Junior Issaiah Duke shows promise with musical skills
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a student-edited newspaper Sheldon High School
Girls basketball having interesting season
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2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 49
Issue 5
February 14, 2014
Freshman Abdu Mdi: community hero! Sheldon student comes to the rescue when an elementary school child in need cannot speak English Dylan Malpass backpage editor Sheldon High School is known for producing exemplary students both scholastically and athletically. However, Sheldon has also been home to numerous students who excel in moral character. One of those students, Abdurhman Algha Mdi (also known as Abdu), has proven himself as a person of high integrity. On January 9, a young boy, no more than seven years old, found himself on the wrong bus going to the wrong school. Most children would just tell an adult they were lost, however, the difference with this situation was that the boy did not speak English, he spoke Arabic. Scared, the boy desperately tried to communicate with adults, but to no avail. The only thing he was able to say was “mama, papa”, with hand signals for sleeping. This led teachers and authorities to believe his parents were home asleep, and unaware of their child’s situation. Abdurhman Algha Mdi is a freshman here at Sheldon. He is one of the only students attending Sheldon who speaks Arabic. Because of this skill, Abdu was called upon
to help translate with the young boy over at Meadowlark/ Buena Vista. Abdu said, “The boy was scared and crying, but he seemed to warm up after he heard me speak Arabic.” Abdu translated questions for the police such as “what is your name?” and “what color is your house?” When asked how the boy reacted to these questions, Abdu stated, “He seemed very nervous and very scared of the police.” Abdu kept the boy calm throughout the process and encouraged him that the police were there to help. To have a better understanding of the situation Officer Savage was questioned about what happened with the little boy and the situation. Officer Savage said, “The principal from Meadowlark/Buena Vista called me saying there was a little boy who did not go to the school and did not speak English who had wandered into a classroom and started coloring.” Savage then said, “I called the main office at Sheldon and asked if there were any Arabic speaking students. They told me about Abdu, so I went over to the school and pulled him out of class.” Savage went on to say, “We drove back over to Meadowlark/Buena Vista and started asking the boy questions. We eventually found out that he was a new student at Holt Elementary.” After more questioning Officer Savage (with the help of Abdu) also found out where the boy lived, and what his name was. The boy was eventually taken home by an Arabic speaking parent volunteer who was also on scene. Abdu was born in Virginia and lived there for six months. He then moved to Saudi Arabia where he lived until 2009. Abdu learned to speak Arabic from his parents, and he
“He seemed very nervous and very scared of the police.” - freshman Abdu Mdi
Abdu pauses for a photo during his interview.
photo by: McKinley Patrick
speaks Arabic at home. He hopes to attend the University of Oregon after high school. Abdu represents the type of moral character and leadership that all Sheldon students strive for. Because of his cooperation and kindness with the young boy, Abdu has proven himself to be a true community hero.
Top scholar athletes at Sheldon sign to top colleges Seniors Liam Talty, Mitchell Herbert, Sahalie Doe, and Haleigh Krause sign to their colleges of choice on National Signing Day Kennedy Potts editor-in-chief
tana State because it has a football program that reminds me a lot of the football program we have here.” Talty had received offers to attend multiple schools including Northern Colorado University, the Air Force Academy, and Columbia University. He chose Columbia because “[He] think[s] it will give [him] really good opportunities after school because of the education, and because it gives [him] the opportunity to play football at a higher level.” The choice for Talty had mostly been between Columbia and the Air Force, but he was happy he was accepted at Columbia because as he said on Signing Day, “I didn’t think a military career was right for me.” Doe is going on to play softball for Idaho State University. She will hold the distinction of being the first second-
generation softball player at the university as her mother played there as well. “I chose Idaho State University because when I visited the campus it seemed like a nice fit for me…They also have really great academic support.” Krause is planning on majoring in Sports and Recreational Business Management while also playing golf for San Diego State University. She explained that partly she chose to go to the school because she got along well with the coaches she met there. She got a laugh from the crowd when she added, “Also, it’s really warm down there.” National Signing Day was a great way to give recognition to the students of Sheldon who have excelled both in school and athletics, and a great way for them to publicize their commitment to where they will spending the next stage of their lives.
Sheldon High School is lucky enough to be home to both wonderful athletes and incredible scholars. Some students set themselves even further apart by balancing the two, earning great grades while also excelling through sports outside of the classroom. A few of these students were recently recognized during Nation Signing Day. Taking place on February 5, 2014 this year, National Signing Day is a nationally recognized day for high school seniors to officially sign a binding letter of intent to attend and play sports at a given college. This year, four students from Sheldon participated, with special recognition given to another student for his accomplishments. On the morning of February 5 at 8:30 a.m., seniors Mitchell Herbert, Liam Talty, Sahalie Doe, and Haleigh Krause gave information on their respective college destinations and education plans before signing their letters of intent in front of an audience of family and friends in the Sheldon auditorium. Senior Jordan Alexander was specially recognized for his nomination to be a member of the McDonald’s All-American Team for basketball. Many players who make it to the team are instantly branded as some of the top high-school players in the U.S. or Canada. Athletes who are selected often go on to be successful on their college basketball teams. The colleges Alexander is considering are George Fox University, Northwest Christian University, and Seattle-Pacific University. photo by: Kennedy Potts When asked, Herbert explained that he plans to study Sheldon’s top senior athletic scholars take a moment to sign to colleges of their choice. cell biology at Montana State University. “I chose Mon- From left to right: Mitchell Herbert, Liam Talty, Jordan Alexander, Sahalie Doe, Haleigh Krause.
