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Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 44 Issue 5 Mar. 5, 2009
Local health centers fight for funding at Capitol
SHS students travel to Salem to ask for funding for school health centers by Brittney Schooley news editor
On February 20, supporters of school-based health centers from multiple schools went to talk to members of the Oregon Legislature in Salem. The proud, courageous people went to argue for schools’ funding that goes to health centers. Health centers in Eugene schools have been very beneficial for the students and families. With the current economic recession, funding is starting to be restricted among hundreds of schools throughout the country. One of those funding cuts is going to be in Eugene schools and the Eugene community overall. School-based health centers (SBHC) are partly funded by grants and through private funding, but some of those grants and private donations aren’t coming in as a source of income anymore. The crisis here is that 4j needs $200,000 before September of this year or local staff and supplies will be cut short. The students who went to Salem are part of the Teen Advocates Council or T.A.C. After their bus ride to Capital Hill, students went to the main lecture hall to go over the steps to emphasize to the Legislature just how important this issue is. Other groups simultaneously did work with the “Honorary Chairs.” The 4j T.A.C. groups each decorated a chair and tried to get people to sit in it, get a picture taken, and sign a photo album. The chair and album sets will be auctioned on May 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Learning and Meeting Center (building 19) at LCC. The money raised will go to
the 4j health centers to keep them running and healthy. Liz Smith-Currie, the Policy Director of Oregon’s SBHC, said, “The main purpose of [travelling to Salem] is to bring attention to SBHC and let Legislators know that families need access to affordable health care.” SmithCurrie got involved in the SBHC through her work and past jobs. She also stated, “It’s important to me because I think everybody needs to be healthy so they can focus on being a kid and their school. My hope for the future of SBHC is that eventually every school that needs or wants a SBHC gets one.” This will only happen with support and funding from the government and communities. The students from Sheldon who went are sophomore Joceyln Wensel, junior Erin Lashway, and seniors Sarah Williams and Satchel Kornfeld. This matter is very important to all of them and they proved how passionate they are by going and discussing the situation to the
Legislature. Sheldon Health Center’s Debbie Johnson said, “The thing I feel strongly about is that the SBHC sees more families with health problems. The SBHC is one place in town that people from birth to 19 years old go to get health care. It’s a safety-net, the last place for most people to go. We know, with the economy, that there isn’t really money to fund this, but we need it more than ever. We are the place that people come with kids. If we don’t keep our doors open those people will lose it and won’t get health care. If we’re not here, the everyday problems and the bigger, more severe problems won’t be helped.” Their trip was very inspirational and many believe it was successful. Time will tell how successful it really was. The health centers are valuable resources available to the public. Their employees care about helping others and making sure our students, who could be future leaders of this country, are healthy to deal with anything life may throw at them.
Brittney Schooley photo
Local high school students went to the State Legislature asking for funding for Health Centers.
Empty staff parking spaces irritate SHS students Sheldon tries pilot program assigning staff parking spaces before applying the system to student parking spots by Jamie Burns opinions co-editor A new numbered parking space system was recently introduced to Sheldon. Staff members have been assigned new numbered parking spots, some of which were previously available for students. There are now 160 designated parking spaces in the front and back of the school for full time staff members. If a student’s car is found in an assigned staff member parking space
there will be consequences. The numbering of the teachers spaces is a pilot, which may eventually lead to designated student parking spots based on seniority. Many students have become angry due to the difficulty of finding open parking spaces before class. Junior Emily Smith said, “Now when I come to school there are always less parking spaces open. I have to drive around for a while before I find somewhere to park.” When asked what type of comments he received from students regarding the loss of parking spaces campus supervisor, Marques Green said, “I have received some nasty notes. Students think that because parking spaces are oversold we are ripping them off, but students have classes at different times, so not all cars are in the parking lot at the same time. By overselling parking spaces we are trying to accommodate everyone.” When designating parking spaces, Green said they had to provide for not only students, but also staff members.
