Yikes: AP/IB exams
Guess who: Sheldon staff’s yearbook pics
page 3
Go green: Eco-friendly tips page 6
t h e Ta l i s m a n centerspread
your student newspaper
shstalisman@gmail.com myspace.com/shstalisman 2455 willakenzie Road, Eugene, Oregon 97401 volume 43 Issue 7 May 8, 2008 Sheldon High School
Prom turned out “Tower of Terror”-riffic “Elegant” dance rocked the Hilton by Gracie Beaver editor-in-chief Prom was held on April 26 at the Eugene Downtown Hilton. Students who did not attend missed out on an opportunity to “Get Low” and “Crank Dat,” while those who did were able to be a part of what counselor Michael Voss called, “The best prom ever.” This year’s prom theme was “The Affair at the Tower of Terror.” This had many students confused. The “Tower of Terror” is an elevator-based Disneyland attraction, as well as an obscure movie from 1941; neither of these seemed like a plausible idea for a prom theme. Voss explained, “The idea was going to be to have, like, strobe lights [and] lightning,” but the dance evolved into what he describe as “simple, yet elegant.” Senior Rashelle Kunkle concurred. “[Prom] was…very, very elegant,” she said. She also noted, though, that, “The ‘Tower of Terror’ theme didn’t seem to be that apparent.” Sheldon really went all out for this dance, and rented what Voss deemed “more lights and more music than we have for any other year.” The 2007 prom was held at the Valley River Inn, which cost about $6000 to rent. The price of the Hilton was about $1000 more than the Valley River Inn. In addition to the expense of the venue, the prom budget encompasses decorations. This year, some of those extras included mirrors, glass pebbles, and the table candelabras. Before prom, the school puts on a specifically promthemed assembly that introduces the prom court as well as warns students about the hazards of drunk driving. Voss explained that drunk driving is a huge issues at any dance, and advocated the approach of “just [continuing] to drive home the right thing to do.”
At the prom assembly, the prom court participated in a creative activity where the prom princesses dressed their prom princes in formal wear made out of miscellaneous items and recycleable materials. Clockwise from top left: seniors Aaron Blake, Ross Limbach, Peter Straka, and Zack Childers.
See “Prom” page 2
Ashley Admire photos
ASB elections selected ‘08-’09 student leaders Elections kicked off transfer of power by Ashley Ruderman news editor From performing a rap, to acting out skits and tap dancing, some candidates went as far as serenading Sheldon students in hopes of winning their votes in the 2008 ASB elections. Clearly, extreme campaign tactics worked and helped three Sheldon students win
competitive offices. Ballot counting was intense; however Sheldon students clearly defined the election’s winners. At the top of the ranks, 2008-2009 president Olivia Girod is, “excited for next year’s ASB. I hope we will achieve positive changes at Sheldon.” Girod will be joined by Molly Budge as vice president; Kendra Desler as secretary; Ali Kerns as treasurer; Annie Mohler as publicity; and Olivia Alison and Brad Bevens as activity coordinators. The role ASB plays within Sheldon is very significant, and the seven soon to be seniors will have their hands full throughout the 2008-2009 school year. ASB is responsible for leading the Sheldon leadership class,
running assemblies, and planning many dances, events and fundraisers. In terms of change, many aspirations have already been established by the new ASB. “We are going to try and focus more on improving the school’s atmosphere . . . We want to brighten up the hallways and create a better learning environment,” said vice president Molly Budge. In addition, activities coordinator Olivia Alison would, “like to see more involvement across the board at Sheldon, not just in big leadership.” As the responsibilities of the 2007-2008 ASB begin to wind down, Sheldon faculty, staff, and students can be assured that seven new faces will lead the school with Irish pride.
