Volume 47 Issue 5 - Mar 2, 2012

Sheldon junior sings at Carnegie Hall

NBA resumes schedule after lockout

Battle of the Underwear

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Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 47 Issue 5 Mar. 2, 2012

Sheldon senior athletes college bound

Many senior athletes make their way to college through sport scholarships Katie Brelsford staff writer

There are many outstanding athletes here at Sheldon High School, however, only a select few will be continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level. To become a college athlete is a strenuous task. Not only do you have to compete at a college skill level, you also have to maintain good grades in order to be academically eligible to play.

Seniors Dillon Miller, Sam McCaskill, and Natalee Godfrey are a few examples of college-bound athletes perusing their dreams and taking the step up to the collegiate level. They have been preparing for years to finally have the chance to compete at the college level with other universities and colleges around the United States.

Miller, quarterback and point guard, will be attending Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri along with his brother Mitchell Carmen. Both will be playing football for the Lions and are looking forward to the upcoming year. Miller isn’t only focusing on his plays on the football field, but also his studies in the classroom, “I plan on studying education, partially because I want to become a [high school] football coach later on in life.”

The sports memory Miller will never forget is, “When we beat the life out of the Jesuit Crusaders on our field, for the first home game of my senior year.”

If you don’t like the Boise State blue

turf, keep it to yourself around senior center and defensive end McCaskill. He is on his way to Boise, Idaho, to play for the Broncos in 2012. McCaskill was being recruited by numerous schools for football and he considered only four: Boise State, Montana, Oregon State, and Portland State. Sheldon fans may think it’s ironic that McCaskill, an Oregon Duck fan would choose Boise State. He claims, “It was an instant love, just simply a perfect fit for me and I am thrilled I get the opportunity of playing football another year.” McCaskill does a very good job at balancing schoolwork and sports now, but feels differently about the upcoming year, “I think it will be hard at the start, but there will be a lot of tutors and help available for me.” Clearly, McCaskill is ready for the next step in his football career

and is happy he found a home at Boise State University.

Godfrey, middle blocker, will be playing volleyball at Montana State University next year. Godfrey opted to play her freshman season instead of taking the year off. She said, “I plan to start for the Bobcats; it’s an exceptional volleyball program and I’m honored to have this chance!” Godfrey led the Fighting Irish to fourth in state and was named first team all-league last year. Godfrey stated, “The feeling of being in the state tournament was definitely my favorite sports memory of all time.

It was a blast and I will miss playing with these girls.”

When the 2012 school year starts next fall, many Sheldon alumni will be enrolled in colleges and continuing their education. This group of Irish sports standouts will also have an opportunity to compete in the world of NCAA athletics.

It will be exciting to follow these Sheldon graduates in their college careers.

Katie Brelsford photos

Sheldon’s field dedicated to coach Marty Johnson Long time Coach Marty Johnson to receive a great football honor Drew Haugen sports editor Dennis Ludwig Stadium has been home to the Sheldon football program for twelve years, providing memories for players, coaches, and fans alike. When the team takes the field on Friday nights, they play not only for a victory, but also to defend the turf that has seen nine league championships and three state titles in the past decade.

A fundamental key to Sheldon’s dominance during this time has been former head coach and current offensive coordinator Marty Johnson. Johnson and the Irish coaching staff have built a winning program on the ideals of hard work, commitment, and dedication. Next fall, the football turf will be dedicated to Coach Johnson, a fitting tribute to his achievements as a coach and as a mentor.

Johnson stepped down from his position as head coach following the 2010 football season, to take over as the full time offensive coordinator. He had been the Irish play-caller since arriving at Sheldon in 1997, but this change allowed him to watch his son, and former Irish quarterback Jordan Johnson, play football at the University of Montana. Lane Johnson, Coach Johnson’s brother and defensive coordinator, took over as head coach prior to the 2011 season. Athletic director Matt Binkerd said, “It became obvious to us this was the natural time to start discussing dedicating the field. Community members, administrators, and the Sheldon football family were all on board.” Once the idea was proposed, support for the dedication quickly grew. The athletic department then began the process to officially name the new turf Marty Johnson Field. Johnson said, “It totally caught me off guard; it’s something I never dreamt of happening.”

In addition, a monument will be constructed next to the West grandstand, recognizing both Coach Johnson’s and Coach Ludwig’s contributions to the program. Johnson

continued, “It is a hard feeling to describe. It’s an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence [as Coach Ludwig].”

Throughout Johnson’s fourteen year career as head coach, the Irish won a total of 137 games, and captured three state titles. During that time, Sheldon football developed a reputation for building excellence on and off the field of play. Junior quarterback Taylor Alie said, “I’ve learned to cherish every moment I have in the program, and to not only be a great Sheldon player on the field, but a better person off the field.” This is a testament to the principles instilled by Johnson, and the entire coaching staff. Alie added, “They are outstanding coaches and that’s what makes Fridays so meaningful, when you put on those Sheldon uniforms to play for this team.”

When the Irish line up at home for the first time next season, it will be in a stadium, on a field, named for two outstanding coaches. Marty Johnson Field and Denis Ludwig Stadium will be a reminder to fans and players of the coaches that will continue to shape the Sheldon football program for years to come.

The Winter Formal dance made for a great comeback The Winter Formal dance is a great excuse to dress up. The dance made a comeback from recent years Nick Dunphy staff writer You heard about it in the halls, you heard your friends talking about it: it’s the Winter Formal! The one-time-a-year dance has happened once again! This dance was great for the love birds out there since it was so close to Valentine’s Day. It was also between the other well-known dances, Homecoming and Prom. The

dance hasn’t been around for a while, but now it’s back!

Senior Dakota Nix said, “The Winter Formal should be named the Valentine’s Dance or Valentine’s Ball.”

He knows a few people who went to the Winter Formal.

“We should be allowed to leave to get food or whatever then be able to come back.” Nix also said, “I think the date was convenient because of my work schedule.”

“I think it’s called the Winter Formal because it’s Oregon and winter never ends in Oregon,” said senior Alex Dunphy. He went to the dance with a bunch of his friends. “I don’t think anyone went overboard with their clothes because its high school and were suppose to have fun.” Dunphy continued, “I would have changed the strictness of the fun we could have.” He had lots of

fun at the dance with his friends. “I knew at least fifteen people that went to the dance,” Dunphy concluded.

Social studies teacher Bill Temple said, “It’s a unique opportunity to dress up. I think it’s unique because it doesn’t require a lot of money like prom.” Temple attended the Winter Formal and had this to say about it: “The girls look like they were ready to go to prom but the guys should have had a sports jacket and an open collared shirt, tie optional.” Temple then added, “The football and basketball players dress up more than the guys at the dance did.”

The Winter Formal’s comeback was a good job.

Let’s hope we can have more and more Winter Formal dances in the future. Someday it might even be as popular as Homecoming or even Prom.