There are costs for students who park in parking spaces reserved for staff members. Those students will receive a ticket for parking in staff parking. Junior Sarah Sprague said, “I parked in the teachers’ parking spaces for about a week, without even noticing the numbers. Then I got a $10 dollar ticket that I had to pay.” Students who continue to receive tickets and not pay will receive a referral. The newly numbered staff member parking spaces are acting as a pilot. Campus supervisor Marques Green said, “If we were to throw students into assigned spaces right away, it would be crazy. Instead we started out with numbering a few spots for staff.” It is still undecided exactly how many parking spaces will be numbered in the future for students. Although there has not been a definite decision, in the future there may be 50 numbered student spaces to transition students into assigned parking spots. The spaces would be sold according to seniority, and first come first serve.
crisis, “The choice of cutting days off from school is yet to be determined… What do you do about the students who are graduating and still need those few credits? The same goes for the ‘displacement’ of teachers. Of course that is the worst case scenario, but if it turns out that we won’t have the funding, that’s what it’s going to head towards.” The district put together a survey to solicit recommendations from teachers, parents, and even students around the community of what to do about the crisis. The five main suggestions were: reduce/cut administration, restructure the central office, reduce spending on athletics and extra curricular activities, reduce the school year two to three days, reduce extra funding for declining school enrollment, and close and/or consolidate some small elementary schools. Every year, a department of the school (math, science, English, etc.) gets new textbooks for their use to upgrade to the newest version, or replace old beat-up ones. This year is the math department’s turn and they have $60,000 to purchase new books. After this year, they
would have to wait seven more years until they could acquire the newest book from the budget the school gives them. “They have that option to spend the money set aside for them on new textbooks… or allow the school to have the money so we can spend it where it is really needed. The math department has to face this tough decision,” Debi Brookes in the finance office stated. If the school board does decide to cut days off of the school year, teachers will need to adjust to the shortened schedule and plan accordingly so they can teach what is expected in the curriculum. “Colleges will just have to be flexible when it comes to those seniors who are planning on college as their next schooling plan,” registrar Jan Gordon said. The students who are going to college will definitely not suffer if school is cut short. They will get the knowledge needed, just in a smaller time frame. “With days cut off a school, teachers are most likely having to teacher the sections quicker, which will most likely result in more homework for students though,” Gordon said.
Budget crisis proposes possible cut in school days Budget cuts will affect SHS students, especially starting next school year by Jaime Fazio opinions co-editor Schools around Oregon, including Sheldon, are facing a budget crisis that is potentially very problematic. This crisis is affecting anyone and everyone who is either involved or not involved. The budget cuts are including or may lead to days being cut off at the end of the school year, the inability to provide new textbooks to the students, the laying off of staff members, and less money for Sheldon to spend on ways to make it a better place. The budget cuts are leaving both staff and student’s minds wondering. Without any real information of what is going to happen yet, everyone is on his or her toes waiting to hear the final word. Principal Bob Bolden said regarding the
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News
the Talisman
Irish Night of Giving going to be a hit Sheldon devotes a night to all the wonderful staff, teachers, and students who keep the Irish spirit alive by Derek Blank staff writer
On Saturday, April 18, Sheldon High School is having its third annual Irish Night of Giving. The Irish night of giving is all about recognizing and honoring all of Sheldon’s wonderful and hardworking teachers, staff, students, and other people who are key to keeping Sheldon High School running. In the last Irish Night of Giving on April 19, 2008, Sheldon honored Dr. Rod Gillian and the Olson family- Ole, Yvonne, Dede, and Ike as the Sheldon Ambassador For Kids Recipients. They also inducted Chris Miller, Jody Townsend, Jim Fryback, John Gillian, Kyle Tarpenning, Mike Walter, and Jim Torrey to the Sheldon Hall of Honor. The one purpose of the Irish Night of Giving is to raise money for student scholarships. “This is a great opportunity for kids who don’t have enough money to go to a good college. The money raised from this event will go towards scholarships for the students who have showed that they are dedicated
and have worked hard towards getting an education and the community in which they live in. The and have made Sheldon High School a better place. Hall of Honor is all about preserving memories In the past three years we have been doing this it has of past teachers, coaches, and community helped tons of students,” said counselor Michael Voss. members,” assistant principal Mike Johnson said. “The Irish Night of giving is an activity that shows great things for Sheldon High School. It shows that Sheldon High School is willing to go out of its way to help students in need to get a good education and it is also a good way for people to reach out to the community and help kids in need,” Laura Kent stated. “The inductees are selected by their unselfish contributions and dedication to impacting the lives of our students Brittney Schooley photo here at Sheldon High School The recently remodeled jr. varsity girl’s basketball and volleyball locker room.
Sheldon choir’s accomplishment in D.C. It took a lot to get to D.C., but Sheldon’s choir made the most of it by Alicia Luck backpage editor Many members of varsity choir raised money for a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., which took place
over the Martin Luther King, Jr. day weekend. The Heritage Festival took place on Martin Luther King, Jr. day itself. That week was significant in history because on the day following the festival, President Barack Obama was inaugurated. The trip provided some site seeing opportunities for the varsity choir members. Junior Erin Lashway stated, “Washington, D.C., was amazing; I wish I could have stayed longer.” The trip was filled with sight-seeing and lots of singing. Choir teacher Nancy Anderson had lot of fun, and said, “The trip was fabulous and exciting. The biggest thing for the kids was just being there during such a historical moment in time.” Choir members were able to see the inauguration from far away and also got to see some of the parade from a ways away. Most of them though were able to see Obama get sworn in on large video screens placed throughout the Washington mall.