2 February 14, 2014
News
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U.S. sports stars gear up for the XXII Olympic Winter Games
Sochi gold medal favorites are ready to make Olympic history
to get the job done. As the USA Olympic Team federation’s top officer said on Thursday—quoted in and ESPN site—“Lolo Jones absolutely earned her spot on the team.” Many believed she’d carry too much baggage and drama to the sport in Sochi but nothing else matters if she proves herself to her teammates and opponents. Another big story this year is Tra-
Jack Forrest staff writer
This year’s Winter Olympic Games have already proven to be quite eventful, and they have barely started. With stories like the heartbreaking account of Lindsay Vonn’s second knee injury, and the heartwarming act of kindness by Tracy Barnes giving up her chance at glory for her twin sister, Lanny. There are also stories of previous winners such as Shani Davis coming back for more. Along with previous Olympians comes Lolo Jones who is trying out her first Winter Olympics after her past successes as a hurdler in the Summer Olympics. Before the Olympics are even halfway through, here are some of these stories. Lolo Jones was recently accepted to be a part of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team as a pusher. This position requires a tremendous amount of leg strength because pushers are responsible for giving the bobsled its speed and later, you must jump in. It seems to many who know who Lolo Jones is, that she has more than enough strength
cy Barnes giving up her spot to her twin Lanny. Lanny Barnes had gotten 23rd in the last Winter Olympics in her event, the biathlon, which was the best placing from an American in her event since the late 1990s. Tracy Barnes qualified to be on the Olympic team this year and earned the last qualifying spot one place over her sister who could have almost qualified do to just her successes in recent com-
photo illustration by Noah Jang
pletion. To Lanny it looked like she would have to wait another four years to compete in the Olympics, until her sister declined her spot on the team automatically bumping up Lanny to a spot on the team. “It was the biggest decision of my life, but it was an easy decision,” said Tracy Barnes—quoted in an article on ESPN. Lanny will have to show everyone that the decision her sister made was the right one. Shani Davis is an Olympic speed skater, and like all Olympians, his eyes are on the gold medal. However, if he gets the gold he will make history. If Davis wins gold this year he will be the first to win gold three years in a row in any event. Davis has been making history for a long time, like when he was the first African American to win gold in the Winter Olympics eight years ago, and when he was the first to win two consecutive gold medals in the speed skating 1,000 meters. This also may be his last chance to make history one more time as the 31 year old will most likely retire from being an Olympian. Watch the Olympics to see if Shani Davis makes history, if Lanny Barnes can make her sister proud, and if Lolo Jones proves herself to America. The Olympics started on February 7 and will end on February 23.
2014 Davos Forum: Japan tells China to cut military spending Japanese prime minister takes veiled swipe at Beijing’s military buildup
In the keynote address, Abe discussed his economic strategy known as Abenomics, which aims to break free from chronic deflation. He declared that a new dawn is breaking over Japan. But people in the forum were left to worry more about Japan’s relations with China than its recovering economy. According to a private briefing with reporters, Abe compared relations between Japan and China to those between the UK and Germany in the eve of World War I. According to Reuters
Noah Jang news editor Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used a speech opening the 2014 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to call for military restraint in East Asia.
News Agency, Abe said during the speech, “The dividend of growth in Asia must not be wasted on military expansion.” He continued, “Trust, not tension, is crucial for peace and prosperity in Asia, and in the rest of the world. This can only be achieved through dialogue and the rule of law, and not through force or coercion.” Obviously alluding to China’s military growth, he said, “Military budgets should be made completely transparent and there should be public disclosure in a form that can be verified.”
“If peace and stability were shaken in Asia, the knock-on effect for the entire world would be enormous,” Abe added. According to BBC, Abe said that he does not plan on reducing tensions as long as China continues its military build-up. A senior Chinese academic taking part on another Davos panel, Wu Xinbo, responded by calling him a “troublemaker,” Reuters reported. It will be interesting to see how the two nations will resolve this tension in the months to come.
A Chinese company plans to rebuild the Titanic at a theme park The Sichuan-based company announces that the full-scale ship replica will feature a shipwreck simulation Ben Ely entertainment editor On April 10, 1912, the RMS Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to New York City. Five days later, the ship collided with an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. On December 19, 1997, nearly 85
years later, an epic American film hit theaters across the United States as James Cameron’s Titanic was released. For the past seventeen years, this classic masterpiece has been cherished by audiences around the world, and
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even dethroned the popular sci-fi saga Star Wars as the highest grossing movie of all time, earning $2,185,372,302 worldwide. Imagine being able to experience this historical national disaster in the modern world. It turns out this will be possible in the very near future. A small Chinese energy company by the name of Seven Star Energy Investment Group is planning on building a replica of the Titanic as the centerpiece of a new theme park that is set to be completed by 2016. Seven Star is spending one billion renminbi (China’s currency), about $164 million, to reconstruct the ill-fated ocean liner based on the design of its sister ship,
the Olympic. The replica, which will be dubbed as the Titanic II, will allow park visitors to observe the aesthetic beauty of the once-glorious ship. The replica will also feature a simulation of the ship’s 1912 sinking based on Cameron’s interpretation in Titanic. According to The New York Times, Seven Star chairman Su Shaojun said, “It will be a totemic symbol of the Titanic spirit, eternally berthed at the bank of the Qi River.” Seven Star is not the first company to attempt to reconstruct the Titanic. Australian magnate Clive Palmer announced plans last year to build a Titanic II that will sail the world in 2016.
Entertainment
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February 14, 2014
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The rise of virtual reality The Oculus Rift will bring virtual reality into mainstream gaming Micah Tamasaka graphics designer In some science fiction based media you see a virtual reality world, one in which the characters travel to some unknown area to relax and relieve some stress, or they hack into some type of military instillation to retrieve data or access an off limits area. You may even see them explore some mythological realm and during their time there they take upon themselves a quest to defeat some
great and terrible evil that’s been plaguing the lands. With the invention of the Oculus Rift this is no longer sci-fi, but an actual reality that we may see in the future. People have always wanted to escape from reality for many different reasons. If you want to be a sword wielding maniac hacking down your foes and blasting them to oblivion, then by all means be so. If you want to be a space explorer, well grab a suit and jump into one of the space simulators that are offered with the Oculus Rift. Freedom is only a plug-in away. The Oculus Rift right now is primarily to immerse gamers in their virtual play through. With Rift Support in games like: Team Fortress 2, Minecraft, Half Life 2 and Source, Doom, Castlevania: Lords of Shadows 2 and many more. The list that has support for this device is enormous. The company behind the Oculus Rift, Oculus VR, has more plans for upcoming games and old titles in which they are going to have Rift Support.