2 March 2, 2012

News

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Raising rare animals to be killed for sport Game farm ranches raise rare African animals that are hunted for sport, but the proceeds go to research Sofie Crandall staff writer You might have seen in the news, or on popular shows like 60 Minutes, the argument against Animal Rights Activists and game farm owners. These farmers are raising rare African animals such as the Scimitar-horned onyx, the Addax, and the Dama Gazelle, and then allowing hunters to come in and shoot them. Though these hunters must pay a massive fee to even be allowed to step on these game farms, the question still has to be asked: can hunting endangered animals save the species? Say you want to hunt a Scimitar-horned onyx, that’s not a problem. But you have to pay $4,500. That’s actually relatively inex-

pensive. If you want to hunt a Cape Buffalo it’ll cost you $50,000. The money goes to furthering research for these species, but even that doesn’t settle the activists’ nerves.

About this issue Life Skills secretary Chris Steigleman said, “I’m torn. I sort of feel okay about this because the money goes to help the animals.” Steigleman’s father-inlaw and husband are hunters, but they eat the meat they hunt as to not be wasteful. “I feel like if you’re killing an animal for food, it’s better than killing them for the sport. That’s just cruel.” Currently, Animal Rights activists have taken this issue to court and their main case is that no matter how much land the animals have to roam on, and how well they’re being treated, it’s still cruel to kill them. The activists say it’s too easy. Steigleman said, “Animals in Africa are getting poached for free, just for the fun of it. But at least here there really is a lot of money going towards research to better the species.”

“It’s not fair at all,” senior Aubrey MacDonald commented. “It’s cruel of game hunters to allow animals to be hunted.” She said it didn’t matter if the money went back to research, it’s still killing an animal. While MacDonald doesn’t believe that people should completely stop eating

animals and using animal products, she does believe that the animals need to be raised in a humane, kind way. About foreign animal import, MacDonald said, “I would make it so that people couldn’t hunt or kill the rare animals.”

Meladie Sorensen said, “If we want these animals to survive, the world as a whole needs to provide money all together.” She has a very valid point; it can’t be one country’s responsibility alone to care for these animals.

If the whole world wants to put them in zoos or go on safaris to gawk at them, we need to work together to ensure that the breed doesn’t go extinct. Sorensen continued, “I’m not against hunting if you’re using the meat for food, but just hunting for prize is wrong.” About the amount of money that each hunter must pay to even be allowed to set foot on these game farms, Sorenson also said, “I guess it makes it better if the funds are funneled back into assist the animal and preserve the species.”

We have to look at the big picture. Not just the fact that the Animal Right Activists don’t like that animals are being hunted, or that hunters have to spend large sums of money to hunt them. It’s about people from all over coming together and having unity when it comes to saving these species.

Non-political issues in political debates Lone Oregon climber With the Presidential race heating up, candidates are trying harder and harder to find the “dirt” on others Ben Green front page editor Throughout American history, it seems that getting “dirt” on the opponent serves as the best tactic for being more successful. Our televisions are filled with negative ads directed at a candidate’s biggest rival(s), and it seems like there is more time and effort going into bringing opposing candidates down than bringing themselves up. This seems to be the most strategic way to approach victory, but is it the right way?

Pointing fingers at certain issues that candidates have with other opposing candidates is understandable in some circumstances, but as Republican Rick Santorum stated in a Republican debate, “...you guys should leave that alone and focus on the issues!” Santorum stated this after he was fed up with the constant bickering of between candidate Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The two candidates were constantly bickering over issues that some might think are pointless. Do candidates focus too much on personal issues rather than presidential ones? Social studies teacher Bill Temple said, “Yes, I think it serves as a deflection to the tough issues given.”

In the South Carolina debates moderator John King started of the debates by asking Gingrich a question.

He asked Gingrich about claims that he once asked his wife for an “open marriage,” and King gave Gingrich an opportunity to defend himself/talk about the issue.

Gingrich was appalled by how CNN decided to start off the debates; he told King that that was not a way to start off debate, and in turn got a standing ovation for it.

This serves as another example of issues that don’t have anything whatsoever to do with Presidential issues, but may or may not be relevant to whether a candidate will be a good President or not. This may or may not affect how people look at his character. Should we solely focus on Presidential issues or should there be a balance between Presidential and personal issues being presented at debates? Campus supervisor Darin Henry said, “We need a certain amount of personal issues because it questions the integrity of the person that will run the country.”

With politics in general there are negative ads and making opponents look bad happens with both parties. When asked, with politics in general, if candidates are focused too much on bringing other candidates down them bringing themselves up, senior Halley Folgelstrom said, “Well, I think that Republicans are more focused on bringing others down as opposed to bringing themselves up, and democrats are more focused on promoting their ideas in general.”

Drew Haugen illustration

The elephant is the Republican party’s mascot.

Proposed bill threatens online freedom SOPA could give the government more power to regulate the internet Roman Hernandez staff writer Bill 3261 or H.R. 3261 was introduced to the United States House of Representatives by House judiciary committee chair representative Lamar S. Smith on October 26, 2011. This bill is formally known as Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). The bill is meant to strengthen the U.S law enforcement’s ability to fight online trafficking and protect copyrighted intellectual property of counterfeit goods. Potentially, this bill could give the government the power to shut down any website they felt was illegally online trafficking or not citing correctly. Many protests have been held over this bill.

When asked, three different sources had no idea who was behind SOPA. The answer is many big companies that lose money because of online piracy. Company’s such as the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, as well as companies and unions in the cable, movie, and music industries. When asked, senior Jessica Lanz said, “I don’t know why anyone would support SOPA.” Supporters also include trademark-

dependent companies such as Nike, and Acushnet Company.

Many Americans believe that the internet has always been and should always stay a free space to create, learn and interact. Most of the people who were protesting SOPA say that it is morally and Constitutionally wrong. Junior Tyler Gray said “SOPA goes against the U.S Constitution.”

The idea of SOPA being Constitutionally wrong is the fact that it would take away freedom of speech. If someone on Facebook posted a copyrighted video, technically SOPA gives the government the power to shut down Facebook and all of it’s users. Most would agree that that amount of power is too much for the government to have.

SOPA will have a giant impact on the internet. Some people believe this bill would give the government too much power over the internet. Sophomore Joel Graves said, “I think it gives the government too much power.”

Graves later added, “SOPA will affect teens the most because teens are using the internet a lot and a lot of them get their music for free from sights that would be shut down.