Anderson also stated, “The second biggest thing for those kids was defiantly winning in or category at the festival which was [the category] large concert choir.” Eugene Chambers foundation donated a rather large amount of money the reduced the price per person by more than three hundred dollars. This helped to provided some of the money for the entry fee for the Heritage. The festival had many categories for band, orchestra, and choir. The number of students involved was slightly greater than a thousand. Arriving back in town in the late morning, the choir members where somewhat relieved to be back in a familiar place. The trip cost more than a thousand dollars each for the five-day trip to the country’s capital. The choir went to many museums that provided much information. The majority of the thirty-six students who went felt that they had a new, fun, and great experience and it was something they will remember for the rest of their lives.
“Heart of Asia” has thrilled multicultural audiences again A popular event that shows off Asian cultures like no other has come to another smashing end by Gabe Anderson staff writer
The opportunity to truly become a part of the Asian culture comes right here to Eugene every year. The Asian Celebration is a yearly event that is held at the Lane County Fairgrounds. It is a fabulous gathering that is literally packed full with interesting facts about Asian cultures and food. This year’s 2009 celebration theme is “Heart of Asia.” Sophomore KaLeah Parmenter said, “It felt like I was in Asia.” Like every year, the food that was served at the celebration was absolutely marvelous. There were
booths placed throughout the event serving foods of all kinds. Although the food was delicious, it’s not the only thing at the Asian Celebration. There was also quite a bit of entertainment including art and performances. Teacher Richard Murrel said, “It was a wonderful event; I enjoyed the food and performances as well as the booths.” Now, the Asian Celebration isn’t only food and performance. There’s a lot more to it than that. It also has a lot of hands-on activities as well as food and shows. Not to mention the exciting martial art, food, and fine art exhibits and demos. Student Teacher Ryan Warner-Steel said, “I really enjoyed the tea and food; they were a great way to experience the culture and learn about the heritage.” There were fantastic performances by Young Adult Taiko Drummers, the Chinese American Benevolent Assoc. Lion Dancers, songs sung by the Eugene 4J Japanese Immersion School, Bhangra dancers, and many, many more! The Asian Celebration is great for kids. They have several game stands for kids to stop and play at any time during the celebration. The celebration has been held here for the past twenty-four years curtesy of an all-volunteer committee of dedicated and fun-loving people whose mission it is to create opportunities that foster friendship and harmonious relations among all people; and to enhance appreciation and understanding of Asian cultural heritage.. Keep it going just by showing up next year in February.
Features
the Talisman
March 5, 2009
3
Oregon’s Speaker: a Sheldon grad Former Talisman editor-in-chief Dave Hunt is Oregon’s Speaker of the House by Adam Green features editor Many people often think there is no way they can make it big in the world. Well, take a look at Sheldon graduate and former Talisman editorin-chief, Dave Hunt; someone who probably thought the exact same thing in high school is now Oregon’s very own Speaker of the House. Initially, the young ambitious Dave Hunt aspired to set his roots in the world of journalism. It was later that he really saw the need to intervene on a higher level. Speaker Hunt said, “When Andrew (his oldest son) wasn’t even in school yet, I went into a kindergarten class and there were thirty kids there! I remember thinking ‘this is ridiculous!’ When a spot opened up on the school board, I ran.” Since then, Speaker Hunt has overcome many new challenges in hope that he can have a positive influence on Oregon, but perhaps more interesting than his path to the speaker’s office is the fact that he, some twenty-five years ago, walked through the very hallways we have come to know so well. In his high school years he participated in many other activities aside from editing the paper. “My girlfriend at the time was president of Key Club when it was founded, so naturally I was in that. I also played tennis and ran cross country; I firmly believe that if there is any metaphor for a career in legislature,
it is cross-country. [Many] people will say politics is a race, but you really have to look at it as a long term thing and know what you’re getting into.” Dave Hunt grew up a young democrat in the Reagan era; he was often looked down upon for his liberal views. Interestingly, the tables have turned since then. Sophomore Thomas Quisenberry said, “I can sort of relate to him because I have some republican views in a now very liberal Eugene.” Since David Hunt was really just another high-schooler not unlike those who have darkened the doorways of every classroom in Sheldon, many people will find they can relate to him one way or another. Many people in the midst of all these budget crisis are very curious just how much they will affect them directly. Things started to really hit home when talk began of cutting school budgets. Junior Tyler Kennedy said, “I think the biggest issue in the state right now is [that of] schools not getting enough money.” Well, Mr. Hunt replied with calming reassurances to all who are wondering, “It looks like this year there are not going to be any cuts from the school’s budget. Next year is a totally different issue.” So it seems for now, things are in the clear.
