Apple’s dominance is challenged
Green Day releases one of three albums
NFL referees upset fans and players alike
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a student newspaper
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the Talisman
Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 48 Issue 1 Oct. 5, 2012
The Key Club unlocks a new level of service An inspiring group of students exercises leadership in the community Jackson Darland editor-in-chief On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, the Sheldon Key Club held its first lunch time meeting with an all time high of 83 attendants. Kiwanis advisor Raymond Albano said, “It was totally inspiring. To see 83 students show up was completely unexpected. It blew the doors off of anything I had imagined. We were lucky to have the lecture hall!” In the past, Key Club meetings were held in Mr. Cedarlund’s room, a much smaller space. Similarly to Albano, senior Key Club president Elizabeth Davis was astounded by the number of members who came to the first meeting. She said, “It was really overwhelming, but really exciting to know that we were going to have a great year with lots of new members.” Since the first meeting, the Key Club has held three more, and each time, the lecture hall was filled with students ready to participate in the various service and fundraising projects planned by the executive team. Along with boosting student involvement, Albano had some other ideas about enhancing the club. He said, “Each year, we want to build on the accomplishments the club made the previous year. This year we want to increase communication through facebook, texting and club announcements. Secondly, we want to reach out to parents so that they can be more involved. Thirdly, we want to help members connect with their passion in the community. And lastly, we want to create more opportunities for leadership training.” Although the year has only begun, it is evident that the
Key Club has made huge steps in the right direction. The Club’s first service project was called the Roaming Burrito Feed. A group of Key Club members met on Friday, September 21 after school to make 250 burritos in the Sheldon cafeteria. Two days later, nearly 60 Key Club members helped to distribute those burritos to hungry people throughout Eugene. And to top it off, the club held an outdoor potluck to celebrate the success of the burrito feed. Sheldon Key Club staff advisor Vern Cedarlund said, “We’re off to a fantastic start with a lot of enthusiasm and unbelievable participation in the first project.” He also acknowledged the club executive team, which consists of five Sheldon students. Cedarlund said, “The leaders are strong
and they’re working together as a team. They are willing to get their hands dirty; they don’t just talk about ideas.” The next major project for the club is the Eugene International Film Festival, a non-profit event that provides a way for aspiring film artists to expose their work. Club members will be selling $8.00 tickets until October 19, and half of the earnings will fund the Key Club’s next service idea. Although not set in stone, the money will probably be used to buy warm blankets and other clothing items for Eugene’s homeless. Cedarlund said, “In my eyes, [the Key Club] is a vehicle for students to find out what their passions are in helping others.” This is a perfect way for people to look at the club as it provides a place where, as Davis said, “people with the common goal of serving the community,” can actually realize their passions. This year, members are not only aiding in the grunt work that inevitably comes with service, but they are becoming more active in generating ideas and exercising leadership. Thus far, with the burrito feed a huge success and the Eugene International Film Festival ticket sales underway, the Sheldon Key Club is giving students amazing Mr. Cedarlund photo Key Club members make nearly 250 burritos, using the Sheldon cafeteria. service opportunities.
ASB uses Hello Assembly to set the tone for 2012 Sheldon’s ASB begins the year with new goals, expectations, and spirit, while freshmen scarf down cupcakes Sophie Morosky staff writer Sheldon High School started off this year with an amazing Hello Assembly on September 14th that was both entertaining and informational. The senior siblings got to shove a Costco cupcake into their freshman sibling’s mouth, which was super fun to watch and the seniors must have had even more fun actually getting to do it. Everyone had a chance to meet the new librarian Ms. Kunz, who talked about library expectations for this year. The cheer
and dance teams put on outstanding performances that got great responses from the crowd. Hannah Leatham, the ASB president, and Joe Ricken, the ASB vice president, who is also the leprechaun you see at football games and he even dressed up for the assembly, talked about harassment and bullying as well as their plans for this year. The Hello Assembly is a great way to start out the year because, as sophomore Naomi Camacho said, “It welcomes everybody in the school.” The assembly is also when we learn about some of the plans for this year from some of the ASB staff. Camacho hopes to have a “longer lunch.” She thinks ASB improves Sheldon by, “Being more aware about what happens in students’ lives.” Matt Binkerd, the head of ASB, said their main goals for this year are to, “Promote and create school participation and school spirit.” They also plan assemblies and other student activities. Binkerd said the Hello Assembly is a
good way to start the year because, “We like to have a welcome back assembly,” and, “I think having it come from their peers instead of the staff is a positive thing.” One of the changes ASB is making this year has to do with leadership. Binkerd said they are “making a leadership curriculum” that not everyone can be a part of anymore. Ms. Kunz, the new librarian, said the rules for the library haven’t changed except for this year water is not allowed in the library. The rules are, “The library is a place to read, write, and study and if you want to socialize you should go somewhere else. Use your library voice, which is quiet so no one at the other tables can hear you. Turn cell phones to silent, they can be seen but not heard. No food or drink in the library.” Ms. Kunz said her expectations for this year are, “To meet a lot of students, to establish the library as a good place to go to read, to write, to study, to find good books, and to help students find good resources for school projects.”
Sheldon health center adopts system adjustments Note: Due to inaccuracies in the printed version, Talisman retracts the printed article and replaces it with this online version.
Cesar Landrum staff writer Anybody who has ever used the Sheldon Health Center knows it can be very helpful. This year the State has decided to make big changes to the way that public school health centers operate. These changes have been mandated by the State of Oregon in an attempt to separate the health center from the health room in order to maintain HIPPA policy. Health Assistant Cathleen Ybanez stated, “I like the changes because it makes the health center run more like a doctor’s office.” The health center staff received their first letter notifying them of the changes and requirements that need to be met last spring. If the health center does
not meet its requirements and does not receive recertification in February it risks getting its funds pulled. Because health center now function just like a doctor’s office would, the nurse practitioner on duty can perform everything from physical exams to prescribing medication. If a student would like to receive these benefits, he or she is prompted to see the health center. Sophomore Hayden Schuldt said, “I use the health center at least twice a
month.” The health room is a place where students may rest when they are not felling well, get consulting on health issues, and receive a vast array of screenings. 4j policy allows high school students to carry and administer themselves non-prescription medication but the medication must be left in its original bottle and not shared with others. The final changes made were those made to the operating hours, which can be seen below.