The Fault in Our Stars John Green’s bestselling book will hit the big screen on June 6, 2014 Katelynn Allen staff writer
New York Times best seller The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, is a marvelous love story built with a million emotions within. Published in January 2012, this is the fourth non-series novel written by John Green. The story is narrated by a young girl named Hazel Grace who is dealing with cancer. The title The Fault in our Stars, is inspired by a famous line in Shakespeare’s play Julius Ceaser: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” In January 2012, the film rights to the book
Ratings of movies and video games Are the ratings necessary?
Ethan Hauck sports editor
What is the point of having a rating on the cover of a video game or movie that specifically states that nobody below seventeen may purchase or play it, when it is regularly
With a miniature screen right against your eyes people wonder if there are any health issues with the Oculus Rift, and the answer is yes. When people are done with their first session with the oculus, some participants have expressed nausea and loss of ballance. Most of this is to be expected with your brain trying to adapt to the new experiences. Your brain, in that short amount of time, adjusts to the fact that your body didn’t have any sensory input and now that your brain is receiving that input everything feels oversensitive. Children who are still developing are at serious risk of strabismus, which is when your eyes don’t properly align. It is also advised that you don’t play for long periods of times. However, as the input and technology get better these symptoms could disappear, and hopefully we’ll be able to use these devices in the future without risk or harm.
soars to popularity
were optioned by Fox 2000. On February 19, 2013, it was announced that Josh Bone would be the director of the film. In the plot, sixteen-year-old Hazel is forced to join a support group when she is diagnosed with stage four thyroid cancer with metastasis. The thyroid gland is a part of the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body. Stage four thyroid cancer absorbs iodine from the bloodstream to produce thyroid hormones, which regulates a persons’ metabolism. This type of cancer has been forming in Hazels’ lungs since the age of 13, but she has managed to live with the disease thanks to doses of a experimental drug called Phalanxifor. While she’s attending the support group, Hazel meets and falls in love with seventeenyear-old Augustus Water, who is an ex basketball player. Augustus, or “Gus,” lost his right leg to asteosarcoma, and is in remission and not able to play basketball. Isaac is a guy who also attends the support group and who lost his eye to cancer at a young age and has just learned that he must have the other one removed which means he will become permanently blind. Sheldon librarian Ms. Kunz said, “[The Fault in Our Stars]
is a great book and really inspiring.” Kunz later added, “I loved the characters and the emotional catharsis of the novel.” My favorite part of this book is when Hazel is forced to go to this support group, but then ends up falling in love with someone undergoing the same struggles. They are a perfect match. She hadn’t wanted to go to the support group but ends up loving every second of it. To me, that’s a great love story. What makes me enjoy this part so much is that it taught Hazel to be grateful for every outcome. Even though she didn’t want to go, she was made to, and that’s how she met him. If she wasn’t meant to go, she wouldn’t have met Gus. Sophomore Eden Lininiger said, “My favorite part of the book was probably when she realizes that no matter how far she distances herself from him, Gus isn’t going to like her less.” Lininger later added, “She completely lets herself fall for him even though she knows that it won’t last forever. I thought that part was really touching.” I have read this book and I love it. So I suggest that you too read it, and watch the movie when it comes to theaters; you won’t regret it.
ignored? The modern idea of protecting our children with bad language, violence, and sex, when others don’t.” The ESRB website explains the motivation behind it’s ratings and restrictions for our entertainment seems to go unheeded by many parents. If they are designed to protect us, creation: “The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) yet nobody adheres to them, have ratings become obsolete? ratings provide concise and objective information about the When asked how he thinks ratings have changed, junior content in video games and apps so consumers, especially parents, can make informed choices…” It Jarod Bays said, “I would think that continues that , “ESRB found that what in the next generation, we will be parents really want from a rating system more aware of ratings. But as we are is both age-based categories and, equally now, parents at this time don’t have if not more importantly, concise and enough experience with video games impartial information regarding content. to know enough to regulate what Parents felt strongly that a rating system their kids play, just like their parents should inform and suggest, not prohibit, didn’t have enough knowledge about and should reflect the product overall modern movie ratings to clearly rather than quantifying every instance know what was in the movies.” photo illustration by Ben Ely of potentially objectionable content.” About the reliability of the rating system, junior Brian Chastain said, “I think that While some ratings can be unreliable, if people know many ratings are inconsistent, like, a little kid could how to use them for movies, video games, or other play many teen-rated games, whereas some M-rated forms of entertainment, they can be very useful in games have a lot of inappropriate material for kids like protecting their children from inappropriate material.
Review: American Horror Story The thrilling TV series’ interesting changing format is very different from other popular televison shows Trisdon Zepeda staff writer Have you ever thought to yourself, “Hey, you know the creators of Glee? They should TOTALLY make a horror themed television series”? Well, it happened and it’s surprisingly good. At 10 pm every Wednesday the television show American Horror Story creeps its way on to FX with dark themes and gruesome details I wouldn’t recommend to the squeamish. American Horror Story starts with a premise I find very intriguing: with the beginning of every new season the
show will shift to a completely unrelated tale but keeps the same actors from the previous season to play different characters. When asked what she thought of the show’s structure, senior Jessi Ritz said, “I like it. It keeps the show alive and interesting, except it does get kind of confusing with the different characters, like how I always call the characters by their name from the previous season.” I for one can say I’ve never see a show structure itself this way. Reviewing a show like this can be difficult without spoilers. Season one, titled “Murder House,” primarily centers around an American family moving into a Victorian house with a dark and disturbing past in modern-day Los Angeles. The plot involves a struggle to save a dying marriage between a psychiatrist name Ben Harmon, played by Dylan McDermott, and his wife Vivien, played by Connie Britton, a relationship between a teenage girl name Violet, played by Taissa Farmiga, and her psychotic boyfriend named Tate, played by Evan Peters, and the plotting of a thieving, cunning and maniacal next door neighbor played by Jessica Lange,
who gives a consistently wonderful performance throughout the entire series.The show has been described as a “psychosexual themed thriller” by the show’s creators, Ryan Murphy and Brad Flachuk, which is pretty spot-on for the first two seasons but is thankfully toned down in the third season. Season is focused around the horrors of being trapped in a 1950-60’s Catholic-run asylum. In this season the show attempts to have so many elements that it begins to verge on the ridiculous. Although I will admit that I did find myself more interested in the outcome of the story and fate of character here than in season one, being more focused around psychological horror. The conclusion drops the ball so incredibly hard here, leaving me with many unanswered questions and a bad taste in my mouth. As I get ready to watch season three, I can say from the seasons I have seen so far, it will be a very interesting yet bumpy ride. I would recommend this show to anyone who finds the elements listed above intriguing and has a strong stomach when it comes to gore and unnecessary sex scenes.
