? There are two correct answers to this question: one is “first place”, and the other is “the USA”. Both of which are the best, obviously, and therefore saved for last. An important factor that needs to be considered when debating the issue of late-start timing is the fragile structure of the week. On Monday, you are already well rested from the weekend and ready to start school again. Students are in more need of a break on Friday when they are round-
ing third base, gasping for breath, and heading for home. As it says in the good book, “on the fifth day, the scholars rested.” Amen. Late-start Fridays are not just about ending the week, but also about starting the weekend. Alex Harris, a senior supporter of latestart Fridays, says, “there is nothing better than the feeling you get on a Thursday night as you remember you can sleep in.” Just like jumping from a hot tub to a cold pool, starting the weekend without a late-start Friday would be a shocking and unpleasant experience. I would hate to see a fellow student pull a muscle all because he or she failed to properlyand metaphorically-stretch before the break. Our traditional Fridays are being threatened and it is up to you, the students of AHS, to defend the integrity of this glorious day. The founding fathers of Ashland High bestowed upon its student body certain unalienable rights. Among these were “life, liberty and the pursuit of forty-five extra minutes of sleep on Friday.” Be wary of Wilder, my friends. I trust you will not fail our forefathers by falling into my fraudulent foe’s fabricated fishnet of fibs.
Editorial Board
Editors-in-Chief............Anna Hume, Arthur Lawniczak, Ella Riley-Adams ...............................................................................................Jackson Santee Front Page Editor.........................................Anna Hume, Arthur Lawniczak News Editor..............................................................................AJ Bottimore Opinion Editor...................................................................Ella Riley-Adams In-Depth Editors.....................................................................Hannah Sayles Feature Editor......................................................................Taylor Patterson Sports Editors................................................Mason Costantino, Niki Small Backpage Editor.............................................................Grace Riley-Adams Managing Editor......................................................................Adam Pavlich Photography Editor........................................................Grace Riley-Adams Chief Designer.......................................................................Hannah Sayles Production Manager....................................................................Jesse Smith Business Manager…….…..…..................................................Heather Case
Hear from some of our very own who are out there exploring the infinite abyss! Photos submitted by exchange students
This is Lev Silberstein reporting from the very cold and dark country of Finland Don’t let the description fool you, I love it here. But of course, I miss beautiful, little Ashland and am excited to return, especially for the end of basketball season. Time has been flying by; I’ve already been here a little over two months out of my brief five-month stay. I have done a little traveling around the country, but mostly have stayed in Helsinki, where I live. Over our autumn break I went with my host family to Germany and got to travel around there, which was a dream come true. I’ve done things here that I didn’t think I’d ever do, i.e., competing in a ski race in the park downtown, despite there being no snow. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to come for the entire year; I highly suggest an exchange program for anyone remotely interested in one. I look forward to seeing everyone upon my return. Näkemiin.
Chad Bernard
Lev Silberstein
Greetings, Ashland. I’m in Cinco Saltos, Rio Negro, Argentina. It’s a little city of about 30,000 people. I go to a Catholic school with 400 kids, all garbed in awesome uniforms. My school starts at 8 a.m., but gets out at 12:20 every day! However, on Mondays and Friday I have to return at 5 to go to gym. While I’m here I will stay with three different families. The family I’m with now has seven people: a 10 year old daughter, 14-year-old daughter, 16-year-old daughter, 16-year -old son, 18-year-old daughter, and the my two host parents. I will move in with my next family after Christmas. It’s spring here right now, and the weather is great. Summer is right around the corner and from what I’ve heard it will be blazing hot! Fortunately there is a huge lake nearby. I have joined the Interact club here and that has been great because I’ve been able to meet some cool people. I also joined the handball team. People here eat almost no vegetables, and loads of steak and pasta. Another funny thing is that from noon to 5 p.m., all the stores are closed so the workers can go home, eat and take a nap, but then open back up until at least 10 at night. We also don’t eat dinner until 10 or 11 every night. Upon my arrival, I had no idea what to expect but so far, it has been a blast. I suggest embarking on the exchange adventure to anyone who wants their world rocked.