Health Center’s Hours Of Operation Monday and Thursday 8:45-3:30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30-12:00 Drop-in Times 8:45-9:10 Tuesday, Friday 10:10-10:40 11:30-12:00 1:30-2:00
2 October 5, 2012
News
the Talisman
Mixed classes cause mixed feelings Some students aren’t agreeing with the decision for mixed classes Holly Ford backpage editor This year Sheldon’s English department mixed the junior Honors class with seniors who are taking AP Lit. This is the first year that they’ve mixed the two together, and it has sparked some controversy on whether or not people like the new combined classes. Some like the fact that they can be in a mixed AP class, while others prefer having classes with only their age level. This
change was implemented to create more flexibility in the schedule, but is getting a lot of different reviews. Teachers, like Mr. Cabrera, so far seem to be on board with the new plan. Mr. Cabrera stated, “Some juniors are more than ready, and it’s been exciting to see that.” When asked how she felt about Sheldon deciding to mix the two grades, junior Lexus Diama replied, “I like it because you get to have diversity in grade levels.” A difference in grades can also affect the work performance in classes, as junior Tyler Karren pointed out. Karren said, “It makes it more competitive because seniors want to do better than juniors, and juniors want to prove themselves.” Now that the school year has officially begun, students are feeling the intensity of being in an advanced placement
class. Junior Marcus McGovern said, “Yeah, I thought it was gonna be pretty easy but it’s not. It’s harder because it has more depth than the regular English class.” The opinions of the student in the senior class differ, however. Senior Lauren Gleim said, “I think it’s weird.” Other seniors, such as Amy Follett, would have liked to have the opportunity to take AP Lit her junior year. Follett later said, “I think it’s fine and it offers different views of insight. But to me it’s unfair because we didn’t get that option as juniors.” Lots of other seniors think this as well, and would have appreciated this option. So far, this year’s mixed AP Lit classes have been successful. With this in mind, the scheduling and English departments will have to see if this is a change they will maintain.
Coming soon: Eugene International Film Festival
The Eugene International Film Festival has been gaining press and notice for its culture and novelty Carly Gough staff writer
lounge, the special awards ceremony, and, of course, the films. Among the genres one can expect to see at the festival are Documentary, Science Fiction, Animation, Young Audience, Art/Experimental, Making Of/ Behind The Scenes, Narrative, Comedy, Best Youth Theme, and Pilots. Whether one is entering his or her work or attending as a movie-goer, the festival is very worthwhile and rewarding. It is a great tool for networking, as it has become a widely-
respected festival in the art world. In addition to the film showings, there are also multiple retreats for screenwriters. The EIFF will be held at Regal Cinemas 15 in the Valley River Center mall from October 18 until October 21. The festival is family friendly, doesn’t allow smoking, and is wheelchair accessible. General admission and festival pass tickets are available for purchase online at www.eugenefilmfest.org/tickets.
The Eugene International Film Festival (EIFF), held this year from October 18 through October 21, is a place for filmmakers and film-lovers alike. Throughout the seven years the EIFF has been running, a wide variety of people have been coming to Eugene from around the world in order to improve their films. The opportunities for constructive criticism, production assistance, and networking provided by the EIFF are huge motivators. Eugene’s unique and diverse culture allows impressive community involvement for the festival that only helps make it even better. Wine mixers, family viewings, and numerous other activities help immerse people into the happenings of the film festival. Despite the growing status of the EIFF, it is still relatively unknown among the younger generation. Junior Maddy Brigham said, “I honestly didn’t even know it existed.” Another junior, Madison Zenke, added that she too had “never heard of it before.” Senior Claire Thompson also said she “knows nothing about the festival.” However, junior Meredy Darland’s dad is on the board for the EIFF. According to Darland, the festival “is not a non-profit event, but all of the profits end up getting donated.” Darland added that “Sheldon’s Key Club will be selling tickets to the festival for $8,” so anyone who is interested should get in touch with a Key Club member. So what exactly is the EIFF? The festival’s director and president Mike Dilley said, “It’s a good way for filmmakers to connect with the audience and with people in the business.” According to Dilley, the EIFF has a lot to offer to a wide range of ages, such as buffets, the nightly cocktail
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Micah Tamasaka illustration
Conflict in Middle East is causing elevated anxiety The rising violence and hatred in Libya and across the Middle East has cost many lives and touched many more
Austin Woolsey staff writer
Muslims flood the streets in Libya as violent riot occurs at the U.S. consulate on September 11. U.S. ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was killed in the attack along with three other U.S. nationals. The attack was to express outrage about a movie trailer that was made in America, portraying the Muslim prophet Muhammad in a bad way. The rioters set fire to the US consulate and destroyed everything inside and out. This was not the first attack on the U.S. consulate; there had been five previous attacks in the months before. One of those attacks included two former security guards who threw homemade explosives over the wall. There were no injuries or deaths in this attack
but security was not increased. Weeks before the attack on September 11, the battalion commander had a meeting about economy and security with the diplomats. He told diplomats the security had deteriorated and that they were at risk. The diplomats did nothing about this. Bryce Jorgensen says that he feels the riots and deaths that occurred due to this movie title being released are absurd. “People are over reacting about this and to take it out on America is wrong, it was not America the made and produced the movie “Jorgensen said “I think that we should protect our embassies in whatever way possible but also let the foreign governments act as well. That would take pressure off the US.” English and social studies teacher Pete Peterson commented about his feelings on the riots, saying there is a, “Muslim uproar over a very stupid, poorly constructed film. Some of our embassy people died in a fire caused by the rioters.” About whether Muslims were over reacting because of the movie trailer that was released, Peterson said “The Muslim world overreacts to any attack on their religion, at an absurd level.” Riots now have mellowed out in the Middle East but tensions are still high. Tensions are still high due to Jihadist groups and extremists that still are active in these countries. Military presence has increased to protect America’s embassies and nationals.
Entertainment
the Talisman
October 5, 2012
3
The Voice vs. American Idol New Green Day Trilogy The two most popular singing shows in the nation battle it out to be the best
Ben Ely entertainment editor
Vanessa Hendricks news editor
Micah Tamasaka illustration
As the undefeated champ for nearly seven seasons, American Idol has been facing a rising opponent in the world of singing programs the past few years. The Voice is NBC’s new hit singing show which features blind auditions, celebrity mentors and only invited singers in the blind audition rounds. Adam Levine has more than helped the rising number of fans for The Voice with his fierce battle to get contestants on his team and his presumptuous attitude. There are a few major differences between American Idol and The Voice, one is the audition process and the other difference is the judges and their roles in the competition. The Voice’s judging panel consists of Blake Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine. American Idol’s judges are Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey and the only original surviving judge, Randy Jackson. The judges’ roles on each singing show differ greatly from coaches to just critics. Junior Sean Valente said, “They [the judges] should probably be teaching them how to sing better, but it’s kind of impractical to be teaching them on national TV.” The one thing that has drawn viewers to The Voice has been the real talent of every singer on the show and the allure of the judges competition not just the singers. Many people have also switched to The Voice because they are more selective and hold blind auditions with only invited singers. Senior Alex Johnston said, “I hate how people go on there just to be on TV.” American Idol has continued to attract viewers because of the amazing singers they discover but also because of the people who fail, and fail epically. While The Voice may have some great talent in the people the show invites, but American Idol will always have the entertainment factor because of hopefuls like William Hung. Singing shows have always held a place in society and in the hearts of their fans. People keep watching for those magical moments, the finales that bring tears to their eyes and even the auditions that give them goose bumps. Senior Danielle Duhaime said, “I watch for the magical moments like Susan Boyle’s. It made me cry.” While singing shows may not be constantly dramatic like a good soap opera, or constantly annoying like some reality shows, they will always hold a prime spot on television as well as the dedication of those who enjoy the journey the shows let you embark on with the contestants.
