October 9, 2008

October 9, 2008

Ashland, Oregon

Vol. III Issue I

www.roguenews.net

Construction continues

Construction on the AHS large gym.

Photo By Nicholas Dake and Brenna Heater

By Nicholas Dake

A crane lifts the roof off of the old gym.

Photo by Erik Peterson

A 20 million-dollar project is underway at Ashland High School, but it’s not expected to be completed any time soon.

Repairs to the physical education, band and orchestra classrooms have already started, and lights on the whole campus have been replaced.

Over the summer, repairs on the roofing for the humanities, administration and theatre buildings began.

Principal Jeff Schlecht said, “We expected to have the roofing and the gym completed in fall of 2009 but, due to a number of factors, the timetable has been set back.”

Construction would have begun sooner but the school district had problems getting the permits from the city, Schlecht confessed.

A complete renovation on the school’s heating and cooling will take place. “We are looking forward to climate control this winter,” Schlecht said. “We are no longer going to have students and staff in freezing rooms.”

The gym will have its own climate system, and the theatre and commons will have separate systems than the rest of the school, in an attempt to keep things more

regulated, Schlect stated.

With the reconstruction of the gym, students have to walk to Lincoln Elementary School for P.E., band and orchestra classes. This has students and staff concerned about safety. “By walking to Lincoln we get more exercise, but it’s very dangerous,” freshman Juli Nevfeld said.

Its very dangerous crossing the street and students need to be focused on what’s going on around them. Also, drivers need to have more respect and trust for the kids.

“Overall we are doing very well in this situation,” crossing guard Leroi Dedeaux said.

Also, with roofing going on, “The noise is a distraction,” teacher Lori Thickett said.

Although the noise can be annoying, there were “severe safety hazards that needed to be addressed,” staff member Judi Kimball said.

With recent complaints about the noise, principal Jeff Schlecht understands how disruptive the construction can be, and he said, “I sincerely thank the teachers and students for their patience and understanding.”

Remodeling a school can take a long time but, Thickett said, “I think the noise and distractions will be worth it in the end.”

“Once upon a homecoming”

By Meghan Edwards Have the urge to bust a move? Homecoming, which will be held on October 18 will give you an opportunity to show your spirit and have fun. Speaking of spirit, Spirit Week will run through the week of Monday, October 13 – October 17. Monday will be Career Day, Tuesday Twin Day, Wednesday “Fresh” Day, Thursday Hippie Day and Friday, as usual, Red and White Day. Quad activities are also going to be happening on the

Half Moon during lunch each day of the week. Everyday a different game will be played. Monday will be “Jeopardy”, Tuesday they will be playing Know-Your-Twin, Wednesday there will be a Dance Off, Thursday they will be putting on Karaoke, and Friday, the Donut Eating Contest. The crowning of the king will be Thursday, the night before the crowning of the queen.

After the parade, don’t forget to support the Grizzlies, who will be playing Willamette Friday night at 7:00 at Walter A. Philips Stadium. At half time, the Homecoming

queen will be crowned.

The dance, “Once Upon A Homecoming” will be held on Saturday, October 18 at the Britt Ballroom on the SOU campus. The cost will be $9 for singles and $16 for couples sold in advance on the quad until Friday at lunch.

The dance will begin at 8:00 p.m. and end at 11:30 p.m.

You will need your student ID card and your ticket to get in. Tickets will also be sold at the door. The cost will be $10 for singles and $20 for couples. You can purchase tickets during lunch in advance on the quad all week.

Page 2

October 9, 2008

Rogue News

Foreign films still here

By Abbie Deal

Prior to the film, seniors Dhana Black, Emily Cochran, and Kachina Rowland eat their dinner.

Photo By Erik Peterson

The Advanced French Film Seminar and The Advanced Spanish Film Seminar are unique classes at Ashland High School, but they almost didn’t make it into the curriculum this year.

Due to a lack of funding, the classes were originally cut. However, the teachers fought for their classes and eventually managed to bring them back.

