Teens imitate Into The Wild
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a student-edited newspaper Sheldon High School
Sexism in Mr. Irish
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2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 49
Issue 3
November 22, 2013
New community trail benefits XC team New trail for cross country runners proves to be a positive new addition, not just for the team, but for runners’ performance as well Holly Ford co-editor-in-chief This summer, various private donors such as families and friends of cross country runners, Rexius Forest Products, Imagination International, and Dairy Queen started a project to build a running trail near Sheldon. It was meant for the Sheldon Cross Country team, bikers, and pedestrians. This generous gift was received with merriment and thankfulness. Now the cross country team will have a safe running area; its own form of a “home turf.” Four-year member, and state qualifier senior TJ Wright said, “South Eugene has the Amazon trail right across the street from the track where they are able to train on a soft surface. SHIRT (as we call the trail, Sheldon High International Running Trail) is our way to bridge the gap between the advantages South has over us.” Running on asphalt or cement can be harmful to the body because of the nature of its hardness. Multiple athletes suffered from injuries that occurred from running on a surface that doesn’t absorb impact. These injuries prevented athletes from performing to their best ability, even in some cases not letting them compete at all. For cross country members who still have another season at Sheldon, this trail will provide a safe and enjoyable vicinity to train on for future seasons. A younger member of the cross country team, junior Tristan Carpenter said, “I feel it will expose kids to cross country, which is great because as an incoming freshman I had no idea it existed.” The fact that Eugene is known as Tracktown, USA, makes it imperative that high schools within the city have a functional cross country running course, as well as a functional track and field. Sheldon, already having a fantastic track and field, now has the trail to give long distance runners a better training tool – something the track cannot efficiently provide. Originally, the athletic department at Sheldon agreed to fund part of the trail, but later decided not to. This led the Darland family – a family whose three out of
four children have participated in cross country – to host a fundraiser at their house in efforts to raise the money not provided by the school. This dinner fundraiser opened an opportunity not only to raise the money, but to give different students a chance to earn volunteer hours for helping set up the event, working at the event, or cleaning up after the event. Sweet Life Patisserie, Noisette Pastry Kitchen, Hideaway Bakery, and Oakshire Brewing catered the event, and the dinner was $50 a plate, however many people donated more in addition to the flat fee per plate. The fundraiser was successful and ended up bringing in most of the money. However, some money is still owed. Even previous Sheldon Cross Country runner Jackson Darland attended the fundraiser and gave a speech. Darland stated, “It also gives the team something of their own – something that encourages routine, which is imperial to a runner’s training.” Later Darland concluded, “As a Sheldon cross country alumn, I can really appreciate what this trail means for the athletes.” The new trail improves the sense of community around the Sheldon area, not only among runners on the team, but the Sheldon community as a whole.
The community trail has two different routes varying in length and helps the cross country team train on a soft surface.
photo by Hillary Darland
Oregon officer shot responding to house fire In an interesting swing of events, an officer is shot by a home owner while responding to the owner’s own house fire Jarred Rogers opinions editor Amongst all the reports of violence in the media lately, there is one case that stands out from many of the rest. An Oregon police officer was shot while responding to a house fire on Sunday, November 3. His assailant? None other than the owner of the burning house. Amidst the confusion and panic, the officer was successfully flown to the hospital, where his condition was reportedly stabilized. The suspect, however, was later found dead in his own home. There has been no official statement regarding the cause of death. The fire was started sometime before 1 p.m. on Sunday. A neighbor saw the flames and attempted to caution the man who
owned the house, only to be informed the man set the flames himself. The man reportedly waited on his porch until the officer arrived, then drew a gun and shot him. After the officer was evacuated, neighbors fled into their homes. The authorities brought the situation under control shortly afterwards. While it is reassuring news that the officer was not only escorted away safely, but also stabilized, there are many unanswered questions regarding this case. After the officer’s departure, officials began to evacuate a few of the neighboring families to safety. Once the situation had been contained, crews moved in to put out the fire. For all intents and purposes, this should have been the end of things. In a normal case, the suspect would have been apprehended shortly afterwards, and brought to trial. This is not, however, a normal case. After the fire had been put out, the shooter was later reported to be found dead. There are currently no details concerning his death that have been made publicly available- although the various spokesmen have assured the public that an investigation has indeed been launched. What makes this case so disturbing is that, we can never quite be sure why anything like this happened. The motiva-
tions that drive a man to burn down his own home and then attempt to kill those who try to help him are, at best, a mystery. Although it’s theorized that he set the fire to lure victims to him, and given the circumstances this seems likely, the truth is we’ll never know. The minds of psychopaths have, and always will prove to be near impossible to read. In the end, we should be relieved that the officer made it out alright, and the shooter was unable to harm any more innocents.
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News
Peace
Olympic torch goes on a triumphant spacewalk for the first time in history Two Russian cosmonauts undertake the historic task in orbit outside the International Space Station Noah Jang news editor The Olympic torch of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, traveled to the International Space Station and was taken into space for a spacewalk. This was the first spacewalk of the Olympic flame in history. Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, astronaut Rick Mastracchio of NASA, and astronaut Koichi Wakata of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency boarded the Soyuz TMA-11M, which blasted off in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, November 7 for the historic flight. The torch was not lit onboard the spacecraft for safety reasons. If lit, the torch would consume precious oxygen and potentially endanger the crew’s lives. When the Soyuz docked with the International Space Station, the torch was given a tour around various modules of the station. On Saturday, November 9, Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergei Ryazansky took the torch outside for the spacewalk 261 miles above Earth. Although Olympic torches of previous games had flown into space—the first being
the torch of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games onboard Space Shuttle Atlantis— this was the first time that a torch left a spacecraft in orbit. After five days on the ISS, the torch flew back to the Earth on the same spacecraft that had carried it up. The four-month Sochi Olympics torch relay is longer than any previous Olympics. It started last month and will travel 39,000 miles. About 14,000 torch bearers will contribute to the relay, and it will pass through over 130 cities and towns. The Olympic torch reached the North Pole for the first time in history on October 20, and later this month it will travel to the bottom of Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world. In February next year, the torch will be taken up to the top of Mount Elbrus, which is the tallest peak in Europe at 18,510 feet. On February 7, the Olympic flame will be lit with the torch in the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games.