Features
Features
Vine has become extremely popular among today’s youth Jonah Jellesed staff writer The video social networking site Vine was created by Dom Hofmann and bought by Twitter in January 2013. These six second long videos allow for people to share their emotions, their triumphs, and their losses. These moments are quick glances into people’s lives and show what mood they are in. Vine is used both by celebrities and by people on Vine that are famous specifically because of their vines. Vine is similar to Instagram in the fact that they both are windows into people’s lives, but Vine’s six second videos loop so that one can watch it over and over again to laugh or to understand it. Dom Hofmann had a vision when he created Vine and made a lot of money in the process of making that vision a reality. There are many people on Vine that use the power of the looping six second videos to awe and amaze. One of these
Kennedy Potts editor-in-chief “Viners” is known as Special K. His real name is Khayman Burton and he lives in Portland, Oregon. He recently came to Sheldon High School for a surprise visit during the boy’s varsity basketball game. Lots of people at Sheldon were familiar with his work as a Viner because of how popular he is. This appearance had the whole school buzzing, and some lucky fans even got to take pictures with him during and after the game. Dylan Herron, a sophomore at Sheldon, said, “I enjoy watching Vines more than making them myself.” There are people who live for making Vines and will even go around the world in order to get the perfect Vine. However, most people who make Vines are not very good at making them; they are mostly just for seeing what is going on in their lives. Most people who have a Vine account watch comedians and
people like Special K who use Vines to make “magic.” Another sophomore at Sheldon, Levi Bothman, said, “I like Vines because they are short, sweet, and funny.” A feature of Vines that could be changed would be making them longer. It turns out though people around Sheldon, like Bothman, appreciate Vines being short and want them to stay that way. Bothman prefers it like this because he feels that it is the trademark feature of Vine and changing this would cause Vines to lose this uniqueness. Vine is a very new form of social media and still has to develop its identity further. These six-second videos will continue to provide glimpses into the lives of others, and give a laugh or two to viewers for a long time to come.
Recipe: roasted beef tenderloin Jarred Rogers opinions editor
Here’s what you’ll need:
For the tenderloin: Cooking spray of your choice 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh sage 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper 3 tablesspoons mixed garlic 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 2 ½ pound center-cut beef tenderloin For the sauce: 1/3 cup finely chopped shallots 1 ½ cups low-salt beef broth 1 teaspoon butter 3 tablesspoons chopped fresh parsley ¼ teaspoon kosher salt And finally: Death’s Scythe
Issaiah Duke: student of many talents
Well, it looks like I’m stuck writing another recipe for you ingrates, and despite my attempts to make my article about something INTERESTING, everyone seems hell-bent on making sure I stick to this. So, fine. I decided to cave in and bring you a recipe for roasted beef tenderloin. Of course, most of you won’t be able to afford it anyway, but that isn’t my problem. First, start off by preheating your oven to 350. I’m pretty sure there’s no way to screw this step up, but since it’s you, I won’t hold my breath. Now, coat a non-stick skillet with cooking spray, and heat it over a medium-high heat. Add the salt, pepper, sage and garlic together, and rub it over the tenderloin. Now put the tenderloin in the pan, and cook it for about six minutes. By this time, it should have started to brown on the edges if you know what you’re doing. Now that that’s done, stick a meat thermometer into the thickest portion of the tenderloin, and back it for about 25 minutes. Once that’s done, put it on a cutting board, and loosely cover it with foil. Now let it sit for fifteen minutes. Now you need to make the sauce. Heat up the pan you
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used earlier, once again over a medium-high heat. Add the shallots, and sauté them for three minutes. Now add the broth, and cook the mixture for six more minutes, and then add the butter and stir it in until it melts. Now just stir in the parsley and salt, and it’s ready to serve with the tenderloin. Which brings us to the last thing you’ll need: the scythe of Death himself. It’s important that you use this to cut the tenderloin, and nothing else. Why? Because shut up, I know what I’m talking about. Now, I’m actually good friends with the guy, so I can just ask to borrow his scythe now and then, but that isn’t an option for you. But for the sake of good cooking, I’m going to share with you a little secret. Every Thursday, Death plays poker at a place called The Inventory with Nicholas Cage, Bill Nye, Jensen Ackles and Bruce Campbell. If you can convince him, instead of the usual twenty thousand dollar buy-in, Death will instead put up his scythe. If you can beat everyone at the table, you can borrow it for exactly twenty-four hours and enjoy your meal. If you lose, he may or may not take your soul, but you can cross that bridge when you come to it. Now, I’ve played poker with these guys before, and since I’m such a good guy, I’ll throw in a little winning advice for you. 1. Nicholas Cage really isn’t that good at poker, and will likely be the first to drop out. If he comes dressed in a bear suit, stay as far back as possible. 2. Bruce Campbell is easily distracted if you get him talking about roles he “should have” played. I told him once that he would make a great Batman, and he wouldn’t let it go for the rest of the night. 3. Ask Jensen Ackles to sing Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. Just trust me. 4. If it comes down to you and Bill Nye, just take the loss like a man. There’s no avoiding the impending scientific smack down he’s gonna give you. 5. Ask Death about his next “appointment”. If his response is to stare at you in silence, bail. And that’s all there really is to it. Except for the whole part where you may or may not lose your soul- you’d be surprised at the damper that can put on your dinner plans.