Future EDM producer senior Justin Graff
Green Day rocks the music scene with ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!
Sheldon senior Justin Graff has great musical path ahead of him Tim Lawrence staff writer Music has changed from the early days of Blues, to 80’s rock, all the way to the modernized pop sound heard today. With different genres becoming quite popular, such as glitch hop and EDM, more people are investing time and money into making that style of music. Sheldon High School senior Justin Graff has taken his time to attempt to become the ultimate Electronic Dance Music producer, and it surely is paying off. If most people were asked about his music right now, they would most likely respond ‘Justin who?’ Rest assured, he is on the rise in the music industry. EDM is a very popular genre now-a-days. It’s a recently adapted genre too. Instruments slightly change but the sound is still clear. It is a love it or not-really– care-about it genre. Senior Evan Lytle said, “I like EDM, but not all types of it. I love some sub genres with other genres mixed though.” Like any other genre in music, it changes basically every five years, and a new sound is thrown into the mix. It’s sometimes hard to adjust to it, but change is always good. Making music can be a tough challenge, though. With the right passion and motivation it’s worth the practice. Graff has really come along as an EDM/Dubstep producer. He is a man who’s very talented on piano and most likely any instrument thrown at him. Lytle said, “Justin is gifted, motivated, and has a very unique style in his music,” and senior Sora Boyd said, “You can tell he has a genuine feeling for music, which makes it clear how passionate he is.” With passion usually comes success, so he has a great path ahead of him. It is safe to say that EDM music (and Dubstep) in this day and age is heavily influencing upcoming producers. Graff was very inspired by common Electronic Dance Music. “I started making EDM to hop on the band wagon,” said Graff. He later stated, “As I was producing more songs, I started realizing how much I really loved doing Electronic Dance and Dub Step.” Sheldon High School is always full of talented students. Some share talents with athletics, some with hobbies, and the list goes on. In the arts and entertainment category, Justin Graff strives as one heck of a music producer. Right now his songs are at the few-hundred-view marks. But with his incredible potential, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the next five years with a hundred thousand to a million views for his songs.
“Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Holiday,” “Know Your Enemy,” “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” “American Idiot,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends;” these are a few of the songs that made Green Day, an American punk rock band that was formed in 1987, one of the most popular bands on an international level. They have sold over 25 million records nationwide and 65 million worldwide, but those numbers will soon go up. Green Day is producing a trilogy of albums, the first, ¡Uno! was already released last month, and the last two, ¡Dos! and ¡Tré!, are soon to come. Lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool know how to rock the music scene, and aren’t afraid to rise to the top. On August 11, 2011, Green Day performed a set of fifteen new songs at a secret show in Costa Mesa, CA. The songs were rumored to be for an upcoming album. Well, it was true. There is a lot of hype for the upcoming albums. Sophomore Eric Ritchie said, “I’m looking forward to the album artwork.” All three album covers have been released to the public. ¡Uno! was released September 25, with ¡Dos! and ¡Tré! to be released on November 13, 2012, and January 15, 2013. Along with the release of their new albums, Green Day is going on tour, with their first concert on November 26, in Seattle, WA. They will even be stopping in Salem on November 29 at the Salem Armory. In 1987, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt started a band called Sweet Children. They later changed the band name to Green Day for their love of marijuana. Tre Cool was a substitute drummer for them, and later became permanent. Sophomore Clara Riordan said, “[My favorite band member is] Billie Joe Armstrong [because] I like his voice.” His voice does indeed stand out. Green Day’s album, Kerplunk, was their breakthrough success. From then until 2003, it was quiet time for Green Day, except for their release of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” Then, in 2004, Green Day released their most popular album: American Idiot. They rose to the top, and became today’s Green Day. According to junior Megan Gullickson, “[The reason that Green Day has become so popular is because they] have good music and they’re appealing to the right audience.” Whether it is in the studio, or on an international stage, Green Day knows how to please their audience. From soft, slow songs to fast-paced, rocking songs, Green Day will always be known as one of the best alternative punk rock bands to ever leave their mark on the music scene.
Best summer movies of 2012 Theaters were flooded with great movies this summer Kyle Radley features co-editor Many students have a lot of fun during the course of summer vacation. Some of the best things include friends, family, and just general fun. But something that a lot of people look forward to during summer are the epic movies that come out. Not a lot of things can compare to a good movie with people you enjoy hanging out with, and last summer, there were several fantastic movies that hit the theaters. Over summer break, senior Jason Suenaga saw The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. He stated, “My favorite movie was The Avengers because it was an all-around great movie.” The Avengers grossed over 500,000,000 dollars in the box office in North America as of September 16, 2012. Suenaga rated The Avengers five out of five stars because “I could not believe a movie based on a comic book could be that good!” As you can imagine, there were other great movies shown over the summer as well. Junior Ryan Hall saw many movies over summer, but “Men in Black III was by far the best.” Men in Black III has earned 179,020,854 dollars in North America as of September 9, 2012. Hall went on to say, “The epic plot and the amazing plot twist made the whole time worth it.” Hall continued, “I was glued to my seat at the very end. It was an awesome movie.” Hall rated the film four out of five stars because “It was pretty cool at the end, but I wasn’t really into it in the beginning.” Senior Joel Graves saw a lot of movies, but only one truly stuck with him. “The Dark Knight Rises was truly the best summer film I’ve ever seen so far,” Graves said. The film grossed 443,124,014 dollars in North America, and 623,700,000 dollars in other countries, as of September 23, 2012. “‘We will destroy Gotham and then, when it is done and Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die’ was my favorite quote from the movie,” said Graves. Summer time is probably the best time for movies. There are always the good, the bad, and the awesome. These were only a few of the epic movies shown this summer. Some other movies were Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Madagascar 3, and Total Recall. 2012 movies were awesome, but 2013 is bound to be even better.
