TheLittleHawk Iowa City High School - Iowa City, Iowa - Volume 71, Issue 1 - September 27, 2013 - www.thelittlehawk.com
Students from across the globe enroll in new ELL program By Ellen Carman
ellencarman@thelittlehawk.com
While many teachers can say that their job is a learning process, being an English Language Learners (ELL) teacher takes that concept to a new level. In its first year at City High, the ELL program is proving to educate both students and teachers. ELL serves students who are not ready for an English-only classroom, and the over 60 participants come from a wide range of countries. Leah Tweedy and Jacqueline Ceurvorst, the teachers who run the program, find themselves constantly learning new information about students’ countries of origin. “That’s one thing I love about this job, it’s such an education,” Tweedy said. “Different students come in from different countries and all of a sudden I’m like ‘Oo, I need to learn more about Guinea now.’” Tweedy previously taught in the ELL program at Prairie High School and Ceurvorst taught ELL at West High. Their job is to help students improve their English skills on top of meeting the regular graduation requirements. “An entire day in English can be really, really tiring,” Ceurvorst said. “By the end of the day I’m sure most of those kids go home and take a nap. It’s pretty overwhelming.” School is not the only challenge that some ELL students face. Tweedy remembers a student she had from Berundi who worked full time, trying to move his older siblings, still in Berundi, to a safer place. “He was just a high school student, but his parents had this huge barrier with language,” Tweedy said. “How can I really give him a lecture about getting his homework done?” Approximately 35 students who previously went to West High were moved to City this fall because they live on the east side of town. The remaining students are either new to the country or from a different school district in the U.S. “We are trying to provide equal programs,” Ceurvorst said in reference to West High’s ELL program. “We have pretty much the same number of levels, sheltered classes, and teachers.” There are three levels a student in the ELL program can be in: beginner, intermediate or advanced. Usually a beginner student has little to no English and takes very few regular classes. An advanced student works on fine tuning his or her English skills while taking an almost normal class schedule. A sheltered class is one that is co-taught with
ELL teacher Leah Tweedy gives directions to her class. Photo by Ellen Carman
an ELL teacher. For example, an ELL student may take American Studies and learn the same material as every other student in the class, but the ELL teacher will incorporate additional vocabulary and grammar practice into the subject they are studying. Part of the ELL teacher’s job is to educate their students about the local community, the school, and opportunities that are available to them. Ceurvorst has brought community members into her class to speak, and the students attended the club fair in August. “Without the English skills, it’s hard to advocate for yourself. Its hard to ask ‘Hey, is there anything I can do here?’” Ceurvorst said. “We want to get them connected with friends, sports and clubs. It helps with their English and knowing how things work around here, so they can integrate themselves and have a better life.” This cultural education can also be replicated for students and educators at City. Tweedy plans to focus on a different country that an ELL student is from each month. “I’ve heard people say that it’s interesting to work with ELL students because we don’t have a culture,” Tweedy said. “That’s so crazy, because once you start working with ELL students you realize what a strong culture you do have, and you become aware of how different other cultures
are.”
Administrators also believe that the increased diversity the ELL program brings to the school can enhance all students’ educational experience. “It’s good to integrate those kids into the school, because its a more accurate reflection of our society,” Freshman Dean Wendy Jacobsen said. “You know, we have those folks in our community, so if we learn to work with them I think
it helps everybody.” However, Ceurvorst emphasizes that in order for this cultural exchange to take place, ELL students need to be accepted into the school community. “Make a new friend,” Ceurvost said. “If you are in French or Spanish class and run into one of our ELL students in the halls that speaks French or Spanish, there is a way to make use of your newfound skills.”
Fate of Hoover Elementary under consideration By Hailey Verdick & Claire Noack haileyverdick@thelittlehawk.com clairenoack@thelittlehawk.com
Hoover Elementary opened its doors in August 1954. Since then several thousand students have attended the school. Fast forward to the 2017-2018 school year and Hoover Elementary could be closing. “I was sad when I heard they wanted to close Hoover,” Ellie Benson ‘14 said. “I loved elementary school and I think Hoover is a great place to be.” The Iowa City Community School District board has made a decision to close Hoover no sooner than the 2017-2018 school year as part of a larger 10-year plan for the district. “I think there was a lot of effort and time put into it and I believe it’s a good plan,” ICCSD
board member Sally would be a good thing,” Hoelscher said. “I think Hoelscher said. it’s going to move our The school board [school] district forhas been developing ward.” the plan since the fall The long-range faof 2012. Different concilities plan referenced sultants were brought by Hoelscher calls for in, and the recommena third high school, addation to the board was ditions and renovations to close Hoover. to nearly all current elCity High will reementary schools and quire more additions -Ellie Benson ‘14 juniors highs, as well and renovations in the as the construction of future. The idea is to three new elementary use the land Hoover schools in the district. sits on for City High, It marks the first long-range plan for the dis- but a more detailed plan has not yet been estrict in over twenty years. tablished. Hoover is an older building and for “It seems like for a district our size that it to remain open would require many costly
“I loved elementary school and I think Hoover is a great place to be.”
renovations. Hoelscher says that if Hoover were not as old of a building, or if it were the only elementary school in the area, Hoover probably would not be closing. However, the combination of the two makes closing the school the most logical step. Current Hoover Elementary fourth grader Aaron Rutherford claims that he does not care much because he will graduate Hoover in the next few years. However, some members of the community have opinions against the schools’ closing. “I did not think there was a well-laid out justification to close Hoover,” board member Tuyet Dorau said. “If City High needs an addition I think we could have looked at ways to add that addition without closing Hoover, but we never explored that.” continued on A3
A2 PREVIEW
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Section A
The Little Hawk Feature Magazine
4 NEWS: New Fine Arts Wing By Leah Hoelscher The new Fine Arts Wing was engineered with music in mind from floor to ceiling.
Homecoming 2013
NEWS: Q&A with Assistant Principal: Scott Jespersen
3
By Claire Goodfellow and Lauren Hudachek How well do you know this year’s Homecoming Court? Guess who said what and learn more than you ever needed to know about CHS’s royalty.
By Ellen Carman The former social studies teacher discusses his new administrative role.
NEWS: Foreign Exchange Students By Nate Katalinich
Get to know seven students from all over the world who will spend the year at City High.
5 NEWS: The Little Hawk is a Pacemaker Finalist By Claire Noack
The Little Hawk is recognized as a Pacemaker Finalist for the third year in a row.
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9
ON THE COVER: Who’s Watching You? ByJacob Potash As students share more of their life on new technologies, old lines have been blurred. Here’s how schools, colleges, and kids are adapting.
A&E: Fall Play Preview By Maya Bergman-Corbet On October 24-26, 2013 the CHS Drama Department will present The Foreigner by Larry Shue
Section B
4
6
SPORTS: LITTLE HAWK VOLLEYBALL
SPORTS: Q&A with Athletic Director Terry Coleman
By Sabrina Rodgers and Keighley Ehmsen After losing 11 seniors from last year, the team is looking to prove they are competitive.
By Annika Wasson New Athletic Director, Terry Coleman has big plans for the future of the athletic department.
Up All Night: Teens & Sleep Disorders By Sylvia Dean Two teens share their stories of struggling with the workload of high school on very little sleep.
From your editors... Jacob Potash & Ellen Carman It’s all about the sweat. After a national-award-winning 2012/2013, we lost experienced designers, writers, editors, and advertisers to a tragedy called “graduation.” Today, we proudly present you with Issue 1, Volume 71, of The Little Hawk. It’s a testament to all the staffers – newbies and veterans alike – who have brought the sweat, the patience, the creativity, and the energy to continue The Little Hawk’s
proud tradition. Volume 71. At times like these, we can’t help but think of the (more or less) 70 years of Iowa City high school journalism that precede us. Like so many of City High’s student organizations, we had a lot extraordinary years – many years of brilliant editors, dedicated staff, and nationally acclaimed newspapers. Don’t take it from us: The Little Hawk has been the recipient of 12 National Pacemaker Awards. Last year, The Little Hawk staff not only lived up to its reputation for excellence but also reinvented the paper. We transformed the Features section into a full-blown magazine that brought exciting design opportunities. We stepped up our online presence, emphasizing fast and accurate sports coverage. Our efforts garnered us a “Best In Show” award at the National High School Press Association’s annual conference as well as a Pacemaker Award. In the past few months, we’ve taken a hard look in the mirror in order to ask ourselves important questions: how we can remain a newspa-
per that inspires high schools around the country to high standards of reportage and design? How can we make last year’s seniors proud? We have a ways to go, but here’s one obvious point: it won’t be easy. Who cares, though? Easy sucks. Easy is for the lazy and the scared. The Little Hawk has undergone countless transformations since its first issue, but there is one common thread that we know connects each staffer: dedication to being the #1 source of news for City High. That means ensuring the accuracy and relevance of information we provide. It means pushing boundaries. Covering difficult stories with integrity. Working constructively as a team. Maintaining a good relationship with school administrators and city leaders. Going into a new year with a young staff, we must ask ourselves questions that extend beyond June of 2014, when old editions will be thrown out, and the work it took to create them forgotten. What is it about Volume 71 of The Little Hawk that will be worth remembering? How can
we help City High be a better-informed, more thoughtful place? High school students face uncertainty in every direction. How do we pay for college? What opportunities will we have after graduation? Are we safe in our school? The best way to insure ourselves against the perils of the future is to gather knowledge. What will you learn from the paper you are holding? In this issue we have tried to address questions of world-historical importance, such as how we share information on the Internet, why social media enables cyberbullying, what the future of our school district will bring, and precisely what is up with Miley Cyrus. Issue 1. The work of over 40 students, united by a common purpose. Have they succeeded? Decide for yourself.
Ellen Carman
Jacob Potash
The Little Hawk
NEWS ICCSD board members lay out vision Iowa City has two new school board members following the September 10th elections. Winners reflect on the challenges that lie ahead of them and suggest solutions. By Jacob Potash
jacobpotash@thelittlehawk.com
District voters turned out in record numbers earlier this month to choose between nine candidates for three school board openings. Tuyet Dorau was re-elected to the board, while Brian Kirschling and Chris Lynch were first-time victors. Phil Hemingway landed in fourth place by a slim margin. In advance of Tuesday’s board meeting, the election winners articulated some of their goals for the district. They also anticipated roadblocks the board may face on the way. Kirschling, a University of Iowa optometrist and a graduate of City High, emphasized a need to focus on fairness around the district. “I’d like to achieve a higher degree of equity between our schools when Community members attend a school board candidate forum at ICCSD headquarters. Photo by Jacob Potash it come to both the facilities and the but were also open to the possibility of building scale teacher survey, and implementing the dieducational experience,” Kirschling a third high school. versity policy. said on Sunday. “I’d like to see City High continue to produce “[Voters] decided that it is time to unify our More pressing for Kirschling, though, is implementation of the facilities master plan, the kind of students that everyone in our dis- district and they made it clear that we must bewhich he calls his “biggest goal.” The plan calls trict is capable of being,” Dorau said. “I’d like us gin working together in the best interest of all for about $250 million worth of new buildings, to continue to have that strength coming from our students throughout our entire School District,” Lynch said in a statement on the night of renovations and additions to buildings in the City High.” Kirschling anticipated making hard decisions his election. district. The next few years could bring big changes to Dorau, coordinator of the University of Iowa’s on issues like school closings and the redrawing the Iowa City Community School District, but Visual Field Reading Center, sees the board’s of boundaries. “You have to be able to handle the criticism board members seem prepared to think longsingle-minded focus on facilities as one of its from 30 or 40 people when you’re really making term. primary mistakes. “This is a very tumultuous time in our dis“We’ve talked a lot about facilities over the the decision for 12,500 people,” Kirschling said. Lynch, a long-time manager at Procter and trict,” Kirschling said, “We have a lot of decilast couple years and we haven’t talked so much about education and our educational goals for Gamble, wrote in an email that he was eager to sions to make that will affect what this school the district,” Dorau said on Friday, “so I think get to work. He has made detailed information district looks like when you’re going back to looking at that would be one of the top things about his objectives and policy positions avail- City High for your 20th class reunion.” able on his website, www.votechrislynch.org. that we need to do.” The next school board meeting is on October Board members were quick to praise City They include developing rigorous classroom High for its impressive educational standards and school standards, orchestrating a large- 12th at 6:OO pm.