One of Sheldon’s newest students, junior Issaiah Duke, has brought along with him a sincere love and talent for music. Duke can often be seen around school with his guitar strapped to his back. It’s not unusual to hear his guitar music floating through the halls of Sheldon or notice him singing a song on his walk to class. Duke recently put his talents on showcase during Sheldon’s Got Talent on January 24, 2014. He performed an original song called “Best Shot.” When describing the performance, Duke said, “I got really nervous on stage because the lights were really hot and I felt really weird about it.” However, Duke’s performance was popular with the crowd. Duke has always had vocal talent. According to family stories, his singing started very early on in his childhood. “I decided to join choir in fourth grade. After that I would just sing all the time and people would tell me I had a nice voice so I did a lot of parts for plays and things like that. During my freshman year at my old high school I did the talent show. That’s when people there started knowing me as the ‘singer guy.’ That’s also when I took up guitar.” That year was apparently a big year for Duke to begin pursuing his artistic abilities. Not only did he start playing guitar and showing more of his singing talents, but he also found his passion for dance. “I was part of a dance group called Goon Squad for about two years. We danced in L.A., San Francisco, and did a bunch of other cool competitions.” He was even able to show some of the Talsiman staff the dance he choreographed to the song “Sweater Weather” by The Neighborhood. Although dance is very special to him, he considers music to be of equal importance. “I feel like [freshman year] I didn’t really know if I was going to stay with [music] or not and then I realized that I really loved it.” As far as his musical aspirations for the future, Duke wants to attend college for dance and become a hip-hop/contemporary dancer. “I’d like to dance for three or four years and then maybe while I’m doing that, [I could] also be in the [music] industry.” He added, “I feel like I have more of an opportunity to have a career in dance rather than trying to make it as a singer.”
photo by: Kennedy Potts
Later he added, “I really don’t want to go in such a public direction [with my career]. I’m the type of person who thinks the best things in life are free, so even if I don’t make it I’ll still be making music. It’s all about what you’re trying to say to people.” Duke’s favorite artists include Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Electric Light Orchestra, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and The Clash.
If you’ve yet to experience the talents of new student Issaiah Duke, don’t worry. Chances are you’ll hear him around Sheldon soon enough. “[I carry my guitar with me] as much as possible because you never know when a song idea is going to pop up. I can usually play in between classes and at lunch. People usually like to hear it.”
Reviews: Mezza Luna Pizzeria Nick Hetrick contributing writer Pizza is a great option at lunch for Sheldon students and Mezza Luna Pizzeria is a great place to purchase pizza. While not well known, due to its location, Mezza Luna offers some of the best pizza in Eugene. Located in Crescent Village, Mezza Luna offers by the slice, and whole pizzas. Slices of cheese go for $2.75 and pepperoni is $3.00. A soda can be added for an extra $1.75. Their pizza is fantastic and the slices are very generous. The crust is very good; it is nice and thin with good crunch in every bite. Their sauce is also tasty, and helps make the pizza so good. Mezza Luna’s cheese blend is also great. The pepperoni tastes very good, and has a nice kick. The employees at the restaurant are very nice, and bring your pizza to your table (which is usually too hot to eat). They also offer parmesan cheese to top your pizza.
Chris Hughes contributing writer The atmosphere is fitting for Crescent Village, which is quite a relaxing break from school. My only complaint is the lack of variety of by the slice pizzas. Aside from pepperoni and cheese, there is no “meat lovers” style of pizza; the other flavors usually have one or more vegetables, not the most conventional flavors you typically see. If you were to order the garlic knots, you would be quite happy with your selection, as they are quite delicious. Sheldon has many great options
Mezza Luna Pizza is a lunch option that many students do not even know exists. They are located in Crescent Village, on Crescent Ave. This location forces students to eat somewhat quickly, but it is certainly do-able within the 40 minute lunchtime. They offer single slices of pizza for a reasonable price. A slice of pepperoni is $3.00, cheese is $2.75, and some of their specialty pizzas are $3.75 per slice. They also have a variety of drinks for $1.75. The atmosphere is peaceful, and they are not usually many people, which is surprising considering the quality of their pizza. Each slice is roughly the same size as Costco’s pizza slices, but they use higher quality ingredients. It certainly requires two hands to eat, as the crust is soft and pretty greasy. They do, however, have forks and napkins if you are a neat eater. The staff is friendly, and seems to welcome students. Mezza Luna is one of my personal favorites, however, those looking for a more lively lunch spot are probably better suited at one of the more popular restaurants around Sheldon.
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Opinions
Februrary 14, 2014
The price of false beauty Ludicrous standards lead teens to make rash decisions Sam Fox copy editor “[In my opinion,] a perfect person would be skinny, with a toned body, and a naturally pretty face with the use of very little make-up and expensive clothes and shoes,” said sophomore Alexis Eads. To some, beauty is what they see in magazines or on TV, but for others, beauty is what they have accomplished and what makes them who they are. Eads said, “In the media everyone is so perfect because of Photoshop. People think they need their bodies to look like that, which is unnatural.” The tragic thing about beauty is that people often use desperate means to achieve whatever their standard of beauty is. People will hurt or even starve themselves and go to other drastic means in order to be accepted by society’s standards of beauty.