F E A T U R E S
Cupcake Club’s popularity grows
Scheduling issues strike Sheldon again
Cupcake club is making a difference one cupacake at a time
4j’s decision to prioritize full schedules for freshmen squeezes others out of classes
Sammie Tracewell staff writer
Every Tuesday Cupcake Club sells their famous desserts at the coffee cart. Only members of the club know the ingredients of each and every cupcake; they know the secret to what makes them so moist and flavorful. Even better, they know what the following week’s flavors will be. From red velvet to pink lemonade, the Cupcake Club has the most creative ideas stored among them. Now tell me, what will this week’s flavors be? After unlocking some of Cupcake Club’s well-kept secrets, the subject of how they choose their upcoming flavors finally came up. President of the club Senior Natalie Mertz stated, “We have some go-to flavors we always use”. She then noted, “If members have a favorite recipe, they can bring it”. After much discussion about the club- along the lines of how much one cupcake sells for, and other jobs involved, Mertz also mentioned what her favorite part about Cupcake Club is. Enthusiastically she said, “I just think it’s a fun way to give back to the community, and it’s different, too”. Next was the discovery of which aspects of the club attract some Sheldon students. Senior Andy Conrad commented that he would join for, “the deliciousness of the pastries”. The cupcakes made are sold for one dollar and fifty cents, and fifty cents of the profit is reimbursed back to the baker. That being stated, there probably isn’t too much room for consuming the cupcakes on the job! Although with the skills developed through Cupcake Club, you could always go home and bake your own. Finally, the topic of what people actually knew about the club came up. Not many know that Cupcake Club helps out different charities, but they are aware of how tasty the cupcakes are. Senior Leeondra Nealon stated, “Their frosting’s pretty good. I once licked the frosting, but didn’t eat the cupcake.” This goes to show that while the club’s proceeds help out charities, the cupcakes help reduce the people of Sheldon’s hunger. Therefore, even though you may not be a part of Cupcake Club, you still can have a lot to say about it! All in all, Cupcake Club is the club for you if your interests consist of helping out charities and looking to improve your baking skills. You can bake some of the cupcakes based on your own recipes, or you can just use the standard ones provided. The club is very well known around Sheldon, and is a favorite among some, too. From their diverse flavors to inexpensive prices, the club’s cupcakes are irresistible. Be sure to stop on by the coffee cart the next Tuesday you’re craving a cupcake!
Independent Sheldon bands find success Student started bands at Sheldon have found successes all around Oregon Conner Drygen staff writer There are many types of bands here at Sheldon High School: marching band, cover bands, rock bands, solo artists, etc. Have you ever heard a good band and thought that you wanted to take music into your own hands, or wanted to write your own songs? It is safe to say that just about everybody has felt this way at some point, but ends up not pursuing this urge. Even so, a few groups of Sheldon students have taken this challenge to heart and started their own bands; a few have already tasted a bit of success. One of the growing bands here at Sheldon is a four person pop-punk genre band called Win the Day. They get their style after bands such as A Day to Remember and other bands you would see on the Vans Warped Tour. After only nine months as a band they have already won a Lane County battle of the bands in Junction City and have played a few shows of their own as well as having studio time. Writing music is one of the most important parts of being in an original band. Lead guitarist and junior here at Sheldon, Calvyn Villarino said, “I wanted to have a band because I wanted to write music with friends.” Because friends know each other well, the writing process becomes much easier. Adding drums can be difficult, though. Drummer and junior Daniel Halstead added, “We write together, but I add the drum part myself.” When asked about how the band goes
about their song writing process, Villarino responded, “Our singer Aaron Kost or I write a riff then everyone goes off of it.” Win the Day tries to keep their songs catchy but meaningful. Recently over summer, they had a chance to record their song “Anthem” at a professional studio as a prize for winning the Lane County Youth Jam Battle of the Bands in Junction City. This song will soon be played on the local rock radio station 97.9 KNRQ as a part of their prize as well. Another popular band here at Sheldon High School is classic rock cover band Three Way Street. With over fifty shows played over their five years together as a band, they are gaining popularity throughout Oregon. Three Way Street gets their inspiration from artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elvis Presley, and Bruce Springsteen. They are a three person band with guitar, vocals, keyboard, bass guitar, and drums. “The idea for starting a band,” drummer and junior Daniel Murphy said, “came from boredom in sixth grade.” Boredom sparked creativity and eventually led to fun! They started off playing talent shows and parties but now play paying gigs at festivals state wide. Murphy stated that as Three Way Street is getting better that they are “starting to feel more professional and more organized.” Three Way Street has a demo CD out currently as well as live video from the Valley River Inn. They will be playing this winter, as they do every year, at Sam Bond’s Garage located in downtown Eugene. Concerts are a great way to have fun and gain popularity, but sometimes bands can have some strange experiences while on stage. Villarino referred to a show Win the Day played last summer, “There was a crazy weird guy who started stripping [until] security came.” This is indubitably a very strange thing to see. Murphy commented on a concert Three Way Street played a while back, “Some girl had a Playboy costume on and started singing on stage with us. She was really drunk.”
Has Apple run out of new ideas? Many people are not impressed with the changes Apple has made to its new smartphone Jarred Rogers staff writer Throughout the world, Apple, Inc. is known for its technological advances and useful inventions. Apple Inc. has created many useful products, such as the iPod and iPhone. Lately, they seem content with merely adding extra storage space to their existing products instead of releasing new ones. What does this mean for the future of Apple? Will they ever go back to making quality products, or will they drift further and further into the danger zone? Apple had a slow beginning when the company was first formed. Their first product, the Apple I, failed to incorporate some of the most important features of a modern-day computer, such as a monitor or even keyboard. Apple didn’t find true success until it began to release products such as the iPod and iMac. Lately, however, with the release of the iPhone 5, people are beginning to question the quality of modern day Apple products. Junior Wyatt Spears said, “The quality of Apple products has definitely gone down over the years.” It seems the most Apple can do lately is add more storage space to an existing product, and hype it enough to where it sells. However, can Apple continue to last without making any original products anymore? Apple’s latest release, the iPhone 5, has very little more to offer. In fact, its biggest new feature is having a slightly larger screen. Yet Apple has insisted that it is groundbreaking new technology, and is charging an unfair amount of money for the product. So why are people still buying it? “It has a lot to do with capitalism and commercial hype,” said junior Daniel Kemp. “If a product is advertised as having brand new technology and lots of features, people will probably buy it regardless of
the truth.” So while the changes to the new iPhone are minimal, Apple can still make a profit merely by saying that it is, in fact, revolutionary. One of the key things that may be adversely affecting Apple nowadays is, of course, the death of Steve Jobs. He was the co-founder and CEO of Apple, as well as the company Pixar. Since he was in charge of Apple, Jobs was largely responsible for many of Apple’s creations. So how will the company manage with him gone? “Steve Jobs’ death will probably have some negative effects on Apple in the long run,” junior Apollo Kenney speculated. With Jobs’ passing, it is probable that the quality of Apple products will continue to decrease until they receive better management. Over the years, Apple has definitely experienced a rise in popularity, although they may very well lose it if they continue with what they’re doing now. Although many people still buy their products, if Apple continues to just add a little screen space with each new iPhone or iPod, they will gradually begin to lose customers all over the world.
