Issue 9

Page 1

Log

The Northmen’s

Friday, April 30, 2010

Spring sports carry out season; see page 6

Oak Park High School

Issue 9 , Volume 45

Revolution splits mother-daughter

Student faces return to altered country by Alex Mallin sports editor

Three days passed, and senior Madina Damir Kyzy still had not made contact with her mother. During these days of uncertainty, she preoccupied herself on the Internet hoping to find any sort of information regarding the well-being of her family and friends since communications outlets in her home country had been disabled. After walking away from the computer she heard her phone buzz. Thinking of it as just another text, Madina felt surprise when Russian text appeared on the screen. After countless hours spent feeling only angst and concern, Madina received word from Kyrgyzstan. On Wednesday, April 7, what began as a demonstration against alleged corruption in Kyrgyzstan’s government turned into a deadly riot and revolution as protestors gained control of several government offices in Bishkek; Kyrgyzstan’s capital city. The president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, eventually fled the city and protestors took full control of the government, maintaining that control as of Tuesday, April 27. While Bakiyev refused to formally step down, the transitional government has thus dissolved the Kyrgyzstani Parliament and said it would maintain its control for six months until elections could be held in October.

That was then

A year ago in Kyrgyzstan, Damir underwent a rigorous scholarship process through the organization Academic Year in America. After gaining the scholarship, Damir became a foreign exchange student assigned to Michelle Jacobson, a resident of Kansas City and the local coordinator for AYIA. The past school year Damir has attended Oak Park as a senior. “At first I didn’t know where I was going,” Damir said. “I decided to go because it would really help my future plans.”

This is today

According to Jacobson, Damir checks a Russian news website for Kyrgyzstan several times a week. After checking the website on Wednesday, April 7, Damir read of the revolution before news broke in the United States.

Foreign exchange student senior Madina Damir Kyzy was unable to contact her mother, Mamochka Damir Kyzy, for three days after the revolution in her home country of Kyrgyzstan. photos by Gina Drapela, editor-in-chief and cour tesy of Madina Damir Kyzy

“Before I wasn’t afraid. I figured it was something small,” Damir said. “Then I started to hear more about it at school so I went home that day and got on the Internet. I started watching videos and I would see places in Kyrgyzstan where I used to walk and I saw everything looked ruined.” Damir’s concern rose with the death tolls, as she found out most of the violence was contained around the capital building in Bishkek. According to Damir, her mother lives within walking distance of the capital.

Waiting for news

When The Log interviewed Damir on Thursday, April 8 prior to her receiving word from Kyrgyzstan, she said she had emailed her multiple times after hearing the news but had yet to receive a response. “I hope it will be fine,” Damir said. “I’m really nervous and frustrated. I couldn’t study for any of my tests today. It is scary to not be able to contact anyone.” Several students became aware of the position Damir was in and reached out to help her. “When I talked to Madina she at first acted like it wasn’t a huge deal,” said sophomore Schyler Tate. “Then I found out that she couldn’t contact her mom and didn’t know where she was. So I knew the best thing to do was to just be her friend.”

Once the revolution began, Internet and phone communications were deactivated in the country, leaving Damir with no way to reach her mother or any other family or friends. It wasn’t until Saturday, April 11 that Damir received a text from her mother. “Madi how are you? I am fine. I am at home,” the translation said. “Web doesn’t work, can’t pay for cell phone, so I am not responding. Don’t worry. Everything is okay! Love you, take care.” Damir couldn’t send a reply message due to plan restrictions. Soon after, though, her mother accessed an Internet café where she interacted with Damir through e-mail which helped to further relieve her worries. In those three days, Jacobson said she believes Damir kept a very strong composure under the stress she faced. “Madina is a very tough girl,” Jacobson said. “She is fun-loving but in our year with her we found she is very serious at times. She is very determined when things don’t go well.”