photo courtesy of Dave Hunt
Dave Hunt does his best to make Oregon a better place
Out with the old and in with the new In the attempt to include all students, the yearbook staff is looking at the school from a new angle than before by Alisa Taylor staff writer If you didn’t dominate on the field or shine on the stage, you normally wouldn’t be in the yearbook. This year, the Sheldon yearbook staff is trying to change that by including everyone. The theme for the 2009 book is “noticed,” which means that there will be pictures of or spotlights on every student. Instead of stories that most people read only later in life, this year there will be spotlights about individual people and their involvement in school and other activities. “The staff’s main goal is to let everyone shine,” said advisor Mrs. Zink. The yearbook takes a lot of time and patience to create. Designers make a page on the computer and add pictures taken by the photographers. Designers and photographers must meet deadlines in order to keep the
yearbook organized. The different sections in which to design include sports, academics, clubs, and student life. Sophomore Katelynn Pires said, “Designing pages is fun, but it’s hard to do until you get an idea of what you want.” Yearbook has been described by many as one of the most fun classes that Sheldon offers. Senior Ian Taylor said, “My favorite part about yearbook is that I get to leave when I am done and it is my easiest class.” Students have birthday parties every few months, and they celebrate most major events. During the holidays, students decorate a holiday tree and exchange presents on the four last days of class before winter break. In the summer, editors go on a retreat to the coast to decide the themes for the following year. The editors thought of an eco-friendly, and a go-green theme, but later decided on the current theme of noticed. Pictures are always needed for the yearbook. The staff encourages people to send in any pictures that they have from around school, or with friends. To get involved, or send information, people can contact the designers through Facebook or MySpace by searching for Sheldon Yearbook. The yearbook office in computer
New old-school movie nights Experience a blast from the past by Jordan Flowers staff writer Movies are a great part of pop culture. Thousands of people consider themselves movie-goers and movies are a worldwide hobby. There are new movies constantly being released and some even win yearly awards. But, what about those movies that were loved despite not having won awards? A lot of movies have had their fame on the silver screen and Time Magazine has a list of the top 100 movies. If asked, many people could say that they have seen a lot of the movies on the list. Regal Cinemas at Valley River Center may grant some movie wishes with “Flashback Movie Night” every Wednesday at 7:45. For five dollars, a ticket can be purchased to see a classic movie on the big screen once more. Many movies have already been shown including: Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, Casablanca, Karate Kid, Top Gun, and The Terminator among many others. Many movies are planned all through the year (pausing during the summer to make room for new summer titles). Regal Cinemas has plenty of movies on the schedule, with new showings every Wednesday. Junior CJ Cooper said, “It is worth it to see a movie on the big screen again because there are a lot of good movies.” He also said, “Showing old movies is good and bad because special showings may take a showing out of a new movie, but I think that showing an old movie weekly is okay because old movies are cool.” Sophomore Alex Izucar said, “I think movies are a good way to get
away from school, life, and the world. It’s always worth it to see older movies, because you remember how good they were, and they get even better when you see them again after not seeing them for a long time.” A man who had seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail said, “I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite movies again and it was great. It was just as funny as it was in 1979 when it came out, but as to seeing a movie on Wednesday, it’s sort of an odd date. Friday is reserved for new releases and Saturday is usually packed with people who want to see new movies.” “Flashback Movie Nights” have sold out and sometimes even have multiple showings. For example, Monty Python and the Holy Grail sold over four hundred tickets and had three showings. For a long time, movies were only available in theaters. Technology evolved to tapes, and ultimately DVDs and Bluray. There are still a lot of movies that aren’t even available on DVD yet, so it is even better to see some of them just like they were when they were released for the first time.
lab A4 is open most of the day, or contact the advisor Mrs. Zink at zink@4j.lane.edu. Business advertisement space can be purchased, as well as senior ads space. Students can apply to be a photographer or a designer if they wish to get involved; all that is required are basic computer skills, and a lot of creativity. The 2009 yearbook will be ready for pick up at the beginning of next school year for anywhere from 50 to 75 dollars. The staff looks forward to any comments that people have about the yearbook, so they can improve for next year. Get involved with the school yearbook because you could Adam Green illustration make a big difference.