Blood donations take little time and help to save lives Student-led blood drive was a real success this April by Lauren Scott staff writer Combine plasma, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets and what do you get? Blood, of course! It’s that time of the year again, Sheldon—once again the Annual Lane Memorial Blood Drive has come and gone. Blood is circulated by the heart through the vascular system, carrying oxygen, nutrients, and waste materials away from all body tissues. Many of the most fatal infections, diseases, and other ailments are bloodborne or in some way related to the red fluid flowing through our bodies. Hemophilia, anemia, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia are among the more commonly known. It is because of these illnesses that it is important that
young, healthy people like us donate to the blood banks. “Yeah, I donated last time,” stated sophomore Stefanie Gough. “It didn’t hurt as much as some people say it does. Plus they give you cool nutrition bars afterwards!” The process in which the volunteers drew blood was fairly simple. Firstly, each prospective donor filled out a complete health history questionnaire that included questions about past illnesses and medications. Then, a nurse reviewed the health history questionnaire with him or her, checked his or her temperature, iron level, blood pressure, and pulse. Then, the nurse inserted a needle into the donor’s arm and drew blood. The actual donation lasted about 8-10 minutes. Finally, the nurse asked the donor to spend 10-15 minutes in the chair while enjoying snacks and juice. According to the Lane Memorial Bank, the blood will go to victims of burns, automobile accidents, heart surgery patients, bone marrow transplant recipients, and organ transplants. “It feels good to help the community,” Teacher Angela Barley commented. “I was glad to help.”
However, there are a few exclusions when donating. Blood from people who have a history of any bloodtransferred bacteria or infections (such as Hepatitis) will not be accepted. “Every year we have about ninety to a hundred people sign up for the drive, but only fifty or sixty actually end up donating,” stated senior Sophie Davis, the student facilitator for the drive. “The main reasons people haven’t been able to donate are: low iron, no meal before, and we actually had a student who had lived in England during a certain time and couldn’t donate.” This is Davis’ third year overseeing the Blood Drive. According to the Lane Memorial Blood Bank, this year’s drive went amazingly well. From Sheldon alone, 62 pints of blood were collected! Congratulations and thank you to all of the students and staff who donated. Blood was once regarded as one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing cheerfulness. So if you missed the drive this time, be happy and donate blood next time! Who knows— you might save a life.
2 May 8, 2008
News
the Talisman
Springfest on its way in late May Sheldon’s annual leadershipsponsored celebration of the end of the year and lovely weather is set for late this month by Anna Catalano staff writer Ahh, spring. That wonderful time of year when flowers are in bloom, love is in the air, and students at Sheldon get to bounce around in inflatable funhouses and eat ice cream. Oh, yes- it’s Springfest time. This event is organized by the very hardworking and dedicated Leadership of our school. For the people who have not experienced Springfest before, it consists of three days in May when lunchtime is extended and fun activities are set up in the courtyard and cafeteria. In the past, there has been karaoke, rock bands, free ice cream, face painting, and an inflatable jousting ring. This year, there will be new activities such as a Cake Walk (courtesy of the Cupcake Club), and for all you video game addicts out there- a Guitar Hero Tournament! Junior April Cullins usually chooses to spend her time lounging around in the courtyard and simply enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. “I just love the warm weather and the fact that we have an hour to eat lunch,” she said. For some people who do not partake in this celebration of spring, it is a fine opportunity to either go home or wander off campus for food. Cullins commented that the only thing she could think of to change about Springfest was that there should be multiple ice cream stands set up in the courtyard. “The line is so long for ice cream that some people barely even get one, let alone a second if they wanted it.” She,
of course, wishes that Springfest could last longer and is always sad when it’s over. Junior Aron Graham could only find one not-so-positive aspect of this celebration of spring. “The rock bands are way too loud,” he said, “it’s really distracting. Other than that, it’s awesome!” There have been a lot of events in the past that have been a huge hit with students, such as the refreshing ice cream stand and the inflatable obstacle course.
“Overall, this is just a great way to bring everybody in school together, students and faculty alike, and celebrate that summer is almost here!” said junior Olivia Alison, who is helping to organize this event. This comment seems to wrap up most people’s opinion of Springfest. It will take place May 28 through May 30 in the courtyard. Be sure to come- it’s a great way to relax, take your mind off of school, and enjoy the sunshine!
Ashley Admire photo
Students enjoyed the nice spring weather at lunch by participating in a lunchtime game of Frisbee.
