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“Whenever the light goes out, close your eyes and put the paper over your head. No one will see you.”

‘Key Club’s ‘Backpack Project’ helps kids to achieve in school pg. 3

The key to success:

Making an impact: Teaching wasnʼt always Jeffrey Daggʼs passion--or job, for that matter. pg. 5 January 28, 2005 Volume XVI, Issue 5

Shirk names new assistant principal According to an e-mail from superintendent Evelyn Shirk, on Jan. 24, Joseph A. Monte became interin assistant principal at the high school and the middle school.

After being principal for nine years in the Van Buren Public School District, Monte retired in 2003.

Also on Jan 24, the rest of the administrative chain moved up. Andrea Glynn became a full time assistant principal at the high school, Patrick Little became principal and Glen Stevenson became assistant superintendent.

Because none of the positions are permanent, except for Stevenson’s, Shirk said internal interviews for the the permanent principal position will be held on March 31.

Concussion testing to take place in February Brandon Mayotte image edittor

Athletic Trainer Linda Nareski has started a new project that will help diagnose concussions in student athletes.

According to Nareski, the project consists of a series of tests that will compare reaction time and memory of various athletes in high risk sports.

The testing is done on a computer program taking 20 to 30 minutes for each athlete. Testing will take place during fifth and sixth hour starting on Jan. 31.

Nareski said testing should continue throughout the school year until all selected freshman through juniors have been tested.

Nareski said she is focusing on sports such as football, men’s and women’s soccer, hockey, wrestling, and possibly men’s and women’s basketball.

“Because sports are getting more and more aggressive, more concussions are happening,” Nareski said. “(Concussions are beginning to) affect the schoolwork and learning of students.”

Dexter High School 2200N. Parker Road Dexter, MI 48130

Take a look inside: The Squall introduces our own version of MTVʼs Cribs. pg. 5

State regulations worry teachers

“

Sarah Craft editor in chief

It’s really just a wait and see type of thing right now.

We asked the state of Michigan for clarification on the requirements and are waiting for their reply.

English and speech teacher Debora Marsh stood in front of her fifth hour speech class on the first day of the new semester and informed her students she was not highly qualified to teach the class.

“What can you teach?” a student asked.

“Only Engligh classes,” Marsh said.

Despite Marsh’s qualifications, this semester she is teaching three speech classes and only two English classes.

According to Marsh, she is highly qualified to teach speech under the national No Child Left Behind Act but not under the state’s qualifications.

“I don’t have an endorsement from the state,” she said. “When I first started teaching in 1983 I could teach journalism, English, speech and pretty much any other English related class.

“In 1994 the state added endorsements for the teachers and a specific one was added to teach speech classes.”

And unlike NCLB, Marsh can’t create a portfolio to show her qualifications. She has to go back to school.

“I’ve been checking with Eastern and Wayne State to see how I can get an endorsement,” she said. “At this point it looks like I’m going to have to take some classes. However, I might just decide not to teach debate, speech or forensics anymore.”

Marsh said, though, that probably wouldn’t be the best for the students or the school.

“Since 1994 the Dexter debate team has qualified for states every year, and since then we’ve had three state titles,” she said. “We’ve had kids in final round at the state tournament almost every year in forensics, and it woould be a waste to throw all of the students’ talent away.”

Marsh isn’t the only teacher in this situation either.

Journalism teacher Rod Satterthwaite cannot teach newspaper or yearbook, and drama teacher Harry Wilcox cannot teach acting.

Although no one knows for sure, principal Patrick Little said the school is going to wait and see what’s going to happen.

“We asked the state of Michigan for clarification on the requirements and are waiting for their reply,” he said.

Marsh said teachers might have to get moved around in order to teach classes where they are qualified under the nation and the state.

She thinks that is too bad, “I might have to teach all English classes next year and all of my speech classes would have to go to another teacher,” she said. “I think I’m a pretty good speech teacher.

I have 20 years experience, and I think I’ve helped a lot of kids in that time period because of how I teach speech and how the students learn from me.”

”

- Patrick Little, Principal

Rule breaker: English teacher Deb Marsh begins her fifth hour speech class at the sound of the bell. Although she is not qualified under state requirements to teach speech classes, Marsh teaches three this semester.

New state standards leaves some teachers unqualifed to teach their classes.

Keepin it real: During his lunch hour, journalism teacher Rod Satterthwaite checks an e-mail sent from Walsworth yearbook company about pages that the plant was having problems with. Satterthwaite has been teaching journalism for 12 years but is not certified to teach it according to state requirements.

Photo by Sarah Craft

Parent refuses to pay for parking pass Michelle Svetkoff managing editor

source: District sources and Noreen Wolcott

Her son Thane, who graduated last year, paid $50 to park in the student parking lot. But since the district discovered a $1.5 million surplus in September 2004, Noreen Wolcott believes that the parking pass fee needs to end.

“The school system has not given a reason on why (students) should continue to pay,” Wolcott said. “Other than last year there was discussion when there was such a concern on the status of the school’s budget.”

When the surplus was discovered, the purpose of paying the fee seemed irrelevant to Wolcott who said she does not want her children to pay for unnecessary things.

“I don’t pay it. My kids pay it,” she said. “My kids pay for their own vehicles, their own insurance, their own gas, and don’t have $1.5 million that they don’t know about sitting in

their bank accounts.”

In fact, Wolcott said she sent Superintendent Evelyn Shirk an e-mail stating her views and asking for a refund of the parking pass fee her son Thane paid last year.

Shirk, however said she never received Wolcott’s e-mail .

According to Wolcott, students driving to school actually save the school money. Last year a total of $17,743 was collected from student parking pass fees from an estimated of 354 students driving to school.

Wolcott said to fit all the students who drive to school onto school buses, as least five additional buses would be needed. With a bus costing $63,754, approximately $320,000 would need to be spent, excluding bus driver salaries and repair costs, for all of the students to be transported home.

Wolcott said the additional $320,000 saved from students driv-

ing could help different needs of the school. “Teachers want books,” she said. “I know people, especially at the lower elementary grades, want more teachers. The schools also need to have custodians.”

Shirk, though, said that the amount of money saved by students driving to school isn’t so cut and dried.

“Parking lots cost money to build, maintain and monitor,” Shirk said.

“When a student’s car is broken into, the police liaison and generally building administrators are involved in the investigation. These people are paid by the district; therefore, a cost is incurred.”

Even so, Wolcott believes that the school needs to work on their financial organization.

“Students are obligated to do their homework, follow their teacher’s rules, etc.,” Wolcott said. “The school district needs to reassess their financial organization.”

Dexter parent concerned by parking pass fee when surplus discovered by district.

Students make donations to support tsunami fund Counselor gives birth to baby boy on Jan. 7 Counselor Mollie Kemp delivered Andrew Tasch Kemp at St. Joe’s hospital at 2 a.m. on Jan 7.

“Mollie is doing well,” her husband Greg Kemp said.

Kemp’s father Bill Tasch has taken over her counselor position until she returns. Tasch, now retired, was a DHS counselor and a 35+ years district employee.

Model UN students start fund that goes to the world wide UNICEF disaster relief fund, raises more than $500 in the first three days of collecting

Sarah Craft editor in chief

Sophomore and Model UN member Andrew Keller sat at a small white table by the entranceway of the lunchroom.

A box that said UNICEF with red markers sat in front of him and a sign reading “Donate your money to the tsunami victims” hung behind him.

Some students walked by him without looking up, but many stopped to put in their spare change or a dollar.

According to model UN adviser Angela Chea, on the first day, Model UN raised over $160 during lunch and almost $500 in the first three days.

Keller said that Model UN wanted to do something to help the people effected by the tsunami, and they thought donating money would be the best way.

“We felt that the victims needed help in the long run, and UNICEF was a great place to go through,” he said.

“Most of the other organations collecting money are only going to do it for the first few months and quit after that. UNICEF is still going to be there after all of the other organizations quit.”

However, Dexter’s donations aren’t stopping at the high school.

According to a districtwide e-mail sent by Community Service and Leadership (CS&L) advisors Val Berryman and Macy Selecman, the CS&L class at Mill Creek suggested the “Let’s Join Hands and Reach out to the Tsunami Victims” project.

According to the e-mail, each student in the district who donates one dollar to the fund, will write his/her name on a hand cut out. Each building can display the hands.

Eventually, Berryman and Selec-

man hope to string all of the hands in the district together to see how far it reaches.

When Model UN found out about the district wide project, they realized that was a great way to raise even more money.

However, Chea thinks groups are going to have to think of different ways to get people to donate money.

“We were really happy with how much money we got in the first few days, but by the last day, a lot fewer people came to donate,” she said.

“It’s going to be hard for clubs to get more people to donate their money because it seems like those who wanted to donate already have.

“Making it a district wide fundraiser will help a lot, but it will be hard to get a lot more from the high school students,” she said.

“If every student helps just a little bit and donates a little bit of money, it will make a huge difference.”

Photo by Sarah Craft

Saving the world: Sticking a poster to a wall in the hallway, sophomore Andrew Keller hopes to draw attention to the tsunami relif. On the first day, Model UN raised $160 for tsunami relief.

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Friday, January 28, 2005

Exam schedule change affects students Sara Newell circulation manager

Due to the number of school service hours required by the state of Michigan, Dexter High School was forced to change its exam schedule so that exams take place over a two day period rather than a three day period as in previous years.

“In order for the school to stay inline with Michigan education standards, we had to change the exam days,” vice principal Andrea Glynn said.

“We are required to be at school for a certain number of compliance hours and basically we were out of them and had to put the exams into a two day time.

“It wasn’t in the administration’s control, just something that had to be done,” Glynn said.

Even though the exams are pushed closer together, Glynn said she is confident that DHS students can handle it.

“Students here can handle the exam change,” she said. “It’s stressful, but other schools such as Chelsea and Saline have had to change their schedules too,” she said.

“I think that our students will step up to the challenge and will perform well. “However not all students see the schedule change as a challenge that they can handle.

“I really don’t like it,” sopho-

more Sarah Rademaker said. “Having the exams so close to each other is so stressful.”

“Last year was much more relaxed, cramming three exams in a day is too much.”

Junior Emily Dyer agrees.

“Having three exams in one day makes it harder to study for each exam because they’re closer together,” she said.

Even though the revised exam schedule stressed some students out, others say that it will be beneficial.

“The schedule will prepare students for the type of stress they will experience in college with their college finals and midterms,” secretary Joan Whitehead said.

“In college they don’t care if you have three exams in one day. Having our exams like that will prepare the upperclassmen for those exams.”

But not all students are stressing out about the schedule changes. “I don’t really care,” sophomore Tom Neil said. “It doesn’t stress me out, or change the way I look at exams or how I should study for them.”

Though the exam change has thrown off some students and teachers having to adjust to the changes, Glynn thinks that students will be able to handle it.

She said, “Having the exams changed this year puts a lot of stress on students and teachers, however I think that the students at DHS will handle the exam stress well.”

Snow days raise curiosity With the recent snow days, students worry about having to stay longer in June Kendall Goode photo manager

Photo by Kevin McLaughlin

Having a ball: Junior Ryan Yuenger enjoys the fresh snow while sledding in his back yard.

Some parents and students have raised concerns about the four re- tion indicates that it is unsafe to cent snow days and how they will transport students, I will cancel school.” affect the end of the year.

Shirk also said the number of According to a letter posted on the district’s website by Superin- dirt roads in the district affects the tendent Evelyn Shirk, “A tremen- descision to close school.

“There are 343 dous amount bus stops on of time, energy pavement and thought and 299 stops goes into each I make the final on dirt,” she decision to said. decision on whethclose school.”

“There are According er school is open or 24 first run to this letter, bus routes, 16 Director of closed. of which are Transportaimpacted by tion, “Bob -Evelyn Shirk, dirt roads.”

Poor, reports Shirk said Superintendent to work bethe district tween 3-4 a.m. is allowed on each day 30 hours of when we have weather that might interfere with the safe transport of missed school time before it begins to affect the end of the school year. students to and from school.