SOPA is no longer being discussed because of so many disagreements. The bill will not be brought back until it has been further revised and has more supporters.

dies on Mount Hood Jared Townsley of Tigard, Oregon, was only 32 when he perished on the mountain Joel Montoya staff writer

Imagine climbing a mountain that approximately ten thousand people climb every year. Well, Jared Townsley of Tigard was one of the ten thousand who climbed the mountain Mt. Hood. He climbed it by himself and he also started climbing it in the middle of the night. The peak of the iconic mountain that he climbed, Mt. Hood, is about eleven thousand feet above sea level. It’s the last mountain that Jared Townsley was able to climb before his unfortunate death. Jared Townsley was a 32-year-old father of two. Searchers had been looking for Jared Townsley since he failed to return from a solo climb at 11:00 a.m. Monday. Townsley was the first person to die while climbing Mount Hood since Robert Dale Wiebe of British Columbia died in a fall in 2010.

Sophomore Liam Talty said, “Every climber should always have a partner. Especially if you’re climbing in the middle of the night.” Talty later added, “I’m surprised he even decided to climb the mountain in the middle of the night.” Talty also said, “Safety issues should be taken a lot more seriously by people attempting to not just climb Mt. Hood but every other mountain as well.”

After being asked if experienced climbers should be able to climb by themselves, freshman Isaiah Cartwright said, “Not even experienced or skill climbers should be allowed to climb by themselves.” Cartwright later added, “Even if they do decide to climb the mountain, they should at least have a partner.” Cartwright also said, “It should be a requirement for them to have another person with them.”

Sophomore Ben Harter said, “The man should’ve had some kind of signal or flare to signal that he is in trouble.”

After being asked if mountain climbers should be allowed to climb the mountain by themselves, Harter said, “Yes. There is really no restriction against it. But of course, the buddy system is always a good idea.” He later added, “Especially if you can tell that the weather isn’t going to be in your favor and could be a challenge to do by yourself.”

Entertainment

the Talisman

March 2, 2012

3

Release of The Vow excites the students of Sheldon

Is The Vow the next great love story that students will adore?

Lauren Davies staff writer

For months people have been waiting for what could be the movie of the year to come out in theatres. Some may think it is just another love story that has already been made before, but with a slightly different concept, while others’ perception of it could be that it will be the cutest love story since The Notebook. With main actors like Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, how could it go wrong? The commercials have made The Vow seem truly

unforgettable and a movie that no one will want to miss.

What makes this love story different is that it is inspired by true events, which sets the intense mood for the movie.

Senior Megan Haith said, “I think it’s going to be a really good movie because it’s based on a true story and I really like the actors in it.” We haven’t seen Tatum in as many romances as Rachel McAdams, so this movie will be a test for him in a new category. For many guys, the only reason for them to go see this movie will be for their girlfriends. The girls on the other hand, don’t need much of an excuse. Sophomore Levi Rotherham said, “If [senior] Dillon Miller is going to see it, then I will go see it!”

Although the movie does end randomly with an extra fifteen to twenty minutes that could have been valued to let the viewer know more about their future together, The Vow captured audiences of all ages. McAdams, who plays the role of Paige, gets in a car accident with

her husband Leo (Tatum), when a semi attempts to stop but due to snowy conditions the truck slides into the couple’s car causing Paige to fly through the window..

Along with the tragic accident, Paige loses her memory including her memory of her husband. Leo has to find a way to get his wife to fall in love with him again.

Senior Mercy Barnes said, “I haven’t been this excited to see a movie in a long time. I feel like it will be something completely different from all of the romantic movies I have ever seen before.” With the audience left wondering what happens to Paige and Leo, the movie ends with a picture of the real couple from true events that inspired the movie itself. Kim and his wife Krickitt ended up remarrying and she never regained her memory back. The Vow ended up making a whopping 41.7 million dollars in the theatres between the hours of 12 and 2 a.m. opening day. The movie truly captivates the bond of two people perfectly.

Highest-rated and most-anticipated music albums of 2012

Music artists are releasing some fresh new albums to the nation Emily Pierpoint staff writer

Muse, Skrillex, Nicki Minaj, of Montreal, ShinedownNumerous bands from all genres of music are releasing albums this year. 2011 was a big year for pop albums, with Adele’s 21, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, and Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E. This year will focus a little less on pop, and a little more on indie and alternative. Many experienced bands in the alternative scene are releasing new albums, like The Shins and The Strokes. However, we’ll also see a lot of projects from relatively unknown, underrated newbies like The Big Pink and Reptar.

The music world of 2011 was filled with buzz about pop music. Despite this, Arcade Fire’s album, The Suburbs, won the “Album of The Year” Grammy award.

Fans thought that was pretty cool, since they aren’t a big pop band. There were some band collaboration projects that made it big in 2011, and most were in the pop genre.

Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Kudi, MGMT, and Ratatat was a popular tune. Kid Kudi also worked with Kanye West. A big collaboration in the alternative genre of 2011 was the album Rome, by Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi, Norah Jones, and The White Stripes’ Jack White.

The music world of 2012 may be a little different. Unlike last year, the 2012 “Album of the Year” Grammy went to a pop artist—Adele. She won five more Grammys, including “Song of the Year” and “Pop Vocal Album.” Some non-pop

bands that Sheldon students said they were fans of were nominated in other categories. Junior Claire Thompson said, “I really like Torches by Foster The People and Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay.” Both Foster The People and Coldplay were nominated for Grammys this year. There is a new genre of electronic dance music that is getting more popular in 2012: dubstep. Skrillex is the artist that seemed to start the buzz. He won two Grammys this year. Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites won “Best Dance Recording” and his EP with the same title won “Best Dance/Electronica” album.

Some bands and artists who have been doing work for a very long time will be doing even more work through 2012. Pink Floyd and The Beach Boys will both be touring. Long time pop star Madonna will be releasing her twelfth album, and going on tour as well. Some think that at age 53, she’s getting a little old for this. Freshman

Nick Trinh said, “I think she should keep going; it doesn’t matter how old you are.” On the other side of things, freshman Payton Bruni responded, “Who’s Madonna?”

One of the most exciting releases scheduled for 2012 is long-time band Muse’s sixth studio album. The band’s media manager, Tom Kirk, has said the album will be somewhat like their fifth album, The Resistance, only “heavier.” Fans think this could be good or bad; there were a lot of mixed opinions on The Resistance. Some fans thought it was taking too much of a pop route, but freshman Ryan Knapp was a fan of the album. Knapp said, “It was very well done. It was Muse—of course it was awesome.”

There hasn’t been much buzz about bands collaborating in 2012 yet, besides Coldplay doing a song with Rihanna on their album that was released this year. Time will tell what collaborations and surprises 2012 will hold.

Kyle Radley photo

Senior Tim Alley in the middle of a mix playing a track from the artist Weaver’s newest single.

New sci-fi action/thriller movie Chronicle is doing well in theaters Chronicle is receiving high praise from critics Tim Alley copy editor Many critics believe the film industry has become rather predictable in this day and age. While new movies are regularly released, it’s not often that a movie comes around that plays on a genre that has been, for the most part, run down into the ground but yet brings a genuinely novel twist to the table. Chronicle is one of these movies. It is about a group of high school boys who develop abilities to control objects by moving their hands.