NFL draft sparks interesting debates Many different players, including some Oregon favorites, offer valuable assets to various teams in the NFL by Jeff Toreson sports editor What some NFL enthusiasts see as the most exciting and important weekend in football, the NFL draft, has come and gone. The draft premiered with the Miami Dolphins taking offensive lineman Jake Long with the first pick and capped off with former Churchill High School standout David Vabora going to the St, Louis Rams as the final pick. Former Sheldon High graduate, quarterback Alex Brink, made the NFL dream possible as he was drafted in the seventh round to the Houston Texans. “Brink fell into a great position by going to Houston as they are in a struggle to find a quarterback and Brink has all the tools to step up and be their man,” said sophomore Brandon Drechsler. Oregon three-year stud Jonathan Stewart made his way to the Pros as he was the second running back to get drafted and went in the first round (13th pick) to the Carolina
Prom: Tradition prevails Continued from front page Prom has a reputation as part of a climactic end to the high school career. Kunkle said, “Prom is a fairly important event. It is a tradition and definitely gives juniors and seniors the change to dance the night away.” Senior Allix Strahon agreed, “As a kid you see groups of people going to prom and then wonder what your dress will look like when you get to go. It might be sort of an expectation to go to prom, but it’s a fun time. Strahon also noted that, “I have friends who didn’t go to prom at all and it didn’t kill them.” This dance was something that the planners can feel proud of. For starters, there were no large behavioral issues. And according to Voss, the dance was “extremely well-organized.” But more importantly than that, students seemed to enjoy themselves. Strahon simply stated, “Prom was awesome!”
Panthers. Stewart also seems to be the perfect fit for Carolina who is looking for a power-every-down running back which Jonathan will be, to complement DeAngelo Williams’ breakaway runs. “Stewart should make a sudden impact in the NFL as he is a great combination of speed and strength; he could very well be the rookie of the yea next season,” said sophomore Cameron Abeene. Dennis Dixon also will get a chance to prove himself at the professional level with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dixon came out to the entire nation this year as one of the, if not the, best player in the nation and had Oregon on track for a National Championship and himself for a Heisman trophy. This was the case until the Arizona game where he played on a bum knee and tore his ACL which put him out for the rest of the season and put Oregon on a search for a quarterback. “Dixon’s injury affected him greatly because not only would Oregon have most likely made it to the national championship but he also would have been a first or second round pick in the NFL draft,” said sophomore
Justin Pham. “I think Pittsburgh got a steal with Dion in the fifth round and when they see him playing at 100 percent they will see what a great quarterback he really is,” added Pham. The 2008 NFL draft class was filled with all kinds of talent. In a few years we will see exactly how good of a draft each NFL team took in 2008, which players will step up as franchise players and who will become a draft bust.
Features
the Talisman
May 8, 2008
3
IHS sophomores prepare for Eurasian conference and a new world outlook Sophomore IHS students begin their yearly project, similar to a mock UN by Alicia Luck opinions editor Every year the IHS sophomores engage in a project that will change the way they view the world. IHS is a program that helps students explore the world around them and think of new ways to solve global problems. The students have a different annual project and sophomore year is no exception to that rule. During the second half of the year, all of the sophomore IHS students participate in a conference which includes all of the European and Asian countries. The United States is also added to this simulation, which is very much like a mock UN.
It teaches the students international values. Every student learns about a new country during this process. Many IHS students have gone through the process of the Eurasian conference and have different opinions on what they enjoy the most. Junior Lauren Arbuckle enjoyed many experiences within the Eurasian Conference. “Meeting kids from other schools was the best part about the Conference. It also was really cool to dress up in clothes from different countries,” she said. Students always end up getting something out of the Eurasian Conference. IHS teacher Wade Powell said, “The students learn many things over the course of the conference, but mostly they learn how to work together.” Currently, this year’s sophomores are working on the projects that lead up to the conference which is May 16 at the
MTV airs reality show aptly called The Paper The Talisman staff compares their experiences with The Circuit staff’s by Jordan Eddy assistant editor When the staff of the Talisman heard that a reality show following a high school newspaper class was being developed, the idea was met with both excitement and skepticism. On the one hand, the field of journalism is rarely celebrated. Finally the public would get to appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that go into regularly releasing a newspaper. On the other hand, the show, ingenuously titled The Paper, was coming out on MTV, “If they’re going to put anything on MTV like that, and it’s supposed to be reality TV, then it’s scripted to a point,” stated Talisman opinions editor Alicia Luck. Suffice to say that the network which regularly airs trashy reality fare like Date My Mom didn’t have Talisman staffers convinced it was planning to accurately depict life at a newspaper. So, they sat down to watch the first part of the eight-episode series with little hope. “I was expecting complete crap,” said Talisman photo editor Ashley Admire. The show is set in the halls and classrooms of Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida. This is where the 50-member staff of the Circuit works to churn out their forty-page publication every month. Lowly copy editor Amanda (our protagonist) and her co-star co-workers are gearing up for their senior year by gunning for the newly vacated editor in chief position of the Circuit. The three other top contenders see Amanda as something between a joke and a threat,
never hesitating to bash her behind her back. Though less duplicitous, Amanda isn’t perfect either. At her best, she’s an annoyingly cheery, awkwardly outspoken blotch of colorful clothing. At her worst, she is an overtly vain, slightly snide and painfully self-centered individual. But to everyone’s surprise (except for maybe the show’s producers), Amanda receives the coveted “in-chief” position. As the first episode comes to a close, the rest of the editorial staff pledges to defy Amanda’s regime. All of this drama couldn’t be good for Amanda’s health, or America’s perception of journalists, “It’s nowhere near the experience that I’ve had,” says Admire, “I think that (the Talisman staff) is a big, happy family.” Talisman writers were also quick to defend their own leader. “(Talisman editor in chief Gracie Beaver) is more realistic, first of all,” said Luck, “She seems like she has better social skills.” Talisman sports editor Jeff Toreson added, “Gracie gets along with the whole staff.” Of course, there’s one thing all of this drama is good for: amusement. Despite the fighting, most of the editors did enjoy the show for its comedic qualities, “It’s entertaining for a reality show,” says Admire. Subsequent episodes have featured nose jobs, failed ice cream socials, and large athletic cups. Mtv.com is streaming the first three episodes for free. The show airs Monday at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.