Cupcake Club looks to branch out Cupcake Club seeks Coffee Cart’s help to increase sales McKinley Patrick co-backpage editor Cori Ewert, who is currently the president of Cupcake Club, is working toward gaining approval from the school to sell cupcakes at lunch. There is a 4j Wellness Policy restricting unhealthy foods from being sold on campus during lunch. Upon investigation, Ewert discovered that because Coffee Cart is a school affiliated service partnered with the school’s cafeteria they are permitted to choose what they sell at lunch. Ewert also stated that she has been trying to work out a deal with the Coffee Cart to sell cupcakes from the cart once a week. Ewert feels that this partnership would boost sales and better benefit the charities. Ewert said, “Right now we only sell Tuesdays after school, and lately we haven’t been had much success, only selling about half of the 36 cupcakes for sale.” The Cupcake Club’s main goal is to make as much money for charity each month, and Ewert added that, “We would be able to sell at a much higher capacity if we were allowed to sell at lunch.” The Cupcake Club picks a new charity to make a donation to every one or two months. So far this year they have made donations to the Eugene Education Foundation, the Egan Warming Center, Catholic Community Services, and next month will donate to Mr. Irish. Kim Johannsen in the Career Center said, “Sometimes at the end of the day I rush over to buy a cupcake and they’re already gone, or I just forget, so I’d love having the option to buy cupcakes at lunch.” Johannsen is just one of the many supporters of Cupcake Club and the Sheldon Coffee Cart and even added, “I buy my coffee everyday at the Coffee Cart.”Johannsen believes that there would be a high increase in sales if the Cupcake Club were allowed to sell at lunch and said, “The Cupcake Club would have to double their inventory if they were to sell at lunch.” Mr. Phillipo oversees the Coffee Cart said “We try to keep
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Sophomore Zackary Nelson said, “I know people that have hurt themselves or starved themselves, but I can’t really say more about that without hurting [those people].” A big part of the problem with people feeling the need to be beautiful is that people start off feeling unattractive. Somewhere along the line in their life, some people begin to think that they need to be “perfect” and have somehow come to the conclusion that they are being compared to the people around them. Eads said, “[I think that I am unattractive] because people have told me that I am ugly or unattractive, and I believed them.” To improve the way they feel about themselves, people will use clothes, make-up, and perfumes to mask their natural physical appearance. Eads said, “I feel like everyone else wears tons of make-up and expensive clothes, so I should too. It sucks!” Eads later added, “Nobody should wear [make-up.] You shouldn’t need products to make you feel good. Besides, it is bad for your skin!” Social media also has a huge affect on the way that people view themselves. Eads said, “In the media, everyone is so perfect because of Photoshop. People think they need their bodies to look like that, which is unnatural.” Nelson agreed, saying, “[Media pressures people into feeling uncomfortable about themselves,] especially girls because they see all of the girls in magazines and feel like they have to be like them which leads to anorexia or bulimia.” Of course, for all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. the prices low and make just enough to buy the products and pay off the equipment already purchased.” Phillipo also added that he is open to fundraising in the cart, but has not yet been approached by Cupcake Club. Phillipo also commented on the main goal of the Coffee Cart “The Coffee Cart’s main focus is to give students the opportunity to have work experience in a business environment.” I would definitely purchase more cupcakes if I had the option to buy them at lunch at the Coffee Cart. As a regular customer at both the Coffee Cart and supporter of Cupcake Club, having both of them sell their products at the same location would be really convenient. I feel that this partnership would definitely boost sales, and would better benefit the charities of choice.
Pressure and stress on teens is beginning to take its toll As expectations rise, so do teen depression rates Brooklyn Spencer staff writer The stress on teenagers is something that is talked about quite often on the news. Is the pressure for college preparation too much? Stress can lead to so many different things from depression to flu symptoms. So why is there so much stress on students these days? Senior Cameron Ritchey said, “High school is so stressful. Some seniors have pretty empty schedules but you still have a lot to do on the side even then. A lot of us have jobs and we have to worry about studying for big tests that can decide our futures.” Even freshmen have to decide what colleges they’re going to and have to start to achieving goals they need in order to get into college. “I already know what college I’m going to, and I know what I have to do to get there. I started preparing for college during middle school,” said freshman Ellie Yamamoto. High school is something that needs constant attention. Students have to keep track of the credits they have and need to graduate. Since you need a certain amount of credits to graduate, and a certain amount of credits to get into a good college, you have to keep track
of the amount of credits you have at all times. “Maintaining a high GPA while in high school is hard because you have so much extra stuff you’re always doing; you constantly feel like you’re being pulled too thin,” said senior Krystal Dewey. It seems everyone can agree that school is stressful and overwhelming, especially with the pressure of preparing for college. Even from freshman year you have to pay attention to everything you’re doing, and whether or not it’s going to keep you on the right path for the college you aspire to get into. School is harmful to students. Especially kids who have not only pressure from their teachers but also from their parents. In high school everything becomes more serious. Students actually have to think about how their GPAS will affect their future. Depression rates amongst adolescents have sky rocketed in the last fifty years due to stress. That’s why the stress of teenagers, especially the ones prepping for college, is too much.
Micah Tamasaka illustration
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Super Bowl: manning wants to throw in the towel- it’s intercepted Broncos devastated on national television by Seahawks Austyn Cassano staff writer Super Bowl XLIX was February 2 and the crowd was hyped. Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Broncos, had won a single Super Bowl, whereas Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had only watched Super Bowls. During the season, the Seahawks averaged 26.1 points a game whereas the Broncos average 37.8. The score was predicted to be 24 – 21 in favor of Denver. The odds were in favor of the Broncos, but the supposed experts didn’t think the Seahawks could come away with the win. Before the game, sophomore Kobe Spencer said, “I actually hope that the Broncos win. At first I was rooting for the Seahawks but after I saw what the players were doing and how they were acting [after the NFC
Championship victory] I changed my mind. Plus Payton Manning is getting old and it would be nice to see someone who is getting older win the super bowl again.” Prior to the game, freshman Bryan Ripberger said, “I’m actually hoping that the Seahawks will win. I have heard about the sportsmanship problems but I think it’s all a part of the sport. I think it would be really cool to see a team so close to home come away with a super bowl win, and having Russell Wilson never having been to a super bowl, just adds to the specialty of the event.” Sophomore Alex Betancourt said, “I’ve always been a pretty big fan of the Seahawks, since they’re so close to home. I’m really glad to see Russell Wilson finally going to the Super Bowl I think he deserves it because he works really hard as a quarterback.” With the Seahawks crushing the Broncos 43-8, all of the Seahawks fans were ecstatic. They mopped the floor with the Broncos. After talking to a few students, it seemed that the majority of people were pleased with the results of the game.