Q&A: Scott Jespersen, Assistant Principal By Ellen Carman
ellencarman@thelittlehawk.com
The walls in the office of the assistant principal could easily be mistaken for a social studies classroom. The constitution hangs above Scott Jespersen’s desk and faces of the founding fathers preside over the room. This makes sense, considering that Jespersen worked as a social studies teacher and district curriculum coordinator before he became a Little Hawk administrator in July.
What were you involved in when you were in HS?
I played some baseball until the end of my sophomore year when I realized I was not an athlete. We had something call The Citizen B which was a history and government competition. It was a small school so I just didn’t have many opportunities. That is one of the greatest strengths of our school; there is so much to get involved in. Looking back, it makes me jealous. All of these opportunities that we have is something to never take for granted.
You have worked on the other side of the river for a long time. What’s it
like to become a Little Hawk?
I love it. I think I look better in red. My students all congratulated me. I mean, so many kids have friends that go to the other school.
When did you decide that you wanted to take this next step and be the Assistant Principal?
I have always felt that a school is a microcosm of a community, it is a community in itself, and I always like to be involved outside of my own classroom. I want social studies and citizenship to be at the top of everyone’s list but I’m also realistic and know that there is a lot more to life than my particular passion. Just to have an influence on the lives of students and get them to think outside the box and to question things and problem solve. I always liked that bigger discussion. A few years ago I thought it seemed like a logical next step for me and when this opportunity came I was not going to pass it up.
What has been the hardest part for you so far?
I don’t know the students yet. I try everyday to meet a few people and I have been going to as many events as I can and getting to classrooms, talking to kids in the hall but I am so used to knowing all the kids. I went from Northwest Junior High to West High so I really knew the kids and families. That’s the hardest part but its also the thing I look forward to the most. Everyone has been so great. Mr. Bacon is amazing and all the parents that I talk to have been so supportive. I love it.
Was there anything about City High that was surprising to you?
I think we are really crowded. Our numbers have increased from last year over 100 students so there are a lot of people in the halls. But that really doesn’t bug me too much. I have lived in a bigger city and gone to a larger university so its just something I am used to. Also, people really embrace the red.
A big part of your job is discipline. How has that been going to so far?
I had a lot of students give me a hard time because I’m pretty easy going and I seem to get along with a lot of people and I’m pretty immature. They thought that was going to be a strange role for me. I think all those things help because I am very serious about my job and I love teaching. I think it’s ok to be easy going and to have some fun and it doesn’t have to be all negative. I just don’t choose to focus on that. Discipline has to be done, and when it comes to the learning of others or a particular student, I’m all business. I’ve had no problems with the role but I like when I can focus on other things.
What are your hobbies?
I used to have hobbies! I used to like to read and water ski. But now, if I’m not here I’m hanging out with my kids and my wife and since January, my puppy has been taking a lot of attention. I love hanging out with my kids. They love soccer and volleyball so it’s a pretty full schedule. Occasionally I see my friends and go to a football game or something like that.
A3 Hoover from A1 Dorau agrees with the vast majority of the plan, specifically the building of a third high school to alleviate the overcrowding in the current high schools. However, she disagrees with the steps the School Board took when deciding to close Hoover. “There is a principle called the Barker Principle which is used as ‘best practice’ on what to do and the steps you need to follow when closing a school,” Dorau said. “I don’t think we went through that process.” The Barker Principle was enforceable by law until recently, when it was overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court. It required the School Board to lay out a step by step plan when closing a school, as well as go and talk to the community the closure would be affecting. “A lot of really important questions remain unanswered about this,” Jeff Kosier, sixth grade teacher at Hoover Elementary said. “There are many people upset and opposed to this scenario.” Benson has one more reason to be worried about the closure. Her mom is Hoover’s newest first grade teacher. However, Hoelscher asserts that this isn’t an issue, as three new elementary schools will be built to replace Hoover. “We are one of the few districts in the state that is growing.” Hoelscher said. “We’re doing more than just closing a school, nobody is going to lose their job.” Other concerns that might accompany closing Hoover are an increase in travel time and logistical problems, as well as a negative impact on the students. While supporters do point out that every neighborhood in the current Hoover district but one is within walking distance of another elementary school, some still see a major problem. “I don’t think most Hoover parents can see their kids walking to Longfellow, Lemme or Lucas,” Kosier said. “In fact, I cannot see any benefit to the Hoover community in closing the school.” Another source of concern seems to be the lack of definite plans for Hoover. “Some would tell you the benefit will come when students are at CHS.” Kosier states. “But given that no one wants to commit to exactly how the land will be used, that is a pretty nonsensical statement.” Dorau also points out more sentimental reasons against closing the school. “There are some memorials for past students and teachers that are on the Hoover property,” Dorau said. “Making sure those are preserved in some manner is really important, to honor those people.” With all the strong opinions involved in a decision such as this, it is no surprise that there is some uncertainty surrounding it as well. “Before going through with the decision, I hope that they have really thought it through, and weighed all the pros and cons.” Benson said. “I hope they are really sure they’ve made the right choice.”
A4 NEWS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Students enjoy new Fine Arts Wing By Leah Hoelscher
leahhoelscher@thelittlehawk.com After over three years, the new fine arts wing at City High is ready for use. It was made with music in mind, and this fall students are taking advantage of the perks of this 6.2 million dollar project. “All high school students need to experience music,” James Thompson, the assistant choir director, said. “Their education is not complete without it, whether vocally or instrumentally.” The aesthetically pleasing and acoustically engineered choir room is almost double the size of the old one. The back wall is not set at a 90 degree angle, allowing for a better flow of live sound around the room. There is a gap of empty space below the choir room to buffer the sound to and from the band room. “There is a new state of the art sound system,” Thompson said, “we can record and immediately play back, so the students can have instant feedback of what they are doing right and what they need to improve on.” The flat floor in the choir room allows for movement of large or small groups, and mirrors on one wall allow the show choir to practice. “The new choir room had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to come to City High,” City High’s new Choral Music Director, Jim Berry said. “It’s just a huge perk.” An acoustician was hired to give
Best Buddies wins “Outstanding Chapter” By Nathan Goodman
nathangoodman@thelittlehawk.com Best Buddies has been recognized as an “Outstanding Chapter” for four consecutive years, and this April was no different. “To me it’s the friendships and how you get to meet people you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise,” Emma Wortman ‘14 said. “The whole reason of Best Buddies is inclusion, because it gives kids a chance to interact with students that they wouldn’t get to or maybe wouldn’t have the courage to otherwise.” This will be the fifth year City’s student staff for Best Buddies has ensured their recognition for this award. On October 23rd, City’s chapter will again host the Annual Halloween Party. All of the participants will wear costumes and prizes are awarded for the best female and male costumes. Also participants play games, dance, eat candy and pizza, and tell scary stories. Best Buddies has a goal to put itself out of business. It hopes to be so influential in individuals’ lives that no organization, including itself, will be needed to have mutual interactions with those with disabilities. “If no one would bat an eye when you said ‘My best friend has down syndrome.’ in a conversation,” Wortman said, “That would be amazing.”
City High’s music rooms advantages for sound. Along the length of the choir room are long wooden slats to make a bass trap, with mesh fabric to trap the low frequencies. The band room is one long room, with a divider to separate the band room into two still adequately sized band rooms. “My favorite part of the new wing is having the bigger band rooms,” Brennan Nelson 14’ said. Nelson is involved in Jazz band, Concert band, and Marching band. The band room comes with enough locker space for the program to grow, and four practices rooms specifically for band students. The band room is on the ground floor, making it easier for the bands to roll equipment outside for marching band. “There’s a lot more space for kids to work, and us to teach,” Ryan Arp, assistant band director, said. Although the orchestra room has close to the same amount of square footage as the old one, there are many features that set it apart, including the name, “Candace Weibner Orchestra Room,” dedicating the new facilities to the loved teacher, retired after working at City High for 42 years. There are sound panels around the room, and the floors and ceiling were engineered for string instrument music. The flat floor adds for more variation in arrangements of players. “Acoustically its much better, and we have windows which let in natural light, making it more
welcoming to come in and play,” Megan Stucky said. “Overall it’s a nicer room.” The orchestra students also have access to new practice rooms, and there is enough locker space for all of the orchestra instruments. “We have plenty of space. It will be tight when we add the band students,” Stucky said. “But no complaints.” After spending 6.2 million dollars, City High has benefited with larger facilities, more practice areas, and better quality sound rooms. “I have an air conditioned room, and a bigger office, I can help more than one person at a time,” Mary Mahaffa, music secretary said. “It will help a lot with organizing all of the music students, and growing the fine arts program.”
Megan Stucky conducts the Concert orchestra in the new orchestra roon. Photo by Leah Hoelscher
The mirrors in the choir room can be used by the show choir in rehearsals. Photo by Leah Hoelscher
Bullying takes over Ask FM Ask FM is an online service that allows users to anonymously ask each other questions. Pervasive negativity on the site, and its connection to suicides, have been raising eyebrows of parents and kids. By Payton Evans
paytonevans@thelittlehawk.com Most teens have heard of the newest trend in social media, Ask FM. This new site, allowing anonymous questions, enables a new form of cyberbullying. Recently, attention has turned to the negativity that is flooding the website. “I think this is definitely a promoter of cyberbullying because there are more negative comments on Ask FM than positive, from what I’ve seen,” Gabi Wadsworth ’16 said. “If the negative things could go away, or even be decreased, it would be a better site.” Gunnar Marchael ‘16 has similar views. “I think it could be a problem. Basically, Ask FM looks like its just a new way to pick on people.” Originally Ask FM was created for the same purposes as every social networking site, to get to know other people. Once a profile is created, anybody can send that person questions or comments, which are then posted to their public page. As the website has gained popularity, cyberbullying has become a major concern. Questions and comments aren’t censored, so many people use the anonymous button as a way around the consequences that come with bullying and harassment.
“There’s going to be some negative comments everywhere because there’s an anonymous button,” Courtney Streb ‘15 said. “You just have to be cautious of that and be prepared.
Some teens do not take negative, anonymous comments so lightly. According to a recent Fox News article, Ask FM has been cited in connection with five suicides worldwide.
“Cyberbullying is a growing problem, especially with all of these new means of technology, such as this website, that make bullying so much easier and more accessible.” Emily Dvorak, Assistant Principal said. However, comments pertaining to bullying and harassment aren’t the only content seen on Ask FM. Some support networks have been created for those receiving heavy bullying, and positive comments and compliments are enough to boost anyone’s confidence. “I think it (Ask FM) can be a good thing,” Maddie Fuhrmeister ‘16 said. “Some people are too shy to say things like ‘You’re so pretty’ or ‘I wish we were friends’ in person, so they use this site as a way to let you know. Everyone appreciates hearing something like that.” Wadsworth ‘16 agrees. “Whenever I get a positive question on Ask it makes my day, even if it’s under anonymous.” According to an interview with the Huffington Post, Ask FM also encourages users and their parents to report any incidences of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying will never disappear completely, but websites such as Ask FM aren’t entirely to blame. The use of technology requires responsibility. “A lot of kids don’t think before they type,” Dvorak said, “They don’t realize that once you put something on the internet, it’s out there forever.”w
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
NEWS
New Absence Policy adopted City High’s new absence policy requires students to have a professional excuse for more than eight excused absences per trimester. Studies show that attending classes has a strong connection to high school graduation rates. By Anton Buri
antonburi@thelittlehawk.com
Excused absences have never been a real concern for most students at City High. If someone doesn’t feel like going to school, their easiest option has usually been to have a parent call them in and excuse them. With City High’s newly adopted absence policy for the 2013-2014 school year, this may not be as easy as before. “This year, we are going to require a doctor’s/courts/other professionals note excusing a student after eight absences,” Doug Lestina, Dean of Students, said. “After eight absences with no note, the ‘Unexcused Absence’ rules may apply.” The new absence policy limits the number of excused absences a student can have per trimester. The administrative team decided that eight was an appropriate number. After a student has exceeded this limit of eight, a professional note is required. This new policy is a change from City High’s past policies. For years City High had a policy called the “Rule of Ten” which stated that a student would have a grade reduction after the 10th absence. Not in the ICCSD, but in another district, this policy was taken to court and turned out not to be legal. For the two years following, City High didn’t have a rule for how many “excused ab-
sences” a student could take, only a rule for “unexcused absenses”. “In the past couple years we really haven’t had anything to deter high numbers of absences,’” John Bacon, Principal said. This lack of policy could have led to some issues attendance wise. “We essentially had students that were missing for vague reasons, but were being called in by their parents, or sometimes an older brother or sister,” Lestina said. The idea behind the new policy is to stop students from taking advantage of an unlimited number of excused absences with no consequences. Something many students may not be aware of is that the school has the final say on the legitimacy of an absence. “The school is the one that gets to decide whether an absence is excused or unexcused,” Bacon said. “Just the act of calling it in doesn’t make it excused.” The new absense policy may have slipped through the cracks. In fact, it doesn’t seem to be too well known around the school. “I definitely think its a better way to crack down on kids, but I feel like a lot of kids don’t know about it,” Cassidy Bringle ‘14, Student Body President, said. “Mr. Bacon announced it, but I think they [the students] aren’t really getting it through their heads.” Mr. Bacon announced the new policy for each class at their
respective beginning of the year assembly held in Opstad Auditorium. The hope for the new absence policy is to raise awareness to the importance of attendance. A 2008 study conducted by the Rodel Community Scholars at Arizona State University tracked students attendance from kindergarten through high school. The study found that dropout patterns have been linked with poor attendance, beginning as early as kindergarten. “I hope that it really makes families think about how much school their son or daughter is missing,” said Lestina. “I’m sure we
The Little Hawk earns national recognition
will have some students who feel that they can miss as much as they feel is necessary if ‘they are doing the work’. High school is not really setup to work in that system. A big part of high school is not only the learning, but the socialization. Going to a job everyday is something most of us do, and high school prepares us for that. There are very few jobs that could be missed 24 days out of 2/3 of a year and still be employed.” The unexcused absence policy remains unchanged. Four unexcused absences will require a parent meeting, and five can result in a withdrawal from class.