the Talisman
Terror
LAX shooting leaves the nation awash, sunk in incredulity A lone gunman opens fire in Terminal 3, fatally shoots a TSA agent, the first ever of the agency to be killed Ben Ely entertainment editor On November 1, 2013, 23-year-old Paul Ciancia walked into the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and headed to Terminal 3. Once there, he pulled an assault rifle out of a bag and began to open fire. Gunshots rang through the airport as frightened travelers ran for cover in nearby shops or anywhere that could conceal them. Ciancia’s actions led to several tragedies: four were severely wounded, thousands were forced to wait as their flights were delayed, and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer was killed in action, the first death of an agent in the TSA’s history. After his rampage, Ciancia was cornered in a food court and was shot four times by Los Angeles law enforcement officers. He was then transported to a local trauma hospital to recover. Airport police shut down many terminals and evacuated a large portion of the airport. They then conducted a search for other possible suspects but found no one. A motive for Ciancia’s shooting spree has yet to be found. A note that he was carrying stated he wanted to “kill the TSA and pigs.”
Perhaps the most tragic event that occurred is the death of Gerardo I. Hernandez, a TSA agent stationed at LAX. Ciancia allegedly shot Hernandez at point-blank and then shot a second time after seeing the wounded officer move. This tragic death is the first killing of an officer in the line of duty since the TSA was established in November, 2001. Ciancia has been charged with murder of a federal officer, committing violence at an international airport, and could additionally face charges of attempted murder. One day after the tragic shooting, LAX’s Terminal 3 reopened to the public. TSA officers embraced each other as they mourned for the loss of a coworker, relatives of victims crowded hospital rooms, and police frantically gathered more information on the suspect and his background. The event left LAX in chaos and affected much of international air travel. It’s an unfortunate addition to the already impressive list of shooting this year and the last. Ciancia was released from the UCLA Medical Center Tuesday and has been taken into custody.
Into the Wild provokes two teens to wander off
The movie based on Krakauer’s book brings teens together
and not starvation or something else that one might expect from a death in the wilderness. This begs the question: was this young man really influenced by the movie Into the Wild to go into the Oregon wilderness
and leave his life behind? There are many people around Sheldon who have opinions as to why the two teenagers Jonah Jellesed decided to go off the grid. One staff writer of these students In the modern world, teenagers are is sophomore so heavily influenced by media such Austin Turvey. as websites, TV shows, and movies. He commented, Teenagers would have a hard time without “What they computers these days. What has happened did was just to two teenagers in Southeastern Oregon plain stupid.” takes this influence to a whole new level. James Kang, A teen from Oklahoma and another a sophomore, from Arizona had never met each other added to that before, and never communicated, were statement, connected by their love for the movie “They might Into the Wild. In this movie a man bored as well have of his urban life decides that he wants to just committed live in the Alaskan wilderness and live suicide.” This off the land. After watching the movie statement is they both decided to go out to the Steens especially true Mountains and leave their lives behind. considering that The families of these teens were not one of the two aware that they were missing initially teenagers was because of the fact that the two teenagers found dead, and were almost graduated from high school, the other one so the parents weren’t surprised when is still missing. they didn’t hear from the two teens The majority even when they actually disappeared. of Sheldon Recently, the body of the teen from students think Arizona was found just outside of the the act was just small town Riddle, OR. His death is teenagers being currently being investigated as a suicide, stupid, but there photo by Noah Jang are some other possible reasons as to why they decided to go into the wild. Both of these teenagers had We Have the Latest Fashions in Eyewear something else in common: their girlfriends had just broken up *Versace *Juicy Couture *Christian Dior *Dolce & Gabbana *Giorgio with them. Some experts believe Armani *BCBG *Vera Wang *Candies *Prada *DKNY *Coach *Nine this was what they couldn’t cope West *Ray Ban *Kate Spade with, and all it took was some teenager stupidity to push them We bill most insurances including Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Pacific to leave their lives behind. The Source, VSP, Eyemed, Providence, North West Benefits, ODS, OEA Choice, prefrontal cortex is the part of the and many more. brain used for reasoning, and in humans it doesn’t fully develop until between the ages of 18 Dr. Steve Jung, Optometrist and 25. That’s what is meant 207 Coburg Road, Suite 105 by teenager stupidity. There is Eugene, OR 97401 nothing that we can do about photos by Noah Jang Ph:541-388-4844 M-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-3 it, and these two teenagers are Located next to TJ Maxx definitely an extreme example Sheldon students imagine what the teens of the lack of brain development. experienced in the wild.