AP and IB tests begin Juniors and seniors in AP and IB classes prepare for final exams by Ashley Admire assistant editor AP and IB tests have begun. The first, for IB English, was given Monday morning, and they continue through May 19. There are AP/IB tests for the sciences, histories, languages, math, and economics. This year, Sheldon ordered 172 AP tests, and the students taking them spend weeks preparing. Some teachers spend class time reviewing, but many students also study outside of school. AP US history teacher Herb Hahn holds review sessions before school three days a week. He was quick to suggest, though, that students also study on their own time, stating that “for most, the class review alone isn’t enough.” Senior Chris Lew is taking an AP English test and the AP US history test this year. He took an AP test last year as well, and said of the experience, “I learned how to manage the test time better, as well as testing techniques to use on the essays. I also think that I studied more efficiently this year.” Many test-takers buy review books and flash
cards, and some form study groups which meet on a regular basis to help them study and for extra motivation. Lew and other students have even played a Jeopardy game that a friend took time to make. Hahn said that he is “guilty of not playing games” during his review sessions, but also stated, “Games are cool, and they’re a great way to retain factual information,” but that his sessions focus more on thematic review for the essays. Depending on the university and the score achieved, some students receive college credit for taking AP and IB exams. Every college is different, but Hahn noted, “The bar has moved up, and many schools are becoming more scrutinizing.” Last year, 81% of AP tests taken at Sheldon were scored a 3 or above, and without a doubt, many of those students received college credit. Even if a university does not give a student class credit for taking the test, there are still advantages to taking the classes. Lew explained, “Considering they are college-level courses, they provide a good example of what to expect in a university.”
Wheeler Pavilion. In the next couple of weeks prior to the Eurasian Conference, many students will meet with the people in their country to organize their position. Every Conference has new issues that are present within the world today. Sophomore Peyton Brazell commented on the long process, “A lot of time and effort goes into the thing right before the conference. It’s really hard to find time to meet with other people in your country.” This year the students have learned many things from this experience and next year will be no different.
Guess Who: 3
20
Sheldon staff 2
Start here!
1
19
4
Your Guesses
Yay! You’re done!
Sheldon High School Eugene, OR 1987 Whitney High School Cerritos, CA 1985 Del Valle High School Walnut Creek, CA 1976
John L. Miller Great Neck North Senior High School Great Neck, Long Island, NY 1982
6
17
Center Senior High Kansas City, MO 1970
18
5
7
Jesuit High School Portland, OR Chester High School Chester, MT 1975
16 South Eugene High School Eugene, OR 1976
8
15
Northern Burlington Regional High School Columbus, NJ 1972
North Salem High School Salem, OR
9
Medford Senior High School Medford, OR 1971
12 Vancouver College Vancouver, B.C. 1988
13
Mapleton High School Denver, CO 1980
10
14
Point Grey Secondary School Vancouver, B.C. 1968
11
____Sharlene Barnum ____Andrew Cabrera ____Greg Cantwell ____Joan Cavin ____Fran Christie ____Tia Dubé ____Vicki Eckerdt ____Chris Engstrom ____Tracy Engstrom ____Barbara Faunce ____Kurt Goldenstein ____Jan Gordon ____Lynn Hellwege ____Leslie Lake ____Connie Minihan ____Forrest Moyer ____Ike Sanderson ____Aura Solomon ____Carol Vanlue ____Dave Whalley
Canby Union High School Canby, OR 1987
Sheldon High School Eugene, OR 1976
Halfway there!