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.
Talisman Staff Coeditor-in-Chief Coeditor-in-Chief Copy Editor Ads Manager Frontpage Editor News Editor Features Editor Centerspread Editor Opinions Coeditor Opinions Coeditor Sports Editor Backpage Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Advisor
Michael Chase Jeff Toreson Bethany Jordan Anthony Rhoads Jeff Toreson Brittany Schooley Adam Green Molly Morris Jamie Burns Jaime Fazio Michael Chase Alicia Luck Gabe Anderson Derek Blank Jordan Flowers Brendon Kieser Molly Meyer Alisa Taylor Kendra Olvera Drew Miner Greg Cantwell
MR. IRISH 2009 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! March 5th
Staff vs. Mr. Irish Contestants Basketball Game March 13th MR. IRISH PAGEANT!
Counter-clockwise from top: Aaron Matney, Dan Gardner, Brad Bevens, Kevin Jenson, Ben Gardner, Hank Stender, Max Faulhaber, Erik Jenson, and Tyler Radke. Not pictured: Kyle Gribbin.
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Opinions
the Talisman
Soundoff: the Michael Phelps controversy
Michael Phelps’s judgement to use marijuana has left numerous people with differing feelings and viewpoints by Adam Green features editor
may want it to be. When people think of America they don’t kick straight to Michael Phelps. The same can be said for the opposite; when people think of There has been much chatter about Michael Phelps, they don’t automatically the highly envied Olympic champion assume that everything he does is a Michael Phelps and his decision to smoke reflection upon the United Sates. marijuana. But when one thinks about it, Sure, what Phelps did wasn’t the Phelps is a twenty-three-year-old recently smartest decision ever, but, as far as bombarded with massive amounts of celebrities go, he’s actually doing publicity and money. How can he achieve quite well. Junior Tyler Kennedy said, this perfect image which America so “Probably at least every celebrity out there fervently expects of him? has smoked pot; I think that if there wasn’t Senior Michael Leupold said, “It doesn’t a photo, he wouldn’t have gotten in any matter; [many people] smoke pot!” trouble.” Marijuana is legal in many countries, To give a better idea how it isn’t a big and there are even rumors that President deal, here’s a short list of celebrities whose Barack Obama is considering limited drug use has been discussed in public: Tim legalization on the drug. But of course Allen, Drew Barrymore, David Bowie, only time will answer that question. Eric Clapton, all the Beatles, Kate Moss, Although it can be argued that Phelps Mike Tyson, John Edwards, John Kerry, represents America, the truth is that people and Rush Limbaugh. in other countries are more familiar with I find it funny that he got in trouble for people like Michael Jackson and Tom smoking marijuana. If he can swim fast Cruise than Michael Phelps. He is not enough to win that many Olympic gold the sole poster-boy for the American medals while being a stoner, that’s even lifestyle as some may make him out to more amazing than winning those awards be; therefore, he should not be so brutally sober. Kennedy said, “It’s not like he hounded and looked down upon. Japanese killed anyone; [marijuana] isn’t even a teacher Yoshiko Shioya said, “I think most performance enhancer.” people [outside the United States] know This is not the first case of celebrity drug about celebrities like Michael Jackson, abuse and certainly will not be the last. Brittany Spears, Tom Cruise, and Brad Phelps just happens to be an extraordinary Pitt.” Obviously the limelight is not on swimmer, in the crazy world of paparazzi, the Olympic swimmer as much as he drugs, parties, and money.
The scholarship board proves useful for some Students are finding that the scholarship board is very helpful and beneficial for finding ways to pay for college by Molly Morris centerspread editor There is a board in the front office where information is available about scholarships for seniors. It is located between the counseling offices of Katie Reed and Michael Voss. Counselor Michael Voss stated, “[The scholarship board] provides an opportunity for students of all grades for educational financial assistance post-high school. Typically, these scholarships are in the form of merit-based scholarships. A merit-based scholarship is awarded for something that you have accomplished or earned.” However, it seems that many students don’t think to look there for scholarship opportunities. senior Heather Hinson said, “I think it needs more information because it’s not very helpful for me.” Some less frequently applied for scholarships are the Lane Community College ones. There are even full booklets of scholarships from L.C.C. that students can take home to look through. Linda Fowler, from the Sheldon Career Center, said, “The scholarships are divided into locally-based scholarships, statebased scholarships, and nationally-based scholarships. One of the locally offered scholarships is the Eugene Education Association or examples of national scholarships would be Best Buy or U.S. Bank.” She also stated that the scholarship board is more successful this year than in previous years because of the new layout of the board with a packet students can take home. Some of the board’s success this year may also be accredited to the economic situation in our country. I have found many scholarship opportunities there, as well as references to scholarship websites. I have noticed that few students really know about the scholarship board. There are scholarships on the board that say what they are called and what the requirements are. If you find a scholarship that is worth applying for, there is a packet that you can pick up that tells where the scholarship can be found and more information on it. In the first drawer directly under the scholarship drawer, all of the scholarships are organized into folders for Oregon scholarships, Washington scholarships, California scholarships, and scholarships from other universities. There is also a section that is divided into alphabetical order so that students can find the scholarship they are looking for by its name. Some online sources are fastweb.com, getcollegefunds.com, and collegeboard.com. Also, there is a link for scholarships from the career center link on the Sheldon website, and coming soon, the spreadsheet available in the Career Center will also be on the Sheldon website.