Eugene Eyewear
Entertainment
the Talisman
November 22, 2013
Fans await the premiere of
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illustration by Micah Tamasaka
Catching Fire The next movie in the popular Hunger Games series is projected to be an instant blockbuster hit
Kayla Wilbur-Bash staff writer
The first movie of the Hunger Games trilogy was a hit; fans everywhere gathered in front of movie theatres, waiting for the midnight premiere. The first movie made a whopping $684,510,692 worldwide. As the second movie nears its premiere, it raises the question: will the reaction be the same? When asked if he thinks Catching Fire will be as good as the first movie, The Hunger Games, sophomore Zackary Nelson said, “I think so. They got feedback from the first movie and know what to improve this time around.” With stars like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, it is no wonder that
“They got feedback from the first movie and know what to improve this time around.” - sophomore Zackary Nelson
this movie is expected to be a hit, especially with children and teens. These young actors have been the subject to the Hunger Games fandom members all over the internet and around the world. Sophomore Bailea Nance, die hard Hutcherson fan, said, “I’m definitely Team Peeta.” However, some fans of Suzanne Collins’ series aren’t huge fans of the movie. When asked if he had read the books, senior Thomas Miller replied, “Yeah, I love [the Hunger Games books]. Then they decided to make movies that [are bad in comparison and] don’t represent the books well with those no-talent hacks.” Many fans were disappointed by the way the series ended, but that doesn’t stop them from loving the books. Nelson said, “[The ending of the books was] kind of predictable and somewhat upsetting.” He, along with many other fans, is still planning on seeing the new movie; Nance even hopes to go to the midnight premiere with her friends. Last night, fans all over the United States crowded theaters to watch the long-awaited premiere of the sequel to The Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Hoodie Allen aims to inspire listeners The young rapper motivates others to achieve their dreams Justin Duke staff writer
Steven Markowitz, better known by his stage name Hoodie Allen, is an independent American hip-hop artist, singer and rapper. Markowitz was born in New York City and was raised in a Jewish household in Plainview, Long Island. He started writing and singing at an early age. He would perform raps in front of his friends or at house parties. Markowitz wanted a name that people would
remember while remaining funny. Allen graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 2010, and shortly afterward he began working at Google as an AdWords associate in their START (Standardized AdWords Reseller Training). Almost all of his songs now seem to borrow heavily from Wiz Khalifa - he even goes so far as to steal the song structure and portions of the beat of Wiz’s party anthem “No Sleep” on lead single “No Interruption.” Senior Peter Hanes said, “Hoodie Allen mixes a lot of the typical beats from other famous rap artists and adds his own humorous twist on the whole song, making it a lot more appealing to younger kids in their early adulthood.” The new flow is clearly not of Hoodie’s own design .It’s just an attempt to cash in on what plays on the radio right now. Senior Pavel Peutriken said, “Hoodie didn’t stay true to himself after being in the business after two years; he sold himself out to the fame and just raps about whatever the producer wants.” Allen’s still climbing the ranks through the rap scene and it’s
Call of Duty: Ghosts - popular
among gaming community The newest addition to video game series proves to be one of the best TJ Barber staff writer Ghosts, aliens, allies, and enemies. All of these can be found in the new game, Call of Duty: Ghosts. This actionpacked game will have you fighting everywhere from a high rise casino, to an old space station far from humanity. “The past games have been good,” sophomore Anthony Ortega said, “but this game is better than them all, no contest!” Later Ortega added, “My favorite addition in the game would be cranked, it is a kill bonus, and it allows you to move faster or have a faster reload time.” “I liked the games in the past,” sophomore Josh Meiners said. “The only thing I didn’t like was that the story line doesn’t focus on one character, and that can make it confusing.” Later Meiners added, “I do enjoy one of the
glitches, but it takes some effort to get. It allows you to get some hidden weapons, but you have to find a certain section of a wall, and then run into it.” “I liked the games,” senior Chris Dunphy said. “Even though all that changed was the graphics, they are still fun games to play.” Dunphy added, “Multiplayer is the best; it’s nice to be able to share the fun with other people, and it can also get a little bit boring playing on your own.” This is understandable. As kids, we are told to share the fun. Dunphy said, “The smaller map, the better. It can get annoying if you have a giant map, and you have to find one person. Also, short range weapons are the best. I have just found them to be better in general.” Dunphy concluded, “More than 100 million copies of the games have been sold, but that doesn’t mean that people can’t own multiple copies of a game. So it’s hard to tell how many people play the game.” With that many people playing the Call of Duty games, they must be amazing, and that is what many people have said. Don’t just take their word for it, go play it to find out for yourself!
possible he could even reach the top five. While Allen is still young he will continue to grow and attract new and exciting people into his life. Although he didn’t grow up through the cliché rap scene, he continues to motivate and inspire others to pursue their dreams at all costs. Senior Camilo Galindo said,” If I had the chance I would do just what Hoodie Allen did; becoming rich and famous is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”
Talisman Staff Editors-in-Chief
Holly Ford Kennedy Potts
Frontpage Editor News Editor Entertainment Editor Features Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Backpage Editor Graphics Designer Copy Editors
Holly Ford Noah Jang Ben Ely Kennedy Potts Jarred Rogers Ethan Hauck Micah Tamasaka Micah Tamasaka Ayla Bussel Sam Fox
Staff Writers Justin Duke Daniel Halstead Jonah Jellesed Kayla Wilbur-Bash Trisdon Zepeda
TJ Barber Ryan Enos Sam Holmen Isaac Meyer Noah Savage
Staff Adviser
Greg Cantwell
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.