Roosevelt Middle School Eugene, OR 1989
Henderson High School West Chester, PA 1987
Thank you!
the Talisman staff would like to extend a hearty thank you to all of the staff members who so graciously allowed us to print their high school yearbook photos. You are awesome!
6 May 8, 2008
Green
the Talisman
Green cars gaining popularity Seekers of hybrid vehicles will soon have more options as car companies plan releases of new green models by Naima Lobby staff writer Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Mazda Tribute, Ford Focus. Don’t these all sound like normal cars? Well they are, except for one little thing. These cars and many other models are available as hybrid cars or “green cars.” Hybrid cars run on batteries and gas, get very high gas mileage, and are eco-friendly. Hybrid cars were introduced to the U.S. in 1999, featuring the Honda Insight which got 61 mpg city, and 70 mpg highway. Green cars are becoming a huge hit in America, which is wonderful for our environment. “I love that hybrid cars have become such a big thing in America,” said freshman Kaitlin Montoya. “I care a lot about the environment and having hybrid cars introduced to our country can maybe make a pretty good impact,” she added. In addition to the Insight, a new type of hybrid was introduced. It was the Toyota Prius. It’s a sleek yet stylish car. The Toyota Prius first came out in Japan in 1997, then was later introduced to America in 2001. The Prius was designed to reduce emissions in urban areas. It is a fourdoor sedan that seats five, and the power train is capable of accelerating the vehicle to speeds up to 15 mph on electric power alone. This contributes to the better city mileage than highway mileage. The Prius was the 2004 North American Car of the Year. Freshman Jordan Carter, whose grandmother drives a Prius, said, “I love the new Prius. They’re so comfortable and I hope to own one for myself later on in life.”
Chevy Tahoe’s are big comfortable cars ideal for larger families. One problem is, they get about 15 miles to the gallon. But, In 2008 Chevy came out with hybrid models for their larger SUV’s. It’s America’s first full-size hybrid SUV. Its hybrid system is designed to operate three ways: electric power, engine power, or any combination of electric and engine power. When you pair the two-mode technology with Chevy’s Active Fuel Management System, the Tahoe Hybrid offers up to 50% better city fuel economy then the non-hybrid Chevy Tahoe. The 2008 Tahoe was named green car of the year by Green Car Journal. Chevy will also come out with a hybrid Malibu and a hybrid Silverado. Sophomore Samira Lobby said, “The hybrid car invention
Greg Cantwell photo
Many hybrid vehicles are often seen throughout Eugene, as well as in Sheldon’s very own parking
Green tips from the Talisman (a friendly reminder of what you already know)
Reducing Your CO2 Emissions -Ride a bike, bus, or carpool -Buy locally and browse thrift stores -Replace old lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs -Bag groceries in reusable totes instead of paper or plastic
has and will be a huge success and I know that by time I’m out of school and living my own life, hybrids will be the only type of car I will drive.” The population of hybrids will grow in the near future, for example, with the addition of the 2008 Lexus LS 600h, which is the “Editor’s top hybrid car.” On Cnet Reviews.com the LS 600h sells for approximately $104,000. Mercedes Benz will also release its own versions of hybrid models. Yamaha motorbikes will be releasing the HV-01 concept and the Gen Ryu Concept. Currently, only 2% of cars on the roads of America are hybrids. In the future, there will be so many more hybrid and electric cars and it will make the environment a much better place.
Recycling Eugene loves to recycle. -Local refuse services offer curb-side pick up of plastics, papers, and glass -Plastic grocery bags can be recycled in bins located in many local stores -Old cell phones can be donated to many organizations (Womenspace, Easter Seals, Cell Phones for Soldiers, etc.)