“I begged and pleaded and ranted and raved at poor Mr. Schlecht,” Lauren Schaffer, teacher of the Advanced French Film Seminar, said. “I feel badly but maybe he’s glad to be reminded about how passionate Ashland High School teachers are about what they teach.”

After meeting and talking with Schlecht plus a donation of $1,500 dollars from an anonymous concerned parent, it was decided that the classes should be continued this year.

One change was that the fee for each student was raised from $35 to $45. Only seniors at Ashland High School who are in level three or four French or level four Spanish can take these classes.

Schaffer mentioned that the students learn a lot about film itself as they watch what are widely considered to be cinematic works of art. “The language is the vehicle to discuss intricacies of the film,” Schaffer said.

“It does so much for their comprehension,” Dana Rensi, teacher of the Advanced Spanish Film Seminar, said.

Students watch films with English subtitles and converse about the films in their second language.

Rensi observed that in regular Spanish classes, she has to teach phrases like “ouch” and other exclamations. However, when watching a movie students learn by example.

Rensi said, “They’re listening to authentic language, that’s the key.”

Li-Young Lee is coming

By Sadie Shelton On Oct. 23, the Chautauqua Poets and Writers will host Li-Young Lee at the Ashland High School Theatre.

The reading begins at 7:30 p.m. and the doors open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 for AHS students, $15.00 for general admission and $25.00 for patrons. Tickets are available at Bloomsbury Books, The Bookwagon and Tree

House Books in Ashland, and A Rug For All Reasons in Medford. Student tickets will be sold at AHS if you have a school ID. Lee will be giving a student workshop on Oct. 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. If you would like to attend this workshop, you have to apply through Kathi Bowen-Jones.

Li-Young Lee is considered one of America’s most influential contemporary poets, so you won’t want to miss this.

Photo taken from blueflowerarts.com

Early college credit in high school By Žena Shelton One of the many concerns about college is the cost. However, Ashland High School, with the help of Southern Oregon University and Rogue Community College, can offer students college credit at either a free or reduced rate, which can help the cost of college tuition tremendously.

Michelle Zundel, the Director of Educational Services for the Ashland School District, is a firm believer in receiving early college credit and is trying to inform students and parents that this opportunity is available.

“Even if you don’t know what college you’re going to, it’s important to have the right card in your back pocket to put on the table,” Zundel said about the financial ben-

efits of receiving early college credit.

There are three ways a student can receive college credit: taking the Advanced Placement test, through RCC or through SOU. When a student takes an AP class, he has the ability to take the AP test in May. If the student scores well enough, a four or a five, then most colleges will either give the student credit for the AP class that he took, or let him test out of that class into a higher level class.

All colleges are different, so students should call the colleges they are planning on applying to and see if they will accept AP credit.

Another way to earn college credit is through RCC. Several classes at AHS qualify for the 2 + 2 program at RCC. This means that if a student earns an A or a B in one of the qualified classes and fills out

the 2 + 2 Early College Credit registration, he is eligible to receive college credit for free. The AHS teachers of the 2 + 2 qualified classes will inform their students at the beginning of the year about the 2 + 2 program and offer to any student who is interested the registration form.

Matthew McKinnon is one such teacher and believes that all students who have the ability to earn 2 + 2 credit should.

“Advantages to any of the programs [early college credit programs] just give students a tremendous leg up on college credit, college requirements, and saving money on tuition,” McKinnon said.

The third way to receive early college credit is through SOU. SOU will give college credit for several AHS

classes at a reduced rate. Students just need to fill out the registration form and pay the credit fee. The student will receive whatever grade he earns in the class and that grade will appear on his college transcript through SOU. There are many benefits to receiving early college credit. It can reduce the cost of tuition, it looks good on your transcript, and students have more wiggle room in college because they don’t have to complete as many credits.

“It’s a big deal to do college level work at the high school level. You get acknowledged for that by the local colleges,” Zundel said.

October 9, 2008

Rogue News

Page 3

Making a statement

Xack Miles shows off his unique hairstyle

By Jackson Santee There is a student among us who is not afraid to show his true colors-- literally.