Chronicle is the must-see movie of this term.

Andrew Detmer has a hard life. Between dealing with an abusive father, dying mother and having no friends besides his cousin Matt, he buys a camera to record his life, initially to catch his father’s abuse on tape. When his cousin invites him to a rave party to meet people, a classmate of his, Steve, recognizes him and asks if he can use his camera to record an interesting sinkhole he found in the forest. When Steve ventures inside and Andrew reluctantly follows, they find a giant blue glowing rock that gives the three of them telekinesis that gets stronger as the movie goes on. When Andrew’s mother takes a turn for the worse and his family can’t afford the medication, Andrew resorts to robbery using his powers that quickly turns into a crime spree to which the police get involved. When Matt tries to stop him

as SWAT team members move in, Matt finds himself in a position where he has to make a split-second decision.

Chronicle displays real human temptation when someone is given the possibility to do previously unheard of things without recourse. In every other superhero movie, whoever has been blessed with supernatural powers uses them to fight crime, but what would stop a teenage boy from robbing someone if no one could stop him? “It’s fantastic and has a future in the super-person industry,” senior Hunter Anderson commented. This realistic representation of how a person would react when given great responsibility is meant to make the film stand out from similar movies

on the scene. “I would very much like to see it,” Anderson said.

English teacher Ms. Clarke saw the movie opening weekend and thought the positive messages could be taken from the experience.

“I think the comradery and how people can join together was good.

These boys came together because they have these different skills,” she explained, also adding that, “I felt they had a really good idea, but didn’t know how to end it so they went with a cliché ending.”

The movie has done well, already yielding $95 million for its $15 million budget and receiving an 85% score on the online review site Rotten Tomatoes. “It sounds like a movie full of action,” sophomore Nathan Nadeau commented. “One of those hero movies.”

Chronicle truly is one of the more interesting movies currently available. Viewers will be entertained and pleasantly surprised by what these boys go through and where their actions and choices regarding their newly-found powers take them. It won’t be in the theaters forever, so go see it before it’s gone!

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F E A T U R E S

Project Our Turn: helping child soldiers Project Our Turn helps people than you may think Solan Megerssa news editor As the name implies, Project Our Turn is a student-run organization with a purpose: to help rehabilitate ex-child soldiers in Uganda. Project Our Turn, affectionately called P.O.T. club by members, was started in 2007 by Halle Shirk, then a freshman at South Eugene High School. During a trip to Uganda she visited Rehaboth School in the village of Jinji. The orphanage housed ex-child soldiers, and was in dire need of money and supplies.

Seeing this, Shirk decided to do something to help. Once back in the States she started Project Our Turn, with the modest goal of buying new desks for the orphanage. This small venture would eventually turn into a recognized non-profit organization that would raise more than $2000 over the course of two school years and donate it to two orphanages in Uganda.

The Sheldon chapter of Project Our Turn was started by a group of IHS student, who, after seeing a presentation by Halle Shirk at the IHS assembly, decided that Sheldon should contribute to the cause. Senior Mazie Boyle, a founding member, said, “I saw a presentation by [Shirk] and it inspired us to start it at Sheldon.” When asked what her favorite thing about Project Our Turn was Boyle added, “I like that we are working together for a good cause.”

One of the most inspirational things about Project Our Turn is that it is completely run by students who volunteer their time for the cause. When asked why he joined, sophomore Connor Dryden said, “At first I joined because my friends were in it, but then I realized it was a noble cause and I have the free time, so I might as well do something helpful with it.” This is generally the attitude that people in the club have, and at the meetings it is apparent that everyone truly cares about what they are doing.

If you want to join the club you can go to the weekly meetings in Room B7 on Wednesdays during lunch. Senior Ayantu Megerssa, the presi-

dent, said, “We are always looking for new members, and you get community service [hours].” If you want to support Project Our Turn you can go to their next fundraiser on March 17 at the Delta Oaks Walmart. Either way you will have the comfort that comes from supporting a good cause.

Sheldon’s own junior Madison Baker traveled to New York, New York, to sing with the best high school performers Cya Silva opinions editor

You’ve probably seen her around. She’s a junior at Sheldon High who is involved heavily in anything musically related: mostly the Dublinaires/Varsity Choir and Theater, but also academically. She (currently) is in APUSH and other higher classes and gets good grades, a feat in itself during junior year. And nonetheless, she does it while doing every theater show and doing every gig for the Dublinaires and Varsity Choir. Um, can anyone say…wow?

Now, she has another accomplishment to add to that list. Maddie Baker has gone to Carnegie Hall. “Of course [I’m excited]!” Maddie Baker said a few days prior to going. Her mother, Mrs. Carrie Baker, expressed similar opinions, saying, “There were 6,500 students nominated for the program…she had to send in a lot of application materials, and we had to record an audition…Then we just had to wait to hear back [from the National Honors Choir], and we sent the stuff in during June. And she found out that she had been accepted in the very beginning of November.” Let’s put this into perspective. 6,500 are nominated, and in the end, there were 253 singers, 99 orchestra members, and 114 bandies. Adding up to, in the end, 469 people out of 6,500 possible people, from four continents, got in. And Madison Baker was one of them.

Sheldon Choir Teacher, Nancy Anderson, nominated five people, and according to her sources, Maddie was the only one who did an audition. She was proud “beyond words” of Maddie for taking that step and had just a few words of advice. “Cherish every moment that you’re there.”

Upon her return, I caught up with Maddie Baker and got a review on how the experience was.

“It was unbelievable! Words can’t even begin to describe how amazing it was! Having met a lot of people before hand, I knew the experience was going to be a great one. But when I got there and realized the level of passion and dedication each individual had was at a level I had

flyer courtesy of Project Our Turn

Students with parents who work at Sheldon How would you feel if one of your parents worked at Sheldon?

Madison Baker sings well in the Big Apple

Jada Allender

Have you staff writer ever wondered what it would be like to have your parent teach at your school? Well that is a reality for some students at Sheldon. A number of students are friends with the students who have parents teaching here at Sheldon, so they have a pretty good idea of how it would feel. Yet, many have no clue what it feels like to have their parents teach at Sheldon. So for those of you who don’t have a clear idea of what students feel like with their parents teaching at their school, today is your lucky day.

Depending on their own personal experiences, students have different opinions about their parents teaching at Sheldon. For example, a handful of students, such as brothers freshman Brian Brancato and sophomore Brandon Brancato, think it’s cool. “His class was fun and it’s easier with him as my teacher, because if I need help, I can get it,” explained Brandon Brancato. Brandon Brancato also explained the many pros of having his dad work at Sheldon and said, “It’s cool, because sometimes he will take me out to lunch, and teachers joke around with me a lot, so it makes some of my classes a little bit funner.” Brian Brancato also likes having his dad work here. “I like it. It’s cool because my close friends joke around with him a lot. They also joke around about me being in his class.”