The iphone 4 is one of Apple’s most popular products.
Kyle Radley photo
Cya Silva opinions Editor
F E A T U
This year, Sheldon’s superintendant mandated that all freshmen are to have full schedules, and therefore, get priority over everyone else. The only exceptions that were made were made for seniors needing certain schedule changes in order to graduate, everyone else was just left in the wake. Since the freshmen have priority, it also means electives fill up extremely quickly and it makes it nearly impossible for anyone to get in a class without having a mandate for it. “I think it’s unfair to sophomores,” Sophomore Rachel Brungardt said, “No one could get electives last year because they were taken up by upperclassmen. And now no one can get electives because they’re filled with freshmen.” And this is true, in many ways. Last year, Seniors got top priority in front of ev-
eryone else, simply because it was their last year. Now, they’re the last cut. Others also have issues with the scheduling mandate. Freshman Mary-Martha Calhoun said, “We don’t get any breaks at all, whatsoever. [It’s] not really [a good thing] because some kids, if they have really [tough classes], they don’t really have time to get their stuff done. They might have crazy stuff, like sports, dance, or cheerleading. They may not always have time to get stuff done.” This is a legitimate fear, seeing as that sports take up a lot of afterschool time, on top of whatever other outside activities students may have, so they might not always have adequate time to produce more-than-just-passable work. Senior Kenneth Liang seemed to disagree. “I think [the mandate] is good. If [freshmen] don’t have full schedules, they have too much free time.” Which is true, because some people need to have a relatively full schedule to keep them out of much trouble. But Liang later said “If I don’t have the classes I need though, it could force me to become a super-senior or take night classes.” Which is a big thing for people whom may have not done so well in previous years. Calhoun also stated, “It’s a good idea to put freshmen in a lot of classes, but I think it should be their choice [rather than] just dumping them in random classes.” But overall, it seems the student opinion of the schedule-mandate is positive. Freshman Ryann Baimbridge was one of those students, saying, “[The mandatory full schedule] makes me feel [like] I have a good start to my first year in Sheldon being able to get the classes I need to be well set…for the rest of high school.”
Sheldon welcomes new art teacher Sheldon staff and students welcome a new member to the Sheldon teaching staff
to hound them.” Anyone who has gotten to know Ms. Herbst should know that she used to work at Churchill, also as an art teacher. When asking junior Chris Dunphy his thoughts about Ms. Herbst, he said, “She’s really nice, and a good teacher; she knows what she’s doing.”
Anthony Hopkins staff writer Everyone has heard that Sheldon has a new art teacher, and many of us who had the previous teacher are skeptical. Who wouldn’t be uneasy about a new teacher? Even for the students who have never taken an art class here at Sheldon, all you need to do is walk through the halls and you’ll hear some pretty nice stuff from some of the students and the faculty. Staff, students, and parents should all give her a warm welcome to her new school, because believe it or not, we were all new here once. When talking to Ms. Herbst, she sounded like she was excited to work here, and excited to be teaching some new students. When asking if she liked it here, Ms. Herbst said, “I love my job; I’m an art teacher.” And when asked if she liked it here at Sheldon, she replied, “This school is so different: people turn in their work, so I don’t have
F E Art teacher Ms. Herbst in her new classroom.
Anthony Hopkins photo
R GSA Making a big difference at Sheldon E S
The Sheldon GSA is working to help make Sheldon a better place CJ Vangsnes staff writer
Not many people know about the Sheldon GSA and what it is about. GSA stands for Gender Sexuality Alliance, and they help promote respect and kindness toward gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual students and people in the community. The Sheldon GSA is the largest high school GSA in 4j. The GSA also has a booth at Sheldon’s annual Springfest. The GSA meets every Tuesday during lunch in room H4. GSA president Jackie Jones said, “We could be a little more productive with community and school events.” Jones later said, “I don’t think we need very many more members, but it would be nice to have more.” Jones continued, “I feel it is essential to have a GSA here at Sheldon because it gives students a safe place to talk with peers about sexuality.” Churchill Sophomore Kaila Armstrong said, “I know that we here at Churchill High School have a GSA, but I don’t know much about them other than there is about 10 or so
members this year.” Armstrong then said, “The GSA here is involved in the community a lot and they do a few fundraisers each year. Armstrong continued with, “I like what the GSA does with helping gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, and pansexual students and people who need help or just want to be around others that support them.”
Sophomore Gabby Bunnell said, “I believe that the GSA does things that help straight people and gay people become friends.” Bunnell also said, “I think that the GSA hosting the annual pink prom this year is interesting.” Bunnell later said, “I would gladly join the GSA because of some of my friends being part of it.”
A T U R E S
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October 5, 2012
Opinions
the Talisman
Wait, is voting supposed to be a responsibility?
Voting is a privilege that comes with age, but is it a responsibility? Ethan Hauck copy editor, ads manager
There are a total of 3.7 million people in Oregon, only 78.6% of which are registered voters. Why do the other 22.4% of Oregon residents at voting age not vote? Why wouldn’t people want to seize the opportunity to change the future of our country? Each election holds a lot of weight with issues, like our country’s economy, education system, and health care system. These are important issues, and there are various reasons that Sheldon staff and students old enough to vote gave as to why they do or don’t vote. So why don’t people vote on something as valuable as our future as a nation? They are either lazy, or just don’t care about our country’s future. In my humble opinion, that is a very, very stupid view. Your children will have to grow up in the world you help form, so stand up and help form that future by voting. Everyone likes to complain, face it. You do, I do, it’s in our nature, but if you don’t vote, you can’t complain. Complaining is one of our rights as free Americans, but so is voting. You have no
right to the first without the second. I interviewed multiple students, and very few of them had strong opinions, if any, about politics. I interviewed a senior who asked to remain anonymous whose answers to questions like, “are there issues that we don’t vote about in this country that we should?” was simply “I don’t know,” or, “I don’t care.” Other students had similar views, only answering questions with the obviously correct answers like, “should you vote for the better choice in an election, or for ‘your’ political party?” Obviously, the answer is that you should vote for the better choice.