Since the summer of his junior year, Xack Miles has sported a bleached, turquoise, and just recently, red mohawk.

About every two days you can see Miles coolly walking about the quad with a wide smile and a full head of hair, split between five faded red “liberty spikes,” sticking half a foot in the air.

When asked the reason for the sudden creativity in his hairstyle, Miles playfully responded, “My mom dared me to.”

Miles’ mother told him that if he got a mohawk she would maintain it.

It takes roughly thirtyfive to forty minutes to wash out all of the cooking gelatin, and about fifteen minutes

to put it back in. This is quite the undertaking when crammed into the quarter of an hour Miles has before school, and the half-hour before going to work. However, he seems to think its well worth it and his girlfriend, Taylor Klima, is in complete agreement.

“I’m pretty fond of it,” she says. “It kind of makes him look like a flame, with the red hair and all.” Taylor had a large impact on Miles’ decision in his hair. She urged him to actually take on the dare. Her own colorful hairstyle was a perfect model for his decision.

This is much more than a high school hairstyle, a fashion trend, or even a simple dare.

It is an effort to “keep his youth,” to remember his life as a teenager. “I don’t want to grow up too fast,” he says, “And plus, I don’t feel like buzzing it off.”

“I don’t want to grow up too fast”

Photo By Jackson Santee, Photo illustration By Phoebe Parker-Shames

Confessions of a vegan

By Sophie Javna

anything about them,” says much milk as they would in sophomore TJ Murphy, nature, and when they stop a devoted meat eater. producing it at about five From the moment she “I know they don’t eat years old, they’re killed.” was born, Kysa McSky has dairy, but otherwise I’m A lot of research never tasted meat.Raised by pretty clueless.” Actually, contributed to her decision, a fully vegetarian family, and her knowledge has McSky has developed increased a lot since she her own distaste for first started eating vegan. meat over the years.

Although the transition “It grosses me out,” was challenging in the she said. According beginning, McSky is to McSky, the meat “totally happy” being industry doesn’t kill vegan. Health-wise, she their animals humanely, says, she feels great. In so she feels that any meat fact, she finds that she she eats would be a sign has more energy and gets of her support of that sick less than her friends industry and its morals. do.So what’s her advice But at ten years old, to aspiring vegans?

Kysa started rethinking “Don’t let it intimidate her diet again. She Photo by Meghan Edwards you! If you have the realized that if she wanted vegans don’t eat any beliefs of a vegan, you should to keep her values consistent, products—period. try cutting out the dairy, eggs she needed to change her animal No meat, no eggs, no dairy. and meat little by little and eating habits drastically.

“There’s no compassion see how you like it. If you do On New Year’s Eve she made a resolution with her towards animals,” McSky it right, it’s not hard to get the cousin, Smith Freeman, explained. “Chickens are food essentials, especially if that they would become just stuffed in cages and then you stay firm with your choice vegan together. We all know forced to lay eggs constantly. and find out what vegan foods what vegans are, right? Dairy cows are also horribly you like,” Kysa assures us.

“Why not try it out,” she “I don’t really know mistreated. They’re made to produce about ten times as said, “and see if you like it.”

Homecoming The AHS dance tea

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Senior Amanda

Photo by Max Parker

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Freshmen Lillian Thomas and Jessica Tye

Senior Michaela Nuss

Photo by Phoebe Parker-Shames

g 2008

Photo Test

In this issue, the Rogue News is playing around with our photographs! When our issues are sent through the printing press, microscopic drops of ink hit the page and soak in. Different colored inks soak into the paper in different amounts, which means that when we adjust the amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow and black in a photo, images will appear differently on the printed page. The only good way to know exactly how adjustments we make before we print will affect the final result is to try different adjustments and see how they look! In that spirit of experimentation, here are some different versions of the same photograph, with slightly different levels of colored inks- we’ll use the results to make our photos look even better in the future.