Our Fair City -Eugene was named #5 greenest city by Popular Science this year (Portland #1) -EWEB generates 72% of its energy from hydro power, and 6% more from other clean, renewable sources -Calculate your emissions and reduce them! Google: Eugene Climate Challenge
Opinion
the Talisman -Ask Alicia-
Help Me, Talisman How to approach a difficult teacher by Alicia Luck opinion editor Dear Talisman, There is a teacher that I really dislike for a number of reasons. One is that whenever a student says something they disagree with what was said and then they launch into a rant or lecture about how the student is wrong. Is there a polite way to tell them it’s really annoying? Dear Bothered Student, Teachers have been taught to keep their opinions to themselves, but some don’t know when they are injecting their own beliefs on the students. Each teacher has different views about the way a classroom should operate, but most teachers should want an environment in which the teacher respects the students as well as the students respect the teacher. This contributes to the fact that your teacher tends to disagree with what the students are saying. I would have liked to know if your teacher teaches a subject where discussion is included in the curriculum because many classes are the kind of classes where there is not a right and wrong answer. If the class is discussion oriented then maybe a comment by the teacher every once in a while is okay, but other then that she should try and teacher the subject in an unbiased way. This will make the students like the class better. It appears that your teacher has strong opinions. My advice to you is to talk with the teacher after class. The best way to go about is be to ask politely about the lecture they gave and then once her or she explains it you could ask why he or she feel the need to express his or her opinion to the class. Hopefully if the answer is honest you can explain nicely that it bothers the students in the class. Dear Talisman, This one time I was rollin’, but some cops tried to catch me riding dirty. I got away and wrote a song about it, but I feel as though I could have handled the situation better. What should I do next time they are hating? Dear Chamillionaire, This is what you need to tell the cops who are chasing after you so they will stop hating on you. Officer I didn’t do it, you can’t blame me for this. Could you please loosen up the handcuffs on my wrists? You can call me what you wanna but maybe I ain’t a snitch. No cooperation is exactly what you would get. Til I talk to my lawyer, you get no reply. You’ve obviously been watching too much CSI. These are lyric from your song from Hip Hop Police and I think they sing true for you problem. As much as you might think they are hating on you they are probably just keeping an eye out for criminals. So if you’re on parole, stay out of trouble. Please submit Ask Alicia questions to The Talisman mailbox located in the front office - the box is green and sparkley.
Talisman Staff
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Assistant Editor Ads Manager Features Editor Opinion Editor Sports Editor News Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Advisor
Gracie Beaver Ashley Admire Jordan Eddy Nicole Callihan Cammisha Manley Alicia Luck Jeff Toreson Ashley Ruderman Anna Catalano Melissa Gibson Naima Lobby Lauren Scott Greg Cantwell
A message from the Talisman The Talisman is run by students for students. The views expressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talisman staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Sheldon community. If you have any letters to the editor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a letter in our box located in the office. We kindly reserve the right to edit all stories we print.
May 8, 2008
7
Students act respectfully at Sheldon area businesses Every eatery in the Sheldon area is bombarded with students during lunch by Cammisha Manley features editor There are many stores and restaurants for students to spend their lunch hour. Some always go to the same place like Ron’s Island Grill, Market of Choice or McDonalds and for others it may just depend on what kind of day they’re having. We all know how we feel about the places we go for lunch, but how do their owners and workers feel about us going there? “The students bring in a lot of outside food and don’t always clean up, but they’re respectful of the other customers and they definitely bring in a lot of business,” said
Chanda Littlefield, an employee at Ron’s Island Grill. We break their rules by bringing in food from other places, we walk around the store after we’ve bought the food, and we are very loud! “The busiest time for Ron’s is during lunch and the dinner rush of course,” said Chanda Littlefield. As for Market of Choice, lunch is the busiest time for that store. “The students are all really nice and respectful but they aren’t always good at cleaning up after themselves; besides that we like having them here,” said Market of Choice cashier Courtney Grant and former Sheldon graduate. Though from what I have noticed, some students forget that these stores and restaurants are not our mini cafeterias. I saw some students with cake at Ron’s that had been splattered on the window. I’ve also heard about fights at McDonald’s. Of
course, we are going to accidentally break some rules or do things the employees don’t like but I was glad to hear that the cake was cleaned up by the students after it had been splattered on the window. “My favorite place to go for lunch is Safeway, but I usually go to Market of Choice because it’s closer and that’s where my friends go,” said sophomore Daniel Nunez. Sheldon students have had off school campus lunch for a long time now. It’s something the middle schooler’s look forward to when they come to high school. Having the freedom to choose what we want to eat instead of just what’s given to us is exciting. I just hope that students realize that it’s not our cafeteria and choose to be respectful. Sheldon Students have been respectful enough so far, all the owners and employers hope we keep coming to eat at their businesses.