Top Left:
Ryan Young ‘13 is a finalist for NSPA Best Sports Photo of the year photo by Ryan Young. Top Right: Kiera Zapf ‘15 is a finalist for the NSPA Best Environmental Portrait of the year. Photo by Kiera Zapf. Bottom Left: Jason Arnold ‘13 and Nora Holman ‘13 are finalists for the NSPA Best Magazine Cover of the year. Bottom Right: Renata Stewart ‘13 is a finalist for The NSPA Best Infographic. All of the awards will be announed at the NSPA National Convention in Boston on November 14-17, 2013.
By Claire Noack
clairenoack@thelittlehawk.com The National Scholastic Press Association Newspaper Pacemaker Award, known simply as “The Pacemaker” in journalism classes, is a national honor. An honor that The Little Hawk is now eligible for, the second year in a row. “I remember how when I was a freshman we looked up to all the newspapers that won pacemakers.” Ellen Carman ‘14, Co-executive editor, said. “Now we are one of those papers.” The Little Hawk has won a total of 12 Pacemakers in its history, most of them in the “Jack Kennedy Era” during the 1990’s. Out of anywhere from 500 to 1000 entries from across the country, the N.S.P.A. will honor 10 with the top prize. “I’m very excited, it’s always fun to see students achieve their goal.” Jonathan Rogers, The Little Hawk adviser said. “It’s great to be honored at a national level.”
The Pacemaker is awarded to publications that not only showcase excellence in high school journalism, but that also present innovation and try new things. In addition to being finalists for the Pacemaker, several former and one current staff member were named finalists for design and photographs. Jason Arnold, Nora Holman, and Renata Stewart have been nominated for their designs. Ryan Young and Kierra Zapf are both finalists for their photos. “I think we are motivated to a certain extent by these awards,” Carman said. “But in the end what really matters is whether or not we’re proud of what we’ve done and if they have been done in an ethical and reputable way.” However, she concedes that the awards will motivate the staff throughout the year. “I think that these awards will put the pressure on us.” Carman says. “This is what we’ve done the last two years and we can’t accept anything less than this level.”
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Athletic Office relocates to math hallway By Jacob Buatti
jacobbuatti@thelittlehawk.com The athletics office has typically been one of the hardest offices to find in City High, but its out-of-reach location above the old gym was only the first hurdle for new Athletics Director Terry Coleman, who moved the office to its new location in the math hallway. Over the summer, many changes were made to the inside and outside of City High, but this change is the most colorful. Wanting students to be aware of the new location and existence of the athletics office, new Athletics Director, Terry Coleman, decided to have the outside of his new office be painted with City High’s colors: red and white. “I wanted the office to be in the central part of the school,” Coleman said. “One of my many goals is to increase the awareness and visibility of the athletics program.” Already, within the first few weeks of school, Coleman has found that many students have stopped by to see what the red-walled office is all about. “I think we’ve had more traffic of kids who have not been out for activities before,” Coleman said. “The office is a little more accessible to everybody in the building.” In the heart of the school, the athletics office can now broadcast and communicate events to larger numbers of students. Coleman hopes that the new location can be a “communication vehicle” for updating the student body on upcoming games, meetings, and changes in practice schedules. In the near future, Coleman plans to set up a sign that will be updated daily to inform students about athletic events and activities.
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Senior overcomes moped crash Daniela Perret ‘14 was enjoying her vacation in Samos, Greece, when her life changed due to a moped accident that crushed her left leg and confined her to a hospital bed for two weeks before she could return to Iowa. By Jacob Buatti
jacobbuatti@thelittlehawk.com
Daniela Perret ‘14 was looking forward to a picturesque vacation in Greece and her final high school cross country season, but her future changed when her leg was crushed in moped crash on a mountainous island in Greece. On her second day in Samos, Greece, Daniela and her friend, Sophia, were on their way to the beach when they realized there was almost no gas in Sophia’s moped. To save gas, she turned off the engine and used the steep mountains of the Mediterranean island and gravity to propel them down toward sea level. Going at a slow speed, Daniela and her friend approached a sharp bend and took the turn too wide, turning the direction of the moped into the oncoming path of another vehicle unseen around the corner. The car came fast and unsuspecting around the bend and tried to swerve around the two. “They didn’t see us and we didn’t see them,” Perret said. With little time to react, Sophia did the same and swerved in the other direction, but it was too late. In the blink of an eye, Daniela’s left leg and cross country dreams were crushed between the side of the moped and the front of the car. She was thrown off the moped and onto the ground. Adrenaline now pumped through the veins in her body, numbing every nerve. “At first, I didn’t think I was injured. I tried to get up, and I thought everything was fine, but then I saw my leg, and I fell back to the ground. I couldn’t believe what happened. I thought it was a dream. I wanted to wake up. It felt like a dream, but I couldn’t wake up.” Perret 14’ said. While trying to lift herself up, she looked
down to see a bleeding broken leg. She fell over and cried for help. Thoughts raced through her head. “I couldn’t stop thinking about cross country,” Daniela said. After losing over 50% of her blood, a very old ambulance arrived. She was lifted onto a stretcher and put into the back, only to find that there were no paramedics to help. As soon as the ambulance got to the hospital, she was rushed straight to the operating room. She received three blood transfusions and had two surgeries where her tendons, quadriceps and skin were stapled and sewn back together along with a metal rod and a screw inserted along one of the two broken bones. After five additional blood transfusions and almost two weeks restricted to a hospital bed, Daniela was put in a wheelchair and released back to her family, but arriving home was now an issue. To help see Daniela back home to Iowa, her brother, Matias, flew to Greece to help her with the air travel. Because her leg couldn’t bend past 60 degrees, Daniela could not fit on the small airplane that would normally take her from Samos to Athens. In order to leave the Island she
boarded an eight hour ferry and arrived at the airport the following day. When Daniela arrived at the airport, she was surprised to find out that the flight attendants were less than happy to see a girl in a wheelchair wanting to fit in one seat. Confused and frustrated, the attendant asked Daniela questions and tried to figure out what to do. “I just sat there,” Daniela said. “I didn’t know what to say.” After what felt like a very long time, Daniela finally convinced the attendant she could fly. She was given three seats to put her leg on and was safely flown back to her family in Iowa City. When Daniela arrived back in Iowa City, she was happy to find a support system in her family, and the girls cross country team who elected her as one of the team captains. “I learned a lot, like how you shouldn’t take anything for granted, and that things can be taken away from you at any moment,” Daniela said. “It’s not fair, but it happens.”
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
iJAG comes to City High By Payton Evans
paytonevans@thelittlehawk.com
iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) is a newly implemented leadership development program at City High that is unlike any other. This program is designed to help students who don’t know what they want to do after high school. “JAG provides an opportunity to build young leaders and give them a sense of what’s out there,” Laurie Phelan, CEO said. A little over thirty years ago, Jobs for America’s Graduates began in Delaware. Since then it has spread to thirty-two states all over the country, and has become a part of thirty-four other schools in Iowa. Through JAG, students have the opportunity to learn about what life after high school has to offer. They get a better look at further schooling and job opportunities after graduation. “These are students who have a lot of leadership potential,” Sarah Richardson, City High Education Specialist, said about her students. iJAG students have the opportunity to participate in community service activities and bring colleges in to talk to the iJAG classes. This organization makes it possible to bring the community into classroom and grants students the opportunity to get out into the community. “Iowa City’s program is going to be one of our top performing programs,” Phelan said, “We’re sure of it.” City High is the first school in Iowa City to experiment with the program. Currently iJAG is offered to only juniors and seniors. However, goals for the near future are to expand the program to the underclassmen and junior high levels and to the two other Iowa City high schools as well.
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SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
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NEWS
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A8 NEWS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Revving up for ‘13-’14
Foreign Exchange Students join ‘The School that Leads’ By Nate Katalinich
natekatalinich@thelittlehawk.com
Top Left: Omar Shaban ‘14 high fives Louie the Little Hawk. Top Right: City High cheerleaders lead the crowd in the “Little Hawk Spirit” cheer. Left: Brennan Swayzer waits to be dunked by one of the Varsity football players. Bottom Left: Chip Hardesty and Remington Harris ride into the assembly on a motorcycle. Bottom Right: After pulling a prank on Assistant Principal Scott Jespersen, Mr. Bacon gets whipped cream on his face. Photos by Kiera Zapf
Friends. Family. Home. These are all things left behind by City High’s foreign exchange students. Students from all over the world have converged in Iowa City to study at City High and experience life in the U.S. This year students from Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America live with local families and take classes alongside American students. Having these students can be beneficial for City High students, exposing them to diversity and allowing them to meet people from all over the world. These encounters give students a glimpse into the cultures of other countries and may even inspire them to visit other places themselves. Here are the thoughts from our exchange students about life in Iowa so far.
Photos by Nate Katalinich. Edited by Cora Bern-Klug.
By Will Barker
willbarker@thelittlehawk.com
With the new tower well underway downtown, the construction site of Park@201 is pushing homeless populations near Washington street, a main thoroughfare. This recent change has sparked controversy in the Iowa City Council as well as in the community. “Most people have acknowledged that there are problems,” Rod Sullivan, a member of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, said, “But no one really knows what to do.” Sullivan has taken a strong stance against city ordinances that would make sleeping and carry-
ing large amounts of personal belongings on the Ped Mall illegal. “Attempting to criminalize the behavior downtown will only send the people to jail for a day or two,” Sullivan said. “Soon they will be right back where they were.” Alternatively, some community members believe locking up potentially dangerous people is the best thing to do. “As harsh as this sounds, I would rather one of the people in question get hurt than one of our students or one of our families,” said Steve Bridges, a broadcaster at KCJJ. At the center of all this controversy are the new city ordinances that were read for the first time at the City Council meeting on September
3rd. These new ordinances would ban laying on planters and benches from 5am to 10pm, using electrical outlets on the Ped Mall and storing large amounts of personal items downtown. Tempers were high on the night of September 3rd as various members from the community urged the Council to vote one way or another. “I don’t think the Council has really processed that these problems have gotten worse as we have begun to focus our developments on the elite,” Rodney Cole, a candidate for City Council said. After Cole had finished speaking, he continued to argue with Council members and other speakers. A number of business owners spoke about the need for more police and severe consequences for downtown behavior problems.
“This is not a problem of homelessness or what you look like, or anything other than behaving badly,” Bill Nusser, president of the Iowa City Downtown District and owner of Hand’s Jewellers said. “I don’t think the ordinances in place right now give police enough teeth and I think the new ordinances that the council has proposed will help.” After many more public comments the council ruled in favor of the new ordinances 6-1. After the first reading many community members have written guest opinion pieces in the Press Citizen voicing their varied opinions. After another hearing on September 18th the council voted 6-1, again in favor of the ordinances, approving and adopting them.