Although having students’ parents work at Sheldon does have its perks, there are also cons. For instance, students who have parents working at Sheldon, “Have to act a certain way, ya know, like be better,” said junior Robert Bolden. “You can’t get in trouble, no trouble at all,” said Brandon Brancato. Freshman Molly Love added,“I like having my mom work here, ‘cause she can help me, but it’s bad ‘cause she checks up on me.” Many students feel like “it would be harder to be themselves,” explained freshman Natalie Olmos. Olmos also added, “As long as students don’t have classes that their parents teach, it should be ok, I guess.”

Students who don’t have parents working here are the ones who are opposed to the idea of their parent working here the most. “It would suck,” freshman Keegan Nolan remarked. “Yeah, it would definitely feel awkward to have my parent be my teacher,” added freshman Maddie Yamamoto. But there are some students who would enjoy their parents working here, such as freshman Claire Roberts, who said, “Having my mom work here wouldn’t be that bad ‘cause my friends like her. And it’d be cool ‘cause if I needed something she’d be here.”

Overall, there are mixed opinions about having students’ parents working here. For example, some people think it’s cool, such as senior Gwyn LeCavalier who said, “It’s kinda nice sometimes ‘cause if my friends have a parent staff member, I can go talk to them.” However, there are some people who aren’t in favor of students’ parents being staff members at their school because, “Some people get unfair advantages,” said senior Lydia Nichols.

Are muscular calves more attractive on men or women?

Catrina Steckler staff writer People think many parts of the human body are attractive, but there is one part that has become more and more noticed: calves. People have started to notice calves and have even said that they are “hot” even though in the past calves haven’t been noticed and have just been a body part that just helps you move. There are still many different opinions on calves: some people think that they are attractive, while other people think they should remain unnoticed. Are calves really the new turn-on?

Students have many different opinions about calves. Freshman Diamond Huynh said, “I think calves are attractive because they’re muscular on some people.” Junior Scyla Massey agreed and said, “I think calves are attractive but only the ones that have muscle.” It is not only girls, though, who think calves are attractive; there are some guys that have noticed calves and think they are attractive as well. Freshman Pavel Specht commented, “I think calves are attractive ‘cause they show how active people are, and if they work out or not.”

Huynh also added, “I think calves are attractive up to a certain point, but once they get too big they become weird looking and when they get too big

not experienced before in such a group, it made everything so much better.” She later continued on to say, “Had the strong, overwhelming passion not been there, it may not have been as good, you know? Another thing I wasn’t expecting is we sort of became like a family when we were together.” It was obvious she’d had an incredible time there. She continued on to give advice to possible nominees next year, “Anyone in the music department that gets nominated for next years’ Honors Performance Series should definitely audition because the experience will change their lives and something I can personally guarantee that they’ll never forget.”

Sheldon’s Colleens continue statewide success Sheldon’s dance team has taken the state by storm with three 1st place State trophies Chrissy Walter copy editor For many years, dance team hasn’t been widely appreciated by students here at Sheldon. However, this year the Sheldon dance team is drawing attention to the sport they love. Last year, the Colleens beat out every other dance team in the state competition, and received first place in all three categories they competed in. In March, they will compete once again for a state title as they take on the other dance teams from the state of Oregon. Not only have the Colleens set high expectations for themselves, but so has their coach, Hillary McClintick, as have the rest of the student body here at Sheldon High School.

Devoting up to nine hours a week to practice, the dance team performs many different styles of dance; these performances include hip-hop, lyrical, and jazz, among others. After placing in the top ten at state the last couple of years, they are ready to make this year count. Their hard work paid off last year, when they placed first in each of the three categories they performed in. When asked what it was like to win state, sophomore Molly Walter said, “It was really cool to see all our hard work pay off.” Walter later stated, “I believe that our team will place well in the upcoming competition because we are putting a lot of time and hard work into our routines.” Hard work mixed with talent is proving to be the perfect combination for the Sheldon Colleens.

2012 Mr. Irish Winner: Student Prediction Poll

Calves: the previously-overlooked body part they look gross.” But Specht disagreed with that statement and said, “I think the bigger the calves the better because it shows more muscle and it shows you’re more active.” While Specht and Huynh have different opinions on whether big calves are attractive they both agree on one thing. Specht and Huynh both said, “In general, guys have better looking calves than girls.”

Freshman Hannah Salbador has a much different view on calves than Specht, Huynh, and Massey. Salbador said, “I do not think calves are attractive because they are usually fat.” But Salbador later added “I think that calves look good ‘cause it shows that they are healthy when the calves are muscular.”

Salbador thinks that calves should be attractive, and she has some suggestions on how people could get their calves muscular. “I keep my calves fit by being on the dance team, if you want muscular calves you could [join] the dance team, run up hills, play football, or just do any sport [freshman] Gracie Todd does!” Even with the many opinions about calves, when it comes to what the best exercise is for calves and who has the best calves, they all agree that football is the best sport to play if you want the best calves, and for the most part guys have better looking and more muscular calves than girls.

Overall, there are mixed feelings about calves. Some think that they are good-looking and attractive while others are disgusted by them and think they shouldn’t be seen, and then there are people who don’t have an opinion about them. They think calves are just there being overlooked and unnoticed.

photo courtesy Madison Baker Madison Baker (far left) and the other singers who represented Oregon in New York City.

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Drew Haugen Sean Bellotti Peter Anderson Christian Nilsen Dylan Campbell

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Not only does the dance team perform at major competitions throughout the state, they also enjoy performing for the rest of the student body here at Sheldon.

Senior captain Alexa Hoselton said, “I love performing in front of a lot of people because I feel like the more people we have for an audience the more energy we have to feed off of.” It’s a good thing the dancers enjoy performing in front of large crowds because a big audience is certainly what they’ll encounter at the Rose Garden where the state competition is held. Hundreds of fans and parents from all over the state of Oregon will flood the stands at the Rose Garden for a chance to witness the highest level of competition. The Sheldon dance team, being a major competitor in competitions, is already well into their preparation for the next state competition, eager to beat out all the other schools to defend their title.

To some, dance team might look easy, but in reality it’s far from it. When asked how it feels to receive little credit for what the Colleens do, senior captain Rachel Milstein said, “Sometimes it’s frustrating considering how much time, effort, and passion we put into our program, but I think as long as we keep a good attitude and work hard we will get the recognition we deserve.” Despite getting little acknowledgement, the Colleens don’t seem to let that get them down. If anything, it is fueling them to push forward and prove to the student body here at Sheldon that they deserve more recognition.