“To date, the amount of time we Typically, he drives a bus or his personal 4-wheel vehicle on the have missed as a result of weather roads busses must travel in order and road conditions has not impacted our last school day in June.” to pick up and drop off students.

Other than driving around the Shirk wrote.

She also said that there are plans back roads, Shirk said Poor also contacts transportation directors to continue to try to find ways to from other area schools and moni- keep the school open on inclement tors reports from the National weather days.

She said, “I met with the buildWeather Service. ing administrators and the Direc“Once Bob has a recommendation on road conditions, he calls tor of Transportation yesterday to talk about school closing protocol, me,” she wrote.

“I make the final decision on “and to brainstorm ways to have the schools open on inclement weather whether school is open or closed.

If the Director of Transporta- days,” she said.

“

”

Illustration by Mike Vickers

Antidepressants help students get through rough times Antidepressant medication helps some students get over their problems Christina Field staff writer

Five years after his mother’s death, freshman Anarajando Johnson (names changed to protect privacy) went to the University of Michigan hospital with his dad and stepmom. After talking to doctors for about five hours, they diagnosed him with depression.

Johnson said his depression is genetic from his mother and from his mother’s death. Johnson was, he said, depressed for those five years but “didn’t even feel a difference in emotion because it was so gradual.”

Once the doctors diagnosed him, they prescribed him 20mg of Celexa, which he has been taking every day for the past two years. Johnson said the medications have helped him a lot, and that he can tell the difference when he doesn’t take them. When he forgets he ecomes more emotional and negative.

“If I forget (my medications) - like say over a (school) break - I’ll think

HOMEMADE CALZONES TUESDAY FEB 8TH

empty into his arm when he found she had danced with another guy.

Jones’s therapist prescribed him Zoloft for depression. He felt side effects, and it made it difficult for him to sleep. So he was then prescribed Wellbutin. Once on the medications, Jones had a lot of mood swings, and it was hard to know what he would do next.

One time Dalton was studying for exams while Jones was over at her house. She had told him she was trying to concentrate on her studies, and he decided to go home. “He started walking home and was swaying close to the cars passing by, he wanted to be hit,” Dalton said.

Jones continued to cut himself.

“He would get really frustrated with (the antidepressants) because he hated the idea that he’d need medications to make him happy, that the stabiility or happiness he had would be unnatural,” Dalton said.

It was after they broke up that Jones OD’d on heroin and decided to take himself off the medication.

“If you get on antidepressant medication, you have to make sure you’re equipped to be consistant, and not drink because it’ll (mess) you up good,” Dalton suggested. She also said to “find a therapist and make sure it’s a really good therapist because if your first one is really bad it will ruin the idea of going to a therapist for the rest of your life.”

Depression at DHS (183 DHS students surveyed) •Using antidepressants: 14% •Not using medications : 86% •Have used antidepressants: 5% •Know people using antidepressant: 72% Using antidepressants: •Zoloft - 16% •Prozac - 28% •Celexa - 16% •Paxil - 8% •Effexor - 12% •Other - 16% Using antidepressants for: •Depression - 80% •Anxiety - 32% •Eating Disorders - 20% •PMS - 4% •Other - 4% Been using antidepressants for: •1-2 years - 72% •3-4 years - 8% •5 or more years - 20% Students on medications who have found them to be...

•Very effective - 36% •Somewhat effective - 52% •Not very effective - 4% •Counterproductive - 8%

Koenig turns down admin position With his teaching job not guaranteed, social studies teacher decides to pass on chance to become assistant principal, opting to stay in classroom instead Dan Munson staff writer

Because he wasn’t sure he could get his high school teaching job back if he didn’t like his administrative position, social studies teacher Ken Koenig has decided not to accept the assistant principal position vacated by Andrea Glynn.

Principal Glen Stevenson’s move to assistant superintendent sparked a chain reaction that caused assistant principal Pat Little’s move to principal.

Andrea Glynn’s then moved to Little’s position as full-time assistant principal at the high school.

The Squall initially reported that Koenig would accept Glynn’s position, splitting time between Mill Creek and the high school. But after considering how the move would affect his future career choices, Koenig decided to continue

WINTER WARM-UP SPECIAL GRILLED CHEESE THRUSDAY FEB 3RD

about how only half the break is left and I’ll have to go back to school and it sucks. (And I’ll think) what’s the point? And I’ll get really depressed...

“It sucks when I’m in a happy situation and I get sad and then I get even more sad because I know I should be happy.”

Being on antidepressants seems to have helped Johnson though, and he hasn’t experienced any side effects.

Many side effects can come with antidepressant medications, however, including nausea, headaches, an increases and decrease in sex drive, anxiety, change in sleep patterns, and depression.

Dexter graduate Lance Jones experience with medications didn’t go as smoothly, and it eventually ended with him getting off his medications.

Maria Dalton said after she and Jones broke up after their year-long relationship, Jones started doing heavy drugs.

“He did a lot, like he’d go too school (messed) up and finally he overdosed on heroin,” she said.

Jones started the antidepressants a few years ago when he was a freshman. “He started cutting himself in middle school, probably seventh or eighth grade,” Dalton said.

Dalton said that he would draw scary pictures, punch walls, cry, go crazy at hard rock concerts and that even one time he had carved the word

Photo by Mike Vickers

Taking interest: Social studies teacher Ken Koenig answers a question from one of his third hour students. Koening recently passed on the job of assistant principal. teaching at the high school instead of becoming an administrator.

“I would have loved to have taken the position, but at the same time, come June, I could be out of a job if (the administration) doesn’t like my performance,” Koenig said.

“If it was completely based on my choice and my decisions, I’d say no problem, and I would’ve taken the job, but I would’ve had to depend on other people and their decisions.”

Teacher’s union president, Joe Romeo, said there are two provisions in the teachers’ contract that present problems when dealing with situations such as Koenig’s.

“The union and board of education, need to agree on how to inter-

pret this combination of sections,” Romeo said.

“You need to agree what position (teachers) come back to (after their leave of absence).”

The interim tag the position would carry means that at the end of the year, Koenig’s performance would be evaluated and then it would be decided whether he stays in that position or not.

Under the current contract, if removed as an administrater, Koenig would not be guaranteed his current teaching job back.

Because of this risk, Koenig decided to stay with his teaching job, a move he feels comfortable with.

“I get to have an impact on kids on

a daily basis (as a teacher),” he said.

Superintendent Evelynn Shirk said that she thought Koenig would be a qualified applicant to replace Glynn as assistant principal.

“He is very qualified for the job and had the support of many on the staff,” she said. “(He) was the number one choice of the interview committee.”

Koenig said his desire to move up will always keep him interested in future administrative job openings, but after considering the possible ramifications, this wasn’t the time to make the move.

He said, “I’m always interested, because (being an administrator) is a way to impact people.”

Friday, January 28, 2005

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features

I’m going to put this under my Christmas tree.

Usually there’s nothing under there, but this year everyone will have something because I’m going to share.

”

-Howe Elementary student

Photo by Mike Vickers

Defying all odds: Senior Tom Szymanski looks to become succesful in acting or designing video games. He hopes to move to Los Angelos and move to UCLA.

The final act Senior looks for a career in acting after starting at the young age of nine Kendall Goode Photo Manager

Nine year old Tom Szymanski sat nervously awaiting tryouts for a Dexter Community Players production of “The Music Man.” The part he was trying out for was for Winthrop and it was his first tryout for any production.

“My mom was in the play with a choir role, and I thought it sounded like fun,” Szymanski said.

Since that first role, Szymanski has been in at least a dozen productions both in and out of the school drama program.

Most recently he’s played one of his favorite roles, Lloyd in “Noises Off.” “It was fun to play him because he is just angry and British,” Szymanski said.

In addition to his acting, Szymanski enjoys doing impressions and says he’s been doing them for as long as he can remember.

Tom is a “The first one I ever did very diwas Pinky from ‘Pinky and the Brain’,” which he said rectable followed with an impression of Pinky. actor.

Besides Pinky, Szymanski also admires Will Ferrell and says he’s always doing impressions of him.

“I do Will Ferrell impres-Harry Wilcox sions all the time. I have a drama director man crush on Will Ferrell.”

Drama Director Harry Wilcox, has worked with Szymanski for the past few years and believes he is an excellent actor.

“Tom is a very directable actor,” Wilcox said. “I’d like to see him get an internship in acting in theater or film.”

Szymanski does have plans to continue a career in acting and other dramatic arts.

“What I’d like to do is move to Los Angeles, work and live there and go to UCLA,” he said.

But before moving to the west coast he plans to take some basic courses at Washtenaw Community College.

Szymanski wouldn’t mind getting into films either.

“I’d be happy doing one of two things, making one huge blockbuster, or one smaller cult classic,” Szymanski said. “I really love what Bruce Campbell has done.”

Although Szymanski enjoys doing the plays he does have other aspirations for life.

“If I weren’t an actor I’d want to be a video game designer,” Szymanski said.

He also said that he’s been playing video games ever since he was little and its just another fascination of his.

Right now Szymanski is getting ready for a performance in “Blood Brothers.” Although it is his last Dexter High School performance, he said he doesn’t plan on it being his last performance ever.

“It’s not much of a big deal,” Szymanski said about his last high school performance, “It’s more of a transitional period.”

“

”

Photo by Mark Messmore

Random act of kindness: Key Club member sophomore Tracy Duve hands a Howe Elementary student a backpack of school supplies. For some children it was the only gift they received this Christmas.

Key Club brings presents from ‘The North Pole’ Jennifer Allen staff writer Senior and Key Club president Mark Messmore stood in front of 25 members of the club to propose “The Backpack Project”.

As Messmore explained, the backpack project would provide school supplies, among other things to two first grade classes in Detroit who are less fortunate.

“The Club members were really supportive when I told them my idea,” Messmore said. “They really wanted to help out.”

Messmore first got this idea from his mother, who did a similar project at the school she teaches at in Brighton.

“When my mom told me about the project,” Messmore said, “she mentioned some of the thank you letters she had received.

“What they said I thought was sad. For many of those kids, the backpack had been the only thing under their Christmas tree that year. That’s when I knew I had to do something too.”

It was only shortly after the meeting in November that things really began to move.

“The whole project came together so fast,” Key Club adviser Amy Raus said. “And it has worked out better than imagined.”

Messmore started by talking to Mary-T’s, the restaurant he works at, to see if anyone wanted to donate money to the cause.

The customers rose magnificently to the occasion, donating over $200 and many of the items that were included in the backpacks.

In addition to the customers at Mary-T’s, Kiwanis and the Key Club donated a collective $800.

Key Club members then headed out to stores and piled their carts high with items like coloring books, scissors, puzzles, hats and gloves.

They got deals on most of the things they bought, some of the items down to 50% off.

Then they filled the backpacks with the school supplies and toys they bought, tying a colorful name tag with each child’s name on them.

On Dec. 17, four of the members, plus assistant principal Andrea Glynn and Raus, headed to Howe Elementary School in Detroit to hand the backpacks out.

Sophomore and Key Club member Adrienne Fasbinder said the kids were very happy with their gifts.

“They were so excited,” Fasbinder said.

“But they were more concerned about sharing. Some of them were telling us how they were going to share the extra pair of gloves with their siblings.”

According to Raus, the trip was very successful.

“Many of the kids were jumping up and down, they were so excited,” she said with a smile.

“They kept asking us if we were from The North Pole.”

According to Raus, one of the students said to her about the backpack, “I’m going to put this under my Christmas tree. Usually there’s nothing under there, but this year everyone will have something because I’m going to share.”

Fasbinder also said that the staff members at Howe were very happy with the key club members as well. “(Howe school staff) kept on saying how no one ever does things like this for them,” she said.

All in all, the experience was a very positive one, according to Raus.

“The whole thing ended up better than I could have imagined,” she said.

Messmore agrees.

“The whole experience was absolutely incredible,” he said. “It brought me to tears. It was one of those things that doesn’t just matter on the day it happened; it changed the way I look at the world.”

Have something to say?

Write a letter to the editor. Email us a letter at letters@thesquall.com

Dagg inspires many students Seth Porinsky staff writer

Few people know the variety of reasons for switching careers better than veteran engineering teacher Jeff Dagg.