Students call for a Sheldon art festival Students contemplate the idea of a multimedium art extravaganza by Melissa Gibson staff writer Sheldon High School has always been known for its excellence in several areas. Our drop-out rate is lower than the state’s average. Our sporting events show both physical talent and school spirit. We can take pride in our learning institution. But there are some talents that Sheldon unknowingly hides from the world, and a good number of these are artistic. Many incredibly gifted students attend this school, and it’s time they had a chance to show the world what they’re made of. Spring is here, and inspirations abound. This is the perfect time to host an art festival and bring a little light into the student body’s life. The concept of hosting an art festival came from Samantha Peer, a talented sculptor in her sophomore year. “There are talented people here [who] never get recognized.” Peer is fond of all kinds of art, and
encourages others to find the style that suits them. “The festival should be a week long, and mostly take place during lunch. A week-long festival would give artists a chance to finish special works in progress.” Alexa Schlesinger, a sophomore and sketch artist, wholeheartedly stands behind Peer’s concept. “If the art festival actually came to be, we would see a lot of hidden talent. Showing all kinds of art mediums would help others to find their own skill.” Schlesinger also loves photography, but admits that her strength is in her sketchbook. She differs from Peer in her opinion on selling art, however. Whereas Peer states that a school setting is inappropriate for offering commissions or selling finished works, Schlesinger notes that “The actual art sales could be held and managed after school.” Whether or not art sales are available, both students agree that having such a festival would be a healthy and enlightening experience for everyone attending Sheldon. Since the Life Skills Network has decided to host their own art show for charity, the school is getting a little artistic exposure. However, the fact that the show is after school and does not allow artists to showcase their work without selling it excludes many artists and art enthusiasts. As much as Peer appreciates the charity event, “Some of us have jobs, too.”
B a c k p a g e
Dramatically undercover -7 Days-
One reporter goes behind the scenes of One-Act Week to clear up conflicts and misunderstandings by Jordan Eddy assistant editor
Let’s just say that the Talisman and the Sheldon Theatre Program don’t have the peachiest relationship. Strong opinions and alleged misquotations and are piled on one side, while angry letters line the other. The letters usually appear soon after an opinions piece about funding for sports is published. The misquotations, or more specifically, “The Misquotation” involved a large foam and felt (not cardboard!) plant. These tiffs usually end with angry drama kids, an indignantly bemused newspaper staff and little understanding between the two groups. Enter One-Act Week, a groovy little promotion vehicle that the Theatre Program has been running for the past two years. Over the course of one week, students write, produce and put on a one-act play. The idea is that potential recruits can experience the traditionally timeconsuming program without having to actually commit.
This comes in really handy when you need twenty-five “creativity” hours for the International Baccalaureate diploma. It also comes in handy if, being the ambitious reporter that you are, you want to go undercover and figure out what the drama kids are actually about. The most serendipitous part? It happens in seven days (okay, five, but it’s still a “week”). Day one began with no work whatsoever. That’s because the writers (who would also be the directors) were quickly penning a script for our show. I was wary of being lulled into a false sense of security, however. I wasn’t ready to believe that this would be my easiest experiment yet. On day two, we were sorted into different crews and offered the chance to audition. I skulked off to hide in the props crew until I realized that, in the interest of this article, I would have to be an actor. The only times I’ve auditioned for something like this, I’ve had to use a really stupid accent that I can’t exactly peg. My freshman year, I tried out for Arsenic and Old Lace and was told to sound like a tough Brooklyn policeman. I was such a soft officer that the part went to a girl. And don’t ask me about the accent. Luckily, there wasn’t an accent to murder during my One-Act Week audition. I guess that could be a bad thing, though—I didn’t exactly catch anyone’s attention. On day
three, I learned my part: “Farmer.” I would be a part of the show’s climactic mob scene. Of course, in one-act plays climactic mob scenes are about two minutes long. Days three and four mostly consisted of making props. My job was to cut out felt in the shape of carrots. That’s drama speak for “you’re at the bottom of the bin” considering the fact that sticky cat guts were being made at the same time. I used the time to observe the drama kids, who buzzed all around me. On day four I realized that I hadn’t been participating in the actual play practice. The show was the next day, and I had no idea what I was doing. One practice quickly enlightened me—I would get angry, run around and wave a pitchfork. It was a classic mob. As day five rolled around, I reviewed my findings on drama kids. They seemed helpful, friendly and very funny. Any stereotypes that I had about their ways had slowly and silently slipped away throughout the week. They were completely normal Sheldonites. Okay, maybe they were a little more dramatic. But that’s a good thing, right? I smiled as I thought about the fantastic show we were about to put on and the great people that were a part of it. Unfortunately, that’s when someone suddenly came at me with a make-up case. I take it all back!