Lais TomaselhKrause, 16 Brazil
Favorite food? Pasta Favorite thing about the US? School Clubs & Hamburgers Thing you miss most about home? Family, Friends, and Food Favorite music? Florence & The Machine What activities are you involved in at City? Art, Interact and Drama Clubs
Marco Barenghi,17 Italy
Seraina Juon,16 Switzerand
Amr Al-Alawi,18, Yemen
Emmanuella Agada,15 Nigeria
Favorite food? Pasta and pizza Favorite thing about the US? Friendly people and school spirit Thing you miss most about home? Friends and family Favorite music? Italian and American rap What activities are you involved in at City? Football
Favorite food? Italian food Favorite thing about the US? Diversity Thing you miss most about home? Family Favorite music? Jazz What activities are you involved in at City? Choir
Safety of IC PedMall raises concerns
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Bermet Nurbekova,15 Kyrgyzstan
Favorite food? Mexican Favorite thing about the US? Diversity Thing you miss most about home? Nothing Favorite music? Rock music What activities are you involved in at City? Interact, Best Buddies and French Club
Favorite food? Potatoes Favorite thing about the US? Big cities and City High Thing you miss most about home? Friends, family and mountains Favorite music? Pop music What activities are you involved in at City? Cross Country
Favorite food? Mashed Potatoes Favorite thing about the US? City High Thing you miss most about home? The food and friends Favorite music? Muse What activities are you involved in at City? Interact club
Anya Anderson,16 Greenland
Favorite food? Seafood Favorite thing about the US? The people and City High Thing you miss most about home? Family Favorite music? Country music What activities are you involved in at City? Cross Country
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LH
Executive Editors
ellen carman, jacob potash
News Editor ellen carman
Opinion Editor neil harte
The Little Hawk
OPINION
Staff Editorial:
Advice to the New School Board
The Iowa City Community School District is in need of healing. The board can start by making fair decisions like closing Hoover and implementing the diversity policy.
A&E Editor will barker
Feature Editors
daniela perret, jacob potash
Sports Editors annika wasson
Photo Editor kiera zapf
Copy Editor leah hoelscher
Online Editors
elijah jones, chris ohrt
Ad Managers
abby dickson, emma mcnutt
Staff
may bergman-corbet, dominic balestrieri-fox, cora bern-klug, jacob buatti, emilie burden, anton buri, micah cabbage, sylvia dean,abigail dickson, keighley ehmsen, payton evans, jonas geerdes, claire goodfellow, nathan goodman, lauren hudachek, nathan katalinich, schuyler libe, rebecca meyer, claire noack, braden offerman-mims, cody owen, olivia parrot, lilly reitz, sabrina rodgers, edgar thorton, hailey verdick, christopher winegarden
Adviser
art by Sylvia Dean
jonathan rogers
mission statement The Little Hawk, the student newspaper of City High School, aims to inform, educate and entertain readers; to provide an educational opportunity for the students who produce it; and to provide a medium for commercial advertising. Equity Statements English Version: It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact the Equity Director, Ross Wilburn, at 509 S. Dubuque Street, 319-688-1000. Spanish Version: Declaración de Equidad: Es la política de Iowa City Community School District no descriminar en base a raza, credo, color, género, origen, religión, edad, estado civil, orientación sexual, estado de veterano, incapacidad, =estado socio-económico en sus programas educacionales, actividades, o políticas de empleo. Si usted piensa que usted o su hijo (a) han sido descriminados o que han sido tratados injustamente en la escuela, por favor comuníquese con el Director de Equidad, Ross Wilburn, 509 S. Dubuque Street, teléfono: 319-688-1000.
Should Hoover Elementary be closed?
YES 6 As the new school board rolls up its sleeves and gets down to business, they bring to the table a variety of backgrounds and skill sets. But there are certain goals behind which all board members can unite. We think these proposals will serve all of our district’s schools and ensure that City High remains a vibrant center of learning. The first order of business should be to close Hoover Elementary, which is in poor physical condition. The argument that closing it would deprive Iowa City of a neighborhood
school is not tenable. Nearly a third of kids in Hoover’s neighborhood attend Regina, and nearly a third of the students who attend Hoover are bussed in from other areas. Within a short walk are schools such as Longfellow, Lucas, and Lemme elementaries. The board agreed to this school-closing measure as part of its facilities plan, and we think it should stand by its word in making this politically tricky decision. Elementary schools across the district need to be upgraded according to the facilities plan. There is much
NO 2 talk about security at elementary schools, yet some schools have taken to propping open their front doors on hot days. Does this seem safe? Shouldn’t more basic needs lay the foundation for safety? City High, meanwhile, is almost bursting at the seams. This is great in many ways – we love our classmates and the tremendous diversity they represent. Building a third high school, though, will suck people away from City and leave us socioeconomically off balance. City High needs an addition, and it is most log-
ical to start on it before starting work on the third high school. This would ensure that City has the resources it needs to evolve. Finally, a third high school should absolutely be invested in, but only after other additions and renovations. Finally, the Diversity Policy must be taken seriously and implemented effectively. Students do best in a balanced peer-group. Students on each end of the socioeconomic spectrum learn from, and are enriched by, spending time with each other.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
OPINION
asas
THUMBS
First World Problems
Art by Lilly Reitz
by WILL BARKER “First world problems” has become a phrase to describe problems that well-off p e op l e feel are not right to be frustrated about. It’s weird when people say this. It seems to me that they are saying they feel bad about how great their lives are, but they won’t do anything about it. It’s like when people say “no offense” when what they are about to say is obviously offensive. One thing that people do to dull the pain they feel about their perfect lives is give to charity. But that costs money and money is something that high school kids can never have enough of. So what is better than giving to charity and still getting exactly what you want out of your
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money? Nothing. This is what the Toms shoe company realized. Every time a pair of $60.00 shoes is bought, the company gives a child in Africa the same pair that you bought. The Toms mission statement says, “With our customers and Giving Partners, we’re transforming everyday purchases into a force for good around the world.” Whenever I hear about Toms shoes it just seems to me like a convenient charity. Yes, people may be getting help because we buy shoes here, but it’s hard to tell if anyone on our side of this equation actually cares. For the company this is just a business model. Someone saw an opportunity to get more sales because of the guilt people feel about their lives. The buyer may be more inclined to buy these shoes because of the charity, but most of them would not just give $60.00 dollars to buy an African child a pair of shoes. While people may be helped by Tom’s mission I do not think this proves anything about human kindness, it only shows how well off the top really is. However, shoes are only a small part of the ever-growing ensemble. Similar to Tom’s shoes is Obey Clothing, an Urban Outfitters brand that has very strong political
views, most of which they display on their products. However, it’s not really clear what Obey’s message is, which is what makes me think that these messages are just to sell clothing. The main theme seems to be questioning authority and not “obeying” government propaganda. Most of these themes are conveyed ironically however by putting phrases on their shirts like “Obey Propaganda.” This seems to me like fake politics. What propaganda are they referring to? No matter how upset someone is with our current government, besides paying taxes and following a very reasonable set of laws, we live in a free country. Shirts that act like we are living in a communist country just seem like a waste of money and energy to me. What seems even worse, however, is that there are people who actually buy these shirts thinking they are rebelling against a communist repressive “man” that doesn’t actually exist. Even though most of their products seem to be anti-communist and anti-fascist because of the red and yellow color schemes, anti-Christian and anti-capitalist symbols have been found in their products as well. A series of shirts with upside down crosses was released. A poster advertising some
new Obey fashions featured a cartoon of Richard Nixon. Fashions, however, was spelled faschions indicating that capitalism and freedom are really more like fascism. All of these strange political views are made even stranger when the only political stance the company will officially take is the number of charities they have created around the world for things like clean water and energy. When messages of these companies become so broad that they lose meaning, it makes me think that these messages are just to sell clothing. We live perfect lives compared to millions of other people in the world. It’s because of our perfect lives that we can help others without inconveniencing ourselves even by a little. With charities/businesses like Toms, a kind of charity is created that doesn’t prove anything about the empathy of our people, but just shows how rich they are. And despite our amazing lives, companies like Obey can still convince kids that there is something to rebel against. Things like this can happen when a society reaches a ceratin level of perfection. I just don’t like to see it happening to ours.
Hallway Snogging – Why?
Getting out early the first few weeks of school Orange is the New Black Stealing ice cream at the pep rally Pajama Day Breaking Bad: Season 5 Pumpkin Spice lattes at Starbucks City High playing their 1000th football game iOS7 The Little Hawk, Volume 71
by LEAH HOELSCHER AND DANIELA PERRET
The extreme heat Long lunch lines The new City High login usernames
Art by L illy Re
itz
PDA- n. 1. Pointless Doings of Adolescents 2. Preposterous Dating Actions 3. Pretty Damaging Appearances Or most commonly known as Public Displays of Affection. PDA can easily be described by one word alone… YUM! Just kidding. How about… gross. Or… disgusting? At some times maybe even a little bit gruesome. Also. Why? Honestly, seeing two people try to find out how far they can stick their tongues down each others throats is not exactly what we want to see first thing in the morning rolling into school. It’s probably the rudest of rude awakenings. Now, we’re
not saying we despise people loving each other; it’s just the chosen way of displaying this affection that can be despised by others. Sure, a simple holding hands in between classes or a quick hug is entirely acceptable, but going to the extreme is rarely necessary. It’s true, sharing affection with your partner can better your relationship, but there are different ways and different places to do it besides the not so hollow corridors of a high school, around the lockers, at the football games, or by the elevator. Why not be lovebirds in your house, under a bridge, on a deserted railway… anywhere but the lunch room! Especially if you feel it’s necessary to share a fork.
Even the simple act of holding hands in the hallway, the most acceptable form of PDA, finds a way to be intrusive by disrupting the flow of traffic. Now imagine having to go around two people snogging – it’s even worse! Also, how do your friends manage to put up with it? Being a third wheel is awkward enough outside of school, who wants to be “wheeling” during passing time? Now, you’ve most likely heard this whole spiel about a thousand times before. But just listen, we have new information. Studies have proven how being intimate with a partner can heighten a person’s mood. Researchers say that people who are highly affectionate tend to have better mental health,
and react to stress better. Keep in mind though: intimacy doesn’t always have to mean PDA. There’s a whole other side to the research. Doing something to show your affection to someone you love, something as simple as writing a love letter, or sending a flirty text has the exact same benefits to your stress level. So, next time you feel the need to make out in the hallways, just shoot your significant other a quick text message instead, and feel the stress leave you! (You’re welcome.) No matter how much you believe that you are the exception to this rule, that your PDA isn’t gross, to someone, somewhere in the school, it is. So maybe, just maybe, save your snog-fests for later.
Running out of food by C Lunch Breaking Bad coming to an end Reggae Day People getting sick Girls who take Instagram pictures of Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks
A12 OPINION
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
RIGHT TOREMAIN
Started from the bottom
SILENT
by CHIP HARDESTY ling-like abs and remembered beating a 27 year old on the tennis court that week. No way--I’ve still got it! Maybe it will be challenging to take my talents and crazy-old-man strength to the Lie-Berry. Soooo, after about a month in the old LMC, I’ve really had my eyes opened. First, things were pretty loose up there; although at times I saw students on the “YouTube” and of course saw the Cardinal sin committed-FIVE PEOPLE AT A TABLE! No wonder they needed me!! Plus, checking out all those textbooks stretched me to my physical (not to mention
mental) limits. Many times I had to hit the ice-bath just so I could drive home. And my meager computer skills are slowly improving with each book I check out, not to mention that whole alphabetizing thing; apparently you can’t just put the books wherever you want... there’s actually an ORDER to it. Who knew?! And, best of all, I escape every class break down the “off limits” (yeah right) back stairs to rejoin the good old back hall with my buds Bo, LT, Jovan, Cordero, Gianni, Big Randy. ,YESSS! Don’t throw it down in the Back Hall City High.