Features A need for green transportation Isaac Meyer staff writer
With our climate changing faster than we like to think and roads seemingly becoming more clogged by the day, it is clear that we are going to have to rethink our notions of transportation. While more hybrids and electric cars will definitely be a part of the solution, they still don’t address the whole problem. It has become obvious that we need to look past the car as our means of getting around and consider “alternative [modes of] transportation.” Alternative transportation can take many forms. When we hear the term, we immediately think of walking, biking, or taking the bus or train. But alternative transportation can involve many other forms, such as skateboarding or even carpooling. Clearly, each of these options has different strengths and problems, so effectively combating climate change and traffic congestion will take an all-of-the-above approach. The problem is, making alternative transportation popular requires sacrifice. For instance, in order to make bicycling attractive, a network of bike lanes and paths must be established, along with equally important, but often overlooked, facilities such as bicycle racks and bicycle way-finding signs. All of these cost money, and bicycle lanes often mean taking away traffic lanes or parking spaces. The debate about removing a traffic lane to accommodate bike lanes on South Willamette Street is a prime example of this. Similarly, making buses more attractive, as LTD is doing with its EmX rapid bus service, requires expensive dedicated lanes and stations. Moreover, sometimes alternative transportation is just not as convenient as driving. As senior Tyler Alger said, “Sometimes your schedule doesn’t fit the [bus] schedule, so it can be challenging.” Another roadblock is the need to consider public opinion in such projects if the agencies that plan them want to retain trust. It can be a struggle to accommodate widely varying opinions, especially if some opposition is fueled by misinformation. As sophomore Ryan Brady said, projects should be careful to consider public opinion: “Support has to be concrete.” Still, if we want to avoid problems down the road, we need to take the plunge and invest in alternative transportation now. If we wait until traffic congestion becomes unbearable, as many cities have done, then the costs of investing in alternative transportation can only go up. Luckily, Eugene is already showing some foresight, with our investments in bicycle lanes, EmX, and the high speed rail line currently being planned. Referring to these investments, campus supervisor Darin Henry said, “It’s as important now as it’s ever going to be.” Investment in alternative transportation is essential. We will have to make the investment eventually, and the costs will only go up if we wait. So let’s think ahead and start building the needed alternative transportation infrastructure now, even if it means we pay a bit more in taxes and have a little less room on the road for our cars.
Features
Food Review: Baja Fresh Chris Highes contributing writer
Let’s be honest, Taco Bell isn’t Mexican food. When you’re looking for a good Mexican lunch around Sheldon you’ve basically got two options: Baja Fresh and Burrito Amigos. Burrito Amigos is usually swamped with high school kids, so if you want to get away, Baja Fresh is the best option. Their extensive menu offers something for everyone and they serve generous portions. Their prices are a little high for a high school lunch, but you get what you pay for. With each order you get chips and salsa, and if you show them your student ID you can get a free soda. Their burritos are my personal favorite because they are big enough to have leftovers and their pork carnitas are delicious. The only problem that can arise is in their parking lot; the spots are tight and almost always full. Baja Fresh is a great option for a good Mexican lunch that is far enough removed from school that it is peaceful but still accessible during lunchtime.
Restorative Peer Court provides a volunteer opportunity
Nick Hetrick contributing writer While there are many options for a Mexican lunch, Baja Fresh is one of the top options for Sheldon students. Their extensive menu offers something for anyone who is looking for a quick bite. Baja Fresh uses only quality organic ingredients and never uses microwaves. All meals come with chips and access to their well-stocked salsa bar. My favorite salsa is the “hot” salsa, which I found has a nice spice that is not too overpowering. Baja Fresh offers a student special which gives students a free drink and twenty percent off of their meal. For my meal, I ordered the pork carnitas quesadilla. Our order was brought out quickly and it was very hot. The portion was very generous and my quesadilla had more carnitas than I expected. The flavor was good, but some of the pork had burnt pieces, which were unappealing, and the quesadilla was very greasy. Baja Fresh uses really good tortillas, and
a good tortilla is key for Mexican cuisine. All of the employees were very nice, and checked on how we were doing after we got our order. The parking situation is a major drawback to the restaurant. The lot is very busy and the spots are very tight. Overall, if Sheldon students are looking to get a good Mexican meal, Baja Fresh is the place to go.
Ayla Bussel copy editor
You know the old saying, “Kids will be kids?” Well, part of being a kid is growing up and making mistakes. There is a fairly new program called Restorative Peer Court that takes youth in the Sheldon area who have committed crimes, such as shoplifting, vandalism, and possession of drugs and works with them to create restorative solutions that will help to restore justice and repair the harm in the community. Restorative Peer Court, or RPC for short, is very different from the regular criminal justice system. Instead of the traditional approach in which criminals get charged with a crime, go to court where they are told that because they did something “bad” then something “bad” will be done unto them, and then they go to jail. Peer Court focuses on finding out the reasons for the crime and then assigns community service hours, apology letters, participation on RPC panels, etc. in order to repair the harm done to the community. Sophomore Taya Norris said, “I think [Restorative Peer Court] is good because it gives kids a second chance without ruining their reputations. Also, the offender will get a
better idea of just which ways their actions impacted the community.” Norris added, “I think we should have Peer Court at other schools because it helps teenagers to reflect on their actions and it’s a good way to deal with their problems. Having Peer Court enables kids to turn their lives around and restore justice in the community.” One other very important aspect of Peer Court is that the community service, apology letters, essays, workshops, and panel duties (also known as sanctions), are decided by students. It’s peers helping peers. Sophomore Melissa Rice agreed with this statement and said, “I think [Peer Court] is a good idea because rather than just taking kids and putting them in juvenile detention, it teaches them to give back to their community.” Rice added that she likes the idea of Peer Court as opposed to the regular criminal justice system because “when kids help out with the community, it will make them feel good about themselves and help them realize that it’s better to help the community than to harm it.” Tim McCabe, who is the coordinator for the Sheldon RPC, said that he decided to take over as the coordinator because he has “done restorative work in the past and I really enjoyed it.” McCabe added, “I saw the [very effective] impact of dealing with crime in the restorative justice system as opposed to the regular criminal justice system. I think that Restorative Peer Court is extremely impactful and transformative for the behavior of the kids that go through this program.” In conclusion he stated, “I
think [RPC] influences teenagers’ view of the world, and it does a lot to restore justice in the community.” “Instead of focusing on any negative actions, [RPC] focuses on building kids up as opposed to tearing them down.” In the future, McCabe said that he hopes the group will be able to handle more cases. “With the way that things are going right now kids may be starting to slip through the cracks, and we don’t want that.” The Restorative Peer Court is currently looking for volunteers to serve on the panels where you will: decide consequences for the teens that have committed crimes, help make the community better, and get more involved in restorative justice within your community. The group generally meets on Monday nights from 6:30-9 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Coburg Road. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can contact Tim at (541) 344-5366 or email him at tim@communitymediationservices.com.