Before he was a teacher, Dagg used to be a consultant.

Yet he said he was unhappy with his limited power.

“I decided I could do more of what I wanted if I owned my own consulting company,” Dagg said. “So I did.”

With a duo of partners, Dagg and Co. became very successful.

He said he enjoyed the work he was doing, going into the factories and talking with workers, but the wear and tear of traveling took it’s toll on him.

“I was on the road three or four days every week,” he said. “One day I came home from work, and my daughters would cry as I held them because they wouldn’t recognize me.”

Taking this as a sure sign that he wasn’t spending enough quality time with the family, Dagg sold his share of the company and sought employment elsewhere.

Eventually he turned to Dexter Community Schools.

“Originally I had intended to apply for tech support,” he said. “When they called me back, they told me I had an interview for teaching. I decided I would give it a shot anyway, and see what it was all about.”

The rest is history. Dagg went back to school to earn his teaching degree at the University of Michigan.

Since then Dagg has been teaching engineering classes: Design Drafting, Architecture, Electronics and Optics, Topics in Technology, Video Production and even some math classes.

He said he moved here from Ypsilanti recently though and Photo by Sarah Craft for a combination of reasons.

“After awhile I got tired of commuting from Ypsilanti to Dexter everyday,” Dagg said.

“On top of that, I really liked the community and wanted my children to go through the Dexter School system.”

Growing up in Redford, a blue-collar suburb outside Detroit, Dagg’s father worked for GM. This piqued his original interest in engineering.

“I had a lot of hobbies growing up,” Dagg said. “I liked model airplanes, ping pong, photography, astronomy, kayaking, woodcarving, and even puppetry.“ Most of these hobbies are history now, though.

“When I got married, my family became my hobby,” Dagg said with a laugh, noting that he has little time for other things now.

In his free time, Dagg said he occasionally hops on a scooter to entertain his family. He has been married for 18 years and has two daughters.

He has been doing extracurricular activities as well.

Since 1996 he has annually headed the “Build Your Own Dream Vehicle” program, held by Daimler-Chrysler.

The teams he has sent to the competition have been fairly successful, winning the contest their first year and placing in the top four of the district regularly.

Entering his ninth year at Dexter High School, he is critically acclaimed by many students.

“He hasn’t just prepared me,” said senior Miles Hayes.

“He has opened new doorways for me that I never knew existed. From architecture to electronics, I have learned many things apart from the curriculum that have shaped my future.”

“He is a very organized man,” graduate Dan Hornback said. “He’s a pretty lighthearted guy, but you really have to get to know him before you can fully appreciate him and his humor.”

Michael Vollbrecht, another graduate has a similar appreciation for Dagg.

“He seemed as if he wanted you to succeed, and I think that’s what really set him apart from other teachers,” he said. “Not that other teachers didn’t want you to succeed.”

Both graduates had a similar account of an event that happened during their junior year at Dexter.

“One time, there was this kid that liked to slap people on the back. Dagg grew pretty tired of this trend,” Vollbrecht said.

“He approached the kid and told him, ‘no more backslapping rituals.’ That was definitely one of the highlights of that class.”

Many of Dagg’s current students realize the important lessons he has taught and beyond.

“Mr. Dagg is an inspiration to me,” Hayes said. “He is the God of electronics and should have a statue built in the center courtyard in his honor.”

To graduating seniors like Hayes, Dagg recommends to keep options open.

“Start thinking about (careers) now,” he said. “Make sure you have several different (career) ideas in your head. They always tell you to have one main focus, but the average adult is likely to encounter several different career changes.”

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Friday, January 28, 2005

Great things learned from The Great Depression Hilary McCown copy editor

Photo by Mike Vickers

Learning from the elderly: Elaine Hawker, who lived through The Great Depression tells her story to American History and Literature students. Hawker was one of many community members who lived through this time to tell her story in the library on Jan. 17.

Sitting in the library, freshmen American Studies students anxiously awaited the arrival of 10 senior citizens, coming to share their life stories about living through the Great Depression. At 10 minutes after 10:00, the students became restless and impatient, wondering why their seniors speaker were late.

The students were excited. Many of them felt that learning what these people went though first hand will be much more interesting than simply reading a book.

“It’s not just hearing information,” freshman Matt Cambridge said. “It’s hearing real facts from real people who lived though (the Depression).”

American studies teacher Zach Lindke agrees.

“It gives (students) a more personal connection,” he said. “Things that they value now, they’ll be able to compare to what people of their same age valued then.”

At 10:15 the seniors finally arrive. Whispers like “Awww, aren’t they cute?” and “Finally!” spread throughout the room. As each one settles in with groups of four or five students, they begin their stories about living through the stock market crash of 1929 and the difficult years that followed.

Agnes White was in high school during the depression, graduating in 1933. She grew up in a small town called Suttons Bay, just north of Traverse City.

Living in a farming community, White said she didn’t really suffer that much. Her father had a vegetable garden, orchards, and a lot of land, as well as his own dentistry business, and her mother enjoyed canning food. As a result, her family was fairly well-off.

White had never really thought of her family as having money trouble.

“No one had much back then,” she said. “I had two dresses in high school but so did everyone else. But I remember one time I wanted to go into Traverse City to see a movie and my father said, ‘No, we can’t afford it.’ I was shocked.”

Students were also shocked to hear this news.

Many seemed to think that everyone during the Great Depression was extremely poor, having barely enough money for food and shelter, much less a movie. The questions students asked included “How was life difficult for you during The Depression?” and “Did you have less food and clothing?”

“I thought that a lot of people durring The Depression didn’t have a lot of money,” fresman Kelsi King said. “I was really suprised.”

Reality hit harder when White discussed the well-fare of others in her home town. “(People) who couldn’t af-

Tobias plays guitar for friends, family Stephanie Rushlow business manager

A faint sigh of relief breaks the silence at Foggy Bottom Coffee House.

With her guitar in hand, senior Kim Tobias looks out at all the familiar faces of friends and family. Filled with nervousness, Tobias strums her guitar to begin her solo.

“Foggy Bottom was actually my first performance, and I was really excited,” Tobias said.

“I invited all my friends, so there were a lot of people that I knew.”

In addition to a room full of friends, Tobias’ family also came to enjoy her music. Tobias’ mother, who plays celtic music, performed before her at Foggy Bottom that night.

“My brother and my mom taught me how to play the guitar,” she said. “My mom has played the gui-

tar since she was about my age, and she taught my brother, who taught me. My mom has played for a long time and she has performed in coffee houses all over.”

Since a very young age, Tobias knew she had a passion for music. Growing up in a musical family only made that passion stronger.

“I’ve played the guitar for about four years now, and I’ve just recently started performing she said. When I was younger, we would sing in Church, and I would sing in school.”

Though Tobias’ musical talents have not always come easy, she said her struggles make the sound of victory even sweeter.

“I write my own music along with playing what other people have written, and writing your own music is really very hard,”

she said. “It’s a lot to practice but my goal is to have my own CD out. That would be my dream.”

Through the good times and the bad, Tobias has always had her music. From writing her song lyrics to expressing herself through her guitar,Tobias’ family has always had faith in her to share music.

“I wasn’t really sure about performing at Foggy Bottom at first, but my mom just kind of suggested it one day,” she said.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Tobias took her advice and found herself in a coffee shop in front of an audience.

“I was a little nervous at first because there were so many people there that I knew,” she said. But if I mess up, I would just laugh it off because no one would know anyway.”

Feelin’ groovy: Warming up in the choir room, senior Kim Tobias practices with the class. Tobias has been singing since a very young age and has played guitar for four years.

Photo by Sarah Craft

The Great Depression Population: 123,188,000 in 48 states Life expectancy: Male 58.1 Female 61.6 Unemployment rises to 25 % Car sales: 2,787,400 Food Prices: Milk 14 cents per qt Bread 9 cents per loaf Round steak 42 cents per pound Farm prices fell 65% Facts from http://auburn.edu/ and http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu

ford to pay in cash would work out a sort of barter system,” she said. Instead of paying with cash, people without a lot of money would give things like bushels of apples, homemade butter and preserves.

Since White’s father owned his own buisness during The Depression, he was one of those who let others pay with goods instead of money. According to White, everyone he let go without payment ended up paying him back in the end.

Whether it was reality or simply seeing elderly people relive their difficult times, something struck the students that day.

“I really appreciate them coming out and talking to us,” freshman Rowan Beck said. “It put me in somebody else’s shoes, and I have a better understanding of the reality than I would have if we had just read about it in class.”

Freshmen

Seniors

Illustration by Jared Myers

Freshman, seniors approach exams differently Jenny Heldt features editor

Although senior Steve Cavanaugh and freshman Janelle Heldt are only one floor apart during sixth hour, they seem to be worlds apart when it comes to preparation for exam time.

As Cavanaugh leans back in his chair, surfing the Internet the week before exams, Heldt studies hard in IPS trying to cram for her upcoming tests.

“I used to care (about exams),” Cavanaugh said. “I needed good grades to get into college, but I’ve already been accepted to Western, and that’s where I want to go. Exam time is no big deal for me anymore.”

Cavanaugh said he does need to keep his GPA above a 2.8 in order to go to Western next fall.

“No problem,” he said. “That’s easy

for me. I only have to focus on Calculus, but usually I get all my Calc. homework done sixth hour, because I am one of Mr. Baird’s four teacher aids.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Heldt feels the full pressure of semester exams.

“I am really bad at taking tests and exams,” she said. “Exams are a large portion of student’s grades, and I am just starting my records that colleges look at. So I have to do well.”

Even though he isn’t worried about his exams this year, Cavanaugh knows firsthand what Heldt is going through right now.

“As an underclassman I always feared exam time,” he said. “My parents always pressured me to do well.

Exams really mess with your life.

You have to do well on exams to get good grades so you can go to a good college, so you can get a good job, so you can make enough money.”

Cavanaugh and Heldt agreed that exams, as an underclassman, are stressful. But one thing they disagreed on was the four recent snow days and how they affected exam preparation.

“Of course I enjoyed the days off,” Heldt said. “They just didn’t help relieve any stress. If anything, they added to my stress. I was wondering how my teachers would fit everything in before exam time, and on top of that we had fewer days to review all of it.”

Meanwhile, Cavanaugh, laid back and relaxed, said. “I love snow days. There is nothing stressful about them, and even better, I don’t have to make any of them up.”

However, just like Cavanaugh used to, Heldt will make up the snow days and continue to feel the pressure from semester exams. “I’ll feel better when exams are over,” Heldt said. “My sister told me that the first round is the hardest. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”

Friday, January 28, 2005

the Squall

entertainment

Bling blingin’ at the

Schultz’s

5

Sophomore’s ‘Crib’ features many abstract angles Raleigh Holmes morale manager

Sophomore Kelsey Schultz lives in a three year old 4,300 square foot house that sits on one and a half acres in Upper Glade Court. She lives with her parents, three cats and a dog.

Some distinctive things about Schultz’s house are the abstract angles; the roof is completely flat and every door is eight feet tall.

In the front hall the piano room, screened in front porch, her dad’s office, the living room, the kitchen, the back porch and the dining room are visible.

The piano room consists of a couch, a couple chairs, a coffee table and, of course, a piano. Schultz enjoys playing the piano and has been playing for about five years now.

Connected to the piano room is a screened in porch with chairs and a table.

A self-employed car dealer, Mr. Schultz’s study is a unique room which has part of it shaped as a half circle. With burnt orange walls the room consists of a chair in front of a TV, a desk with a chair behind it and its own porch looking into the back yard.

Next door to the study, the living room and kitchen share a giant room. The living room contains a couch, some chairs, a fireplace with fake logs and a brand new 52 inch flat screen TV The kitchen has a very modern look mixed in with a rain forest vibe. All of the appliances are made out of stainless steel. The floor is Brazilian trees and the shades in the room are bamboo.

The kitchen table has four chairs surrounding it with a funky lamp hanging above it. The table over looks the back porch and yard.