February 14, 2014
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Lacrosse team sees changing of the guard Lacrosse team sees new head coach Tanner Mitchell staff writer
At the end of the 2013 lacrosse season, Sheldon lacrosse head varsity coach Ike Sanderson stepped down. That was not the only coaching change, and other coaches were shuffled around or added. Only time will tell how the team will perform under new head coach Logan Haugen. Haugen is not new to the coaching staff; he used to be assistant head coach. The work ethic of the varsity team is the same as it was when Sanderson was coaching and is remarkably improving. Junior Logan Comer said, “It’s not very different. Sanderson led us through a rebuilding year last year, so I guess it’s not really different.” The team will look to improve upon a
disappointing 2-8 Midwestern League and a 3-12 overall season in 2013. The lacrosse team has a history of winning, but last year was a struggle for them, proving that they needed to rebuild. The team has much room to improve after last season, and it remains to be discovered if coach Haugen can get Sheldon back to competing for the state championship. However, the team is optimistic about their outlook, as junior Mason Swanner said, “I think we’ll do well. We’re young, so it’s going to be tough.” The team has their work cut out for them if they are to improve, but there is tough competition in the state and the league, which will make it tough to win. Last year’s state champions Lakeridge went 21-3 overall. Midwestern League champions Roseburg went 10-0 in the league and 13-2 overall. Given Sheldon’s results in 2013, improvement is possible, but it will be a challenge that they will hopefully rise to.
photo courtesy of Sheldon Girls Basketball
Sheldon girls basketball team
Varsity girls basketball team is having an exciting season Sheldon’s girls basketball team overcomes adversity Ayla Bussel copy editor Sheldon girls varsity basketball is headed for an exciting season this year. With girls of all grades on the varsity team, the 2014 season is definitely shaping up to be a fun one. The girls will practice hard for the games and tournaments that are to come. Points will be scored, relationships will strengthen, and the girls will work towards achieving their dreams. The team has many strengths and weaknesses – but the real question is: will the girls be good enough to win the coveted basketball playoffs in March? Sophomore Sophie Morosky, who is on the Sheldon girl’s varsity basketball team, said, “I think we’re doing really well so far. Playing with varsity improves how I play because games are a faster pace, and the practices are harder.” Morosky also mentioned that she is, “nervous for the South game because it was close last time… I’m excited for the Marist game
because I think we should’ve won last time.” Morosky concluded that being an underclassman on a mostly upperclassmen dominated team “is not that big of a difference, really. Obviously it was difficult at first, but we’re all a part of the team and we all get along well.” Girls’varsity basketball coach Brian Brancato stated, “As the season goes on we need to continuously work on getting better each day.” According to coach Brancato there are “four seniors, five juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen” on the team. “We are a young team, yet nine of the twelve players have varsity experience. We are a tough team that plays hard for 32 minutes.” With an 11-6 record and a 79-69 win over #2 ranked Westview at the Nike Interstate Shootout in December, the Sheldon varsity girls are definitely a team to watch out for. “We consider each game a challenge,” coach Brancato said. With the March 4, 7, and 12 playoffs games looming close ahead, the girls still have a lot to prepare for. When asked what makes him enjoy coaching girls varsity basketball so much, coach Brancato concluded that, “I enjoy coaching as it provides a way for athletes to develop a competitive spirit, learn responsibility, be part of a team, and learn
to be disciplined – all things that I believe are key to future success in whatever they decide to do.” The girls have an exciting looking season still ahead and they take each day one at a time, looking forward to the new memories and the big wins that the 2014 season holds. However, one recent mishap has definitely sent the varsity girls on a little roller coaster. On January 16, teachers were advised to dispose of the recentlyprinted boys basketball team photo because one player was depicted making an inappropriate hand gesture. Not long after, some members of the girls varsity team took a picture of themselves making the same gesture and sent it via text message to one of the boys on the boys varsity team as a joke. As a result of these actions,
the varsity girls were suspended for a game and some JV players had to take over the varsity girls’ spots for that game. When coach Brancato was asked about this incident he said that he had no comment and, “It’s been dealt with and it’s in the past.” Alleged incidents like these are not unheard of amongst high school sports athletes, but hopefully the girls will be able to grow from this occurrence and use it to develop as a team so they can finish the season strong!
Backpage Explicit song lyrics of the new age Changes over time have led to a more vulgar and explicit music industry Holly Ford editor-in-chief Recently, popular songs have become increasingly vulgar and graphic compared to music in decades past. Great artists such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald don’t have lyrics that offer any super sexual implications. However, some current popular artists such as Dr. Dre, Ke$ha , and (recently) Miley Cyrus who have a younger audience base, have included explicit lyrics in their repertoire that have shocked members of older generations. Lyrics such as “A b**** is a b****, but a dog is a man’s best friend/So what, you found a hoe that you like/ But you can’t make a hoe a housewife wife” from Dr. Dre’s song “Housewife” from his album Dr. Dre 2001 are extremely offensive. In contrast, lyrics such as, “Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you/Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you/But in your dreams whatever they be/Dream a little dream of me” from Fitzgerald’s song “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” and “You took the part/That once was my heart/So why not/Take all of me” from Sinatra’s “All Of Me” contain lyrics that are not vulgar nor explicit. Senior Cassidy Robinhold said,
“Extremely sexual lyrics are in almost every song on the radio, but we often don’t notice it because it has become a norm to hear it all the time.” Robinhold later added, “I think most songs we hear are delivering negative messages to us.” It’s becoming more and more common for people to pay less attention to song lyrics or put in the energy to figure out what the song means. Some people decide to not listen to the lyrics of popular (and vulgar) songs, while others seem to enjoy the explicit freedom. Perhaps this is why they are so popular today. Junior Chris Cockman said, “I feel that explicit song lyrics and vulgarity in general is a viable way to communicate to another person.” Cockman believes that expressing one’s thoughts through an explicit song is okay and only becomes wrong when people use lyrics as an excuse for their actions. Cockman continued, “Other than that I am fine with, and enjoy, songs with explicit lyrics in them today.” With popular music continuously changing, it is important to evaluate the way that messages through media affect the minds of those who listen to it.