Max Parker-Shames

Photo 50 percent midtones set at 10 percent

Set at 15 mes oebe Parker-Sha

Photo by Ph

At 20

At 25

Photo by Phoebe Parker-Shames

Max Defrisco, Lauren Koppel, Kristen Baker, Amanda Adams, and Ryland Karllvich

At 30 The cheerleader team during the homecoming assembly

At 40

Photo by Max Parker-Shames

Page 6

Rogue News

October 9, 2009

“By nature man is a political creature” -Aristotle

Barack Obama

John McCain

Barack Obama is our generations’ candidate. Did you like the last eight years of government under the Bush Administration, with a spiraling economy and a continuing war? If so, you’ll love a term of McCain. If not, Obama is obviously the candidate to choose.

Obama cares about people. He was a community organizer in the South Side of Chicago for three years before attending Harvard, setting up job training programs and college preparatory tutors.

Many have criticized Obama for his lack of experience in foreign policy. Actually, he served on the Senate Committee On Foreign Relations for two years, as well as the Senate Committee On Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs.

McCain states that Obama will vote to raise taxes. Although shortsighted people who watch Fox News think that’s bad, people who actually listen to Obama know that the taxes will be raised only on the upper class and on companies that outsource jobs to foreign countries.

McCain also lied when he said Obama called Sarah Palin a pig. The term lipstick on a pig refers to trying to make an ugly looking idea look better and has been used for

John McCain. He’s a real American hero.

He fought in Vietnam, was shot down, captured and viciously tortured. He refused to be given pri-

By Morgan Hall

By Zack Kitamura

years by politicians, including McCain.

Speaking of Governor Palin, let’s examine her record. She was mayor of Wassila Alaska, a city of less

Cartoon By: Maggie Schein

Editorial: activate yourself The future of every AHS student, and the world for that matter, depends on this upcoming November presidential election.

Failure to vote if eligible is comparable to shrugging when a gun is pointed at your head.

However, we realize that most students will not be old enough to vote come Election Day. Never fear, there are other ways that you can contribute to saving the world. The Global Citizens Corps encourages students to participate in World Hunger Day by visiting www.freerice. com and www.thehungersite. com. Just because you enjoy the comfort of three meals a day doesn’t mean the rest of the world has that same luxury.

If you want to get involved

ority to be sent home and let many Americans return home before him. For five and a half years McCain was stuck in Vietnam.

He often says “I didn’t really

than 10,000 residents. She actually said Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives her foreign policy experience.

We’re going to need more than that for vice-president.

locally, we encourage you to participate in the AHS redesign, which is reformatting the entire school to prepare for declining enrollment and to ensure a twenty-first century education.

The more student input, the more AHS can help students prepare for a rapidly changing global world. Contact Principal Jeff Schlecht if you wish to participate (which we certainly hope you do).

For many students, the future we once saw as certain has become unclear in light of the sudden economic crisis.

What we now know from this event is that we cannot sit back and live passive lives letting distant politicians make decisions that drastically impact our future. Get involved; take control of your life.

love America until I was deprived of her company.”

John McCain, who could have turned bitter and angry at America for his situation, instead embraced his country. John McCain loves America.

Eight years ago, McCain ran for President of the United States.

George W. Bush beat him in the Republican primaries. Now, McCain is looking to avenge his defeat. He has secured his party’s nomination.

In 1994, he worked with Democratic Senator Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform. The McCain-Feingold Act attempted to put limits on “soft money.” It was the first time the media portrayed Senator McCain as a maverick and the name stuck.

John McCain supported the Iraq surge. He argued that it was the right thing, and agreed with President Bush that it was necessary. Reports have found that violence has drastically reduced in Iraq as a result.

The McCain you may have heard of isn’t the real McCain. The John McCain of the last 25 years has been a bipartisan force in American politics.

Rogue News

The Rogue News will strive to practice professional journalism at Ashland High School.

It will aim to be a voice for the student body, and an important contribution to the school and community. In order to achieve this goal, the Rogue News will attempt to do the following to the best of it’s ability.

-Report accurate and objective information -Uphold all journalistic ethics and standards -Provide an outlet for voices within the school through letters editor and editorials.