“I love our back yard,” Schultz said. “There is a pond out there that has a bunch of fish that my dad always feeds, and I always wanted to build a tree house back in the woods while the house was being built. In the summer I like to use it as a driving range and hit golf balls back there.”

Adjacent to the kitchen is the dining room which has a table with six chairs and pictures and cases of china against the walls. “We don’t really eat in here unless we have a lot of family over or something,” she said.

Going down the stairs to the basement there are frosted glass blocks just high enough to not be able to reach.

The basement opens up into a room with workout equipment in one corner, a bar across the room and two couches set up in front of a gigantic television in the middle of the room.

“We still haven’t gotten around to finishing this room. We are going to put in some mirrors by the workout equipment and hang some pictures,” Schultz said.

The bigger of the two couches has a massaging feature and a built in speaker phone to it.

“Whenever I have friends over we come down here,” Schultz said. “This year I had two of the swim team’s sleep overs, and we all hung out here in the basement.”

The upstairs consists of Schultz’s parent’s room, her mom’s office, a bathroom, a laundry room, Schultz’s room, her bathroom and a guest bedroom.

Schultz’s parent’s room has a bed, some chairs, a walk in closet, a bathroom, and a porch. “Whenever they are gone I use their bathroom because it’s so nice,” Schultz said.

Some of the luxuries two sinks, a

two headed shower and a Jacuzzi bath tub.

Mrs. Schultz office has a classy but edgy look to it. “My mom pretty much lives in there,” Schultz said.

The office has a connecting balcony to the parent’s room.

The laundry room also has a porch, but this one connects to the guest room. “I love having the laundry room right across the hall from my room so I can just throw all my dirty clothes right in there,” Schultz said.

Schultz’s room is a self-designed, tropical-based room complete with a window seat, walk in closet, and its own bathroom and vanity in front of a mirror.

With tons of pictures of friends scattered across the room, framed pictures of beautiful beaches and oceans that Schultz took herself while on different vacations, also catch the eye.

“I themed my room kind of tropical because I love warm places,” Schultz said.

Across the hall from Schultz’s room is the guest bedroom. With a porch, two enormous closets and a collection of porcelain dogs that her mom likes to buy at the art fair in Ann Arbor every summer, the room gives off a very homey feeling for any visitors.

Making up their three car garage are a Jeep Grand Cherokee that belongs to Schultz, a Jeep Liberty that belongs to her mom, a BMW convertible as the family’s summer car and her dad has a different car daily due to his job.

“All my friends call my house the ‘Tokyo House’,” Schultz said. “They think it looks like it belongs in Japan because of the flat roof and the bamboo.”

photos by Raliegh Holmes

The Tokyo house: Kelsey Shultz takes us on a tour of her luxurious home, including her porch (top), her kitchen (middle), and her livingroom (bottom). Shultz says her friends call it the Tokyo house because of its flat roof and bamboo.

Online journals: when personal thoughts go public How much is too much when spilling your thoughts online?

Molly Brewster morale manager

Photo by Mike vickers

Workin’ them keys: According to livejournal.com, there are 385 posts a minute and 5,839,299 total journals on livejournal.com. This doesn’t count Xangas or Blogs, two other kinds of online journals.

While senior Amy Smith* was busy at school, she had no idea that her mom was at home reading her online journal. And as her mother read each entry, she learned things that she had never planned on her knowing.

“I had only had an online journal for a month when my mom came across it,” Smith said. “I probably had only updated it a few times around Christmas, New Year’s and big events like that.” Unfortunately for her, what her mom found in her entries was very upsetting.

“My mom was online checking her e-mail and somehow noticed the link to my online journal,” Smith said.

“She didn’t think much of it because all it said was my name, but she decided to click on it anyway.

“She read about a couple of times when I had lied to her,” Smith said.

“Once on a snow day I said that I was just taking someone home. The weather was still really bad, so my parents didn’t want me driving too much. Instead of just taking the person home, I picked some other people up and drove somewhere else to go sledding.”

Besides Smith’s mom realizing that her daughter had lied to her about sledding, she also discovered what Smith had done past weekends without her parents knowledge. “My mom read about my friends, and I playing drinking games and a trip that I took to Planned Parenthod.” she said.

Although Smith had updated her journal less than five times, her mom was able to click on links that led to the online journals of her friends where she found out about parties Smith had attended.

“I have really realized how dumb online journals are,” Smith said.

“My mom wouldn’t have found out so much if she had just read mine, but then she clicked on some of my friends who talk about every party

they go to and every person there.”

Smith realized her mom had read her online journal after her mom would subtly drop hints about things she had done over the past weekend but not told her about.

“My mom and I would be talking and she would mention something that I was sure I never told her about,” she said. “At first I thought she found out from my sister, but then I realized my sister didn’t even know some of the stuff my mom was talking about.”

After Smith realized her mom was regularly reading her online journal, she created an entry directed at her mom. “I pretty much just called her out for reading it,” she said. “I was sick of both of us knowing something was going on and just wanted to get the punishment over.”

The repercussions of writing in an online journal were not very severe for Smith. “My mom wasn’t really mad about what she read. It was more just the fact I was honest with her,” she said. “She just sat me down and had a ‘mom talk’ about everything. It wasn’t as big a deal as I thought she would make it.”

Even though her punishment wasn’t was as bad as she expected, Smith believes writing in an online

journal is overated. “If I knew all that was going to come from writing a few things online, I definitely wouldn’t have done it,” she said. “I knew that anyone in the world could read it, I just didn’t think that that many people do read them. I didn’t even think my mom knew what online journals were.”

Although Smith is amazed by how many people read online journals, she acknowledges the reason that she created one is because she enjoyed reading other peoples. “I started an online journal because I liked to read other people’s,” she said. “It was fun to read about someone who I had never talked to before but seen at school. You kind of know them even though you have never talked to them before.”

Even though reading and writing in online journal began as fun, Smith doesn’t feel the same way anymore. “From my experience nothing positive comes from having an online journal,” she said. “I was lucky that I didn’t get in very much trouble for what I wrote. There are some people that would not only screw over themselves but screw over a lot of other people if their online journal was read.” *Name changed for privacy

6

the Squall

Friday, January 28, 2004

th e

• A true showcase of the teenage lifestyle

Mike Vickers design editor

It is Thursday night. We wipe the pearl drops of condensation from our tall glasses of Cherry Coke and off the clicker. We turn up the volume on our new national teenage anthem.

“The OC” runs in the vein of the classic prime time television shows like “Beverly Hills 90210”.

But with the recent barrage of reality TV coming from the big networks, it leaves teen viewers with an extra dose of hormones hitting our blood streams as every second passes, yearning for something that we can relate to, something more, well, real.

“The OC” with a lot of problems teenagers, and everybody else in the real world, have to deal with. It’s about adversity. It’s about fighting the system; we are all Ryan, just one person armed with nothing but dignity and a killer smile, who feels like they’re up against the whole Orange County, armed with hot girls and other social WMDs. It’s just enough to tide us over until a time when we finally realize that there are no WMDs and that the whole thing was an illusion.

The upper vs. lower class hierarchy that is at work in modern high schools has become a throbbing cold sore in some teenagers’ lives. Ryan tries throughout the season to fit in and show the snobby upper class Americans that they’ve made a mistake. They’ve misjudged him, proving that a large group of upper class Americans can make serious misjudgments on one single person.

“The OC” is an almost poetic support of individuality, a value this country is swiftly loosing, despite its immutable place in the basis of our country. It is as basic as separation of church and state, or the right to bear arms.

At the rate our country is growing, there is going to be a cross atop the White House (the guns will probably stay).

One of the OC’s main messages discusses how children of upper middle to upper class parents are slowly becoming dangerously spoiled by their successful parents. If they become too dependent, they will not understand what it’s like to live in the real world. And as they become more naive with passing time, they become a burden to all who are near them.

At this moment, it is rare that any American hasn’t suf-

fered from the actions of at least one person born “with a silver spoon” that screws everything up.

Despite the value of the moral content “The OC” has to offer, some people just don’t find the show enjoyable.

“I hate that show. (It’s) absolutely horrendous,” senior Whitney Holmes said. “But Adam Broady is cute though.”

But sophomore William Frieseman thinks otherwise.

“I like it because Miscia Barton is really hot,” he said. “They also go through a lot of the same stuff I go through, so I can really relate to it.”

Although many student opinions vary on the quality of the show, “Home Alone” star and model of our generation, Macaulay Caulkin’s word is one of the best.

According to a recent article in “Rolling Stone”, when Caulkin’s girlfriend calls him, the theme from The OC plays because he, like so many, loves the fantastic, artistic and realistic show.

“The OC is one of my . . . pleasures,” he said. “It’s like an entire season of 90210 in one episode.”

Teens, troubles, beauty, love, hate, hormones, money, cars, girls, boys, social issues equals one great show; the OC uses this equation masterfully. Suck it up teenage population; there is a song coming from your televisions, let it enter you ears, eyes; let your souls swim in it; you are the young generation and this is the helm of your ship.

photo by Jonathan Williamson

Preparing for the rush of their lives: Freshmen Will Grundler and Mike Swager envision their next flight before taking off. They’ve been attending Cardiac Hill annually.

A bone chilling rush from sledding

Will they survive?

Jonathan Williamson staff writer

The OC’s new episodes air every thursday night at 8 oclock.

Beautiful white snow and the fresh crisp feel of winter has arrived. The once green fields have gone through a dramatic transformation. Everyw h e r e the light dances off unique snow crystals.

In the midst of this beauty it seems there is only one thing to do.

That, of course, is to go sledding.

T h i s winter activity has been practiced photo by Jonathan Williamson Great expectafor years tions: Freshby many locals. At the first sign of man Charlie snow, they don their winter best and Pettit stands head out into the cold for a session on awaiting his one of the areas many sledding hills. turn on CarPerched atop these heights they look diac Hill. The down into possible peril and throw huge hill crethemselves off the brink. ates extreme As they speed down the mounjumps which tain, careering over bumps and doPetit says he ing their best to dodge other sledenjoys. ders, they use their hands and feet as emergency breaks.

The ride provides them with an

adrenaline rush which compels them to brave the extreme cold and certain danger for that one perfect ride.

It is for this rush that sledders like freshman Will Grundler make their daring journey to Loch Alpine’s sledding hill Cardiac.

Grundler said, “As people age they often lose interest in sledding, but not me. I don’t think I’ll ever lose interest in the rush that sledding gives me.”

Grundler said, “The best sledding day is normally a snow day when the snow has fallen over night and provided a smooth layer of powder over the other packed snow. On days like those there is no better reason to be alive.”

Pettit disagreed, “I prefer the hard packed ice,” he said. It might hurt more when you fall, but you can really fly on that stuff.”

The conversation turned to an impromptu story time as the two young men recounted stories of extreme sledding wounds that still gave them indications of the forthcoming weather.

On chasing the illusive perfect run, Grundler and Pettit both agreed sometimes there is nothing better than hitting a huge jump and plunging into the unknown.

Last year, junior Carl Rhinke hit a huge jump and uncontrollably flew into the freezing river awaiting below.

With mother nature providing the many more months of winter, one could only imagine what kind of predicament these young men will land themselves into next.

Action movies of the year not up to snuff Ager explains and critiques the non-action packed movies of 2004 in hope of better upcoming movies forgotten in the years to come.

David Ager staff writer

Movie 1: Spider Man 2

2004 was a year of many events, the presidential election, the recent tsunami and other such occurrences.

But where are the good movies?

Where are the movies I can view and truly enjoy? The movies that actually makes me think, “Wow, that was a good movie.”

Let me tell you where these movies are. They’re in the past. For me 2004 has been a year of bad movies, movies that fall flat leaving me disappointed.

There have been some sub-par movies, but most are missing that certain element that turns a movie from ok to excellent.

This could be many things from a bad director, to an awful screenplay.

Here, are two of the sub-par movies of 2004, movies that probably will be

The sequel to Spider Man, this movie picks up two or three years later with pretty much the same plot as the original movie.