Let the steroid games begin
“I’m not going to just pour it on you. You’re really going to have to bump into it.” -Mr. Bevelacqua
by CHRIS OHRT
Ask almost any accomplished athlete about how they achieved their goal and their answer will be through constant blood, sweat, and tears over years of training. However, there are some who would use a real life cheat code which makes everyone else’s sacrifices in their respective sports utterly frivolous. I am, of course, talking about steroids. Doping scandals frequently cause outrage among the fans, and make them question the integrity of modern sports, or something like that. Therefore, in order to keep all fans and athletes happy, the most logical step is to create a competition solely for the steroid abusers. Cue in The Steroid Games, where the world’s heaviest dopers are rounded up and put in a large stadium to be gawked at by millions of bored, faceless people. These ungodly man-beasts will play a series of the most drug addled sports in the world. The events are: baseball, wrestling, boxing, weight lifting, and frisbee golf. Some may say that The Steroid Games is a terrible idea, that it inevitably promotes doping to all athletes. They say that the Games directly impacts the viewers self-image, and that it is indecent to abuse these vul-
nerable athletes like cattle in order to make massive amounts of money. However, an overwhelming majority of people (one out of every one people) said that they would enjoy The Steroid Games, so it cannot possibly be that bad.
“If everyone is cheating, is it really cheating anymore?” Just think about it: If everyone is cheating, is it really cheating anymore? The latter question of morality is therefore voided, because it was rhetorical. Not to mention that everyone who would watch The Steroid Games would be too hypnotized by loud music and grotesque violence to even come close to rational thought. The viewers could not even begin to fathom how grossly irresponsible
Rock ly h t n o M with Jesus and Buddha by NEIL HARTE
“
“Whenever I have the hiccups I just put a plastic bag over my head and right before I die the hiccups go away.” -Mrs. Smirl
the sporting industry is to the overall mental and physical well-being of athletes. It is a competition that no one can ever truly win. All dopers are inevitably the losers in a culture that values raw, unadulterated muscle power over human decency and intelligence. This makes every last mutated freak an underdog in life, and people love to root for the underdog. The Steroid Games will be a fun competition for the whole family to enjoy, so bring your grandma and your rich Uancle Larry along for the ride. There will also be a concession stand loaded with premium-priced snacks. So come on over and watch gigantic sub-human neanderthals grunting at and fighting each other until their ridiculously cartoonish muscles tear apart like string cheese. Naturally, there will be drug tests administered throughout the Games which will disqualify anyone who’s blood shows up drug free. At the end of The Steroid Games, each doper will be given an organic, sustainably grown hemp tote bag and acne medication. The overall winner will be rewarded with a gigantic, pure gold trophy filled with the blood of the manliest lamb in the world.
“You can’t say that word with your tongue hanging out of your mouth! You’ll look like Miley Cyrus.” -Señora Hall “We’re going to watch Spongebob being tortured!” - Mr. Koepnick “I’m a whale! I’m as big as yo momma!” - Mrs. Fettweis
“
The call came about a week after the end of school last June: “Chip, this is John Bacon... Hey, we’d like you to move up to help in the library next fall, except for covering lunch and the halls first and seventh periods, OK?” So I said, “Well sure, I’ll help wherever you’d like.” It was summer and I was a little drowsy, but then the nagging question started: are they really taking me off the streets and kicking me aside to a desk job? Am I too old to cut it in the Back Hall? It gave me pause----well maybe its true-----but nahhhhh that can’t be. So I glanced at my Ryan Gos-
“Alejandro is really attracted to me right now... and I’m really attracted to him. Shhh... don’t tell Mr. Wilson.” -Mrs. Wilson talking about forces in Physics
Interupting doctor wh-
Knock Knock Interupting doctor
Who’s there?
You’re fat
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
OPINION
A13
Miley Cyrus just can’t stop by LILLY REITZ Back in 2008, Miley Cyrus’ biggest scandal was having a photoshoot where she was covered up modestly, by only a sheet. Oh, if only we knew what was yet to come. Since Miley Cyrus, now 20 years old, left Disney and her world-famous TV show ‘Hannah Montana’, she’s been trying to reinvent herself. Miley has been trying to show the world that she isn’t just a Disney star or Hannah Montana anymore, but rather that she is a “mature adult” with her own style. Her attempts to reinvent herself were, at first, mild. She cut her trademarked long hair and expanded her acting horizons by finding productions outside of Disney, acting in the somewhat controversial and poorly received teen girl drama “LOL” (in which Miley starred alongside Demi Moore). Miley also got a good number of tattoos and tried putting herself out there in a more dramatic way. At first, Miley’s branching out wasn’t so extreme. However, as time went on Miley’s methods of showing the world that she has grown up have drastically gotten more and more questionable. Be it singing about cocaine, twerking, grinding on a married man, or sitting naked on a wrecking ball, Miley seems to get weirder and weirder with every public appearance. Risque performances and sexualization in music aren’t new things in the music industry. It’s been a longknown fact that in recent times, sex sells. Whether we approve of it or not, it grabs our attention more than any other form of media or propaganda. Celebrities, especially pop stars, have embraced this and used it to their advantage: sexualizing themselves to make more money. That said, Miley Cyrus isn’t just another celebrity or pop star. Whether someone likes Miley and her music or not, it doesn’t change the fact that she has quickly become a household name. Like her father before her, Miley Cyrus is an icon of a generation (although maybe not for the right reasons). So the question remains: why -- if
so many pop stars and celebrities have done this for so long before her -- is Miley taking so many hits for her unrestricted behavior? Celebrities have done much worse things when getting caught in the tidal wave, so why is Miley receiving extra criticism? The plain and simple answer seems to be because Miley grew up in Disney’s limelight. Not only did Miley grow up in the public eye, but Disney marketed and labeled her as “an ordinary girl” who was “just like you”. But the plain and simple truth is that Miley Cyrus is not, and has never been, an ordinary girl. She isn’t like anyone else. Miley never had an opportunity as an adolescent to express herself, which is why she seems to be going a little bit overboard now that she’s hit her 20s. Like many other child stars, Miley seems to be hitting a small rough patch of rebellion, just as Lindsay Lohan did before Miley, and as Britney Spears did before her. The difference is that Miley isn’t getting multiple DUIs, endangering children, or ending up on house arrest. In relation to every other “ex-child star breakdown” that has happened in the last decade, Miley is an angel. Maybe we should be praising her for not being an idiot, instead of just being rude and calling her a slut. I think that if Miley has found herself an identity outside of Hannah Montana, then that’s a really good thing for her. In the search for an identity outside of their childhood selves, many celebrities have lost their way and fallen out of the sanity tree. I don’t necessarily agree with some of the things that Miley has been doing (I don’t think foam fingers should be used in a sexual way. Ever), but I support her fully. If Miley is comfortable shaking her booty around on stage and being naked in a music video, good for her for being confident with who she is. Miley isn’t hurting anyone by expressing herself through her art, and as long as it stays that way, Miley should be cut some slack. After all, it’s her mouth, she can say what she wants.
Art by John Nguyen
A year later... My view of life in college by WILL LUBAROFF Here I am. 18 years old. Barely even a freshman in college. With new information and responsibilities being thrown at me on a daily basis, I feel like I’ve grown up more in the past month than I did my entire senior year. And with all of the change that’s going on in my life, there’s only one thing I can say for sure. I miss you, City High! Please don’t get me wrong, I love college. There’s so much freedom here, I get to completely manage my own time, deciding how I spend my countless hours not spent in class, even deciding whether to go to class or not. And being a music major, I would love to spend the majority of my time studying or otherwise practicing my craft. Unfortunately, this is not ‘Nam. There are rules. Most colleges, depending on what
your major is, will require you to complete the Liberal Arts Core classes. These are the classes that our education system has deemed necessary to be a well-rounded adult. The Liberal Arts Core includes classes such as Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, English, all that jazz. Sounds like the required classes in High School, right? I have no problem with those classes, and I completely agree that they are important to take. The only problem is, this time, I’m paying for them, and it’s not cheap. With the cost of college rising, students are having to take out thousands of dollars in student loans, making life after college that much more stressful and difficult. I personally don’t feel like ruining my credit score from an
early age just so I can learn about the Yahwist traditions in the Hebrew bible (Sorry, Rabbi). The problem is, Being skilled in an area isn’t enough anymore. These days, the majority of jobs on the market require a four year degree from a reputable Un i v e r s i t y. Sometimes, it doesn’t even matter what you studied. All that matters is that you went to college. There’s such a stigma about
not going to college. If you don’t go to college, there must be something wrong with you. For my Freshman reading class, we were given an article written by a former professor at my school, the Un ive rs it y of Northern Iowa. In it, he said, in more complicated language, people that don’t go to college can’t really contribute in any meaningful way in intellectual debates and
“There’s such a stig-
ma about not going to college. If you don’t go to college, there must be something wrong with you. ”
that their opinion holds no weight. This article made my blood boil. Who are we to decide what makes a person well educated? Neither of my parents completed their college education, and they are two of the smartest people I know. Knowledge comes from formal education, but it can just as easily come from life experience. There’s no recipe that tells us how to make a hardworking, intelligent adult. Everybody’s different. So what am I going to do? Well, I’m going to grit my teeth and get through these liberal arts classes, savoring the electives and majorrelated classes I get to take. Sure, I’ll be smarter by the end of it for having taken them, but I’ll also be buried in debt and stressed out of my mind. So enjoy high school while you can.
The Little Hawk
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
A14
Jared Kilberger Ellard Simms
Genevieve Wisdom Catherine Simms
Elijah Jones Charlie Baker
“She is an ex-debutante...she’s “Charlie was a boring proof really stressed out and worried reader however, over the youth, he doesn’t really have because she has this big scandal course of the play he opens it all in his head.” following her. When Charlie up.” comes in, it gives her someone “He’s kind of a backwards
to talk to. ”
Fall play goes for big laughs with The Foreigner ByMaya Bergman-Corbet mayabergmancorbet@thelittlehawk.com
Laughter and fun is the goal of the City High Drama production of The Foreigner this fall. The cast of the The Foreigner is hoping for the audience to be entertained in every scene. “Every single moment is just hilarious and wonderful,” Jacob Walterhouse ‘14, said. Set in a Georgia fishing resort, The Foreigner by Larry Shue features two British men visiting the resort. One, Charlie, wishes to remain solitary, so his friend
Froggy concocts a plan to portray Charlie as a visitor from an “exotic country” who doesn’t speak English. This results in Charlie overhearing secrets that he is not meant to know. “It kind of fits in the same category, (as Mayberry) where people just exclude other people that aren’t the same as them,” Jared Killberger ‘15 said. “We, as a human race, need to accept the fact that people are different and that is okay.” There are many different kinds of people portrayed in The Foreigner, from “backwards youth” Ellard Simms,
to racist Owen Musser, to kindly mothering Betty Meeks. To portray these characters, Troy Peters, the director, has been working with some enthusiastic and talented people. “My favorite part of this play is probably the cast size because with such a small cast you can get a group of people to bond really well,” Killberger said. “When that happens it makes the production so much better.” Walterhouse’s favorite part is the cast. “They’re all great actors and they’re wonderful in their individual roles,” he said. LEFT: Sam Rahn and Elijah Jones act out a scene in Opstad Auditorium. This marks the third year of them performing together. All photos by Maya BergmanCorbet
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
A&E
A15
ABOVE: The City High drum line performs with the marching band at a Little Hawk football game. Photo by Kierra Zapf
Earth,Wind and Fire sets the theme and mood for the band Sylvia Dean
sylviadean@thelittlehawk.com
With strong motivation and invigorated enthusiasm, the Little Hawk Marching Band continues to prepare for another season of marching, with music from Earth, Wind, and Fire. “In the past four years, I think this is the best show I’ve been a part of,” drum majorette Savannah Reese ‘14, said. “The music is really easy to have fun with, and I think the whole band enjoys it too.” However, the success of the group is impossible without hard work and long rehearsals put into the equation. “What most people don’t understand about marching band here at City High is
that we take what we do very seriously,” Reese said. “Our rehearsals are intense and staying focused is a must to get anything done. What do you expect when you’ve got over 100 students to deal with in 53 minutes?” The band practices every day during first period. In addition, they practice during the initial Heck Week in the summer, where the band students practice seven hours a day for three days to get a head start in learning the halftime show for the upperclassmen, and for the freshmen, the pre-game show. “Our Heck Week is not quite as intense as some other schools,” Myron McReynolds, director, said. “So for us, it’s a time to come together, renew friendships, to get ourselves re-acclimated to the new season, and to introduce the freshmen to who we are as a
band program.” McReynolds has been directing the Little Hawk marching band for ten years, and expects good things from the band this year. “I’ve heard very, very little complaining, and I feel we’ve been very positive during our rehearsals,” McReynolds said. “It is the seniors who have been very committed for all four years. As a group, these may be the best seniors in terms of attitude and work ethic that we’ve had.” The band members have maintained their positivity even through the practice schedule and harsh temperatures. “This season, even though we’ve had a rough start with all of the early dismissals, we will be very strong.” Ella Ostegard ‘16, said. “We have an amazing senior class, and the freshmen are outstanding this year.”