Unsigned editorials represent the views of the staff, all others are signed. Letters to the editor must be signed unless extenuating circumstances warrant a students name being withheld, as decided by the Editor-in-Chiefs or newspaper advisor.

-Attempt to cover school events fairly and evenly

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief..........................................Phoebe Parker-Shames, Žena Shelton Managing Editor........................................................................Ella Riley-Adams News Editors...................................................Arthur Lawniczak, Hannah Sayles Feature Editor......................................................................................Abbie Deal In-Depth Editor..................................................................Phoebe Parker-Shames Opinion Editors...........................................................Morgan Hall, Erik Peterson Sports Editor..................................................... ............................Trevor Hilligoss Back Page Editor.............................................................................Zach Kitamura Graphics Editor.....................................................................................Jesse Smith Advertising Managers.......................Anna Hume, Adam Pavlich, Jackson Santee Distrubution Manager......................................................................Nicholas Dake Photographers...................................Erik Peterson, Nicholas Dake, Brena Heater Rogue News is published by the newspaper class of Ashland High School, 201 S. Mountain Ave., Ashland, Oregon 97520, (541) 482-8771 ext. 195.

Rogue News

October 9, 2008

Page 7

BrotherHood

By Arthur Lawniczak and Adam Pavlich Head Football Coach Charlie Hall has a lot to worry about.: game plans, classes and family. But one thing is for sure, he has no worries about fielding a team.

48 athletes play on the Ashland High School football team. That number is up nine from last season and the question is: will it get higher?

“We had a good surge [of players signing up late], but you got to put a limit to the number of guys at this point,” Hall said.

“Every once in a while, I can talk to a guy about coming out for the team, but I didn’t recruit the new players. I think that guys join because of what’s already been established. The program really recruits itself,” Hall said.

Other players join the sport for friends. Charlie Sebrell, starting wide receiver, joined because of his brother, Lewis.

Before his football legacy, Charlie Sebrell’s main sport was soccer.

“I played soccer for seven years, I was part of Olympic Development Program,” Sebrell said.

“Talon and my brother, Lewis, actually played football and my dad couldn’t stand soccer. So I guess I was peer pressured into it,” Sebrell said.

He had no idea what he was getting into. With three hours of practice each day and a requirement to lift weights twice a week, football isn’t an easy sport.

“On red days, we watch films at lunch and on white days, we watch them at three,” Sebrell said.

With all this practice and strategizing, football is not to be taken lightly. Some players have gone through this routine for many years and others are just starting to get use to it, but the upperclassmen are helping them find their way.

Sports Wire

Thurs. 9th @ 7:00PM Girls Varsity Volleyball Vs. Klamath Union High School

Photo By Phoebe Parker-Shames

Ashland High water polo player Allison Gida defends a pass by South Medford.

Water Polo looking for funding

By Sadie Shelton

ment, transportation, hotel fees and food on away tournaThe boys’ and girls’ water polo teams had a yard sale ments. The water polo players have to pay for most of this Sept. 6 and 7 at Lincoln Elementary School to raise money with their own money.

The team practiced at the Daniel Meyer pool last year, for their program.

The water polo team is always looking for ways to make but it was too cold and the pool was shallow. “It’s harder to money. “Constantly fundraising gets tiring, like asking tread water in a shallow pool,” Swink said, so they’re grateful to use the SOU pool this year, despite the cost. people for money and then six months later Water polo is currently a club sport state saying ‘can we have more money,’ ” Rafferty “We need to raise wide because there aren’t enough teams in the Swink, a wing on the boys water polo team awareness, if it state. Because it is a club sport, unlike football said.

The water polo teams are supported by gets more popu- and basketball, water polo is not fully funded the Youth Activities and Academic Levy lar, the levy might by the levy. “We need to raise awareness, if it (YAAL), but because of the lack of play- start funding us,” gets more popular the levy might start funding us,” Swink said. If the water polo teams ers and the cost of using the SOU pool $100.00 per hour- the costs aren’t fully covered. “YAAL i n c r e a s e statewide it could become a school sport and can be used for any school expenses and we are still com- more expenses would be funded by the levy.