Peter Parker, played by Tobey Maguire, plays the same old mellow kid going to school who’s true identity is Spider Man. This time the villain comes in form of a scientist whose project goes totally wrong. I’ve never seen this plot before *cough*not*cough* But people could argue that it is was a Spider Man comic before being a movie and the producers are trying to make the movie feel like the comic.

This is one downfall that I didn’t feel added anything to the movie.

The acting in this movie was good.

Not great, just good.

Maguire and Kristin Dunst, who plays Mary Jane, both do very well together as lovers who are separated by things that can not be controlled.

Although I did think the story was kind of bland, the acting definitely made up for this.

When it comes to action movies, most people expect lots of explosions and random killings, things of that nature. To me that isn’t as important as the story. If the action goes along with the story, then that’s when action can make a movie better.

This movie had some great action scenes, but the only thing I really got out of them was that Peter Parker could save people with spider webs.

They were also bland and didn’t really excite me too much. Once again this may just be because I thought the story was rather boring.

This blockbuster summer extravaganza may have been satisfactory to

stops.

My question is, why wouldn’t he just drive himself to these killings instead of getting into a cab and relying on some cab driver who, for all Cruise could know, is an under cover cop?

It just isn’t smart, which makes this movie extremely unbelievable.

Of course, this is the entire concept of the movie.

The acting was ok, Cruise is decent along with Foxx, nothing special though.

But I did find the woman (Jada Smith) who plays the role of “Annie” to be very annoying. She sucks, and that’s all I have to say about that.

I did like some of the style and camera shots. It was something different from all the other movies I’ve seen this year, which makes the movie.

The plot was not believable, the

many other viewers , but I found it boring with little substance at all.

Maybe I’m just not a fan of comics and super hero movies. But let me just say, Batman did it right. Why not Spider Man? Overall two and a half stars out of four.

Movie 2: Collateral Jamie Foxx stars as a lonely taxi driver who gets caught up in a murderous drive into his own hell.

Pretty much this guy is driving a taxi and it gets hijacked by Tommy Cruise to go kill people.

Sounds cool, right? Well, it is the exact opposite, which is not cool.

This movie just wasn’t believable.

This guy gets into Fox’s taxi and says he needs to make five stops at random places to do things. But it turns out he is killing people at these five

The top three movie sales of January • Coming in at number one, “Meet The Fockers” brought in a cumulative gross of $234,308,680.

• “Racing Stripes” skid to a halt at second place with a cumulative gross of $18,862,432.

• “In Good Company” brought in the third largest audience with a cumulative gross of $17,138,097.

Information complied by Sam Harris

acting OK, the style new but doesn’t add much to the plot, which makes this movie, again ok.

Two and a half stars out of four.

Question: What can be hot and cool at the same time?

Answer: The latest and greatest: “Disney’s Pooh Heffalump” Movie comes out soon

Ani DiFranco “Knuckle Down”

Coming out on

Comes out on Jan. 25

Comes out on Feb. 11

Feb. 18 “Constantine”

Image from:www.snocore.com

Image from: www.insaneratings.com

The Winterfresh SnoCore 2005 tour

Image from: www.motorcyclediaries.com/home/html

“The Motorcycle Diaries” on video on

Feb. 18 at the State Theater Image from: www.savannahow.com Image from: www.disney.com

Feb. 15

.

a little more SQUALL

Q: What do you plan on doing when you return from Iraq?

A: I plan on attending Saginaw Valley State and studying either wildlife biology or fire fighting.

B

Pat Michalik, serving in Iraq

Section

Mr.Little Talking with...

Vice-principal Little steps in to try his turn as principal Attention please: New Principal Pat Little admits high school wasn’t easy for him and hopes to impact the lives of Dexter students for the better.

Jenifer Allen Circulation manager

Assistant Principal Patrick Little’s office is crowded with photographs of him and his kids. He sits back comfortably with a mild smile and attentive expression, explaining why he wanted to be principal.

“It’s exciting to watch individuals grow and learn” he said. “It’s great as a teacher, but it’s different as a principal.

It’s on a much larger scale.”

In the fall the school board voted to reorganize the central office. Principal Glen Stevenson accepted the position of assistant superintendant, and Little was asked to become interim high school principal, which Stevenson thinks is a good move. “(Little) knows everyone,” Stevenson said. “He knows the district, the students, the community. He’s going to make a great principal. He knows what’s going on.”

And Little was happy to take the job.

“It was pretty much an immediate response (when the board asked me),” Little said. “It’s always been a goal of mine (to become principal).”

Little, who graduated from Saline in 1990, said that he didn’t have the easiest time in high school, however. “(High) school was difficult for me,” Little admits. “Math was my worst subject. It got better in college, though.”

Little attended Western University, Michigan State University and Eastern University.

Even though high school was difficult for him, it didn’t discourage him from pursuing a career in education. It was really politics that drew him in though.

“My interest in politics was really what led me to start teaching American studies,” Little said.

Little taught in many different districts before finally settling in Dexter. He settled here because he said he likes the community.

“The people here are so focused on learning and doing things in a positive way,” Little said. “We have such impressive kids and a great staff.”

Even though he likes working here, he says there is room for improvement in Dexter.

“We have a pretty low turnout for most sports events besides football,” Little said. “I want to focus on building better morale for the arts and sports in Dexter, among other things.”

While Little is working hard on his plans for Dexter, he said he enjoys things like skiing and fly fishing.

“I love getting away from everything and just being in nature,” Little said. “I used to go to Montana all the

Photo by Sarah Craft

Wide eyed: Assistant Principal Pat Little sees many aspects of the school where he can make improvement.

He said he is excited to start building better morale for arts and sports.

time to go fly fishing and horseback riding.”

He also enjoys keeping up on politics. In the 1992 presidential election, he worked in the congressional office of Al Gore.

“I met Al Gore and everything,” Little said. “It was exciting because things were changing, and it was something bigger than just your home town.”

Now though, he said he enjoys just spending time with his kids.

“I love spending time with my kids,” Little said. “It’s hard to balance a whole school of kids as well as my own, but I’m confidant I can do it.”

Little looks forward to being principal.

“Dexter is progressive and open-minded,” he said.

“It’s a great community to be a part of and work in.”

Photo by Sarah Craft

Proud to serve Dexter graduate finds Iraq to be a far place from home Kyle Muse news editor

Photo by Sarah Craft

Practice makes perfect: Senior Leigh Rudner can’t practice enough for upcoming auditions. Rudner has to manage her time between applying to colleges, giving private cello lessons, playing in both the Detroit Civic Orchestra and Civic Quartet, not to mention school.

Hitting the right note Senior Leigh Rudner not only has to apply to college but audition too Sarah Craft editor in chief

She sat jumbled with her own words. She squinted her eyes through her small glasses and tilted her head back in frustration.

“Oh gosh,” senior Leigh Rudner said. “I can’t even remember how many colleges I applied to.”

She counted on her fingers.

“Let’s see, Eastern, U of M, Cleveland, Northwestern, Julliard, Yale ...” she mumbled to herself as a finger lifted for each school. After counting on all 10 of her fingers, she restarted with her left hand.

“USC, MSU and Texas at Austin.”

She looked at her three fingers extended in the air and said, “Thirteen.

I think there are 13 schools.” She paused and thought for a moment.

“Oh, no, I forgot Peabody and Rice, so 15 I guess.”

Unlike most students, Rudner not only had to send in applications to each of the 15 universities but play her cello at an audition for each of the universities’ school of music.

“It is a lot of work and one of the biggest challenges is trying to prepare for my audition pieces,” she said. “There’s so much hype that goes

along with auditioning. Everyone says that you have to be perfect during your audition and you can’t make one mistake, but that’s not necessarily true.”

Even though Rudner knows she doesn’t have to be perfect at her auditions, she said she still gets nervous before hand.

“I always try to think of all of the worst case scenarios,” she said. “I think of everything that could go wrong and all of the extenuating circumstances because I figure it has to go better than that. And it usually does.”

At her audition for the University of Michigan, though, Rudner said her worst-case scenario came true.

“It was one of the first ones and so, of course, I was really nervous,” she said. “I kept trying to tell myself that it didn’t matter and I didn’t care what would happen because Michigan wasn’t my top school.

“Unfortunately though, I still got a little nervous before I performed and after I took out my dampits (sponge-like rectangles that keep the cello’s strings moist so they don’t slip). I forgot to put them back in.”

After the audition, Rudner said

as she was leaving the building, one of the women listening to the audition came running after her telling her she had left her dampits on the floor of the audition room.

She laughed, somewhat embarrassed. “I don’t know,” she said. “I guess it wasn’t too bad because I still got in.”

Rudner said managing her time applying to colleges, practicing audition pieces, scheduling auditions, driving to auditions, giving private lessons, playing in the Detroit Civic Orchestra, playing in the Civic Quartet and going to school is somewhat difficult.

“I’ve been doing pretty well lately,” Rudner said. “Oh, I guess I did have a little nervous breakdown not too long ago,” she looked down and her hand brushed against her forehead.

“I was doing a presentation in front of my French class and messed up a little bit when everything sort of came down on me. I started crying and just felt so overwhelmed by everything.

“There’s a lot to manage, but I’m trying my best to do the best at everything I’m doing, if that made any sense,” she paused and squinted her eyes again. “Well, I’m trying my best, and that’s all I can do.”

College application tips •Start planning early •Pay attention to deadlines •Apply to 3-5 schools •Ask teachers for help with essays •Attend college preview week Compiled by Sara Newell and Molly Brewster

As the convoy headed down the Iraqi dirt road to deliver supplies, something took a turn for the worse.

A roadside bomb exploded near a Hummer with DHS graduate Pat Michalik on top, sending the gunner flying and shrapnel into everything around it. And this was the second time that something such as this has happened Michalik.

Michalik, who just two years ago graduated from high school, graduated as a Private from his training camp on Nov. 24, 2003. “Since then I have been promoted to a specialist and will be promotable to a Sergeant in April,” Michalik said.

“The job that I do over here is called convoy protection,” he said.

“When the convoys go out on the road to deliver supplies to other bases, they need protection. Using a hummer and 50 ton gun trucks mounted with 50 caliber rifles and M19’s, we aid to this “When we first got here, we came in contact with the enemy about once every three to four convoys, but as the year goes on we are finding that the attacks are not as often but much more severe.”

Even though the soldiers are away from their homes and families Michalik said, the Army does try to make it more homely for the soldiers.

“We chill with the fellas, sleep and try to chase what little females are over here,” he said.

“There are things that happen over here that are hard to stop thinking of,” Michalik said. “This ‘fun time’ is used to take your mind off of things so that you may do your job better.”

The war does not only affect Michalik, but his family as well. “It’s hard to think about sometimes, Pat being gone and not always being safe,” his sister junior Maegan Michalik said. “I worry about him all the time but someones gotta be over there and do what he’s doing, which makes me have a lot of respect for him and everyone else over there,” It affects more than Maegan though. Pat’s entire family is bothered by his serving. “My family as any other family would feel, is definitely worried about me and doesn’t like that I am over here,” Pat said.

With a nation so divided in its concern of the war and politics, it is clear in Pat’s mind as to whom he supports. “I do support Bush in everything that he has done over here and will do so in the future,” he said.

“I vote for my President and will support the decisions he makes, regard-

Photo courtesy of Pat Michalik

Getting ready for the day: Dexter graduate Pat Michalik gets ready for a long day. He is a specialist in the US Army and currently serving in Iraq. less of my personal feelings.”

But the attitude of the Iraqis has been kind of inconsistent, at least in Pat’s view.

“When we first got here the attitude of the people was very warm and welcoming but it soon turned to more of a lack of toleration setting, like we had overstayed our welcome,” Pat said. “But lately it has gotten better, as if they just act like we are just another person in their lives.”

Even though the soldiers are so far away from home, the soldiers do have things to make them feel more comfortable. Pat said, “We have gyms, hang out places, outdoor movies and some bases have pools. For bases with set shift schedules they have sports teams that soldiers can play in a league.

“Iraq is about as different as you can get from the United States.