Ostegard is participating in the half-time show for the first time this year with her saxophone. “It can be pretty overwhelming to learn an entire song and routine in one day, but I enjoy it. It’s really fun to get out there and perform for an audience,” Ostegard says. “I think as the years go on, the band will get stronger and stronger.” Although the band has only scraped the surface of this season, some students are already looking forward to next year. “Next year, we need some awesome songs that will make people want to get up and dance, and we need formations that are really fun to watch,” Ostegard said. “I think we should choose songs everyone knows and likes, and rock the field.”
Orchestra fine tunes for upcoming concert Jonas Geerdes
jonasgeerdes@thelittlehawk.com
The orchestra program at City High, with over 130 students is one of the most popular classes at City High. “The people are all similar to you,” Scott Tribbey ‘15, a cellist in the orchestra said. “They all have an interest in music. They are great people.” Megan Stucky, the new orchestra director who replaced Candace Wiebener, had a lot to live up to last year. “Last year was a learning experience,” Megan Stucky said. “Now that I have a full year of teaching behind me I’m looking forward to this year being much smoother.” The orchestra program this year is coming up with new ideas for improvement. With the new year the orchestra is trying out new things, like trying to play more
music by local composers. Michael Kimber, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa, is writing a piece for the symphony called “Traveling”. The music is not the only new thing to the orchestra program. Orchestra gained a new room for practice this year. “It’s great to have a new place to practice,” Anna Kaldjian ‘15, the new concertmaster of the symphony orchestra and the right hand of the conductor, said. “Being concertmaster means I’m first chair violin, and I organize the symphony when the conductor isn’t there.” To new students, or students thinking of joining the orchestra program at City High, Kaldjian says, “Practice as hard as you can, cooperate with everyone and you’ll do well.” The orchestra has their first concert on November 7th, 2013.
ABOVE: Megan Stucky adresses the orchestra at an early morning rehersal. Photo by Will Barker
A16 A&E
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
A Fighter Among Us
Damond Coghill-Barnes ‘15 is taking a temporary break from cage fighting and ultimate fighting, and is now training to get on to the Iowa Jiu Jitsu team. By Will Barker
willbarker@thelittlehawk.com
What do you do?
to quit this last week.
Basically a lot of combat sports, Judo, How did you get interested Jui Jitsu, kickboxing, and wrestling all in Ultimate Fighting? rolled into one, in a cage. I fight in the It started with City High wrestling, 16-21 year old category. There are usu- but then my friend Ali told me about ally 400 to 700 spectators. ultimate fighting and I decided to give How does a cage fight work? it a try. Basically you get ready, warm up, and What is next for you? come out. They do introductions ask if I am taking a break from cage fightyou are ready and then you go at it. It is ing, but I still practice every day at the usually in periods of five minutes. You Title Boxing Club in Iowa City. I am win either by knockout or submission. going to talk to the coach of the Iowa
How do you usually feel going into a fight?
Jiu Jitsu team to see about getting back on.
I do it for the ring. Usually my coach Do you see yourself fighthas me study my opponents. Leading ing for a career in the future? up to a fight I can get pretty nervous, I would like to but there are a lot of but once I get into the ring it’s really ex- good guys. I am just fighting in Iowa. I citing. would like to see myself take this farHow have you done? ther, but it will take a lot of hard work I was going for the title fight in the and dedication. light heavyweight division until I had
ABOVE: Damond training with a speedbag. He has worked in many of the mixedmartial arts fields. photo by Kiera Zapff
The Little Hawk
SPORTS
September 27, 2013
B1
ABOVE: Players line up before the snap during their season opener against Cedar Falls. The Little Hawks dropped the game to the No. 2 Tigers 14-13. photo by Kierra Zapf
Football rebounds with 3-1 start By Dominic Balestrieri-Fox
dominicbalestrierifox@thelittlehawk.com
After a rare 4-6 losing season last year, the Little Hawk football team is 3-1 after four weeks of football. The team rebounded from a 13-14 loss at home against Cedar Falls for the season opener and went on to win 42-34 in an away game against Waterloo West, and the following week defeated Waterloo East 46-22, in their first division game. For their fourth game, the team beat Cedar Rapids Jefferson 35-10 to win their second division game, and 1,000th football game in school history. This season’s results thus far are almost identical to last season’s, with a 14-28 loss in the season opener against Cedar Falls in the Unidome, and wins against Waterloo West (49-19) and Waterloo East (38-26). This year however, the team came within one point of upsetting Cedar Falls. In the match up verses Jefferson, the J-Hawks improved from last year’s score, when City High won 38-0. Head coach Dan Sabers is pleased with the Little Hawks’ progress this season. “Offense has been playing pretty well, it has become very diverse and we’re getting lots of people in. We have more left to do on defense,” Sabers said. City’s key offensive players include Xavier Washpun ‘14, tailback, who rushed for close to 680 yards over the first three games. Tight end Jake Leohr ‘14 received for 202 yards so far, Cory Lindsey ‘14, wide receiver, received for 117 yards and Jason Jones ‘16, wide receiver, received for a total of 106 yards this season. Quarterback Mitch Wieland ‘14 threw for 485 yards. City has scored a total of 136 points so
far.
Sabers believes there is room for improvement for City. “We haven’t been consistent enough on the O-Line and we need to catch and take care of the ball better,” Sabers said. Luke Posivio ‘14 also touches on Sabers’ concerns about the offensive line. “We’ve started to play more like an O-Line, when one person messes up on O-Line, it affects us all, and vice-versa. We’re doing our jobs better now, and trying to stay consistent,” Posivio said. Posivio plays offensive and defensive tackle for the Little Hawks. Coach Sabers feels that the line could use work on defense as well. “The defensive-line needs to get better, and we all need to play better assignment football,” Sabers said. Cornerback and wide receiver Mack Stolley ‘14 is in line with Sabers on the issue of assignment football. “We have to be able to take care of the ball and execute better,” he said, “I think it’s been a pretty good start to the season, aside from the disappointment of losing to Cedar Falls by one point.” Posivio feels the same about the season’s start. “I’m pretty pleased so far,” said Posivio. “We’ve played pretty darn hard every game.” Posivio thinks that the team has focused in more since they started practicing this August. “We’re getting our tougher plays right for the first time, and everything is falling into place,” Posivio said. “We needed to overcome the [low numbers], but everyone who showed up has been playing really hard.” The Little Hawks have a little over 30 members on the team this year, resulting in multiple
ABOVE: Xavier Washpun ‘14 celebrates after his kick off return for a touchdown during the season opener at City High. photo by Kierra Zapf
players playing both defense and offense and getting few breaks. Stolley agrees about the challenges low numbers have posed. “With the low depth, having starters ready to go right away, and also having other players ready to go in at a moment’s notice was tough [at first], but everyone has been stepping up and playing hard,” Stolley said. The Little Hawks are four games into a nine game regular season, and have seen success
so far, but still have a difficult schedule ahead. On October 11 the team will face off with cross-town rival Iowa City West. Last year the Trojans shut out City 44-0 in the annual “Battle of the Boot.” The Little Hawks plan to continue working hard and have high hopes that what they’ve done so far will pay off as the year progresses. “We just need to keep getting better,” Posivio said.
B2 SPORTS
Young runners stepping up
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
ABOVE: Stella Thompson ‘15 passes a Cedar Rapids Prairie runner early in the race at the Cedar Rapids Invitational. photo by Maya Bergman-Corbet
By Rachel Gralnek rachelgralnek@thelittlehawk.com
GAMES
UPCOMING
Girls cross country has faced many challenges this year, such as hot weather and the loss of key runners from last year. Despite these obstacles, many runners have taken this opportunity to step up and be leaders. “We have a lot of kids stepping up to fill all the holes left by our graduating class and people that moved away,” Coach Tom Mittman said. Losses of seniors like Erin Danielson ‘13, Courtney Bruns ‘13, and Lindsey Bruns ‘13 have put the team in a difficult position. Courtney Bruns finished 18th at the state meet last year with of time of 14:40 and Danielson earned a time of 15:52, placing 79th. “We will never have the same team as we have ever had before because we are not the same people, but I definitely think the talent is there,” Mary Rethwisch ‘14 said. The team has more underclassmen than upper, having 18 freshman,
18 sophomores, 10 juniors and 20 seniors. Despite the age gap, the team has continued the City High tradition of working together. “City High cross country has always been a culture that is really positive and supportive,” captain Ellen Carman ‘14 said. Freshman Mary Arch agrees. “We’re a strong team and have strong relationships with each other, we are woven together,” Arch said. Even the coaches have noticed seniors taking leadership on the team. “I think our seniors have done a very good job welcoming the newcomers this year and I’m excited about that,” Mittman said. The last time the team won state was in 2006, and got 9th last year. This year’s goal is to get into the top 3 at the state meet. “One thing they brought [in 2006] that this team does not have is that they had the memory of champions the year before, and runner-up the year before. We are trying to recreate that memory this year,” Mittman said.
Carman believes the team has what it takes to reach their goal of getting to state again this year. “If we do everything we need to do, we train hard and stay focused, we will make it to state,” Carman said. The cross country team believes hard work and dedication will get them to state. “We definitely have the talent and experience and we have the push,” Rethwisch said. “I don’t see us not going to state.” The team intends to get a better place at state this year. They plan to do this by making sure all aspects of their races, physical and mental, are in top shape. “We plan to compete better by doing the little things and making sure that we pay attention, attending practices and working hard,” Mittman said. “Also doing our core exercises and being positive with each other, motivating each other, pushing each other and sharing the belief in each other.” Carman also believes having good spirits on the team can
transfer to better performances in competition. “If everyone pushes each other to do well our times are going to get so much better and we are going to be able to compete better as the season goes on,” Carman said. “We are not going to stop improving.” At Pleasant Valley, the second meet of the year, freshman Mary Arch stepped up and placed 15th overall, running a time of 15:54. “I want to win a couple of cross country races, and I also want to get down to 15:30 for my time,” Arch said. Arch blew that goal away with a time of 15:07 at her third race, the Cedar Rapids Invitational on September 12th. “We have a freshmen in our top three and many freshmen who P.R. [personal record] like crazy,” Ellen Carman said. “They don’t know how fast they can run.” The meet was not just a successful one for Arch, but every other City High girl also got either a personal record or a season’s best in the Cedar
Rapids Invitational meet. “Cross country is a lot about personal improvement, and if the whole team is running well that says a lot about our training and how it’s paying off for us,” Carman said. Racing well is very physical but also largely mental. “We all talk about PMA; Positive Mental Attitude,” Mary Rethwisch ‘14 said. “It’s funny how much your mental state affects your running.” Rethwisch thinks this year’s team needs more practice being positive. “There is some negative energy that we need to get rid of and learn to work past,” Rethwisch said. “We are still working through that, being a very young team.” Carman agrees the team is young, but that it is not necessarily a bad thing. “Our chances for placing higher at state this year are actually higher because this is a really young team. Right now we might not look great, but all the girls have so much potential to improve throughout the season,” Carman said.
10.8 10.15 10.3 10.11 Volleyball
City vs. West “Battle of the Spike” City High Gymnasium
Girls Swimming
City vs. CR Jefferson “Senior Night” Mercer Aquatic Center
Boys and Girls Cross Country
Bud Williams Invite U of I Cross Country Course
Football
City vs. West “Battle of the Boot” Bates Field, City High
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
New face of athletics
In the past five years, the City High Athletic Department has overseen several facility improvement projects and has more plans in the works.