The dance team works extremely hard, waking up for five a.m. practices, spending all day at competitions, and getting limited gym time to practice their routines, is all a part of being a Sheldon Colleen. However, they are walking proof that with hard work, dedication, and passion they can do anything they set their minds to. With the state competition coming up, the dance team is working on perfecting their state routine, spending hours on end in the dance room. Behind coach McClintick, the Colleens are crossing their fingers to win yet another first place trophy to add to their rapidly-growing collection.

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Opinions

Freshman hazing: is it okay?

Students have a lot to say about an old tradition being revived Isaac Klump staff writer Many have questioned the motives behind freshman hazing. The real question is whether hazing here at Sheldon is becoming more or less of a problem.

Freshman hazing is a problem in high schools across America and some believe that little is done to try and stop it. Feelings and views on this subject differ throughout the school and it is arguable if it is a problem here at Sheldon High School. I believe that Sheldon has the ability to stop the hazing and is able to focus on other problems in its place.

Everyone has to wonder why hazing occurs and what the factors are that cause this problem to happen.

Sophomore Ben Harter commented, “The people who are hazing today are most likely those who feel they are more superior or are those who were once hazed before.”

This relates to a big concern around the world. When hazing is inflicted on individuals, anger builds within those individuals. This anger is released at some point whether it’s with hazing or other violent forms to get back at how Ben Green photo

they were treated. Thus the cycle of crime is created.

Vengeance on people is released by human nature. The pattern starts with hazing and if we stop it, we can save a lot of time and sometimes lives.

Senior Brennen Schaufler said, “I do not think that hazing is much of a problem here at Sheldon, but if it happens, it’s more accidental than it is on purpose.” This is similar to what I see at Sheldon. Hazing has always been present at high schools to the point that it is almost natural to do so. What students forget, is that hazing is illegal and there are consequences for doing so. The more extreme the hazing, the more severe the punishment such as getting kicked out of school and being charged with misdemeanor assault. One small mistake of hazing someone can lead to a tough road in the future because a misdemeanor looks really bad. This is often the case for people and it can ruin dreams that they might have had.

Although some people may see hazing as a real problem at Sheldon, sophomore Tyus Kuykendall said, “I do not see hazing happening at all at Sheldon so it shouldn’t be a problem that is a high concern for us. If hazing does happen, it’s most likely in a place where there is no supervision, [such as] outside of the building.” This is from the perspective of a student which shows that hazing must not be as a big of a problem as some think it is. I agree with Tyus that we do not need to focus on this and therefore have time for other things that need to be done.

Although hazing may not be a threat or problem here at Sheldon, it is something that needs to be watched for. Nearly 47% of students have experienced hazing prior to college and I am willing to guess that most of it happens in high school. To make a better environment for all students across America, let’s focus on respecting others and thinking about them first. Many people feel that high school was the best experience of their lives. Let’s not let hazing ruin this experience for others.

the Talisman

Talisman Staff Editor-in-Chief Frontpage Editor News Editor Entertainment Editor Features p.4 Editor Features p.5 Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Backpage Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Staff Writers Jada Allender Katie Brelsford Mari Chester Sofie Crandall Lauren Davies Nick Dunphy Peter Hanes Roman Hernandez

Drew Haugen Ben Green Solan Megerssa Kyle Radley A.J. Smith Sam Seno Cya Silva Drew Haugen Jim Cahill Tim Alley Chrissy Walter

Staff Advisor

Greg Cantwell

Issac Klump Ryan Land Dylan Lewis Joel Montoya Emily Pierpoint Kyler Schmeling Catrina Steckler

A message from the Talisman The Talisman is run by students for students. The views expressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talisman staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Sheldon community. If you have any letters to the editor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a letter in our box located in the office. We kindly reserve the right to edit all stories we print.

Is the NBA making a comeback?

With the NBA lockout finally over, the new season is underway with fire!

Jim Cahill backpage editor Now that the NBA Lockout is over, the anticipated season is under way. Many people have their favorite teams. Teams such as the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, and L.A. Clippers are all off to hot starts. Oklahoma City has the team with the best winning record in the NBA at this point in the season.

The local Portland Trailblazers have a mediocre record at 14 wins and 10 losses, although they are placed sixth in the Western conference. Popular teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are both off to slow starts by placing seventh in each of their conferences.

Sophomore Justin Horton said, “Yes, I am extremely excited now that the lockout is over and the season is underway because it is one of my favorite sports.”

Horton added, “My favorite team is defiantly the Portland Trailblazers. Second, the best dunker in the NBA is Blake Griffin, because he has mad hops.”

Junior Jake Patterson said, “Yes, I love to watch NBA basketball on TV because all the teams are beast.” About his favorite dunker, in the NBA, Patterson added, “Is that a question? Blake Griffin.” Patterson said the best player in the league is, “Kobe. LeBron is a loser, because he can’t lead his team to a championship.”

Sophomore Jake Colon said, “My favorite team is defiantly the Portland Trailblazers just because they are the Oregon team.” About his favorite dunker in the NBA, Colon added, “Blake Griffin—because he is a beast.”

Colon’s favorite player in the NBA is, “Derrick Rose because he averages triple doubles.”

With about half of the NBA season left, we have had an amazing and suspenseful year. The favorite team around Sheldon seems to be the Portland Trailblazers, although the Blazers are off to a slow start. Most students believe the best dunker is Blake Griffin, probably because he has had many showcase dunks this year. Expect an intense NBA season ending with top teams playing at an extremely high level.

Drew Haugen illustration

Two sides to every bad story Unfortunely, in every season of writing comes a bad article or two; here’s an insider’s look into the situation Peter Hanes staff writer I have always wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes of a newspaper writing crew because there are a lot of articles out there. The main purpose of my story is

to explore how poorly written some of these articles can be and examine the many types of false statements that are printed. The majority of articles out there are written by people just like you and me. We are only human and everyone makes mistakes, so this is why it is so important for us to realize that not everything we read can be taken seriously. There are a ton of stories on the internet and in the newspaper that are filled with garbage and propaganda. This issue must be addressed so we can open our eyes to the reality of this problem.

Everyone knows how bad articles can negatively affect the public. Sophomore Kylene Medenbach said, “You don’t want someone repeating false statements.”

Honestly, I don’t think I could have said it better myself.

She also talked about her biggest pet peeve being when she would come across an article that had “false info” and, “it put her in a bad mood.” We can’t control all of these articles but we can control what we choose to write.

It is obviously bothering people and making a negative impact on society when inaccurate articles go around.

Another source of mine, sophomore Laurel King, claimed, “They should show more effort.” Of course she was referring to how news writers can make their articles better. They should go more in depth with their research and stop making inaccurate articles. The main problem is carelessness and unmotivated writers, so a little more hard work could go a long way.

Sophomore Kelly Harris also had a strong opinion about what she reads and how important it is to her that the world is not filled with lies and misleading articles.