Orchestra: a string of success Daniel Halstead staff writer
Parking lot politics Sam Holmen staff writer Being courteous in the parking lot is something everybody should practice. Although no one is perfect, Sheldon students are on the low end of the courtesy spectrum. The majority of Sheldon staff drives to work and a medial percentage of our students drive to school as well. Some staff like Darin Henry bike to work on the daily. According to senior Nick Larson “as far as courtesy goes people are pretty respectful.” Although students may crash or have little door dings, everything seems to turn out okay. There are many ways a Sheldon student could improve his or her driving courtesy. One thing students and staff alike could work on as reported by campus supervisor Darin Henry is: “People need to take turns and treat everyone’s time as if it’s as important as their own.” Although safety and courtesy are two different things we should all practice both. From cutting people off to speeding five times the speed limit, the law needs to be more enforced. There is no exception for practicing risky and dangerous driving techniques, especially in a school parking lot where hundreds of students are walking around. Sadly though, when most people, students or staff, see someone being rude or impolite, they will not stop and say something to them. So if no one will say something, then there’s no room for improvement.
The Sheldon members of the orchestra are very talented and have won many competitions with other schools in the district and even out of state. The orchestra has to practice constantly in order to maintain their ability to perform flawlessly. The orchestra begins at 7:50 and ends at around 8:30. The orchestra teacher, Mr. Moyer, really enjoys teaching the art of music. The class works very hard to improve their skill, and spends a large amount of time practicing. The orchestra uses a total of five different instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano. Though the orchestra doesn’t perform that often, students interact with different orchestras and collaborate with different students. Members in the orchestra either take private lessons, are members of the CMI, or perform in other orchestras in the Arts Umbrellas. During practices, they choose either classic or contemporary songs to perform. They involve songs from all eras, including Beethoven and other famous musicians. During practices not only do they learn how to play their instruments, but also how to sight read and respond correctly to the conductor. These skills that are learned from practicing can be adapted in the classroom, as you learn patience and following directions. A lot of students really enjoy orchestra. Junior Connor Kenney said, “I think they sound great whenever they play during assemblies.” Students also believe it’s important to have the orchestra in school.
Senior Annie Beckstrand said, “It’s nice to have a music department to express your creativity and receive academic credit.” Senior Peter Hanes said, “[The] orchestra is pretty awesome, on a scale of one to swag, I give the orchestra a solid eight.” Compared to band, the orchestra uses very few instruments yet they can perform great music. The only instrument that both band and the orchestra use is piano. Students every year discover their true passion for the orchestra and performing in front of an audience.
illistrations by Holly Ford
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Opinions
November 22, 2013
Gay Marriage: is equality too much to ask? The debate rages on, with neither side being able to reach a consensus...but is there really anything to argue about? Trisdon Zepeda staff writer Throughout history socialites have evolved dramatically, changing their morals and beliefs to reflect that of a more modern and prosperous culture while adapting new laws as to what is perceived as socially and morally acceptable. Although this idea has been mostly ingrained into the American culture, around forty percent of the American people seem to be incapable of grasping it, resulting in us having the same argument for the last couple decades, the decision of whether or not to legalize homosexual marriage. Although many arguments have been made to oppose gay marriage, not a single one of them can hold water under extensive scrutiny. The most popular argument I have been faced with is,
Gun debate continues Sheldon students say their piece about firearm laws Ryan Enos staff writer People today are making a lot of noise about firearms. Some people want to completely expel the ownership of firearms while others think that everyone should be able to own them. I believe everyone should learn how to use and defend themselves with a gun. Firearms are a good tool to use in defense and in work. They are also a great way to have a fun time. Senior Cody Koch said, “I believe everyone should have
“The institution of marriage has traditionally always been defined as being between man and a woman and should not be changed. To attempt to alter this would begin the downfall of western society.” To make this argument is to say that no social change should ever happen, which is ridiculous. Just because something is traditional does not make it right. Back in the 1850’s many Americans believed that slavery was a detrimental part of western sociality that have been intergraded into our culture for hundreds of years and abolishing it would have devastating effects that would result in the destruction of the U.S. Today we can see just how incorrect and immoral these people were. There is also the fact that the definition of marriage has always been changing over the Corse of history. Real “traditional marriage” two to three thousand years ago wasn’t monogamist, different races weren’t allowed to marry and women were seen as property who could not give consent. The acceptance of same-sex marriages is just the next evolutionally step in what marriage is defined as. The people who use the “Traditional marriage” argument tend to follow up with, “Same-sex households are not an optimum environment for children because children need both a mother and father.” The divorce rate in our country is astronomically high, have many children being raised by single parent and the majority of them turn out just fine (including myself). And besides, wouldn’t it logically be better for a child to be raised by two parent of the same sex then by one parent alone? And for those who are
a gun. It teaches responsibility and good, safe practice. It also is a good way to bond with your family, and protect yourself.” Senior Jedd Crothers explained, “Guns aren’t evil; they are a tool that can make people’s lives a lot easier and more safe, no matter what kind of gun you have, no matter how big or small it is.” Sophomore Davis Glazebrook said, “Guns are good for many reasons. I think more people should own one.” Guns have also been used to bring many people to justice. Whether it is by a police officer or a regular citizen who was carrying it open or concealed. This has slipped the minds of many people. They think guns are evil tools meant to commit violence. It does not matter how big, small, loud or quiet your gun is. Guns are meant for people to use for self defense and other activities, not always for violence.