Micah Tamasaka illustration
When asked whether voting was a responsibility or a privilege, English teacher Mr. Washburn said, “It is both, not everyone can vote, but everyone should.” Washburn continued, “[voting is] a very important topic, and not everyone votes. Sometimes there is only a 40% turnout of voters in Oregon out of eligible voters.” Should everyone be allowed to vote? Is there any instance that someone shouldn’t vote? Washburn later said, “I don’t know, I haven’t quite come down on that one yet. Criminals are allowed to vote, as long as they haven’t committed a felony. If you are incapable of making an informed decision, then you shouldn’t vote, though. It’s a tough question.” Is there anything that we don’t vote about that we should? Campus Supervisor Darin Henry said, “There is nothing we shouldn’t vote about. Some Supreme Court rulings like the Citizen’s united ruling declaring that corporations are people are perfect examples of this.” Why should people vote? Henry continued to say, “The old saying goes that if you don’t vote, you can’t complain. People who don’t pay attention to voting issues won’t be able to help themselves, like when you need to take on an industry in order to get better worker’s rights. Paying attention and voting when the time comes is what keeps our country free.”
Metal boxes: Do we really need lockers at Sheldon? Why we need the immitation safes: the never-ending question Alicia Froehlich staff writer A lot of students wonder why they even have lockers. Some students don’t even know their combination or even their locker number, and it seems most people just use their backpacks to store books. So the question is: do we really need our lockers? Freshman Tailynn Cokan said “No, because I don’t know how to open it.” But Cokan also stated, “Yes, in case I ever need it for sports.” Many people who have sports have to bring their sport bags to school and they use their lockers. Also, it’s good to have that option open if you need or decide that you want to use your locker. This shows that some people don’t use their locker because they don’t know how or where it is. Also, if they
don’t use it, it doesn’t necessarily mean they wouldn’t like to have it. Sophomore Naomi Camacho said, “I do use my locker because my books are really heavy.” Camacho also said, “I put books, my bag, food, perfume, and more in my locker.” Like Camacho, some people don’t want to carry books, so they do use their lockers and would be upset if the school took the lockers out because they are a good resource for school. All this depends on the person. Senior Gianna Tobar said, “I don’t use my locker because I have a car.” She also said, “I can fit more things in my car and I feel safer putting my things in my car than my locker.” She also doesn’t use her locker and lets her freshman friends use it if theirs are broken or if her locker is closer to their classes. Campus Supervisor Darin Henry agrees that the lockers are a good tool for students. Also he said, “The lockers have been in, then taken out, then once again put back in.” The reason for this was the old lockers had places where a student could go and hide away, with the
“To Each, His Own:” body mods
Sheldon students on the expression of individuality via body modifications Savannah Jones staff writer People all over the world have tattoos and piercings, but not everybody is accepting. Older generations may tell you that you won’t be able to get a job. Younger generations will tell you that they don’t look cool or they don’t like them. Yet, many think that most jobs should allow them. Things over time are changing on how people view body modification. All over Sheldon there are different views on body modification. Junior Chris Dunphy said, “Tattoos should be allowed because they are a form of art.” Dunphy then added, “I think tattoos and piercings are a way for people to make themselves feel good. It’s what they love.” Not all people feel this way though. Junior Rebekah Galick said, “My parents don’t allow me to get tattoos or piercings because they don’t want me to mark up my
body.” Is it just parents? Galick later said, “I don’t think it should be a problem though. Everybody is interested in different things and if tattoos and piercings are a persons interest, I think they should do what they’re interested in. There is no age on creativity. It’s not something I would get, but I say people should go for it.” People all over the world (not just Sheldon) worry about getting a tattoo because they’re afraid they won’t want it 50 years from now. Talking to Ms. Herbst, the new art teacher, she had mentioned, “I have never been able to come up with a cool enough design to have it on my body for the rest of my life.” Herbst then added, “To each their own.” Most of the people that go to Sheldon, teachers included, don’t find tattoos or piercings to be a huge problem. Some viewed that piercings are okay if they can be covered, and same with tattoos. Others viewed that it shouldn’t matter whether we hide them or not, because it’s just a form of art. Body modification is something that makes us all different and unique. After all, we are all individuals.
new lockers there is full visibility. In the end, I think that the lockers should stay. Most people think we do need them because students who use them think it’s a good tool for school. Also, after putting them back in there is more visibility, so there are not as many chances for students to make bad choices.
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Does Dubstep make it into the category of music?
What actually qualifies something as music? Does Dubstep make the cut? Quinn Daniel staff writer
Some say dubstep isn’t really music, but can’t anything be music? Even when a seven year old breaks out the pots and pans from the kitchen and begins to bash them repeatedly, that’s considered music. Songs are made with beat. It affects your mind and body; you’ll start to feel the
mood of the music. Your body begins to melt and flow with the rising sound. And then….the drop. Dubstep is quite the unique genre of music that is growing immensely in popularity. Many believe it all started with Skrillex, which is very disappointing and is also very untrue. Especially because Skrillex isn’t a dubstep artist, he is trying to make his own genre of music which is honestly a bit of everything. He even recently did an album with Korn, the heavy metal band. Dubstep is structured off of drum and bass wobble bass, bass drops, and rewinds. Dubstep started in London, England, where many raves occur. Raves are parties
consisting of good people, good electronic music and good light shows. It’s all very high tempo and fast paced. That is why I believe many teenagers are interested in it. But even so, not all teens are sure they enjoy listening junior Pasha Petrukhin said, “I can get into the music, but I still think it sounds like robot farts.” This is actually a rather good example of how people perceive dubstep to be. On the other hand, it still follows every requirement to be considered legitimate music, and has a large fan base like other music styles and it can only become more and more popular from this point on. It’s loud, grimy, and dirty, It’s heavy...it’s music.
Sports
the Talisman
October 5, 2012
7
Water polo team is on a swimming streak
Sheldon’s own water polo team has done a great job so far and look to go far into the playoffs Tanner Mitchell staff writer Water polo seems to swim under the radar, and not get the respect it deserves. This will be a very thorough examination of Sheldon’s water polo teams. Sheldon’s water polo has a history of being successful in the past. Last season, Sheldon went deep into the state playoffs before losing, and being eliminated. They are looking to improve upon that this season. This is high
school water polo, so there is much roster turnover on a season-to-season basis as seniors graduate and freshmen enter. Sheldon used to be, well, not the greatest at water polo. Since then, they swam a lot closer to competing at a high level year in and year out. As for their toughest opponent, senior Jake Roehl said, “South Eugene [on October 2nd and October 25th] will be our toughest game.” Roehl also said, “It gets boring, blowout after blowout. South Eugene will actually be a challenge, and fun.” Sheldon is a lot better than they once were, but they aren’t perfect. Roehl said, “We could work on functioning as a team. We have a lot of guys that are fast and can score a lot of goals, but that contributes to running up the score. We also don’t have a lot of depth because of the high number of seniors on the team.” This is serious because of the potential of injuries. If injuries
get too serious, Sheldon’s season could be jeopardized. With roster turnover comes higher importance to protect players. It is wise to do this at any level of any sport, as you would really not like it if your star players were injured. Coach Ron Thompson said, “In order to protect our players from injury, we focus a lot on fitness. The more fit they are, the less likely they are to get injured. Our drills start out slow and build up intensity.” This goes with what Roehl said about the lack of depth. Lack of depth also hurts because if you don’t have much for backups, and you are blowing the other team out, you can’t slow the game down. Sheldon water polo is looking very good this year. They look to improve upon their run into the playoffs last year, and hopefully make a deeper run this year. They have many games, but the one that stands out is against South Eugene. Finding out how Sheldon does will be fun.