One year ago I was a tenth grader at Ashland High, currently I’m thousands of miles away in a small town in the Czech Republic, two hours from Prague and Vienna, three from Munich. It’s funny to think that a year ago when I was applying to Rotary International Student Youth Exchange, two hours in the car would only get me to Eugene or Redding--how exciting! This experience is not about the famous cities I can easily visit, just as it isn’t about the low drinking age or the six-foot-tall blonde models walking around everywhere. Or, at least rumored to be everywhere, I’ve looked but haven’t found. The reason for subjecting myself to the uncomfortable situation of leaving a lovely home for a country where I don’t speak the native language is elusive from even my roving eye. I can say I wanted a challenge, I know that much. Sure, Mr. Huard, AP U.S. was hard, but in my Czech history class I don’t have Sadie Shelton to translate the lectures for me. So that’s it: I got a vague idea where it began, a vauger idea of where I am right now, and no clue where I’ll be in a year. I’ve heard exchange changes people so next fall look around the quad for a bald, tall and skinny guy with a beard.
Caitlin Stacy
Coco Amarotico
When I first told my friends and family that I wanted to go abroad, they thought I was crazy. When I told them I was going to the Netherlands for a year, they thought I was even crazier. Most people are only aware of the wild reputation that the country gets from its very liberal capital city, Amsterdam. Contrary to popular belief, the Netherlands is in fact not overrun by marijuana smoking prostitutes who live in windmills and eat cheese all day. A huge difference from the Netherlands to America is the modes of transportation used here. There are bikes everywhere, and I love it. Trains are also a popular mode because they can get you practically anywhere, fast, for a semi-reasonable price. Another noticeable difference is the size. The Netherlands is tiny! I love this because it allows me to travel all around the country without much time or effort. Perhaps the biggest change is the general attitude of the Dutch. Dutch people are very direct and coming from polite, beat-around-thebush America, this was a hard thing to get used to. Though sometimes it can come off as rude, they mean it with good intentions. I’ve been here for almost three months now, and things are going well. I’m making plenty of friends, going to school, traveling, trying new things, playing soccer, and of course learning to speak Dutch! The language is by far the most difficult part of being here, though it is getting easier to pick up because I’m so immersed in it. I’d always hoped to go abroad, but the idea to just walk out of normal life and leave behind everything I knew for a year to start all over in some foreign country seemed so impossible. Making that decision was both the hardest and the easiest thing I have ever done, but I know that becoming an exchange student was also the greatest thing I’ve done. This year will be a learning experience for me and I hope to come back from it with a stronger idea of who I am and a new outlook on life. I encourage anyone with an open mind and a desire for adventure to do the same because it will be the best decision you have ever made!
Talk about Super Seniors!
Most likely to work at AHS!
Brenda Paustian
Jane Claussen
Laura Davidson
Glenda Walsh
Mark Miller
by Erin Keoppen
High school is a roller coaster; it has its ups and downs and when your time’s up, you have to get off. Some unbuckle and dash away, never to amble through the amusement park gates again, while others would pay anything to get another ticket for the high school experience. But either way, your ride is over. Or is it? For a select amount of individuals on the Ashland High School teaching staff, this isn’t their first time walking these halls. Indeed, many of them were students in these classrooms long before they were members of the AHS staff. For Mrs. Claussen, then just “Janie,” the clue that she might one day join the AHS teaching staff had been implied, as she was the principal’s daughter and a member of the “Future Teachers of America.” However, for Mr. Miller, now a beloved science teacher, teaching was a plan far in the distance as he and his fellow classmates would sprint to the third floor of the Humanities building in a made-up, yet bloodthirsty race for first place in their senior government class. The AHS that these teachers attended was very different from the one we attend today, especially the classes. “We had all our classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Callie Mercer, now the attendance guru, said. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays you came in and did whatever school-related work you wanted, whether that was spending two hours in art or getting help from your physics teacher.” The distinction Mrs. Paustian and Mr. Miller found most prominent was in the electives. When they were students, they participated in a larger variety of classes such as auto-shop, architecture and (close to Mrs. Paustian’s heart) leather craft. “Those electives were handson subjects we could use in the real world,” Mrs. Paustian explained. “They also helped me discover my artistic side as a leather crafter.”