SPORTS
B3
Boys golf makes daily improvements By Olivia Parrot
oliviaparrot@thelittlehawk.com
photo by Ryan Young
By Annika Wasson
annikawasson@thelittlehawk.com
Over the past five years student athletes, coaches and fans have seen many changes in the athletic facilities on the City High campus. These changes benefiting a wide range of athletic teams are necessary in order to stay competitive with other schools in the Mississippi Valley Conference and in the state, according to Athletic Director Terry Coleman. “For all of our kids there are activities going on year round,” Coleman said. “Trying to compete with the other schools in the state means that we have got to have the facilities that allow for that. Right now we don’t have the facilities that allow us to keep pace with the training other schools are able to get.” The first major project leading to improvements to City High Athletic Facilities was the Stand Up for City High campaign. The campaign aimed to raise one million dollars to replace the home bleachers, create a new viewing room with a new concession stand in a new building, and renovate the old concession stand into new, larger bathrooms. “The Stand Up for City High campaign dealt with replacing the bleachers which had been there since 1948 and were incredibly unsafe and scary,” Coleman said. Last year the football practice field underwent construction to create a new turf field. “The Turf ” became the new home for boys and girls soccer teams. Previously the soccer teams had played at Shrader Field at Longfellow Elementary. Coleman says the turf field is a more convenient space and provides a higher quality playing surface. “We were very fortunate to get the school board to approve the turf on the practice field, it has been an incredible edition especially for our soccer and football teams,” Coleman said. “You have a different feel when you’re over here
photo by Emilie Burden
TOP: Sam Blowers ‘15 takes a shot on goal during a girls soccer game on the new turf field. BOTTOM: The new turf practice field overlooks the new conession stands at Bates Field. playing on a state of the art turf field rather than playing on Longfellow Elementary’s old football field.” The renovated practice field was paid for by district funding. Also supported by the district was the facelift to the main gym. This summer the gym was painted, along with its annual floor polishing and will receive new conference team decals later this fall. In the next few years students, parents and fans can expect to see more upgrades to current facilities such as the upper practice field, a new shotput and discus area and new endeavors as well. The next project on the list is a hitting facility for the baseball and softball teams. This building will rely mostly on fundraising done by the athletic department. The first major event supporting this cause is the Best Ball tournament on October 6. The golf tournament will consist of teams of four where each participant will get one stroke and the best ball will be re-
corded and then the team will move onto the next hole. Not only is the fundraiser important for the advancement of the hitting facility project, but the pressure’s on for participants. If anyone participating in the tournament gets a hole in one, they will win a 370Z sports car donated by Carousel Nissan. “Primarily it’s just for fun,” Coleman said. “We’re hoping we can raise up to $10,000 when it’s all said and done.” In the more distant future there are plans for an expanded wrestling room, new locker facilities, and a new competition gym. Coleman is excited for what new projects and benefits they will reap in the years to come. “It’s good for drawing people into programs if you have top notch facilities,” he said. “It really helps to raise the profile of the sports as we get these new facilities and new training areas.”
Boys Golf has officially teed off their season for the 2013-2014 school year. “It’s more of a mental game than most people think,” Michael Noack ‘14 said. “You have to think about each shot.” The mental component of golf pushes the team to feed off each other. “I think the strengths of our team are our work ethic and our togetherness,” Coach Jerry Hora said. “Everybody supports each other.” However, the team has room for improvement due to the loss of four key varsity seniors: Grant Simpson, Nate Goddard, Ryan Young, and Andrew Heyn. This resulted in lack of involvement for the varsity this year. “I think we are a very inexperienced team right now, as far as how much we’ve played competitively,” Hora said. “If we lower scores every week and improve statistics every week, the records will take care of themselves.” This year, six main golfers have filled that gap. Noack says the team is making steady improvements. “We’re getting better everyday,” he said. “We weren’t quite as strong as we would’ve hoped earlier on in the season, but each meet we’ve been getting better.” Other complications that have prevented the team from performing their best as a whole include less practice time due to an early start to the season, tough courses and illness. Nevertheless, Hora believes the team has worked through this and has shown maturity in their skills. “The meet [on September fourth], stroke for stroke, we were probably fairly equal to West High,” Hora said. “The short game and on the putting, that’s where we lacked. But the first time we played them, they beat us by 60 strokes, and [the fourth] we only lost by 20 strokes. We’re catching up to them.” Part of the team’s success is due to the work they put in during the offseason. “I did practice a lot; I played a lot and always went and chipped and putted whenever I could,” captain Brady Swenning ‘14 said. All of the team’s effort on the green is working toward a common goal: State. “I would like to qualify for state as a team,” captain Braxton Bell ‘14 said. “I’m not sure we can do that at this point because of the competition and we’re not quite where we need to be in order to compete there.” Regardless of where they stand, the team is hopeful for the future. “I look forward to getting better as a team, as individuals, and seeing some of the younger kids do better than they’ve been doing,” Bell said. “Just watching people start off terrible and then get a lot better is cool to watch.” Facing the future, Boys Golf is taking each practice and meet step-by-step. “I always make sure on the day before a meet, if we go out and play on the range that I try and take a little extra time on each shot,” Noack said. “I know that I only get one chance during a meet.”
B4 SPORTS
B5
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
SUPRISING THE COMPETITION Coming back from two seasons ending in trips to the state championship, the 2013 volleyball team hopes to fill the shoes of the seniors they lost and earn another trip to Cedar Rapids.
LEFT: Rylee Price ‘15 celebrates after a scored point in the second set. TOP RIGHT: Alexa Ingram ‘17 digs a tip from a Linn Mar offender. Ingram is one of three freshman on the varsity volleyball team. BOTTOM RIGHT: Ruth Grace ‘14 sets up Rylee Price ‘15 in the Little Hawks third set against the Lions. Photos by Kierra Zapf.
By Keighley Ehmsen keighleyehmsen@thelittlehawk.com
After two consecutive state championship losses, the City High volleyball team is looking to return to prove they are still a competitive team. Following their first six matches, the team was undefeated. It was an unexpected start for an unranked team after losing 11 seniors. The team is now ranked No. 10 in Class 5A and are 7-5. Head Coach Craig Pitcher recognizes the impact of losing the seniors, yet still has high expectations for the season. “Even if you lose one kid, as opposed to the 11 players we lost from last year, the team personality is affected and you kind of see which kids are going to come up and take that leadership role,” Pitcher said. “We are still competing for a conference championship and want to get back to the state tournament and be in a position where we bring home a state trophy.” Captains Ruth Grace ‘14, Sabrina Rodgers ‘14 and Michaela Nelson ‘14 are optimistic about the start to the season and what it will mean for the rest of the year. “We are better than we expected we would be. It was tough losing the seniors but the people coming up were underestimated, and have really stepped up,” Grace said. Pitcher sees the Little Hawks as having a great opportunity to do well in conference play. “We beat Kennedy who traditionally has a very strong program. I think the conference overall is pretty wide open. If a team gets hot and plays very well, they could win the conference and the conference tournament. If anything, it is more open this year. Hempstead might be the team everyone is talking about because they have the most returning players.” Pitcher’s prediction about No. 6 ranked in class 5A Dubuque Hempstead being a challenge proved true as they handed the Little Hawks their first loss of the season. The Little Hawks were playing without Nelson, who had been injured in a previous match against Linn-Mar. Rodgers hopes the team learns from this loss and continues to fix some critical mistakes during their next few matches.
“We really need to get a strong tempo going from the beginning to be able to stay strong through all the sets,” Rodgers said. “We have been playing really well as a team but we need to stay consistent.” Pitcher sees a lot of progress happening. “Everyone is starting to buy into the system that we’ve had going for a while. It takes time but I think they are starting to work as a cohesive group,” Pitcher said. “Some of these younger kids that we have in positions on the court for varsity are showing that they are deserving of the spots and are talented kids.” The team has been working on all aspects of their game, not just the physical play. “A lot of the game has to do with the mindset, attitude, and work ethic of the players both on and off the court,” Pitcher said. Grace sees the team’s strengths as serving and having good team chemistry. “The girls on the team all get along. We are focused on winning as a team and supporting each other.” Grace said. “We want to make sure everyone tries their hardest. You just expect more out of people that you are friends with because you know what they are capable of.” The captains and Pitcher agree that strong practices make for a successful team. “We really need to push ourselves during practice because we have to be able to push hard and get back to the State Tournament. We’ve been in the Championship game two years in a row and it would be awesome to get there again, especially as seniors,” Nelson said. With Nelson still out because of injury, the Little Hawks lost four matches in a row at the Dike-New Hartford tournament September 21st and won their last match of the day. The Little Hawks lost to No. 1 Class 2A Dike-New Hartford, No. 3 Class 2A Sumner-Fredericksburg, No. 5 Class 5A Cedar Falls, No. 2 Class 1A Janesville, and beat Gilbert. The team was disappointed with their string of losses, but hopes to learn from their mistakes and improve for the rest of the season. “The teams were very competitive and we were really missing Michaela.” Rodgers said. “We ultimately just needed to step up our game and play to the skill level we know we can.”
MAKING THEIR MARK The trio of Shannon James ‘17, Alexa Ingram ‘17 and Cyan Vanderhoef ‘17 are just freshmen, but are stepping up on the City High varsity volleyball team. By Sabrina Rodgers and Keighley Ehmsen sabrinarodgers@thelittlehawk.com keighleyehmsen@thelittlehawk.com
TOP: Michaela Nelson ‘14, Ruth Grace ‘14 and Allison Fleming ‘14 celebrate after a scored point during the first set of the team’s season opener against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. BOTTOM: Sarah Plock ‘15 high-fives Rylee Price ‘15 after Price gets a kill. Photos by Kierra Zapf.
Many freshmen just try and stay out of the older kids’ way. However, for freshmen Shannon James, Alexa Ingram, and Cyan Vanderhoef, this is not an option. The trio are the first freshmen to make the City High varsity volleyball team since Michaela Nelson ‘14 did three years ago. “It was a little scary to play varsity at first, but it feels good to be playing with older people and know you’re good enough to play with them,” Ingram said. Ingram leads the team in kill efficiency with a .248 and averages about 2.08 kills per set. The next best kill efficiency on the team belongs to Rylee Price ‘15 with a .239. Both Ingram and James have been playing club volleyball for four years and Vanderhoef has been playing for five. “If I didn’t do club I probably wouldn’t be playing volleyball. It kinda gave me more motivation and confidence to play volleyball in general,” Ingram said. All three freshmen are a part of the Iowa Rockets Volleyball Club. “I think Rockets has helped build a base and a foundation with volleyball. It established skills that I probably wouldn’t have learned any other way,” James said. Passing and hitting are the main skills that James has established, which are skills that the team desires to improve. “Something I like about City volleyball is that we don’t just do a lot of drills, we also scrimmage
a lot and we also have constant feedback from our coaches and we lift, that’s something I’ve never done with my volleyball team,” Vanderhoef said. Vanderhoef is the setter on the JV team and a backup varsity setter for Ruth Grace ‘14. “My goal this season is to make the JV team successful and also be supportive and cheer on the bench during the varsity games and just help out,” Vanderhoef said. Currently the varsity team is 7-5 while the JV team is 1-2. “So far [the season] is a lot of fun and I think it’s going well. We’re playing well together. Of course we still have things to work on but we have the rest of the season to do that,” James said. City’s next home game is against Iowa City West High School on October 8th, where the team hopes to bring the Spike back to City High. “We haven’t won the Battle of the Spike in a couple of years. It should be a very close game and we hope to come out on top this year,” Grace said.
Varsity Volleyball 2013 Schedule
9/28/13- Dubuque Tournament- Away 10/1/13- Dubuque Senior- Away 10/8/13- Iowa City West- Home 10/12/13- Bettendorf Tournament- Away 10/15/13- Waterloo East- Away 10/19/13- MVC Tournament- Away 10/22/13- CR Jefferson- Home* 10/24/13- Marion- Home 10/28/13- Regional Round One- TBA 10/31/13- Regional Semi-Final- TBA 11/5/13- Regional Final- TBA 11/12-15/13- IGHSAU State Tournament
*Senior Night
ABOVE: Shannon James ‘17 and Alexa Ingram ‘17 await a serve. Photo by Kierra Zapf.
B6 SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Q&A:
New Athletic Director
Terry Coleman What made you decide to switch to the Athletic Director position? It’s been a goal of mine for probably 10 years to be in a position such as this. When I went back and got my administrative certification that was the goal, to eventually be able to move into an athletic director position, and obviously the one here is pretty high on the list.
What is your background with athletics? I’ve coached for 25 years. I coached a lot of track, both boys and girls, I coached wrestling for eight years, along with a little girls volleyball here and at a previous school. So, I’ve had kind of a mix of boys and girls and indoor and outdoor sports. I wrestled in high school and that was about it. After I got into coaching I really got a passion for sports.