A country in pieces

According to Damir, she felt surprised when she learned of the revolution. “There were no signs before I left,” Damir said. “People in our country never liked the president and we had a lot of corruption. We had a revolution before but it wasn’t like

this.” In 2005 Kyrgyzstan experienced a revolution after the presidential election of Askar Akayev caused protestors to overthrow the government. The “Tulip Revolution” was non-violent however, the president resigned and Bakiyev took office in his place. “I agree with the people’s idea in the revolution it’s just I hate the way they are doing it,” Damir said. “It’s not right to commit these violent acts.” Jacobson said she worked to get Damir through this tough time. “[Madina] said she didn’t know why they couldn’t do it like they did in the U.S. and be peaceful,” Jacobson said. “I explained to her of how young America really is and that we once had British burning our white house just like her white house was burned. Just like any revolution it was very hard and we had to fight a lot.”

Changing perspectives

Damir said the incident gave her an opportunity to further inform her peers; the main mission of her exchange trip. “As exchange students we are supposed to help Americans find an understanding of our world,” Damir said. “Nobody knew

Volunteers renovate outdated west entrance Community reaches out to school

News Brief Prom starts new tradition

by Gina Drapela editor- in- chief Plowing through concrete, volunteers, service veterans, and Best Buy employees from around the area support and remodel OP by adding a sidewalk to the west entrance Wednesday, April 21. The renovation was needed to supply students and faculty with a safer path to entering and existing the building, and to help the flow of traffic through that area run smoothly. Principal Fred Skretta knew the job needed to be done, and the message was overheard by Best Buy District 6 Community Liaison Lead Cheryl Lupton. “This actually came from our partnership with the North Kansas City School District, we have a whole philanthropic side,” Lupton. Best Buy found workers and materials to supply the project, which sparked the interest of another aide, The Mission Continues. The foundation provides work and support to war veterans who need assistance in getting on their feet after arriving home from service. The organization also finds volunteer projects for the veterans, to help them keep involved in their community, and help them to keep working for a cause. “We take wounded and disabled vets returning from post 9/11 service, and we place them into community service fellowships, trying to better their community,” said Chris Martinez, national coordinator for the nonprofit organization based in St. Louis. Missouri, “so it’s a way for them to serve their country again by serving the community.” The two teams bonded together to complete this task, by bringing in extra hands and materials, such as getting donations for the concrete from Carter Concrete, a local concrete business. “Steve Carter, from Carter Concrete, I’ve had him work for us several times before, he did my mother in law’s driveway, so I reached out to him,” Lupton said. “He came over just to scope [out the] work and bless his heart, he said my girls go to school.” The project was completed in a day, starting at the beginning of school, till the end, working nonstop, finishing with a newly paved sidewalk, and landscape, all done by donations of their ma-

SEE MADINA, PAGE 2

During the school day, Friday, April 23, volunteers, veterans and employees of Best Buy from around the area help reconstruct the west entrance, creating a new sidewalk and developing the landscape. The efforts are meant to improve the safety of students and staff from the parking lot to the west doors. photo by Ally Sansone, photographer Laying the ground work for sidewalks, volunteers and construction workers prepare to pour cement. Volunteers were made up of veterans and Best Buy employees. photo by Gina Drapela, editor-in-chief Volunteers and construction workers dig to ready the concrete for sidewalks. The additional sidwalks were put in to creat a safer walking area for students and teachers. photo by Gina Drapela, editor-in-chief

terials and time from the community. “There was a considerable amount of labor, so I said “I have labor,” I don’t have to rest, but I have hands who would be more than happy to

help, and so starting with that I said “let me see if I can get the community on board,” Lupton said.

Two weeks before Prom junior advisors Allison Cuttita and Derek Bryne met with Principal Fred Skretta, discussing the idea of a Prom assembly. “We met with Dr. Skretta and explained why the prom assembly was necessary,” Cuttita said. During advisory Bryne and Cuttita discussed with Skretta how the assembly would benefit the student body. In every assembly such as Homecoming or the wrestling assemblies each class takes part in activities like class games or performances by the Pommies. The biggest problem would be how the underclassmen would be incorporated into the assembly. “Dr. Skretta was very reasonable and he liked what we had to say. We really discussed what the assembly would look like and how it would benefit,” Bryne said. After many emails between advisers and Skettra, the assembly was approved. During the assembly the candidates were announced and escorted each other. Each candidate was allowed one banner holder. Along with the candidates came the Hula Hotties performed following. After three years of begging, students got their first Prom assembly Friday, April 9, in the big gym.


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Issue 9 by The Northmen's Log - Issuu