Aaron Sturdevant
There were some benefits to Ashland schooling back then, but the majority of the teachers agree that schooling is more developed now than it was back then. School today means having the vast world of the Internet at the tips of our fingers, giving more options and access to the world of college and beyond. “Our students now have way more choices than we did back then,” Mercer said, “But kids are so focused on their future and getting into a good college that they forget to just be kids.” Mrs. Paustian explained that there needs to be a balance between the vast choices we are provided with in the 21st century and the idea of just being high school kids that her generation had. But despite the many distinctions between the generations of Ashland High School students, the general experience is mutual. AHS has always been a place that embraces every individual as well as their ideas. It is a high school that cultivates higher education and provides the world with students that will be beneficial to their community and beyond. So whether you will get back on the ride and become an AHS teacher or not, there’s no denying that once you’re a Grizz, you’re always a Grizz.
Aaron Sturdenvant being talked to by the french teacher when he was a senior in 1990
Technology in the classroom Rogue News
Page 6
by Tim Borgerson Technology is invading the classroom. Following the examples of a few pioneering teachers, the majority of AHS staff has begun to use technology as a teaching tool. The biggest change students have noted this year was more teachers using document cameras instead of overhead projectors. Dana Rensi, AHS Spanish teacher and tech guru, says that that the cameras are one of the most useful pieces of classroom technology. Teachers no longer have to make overhead copies of their entire curriculum. “That, plus what we are no longer spending on overhead bulbs, means the cameras are saving the school money,” said Rensi. AHS math teacher Tamara Anderson uses her camera examples of student work. “On tests I can show students what they did right and what they did wrong, and hopefully they will learn from their mistakes,” said Anderson. Similarly, Rensi uses video cameras and voice recorders so students can listen to themselves speak in her Spanish classes and correct their errors. “I like to use technology to make a lesson easier to understand, more engaging, differentiate it for different learners or make the information more readily available,” she said. Technology has also been able to help bridge the divide between the class-
November 5, 2009
room and the home. Grizznet, the school’s online learning environment, provides teachers a medium for interaction outside school hours. A number of teachers use Grizznet to post assignments, due dates and note sheets so that absent students can easily make up missed work. However, only a small handful of teachers take advantage of additional Grizznet features, such as online forums, quizzes and activities. Anderson is using Grizznet to supplement the material she teaches in her AP Calculus class. Students who wish to take the more challenging BC test (as opposed to the default AB test) can prepare for it by using curriculum Anderson has set up on Grizznet. Also, this year marks the first time students have the opportunity to take economics online through Photo by Drew Van Vleck the high school, instead of through Dana Rensi plays with the many gadgets she uses in her classroom programs offered by Brigham more comfortable writing on an online resource by many teachers. Student lapYoung University or the Oregon Educa- forum than speaking up in a classroom.” tops would allow them to better take adtion System. Using Grizznet, economics According to Rensi, AHS is one of the vantage of it,” he said, noting that laptops students can turn in assignments, listen to most active K-12 users of virtual learning also would eliminate textbook and copylectures and engage in discussions – with- environments in the state. ing costs. out leaving their bedroom. “In some ways, As for the future of technology at AHS, For Rensi, now is an exciting time for I get more out the online discussions than one can only speculate what Rensi has up classroom technology. “We have better I would in a normal classroom,” AHS her sleeve. AHS junior Mack Conroy access than ever to an amazing tool that senior and online economics student hopes to someday see a laptop for every makes for highly engaged students and a Zoe Smolen said. “I get to hear more of student in the classroom. more productive learning environment. my classmates opinions because they feel “The internet is largely an untapped
Giseppi’s coupons take on a life of their own by Lucas Opgenorth In the spring of 2009, Giseppi’s Pizzeria and Ashland High School’s Rogue News launched an innovative marketing campaign that altered the collective lunch plans of the AHS student body. Catering to teenagers on a budget, the well-known pizza place offered coupons that allowed Rogue News readers the chance to buy two lunch specials for the price of one. As a result, copies of the newspaper flew off the shelves and students stockpiled the coupons, flocking
to the restaurant en masse during their lunch hour. As the phenomenon grew, students found themselves sifting through piles of newspapers in order to find an issue that had not already been ravaged for it’s free pizza. “The Giseppi’s coupon is the best thing that has happened in my lifetime, in my classmates’ lifetimes, and in that of the Rogue News,” senior Rafferty Swink said. The deal has not only benefited the students of Ashland, but also the Giseppi’s bottom line. Giseppi’s Owner, John Wallace, noted a significant increase in business among high schoolers and announced that the deal will return for the 2009-2010 school year. “Lunch is definitely our
busiest time for teenagers,” he said. Anyone who has experienced the cacophonic lunchtime crowds can attest to this statement. Giseppi’s management and Ashland students have Rogue News Managing Editor Adam Pavlich to thank for organizing and sustaining this successful program. As this issue of the Rogue News is published, students from all over the school will scavenge the classroom stacks of papers in order to replenish their coupon supplies. Among them will be Junior Ryan Mills. “In this dying economy,” said Mills, “Giseppi’s is the only place to eat.”