by Jeff Toreson coeditor-in-chief Nearly half a year ago, United States Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps accomplished what no other Olympic athlete had ever done by winning gold medals in all eight events that he entered. He was the highlight of the Beijing games and the face of American swimming. He is an Olympic idol and a role model for children all over the world. However, recent photos published on the internet showed Phelps inhaling from a bong, a device commonly used for smoking marijuana. After being confronted about the photos, Phelps confessed and said that was indeed him in the pictures from a November house party in South Carolina. The pictures may put a damper on the 14-time Olympic gold medalist’s quest for more medals in the 2012 Olympics because of a four-year ban for testing positive for drug use. It would be a shame for one of the world’s greatest Olympian’s career to end for just a simple mistake, but an athlete of that caliber should expect to get caught if slipping even one time. “When Michael Phelps accepted the job of an Olympic athlete he knew that he would be a role model for people all over the world. “When you’re a role model for young children, you just can’t be
doing things like that,” said junior Taylor Osterhout. People may say Phelps is just like me and you, and he makes mistakes just like everybody else, but winning fourteen gold medals makes someone different from the average person and he should be held to higher standards. “What Phelps basically showed to young aspiring swimmers is that if you smoke weed, you can swim fast and win gold medals,” said Osterhout. The sport of swimming alone requires a tremendous lung capacity, especially at the Olympic level. Phelps is not only hurting his body by smoking marijuana but he is almost in a sense mocking the sport by showing that he can party hard and still win Olympic gold medals. “By acting like this he shows that he is just raw talent and doesn’t need to work hard,” said junior Tyler Spicer. “I believe Phelps’ reputation will not be ruined because people are going to remember him more for being one of the greatest Olympians more than for one of his simple mistakes made when he was twenty-three,” said junior Brandon Dreschler. With all of Phelps’ career achievements, one would think that people could look past a minor drug charge, but the realization is that this will always be brought up when people talk about him. “As a majority, I believe that America will forgive him for his mistake and move on,” added Dreschler.
NOIR gets Two Thumbs Up Sheldon’s student-written play NOIR tells the story of a detective who comes across a very difficult case to solve by Anthony Rhoads ads manager Sheldon Theater’s production Noir is a play about a detective who is hired to protect an Incan relic. I think that the play was put together really well; the scene transitions were great, the actors were very convincing, and it was a very good story line in general. Noir co-director, junior Joel Chapman said, “We [the writers] thought that a black and white play would be fun and then we decided on a detective theme.” I especially liked the revolving scenes and the black and white make up and props. The crew really took the audience into the time period with clothes, weapons, settings, and language. Freshman Anisa Chin, who works on stage crew, said, “In stage crew you get to meet a bunch of cool people and it’s really fun.” The word ‘noir’ means ‘black’ in French; that’s why the play is in black and white,
with a few splashes of color here and there. The plot of the story is that a detective, Walter West, gets a case with a dame in distress who has an ancient Incan sacrificial knife. The knife is put in the detective’s care because it is supposedly a family heirloom. He takes the dagger and goes to consult with a good friend who is a historian. Afterwards, the dame comes back to West’s office and asks to meet him at 10:00 p.m. When he returns to his office, he finds the dame dead on his floor with a bullet to the chest and quickly calls the police and they come down. After the police leave, the detective goes back to Tony’s bar and has a few more drinks and notices that he has been followed around town for awhile Co-director, senior Kyle Gribbin said, “I liked the sets; they came together really well.” He confronts the man, whose name is Sam. Sam then takes the detective to his boss and the detective finds out that Sam’s boss is a woman named Flabbington. She confesses to killing the dame, says she wants the dagger, and offers the detective ten thousand dollars for it. He asks for twenty thousand, she says fifteen and they agree on sixteen thousand dollars for the dagger. All in all it was a great play and I am looking forward to next year’s student-written play!