How has Sheldon sports Hawaii’s St. Louis School feeding the Ducks changed over time? St. Louis School has been producing depth cannot be the only reason why so many St. Louis
Changes in sports haven’t hurt teams at Sheldon
Division 1 football players for years
Noah Savage staff writer
Sam Seno features co-editor
In the last decade Sheldon High School sports have been quite successful. Have you ever wondered how successful they were in the past? Sports have always been a big part of Sheldon, but was the past as successful as the present? Sheldon has 41 team state championships and 100+ league titles, which means Sheldon has a legacy. Sheldon’s earliest state title was girls cross country in 1967 and Sheldon’s most recent state titles are, football 2009, boys track and field 2009, and dance 2009. It seems that Sheldon sports teams have remained competitive through the years, but the way that they are played has changed. Freshmen Zach Pressly said his favorite sport is football and that he has noticed a few changes at Sheldon; these new changes are emphasizing safety and equipment changes to keep players safe. Freshmen Josh Harris said his favorite sport is basketball and he has been playing since 7th grade. He said there have been a few recent rule changes to allow more physical contact and movement of the sport. Harris said he likes these new rule changes, “I like these new rule changes because I am an aggressive player.” Campus Resource Officer John Savage said his favorite sport is football and that he has been watching/ playing this sport for 35 years. After watching the sport of football for a long time he said “there have been a lot of rule changes to protect players from injuries such as broken bones and concussions.”
Just over a month ago Oregon football coach Chip Kelly sat before press members and announced that redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota would be the next player to take the reigns of Chip Kelly’s high powered offense. This laid-back college student is the epitome of a local Hawaiian boy, not letting pressures or nerves get to him as he does what he loves. At this point most of you have heard of Mariota and know that he graduated from St. Louis in Hawaii, but what many of you don’t know is that Mariota is not the only duck to graduate from St. Louis. In fact, St. Louis is the most represented high school on the Ducks roster, beating out high school powerhouses like, Matterson, and La Salle. So why do so many St. Louis grads end up in Oregon? Out of all the guys from Hawaii there is none as well known as Marcus Mariota. Known for his calm and laid back demeanor, Mariota has lead the Ducks to a fast start. Senior Isacc Klump said, “Mariota has been spot on through-out his first games.” Mariota has completed 75% of his passes while throwing for 674 yards, with 8 touchdowns and a QB rating of 180. In his games against Tennessee Tech Mariota became the first Oregon freshman to throw for over 300 yards in a game, while only playing 3 quarters. Klump later went on to say, “it’s crazy to think that he only was the starting quarterback his senior year at St. Louis.” The fact that it took an athlete like Mariota 3 years to assume the starting role in high school, speaks to the depth and the talent on the St. Louis football team. Now there are a lot of high school teams all around the country with more depth than St. Louis, so roster
graduates end up in Eugene. When you look through the Oregon Ducks roster you will notice that St. Louis is not the only school from Hawaii that is represented on the Ducks football team. There are players from all over Hawaii that have found their way to Oregon. Senior Alex Johnston said, “I think Oregon recruits more heavily in Hawaii than most football programs.” In-fact, Hawaii is considered to be one of Oregon’s “Pipeline States” When it comes to football recruiting. Oregon coaches have spent much time in Hawaii, battling with the University to get their homegrown talent out of the aloha state. But why, out of all the cities in the United States, would Hawaii natives choose to leave their topical paradise to play football in the rain and cold of the pacific northwest? Chip Kelly and his staff must have a lot tricks up their sleeves to convince these high schoolers to leave Hawaii. This is when Phil Knight and his money come into play. If it were not for Phil Knight and all of the money he has invested into the Oregon football program, Marcus Mariota would be the starting quarterback for the Hawaii Warriors this season, rather than the starting quarterback here in Eugene. Before Phil Knight really started investing in the Oregon football program the number of football players from Hawaii was relatively none. Oregon did not have anything that University of Hawaii could not offer. Now with their state of the art training facilities, their ever changing uniforms, and nationly recognized coach, Oregon now has the tools to not only draw football players from Hawaii, but from the big time recruiting states around the country, such as, Flordia, Texas, Geoergia, and Mississippi. As long as Oregon Keeps winning and their uniforms keep changing, you can expect Oregon to keep getting the top players from St. Louis for years to come. Eugene may not be as cool as Hawaii but Chip Kelly and his staff have a working plan to draw the top talent from Hawaii across the Pacific, all the way to Eugene, Oregon.
NFL changes are abundant following the off-season Despite referee lockout and controversial calls, teams are on track for an action-packed season AJ Smith sports editor The NFL has had an eventful off season. The Saints were convicted and prove guilty for a bounty program, Payton Manning got traded to the Broncos, and the league has quite a few rookie quarterbacks. Even though the Saint’s were punished for their bounty program, they appealed the punishment at the beginning of the year and won. Manning has returned after a year off from neck surgery to fix an injury and is looking to improve his already Hall of Fame career. Rookie quarterbacks, such as Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson, are looking to make their mark on the league with teams that need them to step up. Manning getting traded to the Broncos gives the Broncos the star player that they have been looking for. Ju-
nior Michael Douglas said, “The Broncos did a great thing by picking up Payton Manning. They now have a better shot at winning the conference and even winning the Super Bowl.” He is right; Manning brings a great deal of experience to an already good team. But even though he is a great player, he can only do so much for the team. Going from individual to the entire team, the Saints have felt the change from the off-season. Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, penalized certain Saints defense players for participating in a bounty system within the team. The main source of this has been Jonathon Vilma, with his bounty on Brett Favre in the 2010 playoffs. Vilma was accused of creating a system that would reward players for injuring opposing team’s players. The league said that the players are the ones who created this system, yet they have rescinded a few of the suspensions and Goodell is still on an ongoing investigation with Vilma. Senior Lane Davis said, “I don’t think they should be punished. If it makes the players play harder, then it should be allowed.” Yet the commissioner does not think so, and they will reconvene at a later time. Referees have always been known as the fair and equal parts of a football game, yet this year has been slightly different. The league has locked the referees out of any
sort of deal, and in return they had to hire replacement referees. These men are not as experienced or unbiased, as one of the replacement referees was fired for being an avid Saints fan. The league fired him, yet other incidents go unnoticed by the league. Examples of these bad actions include referees throwing their hats under players feet, giving teams extra timeouts and challenges, and referees talking to players in the game about their fantasy teams. Senior Mito Melo said, “These referees are doing a terrible job. They are late on their calls and they don’t even know the rules. I’m sure it won’t be long until we have the actual referees back.” The decision is up to the league, but fans are furious about this. Last Monday night’s game ended in a swirl of controversy with the Seahawks winning on a hail-mary pass that may or may not have been caught by the Packer defense. The call came down to the replacement referees in the booth to figure out the correct call, and most agree it was not a touchdown. Players, fans, and coaches all wanted the regular referees back, and they will got their wish last Thursday morning. The league came to an agreement to send the regular referees back onto the field. The beginning of the season has started off with a bang, and it will be interesting to see if the end finishes as interesting as the beginning.