She talked about bad writers and said, “They look dumb.”

It is completely true though, when they write a terrible article that is noticeably false they look stupid. Harris also said, “They lie to make the story sound better.” But in the end it just jeopardizes the truth and the information the readers need to receive.

Sports

the Talisman

March 2, 2012

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Oregon football draws nation’s top talent Following Rose Bowl victory, Ducks land coveted HS recruits in ‘12 class Sam Seno features editor Another college football season is in the books, which means another signing day has come and gone. The nation’s most highly regarded high school football players have signed letters of intent and have decided on where they will play their college ball. It is easy, for sports fans, to get caught up in March Madness and the NBA playoffs, but let’s take a step away from basketball and look at the Oregon’s 2012 football class, and the players who made it one of the best in the country.

This recruiting season has been a very successful one for the Oregon Ducks. They were able to lure some big time names to Eugene. They have continued upgrading their offensive and defensive line by bringing in a plentiful amount of linemen. Many of these linemen played a big role in earning the Ducks the 15th best recruiting class in the nation. Senior Nikolas RuizAnderson said, “I think that this recruiting class is going to add strength to an already-flourishing team.”

The gem of this year’s recruiting class is Arik Armstead, a 6’8” defensive lineman from Elk Grove, California.

He has been described as a dominant player who has a raw blend of speed and power. Along with playing football for the Ducks, Armstead will also join Dana Altman and play basketball for the Ducks during the winter. Armstead earned a four-star rating form ESPN, and was honored as an Army All-American. The ducks are hoping to get some production early from Armstead even as a true freshman. Sophomore Josh Roberts said, “Armstead looks like a promising young player.”

Hopefully Armstead can live up to all the hype and help

give the Ducks some more size on the defensive line.

Also joining Armstead in Eugene is four star running back Byron Marshall, and four star wide receiver Bralon Anderson. Both Marshall and Anderson are expected to get some playing time on the offensive side of the ball their freshman year. The addition of Marshall helps improve an already impressive bulk of running backs. The addition of Anderson brings some more depth to a young group of improving receivers. Also joining the Oregon Ducks for the 2013 season is Sheldon senior Dawson

Drew Haugen photo

SHS senior Dawson Housley is among the Duck recruits looking to make an impact this fall.

The Games: London 2012 Summer Olympic preview Top athletes around the world prepare to compete on the global stage this July Kyle Radley entertainment editor Everyone knows what happens in the world every four years, especially world-renowned athletes. The Olympic Games are coming back in 2012; better than ever, and in London! The games are the greatest test in many athletes’ lives, putting them against world-caliber athletes for an epic showdown of speed, strength, and determination.

In the United States, the greatest task that one must accomplish before being able to go to the Olympics is the Olympic Trials. The trials are the main prerequisite for the Olympics and therefore, are very important to anyone who wants to compete in the Olympics.

Because many events are showcased during the Olympics, most people tend to have a favorite event.

Senior Jared Awmiller is a fan of the “World Basketball Championships because I love to watch and play it.”

Awmiller went on to say that “LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are my two favorite picks of team U.S.A.” Team U.S.A. basketball has a very good chance of winning this year with returning gold medalists LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who are also leading the team

Housley. Senior Peter Anderson said, “Dawson Housley is going to tear it up next year.” With a very deep class, including a mix of size, speed, and homegrown talent, the Ducks look ready to take on the up and coming years.

Chip Kelly and his Oregon Ducks have once again managed to bring in a solid talented group of athletes consisting of players that fit their scheme, and the way they play. With such a deep recruiting class we can expect Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks to continue their winning ways for the upcoming years.

so far with over fifty games of international experience.

Some of the most classic events in the Olympic Games are the track and field events. Sophomore Ben Harter said, “I’ll bet Edward Cheserek will do very well in the Junior Olympics this year.” Edward Cheserek, a junior from St. Benedict’s Prep High School, had broken the 5000m record for indoor meets at the high school level. Cheserek, while also running against some of the nation’s elite runners, broke the record with a time of 13:57.04 and will be competing in the Junior Olympics. Also, Oregon Track Club athlete Ashton Eaton is number one in the decathlon and has a sure chance of making it on team U.S.A. for his event.

Cycling is also a very big deal in the Olympic trials.

Junior Garrett Johnson is “looking forward to the cycling trials. There is nothing more that I would love than watching some good ol’ cycling.” The results of qualifiers for team U.S.A. cycling will not be determined until April 8; however, there are a few athletes who will most likely be competing for spots on team U.S.A. Mike Day, a cyclist for the United States will most likely try for a spot on the team as well as Kristen Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer, who are both renowned cyclists.

Team U.S.A. has a good chance at some gold this year with these athletes and many more who will most likely be competing for spots on the team. U.S. Basketball has a good chance of scoring gold this year as well as cycling and track and field. The outlook is good with the athletes; now all we can do is wait.

Drew Haugen illustration

UO continues 2012 basketball success Second year coach Dana Altman has Ducks poised for PAC-12 tournament A.J. Smith features editor The Oregon Men’s basketball team has improved greatly from previous years. With this season’s roster, the team has potential to win the PAC-12 conference.

The Ducks started the season off strong with eleven wins in their first fifteen games. The team is jockeying for position at the top of the conference against Washington, California, and Colorado. Even though the players are not widely known on the team, the Ducks have solid players that can step up in crunch time.

Many people have their reasons on why the Ducks have turned it around from previous years. When asked on his opinion on this year’s team, sophomore Henry Fowler said, “I think [Dana Altman] has brought in a bunch of great recruits.” Since Dana Altman started coaching in 2010, the team has gone 40-26 (2-15-2012) and has a winning percentage of 60.94%*. The players have been competing harder and they seem to have a real will to win.

With many fans loving the new arena, the team has won 24 of their games at home. More fans have been coming to the games since the team is winning more now. Matt Knight Arena is becoming a more popular destination for Duck basketball fans. Sophomore Keith Washington said, “I like the new arena, it was a good investment.

The new arena is a good motivation for the team.”

Fans and players alike have loved the beautiful arena.

Dana Altman has been bringing in good recruits who then perform well in games. Senior Peter Anderson said, “I think great coaching and overall improved effort by the players is the reason for the team’s improvement.”

The effort that has been put out by the players has been noticeably better, and has contributed to the better record compared to previous years. Others think that the competition has been lacking in the conference, and that we really aren’t that good compared to the rest of the nation.

With only a few games left until March Madness, the Ducks are looking to get a bid into the big dance.

A win in the PAC-12 Conference Championship would give an automatic bid to the National Tournament. If the Ducks finish on top of the regular season PAC-12 conference, they have a great shot at making the National Tournament as well. Even if we don’t make it to the big dance, we will most likely go to the NIT. If that is the case, we had an impressive season that was not expected.