There are no huge buildings, no subs and no million dollar houses,” Pat said. “Most kids don’t have shoes or clothes. But to tell you the truth, you will never know how good you all have it until you come to a third world country.

In the summer, the temperatures can reach 110-150 degrees with no wind, nothing but heat. “In the winter it goes down to the 20’s at night but then back up to anywhere from 35-60 in the afternoon. In the spring and winter there is some rain but nothing like back at home,” Pat said.

The Army is not for everyone though, Iraq is a dangerous place, and death lurks around virtually every corner. But Pat still enjoys his time. “I plan on staying in for a long time as well as volunteering to come back over to Iraq,” he said. “I wouldn’t change anything. Life is simple: be a good soldier and carry your weight, simple.”

8

THE ALL

the Squall

Friday, January 28, 2005

SQUALL CALL

THE SQUALL STAFF

NCBL hurts good teachers

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Sarah Craft MANAGING EDITOR: Michelle Svetkoff

EDITORS

Due to the federal government’s No Child Left Behind Act, some teachers who have been teaching a subject for years may not be able to anymore.

FEATURES: Jenny Heldt ENTERTAINMENT: Samantha Harris NEWS: Kyle Muse OPINIONS: Aaron McLean PHOTO: Brandon Mayotte and Teri Chiado SPORTS: Lee Hoggard and Thomas Leonard DESIGN: Mike Vickers COPY: Hilary McCown

Journalism teacher Rod Satterthwaite is one example. He has been teaching journalism for 12 years and is adviser of The Squall which recently won sixth place Best of Show in a national competition for 12 - 16 page student newspapers. But according to NCLB, he is not qualified to teach journalism.

Speech and debate teacher Deborah Marsh is not qualified either. Marsh is the Debate coach. She has been teaching speech for 22 years and her debate team has won two state championships. But NCLB says she is not qualified to

MANAGERS

teach speech or debate.

BUSINESS: Stephanie Rushlow MORALE: Raleigh Holmes and Molly Brewster PHOTO: Christina Field and Kendall Goode CIRCULATION: Jennifer Allen and Sara Newell

Teachers such as Marsh and Satterthwaite can teach their specialties next year if they take classes over the summer to get a minor in the subject and take a subject matter test.

Still, the No Child Left Behind Act is a bad idea, especially the way highly

STAFF WRITERS

qualified teachers are determined. Why should teachers have to pay to get degrees in fields they have taught in for years? The federal government should

David Ager, TJ LaRosa, Daniel Monson, Seth Porinsky, Jonathan Williamson

pay for a teacher’s schooling like most private companies do.

Under NCLB, teachers can teach outside of their degree as long as they present a portfolio showing that they qualify, but the state wants all teachers

AD DESIGNER: Eric Wilkinson CARTOONIST: Jared Myers

to have a major or minor in the field they are teaching.

NLCB is limiting award winnining teachers from doing what they do best.

ADVISER: Rod Satterthwaite

It not only affects teachers but students as well. We would all be better off leaving things the way they are.

Illustration by Kendall Goode

The Squall is distributed monthly to 1,083 students and reaches an estimated 4,332 people with each issue. The Squall is printed by The Owosso Argus in Owosso, MI and is produced by the third hour newspaper class.

Letters To The Editor Letter uses faulty logic to criticize The Squall Dear Editor, I like to check up on my old alma mater from time to time. The Squall does a pretty good job of keeping me in touch with students punished for saying they’d “hunt someone down” (can we say “Nazi state,” children?

Good!), or the best principal we ever had sent behind a desk.

A recent Letter to the Editor criticized The Squall.

Now, I believe that the media should be open to criticism, but I have a bit of a problem with the way Ms. Simmons went about her criticism. Here are a few things I’ve learned in my 1.5 years in the outside world.

First: showing your penis in public is “public nudity.”

Which is illegal. This leads me to think that perhaps, and this is just speculation, that the general public’s dislike of viewing penises might extend to drawing of penises.

But perhaps Ms. Simmons was writing from a more enlightened perspective than mine. There are people at DHS whose maturity (and battle against “conformity”) might allow them to see past the “ridiculous” view that a drawing of a penis might be offensive. These people, in their maturity, can usually be identified by their use of mature terms like “band nerds.” And since we wouldn’t want to conform, let’s join varsity sports instead of marching band. Good way to stand out in the crowd. You know how elitist those band nerds are to the poor athletes.

Perhaps the letter might have more impact on me if more than a stunning one paragraph (the last one) focused on the actual complaint (The Squall misrepresenting students) instead of Ms. Simmons’ world view (musicians are nerds and penis drawings are cool).

POLICY:

Or perhaps Ms. Simmons just picked a few incredibly bad examples to prove a valid point. I’m just trying to remind you all, especially the seniors, that there is a world outside of those walls, as much as it may not seem so some times.

Sincerely, Matt Stauffer, 2003 graduate

Banfield Foundation offers scholarships to graduating females Dear Editor, The Joan C. Banfield Foundation was organized in 2004 and is dedicated to building an endowment to enrich the quality, participation and support of the female athletes ages K to 12th grade in the Dexter Community.

It is a nonprofit, volunteer organization comprised of parents and business leaders from within Dexter.

The goal of the Joan C. Banfield Foundation is to provide financial support for participation opportunities, organizations and coaching of female athletics with an emphasis of building consistency between the formative grade school years through to the high school. In addition, the Foundation provides one $1,000 scholarship to a deserving Dexter High School graduating female who has excelled in athletics, academics, leadership and citizenship.

The JCB Foundation accepts scholar applications from Jan. 1 to May 1 for the following fall semester. Each application will be reviewed by the JCB Scholarship Review Board, which is comprised of Dexter Female Athletic Coaches and JCB Board Members, and then their nominee is submitted to the Board of Directors for

conformity with the goals of the Foundation. The Foundation wishes to encourage and recognize, through its scholarships, the promotion of participation in female athletic programs and pursuit of higher education. No children or relatives of JCB Foundation board members are eligible for this scholarship. Please call or contact any of the Board members listed below with questions or comments.

Questions may be directed to Russ Brewster at FoundationJCB@aol.com Sincerely, Russ Brewster, parent

Key Club says thanks for a job well done Dear Editor, The Backpack project was a great success, and we have many people to thank. Mrs. Klein and the student council donated tons of great stuff, including water bottles, notebooks, pencils, and temporary tattoos. Many Dexter families and community members also came to our aid. A huge thank you to the Dexter Kiwanis Club for their very generous cash donation. They continue to be a great support for our club.

Thank you, Mark Messmore, for bringing this project to our club and for making it happen. Your personal contribution of items, time and effort was priceless.

In addition, thanks to all of the club members who helped collect items, stuff the backpacks and helped deliver them. Without you, we never could have done it.

Job well done. Thanks to all that support us with each and every project.

TALK BACK:

The Squall is an open forum for student expression. It accepts letters to the editor from any and all concerned parties. The Squall reserves the right to screen and/or edit any and all letters for inappropriate content and length. All letters must be signed. Requests to remain anonymous will be considered by the editorial board.

ADVERTISING:

Requests for advertisements can be called into the Business Manager at 424-4240 x7407. Ads must be called in at least two weeks prior to the issue’s publication, which is at the end of each month.

E-MAIL thesquall04@thesquall.com WEB SITE www.thesquall.com

Dexter High School Key Club

Dreads in the hall What do you think about the No Child Left Behind Act?

Katie Van Dusen, freshman “There is too much testing and not enough teaching. When you have to pay to buy a test, schools who canʼt pay for that will be in more of a deficit. All they will learn is how to fill a bubble with a pencil.”

Trevor Sherwood, senior

Adrienne Woods, sophomore “Yeah, thatʼs kind of dumb if they have been teaching it for so long.”

Janelle Nystrom, junior “No, I like how the teachers are if they are good.

The students should be reflected.”

“Iʼve heard many teachers state displeasure about it, and if it is meant to help the teachers, there is obviously something wrong with it.”

Harry Wilcox, French/ drama teacher “Iʼm working on getting things straightend out so I can teach my theater classes next year.”

Friday, January 28, 2005

9

the Squall

opinions

Flaws in faculty become glaringly obvious these days )-(AX0R 1337

TJ LaRosa staff writer

Illustration by TJ Larosa

Material world: overpopulated Happiness is found from within yourself, not within your wallet

Teri Chiado photo editor

Happy Tree Friends Christmas time is a mysterious thing. We all have our special ways of celebrating Christmas, but has anyone ever stopped to wonder how others spend their holiday?

My family has our own traditional holiday, but what about the other people? What makes a “normal” holiday to them?

Some people don’t even celebrate Christmas due to such things as religion, lack of family to spend with, or even money.

Money, however, is not supposed to be what brings the family and the community together.

Money is paper. Family is real, unconditional.

People coming together and rejoicing for a new year should be for a sole purpose of love and happiness.

Or maybe it’s just me.

My family does the same thing every year on the holidays. We don’t see much of the aunts and uncles until holidays. Grandma lives with us, so we see her sometimes.

During the holidays, it seems that everyone all of a sudden loves each Why other.

But when should it’s all over, we don’t hear from each other material unless some kind of things tragedy or dramatic event occurs. turn into But while a basic the holidays are here, everyone need for rushes out to stores people to buy Christmas gifts. Shopping evtoday? ery day of the week before Christmas, frantically running around trying to find the perfect gift.

They come home and ask, “Do you think Soand-so will like this?” or “Should I buy her more stuff”. (Other than the other four shopping carts full of stuff).

Why should money matter? Why should material things turn into a basic need for people today?

Whatever happened to “It’s the thought that counts”?

Look at us. We think money is what makes happiness, especially during the holidays.

We are becoming too shallow to dig for happiness. We are sitting around lying to ourselves, waiting for the day when we will finally achieve happiness and joy, searching for the meaning of life.

We will not find it in money. We will not find it in a brand new car or even in a stupid cell phone.

Materials temporarily make us happy, until something new and more expensive comes along and we completely forget about that phone and that car, whining because we want that brandnew thing that we know we do not need.

The only way to truly be happy is to look into our souls. We cannot be happy with anyone or anything else unless we fully know ourselves.

Look around. We are losing ourselves at the price of a brand new portable CD player, wrapped in a red bow.

Do people really think that giving themselves in to a price of $50 is worth it? Why? Shouldn’t we want happiness to be real?

Shouldn’t we rather have our family and friends to be closest to us all year round compared to a few days of the year?

Don’t give in to the material world; you’ll find happiness someplace you would never expect.

And trust me, it won’t be in money.

“

”

In my four years at this school, I have observed several different approaches to teaching. Some of the professionals look at it as simply that, a profession. Others make it the center of their lives.

Whether they’re teaching to live or living to teach, they are teachers, and that is all. This column is my description of the ideal teacher.

Although I do support my opinions, you may disagree. And if you do, write a letter to the editor. We have plenty of empty space we could better fill than with stories about a walrus and his shark friend.

On the first day of school, It

walks into the classroom at 7:55 on the dot, not a second before, not a second after.

It says, “If you need help, schedule a time to meet with me.”

“Don’t expect me to be here any other time than school,” It adds.

“It’s your education, and it’s up to you to get help with it if you need it.”

“It”, is not a man, nor is it a woman It doesn’t matter since male teachers tend to favr male students and female teachers tend to favor female students, as I have witnessed on several firsthand accounts.

It goes by it’s first name only. It doesn’t uplift itself into the hierarchy of teachers by prefixing “Mrs., Ms., or , Mr.” to Its name.

“If you want to talk, talk, but don’t do it in the classroom. Take it into the hall,” It announces to the class.

“That goes the same for attendance. If you want to learn, come. I don’t really care. I will not take attendance.”

“As far as grading goes,” It continued, “And for the sake of transcript requirements, you will either pass or fail. You will pass if you are an active member of the material, and if not, you will fail.” It plainly states.

This teacher has no final exam for the students to break in and steal, nor does it have tests for them to text-message answers amongst each other. This teacher cares not about hats, coats or even carbonated beverages. It doesn’t even care about alcoholic beverages.

It doesn’t have sexual relations with Its students. It won’t say anything if It sees a student doing homework for another class.