Backpage The Many Uses of Duct Tape The well-known tape that can be made into almost any item a person can want Sam Fox staff writer
Carly Gough photo
Summer 2012 Destinations
Ever wonder where your teachers and fellow students travel to during the summer? Micah Tamasaka graphics editor
Duct tape is awesome because it can be used to make all kinds of things and to repair everything else. We use duct tape in so many different and more creative ways today because we have the option to buy inexpensive and decorative duct tape. One of the most common uses was that fad we had a few years ago with making duct tape wallets, bracelets, bows, and everything else imaginable. But perhaps the most creative was a few years back when duct tape was used to make someone’s prom dress. Since then, people have been making all kinds of clothes and accessories from duct tape. Freshman Tailynn Cokan told me that she thinks that duct tape is “beast” and she went on to say that she uses duct tape to decorate and repair her binder and that she has seen duct tape used to make dresses, as well. Cokan said that her favorite styles of duct tape are the “Hello Kitty or cheetah print” and that if she could design a tape it would be a Lilo and Stitch tape, but with only Stitch on it. Another freshman, Kourtney White, said the she uses duct tape primarily for repairs but she has seen it used for decoration and that her favorite style of duct tape is “the kind that looks like a giraffe” and that if she could design a tape of her own she would “use it for decorating and that it would be sparkly and shiny.” This narrows it down to the point that duct tape is a very famous and very helpful tool that many people use. It affordable and fashionable, sticky and fun and everyone agrees that you should use it for everything and anything you need it for.
Although summer can carry the connotation of being a lazy time, each of us has, in our own way, trials and tribulation through which we learn valuable lessons. At the end of it all we will ask ourselves: did we do all that we could? Did we do all that we set out to accomplish? Even though many of us will forget and let the time flow away, many of us might hold onto those times and find that what we did will forever remain with us to the day we die. Having spent most of his summer volunteering for the fire department, senior Garrett Johnson went to California for a short break and to relax from the daily stress of the time that happened over his volunteering. Johnson said, “I headed for Crescent city, California for the water ball tournament that was held by the Crescent City Fire Department for a fun and enjoyable time.” He later added, “I would have liked to hang out with more of my friend though, even though I had a great time in California.” His most memorable time though, was when he went down to the beach to go camping. He stated, “I went down to the shore to look at the setting sun and happened to see a horse running across the shore and I just had to take a picture of it.” Later he showed the photo of the scene and it was quite astonishing. While some of the students are have fun who says that teachers can’t also have a good time. The Biology teacher, Landis, has also gone on some fun trips too. He’s been to British Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. While in each of these places he visited some of his family and saw the sites. Mr. Landis said, “Some of the activities that I did was climbing a 14k mountain and mountain biking.” Landis is very active and likes to be outside instead of inside during the summer,”Because it’s so nice out and for most of the year it’s cloudy and overcast.” One of the things that he’ll remember is the time when he was in Banff, where he went hiking and saw a few stunning and beautiful views of the scenery. What we’ve been doing this summer can sometimes change us or give us more responsibilities that can manipulate how we are as an individual and alter our aspects on life. Instructional Assistant Jason Harter is a hard worker and a very dedicated person. While over summer he became a father, and had some fun with friends. “I went to Seattle for a Red Socks game and hung out with some friends and had a good time.” He later added, “I also became a new dad.” Harter also did some hard work for 4J’s Facilities Management and Roofing Crew, he also did some home improvements on the inside and outside of his home. “I love summer and can’t wait for the next Red Socks game.”
New Renovations at Sheldon From the new speedbumps to the new bathroom sinks, read what has changed over the summer Kara Cheung staff writer “Out with the old and in with the new”, this quote explains the change, which all of us individuals have experienced in our lives. The new school year brings new changes whether they are your friends, teachers, or interests. Although, not only have we the students changed, so has the school itself. Over the summer, Sheldon underwent some substantial remodeling. Some of these alterations consist of the new bathrooms, the raised speed bumps, and the improved landscape in front of the parking lot. Many freshman and newly enrolled students may not be aware, but the previous restrooms were horrendous. When one walked in they would face an army full of girls clustered, waiting for a clean stall. That is, after they had squeezed their way through the two heavy swinging doors, while juggling their text books that weighed them down. When a student was asked to describe the previous bathrooms in three words, Alec Schauer responded bluntly, “smelly, old, and dirty.” Schauer later added, “My favorite change in the bathroom has got to be the new mirrors above the sink.” He laughingly explained, “Now I can casually look at myself without anyone noticing.” His least favorite part of the remodeled restrooms is the large doors that were taken out. Schauer said that even though they did create more room for people to go in and out, regardless, it “lacks privacy”. Overall, he enjoys the new changes. Another alteration at our facility is the new landscape in front, by the parking lot. The changes consisted of repairing the ditch and chopping down most of the trees. When senior Hunter Dotson was asked what he thought about the new landscape he replied that it was more “eco-friendly.” Dotson said, “The adjustments promote recycling because many students use to litter and throw their trash in the ditches.” Not only do the changes help the Earth, but they help the safety of the students as well. According to the senior, “kids are less likely to trip and fall in.” Therefore, not only does it provide a more aesthetically pleasing school, but a safer, a more Earth friendly one as well. One of the other major changes at Sheldon was the raised speed bumps and the installment of sidewalks. According to Leeondra Nealon, the sidewalks encourage a “safe environment” for the students who are walking to lunch. Previously, students would casually walk in the middle of streets, cutting in front of cars. But Nealon said that, “The sidewalks provide a designated place so that students will refrain from doing this anymore.” Along with the sidewalks, speed bumps were also placed in the parking lot. Although contrary to the positive feedback of the changes made to the sidewalk, the raised speed bumps got a more negative view. Leeondra Nealon stated, “I hate the speed bumps because it makes my car bottom out.” But she does agree that it makes the parking lot a safer place since it forces drivers to proceed more cautiously. Even though there are some things that still need adjustments, overall, the students of Sheldon high school are pleased with the improvements. This year, our school of Henry D. Sheldon has taken a step forward to improving the environment in which we can all thrive in.