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Christi Gilmore: coach extraordinaire by Mason Costantino As far as experienced coaches go, few can top AHS water polo coach Christi Gilmore. A high school All-American, Gilmore played for both the Junior and Senior National Teams for two years. With all that experience, it’s no wonder that the water polo teams have had the amount of success every fan attending their games raves about. “With her wealth of talent and experience, she is able to get into the pool with us, and instead of just explaining, she is able to show us how it’s done,” senior Co-Captain Lucas Opgenorth said. Gilmore’s methods are obviously working. She led both the boys and girls teams to state championships last year, and has a 71-26 combined record over five years. There appears to be no letdown this year either, as both teams have jumped out to 6-0 starts. “The boys team, I believe, is even better this year than last. They work together much better this year instead of relying on just one or two players to do it all,” said Gilmore. “They have a real shot at winning it all again this year.” As far as the girls team goes, Gilmore says it is still a work in progress, “We have a lot of girls who are playing for their first
time this year and who are out here more to have fun, which is fine too because I’m able to chill out and have fun with them.” The success of the teams is not the only impressive story in Gilmore’s life this year; she has been forced to balance her time between coaching, being a mother, and being a student. A victim of the budget cuts this past year, Gilmore went back to school to earn her Masters Degree in Counseling. Needless to say she has a jam-packed schedule. Every morning she volunteers in the counseling office, picks up her son, Hayden, from kindergarten, studies for her classes while playing with her son, and then heads to the pool for practice. Not to Coach Gilmore in her element mention the games and with the Masters National Team, out of town tournaments which take up much of her time which took the gold medal in their age bracket during their on the weekends. However, the team has her most recent competition. “I’m back. “Hayden comes to all of still able to get my fix as a player our practices, and is our team’s which makes it much easier to mascot,” senior Jacy Mairs said. be a coach,” Gilmore said. While the players have put “He looks quite dashing sportin a lot of work this season, the ing the boy’s team speedo.” Through all of this, Gilmore driving force in the program is has still found time to compete Gilmore. Whether it’s organiz-
Fall Sports Play-Offs Volleyball:
November 7th @ Home
Football:
(#1 in SSC) November 20th or 21st @ Home (2nd in SSC) November 20th or 21st Away (3rd in SSC) November 13th or 14th @ Home
Girls Soccer: November 10th @ Home
Boys Soccer: November 10th @ Home Photo by Hannah Stocking
ing fundraisers so the team is able to travel, or hopping into the pool to join the players, Gilmore is taking time out of her busy schedule to spearhead the Water Polo program at Ashland High School. It appears the hard work is paying off !