It doesn’t patrol the hallways, breaking up the groping freshmen couples, confiscating cranial acces-

sories, demanding the busty females to cover up.

It keeps out of student’s lives as much as possible because it wants to rather than babysit them, prepare them for the next step of their lives. Some of these young adults will go on to college, some to the workforce, some to the armed forces. While other teachers satisfy their power-hungry egos with authority, It acts humbly, seeing itself as an educational tool for students. It may not always be fair in the eyes of others, but neither is the arbitrary “transportation fee” I had to pay for track when parents had to shuttle athletes to meets.

This concludes my description of the perfect teacher. If you’ve read through this entire piece I salute you. But you should probably put the paper away before you get in trouble for not paying attention, even though your American Government teacher has shown you this “Arlington Cemetery” film five times in the last three days.

Bill Knapp’s demise shocks local residents Bling blingin’ all the time Aaron McLean opinions editor

There are a few things that I would love to know before I die. One would be how to read braille, because that would be just fascinating to know. The other is why we no longer have a Bill Knapp’s in our backyard.

Once a staple in the Ann Arbor area, Bill Knapp’s is no more. Instead, a Zingerman’s sign occupies the once joyful Bill Knapp’s we had come to know and love.

In just a matter of months, Bill Knapp’s was gone and no one knew what to do. I didn’t even want to celebrate my birthday anymore if I couldn’t get a free chocolate cake. Other restaurants wanted to give me a slice of cake.

I have high standards that only Bill Knapp’s could meet.

To this day, I have found no substitute to the friendly service and affordability Bill Knapp’s offered.

The outside of Bill Knapp’s seemed to be nothing special. Inside, still nothing special. Then you see it. The green booths with lights over hanging the tables take the eye by surprise, and your senses are delighted with smells you would only find at Bill Knapp’s.

Where else can you go and get a hamburger and fries for only $5? Where can you get two free cookies with just a wink at your friendly elderly or high school lady?

My first crush was at the hands of a Bill Knapp’s wait-

ress. She was a piece of work, and her thick coated lipstick made me melt every time she would tell me, “Yes, you can have onion rings instead of fries.”

She was hot, but that wasn’t the only thing hot in Bill Knapp’s. The food and service was atop of the restaurant game, and it came as a shock to most everyone when they changed their green theme to a colorful purple.

Soon there was no more sex appeal to the once sexy restaurant. Now I saw it as just another eatery. The addition of a Playstation in the lobby did nothing for me as the people at Bill Knapp’s had hoped. The damage was done, and Bill Knapp’s was on the way down.

Before it could save itself, Zingerman’s had made their move and Bill Knapp’s was gone.

The old people and the young cried. For some reason, I had always noticed the high population of old people in the restaurant. For some reasons, grandmas and grandpas loved Bill Knapp’s. I know mine did.

The constant loud breathing from oxygen machines was like music is to other restaurants. The elderly stopped going to Bill Knapp’s and for some reason, the people at Bill Knapp’s were OK with that.

Taking the cue from older and wiser people, the youth stopped going too and the lack of interest in Bill Knapp’s took its toll on the restaurant.

I miss Bill Knapp’s, and I miss my free cake. Bring back Bill Knapp’s, please.

Bill Knapp’s quick facts • Closed all 29 restaurants in August 2002 • 1,150 employees lost their jobs • There were as many as 69 restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Florida

Source: Detroit Free Press

Appropriate dressing styles hung out to dry Scandalous styles scar student’s scenery in school hall-

ways

Eric Wilkinson staff writer

Does my picture in grayscale make me look ghetto?

It seems throughout Dexter High School and other public places, heavier-set or altogether overweight girls and women are wearing less and less clothing.

We are, as a society, in a “flaunt it if you got it” mind-set, thanks to shows like “The OC”, “One Tree Hill”, and practically any show on MTV. But what are we talking about flaunting here, love handles and stretch marks?

Obesity is a common problem throughout our country, often being referred to as a genetic disorder or epidemic.

So, if obesity is such an epidemic, why are so many women displaying it in such a horrific fashion?

I’m not judging overweight or obese people. Your weight is your business, but maybe as a common courtesy you could keep it your business?

I’m sure I’m not the only person who has a problem with looking up from his pasta at lunch only to find at a table 20 feet away, a girl with her back to me, leaning forward revealing her gaping crack.

Harsh? Maybe. Uncalled for? Not at all.

All I’m really saying is that if you wear a 3XL shirt and are happy

Illustration by Mike Vickers

with your size to the point where you don’t want to lose weight, wear a 3XL shirt. Don’t force the rest of us to come to school and feel queasy because you chose to buy clothing made for a four foot tall, 90 pound horse jockey.

Being a “plus-size” is completely fine, don’t get me wrong. Plus size fashions are apparently becoming more and more popular, as I see more and more commercials for Lane Bryant and advertisements for plus size runway modeling.

Keep in mind, though, if you’re plus size, you’re plus size: As nice as it would be, unfortunately there is no “extra-medium”.

Darryl, or whatever your boyfriend’s name might be, probably would agree that you need to dress your size but would be afraid to tell you.

Remember when you’re dressing yourself in the morning that when you think you look good in a pair of pants that are two sizes too small for you, to the point where you have to

stop in the hall to hike them up, or do this little shake and dance in order to get them to stay around your butt, you probably won’t look as appealing as you think you do.

If you would merely dress modestly, appropriate to your weight and size, no one would think anything negative of you.

It’s when you dress like a runway model, yet lack the body of one, that people start to secretly laugh about you, if not openly criticize.

10

the Squall

sports

Winter Update

Mens Swimming and Diving “I think we can have a really good season. We just need to stay focused.”

- Bryan Vessels, senior Captains: Connor Donovan, Eric Kumbier, Brian Vessels, Matt Brown

Next Game: Feb. 4 at Saline

Volleyball

Friday, January 28, 2005

Tony Nalli runs into University of Michigan Nalli chooses Michigan as his future place to run. He plans to run for the team and attend classes at Michigan this fall.

Aaron McLean opinions editor

“I think we really starting to prove ourselves this year. We didn’t win too many games last year, but this year were starting to win a lot more.”

-Stephanie McCartt, senior Captains: Lauren Parin, Karah Hubbard, Stephanie McCartt

Next Game: Feb. 2 against Adrian

Mens Hockey “We have a fairly young team, but if we can stay focused, I think we can keep showing people that we deserve to be where we are at.”

- Kevin Vlazny, senior Captains: Lee Hoggard and Kevin Vlazny

Next Game: Feb. 5 against Pinckney

Mens Basketball

“This year is going really well. I think if we can stay focused, we will be able to beat some good teams.”

- Joe Cenci, senior

Captain: Rob McCarty

Next Game: Feb. 1 at Pioneer

Wrestling “We’re 11-1, and we’ve been doing well in all of our weight classes. I think we will have a great season this year.”

- Ricky Howell, senior Captains: Ricky Howell, John Powers, Kyle Thompson

Next Game: Feb. 3 at Adrian

Feb. 10 Battle of Bands Mar. 10 Film Festival May. 12 Battle of Bands

Few things have stood in senior Tony Nalli’s way during his years in high school. When things did stand in Nalli’s way, he found a way to get around the problem.

“Things haven’t come easy,” Nalli said. “I have worked hard at everything I have done in high school, and when everything came together, I knew all the work had paid off.”

On top of Nalli’s active school life which includes student council and National Honor Society, he also has put a lot of work into his sport, cross country.

“I have been running for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I ran throughout grade school and when high school rolled around, I was ready.”

Nalli said cross country meets start very early, and the sacrifices he has made for his sport often seemed too much at times.

“It’s really hard to be in on a Friday night when all of your friends are out partying,” he said. “Sometimes I wouldn’t know whether all the sacrifices were worth it, but the day I get to move into my dorm at Michigan, I will know it was worth everything.”

Nalli’s journey to Michigan seemed destined, according to former teammate and friend Dan Meyer.

“He’s awesome,” Meyer said. “When Tony walked into the meeting as a freshman, no one really knew what he could do. There was a little hype, but I don’t think anyone knew he was going to be this good.”

Four winning seasons later, Nalli will head to Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan in the fall along with senior swimmers Hannah Smith and Bryan Vessels.

“It is really cool that I have people going with me to Michigan,” Nalli who will be roommates with Vessels said. “Bryan and I have been friends forever, and we will keep each other focused because we both know the high standards Michigan has.”

Vessels agreed. “We are both really blessed with this opportunity, so neither of us are going to let it go to waste.”

To prepare for the high demands of Michigan, Nalli said that he has been running to stay in shape. “I don’t always want to go running in the summer when it’s 90 degrees, but I know I have to,” he said.

No one knows what will happen with Nalli in the upcoming years, but Meyer said he expects great things from his former teammate. He said, “No one knows what Tony can do, but everyone is about to find

Photo by Sarah Craft

Looking into the distance: When he’s not running, senior Tony Nali is thinking about where he’ll be next year. Nali is planning on attending the University of Michigan where he will be running on the U of M cross country team in the fall.

Michigan basketball brings fans to Crisler Area Crisler Arena provides a fun enviroment to watch a college basketball game Dan Monson staff writer

The atmosphere grabs you as soon as you enter the building from the cold winter nights.

The smell of roasted almonds, hot dogs and pizza.

The warm air, providing an escape from the Michigan winter that seems endless.

All these things make Crisler Arena a great place to be in the winter.

Attend a game at Crisler, and you’ll understand.

The ‘Maize Rage’ student section is an incredible addition to the atmosphere.

Their frequent chants, cheers and overall support of the team makes every game seem like it’s the most important that’s ever been played.

Oh yeah, and then there’s the basketball. Although overshadowed by

against Illinois, Michigan State, and Iowa, the team should be tested and the football program, the men’s the atmosphere should be crazy at basketball team has enjoyed some Crisler.

If the team could win two of recent success on its way back to those games, we could be watching the top.

Winning the NIT last year them play in March in the NCAA brought a lot of energy and excite- Tournament.

The team has missed the Big ment to Crisler at the beginning of Dance for the last the season. seven years, last When three of making the tourMichigan’s startnament in 1998. ers were lost to Attend a game at And because of injuries, includsanctions handCrisler, and you’ll ing leading scored down by the er Lester Abram understand.

The NCAA, the profor the season, gram had to ‘vathe expectations ‘Maize Rage’ stucate’ those games. fell as well. dent section is an This year could But the team be the year they has fought back incredible addition could finally break and responded to the atmosphere. the streak. We will with big vichave to see. tories against So, if you’re Notre Dame and looking for someat Iowa. thing to do some They are 3-0 night this winter, in the Big Ten as check out Crisler of Jan. 17, and two of their starters and the atmosphere that goes with have returned. Point guard Daniel Horton and center Graham Brown. it. It won’t disappoint.

With home games coming up Musings From Center Court

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Upcoming Michigan home games Wednesday, Feb. 2 Minnesota 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 Illinois 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb.12 Michigan State 4 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 20 Indiana 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 23 Penn State 8 p.m

Friday, January 28, 2004

Defying Gravity: Ryan Neely and James Nati wind.

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the Squall

Nati pulls a crossover, Neely tests friction coefficients.

sports

Nati switches hands with magnetism, Nati “runs”.

Nati focuses on a lefty flip while Neely reverses his field.

Wind it up

Dexter’s latest craze brings unconventional sports to high school Papirwineding offers an option for students not involved in typical athetic sports Thomas Leonard co-sports editor

“Ryan (Neely) came to me in Biology with idea and we kinda skyrocketed from there,” James Nati said, pinpointing the exact moment of the advent of Dexter High School’s latest craze.

Combining the elements of ingenuity, biology class, and sheets of paper, Nati and Neely combined the most uncommon elements to create a game everyone can enjoy.

Dexter has a Game Club, a Ski and Snowboard Club, a Ping-Pong Club, and a Lacrosse Club, and now Papirwineding.

Papirwineding, no matter how mundane, insane, or plain this sounds, is the newest addition to Dexter athletics. In fact, it may exist beyond sports.