Backpage Dylan Lewis staff writer

OrTighty Whities vs. Whitey Tighties

The disagreement between the childhood underwear term

Whitey Tighties? Now that just doesn’t sound right. I believe the correct terminology should be tighty whities. Senior Ryan Land can’t seem to get the term right. I mean, underwear is tight and white, not white and tight. I plan on making Ryan change his tighty brownies if you know what I mean. Ryan is going against me and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary; looks like he’s going to be facing an up-hill battle. I’m planning on proving him wrong and finally zipping up the fly on this case. I have got some tricks up my sleeve that I don’t think he can handle.

I set out to ask the students of our school their opinion. Everybody that I’ve quoted firmly believes that the correct term is “tighty whities.” Sheldon junior Henry Asay had this to say about tighty whities: “I like tighty whities better than boxers because they grip better.” I also asked Asay on a scale of 1-10 how stupid does it sound when somebody says whitey tighties, and he responded saying, “Ten.”Asay was one of several people who agreed with me, leaving Ryan Land slim pickings when it came to interviewing people on his argument.

Some people still agree with the term tighty whities, but seem to have something against the underwear. Sheldon senior Peter Anderson said he hasn’t worn a pair of tighty whities since kindergarten. That’s quite some time. Anderson also has a strong belief in what he believes is the correct term. When I asked him hypothetically if the dictionary said it was “whitey tighties” would it change his mind, Anderson responded saying, “No, I’d probably stick with my opinion.” Good thing his opinion is correct, huh?

Unlike Anderson, freshman Isaiah Cartwright said it is not embarrassing to wear tighty whities. Cartwright said it was not considered weird to wear tighty whities, “because they’re underneath your pants.” He makes a valid point, unless you get your pants pulled down while wearing tighty whities. I think that happened to someone I know… oh yeah! That would be Ryan Land!

Land doesn’t know what he’s talking about when he says whitey tighties. The only decent source that he had was Urban Dictionary, which, to my understanding, anybody in the entire world can write on. Not everybody can write in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which states “tighty whities” is the correct term. Sorry Ryan!

Anything he has said referring to me liking the movie The Lion King should prove he has no argument whatsoever, and confirm that it’s the best movie ever made, and to make fun of it should only make true fans angry. Bad move Land.

Drew Haugen photo

Junior Dylan Lewis (L) and senior Ryan Land (R) model their favorite ways to wear their underwear.

Ryan Land staff writer

The term “whitey tighties” is the one and only way to describe the white and tight underwear that is worn by some men. If you listen to normal public dialogue around school and town, you will hear “whitey tighties” spoken regularly. However, there seem to be doubters and rebels who choose to go against the grain, the popular common belief, and the famous Captain Underpants when they say “tighty whities.” The leader of this weak revolt is Dylan Lewis, who can’t seem to get it right in his head that “tighty whities” is a foolish and incorrect way to describe the “whitey tighty” underwear. Dylan clearly represents the skidmark on the underpants of society.

As I walked the halls of Sheldon, I asked around and received a ton of positive feedback regarding whitie tighties. Many students agreed that the correct way to call the underpants was, in fact, whitey tighties. Senior Shiloh Jackson said, “I’ve always called them whitie tighties because that is what my brothers have always called them. I’ve never even heard of tighty whities.”

Not only did I receive support at Sheldon, but I also found “whitey tighties” on urbandictionary.com, which consists of words used in common, everyday speech, and I wasn’t surprised when I saw that “whitey tighties” was on that list.

Those who say “tighty whities” are grammatically incorrect. If you were going to describe something, the first thing you would see is the color of that object.

When you are looking at underpants, the first thing you will see is the whiteness of the apparel. After that, you would describe how it feels to you. In this case, the underwear fits tight and snug. Therefore, you should call the underwear by the way it is described, white and tight. Senior Brennan Schauffler said, “I have always said and heard ‘whitey tighties.’ It feels satisfying when you say it. Even Captain Underpants himself called his underwear ‘whitey tighties.’”

A plethora of students firmly believe that the correct term is “whitey tighties.” Many even go so far as to claim that they have never heard of that other idiotic term. Senior Alex Torres said, “I love to say whitie tighties. It brings back old memories of me running around my house in the snug little undies. But when people say ‘tighty whities’ it angers me. It sounds weird and destroys my childhood memories.” Personally, I have fond memories of whitey tighties in my life, which Dylan may have mentioned in his excuse for an article. Dylan is a narrow-minded baboon who still obsesses over The Lion King, which was made over fifteen years ago.

Dylan lives in a false reality that consists of talking lions, Timon and Pumba, and singing giraffes. Of course he thinks that “tighty whities” is how it should be said, because it’s probably what Mufasa told him to say in his dream a week ago. Just remember that “white and tight” is always right. If you want to sound sophisticated and smooth, say “whitey tighties,” and you will be accepted by society. Go Ducks.

Tennis balls and the interesting science behind their performance The mystery behind the origin of the soft fuzzy neon green balls Kyler Schmeling staff writer Have you ever thought about why tennis balls are the way they are? Why they are fuzzy, neon green, and even why they bounce the way they do? Well it has been brought to my attention that I am not the only one who has thought of such a thing. Now I, as a writer, have figured out why these things are this way. I have also asked the opinions of others to see what they think on this rather unusual topic. These people are regular people just like you, and have an opinion that should be respected.

There is a science behind the size and shape of the tennis balls, but what people don’t know is that the texture and color also play into the performance of the players as well. As demonstrated by sophomore Justin Bird, “No, I do not think there is a science behind tennis balls.” The shape and size of the tennis ball control the speed

at which the tennis balls move after being hit. The bigger the ball, the faster it goes. Most professionals play with the smaller balls, most beginners play with the bigger ones.

The fuzz on the outside of a tennis balls is also a key factor in speed and direction. I asked sophomore, Amberly Schmit. She said, “I do not think there is a purpose behind the fuzz on tennis balls.” There is a science behind the fuzz on the ball, though. After the ball has been hit the fuzz on the ball helps to slow the speed. The more fuzz on a ball the more drag there is.

The slower it goes. The fuzz also has another purpose: curve. When the ball is hit and spun, the fuzz helps create drag in one direction curving the ball in mid-flight.

There is also a reason for the colors of tennis balls too. Tennis balls are usually bright neon yellow or green.

This helps the player see contrasting colors and react to the ball faster. Some people such as senior Tyler Gray, would like to see tennis balls be different colors, “You know what,” he continued,” I’d really like to see tennis balls blue.” I replied to this by saying that maybe he should write to Dunlop, a well-respected tennis ball company, to voice his concerns on the topic. He had no further response.

There is a science behind tennis balls, from its size, weight, fuzziness, color, and shape, everything about a tennis ball has a science to it. Be enlightened.

Drew Haugen illustration

The fuzz on a tennis ball plays key rolls in speed and direction.