Mr. Irish Pageant perpetuates sexism Mr. Irish, a pageant originally created for a good cause, may have harmful undertones not necessarily noticed by the public
Kennedy Potts co-editor-in-chief
Mr. Irish. The pageant has become an annual tradition at Sheldon. Year after year students support, celebrate, and participate in the event, unbeknownst to the ways in which they and everyone involved are perpetuating sexism within this school. While the cause of raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network is an honorable one, the means in which it is accomplished are detrimental to the Sheldon community. In the pageant, a select number of elected senior boys compete with each other to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. However, there are other things involved that they are competing for besides fundraising, even though they are not likely to say so. The pageant promotes competition for the attentions and adorations of the rest of our school as Mr. Irish is a coveted title. It is undeniable that the pageant involves popularity since the contestants are voted in by their peers. The pageant is constructed in a very sexist way. Only boys are given the opportunity to compete while girls’ sole chance to participate is through being a coordinator, someone who does most of the background work to make the pageant possible. Our whole school gathers for this event to celebrate a group of males and disregards the work of the females behind much of the process. Senior Amanda Perkins said, “[The pageant] teaches girls that their most valuable role is secondary to that of boys, as well as perpetuating an ideal of male supremacy. We rob girls of even an opportunity to play a main part, and that projects an idea that they aren’t capable or worthy of being center stage.” This is harmful to our school because it perpetuates a system of sexism within a group of young people who will most likely go on to continue that hegemony in their own adult
lives. Things like this pageant desensitize our population to a patriarchal power structure, causing us to perceive it as “normal.” Because of this, people are less likely to question these types of events as they are seen throughout their lives. Many Sheldon students don’t see the sexism of Mr. Irish, despite its obviousness once one thinks about it critically. Perkins gave her opinion on why this is. She said, “[The power structure] is normal. If you look around our society, in the media and pop culture, women are forced to play a role that’s secondary to men or that revolves around men in the very least. Women are objectified and used all the time in our culture, and so it makes sense that people accept it without question. It doesn’t seem out of the ordinary.” Even the application process for Mr. Irish holds very different expectations for girls and boys. The girls’ applications require time and effort put into an essay. These applications are then judged and some are chosen to essentially do all of the necessary and under-appreciated behind-the-scenes work to make the pageant a possibility. At the same time girls are trying to balance the work for this application, they are also busy with classes, extracurricular activities, and college applications. Male Mr. Irish applicants also have these responsibilities; however, their Mr. Irish application process is much simpler. The questions they are asked are short and less time-consuming than the essay the girls must write. However, requiring the boys to fill out anything is quite an advance for the pageant. Mr. Irish advisor Julia Girod said, “The boys had an application for the first time ever [this year].” Regarding the content of the application Girod said, “[The information asked for] is very similar. The boys’ is broken down into a series of questions that are almost like what we expect the girls to put together in the essay.” One must wonder if the expectations of information produced are the same, then why are the applications arranged in different ways? Short answers are typically easier than single questions that have multiple facets in one. So why is it that girls must answer “similar” information in a more difficult format? In an attempt to even the scale a bit regarding the application process, English teacher Ms. Tierney required all male Mr. Irish applicants that she has as students to write her an essay in order for her to sign their application. Since girls must organize an essay to apply, boys should arguably have to do the same.
the Talisman against homosexual couples adopting children: can you honesty tell me that it is better for a child to be razed in an orphanage then by two loving parent of the same sex? Then we have the most ridiculous and irrelevant of the arguments: the religious ones. Attempting to use your religion to regulate how others live their lives is ludicrous. It’s like telling someone, “Hey, YOU can’t eat that donut because I AM on a diet.” Why should other people get to decide how others live their lives? What I find that makes it even more ridiculous is when a Christian uses the passage for Leviticus (referring to the passage were Leviticus declare homosexual relationships are an abomination.) to justify their close minded, homophobic, bigoted views. May I remind people that in the same passage Leviticus goes on to say that consuming shellfish and wearing mixed fabrics will damn you to hell, but you don’t see many Christians following those laws do you? What this debate basically boils down to is a fight for equality for a group of people who have been discriminated against for far too long. Homosexual couples deserve to have the same right and privileges as heterosexual couples. Just because a group of people disagree with their life style, their love is no less real then anyone else’s. With Illinois joining fourteen other states to legalize gay marriage, America is finally moving past it’s petty grieves to allow for some much need social progress.