“Papirwineding is more of an art,” sophomore Ryan Neely said. “It was born from the genius of myself, Ryan Neely, and my friend James Nati.”

What about the crazy name? “(The name) was inspired by ancient Sudanese art,” Neely explained. The sport isn’t Sudanese, though.

“It’s actually quite simple,” Neely said of his and Nati’s sport. “Take an

ordinary sheet of paper and using air resistance stall (keep in place) it on your hand.”

To Nati, Papirwineding “Let’s you show your creative side.”

With stylish, modern glasses and euro-style shoes, Neely explained the advantages in his sport in an assured tone. He expanded on the Papirwineding’s concept, telling about which paper is the best – weak and thin sheets – and which demonstrated the spread eagle position of the hand while wineding. The scoring is based on the creativity found in the tricks one can pull with the sheet of papir.

Sophomore Danny Jackson, who Neely dubbed his protégé, also raved about the benefits to Papirwineding. He said easy access to this sport means non-athletic people can participate without spending hundreds of dollars on equipment and lessons.

Papirwineding appeals to all, he said, because “You don’t have to know a lot to enjoy it,” so “people of any body type can enjoy it.”

And trust Neely, they will indeed enjoy it. “It’s quite a sight to see,” he said. “It’s almost like defying gravity.”

With such an exhilarating experience available to the student body Neely said he can’t figure out why more people don’t experience first hand - like he has – how rewarding the sport can be.

But to encourage others to try Papirwineding Neely, Jackson, and Nati founded the Professional Wineders Of Official Paper (PWOOP). They also experiment with techniques such as weightlifting and meditation for improving their winding ability.

Lifting weights helps muscle tone for speed and endurance – Jackson said “Training gives us confidence.”

But that’s not all PWOOP uses to get the leg up on competition. They have an entire premeditated routine.

“We start with meditation.” Neely said.

“Then some stretching,” Jackson cuts in.

“A few warm-up winds,” Neely said with a final note. Then they are ready to begin. It is this moment, Neely maintains, that flies you him to another land, away from the stress, homework, and non-winding friends that drag us down.

“It takes your mind to another level that cannot be found by anything else,” Neely said. And Neely

Ski Club hits the slopes

Trip planned for President’s Weekend Ski and Snowboard Facts Club Facts

•44 students showed up to the first ski meeting. Only half followed through with paper work.

•A trip is planned for President’s Weekend to Shanty Creek Schuss Mountain. The cost is $300 for 3-day lift tickets One Breakfast Two Dinners Hotel Costs •The only fees for the club are for lift tickets and trips.

•Adviser Beau Kimmey started snowboarding in 1995 •Kimmey’s favorite ski spots in Michigan: Cystal Mountain Nub’s Nob Boyne Highlands Alpine Valley

General Facts •The Olympics recognize five skiing disciplines as well as snowboarding and biathon.

Skiing types: Alpine Nordic Nordic Combined Freestyle Ski jumping General Facts from www.olympic.org

Samantha Harris entertainment editor

“No, my wife doesn’t snowboard with me,” biology teacher Beau Kimmey said with a smile, “She skiblazes instead. I know I’m not even supposed to be snow boarding. I’m 29 years old, but I love it. “ Kimmey, who attended Huron High School, has been snow boarding since 1995 but due to an injury had to stop most athletic activities for quie a while.

Kimmey said, “I picked up the sport again in 2001 and have been slowly getting back into snow boarding, trying to keep from injuring my ankle again.

“It’s not like I have an exact number of years I’ve been snow boarding. Its seems more like ... forever.”

Kimmey said his winter weekends are almost always spent snow boarding on the powdery hills and slopes of Michigan.

Many say Kimmey is more than qualified for the position of being the “head honcho” of the Ski Club.

In other words, Kimmey is the head “coach” of the ski club. With the students, advisers and Kimmey’s efforts, the ski club was born.

“I thought having a ski club in our school was a really good idea for this year,” junior Elize Jekabson said.

“I love skiing. I remember when I was just a fetus when my family strapped my first pair of skis on me.

It was a life changing experience.”

A mob of brave, extreme and wild skiers and snow boarders will unite on several voyages to Mount Brighton and other various places.

“We had planned on some local trips this year but inclement weather has stopped us from planning any trips locally,” Kimmey said.

“We are still trying to put together a trip for the President’s Weekend. This trip will most likely be to Shanty Creek Schuss Moun-

tain.

“In Michigan my favorite spots to snowboard are Crystal Mountain, Nubs Nob, and Boyne Highlands.

Locally, I usually ski at Alpine Valley. It is a little bit further of a drive than Brighton, but I feel the hill is much nicer.”

Kimmey’s expectations for this years Ski Club are quite simple.

“The objective is to have fun,” he said .

“Of course we’ll have to follow safety precautions. The only tip I can give to people is to enjoy what you are doing. It is not a competition to see how good you are, the only goal is to have fun while you do it.

“Nearly 44 students attended the first meeting held after school in my room,” Kimmey said.

“Only half of the students actually followed through with paper work. We did not expect many students to join this year.”

Kimmey explained that the only money fees for the club are for the lift tickets and trips.

The latest ski club meeting was held last Thursday after school in Kimmey’s room.

“We discussed who will be interested in making the trip up north,” Kimmey said.

“We talked about attendance, expectations, and travel accommodations.”

As for the students who have joined the ski club, they’re very excited for this season.

“I love skiing, it rocks my socks!”

Jekabson said.

When most students reminisce on their past sledding and skiing experiences, the thought of snot freezing in their noses forming crystal hair stalactites, crosses their mind.

“It’s such a rush not being able to breathe as you’re flying down the hill and fresh powdered snow is blinding you in the face,” Jekabson said. “This is a wonderful time of the year.”

said he found this other level in his greatest feat.

“With two sheets,” Neely said, “I’ve accomplished a stall with one (sheet) on my chest while I put one under my leg (keeping the first one stalled) and brought it around and recovered both.... You can call that the sub-crotchereal region recovery.”

Papirwineding, like any other sport, has it’s own set of lingo. Instead of “rad”, “phat”, and “stoked” papirwineders use “triple-donkey slayer” to describe what Neely said indicates that you stall one while wineding one in each hand. And don’t say “That’s ultra-cool”, use “It’s boss” instead.

“The word boss,” Nati said, “defines wineding like no other word.”

In Papirwineding, if you make the best move you become a boss. Don’t let the difficult vocabulary and terrific exploits turn you off.

Neely’s advice to new wineders: “(You) should probably try it out and see if you’re good at it. Then maybe we can arrange a meeting.” New members can expect to join PWOOP on its newest adventures.

New competition takes a part in this plan. “I found on the internet that China has an international

Photos by Thomas Leonard

Pumping the papir: Lifting weights helps sophomore James Nati tone muscles for serious winding. According to Nati,”(Paperwineding) lets you show you creative side.” team,” Neely said, “And we’re trying to get a match with them.”

Whether or not this match turns out, the future is full of opportunity with inter-squad competitions, plans to redesign uniforms, and hiring the famed Annie Nonimus for a coach.

Or maybe PWOOP doesn’t need a

coach or supervisor. Why break new ground?

Because “As long as there is a purpose or good for mankind, Jackson said, “There will never be an excess of sports or originality.”

In the words of Neely, “We grab life by the paper.”

Will Tiger reign again?

Lee Hoggard co-sports editor

Pop yo’ collar Is Tiger Woods primed to make a comeback this year?

If you want to go by history, then he is primed for a comeback. The last time Tiger Woods had a slump like the one in ‘03-’04 season was in 1998, where he only had one win on tour and lost his number one ranking for three months to David Duval.

These stats are very similar to his 2004 stats where he also only won, one time on tour and lost his number one ranking to Vijay Singh.

However Tiger doesn’t just have history on his side.

Many of his critics said that he came into the ‘04 season unfocussed and not prepared for the season. They blamed this on his engagement to his Swedish The competition girl friend.

But now the has also caught up marriage is to (Tiger). final, and he looks to be -Lee Hoggard getting back to his old form.

Will Tiger be able to win eight times like he did in ‘99?

That might not be possible, because the reason Tiger wasn’t able to win like he did in the past last year isn’t only because he was supposedly unfocused. The competition has also caught up to him.

Singh had an unbelievable year in ‘04 winning almost everything in sight. Mickelson finally got everyone off his back by winning the Masters in Augusta. El’s also had a great year on tour.

Tiger just isn’t as ahead of the field as he has been in past years. It could be because he let up a little bit in his game, but give the other guys some credit too. Maybe they got tired of watching Woods win everything and decided to step up their games as well.

Whatever it is, it’s going to make for an exciting season. With Woods coming off a third place finish in the Mercedes Championships earlier in January and with Singh and Mickleson right behind him, it looks like Tiger could be back.

But don’t look for him to run away with the wins like some of the past years. He might win some tournaments, but so will the other guys, and that’s what’s going to make this year so exciting.

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Photo from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

King of the Jungle roaring back: Tiger Woods follows through on a perfect shot. Woods will prepare to return to his old form in 2005.

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photostory

Friday, January 28, 2005

He got Soul: Junior Alyssa Cavanaugh’s dad, Patrick Cavanaugh, dances the Macerena in front of the class for parent game day.

Mr. Cavanaugh missed a day of work to come into his daughter’s Spanish class.

Photo by Brandon Mayotte

Livin la vida loca : Señora Murphy leads Mr. Cavanaugh and Mr. McAuliffe in a Spanish dance.Parents who attended Señora Murphy’s parent game day on Jan. 6 danced the Macerena.

Parent Game Day a hit Sarah Craft editor in chief Photo by Brandon Mayotte

A few students rolled their eyes and sunk lower into their seats. “Oh God, kill me now,” one of them said to another. Moments after the bell rang, parents sporadically entered the classroom, greeted by the vivacious woman in front of them.

“OK, everybody come on in and take a seat by your kid,” Spanish teacher Melania Murphy said to the parents in a thick Peruvian accent.

Students found their seats and parents pulled what chairs that were available next to their child. It was Parent Game Day in Señora Murphy’s classroom.

A colorful, checkered mat was on the floor and Murphy was dancing on top of it. “We are going to play some games today!” She called to her audience.

“She’s crazy, absolutely insane,” a girl said quietly.

“We’ll do Twister. Everybody go crazy,” Murphy said.

“Come on, groups come up with their parents for some Spanish Twister.”

Reluctantly, students whose parents came to Parent Game Day stood from their chair and gathered around the mat and Murphy began to call out colors and body

Photo

by: ? ?

parts in Spanish.

By the end of the hour, most of the students’ negative attitudes had dissolved and most everyone in the room ended up laughing.

“It is always so much fun,” Murphy said of parent game day. “I love when the parents come into my classroom so they see us while we’re doing such fun things.”

After playing Twister, Jeopardy and dancing the Macarena, fun was not all the group had. Murphy said parent game day is a chance for her to meet her student’s parents.

“In the country that I come from (Peru), parents and teachers work together to help the students,” she said. “I want the parents to see what’s going on in class and what their child is learning about.”

Murphy said that although she offers five points extra credit to students who bring their parents for the hour, she wants to be sure that the extra credit isn’t the only incentive.

“I want to have so much fun with the kids and their moms or dads,” she said. “I don’t care about the extra credit points’ and I don’t think the students do either. It’s something for the kids to look forward to. It happens every year so they all know it’s coming sometime. I guess we could call it a tradition. Yes, it is a very fun tradition.”

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Photo by Mike Vickers

Take two blocks: Frank McAuliffe spins a top as Jason Lynch watches.

The students who won the top game won participation points, or as Murphy calls them, “checky checkies”.

Passing some time: Junior Chad Green builds a block tower during Parent Game Day. Green saids he had the highest pile of blocks in his group.

Photo by Mike Vickers

Photo by Mike Vickers

Waiting for the game to start: Senior Pat Gravel sits with his friends in anticipation waiting for the next game to start.

The games played on game day were Spanish Twister, Jeopardy and a spinning top game.

Photo by Sarah Craft

Left foot green: Señora Murphy’s class plays Spanish Twister. The students had their faces to the ground as they follow the commands given by Señora Murphy.