What is it that you enjoy so much about sports? There are a number of things. One, you can see the results of your work relatively quickly over the course of a season or year. The other component is the relationships that you develop with the other coaches and the student athletes. Especially in extracurriculars, you get really nice kids who are involved. Being able to work with them is probably the highlight of any coaches career.
What do you feel is the athletic directors role in supporting coaches and student athletes? The first and most important one is to provide the coaches and athletes with what they need to be successful. Whether that’s equipment, facilities or promotions, that is really the main function of an athletic director. You’re not out there coaching and you’re not out there competing so my job is to give people the tools they need to be able to have as much success as possible. The other things that I think are important are dealing with schedules and officials, but all of that takes a complete backseat to giving people the tools they need, and sometimes just getting out of the way.
How do you feel about the current conditions of City High’s facilities? I’d give them a C, in general. We have some things that are planned right now; we have a hitting facility for baseball and softball that is in the works. We have some plans for relocating and enhancing the throwing area for boys and girls track and working with the practice fields. Some of the big things that are out there include a new gym. Athletically and physical education wise, the new gym is the number one facilities need right now. The other piece of that is that we have some decisions to make about softball and tennis, just in terms of where they’re going to compete.
By ANNIKA WASSON
In the beginning, what do you forsee as being the biggest challenges for you in this new role? For the first year or two the biggest challenge is going to be just figuring out all the details for nineteen different sports. There are hundreds of rules for each of the sports that are out there so I need to get an understanding of all the details. The other big challenge- and I think it’s going to be assisted more so by the district than it has in the past- is being able to find the funds for facilities improvements. We’ve had to essentially fundraise for almost every facility improvement we have gotten. I think the district is changing its mind a little bit and is going to be putting some dollars towards some of those things, so hopefully there will be a little less stress on the individual sports or the athletic department in general.
What do you think is one thing most people don’t know about what it takes to be a good athletic director? I would say the single most important thing to be able to do as an AD is to multi-task very well. Each season there are four or five sports and four or five sports the next season, so you have to be able to keep around 10 balls in the air all at the same time during that. If you cannot effectively multitask and handle that it’s going to be a challenge. I think that’s one of the things that I have the capacity to do well.
What are your goals for the future of the City High Athletic Department? There are three or four different things. One, I would like to see participation increase. I think our numbers have been pretty good, but I think there are ways we can increase participation especially among under represented groups. Maybe they have some more barriers to being able to be involved in activities, whether it’s financial or family situations, but that’s going to be the goal. Another goal that I have is to try and increase attendance at activities. We’ve got some sports where you don’t have to work that hard to get people to go, but if you come to our volleyball matches, boys and girls basketball, and some others, attendance is pretty light. With that we need to be winning some all-sports championships. Other schools have improved, certainly, but we have the ability to be in the running every year for conference championships and state championships. You’re not going to win it every year, it’s just not possible, but you need to be in the conversation in every sport, every season. The bottom line is, when kids are finished with our activities program, I want every student and every parent to feel like it was a very positive and very rewarding experience.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
SPORTS
B7
Underclassmen help team to successful start With a lower number of players out for the football team this year, new players are stepping up and helping The Little Hawks to a successful start to their season. By Jamie Young and Rebecca Meyer jamieyoung@thelittlehawk.com
rebeccameyer@thelittlehawk.com
After a losing season last year, City High football are turning things around after a 3-1 start with a new group of rising stars. “There’s a lot of juniors that want to work hard and make improvements. We all do what we can for the team,” Dejuan McKenny ‘15 said. Standouts include tackle McKenny, who already has 15 total tackles and two tackles for a loss of yards in the first three games. Eric McDonald ‘15 is also making a mark on the line. The Little Hawks also lost a lot of players coming into this year. The sophomore class last year had 28 players and now as juniors they only have 14. The team also graduated 26 seniors. The number of players have dwindled this year but the team isn’t letting that affect them. “The numbers haven’t really made a difference because there are still a lot of good players out this year,” McDonald said. Practicing over the summer has helped the team prepare for upcoming games.The team got a lot of new equipment this year to help make practices more productive. “We have new sleds that we used all summer,” McDonald said. “The sleds were fun because we liked to compete with each other to see who could push them the fastest. It was good for team bonding and improving our fitness.” The coaches are also working just as hard as the players to make the team as good as possible. “The coaches are really helpful and they are always trying to make us better. They make us want to do ourbest,” McKenny said. Players have cited a positive attitude and are hopeful for the year. The overall goal for the year is to keep
ABOVE: Players tackle a Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawk in the Little Hawk’s victory last Friday. Photos by Kierra Zapf
working hard and make it to state. The sophomore team has been improving and preparing for varsity next year as well. According to sophomore Nick Figueroa ‘16, the upcoming years of football at City should be nothing short of hard work. “The sophomore class is strong and there are a lot of leaders on the team so as we get older we will get better,” Figueroa said. With a big class and fun the team is building on their own victories on the field and during practice “I think we have a great group who all want to play. We’re just going to keep improving,” Figueroa said.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Eric McDonald ‘15 Lineman
Dejuan McKenny ‘15 Tackle
Nick Figueroa ‘16 Lineman
Small, young team aims for State The Little Hawk girls swimming and diving team may be small in numbers, but they have set a goal to have a majority of their swimmers representing their team at the state meet in November.
By Olivia Parrott and Rachel Gralnek oliviaparrott@thelittlehawk.com
rachelgralnek@thelittlehawk.com
The girls swimming team has been practicing diligently, in hopes of sending multiple swimmers to State. “Our goal is probably to have nine or 10 individuals qualifying for State,” head coach Ivan Sanchez said. “The more [swimmers] the better.” However, before state is considered they hope to do well at big meets such as Regionals and Districts. Girls swimming is on their way to accomplishing those goals, ending their first three meets in victory. “As a team we would like to get as many people as we can to the big meets at the end, Regionals and State,” Lizzie Brown ‘15 said. Brown is ranked first in Iowa for
the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.33. “It’s kind of motivating knowing that I have a good chance at State this year,” Brown said. “It’s also a little bit nerve-wracking because there’s a lot of pressure that goes along with it.” Last year at State, girls swimming did not receive a ranking. “Hopefully, we will get a State ranking this year and get points,” Alix Sharp ‘16 said. “It should be a lot of fun.” Getting to State will pose a challenge for the small team of 16 swimmers and one diver. “Since we’re such a small team it would be really great to have us represented at State,” Brown said. There are also some advantages of having a smaller team. “They work pretty well together since they are such a small team,” Sanchez said.
Brown agrees with Sanchez. “We are all really close as a team, and we spend a lot of time together. [We] get to know each other,” Brown said. “[It’s] really fun because we are all close and really great friends.” Multiple freshman swimmers have stepped up this year. Where some teams would view this “freshman domination” as a disadvantage, this team embraces it. Breakout swimmers such as Anna NormanWikner ‘17 and Taylor Pajunen ‘17 have a chance of qualifying at State. “At first its a little bit weird with the freshmen because we don’t know them, but after a day or so it just becme normal,” Sharp said. “It gets more and more fun over time as we get to know everybody better.” The team is just under half freshmen; with eight freshmen swimmers and nine other swimmers spread out through the remaining classes.
“It’s kind of nice having a young team because we will have more time to get better and improve,” Brown said. Although the team is young, they support each other and hope
this will carry them to success the rest of the season. “We all are there to support ourselves and each other because swimming is an individual and a team experience,” Sharp said
Varsity Swimming and Diving Schedule
9/28/13- Cougar Invitational- Away 10/1/13- Linn Mar- Away 10/8/13 Williamsburg- Home 10/15/13- CR Jefferson- Home* 10/17/13- MVC Varsity Diving- Home 10/19/13- MVC Varsity Meet- Home 10/31/13- Regional Diving- TBA 11/1/13- Regional Swimming- TBA 11/8/13- IGHSAU State Diving Meet- Marshalltown 11/9/13- IGHSAU State Swim Meet- Marshalltown
*Senior Night
Boys XC sees early success B8 SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
After a 10th place finish at last year’s state meet, the Little Hawk Boys Cross Country team is looking to make it back to Fort Dodge this season. With a large number of boys participating in cross country this year, coaches and runners feel good about their chances to do just that. By Emilie Burden
ABOVE: Zach Coleman ‘14 and Jarrett Purdy ‘15 round a corner at the Noelridge cross counrty course at the Cedar Rapids Invitational on September 12. The team placed fourth and had two runners in the top three. BELOW: Ryan Dorman ‘14 turns a corner at the Cedar Rapids Invite at the Noelridge Cross Country course. Dorman placed 13th in the meet. Dorman, a four year varsity member, has been a top finisher for the Little Hawks this season in many of their races. Photo by Maya BergmanCorbet.
emilieburden@thelittlehawk.com
The boys on the cross country team are shooting for the sky this season, along with help and support from head coach Jayme Skay. “We would love to be conference champs, and win our division. Even win the entire conference,” Skay said. “Also win districts and go to state. A state championship is always what we’re working toward.” The team started off the season with a win at their first meet, the IMS Invite. Both Varsity and JV blew the other teams out of the water, outscoring the second place teams about 30 points each. Ryan Dorman ‘14 finished in second place followed by Joel Bender ‘15 in third. The team finished in fifth place at the Pleasant Valley Invitational and fourth place at the Cedar Rapids Invitational. “We have a pretty strong team,” Chris Ohrt ‘14 said. “We have a really consistent Varsity.” Coach Skay agrees with Ohrt. “We’ve always prided ourselves at City High that we compete well at a Varsity level, a JV level and a Fresh/Soph level.” Skay said. The team lost quite a few runners from last year including Brook Price and Mohamed Traore. Price finished in fourth place at the state meet of 2012 in Fort Dodge and led the team in a tenth place finish. The boys are now filling the spots of the graduated boys with lots of new runners. “The younger students are gaining a lot of experience in these first few meets.” Dorman said. The 11th ranked Little Hawks earned a third place finish at the Little Hawk Invite on September 18th. Dorman led the team with a seventh place finish with a time of 17:06.8 followed by Bender in ninth at 17:17.1. In 14th, Jarrett Purdy ‘15 ran a time of 17:30.7. Rasheem Shivers ‘14 finished in 17th place at 17:40.9, in 21st, Zach Coleman ‘14 ran a 17:50.2 race. The team is the largest it has been in years with 76 members total, which allows the team to be strong in numbers and in competition. With the team so large, there are a lot of young students this year, but Skay likes how things are looking. “I would say our fresh/soph team is one of the strongest that I’ve had in 18 years.” Skay said. There are also some disadvantages that come with having a large team. “The only major obstacle that we have [with
the large team], is making sure that we have each individual focused on their own training plan and following it well,” Skay said. The team believes the season is looking good so far, so Dorman and Ohrt give some encouraging advice to the new runners to keep them looking forward. “It’s really important to be consistent, it’s not something you can just jump into.” Ohrt said. Dorman agrees and says hard work will result in the Little Hawks accomplishing their team and individual goals. “You have to train, it’s all about the training.” Dorman said. The expectations of the team are high this year according to Ohrt. “I think once we get farther into the season we will see a stronger finish for everybody.”
PLAYMAKER PROFILE: Ryan Dorman Q: Any pregame rituals? A: I Listen to fast paced music. What’s your favorite memory? Last year after winning divisionals with the team, got medals and beat West by 20 points. What has been your best race? Last year at the Little Hawk Invite, I PR’d and broke 16 minutes with Brook Price ‘13 and Chris Ohrt ‘14. Do you have any nicknames? Not that I’m aware of, I’m not called any to my face.
How many miles do you run in a typical day? Six or seven. Are you planning on running for college? Where? Yes, I’m looking at Oregon, Kansas and Iowa. What’s your favorite run? I like doing track workouts, they’re fun. Do you have any advice for new runners? You have to train, it’s all about training.
Favorite part of running? Winning, it’s a good feeling when you know you’ve given your all and you know you physically can’t go any further. What are some of your personal goals for this season? I want to be in the top ten at the state meet for individuals and top three for the team. What is your favorite thing to do besides running? Sing, I like singing.
Ryan Dorman ‘13 has been running varisty cross country at City High for four years and hopes to lead this year’s team to a top three finish at state.