Anthony Rhoads photo
Detective West trys to get info for his case when Flabbington enters Tony’s bar.
Sports
the Talisman
March 5, 2009
7
National Signing Day kicks off 2009 Following National Signing Day, college football teams are ready to start the new season fresh by Michael Chase coeditor-in-chief
National Signing Day is widely considered to be one of the most important days in the year for college football. The top players, whom many teams have been recruiting for months, finally make their choice of college and where they will play football for the next three to five years. This year’s signing day was full of surprises and had a couple of nail-biting cliffhangers. The Oregon Ducks signed an impressive class of 27 recruits, including some receivers and defensive backs who are ranked as four out of five stars on many
recruiting websites. Quite possibly the headliners of the class were cornerback Cliff Harris from Fresno, the 6th ranked prep cornerback in the nation; Boseko Lokombo from British Columbia, the 10th ranked prep linebacker (who also played for South Eugene in 2007); and receiver Diante Jackson from California, the 37th ranked prep receiver according to Scout.com. The Ducks also signed the best class of junior college transfers in the nation, according to JCrecruit.com, including four-star receiver Tyrece Gaines and four-star linebacker Bryson Littlejohn. When asked about Oregon’s strengths when it comes to recruiting, head coach Mike Bellotti said, “[Our] national reputation, uniforms, performance in bowl games, desirability of our facilities, the livability of Eugene, and the very comfortable lifestyle are helpful.” After the Ducks’ impressive performance last December in their Holiday Bowl victory on national television, this exciting recruiting class isn’t too surprising. Bellotti noted, “Well, there’s the old axiom that being on TV helps, and when you win on TV it helps, and when you win over a ranked team it helps. I wouldn’t say it was hitting the jackpot, but it certainly elevates [our recruiting] and it gives many
people the opportunity to evaluate your performance.” The Ducks’ 2009 class is good, but it has the potential to get even better. Five-star running back Bryce Brown from Kansas, listed as the number-one-ranked overall player in the 2009 recruiting class by Rivals.com, held off his decision announcement until March 12, to give himself time to weigh all of his options and make sure he makes the right decision. In a recent interview with Rivals.com, Brown said, “At night when I go to sleep, I try to imagine myself at each school. When I think about Oregon, I go to sleep and I feel like that’s the place for me.” Sheldon also has potential future college football players. Junior Curtis White, who has already committed to play for Oregon, and junior quarterback Jordan Johnson, who stated that he would like to go to either Cal or Boise State, both could have promising futures at the next level. When asked what he will look for in the college he will choose, Johnson said, “Academics and the tradition of the [football] program.” College football fans waited for National Signing Day to find out who would be the future stars of their favorite teams. Now their eyes have turned to the 2010 recruiting class, and the mayhem has started all over again.
Teea Rogers to play softball at UMass The senior softball star unveils her plans for life after high school by Drew Miner staff writer When the average student thinks about athletic scholarships at Sheldon, he or she assumes it is for football or basketball. But there is news, ladies and gentleman; there are other sports out there that have been awarding scholarships to their players. Teea Rogers of the Sheldon softball team is one of these standout athletes. Rogers has been awarded an athletic scholarship to the University of Massachusetts. Going into her senior year she is one of the best softball players in both the Southwest Conference and in the entire state of Oregon. The University of Massachusetts is located in Amherst, Massachusetts. There, Teea Rogers will make a name for herself in the national softball world as U of Mass is known as an elite softball powerhouse. When asked about the experience Rogers commented, “It’s a great opportunity; I love the atmosphere at U of Mass and I love the coaches. I am excited to play with such a rich history surrounding the program and the school.” Rogers has played and lettered at Sheldon High School for four years. She has been noted as one of the top softball prospects in the state during that time period. Last year, as a junior, Rogers was selected first team all southwest conference. Rogers is a shortstop with fiery speed and tenacious ability. She is a large contributor to the Irish softball squad. Fellow teammate and standout athlete Tami Brown said of Rogers’ accomplishments, “She deserves it; after many years of hard work Teea has earned the right to play
Sports headlines from February •
A-Rod tests positive for PEDs
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Pittsburgh wins franchise’s sixth Super Bowl in nail-biter
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Alabama, Ohio State, LSU nab best 2009 recruiting classes
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“Krypto-Nate” Robinson dethrones “Superman” Dwight Howard in Dunk Contest
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Redskins sign Haynesworth; highest paid defensive player in NFL history
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Breakout QB Cassel traded to Chiefs
at the next level and I know that she will be successful.” Hopefully Rogers will be able to keep up her drive and desire for four more years or so, as she is getting her schooling paid to do so. For the first two years she will receive 80% of her college tuition paid for by a scholarship, and for her
final two years, she will be attending UMass for no cost to her. This is yet again another great accomplishment by Rogers. Mr. Callaway, a teacher and coach at Sheldon said, “She represents Sheldon greatly; it’s really awesome to see students get recognized nationally as well as locally.”