illustration by Micah Tamasaka
Once the pageant preparations begin, the imbalance in workloads between genders continues. Each of the coordinators is responsible for a major aspect of the pageant (such as activities, fundraisers, publicity, etc.) and must also guide her male partner through preparations leading up to the pageant. The only major duty given to the contestants is to raise money and perform their talent come pageant time. Head Coordinator Jennifer Lewis said that the way workload is balanced “depends on the partners,” however most examples (including last year’s pairings) consisted of females who took the majority of the workload in the partnership. Once a pageant winner is crowned, the major glory falls to the male without much acknowledgement of the coordinator who made his win possible. When asked if there is an imbalance of recognition Girod said, “The boys thank the girls and give them some sort of flowers or gift,” and “There is a guy/girl dance.” She said that at the end of the pageant, “[Both of the partners who win] get prize packages. They are [each] tailored a little more towards gender.” In addition Lewis said, “A girl would get maybe a gift card to [a salon] whereas a guy would probably not get that.” These gender-tailored prizes, once again good-intentioned, still lend themselves to gender stereotypes. Coordinator Annie Beckstrand said, “There are definitely defined gender roles in the pageant. Personally, I think the cause outweighs the problems just because everyone works together.” Others share this opinion that the pageant should not be criticized because it raises money for charity. Senior Tristan Mehlhaff said, “I think that at first glance it’s a seemingly sexist institution or idea, but at [the] heart, it really is meant to be for a good cause.” While it is true that the cause for the pageant is an extremely worthy one, the positive outcome of helping others is regrettably not the only outcome. The pageant also subliminally teaches Sheldon students not to question our male-dominated society by popularizing a male-dominated event. The only way to rectify this situation would be to make all aspects of the pageant the same for everyone, regardless of gender. Application processes, duties, roles, and recognition should not be gender specific. With recognition to a new perspective on the pageant, hopefully equality can be reached within this fundraising pageant in time.
7 End of an era- coach Lampe enjoys life after coaching Sports
the Talisman
Lampe explains why he decided to resign at the end of last season Ethan Hauck sports editor For many students, sports are their lives. Your team is your family; your sport is your shared obsession. In the mind of most athletes, your coach is more than your mentor – he or she is the father or mother of your makeshift family, your teacher and your friend. When you lose your coach, you’re losing a part of the team. This is something that the Sheldon basketball team experienced at the end of last season. Coach Lampe ended his coaching career to mixed reactions at the end of the 2012/2013
November 22, 2013
season. Many people forget to take into account the heavy toll that coaching can take. Mr. Lampe was also a teacher alongside coaching, and held a heavy schedule to balance between coaching, teaching, and his own family. Lampe says, “It’s a lot, I mean, people who haven’t done it don’t understand the amount of time it really takes to be able to do it. So some people get away from it and realize they really miss it, and I haven’t gotten that. I’ve taken a step away from it and enjoyed the extra time off. This is it for me. I know I’ll do some consulting stuff… so I kind of like that kind of consulting role – there’s no pressure to that. I’m not in charge of anything; I can just kind of be involved in it.” Lampe played basketball at Creswell High School, and received a full ride scholarship to play at Western Oregon. Starting his coaching career in his home town of Creswell
Pétanque - what is it? Shedding some light on the exciting sport Noah Savage staff writer Pétanque is a French sport that is played annually by French people. It is also played a lot in schools. French clubs all over the U.S. and other countries play pétanque as a hobby. Lots of schools also have pétanque teams that compete against other schools. It is also a great way to learn about French sports and culture. Not a lot of people have heard of the French sport petanque. Sophomore
right out of college, he coached there for 19 years, splitting his time between Cottage Grove for three years and winning a state championship in 1991. He returned to Creswell and won two more state championships in 2000 and 2004. He came to Sheldon in 2006, making this his eighth year at Sheldon. “I think that a lot of people think that coaching was such a large part of my career, and that I’m going to really miss it, that there’s something empty there. I feel like that [resigning] was the best choice of my career; it’s been good for me to learn to relax and enjoy my job. I’ve really started to enjoy my teaching career more than ever.” While he made it clear he thoroughly enjoyed coaching, Lampe says he’s done. He wants to assure students that while he enjoys coaching, that part of his life is over. We here at Talisman wish him a happy career, and are thankful that he coached while he did.
Chase Davis is one of many people who isn’t very familiar with the sport pétanque. “I have heard about pétanque but I, myself, have never played it.” Pétanque, to many people is a very simple and fun sport. Davis disagrees, «I don’t plan on playing the sport; it seems too complicated.” French teacher Madame Barley, who is also the coach of the Sheldon pétanque team, has a lot to say about the sport. “I learned how to play from Monsieur Mike, the French teacher from South.” A lot of pétanque coaches enjoy playing and teaching pétanque. Madame Barley agreed, “I do enjoy teaching it; it’s very fun.” Another reason others enjoy playing it is because it is known as a sport that can be played for almost your whole life. “I have been playing pétanque since 2001,” Madame Barley said; “Monsieur Mike and other teachers kindly pushed me towards teaching pétanque.” Pétanque is a very fun sport, and there is a lot to like. Madame Barley said, “[I enjoy] the snacks and the social experiences.” These are some of Madame Barley’s favorite things about pétanque. Senior Mina Schaaf, the team captain of the Sheldon pétanque team had a lot to say, “I started playing [at a young age.]” said Schaaf. Schaaf said, “It’s a different group of people, not your average sports team.”
Sheldon Colleens start strong at first competition of the season Colleens place well overall at their first competition so far
Sir Mix-a-lot and dressed in baggy clothes to make fun of 90’s hip hop. In this routine they placed third. This coming weekend the Colleens have another
competition at West Albany High School, and plan to improve their scores in all categories. With their hard work, only time can tell if they will be successful in this endeavor.