-Beaver State of Mind-
Prom night disappointing “An Affair at the Tower of Terror” felt more like a “Tower of Sadness and Self-Pity” for certain singles by Gracie Beaver editor-in-chief Prom kind of sucked. I’m sorry if that offends anybody who spent time and/or effort decking out the Hilton, picking out cookies, or setting up the tables with those cute little glass rock thingies. It’s not your fault. I think the problem with prom stems from expectations. Social propaganda leads us to believe that prom will be “the most magical night of high school!” However, in my experience, prom was even less magical than a David Blaine routine. Some of this was probably the music; I consider myself a trendy indie rocker, and only recognized about seven of the songs played. But mostly, prom sucked because I am single. This column is not a personal ad or an attempt to illicit sympathy from all you happy coupled people out there. It is also not an emo Myspace-esque commentary where I will
proceed to stop all capitalization and correct punctuation and hurl depressing prose in every direction. If those were your concerns, feel free to breathe easy and read on. Prom is a veritable celebration of what Bridget Jones would call “the miseries of being a Singleton.” First off, tickets for singles are $5 more expensive than tickets for members of couples. How is that fair? “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re going to prom without a significant other, thus you must fork over more cash to help pay for curtains and the rap-loving DJ.” I know you can just go up there with one of your friends and buy a couple’s ticket, but really, why should you have to become a platonic pseudo-couple in order to save just enough money to buy Taco Bell? Once you actually arrive at prom, your relationship status becomes truly illuminated. There is nobody holding your hand and/or purse and/or stupid expensive bunch o’flowers. And perhaps more sadly, there is nobody attempting to coordinate outfits with you by wearing a dorky matching vest. The DJ even tries to make you feel better by saying that he will only play three slow songs. This is appropriate because there are only about three things that singles can partake in during slow songs. One,
we can suddenly and inexplicably find ourselves parched and hang out by the drinking fountain for three-and-a-half minutes. Two, we can take the middle school route and go hide in the bathroom. Or, three, we can overcompensate for our insecurities by laughing at the general crappiness of whatever song is playing. (Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing?” Are you freaking kidding me?) As much as we’d like to pretend that times have changed, prom is still an event tailored for couples. Hypothetical people might argue (in the way that all hypothetical people speak), “But Gracie, this just shows how society has progressed! At least it’s socially acceptable for single people to go to dances! And besides, isn’t prom more fun with a group of people instead of a date who you might not even like that much?” No. No, my hypothetical opponent, it is not. I love my friends, and I had a lot of fun hanging out with them, but the truth is that the only way that prom could have made me feel more single would have been if Sheldon had taken the $14,000 they spent on the dance and purchased a big, neon sign reading: “You are alone! Please enjoy the drinking fountain.”
-Snack-size Entertainment-
heard in the Halls “i hate her. she put ice cream in my hair!”
“I have beaned many a quesadilla in my time”
“And I was like, ‘in your dreams, cupcake!’”
“I’m the prince and he’s the princess”
“Is he like straight-up missing in action?” “Boom! Shake yo’ booty!” “Dr. Volwerk thinks I’m a homie”
“You’re supposed to smell it!”
I know how to kill a man 51 ways with a Q-tip so watch your back
“No one calls you ‘Love Dog’; you don’t just give yourself a nickname”
Answers to “Guess Who” centerspread: 1. Carol Vanlue 2. Dave Whalley 3. Aura Solomon 4. Barbara Faunce
13. Vicki Eckerdt 9. Kurt Goldenstein 14. Tia Dubé 10. Connie Minihan 15. Joan Cavin 11. Andrew Cabrera 16. Fran Christie 12. Ike Sanderson *0-6 correct: Do you pay any attention to the faces lecturing you? *7-15 correct: Not bad. Not bad at all. *8-20 correct: Either you make excellent eye contact, or you are kind of strange. 5. Jan Gordon 6. Leslie Lake 7. Forrest Moyer 8. Greg Cantwell
17. Chris Engstrom 18. Sharlene Barnum 19. Tracy Engstrom 20. Lynn Hellwege