Cross Country:
November 7th State Finals at Lane Community College
Streak of Genius by Angus Stewart On the morning of August 13, Junior Josh Harris awoke with one thing on his mind: getting an 18 streak. For the past few months Harris had been participating in a free online activity called Streak for the Cash. Photo by Elizabeth Westmoreland “Streak” is an Josh Harris sporting his “streak” shirt ESPN-sponsored game in which one selects various winners or outcomes from a wide variety of sports, spanning from NBA basketball games to darts. During that span he compiled a streak so long that not only did he win a free t-shirt from ESPN, but he also earned himself a spot on the Global Leader Board. It all came very naturally to Josh, “I was born to do this kind of thing. Sports are my life,” Harris said. On the morning of the thirteenth Josh’s streak sat at an impressive 17 and he was putting it all on the Los Angeles Angels to defeat the Seattle Mariners later that
night. “It was the most nervous I had ever been” Harris said. Harris’ fears were laid to rest when the Angels went on to win 10-0, pushing his streak to 18. However, a few days later his streak came to an abrupt halt. “I got up to an 18 streak, and for number 19 I picked the (San Francisco) Giants to win against the (Philadelphia) Phillies and they lost 2-1. I was so sad; I was ranked fortysecond in the world, and then it was
all gone.” Ever since that fateful day in late August, Harris has been trying to replicate his former success. “I’ve been trying to rebuild my streak, but the magic is gone. The highest I have gotten recently is a 4 streak,” Harris lamented.
Paid Parking: A Violation of Students’ Pocket Books? by Calynn Jenkins As a student drives into the student parking lot, navigating around the large, sunken, rain-filled potholes and the faded paint lines doing their best to define the parking spaces, one wonders, “Why am I paying for parking?” Dean of Students Glenna Stiles explained that the money students pay for parking helps fund the maintenance of the student parking lot. The administration doesn’t want students to park just anywhere because certain spaces are reserved for teachers. The parking permits help regulate this. As the condition of the student parking lot diminishes, many question, “Where is the money I pay going?” Stiles said that she has requested the col-
prevent ‘dangerous driving’ in the parking lots. I don’t pay for a permit and park in the gravel lot or on the street. I’d rather have my $20, even at the expense of having to walk a little further.” Christianne Gay has a different angle on the topic. “I would pay for a spot if it was assigned to me. Right now we are paying for a spot that we may or may not get if the parking lot is full.” Even when students comply with the AHS parking rules, a spot is not always guaranteed. When comparing our permit and violation fees to other high schools in the valley, they seem steep, but our school is lenient when it comes to how often Ashland High School tickets students. North Medford High School charges students $15 for a parking permit and a $10 violation for parking without a permit. Tickets are given out once a week to students who don’t obey the rules. South Medford High School has a student parking system that rewards its high
academic achieving students. There is no charge for parking permits and students with a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher receive a gold card and get to park in reserved spaces. Phoenix High School’s parking permits come with the cost of an ASB card. If a student does not pay for an ASB card, a parking permit is $5. If caught parking without a permit, the cost is $5, which also gets a student a parking permit if they pay for the violation. In the 2004-05 school year there were 254 student-parking offenders at AHS. This number has improved to 126 offenders last school year. Stiles said, “There is always somebody, that by the end of the school year I know his or her car. I don’t take it personally.” No matter how one feels about Ashland High School’s student parking policies and fees, it is still a regulation that continues to be in place.
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lective money go towards the improvement of the student parking lot. Soon, money left over from the bond will go to this cause. Students need a parking permit for the student lot and now the Lincoln parking lot as well because of reports of reckless driving. The dirt area in the student parking lot does not require a parking permit. Those who choose not to pay for the $20 parking permit and are caught parking in a lot where one is required, will receive an orange violation sticker. For the first violation there is no penalty, the second has a $50 fine, and for the third violation your car will be towed. If a student doesn’t have the money to pay for the ticket, they can pay it off by doing hours of community service around the high school at $10 an hour. Senior Jane Eisenberg shared her feelings on student paid parking. “I think that making us pay for permits isn’t going to do much to
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Removal Advice Students and faculty share helpful tips for taking off violation stickers.
“I had to scrub with steel wool.” –Chloe Bair
“You need to use a razorblade.” - Glenna Stiles
Photo by Azure Ginsberg
Photo by Azure Ginsberg
Photo by Elizabeth Westmoreland
“They come off with dish soap and water.” – Maraya Best
“I used a razor blade, then Goop-Off.” Issa Shahin Photo by Grace Riley-Adams
“Vinegar works really well. It’s legit.” – Andrew Harlen Photo by Hannah Stocking