Holly Ford editor-in-chief Last Saturday, November 16, the Sheldon Colleens had their first competition of the season. The competition was held at Clackamas High School and fifteen different teams attended. The Colleens left Sheldon promptly at 5 a.m. and it was roughly a two hour bus ride up. Once at the competition, the Colleens had a 45 minute floor time which consisted of running through all of their routines and setting forms. Although this seems like a large amount of time to accomplish getting situated to Clackamas’ gym, the time was hurried and after running through all 7 routines there wasn’t much time left over. After floor time, the team hurried back to their room and discussed what needed to be done in order to be successful later that day regarding the results from the practice time. Immediately after, the team began to get ready for the first routine – varsity jazz. Because the team has 37 members this season, it took longer than anticipated to get hair, makeup, and costumes done. After much scurrying around, the Colleens managed to get prepped for their performances throughout the day. Dancing to “Kill of the Night” by Gin Wigmore for jazz, the varsity team p l a c e d third in the large jazz category. This routine includes many different technical tricks including turns in second, aerials, and a team butterfly. The varsity team also competed in three other routines: hip hop, pom, and kick. The team danced to a mix of songs including “Drop it like it’s Hot” by Snoop Dog, “Gold Rush” by Clinton Sparks for hip hop, and ended up placing second in the small hip hop category. In pom, the varsity team danced to “Live it Up” by Jennifer Lopez, and placed first. This was a fantastic win for the team. However, dancing to “We Got it Going On” by Bon Jovi, the Colleens didn’t end up placing in kick. The Junior Varsity team competed as well. Although they didn’t end up placing, they performed very well and happily supported the rest of their team. Throughout the team, the Colleens have an impeccable support system. The last routine of the night for the Colleens was novelty. This was a character routine and many dancers embodied the character to perfection, effectively making the crowd laugh. The Colleens dance to “Buttermilk Biscuits” by
photos by Dan Robinhold
Varsity dance team (top); senior Cassidy Robinhold at the Dance Team Showcase on Saturday, November 2; senior Molly Walter during “Buttermilk Biscuits” piece Saturday, November 2
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Do you remember when you were younger, on Thanksgiving morning, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and marveling at the beautiful and intricate floats that passed through the camera lens on your T.V. screen? According to macys.com, this parade has been going on since 1924, making this event almost 90 years old. Yes, it seems that no matter the age of this spectacle, nobody knows the true origin. When asked what an ideal story for the origin of the parade would be, senior Thea Kellejian said, “A giant Unicorn walked up to a turkey on Thanksgiving and said, ‘We should have a huge meal.’ The turkey agreed, but the meal was only supposed to be for the Unicorn’s and Turkey’s family members. What the two of them didn’t know was that a Mole was listening. Mole told the whole city about the feast just to make Turkey and the Unicorn mad. All the creatures of the city walked down the road dancing and carrying balloons. The Turkey was quite upset, but the Unicorn said, ‘Look at all of them parading through the town! We should do this every year.’ So, they did. The end!” This popular department store can be found in almost any local mall; however, this wasn’t
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illustration by Micah Tamasaka
always the case. According to theweek.com, the parade began as a Christmas celebration in order to promote the store. A lot of people walked the parade route dressed as clowns and cowboys, twirlers swung about, and the floats were pulled by horses. Even the classic Santa float was pulled by horses and he sat on a globe, waving at the people and welcoming the winter season. Sophomore Avery Ford said, “[My favorite balloon is] Snoopy, from Peanuts. Snoopy is the best balloon. Now that MetLife owns Snoopy, I hope he still makes an appearance in the parade.” Thousands of people showed up to this spectacle and it soon became an annual event. It was years before they began to use the gigantic balloons that people know and love today. Before that, they led live animals from Central Park Zoo down the Manhattan streets, and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that the parade was broadcast on live television. Since then, people have been watching this annual event on T.V. every Thanksgiving since they were little. For some, this parade has become a traditional part of their Thanksgiving celebration. Kellejian said, “I think that the Macy’s Day Parade is a great way to start the holiday season. The parade gives those of us who don’t like football a break from the T.V. screen being filled with green. It also gives the whole country something to talk about.” Sophomore Devyn O’ Neill also said, “It gets everyone excited and it brings everyone together.” O’Neill later added, “It would be fun to go to the parade and see everything that they have in New York.” This parade is a family-friendly tradition that will hopefully carry on for many years to come.
Yoga offers many benefits to participants The yoga class at Sheldon provides serenity for the mind in a peaceful environment
Micah Tamasaka backpage editor Fights broke out and tempers raged - this was the formula for Sheldon’s earliest days, according to yoga teacher Ms. McChesney. Back when Sheldon was first starting up, fights would break out and stress levels were at an all-time high. That’s not to say that violence still doesn’t happen, but thanks to the yoga class that was introduced after some consideration, people’s tempers have softened and brought peace to both students and teachers. Yoga resolves a multitude of different ideas. Yoga can involve how people can perceive their
lives, it can be seen as a physical exercise, maybe even a spiritual practice to find one’s self out there in the unknown. It can calm the mind and keep emotions in check but at the same time can help you to alleviate some of the worries that can accumulate throughout the day, whether they are physical or mental. Freshman Ty McDermed said, “I think [yoga is] an amazing thing, and a lot more people on earth should start dong yoga and then maybe there wouldn’t be so many wars and fights.” It seems that in our daily lives we are always going a hundred and fifty miles an hour and that we don’t have enough time to think about what this can do to our bodies. The yoga class addresses some of the stresses that one can subconsciously put one’s body through. It helps improve one’s posture and helps one forget about the millions of different things we have to do within the next few weeks or hours. It helps us to quiet our minds and allows our
brains to refocus onto what we are going to do next. It can bring us to the present in order to not worry about the future or the past; in some ways it’s a practice to better ourselves.