“It’s frustrating that the levy doesn’t support us, but mitted to supporting all after school activities,” Karl Kemper, the Ashland High School athletic director, said. The fundraising is a bonding experience and we’re closer beathletic department looks at how many athletes finished cause we spend so much time together,” Natalie Del Carlo, the water polo season the previous year and then gives the the girls water polo team captain, said. program $241.50 per athlete for the next season. This year Always fundraising can become a hassle and get in the the water polo program got $5,313.00 because 22 athletes way of the game, but not for the Ashland boys’ and girls’ (12 boys and 10 girls) finished the season last year. The water polo teams who both did well at their tournament on levy supports other Ashland sports by paying for equip- Saturday, Sept. 20 at the SOU pool.

“When we were sophomores, the seniors were intense. We had to learn to be tough and handle ourselves. Now we can coach a little and help out the younger guys,” Sebrell said, who has been starting on varsity for three years.

Both Sebrell brothers have been exemplifying leadership and excellence.

Friday @ 7:00PM

Boys Varsity Football @ Crater High School

Sat. @ TBA

Girls Varsity Volleyball Bend Clearwater Classic

But to help make decisions, the football team elects six members to be on the leadership council. These officials vote on everything from disputes to jerseys.

Among the elected is Talon Haggard, who recently recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined all of last season.

Sat. @ 1:00PM

Boys Varsity Soccer @ Mazama High School

“As the season is progressing, I’m feeling more comfortable, my shoulder feels better then before,” Haggard said.

Whether the players are veterans or rookies, football plays no favorites, not even with the Grizz. This year the team is going to have to overcome a lot to conquer the Southern-Sky Confrence.

Sun. @ 4:00PM

Boys Varsity Soccer @ Eagle Point High School

Wed. 4:00PM

Coed Varsity Cross Country @ Phoenix Invitational

As As hh ll aann dd M Mayo ayo rr rr ac ac ee Art Bullock

The Candidates Prior jobs and government experience

Platforms, plans, and proposals

Jenifer Carr

Steve Hauck

George John Kramer Stromberg

Co-founded AshlandConstitution.org, wrote 5 charter amendments. Training in executive leadership, implementing workplace democracy.

College admission specialist, test coach, tutor. Aspen City Council, Ashland Planning Commission, Ashland Affordable Housing.

General contractor production manager. Walker Elementary School and Ashland High School teacher.

Office Manager Jade Mountain Medicine, writer, graphic designer.

BA Holistic Perspectives on Political Science.

Ashland city councilor, RVTD director, Ashland housing commission chair.

Special Districts Association of Oregon chairman.

Historic preservation consultant.

Oregon heritage commission.

Ashland Facilities Planning Comission. Ashland Downtown Task Force.

Management and orgnizational consultant. PhD in Business Administration.

City of Ashland Planning Commission.

Elevate selfgovernment and preserve Ashland’s parks and forests.

Protect small businesses, control the city’s expanding debt, and diversify our tourist economy with green businesses.

Fiscal responsibility, support of small business and creation of new business opportunities.

Connect with the school district. Make government more transparent accessible.

Listen to the people.

Improve public transportation and parking.

Support and strengthen local businesses. Let government departments do their jobs and a have a working city council.

Invest in local and urban agriculture and protect the Mt. Ashland watershed. Pursue renewable energy sources and develop affordable housing with a green growth model. Create feasible public transportation.

Community service is a part of who I am. I believe I have the experience, leadership, and proven accomplishments to move Ashland forward on issues like economic development and affordable housing.

Rebuild the community’s trust in the government.

Preserve Ashland politics like preserving historic buildings. Be flexible and creative. Improve decision making and utilize the community.

Support OSF and small businesses during economic hardships. Make city more sustainable and diversify economy. Focus on water, local agriculture and public transportation.

President

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80.0%

125

60.0% Percent

100

Votes

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Jeff Merkley

Gordon Smith Candidates

Survey taken September, 29. There were 319 surveys tallied

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