YouTube fame and fortune People are making thousands of dollars just from creating YouTube videos Noah Savage staff writer People make money in many ways, but there are some ways that are easier than others. Did you know that people can get money through YouTube? There are some Sheldon students who even make a living by making YouTube videos. Sophomore Kyle Weixelman has been on YouTube for a long time and knows his way around. “I’ve been on YouTube for about six years,” Weixelman said. YouTube has existed since 2005 and is one of the most popular website out there. “I go on YouTube everyday for two to three hours,” Weixelman said. There are many types of videos on YouTube and, like many people, Weixelman has his favorites. “Funny gaming videos are some of my favorites; walkthroughs as well.” There are many YouTubers on YouTube and all of them do things differently from one another. “KYR_SP33DY is my favorite YouTuber,” Weixelman said. “I think people make money off of YouTube because there are so many ads on videos.” People now days have a YouTube channel but not many people upload videos. “I have a channel to up-
load and watch videos; I prefer uploading videos,” Weixelman stated. Sophomore Josh Harris has been on YouTube even longer than most people. “I’ve been on YouTube for eight years,” Harris said. Even though Harris has been on YouTube longer than most people, he doesn’t go on YouTube very much. “Every day for no more than 30 minutes,” Harris said. Like many people, Harris enjoys watching YouTube videos. “Comedy gaming videos,” said Harris. “KYR_SP33DY is my favorite YouTuber,” Harris stated. Sophomore Cade O’ Connor has known about YouTube forever: “9 years…I go on YouTube every day for about two hours,” O’ Connor said. “PewDiePie is my favorite YouTuber,” O’ Connor stated. PewDiePie is the most popular channel on YouTube, with subscriber number reaching over 12million! “I think people on YouTube get paid because it is such a popular website,” O’ Connor said. Many people are on YouTube and they make lots of money from it. Many people even make a living. That sounds like an excellent job!
The Pixar Theory The theory says that many Pixar and Disney movies are intertwined with one another Taylor Marvel staff writer Many people have heard of Disney and Pixar. People have loved the movies made by these studios since they were kids. However, even though these two companies are known worldwide, most people don’t know about the Pixar theory. On July 11, 2013, Jon Negroni, along with many other writers, wrote about the theory that connects fourteen of Pixar’s movies. It is a popular theory about how all of the movies are connected. Although it’s not proven, sophomore Bailea Nance said, “I think that the Pixar theory is true.” The reason they created the theory is also not certain; Nance said, “I don’t know [why it was created], maybe to keep the movies [popular].” The theory includes the movie Brave, stating that animals that the witch experiments on create a population of animals who later gain human traits, which leads to the movie Ratatouille. Remy, the rat that aspires to be a chef is one example of the many anthropomorphic animals. Charles Muntz, the antagonist of Up heard of the rumor, which later gives him the idea to invent a device broadcasting the thoughts of animals through collars.
In the beginning of Up, Carl is forced to give up his house to a corporation, BnL. This corporation is responsible for polluting the Earth and eliminating life. BnL is also brought to our attention in Wall-E. The company’s logo also appears on a battery in the popular movie, Toy Story. The second Finding Nemo movie, Finding Dory, which hasn’t come out yet, might explain this further. In The Incredibles, Buddy a.k.a. Syndrome built an A.I. (artificial intelligence) robot that adapts to its enemies defenses in order to kill Mr. Incredible for not paying attention to him. The robot gets so smart that it begins to wonder why it’s taking orders and turns on Syndrome. This is another example of how things are evolving in the Pixar world. These are just a few examples of how some of the Pixar movies are connected. There are many more movies connected to the Pixar theory and there are also a lot of other versions of the theory, but it’s interesting to learn how all of these movies are connected.
Banning of field burning Farmers are forced to switch to sprays and other nontraditional techniques due to the ban on field burning Ryan Enos staff writer For years field burning has been used in agriculture as a means of naturally fertilizing the soil, as well as cleaning off the crop residue to clear the way for new growth. An industry that especially benefited from this practice was the grass seed industry. In 2010, Oregon’s legislature completely banned burning crop residue. Before the complete ban, burning was heavily regulated. Over the years leading up to the ban, the government allowed less and less acres to be burned. As a result of this, farmers in Oregon have had to resort to using more sprays and nontraditional techniques in farming. Junior Jarren Stansell said, “Field burning was a big benefit to the farming industry, and I didn’t like to see it go.” Sheldon graduate Collin Enos said, “Field burning was fun to watch. I also have seen a lot of farms switch to wheat as a crop, most likely as a result of the burn ban.” The reason for the switch to the wheat crop is most likely because wheat stubble was not traditionally burned off. It makes more sense to plant something you don’t plan to burn off. Another reason farmers have burned fields is because it is a cheaper alternative
to spending money and working the land with machinery. It is also more beneficial because it keeps diseases in plants to a minimum. Sprays are also more expensive and are expensive to put down. Sprays can also affect the ground water around the field. “What could be more natural than fire?” asked junior Colin Walsh. Some of the downsides of field burning are low visibility caused by the thick smoke of some fields. It 2007 a huge wreck was caused on I5 because of drivers being blinded from the smoke. The wind shifted and pushed smoke toward the highway instead of the other way like the farmer intended it to. The other down side to burning is the smoke produced by the burning. It can stick around the area for a while depending on how hard the wind is blowing. The smoke is not necessarily healthy to breathe either. All in all field burning has contributed to the farming industry in a positive way. With good management of field burning and good safety practices farmers can eliminate some of the dangers of burning.