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Awards shows provide excitement The Oscars and the Grammys supplied entertaining moments by Molly Meyer staff writer This year was the 51st annual Grammys and 81st annual Academy Awards. Many great actors, movies, musicians, and songs were nominated. The Grammys were on February 8, 2009. Jennifer Hudson [who recently lost her mother, brother, and nephew, in a triple homicide] performed for the first time since the deaths. “I was so sad about her losses, but I was excited to see her perform again,” said freshman Jasmine Glass. Some of the performers at the Grammys were
Coldplay, Katy Perry, M.I.A., and the Jonas Brothers. There was a first-time performance by Taylor Swift, a country singer, and Miley Cyrus, who stars in the TV show Hannah Montana, together singing Swift’s song “Fifteen.” Chris Brown, who was supposed to perform at the Grammys, canceled because of an alleged assault against girlfriend Rihanna, which ended in his arrest. “Chris Brown and Rihanna seemed like the perfect couple, I can’t believe he did that,” said sophomore Ashley Topoe. Newcomer Adele was nominated for best new artist, song of the year, best female pop vocal performance and won best new artist and best female pop vocal. This year the nominations for the Oscars, which were on February 22, 2009, included, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. All
Where to avoid the hallyway clusters This map is based on observations during the passing time between first and second periods. It shows the most congested areas of the school.
three won many awards, but it was Slumdog Millionaire that went away with best picture. The most honorable nominee and winner was Heath Ledger for best supporting actor. What a great honor his win was for his loved ones. “If he scared me in The Dark Knight then he deserves the award!” freshman Nicole Ringsdorf said. Many people wanted Heath Ledger to win because he passed away even though the other nominees did just as good of a job. First-time nominee, Taraji P. Henson was nominated for best supporting actress for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Hugh Jackman, whose film Australia was nominated for best costume design, was this year’s host. He is a nationally known movie star, but has also won a Tony for best actor in a musical and is this year’s sexiest man alive according to People Magazine.many times on TV on select networks. Both shows were great and worth watching.
World of Warcraft provides fun gaming World of Warcraft is a personal computer game that is loved by many by Brendon Kieser staff writer
Adam Green/Jeff Toreson illustration
Many people play World of Warcraft and worship it like it’s the best thing that has happened to the world. It has features people look for in games, and for most people it is relatively addictive. It has professions such as mining, blacksmithing, botany, alchemy, skinning, leatherworking, tailoring, engineering, and more. Sadly there is a limit to how many one can have per character, but anyone use careers first aid, cook, and fish. One can be either Horde or Alliance. Alliance is the good faction and Horde is the evil one. Horde will kill anyone in sight just to be number one and Alliance hates anything demonic. Alliance consists of humans, dwarves, gnomes, night elves, and draenai. A night elves are a darkish-colored elves from dark red to dark blue or purple with foot-long pointy ears that flap when he or she runs. Draenai are tall bipedal creatures with hooves. They are the tallest race with no challenge, and they usually come in a blue or purple color. The Horde consists of tauren, undead, trolls, orcs, and blood elves. Tauren are bipedal cows, undead are fleshy skeletons, and orcs are big green creatures. Trolls are complicated. They have bad posture and they are usually a blue color with three fingers and two toes. Blood elves are very brightlycolored, peach-skinned elves, with long floppy ears. Class one can choose Warrior, Priest, Druid, Mage, Rogue, Paladin, Shaman, Hunter, and Warlock. When characters in any given server become level 55, they have choice of creating a Death Knight, a hero class. One starts the character at level 55 with tons of neat skills. Level 80 is the maximum level; it was originally 60, but the creators added 10 more levels for each expansion pack. Junior Brittany Kieser said, “World of Warcraft is a great game,” and rated it 9/10; her favorite part of the game is having a pet on her hunter. Senior Derrick Dymock said that the classes in the game were “pretty balanced, but there are some unbalanced classes.” Junior Greg Pompey, a level 80 Dwarf, said that the leveling speed was, “Just right.”